bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Liquidity Provision, Bank Capital, and the Macroeconomy
Authors: GORTON GARY , WINTON ANDREW
Published: January 2017

New bank equity must come from somewhere. In general equilibrium, raising bank capital requirements means either that banks produce less short‐term debt (as debt holders must become shareholders), or short‐term debt is not reduced and the banking system acquires nonbank equity (as the shareholders in nonbanks become shareholders in banks). The welfare effects involve a trade‐off because bank debt is special as it is used for transactions purposes, but more bank capital can reduce the chance of bank failure (producing welfare losses).
The Risk‐Taking Channel of Monetary Policy in the U.S.: Evidence from Corporate Loan Data
Authors: DELIS MANTHOS D. , HASAN IFTEKHAR , MYLONIDIS NIKOLAOS
Published: January 2017

To study the presence of a risk‐taking channel in the U.S., we build a comprehensive data set from the syndicated corporate loan market and measure monetary policy using different measures, most notably Taylor (1993) and Romer and Romer (2004) residuals. We identify a negative relation between monetary policy rates and bank risk‐taking, especially in the run up to the 2007 financial crisis. However, this effect is purely supply‐side driven only when using Taylor residuals and an ex ante measure of bank risk‐taking. Our results highlight the sensitivity of the potency of the risk‐taking channel to the measures of monetary policy innovations.
Differential regulation of sphingolipid metabolism in plasma, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex of mice administered sphingolipid modulating agents
Authors: Giles Corey , Takechi Ryusuke , Mellett Natalie A. , Meikle Peter J. , Dhaliwal Satvinder , Mamo John C.
Published: January 2017

Accumulation of ceramide is implicated in mediating the cellular responses to stress and aberrant sphingolipid metabolism is frequently associated with metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases. It is often assumed that (i) peripheral disturbances in sphingolipid concentrations are reflective of processes occurring in the brain, or (ii) circulating sphingolipids directly influence cerebral sphingolipid abundance. In order to address these assumptions, this study explores, in a physiological system, the metabolic pathways regulating sphingolipid metabolism in the brain and plasma of mice. Male C57Bl/6 were maintained on a low fat (control diet) or saturated fat enriched (SFA) diet with, or without the provision of sphingolipid modulating agents. Following 6 months of feeding, the abundance of seven sphingolipid classes was assessed byLC‐ESI‐MS/MSin the hippocampus (HPF), cerebral cortex (CTX), and plasma. Long‐term consumption of theSFAdiet increased ceramide and dihydroceramide in the plasma. Inhibiting de novo synthesis ameliorated this effect, while inhibition of acidic sphingomyelinase, or the sphingosine‐1‐phosphate receptor agonist did not.SFAfeeding did not influence sphingolipid levels in either theHPForCTX. De novo synthesis inhibition reduced ceramide in theCTX, while treatment with a sphingosine‐1‐phosphate receptor agonist reduced ceramides in theHPF. Analysis of the individual ceramide species revealed the effects were chain‐length dependent. Both positive and negative correlations were observed between plasma andHPF/CTXceramide species. The findings in this study show thatHPFandCTXsphingolipid concentration are influenced by distinct pathways, independent of peripheral sphingolipid concentration.

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Anxiolytic effects of hippocampal neurosteroids in normal and neuropathic rats with spared nerve injury
Authors: Zhang Meng , Liu Jia , Zhou Meng‐Meng , Wu Honghai , Hou Yanning , Li Yun‐Feng , Yin Yuxin , Zheng Lemin , Cai Jie , Liao Fei‐Fei , Liu Feng‐Yu , Yi Ming , Wan You
Published: January 2017

Neurosteroids are synthesized in the nervous system from cholesterol or steroidal precursors imported from peripheral sources. These compounds are important allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors, which play a vital role in modulating hippocampal functions. Chronic pain is accompanied by increased neurosteroid production in the spinal cord and thalamus. We hypothesize that hippocampal neurosteroids participate in pain or pain‐associated emotions, which we tested with high‐performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry and pharmacological behavioral tests. We observed increased levels of hippocampal neurosteroids (pregnenolone, progesterone, deoxycorticosterone, and allopregnanolone) in rats with chronic neuropathic pain (28 days after spared nerve injury). Meanwhile, the expression of the translocator protein, the upstream steroidogenesis rate‐limiting enzyme, increased in the ventral but not dorsal hippocampus of neuropathic rats. In both naïve and neuropathic rats, in vivo stereotaxic microinjection of PK 11195, the translocator protein inhibitor, into the ventral hippocampus exacerbated anxiety‐like behaviors. These results indicate anxiolytic effects of hippocampal neurosteroids in both normal and neuropathic rats. Neurosteroids could be considered as agents for treatment of general and pain‐related anxiety disorders.

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Clinical characteristics of persistent ectopic pregnancy after salpingostomy and influence on ongoing pregnancy
Authors: Zhang Yongli , Chen Jinhong , Lu Wen , Li Bilan , Du Guiqiang , Wan Xiaoping
Published: January 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to assay the clinical characteristics of persistent ectopic pregnancy (PEP) and its influence on ongoing pregnancy.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed 2498 patients who received salpingostomies as primary management for ectopic pregnancies from January 2004 to December 2009, using medical records and telephone inquiries. Clinical characteristics of the 52 patients (2.08%) who were diagnosed with PEP after salpingostomy were compared with those who received satisfactory treatment. The odds ratios and 95% confidential intervals were calculated for each variable by univariate and (for significantly different factors) multivariate analysis.

Results

Preoperatively, patients with PEP after salpingostomy significantly differed from the non‐PEP patients in gestational age, mass size and pelvic adhesiolysis. Serum β‐human chorionic gonadotropin levels in PEP patients were monitored after surgery, which had declined by 28.31% on postoperative day (POD) 4, 40.22% on POD 7, 51.46% on POD 10 and 53.43% on POD 21. Repeat ectopic pregnancy (REP) tended to occur more frequently in PEP patients (PEP: 5 cases, 10.20%; non‐PEP: 4 cases, 2.80%; P = 0.034). Multivariate analysis showed that pelvic adhesions and PEP were the strongest independent predictors of REP.

Conclusion

Gestational age, mass size and pelvic adhesions were significantly correlated with PEP. PEP was an independent prognostic factor for REP. However, a multicenter study is needed to support and extend our findings.
Role of dilatation and curettage performed for spontaneous or induced abortion in the etiology of endometrial thinning
Authors: Azumaguchi Atsushi , Henmi Hirofumi , Ohnishi Hirofumi , Endo Toshiaki , Saito Tsuyoshi
Published: January 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to clarify the role of dilatation and curettage (D&C) performed for spontaneous or induced abortion in the etiology of endometrial thinning.

Methods

This was a retrospective and cross‐sectional study of 310 infertile patients from January 2013 through December 2015. Endometrial thickness observed 5–7 days after ovulation in a natural menstrual cycle was correlated with the number of D&C noted in each patient's history.

Results

Study 1 was an investigation of patients without D&C (group A: n = 232) and patients with D&C performed for spontaneous abortion (group B: n = 46). Study 2 was an investigation of patients in group A and patients with D&C performed for induced abortion (group C: n = 32). A significant negative correlation (P < 0.01) between endometrial thickness and number of D&C was observed in both studies. The mean endometrial thickness of the patients in group A was 10.9 ± 2.1 mm. The mean endometrial thickness of the patients in group B with one and ≥two D&C was 7.9 ± 2.3 and 6.9 ± 2.9 mm, respectively. The mean endometrial thickness of the patients in group C with one and ≥two D&C was 9.1 ± 2.3 and 7.8 ± 2.0 mm, respectively. There was a tendency toward gradual endometrial thinning following repeated procedures and the number of previous D&C was significantly associated with endometrial thinning (P < 0.001) in both studies.

Conclusion

D&C performed for spontaneous or induced abortion may play a causal role in endometrial thinning.
Blastocoele re‐expansion time in vitrified–warmed cycles is a strong predictor of clinical pregnancy outcome
Authors: Lin Ruoyun , Feng Guixue , Shu Jinhui , Zhang Bo , Zhou Hong , Gan Xianyou , Wang Caizhu , Chen Huanhua
Published: January 2017

Aim

To assess the predictive value of blastocoele re‐expansion time in clinical pregnancy outcome in vitrified–warmed cycles.

Methods

Data on 468 single vitrified–thawed blastocyst transfer cycles (in patients aged <38 years) carried out from January 2012 through December 2012, at the Reproductive Medicine Center, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, were analyzed. Vitrified–warmed blastocysts were divided into three groups according to blastocoele re‐expansion time: group A, <1 h; group B, 1–2 h; and group C, >2 h, and the clinical pregnancy outcomes (i.e. live birth rate, miscarriage rate and occurrence of singleton pregnancies) compared between the groups.

Results

Significant differences were observed in the implantation/clinical pregnancy rate between groups A, B and C (70.10%, 51.76% and 28.74%, respectively, P < 0.01). There was a significant linear decline in this rate with increasing blastocyst re‐expansion time. The rate of miscarriage also tended to increase with increasing blastocyst re‐expansion time, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Of the pregnant patients, no significant difference was observed in the rates of monozygotic twins and ectopic pregnancy between the three groups. For the newborns, similar live birth, low‐birthweight and premature delivery rates were observed between the groups.

Conclusions

Timing of blastocoele re‐expansion in vitrified–warmed cycles is a strong predictor of clinical pregnancy outcome. The faster the re‐expansion of the blastocoele, the higher the developmental potential of the blastocysts.
Falsificationism is not just ‘potential’ falsifiability, but requires ‘actual’ falsification: Social psychology, critical rationalism, and progress in science
Authors: Holtz Peter , Monnerjahn Peter
Published: January 2017

Based on an analysis of ten popular introductions to social psychology, we will show that Karl Popper's philosophy of ‘critical rationalism’ so far has had little to no traceable influence on the epistemology and practice of social psychology. If Popper is quoted or mentioned in the textbooks at all, the guiding principle of ‘falsificationism’ is reduced to a mere ‘falsifiability’ and some central elements of critical rationalism are left out – those that are incompatible with positivism and inductivism. Echoing earlier attempts to introduce Popper to social psychology by Paul Meehl and Tom Pettigrew, we will argue that a discussing Popper's ideas in more depth could help social psychology to move forward in view of the ‘crisis of confidence’ (Pashler and Wagenmakers, 2012) that has emerged recently in view of the ‘Stapel affair’ and the reports of failures to replicate social psychological experiments in high‐powered replication attempts.
Data‐Based Decision‐Making: Teachers’ Comprehension of Curriculum‐Based Measurement Progress‐Monitoring Graphs
Authors: van den Bosch Roxette M. , Espin Christine A. , Chung Siuman , Saab Nadira
Published: January 2017

Teachers have difficulty using data from Curriculum‐based Measurement (CBM) progress graphs of students with learning difficulties for instructional decision‐making. As a first step in unraveling those difficulties, we studied teachers’ comprehension of CBM graphs. Using think‐aloud methodology, we examined 23 teachers’ ability to read, interpret, and link CBM data to instruction for fictitious graphs and their own students’ graphs. Additionally, we examined whether graph literacy—measured with a self‐report question and graph‐reading skills test—affected graph comprehension. To provide a framework for understanding teachers’ graph comprehension, we also collected data from “gold‐standard” experts. Results revealed that teachers were reasonably proficient at reading the data, but had more difficulty with interpreting and linking the data to instruction. Graph literacy was related to some but not all aspects of teachers’ CBM graph‐comprehension ability. Implications for training teachers to comprehend and use CBM progress data for decision‐making are discussed.
Pre‐service Teachers’ Interpretation of CBM Progress Monitoring Data
Authors: Wagner Dana L. , Hammerschmidt‐Snidarich Stephanie M. , Espin Christine A. , Seifert Kathleen , McMaster Kristen L.
Published: January 2017

Teachers must be proficient at using data to evaluate the effects of instructional strategies and interventions, and must be able to make, describe, justify, and validate their data‐based instructional decisions to parents, students, and educational colleagues. An important related skill is the ability to accurately read and interpret progress‐monitoring graphs. This study examined preservice special education teachers’ graph reading and interpretation skills at two points in time. Participants used a think‐aloud procedure to interpret a curriculum‐based measurement (CBM) progress monitoring graph, and results were compared to those of CBM experts. Overall, preservice teachers tended to say fewer words than graph experts did. Furthermore, their descriptions of CBM graphs were less sequentially coherent, specific, and reflective. Little change was observed at time 2. Implications for improving teacher preparation in this skill area are discussed.
Heat stroke leading to acute liver injury & failure: A case series from the Acute Liver Failure Study Group
Authors: Davis Brian C. , Tillman Holly , Chung Raymond T. , Stravitz Richard T. , Reddy Rajender , Fontana Robert J. , McGuire Brendan , Davern Timothy , Lee William M. ,   the Acute Liver Failure Study Group
Published: January 2017

Background & Aims

In the United States, nearly 1000 annual cases of heat stroke are reported but the frequency and outcome of severe liver injury in such patients is not well described. The aim of this study was to describe cases of acute liver injury (ALI) or failure (ALF) caused by heat stroke in a large ALF registry.

Methods

Amongst 2675 consecutive subjects enrolled in a prospective observational cohort of patients with ALI or ALF between January 1998 and April 2015, there were eight subjects with heat stroke.

Results

Five patients had ALF and three had ALI. Seven patients developed acute kidney injury, all eight had lactic acidosis and rhabdomyolysis. Six patients underwent cooling treatments, three received N‐acetyl cysteine (NAC), three required mechanical ventilation, three required renal replacement therapy, two received vasopressors, one underwent liver transplantation, and two patients died—both within 48 hours of presentation. All cases occurred between May and August, mainly in healthy young men because of excessive exertion.

Conclusions

Management of ALI and ALF secondary to heat stroke should focus on cooling protocols and supportive care, with consideration of liver transplantation in refractory patients.
Political Dynasties in the UK House of Commons: The Null Effect of Narrow Electoral Selection
Authors: van Coppenolle Brenda
Published: January 2017

Does power persist within families? This article considers whether members of the UK House of Commons with longer legislative careers after 1832 were more likely to establish a political dynasty. Tenure can create opportunities to promote relatives. A regression discontinuity design for re‐election races helps to rule out the confounding influence of inheritable traits. There is no evidence for a causal effect of tenure length on establishing or continuing a dynasty. Established families may have constrained further dynasty development, explaining the null result of tenure.
Remnants of altered meteorite in the Cretaceous‐Paleogene clay boundary in Poland
Authors: Szopa Krzysztof , Brachaniec Tomasz , Karwowski Łukasz , Krzykawski Tomasz
Published: January 2017

Fossil iron meteorites are extremely rare in the geological sedimentary record. The paleometeorite described here is the first such finding at the Cretaceous‐Paleogene (K‐Pg) boundary. In the boundary clay from the outcrop at the Lechówka quarry (Poland), fragments of the paleometeorite were found in the bottom part of the host layer. The fragments of meteorite (2–6 mm in size) and meteoritic dust are metallic‐gray in color and have a total weight of 1.8181 g. Geochemical and petrographic analyses of the meteorite from Lechówka reveal the presence of Ni‐rich minerals with a total Ni amount of 2–3 wt%. The identified minerals are taenite, kamacite, schreibersite, Ni‐rich magnetite, and Ni‐rich goethite. No relicts of silicates or chromites were found. The investigated paleometeorite apparently represents an independent fall and does not seem to be derived from the K‐Pg impactor. The high degree of weathering did not permit the chemical classification of the meteorite fragments. However, the recognized mineral inventory, lack of silicates, and their pseudomorphs and texture may indicate that the meteorite remains were an iron meteorite.
A microfluidic platform to study the effects of vascular architecture and oxygen gradients on sickle blood flow
Authors: Lu Xinran , Galarneau Michelle M. , Higgins John M. , Wood David K.
Published: January 2017

Our goal was to develop a model of the microvasculature that would allow us to quantify changes in the rheology of sickle blood as it traverses the varying vessel sizes and oxygen tensions in the microcirculation. We designed and implemented a microfluidic model of the microcirculation that comprises a branching microvascular network and physiologic oxygen gradients. We used computational modeling to determine the parameters necessary to generate stable, linear gradients in our devices. Sickle blood from six unique patients was perfused through the microvascular network and subjected to varying oxygen gradients while we observed and quantified blood flow. We found that all sickle blood samples fully occluded the microvascular network when deoxygenated, and we observed that sickle blood could cause vaso‐occlusions under physiologic oxygen gradients during the microvascular transit time. The number of occlusions observed under five unique oxygen gradients varied among the patient samples, but we generally observed that the number of occlusions decreased with increasing inlet oxygen tension. The model system we have developed is a valuable tool to address fundamental questions about where in the circulation sickle‐cell vaso‐occlusions are most likely to occur and to test new therapies.
Corneal biomechanics – a review
Authors: Kling Sabine , Hafezi Farhad
Published: January 2017

Purpose

In recent years, the interest in corneal biomechanics has strongly increased. The material properties of the cornea determine its shape and therefore play an important role in corneal ectasia and related pathologies. This review addresses the molecular origin of biomechanical properties, models for their description, methods for their characterisation, techniques for their modification, and computational simulation approaches.

Recent findings

Recent research has focused on developing non‐contact techniques to measure the biomechanical properties in vivo, on determining structural and molecular abnormalities in pathological corneas, on developing and optimising techniques to reinforce the corneal tissue and on the computational simulation of surgical interventions.

A better understanding of corneal biomechanics will help to improve current refractive surgeries, allow an earlier diagnosis of ectatic disorders and a better quantification of treatments aiming at reinforcing the corneal tissue.
Relational mobility and close relationships: A socioecological approach to explain cross‐cultural differences
Authors: KITO MIE , YUKI MASAKI , THOMSON ROBERT
Published: January 2017

This article reviews how behaviors and psychological tendencies in close relationships differ between cultures, and proposes a socioecological framework to understand those differences. Our review of the literature finds that paradoxically, people in individualistic cultures are more actively engaged in close relationships (e.g., higher levels of social support, self‐disclosure, intimacy, and love) than those in collectivistic cultures. From an adaptationist perspective, we argue that one reason for these differences is higher levels of relational mobility in individualistic cultures. In societies with high relational mobility, where relationships are relatively more fragile, more active engagement in close relationships helps individuals to impress potential, and retain current, partners. We emphasize the importance of examining socioecologies to better understand close relationships.
Analysis of Nicotiana tabacum PIN genes identifies NtPIN4 as a key regulator of axillary bud growth
Authors: Xie Xiaodong , Qin Guangyong , Si Ping , Luo Zhaopeng , Gao Junping , Chen Xia , Zhang Jianfeng , Wei Pan , Xia Qingyou , Lin Fucheng , Yang Jun
Published: January 2017

The plant‐specific PIN‐FORMED (PIN) auxin efflux proteins have been well characterized in many plant species, where they are crucial in the regulation of auxin transport in various aspects of plant development. However, little is known about the exact roles of the PIN genes during plant development in Nicotiana species. This study investigated the PIN genes in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and in two ancestral species (Nicotiana sylvestris and Nicotiana tomentosiformis). Genome‐wide analysis of the N. tabacum genome identified 20 genes of the PIN family. An in‐depth phylogenetic analysis of the PIN genes of N. tabacum, N. sylvestris and N. tomentosiformis was conducted. NtPIN4 expression was strongly induced by the application of exogenous indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA), but was downregulated by the application of ABA, a strigolactone analogue, and cytokinin, as well as by decapitation treatments, suggesting that the NtPIN4 expression level is likely positively regulated by auxin. Expression analysis indicated that NtPIN4 was highly expressed in tobacco stems and shoots, which was further validated through analysis of the activity of the NtPIN4 promoter. We used CRISPR‐Cas9 technology to generate mutants for NtPIN4 and observed that both T0 and T1 plants had a significantly increased axillary bud growth phenotype, as compared with the wild‐type plants. Therefore, NtPIN4 offers an opportunity for studying auxin‐dependent branching processes.
Psychiatric symptomatology after delirium: a systematic review
Authors: Langan Clare , Sarode Deep P. , Russ Tom C. , Shenkin Susan D. , Carson Alan , Maclullich Alasdair M.J.
Published: January 2017

Delirium is an acute and usually transient severe neuropsychiatric syndrome associated with significant long‐term physical morbidity. However, its chronic psychiatric sequelae remain poorly characterized. To investigate the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms, namely anxiety, depressive, and post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms after delirium, a systematic literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE and PsycINFO databases was performed independently by two authors in March 2016. Bibliographies were hand‐searched, and a forward‐ and backward‐citation search using Web of Science was performed for all included studies. Of 6411 titles, we included eight prospective cohort studies, including 370 patients with delirium and 1073 without delirium. Studies were heterogeneous and mostly included older people from a range of clinical groups. Consideration of confounders was variable. The prevalence of depressive symptoms was almost three times higher in patients with delirium than in patients without delirium (22.2% vs 8.0%, risk ratio = 2.79; 95% confidence interval = 1.36–5.73). There was no statistically significant difference between the prevalence of anxiety symptoms between patients with and without delirium. The prevalence of PTSD symptoms after delirium was inconclusive: only one study investigated this and no association between PTSD symptoms after delirium was reported. There is limited published evidence of the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms after non‐ICU delirium and the strongest evidence is for depressive symptoms. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to investigate the prevalence of anxiety and PTSD symptoms.
A Hybrid Methodology for Modeling Risk of Adverse Events in Complex Health‐Care Settings
Authors: Kazemi Reza , Mosleh Ali , Dierks Meghan
Published: January 2017

In spite of increased attention to quality and efforts to provide safe medical care, adverse events (AEs) are still frequent in clinical practice. Reports from various sources indicate that a substantial number of hospitalized patients suffer treatment‐caused injuries while in the hospital. While risk cannot be entirely eliminated from health‐care activities, an important goal is to develop effective and durable mitigation strategies to render the system “safer.” In order to do this, though, we must develop models that comprehensively and realistically characterize the risk. In the health‐care domain, this can be extremely challenging due to the wide variability in the way that health‐care processes and interventions are executed and also due to the dynamic nature of risk in this particular domain. In this study, we have developed a generic methodology for evaluating dynamic changes in AE risk in acute care hospitals as a function of organizational and nonorganizational factors, using a combination of modeling formalisms. First, a system dynamics (SD) framework is used to demonstrate how organizational‐level and policy‐level contributions to risk evolve over time, and how policies and decisions may affect the general system‐level contribution to AE risk. It also captures the feedback of organizational factors and decisions over time and the nonlinearities in these feedback effects. SD is a popular approach to understanding the behavior of complex social and economic systems. It is a simulation‐based, differential equation modeling tool that is widely used in situations where the formal model is complex and an analytical solution is very difficult to obtain. Second, a Bayesian belief network (BBN) framework is used to represent patient‐level factors and also physician‐level decisions and factors in the management of an individual patient, which contribute to the risk of hospital‐acquired AE. BBNs are networks of probabilities that can capture probabilistic relations between variables and contain historical information about their relationship, and are powerful tools for modeling causes and effects in many domains. The model is intended to support hospital decisions with regard to staffing, length of stay, and investments in safety, which evolve dynamically over time. The methodology has been applied in modeling the two types of common AEs: pressure ulcers and vascular‐catheter‐associated infection, and the models have been validated with eight years of clinical data and use of expert opinion.
Experimental Arthritis in the Rat Induced by the Superantigen Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A
Authors: Gerlach K. , Tomuschat C. , Finke R. , Staege M. S. , Brütting C. , Brandt J. , Jordan B. , Schwesig R. , Rosemeier A. , Delank K.‐S. , Kornhuber M. E. , Emmer A.
Published: January 2017

The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is incompletely understood. Human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) and their superantigenic envelope protein (env) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of RA. In the present investigation, the arthritogenic potential of the superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) has been investigated. In the present investigation, the bacterial superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) was injected into the right knee joint of 15 Lewis rats. Further nine animals received saline. Animals were sacrificed one, five and 10 days after the injection, respectively. The antigens CD3, CD4, CD8, MHC class I, MHC class II, Pax5 and CD138 were investigated by immunohistochemistry on cryo‐sections. After intra‐articular SEA injection, the inflammation was initially dominated by CD8+ T cells. In the course of the investigation, the numbers of CD4+, Pax5+, CD138+ and MHC class II+ cells increased. CD3 was expressed in low numbers as compared to CD8. After saline injection, no similar inflammatory response has been detected. The arthritis induced by the superantigen SEA may be a novel model for inflammatory joint diseases, that is rheumatoid arthritis or juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Glycolysis inhibition improves photodynamic therapy response rates for equine sarcoids
Authors: Golding J. P. , Kemp‐Symonds J. G. , Dobson J. M.
Published: January 2017

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) holds great promise in treating veterinary and human dermatological neoplasms, including equine sarcoids, but is currently hindered by the amount of photosensitiser and light that can be delivered to lesions thicker than around 2 mm, and by the intrinsic antioxidant defences of tumour cells. We have developed a new PDT technique that combines an efficient transdermal penetration enhancer solution, for topical delivery of 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA) photosensitiser, with acute topical post‐PDT application of the glycolysis inhibitor lonidamine. We show that the new PDT combination treatment selectively kills sarcoid cells in vitro, with repeated rounds of treatment increasing sarcoid sensitisation to PDT. In vivo, ALA PDT followed by 600 μM lonidamine substantially improves treatment outcomes for occult, verrucous, nodular and fibroblastic sarcoids after 1 month (93% treatment response in 27 sarcoids), compared with PDT using only ALA (14% treatment response in 7 sarcoids).
Approaches to assessing and minimizing blood wastage in the hospital and blood supply chain
Authors: Yates N. , Stanger S. , Wilding R. , Cotton S.
Published: January 2017

Despite the scale of blood usage worldwide, blood remains a scarce and precious resource. As with any perishable product, careful management of inventories to minimize wastage is crucial. However, due to the nature of the supply of blood, wastage is not only an economic issue as every unit wasted, squanders the time and effort of the human donor. Blood inventory management is therefore a trade‐off, ensuring 100% availability of all blood products at all times whilst minimizing wastage. Hospitals are at the front line of blood use and are the location where much blood is wasted. Inventory management practices in hospital transfusion laboratories are critical. Much of the extant literature in this area posits that good management of hospital blood inventories is due to sophisticated inventory models and algorithms. However, recent research has found that good management practices are much more important. The drivers for low wastage and good inventory management practice can be described using six key themes. Blood supply chain management is much more than managing wastage in hospitals. Proper management of the supply chain as a whole can lead to significant reductions in blood wastage. Recent research has found that methods commonly used in commercial supply chain management can lead to efficiencies in the blood supply chain context. An example of this is stock sharing or lateral transhipment of blood units close to expiry between hospitals, reducing wastage across the supply chain.
Construction of bioengineered hepatic tissue derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells via aggregation culture in porcine decellularized liver scaffolds
Authors: Li Yi , Wu Qiong , Wang Yujia , Li Li , Chen Fei , Shi Yujun , Bao Ji , Bu Hong
Published: January 2017

Background

An individualized, tissue‐engineered liver suitable for transplanting into a patient with liver disease would be of great benefit to the patient and the healthcare system. The tissue‐engineered liver would possess the functions of the original healthy organ. Two fields of study, (i) using decellularized tissue as cell scaffolding, and (ii) stem cell differentiation into functional cells, are coming together to make this concept feasible. The decellularized liver scaffolds (DLS) can interact with cells to promote cell differentiation and signal transduction and three‐dimensional (3D) stem cell aggregations can maintain the phenotypes and improve functions of stem cells after differentiation by undergoing cell‐cell contact. Although the effects of DLS and stem cell aggregation culture have been intensively studied, few observations about the interaction between the two have been achieved.

Methods

We established a method that combines the use of decellularized liver scaffolds and aggregation culture of MSCs (3D‐DLS) and explored the effects of the two on hepatic differentiation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hUC‐MSCs) in bioengineered hepatic tissue.

Results

A higher percentage of albumin‐producing cells, higher levels of liver‐specific transcripts, higher urea cycle‐related transcripts, and lower levels of stem cell‐specific transcripts were observed in the 3D‐DLS group when compared to that of hUC‐MSCs in monolayer culture (2D), aggregation culture (3D), monolayer on DLS culture (2D‐DLS). The gene arrays also indicated that 3D‐DLS induced the differentiation from the hUC‐MSC phenotype to the PHH phenotype. Liver‐specific proteins albumin, CK‐18, and glycogen storage were highly positive in the 3D‐DLS group. Albumin secretion and ammonia conversion to urea were more effective with a higher cell survival rate in the 3D‐DLS group for 14 days.

Conclusion

This DLS and aggregation combination culture system provides a novel method to improve hepatic differentiation, maintain phenotype of hepatocyte‐like cells and sustain survival for 14 days in vitro. This is a promising strategy to use to construct bioengineered hepatic tissue.
Gobierno corporativo y desempeño financiero: conceptos teóricos y evidencia empírica
Authors: Escobar-Váquiro Natalia , Benavides-Franco Julián , Perafán-Peña Héctor Fabio
Published: January 2017

Este documento tiene como objetivo la estructuración de un marco de análisis para el estudio de prácticas de gobierno corporativo y su incidencia en los resultados financieros, teniendo en cuenta estudios teóricos y empíricos en países desarrollados y en desarrollo, principalmente latinoamericanos, con énfasis en Colombia. Las prácticas de gobierno corporativo se han convertido en un elemento esencial de los estudios de la teoría de la firma en vista de que proveen a los gestores y propietarios de mecanismos que permiten establecer normas encaminadas a la minimización de conflictos de interés, la consecuente mejora y transparencia en la toma de decisiones y, por ende, elevar los niveles de desempeño financiero. A partir de la metodología de análisis documental propuesta por David Papineau, se encuentran una significativa evolución y convergencia en la normativa internacional y nacional en lo relacionado con prácticas de gobierno corporativo y su relación con el desempeño; resalta el incipiente impacto en Colombia y otros países en desarrollo. Entre los resultados más relevantes están la necesidad de abordar las prácticas de gobierno corporativo y su impacto sobre los retornos financieros de las firmas desde un enfoque multiteórico, al igual que la identificación del problema que para las investigaciones empíricas representa la endogeneidad entre el desempeño financiero y el gobierno corporativo.
Habitar, percibir y narrar el territorio. La construcción subjetiva de una tensión rural/urbana
Authors: Trimano Luciana
Published: January 2017

Para los habitantes nativos de Las Calles —una localidad del Valle de Traslasierra, en la provincia de Córdoba, Argentina— desde hace diez años ‘su’ pueblo comenzó a cambiar debido al impacto de la migración urbana. La sociedad receptora entiende las trasformaciones  fisonómicas de la comunidad a partir de la referencia temporal ‘antes/ahora’ y percibe el arribo de citadinos al poblado como invasivo. El propósito de este trabajo es reflexionar sobre las transformaciones espaciales, identitarias
y relacionales de esta pequeña localidad a partir de los relatos identitarios de los habitantes autóctonos. Se indagan interpretaciones y percepciones que se nutren de imaginarios diversos en torno a nociones como desarrollo, progreso, pertenencia, bienestar, trabajo, espacio, tiempo y, sobre todo, en cuanto a la percepción de quién es el ‘otro’. En este contexto, la diversidad de procedencias, pertenencias, tradiciones y valores ponen en juego la configuración de la identidad local.
La vivienda digna y la vivienda adecuada. Estado del debate
Authors: Mejía-Escalante Mónica
Published: January 2017

En la búsqueda por una delimitación conceptual de la vivienda digna y de la vivienda adecuada, realizamos una revisión bibliográfica, en grandes bases de documentación académica del mundo, bajo estas dos expresiones en español, inglés y portugués, utilizando herramientas cienciométricas y de análisis de contenido. Esta búsqueda reveló asuntos y enfoques objeto de investigación actual, pero resalta un uso no diferenciado entre estas dos nociones en ámbitos diversos como la política urbana, el mercado inmobiliario o el ámbito académico; situación que consideramos importante porque presuponemos que aun cuando vivienda digna, vivienda adecuada, y demás expresiones afines pueden ser términos equivalentes, no tienen el mismo alcance conceptual. Pocos autores abordan esta delimitación, solo algunos debaten sobre la vivienda desde la perspectiva de los derechos al exponer que la dignidad puede observarse en el espacio, como perspectivas para diferenciar lo digno de lo adecuado en la vivienda.
Adquisición de tecnología biomédica en IPS colombianas: comparación y mejores prácticas
Authors: Salazar-Flórez Kelly Johanna , Botero-Botero Sergio , Jiménez-Hernández Claudia Nelcy
Published: January 2017

En este artículo de investigación se analizó el proceso de adquisición tecnológica en las instituciones prestadoras de servicios de salud (IPS) en Colombia. Para este propósito se aplicó una metodología de diagnóstico empresarial denominada benchmarking en seis IPS del departamento de Antioquia (tanto del sector público como del sector privado), lo que permitió identificar las principales formas de adquirir tecnología biomédica, la priorización de las necesidades tecnológicas, los métodos empleados por las instituciones hospitalarias para la evaluación del equipamiento médico, las fuentes de identificación de necesidades, los requisitos legales y técnicos exigidos en el momento de la compra, así como la proporción de búsqueda de alertas nacionales e internacionales en bases de datos relacionadas con los dispositivos. De esta manera, se desarrolló un ejercicio de referenciación comparativa y competitiva como herramienta de gestión que promueve la caracterización e incorporación de las posibles mejores prácticas ejercidas por las clínicas y hospitales del país
Generalización de la gestión por procesos como plataforma de trabajo de apoyo a la mejora de organizaciones de salud
Authors: Hernández-Nariño Arialys , Delgado-Landa Adriana , Marqués-León Maylín , Nogueira-Rivera Dianelys , Medina-León Alberto , Negrín-Sosa Ernesto
Published: January 2017

El Sistema Nacional de Salud Cubano se plantea como reto el perfeccionamiento de la gestión de sus instituciones, para lo cual considera objetivos medulares: fomentar la creatividad y la innovación, impulsar la formación permanente, buscar la eficiencia, estudiar buenas prácticas internacionales y propiciar una constante evaluación de los procesos. Estos propósitos son comunes a enfoques gerenciales frecuentemente adoptados por las organizaciones que buscan calidad, eficiencia, eficacia y mejor servicio al cliente. Este trabajo busca ilustrar los resultados de experiencias de gestión por procesos como plataforma de trabajo que impulsa la mejora de los servicios de salud. Para ello muestra la inserción de un procedimiento, resultado del estudio bibliográfico de setenta propuestas metodológicas. Se toman cinco hospitales de una provincia cubana para probar la utilidad de los instrumentos y luego se aprecian los avances en el servicio y el desempeño hospitalario, así como la extensión del estudio a otros hospitales del territorio.
Harvesting Natural Salinity Gradient Energy for Hydrogen Production Through Reverse Electrodialysis Power Generation
Authors: Nazemi Mohammadreza , Zhang Jiankai , Hatzell Marta C.
Published: January 2017

There is an enormous potential for energy generation from the mixing of sea and river water at global estuaries. Here, we model a novel approach to convert this source of energy directly into hydrogen and electricity using reverse electrodialysis (RED). RED relies on converting ionic current to electric current using multiple membranes and redox-based electrodes. A thermodynamic model for RED is created to evaluate the electricity and hydrogen which can be extracted from natural mixing processes. With equal volume of high and low concentration solutions (1 L), the maximum energy extracted per volume of solution mixed occurred when the number of membranes is reduced, with the lowest number tested here being five membrane pairs. At this operating point, 0.32 kWh/m3 is extracted as electrical energy and 0.95 kWh/m3 as hydrogen energy. This corresponded to an electrical energy conversion efficiency of 15%, a hydrogen energy efficiency of 35%, and therefore, a total mixing energy efficiency of nearly 50%. As the number of membrane pairs increases from 5 to 20, the hydrogen power density decreases from 13.6 W/m2 to 2.4 W/m2 at optimum external load. In contrast, the electrical power density increases from 0.84 W/m2 to 2.2 W/m2. Optimum operation of RED depends significantly on the external load (external device). A small load will increase hydrogen energy while decreasing electrical energy. This trade-off is critical in order to optimally operate an RED cell for both hydrogen and electricity generation.
Multi-Objective Design Optimization of Multiple Microchannel Heat Transfer Systems Based on Multiple Prioritized Preferences
Authors: Lin Po Ting , Manuel Mark Christian E. , Zhang Jingru , Jaluria Yogesh , Gea Hae Chang
Published: January 2017

Accelerated development in the field of electronics and integrated circuit technology further pushed the need for better heat dissipating devices with reduced component dimensions. In the design optimization of microchannel heat transfer systems, multiple objectives must be satisfied but correlations limit the satisfaction levels. End users define their preferences associated with the desired quality/quantity of each parameter and specify the priorities among each preference. In this paper, an optimization strategy based on the prioritized performances is developed to find the optimal design variables for the preferences in three different aspects namely: minimized thermal resistances, minimized pressure drop, and maximized heat flux. The preferences are often fuzzy and correlated but can be modeled mathematically using Gaussian membership functions with respect to different levels of user preferences. The overall performances are maximized to find the most favorable solution on the Pareto frontier. Two different types of single-phase liquid cooling (straight and U-shaped microchannel heat sinks) have been utilized as heat exchangers of electronic chips and made as practical examples for the proposed optimization strategy. The optimal design points vary with respect to the priorities of the preferences. The proposed methodology finds the most favored solution on the Pareto frontiers. It is novel to reveal that the chosen significant factors were maximized with results yielding to lower thermal resistance, lower pressure drop, and higher heat flux in the microchannel heat sink based on the design preferences with different priorities.
Investigations of Flutter and Aerodynamic Damping of a Turbine Blade: Experimental Characterization
Authors: Seeley Charles E. , Wakelam Christian , Zhang Xuefeng , Hofer Douglas , Ren Wei-Min
Published: January 2017

Flutter is a self-excited and self-sustained aero-elastic instability, caused by the positive feedback between structural vibration and aerodynamic forces. A two-passage linear turbine cascade was designed, built, and tested to better understand the phenomena and collect data to validate numerical models. The cascade featured a center airfoil that had its pitch axis as a degree-of-freedom to enable coupling between the air flow and mechanical response in a controlled manner. The airfoil was designed to be excited about its pitch axis using an electromagnetic actuation system over a range of frequencies and amplitudes. The excitation force was measured with load cells, and the airfoil motion was measured with accelerometers. Extraordinary effort was taken to minimize the mechanical damping so that the damping effects of the airflow over the airfoil, that were of primary interest, would be observable. Assembling the cascade required specialized alignment procedures due to the tight clearances and large motion. The aerodynamic damping effects were determined by observing changes in the mechanical frequency response of the system. Detailed aerodynamic and mechanical measurements were conducted within a wide range of Mach numbers (Ma) from Ma = 0.10 to 1.20. Experimental results indicated that the aerodynamic damping increased from Ma = 0.10 to 0.65, dropped suddenly, and was then constant from Ma = 0.80 to 1.20. A flutter condition was identified in the interval between Ma = 0.65 and Ma = 0.80. The aerodynamic damping was also found to be independent of displacement amplitude within the tested range, giving credence to linear numerical approaches.
Boron and high-k dielectrics: Possible fourth etch stop colors for multipattern optical lithography processing
Authors: Dhungana Shailesh , Nguyen Thuong D. , Nordell Bradley J. , Caruso Anthony N. , Paquette Michelle M. , Chollon Georges , Lanford William A. , Scharfenberger Kris , Jacob Danya , King Sean W.
Published: January 2017

In a companion article, the etch characteristics of materials within the Si-C-O-N-H system were surveyed using two common fluorinated plasma etches used to etch SiO2 interlayer dielectrics and SiN:H etch stop layers (CHF3 and CF4/O2, respectively) with the goal of identifying new materials or “colors” to assist in the simplification of advanced multipass optical lithography. In this study, the authors investigate additional materials outside the traditional Si-C-O-N-H phase diagram with the hope of identifying potential third or fourth color pattern-assist materials. The specific materials investigated include a series of high-k dielectrics commonly used in the industry (Al2O3, AlN, and HfO2) and boron-based solids (a-B:H, a-BxN:H, a-BxP:H, and a-BxC:H) that have been previously identified as potential hard mask, polish stop, and/or low-k dielectric materials. The high-k dielectrics were all found to exhibit low to unmeasureable etch rates in both fluorinated etches. In contrast, the boron-based solids all exhibited etch rates in the CF4/O2 etch up to an order of magnitude or more higher than those of silicon-based materials while still exhibiting comparable etch rates in the CHF3 interlayer dielectric etch. The high-k dielectrics thus appear to be potential third or fourth color materials, provided etch chemistries capable of selectively etching these relative to other silicon- and carbon-based materials can be identified. The results for the boron-based solids suggest more immediate applications in patterning silicon-based materials. A more detailed examination of the B-C-H system also suggests that significant optimization of the etch selectivity can be achieved via compositional tuning for a-BxC:H and other boron-based dielectric materials.