bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced photoluminescence property and mechanism of Eu3+‐doped tellurite glasses by the silver and gold nanoparticles
Authors: Yu Chengye , Yang Zhengwen , Qiu Jianbei , Song Zhiguo , Dacheng Zhou
Published: September 2017

In this work, the silver or gold nanoparticle single‐existing and co‐existing tellurite glasses doped with Eu3+ were prepared, and the influence of gold or silver nanoparticles on the photoluminescence of tellurite glasses doped with Eu3+ were investigated. The photoluminescence of tellurite glasses doped with Eu3+ was enhanced by the surface plasmon absorption of gold or silver nanoparticles, and the maximum luminescence enhancement factors caused by the silver and gold nanoparticles are 4.8 and 3.5 factors, respectively. The differentiation of luminescence enhancement mechanisms caused by the gold or silver nanoparticles was demonstrated. The enhanced luminescence mechanism of the Au nanoparticle single‐existing tellurite glasses doped with Eu3+ was from the increasing of radiative decays rate caused by the Au nanoparticles. The excitation field enhancement caused by the Ag nanoparticles was responsible for the luminescence enhancement of the Ag single‐existing tellurite glasses doped with Eu3+. About 4.2‐factor luminescence enhancement was observed in the Ag and Au nanoparticle co‐existing tellurite glasses doped with Eu3+, which is attributed to the increasing of radiative decays rate and excitation field enhancement caused by the Au and Ag nanoparticles.
Ultrasonic Echo Intensity as a New Noninvasive In Vivo Biomarker of Frailty
Authors: Mirón Mombiela Rebeca , Facal de Castro Fernando , Moreno Pilar , Borras Consuelo
Published: September 2017

Objectives

To investigate whether muscle quality based on echo intensity (EI) is associated with muscle strength (MS) and correlates with risk of frailty in elderly outpatients.

Design

Cross‐sectional, experimental study.

Setting

Outpatient clinic.

Participants

Individuals aged 20 to 90 (N = 112). Individuals aged 20 to 59 participated as controls. Those aged 60 and older participated in the experimental group and were subdivided into robust, prefrail, and frail according to the Fried frailty criteria.

Measurements

EI, muscle thickness (MT), and subcutaneous fat thickness (SFT) of the anterior compartment of the thigh were measured using ultrasound images. MS was quantified using a hand dynamometer. Participants responded to a questionnaire asking about demographic and physical characteristics, frailty criteria, and quality of life.

Results

There was a significant negative correlation between EI and MS (Women: correlation coefficient (r) = −.522, P < .001; Men: r = −.355, P < .001). A similar trend was found for MT but not SFT. Statistically significant differences were also found between EI values, MT, MS, and quality of life and the different stages of frailty (P < .01).

Conclusions

Higher levels of EI were associated with lower levels of strength and greater frailty. These results, although needing to be replicated in larger and more‐diverse populations, suggest that EI obtained using ultrasound images might be used as noninvasive imaging biomarker of frailty in elderly adults and opens the possibility of accurately testing interventions performed to prevent it.
Does Prior Government Assistance Reduce Food or Housing Assistance among Low‐Income and Food Insecure Households?
Authors: Nielsen Robert B. , Seay Martin C. , Wilmarth Melissa J.
Published: September 2017

Despite extensive research into the receipt of government food and housing assistance separately, only limited evidence informs the possibility that the receipt of assistance for one basic need could reduce the need for assistance meeting another basic need. To investigate this possibility among food insecure and low‐income households we examined four years of data from each of the 2004 and 2008 panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation. Among low‐income and food insecure households we found no evidence that one type of assistance reduced later receipt of the second type of assistance. Rather, results from conditional logistic regression models indicated that receiving one type of assistance was associated with a higher probability of receiving the second type of assistance, or that there was no relationship between the two types of assistance. Factors informing these results are discussed in the context of household help‐seeking and government assistance.
Bank Accounts, Nonbank Financial Transaction Products, and Food Insecurity among Households with Children
Authors: Fitzpatrick Katie
Published: September 2017

Low‐ and moderate‐income households with children often face considerable difficulties in ensuring enough financial resources for adequate consumption. With households in both the December 2008 current population survey (CPS) food security supplement and the January 2009 CPS unbanked and underbanked supplement, I investigate the relationship between bank account ownership, nonbank financial transaction products, and food security of households with children. Unbanked households and households that use alternative financial service transaction products are more likely to experience very low food security and food insecurity than other households. Currently unbanked but previously banked households as well as underbanked households face the greatest risk of food insecurity. Policies to improve the consumption adequacy of households with children may benefit from a multifaceted approach that addresses their banking and financial transaction needs.
Diagnostic imaging using positron emission tomography for gynecological malignancy
Authors: Tsuyoshi Hideaki , Yoshida Yoshio
Published: September 2017

Imaging has played a pivotal role in the management of gynecological malignancy. Positron emission tomography (PET), particularly 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (18F‐FDG) PET to reflect cellular glycolytic metabolism, is being increasingly used and has proven superior to conventional imaging including ultrasonography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging. Studies of and evidence for the utility of 18F‐FDG PET/CT for the detection of local or metastatic disease, treatment planning, response assessment, restaging of recurrent disease, and prognostic assessment are growing. We review the latest evidence for and limitations of 18F‐FDG PET/CT in the diagnosis of gynecological malignancy. Moreover, we also describe the benefits of and evidence for other tracers.
Reducing hospital‐acquired pressure ulcers using bundle methodology in pediatric and neonatal patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy: An integrative review and call to action
Authors: Courtwright Suzanne E. , Mastro Kari A. , Preuster Christa , Dardashti Navid , McGill Sandra , Madelon Myrlene , Johnson Donna
Published: September 2017

Purpose

This review focuses on identifying (1) evidence of the effectiveness of care bundle methodology to reduce hospital‐acquired pressure ulcers (HAPUs) in pediatric and neonatal patients receiving extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy and (2) barriers to implementing HAPU care bundles in this at‐risk population.

Design and Methods

An integrative review was conducted and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses guidelines. A search of the scientific literature was performed. Studies included were published between January 2011 and February 2016. A total of seven articles met inclusion criteria. Data were extracted from each published article and analyzed to identify common themes, specifically bundle methodology and barriers to implementing HAPU bundles, in this population.

Results

There is limited research on effectiveness of care bundle methodology in reducing HAPUs in children, and no research specific to its effectiveness in pediatric or neonatal ECMO patients. No research was identified studying barriers to implementation of HAPU care bundles in this population.

Practice Implications

Nurses are well poised to test innovative strategies to prevent HAPUs. Nurses should consider implementing and testing bundle methodology to reduce HAPU in this at‐risk population, and conduct research to identify any barriers to implementing this strategy. There is literature to support the use of nurses as unit‐based skin care champions to facilitate teamwork and reliable use of the bundle, both critical components to the success of bundle methodology.
Self‐administered acupressure for insomnia disorder: a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yeung Wing‐Fai , Ho Fiona Yan‐Yee , Chung Ka‐Fai , Zhang Zhang‐Jin , Yu Branda Yee‐Man , Suen Lorna Kwai‐Ping , Chan Lily Ying‐Tung , Chen Hai‐Yong , Ho Lai‐Ming , Lao Li‐Xing
Published: September 2017

Self‐administered acupressure has potential as a low‐cost alternative treatment for insomnia. To evaluate the short‐term effects of self‐administered acupressure for alleviating insomnia, a pilot randomized controlled trial was conducted. Thirty‐one subjects (mean age: 53.2 years; 77.4% female) with insomnia disorder were recruited from a community. The participants were randomized to receive two lessons on either self‐administered acupressure or sleep hygiene education. The subjects in the self‐administered acupressure group (n = 15) were taught to practise self‐administered acupressure daily for 4 weeks. The subjects in the comparison group (n = 16) were advised to follow sleep hygiene education. The primary outcome was the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI). Other measures included a sleep diary, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and Short‐form Six‐Dimension. The subjects in the self‐administered acupressure group had a significantly lower ISI score than the subjects in the sleep hygiene education group at week 8 (effect size = 0.56, P = 0.03). However, this observed group difference did not reach a statistically significant level after Bonferroni correction. With regard to the secondary outcomes, moderate between‐group effect sizes were observed in sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset based on the sleep diary, although the differences were not significant. The adherence to self‐administered acupressure practice was satisfactory, with 92.3% of the subjects who completed the lessons still practising acupressure at week 8. In conclusion, self‐administered acupressure taught in a short training course may be a feasible approach to improve insomnia. Further fully powered confirmatory trials are warranted.
An assessment of climate change and stratification in Lake Kariba (Zambia–Zimbabwe)
Authors: Marshall Brian E.
Published: September 2017

Lake Kariba is a monomictic reservoir, isothermal in winter (June–August), and stratified for the rest of the year. Its temperature has increased since the 1990s, with some researchers suggesting it now has a stronger and more stable thermocline as a result. It was also claimed that the depth of the epilimnion had decreased, and nutrient depletion has led to a decrease in the depth of the euphotic zone, algal biomass and primary productivity. A re‐analysis of the data suggests this view is incorrect. The epilimnion is more homogenous now than in the 1980s, with less vertical variation in temperature and dissolved oxygen in the upper 20 m of the lake. The depth of the euphotic zone has not changed since the 1960s, and the algal biomass and primary productivity have increased. The thermocline appears to have weakened with temperature and density gradients being much smaller than in the 1980s because of a more rapid rate of warming in deeper water. The reasons for this phenomenon are not clear, although evaporative cooling at the surface may contribute to it. There was a significant increase in Birgean heat budgets over time, although there was none for stability. This may be explained by the fact that the lake is monomictic, cooling to 22°C in winter, with a new cycle of stratification beginning each year, and it may be affected by variable factors such as evaporation, rainfall, river flow and internal wave movements.
Aldo‐keto reductase and alcohol dehydrogenase contribute to benznidazole natural resistance in Trypanosoma cruzi
Authors: González Laura , García‐Huertas Paola , Triana‐Chávez Omar , García Gabriela Andrea , Murta Silvane Maria Fonseca , Mejía‐Jaramillo Ana M.
Published: September 2017

The improvement of Chagas disease treatment is focused not only on the development of new drugs but also in understanding mechanisms of action and resistance to drugs conventionally used. Thus, some strategies aim to detect specific changes in proteins between sensitive and resistant parasites and to evaluate the role played in these processes by functional genomics. In this work, we used a natural Trypanosoma cruzi population resistant to benznidazole, which has clones with different susceptibilities to this drug without alterations in the NTR I gene. Using 2DE‐gel electrophoresis, the aldo‐keto reductase and the alcohol dehydrogenase proteins were found up regulated in the natural resistant clone and therefore their possible role in the resistance to benznidazole and glyoxal was investigated. Both genes were overexpressed in a drug sensitive T. cruzi clone and the biological changes in response to these compounds were evaluated. The results showed that the overexpression of these proteins enhances resistance to benznidazole and glyoxal in T. cruzi. Moreover, a decrease in mitochondrial and cell membrane damage was observed, accompanied by a drop in the intracellular concentration of reactive oxygen species after treatment. Our results suggest that these proteins are involved in the mechanism of action of benznidazole.
Control of basal jasmonate signalling and defence through modulation of intracellular cation flux capacity
Authors: Lenglet Aurore , Jaślan Dawid , Toyota Masatsugu , Mueller Matthias , Müller Thomas , Schönknecht Gerald , Marten Irene , Gilroy Simon , Hedrich Rainer , Farmer Edward E.
Published: September 2017

Unknown mechanisms tightly regulate the basal activity of the wound‐inducible defence mediator jasmonate (JA) in undamaged tissues. However, the Arabidopsis fatty acid oxygenation upregulated2 (fou2) mutant in vacuolar two‐pore channel 1 (TPC1D454N) displays high JA pathway activity in undamaged leaves. This mutant was used to explore mechanisms controlling basal JA pathway regulation.

fou2 was re‐mutated to generate novel ‘ouf’ suppressor mutants. Patch‐clamping was used to examine TPC1 cation channel characteristics in the ouf suppressor mutants and in fou2. Calcium (Ca2+) imaging was used to study the effects fou2 on cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations.

Six intragenic ouf suppressors with near wild‐type (WT) JA pathway activity were recovered and one mutant, ouf8, affected the channel pore. At low luminal calcium concentrations, ouf8 had little detectable effect on fou2. However, increased vacuolar Ca2+ concentrations caused channel occlusion, selectively blocking K+ fluxes towards the cytoplasm. Cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations in unwounded fou2 were found to be lower than in the unwounded WT, but they increased in a similar manner in both genotypes following wounding.

Basal JA pathway activity can be controlled solely by manipulating endomembrane cation flux capacities. We suggest that changes in endomembrane potential affect JA pathway activity.
A symbiosis of civil service and politics in transfers: The case of Pakistan's management cadres
Authors: Cyan Musharraf Rasool , Pasha Obed
Published: September 2017

Job rotation is an important tool in public administration that is used to enhance learning and diversify experience among employees, while reducing opportunities for rent‐seeking behaviour. The benefits of job rotation, however, may be reduced if carried out too frequently or for narrow partisan reasons. Frequent transfers and postings in a civil service characterized by life‐long contracts negatively impact on‐the‐job learning, accountability for results, and incentives to acquire skills. This study examines the political and internal civil service determinants of frequent transfers in the civil service of Punjab, Pakistan. We employ Poisson panel estimations for 338 job positions for elite management cadres in Pakistan over a five‐year period from 2006 to 2010. The analysis shows that a change in elected government and desirability of a position increase the frequency of transfers.
Analysis of Dermatologic Consultations in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Over a 7‐Year Period: Retrospective Review of 60 Cases
Authors: Kang Jeong Nan , Kim Do Hyeong , Park So Hee , Seol Jung Eun , Kim Hyojin
Published: September 2017

Background/Objectives

The need for dermatology consultations for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) patients is increasing, but no study has systemically examined the skin diseases of patients in NICUs. The aim of this study was to analyze dermatology consultations in the NICU of a tertiary medical center in Korea and determine the effect of the dermatology consultation on the clinical course and management of the patients after the consultation.

Methods

The medical records of patients undergoing dermatologic consultation during their stay in a NICU between March 2009 and February 2016 were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

Sixty patients were enrolled in this study; the male‐to‐female ratio was 1:1.1, and mean age at the time of consultation was 3.7 weeks. Mean gestational age was 33.7 weeks, and 35 of the subjects (58.3%) were preterm neonates. Mean birth weight was 2.14 kg (range 550–4,200 g). The most‐common disease category was birthmarks and neoplasms (20.0%), followed by eczematous dermatoses (18.3%), skin appendageal disease (16.7%), and infectious disease (13.3%).

Conclusion

This study identified the dermatologic problems of neonates in a NICU and can raise dermatologists' awareness of the types of patients they may encounter in a NICU.
The Role of Elimination Diets in Atopic Dermatitis—A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Lim Neil R. , Lohman Mary E. , Lio Peter A.
Published: September 2017

Background/Objectives

Diet is a common concern for individuals with atopic dermatitis (AD) and their families. Studies regarding the effect of dietary interventions on AD exist, but many are limited by small size and poor design. Conflicting results present a challenge to clinicians seeking to counsel patients. The aim of the current review is to examine the published literature and generate helpful conclusions for clinicians faced with dietary questions in AD.

Methods

A PubMed search was performed focusing on dietary interventions for AD in children and adults through July 2016. The search was limited to the English language and included studies that evaluated one or more forms of dietary modification for the treatment of AD. Studies of supplementation, such as with vitamins, minerals, or probiotics, were not included, nor were studies on prevention of the development of AD. A total of 43 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis.

Results

Trials varied in type, duration, and the AD patient populations studied. Overall, there is some level I evidence to support specific exclusion diets in preselected patients but insufficient evidence for strict elimination diets (diets that are typically limited to six to eight foods). Data supporting other interventions are mixed and based on small, poorly designed studies.

Conclusions

A comprehensive literature review reveals some promising results and several areas in need of further study. More evidence is needed to form a strong foundation for recommendations regarding the utility and role of elimination diets in AD management, but current evidence suggests that strict diet management is not effective in the treatment AD in the vast majority of patients.
Final Diagnosis of 112 Girls Presenting With Genital Mucocutaneous Symptoms and Signs: The Mayo Clinic Experience
Authors: Fahy Caoimhe M. R. , Torgerson Rochelle R. , Davis Mark D. P.
Published: September 2017

Pediatric genital mucocutaneous diseases are rare. A retrospective review was performed of children presenting with symptomatology of genital dermatoses to a hospital‐based dermatology service. This study highlights that the range of genital diseases in children is not as broad as in adults. The diagnosis of genital mucocutaneous disease in children is usually genital lichen sclerosus, but other diagnoses should be considered.
Who Deserves Solidarity? Unequal Treatment of Immigrants in Swiss Welfare Policy Delivery
Authors: Thomann Eva , Rapp Carolin
Published: September 2017

Rising immigration rates in Western Europe concur with increasing anti‐immigrant attitudes. While assessments of welfare eligibility in the United States demonstrably hinge on how public servants perceive different racial groups as deserving, we know less about ethnically motivated discrimination in the European context. This paper argues that Switzerland is a critical case for studying such developments. It combines social construction theory and the deservingness heuristic to analyze how social constructions of Swiss natives and immigrants influence 90 disability benefits insurance procedures. Findings reveal that immigrants are perceived as less deserving and less powerful than Swiss applicants. Thus, Swiss welfare workers do not allocate welfare benefits independently of an applicant's nationality. Our results raise fundamental questions about the equal treatment of welfare applicants in times of rising immigration and anti‐immigrant attitudes. The feed‐forward effects of social constructions imply longer‐term consequences for good administrative practices and society that require scholarly attention.
The Law: The Hollowing Out of Youngstown: How Congress and the Courts Can Restore Limits on Presidential Power
Authors: Edelson Chris
Published: September 2017

Justice Jackson's concurring opinion in the Youngstown steel seizure case is seen as a rejection of unlimited presidential power and a suggestion that presidents should, when possible, act with Congress rather than unilaterally. However, his famous tripartite framework can be exploited. After 9/11, both the Bush and Obama administrations claimed statutory authorization when none existed in order to lend legitimacy to what were in fact unilateral actions and/or found ways around constitutional limits. In most cases, Congress and the courts failed to set meaningful limits on executive power. The result is that national security power has increasingly been concentrated in the hands of the president, cloaked by the dubious claim that presidents are acting pursuant to statutory authority. Congress and the courts can and should give meaning to Jackson's tripartite framework by rejecting implausible claims that executive branch action is supported by statutory authority and by applying constitutional limits to joint action by the elected branches. This would restore meaning to the tripartite framework as an effective tool to define and set limits on executive power.
The business perspective in ecological restoration: issues and challenges
Authors: Mohr Jakki J. , Metcalf Elizabeth Covelli
Published: September 2017

Much of the practice of restoration is conducted by businesses—contractors, consultants, designers, engineers. Restoration businesses interact with a variety of stakeholders to complete projects on time and on budget, and to achieve ecological and business objectives. Our research explores the business perspective in restoration; it is based on data collected from businesses (contractors, consultants, design engineers), agencies, and nongovernmental organizations involved in a Superfund cleanup project in Montana, one of the largest river restoration efforts ever. Our findings highlight several areas restoration businesses must navigate. First, restoration businesses must juggle potentially competing goals, maintaining ecological integrity while achieving profitability objectives. Second, these businesses must manage the risk that arises from variability in the natural environment as well as individuals' risk tolerances. Third, they must navigate the disconnect between “science” and “practice,” including how to best monitor restoration projects. Fourth, they must make decisions about new techniques and innovations. Fifth, on‐the‐ground implementation must acknowledge that personnels' motives and expertise might conflict with original plans. We discuss these findings in relation to relevant scholarly research, offering implications for theory and practice. For example, the business of ecological restoration requires learning over time to be profitable while achieving the desired ecological and social outcomes; restoration businesses leverage monitoring in pursuit of adaptive management and engage “frontline personnel” as important voices in the restoration process. Understanding the business of restoration adds an important perspective in the complex dynamics of social‐ecological systems.
A Probabilistic Approach to Assess External Doses to the Public Considering Spatial Variability of Radioactive Contamination and Interpopulation Differences in Behavior Pattern
Authors: Takahara Shogo , Iijima Masashi , Yoneda Minoru , Shimada Yoko
Published: September 2017

Dose assessment is an important issue from the viewpoints of protecting people from radiation exposure and managing postaccident situations adequately. However, the radiation doses received by people cannot be determined with complete accuracy because of the uncertainties and the variability associated with any process of defining individual characteristics and in the dose assessment process itself. In this study, a dose assessment model was developed based on measurements and surveys of individual doses and relevant contributors (i.e., ambient dose rates and behavior patterns) in Fukushima City for four population groups: Fukushima City Office staff, Senior Citizens’ Club, Contractors’ Association, and Agricultural Cooperative. In addition, probabilistic assessments were performed for these population groups by considering the spatial variability of contamination and interpopulation differences resulting from behavior patterns. As a result of comparison with the actual measurements, the assessment results for participants from the Fukushima City Office agreed with the measured values, thereby validating the model and the approach. Although the assessment results obtained for the Senior Citizens’ Club and the Agricultural Cooperative differ partly from the measured values, by addressing further considerations in terms of dose reduction effects due to decontamination and the impact of additional exposure sources in agricultural fields, these results can be improved. By contrast, the measurements obtained for the participants from the Contractors’ Association were not reproduced well in the present study. To assess the doses to this group, further investigations of association members’ work activities and the related dose reduction effects are needed.
The State of the Russian Economy: Hopeless But Not Politically Serious?
Authors: HANSON PHILIP
Published: September 2017

This article describes the present condition and near‐term prospects of the Russian economy and analyzes the major influences contributing to its current weakness. It then draws attention to the domestic, structural problems faced by Russia and assesses the political obstacles to their solution.
The State Program for Voluntary Resettlement of Compatriots: Ideals of Citizenship, Membership, and Statehood in the Russian Federation
Authors: MYHRE MARTHE HANDÅ
Published: September 2017

The State Program for Voluntary Resettlement of Compatriots Abroad was launched in 2006/2007 as a strategy to attract new citizens who were already fluent in Russian and accustomed to Russian culture, in a situation of gloomy demographic prospects. During its first years of existence the program proved quite inefficient, but in 2012–13 it was revised to become more attractive and extended to include more Federal Subjects (now 58). Whereas in September 2012 RIA Novosti reported that there had been 80,000 repatriates since the start of the program, the FMS (the Federal Migration Service) stated in 2014 that more than 200,000 compatriots had been resettled. The paper focuses on this period of revival and investigates what the discussions and representations of the State Program in Russian public discourse reveal about ideals of citizenship, membership, and statehood in Russia. Discourse analysis is combined with references to theoretical debates on states’ policies of inclusion and exclusion. Researchers have already pointed to the concept of “compatriots” as ambiguous, because it only vaguely defines who the program is open for. Even though the initial aim of the program was to secure economic development in the regions and improve the demographic situation in the country, it clearly intervenes in other discourses that relate to the image of the Russian nation and the boundaries of the imagined “we.” One is the idea of Russia as the historical homeland of “compatriots,” and connected to this the idea that “compatriots” are discriminated against in other countries and therefore implicitly want to return to Russia. The debates also bear witness to an explicit dichotomy between “compatriots” and “migrants,” where “migrants” are construed as unqualified, unwanted and not rightfully belonging in the country, whereas “compatriots” are skilled and desired labor, easy to include into the Russian “community of value.” From spring 2014 onwards, the State Program became an issue also in relation to refugees from Ukraine who fled to Russia during the escalating conflict and war. This study shows how at that point the State Program suddenly turned into a means of effective integration of Ukrainian refugees–“compatriots.” I argue that although in the media representations the program acquires several other functions, the pragmatic aspect–Russia wanting to attract skilled labor–is present throughout and stands out as the most important.
HLA‐B*40:302, a novel allele identified by sequence‐based typing in a Korean individual
Authors: Lee J. H. , Im J. , Choi H.‐J. , Kim S.‐H. , Shin M.‐G.
Published: September 2017

B*40:302 differs from B*40:02:01:01 by a single nonsynonymous nucleotide substitution at codon 81 (CCG→CTG).
A novel multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay for detection of both HLA‐A*31:01/HLA‐B*15:02 alleles, which confer susceptibility to carbamazepine‐induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions
Authors: Nguyen D. V. , Vidal C. , Chi H. C. , Do N. T. Q. , Fulton R. , Li J. , Fernando S. L.
Published: September 2017

HLA‐A*31:01 and HLA‐B*15:02 have been widely reported to confer genetic susceptibility to carbamazepine (CBZ)‐induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs). Accordingly, the screening for these alleles has been highly recommended to prevent SCAR prior to introducing CBZ therapy. Although a number of methods are available for screening of HLA‐A*31:01 or HLA‐B*15:02 alleles separately, developing an assay that can detect both these alleles would be more clinically practical, cost‐effective and less time‐consuming. Therefore, in this study, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using TaqMan Probe was designed and validated to be able to detect HLA‐A*31:01 and HLA‐B*15:02. In comparison with Luminex‐SSO/SBT/SSB, the multiplex PCR assay for detection of HLA‐A*31:01 and HLA‐B*15:02 had a perfect agreement in the validation group of 125 samples. The method was able to detect the target genes at the DNA concentration of 0.037 ng/μL. The unit cost of this assay is less than $5 USD with total time of 110 minutes.
Expression of receptor tyrosine kinase targets PDGFR‐β, VEGFR2 and KIT in canine transitional cell carcinoma
Authors: Walters L. , Martin O. , Price J. , Sula M. M.
Published: September 2017

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is the most common neoplasia of the canine urinary tract. It tends to be locally invasive and has a moderate metastatic rate. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) play an important role in promoting cell growth, differentiation and regulation of cell function. RTK inhibitor toceranib phosphate has been used anecdotally to treat TCC. The goal of this study was to evaluate archived normal urinary bladder, TCC and cystitis bladder samples for expression of toceranib phosphate targets: VEGFR2, PDGFR‐β and stem cell factor receptor (KIT). A significant number of TCC samples expressed PDGFR‐β compared with cystitis and normal bladder samples (P<.0001). While all the tumour samples stained positively for VEGFR2, there was no significant difference between tumour, cystitis and normal bladder samples in intensity scores or staining distribution. Minimal positive staining for KIT was noted in the tumour samples. Based on this proof of target study, further investigation is warranted to determine clinical response of TCC to toceranib phosphate.
Behavioral Patterns of Women Who Employ Their Leisure Time in Sports Activities: An Application of the Football Branch
Authors: Eroğlu Yeşer , Özsoy Selami
Published: September 2017

This study is conducted to reveal the role of gender in attending leisure time activities and to determine gender perceptions about sports branches. For this purpose, an application was performed with the participation of 7 female students from Abant Izzet Baysal University School of Physical Education and Sport. For 8 weeks, volunteer participants saw home-field football matches of Boluspor Football Team, playing in the First League of Turkish Football Federation. Focus group discussions were conducted with the participants both before and after the application. The research was based on qualitative method, and the data of the research was analyzed via NVIVO 10 program. It is detected that the participants had negative perceptions about attending a football match before the application, but this transformed into a positive perception after the application. Participants emphasized that there were some obstacles in front of women in attending leisure time activities, yet argued that these obstacles could disappear with increased participation. Participants also remarked that negative perception shared by the people in their close circles about seeing football matches transformed into positive perception after the application. Moreover, participants stated that attending leisure time activities strengthened socialization and communication.
Hacia una Ética de la Representación Intercultural
Authors: FonsecaGarcía Sara Regina
Published: September 2017

El arte intercultural y la antropología comparten un interés por estudiar y representar culturas diferentes a la propia. Estas prácticas implican la determinación de un ‘otro’ y la construcción de un conocimiento sobre el mismo; dos operaciones que desde una perspectiva post-estructuralista, implican un ejercicio de poder. Partiendo de estas relaciones, el artículo revisa algunos conceptos y estrategias fundamentales de la antropología, construyendo un marco teórico que permite discutir sobre temas como lo universal y lo particular, la apropiación y trasposición de manifestaciones culturales, el exotismo, las relaciones inter-personales en la interculturalidad, y la de-colonización. Para esto tomaré como ejemplo principal el trabajo de Eugenio Barba y el teatro Odin, y culminaré con una experiencia personal de creación escénica. Más que establecer una ética de la representación intercultural, el artículo deja preguntas y señala aspectos que pueden nutrir y motivar reflexiones éticas sobre la representación intercultural en las artes escénicas.
La lucha por un “sueño americano”: Lincoln Kirstein frente a la “conspiración” del ballet ruso antes de la Guerra Fría
Authors: Vega Pichaco Belen
Published: September 2017

En Blast at Ballet: a corrective for the American audience (1937), Lincoln Kirstein explicaba su proyecto de creación de un ballet “americano”, así como la “conspiración” que frenaba su avance; esto es, el éxito que los herederos de los emblemáticos Ballets Russes cosechaban, con la complicidad de managers, crítica y público estadounidenses. El objetivo de este artículo consiste en analizar el discurso estético e ideológico de Kirstein en relación al ballet ruso en los años previos a la Guerra Fría, así como su mirada utilitarista hacia Latinoamérica en un contexto plenamente imbuido de la política del “Buen Vecino” de Roosevelt. De este modo, a partir del manejo de fuentes prácticamente desconocidas fuera del ámbito anglosajón, como el citado panfleto o los documentos de la gira del American Ballet por Iberoamérica (1941), se mostrarán las bases ideológicas del “sueño americano” de Kirstein y las circunstancias políticas en las que se gestó.
Factores asociados a la calidad de vida en mujeres con cáncer de mama. Medellín 2013
Authors: Pineda-Higuita Sonia Elena , Andrade-Mosquera Sandra Milena , Montoya-Jaramillo Yaneth Marcela
Published: September 2017

Introducción: cáncer de mama es un problema de salud pública que genera diversos factores y sentimientos que afectan la calidad de vida. Objetivo: evaluar los factores asociados a la calidad de vida en pacientes con cáncer de mama. Métodos: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal que incluyó 82 pacientes. Se calculó la calidad de vida con WHQOL-BREF y los factores asociados se determinaron con un modelo de regresión logística binaria. Resultados: el 73.1 % calificó la calidad de vida mínimo como buena. El dominio físico fue el más afectado (65.1 ± 15.9), en tanto que el entorno fue el menos afectado (78.2 ± 14.2). Las variables que explican el deterioro de la calidad de vida fueron: riesgo edad 50 años, diagnóstico de cáncer avanzado al ingreso a la administradora de planes de beneficio (EAPB), mientras que los protectores fueron la satisfacción con el servicio y la terapia hormonal. Conclusión: es necesario enfatizar y tener mejor satisfacción con el servicio en mujeres menores de cincuenta años y que ingresaron con diagnóstico avanzado al programa.
Sinergias y continuidades en las políticas públicas relacionadas con enfermedades cardio-cerebro-vasculares. Medellín, Colombia, 2000-2013
Authors: López-López María Victoria , Pastor-Durango María del Pilar , Arango-Tamayo Gustavo Alberto
Published: September 2017

Objetivo: analizar sinergias y continuidades entre acuerdos municipales relacionados con enfer­medades cardio-cerebro-vasculares en Medellín, Colombia entre 2000-2013, como un proceso que trasciende la formalización del discurso. Metodología: estudio cualitativo, se revisaron 57 acuerdos y se realizaron doce entrevistas semiestructuradas a actores clave. Hallazgos: la formulación de algunos acuerdos partió de orientaciones externas o del diagnóstico local, lo que muestra continuidad y coherencia en la secuencia del ciclo de la política. Con respecto a la sinergia, proponen acciones para impactar positivamente las decisiones tomadas: construcción de alianzas y redes en los distintos niveles; desarrollo de estrategias de información, educación y comunicación; estímulo a la participación ciudadana y mejoramiento del acceso a la atención en salud. Conclusión: el análisis implicó considerar relaciones entre políticas que contemplen acciones que incidan en las enfermedades cardio-cerebro-vasculares y posibiliten su continuidad por las condiciones presupuestales, administrativas y de ejecución.
Utilización de servicios de salud por enfermedades catastróficas o de alto costo en Antioquia
Authors: Lopera-Medina María Mónica
Published: September 2017

Las enfermedades catastróficas o de alto costo (EAC) causan alta morbimortalidad y deman­dan atención permanente, compleja y costosa. Objetivo: caracterizar la utilización de servicios de salud por enfermedades de alto costo. Método: estudio descriptivo transversal. Se analizó información de los registros individuales de prestación de servicios para ocho EAC, usando codificación CIE-10. La utilización se analizó según variables sociodemográficas y características de la oferta. Resultados: el 16 % de la utilización de servicios fue atribuible a pacientes con EAC. Esta fue más frecuente en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica y precursoras (ERC-P), enfermedades huérfanas y epilepsia, mujeres mayores de 50 años y personas del régimen contributivo (con variaciones según la enfermedad). Entre 66 y 83 % de la utilización se produjo en instituciones privadas y predominó la atención por medicina general, con escasa participación de otras áreas de salud. Conclusión: se encontraron diferencias inaceptables de utilización entre regímenes de afiliación y variables de oferta, afines a las políticas privatizadoras
An Experimental Investigation of the Dynamics of a Blade With Two Under-Platform Dampers
Authors: Botto Daniele , Gastadi Chiara , Gola Muzio M. , Umer Muhammad
Published: September 2017

Several experimental apparatuses have been designed in the past to evaluate the effectiveness of under-platform dampers. Most of these experimental setups allow to measure the overall damper efficiency in terms of reduction of vibration amplitude in turbine blades. The experimental data collected with these test rigs do not increase the knowledge about the damper dynamics, and therefore, the uncertainty on the damper behavior remains a big issue. In this paper, a different approach to evaluate the damper–blade interaction has been put forward. A test rig has been purposely designed to accommodate a single blade and two under-platform dampers. One side of each damper is in contact with a ground support specifically designed to measure two independent forces on the damper. In this way, both the normal and the tangential force components in the damper–blade contact can be inferred. Damper kinematics is rebuilt by using the relative displacement measured between damper and blade. This paper describes the concept behind the new approach, shows the details of the new test rig, and discusses the blade frequency response from a new point of view.
Localization performance correlates with binaural fusion for interaurally mismatched vocoded speech
Authors: Suneel Deepa , Staisloff Hannah , Shayman Corey S. , Stelmach Julia , Aronoff Justin M.
Published: September 2017

Bilateral cochlear implant users often have difficulty fusing sounds from the two ears into a single percept. However, measuring fusion can be difficult, particularly with cochlear implant users who may have no reference for a fully fused percept. As a first step to address this, this study examined how localization performance of normal hearing subjects relates to binaural fusion. The stimuli were vocoded speech tokens with various interaural mismatches. The results reveal that the percentage of stimuli perceived as fused was correlated with localization performance, suggesting that changes in localization performance can serve as an indicator for binaural fusion changes.
Synthesis of mixed hypermetallic oxide BaOCa
+
from laser-cooled reagents in an atom-ion hybrid trap
Authors: Puri Prateek , Mills Michael , Schneider Christian , Simbotin Ionel , Montgomery John A. , Côté Robin , Suits Arthur G. , Hudson Eric R.
Published: September 2017

A chilly meeting of barium and calcium

The periodic table is an excellent predictor of element ratios in chemical compounds that form at temperatures that we commonly experience, give or take a factor of 10. Strange things start happening at hot and cold extremes, though. Puri
et al.
take advantage of extreme cold to observe the formation of the BaOCa
+
ion, an electron-deficient alternative to conventional binary barium or calcium oxides. They first prepared cold barium methoxide ions and then exposed them to calcium atoms cooled to thousandths of a kelvin. Mass spectral and theoretical analyses revealed a barrierless reaction pathway in which triplet-state calcium displaces the methyl group.

Science
, this issue p.
1370
Draft Genome Sequence of the Iridescent Marine Bacterium Cellulophaga lytica CECT 8139
Authors: Chapelais-Baron Maylis , Goubet Isabelle , Duchaud Eric , Rosenfeld Eric
Published: September 2017

Some species of the genus
Cellulophaga
have been reported as having biotechnological interests and noteworthy physiological properties. We report here the draft genome sequence of
Cellulophaga lytica
CECT 8139, a bacterium that produces an intensely iridescent colony biofilm on agar surfaces.
Draft Genome Sequence of Comamonas testosteroni R2, Consisting of Aromatic Compound Degradation Genes for Phenol Hydroxylase
Authors: Azwani Fatma , Suzuki Kenshi , Honjyo Masahiro , Tashiro Yosuke , Futamata Hiroyuki
Published: September 2017

Comamonas testosteroni
strain R2 was isolated from a continuous culture enriched by a low concentration of phenol-oxygenating activities with low
K

s

values (below 1 μM). The draft genome sequence of
C. testosteroni
strain R2 reported here may contribute to determining the phenol degradation gene cluster.
Draft Genome Sequences of Three Sub-Antarctic
Rhodococcus
spp., Including Two Novel Psychrophilic Genomospecies
Authors: Nahar Akhikun , Baker Anthony L. , Charleston Michael A. , Bowman John P. , Britz Margaret L.
Published: September 2017

The draft genome sequences of three sub-Antarctic
Rhodococcus
sp. strains—1159, 1163, and 1168—are reported here. The estimated genome sizes were 7.09 Mb with a 62.3% GC content for strain 1159, 4.45 Mb with a 62.3% GC content for strain 1163, and 5.06 Mb with a 62.10% GC content for strain 1168.
Complete Genome Sequence of a
bla
OXA-58
-Producing Acinetobacter baumannii Strain Isolated from a Mexican Hospital
Authors: Pérez-Oseguera Ángeles , Castro-Jaimes Semiramis , Salgado-Camargo Abraham David , Silva-Sanchez Jesus , Garza-González Elvira , Castillo-Ramírez Santiago , Cevallos Miguel Ángel
Published: September 2017

In this study, we present the complete genome sequence of a
bla
OXA-58
-producing
Acinetobacter baumannii
strain, sampled from a Mexican hospital and not related to the international clones.
Randomised trial of estimating oral endotracheal tube insertion depth in newborns using weight or vocal cord guide
Authors: Gill Irwin , Stafford Aisling , Murphy Madeleine C , Geoghegan Aisling R , Crealey Miranda , Laffan Eoghan , O’Donnell Colm Patrick Finbarr
Published: September 2017

Background

When intubating newborns, clinicians aim to position the endotracheal tube (ETT) tip in the midtrachea. The depth to which ETTs should be inserted is often estimated using the infant’s weight. ETTs are frequently incorrectly positioned in newborns, most often inserted too far. Using the vocal cord guide (a mark at the distal end of the ETT) to guide insertion depth has been recommended.

Objective

To determine whether estimating ETT insertion depth using the vocal cord guide rather than weight results in more correctly positioned ETT tips.

Design

Single-centre randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at a university maternity hospital (National Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland).

Patients

Newborn infants without congenital anomalies intubated in the NICU.

Interventions

Participants were randomised to have ETT insertion depth estimated using weight [insertion depth (cm) = weight (kg) +6] or vocal cord guide.

Main outcome measure

Correct ETT position, that is, tip between the upper border of the first thoracic vertebra (T1) and the lower border of the second thoracic vertebra (T2) on a chest X-ray as determined by one paediatric radiologist masked to group assignment.

Results

136 participants were randomised. The proportion of correctly positioned ETTs was similar in both groups (weight 30/69 (44%) vs vocal cord guide 27/67 (40%), p=0.731). Most incorrectly positioned ETT (69/79, 87%) were too low.

Conclusion

Estimating ETT insertion depth using the vocal cord guide did not result in more correctly positioned ETT tips.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN39654846.