bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contesting the Governance of Capital Flows at the IMF
Authors: Gallagher Kevin P.
Published: December 2014

Financial crises can trigger different actors to reassess their ideas, interests, and policies, and sometimes change them. The Global Financial Crisis triggered a reassessment at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding the utility of capital account liberalization and the management of capital flows. In 2010, the IMF embarked upon an official reassessment of these issues and in 2012 published an official “institutional view” on capital account liberalization and managing capital flows that gives more caution toward capital account liberalization and endorses the use of capital controls in certain circumstances. This article traces the political process that yielded the IMF's new view and draws out lessons for thinking about policy change in global economic governance institutions.
Does sharing the electronic health record in the consultation enhance patient involvement? A mixed‐methods study using multichannel video recording and in‐depth interviews in primary care
Authors: Milne Heather , Huby Guro , Buckingham Susan , Hayward James , Sheikh Aziz , Cresswell Kathrin , Pinnock Hilary
Published: December 2014

Background

Sharing the electronic health‐care record (EHR) during consultations has the potential to facilitate patient involvement in their health care, but research about this practice is limited.

Methods

We used multichannel video recordings to identify examples and examine the practice of screen‐sharing within 114 primary care consultations. A subset of 16 consultations was viewed by the general practitioner and/or patient in 26 reflexive interviews. Screen‐sharing emerged as a significant theme and was explored further in seven additional patient interviews. Final analysis involved refining themes from interviews and observation of videos to understand how screen‐sharing occurred, and its significance to patients and professionals.

Results

Eighteen (16%) of 114 videoed consultations involved instances of screen‐sharing. Screen‐sharing occurred in six of the subset of 16 consultations with interviews and was a significant theme in 19 of 26 interviews. The screen was shared in three ways: ‘convincing’ the patient of a diagnosis or treatment; ‘translating’ between medical and lay understandings of disease/medication; and by patients ‘verifying’ the accuracy of the EHR. However, patients and most GPs perceived the screen as the doctor's domain, not to be routinely viewed by the patient.

Conclusions

Screen‐sharing can facilitate patient involvement in the consultation, depending on the way in which sharing comes about, but the perception that the record belongs to the doctor is a barrier. To exploit the potential of sharing the screen to promote patient involvement, there is a need to reconceptualise and redesign the EHR.
‘And then you can decide’ – antenatal foetal diagnosis decision making inSouthAfrica
Authors: Wessels Tina‐Marié , Koole Tom , Penn Claire
Published: December 2014

Background

Decision making is integral to genetic counselling and the premise is that autonomous decisions emerge if patients are provided with information in a non‐directive manner. The pivotal activity in antenatal diagnosis counselling with at‐risk pregnant women is decision making regarding invasive procedures. This process is not well understood in multicultural settings.

Objective

This study examined multicultural genetic counselling interactions with women of advanced maternal age (AMA). It aimed to investigate the participants' orientation towards the amniocentesis decision.

Design

Data were collected during 14 video‐recorded consultations between six genetic counsellors and 14 women of AMA in a genetic counselling clinic in South Africa. The design was qualitative and conversation analysis was used for analysis.

Results

Analysis revealed that counsellors used several strategies to facilitate discussions and decision making. However, the invitation to make a decision regarding amniocentesis was not perceived as being neutral. Both the counsellors and the women appeared to treat the offer as one which should be accepted. This resulted in a paradox, as strategies intended to allow neutral discussion seem to achieve the opposite. It is suggested that these results may be linked to the local health‐care setting.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the understanding of decision‐making processes and enhancing autonomy may require a more detailed investigation into psychosocial, political and historical factors in the local health‐care setting. Models of practice as well as the training of genetic counsellors need to be sensitive to these influences. A closer examination of interactional variables may yield new and relevant insights for the profession.
Notions of quality and standards for qualitative research reporting
Authors: Pearson Alan , Jordan Zoe , Lockwood Craig , Aromataris Ed
Published: December 2014

The utility of qualitative research findings in the health sciences has been the subject of considerable debate, particularly with the advent of qualitative systematic reviews in recent years. There has been a significant investment in the production of guidance to improve the reporting of quantitative research; however, comparatively little time has been spent on developing the same for qualitative research reporting. This paper sets out to examine the possibility of developing a framework for refereed journals to utilize when guiding authors on how to report the results of qualitative studies in the hope that this will improve the quality of reports and subsequently their inclusion in qualitative syntheses and guidelines to inform practice at the point of care.
Consumer sexual relationships in a Forensic mental health hospital: Perceptions of nurses and consumers
Authors: Quinn Chris , Happell Brenda
Published: December 2014

The management of consumer‐related risk is paramount in a secure forensic mental health facility. However, the consequent risk aversion presents a major barrier to consumers forming sexual relationships in a manner that is open and accepted. Investigation of the views of nurses working in forensic mental health settings on this topic is limited, and even more so for consumers of services. This qualitative exploratory study was undertaken to elicit the views of consumers and nurses about forming sexual relationships within this long‐term and secure setting. Individual in‐depth interviews were conducted with 12 nurses and 10 consumers. The benefits of, and barriers to, sexual relationships was identified as a major theme, and these findings are the focus of this paper. Nurse responses included the subthemes ‘supportive factors’ and ‘potential dangers’, reflecting their qualified support. Consumer responses included the subthemes ‘therapeutic’, ‘feeling normal’, ‘restrictions and barriers’, and ‘lack of support and secrecy’. The importance of sexual relationships was clearly articulated, as was the difficulties in forming and maintaining them within the forensic setting. More open discussion about this commonly‐avoided issue and the education of nurses and other health professionals is required.
Successful breeding of Dhole Cuon alpinus at Mysore Zoo, India
Authors: Ravi B. P. , Suresh Kumar C. , Dhanalakshmi S. , Kshamaa L. M. , Prashanth M. K.
Published: December 2014

Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, popularly known as Mysore Zoo, houses three species that can be called lesser carnivores: the Dhole or Indian wild dog Cuon alpinus, the Golden jackal Canis aureus and the Indian grey wolf Canis lupus pallipes. All three belong to the Canidae and their ecological importance and role cannot be underestimated. There is growing concern about the dwindling numbers of these carnivores in the wild. Efforts to breed these species in captive conditions are of great significance in the event that animals are required to be released/re‐stocked into the wild. Captive‐breeding programmes have been initiated at Mysore Zoo for the Dhole and the Indian grey wolf. This paper describes the preparations made in advance of parturition (e.g. provision of separate holding rooms for the breeding pair with a den and installation of closed‐circuit television cameras to allow remote monitoring), the measures taken to reduce neonatal mortality (e.g. when the mother is not feeding the pups they can be separated for hand rearing) and the need to simulate natural conditions around the enclosure in order to achieve successful breeding of Dhole in zoological facilities.
How to sex Giant otter Pteronura brasiliensis (Gmelin, 1788) cubs
Authors: Hantke G. , Kitchener A. C.
Published: December 2014

Sexing living neonate mammals may be difficult as external genitalia may be poorly developed and time may be limited for a detailed examination. Four neonate cubs of the Giant otter Pteronura brasiliensis were examined in order to determine a method to distinguish between the sexes. The distance between anal and genital openings in ♂ cubs is about eight times greater than that in ♀ cubs, providing a simple method for determining sex.
Short‐Term Outcome of Multiple Port Laparoscopic Splenectomy in 10 Dogs
Authors: Shaver Stephanie L. , Mayhew Philipp D. , Steffey Michele A. , Hunt Geraldine B. , Mayhew Kelli N. , Culp William T. N.
Published: December 2014

Objective

To describe surgical techniques for multiple port laparoscopic splenectomy (MLS) in dogs and report short‐term outcome.

Study design

Retrospective case series.

Animals

Dogs (n = 10) with naturally occurring splenic disease.

Methods

Medical records (March 2012–March 2013) of dogs that had MLS were reviewed. Data retrieved included signalment, weight, clinical signs, physical examination findings, preoperative laboratory and ultrasonographic findings, port number, size, and location, patient positioning, additional procedures performed, surgical duration, histopathologic diagnosis, duration of hospitalization, and perioperative complications.

Results

Ten dogs (median weight, 28.7 kg; range, 20.2–46.0 kg) had MLS using a 3 or 4 port technique and a vessel‐sealing device for tissue dissection along the splenic hilus. Dog positioning varied because of additional laparoscopic or laparoscopic‐assisted procedures including adrenalectomy (n = 2), ovariectomy (1), gastropexy (1), and intestinal resection and anastomosis (1). Conversion to an open approach was necessary in 1 dog because of inadequate visibility caused by omental adhesions. One dog had hemorrhage from an omental vessel, but open conversion was not required.

Conclusions

MLS was associated with little perioperative morbidity and few complications in this cohort of dogs and may be a reasonable option for surgical management of dogs requiring elective splenectomy.
Characteristics of Transparent Conducting W‐Doped SnO2 Thin Films Prepared by Using the Magnetron Sputtering Method
Authors: Yu Shihui , Li Lingxia , Sun Zheng , Zheng Haoran , Dong Helei , Xu Dan , Zhang Weifeng
Published: December 2014

Tungsten‐doped SnO2 (WTO) thin films with a given thickness of about 300 nm have been prepared by magnetron sputtering with a substrate temperature in the range 400°C–700°C. The effects of substrate temperature on the structural, optical, and electrical properties and of WTO thin films have been investigated. A texture transition from (1 1 0) to (2 1 1) crystallographic orientations has experimentally been found by X‐ray diffraction measurements as substrate temperature is raised. It was found that all thin films showed smooth surface with no cracks and high transparency (>85%) with the optical band gap ranging from 4.22 to 4.32 eV. The mobility varied from 12.89 to 22.48 cm2·(V·s)−1 without reducing the achieved high carrier concentration of about 1.6 × 1020 cm−3. Such an increase in mobility is shown to be clearly associated with the development of (2 0 0) but concurrent degradation of (1 1 0) in WTO thin films.
Nutritional care after critical illness: a qualitative study of patients’ experiences
Authors: Merriweather J. L. , Salisbury L. G. , Walsh T. S. , Smith P.
Published: December 2014

Background

The present qualitative study aimed to explore the factors influencing nutritional recovery in patients after critical illness and to develop a model of care to improve current management of nutrition for this patient group.

Methods

Patients were recruited into the study on discharge from a general intensive care unit (ICU) of a large teaching hospital in central Scotland. Semi‐structured interviews were carried out after discharge from the ICU, weekly for the duration of their ward stay, and at 3 months post ICU discharge. Observations of ward practice were undertaken thrice weekly for the duration of the ward stay.

Results

Seventeen patients were recruited into the study and, using a grounded theory approach, ‘inter‐related system breakdowns during the nutritional recovery process’ emerged as the overarching core category that influenced patients’ experiences of eating after critical illness. This encompassed the categories, ‘experiencing a dysfunctional body’, ‘experiencing socio‐cultural changes in relation to eating’ and ‘encountering nutritional care delivery failures’.

Conclusions

The findings from the present study provide a unique contribution to knowledge by offering important insights into patients’ experiences of eating after critical illness. The study has identified numerous nutritional problems and raises questions about the efficacy of current nutritional management in this patient group. Adopting a more individualised approach to nutritional care could ameliorate the nutritional issues experienced by post ICU patients. This will be evaluated in future work.
Exploring associations between anthropometric indices and graft function in patients receiving renal transplant
Authors: Tsirigoti L. , Kontogianni M. D. , Darema M. , Iatridi V. , Altanis N. , Poulia K. A. , Zavos G. , Boletis J.
Published: December 2014

Background

The aim of the present study was to identify indicators of malnutrition, as obtained by anthropometric measurements, that might be potential predictors of transplant outcomes.

Methods

One hundred and three patients receiving a graft from a living or a deceased donor were included in this prospective study. Body mass index (BMI) based on pretransplant dry body weight, triceps skinfold, mid‐arm muscle circumference and corrected mid‐arm muscle area were measured. Post‐transplant data on delayed graft function (DGF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) at discharge were collected until patient discharge.

Results

Delayed graft function developed in 36.9% of the patients. BMI was the only anthropometric variable associated with a higher likelihood of DGF (odds ratio = 1.25, 95% confidence interval = 1.07–1.47) after adjusting for age, gender, donor group, donor age and years of dialysis before transplantation. Obesity was associated with a higher frequency of DGF (83.3% versus 31.1%, P = 0.001) compared to normal weight. GFR at discharge was negatively associated with BMI [β = −0.014 (0.005), P = 0.004], being overweight [β = −0.151 (0.041), P < 0.001] and obesity [β = −0.188 (0.053), P = 0.001], after adjusting for age, gender, donor group, donor age and years of dialysis, but was not associated with indices of muscle reserves.

Conclusions

The likelihood of DGF was higher among obese patients, whereas GFR at discharge was negatively associated with being overweight and obesity.
Chemicals eluting from disposable plastic syringes and syringe filters alter neurite growth, axogenesis and the microtubule cytoskeleton in cultured hippocampal neurons
Authors: Lee Tet Woo , Tumanov Sergey , Villas‐Bôas Silas G , Montgomery Johanna M , Birch Nigel P
Published: December 2014

Cultures of dissociated hippocampal neurons are often used to study neuronal cell biology. We report that the development of these neurons is strongly affected by chemicals leaching from commonly used disposable medical‐grade syringes and syringe filters. Contamination of culture medium by bioactive substance(s) from syringes and filters occurred with multiple manufacturing lots and filter types under normal use conditions and resulted in changes to neurite growth, axon formation and the neuronal microtubule cytoskeleton. The effects on neuronal morphology were concentration‐dependent and significant effects were detected even after substantial dilution of the contaminated medium. Gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry analyses revealed many chemicals eluting from the syringes and filters. Three of these chemicals (stearic acid, palmitic acid and 1,2‐ethanediol monoacetate) were tested but showed no effects on neurite growth. Similar changes in neuronal morphology were seen with high concentrations of bisphenol A and dibutyl phthalate, two hormonally active plasticisers. Although no such compounds were detected by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, unknown plasticisers in leachates may affect neurites. This is the first study to show that leachates from laboratory consumables can alter the growth of cultured hippocampal neurons. We highlight important considerations to ensure leachate contamination does not compromise cell biology experiments.

image

Cultures of dissociated hippocampal neurons are used to study many aspects of neuronal cell biology. We report that leachates from medical grade syringes and sterile syringe filters may alter neurite growth in these cultures. These consumables are commonly used in the laboratory. Our results serve as a reminder to other researchers to ensure that leachate contamination does not compromise experimental results, and that specifying details about which materials were used is crucial. The merged image shows the differences between dissociated hippocampal neurons that were cultured for 2 days in control medium (left half of image) compared to those cultured in syringe‐filtered medium (right half of image), which have a greater number of long thin neurites. Neurons were immunolabelled for Tau (green) and MAP2 (red) and nuclei labelled with DAPI (blue).
A mixed methods study of the work patterns of full‐time nurse practitioners in nursing homes
Authors: Martin‐Misener Ruth , Donald Faith , Wickson‐Griffiths Abigail , Akhtar‐Danesh Noori , Ploeg Jenny , Brazil Kevin , Kaasalainen Sharon , McAiney Carrie , Carter Nancy , Schindel Martin Lori , Sangster‐Gormley Esther , Taniguchi Alan
Published: December 2014

Aims and objectives

The aim of this study was to explore the integration of the nurse practitioner role in Canadian nursing homes to enable its full potential to be realised for resident and family care. The objective was to determine nurse practitioners' patterns of work activities.

Background

Nurse practitioners were introduced in Canadian nursing homes a decade ago on a pilot basis. In recent years, government and nursing home sector interest in the role has grown along with the need for data to inform planning efforts.

Design

The study used a sequential mixed methods design using a national survey followed by case studies.

Methods

A national survey of nurse practitioners included demographic items and the EverCare Nurse Practitioner Role and Activity Scale. Following the survey, case studies were conducted in four nursing homes. Data were collected using individual and focus group interviews, document reviews and field notes.

Results

Twenty‐three of a target population of 26 nurse practitioners responded to the survey, two‐thirds of whom provided services in nursing homes with one site and the remainder in nursing homes with as many as four sites. On average, nurse practitioners performed activities in communicator, clinician, care manager/coordinator and coach/educator subscales at least three to four times per week and activities in the collaborator subscale once a week. Of the 43 activities, nurse practitioners performed daily, most were in the clinician and communicator subscales. Case study interviews involved 150 participants. Findings complemented those of the survey and identified additional leadership activities.

Conclusion

Nurse practitioners undertake a range of primary health care and advanced practice activities which they adapt to meet the unique needs of nursing homes.

Relevance to clinical practice

Knowledge of work patterns enables nursing homes to implement the full range of nurse practitioner roles and activities to enhance resident and family care.
Women's self‐management of chronic illnesses in the context of caregiving: a grounded theory study
Authors: Martinez‐Marcos Mercedes , De la Cuesta‐Benjumea Carmen
Published: December 2014

Aims and objectives

Uncover how women self‐manage their own chronic illness while taking care of a dependent relative.

Background

International policies place special emphasis in promoting interventions addressed to control, prevent and care for people with chronic health conditions. Self‐management is a crucial part of this care. Caregivers are more prone to have chronic illness than non‐caregivers. They are confronted with dilemmas about taking care of themselves while taking care of their dependent relative and the rest of their families. Caregivers articulate strategies to enable them to focus their energy on caring.

Design

Qualitative study using constructivist grounded theory.

Methods

Thirty‐nine women caregivers with a chronic illness participated in the study. Twenty‐three semi‐structured interviews and two focus groups were carried out between April 2010–December 2011. Data were analysed using grounded theory procedures.

Findings

Self‐management helps women caregivers with a chronic illness to balance the demands of their own illness and those of the dependent relative. They self‐manage their illness by self‐regulating the treatment, by regulating their strength and by controlling their emotions.

Conclusions

Women caregivers integrate effectively and creatively the management of their chronic illnesses within the complexities of family care. This renders their health needs invisible and reaffirms them as capable caregivers.

Relevance to clinical practice

Identifying self‐management strategies of women caregivers allow health professionals to acknowledge and reinforce effective self‐care measures and to deter those that are ineffective and lessen their quality of life.
Why older nurses leave the workforce and the implications of them staying
Authors: Duffield Christine , Graham Elizabeth , Donoghue Judith , Griffiths Rhonda , Bichel‐Findlay Jen , Dimitrelis Sofia
Published: December 2014

Aims and objectives

To identify factors that motivate older nurses to leave the workforce.

Background

As many older nurses are now reaching retirement age and will be eligible for government‐funded pensions, governments are concerned about the impending financial burden. To prepare for this scenario, many are looking at increasing the age of retirement to 67 or 70 years. Little is known about how this will affect the continuing employment of older nurses and the consequences for employers and the nurses themselves if they remain longer in the workforce.

Design

Prospective randomised quantitative survey study.

Methods

The Mature Age Workers Questionnaire, Job Descriptive Index and Job in General Scale were used to measure job satisfaction, intention to retire and factors encouraging retirement in registered nurses aged 45 years and over (n = 352) in Australia (July–August 2007).

Results

There were 319 respondents. The mean age proposed for leaving the workforce was 61·7 years. Key motivators were: financial considerations (40·1%), primarily financial security; nurse health (17·4%) and retirement age of partner (13·3%).

Conclusions

Older nurses are leaving the workforce prior to retirement or pension age, primarily for financial, social and health reasons, taking with them significant experience and knowledge. As financial considerations are important in older nurses decisions to continue to work, increasing the age of retirement may retain them. However, consideration will need to be given to ensure that they continue to experience job satisfaction and are physically and mentally able to undertake demanding work.

Relevance to clinical practice

Increasing retirement age may retain older nurses in the workforce, however, the impact on the health of older nurses is not known, nor is the impact for employers of older nurses continuing to work known. Employers must facilitate workplace changes to accommodate older nurses.
“An Army of Civil Servants”:MaxWeber andÉmileDurkheim on Socialism
Authors: Dawson Matt
Published: December 2014

This paper is a comparison of the views ofMaxWeber andÉmileDurkheim on socialism; these two have yet to be compared on this topic. They offered shared critiques of socialism, but differed in assessment of its overall worth, withDurkheim being more welcoming. After considering possible explanations for this divergenceIargue it reflects the contrasting methodologies adopted by both. WhilstWeber places questions of the “value” of socialism solely in the conscious of the individual, and therefore beyond sociology,Durkheim sees this as a social question and therefore part of the practical concerns of sociologists.
Diffusion Tensor Imaging in Radiation‐Induced Myelopathy
Authors: Keřkovský Miloš , Zitterbartová Jana , Pour Luděk , Šprláková‐Puková Andrea , Mechl Marek
Published: December 2014

Radiation myelopathy (RM) is a rare complication of spinal cord irradiation. Diagnosis is based on the history of radiotherapy, laboratory tests, and magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord. The MRI findings may nevertheless be quite unspecific. In this paper, we describe the findings of diffusion tensor imaging in a case of the delayed form of RM. We observed areas of restricted diffusion within the spinal cord which probably corresponded to the ischemic changes. This would concur with the currently accepted pathogenetic theory concerning RM.
Stereotypes versus experience: Indexing regional identity in Bolivian Valley Spanish
Authors: Babel Anna M.
Published: December 2014

Stereotypes of highland and lowland identity categories in the Santa Cruz valleys of Bolivia are linked to phonetic variation in the Spanish discourse markerpues. Highlanders are believed to say [pwes] or [ps] while lowlanders are believed to say [pweh] or [pwe]. However, these beliefs erase two types of differences. First, they erase a distinction among highlanders. While highlanders from the Potosí‐Oruro area pronouncepuesas they are believed to, highlanders from Cochabamba do not. Secondly, these beliefs erase intra‐speaker variation. Highlanders sometimes use the lowland variants ofpues, and vice versa. When people use atypical pronunciations, they invoke an indexical field linked to the group associated with that variant. This indexical field references stereotypical ideas about groups even when they are inaccurate. Specifically, highland variants index ‘pushy’ or ‘aggressive’ stances, which are associated with people from Cochabamba, even though people from Cochabamba do not use highland variants ofpues.
Origin and history of ureilitic material in the solar system: The view from asteroid 2008 TC3 and the Almahata Sitta meteorite
Authors: Goodrich Cyrena Anne , Hartmann William K. , O'Brien David P. , Weidenschilling Stuart J. , Wilson Lionel , Michel Patrick , Jutzi Martin
Published: December 2014

Asteroid 2008 TC3 (approximately 4 m diameter) was tracked and studied in space for approximately 19 h before it impacted Earth's atmosphere, shattering at 44–36 km altitude. The recovered samples (>680 individual rocks) comprise the meteorite Almahata Sitta (AhS). Approximately 50–70% of these are ureilites (ultramafic achondrites). The rest are chondrites, mainly enstatite, ordinary, and Rumuruti types. The goal of this work is to understand how fragments of so many different types of parent bodies became mixed in the same asteroid. Almahata Sitta has been classified as a polymict ureilite with an anomalously high component of foreign clasts. However, we calculate that the mass of fallen material was ≤0.1% of the pre‐atmospheric mass of the asteroid. Based on published data for the reflectance spectrum of the asteroid and laboratory spectra of the samples, we infer that the lost material was mostly ureilitic. Therefore, 2008 TC3 probably contained only a few percent nonureilitic materials, similar to other polymict ureilites except less well consolidated. From available data for the AhS meteorite fragments, we conclude that 2008 TC3 samples essentially the same range of types of ureilitic and nonureilitic materials as other polymict ureilites. We therefore suggest that the immediate parent of 2008 TC3 was the immediate parent of all ureilitic material sampled on Earth. We trace critical stages in the evolution of that material through solar system history. Based on various types of new modeling and re‐evaluation of published data, we propose the following scenario. (1) The ureilite parent body (UPB) accreted 0.5–0.6 Ma after formation of calcium‐aluminum‐rich inclusions (CAI), beyond the ice line (outer asteroid belt). Differentiation began approximately 1 Ma after CAI. (2) The UPB was catastrophically disrupted by a major impact approximately 5 Ma after CAI, with selective subsets of the fragments reassembling into daughter bodies. (3) Either the UPB (before breakup), or one of its daughters (after breakup), migrated to the inner belt due to scattering by massive embryos. (4) One daughter (after forming in or migrating to the inner belt) became the parent of 2008 TC3. It developed a regolith, mostly ≥3.8 Ga ago. Clasts of enstatite, ordinary, and Rumuruti‐type chondrites were implanted by low‐velocity collisions. (5) Recently, the daughter was disrupted. Fragments were injected or drifted into Earth‐crossing orbits. 2008 TC3 comes from outer layers of regolith, other polymict ureilites from deeper regolith, and main group ureilites from the interior of this body. In contrast to other models that have been proposed, this model invokes a stochastic history to explain the unique diversity of foreign materials in 2008 TC3 and other polymict ureilites.
A Carnian40Ar/39Ar age for the Paasselkä impact structure (SEFinland)—An update
Authors: Schwarz Winfried H. , Schmieder Martin , Buchner Elmar , Trieloff Mario , Moilanen Jarmo , Öhman Teemu
Published: December 2014

A recrystallized band of pale feldspathic impact melt in a gneissic impact breccia from the approximately 10 km Paasselkä impact structure in southeast Finland was dated via40Ar/39Ar step‐heating. The newly obtained plateau age of 228.7 ± 1.8 (2.2) Ma (2σ) (MSWD = 0.32;p = 0.93) is equal to the previously published pseudoplateau age of 228.7 ± 3.0 (3.4) (2σ) for the impact event. According to the current international chronostratigraphic chart and using the most recent published suggestions for the K decay constants, a Carnian (Late Triassic) age for the Paasselkä impact structure of 231.0 ± 1.8 (2.2) Ma (2σ) is calculated and considered the most precise and accurate age for this impact structure. The new plateau age for Paasselkä confirms the previous dating result but is, based on its internal statistics, much more compelling.
“And They Shall Make War No More”: Lessons about Peace-Making and Overcoming Conflict from Colombia
Authors: Henao Gaviria Hector Fabio
Published: December 2014

This paper describes the background to the last fifty years of violence in Columbia and identifies its causes in inequality, poverty and displacement. It then explores the ways in which the Catholic Church has been prominent in developing processes of peace-building that include “accompaniment” of the victims to include them in structures of citizen participation. It ends with theological and pastoral reflections on how this can be enabled practically in the Columbian context.
In Defence of War
Authors: Biggar Nigel
Published: December 2014

This essay falls into two parts. In the first I offer a panorama of my book, In Defence of War (Oxford University Press, 2013), highlighting its main features. These comprise: its rhetorical position; its opposition to the “the virus of wishful thinking”, pacifism, legal positivism, and liberal individualism; and its promotion of the early Christian tradition of just war reasoning and of three kinds of realism – moral-ontological, Augustinian-anthropological, and practical. Then in the second part, I consider four controversial issues that the book raises: love, proportionality, Britain's entry into the First World War, and the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
Association of a polymorphism of the interleukin 6 receptor gene with chronic kidney disease in Japanese individuals
Authors: Horibe Hideki , Fujimaki Tetsuo , Oguri Mitsutoshi , Kato Kimihiko , Matsuoka Reiko , Abe Shintaro , Tokoro Fumitaka , Arai Masazumi , Noda Toshiyuki , Watanabe Sachiro , Yamada Yoshiji
Published: December 2014

Aim

Various loci and genes that confer susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD) have been identified in Caucasian populations by genome‐wide association studies (GWASs). The aim of the present study was to examine a possible association of chronic kidney disease (CKD) with 29 polymorphisms previously identified as susceptibility loci for CAD by meta‐analyses of GWASs.

Methods

The study population comprised 2247 Japanese individuals, including 1588 subjects with CKD [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <60 mL min−1 1.73 m−2] and 659 controls (eGFR of ≥90 mL min−1 1.73 m−2). The genotypes for 29 polymorphisms of 28 candidate genes were determined.

Results

The χ2 test revealed that rs4845625 (T→C) of IL6R, rs4773144 (A→G) of COL4A1, rs9319428 (G→A) of FLT1, and rs46522 (T→C) of UBE2Z were significantly (P < 0.05) related to CKD. Multivariable logistic regression analysis with adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, and the prevalence of smoking, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidaemia revealed that rs4845625 of IL6R (P = 0.0008; dominant model; odds ratio, 1.49), rs4773144 of COL4A1 (P = 0.0252; dominant model; odds ratio, 1.28), and rs9319428 of FLT1 (P = 0.0260: additive model; odds ratio, 0.77) were significantly associated with CKD. The serum concentration of creatinine was significantly (P = 0.0065) greater and eGFR was significantly (P = 0.0009) lower in individuals with the TC or CC genotype of IL6R than in those with the TT genotype.

Conclusion

The rs4845625 of IL6R may be a susceptibility locus for CKD in Japanese individuals.
Cardiac patients' perception of patient‐centred care: a qualitative study
Authors: Esmaeili Maryam , Cheraghi Mohammad A. , Salsali Mahvash
Published: December 2014

ABSTRACT

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore cardiac patients' perception of patient‐centred care.

Background

Despite patient's importance in the process of care, less attention has been paid to experiences and expectations of patients in definitions of patient‐centred care. As patients are an important element in process of patient‐centred care, organizing care programs according to their perceptions and expectations will lead to enhanced quality of care and greater patient satisfaction.

Design

This study is a descriptive qualitative study.

Methods

Content analysis approach was performed for data analysis. Participants were 18 cardiac patients (10 women and 8 men) hospitalized in coronary care units of teaching hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences. We collected the study data through conducting personal face‐to‐face semi‐structured interviews.

Findings

The participants' perceptions of patient‐centred care fell into three main themes including managing patients uncertainty, providing care with more flexibility and establishing a therapeutic communication. The second theme consisted of two sub‐themes: empathizing with patients and having the right to make independent decisions.

Conclusions

Receiving patient‐centred care is essential for cardiac patients. Attention to priorities and preferences of cardiac patients and making decisions accordingly is among effective strategies for achieving patient‐centred care.

Implications for practice

Cardiac care unit nurses ought to be aware that in spite of technological developments and advances, it is still important to pay attention to patients' needs and expectations in order to achieve patient satisfaction. In planning care programs, they should consider accountability towards patients' needs, flexibility in process of care and establishing medical interactions as an effective strategy for improving quality of care.
Evaluating effect of symptoms heterogeneity on decision‐making ability in obsessive–compulsive disorder
Authors: Martoni Riccardo Maria , Brombin Chiara , Nonis Alessandro , Salgari Giulia Carlotta , Buongiorno Angela , Cavallini Maria Cristina , Galimberti Elisa , Bellodi Laura
Published: December 2014

Aims

Despite having a univocal definition, obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) shows a remarkably phenotypic heterogeneity. The published reports show impaired decision‐making in OCD patients, using tasks such as the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT). We wanted to verify the hypothesis of an IGT worse performance in a large sample of OCD patients and healthy control (HC) subjects and to examine the relation between neuropsychological performance in IGT and the OCD symptoms heterogeneity.

Methods

Binary data from the Yale–Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale collected on a large sample of OCD patients were analyzed using a multidimensional item response theory model to explore the underlying structure of data, thus revealing latent factors. Factor scores were categorized into quartiles. Then, for each factor, we identified patients respectively with the highest versus lowest score. We evaluated whether symptom dimensions affect the probability of a correct answer over time generalized, during IGT performance, fitting a generalized linear mixed model.

Results

We found a general deficit in ambiguous decision‐making in OCD compared to HC. Moreover, our findings suggested that OCD symptoms heterogeneity affects decision‐making learning abilities during IGT. In fact, while ‘Symmetry’ and ‘Washing’ patients showed a learning curve during the task, other subgroups did not.

Conclusions

Our study confirmed previous findings suggesting that OCD is characterized by a deficit in decision‐making under uncertainty. Moreover, our study gave evidence about biological specificity for each symptom dimension in OCD. Data were discussed in the context of the somatic marker hypothesis, which was hypothesized to be reduced in OCD patients.
Eccentricity in images of circular and spherical targets and its impact on spatial intersection
Authors: Luhmann Thomas
Published: December 2014

A behaviour of perspective projection which causes eccentricity in the image measurement of circular and spherical targets is discussed. While it is commonly known that flat circular targets can have a significant displacement of the elliptical image centre with respect to the true circle centre, it can also be shown that a similar effect also exists for spherical targets. Both types of target images exhibit elliptical characteristics. If measurement methods such as best‐fitting ellipses are used to detect the target, the calculated ellipse centre does not correspond to the desired target centre in 3D space. This paper firstly discusses the use and measurement of circular and spherical targets. It then describes the geometrical projection model in order to demonstrate the eccentricity in image space which, based on numerical simulations, is further quantified and investigated. Finally, the resulting effect in 3D space is estimated for stereo‐ and multi‐image intersections. It is shown that the eccentricity is larger than usually assumed, and must be compensated for in high‐accuracy applications. Furthermore, spherical targets do not display better results than circular targets.
Auxin and physical constraint exerted by the perianth promote androgynophore bending in Passiflora mucronata L. (Passifloraceae)
Authors: Rocha D. I. , Monte Bello C. C. , Sobol S. , Samach A. , Dornelas M. C.
Published: December 2014

The androgynophore column, a distinctive floral feature in passion flowers, is strongly crooked or bent in many Passiflora species pollinated by bats. This is a floral feature that facilitates the adaptation to bat pollination. Crooking or bending of plant organs are generally caused by environmental stimulus (e.g. mechanical barriers) and might involve the differential distribution of auxin. Our aim was to study the role of the perianth organs and the effect of auxin in bending of the androgynophore of the bat‐pollinated species Passiflora mucronata. Morpho‐anatomical characterisation of the androgynophore, including measurements of curvature angles and cell sizes both at the dorsal (convex) and ventral (concave) sides of the androgynophore, was performed on control flowers, flowers from which perianth organs were partially removed and flowers treated either with auxin (2,4‐dichlorophenoxyacetic acid; 2,4‐D) or with an inhibitor of auxin polar transport (naphthylphthalamic acid; NPA). Asymmetric growth of the androgynophore column, leading to bending, occurs at a late stage of flower development. Removing the physical constraint exerted by perianth organs or treatment with NPA significantly reduced androgynophore bending. Additionally, the androgynophores of plants treated with 2,4‐D were more curved when compared to controls. There was a larger cellular expansion at the dorsal side of the androgynophores of plants treated with 2,4‐D and in both sides of the androgynophores of plants treated with NPA. This study suggests that the physical constraint exerted by perianth and auxin redistribution promotes androgynophore bending in P. mucronata and might be related to the evolution of chiropterophily in the genus Passiflora.
The evolution of public industry R&D institute – the case of ITRI
Authors: Chen Jian‐Hung , Chen Yijen
Published: December 2014

Public industrial research institutes are important in regard to aiding industry development in many countries. Research institutes have to constantly change their strategies according to their industrial environments in order to remain influential. TheIndustrialTechnologyResearchInstitute (ITRI) has been recognised as a successful institute in facilitating industrial development. During its 40‐year development process,ITRIhas gone through three stages of strategic repositioning and organisational reforms. The evolution of the organisational structure and the interactions with its social‐technological environment are both complex and dynamic. This study proposes a framework which integrates the role of the institutes with organisation structures and strategies to analyse the process of the evolution ofITRI. Based on the framework, this study uses system dynamics to identify the underlying structure driving the process of its evolution. The result shows that it is important to align the organisational structure with development strategies; in a long‐term perspective, the strategies for short‐term and long‐term goals can reinforce each other. The recent transition ofITRIsuggests a new direction‐seeking role for public research institutes to play among the national innovation systems. This study also discusses the potential impacts of the system dynamics approach toR&Dmanagement.
Serial Transrectal Ultrasonography for Monitoring the Reproductive Activity of the Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus ussuricus)
Authors: Kang HG , Jeong DH , Yang JJ , Lee BK , Kong JY , Lee JW , Kim IH
Published: December 2014

Contents

This study evaluated the structural changes in the reproductive tract of Asiatic black bears using serial transrectal ultrasonography. In addition, the ultrasonographic observations were compared with the results of vaginal cytology and hormonal analyses. The collection of blood for hormonal analysis, vaginal cytology and transrectal ultrasonography was performed in two bears (Bears 1 and 2) from June 2011 to August 2013 without mating and in a third bear (Bear 3) from April to December 2012, allowing natural mating. Serial ultrasonographic observations showed cyclic changes in ovarian structures (e.g. emergence of small follicles, growth and ovulation of dominant follicles and corpus luteum (CL) formation) during the reproductive cycles of the three bears. The diameter of the uterine horns remained similar throughout the reproductive cycle in Bears 1 and 2, and it remained similar from April until October, but an enlargement containing foetuses was observed in Bear 3 in December. The ultrasonographic observations were consistent with the data obtained through vaginal cytology and progesterone analysis during the reproductive cycle. An average of 4.0 (±0.4) dominant follicles was observed during the oestrous stage (May‐August), during which the superficial cells accounted for >90% of the total vaginal cells. In addition, the detection of an average of 2.6 (±0.2) CL was associated with increased plasma progesterone concentrations (3.0 ± 0.4 ng/ml) between June and December (near hibernation). In conclusion, serial transrectal ultrasonography demonstrated yearly oestrous (ovulation) cycles via follicular dynamics and CL formation on ovaries, accordingly with vaginal cytology and hormonal level in the Asiatic black bear.
The Evolution of Gender and Racial Occupational Segregation Across Formal and Non‐Formal Labor Markets inBrazil, 1987 to 2006
Authors: Salardi Paola
Published: December 2014

This study provides a unique analysis of the evolution of gender and racial occupational segregation inBrazil covering the period from 1987 to 2006. Employing a newly harmonized occupational classification, it provides new insights into the nature and evolution of occupational segregation and on the forces driving these changes over this period of time. Three major findings emerge. First, gender segregation is always greater than racial segregation, but the latter has been more persistent over time. Second, segregation has declined mainly in the formal labor market. Third, this decline has been mainly driven by changes in gender and racial composition within occupations.
Nonparametric Benchmark Dose Estimation with Continuous Dose‐Response Data
Authors: Lin Lizhen , Piegorsch Walter W. , Bhattacharya Rabi
Published: December 2014

We propose a new method for risk‐analytic benchmark dose (BMD) estimation in a dose‐response setting when the responses are measured on a continuous scale. For each dose leveld, the observationX(d) is assumed to follow a normal distribution:. No specific parametric form is imposed upon the meanμ(d), however. Instead, nonparametric maximum likelihood estimates ofμ(d) andσare obtained under a monotonicity constraint onμ(d). For purposes of quantitative risk assessment, a ‘hybrid’ form of risk function is defined for any dosedasR(d) =P[X(d)  0 is a constant independent ofd. The BMD is then determined by inverting theadditional risk functionRA(d) =R(d) −R(0) at some specified value of benchmark response. Asymptotic theory for the point estimators is derived, and a finite‐sample study is conducted, using both real and simulated data. When a large number of doses are available, we propose an adaptive grouping method for estimating the BMD, which is shown to have optimal mean integrated squared error under appropriate designs.