bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Redefining Publics, Artists, and Urban Spaces: The Case of Made in Musina, South Africa
Authors: GUINARD PAULINE
Published: March 2018

Since the end of apartheid (1994), public art—broadly defined as art in public spaces (Miles )—has been increasingly present and visible in the South African urban landscape. But South African public art, and particularly the dominant one sponsored by public entities or private companies, mainly consists in one type of art that is permanent, installed in big cities, produced within top‐down strategies, and destined for an abstract public. In reaction to that trend, some artists are attempting to critically and radically redefine public art in South African cities today, especially by looking at the role of the different publics in the art‐making process. In their desire to include the various publics in the making of art, one can wonder about the capacity of these artists to promote a new form of public art that could be a tool to amend the urban context by (re)integrating all the publics that compose South Africa today in the production of the post‐apartheid city. To address this concern, I will focus in particular on the Made in Musina project. Initiated by two artists in a small town close to the South African/Zimbabwean border, this project is emblematic of an attempt to invent an alternative way of making public art with its publics (in that case, local artists), starting from their desires, even at the risk of having the initial project “hijacked.” Based on observations in situ and in‐depth interviews, I will consider the different phases of this project in order to grasp the opportunities and the challenges of such public art. I will argue that this South African “new genre public art” (Lacy ) is changing not only art itself but also the way South African cities—and small towns like Musina—imagine themselves through art and artists.
Tree genetic resources at risk in South America: A spatial threat assessment to prioritize populations for conservation
Authors: van Zonneveld Maarten , Thomas Evert , Castañeda‐Álvarez Nora P. , Van Damme Veerle , Alcazar Carolina , Loo Judy , Scheldeman Xavier
Published: March 2018

Background

Humans threat the populations of tree species by overexploitation, deforestation, land use change, and climate change. We present a novel threat assessment at intraspecific level to support the conservation of genetic resources of 80 socioeconomically viable tree species in South America. In this assessment, we evaluate the threat status of Ecogeographic Range Segments (ERSs). ERSs are groups of populations of a specific species in a certain ecological zone of a particular grid cell of a species’ geographic occupancy.

Methods

We used species location records to determine the species distributions and species‐specific ERSs. We distinguished eight threat situations to assess the risk of extirpation of the ERSs of all 80 species. These threat situations were determined by large or little tree cover, low or high human pressure, and low or high climate change impact. Available layers of tree cover and threats were used to determine the levels of fragmentation and direct human pressure. Maxent niche modelling with two Global Circulation Models helped determining climate change impact by the 2050s.

Results

When all 80 species are considered, in total, 59% of the ERSs are threatened by little tree cover or high human pressure. When climate change is also considered, then 71‐73% of the ERSs are threatened. When an increased risk of extirpation of populations outside protected areas is considered, then 84–86% of the ERSs are threatened. Seven species warrant special attention because all their ERSs are threatened across their whole distribution in South America: Balfourondendron riedelianum, Cariniana legalis, Dalbergia nigra, Handroanthus pulcherrimus, Pachira quintana, Prosopis flexuosa, and Prosopis pallida.

Conclusions

Our results confirm the urgency to set up a regional action plan for the conservation of tree genetic resources in South America. With this threat assessment, we aim to support governments and organizations who are taking up this task.
Cooperation of Sall4 and Sox8 transcription factors in the regulation of the chicken Sox3 gene during otic placode development
Authors: Okamoto Yu , Nishimura Naoko , Matsuda Kazunari , Ranawakage Deshani C. , Kamachi Yusuke , Kondoh Hisato , Uchikawa Masanori
Published: March 2018

To elucidate the transcriptional regulation that underlies specification of the otic placode, we investigated the Sox3 downstream enhancer Otic1 of the chicken, the activity of which is restricted to and distributed across the entire otic placode. The 181‐bp Otic1 enhancer sequence was dissected into a 68‐bp minimal activating sequence, which exhibited dimer enhancer activity in the otic placode and cephalic neural crest, and this was further reduced to a 25‐bp Otic1 core sequence, which also showed octamer enhancer activity in the same regions. The Otic1 core octamer was activated by the combined action of Sall4 and the SoxE transcription factors (TFs) Sox8 or Sox9. Binding of Sall4, Sox8 and Sox9 to the Otic1 sequence in embryonic tissues was confirmed by ChIP‐qPCR analysis. The core‐adjoining 3′ side sequences of Otic1 augmented its enhancer activity, while inclusion of the CAGGTG sequence in the immediate 3′ end of the 68‐bp sequence repressed its enhancer activity outside the otic placode. The CAGGTG sequence likely serves as the binding sites of the repressor TFs δEF1 (Zeb1), Sip1 (Zeb2), and Snail2, all of which are expressed in the cephalic neural crest but not in the otic placode. Therefore, the combination of Sall4‐Sox8‐dependent activation and CAGGTG sequence‐dependent repression determines otic placode development. Although the Otic1 sequence is not conserved in mammals or fishes, the activation mechanism is, as Otic1 was also activated in otic placode tissues developed from mouse embryonic stem cells and transient transgenic zebrafish embryos.
Assessment of left atrial size in addition to focused cardiopulmonary ultrasound improves diagnostic accuracy of acute heart failure in the Emergency Department
Authors: Carlino Maria Viviana , Paladino Fiorella , Sforza Alfonso , Serra Claudia , Liccardi Filomena , de Simone Giovanni , Mancusi Costantino
Published: March 2018

Background

Acute dyspnea is one of the main reasons for admission to Emergency Department (ED). Availability of ultraminiaturized pocket ultrasound devices (PUD) adds diagnostic power to the clinical examination. The aim of this study was to identify an integrated ultrasound approach for diagnosis of acute heart failure (acute HF), using PUD and combining evaluation from lung, heart and inferior vena cava (IVC).

Methods

We included 102 patients presenting to the ED of “Antonio Cardarelli” Hospital in Naples (Italy) for acute dyspnea (AD). All patients underwent integrated ultrasound examination (IUE) of lung‐heart‐IVC, using PUD. The gold standard was the final diagnosis determined by two expert reviewers: acute heart failure (acute HF) or noncardiac dyspnea. We used 2 × 2 contingency tables to analyze sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value and accuracy of the three ultrasonic methods, and their combinations for the diagnosis of acute HF, comparing with the final, validated diagnosis.

Results

Lung ultrasound (LUS) alone exhibited a good sensitivity (100%) and specificity (82%) and had the highest accuracy (89%) among single modalities (heart and IVC) for the diagnosis of acute HF. The highest accuracy among all methods (96%) was obtained by the combination of positive LUS and either dilated left atrium or EF ≤ 40% or both (all P < .01 vs single modalities).

Conclusion

In patients presenting to ED, IUE using PUD is a useful extension of clinical examination and has a reliable diagnostic discriminant ability in the immediate evaluation of acute dyspnea. The combination of positive LUS with focused cardiac ultrasonography (FoCUS), including also dilated left atrium, substantially extends the spectrum of recognizable acute HF.
Anatomic estimation of aortic stenosis severity vs “fusion” of data from computed tomography and Doppler echocardiography
Authors: Jander Nikolaus , Wienecke Susanne , Dorfs Stephan , Ruile Philipp , Neumann Franz‐Josef , Pache Gregor , Minners Jan
Published: March 2018

Aim

Two‐dimensional, transthoracic echocardiography does not account for the noncircular anatomy of the left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) and may therefore underestimate LVOT area. Fusion of computed tomography (CT)‐derived LVOT area and Doppler‐derived flow data has been proposed to improve assessment of aortic valve area (AVA) and classification of aortic stenosis severity. For hemodynamic reasons, effective AVA has to be smaller than anatomic AVA. The aim of the study was to test the “fusion approach” by comparing effective CT‐derived AVA with anatomic AVA from CT planimetry.

Methods and Results

Data of 244 consecutive patients (mean age 81 ± 5 years, 61% female) with aortic stenosis were retrospectively analyzed comparing effective AVA (calculated from the continuity equation using CT‐LVOT and transthoracic Doppler measurements) with anatomic AVA based on CT planimetry. Substituting the LVOT area from transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) by the CT‐LVOT resulted in an increase in AVA from 0.74 ± 0.15 to 0.92 ± 0.18cm² (P < .01), which was larger than anatomic AVA (0.82 ± 0.15cm²). Similar results were obtained based on planimetry from transesophageal echocardiography (TEE; AVA 0.79 ± 0.14cm², P < .01 vs CT‐LVOT) and in the subgroup presenting with low‐gradient severe aortic stenosis and preserved ejection fraction (n = 67, AVA from TTE 0.76 ± 0.09; from CT‐LVOT 0.97 ± 0.14; CT planimetry 0.86 ± 0.12; TEE planimetry 0.82 ± 0.13cm²).

Conclusion

Fusion of CT‐derived LVOT area with Doppler echocardiography results in a calculated effective AVA that is larger than the corresponding anatomic AVA. Therefore, adjustment of partition values may be warranted when using this approach.
PRIZE‐BASED MECHANISMS FOR FUND‐RAISING: THEORY AND EXPERIMENTS
Authors: Damianov Damian S. , Peeters Ronald
Published: March 2018

We study the optimal design of mechanisms for the private provision of public goods in a setting in which donors compete for a prize of commonly known value. We discuss equilibrium bidding in mechanisms that promote both conditional cooperation and competition (i.e., the lottery and the all‐pay auction with the lowest‐bid payment rule) and rank their fund‐raising performance vis‐à‐vis their standard (pay‐your‐own‐bid) counterparts. The theoretically optimal mechanism in this model is the lowest‐price all‐pay auction—an auction in which the highest bidder wins the prize and all bidders pay the lowest bid. The highest amount for the public good is generated in the unique, symmetric, mixed‐strategy equilibrium of this auction. In the laboratory, the theoretically optimal mechanism generates the highest level of donations with three bidders but not with two bidders. (JELD44, D64)
The global interests of London's commercial community, 1599–1625: investment in the East India Company
Authors: Smith Edmond
Published: March 2018

The foundation of the East India Company coincided with a dramatic expansion of England's overseas activities brought about through new trading, colonial, and exploratory ventures. This period has received considerable attention in relation to the development of the British Empire, but little is known about how merchants and other commercial actors invested in and contributed to these organizations. Using a newly developed dataset of membership and investment in overseas activities, this article reconstructs the individual portfolios of East India Company members in 1599, 1613, and 1624. This analysis reveals that investors took advantage of opportunities across the globe, and diverse portfolios were common. The implications of this are two‐fold. First, this article makes clear that our current understanding of the East India Company as closely connected with the Levant Company is not sustained with evidence from investment patterns. Second, the interests of London's commercial community suggest new avenues for understanding the early British Empire as a tightly connected, globally focused set of institutions, people, and networks.
The predictability of a lake phytoplankton community, over time‐scales of hours to years
Authors: Thomas Mridul K. , Fontana Simone , Reyes Marta , Kehoe Michael , Pomati Francesco
Published: March 2018

Forecasting changes to ecological communities is one of the central challenges in ecology. However, nonlinear dependencies, biotic interactions and data limitations have limited our ability to assess how predictable communities are. Here, we used a machine learning approach and environmental monitoring data (biological, physical and chemical) to assess the predictability of phytoplankton cell density in one lake across an unprecedented range of time‐scales. Communities were highly predictable over hours to months: model R2 decreased from 0.89 at 4 hours to 0.74 at 1 month, and in a long‐term dataset lacking fine spatial resolution, from 0.46 at 1 month to 0.32 at 10 years. When cyanobacterial and eukaryotic algal cell densities were examined separately, model‐inferred environmental growth dependencies matched laboratory studies, and suggested novel trade‐offs governing their competition. High‐frequency monitoring and machine learning can set prediction targets for process‐based models and help elucidate the mechanisms underlying ecological dynamics.
Pain in Parkinson's disease: facts and uncertainties
Authors: Antonini A. , Tinazzi M. , Abbruzzese G. , Berardelli A. , Chaudhuri K. R. , Defazio G. , Ferreira J. , Martinez‐Martin P. , Trenkwalder C. , Rascol O.
Published: March 2018

Pain is one of the most common and troublesome non‐motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD). It can appear at any time during the disease and is often present before diagnosis. However, there is little or no consensus on its definition. An expert group of clinicians with relevant research experience met to review the existing evidence and to identify gaps in our understanding leading towards AUTHOR: ’understanding towards’ has been changed to ’understanding leading towards‘. Please check and confirm that this is appropriate an optimized therapy of pain in PD. Key findings from epidemiologic, neurophysiologic, neuroimaging and clinical studies are reviewed. In each case, the evidence base is limited by wide variations in the definitions of pain applied, study methodologies and populations evaluated. Disease‐related and medical conditions trigger spontaneous pain in patients with PD, which is then abnormally processed and results in painful manifestations in specific body parts. Dopaminergic medications, such as rotigotine, as well as opiate analgesics, such as oxycodone, have shown positive results but future studies with more detailed pain characterization at inclusion are warranted.
Uncertainty based genetic algorithm with varying population for random fuzzy maximum flow problem
Authors: Majumder Saibal , Saha Bishwajit , Anand Pragya , Kar Samarjit , Pal Tandra
Published: March 2018

This paper investigates the uncertain maximum flow of a network whose capacities are random fuzzy variables. We have developed the expected value model (EVM) and the chance‐constrained model (CCM) for maximum flow problem (MFP) under random fuzzy environment and formulated their crisp equivalent models. To solve these models, we have proposed a varying population genetic algorithm with indeterminate crossover (VPGAwIC). In VPGAwIC, selection of a chromosome depends on its lifetime. An improved lifetime allocation strategy (iLAS) has also been proposed to determine the lifetime of the chromosome. The ages of the chromosomes are defined linguistically as Young, Middle, and Old, which follow some uncertainty distributions. The crossover probability is indeterminate, and it depends on the ages of the parents, which is defined by an uncertain rule base. The number of offspring, generated from a population of parents, is determined by the reproduction ratio. The population is updated in 2 ways: (i) All the chromosomes with ages greater than their lifetimes are discarded from the population, and (ii) the offspring are combined with their parents for the next generation. The proposed VPGAwIC is compared with the genetic algorithm developed by Gen, Cheng, and Lin (2008) for maximum flow problem. Wilcoxon signed‐rank test has been performed to show the superiority of the proposed VPGAwIC.
Individual and Cumulative Risks for Child Abuse and Neglect
Authors: Yang Mi‐Youn , Maguire‐Jack Kathryn
Published: March 2018

Objective

The present study investigated whether risk factors vary by subtypes of child maltreatment investigations, with particular attention to the role of cumulative risks affecting child maltreatment.

Background

Building and expanding on prior work finding that the accumulation of risk factors puts children at risk for maltreatment, this work examines child physical abuse and neglect investigations separately.

Method

A sample of 1,181 low‐income families was randomly selected from one state's public assistance caseload. Multinomial logistic regression was used to model risk factors associated with 3 subtypes of investigated child maltreatment reports.

Results

Risk factors for each type of child maltreatment were different. As the number of risk factors families experienced increased, the likelihood of child maltreatment increased across all subtypes of maltreatment. Specifically, families with 5 or more risk factors were at greater risk of maltreatment than families with 2 or fewer risk factors.

Conclusion

The threshold effect of cumulative risks demonstrates that families may be able to tolerate a moderate number of risk factors; however, beyond a certain number of risks, families may not be able to cope adequately with the stress, and the likelihood of maltreating their children dramatically increases.

Implications

To alleviate child maltreatment, prevention programs need to address diverse risks simultaneously, rather than focus on a particular risk factor.
Factors Associated With Medication‐Overuse Headache in Patients Seeking Treatment for Primary Headache
Authors: Peck Kelly R. , Roland Malcolm M. , Smitherman Todd A.
Published: March 2018

Background

Although risk factors for medication‐overuse headache have been identified within the general population, most studies have neglected clinical samples. The present study examined the relative and combined associations of these factors with medication‐overuse headache in a sample of US adults seeking treatment for primary headache disorders.

Methods

Treatment‐seeking headache patients provided data on demographics, headache variables, psychiatric variables, use of headache medications, and use of other prescription medications and substances. A classification tree selection strategy was utilized within this cross‐sectional study to differentiate between those with and without medication‐overuse headache, and a final multivariable model assessed their combined utility.

Results

Forty‐three of 164 participants (26.2%) met diagnostic criteria for medication‐overuse headache. Relative to non‐medication‐overuse headache participants, participants with medication‐overuse headache reported greater headache‐related disability (odds ratio = 1.09, 95% confidence interval = 1.01‐1.18), escape and avoidance responses indicative of fear of pain (odds ratio = 1.07, 95% confidence interval = 1.00‐1.15), and use of combination medications for headache (odds ratio = 3.10, 95% confidence interval = 1.51‐6.36). The final multivariable model differentiated well between the 2 groups (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = .78; 95% confidence interval = .71‐.86).

Conclusions

Items that assess headache‐related disability, use of combination medications, and fear of pain help identify patients who are currently overusing acute headache medications and may serve as indicators of treatment progress. Future studies should apply similar analytic approaches longitudinally to identify headache sufferers at risk for medication‐overuse headache prior to headache progression.
Beneficial effect of Burdock complex on asymptomatic Helicobacter pylori‐infected subjects: A randomized, double‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Yen Chi‐Hua , Chiu Hui‐Fang , Huang Su‐Yu , Lu Yan‐Ying , Han Yi‐Chun , Shen You‐Cheng , Venkatakrishnan Kamesh , Wang Chin‐Kun
Published: March 2018

Background

Burdock complex (BC) constitutes of burdock (Arctium lappa), angelica (Angelica sinensis), gromwell (Lithospermum erythrorhizon), and sesame (Sesamum indicum) oil, which are commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating various disorders. This study intended to examine the anti‐H. pylori activity of BC on AGS cell model as well as in asymptomatic H. pylori‐infected subjects.

Materials and Methods

AGS cell incubated with H. pylori and treated with BC to evaluate the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC), cell viability (MTT) anti‐adhesion activity, and inflammatory markers. In case of clinical trial, H. pylori‐positive subjects (urea breath test [UBT] >10%, n = 36) were enrolled and requested to intake BC (n = 19) or placebo (n = 17) for 8 weeks. Antioxidant capacity, total phenol, UBT, inflammatory markers were analyzed at the initial, 4th, 8th, and 10th weeks. Moreover, the endoscopic examination was carried out on baseline and 10th week.

Results

In vitro studies showed that BC treatment significantly inhibited (P < .05) the inflammatory markers and adhesion of H. pylori to AGS cell. However, H. pylori‐infected subject ingested with BC for 8 weeks significantly decreased (P < .05) the UBT value, inflammatory markers with improved antioxidant activity, and phenolic levels as compared to placebo. Also, consumption of BC considerably healed the ulcer wound.

Conclusion

Overall, the BC could attenuate H. pylori infection by inhibiting H. pylori adhesion and subsequent inflammatory response on the gastric epithelial cell (AGS) as well as clinically ameliorated UBT, antioxidant capacity, and alleviated inflammation to display its anti‐H. pylori activity.
Japanese Modernity and Media Studies of Screens
Authors: Okubo Ryo
Published: March 2018

This article aims to construct a new perspective for analyzing the recent omnipresence of screens, the diversity of images, and their impact on our daily lives. Because of the diversification of digitalized images today, research based on film and television studies is unable to grasp the fluid relationships among screen images, spaces, and the bodies of their audience, and important task for recent scholarship is to determine how to include these screen images in media and cultural studies. In response to this issue, this article seeks to reconstruct the concept of screen practice, guided by the perspectives of Jonathan Crary and Friedrich Kittler on media and practices; Koji Taki and Ai Maeda's historical research on Japanese modernity; and Erkki Huhtamo and Yussi Parikka's media archaeological perspectives for screen and visual culture. Although the notion of screen practice was originally proposed in the field of film history, it should be expanded for broader screen cultures as the sites at which scientific discourses and technologies act on the bodies of viewers. Taking the experiences of Japanese modernity as its subject, this is a critical issue, because at these sites we can find traces of dynamic negotiations between the circulation of science and media derived from Western modernity, and existing physical and cultural vernacular practices. Moreover, going back to the screen cultures at the end of the 19th century will make clear how the process of our contemporary media environment was formed.
Nuevas perspectivas en el ámbito de las relaciones laborales transnacionales
Authors: LUTERBACHER Urs , PROSSER Andrew , PAPADAKIS Konstantinos
Published: March 2018

Las federaciones sindicales internacionales y las empresas multinacionales están concluyendo acuerdos marco internacionales para proteger sus intereses en el entorno económico de la globalización. Los autores modelizan las negociaciones al respecto y muestran que puede esperarse la conclusión de estos acuerdos cuando ambas partes son reacias al riesgo, pero el acuerdo favorecerá a la que menos lo sea. Como la globalización ha afectado más a los sindicatos que a las empresas, los acuerdos marco hasta ahora firmados ofrecen mínimas ventajas a los trabajadores; ello debería cambiar gracias a las capacidades sindicales transnacionales reforzadas y a la posibilidad de atacar la imagen de las EMN, lo cual igualará las actitudes frente al riesgo.
Normativa de empleo, teoría de juegos y representación laboral insuficiente en las economías liberales
Authors: DOBBINS Tony , DUNDON Tony , CULLINANE Niall , HICKLAND Eugene , DONAGHEY Jimmy
Published: March 2018

Se analiza el impacto de la normativa europea de información y consulta en los niveles de representación de los trabajadores en dos economías liberales (Irlanda y Reino Unido) a partir de tres postulados teóricos y del dilema del prisionero de la teoría de juegos. Sobre la base de datos cualitativos de 16 empresas recabados mediante entrevistas, los autores evalúan los postulados y explican por qué las normas nacionales de transposición son ineficaces para promover la cooperación en beneficio mutuo en economías liberales, aportando así un modelo teórico a las investigaciones previas sobre el tema, fundamentalmente empíricas.
Formación y retención de los trabajadores de más edad en la empresa. Evidencia de Alemania
Authors: BERG Peter B. , HAMMAN Mary K. , PISZCZEK Matthew M. , RUHM Christopher J.
Published: March 2018

La retención en las empresas de los trabajadores de más edad podría paliar carencias de capital humano derivadas del rápido envejecimiento de la población activa. Con datos de emparejamientos empresa‐asalariado de Alemania, de 2002–2008, los autores investigan la relación entre formación en la empresa, salarios y decisiones de jubilación de los trabajadores de 50–65 años y encuentran que cuando la formación está adaptada a estos trabajadores, las mujeres, sobre todo de bajos ingresos, son menos proclives a jubilarse, posiblemente por un crecimiento salarial concomitante. Este tipo de formación podría pues contribuir a retener y promover a las mujeres de edad y de bajos ingresos.
Assessing the capacity for compensatory growth in growth‐hormone transgenic coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch
Authors: Rosales‐Velázquez M. O. , Muttray A. F. , Devlin R. H.
Published: March 2018

The effect of feed cycling (consisting of periods of starvation followed by periods of refeeding to satiation) on compensatory growth was evaluated in growth hormone transgenic and non‐transgenic wild‐type coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch. The specific growth rate (GSR) of feed‐restricted non‐transgenic O. kisutch was not significantly different from the GSR of fully‐fed non‐transgenic O. kisutch during two refeeding periods, whereas the GSR of feed‐restricted transgenic O. kisutch was significantly higher in relation to the GSR of fully‐fed transgenic O. kisutch during the second refeeding period, but not during the first, indicating that growth compensation mechanisms are different between non‐transgenic and growth‐hormone (GH)‐transgenic O. kisutch and may depend on life history (i.e. previous starvation). Despite the non‐significant growth rate compensation in non‐transgenic O. kisutch, these fish showed a level of body mass catch‐up growth not displayed by transgenic O. kisutch.
An Update on Menopause Management
Authors: Ward Katherine , Deneris Angela
Published: March 2018

Menopause‐related symptoms frequently lead women to seek health care. Recommendations for prescribing hormone therapy have changed significantly since the publication of initial results from the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study in 2002. The North American Menopause Society and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have newer guidelines based on long‐term analyses of the WHI participants as well as emerging data from other clinical trials. Women with an intact uterus who are using systemic estrogen must also use a progestogen; however, there are 2 new selective estrogen receptor modulators on the market for use without a progestogen. This review discusses current recommendations and new medications as well as the risks and benefits related to hormone therapy. Evidence‐based alternatives to hormone therapy to treat symptoms of menopause are also presented.
Atmospheres, Expressed
Authors: Jacks Ben
Published: March 2018

This visual essay focuses on Pavilion House, Deer Isle, Maine, a built project of the author's own design. The term atmosphere in the title refers to the robust philosophical concept, developed by German philosopher Gernot Böhme and others, that is of value to those engaged in architecture and interior design. The subject of a vigorous discourse in recent decades, atmosphere concerns the feeling–based essence of an object, interior, place, or situation. The question at the heart of the essay is how to best represent interior atmosphere. The combination of text and photographs, which is historically of special importance for describing and documenting the built environment, has the potential to expand critical perceptions and understandings. In “Atmospheres, expressed,” the author writes a series of notes, mirroring the documentary aspect of the photographs, to create a conjoined documentary form that reveals how multiple sense impressions, thoughts, feelings, metaphors, and allusion together comprise atmospheres.
Effects of intra‐yolk‐sac injection of dextrose and albumin on performance, jejunum morphology, liver and pectoral muscle glycogen and some serum metabolites of broilers
Authors: Tasharofi S. , Mohammadi F. , Amiri N. , Nazem M. N.
Published: March 2018

This study carried out to investigate the effects of intra‐yolk‐sac injection (IYSI) of some solutions including 1 ml of distilled water, dextrose 20% and albumin 20% on hatch percentage, performance traits, jejunum morphology, glycogen content of liver and breast and serum metabolites in broilers (Ross 308). Fertile eggs were injected into the yolk sac at day 8 of incubation period. Results showed that hatchability, absolute body weight (BW), feed intake (FI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) at day 7 and 14 of growing period were not different among treatments, but in comparison with control group, BW and FCR were numerally better by IYSI of albumin. In addition, IYSI of albumin increased jejunum villus height at hatch day, but crypt depth was not affected by any injection treatments. Also, the glycogen concentrations of liver and pectoral muscle in albumin injected group were significantly higher than control at hatch and 7th day respectively. At hatch day, serum glucose and cholesterol concentrations were, respectively, maximum and minimum statistically by IYSI of albumin which continued numerally up to 7th day of rearing period. Furthermore, liver glycogen and serum glucose concentrations were directly correlated on the day of hatch. In conclusion, the IYSI of albumin could increase performance traits, jejunum villus height, liver and breast glycogen and serum glucose in broiler chicks.
Autism Spectrum Disorders: Family Demographics, Parental Stress, and Family Quality of Life
Authors: Hsiao Yun‐Ju
Published: March 2018

Background: Families of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are confronted with ongoing challenges that can influence various aspects of family life. To assist these families in overcoming the impact of ASD and promote more positive family and child outcomes, research for a better understanding of variables associated with quality of life in families of children with ASD is needed. Specific Aim: This article examined the impact of family demographic characteristics and parental stress on the quality of life in families of children with ASD. Method: The sample was recruited from four autism service providers in a southwestern state in the United States and consisted of 236 parents of children with ASD. Data were collected using the Beach Center Family Quality of Life Scale and the Parental Stress Scale. Findings: Findings showed that parent's gender, marital status, education, family income, or perceived parental stress was a predictor of quality of life in families of children with ASD and that family income and parental stress were two significant predictors when considering these variables together. Discussion: The current findings indicate further evidence for the importance of intervention and support to reduce parental stress and income barriers, and tailor to the unique needs of each individual family so as to promote the quality of life of families of children with ASD.
Prediction Interval for Autoregressive Time Series via Oracally Efficient Estimation of Multi‐Step‐Ahead Innovation Distribution Function
Authors: Kong Juanjuan , Gu Lijie , Yang Lijian
Published: March 2018

A kernel distribution estimator (KDE) is proposed for multi‐step‐ahead prediction error distribution of autoregressive time series, based on prediction residuals. Under general assumptions, the KDE is proved to be oracally efficient as the infeasible KDE and the empirical cumulative distribution function (cdf) based on unobserved prediction errors. Quantile estimator is obtained from the oracally efficient KDE, and prediction interval for multi‐step‐ahead future observation is constructed using the estimated quantiles and shown to achieve asymptotically the nominal confidence levels. Simulation examples corroborate the asymptotic theory.
The pharmacokinetics and analgesic effects of extended‐release buprenorphine administered subcutaneously in healthy dogs
Authors: Barletta M. , Ostenkamp S. M. , Taylor A. C. , Quandt J. , Lascelles B. D. X. , Messenger K. M.
Published: March 2018

Buprenorphine is a partial μ agonist opioid used for analgesia in dogs. An extended‐release formulation (ER‐buprenorphine) has been shown to provide effective analgesia for 72 hr in rats and mice. Six healthy mongrel dogs were enrolled in a randomized, blinded crossover design to describe and compare the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ER‐buprenorphine administered subcutaneous at 0.2 mg/kg (ER‐B) and commercially available buprenorphine for injection intravenously at 0.02 mg/kg (IV‐B). After drug administration, serial blood samples were collected to measure plasma buprenorphine concentrations using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry detection. Heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, sedation score, and thermal threshold latency were recorded throughout the study. Median (range) terminal half‐life, time to maximum concentration, and maximum plasma concentration of ER‐buprenorphine were 12.74 hr (10.43–18.84 hr), 8 hr (4–36 hr), and 5.00 ng/ml (4.29–10.98 ng/ml), respectively. Mild bradycardia, hypothermia, and inappetence were noted in both groups. Thermal threshold latency was significantly prolonged compared to baseline up to 12 hr and up to 72 hr in IV‐B and ER‐B, respectively. These results showed that ER‐buprenorphine administered at a dose of 0.2 mg/kg resulted in prolonged and sustained plasma concentrations and antinociceptive effects up to 72 hr after drug administration.
Cell Phones ≠ Self and Other Problems with Big Data Detection and Containment during Epidemics
Authors: Erikson Susan L.
Published: March 2018

Evidence from Sierra Leone reveals the significant limitations of big data in disease detection and containment efforts. Early in the 2014–2016 Ebola epidemic in West Africa, media heralded HealthMap's ability to detect the outbreak from newsfeeds. Later, big data—specifically, call detail record data collected from millions of cell phones—was hyped as useful for stopping the disease by tracking contagious people. It did not work. In this article, I trace the causes of big data's containment failures. During epidemics, big data experiments can have opportunity costs: namely, forestalling urgent response. Finally, what counts as data during epidemics must include that coming from anthropological technologies because they are so useful for detection and containment.
Tip‐localized Ca2+‐permeable channels control pollen tube growth via kinase‐dependent R‐ and S‐type anion channel regulation
Authors: Gutermuth Timo , Herbell Sarah , Lassig Roman , Brosché Mikael , Romeis Tina , Feijó José Alberto , Hedrich Rainer , Konrad Kai Robert
Published: March 2018

Pollen tubes (PTs) are characterized by having tip‐focused cytosolic calcium ion (Ca2+) concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) gradients, which are believed to control PT growth. However, the mechanisms by which the apical [Ca2+]cyt orchestrates PT growth are not well understood.

Here, we aimed to identify these mechanisms by combining reverse genetics, cell biology, electrophysiology, and live‐cell Ca2+ and anion imaging. We triggered Ca2+‐channel activation by applying hyperpolarizing voltage pulses and observed that the evoked [Ca2+]cyt increases were paralleled by high anion channel activity and a decrease in the cytosolic anion concentration at the PT tip.

We confirmed a functional correlation between these patterns by showing that inhibition of Ca2+‐permeable channels eliminated the [Ca2+]cyt increase, resulting in the abrogation of anion channel activity via Ca2+‐dependent protein kinases (CPKs). Functional characterization of CPK and anion‐channel mutants revealed a CPK2/20/6‐dependent activation of SLAH3 and ALMT12/13/14 anion channels.

The impaired growth phenotypes of anion channel and CPK mutants support the physiological significance of a kinase‐ and Ca2+‐dependent pathway to control PT growth via anion channel activation. Other than unveiling this functional link, our membrane hyperpolarization method allows for unprecedented manipulation of the [Ca2+]cyt gradient or oscillations in the PT tips and opens an array of opportunities for channel screenings.
A Vitis vinifera basic helix–loop–helix transcription factor enhances plant cell size, vegetative biomass and reproductive yield
Authors: Lim Sung Don , Yim Won Choel , Liu Degao , Hu Rongbin , Yang Xiaohan , Cushman John C.
Published: March 2018

Strategies for improving plant size are critical targets for plant biotechnology to increase vegetative biomass or reproductive yield. To improve biomass production, a codon‐optimized helix–loop–helix transcription factor (VvCEB1opt) from wine grape was overexpressed in Arabidopsis thaliana resulting in significantly increased leaf number, leaf and rosette area, fresh weight and dry weight. Cell size, but typically not cell number, was increased in all tissues resulting in increased vegetative biomass and reproductive organ size, number and seed yield. Ionomic analysis of leaves revealed the VvCEB1opt‐overexpressing plants had significantly elevated, K, S and Mo contents relative to control lines. Increased K content likely drives increased osmotic potential within cells leading to greater cellular growth and expansion. To understand the mechanistic basis of VvCEB1opt action, one transgenic line was genotyped using RNA‐Seq mRNA expression profiling and revealed a novel transcriptional reprogramming network with significant changes in mRNA abundance for genes with functions in delayed flowering, pathogen–defence responses, iron homeostasis, vesicle‐mediated cell wall formation and auxin‐mediated signalling and responses. Direct testing of VvCEB1opt‐overexpressing plants showed that they had significantly elevated auxin content and a significantly increased number of lateral leaf primordia within meristems relative to controls, confirming that cell expansion and organ number proliferation were likely an auxin‐mediated process. VvCEB1opt overexpression in Nicotiana sylvestris also showed larger cells, organ size and biomass demonstrating the potential applicability of this innovative strategy for improving plant biomass and reproductive yield in crops.
Genome‐wide signatures of flowering adaptation to climate temperature: Regional analyses in a highly diverse native range of Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Tabas‐Madrid Daniel , Méndez‐Vigo Belén , Arteaga Noelia , Marcer Arnald , Pascual‐Montano Alberto , Weigel Detlef , Xavier Picó F. , Alonso‐Blanco Carlos
Published: March 2018

Current global change is fueling an interest to understand the genetic and molecular mechanisms of plant adaptation to climate. In particular, altered flowering time is a common strategy for escape from unfavourable climate temperature. In order to determine the genomic bases underlying flowering time adaptation to this climatic factor, we have systematically analysed a collection of 174 highly diverse Arabidopsis thaliana accessions from the Iberian Peninsula. Analyses of 1.88 million single nucleotide polymorphisms provide evidence for a spatially heterogeneous contribution of demographic and adaptive processes to geographic patterns of genetic variation. Mountains appear to be allele dispersal barriers, whereas the relationship between flowering time and temperature depended on the precise temperature range. Environmental genome‐wide associations supported an overall genome adaptation to temperature, with 9.4% of the genes showing significant associations. Furthermore, phenotypic genome‐wide associations provided a catalogue of candidate genes underlying flowering time variation. Finally, comparison of environmental and phenotypic genome‐wide associations identified known (Twin Sister of FT, FRIGIDA‐like 1, and Casein Kinase II Beta chain 1) and new (Epithiospecifer Modifier 1 and Voltage‐Dependent Anion Channel 5) genes as candidates for adaptation to climate temperature by altered flowering time. Thus, this regional collection provides an excellent resource to address the spatial complexity of climate adaptation in annual plants.
Leading Russia as the New Israel: Authorship and Authority in Fedor Glinka's Letters of a Russian Officer and Experiments in Sacred Verse
Authors: DAVIDSON PAMELA
Published: March 2018

This article argues that Fedor Glinka (1786–1880) established a new model of authorship and authority during and after the Napoleonic wars. He achieved this by embedding two central controlling metaphors in Russian letters: first, that of Russia as a new Israel, and then, as a result, that of the writer as national prophet. The first stage of this process took place in his Letters of a Russian Officer (1815–16) and Letters to a Friend (1816–17). In these autobiographical works, Glinka transformed the existing theological and imperial trope of chosenness to include (for the first time) an idealised image of the Russian people (narod), based on his personal observations, anchored in recent history, and reported in a compelling innovative form of prose that combined documentary record with edifying moral addresses to his audience. The second stage was developed through numerous poetic adaptations of the psalms and biblical prophets, assembled in Experiments in Sacred Verse (1826). In this collection, the poet’s voice merged fully with the power of the sacred word. Although Glinka’s prophetic status was reinforced by him in exile and validated through the responses of contemporary readers, his pivotal role as the originator of the modern literary view of the writer as a figure of prophetic authority (usually attributed to other, more prominent writers) was subsequently overlooked as a result of the paradoxical after‐life of his legacy, explored in the conclusion.
Corporate debt maturity in developing countries: Sources of long and short‐termism
Authors: Cortina Juan J. , Didier Tatiana , Schmukler Sergio L.
Published: March 2018

This paper documents to what extent firms from developing countries borrow short versus long term, using data on corporate bond and syndicated loan markets. Contrary to claims in the literature based on firm balance sheets, firms from developing countries borrow through bonds and syndicated loans at maturities similar to those obtained by developed country firms. There are relevant differences across the debt markets composing this aggregate pattern. Firms from developing countries borrow shorter term in domestic bond markets. But the differences in international issuances (accounting for most of the proceeds) are significantly smaller. Moreover, developing country firms borrow longer term in syndicated loan markets. However, only large firms from developing countries (similar in size to those from developed ones) issue bonds and syndicated loans. The short‐termism in developing countries is partly explained by a lower proportion of firms using these markets, with more firms relying on other shorter‐term instruments.
Rapid multiple immunofluorescent staining for the simultaneous detection of cytokeratin and vimentin in the cytology of canine tumors
Authors: Sawa Mariko , Yabuki Akira , Kohyama Moeko , Miyoshi Noriaki , Yamato Osamu
Published: March 2018

Background

Immunocytochemistry (ICC) is utilized as an advanced technique in veterinary cytology. In tumor diagnosis, cytokeratin and vimentin are markers used to distinguish the origin of tumor cells. Standard enzyme‐based ICC has limitations in clinical use; and therefore, more convenient and reliable methods are needed.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to develop a rapid multiple immunofluorescent (RMIF) detection method for dual cytokeratin and vimentin staining on cytology slides in dogs.

Methods

Air‐dried smear samples from solid tumors and sediments of pleural effusions were prepared from dogs (n = 14) that were admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Kagoshima University, Japan. Mouse monoclonal anti‐human cytokeratin (AE1/AE3) and rabbit monoclonal anti‐human vimentin (SP20) antibodies were used as primary antibodies, followed by staining with Alexa Fluor‐conjugated secondary antibodies. Staining using the RMIF method was compared with enzyme‐based ICC staining.

Results

Rapid multiple immunofluorescent immunostaining was clear and specific in the evaluated smears, whereas the enzyme‐based ICC showed nonspecific signals. By using the RMIF staining method, epithelial cells, mesenchymal cells, and mesothelial cells could be classified on a single smear of a pleural effusion. In smears of lymph nodes with epithelial tumor metastases, the RMIF method successfully detected metastatic epithelial tumor cells.

Conclusions

The RMIF method might be a useful tool for diagnostic cytology in veterinary medicine.
Effect of sputtering yield changes on the depth resolution in cluster beam depth-profiling of polymers
Authors: Tuccitto Nunzio , Bombace Alessandra , Torrisi Alberto , Licciardello Antonino
Published: March 2018

The authors present the results of the simulation, by means of a recently introduced transport and reaction model, of the sputter depth profiling of delta layers in a polymer system that undergoes mild modification during the measurement, such as in the case of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy profiling with large cluster ion beams. They find that, even in the absence of roughening and at constant beam-induced mixing effects, the variations of sputtering yield caused by sample damage produce non-negligible changes in depth resolution.