bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Levothyroxine Poisoning – Symptoms and Clinical Outcome
Authors: Nygaard Birgitte , Saedder Eva A. , Dalhoff Kim , Wikkelsoe Mette , Jürgens Gesche
Published: March 2015

Levothyroxine (LT), T4, poisoning is rarely associated with a severe outcome. However, cases with significant complications have been reported. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with symptoms of poisoning including late‐onset symptoms. All enquiries to the Danish Poison Information Centre (DPIC) concerning LT poisoning between March 2007 and September 2012 were reviewed and the following parameters were recorded: age, dose, time from ingestion, multiple drug intake and symptoms. To evaluate the frequency of late‐onset symptoms, a subgroup of patients without initial symptoms were contacted. A total of 181 patients were registered (112 children). Ingested LT dose ranged from 10 to 9000 mcg (median 275 mcg). A total of 29 of 181 (16%) patients were symptomatic at the time of enquiry, and there was no difference in ingested LT dose between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients, neither in children nor in adults (age 16–92 years) (p < 0.68 and p < 0.47, respectively). In total, 153 of 181 (85%) patients did not have symptoms of poisoning at the time of enquiry; however, in 9 of 21 (43%) patients, we were able to contact, late‐onset symptoms existed. In none of the cases, hospital contact was needed and there were no reports of long‐term sequelae. Acute LT poisoning often follows a benign course. The occurrence of symptoms appears not to be dose dependent. Late‐onset symptoms seem to be common. However, all symptoms resolved spontaneously without need of medical care.
Perception of students’ intelligence malleability and potential for future success: Unfavourable beliefs towards girls
Authors: Verniers Catherine , Martinot Delphine
Published: March 2015

Background

Endorsing an entity theory of intelligence has negative effects on students’ academic trajectories. Research focused on students’ personal theories of intelligence has shown that girls are more likely than boys to hold an entity theory of intelligence. However, no study has examined the possibility of a gender stereotype basis for this belief.

Aims

We examined whether secondary school students are knowledgeable about others’ beliefs describing female students’ intelligence as less malleable than male students’ intelligence.

Sample and method

A sample of 85 French ninth graders were asked to rate to what extent others perceived: (1) female or male students’ intelligence as malleable and fixed; (2) female or male students as making efforts for their current achievement; and (3) female or male students as having potential for future success.

Results

Participants reported that others perceived girls’ intelligence as less malleable than boys’ intelligence. Moreover, the relationship between current efforts and potential for future achievement depended on the target's gender. The more hardworking a female student was perceived to be in school, the less she was considered to have potential to succeed in the future, whereas such a link was not observed for a male student.

Conclusions

Secondary school students seem to be knowledgeable about a gender stereotype regarding intelligence and potential for academic success which is unfavourable for female students. Implications for students’ academic trajectories are discussed.
IL‐5 production by resident mucosal allergen‐specific T cells in an explant model of allergic rhinitis
Authors: Skrindo I. , Ballke C. , Gran E. , Johansen F.‐E. , Baekkevold E. S. , Jahnsen F. L.
Published: March 2015

Background

Seasonal allergic rhinitis is a chronic inflammation in the nasal mucosa triggered by inhaled aeroallergens. The inflammatory reaction is controlled by allergen‐specific T cells, but where and how these T cells become activated is not fully understood.

Objectives

We wanted to determine whether allergen‐specific T‐helper (Th) 2 cells are residing in the nasal mucosa under steady‐state conditions outside of the pollen season and, if so, whether these cells are activated locally in response to allergen challenge.

Methods

Mucosal biopsies from the lower turbinate were obtained out of season from patients with either birch‐ or grass‐pollen‐allergic rhinitis and from healthy controls. Cultured explant samples were challenged with relevant pollen extract or with a mix of overlapping 20‐mer peptides derived from the sequence of the major birch allergen, Betula verrucosa (Bet v) 1. After 24 h, culture medium was harvested for multiplex cytokine and tryptase analysis.

Results

Significant amounts of interleukin (IL)‐5 were secreted from resident cells in response to ex vivo allergen challenge in the allergic group only. No increase was observed for the other cytokines measured. Production of IL‐5 in response to both extract and the Bet v1‐derived peptide mix strongly suggested that T cells were a major source of IL‐5.

Conclusion

Our explant model indicated that local presentation of antigen to resident allergen‐specific Th2 cells is the early event in the pathogenesis of allergic rhinitis. These findings identify possible cellular targets for anti‐inflammatory treatment.
Accuracy and patient‐centered outcome variables in guided implant surgery: a RCT comparing immediate with delayed loading
Authors: Vercruyssen Marjolein , Cox Catherine , Naert Ignace , Jacobs Reinhilde , Teughels Wim , Quirynen Marc
Published: March 2015

Aim

To assess the accuracy and patient‐centered outcome of a novel guided surgery system for placing implants in an edentulous maxilla.

Material and methods

Fifteen consecutive patients with sufficient bone to place six implants in the maxilla were randomly assigned to the immediate loading (with delivery of the final prosthesis within 24 h) or the delayed loading treatment group. Accuracy was assessed by matching the planning CT with a postoperative CBCT. Patient‐centered outcome measures were the Dutch version of the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ‐DLV), the health‐related quality of life instrument (HRQOL), visual analog scales (VAS), the duration of the procedure, and the analgesic doses taken each day.

Results

A mean deviation was found at the entry point of 0.9 mm (range: 0.1–4.5, median 0.8) and of 1.2 mm (range: 0.2–4.9, median 1.1) at the apex, and an angular deviation of 2.7° (range: 0.0–6.6°, median 2.3) was observed. The mean vertical deviation was 0.5 mm (range: 0.0–3.2, median 0.4), and in a horizontal direction, this was 0.7 mm (range: 0.1–3.1, median 0.6). The mean deviation in mesio‐distal direction was 0.5 mm (range: 0.0–2.3, median 0.4) and in bucco‐lingual direction 0.5 mm ± 0.4 (range: 0.0–2.2, median 0.3). No statistical differences could be shown between treatment groups on pain response (MPQ‐DLV), treatment perception (VAS), number or kind of pain killers, or for the HRQOLI instrument.

Conclusion

The accuracy of a novel CT‐based guide is comparable to the accuracy data of other systems. Within the limitations of this study, no difference could be found in patient‐centered outcome variables after immediate or delayed loading.
Plague bacterium as a transformer species in prairie dogs and the grasslands of western North America
Authors: Eads David A. , Biggins Dean E.
Published: March 2015

Invasive transformer species change the character, condition, form, or nature of ecosystems and deserve considerable attention from conservation scientists. We applied the transformer species concept to the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis in western North America, where the pathogen was introduced around 1900. Y. pestis transforms grassland ecosystems by severely depleting the abundance of prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.) and thereby causing declines in native species abundance and diversity, including threatened and endangered species; altering food web connections; altering the import and export of nutrients; causing a loss of ecosystem resilience to encroaching invasive plants; and modifying prairie dog burrows. Y. pestis poses an important challenge to conservation biologists because it causes trophic‐level perturbations that affect the stability of ecosystems. Unfortunately, understanding of the effects of Y. pestis on ecosystems is rudimentary, highlighting an acute need for continued research.
Approach to assessing the economic impact of insulin‐related hypoglycaemia using the novel Local Impact of Hypoglycaemia Tool
Authors: Parekh W. A. , Ashley D. , Chubb B. , Gillies H. , Evans M.
Published: March 2015

Aim

To provide estimates of the costs of severe and non‐severe insulin‐related hypoglycaemia in the UK using the Local Impact of Hypoglycaemia Tool.

Methods

Rates of hypoglycaemia were extracted from the UK Hypoglycaemia Study Group observational study. The costs of severe and non‐severe hypoglycaemic episodes in insulin‐treated adults with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes were estimated from UK data sources. The rates and costs were then applied to specific populations to give an estimate of the cost of insulin‐related hypoglycaemia for the UK, a specific locality, or a user‐defined population. User‐specific rates and costs could also be applied.

Results

The estimated cost of a hypoglycaemic episode can range from as much as £2,152 for severe episodes (for which the patient is admitted to hospital) to as little as £1.67 for non‐severe episodes. With a UK population of 64.1 million, the total estimated cost of managing insulin‐related hypoglycaemia is £468.0 m per year (£295.9 m for severe episodes, £172.1 m for non‐severe episodes). On a local health economy level, using a hypothetical general population of 100 000, the total cost of managing insulin‐related hypoglycaemia is estimated to be £730,052 per year (£461,658 for severe and £268,394 for non‐severe episodes).

Conclusions

The Local Impact of Hypoglycaemia Tool highlights the economic burden of insulin‐related hypoglycaemia. Non‐severe episodes are often overlooked because of their low individual cost, but their high frequency makes the cumulative cost substantial. The Local Impact of Hypoglycaemia Tool also shows clinicians and budget‐holders the economic impact of lower rates of hypoglycaemia.
Distribution of invasive and native riparian woody plants across the western USA in relation to climate, river flow, floodplain geometry and patterns of introduction
Authors: McShane Ryan R. , Auerbach Daniel A. , Friedman Jonathan M. , Auble Gregor T. , Shafroth Patrick B. , Merigliano Michael F. , Scott Michael L. , Poff N. LeRoy
Published: March 2015

Management of riparian plant invasions across the landscape requires understanding the combined influence of climate, hydrology, geologic constraints and patterns of introduction. We measured abundance of nine riparian woody taxa at 456 stream gages across the western USA. We constructed conditional inference recursive binary partitioning models to discriminate the influence of eleven environmental variables on plant occurrence and abundance, focusing on the two most abundant non‐native taxa,Tamarixspp. andElaeagnus angustifolia, and their native competitorPopulus deltoides. River reaches in this study were distributed along a composite gradient from cooler, wetter higher‐elevation reaches with higher stream power and earlier snowmelt flood peaks to warmer, drier lower‐elevation reaches with lower power and later peaks. Plant distributions were strongly related to climate, hydrologic and geomorphic factors, and introduction history. The strongest associations were with temperature and then precipitation. Among hydrologic and geomorphic variables, stream power, peak flow timing and 10‐yr flood magnitude had stronger associations than did peak flow predictability, low‐flow magnitude, mean annual flow and channel confinement. Nearby intentional planting ofElaeagnuswas the best predictor of its occurrence, but planting ofTamarixwas rare. Higher temperatures were associated with greater abundance ofTamarixrelative toP. deltoides, and greater abundance ofP. deltoidesrelative toElaeagnus. Populus deltoidesabundance was more strongly related to peak flow timing than was that ofElaeagnusorTamarix. Higher stream power and larger 10‐yr floods were associated with greater abundance ofP. deltoidesandTamarixrelative toElaeagnus. Therefore, increases in temperature could increase abundance ofTamarixand decrease that ofElaeagnusrelative toP. deltoides, changes in peak flow timing caused by climate change or dam operations could increase abundance of both invasive taxa, and dam‐induced reductions in flood peaks could increase abundance ofElaeagnusrelative toTamarixandP. deltoides.
The importance of species pool size for community composition
Authors: Karger Dirk Nikolaus , Tuomisto Hanna , Amoroso Victor B. , Darnaedi Dedy , Hidayat Arief , Abrahamczyk Stefan , Kluge Jürgen , Lehnert Marcus , Kessler Michael
Published: March 2015

We investigated if an increase in species pool size leads to more pronounced turnover in local communities and assessed if this increase relates to stronger competition for environmental niches or to more random placement of species. We compared compositional turnover of pteridophytes (ferns and lycophytes) at 15 sites in mountain ecosystems on 13 islands in southeast Asia and Melanesia that mainly differed in the size of their species pool. Each site was sampled with 16 plots of 20 × 20 m2. Using multiple regression on distance matrices, we investigated the relationship between environmental distance and compositional turnover at different spatial extents within sites with different species pool sizes. Additionally, we tested the hypothesis that the intensity of competition increases with increasing species pool size. This was done by assessing how realized niche overlap and unevenness of communities relate to environmental distance and species pool size. With increasing species pool size, there was an increase in: a) proportional turnover in community composition, b) the importance of environmental distance for explaining turnover in community composition and c) a decrease in environmental niche overlap between species indicating an increasing importance of competition for community composition. Our results support the idea that increasing species pool size increases the competition for available environmental niches, and thereby leads to a tighter connection between environmental factors and community composition.
Differential establishment potential of species predicts a shift in coral assemblage structure across a biogeographic barrier
Authors: Keith Sally A. , Woolsey E. S. , Madin J. S. , Byrne M. , Baird A. H.
Published: March 2015

Biogeographic breaks are locations where multiple species reach range limits simultaneously. Numerous breaks have been identified; however, the mechanisms that generate and maintain these breaks are largely unresolved. One break of particular interest lies between the subtropical Lord Howe Island off the east coast of Australia and the Great Barrier Reef 1000 km to the north, because of the potential for Lord Howe Island to serve as a refuge from climate change. Our aim was to quantitatively disentangle the mechanisms proposed to explain this break. To do so, we combined species abundance and trait data to test the hypotheses that dispersal limitation, environmental tolerance, competitive ability or evolutionary processes maintain the break. Specifically, we used multiple linear regression to analyse the extent to which species traits could predict the location of species along a non‐metric multidimensional scaling axis, which was representative of assemblage change across the break. Three of the twelve species traits considered – reproductive mode, upper depth and depth range – contributed significantly to the averaged model. The higher relative abundance of species that brood larvae on Lord Howe Island supports the hypothesis that local retention of larvae is critical for population establishment at this location. In addition, abundant species on Lord Howe Island were disproportionately associated with global depth distributions that encompass deep water, which might indicate that these species are better able to tolerate sub‐optimal environmental conditions, such as low light levels in the sub‐tropics. Therefore, we conclude that the biogeographic break between the Great Barrier Reef and Lord Howe Island is maintained primarily by the ability of species to establish populations upon arrival. More broadly, our work adds to a growing body of evidence that suggests, over large temporal scales, establishment is more important than dispersal for the maintenance of biogeographic breaks in the oceans.
A computational strategy for altering an enzyme in its cofactor preference to NAD(H) and/or NADP(H)
Authors: Cui Dongbing , Zhang Lujia , Jiang Shuiqin , Yao Zhiqiang , Gao Bei , Lin Jinping , Yuan Y. Adam , Wei Dongzhi
Published: March 2015

Coenzyme engineering, especially for altered coenzyme specificity, has been a research hotspot for more than a decade. In the present study, a novel computational strategy that enhances the hydrogen‐bond interaction between an enzyme and a coenzyme was developed and utilized to alter the coenzyme preference. This novel computational strategy only required the structure of the target enzyme. No other homologous enzymes were needed to achieve alteration in the coenzyme preference of a certain enzyme. Using our novel strategy, Gox2181 was reconstructed from exhibiting complete NADPH preference to exhibiting dual cofactor specificity for NADH and NADPH. Structure‐guided Gox2181 mutants were designed in silico and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to evaluate the strength of hydrogen‐bond interactions between the enzyme and the coenzyme NADPH. Three Gox2181 mutants displaying high structure stability and structural compatibility to NADH/NADPH were chosen for experimental confirmation. Among the three Gox2181 mutants, Gox2181‐Q20R&D43S showed the highest enzymatic activity by utilizing NADPH as its coenzyme, which was even better than the wild‐type enzyme. In addition, isothermal titration calorimetry analysis further verified that Gox2181‐Q20R&D43S was able to interact with NADPH but the wild‐type enzyme could not. This novel computational strategy represents an insightful approach for altering the cofactor preference of target enzymes.

Database

Model data have been deposited in the Protein Model Database database under the accession numbers PM0079165, PM0079166, PM0079167, PM0079168 and PM0079169.
Testing predictions of changes in benthic invertebrate abundance and community structure after flow restoration in a large river (French Rhône)
Authors: Mérigoux Sylvie , Forcellini Maxence , Dessaix Jeanne , Fruget Jean‐François , Lamouroux Nicolas , Statzner Bernhard
Published: March 2015

Principal threats to running waters are linked to human‐made discharge modifications, but tools to predict the quantitative consequences of flow restoration for benthic invertebrates in large rivers remain untested.

Quantitative benthos samples from two bypassed reaches (Pierre‐Bénite – PBE – and Chautagne – CHAU) of the French Rhône River were collected during four years each before and after minimum flow increases (from 10 to 100 m3 s−1 at PBE and from 10 to 50 m3 s−1 at CHAU). These samples provided observed ln‐density changes for the 50 and 62 (PBE and CHAU, respectively) most abundant taxa (typically species or genera). For about half of the ‘model’ taxa among them, distinct preference models for bottom shear stress categories were available from four reaches of the Upper Rhône River and from various German rivers. Linking these preference models with a statistical hydraulic model predicting frequencies of shear stress categories for any given discharge, we predicted ln‐density changes of the model taxa after restoration.

Community structure of the abundant taxa changed clearly and rapidly after restoration at PBE but less clearly at CHAU. Our predictions explained a considerable amount of mean ln‐density changes of our model taxa observed after restoration (75 and 30% at PBE and CHAU, respectively). They also explained (67 and 40% at PBE and CHAU, respectively) the model taxa scores along the principal components analysis axis that summarised the community variations of all abundant taxa before and after restoration. For taxa not identified to species (assessed as genus, tribe or family), the predicted ln‐density changes were sometimes inaccurate at PBE (a Lower Rhône site), suggesting that the transferability of preference models for taxonomic levels above that of species can be problematic.

If further developed, statistical habitat models focussing on ecologically relevant physical variables (in our case shear stress) should enable reliable quantitative assessments of associations between flow restoration efforts and achievable ecological improvement.
A comparison of social processes at three sites of theFrenchRhôneRiver subjected to ecological restoration
Authors: Barthélémy Carole , Armani Gilles
Published: March 2015

Understanding social processes (trajectories of relationships among stakeholders), political constraints, cultural aspects and public opinions is essential for efficient design, sustainability and evaluation of restoration operations. However, few restoration projects involve the participation of social sciences.

The ecological restoration of theRhôneRiver involved increasing flow below dams and better connecting floodplain channels at multiple sites along the river. Therefore, it provided a unique opportunity to identify the commonalities and differences among social processes associated with ecological restoration.

We used qualitative analyses of speeches and interviews with stakeholders to understand their relationship to theRhône. These analyses revealed that social values, relating local residents to the river, played a major role throughout the restoration projects.

The comparison of social processes among three sites of theRhône shows that they generally followed three stages: managing a crisis, transforming the relationship to the river and valuing the local social space (the territory).

Consistent patterns emerging across sites included the following: (i) the role of a local public figure able to mobilise stakeholders in supporting the restoration project; (ii) the importance of the organisation of the stakeholder community and its commitment to the project; and (iii) the major role of interactions between local and national levels. Variation across sites also occurred and may be related to unforeseen events such as political changes and natural hazards (e.g. floods and pollution).

Involving social science in restoration projects requires taking into account commonalities in social processes as well as the diversity of local experiences.
Testing predictions of changes in alien and native macroinvertebrate communities and their interaction after the restoration of a large river floodplain (French Rhône)
Authors: Paillex Amael , Castella Emmanuel , zu Ermgassen Philine S. E. , Aldridge David C.
Published: March 2015

Large river floodplains contain a high diversity of habitats and species but are highly threatened by human activities. River floodplain restoration is increasingly undertaken to reverse biodiversity loss and enhance ecosystem services.

Few studies have examined the consequences on the biota of restoring lateral connectivity, a key variable that represents the exchange of materials and organisms between the river and its floodplain. We developed models to describe the richness and abundance of aquatic macroinvertebrates in 18 channels of the Rhône floodplain and predict how restoration (i.e. the increase in lateral connectivity of floodplain channels) should alter the native and alien communities.

Models quantified how richness and abundance decrease for lentic taxa and increase for lotic and alien taxa with higher connectivity between the floodplain channels and the main channel. Predicted changes were weakly related to overall observed changes when all restored channels were combined, but consistent with observed changes when floodplain channels were grouped by restoration type. We highlighted that restoration interventions modifying lateral connectivity induced a change of lentic and lotic taxa richness in accordance with the predictions. Richness of alien taxa was favoured by restoration more than predicted; however, no interaction between alien species changes and native species was detected after restoration.

Restoration of the ecosystem predictably transformed native communities and encouraged alien species, at least over the 4 years studied. Our findings demonstrate that lateral connectivity is a key variable driving macroinvertebrate communities in large river floodplains and that the response of macroinvertebrates to restoration of a disturbance‐driven ecosystem can in part be predicted. Therefore, the outcome of restoration programmes can be optimised by quantifying lateral connectivity before and after restoration.
Suitability, efficiency and microbiological safety of novel physical technologies for the processing of ready‐to‐eat meals, meats and pumpable products
Authors: Stratakos Alexandros Ch. , Koidis Anastasios
Published: March 2015

Consumer studies and market reports show an increase in consumption of ready‐to‐eat (RTE) foods. Although conventional processing technologies can in most cases produce safe products, they can also lead to the degradation of nutritional compounds and negatively affect quality characteristics. Consumers strongly prefer food that is minimally processed with the maximum amount of health‐promoting substances. Novel processing technologies as pre‐ or post‐treatment decontamination methods or as substitutes of conventional technologies have the potential to produce foods that are safe, rich in nutrient content and with superior organoleptic properties. Combining novel with conventional processes can eliminate potential drawbacks of novel technologies. This review examines available scientific information and critically evaluates the suitability and efficiency of various novel thermal and nonthermal technologies in terms of microbial safety, quality as well as nutrient content on the production ofRTEmeals, meats and pumpable products.
Full complexity analysis of the diameter‐constrained reliability
Authors: Canale Eduardo , Cancela Héctor , Robledo Franco , Romero Pablo , Sartor Pablo
Published: March 2015

Let be a simple graph with nodes and links, a subset of “terminals,” a vector , and a positive integer d, called “diameter.” We assume that nodes are perfect but links fail stochastically and independently, with probabilities . The “diameter‐constrained reliability” (DCR) is the probability that the terminals of the resulting subgraph remain connected by paths composed of d links, or less. This number is denoted by . The general DCR computation belongs to the class of ‐hard problems, since it subsumes the problem of computing the probability that a random graph is connected. The contributions of this paper are twofold. First, a full analysis of the computational complexity of DCR subproblems is presented in terms of the number of terminal nodes and the diameter d. Second, we extend the class of graphs that accept efficient DCR computation. In this class, we include graphs with bounded co‐rank, graphs with bounded genus, planar graphs, and, in particular, Monma graphs, which are relevant to robust network design.
Supply chain pricing and coordination with markdown strategy in the presence of conspicuous consumers
Authors: Xue Musen , Tang Wansheng , Zhang Jianxiong
Published: March 2015

This paper studies the problem of supply chain pricing and coordination with markdown policy in the presence of conspicuous consumption. A two‐period pricing model is proposed to investigate the effect of conspicuous consumption on pricing decisions with markdown pricing policy for a supply chain that consists of a manufacturer and retailer. The optimal pricing strategies for the integrated supply chain and decentralized supply chain are derived respectively. Our results show that an anticipated conspicuous consumption can benefit the supply chain even though the conspicuous consumption aggravates the double marginalization effect. The conspicuous consumption can serve as a level to segment the market and can promote the supply chain revenue. In addition, our results indicate that the supply chain can benefit from rationing. We also introduce a revenue‐sharing contract and prove that it can be applied to coordinate the supply chain with conspicuous consumption. An interval of the revenue‐sharing rate for coordinating with the supply chain can be coordinated without any additional transfer payment being provided.
Analytics and the art of modeling
Authors: Barceló Jaume
Published: March 2015

This paper could have been subtitled “Was Johannes Kepler a precursor of analytics?” Models constitute a key tool for achieving a deep understanding of how complex systems behave, and they have been central to building the body of knowledge that we understand as “science.” Since its origins, operations research has claimed to be a scientific discipline and, as such, it is rooted in the model‐building process. Epistemologically, it is a process that is schematically represented by the methodological chain: facts→laws→theories. One well‐known example of the paradigm of modern science is Kepler's quest to interpret Brahe's astronomical observations in terms of a model, which resulted in his laws of planetary motion. Since then, we have learned that reality is more complex than we thought, and that it is uncertain and dynamic in both probabilistic and chaotic terms. Technological evolution currently provides us with quality data in unprecedented amounts, and this has forced us to develop appropriate methods for dealing with them. However, this only means that the methodological chain for discovering knowledge is now richer with respect to our capabilities of analyzing the facts, and therefore the door is now open to greater possibilities of finding laws and formulating explanatory theories. The search for Higgs boson, frequently presented as an archetype of analytics process, is essentially supported by the same epistemological principles as Kepler's work. This paper is devoted to making some remarks on these similarities and, in doing so, will highlight the relationships between the model‐building processes and the set of techniques under the umbrella of analytics. The above‐mentioned comments took place within the framework of the theme of the IFORS 2014 conference: The Art of Modeling. Relationships are illustrated in a typical, contemporary case, the time‐dependent analysis of mobility patterns in urban areas exploiting information and communications technologies, in which pervasive sensoring makes massive amounts of data available.
Correlation Between Anisotropic Green Microstructure of Spherical‐Shaped Alumina Particles and Their Shrinkage Behavior
Authors: Fu Zongwen , Polfer Pit , Kraft Torsten , Roosen Andreas
Published: March 2015

Dimensional control is one of the basic problems in ceramic processing, especially for tape cast ceramic sheets which are used to build up multilayer structures for high‐integrated components. Uncontrolled anisotropic shrinkage can cause geometrical distortion and circuit failure of multilayer ceramics during sintering. The understanding of the relationship between green tape microstructure and shrinkage anisotropy is of great importance for further miniaturization of multilayer devices. In this study, alumina powders with spherical particle shape were used to cast green tapes. The microstructure as well as the pore orientation and the shrinkage behavior were analyzed. According to the sintering theory, grain growth and pore elimination are the two most important mechanisms to describe sintering shrinkage. In this work, three‐dimensional shrinkage behavior of tape cast alumina powders with spherical particle shape was investigated and correlated with pore orientation in the microstructure. Specifically, the reason for the different shrinkage in z‐direction compared to the lateral shrinkage is in focus. The study is based on experiments as well as on mathematical visualization.
Cone‐beam computed tomography evaluation of the soft tissue thickness and greater palatine foramen location in the palate
Authors: Yilmaz Hasan Guney , Boke Fatma , Ayali Aysa
Published: March 2015

Aim

The aim of this study was to evaluate the palatal mucosa thickness and greater palatine foramen location using cone‐beam computerized tomography (CBCT).

Materials and Methods

Cone‐beam computerized tomography images of 345 patients were measured. The relationship between palate vault depth and angle between the alveolar bone and palatal plane (PA) was evaluated. Differences in the palatal mucosal thickness according to age, gender and tooth site were evaluated.

Results

The mean palatal mucosal thickness from the second molar to the canine teeth were 3.7, 3.3, 3.7, 3 and 3 mm, respectively. The palatal mucosal thickness at the second molar and second premolar was statistically different from those at other zones. There was no correlation between the palatal junction angle and the palatal depth. Greater palatine foramen was observed at the level of third molar tooth, between third and second molar, second molar 63%, 31% and 6% in men and 56%, 36% and 8% in women respectively.

Conclusions

The second premolar to second molar zone was considered a suitable graft site based on the mean palatal mucosal thickness.
Effects of Blueberry, Grape Seed Powder and Poppy Seed Incorporation on Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Biscuit
Authors: Aksoylu Zeynep , Çağindi Özlem , Köse Ergun
Published: March 2015

Blueberry, defatted grape seed powder and defatted poppy seeds were incorporated into biscuits at a level of 5%. Some physicochemical and sensory characteristics were evaluated during 5 months storage period. Diameter, a* (−a = greenness, +a = redness) values, ash, fat, crude fiber, Mg and Ca contents increased, while L* (lightness), b* (−b = blueness, +b = yellowness) values decreased significantly (P < 0.05). A significant type of fortification agent × storage time interaction (P < 0.05) existed for all physicochemical parameters analyzed. Defatted poppy seed was the most effective agent for preventing increased peroxide values, whereas defatted grape seed powder addition decreased free fatty acid formation better than blueberry and defatted poppy seeds. All fortification agents increased the total phenolic content of biscuits. Biscuits having 5% blueberry exhibited a high percentage of antioxidant activity. Sensory evaluation results revealed that fortificated biscuits cannot be consumed after 5 months.

Practical Applications

As the relationship between nutrition and some chronic diseases have been established, the number of research and development studies focusing on functional foods has increased rapidly. Antioxidants became popular because of their positive effects on human health. Grape seed, a by‐product of the grape‐processing industry, is known as a strong free radical scavenger. Poppy seeds are generally used for their high oil content. Tocopherols found in poppy seeds have strong antioxidative properties. Blueberries, rich in anthocyanins, are widely consumed in different countries. These three botanical ingredients can be used as inexpensive antioxidant sources in snack foods such as biscuits and cookies.
Conference on Housing, Stability, and the Macroeconomy: International Perspectives
Authors: AREZKI RABAH , BECK THORSTEN , DEYOUNG ROBERT , DUCA JOHN V. , LOUNGANI PRAKASH , MURPHY ANTHONY
Published: March 2015

This article provides an introduction to the JMCB special issue on housing bubbles, the global financial crisis, and the ensuing recessions in countries that experienced housing busts. We focus on five themes that are important for policymakers and researchers alike: the domestic and international factors driving housing booms and busts, the relevance of the housing sector for the real economy, how monetary policy should react to housing booms and busts, how housing and mortgage finance reform could affect financial stability, and the broad lessons learned for macroeconomics and macroprudential policy.
An International Perspective for Mortgage Market Reform
Authors: JAFFEE DWIGHT M.
Published: March 2015

The United States and certain European countries (e.g., Ireland and Spain) have recently experienced serious distress in their residential mortgage markets. Public policy has responded with interventions to limit the deadweight costs of mortgage foreclosures, but with limited success. There are also open questions with respect to long‐term reforms in mortgage market structures. In this paper, I make use of the important differences that exist between U.S. and European mortgage markets to help identify those aspects of residential mortgage markets that are most in need of reform.
Explaining House Price Dynamics: Isolating the Role of Nonfundamentals
Authors: LING DAVID C. , OOI JOSEPH T.L. , LE THAO T.T.
Published: March 2015

This paper examines the role of nonfundamentals‐based sentiment in house price dynamics, including the well‐documented volatility and persistence of house prices during booms and busts. To measure and isolate sentiment's effect, we employ survey‐based indicators that proxy for the sentiment of three major agents in housing markets: home buyers (demand side), home builders (supply side), and lenders (credit suppliers). After orthogonalizing each sentiment measure against a broad set of fundamental variables, we find strong and consistent evidence that the changing sentiment of all three sets of market participants predicts house price appreciation in subsequent quarters, above and beyond the impact of changes in lagged price changes, fundamentals, and market liquidity. More specifically, a one‐standard‐deviation shock to market sentiment is associated with a 32–57 basis point increase in real house price appreciation over the next two quarters. These price effects are large relative to the average real price appreciation of 71 basis points per quarter observed over the full sample period. Moreover, housing market sentiment and its effect on real house prices is highly persistent. The results also reveal that the dynamic relation between sentiment and house prices can create feedback effects that contribute to the persistence typically observed in house price movements during boom and bust cycles.
Capital Inflows and the U.S. Housing Boom
Authors: SÁ FILIPA , WIELADEK TOMASZ
Published: March 2015

We estimate an open‐economy vector autoregressive (VAR) model to study the effect of capital‐inflow shocks on the U.S. housing market. We look at different external shocks that generate capital inflows to the U.S., in particular “saving‐glut” shocks and foreign monetary‐policy expansions. The shocks are identified with theoretically robust sign restrictions derived from an open‐economy dynamic stochastic general equilibrium (DSGE) model. Our findings suggest that capital inflows that result from “saving‐glut” shocks have a positive and persistent effect on real house prices and real residential investment.
Global Liquidity, House Prices, and the Macroeconomy: Evidence from Advanced and Emerging Economies
Authors: CESA‐BIANCHI AMBROGIO , CESPEDES LUIS FELIPE , REBUCCI ALESSANDRO
Published: March 2015

In this paper, we first compare house price cycles in advanced and emerging economies using a new quarterly house price data set covering the period 1990–2012. We find that house prices in emerging economies grow faster, are more volatile, less persistent, and less synchronized across countries than in advanced economies (AEs). We also find that they correlate with capital flows more closely than in AEs. We then condition the analysis on an exogenous change to a particular component of capital flows: global liquidity, broadly understood as a proxy for the international supply of credit. We identify this shock by aggregating bank‐to‐bank cross‐border credit and by using the external instrumental variable approach introduced by Stock and Watson (2012) and Mertens and Ravn (2013). We find that in emerging markets (EMs) a global liquidity shock has a much stronger impact on house prices and consumption than in AEs. We finally show that holding house prices constant in response to this shock tends to dampen its effects on consumption in both AEs and EMs, but possibly through different channels: in AEs by boosting the value of housing collateral and hence supporting domestic borrowing; in EMs, by appreciating the exchange rate and hence supporting the international borrowing capacity of the economy.
Nursing psychotherapeutic interventions: a review of clinical studies
Authors: Sampaio Francisco Miguel Correia , Sequeira Carlos Alberto da Cruz , Lluch Canut María Teresa
Published: March 2015

Aims and objectives

To summarise current knowledge about nursing psychotherapeutic interventions in adults.

Background

In Portugal, the provision of psychotherapeutic interventions is considered a competence of mental health nurses. However, literature is not totally clear about the differences between ‘psychotherapy’ and ‘psychotherapeutic interventions’ and about the specific characteristics that define a nursing psychotherapeutic intervention.

Design

Narrative review.

Methods

A literature review utilising MEDLINE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, the Web of Science, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, and MedicLatina computerised databases for the period from 2003–2013. A total of 151 eligible articles were identified. Relevant data were extracted, and findings were synthetised in a narrative synthesis.

Results

Nursing psychotherapeutic interventions are frequently based on ‘Cognitive‐Behavioural’ rationale. The usual length of these interventions varies between 5–16 weeks, in a total of 5–12 sessions of 45–60 minutes. The mechanisms of change are heterogeneous, but the therapeutic relationship between the nurse and the client seems to be the most important positive predictive factor of nursing psychotherapeutic interventions. Some of the most used outcome assessment measures include the Beck Depression Inventory, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, and the CORE‐OM. The effectiveness of nursing psychotherapeutic interventions has been widely demonstrated in many studies. However, the need of further studies to prove its cost effectiveness is evident.

Conclusions

It is necessary to have a better understanding of nursing psychotherapeutic interventions, one that explains its conceptual limits, to improve mental health nursing knowledge and create suitable models of psychotherapeutic intervention in nursing.

Relevance to clinical practice

The findings of this review can create awareness for some weaknesses of nursing knowledge about the psychotherapeutic intervention and for the need to produce knowledge, to nurture the nursing discipline in the area of psychotherapeutic intervention with even more theoretical and practical support.
Correlation between salivary and serum oxidized LDL levels: a pilot study on overweight/obese subjects
Authors: De Giuseppe R. , Cossellu G. , Vigna L. , Dicorato F. , De Vita C. , Venturelli G. , Bamonti F. , Maiavacca R. , Farronato G.
Published: March 2015

Background

Saliva contains a variety of substances and could be functionally equivalent to serum in reflecting the physiological state of the body, including metabolic variations. Salivary samples are non‐invasive, safe, and easier to handle than serum. Oxidized LDL cholesterol (oxLDL) is an additional cardiovascular risk factor playing an important role in atheromatous plaque formation; overweight/obese subjects present an increase in oxLDL concentrations. The aims of the study were to assess oxLDL salivary levels, if detectable, and to verify their possible correlation with serum in overweight/obese subjects.

Methods

Thirty‐five consecutive overweight/obese subjects and 10 normal weight controls were enrolled. Serum and salivary oxLDL levels were measured by a commercial enzyme‐linked‐immunosorbent assay (ELISA method).

Results

oxLDL levels were detectable in salivary samples and correlated (P = 0.001) with serum levels. Overweight/obese subjects showed serum and salivary oxLDL levels higher than controls (P = 0.000 and P = 0.022, respectively).

Conclusions

Our study showed the presence of oxLDL in salivary samples and highlighted a correlation between salivary oxLDL levels and their counterpart in serum. Moreover, salivary oxLDL levels were higher in overweight/obese subjects than in controls. Therefore, a salivary sample could be functionally equivalent to serum in monitoring cardiovascular risk in overweight/obese subjects.
Effects of balloon inflation and cough trick methods on easing pain in children during the drawing of venous blood samples: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Mutlu Birsen , Balcı Serap
Published: March 2015

Purpose

The purpose was to determine the effects of the balloon inflation and cough trick methods on easing pain in children during the drawing of venous blood samples.

Design and Methods

In this prospective randomized controlled study, 9‐ to 12‐year‐old children in the intervention groups were asked to cough or inflate balloons during the venipuncture procedure. The Faces Pain Scale‐Revised was used to assess pain intensity.

Results

Pain intensity significantly differed between the control (n = 44) and intervention groups (balloon inflation [n = 44] and cough trick [n = 44], p < .001).

Practice Implications

Coughing and inflating balloons during venipuncture do not require preparation and are time saving, easy, accessible, and effective in reducing pain.
Risk Factors for the Development of Hypokalemia in Neonatal Diarrheic Calves
Authors: Trefz F.M. , Lorch A. , Zitzl J. , Kutschke A. , Knubben‐Schweizer G. , Lorenz I.
Published: March 2015

Background

Neonatal diarrheic calves have a clear negative potassium balance because of intestinal losses and decreased milk intake but in the presence of acidemia, they usually show normokalemic or hyperkalemic plasma concentrations.

Objectives

To assess whether marked hypokalemia occurs in response to the correction of acidemia and dehydration and to identify factors that are associated with this condition.

Animals

Eighty‐three calves with a clinical diagnosis of neonatal diarrhea.

Methods

Prospective cohort study. Calves were treated according to a clinical protocol using an oral electrolyte solution and commercially available packages of 8.4% sodium bicarbonate, 0.9% saline and 40% dextrose infusion solutions.

Results

The proportion of hypokalemic calves after 24 hours of treatment (19.3%) was twice as great as it was on admission to the hospital. Plasma K+after 24 hours of treatment was not significantly correlated to venous bloodpHvalues at the same time but positively correlated to venous bloodpHvalues on admission (r = 0.51,P < .001). Base excess on admission (Odds ratio [OR] = 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.70–0.94), duration of diarrhea (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.05–1.80), milk intake during hospitalization (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.37–0.79) and plasma sodium concentrations after 24 hours (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.01–1.25) were identified to be independently associated (P < .05) with a hypokalemic state after 24 hours of treatment.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Findings of this study suggest that marked depletion of body potassium stores is evident in diarrheic calves that suffered from marked metabolic acidosis, have a low milk intake and a long history of diarrhea.