bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patient satisfaction with occlusal scheme of conventional complete dentures: A randomised clinical trial (Part II)
Authors: Moradpoor H. , Salari F. , Ebadian B. , Raissi S. , Shirani M.
Published: May 2018

The occlusion of choice is a controversial topic in conventional complete denture (CCD) treatment. This study aimed to compare patient satisfaction with CCD with partially group‐function occlusion (PGFO), fully bilateral balanced occlusion (FBBO), buccalised occlusion (BO), lingualised occlusion (LO) and the entire balanced group. Participants received new CCDs with PGFO. All steps of patient enrolment, denture fabrication, assessments during the follow‐up period and data collection were carried out exactly the same as part 1 of this research project. All patients were recalled at 1 and 3 months after delivery for data collection using the shortened version of oral health impact profile for edentulous patients (OHIP‐EDENT) questionnaire and 7 visual analog scales (VASs) for the quality of CCD based on general patient satisfaction, masticatory function, ability to speak, comfort, stability, retention and aesthetics. Data were analysed using the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test, the Kruskal‐Wallis test and Mann‐Whitney test via SPSS version 18.0 (α = 0.05). Thirty participants completed the follow‐up period for PGFO group. The mean age ± standard deviation of the new participants was 57.97 ± 6.93 years. Participants reported significantly less satisfaction in terms of comfort, stability and retention of denture with PGFO compared to balanced groups. Also, using OHIP‐EDENT questionnaire, significantly higher physical pain score was noted for PGFO group compared to BO and LO. Higher physical disability score was noted in PGFO compared to LO. Participants receiving CCDs with PGFO reported lower satisfaction in terms of comfort, stability and retention of denture and higher physical pain and physical disability than the balanced occlusal schemes.
The Price of Charity: Christian Love and Financial Anxieties
Authors: Capener Sean
Published: May 2018

Love and money, according to the intuitive logic of Christian political theology, stand in opposition to each other. Where economic relations obtain, relations of love are understood to be absent or distorted. The opposition between the two has led social theorists and political theologians—including John Milbank, Kathryn Tanner, and Daniel M. Bell—to understand Christian love as a reservoir of opposition to the politics of contemporary financialized capital. This opposition, however, ignores the complex interrelationship that has characterized Christian thought about love and money. Love and money—and their apparent competitive relationship—have been understood throughout the history of Christian thought on the basis of a relationship both maintain to the notion of indebtedness. This paper argues that any apparent tension between Christian theological caritas and oikonomia must to be contextualized in terms of a shared relationship between both of these concepts and the organization and administration of relations of debt and obligation.
On Debt and Redemption: Friedrich Nietzsche's Doctrine of Eternal Recurrence
Authors: Allen Gillespie Michael
Published: May 2018

In this essay, I argue that the notion of monetary debt does not displace but merely conceals our deeper, ontological debt to the sources of our being and way of life. I suggest that first Christianity and then modern science attempted to find a means of redemption that could free us from debt, but that both were unable to reconcile the ideas of freedom and indebtedness. I then examine the way in which Friedrich Nietzsche tried to resolve the apparent contradiction of our debt to the past and our freedom to shape the future by developing a new form of redemption rooted in his doctrine of the eternal recurrence.
Toward a Systematic Approach to the Economic Effects of Risk: Characterizing Utility Functions
Authors: Gollier Christian , Kimball Miles S.
Published: May 2018

The diffidence theorem, together with complementary tools, can aid in illuminating a broad set of questions about how to mathematically characterize the set of utility functions with specified economic properties. This article establishes the technique and illustrates its application to many questions, old and new. For example, among many other older and other technically more difficult results, it is shown that (1) several implications of globally greater risk aversion depend on distinct mathematical properties when the initial wealth level is known, (2) whether opening up a new asset market increases or decreases saving depends on whether the reciprocal of marginal utility is concave or convex, and (3) whether opening up a new asset market raises or lowers risk aversion toward small independent risks depends on whether absolute risk aversion is convex or concave.
Flavonoids inhibit both rice and sheep serotonin N‐acetyltransferases and reduce melatonin levels in plants
Authors: Lee Kyungjin , Hwang Ok Jin , Reiter Russel J. , Back Kyoungwhan
Published: May 2018

The plant melatonin biosynthetic pathway has been well characterized, but inhibitors of melatonin synthesis have not been well studied. Here, we found that flavonoids potently inhibited plant melatonin synthesis. For example, flavonoids including morin and myricetin significantly inhibited purified, recombinant sheep serotonin N‐acetyltransferase (SNAT). Flavonoids also dose‐dependently and potently inhibited purified rice SNAT1 and SNAT2. Thus, myricetin (100 μmol/L) reduced rice SNAT1 and SNAT2 activity 7‐ and 10‐fold, respectively, and also strongly inhibited the N‐acetylserotonin methyltransferase activity of purified, recombinant rice caffeic acid O‐methyltransferase. To explore the in vivo effects, rice leaves were treated with flavonoids and then cadmium. Flavonoid‐treated leaves had lower melatonin levels than the untreated control. To explore the direct roles of flavonoids in melatonin biosynthesis, we first functionally characterized a putative rice flavonol synthase (FLS) in vitro and generated flavonoid‐rich transgenic rice plants that overexpressed FLS. Such plants produced more flavonoids but less melatonin than the wild‐type, which suggests that flavonoids indeed inhibit plant melatonin biosynthesis.
Sedentary behaviour and sleep problems among 42,489 community‐dwelling adults in six low‐ and middle‐income countries
Authors: Vancampfort Davy , Stubbs Brendon , Firth Joseph , Hagemann Noemi , Myin‐Germeys Inez , Rintala Aki , Probst Michel , Veronese Nicola , Koyanagi Ai
Published: May 2018

There is a lack of multinational research investigating the association between sleep problems and sedentary behaviour. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the time spent sedentary during waking hours and sleep problems in six low‐ and middle‐income countries. Cross‐sectional, community‐based data from the Study on Global Ageing and Adult Health survey were analysed. Adjusted logistic regression analyses were undertaken to explore the relationship between self‐reported sleep problems (such as difficulties falling asleep, waking up frequently during the night or waking up too early in the morning) in the last 30 days and self‐reported sedentary time (categorized as <4, 4 to <8, 8 to <11 or ≥11 hr/day). Among 42,489 individuals aged ≥18 years (mean age=43.8 ± 14.4 years; 50.1% women), those who were sedentary for 8 to <11 hr/day (n = 2,782) and ≥11 hr/day (n = 674) had a 1.61 (95% confidence interval =1.03–2.50) and 1.75 (95% confidence interval =1.17–2.62) times higher odds of having sleep problems, respectively, compared with those being sedentary for less than 4 hr per day (n = 24,637). The strongest associations were observed among those aged 50–64 years. The observed associations were independent of a wide range of sociodemographic factors, physical and mental health conditions and physical activity behaviour. Considering the social and occupational costs of sleep problems, it is important that future longitudinal research should consider the directionality of the data.
Discrete‐Time Approximation of a Cogarch(p,q) Model and its Estimation
Authors: Iacus Stefano M. , Mercuri Lorenzo , Rroji Edit
Published: May 2018

In this article, we construct a sequence of discrete‐time stochastic processes that converges in the Skorokhod metric to a COGARCH(p,q) model. The result is useful for the estimation of the COGARCH(p,q) on irregularly spaced time series data. The proposed estimation procedure is based on the maximization of a pseudo log‐likelihood function and is implemented in the yuima package.
Hepatitis C among vulnerable populations: A seroprevalence study of homeless, people who inject drugs and prisoners in London
Authors: Aisyah D. N. , Shallcross L. , Hayward A. , Aldridge R. W. , Hemming S. , Yates S. , Ferenando G. , Possas L. , Garber E. , Watson J. M. , Geretti A. M. , McHugh T. D. , Lipman M. , Story A.
Published: May 2018

Injecting drugs substantially increases the risk of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and is common in the homeless and prisoners. Capturing accurate data on disease prevalence within these groups is challenging but is essential to inform strategies to reduce HCV transmission. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of HCV in these populations. We conducted a cross‐sectional study between May 2011 and June 2013 in London and, using convenience sampling, recruited participants from hostels for the homeless, drug treatment services and a prison. A questionnaire was administered and blood samples were tested for hepatitis C. We recruited 491 individuals who were homeless (40.7%), 205 drug users (17%) and 511 prisoners (42.3%). Eight per cent of patients (98/1207, 95% CI: 6.7%‐9.8%) had active HCV infection and 3% (38/1207, 95% CI: 2.3%‐4.3%) past HCV infection. Overall, one quarter (51/205) of people recruited in drug treatment services, 13% (65/491) of people from homeless residential sites and 4% (20/511) prisoners in this study were anti‐HCV positive. Seventy‐seven of the 136 (56.6%, 95% CI: 47.9%‐65%) of HCV infected participants identified had a history of all three risk factors (homelessness, imprisonment and drug use), 27.3% (95% CI: 20.1%‐35.6%) had 2 overlapping risk factors, and 15.4% (95% CI: 10.6%‐23.7%) one risk factor. Drug treatment services, prisons and homelessness services provide good opportunities for identifying hepatitis C‐infected individuals. Effective models need to be developed to ensure case identification in these settings that can lead to an effective treatment and an efficient HCV prevention.
Is Mexico a North American or Latin American Country? An Analysis of Public Opinion
Authors: Ochoa Bilbao Luis , Schiavon Jorge A.
Published: May 2018

This article presents the results of opinion polls conducted in Mexico since 2004, and of the Critical Discourse Analysis conducted on the most‐representative opinion articles of Mexican public intellectuals since 2000. The central argument is that the Mexican public accepts tacitly that the country can be a nation of multiple belongings, that is, North American and Latin American at the same time, and there is no need to choose one region over the other. Still, among intellectuals and public‐opinion leaders, there is a debate on whether Mexico should invest its foreign‐policy resources in North America or Latin America, and the costs and benefits of each option are evaluated.
How Regulatory Decisions are Made at the De Facto Level: Conceptualizing and Measuring Regulatory Decision Making in the Colombian Telecommunications Sector
Authors: González Camilo Ignacio
Published: May 2018

This article presents a conceptual model based on social‐network measures to capture how regulatory decisions are made at the de facto level, using data from Colombia's telecommunications sector. “De facto” means how decision making takes place in practice and how the actors involved in the process perceive it. The data is the product of a social‐ network analysis survey applied to the actors involved in the country's telecommunications sector. The results suggest that in the case of Colombia, the decision‐making process functions as a sparse or fragmented network where there are few central actors in a very influential position. We find that while the sector regulator and the telecommunications ministry influence decisions, market operators, trade organizations, and the competition authority have similar leverage in the decision‐making process. This article contributes to recent research on regulatory governance that has shown that sector regulators must interact with other organizations when making regulatory decisions, and these interactions occur at the de facto level. It offers a way to conceptualize these interactions and presents data from a region not often studied.
Language and identity practices among multilingual Western European youths
Authors: Nortier Jacomine
Published: May 2018

Since the 1980s, an increasing number of studies on youth languages in Europe has appeared. In this paper, a selection of the literature on linguistic practices and identity work by young people in multilingual and multiethnic urban areas in Western Europe is reviewed and discussed. Practices in Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden are focused on. From a bird's eye view, the literature on linguistic practices of urban youth in other West‐ and South‐European countries is reviewed as well. After a sketch of the context in which the first studies on multilingual and multiethnic youth languages appeared, research on youth languages in the five focus countries is presented, followed by a comparison of linguistic characteristics. Specific features from the levels of grammar, lexicon, and pronunciation are used to index social belonging and identity.
Biogeographic patterns of communities across diverse marine ecosystems in southern California
Authors: Claisse Jeremy T. , Blanchette Carol A. , Dugan Jenifer E. , Williams Jonathan P. , Freiwald Jan , Pondella Daniel J. , Schooler Nicholas K. , Hubbard David M. , Davis Kathryn , Zahn Laurel A. , Williams Chelsea M. , Caselle Jennifer E.
Published: May 2018

Integrating results from monitoring efforts conducted across diverse marine ecosystems provides opportunities to reveal novel biogeographic patterns at larger spatial scales and among multiple taxonomic groups. We investigated large‐scale patterns of community similarity across major taxonomic groups (invertebrates, fishes or algae) from a range of marine ecosystems (rocky intertidal, sandy intertidal, kelp forest, shallow and deep soft‐bottom subtidal) in southern California. Because monitoring sites and methods varied among programs, site data were averaged over larger geographic regions to facilitate comparisons. For the majority of individual community types, locations that were geographically near or environmentally similar to one another tended to have more similar communities. However, our analysis found that this pattern of within community type similarity did not result in all pairs of these community types exhibiting high levels of cross‐community congruence. Rocky intertidal algae communities had high levels of congruence with the spatial patterns observed for almost all of the other (fish or invertebrate) community types. This was not surprising given algal distributions are known to be highly influenced by bottom‐up factors and they are important as food and habitat for marine fishes and invertebrates. However, relatively few pairwise comparisons of the spatial patterns between a fish community and an invertebrate community yielded significant correlations. These community types are generally comprised of assemblages of higher trophic level species, and additional ecological and anthropogenic factors may have altered their spatial patterns of community similarity. In most cases pairs of invertebrate community types and pairs of fish community types exhibited similar spatial patterns, although there were some notable exceptions. These findings have important implications for the design and interpretation of results of long‐term monitoring programs.
Xyloglucan evolution and the terrestrialization of green plants
Authors: Del‐Bem Luiz‐Eduardo
Published: May 2018

Xyloglucan (XyG) is the major noncellulosic nonpectic matrix polysaccharide in cell walls of most land plants. Initially thought to be restricted to land plants, the last decade has seen the detection of XyG and the discovery of synthesis and modification/degradation genes in charophycean green algae (CGA). Recently, a totally new function of XyG was discovered as a potent soil aggregator released by roots and rhizoids of all major groups of land plants. In this Viewpoint, I show the presence of a complex XyG genetic machinery in most CGA groups. I discuss the context of XyG evolution in light of the terrestrialization of early CGA that gave rise to embryophytes and its possible role in early soil formation.
Remembering the “forgotten war” after 9/11
Authors: Yoo Jae Eun
Published: May 2018

This study looks closely at the treatment of the Korean War (1950–1953) in Indignation, by Philip Roth (), and Home, by Toni Morrison (), and reads in those works a re‐evaluation of the American experience in Korea in light of the conditions and concerns of the post‐9/11 era. In their portrayal of the forgotten Korean War, Roth and Morrison challenge redeployment of 1950s Cold War‐style frames and rhetoric by the Bush–Cheney administration in the context of the “War on Terror” and state violence at home and abroad. In other words, the two novels reveal the way the violence and repression harbored in American society during the 1950s spill over onto foreign societies and, having been amplified on foreign battlefields, are brought back home—not only a historical observation, but a productive response to 9/11.
Negative empathy
Authors: Ercolino Stefano
Published: May 2018

Since its early formulation by Theodor Lipps, the concept of “negative empathy” has rarely received the attention it deserves in the scholarly debate on empathy. The present paper is an attempt to reconstruct its rough history and to propose a theory of negative empathy that is able to highlight its heuristic potential for the purpose of literary analysis, particularly for the study of the representation of the negative in literature. Drawing upon a range of fields of study, from neuroscience, psychology and psychonalysis to literary hermeneutics, cognitive literary studies, and aesthetics, I will try to lay the foundations for a reconceptualization of negative empathy. A high‐level form of empathy, negative empathy will be described, with relation to literature, as a potentially regressive aesthetic experience, consisting in a cathartic identification with negative characters, which can be either open to agency (indifferently leading either to pro‐ or antisocial behavior), or limited to the inner life of the empathizing subject. Such theoretical hypothesis will finally be tested on Jonathan Littell's novelThe Kindly Ones.
Dickinson's Dao
Authors: Kang Yanbin
Published: May 2018

Drawing upon Mikhail Bakhtin's idea of the epistemic advantage of a cultural outsider, this essay seeks to enrich the newly developed Chinese critical perspective of rereading Emily Dickinson by arguing that Dickinson's explorations of spiritual ideals resonate with Daoism and Chan Buddhism in their focus upon non‐action as a perfect action that entails consummate skills, sensuous eradication, and egoless aesthetics. Specifically, Dickinson uses the perfect actions to illustrate wandering (staying) at ease; she uses dropping‐brain to emblematize eradicating senses; she exhorts self‐surrender and non‐interference when dealing with the other; and she practices an egoless aesthetics that surpasses her predecessors and contemporaries.
Macro‐economic coordination and elusive ownership in the European Union
Authors: Vanheuverzwijn Pierre , Crespy Amandine
Published: May 2018

The notion of ownership is well known in relation to global governance. In the realm of EU macro‐economic coordination, it has become a buzzword since the revamping process of the European Semester in 2015. This article investigates how ownership by four types of domestic actors (governments, administrations, parliaments and social partners) manifests itself in the European Semester. We conceptualize three types of ownership, namely institutional, political, and cognitive. Using network analysis, semi‐structured interviews, and a small‐scale survey, we find that ownership is strongest among governments and administrations which are able to shape the outputs of the European Semester (institutional ownership) with little political disagreement (political ownership). While national parliaments display low levels of all types of ownership, employers and unions exhibit relatively strong cognitive ownership. We conclude that the European Semester remains a bureaucratic process contributing to building a multi‐level administrative space rather than an arena for political debates.
Overexpressing the H‐protein of the glycine cleavage system increases biomass yield in glasshouse and field‐grown transgenic tobacco plants
Authors: López‐Calcagno Patricia E. , Fisk Stuart , Brown Kenny L. , Bull Simon E. , South Paul F. , Raines Christine A.
Published: May 2018

Photorespiration is essential for C3 plants, enabling oxygenic photosynthesis through the scavenging of 2‐phosphoglycolate. Previous studies have demonstrated that overexpression of the L‐ and H‐proteins of the photorespiratory glycine cleavage system results in an increase in photosynthesis and growth in Arabidopsis thaliana. Here, we present evidence that under controlled environment conditions an increase in biomass is evident in tobacco plants overexpressing the H‐protein. Importantly, the work in this paper provides a clear demonstration of the potential of this manipulation in tobacco grown in field conditions, in two separate seasons. We also demonstrate the importance of targeted overexpression of the H‐protein using the leaf‐specific promoter ST‐LS1. Although increases in the H‐protein driven by this promoter have a positive impact on biomass, higher levels of overexpression of this protein driven by the constitutive CaMV 35S promoter result in a reduction in the growth of the plants. Furthermore in these constitutive overexpressor plants, carbon allocation between soluble carbohydrates and starch is altered, as is the protein lipoylation of the enzymes pyruvate dehydrogenase and alpha‐ketoglutarate complexes. Our data provide a clear demonstration of the positive effects of overexpression of the H‐protein to improve yield under field conditions.
The developmental dynamics of the Populus stem transcriptome
Authors: Chao Qing , Gao Zhi‐Fang , Zhang Dong , Zhao Biligen‐Gaowa , Dong Feng‐Qin , Fu Chun‐Xiang , Liu Li‐Jun , Wang Bai‐Chen
Published: May 2018

The Populus shoot undergoes primary growth (longitudinal growth) followed by secondary growth (radial growth), which produces biomass that is an important source of energy worldwide. We adopted joint PacBio Iso‐Seq and RNA‐seq analysis to identify differentially expressed transcripts along a developmental gradient from the shoot apex to the fifth internode of Populus Nanlin895. We obtained 87 150 full‐length transcripts, including 2081 new isoforms and 62 058 new alternatively spliced isoforms, most of which were produced by intron retention, that were used to update the Populus annotation. Among these novel isoforms, there are 1187 long non‐coding RNAs and 356 fusion genes. Using this annotation, we found 15 838 differentially expressed transcripts along the shoot developmental gradient, of which 1216 were transcription factors (TFs). Only a few of these genes were reported previously. The differential expression of these TFs suggests that they may play important roles in primary and secondary growth. AP2, ARF, YABBY and GRF TFs are highly expressed in the apex, whereas NAC, bZIP, PLATZ and HSF TFs are likely to be important for secondary growth. Overall, our findings provide evidence that long‐read sequencing can complement short‐read sequencing for cataloguing and quantifying eukaryotic transcripts and increase our understanding of the vital and dynamic process of shoot development.
Gatekeeping: Documents, Legal Knowledge, and Judicial Authority in Contemporary Argentina
Authors: Barrera Leticia
Published: May 2018

This article addresses the question of judicial authority by examining the mundane practices of legal knowledge‐making that unfold within the Argentine Supreme Court of Justice. Building on a larger ethnographic study of the court in the aftermath of the country's 2001–2002 crisis, this article focuses on the particular forms and documentary practices Supreme Court justices use to review a few select cases and then discard the majority without explanation. Analyzing these practices sheds light on the tensions that exist among different imaginaries of judicial adjudication and the court's role in the native legal field. In this context, this article argues that exclusion operates not only as a tool of docket management and control but also as a way to shape judicial authority and legitimacy in contemporary Argentina.
The Mistreatment of My People: Victimization by Proxy and Behavioral Intentions to Commit Violence Among Muslims in Denmark
Authors: Obaidi Milan , Bergh Robin , Sidanius Jim , Thomsen Lotte
Published: May 2018

Islamist extremism is often explained by the suffering endured by Muslims in Islamic countries as a result of Western‐led wars. However, many terrorist attacks have been carried out by European Muslims with no personal experiences of war. Across two studies among Danish Muslims, we tested if what we call “victimization‐by‐proxy processes” motivate behavioral intentions to commit acts of violence. We used Muslim identification, perceived injustice of Western foreign policies, and group‐based anger to predict violent and nonviolent behavioral intentions. More importantly, we compared path models of Danish Muslims from conflict zones with those without direct personal experience of Western‐led occupation. We found similar effects among the participants in each category, that is, vicarious psychological responses mimicked those of personally experienced adversity. In fact, participants born in Western Europe were, on average, more strongly identified with Muslims, more likely to perceive Western foreign policy as more unjust, reported greater group‐based anger, and were more inclined to help Muslims both by nonviolent and violent means.
The 2018 Public Policy Yearbook: Recent Trends in Public Policy Research
Authors: Jenkins‐Smith Hank , Krutz Julie , Carlson Nina , Weible Christopher
Published: May 2018

The articles presented in this supplemental issue mark the 10th edition of the Policy Studies Journal's Public Policy Yearbook. This issue includes three retrospective review articles summarizing recent developments in public policy research across the following focus areas: public opinion, policy learning and international relations.
Public Policy Perspective on Group Decision‐Making Dynamics in Foreign Policy
Authors: Barr Kasey , Mintz Alex
Published: May 2018

Research on decision making in foreign policy and national security has had little interaction with the field of public policy. This review connects the two fields. We utilize a key public policy concept, the policy cycle, to provide a framework for our review of group decision‐making dynamics in national security and foreign policy. We describe key stages of the policy cycle followed by a review of the leading models of group decision‐making dynamics. We then construct a bridge between the two, demonstrating how specific stages of the policy cycle are typically associated with specific group decision‐making dynamics. To illustrate this link we provide an example of decision‐making dynamics within the Obama administration throughout policy stages of the 2016 campaign against the Islamic State in Raqqa, Syria.
Psychosocial Factors Correlated with Undisclosed Suicide Attempts to Significant Others: Findings from the Adolescence SEYLE Study
Authors: Levi‐Belz Yossi , Gavish‐Marom Timor , Barzilay Shira , Apter Alan , Carli Vladimir , Hoven Cristina , Sarchiapone Mario , Wasserman Dnuta
Published: May 2018

Objective

Suicide attempt (SA) is recognized as one of the risk factors for completed suicides. The concealment of this behavior often hinders detection and management of suicide risk. Thus, in this study, we sought to shed light on adolescents’ psychosocial processes that could facilitate disclosure of SAs. Specifically, we sought to identify antecedents of adolescent SAs that had not been revealed to significant others.

Method

A high school sample) N = 990 (completed a self‐report questionnaire tapping psychiatric, personal, and interpersonal characteristics, as well as suicidality, as part of the SEYLE project. Twenty‐seven adolescents acknowledged having made an SA without disclosing it to parents or to other significant others. They were compared with 47 adolescents who made SAs that were communicated to others and with a control group of 916 adolescents having no history of suicidal behavior.

Results

Compared with disclosures and controls, non‐disclosing suicide attempters were characterized by higher levels of suicide ideation, distress, and victimization. Low levels of self‐disclosure and parental support were significantly associated with undisclosed SAs.

Conclusions

Interpersonal difficulties may be related to loneliness and a thwarted sense of belongingness, which may explain the failure to disclose SAs. Implications related to assessment and prevention are discussed.
Teaching Writing and Grammar through Critical Thinking in a Genre‐Based Upper‐Level Undergraduate German Class
Authors: Schicker Juliane
Published: May 2018

Language instructors are grappling with the question of how to teach writing effectively in upper‐level undergraduate world language classes. At that point, students still have to master aspects of grammar; they often work on general writing skills in their native language and hope to improve their skills to effectively bring forth arguments in written and oral communication. This article suggests that instruction in critical thinking can help students improve their language skills. It offers a syllabus of an upper‐level undergraduate genre‐writing class in German that uses explicit instruction in critical thinking following Paul and Elder's Critical Thinking Competency Standards (). These standards enrich language acquisition with the goal of improving the students' stylistic, textual, and grammatical skills. The article also presents a sample lesson outline for one of the genres. The shared experiences with this new approach can encourage educators to utilize different methods of critical thinking in writing instruction. By making students aware of such strategies, this approach supports them in their efforts to engage with new material in a way that allows them to become life‐long learners.
Nonsmooth contact dynamics for the numerical simulation of collisions in musical string instruments
Authors: Issanchou Clara , Acary Vincent , Pérignon Franck , Touzé Cyril , Le Carrou Jean-Loïc
Published: May 2018

Collisions in musical string instruments play a fundamental role in explaining the sound production in various instruments such as sitars, tanpuras, and electric basses. Contacts occurring during the vibration provide a nonlinear effect which shapes a specific tone due to energy transfers and enriches the hearing experience. As such, they must be carefully simulated for the purpose of physically based sound synthesis. Most of the numerical methods presented in the literature rely on a compliant modeling of the contact force between the string and the obstacle. In this contribution, numerical methods from nonsmooth contact dynamics are used to integrate the problem in time. A Moreau-Jean time-stepping scheme is combined with an exact scheme for phases with no contact, thus controlling the numerical dispersion. Results for a two-point bridge mimicking a tanpura and an electric bass are presented, showing the ability of the method to deal efficiently with such problems while invoking, as compared to a compliant approach, less modelling parameters, and a reduced computational burden.
Programming self-organizing multicellular structures with synthetic cell-cell signaling
Authors: Toda Satoshi , Blauch Lucas R. , Tang Sindy K. Y. , Morsut Leonardo , Lim Wendell A.
Published: May 2018

Engineering multilayered cellular structures

The ability to program the manufacture of biological structures may yield new biomaterials or synthetic tissues and organs. Toda
et al.
engineered mammalian “sender” and “receiver” cells with synthetic cell surface ligands and receptors that controlled gene regulatory circuits based on Notch signaling. Programming the cells to express cell adhesion molecules and other regulatory molecules enabled spontaneous formation of multilayered structures, like those that form during embryonic development. The three-layered structures even showed regeneration after injury.

Science
, this issue p.
156
Diagnostic assessment of a deep learning system for detecting atrial fibrillation in pulse waveforms
Authors: Poh Ming-Zher , Poh Yukkee Cheung , Chan Pak-Hei , Wong Chun-Ka , Pun Louise , Leung Wangie Wan-Chiu , Wong Yu-Fai , Wong Michelle Man-Ying , Chu Daniel Wai-Sing , Siu Chung-Wah
Published: May 2018

Objective

To evaluate the diagnostic performance of a deep learning system for automated detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) in photoplethysmographic (PPG) pulse waveforms.

Methods

We trained a deep convolutional neural network (DCNN) to detect AF in 17 s PPG waveforms using a training data set of 149 048 PPG waveforms constructed from several publicly available PPG databases. The DCNN was validated using an independent test data set of 3039 smartphone-acquired PPG waveforms from adults at high risk of AF at a general outpatient clinic against ECG tracings reviewed by two cardiologists. Six established AF detectors based on handcrafted features were evaluated on the same test data set for performance comparison.

Results

In the validation data set (3039 PPG waveforms) consisting of three sequential PPG waveforms from 1013 participants (mean (SD) age, 68.4 (12.2) years; 46.8% men), the prevalence of AF was 2.8%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the DCNN for AF detection was 0.997 (95% CI 0.996 to 0.999) and was significantly higher than all the other AF detectors (AUC range: 0.924–0.985). The sensitivity of the DCNN was 95.2% (95% CI 88.3% to 98.7%), specificity was 99.0% (95% CI 98.6% to 99.3%), positive predictive value (PPV) was 72.7% (95% CI 65.1% to 79.3%) and negative predictive value (NPV) was 99.9% (95% CI 99.7% to 100%) using a single 17 s PPG waveform. Using the three sequential PPG waveforms in combination (<1 min in total), the sensitivity was 100.0% (95% CI 87.7% to 100%), specificity was 99.6% (95% CI 99.0% to 99.9%), PPV was 87.5% (95% CI 72.5% to 94.9%) and NPV was 100% (95% CI 99.4% to 100%).

Conclusions

In this evaluation of PPG waveforms from adults screened for AF in a real-world primary care setting, the DCNN had high sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for detecting AF, outperforming other state-of-the-art methods based on handcrafted features.
Asymptomatic young man with an incidental murmur
Authors: Shojaeifard Maryam , Pouraliakbar Hamid Reza , Houshmand Golnaz
Published: May 2018

Clinical introduction

A 32-year old man was referred to our institution for transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) following detection of an incidental murmur on physical examination before blood donation. He was asymptomatic with no significant medical history. Physical examination revealed dual heart sounds with a grade II/VI systolic murmur heard in the left sternal border. An ECG was in normal sinus rhythm. TTE was performed (figure 1A–C, online supplementary videos 1–4) followed by cardiac CT angiography (CTA) (figure 1D,E).

Figure 1

(A) Transthoracic echocardiography, parasternal left ventricular long axis view. (B) Colour Doppler of modified short axis in the mid-left ventricular level. (C) Doppler flow velocity profile. (D) Cardiac CT angiography (CTA) sagittal reconstruction. (E) Three-dimensional CTA reconstruction of the heart.

Question

What is the diagnosis?

Pericardial cyst.

Ventricular septal defect.

Kawasaki.

Anomalous left coronary artery from pulmonary artery (ALCAPA).
Preparing for the Practice Standards Scheme medicines assessment: part 1
Authors: Mosedale Pam
Published: May 2018

If you have a Practice Standards Scheme assessment approaching and are responsible for meeting the standards for one of the largest modules – medicines – then this article will be helpful in ensuring that your practice is prepared and meeting the standards. The article is in two parts: this first part deals with changes to the scheme, medicines records, storage of medicines and prescribing, dispensing and supplying procedures.

The second part, which will be published in the July/August issue of In Practice, will cover controlled drugs, unauthorised medicines use and responsible use of antimicrobials and anthelmintics.
How tobacco companies have used package quantity for consumer targeting
Authors: Persoskie Alexander , Donaldson Elisabeth A , Ryant Chase
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Package quantity refers to the number of cigarettes or amount of other tobacco product in a package. Many countries restrict minimum cigarette package quantities to avoid low-cost packs that may lower barriers to youth smoking.

Methods

We reviewed Truth Tobacco Industry Documents to understand tobacco companies’ rationales for introducing new package quantities, including companies’ expectations and research regarding how package quantity may influence consumer behaviour. A snowball sampling method (phase 1), a static search string (phase 2) and a follow-up snowball search (phase 3) identified 216 documents, mostly from the 1980s and 1990s, concerning cigarettes (200), roll-your-own tobacco (9), smokeless tobacco (6) and ‘smokeless cigarettes’ (1).

Results

Companies introduced small and large packages to motivate brand-switching and continued use among current users when faced with low market share or threats such as tax-induced price increases or competitors’ use of price promotions. Companies developed and evaluated package quantities for specific brands and consumer segments. Large packages offered value-for-money and matched long-term, heavy users’ consumption rates. Small packages were cheaper, matched consumption rates of newer and lighter users, and increased products’ novelty, ease of carrying and perceived freshness. Some users also preferred small packages as a way to try to limit consumption or quit.

Conclusion

Industry documents speculated about many potential effects of package quantity on appeal and use, depending on brand and consumer segment. The search was non-exhaustive, and we could not assess the quality of much of the research or other information on which the documents relied.
Effects of hetastarch 130/0.4 on plasma osmolality, colloid osmotic pressure and total protein in horses anaesthetised for elective surgical procedures
Authors: Roska Shannon , Morello Samantha , Rajamanickam Victoria , Smith Lesley J
Published: May 2018

Effects of lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) and hetastarch 130/0.4 (HES) on colloid osmotic pressure (COP), plasma osmolality (OSM) and total protein (TP) were investigated in 18 inhalational‐anaesthetised healthy horses. Horses received 4–6 ml/kg LRS (LRS; n=9) or HES (HES; n=9) from anaesthesia induction through 60 min, after which all were administered LRS. COP, TP and OSM were measured before premedication (baseline), postinduction and 30 (n=18), 60 (n=18), 90 (n=18) and 120 (n=12) minutes. Baseline COP, OSM and TP were not different between groups. TP decreased in both groups at all time points after induction. OSM increased from baseline in HES at 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes. COP decreased at 30–120 minutes in LRS, and at 90 and 120 minutes in HES. Mean COP was higher in HES than LRS at 30 (18.8±0.5 vs 16.3±0.4 mmHg (P=0.001)), 60 (19.1±0.5 vs 15.9±0.4 mmHg (P<0.0001)) and 90 (17.4±0.5 vs 15.4±0.5 mmHg (P=0.005)) minutes. Sixty minutes of HES infusion increases OSM and transiently maintains COP compared with an equal volume of LRS in anaesthetised horses.
Analysis of chromatin instability of somatic cells in sheep
Authors: Wójcik Ewa , Szostek Małgorzata , Horoszewicz Elżbieta , Kot Emilia , Sebastian Sałuch , Smalec Elżbieta
Published: May 2018

Cytogenetic tests are highly reliable, sensitive indicators of the early effects of genomic instability. Their results provide information on the organism’s susceptibility to exogenous and endogenous factors and are measures of the degree of repair of DNA damage. Our study assessed spontaneously occurring damage in following four breeds of sheep: Polish Heath, Polish Lowland (Zelazna variety), Polish Blackhead, and Berrichon du Cher. Instability was identified using the following three different tests: a sister chromatid exchange (SCE) assay, identification of fragile sites, and the comet assay. The distribution of instabilities varied depending on the breed. The mean frequency of SCEs was 5.13 ± 1.58, whereas that of fragile sites was 3.30 ± 1.24. The mean level of DNA damage (% head DNA) was 96.52 ± 6.59. The most damage to genetic material was observed in the Berrichon du Cher sheep, and the least in the Polish Heath sheep. The tests used are reliable biomarkers of genome stability in animal breeds, as well as in individuals within breeds.
Effect of changes in management practices and animal performance on ammonia emissions from Canadian beef production in 1981 as compared with 2011
Authors: Legesse Getahun , Kroebel Roland , Alemu Aklilu W. , Ominski Kim H. , McGeough Emma J. , Beauchemin Karen A. , Chai Lilong , Bittman Shabtai , McAllister Tim A.
Published: May 2018

The present study compared ammonia (NH3) emissions from Canadian beef production in 1981–2011. Temporal and regional differences in cattle categories, feed types and management systems, average daily gains, carcass weights, and manure handling practices were considered. A scenario-based sensitivity analysis in 2011 estimated the impact of substituting corn dried distillers’ grains with solubles (DDGS) for grain in feedlot diets. On average, 22% of the total nitrogen (N) intake was lost as ammoniacal nitrogen (NH3-N) in both years. Manure emission sources were consistent across years, averaging 12%, 40%, 28%, and 21% for grazing, confinement, storage, and land spreading, respectively. Emissions per animal in 1981 and 2011 were 16.0 and 18.4 kg NH3 animal−1 yr−1, respectively. On an intensity basis, kilogram of NH3 emitted per kilogram of beef decreased 20%, from 0.17 in 1981 to 0.14 in 2011. This reduction was attributed to increases in reproductive efficiency, average daily gain and carcass weight, and improved breeding herd productivity. In 2011, substituting DDGS for grain in feedlot diets increased total NH3 emissions and losses per animal. Although addition of by-products from the bioethanol industry can lower diet costs, it will be at the expense of an increase in NH3 emissions.
Pen enrichment and sex interaction on growth performance and metabolite concentrations of autochthonous Windsnyer pigs kept in a high stocking density
Authors: Mkwanazi M.V. , Kanengoni A.T. , Chimonyo M.
Published: May 2018

The objective of the study was to determine the interaction of pen enrichment and sex on growth performance and blood metabolite concentrations of Windsnyer pigs. Forty-eight growing Windsnyer pigs of both sexes, with an average initial body weight of 21.6 (±9.01) kg were used. Daily feed intake and weekly body weights for each pen were measured. Blood was collected at the end of the experiment. Pen environment did not affect average daily feed intake (ADFI) and average daily gain. There was a pen environment and sex interaction on ADFI. Females in barren pens had higher ADFI than enriched females but ADFI in barren and enriched pens was similar for male pigs. Pigs in enriched environment were more efficient in converting feed into body weight than those in barren environment. There was an interaction of pen environment and sex on glucose, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and alkaline phosphatase. Enriched males had higher albumin than males in barren environment. Enriched females had higher BUN than females in barren environment. It was concluded that enriched Windsnyer pigs housed at a density of 0.39 m2 per pig, particularly females, perform better than those in barren environments.
A statistical model of elastic-plastic contact between rough surfaces
Authors: Zhao Guang , Li Sheng-xiang , Xiong Zhi-liang , Gao Wen-dong , Han Qing-kai
Published: May 2018

In a mechanical interface, the contact surface topography has an important influence on the contact stiffness. In the contact processes of asperities, elastic-plastic change can lead to discontinuity and lack of smoothness at a critical contact point. The result is a large difference between the elastic-plastic deformation and the actual asperity deformation. Based on Hertz contact theory, the heights of asperities on a rough surface obey a Gaussian distribution. To take into consideration the continuity of elastic-plastic asperity deformation, we divide the elastic-plastic deformation into three stages: pre-elastic-plastic, mid-elastic-plastic, and post-elastic-plastic deformation. This establishes an elastic-plastic contact model of asperity at a continuous critical point. The contact model of a single asperity fits well with the Kogut–Etsion model and the Zhao–Maietta–Chang model, and the variation trend is consistent. At a lower plastic index, the present model coincides with classical models of contact area and contact load. At a higher plastic index, the simulation results of the present model differ from the Greenwood–Williamson model and the Chang–Etsion–Bogy model but are similar to results from the Kogut–Etsion and Zhao–Maietta–Chang models. This study provides a more accurate microscopic contact model for rough surfaces and a theoretical framework for interface design and analysis.