bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
More than just the helix: A series of free flaps from the ear
Authors: Lassus Patrik , Husso Annastiina , Vuola Jyrki , Lindford Andrew J.
Published: April 2017

Aim

We herein present our experience using free flaps harvested from the ear region in facial, nasal and intraoral reconstruction.

Patients and Methods

Between 2011 and 2016, 19 patients underwent reconstruction using 20 free flaps from the ear region based on the superficial temporal vessels. There were 10 males and 9 females with a mean age of 57 years. Defect aetiology consisted of post‐tumour ablation (n = 15), trauma (n = 2) and burn scar (n = 2). Defect location involved the nose (n = 13), floor of mouth (n = 3), tongue (n = 1), lower eyelid (n = 1), and lower lip (n = 1).

Results

Twelve helical, seven temporal artery posterior auricular skin (TAPAS), and one hemiauricular flap were performed. One patient required venous re‐anastomosis but complete flap necrosis eventually occurred. This patient later underwent successful contralateral helix flap reconstruction. Overall flap survival was 95%. Follow‐up ranged from 12 to 69 months. A moderate to excellent aesthetic and functional outcome was achieved in all cases, but most (13/19) required later minor refinement surgery.

Conclusion

As a versatile source of free flap options, the ear can provide more than just the helix.
Poly(perylene‐alt‐phenyleneethynylene)s with multiple pendant ester groups in various lengths: Synthesis, photophysics and selective hydrolysis
Authors: Zhang Heng , Shao Ya , Chen Hong , Miao Kesong , Fan Li‐Juan
Published: April 2017

Five fluorescence polymers with poly(perylene‐alt‐phenyleneethynylene)s (PPPEs) backbone and multiple side chains containing ester‐groups were synthesized via Sonogashira coupling reaction. These polymers were soluble in common organic solvents to form red‐orange solution. The polymer powders had dark red color. The absorption/emission spectra of these polymers were similar, with absorption bands between 300 and 600 nm and an emission peak between 520 and 700 nm. Furthermore, the ester groups of the side chains were partially or completely hydrolyzed, resulting in the fluorescence PPPEs with tunable density of carboxylic acid functional groups on the polymer chains as interaction/reaction sites for further applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017, 55, 1880–1886
Democratic Teacher Education in Elementary Classrooms – Learning About, Through, and for Thick Democracy
Authors: Payne Katherina A.
Published: April 2017

Social studies scholars consider the role that schools, and in particular teachers, play in preparing young students to be active participatory citizens in a democracy. Yet, the research on teachers learning to be democratic teachers overwhelmingly focuses on the social studies methods course rather than field experiences. This study examines how teacher candidates experienced, conceptualized, and enacted democratic education while immersed in a semester-long elementary field experience in a democratic classroom. In particular, this paper focuses on two case studies which represent the most clear, as well as disparate, conceptions and enactments of democratic education; one engaged in a critical examination of society through curriculum, while the other focused on the inculcation of particular discussion and deliberation skills necessary to be an engaged democrat. While each classroom afforded the teacher candidates a thick conception of democratic education that drew on critical curriculum and pedagogy, as well as democratic skills, the teacher candidates' lived experiences and prior conceptions of democracy shaded their learning and created missed learning opportunities. Classrooms as sites of knowledge about democratic education provide robust learning opportunities for teacher candidates; however, like any transformative learning experience, those opportunities need mediation to realize their full potential.
Role of cyclooxygenase‐2 inhibitors in the survival outcome of colorectal cancer patients: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Huang Wan‐Wen , Hsieh Kun‐Pin , Huang Ru‐Yu , Yang Yi‐Hsin
Published: April 2017

The aim of this study is to investigate whether use of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) inhibitors as auxiliary drug in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients will lead to better survival outcome. This population‐based retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database. The cohort consisted of newly diagnosed CRC adult patients during 2003–2010 with at least one prescription of nonsteroidal anti‐inflammation drugs. Analysis groups were defined as users or nonusers of COX‐2 inhibitors based on their usage prior to or 1 year after diagnosis of CRC. The outcome measurement was overall survival. The application of propensity scores through the inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was applied to the study groups. Subgroup analyses included stratification of different cancer site, treatment modalities, and first chemotherapy regimens. Kaplan–Meier estimates and Cox regressions were used to compare survival outcome. We identified 14,688 patients with newly diagnosed CRC. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) with IPTW was 0.91 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.86–0.96] in patients using COX‐2 inhibitors in before and after diagnosis groups, and statistical significance was not reached for usages at only prior to or only after diagnosis. In subgroup analyses, patients with rectal cancer (adjusted HR with IPTW = 0.86; 95% CI, 0.79–0.94) who received surgery followed by chemoradiation (adjusted HR with IPTW = 0.57; 95% CI, 0.47–0.77) and with adjuvant chemotherapy of FOLFOX regimen (adjusted HR with IPTW = 0.81; 95% CI, 0.67–0.99) had survival benefits in using COX‐2 inhibitors both prior to and after diagnosis. Use of COX‐2 inhibitors was found to be associated with reduction in mortality for CRC patients when taken both prior to and after cancer diagnosis.
Effect of Self-Expanding Carotid Stents on Plaque Thickness and Vessel Diameter
Authors: Martínez-Pérez Rafael , Marchuk Graeme , Lee Donald H. , Pelz David M. , Lownie Stephen P.
Published: April 2017

Background: In vitro models have suggested that stents affect atherosclerotic plaques symmetrically because of their outward radial forces. We evaluated the effects of stents on carotid plaque and the arterial wall using carotid ultrasound in carotid stenting patients to see whether these effects were borne out in vivo. Methods: From a carotid stent database, 30 consecutive patients were selected. All had carotid Doppler ultrasound performed pre- and poststenting. The diameters of the lumen at the level of stenotic plaque pre- and poststenting, the dorsal and ventral plaque thickness, and of the outer arterial wall diameter were measured. Plaque thickness was measured at the level of maximal stenosis. Nonparametric tests were used to determine whether the stent effect and luminal enlargement were based on wall remodeling or on total arterial expansion. Results: The patients were followed for an average of 22 months. Eighteen patients were male, with an average age of 70 years. A total of 87% of patients were symptomatic ipsilateral to the side of stenosis. Nine patients had angioplasty intraprocedurally. The luminal diameter increased poststenting in the region of severe stenosis. Plaque thickness, both ventrally and dorsally, decreased poststenting, with no significant difference between the ventral and dorsal plaque effects. The outer arterial wall diameters did not change. The measured lumen in the stent increased over time poststenting. Conclusions: Self-expanding nitinol stents alter the baseline ventral and dorsal plaque to a significant degree and do not significantly affect the native arterial wall and the overall arterial diameter.
Developments in Animal Husbandry and Food Supply in Roman Germania Inferior
Authors: Groot Maaike
Published: April 2017

The Roman province of Germania Inferior is characterized geographically by the river Rhine—the border of the Empire—and the forts along it. From the north-west to the south-east, there are significant differences in landscape and type of rural habitation. Whether these differences are also noticeable in animal husbandry forms the subject of this article. Are there any differences in species proportions and slaughter ages between the western and eastern parts of the province, and between urban, military, and rural sites? What does this say about farming and food supply? After presenting an overview of the zooarchaeological data from Germania Inferior, I shall discuss in detail onecivitas—thecivitasBatavorum, with the best known zooarchaeological dataset within the province. What changes in species proportions and cattle size can be detected over time from thiscivitas? Is there evidence for inter- and intra-site variability and changes in butchery methods? This article's further aim is to demonstrate what kind of questions a synthetic overview of zooarchaeological datasets can address.
Linear rigidity of stationary stochastic processes
Authors: BUFETOV ALEXANDER I. , DABROWSKI YOANN , QIU YANQI
Published: April 2017

We consider stationary stochastic processes $\{X_{n}:n\in \mathbb{Z}\}$ such that $X_{0}$ lies in the closed linear span of $\{X_{n}:n\neq 0\}$; following Ghosh and Peres, we call such processes linearly rigid. Using a criterion of Kolmogorov, we show that it suffices, for a stationary stochastic process to be linearly rigid, that the spectral density vanishes at zero and belongs to the Zygmund class $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6EC}_{\ast }(1)$. We next give a sufficient condition for stationary determinantal point processes on $\mathbb{Z}$ and on $\mathbb{R}$ to be linearly rigid. Finally, we show that the determinantal point process on $\mathbb{R}^{2}$ induced by a tensor square of Dyson sine kernels is not linearly rigid.
Dendritations of surfaces
Authors: ARTIGUE ALFONSO
Published: April 2017

In this paper we develop a generalization of foliated manifolds in the context of metric spaces. In particular we study dendritations of surfaces that are defined as maximal atlases of compatible upper semicontinuous local decompositions into dendrites. Applications are given in modeling stable and unstable sets of topological dynamical systems. For this purpose new forms of expansivity are defined.
Hydrodynamic force on a sphere normal to an obstacle due to a non-uniform flow
Authors: Rallabandi Bhargav , Hilgenfeldt Sascha , Stone Howard A.
Published: April 2017

For a small sphere suspended in a background fluid flow near an obstacle, we calculate the hydrodynamic force on the sphere in the direction normal to the boundary of the obstacle. Using the Lorentz reciprocal theorem, we obtain analytical expressions for the normal force in the Stokes flow limit, valid for arbitrary separations of the particle from the obstacle, both for solid obstacles and those with free surfaces. The main effect of the boundary is to produce a normal force proportional to extensional flow gradients in the vicinity of the particle. The strength of this force is greatest when the separation between the surfaces of the particle and the obstacle is small relative to the particle size. While the magnitude of the force weakens for large separations between the sphere and the obstacle (decaying quadratically with separation distance), it can significantly modify Faxén’s law even at modestly large separation distances. In addition, we find a second force contribution due to the curvature of the background flow normal to the obstacle, which is also important when the sphere is close to the obstacle. The results of the theory are of importance to the dynamics of particles in confined geometries, whether bounded by a solid obstacle, the wall of a channel or a gas bubble.
Corrected discrete approximations for the conditional and unconditional distributions of the continuous scan statistic
Authors: Yao Yi-Ching , Wei-Chung Miao Daniel , Chang-Shuo Lin Xenos
Published: April 2017

The (conditional or unconditional) distribution of the continuous scan statistic in a one-dimensional Poisson process may be approximated by that of a discrete analogue via time discretization (to be referred to as the discrete approximation). Using a change of measure argument, we derive the first-order term of the discrete approximation which involves some functionals of the Poisson process. Richardson's extrapolation is then applied to yield a corrected (second-order) approximation. Numerical results are presented to compare various approximations.
A new strategy for Robbins’ problem of optimal stopping
Authors: Meier Martin , Sögner Leopold
Published: April 2017

In this paper we study the expected rank problem under full information. Our approach uses the planar Poisson approach from Gnedin (2007) to derive the expected rank of a stopping rule that is one of the simplest nontrivial examples combining rank dependent rules with threshold rules. This rule attains an expected rank lower than the best upper bounds obtained in the literature so far, in particular, we obtain an expected rank of 2.326 14.
Statistical inference for partially observed branching processes with immigration
Authors: Rahimov Ibrahim
Published: April 2017

In the paper we consider the following modification of a discrete-time branching process with stationary immigration. In each generation a binomially distributed subset of the population will be observed. The number of observed individuals constitute a partially observed branching process. After inspection both observed and unobserved individuals may change their offspring distributions. In the subcritical case we investigate the possibility of using the known estimators for the offspring mean and for the mean of the stationary-limiting distribution of the process when the observation of the population sizes is restricted. We prove that, if both the population and the number of immigrants are partially observed, the estimators are still strongly consistent. We also prove that the `skipped' version of the estimator for the offspring mean is asymptotically normal and the estimator of the stationary distribution's mean is asymptotically normal under additional assumptions.
On martingale tail sums in affine two-color urn models with multiple drawings
Authors: Kuba Markus , Sulzbach Henning
Published: April 2017

In two recent works, Kuba and Mahmoud (2015a) and (2015b) introduced the family of two-color affine balanced Pólya urn schemes with multiple drawings. We show that, in large-index urns (urn index between ½ and 1) and triangular urns, the martingale tail sum for the number of balls of a given color admits both a Gaussian central limit theorem as well as a law of the iterated logarithm. The laws of the iterated logarithm are new, even in the standard model when only one ball is drawn from the urn in each step (except for the classical Pólya urn model). Finally, we prove that the martingale limits exhibit densities (bounded under suitable assumptions) and exponentially decaying tails. Applications are given in the context of node degrees in random linear recursive trees and random circuits.
On the asymptotics of constrained exponential random graphs
Authors: Kenyon Richard , Yin Mei
Published: April 2017

The unconstrained exponential family of random graphs assumes no prior knowledge of the graph before sampling, but it is natural to consider situations where partial information about the graph is known, for example the total number of edges. What does a typical random graph look like, if drawn from an exponential model subject to such constraints? Will there be a similar phase transition phenomenon (as one varies the parameters) as that which occurs in the unconstrained exponential model? We present some general results for this constrained model and then apply them to obtain concrete answers in the edge-triangle model with fixed density of edges.
Unifying the Dynkin and Lebesgue–Stieltjes formulae
Authors: Kella Offer , Yor Marc
Published: April 2017

We establish a local martingaleMassociate withf(X,Y) under some restrictions onf, whereYis a process of bounded variation (on compact intervals) and eitherXis a jump diffusion (a special case being a Lévy process) orXis some general (càdlàg metric-space valued) Markov process. In the latter case,fis restricted to the formf(x,y)=∑k=1Kξk(x)ηk(y). This local martingale unifies both Dynkin's formula for Markov processes and the Lebesgue–Stieltjes integration (change of variable) formula for (right-continuous) functions of bounded variation. For the jump diffusion case, when further relatively easily verifiable conditions are assumed, then this local martingale becomes anL2-martingale. Convergence of the product of this Martingale with some deterministic function ( of time ) to 0 both inL2and almost sure is also considered and sufficient conditions for functions for which this happens are identified.
Management and Organization Review Special Issue ‘Coopetition and Innovation in Transforming Economies’
Authors: Barney Jay B. , Dagnino Giovanni Battista , Corte Valentina Della , Tsang Eric W.K.
Published: April 2017

This Management and Organization Review (MOR) special issue on ‘Coopetition and Innovation in Transforming Economies’ aims to explore key features of the strategic relationship between coopetition and innovation in transforming economies. It is generally accepted that innovation can be a fundamental driver for economic growth, new sources of employment, and dwindling economic disparity. However, increasingly activities of innovation no longer take place primarily within the firm but are often the outcome of the overall set of relationships of the firm. The two phenomena of competition and cooperation have become more and more inter-related, thus creating new opportunities, affecting innovation and change. This reality is of special interest in the context of transforming economies’ transition to higher value adding economic growth and development due to, for example, the specific moderating or mediating role of national cultures and philosophical inspiration (e.g., Taoism, Confucianism, Hinduism, and Buddhism) in shaping the coopetitive mindset (Dagnino, Di Guardo, & Padula, 2012) and the potential differentiation between countries and regional ecologies.
Andrew Rippin 1950–2016
Authors: El-Badawi Emran
Published: April 2017

Andrew Rippin, the British-Canadian specialist of the Qurʾan, classical Islam and the study of religion passed away on Tuesday, 29 November 2016 in his home in the city of Victoria, Canada. He began his intellectual journey forty years ago while studying traditions ascribed to ʿAbd Allah b. ʿAbbas (d. 68/687), the “founding father” of Qurʾanic Studies. Since then Andrew's many writings on Islamic scripture and Muslim life made him a prolific scholar of international repute. His penetrating critical insights were welcomed by the students he taught and the colleagues with whom he collaborated, both in the western academe and among the Islamic seminaries of Iran, Turkey, and Indonesia, and at various academic conferences around the world. Andrew is known best, perhaps, for his critical studies of the body of Qurʾanic exegetical tradition (Tafsir) and subsequent literary and historical studies of the text known as the Qurʾanic sciences (ʿUlum al-qurʾan).
Halil İnalcık 1916? - 2016
Authors: Darling Linda T.
Published: April 2017

Halil İnalcık was born in Istanbul, the capital of the Ottoman Empire, into a refugee family, probably in 1916 (he did not know his birthday; in Turkey he adopted 29 May, in the US 4 July). He died at age 100 in Ankara on 25 July 2016, as the premier Ottoman historian in the world. To quote one of his students, “Professor İnalcık transformed the field of Ottoman studies from an obscure and exotic subfield into one of the leading historical disciplines that covers the history of the greater Middle East and North Africa as well as the Balkans from the late medieval to the modern period. He set the tone of debate and critical inquiry from the early modern to the modern period.” Born an Ottoman, he made Ottoman studies a crucial part of world history.
AN EMENDATION IN APOLLONIUS SOPHISTA'S LEXICON HOMERICUM
Authors: Meccariello Chiara
Published: April 2017

The beginning of the second entry of Apollonius Sophista's Lexicon Homericum reads as follows in the codex Coislinianus gr. 345, the only direct witness to this section (1, 14–15 Bekker):

ἀάατος· ὁ ἀβλαβὴς καὶ εὐχερὴς καὶ δι’ οὗ ἄνευ ἄτης. ἐνίοτε δὲ τὸν ἐπιβλαβῆ καὶ δυσχερῆ …

ἀάατος: ‘harmless’ and ‘easy’, and δι’ οὗ ‘without ἄτη’. But sometimes ‘hurtful’ and ‘difficult’ …
A Convenient Notion of Compact Set for Generalized Functions
Authors: Giordano Paolo , Kunzinger Michael
Published: April 2017

We introduce the notion of functionally compact sets into the theory of nonlinear generalized functions in the sense of Colombeau. The motivation behind our construction is to transfer, as far as possible, properties enjoyed by standard smooth functions on compact sets into the framework of generalized functions. Based on this concept, we introduce spaces of compactly supported generalized smooth functions that are close analogues to the test function spaces of distribution theory. We then develop the topological and functional–analytic foundations of these spaces.
First results of frontal sinus obliteration with a synthetic, resorbable and osteoconductive bone graft of ß-tricalcium phosphate
Authors: Andratschke M , Hagedorn H
Published: April 2017

Background:

Despite advances in endoscopic sinus surgery, frontal sinus obliteration is still indicated in some cases. Current options for obliteration include autologous and synthetic materials. The use of ß-tricalcium phosphate as a resorbable bone graft substitute is a good alternative for frontal sinus obliteration. This study aimed to report our experience with this material.

Methods:

A retrospective chart review of patients who underwent frontal sinus obliteration at our clinic between 2008 and 2013 was performed. Demographic data, indications, previous surgery, and immediate and late complications were examined. Information on persisting symptoms and patient outcomes was collected using a telephone questionnaire in February 2016.

Results:

None of the patients underwent further surgery for frontal sinus disease. All of them reported a good cosmetic result and symptom improvement.

Conclusion:

ß-tricalcium phosphate is a good, safe and cost-effective material for frontal sinus obliteration.
Problematic alcohol use and reduced hippocampal volume: a meta-analytic review
Authors: Wilson S. , Bair J. L. , Thomas K. M. , Iacono W. G.
Published: April 2017

Background

A number of studies reports reduced hippocampal volume in individuals who engage in problematic alcohol use. However, the magnitude of the difference in hippocampal volume between individuals withv. without problematic alcohol use has varied widely, and there have been null findings. Moreover, the studies comprise diverse alcohol use constructs and samples, including clinically significant alcohol use disorders and subclinical but problematic alcohol use (e.g. binge drinking), adults and adolescents, and males and females.

Methods

We conducted the first quantitative synthesis of the published empirical research on associations between problematic alcohol use and hippocampal volume. In total, 23 studies were identified and selected for inclusion in the meta-analysis; effects sizes were aggregated using a random-effects model.

Results

Problematic alcohol use was associated with significantly smaller hippocampal volume (d= −0.53). Moderator analyses indicated that effects were stronger for clinically significantv. subclinical alcohol use and among adults relative to adolescents; effects did not differ among males and females.

Conclusions

Problematic alcohol use is associated with reduced hippocampal volume. The moderate overall effect size suggests the need for larger samples than are typically included in studies of alcohol use and hippocampal volume. Because the existing literature is almost entirely cross-sectional, future research using causally informative study designs is needed to determine whether this association reflects premorbid risk for the development of problematic alcohol use and/or whether alcohol has a neurotoxic effect on the hippocampus.
Walk the Talk: Characterizing Mobility in Older Adults Living on Low Income
Authors: Chudyk Anna M. , Sims-Gould Joanie , Ashe Maureen C. , Winters Meghan , McKay Heather A.
Published: April 2017

Nous offrons une description en profondeur de la mobilité des personnes âgées (activité physique et comportement de voyage) de faible statut socioéconomique vivant dans les communautés. Les participants (n = 161, âge moyen [intervalle] = 74 [65-96] ans) ont rempli des questionnaires administrés par les enquêteurs et ont participé à des mesures objectives de la mobilité. En général, nos résultats n’ont pas indiqué que les personnes âgées de faible statut socio-économique ont une capacité réduite d’être mobiles. Les participants, malgré un désavantage économique, ont présenté des profils positifs, physiques, psychosociaux et liés à leur environnement social, qui influencent tous la capacité d’être mobiles. Ils ont également entrepris une grande proportion des déplacements à pied, bien que ceux-ci ne l’ont pas, pris ensemble, répondu aux directives physiques pour la plupart d’entre eux. Nous incitons les futurs chercheurs à mettre l’accent sur des stratégies novatrices de recrutement de cette population, difficilement accessible, afin de prendre en compte l’influence du statut socio-économique sur la durée de vie, ainsi que le rôle des facteurs liés au comportement lors de l’étude des relations entre une personne, son environnement et la mobilité des aînés.
Hoare Semigroups
Authors: STRUTH GEORG
Published: April 2017

A semigroup-based setting for developing Hoare logics and refinement calculi is introduced together with procedures for translating between verification and refinement proofs. A new Hoare logic for multirelations and two minimalist generic verification and refinement components, implemented in an interactive theorem prover, are presented as applications that benefit from this generalisation.
The independence of the infundibular building blocks in the setting of double-outlet right ventricle
Authors: Aiello Vera D. , Spicer Diane E. , Anderson Robert H. , Brown Nigel A. , Mohun Timothy J.
Published: April 2017

It has long been contentious as to whether the presence of bilateral infundibulums, or conuses, is a prerequisite for the diagnosis of double-outlet right ventricle. As the use of such a criterion would abrogate the so-called “morphological method”, which correctly states that one variable entity should not be defined on the basis of another entity that is itself variable, it is now accepted that double outlet can exist in the setting of fibrous continuity between the leaflets of the atrioventricular and arterial valves. Although this debate has now been resolved, there are other contentious areas still requiring clarification in the setting of hearts unified because of the presence of this particular ventriculo-arterial connection – for example, it is questionable whether the channel between the ventricles should be described as a “ventricular septal defect”, whereas it is equally arguable that the mere presence of fibrous continuity between the leaflets of the arterial valves does not necessarily place the channel in a doubly committed location. In this review, we describe a series of autopsied hearts in which the anatomical features serve to illuminate these various topics. We then discuss recent findings regarding cardiac development that point to the individuality of the building blocks of the ventricular outflow tracts, specifically the outlet septum, the inner heart curvature, or ventriculo-infundibular fold, and the septomarginal trabeculation, or septal band.
HOMOGENEOUS SPACE FIBRATIONS OVER SURFACES
Authors: Zhu Yi
Published: April 2017

By studying the theory of rational curves, we introduce a notion of rational simple connectedness for projective homogeneous spaces. As an application, we prove that over a function field of an algebraic surface over an algebraically closed field, a variety whose geometric generic fiber is a projective homogeneous space admits a rational point if and only if the elementary obstruction vanishes.
Does using the interRAI Palliative Care instrument reduce the needs and symptoms of nursing home residents receiving palliative care?
Authors: Hermans Kirsten , De Almeida Mello Johanna , Spruytte Nele , Cohen Joachim , Van Audenhove Chantal , Declercq Anja
Published: April 2017

Objective:

This study aimed to evaluate whether using the interRAI Palliative Care instrument (the interRAI PC) in nursing homes is associated with reduced needs and symptoms in residents nearing the end of their lives.

Method:

A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest study using the Palliative care Outcome Scale (POS) was conducted to compare the needs and symptoms of residents nearing the end of their lives in the control and intervention nursing homes. Care professionals at the intervention nursing homes filled out the interRAI PC over the course of a year for all residents aged 65 years and older who were nearing the end of their lives. This intervention was not implemented in the control nursing homes.

Results:

At baseline, POS scores in the intervention nursing homes were lower (more favorable) than in the control nursing homes on the items “pain”, “other symptoms”, “family anxiety”, and the total POS score. Posttest POS scores for “wasted time” were higher (less favorable) than pretest scores in the intervention nursing homes. In the intervention nursing homes where care professionals did not have prior experience with the interRAI Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF) assessment instrument (n = 8/15), total POS scores were lower (more favorable) at posttest.

Significance of results:

One year after introducing the interRAI PC, no reduction in residents' needs and symptoms were detected in the intervention nursing homes. However, reductions in needs and symptoms were found in the subgroup of intervention nursing homes without prior experience with the interRAI LTCF instrument. This may suggest that the use of an interRAI instrument other than the interRAI PC specifically can improve care. Future research should aim at replicating this research with a long-term design in order to evaluate the effect of integrating the use of the interRAI PC in the day-to-day practices at nursing homes.
Was tun, bevor es losgeht? FRITZ – Das Frühinterventions- und Therapiezentrum in Berlin
Authors: Burkhardt Eva , Leopold Karolina , Laier Sonja , Jäckel Dorothea , Kallenbach Michèle , Müller Hendrik , Bechdolf Andreas
Published: April 2017

Zusammenfassung. Psychosen manifestieren sich häufig im jungen Erwachsenenalter und können schwerwiegende Auswirkungen auf das Leben der Betroffenen und ihrer Angehörigen haben. In den meisten Fällen geht der Erstmanifestation eine mehrjährige Prodromalphase mit heterogener Symptomatik und erheblichem Funktionsverlust voraus. Eine Identifikation dieser Personen mit erhöhtem Erkrankungsrisiko ermöglicht es, präventive Maßnahmen zu ergreifen. Eine frühe Diagnosestellung und Einleitung einer adäquaten Behandlung, die pharmakologische, psycho- und soziotherapeutische Ansätze umfasst, sind von hoher Bedeutung für die Prognose der Erkrankung. Am besten können diese Ziele im Rahmen von spezialisierten Behandlungsangeboten für junge, erstmals psychotisch erkrankte Menschen bzw. mit erhöhtem Erkrankungsrisiko erreicht werden. Während solche Zentren in vielen Ländern Teil der Regelversorgung sind, sind sie im deutschsprachigen Raum noch die Ausnahme. Das Frühinterventions- und Therapiezentrum FRITZ am Urban bietet ambulante und stationäre Angebote zur Behandlung von Risikopersonen für die Entwicklung psychotischer Störungen und Patienten in einer frühen Phase der Erkrankung. Durch niedrigschwellige Beratungsangebote, eine zugewandte und unterstützende Haltung des multiprofessionellen Teams, das Angebot stabiler Bezugspersonen, die Wahrung der Patientenautonomie, eine Stärkung des Selbstwertes, sowie den Einbezug von Peers soll ein positiver Erstkontakt mit dem Versorgungssystem ermöglicht werden. Die Behandlung ist intensiv psychotherapeutisch ausgerichtet und soll durch frühen Einsatz von Individual Placement and Support (IPS) Strategien nicht nur zu einer Symptomremission, sondern auch zu einer funktionellen Recovery beitragen.
Forschendes Lernen – eine Leitidee für gute Lehrerausbildung?
Authors: Weyland Ulrike
Published: April 2017

Zusammenfassung. Forschendes Lernen hat in der hochschulischen Lehrerausbildung seit einigen Jahren enorme Aufmerksamkeit erfahren. Hierüber soll Studierenden die Möglichkeit eröffnet werden, schulische und unterrichtliche Praxis theoriegeleitet und selbstreflexiv zu erforschen. Allerdings erschließt sich Studierenden oftmals nur schwer der diesbezügliche Lerngewinn für die spätere Lehrtätigkeit. Der Artikel greift diese Problematik auf und thematisiert den Beitrag Forschenden Lernens zur Professionalitätsentwicklung. Dabei richtet sich der Fokus auf Forschendes Lernen im Kontext schulischer Praxisphasen.
Making Sense of the Public Stigma of Suicide
Authors: Corrigan Patrick W. , Sheehan Lindsay , Al-Khouja Maya A. ,   the Stigma of Suicide Research Team
Published: April 2017

Abstract. Background: Research suggests that stigma is a barrier to care for individuals who have attempted suicide. While extensive work has examined the stigma of mental illness, less research has focused on the public stigma of suicide. Existing measures of suicide stigma have lacked a conceptual foundation or have failed to include the perspectives of suicide stakeholders. Aims: This research draws on previous qualitative research with suicide stakeholders to create a measure of public suicide stigma. Method: This study used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to define a factor structure for suicide stigma. The CBPR team used focus groups to generate items for each component of stigma (stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination). Two online surveys (N = 372; N = 243) asked members of the public to rate candidate items for stereotypes, prejudice, and discrimination. Results: Analyses revealed three factors for stereotypes (weak, crazy, distressed), two factors for prejudice (fear/distrust, anger), and three for discrimination (avoidance, disdain, coercion). Limitations: Results should be confirmed in other samples and further evidence gathered on convergent, divergent, and discriminant validity. Conclusion: The resulting 44-item Suicide Stigma Assessment Scale (SSAS) can be further validated and used to measure efficacy of stigma change interventions.
Future climate forcing potentially without precedent in the last 420 million years
Authors: Foster Gavin L. , Royer Dana L. , Lunt Daniel J.
Published: April 2017

The evolution of Earth’s climate on geological timescales is largely driven by variations in the magnitude of total solar irradiance (TSI) and changes in the greenhouse gas content of the atmosphere. Here we show that the slow ∼50 Wm−2increase in TSI over the last ∼420 million years (an increase of ∼9 Wm−2of radiative forcing) was almost completely negated by a long-term decline in atmospheric CO2. This was likely due to the silicate weathering-negative feedback and the expansion of land plants that together ensured Earth’s long-term habitability. Humanity’s fossil-fuel use, if unabated, risks taking us, by the middle of the twenty-first century, to values of CO2not seen since the early Eocene (50 million years ago). If CO2continues to rise further into the twenty-third century, then the associated large increase in radiative forcing, and how the Earth system would respond, would likely be without geological precedent in the last half a billion years.
Correction: Corrigendum: Interleukin-12 bypasses common gamma-chain signalling in emergency natural killer cell lymphopoiesis
Authors: Ohs Isabel , van den Broek Maries , Nussbaum Kathrin , Münz Christian , Arnold Sebastian J. , Quezada Sergio A. , Tugues Sonia , Becher Burkhard
Published: April 2017

Nature Communications 8: Article number: 13708 (2016); Published: 16 Dec 2016; Updated: 4 Apr 2017 The financial support for this Article was not fully acknowledged. The acknowledgements should have included the following: The European Community FP7 grant no. 602239 (ATECT).
A Pair of Maternal Chromosomes Derived from Meiotic Nondisjunction in Trisomy 21 Affects Nuclear Architecture and Transcriptional Regulation
Authors: Omori Sayaka , Tanabe Hideyuki , Banno Kimihiko , Tsuji Ayumi , Nawa Nobutoshi , Hirata Katsuya , Kawatani Keiji , Kokubu Chikara , Takeda Junji , Taniguchi Hidetoshi , Arahori Hitomi , Wada Kazuko , Kitabatake Yasuji , Ozono Keiichi
Published: April 2017

Eukaryotic genomes are organised into complex higher-order structures within the nucleus, and the three-dimensional arrangement of chromosomes is functionally important for global gene regulation. The existence of supernumerary chromosome 21 in Down syndrome may perturb the nuclear architecture at different levels, which is normally optimised to maintain the physiological balance of gene expression. However, it has not been clearly elucidated whether and how aberrant configuration of chromosomes affects gene activities. To investigate the effects of trisomy 21 on nuclear organisation and gene expression, we performed three-dimensional fluorescent imaging analysis of chromosome-edited human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which enabled identification of the parental origin of the three copies of chromosome 21. We found that two copies of maternal chromosomes resulting from meiotic nondisjunction had a higher tendency to form an adjacent pair and were located relatively distant from the nuclear membrane, suggesting the conserved interaction between these homologous chromosomes. Transcriptional profiling of parental-origin-specific corrected disomy 21 iPSC lines indicated upregulated expression of the maternal alleles for a group of genes, which was accompanied by a fluctuating expression pattern. These results suggest the unique effects of a pair of maternal chromosomes in trisomy 21, which may contribute to the pathological phenotype.
Statistical learning leads to persistent memory: Evidence for one-year consolidation
Authors: Kóbor Andrea , Janacsek Karolina , Takács Ádám , Nemeth Dezso
Published: April 2017

Statistical learning is a robust mechanism of the brain that enables the extraction of environmental patterns, which is crucial in perceptual and cognitive domains. However, the dynamical change of processes underlying long-term statistical memory formation has not been tested in an appropriately controlled design. Here we show that a memory trace acquired by statistical learning is resistant to inference as well as to forgetting after one year. Participants performed a statistical learning task and were retested one year later without further practice. The acquired statistical knowledge was resistant to interference, since after one year, participants showed similar memory performance on the previously practiced statistical structure after being tested with a new statistical structure. These results could be key to understand the stability of long-term statistical knowledge.
A novel approach to prepare Bi2Fe4O9 flower-like spheres with enhanced photocatalytic performance
Authors: Yang Haibo , Dai Jingjing , Wang Lei , Lin Ying , Wang Fen , Kang Pan
Published: April 2017

A novel two-step approach consisting of hydrothermal process and subsequently selective etching has been developed to prepare flower-like three-dimensional porous Bi2Fe4O9 spheres with good uniformity and highly photocatalytic performance. XRD patterns and SEM images reveal that the Bi2Fe4O9 phase does not exhibit any changes after the etching process, and the crystal morphology evolves from micro-platelets to flower-like three-dimensional porous Bi2Fe4O9 spheres by controlling the experiment parameters. The change of morphology will lead to the significant increase of specific surface area, which would be beneficial to the enhancement of photocatalytic performance owing to prominent absorption in the ultraviolet and visible light region. As compared to Bi2Fe4O9 microplatelets, flower-like three-dimensional porous Bi2Fe4O9 spheres exhibit excellent photocatalytic degration rate of methyl orange (MO).
Sphingosine kinase 1-interacting protein is a novel regulator of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion
Authors: Wang Yu , Harashima Shin-ichi , Liu Yanyan , Usui Ryota , Inagaki Nobuya
Published: April 2017

Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) is essential in keeping blood glucose levels within normal range. GSIS is impaired in type 2 diabetes, and its recovery is crucial in treatment of the disease. We find here that sphingosine kinase 1-interacting protein (SKIP, also called Sphkap) is highly expressed in pancreatic β-cells but not in α-cells. Intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test showed that plasma glucose levels were decreased and insulin levels were increased in SKIP−/− mice compared to SKIP+/+ mice, but exendin-4-enhanced insulin secretion was masked. GSIS was amplified more in SKIP−/− but exendin-4-enhanced insulin secretion was masked compared to that in SKIP+/+ islets. The ATP and cAMP content were similarly increased in SKIP+/+ and SKIP−/− islets; depolarization-evoked, PKA and cAMP-mediated insulin secretion were not affected. Inhibition of PDE activity equally augmented GSIS in SKIP+/+ and SKIP−/− islets. These results indicate that SKIP modulates GSIS by a pathway distinct from that of cAMP-, PDE- and sphingosine kinase-dependent pathways.
The Histone Methyltransferase Ash1l is Required for Epidermal Homeostasis in Mice
Authors: Li Gang , Ye Zhisheng , Shi Cheng , Sun Ling , Han Min , Zhuang Yuan , Xu Tian , Zhao Shimin , Wu Xiaohui
Published: April 2017

Epidermal homeostasis under normal and healing conditions are critical for the physical and functional maintenance of the skin barrier. It requires a proper balance between keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation under genetic and epigenetic regulations. Here we show that mice carrying a hypomorphic mutation of the histone methyltransferase Ash1l [(absent, small, or homeotic)-like (Drosophila)] develop epidermal hyperplasia and impaired epidermal stratification upon aging. In adult mutants, loss of Ash1l leads to more proliferative keratinocytes in disturbed differentiation stages. After wounding, Ash1l mutation leads to delayed re-epithlialization but increased keratinocyte proliferation at the wound edge. Elevated c-Myc expression could be observed in both aged and wounded mutant tissues. Taken together, these observations revealed an important role of the epigenetic regulator Ash1l in epidermal homeostasis.
Mechanistic Investigations of the Mitochondrial Complex I Inhibitor Rotenone in the Context of Pharmacological and Safety Evaluation
Authors: Heinz Sabrina , Freyberger Alexius , Lawrenz Bettina , Schladt Ludwig , Schmuck Gabriele , Ellinger-Ziegelbauer Heidrun
Published: April 2017

Inhibitors of the mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I are suggested to exert anti-tumor activity on those tumors relying on oxidative metabolism and are therefore of interest to oncology research. Nevertheless, the safety profile of these inhibitors should be thoroughly assessed. Rotenone, a proven complex I inhibitor, has shown anti-carcinogenic activity in several studies. In this context rotenone was used in this study as a tool compound with the aim to identify suitable biomarker candidates and provide enhanced mechanistic insights into the molecular and cellular effects of complex I inhibitors. Rats were treated with 400 ppm rotenone daily for 1, 3 or 14 consecutive days followed by necropsy. Classical clinical endpoints, including hematology, clinical chemistry and histopathology with supporting investigations (FACS-analysis, enzymatic activity assays) were examined as well as gene expression analysis. Through these investigations, we identified liver, bone marrow and bone as target organs amongst approx. 40 organs evaluated at least histopathologically. Our results suggest blood analysis, bone marrow parameters, assessment of lactate in serum and glycogen in liver, and especially gene expression analysis in liver as useful parameters for an experimental model to help to characterize the profile of complex I inhibitors with respect to a tolerable risk-benefit balance.
Acute effects of focused ultrasound-induced increases in blood-brain barrier permeability on rat microvascular transcriptome
Authors: McMahon Dallan , Bendayan Reina , Hynynen Kullervo
Published: April 2017

Therapeutic treatment options for central nervous system diseases are greatly limited by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Focused ultrasound (FUS), in conjunction with circulating microbubbles, can be used to induce a targeted and transient increase in BBB permeability, providing a unique approach for the delivery of drugs from the systemic circulation into the brain. While preclinical research has demonstrated the utility of FUS, there remains a large gap in our knowledge regarding the impact of sonication on BBB gene expression. This work is focused on investigating the transcriptional changes in dorsal hippocampal rat microvessels in the acute stages following sonication. Microarray analysis of microvessels was performed at 6 and 24 hrs post-FUS. Expression changes in individual genes and bioinformatic analysis suggests that FUS may induce a transient inflammatory response in microvessels. Increased transcription of proinflammatory cytokine genes appears to be short-lived, largely returning to baseline by 24 hrs. This observation may help to explain some previously observed bioeffects of FUS and may also be a driving force for the angiogenic processes and reduced drug efflux suggested by this work. While further studies are necessary, these results open up intriguing possibilities for novel FUS applications and suggest possible routes for pharmacologically modifying the technique.
The role of motion and number of element locations in mirror symmetry perception
Authors: Sharman Rebecca J. , Gheorghiu Elena
Published: April 2017

The human visual system has specialised mechanisms for encoding mirror-symmetry and for detecting symmetric motion-directions for objects that loom or recede from the observers. The contribution of motion to mirror-symmetry perception has never been investigated. Here we examine symmetry detection thresholds for stationary (static and dynamic flicker) and symmetrically moving patterns (inwards, outwards, random directions) with and without positional symmetry. We also measured motion detection and direction-discrimination thresholds for horizontal (left, right) and symmetrically moving patterns with and without positional symmetry. We found that symmetry detection thresholds were (a) significantly higher for static patterns, but there was no difference between the dynamic flicker and symmetrical motion conditions, and (b) higher than motion detection and direction-discrimination thresholds for horizontal or symmetrical motion, with or without positional symmetry. In addition, symmetrical motion was as easy to detect or discriminate as horizontal motion. We conclude that whilst symmetrical motion per se does not contribute to symmetry perception, limiting the lifetime of pattern elements does improve performance by increasing the number of element-locations as elements move from one location to the next. This may be explained by a temporal integration process in which weak, noisy symmetry signals are combined to produce a stronger signal.