bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Herb extracts and collagen hydrolysate improve skin damage resulting from ultraviolet-induced aging in hairless mice
Authors: Jimbo Nozomi , Kawada Chinatsu , Nomura Yoshihiro
Published: May 2015

We examined the effect of the daily ingestion of herb extract from Eucommia ulmoides leaves and Korean ginseng on skin damage induced by repeated UV irradiation of hairless mice. The herb extract was orally administered to mice at a dose of 1000 mg/kg/day. The hydration of mice dorsal skin decreased significantly with repeated UV irradiation, but did not decrease when the herb extract was administered for seven weeks. Transepidermal water loss (TEWL) increased with UV irradiation, but decreased with the administration of dietary herb extract. These effects were more pronounced when combined with the administration of collagen hydrolysate. Geniposidic acid from E. ulmoides leaves and ginsenoside Rg1 from Korean ginseng reduced TEWL and increased the skin moisture content of UV-damaged skin on hairless mice, respectively. We concluded that this dietary herb extract reduced the skin damage caused by UV-induced aging, with geniposidic acid and ginsenoside Rg1 detected in the blood.
DYRK1A controls the transition from proliferation to quiescence during lymphoid development by destabilizing Cyclin D3
Authors: Thompson Benjamin J. , Bhansali Rahul , Diebold Lauren , Cook Daniel E. , Stolzenburg Lindsay , Casagrande Anne-Sophie , Besson Thierry , Leblond Bertrand , Désiré Laurent , Malinge Sébastien , Crispino John D.
Published: May 2015

Pre–B and pre–T lymphocytes must orchestrate a transition from a highly proliferative state to a quiescent one during development. Cyclin D3 is essential for these cells’ proliferation, but little is known about its posttranslational regulation at this stage. Here, we show that the dual specificity tyrosine-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) restrains Cyclin D3 protein levels by phosphorylating T283 to induce its degradation. Loss of DYRK1A activity, via genetic inactivation or pharmacologic inhibition in mice, caused accumulation of Cyclin D3 protein, incomplete repression of E2F-mediated gene transcription, and failure to properly couple cell cycle exit with differentiation. Expression of a nonphosphorylatable Cyclin D3 T283A mutant recapitulated these defects, whereas inhibition of Cyclin D:CDK4/6 mitigated the effects of DYRK1A inhibition or loss. These data uncover a previously unknown role for DYRK1A in lymphopoiesis, and demonstrate how Cyclin D3 protein stability is negatively regulated during exit from the proliferative phases of B and T cell development.
Hardy-Orlicz Spaces of conformal densities
Authors: Benedict Sita
Published: May 2015

We define and prove characterizations of Hardy-Orlicz spaces of conformal densities.
The Political Economy of Food Price Volatility: The Case of Vietnam and Rice
Authors: Fulton Murray E. , Reynolds Travis
Published: May 2015

This article argues that the structure of the Vietnamese rice export system is, in political economy terms, a rational response to the volatility present in the international rice market. In particular, it is argued that the Vietnamese Food Agency, along with VINAFOOD‐1 and VINAFOOD‐2, have been structured so that they can benefit from the domestic demands for export restrictions anticipated to occur as a consequence of international price volatility and the psychological demand of consumers for price stability. In turn, the actions of these agencies also contribute to international price volatility and the resulting demand for export restrictions. Since the political and economic elite in Vietnam obtain both political and economic power from this system, it is unlikely to be replaced with more effective and efficient policies to combat domestic price volatility. Thus, continued volatility in the price of rice can be expected.
Multiple signalling modalities mediated by dendritic exocytosis of oxytocin and vasopressin
Authors: Ludwig Mike , Stern Javier
Published: May 2015

The mammalian hypothalamic magnocellular neurons of the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei are among the best understood of all peptidergic neurons. Through their anatomical features, vasopressin- and oxytocin-containing neurons have revealed many important aspects of dendritic functions. Here, we review our understanding of the mechanisms of somato-dendritic peptide release, and the effects of autocrine, paracrine and hormone-like signalling on neuronal networks and behaviour.
Exocytosis from chromaffin cells: hydrostatic pressure slows vesicle fusion
Authors: Stühmer Walter
Published: May 2015

Pressure affects reaction kinetics because chemical transitions involve changes in volume, and therefore pressure is a standard thermodynamic parameter to measure these volume changes. Many organisms live in environments at external pressures other than one atmosphere (0.1 MPa). Marine animals have adapted to live at depths of over 7000 m (at pressures over 70 MPa), and microorganisms living in trenches at over 110 MPa have been retrieved. Here, kinetic changes in secretion from chromaffin cells, measured as capacitance changes using the patch-clamp technique at pressures of up to 20 MPa are presented. It is known that these high pressures drastically slow down physiological functions. High hydrostatic pressure also affects the kinetics of ion channel gating and the amount of current carried by them, and it drastically slows down synaptic transmission. The results presented here indicate a similar change in volume (activation volume) of 390 ± 57 Å
3
for large dense-core vesicles undergoing fusion in chromaffin cells and for degranulation of mast cells. It is significantly larger than activation volumes of voltage-gated ion channels in chromaffin cells. This information will be useful in finding possible protein conformational changes during the reactions involved in vesicle fusion and in testing possible molecular dynamic models of secretory processes.
Dynamic prediction and compensation of aerocraft assembly variation based on state space model
Authors: Cao Yujun , Li Xin , Zhang Zhixiong , Shang Jianzhong
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to clarify the predicting and compensating method of aeroplane assembly. It proposes modeling the process of assembly. The paper aims to solve the precision assembly of aeroplane, which includes predicting the assembly variation and compensating the assembly errors.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper opted for an exploratory study using the state space theory and small displacement torsor theory. The assembly variation propagation model is established. The experiment data are obtained by a real small aeroplane assembly process.

Findings

– The paper provides the predicting and compensating method for aeroplane assembly accuracy.

Originality/value

– This paper fulfils an identified need to study how the assembly variation propagates in the assembly process.
Variation modeling for fuselage structures in large aircraft digital assembly
Authors: Cheng Liang , Wang Qing , Li Jiangxiong , Ke Yinglin
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The aim of this paper is to present a new variation modeling method for fuselage structures in digital large aircraft assembly. The variation accumulated in a large aircraft assembly process will influence the dimensional accuracy and fatigue life of airframes. However, in digital large aircraft assembly, variation analysis and modeling are still unresolved issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– An elastic structure model based on beam elements is developed, which is an equivalent idealization of the actual complex structure. The stiffness matrix of the structure model is obtained by summing the stiffness matrices of the beam elements. For each typical stage of the aircraft digital assembly process, including positioning, coordinating, joining and releasing, variation models are built using the simplified structure model with respective loads and boundary conditions.

Findings

– Using position errors and manufacturing errors as inputs, the variations for every stage of the assembly process can be calculated using the proposed model.

Practical implications

– This method has been used in a large fuselage section assembly project, and the calculated results were shown to be a good prediction of variation in the actual assembly.

Originality/value

– Although certain assumptions have been imposed, the proposed method provides a better understanding of the assembly process and creates an analytical foundation for further work on variation control and tolerance optimization.
Contemporary process to test the theory of a research model through covariance-based structural equation modeling in business research
Authors: Svensson Göran
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to describe potential flaws and pitfalls in the contemporary process of testing the theory of a research model in business research through the use of covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM).

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper offers a foundation for discussion, debate and questioning regarding the contemporary process of testing the theory of a research model in business research through CB-SEM.

Findings

– The contemporary process to test theory of a research model through CB-SEM in business research lacks to a large extent a stepwise and iterative process of an accumulation of knowledge to build sound and rigorous business theory that is both reliable and valid over time as well as across contexts.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper provides an awakening toward further debate and discussion on the relevance and suitability of the contemporary process to test the theory of a research model through CB-SEM in business research – is it science, quasi-science or just nonsense?

Practical implications

– The primary implication of this paper is that its content will challenge most readers
'
preconceptions of the topic and stimulate debate. Subsequently, it is the author’s hope that the content is thought-provoking and counterintuitive. Some scholars might reject the content, while others may find it valuable.

Originality/value

– The paper intends to provide counterintuitive thoughts regarding the contemporary process of testing the theory of a research model in business research through the use of CB-SEM. CB-SEM offers potentially valuable merits in business research settings, if applied and performed properly.
Workplace domestic violence leave laws: implementation, use, implications
Authors: Laharnar Naima , Perrin Nancy , Hanson Ginger , Anger W. Kent , Glass Nancy
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– Intimate partner violence (IPV), affecting 30 percent of women worldwide, may affect employment and workplace safety. In all, 16 US states adopted laws providing leave for employed survivors. These qualitative findings are from an evaluation of Oregon’s state leave law. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors interviewed Oregon government employees (n=17) with past year IPV and Oregon supervisors (n=10) of past year IPV survivors. Interviews were transcribed, analyzed and coded.

Findings

– Participants agreed that IPV has an effect on work. They reported positive workplace reactions to IPV disclosure (93 percent positive, 52 percent negative), but also negative reactions (lack of information, confidentiality, supervisor support). Several implications for supervisors were named (workload, being untrained, being a mandatory reporter, workplace safety and confidentiality). Three years after implementation, 74 percent of participants did not know the leave existed, 65 percent of survivors would have used it if known. The main barriers to usage were fear for job, lack of payment, and stigma. The main barriers of implementation were untrained supervisors and lack of awareness. Participants (85 percent) suggested workplace training on IPV, the law and supervisor role.

Practical implications

– Effective implementation and support of the IPV leave law is important to avoid negative consequences for survivors and the workplace. Participants called for an increase in IPV awareness and supervisor training.

Originality/value

– These results provide important recommendations to policymakers, authorities and advocates on development, implementation and evaluation of laws adopted to support employed IPV survivors.
Prediction tools for sickness absenteeism
Authors: Merekoulias Georgios , Alexopoulos Evangelos C
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– Bradford formula (index) or factor (BF) was originally designed for use as part of the overall investigation and management of absenteeism. Work ability index (WAI) is an instrument that has been used to evaluate work ability. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate retrospectively, the properties of the WAI, the BF and their combination – the sickness absence probability factor – in predicting future sickness absence.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data on sickness absences of shipyard employees for the period 2002-2006 were utilized for the calculation of the relevant BFs. The Greek version of the WAI questionnaire was also used. The sickness absence probability factor was calculated by summing up the scores of the two other tools, after transforming them into categorical variables.

Findings

– Increased BF values are positively and strongly correlated to increased sickness absenteeism levels in the following years (p<0.001), especially for the immediate following years. WAI score is also strongly negatively correlated to absence. The combination of BF and WAI acted even better.

Originality/value

– The use of tools, like the BF and the suggested sickness probability factor, should be considered by occupational health personnel in order to act proactively on sickness absenteeism, since they were found to be related to future absenteeism. Actions should follow health and safety rules and ethics and should be undertaken by competent health personnel.
The moderating role of intrinsic work value orientation on the dual-process of job demands and resources among Chinese employees
Authors: Lu Luo , Lin Hui Yen , Lu Chang-Qin , Siu Oi-Ling
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The moderating roles of personal resources in the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model are relatively rarely examined, especially in non-western countries. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the moderating effect of a personal resource (i.e. intrinsic work value orientation) on the relationships between job demands, job resources, and job satisfaction among a large sample of Chinese employees from both mainland China and Taiwan.

Design/methodology/approach

– Structured questionnaire survey was carried out to collect data from 402 employees in mainland China and 306 employees in Taiwan.

Findings

– The authors found that intrinsic work value orientation amplified the negative relationship between work constraints (a job demand) and job satisfaction. Meanwhile, intrinsic work value orientation strengthened the positive relationship between autonomy (a job resource) and job satisfaction.

Originality/value

– This is one of the few studies that explored the role of personal resources in the JD-R model. One unique contribution of the study is that the authors extended the JD-R model to include the intrinsic work value orientation as a resourceful work value for Chinese employees in two major Chinese societies. Based upon the findings, the authors suggest that personal resources such as work value orientation should be taken into account in the research of the JD-R model. Managerial implications of the findings are also discussed.
Years purchase revisited: quarterly in advance cash flows
Authors: Patrick Michael
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explain the derivation of the years purchase (YP) quarterly in advance formula.

Design/methodology/approach

– This education briefing is an overview of the YP quarterly in advance formula in the context of the UK real estate market.

Findings

– Whilst arithmetically more precise than market practice it lacks a compelling reason to be adopted in its place.

Practical implications

– Understand the effect on stated yields of using annually in arrears, rather than quarterly in advance, assumptions.

Originality/value

– This is a review of existing models.
When Adam Blogs: Cultural Work and the Gender Division of Labour in Utopia
Authors: Huws Ursula
Published: May 2015

Taking as its starting point the current resurgence of interest in Utopian alternatives to capitalist forms of production, including those based on cultural co-production, this chapter takes a critical look at Utopias, from Thomas More to the present day, which propose idealized future societies in which people are emancipated from exploitative labour relations. It examines the ways in which these Utopias have envisaged cultural labour – whether as specialist artistic occupations or as a general creative dimension of all labour – and relates this to the gender divisions of labour envisaged for these idealized societies. It concludes that most Utopias fail to imagine future changes in the social division between paid and unpaid work. Where these have gone beyond a model of small self-sufficient agrarian communities, even if they have envisaged changes in the technical division of labour, they have reproduced existing gender divisions of labour, excluding unpaid reproductive work from their visions of emancipation and work-sharing. In so doing, they have constructed cultural labour as something which is supported invisibly by the reproductive labour of others.
MARCKS‐dependent mucin clearance and lipid metabolism in ependymal cells are required for maintenance of forebrain homeostasis during aging
Authors: Muthusamy Nagendran , Sommerville Laura J. , Moeser Adam J. , Stumpo Deborah J. , Sannes Philip , Adler Kenneth , Blackshear Perry J. , Weimer Jill M. , Ghashghaei H. Troy
Published: May 2015

Ependymal cells (ECs) form a barrier responsible for selective movement of fluids and molecules between the cerebrospinal fluid and the central nervous system. Here, we demonstrate that metabolic and barrier functions in ECs decline significantly during aging in mice. The longevity of these functions in part requires the expression of the myristoylated alanine‐rich protein kinase C substrate (MARCKS). Both the expression levels and subcellular localization of MARCKS in ECs are markedly transformed during aging. Conditional deletion of MARCKS in ECs induces intracellular accumulation of mucins, elevated oxidative stress, and lipid droplet buildup. These alterations are concomitant with precocious disruption of ependymal barrier function, which results in the elevation of reactive astrocytes, microglia, and macrophages in the interstitial brain tissue of young mutant mice. Interestingly, similar alterations are observed during normal aging in ECs and the forebrain interstitium. Our findings constitute a conceptually new paradigm in the potential role of ECs in the initiation of various conditions and diseases in the aging brain.
A herbal medicine for Alzheimer's disease and its active constituents promote neural progenitor proliferation
Authors: Mao Jianxin , Huang Shichao , Liu Shangfeng , Feng Xiao‐Lin , Yu Miao , Liu Junjun , Sun Yi Eve , Chen Guoliang , Yu Yang , Zhao Jian , Pei Gang
Published: May 2015

Aberrant neural progenitor cell (NPC) proliferation and self‐renewal have been linked to age‐related neurodegeneration and neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Rhizoma Acori tatarinowii is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine against cognitive decline. In this study, we found that the extract of Rhizoma Acori tatarinowii (AT) and its active constituents, asarones, promote NPC proliferation. Oral administration of AT enhanced NPC proliferation and neurogenesis in the hippocampi of adult and aged mice as well as that of transgenic AD model mice. AT and its fractions also enhanced the proliferation of NPCs cultured in vitro. Further analysis identified α‐asarone and β‐asarone as the two active constituents of AT in promoting neurogenesis. Our mechanistic study revealed that AT and asarones activated extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) but not Akt, two critical kinase cascades for neurogenesis. Consistently, the inhibition of ERK activities effectively blocked the enhancement of NPC proliferation by AT or asarones. Our findings suggest that AT and asarones, which can be orally administrated, could serve as preventive and regenerative therapeutic agents to promote neurogenesis against age‐related neurodegeneration and neurodegenerative disorders.
Autoantibodies to Factor XII and Kininogen‐Dependent Antiphosphatidylethanolamine Antibodies in Patients with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Augment Platelet Aggregation
Authors: Sato Yoshihiro , Sugi Toshitaka , Sakai Rie
Published: May 2015

Problem

Numerous studies have suggested that factor XII (FXII) deficiency, autoantibodies to FXII (anti‐FXII), and antiphosphatidylethanolamine antibodies (aPE) are associated with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). aPE in RPL patients recognize the LDC27 peptide of kininogen domain 3. Anti‐FXII in RPL patients recognizes the heavy chain of FXII, especially the amino‐terminal sequences IPP30 peptide. Previous studies suggested that LDC27 and IPP30 are the responsible sites competing for the same binding site on platelets and inhibiting augmentation of thrombin‐induced platelet aggregation. Our aim was to study the influence of antibodies to LDC27 and IPP30 on platelet aggregation.

Methods of study

In fifteen healthy volunteers, platelet aggregation induced by γ‐thrombin in the presence or absence of antibodies to LDC27 and IPP30 was measured. Sixteen RPL patients who were positive for anti‐FXII were measured for spontaneous small platelet aggregate (SSPA) formation.

Results and Conclusions

Antibodies to LDC27 and IPP30 markedly increased aggregation of normal platelets stimulated by γ‐thrombin. Augmentation of SSPA formation was more frequent in the patients with RPL who were positive for anti‐FXII than in the control group (P = 0.003). This study strongly supports the hypothesis that aPE and anti‐FXII may cause RPL due to disruption of the normal antithrombotic effects of kininogens and FXII.
The Dose Rate Calculator (DRc) for Luminescence and ESR Dating—a Java Application for Dose Rate and Age Determination
Authors: Tsakalos E. , Christodoulakis J. , Charalambous L.
Published: May 2015

The Dose Rate calculator (DRc) is a software program written in Java that facilitates the calculation of dose rates and age determinations of materials, for use in palaeodosimetric dating methods. The program runs in a user‐friendly interface and provides a number of user‐controllable features. Dose rates are calculated using updated conversion and attenuation factors. This paper presents the basic principles that the software takes into account in its calculations.
Development of a technique for standing hand‐assisted laparoscopic splenectomy in five horses
Authors: Gracia‐Calvo LA , Martín‐Cuervo M , Jiménez J , Vieítez V , Argüelles D , Durán ME , Ezquerra J
Published: May 2015

Objectives

To develop an experimental standing hand‐assisted laparoscopic splenectomy (HALS) technique, report the associated peri‐operative complications and document the short‐term surgical outcomes.

Methods and Results

Five healthy 300–470 kg horses that underwent standing HALS. Spleens of different weights (2.25–7.0 kg) were removed using this technique. The main complication during surgery was difficulty sectioning the gastrosplenic ligament. The postoperative complications included adhesions of the colon to the nephrosplenic ligament stump and incisional discharge in two horses.

Conclusions

Standing HALS is a feasible experimental procedure for medium‐sized horses, which avoids rib excision and general anaesthesia, but requires further development.
Relationship between buccal bone and gingival thickness revisited using non‐invasive registration methods
Authors: Younes Faris , Eghbali Aryan , Raes Margot , De Bruyckere Thomas , Cosyn Jan , De Bruyn Hugo
Published: May 2015

Objective

To determine the relationship between buccal bone and soft tissue thickness at teeth in the premaxilla by means of non‐invasive registration methods.

Materials and Methods

Buccal bone thickness at central incisors, lateral incisors and canines was measured at five reference points (1–5 mm from the top of the alveolar crest) on CB‐CT scans of 21 patients. The corresponding buccal gingival thickness was measured by the use of an ultrasonic device. Spearman's correlation coefficient was calculated to assess the correlation between buccal bone and soft tissue thickness at each tooth type.

Results

Mean buccal bone thickness (SD) at central incisors, lateral incisors and canines was 1.07 mm (0.34 mm), 1.16 mm (0.54 mm) and 0.98 mm (0.37 mm), respectively. For central incisors, 68% of all sites had a thickness <1 mm and 32% had a thickness between 1.0 and 2.0 mm. At lateral incisors, 44% demonstrated buccal bone thickness between 0 and 1.0 mm, 48% between 1.0 and 2.0 mm and 8% ≥2 mm. For canines, 57% of the sites were <1 mm thick; 41% were between 1.0 and 2.0 mm thick, and 2% demonstrated ≥2 mm thickness. Mean gingival thickness (SD) at central incisors, lateral incisors and canines was 1.37 mm (0.32 mm), 1.33 mm (0.32 mm) and 1.08 mm (0.25 mm), respectively. The correlation between buccal bone and soft tissue thickness was moderately positive (ρ = 0.406; P < 0.001).

Conclusions

A thin buccal bone wall (<1 mm) may be expected in over half of the central incisors and canines. The correlation between buccal bone and soft tissue thickness was moderately positive.
Precordial skin burns after endoscopic submucosal dissection for gastric tube cancer
Authors: Miyagi Motoshi , Yoshio Toshiyuki , Hirasawa Toshiaki , Ishiyama Akiyoshi , Yamamoto Yorimasa , Tsuchida Tomohiro , Fujisaki Junko , Igarashi Masahiro
Published: May 2015

Background and Aim

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is useful as a minimally invasive treatment option for early gastric cancer. ESD is also used in the management of postoperative remnant gastric cancers in the stomach and gastric tube cancers. Perforation and delayed bleeding have been the main complications of ESD reported in the management of gastric tube cancer. However, in the current literature, there is no description of precordial skin burns caused by electrical coagulation.

Methods

While we treated 22 patients with gastric tube cancers by ESD from 2005 to 2014, we experienced five skin burns in four patients after ESD. We retrospectively analyzed clinical characteristics of precordial skin burn as a complication of ESD.

Results

All skin burns occurred in patients reconstructed using a presternal route, whose incidence of precordial skin burn was 55.6%. In all cases, lesions were located in the upper or middle third of gastric tubes irrespective of their direction. Skin burn developed on postoperative day (POD) 1 or POD 2, taking 4–7 days to heal and was accompanied by high fever in 60% of cases.

Conclusion

The present study suggests that when carrying out ESD for gastric tube cancer using the presternal route, it is necessary to consider the occurrence of a precordial skin burn as a possible complication.
Bumble bees selectively use native and exotic species to maintain nutritional intake across highly variable and invaded local floral resource pools
Authors: HARMON‐THREATT ALEXANDRA N. , KREMEN CLAIRE
Published: May 2015

1. Changes to plant community composition after invasion are well documented but how these shifts directly affect higher trophic levels is still poorly understood. One potentially important factor is the change in nutritional availability after an invasion. Shifts in nutrient availability could affect the nutrient intake of organisms that live in invaded habitats, causing reduced fecundity and survival.

2. The effects of the interaction among nutrient availability, selection, and diet on nutrient intake of a native bumble bee were examined. No nutritional differences were found between exotic and native pollen or collected and non‐collected pollen in protein or amino acid content, suggesting that differences in nutrient intake from random are based on selection.

3. Nutrient intake was simulated when pollen was selected randomly across all available plant species and when selection was restricted to native plants only or exotic plants only using a permutation model and compared with observed collection. The results suggest that pollen collection is non‐random and that selecting only native or exotic plants cannot provide the protein or amino acid intake observed.

4. These results may help to explain why the responses of native bees to exotic plants are so variable. If the exotic plants in a community can supply the necessary nutrients, bees may readily incorporate them into their diets, but if not, exotic plants may be avoided.
Standing hand‐assisted laparoscopic removal of large granulosa cell tumours in horses using a specimen retrieval bag and morcellator
Authors: Daniel A. J. , Easley J. T. , Story M. R. , Hendrickson D. A. , Hackett E. S.
Published: May 2015

This report describes a method for removal of large granulosa cell tumours through small paralumbar incisions using laparoscopic dissection of the mesovarium and subsequent removal of the ovary in a sterile retrieval bag via morcellation. Morcellation allows division of the granulosa cell tumour and subsequent reduction of incision size required for removal. The use of a specimen retrieval bag prevented contamination of the abdomen and incision with tumour cells during activation of the morcellator.
The Acquisition of an Egyptian Phonological Variant by U.S. Students in Cairo
Authors: Raish Michael
Published: May 2015

This study investigated the acquisition of an Egyptian phonological variant by student participants in a study abroad program at The American University in Cairo. Participants completed pre‐ and post–study abroad Simulated Oral Proficiency Interviews (SOPIs). The SOPI data showed a move toward an Egyptian realization of the phonological variable on the part of most participants. Furthermore, extralinguistic factors such as participant gender and status as a heritage speaker were likewise shown to influence variant choice, while factors such as length of stay abroad and word position of the target token were not shown to have a significant effect on target item realization. In contrast to other studies investigating the acquisition of target language sociolinguistic norms in the form of phonological variables in Spanish, this study found an extremely high rate of learner adoption of an Egyptian realization of this variable among learners of Arabic in Cairo.
Estimating species diversity and distribution in the era of Big Data: to what extent can we trust public databases?
Authors: Maldonado Carla , Molina Carlos I. , Zizka Alexander , Persson Claes , Taylor Charlotte M. , Albán Joaquina , Chilquillo Eder , Rønsted Nina , Antonelli Alexandre
Published: May 2015

Aim

Massive digitalization of natural history collections is now leading to a steep accumulation of publicly available species distribution data. However, taxonomic errors and geographical uncertainty of species occurrence records are now acknowledged by the scientific community – putting into question to what extent such data can be used to unveil correct patterns of biodiversity and distribution. We explore this question through quantitative and qualitative analyses of uncleaned versus manually verified datasets of species distribution records across different spatial scales.

Location

The American tropics.

Methods

As test case we used the plant tribe Cinchoneae (Rubiaceae). We compiled four datasets of species occurrences: one created manually and verified through classical taxonomic work, and the rest derived from GBIF under different cleaning and filling schemes. We used new bioinformatic tools to code species into grids, ecoregions, and biomes following WWF's classification. We analysed species richness and altitudinal ranges of the species.

Results

Altitudinal ranges for species and genera were correctly inferred even without manual data cleaning and filling. However, erroneous records affected spatial patterns of species richness. They led to an overestimation of species richness in certain areas outside the centres of diversity in the clade. The location of many of these areas comprised the geographical midpoint of countries and political subdivisions, assigned long after the specimens had been collected.

Main conclusion

Open databases and integrative bioinformatic tools allow a rapid approximation of large‐scale patterns of biodiversity across space and altitudinal ranges. We found that geographic inaccuracy affects diversity patterns more than taxonomic uncertainties, often leading to false positives, i.e. overestimating species richness in relatively species poor regions. Public databases for species distribution are valuable and should be more explored, but under scrutiny and validation by taxonomic experts. We suggest that database managers implement easy ways of community feedback on data quality.
The Nature of Total War: Grasping the Global Environmental Dimensions of World War II
Authors: Gutmann Martin
Published: May 2015

The past decade has seen a proliferation of studies examining the environmental dimensions of World War II. This article analyses this literature by engaging with relevant parallel historiographical streams on the war and on non‐military environmental history. It suggests that scholars working with a non‐European focus have been innovative in their use of global and transnational approaches. Studies of Axis‐occupied Europe, on the other hand, have uncovered the nuanced dynamics behind the fascist regimes' efforts to manipulate nature. This article outlines the potential contributions of bringing these bodies of literature in dialogue. Moreover, this article contends that the impact of the Second World War on socio‐environmental dimensions can only be fully appreciated through studies that transcend a traditional temporal boundary.
Patients’ experiences of safety during haemodialysis treatment – a qualitative study
Authors: Lovink Marleen H. , Kars Marijke C. , de Man‐van Ginkel Janneke M. , Schoonhoven Lisette
Published: May 2015

Aim

To explore the experiences of safety of adult patients during their haemodialysis treatment.

Background

Haemodialysis is a complex treatment with a risk for harm that causes anxiety among many patients. To date, no in‐depth study of haemodialysis patients’ emotional responses to conditions of their treatment exists.

Design

A descriptive exploratory qualitative study using content analysis was conducted.

Methods

Outpatients (≥18 years old) (n = 12) who were treated with haemodialysis for more than half a year were purposefully selected from two haemodialysis units (one in an academic hospital and one in a top clinical hospital) in the Netherlands. Data were collected through in‐depth individual interviews from January–April 2013. Analysis of the transcribed interviews consisted of open coding, creating categories and synthesis.

Results

Patients defined ‘safety’ as feeling safe from physical or emotional threats. Four main categories were identified in the descriptions of haemodialysis patients’ experiences of safety: (a) insecurity; (b) trust in the nurse; (c) presence of the nurse; and (d) patients’ need to control their situation.

Conclusion

Although haemodialysis patients perceived multiple risks, most patients reported feeling safe during their treatment. The nurse had a pivotal role in promoting patients’ feelings of safety. Nurses should take into account patients’ coping strategies because these coping strategies may cause some patients to feel anxious, especially when patients say that they leave everything to the nurse, yet they still desire control over their treatment.
A new methodology for modelling of health risk from urban flooding exemplified by cholera – case Dhaka, Bangladesh
Authors: Mark O. , Jørgensen C. , Hammond M. , Khan D. , Tjener R. , Erichsen A. , Helwigh B.
Published: May 2015

The phenomenon of urban flooding due to rainfall exceeding the design capacity of drainage systems is a global problem and can have significant economic and social consequences. This is even more extreme in developing countries, where poor sanitation still causes a high infectious disease burden and mortality, especially during floods. At present, there are no software tools capable of combining hydrodynamic modelling and health risk analyses, and the links between urban flooding and the health risk for the population due to direct contact with the flood water are poorly understood. The present paper outlines a novel methodology for linking dynamic urban flood modelling with quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA). This provides a unique possibility for understanding the interaction between urban flooding and health risk caused by direct human contact with the flood water and hence gives an option for reducing the burden of disease in the population by use of intelligent urban flood risk management. The model linking urban flooding and health risk is applied to Dhaka City in Bangladesh, where waterborne diseases including cholera are endemic. The application to Dhaka City is supported by measurements of pathogens in the urban drainage system. The outcome of the application indicates that direct contact with polluted flood water is a plausible route of primary transmission of cholera and demonstrates the applicability and the potential for linking urban flood models with QMRA in order to identify interventions to reduce the burden of disease on the population in Dhaka City.
Proton MR Spectroscopy in Patients with Structural MRI‐Negative Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Authors: Xu Michael Y. , Ergene Erhan , Zagardo Michael , Tracy Patrick T. , Wang Huaping , Liu WenChing , Machens Nancy A.
Published: May 2015

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

With conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 20–30% of patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) have negative pathological MRI findings. Further investigations of the role of magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) in the pre‐surgical evaluation of patients with MRI‐negative TLE are important to avoid intracranial EEG recording and to better understand the mechanism of the epileptogenic process. This study aimed to compare the measurements of N‐acetylaspartate (NAA), creatine (Cr), and choline (Cho) in the hippocampi of MRI‐negative TLE patients and normal subjects.

METHODS

Twenty patients with MRI‐negative TLE and 10 age‐matched healthy control subjects underwent MRI and MRS. The concentrations of NAA, Cr, and Cho and the ratios of NAA/Cr and NAA/(Cr+Cho) were measured. Seven of these 20 patients also underwent surgical treatment for TLE. Their pathological results and surgical outcomes were evaluated.

RESULTS

In the hippocampi ipsilateral to the seizure side, the NAA/Cr and NAA/(Cr+Cho) ratios were significantly decreased compared with the ratios of the hippocampi contralateral to the seizure side and the normal control hippocampi. There was no significant difference between the hippocampi contralateral to the seizure side and the normal control hippocampi.

The pathological results from the patients who underwent temporal lobe resection indicated mild to moderate gliosis and minimal loss of neurons. Five patients were seizure‐free during the follow‐up period of 9‐ 47 months (mean 27.7 months).

CONCLUSIONS

In MRI‐negative TLE, significant reductions in the NAA/Cr and NAA/(Cr+Cho) ratios ipsilateral to the seizure side may help lateralize and localize the epileptogenic zone.
Enabling professional development in mental health nursing: the role of clinical leadership
Authors: Ennis G. , Happell B. , Reid‐Searl K.
Published: May 2015

Accessible summary

Clinical leadership is important for the strength of mental health nursing as a profession, particularly in utilizing clinical‐based opportunities for the professional development of new graduates and nursing students.

To date, there has been limited research examining the attributes of nurses considered by their colleagues to be clinical leaders. This study presents the views and experiences of mental health nurses who deliver care, about what they identify as important for effective clinical leadership.

Clinical teaching and role modelling are two fundamental roles of effective clinical leaders; they are underpinned by the attributes of professionalism, honesty, willingness to share knowledge and approachability.

Additional research is needed to consider the applicability of these roles and attributes across larger samples of nurses in mental health settings.

Clinical leadership is acknowledged as important to the nursing profession. While studies continue to identify its significance in contributing to positive outcomes for consumers, the role that clinical leadership has in enabling and supporting professional development in mental health nursing is poorly understood. This study utilized a grounded theory methodology to explore the characteristics clinicians consider important for clinical leadership and its significance for mental health nursing in day‐to‐day clinical practice. Individual face‐to‐face, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with nurses working in mental health settings. Participants described the important role that clinical leaders play in enabling professional development of others through role modelling and clinical teaching. They describe how nurses, whom they perceive as clinical leaders, use role modelling and clinical teaching to influence the professional development of nursing staff and undergraduate nursing students. Attributes such as professionalism and honesty were seen, by participants, as enablers for clinical leaders in effectively and positively supporting the professional development of junior staff and undergraduate nurses in mental health nursing. This paper examines clinical leadership from the perspective of mental health nurses delivering care, and highlights the important role of clinical leaders in supporting professional development in mental health nursing.
Experimental warming interacts with soil moisture to discriminate plant responses in an ombrotrophic peatland
Authors: Buttler Alexandre , Robroek Bjorn J.M. , Laggoun‐Défarge Fatima , Jassey Vincent E.J. , Pochelon Cédric , Bernard Gregory , Delarue Frédéric , Gogo Sébastien , Mariotte Pierre , Mitchell Edward A.D. , Bragazza Luca
Published: May 2015

Question

A better understanding of the response of Sphagnum mosses and associated vascular plants to climate warming is relevant for predicting the carbon balance of peatlands in a warmer world. Open‐top chambers (OTCs) have been used to investigate the effect on soil biogeochemical processes in peatlands, but little information is available on the effects of OTCs on microclimate conditions and the associated response of the plant community. We aimed to understand how simulated warming and differences in soil moisture affect plant species cover.

Location

A Sphagnum‐dominated peatlands in French Jura.

Methods

We used OTCs to measure the effect of a near‐ground temperature increase (+1.5 °C on average) on vegetation dynamics over five growing seasons (2008–2012) in a Sphagnum‐dominated peatland, in two adjacent microhabitats with different hydrological conditions – wet and dry. Microclimatic conditions and plant species abundance were monitored at peak biomass in years 1, 2, 3 and 5 and monthly during the plant growing season in year 5.

Results

The response to warming differed between vascular plants and bryophytes, as well as among species within these groups, and also varied in relation to soil moisture. Andromeda polifolia abundance responded positively to warming, while Vaccinium oxycoccus responded negatively, and Eriophorum vaginatum showed a high resistance.

Conclusion

Depth of rooting of vascular plants appeared to control the response in plant abundance, while moss abundance depended on various other interacting factors, such as shading by the vascular plant community, precipitation and soil moisture.
Calcineurin orchestrates dimorphic transitions, antifungal drug responses and host–pathogen interactions of the pathogenic mucoralean fungus Mucor circinelloides
Authors: Lee Soo Chan , Li Alicia , Calo Silvia , Inoue Makoto , Tonthat Nam K. , Bain Judith M. , Louw Johanna , Shinohara Mari L. , Erwig Lars P. , Schumacher Maria A. , Ko Dennis C. , Heitman Joseph
Published: May 2015

Calcineurin plays essential roles in virulence and growth of pathogenic fungi and is a target of the natural products FK506 and Cyclosporine A. In the pathogenic mucoralean fungus Mucor circinelloides, calcineurin mutation or inhibition confers a yeast‐locked phenotype indicating that calcineurin governs the dimorphic transition. Genetic analysis in this study reveals that two calcineurin A catalytic subunits (out of three) are functionally diverged. Homology modeling illustrates modes of resistance resulting from amino substitutions in the interface between each calcineurin subunit and the inhibitory drugs. In addition, we show how the dimorphic transition orchestrated by calcineurin programs different outcomes during host–pathogen interactions. For example, when macrophages phagocytose Mucor yeast, subsequent phagosomal maturation occurs, indicating host cells respond appropriately to control the pathogen. On the other hand, upon phagocytosis of spores, macrophages fail to form mature phagosomes. Cytokine production from immune cells differs following exposure to yeast versus spores (which germinate into hyphae). Thus, the morphogenic transition can be targeted as an efficient treatment option against Mucor infection. In addition, genetic analysis (including gene disruption and mutational studies) further strengthens the understanding of calcineurin and provides a foundation to develop antifungal agents targeting calcineurin to deploy against Mucor and other pathogenic fungi.
Impact of care settings on residents' functional and psychosocial status, physical activity and adverse events
Authors: Resnick Barbara , Galik Elizabeth
Published: May 2015

Background

Internationally, as the number of older adults increases, different types of care settings are evolving to address the care needs of this growing group of individuals.

Aims and objectives

The purpose of this study was to describe and compare clinical outcomes of residents with moderate to severe cognitive impairment living in residential care facilities (RCFs) and nursing homes (NHs).

Design

This was a secondary data analysis that included data from two studies testing a Function‐Focused Care for Cognitively Impaired (FFC‐CI) Intervention.

Methods

A total of 96 participants were from RCFs and 103 were from NHs. Change scores over a 6‐month period in RCF and NH residents were evaluated using a multivariate analysis of variance.

Results

Residential care facilities residents had more agitation, better function and engaged in approximately twice as much physical activity as those in NH settings at baseline. Controlling for treatment status and baseline differences, over 6 months, RCF residents showed a decrease of −22.77 ± 41.47 kilocalories used in 24 hours while those in NHs increased to a mean of 10.49 ± 33.65 kilocalories used. With regard to function, residents in RCFs declined 10.97 ± 18.35 points on the Barthel Index, while those in NHs increased 10.18 ± 19.56 points.

Conclusions

In this sample, NH residents were more likely to be African American, had more comorbidities, less cognitive impairment, engaged in less physical activity, were more impaired functionally and had less agitation than those in RCFs. Controlling for treatment group status and baseline differences in comorbidities, cognitive status and race, residents in RCFs declined more in terms of functional and physical activity over a 6‐month period.

Implications for practice

Ongoing research and clinical work is needed to understand the impact of care settings on clinical outcomes.