bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thinking about Biology and Culture: Can the Natural and Human Sciences Be Integrated?
Authors: Keller Evelyn Fox
Published: July 2018

Genomic analyses have shown that only 1.2 per cent of the genome is devoted to protein coding sequences (the most commonly invoked definition of genes), and that much of the remaining sequences are employed in regulation – that is, in responding to signals, first, from the immediate environment of the DNA, but ultimately from the distal environment – from the cytoplasm, from the environment outside the cell, and finally, from the environment beyond the organism. Such signals are not restricted to the simple physical and chemical stimuli that impinge directly on the DNA, on the surface of the cell, or even on the body as a whole: organisms with central nervous systems have receptors for forms of perception that are not only more complex but far longer range. Humans have especially sophisticated perceptual capacities, enabling them to respond to a wide range of complex visual, auditory, linguistic and behavioural/emotional signals in their extended environment. Research has recently begun to show that responses to such signals can extend all the way down to the level of gene expression. The question is this: to what extent are we witnessing (at last) a rapprochement between the natural science of biology and the human sciences of sociology and anthropology, and to what extent do the new promises of synthesis merely reflect an expansion of older reductionist aims, threatening once again to marginalize rather than incorporate the insights of cultural analysis? As in my earlier discussion of the nature/nurture debate (2010), my focus will be restricted to the Anglo-American context.
From Boundary-Work to Boundary Object: How Biology Left and Re-Entered the Social Sciences
Authors: Meloni Maurizio
Published: July 2018

In an archaeological spirit this paper comes back to a founding event in the construction of the twentieth-century episteme, the moment at which the life- and the social sciences parted ways and intense boundary-work was carried out on the biology/society border, with significant benefits for both sides. Galton and Weismann for biology, and Alfred Kroeber for anthropology delimit this founding moment and I argue, expanding on an existing body of historical scholarship, for an implicit convergence of their views.

After this excavation, I look at recent developments in the life sciences, which I have named the ‘social turn’ in biology ( Meloni, 2014 ), and in particular at epigenetics with its promise to destabilize the social/biological border. I claim here that today a different account of ‘the biological’ to that established during the Galton–Kroeber period is emerging. Rather than being used to support a form of boundary-work, biology has become a boundary object that crosses previously erected barriers, allowing different research communities to draw from it.
Epistemic Modesty, Ostentatiousness and the Uncertainties of Epigenetics: On the Knowledge Machinery of (Social) Science
Authors: Pickersgill Martyn
Published: July 2018

Epigenetic processes are garnering attention in the social sciences, where some scholars assert their importance for theorizing social life. I engage with such ideas here by drawing on interviews with leading bioscientists. To begin with, I underscore the (productive) uncertainties of those working in and around epigenetics; I describe these as a manifestation of ‘epistemic modesty’, and suggest that dissensus helps to propel biomedical innovation. Then, drawing on the concept of ‘alien science’, I detail some researchers' ambivalences regarding the notion of ‘transgenerational inheritance’; their dissatisfaction with the (public) communication practices of other scientists (situated in what I term a regime of ‘epistemic ostentatiousness’); and the challenges faced when moderating societal discussion of epigenetics in ways that expand excitement whilst deflating (what researchers regard as) unrealistic expectations. The paper concludes with reflections on the knowledge machinery of the (social) sciences, and employs the study data to interrogate sociological engagements with epigenetics.
The Epigenomic Self in Personalized Medicine: Between Responsibility and Empowerment
Authors: Chiapperino Luca , Testa Giuseppe
Published: July 2018

This paper focuses on two areas of innovation currently articulating the agenda of personalized medicine (PM): the discourse of empowerment in health-care reforms and the rise of molecular epigenomics. We align these two developments as discursive and technical resources, focusing on their nascent interplay in shaping alternative sociotechnical imaginaries of PM. Our work aims at inaugurating an intellectual programme on the distinct futures of policy- and identity-making that are being catalysed around epigenomic technoscience, as well as to provide an operational map of its potential synergies with pre-existing socio-political discourses of empowerment in PM. This roadmap advances our understanding of how the intersection of epigenomics with dominant policy discourses becomes a resource to shape roles and obligations of citizens, patients and health-care actors in the emergence of PM.
The Nature of Structure: A Biosocial Approach
Authors: Bone John
Published: July 2018

This paper considers how developments within the neurosciences might be applied to advance sociologists' (and other social scientists') understanding of social selves and social processes and, importantly, why this might be a fruitful pursuit despite some residual reservations within the discipline. With respect to the latter, the argument presented is firstly approached by briefly reflecting upon sociologists' lingering reticence with respect to engagement with biology, albeit that there has been some softening of this position over the last decade or so. This piece asserts that overcoming remaining sociological reservations regarding the biological offers considerable potential, in terms of enhancing our theoretical models and understanding of aspects of the social world, potentially offering fresh insights with respect to some perennial issues and concepts. Here, an example of this potential is offered through a neurosociological reframing of the foundations of social structure and the rationalization of conduct.
Floral usage partitioning and competition between social (Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris) and solitary bees in New Zealand: Niche partitioning via floral preferences?
Authors: Iwasaki Jay M. , Dickinson Katharine J. M. , Barratt Barbara I. P. , Mercer Alison R. , Jowett Timothy W. D. , Lord Janice M.
Published: July 2018

Worldwide, studies of interactions between introduced and native bees have produced contradictory evidence regarding the potential for competition. Different resource requirements and the impact of tongue length on resource use are often overlooked aspects of these studies. Here, we examine floral resource use and niche overlap between introduced social bees and native solitary bees over two flowering seasons on The Remarkables mountain range, South Island, New Zealand. The native bee fauna of New Zealand is composed of short‐tongued solitary bees in the families Colletidae and Halictidae. Long‐tongued social bees were introduced 150 years ago, and Apis mellifera and Bombus species are now widespread. We analysed floral resource utilization by introduced bees (mainly Bombus terrestris) and native bees in relation to resource abundance across elevations in montane to alpine grassland communities. We modelled resource utilization and overlap between bee taxa using a novel index of floral resource availability, developed to more accurately describe floral density. Additionally, we sought to quantify the impact of honey bees by introducing hives, however, low densities in study plots prevented direct conclusions from being drawn. Native and introduced bees did, however, have distinctly different floral preferences over the flowering season with more niche overlap within, rather than between, native and introduced groups. Introduced bees showed a preference for introduced species in the family Fabaceae which native bees could not access. Native bees heavily utilized introduced Asteraceae as well as native floral resources that introduced bees did not prefer. The limited resource overlap between bee taxa indicated that bee communities in New Zealand may have reduced potential for competition, owing to the different resource requirements of solitary versus social bees and their differing abilities to access floral resources. These findings provide some potential explanations for contradictory evidence worldwide regarding the perceived detrimental impacts of introduced social bees.
The association of LRP6 rs2302685 (V1062I) polymorphism with the risk of hyperlipidemia in Iranian children and adolescents
Authors: Montazeri‐Najafabady Nima , Dabbaghmanesh Mohammad Hossein , Mohammadian Amiri Rajeeh
Published: July 2018

Wnt signaling/LRP6 plays a critical role in metabolic syndrome and atherosclerosis, and variation in this pathway may lead to hyperlipidemia, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and coronary artery disease. In the present study, we investigated the effect of LRP6 rs2302685 (V1062I) on hyperlipidemia in Iranian children and adolescents. The population in this study consisted of 200 children (101 boys, 99 girls) aged 9–18 years old. Total cholesterol, high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), non‐HDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were measured. Body composition was evaluated by the Hologic DXA system. PCR/restriction fragment length polymorphism was performed for LRP6 rs2302685 (V1062I) genotyping. Logistic regression analysis was done to find the association between LRP6 rs2302685 (V1062I) and categorized lipid parameters in the adjusted model for confounding factors (age, sex, and puberty).

Individuals with the CC genotype showed significantly higher levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and non‐HDL compared to the CT and TT genotypes. In modeling analysis, for categorized lipid parameters, a significant association was found between CC versus CT, and CC versus TT in terms of cholesterol, LDL, and non‐HDL. It seems that LRP6 rs2302685 (V1062I) variant carriers are associated with an increased risk of hyperlipidemia in Iranian children and adolescents.
Genetic susceptibility of glutathione S‐transferase genes (GSTM1/T1 and P1) to coronary artery disease in Asian Indians
Authors: Bhatti J. S. , Vijayvergiya R. , Singh B. , Bhatti G. K.
Published: July 2018

Genetic polymorphisms in glutathione S‐transferase (GST) genes may modulate the risk of cardiovascular diseases. The objective of present study was to investigate the potential association between the polymorphisms of GSTM1/T1 and P1
genes and their influence on diverse clinical parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients in Asian Indians. The present study includes 562 angiographically confirmed CAD patients and 564 healthy control subjects from the north Indian population. Anthropometric and clinical measurements were performed for all the participants. The oxidative stress biomarkers including malondialdehyde and total antioxidant capacity were also measured. The genotyping of the GSTM1/T1 and P1 genes was performed using the multiplex‐PCR and PCR‐RFLP methods. The CAD patients exhibit significantly high values of waist circumference, waist‐to‐hip ratio, body fat (%), glucose, triglycerides, and very low‐density lipoprotein, and reduced high‐density lipoprotein levels compared to control subjects (P < 0.001). Malondialdehyde levels were significantly enhanced, and the total antioxidant capacity was reduced in CAD patients compared to controls (P < 0.001). However, no significant difference in body mass index and total cholesterol levels were observed in CAD patients and control subjects. The frequencies of the GSTM1 and GSTM1/T1 null genotypes in the CAD patients were significantly higher than the control subjects. In contrast, the GSTT1(−) genotype frequencies were significantly lower in CAD patients than the controls. Logistic regression analysis of the data revealed the null genotype of GSTM1 and the GG genotype of the GSTP1 (313A/G) gene were associated with an approximately twofold enhanced risk of developing CAD, whereas GSTT1(−) plays a defensive role against CAD development in north Indians. Upon stratification of data according to the genotypes of the GSTM1/T1 and P1 genes, we did not find significant a difference among the various metabolic traits in CAD patients and controls. Our results suggest that oxidative damage induced by lipid peroxidation with reduced antioxidant capacity and genetic variants in GST genes (GSTM1/T1 and P1) may modify the risk of CAD development in Asian Indian population.
Unexpected positron emission tomography/computed tomography uptake in benign dermal naevus
Authors: Robinson Mitchell , Curchin Claudia , Soyer H. Peter
Published: July 2018

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging modalities are commonly utilised for investigation of known or suspected neoplastic disease. A variety of 18‐F‐fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positive cutaneous lesions have been described in the literature, including both malignant lesions and benign inflammatory conditions. We report a case of PET/CT‐positive dermal naevus.
Role of vitamin C in wound healing after dental implant surgery in patients treated with bone grafts and patients with chronic periodontitis
Authors: Li Xiao , Tang Li , Lin Yong Feng , Xie Gui Fang
Published: July 2018

Background

Postoperative wound healing is an important part of the success of the dental implant surgery. However, in case of complex surgery or unfavorable factors, wound healing is often unsatisfactory.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of vitamin C supplementation in wound healing, following the placement of dental implants with or without bone grafts and patients with chronic periodontitis.

Methods

This randomized controlled clinical trial included 128 patients requiring dental implants to replace missing teeth. Patients were divided into four groups, group A received dental implants supported by guided bone regeneration (GBR) technique, group B received dental implants with Bio‐Oss Collagen, group C received dental implants in patients with chronic periodontitis, and group D received dental implants without any bone grafting or periodontal disease. Each group was divided into an experimental subgroup, who received vitamin C, and a control subgroup. Follow‐up appointments were performed at day 3, day 7, and day 14 postsurgery, during which soft tissue healing and pain response scores were evaluated using the Landry index and visual analogue scale, respectively.

Results

The experimental subgroups had significantly higher healing indices than the controls (P < .05) at day 7 postsurgery for group B and day 14 postsurgery for groups A, B, and C. Group D displayed no difference between the experimental and control groups at any time point. In reference to vitamin C for pain relief, there were no statistically significant differences between the study groups.

Conclusion

Using vitamin C supplementation improves postoperative healing following dental implant surgery in patients with chronic periodontitis and patients treated with GBR or Bio‐Oss Collagen grafts. However, vitamin C supplementation does not decrease the postoperative pain associated with dental implant surgery.
Effect of substrate stiffness on proliferation and differentiation of periodontal ligament stem cells
Authors: Liu Nanxin , Zhou Mi , Zhang Qi , Yong Li , Zhang Tao , Tian Taoran , Ma Quanquan , Lin Shiyu , Zhu Bofeng , Cai Xiaoxiao
Published: July 2018

Objectives

The aim of this study was to understand the effect of substrate stiffness (a mechanical factor of the extracellular matrix) on periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) and its underlying mechanism.

Materials and methods

Elastic substrates were fabricated by mixing 2 components, a base and curing agent in proportions of 10:1, 20:1, 30:1 or 40:1.PDLSCmorphology was observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Cell proliferation and differentiation were assessed afterPDLSCs was cultured on various elastic substrates. Data were analysed using one‐wayANOVA.

Results

SEMrevealed variations in the morphology ofPDLSCs cultured on elastic substrates.PDLSCproliferation increased with substrate stiffness (P < .05). Osteogenic differentiation ofPDLSCs was higher on stiff substrates. Notch pathway markers were up‐regulated inPDLSCs cultured on stiff substrates.

Conclusions

Results suggested that the osteogenic differentiation ofPDLSCs might be promoted by culturing them in a stiffness‐dependent manner, which regulates the Notch pathway. This might provide a new method of enhancing osteogenesis inPDLSCs.
Evidence behind the use of molecular tests in melanocytic lesions and practice patterns of these tests by dermatopathologists
Authors: Emanuel Patrick O. , Andea Aleodor A. , Vidal Claudia I. , Missall Tricia A. , Novoa Roberto A. , Bohlke Angela K. , Hughes Sarah R. , Hurley Maria Y. , Kim Jinah
Published: July 2018

Background

The gold standard for the diagnosis of melanocytic lesions is histologic examination. However, as histologic examination can have its limitations, there are many clinical scenarios in which additional testing may be appropriate in an attempt to render a definitive diagnosis.

Methods

A literature review for three ancillary tests—comparative genomic hybridization (CGH)/single‐nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), and gene expression profiling by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR)—was compiled and current use patterns were tabulated. Survey of the practice patterns of these tests by dermatopathologists was also accessed in the attendees of the American Society of Dermatopathology Annual Meeting (Chicago, 2016).

Results

Here we summarize the use of these molecular tests in melanocytic lesions. We found that 54.4% of the respondents surveyed utilize (or expect consultants to utilize) molecular testing of melanocytic lesions in their practice when appropriate.

Conclusions

CGH/SNP arrays, FISH testing, and qRT‐PCR applied to melanocytic lesions have allowed for more accurate classification. Just over half of those surveyed use molecular testing for melanocytic lesion with the majority sending their cases out for completion of the molecular test.
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Adoption Law
Authors: Farr Rachel H. , Goldberg Abbie E.
Published: July 2018

The legal landscape surrounding adoption by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning/queer (LGBTQ) parents continues to be dynamic and variable across the United States, yet the topic is generally viewed favorably by Americans and increasing numbers of LGBTQ adults are becoming adoptive parents. In this essay, we explore intersections of sexual orientation, gender identity, and adoption law. We discuss connections between parenting (including adoption) and marriage rights, highlight the influence of varying legal contexts and discrimination for LGBTQ adults who pursue adoption (including case examples from Florida after the gay adoption ban was lifted), and incorporating the perspectives of adoption‐agency personnel working with LGBTQ clients.
Custody and Visitation in Families With Three (or More) Parents
Authors: Cahn Naomi , Carbone June
Published: July 2018

New technological and legal developments have enabled the formation of three‐parent families. Now that these families have arrived, families—and family law—must adapt to allocate responsibilities among the responsible adults.
Interdisciplinary Practice in Family Court: A Judicial Perspective
Authors: Pearl Hon. Jane
Published: July 2018

This commentary emphasizes the windows of judicial opportunity to proactively manage family law cases, to empower families, and to encourage interdisciplinary conferencing and settlement.
The Devil's Lettuce: Primary Caregivers have the Constitutional Right to Distribute Medicinal Marijuana to Their Terminally Ill Child
Authors: Bergstrom Ian J.
Published: July 2018

Pediatric cancer is a tragedy that affects many American families. Despite the effectiveness of pediatric cancer treatments, patients experience adverse side effects that can be relieved by medical marijuana. However, medicinal marijuana is only lawful in twenty‐eight states, including the District of Columbia. This Note proposes that all fifty states enact compassionate‐use statutes permitting parents to lawfully possess and distribute the herb to their terminally ill child (between the ages of five to fourteen) to alleviate the effects of cancer treatments. Medicinal marijuana use provides pediatric cancer patients with better‐quality lives and the determination to win the war against cancer.
Book Review: How Mediation Works: Theory, Research, and Practice by Stephen B. Goldberg, Jeanne M. Brett, Beatrice Blohorn‐Brenneur, With Nancy H. Rogers
Authors: Applegate Amy G.
Published: July 2018

This is a book review of How Mediation Works: Theory, Research, and Practice by Stephen B. Goldberg, Jeanne M. Brett, Beatrice Blohorn‐Brenneur, with Nancy H. Rogers. How Mediation Works is intended for a wide range of audiences: practicing mediators; aspiring mediators; those who may refer cases to mediation; participants in mediation, including parties and attorneys; managers who facilitate disputes; and those interested in mediation without a specific plan to engage in the practice (who the authors call “mediation learners”). The book is a well‐written, thoughtful, easy‐to‐read, organized, and concise overview of mediation practice. The book is divided into six chapters: (1) conflicts, disputes, and their resolution; (2) dispute resolution processes; (3) the roles of the mediator and the disputing parties at each step of the mediation process; (4) dealing with difficulties; (5) mediation and the law; and (6) suggestions for aspiring mediators. Though not an authority for family law mediation, the book provides many insightful observations and suggestions that would be instructive and helpful to any mediator or individual with an interest in mediation.
Sarcopenia is associated with blood pressure variability in older patients with type 2 diabetes: A cross‐sectional study of the KAMOGAWA‐DM cohort study
Authors: Hashimoto Yoshitaka , Kaji Ayumi , Sakai Ryosuke , Hamaguchi Masahide , Okada Hiroshi , Ushigome Emi , Asano Mai , Yamazaki Masahiro , Fukui Michiaki
Published: July 2018

Aim

To investigate the association between sarcopenia and blood pressure parameters in older patients with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional study of 146 older patients with diabetes. Body composition was evaluated by bioimpedance analysis. The skeletal muscle mass index (kg/m2) was defined as appendicular muscle mass / the square of the height. Patients with both handgrip strength <26 kg for men and <18 kg for women, and skeletal muscle mass index <7.0 kg/m2 for men and <5.7 kg/m2 for women were diagnosed as sarcopenia. We measured systolic blood pressure (SBP) at every visit for 1 year and calculated the coefficient of variation of SBP.

Results

Among 146 patients (86 men and mean age 72.6 years [SD 5.9 years], 21 patients (14.4%) were sarcopenic. The coefficient of variation of SBP in patients with sarcopenia was higher than that in patients without sarcopenia (9.1 [SD 3.2] vs 7.1 [SD 2.9]%, P = 0.007), although the average SBP of patients with sarcopenia and that of patients without sarcopenia was not different (129.5 [SD 14.0] vs 130.5 [SD 12.9] mmHg, P = 0.558). Multiple regression analysis showed that sarcopenia was associated with the coefficient of variation of SBP (β = 0.20, P = 0.024), even after adjusting for covariates, whereas sarcopenia was not associated with the average SBP (β = 0.05, P = 0.558).

Conclusions

We showed that sarcopenia was associated with blood pressure variability, whereas not with the average SBP. It is necessary for clinicians to pay careful attention to blood pressure variability when examining patients with sarcopenia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 1345–1349.
A survey on obstacles and difficulties of practical implementation of horizontal collaboration in logistics
Authors: Basso Franco , D'Amours Sophie , Rönnqvist Mikael , Weintraub Andrés
Published: July 2018

During recent years, horizontal collaboration in logistics has gained attention because of achieved potential benefits such as cost reduction, an increase in fulfillment rates, and a decrease in CO2 emissions owing to reductions in traveled distances. Successful real‐world cases, however, are rare since horizontal cooperation in logistics is not usually sustainable. This paper pays attention to this paradox of the lack of cases and discusses 16 identified practical issues that could explain this phenomenon. We propose a taxonomy composed of four categories categorizing the practical issues according to a value chain approach: design, planning and operations, market/business, and behaviors. Furthermore, we propose and discuss some measures to mitigate these problems.
The dual role of N6‐methyladenosine modification of RNAs is involved in human cancers
Authors: He Liujia , Li Jiangfeng , Wang Xiao , Ying Yufan , Xie Haiyun , Yan Huaqing , Zheng Xiangyi , Xie Liping
Published: July 2018

As the most abundant and reversible RNA modification in eukaryotic cells, m6A triggers a new layer of epi‐transcription. M6A modification occurs through a methylation process modified by “writers” complexes, reversed by “erasers”, and exerts its role depending on various “readers”. Emerging evidence shows that there is a strong association between m6A and human diseases, especially cancers. Herein, we review bi‐aspects of m6A in regulating cancers mediated by the m6A‐associated proteins, which exert vital and specific roles in the development of various cancers. Generally, the m6A modification performs promotion or inhibition functions (dual role) in tumorigenesis and progression of various cancers, which suggests a new concept in cancer regulations. In addition, m6A‐targeted therapies including competitive antagonists of m6A‐associated proteins may provide a new tumour intervention in the future.
Aeromonas shuberti as a cause of multi‐organ necrosis in internal organs of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus
Authors: Liu C , Chang O Q , Zhang D F , Li K B , Wang F , Lin M H , Shi C B , Jiang L , Wang Q , Bergmann S M
Published: July 2018

A disease with white spots in internal organs of Nile tilapia occurred in Zhanjiang, southern China. Multiple, white nodules, 0.8–2.2 mm in diameter, were scattered throughout the liver, spleen and kidney of diseased fish. Signs of nodules reproduced after artificial infection with the isolated strain. Isolated bacteria were Gram‐negative, facultative anaerobic, motile, short rod‐shaped, with a length of 1.2–2.2 μm. Morphological and biochemical tests, as well as phylogenetic analysis, all strongly indicated that the isolate from tilapia is identical to Aeromonas schubertii (A. schubertii) which temporary named LF1708 strain. Antibiotic sensitivity assays showed the LF1708 is sensitive to 24 of 27 tested antibiotics. Pathogenicity test revealed that the isolate at the dose of 3.75 × 106 CFU/g killed 100% of experimental tilapia within 2 days and the dose of 1 × 107 CFU/g killed 100% of experimental zebrafish within 1 day. Histopathology of diseased tilapia infected with A. schubertii showed numerous necrotic lesions widely distributed in spleen, liver and kidney, and infiltration with a large number of bacteria. To our knowledge, this was the first report that associated A. schubertii with mortality in tilapia.
Seasonal recovery of Edwardsiella piscicida from wild European eels and natural waters: Isolation methods, virulence and reservoirs
Authors: Esteve Consuelo , Alcaide Elena
Published: July 2018

A total of 127 wild eels caught in the L′Albufera Lake (Spain) and 24 samples of lagoon freshwater were analysed for 1‐year period. Edwardsiella strains were isolated from liver/kidney on TSA‐1 plates in 31.9% of total diseased specimens, and the edwardsiellosis prevalence in the fishery was of 11.8%. The use of double‐strength Salmonella‐Shigella (DSSS) broth and SS agar yielded Edwardsiella isolation from intestine in 100% of those edwardsiellosis‐diseased eels, but also in 40.4% of other sick fish with vibriosis or aeromonosis and in 28.8% of healthy eels, as well as from freshwater in 8.3% of samples. Pure cultures were isolated on SS agar from the former, but motile Aeromonas, Plesiomonas shigelloides and Hafnia alvei were recovered along with Edwardsiella in the other samples. Edwardsiella isolates identification at species level revealed that E. piscicida was distributed between wild eels and freshwater but E. tarda only did in freshwater. All E. piscicida strains were virulent for eels (LD < 1.0 × 106 CFU/fish) but that of E. tarda was not. This is the first report of E. piscicida in wild eel intestines and natural freshwater, highlighting its role as potential reservoirs for the bacterium. A seasonal recovery was found for E. piscicida at water temperature above 20°C.
Growth and Public Debt: What Are the Relevant Trade‐Offs?
Authors: CHERON ARNAUD , NISHIMURA KAZUO , NOURRY CARINE , SEEGMULLER THOMAS , VENDITTI ALAIN
Published: July 2018

The interplay between growth and public debt is addressed considering a Barro‐type (1990) endogenous growth model where public spendings are financed through taxes on income and public debt. The government has a target level of public debt relative to GDP, and the long‐run debt‐to‐GDP ratio is used as a policy parameter. We show that when debt is a large enough proportion of GDP, two distinct balanced‐growth paths (BGPs) may coexist, one being indeterminate. We exhibit two types of important trade‐offs associated with self‐fulfilling expectations. First, we show that the lowest BGP is always decreasing with respect to the debt‐to‐GDP ratio while the highest one is increasing. Second, we show that the highest BGP, which provides the highest welfare, is always locally indeterminate while the lowest is always locally determinate. Therefore, local and global indeterminacy may arise and self‐fulfilling expectations appear as a crucial ingredient to understand the impact of debt on growth, welfare, and macroeconomic fluctuations. Finally, a simple calibration exercise allows to provide an understanding of the recent experiences of many OECD countries.
Adding unregulated nursing support workers to ward staffing: Exploration of a natural experiment
Authors: Duffield Christine , Roche Michael , Twigg Di , Williams Anne , Rowbotham Samantha , Clarke Sean
Published: July 2018

Aims and objectives

To explore the impact of an initiative to add unregulated nursing support workers to wards in acute care hospitals.

Background

Adding nursing support workers to existing nurse staffing may be one solution to reduce nursing workloads and improve outcomes. However, the effects of this addition on nurse, patient and system outcomes are not well documented. In one state of Australia, a trial deployment of nursing support workers to wards across the public health system provided opportunity for the exploration of their impact in a natural, real‐world, environment.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Methods

A sample of five wards where nursing support workers had been added matched to a group of five wards where there were no nursing support workers. Data were collected via patient survey (n = 141) and nurse survey (n = 154). Analysis was comparative with regression models constructed for the different ward types.

Results

Nursing leadership, staffing and resources, and nurse experience were linked to outcomes on both ward types. Instability was a significant predictor of reduced quality of care and increased turnover intention on wards where support workers were added.

Conclusion

Adding nursing support workers to ward staffing did not lead to improvements in patient care. Findings suggest that staffing a nursing ward is a complex activity and that a simple approach to staffing is unlikely to be successful. Future research should explore the process of implementation and the conditions under which this strategy is likely to be successful.

Relevance to clinical practice

Ward‐level factors are key in making appropriate staffing and skill mix choices to limit instability and to consequently avoid negative patient, staff and system outcomes. Consideration of the ward context, alongside effective delegation processes and integration into the care team are imperative when adding nursing support workers.
A 2‐year longitudinal study of the relationship between masticatory function and progression to frailty or pre‐frailty among community‐dwelling Japanese aged 65 and older
Authors: Horibe Yasuhiro , Ueda Takayuki , Watanabe Yutaka , Motokawa Keiko , Edahiro Ayako , Hirano Hirohiko , Shirobe Maki , Ogami Koichiro , Kawai Hisashi , Obuchi Shuichi , Kim Hunkyung , Sakurai Kaoru
Published: July 2018

Background

An association has recently been reported between frailty and reduced masticatory function; however, the causal relationship remains unclear.

Objective

The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between masticatory function and frailty progression.

Methods

Among 6699 individuals aged 65 and older (mean age 72.8 ± 5.2 years) who were invited to participate in comprehensive medical check‐ups, 418 who underwent examinations at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology in both 2013 and 2015 and who met inclusion criteria were included in this study. Frailty was determined with the Kihon Checklist developed by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The following three masticatory functions were evaluated: occlusal force, mixing ability and subjective chewing ability. The following confounding factors were investigated: age, sex, grip strength, comfortable walking speed, Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE) score, Self‐Rating Depression Scale (SDS) score, skeletal mass index (SMI), number of medications taken and number of remaining teeth. Statistical analysis was performed with binomial logistic regression analysis.

Results

Logistic regression analysis revealed that comfortable walking speed, SDS score, MMSE score and masticatory function were significantly related to progression to frailty or pre‐frailty. Of the three masticatory function items evaluated, mixing ability and subjective chewing ability were related to frailty progression.

Conclusion

Our results confirm that masticatory function was associated with the progression to pre‐frailty or frailty among community‐dwelling individuals 65 years and older over the 2‐year period of this longitudinal study. Of the masticatory function items evaluated, mixing ability and subjective chewing ability were associated with frailty progression.
Canine hyperadrenocorticism associations with signalment, selected comorbidities and mortality within North American veterinary teaching hospitals
Authors: Hoffman J. M. , Lourenço B. N. , Promislow D. E. L. , Creevy K. E.
Published: July 2018

Objective

To describe a large population of dogs with a diagnosis of hyperadrenocorticism at the time of death in North American veterinary teaching hospitals, and to identify comorbid conditions associated with hyperadrenocorticism.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective cohort study of 1519 dogs with hyperadrenocorticism from a population of 70,574 dogs reported to the Veterinary Medical Database. Signalment, presence or absence of hyperadrenocorticism, aetiology of hyperadrenocorticism (if described), frequency of select comorbidities and causes of death were evaluated in dogs with and without hyperadrenocorticism.

Results

Hyperadrenocorticism was more frequent in females. Neutering was associated with a minor, but significant, increase in the odds of hyperadrenocorticism. Hyperadrenocorticism was the presumed cause of death of 393 (25∙9%) of affected dogs. When aetiology was specified (527 dogs, corresponding to 34∙7% of the cases), pituitary‐dependent hyperadrenocorticism [387 (73∙4%) out of 527 dogs] was more common than functional adrenocortical tumour [136 (25∙8%) out of 527 dogs). Hyperadrenocorticism was over‐represented in certain expected (miniature poodle, dachshund) and unexpected (Irish setter, bassett hound) breeds compared with the population at large. Of the select comorbidities investigated, dogs with hyperadrenocorticism were at increased risk for concurrent diabetes mellitus, urinary tract infection, urolithiasis, hypertension, gall bladder mucocoele and thromboembolic disease compared with dogs without hyperadrenocorticism.

Clinical Significance

Hyperadrenocorticism is significantly associated with certain comorbid conditions but is not a major cause of mortality in affected dogs. Documented patterns now provide targets for prospective clinical research.
Sleep latency versus shuteye latency: Prevalence, predictors and relation to insomnia symptoms in a representative sample of adults
Authors: Exelmans Liese , Gradisar Michael , Van den Bulck Jan
Published: July 2018

Shuteye latency (SEL) refers to the time spent performing activities in bed before attempting sleep. This study investigates (a) the prevalence, duration and predictors of SEL, (b) its association with insomnia symptoms (sleep onset latency [SOL], sleep quality and fatigue), and (c) the activities engaged in during SEL. A representative sample of 584 adults (18–96 years old) participated in an online survey. Respondents reported their SEL on weekday nights (Sunday to Thursday) and weekend nights (Friday and Saturday), and activities during SEL. One in five adults tried to sleep immediately at bedtime. Around 16% of respondents were awake >30 min on both weekday and weekend nights. Younger people and those with an eveningness preference reported longer SEL. Longer SEL corresponded with a progressive decline in sleep quality, increased SOL and more fatigue. Those with an SEL >30 min reported using both passive (e.g. television) and interactive (e.g. smartphone) media more frequently than respondents with an SEL < 30 min, but there was no difference between the groups for non‐screen‐related activities. Implications of SEL for measurements commonly used in sleep research are discussed. Shuteye latency may be symptomatic of how a modern lifestyle puts increasing pressure on sleep, but may also reveal a previously undocumented behaviour associated with insomnia symptoms.
Upside‐Down Response to Intervention: A Quasi‐Experimental Study
Authors: Bouton Bobette , McConnell John R. , Barquero Laura A. , Gilbert Jennifer K. , Compton Donald L.
Published: July 2018

This quasi‐experimental study explored a response‐to‐intervention (RTI) design in which Tiers 2 and 3 were inverted for the most at‐risk first grade students in reading intervention in seven classrooms (n = 24) across two culturally diverse schools. These students were matched using propensity scores and compared to a second group of first grade at‐risk students for reading difficulties who received a traditional RTI intervention program (n = 24) from 12 classrooms across nine culturally diverse schools in the same southeastern city. Interventions were identical with the exception of the RTI tier inversion. The intervention largely emphasized word‐level reading skills, with focus on letter‐sound correspondence, sight‐word recognition, and decoding, and also included spelling and fluency. Statistically significant effects were found for the intervention on word reading measures; however, differences for decoding measures were not found to be statistically significant. Given that the decoding assessments had effect sizes of .025 (small) and .037 (medium), a larger sample may demonstrate a significant positive impact of udRTI on these measures as well. Implications for continued study with the udRTI model are discussed.
Financial models with defaultable numéraires
Authors: Fisher Travis , Pulido Sergio , Ruf Johannes
Published: July 2018

Financial models are studied where each asset may potentially lose value relative to any other. Conditioning on nondevaluation, each asset can serve as proper numéraire and classical valuation rules can be formulated. It is shown when and how these local valuation rules can be aggregated to obtain global arbitrage‐free valuation formulas.
Sellars's Two Images as a Philosopher's Tool
Authors: DACH STEFANIE
Published: July 2018

The distinction between the manifest and the scientific image of man‐in‐the‐world is widely seen as crucial to Wilfrid Sellars's philosophical work. The present essay agrees with this view. It contends, however, that precisely because the distinction is important, we should not hurry to a quick and superficial understanding of it. The essay identifies several oversimplifications that can be found in the literature on the topic and argues that they are at least partly rooted in too rigid a view of the role that the two‐image distinction plays in Sellars's philosophy. It shows that this rigid approach is quite common in the secondary literature, either explicitly or by implication. It then presents a more cautious, flexible approach to the problem of the two images and explains why this approach is fruitful on the basis of textual evidence, along with the overall advantages of interpreting Sellars's thought as a whole.
Environmental Ethics And Yellowstone: Preservation Of Geological Rarities
Authors: DURAN JANE
Published: July 2018

This article uses a core group of three arguments to support the contention that Yellowstone National Park's thermal sites deserve special efforts to preserve them, and that this goes above and beyond the general spirit motivating the national parks. It considers arguments having to do with educational value and rarity, and an argument that relies on aesthetic constructs. For purposes of evaluating the notion of rarity, comparison is made to work on the rare saline water preserve of Mono Lake. Part and parcel of this line of debate has to do with the notion that there has been a general lack of commentary on the value of geothermal areas. The work of William J. Fritz and Robert C. Thomas, Marc Hendrix, and others is cited.
Thick and Thin Methodology in Applied Ethics
Authors: Lurie Yotam
Published: July 2018

This paper uses the distinction between thick and thin ethical concepts to illuminate the philosophical discourse referred to as “applied ethics.” It explores what thick ethical concepts have to offer in terms of a method for discussing issues in applied ethics. By focusing on thick ethical concepts, applied ethics can avoid the pitfall of creating a conceptual gap between empirical discourse and normative discourse. Applied ethics, the paper argues, is linked to philosophical and anthropological aspirations that have traditionally sought to uncover the thick normative vocabulary relevant to particular practices and cultures. By focusing on thick descriptions, applied ethics discloses the rich normative meaning of our social practices and social relations. The concepts used therein are often unintelligible apart from the particular social practices through which their meaning is manifested. Accordingly, thick ethical concepts are philosophically useful for adopting a nonrepresentational conception of language, which underlies the expression of meaning of particular social practices.
Quine's Naturalism and Behaviorisms
Authors: Cheng Tony
Published: July 2018

This paper investigates the complicated relations between various versions of naturalism, behaviorism, and mentalism within the framework of W. V. O. Quine's thinking. It begins with Roger Gibson's reconstruction of Quine's behaviorisms and argues that it lacks a crucial ontological element and misconstrues the relation between philosophy and science. After getting clear of Quine's naturalism, the paper distinguishes between evidential, methodological, and ontological behaviorisms. The evidential and methodological versions are often conflated, but they need to be clearly distinguished in order to see whether Quine's argument against mentalism is cogent. The paper argues that Quine's naturalism supports only the weakest version of behaviorism, that is, the evidential one, but this version is compatible with mentalistic semantics. Quine's opposition to mentalism is an overreaction against the behaviorist camp. By contrast, Jerry Fodor's objection to José Luis Bermúdez is an overreaction from the opposite direction.
Moral Tuning
Authors: Sivertsen Sveinung Sundfør , Halstead Jill , Slaattelid Rasmus T.
Published: July 2018

Can a set of musical metaphors in a treatise on ethics reveal something about the nature and source of moral autonomy? This article argues that it can. It shows how metaphorical usage of words like tone, pitch, and concord in Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments can be understood as elements of an analogical model for morality. What this model tells us about morality depends on how we conceptualise music. In contrast to earlier interpretations of Smith's metaphors that have seen music as an aesthetic object, this article sees music as a practice. Understood in this way, the analogy allows us to see morality too as a practice––as moral tuning. This in turn reveals a novel answer to the intractable problem of conventionalism: moral autonomy consists in the freedom inherent in the constant need to interpret and reinterpret the strictly formal ideal of perfect propriety.
The Interaction Effects of Bargaining Power: The Interplay Between Veto Power, Asymmetric Interdependence, Reputation, and Audience Costs
Authors: Janusch Holger
Published: July 2018

In international relations, different rationalistic theories have developed to explain negotiators’ behavior and the outcomes of negotiations. The compatibility and interaction effects between the different forms of bargaining power, however, remain unexplored. In this article, I seek to fill this gap by connecting four rationalistic concepts of bargaining power: veto power, asymmetric interdependence, reputation, and audience costs. By showing that domestic veto players are only semiveto players in international politics – because they can veto an improvement but not a deterioration of the status quo – threats based on asymmetric interdependence to disrupt a mutually beneficial cooperative relationship can be connected to veto power; the incompatibility of the factors concerned would otherwise make this impossible. The combination of veto power and asymmetric interdependence, however, raises a theoretical question: Will rational actors ever approve a deterioration of the status quo? Theories of reputation and audience costs can help answer this question. According to these approaches, threatening parties sufferex postcosts when they back down from their own threats. This theoretical analysis sheds new light on how different forms of bargaining power interact with each other and also helps to address some of the theoretical inconsistencies of the original individual concepts. Finally, this analysis suggests some of the weaknesses of empirical studies that have neglected these interaction effects.
Some new integral inequalities for Lipschitzian functions
Authors: İşcan İmdat , Kadakal Mahir , Aydın Alper
Published: July 2018

This paper is about obtaining some new type of integral inequalities for functions from the Lipschitz class. For this, some new integral inequalities related to the differences between the two different types of integral averages for Lipschitzian functions are obtained. Moreover, applications for some special means as arithmetic, geometric, logarithmic, -logarithmic, harmonic, identric are given.