bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rethinking Persistent Poverty in Northern Ghana: The Primacy of Policy and Politics over Geography
Authors: Abdulai Abdul‐Gafaru , Bawole Justice Nyigmah , Kojo Sakyi Emmanuel
Published: April 2018

The Ghanaian economy has long been characterized by the persistence of regional income inequalities along a north‐south divide, where poverty remains disproportionately concentrated in the northern part of the country. In contrast to much of the extant literature, which explains this phenomenon in terms of the relatively unfavorable geography in the north vis‐à‐vis the south, this article suggests the need to understand this problem as the product of the export‐biased orientation of agricultural policy and the relative neglect of the agricultural products in which the north has comparative advantage in producing. The Ghanaian experience suggests that relying on migration and other redistributionist measures as the means to overcome spatial poverty traps can be problematic not only for regions that are not well connected to those prosperous parts of a country but also for those that are fully connected through adverse forms of inclusion.

Related Articles

Moreno‐Jaimes, Carlos. 2011. “.” Politics & Policy 39 (): 1021‐1052. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2011.00328.x/abstract

Bowman, Kirk S. 2002. “.” Politics & Policy 30 (): 736‐760. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.2002.tb00142.x/abstract

Dent, David W. 1985. “.” Politics & Policy 13 (): 133‐164. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1747-1346.1985.tb00017.x/abstract

Related Media

Videos: United Nations University. 2013. Politics and Institutions. IGA Conference Parallel 3.4. https://www.wider.unu.edu/video/politics-and-institutions

. 2013. “IGA Conference ‐ Politics and Institutions Q&A.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YXOJoPWSofs

. 2013. “IGA Conference ‐ Politics and Institutions 2/3.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgsrATArkWg
Rice HRZ ubiquitin ligases are crucial for the response to excess iron
Authors: Aung May Sann , Kobayashi Takanori , Masuda Hiroshi , Nishizawa Naoko K.
Published: April 2018

Iron is essential for virtually all organisms but is toxic when present in excess. To acquire the proper amount of iron, plants induce expression of various genes involved in iron uptake and translocation in response to low‐iron availability. Two iron‐binding ubiquitin ligases, OsHRZ1 and OsHRZ2, negatively regulate such iron deficiency responses in rice (Oryza sativa). Transgenic rice plants with repressed expression of OsHRZ1 and OsHRZ2 (HRZ‐knockdown lines) are tolerant to low iron availability and accumulate iron in shoots and seeds under both iron‐sufficient and iron‐deficient conditions without a growth penalty. Although the expression of OsHRZ1 and OsHRZ2 is transcriptionally upregulated under iron‐deficient conditions, the physiological relevance of this induction is not known. In the present study, we analyzed the response of HRZ‐knockdown lines to excess iron. In the presence of severe excess iron, the HRZ‐knockdown lines grew worse than non‐transformants (NTs). The HRZ‐knockdown lines showed stunted shoot and root growth and more severe leaf bronzing compared to NTs. Moreover, these lines accumulated more iron in shoots and exhibited severely elevated expression of various genes involved in iron uptake and translocation as well as jasmonate signaling compared to NTs. These results indicate that HRZ ubiquitin ligases are crucial for repressing iron deficiency responses and protecting cells from iron toxicity in the presence of excess iron. These results support the possibility that HRZs are intracellular Fe sensors and provide clues for developing plants tolerant of either iron deficiency or excess with higher iron contents in edible parts.
Seeding tallgrass prairie in monospecific patches promotes native species establishment and cover
Authors: Seahra Shannon , Yurkonis Kathryn A. , Newman Jonathan A.
Published: April 2018

In tallgrass prairie reconstruction, the way desired seeds are arranged on the landscape may affect species establishment, species persistence, and the establishment and persistence of undesired (nonseeded) species from the local propagule pool. To test effects of species seeding pattern on how grasslands develop spatially, we seeded 20—4 × 4–m bare soil plots with 16 tallgrass prairie species. Treatment plots were divided into 16—1 × 1–m subplots, 64—0.5 × 0.5–m subplots, 256—0.25 × 0.25–m subplots, or 1,024—0.125 × 0.125–m subplots. Each species was hand broadcast into separate subplots (1 m2 total area/species) within each plot. An additional treatment included uniformly mixing and broadcasting all seeds across a plot. We recorded species cover at the 0.125 × 0.125–m scale within each plot at the beginning of the second and third growing seasons. While species persistence was greatest within plots seeded with larger subplots, plots with smaller subplots were more spatially diverse and less occupied by nonseeded species over time than larger subplot and mixed plots. As is common in reconstruction efforts, establishment was variable among species and seeding with monospecific subplots enhanced colonization of desired rhizomatous species (e.g., Heliopsis helianthoides, Monarda fistulosa, Elymus virginicus) into unoccupied locations at the expense of species from the local propagule pool. Results suggest that seeding species in smaller, monospecific patches could result in grasslands with a more balanced native species composition than those established with a seed mixture approach.
Private tutoring expenditure: An empirical analysis based on Sri Lankan households
Authors: Pallegedara Asankha
Published: April 2018

This study analyzes private tutoring expenditure in Sri Lanka using two decades of household survey data combined with school census data. We use descriptive statistics and regression analysis as well as a factor decomposition method to explore the role of various factors affecting household private tutoring expenditure. Empirical results suggest that household private tutoring expenditure have continuously risen over the years. The household socioeconomic status is factor with strong influence and relative importance affecting household private tutoring expenses. There appears to be ethnic disparities in household private tutoring expenditure. Moreover, results also suggest that spending on private tutoring could be reduced if standardized school teacher rates at a district level are increased. If the observed trends in private tutoring continue, they can have social implications for education equity, which can undermine the objective of the free education policy in Sri Lanka.
Scientific Advice and Administrative Traditions: The Role of Chief Scientists in Climate Change Adaptation
Authors: Schmidt Nicole M. , Teschner Na'ama , Negev Maya
Published: April 2018

The role of the chief scientist (CS), a key administrative position in various Israeli ministries, is to fund policy‐oriented research and support evidence‐based decision‐making. Has the CS's role promoted or constrained incorporation of scientific advice regarding climate change adaptation into governmental policy? Have administrative traditions affected the adaptation planning process in Israel? Analysis of documents and 26 in‐depth interviews with key stakeholders sheds light on the ongoing climate change adaptation policy formulation process. Our study reveals that the CS of the Ministry of Environmental Protection functions as a bridge at different interfaces and can be characterized as a boundary worker between institutions. The inherent independence of this position facilitates the CS's ability to initiate, foster, and prioritize complex issues such as adaptation. Our findings further suggest that the perception that Israel has already adapted, or will easily adapt, has negatively affected the adaptation process.
Semiparametrically Efficient Estimation in Quantile Regression of Secondary Analysis
Authors: Liang Liang , Ma Yanyuan , Wei Ying , Carroll Raymond J.
Published: April 2018

Analysing secondary outcomes is a common practice for case–control studies. Traditional secondary analysis employs either completely parametric models or conditional mean regression models to link the secondary outcome to covariates. In many situations, quantile regression models complement mean-based analyses and provide alternative new insights on the associations of interest. For example, biomedical outcomes are often highly asymmetric, and median regression is more useful in describing the ‘central’ behaviour than mean regressions. There are also cases where the research interest is to study the high or low quantiles of a population, as they are more likely to be at risk. We approach the secondary quantile regression problem from a semiparametric perspective, allowing the covariate distribution to be completely unspecified. We derive a class of consistent semiparametric estimators and identify the efficient member. The asymptotic properties of the resulting estimators are established. Simulation results and a real data analysis are provided to demonstrate the superior performance of our approach with a comparison with the only existing approach so far in the literature.
A depositional model for deep‐lacustrine, partially confined, turbidite fans: Early Cretaceous, North Falkland Basin
Authors: Dodd Thomas J. H. , McCarthy Dave J. , Richards Philip C.
Published: April 2018

This paper presents a model of facies distribution within a set of early Cretaceous, deep‐lacustrine, partially confined turbidite fans (Sea Lion Fan, Sea Lion North Fan and Otter Fan) in the North Falkland Basin, South Atlantic. As a whole, ancient deep‐lacustrine turbidite systems are under‐represented in the literature when compared with those documented in marine basins. Lacustrine turbidite systems can form extensive, good quality hydrocarbon reservoirs, making the understanding of such systems crucial to exploration within lacustrine basins. An integrated analysis of seismic cross‐sections, seismic amplitude extraction maps and 455 m of core has enabled the identification of a series of turbidite fans. The deposits of these fans have been separated into lobe axis, lobe fringe and lobe distal fringe settings. Seismic architectures, observed in the seismic amplitude extraction maps, are interpreted to represent geologically associated heterogeneities, including: feeder systems, terminal mouth lobes, flow deflection, sinuous lobe axis deposits, flow constriction and stranded lobe fringe areas. When found in combination, these architectures suggest ‘partial confinement’ of a system, something that appears to be a key feature in the lacustrine turbidite setting of the North Falkland Basin. Partial confinement of a system occurs when depositionally generated topography controls the flow‐pathway and deposition of subsequent turbidite fan deposits. The term ‘partial confinement’ provides an expression for categorising a system whose depositional boundaries are unconfined by the margins of the basin, yet exhibit evidence of internal confinement, primarily controlled by depositional topography. Understanding the controls that dictate partial confinement; and the resultant distribution of sand‐prone facies within deep‐lacustrine turbidite fans, is important, particularly considering their recent rise as hydrocarbon reservoirs in rift and failed‐rift settings.
Pleistocene sea‐floor fibrous crusts and spherulites in the Danakil Depression (Afar, Ethiopia)
Authors: Jaramillo‐Vogel David , Foubert Anneleen , Braga Juan Carlos , Schaegis Jean‐Charles , Atnafu Balemwal , Grobety Bernard , Kidane Tesfaye
Published: April 2018

Pleistocene fibrous aragonite fabrics, including crusts and spherules, occur in the Danakil Depression (Afar, Ethiopia) following the deposition of two distinctive Middle and Late Pleistocene coralgal reef units and pre‐dating the precipitation of evaporites. Crusts on top of the oldest reef unit (Marine Isotope Stage 7) cover and fill cavities within a red algal framework. The younger aragonite crusts directly cover coralgal bioherms (Marine Isotope Stage 5) and associated deposits. Their stratigraphic position between marine and evaporitic deposits, and their association to euryhaline molluscs, suggest that the crusts and spherules formed in restricted semi‐enclosed conditions. The availability of hard substrate controls crust formation with crusts more often found on steep palaeo‐slopes, from sea level up to at least 80 m depth, while spherules mainly occur associated with mobile substrate. Crusts reach up to 30 cm in thickness and can be microdigitate, columnar (branching and non‐branching) or non‐columnar, with laminated and non‐laminated fabrics. Two different lamination types are found within the crystalline fabrics: (i) isopachous lamination; and (ii) irregular lamination. These two types of lamination can be distinguished by the organization of the aragonite fibres, as well as the lateral continuity of the laminae. Scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy analyses on well‐preserved samples revealed the presence of Mg‐silicate laminae intercalated with fibrous aragonite, as well as Mg‐silicate aggregates closely associated with the fibrous aragonite crusts and spherules. The variety of observed fabrics results from a continuum of abiotic and microbial processes and, thus, reflects the tight interaction between microbially mediated and abiotic mineralization mechanisms. These are the youngest known isopachously laminated, digitate and columnar branching fibrous crusts associated with a transition from marine to evaporitic conditions. Understanding the context of formation of these deposits in Afar can help to better interpret the depositional environment of the widespread Precambrian sea‐floor precipitates.
Transcription profiling of peripheral B cells in antibody‐positive primary Sjögren's syndrome reveals upregulated expression of CX3CR1 and a type I and type II interferon signature
Authors: Imgenberg‐Kreuz J. , Sandling J. K. , Björk A. , Nordlund J. , Kvarnström M. , Eloranta M.‐L. , Rönnblom L. , Wahren‐Herlenius M. , Syvänen A.‐C. , Nordmark G.
Published: April 2018

B cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). The aim of this study was to analyse the transcriptome of CD19+ B cells from patients with pSS and healthy controls to decipher the B cell–specific contribution to pSS. RNA from purified CD19+ B cells from 12 anti‐SSA antibody‐positive untreated female patients with pSS and 20 healthy blood donors was subjected to whole transcriptome sequencing. A false discovery rate corrected significance threshold of α < 0.05 was applied to define differential gene expression. As validation, gene expression in B cells from 17 patients with pSS and 16 healthy controls was analysed using a targeted gene panel. RNA‐sequencing identified 4047 differentially expressed autosomal genes in pSS B cells. Upregulated expression of type I and type II interferon (IFN)‐induced genes was observed, establishing an IFN signature in pSS B cells. Among the top upregulated and validated genes were CX3CR1, encoding the fractalkine receptor involved in regulation of B‐cell malignancies, CCL5/RANTES and CCR1. Increased expression of several members of the TNF superfamily was also identified; TNFSF4/Ox40L, TNFSF10/TRAIL, TNFSF13B/BAFF, TNFRSF17/BCMA as well as S100A8 and −A9/calprotectin, TLR7, STAT1 and STAT2. Among genes with downregulated expression in pSS B cells were SOCS1 and SOCS3, CD70 and TNFAIP3/A20. We conclude that B cells from patients with anti‐SSA antibody‐positive pSS display immune activation with upregulated expression of chemokines, chemokine receptors and a prominent type I and type II IFN signature, while suppressors of cytokine signalling are downregulated. This adds insight into the autoimmune process and suggests potential targets for future functional studies.
Bidirectional examination of the interaction between time and numerosity corroborates that numerosity influences time estimation but not vice versa
Authors: Chun Joohyung , Lee Dasom , Lee Youngeun , Cho Soohyun
Published: April 2018

There has been great interest in the idea that time, number, and space share a common magnitude system. However, only a handful of studies examined bidirectional interaction between time and number and the results varied depending on the specifics of the methods and stimulus properties of each study. The present study investigated bidirectional interaction between time and number using estimation tasks. We used duration (Experiment 1) and numerosity (Experiment 2) estimation tasks to investigate the effect of numerosity‐on‐duration and duration‐on‐numerosity estimation. The results from the two experiments demonstrated that numerosity influences duration processing but not vice versa; that is, there was unidirectional interaction between numerosity and time. The duration of stimulus presentation was overestimated for stimuli larger in (task‐irrelevant) numerosity. Possible mechanisms underlying the unidirectional interaction between time and number are discussed.
Cretohisteridae, a new beetle family from the Early Cretaceous of China, and its implications for the early evolution of the basal group of Histeroidea (Coleoptera)
Authors: Zhou Yu‐Lingzi , Caterino Michael S. , Ślipiński Adam , Cai Chen‐Yang
Published: April 2018

A new beetle family Cretohisteridaefam.n.is described from the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation (∼125 Ma) at Huangbanjigou of Beipiao City, Liaoning Province, Northeastern China based on a well preserved fossil beetle,Cretohister sinensisgen.,sp.n.This discovery has established the oldest fossil record for the superfamily Histeroidea, backdating the minimum age of the group by 25 Ma from the earliest Cenomanian (∼99 Ma) to the Barremian of the Cretaceous Period. Based on cladistic analyses of a comprehensive morphological dataset, Cretohisteridae is unambiguously recovered as the sister group of Histeridae, exhibiting several character states that bridge the span between Sphaeritidae, Synteliidae and Histeridae. The discovery of the new fossil family sheds new light on the early evolution and diversity of the Histeroidea in the Early Cretaceous, and provides new clues to solving the long‐ambiguous phylogenetic relationships among the modern families of Histeroidea.

This published work has been registered in ZooBank,http://zoobank.org/urn:lsid:zoobank.org:pub:C3F85BBB‐D60E‐44BC‐87C8‐B6D54374EE00.
Photoinducible DRONPA‐s: a new tool for investigating cell–cell connectivity
Authors: Gerlitz Nadja , Gerum Richard , Sauer Norbert , Stadler Ruth
Published: April 2018

The development of multicellular plants relies on the ability of their cells to exchange solutes, proteins and signalling compounds through plasmodesmata, symplasmic pores in the plant cell wall. The aperture of plasmodesmata is regulated in response to developmental cues or external factors such as pathogen attack. This regulation enables tight control of symplasmic cell‐to‐cell transport. Here we report on an elegant non‐invasive method to quantify the passive movement of protein between selected cells even in deeper tissue layers. The system is based on the fluorescent protein DRONPA‐s, which can be switched on and off repeatedly by illumination with different light qualities. Using transgenic 35S::DRONPA‐s Arabidopsis thaliana and a confocal microscope it was possible to activate DRONPA‐s fluorescence in selected cells of the root meristem. This enabled us to compare movement of DRONPA‐s from the activated cells into the respective neighbouring cells. Our analyses showed that pericycle cells display the highest efflux capacity with a good lateral connectivity. In contrast, root cap cells showed the lowest efflux of DRONPA‐s. Plasmodesmata of quiescent centre cells mediated a stronger efflux into columella cells than into stele initials. To simplify measurements of fluorescence intensity in a complex tissue we developed software that allows simultaneous analyses of fluorescence intensities of several neighbouring cells. Our DRONPA‐s system generates reproducible data and is a valuable tool for studying symplasmic connectivity.
Analysis of RDR1/RDR2/RDR6‐independent small RNAs in Arabidopsis thaliana improves MIRNA annotations and reveals unexplained types of short interfering RNA loci
Authors: Polydore Seth , Axtell Michael J.
Published: April 2018

Plant small RNAs (sRNAs) modulate key physiological mechanisms through post‐transcriptional and transcriptional silencing of gene expression. Small RNAs fall into two major categories: those are reliant on RNA‐dependent RNA polymerases (RDRs) for biogenesis and those that are not. Known RDR1/2/6‐dependent sRNAs include phased and repeat‐associated short interfering RNAs, while known RDR1/2/6‐independent sRNAs are primarily microRNAs (miRNA) and other hairpin‐derived sRNAs. In this study we produced and analyzed sRNA‐seq libraries from rdr1/rdr2/rdr6 triple mutant plants. We found 58 previously annotated miRNA loci that were reliant on RDR1, ‐2, or ‐6 function, casting doubt on their classification. We also found 38 RDR1/2/6‐independent sRNA loci that are not MIRNAs or otherwise hairpin‐derived, and did not fit into other known paradigms for sRNA biogenesis. These 38 sRNA‐producing loci have as‐yet‐undescribed biogenesis mechanisms, and are frequently located in the vicinity of protein‐coding genes. Altogether, our analysis suggests that these 38 loci represent one or more undescribed types of sRNA in Arabidopsis thaliana.
The kinases male germ cell‐associated kinase and cell cycle‐related kinase regulate kinesin‐2 motility in Caenorhabditis elegans neuronal cilia
Authors: Yi Peishan , Xie Chao , Ou Guangshuo
Published: April 2018

Kinesin‐2 motors power anterograde intraflagellar transport (IFT), a highly ordered process that assembles and maintains cilia. However, it remains elusive how kinesin‐2 motors are regulated in vivo. Here, we performed forward genetic screens to isolate suppressors that rescue the ciliary defects of OSM‐3‐kinesin (homolog of mammalian homodimeric kinesin‐2 KIF17) mutants in Caenorhabditis elegans. We identified the C. elegans dyf‐5 and dyf‐18, which encode the homologs of mammalian male germ cell‐associated kinase and cell cycle‐related kinase, respectively. Using time‐lapse fluorescence microscopy, we show that DYF‐5 and DYF‐18 are IFT cargo molecules and are enriched at the distal segments of sensory cilia. Mutations of dyf‐5 and dyf‐18 generate elongated cilia and ectopic localization of the heterotrimeric kinesin‐2 (kinesin‐II) at the ciliary distal segments. Genetic analyses reveal that dyf‐5 and dyf‐18 are important for stabilizing the interaction between IFT particles and OSM‐3‐kinesin. Our data suggest that DYF‐5 and DYF‐18 act in the same pathway to promote handover between kinesin‐II and OSM‐3 in sensory cilia.
Update on epidemiology of hepatitis B virus among blood donors in China
Authors: Huang J. , You Q. , Song D. , Rong X. , Li C. , Fu Y.
Published: April 2018

China is one of the countries with high prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. It is estimated that approximately 100 million people in China are infected with HBV. We aimed to review the prevalence of HBV in Chinese blood donors. With the search term of ‘(hepatitis b virus) and (prevalence or epidemiology) and (blood donors) and (Chinese)’, we searched PubMed (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed) and CNKI (http://www.cnki.net/) for literature in English and Chinese, respectively. The prevalence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) in Chinese general population has declined from 9·75% in 1992 to 7·18% in 2006, as a consequence of implementation of nationwide universal neonatal HBV vaccination. The prevalence of HBsAg in blood donors is about 0·49–1·56% by enzyme immunoassays (EIAs) after predonation screening with HBsAg rapid strip test and health consultation, which is significantly lower than that in the general population. HBV DNA is detected by nucleic acid tests (NATs) at a rate of 0·01–0·11% among HBsAg‐negative blood donors, which is identified mostly as occult HBV infection (OBI). The prevalence of HBV in Chinese blood donors is about 1%. In contrast to countries with low HBV prevalence, anti‐HBc testing cannot be applied to routine screening of HBV infection because the high anti‐HBc prevalence in Chinese blood donors would lead to unacceptably high donor deferral. Therefore, to further reduce transfusion transmission of HBV, it is of great necessity to apply highly sensitive NAT to test HBV DNA in Chinese blood donors.
Efficacy and dermal tolerance of a novel alcohol‐based skin antiseptic in horses
Authors: Tannahill Victoria J. , Cogan Tristan , Allen Kate , Acutt Elizabeth , Busschers Evita
Published: April 2018

Objective

To determine the efficacy and dermal tolerance of a novel alcohol‐based skin antiseptic (ABSA) in horses.

Study Design

Experimental study.

Animal Population

Systemically healthy horses (n = 25) with no history or clinical signs of skin disease.

Methods

Four clipped sites on the abdomen were randomly assigned to a skin preparation protocol: saline (negative control; NC), chlorhexidine gluconate followed by isopropyl alcohol (positive control; PC), saline followed by the ABSA (ABSA A), or a commercially available horse shampoo followed by the ABSA (ABSA B). Microbiological swabs were obtained from each site and cultured on MacConkey and mannitol salt agar plates. Colony‐forming units were counted 18‐24 hours later. All sites were scored for signs of skin reaction before, immediately after, 1 hour after, and 24 hours after skin preparation.

Results

The PC, ABSA A, and ABSA B methods reduced skin microbial burden compared with the NC method (P < .001), but no difference was detected between antiseptic products. Preparation time did not differ between ABSA A and ABSA B methods (P = 0.108); both were faster than the PC method (P < 0.001 for both). Skin reactions were most abundant 24 hours after skin preparation (30.5%), but there was no significant association with antiseptic used, and no horses required veterinary treatment.

Conclusion

The ABSA preparations tested in this study were as effective and well tolerated as a chlorhexidine gluconate‐based method, but required less time in healthy horses.

Clinical significance

The ABSA tested here provides an efficacious, fast‐acting, and well‐tolerated alternative to achieve skin antisepsis in healthy horses. These results justify further investigation in clinical cases.
Effects of low‐level laser therapy on the healing of surgically closed incisions and surgically created open wounds in dogs
Authors: Gammel Jessie E. , Biskup Jeffery J. , Drum Marti G. , Newkirk Kim , Lux Cassie N.
Published: April 2018

Objective

To determine the effects of low‐level laser therapy (LLLT) on primarily closed incisions and full thickness open wounds in dogs.

Study design

Prospective, masked, placebo‐controlled design.

Animal population

Healthy intact female dogs (n = 10).

Methods

Dogs underwent bilateral flank ovariectomy procedures, and open wounds were created bilaterally with a punch biopsy. Each side of the dog (incision and open wound) was randomly assigned to the treatment (TX) group or the control (CN) group. The TX group received LLLT once daily for 5 days with a 980‐nm laser and a total energy density of 5 J/cm2. The CN group received a sham treatment (laser turned off) for an identical amount of time each day. The wounds were assessed visually; measured; photographed at postoperative days 3, 7, 11, and 14; and biopsied on postoperative days 7 and 14. A 2‐way repeated measures multivariate analysis of variance was used to analyze differences between groups.

Results

There was no difference between groups for subjective assessment of healing time and wound measurements (P = .7). There was no difference in histopathologic assessment except that the CN group had more necrosis and perivascular lymphocytes and macrophages at day 7 (P = .03). The TX group had more perivascular lymphocytes and macrophages at day 14 (P = .01).

Conclusion

LLLT did not appear to influence the healing of surgically created incisions and small wounds with the methodology reported here.

Clinical significance: Results of this study do not support recommending LLLT to stimulate healing of uncomplicated, small wounds and incisions.
An investigation into precipitate behaviour for effective operation of settling tanks through selective precipitation
Authors: Oh Chamteut , Bok Songmin , Yim Giljae , Cheong Youngwook , Ji Sangwoo
Published: April 2018

Selective precipitation (SP) is a promising remediation technique for mine drainage, minimising generation of waste sludge. The efficiency of SP is heavily dependent on how effectively precipitates fall out in a settling tank. In this research, the behaviour of iron precipitate was examined using a one dimensional column, with mine drainage pumped upwards through the settling tank. The behaviour was determined by a balance of precipitate settling and floating velocities. The experimental parameters affecting the vertical velocity of precipitates included mine drainage vertical velocity, column height and flocculant addition. The upper sediment accelerated precipitate flocculation in the input mine drainage, reducing turbidity of mine drainage discharge – a self‐filtering effect. For effective operation, discharge turbidity must be minimised and the top upper sediment edge maintained near the upper outlet. This was achieved by continuously removing precipitate from the lower outlet of the settling tank at the rate it was generated.
Is sensitization to pig antigens detrimental to subsequent allotransplantation?
Authors: Li Qi , Hara Hidetaka , Zhang Zhongqiang , Breimer Michael E. , Wang Yi , Cooper David K. C.
Published: April 2018

An important question in xenotransplantation is whether an allotransplant can safely be carried out in a patient who has become sensitized to a pig xenograft. To answer this question, we have searched the literature. We primarily limited our review to the clinically relevant pig‐to‐non‐human primate (NHP) model and found five studies that explored this topic. No NHP that had received a pig graft developed antibodies to alloantigens, and in vitro studies indicated no increased humoral and/or cellular alloreactivity. We carried out a small in vitro study ourselves that confirmed this conclusion. There have been three experiments in which patients undergoing dialysis were exposed to wild‐type pig kidneys and three clinical studies related to bridging a patient in hepatic failure to liver allotransplantation. Despite the development of anti‐pig antibodies, all subsequent organ (kidney or liver) allografts were successful (except possibly in one case). In addition, pig fetal islets were transplanted into patients with kidney allografts; there was no increase in panel‐reactive alloantibodies and the kidney grafts continued to function satisfactorily. In conclusion, the limited data suggest that, after sensitization to pig antigens, there is no evidence of antibody‐mediated or accelerated cellular rejection of a subsequent allograft.
Giardia duodenalisin primates: Classification and host specificity based on phylogenetic analysis of sequence data
Authors: Brynildsrud O. , Tysnes K. R. , Robertson L. J. , Debenham J. J.
Published: April 2018

Giardia duodenaliscolonizes the gastrointestinal tract of a wide range of hosts, including humans and other primates. It is grouped into eight different Assemblages and, beyond that, into a number of sub‐Assemblages, definedad hocon the basis of genetic differences; these various groups are often considered to be associated with a specific restricted host range. The aim of this study was to use publicly available genotyping data to investigate the relatedness of human and non‐human primate (NHP)Giardiaisolates in order to evaluate the usefulness of current taxonomic classification and to assess whether there is potential for zoonotic transmission between humans andNHP. Our final data set consisted of sequence data from 165 isolates, 111 fromNHPand 54 from humans. Assemblages were well defined, but sub‐Assemblages across Assemblage B were not resolved. Although sub‐AssemblagesAIandAIIwere resolved, the terms were not found to capture any useful molecular or host/deme properties. In the phylogenetic tree,NHPisolates were scattered among human isolates across Assemblages A and B, and were even found in Assemblage E. We conclude that there does not appear to be significant molecular distinction between human andNHPGiardiaisolates across these four molecular markers. Thus, on the basis of these markers, we cannot exclude a risk for zoonotic and anthropozoonotic transmission of Assemblages A and B isolates, irrespective of sub‐Assemblage classification. We further evaluated the relative merit of the four genes used in genotyping studies. Thetpi,gdhandbggenes gave relatively congruent tree topologies, but theSSUgene did not resolve Assemblages according to the current classification. Future genotyping efforts should aim for multilocus or whole‐genome approaches and, in particular, use of theSSUgene as the sole marker should be avoided when possible.
Discrimination of canopy gaps and non-regenerating openings in old-growth temperate deciduous forests using airborne LiDAR data
Authors: Senécal Jean-François , Doyon Frédérik , St-Onge Benoît
Published: April 2018

The use of LiDAR in the study of gap regimes has seen significant progress in recent years. Researchers have assumed that canopy gaps detected in this manner are ecologically equivalent to gaps sampled in situ by more traditional methods. However, those latter methods usually include canopy gaps only and ignore non-regenerating openings that are produced by causes limiting tree establishment. We developed a predictive model capable of discriminating between canopy gaps and non-regenerating openings using LiDAR-derived data. Selected predictive variables were related to conditions that limit tree establishment such as zones of moisture accumulation and steep slopes or to the resulting vegetation physiognomy. The model was applied to three old-growth maple forests to predict the fractions of canopy openings belonging to these two types. On average, non-regenerating openings represented 19.5% of the total area detected as canopy openings and occupied 1.37% of the sites. Canopy gaps formed 80.5% of the total area in canopy openings and covered 5.71% of sites that were studied. The non-regenerating opening seemed more frequent on thin surficial deposits. The canopy gap fraction was similar among study sites but had lower values than usually reported for temperate deciduous forest.
AAC Goldman barley
Authors: Legge W.G. , Badea A. , Tucker J.R. , Fetch T.G. , Banik M. , Haber S. , Menzies J.G. , Tekauz A. , Turkington T.K. , Martin R.A. , Choo T.M. , Blackwell B.A. , Savard M.E.
Published: April 2018

AAC Goldman is a hulled, two-row, spring, malting barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivar widely adapted to western Canada. It was developed from the cross TR04282/Newdale made in 2002 and was evaluated in the Western Cooperative Two-row Barley Registration Test (2010–2011) as well as the Collaborative Malting Barley Trials (2011–2012) conducted by the malting and brewing industry before being registered in 2018. AAC Goldman has a desirable combination of agronomic, malting quality, and disease resistance traits including low deoxynivalenol content.
Transcriptome characterization and screening of molecular markers in ecologically important Himalayan species (Rhododendron arboreum)
Authors: Choudhary Shruti , Thakur Sapna , Najar Raoof Ahmad , Majeed Aasim , Singh Amandeep , Bhardwaj Pankaj
Published: April 2018

Rhododendron arboreum is an ecologically prominent species, which also lends commercial and medicinal benefits in the form of palatable juices and useful herbal drugs. Local abundance and survival of the species under a highly fluctuating climate make it an ideal model for genetic structure and functional analysis. However, a lack of genomic data has hampered additional research. In the present study, cDNA libraries from floral and foliar tissues of the species were sequenced to provide a foundation for understanding the functional aspects of the genome and to construct an enriched repository that will promote genomics studies in the genera. Illumina’s platform facilitated the generation of ∼100 million high-quality paired-end reads. De novo assembly, clustering, and filtering out of shorter transcripts predicted 113 167 non-redundant transcripts with an average length of 1164.6 bases. Of these, 71 961 transcripts were categorized based on functional annotations in the Gene Ontology database, whereby 5710 were grouped into 141 pathways and 23 746 encoded for different transcription factors. Transcriptome screening further identified 35 419 microsatellite regions, of which, 43 polymorphic loci were characterized on 30 genotypes. Seven hundred and nineteen transcripts had 811 high-quality single-nucleotide polymorphic variants with a minimum coverage of 10, a total score of 20, and SNP% of 50.
QTL mapping uncovers a semi-dwarf 1 (sdw1) allele in the barley (Hordeum vulgare) ND23049 line
Authors: Bélanger Sébastien , Paquet-Marceau Stéphanie , Díaz Lago Juan E. , Belzile François
Published: April 2018

In barley, semi-dwarf varieties are attractive for their superior harvest index and lodging resistance, but many semi-dwarf barley genotypes suffer from poor spike emergence. We performed a genetic characterization of a semi-dwarf line (ND23049) that combines short stature, strong stiff culms, and adequate spike emergence. We developed a doubled haploid (DH) population derived by crossing ND23049 and the cultivar CLE253. A subset of 88 DH lines and parents were characterized for plant height in 2013 and 2014 and genotyped. In total, 1984 SNPs (345 unique loci) were used to produce a linkage map of 1127.1 cM. Three QTLs for plant height were detected in this population and coincided with the HvGA20ox2/Sdw1, HvBRI1/Uzu1, and HvPRR95 gene loci. The phenotypic variation explained by each QTL was 75.8%, 7.7%, and 4.1%, respectively, and jointly explained 83.3% (2013) and 87.7% (2014) of plant height. Our results suggest that ND23049 contributed the “short” allele at the HvGA20ox2/sdw1 locus while CLE253 provided “short” alleles at the HvBRI1/uzu1 and HvPRR95 loci. We identified a large deletion (at least 92.7 Kb), including HvGA20ox2 (Sdw1), as the causal mutation in ND23049. A set of tightly flanked SNP markers will help breeders to develop improved semi-dwarf varieties.
Fabrication and Investigation of 26NCA Films Exhibiting Tunable Blue Fluorescence Based on LVPVDM
Authors: Ding Yufeng , Pan Liangliang , Li Siqi , He Huimei , Zhang Dapeng , Hu Xinyue , Zhang Ruoyu , Wang Yun , Zhai Xiaoyu , Meng Qingyun
Published: April 2018

The development of metallic fluorescent materials, π-conjugated molecular systems with high-efficiency generation of blue light, and new ways to fabricate metallic/organic luminescent materials plays an important role in the fields of large-scale flat panel displays and soft optical devices. Herein, different fluorescent films have been fabricated by low vacuum physical vapor deposition method (LVPVDM), including single/two-component films. Compared with raw materials, all films show novel fluorescent behaviors, which means potential application in the fields of multicolor luminescence and thickness-optical response sensors. Meanwhile, the speculation is demonstrated in many ways that the maximum emission (λemmax) at 406 nm and 426 nm of pristine 2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylic acid (26NCA) is caused by the crystal structure, while the shoulder peak at 445 nm is caused by the self-structure of 26NCA molecule. Significantly, this speculation may afford new insight into the relationship between not only crystal structure and luminescence, but also molecular self-structure and luminescence, which means a new strategy to tune the fluorescent behaviors based on molecular self-structure by LVPVDM. Therefore, this work provides a facile way to fabricate single/multicomponent metallic/organic film materials with tunable blue luminescence properties, which have potential application in the fields of next generation of photofunctional materials.
Razonamiento clínico inductivo o deductivo: una propuesta cualitativa en Kinesiología
Authors: Villagrán-Gutiérrez Ignacio , Ortega-Bastidas Javiera , González-Brevis Sebastián , Marín-Gutiérrez Luis , Martínez-Burgos Javier , Miranda-Contreras Katherine , Pulpeiro-Silva Anton , Fuentes-Cimma Javiera
Published: April 2018

Introducción: a través del proceso de razonamiento clínico, los profesionales de la salud evalúan críticamente sus intervenciones, siendo esta habilidad necesaria para reconocer qué factores son relevantes para el usuario, a fin de realizar juicios clínicos apropiados que contribuyan a la condición de salud óptima del paciente. La literatura indica que el proceso en un estudiante puede no ser lineal, siendo necesario retroceder y buscar nuevas soluciones y patrones para determinar una elección terapéutica. Objetivo: describir el proceso de razonamiento clínico realizado en estudiantes de ciclo intermedio de Kinesiología en la Universidad de Concepción. Método: investigación cualitativa y descriptiva. 7 estudiantes de tercer y cuarto año de la Universidad de Concepción participaron en la recolección de datos, siguiendo un proceso de consentimiento informado. Se aplicó un cuestionario sociodemográfico y se analizaron los problemas kinesiológicos de un caso clínico mediante asociación libre. Los registros se obtuvieron con una grabadora y luego se realizó un análisis de contenido utilizando CAQDAS Atlas-ti 7.5.2. Resultados: a partir de la lectura de los documentos grabados, surgieron 335 unidades asociadas al razonamiento clínico de los estudiantes de Kinesiología. Estas unidades se agruparon en 58 códigos y estos a su vez, en 2 categorías: razonamiento deductivo y razonamiento inductivo. Discusión: el análisis del proceso es esencial para identificar qué estrategias buscan los estudiantes para resolver en un caso clínico, qué diferencias y particularidades existen entre los estudiantes, y qué metodologías de enseñanza son las más adecuadas para guiar apropiadamente las decisiones terapéuticas que enfrentarán los profesionales de la salud en forma diaria.
Prediabetes en estudiantes de 1er año del campus Ciencias de la Salud de una universidad mexicana
Authors: Cano Gómez Esaú , Córdova Hernández Juan Antonio , Guzmán Priego Crystell Guadalupe , Muñoz Cano Juan Manuel
Published: April 2018

Introducción. Dado el aumento dramático de diabetes en el mundo, el objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar los valores de la glucemia en una población universitaria de nuevo ingreso para sustentar estrategias de detección y manejo preventivo de prediabetes y diabetes. Métodos. Estudio observacional, analítico, transversal, no probabilístico. Se analizaron los valores de glucemia en ayunas de 367 estudiantes de nuevo ingreso en 2011, y 430 en 2016 al campus de Ciencias de la Salud de una universidad del sureste de México. Se aplicaron pruebas de tendencia central, comparaciones y proyecciones. Resultados. En la muestra de 2011 hubo prevalencia de 11% de mujeres y 12,4% de hombres con glucemia en valores de prediabetes. En la de 2016, hubo 30,3% de mujeres y 40% en prediabetes. Hubo diferencia de los promedios de glucemia entre ambas muestras de 5,4 mg/dL (0,3 mmol/L) en mujeres, t = - 4,582 (p = 0,0001) y 10,81 mg/dL (0,6 mmol/L) en hombres, t = - 6,428 (p = 0,0001). No se encontró correlación con masa corporal. Conclusiones. En la muestra de 2016 hubo incremento en la prevalencia de prediabetes y de adultos jóvenes en riesgo de desarrollar diabetes mellitus de tipo 2, por lo que es necesario desarrollar estrategias para mejorar el estilo de vida.
Anxiety, Depression, and Adverse Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Starting Warfarin: Cardiovascular Research Network WAVE Study
Authors: Baumgartner Christine , Fan Dongjie , Fang Margaret C. , Singer Daniel E. , Witt Daniel M. , Schmelzer John R. , Williams Marc S. , Gurwitz Jerry H. , Sung Sue Hee , Go Alan S.
Published: April 2018

Background

Anxiety and depression are associated with worse outcomes in several cardiovascular conditions, but it is unclear whether they affect outcomes in atrial fibrillation (
AF
). In a large diverse population of adults with
AF
, we evaluated the association of diagnosed anxiety and/or depression with stroke and bleeding outcomes.

Methods and Results

The Cardiovascular Research Network WAVE (Community‐Based Control and Persistence of Warfarin Therapy and Associated Rates and Predictors of Adverse Clinical Events in Atrial Fibrillation and Venous Thromboembolism) Study included adults with
AF
newly starting warfarin between 2004 and 2007 within 5 health delivery systems in the United States. Diagnosed anxiety and depression and other patient characteristics were identified from electronic health records. We identified stroke and bleeding outcomes from hospitalization databases using validated
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision
(
ICD‐9
), codes. We used multivariable Cox regression to assess the relation between anxiety and/or depression with outcomes after adjustment for stroke and bleeding risk factors. In 25 570 adults with
AF
initiating warfarin, 490 had an ischemic stroke or intracranial hemorrhage (1.52 events per 100 person‐years). In multivariable analyses, diagnosed anxiety was associated with a higher adjusted rate of combined ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage (hazard ratio, 1.52; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–2.28). Results were not materially changed after additional adjustment for patient‐level percentage of time in therapeutic anticoagulation range on warfarin (hazard ratio, 1.56; 95% confidence interval, 1.03–2.36). In contrast, neither isolated depression nor combined depression and anxiety were significantly associated with outcomes.

Conclusions

Diagnosed anxiety was independently associated with increased risk of combined ischemic stroke and intracranial hemorrhage in adults with
AF
initiating warfarin that was not explained by differences in risk factors or achieved anticoagulation quality.
An Attitude of Caution: The IAEA, the UN, and the 1958 Pugwash Conference in Austria
Authors: Röhrlich Elisabeth
Published: April 2018

This article examines the relationship between transnational and intergovernmental organizations in the formation of the international nuclear order in the 1950s. It focuses on three major events in September 1958: the second United Nations (UN) International Conference on the Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy in Geneva, the third Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs (held in Tyrol), and the second General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. The three nuclear conferences of 1958, linked closely in time and location, were shaped by interplays of science and politics at a unique moment in nuclear history. The analysis here sheds light on the organizational and institutional beginnings of the Cold War nuclear order and the evolving distinction between transnational and intergovernmental organizations that shaped it. The article shows that competitive dynamics affected relations between the IAEA and the Pugwash organization and between the IAEA and other organizations of the UN.