bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Advancing patient‐centered care for structurally vulnerable drug‐using populations: a qualitative study of the perspectives of people who use drugs regarding the potential integration of harm reduction interventions into hospitals
Authors: McNeil Ryan , Kerr Thomas , Pauly Bernie , Wood Evan , Small Will
Published: October 2015

Aims

To explore the perspectives of structurally vulnerable people who use drugs (PWUD) regarding: (1) the potential integration of harm reduction interventions (e.g. supervised drug consumption services, opioid‐assisted treatment) into hospitals; and (2) the implications of these interventions for patient‐centered care, hospital outcomes and drug‐related risks and harms.

Design

Semi‐structured qualitative interviews.

Setting

Vancouver, Canada.

Participants

Thirty structurally vulnerable PWUD who had been discharged from hospital against medical advice within the past 2 years, and hospitalized multiple times over the past 5 years.

Measurements

Semi‐structured interview guide including questions to elicit perspectives on hospital‐based harm reduction interventions.

Findings

Participant accounts highlighted that hospital‐based harm reduction interventions would promote patient‐centered care by: (1) prioritizing hospital care access and risk reduction over the enforcement of abstinence‐based drug policies; (2) increasing responsiveness to subjective health needs (e.g. pain and withdrawal symptoms); and (3) fostering ‘culturally safe’ care.

Conclusions

Hospital‐based harm reduction interventions for people who use drugs, such as supervised drug consumption services and opioid‐assisted treatment, can potentially improve hospital care retention, promote patient‐centered care and reduce adverse health outcomes among people who use drugs.
Improving Australian care home medicine supply services: Evaluation of a quality improvement intervention
Authors: Gilmartin Julia Fiona‐Maree , Marriott Jennifer Lillian , Hussainy Safeera Yasmeen
Published: October 2015

Aim

The study aims to determine the impact of a quality improvement intervention on how accurately and suitably medicines are supplied to residents of residential aged‐care facilities (RACFs).

Methods

Between September 2012 and January 2013, pharmacy‐supplied dose administration aids (DAAs) were audited at 45 Victorian RACFs (Australia). RACFs had previously received an intervention (education session/toolkit) and were involved in an earlier DAA audit. Recently supplied DAAs containing regular medicines were compared to prescriber‐prepared medicine charts to identify, and classify risks of, inaccurate or unsuitable packing incidents.

Results

Of 2389 DAAs audited for 983 residents, 770 incidents in 502 DAAs were identified. The overall DAA incident rate increased significantly from 11.5% pre‐intervention to 21.0% post‐intervention (P < 0.001). The proportion of DAAs affected by incidents classified as ‘insignificant’ or ‘minor’ risk increased post‐intervention (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Further wide‐scale evaluation of RACF medicine supply services is needed. Interventions that are effective in reducing DAA incidents should be explored.
Neurofunctional assessment at term equivalent age can predict 3‐year neurodevelopmental outcomes in very low birth weight infants
Authors: Picciolini Odoardo , Montirosso Rosario , Porro Matteo , Giannì Maria L. , Mosca Fabio
Published: October 2015

Aim

Preterm infants are at high risk of developing motor delay, learning difficulties and behavioural problems and the availability of valid neurodevelopmental assessments is a major clinical issue. This study evaluated the relationship between preterm infants' neurofunctional assessment at term equivalent age and neurodevelopment outcome at three years of chronological age.

Methods

Neurofunctional assessment was performed in 70 very low birth weight infants at term equivalent age and neurodevelopmental outcome was assessed at three years of chronological age with the Griffiths Mental Development Scale – Extended Revised.

Results

At term equivalent age, 81% of the children had normal neurofunctional scores and 82.5% of those showed normal neurodevelopmental outcome at three years. Of the 19% who had impaired development at term equivalent age, 38.5% had neurodevelopmental delay at three years. Impaired neurofunctional status was associated with an increased risk of developmental delay in the global quotient (odds ratio 12.1) and locomotor sub‐quotient (odds ratio 18.35) compared with normal neurofunctional status. Infants with sepsis or necrotising enterocolitis also faced a higher risk of neurodevelopmental delay.

Conclusion

Neurofunctional assessment performed at term equivalent age appeared to provide early identification of preterm infants at risk of neurodevelopmental delay at three years of chronological age.
In vivo reversal of the anticoagulant effect of rivaroxaban with four‐factor prothrombin complex concentrate
Authors: Barco Stefano , Whitney Cheung Y. , Coppens Michiel , Hutten Barbara A. , Meijers Joost C. M. , Middeldorp Saskia
Published: October 2015

Four‐factor prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) 50 iu/kg is able to swiftly restore haemostatic parameters in healthy subjects on rivaroxaban. We hypothesized that lower dosages of PCC may be sufficient to restore normal haemostasis. In this double‐blind, crossover, placebo‐controlled study, we compared the effects of PCC 37·5 iu/kg, PCC 25 iu/kg, and placebo on thrombin generation (endogenous thrombin potential, ETP) and prothrombin time in six healthy subjects receiving twice‐daily rivaroxaban 15 mg for 2·5 days. Fifteen min after infusion of PCC 37·5 iu/kg, ETP increased from 47 ± 16% to 64 ± 22% (P = 0·03; pre‐rivaroxaban ETP: 92 ± 14%) and remained higher than after placebo over 24 h (P = 0·001). PCC 25 iu/kg did not modify ETP within 15 min (53 ± 11% to 59 ± 12%; P = 0·14) and was not different from placebo over 24 h (P = 0·31). ETP reached pre‐rivaroxaban levels within 6 h after PCC 37·5 iu/kg infusion and within 12–24 h after PCC 25 iu/kg infusion. Both dosages restored rivaroxaban‐induced prothrombin time prolongation after 15 min (P < 0·001). Placebo did not have an effect on coagulation parameters. 37·5 iu/kg of PCC leads to partial restoration of thrombin generation, whereas 25 iu/kg does not. PCC 37·5 iu/kg may be insufficient for immediate full reversal of peak therapeutic rivaroxaban levels.
TLR3 ligand Poly IC Attenuates Reactive Astrogliosis and Improves Recovery of Rats after Focal Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Li Yang , Xu Xu‐Lin , Zhao Dan , Pan Lin‐Na , Huang Chun‐Wei , Guo Lian‐Jun , Lu Qing , Wang Jian
Published: October 2015

Aims

Brain ischemia activates astrocytes in a process known as astrogliosis. Although this process has beneficial effects, excessive astrogliosis can impair neuronal recovery. Polyinosinic–polycytidylic acid (Poly IC) has shown neuroprotection against cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury, but whether it regulates reactive astrogliosis and glial scar formation is not clear.

Methods

We exposed cultured astrocytes to oxygen–glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) and used a rat middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)/reperfusion model to investigate the effects of Poly IC. Astrocyte proliferation and proliferation‐related molecules were evaluated by immunostaining and Western blotting. Neurological deficit scores, infarct volumes and neuroplasticity were evaluated in rats after transient MCAO.

Results

In vitro, Poly IC inhibited astrocyte proliferation, upregulated Toll‐like receptor 3 (TLR3) expression, upregulated interferon‐β, and downregulated interleukin‐6 production. These changes were blocked by a neutralizing antibody against TLR3, suggesting that Poly IC function is TLR3‐dependent. Moreover, in the MCAO model, Poly IC attenuated reactive astrogliosis, reduced brain infarction volume, and improved neurological function. In addition, Poly IC prevented MCAO‐induced reductions in soma size, dendrite length, and number of dendritic bifurcations in cortical neurons of the infarct penumbra.

Conclusions

By ameliorating astrogliosis‐related damage, Poly IC is a potential therapeutic agent for attenuating neuronal damage and promoting recovery after brain ischemia.
Cortical representation of facial and tongue movements: a task functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Xiao Fu‐long , Gao Pei‐yi , Qian Tian‐yi , Sui Bin‐bin , Xue Jing , Zhou Jian , Lin Yan
Published: October 2015

Background

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) mapping can present the activated cortical area during movement, while little is known about precise location in facial and tongue movements.

Objective

To investigate the representation of facial and tongue movements by task fMRI.

Methods

Twenty right‐handed healthy subjects were underwent block design task fMRI examination. Task movements included lip pursing, cheek bulging, grinning and vertical tongue excursion. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM8) was applied to analysis the data.

Results

One‐sample t‐test was used to calculate the common activation area between facial and tongue movements. Also, paired t‐test was used to test for areas of over‐ or underactivation in tongue movement compared with each group of facial movements.

Conclusions

The common areas within facial and tongue movements suggested the similar motor circuits of activation in both movements. Prior activation in tongue movement was situated laterally and inferiorly in sensorimotor area relative to facial movements. Prior activation of tongue movement was investigated in left superior parietal lobe relative to lip pursing. Also, prior activation in bilateral cuneus lobe in grinning compared with tongue movement was detected.
microRNA deregulation in keloids: an opportunity for clinical intervention?
Authors: Yu Xin , Li Zheng , Chan Matthew T. V. , Wu William K. K.
Published: October 2015

Keloids are defined as benign dermal scars invading adjacent healthy tissue, characterized by aberrant fibroblast dynamics and overproduction of extracellular matrix. However, the aetiology and molecular mechanism of keloid production remain poorly understood. Recent discoveries have shed new light on the involvement of a class of non‐coding RNAs known as microRNAs (miRNA), in keloid formation. A number of miRNAs have differential expression in keloid tissues and keloid‐derived fibroblasts. These miRNAs have been characterized as novel regulators of cellular processes pertinent to wound healing, including extracellular matrix deposition and fibroblast proliferation. Delineating the functional significance of miRNA deregulation may help us better understand pathogenesis of keloids, and promote development of miRNA‐directed therapeutics against this condition.
Gastrointestinal actions of glucagon‐like peptide‐1‐based therapies: glycaemic control beyond the pancreas
Authors: Smits M. M. , Tonneijck L. , Muskiet M. H. A. , Kramer M. H. H. , Cahen D. L. , van Raalte D. H.
Published: October 2015

The gastrointestinal hormone glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) lowers postprandial glucose concentrations by regulating pancreatic islet‐cell function, with stimulation of glucose‐dependent insulin and suppression of glucagon secretion. In addition to endocrine pancreatic effects, mounting evidence suggests that several gastrointestinal actions of GLP‐1 are at least as important for glucose‐lowering. GLP‐1 reduces gastric emptying rate and small bowel motility, thereby delaying glucose absorption and decreasing postprandial glucose excursions. Furthermore, it has been suggested that GLP‐1 directly stimulates hepatic glucose uptake, and suppresses hepatic glucose production, thereby adding to reduction of fasting and postprandial glucose levels. GLP‐1 receptor agonists, which mimic the effects of GLP‐1, have been developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Based on their pharmacokinetic profile, GLP‐1 receptor agonists can be broadly categorized as short‐ or long‐acting, with each having unique islet‐cell and gastrointestinal effects that lower glucose levels. Short‐acting agonists predominantly lower postprandial glucose excursions, by inhibiting gastric emptying and intestinal glucose uptake, with little effect on insulin secretion. By contrast, long‐acting agonists mainly reduce fasting glucose levels, predominantly by increased insulin and reduced glucagon secretion, with potential additional direct inhibitory effects on hepatic glucose production. Understanding these pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic differences may allow personalized antihyperglycaemic therapy in type 2 diabetes. In addition, it may provide the rationale to explore treatment in patients with no or little residual β‐cell function.
Niche variation and the maintenance of variation in body size in a burying beetle
Authors: HOPWOOD PAUL E. , MOORE ALLEN J. , TREGENZA TOM , ROYLE NICK J.
Published: October 2015

1. In burying beetles (Nicrophorinae), body size is known to provide both a fecundity advantage (in females) and successful resource defence (in males and females). Despite this, considerable variation in body sizes is observed in natural populations.

2. A possible explanation for the maintenance of this variation, even with intra‐ and inter‐specific resource competition, is that individuals might assort according to body size on different‐sized breeding resources.

3. We tested prediction that ‘bigger is always better’, in the wild and in the laboratory, by experimentally manipulating combinations of available breeding‐resource size (mouse carcasses) and competitor's body size in Nicrophorus vespilloides (Herbst 1783).

4. In the field, large female beetles deserted small carcasses, without breeding, more often than they did larger carcasses, but small females used carcasses indiscriminately with respect to size. In the laboratory, large beetles reared larger broods (with more offspring) on larger carcasses than small beetles, but on small carcasses small beetles had a reproductive advantage over large ones. Offspring size covaried with carcass size independently of parental body size.

5. The present combined results suggest breeding resource value depends on an individual's body size, and variation in body size is environmentally induced: maintained by differences in available carcass sizes. This produces a mechanism by which individual specialisation leads to an increase in niche variation via body size in these beetles.
Immunological effects in patients with steroid‐refractory graft‐versus‐host disease following treatment with basiliximab, a CD25 monoclonal antibody
Authors: Chakupurakal Geothy , García‐Márquez María Alejandra , Shimabukuro‐Vornhagen Alexander , Theurich Sebastian , Holtick Udo , Hallek Michael , Scheid Christof , von Bergwelt‐Baildon Michael
Published: October 2015

Steroid‐refractory graft‐versus‐host disease (GvHD) is a complication following an allogeneic stem cell transplantation with limited therapeutic options. Studies have shown a response in up to 80% of patients with this condition after treatment with the CD25 monoclonal antibody, basiliximab. Despite the good responses to treatment, around 50% of the patients experience recurrence of their GvHD symptoms 4–6 wk following cessation of therapy. The in vivo changes in the following treatment with this antibody have not been elucidated so far. We treated 14 patients with severe steroid‐refractory GvHD with basiliximab weekly for 4 wk and monitored the changes in the T‐, B‐, NK‐ and dendritic cell subsets over this time period. The overall response to treatment was 92% (13/14) with 50% (7/14) achieving a complete response. Fifty four percentage (7/13) of the patients who responded showed recurrence of their GvHD symptoms. Contrary to expectations, our observations showed a significant depletion of the regulatory T‐cell subset following treatment. Our findings suggest that the undesirable depletion of the regulatory T cells along with the CD25+ acute inflammatory cells might be responsible for the high incidence of GvHD recurrence in this cohort of patients.
Continent‐scale global change attribution in European birds ‐ combining annual and decadal time scales
Authors: Jørgensen Peter Søgaard , Böhning‐Gaese Katrin , Thorup Kasper , Tøttrup Anders P. , Chylarecki Przemysław , Jiguet Frédéric , Lehikoinen Aleksi , Noble David G. , Reif Jiri , Schmid Hans , van Turnhout Chris , Burfield Ian J. , Foppen Ruud , Voříšek Petr , van Strien Arco , Gregory Richard D. , Rahbek Carsten
Published: October 2015

Species attributes are commonly used to infer impacts of environmental change on multiyear species trends, e.g. decadal changes in population size. However, by themselves attributes are of limited value in global change attribution since they do not measure the changing environment. A broader foundation for attributing species responses to global change may be achieved by complementing an attributes‐based approach by one estimating the relationship between repeated measures of organismal and environmental changes over short time scales. To assess the benefit of this multiscale perspective, we investigate the recent impact of multiple environmental changes on European farmland birds, here focusing on climate change and land use change. We analyze more than 800 time series from 18 countries spanning the past two decades. Analysis of long‐term population growth rates documents simultaneous responses that can be attributed to both climate change and land‐use change, including long‐term increases in populations of hot‐dwelling species and declines in long‐distance migrants and farmland specialists. In contrast, analysis of annual growth rates yield novel insights into the potential mechanisms driving long‐term climate induced change. In particular, we find that birds are affected by winter, spring, and summer conditions depending on the distinct breeding phenology that corresponds to their migratory strategy. Birds in general benefit from higher temperatures or higher primary productivity early on or in the peak of the breeding season with the largest effect sizes observed in cooler parts of species' climatic ranges. Our results document the potential of combining time scales and integrating both species attributes and environmental variables for global change attribution. We suggest such an approach will be of general use when high‐resolution time series are available in large‐scale biodiversity surveys.
A model for mechanistic and system assessments of biochar effects on soils and crops and trade‐offs
Authors: Archontoulis Sotirios V. , Huber Isaiah , Miguez Fernando E. , Thorburn Peter J. , Rogovska Natalia , Laird David A.
Published: October 2015

We developed a biochar model within the Agricultural Production Systems sIMulator (APSIM) software that integrates biochar knowledge and enables simulation of biochar effects within cropping systems. The model has algorithms that mechanistically connect biochar to soil organic carbon (SOC), soil water, bulk density (BD), pH, cation exchange capacity, and organic and mineral nitrogen. Soil moisture (SW)–temperature–nitrogen limitations on the rate of biochar decomposition were included as well as biochar‐induced priming effect on SOC mineralization. The model has 10 parameters that capture the diversity of biochar types, 15 parameters that address biochar‐soil interactions and 4 constants. The range of values and their sensitivity is reported. The biochar model was connected to APSIM's maize and wheat crop models to investigate long‐term (30 years) biochar effects on US maize and Australia wheat in various soils. Results from this sensitivity analysis showed that the effect of biochar was the largest in a sandy soil (Australian wheat) and the smallest in clay loam soil (US maize). On average across cropping systems and soils the order of sensitivity and the magnitude of the response of biochar to various soil‐plant processes was (from high to low): SOC (11% to 86%) > N2O emissions (−10% to 43%43%) > plant available water content (0.6% to 12.9%) > BD (−6.5% to −1.7%) > pH (−0.8% to 6.3%) > net N mineralization (−19% to 10%) > CO2 emissions (−2.0% to 4.3%) > water filled pore space (−3.7% to 3.4%) > grain yield (−3.3% to 1.8%) > biomass (−1.6% to 1.4%). Our analysis showed that biochar has a larger impact on environmental outcomes rather than agricultural production. The mechanistic model has the potential to optimize biochar application strategies to enhance environmental and agronomic outcomes but more work is needed to fill knowledge gaps identified in this work.
Counter College: Third World Students Reimagine Public Higher Education
Authors: Ryan Angela
Published: October 2015

In 1969, the discipline of Ethnic Studies emerged and was implemented at a handful of colleges throughout the country, most notably at San Francisco State College where the first School of Ethnic Studies was established that year. The idea of devoting space within traditional educational institutions to the study of a particular race or ethnicity has existed since at least the 1920s when Carter G. Woodson proposed Negro History Week and encouraged the study of African American history. While Black Studies is thus the oldest of such fields within American education history, its establishment within higher education is tied to the establishment of the larger discipline of Ethnic Studies. Ethnic Studies encompasses the critical study of racial and ethnic histories and cultures and it incorporates a wide variety of methodologies. The course of the discipline throughout the past forty years has resulted in a variety of approaches to this study, thus generalizing about the field as it exists today is complicated. One thing that may be said about Ethnic Studies in its current iteration, however, is that it bears little resemblance to the proposals that ushered it into existence.
Paternity, Enframing, and a New Revealing: O'Brien's Philosophy of Reproduction and Heidegger's Critique of Technology
Authors: Markotic Lorraine
Published: October 2015

This article seeks to demonstrate the importance of the philosophical work of Mary O'Brien. It does so by showing how O'Brien's work counters Heidegger's strict differentiation between the ancient Greek metaphysics of presence and modern technological thinking. O'Brien's ideas indicate two critical lacunae in Heidegger's interpretation of the ancient Greeks: the latter's attempt to secure paternity and their overlooking of birth as a form of unconcealment. According to O'Brien, the way in which we understand and experience human reproduction influences both our sense of self and our sense of continuity. According to Heidegger, the way in which things are brought forth or unconcealed is fundamental to our being‐in‐the‐world. Neither O'Brien nor Heidegger lived to see the current advancements in reproductive technology, but both would consider them significant and meaningful beyond their social, political, and even ethical implications. Furthermore, recent reproductive technology draws attention to birth as revealing—although as increasingly Enframed. Rapid changes in reproduction may reveal Enframing as Enframing, and also show that technology is not something that we can simply master. But for this to occur, we must take into account the radical critique and rethinking of Heidegger's philosophy implied by O'Brien's thought.
Vital Wheels: Disability, Relationality, and the Queer Animacy of Vibrant Things
Authors: Watts Belser Julia
Published: October 2015

This article probes the philosophical and political significance of the relationships between wheelchair activists and their wheelchairs. Analyzing disability memoirs and the work of a professional wheelchair dancer, I argue that wheelers frequently experience complex relationality and queer kinships with their wheels. By bringing the artistry of disabled writers and dancers into conversation with the notions of human–material relations in the work of Donna Haraway, Jane Bennett, Stacy Alaimo, and Mel Chen, I show how alternative animacies shape wheelers’ conceptions of interdependence and movement. The sensuous pleasure they take in their wheels queers conventional conceptions of how humans should relate to things. New materialist philosophy has increasingly drawn attention to the porous boundaries between the human and material world. But where posthumanist philosophers have largely aimed to dethrone the sovereignty of the human, disability activists use alternative animacies to raise up a devalued and discounted portion of humanity: to emphasize the agency and capacity of those whose lives are often cast as pitiable and powerless, to express a queer feminist disability culture and politics, and to claim the transgressive vitality and vibrant artistry of life with disability.
Sillem's Mountain Finch Leucosticte sillemi is a valid species of rosefinch (Carpodacus, Fringillidae)
Authors: Sangster George , Roselaar Cees S. , Irestedt Martin , Ericson Per G. P.
Published: October 2015

Sillem's Mountain Finch Leucosticte sillemi was described in 1992 on the basis of an adult and an immature specimen collected in western Tibet in September 1929, but its taxonomic validity and phylogenetic position have been unclear. Based on phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA from the holotype, we show that L. sillemi is not a colour morph of Brandt's Mountain Finch Leucosticte brandti but represents a valid, previously overlooked species of rosefinch (Carpodacus) that has secondarily acquired a pale plumage convergent on that of Leucosticte. Sillem's Mountain Finch is one of the least known species of bird and represents the only known species of rosefinch in which males have no reddish plumage coloration. This species and its sister taxon, the Tibetan Rosefinch Carpodacus roborowskii, are likely to be the world's highest‐altitude sister‐species pair of birds.
Fledgling survival increases with development time and adult survival across north and south temperate zones
Authors: Lloyd Penn , Martin Thomas E.
Published: October 2015

Slow life histories are characterized by high adult survival and few offspring, which are thought to allow increased investment per offspring to increase juvenile survival. Consistent with this pattern, south temperate zone birds are commonly longer‐lived and have fewer young than north temperate zone species. However, comparative analyses of juvenile survival, including during the first few weeks of the post‐fledging period when most juvenile mortality occurs, are largely lacking. We combined our measurements of fledgling survival for eight passerines in South Africa with estimates from published studies of 57 north and south temperate zone songbird species to test three predictions: (1) fledgling survival increases with length of development time in the nest; (2) fledgling survival increases with adult survival and reduced brood size controlled for development time; and (3) south temperate zone species, with their higher adult survival and smaller brood sizes, exhibit higher fledgling survival than north temperate zone species controlled for development time. We found that fledgling survival was higher among south temperate zone species and generally increased with development time and adult survival within and between latitudinal regions. Clutch size did not explain additional variation, but was confounded with adult survival. Given the importance of age‐specific mortality to life history evolution, understanding the causes of these geographical patterns of mortality is important.
Local and regional weather patterns influencing post‐breeding migration counts of soaring birds at the Strait of Gibraltar, Spain
Authors: Miller Robert A. , Onrubia Alejandro , Martín Beatriz , Kaltenecker Gregory S. , Carlisle Jay D. , Bechard Marc J. , Ferrer Miguel
Published: October 2015

Migration is a significant event in the annual cycle of many avian species. During migration birds face many challenges, including unfamiliar foraging and refuge habitats, resulting in a much higher rate of mortality during migration than during other seasons of the year. Weather may significantly affect a bird's decision to initiate migration, the course and pace of migration, and its survival during migration. Each of these influences may impact the counts of migrating birds at geographical convergence zones or bottlenecks. It is important to quantify the effect of short‐term weather on these counts to appropriately interpret and use such counts in other analyses. To this end, we aim to assess the effects of local and regional weather conditions on the migration counts of soaring birds at the Strait of Gibraltar during post‐breeding migration. We used information‐theoretic approaches to analyse the influence of local weather and weather in northern Spain on the migration counts of five soaring bird species from two count sites near the Strait of Gibraltar. Migration counts were higher on days with local northerly and westerly winds, often following a day of easterly winds, on days with local high pressure systems, and often following a day of lower pressure. Weather conditions in northern Spain influenced migration counts at the Strait of Gibraltar, but the effects were much weaker than local weather conditions. We confirm that short‐term weather conditions, locally and regionally, can influence migration counts and should thus be considered when these counts are used in other analyses.
The effect of embryonic development on metal and calcium content in eggs and eggshells in a small passerine
Authors: Orłowski Grzegorz , Hałupka Lucyna , Pokorny Przemysław , Klimczuk Ewelina , Sztwiertnia Hanna , Dobicki Wojciech
Published: October 2015

Published information relating to changes in the chemical element content of avian eggs caused by embryonic development is extremely scarce, although it may be crucial for understanding both the presence of anthropogenic pollutants as well as physiological levels of micronutrients. We assessed the variation in concentrations of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) and nine trace elements: seven essential (chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co) and zinc (Zn)) and two non‐essential (lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd)) in shells and contents (both egg yolk and egg white) of embryonated and non‐embryonated eggs. We investigated the eggs of the Eurasian Reed Warbler Acrocephalus scirpaceus, a large proportion of whose eggs are infertile in our study population (almost 43% of clutches contain unhatched eggs) as well as significant embryo‐induced eggshell thinning at the equator of embryonated eggs. We found significantly higher concentrations (≥ 22.7%) of all the focal elements in the contents of embryonated eggs in comparison with non‐embryonated eggs, and a very pronounced one for Ca (nearly twice as high). The shells of embryonated eggs contained significantly higher concentrations of Zn (104.1%), Fe (56.5%), Pb (32.8%) and Cu (28.0%) but significantly lower ones of Co (8.9%) and Ca (9.3%) than the shells of non‐embryonated eggs. The simultaneous higher concentrations of all elements in the content of thinner‐shelled embryonated eggs suggest the parallel transfer of these elements along with Ca resorption from the shell into the egg interior during embryo formation. The higher concentration of most elements in the thinner shells of embryonated eggs may be indicative of the maternal deposition of some of these elements in a shell layer not subject to embryonic depletion, or in the eggshell membrane. Our results highlight the need for the careful selection of egg samples, which should differentiate between embryonated and non‐embryonated eggs in the analytical treatment of eggs and eggshells.
Thermal Properties of Rare‐Earth Monosilicates for EBC on Si‐Based Ceramic Composites
Authors: Al Nasiri Nasrin , Patra Niranjan , Horlait Denis , Jayaseelan Daniel Doni , Lee William E.
Published: October 2015

Rare‐earth (RE) monosilicates are promising candidates as environmental barrier coating (EBC) materials for ceramic matrix composites for aerospace applications. Five rare‐earth monosilicate materials have been investigated: Y2SiO5, Gd2SiO5, Er2SiO5, Yb2SiO5, and Lu2SiO5 produced from RE oxides and silica starting materials pressed and sintered at 1580°C under flowing air. Relative densities above 94% were obtained for all samples and ceramics were made containing 85–100 wt% of the RE monosilicate according to X‐ray diffraction (XRD) with RE disilicates as the second phase in the Gd, Yb, and Lu silicate systems. Microstructures were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and XRD, and thermal properties measured including specific heat, thermal expansion, and thermal diffusivity. For the first time, specific heat capacity values are reported for the monosilicates [0.45–0.69 J·(g·K)−1]. Thermal expansion coefficients (TECs) of the dense samples ranged between 5.9 and 10.3 × 10−6 K−1 measured for 473 to 1473 K. All EBCs have low thermal conductivities [1.8 W·(m·K)−1 or less] making them excellent EBC insulators.
Natural variation of H3K27me3 modification in two Arabidopsis accessions and their hybrid
Authors: Yang Mei , Wang Xuncheng , Huang Hao , Ren Diqiu , Su Yan'e , Zhu Pan , Zhu Danmeng , Fan Liumin , Chen Liangbi , He Guangming , Deng Xing Wang
Published: October 2015

Histone modifications affect gene expression, but the mechanism and biological consequence of natural variation in histone modifications remain unclear. Here, we generated genome‐wide integrated maps of H3K27me3 modification and transcriptome for Col, C24 and their F1 hybrid. A total of 1,828 genomic regions showing variation in H3K27me3 modification between Col and C24 were identified, most of which were associated with genic regions. Natural variation of H3K27me3 modification between parents could result in allelic bias of H3K27me3 in hybrids. Furthermore, we found that H3K27me3 variation between Col and C24 was negatively correlated with gene expression differences between two accessions, especially with those arising from the cis‐effect. Importantly, mutation of CLF, an Arabidopsis methyltransferase for H3K27, altered gene expression patterns between the parents. Together, these data provide insights into natural variation of histone modifications and their association with gene expression differences between Arabidopsis ecotypes.
Characteristics of prisoners with neurodevelopmental disorders and difficulties
Authors: McCarthy J. , Chaplin E. , Underwood L. , Forrester A. , Hayward H. , Sabet J. , Young S. , Asherson P. , Mills R. , Murphy D.
Published: October 2015

Background

Previous studies have found high rates of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID) within the criminal justice system (CJS). However, little is understood about prisoners with neurodevelopmental disorders and difficulties (NDD) or their needs. This study aimed to identify prisoners with NDD and compare their characteristics with prisoners without NDD on a range of socio‐demographic and social functioning measures.

Method

This was a descriptive, cross‐sectional study carried out using face‐to‐face interviews with 240 participants in a London Category C prison. Standardised tools were used to assess prisoners for ADHD, ASD and ID.

Results

The study identified 87 prisoners who screened positive for one or more type of NDD. Participants with NDD were significantly younger and more likely to be single [(odds ratio) OR = 2.1], homeless (OR = 3.4) or unemployed (OR = 2.6) before they came into prison. They also had poorer educational achievements that those without NDD. Over 80% of those with NDD had a previous conviction or imprisonment.

Conclusions

The findings confirm the presence of significant numbers of people with NDD in a male prison. Services across the CJS are required for this group; specifically, there is a need for raised awareness among those working in the CJS to improve the recognition of offenders with NDD. Services in the community need to work with individuals with NDD who are at risk of offending, targeting those who are homeless, unemployed and have poor employment opportunities.
Nuclear import mechanism of neurofibromin for localization on the spindle and function in chromosome congression
Authors: Koliou Xeni , Fedonidis Constantinos , Kalpachidou Theodora , Mangoura Dimitra
Published: October 2015

Neurofibromatosis type‐1 (NF‐1) is caused by mutations in the tumor suppressor gene NF1; its protein product neurofibromin is a RasGTPase‐activating protein, a property that has yet to explain aneuploidy, most often observed in astrocytes in NF‐1. Here, we provide a mechanistic model for the regulated nuclear import of neurofibromin during the cell cycle and for a role in chromosome congression. Specifically, we demonstrate that neurofibromin, phosphorylated on Ser2808, a residue adjacent to a nuclear localization signal in the C‐terminal domain (CTD), by Protein Kinase C‐epsilon (PKC‐ε), accumulates in a Ran‐dependent manner and through binding to lamin in the nucleus at G2 in glioblastoma cells. Furthermore, we identify CTD as a tubulin‐binding domain and show that a phosphomimetic substitution of its Ser2808 results in a predominantly nuclear localization. Confocal analysis shows that endogenous neurofibromin localizes on the centrosomes at interphase, as well as on the mitotic spindle, through direct associations with tubulins, in glioblastoma cells and primary astrocytes. More importantly, analysis of mitotic phenotypes after siRNA‐mediated depletion shows that acute loss of this tumor suppressor protein leads to aberrant chromosome congression at the metaphase plate. Therefore, neurofibromin protein abundance and nuclear import are mechanistically linked to an error‐free chromosome congression.

image

Concerned with neurofibromin's, a tumor suppressor, mechanism of action, we demonstrate in astrocytic cells that its synthesis, phosphorylation by Protein Kinase C‐ε on Ser2808 (a residue adjacent to a nuclear localization sequence), and nuclear import are cell cycle‐dependent, being maximal at G2. During mitosis, neurofibromin is an integral part of the spindle, while its depletion leads to aberrant chromosome congression, possibly explaining the development of chromosomal instability in Neurofibromatosis type‐1.

Read the Editorial Highlight for this article on page 11.

Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.13300.
Love and Liturgy
Authors: Cuneo Terence
Published: October 2015

For two millennia Christians have assembled on the “day of the sun” to celebrate the liturgy together. But why do it? Why structure one's life in such a way that participation in ritualized religious activity is a fixed point in the weekly rhythm of one's comings and goings? The project of this essay is to identify reasons to engage in such activity that emanate from the Christian ethical vision. Fundamental to this vision is a contrast between an ethic of proximity, which enjoins us to attend to the needs of those near and dear, and an ethic of outwardness, which enjoins us to both attend to and open ourselves up to the needs of those who belong to various out‐groups. The Christian ethical vision enjoins an ethic of outwardness. A close look at the liturgies of the Eastern Christian tradition reveals the ways in which they express this ethic.
Directors' and Officers' Liability Insurance, Corporate Risk and Risk Taking: New Panel Data Evidence on The Role of Directors' and Officers' Liability Insurance
Authors: Boyer M. Martin , Tennyson Sharon
Published: October 2015

ABSTRACT

This article develops and tests hypotheses regarding the relationship between directors’ and officers’ (D&O) insurance purchase and firm size, governance characteristics, and business risk, using a unique panel data set on Canadian firms for years 1996–2005. The data permit examination of the determinants of insurance pricing, ownership and coverage limits, and the effects of insurance on board characteristics and earnings management. Results using panel data methods and controlling for endogenous prices and endogenous selection into insurance ownership provide strong statistical evidence for the view that D&O insurance markets take corporate risk into account, but that insurance leads to greater risk taking.
GLUCOCORTICOIDS AND LEARNING DURING INFANCY
Authors: Gunnar Megan R.
Published: October 2015

In this monograph titled “A Longitudinal Study of Infant Cortisol Response During Learning Events,” Laura A. Thompson, Gin Morgan, and Kellie A. Jurado describe the results of an important study of the associations between maternal sensitivity and adrenocortical activity as they influence infant learning over the first year of life. Although the researchers argue that the work can be understood from a stress framework, I disagree. However, I argue that overall what they have done is provide us with a set of findings that are quite provocative and add nicely to the archival literature on the role of maternal behavior and activity of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenocortical system in early learning and memory.
Bortezomib for refractory acute antibody‐mediated rejection in kidney transplant recipients: A single‐centre case series
Authors: De Sousa‐Amorim Erika , Revuelta Ignacio , Diekmann Fritz , Cofan Frederic , Lozano Miquel , Cid Joan , Palou Eduard , Sole Manel , Campistol Josep María , Oppenheimer Federic
Published: October 2015

Aim

Acute antibody‐mediated rejection (ABMR) after kidney transplantation (KT) is associated with poor allograft survival. Current therapies for ABMR are able to deplete B‐lymphocytes but do not target plasma cells. Bortezomib is a proteasome inhibitor that can eliminate plasma cells and has demonstrated utility in the treatment of ABMR.

Methods

A retrospective study was carried out from 2010 to 2014, including all patients with ABMR refractory to conventional treatment who received bortezomib. Bortezomib (1.3 mg/m2) was administered intravenously on days 1, 4, 8, and 11. Renal function, graft survival, follow‐up biopsies, and donor‐specific antibodies (DSA) were recorded.

Results

We identified seven patients. Of these, high immunological risk was found in 6 of 7, preformed DSA were found in 5 of 7, flow cytometry crossmatch was positive in 4 of 7, and desensitization before KTx was provided in 6 of 7 patients. ABMR was diagnosed at a median of 90 days (8‐167) post‐KT. After bortezomib therapy, renal function improved or stabilized in 5 of 7 patients and progressively deteriorated in 2 of 7, leading to haemodialysis after 7 and 11 months, respectively. Follow‐up kidney biopsies showed persistence of ABMR in 2 of 7, chronic active ABMR 3 of 7 and inactive chronic lesions in 2 of 7. DSA titres significantly decreased after treatment (P = 0.028). All patients experienced mild adverse events. After a follow‐up of 22 ± 18 months, three grafts were lost (42%) and four remained functioning.

Conclusion

Bortezomib could be useful as an adjuvant therapy for ABMR refractory to conventional treatment with acceptable mid‐term outcomes in these severe cases. More research is needed to develop strategies to better preserve graft function after refractory ABMR.
Auricular vagal nerve stimulation ameliorates burn‐induced gastric dysmotility via sympathetic‐COX‐2 pathways in rats
Authors: Li H. , Yin J. , Zhang Z. , Winston J. H. , Shi X.‐Z. , Chen J. D. Z.
Published: October 2015

Background

Severe burn injury has been demonstrated to delay gastric emptying. The aim of this study was to investigate effects and cellular mechanisms of auricular electroacupuncture (AEA) at the acupoints innervated by the auricular branch of vagus nerve on burn‐induced gastric dysmotility in rats.

Methods

Propranolol (β‐adrenoceptor antagonist) was injected intraperitoneally after the rats underwent burn injury. All experiments were performed 6 h following burn/sham burn injury. AEA was performed at bilateral auricular acupoints for 45 min. Electrocardiogram was recorded for 30 min. Plasma hormones were measured; cyclooxygenase (COX)‐2 expressions in gastric tissue were measured using western blotting and real‐time RT‐PCR.

Key Results

(i) Burn injury delayed gastric emptying (p = 0.006) and AEA increased gastric emptying by 49% (p = 0.045). (ii) Burn injury evoked a significant elevation in plasma noradrenaline, which was suppressed by AEA. (iii) Burn injury significantly increased protein and mRNA expressions of COX‐2 in gastric fundus and antrum. AEA suppressed burn‐induced increase in protein expressions, but not mRNA expressions of COX‐2.

Conclusions & Inferences

Burn injury delays gastric emptying by up‐regulating COX‐2 attributed to sympathetic overactivity. AEA improves burn‐induced delay in gastric emptying, possibly mediated via the sympathetic‐COX‐2 pathway.
X‐ray analysis of gastrointestinal motility in conscious mice. Effects of morphine and comparison with rats
Authors: Girón R. , Pérez‐García I. , Abalo R.
Published: October 2015

Background

Non‐invasive methods to study gastrointestinal (GI) motility are of high interest, particularly in chronic studies. Amongst these, radiographic techniques after contrast intragastric administration may offer many advantages. In previous studies, we have successfully and reproducibly applied these techniques together with a semiquantitative analysis method to characterize the effect of different drugs, acutely or repeatedly administered in rat models, but we have never before used these techniques in mice. These are very convenient in basic research. Our aim was to determine if our method is also valid in mice. Additionally, we determined the effect of morphine on GI motor function in both species.

Methods

Animals received an intraperitoneal administration of morphine (at 10 and 5 mg/kg for rats and mice, respectively). Twenty min later, barium contrast (at 2 g/mL) was gavaged (2.5 and 0.4 mL for rats and mice respectively) and serial X‐rays were obtained 0–8 h after contrast. X‐rays were analyzed as previously described, using a semiquantitative score to build motility curves for each GI region.

Key Results

Motility was much faster in mice than in rats for all GI regions. Morphine at the doses used significantly depressed motility in both species to a similar extent if the whole gut or the upper GI regions (stomach, small intestine) were considered, although its effect seemed to be more intense in the lower GI regions (caecum, colorectum) in rats than in mice.

Conclusions & Inferences

We have validated our X‐rays method for its use in mice.
Is it time to confine Snellen charts to the annals of history?
Authors: Lovie‐Kitchin Jan E.
Published: October 2015

Purpose

A paper published by the author in 1988 in this journal provided some important findings about the lack of precision of visual acuity (VA) measures made with commonly used Snellen charts and the advantages of using letter charts designed using the principles proposed by Bailey and Lovie in 1976. That 1988 paper has been cited a number of times since, mostly supporting the findings. The purpose of this review is to examine the changes that have occurred in VA measurement in research and clinical practice since that earlier study.

Recent findings

While precise measures of VA using Bailey–Lovie or ETDRS charts are now commonly used in major, multi‐centre research studies, it is disappointing to see that many research papers still report VA measured with Snellen charts and even use Snellen fractions, invalidly converted to logMAR notation, in parametric analyses of VA. Many studies have examined the test–retest variability (TRV) of VA measures in groups and individuals, but it is difficult to determine if clinicians or researchers determine patients’ individual TRVs to more accurately detect real changes in VA for each individual.

This paper summarises the findings of the 1988 study: (1) Snellen charts and VA notations are not appropriate for accurate clinical and research measures of VA; (2) Charts employing the Bailey–Lovie design principles should be used to provide precise measures of VA. (3) Test–retest variability should be used to determine the limit for detecting significant change in VA. This author suggests that it is time for Snellen charts, Snellen fractions and decimal notation to be confined to the teaching of the history of VA measurement. A request is also made to stop the use of the redundant term ‘best corrected’ VA (BCVA). Recommended procedures are given for precise measures of VA and accurately monitoring changes in VA in clinical practice and research.