bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Three‐dimensional imaging of the fibrous microstructure of Achilles tendon entheses in Mus musculus
Authors: Sartori Julian , Köhring Sebastian , Witte Hartmut , Fischer Martin S. , Löffler Markus
Published: June 2018

The whole‐organ, three‐dimensional microstructure of murine Achilles tendon entheses was visualized with micro‐computed tomography (microCT). Contrast‐enhancement was achieved either by staining with phosphotungstic acid (PTA) or by a combination of cell‐maceration, demineralization and critical‐point drying with low tube voltages and propagation‐based phase‐contrast (fibrous structure scan). By PTA‐staining, X‐ray absorption of the enthesial soft tissues became sufficiently high to segment the tendon and measure cross‐sectional areas along its course. With the fibrous structure scans, three‐dimensional visualizations of the collagen fiber networks of complete entheses were obtained. The characteristic tissues of entheses were identified in the volume data. The tendon proper was marked as a segment manually. The fibers within the tendon were marked by thresholding. Tendon and fiber cross‐sectional areas were measured. The measurements were compared between individuals and protocols for contrast‐enhancement, using a spatial reference system within the three‐dimensional enthesis. The usefulness of the method for investigations of the fibrous structure of collagenous tissues is demonstrated.
Identifying Non‐Adopter Consumer Segments: An Empirical Study on Earthquake Insurance Adoption in Turkey
Authors: Adigüzel Feray , Kleijnen Mirella , Erkan B. Burçak Başbuğ , Yozgatligil Ceylan Talu
Published: June 2018

In recent years, steadily climbing natural disaster losses have increased the need to promote new financial risk transfer mechanisms, including insurance, as a mitigation tool to build resilient communities to recover faster after disaster occurrence. However, while the societal need for such policies is high, demand for natural disaster insurance typically is still low. While there is ample research on positive adoption decisions, reasons for non‐adoption has not yet received the attention it deserves. Using the case of earthquake insurance in Turkey, this study investigates how public policy makers and insurance companies can differentiate non‐adopter segments and consequently develop targeted strategies to stimulate the uptake of disaster insurance. Our study develops a non‐adopter typology consisting of four segments—state reliant positivist, dependers, adversaries, and uninformed loners. Differences among segments provide policy makers and insurance companies with meaningful insights to design and consequently introduce affordable natural disaster insurance to the market.
Comparison of tissue loss by different punches: A new A‐design
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad
Published: June 2018

Objectives

To compare the amount of tissue loss using different FUE punches.

Materials and Methods

The study was conducted in 5 patients undergoing hair restoration surgery by FUE. Four different kinds of punches were used, that is, sharp, blunt, serrated, and new “A‐design.” All the punches had a total cutting edge of 0.8 mm. In each patient, 4 punches were used to make insertion at right angle with the skin. Immediately after the punch use, the diameter of the hole was measured. The same areas were also measured after 24 hours and after 1 month. The data were collected and analyzed by Multiple t test (with Bonferroni's correction).

Results

The average size of the wound immediately at the end of the procedure was 0.826 mm for sharp, 0.858 mm for blunt, 0.892 mm for serrated, and 0.932 mm for A‐design. Similarly, the wounds decreased to 0.752, 0.778, 0.774, and 0.696 mm for sharp, blunt, serrated, and A‐design, respectively, after 24 hours. The final wound/scar size was 0.640 mm for punch, 0.660 mm for blunt punch, 0.668 mm for serrated punch, and 0.598 mm for A‐design punch after 1 month.

Conclusion

The new A‐design resulted in the minimum scar size after 1 month.
Intense pulsed light and laser treatment regimen improves scar evolution after cleft lip repair surgery
Authors: Peng Lihong , Tang Shijie , Li Qin
Published: June 2018

Objective

To observe the effects of intense pulsed light (IPL) and lattice CO2 laser treatment on scar evolution following cleft lip repair.

Methods

Fifty cleft lip repair patients were enrolled in this study. Twenty‐five patients used conventional approach with scar cream massage combined with silica gel products after operation. While other 25 patients which received IPL and lattice CO2 laser treatments. The treatments commenced 1 week after removal of stitches and observation of scar hyperplasia. Scar evolution was evaluated with the Vancouver scar scale (VSS) by postoperative photographs.

Results

Relative to the conventional approach, the laser treatments showed improved scar softening and flattening. These differences were reflected in the groups' significantly different VSS scores.

Conclusion

Intense pulsed light combined with lattice CO2 laser treatment can improve cleft lip surgery scar pliability and appearance, while alleviating children from having to endure the pain of scar massage.
Expected Inflation and Other Determinants of Treasury Yields
Authors: DUFFEE GREGORY R.
Published: June 2018

Shocks to nominal bond yields consist of news about expected future inflation, expected future real short rates, and expected excess returns—all over the bond's life. I estimate the magnitude of the first component for short‐ and long‐maturity Treasury bonds. At a quarterly frequency, variances of news about expected inflation account for between 10% to 20% of variances of yield shocks. Standard dynamic models with long‐run risk imply variance ratios close to 1. Habit formation models fare somewhat better. The magnitudes of shocks to real rates and expected excess returns cannot be determined reliably.
Social Disadvantage and Instability in Older Adults' Ties to Their Adult Children
Authors: Goldman Alyssa W. , Cornwell Benjamin
Published: June 2018

Objective

The authors examine whether racial and socioeconomic factors influence older adults' likelihood of experiencing instability in their social network ties with their adult children.

Background

Recent work shows that socially disadvantaged older adults' social networks are more unstable and exhibit higher rates of turnover, perhaps due to greater exposure to broader social–environmental instability. The authors consider whether this network instability applies to older adults' ties with their adult children, which are often among the closest and most valued social ties in later life.

Methods

The authors use two waves of data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (N = 1,456), a nationally representative, longitudinal study of older Americans. Through a series of multivariate regression models, the authors examine how race and education are associated with how frequently older adults reported being in contact with child network members, and how likely older adults were to stop naming their children as network members over time.

Results

African American and less educated individuals reported significantly more frequent contact with their adult child network members than did Whites and more educated individuals. Nevertheless, African American and less educated older adults were also more likely to stop naming their children as network confidants over time.

Conclusion

African American and less educated older adults may be at greater risk of losing access to the supports and other resources that are often provided by adult children, or of not being able to consistently draw on them as they age, despite the fact that these ties demonstrate greater potential for support exchange at baseline.
Understanding Generational Differences in Early Fertility: Proximate and Social Determinants
Authors: Goldberg Rachel E.
Published: June 2018

Objective

This study investigated: (1) differences by generational status in the risk of early childbearing; (2) to what extent observed differences reflected timing of sexual onset versus postonset proximate determinants like contraceptive use; and (3) the influence of individual‐, family‐, and neighborhood‐level social factors.

Background

Although U.S. rates of early fertility have declined, they remain high relative to other high‐income countries, and disparities by population group persist. The share of the youth population with immigrant parents has expanded greatly, yet relatively little is known about generational variations in early fertility.

Method

This study used Wave 1–4 data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (N=8,777 women). To distinguish between the sexual onset and fertility processes, a sequential hazard framework modelled: 1) the transition to sexual activity, and 2) the transition to first birth among women who had initiated sexual activity.

Results

Foreign‐born and second‐generation young women initiated both sexual activity and childbearing later than those with U.S.‐born parents. Sequential hazard models revealed the importance of later sexual onset in explaining delayed fertility among the foreign‐born, and of family attributes for their later sexual onset. Postonset behaviors were essential to the delayed childbearing observed among the second generation.

Conclusion

Important differences by generational status exist in both the proximate determinants and the social factors underlying children of immigrants' lower risk of early fertility.
Comparison of Carotid Doppler Ultrasound to Other Angiographic Modalities in the Measurement of Carotid Artery Stenosis
Authors: Boyko Matthew , Kalashyan Hayrapet , Becher Harald , Romanchuk Helen , Saqqur Maher , Rempel Jeremy L. , Derksen Carol , Shuaib Ashfaq , Khan Khurshid
Published: June 2018

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to compare Doppler ultrasound (DUS) to other angiographic modalities: computed tomography angiography (CTA), magnetic resonance angiography (MRA), and digital subtraction angiography (DSA).

METHODS

All DUS studies performed at Stroke Prevention Clinic (SPC) from 2011 to 2013 and referred for further angiographic modalities were included. Patients were excluded if the corresponding angiographic modality was not performed within 6 months of DUS. Patients were also excluded if they underwent interventions before DUS or between the time of DUS and the corresponding angiographic modality. The degree of stenosis was classified as mild (<50%), moderate (50‐69%), severe (70‐99%), or occlusion (100%).

RESULTS

In total, 245 patients were identified. Nine patients were excluded (3.7%). Overall 472 Doppler studies of single ICAs from 236 patients were included in our analysis. Age was 65 ± 13 years and 136 patients were males (57.6%). There was an excellent agreement between DUS and CTA (kappa = .9 [P < .001], n = 274), good agreement with MRA (kappa = .8 [P < .001], n = 242), and excellent agreement with DSA (kappa = .92 [P < .001], n = 18). There was excellent agreement between CTA and MRA (kappa = .87, n = 46).

CONCLUSION

Doppler ultrasound performed in a dedicated SPC by an experienced sonographer and reviewed by a certified stroke neurologist serves as a reliable initial screening tool in determining carotid artery stenosis.
Alteration of occlusal vertical dimension induces signs of neuroplastic changes in corticomotor control of masseter muscles: Preliminary findings
Authors: Deng Hongyan , Gao Shang , Lu Shengyi , Kumar Abhishek , Zhang Zhenting , Svensson Peter
Published: June 2018

Purpose

To investigate the effect of altering occlusal vertical dimension (OVD) in patients with severe attrition on corticomotor control of the masseter muscles as assessed by navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS).

Methods

Seven patients (58.6 ± 8.4 years) with decreased OVD due to severe attrition were given mandibular occlusal splints to alter the OVD with the instruction to wear during the whole awake time for a period of four weeks. Motor‐evoked potentials (MEPs) and the motor cortex maps of the masseter muscles and first dorsal interosseous (FDI) muscles as control were recorded by nTMS at baseline and at least 4 weeks after the alteration of OVD. The stimulus‐response curves of MEPs were analysed with two‐way repeated‐measures ANOVA, and the numerical rating scale scores, motor thresholds, onset latencies, motor cortex maps and centre of gravity (COG) were analysed with paired t tests.

Results

There was a significant increase in the amplitude of the masseter muscle MEPs (P = 0.036), but no change in the motor cortex map areas (P = 0.111) four weeks after the alteration of OVD. Furthermore, there was no significant difference in either the amplitude of the FDI muscle MEPs (P = 0.466) or the motor cortex map areas (P = 0.230) before and after OVD alteration.

Conclusion

The results suggest that alteration of OVD in patients with severe attrition was associated with signs of neuroplastic changes in the corticomotor control of the masseter muscles. The results of the study may add to our understanding of the putative mechanisms related to cortical changes in response to OVD alterations.
Urokinase‐plasminogen activator protects periodontal ligament fibroblast from oxidative induced‐apoptosis and DNA damage
Authors: Ahmad Akhoundi M. S. , Rokn A. , Bagheri R. , Momeni N. , Hodjat M.
Published: June 2018

Background and Objective

Urokinase‐plasminogen activator (uPA) is a serine protease expressed at high basal level in normal gingival cervical fluid. Despite its known pathologic role in tissue proteolysis in periodontitis, little is known concerning uPA physiological function in oral tissue. Recent evidence in cancer cells has implicated the uPA system in DNA repair and anti‐apoptotic pathways. This study is aimed to evaluate the protective function of urokinase against oxidative DNA damage in periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblast, and to propose a new biological role for uPA in oral cavity.

Material and Methods

PDL cells were isolated from human wisdom teeth obtained from healthy donors. An oxidative stress model was created in which PDL cells were incubated with 20, 30, 40 and 60 μmol/L hydrogen peroxide. Twenty‐four hours before and after peroxide treatment, cells were treated with uPA and amiloride. Cell viability was assessed by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, apoptosis by DAPI‐staining and annexin V/propidium iodide assay, and DNA breaks by alkaline comet assay. For estimating DNA damage level, γ‐H2AX expression was studied using flow cytometry and immunostaining.

Results

The incubation of the peroxide‐treated cells with uPA significantly increased cell viability and decreased apoptosis. A significant decrease in the number of γ‐H2AX foci was seen at 30 μmol/L hydrogen peroxide in uPA‐treated cells. uPA inhibition as a result of amiloride treatment, in turn, induced a reduction in cell viability. In addition, there was a significant decrease in the levels of DNA damage in uPA‐treated groups as measured by the comet assay.

Conclusion

The present study brings support to the theory that uPA may have a protective role for periodontal tissue and could protect PDL fibroblasts from oxidative DNA damage and apoptosis.
Coxofemoral luxation in pet rabbits: nine cases
Authors: Gallego M. , Villaluenga J. E.
Published: June 2018

Of the pet rabbits presented at one private practice between August 2011 and August 2016 (n=1369), 5·6% presented with a traumatic orthopaedic injury. Of these, 7·8% (n=6) presented with traumatic coxofemoral luxation, the most frequently observed type of luxation. Three cases of non‐traumatic coxofemoral luxation in pet rabbits are also discussed. Eight rabbits presented with craniodorsal luxation and one with caudoventral luxation. Five rabbits were initially treated using closed reduction and an Ehmer sling under sedation. Two rabbits responded satisfactorily to closed reduction; their bandages remained in place for 10 and 14 days, and movement was cage‐limited for 1 month after bandage placement. The bandage did not prevent re‐luxation in three cases. Therefore, two rabbits received iliofemoral nylon sutures, and three rabbits received a femoral neck and head ostectomy. One rabbit was treated directly using open reduction and an iliofemoral nylon suture due to fractures in the same limb. One rabbit was presented in shock, coxofemoral luxation was noticed as an incidental finding and euthanasia was elected by the owner. In conclusion, of the three rabbits treated via femoral neck and head ostectomy one rabbit had an unsatisfactory outcome and two rabbits have non‐assessable outcomes. The three rabbits treated with iliofemoral sutures showed satisfactory long‐term outcomes and the two rabbits treated with closed reduction and an Ehmer sling showed satisfactory medium and long‐term outcomes.
The beginnings of copyright law in Macau
Authors: Carvalho Henrique
Published: June 2018

This paper attempts to trace the history of copyright law in Macau from 1869 to 2001. In so doing it identifies two separate beginnings, each set in motion by external actions directed toward the territory, namely the extension of the Portuguese Civil Code of 1867 to its overseas colonies in 1869, and the inclusion of Macau in the Special 301 Report of the United States Trade Representative between 1998 and 2001. By trying to show a discontinuity between the city's rich cultural history and the introduction of copyright law, it suggests that we cannot begin to understand this history without locating copyright law within the intricate network of internal and external forces that shape Macau's complex metabolism.
Children's attitude problems: Bootstrapping verb meaning from syntax and pragmatics
Authors: Hacquard Valentine , Lidz Jeffrey
Published: June 2018

How do children learn the meanings of propositional attitude verbs? We argue that children use information contained in both syntactic distribution and pragmatic function to zero in on the appropriate meanings. Specifically, we identify a potentially universal link between semantic subclasses of attitude verbs, their syntactic distribution and the kinds of indirect speech acts they can be used to perform. As a result, children can use the syntax as evidence about the meaning, which in turn constrains the kinds of pragmatic enrichments they do and do not make in understanding these verbs in conversation.
Neural basis of bilingual language control
Authors: Calabria Marco , Costa Albert , Green David W. , Abutalebi Jubin
Published: June 2018

Acquiring and speaking a second language increases demand on the processes of language control for bilingual as compared to monolingual speakers. Language control for bilingual speakers involves the ability to keep the two languages separated to avoid interference and to select one language or the other in a given conversational context. This ability is what we refer with the term “bilingual language control” (BLC). It is now well established that the architecture of this complex system of language control encompasses brain networks involving cortical and subcortical structures, each responsible for different cognitive processes such as goal maintenance, conflict monitoring, interference suppression, and selective response inhibition. Furthermore, advances have been made in determining the overlap between the BLC and the nonlinguistic executive control networks, under the hypothesis that the BLC processes are just an instantiation of a more domain‐general control system. Here, we review the current knowledge about the neural basis of these control systems. Results from brain imaging studies of healthy adults and on the performance of bilingual individuals with brain damage are discussed.
Creating favourable morphological and yield variations for rapeseed by interspecific crosses between Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea
Authors: Jiang Jinjin , Rong Hao , Ran Liping , Fan Hongxia , Kong Yueqin , Wang Youping
Published: June 2018

Brassica napus is a most important oilseed grown worldwide with a limited genetic background, due to the short history of speciation, domestication and cultivation. To create novel germplasm for rapeseed breeding, we made interspecific crosses followed with chromosome doubling between B. rapa and B. oleracea to generate novel B. napus with favourable agronomic traits. The resynthesized (S0) hybrids were confirmed by SSR and cytogenetic analysis, and the fertility was increased from 32.7% in S0 generation to ~97.31% in S1 generation. The plant shapes of the progeny were dramatically improved compared to the diploid parents and B. napus cv. ‘Yangyou 6’, especially for the branch initiation height, branch number and pod number. The single‐plant yield was significantly improved in S1 progeny for the variations in branching sites and number. Significant improvement in plant shape and yield was observed on S2 generation compared to the local elite commercial open‐pollinated cultivar, which would be further fixed by intensive selection and pyramiding breeding. Such variation is of great value for breeding rapeseed with improved plant architecture and harvest index.
Legume biofortification is an underexploited strategy for combatting hidden hunger
Authors: Rehman Hafiz Mamoon , Cooper James William , Lam Hon‐Ming , Yang Seung Hwan
Published: June 2018

Legumes are the world's primary source of dietary protein and are particularly important for those in developing economies. However, the biofortification potential of legumes remains underexploited. Legumes offer a diversity of micronutrients and amino acids, exceeding or complementing the profiles of cereals. As such, the enhancement of legume nutritional composition presents an appealing target for addressing the “hidden hunger” of global micronutrient malnutrition. Affecting ~2 billion people, micronutrient malnutrition causes severe health effects ranging from stunted growth to reduced lifespan. An increased availability of micronutrient‐enriched legumes, particularly to those in socio‐economically deprived areas, would serve the dual functions of ameliorating hidden hunger and increasing the positive health effects associated with legumes. Here, we give an updated overview of breeding approaches for the nutritional improvement of legumes, and crucially, we highlight the importance of considering nutritional improvement in a wider ecological context. Specifically, we review the potential of the legume microbiome for agronomic trait improvement and highlight the need for increased genetic, biochemical, and environmental data resources. Finally, we state that such resources should be complemented by an international and multidisciplinary initiative that will drive crop improvement and, most importantly, ensure that research outcomes benefit those who need them most.
Abscisic acid negatively modulates plant defence against rice black‐streaked dwarf virus infection by suppressing the jasmonate pathway and regulating reactive oxygen species levels in rice
Authors: Xie Kaili , Li Lulu , Zhang Hehong , Wang Rong , Tan Xiaoxiang , He Yuqing , Hong Gaojie , Li Junmin , Ming Feng , Yao Xuefeng , Yan Fei , Sun Zongtao , Chen Jianping
Published: June 2018

Abscisic acid (ABA) plays a multifaceted role in plant immunity and can either increase resistance or increase susceptibility to some bacterial and fungal pathogens depending on the pathosystem. ABA is also known to mediate plant defence to some viruses. In this study, the relationship between the ABA pathway and rice black‐streaked dwarf virus (RBSDV) was investigated in rice. The expression of ABA pathway genes was significantly reduced upon RBSDV infection. Application of exogenous hormones and various ABA pathway mutants revealed that the ABA pathway plays a negative role in rice defence against RBSDV. Exogenous hormone treatment and virus inoculation showed that ABA inhibits the jasmonate‐mediated resistance to RBSDV. ABA treatment also suppressed accumulation of reactive oxygen species by inducing the expression of superoxidase dismutases and catalases. Thus, ABA modulates the rice–RBSDV interaction by suppressing the jasmonate pathway and regulating reactive oxygen species levels. This is the first example of ABA increasing susceptibility to a plant virus.
Chromatin‐based mechanisms of temperature memory in plants
Authors: Friedrich Thomas , Faivre Léa , Bäurle Isabel , Schubert Daniel
Published: June 2018

For successful growth and development, plants constantly have to gauge their environment. Plants are capable to monitor their current environmental conditions, and they are also able to integrate environmental conditions over time and store the information induced by the cues. In a developmental context, such an environmental memory is used to align developmental transitions with favourable environmental conditions. One temperature‐related example of this is the transition to flowering after experiencing winter conditions, that is, vernalization. In the context of adaptation to stress, such an environmental memory is used to improve stress adaptation even when the stress cues are intermittent. A somatic stress memory has now been described for various stresses, including extreme temperatures, drought, and pathogen infection. At the molecular level, such a memory of the environment is often mediated by epigenetic and chromatin modifications. Histone modifications in particular play an important role. In this review, we will discuss and compare different types of temperature memory and the histone modifications, as well as the reader, writer, and eraser proteins involved.
From Revolution to Resolution: Exploring Third‐Party Mediation in Nonviolent Uprisings
Authors: Svensson Isak , Lundgren Magnus
Published: June 2018

Nonviolent protest movements have been prevalent in the last decades. While such movements aim for peaceful change, they are frequently followed by civil war. Previous research has shown that outcomes of nonviolent protests can be influenced by mediation, but because most previous research on conflict mediation has predominately examined armed conflicts, little is known about when and how mediation occurs. We argue that mediation in nonviolent uprisings is more likely when social conflicts generate negative externalities for the outside world, incentivizing third parties to act and conflict parties to accept their terms. After assessing the scope of the empirical field and identifying anchoring points for future research, we examine data on nonviolent campaigns between 1970 and 2014, investigating patterns in mediation incidence across time and space by situational characteristics, and by the origins of the mediator. We find that protest movements with a higher risk of violent escalation, marked by radicalism or state repression, are more likely to be mediated, and that mediation of nonviolent disputes has shifted from domestic to international mediators. We conclude by discussing theoretical implications for the field as well as suggesting some important policy and practice implications for the mediation of nonviolent conflicts.
Cell phone support to improve medication adherence among solid organ transplant recipients
Authors: Sayegh Caitlin S. , Szmuszkovicz Jacqueline R. , Menteer Jondavid , Sherer Sara , Thomas Daniel , Lestz Rachel , Belzer Marvin
Published: June 2018

For many adolescent and young adult solid organ transplant recipients, medication non‐adherence is a mortal issue. This study investigated the feasibility, acceptability, and potential efficacy of a 12‐week cell phone support intervention to improve immunosuppressant medication adherence. A small sample (N = 8) of non‐adherent adolescent and young adult transplant recipients, aged 15‐20.5 years, was enrolled. Cell phone support consisted of short calls each weekday including medication reminders, discussion of needs, problem‐solving support, and promotion of clinic and community resources. Changes in adherence were measured by self‐report and laboratory values, and intervention acceptability, adherence barriers, social support, depression, and substance use were assessed by self‐report. Pre‐post effect sizes showed medium‐to‐large improvements in adherence, lasting through a 12‐week follow‐up assessment. There were also small‐to‐medium changes in adherence barriers, social support, and depression. However, acceptability and feasibility were limited, due to a low rate of enrollment by eligible male participants. Cell phone support interventions may promote medication adherence among adolescents and young adults. Cell phone support warrants further investigation, including a randomized controlled trial to evaluate efficacy.
An academic practice partnership: Building capacity to meet sexual health education policy requirements of a public school system
Authors: Cygan Heide R. , McNaughton Diane , Reising Virginia , Reid Bianca
Published: June 2018

The purpose of this clinical concepts paper is to describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a formal academic‐practice partnership between a large, urban, public school system and a college of nursing, based on the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's Guiding Principles to Academic‐Practice Partnerships. The overarching goal of the partnership was to increase the school district's capacity to meet sexual health education policy requirements while providing graduate nursing students with an opportunity to work with a diverse population of youth during a public health nursing practicum course. As a result of the partnership, over 2,000 public school students (grades 5–12) have received comprehensive sexual health education and increased their knowledge by an average of 19.7–32.7%. In addition, 79 prelicensure, graduate nursing students have been placed at the public school system for public health nursing practicum and 100% have met all clinical objectives. As with any partnership, successes and lessons learned were identified. Discussion of both is included in this paper and may benefit other organizations considering entering into similar partnerships. Ultimately, academic‐practice partnerships are an important mechanism to simultaneously meet the growing needs of community practice partners and nursing education programs, while strengthening public health nursing practice.
Xanthomonas vesicatoria virulence factors involved in early stages of bacterial spot development in tomato
Authors: Felipe V. , Romero A. M. , Montecchia M. S. , Vojnov A. A. , Bianco M. I. , Yaryura P. M.
Published: June 2018

Xanthomonas vesicatoria (Xv) is a member of a species complex that causes bacterial spot on tomato, one of the most important diseases of this crop worldwide. The objective of this investigation was to analyse several characteristics involved in Xv virulence in relation to strain aggressiveness. Motility, biofilm formation, adhesion and production of xanthan were evaluated in three local strains causing tomato bacterial spot in Argentina. The strains assayed presented differential swarming and twitching motilities, adhesion and biofilm formation abilities. The most aggressive strain, BNM 208, exhibited the greatest swarming and twitching motilities, and developed a mature biofilm with presence of defined cell clusters, a homogeneous and compact structure, and higher biomass and substratum coverage than the other two strains. Even though the three strains produced similar amounts of xanthan, BNM 208 produced the most viscous exopolysaccharide, which possibly relates to the better characteristics of its biofilm. Despite other differences, the three strains multiplied to similar levels when they were infiltrated into the leaf. The results suggest that the aggressiveness of Xv strains studied in this work was related to their ability to move by flagella or type IV pili, adhere to leaves and form well developed biofilms, factors that improve phyllosphere colonization. A better understanding of the factors involved in the Xv infection process at the early stages would contribute to developing new control strategies for this phytopathogen.
Selection of reference genes for transcript profiling of Sargassum polycystum by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction
Authors: Sim Mei‐Chea , Chan Cheong Xin , Ho Chai‐Ling , Phang Siew‐Moi
Published: June 2018

Sargassum species are one of the major alginate‐producing seaweed species in Asian countries. Alginate is widely used in food, feed, pharmaceutical and medical industries as thickening and stabilizing agents. To establish a set of consistently expressed genes as reference genes for quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) studies of Sargassum polycystum (Fucales, Ochrophyta) in samples collected at two distinct time points from the field, four candidate reference genes, namely ribosomal protein L3 (RPL3), ribosomal protein S15 (RPS15), alpha‐tubulin (α‐TUB) and eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 alpha (TEF1α), were analyzed using geNorm and NormFinder. The results showed that RPL3, α‐TUB and TEF1α were the most stable genes using both programs, whereas RPS15 gene was shown to be the least stable. Identification of stably expressed reference genes is crucial for qRT‐PCR studies to allow accurate quantification of target gene expression levels. In addition, the expression of key enzyme in the final step of alginate biosynthesis pathway mannuronan C5 epimerase‐SP01411 (MC5E‐SP01411) and mannuronan C5 epimerase‐SP02271 (MC5E‐SP02271) were differentially expressed in the seaweeds collected at two distinct time points from the field. To our knowledge, this is the first report on validation of reference genes for any Sargassum species. Our data provide a basis for the selection of reference genes for future biological research in related studies.
Complex Contracting: Management Challenges and Solutions
Authors: Brown Trevor L. , Potoski Matthew , Van Slyke David M.
Published: June 2018

Governments at all levels buy mission‐critical goods and services whose attributes and performance requirements are hard to define and produce. Many governments—and the public managers who lead them—lack experience and knowledge about how to contract for complex products. The contract management counsel provided to public managers is thin. Missing is a conceptual managerial framework to guide purchasing the complex products that are often so critical to public organizations' core missions. Drawing on perspectives from across the social sciences, the framework presented in this article provides guidance on how managers can harness the upsides of complex contracting while avoiding its pitfalls. The framework helps identify conditions that increase the likelihood of positive outcomes for the purchasing government and the vendor—the win‐win. To illustrate the framework, the article provides examples of successful and failed acquisitions for complex products such as transportation projects, social service systems, and information technology systems.
Prospect Theory Goes Public: Experimental Evidence on Cognitive Biases in Public Policy and Management Decisions
Authors: Bellé Nicola , Cantarelli Paola , Belardinelli Paolo
Published: June 2018

This article tests a broad range of cognitive biases branching out from prospect theory in the context of public policy and management. Results illuminate systematic deviations from rationality. In experiments 1 through 5, the framing of outcomes influenced decisions across policy and management domains. In experiment 6, public employees were prone to an anchoring bias when setting standards for responsiveness. Experiment 7 shows that public workers tend to put more effort into activities that affect higher percentages of beneficiaries, even if the absolute number of affected clients is constant. Experiments 8 and 9 suggest that public employees are more likely to stick to a suboptimal status quo as the number of superior alternatives increases. Experiment 10 provides evidence of an asymmetric dominance effect: decisions changed when a decoy was present. This article contributes to behavioral public administration by replicating and extending previous trials.
Toward a social–ecological approach to ecological restoration: a look back at three decades of maritime clifftop restoration
Authors: Le Roy Maxime , Sawtschuk Jérôme , Bioret Frédéric , Gallet Sébastien
Published: June 2018

The sharp increase in the touristic use of the maritime clifftops in western France after WWII resulted in a concentration of activities that generated ecosystem degradation in many sites (e.g. touristic infrastructure, human trampling). Consideration of the ecological value of these sites over the past three decades has led to a shift in maritime clifftop management and consequently to numerous planning and restoration projects. Using inventories of maritime clifftop restoration projects conducted in 2007 and 2016, we identified 76 restoration projects, which allowed us to study the active and passive restoration methods used. In addition, we collected and analyzed 465 vegetation monitoring plots with an average duration of 5.6 years to understand how they were used by both scientists and nonscientists. First, we describe the social–ecological systems of these restoration projects through an analysis of their social contexts, ecological stakes, and restoration goals based on 19 semistructured interviews with restoration stakeholders. Comparing our research with similar studies in the literature reveals that the main strength of maritime clifftop restorations is a strong network between scientist and nonscientist stakeholders combined with high‐level monitoring. Finally, we underline the main challenges for the future of maritime clifftop ecological restoration: (1) the need for further study of this ecological database (e.g. to study the medium‐term effect of active restoration, continue current monitoring); and (2) the need to develop sociological studies of human uses and perceptions to improve the long‐term management of restored ecosystems.
Nursing student as patient: experiential learning in a hospital simulation to improve empathy of nursing students
Authors: ter Beest Hanneke , van Bemmel Marlies , Adriaansen Marian
Published: June 2018

Background

Empathy is an important factor in the relation nurse–patient. To develop empathy in bachelor nursing students is a challenge in nursing education. There are several small experiential learning methods that develop empathy in nursing students, although not in a hospital simulation. By experiencing the role of a patient, nursing students would learn important aspects of empathy.

Aim

This research will explore what nursing students learn about empathy in the relation nurse–patient, while they lie in bed as a patient seeing the nurse from another perspective.

Methodological design

Qualitative descriptive study on 75 reflections of bachelor nursing students.

Results

Students experienced the need for empathy and were confronted with the patient's experiential world, being dependent, enduring hospital life and needing attention from the nurse.

Conclusion

The change in perspective in the hospital simulation gives nursing students valuable insights in the importance of empathy in the relation patient–nurse. Four themes were identified: endurance, silent scream for attention, scary dependency and confrontation with the role of patient. Students learned about the possibilities and difficulties of empathy in different stages of the simulation. A hospital simulation is a useful and practical method to teach students empathy from the patients’ perspective, on condition that there is a solid preparation for experiential learning.
Predicting Future Suicide: Clinician Opinion versus a Standardized Assessment Tool
Authors: Randall Jason R. , Sareen Jitender , Chateau Dan , Bolton James M.
Published: June 2018

Objective

To compare the effectiveness of clinician prediction of risk to a standardized assessment of presentation status.

Methods

All adult psychiatry emergency department consults in the two main hospitals in Winnipeg, Canada, were assessed using a standardized form (n = 5,376). This form includes two risk scales for a gestalt physician assessment of risk (Suicide Likelihood scale, suicide Attempt Likelihood scale) and the Columbia Classification Algorithm of Suicide Assessment (C‐CASA). Regression determined whether assessments predicted future suicide attempts and deaths. The area under the curve (AUC) determined the prediction accuracy of these methods.

Results

Although the regression results were significant, the AUCs were either moderate or poor. Clinician assessment was not effective at predicting deaths (AUC = .546, .36–.73), but moderately accurate at predicting future attempts (AUC = .728, .66–.79). C‐CASA assessment was moderately accurate at predicting both attempts and deaths (AUC = .666 and .678).

Conclusions

Clinician assessment does not significantly outperform a simple assessment of the occurrence of suicidal thoughts and behaviors during presentation to the emergency department. Behavior‐based standardized assessments should be further researched in this field. Assessment of suicidality at presentation using C‐CASA or similar assessment should be standard for psychiatric patients assessed in the emergency department.
“A game of two halves?” Understanding the process and outcomes of English care home closures: Qualitative and quantitative perspectives
Authors: Glasby Jon , Allen Kerry , Robinson Suzanne
Published: June 2018

With care services increasingly delivered via a market there is always a risk that care homes could fail financially or struggle in terms of quality, ultimately having to close. When this happens, the received wisdom is that subsequent relocation can be detrimental to the health and well‐being of older residents (possibly even culminating in increased mortality). However, there is very little formal evidence in the United Kingdom (UK) or beyond to guide policymakers and local leaders when undertaking such sensitive work. Against this background, this article reports findings from an independent evaluation of what is believed to be the largest care home closure program in the UK (and possibly beyond). This consisted of qualitative interviews with older people, families, care staff, and social work assessors during the closure process in one case study care home and one linked day center, as well as self‐reported health and quality of life data for older people from 13 homes/linked day centers at initial assessment, 28 days after moving and at 12‐month follow up. The study is significant in presenting public data about such a contested topic from such a large‐scale closure process, in its focus on both process and outcomes, in its mixed‐methods approach, and in its engagement with older people, families, and care staff alongside the use of more formal outcome measures. Despite significant distress part‐way through the process, the article suggests that outcomes either stayed the same or improved for most of our sample up to a year after moving to new services. Care homes closures may thus be a “tale of two halves”, with inevitable distress during the closure but, if done well, with scope for improved outcomes for some people in the longer term. These findings are crucial for current policy and practice given that the risk of major closures seems to be growing and given that there is virtually no prior research on which to base local or national closure processes. While some of this research is specific to England, the underlying issue of care home closures and lessons learned around good practice will also apply to other countries.
Relating ultrasonic vocalizations from a pair of rats to individual behavior: A composite link model approach
Authors: Vendrig Nadia J. , Hemerik Lia , Pinter Ilona J. , ter Braak Cajo J.F.
Published: June 2018

Ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) are crucial in the social behavior of rats. We aim to relate USV rates of pairs of rats to individual activity in an automated home cage (PhenoTyper®) where USVs are recorded per pair and not per individual. We propose a composite link model approach to parametrize a mechanistic “sum‐of‐rates” model in which the pair's USV rate is the sum of the USV rates of individuals depending on their own behavior. In generalized linear models (GLMs), the individual's USV rates are multiplied. We verified through simulation that composite link model gave lower Poisson deviance than GLM. We analyzed the data from an experiment in which half of the cages did allow the pairs to interact (Pair Housing) and the other half did not (Individual Housing). The “sum‐of‐rates” model fits best for Individual Housing and GLM for Pair Housing. An additional simulation study strongly suggests that interaction between rats changes the underlying mechanism for vocalization behavior.
Validation of a multimodal set‐up for the study of zirconium alloys claddings' behaviour under simulated LOCA conditions
Authors: Campello D. , Tardif N. , Desquines J. , Baietto M.‐C. , Coret M. , Maynadier A. , Chaudet P.
Published: June 2018

In a previous paper, Campello et al. presented a combined experimental/numerical approach to identify the creep behaviour of as‐fabricated Zircaloy‐4 claddings under simulated LOCA conditions. The current paper deals with the uncertainties and errors estimation of the two key methods used to measure the thermal and kinematic full fields during the creep tests: near infrared thermography (NIRT) and two‐dimensional digital image correlation (2D‐DIC).

The NIRT uncertainties are evaluated as 0.7% of the actual temperature. They are mainly due to the thermocouple measurements used to calibrate the radiometric model of the NIRT.

A combined 2D‐DIC/edge detection approach is proposed to quantify the error related to 2D‐DIC when measuring the ballooning of the tubular specimen. The 2D‐DIC error is evaluated as 0.1% of the actual equivalent strain even for ballooning inducing a radius increase of 20%.
The HLA‐B*54:35 and ‐B*54:38 identified in volunteer donors for hematopoietic stem cell transplant
Authors: Baek I.‐C. , Choi E.‐J. , Shin D.‐H. , Kim H.‐J. , Kim T.‐G.
Published: June 2018

HLA‐B*54:35 and ‐B*54:38 differ from HLA‐B*54:01:01 in codons in exons 2 and 3.
Fibroids in pregnancy: management and outcomes
Authors: Sampat Karan , Alleemudder Djavid I
Published: June 2018

Key content

In pregnancy, fibroids can lead to complications such as placental abruption and increased caesarean section rates.

Surgical intervention of fibroids within the first two trimesters is possible in selected women.

Increasing evidence suggests that myomectomy can be performed concurrently with caesarean section without an increased risk of blood transfusion or hysterectomy.

Adverse outcomes are associated with subsequent pregnancies following uterine artery embolisation.

Learning objectives

To outline the complications of fibroids and treatment options in pregnancy.

To determine pregnancy outcomes in those previously treated for uterine fibroids, including with uterine artery embolisation and ulipristal acetate.

To discuss the mode of delivery in women with a previous myomectomy.

Ethical issues

With the provision of informed consent, should women with a previous myomectomy be encouraged to proceed with vaginal delivery?

A greater rate of certain complications has been observed in pregnancies that follow uterine artery embolisation. Should this information be provided routinely?