bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-Resolution Inflorescence Phenotyping Using a Novel Image-Analysis Pipeline, PANorama
Authors: Crowell Samuel , Falcão Alexandre X. , Shah Ankur , Wilson Zachary , Greenberg Anthony J. , McCouch Susan R.
Published: April 2014

Variation in inflorescence development is an important target of selection for numerous crop species, including many members of the Poaceae (grasses). In Asian rice (Oryza sativa), inflorescence (panicle) architecture is correlated with yield and grain-quality traits. However, many rice breeders continue to use composite phenotypes in selection pipelines, because measuring complex, branched panicles requires a significant investment of resources. We developed an open-source phenotyping platform, PANorama, which measures multiple architectural and branching phenotypes from images simultaneously. PANorama automatically extracts skeletons from images, allows users to subdivide axes into individual internodes, and thresholds away structures, such as awns, that normally interfere with accurate panicle phenotyping. PANorama represents an improvement in both efficiency and accuracy over existing panicle imaging platforms, and flexible implementation makes PANorama capable of measuring a range of organs from other plant species. Using high-resolution phenotypes, a mapping population of recombinant inbred lines, and a dense single-nucleotide polymorphism data set, we identify, to our knowledge, the largest number of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for panicle traits ever reported in a single study. Several areas of the genome show pleiotropic clusters of panicle QTLs, including a region near the rice Green Revolution gene SEMIDWARF1. We also confirm that multiple panicle phenotypes are distinctly different among a small collection of diverse rice varieties. Taken together, these results suggest that clusters of small-effect QTLs may be responsible for varietal or subpopulation-specific panicle traits, representing a significant opportunity for rice breeders selecting for yield performance across different genetic backgrounds.
Anisotropic elasticity of silicon and its application to the modelling of X-ray optics
Authors: Zhang Lin , Barrett Raymond , Cloetens Peter , Detlefs Carsten , Sanchez del Rio Manuel
Published: April 2014

The crystal lattice of single-crystal silicon gives rise to anisotropic elasticity. The stiffness and compliance coefficient matrix depend on crystal orientation and, consequently, Young's modulus, the shear modulus and Poisson's ratio as well. Computer codes (in Matlab and Python) have been developed to calculate these anisotropic elasticity parameters for a silicon crystal in any orientation. These codes facilitate the evaluation of these anisotropy effects in silicon for applications such as microelectronics, microelectromechanical systems and X-ray optics. For mechanically bent X-ray optics, it is shown that the silicon crystal orientation is an important factor which may significantly influence the optics design and manufacturing phase. Choosing the appropriate crystal orientation can both lead to improved performance whilst lowering mechanical bending stresses. The thermal deformation of the crystal depends on Poisson's ratio. For an isotropic constant Poisson's ratio, ν, the thermal deformation (RMS slope) is proportional to (1 + ν). For a cubic anisotropic material, the thermal deformation of the X-ray optics can be approximately simulated by using the average of ν12and ν13as an effective isotropic Poisson's ratio, where the direction 1 is normal to the optic surface, and the directions 2 and 3 are two normal orthogonal directions parallel to the optical surface. This average is independent of the direction in the optical surface (the crystal plane) for Si(100), Si(110) and Si(111). Using the effective isotropic Poisson's ratio for these orientations leads to an error in thermal deformation smaller than 5.5%.
Family business in transition: a case of PAL
Authors: Joshi Manoj , Srivastava Apoorva
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– The case aims to deal with multi generation entrepreneurship. Families are about people and businesses are about money, therefore, conflict between the two is inevitable. Family-owned businesses develop competitive edges when they align values, vision, strategy, investment and governance to make both family and business activities more professional and mutually supportive. It is a belief that “treating the business like a family”, driven by values and concern for human needs, creates an organization with motivated people working together to create long-term value. Jitesh Ghai is the MD of Panchamrit Asbestos Ltd (PAL), which stands for PAL. Jitesh has an “experiential learning” with the cement sheet business and has understood the nuances of the business. It is supposedly required that PAL ought to professionalize owing to market infeasibility. Shashwat, his son has diversified interests and therefore desires to spin-off to “Big Apple”.

Design/methodology/approach

– The case is based on research and secondary information, which has been tested several times, while filling the case gaps during the process. To authenticate information, multiple sources (vendors and customers) of information have been used.

Findings

– There is a dilemma between the father-son relationship and decision to professionalise or spin-off! It is understood that in multigenerational business, it is not necessary that the subsequent generation keep the same business, but must preserve wealth and traditions.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings are based on observations on one organisation and research carried through secondary sources, which may limit to theory building.

Practical implications

– An enterprise largely competes on the basis of available talent, knowledge, competency and capability. Therefore, knowledge must be managed. For survival and growth, business transition must be handled effectively.

Originality/value

– The case is original with the business family in its second generation striving to survive.
FINRA report on broker-dealer management of conflicts of interest
Authors: Anderson Scott
Published: April 2014

Purpose

– To summarize the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority report on broker-dealer conflicts of interest.

Design/methodology/approach

– Discusses background of recent FINRA information collection effort on conflicts of interest upon which FINRA based the report. Outlines FINRA objectives for firms to review their current conflicts management systems. Discusses three key areas where firms should focus attention, including examples of possible practices firms can undertake: a firm's general conflicts of interest framework across all business lines; new products creation and distribution; and compensation practices.

Findings

– The report highlights areas that FINRA expects broker-dealers to consider in reviewing their compliance policies and procedures to assess whether firms should implement changes to their own conflict management frameworks. FINRA will evaluate whether to pursue future conflicts management rulemaking if broker-dealer firms do not make adequate progress on conflicts management.

Originality/value

– Practical explanation by experienced financial services lawyer.
On the Measurement of Strength of Preference in Units of Money
Authors: Butler David , Isoni Andrea , Loomes Graham , Navarro‐Martinez Daniel
Published: April 2014

We report an experimental study that aims to elicit monetary measures of strength of preference in choices involving pairs of risky prospects. Despite extensive testing to refine the instruments used, we find that these money measures are systematically biased upwards relative to subsequent binary choices. We discuss possible reasons for this bias and its broader implications.
Submersion as a tactic to prevent emergence of emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis from black ash logs
Authors: Siegert Nathan W. , Secord Theresa , McCullough Deborah G.
Published: April 2014

Black ash (Fraxinus nigra Marshall) trees are an important cultural resource and provide the wood used for traditional contemporary basketry by numerous Native American and First Nation tribes in the U.S.A. and Canada. The invasion and subsequent spread of emerald ash borer Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) threatens the ash resource in North America and the basketry tradition. Submersion of infested ash logs has been proposed as a potential tactic to control A. planipennis emergence, although the duration of submergence required to prevent adult beetle emergence is unknown.

We assessed the survivorship of A. planipennis prepupae through adult beetle emergence in green ash (F. pennsylvanica Marshall) bolts submerged at weekly intervals for up to 6 weeks and in black ash bolts submerged at 4‐week intervals for up to 24 weeks. The moisture content of sapwood at depths where prepupal chambers are commonly found was quantified in the black ash bolts after 0, 12 and 24 weeks of submergence.

Mortality of A. planipennis from prepupa to adult was low (5.7 ± 2.3%) for the first 6 weeks of submersion but rapidly increased to 100% in green ash and black ash bolts submerged for 8 weeks or longer. In black ash, the outer 1.3 cm of wood became highly saturated after submersion for 12 weeks (81.0 ± 4.5%) and moisture increased only slightly after 24 weeks (83.9 ± 2.8%).

The results obtained in the present study indicate that A. planipennis prepupae in green ash and black ash bolts can survive complete submersion for extended periods of time (i.e. at least 6 weeks) and successfully emerge as adults afterwards. Logs submerged for at least 8 weeks, however, produced no live A. planipennis beetles, indicating that submersion represents an efficacious control option.
National Emissions Standards, Pollution Havens, and Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Authors: Sanders Shane , Alakshendra Abhinav , Walia Bhavneet
Published: April 2014

The present study shows that the availability of “pollution havens” can negate the effect of national legislation that tightens industrial greenhouse gas emission standards. In the perverse case, a unilateral tightening of said standards in Country A (a country with relatively stringent industrial emission standards) causes a representative multinational firm to emit more units of greenhouse gas in its global production. The article highlights the potential perils of unilateral action on environmental issues that are global in nature.
Elevated expression of pleiotrophin in lymphocytic leukemia CD19+ B cells
Authors: Du Chun‐xian , Wang Lan , Li Yan , Xiao Wei , Guo Qin‐lian , Chen Fei , Tan Xin‐ti
Published: April 2014

Pleiotrophin (PTN) has been demonstrated to be strongly expressed in many fetal tissues, but seldom in healthy adult tissues. While PTN has been reported to be expressed in many types of tumors as well as at high serum concentrations in patients with many types of cancer, to date, there has been no report that PTN is expressed in leukemia, especially in lymphocytic leukemia. We isolated the CD19+ subset of B cells from peripheral blood from healthy adults, B‐cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (B‐ALL) patients, and B‐cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B‐CLL) patients and examined these cells for PTN mRNA and protein expression. We used immunocytochemistry, western blotting, and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay to show that PTN protein is highly expressed in CD19+ B cells from B‐ALL and B‐CLL patients, but barely expressed in B cells from healthy adults. We also examined PTN expression at the nucleic acid level using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and northern blotting and detected a high levels of PTN transcripts in the CD19+ B cells from both groups of leukemia patients, but very few in the CD19+ B cells from the healthy controls. Interestingly, the quantity of the PTN transcripts correlated with the severity of disease. Moreover, suppression of PTN activity with an anti‐PTN antibody promoted apoptosis of cells from leukemia patients and cell lines SMS‐SB and JVM‐2. This effect of the anti‐PTN antibody suggests that PTN may be a new target for the treatment of lymphocytic leukemia.
Histopathology and prognosis in human meningiomas
Authors: Backer‐Grøndahl Thomas , Moen Bjørnar H. , Sundstrøm Stein H. , Torp Sverre H.
Published: April 2014

Histopathological grading of human meningiomas is based on criteria adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, interpretation of the defined histopathological criteria is often subjective. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and histopathological features in these tumours associated with patient survival. This enables evaluation of current grading guidelines and practice. In this study, 196 primary, intracranial, and consecutively treated patients from one institution were included. All histological sections were reviewed. Survival data were controlled with the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry. Falcine location, sheet‐like growth, frequent mitoses, subtotal resection grade, and absence of psammoma bodies were strong prognostic factors. Of these factors, the latter two were statistically significantly associated with decreased time to recurrence in multivariate analyses. The WHO 2000 and 2007 classifications were associated with decreased time to recurrence. However, the grading criteria suggested by Ho et al. (2002) and in this study achieved stronger prognostic values. Easily recognizable histopathological criteria are essential in tumour grading. We suggest that any two of the following three variables can be used to recognize atypical (grade II) meningiomas: absence of psammoma bodies, presence of necrosis, and/or ≥4 mitoses per 10 high power fields.
Microstructure and Surface Properties of Frescoes Based on Lime and Cement: The Influence of the Artist's Technique
Authors: Horgnies M. , Bayle M. , Gueit E. , Darque‐Ceretti E. , Aucouturier M.
Published: April 2014

Frescoes are known to be the most durable form of mural painting. The traditional technique, widely used throughout history, consists of applying water‐dispersed pigments on a fresh lime plaster, which hardens throughacarbonation reaction. At the beginning ofthe20th century,Portland cement was used by some mural artists to obtain similar painting plaster. Although involving different setting mechanisms, cement‐based frescoes show the same aspect and durability as lime‐based frescoes. Using microstructure characterizations of ancient frescoes (lime‐ or cement‐based) and laboratory reconstructions, this paper offers a description of the mechanisms responsible for the adhesion of pigments and the hardening of surface.
Arms Sales and Russia's Future as an Asian Power
Authors: Blank Stephen , Kim Younkyoo
Published: April 2014

The study of a country's arms sales opens up pathways for investigating its domestic and foreign policies. Arms sales are also a phenomenon that is greatly affected by globalization. This is certainly the case for Russia, especially as regards its arms sales to Asia. This article analyzes Russian arms sales to Asia and finds that despite Moscow's professed optimism that it can continue to maintain a competitive edge and its standing as a key Asian military power, there are many reasons for serious concern. These concerns relate to the quality of Russian weapons, to the domestic struggle for resources within a thoroughly corrupt defense industrial sector, and to external forces such as Chinese and South Korean producers who now compete with Russia in the global and Asian arms markets. Such trends may lead not only to a decline in Russia's overall standing and capabilities in Asia, but also to a transformation of Asia's strategic landscape.
The Post‐9/11 “Terrorism” Discourse and Its Impact on Nonstate Actors: A Comparative Study of the LTTE and Hamas
Authors: Toomey Michael , Singleton Benedict E.
Published: April 2014

In the aftermath of the 2001 World Trade Center bombings, the application of the label “terrorist” to one of the parties in a given conflict can serve to deny political legitimacy, and can make possible the use of extreme measures to deal with them. This article compares the fortunes of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and Hamas. Through the use of an analysis of contemporary discourses relating to terrorism, it is argued that, in the post‐9/11 world, successfully ascribing a nonstate opponent as a terrorist permits the use of overwhelming force. The discourse thus becomes a powerful political technology in the hands of state actors, regardless of the justification for its use.
Paid and Unpaid Labour in Non‐Profit Organizations: Does the Substitution Effect Exist?
Authors: Bittschi Benjamin , Pennerstorfer Astrid , Schneider Ulrike
Published: April 2014

In non‐profit organizations (NPOs), volunteers often work alongside paid workers. Such a co‐production setting can lead to tension between the two worker groups. This article examines for the first time if and how volunteers influence the separation of paid employees, and thus it contributes to the debate over whether volunteers can substitute paid workers. Using Austrian data at the organizational level, we find a significant impact of volunteers on the separations of paid workers in NPOs facing increased competition. These findings support the assumption that a partial substitution effect exists between paid workers and volunteers.
Pattern of contact sensitization in patients with and without atopic dermatitis in a hospital‐based clinical database
Authors: Clemmensen Kim Katrine Bjerring , Thomsen Simon Francis , Jemec Gregor Borut Ernst , Agner Tove
Published: April 2014

Background

Both atopic dermatitis and contact sensitization are common conditions; however, a definite understanding of the relationship between contact sensitization and atopic dermatitis has not been reached.

Objectives

In this descriptive study, we investigated the differences between positive patch test reactions in patients with and without atopic dermatitis in a patch test cohort, and explored the influence of disease severity.

Patients/materials/methods

Patch test results, information on atopic dermatitis and demographic variables were taken from a database, including all patients patch tested at Bispebjerg and Roskilde Hospitals from January 2009 to January 2013. Severe atopic dermatitis was defined as systemic therapy or hospitalization resulting from atopic dermatitis. All other patients with atopic dermatitis were defined as having mild/moderate disease.

Results

The study included 2221 patients: 293 patients with atopic dermatitis and 1928 without. Forty‐one per cent of patients with and 46.2% of patients without atopic dermatitis had at least one positive patch test reaction (p = 0.092). More patients with severe atopic dermatitis than patients with non‐severe atopic dermatitis had multiple positive patch test reactions (19.4% versus 10.0%, p = 0.046).

Conclusions

Overall, we found similar frequencies of positive patch test reactions in patients with and without atopic dermatitis. However, a higher frequency of multiple sensitizations was found in patients with severe atopic dermatitis.
Attraction of the invasive social wasp, Vespula vulgaris, by volatiles from fermented brown sugar
Authors: Brown Robert L. , El‐Sayed Ashraf M. , Unelius C. Rikard , Suckling David M.
Published: April 2014

The introduction of invasive social wasp species of the genus Vespula (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) to New Zealand has caused a major ecological problem, particularly in the beech forests (Nothofagus spp.) of the South Island, where they have destabilized the native bird and invertebrate biodiversity. New attractants are under investigation as part of a search for pest management solutions. Fermenting brown sugar has been previously reported as a social wasp attractant. This work was undertaken to identify compounds from fermented brown sugar attractive to social wasps. Raw fermented brown sugar was confirmed to be attractive in a field trial and 10 chemical compounds present in the headspace were positively identified by coupled gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry and synthetic references. During electroantennogram experiments, 3‐methyl‐1‐butanol, 3‐methylbutyl acetate, and ethyl hexanoate elicited high electrophysiological responses from Vespula vulgaris (L.) antennae. These compounds mediated attraction of V. vulgaris wasps in forest margins by trapping. A blend of these compounds could be used as a lure in a monitoring tool, or even a local suppression method if combined with a toxin.
The use of computed tomography to diagnose bilateral forelimb tendon pathology in a horse with unilateral lameness
Authors: Hunter B. G. , Huber M. J. , Nemanic S.
Published: April 2014

A horse with unilateral forefoot lameness had bilateral deep digital flexor tendon (DDFT) lesions on computed tomography (CT). Venous contrast enhanced CT revealed distal sesamoidean impar desmitis in the lame forelimb. Computed tomography is useful for diagnosis of soft tissue lesions within the hoof capsule and contrast enhancement improves lesion conspicuity.
Hindlimb lameness caused by systemic lymphosarcoma in a Warmblood mare
Authors: Moser D. K. , Jann H. W. , Confer A. W. , Bahr R. J. , Kuzma C.
Published: April 2014

Equine lymphosarcoma is rare but has been reported in mediastinal lymph nodes, cutaneous nodules, the gastrointestinal system and peripheral lymph nodes. This report describes the clinical presentation of lymphosarcoma characterised by weight shifting, reluctance to ambulate or peripheral oedema. This case is extremely atypical in clinical presentation and justifies the need for consideration of lymphosarcoma when formulating a differential diagnosis of lameness with atypical presentation.
Hepatitis C virus NS3 mutations in haemophiliacs
Authors: Lin M. V. , Charlton A. N. , Rouster S. D. , Zamor P. J. , Sherman K. E.
Published: April 2014

Haemophiliacs have high hepatitis C virus (HCV) exposure risk from blood products that did not undergo heat inactivation or disease‐specific screening prior to 1987. Repeated exposure to infected factor concentrates predisposes haemophiliacs to higher likelihood of HCV from multiple sources. HIV coinfection could result in impaired clearance of less fit variants resulting in enrichment of quasispecies carrying resistance mutations. We postulated that haemophiliacs demonstrate increased prevalence of baseline signature mutations in the HCV NS3/4 serine protease coding domain. We examined the prevalence of putative HCV protease inhibitor mutations, mutations, subclassified into dominant mutations if changes conferred resistance, and minor variants not associated with drug resistance, in patients with haemophilia A or B, infected with HCV or HCV/HIV, prior to HCV PI exposure. A total of 151 subjects were evaluated, including 22 haemophiliacs and 129 non‐haemophilic controls. Of the 58 mutations detected, 55 (95%) were resistance mutations and three (5%) were minor variants. Dominant mutations were detected in 10 (45.5%) haemophiliacs and in 43 (33.3%) controls (OR 1.67, 95% CI 0.67–4.16). There was no statistical difference in proportion of dominant mutations (P = 0.27) or minor variants (P = 0.47) between groups, despite adjustment for HIV status (P = 0.44). No significant differences in dominant or minor resistance mutations between haemophiliacs and non‐haemophiliacs were observed. HIV presence or prior HAART exposure did not affect baseline distribution. We conclude that haemophiliacs are not at higher risk for pre‐existing HCV PI mutations, and prospective studies of response to PI‐based regimens with HCV activity are indicated.
Meritocratic Epistemic Communities: An Alternative Policy Paradigm for Higher Education
Authors: Choi Seungchan
Published: April 2014

This paper attempts to propose an alternative policy frame for higher education policy by demonstrating the inadequacy of the market approach adopted by the 2011 English higher education policy in addressing the economic and social agenda, and by reframing higher education as a mechanism that selects and distributes talents to vocational sectors in a way that achieves socially optimal outcomes. The paper shows why government control is more appropriate than market mechanism in managing higher education cost, how effective screening and distribution of talents can be achieved through deliberation among epistemic community members and how the alternative policy frame supports a social justice agenda. The idea of a meritocratic epistemic community for screening and educating talents is central to this new frame as it facilitates the creation of a common space where competing stakeholders of one vocational sector gather together to deliberate on the merits of the future workforce.
LASER THERMAL ABLATION
Authors: Welch A. J. , Motamedi Massoud , Rastegar Sohi , LeCarpentier Gerald L. , Jansen Duco
Published: April 2014

Abstract— —Continuous wave and pulsed laser ablation of tissue is described as an explosive event. A subsurface temperature maximum and superheated tissue produce high pressures that eject fragments from the tissue. Decreased water content due to dehydration and vaporization decreases thermal conductivity which reduces heat conduction. Also, a decrease in water content dramatically alters the local rate of heat generation of laser radiation above 1.3 μm since water is the primary absorber. In contrast, at UV wavelengths protein and DNA are the primary absorbers so destruction of tissue bonds is due to direct absorption of the laser light rather than heat transfer from water.
Different Problem, Same Solution: Contract‐Specialization in Venture Capital
Authors: Bengtsson Ola , Bernhardt Dan
Published: April 2014

Real‐world financial contracts vary greatly in the combinations of cash flow contingency terms and control rights used. Extant theoretical work explains such variation by arguing that each investor finely tailors contracts to mitigate investment‐specific incentive problems. We provide overwhelming evidence from 4,561 venture capital (VC) contracts that this tailoring is overstated: even though there is broad variation in contracting across VCs, each individual VC tends to specialize, recycling familiar terms. In fact, a VC typically restricts contracting choices to a small set of alternatives: 46% of the time, a VC uses the same exact cash flow contingencies as in one of her previous five contracts. We document specialization in both aggregated downside protection, and in each individual cash flow contingency term. Such specialization remains economically and statistically significant even after controlling for VC and company characteristics. We also find that VCs learn to use new contractual solutions from other VCs in her syndication network. Our findings challenge the traditional premise that each investor selects from the universe of combinations of terms to match an investment's unique contracting problem. Rather, the cumulative evidence indicates that contract‐specialization arises because investors better understand payoff consequences of familiar terms, and are reluctant to experiment with unknown combinations.
Grasping convergent evolution in syngnathids: a unique tale of tails
Authors: Neutens C. , Adriaens D. , Christiaens J. , De Kegel B. , Dierick M. , Boistel R. , Van Hoorebeke L.
Published: April 2014

Seahorses and pipehorses both possess a prehensile tail, a unique characteristic among teleost fishes, allowing them to grasp and hold onto substrates such as sea grasses. Although studies have focused on tail grasping, the pattern of evolutionary transformations that made this possible is poorly understood. Recent phylogenetic studies show that the prehensile tail evolved independently in different syngnathid lineages, including seahorses, Haliichthys taeniophorus and several types of so‐called pipehorses. This study explores the pattern that characterizes this convergent evolution towards a prehensile tail, by comparing the caudal musculoskeletal organization, as well as passive bending capacities in pipefish (representing the ancestral state), pipehorse, seahorse and H. taeniophorus. To study the complex musculoskeletal morphology, histological sectioning, μCT‐scanning and phase contrast synchrotron scanning were combined with virtual 3D‐reconstructions. Results suggest that the independent evolution towards tail grasping in syngnathids reflects at least two quite different strategies in which the ancestral condition of a heavy plated and rigid system became modified into a highly flexible one. Intermediate skeletal morphologies (between the ancestral condition and seahorses) could be found in the pygmy pipehorses and H. taeniophorus, which are phylogenetically closely affiliated with seahorses. This study suggests that the characteristic parallel myoseptal organization as already described in seahorse (compared with a conical organization in pipefish and pipehorse) may not be a necessity for grasping, but represents an apomorphy for seahorses, as this pattern is not found in other syngnathid species possessing a prehensile tail. One could suggest that the functionality of grasping evolved before the specialized, parallel myoseptal organization seen in seahorses. However, as the grasping system in pipehorses is a totally different one, this cannot be concluded from this study.
Perceived caring needs in patient–partner dyads affected by heart failure: A qualitative study
Authors: Liljeroos Maria , Ågren Susanna , Jaarsma Tiny , Strömberg Anna
Published: April 2014

Aims and objectives

To explore the perceived caring needs in patient–partner dyads affected by heart failure to develop an understanding of potential areas of support.

Background

Being affected by heart failure has a great impact on both the patient and the partner but until now contemporary care has remained patient focused.

Design

A qualitative study design was used.

Methods

Eight focus group interviews were performed, which included nineteen patients diagnosed with heart failure and their cohabiting partner. Patients were aged between 55–89 years and partners' ages ranged from 48–87 years. Data were analysed using qualitative content analyses.

Results

The dyads perceived that caring needs could be summarised in two themes ‘Dyads perceive a need for continuous guidance through the different phases of the illness trajectory’ and ‘Dyads perceive a need to share burden and support with each other and others’. The dyads described a need to learn more about heart failure to be able to manage everyday life. Regular outpatient clinic visits and access to telephone support were vital, and having someone who cared about the well‐being of the partners was perceived as comforting. Both the patient and the partner need to be present at the clinic visits. Receiving the same information and being able to ask questions reduce insecurity. Meeting others in the same situation and sharing the burden in group sessions were proposed as an opportunity to support each other and others.

Conclusions

There is a need to improve education and support for patient–partner dyads affected by heart failure.

Relevance to clinical practice

The result shows the importance to provide continuous healthcare contacts throughout the illness trajectory. Furthermore, partners should be included at follow‐up, and support groups should be organised so that dyads can meet and support each other.
Nurses' perceived and actual caregiving roles: identifying factors that can contribute to job satisfaction
Authors: Morrison Kelsey B , Korol Susan A
Published: April 2014

Aims and objectives

To compare nurses' caring expectations with their caregiving experiences and to identify factors that could potentially be included in a preliminary conceptual model of job satisfaction and compassion fatigue.

Background

Nurses often report emotional reward and satisfaction in their profession from compassionately caring for sick and injured patients. However, being in close proximity to trauma can eventually deplete a nurse's compassion and empathy for the patients they care for. This loss of compassion is further exacerbated by demanding work environments that involve administrative duties, attending to patients' psychosocial needs and interacting with patients' families. To date, the literature has tended to focus on pathology of compassion fatigue, rather than identifying its contributing factors.

Design

A grounded theory approach was used to identify emerging themes in nurses' accounts of their caregiving roles.

Methods

Open‐ended interviews were conducted with nurses (n = 9) who were employed by a maritime district health authority for a minimum of five years. Interviews focused on beliefs of how to provide care, perceived caregiving responsibilities and perceived challenges in the provision of care.

Results

Emerging from the data is a proposed model of job satisfaction. The concepts of monitoring and patient advocacy appeared to be key components in reported satisfaction or alienation. Discrepancies were found between care expectations outlined by management and nurses' perceptions of care provision. Additionally, type of nursing education was related to nurses' confidence in applying nursing skills.

Conclusions

These findings have implications for training programmes, hospital management and quality of patient care.

Relevance to clinical practice

It is important to identify factors that could explain resilience to compassion fatigue because compassion fatigue has negative consequences not only for nurses themselves but for the patients in their care.
The Epistemic Regress Problem, the Problem of the Criterion, and the Value of Reasons
Authors: Cling Andrew D.
Published: April 2014

There are important similarities between the epistemic regress problem and the problem of the criterion. Each turns on plausible principles stating that epistemic reasons must be supported by epistemic reasons but that having reasons is impossible if that requires having endless regresses of reasons. These principles are incompatible with the possibility of reasons, so each problem is a paradox. Whether there can be an antiskeptical solution to these paradoxes depends upon the kinds of reasons that we need in order to attain our epistemic goals. This article explains the problems and considers the ways in which two different conceptions of human flourishing support the value of different kinds of reasons. One conception requires reasons that allow an easy solution to these paradoxes. The other—rational autonomy—requires reasons that depend upon endless regresses. So we cannot have the kinds of fully transparent reasons required for rational autonomy.
On Peter Klein's Concept of Arbitrariness
Authors: Engelsma Coos
Published: April 2014

According to Peter Klein, foundationalism fails because it allows a vicious form of arbitrariness. The present article critically discusses his concept of arbitrariness. It argues that the condition Klein takes to be necessary and sufficient for an epistemic item to be arbitrary is neither necessary nor sufficient. It also argues that Klein's concept of arbitrariness is not a concept of something that is obviously vicious. Even if Klein succeeds in establishing that foundationalism allows what he regards as arbitrariness, this does not yet mean that he confronts it with a sound objection.
The Need for Justification
Authors: Peijnenburg Jeanne , Atkinson David
Published: April 2014

Some series can go on indefinitely, others cannot, and epistemologists want to know in which class to place epistemic chains. Is it sensible or nonsensical to speak of a proposition or belief that is justified by another proposition or belief, ad infinitum? In large part the answer depends on what we mean by “justification.” Epistemologists have failed to find a definition on which everybody agrees, and some have even advised us to stop looking altogether. In spite of this, the present essay submits a few candidate definitions. It argues that, although not giving the final word, these candidates tell us something about the possibility of infinite epistemic chains. And it shows that they can short‐circuit a debate about doxastic justification.
Probabilistic Regresses and the Availability Problem for Infinitism
Authors: Podlaskowski Adam C. , Smith Joshua A.
Published: April 2014

Recent work by Peijnenburg, Atkinson, and Herzberg suggests that infinitists who accept a probabilistic construal of justification can overcome significant challenges to their position by attending to mathematical treatments of infinite probabilistic regresses. In this essay, it is argued that care must be taken when assessing the significance of these formal results. Though valuable lessons can be drawn from these mathematical exercises (many of which are not disputed here), the essay argues that it is entirely unclear that the form of infinitism that results meets a basic requirement: namely, providing an account of infinite chains of propositions qua reasons made available to agents.
Infinite Epistemic Regresses and Internalism
Authors: van Woudenberg René , Meester Ronald
Published: April 2014

This article seeks to state, first, what traditionally has been assumed must be the case in order for an infinite epistemic regress to arise. It identifies three assumptions. Next it discusses Jeanne Peijnenburg's and David Atkinson's setting up of their argument for the claim that some infinite epistemic regresses can actually be completed and hence that, in addition to foundationalism, coherentism, and infinitism, there is yet another solution (if only a partial one) to the traditional epistemic regress problem. The article argues that Peijnenburg and Atkinson fail to address the traditional regress problem, as they don't adopt all of the three assumptions that underlie the traditional regress problem. It also points to a problem in the notion of making probable that Peijnenburg and Atkinson use in their account of justification.
Introduction
Authors: Peijnenburg Jeanne , Aikin Scott F.
Published: April 2014

This introduction presents selected proceedings of a two‐day meeting on the regress problem, sponsored by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) and hosted by Vanderbilt University in October 2013, along with other submitted essays. Three forms of research on the regress problem are distinguished: metatheoretical, developmental, and critical work.
Temporal scales of density‐dependent habitat selection in a large grazing herbivore
Authors: Blix Anna W. , Mysterud Atle , Loe Leif Egil , Austrheim Gunnar
Published: April 2014

Habitat selection is a density‐dependent process, but little is known regarding how this relationship may vary across different temporal scales. Over long time scales, grazing shapes the structure, diversity and functioning of terrestrial ecosystems, and grazing‐induced changes in forage production over time are likely to affect the level of density dependence in habitat selection. In this fully‐replicated, landscape‐scale experiment, we investigated how density‐dependent habitat selection by a large grazing herbivore, sheep Ovis aries, develops over the time scale of a decade. We also address an often‐neglected challenge in habitat selection studies; namely, whether there is variation in use within a particular habitat or vegetation type and why. We found clear evidence of density dependence in habitat selection, with a wider use of habitats at high density. Despite a change in the standing biomass of high‐productivity vegetation at high herbivore density over the years, with herb biomass declining and graminoid biomass increasing, there was no clear evidence that these grazing‐induced changes in habitat over the years were strong enough to affect the level of density‐dependent habitat selection. The difference in selection for high versus low‐productivity habitats remained similar, despite annual fluctuations in the strength of selection. We found strong variation in selection within each vegetation type, even when vegetation types were mapped at a fine‐resolution scale. Our study shows that despite the interactive effects of herbivores and habitats, they are not always sufficiently strong enough to affect the level of density‐dependent habitat selection.
Hegel and the Concept of Extinction
Authors: Bates Jennifer Ann
Published: April 2014

Part I discusses what kind of ‘advances’ occur in Hegel's works, particularly his Philosophy of Nature. I then discuss evolution and extinction in relation to these advances. I summarize Errol Harris' view that Hegel's advances are consistent with current evolutionary theory and then critique this view using articles by Cinzia Ferinni and Alison Stone. I discuss an alternative, post‐Kantian Hegelianism which dialectically unites the nature of our cognition with us as subjects that cognize (spirit). For that, I draw on Hegel's claim that ‘The True is just as much Substance as Subject’, and I show how that claim is complicated in a helpful way when applied to the multiple kinds of ‘subjects’ in the Philosophy of Nature.

Part II highlights the implications of biological mass extinction for these differing Hegelian theories.

Part III brings the above post‐Kantian dialectical Hegelianism together with the final chapter of the Phenomenology of Spirit in order to align Hegelian terminology with current solutions for mass extinction: ‘Absolute Knowing’ is a self‐sacrificing and a recollecting that reinstates the subject in and through nature; such knowing generates dialectically holistic logics of survival. This recollection of life produces neither abstract spiritual self‐consciousness nor a mere ‘gallery’ of extinct life forms. It is philosophical responsibility, identity through natural differences, Absolute Spirit ‘tarrying’ with its world.

21st century Hegelians should be environmentalists on Hegel's terms, a surprising conclusion given that Hegel did not anticipate environmental problems. Hegel's Philosophy of Nature may in turn help environmentalists argue against unacknowledged and badly conceived philosophies of nature. Hegel's work is not reducible to either naturalism or metaphysical idealism: reading Hegel's Philosophy of Nature in conjunction with his Phenomenology of Spirit reveals ways in which a subject, widely and complexly defined at different levels (including different species), is dialectically inseparable from substance, equally widely and complexly defined. This helps us to understand the natural depths of Spirit, which we are at risk of losing.
Sun exposure and Protection Behavior of Danish Farm Children: Parental Influence on Their Children
Authors: Bodekær Larsen Mette , Petersen Bibi , Philipsen Peter Alshede , Young Antony , Thieden Elisabeth , Wulf Hans Christian
Published: April 2014

Healthy sun habits acquired in childhood could reduce skin cancer incidence. We examined the sun exposure and protection behavior of an expected high‐exposure group of children, and the association to their parents. Open, prospective cohort study. One hundred and thirty nine participants (40 families) kept daily sun behavior diaries (sun exposure, sunscreen use, sunburns) over a 4‐month summer period (15 985 diary days). The Pigment Protection Factor (PPF), an objective measure of sun exposure, was measured at two body sites, before and after summer. All participants presented data from the same 115 days. Risk behavior (sun exposure of upper body) took place on 9.5 days (boys) and 15.6 days (girls). Sunburn and sunscreen use were infrequent. Boys’ sun exposure resulted in an increased photo protection over the study period of 1.7 SED (upper arm) and 0.8 SED (shoulder) to elicit erythema. Corresponding values for girls were as follows: 0.9 SED (upper arm) and 0.5 SED (shoulder). Boys’ sunscreen use correlated to their mothers’ (r = 0.523, P = 0.02). Girls’ number of risk days (r = 0.552, P = 0.005) and sun exposure (upper arm: r = 0.621, P < 0.001) correlated to their mothers’. The children's sun exposure was substantial. Only mothers influenced children's sun behavior and exposure. This may be of relevance in future sun protection campaigns.
Xenococconeis opunohusiensis gen. et sp. nov. and Xenococconeis neocaledonica comb. nov. (Bacillariophyta) from the tropical South Pacific
Authors: Riaux‐Gobin Catherine , Coste Michel , Jordan Richard W. , Romero Oscar E. , Le Cohu René
Published: April 2014

During a survey of the coral reef diatoms of Moorea Island (Society Archipelago, South Pacific) a small‐sized member of the order Achnanthales was studied using a light microscope (LM) and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). This marine taxon has: a raphe valve (RV) with a non‐crenulate edge; a high cingulum; a sternum valve (SV) often irregularly striated and areolae with concave hymenate pore occlusion; a thick and plain SV valvocopula (SVVC), ring‐shaped, composed of large fused fimbriae, with a central elliptic foramen bordered by the peg‐like edge of the fimbriae. On abvalvar side, the SVVC bears radiate concave and robust transapical ribs, interlinking with short elevated transverse ribs of the RV valvocopula (RVVC). Large marginal fenestrae of the RVVC give access to pseudoloculi. One oblong, unique and striated papilla is located on each RVVC rib. Given this unique set of features, we describe Xenococconeis opunohusiensis gen. et sp. nov. as a new taxon belonging to the Achnanthales. The characteristics of the new taxon are compared with Campyloneis Grunow and Cocconeis Ehrenberg. From New Caledonia, Cocconeis neocaledonica Maillard ex Lange‐Bertalot et Steindorf, a freshwater diatom, was described with two internal septa with marginal pseudoloculi. Based on subsequent SEM illustrations and remarks, we propose the transfer of C. neocaledonica to the new genus, and compare it to the type species, Xenococconeis opunohusiensis.
An analysis of the knowledge base of scientific research and development business services
Authors: Consoli Davide , Elche Dioni
Published: April 2014

It is argued that the literature on scientific research and development outsourcing focuses mostly on client firms, that is, the demand side, while little is known of the characteristics of the supplying sector. The present paper tackles this gap by elaborating an exploratory analysis of this business service sector with a view to analyze the main patterns of specialization and their evolution over time. Using data on job content and skill requirements in the United States, we elaborate a knowledge taxonomy of the sector and explore how different forms of knowledge coexist and coevolve.
A Contemporary Guide to the Vedas: A Critical Survey of the Texts and Literature
Authors: Elby Tristan
Published: April 2014

The Vedas are a major textual foundation of Hinduism, yet much of their content remains obscure and difficult to access. A discussion of recent literature on the Vedas provides the scholar with a clear conception of the nature of Vedic textual materials, the world views implied by Vedic texts and the nature of Vedic ritual, the central element of Vedic religion. Important resources for the study of the Vedas are identified, together with an assessment of the most important research themes in Vedic religion today.
Buddhism, Science, and the Truth About Karma
Authors: Cho Francisca
Published: April 2014

Buddhism's reputation as a ‘scientific religion’ has led contemporary Buddhists to advocate eliminating the doctrine of karma and its metaphysical concept of rebirth. This movement to modernize Buddhism evinces little understanding of how the karma concept actually functions in Buddhist societies. This article argues that traditional Buddhists invoke karma performatively in order to orient their personal experiences rather than to make metaphysical claims. In doing so, Buddhist tradition challenges and enriches the limited sense of realism that takes precedence in the dialogue between Buddhism and science. This challenge needs to be appreciated in order to render Buddhism an equal partner in the dialogue rather than the mere object of scientific critique.