bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In the Name of Population Well-Being: The Case for Public Health Surveillance
Authors: Fairchild Amy L. , Bayer Ronald
Published: November 2015

Surveillance is the radar of public health. Without tracking, often by name, the incidence and prevalence of both infectious and chronic disease, health officials would be unable to understand where and how to potentially intervene or what resources might be required to protect populations. Surveillance without individual informed consent has been challenged in the name of both bioethics and human rights. In this article we contend that a robust conception of public health not only justifies surveillance but, without disregarding the need to respect individuals, provides an affirmative duty to engage in surveillance. There may be social and political circumstances in which the names of those reported cannot be protected from unwarranted disclosure and misuse for ends that have little to do with protecting the public's health. But while the potential for misuse requires an ongoing, searching scrutiny of disease surveillance, remote or hypothetical threats should not serve to undermine this vital public health activity.
(Public) Health and Human Rights in Practice
Authors: Annas George J. , Mariner Wendy K.
Published: November 2015

Public health's reliance on law to define and carry out public activities makes it impossible to define a set of ethical principles unique to public health. Public health ethics must be encompassed within—and consistent with—a broader set of principles that define the power and limits of governmental institutions. These include human rights, health law, and even medical ethics. The human right to health requires governments not only to respect individual human rights and personal freedoms, but also, importantly, to protect people from harm from external sources and third parties, and to fulfill the health needs of the population. Even if human rights are the natural language for public health, not all public health professionals are comfortable with the language of human rights. Some argue that individual human rights—such as autonomy and privacy—unfairly limit the permissible means to achieve the goal of health protection. We argue that public health should welcome and promote the human rights framework. In almost every instance, this will make public health more effective in the long run, because the goals of public health and human rights are the same: to promote human flourishing.
“Mind the Gap”: Researchers Ignore Politics at Their Own Risk
Authors: Feder Judith
Published: November 2015

No matter how distasteful researchers find policy politics, effective policy requires that they engage. Drawing on her career bridging the research/politics gap in health care policy, the author makes a case for why and how researchers can do just that.
ATM and ATR signaling at a glance
Authors: Awasthi Poorwa , Foiani Marco , Kumar Amit
Published: November 2015

ATM and ATR signaling pathways are well conserved throughout evolution and are central to the maintenance of genome integrity. Although the role of both ATM and ATR in DNA repair, cell cycle regulation and apoptosis have been well studied, both still remain in the focus of current research activities owing to their role in cancer. Recent advances in the field suggest that these proteins have an additional function in maintaining cellular homeostasis under both stressed and non-stressed conditions. In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we present an overview of recent advances in ATR and ATM research with emphasis on that into the modes of ATM and ATR activation, the different signaling pathways they participate in – including those that do not involve DNA damage – and highlight their relevance in cancer.
Impaired mitochondrial Fe-S cluster biogenesis activates the DNA damage response through different signaling mediators
Authors: Pijuan Jordi , María Carlos , Herrero Enrique , Bellí Gemma
Published: November 2015

Fe-S cluster biogenesis machinery is required for multiple DNA metabolism processes. In this work, we show that, in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, defects at different stages of the mitochondrial Fe-S cluster assembly machinery (ISC) result in increased spontaneous mutation rate and hyper-recombination, accompanied by an increment in Rad52-associated DNA repair foci and a higher phosphorylated state of γH2A histone, altogether supporting the presence of constitutive DNA lesions. Furthermore, ISC assembly machinery deficiency elicits a DNA damage response that upregulates ribonucleotide reductase activity by promoting the reduction of Sml1 levels and the cytosolic redistribution of Rnr2 and Rnr4 enzyme subunits. Depending on the impaired stage of the ISC machinery, different signaling pathway mediators contribute to such a response, converging on Dun1. Thus, cells lacking the glutaredoxin Grx5, which are compromised at the core ISC system, show Mec1- and Rad53-independent Dun1 activation, whereas both Mec1 and Chk1 are required when the non-core ISC member Iba57 is absent. Grx5-null cells exhibit a strong dependence on the error-free post-replication repair and the homologous recombination pathways, demonstrating that a DNA damage response needs to be activated upon ISC impairment to preserve cell viability.
Structure and function of longin SNAREs
Authors: Daste Frédéric , Galli Thierry , Tareste David
Published: November 2015

Soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor (SNARE) proteins constitute the core membrane fusion machinery of intracellular transport and intercellular communication. A little more than ten years ago, it was proposed that the long N-terminal domain of a subset of SNAREs, henceforth called the longin domain, could be a crucial regulator with multiple functions in membrane trafficking. Structural, biochemical and cell biology studies have now produced a large set of data that support this hypothesis and indicate a role for the longin domain in regulating the sorting and activity of SNAREs. Here, we review the first decade of structure–function data on the three prototypical longin SNAREs: Ykt6, VAMP7 and Sec22b. We will, in particular, highlight the conserved molecular mechanisms that allow longin domains to fold back onto the fusion-inducing SNARE coiled-coil domain, thereby inhibiting membrane fusion, and describe the interactions of longin SNAREs with proteins that regulate their intracellular sorting. This dual function of the longin domain in regulating both the membrane localization and membrane fusion activity of SNAREs points to its role as a key regulatory module of intracellular trafficking.
Diet and endocrine effects on behavioral maturation-related gene expression in the pars intercerebralis of the honey bee brain
Authors: Wheeler Marsha M. , Ament Seth A. , Rodriguez-Zas Sandra L. , Southey Bruce , Robinson Gene E.
Published: November 2015

Nervous and neuroendocrine systems mediate environmental conditions to control a variety of life history traits. Our goal was to provide mechanistic insights as to how neurosecretory signals mediate division of labor in the honey bee (Apis mellifera). Worker division of labor is based on a process of behavioral maturation by individual bees, which involves performing in-hive tasks early in adulthood, then transitioning to foraging for food outside the hive. Social and nutritional cues converge on endocrine factors to regulate behavioral maturation, but whether neurosecretory systems are central to this process is not known. To explore this, we performed transcriptomic profiling of a neurosecretory region of the brain, the pars intercerebralis (PI). We first compared PI transcriptional profiles for bees performing in-hive tasks and bees engaged in foraging. Using these results as a baseline, we then performed manipulative experiments to test whether the PI is responsive to dietary changes and/or changes in juvenile hormone (JH) levels. Results reveal a robust molecular signature of behavioral maturation in the PI, with a subset of gene expression changes consistent with changes elicited by JH treatment. By contrast, dietary changes did not induce transcriptomic changes in the PI consistent with behavioral maturation or JH treatment. Based on these results, we propose a new verbal model of the regulation of division of labor in honey bees in which the relationship between diet and nutritional physiology is attenuated, and in its place is a relationship between social signals and nutritional physiology that is mediated by JH.
Walking patterns induced by learned odors in the honeybee,Apis melliferaL.
Authors: Yamashita Toshiya , Haupt S. Shuichi , Ikeno Hidetoshi , Ai Hiroyuki
Published: November 2015

The odor localization strategy induced by odors learned via differential conditioning of the proboscis extension response was investigated in honeybees. In response to reward-associated but not non-reward-associated odors, learners walked longer paths than non-learners and control bees. When orange odor reward association was learned, the path length and the body turn angles were small during odor stimulation and greatly increased after stimulation ceased. In response to orange odor, bees walked locally with alternated left and right turns during odor stimulation to search for the reward-associated odor source.After odor stimulation, bees walked long paths with large turn angles to explore the odor plume. For clove, learning-related modulations of locomotion were less pronounced, presumably due to a spontaneous preference for orange in the tested population of bees. This study is the first to describe how an odor-reward association modulates odor-induced walking in bees.
Fear is the mother of invention: anuran embryos exposed to predator cues alter life-history traits, post-hatching behaviour, and neuronal activity patterns
Authors: Gazzola Andrea , Brandalise Federico , Rubolini Diego , Rossi Paola , Galeotti Paolo
Published: November 2015

Neurophysiological modifications associated to phenotypic plasticity in response to predators are largely unexplored, and there is a gap of knowledge on how the information encoded in predator cues is processed by prey sensory systems. To explore these issues, we exposed Rana dalmatina embryos to dragonfly chemical cues (kairomones) up to hatching. At different times after hatching (up to 40 days), we recorded morphology and antipredator behaviour of control and embryonic-treated tadpoles as well as their neural olfactory responses, by recording the activity of their mitral neurons before and after exposure to a kairomone solution. Embryonic-treated embryos hatched later and originated smaller hatchlings than control siblings. In addition, embryonic-treated tadpoles showed a stronger antipredator response than controls at 10 (but not at 30) days post-hatching, though the intensity of the contextual response to the kairomone stimulus did not differ between the two groups. Baseline neuronal activity at 30 days post-hatching, as assessed by the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic events and by the firing rate of mitral cells, was higher among embryonic-treated tadpoles compared to controls. At the same time, neuronal activity showed a stronger increase among embryonic-treated tadpoles than among controls after a local kairomone perfusion. Hence, a different contextual plasticity between treatments at the neuronal level was not mirrored by the antipredator behavioural response. In conclusion, our experiments demonstrate ontogenetic plasticity in tadpole neuronal activity after embryonic exposure to predator cues, corroborating the evidence that early-life experience can contribute to shaping the phenotype at later life stages.
Dietary phosphate affects food selection, post-ingestive P fate, and performance of a polyphagous herbivore
Authors: Cease Arianne J. , Fay Michelle , Elser James J. , Harrison Jon F.
Published: November 2015

Comparisons of the carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus contents of plants and insect herbivores suggest that phosphorus (P) limitation and herbivore foraging to balance P intake could be common. However, lack of synthetic diets for testing the effects of lower ranges of dietary P has been a major impediment to experimental assessment of the ecological importance of, and physiological responses to, P limitation for terrestrial herbivores. We manipulated dietary P content (% P) over its observed range in terrestrial foliage using artificial diets containing near-optimal contents of other nutrients for the grasshopper Schistocerca americana. Over much of the ecologically relevant range, when consuming single diets over a lifetime, higher P stimulated growth rates and increased survival, with an optimal dietary % P of 0.25-0.50% when measured throughout development. Excessive dietary P (1%) reduced growth and survival. However, with only short-term (3 day) confinement to single diets, dietary P had no effect on food consumption or growth rates. During these short exposures, fifth (but not third) instar hoppers increased the proportion of P excreted relative to P assimilated as dietary P increased. Target experiments demonstrated that, when given a choice, grasshoppers select among foods to attain a P intake target of 0.6%. These data suggest that P-limitation could be common for terrestrial insect herbivores and that they can exhibit ingestive and post-ingestive mechanisms to attain sufficient but not excessive P.
Morphology does not predict performance: jaw curvature and prey crushing in durophagous stingrays
Authors: Kolmann M. A. , Crofts S. B. , Dean M. N. , Summers A. P. , Lovejoy N. R.
Published: November 2015

All stingrays in the family Myliobatidae are durophagous, consuming bivalves and gastropods, as well as decapod crustaceans. Durophagous rays have rigid jaws, flat teeth that interlock to form pavement-like tooth plates, and large muscles which generate bite forces capable of fracturing stiff biological composites (e.g., mollusk shell). The relative proportion of different prey types in the diet of durophagous rays varies between genera with some stingray species specializing on particular mollusk taxa, while others are generalists. The tooth plate module provides a curved occlusal surface on which prey is crushed, and this curvature differs significantly among myliobatids. We measured the effect of jaw curvature on prey-crushing success in durophagous stingrays. We milled aluminum replica jaws rendered from computed tomography scans, and crushed live mollusks, 3D printed gastropod shells, and ceramic tubes with these fabricated jaws. Our analysis of prey items indicate that gastropods were consistently more difficult to crush than bivalves (i.e. were stiffer), but that mussels require the greatest work-to-fracture. We found that replica shells can provide an important proxy for investigations of failure mechanics. We also found little difference in crushing performance between jaw shapes, suggesting that disparate jaws are equally suited for processing different types of shelled prey. Thus, durophagous stingrays exhibit a many-to-one mapping of jaw morphology to mollusk crushing performance.
Spatial release from masking in insects: contribution of peripheral directionality and central inhibition
Authors: Brunnhofer M. , Hirtenlehner S. , Römer H.
Published: November 2015

The detection, identification and discrimination of sound signals in a large and noisy group of signalers are problems shared by many animals equipped with ears. While the signaling behavior of the sender my present several solutions, various properties of the sensory system in receivers may also reduce the amount of signal masking. We studied the effect of spatial release from masking, which refers to the fact that the spatial separation between the signaler and masker can contribute to signal detection and discrimination. Except in a limited number of cases, the contribution of peripheral directionality or central nervous processing for spatial unmasking is not clear. We report the results of a study using a neurophysiological approach in two species of acoustic insects, whereby the activity of identified interneurons that either receive contralateral inhibitory input (crickets) or inhibit one other reciprocally in a bilateral pair (katydids) was examined. The analysis of the responses of a pair of omega-neurons in katydids with reciprocal inhibition revealed that spatial separation of the masker from the signal facilitated signal detection by 19 - 20 dB with intact binaural hearing, but only by 2.5 - 7 dB in the monaural system, depending on the kind of analysis performed. The corresponding values for a behaviorally important interneuron of a field cricket (AN1-neuron) were only 7.5 dB and 2.5 dB, respectively. We compare these values with those reported for hearing in vertebrates, and discuss the contribution of spatial release from masking for signal detection under real-world chorus conditions.
Juvenile hormone downregulates vitellogenin production in Ectatomma tuberculatum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) sterile workers
Authors: Azevedo Dihego Oliveira , de Paula Sérgio Oliveira , Zanuncio José Cola , Martinez Luis Carlos , Serrão José Eduardo
Published: November 2015

In the ant Ectatomma tuberculatum (Olivier, 1792), workers have active ovaries and lay trophic eggs that are eaten by the queen and larvae. Vitellogenins are the main proteins found in the eggs of insects and are the source of nutrients for the embryo in the fertilized eggs and for adults when in the trophic eggs. In social insects, vitellogenin titers vary between castes and affect reproductive social status, nursing, foraging, longevity, somatic maintenance, and immunity. In most insects, vitellogenin synthesis is mainly regulated by juvenile hormone. However, in non-reproductive worker ants, this relationship is poorly characterized. This study determined the effects of juvenile hormone on vitellogenin synthesis in non-reproductive E. tuberculatum workers. Juvenile hormone was topically applied onto workers, and the effect on vitellogenin synthesis in the fat body and vitellogenin titers in the haemolymph were analyzed by ELISA and qPCR. Juvenile hormone downregulated protein synthesis and reduced vitellogenin titers in the haemolymph, suggesting that in workers E. tuberculatum, juvenile hormone loses its gonadotrophic function.
Osmoregulation and salinity-induced oxidative stress: is oxidative adaptation determined by gill function?
Authors: Rivera-Ingraham Georgina A. , Barri Kiam , Boël Mélanie , Farcy Emilie , Charles Anne-Laure , Geny Bernard , Lignot Jehan-Hervé
Published: November 2015

Osmoregulating decapods such as the Mediterranean green crab Carcinus aestuarii, possess two groups of spatially segregated gills: anterior gills serve mainly respiratory purposes, while posterior gills contain osmoregulatory structures. The coexistence of similar tissues serving partially different functions allows studying differential adaptation, in terms of free radical metabolism, upon salinity change. Crabs were immersed for two weeks in seawater (SW) (37ppt), diluted SW (dSW, 10ppt) and concentrated SW (cSW, 45ppt). Exposure to dSW is the most challenging condition, elevating respiration rates of whole animals and free radical formation in hemolymph (assessed fluorometrically using C-H2DFFDA). Further analyses considered anterior and posterior gills separately, and results evidenced that posterior gills are the main tissues fueling osmoregulatory-related processes since their respiration rates in dSW are 3.2-fold higher than in anterior gills which is accompanied by an increase in mitochondrial density (citrate synthase activity) and increased levels of ROS formation (1.4-fold greater, measured through electron paramagnetic resonance). Paradoxically, these posterior gills showed undisturbed caspase 3/7 activities, used here as a marker for apoptosis. This may only be due to the high antioxidant protection that posterior gills benefit from (SOD in posterior gills is over 6 times higher than in anterior gills). In conclusion, osmoregulating posterior gills are better adapted to dSW exposure than respiratory anterior gills since they are capable of controlling the deleterious effects of the ROS production resulting from this salinity-induced stress.
Multimodal integration in behaving chickens
Authors: Verhaal Josine , Luksch Harald
Published: November 2015

In everyday life we constantly perceive and discriminate between a large variety of sensory inputs, the far majority of which consists of more than one modality. We performed two experiments to investigate whether chickens use the information present in multimodal signals. To test whether audiovisual stimuli are better detected than visual or acoustic stimuli alone, we first measured the detection threshold with a staircase paradigm. We found that chickens were able to detect weaker stimuli using audiovisual stimuli. Next, we tested whether the multimodal nature of a stimulus also increases the discrimination between two stimuli by measuring the smallest difference that the animals could still distinguish from each other. We found that chickens can discriminate smaller differences using audiovisual stimuli in comparison to visual stimuli but not in comparison to acoustic stimuli. Thus, even in a generalist species such as the chicken, the benefits from multimodal integration are exploited for sensory processing.
On doing two things at once: dolphin brain and nose coordinate sonar clicks, buzzes, and emotional squeals with social sounds during fish capture
Authors: Ridgway Sam , Samuelson Dianna , Van Alstyne Kaitlin , Price DruAnn
Published: November 2015

Dolphins fishing alone in open waters may whistle without interrupting their sonar clicks as they find and eat or reject fish. Our study is the first to match sound and video from the dolphin with sound and video from near the fish. During search and capture of fish, free-swimming dolphins carried cameras to record video and sound. A hydrophone in the far field near the fish also recorded sound. From these two perspectives, we studied the time course of dolphin sound production during fish capture. Our observations identify the instant of fish capture. There are three consistent acoustic phases: sonar clicks locate the fish; bout 0.4 sec before capture, the dolphin clicks become more rapid to form a second phase, the terminal buzz; at or just before capture, the buzz turns to an emotional squeal-the victory squeal, which may last 0.2 to 20 sec after capture. The squeals are pulse bursts that vary in duration, peak frequency, and amplitude. The victory squeal may be a reflection of emotion triggered by brain dopamine release. It may also affect prey to ease capture and or it may be a way to communicate the presence of food to other dolphins.

Dolphins also use whistles as communication or social sounds. Whistling during sonar clicking suggests that dolphins may be adept at doing two things at once. We know that dolphin brain hemispheres may sleep independently. Our results suggest that the two dolphin brain hemispheres may also act independently in communication.
UV-B exposure reduces locomotor performance by impairing muscle function but not mitochondrial ATP production
Authors: Kazerouni Ensiyeh Ghanizadeh , Franklin Craig E. , Seebacher Frank
Published: November 2015

Ultraviolet B radiation (UV-B) can reduce swimming performance by increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. High concentrations of ROS can damage mitochondria resulting in reduced ATP production. ROS can also damage muscle proteins thereby leading to impaired muscle contractile function. We have shown previously that UV-B exposure reduces locomotor performance in mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) without affecting metabolic scope. Our aim was therefore to test whether UV-B influences swimming performance of mosquitofish by ROS-induced damage to muscle proteins without affecting mitochondrial function. In a fully factorial design, we exposed mosquitofish to UV-B and no-UV-B controls in combination with exposure to N-acetylcysteine (NAC) plus no-NAC controls. We used NAC, a precursor of glutathione, as an antioxidant to test whether any effects of UV-B on swimming performance were at least partly due to UV-B-induced ROS. UV-B significantly reduced critical sustained swimming performance and tail beat frequencies, and it increased ROS-induced damage (protein carbonyl concentrations and lipid peroxidation) in muscle. However, UV-B did not affect the activity of sarco-endoplamic reticulum ATPase (SERCA), an enzyme associated with muscle calcium cycling and muscle relaxation. UV-B did not affect ADP phosphorylation (state 3) rates of mitochondrial respiration, and it did not alter the amount of ATP produced per atom of oxygen consumed (P:O ratio). However, UV-B reduced the mitochondrial respiratory control ratio. Under UV-B exposure, fish treated with NAC showed greater swimming performance and tail beat frequencies, higher glutathione concentrations, lower protein carbonyl concentrations and lipid peroxidation than untreated fish. Tail beat amplitude was not affected by any treatment. Our results showed, firstly, that the effects of UV-B on locomotor performance were mediated by ROS and, secondly, that reduced swimming performance is not caused by impaired mitochondrial ATP production. Instead, reduced tail beat frequencies indicate that muscle of UV-B exposed fish were slower, which was likely to have been caused by slower contraction rates, because SERCA activities remained unaffected.
Directed Graphs and Induced Magnetic Multipoles in Polycyclic Hydrocarbons
Authors: Ceulemans Arnout , Arvanitidis Athanasios G
Published: November 2015

Time-odd interactions in molecules may give rise to a current along the bonds connecting the atoms. In a graph representation of a molecule the analogue of these currents corresponds to directed edges. We consider the distribution of currents in polycyclic molecules, using a minimal cycle basis. The irreducible representations of this basis in the automorphism group of the molecular graph delineate specific magnetic multipoles. This is illustrated for the case of corazulene with fourfold symmetry which may sustain a magnetic octopole. It is further shown how breaking of the fourfold symmetry can give rise to the induction of an octopolar magnetic moment by a homogeneous magnetic field. Two conjugated polycyclic hydrocarbon systems showing an induced octopolar moment are investigated by ab initio current density calculations.
Sequential Structural Control of Open-Framework Nanoparticles Both in Dispersion and in Film for Electrochemical Performance Tuning
Authors: Lee Kyoung-Moo , Takahashi Akira , Tanaka Hisashi , Kim Kyung Ho , Kawamura Midori , Abe Yoshio , Ishizaki Manabu , Kurihara Masato , Kawamoto Tohru
Published: November 2015

We demonstrated that the sequential structural control of nanoparticles of an open-framework coordination polymer, copper hexacyanoferrate (CuHCF). The structural control has been achieved by adding the component ions not only in dispersion phase but also in the thin film form. The CuHCF nanoparticles (NPs) in the dispersion phase changed chemical composition and enhanced dispersibility with capturing [Fe(CN)6]3− anions. On the other hand, the NPs in the thin film were reversibly turned to the original state by capturing Cu2+ cations. Through the sequential processes, all of the synthesized CuHCF NPs were utilized for the high-quality electrochemical electrode for without electrochemical side reaction. This process will contribute the preparation of various electrochemical devices such as electrochromic devices, secondary batteries and biosensors.
Conversion of Methyl Lactate to Acrylates over Modified NaY Zeolite Catalysts
Authors: Takahashi Atsushi , Shibasaki-Kitakawa Naomi , Fujitani Tadahiro
Published: November 2015

The catalytic activity of alkali metal- and alkaline earth metal-modified NaY zeolites for production of acrylic acid and methyl acrylate from methyl lactate was investigated. The reaction pathways and the role of the alkali metals in acrylate production are discussed.
How do services engage ethnic minority groups?
Authors: Fernandez Jeff
Published: November 2015

This article looks at how ethnic minorities with substance misuse problems access services. It examines how services adapt and accommodate this ethnic group. The research was conducted for the London Borough of Islington and illustrates from this borough, how drug services meet the needs of ethnic minorities. For Islington, the study also identifies areas in need of more focus to improve provision by comparing it with neighbouring Tower Hamlets. It takes a qualitative approach, looking at each borough and interviewing staff who run and structure services, evaluating their knowledge of each borough's ethnic communities and explores how the boroughs use this knowledge to shape and meet needs. The project reveals interesting findings and some differences: the population of the ethnic communities is different in each borough, influencing how services have responded to their problems concerning substance misuse; clinicians' knowledge base on ethnic minorities and their issues with approaching drug services is adequate, but needs updating; and rapid assessment is seen as the best tool to engage ethnic communities. It is hoped that some of the findings from this study are beneficial to the London Borough of Islington and its drug services.
The economic implications of the Portsmouth protocol
Authors: Lambe Tosin , Frew Emma , Al-Janabi Hareth , Martin Thomas
Published: November 2015

Background:

The underpinning assumption of pay-for-performance (P4P) systems is that providers respond to financial incentives. However, in the UK, the impact of payment-by-results (PbR), a form of P4P, on care is unclear. The objective of this qualitative case study is to understand the local financial dynamics within a system that financially rewards clinical activities.

Methods:

Staff who acted as decision-makers in a hospital that implemented a quality improvement initiative—‘The Portsmouth Tonsillitis protocol’—were purposively sampled for semi-structured in-depth interviews in July 2014. The interview included questions about knowledge of the protocol, views on financial incentives and other motivations.

Findings:

Financial gains to the hospital motivated all the participants. Compared to clinicians, administrators were more concerned about the economic implications of their decisions on the hospital. The attitude of individual clinicians towards receiving monetary reward was unclear but they were unequivocal that professionalism, control over bed spaces and patient care were more important motivators of performance.

Conclusion:

Hospitals are not single entities with a unitary focus but consist of groups that sometimes have dissenting objectives. PbR may have created healthy competition between hospitals; such competition filtered down to clinical teams who vie for bed spaces and revenue with potentially unintended consequences on the wider productivity of the hospital.
Environmental aspects of pneumonia control in calf units on British dairy farms
Authors: Chamberlain Tom
Published: November 2015

Calf pneumonia is a major cause of disease and mortality in British cattle rearing units and the aerial route is a major method of transmission of infection between calves. Central to adequate ventilation is the provision of fresh air at the correct height for the cattle. In the case of young calves, air flows may need to be limited to prevent the air temperature inside the shed falling below the animal's lower critical temperature. Where high enough temperatures cannot be maintained, then techniques, such as encouraging ‘nesting’, providing ‘calf jackets’ and raised planes of nutrition, can be used. The airborne survival of the common pneumonia pathogens is lowest at mid-range humidities (40–60% relative humidity), but in the winter the humidity in calf sheds rarely falls this low. The commonest form of ventilation in cattle sheds is natural ventilation with the stack effect and cross drafts responsible for bringing fresh air into the shed. In many youngstock builds there is insufficient heat production to drive the stack effect and cross drafts will vary with the external wind direction and speed and will be reduced by the ‘wind shadow’ of neighbouring buildings. Forced ventilation systems can be used; negative pressure systems require careful build design, construction, maintenance and use and are most commonly suited to new builds. Positive pressure systems can work better in existing building stock but need careful design, building and installation and cannot be altered to accommodate seasonal variation.
Thin sole in cattle
Authors: Petrovski Kiro
Published: November 2015

Lameness has long been one of the three major economic disorders, particularly in dairy cattle. Thin soles, excessive wear of the soles, are only one reason for lameness. Their occurrence varies from farm to farm. Outbreaks may occur on intensively managed dairy farms, particularly on pasture-based systems. However, the disorder has been recognised in housed dairy and feed-lotted beef cows. Typically, thin soles are seen in dairy cows in early lactation exposed to wet conditions at claw level and long walking distances. Abrasive material/s on the walking surfaces and feeding platforms usually speed up the process of excessive wear. Excessive sole wear may be expected in new or re-concreted milking parlours and yards. The new concrete is very abrasive. In such situations, more than half of the herd may develop lameness within a few weeks from exposure to the new/re-concreted area (popularly referred to as ‘new concrete disease’).

Early signs of thin soles include a slow, painful gait. The walking style is often described as ‘walking on egg shells’. Milk production is lowered at individual cow and group level. On clinical examination the dorsal wall of the claw is short and the sole is flexible on thumb pressure. Haemorrhages in all claw zones may be present. The incidence of sole ulcers, white line disease, toe ulcers, subsolar abscess and osteitis of the third phalanx is often increased. Control should aim to prevent excessive wear, early detection of the affected cows and improve the claw horn quality. This article discusses the thin sole disorder not addressing that caused by over trimming.
Cattle Review
Authors: Barrett David C
Published: November 2015

Introduction:

This Cattle Review considers Dutch veterinarians' attitudes to antimicrobial use, the possibility of breeding for digital dermatitis resistance and the control of Johne's disease.
Complications of dental extractions and their management
Authors: Townsend Neil
Published: November 2015

Complications of dental extractions can occur either during the procedure or post-extraction. These can range from minor complications to some severe complications that may not fully resolve. Trying to avoid complications is the key, and keeping the owner informed throughout the whole procedure of potential complications is generally better than telling them about it afterwards. Fewer complications will occur in well-planned procedures on adequately restrained and anaesthetised horses and using the techniques of oral extraction and minimally-invasive transbuccal extraction (MTE).
The latest treatments for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Attar-Zadeh Darush
Published: November 2015

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a leading cause of death around the world, so nurses, who are increasingly dealing with long-term conditions, should be aware of the pharmacological and device options for managing the condition. Nurses should ensure the patient is prescribed a suitable treatment and has a good inhaler technique, which should be checked at each visit. Patient education is key, and nurses are in a unique position to deliver this.
Vitamin D deficiency and using supplements to prevent it
Authors: More Judy
Published: November 2015

In the UK, a healthy balanced diet will not provide adequate vitamin D, as oily fish is the only significant food source. Safe sunlight exposure and supplementation are necessary to prevent deficiency. Health professionals should be aware of at-risk groups: pregnant women, under-5s, those over 64 years, those with dark skin, and those with little or no exposure to sunlight through clothing or being confined indoors for most of the time. Health professionals should advise these groups of the recommended vitamin D supplementation. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition has reviewed the health risks associated with low vitamin D status and proposed supplementation for all populations over 12 months of age.
Preventing and treating influenza in primary care
Authors: Duncan Deborah
Published: November 2015

Each autumn, general practice prepares for the outbreak of influenza. Patients are often confused about the difference between influenza and the common cold as the symptoms overlap ( Prior et al, 2011 ). It is, therefore, important that health professionals are able to determine whether a patient is presenting with influenza or the common cold, as influenza can be a serious condition in at-risk groups. The management of patients with influenza in at-risk groups is dependent on early diagnosis and treatment with antivirals. Health professionals can give self-management advice to those who are at a low risk of complications. The best approach to the flu season is through vaccination and education. This article provides an overview of the treatment and prevention of influenza.
Regular medication reviews for children and young people with ADHD
Authors: Lehmann Katrin , Hales Louise , Glackin Marie
Published: November 2015

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence's (2008) guidelines for the diagnosis and management of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) recommend a full clinical and psychological assessment by an appropriately trained clinician; this should include a detailed developmental and psychiatric history. Stimulant medications, which are Schedule II controlled drugs, are the most commonly prescribed medicines in the UK and across the world for the management of ADHD. Children and young people with a diagnosis of ADHD receiving these stimulant medications are required to attend regular review appointments with a consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist or specialist nurse under shared care guidelines with general practices, and it has long been recognized that appropriately educated nurses can assist in the management of ADHD. Owing to the pharmacological action of the stimulant medication on neurotransmission, there is potential for misuse and dependence. A growing body of evidence suggests that adolescents with ADHD can become involved in drug diversion and that the topic should be explored during assessment. The level of misuse of prescribed stimulants is increasing, and adolescents and young people with ADHD may misuse to enhance cognitive function for academic purposes. The following scenario highlights some of the challenges and opportunities for independent nurse prescribers working in child and adolescent mental health services.
Evaluation of vegetation types in the West Zagros
Authors: FAROUJI ATENA ESLAMI , KHODAYARI HAMED
Published: November 2015

Farouji AE, Khodayari H. 2016. Evaluation of vegetation types in the West Zagros (Beiranshahr region as a case study), inLorestan Province, Iran. Biodiversita 17: 1-10. The accurate identification of plant communities and their distribution are classical tools for mapping and classification of plants. Plants are strongly sensitive against changing environmental conditions. Moreover, Iran has a special position in Asia which has been creating a diverse ecosystem. Close floristic studies are necessary for precise determination of diversity and uniformity. To determine plant species in different vegetation types in Beiran shahr region, modified multi-scale Whittaker plots were constructed. This studied area was about 20000 ha and located in Northwest to Southwest of Iran. Eighty-nine plots were made in different longitude and latitudes. The minimum and maximum heights were 1101 and 2489 m asl., respectively. Within each modified multi-scale plots, each species was explored. Of 608 species, 498 and 97 are belonging to dicotyledons and monocotyledons,Â and remained 13 species were Pteridophytes. As measured, Therophyte and Champhyte are the dominant and recessive form of life in studied area. Based on species of each plot and subplots, mean Jaccard's coefficient, number of unique species and mean unique species/plot were estimated for each vegetation type. It is obvious that there is a clear correlation between Slopes of the species-log area curve and Mean number of unique species per plot.
Floristic changes at Khersan Glacier Territory, Alamkuh Mountain, Central Alborz, North of Iran
Authors: KAVOUSI KOUROSH , NEJADSATARI TAHER , ASRI YUNES , EJTEHADI HAMID , KHAVARI-NEJAD RAMEZAN ALI
Published: November 2015

Kavousi K, Nejadsattari T, Asri Y, Ejtehadi H, Khavari-Nejad RA. 2016. Floristic changes at Khersan Glacier Territory,Â Alamkuh Mountain, Central Alborz, North of Iran. Biodiversitas 17: 11-15. Extensive investigation in subnival-nival area aroundKhersan glacier moraine introduced 71 vascular plant species. From this list 43 species have been listed in Noroozi et al. (2011) in â€œsubnival-nival vascular plant species of Iran : a unique high mountain flora and its threat from climate warmingâ€ and the others are new for subnival-nival area of Iran. Among this plant list 31 species had introduced with Kotschy (1861a.), Bornmuller Â (1906), Melchior (1937), Klein (1982),Â 

European researchers and the other is named for the first time from Khersan glacier territory. Many species suchas Astragalus macrosemius, Pseudocamelina kleinii, Crepis multicaulis subsp. congesta, Didymophysa fedtschenkoana and Drabamelanopus due to glacier condition have very sensitive habitat, vulnerable and only gathered from restrict area with conservation value.Vegetation change happened in many nival and subnival areas with upward movement in the same habitat and movement from loweraltitude at alpine towards summit in subnival and nival. Carex oreophila, Campanula stevenii, Bromus brachystachyus, Oxytropisimmersa, Erigeron uniflorus, Trachydium pauciradiatum, Scorzonera radicosa and some other species are surprisingly movement tosubnival area and many nival and subnival species such as Didymophysa aucheri, Didymophysa fedtschenkoana, Dracocephalumaucheri and Arabis caucasica have come significantly upward in nival. The movement is different in all side of Khersan glacier morainein north, south and the east (besise moraineÂ tongue) slops and limited with presence of soil natural generation and other ecological remarks. Limitation for soil generation starts at different altitude in northern, southern and eastern slopes of Khersan glacier valley. This study examined changes of flora in Khersan glacier territory during recent decades according to extensive data gathering, full list of Khersan glacier territory introduced Barbarea stricta, Draba melanopus, Pseudocamelina kleinii, Crepis multicaulis subsp. congesta as new report for flora of Iran and flora Iranica area.
Comparação da duração da carreira de filtração entre filtro lento com limpeza convencional e retrolavável
Authors: Michelan Denise Gois , Sens M L , Dalsasso R L
Published: November 2015

A filtração lenta é uma técnica de tratamento de água para consumo humano bastante antiga, datada de 1804. Apesar de ser antiga, continua tendo significativa utilidade. O seu processo de tratamento se baseia na purificação de água, por meio do uso da areia como meio filtrante, para reter as impurezas. A proposta aqui apresentada está pautada na comparação da filtração lenta, entre formas de limpeza do meio filtrante: convencional ou por retrolavagem. A forma convencional ocorre por raspagem da superfície do meio filtrante, enquanto que por retrolavagem, se baseia no contra fluxo de água filtrada para expandir o meio filtrante, com consequente arraste das impurezas que ficaram retidas no meio filtrante e acima do mesmo, de modo a separar o meio filtrante das impurezas. A comparação ocorreu em função da duração da carreira de filtração dos filtros. Apesar do filtro lento com limpeza retrolavável ser considerado mais rápido durante a limpeza do meio filtrante, a duração média das carreiras de filtração foi de apenas 17 dias, isso pode ser indicador de que o perfil da camada filtrante continuou enriquecido de flora microbiana, necessário para a carreira de filtração seguinte, enquanto que o filtro lento com limpeza convencional teve duração de limpeza de aproximadamente, 50 vezes mais demorado do que o filtro lento com limpeza retrolavável. A duração média das carreiras de filtração, do filtro lento com limpeza convencional foi de 22 dias, sendo assim mais duradouras. 
Análise das interferências da coordenação de projetos durante a execução de obras
Authors: Oliveira Camilla Araújo Coelho , Santos Débora De Gois
Published: November 2015

O mercado imobiliário no Brasil tem se tornado bastante competitivo nos últimos anos, devido ao aumento da exigência dos clientes por maior qualidade no produto como também pelo prazo de entrega mais curto. Novas práticas relacionadas aos projetos surgem associadas ao desenvolvimento gerencial e tecnológico. Para isso, existe a necessidade de uma coordenação eficiente de tarefas e uma comunicação adequada entre os envolvidos. Essa pesquisa se desenvolveu com o objetivo de analisar as principais interferências causadas pela falta de coordenação de projetos durante a execução da obra, segundo a visão de projetistas e engenheiros, bem como propor medidas para a obtenção de melhorias no processo de projetos. Para isto, foram realizadas entrevistas com os agentes envolvidos na coordenação de projetos, ou seja, os projetistas e os executores. Foram identificadas as interferências entre os projetos a partir das principais dificuldades para se projetar e organizar o empreendimento. Os principais problemas referiram-se ao projeto arquitetônico. Sendo assim, espera-se com este diagnóstico contribuir para o melhoramento do desempenho dessa etapa.
Identificação in loco de atividades facilitadoras no processo construtivo de alvenaria estrutural junto aos gerentes de obra
Authors: Ramos Santos Paulo Ricardo , De Gois Santos Débora
Published: November 2015

O presente trabalho estuda a problemática da identificação de falhas na produção de edificações em alvenaria estrutural na busca de ações (boas práticas) que agreguem valor ao produto construído, chamadas aqui de atividades facilitadoras. Essas atividades quando inseridas no sistema de produção impedem ou minimizam as interrupções no trabalho. Elas podem estar incorporadas no processo ou auxiliá-lo. O objetivo da pesquisa foi identificar atividades facilitadoras no processo construtivo de elevação de alvenaria estrutural e investigar seu reconhecimento pelos gerentes. Buscou-se fazer uma conexão entre a Construção Enxuta e a prática cotidiana no canteiro de obra estudado. A metodologia aplicada contemplou pesquisa bibliográfica e estudo caso. O estudo realizou objetivos com características descritivas e baseou-se em um modelo de integração de atividades. Foi escolhido um empreendimento para investigação e coleta de dados que em seguida foi observado in loco. Entrevistas não estruturadas com a equipe técnica da obra foram realizadas. Utilizou-se também outras ferramentas como: registros fotográficos; consulta a projetos e elaboração de fluxos físicos (fluxograma). Como resultado, foi possível distinguir atividades facilitadoras e falhas no canteiro de obra analisado. As principais boas práticas e falhas identificadas a partir da aplicação da metodologia estavam ligadas aos insumos, classificando o fluxo e a gestão de materiais como pontos estratégicos no canteiro de obra. O estudo contribui para a disseminação de ideias enxutas na construção civil, a partir da proposição de atividades que propiciam o aumento da racionalidade.