bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ethical pluralism and the appeal to human nature
Authors: Liu Irene 
Published: May 2018

AbstractEthical pluralists hold that moral values and systems are irreducibly diverse and incommensurable according to a common scale. One criticism of the view is that accepting such incommensurability renders them unable to criticize values, practices, institutions, and so forth that are genuinely bad. This paper considers two ways that pluralists have appealed to human nature to answer this criticism. One way appeals to nature to ground a positive conception of human flourishing, whereas the other appeals to nature as a source of constraints. I argue that both views fail to meet the criticism in a satisfactory way and then advance a view that improves upon the existing options. Specifically, I argue that human nature is the standard by which it is possible to assess humaneness, which is a kind of beauty that represents the elevation or refinement of human nature. Accordingly, pluralists can deploy judgments of humaneness to criticize practices, institutions, and so forth that are not worth tolerating without violating the spirit of pluralism.
Summary of the morphological and ecological traits of Central European dung beetles
Authors: Buse Jörn , Šlachta Martin , Sladecek Frantisek X. J. , Carpaneto Giuseppe M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractEcological, morphological and life‐history traits have been increasingly used in community ecology during the last decade. Dung beetles represent a model group of insects frequently used in studies of landscape ecology and grassland management. Their body sizes and nesting behavioral traits are regularly used to help understand ecological processes at the community level. However, information on their seasonal activity, wing morphometry and dung specialization is sparse in published reports, or is simply not available yet. We thus compiled a comprehensive list of the morphological and ecological traits of Central European dung beetles (Geotrupidae, Scarabaeidae and Aphodiidae). We gathered information from published works and, for the first time, took morphometric measurements of wings. We provide a database of 12 traits for all 100 dung beetle species occurring in Central Europe. Most species are not restricted to one specific dung type, and the most frequently used dung types are sheep/goat, cattle and horse dung, which are almost equally exploited by 90, 89 and 87 species, respectively. More than one‐third of all species are active in winter, and the number of active species is the highest in June. The wing morphometry shows a high variation and is largely determined by the family identity; the ratio of elytron length to wing area is the largest in Aphodiidae but the smallest in Geotrupidae. Our database is the first standardized set of information for Central European dung beetles and can be used in future trait‐based studies focusing on the ecology and conservation of these beetles.
Verification of the qLabs international normalized ratio point‐of‐care device for monitoring of patients attending an anticoagulation clinic
Authors: Mbokota N. , Schapkaitz E. , Louw S. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractIntroductionIn the developing world, point‐of‐care (POC) testing for international normalized ratio (INR) plays an important role in the monitoring of patients on long‐term warfarin therapy with limited access to healthcare ensuring safe and effective anticoagulation. A newly developed POC device for INR measurement by healthcare workers is the handheld qLabs POC device® (Micropoint Biotechnologies Incorporated, Guangdong, China).MethodsThe qLabs POC device® was evaluated in 262 patients attending an anticoagulation clinic with regards to accuracy and precision of the INR results. The results were compared to the results obtained on the Stago STA R Max® coagulation analyzer (Stago Diagnostica, Paris, France) on a wide range of normal and abnormal results of clinical relevance.ResultsThe mean laboratory INR (2.50 ± 1.08) was significantly higher than the qLabs POC device® INR (2.38 ± 1.07) (P < .0001). The correlation coefficient (r) was .88, the slope coefficient was 1.0 (CI, 0.8‐1.2), and the intercept was −0.10 (CI, −0.50 to 0.30). The mean of the differences was −0.13% (CI, −0.19 to −0.06). Dosage concordance was 85.46% and clinical agreement was 92.37%. However, clinical agreement was 42.42% in the subgroup above the target range (>3.5). The imprecision was within acceptable limits (<5%) and the error message rate was 4.38%.ConclusionIn conclusion, the qLabs POC device® is accurate and precise with high levels of dosage concordance and clinical agreement for INR values within and below the target range.
Vitamin D status and associated genetic polymorphisms in a cohort of UK children with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Gibson P. S. , Quaglia A. , Dhawan A. , Wu H. , Lanham‐New S. , Hart K. H. , Fitzpatrick E. , Moore J. B. 
Published: May 2018

SummaryBackgroundVitamin D deficiency has been associated with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the role of polymorphisms determining vitamin D status remains unknown.ObjectivesThe objectives of this study were to determine in UK children with biopsy‐proven NAFLD (i) their vitamin D status throughout a 12‐month period and (ii) interactions between key vitamin D‐related genetic variants (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide synthase‐1/dehydrocholesterol reductase‐7, vitamin D receptor, group‐specific component, CYP2R1) and disease severity.MethodsIn 103 paediatric patients with NAFLD, serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) levels and genotypes were determined contemporaneously to liver biopsy and examined in relation to NAFLD activity score and fibrosis stage.ResultsOnly 19.2% of children had adequate vitamin D status; most had mean 25OHD levels considered deficient (<25 nmol·L−1, 25.5%) or insufficient (<50 nmol·L−1, 55.3%). Patients had significantly lower 25OHD levels in winter months (95% CI: 22.7–31.2 nmol·L−1) when compared with spring (30.5–42.1 nmol·L−1; P = 0.0089), summer (36.3–47.2 nmol·L−1; P < 0.0001) and autumn (34.2–47.5 nmol·L−1; P = 0.0003). Polymorphisms in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide synthase‐1/dehydrocholesterol reductase‐7 (rs3829251, rs12785878) and vitamin D receptor (rs2228570) genes were independently associated with increased steatosis; while a group‐specific component variant (rs4588) was associated with increased inflammation in liver biopsies.ConclusionsChildren with NAFLD in the UK have particularly low winter vitamin D status, with vitamin D insufficiency prevalent throughout the year. Polymorphisms in the vitamin D metabolic pathway are associated with histological severity of paediatric NAFLD.
Media Discussion on the Naturalization Policy for Syrians in Turkey
Authors: Atasü‐Topçuoğlu Reyhan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThis study focuses on the public opinion on the naturalization policy for Syrians in Turkey. It analyses news media coverage in the religious, far‐right newspaper (Yeni Akit), a centre‐right newspaper (Hürriyet), a social democrat newspaper (Cumhuriyet), and a socialist‐left news portal (Solportal). The research question is: What are the metaphors, arguments, and omissions produced by media of different ideologies about the possible citizenship of Syrians in Turkey? The results show that metaphors and arguments differ according to ideological stance, suggesting that the current political polarization in Turkey affects the public's acceptance of Syrians and challenges Turkey's established migration policy. Each ideological stance accepts Syrians on a selective basis, implying that universal naturalization of Syrians is not welcome; instead, there seems to be consensus favouring naturalization according to socio‐economic criteria. These results indicate a need for a change in migration policy, especially concerning disadvantaged Syrians.
Impact of social externalities on the formation of an international environmental agreement: an exploratory analysis
Authors: Sacco Armando , Zaccour Georges 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe analyze the impact of social externalities (SEs) on the stability of an international environmental agreement (IEA). We consider a framework in which players are divided into two homogeneous groups, namely, developed and developing countries. We assume that members of an IEA get some additional benefits, to which we refer as SEs. One main result is that any coalition that is internally stable will expand to include all countries, which is related to the minimum participation clause considered in some papers. However, our minimum, which is endogenously defined, is not the largest stable coalition size, but the grand coalition.
Solving the multidepot vehicle routing problem with limited depot capacity and stochastic demands
Authors: Calvet Laura , Wang Dandan , Juan Angel , Bové Lluc 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWhen capacity constraints have to be considered at each depot due to the existence of a limited number of capacitated vehicles, the multidepot vehicle routing problem (MDVRP) is a nontrivial extension of the well‐known capacitated vehicle routing problem (CVRP). The MDVRP combines a customer‐to‐depot assignment problem with several CVRPs. In real‐life scenarios, it is usual to find uncertainty in the customers' demands. There are few works on the stochastic MDVRP (SMDVRP) and, to the best of our knowledge, most of them assume the existence of an unlimited fleet of vehicles at each depot. This paper presents a simheuristic framework combining Monte Carlo simulation with a metaheuristic algorithm to deal with the SMDVRP with limited fleets (and, therefore, limited depot serving capacity). Its efficiency is tested on a set of stochastic instances, which extend the ones available in the literature for the deterministic version of the problem.
A novel human S10F‐Hsp20 mutation induces lethal peripartum cardiomyopathy
Authors: Liu Guan‐Sheng , Gardner George , Adly George , Jiang Min , Cai Wen‐Feng , Lam Chi Keung , Alogaili Fawzi , Robbins Nathan , Rubinstein Jack , Kranias Evangelia G. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractHeat shock protein 20 (Hsp20) has been shown to be a critical regulator of cardiomyocyte survival upon cardiac stress. In this study, we investigated the functional significance of a novel human Hsp20 mutation (S10F) in peripartum cardiomyopathy. Previous findings showed that cardiac‐specific overexpression of this mutant were associated with reduced autophagy, left ventricular dysfunction and early death in male mice. However, this study indicates that females have normal function with no alterations in autophagy but died within a week after 1‐4 pregnancies. Further examination of mutant females revealed left ventricular chamber dilation and hypertrophic remodelling. Echocardiography demonstrated increases in left ventricular end‐systolic volume and left ventricular end‐diastolic volume, while ejection fraction and fractional shortening were depressed following pregnancy. Subsequent studies revealed that cardiomyocyte apoptosis was elevated in mutant female hearts after the third delivery, associated with decreases in the levels of Bcl‐2/Bax and Akt phosphorylation. These results indicate that the human S10F mutant is associated with dysregulation of cell survival signalling, accelerated heart failure and early death post‐partum.
Prevalence and comorbidities associated with hidradenitis suppurativa in Korea: a nationwide population‐based study
Authors: Lee J.H. , Kwon H.S. , Jung H.M. , Kim G.M. , Bae J.M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundThe prevalence of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) in Asia is unknown. The associations between HS and other autoimmune disorders have rarely been reported.ObjectiveWe sought to determine the prevalence of and diseases associated with HS using the National Health Insurance (NHI) database.MethodsWe examined Korean NHI claim database data from 2007 to 2016. We enrolled all patients with HS and age‐ and sex‐matched control subjects without HS. We estimated the period prevalence of HS and associated comorbidities in Korea.ResultsWe identified 28 516 patients with HS (61.3% males and 38.7% females). The period prevalence rate was 0.06%, 55.8 patients (95% confidence interval 55.1–56.4) per 100 000 persons, and the female‐to‐male ratio was 1 : 1.6. HS patients were at significantly increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, type 1 diabetes, ulcerative colitis, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, acne conglobata, pilonidal cysts, psoriasis, pyoderma gangrenosum, alopecia areata and vitiligo.ConclusionThe overall prevalence of HS in Korea was lower than that in Western populations, and male patients predominated.
A review of non‐invasive imaging in extramammary Paget's disease
Authors: Bayan C.‐A.Y. , Khanna T. , Rotemberg V. , Samie F.H. , Zeitouni N.C. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractExtramammary Paget's Disease (EMPD) is a rare intraepithelial adenocarcinoma that classically manifests with pruritic, erythematous and scaling plaques. The clinical picture frequently mimics inflammatory or infectious conditions and is thus commonly misdiagnosed. The assessment of tumour margins is equally challenging as tumours have a propensity to spread beyond clinically visible boundaries. Appropriate non‐invasive diagnostic tools can assist in the early detection, diagnosis and management of EMPD. This paper will review the literature on non‐invasive imaging modalities used in EMPD. Articles from the PubMed database were selected based on relevance to the topic of this review. Articles that were not specific to EMPD and non‐invasive imaging were excluded. Search strategy is further described in the methods section below. Eighteen articles were selected for this review: six PET/CT, five reflectance confocal microscopy (RCM), two photodynamic diagnosis (PDD), two dermoscopy, two MRI and one optical coherence tomography (OCT) paper(s). Dermoscopy, PDD, RCM and OCT can help to distinguish malignant conditions, including EMPD, from benign conditions. RCM and OCT can identify atypical cells in real‐time, and have the potential to improve the accuracy of surgical margins intraoperatively and overall management. Distinctive confocal characteristics of EMPD have been described using RCM. The sensitivity and specificity of these findings require additional validation. Radiographic techniques also play a central role in the diagnosis of EMPD and assessment of disease spread. PET/CT and MRI can detect primary disease, nodal and distant metastases, with superior delineation of disease spread on MRI. Limitations of PET/CT are mainly related to primary tumour thickness, and size and FDG‐avidity of nodal and distant metastases. Limitations of MRI include the fact that few studies have examined its use in EMPD; additional research is warranted. Randomized controlled trials and large prospective studies evaluating the use of non‐invasive imaging in EMPD are needed.
Measurement of healthcare quality in atopic dermatitis – development and application of a set of quality indicators
Authors: Steinke S. , Beikert F.C. , Langenbruch A. , Fölster‐Holst R. , Ring J. , Schmitt J. , Werfel T. , Hintzen S. , Franzke N. , Augustin M. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractBackgroundQuality indicators are essential tools for the assessment of health care, in particular for guideline‐based procedures.ObjectiveDevelopment of a set of indicators for the evaluation of process and outcomes quality in atopic dermatitis (AD) care. Application of the indicators to a cross‐sectional study and creation of a global process quality index.MethodsAn expert committee consisting of 10 members of the German guideline group on AD condensed potential quality indicators to a final set of 5 outcomes quality and 12 process quality indicators using a Delphi panel. The outcomes quality and 7 resp. 8 process quality indicators were retrospectively applied to a nationwide study on 1678 patients with atopic dermatitis (AtopicHealth). Each individual process quality indicator score was then summed up to a global index (ranges from 0 [no quality achieved] to 100 [full quality achieved]) displaying the quality of health care.ResultsIn total, the global process quality index revealed a median value of 62.5 and did not or only slightly correlate to outcomes quality indicators like the median SCORing Atopic Dermatitis (SCORAD; rp = 0.08), Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI; rp = 0.256) and Patient Benefit Index (PBI; rp = −0.151).ConclusionProcess quality of AD care is moderate to good. The healthcare process quality index does not substantially correlate to the health status of AD patients measured by 5 different outcomes quality indicators. Further research should include the investigation of reliability, responsiveness and feasibility of the proposed quality indicators for AD.
Exploiting the Potential of Public Procurement: Opportunities for Circular Economy
Authors: Alhola Katriina , Ryding Sven‐ Olof , Salmenperä Hanna , Busch Niels Juul 
Published: May 2018

SummaryThe objective of a circular economy (CE) is to maintain the value of products, materials, and resources in the economy by closing material loops and minimizing waste generation. In recent years, the role of public procurement has been recognized as an important, but as yet not fully exploited, opportunity by cities and municipalities in their transition toward circular societies. This study analyzed public procurement opportunities to promote CE. Different approaches and examples of circular public procurement were identified using case studies. In addition, opportunities to promote CE through sustainable and green public procurement policy were identified analyzing predefined sustainable or green public procurement criteria. The study concludes that public procurement can promote CE and related business models by setting criteria and requirements for the extension of product life spans, efficiency and/or intensity of use, and efficient cycling of biological or technical materials, as well as for the securing of clean and nonrisky cycles. Circular procurement can occur through the procurement of better‐quality products in circular terms, the procurement of new circular products, the use of business concepts that support the CE, and investments in circular ecosystems. Several sectors and product groups were identified as having potential for circular procurement, such as construction, waste, and wastewater management, transportation, food, and catering, furniture, and textiles. The study also suggests that the use of certain tools, such as performance‐based procurement, life cycle approach, and life cycle costing, as well as criteria concerning reuse and recycling of materials, could promote circular procurement. Market dialogue and cooperation between procurers and actors in the supply chains are important for the future development of circular procurement.
The Effect of Therapeutic Clowning on Handwashing Technique and Microbial Colonization in Preschool Children
Authors: Arıkan Duygu , Gürarslan Baş Nazan , Kurudirek Fatma , Baştopcu Ayşe , Uslu Hakan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractPurposeThis study aimed to determine the effect of therapeutic clowning on handwashing technique and microbial colonization in preschool children.DesignThis randomized controlled trial was conducted using pre‐test and post‐test experimental and control groups.MethodsThe study was conducted between March and June 2016 in two kindergartens in eastern Turkey. The study was completed with a total of 195 students, including 90 students in the experimental group and 105 students in the control group. A questionnaire was used for data collection. This questionnaire included sections about the subjects’ descriptive characteristics and the results of the bacterial cultures of their hand swabs. For the collection of these swabs, the subjects were informed in advance, and samples were collected at predetermined times. The swabs were analyzed to determine the bacterial colonization of the subjects’ hands. Clowns and video activities were used as intervention tools in the study.FindingsIn the post‐test, the microbial growth was ≤103 in 68.9% and >103 in 31.1% of the subjects in the experimental group. In contrast, the growth was ≤103 in 34.3% and >103 in 65.7% of the control group subjects. The difference in the post‐test microbial growths of the two groups was statistically significant (p < .000).ConclusionsThe hygienic handwashing technique taught in the therapeutic clowning and videos reduced the bacterial colonization on the preschool children's hands by 50%. Moreover, this method was effective in reducing the growth rate of coliform bacteria that indicate undesirable, poor hygiene of the hands.Clinical RelevanceConsidering these results, we recommend that pediatric healthcare professionals use entertaining methods such as those involving clowns to teach and guide children regarding hygienic handwashing techniques.
Frequency of shedding of respiratory pathogens in horses recently imported to the United States
Authors: Smith Fauna Leah , Watson Johanna L. , Spier Sharon J. , Kilcoyne Isabelle , Mapes Samantha , Sonder Claudia , Pusterla Nicola 
Published: May 2018

BackgroundImported horses that have undergone recent long distance transport might represent a serious risk for spreading infectious respiratory pathogens into populations of horses.ObjectiveTo investigate the frequency of shedding of respiratory pathogens in recently imported horses.AnimalsAll imported horses with signed owner consent (n = 167) entering a USDA quarantine for contagious equine metritis from October 2014 to June 2016 were enrolled in the study.MethodsProspective observational study. Enrolled horses had a physical examination performed and nasal secretions collected at the time of entry and subsequently if any horse developed signs of respiratory disease during quarantine. Samples were assayed for equine influenza virus (EIV), equine herpesvirus type‐1, −2, −4, and −5 (EHV‐1, −2, −4, −5), equine rhinitis virus A (ERAV), and B (ERBV) and Streptococcus equi subspecies equi (S. equi) using quantitative PCR (qPCR).ResultsEquine herpesviruses were detected by qPCR in 52% of the study horses including EHV‐2 (28.7%), EHV‐5 (40.7%), EHV‐1 (1.2%), and EHV‐4 (3.0%). Clinical signs were not correlated with being qPCR‐positive for EHV‐4, EHV‐2, or EHV‐5. None of the samples were qPCR‐positive for EIV, ERAV, ERBV, and S. equi. The qPCR assay failed quality control for RNA viruses in 25% (46/167) of samples.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceClinical signs of respiratory disease were poorly correlated with qPCR positive status for EHV‐2, −4, and −5. The importance of γ‐herpesviruses (EHV‐2 and 5) in respiratory disease is poorly understood. Equine herpesvirus type‐1 or 4 (EHV‐1 or EHV‐4) were detected in 4.2% of horses, which could have serious consequences if shedding animals entered a population of susceptible horses. Biosecurity measures are important when introducing recently imported horses into resident US populations of horses.
The Post‐Reform Effectiveness of the New German Start‐Up Subsidy for the Unemployed
Authors: Bellmann Lutz , Caliendo Marco , Tübbicke Stefan 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe current German start‐up subsidy for unemployed individuals underwent a major reform in 2011 that altered key parameters of the program, leading to ambiguous ex ante predictions on the post‐reform effectiveness of the program, making a new evaluation necessary. In our descriptive analysis, we find that participants after the reform differ significantly from pre‐reform participants in terms of important characteristics and subsequent labor market performance. Our causal analysis reveals positive and sizable treatment effects on the treated regarding employment and income that are larger effects than what was estimated for the pre‐reform program. Potential reasons for this are discussed.