bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A simple empirical algorithm for optimising depletion power and resolution for dye and system specific STED imaging
Authors: COMBS CHRISTIAN A. , SACKETT DAN L. , KNUTSON JAY R. 
Published: April 2019

SummaryHere we show an easy method for determining an effective dye saturation factor (‘PSTED’) for STED (Stimulated Emission Depletion) microscopy. We define PSTED to be a combined microscope system plus dye factor (analogous to the traditional ground truth Is measurement, which is microscope independent) that is functionally defined as the power in the depletion beam that provides a resolution enhancement of 41% compared to confocal, according to the modified Abbe's formula for STED resolution enhancement. We show that the determination of PSTED provides insight not only into the suitability of a particular dye and the best imaging parameters to be used for an experiment, but also sets the critical value for correctly determining the point spread function (PSF) used in deconvolution of STED images. PSTED can be a function of many experimental variables, both microscope and sample related. Here we show the utility of doing PSTED determinations by (1) exploiting the simple relationship between width and a threshold‐defined area provided by a Gaussian PSF, for either linear or spherical objects and (2) linearising the normally inverse hyperbolic function of resolution versus power that can determine PSTED. We show that this rearrangement allows us to determine PSTED using only a few measurements: either at a few relatively low depletion powers, on traditional bead size measurements or by finding the total area of a naturally occurring sub‐limit sized biological feature (in this case, microtubules). We show the derivation of these equations and methods and the utility of its use by characterising several dyes and a local imaging parameter relevant to STED microscopy. This information is used to predict the enhancement of resolution of the point spread function necessary for post‐processing deconvolution.Lay DescriptionStimulated Emission Depletion (STED) microscopy is a fluorescence imaging superresolution technique that achieves tens of nanometres resolution. This is done by utilising a depletion laser to effectively quench (deplete) fluorescence in a donut shape overlapping the normally excited fluorescence spot. The size of the remaining (undepleted) central fluorescence spot is power dependent allowing ‘tunable’ resolution with the power of the STED depletion laser. This depletion power versus resolution relationship is dye and instrument dependent. We have developed a method for quickly measuring this relationship to optimise experiments based on individual dyes and microscope specific parameters. This allows for quickly optimising microscope settings and for correctly postprocessing images.
Spitzoid cutaneous melanoma is associated with favorable clinicopathological factors and outcome
Authors: Tas Faruk , Erturk Kayhan 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundSpitzoid melanoma is one of the rare subtypes of melanoma, whose clinical and pathological characteristics have yet to be understood.ObjectiveUnderstanding the histopathologic features and behavior characteristics of Spitzoid cutaneous melanoma.MethodsA total number of 11 Turkish Caucasian patients with pathologically diagnosed Spitzoid melanoma were analyzed retrospectively.ResultsThe median age of patients was 24 years (ranging from 16 to 54 years), and the females outnumbered the males (90%). The extremities, especially lower limbs (67%), were the most commonly affected primary areas (64% of patients). Median depth and mitotic rate were 2.2 mm and 3 /mm2, respectively. The presence of ulceration and regression were observed in a few lesions (14%). While tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes were expressed in all of the lesions, none of the lesions was associated with lymphovascular invasion and/or neurotropism. The regional lymph nodes were involved only in minority of the patients (27%), and no patients had metastatic disease. Recurrences occurred in only two patients (18%) that affected merely distant areas, that is, lung and brain. The median disease‐free survival time and 5‐year disease‐free survival rate were 20.5 months and 80.6%, respectively. Only one (9%) death occurred; and the median overall survival time was 26.2 months, and 5‐year overall survival rate was 90.7%.ConclusionSpitzoid cutaneous melanoma is correlated with favorable histopathologic and clinical characteristics, and therefore, it is associated with better survival rates.
Nurses' perceptions of pain management adequacy in mechanically ventilated patients
Authors: Asman Oren , Slutsker Elena , Melnikov Semyon 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAims and objectivesTo examine how nurses' knowledge of behaviours indicating pain in mechanically ventilated patients and self‐perceived collaboration between nurses and physicians affects the adequacy of departmental pain management.BackgroundPain management is a vital factor of medical treatment in a hospital setting. Inadequate pain management requires attention both from a patient‐focused perspective and from a departmental one. It would be particularly troubling in the case of inadequate pain management of mechanically ventilated patients.DesignThe study utilised a cross‐sectional design. The instruments developed were validated by a focus group of 25 pain management nurses, who reviewed the questionnaire for face validity, feasibility and comprehensibility, and who did not participate in the study. The questionnaire was revised, readjusted and formulated based on their responses and comments.MethodsA self‐administered questionnaire administered in Israel with a convenience sample of 187 registered nurses (RN) from internal medicine and surgical departments and ICUs. Data were collected during February–May 2015. The “STROBE” EQUATOR checklist was used.ResultsNurses working in the ICU scored significantly higher on knowledge of behaviours indicating pain in mechanically ventilated patients and on self‐perceived collaboration between nurses and physicians. Self‐perceived collaboration between physicians and nurses was positively correlated with perceived departmental pain treatment adequacy.Self‐perceived collaboration between nurses and physicians, knowledge of behaviours indicating pain in mechanically ventilated patients and seniority (with a borderline significance) explained 27% of the variance of perceived departmental pain management.ConclusionNurses' knowledge of behaviours indicating pain in mechanically ventilated patients, as well as self‐perceived collaboration between nurses and physicians, promotes reported adequate pain management.Relevance to clinical practicePain management would benefit from being conducted as a well‐performed interprofessional self‐perceived collaborative practice. Knowledgeable nurses tend to critically assess the level of departmental pain management.
The effect of local aspiration and methotrexate injection on live interstitial pregnancy coexisting with live intrauterine pregnancy after assisted reproductive technology
Authors: Yang Xinyun , Zhu Linling , Le Fang , Wang Yanjing , Lou Hangying , Gao Huijuan , Zhu Yimin , Jin Fan 
Published: April 2019

AbstractAimTo share the experience of local aspiration and instillation of methotrexate (MTX) to selective reduction of live interstitial pregnancy and to evaluate its clinical effect and the outcome of intrauterine pregnancy.MethodsTwelve patients with heterotopic interstitial pregnancy were enrolled at Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, from 2006 to 2017. All the pregnancies were derived from assisted reproductive technology (ART). The transvaginal aspiration to interstitial pregnancy sac and local instillation of MTX (range from 12.5 to 30 mg) were performed for the patients under ultrasound‐guide. The prognosis and pregnancy outcomes were followed up.ResultsNo severe side effects of medical treatment were observed in all patients. Three cases underwent subsequent laparotomy cornual resection, and no perioperative complications were found in these three patients. Twelve patients gave birth to 13 healthy infants without congenital anomalies. The average birth weight and gestational age was 2837 g (SD ± 605 g) and 36.8 weeks (SD ± 2.4 weeks). No growth anomalies and mental retardation were observed in live birth offspring.ConclusionThe transvaginal ultrasound‐guided aspiration and injection of MTX might be a feasible alternative treatment for heterotopic interstitial pregnancy when vital signs of patients are stable.
Which source and level of dietary sodium is appropriate for broiler chickens reared in a high‐altitude area?
Authors: Taheri Hamid Reza , Nasiri Hadi , Ahmadkhani Rasoul 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThis study investigated effect of increasing level of dietary sodium using sodium bicarbonate or sodium chloride on growth performance, mortality, characteristics of carcass, organs and tibia, calcium and phosphorus of serum in broilers reared in a high‐altitude area (1,700 m above sea level). A total of 588 Ross 308 male broiler chicks were used in seven treatments, six replicates per treatment of 14 birds per each from 1 to 38 d of age. Seven dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet (with 0.16% sodium and 0.23% chloride), top‐dressed for six diets to give three supplementary levels of sodium (0.07%, 0.14% and 0.21%) from sodium bicarbonate (respectively by 0.26%, 0.52% and 0.78%) or sodium chloride (respectively by 0.18%, 0.36% and 0.54%), resulting in seven diets with total sodium and chloride levels of 0.16% and 0.23%, 0.23% and 0.23%, 0.30% and 0.23%, 0.37% and 0.23%, 0.23% and 0.33%, 0.30% and 0.44%, 0.37% and 0.55% respectively. Increasing sodium level improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) linearly and quadratically. However, when FCR was calculated without adjusting for feed intake of mortalities, the enhanced sodium level did not improve this parameter. Increasing sodium level via sodium chloride enhanced ascites mortality, total mortality, relative weight of heart and right ventricle linearly. Increasing sodium level reduced serum calcium and enhanced serum phosphorus linearly; however, there was a linear tendency to increase tibia ash when sodium level was enhanced by sodium bicarbonate (p = 0.08) or sodium chloride (p = 0.07). Increasing sodium level via sodium bicarbonate tended (p = 0.08) to reduce tibia strength linearly. In conclusion, a diet with 0.16% sodium and 0.23% chloride is enough for broiler chicken reared in a high‐altitude area, and increasing dietary sodium level via sodium chloride has detrimental effect on survivability of broiler in such condition.
Seasonal and ontogenetic changes in the diet of blennyHypleurochilus fissicornis: An estuarine mariculture as a model of the reef environment
Authors: Possamai Bianca , Fávaro Luis Fernando 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThe Blenniidae family is characterised by small cryptic fish. Due to the small size of these specimens, the sampling is very difficult and information about the ecological role of these fishes is vague. However, mariculture adds reef encrusting organisms that attract blennies, which makes sampling easier. Furthermore, recognising species feeding is critical to understand biological communities. In this study, we evaluated the diet of blennyHypleurochilus fissicornisin a mariculture, to clarify its influence on the benthic fauna and its interactions with the reef environment. We evaluated the seasonal variation (four seasons chosen by the abiotic variables) and the ontogenic changes (three classes defined by L50of the species: juvenile, transition and adult) in the diet. Hydrozoans were the main prey, butH. fissicornisfed on a variety of other benthic organisms, exhibiting opportunistic habits. The diet ofH. fissicorniswas complemented by Amphipods in autumn, Ostracods in winter, and bivalves in summer. Juveniles fed more on Ostracods than the other classes, while the transition class fed mainly on Hydrozoans and a variety of rare items, and adults consumed almost exclusively Hydrozoans and some Cirripedia. Therefore, we conclude thatH. fissicornisis an opportunistic feeder and may influence benthic organisms. The establishment of fouling organisms on the mariculture structures allows the use of this area by the blenny, since they promote its feeding base.
The number of breeders explains genetic connectivity in an endangered bird
Authors: Robertson Ellen P. , Fletcher Robert J. , Austin James D. 
Published: April 2019

AbstractConnectivity is central to ecology and evolution as it focuses on the movement of individuals or genes across landscapes. Genetic connectivity approaches aim to understand gene flow but often estimate it indirectly based on metrics of genetic differentiation, which can also be affected by other evolutionary forces such as genetic drift. Gene flow and genetic drift are driven by separate ecological mechanisms with potentially differing effects on genetic differentiation and interpretations of genetic connectivity. The ecological mechanisms contributing to gene flow and genetic drift are primarily effective dispersal, or movement followed by successful reproduction, and the number of breeders in a local population, Nb, respectively. Yet, rarely are these ecological mechanisms and genetic connectivity measured simultaneously across landscapes. We examine the roles of effective dispersal and Nb on genetic connectivity across the entire range of the endangered snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus), between 2006–2015. We find that both Nb and effective dispersal are important predictors of genetic connectivity across this landscape, but that Nb has a 3 × stronger effect on genetic connectivity. Furthermore, Nb is positively correlated with heterozygosity and allelic richness within patches, suggesting a potentially important role of genetic drift, in addition to gene flow, on genetic connectivity. These results emphasize that conservation efforts should focus on not only between‐patch processes of movement but also within‐patch processes regarding habitat quality and local population size for increasing genetic connectivity.
Building an Inclusive Climate for Intercultural Dialogue: A Participant‐Generated Framework
Authors: Broome Benjamin J. , Derk Ian , Razzante Robert J. , Steiner Elena , Taylor Jameien , Zamora Aaron 
Published: April 2019

AbstractThis study investigates the question of how to build an inclusive environment for intercultural dialogue. Using the university campus as a context for our research, we conducted a facilitated idea generation workshop in which participants identified a set of dialogic competencies, followed by individual interviews in which we explored participants’ perceptions of the relationships among these competencies. Interviews were conducted utilizing a software‐assisted, idea‐structuring methodology referred to as Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM). Based on our results, we constructed a framework that depicts the overall flow of influence among the set of dialogic competencies identified by the participants. While findings confirm the importance placed in current literature on factors such as listening and empathy, they provide a more sophisticated and nuanced perspective on how to accomplish one of the oft‐stated goals of intercultural dialogue, which is to help participants examine their unconscious biases, prejudices, and privileges.
Visceral sensitivity remains stable over time in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, but with individual fluctuations
Authors: Josefsson Axel , Rosendahl Amanda , Jerlstad Pernilla , Näslin Gunilla , Törnblom Hans , Simrén Magnus 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundVisceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), measured with rectal balloon distensions, using a barostat, has been suggested to be a phenomenon that is reduced due to habituation at repeated investigations. We investigated the stability of rectal sensitivity in patients with IBS who had undergone a previous rectal barostat study and assessed variations in symptom pattern and severity in relation to rectal sensory function.MethodIrritable bowel syndrome patients, who had previously been undergone a rectal barostat study, were included. All patients underwent a second study 8‐12 years later. Symptoms were characterized by use of questionnaires.Key ResultsWe included 26 subjects (17 females, median age at the index investigation 44.5 (21‐61) years). Pressure and volume sensory thresholds were unchanged at the follow‐up compared with the index investigation (P > 0.05 for all). At the index investigation, 8/26 patients had rectal hypersensitivity of which four were reclassified as normosensitive, and sixfrom normo‐ to hypersensitive, meaning that 10/26 patients were hypersensitive at the follow‐up investigation. IBS‐QOL had improved significantly in six of nine domains at follow‐up (P < 0.05 for all). There were no differences in anxiety, depression, IBS symptom severity, or somatization (P > 0.05) at follow‐up. None of these were associated with change in rectal sensitivity at follow‐up.Conclusions and InferencesRectal hypersensitivity and IBS symptoms remained stable at the group level over 8‐12 years in IBS patients, even though individual fluctuations were noted. Our findings contradict previous findings indicating that visceral hypersensitivity is an unstable trait.
The circulation of public officials in a fragmented system: Urban governance networks in Paris
Authors: Barwick Christine , Gross Vlad 
Published: April 2019

AbstractFragmentation and specialization—two characteristics of governance—have increased the number and variety of actors involved in the governing process, which can influence policy outcomes and legitimacy. To date, studies on governance or policy networks usually focus on one policy field and one moment in time. In this article, we analyse the dynamic aspect, thus how governance networks change over time, and examine whether the fragmentation and specialization of the governance system is mirrored in the circulation of public officials. Our case is the urban governance system of the Paris region, which is characterized by high fragmentation along policy fields and territory. The data show that Paris is governed by three sub‐systems that largely correspond to the different territorial levels of governance, but also to different types of organizations. Generally, territorial fragmentation seems to be stronger than policy field fragmentation. This structure is quite stable across time.
Navigating the dichotomy: The top public servant's craft
Authors: van Dorp Erik‐Jan , ’t Hart Paul 
Published: April 2019

AbstractHow in their day‐to‐day practices do top public servants straddle the politics–administration dichotomy (PAD), which tells them to serve and yet influence their ministers at the same time? To examine this, we discuss how three informal ‘rules of the game’ govern day‐to‐day political–administrative interactions in the Dutch core executive: mutual respect, discretionary space, and reciprocal loyalty. Drawing from 31 hours of elite‐interviews with one particular (authoritative) top public servant, who served multiple prime ministers, and supplementary interviews with his (former) ministers and co‐workers, we illustrate the top public servants’ craft of responsively and yet astutely straddling the ambiguous boundaries between ‘politics’ and ‘administration’. We argue that if PAD‐driven scholarship on elite administrative work is to remain relevant, it has to come to terms with the boundary‐blurring impacts of temporal interactions, the emergence of ‘hybrid’ ministerial advisers, and the ‘thickening’ of accountability regimes that affects both politicians and public servants.
Parent and child perception of quality of life in a randomized controlled peanut oral immunotherapy trial
Authors: Reier‐Nilsen Tonje , Carlsen Karin C. Lødrup , Michelsen Merethe Melbye , Drottning Sebastian , Carlsen Kai‐Håkon , Zhang Chi , Borres Magnus P. , Håland Geir 
Published: April 2019

AbstractBackgroundImproved quality of life (QoL) after oral immunotherapy (OIT) in peanut allergic children is often reported by their parents, while the child's perspective is less clear.ObjectiveWe aimed to explore whether 2 years of OIT improved QoL in children with peanut allergy and to identify factors influencing change in QoL.MethodsIn the open‐labeled TAKE‐AWAY peanut OIT trial including children with anaphylaxis to peanuts, 57 were randomized to OIT and 20 to observation. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Version 4.0 was completed by parents and children at enrollment (Y0), after 1 year (end of updosing; Y1) and after 2 years (Y2) of OIT. Minimally clinically important difference (MCID) is ≥5.3. Perceived treatment burden was recorded by visual analogue scales, including adverse events (AEs). An open food challenge (OFC) was performed at Y2.ResultsAt Y2, 18 children had discontinued OIT and 2 of 39 OIT children refused OFC, while 35 of 37 were desensitized to 7500 mg peanut protein. From Y0 to Y2, the mean change (95% confidence intervals) in QoL was 4.4 (0.5, 8.3) among child self‐reports and twice as large among parental proxy reports (9.3 [4.3, 14.3]; both P < 0.0001), without significant improvement among the controls. The change in QoL was significantly different from the controls for the parental proxy reports only (P = 0.002). Neither treatment burden nor AEs significantly predicted changes in QoL.ConclusionTwo years of OIT improved child‐QoL as reported by parents, but not by the children, suggesting that parents may overestimate improvement in child‐QoL by OIT.
Identification of QTLs for niacin concentration in maize kernels
Authors: Wang Xu , Zhang Jing , Dong Erfei , Mei Xiupeng , Liu Chaoxian , Zhou Lian , Cai Yilin 
Published: April 2019

AbstractA genetically induced increase in the niacin concentration of maize kernels is important for the improvement of kernels nutrition. In this paper, the correlation, heredity and variation of free niacin concentration and total niacin concentration in maize kernels were analysed. The results showed that a low or moderate correlation existed between free niacin concentration and total niacin concentration, and that the heritabilities of the two traits were approximately 70%. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis showed that qFNA4a‐HC and qTNA4a‐HC were detected to have a common marker, umc1294 (Bin4.02), in different populations. In population A, qFNA8b and qTNA8a were detected in two generations or two sites, qTNA8c‐F2 and qFNA8b‐HC have a common interval. These QTLs explained 9.7%–17.3% of phenotypic variation. In population B, qFNA4a, explaining 9.3%–11.2% of phenotypic variation, was detected in two environments. Two marker intervals, umc1294‐bnlg490 (Bin4.02‐4.03) and umc1959‐umc1562 (Bin8.05), harbored the QTL for free niacin concentration and total niacin concentration. Furthermore, among a total of 78 QTLs obtained from all datasets, 19, 9 and 9 QTLs were located in Bin8.05‐8.06, Bin4.02‐4.04 and Bin10.01‐10.03, respectively.