bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
HISTORICAL TELEOLOGY: THE GRAND ILLUSION
Authors: Carr David 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACTThe sixteen essays in this volume treat a broad array of topics related to the idea of teleology in history. The majority are not concerned with evaluating or even analyzing arguments for or against the teleological view of history. Their purpose is more to display the wide variety of teleological views. In their introduction, the editors speak of the Enlightenment origins of the teleological view of history, but the volume “seeks to explore that enlightened project … across its fragmentation and multiplication in the nineteenth century” (13). In fact, they believe that “the very idea that a single, however powerful, conception of time could function as the unifying principle of all modern historicity is cast in doubt. Our volume intends to expand on this doubt” (14). Thus, in addition to discussions of Kant, Hegel, Marx, Darwin, and so on, we learn about the Canudos revolt in Brazil, the Taiping rebellion in China, missionary writings in colonial India, John Brown, Scholem on Zionism, and much more. But this often fascinating profusion of microhistorical research suffers from considerable conceptual confusion. Terms like teleology, eschatology, providence, and messianism are not adequately distinguished. In my essay I point out that the teleological view of history does not date from the Enlightenment but is part of the religious tradition of the West. Many nineteenth‐ and twentieth‐century versions discussed here simply continue or adapt these religious views. The puzzling question is why those modern thinkers who question or reject the idea of divine providence continue to think in teleological terms about history. This question, which could have served as an organizing principle for these essays, is for the most part not even addressed.
ON THE MANY WAYS OF SAYING MEMORY
Authors: Barash Jeffrey Andrew 
Published: June 2017

ABSTRACTThis essay examines the concept and the discourse of collective memory in view of interpreting the novel function with which it has been endowed in recent decades and the problematic character of its interpretation. To this end, it focuses on the recent book by Manuel Cruz, On the Difficulty of Living Together: Memory, Politics, and History, which examines the contemporary functions that collective memory has assumed in recent decades and takes into account interpretations of it elaborated in a number of seminal works that have set the framework for contemporary ways of understanding it. My investigation engages critical analysis of the psychological approach to collective memory that Cruz adopts, which, in interpreting recent public preoccupation with collective memory as an expression of trauma occasioned by the Holocaust and other horrific twentieth‐century events, assumes that analogous psychic mechanisms govern forms of remembrance in the public sphere and memory in personal and small‐group interaction. By taking into account alternate possibilities of interpretation, suggested above all by the public function of the mass media, I seek to widen the scope of enquiry to scrutinize in a broader perspective the contemporary role of collective memory and its political significance in the public realm.
Stepwise algorithm using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging for diagnosis of fat‐poor angiomyolipoma in small renal masses: Development and external validation
Authors: Tanaka Hajime , Fujii Yasuhisa , Tanaka Hiroshi , Ishioka Junichiro , Matsuoka Yoh , Saito Kazutaka , Uehara Sho , Numao Noboru , Yuasa Takeshi , Yamamoto Shinya , Masuda Hitoshi , Yonese Junji , Kihara Kazunori 
Published: June 2017

ObjectivesTo develop a stepwise diagnostic algorithm for fat‐poor angiomyolipoma in small renal masses.MethodsTwo cohorts of small renal masses <4 cm without an apparent fat component that was pathologically diagnosed were included: 153 cases (18 fat‐poor angiomyolipomas/135 renal cell carcinomas) for model development and 71 cases (seven fat‐poor angiomyolipomas/59 renal cell carcinomas/5 oncocytomas) for validation. Dynamic contrast‐enhanced computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and clinical findings were analyzed. Based on multivariate analysis, we developed two prediction models for fat‐poor angiomyolipoma, the computed tomography model and the computed tomography + magnetic resonance imaging model, and a stepwise algorithm that proposes the sequential use of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsThe computed tomography model, which was composed of female aged <50 years, high attenuation on unenhanced computed tomography, less enhancement than the normal renal cortex and homogeneity in the corticomedullary phase, differentiated tumors with none of the factors as the low angiomyolipoma‐probability group, and the others were candidates for the computed tomography + magnetic resonance imaging model. The computed tomography + magnetic resonance imaging model, consisting of the first three factors of the computed tomography model, low signal intensity and absence of pseudocapsule on T2‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging, re‐stratified the tumors into low, intermediate and high angiomyolipoma‐probability groups. The incidence of fat‐poor angiomyolipoma in each group was 0%, 26% and 93%, respectively (area under the curve 0.981). External validation by two readers showed a high area under the curve (0.912 and 0.924) for each. The interobserver agreement was good (kappa score 0.77).ConclusionsThe present algorithm differentiates fat‐poor angiomyolipoma in small renal masses with high accuracy by adding magnetic resonance imaging to computed tomography in selected patients.
Did Firms Manage Earnings more Aggressively during the Financial Crisis?
Authors: Chintrakarn Pandej , Jiraporn Pornsit , Kim Young S. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractWe investigate the extent of earnings management during the financial crisis of 2008 (The Great Recession). Based on a large sample of 14,000 observations across 15 years, our results show that firms managed earnings less aggressively during the crisis. We also show a severe decline in firm value and profitability during the crisis. Our results are consistent with the notion that, during the crisis, firm performance was so far below the target that no amount of earnings management would have been sufficient to reverse the poor earnings picture. As a result, managers were less motivated to manage earnings. Furthermore, the crisis serves as a convenient excuse for poor performance, lessening the motivation and necessity for managers to manage earnings. Additional analysis including fixed‐effects regressions, propensity score matching, and GMM dynamic panel data estimation shows that our results are robust and are not driven by unobserved heterogeneity. Further analysis documents similar findings for the Dot‐com crisis in 2001 and the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997–1998.
Improving resistance against terminal drought in bread wheat by exogenous application of proline and gamma‐aminobutyric acid
Authors: Farooq M. , Nawaz A. , Chaudhry M. A. M. , Indrasti R. , Rehman A. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractScarcity of water is a severe constraint, which hinders the wheat productivity worldwide. However, foliage application of osmoprotectants may be useful in reducing the drought‐induced yield losses in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). In this study, potential of foliage applied osmoprotectants (proline, gamma‐aminobutyric acid) in improving the performance of bread wheat against terminal drought was evaluated. Both proline and gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) were foliage applied at 50, 100 and 150 mg/L at anthesis stage (BBCH‐identification code‐ 61), in two bread wheat cultivars viz. Mairaj‐2008 and BARS‐2009. After 1 week of foliage application of these osmoprotectants, drought was imposed by maintaining the pots at 35% water holding capacity. Imposition of drought caused significant reduction in the grain yield of both tested bread wheat cultivars; nonetheless, foliage applied osmoprotectants at either concentration improved the chlorophyll contents, accumulation of proline, glycinebetaine and total soluble phenolics and reduced the malondialdehyde contents, which resulted in better stay green, maintenance of grain weight and grain number under drought stress, thus resulting in better grain yield, water‐use efficiency and transpiration efficiency in both wheat cultivars. However, foliage applied proline at 150 mg/L, and GABA at 100 mg/L was most effective than other concentrations of these osmoprotectants. Performance of cultivar Mairaj‐2008 was quite better than cultivar BARS‐2009. In crux, foliar application of proline and GABA at pre‐optimized rate can be opted as a shotgun approach to improve the performance of wheat under terminal drought.
Multiple independent colonizations into the Congo Basin during the continental radiation of African Mastacembelus spiny eels
Authors: Day Julia J. , Fages Antoine , Brown Katherine J. , Vreven Emmanuel J. , Stiassny Melanie L. J. , Bills Roger , Friel John P. , Rüber Lukas 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAimThere has been recent interest in the origin and assembly of continental biotas based on densely sampled species‐level clades, however, studies from African freshwaters are few so that the commonality of macroevolutionary patterns and processes among continental clades remain to be tested. Within the Afrotropics, the Congo Basin contains the highest diversity of riverine fishes, yet it is unclear how this fauna was assembled. To address this, and the diversification dynamics of a continental radiation, we focus on African Mastacembelus spiny eels.LocationAfrotropical freshwaters.MethodsThe most complete molecular phylogeny to date was reconstructed for African spiny eels. Divergence times were estimated applying a Bayesian relaxed clock comparing fossil and geological calibrations across nuclear and mitochondrial trees. Biogeographic reconstructions, applying a dispersal–extinction–cladogenesis model and lineage diversification dynamics were examined.ResultsSpiny eels originated in Asia and colonized Africa c. 15.4 Ma (95% HPD: 23.9–8.8 Ma) from which their subsequent radiation across the Afrotropics was best fitted by a constant rate model. Ancestral state estimation identified multiple colonization events into the Congo Basin, whereas all other regions were likely to have been colonized once indicating considerable geographic constraints. Application of the fossil calibration gave similar age estimates across datasets, whereas a geological calibration estimated considerably older nuclear divergences.Main conclusionsDespite profound environmental events during the evolutionary history of the group, there is no evidence for rapid lineage diversification. This finding supports several recent studies on tropical continental radiations that contrast to the common pattern of density‐dependent diversification. We further show that dispersal has occurred into, as well as out of the Congo Basin, indicating the importance of this region in the generation of biodiversity.
Substrate characterization and catheter ablation in patients with scar‐related ventricular tachycardia using ultra high‐density 3‐D mapping
Authors: Nührich Jana M. , Kaiser Lukas , Akbulak Ruken Özge , Schäffer Benjamin N. , Eickholt Christian , Schwarzl Michael , Kuklik Pawel , Moser Julia , Jularic Mario , Willems Stephan , Meyer Christian 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBackgroundAblation of scar‐related ventricular tachycardia (VT), especially in noninducible VT or hemodynamically unstable patients, can be challenging. Thus, we evaluated feasibility of an ultra high‐density 3‐D mapping approach to characterize the ventricular substrate and, if possible, to map VT.Methods and resultsTwenty‐two patients (67 ± 2 years, mean LV‐EF 36 ± 3%) with both ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy and documented VT underwent mapping and catheter ablation using a 64‐electrode mini‐basket catheter. Substrate characterization included ultra high‐density voltage maps, identification of areas of slow conduction and late potentials. Whenever VT was inducible activation mapping was performed.In 13 of 22 patients, the presumed clinical VT (in 16 of 22 any VT) was inducible. A total of 50 maps were generated (22 substrate maps, 28 during VT), mapping time was 33 ± 4 minutes, number of points was 10,937 ± 1,923. Low voltage areas were related with the site of origin in all mapped VT. Isochronal maps indicated areas of slow conduction in 14 of 22 patients, all in border zone scar. In 95% of patients, late potentials were found. Mapping time during VT was 9 ± 2 minutes, number of points 6,740 ± 1,140. Covered cycle length was 82 ± 5% (16 re‐entry, 10 focal, and two undetermined). During 4 months follow‐up, 90% remained free from VT recurrence.ConclusionUltra high‐density mapping in patients with scar‐related VT is feasible, safe and enables detailed insight into tachycardia mechanisms. Critical sites can be identified (1) by precise substrate characterization when VT is not inducible or hemodynamically not tolerated and (2) during short lasting episodes of VT in order to guide catheter ablation.
Cimifugin suppresses allergic inflammation by reducing epithelial derived initiative key factors via regulating tight junctions
Authors: Wang Xiaoyu , Jiang Xiaoyan , Yu Xi , Liu Hailiang , Tao Yu , Jiang Guorong , Hong Min 
Published: June 2017

AbstractCimifugin is a bioactive component of Saposhnikovia divaricata, a Chinese herb for treating allergy. Our previous studies demonstrated that cimifugin inhibited allergic inflammation efficiently. This study aims to determine the mechanism of cimifugin on epithelial cells in allergic inflammation. Mice were sensitized and challenged with FITC to establish type 2 atopic dermatitis (AD) model. The initial stage of AD model, in which mice were just sensitized with FITC, was established in vivo and immortalized human epidermal (HaCaT) cells were utilized in vitro. Initiative key cytokines, TSLP and IL‐33, were measured by ELISA, the junctions in ECs were observed by electron microscopy and TJs (CLDN‐1, occludin and CLDND1) were assessed by Western blot, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. The results showed that TSLP and IL‐33 were inhibited significantly by cimifugin in the initial stage of AD model. Simultaneously, cimifugin reduced the separated gap among the epithelial cells and increased the expression of TJs. Similar effects on TSLP/IL‐33 and TJs were obtained in vitro. The effect of cimifugin on TSLP decreased significantly when expression of CLDN1 was interfered with siRNA and this implied cimifugin inhibits initiative cytokines through restoring TJs. Furthermore, cimifugin administered only in the initial stage obviously attenuated the ultimate allergic inflammation, which indicate that impacts of cimifugin in the initial stage on TSLP/IL‐33 and TJs are sufficient for suppressing allergic inflammation. This study not only revealed the mechanisms of cimifugin, but also indicated the possibility of initiative key cytokines and TJs as therapeutic targets.
Periodontal Disease Associated with Higher Risk of Dementia: Population‐Based Cohort Study in Taiwan
Authors: Lee Ya‐Ling , Hu Hsiao‐Yun , Huang Li‐Ying , Chou Pesus , Chu Dachen 
Published: June 2017

ObjectivesTo determine the magnitude and temporal aspect of the effect of poor dental health and periodontal disease (PD) on dementia.DesignRetrospective cohort studySettingTaiwan National Health Insurance Research Database.ParticipantsIndividuals with newly diagnosed PD (N = 182,747)MeasurementsParticipants were followed from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2010. Participants were assigned to dental prophylaxis, intensive periodontal treatment, tooth extraction, or no treatment, according to International Classification of Diseases codes and PD treatment codes. The incidence rate of dementia of the groups was compared. The association between PD and dementia was analyzed using Cox regression, with adjustments for age, sex, monthly income, residential urbanicity, and comorbidities.ResultsThe incidence of dementia was significantly higher in the group with PD that did not receive treatment (0.76% per year) and in the group that had teeth extracted (0.57% per year) than in the group that underwent intensive PD treatment (0.35% per year) and the group that received dental prophylaxis (0.39% per year) (P < .001). After adjusting for confounders, the Cox proportional hazards model revealed a higher risk of dementia in the group with PD who did not undergo treatment (hazard ratio (HR) = 1.14, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04–1.24) and the group that had teeth extracted (HR = 1.10, 95% CI = 1.04–1.16) than in the group that received dental prophylaxis.ConclusionSubjects who had more severe PD or did not receive periodontal treatment were at greater risk of developing dementia.
Engineering crop nutrient efficiency for sustainable agriculture
Authors: Chen Liyu , Liao Hong 
Published: June 2017

AbstractIncreasing crop yields can provide food, animal feed, bioenergy feedstocks and biomaterials to meet increasing global demand; however, the methods used to increase yield can negatively affect sustainability. For example, application of excess fertilizer can generate and maintain high yields but also increases input costs and contributes to environmental damage through eutrophication, soil acidification and air pollution. Improving crop nutrient efficiency can improve agricultural sustainability by increasing yield while decreasing input costs and harmful environmental effects. Here, we review the mechanisms of nutrient efficiency (primarily for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and iron) and breeding strategies for improving this trait, along with the role of regulation of gene expression in enhancing crop nutrient efficiency to increase yields. We focus on the importance of root system architecture to improve nutrient acquisition efficiency, as well as the contributions of mineral translocation, remobilization and metabolic efficiency to nutrient utilization efficiency.
Inflammation in the developing rat modulates astroglial reactivity to seizures in the mature brain
Authors: Setkowicz Zuzanna , Kosonowska Emilia , Janeczko Krzysztof 
Published: June 2017

AbstractAstrocytes participate in neuronal development and excitability, and produce factors enhancing or suppressing inflammatory processes occurring due to neurodegenerative diseases, such as epilepsy. Seizures, in turn, trigger the release of inflammatory mediators, causing structural and functional changes in the brain. Therefore, it appears reasonable to determine whether generalized inflammation at developmental periods can affect astrocyte reactivity to epileptic seizures occurring in the adult brain.Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected in 6‐ or 30‐day‐old rats (P6 or P30, respectively). At the age of 2 months, seizures were induced, and pilocarpine and morphological changes of astrocytes located within the hippocampal formation were assessed. Additionally, expression of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), glutamine synthetase (GS), aquaporin 4 (AQP4), and inwardly rectifying potassium channel Kir 4.1 (Kir4.1) was determined using Western blots.The animal group given LPS on P6 displayed maximal susceptibility to pilocarpine‐induced seizures, significantly higher than the group that received LPS on P30. In the immunohistologically examined hippocampal formation, the GFAP‐immunoreactive area was not affected by LPS alone. However, it was reduced following seizures in naïve controls but not in LPS‐pretreated rats. Increases in the ramification of astrocytic processes were detected only in adult rats given LPS on P30, not on P6. Seizures abolished the effects. Following seizures, the process ramification showed no significant change in the two LPS‐treated rat groups, whereas it was significantly reduced in the dentate gyrus of LPS‐untreated controls.Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression showed no changes induced with LPS alone and rose slightly after seizures. AQP4 content was lower in rats given LPS on P6 and was seizure‐resistant in the two LPS‐treated groups, contrary to a decrease in untreated controls. GS expression was not affected by LPS treatments and was reduced after seizures without an intergroup difference. Kir4.1 underwent highly significant increases in all groups experiencing seizures, but LPS alone had no effect.It can be concluded that the generalized inflammatory status led to some important changes in astrocytes reflected, in part at least by permanent modifications of their morphology and molecular profile. Moreover, the previously experienced inflammation prevented the cells from much stronger changes in response to seizures observed in adult untreated controls. The obtained results point to a link between the activation of astrocytes by transient systemic inflammation occurring during the developmental period and their subsequent reactivity to seizures, which may play an important role in the functional features of the brain, including its susceptibility to seizures.
Discrimination and resilience and the needs of people who identify as Transgender: A narrative review of quantitative research studies
Authors: McCann Edward , Brown Michael 
Published: June 2017

Aims and objectivesTo examine discrimination and resilience experiences of people who identify as transgender and establish potential health service responses.BackgroundPeople who identify as transgender face many challenges in society in terms of the knowledge, understanding and acceptance of a person's gender identity.DesignA narrative review of quantitative empirical research.MethodsA comprehensive search of CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Sociological Abstracts electronic databases from 2006–2016 was conducted.ResultsThe search yielded 1,478 papers and following the application of rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria a total of 19 papers were included in the review. The findings reveal that there is a need to ensure that the needs of transgender people are represented, fully integrated and clearly linked to outcomes that improve their health and quality of life.ConclusionsDiscrimination experiences can result in poorer health outcomes; however, many people have developed resilience and positive coping strategies.Relevance to clinical practiceNurses need to recognise and respond appropriately to the care and treatment needs of this population. Comprehensive nursing assessments and plans of care that encompass all aspects of the person should be in place supported by clear policy guidelines and evidence‐based research. The education requirements of practitioners are outlined.