bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The morphology of CLL revisited: the clinical significance of prolymphocytes and correlations with prognostic/molecular markers in the LRF CLL4 trial
Authors: Oscier David , Else Monica , Matutes Estella , Morilla Ricardo , Strefford Jonathan C. , Catovsky Daniel
Published: May 2016

Historically, an increase in the percentage and number of circulating prolymphocytes in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) has been associated with strong expression of surface immunoglobulin, trisomy 12 and a poor outcome. This study re‐examines the biological and clinical significance of increased peripheral blood prolymphocytes in 508 patients at entry into the randomized UK Leukaemia Research Fund CLL4 trial. It also investigates the associations between increased prolymphocytes and a comprehensive array of biomarkers. 270 patients (53%) had <5% prolymphocytes, 167 (33%) had 5–9%, 60 (12%) had 10–14% and 11 (2%) had ≥15% prolymphocytes. We show that a higher proportion of prolymphocytes (≥10%) was independently associated with NOTCH1 mutations (P = 0·006), absence of 13q deletion (P = 0·001), high CD38 expression (P = 0·02) and unmutated IGHV genes (P = 0·01). Deaths due to Richter syndrome were significantly more common amongst patients who had ≥10% vs <10% prolymphocytes (13% vs 2%) respectively (P < 0·0001). ≥10% prolymphocytes was also associated with a shorter progression‐free survival (Hazard ratio [HR] 1·50 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1·16–1·93], P = 0·002) and overall survival (HR 1·99 [95% CI: 1·53–2·59], P < 0·0001). Our data support the routine examination of blood films in CLL and suggest that a finding of an increased proportion of prolymphocytes may be a trigger for further evaluation of clinical and laboratory features of progressive disease.
The geometry of morphospaces: lessons from the classicRaup shell coiling model
Authors: Gerber Sylvain
Published: May 2016

Morphospaces are spatial depictions of morphological variation among biological forms that have become an integral part of the analytical toolkit of evolutionary biologists and palaeobiologists. Nevertheless, the term morphospace brings together a great variety of spaces with different geometries. In particular, many morphospaces lack the metric properties underlying the notions of distance and direction, which are, however, central to the analysis of morphological differences and evolutionary transitions. The problem is illustrated here with the iconic morphospace of coiled shells implemented byRaup 50 years ago. The model, which allows the description of shell coiling geometry of various invertebrate taxa, is a seminal reference in theoretical morphology and morphospace theory, but also a morphometric framework frequently used in empirical studies, particularly of ammonoids. Because of the definition of its underlying parameters,Raup's morphospace does not possess aEuclidean structure and a meaningful interpretation of the spread and spacing of taxa within it is not guaranteed. Focusing on the region of the morphospace occupied by most ammonoids, I detail a landmark‐based morphospace circumventing this problem and built from the same input measurements required for the calculation ofRaup's parameters. From simulations and a reanalysis ofPalaeozoic ammonoid shell disparity, the properties of these morphospaces are compared and their algebraic and geometric relationships highlighted. WhileRaup's model remains a valuable tool for describing ammonoid shells and relating their shapes to the coiling process, it is demonstrated that quantitative analyses of morphological patterns should be carried out within the landmark‐based framework. Beyond this specific case, the increasing use and diversity of morphospaces in evolutionary morphology call for caution when interpreting patterns and comparing results drawn from different types of morphospaces.
Novel taxane derivatives from Taxus wallichiana with high anticancer potency on tumor cells
Authors: Wang Yong , Wang Jiaying , Wang Hao , Ye Wencai
Published: May 2016

Four novel taxane derivatives, N‐debenzoyl‐N‐methyl‐N‐heptanoyl‐taxol (1), N‐debenzoyl‐N‐me‐thyl‐N‐octanoyl‐taxol (2), N‐debenzoyl‐N‐methyl‐N‐(4‐methylhexanoyl)‐taxol (3), and N‐debenzoyl‐N‐methyl‐N‐[(4Z)‐1‐oxo‐4‐tenenoyl]‐taxol (4), were isolated from the ethanol extract of the whole plant of Taxus wallichiana.var.mairer. These structures were identified on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analysis, and their antitumor activity was evaluated against MCF‐7, A549, and 3‐AO cancer cell lines by the MTT method. Compound 3, the most promising one, exhibited encouraging effect with IC50 of 77 nm in MCF‐7 cells, which was almost matching that of positive control Taxol. In further mechanism study, the tubulin polymerization assay demonstrated that four compounds caused shifts from the soluble tubulin (depolymerized tubulin) to the particulate tubulin fraction (polymerized) which was similar to Taxol. These results revealed novel natural products with paclitaxel‐likemicrotu‐bule‐stabilizing activity owned their major importance in the clinical treatment of cancer.
Review of paediatric retinal microvascular changes as a predictor of cardiovascular disease
Authors: Newman Alexander R , Andrew Nicholas H , Casson Robert J
Published: May 2016

Recent studies have supported the hypothesis that exposure to established cardiovascular risk factors in early life predisposes to the development of adult cardiovascular disease. Retinal imaging is an emerging technique which facilitates non‐invasive, accurate and reproducible assessment of the retinal microvasculature. The assessment may be in the form of static vascular calibre measurements and assessment of the vascular geometry or dynamic structural and functional assessments. Paediatric retinal microvascular changes are reported in response to elevated blood pressure, type 1 diabetes, increasing adiposity, diet, physical activity, systemic inflammation, metabolic peptides, family history and prenatal factors. The resultant microvascular changes have been linked to sub‐clinical and overt cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and metabolic disease states in the adult population. Still missing however is longitudinal evidence showing the persistence of retinal microvascular alterations into adulthood. Future studies will enable retinal microvascular assessment to further evaluate the pathogenesis of disease states and response to intervention. The data obtained will also aid in expanding the clinical utility of retinal imaging as a cardiovascular risk prediction and monitoring tool and supplement existing recommendations to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Short‐ and long‐term outcomes of metformin compared with insulin alone in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Butalia S. , Gutierrez L. , Lodha A. , Aitken E. , Zakariasen A. , Donovan L.
Published: May 2016

Aim

To assess the short‐ and long‐term maternal and fetal impact of metformin in pregnancy compared with insulin.

Methods

We performed a comprehensive literature search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and ClinicalTrials.gov. Eligible studies were randomized control trials (RCTs) or follow‐up of an RCT that: (1) compared metformin with insulin in pregnancy in women with gestational diabetes mellitus or Type 2 diabetes; and (2) reported maternal or fetal outcomes of interest. Two reviewers extracted the data, evaluated study quality and calculated pooled estimates.

Results

Sixteen studies (n = 2165 in quantitative analysis) were included. Metformin lowered the risk of neonatal hypoglycaemia [risk ratio (RR) = 0.63; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.45 to 0.87], large for gestational age babies (RR = 0.80; 95% CI, 0.64 to 0.99), pregnancy‐induced hypertension (RR = 0.56; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.85) and total maternal pregnancy weight gain [mean difference (MD) –2.07; 95% CI –2.88 to –1.27]. Metformin did not increase preterm delivery (RR = 1.18; 95% CI 0.67 to 2.07), small for gestational age babies (RR = 1.20; 95% CI, 0.67 to 2.14), perinatal mortality (RR = 0.82; 95% CI, 0.17 to 3.92) or Caesarean section (RR = 0.97; 95% CI, 0.80 to 1.19). Long‐term outcome information is limited.

Conclusions

Our review found that metformin had no short‐term adverse effects on pregnancy, potential benefits in the neonatal period, but limited long‐term follow‐up information. Prior to routine use, we recommend further follow‐up studies of offspring exposed to metformin in utero.
Sleep duration and quality, and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in pregnant Chinese women
Authors: Wang H. , Leng J. , Li W. , Wang L. , Zhang C. , Li W. , Liu H. , Zhang S. , Chan J. , Hu G. , Yu Z. , Yang X.
Published: May 2016

Aims

To examine the association between sleep disturbances during pregnancy and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus.

Methods

From 2010 to 2012, 12 506 women in Tianjin, China, were screened using a 50‐g 1‐h glucose challenge test at 24–28 weeks’ gestation. Those with glucose challenge test values of ≥ 7.8 mmol/l were invited to further undergo a 75‐g 2‐h oral glucose tolerance test. Gestational diabetes was determined according to the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Group's definition. Self‐reported sleep duration and sleep quality during pregnancy was documented using a modified questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios and 95% CIs.

Results

A total of 919 women (7.3%) had gestational diabetes. Sleep duration was found to have an approximate J‐shaped association with gestational diabetes risk after adjusting for covariates. Compared with a sleep duration of 7–9 h/day (43% of 12 506 women), the adjusted odds ratios for sleep duration of ≥ 9 h/day (55%) and < 7 h/day (2%) for gestational diabetes were 1.21 (95% CI 1.03–1.42) and 1.36 (95% CI 0.87–2.14), respectively. Compared with good sleep quality (37.9% of 12 506 women), the adjusted odds ratios of moderate (59.9%) and poor sleep quality (2.2%) for gestational diabetes were 1.19 (95% CI 1.01–1.41) and 1.61 (95% CI 1.04–2.50), respectively.

Conclusion

In pregnant Chinese women, poor sleep quality, and shorter and longer duration of sleep during pregnancy were independently associated with an increased risk of gestational diabetes.
Temporal cuing modulates alpha oscillations during auditory attentional blink
Authors: Shen Dawei , Ross Bernhard , Alain Claude
Published: May 2016

Attentional blink (AB) refers to the phenomenon whereby the correct identification of a visual or auditory target impairs processing of a subsequent probe. Although it has been shown that knowing in advance, when the probe would be presented, reduces the attentional blink and increases the amplitude of event‐related potential (ERP) elicited by the probe, the neural mechanism by which attention mitigates the AB remains unclear. Here, we used time‐frequency analysis to further explore the mechanism of the auditory attentional blink. Participants were presented a series of rapid auditory stimuli and asked to indicate whether a target and a probe were present in the sequence. In half of the trials, participants were cued to the probe position relative to the target (‘Early’ or ‘Late’). Probe detection and ERP amplitude elicited by the probe decreased when the probe was presented shortly after the target compared to when it was presented later after the target. Importantly, the behavioral and ERP correlates of probe discrimination significantly improved when the ‘Early’ cue was presented. The improvement in processing the probe in the cued condition was accompanied by the decrease in alpha activity (8–13 Hz) after the time when the probe was expected; suggesting that successfully directing attention to time window where the probe would likely occur reduces the processing resources needed to suppress distractors. This in turn freed up available processing resources for the target and probe at the short‐term consolidation stage, which ultimately reduced the auditory attentional blink.
Thalamic amplification of sensory input in experimental diabetes
Authors: Freeman Oliver J. , Evans Mathew H. , Cooper Garth J. S. , Petersen Rasmus S. , Gardiner Natalie J.
Published: May 2016

Diabetic neuropathy is a common, and often debilitating, secondary complication of diabetes mellitus. As pain, hypersensitivity and paraesthesias present in a distal–proximal distribution, symptoms are generally believed to originate from damaged afferents within the peripheral nervous system. Increasing evidence suggests altered processing within the central nervous system in diabetic neuropathy contributes towards somatosensory dysfunction, but whether the accurate coding and relay of peripherally encoded information through the central nervous system is altered in diabetes is not understood. Here, we applied the strengths of the rodent whisker–barrel system to study primary afferent‐thalamic processing in diabetic neuropathy. We found that neurons in the thalamic ventral posteromedial nucleus from rats with experimental diabetic neuropathy showed increased firing to precisely graded, multidirectional whisker deflection compared to non‐diabetic rats. This thalamic hyperactivity occurred without any overt primary afferent dysfunction, as recordings from the trigeminal ganglion showed these primary afferents to be unaffected by diabetes. These findings suggest that central amplification can substantially transform ascending sensory input in diabetes, even in the absence of a barrage of ectopic primary afferent activity.
Involvement of oxidative stress and impaired lysosomal degradation in amiodarone‐induced schwannopathy
Authors: Niimi Naoko , Yako Hideji , Tsukamoto Masami , Takaku Shizuka , Yamauchi Junji , Kawakami Emiko , Yanagisawa Hiroko , Watabe Kazuhiko , Utsunomiya Kazunori , Sango Kazunori
Published: May 2016

Amiodarone hydrochloride (AMD), an anti‐arrhythmic agent, has been shown to cause peripheral neuropathy; however, its pathogenesis remains unknown. We examined the toxic effects of AMD on an immortalized adult rat Schwann cell line, IFRS1, and cocultures of IFRS1 cells and adult rat dorsal root ganglion neurons or nerve growth factor‐primed PC12 cells. Treatment with AMD (1, 5, and 10 μm) induced time‐ and dose‐dependent cell death, accumulation of phospholipids and neutral lipids, upregulation of the expression of gangliosides, and oxidative stress (increased nuclear factor E2‐related factor in nuclear extracts and reduced GSH/GSSG ratios) in IFRS1 cells. It also induced the upregulation of LC3‐II and p62 expression, with phosphorylation of p62, suggesting that deficient autolysosomal degradation is involved in AMD‐induced IFRS1 cell death. Furthermore, treatment of the cocultures with AMD induced detachment of IFRS1 cells from neurite networks in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner. These findings suggest that AMD‐induced lysosomal storage accompanied by enhanced oxidative stress and impaired lysosomal degradation in Schwann cells might be a cause of demyelination in the peripheral nervous system.
Multiple asynchronous stimulus‐ and task‐dependent hierarchies (STDH) within the visual brain's parallel processing systems
Authors: Zeki Semir
Published: May 2016

Results from a variety of sources, some many years old, lead ineluctably to a re‐appraisal of the twin strategies of hierarchical and parallel processing used by the brain to construct an image of the visual world. Contrary to common supposition, there are at least three ‘feed‐forward’ anatomical hierarchies that reach the primary visual cortex (V1) and the specialized visual areas outside it, in parallel. These anatomical hierarchies do not conform to the temporal order with which visual signals reach the specialized visual areas through V1. Furthermore, neither the anatomical hierarchies nor the temporal order of activation through V1 predict the perceptual hierarchies. The latter shows that we see (and become aware of) different visual attributes at different times, with colour leading form (orientation) and directional visual motion, even though signals from fast‐moving, high‐contrast stimuli are among the earliest to reach the visual cortex (of area V5). Parallel processing, on the other hand, is much more ubiquitous than commonly supposed but is subject to a barely noticed but fundamental aspect of brain operations, namely that different parallel systems operate asynchronously with respect to each other and reach perceptual endpoints at different times. This re‐assessment leads to the conclusion that the visual brain is constituted of multiple, parallel and asynchronously operating task‐ and stimulus‐dependent hierarchies (STDH); which of these parallel anatomical hierarchies have temporal and perceptual precedence at any given moment is stimulus and task related, and dependent on the visual brain's ability to undertake multiple operations asynchronously.
Crystallographic analysis on small fatigue crack propagation behaviour of a nickel‐based single crystal superalloy
Authors: Qiu W. , Ma X. , Rui S. , Shi H.‐J.
Published: May 2016

In situ observations by scanning electron microscopy show that small fatigue cracks in a nickel‐based single crystal superalloy are inclined to the loading direction and propagate in dominant crystallographic manners. In order to evaluate the driving forces for inclined crack propagation, three‐dimensional anisotropic linear elastic finite‐element analysis is conducted. The plastic zone size on the dominant slip plane has been calculated and proposed to correlate the fatigue crack growth. It is shown that this parameter takes into account both material anisotropy and octahedral fracture modes, and it can effectively characterize small crack propagation behaviour.
Fine‐scale climate change: modelling spatial variation in biologically meaningful rates of warming
Authors: Maclean Ilya M. D. , Suggitt Andrew J. , Wilson Robert J. , Duffy James P. , Bennie Jonathan J.
Published: May 2016

The existence of fine‐grain climate heterogeneity has prompted suggestions that species may be able to survive future climate change in pockets of suitable microclimate, termed ‘microrefugia’. However, evidence for microrefugia is hindered by lack of understanding of how rates of warming vary across a landscape. Here, we present a model that is applied to provide fine‐grained, multidecadal estimates of temperature change based on the underlying physical processes that influence microclimate. Weather station and remotely derived environmental data were used to construct physical variables that capture the effects of terrain, sea surface temperatures, altitude and surface albedo on local temperatures, which were then calibrated statistically to derive gridded estimates of temperature. We apply the model to the Lizard Peninsula, United Kingdom, to provide accurate (mean error = 1.21 °C; RMS error = 1.63 °C) hourly estimates of temperature at a resolution of 100 m for the period 1977–2014. We show that rates of warming vary across a landscape primarily due to long‐term trends in weather conditions. Total warming varied from 0.87 to 1.16 °C, with the slowest rates of warming evident on north‐east‐facing slopes. This variation contributed to substantial spatial heterogeneity in trends in bioclimatic variables: for example, the change in the length of the frost‐free season varied from +11 to −54 days and the increase in annual growing degree‐days from 51 to 267 °C days. Spatial variation in warming was caused primarily by a decrease in daytime cloud cover with a resulting increase in received solar radiation, and secondarily by a decrease in the strength of westerly winds, which has amplified the effects on temperature of solar radiation on west‐facing slopes. We emphasize the importance of multidecadal trends in weather conditions in determining spatial variation in rates of warming, suggesting that locations experiencing least warming may not remain consistent under future climate change.
Microbial community dynamics in soil aggregates shape biogeochemical gas fluxes from soil profiles – upscaling an aggregate biophysical model
Authors: Ebrahimi Ali , Or Dani
Published: May 2016

Microbial communities inhabiting soil aggregates dynamically adjust their activity and composition in response to variations in hydration and other external conditions. These rapid dynamics shape signatures of biogeochemical activity and gas fluxes emitted from soil profiles. Recent mechanistic models of microbial processes in unsaturated aggregate‐like pore networks revealed a highly dynamic interplay between oxic and anoxic microsites jointly shaped by hydration conditions and by aerobic and anaerobic microbial community abundance and self‐organization. The spatial extent of anoxic niches (hotspots) flicker in time (hot moments) and support substantial anaerobic microbial activity even in aerated soil profiles. We employed an individual‐based model for microbial community life in soil aggregate assemblies represented by 3D angular pore networks. Model aggregates of different sizes were subjected to variable water, carbon and oxygen contents that varied with soil depth as boundary conditions. The study integrates microbial activity within aggregates of different sizes and soil depth to obtain estimates of biogeochemical fluxes from the soil profile. The results quantify impacts of dynamic shifts in microbial community composition on CO2 and N2O production rates in soil profiles in good agreement with experimental data. Aggregate size distribution and the shape of resource profiles in a soil determine how hydration dynamics shape denitrification and carbon utilization rates. Results from the mechanistic model for microbial activity in aggregates of different sizes were used to derive parameters for analytical representation of soil biogeochemical processes across large scales of practical interest for hydrological and climate models.
Importance of biophysical effects on climate warming mitigation potential of biofuel crops over the conterminous United States
Authors: Zhu Peng , Zhuang Qianlai , Eva Joo , Bernacchi Carl
Published: May 2016

Current quantification of climate warming mitigation potential (CWMP) of biomass‐derived energy has focused primarily on its biogeochemical effects. This study used site‐level observations of carbon, water, and energy fluxes of biofuel crops to parameterize and evaluate the community land model (CLM) and estimateCO2fluxes, surface energy balance, soil carbon dynamics of corn (Zea mays), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and miscanthus (Miscanthus×giganteus) ecosystems across the conterminous United States considering different agricultural management practices and land‐use scenarios. We find that neglecting biophysical effects underestimates theCWMPof transitioning from croplands and marginal lands to energy crops. Biogeochemical effects alone result in changes in carbon storage of −1.9, 49.1, and 69.3 g C m−2y−1compared to 20.5, 78.5, and 96.2 g C m−2y−1when considering both biophysical and biogeochemical effects for corn, switchgrass, and miscanthus, respectively. The biophysical contribution toCWMPis dominated by changes in latent heat fluxes. Using the model to optimize growth conditions through fertilization and irrigation increases theCWMPfurther to 79.6, 98.3, and 118.8 g C m−2y−1, respectively, representing the upper threshold forCWMP. Results also show that theCWMPover marginal lands is lower than that over croplands. This study highlights that neglecting the biophysical effects of altered surface energy and water balance underestimates theCWMPof transitioning to bioenergy crops at regional scales.
The Emergence of Lightning in Severe Thunderstorm Prediction and the Possible Contributions from Spatial Science
Authors: Ellis Andrew , Miller Paul
Published: May 2016

Thunderstorms capable of producing dangerous weather are common in different regions throughout the world. Identifying particular thunderstorms that will become hazardous is a considerable forecasting challenge for meteorologists making warning decisions. The goal of more accurate and earlier severe thunderstorm warning has led to the idea of using a storm's lightning behavior – a reflection of storm intensity  to predict imminent storm severity. Researchers have found that storms producing severe weather are often preceded by a rapid increase in lightning frequency, or a “jump”, prompting attempts to develop a quantitative lightning‐based indicator of storm severity as a forecasting aid. Although recent studies have produced promising results, this initiative is rife with opportunities for geographers as lightning continues to evolve into a reliable operational tool. Technological advances in lightning detection have enabled the research, but the inherent volume of lightning data and their time‐space nature represent an obstacle and an opportunity for spatial scientists. Increasingly robust lightning‐jump algorithms will require extensive thunderstorm databases, the development of which involves identification of time‐space clusters of lightning that represent discrete thunderstorms of varying types, which need to be aligned with geo‐referenced severe weather reports. The spatial analytical tools and techniques inherent to geography can facilitate the meteorological analyses that are needed to advance the lightning jump concept toward an operational tool. Forecasters within the USA are particularly hopeful, as they look to capitalize on data generated by the Geostationary Lightning Mapper sensor mounted aboard a key satellite for weather and climate monitoring expected to be launched in 2016.
Poor oral status is associated with rehabilitation outcome in older people
Authors: Shiraishi Ai , Yoshimura Yoshihiro , Wakabayashi Hidetaka , Tsuji Yuri
Published: May 2016

Aim

Poor oral status is associated with increased physical dependency and cognitive decline. Malnutrition, a potential result of poor oral status, is associated with poorer rehabilitation outcome and physical function. However, the association between oral status and rehabilitation outcome is not fully understood. The present study investigated the association of poor oral status with rehabilitation outcome in older patients.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was carried out of 108 consecutive patients (mean age 80.5 ± 6.8 years; 50.9% men) who were admitted to convalescent rehabilitation wards. The Revised Oral Assessment Guide was used to evaluate oral status. Rehabilitation outcome was evaluated by the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) on discharge. Multivariate analyses were applied to examine the associations between poor oral status and motor‐FIM on discharge.

Results

According to the Revised Oral Assessment Guide score, 14.8% of participants had normal oral status, 52.8% had slight to moderate oral problems and 32.4% had severe oral problems. The median scores of motor‐FIM on admission and on discharge were 52 (interquartile range 25–70) and 75 (interquartile range 51–89), respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that the Revised Oral Assessment Guide score and the motor‐/cognitive‐FIM scores on admission were significant independent factors for motor‐FIM on discharge, after adjusted for sex, age, length of stay, nutritional status, handgrip and causative diseases (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Poor oral status is associated with rehabilitation outcome in older people. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 598–604.
Women Elite Leaders Doing Respectable Business Femininity: How Privilege is Conferred, Contested and Defended through the Body
Authors: Mavin Sharon , Grandy Gina
Published: May 2016

This paper offers a theory of respectable business femininity. Respectable business femininity is theorized as a discursive and relational process that explains tensions women elite leaders experience at the nexus of being both One and Other and sometimes privileged, embedded notions of leadership as masculine and wider expectations of acceptable embodied femininity. Such tensions manifest through a disciplining of women leaders’ bodies and appearance by self‐and‐others, as a means of appraising women as credible elite leaders and respectable women. Through a qualitative study we show how, within sites of ambiguity, embodied leadership and subjectivities are both enabled and constrained. Accounts highlight how privilege is fluid and (de)stabilized in that it is conferred, contested and defended through women's bodies and appearance. We advance understandings of contemporary respectable femininity, privilege at work, and body work, and consider practical implications for women leaders and management education.
Differential expression of plasma microRNA‐125b in hepatitis B virus‐related liver diseases and diagnostic potential for hepatitis B virus‐induced hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Chen Shanshan , Chen Hao , Gao Shanshan , Qiu Shili , Zhou Hu , Yu Mingxia , Tu Jiancheng
Published: May 2016

Aim

Acting as a tumor suppressor, microRNA (miR)‐125b shows aberrant low expression in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and researchers have found that its dysregulation has a close relationship with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Here, we investigated the expression profile of this miRNA in the plasma of healthy subjects and patients with chronic HBV‐related liver diseases in order to confirm the feasibility of this circulating miRNA as a differential diagnostic biomarker for HBV‐induced HCC (HBV‐HCC).

Methods

A total of 242 individuals were enrolled in this study. The expression levels of plasma miR‐125b were examined using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction technology.

Results

The levels of plasma miR‐125b were remarkably decreased in HBV‐HCC patients compared to healthy controls and HBV subjects without HCC (all P < 0.001), and the low plasma miR‐125b levels in HBV‐HCC patients were associated with higher prevalence of metastasis (P = 0.021). The receiver–operating characteristic curve analyses indicated that plasma miR‐125b presented a high accuracy (area under the curve = 0.891, 0.958, 0.958) for diagnosing HBV‐HCC cases from healthy controls and patients with chronic hepatitis B and HBV‐related liver cirrhosis, respectively. In addition, our study found that the expression levels of plasma miR‐125b in HBV patients without HCC were higher than those in healthy subjects (P < 0.001); it yielded an area under the curve of 0.691 in discriminating patients with chronic HBV infection who were negative for HCC from healthy controls.

Conclusion

The measurement of plasma‐based miR‐125b holds promise as a diagnostic marker for HBV‐HCC differential diagnosis and for chronic HBV viral infection. Those HBV‐infected individuals with increased risk of HCC would be detected early through monitoring the changes in this circulating miRNA.
HISTORY OF HISTORIOGRAPHY FROM A SLIGHTLY COSMOPOLITAN POINT OF VIEW
Authors: Malerba Jurandir
Published: May 2016

Under review here are three works of different formats and scopes, each addressing questions of theory of history and the history of historiography. First, the mature work of Ignacio Olábarri Gortázar, published by the University Press of Salamanca, where he is now an emeritus professor, collects pieces written over a period of fifteen years that deal with matters related to his field of research in social labor history and other methodological and historiographical issues. Second, Fernando Sánchez Marcos seeks to offer an introductory book on the most noteworthy theoretical and historiographical issues of the twentieth century. Third, the volume from Jaume Aurell (Spain), Peter Burke (England), Catalina Balmaceda, and Felipe Soza (both from Chile) is a general handbook of historiography addressed primarily to students. All have their strengths and weaknesses. The most striking weakness is a persistent limitation of the field of vision, which is restricted to a European/Western (Francophone, Anglophone) cultural universe.
Compressive Strength of Bioactive Sol–Gel Glass Foam Scaffolds
Authors: Poologasundarampillai Gowsihan , Lee Peter D. , Lam Colman , Kourkouta Anna‐Maria , Jones Julian R.
Published: May 2016

Larry Hench's 45S5 Bioglass® has been used in more than a million patients as a synthetic bone graft, in the form of a particulate. Bioglass is able to stimulate more bone regeneration than other bioactive ceramics. However, it is not commercially available as a porous scaffold with amorphous glass structure because the 45S5 composition crystallizes during sintering. The sol–gel foaming process was developed in Hench's laboratory to overcome this problem. Here, we concisely review the work on scaffold development from Hench's group and report new data that show maximum compressive strengths in excess of 5 MPa can be achieved while maintaining the interconnected pore networks required for vascularized bone ingrowth. This was achieved through optimization of sintering of the sol–gel foams. Sintering of the sol–gel foams was correlated to the network connectivity and silanol content. Changes in strength after immersion in simulated body fluid were found to be small over the times investigated. Relating the dissolution results to in vivo studies indicates that the scaffolds degrade more rapidly in vivo than in vitro.
Effect of extraction method and ripening stage on banana peel pigments
Authors: Yan Lin , Fernando Warnakulasuriya M. A. D. B. , Brennan Margaret , Brennan Charles S. , Jayasena Vijay , Coorey Ranil
Published: May 2016

Carotenoids are one of the most widespread pigments in nature and can be used as health‐promoting natural food colorants. Banana peel, which is a by‐product of banana processing, contains a range of bioactive compounds including carotenoids. There is no published research on the extraction of food‐grade carotenoids from banana peels. This study evaluated the change in the banana peel carotenoid content over its ripening stages and determined the best possible solvent to extract carotenoid for food applications. The solvents permitted under Food Standard Australia New Zealand were used in the study. Ripeness stage 5 contained the highest content of total carotene at 1.86 μg g−1 of banana peel. From one gram of banana peel, 0.57 μg of xanthophyll and 0.84 μg of beta‐carotene were extracted from ripening stage 5 with a solvent combination of hexane–diethyl ether–acetone and hexane–diethyl ether, respectively.
Effects of artificial lighting on bioactivity of sweet red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)
Authors: Bae Jong‐Hyang , Park Yun‐Jum , Namiesnik Jacek , Gülçin Ilhami , Kim Tae‐Choon , Kim Ho‐Cheol , Heo Buk‐Gu , Gorinstein Shela , Ku Yang‐Gyu
Published: May 2016

Recent studies have shown that artificial light effectively promotes the growth and development of red peppers when light spectra, intensities and duration are controlled. Cited reports deal mostly with studies involving with the growth stages of pepper. Changes in the biochemical status of plants were not studied. Therefore, this study focuses on the changes in the content of some bioactive compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins, ascorbic acid and antioxidant capacities) after artificial lightening [high‐pressure sodium and light‐emitting plasma (LEP) lamps] during the cultivation of sweet red pepper. The bioactive compounds differ slightly, depending on the source of light. Fluorescence spectra showed higher binding properties of LEP polyphenol extracts to human serum albumin (HSA) than other samples. FTIR peaks were similar in their polyphenols region for all investigated samples.
Effect of agitated bed drying on the retention of phenolic compounds, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity of roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffaL.)
Authors: Loyola Arenas Keila Sarin , Cruz Y Victoria Maria Teresa , Vizcarra Mendoza Mario Gonzalo , Martínez Vera Carlos , Anaya Sosa Irasema
Published: May 2016

An agitated fluidised bed dryer was employed to dry lixiviated roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffaL.) calyxes. The effects of operational drying variables on the chemical attributes such as the retention of monomeric anthocyanins (MA), phenolic compounds, polymeric colour, antioxidant activity and drying rate were analysed. Drying curves showed only decreasing falling rate period. To determine the kinetic parameters, the drying data were fitted to a Page's model, based on the moisture content ratio vs. the drying time; thekvalues ranged from 1.58 × 10−5to 6.28 × 10−2 s−1. The different drying conditions showed significant differences in the chemical parameters. When processing wet feeds, as lixiviated roselle calyxes, the mechanical assisted fluidisation can be considered as an innovative concept.
Preparation and application of a flaxseed meal protein film containing lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) oil
Authors: Lee Ji‐Hyeon , Yang Hyun‐Ju , Lee Ka‐Yeon , Song Kyung Bin
Published: May 2016

Flaxseed meal protein (FMP) films were prepared, and their mechanical properties (tensile strength (TS) and elongation at break (E) values), water vapour permeability, optical properties and thermogravimetric analysis were evaluated. Briefly, 5 g FMP, 2 g fructose and 0.03 g ferulic acid were required for the optimal preparation of an FMP film. The TS and E values of the FMP film were 13.12 MPa and 61.90%, respectively. Furthermore, different amounts of lemongrass oil (LE) were incorporated into the FMP film to prepare an antimicrobial film. Wrapping pen shell adductor muscle with the FMP film containing 1.0% LE reduced the counts of inoculated Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 compared with those in the control, after storage at 4 °C for 12 day. Consequently, packaging with FMP film containing 1.0% LE can be useful in improving the quality of pen shell adductor muscle during storage.
Pop‐up messages in order communication systems can increase awareness of osteoporosis among physicians and improve osteoporosis treatment
Authors: Kim Joon Yub , Yoo Jeong Hyun , Kim Ji Wan , Sung Gwang Young , Jung Jae Hong , Cho Yohan , Park Jai Hyung
Published: May 2016

Rationale, aims and objectives

The purpose of this study was to verify the effect of pop‐up messages (regarding a history of dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry [DXA]) on the identification and management of osteoporosis after osteoporotic hip or spine fractures. We hypothesized that these pop‐up messages would increase the awareness and management of osteoporosis among clinicians and patients.

Methods

We introduced pop‐up messages regarding a history of DXA in our Order Communication System (March 2012) and evaluated the records of 404 patients who were treated between January 2011 and December 2012. The patients were categorized as being treated without the pop‐up messages (Group I, before March 2012) or with the pop‐up messages (Group II, after March 2012). We compared their rates of DXA prescription, osteoporosis medication, exercise, mortality and subsequent refractures during a 2‐year follow‐up.

Results

After introducing the pop‐up messages, the DXA prescription rate increased from 35.1 to 57.1% (P < 0.001), the osteoporosis medication rate increased from 21.1 to 25.2% (P = 0.05) and the exercise rate increased from 35.6 to 40.5% (P = 0.018). During the 2‐year follow‐up, the mortality rates were 4.64% in Group I and 6.67% in Group II (P = 0.4). Subsequent refractures were found in 12.9% of Group I patients and 9.52% of Group II patients (P = 0.87).

Conclusion

The pop‐up messages positively affected the behaviours of orthopaedic surgeons and were associated with increased rates of prescription of DXA, osteoporosis medication, and might affect the behaviour of patient, increased exercise rate. Therefore, we recommend using this simple and effective method to improve physicians' awareness of osteoporosis.
Preeclampsia and the Risk of Future Vascular Disease and Mortality: A Review
Authors: Leslie Mayri Sagady , Briggs Linda A.
Published: May 2016

Introduction

Preeclampsia increases a woman's long‐term risk of vascular disease and/or death including chronic hypertension, myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, and venous thromboembolism. The literature suggests that maternity care providers may be unaware of this association.

Methods

A database search was conducted examining the long‐term effects of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy using MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, ISI Web of Knowledge, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Inclusion criteria were: 1) English language, 2) peer‐reviewed journals, 3) January 2000 to July 2015, 4) systematic reviews with or without meta‐analyses, and 5) studies that addressed the relationship between hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and vascular disease such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cerebrovascular diseases.

Results

Three systematic reviews with meta‐analysis qualified for this review. They represented 48 unique studies from 20 countries and included a total of 3,598,601 women. Preeclampsia was associated with a 3‐fold increased risk for developing chronic hypertension. Compared with normotensive women, those with preeclampsia experienced double the risk, or more, for CVD or CVD‐related mortality. Preeclampsia was also associated with approximately double the risk for fatal or nonfatal stroke.

Discussion

Preeclampsia is associated with an increased risk for future chronic hypertension, CVD, cerebrovascular disease, and death. While evidence shows that women with cardiac risk factors may have a higher chance of developing preeclampsia, many women with preeclampsia have no CVD risk factors. Measures to prevent preeclampsia such as calcium supplementation for women with low calcium intake and low‐dose aspirin for women with a history of more than one incident of preeclampsia or a preterm birth associated with preeclampsia are supported by evidence. Reduction of modifiable risks associated with CVD before, during, and after pregnancy is recommended. All care providers and women should be educated regarding these risks and the importance of pregnancy history to future health.
Amyloid formation: functional friend or fearful foe?
Authors: Bergman P. , Roan N. R. , Römling U. , Bevins C. L. , Münch J.
Published: May 2016

Amyloid formation has been most studied in the context of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, as well as in amyloidosis. However, it is becoming increasingly clear that amyloid is also present in the healthy setting; for example nontoxic amyloid formation is important for melanin synthesis and in innate immunity. Furthermore, bacteria have mechanisms to produce functional amyloid structures with important roles in bacterial physiology and interaction with host cells. Here, we will discuss some novel aspects of fibril‐forming proteins in humans and bacteria. First, the amyloid‐forming properties of the antimicrobial peptide human defensin 6 (HD6) will be considered. Intriguingly, unlike other antimicrobial peptides, HD6 does not kill bacteria. However, recent data show that HD6 can form amyloid structures at the gut mucosa with strong affinity for bacterial surfaces. These so‐called nanonets block bacterial invasion by entangling the bacteria in net‐like structures. Next, the role of functional amyloid fibrils in human semen will be discussed. These fibrils were discovered through their property to enhance HIV infection but they may also have other yet unknown functions. Finally, the role of amyloid formation in bacteria will be reviewed. The recent finding that bacteria can make amyloid in a controlled fashion without toxic effects is of particular interest and may have implications for human disease. The role of amyloid in health and disease is beginning to be unravelled, and here, we will review some of the most recent findings in this exciting area.
Diagnostic delay in narcolepsy type 1: combining the patients' and the doctors' perspectives
Authors: Taddei Raquel N. , Werth Esther , Poryazova Rositsa , Baumann Christian R. , Valko Philipp O.
Published: May 2016

Narcolepsy type 1 is a neurological disorder characterized by a unique syndrome, including the pathognomonic symptom of cataplexy. The diagnosis can be confirmed by objective measures, such as typical findings in the multiple sleep latency test, reduced or undetectable levels of orexin (hypocretin) in the cerebrospinal fluid, and linkage to a specificHLAhaplotype. Nevertheless, the mean time that elapses from symptom onset to the correct diagnosis ranges between 10 and 20 years, and the causes and correlates of this delay are poorly understood. Diagnostic delay was assessed on 52 well‐defined patients with narcolepsy type 1, evaluating clinical, electrophysiological and neurochemical parameters and the results of a 41‐item questionnaire developed to obtain the patients' perspective on various aspects of the diagnostic process. The mean time gap between disease onset and first medical consultation was 3.2 ± 5.1 years; the mean diagnostic delay was 8.9 ± 11.0 years. Prior to correct diagnosis, patients received a wide variety of misdiagnoses. The self‐ratings of the patients revealed that the undiagnosed symptoms caused high levels of anxiety and unjustified criticism by family, friends and employers. Multiple regression analysis identified higher cerebrospinal fluid orexin levels (β = 0.311,P = 0.01), and a longer interval between the onset of excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy (β = 0.368,P = 0.002) as independent associates of longer diagnostic delay. The diagnostic delay decreased over the last decades (β = −0.672,P < 0.001). In conclusion, delayed diagnosis of narcolepsy type 1 is very common, associated with many adverse consequences, and requires educational efforts to improve awareness on narcolepsy among healthcare providers and the general population.
Becoming “Copwise”: Policing, Culture, and the Collateral Consequences of Street-Level Criminalization
Authors: Stuart Forrest
Published: May 2016

Over the last four decades, the United States has witnessed a historic expansion of its criminal justice system. This article examines how street-level criminalization transforms the cultural contexts of poor urban communities. Drawing on five years of fieldwork in Los Angeles’ Skid Row–the site of one of the most aggressive zero-tolerance policing campaigns to date–the study finds that residents develop and deploy a particular cultural frame–“cop wisdom”–by which they render seemingly-random police activity more legible, predictable, and manipulable. Armed with this interpretive schema, “copwise” residents engage in new forms of self-presentation in public, movement through the daily round, and informal social control in order to deflect police scrutiny and forestall street stops. While these techniques allow residents to reduce unwanted police contact, this often comes at the expense of individual and collective well-being by precluding social interaction, exacerbating stigma, and contributing to animosity in public space.
Facts, Preferences, and Doctrine: An Empirical Analysis of Proportionality Judgment
Authors: Sulitzeanu-Kenan Raanan , Kremnitzer Mordechai , Alon Sharon
Published: May 2016

Legal proportionality is one of the most important principles for adjudicating among conflicting values. However, rather little is known about the factors that play a role in the formation of proportionality judgments. This research presents the first empirical analysis in this regard, relying on a sample of 331 legal experts (lawyers and legal academics). The policy domain addressed by the experiment is the antiterrorist military practice of targeted killings, which has been the subject of a legal debate. Our experimental findings suggest that proportionality judgments are receptive to normatively relevant facts. We also find strong correlational evidence for the effect of ideological preferences on such judgments. These results are consistent for two proportionality doctrines. We suggest that proportionality judgment is anchored jointly in the experts’ policy preferences and the facts of the case. We outline the implications of the findings for the psychological and legal literature.