bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robot-Assisted Sacrocolporectopexy for Multicompartment Prolapse of the Pelvic Floor: A Prospective Cohort Study Evaluating Functional and Sexual Outcome
Authors: van Iersel Jan J. , de Witte Chris J. , Verheijen Paul M. , Broeders Ivo A. M. J. , Lenters Egbert , Consten Esther C. J. , Schraffordt Koops Steven E.
Published: September 2016

BACKGROUND:

Pelvic floor disorders are a major public health issue. For female genital prolapse, sacrocolpopexy is the gold standard. Laparoscopic ventral mesh rectopexy is a relatively new and promising technique correcting rectal prolapse. There is no literature combining the 2 robotically assisted techniques.

OBJECTIVE:

This study was designed to evaluate the safety, quality of life, and functional and sexual outcomes of robot-assisted sacrocolporectopexy for multicompartment prolapse of the pelvic floor.

DESIGN:

This was a prospective, observational cohort study.

SETTINGS:

The study was conducted in a tertiary care setting.

PATIENTS:

All sexually active patients undergoing robot-assisted sacrocolporectopexy at our institution between 2012 and 2014 were included.

INTERVENTION:

Robot-assisted sacrocolporectopexy was the study intervention.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Preoperative and postoperative (12 months) questionnaires using the Urinary Distress Inventory, Pescatori Incontinence Scale, Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire, and Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire were completed. In addition Wexner and Vaizey incontinence scores and the Wexner constipation score were recorded postoperatively.

RESULTS:

Fifty-one patients underwent robot-assisted sacrocolporectopexy (median follow-up, 12.5 months). The simplified Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification improved significantly (p< 0.0005) for all 4 of the anatomic landmarks. Both median fecal (preoperative and postoperative Pescatori 4 vs 3,p= 0.002) and urinary incontinence scores (Urinary Distress Inventory, 27.8 vs 22.2;p< 0.0005) improved significantly at 12 months. Postoperatively median Wexner (3) and Vaizey incontinence (6) and Wexner Constipation (7) scores were noted. A positive effect on sexual function (Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire score 31.8 vs 35.9;p= 0.002) and quality of life for each compartment (p< 0.0005) was observed. One patient (2%) developed mesh erosion. No multicompartment recurrences were detected.

LIMITATIONS:

This was a observational study with a limited follow-up, no control group, and no preoperatively validated constipation score.

CONCLUSIONS:

Robot-assisted sacrocolporectopexy is a safe and effective technique for multicompartment prolapse in terms of functional outcome, quality of life, and sexual function.
Controlled Dietary Restriction With a Prepackaged Low-Residue Diet Before Colonoscopy Offers Better-Quality Bowel Cleansing and Allows the Use of a Smaller Volume of Purgatives: A Randomized Multicenter Trial
Authors: Chou Chu-Kuang , Chang Chi-Yang , Chang Chun-Chao , Chang Li-Chun , Hsu Wen-Feng , Chen Chi-Yi , Wang Hsiu-Po , Chiu Han-Mo
Published: September 2016

BACKGROUND:

Bowel preparation is burdensome, and less-demanding preparation procedures are needed. Few studies have investigated the effects of low-residue diet and prepackaged low-residue diet in combination with low-volume polyethylene glycol–electrolyte lavage solution during colonoscopy preparation.

OBJECTIVE:

We compared self-prepared low-residue diets with prepackaged low-residue diets in combination with low-volume polyethylene glycol.

DESIGN:

This was a single-blinded, 3-arm, multicenter, randomized controlled trial.

SETTING:

Colonoscopies were conducted in outpatient settings at 3 centers in Taiwan.

PATIENTS:

The study included 180 patients (age range, 20–75 years) who were scheduled for colonoscopy.

INTERVENTIONS:

Three groups were compared: group A included self-prepared, 1-day, low-residue diets with a same-day 2.0-L single-dose of polyethylene glycol; group B included prepackaged low-residue diets plus 2.0 L of polyethylene glycol; and group C included prepackaged low-residue diets plus 1.5 L of polyethylene glycol.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

The outcome measures were adherence, bowel-cleansing level, and patient satisfaction.

RESULTS:

One third of the subjects in group A, but none in the prepackaged low-residue diets groups, violated the dietary restrictions. The proportion of right-segment preparation failure was 15.0%, 1.7%, and 6.7% (p = 0.025). Accordingly, treatment B was superior to A (p = 0.008). Among subjects violating the low-residue diets guideline, the right-segment preparation failure rate was 25%. According to a multivariate analysis, low-residue diet compliance (adjusted OR = 6.55 (95% CI, 1.83–23.43)) and BMI were predictors of right-sided preparation adequacy, but the volume of polyethylene glycol ingested was not a predictor. Compared with group A, a greater proportion of subjects in groups B and C reported satisfaction.

LIMITATIONS:

Patients with high BMI and severe constipation were excluded from this study. This study included only an Asian population.

CONCLUSIONS:

The prepackaged low-residue diet provides excellent adherence, better bowel cleansing, and a better experience than a self-prepared low-residue diet. With good dietary compliance, 1.5 L of polyethylene glycol provides effective preparation.
Borderline Personality Disorder in the Emergency Department: Good Psychiatric Management
Authors: Hong Victor
Published: September 2016

Patients with borderline personality disorder (BPD) are high utilizers of psychiatric emergency services and present unique challenges in that setting. Frequently advised to visit an emergency department (ED) if safety is in question, their experiences once there often do not have beneficial effects. Issues specific to patients with BPD in the ED include volatile interactions with staff, repeat visits, concerns about safety (and liability), and disposition. Emergency department staff attitudes toward these patients are frequently negative when compared to patients with other diagnoses, and can detrimentally affect outcomes and perpetuate stigma regarding BPD. These attitudes are often due to lack of education and training about how to understand, approach, and treat the patient with BPD. The limited literature regarding the treatment of BPD in the ED offers few guidelines. This article presents an approach based on Good Psychiatric Management that can reduce negative reactions by ED staff and make ED visits more effective and less harmful. Relevant principles include psychoeducation, the reinforcement of the connection between symptoms and interpersonal stressors, and employment of an active, authentic therapeutic stance. Training ED staff in these principles could lead to attitudinal changes, reduced stigma, and potentially improved outcomes.
Evidence-Based Treatments for Borderline Personality Disorder: Implementation, Integration, and Stepped Care
Authors: Choi-Kain Lois W. , Albert Elizabeth B. , Gunderson John G.
Published: September 2016

Learning Objective

After participating in this activity, learners should be better able to:

• Evaluate evidence-based therapies for borderline personality disorder

Several manualized psychotherapies for treating borderline personality disorder (BPD) have been validated in randomized, controlled trials. Most of these approaches are highly specialized, offering different formulation of BPD and different mechanisms by which recovery is made possible. Mental health clinicians are challenged by the degree of specialization and clinical resources that these approaches require in their empirically validated adherent forms. While these effective treatments have renewed optimism for the treatment of BPD, clinicians may feel limited in their ability to offer any of them or may integrate an eclectic assortment of features from the different treatments. This article will evaluate four major evidence-based treatments for BPD—dialectical behavioral therapy, mentalization-based treatment, transference-focused psychotherapy, and General Psychiatric Management—and possible modes of implementation in adherent and integrative forms. Models of implementing these diverse treatment approaches will be evaluated, and the potential advantages of combining evidence-based treatments will be discussed, along with some cautionary notes. A proposal for providing stepwise care through assessment of clinical severity will be presented as a means of achieving system-wide changes and greater access to care.
A Neurobiological Model of Borderline Personality Disorder: Systematic and Integrative Review
Authors: Ruocco Anthony C. , Carcone Dean
Published: September 2016

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) is a severe mental disorder with a multifactorial etiology. The development and maintenance of BPD is sustained by diverse neurobiological factors that contribute to the disorder’s complex clinical phenotype. These factors may be identified using a range of techniques to probe alterations in brain systems that underlie BPD. We systematically searched the scientific literature for empirical studies on the neurobiology of BPD, identifying 146 articles in three broad research areas: neuroendocrinology and biological specimens; structural neuroimaging; and functional neuroimaging. We consolidate the results of these studies and provide an integrative model that attempts to incorporate the heterogeneous findings. The model specifies interactions among endogenous stress hormones, neurometabolism, and brain structures and circuits involved in emotion and cognition. The role of the amygdala in BPD is expanded to consider its functions in coordinating the brain’s dynamic evaluation of the relevance of emotional stimuli in the context of an individual’s goals and motivations. Future directions for neurobiological research on BPD are discussed, including implications for the Research Domain Criteria framework, accelerating genetics research by incorporating endophenotypes and gene × environment interactions, and exploring novel applications of neuroscience findings to treatment research.
Clinical Observations About the Potential Benefits and Pitfalls of Between-Session Contacts with Borderline Patients
Authors: Jacob Karen L.
Published: September 2016

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) has a reputation for being a challenging disorder to treat due to the nature of the illness. With the development of evidence-based treatments, therapists are becoming more skilled at successfully helping this cohort of patients. A common factor associated with all validated treatments for BPD is the active involvement of therapists. For example, DBT is one treatment where therapists are expected to be available to patients for coaching outside of sessions. However, understanding the benefits and pitfalls associated with therapists’ accessibility in between sessions is relevant to any treatment with intersession contact. In this article, three benefits of intersession contact are described: to generalize the use of skills, to improve understanding of the patient’s needs, and to facilitate an alliance. This article also addresses the pitfalls of therapists being so accessible to patients. Both the benefits and pitfalls of intersession contact are illustrated using case vignettes. Assessing the function served by a patient’s contact in between sessions is an important way to determine whether such contact is a productive part of treatment. Recommendations are provided to avoid detrimental outcomes for both the therapist (therapist burnout) and the patient.
Paroxysmal Sympathetic Hyperactivity in Pediatric Rehabilitation: Pathological Features and Scheduled Pharmacological Therapies
Authors: Pozzi Marco , Conti Valentino , Locatelli Federica , Galbiati Sara , Radice Sonia , Clementi Emilio , Strazzer Sandra
Published: September 2016

Objective:

Information on course and treatment of paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH) during rehabilitation and in pediatric patients is lacking. To increase knowledge on the course and treatment of PSH in pediatric patients during rehabilitation, we retrospectively analyzed 23 pediatric patients with PSH, describing the course of PSH and administered drugs, and explored the association of PSH remission with drug doses.

Setting:

Neurorehabilitation unit of IRCCS Eugenio Medea, Bosisio Parini (LC), Italy.

Participants:

Twenty-three pediatric patients with postacute acquired brain injury, who remitted from PSH.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Main Measures:

Description of features and course of PSH, description of drug therapies, and analysis of covariance of their doses. Correlations between remission and drug doses/clinical variables. Estimation of the odds ratios of remission.

Results:

At admittance patients displayed at least 3 features of PSH with an overall score of 9, which diminished progressively during remission. Therapies with propranolol, baclofen, niaprazine, and diazepam were progressively uptitrated, indicating potential usefulness. When testing possible predictors of remission, we found positive effects of propranolol and diazepam and of traumatic etiology and a negative effect of maximum PSH severity.

Conclusions:

Results should be interpreted carefully regarding causal relationships and drug doses and combinations, but they encourage further studies on the use of propranolol and diazepam to favor PSH remission.
A Single- Versus Double-Layered Closure Technique in Anophthalmic Surgery
Authors: Verhoekx Jennifer S. N. , Rengifo Coolman Anina , Tse Win Hou Willy , Paridaens Dion
Published: September 2016

Purpose:

To compare the frequency of orbital implant exposure and extrusion following eye removal with a simplified closure technique, closing Tenon’s capsule and conjunctiva in 1 layer versus the classic technique of closure in 2 separate layers.

Methods:

The authors conducted a retrospective case note review of patients who underwent evisceration or enucleation treated by 1 surgeon between 2001 and 2013. Between 2001 and 2004, Tenon’s capsule and conjunctiva were closed in separate layers; after 2004, a simplified 1-layer closure following eye removal was used. The primary outcome parameters were presence or absence of implant exposure or extrusion.

Results:

One hundred fifty-seven patients who underwent evisceration and 172 patients who underwent enucleation were included. Following evisceration, 2.5% developed exposure or extrusion of the implant, this was 2.5% in the 1-layer closure technique and 2.7% in the 2-layer closure technique (p = 0.95). Following enucleation, 1.7% developed exposure or extrusion of the implant, this was 1.8% in the 1-layer closure technique and 1.7% in the 2-layer closure technique (p = 0.96). Overall implant exposure and extrusion was 2.1%, this was 2.2% in the 1-layer closure technique and 2.1% in the 2-layer closure technique (p = 0.96).

Conclusions:

No difference was found in the frequency of spheric acrylic implant exposure or extrusion in patients who underwent eye removal with single-layer closure of Tenon’s capsule and conjunctiva compared with patients treated with separate closure of these layers.
Self-Management Behaviors of Children With Spina Bifida
Authors: Yun Hyun Jung , Kim Hee Soon
Published: September 2016

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with self-management behaviors in children with spina bifida (SB). The Individual and Family Self-Management Theory was used as a framework. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey study of 112 elementary school children (7–12 years old) with SB who regularly attended scheduled follow-up appointments at the SB clinic of a children’s hospital in Seoul, Korea, and their parents. Demographics, condition severity, school adjustment, and family function were the contextual self-management factors, whereas self-management knowledge, self-efficacy, and social support were the process factors. Results: Age and condition severity were the contextual factors influencing self-management behaviors in children with SB; among the process factors, self-management knowledge and self-efficacy were statistically significant predictors. Conclusion: To improve self-management behaviors in children with SB, it is necessary to develop intervention programs that reflect their age and condition severity as contextual factors and aim to enhance self-management knowledge and self-efficacy as process factors.
A Depression Screening Protocol for Patients With Acute Stroke: A Quality Improvement Project
Authors: McIntosh Celia
Published: September 2016

Background: Depression after stroke is common and is associated with poor functional recovery, suicidal ideation, decreased quality of life, and increased mortality. Despite this knowledge, poststroke depression (PSD) is often underdetected and thus undertreated. PSD is clinically important for the caregiver, the family, and the stroke survivor. Inconsistencies in screening and treatment practices may further contribute to these negative outcomes. Purpose: The purposes of this evidence-based clinical scholarship project were to (1) determine the efficacy of an evidence-based depression screening protocol in improving early detection and treatment of PSD and (2) identify if there were any relationships between the protocol interventions, depression scores, and diagnosis. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted in a convenience sample of 79 hospitalized patients with acute stroke. Depression was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Demographic data and medical and protocol variables were also collected. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and Pearson correlation test were used for data analysis. Results: Of the 79 participants, 56% were men, 65% were White, 77% were admitted with ischemic stroke, and 48% were identified as being depressed (Patient Health Questionnaire-9 depression scale > 4). Individuals with a history of depression (χ2 = 17.09, p = .002) were also more likely to have higher levels of depression severity as compared with patients who did not have a history of depression. After the intervention, patients screening positive were more likely to receive an educational booklet on stroke and depression (χ2 = 30.0, p = .000) and be medically treated for PSD before discharge (χ2 = 5.57, p = .018). Nurses’ documentation of screening results also improved (χ2 = 9.19, p = .002). Conclusion: Implementation of the Evidence Based Depression Screening and Treatment (EBDST) protocol improved early detection and treatment of PSD in the hospitalized patients with acute stroke before discharge. The EBDST protocol promoted systematic evidence-based depression screening in the hospitalized patients with acute stroke. Use of the EBDST protocol may further improve long-term health outcomes, decrease mortality, and improve functional recovery and quality of life.
Perforated Appendicitis: Nurse Practitioner Follow-Up Telephone Calls Reducing Unplanned Return to Care With/Without Readmission
Authors: O’Donnell Ellen Ann , Micalizzi Rosella , Phinney Caitlin , Lemire Lindsay , Dawson Michelle
Published: September 2016

TOPIC

This is about the impact of nurse practitioner (NP) telephone follow-up in the prevention of unplanned return to care for patients with perforated appendicitis.

Background

Perforated appendicitis is a high-volume diagnosis managed by NPs in the ambulatory surgical clinic at the Boston Children’s Hospital. Patients’ symptoms and well-being are routinely assessed with serial follow-up telephone calls while on home antibiotic therapy to coordinate extension or discontinuation of antibiotic therapy. Patients received a telephone call by an NP within 2 business days. The intent of the call is to assess the patient’s current clinical status through an in-depth symptom analysis, clarify antibiotic therapy, reinforce discharge education, and answer questions. It also allows the NP to determine if an interim NP appointment is needed.

Method and Design

Population: This shows a retrospective chart review of pediatric patients with a diagnosis of perforated appendicitis undergoing home antibiotic therapy.

Inclusion Criteria

The following are the inclusion criteria: patients diagnosed with perforated appendicitis and discharged home on intravenous and oral antibiotic therapy.

Data Analysis

Data regarding patient receipt of telephone call—collection of symptom analysis, antibiotic regimen, and patient well-being—were collected. Data will be used to assess if preventative telephone follow-up by NPs and the provision of anticipatory patient/family education may lead to the earlier detection and management of potential complications.

Conclusion

An NP follow-up telephone call may help reduce the total number of unplanned emergency department visits and, potentially, hospital readmission.
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for dyskeratosis congenita
Authors: Elmahadi Shaimaa , Muramatsu Hideki , Kojima Seiji
Published: September 2016

Purpose of review

Dyskeratosis congenita is an inherited bone marrow failure syndrome caused by defects in telomere maintenance. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative treatment for bone marrow failure because of dyskeratosis congenita. The present review summarizes the literature with respect to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with dyskeratosis congenita who received HSCT, and discusses the recent progress in the management of dyskeratosis congenita.

Recent findings

The recent systematic review of the literature showed poor long-term outcome, with 10-year survival estimates of only 23% in 109 patients with dyskeratosis congenita who received HSCT. Multivariate analysis identified age greater than 20 years at HSCT, HSCT before 2000, and alternative donor source to be poor prognostic markers. HSCT for dyskeratosis congenita is characterized by a marked decline in long-term survival because of late deaths from pulmonary complications. However, a prospective study using danazol showed promising results in gain in telomere length and hematologic responses.

A recent prospective study may support the recommendation that HSCT is not indicated for patients with dyskeratosis congenita; instead, they should receive androgen, particularly danazol, as a first-line therapy. Another option may be routine use of androgen after HSCT for the prophylaxis of pulmonary fibrosis.
Recent progress in understanding skills and impairments in social cognition
Authors: Happé Francesca , Conway Jane R.
Published: September 2016

Purpose of review

Social interaction is affected in many different developmental disorders; indeed, the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders has introduced social cognition as one of six core components of neurocognitive functioning. Social cognition is not one thing, but a wide range of putative processes, which may be differentially affected in different clinical groups. This review focuses on recent advances in one aspect of social cognition, ‘theory of mind’ (ToM, representing what people think), and one core clinical group, autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Recent findings

It is 30 years since impaired ToM was proposed as an explanation for ASD social difficulties, and recently there has been a widening of interest to other clinical groups. ToM has been found to be distinct from emotion recognition and empathy. Recent research on ASD has focused increasingly on atypical sensory responses and commonly comorbid conditions. Interventions for social deficits, including ToM training and oxytocin, have shown mixed results to date.

Heterogeneity poses a major obstacle to current research. Theoretical and empirical refinements are needed to elucidate neurocognitive and aetiological underpinnings of sociocognitive processes and inform clinical advances.
The microbiome in asthma
Authors: Noval Rivas Magali , Crother Timothy R. , Arditi Moshe
Published: September 2016

Purpose of review

Asthma is a complex and heterogeneous disease with strong genetic and environmental components that manifests within a variety of clinical features and diverse patterns of immune responses. Asthma prevalence has dramatically increased over the last decade in Westernized societies, thereby suggesting a key function of environmental factors in disease promotion and development.

Recent findings

‘Early-life’ microbial exposure and bacterial colonization are crucial for the maturation and the education of the immune system. The commensal flora is also critical in order to maintain immune homeostasis at the mucosal surfaces and may consequently play an important function in allergic disease development. Recent evidence demonstrates that asthma influences and is also impacted by the composition and function of the human intestinal and respiratory microbiome.

In this review, we summarize the most recent findings on how asthma development is connected with respiratory and intestinal microbial dysbiosis. We highlight and discuss recent research that reveals the existence of a ‘gut–lung’ microbial axis and its impact on asthma development. We also analyze how ‘early-life’ microbial exposure affects the immune response and the consequences for asthma development.
Text Messaging Effect on Adherence in Children With Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Miloh Tamir , Shub Mitchell , Montes Ramon , Ingebo Kristy , Silber Gary , Pasternak Brad
Published: September 2016

Background:

Successful treatment of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) requires regular intake of medication. Nonadherence to treatment is associated with increased frequency of relapses, morbidity, and cost.

Methods:

Pediatric patients with IBD taking oral medication and with access to text messaging (TM) services were included. Children were randomized by age, sex, medication administration responsibility (self vs parent), and disease activity (Pediatric Crohn Disease Activity Index or Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index) into TM intervention and standard of care. Prospectively, the interventional group received 2‐way TM reminders about medication administration. Failure to confirm intake by the patient resulted in a TM alert to the caregiver and weekly compliance reports were sent to patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers. Patients’ medical records were reviewed and an adherence Morisky questionnaire completed at recruitment, 6 and 12 months.

Results:

A total of 51 children were randomized (21 TM and 30 control). The age, sex, diagnosis (ulcerative colitis/Crohn), activity index, ethnicity, insurance, and Morisky score at baseline were similar in both groups. Morisky score improved by 1 and 0.8 points, respectively in the TM group at 6 and 12 months, whereas it did not change in the control group (P = 0.0131 and P = 0.1687, prospectively).

Conclusions:

TM may be effective in promoting adherence in children with IBD. Larger and longer multicenter studies are required to confirm this finding.
Does early-life diet affect longevity? A meta-analysis across experimental studies
Authors: English Sinead , Uller Tobias
Published: September 2016

Life-history theory predicts that nutrition influences lifespan owing to trade-offs between allocating resources to reproduction, growth and repair. Despite occasional reports that early diet has strong effects on lifespan, it is unclear whether this prediction is generally supported by empirical studies. We conducted a meta-analysis across experimental studies manipulating pre- or post-natal diet and measuring longevity. We found no overall effect of early diet on lifespan. We used meta-regression, considering moderator variables based on experimental and life-history traits, to test predictions regarding the strength and direction of effects that could lead to positive or negative effects. Pre-natal diet manipulations reduced lifespan, but there were no effects of later diet, manipulation type, development mode, or sex. The results are consistent with the prediction that early diet restriction disrupts growth and results in increased somatic damage, which incurs lifespan costs. Our findings raise a cautionary note, however, for placing too strong an emphasis on early diet effects on lifespan and highlight limitations of measuring these effects under laboratory conditions.
Crowd behaviour during high-stress evacuations in an immersive virtual environment
Authors: Moussaïd Mehdi , Kapadia Mubbasir , Thrash Tyler , Sumner Robert W. , Gross Markus , Helbing Dirk , Hölscher Christoph
Published: September 2016

Understanding the collective dynamics of crowd movements during stressful emergency situations is central to reducing the risk of deadly crowd disasters. Yet, their systematic experimental study remains a challenging open problem due to ethical and methodological constraints. In this paper, we demonstrate the viability of shared three-dimensional virtual environments as an experimental platform for conducting crowd experiments with real people. In particular, we show that crowds of real human subjects moving and interacting in an immersive three-dimensional virtual environment exhibit typical patterns of real crowds as observed in real-life crowded situations. These include the manifestation of social conventions and the emergence of self-organized patterns during egress scenarios. High-stress evacuation experiments conducted in this virtual environment reveal movements characterized by mass herding and dangerous overcrowding as they occur in crowd disasters. We describe the behavioural mechanisms at play under such extreme conditions and identify critical zones where overcrowding may occur. Furthermore, we show that herding spontaneously emerges from a density effect without the need to assume an increase of the individual tendency to imitate peers. Our experiments reveal the promise of immersive virtual environments as an ethical, cost-efficient, yet accurate platform for exploring crowd behaviour in high-risk situations with real human subjects.
Making public ahead of print: Meetings and publications at the Royal Society, 1752–1892
Authors: Fyfe Aileen , Moxham Noah
Published: September 2016

This essay examines the interplay between the meetings and publications of learned scientific societies during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when journals were an established but not yet dominant form of scholarly communication. The ‘making public’ of research at meetings, long before actual ‘publication’ in society periodicals, enabled a complex of more or less formal sites of communication and discussion ahead of print. Using two case studies from the Royal Society of London—Jan Ingen-Housz in 1782 and John Tyndall in 1857 to 1858—we reveal how different individuals navigated and exploited the power structures, social activities and seasonal rhythms of learned societies, all necessary precursors to gaining admission to the editorial processes of society journals, and trace the shifting significance of meetings in the increasingly competitive and diverse realm of Victorian scientific publishing. We conclude by reflecting on the implications of these historical perspectives for current discussions of the ‘ends’ of the scientific journal.
Dynamics of cell wall elasticity pattern shapes the cell during yeast mating morphogenesis
Authors: Goldenbogen Björn , Giese Wolfgang , Hemmen Marie , Uhlendorf Jannis , Herrmann Andreas , Klipp Edda
Published: September 2016

The cell wall defines cell shape and maintains integrity of fungi and plants. When exposed to mating pheromone,Saccharomyces cerevisiaegrows a mating projection and alters in morphology from spherical to shmoo form. Although structural and compositional alterations of the cell wall accompany shape transitions, their impact on cell wall elasticity is unknown. In a combined theoretical and experimental approach using finite-element modelling and atomic force microscopy (AFM), we investigated the influence of spatially and temporally varying material properties on mating morphogenesis. Time-resolved elasticity maps of shmooing yeast acquired with AFMin vivorevealed distinct patterns, with soft material at the emerging mating projection and stiff material at the tip. The observed cell wall softening in the protrusion region is necessary for the formation of the characteristic shmoo shape, and results in wider and longer mating projections. The approach is generally applicable to tip-growing fungi and plants cells.
Edge wrinkling in elastically supported pre-stressed incompressible isotropic plates
Authors: Destrade Michel , Fu Yibin , Nobili Andrea
Published: September 2016

The equations governing the appearance of flexural static perturbations at the edge of a semi-infinite thin elastic isotropic plate, subjected to a state of homogeneous bi-axial pre-stress, are derived and solved. The plate is incompressible and supported by a Winkler elastic foundation with, possibly, wavenumber dependence. Small perturbations superposed onto the homogeneous state of pre-stress, within the three-dimensional elasticity theory, are considered. A series expansion of the plate kinematics in the plate thickness provides a consistent expression for the second variation of the potential energy, whose minimization gives the plate governing equations. Consistency considerations supplement a constraint on the scaling of the pre-stress so that the classical Kirchhoff–Love linear theory of pre-stretched elastic plates is retrieved. Moreover, a scaling constraint for the foundation stiffness is also introduced. Edge wrinkling is investigated and compared with body wrinkling. We find that the former always precedes the latter in a state of uni-axial pre-stretch, regardless of the foundation stiffness. By contrast, a general bi-axial pre-stretch state may favour body wrinkling for moderate foundation stiffness. Wavenumber dependence significantly alters the predicted behaviour. The results may be especially relevant to modelling soft biological materials, such as skin or tissues, or stretchable organic thin-films, embedded in a compliant elastic matrix.
The evolution of meiotic sex and its alternatives
Authors: Mirzaghaderi Ghader , Hörandl Elvira
Published: September 2016

Meiosis is an ancestral, highly conserved process in eukaryotic life cycles, and for all eukaryotes the shared component of sexual reproduction. The benefits and functions of meiosis, however, are still under discussion, especially considering the costs of meiotic sex. To get a novel view on this old problem, we filter out the most conserved elements of meiosis itself by reviewing the various modifications and alterations of modes of reproduction. Our rationale is that the indispensable steps of meiosis for viability of offspring would be maintained by strong selection, while dispensable steps would be variable. We review evolutionary origin and processes in normal meiosis, restitutional meiosis, polyploidization and the alterations of meiosis in forms of uniparental reproduction (apomixis, apomictic parthenogenesis, automixis, selfing) with a focus on plants and animals. This overview suggests that homologue pairing, double-strand break formation and homologous recombinational repair at prophase I are the least dispensable elements, and they are more likely optimized for repair of oxidative DNA damage rather than for recombination. Segregation, ploidy reduction and also a biparental genome contribution can be skipped for many generations. The evidence supports the theory that the primary function of meiosis is DNA restoration rather than recombination.
Dissection of the contribution of regulation mode to the properties of feedforward and feedback gene regulatory motifs
Authors: Iyengar Bharat Ravi , Pillai Beena , Venkatesh K.V. , Gadgil Chetan J.
Published: September 2016

We present a framework enabling dissection of the effects of motif structure (feedback or feedforward), nature of the controller (mRNA or protein), and regulation mode (transcriptional, post-transcriptional or translational) on the response to a step change in the input. We have used a common model framework for gene expression where both motif structures have an activating input and repressing regulator, with the same set of parameters to enable comparison of the responses. We studied the global sensitivity of the system properties such as steady-state gain, overshoot, peak time, and peak duration, to parameters. We find that, in all motifs, overshoot correlated negatively whereas peak duration varied concavely, with peak time. Differences in other system properties were found to be mainly dependent on the the nature of the regulator, than the motif structure. Protein mediated motifs showed a higher degree of adaptation; feedforward motifs exhibited perfect adaptation. RNA mediated motifs had a mild regulatory effect; they also exhibited lower peaking tendency and mean overshoot. Protein mediated feedforward motifs showed higher overshoot and lower peak time compared to corresponding feedback motifs.
Molecular adaptation in Rubisco: discriminating between convergent evolution and positive selection using mechanistic and classical codon models
Authors: Parto Sahar , Lartillot Nicolas
Published: September 2016

Rubisco (Ribulose-1, 5-biphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) is the most important enzyme on earth, catalyzing the first step of CO2 fixation in photosynthesis. Its molecular adaptation to C4 photosynthetic pathway has attracted a lot of attention. C4 plants, which comprise less than 5% of land plants, have evolved more efficient photosynthesis compared to C3 plants. Interestingly, a large number of independent transitions from C3 to C4 phenotype have occurred. Each time, the Rubisco enzyme has been subject to similar changes in selective pressure, thus providing an excellent model for convergent evolution at the molecular level. Molecular adaptation is often identified with positive selection and is typically characterized by an elevated ratio of non-synonymous over synonymous substitution rates (dN/dS). However, convergent adaptation is expected to leave a different molecular signature, taking the form of repeated transitions toward identical or similar amino acids.

Here, we use a previously introduced codon-based differential selection model to detect and quantify consistent patterns of convergent adaptation in Rubisco in Amaranthaceae. We further contrast the results thus obtained with those obtained under classical codon models based on the estimation of dN/dS. We find that the two classes of models tend to select distinct, although overlapping, sets of positions. This discrepancy in the results illustrates the conceptual difference between these models, while emphasizing the need to better discriminate between qualitatively different selective regimes, by using a broader class of codon models than those currently considered in molecular evolutionary studies.
Transcriptome analysis revealed the possible contribution of chromosome introgression fragments from Sea Island cotton (Gossypium barbadense) to fiber strength in Upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum)
Authors: Lu Quanwei , Shi Yuzhen , Xiao Xianghui , Li Pengtao , Gong Juwu , Liu Aiying , Shang Haihong , Gong Wankui , Chen Tingting , Ge Qun , Li Junwen , Su Wei , Li Shaoqi , Zhang Zhen , Yuan Youlu , Huang Jinling
Published: September 2016

Cotton fiber strength is a critical property determining fiber qualities, and determined by the secondary cell wall development. Understanding the mechanism of fiber development will provide a way to improvement of fiber strength. In this study, the introgression lines of upland and sea island cotton, and have experience of four generations of backcross with upland parent, and have significant higher fiber strength than their upland parent, and the transcriptome were analyzed and compared between the introgression lines and their upland parent. There were 2201 differentially expressed genes (DEG) identified by comparing two introgression lines with their recurrent parent CCRI45, in different development stages from 15 days post-anthesis (DPA) to 28 DPA. The up-regulated genes regulated the polysaccharide metabolic process, single-organism localization, cell wall organization or biogenesis and so on. The down-regulated genes involved in the microtubule-based process, cellular response to stress, cell cycle process and so on. Further functional analysis revealed three significant functional genes, XLOC_036333 (mannosyl-oligosaccharide-alpha-mannosidase mns1), XLOC_029945 (FLA8) and XLOC_075372 (snakin-1), playing important roles in the regulation of cotton fiber strength. Our results provide important candidates genes and inspirations for the future investigation of the molecular mechanism of fiber quality formation, and improvement of cotton fiber quality in breeding.
A living vector field reveals constraints on galactose network induction in yeast
Authors: Stockwell Sarah R. , Rifkin Scott A.
Published: September 2016

When a cell encounters a new environment, its transcriptional response can be constrained by its history. For example, yeast cells in galactose induce GAL genes with a speed and unanimity that depends on previous nutrient conditions. To investigate how cell-level gene expression dynamics produce population-level phenotypes, we built living vector fields from thousands of single-cell timecourses of the inducers Gal3p and Gal1p as cells switched to galactose from various nutrient histories. We show that, after sustained glucose exposure, the lack of GAL inducers leads to induction delays that are long but also variable; that cellular resources constrain induction; and that bimodally distributed expression levels arise from lineage selection -a subpopulation of cells induces more quickly and outcompetes the rest. Our results illuminate cellular memory in this important model system and illustrate how resources and randomness interact to shape the response of a population to a new environment.

One Sentence Summary

Single-cell galactose induction timecourses reveal that cellular resources and stochastic events determine which yeast cells outcompete their peers.
De novo extraction of microbial strains from metagenomes reveals intra-species niche partitioning
Authors: Quince Christopher , Connelly Stephanie , Raguideau Sébastien , Alneberg Johannes , Shin Seung Gu , Collins Gavin , Eren A. Murat
Published: September 2016

Background

We introduceDESMANfor De novo Extraction of Strains from MetAgeNomes. Metagenome sequencing generates short reads from throughout the genomes of a microbial community. Increasingly large, multi-sample metagenomes, stratified in space and time are being generated from communities with thousands of species. Repeats result in fragmentary co-assemblies with potentially millions of contigs. Contigs can be binned into metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs) but strain level variation will remain. DESMAN identifies variants on core genes, then uses co-occurrence across samples to link variants into strain sequences and abundance profiles. These strain profiles are then searched for on non-core genes to determine the accessory genes present in each strain.

Results

We validatedDESMANon a synthetic twenty genome community with 64 samples. We could resolve the fiveE. colistrains present with 99.58% accuracy across core gene variable sites and their gene complement with 95.7% accuracy. Similarly, on real fecal metagenomes from the 2011E. coli(STEC) O104:H4 outbreak, the outbreak strain was reconstructed with 99.8% core sequence accuracy. Application to an anaerobic digester metagenome time series reveals that strain level variation is endemic with 16 out of 26 MAGs (61.5%) examined exhibiting two strains. In almost all cases the strain proportions were not statistically different between replicate reactors, suggesting intra-species niche partitioning. The only exception being when the two strains had almost identical gene complement and, hence, functional capability.

Conclusions

DESMANwill provide a provide a powerful tool forde novoresolution of fine-scale variation in microbial communities. It is available as open source software fromhttps://github.com/chrisquince/DESMAN.
Specification and empirical exploration of a usability concept in the workplace
Authors: Windlinger Lukas , Nenonen Suvi , Airo Kaisa
Published: September 2016

Purpose

Building on fundamental work on usability of workplaces, this paper aims to extend the perspective of usability as an approach in delivering workplace solutions. To explore the content and implications of usability, the concept is differentiated into two sub-concepts: usefulness and user-friendliness.

Design/methodology/approach

The theoretical rationale for the proposed conceptual specification is presented and explored using data from two independent research projects: a qualitative interview study in an office relocation project in Finland and a quantitative survey study of 1,420 office users of 43 buildings in Switzerland. The goal of the empirical research is to capture the elements of user experience connected to usability using the distinction between usefulness and user-friendliness.

Findings

The results from both studies show that perceived support of work activities by workspaces in relation to work tasks is the main element of usefulness. User-friendliness incorporates comfort and control as the two most important aspects. Correlations between usefulness and user-friendliness and outcomes of usable workspace design are low for self-assessed performance, moderate for job satisfaction and high for work area satisfaction.

Practical implications

Providing useful workplaces supports users’ job performance while designing for user-friendliness is correlated with user satisfaction.

Originality/value

The differentiation of usefulness and user-friendliness of office environments provides a new way to describe user experience. The integration of qualitative and quantitative research strategies strengthens the research evidence.
Long-run relationship between investment and maintenance in local governments
Authors: Hopland Arnt O.
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to analyze the relationship between maintenance of existent and investment in new infrastructure in Norwegian local governments.

Design/methodology/approach

A reduced form vector autoregressive system is estimated using a 29-year-long panel data set for the Norwegian local governments.

Findings

The data reveal that increased investment in new infrastructure sparks little, if any, increase in maintenance. The results also indicate that increased maintenance expenditures spark new investments. Because more investments mean more infrastructure and adequate maintenance should give that investments are not caused by maintenance, the results suggest that the local governments have not optimized their maintenance scheduling in this period.

Originality/value

Even though maintenance and investment are large expenditures that both serve as inputs to the stock of infrastructure, little is known about the relationship between the two. The findings in this paper suggests that Norwegian local governments have not planned their maintenance and investments well in the past, and this can be part of the explanation as to why local public infrastructure in Norway is presently in poor condition.