bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BP Piscium: its flaring disc imaged with SPHERE/ZIMPOL
Authors: de Boer J. , Girard J. H. , Canovas H. , Min M. , Sitko M. , Ginski C. , Jeffers S. V. , Mawet D. , Milli J. , Rodenhuis M. , Snik F. , Keller C. U.
Published: October 2016

Whether BP Piscium (BP Psc) is either a pre-main sequence T Tauri star at d ≈ 80 pc, or a post-main sequence G giant at d ≈ 300 pc is still not clear. As a first-ascent giant, it is the first to be observed with a molecular and dust disc. Alternatively, BP Psc would be among the nearest T Tauri stars with a protoplanetary disc (PPD). We investigate whether the disc geometry resembles typical PPDs, by comparing polarimetric images with radiative transfer models. Our Very Large Telescope/Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch (SPHERE)/Zurich IMaging Polarimeter (ZIMPOL) observations allow us to perform polarimetric differential imaging, reference star differential imaging, and Richardson–Lucy deconvolution. We present the first visible light polarization and intensity images of the disc of BP Psc. Our deconvolution confirms the disc shape as detected before, mainly showing the southern side of the disc. In polarized intensity the disc is imaged at larger detail and also shows the northern side, giving it the typical shape of high-inclination flared discs. We explain the observed disc features by retrieving the large-scale geometry with mcmax radiative transfer modelling, which yields a strongly flared model, atypical for discs of T Tauri stars.
Commentary to ‘Social Health Disparities in Clinical Care: A New Approach to Medical Fairness’ by Puschel, Furlan and Dekkers
Authors: Bringedal Berit , Bærøe Kristine
Published: October 2016

The commentary brings up two topics. The first concerns whether and how a patient’s socioeconomic status (SES) should count in clinical care. We provide a brief summary of Puschel and colleagues’ view and discuss it in relation to other accounts. We share their conclusion; considering SES in clinical care can be justified from a fairness perspective. Yet, we question the claim that this is a new perspective, and argue that the reason for the claim of novelty is an insufficient use of references. This leads to the second topic, which is a discussion of citation practices in philosophical/ethics papers. We describe common deviations from academic standards, and suggest how unfortunate practices can be reduced.
Spectral Ripple Discrimination in Normal-Hearing Infants
Authors: Horn David L. , Won Jong Ho , Rubinstein Jay T. , Werner Lynne A.
Published: October 2016

Objectives:

Spectral resolution is a correlate of open-set speech understanding in postlingually deaf adults and prelingually deaf children who use cochlear implants (CIs). To apply measures of spectral resolution to assess device efficacy in younger CI users, it is necessary to understand how spectral resolution develops in normal-hearing children. In this study, spectral ripple discrimination (SRD) was used to measure listeners’ sensitivity to a shift in phase of the spectral envelope of a broadband noise. Both resolution of peak to peak location (frequency resolution) and peak to trough intensity (across-channel intensity resolution) are required for SRD.

Design:

SRD was measured as the highest ripple density (in ripples per octave) for which a listener could discriminate a 90° shift in phase of the sinusoidally-modulated amplitude spectrum. A 2 × 3 between-subjects design was used to assess the effects of age (7-month-old infants versus adults) and ripple peak/trough “depth” (10, 13, and 20 dB) on SRD in normal-hearing listeners (experiment 1). In experiment 2, SRD thresholds in the same age groups were compared using a task in which ripple starting phases were randomized across trials to obscure within-channel intensity cues. In experiment 3, the randomized starting phase method was used to measure SRD as a function of age (3-month-old infants, 7-month-old infants, and young adults) and ripple depth (10 and 20 dB in repeated measures design).

Results:

In experiment 1, there was a significant interaction between age and ripple depth. The infant SRDs were significantly poorer than the adult SRDs at 10 and 13 dB ripple depths but adult-like at 20 dB depth. This result is consistent with immature across-channel intensity resolution. In contrast, the trajectory of SRD as a function of depth was steeper for infants than adults suggesting that frequency resolution was better in infants than adults. However, in experiment 2 infant performance was significantly poorer than adults at 20 dB depth suggesting that variability of infants’ use of within-channel intensity cues, rather than better frequency resolution, explained the results of experiment 1. In experiment 3, age effects were seen with both groups of infants showing poorer SRD than adults but, unlike experiment 1, no significant interaction between age and depth was seen.

Conclusions:

Measurement of SRD thresholds in individual 3 to 7-month-old infants is feasible. Performance of normal-hearing infants on SRD may be limited by across-channel intensity resolution despite mature frequency resolution. These findings have significant implications for design and stimulus choice for applying SRD for testing infants with CIs. The high degree of variability in infant SRD can be somewhat reduced by obscuring within-channel cues.
Which Models Can I Use to Predict Adult ICU Length of Stay? A Systematic Review*
Authors: Verburg Ilona Willempje Maria , Atashi Alireza , Eslami Saeid , Holman Rebecca , Abu-Hanna Ameen , de Jonge Everet , Peek Niels , de Keizer Nicolette Fransisca
Published: October 2016

Objective:

We systematically reviewed models to predict adult ICU length of stay.

Data Sources:

We searched the Ovid EMBASE and MEDLINE databases for studies on the development or validation of ICU length of stay prediction models.

Study Selection:

We identified 11 studies describing the development of 31 prediction models and three describing external validation of one of these models.

Data Extraction:

Clinicians use ICU length of stay predictions for planning ICU capacity, identifying unexpectedly long ICU length of stay, and benchmarking ICUs. We required the model variables to have been published and for the models to be free of organizational characteristics and to produce accurate predictions, as assessed by R2 across patients for planning and identifying unexpectedly long ICU length of stay and across ICUs for benchmarking, with low calibration bias. We assessed the reporting quality using the Checklist for Critical Appraisal and Data Extraction for Systematic Reviews of Prediction Modelling Studies.

Data Synthesis:

The number of admissions ranged from 253 to 178,503. Median ICU length of stay was between 2 and 6.9 days. Two studies had not published model variables and three included organizational characteristics. None of the models produced predictions with low bias. The R2 was 0.05–0.28 across patients and 0.01–0.64 across ICUs. The reporting scores ranged from 49 of 78 to 60 of 78 and the methodologic scores from 12 of 22 to 16 of 22.

Conclusion:

No models completely satisfy our requirements for planning, identifying unexpectedly long ICU length of stay, or for benchmarking purposes. Physicians using these models to predict ICU length of stay should interpret them with reservation.
High cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 and phospho-Akt expression in tumor samples predicts poor clinical outcomes in ipilimumab-treated melanoma patients
Authors: Chakravarti Nitin , Ivan Doina , Trinh Van A. , Glitza Isabella C. , Curry Jonathan L. , Torres-Cabala Carlos , Tetzlaff Michael T. , Bassett Roland L. , Prieto Victor G. , Hwu Wen-Jen
Published: October 2016

Ipilimumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody against cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen 4 (CTLA-4), is the first immune checkpoint inhibitor approved for the treatment of unresectable melanoma on the basis of its overall survival (OS) benefit. However, ipilimumab is associated with significant immune-related adverse events. We hypothesized that biomarker exploration of pretreatment tumor samples and correlation with clinical outcome would enable patient selection with an increased benefit/risk ratio for ipilimumab therapy. At the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, a total of 81 advanced melanoma patients were treated on the Ipilimumab Expanded Access Program from 2007 to 2008. Using immunohistochemistry, we analyzed the expression of immune checkpoint (CTLA-4, PD-1, PD-L1) and Akt-pathway proteins in formalin-fixed tumor tissue. Associations between these biomarkers and progression-free survival (PFS) and OS were analyzed with univariate and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards models. There was a significant correlation between high CTLA-4 protein expression levels in tumor cells and risk of death (P=0.02) and decreased PFS (P=0.023). In addition, high expression of CTLA-4 in peritumoral lymphocytes correlated with poor OS (P=0.023). In multivariate analysis, patients with high CTLA-4 and phospho-Akt (p-Akt) expression correlated with poor OS (log-rank test, P=0.039) and PFS (log-rank test, P=0.014). High levels of CTLA-4 and p-Akt expression in pretreatment tumor cells in melanoma patients were associated with poor clinical outcomes. Immunohistochemistry analysis of CTLA-4 and p-Akt in pretreatment tumor samples provides useful biomarkers that may enable improved patient selection for ipilimumab therapy. Prospective clinical studies are warranted to investigate the predictive value of these biomarkers.
INTRAVITREAL DEXAMETHASONE IMPLANT AS ADJUVANT TREATMENT FOR BEVACIZUMAB- AND RANIBIZUMAB-RESISTANT NEOVASCULAR AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION
Authors: Barikian Anita , Salti Haytham , Safar Ammar , Mahfoud Ziyad R. , Bashshur Ziad F.
Published: October 2016

Purpose:

To study the benefit of intravitreal dexamethasone implant in the management of neovascular age-related macular degeneration resistant to bevacizumab and ranibizumab.

Methods:

Patients with persistent macular fluid on optical coherence tomography despite monthly treatment with at least three consecutive bevacizumab injections followed by at least three ranibizumab injections were prospectively enrolled. A single dexamethasone implant was administered followed by intravitreal ranibizumab 1 week later. Ranibizumab was continued afterward on an as-needed basis. Main outcomes were improvement in central retinal thickness and best-corrected visual acuity.

Results:

Nineteen patients (19 eyes) were enrolled. There was no significant change in best-corrected visual acuity over 6 months. Greatest reduction in mean central retinal thickness, from 295.2 μm to 236.2 μm, occurred 1 month after dexamethasone implant (P < 0.0001). By Month 6, mean central retinal thickness was 287.3 μm (P = 0.16). Eyes with only intraretinal fluid (13 eyes) achieved a fluid-free macula. Eyes with predominantly subretinal fluid (6 eyes) did not improve central retinal thickness and continued monthly ranibizumab. Mean baseline intraocular pressure was 13.2 mmHg, which peaked at 15.6 mmHg by Month 2 (P = 0.004).

Conclusion:

Intravitreal dexamethasone implant improved only macular intraretinal fluid in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration resistant to bevacizumab and ranibizumab. However, this treatment had a limited duration.
Daily Wear Contact Lenses Manufactured in Etafilcon A Are Noninferior to Two Silicone Hydrogel Lens Types With Respect to Hypoxic Stress
Authors: Szczotka-Flynn Loretta B. , Debanne Sara , Benetz Beth Ann , Wilson Tawnya , Brennan Noel
Published: October 2016

Purpose:

This study hypothesized that a traditional high-water contact lens of moderate oxygen transmissibility (Dk/t) is noninferior to common silicone hydrogel (SH) lenses worn for daily wear with respect to measures of hypoxic stress.

Methods:

Thirty-six habitual contact lens wearers completed wear of three lens types worn in a randomized order: etafilcon A (ACUVUE 2, control), lotrafilcon B (Air Optix Aqua), and comfilcon A (Biofinity). Central corneal thickness (CT) and limbal hyperemia were measured >2 hr after waking and after 6 to 8 hr of wear on days 1 and 7. Endothelial bleb formation was measured on day 1 of each lens type. Noninferiority of etafilcon A, with respect to the other two lens types, was assumed if the following difference margins of equivalence were met: <1.5% for corneal swelling, <0.5 grade for limbal hyperemia, and <1% area of endothelial blebs. Outcomes were modeled using generalized linear mixed modeling techniques.

Results:

All lenses showed reductions in least-square mean estimates of CT on both days: etafilcon A −0.26% at day 1 and −0.31% at day 7; lotrafilcon B −1.11% at day 1 and −1.06% at day 7; comfilcon A −0.63% at day 1 and −0.84% at day 7. The difference in mean swelling between etafilcon A and lotrafilcon B was 0.85% at day 1 (95% confidence interval [0.4%–1.3%]) and 0.75% at day 7 (0.3%–1.2%). The difference in mean swelling between etafilcon A and comfilcon A was 0.37% at day 1 (−0.1% to 0.8%) and 0.53% at day 7 (0.1%–1.0%). For limbal redness, etafilcon A fell within 0.1 grade of lotrafilcon B and 0.18 grade of comfilcon A. For endothelial bleb formation, etafilcon A fell within 0.45% of lotrafilcon B and 0.23% of comfilcon A.

Conclusion:

The etafilcon A control lens resulted in corneal deswelling throughout the day as did the SH lens types. Limbal hyperemia and endothelial bleb formation with all lenses were negligible, and noninferiority assumptions were met between the lens types for all outcomes. Equivalence of etafilcon A with respect to the two SH lenses for three measures of hypoxic stress was demonstrated.
Irregular Corneas: Improve Visual Function With Scleral Contact Lenses
Authors: de Luis Eguileor Beatriz , Etxebarria Ecenarro Jaime , Santamaria Carro Alaitz , Feijoo Lera Raquel
Published: October 2016

Objectives:

To assess visual function in patients with irregular cornea who do not tolerate gas permeable (GP) corneal contact lenses and are fitted with GP scleral contact lenses (Rose K2 XL).

Methods:

In this prospective study, we analyzed 15 eyes of 15 patients who did not tolerate GP corneal contact lenses and were fitted with scleral contact lenses (Rose K2 XL). We assessed visual function using visual acuity and the visual function index (VF-14); we used the VF-14 as an indicator of patient satisfaction. The measurements were taken with the optical correction used before and 1 month after the fitting of the Rose K2 XL contact lenses. We also recorded the number of hours lenses had been worn over the first month.

Results:

Using Rose K2 XL contact lenses, visual acuity was 0.06±0.07 logMAR. In all cases, visual acuity had improved compared with the measurement before fitting the lenses (0.31±0.18 logMAR; P=0.001). VF-14 scores were 72.74±12.38 before fitting of the scleral lenses, and 89.31±10.87 after 1 month of lens use (P=0.003). Patients used these scleral lenses for 9.33±2.99 comfortable hours of wear.

Conclusions:

Both visual acuity and VF-14 may improve after fitting Rose K2 XL contact lenses in patients with irregular corneas. In addition, in our patients, these lenses can be worn for a longer period than GP corneal contact lenses.
Quetiapine Extended Release Open-Label Treatment Associated Changes in Amygdala Activation and Connectivity in Anxious Depression
Authors: Altinay Murat , Karne Harish , Beall Erik , Anand Amit
Published: October 2016

Background

This study investigated extended release quetiapine (quetiapine XR) associated changes in functional MRI (fMRI) measures of task-induced amygdalar activation and resting state connectivity in anxious unipolar major depressive disorder (AMDD).

Methods

Anxious unipolar major depressive disorder patients (n = 15) (17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) >18 and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) >18) and closely matched healthy control (HC) subjects were compared at baseline for task induced amygdala activation and resting state connectivity on fMRI. Subsequently, AMDD patients were treated for 8 weeks with open-label quetiapine XR. Weekly HAM-D and HAM-A ratings were obtained, and the fMRI scan was repeated at weeks 2 and 8. Changes in fMRI measures were calculated using repeated-measures analysis of variance and correlation with decrease in HAM-D and HAM-A scores was examined.

Results

At baseline, AMDD compared with HC exhibited increased task-induced left amygdalar activation (P = 0.05 clusterwise corrected) and decreased resting state amygdala-cortical and amygdala-pons connectivity (P < 0.05 clusterwise corrected). Quetiapine XR treatment was associated with significant decrease in HAM-D (df = 1,28; female [F] = 39; P = 0.001) and HAM-A scores (df = 1,28; F = 55; P = 0.001). The AMDD group showed increased amygdala-cortical connectivity (P < 0.05 [clusterwise corrected]) at week 2, which was maintained at week 8. At week 8, additional areas showed increased connectivity including insula and putamen. At 8 weeks, decrease in HAM-D scores correlated with increase in amygdala-mid cingulate and amygdala-cuneus connectivity (P = 0.05 [clusterwise corrected]). Decrease in HAM-A scores correlated with increase in amygdala-cuneus and parietal cortex connectivity (P = 0.05 [clusterwise corrected]).

Limitations

Small sample-size, open-label single-arm design, HC only tested at baseline, focused only on amygdala.

Conclusions

Quetiapine XR effects in the treatment of AMDD are associated with modulation of amygdala connectivity.
Clinical Risk Factors for Orthostatic Hypotension: Results Among Elderly Fallers in Long-Term Care
Authors: Gray-Miceli Deanna , Ratcliffe Sarah J. , Thomasson Arwin , Quigley Patricia , Li Kang , Craelius William
Published: October 2016

Background

Patients at greatest risk for fall-related injuries are older adults with orthostatic hypotension (OH), a condition which drops blood pressure. This study sought to determine salient demographic and patient-level factors increasing risk for OH among a sample of elderly fallers.

Methods

Data analysis for this retrospective study sought to assess the relationship between various demographic and clinical risk factors and the likelihood of OH. Because fallers could experience multiple falls, generalized estimating equations were used to account for patient-level correlations.

Results

One hundred seventeen falls occurred in 47 patients, who were primarily female with a mean age of 90.7 years. Falls resulted in 18 cases of OH. Orthostatic hypotension cases were less likely to have a gait in a steady line (5.6% vs 55.6%, P = 0.001). Patients with decreased muscular coordination were almost 5 times more likely to experience OH than those with no coordination problems (odds ratio = 4.86, P = 0.02). Patients with gait in a steady line were less likely to experience OH after a fall (OR = 0.06, P = 0.006).

Conclusions

Orthostatic hypotension is potentially modifiable once detected. Evidenced-based protocol for assessment and management of OH among patients with gait and balance impairment is presented.
Measuring Patient Safety: The Medicare Patient Safety Monitoring System (Past, Present, and Future)
Authors: Classen David C. , Munier William , Verzier Nancy , Eldridge Noel , Hunt David , Metersky Mark , Richards Chesley , Wang Yun , Brady P. Jeffrey , Helwig Amy , Battles James
Published: October 2016

The explicit declaration in the landmark 1999 Institute of Medicine report “To Err Is Human” that, in the United States, 44,000 to 98,000 patients die each year as a consequence of “medical errors” gave widespread validation to the magnitude of the patient safety problem and catalyzed a number of U.S. federal government programs to measure and improve the safety of the national healthcare system. After more than 10 years, one of those federal programs, the Medicare Patient Safety Monitoring System (MPSMS), has reached a level of maturity and stability that has made it useful for the consistent measurement of the safety of inpatient care. The MPSMS is a chart review–based national patient safety surveillance system that provides rates of 21 specific hospital inpatient adverse event measures, which have been divided into 4 clinical domains (general, hospital-acquired infections, postprocedure adverse events, and adverse drug events) for analysis. The 2014 MPSMS national sample was drawn from 1109 hospitals and includes approximately 20,000 medical records of patients admitted to the hospital (all payors) for at least 1 of the 4 conditions of congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, pneumonia, and major surgical procedures as defined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Surgical Care Improvement Project. The MPSMS is now going through a major transformation to capture additional types of adverse events and is being redeveloped as the Quality and Safety Review System (QSRS). As an example of this transformation, QSRS will electronically import electronic data, which are standardized according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services billing definitions and will be updated and evolve over time to incorporate expanded standardized data available from electronic health records. This article reviews the development of MPSMS, the strengths and limitations of MPSMS, and expected future directions in patient safety measurement, focusing on those issues that are informing the development and implementation of QSRS.
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles equipped with surface nanovalves for pH-controlled liberation of doxorubicin
Authors: Roik N. V. , Belyakova L. A.
Published: October 2016

Silica carriers equipped with molecular and supramolecular pH-sensitive nanovalves were designed by combination of sol–gel synthesis and selective postsynthetic modification. Mesoporous structure of synthesized materials was characterized by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption–desorption, small-angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Chemical immobilization of
N
-[
N
′-(
N
′-phenyl)-2-aminophenyl]aminoalkyl groups was confirmed by IR spectral and chemical analyses of surface layer. Loading and release behaviour of synthesized drug carriers was studied in phosphate buffer solutions with pH 5.0 and pH 7.0 using doxorubicin (Dox) as a test molecule. It was found that the loading efficiency of synthesized materials determined by UV spectroscopy measurements reached 59–76%, whereas cumulative value of Dox released from silica materials equipped with molecular and supramolecular nanovalves into the phosphate buffer solution with pH 5.0 reached up to 48% and 51%, respectively. It was proved that aromatic amino groups and surface supramolecular structures localized near pore openings play an essential role in pH-controlled Dox release.
Quantum dots–DNA bioconjugates: synthesis to applications
Authors: Banerjee Anusuya , Pons Thomas , Lequeux Nicolas , Dubertret Benoit
Published: October 2016

Semiconductor nanoparticles particularly quantum dots (QDs) are interesting alternatives to organic fluorophores for a range of applications such as biosensing, imaging and therapeutics. Addition of a programmable scaffold such as DNA to QDs further expands the scope and applicability of these hybrid nanomaterials in biology. In this review, the most important stages of preparation of QD–DNA conjugates for specific applications in biology are discussed. Special emphasis is laid on (i) the most successful strategies to disperse QDs in aqueous media, (ii) the range of different conjugation with detailed discussion about specific merits and demerits in each case, and (iii) typical applications of these conjugates in the context of biology.
Polyelectrolyte coating on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles as interface between magnetic core and biorelevant media
Authors: Tombácz Etelka , Farkas Katalin , Földesi Imre , Szekeres Márta , Illés Erzsébet , Tóth Ildikó Y. , Nesztor Daniel , Szabó Tamás
Published: October 2016

Nanoparticles do not exist in thermodynamical equilibrium because of high surface free energy, thus they have only kinetic stability. Spontaneous changes can be delayed by designed surface coating. In biomedical applications, superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) require an optimized coating in order to fulfil the expectation of medicine regulatory agencies and ultimately that of biocompatibility. In this work, we show the high surface reactivity of naked SPIONs due to ≡Fe–OH sites, which can react with H
+
/OH
−
to form pH- and ionic strength-dependent charges. We explain the post-coating of naked SPIONs with organic polyacids via multi-site complex bonds formed spontaneously. The excess polyacids can be removed from the medium. The free COOH groups in coating are prone to react with active biomolecules like proteins. Charging and pH- and salt-dependent behaviour of carboxylated SPIONs were characterized quantitatively. The interrelation between the coating quality and colloidal stability measured under biorelevant conditions is discussed. Our coagulation kinetics results allow us to predict colloidal stability both on storage and in use; however, a simpler method would be required to test SPION preparations. Haemocompatibility tests (smears) support our qualification for good and bad SPION manufacturing; the latter ‘promises’ fatal outcome
in vivo
.
Biosynthesis of selenate reductase in Salmonella enterica: critical roles for the signal peptide and DmsD
Authors: Connelly Katherine R. S. , Stevenson Calum , Kneuper Holger , Sargent Frank
Published: October 2016

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium is a Gram-negative bacterium with a flexible respiratory capability. Under anaerobic conditions, S. enterica can utilize a range of terminal electron acceptors, including selenate, to sustain respiratory electron transport. The S. enterica selenate reductase is a membrane-bound enzyme encoded by the ynfEFGH-dmsD operon. The active enzyme is predicted to comprise at least three subunits where YnfE is a molybdenum-containing catalytic subunit. The YnfE protein is synthesized with an N-terminal twin-arginine signal peptide and biosynthesis of the enzyme is coordinated by a signal peptide binding chaperone called DmsD. In this work, the interaction between S. enterica DmsD and the YnfE signal peptide has been studied by chemical crosslinking. These experiments were complemented by genetic approaches, which identified the DmsD binding epitope within the YnfE signal peptide. YnfE signal peptide residues L24 and A28 were shown to be important for assembly of an active selenate reductase. Conversely, a random genetic screen identified the DmsD V16 residue as being important for signal peptide recognition and selenate reductase assembly.
Modelling avoidance in pathologically anxious humans using reinforcement-learning
Authors: Mkrtchian Anahit , Aylward Jessica , Dayan Peter , Roiser Jonathan P , Robinson Oliver J
Published: October 2016

Serious and debilitating symptoms of anxiety are the most common mental health problem worldwide, accounting for around 5% of all adult ‘years lived with disability’ in the developed world. Avoidance behaviour –avoiding social situations for fear of embarrassment, for instance–is a core feature of such anxiety. However, as for many other psychiatric symptoms, the biological mechanisms underlying avoidance remain unclear. Reinforcement-learning models provide formal and testable characterizations of the mechanisms of decision-making; here, we examine avoidance in these terms. One hundred and one healthy and pathologically anxious individuals completed an approach-avoidance go/no-go task under stress induced by threat of unpredictable shock. We show an increased reliance in the anxious group on a parameter of our reinforcement-learning model that characterizes a prepotent (Pavlovian) bias to withhold responding in the face of negative outcomes. This was particularly the case when the anxious individuals were under stress. This formal description of avoidance within the reinforcement-learning framework provides a new means of linking clinical symptoms with biophysically plausible models of neural circuitry and, as such, takes us closer to a mechanistic understanding of pathological anxiety.
Ribbon: Visualizing complex genome alignments and structural variation
Authors: Nattestad Maria , Chin Chen-Shan , Schatz Michael C.
Published: October 2016

To the Editor

Visualization has played an extremely important role in the current genomic revolution to inspect and understand variants, expression patterns, evolutionary changes, and a number of other relationships1–3. However, most of the information in read-to-reference or genome-genome alignments is lost for structural variations in the one-dimensional views of most genome browsers showing only reference coordinates. Instead, structural variations captured by long reads or assembled contigs often need more context to understand, including alignments and other genomic information from multiple chromosomes.
Effect of common and experimental anti-tuberculosis treatments onMycobacterium tuberculosisgrowing as biofilms
Authors: Dalton J.P. , Uy B. , Phummarin N. , Copp B. R. , Denny W.A. , Swift S. , Wiles S.
Published: October 2016

Much is known regarding the antibiotic susceptibility of planktonic cultures ofMycobacterium tuberculosis,the bacterium responsible for the lung disease tuberculosis (TB). As planktonically-grownM. tuberculosisare unlikely to be entirely representative of the bacterium during infection, we set out to determine how effective a range of anti-mycobacterial treatments were againstM. tuberculosisgrowing as a biofilm, a bacterial phenotype known to be more resistant to antibiotic treatment. Light levels from bioluminescently-labelledM. tuberculosisH37Rv (strain BSG001) were used as a surrogate for bacterial viability, and were monitored before and after 1 week of treatment. After treatment, biofilms were disrupted, washed and inoculated into fresh broth and plated onto solid media to rescue any surviving bacteria. We found that in this phenotypic stateM. tuberculosiswas resistant to the majority of the compounds tested. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) increased by 20-fold to greater than 1000-fold, underlying the potential of this phenotype to cause significant problems during treatment.
Spatial focalization of pheromone/MAPK signaling triggers commitment to cell–cell fusion
Authors: Dudin Omaya , Merlini Laura , Martin Sophie G.
Published: October 2016

Cell fusion is universal in eukaryotes for fertilization and development, but what signals this process is unknown. Here, we show inSchizosaccharomyces pombethat fusion does not require a dedicated signal but is triggered by spatial focalization of the same pheromone–GPCR (G-protein-coupled receptor)–MAPK signaling cascade that drives earlier mating events. Autocrine cells expressing the receptor for their own pheromone trigger fusion attempts independently of cell–cell contact by concentrating pheromone release at the fusion focus, a dynamic actin aster underlying the secretion of cell wall hydrolases. Pheromone receptor and MAPK cascade are similarly enriched at the fusion focus, concomitant with fusion commitment in wild-type mating pairs. This focalization promotes cell fusion by immobilizing the fusion focus, thus driving local cell wall dissolution. We propose that fusion commitment is imposed by a local increase in MAPK concentration at the fusion focus, driven by a positive feedback between fusion focus formation and focalization of pheromone release and perception.
Synthetic lethality between PAXX and XLF in mammalian development
Authors: Balmus Gabriel , Barros Ana C. , Wijnhoven Paul W.G. , Lescale Chloé , Hasse Hélène Lenden , Boroviak Katharina , le Sage Carlos , Doe Brendan , Speak Anneliese O. , Galli Antonella , Jacobsen Matt , Deriano Ludovic , Adams David J. , Blackford Andrew N. , Jackson Stephen P.
Published: October 2016

PAXX was identified recently as a novel nonhomologous end-joining DNA repair factor in human cells. To characterize its physiological roles, we generated Paxx-deficient mice. Like Xlf−/− mice, Paxx−/− mice are viable, grow normally, and are fertile but show mild radiosensitivity. Strikingly, while Paxx loss is epistatic with Ku80, Lig4, and Atm deficiency, Paxx/Xlf double-knockout mice display embryonic lethality associated with genomic instability, cell death in the central nervous system, and an almost complete block in lymphogenesis, phenotypes that closely resemble those of Xrcc4−/− and Lig4−/− mice. Thus, combined loss of Paxx and Xlf is synthetic-lethal in mammals.
On the forbidden and the optimum crystallographic variant of rutile in garnet
Authors: Hwang Shyh-Lung , Shen Pouyan , Chu Hao-Tsu , Yui Tzen-Fu
Published: October 2016

In many inclusion–host systems with similar oxygen packing schemes, the optimum crystallographic orientation relationship (COR) between the inclusion and the host is mostly determined by matching the similar oxygen sublattices of the two structures. In contrast, the prediction of the optimum COR or even just the rationalization of the observed COR(s) between an inclusion and host with incompatible oxygen sublattices, like rutile–garnet, is not straightforward. The related documentation for such cases is therefore limited. Given the abundant crystallographic data for the rutile–garnet system acquired by transmission electron microscopy and electron backscatter diffraction methods recently, this problem can now be examined in detail for the critical structural factors dictating the selection of optimum COR in such a structurally complicated system. On the basis of the unconstrained three-dimensional lattice point match and structural polyhedron match calculated for the observed CORs, it becomes clear that the prerequisite of optimum COR for rutile (rt) in garnet (grt) is to have most of their octahedra similarly oriented/inclined in space by aligning 〈103〉rt and 〈111〉grt for needle extension growth. Further rotation along the 〈103〉rt//〈111〉grt direction then leads to the energetically most favorable COR-2 variant with a good lattice point match defined by the coincidence site lattice (CSL) and a good topotaxial match of the constituent polyhedra at the CSL points, leaving unfavorable COR-1′ in the forbidden zones. This understanding sheds light not only on hierarchical energetics for the selection of inclusion variants in a complicated inclusion–host system, but also on yet-to-be-explored [UVW]-specific CORs and hetero-tilt boundaries for composite materials in general.
Crystal structure of N,N,N-triethylhydroxylammonium chloride
Authors: Averkiev Boris B. , Valencia Bianca C. , Getmanenko Yulia A. , Timofeeva Tatiana V.
Published: October 2016

In the title molecular salt, C6H16NO+·Cl−, two of the C—C—N—O groups in the cation adopt a gauche conformation [torsion angles = 62.86 (11) and −54.95 (13)°] and one an anti conformation [−177.82 (10)°. The cation and anion are linked by an O—H...Cl hydrogen bond. The extended structure displays C—H...Cl and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, resulting in layers lying parallel to the (100) plane: further C—H...Cl contacts connect the sheets into a three-dimensional network.
Crystal structure of catena-poly[bis(tetraethylammonium) [tetraaquatris(μ-dicyanamido-κ2
N
1:N
5)bis(dicyanamido-κN
1)dicobaltate(II)] dicyanamide]
Authors: Liu Chen , Thuijs Annaliese E. , Abboud Khalil A.
Published: October 2016

The structure of the title compound, [N(C2H5)4]2[Co2(C2N3)5(H2O)4](C2N3), is a new example of a metal–dicyanamide coordination polymer which exhibits a unique three-dimensional framework of covalently linked CoII chains. All bridging dicyanamide ligands in the title structure are in the μ
1,5-bridging mode. The anionic CoII-dicyanamide network is templated by tetraethylammonium cations residing in a series of channels extending along the b axis where additional non-coordinating dicyanamidate anions are also located. The framework structure is further stabilized by O—H...N hydrogen bonding between aqua ligands and dicyanamido ligands or the dicyanamide anion. In addition, C—H...N interactions are present between the tetraethylammonium cations and dicyanamide amide nitrogen atoms.
Bis(μ-4-amino-N-oxidobenzamide)bis[(4-amino-N-oxidobenzamide)aquacobalt] dihydrate
Authors: Ding Xulong , Li Li
Published: October 2016

The structure of the title compound, [Co2(C7H7N2O2)4(H2O)2]·2H2O, consists of a centrosymmetric binuclear [Co2(4-Apha)4(H2O)2] complex molecule (4-AphaH = 4-aminophenylhydroxamic acid), and two solvent water molecules. Each CoII cation is six coordinate, binding five oxygen atoms from three 4-Apha− ligands and a water molecule in a slightly distorted octahedral geometry. Two of the 4-Apha− ligands bridge two neighbouring CoII ions to form the binuclear complex. A three-dimensional network structure is generated by O—H...O, N—H...O, and N—H...N hydrogen bonds.
The effect of the discounted attribute importance in two-sided messages
Authors: Pizzutti Cristiane , Basso Kenny , Albornoz Manuela
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to test the importance of the discounting attribute in the two-sided communication from a retail salesperson as a boundary condition that eliminates the trade-off between trustworthiness and purchase intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

The hypotheses are tested by three experimental studies in three different retail contexts. Two lab studies manipulate the importance of the attribute and the type of message: one-sided vs two-sided. A field study improves the external validity of the findings.

Findings

A two-sided message from a salesperson reduces the use of persuasion knowledge and, therefore, enhances the consumer’s perception of the salesperson’s trustworthiness; this positive effect remains significant across different levels of importance of the discounting attribute. A two-sided message decreases the consumer’s probability of purchase only when an important attribute is disclaimed, through the consumer’s beliefs regarding the product’s attributes.

Practical implications

For the appropriate use of two-sided appeals, retailers should identify the importance of product attributes from the consumers’ perspective. A negative remark from a salesperson when referred to an unimportant attribute makes no harm to purchase intentions while leading to stronger intentions to return to the store and to recommend the store by enhancing trustworthiness.

Originality/value

This paper shows that it is possible to enhance trustworthiness through a two-sided message without mitigating the intentions of buying by discounting an attribute at low importance in the two-sided message.
Asymmetric demand patterns for products with added nutritional benefits and products without nutritional benefits
Authors: Yan Ji , Tian Kun , Heravi Saeed , Morgan Peter
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate consumers’ demand patterns for products with nutritional benefits and products with no nutritional benefits across processed healthy and unhealthy foods. This paper integrates price changes (i.e. increases and decreases) into a demand model and quantifies their relative impact on the quantity of food purchased. First, how demand patterns vary across processed healthy and unhealthy products is investigated; second, how demand patterns vary across nutrition-benefited (NB) products and non-nutrition-benefited (NNB) products is examined; and third, how consumers respond to price increases and decreases for NB across processed healthy and unhealthy foods is investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

Here, a demand model quantifying scenarios for price changes in consumer food choice behaviour is proposed, and controlled for heterogeneity at household, store and brand levels.

Findings

Consumers exhibit greater sensitivity to price decreases and less sensitivity to price increases across both processed healthy and unhealthy foods. Moreover, the research shows that consumers’ demand sensitivity is greater for NNB products than for NB products, supporting our prediction that NB products have higher brand equity than NNB products. Furthermore, the research shows that consumers are more responsive to price decreases than price increases for processed healthy NB foods, but more responsive to price increases than price decreases for unhealthy NB foods. The findings suggest that consumers exhibit a desirable demand pattern for products with nutritional benefits.

Originality/value

Although studies on the effects of nutritional benefits on demand have proliferated in recent years, researchers have only estimated their impact without considering the effect of price changes. This paper contributes by examining consumers’ price sensitivity for NB products across processed healthy and unhealthy foods based on consumer scanner data, considering both directionalities of price changes.
Political ideologies as shapers of future tourism development
Authors: Webster Craig , Ivanov Stanislav
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the link between political ideology and the management of tourism in countries. The authors stipulate that the predominant political ideology in the country influences the nature and logic of state interventions in the tourism industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper elaborates several case studies from various countries – Bulgaria, Cyprus, Scandinavia, Russia, USA, China, Japan, Indonesia, and North Korea.

Findings

Countries with predominant (neo)liberal ideology do not typically interfere in tourism regulation, while nationalism leads governments to stimulate inbound and domestic tourism. Communist ideological approaches tend to be burdensome, inhibiting growth while stressing the promotion of the socialist achievements of a country. Countries that are traditionally thought of as social democratic have been evolving in recent years to regulate tourism in ways that are more liberal in nature than social democratic.

Practical implications

Political ideologies shape the acceptability of government support for private tourist companies, legislation in field of tourism, limitation/stimulation of inbound/outbound tourist flows. For the future the authors expect greater politicisation of tourism, active tourism “wars” between countries, greater control of governments on populations, thriving nationalism, “aggressive” environmentalism.

Originality/value

This is one of the first papers to discuss the impact of the political ideology on the management of tourism at the national level.
New opportunities for future tourism after 25 years of political and socioeconomic transformation – foresight in Poland’s tourism planning
Authors: Awedyk Matylda , Niezgoda Agnieszka
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the changes in political and socioeconomic conditions after 25 years of transformation and how it provided to adopt new methodology in tourism planning. It shows the possibilities offered by the use of the foresight process in planning the development of tourism in Poland. Since one of the main foresight goals is to identify trends, the paper takes attempt to verify trends that occurred in Poland after 1989 and if they have now and will have in the near future influence on Polish tourism. Detailed objective is to characterize the systemic transformation and its impact on the tourism economy.

Design/methodology/approach

Paper is the review, which used literature, legislation and strategic documents query. It also includes comparative analysis.

Findings

The analysis of the political and economic changes that have taken place in Poland over the last 25 years shows that they were positive for the development of tourism base. The impact of globalization and global trends is now clearly noticeable also in Poland. Political and economic changes allow the use of foresight methodology in studies on the future of tourism while maintaining its main attributes: anticipation, participation, action, networking, vision.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis included the impact of political changes and social trends on the tourist economy. Proposals that show the positive aspects of these changes relate to tourism and present extensive opportunities to create scenarios, both at the national and regional levels.

Practical implications

The analysis forms the basis for the activities of tourism entities in Poland. It shows the characteristics for the future of the tourism market particularly the demand side.

Social implications

The analysis of changes in systemic and social trends enables anticipation of changes in tourism as a social phenomenon.

Originality/value

The paper presents the historical basis for the development of tourism in Poland after political changes in relation to the planning of tourism by using the methodology of foresight. It also presents these phenomena and social trends that have an impact on the development of tourism.
Non‐specific transient mutualism between the plant parasitic nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, and the opportunistic bacterium Serratia quinivorans BXF1, a plant‐growth promoting pine endophyte with antagonistic effects
Authors: Nascimento Francisco X. , Espada Margarida , Barbosa Pedro , Rossi Márcio J. , Vicente Cláudia S. L. , Mota Manuel
Published: October 2016

The aim of this study is to understand the biological role of Serratia quinivorans BXF1, a bacterium commonly found associated with Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the plant parasitic nematode responsible for pine wilt disease. Therefore, we studied strain BXF1 effect in pine wilt disease. We found that strain BXF1 promoted in vitro nematode reproduction. Moreover, the presence of bacteria led to the absence of nematode chitinase gene (Bxcht‐1) expression, suggesting an effect for bacterial chitinase in nematode reproduction. Nevertheless, strain BXF1 was unable to colonize the nematode interior, bind to its cuticle with high affinity or protect the nematode from xenobiotic stress. Interestingly, strain BXF1 was able to promote tomato and pine plant‐growth, as well as to colonize its interior, thus, acting like a plant‐growth promoting endophyte. Consequently, strain BXF1 failed to induce wilting symptoms when inoculated in pine shoot artificial incisions. This bacterium also presented strong antagonistic activities against fungi and bacteria isolated from Pinus pinaster. Our results suggest that B. xylophilus does not possess a strict symbiotic community capable of inducing pine wilt disease symptoms as previously hypothesized. We show that bacteria like BXF1, which possess plant‐growth promoting and antagonistic effects, may be opportunistically associated with B. xylophilus, possibly acquired from the bacterial endophytic community of the host pine.
Glycerol metabolism of haloarchaea
Authors: Williams Timothy J. , Allen Michelle , Tschitschko Bernhard , Cavicchioli Ricardo
Published: October 2016

Haloarchaea are heterotrophic members of the Archaea that thrive in hypersaline environments, often feeding off the glycerol that is produced as an osmolyte by eucaryotic Dunaliella during primary production. In this study we analyzed glycerol metabolism genes in closed genomes of haloarchaea and examined published data describing the growth properties of haloarchaea and experimental data for the enzymes involved. By integrating the genomic data with knowledge from the literature, we derived an understanding of the ecophysiology and evolutionary properties of glycerol catabolic pathways in haloarchaea.