bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Changes in protein function underlies the disease spectrum in patients with CHIP mutations
Authors: Madrigal Sabrina C. , McNeil Zipporah , Sanchez-Hodge Rebekah , Shi Chang-he , Patterson Cam , Scaglione Kenneth Matthew , Schisler Jonathan C.
Published: April 2019

Monogenetic disorders that cause cerebellar ataxia are characterized by defects in gait and atrophy of the cerebellum; however, patients often suffer from a spectrum of disease, complicating treatment options. Spinocerebellar ataxia autosomal recessive 16 (SCAR16) is caused by coding mutations in STUB1, a gene that encodes the multi-functional enzyme CHIP (C-terminus of HSC70-interacting protein). The spectrum of disease found in SCAR16 patients includes a wide range in the age of disease onset, cognitive dysfunction, increased tendon reflex, and hypogonadism. Although SCAR16 mutations span the multiple functional domains of CHIP, it is unclear if the location of the mutation contributes to the clinical spectrum of SCAR16 or with changes in the biochemical properties of CHIP. In this study, we examined the associations and relationships between the clinical phenotypes of SCAR16 patients and how they relate to changes in the biophysical, biochemical, and functional properties of the corresponding mutated protein. We found that the severity of ataxia did not correlate with age of onset; however, cognitive dysfunction, increased tendon reflex, and ancestry were able to predict 54% of the variation in ataxia severity. We further identified domain-specific relationships between biochemical changes in CHIP and clinical phenotypes, and specific biochemical activities that associate selectively to either increased tendon reflex or cognitive dysfunction, suggesting that specific changes to CHIP-HSC70 dynamics contributes to the clinical spectrum of SCAR16. Finally, linear models of SCAR16 as a function of the biochemical properties of CHIP support the concept that further inhibiting mutant CHIP activity lessens disease severity and may be useful in the design of patient-speciflc targeted approaches to treat SCAR16.
Isoform specificity of PKMs during long-term facilitation in Aplysia is mediated through stabilization by KIBRA
Authors: Ferguson Larissa , Hu Jiangyuan , Cai Diancai , Chen Shanping , Dunn Tyler W , Glanzman David L , Schacher Samuel , Sossin Wayne S.
Published: April 2019

Persistent activity of protein kinase M (PKM), the truncated form of protein kinase C (PKC), can maintain long-term changes in synaptic strength in many systems including the hermaphrodite marine mollusk, Aplysia californica. Moreover, different types of long-term facilitation (LTF) in cultured Aplysia sensorimotor synapses rely on the activities of different PKM isoforms in the presynaptic sensory neuron and postsynaptic motor neuron. When the atypical PKM isoform was required, the kidney and brain expressed adaptor protein (KIBRA) was also required. Here, we explore how this isoform specificity is established. We find that PKM overexpression in the motor neuron, but not the sensory neuron, is sufficient to increase synaptic strength and that this activity is not isoform specific. KIBRA is not the rate-limiting step in facilitation since overexpression of KIBRA is neither sufficient to increase synaptic strength, nor to prolong a form of PKM-dependent intermediate synaptic facilitation. However, the isoform specificity of dominant negative (DN)-PKMs to erase LTF is correlated with isoform specific competition for stabilization by KIBRA. We identify a new conserved region of KIBRA. Different splice isoforms in this region stabilize different PKMs based on the isoform-specific sequence of an alpha-helix ‘handle’ in the PKMs. Thus, specific stabilization of distinct PKMs by different isoforms of KIBRA can explain the isoform specificity of PKMs during LTF in Aplysia.

Significance Statement

Long lasting changes in synaptic plasticity associated with memory formation are maintained by persistent protein kinases. We have previously shown in the Aplysia sensorimotor model that distinct isoforms of persistently active protein kinase Cs (PKMs) maintain distinct forms of long-lasting synaptic changes, even when both forms are expressed in the same motor neuron. Here, we show that, while the effects of overexpression of PKMs in not isoform specific, isoform specificity is defined by a ‘handle’ helix in PKMs that confers stabilization by distinct splice forms in a previously undefined domain of the adaptor protein KIBRA. Thus, we define new regions in both KIBRA and PKMs that define the isoform specificity for maintaining synaptic strength in distinct facilitation paradigms.
Hindbrain V2a neurons impose rhythmic activity on motor neurons in anin vitroreticulospinal circuit
Authors: Bubnys Adele V , Kandel Hagar , Kow Lee-Ming , Pfaff Donald W , Tabansky Inna
Published: April 2019

The reticulospinal system is an evolutionarily conserved pathway among vertebrates that relays locomotor control signals from the hindbrain to the spinal cord. Recent studies have identified specific hindbrain cell types that participate in this circuit, including Chx10+neurons of the medullary reticular formation, which project to the spinal cord and are active during periods of locomotion. To create a system in which reticulospinal neurons communicate with spinal motor effectors, we have constructed anin vitromodel using two purified excitatory neuronal subtypes: HB9+spinal motor neurons and Chx10+hindbrain neurons. Cultured separately, these neurons exhibit cell type-specific patterns of activity; the Chx10+cultures developed regular, synchronized bursts of activity that recruited neurons across the entire culture, whereas motor neuron activity consisted of an irregular pattern. A combination of the two subtypes produced cultures in which Chx10+neurons recruited the motor neurons into synchronized network bursts, which were dependent on AMPA receptors. In addition to demonstrating that the activity ofin vitronetworks can depend on the developmental identity of their constituent neurons, we provide a new model with genetically specified nerve cell types to study the activity of a reticulospinal circuit.

Significance statement

Models of the brain that use cultured neurons are usually comprised of a complex mixture of different kinds of cells, making it hard to determine how each cell type contributes to the overall pattern of activity. We made a simplified culture containing two cell types known to form a reticulospinal circuitin vivo. While in isolated cultures, each cell type had a distinct pattern of activity, in coculture the activity of one cell type came to dominate, indicating that the patterns observed in complex neuronal cultures arise in part from the distinctive properties of the constituent neurons.
Population structure and pangenome analysis of Enterobacter bugandensis uncover the presence ofblaCTX-M-55,blaNDM-5andblaIMI-1, along with sophisticated iron acquisition strategies
Authors: Matteoli Filipe P. , Passarelli-Araujo Hemanoel , Pedrosa-Silva Francisnei , Olivares Fabio L. , Venancio Thiago M.
Published: April 2019

Enterobacter bugandensisis a recently described species that has been largely associated with nosocomial infections. Here, we report the genome of a non-clinicalE. bugandensisstrain. We used this and other several publicly availableE. bugandensisgenomes to obtain the species pangenome, investigate the conservation of important genes, and elucidate general population structure features of the species. Core- and whole-genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST and wgMLST, respectively) allowed the detection of fiveE. bugandensisphylogroups (PG-A to E). We found important antimicrobial resistance and virulence determinants associated with specific PGs, notably PG-A and PG-E. IncFII was the most prevalent plasmid replicon type in this species. We uncovered several extended-spectrum β-lactamases, includingblaCTX-M-55andblaNDM-5, present in an IncX replicon type plasmid, described here for the first time inE. bugandensis. Genetic context analysis ofblaNDM-5revealed the resemblance of this plasmid with other IncX plasmids isolated from other bacteria from the same country. Further, three distinctive siderophore producing operons were found in theE. bugandensispangenome: enterobactin (ent), aerobactin (iuc/iut), and salmochelin (iro). The latter operon is conserved in all PG-E isolates. Collectively, our findings provide novel insights on the lifestyle, physiology, antimicrobial, and virulence profiles ofE. bugandensis.
Medial prefrontal cortex guides goal-directed decision-making about hunger and thirst
Authors: Eiselt Anne-Kathrin , Chen Jim , Arnold Jon , Kim Tahnbee , Sternson Scott M.
Published: April 2019

Decision-making guided by self-evaluation of bodily need states (interoception) is thought to be important for cognitive control over eating or drinking1. However, interoception of body states is notoriously unreliable2–4 because hunger and thirst have similar motivational characteristics5. Consequently, individuals may inaccurately assess their need state and consume food when dehydrated, leading some healthcare professionals to advise overweight patients to drink water before eating6–8. Neuroimaging in humans9–11 and recordings in rodents12–15 indicate medial prefrontal frontal cortex (mPFC) involvement in need state-dependent decisions about hunger and thirst, but mPFC surgical lesions16,17 and electrical activity perturbations have little influence on eating or drinking18,19. To investigate need-state dependent decision-making as well as the function of mPFC in hunger and thirst, we developed an instrumental foraging task for mice that mimics key elements of human decisions. When homeostatic need state was variable, mice did not show intrinsic knowledge of hunger or thirst state but, instead, rapidly identified their need after consumption of small portions of food and water (outcome evaluation). We observed a food-seeking bias, even in thirsty mice, that required outcome evaluation for mice to correctly seek water. mPFC was required for need state-dependent decisions about hunger and thirst, specifically under variable need state conditions. Food-seeking or water-seeking choices were controlled by multiple decision-making processes, and mPFC was involved in goal-directed decisions about the identity of need states. Thus, we have discovered a role for mPFC in decision-making about hunger and thirst, which is relevant for human behaviors that contribute to obesity.
Possible origin of the scrapie genome in small endogenous RNAs; studies on eight candidate species in 263K scrapie-infected hamster brain
Authors: Barnard Eleanor , Estibeiro Kathryn , Duncan Rory , Baird Janet , Fettes David , Wood Jacqueline , Fraser Hugh , Estibeiro Peter , Lathe Richard
Published: April 2019

The identity of the etiologic agent of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), including bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), scrapie and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), remains unknown. While much attention has been given to the hypothesis that the TSEs may be caused by a proteinaceous infectious agent or ‘prion’, there is considerable evidence to suggest that this hypothesis is incomplete. We have pursued an alternative contention: that the etiologic agent comprises in part a modified and replicating form of an endogenous nucleic acid, probably RNA. The ‘endovirus’ hypothesis contends that the parental molecule is most likely to be a small and highly-structured cellular RNA that can convert to a replicating molecule by a finite number of nucleotide sequence changes. We have begun a systematic analysis of candidate molecular species present in hamster brain infected with scrapie strain 263K. Initial work focussed on the 7S group of small RNAs. Examination of 7-2, 7SK and 7SL failed to reveal differences in abundance and/or sequence between normal and scrapie (263K)-infected hamster brain. Inspection of other possible candidates, including U3, H1/8-2 and novel molecules KR1, nu1 and nu2, similarly failed to provide evidence for scrapie-specific molecular variants; alterations to the KR1 sequence failed to correlate with disease. We present sequences of hamster RNAs 7-2, 7SK, 7SL, H1/8-2, U3, nu1, nu2 and KR1. Together our data so far fail to contradict or confirm the hypothesis, while arguing that the major species of these 8 RNA molecules are unlikely to correspond to the etiologic agent of the TSEs.
Differential Expression of Mucins in Murine Olfactory Versus Respiratory Epithelium
Authors: Kennel Christopher , Gould Elizabeth A. , Larson Eric D. , Salcedo Ernesto , Vickery Thad W. , Restrepo Diego , Ramakrishnan Vijay R.
Published: April 2019

Mucins are a key component of the airway surface liquid and serve many functions. Given the numerous differences in olfactory versus respiratory nasal epithelia, we hypothesized that mucins would be differentially expressed between these two areas. Secondarily, we evaluated for changes in mucin expression with radiation exposure, given the clinical observations of nasal dryness, altered mucus rheology, and smell loss in radiated patients. Immunofluorescence staining was performed in a mouse model to determine the expression of mucins 1, 2, 5AC and 5B in nasal respiratory and olfactory epithelia of control mice and one week after exposure to 8 gy of radiation. Mucins 1, 5AC and 5B exhibited differential expression between olfactory and respiratory epithelium while mucin 2 showed no difference. Within the olfactory epithelium, mucin 1 was located in a lattice-like pattern around gaps corresponding to dendritic knobs of olfactory sensory neurons, whereas in respiratory epithelium it was only intermittently expressed. Mucin 5AC was expressed by subepithelial glands in both epithelial types but to a higher degree in the olfactory epithelium. Mucin 5B was expressed by submucosal glands in the olfactory epithelium but by surface epithelial cells in respiratory epithelium. At one-week after exposure to single-dose 8 gy of radiation, no qualitative effects were seen on mucin expression. Our findings demonstrate that murine olfactory and respiratory epithelia express mucins differently, and characteristic patterns of mucins 1, 5AC, and 5B can be used to define the underlying epithelium. Radiation (8 gy) does not appear to affect mucin expression at one week.

Author Roles

Christopher Kennel conceived, organized and executed the study, performed the analysis, and contributed to the manuscript.

Elizabeth Gould conceived and executed the study, and contributed to the manuscript.

Diego Restrepo conceived and executed the study, supervised the experiments, reviewed the analysis, and contributed to the manuscript.

Ernesto Salcedo performed experiments and reviewed the manuscript.

Thad Vickery performed experiments and reviewed the manuscript.

Eric Larson performed experiments and reviewed the manuscript.

Vijay Ramakrishnan conceived and executed the study, reviewed the analysis, and contributed to the manuscript.

All authors discussed the results and implications and contributed to the final manuscript.
Prognostic Analysis of Histopathological Images Using Pre-Trained Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Lu Liangqun , Daigle Bernie
Published: April 2019

Background

Histopathological images contain rich phenotypic descriptions of the molecular processes underlying disease progression. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs), a state-of-the-art image analysis technique in computer vision, automatically learns representative features from such images which can be useful for disease diagnosis, prognosis, and subtyping. Despite hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) being the sixth most common type of primary liver malignancy with a high mortality rate, little previous work has made use of CNN models to delineate the importance of histopathological images in diagnosis and clinical survival of HCC.

Results

We applied three pre-trained CNN models – VGG 16, Inception V3, and ResNet 50 – to extract features from HCC histopathological images. The visualization and classification showed clear separation between cancer and normal samples using image features. In a univariate Cox regression analysis, 21.4% and 16% of image features on average were significantly associated with overall survival and disease-free survival, respectively. We also observed significant correlations between these features and integrated biological pathways derived from gene expression and copy number variation. Using an elastic net regularized CoxPH model of overall survival, we obtained a concordance index (C-index) of 0.789 and a significant log-rank test (p = 7.6E-18) after applying Inception image features. We also performed unsupervised classification to identify HCC subgroups from image features. The optimal two subgroups discovered using Inception image features were significantly associated with both overall (C-index = 0.628 and p = 7.39E-07) and disease-free survival (C-index =0.558 and p = 0.012). Our results suggest the feasibility of feature extraction using pre-trained models, as well as the utility of the resulting features to build an accurate prognosis model of HCC and highlight significant correlations with clinical survival and biological pathways.

Conclusions

The image features extracted from HCC histopathological images using the pre-trained CNN models VGG 16, Inception V3 and ResNet 50 can accurately distinguish normal and cancer samples. Furthermore, these image features are significantly correlated with relevant biological outcomes.
Immune Landscape of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Tumour Microenvironment Identifies a Prognostic and Immunotherapeutically Relevant Gene Signature
Authors: Bao Xuanwen , Shi Run , Zhang Kai , Xin Shan , Li Xin , Zhao Yanbo , Wang Yanfang
Published: April 2019

Background

Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) is a clinically and molecularly distinct disease. Tumour microenvironment (TME) immune phenotypes play crucial roles in predicting clinical outcomes and therapeutic efficacy.

Method

In this study, we depict the immune landscape of IDC by using transcriptome profiling and clinical characteristics retrieved from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data portal. Immune cell infiltration was evaluated via single-sample gene set enrichment (ssGSEA) analysis and systematically correlated with genomic characteristics and clinicopathological features of IDC patients. Furthermore, an immune signature was constructed using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) Cox regression algorithm. A random forest algorithm was applied to identify the most important somatic gene mutations associated with the constructed immune signature. A nomogram that integrated clinicopathological features with the immune signature to predict survival probability was constructed by multivariate Cox regression.

Results

The IDC were clustered into low immune infiltration, intermediate immune infiltration, and high immune infiltration by the immune landscape. The high infiltration group had a favourable survival probability compared with that of the low infiltration group. The low-risk score subtype identified by the immune signature was characterized by T cell-mediated immune activation. Additionally, activation of the interferon-α response, interferon-γ response and TNF-α signalling via the NFκB pathway was observed in the low-risk score subtype, which indicated T cell activation and may be responsible for significantly favourable outcomes in IDC patients. A random forest algorithm identified the most important somatic gene mutations associated with the constructed immune signature. Furthermore, a nomogram that integrated clinicopathological features with the immune signature to predict survival probability was constructed, revealing that the immune signature was an independent prognostic biomarker. Finally, the relationship of VEGFA, PD1, PDL-1 and CTLA-4 expression with the immune infiltration landscape and the immune signature was analysed to interpret the responses of IDC patients to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Conclusion

Taken together, we performed a comprehensive evaluation of the immune landscape of IDC and constructed an immune signature related to the immune landscape. This analysis of TME immune infiltration patterns has shed light on how IDC respond to immune checkpoint therapy and may guide the development of novel drug combination strategies.
A new approach to automated CBMN scoring following high doses
Authors: Repin Mikhail , Brenner David J. , Garty Guy
Published: April 2019

In recent years we have automated the CBMN assay using microvolumes of blood, processed in multiwell plates. We have seen that at doses above 6 Gy the detected yield of micronuclei actually declines with dose, likely because of mitotic delay, preventing cells from forming micronuclei and also, when using one color imaging, resulting in many false binucleated cells, consisting of two randomly-adjacent nuclei. By using the inverse mitotic index (the ratio of mononuclear to binuclear cells) to adjust the micronucleus yield we were able to obtain a monotonic increasing dose response curve at doses of up to at least 10 Gy from the same samples which generated dose-response curve with a peak near 6 Gy, when scored using the traditional micronucleus yield.
Structural basis for the differential regulatory roles of the PDZ domain in C-terminal processing proteases
Authors: Chueh Chuang-Kai , Som Nilanjan , Ke Lu-Chu , Ho Meng-Ru , Reddy Manjula , Chang Chung-I
Published: April 2019

Carboxyl (C)-terminal processing proteases (CTPs) participate in protective and regulatory proteolysis in bacteria. The PDZ domain is central to the activity of CTPs but plays inherently different regulatory roles. For example, the PDZ domain inhibits the activity of the signaling protease CtpB by blocking the active site but is required for the activation of Prc (or Tsp), a tail-specific protease that degrades the ssrA-tagged proteins. Here, by structural and functional analysis we show that in the unliganded resting state of Prc, the PDZ domain is docked inside the bowl-shaped scaffold without contacting the active site, which is kept in a default misaligned conformation. In Prc, a hydrophobic substrate sensor distinct from CtpB engages substrate binding to the PDZ domain and triggers a structural remodeling to align the active site residues. Therefore, this work reveals the structural basis for understanding the contrasting roles of the PDZ domain in the regulation of CTPs.
Refusing cesarean sections to protect fertile futures:
Authors: LOWE LUCY
Published: April 2019

While cesarean sections are increasingly used worldwide, Somali refugee women in Kenya are rejecting the operation in attempts to protect their future reproductive capacities. In a context of displacement and insecurity, women's reproductive bodies can be crucial to their security and strategies for onward migration. Somali women's resistance to C‐sections mirrors prevalent practices of female circumcision, since they are both perceived by physicians as medically harmful but by women as essential to achieving gendered expectations of marriage and motherhood. The strategic modification and protection of reproductive capacities are situated in multifaceted social and political ruptures, and women's refusal of surgery is part of a long‐term, future‐oriented pursuit of motherhood and survival. [motherhood, refugees, cesarean section, female circumcision, migration, resistance, Somalia, Kenya]
TOOLS FOR RE‐RANDOMIZATION
Authors: Lara Bernardo
Published: April 2019

With the rising popularity of field experiments in economics, re‐randomization schemes have emerged as tools to induce balance in observable variables across treatment groups. However, re‐randomization is not fully understood and the methodologies to estimate its effects on the distribution of parameters are still under‐developed. This paper helps to close that gap by suggesting an asymptotically normal re‐randomization scheme and bootstrapping procedure to carry inference under a wide range of estimators and re‐randomization schemes.
News sentiment and sovereign credit risk
Authors: Cathcart Lara , Gotthelf Nina M. , Uhl Matthias , Shi Yining
Published: April 2019

We explore the impact of media content on sovereign credit risk. Our measure of media tone is extracted from the Thomson Reuters News Analytics database. As a proxy for sovereign credit risk we consider credit default swap (CDS) spreads, which are decomposed into their risk premium and default risk components. We find that media tone explains and predicts CDS returns and is a mixture of noise and information. Its effect on risk premium induces a temporary change in investors’ appetite for credit risk exposure, whereas its impact on the default component leads to reassessments of the fundamentals of sovereign economies.
Long‐Term Opioid Therapy in Older Cancer Survivors: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Shah Rahul , Chou Lin‐Na , Kuo Yong‐Fang , Raji Mukaila A.
Published: April 2019

OBJECTIVES

To examine the rates and predictors of long‐term opioid therapy in older cancer survivors.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Texas, United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Cancer survivors (5 years or more postcancer diagnosis) diagnosed from 1995 to 2008 and who were also Medicare Parts A, B, and D beneficiaries.

MEASUREMENTS

We used Medicare Part D event data to calculate the proportion of cancer survivors with a prolonged opioid prescription (90‐day or more supply of opioids/year). Adjusted odds ratios were calculated to identify predictors of prolonged opioid prescribing. All analyses were repeated with a subcohort of opioid‐naïve cancer survivors.

RESULTS

The rate of prolonged opioid therapy for cancer patients diagnosed in 2008 was 7.1% prior to cancer diagnosis; it rose to 9.8% within a year of cancer treatments, and to 13.3% at 5 years postdiagnosis. The rate at the sixth year varied by cancer sites: 19.4% in lung cancer and 9.6% in prostate cancer. Among opioid‐naïve survivors, the rate increased from 1.4% to 7.1%, from 5 to 18 years postcancer diagnosis. Cancer survivors diagnosed in 2004 to 2008 had higher rates of opioid prescribing compared to those diagnosed in 1995 to 1998 and 1999 to 2003. Years since diagnosis, a later year of diagnosis, female sex, urban location, lung cancer diagnosis, disability as reason for Medicare entitlement, Medicaid eligibility, one or more comorbidity, and history of depression or drug abuse were predictors of prolonged opioid therapy. Among opioid‐naïve cancer survivors, diagnosis in 2004 to 2008 was the strongest predictor, while a history of drug abuse was the strongest predictor for all the survivors.

CONCLUSION

The rates of prolonged opioid prescribing for older cancer survivors remained high at 5 or more years after cancer diagnosis. Our findings have potential to inform the development of clinical guidelines and public policy to ensure safer and more effective pain treatment in older cancer survivors. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:945–952, 2019.
Characterization of two new HLA‐C alleles, HLA‐C*05:01:01:17 and ‐C*16:152
Authors: Balas Antonio , Moreno‐Hidalgo Miguel A. , Alenda Raquel , Garcia‐Sanchez Felix , Vicario José L.
Published: April 2019

Two new HLA‐C alleles, HLA‐C*05:01:01:17 and ‐C*16:152 were detected and characterized.
Forest Fire Prevention Early Warning Method Based on Fuzzy Bayesian Network
Authors: Lin Jun , Dong Hanjiang , Liu Wenxiao , Li Junlong , Lu Haitian , Ou Kuncheng , Yan Dongsong , Lian Wenchao
Published: April 2019

In the environment of large forest, the factors causing fire are nonlinear and uncertain. If the data collected by the sensor is simply analyzed and compared, the false alarm rate will be higher. How to combine the data of several sensors for effective fire warning is a difficult point. In order to improve the accuracy of prediction, aiming at the shortcomings of traditional forest fire prevention early warning system, we propose a forest fire prevention early warning method based on fuzzy Bayesian network. Firstly, we combine the fuzzy control system and the Bayesian network in series, and pre-process the collected sensor data. The pre-processed data is sent to the previously trained Bayesian network for processing. Then the calculated open fire probability, smoldering fire probability, and no fire probability are used as input data of fuzzy control system, and fuzzy inference is performed. Finally, we de-fuzzify the results of fuzzy reasoning and get the probability of fire. Simulation results show that our method can effectively combine the data collected by multiple sensors, quickly and accurately determine fire occurrence probability, improve the accuracy of forest fire prevention warning, and reduce the false positive rate.
Sexting and high sexual risk-taking behaviours among school youth in northern Ethiopia: estimating using prevalence ratio
Authors: Abrha Kidan , Worku Alemayehu , Lerebo Wondwossen , Berhane Yemane
Published: April 2019

Background

Increasing access to digital technology to young people in low-income settings has greatly influenced their porngraphy viewing and sexting, receiving and/or sending of sexual explicit materials via electronic devices. These change the sexual communication and behaviour of the young population. However, evidence to attest this change is not available in our setting. Thus, this study examined the relationship of high sexual risk-taking behaviour with sexting and pornography viewing among school youth in Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from March to April 2015 by selecting school youth using a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected using a pre-validated anonymous facilitator-guided self-administered questionnaire. Poisson regression was run to calculate adjusted prevalence ratio with its 95% confidence intervals. All differences were considered as significant for p values ≤0.05.

Results

In total, 5924 questionnaires were distributed, and 5306 (89.57%) school youth responded in full to questions related to outcome variables. Of these respondents, 1220 (22.99%; 95% CI 19.45 to 26.96) were involved in high sexual risk-taking behaviour; 1769 (33.37%; 95% CI 30.52 to 36.35) had experienced sexting and 2679 (50.26%; 95% CI 46.92 to 53.61) were viewing pornography. The proportion of high sexual risk-taking behaviour was three-fold among pornography viewers (adjusted prevalence ratio (APR) 95% CI 3.02 (2.52 to 3.62)) and two-fold among sexters (APR 95% CI 2.48 (1.88 to 3.27)) as compared with their counterparts.

Conclusions

Exposure to sexually explicit materials via communication technology is associated with increased high sexual risk-taking behaviour among school youth in northern Ethiopia. Considering these emerged predictors of sexual behaviours in our sexual education programmes, further research in this area is essential.
Simultaneous patient presentation for endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Dalsania Ankur K , Kansagra Akash P
Published: April 2019

Background

Increased demand for endovascular thrombectomy has increased the likelihood of simultaneous patient presentation leading to competing demand for time-critical treatment that could adversely impact patient outcomes. We aimed to quantify the occurrence of simultaneous patient presentation at different patient volumes.

Methods

Empirical distributions for time of patient presentation and case duration were used to probabilistically generate arrival time and case duration for a set annual patient volume, ranging from 1 to 500 cases per year, for 16 000 independent trials at each volume. Time series were generated for each trial to represent the number of cases being performed at each minute of the year. Time series were used to calculate daily thrombectomy demand, annual concurrent demand, and hourly excess demand.

Results

The patient volumes at which at least one annual occurrence of concurrent demand by two patients was 50% and 97.5% likely were 45 and 101, respectively. The volumes at which at least one annual occurrence of concurrent demand by three patients was 50% and 97.5% likely were 216 and 387, respectively. There was dramatic variation in the occurrence of excess demand by two or more patients throughout the day.

Conclusions

The occurrence of simultaneous presentation by multiple patients for endovascular thrombectomy varies with annual patient volume and time of day. Understanding these trends and the associated patient impact can inform intelligent strategies at regional and national levels for optimizing patient care within real-world financial and operational constraints.
An interdisciplinary approach to inhospital stroke improves stroke detection and treatment time
Authors: Manners Jody , Khandker Namir , Barron Adam , Aziz Yasmin , Desai Shashvat M , Morrow Benjamin , Delfyett William T , Martin-Gill Christian , Shutter Lori , Jovin Tudor G , Jadhav Ashutosh P
Published: April 2019

Background

Inhospital stroke (IHS) is associated with high morbidity and mortality, likely related to multiple factors, including delayed time to recognition, associated comorbidities, and initial care from non-stroke trained providers. We hypothesized that guided revision of a formalized ‘stroke code’ system can improve diagnosis and time to thrombolysis and thrombectomy.

Methods

IHS activations occurring at a comprehensive stroke center between 2013 and 2016 were retrospectively analyzed to guide revisions of an established stroke code protocol to improve provider communication and time to imaging, reduce stroke mimic rate, and improve the use of parallel processing. After protocol implementation, we prospectively collected data between 2016 and 2017 for comparison with the pre-implementation group, including diagnostic accuracy and relevant time points (code call to examination, examination to imaging, and imaging to intervention). We report descriptive statistics for comparison of patient characteristics and time metrics (time to imaging and reperfusion after IHS activation). Multivariable regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of stroke mimics and time metrics.

Results

There were 136 cases in the pre-implementation group and 69 in the post-implementation group. A reduction in stroke mimics (52% vs 33%, P=0.01) occurred after protocol initiation. Mean time to imaging after stroke code call was 7.6 min shorter (P=0.026) and mean time from imaging to acute reperfusion therapy was 45.7 vs 19.8 min (P=0.05) in the pre- versus the post-implementation group.

Conclusion

Revision of an existing IHS protocol was associated with a lower rate of stroke mimics, and a shorter time to intravenous and intra-arterial intervention.
Maturing institutional experience with the transradial approach for diagnostic cerebral arteriography: overcoming the learning curve
Authors: Zussman Benjamin M , Tonetti Daniel A , Stone Jeremy , Brown Merritt , Desai Shashvat M , Gross Bradley A , Jadhav Ashutosh , Jovin Tudor G , Jankowitz Brian Thomas
Published: April 2019

Background

Despite growing interest in the transradial approach for neurovascular procedures, prospective data about the learning curve for neurointerventionalists adopting this approach are limited.

Methods

A subsequent prospective series of 50 consecutive right transradial diagnostic cerebral arteriograms was compared with our initial institutional experience using a procedural staging system. The primary outcome was the ability to achieve the predefined procedural goals using the radial approach. Secondary outcomes included the technical ability to access and inject each supraaortic artery of interest and the incidence of complications.

Results

The primary outcome was achieved in 49 patients (98%) compared with 88% in the initial series (p=0.05). One stage 2 failure (2%) occurred. Crossover to the transfemoral approach occurred in one patient (2%) compared with 8% in the initial series (p=0.16). All supraaortic arteries of interest were accessed and injected with success rates between 93% and 100%. There were no major complications and two minor complications.

Conclusion

Neurointerventionalists can overcome the right transradial learning curve and achieve high success rates and low crossover rates after performing 30–50 cases.
Field and theoretical analysis of response of axially loaded grouted drilled shafts in extra-thick fine sand
Authors: Wan Zhi-hui , Dai Guo-liang , Gong Wei-ming
Published: April 2019

Research on post-grouted drilled shafts has focused primarily on post-grouted tips. Here, four full-scale shaft load tests were conducted to investigate the behaviors and performance of combined tip-and-side grouted superlong and large-diameter drilled shafts in extra-thick fine sand layers. The enhanced mechanism of the combined grouted drilled shafts is analyzed, and a rational approach for analyzing their load–displacement response is presented. The side and base resistance of the combined grouted drilled shafts exhibited significant strengthening, substantially increasing the bearing capacity and effectively controlling settlement. Under the ultimate load, >60% of the shaft head displacement was caused by shaft compression; a relatively small load proportion was carried by the shaft base. The superlong and large-diameter drilled shaft can be treated as a friction shaft, and the combined tip-and-side grouting cannot change the bearing characteristics. The hyperbolic model describes the relationship between the side resistance and relative shaft–soil displacement and captures the base resistance–displacement response. The proposed approach is verified with a case history, and the bearing behaviors of a large-diameter drilled shaft under an extra-thick fine sand layer are analyzed. These results clarify the bearing characteristics of combined grouted shafts and can help guide the design of post-grouted shafts.
Overexpression of TaBADH increases salt tolerance in Arabidopsis
Authors: Sun Yinglu , Liu Xin , Fu Lianshuang , Qin Peng , Li Tong , Ma Xianfa , Wang Xiaonan
Published: April 2019

Soil salinization is an important threat to wheat growth and production. Previous transcriptome analysis showed that the expression of the betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH) gene differed significantly between cultivars with strong or weak salinity tolerance. Herein, the BADH gene from the wheat cultivar Dongnongdongmai 1 was cloned and transformed into wild-type Arabidopsis to identify its function in salt tolerance. Root length was calculated at 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mmol L−1 NaCl for 7 d. The relative electrolytic leakage (REL), GB content, and BADH activity were measured at 150 mmol L−1 NaCl for 1 and 3 d. It was determined that BADH activity and the GB content of TaBADH-overexpressed transgenic (TaBADHOE) lines were significantly higher than in wild-type lines. Salt stress analysis showed that the root length of TaBADHOE lines 4, 18, and 19 were 0.44, 0.54, and 0.35 cm, respectively, which were significantly longer than the 0.24 cm roots of the wild-type line in the media containing 150 mmol L−1 NaCl for 7 d. In addition, the RELs of transgenic lines 4, 18, and 19 were 0.37, 0.33, and 0.42, respectively, which is significantly lower than the 0.63 of the wild-type line in media containing 150 mmol L−1 NaCl for 3 d. These results demonstrate that TaBADH significantly increased plant salt tolerance, indicating that genetic transformation of TaBADH may be an effective and sustainable breeding method for increasing salt tolerance in wheat cultivars.
Leaf and whole-plant gas exchange and water-use efficiency of chrysanthemums under HPS and LEDs during the vegetative and flower-induction stages
Authors: Leonardos Evangelos D. , Ma Xiao , Lanoue Jason , Grodzinski Bernard
Published: April 2019

The effects of light quality on photosynthesis and transpiration of chrysanthemums during the vegetative and flowering stages are not known. Leaf and whole-plant CO2 and H2O exchanges of chrysanthemums during long-day (LD) and short-day (SD) photoperiods were measured under varying intensity levels of high-pressure sodium (HPS) and different monochromatic and multicolour light-emitting diode (LED) lights. All light sources induced leaf photosynthesis effectively, including green and orange LEDs. During both LD and SD, HPS, white, and notably orange light produced high rates of photosynthesis, whereas blue light had the lowest rates. In addition, there were only subtle changes in the response of leaf functions to light quality during flowering induction. Diurnal patterns of whole-plant net C exchange rate were similar under HPS and two commercial LED lights, one red–blue (RB) and one red–white (RW), during both LD and SD. The RB and RW LED lights were as effective at maintaining whole-plant C gain during the day as traditional HPS lights. However, in comparison to HPS, the RB and RW LEDs increased whole-plant transpiration and decreased water-use efficiency (WUE). A decrease in WUE under these LEDs was not evident from the leaf measurements, which emphasizes the importance of examining responses to light quality at the whole-plant level as well and not at the leaf level alone. In commercial production, the wavelength of supplementary lighting may heavily influence WUE and subsequent nutrient uptake, and ultimately growth and quality of cut flower crops.
Lung‐Derived SOD3 Attenuates Neurovascular Injury After Transient Global Cerebral Ischemia
Authors: Mai Nguyen , Miller‐Rhodes Kathleen , Prifti Viollandi , Kim Minsoo , O'Reilly Michael A. , Halterman Marc W.
Published: April 2019

Background

Systemic innate immune priming is a recognized sequela of post‐ischemic neuroinflammation and contributor to delayed neurodegeneration. Given mounting evidence linking acute stroke with reactive lung inflammation, we asked whether enhanced expression of the endogenous antioxidant extracellular superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3) produced by alveolar type II pneumocytes would protect the lung from transient global cerebral ischemia and the brain from the delayed effects of ischemia‐reperfusion.

Methods and Results

Following 15 minutes of global cerebral ischemia or sham conditions, transgenic SOD3 and wild‐type mice were followed daily for changes in weight, core temperature, and neurological function. Three days after reperfusion, arterial and venous samples were collected for complete blood counts, flow cytometry, and SOD3 protein blotting, and immunohistochemistry was performed on lung and brain tissue to assess tissue injury, blood‐brain barrier permeability, and neutrophil transmigration. Relative to ischemic controls, transgenic SOD3 mice performed better on functional testing and exhibited reduced peripheral neutrophil activation, lung inflammation, and blood‐brain barrier leak. Once released from the lung, SOD3 was predominantly not cell associated and depleted in the venous phase of circulation.

Conclusions

In addition to reducing the local inflammatory response to cerebral ischemia, targeted enrichment of SOD3 within the lung confers distal neuroprotection against ischemia‐reperfusion injury. These data suggest that therapies geared toward enhancing adaptive lung‐neurovascular coupling may improve outcomes following acute stroke and cardiac arrest.
Assessing Change Over Time in Voice Handicap and Voice-Related Perceived Control Using Ecological Momentary Assessment
Authors: Nguyen-Feng Viann N. , Frazier Patricia A. , Stockness Ali , Lunos Scott , Hoedeman Alexis N. , Misono Stephanie
Published: April 2019

Objectives:

Voice handicap has generally been measured at a single timepoint. Little is known about its variability from hour to hour or day to day. Voice handicap has been shown to be negatively related to voice-related perceived control in cross-sectional studies, but the within-person variability in voice-related perceived control is also unknown. We aimed to use ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to (1) assess the feasibility of EMA to examine daily voice handicap and voice-related perceived control in patients with voice disorders, (2) measure within-person variability in daily voice handicap and perceived control, and (3) characterize temporal associations (eg, correlations over time) between daily voice handicap and perceived control.

Methods:

Adults with voice problems were recruited from a large public university medical center in the Midwest. They completed baseline measures, followed by twice-daily assessments, including selected items measuring voice handicap and perceived control, and then repeated the baseline measures at the final timepoint. Feasibility was assessed via completion rates. Within-person variability was measured using standard deviations. Temporal associations were characterized using simulation modeling analysis.

Results:

EMA of voice handicap and perceived control was feasible in this patient population. Momentary voice handicap varied more than perceived control, though both were variable. Multiple patterns of temporal associations between daily voice handicap and perceived control were found.

Conclusions:

These findings identified important variability in (1) measures of voice handicap and perceived control and (2) their associations over time. Future EMA studies in patients with voice disorders are both feasible and warranted.
Aspirations and Corporate Lobbying in the Product Market
Authors: Eun Jihyun , Lee Seung-Hyun
Published: April 2019

Given corporate lobbying’s double-edged nature, previous research has been interested in what motivates firms to engage in lobbying. In this study, we build on previous works to analyze how two types of aspiration, historical aspiration, which represents the level of performance firms aim to achieve given past self-performance, and social aspiration, which represents the level of performance firms aim to achieve given competitors’ achievements, shape corporate lobbying decisions. Our premise is that when a firm’s product market performance is below historical aspirations, then the firm is motivated to engage in lobbying because the benefits of lobbying outweigh the potential costs. However, when a firm’s product market performance is below social aspirations, then decision-makers perceive that the potential challenges of lobbying outweigh the benefits and decide not to engage in lobbying. By examining automotive firms in the U.S. light vehicle market from 1998 to 2013, we find significant empirical support for our general premise. Using Tobit regression analysis, we find that automotive firms present diverging motivations for lobbying depending on whether they attend to historical or social aspirations for sales performance.
Fitting Ordinal Factor Analysis Models With Missing Data: A Comparison Between Pairwise Deletion and Multiple Imputation
Authors: Shi Dexin , Lee Taehun , Fairchild Amanda J. , Maydeu-Olivares Alberto
Published: April 2019

This study compares two missing data procedures in the context of ordinal factor analysis models: pairwise deletion (PD; the default setting in Mplus) and multiple imputation (MI). We examine which procedure demonstrates parameter estimates and model fit indices closer to those of complete data. The performance of PD and MI are compared under a wide range of conditions, including number of response categories, sample size, percent of missingness, and degree of model misfit. Results indicate that both PD and MI yield parameter estimates similar to those from analysis of complete data under conditions where the data are missing completely at random (MCAR). When the data are missing at random (MAR), PD parameter estimates are shown to be severely biased across parameter combinations in the study. When the percentage of missingness is less than 50%, MI yields parameter estimates that are similar to results from complete data. However, the fit indices (i.e., χ2, RMSEA, and WRMR) yield estimates that suggested a worse fit than results observed in complete data. We recommend that applied researchers use MI when fitting ordinal factor models with missing data. We further recommend interpreting model fit based on the TLI and CFI incremental fit indices.