bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Experience of Learning EFT in Spanish‐speaking Countries: A Multi‐National Replication Study
Authors: Sandberg Jonathan G. , Rodríguez‐González Martiño , Pereyra Sergio , Lybbert Ragan , Perez Leo , Willis Kwin
Published: May 2019

This study is a multi‐national follow‐up to the original (Sandberg and Knestel (2011) Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 37, 393–410) article on the process of learning Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT). A total of 102 clinicians from nine Spanish‐speaking countries (Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, and El Salvador) participated in the study. A comparison of results across the two studies revealed more similarities than differences. However, a few notable differences emerged from responses to qualitative questions, namely a heightened sense of appreciation for and resonance with the focus on core emotion in EFT and less frequent reports of difficulty learning and adapting to the model among Spanish‐speaking therapists. These differences were consistent with common cultural values and forms of expression in Latin America and Spain. Results are discussed in terms of training, supervision, and future research as well.
Assessment of impact of a skin cancer education session on cosmetology students' knowledge and preparedness to assess future clients for skin lesions
Authors: Radisic Anna , Hundley Kelsey , Patel Nishit , Nelson Christopher , Mhaskar Rahul
Published: May 2019

Background

Approximately 50% of cutaneous melanomas go undetected by patient self‐inspection, and lesions that go unnoticed are usually located on the scalp, head, and neck. Cosmetologists are able to examine areas difficult to see on self‐inspection.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to design and conduct an educational skin cancer screening presentation for cosmetology students and assess preparedness to discuss skin cancer with future clients.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study conducted and analyzed in 2017 assessed the efficacy of a skin cancer education presentation among cosmetology students. Students completed a pre‐/poststyle quiz aimed at assessing skin cancer knowledge. The difference in pre‐ and postknowledge quiz was analyzed using paired samples t test.

Results

A total of 194 students from seven cosmetology schools participated. Before the presentation, 43.4% felt underprepared to check for unusual lesions on future clients while 17.7% felt some level of preparedness. After, 3% felt underprepared while 51% felt prepared. There was a statistically significant difference in the skin cancer knowledge quiz total score before (M = 7.87, SD = 1.493) and after (M = 9.23, SD = 1.037) the educational presentation (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

This study shows most cosmetology students in the Tampa Bay area appear to be interested in learning more about skin cancer and agree that curricula should include skin cancer topics. Results of this study were limited to the Tampa Bay area and may not represent national trends. However, skin cancer presentation and screening‐related content could be included in cosmetology curricula to help better prepare cosmetologists to screen for suspicious skin lesions.
The mouths of others: The linguistic performance of race in Bermuda
Authors: Hall Rosemary
Published: May 2019

This paper examines the behaviour of one linguistic feature among one black and one white group of Bermudian men over the age of 50. The acoustic analysis of the mouth vowel, one of the most heavily stereotyped sounds of Bermudian English, is used as a window onto linguistic parody observed in the white group, a community of practice known locally for theatrical dialect performance. In combination with contextual analysis, and in light of social conditions in Bermuda, phonetic findings suggest that this linguistic practice is not only a performance of “Bermudian‐ness,” but also a performance of a racialized stereotype which reflects and reinforces the raciolinguistic hierarchies of contemporary Bermudian society. The paper introduces this under‐researched and unusual sociolinguistic setting to the literature on racialized mock language, as well as attesting further to the usefulness of methods that examine highly self‐conscious speech.
The Concept of Quality of Life as Framework for Implementing the UNCRPD
Authors: Lombardi Marco , Vandenbussche Hanne , Claes Claudia , Schalock Robert L. , De Maeyer Jessica , Vandevelde Stijn
Published: May 2019

Societal views on the rights of persons with disabilities have changed over the last few decades. Evolutions are reflected in international conventions, as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) developed to guide policies and practices. However, knowledge about the implementation of the Convention remains limited. In addition, another important construct, quality of life (QOL), has gained increasing prominence in the field of disability. This construct has evolved from a sensitizing notion to a measurable construct that provides a framework to assist organization and systems transformation. The present research focused on the implementation of the UNCRPD articles to assist organizations and systems in the support provision practice. The study is a preliminary step toward implementation, looking for consensus on cross‐culturally referenced indicators of QOL outcomes. The methodology chosen to find cross‐cultural consensus was an international modified Delphi study to determine the relation and alignment among UN Convention articles, QOL domains, and measurable indicators. A total of 153 experts (self‐advocates, professionals, family members, academics, and experts in law) from 11 countries evaluated the indicators. The Delphi study resulted in finding at least one indicator per convention article/QOL domain pairing. Thus, an international pool of cross‐cultural indicators was identified to assist the implementation of the Convention articles. The study provides a first exploration of using the QOL framework to implement the UNCRPD. Although international indicators have been found per convention article/QOL pairing, challenges exist in regard to the further translation process into practice between policy and research, and vice versa. Efforts should continue to determine not only the relations among convention articles and measurable indicators, but also associated strategies for realizing the aim of the Convention in local policies and practices.
Niche‐based processes outperform neutral processes when predicting distance decay in co‐dominance along the Amazon – Andes rainforest gradient
Authors: Trujillo Ledy N. , Granzow‐de la Cerda Íñigo , Pardo Iker , Macía Manuel J. , Cala Victoria , Arellano Gabriel
Published: May 2019

Question

Dispersal limitation (neutral hypothesis) and deterministic factors (niche hypothesis) shape floristic gradients including between‐site patterns of species’ dominance (co‐dominance). Because their relative importance remains poorly known, we ask how their comparative contribution to co‐dominance changes with elevation and geographical extent.

Location

Madidi region, NW Bolivia.

Methods

We analysed floristic composition and environmental factors of 90 plots spanning the gradient from Amazonian (<1,000 m) to montane forests at three elevations (1,200–1,500; 2,000–2,300; and 2,800–3,200 m) and two geographical extents: local (plots <12 km apart) and regional (38–120 km apart). We modelled distance decay within each elevational band with a neutral model, using two parameters (speciation rate and dispersal distance). Subsequently, we related the model's residuals to environmental differences using flexible machine learning models.

Results

We found that 5–44% of the variability in floristic differences along the gradient studied can be explained by a neutral model of distance decay, while 18–50% can be explained by environmental differences. Montane forests showed an overall gradient in floristic composition that is congruent with an increase in elevation for both dispersal limitation and environmental filtering. However, Amazonian forest was more niche‐structured and more dispersal‐limited relative to its elevation and topography.

Conclusions

Environmental differences explained floristic differences better than the neutral model, even giving preferential attribution to the more parsimonious neutral processes.
Creativity and Conventionality in Heritage Speaker Bilingualism
Authors: Zyzik Eve
Published: May 2019

This article examines the performance of heritage speakers on a bimodal acceptability judgment task that targeted morphologically complex words. A major goal of the study was to compare participants’ acceptance of conventional and creative words. Data were collected from 57 adult heritage speakers of Spanish who were subsequently divided into two groups based on language dominance; 18 monolingual native speakers served as a control group. The data were analyzed with a mixed‐effects logistic regression model, which showed that item type (conventional vs. creative) had a very strong effect on participants’ performance. In addition, there were differences between Spanish‐dominant and English‐dominant heritage speakers, but only on the creative items. The results are discussed in relation to the Principle of Contrast (Clark, 1987) proposed for first language acquisition and the role of analogy in making acceptability judgments.
Attrition and Reactivation of a Childhood Language: The Case of Returnee Heritage Speakers
Authors: Flores Cristina
Published: May 2019

This article discusses the dynamic nature of childhood bilingualism by analyzing oral speech from returnee heritage speakers (HSs) of Portuguese, who grew up in Germany, but moved to Portugal in childhood/adolescence. The first dataset from 14 speakers showed that the length of exposure to German predicted the rate of (in)accurate production of nominal inflection, indicating that the speakers’ morphological knowledge had not been sufficiently stabilized due to the return. The second dataset is from one returnee HS who was reimmersed in the German environment after a 4‐year stay in Portugal. The comparative analysis of the speaker's performance 13 months after moving away from Germany and 11 months after being reexposed to German revealed a significant decrease of inaccurate case, gender, and plural marking, which supports the hypothesis of restabilization of linguistic knowledge. Overall, the findings emphasize the effects of lack of exposure on the development of HSs’ bilingual competence.
Clinicopathological spectrum and recent advances in the treatment of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis
Authors: Koike Haruki , Fukami Yuki , Nishi Ryoji , Kawagashira Yuichi , Iijima Masahiro , Sobue Gen , Katsuno Masahisa
Published: May 2019

Hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis, also known as familial amyloid polyneuropathy, is a disease caused by the systemic deposition of variant transthyretin (TTR). Although this disease was primarily indigenous to endemic foci in Portugal, Japan, and Sweden, its prevalence has increased throughout the world. The clinical phenotypes of ATTRv amyloidosis are diverse, including neuropathy, cardiomyopathy, and oculoleptomeningeal involvement as the predominant features, depending on the mutation type and age of onset. Val30Met, one of the most common TTR mutations, exhibits varying characteristic features in the early‐onset patients from conventional endemic foci and the late‐onset patients from non‐endemic areas. Autonomic dysfunctions and dissociated sensory loss are the characteristic features of the former, whereas motor dysfunctions and loss of all sensory modalities are conspicuous in the latter. Distortion and atrophy of the Schwann cells due to the formation of amyloid fibrils seem to cause predominant small‐fiber loss in the early‐onset patients, while other mechanisms, such as microangiopathy and the toxicity of TTR oligomers, may contribute to nerve fiber loss in the late‐onset patients. In addition to liver transplantation, novel and less invasive disease‐modifying therapies, such as TTR stabilizers, short interfering RNA, and antisense oligonucleotide, have been shown to be effective in ATTRv amyloidosis patients. Given their ability to ameliorate ATTRv amyloidosis, early diagnosis and treatment are required. Physicians should be aware of the diversity in ATTRv amyloidosis because this disease can be misdiagnosed with other diseases such as chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and immunoglobulin light‐chain amyloidosis.
Maclurochloa trangdinhensis (Poaceae: Bambusoideae), a new species from northern Vietnam
Authors: Tran Van Tien , Nguyen Hoang Nghia
Published: May 2019

A clambering bamboo endemic to northern Vietnam is shown to represent a new species, M. trangdinhensis H.N.Nguyen & V.T.Tran (Gramineae: Bambusoideae‐Bambusinae), which is described and illustrated. It is similar to M. tonkinensis in general appearance, but differs by being covered with appressed white hairs, and by auricles lacking or forming a low rim only, smaller leaf blade 20–24 × 2.3–2.5 cm, and smaller glumes 6–7 × 4.0–4.5 mm. A key to all species of the genus is included.
Plant carbon assimilation rates in atmospheric CO2 reconstructions
Authors: Reichgelt Tammo , D'Andrea William J.
Published: May 2019

Fossil plant gas‐exchange‐based CO2 reconstructions use carbon (C) assimilation rates of extant plant species as substitutes for assimilation rates of fossil plants. However, assumptions in model species adoption can lead to systematic error propagation.

We used a dataset of c. 2500 extant species to investigate the role of phylogenetic relatedness and ecology in determining C assimilation, an essential variable in gas‐exchange‐based CO2 models. We evaluated the effect on random and systematic error propagation in atmospheric CO2 caused by adopting different model species.

Phylogenetic relatedness, growth form, and solar exposure are important predictors of C assimilation rate. CO2 reconstructions that apply C assimilation rates from modern species based solely on phylogenetic relatedness to fossil species can result in CO2 estimates that are systematically biased by a factor of > 2.

C assimilation rates used in CO2 reconstructions should be determined by averaging assimilation rates of modern plant species that are (1) in the same family and (2) have a similar habit and habitat as the fossil plant. In addition, systematic bias potential and random error propagation are greatly reduced when CO2 is reconstructed from multiple fossil plant species with different modern relatives at the same site.
Resolution of diagnosis and parental attitudes among parents of adolescent kidney recipients
Authors: Leblond Marie , Achille Marie , Béliveau Marie‐Julie , Clermont Marie‐José , Blydt‐Hansen Tom
Published: May 2019

The diagnosis of a chronic illness is described as an upsetting event that implies an emotional crisis for parents. Some are able to come to terms with their child's chronic condition and feel a sense of resolution, but for others, strong negative emotions persist through time. The present study examines diagnostic resolution among parents of teenagers with a transplant. The design was qualitative and involved individual interviews with nine parents. Five were donor to their child. Data were analyzed according to the principles of IPA. Early reactions to the diagnosis suggest that parents with an unresolved status experienced trauma. Many factors seem to contribute to diagnostic resolution such as good communication between spouses, positive relationship with the medical staff, and being the parent donor. For all parents, concerns over adherence are central to their relationship with their youth. Results call attention to the support needs of all parents and particularly those with an unresolved status.
Governing the Governors: The Global Metagovernance of Fair Trade and Sustainable Forestry Production
Authors: Murphy‐Gregory Hannah , Gale Fred
Published: May 2019

To promote environmentally sustainable corporate behavior, a complex system of global private governance operates where civil society groups play dominant roles. We argue that the concept of “metagovernance” developed in the public administration literature helps scholars and practitioners make sense of the constellation of actors, structures, and processes that have emerged in the field of global private governance. This article advances the metagovernance research agenda by providing a comparative application of the concept to two global private governance schemes: the fair trade and sustainable forest product certification systems. We examine the key organizations, arrangements, and relationships that constitute these systems to demonstrate that metagovernance in this sphere is produced heterarchically: multiple organizations within global private governance schemes are mutually responsible for their own coordination. We argue that employing metagovernance as an analytical tool enables the identification and appraisal of the strengths and weaknesses of complex systems for “the governance of governance” from a holistic perspective.

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fsc‐watch.com. 2016. “Jari Certificate Suspension: Why Was it Ever Certified in the First Place?”https://fsc-watch.com/2015/12/22/jari-certificate-suspension-why-was-it-ever-certified-in-the-first-place/
Oyster reef enhancement utilizing gardened oysters in a subtropical estuary
Authors: Anderson Lacie , Sacks Paul , Donnelly Melinda , Barker Virginia , Anderson Samantha , Walters Linda
Published: May 2019

Crassostrea virginica, the eastern oyster, is a native foundational species that inhabits coastal and estuarine ecosystems along the western Atlantic seaboard. Introduction of C. virginica into estuarine areas with limited or no extant populations is gaining popularity as a pro‐active approach for improving estuarine water quality and creating natural wave breaks for shoreline stabilization. Adult oysters, grown by 113 community members under their private docks, were collected and deployed at three county‐owned sites along the Indian River Lagoon within Brevard County, Florida. In this shallow, warm‐water estuary, replicate treatments deployed at each site included bagged adult oysters collected from gardeners in fall 2014, bagged adult oysters from spring 2015 gardeners, bagged blank (clean) shell, and empty plots (control). Prior to deployment, morphometric data (shell length, weight) were collected on all gardened oysters. Morphometric data were then collected quarterly for all surviving and recruited oysters for 18 months. Our monitoring timeframe was sufficient for assessing survival of gardened oysters, but likely not sufficient to understand recruitment patterns. In areas with no recruitment and limited gardened oyster survival, regular enhancement with live oysters would be needed for long‐term success. In areas with natural recruitment, the blank shell treatment was most successful. Lessons learned from this study include: (1) need for better tracking of abiotic variables (e.g. salinity) where gardening occurred, (2) role of seasonality in initial post‐deployment survival, even in a warm‐water estuary, and (3) importance of pilot studies prior to large‐scale gardened oyster deployments.
Maintenance of optimised hair growth from viable terminal scalp hair follicles at baseline with oral finasteride in male pattern hair loss and first evidence of a “drug dependency” and a post‐finasteride “rebound effect”
Authors: Van Neste Dominique
Published: May 2019

Background

Analytical measures for the pharmacodynamics understanding of drug induced scalp hair responses are lacking.

Materials and methods

The present study measured in detail dynamics of hair productivity on two scalp test sites showing male pattern hair loss. The natural regression decay rate established after 2 years without treatment was followed by treatment with daily oral intake of 1 mg finasteride.

Results

While terminal hair (diameter ≥40 μm) were maintained “on‐drug,” within 30 months “off‐drug” MPHL significantly worsened as 94% terminal hair miniaturised and became unproductive. Accordingly, the viable drug responding follicles were qualified as “finasteride dependent” unravelling a hereto unreported “rebound effect” after interruption of the drug intake. Interestingly, the transformation of terminal hair into miniaturised hair occurred only after 12 months without treatment, that is the time necessary to complete a clinically significant full hair cycle initiated during the drug intake. This explains why exogen hair release and miniaturisation occurred only between 12 and 30 months “off‐drug” while resistant hair grew also slower.

Conclusion

Drug dependency and rebound phenomenon are new findings along with evidence against the hypothesis claiming that terminal hair growth arises from initial vellus hair follicles in drug‐treated MPHL.
Isn't a Flood a “Rainy Day?” Does the Political Nature of Disasters Impact the Use of States’ Rainy Day Funds?
Authors: Pope JoEllen V. , Leland Suzanne M.
Published: May 2019

Objectives

To determine if state governments utilize rainy day funds (RDFs) for political purposes in the aftermath of disasters rather than their intended purpose of combating state cyclical economic downturns.

Methods

This research draws from multiple state‐level data sources to construct a panel data set from 1992 to 2010.

Results

Disaster damage, relief funds, and politics all influence the usage of states’ RDFs. We also find that the RDF balance is lower when disaster damages increase, when it is an election year, and the same party holds party control of the governor and legislature.

Conclusion

The findings of this empirical research are consistent with the literature about the importance state‐level politics plays in the use of state stabilization funds intended for cyclical economic downturns as opposed to providing more politically expedient disaster relief.
Refinement of estimates of mortality risk using the Radiologic Severity Index in hematologic malignancy patients with respiratory syncytial virus infection
Authors: Sheshadri Ajay , Karimipour Mahtab , Vakil Erik , Bashoura Lara , Godoy Myrna , Arain Muhammad H. , Evans Scott E. , Dickey Burton F. , Ost David E. , Chemaly Roy F. , Faiz Saadia A.
Published: May 2019

Background

Immunocompromised hematologic malignancy (HM) patients experience high mortality after respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). We measured radiologic severity to determine whether it could improve the performance of 60‐day mortality models based only upon immunodeficiency severity.

Methods

We studied 155 HM patients, including 84 hematopoietic cell transplant recipients, who developed RSV LRTI from 2001 to 2013. We measured immunodeficiency using lymphopenia (lymphocyte count <200 cells/mm3), Immunodeficiency Severity Index (ISI), and Severe Immunodeficiency (SID) criteria. Radiologic severity was measured by the Radiologic Severity Index (RSI, range 0‐72) at time of LRTI (baseline‐RSI) and peak severity (peak‐RSI). Delta‐RSI was defined as the difference between baseline‐RSI and peak‐RSI. We used logistic regression models to measure the association of immunodeficiency and RSI with 60‐day all‐cause mortality, and measured model discrimination using areas under the receiver‐operating characteristics curves, calibration using Brier scores, and explained variance using pseudo‐R2 values.

Results

Forty‐one patients died within 60 days of RSV LRTI. Severe immunodeficiency was associated with higher mortality. Peak‐RSI (odds ratio [OR] 1.06/point, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04‐1.08), and delta‐RSI (OR 1.07/point, 95% CI 1.05‐1.10) were associated with 60‐day mortality after RSV LRTI, but not baseline‐RSI. Addition of peak‐RSI or delta‐RSI to baseline immunodeficiency improved the discrimination, calibration, and explained variance (P < 0.001) of 60‐day mortality models.

Conclusions

Although baseline immunodeficiency in HM patients helps predict 60‐day mortality after RSV LRTI, mortality risk estimates can be further refined by also measuring LRTI progression using RSI. RSI is well‐suited as a marker of LRTI severity in RSV infection.
Motility-Independent Formation of Antibiotic-Tolerant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Aggregates
Authors: Demirdjian Sally , Sanchez Hector , Hopkins Daniel , Berwin Brent
Published: May 2019

In this work, we have investigated the role of bacterial motility with regard to antibiotic-tolerant bacterial aggregate formation. Previous work has convincingly demonstrated that
P. aeruginosa
flagellar motility promotes the formation of surface-adhered biofilms in many systems. In contrast, aggregate formation by
P. aeruginosa
was observed for nonmotile but not for motile cells in the presence of an exogenous scaffold. Here, we demonstrate that both wild-type
P. aeruginosa
and mutants that genetically lack motility spontaneously form antibiotic-tolerant aggregates in the absence of an exogenously added scaffold. Additionally, we also demonstrate that wild-type (WT) and nonmotile
P. aeruginosa
bacteria can coaggregate, shedding light on potential physiological interactions and heterogeneity of aggregates.
Intravital Imaging Reveals Divergent Cytokine and Cellular Immune Responses to Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis
Authors: Archambault Linda S. , Trzilova Dominika , Gonia Sara , Gale Cheryl , Wheeler Robert T.
Published: May 2019

In modern medicine, physicians are frequently forced to balance immune suppression against immune stimulation to treat patients such as those undergoing transplants and chemotherapy. More-targeted therapies designed to preserve immunity and prevent opportunistic fungal infection in these patients could be informed by an understanding of how fungi interact with professional and nonprofessional immune cells in mucosal candidiasis. In this study, we intravitally imaged these host-pathogen dynamics duringCandidainfection in a transparent vertebrate model host, the zebrafish. Single-cell imaging revealed an unexpected partitioning of the inflammatory response between phagocytes and epithelial cells. Surprisingly, we found thatin vivocytokine profiles more closely matchin vitroresponses of epithelial cells rather than phagocytes. Furthermore, we identified a disconnect between canonical inflammatory cytokine production and phagocyte recruitment to the site of infection, implicating noncytokine chemoattractants. Our study contributes to a new appreciation for the specialization and cross talk among cell types during mucosal infection.
Iron Corrosion via Direct Metal-Microbe Electron Transfer
Authors: Tang Hai-Yan , Holmes Dawn E. , Ueki Toshiyuki , Palacios Paola A. , Lovley Derek R.
Published: May 2019

The anaerobic corrosion of iron structures is expensive to repair and can be a safety and environmental concern. It has been known for over 100 years that the presence of anaerobic respiratory microorganisms can accelerate iron corrosion. Multiple studies have suggested that there are sulfate reducers, methanogens, and acetogens that can directly accept electrons from Fe(0) to support sulfate or carbon dioxide reduction. However, all of the strains studied can also use H
2
as an electron donor for growth, which is known to be abiotically produced from Fe(0). Furthermore, no proteins definitely shown to function as extracellular electrical contacts with Fe(0) were identified. The studies described here demonstrate that direct electron transfer from Fe(0) can support anaerobic respiration. They also map out a simple genetic approach to the study of iron corrosion mechanisms in other microorganisms. A better understanding of how microorganisms promote iron corrosion is expected to lead to the development of strategies that can help reduce adverse impacts from this process.
Langerhans Cells Sense
Staphylococcus aureus
Wall Teichoic Acid through Langerin To Induce Inflammatory Responses
Authors: van Dalen Rob , De La Cruz Diaz Jacinto S. , Rumpret Matevž , Fuchsberger Felix F. , van Teijlingen Nienke H. , Hanske Jonas , Rademacher Christoph , Geijtenbeek Teunis B. H. , van Strijp Jos A. G. , Weidenmaier Christopher , Peschel Andreas , Kaplan Daniel H. , van Sorge Nina M.
Published: May 2019

The bacterium
Staphylococcus aureus
is an important cause of skin infections and is also associated with the occurrence and severity of eczema. Langerhans cells (LCs), a specific subset of skin immune cells, participate in the immune response to
S. aureus
, but it is yet unclear how LCs recognize
S. aureus
. Therefore, we investigated the molecular mechanism underlying the interaction between LCs and
S. aureus
. We identified that wall teichoic acid, an abundant polymer on the
S. aureus
surface, is recognized by langerin, a receptor unique to LCs. This interaction allows LCs to discriminate
S. aureus
from other related staphylococcal species and initiates a proinflammatory response similar to that observed in patients with eczema. Our data therefore provide important new insights into the relationship between
S. aureus
, LCs, and eczema.
Comparative Loss-of-Function Screens Reveal ABCE1 as an Essential Cellular Host Factor for Efficient Translation of
Paramyxoviridae
and
Pneumoviridae
Authors: Anderson Danielle E. , Pfeffermann Kristin , Kim So Young , Sawatsky Bevan , Pearson James , Kovtun Mikhail , Corcoran David L. , Krebs Yvonne , Sigmundsson Kristmundur , Jamison Sharon F. , Yeo Zhen Zhen Joanna , Rennick Linda J. , Wang Lin-Fa , Talbot Pierre J. , Duprex W. Paul , Garcia-Blanco Mariano A. , von Messling Veronika
Published: May 2019

The
Paramyxoviridae
and
Pneumoviridae
families include important human and animal pathogens. To identify common host factors, we performed genome-scale siRNA screens with wild-type-derived measles, mumps, and respiratory syncytial viruses in the same cell line. A comparative bioinformatics analysis yielded different members of the coatomer complex I, translation factors ABCE1 and eIF3A, and several RNA binding proteins as cellular proteins with proviral activity for all three viruses. A more detailed characterization of ABCE1 revealed its essential role for viral protein synthesis. Taken together, these data sets provide new insight into the interactions between paramyxoviruses and pneumoviruses and host cell proteins and constitute a starting point for the development of broadly effective antivirals.
In Situ
Molecular Architecture of the Helicobacter pylori Cag Type IV Secretion System
Authors: Hu Bo , Khara Pratick , Song Liqiang , Lin Aung Soe , Frick-Cheng Arwen E. , Harvey M. Lorena , Cover Timothy L. , Christie Peter J.
Published: May 2019

Bacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) have been phylogenetically grouped into two subfamilies. The T4ASSs, represented by the
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
VirB/VirD4
T4SS
, include “minimized” machines assembled from 12 VirB- and VirD4-like subunits and compositionally larger systems such as the
Helicobacter pylori
Cag
T4SS
. T4BSSs encompass systems closely related in subunit composition to the
Legionella pneumophila
Dot/Icm
T4SS
. Here, we present structures of native and mutant
H. pylori
Cag machines determined by
in situ
cryoelectron tomography. We identify distinct outer and inner membrane complexes and, for the first time, visualize structural contributions of all three “signature” ATPases of T4SSs at the cytoplasmic entrance of the translocation channel. Despite their evolutionary divergence, the Cag
T4SS
aligns structurally much more closely to the Dot/Icm
T4SS
than an available VirB/VirD4 subcomplex. Our findings highlight the diversity of T4SSs and suggest a structural classification scheme in which T4SSs are grouped as minimized VirB/VirD4-like or larger Cag-like and Dot/Icm-like systems.
Inconsistent outcome reporting in large neonatal trials: a systematic review
Authors: Webbe James William Harrison , Ali Shohaib , Sakonidou Susanna , Webbe Thomas , Duffy James M N , Brunton Ginny , Modi Neena , Gale Chris
Published: May 2019

Objective

Inconsistent outcome selection and reporting in clinical trials are important sources of research waste; it is not known how common this problem is in neonatal trials. Our objective was to determine whether large clinical trials involving infants receiving neonatal care report a consistent set of outcomes, how composite outcomes are used and whether parents or former patients were involved in outcome selection.

Design

A literature search of CENTRAL, CINAHL, EMBASE and MEDLINE was conducted; randomised trials published between 1 July 2012 and 1 July 2017 and involving at least 100 infants in each arm were included. Outcomes and outcome measures were extracted and categorised by physiological system; reported former patient and parent involvement in outcome selection was extracted.

Results

Seventy-six trials involving 43 126 infants were identified; 216 different outcomes with 889 different outcome measures were reported. Outcome reporting covered all physiological systems but was variable between individual trials: only 67/76 (88%) of trials reported survival and 639 outcome measures were only reported in a single trial. Thirty-three composite outcomes were used in 41 trials. No trials reported former patient or parent involvement in outcome selection.

Conclusions

Inconsistent outcome reporting and a lack of parent and former patient involvement in outcome selection in neonatal clinical trials limits the ability of such trials to answer clinically meaningful questions. Developing and implementing a core outcome set for future neonatal trials, with input from all stakeholders, should address these issues.
Cervus and cucumis peptides ameliorates bone erosion in experimental arthritis by inhibiting osteoclastogenesis
Authors: Lin Ze-Min , Liu Yu-Ting , Xu Yan-Sheng , Yang Xiao-Qian , Zhu Feng-Hua , Tang Wei , He Shi-Jun , Zuo Jian-Ping
Published: May 2019

Objective

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease characterised by inflammation and bone loss, leading to joint destruction and deformity. The cervus and cucumis polypeptide (CCP) injection, one of the traditional Chinese medicine injections combined extracts from deer horn and sweet melon seeds, is widely used to treat arthritis and bone fracture in China. The present study investigated the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of CCP on pathological immune cells and bone homoeostasis in rodent experimental arthritis.

Methods

The effects of CCP (4 mg/kg and 2 mg/kg) on clinical arthritis symptoms, bone erosion, proinflammatory cytokines and pathological immune cells induced by complete Freund’s adjuvant was evaluated in male Sprague-Dawley rats. The impacts of CCP (2 mg/kg) on joint erythema and swelling, production of pathogenic antibodies and the proportion of inflammatory cells were assessed in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in DBA/1J mice. Regulation of osteoclastogenesis by CCP was observed in the murine macrophage-like RAW264.7 cells treated with receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF).

Results

CCP administration significantly prevented disease progression in both adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats and CIA mice. The therapeutic benefits were accompanied by reduction of paw oedema, reversed bone destruction, decreased pathological changes and osteoclast numbers in joints in AIA rats, as well as attenuated clinical manifestation and autoantibodies production in CIA mice. Meanwhile, in vitro supplemented of CCP concentration dependently inhibited RANKL/M-CSF-induced osteoclast differentiation, without showing cytotoxicity in RAW264.7 cells. Further, the presence of CCP dampened the augmented downstream signalling transduction as well as activation of osteoclast-specific genes and transcription factors induced by RANKL/M-CSF in RAW264.7 cells.

Conclusion

Our study suggested that the therapeutic effects of CCP in experimental arthritis could be attributed to its intervention on RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis signalling pathway in osteoclast precursor cells.
Diagnosis and management of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Jennison Erica , Patel Janisha , Scorletti Eleonora , Byrne Christopher D
Published: May 2019

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in Western industrialised countries. The prevalence of NAFLD is increasing in parallel with the global rise in obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. NAFLD represents a spectrum of liver disease severity. NAFLD begins with accumulation of triacylglycerols in the liver (steatosis), and is defined by hepatic fatty infiltration amounting to greater than 5% by liver weight or the presence of over 5% of hepatocytes loaded with large fat vacuoles. In almost a quarter of affected individuals, steatosis progresses with the development of liver inflammation to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). NASH is a potentially progressive liver condition and with ongoing liver injury and cell death can result in fibrosis. Progressive liver fibrosis may lead to the development of cirrhosis in a small proportion of patients. With the growing prevalence of NAFLD, there is an increasing need for a robust, accurate and non-invasive approach to diagnosing the different stages of this condition. This review will focus on (1) the biochemical tests and imaging techniques used to diagnose the different stages of NAFLD; and (2) a selection of the current management approaches focusing on lifestyle interventions and pharmacological therapies for NAFLD.
How do embryonic turtles process yolk? Evidence from the Snapping Turtle,Chelydra serpentina(Chelydridae)
Authors: Blackburn Daniel G. , Lestz Luisa , Barnes Madeline S. , Powers Kathryn G.
Published: May 2019

Compared with amphibians, oviparous reptiles and birds lay large eggs that contain abundant yolk. Because the yolk is extracellular, it must be taken up by cells of the yolk sac and metabolized so that products of yolk digestion can be transported to the embryo to fuel development. In birds, the yolk is processed by cells that line the inside of the yolk sac. A very different developmental pattern recently has been demonstrated in lizards and snakes in which the yolk sac cavity is converted to a compact mass of blood vessels lined by endodermal cells. In this study, we used scanning electron microscopy to determine which of these developmental patterns (if either) occurs in a representative chelonian, the North American Snapping Turtle (Chelydra serpentina (Linnaeus, 1758)). Our observations reveal that yolk-filled endodermal cells progressively fill the yolk sac cavity. These cells become organized around anastomosing blood vessels, forming elongated strands that are morphologically well suited for yolk digestion and vascular transport of nutrients. This developmental pattern shares features with that of squamates, but it differs markedly from that of birds. These observations indicate that mechanisms of yolk processing in lizards and snakes have an evolutionary history that pre-dates the squamate clade.
Unit groups of the finite group algebras of generalized quaternion groups
Authors: Sahai Meena , Ansari Sheere Farhat
Published: May 2019

In this paper, we obtain the structure of the unit groups [Formula: see text] of the finite group algebras of the generalized quaternion groups [Formula: see text], over a finite field [Formula: see text] of characteristic [Formula: see text].
Effects of Chlorine Addition to TiO2Nanorods-Based Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Zhao Dong , Wang Rendong , Wang Pengfei , Li Shutao , Li Zhao , Sun Meiling , Liu Yunyan , Xiu Junshan
Published: May 2019

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanorods (NR) structure and Chlorine substitution is beneficial to the extraction and diffusion of electrons in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). In this work, different concentrations of PbCl2in perovskite are integrated with TiO2(NR) to fabricate PSCs. The total thickness of perovskite absorber layer and electron transport layer (ETL) is about 850[Formula: see text]nm, and the PSCs exhibit excellent performance. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) test reveal that moderate PbCl2additive improves the perovskite film morphology and crystal quality of perovskite films. Optimal perovskite films with high crystallinity and uniform surface were prepared by adding 3[Formula: see text]mol% PbCl2into perovskite precursor solution, the crystal boundary and defect states are greatly reduced, thus reducing the electrons and holes recombination. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) enhancement of the device with this optimal molar ratio of PbCl2is over 24% compared with the device without PbCl2.
Experiments on Cognition, Communication, Coordination, and Cooperation in Relationships
Authors: Crawford Vincent P.
Published: May 2019

This review discusses selected work in experimental game theory. My goals are to further the dialogue between theorists and empiricists that has driven progress in economics and game theory and to guide future experimental work. I focus on experiments whose lessons are relevant to establishing and maintaining coordination and cooperation in human relationships, the role of communication in doing so, and the underlying cognition. These are questions of central importance, where both the gap between theory and experience and the role of experiments in closing it seem large. Humans appear to be unique in their ability to use language to manipulate and communicate mental models of the world and of other people, vital skills in relationships. Continuing the dialogue between theorists and empiricists should help to explain why it matters for cooperation that we can communicate, and why and how it matters whether we communicate via natural language or abstract signals.
Bayesian Persuasion and Information Design
Authors: Kamenica Emir
Published: May 2019

A school may improve its students’ job outcomes if it issues only coarse grades. Google can reduce congestion on roads by giving drivers noisy information about the state of traffic. A social planner might raise everyone's welfare by providing only partial information about solvency of banks. All of this can happen even when everyone is fully rational and understands the data-generating process. Each of these examples raises questions of what is the (socially or privately) optimal information that should be revealed. In this article, I review the literature that answers such questions.
Using Randomized Controlled Trials to Estimate Long-Run Impacts in Development Economics
Authors: Bouguen Adrien , Huang Yue , Kremer Michael , Miguel Edward
Published: May 2019

We assess evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on long-run economic productivity and living standards in poor countries. We first document that several studies estimate large positive long-run impacts, but that relatively few existing RCTs have been evaluated over the long run. We next present evidence from a systematic survey of existing RCTs, with a focus on cash transfer and child health programs, and show that a meaningful subset can realistically be evaluated for long-run effects. We discuss ways to bridge the gap between the burgeoning number of development RCTs and the limited number that have been followed up to date, including through new panel (longitudinal) data; improved participant tracking methods; alternative research designs; and access to administrative, remote sensing, and cell phone data. We conclude that the rise of development economics RCTs since roughly 2000 provides a novel opportunity to generate high-quality evidence on the long-run drivers of living standards.
Echo Chambers and Their Effects on Economic and Political Outcomes
Authors: Levy Gilat , Razin Ronny
Published: May 2019

In this review, we survey the economics literature on echo chambers. We identify echo chambers as arising from a combination of two phenomena: ( a) the choice of individuals to segregate with like-minded ones, i.e., the creation of chambers, and ( b) behavioral biases that induce polarization when individuals exchange beliefs in these chambers, i.e., the echo. We summarize the literatures on these two phenomena and suggest how to combine the two literatures to gain insights about the effects of echo chambers on economic and political outcomes. We end by suggesting pathways for future research and discussing policy interventions to alleviate echo chambers.
Lessons from a Life in Time and Space
Authors: Burdon Jeremy J.
Published: May 2019

A research career investigating epidemiological and evolutionary patterns in both natural and crop host–pathogen systems emphasizes the need for flexibility in thinking and a willingness to adopt ideas from a wide diversity of subdisciplines. Here, I reflect on the pivotal issues, research areas, and interactions, including the role of science management, that shaped my career in the hope of demonstrating that career paths and collaborations in science can be as diverse and unpredictable as the natural world in which we study our organisms of choice.
Revisiting the Concept of Host Range of Plant Pathogens
Authors: Morris Cindy E. , Moury Benoît
Published: May 2019

Strategies to manage plant disease—from use of resistant varieties to crop rotation, elimination of reservoirs, landscape planning, surveillance, quarantine, risk modeling, and anticipation of disease emergences—all rely on knowledge of pathogen host range. However, awareness of the multitude of factors that influence the outcome of plant–microorganism interactions, the spatial and temporal dynamics of these factors, and the diversity of any given pathogen makes it increasingly challenging to define simple, all-purpose rules to circumscribe the host range of a pathogen. For bacteria, fungi, oomycetes, and viruses, we illustrate that host range is often an overlapping continuum—more so than the separation of discrete pathotypes—and that host jumps are common. By setting the mechanisms of plant–pathogen interactions into the scales of contemporary land use and Earth history, we propose a framework to assess the frontiers of host range for practical applications and research on pathogen evolution.
Examining Public Opinion About LGBTQ-Related Issues in the United States and Across Multiple Nations
Authors: Adamczyk Amy , Liao Yen-Chiao
Published: May 2019

Over the last three decades, many countries across the world, including the United States, have experienced major increases in support for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) individuals and related issues. In partial relation to these changes, multiple studies have examined the factors shaping public opinion. In this review, we focus on four major areas of research on public opinion in this field of study. First, we assess the terms that scholars typically use when examining attitudes and highlight the areas of public opinion research that have received the most attention. Second, we focus on the data and measurement challenges related to examining attitudes in the United States and across many nations. Third, we consider how and why attitudes and related laws have changed over time and across nations. Finally, we discuss the major micro and macro empirical forces that influence and the theoretical explanations for why there are such differences in attitudes. We end by offering several suggestions for future research.