bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gene expression signatures, pathways and networks in carotid atherosclerosis
Authors: Perisic L. , Aldi S. , Sun Y. , Folkersen L. , Razuvaev A. , Roy J. , Lengquist M. , Åkesson S. , Wheelock C. E. , Maegdefessel L. , Gabrielsen A. , Odeberg J. , Hansson G. K. , Paulsson‐Berne G. , Hedin U.
Published: December 2015

Background

Embolism from unstable atheromas in the carotid bifurcation is a major cause of stroke. Here, we analysed gene expression in endarterectomies from patients with symptomatic (S) and asymptomatic (AS) carotid stenosis to identify pathways linked to plaque instability.

Methods

Microarrays were prepared from plaques (n = 127) and peripheral blood samples (n = 96) of S and AS patients. Gene set enrichment, pathway mapping and network analyses of differentially expressed genes were performed.

Results

These studies revealed upregulation of haemoglobin metabolism (P = 2.20E‐05) and bone resorption (P = 9.63E‐04) in S patients. Analysis of subgroups of patients indicated enrichment of calcification and osteoblast differentiation in S patients on statins, as well as inflammation and apoptosis in plaques removed >1 month compared to <2 weeks after symptom. By prediction profiling, a panel of 30 genes, mostly transcription factors, discriminated between plaques from S versus AS patients with 78% accuracy. By meta‐analysis, common gene networks associated with atherosclerosis mapped to hypoxia, chemokines, calcification, actin cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix. A set of dysregulated genes (LMOD1, SYNPO2, PLIN2 and PPBP) previously not described in atherosclerosis were identified from microarrays and validated by quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry.

Conclusions

Our findings confirmed a central role for inflammation and proteases in plaque instability, and highlighted haemoglobin metabolism and bone resorption as important pathways. Subgroup analysis suggested prolonged inflammation following the symptoms of plaque instability and calcification as a possible stabilizing mechanism by statins. In addition, transcriptional regulation may play an important role in the determination of plaque phenotype. The results from this study will serve as a basis for further exploration of molecular signatures in carotid atherosclerosis.
Rural Bypass for Elective Surgeries
Authors: Weigel Paula A.M. , Ullrich Fred , Finegan Chance N. , Ward Marcia M.
Published: December 2015

Purpose

Rural bypass of Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for elective inpatient and outpatient surgical procedures has not been studied. Residents choosing to have their elective surgeries elsewhere, when the local CAH provides those surgical services, erode their rural hospital's financial base. The purpose of this research is to describe the elective surgical bypass rate, the procedures most commonly bypassed by rural residents, the distribution of volume among CAHs that offer elective surgical services, and factors predictive of bypass.

Methods

A sample of elective surgery discharges was created from the 2011 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases and State Ambulatory Surgery Databases for Colorado, North Carolina, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Frequencies of procedures bypassed and CAH volume distribution were performed. Logistic regression was used to model factors associated with rural bypass for elective surgical care.

Findings

The rural bypass rate for elective surgical procedures is 48.4%. Procedures bypassed most are operations on the musculoskeletal system, eye, and digestive system. Annual volume distribution for elective surgical procedures among CAHs varied widely. Patients who are younger, medically complex, at higher surgical risk, and have private insurance are at higher odds of bypass. Patients are also more likely to bypass low‐volume hospitals.

Conclusion

Rural hospitals should consider developing surgical services that are performed electively and on an outpatient basis that are attractive to a broader rural population. CAHs that already offer elective surgical procedures and yet who are still bypassed must examine the mutable factors that drive bypass behavior.
Disparity of basal and therapeutically activated interferon signalling in constraining hepatitis E virus infection
Authors: Zhou X. , Xu L. , Wang W. , Watashi K. , Wang Y. , Sprengers D. , de Ruiter P. E. , van der Laan L. J. W. , Metselaar H. J. , Kamar N. , Peppelenbosch M. P. , Pan Q.
Published: December 2015

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) represents one of the foremost causes of acute hepatitis globally. Although there is no proven medication for hepatitis E, pegylated interferon‐α (IFN‐α) has been used as off‐label drug for treating HEV. However, the efficacy and molecular mechanisms of how IFN signalling interacts with HEV remain undefined. As IFN‐α has been approved for treating chronic hepatitis C (HCV) for decades and the role of interferon signalling has been well studied in HCV infection, this study aimed to comprehensively investigate virus–host interactions in HEV infection with focusing on the IFN signalling, in comparison with HCV infection. A comprehensive screen of human cytokines and chemokines revealed that IFN‐α was the sole humoral factor inhibiting HEV replication. IFN‐α treatment exerted a rapid and potent antiviral activity against HCV, whereas it had moderate and delayed anti‐HEV effects in vitro and in patients. Surprisingly, blocking the basal IFN pathway by inhibiting JAK1 to phosphorylate STAT1 has resulted in drastic facilitation of HEV, but not HCV infection. Gene silencing of the key components of JAK‐STAT cascade of the IFN signalling, including JAK1, STAT1 and interferon regulatory factor 9 (IRF9), stimulated HEV infection. In conclusion, compared to HCV, HEV is less sensitive to IFN treatment. In contrast, the basal IFN cascade could effectively restrict HEV infection. This bears significant implications in management of HEV patients and future therapeutic development.
Seasonal variation of flight initiation distance in Eurasian red squirrels in urban versus rural habitat
Authors: Uchida K. , Suzuki K. , Shimamoto T. , Yanagawa H. , Koizumi I.
Published: December 2015

Urbanization has caused significant behavioural modifications in wild animals. Change in anti‐predator behaviour is the most widespread example across different taxa in urban areas, which is probably due to a decrease in predation pressure and habituation towards humans. Seasonality or phenology has also been modified by urbanization since some resources in urban environments are highly controlled, for example, artificial feeding. Under natural conditions, anti‐predator responses vary with seasonal variability in environmental and individual conditions. However, resource stability possibly reduces the seasonality of anti‐predator behaviours in urban animals. Here, we compare the seasonal difference of flight initiation distance (FID), a measurement of anti‐predator response, in Eurasian red squirrels Sciurus vulgaris between urban and rural areas in the Tokachi region, Hokkaido, Japan. Rural squirrels possessed FIDs two to three times longer than those of urban squirrels. We also found squirrels in rural areas lowered FID in autumn, but no seasonal difference was observed in urban squirrels. Our results suggest that continuous supplementary feeding may have buffered the seasonality in anti‐predator response. In addition, strong habituation to humans may allow urban red squirrels to correctly assess human activity as benign rather than reacting unnecessarily.
Home Literacy Environments and Foundational Literacy Skills for Struggling and Nonstruggling Readers in Rural Early Elementary Schools
Authors: Tichnor‐Wagner Ariel , Garwood Justin D. , Bratsch‐Hines Mary , Vernon‐Feagans Lynne
Published: December 2015

Factors such as weak early literacy skills and living in poverty may put young students at risk for reading disabilities. While home literacy activities and access to literacy materials have been associated with positive reading outcomes for urban and suburban students, little is known about home literacy environments of rural early elementary school students living in poverty and their relationship to foundational reading skills for struggling and nonstruggling readers. This study examined how home literacy environments might relate to rural kindergarten and first grade students’ reading performance. Parents of 1,108 kindergarten and first grade students in the rural Southeast completed questionnaires on the frequency of home literacy activities and access to literacy materials. Multilevel model analyses revealed that home literacy activities and access to literacy materials were positively related to basic word reading skills, passage comprehension, and spelling. Implications for families and educators are discussed.
What is Reduplication? Typology and Analysis Part 1/2: The Typology of Reduplication
Authors: Inkelas Sharon , Downing Laura J.
Published: December 2015

Reduplication has played a central role in the development of phonological theories for 30 years. The introduction of Classical Optimality Theory (OT) in the 1990s sparked intensive research into the typology and analysis of reduplicative patterns, as reduplication was a key testing area both for OT and for theories critical of OT. Now, after some 20 years of research within the OT model, it is appropriate to assess the leading ideas on reduplication that have come out of this period of concentrated research. This pair of articles serves this purpose. The first article presents a typological survey of the function and form of reduplication, covering classic forms of reduplication as well as less well‐studied forms, such as phrasal reduplication, morphologically‐complex reduplicants, and reduplication without phonological identity. The second article surveys recent formal approaches, such as Base‐Reduplicant Correspondence and Morphological Doubling, covering debates such as the morphological status of the reduplicant, exfixation, semantically empty, a‐templatic, and compensatory reduplication.
Status of the world's baleen whales
Authors: Thomas Peter O. , Reeves Randall R. , Brownell Robert L.
Published: December 2015

No global synthesis of the status of baleen whales has been published since the 2008 IUCN Red List assessments. Many populations remain at low numbers from historical commercial whaling, which had ceased for all but a few by 1989. Fishing gear entanglement and ship strikes are the most severe current threats. The acute and long‐term effects of anthropogenic noise and the cumulative effects of multiple stressors are of concern but poorly understood. The looming consequences of climate change and ocean acidification remain difficult to characterize. North Atlantic and North Pacific right whales are among the species listed as Endangered. Southern right, bowhead, and gray whales have been assessed as Least Concern but some subpopulations of these species ‐ western North Pacific gray whales, Chile‐Peru right whales, and Svalbard/Barents Sea and Sea of Okhotsk bowhead whales ‐ remain at low levels and are either Endangered or Critically Endangered. Eastern North Pacific blue whales have reportedly recovered, but Antarctic blue whales remain at about 1% of pre‐exploitation levels. Small isolated subspecies or subpopulations, such as northern Indian Ocean blue whales, Arabian Sea humpback whales, and Mediterranean Sea fin whales are threatened while most subpopulations of sei, Bryde's, and Omura's whales are inadequately monitored and difficult to assess.
Differential regulation of angiotensin II‐induced extracellular signal regulated kinase‐1/2 and ‐5 in progressive glomerulonephritis
Authors: Nagai Takashi , Urushihara Maki , Kinoshita Yukiko , Jamba Ariunbold , Kondo Shuji , Kagami Shoji
Published: December 2015

Aim

Extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and ERK5 are key kinases of the signalling pathways involved in various cellular responses to kidney injury; however, the mechanistic links between those kinase and renin‐angiotensin system (RAS) activations in glomerulonephritis (GN) have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we sought to clarify the potential roles of ERK1/2 and ERK5 via RAS activation in the pathogenesis of GN.

Methods

A rat model of progressive GN was induced by anti‐glomerular basement membrane (GBM) injection and the signal transduction pathway in angiotensin II (Ang II)‐induced glomerular pathologic alterations were investigated in primary cultured mesangial cells (MCs).

Results

Rats developed typical cellular crescents in glomeruli on day 7 that progressed to severe fibrocellular crescents and glomerulosclerosis on day 28. Strong expression of phospho‐ERK1/2 was observed on day 7 and phospho‐ERK5 expression was markedly increased on day 28 of GN. An angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB) suppressed those augmentations. Moreover, ARB treatment attenuated the increases in macrophage infiltration and PCNA‐positive cells observed on day 7 in GN rats, as well as the increase in collagen type 1 expression on day 28. Consistently, MCs stimulated by Ang II showed significant increases in proliferation and the expression of MCP‐1 and collagen type 1. Interestingly, while the ERK1/2 inhibitor PD98059 abolished the elevations in MCP‐1 expression and cell proliferation, the ERK5 inhibitor BIX02189 abrogated the elevation in collagen type 1 expression.

Conclusion

Altogether, these data suggest that ERK1/2 regulates acute inflammatory reactions, while ERK5 promotes the development of RAS‐induced chronic glomerular fibrosis activation in GN.
Cerebral oxygen saturation and tissue hemoglobin concentration as predictive markers of early postoperative outcomes after pediatric cardiac surgery
Authors: Suemori Tomohiko , Skowno Justin , Horton Steve , Bottrell Stephen , Butt Warwick , Davidson Andrew J.
Published: December 2015

Background

Near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) provides an assessment of cerebral oxygenation and tissue hemoglobin concentration.

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the cerebral oxygenation and hemoglobin concentration measured with NIRS could predict outcomes after pediatric cardiac surgery.

Method

We conducted a retrospective observational study in 399 patients who underwent pediatric cardiac surgery. Associations were determined between postoperative outcome and preoperative and postoperative cerebral tissue oxygenation index (TOI), postoperative normalized tissue hemoglobin index (nTHI), concentration changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (Δ[HbO2]) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (Δ[HHb]).

Results

Thirty‐nine children had major postoperative morbidity and 12 died. Using Spearman's correlation analysis, postoperative lower TOI and higher Δ[HHb] were associated with longer stays in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (r = −0.48, P < 0.001, r = 0.31, P < 0.001, respectively) and longer duration of intubation (r = −0.48, P < 0.001, r = 0.31, P < 0.001, respectively) and higher probability of death determined by the Risk Adjusted Classification for Congenital Heart Surgery (RACHS‐1) (r = −0.39, P < 0.001, r = 0.23, P < 0.001, respectively). In multivariate regression analysis, postoperative TOI was independently associated with major morbidity and mortality and Δ[HHb] was independently associated with major morbidity. In receiver operating characteristic analysis, postoperative TOI and Δ[HHb] predicted major morbidity (Area under the curve [AUC] = 0.72, 0.68, respectively) and mortality (AUC = 0.81, 0.69, respectively).

Conclusion

Lower TOI or higher [HHb] at the end of surgery and higher RACHS‐1 category predicted worse outcomes.
Reappraisal of adhesive strapping as treatment for infantile umbilical hernia
Authors: Yanagisawa Satohiko , Kato Mototoshi , Oshio Takehito , Morikawa Yasuhide
Published: December 2015

Background

Most umbilical hernias spontaneously close by 3–5 years of age; therefore, surgical repair is considered only in children whose hernias have not closed by this point. At present, adhesive strapping is not the preferred treatment for umbilical hernias because of the lack of supporting evidence regarding its efficacy, and its association with skin complications. This aim of this study was to examine umbilical hernia closure on ultrasonography, and reassess the merits of adhesive strapping.

Methods

Between January 2013 and December 2014, 89 infants underwent adhesive strapping for umbilical hernia. The strapping was changed once a week. The diameter of the hernia orifice was measured on ultrasonography every 2 weeks until closure. The closure speed (CS) of the hernia orifice was compared between the infants treated with adhesive strapping and those undergoing observation alone. The association between CS and birthweight, gestational age, diameter of the hernia orifice, and timing of treatment (before 12 weeks of age vs between 12 and 26 weeks of age) was also analyzed.

Results

Closure was achieved after 2–13 weeks of strapping in 81 infants (91%), and the likelihood of closure was not affected by the diameter of the hernia orifice, gestational age, or the timing of treatment. The mean CS of the infants treated with adhesive strapping was significantly faster than that of the infants undergoing observation alone (2.59 vs 0.37 mm/week, P < 0.05). Adhesive strapping was discontinued in five of the 89 infants (5.6%) due to severe skin complications.

Conclusion

Adhesive strapping promoted early spontaneous umbilical hernia closure compared with observation alone, regardless of the diameter of the hernia orifice. Adhesive strapping is an effective alternative to surgery and observation.
Consequences of Politicians’ Disrespectful Communication Depend on Social Judgment Dimensions and Voters’ Moral Identity
Authors: Mölders Christina , Van Quaquebeke Niels , Paladino Maria Paola
Published: December 2015

The present study investigates the consequences of respectful versus disrespectful communication in political debates on voters’ social judgments and voting decisions. Reconciling previously mixed results, we argue that the consequences of disrespect vary with the judgment dimension (communion vs. agency) and voters’ moral identity. An initial study (N = 197) finds that a political candidate's disrespect towards his or her opponent affects voting decision through voting intention. A second study (N = 327) shows that disrespect influences voting intention through communion but not through agency ratings. Qualifying the previous finding, a third study (N = 329) shows that both communion and agency judgments act as mediators, but in different ways depending on the level of moral identity. Overall, communion judgments played a more prominent part in explaining the consequences of disrespectful communication. Our findings thus present a nuanced picture of respect and disrespect in political communication and shed light on their ramifications.
Forearm muscle activity is modified bilaterally in unilateral lateral epicondylalgia: A case‐control study
Authors: Heales L. J. , Vicenzino B. , MacDonald D. A. , Hodges P. W.
Published: December 2015

Lateral epicondylalgia (LE) is associated with a reduced wrist extensor muscle activity and altered biomechanics. This study compared the coordination between forearm muscles during gripping in individuals with LE and pain‐free controls. Intramuscular electrodes recorded myoelectric activity from extensor carpi radialis brevis/longus (ECRB/ECRL), extensor digitorum communis (EDC), flexor digitorum superficialis/profundus (FDS/FDP), and flexor carpi radialis (FCR), bilaterally, in 15 participants with unilateral LE and 15 pain‐free controls. Participants performed a gripping task at 20% maximum force in four arm positions. The contribution of each muscle was expressed as a proportion of the summed electromyography of all muscles. In individuals with LE, ECRB contributed less to total electromyography in the symptomatic arm but not the asymptomatic arm than pain‐free controls. The contribution of EDC and FDP to total electromyography was greater in both the symptomatic and asymptomatic arm of the LE group, than pain‐free controls. No other differences were observed between groups. Subtle differences in muscle activation were present with differing arm positions. These findings indicate forearm muscle activity is modified in LE. It is unknown whether this is cause or effect. Changes in the asymptomatic side may imply involvement of central mechanisms.
Longitudinal influence of musculo‐skeletal injuries and extra physical education on physical fitness in schoolchildren
Authors: Rexen C. T. , Ersbøll A. K. , Wedderkopp N. , Andersen L. B.
Published: December 2015

The aims of this study were to investigate if (A) injuries and (B) increased physical education (PE) influenced the development of physical fitness in schoolchildren. Simultaneously, to investigate if a possible PE effect was modified by sport participation outside school hours. This was a longitudinal controlled school‐based study. Six schools with 270 min of PE (extra PE) and four schools with 90 min of PE were followed up for 2.5 years. In total, 1054 children were included for analysis (normal PE = 443, extra PE = 611). Development in fitness was analyzed using composite z‐scores from six fitness tests measured four times. Information of injury and sport was derived from weekly automated mobile phone text messages surveying the presence of musculo‐skeletal pain and organized sport participation. Injury and extra PE both influenced the development of physical fitness. Injury decreased development of physical fitness with −1.01 composite z‐score units (95% CI: −1.57; −0.45). Extra PE increased physical fitness development with 0.80 (95% CI: 0.49; 1.10) composite z‐score units. The influence of injury was not dependent on extra PE. No modifying effect was found by mean weekly sport participation outside school hours. In conclusion, extra PE had a positive effect, whereas injuries had a negative effect on physical fitness development in schoolchildren.
Publicising Food: Big Data, Precision Agriculture, and Co‐Experimental Techniques of Addition
Authors: Carolan Michael
Published: December 2015

This article draws upon data taken from the following: 18 interviews of Iowa farmers who utilise big data when making farm management decisions; 14 interviews of those engaged within big data industry, those involved in the sale and promotion of large‐scale data acquisition, predictive analytic software, and/or precision agriculture technologies for conventional agriculture applications; and 19 interviews of regional food system entrepreneurs, those looking to create and encourage the adoption of technological platforms that enhance the capacities of regional food systems. A central aim of this article is to help reshape the debate around agro food‐based technologies, from one that asks what technology is to one that looks at what these socio‐technical forms engender. As described, alternative foodscapes are not looking for alternatives to technology but rather to technologies that engender specific effects. The empirical findings are organised around three themes that emerged out of the qualitative interviews. The technological assemblages investigated all exhibited the following three engendering qualities, which are (1) anticipatory, (2) moralising, and (3) a movement that multiplies absent presences. Precisely how these qualities were expressed, however, varied greatly across foodscapes.
Stress in Suburbia: Counting the Costs of Ireland's Property Crash and Mortgage Arrears Crisis
Authors: Waldron Richard , Redmond Declan
Published: December 2015

Following the 2008 financial crisis, an extensive geographic literature has examined mortgage market financialisation and its socio‐spatial impacts, particularly patterns of mortgage defaults and foreclosures in US cities. However, the local geographic impacts remain under‐examined in European contexts, including Ireland, limiting the ability to accurately identify the casualties of the crisis and understand the manner in which they are affected. This paper draws on quantitative survey data to examine the Irish mortgage arrears crisis in a suburban spatial context. The socio‐economic and mortgage characteristics of households struggling with arrears are examined, while participants’ open‐ended responses elaborate upon the drivers of arrears and impacts upon households’ quality of life. The results demonstrate the extreme distress faced by suburban mortgagors and the role of the banks’ underwriting practices in driving arrears difficulties. The research questions Ireland's model of homeownership provision, particularly as home repossessions are expected to increase through 2015 and onwards.
Examining the Effectiveness of Climate Change Frames in the Face of a Climate Change Denial Counter‐Frame
Authors: McCright Aaron M. , Charters Meghan , Dentzman Katherine , Dietz Thomas
Published: December 2015

Prior research on the influence of various ways of framing anthropogenic climate change (ACC) do not account for the organized ACC denial in the U.S. media and popular culture, and thus may overestimate these frames' influence in the general public. We conducted an experiment to examine how Americans' ACC views are influenced by four promising frames for urging action on ACC (economic opportunity, national security, Christian stewardship, and public health)—when these frames appear with an ACC denial counter‐frame. This is the first direct test of how exposure to an ACC denial message influences Americans' ACC views. Overall, these four positive frames have little to no effect on ACC beliefs. But exposure to an ACC denial counter‐frame does significantly reduce respondents' belief in the reality of ACC, belief about the veracity of climate science, awareness of the consequences of ACC, and support for aggressively attempting to reduce our nation's GHG emissions in the near future. Furthermore, as expected by the Anti‐Reflexivity Thesis, exposure to the ACC denial counter‐frame has a disproportionate influence on the ACC views of conservatives (than on those of moderates and liberals), effectively activating conservatives' underlying propensity for anti‐reflexivity.
Governing Visions of the Other The Politics of Envisioning Māori and Māoritanga through Post-World War II New Zealand National Film Unit Documentary Film
Authors: Weckbecker Lars
Published: December 2015

This paper discusses how Māori and Māoritanga were projected in documentary film produced by the New Zealand National Film Unit after World War II. A close look at some of the films as well as the governmentality of (filmic) vision reveals the changing strategies of power that came to shape efforts of modelling Māori and Māoritanga into dominant society. It is argued that NFU films produced an ambivalent field of vision in which Māori were at once projected as successfully integrating into the dominant political economy and provided with a sense of dignity and pride. At the same time, however, they were ‘othered’ with reference to discourses of exoticism that were important for tourism promotion as well as signified as deviant in areas where improvement of their condition was regarded as exigent. These modes of projection need to be understood with reference to the governmentality of documentary film and state publicity that developed around the time.
Pathways to Transform Institutional (and Everyday) Racism in New Zealand
Authors: Came Heather Anne , McCreanor Timothy
Published: December 2015

Racism has become a normalised part of New Zealand society despite the governments’ endorsement of human rights treaties and the founding document Te Tiriti o Waitangi. The outcomes of racism manifest as significant and enduring disparities in economic and social well-being outcomes between Māori and non-Māori. New Zealand has a range of strategies that attempt to deal with inequities between population groups and is developing a national human rights plan but currently lacks a coherent national strategy to transform racism. In this paper we offer four pathways to this goal as a contribution to a possible national strategy i) addressing historical racism, ii) improving racial climate, iii) pursuing equity through the application of systems change within public institutions, and iv) mobilising civil society through collective impact.
Vision 20/20: Positron emission tomography in radiation therapy planning, delivery, and monitoring
Authors: Parodi Katia
Published: December 2015

Positron emission tomography (PET) is increasingly considered as an effective imaging method to support several stages of radiation therapy. The combined usage of functional and morphological imaging in state‐of‐the‐art PET/CT scanners is rapidly emerging to support the treatment planning process in terms of improved tumor delineation, and to assess the tumor response in follow‐up investigations after or even during the course of fractionated therapy. Moreover, active research is being pursued on new tracers capable of providing different insights into tumor function, in order to identify areas of the planning volume which may require additional dosage for improved probability of tumor control. In this respect, major progresses in the next years will likely concern the development and clinical investigation of novel tracers and image processing techniques for reliable thresholding and segmentation, of treatment planning and beam delivery approaches integrating the PET imaging information, as well as improved multimodal clinical instrumentation such as PET/MR. But especially in the rapidly emerging case of ion beam therapy, the usage of PET is not only limited to the imaging of external tracers injected to the patient. In fact, a minor amount of positron emitters is formed in nuclear fragmentation reactions between the impinging ions and the tissue, bearing useful information for confirmation of the delivered treatment during or after therapeutic irradiation. Different implementations of unconventional PET imaging for therapy monitoring are currently being investigated clinically, and major ongoing research aims at new dedicated detector technologies and at challenging applications such as real‐time imaging and time‐resolved in vivo verification of motion compensated beam delivery. This paper provides an overview of the different areas of application of PET in radiation oncology and discusses the most promising perspectives in the years to come for radiation therapy planning, delivery, and monitoring.
The Story Versus the Stream: Digital Media’s Influence on Newspaper Sports Journalism
Authors: Moritz Brian
Published: December 2015

This study examined contemporary daily sports journalism through the lenses of media sociology and new institutional theory. In-depth interviews with 25 sports journalists (reporters and editors) identified the institutionalized norms, values, practices, and routines of American sports journalism; demonstrated how that institutionalization affects story selection; and showed how the profession is changing due to digital and social media. The interviews show that although traditional sports journalism is highly institutionalized, digital sports journalism is far less so. Traditional sports journalism is still centered around a story, and digital sports journalism follows Robinson’s journalism-as-process model. The journalists interviewed are expected to perform acts of both traditional and digital journalism during the same workday, which leads to tension in how they do their jobs.
A Case Study on Message-Board and Media Framing of Gay Male Athletes on a Politically Liberal Web Site
Authors: Kian Edward M.
Published: December 2015

In 2013–14, Jason Collins and Michael Sam became the first 2 athletes from the 4 most popular professional leagues in the United States to publicly come out as gay during their playing careers. U.S. men’s pro team sports have historically been arenas where hegemonic masculinity flourishes and open homosexuality is nearly nonexistent. However, these athletes came out during a period when sexual minorities had won numerous civil rights and were gaining acceptance by a majority of Americans, particularly those who self-identify as politically liberal. A textual analysis examined framing of Collins’s and Sam’s coming out in articles published on the liberal political Web site MSNBC.com. Focus was placed on how these athletes, homosexuality, and masculinity were framed in the corresponding message-board comments posted in response to these articles. Five primary themes emerged from the data, showing that acceptable forms of masculinities and homosexuality in sport remain contested terrains, even on liberal message boards.
Inhibition of the kinase ITK in a mouse model of asthma reduces cell death and fails to inhibit the inflammatory response
Authors: Sun Yonglian , Peng Ivan , Webster Joshua D. , Suto Eric , Lesch Justin , Wu Xiumin , Senger Kate , Francis George , Barrett Kathy , Collier Jenna L. , Burch Jason D. , Zhou Meijuan , Chen Yuan , Chan Connie , Eastham-Anderson Jeff , Ngu Hai , Li Olga , Staton Tracy , Havnar Charles , Jaochico Allan , Jackman Janet , Jeet Surinder , Riol-Blanco Lorena , Wu Lawren C. , Choy David F. , Arron Joseph R. , McKenzie Brent S. , Ghilardi Nico , Ismaili Moulay Hicham Alaoui , Pei Zhonghua , DeVoss Jason , Austin Cary D. , Lee Wyne P. , Zarrin Ali A.
Published: December 2015

The kinase ITK is required for antigen-stimulated T cell death.
In Vitro
Pharmacodynamics of Vancomycin against Methicillin-Susceptible and -Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Considering the Variability in Observed Tissue Exposure
Authors: Hamada Yukihiro , Kuti Joseph L. , Nicolau David P.
Published: December 2015

Vancomycin is considered a first-line antibiotic for complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSSI) because of the risk of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(MRSA). The vancomycin exposure of tissue can vary widely in patients with cSSSI, yet most models test only the average exposure. The
in vitro
pharmacodynamic model was used to simulate three tissue exposure levels attained by administering vancomycin at 1 g every 12 h (q12h), based on the median (50th), 25th, and 10th percentile tissue area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) values observed during an
in vivo
microdialysis study of diabetic patients. Four clinical isolates (two of MRSA [vancomycin MIC, 1 and 2 μg/ml] and two of methicillin-susceptible
S. aureus
[MSSA] [MIC, 1 and 2 μg/ml]) were evaluated. Experiments were performed over 72 h in duplicate. Time-kill curves were constructed, and the area under the bacterial killing and regrowth curve (AUBC) during the final 24-h dosing interval (48 to 72 h) (AUBC
48–72
) was calculated. Reductions in the 72-h number of CFU/ml and AUBC
48–72
at the different exposure levels were compared. Target tissue vancomycin exposure levels for the 50th (AUC
0–12
, 102.0 ± 9.1 μg · h/ml), 25th (AUC
0–12
, 44.3 ± 1.8 μg · h/ml), and 10th (AUC
0–12
, 25.3 ± 3.1 μg · h/ml) percentiles were obtained in all studies. No differences in the 72-h number of CFU or AUBC were observed between exposure levels when all of the isolates were analyzed together. However, for the two MRSA isolates, the 10th percentile exposure level achieved a lower 72-h number of CFU/ml (−1.4 ± 0.4 log
10
CFU/ml,
P
= 0.007) and a greater AUBC
48–72
(97.1 ± 20.0 log
10
CFU · h/ml,
P
= 0.011) than the higher exposure levels. The majority of the tissue exposure levels achieved with a vancomycin dosing regimen of 1 g q12h resulted in substantial killing of MSSA and MRSA; however, the lowest exposure levels observed in a minority of the population may explain the poor vancomycin response.
Comparative RNA-seq-Based Transcriptome Analysis of the Virulence Characteristics of Methicillin-Resistant and -Susceptible Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Strains Isolated from Small Animals
Authors: Couto Natacha , Belas Adriana , Oliveira Manuela , Almeida Paulo , Clemente Carla , Pomba Constança
Published: December 2015

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius
is often associated with pyoderma, which can turn into a life-threatening disease. The dissemination of highly resistant isolates has occurred in the last 10 years and has challenged antimicrobial treatment of these infections considerably. We have compared the carriage of virulence genes and biofilm formation between methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible
S. pseudintermedius
(MRSP and MSSP, respectively) isolates and their
in vitro
gene expression profiles by transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq). Isolates were relatively unevenly distributed among the four
agr
groups, and
agr
type III predominated in MRSP. Five virulence genes were detected in all isolates. Only the
spsO
gene was significantly associated with MSSP isolates (
P
= 0.04). All isolates produced biofilm in brain heart infusion broth (BHIB)–4% NaCl. MSSP isolates produced more biofilm on BHIB and BHIB–1% glucose media than MRSP isolates (
P
= 0.03 and
P
= 0.02, respectively). Virulence genes encoding surface proteins and toxins (
spsA
,
spsB
,
spsD
,
spsK
,
spsL
,
spsN
,
nucC
,
coa
, and
luk-I
) and also prophage genes (encoding phage capsid protein, phage infection protein, two phage portal proteins, and a phage-like protein) were highly expressed in the MRSP isolate (compared with the MSSP isolate), suggesting they may play a role in the rapid and widespread dissemination of MRSP. This study indicates that MRSP may upregulate surface proteins, which may increase the adherence of MRSP isolates (especially sequence type 71 [ST71]) to corneocytes. MSSP isolates may have an increased ability to form biofilm under acidic circumstances, through upregulation of the entire
arc
operon. Complete understanding of
S. pseudintermedius
pathogenesis and host-pathogen signal interaction during infections is critical for the treatment and prevention of
S. pseudintermedius
infections.
Dislocation of the proximal tibiofibular joint, do not miss it
Authors: van Wulfften Palthe Alexander FY , Musters Linda , Sonnega Remko JA , van der Sluijs Hans A
Published: December 2015

We present a case of a 45-year-old woman with a right proximal tibiofibular dislocation she sustained after a fall during roller skating. Anteroposterior and lateral radiographs confirmed the diagnosis; there were no other injuries. The dislocation was reduced by direct manipulation after intra-articular infiltration, in our emergency department. The patient was treated with a long, non-weight bearing leg cast for 1 week. After 4 weeks, she had no pain and a full range of motion of the knee.
Endobronchial valves in the management of bronchial fistulae caused by bronchopulmonary aspergillosis
Authors: Williams Rhys , Krishnadas Rakesh , Patel Bipen , Jarad Nabil
Published: December 2015

Following an aggressive episode of bronchopulmonary aspergillosis, a 54-year-old man developed a symptomatic air leak via a tunnel between the left upper lobe and an extra chest wall cavity. Following the failure of several surgical procedures to close the tunnel, endobronchial valves normally used in management of emphysema were used to successfully treat the air leak.
Challenges of diabetes prevention in the real world: results and lessons from the Melbourne Diabetes Prevention Study
Authors: Dunbar James A , Hernan Andrea L , Janus Edward D , Vartiainen Erkki , Laatikainen Tiina , Versace Vincent L , Reynolds John , Best James D , Skinner Timothy C , O'Reilly Sharleen L , Mc Namara Kevin P , Stewart Elizabeth , Coates Michael , Bennett Catherine M , Carter Rob
Published: December 2015

Objective

To assess effectiveness and implementability of the public health programmeLife! Taking action on diabetesin Australian people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Research design and methods

Melbourne Diabetes Prevention Study (MDPS) was a unique study assessing effectiveness ofLife!that used a randomized controlled trial design. Intervention participants with AUSDRISK score ≥15 received 1 individual and 5 structured 90 min group sessions. Controls received usual care. Outcome measures were obtained for all participants at baseline and 12 months and, additionally, for intervention participants at 3 months. Per protocol set (PPS) and intention to treat (ITT) analyses were performed.

Results

PPS analyses were considered more informative from our study. In PPS analyses, intervention participants significantly improved in weight (−1.13 kg, p=0.016), waist circumference (−1.35 cm, p=0.044), systolic (−5.2 mm Hg, p=0.028) and diastolic blood pressure (−3.2 mm Hg, p=0.030) compared with controls. Based on observed weight change, estimated risk of developing diabetes reduced by 9.6% in the intervention and increased by 3.3% in control participants. Absolute 5-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk reduced significantly for intervention participants by 0.97 percentage points from 9.35% (10.4% relative risk reduction). In control participants, the risk increased by 0.11 percentage points (1.3% relative risk increase). The net effect for the change in CVD risk was −1.08 percentage points of absolute risk (p=0.013).

Conclusions

MDPS effectively reduced the risk of diabetes and CVD, but the intervention effect on weight and waist reduction was modest due to the challenges in recruiting high-risk individuals and the abbreviated intervention.
Depression and anxiety in ovarian cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence rates
Authors: Watts Sam , Prescott Philip , Mason Jessica , McLeod Natalie , Lewith George
Published: December 2015

Objectives

To systematically review the literature pertaining to the prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with ovarian cancer as a function of treatment stage.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Participants

3623 patients with ovarian cancer from primary research investigations.

Primary outcome measure

The prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with ovarian cancer as a function of treatment stage.

Results

We identified 24 full journal articles that met the inclusion criteria for entry into the meta-analysis resulting in a pooled sample size of 3623 patients. The meta-analysis of prevalence rates identified pretreatment, on-treatment and post-treatment depression prevalences of 25.34% (CI 22.79% to 28.07%), 22.99% (CI 19.85% to 26.46%) and 12.71% (CI 10.14% to 15.79%), respectively. Pretreatment, on-treatment and post-treatment anxiety prevalences were 19.12% (CI 17.11% to 21.30%), 26.23% (CI 22.30% to 30.56%) and 27.09% (CI 23.10% to 31.49%).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the prevalence of depression and anxiety in women with ovarian cancer, across the treatment spectrum, is significantly greater than in the healthy female population. With the growing emphasis on improving the management of survivorship and quality of life, we conclude that further research is warranted to ensure psychological distress in ovarian cancer is not underdiagnosed and undertreated.
Recorded gonorrhoea rates in Denmark, 1900–2010: the impact of clinical testing activity and laboratory diagnostic procedures
Authors: Lind Inga , Hoffmann Steen
Published: December 2015

Objectives

Assessment of the relations between recorded gonorrhoea rates and clinical testing activity and disposable diagnostic tests.

Methods

In Denmark, two sources of information on the epidemiology of gonorrhoea are available: (1) a mandatory clinical notification system (since 1867) comprising summary information about geographic distribution, season, age group and gender; in 1994, more detailed anonymous individualised epidemiological information was included; (2) a voluntary countrywide laboratory surveillance system for culture-confirmed cases (since 1957) comprising information about patient's age and gender, infected anatomical sites and medical setting attended.

Results

Both surveillance systems showed marked simultaneous changes in gonorrhoea rates, although periodically considerable under-reporting or under-diagnosing was demonstrated. The annual incidence of notified cases peaked in 1919 (474/100 000), in 1944 (583/100 000) and in 1972 (344/100 000). Since 1995, the incidence has been at a low endemic level (1.5–10/100 000) and the total male/female incidence ratios were from 3 to 7 times higher than previously recorded. Among approximately 2 million persons tested during 1974–1988 78 213 men and 63 143 women with culture-confirmed gonorrhoea were identified. During this period, pharyngeal sampling was performed in 36% of men and 25% of women with gonorrhoea; pharyngeal gonorrhoea was found in 10% and 16%, respectively; 40% and 30% of these patients had no concomitant urogenital gonorrhoea. Among men with gonorrhoea, 34% were sampled from the rectum; 9% had rectal gonorrhoea, among whom the rectum was the only infected site in 67%.

Conclusions

Crucial factors for case finding are clinical sampling tradition and appropriate laboratory diagnostic facilities. When case finding is insufficient, a reservoir of asymptomatic rectal or pharyngeal gonorrhoea remains unrecognised.
Factoring in weather variation to capture the influence of urban design and built environment on globally recommended levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity in children
Authors: Katapally Tarun Reddy , Rainham Daniel , Muhajarine Nazeem
Published: December 2015

Objectives

In curbing physical inactivity, as behavioural interventions directed at individuals have not produced a population-level change, an ecological perspective called active living research has gained prominence. However, active living research consistently underexplores the role played by a perennial phenomenon encompassing all other environmental exposures—variation in weather. After factoring in weather variation, this study investigated the influence of diverse environmental exposures (including urban design and built environment) on the accumulation of globally recommended moderate to vigorous physical activity levels (MVPA) in children.

Design

This cross-sectional observational study is part of an active living initiative set in the Canadian prairie city of Saskatoon. As part of this study, Saskatoon's neighbourhoods were classified based on urban street design into grid-pattern, fractured grid-pattern and curvilinear types of neighbourhoods. Moreover, diverse environmental exposures were measured including, neighbourhood built environment, and neighbourhood and household socioeconomic environment. Actical accelerometers were deployed between April and June 2010 (spring-summer) to derive MVPA of 331 10–14-year-old children in 25 1-week cycles. Each cycle of accelerometry was conducted on a different cohort of children within the total sample and matched with weather data obtained from Environment Canada. Multilevel modelling using Hierarchical Linear and Non-linear Modelling software was conducted by factoring in weather variation to depict the influence of diverse environmental exposures on the accumulation of recommended MVPA.

Results

Urban design, including diversity of destinations within neighbourhoods played a significant role in the accumulation of MVPA. After factoring in weather variation, it was observed that children living in neighbourhoods closer to the city centre (with higher diversity of destinations) were more likely to accumulate recommended MVPA.

Conclusions

The findings indicate that after factoring in weather variation, certain types of urban design are more likely to be associated with MVPA accumulation.