bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The PRECISION Survey: Preferences of Physicians Regarding Ultrasound-Guided Intra-Articular Injections
Authors: Ekhtiari Seper , Horner Nolan S. , Simunovic Nicole , Ayeni Olufemi R.
Published: June 2018

Objective:

The objectives of this survey study were to: (1) determine practice patterns, (2) assess beliefs and attitudes toward ultrasound-guided intra-articular injections (UGIIs), (3) identify barriers to the use of UGII, and (4) determine any differences in beliefs and attitudes based on age or specialty.

Methods:

A survey was developed using a focus group including physicians who perform intra-articular injections of the knee, shoulder, and/or hip. After validation by the focus group, the final survey (28 questions) was e-mailed to members of the Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (N = 632).

Results:

A total of 168 responses were received (26.6%). Nearly half of respondents rarely/never had access to UGII equipment (48.5%), and over half did not have adequate training in UGIIs (56.8%-68.8%). About half of respondents agreed that UGII improves accuracy in knee injections (50.9%); only 35.4% agreed there was evidence to support UGII over non–ultrasound-guided intra-articular injections (NGIIs) of the knee. Physicians younger than 50 years were significantly more likely to use UGII for the knee and hip if they had better access to equipment (P < 0.0005 for both); they were more likely to use UGII for the knee if it was less time-consuming (P = 0.001).

Conclusions:

The majority of respondents are not using UGII for the knee or shoulder. Physicians may overestimate their accuracy in performing NGIIs. The biggest barriers to UGII were identified as: (1) inadequate training; (2) lack of access to equipment; and (3) lack of time. Younger physicians seem more open to adopting UGII if barriers are addressed.
Encouraging Patients to Speak up About Problems in Cancer Care
Authors: Mazor Kathleen M. , Kamineni Aruna , Roblin Douglas W. , Anau Jane , Robinson Brandi E. , Dunlap Benjamin , Firneno Cassandra , Gallagher Thomas H.
Published: June 2018

Objectives

Many patients with cancer believe that something has gone wrong in their care but are reluctant to speak up. This pilot study sought to evaluate the impact of an intervention of active outreach to patients undergoing cancer treatment, wherein patients were encouraged to speak up if they had concerns about their care and to describe the types of concerns patients reported.

Methods

Patients receiving cancer care at two sites were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. Intervention patients received a brochure encouraging them to speak up about any concerns and an outreach telephone call during which the interviewer explicitly asked about concerns. Participants in both groups received baseline and follow-up questionnaires assessing their perceptions of their care and whether anything had “gone wrong” and provided ratings of health care providers’ communication and responsiveness. Qualitative content coding was used to categorize patient-reported concerns collected through the baseline and follow-up questionnaires (both groups) and during telephone outreach (intervention patients only). The primary outcome was the number of patients reporting a concern about their care. Communication and responsiveness ratings for intervention and control group patients were compared using t tests.

Results

Of the 60 patients in the intervention group, 34 (56.7%) reported at least one problem or concern, compared with 16 (29.1%) of the 55 patients in the control group (P = 0.003). The telephone outreach in particular resulted in more than half of those reached reporting a new concern (55.3%). We detected no impact of the intervention on patients’ ratings of communication or support for speaking up.

Conclusions

Patients in this study reported a variety of concerns in response to active outreach, demonstrating that active outreach to patients can provide healthcare teams and systems the opportunity to offer a real-time response to the patient, identify where system improvements are needed, and implement policies, procedures, or programs to prevent recurrences.
The Association Between Professional Burnout and Engagement With Patient Safety Culture and Outcomes: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mossburg Sarah E. , Dennison Himmelfarb Cheryl
Published: June 2018

Objectives

In the last 20 years, there have been numerous successful efforts to improve patient safety, although recent research still shows a significant gap. Researchers have begun exploring the impact of individual level factors on patient safety culture and safety outcomes. This review examines the state of the science exploring the impact of professional burnout and engagement on patient safety culture and safety outcomes.

Methods

A systematic search was conducted in CINAHL, PubMed, and Embase. Studies included reported on the relationships among burnout or engagement and safety culture or safety outcomes.

Results

Twenty-two studies met inclusion criteria. Ten studies showed a relationship between both safety culture and clinical errors with burnout. Two of 3 studies reported an association between burnout and patient outcomes. Fewer studies focused on engagement. Most studies exploring engagement and safety culture found a moderately strong positive association. The limited evidence on the relationship between engagement and errors depicts inconsistent findings. Only one study explored engagement and patient outcomes, which failed to find a relationship.

Conclusions

The burnout/safety literature should be expanded to a multidisciplinary focus. Mixed results of the relationship between burnout and errors could be due to a disparate relationship with perceived versus observed errors. The engagement/safety literature is immature, although high engagement seems to be associated with high safety culture. Extending this science into safety outcomes would be meaningful, especially in light of the recent focus on an abundance-based approach to safety.
Maximizing Utilization in Pancreas Transplantation: Phenotypic Characteristics Differentiating Aggressive From Nonaggressive Transplant Centers
Authors: Serrano Oscar Kenneth , Vock David M. , Dunn Ty B. , Kandaswamy Raja , Finger Erik B.
Published: June 2018

Background

Maximizing pancreas utilization requires a balance between judicious donor selection and transplant center aggressiveness. We sought to determine how such aggressiveness affects transplant outcomes.

Methods

Using the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients, we studied 28 487 deceased-donor adult pancreas transplants. Donor and recipient demographic factors indicative of aggressiveness were used to score center aggressiveness. We compared outcomes of low (> 1 SD below mean), medium (± 1 SD from mean), and high (> 1 SD above mean) aggressiveness centers using bivariate and multivariable regressions.

Results

Donor and recipient aggressiveness demonstrated a roughly linear relationship (R
2 = 0.20). Center volume correlated moderately with donor (r
s = 0.433) and recipient (r
s = 0.270) aggressiveness. In bivariate analysis, there was little impact of donor selection aggressiveness on graft survival. Further, for simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplants, centers with greater recipient aggressiveness selection had better graft survival. High-volume centers had better graft survival than low-volume centers. In multivariable analysis, donor aggressiveness did not have an effect on graft survival, whereas graft survival for medium (hazard ratio [HR], 0.66, 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.53-0.83) and high (HR, 0.67; CI, 0.51-0.86) recipient aggressiveness performed better than low-aggressiveness centers. There was a clear volume effect, with high-volume centers (>20 transplants/year; HR, 0.69; CI, 0.61-0.79) performing better than low-volume centers.

Conclusions

Center practice patterns using higher-risk donors and recipients did not negatively affect outcomes. This effect is likely mediated through efficiencies gained with the increased transplant volumes at these centers.
Efficacy of IgM-enriched Immunoglobulin for Vasopressor-resistant Vasoplegic Shock After Liver Transplantation
Authors: Willuweit Katharina , Bezinover Dmitri , Herzer Kerstin , Nowak Knut M. , Paul Andreas , Saner Fuat H.
Published: June 2018

Background

Vasoplegia is a clinical condition typically manifested by cardiovascular instability unresponsive to the usual doses of inotropes or vasopressors. It can occur in a variety of clinical settings including liver transplantation (LT). Immunoglobulins have been used to treat sepsis-related vasoplegia. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate the efficacy of IgM-enriched immunoglobulin (IgMIg) on 30-day mortality and its ability to reverse vasoplegia in patients undergoing LT.

Methods

Between May 2013 and November 2017, 473 LT were performed at our institution. We identified 21 patients who received IgMIg for 3 days to treat vasoplegia. Patients included in the study met the criteria for having vasoplegia and required noradrenaline administration greater than 1 μg·kg−1·min−1 for more than 24 hours to maintain a mean arterial pressure of 70 mm Hg or greater. Procalcitonin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels were used as surrogate markers for inflammation and were measured at the beginning and end of IgM treatment.

Results

After IgMIg administration, median noradrenaline infusion rates could be significantly reduced from 1.6 μg·kg−1·min−1 (1.3-2 μg·kg−1·min−1) to 0.16 μg·kg−1·min−1 (0.08-0.34 μg·kg−1·min−1) (P < 0.001). In addition, after treatment, procalcitonin levels decreased significantly from 44 ng/mL (24–158) to 26.1 ng/mL (10.9-48.7) (P < 0.001) and IL-6 levels decreased significantly from 63 pg/mL (29-102) to 20 pg/mL (11-20) (P < 0.001). Thirty-day morality was 14.3%.

Conclusions

The administration of IgMIg in patients with vasoplegia after LT is associated with a return of hemodynamic stability. Despite a predicted mortality of over 90% by Sepsis-Related Organ Failure Assessment score, the mortality rate of patients receiving IgMIg in our study was less than 20%.
Arthropod Abundance Associated with the Natural Resources Conservation Service: Implications for Greater Sage-Grouse Management
Authors: Goosey H.B. ,   Arthropod Abundance and Grazing Livestock
Published: June 2018

One goal of the Natural Resource Conservation Service’s Sage-Grouse Initiative was to reverse the western US trend of declining sage-grouse populations. The sage-grouse initiative aims at preventing ‘sod-busting’ activities (conversion of native habitats into cropland) which is identified as the largest threat to stable sage-grouse populations and their habitats (USFWS 2010). Rest-rotation livestock grazing is implemented on sage-grouse ‘core areas’ with the purpose of improving rangeland health on private lands and eliminate the need of listing sage-grouse on the threatened or endangered species list. We collected arthropods in central Montana from three habitat classes associated with the Sage-grouse Initiative: 1) Grazed (actively grazed livestock pastures), 2) Deferred (Ungrazed pastures), and 3) Idle (Lands of the Lake Mason National Wildlife Refuge lower unit) and report here on 2012-2014 findings. Total arthropod catches in pitfall traps were greatest from livestock Idle pastures; however, greater numbers of those arthropods classified as sage-grouse food were caught from Deferred pastures. Differences in habitat class catches revolved primarily around the high levels of thatch found on the Lake Mason Wildlife Refuge which altered the community composition and predator:prey ratios.
RPA resolves conflicting activities of accessory proteins during reconstitution of Dmcl-mediated meiotic recombination
Authors: Chan Yuen-Ling , Zhang Annie , Weissman Benjamin P. , Bishop Douglas K.
Published: June 2018

Dmc1 catalyzes homology search and strand exchange during meiotic recombination in budding yeast and many other organisms including humans. Here we reconstitute Dmc1 recombinationin vitrousing six purified proteins including Dmc1 and its accessory proteins RPA, Rad51, Rdh54/Tid1, Mei5-Sae3, and Hop2-Mnd1 to promote D-loop formation between ssDNA and dsDNA substrates. Each accessory protein contributed to Dmc1’s activity, with the combination of all six proteins yielding optimal activity. The ssDNA binding protein RPA plays multiple roles in stimulating Dmc1’s activity including by overcoming inhibitory effects of ssDNA secondary structure on D-loop reactions, and by stabilizing and elongating D-loops. In addition, we demonstrate that RPA limits inhibitory interactions of Hop2-Mnd1 and Rdh54/Tid1 that otherwise occur during assembly of Dmc1-ssDNA nucleoprotein filaments. Finally, we report interactions between the proteins employed in the biochemical reconstitution including a direct interaction between Rad51 and Dmc1 that is enhanced by Mei5-Sae3.
Robust detection of tandem repeat expansions from long DNA reads
Authors: Mitsuhashi Satomi , Frith Martin C , Mizuguchi Takeshi , Miyatake Satoko , Toyota Tomoko , Adachi Hiroaki , Oma Yoko , Kino Yoshihiro , Mitsuhashi Hiroaki , Matsumoto Naomichi
Published: June 2018

Tandemly repeated sequences are highly mutable and variable features of genomes. Tandem repeat expansions are responsible for a growing list of human diseases, even though it is hard to determine tandem repeat sequences with current DNA sequencing technology. Recent long-read technologies are promising, because the DNA reads are often longer than the repetitive regions, but are hampered by high error rates. Here, we report robust detection of human repeat expansions from careful alignments of long (PacBio and nanopore) reads to a reference genome. Our method (tandem-genotypes) is robust to systematic sequencing errors, inexact repeats with fuzzy boundaries, and low sequencing coverage. By comparing to healthy controls, we can prioritize pathological expansions within the top 10 out of 700000 tandem repeats in the genome. This may help to elucidate the many genetic diseases whose causes remain unknown.
Barriers to social sustainability in the health-care industry in the UAE
Authors: Khan Mehmood , Ajmal Mian , Hussain Matloub , Helo Petri
Published: June 2018

Purpose

This study aims to identify barriers to social sustainability in the health-care industry in the United Arab Emirates. Furthermore, the impact of these dimensions on social sustainability is examined.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive questionnaire has been developed based on semi-structured interviews with different departments of two tertiary hospitals in the first phase. In the second phase, data are collected from ten public and private hospitals situated in the United Arab Emirates. In the third phase, responses are examined using principal component analysis to identify the five major barriers for social sustainability. A measurement model (confirmatory analysis) is developed to examine the relationship among these dimensions. Finally, a structural model is developed to examine the significance of these dimensions to the notion of social sustainability in health care.

Findings

The statistical model shows a 61 per cent variance for social sustainability, which is caused by infrastructure, organizational culture, lack of coordination, stakeholder’s disparity and uncertainty, which are positively and highly correlated measurement barriers to social sustainability practices implementation.

Research limitations/implications

Health-care professionals and stakeholders believe that the elimination of obstacles to social sustainability must be multi-dimensional and not limited to specific practices.

Practical implications

This study would enable health-care industry to examine the extent of obstruction for social sustainability. Hospital administrators and medical professionals could use this feedback to assess and benchmark their performance against that of other competitive hospitals.

Originality/value

The contribution of this paper is to advance the understanding of social sustainability in the health-care sector by viewing it from the perspective of the stakeholders and the social exchanges that occur among them.
Walking the public: re(visiting) Athens’s historical centre
Authors: Kanellopoulou Dimitra
Published: June 2018

Purpose

Since the 1980s, planning public spaces for leisure walking is largely linked with economic and cultural objectives. Parallel to this tendency and the priorities of local authorities on barker public space projects, inhabitant’s associations, that grow up after the 2000s, propose new ways of visiting the city through collective walks. Drawing on the example of the Atenistas group, and based on the discourses of its founders, its presence on social media and the narratives of participants, the purpose of this paper is to question the emergence and function of new forms of urban walking that joggle between tourism, social exchange and act of citizenship.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study is based on personal semi-directive interviews with organisers and participants at “Atenistas Open Walks”. It is also based on interviews that have been held with architects and urban planners within technical services of the municipality of Athens as also as within private sector’s structures.

Findings

First insights from the study question pedestrianisation as a dominant urban planning tool towards animated street life and performant local economy. Contrary to the traditional top-down approach in Athens’s public space planning which uses pedestrianisation or land management to re-invest on the city centre, Atenistas Open Walks reveal the existence of alternatives ways of a re-engagement with city values and history. People search to explore the city by themselves and re-trace their proper itineraries (and ways of seeing the city) by outpassing official discourses on the decline, the success, the dangerousness or the beautifulness of certain neighbourhoods. Consequently, walkers constantly nourish their will to better understand the city. Public space experience outpasses morphological or functional issues. The act of walking with others in the city willing to explore places and to exchange on this experience, confront people with different narratives and trajectories and can momently be a strong factor of social cohesion and activation of public space with significant impacts on local economy. Walking collectively can emerge, in this way, as a counter model of public space planning capable of revitalise not only touristic activity, but also citizenship.

Originality/value

The study questions dominant discourses that link urban liveability and touristic attractiveness of urban centres with recreational events and streets’ pedestrianisation projects.
Information content of web-based stock ratings: the case of Motley fool CAPS data
Authors: Mahajan Arvind
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to answer a fundamental question – are individual stock picks by a particular internet investment community informative enough to beat the market? The author observes that the stock picks by the CAPS community are reflective of existing information and portfolios based upon CAPS community stock rankings do not generate abnormal returns. The CAPS community is good at tracking existing performance but, it lacks predictive ability.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a unique data set of stock ratings from Motley Fools CAPS community to determine the information content embedded in these ratings. Observing predictive ability of this web-based stock ratings forum will raise questions about the efficiency of the financial markets. The author forms stock portfolios based on stocks’ star ratings, and star rating changes, and test if the long-short portfolio strategy generates significant α after controlling for single, and multi-factor asset pricing models, such as Fama-French three-factor model and Carhart four-factor model.

Findings

The paper finds no evidence that the CAPS community ratings contain “information content,” which can be exploited to generate abnormal returns. CAPS community ratings are good at tracking existing stock performance, but cannot be used to make superior forecasts to generate abnormal returns. The findings are consistent with the efficient market hypothesis. Furthermore, the author provides evidence that CAPS community ratings are themselves determined by stock performance rather than the other way around.

Originality/value

The study employs a unique data set capturing the stock ratings of a very popular web-based investment community to evaluate its ability to make better than random forecasts. Besides applying well-accepted asset pricing models to generate α, the study conducts causality tests to discern a causal relation between stock ratings and stock performance.
From small and generalized to big or specialized
Authors: Kask Johan , Prenkert Frans
Published: June 2018

Purpose

Retail has evolved over the past century alongside megatrends such as urbanization, consumerism and digitalization. To contribute to existing knowledge on patterns of retail form evolution, the purpose of this paper is to investigate when and how novel retail forms have evolved in the Swedish sporting goods market.

Design/methodology/approach

An evolutionary approach that encompasses population thinking is used to interpret the history of sporting goods retailing in Sweden from the interwar era onwards. Drawing on archival data and interviews, the focus in the historical analysis is on the evolution of retail form variation in terms of size, strategy, product range and retail channel (online/offline).

Findings

The paper suggests that evolutionary mechanisms cumulatively have changed the sports retail population from a rather homogenous set of smaller generalist stores toward a larger variety and specialization in mainly two directions: one trajectory toward small and service-focused niche specialists and the other toward high-volume sales outlets.

Originality/value

The paper provides a detailed empirical account of sports retail history in Sweden and an application of theoretical concepts contributing to an integrated investigation of empirical issues and theoretical positions. It concludes that being able to attain “closures” – finding ways to close off a section of the market and avoid direct competition – has historically been a crucial capability for individual retailers to thrive.
Managing Millennials: looking beyond generational stereotypes
Authors: Baker Rosa Nicole M. , Hastings Sally O.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine what managers perceive Millennial employees as doing in organizations to find generalizations rather than relying upon stereotypes.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 25 interviews were conducted with managers in the hospitality industry. The transcribed data were analyzed to learn about identified category-bound activities described.

Findings

Three prominent findings are elaborated. First, Millennials express a desire for learning and training, because they see this as fostering advancement. Second, there were mixed evaluations of Millennials effectiveness in teamwork. Specific teamwork problems managers identified involved cliquish behavior. Finally, managers stated that Millennials desire feedback. In order for the Millennial employee to feel satisfied with the feedback, however, it needs to be ample, positive and personal.

Research limitations/implications

The ability to generalize findings is limited because the objective of qualitative research is not to predict. The study does offer some patterned observations by managers that may be useful to future employees and other managers.

Practical implications

The analysis revealed that some practical problems managers may face when leading Millennial employees; however, these employees bring their own solution to the workplace: a desire for training.

Originality/value

Existing research on Millennials has not acknowledged the desire for training by Millennials. This is an important finding due to its implications for effective management.
Gross profitability and momentum
Authors: Bhootra Ajay
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the combined performance of momentum and a gross profitability-based strategy. The motivation stems from the strong performance of momentum on the short side and profitability on the long side, suggesting a potentially superior combined strategy. Gross profitability is also a measure of firm quality, so that another motivation is to contribute to a growing literature on factor-based investing that includes momentum and quality as potential factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical approach employed in the paper is standard in the asset pricing literature. The firms are sorted into portfolios based on profitability and momentum, and the combined performance is studied through independent double sorting. Both value-weighted and equally weighted returns are reported in case of key empirical results.

Findings

The combined strategy results in superior performance. Specifically, the strategy produces results 2.75 greater than the momentum strategy, and about four times as high as the profitability strategy. The strategy also has much higher Sharpe ratio that improves further when combined with size and value strategies.

Research limitations/implications

The research has significant implications for academics and practitioners alike. A new investment strategy that has not been explored in the literature is presented. The superior performance of the strategy presents a challenge for the market efficiency, and would be of interest to academics and practitioners working in the area of investment management.

Practical implications

There has been a growing interest in multi-factor investing in recent years. The paper documents that superior performance is achieved by combining two of the popular factors, namely profitability and momentum.

Originality/value

The research is the first to study the combined performance of profitability and momentum, and provide evidence on the superiority of the combined strategy.
Study in performance and morphology of polyamide 12 produced by selective laser sintering technology
Authors: Wu Junjie , Xu Xiang , Zhao Zhihao , Wang Minjie , Zhang Jie
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of selective laser sintering (SLS) method on morphology and performance of polyamide 12.

Design/methodology/approach

Crystallization behavior is critical to the properties of semi-crystalline polymers. The crystallization condition of SLS process is much different from others. The morphology of polyamide 12 produced by SLS technology was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, polarized light microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction and wide-angle X-ray diffraction.

Findings

Too low fill laser power brought about bad fusion of powders, while too high energy input resulted in bad performance due to chain scission of macromolecules. There were three types of crystal in the raw powder material, denoted as overgrowth crystal, ring-banded spherulite and normal spherulite.

Originality/value

In this work, SLS samples with different sintering parameters, as well as compression molding sample for the purpose of comparison, were made to study the morphology and crystal structure of sintered PA12 in detail.
Enabling digitization by implementing Lean IT: lessons learned
Authors: Kobus Jörn , Westner Markus , Strahringer Susanne , Strode Diane
Published: June 2018

Purpose

With the rise of digitization, IT organizations are challenged to provide efficient service delivery and offer innovative digital solutions while maintaining a constant resource capacity. To address this challenge, some IT organizations have adopted Lean Management (LM). Although LM is a standard production mode in manufacturing, it is less familiar to IT organizations. The purpose of this paper is to identify 12 lessons learned from companies who implemented LM in their IT organization (Lean IT) to free up their IT resource capacity from existing day-to-day operations so they could use it to enable their digitization strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study of two major international companies from different industries. Data were collected from 25 structured interviews.

Findings

The lessons learned provide insights into how these companies implemented Lean IT, the potential outcomes they aimed for, what they did to achieve those outcomes, how they facilitated the implementation of Lean IT, and restrictions they encountered during the implementation.

Research limitations/implications

The findings are based on a limited range of IT organizations.

Practical implications

The lessons learned inform those implementing Lean IT because they explain how companies have implemented Lean IT to facilitate digitization and the benefits and pitfalls they encountered. A comparison of Lean IT and Lean Production shows that LM is transferable to IT organizations if domain specific requirements are respected.

Originality/value

This paper reports the unique experience of companies implementing Lean IT, which can inform other companies in a similar situation.
Coalitional Instability and the Three‐Fifths Compromise
Authors: Ballingrud Gordon , Dougherty Keith L.
Published: June 2018

Were the initial apportionments of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate inevitable? This article determines the coalitional stability of apportionment rules considered at the Constitutional Convention assuming the Convention limited itself to the rules proposed. Using each state's vote share as a measure of state preference, we find that the stability of legislative apportionment depended upon the states making decisions. Equal apportionment was in equilibrium with 13 states present, as in the Continental Congress, but when Rhode Island and New Hampshire were absent during the first third of the Convention, all rules were in a top cycle. With New York departing near the middle of the Convention, equal apportionment and the Three‐Fifths Clause both became stable, and the Great Compromise was reached. We conclude that the Great Compromise was partly the result of historical contingency (i.e., which states participated), rather than necessity.
High Irisin levels in nondiabetic HIV‐infected males are associated with insulin resistance, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and subclinical atherosclerosis
Authors: Moreno‐Perez Oscar , Reyes‐Garcia Rebeca , Muñoz‐Torres Manuel , Merino Esperanza , Boix Vicente , Reus Sergio , Giner Livia , Alfayate Rocío , Garcia‐Fontana Beatriz , Sanchez‐Paya Jose , Picó Antonio , Portilla Joaquín
Published: June 2018

Objective

HIV infection is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Irisin is a miokyne secreted by skeletal muscle, which may influence insulin homeostasis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and atherosclerosis. Our objective was to evaluate the relationships between serum irisin, insulin homeostasis, NAFLD and subclinical atherosclerosis in HIV‐infected males.

Design

Cross‐sectional study in a cohort of HIV‐infected patients.

Patients

Inclusion criteria: men older than 18 years; antiretroviral therapy (ART) ‐naïve or on effective ART (<50 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL) without changes in the previous 6 months; no diabetes or hepatitis C.

Measurements

Irisin was measured by enzymatic immunoassay (Phoenix Pharmaceuticals), insulin sensitivity by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR), as well as the 2‐hour continuous infusion of glucose with model assessment (CIGMA‐HOMA). Hepatic steatosis was measured by 1‐H magnetic resonance spectroscopy, subclinical atherosclerosis by evaluation of carotid intima‐media thickness (C‐IMT), measured by Ultrasonography.

Results

Eight nine men (age 42.0 ± 8.3 years, duration of HIV infection 7.9 ± 5.6 years, CD4 count 547 ± 279 cells/mL) were included. Circulating irisin was positively related to HOMA‐IR and CIGMA‐HOMA, hepatic triglyceride content, and to VAT/SAT ratio. Higher irisin concentrations were associated with higher C‐IMT, although this association did not persist in multivariate analysis. Lipodystrophy and a higher baseline PAI‐1 concentration were independently associated with C‐IMT.

Conclusions

In male HIV patients without diabetes, higher irisin concentrations are positively associated with insulin resistance, NAFLD and subclinical atherosclerosis. However, waist‐hip‐ratio is the main determinant of insulin resistance, and PAI‐1 and lipodystrophy were the strongest determinants of IMT in this population.
Eight‐year trends in the Australian surgical approach to pterygium removal
Authors: Hirst Lawrence W , Battistuta Diana
Published: June 2018

Importance

Pterygium is a very common disease in Australia but the statistical data on the provision of pterygium surgical services is poorly understood.

Background

This study evaluated the trends in the types of surgeries performed for pterygium in Australia over an eight period.

Design

Retrospective cross‐sectional study.

Participants

All surgeries performed for pterygium in Australia from 2005 to 2010 in the Medicare system.

Methods

Eight years of Medicare data were analysed for services performed with pterygium removal.

Main Outcome Measures

Concurrently used MBS item numbers 42 686 (pterygium removal) with 42 641 (conjunctival autograft) and also 42 686 with any other ophthalmic item number.

Results

Pterygium removal was undertaken together with conjunctival autografting in 73% of patients in 2005 rising to 88% in 2010. Five other non‐related surgical procedures were performed simultaneously with pterygium removal in 10% of patients in 2005 decreasing to 5.9% in 2012.

Conclusions and Relevance

About 12% of pterygium surgeries are not combined with a conjunctival autograft. It is possible that these may have been used with an adjuvant such as mitomycin or radiotherapy, or performed as simple excision. Allowing for the possibility that billing errors may have occurred it is still likely that in 5.9% of patients, other procedures that would normally not be performed with pterygium surgery, are undertaken simultaneously and may have an adverse outcome on the inappropriate concurrent surgery and on the recurrence rate of the pterygium. The surgeon should carefully review billing codes before submitting them to Medicare.
Bees in the medieval economy: religious observance and the production, trade, and consumption of wax in England, c. 1300–1555
Authors: Sapoznik Alexandra
Published: June 2018

The high and late middle ages saw a significant increase in demand for beeswax, a fundamental component of medieval Christian devotion, spurred by both changing socio‐economic conditions and shifts in religious practice. The vast quantities of wax needed for churches and religious foundations in England drove a thriving international trade spanning from the hinterland of Novgorod to the port of Lisbon, while at the same time encouraging widespread domestic beekeeping. This article considers the impact of supply‐side constraints and increasing demand on wax prices, calculating the cost and quantity of wax purchased by large foundations, parish churches, and individual offerings, to reveal the hitherto underexplored impact of religious consumption on the medieval economy.
Ferroelectric and magnetoelectric origins of multiferroic SmCrO3
Authors: Ding Jun , Wen Liwei , Li Haidong , Hao Haoshan , Zhang Ying
Published: June 2018

We investigated the magnetic and ferroelectric properties of orthochromite SmCrO3 by using density functional theory simulations. The atom coordinates of both Pbnm and Pna21 were calculated, and Pna21 was found to be the ground state structure. The spontaneous polarization in Pna21 structure is sensitive to delicate structure change which is induced by different antiferromagnetic order, and its direction is along the c axis. The spin structure of Pbnm was analyzed and it was found to not support ferroelectricity. The results revealed the origin of ferroelectricity of multiferroic SmCrO3 and explained the magnetoelectric effect.
Genetic variants of MGMT, RHPN2, and FAM49A contributed to susceptibility of nonsyndromic orofacial clefts in a Chinese population
Authors: Chen Chunyu , Guo Qiang , Shi Jinna , Jiao Xiaohui , Lv Kewen , Liu Xiaotong , Jiang Yuxin , Hui Xiang , Song Tao
Published: June 2018

Background

The role of underlying genetic factors in the pathogenesis of nonsyndromic orofacial clefts (NSOC) remains poorly understood. Although genomewide association studies (GWASs) of NSOC have successfully identified a large number of novel genetic risk loci, association results of replication studies are inconsistent across different populations.

Methods

Six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs7922405 at 10q26.3, rs73039426 at 19q13.11, rs7552 at 2p24.2, rs1788160 at 8q22.2, rs9381107 at 6p24.3, and rs17095681 at 10q25.3) were analyzed for an association with NSOC in 1062 participants of Chinese descent (596 patients and 466 controls). We applied the multifactor dimensionality reduction (MDR) method to detect potential gene‐gene (G × G) interactions in the six SNPs.

Results

The genotype or allele frequencies of SNPs rs7922405, rs73039426, and rs7552 showed significant differences between the controls and patients with NSOC, whereas no association was shown between three SNPs (rs1788160, rs17095681, and rs9381107) and NSOC. MDR analysis did not reveal significant G × G interactions for susceptibility to NSOC.

Conclusion

We confirmed that three genes (rs7922405 of MGMT, rs73039426 of RHPN2, and rs7552 of FAM49A) may contribute to NSOC in Chinese populations. MGMT and RHPN2 are associated with NSOC, which is herein demonstrated for the first time.
Adolescents' Civic Engagement: Concordant and Longitudinal Associations Among Civic Beliefs and Civic Involvement
Authors: Metzger Aaron , Ferris Kaitlyn A. , Oosterhoff Benjamin
Published: June 2018

Associations between adolescent civic and organized activities (volunteering, standard political, social movement, school/community, religious) and civic beliefs (comprised of should, obligation, and respect judgments) were examined. Cross‐sectional models (N = 703, Mage = 15.87) indicated domain specificity between adolescent civic beliefs and behaviors. Longitudinal models (n = 219, Mage = 15.39) indicated that adolescents' standard political beliefs predicted greater levels of standard political involvement one year later, and school/community activities predicted greater standard political beliefs a year later. Youth volunteering predicted lower standard political beliefs, and standard political involvement predicted lower community service beliefs one year later. Findings support the assessment of adolescent sociomoral civic beliefs and demonstrate how civic experiences and civic beliefs can mutually promote each other during adolescence.
Prognostic factors of survival in HIV/HCV co‐infected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: The CARCINOVIC Cohort
Authors: Gelu‐Simeon Moana , Lewin Maïté , Ostos Maria , Bayan Tatiana , Beso Delgado Maria , Teicher Elina , Layese Richard , Roudot‐Thoraval Françoise , Fontaine Hélène , Sobesky Rodolphe , Salmon‐Céron Dominique , Samuel Didier , Seror Olivier , Nahon Pierre , Meyer Laurence , Duclos‐Vallée Jean‐Charles ,   the ANRS HC EP 25 Prethevic, ANRS CO13 HepaVih and ANRS CO12 CirVir Study Groups
Published: June 2018

Background & Aims

HIV/HCV co‐infected patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have poorer survival than HCV mono‐infected patients. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic factors for survival.

Methods

From 2006 to 2013, 55 incident HCCs among HIV+/HCV+ patients, from three ANRS cohorts, were compared with 181 HCCs in HIV−/HCV+ patients from the ANRS Cirvir cohort.

Results

HIV+/HCV+ patients were younger (50 years [IQR: 47‐53] vs 62 [54‐70], P < 0.001), male (89% vs 63%, P < 0.001) than HIV−/HCV+ patients. At HCC diagnosis, both groups had a majority of non‐responders to anti‐HCV‐therapy, and HIV+/HCV+ patients had more frequently known a previous cirrhosis decompensation (31% vs 14%, P = 0.005). At diagnostic imaging, there were more infiltrative forms of HCC in HIV+/HCV+ group (24% vs 14%, P < 0.001), associated with tumour portal thrombosis in 29%. During a median follow‐up period of 11.96 [5.51‐27] months since HCC diagnosis, a majority of palliative treatments were decided in HIV+/HCV+ patients (51% vs 19%, P < 0.001). The 1 and 2‐year crude survival rates were 61% versus 78% and 47% versus 63%, P = 0.003 respectively. In a Cox model multivariate analysis adjusted for the cohort, age and sex, the most important prognostic factor for survival was the infiltrative form of the tumour (aRR: 8.10 [4.17‐15.75], P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The radiological aggressiveness of the tumour is the best prognostic factor associated with poorer survival of HCC in HIV+/HCV+ patients. High α‐foetoprotein level and decompensated cirrhosis are other ones. This justifies a particular attention to the detection and the management of small nodules in this high‐risk population.
Computer‐Aided Optimization of Surveillance Cameras Placement on Construction Sites
Authors: Yang Xincong , Li Heng , Huang Ting , Zhai Ximei , Wang Fenglai , Wang Chen
Published: June 2018

Surveillance system is becoming an indispensable system on construction sites with the fast development of computer vision techniques, thus an optimal placement of surveillance cameras is essential for the successful performance of this system. However, to develop effective models and solutions for large‐scale camera placement still remain as opening challenges. Therefore, this study investigated two fundamental placement problems and proposed a multiobjective placement problem, where the maximum‐coverage problem is to monitor the construction layout as much as possible with a limited budget; the minimum‐cost problem is to minimize the cost given a layout required to be fully covered; and the multiobjective problem is to identify the Pareto fronts of cost and coverage ratio of the system. To solve these problems, the objective space and search space were discretized, and the deterministic and heuristic approaches were revised and developed to provide effective solutions. Finally, experiments in a practical project in Hong Kong were conducted to verify the sufficiency of the developed algorithms and findings revealed potential implementations in many scenarios.
Elderly‐onset case of hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies: A case report
Authors: Sato Tatsuya , Maekawa Risa , Mitsutake Akihiko , Katsumata Junko , Seki Tomonari , Hideyama Takuto , Shiio Yasushi
Published: June 2018

Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) is an autosomal dominant disorder with a feature of repeated focal pressure neuropathies. The first symptomatic episode usually occurs in the second or third decade of life. We here report a case of 88‐year‐old patient who had recurrent episodes of foot drop since she was 68 years old. Elderly‐onset HNPP is a rare condition that may be misdiagnosed as stroke. Physicians should consider HNPP when seeing repeat entrapment neuropathies regardless of patient's age.
Traditional neonatal care practices in Jordan: A qualitative study
Authors: Mrayan Lina , Abujilban Sanaa , Abuidhail Jamila , Alshraifeen Ali
Published: June 2018

Traditional practices during the first months of neonatal life are common in developing countries, such as Jordan. Many international studies and reports have highlighted the fact that traditional neonatal practices are the cause of high neonatal mortality and morbidity rates in some countries. The aim of the present study was to identify neonatal care practices in Jordan. A descriptive, qualitative research design was used across four Jordanian cities across diverse regions. Forty mothers of neonates were interviewed over a period of 6 months (from January to June 2016). Thematic and content analysis was undertaken following Braun and Clarke's six step analysis. The results indicated that in Jordan, home‐based neonatal care comprises non‐biomedical practices. Rubbing the neonate's skin with salt, swaddling, prelacteal feeding, and other treatment modalities are common. Further studies are necessary to determine and report on the pros and cons of these practices in regard to neonatal health.
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: intraspecific diversity and pangenomes
Authors: Mathieu Stephanie , Cusant Loïc , Roux Christophe , Corradi Nicolas
Published: June 2018

Contents

Summary
1129

I.
Introduction
1129

II.
Intraspecific phenotypic variation and the plant host
1130

III.
High inter‐isolate genetic diversity in model AMF
1130

IV.
Genome diversity within the model AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis
1131

V.
Pangenomes and the future of AMF ecological genomics
1131

Acknowledgements
1133

References
1133

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are ubiquitous plant symbionts with an intriguing population biology. Conspecific AMF strains can vary substantially at the genetic and phenotypic levels, leading to direct and quantifiable variation in plant growth. Recent studies have shown that high intraspecific diversity is very common in AMF, and not only found in model species. Studies have also revealed how the phenotype of conspecific isolates varies depending on the plant host, highlighting the functional relevance of intraspecific phenotypic plasticity for the AMF ecology and mycorrhizal symbiosis. Recent work has also demonstrated that conspecific isolates of the model AMF Rhizophagus irregularis harbor large and highly variable pangenomes, highlighting the potential role of intraspecific genome diversity for the ecological adaptation of these symbionts.
Evolutionary diversification of CYC/TB1‐like TCP homologs and their recruitment for the control of branching and floral morphology in Papaveraceae (basal eudicots)
Authors: Zhao Yafei , Pfannebecker Kai , Dommes Anna Barbara , Hidalgo Oriane , Becker Annette , Elomaa Paula
Published: June 2018

Angiosperms possess enormous morphological variation in plant architectures and floral forms. Previous studies in Pentapetalae and monocots have demonstrated the involvement of TCP domain CYCLOIDEA/TEOSINTE BRANCHED1‐like (CYC/TB1) genes in the control of floral symmetry and shoot branching. However, how TCP/CYC‐like (CYL) genes originated, evolved and functionally diversified remain unclear.

We conducted a comparative functional study in Ranunculales, the sister lineage to all other eudicots, between Eschscholzia californica and Cysticapnos vesicaria, two species of Papaveraceae with actinomorphic and zygomorphic flowers, respectively.

Phylogenetic analysis indicates that CYL genes in Papaveraceae form two paralogous lineages, PapaCYL1 and PapaCYL2. Papaveraceae CYL genes show highly diversified expression patterns as well as functions. Enhanced branching by silencing of EscaCYL1 suggests that the role of CYC/TB1‐like genes in branching control is conserved in Papaveraceae. In contrast to the arrest of stamen development in Pentapetalae, PapaCYL genes promote stamen initiation and growth. In addition, we demonstrate that CyveCYLs are involved in perianth development, specifying sepal and petal identity in Cysticapnos by regulating the B‐class floral organ identity genes. Our data also suggest the involvement of CyveCYL genes in the regulation of flower symmetry in Cysticapnos.

Our work provides evidence of the importance of TCP/CYC‐like genes in the promotion of morphological diversity across angiosperms.