bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Incorporating Prior Information with Fused Sparse Group Lasso: Application to Prediction of Clinical Measures from Neuroimages
Authors: Beer Joanne C. , Aizenstein Howard J. , Anderson Stewart J. , Krafty Robert T.
Published: April 2019

Predicting clinical variables from whole-brain neuroimages is a high-dimensional problem that can potentially benefit from feature selection or extraction. Penalized regression is a popular embedded feature selection method for high-dimensional data. For neuroimaging applications, spatial regularization using the or norm of the image gradient has shown good performance, yielding smooth solutions in spatially contiguous brain regions. Enormous resources have been devoted to establishing structural and functional brain connectivity networks that can be used to define spatially distributed yet related groups of voxels. We propose using the fused sparse group lasso (FSGL) penalty to encourage structured, sparse, and interpretable solutions by incorporating prior information about spatial and group structure among voxels. We present optimization steps for FSGL penalized regression using the alternating direction method of multipliers algorithm. With simulation studies and in application to real functional magnetic resonance imaging data from the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange, we demonstrate conditions under which fusion and group penalty terms together outperform either of them alone.
Cross‐Situational Learning of Phonologically Overlapping Words Across Degrees of Ambiguity
Authors: Mulak Karen E. , Vlach Haley A. , Escudero Paola
Published: April 2019

Cross‐situational word learning (XSWL) tasks present multiple words and candidate referents within a learning trial such that word–referent pairings can be inferred only across trials. Adults encode fine phonological detail when two words and candidate referents are presented in each learning trial (2 × 2 scenario; Escudero, Mulak, & Vlach, ). To test the relationship between XSWL task difficulty and phonological encoding, we examined XSWL of words differing by one vowel or consonant across degrees of within‐learning trial ambiguity (1 × 1 to 4 × 4). Word identification was assessed alongside three distractors. Adults finely encoded words via XSWL: Learning occurred in all conditions, though accuracy decreased across the 1 × 1 to 3 × 3 conditions. Accuracy was highest for the 1 × 1 condition, suggesting fast‐mapping is a stronger learning strategy here. Accuracy was higher for consonant than vowel set targets, and having more distractors from the same set mitigated identification of vowel set targets only, suggesting possible stronger encoding of consonants than vowels.
Uptake into a bedside needle and syringe program for acute care inpatients who inject drugs
Authors: Brooks Hannah L. , O'Brien Daniel C. , Salvalaggio Ginetta , Dong Kathryn , Hyshka Elaine
Published: April 2019

Introduction and Aims

Injection drug use is associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Needle and syringe programs (NSP) have been shown to reduce negative health outcomes for people who inject drugs. However, NSPs have limited reach in hospitals, and no peer‐reviewed research has examined NSP implementation in acute care settings. We describe the implementation of an inpatient NSP offered through an addiction medicine consultation service in a large, urban acute care hospital in Edmonton, Canada, and compared characteristics of inpatients who did versus did not access the NSP.

Design and Methods

Administrative data were reviewed for all addiction medicine consult service intakes between 11 July 2016 and 14 January 2018. We calculated the proportion of intakes in which patients: (i) were offered syringes; and (ii) accepted syringes. Multivariate analyses were used to examine associations between these outcomes and patient age and sex.

Results

Patients reported injecting drugs in 597 (31%) of 1907 intakes during the study period. People who inject drugs were offered syringes in 334 (56%) of these intakes, and accepted syringes in 124 (37%) of them. Female patients were more likely to accept syringes.

Discussion and Conclusions

In a recently implemented NSP for hospital inpatients, just over half of patients who reported injection drug use were offered syringes, and the rate of patient acceptance was low. Further research is necessary to describe best practice for inpatient NSPs and identify and remove any barriers that prevent some inpatients from either being offered or accepting syringes.
Reliability of cytological evaluation of mast cells from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in horses: Intraobserver agreement and mast cell identification
Authors: Hansen S. , Fjeldborg J. , Hansen A. J. , Baptiste K. E.
Published: April 2019

Endoscopy, including bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid cytology, are invaluable tools for equine lower airway diagnostics. Objectives of the study were to evaluate the reliability of two staining methods, May–Grünwald–Giemsa (MGG) and toluidine blue (TB), for the evaluation of mast cells in cytospin smears from BAL fluid samples and the reliability of a 500‐cell differential cell count using both staining methods. Endoscopies and BAL fluid sampling were performed and BAL cytology was evaluated from cytospin smears. BAL cytology slides from 78 horses were evaluated. Three experienced observers evaluated the BAL cytology cytospin smears for the mast cell comparison study. The intra‐ and interobserver agreements were calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). BAL cytology mast cell counts were significantly higher with the TB staining method compared with the MGG staining method. Observer agreements showed below acceptable agreement between observers for mast cell counts for both staining methods, even with fixed coordinates. Based on results from this study recommendation for BAL cytology staining would be to use both the MGG and the TB staining method, relying on the TB for the enumeration of mast cells.
UV irradiation‐induced DNA hypomethylation around WNT1 gene: Implications for solar lentigines
Authors: Yamada Takaaki , Hasegawa Seiji , Iwata Yohei , Arima Masaru , Kobayashi Tsukane , Numata Shigeki , Nakata Satoru , Sugiura Kazumitsu , Akamatsu Hirohiko
Published: April 2019

Wnt/β‐catenin signalling promotes melanogenesis in melanocytes and also induces melanocytogenesis from melanocyte stem cells (McSCs). Previous study reported that WNT1, a ligand which activates Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway, was more highly expressed in the epidermis at SLs than in normal skin areas, suggesting that WNT1 causes hyperpigmentation. To elucidate the mechanism by which WNT1 expression is increased in SLs, we examined the methylation of 5‐carbon of cytosine (5mC), that is 5‐methylcytosine (5mC) level, in a region within the WNT1 promoter; the methylation of the region was known to negatively regulate WNT1 gene expression. We used an immortalized cell line of human interfollicular epidermal stem cells to analyse the effect of UVB irradiation on DNA methylation level of WNT1 promoter and found that UVB irradiation caused demethylation of WNT1 promoter and promoted WNT1 mRNA expression. It was also found that UVB irradiation reduced the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), an enzyme responsible for maintaining methylation patterns during cell division. Pathological analysis of SLs and non‐SL regions in the human skin revealed that both DNMT1 expression and 5mC level were decreased at SLs compared to non‐SL skins. Furthermore, bisulphite sequencing showed that the methylated CpG level in WNT1 promoter was also lower at SLs than in non‐SL skins. Thus, in the skin exposed to a high amount of UV rays, excessive expression of WNT1 is thought to be caused by the demethylation of WNT1 promoter, and the upregulated WNT1 promotes melanocytogenesis and melanogenesis, then resulting in SL formation.
Evaluation of the two‐parameter fracture criterion for various crack configurations made of 7075‐T6 aluminium alloy using finite‐element fracture simulations
Authors: Ouidadi Hasnaa , Lacy Thomas E. , Newman James C.
Published: April 2019

For many years, a two‐parameter fracture criterion (TPFC) has been used to correlate and predict failure loads on cracked metallic fracture specimens. The current study was conducted to evaluate the use of the TPFC on a high‐strength aluminium alloy, using elastic‐plastic finite‐element (FE) analyses with the critical crack‐tip‐opening angle (CTOA) fracture criterion. In 1966, Forman generated fracture data on middle‐crack tension, M(T), specimens made of thin‐sheet 7075‐T6 aluminium alloy, which is a quasi‐brittle material. The fracture data included a wide range of specimen half‐widths (w) ranging from 38 to 305 mm. A two‐dimensional FE analysis code (ZIP2D) with a “plane‐strain core” option was used to model the fracture process with a critical CTOA chosen to fit the M(T) test data. Fracture simulations were then conducted on other M(T), single‐edge‐crack tension, SE(T), and bend, SE(B), specimens over a wide range in widths (w = 19‐610 mm). No test data were available on the SE‐type specimens. The results supported the TPFC equation for net‐section stresses less than the material proportional limit. However, some discrepancies in the FE fracture simulations results were observed among the numerical analyses made on the three specimen types. Thus, more research is needed to improve the transferability of the TPFC from the M(T) specimen to both the SE(T) and SE(B) specimens for quasi‐brittle materials.
Selective chemical degradation of silica sinters of the Taupo Volcanic Zone (New Zealand). Implications for early Earth and Astrobiology
Authors: Chaves Torres Lidia , Kaur Gurpreet , Melbourne Leanne A. , Pancost Richard D.
Published: April 2019

Most organic matter (OM) on Earth occurs as kerogen‐like materials, that is naturally formed macromolecules insoluble with standard organic solvents. The formation of this insoluble organic matter (IOM) is a topic of much interest, especially when it limits the detection of compounds of geomicrobiological interest. For example, studies that search for biomarker evidence of life on early Earth or other planets usually use solvent‐based extractions. This leaves behind a pool of OM as unexplored post‐extraction residues, potentially containing diagnostic biomarkers. Since the IOM has an enhanced potential for preservation compared to soluble OM, analysing IOM‐released biomarkers can also provide even deeper insights into the ecology of ancient settings, with implications for early Earth and Astrobiology investigations. Here, we analyse the prokaryotic lipid biosignature within soluble and IOM of the Taupo Volcanic Zone (TVZ) silica sinters, which are key analogues in the search for life. We apply sequential solvent extractions and a selective chemical degradation upon the post‐solvent extraction residue. Moreover, we compare the IOM from TVZ sinters to analogous studies on peat and marine sediments to assess patterns in OM insolubilisation across the geosphere. Consistent with previous work, we find significant but variable proportions—1%–45% of the total prokaryotic lipids recovered—associated with IOM fractions. This occurs even in recently formed silica sinters, likely indicating inherent cell insolubility. Moreover, archaeal lipids seem more prone to insolubilisation as compared to the bacterial analogues, which might enhance their preservation and also bias overall biomarkers interpretation. These observations are similar to those observed in other settings, confirming that even in a setting where the OM derives predominantly from prokaryotic sources, patterns of IOM formation/occurrence are conserved. Differences with other settings, however, such as the occurrence of archaeol in IOM fractions, could be indicative of different mechanisms for IOM formation that merit further exploration.
Usefulness of chemokine C‐C receptor 7−/programmed cell death‐1+ follicular helper T cell subset frequencies in the diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Kimura Naruhiro , Yamagiwa Satoshi , Sugano Tomoyuki , Horigome Ryoko , Setsu Toru , Tominaga Kentaro , Kamimura Hiroteru , Takamura Masaaki , Terai Shuji
Published: April 2019

Aim

A significant concern for autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) patients is diagnostic specificity. Delayed treatment due to delayed diagnosis leads to poor survival. We recently reported that chemokine C‐C receptor 7 (CCR7)−/programmed cell death‐1 (PD‐1)+ follicular helper T (Tfh) cells could be involved in AIH pathogenesis. We hypothesized that Tfh cell frequencies might contribute to AIH diagnosis.

Methods

Peripheral blood was collected from 12 patients with AIH from April 2013 to March 2016, as well as 24 patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and 44 healthy controls (HC). Mononuclear cells were separated using a Ficoll gradient, and surface markers were investigated using flow cytometry.

Results

The frequency of CCR7−PD‐1+ Tfh cells was significantly higher in AIH patients (39.1 ± 8.6) compared to that in HC (25.1 ± 7.9%, P < 0.01) and HBV patients (22.7 ± 7.8, P < 0.01). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the frequency of the CCR7−PD‐1+ Tfh cell subset for AIH and HC and AIH and HBV was 0.905 and 0.927, respectively. The frequency of the CCR7−PD‐1+ Tfh cell subset was not correlated with International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group (IAIHG) scoring, Simplified AIH scoring, or Japanese diagnostic guidelines (R = 0.10, 0.947; R = 0.0008, 0.180; and R = 0.348, 0.558, respectively). Therefore, these frequencies could diagnose AIH patients who were not diagnosed with the IAIHG or simplified AIH scores.

Conclusions

The frequency of the peripheral CCR7−PD‐1+ Tfh cell subset could be useful for diagnosing AIH even in patients who were not diagnosed with IAIHG or simplified AIH scores.
A Tunisian family with a novel mutation in the gene CYP4F22 for lamellar ichthyosis and co‐occurrence of hearing loss in a child due to mutation in the SLC26A4 gene
Authors: Sayeb Marwa , Riahi Zied , Laroussi Nadia , Bonnet Crystel , Romdhane Lilia , Mkaouar Rahma , Zaouak Anissa , Marrakchi Jihene , Abdessalem Ghaith , Messaoud Olfa , Bouchniba Oussema , Ghilane Nacer , Mokni Mourad , Besbes Ghazi , Yacoub‐Youssef Houda , Petit Christine , Abdelhak Sonia
Published: April 2019

Background

Co‐occurrence of two genetic diseases is challenging for accurate diagnosis and genetic counseling. The recent availability of whole exome sequencing (WES) has dramatically improved the molecular diagnosis of rare genetic diseases in particular in consanguineous populations.

Methods

We report here on a consanguineous family from Southern Tunisia including three members affected with congenital ichthyosis. The index case had a hearing loss (HL) and ichthyosis and was primarily suspected as suffering from keratitis‐ichthyosis‐deafness (KID) syndrome. WES was performed for the index case, and all members of the nuclear family were sequenced (Sanger method).

Results

The WES approach allowed the identification of two strong candidate variants in two different genes; a missense mutation c.1334T>G (p.Leu445Trp) in exon 11 of SLC26A4 gene, associated with isolated HL and a novel missense mutation c.728G>T (p.Arg243Leu) in exon 8 of CYP4F22 gene likely responsible for ichthyosis. These two mutations were predicted to be pathogenic by three pathogenicity prediction softwares (Scale‐Invariant Feature Transform [SIFT], Polymorphism Phenotyping [PolyPhen], Mutation Taster) to underlie the HL and ichthyosis, respectively.

Conclusions

The present study raises awareness about the importance of familial history for accurate diagnosis of syndromic genetic diseases and differential diagnosis with co‐occurrence of two distinct clinical entities. In addition, in countries with limited resources, WES sequencing for a single individual provides a cost effective tool for molecular diagnosis confirmation and genetic counseling.
The r‐interdiction selective multi‐depot vehicle routing problem
Authors: Sadati Mir Ehsan Hesam , Aksen Deniz , Aras Necati
Published: April 2019

The protection of critical facilities has been attracting increasing attention in the past two decades. Critical facilities involve physical assets such as bridges, railways, power plants, hospitals, and transportation hubs among others. In this study we introduce a bilevel optimization problem for the determination of the most critical depots in a vehicle routing context. The problem is modeled as an attacker–defender game (Stackelberg game) from the perspective of an adversary agent (the attacker) who aims to inflict maximum disruption on a routing network. We refer to this problem as the r‐interdiction selective multi‐depot vehicle routing problem (RI‐SMDVRP). The attacker is the decision maker in the upper level problem (ULP) who chooses r depots to interdict with certainty. The defender is the decision maker in the lower level problem (LLP) who optimizes the vehicle routes in the wake of the attack. The defender has to satisfy all customer demand either using the remaining depots or through outsourcing to a third party logistics service provider. The ULP is solved through exhaustive enumeration, which is viable when the cardinality of interdictions does not exceed five among nine depots. For the LLP we implement a tabu search heuristic adapted to the selective multi‐depot VRP. Our results are obtained on a set of RI‐SMDVRP instances synthetically constructed from standard MDVRP test instances.
A variable neighborhood search for flying sidekick traveling salesman problem
Authors: de Freitas Júlia Cária , Penna Puca Huachi Vaz
Published: April 2019

The efficiency and dynamism of unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, have presented substantial application opportunities in several industries in the last years. Notably, logistic companies have given close attention to these vehicles to reduce delivery time and operational cost. A variant of the traveling salesman problem (TSP), called the flying sidekick traveling salesman problem, was introduced involving drone‐assisted parcel delivery. The drone launches from the truck, proceeds to deliver parcels to a customer, and then is recovered by the truck at a third location. While the drone travels through a trip, the truck delivers parcels to other customers as long as the drone has enough battery to hover waiting for the truck. This work proposes a hybrid heuristic where the initial solution is created from the optimal TSP solution reached by a TSP solver. Next, an implementation of the general variable neighborhood search is employed to obtain the delivery routes of truck and drone. Computational experiments show the potential of the algorithm to improve significantly delivery time. Furthermore, we provide a new set of instances based on the well‐known traveling salesman problem library instances.
Gender Differences in the Influence of Mental Health on Job Retention
Authors: Barnay Thomas , Defebvre Éric
Published: April 2019

We measure gender differences in the causal impact of the 2006 self‐assessed mental health status (anxiety disorders and depressive episodes) on job retention in 2010. We use data from the French Health and Professional Career Path survey. To control for endogeneity biases, we use bivariate probit models to simultaneously explain employment status and mental health. Anxiety disorders reduce men's job retention capacity by up to 12 percentage points (pp). Depressive episodes affect both genders almost equally (around 11 pp). More severe cases of both mental health conditions are relevant in determining the capacity of individuals to remain in employment.
“Scribble Scrabble”: Migration, Young Parenting Latinas, and Digital Storytelling as Narrative Shock
Authors: Krause Elizabeth L. , Gubrium Aline C.
Published: April 2019

The nexus of migration and family offers a conjuncture to enrich understanding of teen pregnancy and parenting. This article draws findings from a project centered on participant‐produced new media to reveal how young mothers negotiate reproductive health disparities. We focus on young mothers’ experiences of migration and movement, captured in local vernacular through participants’ digital story depictions and follow‐up interviews. We argue that disparities link up with the single story of teen mothering, involve public shaming, continue hand‐in‐hand with institutional humiliation, and are exacerbated through migration and movement. To disrupt the normative notions that shadow young mothers, we take seriously the young women's narratives. We theorize how the richness of stories and storytelling may serve as a potent intervention—a narrative shock—for articulating meanings and cultivating dignity for young mothers and their families, especially those who do not fit the sedentary and age biases of parenting ideals.
Pharmaceutical Creep: U.S. Military Power and the Global and Transnational Mobility of Psychopharmaceuticals
Authors: Lim Chua Jocelyn
Published: April 2019

In 2006, the United States Department of Defense developed for the first time official criteria for the use of psychopharmaceuticals “in theater”—in the physical and tactical spaces of military operations including active combat. Based on fieldwork with Army soldiers and veterans, this article explores the transnational and global dimensions of military psychopharmaceutical use in the post‐9/11 wars. I consider the spatial, material, and symbolic dimensions of what I call “pharmaceutical creep”—the slow drift of psychopharmaceuticals from the civilian world into theater and into the military corporate body. While pharmaceutical creep is managed by the U.S. military as a problem of gatekeeping and of supply and provisioning, medications can appear as the solution to recruitment and performance problems once in theater. Drawing on soldiers’ accounts of medication use, I illuminate the possibilities, but also the frictions, that arise when routine psychopharmaceuticals are remade into technologies of global counterinsurgency.
Smell's puzzling discrepancy: Gifted discrimination, yet pitiful identification
Authors: Young Benjamin D.
Published: April 2019

Humans are gifted at detecting and discriminating odors, yet we have difficulty identifying odors by name. This paper offers a new explanation for the puzzling discrepancy between our olfactory capacities for discrimination and identification by weaving together recent neuroscientific findings regarding the cortical connectivity of the olfactory system, the olfactory system's proprietary semantic integration center, and recent philosophical research on the olfactory system's compositional format of representation. The paper develops a comprehensive explanation that we cannot readily deploy conceptual resources in naming odorants, because of an incompatibility of formats employed by our conceptual semantic resources and the olfactory system.
The Ageing Gut–Brain study: Exploring the role of the gut microbiota in dementia
Authors: Johnstone A. M. , Donaldson A. I. C. , Scott K. P. , Myint P. K.
Published: April 2019

Up to 90% of people with dementia will experience behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) as part of their illness, and nearly two‐thirds of those living with dementia in care homes will experience BPSD. BPSD describe the disturbed perceptions, thought content, moods or behaviours that frequently occur in patients with dementia. There is increasing evidence that the gut microbiota plays a role in the interaction between specific nutrients and brain function. The Ageing Gut–Brain study described here is based on the hypothesis that the gut microbiota, and microbial metabolites, impact upon the gut–brain axis and thereby on behaviour, including BPSD. In the absence of available cures for Alzheimer's disease and its symptoms, if evidence in support of the gut–brain axis hypothesis is found, diet/nutritional interventions comprising important modifiable component/s may have significant impact on the management of BPSD.
An autopsy case of early‐stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with TDP‐43 immunoreactive neuronal, but not glial, inclusions
Authors: Kon Tomoya , Mori Fumiaki , Oyama Yoshinobu , Tanji Kunikazu , Kimura Tamaki , Takahashi Shirushi , Wakabayashi Koichi
Published: April 2019

Phosphorylated transactivation response DNA‐binding protein 43 kDa (p‐TDP‐43)‐immunoreactive neuronal and glial cytoplasmic inclusions are a histopathological hallmark of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP‐43. We report an autopsy case of lower motor neuron‐predominant ALS in a 47‐year‐old Japanese man who committed suicide 5 months after onset. Histopathologically, neuronal loss was restricted to the anterior horn of the spinal cord, and no obvious neuronal loss was noted in the motor cortex or brainstem motor nuclei. Bunina bodies were found in the spinal anterior horn cells and the facial and hypoglossal nuclei. Immunohistochemically, p‐TDP‐43‐immunoreactive neuronal, but not glial, cytoplasmic inclusions were frequently found in the spinal anterior horn and facial and hypoglossal nuclei, and rarely in the motor cortex. We considered the present case to be an example of lower motor neuron‐predominant ALS. p‐TDP‐43‐immunoreactive aggregates in neurons, but not in glial cells, may be an early‐stage pathology of ALS.
Current understanding of bipolar disorder: Toward integration of biological basis and treatment strategies
Authors: Kato Tadafumi
Published: April 2019

Biological studies of bipolar disorder initially focused on the mechanism of action for antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs, and the roles of monoamines (e.g., serotonin, dopamine) have been extensively studied. Thereafter, based on the mechanism of action of lithium, intracellular signal transduction systems, including inositol metabolism and intracellular calcium signaling, have drawn attention. Involvement of intracellular calcium signaling has been supported by genetics and cellular studies. Elucidation of the neural circuits affected by calcium signaling abnormalities is critical, and our previous study suggested a role of the paraventricular thalamic nucleus. The genetic vulnerability of mitochondria causes calcium dysregulation and results in the hyperexcitability of serotonergic neurons, which are suggested to be susceptible to oxidative stress. Efficacy of anticonvulsants, animal studies of candidate genes, and studies using induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived neurons have suggested a relation between bipolar disorder and the hyperexcitability of neurons. Recent genetic findings suggest the roles of polyunsaturated acids. At the systems level, social rhythm therapy targets circadian rhythm abnormalities, and cognitive behavioral therapy may target emotion/cognition (E/C) imbalance. In the future, pharmacological and psychosocial treatments may be combined and optimized based on the biological basis of each patient, which will realize individualized treatment.
Pathophysiology and treatment of hoarding disorder
Authors: Nakao Tomohiro , Kanba Shigenobu
Published: April 2019

Hoarding disorder (HD) is a newly listed disease in the new category of Obsessive–Compulsive and Related Disorders in the DSM‐5. Patients with HD find it difficult to discard possessions regardless of their actual value and to organize those things. As a result, the possessions overflow the living space and hinder living functions. Though the hoarding symptom had been regarded as a subtype of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) to date, recent studies have revealed many differences in clinical characteristics, including onset, course, degree of insight, and treatment responses, between hoarding and other subtypes. Moreover, several neuroimaging studies have found specific changes of brain structure and function in OCD patients with hoarding symptoms compared to patients with non‐hoarding OCD. Meanwhile, strategies for treatment of HD have not been standardized. At present, psychological treatment using cognitive behavioral therapy techniques has a certain effect. In this review, we outline the pathophysiology and treatment of HD.
Collective harm and the inefficacy problem
Authors: Nefsky Julia
Published: April 2019

This paper discusses the inefficacy problem that arises in contexts of “collective harm.” These are contexts in which by acting in a certain sort of way, people collectively cause harm, or fail to prevent it, but no individual act of the relevant sort seems to itself make a difference. The inefficacy problem is that if acting in the relevant way won't make a difference, it's unclear why it would be wrong. Each individual can argue, “things will be just as bad whether or not I act in this way, so there's no point in doing otherwise.” The goal of this paper is to give an overview of some of the main responses available to the problem and to highlight central issues that arise for each type of response. In the final section, I explain what I take to be the most promising strategy and discuss the form that this strategy should take.
Dose‐dependent associations between prenatal caffeine consumption and small for gestational age, preterm birth, and reduced birthweight in the Japan Environment and Children's Study
Authors: Kobayashi Sumitaka , Sata Fumihiro , Murata Katsuyuki , Saijo Yasuaki , Araki Atsuko , Miyashita Chihiro , Itoh Sachiko , Minatoya Machiko , Yamazaki Keiko , Ait Bamai Yu , Kishi Reiko ,   The Japan Environment and Children's Study Group
Published: April 2019

Background

Few previous studies have investigated the association between prenatal caffeine intake and birth size (small for gestational age [SGA], preterm birth, and birthweight Z‐score) in Japan.

Objectives

We examined the dose‐dependency of this association (prenatal caffeine consumption and birth size) as part of the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

Methods

A prospective birth cohort included 94 876 fetuses in Japan. Participants were enrolled between January 2011 and March 2014. Adjusted multiple linear regression and Cox regression models were used to examine the association between prenatal caffeine levels and infant birth size.

Results

The median estimated caffeine consumption during pregnancy was 125.5 mg/day, as determined by self‐administered questionnaires. There were 7252 SGA infants (7.6%) and 4281 preterm birth infants (4.5%). Compared with infants of mothers whose caffeine consumption during pregnancy was in the lowest quartile (4.2 to <86.4 mg/day), infants of mothers whose caffeine consumption was in the highest quartile 4 (205.5‐5080.0 mg/day) were at an increased risk of SGA (relative risk [RR] 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10, 1.27), and at an increased risk of preterm birth at the second trimester of gestation (RR 1.94, 95% CI 1.12, 3.37), with a 0.32‐day reduction in gestational age (95% CI −0.52, −0.12) and with a 0.07 reduction in birthweight Z‐score observed (95% CI −0.09, −0.05).

Conclusions

Prenatal caffeine consumption was associated with birth size. However, as the association between prenatal caffeine consumption and birth size was likely confounded by unpredicted potential factors, our confidence in the true causality of the association is moderate.
Factor structure of the Japanese version of the Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease Scale (QOL‐AD)
Authors: Yamada Takahiro , Nakaaki Shutaro , Sato Junko , Sato Hirofumi , Shikimoto Ryo , Furukawa Toshi A. , Mimura Masaru , Akechi Tatsuo
Published: April 2019

Background

The Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease Scale (QOL‐AD) developed by Logsdon et al. in1999 is believed to be useful for evaluating responses from both patients and their caregivers. We previously confirmed both the reliability and the validity of the Japanese version of the QOL‐AD. However, the factor structure of this scale should be confirmed because the QOL‐AD covers multiple facets of dementia patients’ lives. Thus, we performed a factor analysis of the Japanese QOL‐AD. Then, we examined the correlations between each of the identified QOL factor scores and the results of other scales.

Methods

The Japanese version of the QOL‐AD was given to 132 AD patients and 132 caregivers. Four other tests were also performed at the same time: the Mini‐Mental State Examination, the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), the Hyogo Activities of Daily Living Scale (HADL), and the Short Memory Questionnaire. A factor analysis using Varimax rotation was used to examine the dimensions underlying the QOL‐AD. In addition, we examined the Pearson correlations between each of the identified QOL factor scores and the results of the other four tests.

Results

Factor analyses of both versions of the Japanese QOL‐AD (both the patients’ and the caregivers’ responses) revealed three factors that were named ‘psychological wellbeing’, ‘human relationships’, and ‘physical and social environment’. The ‘psychological wellbeing’ factor was significantly correlated with the Mood factor of the NPI. The ‘human relationships’ factor was significantly correlated with the Psychosis factor of the NPI. The ‘physical and social environment’ factor was significantly correlated with the HADL.

Conclusions

Both the patients’ and the caregivers’ responses to the Japanese version of the QOL‐AD were composed of three factors: ‘psychological wellbeing’, ‘human relationships’, and ‘physical and social environment’. The present results support the multi‐domain concept of QOL proposed by Lawton.
Emotional interference under low versus high executive control
Authors: Grützmann Rosa , Riesel Anja , Kaufmann Christian , Kathmann Norbert , Heinzel Stephan
Published: April 2019

Previous research has demonstrated that task‐irrelevant emotional distractors interfere with task performance especially under low phasic executive control (i.e., in nonconflict trials). In the present study, we measured medio‐frontal ERPs (N2 and correct‐related negativity, CRN) to elucidate which aspects of task performance are affected by emotional interference in a flanker task. To create emotional interference, negative and neutral pictures were presented during the flanker stimuli. N2 and CRN were reduced after negative pictures, indicating that conflict processing and performance monitoring are both affected by emotional interference. On the behavioral level, prolonged response times after negative pictures were observed under low phasic executive control (i.e., in compatible trials). Additionally, we explored whether emotional interference is modulated not only by phasic changes in executive control (i.e., conflict vs. nonconflict trials) but also by tonic changes in executive control (i.e., low vs. high overall conflict frequency). To this end, the flanker task consisted of two blocks with 25% versus 75% incompatible trials. Prolonged response times after negative pictures in compatible trials were observed only under low tonic executive control but not under high executive control.
A Bridge in Flux: Narratives and the Policy Process in the Pacific Northwest
Authors: Brewer Adam M.
Published: April 2019

Policy narratives play an important role in the policy process. Often policy narratives originate from advocacy coalitions seeking increased support from the public for their policy stance. Although most Narrative Policy Framework studies have focused on national policy issues, this study examines a state and local economic development project by exploring the policy narratives from competing coalitions in favor and opposed to the project. Specifically, in the Portland–Vancouver area of Oregon and Washington, local policy discussions have been dominated by a proposal for a new mega bridge on Interstate‐5 connecting the two cities across the Columbia River. A new government agency (CRC—Columbia River Crossing) was formed for the implementation of this project. Upon approval of a proposal, CRC experienced heavy backlash from citizens, local businesses, community leaders, and other stakeholders leading to the formation of two competing coalitions in opposition and support of the bridge. This study, using content analysis of 370 public documents, finds that competing coalitions utilize policy narratives in strategic ways to characterize the opposing coalition, themselves, and other actors in the policy subsystem. This study also suggests that the strength and cohesion of a coalition's narrative contributes to its policy success and the winning/losing status of a coalition potentially determines the types of strategies they will use. Last, this study introduces and tests a new narrative strategy called the impotent shift testing a coalition's strategic use of the victim character.
The effect of dentist experience on the treatment of individuals with disability under general anesthesia
Authors: Fernández‐Feijoo Javier , Carro Beatriz , Branco Ana , García‐Caballero Lucía , Diniz Márcio , Limeres Jacobo
Published: April 2019

Aims

The aim of the present work was to assess in patients with severe disability operated under general anesthesia whether the progressive acquisition of experience by the dental team affects the type of procedure performed and the duration of operations.

Methods and results

A study group of 911 patients who underwent dental treatment under general anesthesia between 1997 and 2014 was conformed. Information was collected from every patient including: dental diagnosis, dental procedures and duration of the operating times. To analyze the impact of the operators’ experience, the study period was divided into three 6‐year periods. The most prevalent systemic diagnosis was “mental disease and behavior disorders” (42.9%). The most common dental procedures were extractions and fillings. Fewer extractions were performed during the third 6‐year period (p = .000). Compared with the other two periods, during the first period fewer composite fillings (p = .000 and p = .000, respectively) and more fissure sealants (p = .001 and p = .023, respectively) were performed. The number of amalgam fillings decreased progressively (p = .000). There was a statistically significant reduction in the mean duration of the operations between the first and third period (p = .002).

Conclusion

The dental team's experience entailed a significant reduction in the duration of operations.
Current trends in medicalisation: Universalising ADHD diagnosis and treatments
Authors: Lusardi Roberto
Published: April 2019

There is a wide sociological debate that documents how inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behaviours from a certain point forward cease to be disturbing behaviours and become childhood psychiatric disorders—named attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders (ADHD)—to be responded to with specific treatments since these behaviours are supposed to have a negative or pervasive impact on social and personal functioning and quality of life. Looking back over the stages of this debate, the article will focus on what, in recent years, are the two main directions of the expansion of the domain of medicalisation: on the one hand, discussing how the ADHD category has changed by moving from being typically a childhood problem to a disorder that can affect adults and, on the other, how it tends to globalise conquering new markets outside the United States, Canada, and Australia. The article concludes commenting on how the processes of lifelong expansion and worldwide diffusion is universalising the medical category, overcoming the disciplinary and geographical boundaries in which ADHD was created and developed.
Evaluation and development of sustainable urban land use plans through spatial optimization
Authors: Yao Jing , Murray Alan T. , Wang Jing , Zhang Xiaoxiang
Published: April 2019

Along with rapid global urbanization, cities are challenged by environmental risks and resource scarcity. Sustainable urban planning is central to address the dilemma of economic growth and ecosystem protection, where the use of land is critical. Sustainable land use patterns are spatially explicit in nature, and can be structured and addressed using spatial optimization integrating GIS and mathematical models. This research discusses prominent sustainability concerns in land use planning and suggests a generalized multi‐objective spatial optimization model to facilitate conventional planning. The model is structured to meet land use demand while satisfying the requirements of the physical environment, society and economy. Unlike existing work relying on raster data, due to its simple data structure and ease of spatial relationship evaluation, this research develops an approach for identifying land use solutions based on vector data that better reflects the actual shape and spatial layout of land parcels as well as the ways land use information is managed in practice. An evolutionary algorithm is developed to find the set of efficient (Pareto) solutions given the complexity of vector‐based representations of space. The proposed approach is applied in an empirical study of Dafeng, China in order to support local urban growth and development. The results demonstrate that spatial optimization can be a powerful tool for deriving effective and efficient land use planning strategies. A comparison to results using a raster data approach supports the superiority of land use optimization using vector data as part of planning practice.
Integrative genome analysis identified the KANNO blood group antigen as prion protein
Authors: Omae Yosuke , Ito Shoichi , Takeuchi Mayumi , Isa Kazumi , Ogasawara Kenichi , Kawabata Kinuyo , Oda Akira , Kaito Sayaka , Tsuneyama Hatsue , Uchikawa Makoto , Wada Ikuo , Ohto Hitoshi , Tokunaga Katsushi
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUND

Anti‐KANNO, a broadly reactive RBC alloantibody, is found among some Japanese pregnant women, but the genetic basis of the corresponding antigen remains unclear.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We integrated a statistical approach to identify the coding gene for KANNO antigen by conducting a genome‐wide association study (GWAS) on four KANNO‐negative individuals and 415 healthy Japanese. We also applied whole‐exome sequencing to them and performed a replication study to confirm the identified genome variation using independent 14 KANNO‐negative individuals. A monoclonal antibody‐specific immobilization of erythrocyte antigens (MAIEA) assay was used to locate KANNO antigen on RBC‐specific membrane protein. In vivo and in vitro binding assays of anti‐KANNO were further applied to the cells expressing a candidate protein.

RESULTS

The GWAS revealed a genome‐wide significant association of chromosome 20p13 locus (p = 2.76E‐08; odds ratio > 1000 [95% confidence interval = 48–23,674]). The identified single‐nucleotide polymorphism located in an intronic region of the prion protein (PRNP) gene. Whole‐exome sequencing revealed a missense variant in the PRNP gene (rs1800014, E219K), which is in linkage disequilibrium with the single‐nucleotide polymorphism identified in the GWAS. All 18 KANNO‐negative individuals possessed the homozygous genotype of the missense variant. The MAIEA assay using anti‐KANNO and mouse antihuman prion protein showed a clear difference between KANNO‐positive and KANNO‐negative RBCs. Anti‐KANNO showed direct binding to CHO‐K1 cells expressing wild‐type PRNP but not to those expressing E219K PRNP.

CONCLUSION

We first identified the coding gene of the high‐frequency antigen KANNO located in PRNP and the missense variation (E219K) that affects the seropositivity of the KANNO antigen, which were confirmed by PRNP overexpressed cells.
Transfusion trends in hip arthroplasty in Korea: a nationwide study by the Korean National Health Insurance Service
Authors: Suh You‐Sung , Lee Jeong Jae , Nho Jae‐Hwi , Lee Jae‐Jun , Won Sung Hun , Yang Hyeon‐Jong
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUND

Hip arthroplasties are strongly associated with blood transfusion to compensate for perioperative bleeding. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the trends in transfusion associated with hip arthroplasties, using nationwide data supplied by the National Health Insurance Service.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We used data from nationwide claims database of the Health Insurance Review Assessment Service. The data managed by the National Health Insurance Service were used to identify 161,934 hip arthroplasties under three categories, including bipolar hemiarthroplasty, total hip arthroplasty, and revision arthroplasty, from 2007 to 2015. The transfusion rates, transfusion amounts, the proportion of transfusion, and cost associated with each type of operation were investigated and stratified according to age, sex, hospital type, and region.

RESULTS

The proportion of patients receiving any allogeneic transfusion was 81.1% in 9 years. The overall proportion of transfusion was 7% fresh frozen plasma, 12% platelets, and 77% RBCs. The average count of transfusions was 4.1 in bipolar hemiarthroplasty (343,815/83,729), 4.3 in total hip arthroplasty (196,869/46,097), and 8.7 in revision arthroplasty (35,044/4,024) from 2007 to 2015.

CONCLUSION

In this nationally representative study of trends in transfusion associated with hip arthroplasty, we observed significantly high rates of blood transfusion among patients undergoing hip arthroplasties. Although the overall amount of transfusion declined, the allogeneic transfusion rate was still high from 2007 to 2015 in Korea, and higher than other countries are reporting.
Synthetic microRNA‐205 exhibited tumour suppression in spontaneous canine malignant melanoma by intratumoral injection
Authors: Yoshikawa Ryutaro , Mori Takashi , Noguchi Shunsuke , Akao Yukihiro , Maruo Kohji , Kitade Yukio
Published: April 2019

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small, noncoding RNA molecules consisting of 18 to 25 nucleotides. Malignant melanomas (MMs) are one of the most common malignancies in both dogs and humans. We previously reported that chemically modified synthetic miRNA‐205 (miR‐205BP/S3) inhibits melanoma growth in vitro and in vivo. The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of intratumoral administration of synthetic miR‐205 for spontaneous CMMs and to evaluate its potential as systemic therapy. Ten dogs with various stages of MM were treated with miR‐205BP/S3 injected into tumours. Adverse effects (AEs) were assessed in accordance with the Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group‐Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (VCOG‐CTCAE) v1.1 guidelines. Five cases attained complete remission (CR), three attained stable disease (SD), and two cases displayed characteristics of progressive disease (PD). In all cases, no changes were observed in the blood parameters upon miRNA administration, and miR‐205BP/S3 administration did not yield any side effects. The present results suggest that intratumoral administration of miR‐205BP/S3 is a potentially applicable treatment for canine melanoma.
ANFIS Model for Path Loss Prediction in the GSM and WCDMA Bands in Urban Area
Authors: Faruk Nasir , Surajudeen-Bakinde N. T. , Abdulkarim Abubakar , I. Popoola Segun , Abdulkarim A. , A. Olawoyin Lukman , A. Atayero Aderemi
Published: April 2019

Path loss propagation is a vital concern when designing and planning networks in mobile communication systems. Propagation models such as the empirical, deterministic and theoretical models, which possess complex, inconsistent, time-consuming and non-adaptable features, have proven to be inefficient in designing of wireless systems, thereby resulting in the need for a more reliable model. Artificial Intelligence methods seem to overcome the drawbacks of the propagation models for predicting path loss. In this paper, the ANFIS approach to path loss prediction in the GSM and WCDMA bands is presented for selected urban areas in Nigeria. Furthermore, the effects of the number of Membership Functions (MFs) are investigated. The prediction results indicated that the ANFIS model outperformed the Hata, Cost-231, Egli and ECC-33 models in both Kano and Abuja urban areas. In addition, an increase in the number of MFs conceded an improved RMSE result for the generalized bell-shaped MF. The general performance and outcome of this research work show the efficiency and usefulness of the ANFIS model in improving prediction accuracy over propagation models