bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The embodied experience of pregnancy with an ileostomy
Authors: Whiteley Ian , Gullick Janice
Published: July 2018

Aims and objectives

To understand women's experience of pregnancy with an ileostomy following bowel resection for inflammatory bowel disease or familial adenomatous polyposis.

Background

While symptoms of IBD/FAP can be debilitating and life‐threatening, ostomy formation can effectively manage symptoms. Research on pregnant women with an ostomy is sparse. While some literature suggests pregnant women with an ostomy can have a normal pregnancy and birth, documented stoma complications include intestinal obstruction, peristomal hernia, retraction, stenosis, laceration, bleeding, prolapse, pouching problems, nausea, vomiting and dehydration.

Design

Hermeneutic phenomenology.

Methods

All known women (n = 8) who had been pregnant with an ileostomy were recruited from the stomal therapy departments of two teaching hospitals. Single in‐depth interviews were digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Hermeneutic phenomenological analysis was guided by the philosophy of Merleau‐Ponty. Reporting rigour was guided by the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research.

Results

There was a lower level of concern among pregnant woman with an ostomy than anticipated. Women described the following: the “hell” of the disease; the stoma as a lifeline; heading into uncharted waters; wanting to be normal; the shared space of the baby and the diseased abdomen; pregnancy as a dark tunnel; and the unreliable body.

Conclusion

Women with inflammatory bowel disease frequently experience debilitating symptoms and serious ill health. Ileostomy formation improves symptoms and the sense of “feeling normal,” facilitating readiness for conception, pregnancy and motherhood. However, women's uncertainty about conception and pregnancy persists due to the scarce information and experiences offered by clinicians, and fears around their unreliable body during pregnancy. Given this uncertainty for both women and their treating clinicians, outcomes should be documented and shared to reassure women of child‐bearing age that pregnancy and birth can be safe with a stoma.

Relevance to practice

Women and clinicians should aim for disease remission, peer support, ongoing monitoring and involvement of a Stomal Therapy Nurse.
Accuracy of Dental Replica Models Using Photopolymer Materials in Additive Manufacturing: In Vitro Three‐Dimensional Evaluation
Authors: Jin Su‐Jin , Kim Dong‐Yeon , Kim Ji‐Hwan , Kim Woong‐Chul
Published: July 2018

Purpose

To evaluate the accuracy (trueness and precision) of dental replica models produced by using photopolymer materials in additive manufacturing.

Materials and Methods

A complete arch model was scanned using an extraoral scanner (Identica Blue) and established as reference. For the control group, 10 stone models were acquired through the conventional method from the reference model. For the experimental groups, digital data were acquired using an intraoral scanner (CEREC Omnicam), and 10 stereolithographic apparatus (SLA) models and 10 PolyJet models were made. All models were scanned with an extraoral scanner. Three‐dimensional analysis software was used to measure differences between the 3D scanned images in root mean square values. The ISO‐5725‐1 specification was followed to measure trueness and precision between two 3D scanned data. Trueness was calculated by overlapping scanned data with the reference model and precision by performing pairwise intragroup comparisons. Also the ratio of region out of tolerance (> ±50 μm) was measured. One‐way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc analysis were applied.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference in trueness between the stone and the SLA models (p > 0.05). Dental replica models using photopolymer materials showed statistically significantly better precision than that of the stone model (p < 0.05). Regarding tolerance, no statistically significant difference was observed between the stone and the SLA models (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Although the dental replica models using photopolymer materials did not show better trueness than the conventional stone models, there was no significant difference between the SLA and the stone models. Concerning precision, dental replica models using photopolymer materials presented better results than that of the conventional stone models. In sum, dental replica models using photopolymer materials showed sufficient accuracy for clinical use.
Effect of Zirconia Core Thickness and Veneer Firing Cycle on the Biaxial Flexural Strength of Veneering Ceramic
Authors: Alayad Abdullah Saeed
Published: July 2018

Purpose

To evaluate the influence of various Y‐TZP thicknesses and veneer firing cycles on the strength of two ceramic veneers.

Materials and Methods

180 Y‐TZP cores of 0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 mm thickness were prepared followed by sintering in a high temperature furnace; 180 presintered veneering ceramic discs (Vita VM9 porcelain and e.max Ceram) were also prepared using a mold. The discs were placed on zirconia plates (zirconia cores) of different thickness (0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 mm) and exposed to different firing cycles (Vita VM9 porcelain‐910, 930, and 950°C; e.max Ceram‐750, 770, and 790°C). Ball‐on‐three‐balls flexural strength test was performed (universal testing machine) at a crosshead speed of 0.5 mm/min. Scanning electron microscopy of fractured specimens was performed. Means and standard deviations of flexural strength were analyzed using Tukey‐Kramer HSD test for multiple comparisons.

Results

Specimens within material groups showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) for flexural strength with respect to Y‐TZP core thickness (0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 mm) (VM9 [117.30 ± 14.328, 117.75 ± 13.66, 113.75 ± 20.10], e.max Ceram [94.79 ± 17.5, 100.02 ± 14.7, 95.23 ± 15.4]). Flexural strength within material groups with respect to different firing cycles ([VM9‐910, 930, 950°C], e.max Ceram [750, 770, 790°C]), for VM9 (111.49 ± 15.7, 120.86 ± 13.2, 116.46 ± 18.4), and e.max Ceram (94.64 ± 15.2, 101.6 ± 16.69, 93.8 ± 15.20) showed no significant difference (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Different zirconia thicknesses (0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 mm) and veneer firing cycles for Vita VM9 and e.max ceramics failed to show any significant influence on their biaxial flexural strengths.
Comparative Ambiguity Aversion in Intertemporal Decisions
Authors: Wang Jianli , Li Jingyuan
Published: July 2018

This article examines the effects of ambiguity aversion on intertemporal decisions when there is ambiguity about a future state. Compared to the existing literature, we allow for a three‐way separation between intertemporal substitution, risk aversion, and ambiguity aversion. Holding risk preferences, beliefs, and time preferences fixed, we explore how a change in ambiguity aversion increases the strength of the current willingness to pay. We apply our results to saving, self‐protection, and self‐insurance problems.
Hepatitis B surface antigen positivity during pregnancy and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Tan Jing , Mao Xuanyue , Zhang Guiting , Wang Wen , Pan Tianying , Liu Xinghui , Sun Xin
Published: July 2018

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a prevalent public health issue worldwide. Its impact on important pregnancy outcomes, such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), has not been clearly established. The findings from published studies are inconsistent. In this systematic review and meta‐analysis, we aimed to clarify whether HBV infection manifested during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of GDM. We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE for cohort studies and case‐control studies that investigated the association between maternal hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity and GDM. We pooled adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and unadjusted OR, respectively, using the random‐effect generic inverse variance method. We assessed risk of bias using the Quality in Prognosis Studies tool and conducted five pre‐specified subgroup analyses. In total, 23 cohort studies involving 3 529 223 participants were included. The risk of GDM was 6.48% (1868/28 829) among HBsAg‐positive pregnant women and 3.41% (119 283/3 500 394) among HBsAg‐negative pregnant women. Meta‐analyses of both unadjusted and adjusted effect estimates showed that HBsAg positivity during pregnancy was associated with higher risk of developing GDM (unadjusted OR 1.35, 95% CI: 1.17 to 1.56, I2 = 82.6%; adjusted OR 1.47, 1.22 to 1.76, I2 = 62%). Among pre‐specified subgroup analysis, significant differences were found among studies with high vs low or moderate risk of bias. The results were robust to sensitivity analyses. In conclusion, HBsAg positivity during pregnancy has a moderate effect on an increased risk of GDM. Given the size of the population with HBV infection worldwide, however, this effect could have substantial impact on pregnancy. Further studies are warranted to investigate whether active infection with HBeAg positivity would further elevate the risk of adverse events during pregnancy.
Caregivers' nutritional knowledge and attitudes mediate seasonal shifts in children's diets
Authors: Oduor Francis Odhiambo , Boedecker Julia , Kennedy Gina , Mituki‐Mungiria Dorothy , Termote Céline
Published: July 2018

Smallholder farmers dependent on rain‐fed agriculture experience seasonal variations in food and nutrient availability occasioned by seasonality of production patterns. This results in periods of nutrient abundance in the plenty seasons followed closely by periods of nutrient inadequacies and malnutrition. This pattern contributes to a cycle of deteriorating health and nutrition status and deprives children of their ability to realize full developmental potential. This study investigates the role of caregiver's nutritional knowledge and attitudes in mediating effects of seasonality on children's diets. Repeated cross‐sectional surveys were conducted on 151 randomly selected households in the plenty and lean seasons to collect dietary data using two non‐consecutive quantitative 24‐hr recalls and caregiver's nutritional knowledge and attitudes assessed using interviewer administered questionnaire. Sixty‐five percent of the caregivers had attained a primary level education or less. There was a positive modest correlation between caregivers' nutritional knowledge and their attitudes (r = 0.3, P < 0.000, α = 0.01). Children's mean adequacy ratio was significantly higher in the plenty season than in the lean season (0.84 vs. 0.80, P < 0.000). A two‐block hierarchical regression to predict the seasonal changes in dietary quality of children using caregiver's nutritional knowledge and attitude scores while controlling for the effect of sociodemographics and mean adequacy ratio at first season (plenty) found that caregiver's nutritional knowledge (ß = −0.007, SE = 0.003, P = 0.027, 95% CI [−0.013, −0.001] ŋ2 = 0.034) but not attitudes had significant contribution to the prediction. Maternal nutritional knowledge mediates seasonal variation in child nutrient intakes.
Diversity of rickettsiae and potential vectors of spotted fever in an area of epidemiological interest in the Cerrado biome, midwestern Brazil
Authors: Machado I. B. , Bitencourth K. , Cardoso K. M. , Oliveira S. V. , Santalucia M. , Marques S. F. F. , Amorim M. , GazêTa G. S.
Published: July 2018

The Brazilian state of Goiás, untouched by spotted fever (SF) until 2012, has subsequently reported cases of the disease in several regions. This study aimed to survey the diversity of potential vectors and rickettsia in areas of Goiás under environmental surveillance or case investigation for SF. Collected specimens were assayed with molecular biology technology using DNA extraction, amplification and sequencing of fragments of the genes gltA, ompA, ompB and sca4 to detect rickettsia in ticks and fleas. Amplification of cytochrome oxidase subunit II and 16S rRNA was performed to assist tick identification. Rickettsia felis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) was found in Ctenocephalides felis (Bouché, 1835) (Siphonaptera: Pulicidae). Rickettsia bellii was found in Amblyomma rotundatum Koch, 1844 (Ixodida: Ixodidae) and in Amblyomma cajennense sensu lato. Rickettsia sp. strain NOD was found in Amblyomma nodosum Neumann, 1899. Of the Amblyomma cajennense complex, Amblyomma sculptum Berlese, 1888 was confirmed in the northern, northeast, midwest and southeast regions of Goiás, whereas Amblyomma cajennense sensu stricto (Fabricius, 1787) was found only in the northern region of the state. Amblyomma dubitatum Neumann, 1899 associated with a species of the A. cajennense complex was the most common epidemiological finding, although Rickettsia rickettsii was not detected. This is the first report of Rickettsia sp. strain NOD in Goiás.
Clinicopathological study of de novo membranous nephropathy of ‘stage 0’ after kidney transplantation
Authors: Katsuma Ai , Nakada Yasuyuki , Yamamoto Izumi , Horita Shigeru , Katsumata Haruki , Kobayashi Akimitsu , Unagami Kohei , Okumi Masayoshi , Ishida Hideki , Yokoo Takashi , Yamaguchi Yutaka , Tanabe Kazunari ,   Japan Academic Consortium of Kidney Transplantation (JACK)
Published: July 2018

Aim

De novo membranous nephropathy (dnMN) contributes to graft failure, but the pathophysiology of the disease remains poorly understood. We defined cases exhibiting granular Immunoglobulin G (IgG) immunofluorescence staining but lacking dense deposits on electron microscopy as being of ‘dnMN stage 0’; we studied the associated clinicopathological features.

Methods

We studied 4653 allograft biopsy specimens (from 1747 cases treated in the Department of Urology, Tokyo Women’s Medical University) and found 42 cases of allograft membranous nephropathy, of which 28 (1.6%) were diagnosed as dnMN. Of these, five cases (0.06%) fulfilled the criteria for dnMN stage 0.

Results

All five cases were diagnosed based on biopsies indicating increased serum levels of creatinine. Proteinuria status varied from negative to 2+. The median period from transplantation to allograft biopsy was 4068 days. Four of the five cases exhibited suspicious antibody‐mediated rejection together with dnMN. The glomerular capillaries of all cases were C4d‐positive, as were the peritubular capillaries of three of the four ABO‐compatible transplants. In terms of IgG subclass, IgG1 and IgG3 predominated in all cases, and phospholipase A2 receptor status (evaluated via immunoreactivity) was negative in all cases. We examined two cases by immunoelectron microscopy using anti‐IgG and anti‐C4d antibodies. We found subendothelial and intramembranous deposits expressing both IgG and C4d, corresponding to positivity in immunofluorescence analysis.

Conclusion

We confirmed the existence of dnMN stage 0 by focusing on granular IgG immunofluorescence positivity.
Clinicopathological features and outcomes of kidney allografts in plasma cell‐rich acute rejection: A case series
Authors: Hamada Aki Mafune , Yamamoto Izumi , Kawabe Mayuko , Katsumata Haruki , Yamakawa Takafumi , Katsuma Ai , Nakada Yasuyuki , Kobayashi Akimitsu , Koike Yusuke , Miki Jun , Yamada Hiroki , Kimura Takahiro , Tanno Yudo , Ohkido Ichiro , Tsuboi Nobuo , Yamamoto Hiroyasu , Yokoo Takashi
Published: July 2018

Plasma cell‐rich acute rejection (PCAR) is a rare type of acute rejection in renal transplantation. Despite aggressive immunotherapy, approximately 40–60% of patients develop graft loss within 1 year after an episode of PCAR. However, the reason for this outcome remains obscure. This study retrospectively identified six patients with PCAR diagnosed between 2009 and 2015 at a single university hospital. Clinicopathological data were collected. Five of the six patients were male, and mean age at the onset of PCAR was 49.0 ±14.5 years. None of the patients showed overall poor adherence to medication. Mean time to diagnosis was 302 ±234 days post‐transplantation. All patients had preceding or concurrent viral infection. Four patients developed PCAR alone and two patients developed PCAR with antibody‐mediated rejection. One of the six patients showed both severe tubulointerstitial and microvascular inflammation (total of Banff tubulitis ‘t’ + interstitial inflammation ‘i’ + glomerulitis ‘g’ + peritubular capillaritis ‘ptc’ scores >10). This patient had progressive worsening of graft function and re‐initiated dialysis at 74 months after a PCAR episode. In addition, three of the six patients had long‐term recurrence of PCAR. With the recurrence of PCAR, patients with both moderate tubulointerstitial and microvascular inflammation (total of Banff ‘t’ + ‘i’ + ‘g’ + ‘ptc’ scores >6) had progressive worsening of graft function. In summary, the present results suggest that concurrent moderate to severe tubulointerstitial and microvascular inflammation may lead to poor outcomes of graft function after a PCAR episode.
Two novel APOA1 gene mutations in a Japanese renal transplant recipient with recurrent apolipoprotein A‐I related amyloidosis
Authors: Horike Keiji , Takeda Asami , Tsujita Makoto , Goto Norihiko , Watarai Yoshihiko , Uchida Kazuharu , Katayama Akio , Nishihira Morikuni , Shimizu Akira , Nozu Kandai , Morozumi Kunio
Published: July 2018

Apolipoprotein A‐I amyloidosis is a rare, autosomal dominant disorder of APOA‐1 gene characterized by the deposition of apolipoprotein A‐I in various organs and can be classified into either hereditary or nonhereditary form in the absence of a family history. Renal disease caused by Apolipoprotein A‐I amyloidosis commonly manifested as slowly progressive renal function impairment without heavy proteinuria. Apolipoprotein A‐I‐related amyloidosis of kidney is of pathogenetic interest because the renal failure is due to peritubular and interstitial amyloid deposits without glomerular deposits. Tubulointerstitial lesion of amyloid deposits was diagnosed in half of carriers of APOA1 gene mutation, only 13% of patients progressed to renal failure requiring hemodialysis or kidney transplantation. Recurrence of apolipoprotein A‐I‐related amyloidosis after kidney transplantation is very rare. We report a case of a 63‐year‐old Japanese female without a family history of kidney and/or liver disease who showed slowly progressive renal graft dysfunction without overt proteinuria. Graft biopsy revealed characteristic Congo red stain positive amyloid deposits localized in the renal interstitial area. No glomerular, vascular and tubular amyloid deposits were noted. Laser microdissection‐liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry‐based proteomic analysis elucidated the type of amyloidosis as apolipoprotein A‐I amyloidosis. Genetic analysis of DNA sequence study revealed two novel APOA1 gene mutations of Leu202Arg and Lys262Asn. This is a first and very rare case report of the recurrence of non‐familial hereditary apolipoprotein A‐I amyloidosis in Japanese transplant recipient.
Protocol graft biopsy in kidney transplantation
Authors: Sakai Ken , Oguchi Hideyo , Muramatsu Masaki , Shishido Seiichiro
Published: July 2018

Accurate interpretation of renal allograft biopsy is necessary to guide therapy, especially when an episode biopsy is taken to rescue the graft. Contrarily, a protocol biopsy is carried out routinely to identify baseline conditions (biopsy at 0 or 1 h), subclinical rejection, histological change under current immunosuppression regimen, drug nephrotoxicity, viral infection, and recurrence of glomerulonephritis. Semiquantitative scoring for active lesions including tubulitis, glomerulitis, capillaritis, arteritis, arteriopathy, and others such as polyomavirus infection are key factors in transplant pathology. Recently, the Banff classification has proposed several novel concepts focused on antibody‐mediated rejection (ABMR). This review presents the interpretation of transplant pathology from rejection to infection, recurrence of glomerulonephritis, and drug nephrotoxicity, with a description of ABMR according to the 2013 and 2017 Banff classification.
Targeting eotaxin‐1 and CCR3 receptor alleviates enteric neuropathy and colonic dysfunction in TNBS‐induced colitis in guinea pigs
Authors: Filippone R. T. , Robinson A. M. , Jovanovska V. , Stavely R. , Apostolopoulos V. , Bornstein J. C. , Nurgali K.
Published: July 2018

Background

The accumulation of eosinophils is mediated by the chemokine receptor‐3 (CCR3)‐eotaxin axis. Increased expression of eotaxin and its receptor is associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Activation of eosinophils causes the release of cationic proteins that are neurotoxic such as eosinophil‐derived neurotoxin (EDN). Damage to enteric neurons alters neurally controlled functions of the gut correlated with intestinal inflammation. We hypothesized that inhibition of the CCR3‐eotaxin axis will prevent inflammation‐induced functional changes to the gastrointestinal tract.

Methods

Hartley guinea pigs were administered with trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS; 30 mg/kg in 30% ethanol) intrarectally to induce colitis. A CCR3 receptor antagonist (SB 328437 [SB3]) was injected intraperitoneally 1 hour postinduction of colitis. Animals were euthanized 7 days post‐treatment and colon tissues were collected for ex vivo studies. The EDN‐positive eosinophils in the colon, indicating eosinophil activation, were quantified by immunohistochemistry. Effects of SB3 treatment on gross morphological damage, enteric neuropathy, and colonic dysmotility were determined by histology, immunohistochemistry, and organ bath experiments.

Key Results

The number of EDN‐positive eosinophils was significantly increased in the lamina propria in close proximity to myenteric ganglia in inflamed colon. The TNBS‐induced inflammation caused significant damage to colonic architecture and inhibition of colonic motility. Treatment with SB3 antagonist attenuated inflammation‐associated morphological damage in the colon, reduced infiltration of EDN‐positive eosinophils and restored colonic motility to levels comparable to control and sham‐treated guinea pigs.

Conclusion & Inferences

This is the first study demonstrating that inhibition of CCR3‐eotaxin axis alleviates enteric neuropathy and restores functional changes in the gut associated with TNBS‐induced colitis.
Heritability of spotted wilt resistance in a Florida‐EP™ “113”‐derived peanut (Arachis hypogaea) population
Authors: Tseng Yu‐Chien , Tillman Barry L. , Gezan Salvador A. , Wang Jianping , Rowland Diane L.
Published: July 2018

Spotted wilt, caused by tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV), is a major disease of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) in the south‐eastern United States. Cultivar resistance is the most important factor in disease control. However, spotted wilt resistance in current cultivars still carries risk in the absence of other practices when disease is severe. In contrast, a newly developed cultivar, Florida‐EP™ “113,” has demonstrated excellent resistance even when spotted wilt is severe. Information on heritability of this resistance can help breeders better utilize it in breeding. F2‐derived populations from the cross Florida‐EP™ “113”/Georgia Valencia were developed and tested in field experiments in Florida from 2012 to 2014. Disease symptoms were evaluated visually, and the frequency of TSWV infection was measured by ImmunoStrip®. Heritability estimated from ImmunoStrip® was higher (0.66) compared to visual ratings (0.48). Genetic correlations among evaluation methods (rA = 0.92–0.99) and environments (rB = 0.86–0.99) were high. These results indicate that resistance in Florida‐EP™ “113” is highly heritable and that selection in a high disease risk environment is feasible without significant erosion of genetic gain.
Helping to reduce fights before flights: How environmental stressors in organizations shape customer emotions and customer–employee interactions
Authors: DeCelles Katherine A. , DeVoe Sanford E. , Rafaeli Anat , Agasi Shira
Published: July 2018

Previous examinations of environmental stressors in organizations have mostly emphasized their dysfunctional effects on individuals’ emotions and behaviors. Extending this work by drawing from the social functional perspective on emotion, we propose that customers’ negative emotional responses to environmental stressors in organizations can exert both dysfunctional and functional effects on customer–employee interactions. Specifically, we theorize that situational and physiological forms of environmental stressors can be dysfunctional by incurring customer anger, precipitating customer aggression, and diminishing employee helpfulness. We further theorize that situational relative to physiological stressors can exert functional effects in inducing customer fear that elicits empathy and helpfulness from employees. We test our model via an archival, observational, and critical incident yoked experimental study set in the airport context. This research contributes to stress theory and its organizational application by integrating theory from the social functional approach to emotion with appraisal‐based theories of stress in organizations.
Rehabilitation of coral reefs through removal of macroalgae: state of knowledge and considerations for management and implementation
Authors: Ceccarelli Daniela M. , Loffler Zoe , Bourne David G. , Al Moajil‐Cole Grace S. , Boström‐Einarsson Lisa , Evans‐Illidge Elizabeth , Fabricius Katharina , Glasl Bettina , Marshall Paul , McLeod Ian , Read Mark , Schaffelke Britta , Smith Adam K. , Jorda Georgina T. , Williamson David H. , Bay Line
Published: July 2018

Coral reef ecosystems are under increasing pressure by multiple stressors that degrade reef condition and function. Although improved management systems have yielded benefits in many regions, broad‐scale declines continue and additional practical and effective solutions for reef conservation and management are urgently needed. Ecological interventions to assist or enhance ecosystem recovery are standard practice in many terrestrial management regimes, and they are now increasingly being implemented in the marine environment. Intervention activities in coral reef systems include the control of coral predators (e.g. crown‐of‐thorns starfish), substrate modification, the creation of artificial habitats and the cultivation, transplantation, and assisted recruitment of corals. On many coastal reefs, corals face competition and overgrowth by fleshy macroalgae whose abundance may be elevated due to acute disturbance events, chronic nutrient enrichment, and reduced herbivory. Active macroalgae removal has been proposed and trialed as a management tool to reduce competition between algae and corals and provide space for coral recruitment, in the hope of restoring the spatial dominance of habitat‐forming corals. However, macroalgae removal has received little formal attention as a method of reef restoration. This review synthesizes available knowledge of the ecological role of macroalgae on coral reefs and the potential benefits and risks associated with their active removal.
Plant community responses to bison reintroduction on the Northern Great Plains, United States: a test of the keystone species concept
Authors: McMillan Nicholas A. , Kunkel Kyran E. , Hagan Donald L. , Jachowski David S.
Published: July 2018

Keystone species restoration, or the restoration of species whose effect on an ecosystem is much greater than their abundance would suggest, is a central justification for many wildlife reintroduction projects globally. Following restoration, plains bison (Bison bisonL.) have been identified as a keystone species in the tallgrass prairie ecoregion, but we know of no research to document similar effects in the mixed‐grass prairie where restoration efforts are ongoing. This study addresses whether Northern Great Plains (NGP) mixed‐grass prairie plant communities exhibit traits consistent with four central keystone effects documented for bison in the tallgrass prairie. We collected species composition, diversity, abundance, bare ground cover, and plant height data in three treatments: where livestock (Bos taurusL.) continuously grazed, livestock were removed for 10 years, and bison have been introduced and resident for 10 years. We observed mixed support for bison acting as keystone species in this system. Supporting the keystone role of bison, we observed higher species richness and compositional heterogeneity (β‐diversity) in the bison treatment than either the livestock retention or livestock removal treatments. However, we observed comparable forb, bare ground, and plant height heterogeneity between bison‐restored sites and sites where livestock were retained, contradicting reported keystone effects in other systems. Our results suggest that after 10 years of being restored, bison partially fulfill their role as a keystone species in the mixed‐grass prairie, and we encourage continued long‐term data collection to evaluate their influence in the NGP.
Chronic exercise impairs nitric oxide pathway in rabbit carotid and femoral arteries
Authors: Marchio Patricia , Guerra‐Ojeda Solanye , Vila José M. , Aldasoro Martín , Valles Soraya L. , Soler Carlos , Mauricio Maria D.
Published: July 2018

Key points

Some of the beneficial effects of exercise in preventing vascular related diseases are mediated by the enhancement of endothelial function where the role of nitric oxide (NO) is well documented, although the relevance of calcium activated potassium channels is not fully understood.

The impact of oxidative stress induced by training on endothelial function remains to be clarified.

By evaluating different endothelial vasodilator pathways on two vascular beds in a rabbit model of chronic exercise, we found a decreased NO bioavailability and endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in both carotid and femoral arteries.

Physical training induced carotid endothelial dysfunction as a result of an increase in oxidative stress and a reduction in superoxide dismutase expression.

In the femoral artery, the lower production of NO was counteracted by an increased participation of large conductance calcium activated potassium channels, preventing endothelial dysfunction.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of chronic exercise on vasodilator response in two different arteries. Rings of carotid and femoral arteries from control and trained rabbits were suspended in organ baths for isometric recording of tension. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), Cu/Zn and Mn‐superoxide dismutase (SOD), and large conductance calcium activated potassium (BKCa) channel protein expression were measured by western blotting. In the carotid artery, training reduced the relaxation to ACh (10–9 to 3 × 10–6 m) that was reversed by N‐acetylcysteine (10–3 m). l‐NAME (10–4 m) reduced the relaxation to ACh in both groups, although the effect was lower in the trained group (in mean ± SEM, 39 ± 2% vs. 28 ± 3%). Physical training did not modify the relaxation to ACh in femoral arteries, although the response to l‐NAME was lower in the trained group (in mean ± SEM, 41 ± 5% vs. 17 ± 2%). Charybdotoxin (10–7 m) plus apamin (10–6 m) further reduced the maximal relaxation to ACh only in the trained group. The remaining relaxation in both carotid and femoral arteries was abolished by KCl (2 × 10–2 m) and BaCl2 (3 × 10–6 m) plus ouabain (10–4 m) in both groups. Physical training decreased eNOS expression in both carotid and femoral arteries and Cu/Zn and Mn‐SOD expression only in the carotid artery. BKCa channels were overexpressed in the trained group in the femoral artery. In conclusion, chronic exercise induces endothelial dysfunction in the carotid artery as a result of oxidative stress. In the femoral artery, it modifies the vasodilator pathways, enhancing the participation of BKCa channels, thus compensating for the impairment of NO‐mediated vasodilatation.
Sunshine for your mind
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: July 2018

Moderate exposure to ultraviolet light stimulates glutamate synthesis in the brain and improves learning and memory.
Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase Is Not Required for Antibody Response to Polysaccharide Vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhi
Authors: Belde Vivek , Cravens Matthew P. , Gulandijany Dania , Walker Justin A. , Palomo-Caturla Isabel , Alugupalli Akhil S. , Sandilya Vijay K. , Mahmoud Tamer , Bäumler Andreas J. , Kearney John F. , Alugupalli Kishore R.
Published: July 2018

B cell antigen receptor (BCR) diversity increases by several orders of magnitude due to the action of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) during V(D)J recombination. Unlike adults, infants have limited BCR diversity, in part due to reduced expression of TdT.
Prevalence and Genomic Structure of Bacteriophage phi3 in Human-Derived Livestock-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from 2000 to 2015
Authors: van Alen Sarah , Ballhausen Britta , Kaspar Ursula , Köck Robin , Becker Karsten
Published: July 2018

Whereas the emergence of livestock-associated methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
(LA-MRSA) clonal complex 398 (CC398) in animal husbandry and its transmission to humans are well documented, less is known about factors driving the epidemic spread of this zoonotic lineage within the human population. One factor could be the bacteriophage phi3, which is rarely detected in
S. aureus
isolates from animals but commonly found among isolates from humans, including those of the human-adapted methicillin-susceptible
S. aureus
(MSSA) CC398 clade.
Metagenomics for Clinical Infectious Disease Diagnostics Steps Closer to Reality
Authors: Dekker John P.
Published: July 2018

Metagenomics approaches based on shotgun next-generation sequencing hold promise for infectious disease diagnostics. Despite substantial challenges that remain, work done over the past few years justifies excitement about the potential for these approaches to transform how clinical pathogen identification and analysis are performed.
Teaching Genetic Linkage and Multiple Crossovers with Sets of Cards as Chromosomes
Authors: Heineman Richard H.
Published: July 2018

TMathematical models help students identify and understand underlying scientific patterns, while improving and reinforcing quantitative skills. However, they are often omitted from introductory undergraduate science classes. As a result, math-heavy theories, like optimal foraging theory, are often omitted from these classes. While optimal foraging easily fits into the curriculum of any class discussing food webs and energy transfer, this theory is often not explained until the graduate level. In this article, I describe a quantitative-rich lesson paired with a hands-on active learning module (or alternatively, a demonstration). This lesson was used in an introductory-level environmental science course but is suited for a range of biology and environmental science classes or laboratories.
Pre-Medical Preparation in Microbiology among Applicants and Matriculants in Osteopathic Medical School in the United States
Authors: Ramos Raddy L. , Guercio Erik , Martinez Luis R.
Published: July 2018

It is recognized that medical school curricula contain significant microbiology-related content as part of the training of future physicians who will be responsible stewards of antimicrobials. Surprisingly, osteopathic and allopathic medical schools do not require pre-medical microbiology coursework, and the extent to which medical students have completed microbiology coursework remains poorly understood. In this report, we show that fewer than 3% of applicants and matriculants to osteopathic medical school (OMS) have completed an undergraduate major or minor in microbiology, and fewer than 17% of applicants and matriculants to OMS have completed one or more microbiology-related courses. These data demonstrate limited pre-medical microbiology-related knowledge among osteopathic medical students, which may be associated with an increase in perceived stress when learning this content or during clinical rotations as well as a potential lack of interest in pursuing a career in infectious diseases.
Group Activity to Enhance Student Collaboration, Graph Interpretation, and Peer Evaluation of Ecological Concepts in a Large-Enrollment Class
Authors: Shofner Marcia A. , Marbach-Ad Gili
Published: July 2018

This study presents an example for an activity that was implemented in a large enrollment (Principles of Ecology and Evolution) class to enhance student collaboration and critical thinking (e.g., graph interpretation and peer evaluation). In Spring 2015, a course redesign was initiated to move from teacher-centered to student-centered learning. We implemented six learning activities that each replaced one lecture. Here we will elaborate on two activities, McArthur and Wilson’s Island Biogeography Theory and Pikas and Climate Change. Both activities require students to use skills such as graph development and interpretation and quantitative reasoning. Students were divided into small groups and worked collaboratively on worksheets. Upon completion of the worksheet, each group was asked to exchange their worksheet with another group. Students were given ten minutes to review and comment on the other group’s worksheet answers. They recorded their comments (positive and negative feedback) directly on the worksheet and handed this back to the original group. The group activity and peer evaluation exercise offered were positively perceived by most of the students. Through the activities students learned about the process of scientific research, including formulating hypotheses, working collaboratively, reviewing each others’ work, being reviewed by others, and learning that there can be more than one way to interpret a graph.
Ancient Evolutionary Origin and Positive Selection of the Retroviral Restriction FactorFv1in Muroid Rodents
Authors: Boso Guney , Buckler-White Alicia , Kozak Christine A.
Published: July 2018

Retroviruses have adapted to living in concert with their hosts throughout vertebrate evolution. Over the years, the study of these relationships revealed the presence of host proteins called restriction factors that inhibit retroviral replication in host cells. The first of these restriction factors to be identified, encoded by theFv1gene found in mice, was thought to have originated in the genusMus. In this study, we utilized genome database searches and DNA sequencing to identifyFv1copies in multiple rodent lineages. Our findings suggest a minimum time of insertion into the genome of rodents of 45 million years for the ancestral progenitor ofFv1. WhileFv1is not detectable in some lineages, we also identified full-length orthologs showing signatures of a molecular “arms race” in a family of rodent species indigenous to Africa. This finding suggests thatFv1in these species has been coevolving with unidentified retroviruses for millions of years.
Paediatric outcomes and timing of admission
Authors: Ramsden Louise , McColgan Martin Patrick , Rossor Thomas , Greenough Anne , Clark Simon J
Published: July 2018

Studies of adult patients have demonstrated that weekend admissions compared with weekday admissions had a significantly higher hospital mortality rate. We have reviewed the literature to determine if the timing of admission, for example, weekend or weekday, influenced mortality and morbidity in children. Seventeen studies reported the effect of timing of admission on mortality, and only four studies demonstrated an increase in those admitted at the weekend. Meta-analysis of the results of 15 of the studies demonstrated there was no significant weekend effect. There was, however, considerable heterogeneity in the studies. There were two large UK studies: one reported an increased mortality only for planned weekend admissions likely explained by planned admissions for complex conditions and the other showed no significant weekend effect. Two studies, one of which was large (n=2913), reported more surgical complications in infants undergoing weekend oesophageal atresia and trachea-oesophageal repair. Medication errors have also been reported to be more common at weekends. Five studies reported the effect of length of stay, meta-analysis demonstrated a significantly increased length of stay following a weekend admission, the mean difference was approximately 1 day. Those data, however, should be interpreted with the caveat that there was no adjustment in all of the studies for differences in disease severity. We conclude that weekend admission overall does not increase mortality but may be associated with a longer length of stay and, in certain conditions, with greater morbidity.
Impact of car transport availability and drive time on eye examination uptake among adults aged ≥60 years: a record linkage study
Authors: Wright David M , O'Reilly Dermot , Azuara-Blanco Augusto , Hogg Ruth E
Published: July 2018

Aim

To examine associations between uptake of free primary eye care, service availability (density of optometric practices) and service accessibility (household car access and drive time to nearest provider) after accounting for socioeconomic status and other individual, household and area factors.

Methods

We constructed a cohort of 294 870 community-dwelling adults aged 60 years, drawing contextual information from the 2011 Northern Ireland Census. Minimum drive times to the nearest optometry practice (1–19 min) and number of practices were derived for 890 geographical areas. The primary outcome was attendance at one or more publicly funded eye examinations to which all cohort members were entitled between 2009 and 2014. We used multiple log-binomial regression to estimate associations between eye care uptake, car ownership and drive time.

Results

Eye examination uptake was 60.0%. 23.7% of the cohort had no car access, and these individuals had lower uptake than car owners (unadjusted risk ratio (RR) of uptake=0.86 (0.86, 0.87)). Among non-car owners, uptake decreased with drive time (longest vs shortest: RR=0.92 (0.88, 0.97)) with the largest decrease at 4 min drive time (approximately 1.5 miles). This pattern was weaker among car owners. These associations were independent of service availability, which was not associated with uptake.

Conclusion

Both drive time and household car access were associated with eye care use, adjusting for individual, household and area factors. Policies to improve uptake should target those with no car access, especially those beyond walking distance from the nearest eye care provider.
Association between major dietary patterns and polycystic ovary syndrome: evidence from a case-control study
Authors: Shahdadian Farnaz , Ghiasvand Reza , Abbasi Behnood , Feizi Awat , Saneei Parvane , Shahshahan Zahra
Published: July 2018

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a multifactorial endocrine disorder in women. Change in lifestyle, especially dietary pattern, might have a role in the prevalence of PCOS. The limited number of studies has made it difficult to draw any conclusion about the relationship of dietary patterns with PCOS. This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary patterns and PCOS. A case-control study was performed on 225 patients newly diagnosed with PCOS and 345 healthy women in Isfahan, Iran. The presence of PCOS was confirmed by expert gynecologists based on Rotterdam criteria. Usual dietary intake was assessed by a 168-item food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were identified by principal component analysis. Three major dietary patterns including Western, plant-based, and mixed were identified that explained 53.93% of the variance in food intake. The top tertile of the Western dietary pattern significantly increased the odds of PCOS (odds ratio (OR), 2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.12–3.67), both before and after adjustments for covariates. After adjustments for potential confounders, the highest tertile of the plant-based dietary pattern was related to higher odds of PCOS than the lowest tertile (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.23–4.37). In addition, those in the second tertile of the mixed dietary pattern were 66% less likely to have PCOS compared with those in the lowest tertile (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.18–0.61). In conclusion, we found that Western and plant-based dietary patterns were associated with an increased risk of PCOS. Also, moderate adherence to the mixed dietary pattern was associated with a reduced risk of PCOS. Additional studies with a longitudinal design are required to confirm our findings.
Effect of thermoelectric material of Ca or Fe-doped LaCoO3
Authors: Murai Kei-Ichiro , Kori Shuhei , Nakai Shun , Moriga Toshihiro
Published: July 2018

As the Perovskite-type Lanthanum Cobalt Oxide of LaCoO3 is nontoxic and thermally stable even at high temperature, this material is expected as a candidate for thermoelectric applications. The thermoelectric performance of a material is often evaluated by the dimensionless figure-of-merit, ZT (=S[Formula: see text]T/[Formula: see text]), or S[Formula: see text] in the ZT equation. S[Formula: see text] shows the electrical characteristic as a Power factor (PF). It has been reported Seebeck coefficient of LaCoO3 is higher than other oxide materials at room temperature even though electrical conductivity and ZT are lower values. In this study, calcium-doped lanthanum cobaltite La[Formula: see text]Ca[Formula: see text]CoO3 (x = 0.00, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15) and iron-doped lanthanum cobaltite LaCo[Formula: see text]Fe[Formula: see text]O3 (y = 0.05, 0.10 and 0.15) have been prepared by solid-phase process. The X-ray diffraction patterns of the calcium-doped samples and iron-doped samples show cubic perovskite structure. Electric conductivities were improved by Ca or Fe substitution and showed a tendency to increase with increasing the temperature. The sample substituted with Fe 5 mol.% showed the maximum PF, 0.510 ([Formula: see text] W/K2m) at 548 K, and the sample substituted with Ca 15 mol.% showed the maximum PF, 0.152 ([Formula: see text] W/K2m) at 498 K.
Effect of chromium addition on properties of sinter-forged Fe–Cu–C alloy steel
Authors: Kulkarni Vinay R. , Nayak Jagannath , Dabhade Vikram V.
Published: July 2018

The present work deals with sinter-forged powder metallurgical (P/M) steels alloyed with chromium by addition of ferrochrome powder, which allows a close control over the chromium contents of alloy steels. Chromium contents can be varied by adjusting appropriately weighed ferrochrome powder in the P/M mixtures. Fe–Cu (2%) and C (0.7%) is the base composition for this P/M alloy steel. Study with the addition of 0.5% and 3% chromium by weight in the form of ferrochrome powder is carried out. The P/M alloy steel of base composition with no chromium content is also prepared for comparative study. The paper deals with these three alloy steels formed by the sinter-forging technique of powder metallurgy. The results of hardness and wear in hardened and tempered condition are reported in the present work.
Sensitive detection of heavy metal ions: An electrochemical approach
Authors: Patil Harshada K. , Deshmukh Megha A. , Bodkhe Gajanan A. , Shirsat Mahendra D.
Published: July 2018

Polyaniline (PANI) is one of conducting polymers (CPs) which has been used widely in various fields of applications. The low cost monomer, red/ox reversibility, existence of various oxidation states, electrical & optical activity, environmental stability, etc. are the characteristic reasons for it. Herein, we report the electrochemically synthesized PANI and its composite with single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNTs) — PANI/SWNTs. The effects of inculcation of SWNTs were studied using the electrochemical properties of PANI and PANI/SWNTs composites, using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) for the electro active natures of both. For the study of optical absorption UV–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy was used and for morphology the field effect scanning electron mictroscopy (FESEM) was used. The composite PANI/SWNTs exhibited a good electroactive nature and therefore was opted as a sensing platform for the detection of nickel ions. For the selectivity inculcation of the nickel ions, the chelating ligand viz. dimethylglyoxime (DMG) was used for the modification of the composite.