bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overactivity, impulsivity and repetitive behaviour in males with fragile X syndrome: contrasting developmental trajectories in those with and without elevated autism symptoms
Authors: Crawford H. , Moss J. , Stinton C. , Singla G. , Oliver C.
Published: May 2018

Background

Hyperactivity and repetitive behaviour are characteristic features of fragile X syndrome (FXS). However, little is known about the influence of autism symptomatology on how these characteristics develop over time. We investigate the profiles and developmental trajectories of overactivity, impulsivity and repetitive behaviour, in males with FXS over three time points spanning 8 years.

Method

Participants formed two subgroups, those who displayed elevated symptoms of autism at Time 1 (n = 37; Mage = 16.32; age range = 6.61–43.51) and those who did not (n = 32; Mage = 8.43; age range = 8.94–47.49).

Results

Participants without elevated symptoms of autism showed a reduction in impulsivity and repetitive questioning over time, whereas those with elevated symptoms of autism did not. Differences between the two subgroups in several topographies of repetitive behaviour emerged at Time 3 only.

Conclusions

These results further understanding of the relationship between autistic phenomenology and behavioural characteristics in FXS.
The reliability of the Epworth Sleepiness Score in a sleep clinic population
Authors: Taylor Elisabeth , Zeng Irene , O'Dochartaigh Conor
Published: May 2018

Despite the Epworth Sleepiness Score being widely used, there are limited studies of its reliability in clinical practice. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability of the Epworth Sleepiness Score in a clinical population. The study included patients referred to Middlemore Hospital sleep service between October and November 2014, aged over 17 years, with at least two Epworth Sleepiness Score measurements at up to three different points on the diagnostic pathway: on General Practitioner referral (GP Epworth Sleepiness Score); at overnight oximetry assessment (Oximetry Epworth Sleepiness Score); and at a specialist clinic (Specialist Epworth Sleepiness Score). No treatment was administered between scores. One‐hundred and thirty‐three patients were included in the study. There was a median of 91 days from GP Epworth Sleepiness Score to Oximetry Epworth Sleepiness Score, and 11 days from Oximetry Epworth Sleepiness Score to Specialist Epworth Sleepiness Score. There was poor test–retest reliability between GP Epworth Sleepiness Score and Specialist Epworth Sleepiness Score; 72.4% and 17.8% of patients had an absolute difference of more than 2 and 8 Epworth Sleepiness Score points, respectively. A Bland–Altman plot of mean Epworth Sleepiness Score versus the difference between GP Epworth Sleepiness Score and Specialist Epworth Sleepiness Score demonstrated a wide scatter of data and 95% confidence interval for the difference in Epworth Sleepiness Score for an individual patient of −14 to +10. There was similar variability between GP Epworth Sleepiness Score and Oximetry Epworth Sleepiness Score. The reliability of the Epworth Sleepiness Score is unproven in clinical settings. This study shows poor test–retest reliability of Epworth Sleepiness Score, particularly between primary and secondary care, arguing against the use of Epworth Sleepiness Score for clinical decision‐making or prioritisation of services without first assessing the reliability of the Epworth Sleepiness Score in the relevant clinical population.
Declarative virtual water maze learning and emotional fear conditioning in primary insomnia
Authors: Kuhn Marion , Hertenstein Elisabeth , Feige Bernd , Landmann Nina , Spiegelhalder Kai , Baglioni Chiara , Hemmerling Johanna , Durand Diana , Frase Lukas , Klöppel Stefan , Riemann Dieter , Nissen Christoph
Published: May 2018

Healthy sleep restores the brain's ability to adapt to novel input through memory formation based on activity‐dependent refinements of the strength of neural transmission across synapses (synaptic plasticity). In line with this framework, patients with primary insomnia often report subjective memory impairment. However, investigations of memory performance did not produce conclusive results. The aim of this study was to further investigate memory performance in patients with primary insomnia in comparison to healthy controls, using two well‐characterized learning tasks, a declarative virtual water maze task and emotional fear conditioning. Twenty patients with primary insomnia according to DSM‐IV criteria (17 females, three males, 43.5 ± 13.0 years) and 20 good sleeper controls (17 females, three males, 41.7 ± 12.8 years) were investigated in a parallel‐group study. All participants completed a hippocampus‐dependent virtual Morris water maze task and amygdala‐dependent classical fear conditioning. Patients with insomnia showed significantly delayed memory acquisition in the virtual water maze task, but no significant difference in fear acquisition compared with controls. These findings are consistent with the notion that memory processes that emerge from synaptic refinements in a hippocampal–neocortical network are particularly sensitive to chronic disruptions of sleep, while those in a basic emotional amygdala‐dependent network may be more resilient.
Electrodermal activity patterns in sleep stages and their utility for sleep versus wake classification
Authors: Herlan Anne , Ottenbacher Jörg , Schneider Johannes , Riemann Dieter , Feige Bernd
Published: May 2018

As the prevalence of sleep disorders is increasing, new methods for ambulatory sleep measurement are required. This paper presents electrodermal activity in different sleep stages and a sleep detection algorithm based on electrodermal activity. We analysed electrodermal activity and polysomnographic data of 43 healthy subjects and 48 patients with sleep disorders. Electrodermal activity was measured using an ambulatory device worn at the wrist. Two parameters to describe electrodermal activity were defined based on previous literature: EDASEF (electrodermal activity‐smoothed feature) as parameter for skin conductance level; and EDAcounts (number of electrodermal activity‐peaks) as skin conductance responses. Analysis of variance indicated significant EDASEF differences between the sleep stages wake versus N1, wake versus N2, wake versus slow‐wave sleep, and wake versus rapid eye movement. The analysis of EDAcounts also showed significant differences, especially in the stages slow‐wave sleep versus rapid eye movement. Between healthy subjects and patients, a significant disparity of EDAcounts was revealed in stage N1. Furthermore, the variances of EDASEF and EDAcounts in N1, N2 slow‐wave sleep and rapid eye movement were higher in the patient group (p [F test] < .05). Next, an electrodermal activity‐based sleep/wake discriminating algorithm was constructed. The optimized algorithm achieved an average sensitivity and specificity for sleep detection of 97% and 75%. The epoch agreement rate (average accuracy) was 86%. These outcomes are comparative to sleep detection algorithms based on actigraphy or heart rate variability. The results of this study indicate that electrodermal activity is not only a robust parameter for describing sleep, but also a potential suitable method for ambulatory sleep monitoring.
Biochemical comparison of 8 h haemodialysis and 4 h haemodiafiltration, and two dialysis membranes, in a randomized cross‐over trial
Authors: Choo Shi Z , Polkinghorne Kevan R , Kerr Peter G
Published: May 2018

Aim

Extended‐hours haemodialysis has long been regarded as the optimal form of dialysis for solute clearance. With emerging benefits of haemodiafiltration, we wanted to compare these two head‐to‐head.

Methods

In this randomized cross‐over trial, we recruited existing nocturnal haemodialysis patients, who had not been hospitalized in the prior 3 months. After a baseline 8 h haemodialysis session, subjects were randomized to either 2 weeks of 8 h haemodialysis or 4 h haemodiafiltration with cross‐over to the alternative treatment after a 2‐week washout period. Subjects were additionally randomized to the Fresenius FX80 or Nipro Elisio in a parallel design. Blood and dialysate samples were collected at baseline and at the end of both study periods.

Results

Twelve patients completed the study. Mean (SD) age and body mass index were 55.1 ± 11.5 years and 36.4 ± 10.8, respectively. Urea and creatinine reduction ratios were higher with extended‐hours haemodialysis compared to haemodiafiltration (difference 14.0%, 95% CI = 10.6, 17.3; P < 0.001 and 9.1%, 95% CI = 11.0, 7.2; P < 0.001). Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) clearance was superior with haemodiafiltration (difference 20.1%, 95% CI = 8.7, 31.6; P = 0.001). No difference was seen in reduction ratios for phosphate, retinol binding protein, alpha‐1‐microglobulin, beta‐2‐microglobulin and fetuin with both modalities. Compared to Nipro Elisio, Fresenius FX80 dialyser achieved higher beta‐2‐microglobulin clearance (Period 1: difference 7.8%, 95% CI = 1.3, 14.4; P = 0.02, Period 2:7.5%, 95% CI = 1.0, 14.1; P = 0.02).

Conclusions

Small solute clearance was superior with extended‐hours haemodialysis while haemodiafiltration enhanced FGF23 clearance. Beta‐2‐microglobulin clearance was improved with Fresenius FX80 dialyser, but this difference is unlikely to be clinically significant.
Intermediate text and the canonicity of world literature
Authors: Yiping Wang , Jiali Gu
Published: May 2018

The notion “intermediate text” refers to a somewhat neglected genre or type of text emerging through the mutual interaction between local literatures and world literature. “Intermediate text” as a category comprises texts from a local literature influenced by the hypercanon of world literature, yet at the same time approaching the canon from a critical and local perspective. Such intermediate texts play a role as critical mediators between the local and the global, also assuming the function of a contestatory canon from a local point of view as well as forming a “shadow canon” on the global scene. In this article, intermediate texts will be characterized by three features: historicity, mediation, and absorption. The primary texts are works by Mo Yan and Julian Barnes, both of whom, as a Nobel Prize winner and a Man Booker Prize winner, have a potential for acquiring both local and international canonicity. Inspired by William Faulkner and Gabriel García Márquez, Mo Yan builds on an international canon, while also creating works with strong Chinese elements. Unlike Mo Yan's intermediate texts, Julian Barnes's novels situate themselves within the network of canonical writers such as Gustave Flaubert, yet without “writing back” on local conditions.
Breeding soybeans with resistance to soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi)
Authors: Childs Silas P. , Buck James W. , Li Zenglu
Published: May 2018

Soybean rust, caused by the fungal pathogenPhakopsora pachyrhizi, continues to be a global threat to soybean production, decreasing productivity and increasing the pesticide burden of cropping systems. However, breeders now have access to resistance genes that map to at least seven independent loci which can help protect crops against soybean rust infection. Efficient greenhouse screening protocols have been developed, and low‐costSNPgenotyping technology is available for marker‐assisted selection and backcrossing of resistance toPhakopsora pachyrhizi (Rpp)loci. Soybean breeders can now employ these technologies for the development of high‐yielding soybean cultivars with two, three, or even four pyramidedRppgenes. Such cultivars should provide resistance against the most virulentP. pachyrhizipopulations and would be of great help to both large‐scale growers in the Americas and subsistence farmers in developing countries. We hope that a better understanding of the history and unique characteristics ofP. pachyrhizi, the discovery ofRppresistance alleles and the latest molecular breeding techniques will empower breeders across the globe to develop cultivars with durable resistance.
Genomic prediction of the general combining ability of maize lines (Zea mays L.) and the performance of their single crosses
Authors: Vélez‐Torres Marcelina , García‐Zavala José Jesús , Hernández‐Rodríguez Martha , Lobato‐Ortiz Ricardo , López‐Reynoso José Jesús , Benítez‐Riquelme Ignacio , Mejía‐Contreras José Apolinar , Esquivel‐Esquivel Gilberto , Molina‐Galán José Domingo , Pérez‐Rodríguez Paulino , Zhang Xuecai
Published: May 2018

The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of genomic selection (GS) on predicting the general combining ability (GCA) of maize lines and the performance of their single crosses. Eight maize lines developed from the different self‐pollination generations of Chalqueño race, along with their 24 single crosses, were evaluated in the field during the years of 2011, 2012 and 2013. Genomic prediction results using genotyping‐by‐sequencing‐based single nucleotide polymorphisms showed that the GCA classification of the parental lines estimated from the SNP information was consistent with the phenotypic classification of the lines evaluated from the field trial data. The prediction accuracy values estimated from the cross‐validation method ranged from 0.49 to 0.61 in the different prediction models. Yield performance of the unevaluated single crosses was predicted based on their SNP information. The total genetic variance of the yield of the single crosses was most explained by the GCA effects. Compared with phenotyping method, GS is a more effective and efficient approach to predict the GCA of maize lines and their hybrid performance.
Texting atopic dermatitis patients to optimize learning and eczema area and severity index scores: A pilot randomized control trial
Authors: Singer Hannah M. , Levin Laura E. , Morel Kimberly D. , Garzon Maria C. , Stockwell Melissa S. , Lauren Christine T.
Published: May 2018

Background/Objectives

Atopic dermatitis is a common, chronic, debilitating disease. Poor adherence to treatment is the most important preventable contributor to adverse outcomes. Thus, improving adherence can improve patient outcomes. Text message reminders with embedded condition‐specific information have been shown to improve pediatric immunization adherence but have not been assessed in atopic dermatitis. The objective was to assess the effect of daily text messages on Eczema Area Severity Index scores and caregiver knowledge of atopic dermatitis.

Methods

In this pilot randomized controlled trial, caregivers of children with atopic dermatitis enrolled during their initial appointment with a pediatric dermatologist and randomized 1:1 to standard care or daily text messages with patient education material and treatment reminders. Participants completed a multiple‐choice atopic dermatitis knowledge quiz at initial and follow‐up visits, and Eczema Area Severity Index scores were assessed.

Results

Forty‐two patients enrolled, and 30 completed the study: 16 standard care group, 14 text message group. There was no significant difference in Eczema Area Severity Index score between the standard care and text message groups at follow‐up, with mean decreases in Eczema Area Severity Index score of 53% and 58%, respectively. Mean score on follow‐up atopic dermatitis knowledge quiz was significantly higher in the text message group (84% correct) than in the standard care group (75% correct) (P = .04).

Conclusion

This pilot study did not demonstrate a difference in Eczema Area Severity Index scores with text message reminders. The significantly higher follow‐up atopic dermatitis quiz score in the text message group indicates that participants read and retained information from text messages. Limitations include small sample size and short duration of follow‐up.
Equilibrium Strategies in M/M/1 Priority Queues with Balking
Authors: Wang Jinting , Cui Shiliang , Wang Zhongbin
Published: May 2018

We consider an M/ M/1 queueing system with a pay‐for‐priority option, and study customers’ joint decisions between joining/balking and pay‐for‐priority. The equilibrium strategies are thus two‐dimensional. First, we fully characterize the equilibrium structure and identify the Pareto‐dominant strategies of such a game analytically, under both the observable and unobservable settings. Interestingly, the equilibrium structure, the system throughput, and the service provider's optimal price for priority premium can all be non‐monotone in the service reward, which departs from the existing models of priority queues without balking. In particular, we find that an increase in service reward can actually hurt the firm's revenue (everything else being equal). Second, we compare the server's revenue between the observable and the unobservable settings. We find that the service provider is better off with the observable setting when the system load is either low or high, but benefits more from the unobservable setting when the system load is medium. The fact that the optimal setting switches twice as the system load increases, is rather interesting; we explain the intuitions behind it in this study. Finally, we demonstrate the implications of these findings by applying our model framework to Papa John's Pizza, based on publicly available information. Our analysis suggests that Papa John's could benefit from prviding customers with wait information while slightly decreasing its fee for Papa Priority.
A Robust Approach to Risk Assessment Based on Species Sensitivity Distributions
Authors: Monti Gianna S. , Filzmoser Peter , Deutsch Roland C.
Published: May 2018

The guidelines for setting environmental quality standards are increasingly based on probabilistic risk assessment due to a growing general awareness of the need for probabilistic procedures. One of the commonly used tools in probabilistic risk assessment is the species sensitivity distribution (SSD), which represents the proportion of species affected belonging to a biological assemblage as a function of exposure to a specific toxicant. Our focus is on the inverse use of the SSD curve with the aim of estimating the concentration, HCp, of a toxic compound that is hazardous to p% of the biological community under study. Toward this end, we propose the use of robust statistical methods in order to take into account the presence of outliers or apparent skew in the data, which may occur without any ecological basis. A robust approach exploits the full neighborhood of a parametric model, enabling the analyst to account for the typical real‐world deviations from ideal models. We examine two classic HCp estimation approaches and consider robust versions of these estimators. In addition, we also use data transformations in conjunction with robust estimation methods in case of heteroscedasticity. Different scenarios using real data sets as well as simulated data are presented in order to illustrate and compare the proposed approaches. These scenarios illustrate that the use of robust estimation methods enhances HCp estimation.
Association between hepatitis C infection and cerebro‐cardiovascular disease: analysis of a national population‐based survey in Egypt
Authors: Gadallah Mohsen , Kandil Sahar , Mohsen Amira
Published: May 2018

Objectives

To examine the association between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, cardiovascular risk factors and cerebro‐cardiovascular (CCV) disease.

Methods

The source of data was the Egypt Health Issues Survey conducted in 2015. Participants were 11 256 individuals with complete HCV testing, age 25–59 years. Data on demographics, cardiovascular risk factors, CCV disease (myocardial infarction and/or cerebral stroke) and HCV infection were retrieved. Descriptive, bivariate, multivariable logistic regression and sensitivity analyses were performed to determine the independent association of past HCV exposure or chronic infection with diabetes, hypertension and CCV disease.

Results

3.9% of participants were antibody positive/RNA negative and considered to have past HCV exposure; 7.9% had detectable HCV‐RNA and were considered to have chronic infection. Participants with negative antibodies and no history of liver disease (n = 9928) were the control group. In addition to the previously known risk factors, multivariable analyses revealed that diabetes was independently associated with past HCV exposure (OR = 1.71, 95% CI: 1.27–2.32) and HCV chronic infection (OR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.23–1.97), whereas CCV disease was independently associated with past exposure (OR = 2.69, 95% CI: 1.62–4.46) and not with chronic infection. No evidence of an association between hypertension and either HCV status was found.

Conclusion

The association of both past HCV exposure and chronic infection with diabetes and that of past HCV exposure with CCV disease may suggest targeting HCV‐positive reactors for preventive and curative programmes addressing extrahepatic complications.
Forming a Well Organized Writing Activities
Authors: Tosuncuoğlu Irfan
Published: May 2018

English has been widely spoken in the world and seen as the language of education, communication, economics and etc., for a long time and it can be accepted as lingua franca. Knowledge of a language includes four basic language skills, these are listening, reading, speaking, and writing. In this study writing was investigated in detail and it was mentioned why writing was difficult and importance of writing was explained. This study was produced from the author’s doctoral dissertation. It was seen that students’ ability to write in a well- organized manner was insufficient. So, in the study, the main components for a well-organized composition that is outlining, coherence, unity were explained. In addition remedial exercises for developing writing skills were indicated in order to develop students’ writing skills. In the research, controlled pre, post-test Experimental Design was used. During the pedagogical experiment the teacher- experimentator himself carried out all the studies in control and experimental groups during the process of the experiment. Furthermore it was stressed that materials and teachers skills were important for the development of the students in the related topic.
Clever use of public data could sidestep new rule
Authors: Cosier Susan
Published: May 2018

Researchers use publicly available data to reproduce previous findings.
Korean thaw raises hopes for scientific cooperation
Authors: Normile Dennis
Published: May 2018

Public health and ecology are among the areas targeted for joint efforts.
A hidden history
Authors: Wadman Meredith
Published: May 2018

As cancer scientist Inder Verma's career soared, female colleagues allege that a parallel tale of sexual harassment unfolded over 4 decades.
Real-space and real-time observation of a plasmon-induced chemical reaction of a single molecule
Authors: Kazuma Emiko , Jung Jaehoon , Ueba Hiromu , Trenary Michael , Kim Yousoo
Published: May 2018

Direct plasmon chemistry

Light can excite plasmons at a metal surface, which can then decay and create hot electrons that induce chemical reactions of adsorbed molecules. Kazuma
et al.
used a scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to induce and map out the surface dissociation of a dimethyl disulfide molecule on silver and copper surfaces. A silver STM tip created localized plasmons at different distances from the molecule. The plasmons drove the reaction directly by exciting the valence electrons of the molecule into unoccupied states and cleaving the sulfur-sulfur bond.

Science
, this issue p.
521
C1q restrains autoimmunity and viral infection by regulating CD8
+
T cell metabolism
Authors: Ling Guang Sheng , Crawford Greg , Buang Norzawani , Bartok Istvan , Tian Kunyuan , Thielens Nicole M. , Bally Isabelle , Harker James A. , Ashton-Rickardt Philip G. , Rutschmann Sophie , Strid Jessica , Botto Marina
Published: May 2018

Complement is a CD8
+
T cell metabolic rheostat

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with deficiencies in the complement protein C1q. Although C1q plays a role in the clearance of apoptotic cells, there are several redundant clearance pathways. Disruption of one pathway does not lead to an autoimmune defect. In a chronic graft-versus-host disease model of SLE, Ling
et al.
show that C1q dampens CD8
+
T cell responses to self-antigens. C1q modulates metabolism through the mitochondrial cell-surface protein p32/gC1qR. The lack of C1q during a viral infection also enhances CD8
+
T cell responses. Thus, C1q plays a role as a “metabolic rheostat” for effector CD8
+
T cells.

Science
, this issue p.
558
Piezo2 channel–Merkel cell signaling modulates the conversion of touch to itch
Authors: Feng Jing , Luo Jialie , Yang Pu , Du Junhui , Kim Brian S. , Hu Hongzhen
Published: May 2018

Loss of touch receptors leads to itch

Itch in response to light touch of the skin is an aging-associated problem. This phenomenon is called alloknesis and can become a major medical condition associated with dry skin. Feng
et al.
discovered that loss or dysfunction of Merkel cells causes scratching in mice (see the Perspective by Lewis and Grandl). Reduction of Merkel cell numbers results in reduced firing patterns and frequencies and changes the activation thresholds of slowly adapting afferent nerve fibers. Like hair cells, Merkel cells are lost with age. A painful scratch will temporarily alleviate itch because it induces enough activity through the remaining Merkel cells.

Science
, this issue p.
530
; see also p.
492
Structure of the DASH/Dam1 complex shows its role at the yeast kinetochore-microtubule interface
Authors: Jenni Simon , Harrison Stephen C.
Published: May 2018

Staying attached through division

When a cell prepares to divide, it copies its DNA into pairs of each chromosome, called chromatids. Microtubules attach to the chromosome pairs through protein complexes called kinetochores. During cell division, microtubule depolymerization pulls the chromatids apart. Jenni and Harrison describe the structure of an essential component of the yeast kinetochore, the DASH/Dam1c complex, that forms a ring around a microtubule. The structure shows how the DASH/Dam1c ring interacts with the microtubule and kinetochore components so that the kinetochore can track to the end of the microtubule through cycles of growth and shrinkage.

Science
, this issue p.
552
Irreplaceable avian specimens, ransacked
The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century
Kirk Wallace Johnson
Viking, 2018. 336 pp.
Authors: Kemp Christopher
Published: May 2018

A fly-tying flutist's bizarre theft highlights the importance of natural history collections
Deconstructing time
The Order of Time
Carlo Rovelli
Riverhead Books, 2018. 250 pp.
Authors: Purcell Conor
Published: May 2018

A quantum physicist reveals why time is not as simple as it seems
Missing enzymes in the biosynthesis of the anticancer drug vinblastine in Madagascar periwinkle
Authors: Caputi Lorenzo , Franke Jakob , Farrow Scott C. , Chung Khoa , Payne Richard M. E. , Nguyen Trinh-Don , Dang Thu-Thuy T. , Soares Teto Carqueijeiro Inês , Koudounas Konstantinos , Dugé de Bernonville Thomas , Ameyaw Belinda , Jones D. Marc , Vieira Ivo Jose Curcino , Courdavault Vincent , O’Connor Sarah E.
Published: May 2018

How to make bioactive alkaloids

Vinblastine and vincristine are important, expensive anticancer agents that are produced by dimerization of the plant-derived alkaloids catharanthine and vindoline. The enzymes that transform tabersonine into vindoline are known; however, the mechanism by which the scaffolds of catharanthine and tabersonine are generated has been a mystery. Caputi
et al.
now describe the biosynthetic genes and corresponding enzymes responsible. This resolves a long-standing question of how plant alkaloid scaffolds are synthesized, which is important not only for vinblastine and vincristine biosynthesis, but also for understanding the many other biologically active alkaloids found throughout nature.

Science
, this issue p.
1235
Indispensable malaria genes
Authors: White John , Rathod Pradipsinh K.
Published: May 2018

A critical assessment of new opportunities for drug discovery to treat malaria
The controversial correlates of consciousness
Authors: Mashour George A.
Published: May 2018

New data suggest that the prefrontal cortex ignites networks supporting consciousness
A Fungal P450 Enzyme from Thanatephorus cucumeris with Steroid Hydroxylation Capabilities
Authors: Lu Wei , Chen Xi , Feng Jinhui , Bao Yun-Juan , Wang Yu , Wu Qiaqing , Zhu Dunming
Published: May 2018

In this study, we identified a P450 enzyme (STH10) and an oxidoreductase (POR) from
Thanatephorus cucumeris
NBRC 6298 by a combination of transcriptome sequencing and heterologous expression in
Pichia pastoris
. The biotransformation of 11-deoxycortisol was performed by using
Pichia pastoris
whole cells coexpressing
sth10
and
por
, and the product analysis indicated that the STH10 enzyme possessed steroidal 19- and 11β-hydroxylase activities. This is a novel fungal P450 enzyme with 19-hydroxylase activity, which is different from the known steroidal aromatase cytochrome P450 19 (CYP19) and CYP11B families of enzymes.

IMPORTANCE
Hydroxylation is one of the most important reactions in steroid functionalization; in particular, C-19 hydroxylation produces a key intermediate for the synthesis of 19-nor-steroid drugs without a C-19 angular methyl group in three chemoenzymatic steps, in contrast to the current industrial process, which uses 10 chemical reactions. However, hydroxylation of the C-19 angular methyl group remains a very challenging task due to the high level of steric resistance to the C-19 methyl group between the A and B rings. The present report describes a novel fungal P450 enzyme with 19-hydroxylase activity. This opens a new venue for searching effective biocatalysts for the useful process of steroidal C-19 hydroxylation, although further studies for better understanding of the structural basis of the regioselectivity and substrate specificity of this fungal steroidal 19-hydroxylase are warranted to facilitate the engineering of this enzyme for industrial applications.
Phylotype-Level Profiling of Lactobacilli in Highly Complex Environments by Means of an Internal Transcribed Spacer-Based Metagenomic Approach
Authors: Milani Christian , Duranti Sabrina , Mangifesta Marta , Lugli Gabriele Andrea , Turroni Francesca , Mancabelli Leonardo , Viappiani Alice , Anzalone Rosaria , Alessandri Giulia , Ossiprandi Maria Cristina , van Sinderen Douwe , Ventura Marco
Published: May 2018

The genus
Lactobacillus
is a widespread taxon, members of which are highly relevant to functional and fermented foods, while they are also commonly present in host-associated gut and vaginal microbiota. Substantial efforts have been undertaken to disclose the genetic repertoire of all members of the genus
Lactobacillus
, and yet their species-level profiling in complex matrices is still undeveloped due to the poor phylotype resolution of profiling approaches based on the 16S rRNA gene. To overcome this limitation, an internal transcribed spacer (ITS)-based profiling method was developed to accurately profile lactobacilli at the species level. This approach encompasses a genus-specific primer pair combined with a database of ITS sequences retrieved from all available
Lactobacillus
genomes and a script for the QIIME software suite that performs all required steps to reconstruct a species-level profile. This methodology was applied to several environments, i.e., human gut and vagina and the ceca of free-range chickens, as well as whey and fresh cheese. Interestingly, the data collected confirmed a relevant role of lactobacilli present in functional and fermented foods in defining the population harbored by the human gut, while, unsurprisingly perhaps, the ceca of free-range chickens were observed to be dominated by lactobacilli characterized in birds living in natural environments. Moreover, vaginal swabs confirmed the existence of previously hypothesized community state types, while analysis of whey and fresh cheese revealed a dominant presence of single
Lactobacillus
species used as starters for cheese production. Furthermore, application of this ITS profiling method to a mock
Lactobacillus
community allowed a minimal resolution level of <0.006 ng/μl.

IMPORTANCE
The genus
Lactobacillus
is a large and ubiquitous taxon of high scientific and commercial relevance. Despite the fact that the genetic repertoire of
Lactobacillus
species has been extensively characterized, the ecology of this genus has been explored by metataxonomic techniques that are accurate down to the genus or phylogenetic group level only. Thus, the distribution of lactobacilli in environmental or processed food samples is relatively unexplored. The profiling protocol described here relies on the use of the internal transcribed spacer to perform an accurate classification in a target population of lactobacilli with a <0.006-ng/μl sensitivity. This approach was used to analyze five sample types collected from both human and animal host-associated microbiota, as well as from the cheese production chain. The availability of a tool for species-level profiling of lactobacilli may be highly useful for both academic research and a wide range of industrial applications.
Salmonella Tol-Pal Reduces Outer Membrane Glycerophospholipid Levels for Envelope Homeostasis and Survival during Bacteremia
Authors: Masilamani Revathi , Cian Melina B. , Dalebroux Zachary D.
Published: May 2018

Salmonellae regulate membrane lipids during infection, but the exact proteins and mechanisms that promote their survival during bacteremia remain largely unknown. Mutations in genes encoding the conserved
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium (
S
. Typhimurium) Tol-Pal apparatus caused the outer membrane (OM) sensor lipoprotein, RcsF, to become activated. The capsule activation phenotype for the mutants suggested that Tol-Pal might influence envelope lipid homeostasis. The mechanism involves reducing OM glycerophospholipid (GPL) levels, since the mutant salmonellae similarly accumulated phosphatidylglycerols (PGl) and phosphatidylethanolamines (PE) within the OM in comparison to the wild type. The data support the
Escherichia coli
model, whereby Tol-Pal directs retrograde GPL translocation across the periplasm. The
S
. Typhimurium mechanism involves contributions from YbgC, a cytoplasmic acyl coenzyme A (acyl-CoA) thioesterase, and CpoB, a periplasmic TolA-binding protein. The functional relationship between Tol-Pal and YbgC and CpoB was previously unresolved. The
S
. Typhimurium Tol-Pal proteins contribute similarly toward promoting OM-GPL homeostasis and Rcs signaling inactivity but differently toward promoting bacterial morphology, rifampin resistance, survival in macrophages, and survival in mice. For example,
tolQ
,
tolR
,
tolA
, and
cpoB
mutants were significantly more attenuated than
ybgC
,
tolB
, and
pal
mutants in a systemic mouse model of disease. Therefore, key roles exist for TolQ, TolR, TolA, and CpoB during murine bacteremia, which are independent of maintaining GPL homeostasis. The ability of TolQR to channel protons across the inner membrane (IM) is necessary for
S
. Typhimurium TolQRA function, since mutating conserved channel-facing residues rendered TolQ ineffective at rescuing deletion mutant phenotypes. Therefore, Tol-Pal promotes
S
. Typhimurium survival during bacteremia, in part, by reducing OM GPL concentrations, while TolQRA and CpoB enhance systemic virulence by additional mechanisms.
Effectiveness of a computerised system of patient education in clinical practice: a longitudinal nested cohort study
Authors: Su Chia-Hsien , Li Tsai-Chung , Cho Der-Yang , Ma Wei-Fen , Chang Yu-Shan , Lee Tsung-Han , Huang Li-Chi
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Developing electronic health record information systems is an international trend for promoting the integration of health information and enhancing the quality of medical services. Patient education is a frequent intervention in nursing care, and recording the amount and quality of patient education have become essential in the nursing record. The aims of this study are (1): to develop a high-quality Patient Education Assessment and Description Record System (PEADRS) in the electronic medical record (2); to examine the effectiveness of the PEADRS on documentation and nurses’ satisfaction (3); to facilitate communication and cooperation between professionals.

Methods and analysis

A quasi-experimental design and random sampling will be used. The participants are nurses who are involved in patient education by using traditional record or the PEADRS at a medical centre. A prospective longitudinal nested cohort study will be conducted to compare the effectiveness of the PEADRS, including (1): the length of nursing documentation (2); satisfaction with using the PEADRS; and (3) the benefit to professional cooperation.

Ethics and dissemination

Patient privacy will be protected according to Electronic Medical Record Management Practices of the hospital. This study develops a patient education digital record system, which would profit the quality of clinical practice in health education. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and will be presented at scientific conferences.
One health and antimicrobial resistance
Authors: McCulloch Steven
Published: May 2018

In the dilemma discussed in the April issue of In Practice, Anne Fawcett described a scenario whereby you are taking part in an one health interest group, specifigcally considering antimicrobial resistance. One of your medical colleagues in the group suggests that antimicrobial use in animals should be severely restricted (IP, April 2018, vol 40, pp 126‐127). You wonder how veterinarians can use antimicrobials in an ethical way?
A threshold of significant harm (f)or a viable alternative therapeutic option?
Authors: Bridgeman Jo
Published: May 2018

This article critically examines the legal arguments presented on behalf of Charlie Gard’s parents, Connie Yates and Chris Gard, based on a threshold test of significant harm for intervention into the decisions made jointly by holders of parental responsibility. It argues that the legal basis of the argument, from the case of Ashya King, was tenuous. It sought to introduce different categories of cases concerning children’s medical treatment when, despite the inevitable factual distinctions between individual cases, the duty of the judge in all cases to determine the best interests of the child is firmly established by the case law. It argues that the focus should not have been on a threshold for intervention but on whether his parents had established that the therapy they wanted was a viable alternative therapeutic option. In the April hearing, Charlie’s parents relied on the offer of treatment from a US doctor; by July they had an independent panel of international experts supporting their case although by this time the medical evidence was that it was too late for Charlie. One of Charlie’s legacies for future disputes may be that his case highlighted the need for evidence as to whether the treatment parents want for their child is a viable alternative therapeutic option before a court can determine which therapeutic option is in the best interests of the child.
Pain as performance: re-virginisation in Turkey
Authors: Güzel Hande
Published: May 2018

The literature on pain has so far been primarily interested in chronic pain, medically induced pain and pain as an unwanted experience. However, pain is a more complicated experience and the lines between pain and pleasure are blurred in different contexts. In this paper, these lines are explored within the context of re-virginisation in Turkey by taking to its centre the meanings attached to pain through women’s online and offline narratives. Re-virginisation refers to the process women undergo in order to reclaim their virginity due to the expectation that women should be virgins at the time of marriage and to the persistence of the myth that virginity can and should be proved via bleeding during or right after sexual intercourse.

Based on semi-structured in-depth interviews and phenomenological and post-structuralist discourse analysis of online data, I argue that pain in the process of re-virginisation (1) is desired and sought-after and (2) is a gendered and temporospatial performance. Within this performance, pain manifests itself as a functional experience as well, especially as a marker of having been operated on, of having had a successful operation, as a reminder of this operation, and finally as an experience around which a community can be formed. Although pain can be functional at most stages of re-virginisation, when, where, and how it can be performed is determined intersubjectively.
Model and Analysis for the Onset of Parkinsonian Firing Patterns in a Simplified Basal Ganglia
Authors: Caiola Michael , Holmes Mark H.
Published: May 2018

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a degenerative neurological disease that disrupts the movement cycle in the basal ganglia. As the disease progresses, dopamine depletion leads to changes to how the basal ganglia functions as well as the appearance of abnormal beta oscillations. There is much debate on just exactly how these connection strengths change and just how the oscillations emerge. One leading hypothesis claims that the oscillations develop in the globus pallidus external, subthalamic nucleus, and globus pallidus internal loop. We introduce a mathematical model that calculates the average firing rates of this loop while still accounting for the larger closed loop of the entire basal ganglia system. This model is constructed such that physiologically realistic results can be obtained while not sacrificing the use of analytic methods. Because of this, it is possible to determine how the change in the connection strengths can drive the necessary changes in firing rates seen in recordings and account for the generation of trademark beta oscillations of PD without relying on highly specific time delays, stochastic approaches, or numerical approximations. Additionally, we find that the entire cortico-basal ganglia-thalamo-cortical loop is essential for abnormal oscillations to originate.
Measuring diversity of music tastes in online musical society
Authors: Li Hao , Han Xiao-Pu , Lü Linyuan , Pan Zhigeng
Published: May 2018

The diversity of people’s musical tastes is one of the significant parts which helps people to better understand the behavior trends and cultural preferences of people. In this paper, based on Hill-type true diversity, we propose an improved diversity metric that fairly captures the diversity of musical tastes. This diversity efficiently considers all the three aspects of diversity definitions: variety, balance, and disparity, and keeps higher discriminatory power. Using this diversity metric, one can analyze users’ music tastes on Xiami.com, one of the largest social music media in China; we explore the association between the diversity and various variables which represent users’ personal traits, as well as the difference between different genre levels and map the cultural pattern of difference genres. Our findings dig out many efficient factors that deeply impact users’ music tastes, and provide the global pattern of musical cultural structure on the Chinese online music society.
Floating Memristor Employing Single MO-OTA with Hard-Switching Behavior
Authors: Yesil Abdullah
Published: May 2018

In this paper, we presented Multi-Output Operational Transconductance Amplifier (MO-OTA)-based floating memristor emulator circuit. The designed memristor circuit has only one MO-OTA and one grounded capacitor which is attractive for an integrated circuit. It does not consist of any multiplication circuit block to obtain nonlinear behavior of memristor. It is difficult to obtain the hard-switching voltage–current relationship than the smooth-switching voltage–current relationship of memristor but we obtained hard-switching voltage–current characteristics using single floating memristor circuit. The complete memristor circuit is laid by using Cadence Environment using TSMC 0.18[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m process parameters. The layout area of MO-OTA occupies an area of 34[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m [Formula: see text] 14[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m. Its post-layout simulation results are given to demonstrate the performance of the presented memristor emulator in different operating frequencies, process corner and radical temperature changes. All post-layout simulations agree well with theoretical analyses. As application examples, different connections such as serial, parallel and single of memristor emulator are investigated to test its connectivity.
Building a Decision Dashboard for Improving Green Supply Chain Management
Authors: Chuang Yen-Ching , Hu Shu-Kung , Liou James J. H. , Lo Huai-Wei
Published: May 2018

This paper proposes a decision model with a dashboard for systematically selecting and improving the performance of supplier in green supply chain management. The model combines both the decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory-based analytical network process (DANP) with a fuzzy integral method. The DANP method is used to construct the network system and derives the weights. The fuzzy integral method is applied to avoid inconsistent assumptions between the interdependence relation and linear aggregation for obtaining the aspiration-gaps of green suppliers. Last, the visualized dashboard allows for a clear representation of the interdependent-network structure of the attributes to assist companies in the selection of suitable suppliers, as well as assisting the suppliers in improving their performance with higher levels of service. A Taiwanese Electronics Company is demonstrated as an example. The results demonstrate that the dashboard can enable managers to make better decisions from a systematic perspective.
Notes on two multiparty quantum secret sharing schemes
Authors: Gao Gan
Published: May 2018

In the paper [H. Abulkasim et al., Int. J. Quantum Inform. 15 (2017) 1750023], Abulkasim et al. proposed a quantum secret sharing scheme based on Bell states. We study the security of the multiparty case in the proposed scheme and detect that it is not secure. In the paper [Y. Du and W. Bao, Opt. Commun. 308 (2013) 159], Du and Bao listed Gao’s scheme and gave a attack strategy on the listed scheme. We point out that their listing scheme is not the genuine Gao’s scheme and their research method is not advisable.
A Time-Dependent Finite Element Formulation for Thick Shape Memory Polymer Beams Considering Shear Effects
Authors: Eskandari Amir H. , Baghani Mostafa , Sohrabpour Saeed
Published: May 2018

In this paper, employing a thermomechanical small strain constitutive model for shape memory polymers (SMP), a beam element made of SMPs is presented based on the kinematic assumptions of Timoshenko beam theory. Considering the low stiffness of SMPs, the necessity for developing a Timoshenko beam element becomes more prominent. This is due to the fact that relatively thicker beams are required in the design procedure of smart structures. Furthermore, in the design and optimization process of these structures which involves a large number of simulations, we cannot rely only on the time consuming 3D finite element analyses. In order to properly validate the developed formulations, the numeric results of the present work are compared with those of 3D finite element results of the authors, previously available in the literature. The parametric study on the material parameters, e.g., hard segment volume fracture, viscosity coefficient of different phases, and the external force applied on the structure (during the recovery stage) are conducted on the thermomechanical response of a short I-shape SMP beam. For instance, the maximum beam deflection error in one of the studied examples for the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory is 7.3%, while for the Timoshenko beam theory, is 1.5% with respect to the 3D FE solution. It is noted that for thicker or shorter beams, the error of the Euler–Bernoulli beam theory even more increases. The proposed beam element in this work could be a fast and reliable alternative tool for modeling 3D computationally expensive simulations.