bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Depletion-driven crystallization of cubic colloids sedimented on a surface
Authors: Hatch Harold W. , Krekelberg William P. , Hudson Steven D. , Shen Vincent K.
Published: May 2016

Cubic colloids, sedimented on a surface and immersed in a solution of depletant molecules, were modeled with a family of shapes which smoothly varies from squares to circles. Using Wang-Landau simulations with expanded ensembles, we observe the formation of rhombic lattices, square lattices, hexagonal lattices, and a fluid phase. This systematic investigation includes locating transitions between all combinations of the three lattice structures upon changing the shape and transitions between the fluid and crystal upon changing the depletant concentration. The rhombic lattice deforms smoothly between square-like and hexagonal-like angles, depending on both the shape and the depletant concentration. Our results on the effect of the depletant concentration, depletant size, and colloid shape to influence the stability of the fluid and the lattice structures may help guide experimental studies with recently synthesized cubic colloids.
Jeans instability in collisional strongly coupled dusty plasma with radiative condensation and polarization force
Authors: Prajapati R. P. , Bhakta S. , Chhajlani R. K.
Published: May 2016

The influence of dust-neutral collisions, polarization force, and electron radiative condensation is analysed on the Jeans (gravitational) instability of partially ionized strongly coupled dusty plasma (SCDP) using linear perturbation (normal mode) analysis. The Boltzmann distributed ions, dynamics of inertialess electrons, charged dust and neutral particles are considered. Using the plane wave solutions, a general dispersion relation is derived which is modified due to the presence of dust-neutral collisions, strong coupling effect, polarization force, electron radiative condensation, and Jeans dust/neutral frequencies. In the long wavelength perturbations, the Jeans instability criterion depends upon strong coupling effect, polarization interaction parameter, and thermal loss, but it is independent of dust-neutral collision frequency. The stability of the considered configuration is analysed using the Routh–Hurwitz criterion. The growth rates of Jeans instability are illustrated, and stabilizing influence of viscoelasticity and dust-neutral collision frequency while destabilizing effect of electron radiative condensation, polarization force, and Jeans dust-neutral frequency ratio is observed. This work is applied to understand the gravitational collapse of SCDP with dust-neutral collisions.
Quasi-stable injection channels in a wakefield accelerator
Authors: Wiltshire-Turkay Mara , Farmer John P. , Pukhov Alexander
Published: May 2016

The influence of initial position on the acceleration of externally injected electrons in a plasma wakefield is investigated. Test-particle simulations show previously unobserved complex structure in the parameter space, with quasi-stable injection channels forming for particles injected in narrow regions away from the wake centre. Particles injected into these channels remain in the wake for a considerable time after dephasing and as a result achieve significantly higher energy than their neighbours. The result is relevant to both the planning and optimisation of experiments making use of external injection.
Communication: Hydrogen bonding interactions in water-alcohol mixtures from X-ray absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Lam Royce K. , Smith Jacob W. , Saykally Richard J.
Published: May 2016

While methanol and ethanol are macroscopically miscible with water, their mixtures exhibit negative excess entropies of mixing. Despite considerable effort in both experiment and theory, there remains significant disagreement regarding the origin of this effect. Different models for the liquid mixture structure have been proposed to address this behavior, including the enhancement of the water hydrogen bonding network around the alcohol hydrophobic groups and microscopic immiscibility or clustering. We have investigated mixtures of methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol with water by liquid microjet X-ray absorption spectroscopy on the oxygen K-edge, an atom-specific probe providing details of both inter- and intra-molecular structure. The measured spectra evidence a significant enhancement of hydrogen bonding originating from the methanol and ethanol hydroxyl groups upon the addition of water. These additional hydrogen bonding interactions would strengthen the liquid-liquid interactions, resulting in additional ordering in the liquid structures and leading to a reduction in entropy and a negative enthalpy of mixing, consistent with existing thermodynamic data. In contrast, the spectra of the isopropanol-water mixtures exhibit an increase in the number of broken alcohol hydrogen bonds for mixtures containing up to 0.5 water mole fraction, an observation consistent with existing enthalpy of mixing data, suggesting that the measured negative excess entropy is a result of clustering or micro-immiscibility.
Multi-scale structures of turbulent magnetic reconnection
Authors: Nakamura T. K. M. , Nakamura R. , Narita Y. , Baumjohann W. , Daughton W.
Published: May 2016

We have analyzed data from a series of 3D fully kinetic simulations of turbulent magnetic reconnection with a guide field. A new concept of the guide filed reconnection process has recently been proposed, in which the secondary tearing instability and the resulting formation of oblique, small scale flux ropes largely disturb the structure of the primary reconnection layer and lead to 3D turbulent features [W. Daughton et al., Nat. Phys. 7, 539 (2011)]. In this paper, we further investigate the multi-scale physics in this turbulent, guide field reconnection process by introducing a wave number band-pass filter (k-BPF) technique in which modes for the small scale (less than ion scale) fluctuations and the background large scale (more than ion scale) variations are separately reconstructed from the wave number domain to the spatial domain in the inverse Fourier transform process. Combining with the Fourier based analyses in the wave number domain, we successfully identify spatial and temporal development of the multi-scale structures in the turbulent reconnection process. When considering a strong guide field, the small scale tearing mode and the resulting flux ropes develop over a specific range of oblique angles mainly along the edge of the primary ion scale flux ropes and reconnection separatrix. The rapid merging of these small scale modes leads to a smooth energy spectrum connecting ion and electron scales. When the guide field is sufficiently weak, the background current sheet is strongly kinked and oblique angles for the small scale modes are widely scattered at the kinked regions. Similar approaches handling both the wave number and spatial domains will be applicable to the data from multipoint, high-resolution spacecraft observations such as the NASA magnetospheric multiscale (MMS) mission.
Structure and chemistry of passivated SiC/SiO2 interfaces
Authors: Houston Dycus J. , Xu Weizong , Lichtenwalner Daniel J. , Hull Brett , Palmour John W. , LeBeau James M.
Published: May 2016

Here, we report on the chemistry and structure of 4H-SiC/SiO2 interfaces passivated either by nitric oxide annealing or Ba deposition. Using aberration corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy and spectroscopy, we find that Ba and N remain localized at SiC/SiO2 interface after processing. Further, we find that the passivating species can introduce significant changes to the near-interface atomic structure of SiC. Specifically, we quantify significant strain for nitric oxide annealed sample where Si dangling bonds are capped by N. In contrast, strain is not observed at the interface of the Ba treated samples. Finally, we place these results in the context of field effect mobility.
Effects of a limited period of iron supplementation on the growth performance and meat colour of dairy bull calves for veal production
Authors: Cui K. , Tu Y. , Wang Y. C. , Zhang N. F. , Ma T. , Diao Q. Y.
Published: May 2016

The effects of restricting iron intake for the final 60 days of a 180-day growth trial on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, slaughter performance and meat quality of dairy bull calves used in veal production were evaluated in this study. Twenty-four newborn Holstein bull calves with an average weight of 41.0 ± 1.62 kg were randomly assigned to two groups of n = 12 calves/group. Calves in the Control group were fed a basal diet that included a milk replacer and pellet feed for 180 days. The iron level in the basal diet was 50 mg/kg. Calves in the Treatment group received the basal diet supplemented with 70 mg/kg iron for the first 120 days, then received the basal diet for the remaining 60 days. Five calves from each group were slaughtered at the end of the trial, and samples of the M. longissimus dorsi and rumen fluid were collected. No differences were found in dry matter intake, growth performance or digestibility and metabolism of nutrients between the two groups (P > 0.05). The dietary iron regimen did not affect the concentrations of blood urea nitrogen, total protein, albumin, or glucose (P > 0.05); however, the haemoglobin content increased with the supplementation of iron in the diet (P < 0.05). Compared with the Control group, increasing dietary iron increased the meat percentage (P < 0.05) rather than the meat nutritional composition or quality of veal.
Review and comparison of orthopaedic registries in the United States and Norway
Authors: Ramachandran Vignesh , Ahmed Adil Shahzad , Ramakrishnan Raahul
Published: May 2016

The global rise in orthopaedic care coupled with increasing costs necessitates surgical auditing. Orthopaedic registries in the United States (US) and Norway survey data to discern practice differences and improve clinical decisions, but they have key distinctions. In this study, we elucidate the creation, growth, and clinical relevance of registries in the US and Norway, emphasizing distinguishing features and effects on orthopaedic practice. Registries were selected based on geographic representation, enrollment, and scholarly relevance. The databases surveyed were PubMed, MEDLINE, The Texas Medical Center Library, The University of Texas System Library, and Google Scholar. Registry reports, websites, and direct conversations with staff were also utilized. Twelve US and five Norwegian registries were studied. Norwegian registries began in 1987, publish more clinical practice changes than US registries, are federally mandated, and operate on the national level. US registries began in 1969, are fragmented, and not mandated. The majority of US and Norwegian registries gather level II and III data, while some report level IV data. Delayed US registry adoption is due to scale, patient identification, and a multi-payer system, impediments absent in Norway. Norwegian registries produce annual reports and publish clinical improvements in open journals. We recommend similar US registry accessibility to advance patient care. Additionally, we convey that the American Joint Replacement Registry is poised to become a prodigious national registry due to high demographic diversity, data volume, and potential to collect level IV elements. Overall, US orthopaedic practice may benefit by incorporating aspects of the Norwegian registry system.
Detecting Renal Allograft Inflammation Using Quantitative Urine Metabolomics and CXCL10
Authors: Ho Julie , Sharma Atul , Mandal Rupasri , Wishart David S. , Wiebe Chris , Storsley Leroy , Karpinski Martin , Gibson Ian W. , Nickerson Peter W. , Rush David N.
Published: May 2016

Background

The goal of this study was to characterize urinary metabolomics for the noninvasive detection of cellular inflammation and to determine if adding urinary chemokine ligand 10 (CXCL10) improves the overall diagnostic discrimination.

Methods

Urines (n = 137) were obtained before biopsy in 113 patients with no (n = 66), mild (borderline or subclinical; n = 58), or severe (clinical; n = 13) rejection from a prospective cohort of adult renal transplant patients (n = 113). Targeted, quantitative metabolomics was performed with direct flow injection tandem mass spectrometry using multiple reaction monitoring (ABI 4000 Q-Trap). Urine CXCL10 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A projection on latent structures discriminant analysis was performed and validated using leave-one-out cross-validation, and an optimal 2-component model developed. Chemokine ligand 10 area under the curve (AUC) was determined and net reclassification index and integrated discrimination index analyses were performed.

Results

PLS2 demonstrated that urinary metabolites moderately discriminated the 3 groups (Cohen κ, 0.601; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.46-0.74; P < 0.001). Using binary classifiers, urinary metabolites and CXCL10 demonstrated an AUC of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.74-0.88) and 0.76 (95% CI, 0.68-0.84), respectively, and a combined AUC of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.78-0.91) for detecting alloimmune inflammation that was improved by net reclassification index and integrated discrimination index analyses. Urinary CXCL10 was the best univariate discriminator, followed by acylcarnitines and hexose.

Conclusions

Urinary metabolomics can noninvasively discriminate noninflamed renal allografts from those with subclinical and clinical inflammation, and the addition of urine CXCL10 had a modest but significant effect on overall diagnostic performance. These data suggest that urinary metabolomics and CXCL10 may be useful for noninvasive monitoring of alloimmune inflammation in renal transplant patients.
LMethyR-SVM: Predict human enhancers using low methylated regions based on weighted support vector machines
Authors: Xu Jingting , Hu Hong , Dai Yang
Published: May 2016

Background

The identification of enhancer is a challenging task. Various types of epigenetic information including histone modification have been utilized in the construction of enhancer prediction models based on a diverse panel of machine learning models. However, DNA methylation profiles generated from the whole genome bisulfate sequencing (WGBS) have not been fully explored for their potential in enhancer prediction despite the fact that low methylated regions (LMRs) have been implied to be distal active regulatory regions.

Method

In this work we propose a prediction framework, LMethyR-SVM, using LMRs identified from cell-type-specific WGBS DNA methylation profiles based on an unlabeled-negative learning framework. In LMethyR-SVM, the set of cell-type-specific LMRs is further divided into three sets: reliable positive, like positive, and likely negative, according to their resemblance to a small set of experimentally validated enhancers in the VISTA database based on an estimated non-parametric density distribution. Then, the prediction model is trained by solving a weighted support vector machine.

Results

We demonstrate the performance of LMethyR-SVM by using the WGBS DNA methylation profiles derived from the H1 human embryonic stem cell type (H1) and the fetal lung fibroblast cell type (IMR90). The predicted enhancers are highly conserved with a reasonable validation rate based on a set of commonly used positive markers including transcription factors, p300 binding and DNase-I hypersensitive sites. In addition, we show evidence that the large fraction of LMethyR-SVM predicted enhancers are not predicted by ChromHMM in H1 cell type and they are more enriched for the FANTOM5 enhancers.

Conclusion

Our work suggests that low methylated regions detected from the WGBS data are useful as complementary resources to histone modification marks in developing models for the prediction of cell type-specific enhancers.
Reading out olfactory receptors: feedforward circuits detect odors in mixtures without demixing
Authors: Mathis Alexander , Rokni Dan , Kapoor Vikrant , Bethge Matthias , Murthy Venkatesh N.
Published: May 2016

The olfactory system, like other sensory systems, can detect specific stimuli of interest amidst complex, varying backgrounds. To gain insight into the neural mechanisms underlying this ability, we imaged responses of mouse olfactory bulb glomeruli to single odors and hundreds of mixtures. We used this data to build a model of mixture responses that incorporated nonlinear interactions and trial-to-trial variability and explored potential decoding mechanisms that can mimic mouse performance from our previous study (Rokni et al., 2014) when given glomerular responses as input. We find that a linear decoder with sparse weights could match mouse performance using just a small subset of the glomeruli (~ 15). However, when such a decoder is trained only with single odors, it generalizes poorly to mixture stimuli due to nonlinear mixture responses. We show that mice similarly fail to generalize, although they could in principle fully decompose the mixtures. This suggests that mice learn this segregation task discriminatively by adjusting task-specific decision boundaries without taking advantage of a demixed representation of odors.
Evolution of a transcriptional regulator from a transmembrane nucleoporin
Authors: Franks Tobias M. , Benner Chris , Narvaiza Iñigo , Marchetto Maria C.N. , Young Janet M. , Malik Harmit S. , Gage Fred H. , Hetzer Martin W.
Published: May 2016

Nuclear pore complexes (NPCs) emerged as nuclear transport channels in eukaryotic cells ∼1.5 billion years ago. While the primary role of NPCs is to regulate nucleo–cytoplasmic transport, recent research suggests that certain NPC proteins have additionally acquired the role of affecting gene expression at the nuclear periphery and in the nucleoplasm in metazoans. Here we identify a widely expressed variant of the transmembrane nucleoporin (Nup) Pom121 (named sPom121, for “soluble Pom121”) that arose by genomic rearrangement before the divergence of hominoids. sPom121 lacks the nuclear membrane-anchoring domain and thus does not localize to the NPC. Instead, sPom121 colocalizes and interacts with nucleoplasmic Nup98, a previously identified transcriptional regulator, at gene promoters to control transcription of its target genes in human cells. Interestingly, sPom121 transcripts appear independently in several mammalian species, suggesting convergent innovation of Nup-mediated transcription regulation during mammalian evolution. Our findings implicate alternate transcription initiation as a mechanism to increase the functional diversity of NPC components.
A role for HOX13 proteins in the regulatory switch between TADs at the HoxD locus
Authors: Beccari Leonardo , Yakushiji-Kaminatsui Nayuta , Woltering Joost M. , Necsulea Anamaria , Lonfat Nicolas , Rodríguez-Carballo Eddie , Mascrez Benedicte , Yamamoto Shiori , Kuroiwa Atsushi , Duboule Denis
Published: May 2016

During vertebrate limb development, Hoxd genes are regulated following a bimodal strategy involving two topologically associating domains (TADs) located on either side of the gene cluster. These regulatory landscapes alternatively control different subsets of Hoxd targets, first into the arm and subsequently into the digits. We studied the transition between these two global regulations, a switch that correlates with the positioning of the wrist, which articulates these two main limb segments. We show that the HOX13 proteins themselves help switch off the telomeric TAD, likely through a global repressive mechanism. At the same time, they directly interact with distal enhancers to sustain the activity of the centromeric TAD, thus explaining both the sequential and exclusive operating processes of these two regulatory domains. We propose a model in which the activation of Hox13 gene expression in distal limb cells both interrupts the proximal Hox gene regulation and re-enforces the distal regulation. In the absence of HOX13 proteins, a proximal limb structure grows without any sign of wrist articulation, likely related to an ancestral fish-like condition.
Control of fluxes in metabolic networks
Authors: Basler Georg , Nikoloski Zoran , Larhlimi Abdelhalim , Barabási Albert-László , Liu Yang-Yu
Published: May 2016

Understanding the control of large-scale metabolic networks is central to biology and medicine. However, existing approaches either require specifying a cellular objective or can only be used for small networks. We introduce new coupling types describing the relations between reaction activities, and develop an efficient computational framework, which does not require any cellular objective for systematic studies of large-scale metabolism. We identify the driver reactions facilitating control of 23 metabolic networks from all kingdoms of life. We find that unicellular organisms require a smaller degree of control than multicellular organisms. Driver reactions are under complex cellular regulation inEscherichia coli, indicating their preeminent role in facilitating cellular control. In human cancer cells, driver reactions play pivotal roles in malignancy and represent potential therapeutic targets. The developed framework helps us gain insights into regulatory principles of diseases and facilitates design of engineering strategies at the interface of gene regulation, signaling, and metabolism.
Intention of college students to receive the human papillomavirus vaccine
Authors: Richards Keith
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to better understand what influences the intentions of college students to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the USA and cancers related to HPV are on the rise.

Design/methodology/approach

– A 2×2 experimental design was used to predict the intentions. Messages were created that manipulated the level of severity and vulnerability to determine which would increase intentions to receive the HPV vaccine. Each of the 278 participants viewed a message that contained one severity message (high or low) and one vulnerability message (high or low).

Findings

– Regression was used to determine that elements of the protection motivation theory such as vulnerability and fear, along with norms, and information seeking explained a significant portion of the variance in intent to be vaccinated (R2=0.40, F(4, 268)=44.47, p
<
0.001). Norms had the most influence on intention (β=0.42, p
<
0.001), next was vulnerability (β=0.21, p
<
0.001) then fear (β=0.16, p=0.002), and finally information seeking (β=0.10, p=0.01).

Originality/value

– The current college age population did not have the opportunity to be vaccinated early and the recent (2011) recommendation that males get vaccinated makes this research valuable to those designing vaccination messages. The current study shows that norms were the most influential variable in regards to increasing intent to get vaccinated. This means that if the participant believed their friends would support or endorse their intent to get vaccinated they were more likely to say they would follow through and get vaccinated. This finding should be highlighted in any future campaign.
Mother’s health knowledge and its links with the illness and medical care of their children in India
Authors: Patra Shraboni , Perianayagam Arokiasamy , Goli Srinivas
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The level of mother’s health knowledge influences not only her health, but also significantly predicts her children’s health and medical care, and spending on medical care. This relationship has not yet been empirically assessed in India. The purpose of this paper is to measure the level of health knowledge of mothers in India and its association with the short-term illness in their children, medical care and medical care expenditure.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors used data from India Human Development Survey, 2004-2005. An index of “health knowledge” was constructed by using factor analysis. Multivariate binary logistic regression, multinomial logistic regression and multiple classification analysis were employed to analyze the relationship between mother’s health knowledge and child illness. Pearson’s χ2 test and ANOVA test were used to estimate levels of statistical significance in bivariate analyses.

Findings

– The results revealed that children of mothers with medium and high-health knowledge were significantly less likely to have short-term illness (OR=0.390, p
<
0.01 and OR=0.543, p
<
0.01) than those children whose mothers had no or low-health knowledge (OR=1.00, p
<
0.01) cutting across all background characteristics. Similarly, the attainment of modern medical care for short-term illness of children was nearly two times greater (OR=1.97, p
<
0.05) in mothers with higher health knowledge as compared to mothers with no or low-health knowledge (OR=1.00, p
<
0.01). The results also showed that mothers with higher health knowledge spent more on medical care for their children’s short-term illness than mothers with no and low-health knowledge.

Practical implications

– The findings suggested a significant effect of mother’s health knowledge on the prevalence of short-term illness among their children, medical care and expenditure on the medical care. Appropriate health knowledge for women is crucial to the wellbeing of their children. Besides, social equity in terms of the distribution of facilities, to gain health knowledge and medical care, are essential to be established in India.

Originality/value

– To the knowledge, this study is the first attempt to measure the health knowledge of women in reproductive age and its association with the prevalence of short-term illness, medical care and medical expenditure of their children in India. In general, a health knowledge index could be a significant composite predictor of the health in a population.
Exploring leadership in the context of dentistry in the UK
Authors: Willcocks Stephen George
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore selective leadership approaches in the context of dentistry in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a conceptual paper utilising published sources from relevant literature about leadership theory and practice and the policy background to dentistry in the UK.

Findings

This paper suggests that there is merit in identifying and applying an eclectic mix of leadership theory to the case of dentistry. It offers insight into individual aspects of the leadership role for dentists and applies this to the dental context. It also contrasts these individual approaches with shared leadership and suggests this may also be relevant to dentistry. It highlights the fact that leadership will be of growing concern for dentistry in the light of recent policy changes.

Research limitations/implications

This paper points out that there are developmental implications depending on the particular approach taken. It argues that leadership development will become increasingly important in dentistry in the UK.

Originality/value

This paper addresses a topic that has so far received limited attention in the literature.
Healthcare managers’ leadership profiles in relation to perceptions of work stressors and stress
Authors: Lornudd Caroline , Bergman David , Sandahl Christer , von Thiele Schwarz Ulrica
Published: May 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between leadership profiles and differences in managers’ own levels of work stress symptoms and perceptions of work stressors causing stress.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional data were used. Healthcare managers (n = 188) rated three dimensions of their leadership behavior and levels of work stressors and stress. Hierarchical cluster analysis was performed to identify leadership profiles based on leadership behaviors. Differences in stress-related outcomes between profiles were assessed using one-way analysis of variance.

Findings

Four distinct clusters of leadership profiles were found. They discriminated in perception of work stressors and stress: the profile distinguished by the lowest mean in all behavior dimensions, exhibited a pattern with significantly more negative ratings compared to the other profiles.

Practical implications

This paper proposes that leadership profile is an individual factor involved in the stress process, including work stressors and stress, which may inform targeted health promoting interventions for healthcare managers.

Originality/value

This is the first study to investigate the relationship between leadership profiles and work stressors and stress in healthcare managers.
Effects of intimate partner violence, PTSD, and alcohol use on cigarette smoking in a nationally representative sample
Authors: Flanagan Julianne C. , Hakes Jahn K. , McClure Erin A. , Snead Alexandra L. , Back Sudie E.
Published: May 2016

Background and Objectives

Separate literatures indicate that intimate partner violence (IPV), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and alcohol use are independently associated with increased risk for cigarette smoking. No previous studies have examined the co‐occurrence of these problems on smoking quantity and potential gender‐specific relationships. This study will address this gap in the literature.

Methods

Data from Wave 2 of the National Epidemiologic Study on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC) were examined. Variables were assessed during the past year. Individuals (N = 25,604) who reported being married, dating, or involved in a romantic relationship were included.

Results

Among men, PTSD and alcohol use were associated with more cigarettes smoked per day. Among women, PTSD, alcohol use, and IPV victimization were associated with more cigarettes smoked per day. Women who experienced IPV victimization smoked approximately three additional cigarettes per day.

Discussion and Conclusions

IPV victimization, PTSD, and alcohol use were associated with cigarettes smoked among women, while IPV experiences were not associated with smoking risk among men.

Scientific Significance

These findings represent an important contribution to the existing literature in that it elucidates the compounding relationship between a common and complex comorbidity and cigarette smoking. Findings indicate a critical need to implement routine smoking screening and intervention in venues where intimate partner violence is commonly encountered, such as advocacy and substance use treatment settings. (Am J Addict 2016;25:283–290)
Use of antipsychotics and risk of myocardial infarction: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Yu Zheng‐he , Jiang Hai‐yin , Shao Li , Zhou Yuan‐yue , Shi Hai‐yan , Ruan Bing
Published: May 2016

Aim

There is emerging concern that antipsychotics may be associated with an increased risk of myocardial infarction (MI). A previous review identified five observational studies that did not provide an accurate estimate of the association between antipsychotic drug use and MI risk. More recent studies have produced variable results.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis of observational studies to determine whether antipsychotic use affects the risk for MI. Our analysis included all observational studies that compared MI incidence among patients receiving antipsychotics vs. no treatment.

Results

Nine observational studies were included in the analysis. The odds for developing MI were 1.88‐fold higher (odds ratio (OR) 1.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.39, 2.54) in antipsychotic users compared with individuals who had not taken antipsychotics. Subgroup analyses found an OR of 2.48 (95% CI 1.66, 3.69) among patients with schizophrenia and an OR of 2.64 (95% CI 2.48, 2.81) among short term (<30 days) antipsychotic users.

Conclusion

The findings of this meta‐analysis support an increased risk of MI in antipsychotic drug users. The present systematic review expands previous knowledge by demonstrating an increased and more pronounced risk in short term users.
Do We Know Whether Researchers and Reviewers are Estimating Risk and Benefit Accurately?
Authors: Hey Spencer Phillips , Kimmelman Jonathan
Published: May 2016

Accurate estimation of risk and benefit is integral to good clinical research planning, ethical review, and study implementation. Some commentators have argued that various actors in clinical research systems are prone to biased or arbitrary risk/benefit estimation. In this commentary, we suggest the evidence supporting such claims is very limited. Most prior work has imputed risk/benefit beliefs based on past behavior or goals, rather than directly measuring them. We describe an approach – forecast analysis – that would enable direct and effective measure of the quality of risk/benefit estimation. We then consider some objections and limitations to the forecasting approach.
The influence of bilingualism on the preference for the mouth region of dynamic faces
Authors: Ayneto Alba , Sebastian‐Galles Nuria
Published: May 2016

Bilingual infants show an extended period of looking at the mouth of talking faces, which provides them with additional articulatory cues that can be used to boost the challenging situation of learning two languages (Pons, Bosch & Lewkowicz, 2015). However, the eye region also provides fundamental cues for emotion perception and recognition, as well as communication. Here, we explored whether the adaptations resulting from learning two languages are specific to linguistic content or if they also influence the focus of attention when looking at dynamic faces. We recorded the eye gaze of bilingual and monolingual infants (8‐ and 12‐month‐olds) while watching videos of infants and adults portraying different emotional states (neutral, crying, and laughing). When looking at infant faces, bilinguals looked longer at the mouth region as compared to monolinguals regardless of age. However, when presented with adult faces, 8‐month‐old bilingual infants looked longer at the mouth region and less at the eye region compared to 8‐month‐old monolingual infants, but no effect of language exposure was found at 12 months of age. These findings suggest that the bias to the mouth region in bilingual infants at 8 months of age can be generalized to other audiovisual dynamic faces that do not contain linguistic information. We discuss the potential implications of such bias in early social and communicative development.
Are Cape Ground Squirrels (Xerus inauris) Sensitive to Variation in the Pay‐offs from Their Caches?
Authors: Samson Jamie , Manser Marta B.
Published: May 2016

For food caching to be adaptive, the benefits of recovery must outweigh the costs of storing an item. One of the costs to cachers is the risk of theft, and therefore, it is predicted that individuals may be sensitive to this theft and show various behavioural strategies to minimise it. In this study, we gave wild Cape ground squirrels (Xerus inauris) a choice between two different coloured items of the same food type: one item with a specific colour that was always artificially removed when cached and the other item with a different colour that was not removed when cached. During the choice presentations, subjects reduced the amount they consumed and cached of the food items with the colour that was experimentally removed when cached, despite the two items only differing in caching pay‐off. This avoidance to choose the food with the colour that was removed occurred over time, which suggests that subjects were using information about the item's pay‐off during cache recovery and this then impacted on successive decisions. This study highlights how the sensitivity to a food item's pay‐off can affect an individual's choice towards items that offer the greater overall reward.
Evaluation of a dysphagia screening system based on the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability for use in dependent older adults
Authors: Ohira Mariko , Ishida Ryo , Maki Yoshinobu , Ohkubo Mai , Sugiyama Tetsuya , Sakayori Takaharu , Sato Toru
Published: May 2016

Aim

Dysphagia is common in dependent older adults. Thus, a method of evaluating eating and swallowing functions that can be used to diagnose and manage dysphagia in a simple and robust manner is required. In 2002, the Mann Assessment of Swallowing Ability (MASA) was introduced to identify dysphagia in acute‐stage stroke patients. As the MASA enables easy screening, it might also be applicable to dependent older adults if appropriate MASA cut‐off values and the most useful assessment items could be determined. In the present study, we attempted to determine suitable MASA cut‐off values, and the most useful assessment items for predicting aspiration and pharyngeal retention in dependent older adults.

Methods

Using the MASA, we evaluated the eating and swallowing functions of 50 dependent older adults with dysphagia. All of the patients also underwent videoendoscopic‐based swallowing evaluations to detect aspiration and pharyngeal retention. The participants' characteristics and the utility of each assessment item were compared between various groups. Using the patients' videoendoscopic findings as a reference, receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was carried out to determine appropriate cut‐off values for predicting aspiration and pharyngeal retention in dependent older adults.

Results

The optimal MASA cut‐off values for predicting aspiration and pharyngeal retention were 122 points and 151 points, respectively. A total of 17 of the 24 clinical items assessed by the MASA were found to be associated with aspiration in dependent older adults.

Conclusions

The MASA is a useful screening tool for evaluating eating and swallowing functions in dependent older adults. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 561‐567.
The economic considerations of patients and caregivers in choice of dialysis modality
Authors: Walker Rachael C. , Howard Kirsten , Tong Allison , Palmer Suetonia C. , Marshall Mark R. , Morton Rachael L.
Published: May 2016

Introduction Broader adoption of home dialysis could lead to considerable cost savings for health services. Globally, however, uptake remains low. The aim of this study was to describe patient and caregiver perspectives of the economic considerations that influence dialysis modality choice, and elicit policy‐relevant recommendations.

Methods Semistructured interviews with predialysis or dialysis patients and their caregivers, at three hospitals in New Zealand. Interview transcripts were analyzed thematically.

Findings 43 patients and 9 caregivers (total n = 52) participated. The three themes related to economic considerations were: (i) productivity losses associated with changes in employment; (ii) the need for personal subsidization of home dialysis expenses; and (iii) the role of socio‐economic disadvantage as a barrier to home dialysis. Patients weighed the flexibility of home dialysis which allowed them to remain employed, against time required for training and out‐of‐pocket costs. Patients saw the lack of reimbursement of home dialysis costs as unjust and suggested that reimbursement would incentivize home dialysis uptake. Social disadvantage was a barrier to home dialysis as patients’ housing was often unsuitable; they could not afford the additional treatment costs. Home hemodialysis was considered to have the highest out‐of‐pocket costs and was sometimes avoided for this reason.

Discussion Our data suggests that economic considerations underpin the choices patients make about dialysis treatments, however these are rarely reported. To promote home dialysis, strategies to improve employment retention and housing, and to minimize out‐of‐pocket costs, need to be addressed directly by healthcare providers and payers.
PD‐L1 testing for lung cancer in the UK: recognizing the challenges for implementation
Authors: Cree Ian A , Booton Richard , Cane Paul , Gosney John , Ibrahim Merdol , Kerr Keith , Lal Rohit , Lewanski Conrad , Navani Neal , Nicholson Andrew G , Nicolson Marianne , Summers Yvonne
Published: May 2016

A new approach to the management of non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) has recently emerged that works by manipulating the immune checkpoint controlled by programmed death receptor 1 (PD‐1) and its ligand programmed death ligand 1 (PD‐L1). Several drugs targeting PD‐1 (pembrolizumab and nivolumab) or PD‐L1 (atezolizumab, durvalumab, and avelumab) have been approved or are in the late stages of development. Inevitably, the introduction of these drugs will put pressure on healthcare systems, and there is a need to stratify patients to identify those who are most likely to benefit from such treatment. There is evidence that responsiveness to PD‐1 inhibitors may be predicted by expression of PD‐L1 on neoplastic cells. Hence, there is considerable interest in using PD‐L1 immunohistochemical staining to guide the use of PD‐1‐targeted treatments in patients with NSCLC. This article reviews the current knowledge about PD‐L1 testing, and identifies current research requirements. Key factors to consider include the source and timing of sample collection, pre‐analytical steps (sample tracking, fixation, tissue processing, sectioning, and tissue prioritization), analytical decisions (choice of biomarker assay/kit and automated staining platform, with verification of standardized assays or validation of laboratory‐devised techniques, internal and external quality assurance, and audit), and reporting and interpretation of the results. This review addresses the need for integration of PD‐L1 immunohistochemistry with other tests as part of locally agreed pathways and protocols. There remain areas of uncertainty, and guidance should be updated regularly as new information becomes available.
Cystometric evaluation of recovery in hypocompliant defunctionalized bladder as a result of long‐term dialysis after kidney transplantation
Authors: Inoue Takamitsu , Satoh Shigeru , Obara Takashi , Saito Mitsuru , Numakura Kazuyuki , Narita Shintaro , Tsuchiya Norihiko , Habuchi Tomonori
Published: May 2016

Objectives

To evaluate the functional recovery of a pretransplant hypocompliant bladder in patients without neurological disorders, and to determine its relationship with ureteral complications, including vesicoureteral reflux.

Methods

A total of 61 patients without neurogenic disorders, who underwent video water cystometry pre‐ and 1 year post‐transplantation, were enrolled. Cystometric bladder capacity and maximum intravesical pressure were measured, and compliance was calculated by the elevation in intravesical pressure as a result of an increase in volume. The frequencies of urinary complications, including urinary leakage, pyelonephritis and vesicoureteral reflux, were also evaluated.

Results

Pretransplant dialysis duration correlated with pretransplant bladder capacity and compliance (R2 = 0.421, P < 0.001 and R2 = 0.418, P < 0.001, respectively). A total of 16 (26.2%) patients had hypocompliant bladders <10 mL/cmH2O, whereas 10 of the 12 patients (83.3%) with pretransplant dialysis duration of more than 5 years had a pretransplant hypocompliant bladder. Bladder compliance significantly recovered to >20 mL/cmH2O (21.1–286.0) at 1 year post‐transplantation in all 16 patients with a pretransplant hypocompliant bladder. No significant differences were observed for urinary leakage, pyelonephritis or vesicoureteral reflux between patients with and without a pretransplant hypocompliant bladder.

Conclusions

Bladder compliance decreases logarithmically pretransplantation according to dialysis duration. Although the ability of the patients to recover varies, dysfunctions associated with a pretransplant hypocompliant bladder recover to normal ranges after renal transplantation. A pretransplant hypocompliant bladder seems not to be associated with the post‐transplant prevalence of urinary complications or vesicoureteral reflux.
Outcomes in coeliac disease: a qualitative exploration of patients' views on what they want to achieve when seeing a dietitian
Authors: Madden A. M. , Riordan A. M. , Knowles L.
Published: May 2016

Background

Coeliac disease (CD) is managed by life‐long adherence to a gluten‐free diet and dietitians have the potential to facilitate this. Patient involvement through shared decision‐making is central to behaviour‐change skills used by dietitians, although there is little evidence supporting its inclusion in evaluating dietetic interventions. The present study aimed to explore patients' preferences for diet and nutrition‐related outcomes in CD.

Methods

Adults with CD or adult carers of children with CD were invited through support networks. Participants took part in a telephone, face‐to‐face interview or focus group which was audio‐recorded and transcribed. Themes were developed using a framework method. Ethical approval was obtained.

Results

Twenty‐nine adult patients and five parents of CD children participated 0–34 years after diagnosis. Four main outcome‐related themes emerged: (i) Participants wanted information specific to their lifestyle and time since diagnosis, focussing on food containing gluten, practical issues, prescribable items and general nutrition. (ii) The degree of satisfaction with the consultation process impacted on participants' experience, including the dietitian's CD expertise, consistency of the dietitian seen, and the frequency and length of appointments. (iii) Health concerns were important to participants and focussed on risk of osteoporosis, unwanted weight gain, and the fat and sugar content of manufactured gluten‐free products. (iv) Clinical monitoring, including bone scans and antibody measurements, was mentioned but was not described as being of importance for most participants.

Conclusions

The outcomes preferred by CD patients and carers focussed primarily on information and resources received and satisfaction with their dietetic consultation.
Prediction of the risk of cesarean delivery after labor induction in twin gestations based on clinical and ultrasound parameters
Authors: Han Bo Ryoung , Park Kyo Hoon , Lee Sung Youn , Jung Eun Young , Park Jeong Woo
Published: May 2016

Aims

To develop a model based on clinical and ultrasound parameters to predict the risk of cesarean delivery after labor induction in near‐term twin gestations.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 189 consecutive women with twin gestations at ≥ 36.0 weeks scheduled for labor induction. The Bishop score and transvaginal ultrasonographic measurements of cervical length were obtained immediately before labor induction. Parameters studied included maternal age, height, weight, parity, gestational age, Bishop score, cervical length, epidural analgesia, method of conception, chorionicity and birth weight. Prostaglandin E2 (dinoprostone) and oxytocin were used for labor induction. Logistic regression analysis and receiver operating characteristic curve were used to generate a predictive model for cesarean delivery.

Results

Fifty (26.5%) of the 189 women had cesarean deliveries. According to logistic regression analysis, maternal height (P = 0.004), parity (P = 0.005) and cervical length (P = 0.016), but not Bishop score (P = 0.920), were identified as independent predictors of cesarean delivery. A risk score based on a model of these three parameters was calculated for each patient. The model was shown to have an adequate goodness of fit (P = 0.201) and the area under the curve was 0.722, indicating fairly good discrimination.

Conclusions

Maternal height, parity and cervical length were independent parameters for predicting the risk of cesarean delivery after labor induction in twin gestations. A predictive model using these parameters may provide useful information for deciding whether or not to induce labor.