bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in computed tomography scan uses in Taiwan from 2000 to 2013
Authors: Hsueh Yung-Wei , Lin You-Cheng , Lin Ching-Heng , Chen Hung-Chieh , Huang Zheng-Yi , Chai Jyh-Wen , Chen Clayton Chi-Chang
Published: December 2019

Background:

The trends in computed tomography (CT) scan uses in Taiwan were examined in different age and sex groups and compared between catastrophic illness and noncatastrophic illness groups.

Methods:

This retrospective cohort study used data from the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan to analyze CT scan uses from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2013. The number, annual growth rate, and cumulative fold change ratio were estimated in different groups classified by sex, age, or disease category (catastrophic illness, noncatastrophic illness).

Results:

The number of CT scan uses per million people per year in Taiwan increased 2.5 times from 24 257 in 2000 to 60 351 in 2013, at the average annual growth rate of 7.4% ± 5.9%. The annual number of CT scan uses in different age groups and disease category groups was significantly higher in males than in females. However, the average annual growth rate and the cumulative fold change ratio were slightly higher in females than in males. The majority of CT scan uses were in middle age and young adult groups. The annual number of CT scan uses in the young adult, child/adolescent, and middle age groups increased 3.7-, 3.5-, and 2.7-fold from 2000 to 2013, but decreased 0.8-fold in the old-age group. The annual number of CT scan uses was highest in the noncatastrophic illness group, followed by the catastrophic illness cancer group and catastrophic illness others group.

Conclusion:

CT scan uses in Taiwan increased continuously from 2000 to 2013, even in the groups with higher radiation-related cancer risk. Therefore, clinicians, radiologists, and medical policy makers should weigh diagnostic benefit against sex-specific and age-specific risks in the future.
Hypertonic saline versus mannitol for the treatment of increased intracranial pressure in traumatic brain injury
Authors: DeNett, Taylor , Feltner, Cassandra
Published: December 2019

Background:

Increased intracranial pressure (ICP) occurring after traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. If appropriate treatments are not initiated, brain herniation can occur and lead to death. Previously, the Brain Trauma Foundation recommended mannitol as the first-choice hyperosmolar agent. However, in 2016, they retracted this recommendation, citing a lack of sufficient supporting evidence. Current research shows that hypertonic saline (HTS) also decreases ICP.

Objectives:

To compare the efficacy of HTS and mannitol in lowering ICP in patients with TBI.

Data sources:

A search was conducted up to June 1, 2019, using PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science. Selected articles compared mannitol and HTS in adults with TBI, with the measured outcome of reduced ICP. Four meta-analyses, three randomized controlled trials, and one retrospective cohort study met the inclusion criteria.

Conclusions:

Hypertonic saline is an effective alternative to mannitol for increased ICP. Three studies suggested HTS may be superior to mannitol. Conclusions were limited by sample size and methodological differences, such as varying concentrations and doses, and inclusion of patients without TBI in their studies.

Implications for practice:

Evidence demonstrates HTS to be as effective as mannitol for ICP reduction. Further research in a large multicenter clinical trial is needed to compare these two agents for superiority in the management of increased ICP. Providers should consider the properties of each agent, adverse effects, and potential benefits when selecting a hyperosmotic agent.
State of clinical pain research in Nepal: a systematic scoping review
Authors: Sharma Saurab , Jensen Mark P. , Pathak Anupa , Sharma Sweekriti , Pokharel Mukesh , Abbott J. Haxby
Published: December 2019

Before determining the pain research priorities for a country, a comprehensive literature review of existing research is warranted. We aimed to (1) identify and describe the extent and nature of pain research performed in Nepal, (2) identify existing knowledge and significant knowledge gaps, and (3) provide recommendations for future studies. We conducted a systematic scoping review of the literature, in accordance with recommended guidelines. We searched local and international databases to identify research conducted in Nepal on individuals with a diagnosis of clinical pain conditions. A pair of independent reviewers screened the studies for inclusion. We identified 1396 records and included 116 studies. Most studies were published in Nepalese journals (75%) and were conducted in clinical settings (73%). Postsurgical pain was the most commonly studied pain condition (33%), followed by musculoskeletal pain (16%), headache (14%), and low back pain (13%). The most common research topics, in order of frequency, were (1) medical management (40%), (2) pain prevalence/incidence (21%), (3) diagnostic procedures (15%), (4) surgical management (8%), and (5) patient-reported outcome measurement (8%). Research gaps and potential areas of research waste were identified. Although a large number of research articles about pain in Nepal have been published, the majority of these have focused on the biomedical diagnosis and management of pain. Other topic areas (eg, psychological and social aspects of pain) are under-represented. The findings may inform future research directions for maximizing the knowledge that could be gained.
Pain in Brazilian people experiencing homelessness
Authors: de Campos Ariane Graça , da Silva Victor Elivane , Seeley Molly , Leão Eliseth Ribeiro
Published: December 2019

Background:

Previous studies conducted in developed countries have shown that homeless people experience a high rate of pain. In this population, pain is not only underdiagnosed but is also undertreated. In Brazil, the pain of people experiencing homelessness is unknown and this is the first study on this subject in the country.

Objective:

To assess and characterize the prevalence of pain in homeless people living on the streets in the center of São Paulo, Brazil, and to understand its implications to general activities according to the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaire.

Method:

This is a descriptive-exploratory cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach conducted with 69 homeless people from the central region of São Paulo, Brazil. The data were captured as protected health information and analyzed with a sociodemographic form, the BPI questionnaire, the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ), and the Wong–Baker Face Scale.

Results:

The sample consisted mainly of men who spend the night on the streets, of black and miscegenated Brazilian people, with a mean age of 51 years. This population lived an average of 12 years on the streets, presented low levels of education, and used psychoactive substances. We observed a prevalence of severe musculoskeletal pain in the spine, with intermittent activity and duration of several days. The most common self-reported worsening factor was body movement and the most common factor of improvement was use of medication, but only 15% reported pain relief. Pain greatly interfered with all BPI's Activities of Daily Living, in particular with sleep (87.2%). The MPQ was difficult for the subjects to understand. There was no evidence of an association between pain and sex. Our results suggest that the longer the time living on the street, the less pain symptoms are acknowledged by the subjects, due to the accommodation phenomenon.
Digital Occlusion Setup Is Quantitatively Comparable With the Conventional Dental Model Approach
Authors: Seo Hyung Joon , Denadai Rafael , Pai Betty Chien-Jung , Lo Lun-Jou
Published: December 2019

Background

The evolving 3-dimensional computer-based technology revolutionized the field of orthognathic surgery (OGS). Digital occlusion setup for OGS may provide advantages in the planning comparing with the conventional approach based on the manual setup using dental casts, but we are not aware of any study focusing on digital occlusion setup for cleft OGS. The purposes of this study were to compare the conventional and digital occlusion setup approaches and to propose a protocol for digital occlusion setup in unilateral cleft OGS.

Methods

Thirty consecutive patients with unilateral cleft lip/palate who underwent orthodontic treatment by a single orthodontist and 2-jaw OGS by a single surgeon using 3-dimensional surgical simulation were adopted for analysis. Quantitative data were collected from the dental cast occlusion setup approach (conventional group). A multidisciplinary team combined this quantitative data and established a protocol for digital occlusion setup in cleft OGS. Digital occlusions were set according to this protocol using the images of the 30 patients, and quantitative data were collected accordingly (digital group). The results of 2 groups were compared. All information was reviewed to refine the protocol and define the final guidelines.

Results

There were no significant differences (all P > 0.05) for all parameters, except midline discrepancy (conventional group > digital group, P < 0.001). The root-mean-square deviation (0.46 ± 0.26 mm) indicated acceptable relationship between the conventional and digital groups. A 6-step protocol for digital occlusion setup in cleft OGS was established: dental midline, overjet/overbite, yaw rotation, pitch rotation, roll rotation, and overall facial skeletal appearance.

Conclusions

This study shows that digital occlusion setup is quantitatively comparable with the conventional dental model approach and contributes for cleft OGS by establishing a protocol for surgical occlusion setup using digital approach.
Virtual Surgical Planning for Successful Second-Stage Mandibular Defect Reconstruction Using Vascularized Iliac Crest Bone Flap
Authors: Li Yusang , Shao Zhe , Zhu Yuxi , Liu Bing , Wu Tianfu
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Second-stage reconstruction of mandibular defects faces problems of anatomic disorder and bone displacement due to tumor resection. As a newer technique, virtual surgical planning (VSP) may help to increase the accuracy and efficiency of the complicated reconstruction. This study aims to evaluate the application of VSP and splint-guided surgery in second-stage mandibular reconstruction using vascularized iliac crest bone flap.

Methods

Between October 2016 and February 2018, 5 patients (3 men and 2 women) with mandibular defects of duration between 8 months and 8 years underwent VSP-aided secondary reconstruction in the School and Hospital of Stomatology of Wuhan University (Wuhan, China). Virtual surgical planning was performed and serial guiding splints were printed to replicate the design into the actual operation. The linear and 3-dimensional deviations after surgery were analyzed. Patient complications and feedback were recorded during follow up.

Results

All 5 patients underwent successful reconstruction using vascularized iliac crest bone flap. No serious donor sites or recipient site complications were observed after 10- to 28-month follow-up. In comparison with the presurgery designs, the linear deviations in coronal plane were 2.7 ± 0.4 mm (range, −2.2 to 3.9 mm) in measurements from the condylar head to the condylar head and 0.70 ± 0.6 mm (range, −0.1 to 1.7 mm) from the gonial angle to the gonial angle, and that in sagittal plane was 2.4 ± 0.88 mm (range, −3 to 4.4 mm) from the anterior inferior mandibular border to the center point on the condylar head to the condylar head line. The whole 3-dimensional deviation was 1.2 ± 1.7 mm in all patients.

Conclusion

Well-designed splints can assist in precise mandibular reconstruction with high efficiency and accuracy, and thus are a reliable method for complicated second-stage mandibular reconstruction. However, to achieve a better outcome, a satisfactory design is required to adapt the complicated and varied defect.
Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase and L-Arginine Optimizes Nitric Oxide Bioavailability in Ischemic Tissues Under Diabetes Mellitus Type 1
Authors: Gazyakan Emre , Hirche Christoph , Reichenberger Matthias A. , Germann Günter , Roth Christian , Engel Holger
Published: December 2019

Background

The mechanisms influencing the balance of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability in tissues are negatively affected under diabetic and also under ischemic conditions. Free tissue transplantation for diabetic patients has to deal with both ischemic and diabetic circumstances, which lead to a significantly decrease in providing NO, thus increasing ischemia-reperfusion injury. In previous studies, we could prove that enhancing NO bioavailability leads to attenuated ischemia-reperfusion injury macrocirculatory and microcirculatory alterations in healthy and also in diabetes type 2 rats. This study is evaluating the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase in different dosages and l-arginine under diabetes type 1 conditions.

Methods

Diabetic type 1 conditions were established via streptozotocin over a period of 4 weeks and verified via blood sugar, insulin, and C-peptide levels. Vascular pedicle isolated rat skin flap model that underwent 3 hours of ischemia was used. At 30 minutes before ischemia, normal saline, inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS) (1/2 IE), and l-arginine (50 mg/kg body weight) were administered systemically. Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced alterations were measured 5 days after the operation.

Results

The inducible NOS (iNOS) attenuated I/R-induced alterations under diabetic type 1 conditions significantly with vitality rates of 16.1% compared with control group (5.5%). Best results could be achieved with the combination of iNOS (1 IE) and l-arginine displaying vitality rates of 43%. Increased dosage of inducible nitric oxide (2 IE) led to decreased vitality rates (22.2%/27.4% without/with l-arginine).

Conclusions

Supporting the mechanisms of NO bioavailability via exogenous application of iNOS and l-arginine significantly attenuated I/R-induced alterations in a skin flap rat model. This pharmacologic preconditioning could be an easy and effective interventional strategy to uphold conversation of l-arginine to NO even on ischemic and type 1 diabetic conditions.
Muscarinic and Nicotinic Modulation of Memory but not Verbal Problem-solving
Authors: Smyth Shawn F. , Beversdorf David Q.
Published: December 2019

Aspects of cognitive flexibility are modulated by the noradrenergic system, which is important in arousal and attention. Acetylcholine also modulates arousal and attention, as well as working memory. Effects of muscarinic and nicotinic antagonism on memory are well established. Our purpose was to test whether muscarinic and nicotinic antagonism affect aspects of cognitive flexibility, specifically verbal problem-solving, as well as memory, given acetylcholine’s role in attention and arousal. Eighteen participants attended three testing sessions. Two hours before testing, participants received either 0.6 mg scopolamine, 10 mg mecamylamine, or placebo. Then, participants were tested on three memory tasks (Buschke Selective Reminding Test [BSRT], California Verbal Learning Test [CVLT], Rey Complex Figure Test), two verbal problem-solving/cognitive flexibility tasks (Compound Remote Associates Test, a timed anagram test), and a spatial inductive reasoning task (Raven’s Progressive Matrices). Task order and drug order were counterbalanced. Memory impairment was seen on one BSRT measure and multiple CVLT measures with scopolamine, and with one BSRT measure with mecamylamine. There were no effects of either drug on any of the tasks involving cognitive flexibility, including verbal problem-solving. Specific memory impairments were detected using muscarinic, and to a marginal extent, nicotinic antagonists, as expected, but no effect was seen on cognitive flexibility. Therefore, although both the noradrenergic and cholinergic systems play important roles in arousal and cortical signal-to-noise processing, the cholinergic system does not appear to have the same effect as the noradrenergic system on cognitive flexibility, including verbal problem-solving.
Motor output and control input in flapping flight: a compact model of the deforming wing kinematics of manoeuvring hoverflies
Authors: Nagesh Indira , Walker Simon M. , Taylor Graham K.
Published: December 2019

Insects are conventionally modelled as controlling flight by varying a few summary kinematic parameters that are defined on a per-wingbeat basis, such as the stroke amplitude, mean stroke angle and mean wing pitch angle. Nevertheless, as insects have tens of flight muscles and vary their kinematics continuously, the true dimension of their control input space is likely to be much higher. Here, we present a compact description of the deforming wing kinematics of 36 manoeuvring
Eristalis
hoverflies, applying functional principal components analysis to Fourier series fits of the wingtip position and wing twist measured over 26 541 wingbeats. This analysis offers a high degree of data reduction, in addition to insight into the natural kinematic couplings. We used statistical resampling techniques to verify that the principal components (PCs) were repeatable features of the data, and analysed their coefficient vectors to provide insight into the form of these natural couplings. Conceptually, the dominant PCs provide a natural set of control input variables that span the control input subspace utilized by this species, but they can also be thought of as output states of the flight motor. This functional description of the wing kinematics is appropriate to modelling insect flight as a form of limit cycle control.
Loss of TOP3B leads to increased R-loop formation and genome instability
Authors: Zhang Tao , Wallis Mathew , Petrovic Vida , Challis Jackie , Kalitsis Paul , Hudson Damien F.
Published: December 2019

Topoisomerase III beta (TOP3B) is one of the least understood members of the topoisomerase family of proteins and remains enigmatic. Our recent data shed light on the function and relevance of TOP3B to disease. A homozygous deletion for the TOP3B gene was identified in a patient with bilateral renal cancer. Analyses in both patient and modelled human cells show the disruption of TOP3B causes genome instability with a rise in DNA damage and chromosome bridging (mis-segregation). The primary molecular defect underlying this pathology is a significant increase in R-loop formation. Our data show that TOP3B is necessary to prevent the accumulation of excessive R-loops and identify TOP3B as a putative cancer gene, and support recent data showing that R-loops are involved in cancer aetiology.
The architects of bacterial DNA bridges: a structurally and functionally conserved family of proteins
Authors: Qin L. , Erkelens A. M. , Ben Bdira F. , Dame R. T.
Published: December 2019

Every organism across the tree of life compacts and organizes its genome with architectural chromatin proteins. While eukaryotes and archaea express histone proteins, the organization of bacterial chromosomes is dependent on nucleoid-associated proteins. In
Escherichia coli
and other proteobacteria, the histone-like nucleoid structuring protein (H-NS) acts as a global genome organizer and gene regulator. Functional analogues of H-NS have been found in other bacterial species: MvaT in
Pseudomonas
species, Lsr2 in actinomycetes and Rok in
Bacillus
species. These proteins complement

hns
−

phenotypes and have similar DNA-binding properties, despite their lack of sequence homology. In this review, we focus on the structural and functional characteristics of these four architectural proteins. They are able to bridge DNA duplexes, which is key to genome compaction, gene regulation and their response to changing conditions in the environment. Structurally the domain organization and charge distribution of these proteins are conserved, which we suggest is at the basis of their conserved environment responsive behaviour. These observations could be used to find and validate new members of this protein family and to predict their response to environmental changes.
Cryptosporangium phraense sp. nov., isolated from plant litter
Authors: Suriyachadkun Chanwit , Ngaemthao Wipaporn , Pujchakarn Tawanmol , Chunhametha Suwanee
Published: December 2019

A novel zoosporic actinomycete, designated strain A-T 5661T, was isolated from plant litter collected in Thailand. Strain A-T 5661T developed large multilocular sporangia containing motile sporangiospores at the ends of sporangiophores on substrate mycelium. The results of our polyphasic taxonomic study demonstrated that the strain had characteristics typical of members of the genus

Cryptosporangium

. The 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic analyses indicated that strain A-T 5661T shared the sequence similarity ≤98.5 % with all members of the genus

Cryptosporangium

. The values of DNA–DNA relatedness that distinguished this novel strain from its closest related species were below 70 %. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The whole-cell sugars were acofriose, arabinose, galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose and ribose. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H8) and MK-9(H6) with minor amounts of MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H2). The predominant fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and anteiso-C17 : 0. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides and unidentified polar lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 71.6 mol%. Based on comparative analysis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data, the novel zoosporic actinomycete A-T 5661T (=TBRC 8127T=NBRC 113237T) is proposed to be the type strain of a novel species, Cryptosporangium phraense sp. nov.
Cumulibacter soli sp. nov., isolated from farmland soil
Authors: Gao Qin-Qin , Jiang Wan-Kui , Sun Gao-Jie , Zhang Lu , Zhang Ming-Liang , Liu Xiao-An , Ke Zhi-Jian , Zhou Yi-Dong , Hong Qing , Xu Jian-Hong
Published: December 2019

A Gram-stain-positive, strictly aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped bacterium, designated as strain G-1T, was isolated from farmland soil sampled in in Fuyang, Anhui Province, PR China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain G-1T was closely related to

Cumulibacter manganitolerans

2-36T (97.7 % similarity). Strain G-1T contained iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω6c, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C14 : 0 as the predominant fatty acids. The polar lipids of strain G-1T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified phospholipid, an unidentified lipid and two unidentified glycolipids. The predominant respiratory quinone of strain G-1T was MK-9(H4). The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA based on genome calculations was 64.2 mol%. Average nucleotide identity and the digital DNA–DNA hybridization values for the draft genomes between strain G-1T and strain 2-36T were 75.7 and 20.2 %, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic data, strain G-1T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Cumulibacter

, for which the name Cumulibacter soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is G-1T (=CCTCC AB2019021T=KCTC 49258T).
Limnoglobus roseus gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel freshwater planctomycete with a giant genome from the family Gemmataceae
Authors: Kulichevskaya Irina S. , Naumoff Daniil G. , Miroshnikov Kirill K. , Ivanova Anastasia A. , Philippov Dmitriy A. , Hakobyan Anna , Rijpstra W. Irene C. , Damsté Jaap S. Sinninghe , Liesack Werner , Dedysh Svetlana N.
Published: December 2019

The family

Gemmataceae

accommodates aerobic, chemoorganotrophic planctomycetes, which inhabit various freshwater ecosystems, wetlands and soils. Here, we describe a novel member of this family, strain PX52T, which was isolated from a boreal eutrophic lake in Northern Russia. This isolate formed pink-pigmented colonies and was represented by spherical cells that occurred singly, in pairs or aggregates and multiplied by budding. Daughter cells were highly motile. PX52T was an obligate aerobic chemoorganotroph, which utilized various sugars and some heteropolysaccharides. Growth occurred at pH 5.0–7.5 (optimum pH 6.5) and at temperatures between 10 and 30 °C (optimum 20–25 °C). The major fatty acids were C18 : 1ɷ7c, C18 : 0 and βOH-C16:0; the major intact polar lipid was trimethylornithine, and the quinone was MK-6. The complete genome of PX52T was 9.38 Mb in size and contained nearly 8000 potential protein-coding genes. Among those were genes encoding a wide repertoire of carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) including 33 glycoside hydrolases (GH) and 87 glycosyltransferases (GT) affiliated with 17 and 12 CAZy families, respectively. DNA G+C content was 65.6 mol%. PX52T displayed only 86.0–89.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to taxonomically described

Gemmataceae

planctomycetes and differed from them by a number of phenotypic characteristics and by fatty acid composition. We, therefore, propose to classify it as representing a novel genus and species, Limnoglobus roseus gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is strain PX52T (=KCTC 72397T=VKM B-3275T).
Rheinheimera sediminis sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from coastal sediment
Authors: Yu Qunfang , Qi Yanxiang , Zhang He , Pu Jinji
Published: December 2019

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain YQF-1T, was isolated from coastal sediment in Jiangsu Province (PR China) and characterized phylogenetically and phenotypically. Bacterial optimal growth occurred at 28 °C (range 4–40 °C) and pH 7 (range pH 6–11). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that YQF-1T was related to members of the genus

Rheinheimera

and shared the highest sequence identities with

Rheinheimera mesophila

DSM 29723T (98.5 %), followed by

Rheinheimera tangshanensis

DSM 19460T (98.4 %),

Rheinheimera tilapiae

Ruye-90T (97.9 %),

Rheinheimera soli

BD-d46T (97.9 %),

Rheinheimera aquatica

GR5T (97.4 %),

Rheinheimera coerulea

TAPG2T (97.3 %) and

Rheinheimera texasensis

A62-14BT (97.1 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence identities between YQF-1T and other members of the genus

Rheinheimera

were below 97.0 %. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization value between YQF-1T and

Rheinheimera mesophila

DSM 29723T was 25.1±2.3 %. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) value between YQF-1T and

Rheinheimera mesophila

DSM 29723T was 81.4 %. The major respiratory quinone was Q-8. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phospholipid, two unidentified aminolipids and three unidentified lipids. The strain had summed feature 8 (C18 : 1
 ω7c and/or C18 : 1
 ω6c), C16 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1
 ω7c and/or C16 : 1
 ω6c), iso-C15 : 0, and anteiso-C17 : 1
 ω9c as the major fatty acids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 46.2 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic evidence, strain YQF-1T represents a novel species of the genus

Rheinheimera

, for which the name Rheinheimera sediminis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain YQF-1T (=KCTC 72183T=MCCC 1K03646T).
Defining multiple sclerosis subtypes using machine learning
Authors: Eshaghi Arman , Young Alexandra , Wijertane Peter , Prados Ferran , Arnold Douglas L. , Narayanan Sridar , Guttmann Charles R. G. , Barkhof Frederik , Alexander Daniel C , Thompson Alan J , Chard Declan , Ciccarelli Olga
Published: December 2019

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is subdivided into four phenotypes on the basis of medical history and clinical symptoms. These phenotypes are defined retrospectively and lack clear pathobiological underpinning. Since Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) better reflects disease pathology than clinical symptoms, we aimed to explore MRI-driven subtypes of MS based on pathological changes visible on MRI using unsupervised machine learning. In separate train and external validation sets we looked at a total of 21,170 patient-years of data from 15 randomised controlled trials and three observational cohorts to explore MRI-driven subtypes and test whether these subtypes had differential clinical outcomes. We processed MRI data to obtain measures of brain volumes, lesion volumes, and normal appearing white matter T1/T2. We identified three MRI-driven subtypes who were similar in how they accumulated MRI abnormality. Based on the earliest abnormalities suggested by our model they were called: cortex-led, normal appearing white matter-led, and lesion-led subtypes. In the external validation datasets, the lesion-led subtype showed a faster disability progression and higher disease activity than the cortex-led subtype. In all datasets, MRI-driven subtypes were associated with disability progression (βSubtype=0.04, p=0.02; βStage=-0.06, p<0.001), whilst clinical phenotypes and baseline disability were not. Only the lesion-led subtype showed a significant treatment response in three progressive multiple sclerosis randomised controlled trials (−66%, p=0.009) and in three relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis trials (−89%, p=0.04). Our results show that MRI-driven subtyping using machine learning can prospectively enrich clinical trials with patients who are most likely to respond to treatments.
Evaluation of Prognostic Utility of Tumor Mutation Burden for NSCLC response to Immune Checkpoint Blockade Therapy: A Single Institute Study
Authors: Clemenceau Jean R. , Lee Sung Hak , Bazeley Peter , Millinovich Alex , Jin Jian , Pennell Nathan , Sohal Davendra , Hwang Tae Hyun
Published: December 2019

IMPORTANCE

The role of Tumor Mutation Burden (TMB) as a prognostic and/or predictive biomarker for Immune Checkpoint Blockade (ICB) therapy in a real-world clinical setting is still unclear.

OBJECTIVE

To assess whether TMB status provided by a clinically and commercially available tumor genomic profiling (TGP) assay is associated with overall survival of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with ICB from a single institute.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

Outcomes and genetic testing data were collected for 188 NSCLC patients treated within the Cleveland Clinic system between August 2012 and July 2017.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Overall survival (OS) from time receiving ICB therapy.

RESULTS

Among 188 patients with NSCLC (median age, 62 years; 49.5% female), 86 (45.7%) received ICB therapy. Patients were grouped into three categories based on the status of TMB (in mutations/Mb): high (>= 20/Mb), intermediate (>=5 to <= 20/Mb), and low (<5/Mb). In patients treated with ICB, TMB high status was not significantly associated with improved OS from therapy initiation (HR: 0.90 [95% CI, 0.52-2.49, P>0.8], median OS difference: 9.7 months).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among patients with NSCLC from a single institute in a longitudinal database of clinical data including TGP results, exploratory analyses do not show statistical significance for the prognostic utility of TMB. These findings indicate that there is a need for more prospective data on the use of TMB status as a guide for ICB therapy in a routine care setting.
Comparison of DNA extraction methods for non-marine molluscs: Is modified CTAB DNA extraction method more efficient than DNA extraction kits?
Authors: Chakraborty Sudeshna , Saha Anwesha , Aravind N.A.
Published: December 2019

Isolation of high molecular weight DNA from gastropod molluscs and its subsequent PCR amplification is considered difficult due to excessive mucopolysaccharides secretion which co-precipitate with DNA and obstruct successful amplification. In an attempt to address this issue, we describe a modified CTAB DNA extraction method that proved to work significantly better with a number of freshwater and terrestrial gastropod taxa. We compared the performance of this method with Qiagen® DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit. Reproducibility of amplification was verified using a set of taxon-specific primers wherein, modified CTAB extracted DNA could be replicated at least four out of five times but kit extracted DNA could not be replicated. Additionally, sequence quality was significantly better with CTAB extracted DNA. This could be attributed to the removal of polyphenolic compounds by polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) which is the only difference between conventional and modified CTAB DNA extraction methods for animals. The genomic DNA isolated using modified CTAB protocol was of high quality (A260/280 ≥ 1.80) and could be used for downstream reactions even after long term storage (more than two years).
Flagellum malfunctions trigger metaboly as an escape strategy in Euglena gracilis
Authors: Chen Yong-Jun
Published: December 2019

Euglenoids, a family of aquatic unicellular organisms, present the ability to alter the shape of their bodies, a process referred to as metaboly [1–5]. Metaboly is usually used by phagotrophic cells to engulf their prey. However, Euglena gracilis is osmotrophic and photosynthetic. Though metaboly was discovered centuries ago, it remains unclear why E. gracilis undergo metaboly and what causes them to deform [1–5], and some consider metaboly to be a functionless ancestral vestige [5]. Here, we show that flagellum malfunctions trigger metaboly and metaboly is an escape strategy adopted by E. gracilis when the proper rotation and beating of the flagellum are hindered by restrictions including surface obstruction, sticking, resistance, or limited space. Metaboly facilitates escape in five ways: 1) detaching the body from the surface and decreasing the attaching area attached to the interface, which decreases the adhering force and is advantageous for escaping; 2) enlarging the space between flagellum and the restricting surface which restores beating and rotation of the flagellum; 3) decreasing the torque of viscous resistance for rotation of the body and changing the direction of the body to restore flagellar function; 4) decreasing the length of the body, which pulls the flagellum away from the restrictive situations; and 5) crawling backwards on a surface or swimming backwards in a bulk fluid if the flagellum completely malfunctions or has broken off. Taken together, our findings suggest that metaboly plays a key role in enabling E. gracilis to escape from harmful conditions when flagellar functions is impaired or absent. Our findings can inspire the bionic design of adaptive soft robots and facilitate the control of water blooms of euglena in freshwater aquiculture industry.
Condition dependent strategies of egg size variation in the Common EiderSomateria mollissima
Authors: Christensen Thomas Kjær , Balsby Thorsten Johannes Skovbjerg
Published: December 2019

We analysed intraclutch egg-size variation in relation to clutch size and to female body condition in the Common EiderSomateria mollissimaduring an 8-year period. The aim was to assess if eiders adaptively adjusted egg size within the laying sequence in response to different clutch sizes, which potentially could optimise reproductive success through a size advantage in hatchlings. The analyses were performed on both population and individual level using data from recaptured females that changed clutch size between seasons. Based on 1,099 clutches from 812 individual females, population clutch size averaged 4.13 eggs (range: 1-6), with marked annual variation in the dominance of 4- and 5-egg clutches, which constitutedc.70% of all clutches. Clutch size was positively related to female pre-laying body condition at both the population and individual level. Egg size varied significantly within and between clutch sizes and changes were significantly related to the laying sequence. First eggs were significantly larger in 4-egg clutches and second eggs smaller (marginally insignificant) than in 5-egg clutches, a pattern also found among individual females changing clutch size between seasons. The relationship between female pre-laying body condition, clutch size and the intraclutch egg-size pattern indicates that both clutch size and egg size is actively adapted to the pre-breeding body condition of the female. We suggest that the observed pattern of intraclutch egg-size variation reflects a finely tuned conditional dependent mechanisms that enable females in a suboptimal condition to optimize reproductive output.
Involvement in family planning service utilization and associated factors among married men at Debre Tabor Town Northwest, Ethiopia, 2017
Authors: Demissie Tadesse Wuletaw , Nigatu Arya Mesfin , Tegegne Enatinesh Mesfin
Published: December 2019

Background

Men’s involvement in family planning can be either as a user of male contraceptive methods and or supportive partner of female users.

It is very important to improve women’s health in particular and reproductive health in general. In some developing countries, levels of communication on this issue are low for decision-making. Communication and discussion positively affect contraceptive uptake and continued use, whereas failure to communicate limits couples’ effective and sustained contraceptive use. Unmet need for FP suggested that unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion are the main causes of maternal mortality in Ethiopia.

Objective

To assess men’s involvement in family planning service and associated factors among married men at Debre Tabor Town, Northwest Ethiopia.

Methods

A community based cross-sectional study design was conducted from April to June. 2017 at Debre Tabor Town. Simple random sampling method was recruited then systematic sampling technique was used to include 382 married males. Data were collected by face to face interview using a structured questionnaire. The data were entered into epi. Info 7 and descriptive statistics were analyzed using SPSS version 21 statistical software package.

Result

From three hundred eighty-two participants, 373 participants with 97.6% response rate participated in the study. The age range of the participant was from20 to 65years, the mean age was 38.6 with the standard deviation of 7.8. Majority of the participants were orthodox 358(96%). One hundred twenty-four (33.2%) were greater than secondary education and from the occupation, farmers took the least rank 4 (2.4%). The magnitude of male involvement in family planning was 254(68.1%), 370 (99 .2%) of the participants had information on different family planning methods. Adjusting all other factors for the last model, educational status AOR [95%CI] = 2.39 [1.084, 5.260], source of information information AOR [95%CI] =1.88 [1.016, 3.485], men’s approval AOR [95%CI] = 0.07 [0.036, 0.134], ever used contraceptive AOR [95%CI] = 0.21[0.064, 0.705] were found to be associated with men’s involvement.

Conclusion

The level of male involvement was moderate, but their actual utilization is low.
HeALTH: An Automated Platform for Long-term Longitudinal Studies of Whole Organisms under Precise Environmental Control
Authors: Le Kim N. , Zhan Mei , Cho Yongmin , Wan Jason , Patel Dhaval S. , Lu Hang
Published: December 2019

Health and longevity in all organisms are strongly influenced by the environment. To fully understand how environmental factors interact with genetic and stochastic factors to modulate the aging process, it is crucial to precisely control environmental conditions for long-term studies. In the commonly used model organismCaenorhabditis elegans, existing assays for healthspan and lifespan have inherent limitations, making it difficult to perform large-scale, longitudinal aging studies under precise environmental control. To address this constraint, we developed the Health and Lifespan Testing Hub (HeALTH), an automated, microfluidic-based system for robust, long-term, longitudinal behavioral monitoring. Our system provides spatiotemporal environmental control. We demonstrate health and lifespan studies under a variety of genetic and environmental perturbations while observing how individuality plays a role in the aging process. This system is generalizable beyond aging research forC. elegans, particularly for short- or long-term behavioral assays, and is also possible to be adapted for other model systems.
Towards a conceptual framework for sustainable business models in the food and beverage industry
Authors: Dressler Marc , Paunović Ivan
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically derive a typology of sustainable business models in the food & beverage (F&B) industry and explore the competitive profiling via sustainability.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data were collected through an online survey for small- and medium-sized wineries (N=125). A principal component analysis (PCA) was used for inducing the F&B sustainable business model typology as an empirical basis for building a conceptual framework.

Findings

The analysis has identified seven strategic business models of the German wineries in regards to sustainability. Three models are at the forefront of sustainability, two are characterized by managerial focus on social opportunities and innovation and two of the identified business models are characterized by an administrative approach to social and environmental requirements and therefore rather rudimentary approaches to sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

Main limitations of the study are the focus on wine industry as well as on one country. Furthermore, the deployment of PCA method does not safeguard from neglecting other relevant business models.

Practical implications

Successful business models allow to differentiate in competitive markets in the F&B industry via sustainability. Such models need strategic ambition, positioning and realization but allow to win new clients safeguarding from market squeeze out.

Social implications

The research facilitates scaling up of sustainability initiatives to the benefit of the wider society.

Originality/value

Business model typology for sustainability has been derived mainly conceptually. The empirically based typology of sustainable business models provides a more rigorous foundation for a transition of business models toward sustainability.
Max-Value Stores, Inc.: Financial Reporting of Gift Cards
Authors: Gujarathi Mahendra
Published: December 2019

The Max-Value Stores case provides an opportunity for students to apply the understanding of various financial reporting topics (revenue recognition, liability de-recognition, accounting changes, and deferred taxes) to determine the applicable GAAP for recognizing gift card ‘breakage’, the estimated amount of gift cards that is unlikely to be redeemed. The case requires students to examine several technical and conceptual financial reporting issues in a real-world setting and helps to strengthen students? accounting research capabilities, understand implications of the choice of an accounting policy for performance measurement and financial statement analysis, and develop critical thinking and professional judgment skills.
RentYourFashion.com (D)
Authors: Tripathi Sanjeev , Agarwal Rahul
Published: December 2019

In 2013, ‘Fashion Destination’, a well-established clothing retailer considered setting up a clothing and accessories rental service. They hired a market research agency ‘Wright & Company’ to conduct a research on the sustainability and profitability of such a business model. The consultants collected primary data and did an extensive analysis for Fashion Destination. Based on the secondary research, expert interviews, extensive qualitative and quantitative research the consultants recommended the management to start a clothes and accessories rental service but suggested that the product offering be limited to formal clothes only and offer accessories. Vishal had doubts despite of the go-ahead signal from consultancy. He wondered what recommendations should he accept and which needed further verification.
Agarwal Packers and Movers Limited: From Customer Feedback to Logistics Design Innovation
Authors: Roy Debjit
Published: December 2019

Agarwal Packers and Movers Limited is an example of a business that delivers superior customer service with continuous logistics design innovation. The case provides details of a leading logistics and solution provider for household goods relocation who in past was facing problems due to increase in number of customer complaints and claims and also increase in packaging costs. APML believed that mistakes could be avoided and defects could be prevented. Solutions were offered by modifying the processes through innovation in its services resulting in customers' delight. As a result of continuously improving capabilities, people, processes, and technology; the services improved too. The case gives an insight on how the company improved its services by innovating and how these innovations were sustained by such a large organization with many branches throughout India.
Easy does it: an innovative view on developing career identity and self-direction
Authors: Luken Tom
Published: December 2019

Purpose

A generally held belief in the field of career development is that career attitudes and abilities, including identity and self-direction, can and should be developed in school programmes with a cognitive focus. The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to question this belief, and second, to provide a new perspective on career development that may inspire innovations for career science, and guidance during the lifespan.

Design/methodology/approach

Specific questions are formulated and answered on the basis of sources mainly stemming from neurosciences and different sub-disciplines of psychology. On the basis of a systems theory, a new approach is proposed.

Findings

Current approaches in career guidance are at odds with findings and insights from developmental sciences and brain research. Several risks of current approaches are described. One risk is identity foreclosure. Another risk involves the development of ineffective ways of thinking and decision making. A control theory that stems from cybernetics is proposed to offer an alternative view on career development.

Research limitations/implications

One implication for research is that long-term longitudinal approaches are required to fully clarify the development of self-direction and identity. Furthermore, the building and testing of models of career development based on dynamic systems theories is recommended.

Practical implications

The main implication for career practices and policies is that self-direction and identity are no realistic aims for most students. Instead, it is recommended to relieve the pressure associated with career choices for young people, and to give more time, room, stimulation and guidance for exploration and reconsideration, for adults as well. Guidance should consist of offering sufficiently varied work experiences, and counselling when individuals experience conflicts that impede direction finding. Not too much emphasis should be put on reflection and rational thinking. Acceptance and commitment therapy is recommended as an approach offering many useful insights and instruments that may inspire career professionals.

Originality/value

This paper questions a mainstream approach and offers an original point of view.