bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Concussion in Sport
Authors: Kontos Anthony P. , McAllister-Deitrick Jamie
Published: January 2017

Concussions affect millions of athletes of all ages each year in a variety of sports. Athletes in certain sports such as American football, ice hockey, rugby, soccer, and combative sports like boxing are at higher risk for concussion. Direct or indirect mechanical forces acting on the skull and brain cause a concussion, which is a milder form of brain injury. Conventional neuroimaging (e.g., computerized tomography [CT], magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) for concussion is typically negative. Concussions involve both neurometabolic and subtle structural damage to the brain that results in signs (e.g., loss of consciousness [LOC], amnesia, confusion), symptoms (e.g., headache, dizziness, nausea), and functional impairment (e.g., cognitive, balance, vestibular, oculomotor). Symptoms, impairment, and recovery time following concussion can last from a few days to weeks or months, based on a variety of risk factors, including younger age, female sex, history of concussion, and history of migraine. Following a concussion, athletes may experience one or more clinical profiles, including cognitive fatigue, vestibular, oculomotor, post-traumatic migraine (PTM), mood/anxiety, and/or cervical. The heterogeneous nature of concussion warrants a comprehensive approach to assessment, including a thorough clinical examination and interview; symptom inventories; and cognitive, balance, vestibular, oculomotor, and exertion-based evaluations. Targeted treatment and rehabilitation strategies including behavior management, vestibular, vision, and exertion therapies, and in some cases medication can be effective in treating the various concussion clinical profiles. Some athletes experience persistent post-concussion symptoms (PCS) and/or psychological issues (e.g., depression, anxiety) following concussion. Following appropriate treatment and rehabilitation strategies, determination of safe return to play is predicated on being symptom-free and back to normal levels of function at rest and following exertion. Certain populations, including youth athletes, may be at a higher risk for worse impairment and prolonged recovery following concussion. It has been suggested that some athletes experience long-term effects associated with concussion including chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). However, additional empirical studies on the role of concussion on CTE are needed, as CTE may have multiple causes that are unrelated to sport participation and concussion.
Developing Athletes in the Context of Sport and Performance Psychology
Authors: Martin Luc J. , Hancock David J. , Côté Jean
Published: January 2017

Talent development in sport is achieved through years of preparation and requires constant interaction between personal and contextual resources. Accordingly, extensive research has been dedicated to understanding factors that contribute to sport performance. Literature suggests the factors influencing athletic development can be classified in terms of the physical environment, the social environment, and engaging learning activities. Investigations pertaining to the physical environment suggest the importance of appropriate settings, which can relate to the sport organization or the larger community. Researchers must also cogitate the activities in which athletes take part. These considerations involve the maturational status of athletes, the volume of deliberate practice and play, and early specialization versus diversification. Finally, the salience of the social environment in relation to sport performance cannot be overlooked. Not surprisingly, the relations established with social agents (i.e., coaches, peers/teammates, parents) can facilitate or impede the developmental process. Consequently, the development of athletes in the context of sport and performance psychology extends past the individual and is influenced by several factors that must be discussed.
Christian Fundamentalism in America
Authors: Bendroth Margaret
Published: January 2017

Fundamentalism has a very specific meaning in the history of American Christianity, as the name taken by a coalition of mostly white, mostly northern Protestants who, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, united in opposition to theological liberalism. Though the movement lost the public spotlight after the 1920s, it remained robust, building a network of separate churches, denominations, and schools that would become instrumental in the resurgence of conservative evangelicalism after the 1960s. In a larger sense, fundamentalism is a form of militant opposition to the modern world, used by some scholars to identify morally absolutist religious and political movements in Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and even Hinduism and Buddhism. While the core concerns of the movement that emerged within American Protestantism—defending the authority of the Bible and both separating from and saving their sinful world—do not entirely mesh with this analytical framework, they do reflect the broad and complex challenge posed by modernity to people of faith.
Martyrdom and Religion in North America
Authors: Weimer Adrian Chastain
Published: January 2017

In American history, venerating a death as martyrdom has been a way of claiming its significance within a narrative of ultimate victory. The words for martyr in both Greek and Arabic literally mean “witness”: martyrs’ willingness to die is a form of witness to the truth of a tradition. Figures claimed as martyrs in American history from the Mormon leader Joseph Smith to Baptist civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. have often prophesied their own deaths, embracing the hope that their sacrifice will inspire zeal in others. Religious communities in North America have commemorated martyrs through stories, paintings, shrines, maps, monuments, poetry, liturgy, and theological reflections. The category of martyrdom tends to become more diffuse over time. Moving beyond a strict definition of death for the faith, Americans have used the language of martyrdom to find spiritual significance in a range of physical and interior sufferings. For example, both French Canadian nuns and New England puritans claimed their daily colonial sufferings as a form of martyrdom. Narratives of martyrdom have also played an important role in political movements such as the anti-lynching crusade of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Martyr language can even push the boundaries of what constitutes religion itself. In the 20th century, the suffering of American jazz musicians, denied civil rights, has been described as martyrdom. Following the September 11, 2001, attacks by radical jihadists seeking martyrdom, the term has often been associated with terrorism. Debates about justifications for violence in the Qur’an and the true meaning of jihad have taken place among politicians, religious leaders, and academic scholars. This intense focus on Islamic theology of martyrdom has led both to widespread suspicion of Muslims (and those of South Asian and Middle Eastern descent generally) as well as to new ecumenical commitments to a shared ethic of loving God and neighbor.
Alternative Education
Authors: Franklin Cynthia , Webb Linda , Szlyk Hannah
Published: January 2017

This article will cover the current best practices in designing and establishing alternative programs for at-risk students and suggest how social workers can assist in program development and sustainability. At-risk students are youth considered more likely than others to drop out of school due to various factors, including truancy, poor grades, disruptive behaviors, pregnancy, and repeated expulsions or suspensions. The history of alternative education in the United States will be reviewed and the types of alternative educations programs in practice outlined. How the framework of an alternative school differs from that of a disciplinary program will be examined along with initial steps toward development and implementation. Effective strategies explained include establishing a task force, involving the greater community, and implementing evidence-based interventions such as Response to Intervention (RTI) into the school curriculum. An example of a sustainable public alternative education program grounded in solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) is presented.
ASCIIGenome: a command line genome browser for console terminals
Authors: Beraldi Dario
Published: January 2017

Current genome browsers are designed to work via graphical user interfaces (GUIs), which, however intuitive, are not amenable to operate within console terminals and therefore are difficult to streamline or integrate in scripts. To circumvent these limitations, ASCIIGenome runs exclusively via command line interface to display genomic data directly in a terminal window. By following the same philosophy of UNIX tools, ASCIIGenome aims to be easily integrated with the command line, including batch processing of data, and therefore enables an effective exploration of the data.

Implementation

ASCIIGenome is written in Java. Consequently, it is a cross-platform tool and requires minimal or no installation. Some of the common genomic data types are supported and data access on remote ftp servers is possible. Speed and memory footprint are comparable to or better than those of common genome browsers.

Availability and Implementation

Software and source code (MIT License) are available at https://github.com/dariober/ASCIIGenome with detailed documentation at http://asciigenome.readthedocs.io.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Effects of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction on the Mental Health of Clinical Clerkship Students: A Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: van Dijk Inge , Lucassen Peter L.B.J. , Akkermans Reinier P. , van Engelen Baziel G.M. , van Weel Chris , Speckens Anne E.M.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

To examine the effect of mindfulness-based stress reduction training (MBSR) on the mental health of medical students during clinical clerkships.

Method

Between February 2011 and May 2014, the authors conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial of clerkships as usual (CAU) and clerkships with additional MBSR in medical students during their first year of clinical clerkships at a Dutch university medical center. MBSR consisted of eight weekly two-hour sessions, comprising didactic teaching, meditation exercises, and group dialogues. Students completed online assessments at baseline and after 3, 7, 12, 15, and 20 months. Outcome measures were psychological distress, positive mental health, life satisfaction, physician empathy, mindfulness skills, and dysfunctional cognitions as measured by validated tools.

Results

Of 232 eligible students, 167 students (72%) participated and were randomized by clerkship group into MBSR (n = 83) or CAU (n = 84). The MBSR group reported a small reduction of psychological distress (P = .03, Cohen’s d = 0.20) and dysfunctional cognitions (P = .05, Cohen’s d = 0.18) and a moderate increase of positive mental health (P = .002, Cohen’s d = 0.44), life satisfaction (P = .01, Cohen’s d = 0.51), and mindfulness skills (P = .05, Cohen’s d = 0.35) compared with CAU during the 20-month follow-up. The authors detected no significant effect on physician empathy (P = .18, Cohen’s d = 0.27).

Conclusions

MBSR appeared feasible and acceptable to medical clerkship students and resulted in a small to moderate improvement of mental health compared with CAU over the 20-month follow-up.
The Academic RVU: Ten Years Developing a Metric for and Financially Incenting Academic Productivity at Oregon Health & Science University
Authors: Ma O. John , Hedges Jerris R. , Newgard Craig D.
Published: January 2017

Purpose

Established metrics reward academic faculty for clinical productivity. Few data have analyzed a bonus model to measure and reward academic productivity. This study’s objective was to describe development and use of a departmental academic bonus system for incenting faculty scholarly and educational productivity.

Method

This cross-sectional study analyzed a departmental bonus system among emergency medicine academic faculty at Oregon Health & Science University, including growth from 2005 to 2015. All faculty members with a primary appointment were eligible for participation. Each activity was awarded points based on a predetermined education or scholarly point scale. Faculty members accumulated points based on their activity (numerator), and the cumulative points of all faculty were the denominator. Variables were individual faculty member (deidentified), academic year, bonus system points, bonus amounts awarded, and measures of academic productivity. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including measures of variance.

Results

The total annual financial bonus pool ranged from $211,622 to $274,706. The median annual per faculty academic bonus remained fairly constant over time ($3,980 in 2005–2006 vs. $4,293 in 2014–2015), with most change at the upper quartile of academic bonus (max bonus $16,920 in 2005–2006 vs. $39,207 in 2014–2015). Bonuses rose linearly among faculty in the bottom three quartiles of academic productivity, but increased exponentially in the 75th to 100th percentile.

Conclusions

Faculty academic productivity can be measured and financially rewarded according to an objective academic bonus system. The “academic point” used to measure productivity functions as an “academic relative value unit.”
Engaging Learners in Health System Quality Improvement Efforts
Authors: Johl Karnjit , Grigsby R. Kevin
Published: January 2017

In 1999, an Institute of Medicine report spurred health care organizations to implement systems-based quality improve ment efforts and tackle patient safety. Simultaneously, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education asked residency programs to address Practice-Based Learning and Systems-Based Practice competencies. Medical educators now advocate incorporation of these competencies in undergraduate medical education.

The authors examine the success of these efforts both from the health care delivery and systems perspective as well as from the perspective of educators as they aspire to engage medical students and residents in these domains. The authors argue that the missing element that prevents health care systems from the full realization of the promise of quality improvement is bidirectional alignment. Included are examples from the literature to demonstrate how medical educators are moving toward alignment of learners with health system quality improvement and safety needs. Finally, the authors explore business and information technology governance literature in support of the hypothesis that bidirectional alignment should be the next step in moving from reactive to proactive systems of care.
Dendrosomal nanocurcumin prevents morphine self-administration behavior in rats despite CA1 damage
Authors: Noroozi Jalaleden , Hassanpour-Ezatti Majid , Alaei Hojjat A.
Published: January 2017

Dendrosomal nanocurcumin (DNC) is fabricated from esterification of oleic acid and polyethylene glycol residues with curcumin. DNC has shown antioxidant, neuroprotective, and neurogenesis-enhancing effects. In addition, it can attenuate morphine tolerance. Morphine self-administration is associated with neurodegenerative changes of CA1 neurons in the adult hippocampus. The present study evaluated the effect of DNC pretreatment on morphine self-administration and hippocampal damage. Rats were pretreated with DNC (5 and 10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) 30 min before a morphine self-administration paradigm performed in 2-h/sessions for 12 days under a FR-1 schedule. Pretreatment with both doses of DNC markedly suppressed morphine intake. Morphine self-administration resulted in a 71% reduction in the number of hippocampal CA1 neurons. DNC (5 mg/kg) pretreatment only marginally improved (by 22%) neuronal loss in this area. The data suggest that the effect of DNC on morphine self-administration is largely independent of the CA1 area. A functional restoration and regulation of reward circuit activity by DNC may reduce the motivation for morphine despite CA1 damage.
Behavioural effects of novel multitarget anticholinesterasic derivatives in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Giménez-Llort Lydia , Ratia Miriam , Pérez Belén , Camps Pelayo , Muñoz-Torrero Diego , Badia Albert , Clos M. Victoria
Published: January 2017

The current pharmacological approach to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment, mostly based on acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs), is being revisited, especially in terms of the temporal frames and the potential benefits of their noncanonic actions, raising the question of whether inhibitors of AChE might also act in a disease-modifying manner. Besides, in the last decades, the pharmacophoric moieties of known AChEIs have been covalently linked to other pharmacophores in the pursuit of multitarget hybrid molecules that are expected to induce long-lasting amelioration of impaired neurotransmission and clinical symptoms but also to exert disease-modifying effects. Our research consortium has synthesized and defined the pharmacological profile of new AChEIs derivatives of potential interest for the treatment of AD. Among these, huprines and derivatives have been characterized successfully. Huprine X, a reversible AChE inhibitor, designed by molecular hybridization of tacrine and huperzine A, has been shown to affect the amyloidogenic process in vitro, and the AD-related neuropathology in vivo in mice models of the disease. More recently, we have shown that a group of donepezil–huprine heterodimers exerts a highly potent and selective inhibitory action on AChE both in vitro and ex vivo, simultaneously interacting with both peripheral and catalytic binding sites, and inhibiting the β-amyloid aggregation, whereas some levetiracetam–huprine hybrids have been shown to reduce epileptiform activity, neuroinflammation and amyloid burden in an animal model of AD. Here, we summarize the behavioural correlates of these noncanonic actions as assessed in three distinct biological scenarios: middle-age, cognitive deficits associated with ageing and AD-like phenotype in mice. Besides the improvement in the hallmark cognitive symptomatology without inducing side effects, these drugs have shown to be able to modulate emotional and anxiety-like behaviours or to reduce spontaneous seizures, all of them related to the so-called ‘behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia’. Overall, the studies show that these novel multitarget anticholinesterasics exert noncanonic actions providing symptomatic and disease-modifying benefits of potential interest for the management of AD.
Types of internal facilitation activities in hospitals implementing evidence-based interventions
Authors: Baloh Jure , Zhu Xi , Ward Marcia M.
Published: January 2017

Background:

Implementation models, frameworks, and theories recognize the importance of activities that facilitate implementation success. However, little is known about internal facilitation activities that hospital personnel engage in during implementation efforts.

Purpose:

The aim of the study was to examine internal facilitation activities at 10 critical access hospitals in rural Iowa during their implementation of TeamSTEPPS, a patient safety intervention, and to identify characteristics that distinguish different types of facilitation activities.

Methods:

We followed 10 critical access hospitals for 2 years after the onset of implementation, conducting quarterly interviews with key informants. On the basis of the transcripts from the first two quarters, a coding template was developed using inductive analyses. The template was then applied deductively to code all interview transcripts. Using comparative analysis, we examined the characteristics that distinguish between the facilitation types.

Results:

We identified four types of facilitation activities—Leadership, Buy-in, Customization, and Accountability. Individuals and teams engaged in different types of facilitation activities, both in a planned and an ad hoc manner. These activities targeted at both people and practices and exhibited varying temporal patterns (start and peak time).

Conclusion:

There are four types of facilitation activities that hospitals engage in while implementing evidence-based practices, offering a parsimonious way to characterize facilitation activities. New theoretical and empirical research opportunities are discussed.

Practice Implications:

Understanding the types of facilitation activities and their distinguishing characteristics can assist managers in planning and executing implementations of evidence-based interventions.
POSTTRAUMATIC ENDOPHTHALMITIS
Authors: Li Xintong , Zarbin Marco A. , Langer Paul D. , Bhagat Neelakshi
Published: January 2017

Purpose:

To describe the demographics, characteristics, management, and visual outcomes of eyes diagnosed with endophthalmitis after open globe injury.

Methods:

Retrospective cohort analysis of all patients diagnosed with endophthalmitis after open globe injury from 1997 to 2015 at University Hospital, Newark, NJ.

Results:

Twenty-six eyes were identified (all male patients; mean age: 37 ± 15 years). Cultures were positive in 16 eyes (62%), with Staphylococcus species (7 eyes, 44%) being the most common organism. Twelve eyes (46%) presented with open globe injury and concurrent endophthalmitis; 14 eyes (54%) developed endophthalmitis a mean of 14 days after open globe repair (OGR; 1 outlier of 98 days excluded). All eyes were managed with systemic and intravitreal antibiotics. The presence of intraocular foreign body (P < 0.05) and delayed primary OGR (P < 0.03) were significantly more common with concurrent versus post-OGR endophthalmitis. Four (29%) eyes in the post-OGR endophthalmitis group had corneal wound leak after OGR. Four (15%) eyes with no light perception vision were enucleated. Ten (40%) of 25 eyes with documented best-corrected visual acuity had final best-corrected visual acuity ≥20/200; final best-corrected visual acuity ranged from no light perception to 20/20.

Conclusion:

The presence of intraocular foreign body and delayed presentation were significantly more common with concurrent endophthalmitis. Twenty-nine percent of eyes that presented with endophthalmitis after OGR had a wound leak. Final best-corrected visual acuity ≥20/200 was achieved in 40% of cases.
Acute Rheumatic Fever After Group A Streptococcus Pyoderma and Group G Streptococcus Pharyngitis
Authors: O’Sullivan Lance , Moreland Nicole J. , Webb Rachel H. , Upton Arlo , Wilson Nigel J.
Published: January 2017

A case of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) in an Indigenous Maori child in New Zealand after Group A Streptococcus pyoderma and Group G Streptococcus pharyngitis is reported. The case demonstrates that ARF can develop in the absence of GAS pharyngitis and highlights a need for further research into the role of pyoderma and non-Group A Streptococci infections in ARF pathogenesis.
Pseudobulbar Affect: What Nurses, Stroke Survivors, and Caregivers Need to Know
Authors: Schneider Melissa A. , Schneider Matthew D.
Published: January 2017

Pseudobulbar affect (PBA) is a neurologic condition that can happen after a patient has had some kind of neurological insult. In this syndrome, involuntary, uncontrollable, and inappropriate emotional outbursts unrelated or out of proportion to the situation are common symptoms. This can be very frustrating and scary. Because stroke survivors and their caregivers are overloaded with information during the transition from hospital to home, information about PBA is not usually discussed. In a survey by the National Stroke Association, 53% of stroke survivors reported that they had some of the symptoms of this disorder. Even if they discussed these symptoms with their health care providers, less than half were given a diagnosis, and less than a quarter received any kind of treatment. The purpose of this article is to give nurses more information about PBA so they can share this with patients and families/significant others and encourage them to seek help if they experience these symptoms once discharged. It is hoped that increased knowledge about this condition will lead to better diagnosis and treatment and increased quality of life for stroke survivors.
Usefulness of the Glasgow–Blatchford score to predict 1-week mortality in patients with esophageal variceal bleeding
Authors: Iino Chikara , Shimoyama Tadashi , Igarashi Takasato , Aihara Tomoyuki , Ishii Kentaro , Sakamoto Jyuichi , Tono Hiroshi , Fukuda Shinsaku
Published: January 2017

Objectives

Esophageal variceal bleeding is one of the most severe complications of liver cirrhosis, with high mortality. However, there is no established scoring system for short-term mortality in patients with esophageal variceal bleeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the Glasgow–Blatchford score (GBS), the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, and the Child–Pugh score for predicting short-term and hospital mortality in patients with esophageal variceal bleeding.

Methods

A total of 47 patients with esophageal variceal bleeding were studied between September 2009 and March 2015. The GBS, the MELD score, and the Child–Pugh score were assessed for their ability to predict 1- and 6-week mortality rates using a receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results

The 1- and 6-week mortality rates were 17.0 and 31.9%, respectively. The median GBS, MELD, and Child–Pugh scores were 13 (range: 4–19), 10 (range: 0–34), and 9 (range: 5–13), respectively. The GBS was superior to both the MELD and the Child–Pugh scores for prediction of 1-week mortality [area under the curve=0.82 (95% confidence interval: 0.66–0.98) vs. 0.71 (0.47–0.96) and 0.72 (0.53–0.91)]. The MELD score was superior to both the Child–Pugh score and the GBS for prediction of 6-week mortality [area under the curve=0.83 (95% confidence interval: 0.69–0.97) vs. 0.69 (0.52–0.85) and 0.67 (0.50–0.83)].

Conclusion

For 1-week mortality, the GBS was superior to the Child–Pugh and the MELD scores in patients with esophageal variceal bleeding. However, for 6-week mortality, the MELD score was superior in patients with esophageal variceal bleeding.
Use of Rome criteria for the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome in primary care: a survey among European countries
Authors: Mujagic Zlatan , Jonkers Daisy M.A.E. , Hungin A. Pali S. , de Wit Niek J. , Wensaas Knut-Arne , Palka Margaret , Leeters Vico , Kruimel Joanna W. , Leue Carsten , Masclee Ad A.M. , Muris Jean W.M.
Published: January 2017

Background and objectives

The majority of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are diagnosed and treated in primary care. The aim of this study was to investigate the implementation of the Rome criteria in daily primary care clinical practice and adherence of general practitioners (GPs) to recommended diagnostic approaches for IBS.

Patients and methods

A survey consisting of 18 questions was distributed across 11 European countries and was used to assess GPs’ diagnostic approach of IBS, the use of Rome criteria in daily practice and GPs’ perspective on the aetiology of the disorder.

Results

Overall, 185 GPs completed the survey. In daily clinical practice, 32% of GPs reported that they usually make a positive diagnosis on the basis of symptoms only, whereas 36% of GPs reported regular use of the Rome criteria to diagnose IBS. Furthermore, 62% of the responders reported that they applied additional diagnostics, such as blood tests, 31% found it necessary to perform endoscopy to make a positive diagnosis of IBS and 29% referred patients with IBS to a specialist. Psychological factors were the most frequently selected potential aetiological factor of IBS (88% of GPs). Overall, 52% of GPs reported systematically including questions on psychological symptoms in the assessment of history of IBS.

Conclusion

Only about one-third of GPs regularly used the Rome criteria to diagnose IBS. In daily primary care practice, IBS largely remains a diagnosis of exclusion. This has implications in terms of GPs’ specialty training and questions the applicability of IBS guidelines in daily care, which advocate an early, positive, symptom-based diagnosis.
Efficacy of mesotherapy using drugs versus normal saline solution in chronic spinal pain: a retrospective study
Authors: Ferrara Paola E. , Ronconi Gianpaolo , Viscito Rossella , Pascuzzo Romina , Rosulescu Eugenia , Ljoka Concetta , Maggi Loredana , Ferriero Giorgio , Foti Calogero
Published: January 2017

Mesotherapy, or intradermal therapy, is a therapeutic approach that is gaining popularity, but there is still a significant lack of information on its mechanisms of action or the pharmacokinetics of the therapeutic regimens. This retrospective study on 220 records compared the short-term and long-term effects of mesotherapy using a mixture of drugs versus normal saline solution in the treatment of patients with chronic spinal pain (CSP). At the end of treatment, outcome measures showed a significant improvement (P<0.003) in both groups, which persisted at the follow-up assessments. At 12 weeks of follow-up, the improvement was significantly greater in patients treated with the drug cocktail than with the saline solution (P<0.05). Mesotherapy was effective in patients affected by CSP, with high patient satisfaction reported irrespective of the agent used. Considering the risks and costs of drugs, normal saline solution appears to be the best agent in cost–benefit terms for treating localized pain by mesotherapy in CSP.
Psychosocial difficulties in patients with Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Schiavolin Silvia , Raggi Alberto , Quintas Rui , Cerniauskaite Milda , Giovannetti Ambra M. , Covelli Venusia , Romito Luigi , Elia Antonio E. , Carella Francesco , Soliveri Paola , Leonardi Matilde
Published: January 2017

The aim of this study was to report the most frequent psychosocial difficulties (PSDs) in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), to explore the relationship between PSDs, disability and quality of life (QoL), and to address the predictors of PSDs. Patients with PD were interviewed using a protocol composed of a questionnaire investigating PSDs (PARADISE 24), QoL, disability, comorbidity, and social support questionnaires, scales on resilience, personality traits, and empathy in physician. Most frequent PSDs were reported. Spearman’s correlation was used to address the relationship between PARADISE 24 and QoL and disability measures. Multiple linear regression was performed to investigate predictors of PARADISE 24. Eighty patients were enrolled: 40% women, mean age 61.2 years. The most frequent PSDs were related to cognitive and motor slowness, tiredness, sleeping, facing all things to do, depressive mood, and anxiety. PARADISE 24 were correlated with disability (ρ=0.831) and QoL (ρ=−0.685). Lower QoL, higher disability, early age at onset, and shorter disease duration were significant predictors of PSDs (adjusted R
2=0.762). PARADISE 24 is an easy to use questionnaire that could contribute toward describing the impact of PD on patients’ life more extensively, thus helping to define more tailored interventions.
Volume-Targeted Ventilation in the Neonate: Benchmarking Ventilators on an Active Lung Model
Authors: Krieger Tobias J. , Wald Martin
Published: January 2017

Objective:

Mechanically ventilated neonates have been observed to receive substantially different ventilation after switching ventilator models, despite identical ventilator settings. This study aims at establishing the range of output variability among 10 neonatal ventilators under various breathing conditions.

Design:

Relative benchmarking test of 10 neonatal ventilators on an active neonatal lung model.

Setting:

Neonatal ICU.

Subjects:

Ten current neonatal ventilators.

Interventions:

Ventilators were set identically to flow-triggered, synchronized, volume-targeted, pressure-controlled, continuous mandatory ventilation and connected to a neonatal lung model. The latter was configured to simulate three patients (500, 1,500, and 3,500 g) in three breathing modes each (passive breathing, constant active breathing, and variable active breathing).

Measurements and Main Results:

Averaged across all weight conditions, the included ventilators delivered between 86% and 110% of the target tidal volume in the passive mode, between 88% and 126% during constant active breathing, and between 86% and 120% under variable active breathing. The largest relative deviation occurred during the 500 g constant active condition, where the highest output machine produced 147% of the tidal volume of the lowest output machine.

Conclusions:

All machines deviate significantly in volume output and ventilation regulation. These differences depend on ventilation type, respiratory force, and patient behavior, preventing the creation of a simple conversion table between ventilator models. Universal neonatal tidal volume targets for mechanical ventilation cannot be transferred from one ventilator to another without considering necessary adjustments.
Astrobiology as a framework for investigating antibiotic susceptibility: a study ofHalomonas hydrothermalis
Authors: Harrison Jesse P. , Angel Roey , Cockell Charles S.
Published: January 2017

Physical and chemical boundaries for microbial multiplication on Earth are strongly influenced by interactions between environmental extremes. However, little is known about how interactions between multiple stress parameters affect the sensitivity of microorganisms to antibiotics. Here, we assessed how 12 distinct permutations of salinity, availability of an essential nutrient (iron) and atmospheric composition (aerobic or microaerobic) affect the susceptibility of a polyextremotolerant bacterium,Halomonas hydrothermalis, to ampicillin, kanamycin and ofloxacin. While salinity had a significant impact on sensitivity to all three antibiotics (as shown by turbidimetric analyses), the nature of this impact was modified by iron availability and the ambient gas composition, with differing effects observed for each compound. These two parameters were found to be of particular importance when considered in combination and, in the case of ampicillin, had a stronger combined influence on antibiotic tolerance than salinity. Our data show how investigating microbial responses to multiple extremes, which are more representative of natural habitats than single extremes, can improve our understanding of the effects of antimicrobial compounds and suggest how studies of habitability, motivated by the desire to map the limits of life, can be used to systematically assess the effectiveness of antibiotics.
Bifidobacterium brevereduces apoptotic epithelial cell shedding in an exopolysaccharide and MyD88-dependent manner
Authors: Hughes K. R. , Harnisch L. C. , Alcon-Giner C. , Mitra S. , Wright C. J. , Ketskemety J. , van Sinderen D. , Watson A. J. M. , Hall L. J.
Published: January 2017

Certain members of the microbiota genusBifidobacteriumare known to positively influence host well-being. Importantly, reduced bifidobacterial levels are associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients, who also have impaired epithelial barrier function, including elevated rates of apoptotic extrusion of small intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) from villi—a process termed ‘cell shedding’. Using a mouse model of pathological cell shedding, we show that mice receivingBifidobacterium breveUCC2003 exhibit significantly reduced rates of small IEC shedding. Bifidobacterial-induced protection appears to be mediated by a specific bifidobacterial surface exopolysaccharide and interactions with host MyD88 resulting in downregulation of intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic responses to protect epithelial cells under highly inflammatory conditions. Our results reveal an important and previously undescribed role forB. breve, in positively modulating epithelial cell shedding outcomes via bacterial- and host-dependent factors, supporting the notion that manipulation of the microbiota affects intestinal disease outcomes.
TGFβ/Activin signalling is required for ribosome biogenesis and cell growth inDrosophilasalivary glands
Authors: Martins Torcato , Eusebio Nadia , Correia Andreia , Marinho Joana , Casares Fernando , Pereira Paulo S.
Published: January 2017

Signalling by TGFβ superfamily factors plays an important role in tissue growth and cell proliferation. InDrosophila, the activity of the TGFβ/Activin signalling branch has been linked to the regulation of cell growth and proliferation, but the cellular and molecular basis for these functions are not fully understood. In this study, we show that both the RII receptor Punt (Put) and the R-Smad Smad2 are strongly required for cell and tissue growth. Knocking down the expression of Put or Smad2 in salivary glands causes alterations in nucleolar structure and functions. Cells with decreased TGFβ/Activin signalling accumulate intermediate pre-rRNA transcripts containing internal transcribed spacer 1 regions accompanied by the nucleolar retention of ribosomal proteins. Thus, our results show that TGFβ/Activin signalling is required for ribosomal biogenesis, a key aspect of cellular growth control. Importantly, overexpression of Put enhanced cell growth induced byDrosophilaMyc, a well-characterized inducer of nucleolar hypertrophy and ribosome biogenesis.
Tracing the dynamics of gene transcripts after organismal death
Authors: Pozhitkov Alex E. , Neme Rafik , Domazet-Lošo Tomislav , Leroux Brian G. , Soni Shivani , Tautz Diethard , Noble Peter A.
Published: January 2017

In life, genetic and epigenetic networks precisely coordinate the expression of genes—but in death, it is not known if gene expression diminishes gradually or abruptly stops or if specific genes and pathways are involved. We studied this by identifying mRNA transcripts that apparently increase in relative abundance after death, assessing their functions, and comparing their abundance profiles through postmortem time in two species, mouse and zebrafish. We found mRNA transcript profiles of 1063 genes became significantly more abundant after death of healthy adult animals in a time series spanning up to 96 h postmortem. Ordination plots revealed non-random patterns in the profiles by time. While most of these transcript levels increased within 0.5 h postmortem, some increased only at 24 and 48 h postmortem. Functional characterization of the most abundant transcripts revealed the following categories: stress, immunity, inflammation, apoptosis, transport, development, epigenetic regulation and cancer. The data suggest a step-wise shutdown occurs in organismal death that is manifested by the apparent increase of certain transcripts with various abundance maxima and durations.
Differential structural remodelling of heparan sulfate by chemokines: the role of chemokine oligomerization
Authors: Dyer Douglas P. , Migliorini Elisa , Salanga Catherina L. , Thakar Dhruv , Handel Tracy M. , Richter Ralf P.
Published: January 2017

Chemokines control the migration of cells in normal physiological processes and in the context of disease such as inflammation, autoimmunity and cancer. Two major interactions are involved: (i) binding of chemokines to chemokine receptors, which activates the cellular machinery required for movement; and (ii) binding of chemokines to glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which facilitates the organization of chemokines into haptotactic gradients that direct cell movement. Chemokines can bind and activate their receptors as monomers; however, the ability to oligomerize is critical for the function of many chemokines
in vivo
. Chemokine oligomerization is thought to enhance their affinity for GAGs, and here we show that it significantly affects the ability of chemokines to accumulate on and be retained by heparan sulfate (HS). We also demonstrate that several chemokines differentially rigidify and cross-link HS, thereby affecting HS rigidity and mobility, and that HS cross-linking is significantly enhanced by chemokine oligomerization. These findings suggest that chemokine–GAG interactions may play more diverse biological roles than the traditional paradigms of physical immobilization and establishment of chemokine gradients; we hypothesize that they may promote receptor-independent events such as physical re-organization of the endothelial glycocalyx and extracellular matrix, as well as signalling through proteoglycans to facilitate leukocyte adhesion and transmigration.
The transiting dust clumps in the evolved disc of the Sun-like UXor RZ Psc
Authors: Kennedy Grant M. , Kenworthy Matthew A. , Pepper Joshua , Rodriguez Joseph E. , Siverd Robert J. , Stassun Keivan G. , Wyatt Mark C.
Published: January 2017

RZ Psc is a young Sun-like star, long associated with the UXor class of variable stars, which is partially or wholly dimmed by dust clumps several times each year. The system has a bright and variable infrared excess, which has been interpreted as evidence that the dimming events are the passage of asteroidal fragments in front of the host star. Here, we present a decade of optical photometry of RZ Psc and take a critical look at the asteroid belt interpretation. We show that the distribution of light curve gradients is non-uniform for deep events, which we interpret as possible evidence for an asteroidal fragment-like clump structure. However, the clumps are very likely seen above a high optical depth midplane, so the disc’s bulk clumpiness is not revealed. While circumstantial evidence suggests an asteroid belt is more plausible than a gas-rich transition disc, the evolutionary status remains uncertain. We suggest that the rarity of Sun-like stars showing disc-related variability may arise because (i) any accretion streams are transparent and/or (ii) turbulence above the inner rim is normally shadowed by a flared outer disc.
Distribution and drift dispersal dynamics of a caddisfly grazer in response to resource abundance and its ontogeny
Authors: Katano Izumi , Mitsuhashi Hiromune , Doi Hideyuki , Isobe Yu , Oishi Tadashi
Published: January 2017

Stream grazers have a major impact on food web structure and the productivity of stream ecosystems; however, studies on the longitudinal (upstream versus downstream) and temporal changes in their drift dynamics and resulting distributions remain limited. Here, we investigated the longitudinal and temporal distributions and drift propensity of a trichopteran grazer, the caddisfly,Micrasema quadriloba, during its life cycle in a Japanese stream. The distribution of larvae significantly shifted downstream during the fifth instar larval stage during late winter; with periphyton abundance (i.e. their food source) showing similar shifts downstream. Therefore, our results show that the drift dispersal the caddisfly occurs in response to decline in available food resources (i.e. food-resource scarcity) and an increase in food requirements by growing individuals. Furthermore, our results show that this observed longitudinal shift in larval distribution varies through their life cycle, because the drift dispersal of fifth instar larvae was greater than that of immature larvae. The correlation between periphyton abundance and drift propensity of fourth instar larvae was not statistically significant, whereas that of fifth instar larvae was significantly negative. In conclusion, we detected an ontogenetic shift in drift propensity, which might explain the longitudinal and temporal distributions of this species.
Sequential effects in Olympic synchronized diving scores
Authors: Kramer Robin S. S.
Published: January 2017

When judging performances in a sequence, the current score is often influenced by the preceding score. Where athletes are perceived to be similar, a judgement is assimilated towards the previous one. However, if judges focus on the differences between the two athletes, this will result in a contrasting influence on their scores. Here, I investigate sequential effects during synchronized diving events at the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games. Although previous research found assimilation in scores of gymnasts, the current data showed contrast effects—current scores benefited from following a poor performance but were at a disadvantage if they followed a high-scoring performance. One explanation may be that the processes involved in judging synchronized pairs results in a focus on the differences between athletes, producing a contrast effect across dives. That the specific direction of this sequential bias may depend on the particular sport has implications for how judges might approach their roles in a context-dependent manner, as well as how such biases should be addressed.
Skin temperature changes in wild chimpanzees upon hearing vocalizations of conspecifics
Authors: Dezecache Guillaume , Zuberbühler Klaus , Davila-Ross Marina , Dahl Christoph D.
Published: January 2017

A growing trend of research using infrared thermography (IRT) has shown that changes in skin temperature, associated with activity of the autonomic nervous system, can be reliably detected in human and non-human animals. A contact-free method, IRT provides the opportunity to uncover emotional states in free-ranging animals during social interactions. Here, we measured nose and ear temperatures of wild chimpanzees of Budongo Forest, Uganda, when exposed to naturally occurring vocalizations of conspecifics. We found a significant temperature decrease over the nose after exposure to conspecifics' vocalizations, whereas we found a corresponding increase for ear temperature. Our study suggests that IRT can be used in wild animals to quantify changes in emotional states in response to the diversity of vocalizations, their functional significance and acoustical characteristics. We hope that it will contribute to more research on physiological changes associated with social interactions in wild animals.
Growth overshoot and seasonal size changes in the skulls of two weasel species
Authors: LaPoint Scott , Keicher Lara , Wikelski Martin , Zub Karol , Dechmann Dina K. N.
Published: January 2017

Ontogenetic changes in mammalian skulls are complex. For a very few species (i.e. someSorexshrews), these also include seasonally driven, bidirectional size changes within individuals, presumably to reduce energy requirements during low resource availabilities. These patterns are poorly understood, but are likely most pronounced in high-metabolic species with limited means for energy conservation. We used generalized additive models to quantify the effect of location, Julian day, age and sex on the length and depth of 512 and 847 skulls of stoat (Mustela erminea) and weasel (M. nivalis) specimens collected throughout the northern hemisphere. Skull length of both species varies between sexes and geographically, with stoat skull length positively correlated with latitude. Both species demonstrate seasonal and ontogenetic patterns, including a rare, absolute growth overshoot in juvenile braincase depth. Standardized braincase depths of both species peak in their first summer, then decrease in their first winter, followed by a remarkable regrowth that peaks again during their second summer. This seasonal pattern varies in magnitude and timing between geographical regions and the sexes, matching predictions of Dehnel's phenomenon. This suggests implications for the evolution of over-wintering strategies in mammals, justifying further research on their mechanisms and value, with implications for applied osteology research.