bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complexity and systemic organizational redirection
Authors: Reed John C. , Higgins George Edward
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the effects of officers’ perceptions of complexity in merging organizational change components (culture, mission, values, decentralization, policies and procedures, administrative reporting practices, weapons, contract, pay, benefits, patrol boundaries, equalization of workload, size of boundaries, communications, 10-codes, and car numbers) during a major metropolitan police department consolidation.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study utilizes data collected from 390 sworn officers from two agencies in Kentucky that were merged, the Louisville Division of Police and the Jefferson County Police Department. Statistical inquiry included factor analysis and a series of bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis (controlling for demographic measures).

Findings

Results revealed a noteworthy, positive effect on support for consolidation related to the complexity of three factors: benefits, mission, and policies.

Originality/value

To date, the relevance of complexity on support for organizational change and, more specifically, police consolidation, is unknown. With this study, the authors aim to add to the discussion.
The consequences of traumatic events on resilience among South Korean police officers
Authors: Park Oi Byung , Im Hyuk , Na Chongmin
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Drawing on survey data from South Korean police officers, the purpose of this paper is to explore the mediation effects of coping self-efficacy and social support in the relationship between the impact of traumatic events and resilience. Additionally, the moderation effects were assessed to examine how this relationship varies by the state of police officers’ mental health.

Design/methodology/approach

Both multiple mediation and multiple group models within the structural equation modeling framework were adopted to assess the proposed mediating and moderating effects.

Findings

Traumatic events affect resilience not just directly but also indirectly through mediating factors such as coping self-efficacy and social support. These patterns are more pronounced in the high-risk mental health group than in the normal group.

Practical implications

If exposure to traumatic events were an unavoidable aspect of police work, helping officers build resilience as a general capacity to overcome stressful situations would be an effective strategy to prevent many negative consequences associated with the traumatic events. This study examined specific causal mechanisms linking the impact of traumatic events to resilience to better understand the process of developing resilience among police officers.

Originality/value

Instead of further examining the relationship between impact of traumatic events and other physical and mental outcomes, this study attempted to expand the current literature by identifying important mediating and moderating mechanisms that reduce the negative influences of traumatic events on resilience.
Investing in people: salary and turnover in policing
Authors: Schuck Amie M. , Rabe-Hemp Cara E.
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between voluntary and involuntary turnover and officers’ salaries.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from the 2013 Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics survey, Poisson regression was used to test hypotheses about the effect of pay and other economic incentives on turnover, while controlling for previously identified influential organizational and community factors, such as crime, community disorganization, geographic region, policing philosophy, collective bargaining, the utilization of body-worn cameras, and workforce diversity.

Findings

Higher salaries were significantly associated with lower voluntary and involuntary turnover rates. In addition, other economic incentives and participation in a defined benefits retirement plan were related to voluntary separations but not dismissals. Consistent with prior research, southern agencies and sheriff’s departments reported higher turnover rates than local police agencies and departments operating in other areas of the USA. The effects of workforce diversity were mixed, while collective bargaining was associated with lower rates of voluntary turnover, and the utilization of body-worn cameras was associated with higher rates.

Originality/value

In addition to contributing to the theoretical literature on antecedents of turnover, this research has practical implications by helping law enforcement officials estimate how changes in the compensation structure affect their ability to retain qualified personnel. Due to the complexities of modern law enforcement, maintaining a strong and stable workforce is becoming a greater challenge, and more research is needed to understand which incentives are crucial in recruiting and retaining the most effective policing personnel.
Using step‐selection functions to model landscape connectivity for African elephants: accounting for variability across individuals and seasons
Authors: Osipova L. , Okello M. M. , Njumbi S. J. , Ngene S. , Western D. , Hayward M. W. , Balkenhol N.
Published: July 2018

Landscape connectivity is an important component of systematic conservation planning. Step‐selection functions (SSFs) is a highly promising method for connectivity modeling. However, differences in movement behavior across individuals and seasons are usually not considered in current SSF‐based analyses, potentially leading to imprecise connectivity models. Here, our objective was to use SSFs to build functional connectivity models for African elephants Loxodonta africana in a seasonal environment to illustrate the temporal variability of functional landscape connectivity. We provide a methodological framework for integrating detected inter‐individual variability into resistance surface modeling, for assessing how landscape connectivity changes across seasons, and for evaluating how seasonal connectivity differences affect predictions of movement corridors. Using radio‐tracking data from elephants in the Borderland area between Kenya and Tanzania, we applied SSFs to create seasonal landscape resistance surfaces. Based on seasonal models, we predicted movement corridors connecting major protected areas (PAs) using circuit theory and least‐cost path analysis. Our findings demonstrate that individual variability and seasonality lead to substantial changes in landscape connectivity and predicted movement corridors. Specifically, we show that the models disregarding seasonal resource fluctuations underestimate connectivity for the wet and transitional seasons, and overestimate connectivity for the dry season. Based on our seasonal models, we predicted a connectivity network between large PAs and highlight seasonal and consistent patterns that are most important for effective management planning. Our findings reveal that elephant movements in the borderland between Kenya and Tanzania are essential for maintaining connectivity in the dry season, and that existing corridors do not protect these movements in full extent.
Transmembrane member 16A participates in hydrogen peroxide‐induced apoptosis by facilitating mitochondria‐dependent pathway in vascular smooth muscle cells
Authors: Zeng Jia‐Wei , Chen Bao‐Yi , Lv Xiao‐Fei , Sun Lu , Zeng Xue‐Lin , Zheng Hua‐Qing , Du Yan‐Hua , Wang Guan‐Lei , Ma Ming‐Ming , Guan Yong‐Yuan
Published: July 2018

Background and Purpose

Transmembrane member 16A (TMEM16A), an intrinsic constituent of the Ca2+‐activated Cl− channel, is involved in vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and hypertension‐induced cerebrovascular remodelling. However, the functional significance of TMEM16A for apoptosis in basilar artery smooth muscle cells (BASMCs) remains elusive. Here, we investigated whether and how TMEM16A contributes to apoptosis in BASMCs.

Experimental Approach

Cell viability assay, flow cytometry, Western blot, mitochondrial membrane potential assay, immunogold labelling and co‐immunoprecipitation (co‐IP) were performed.

Key Results

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced BASMC apoptosis through a mitochondria‐dependent pathway, including by increasing the apoptosis rate, down‐regulating the ratio of Bcl‐2/Bax and potentiating the loss of the mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria to the cytoplasm. These effects were all reversed by the silencing of TMEM16A and were further potentiated by the overexpression of TMEM16A. Endogenous TMEM16A was detected in the mitochondrial fraction. Co‐IP revealed an interaction between TMEM16A and cyclophilin D, a component of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). This interaction was up‐regulated by H2O2 but restricted by cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of cyclophilin D. TMEM16A increased mPTP opening, resulting in the activation of caspase‐9 and caspase‐3. The results obtained with cultured BASMCs from TMEM16A smooth muscle‐specific knock‐in mice were consistent with those from rat BASMCs.

Conclusions and Implications

These results suggest that TMEM16A participates in H2O2‐induced apoptosis via modulation of mitochondrial membrane permeability in VSMCs. This study establishes TMEM16A as a target for therapy of several remodelling‐related diseases.
Aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 polymorphism affects the outcome of methanol poisoning in exposed humans
Authors: Hubacek J.A. , Jirsa M. , Bobak M. , Pelclova D. , Zakharov S.
Published: July 2018

As the susceptibility of humans to xenobiotics often depends on genetic factors, we assumed thatADH1BandALDH2genetic variants may affect susceptibility to the acute methanol exposure. To evaluate the role of genetic variants of enzymes involved in methanol catabolism in humans, we analysedADH1B(rs1229984) andALDH2(rs441) polymorphisms in 50 adults who survived acute methanol poisoning, 246 individuals with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, and in 545 healthy controls. GG homozygotes ofADH1Bwere more common among methanol‐poisoned patients (98%) and among patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (98%) than among healthy controls (90%) (P= 0.08 and < 0.001, respectively). Minor C allele carriers of theALDH2were significantly more common among methanol‐poisoned persons (46%) than among patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis or healthy controls (31% in both groups,P< 0.05 and 0.025, respectively); the odds ratios were 1.89 (95% CI 1.02‐3.52) and 1.94 (1.08‐3.48), respectively. As there was a substantial amount of subjects with alcohol abuse between both groups of patients,ADH1Bis unlikely to affect the susceptibility to methanol poisoning. By contrast, the genetic variant of theALDH2enzyme seems to specifically affect the susceptibility to methanol in acutely exposed humans and potentially plays a role in the outcome of methanol poisoning.
Facts and Possibilities: A Model‐Based Theory of Sentential Reasoning
Authors: Khemlani Sangeet S. , Byrne Ruth M. J. , Johnson‐Laird Philip N.
Published: July 2018

This article presents a fundamental advance in the theory of mental models as an explanation of reasoning about facts, possibilities, and probabilities. It postulates that the meanings of compound assertions, such as conditionals (if) and disjunctions (or), unlike those in logic, refer to conjunctions of epistemic possibilities that hold in default of information to the contrary. Various factors such as general knowledge can modulate these interpretations. New information can always override sentential inferences; that is, reasoning in daily life is defeasible (or nonmonotonic). The theory is a dual process one: It distinguishes between intuitive inferences (based on system 1) and deliberative inferences (based on system 2). The article describes a computer implementation of the theory, including its two systems of reasoning, and it shows how the program simulates crucial predictions that evidence corroborates. It concludes with a discussion of how the theory contrasts with those based on logic or on probabilities.
Do anticoagulation medications increase the risk of haematoma in ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration of thyroid lesions?
Authors: Khadra Helmi , Kholmatov Roostam , Monlezun Dominique , Kandil Emad
Published: July 2018

Background

A feared complication of thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) is bleeding diathesis and haematoma at the biopsy site. Patients are often advised to discontinue antithrombotic/anticoagulant (AT/AC) medications prior to the procedure. The aim of this study was to examine the risk of bleeding in patients on AT/AC medications undergoing cervical ultrasound (US)‐guided FNA.

Methods

A retrospective chart review of 803 patients who underwent US‐guided FNA of thyroid nodules over 8 years by a single endocrine surgeon was undertaken. Clinical variables, patient demographics and use of AT/AC medications were collected and analysed. The principle outcome measures included the incidence of procedure‐related haematoma formation. Multivariable logistic regression was used to investigate the possible independent association between post‐FNA haematoma and anticoagulation, adjusting for age, African American race, body mass index, vascularity and lesion size.

Results

A total of 1568 lesions were included in 803 patients. The mean age for the patients on AT/AC was 63.0 ± 10.4 years and those not on AT/AC was 50.1 ± 14.2 years (P < 0.001). Of those, 148 patients had 336 lesions (21%) biopsied while taking one or more daily AT/AC agent (81 patients: aspirin; 11 patients: Plavix; 17 patients: aspirin and warfarin; 30 patients: aspirin and Plavix; seven patients: rivaroxaban and aspirin; and two patients: ticagrelor and aspirin). Three patients (0.89%) in the AT/AC group compared to six patients (0.49%) not receiving AT/AC medications developed a haematoma (P = 0.41). All complications were treated conservatively and none required intervention.

Conclusions

US‐guided FNA of thyroid lesions can be safely performed on patients taking AT/AC including newer agents, without an increase in adverse outcomes or decreased diagnostic rate. Further larger prospective multi‐institutional studies are warranted to further investigate this important finding.
Paliperidone palmitate once‐every‐3‐months in adults with early illness schizophrenia
Authors: Bell Lynum Karimah S. , Turkoz Ibrahim , Kim Edward
Published: July 2018

Aim

This post hoc analysis of a double‐blind (DB), randomized, placebo‐controlled, relapse‐prevention study evaluated the effects of paliperidone palmitate once‐every‐3‐months (PP3M) in a subpopulation of adults with early illness schizophrenia (duration ≤5 years) from a clinical trial.

Methods

Patients received either PP3M or placebo every 3 months in the DB phase. The primary efficacy variable was time from randomization to first relapse. Symptom severity, patient functioning, and safety were also assessed.

Results

A total of 119 patients who entered the DB phase met the criteria for early illness schizophrenia (PP3M, n = 62; placebo, n = 57). PP3M significantly delayed time to relapse vs placebo (P = .035; hazard ratio, 3.08; 95% CI, 1.08‐8.80). Symptomatic control and patient functioning were maintained in the PP3M group but significantly worsened in the placebo group. There were no unexpected tolerability findings.

Conclusions

PP3M reduced relapse risk and maintained symptomatic and functional improvements compared with placebo in patients with early illness schizophrenia.
Modelling current and future abundances of benthic invertebrates using bathymetric LiDAR and oceanographic variables
Authors: Jalali Ali , Young Mary , Huang Zhi , Gorfine Harry , Ierodiaconou Daniel
Published: July 2018

A key requirement for managing commercial fisheries is understanding the geographic footprint of the resource, the level of exploitation and the potential impacts of changing climate or habitat conditions. The development of spatially explicit predictive models of species distributions combined with predictions of changing oceanographic conditions provides the opportunity to obtain new insights of species‐habitat associations. Here, generalized linear models (GLMs) were used to model the abundance of two commercially important marine macro‐invertebrates, blacklip abalone Haliotis rubra and long‐spined sea urchin Centrostephanus rodgersii, along the coast of Victoria, Australia. We combined abundance data from fisheries independent diver surveys with environmental variables derived from bathymetric light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and oceanographic parameters derived from satellite imagery. The GLM was used to predict species responses to environmental gradients where reef complexity, sea surface temperature (SST) and depth were strongly associated with species distributions. The abundance of H. rubra declined with increasing summer SST. In comparison, the abundance of C. rodgersii increased with increasing winter SST. The GLM showed that the projected increase in ocean temperatures will likely lead to a decline in abundance across the H. rubra fishery. Conversely, a range expansion of C. rodgersii is likely due to the strengthening of the East Australian Current. For species that exhibit a high affinity to specific seascape features, this research demonstrated how recent advances in seabed mapping can allow the identification of areas with high conservation or fisheries value at a fine‐scale relevant to resource exploitation across large geographic regions.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going: The enigma of survival strategies in harsh glacial stream environments
Authors: Niedrist Georg H. , Füreder Leopold
Published: July 2018

Glacier retreat is a key component of environmental change in alpine environments, leading to significant changes in physico‐chemical characteristics and biological communities in glacier‐fed rivers. While the overall effects of the environment on community structure of invertebrates are largely understood, its influence on functional strategies such as feeding habits of same species are not.

The aquatic larvae of the species‐rich family Chironomidae, or nonbiting midges, are the first invertebrates colonising alpine headwaters, and the first macroinvertebrate consumers in these harsh environments. Species composition in the two subfamilies, Diamesinae and Orthocladiinae, is diverse and is strongly affected by the changing habitat conditions upon glacier retreat. Here, we show that Diamesinae have extremely flexible feeding strategies that explain their abundance, high body‐mass and predominance in glacier‐fed streams.

Along a multifactorial ecological gradient from benign to harsh, based on water temperature, sediment transport and degree of glacial influence, Diamesinae expanded their trophic niche area and covered more trophic levels when conditions harshened. In contrast, niche areas of Orthocladiinae remained small and were not related to this gradient. In Diamesinae, mean body‐mass increased with harsher environmental conditions, but no such effects were found in Orthocladiinae.

As facultative predators and able to feed on diverse food sources, Diamesinae have evolved survival mechanisms that allow them to thrive and successfully reproduce in glacier‐fed streams, which likely explains their predominance in these habitats.

Climate change‐induced glacier retreat affects the global water balance, with many downstream effects, including on irrigation and domestic use, and our study deepens our understanding of its effects on animals that depend on glacier‐melt.
Analysis of Solute Transport from a Source with Finite Leachable Mass
Authors: Neville Christopher J. , Wang Xiaomin
Published: July 2018

A general approach is developed for the analysis of solute transport from a source with a finite initial mass. The approach uses an effective retardation factor to assign the initial mass that can be leached from the source. Demonstration analyses are presented to illustrate the approach with the numerical simulator MT3DMS. For cases that are tractable with analytical solutions, comparisons between the numerical and analytical results confirm that the proposed approach yields correct results. The approach is straightforward to apply and can accommodate conditions ranging from pure advection to pure diffusion, effectively extending the capabilities of models to simulate sources with finite leachable masses for complex flow fields, reactions and distributions of sources.
Alterations in the primary teeth of children with microcephaly in Northeast Brazil: a comparative study
Authors: Siqueira Rafaella Máximo Pereira , Santos Maria Teresa Botti Rodrigues , Cabral Glória Maria Pimenta
Published: July 2018

Background

The outbreak of microcephaly between 2015 and 2017 in Brazil created an international public health emergency.

Aim

This study sought to evaluate the chronology, sequence of eruption, and the presence of anomalies amongst children with microcephaly compared with normoreactive children.

Design

A comparative study of 108 children aged 0–2 years attending public services was conducted. The microcephaly group (MG; n = 54) and the nonmicrocephaly group (NMG; n = 54) were matched by age, gender, and family income at a 1 : 1 ratio. Erupted teeth and the presence of anomalies were evaluated and compared. Chi‐square tests, Pearson's correlations, Fisher's exact tests, and Student's t‐tests were applied (α = 0.05).

Results

No between‐group differences were found with regard to gender (P = 0.560) or age (P = 0.529). The MG presented with a higher percentage of alterations in eruption sequence, opacity, self‐injury, and delayed eruption compared with the NMG (P < 0.05). The MG was more likely to exhibit changes in tooth eruption sequence (OR = 12.23, 95% CIs = 3.25–46.03, P < 0.001), delayed eruption (OR = 23.12; 95% CIs = 7.09–75.40, P < 0.001), and opacity (n = 12.19, 95% CIs = 1.44–103.28, P = 0.022) than the NMG.

Conclusion

Children with microcephaly present with greater delays in chronology, alterations in eruption sequence, and enamel defects than normoreactive children.
Thermal and asphyxia exposure risk to freshwater fish in feral‐pig‐damaged tropical wetlands
Authors: Waltham Nathan J. , Schaffer Jason R.
Published: July 2018

Acute thermal and asphyxia exposure risks for freshwater fish occupying three tropical wetland typologies were examined. Field water‐quality data revealed that fish in wetlands grazed by pigs had the highest exposure risks, because they are shallow and heavily damaged by pig activities. In contrast, with the exception is dissolved oxygen (which still reached critical conditions because of aquatic vegetation respiration), deeper permanent and pig‐managed wetlands provides the best opportunity for the same fish species to survive in a heavily pig‐modified tropical landscape.
Endogenous Life‐Cycle Housing Investment and Portfolio Allocation
Authors: PELLETIER DENIS , TUNC CENGIZ
Published: July 2018

This paper develops a life‐cycle portfolio allocation model to address the effects of housing investment on the portfolio allocation of households. The model employs a comprehensive housing investment structure, Epstein–Zin recursive preferences, and a stock market entry cost. Furthermore, rather than resorting to calibration we estimate the value of the relative risk aversion and elasticity of intertemporal substitution. The model shows that housing investment has a strong crowding out effect on investment in risky assets throughout the life‐cycle. We further find that the effect of the presence of housing investment on households portfolio allocation is larger than the effect of having EZ recursive preferences.
The Effect of Workplace Pensions on Household Saving: Evidence From a Natural Experiment in Taiwan
Authors: Yang Tzu‐Ting
Published: July 2018

Population aging causes financial imbalances in pay‐as‐you‐go public pension programs. To remedy this problem, while ensuring the adequacy of retirement savings for employees, many countries complement or substitute public pensions by regulating their workplace pensions. This article exploits a pension reform in Taiwan that has mandated, since 2005, that all private‐sector employers contribute at least 6 percent of an employee's monthly wage to an individual pension account. I use workers in the unaffected sectors as a comparison group and employ a difference‐in‐differences method to estimate the impact of the reform on household saving rates. My estimates suggest that making private pensions mandatory significantly reduces the household saving rate by between 2.06 and 2.45 percentage points, thus implying that a $ 10 increase in the workplace pension could offset $ 5 to $ 6 of household savings.
Supplemental methionine sources have a neutral impact on oxidative status in broiler chickens
Authors: Zhang Shuai , Gilbert Elizabeth R. , Saremi Behnam , Wong Eric A.
Published: July 2018

To determine the effect of different dietary Met sources on oxidative status, male Cobb 500 broiler chickens were fed from day of hatch to 26 days of age (d26) a diet deficient in sulfur amino acids (control) or a diet containing 0.22% DL‐Met, 0.22% L‐Met or 0.31% Met precursor, DL‐2‐hydroxy‐4‐(methylthio) butanoic acid (DL‐HMTBA) to meet the Met + Cys requirements. Liver, breast muscle, duodenum, jejunum, and ileum were collected at day 10 (d10) and d26 to assay markers of oxidative stress, including total glutathione (TGSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG), reduced glutathione (rGSH), protein carbonyls, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP). In breast muscle, TGSH and rGSH were greater in L‐Met and DL‐HMTBA groups than in the control group (p < 0.05). An interaction of treatment and age was observed for TGSH in ileum (p = 0.01) and jejunum (p = 0.01), for GSSG in jejunum (p < 0.001), and for rGSH in ileum (p = 0.02). The ratios of rGSH to GSSG and GSSG to TGSH, which define oxidative status, were not affected by Met source. Protein carbonyls varied among groups in jejunum (p = 0.05) and breast muscle (p < 0.001), but were in the normal physiological range. No difference among treatment groups was observed for TBARS and FRAP in different tissues. Age effects were observed in all tissues for multiple oxidative stress markers. In conclusion, consuming different sources of supplementary Met did not alter the oxidative status in several tissues of broilers. Met + Cys deficiency did not compromise antioxidant capacity of chickens although growth was retarded.
A case of late‐onset Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy with elevated serum lactic acid and pyruvic acid levels by cycle ergometer exercise
Authors: Hao Akihito , Hideyama Takuto , Katsumata Junko , Seki Tomonari , Tanaka Masaki , Yamagami Akiko , Shimizu Jun , Shiio Yasushi
Published: July 2018

Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is a mitochondrial disorder characterized by acute or subacute bilateral vision loss. We describe a female who experienced visual impairment at the age of 75 years. Genetic analysis of peripheral blood leukocytes revealed a point mutation (11778G>A) in MTND4 encoded by mitochondrial DNA. The most distinctive feature of our patient was the elevation of serum LA and PA levels and the LA/PA ratio by cycle ergometer exercise without clinical or pathological skeletal muscle involvement. Also, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) showed that mutation fractions of m.11778G>A in peripheral blood and muscle sample were higher than 99.9%, indicating “homoplasmy”. Although no cases of LHON with clinical impairment of skeletal muscle have been reported, subclinical mitochondrial dysfunction has been reported. We concluded that the ergometer test sensitively detected a subclinical change caused by mitochondrial respiratory chain dysfunction, showing the diversity of genotype and phenotype relationship in LHON.
A case of recurrent proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal IgG deposits or de novo C3 glomerulonephritis after kidney transplantation
Authors: Tamura Tomomi , Unagami Kohei , Okumi Masayoshi , Kakuta Yoichi , Horita Shigeru , Ishida Hideki , Koike Junki , Honda Kazuho , Tanabe Kazunari , Nitta Kosaku
Published: July 2018

Proliferative glomerulonephritis with monoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig)G deposits (PGNMID) is a rare disease with a treatment that is not well established. Several cases of recurrent PGNMID after kidney transplantation have been documented, but almost all cases reported symptoms such as elevated serum creatinine and/or urinary protein levels; subsequently, episode biopsies were performed and a diagnosis was made. This is the case of a 27‐year‐old man who underwent living‐donor kidney transplantation. The aetiology of renal failure was membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis type III, which had been diagnosed at the age of 9 years. Protocol biopsy performed on postoperative day 62 revealed isolated granular C3 deposits in the glomerular capillaries and mesangium. We reviewed the native kidney biopsy and confirmed IgG3 deposition alone, with strong glomerular staining for lambda light chains and negative staining for kappa light chains. Accordingly, we re‐diagnosed the aetiology of his renal failure as PGNMID and suspected recurrent PGNMID in the early stage; therefore, we administered plasma exchange therapy. Thereafter, protocol biopsies were performed twice, which revealed persistent isolated C3 deposition; therefore, we made a diagnosis of recurrent PGNMID or C3 glomerulonephritis. Currently, the patient has normal renal function, with negative urine findings for >1 year. Here, we present the histological findings of consecutive allograft biopsies performed in this patient.
Frequency and outcome of post‐extubation dysphagia using nurse‐performed swallowing screening protocol
Authors: Omura Kazuya , Komine Atsushi , Yanagigawa Mari , Chiba Naomi , Osada Maiko
Published: July 2018

Background

Post‐extubation dysphagia reportedly occurs in 3%–60% of patients and is independently associated with poor patient outcomes.

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of post‐extubation dysphagia, as diagnosed using our novel nurse‐performed swallowing screening protocol, and to evaluate patient outcomes, including the frequency of discharge home, the length of the intensive care unit and hospital stays, the frequency of hospital‐acquired pneumonia and death in the intensive care unit and hospital.

Design

This was a prospective cohort study.

Methods

This study was conducted in a mixed intensive care unit in a critical care hospital in Japan. Between October 2016 and September 2017, the swallowing functions of 216 patients were assessed using our novel screening protocol. To investigate the correlation between dysphagia and patient outcomes, we compared a dysphagia group with a no dysphagia group.

Results

Twenty‐five patients (11·6%) were diagnosed with dysphagia. The frequency of discharge home, which was the primary outcome, was significantly lower in the patients with dysphagia (60% versus 87·4%, P = 0·002). Dysphagia was also correlated with longer hospital stay and higher mortality. A binomial logistic regression analysis, including the variables of dysphagia, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score and duration of ventilator use, showed that dysphagia was an independent risk factor for a lower incidence of discharge home.

Conclusion

Among patients admitted to a mixed intensive care unit, post‐extubation dysphagia was correlated with a poor prognosis.

Relevance to clinical practice

The current study emphasizes the poor prognosis of patients with dysphagia after extubation. Dysphagia developed in more than 1 in 10 patients post‐extubation; therefore, monitoring for a swallowing disorder is crucial in daily nursing in the intensive care unit.
Anti‐rheumatic medication and salivary MMP‐8, a biomarker for periodontal disease
Authors: Äyräväinen Leena , Heikkinen Anna Maria , Kuuliala Antti , Ahola Kirsi , Koivuniemi Riitta , Moilanen Eeva , Hämäläinen Mari , Tervahartiala Taina , Meurman Jukka H. , Leirisalo‐Repo Marjatta , Sorsa Timo
Published: July 2018

Objective

To investigate the impact of anti‐rheumatic medications on salivary matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐8 levels and MMP‐8/TIMP (tissue inhibitor of MMPs)‐1 ratio in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontal findings during a 1‐year follow‐up.

Materials and Methods

Salivary MMP‐8 was measured by an immunofluorometric assay and TIMP‐1 by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay of 53 patients with early untreated RA (ERA), naïve to synthetic disease modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), of 28 patients with chronic RA (CRA), candidates for biologic DMARDs and of 43 age‐ and sex‐matched controls. Periodontal health was evaluated by bleeding on probing (BOP), pocket depth (PD), and periodontal inflammatory burden index (PIBI). Examinations were conducted twice for RA patients and once for controls.

Results

Salivary MMP‐8 level and MMP‐8/TIMP‐1 ratio associated positively with PIBI in patients with chronic RA (MMP‐8: p < 0.001 at baseline, p = 0.002 after follow‐up; MMP‐8/TIMP‐1 ratio p < 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively) and in controls (MMP‐8: p = 0.010, MMP‐8/TIMP‐1 ratio: p = 0.010). Salivary MMP‐8 levels were highest at the early stage of RA. The used DMARDs, synthetic or biologic, did not affect salivary MMP‐8 concentrations.

Conclusions

The use of synthetic or biologic DMARDs did not affect salivary MMP‐8 levels in RA patients regardless the duration of RA.
Instructions for Climbing the Ladder (The Minimalism of Wittgenstein'sTractatus)
Authors: Engelmann Mauro Luiz
Published: July 2018

I aim to present a solution to the apparent paradox of theTractatusby means of a minimalist reading grounded in the idea that the correct logical symbolism alone “finally solves” in essentials the philosophical problems. I argue that although the sentences of theTractatusare nonsensical, rules presented in its symbolism are not. The symbolism itself expresses only a priori rules of logic through schematic variables that do not say anything. I argue that this reading correctly expresses the ladder structure of the book, and that it can account for Wittgenstein's critique of theTractatusinSome Remarks on Logical Form.
The impact of immobilisation and inflammation on the regulation of muscle mass and insulin resistance: different routes to similar end‐points
Authors: Crossland Hannah , Skirrow Sarah , Puthucheary Zudin A. , Constantin‐Teodosiu Dumitru , Greenhaff Paul L.
Published: July 2018

Loss of muscle mass and insulin sensitivity are common phenotypic traits of immobilisation and increased inflammatory burden. The suppression of muscle protein synthesis is the primary driver of muscle mass loss in human immobilisation, and includes blunting of post‐prandial increases in muscle protein synthesis. However, the mechanistic drivers of this suppression are unresolved. Immobilisation also induces limb insulin resistance in humans, which appears to be attributable to the reduction in muscle contraction per se. Again mechanistic insight is missing such that we do not know how muscle senses its “inactivity status” or whether the proposed drivers of muscle insulin resistance are simply arising as a consequence of immobilisation. A heightened inflammatory state is associated with major and rapid changes in muscle protein turnover and mass, and dampened insulin‐stimulated glucose disposal and oxidation in both rodents and humans. A limited amount of research has attempted to elucidate molecular regulators of muscle mass loss and insulin resistance during increased inflammatory burden, but rarely concurrently. Nevertheless, there is evidence that Akt (protein kinase B) signalling and FOXO transcription factors form part of a common signalling pathway in this scenario, such that molecular cross‐talk between atrophy and insulin signalling during heightened inflammation is believed to be possible. To conclude, whilst muscle mass loss and insulin resistance are common end‐points of immobilisation and increased inflammatory burden, a lack of understanding of the mechanisms responsible for these traits exists such that a substantial gap in understanding of the pathophysiology in humans endures.

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Re-expansion method for generalized radiation impedance of a circular aperture in an infinite flange
Authors: Homentcovschi Dorel , Bercia Romeo
Published: July 2018

The paper applies the re-expansion method to analyze the sound radiation from a flanged circular pipe. The axial velocity in the aperture is expressed by means of some orthogonal polynomials combining the properties of Jacobi's polynomials and hypergeometric functions, and also accounting for the velocity singularities at the edge points of the aperture. This makes it possible to reveal the physical parameters of the problem with a very limited number of terms. Besides the classical case when the flange covers the whole plane outside the pipe, the method also permits one to study also the case of the flange extending with zero thickness over a part of the circular pipe. Finally, the paper includes the extension of the results beyond the plane wave region achieving good accuracy and convergence.
Multicenter Evaluation of the Etest Gradient Diffusion Method for Ceftolozane-Tazobactam Susceptibility Testing of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Bailey Adam L. , Armstrong Tom , Dwivedi Hari-Prakash , Denys Gerald A. , Hindler Janet , Campeau Shelley , Traczewski Maria , Humphries Romney , Burnham Carey-Ann D.
Published: July 2018

Ceftolozane-tazobactam (C/T) is a novel beta-lactam–beta-lactamase inhibitor combination antibiotic approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2014 for the treatment of complicated intra-abdominal infections (in combination with metronidazole) and complicated urinary tract infections.
Ensuring the Future of
JMBE
Authors: Elliott Samantha L.
Published: July 2018

In my last editorial, I described the growing success of JMBE and the need for the publication to innovate and evolve. For example, in the past year, we have expanded our editorial board, moved to a continuous publication model, and continued to broaden our audience through themed issues. Since JMBE was established in 2000, the publication has grown exponentially from five articles that first year to over 100 published in 2016. The journal was the American Society for Microbiology’s (ASM) first open-access publication and, throughout these 17 years, the Society has supported the quality of this biological and microbiological sciences teaching practitioner journal and subsidized all production costs.
Genetic obesity: next-generation sequencing results of 1230 patients with obesity
Authors: Kleinendorst Lotte , Massink Maarten P G , Cooiman Mellody I , Savas Mesut , van der Baan-Slootweg Olga H , Roelants Roosje J , Janssen Ignace C M , Meijers-Heijboer Hanne J , Knoers Nine V A M , Ploos van Amstel Hans Kristian , van Rossum Elisabeth F C , van den Akker Erica L T , van Haaften Gijs , van der Zwaag Bert , van Haelst Mieke M
Published: July 2018

Background

Obesity is a global and severe health problem. Due to genetic heterogeneity, the identification of genetic defects in patients with obesity can be time consuming and costly. Therefore, we developed a custom diagnostic targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based analysis to simultaneously identify mutations in 52 obesity-related genes. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic yield of this approach in patients with suspected genetic obesity.

Methods

DNA of 1230 patients with obesity (median BMI adults 43.6 kg/m2; median body mass index-SD children +3.4 SD) was analysed in the genome diagnostics section of the Department of Genetics of the UMC Utrecht (The Netherlands) by targeted analysis of 52 obesity-related genes.

Results

In 48 patients pathogenic mutations confirming the clinical diagnosis were detected. The majority of these were observed in theMC4Rgene (18/48). In an additional 67 patients a probable pathogenic mutation was identified, necessitating further analysis to confirm the clinical relevance.

Conclusions

NGS-based gene panel analysis in patients with obesity led to a definitive diagnosis of a genetic obesity disorder in 3.9% of obese probands, and a possible diagnosis in an additional 5.4% of obese probands. The highest yield was achieved in a selected paediatric subgroup, establishing a definitive diagnosis in 12 out of 164 children with severe early onset obesity (7.3%). These findings give a realistic insight in the diagnostic yield of genetic testing for patients with obesity and could help these patients to receive (future) personalised treatment.
Applications and advances of CRISPR-Cas9 in cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Xia An-Liang , He Qi-Feng , Wang Jin-Cheng , Zhu Jing , Sha Ye-Qin , Sun Beicheng , Lu Xiao-Jie
Published: July 2018

Immunotherapy has emerged as one of the most promising therapeutic strategies in cancer. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) system, as an RNA-guided genome editing technology, is triggering a revolutionary change in cancer immunotherapy. With its versatility and ease of use, CRISPR-Cas9 can be implemented to fuel the production of therapeutic immune cells, such as construction of chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells and programmed cell death protein 1 knockout. Therefore, CRISPR-Cas9 technology holds great promise in cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we will introduce the origin, development and mechanism of CRISPR-Cas9. Also, we will focus on its various applications in cancer immunotherapy, especially CAR-T cell-based immunotherapy, and discuss the potential challenges it faces.
Photoinduced electron transfer dynamics in dye-sensitized ZnO nanowire photoanodes
Authors: Furube Akihiro , Arai Takahiro , Okazaki Masahiro , Yanagiya Shinichiro , Chen Liang-Yih , Chen Yen-Jhih
Published: July 2018

A photoanode using dye-sensitized ZnO nanowire (NW) is a good candidate for low-cost, colorful, light-weight and flexible solar cell material. We have synthesized a ZnO NW anode and a ZnO nanowire–nanoparticle (NWNP) anode, in which ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) are decollated on the surface of NWs. Photo-induced electron transfer dynamics from the excited state of sensitizer dye (D149) to the conduction band of ZnO NW and ZnO NWNP was clarified using femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy. The decay of the single excited state ([Formula: see text]) of D149 was faster in ZnO NW than that of ZnO NWNP, indicating that NW is more suitable as an efficient electron acceptor.
Application of ultrasonic assisted soldering method to hard-to-solder material
Authors: Yonekura Daisuke , Ueki Tomoyuki , Taguchi Yuki
Published: July 2018

In this study, Pb-free solders were bonded to soda-lime glass and fused quartz plates using the ultrasonic assisted soldering (UAS) method. The solder–glass interfaces were observed and analyzed to clarify the effect of the elements in the solder and glass bonding behavior. As a result, the Sn–Zn solder was bonded to glass without the intermetallic compound (IMC) layer. However, the Sn–Ag–Cu solder was not able to bond to glass even though ultrasonication was performed during the soldering process. Chemical shifts for Zn 2p and O 1s spectra were observed at the interface by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, which is attributed to the chemical bonding between the substrates and elements in solder alloy. In conclusion, O in the substrate and Zn in the solder were important to form the bond between the glass and solder.
A study on the laminate pattern of high-strength composites applied to the ship
Authors: Yoon Sung-Won , Kwon Yong-Won , Ha Jong-Rok , Kim Myung-Hyun , Kim Yun-Hae
Published: July 2018

The purpose of this study is to determine the correct estimation of laminate patterns for high-strength composites applied to a ship. Recently, the need for developing a ship component has been increasing to improve the capability of maritime operations. Composites with excellent specific strength and specific stiffness are emerging as next-generation materials. In the composite material, the mechanical properties vary depending on the laminated pattern of the reinforcing material. Therefore, in this study, the properties of the composite materials were calculated using the computer simulation program. The ply calibration performance results show that the initial values of the mechanical properties of the carbon/epoxy composites in the E11 direction are higher than the calculated values, and the remaining values are the same. The laminate mechanics results show that the tensile strength in the S11T direction was 1515 MPa, which is almost the same as the initial value of 1500 MPa.
Lump soliton solutions and Bäcklund transformation for the (3+1)-dimensional Boussinesq equation with Bell polynomials
Authors: Xu Xiao-Ge , Meng Xiang-Hua , Qu Qi-Xing
Published: July 2018

In this paper, the (3+1)-dimensional Boussinesq equation which can describe the propagation of gravity waves on the surface of water is investigated. Using the Bell polynomials, the bilinear form of the (3+1)-dimensional Boussinesq equation is obtained and the lump soliton solutions for the equation are derived by means of the quadratic function method. As an important integrable property, the Bäcklund transformation for the (3+1)-dimensional Boussinesq equation is constructed by the Bell polynomials considering the constraints on the derivatives with respect to spatial and temporal variables. Through the relationship between the Bell polynomials and the Hirota bilinear operators, the bilinear Bäcklund transformation for the (3+1)-dimensional Boussinesq equation is given.
COMPUTATION OF THE DYNAMIC COMPRESSION EFFECTS IN SPINE DISCS USING INTEGRAL METHODS
Authors: CERROLAZA M. , NIETO F. , GONZÁLEZ Y.
Published: July 2018

The computational modeling using integral methods of dynamic loading and its effects on the nutrients transport in spine discs is addressed in this work. The numerical simulation and analysis was carried out using the Boundary Element Method (BEM) and a 3D model (axisymmetric) of the disc. The boundary model was discretized using linear interpolated elements and a multi-region approach. Concentration and production of three nutrients as lactate, oxygen and glucose were obtained. The maximum lactate concentration was observed very close to the interface between the nucleus and the inner annulus. A relatively simple model discretized with 130 boundary elements yielded very similar results to these coming from more complex FEM-based models. The numerical efforts in the domain and boundary discretizations were optimized using the BEM. Our results are in good agreement with those obtained using with finite element-based models. As expected, the dynamic loading increased the oxygen–glucose consumption and the lactate production, thus leading to a poor oxygen–glucose concentration at the nucleus of the disc. All of that is a favorable environment for a disc degeneration mechanism to be developed.