bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional profiling of dividing tumor cells detects intratumor heterogeneity linked to cell proliferation in a brain tumor model
Authors: Endaya Berwini B. , Lam Paula Y.P. , Meedeniya Adrian C.B. , Neuzil Jiri
Published: September 2015

Intratumor heterogeneity is a primary feature of high‐grade gliomas, complicating their therapy. As accumulating evidence suggests that intratumor heterogeneity is a consequence of cellular subsets with different cycling frequencies, we developed a method for transcriptional profiling of gliomas, using a novel technique to dissect the tumors into two fundamental cellular subsets, namely, the proliferating and non‐proliferating cell fractions. The tumor fractions were sorted whilst maintaining their molecular integrity, by incorporating the thymidine analog 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine into actively dividing cells. We sorted the actively dividing versus non‐dividing cells from cultured glioma cells, and parental and clonally derived orthotopic tumors, and analyzed them for a number of transcripts. While there was no significant difference in the transcriptional profiles between the two cellular subsets in cultured glioma cells, we demonstrate ∼2–6 fold increase in transcripts of cancer and neuronal stem cell and tumor cell migration/invasion markers, and ∼2‐fold decrease in transcripts of markers of hypoxia and their target genes, in the dividing tumor cells of the orthotopic glioma when compared to their non‐proliferative counterparts. This suggests the influence of the brain microenvironment in transcriptional regulation and, thereby, the physiology of glioma cells in vivo. When clonal glioma cells were derived from a parental glioma and the resultant orthotopic tumors were compared, their transcriptional profiles were closely correlated to tumor aggression and consequently, survival of the experimental animals. This study demonstrates the resolution of intratumor heterogeneity for profiling studies based on cell proliferation, a defining feature of cancers, with implications for treatment design.
Bank leverage and profitability: Evidence from a sample of international banks
Authors: Beltratti Andrea , Paladino Giovanna
Published: September 2015

We examine the relationship between leverage and residual income for a sample of international banks using an unbalanced panel over the period 2005–2011. Our GMM‐based econometric model considers both bank‐level and country‐level variables to control for several other factors aside from equity capital and allows for endogeneity and unobservable heterogeneity. We document a significant positive non‐monotonic link between the capital ratio and residual income for the international banking industry. These results are robust to a number of different model specifications.
Spacecraft Records Rising-Tone Magnetosonic Waves
Authors: Minnehan Catherine
Published: September 2015

A rising tone in wave frequencies suggests a complicated, nonlinear series of interactions between electromagnetic sound waves and protons near the magnetic equator.
Perspectives of Clinicians Involved in the RESTART-Study: Outcomes of a Focus Group
Authors: de Sonneville-Koedoot Caroline , Adams Samantha A. , Stolk Elly A. , Franken Marie-Christine
Published: September 2015

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to explore the attitudes and beliefs of speech-language pathologists (SLPs) with regard to the Lidcombe Program and Demands and Capacities–based treatment and to examine how these attitudes and beliefs might have changed as a result of participating in the RESTART-study.

Method

A focus group meeting with 13 SLPs was organized. The discussion was structured using questions on therapy preference, attitudes about and explicit comparison of both treatments and treatment manuals, and learnings of trial participation.

Results

Four main themes were identified. First, a change in attitude toward treatment choice was observed. Second, this change was related to a change in beliefs about the potential of both treatments. Third, aspects of the treatments regarded as success factors were considered. Last, learning outcomes and increased professionalism as a result of participating in the RESTART-trial were discussed.

Conclusions

This study showed how attitudes and beliefs of SLPs with regard to the Lidcombe Program and Demands and Capacities–based treatment evolved during a randomized trial. This work increases our understanding of the role of attitudes and beliefs in the uptake and utilization of therapies and demonstrates the importance of collecting qualitative data. Results and recommendations should prove of value in implementing the RESTART-trial results and in training SLPs.
Comparison of Psychophysiological and Dual-Task Measures of Listening Effort
Authors: Seeman Scott , Sims Rebecca
Published: September 2015

Purpose

We wished to make a comparison of psychophysiological measures of listening effort with subjective and dual-task measures of listening effort for a diotic-dichotic-digits and a sentences-in-noise task.

Method

Three groups of young adults (18–38 years old) with normal hearing participated in three experiments: two psychophysiological studies for two different listening tasks and a dual-task measure for a sentences-in-noise task. Psychophysiological variables included skin conductance, heart-rate variability, and heart rate; the dual-task measure was a letter-identification task. Heart-rate variability was quantified with the difference from baseline for the normalized standard deviation of
R
to
R
.

Results

Heart-rate variability differences from baseline were greater for increased task complexity and for poorer signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs). The dual-task measure of listening effort also increased for sentences presented at a +5 dB SNR compared with a +15 dB SNR. Skin conductance was elevated for greater task complexity only, and similar across noise conditions. None of these measures were significantly correlated with subjective measures of listening effort.

Conclusions

Heart-rate variability appears to be a robust psychophysiological indicator of listening effort, sensitive to both task complexity and SNR. This sensitivity to SNR was similar to a dual-task measure of listening effort.
An Open Conversation on Using Eye-Gaze Methods in Studies of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Authors: Venker Courtney E. , Kover Sara T.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

Eye-gaze methods have the potential to advance the study of neurodevelopmental disorders. Despite their increasing use, challenges arise in using these methods with individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and in reporting sufficient methodological detail such that the resulting research is replicable and interpretable.

Method

This tutorial presents key considerations involved in designing and conducting eye-gaze studies for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders and proposes conventions for reporting the results of such studies.

Results

Methodological decisions (e.g., whether to use automated eye tracking or manual coding, implementing strategies to scaffold children's performance, defining valid trials) have cascading effects on the conclusions drawn from eye-gaze data. Research reports that include specific information about procedures, missing data, and selection of participants will facilitate interpretation and replication.

Conclusions

Eye-gaze methods provide exciting opportunities for studying neurodevelopmental disorders. Open discussion of the issues presented in this tutorial will improve the pace of productivity and the impact of advances in research on neurodevelopmental disorders.
Auditory Masking Effects on Speech Fluency in Apraxia of Speech and Aphasia: Comparison to Altered Auditory Feedback
Authors: Jacks Adam , Haley Katarina L.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

To study the effects of masked auditory feedback (MAF) on speech fluency in adults with aphasia and/or apraxia of speech (APH/AOS). We hypothesized that adults with AOS would increase speech fluency when speaking with noise. Altered auditory feedback (AAF; i.e., delayed/frequency-shifted feedback) was included as a control condition not expected to improve speech fluency.

Method

Ten participants with APH/AOS and 10 neurologically healthy (NH) participants were studied under both feedback conditions. To allow examination of individual responses, we used an ABACA design. Effects were examined on syllable rate, disfluency duration, and vocal intensity.

Results

Seven of 10 APH/AOS participants increased fluency with masking by increasing rate, decreasing disfluency duration, or both. In contrast, none of the NH participants increased speaking rate with MAF. In the AAF condition, only 1 APH/AOS participant increased fluency. Four APH/AOS participants and 8 NH participants slowed their rate with AAF.

Conclusions

Speaking with MAF appears to increase fluency in a subset of individuals with APH/AOS, indicating that overreliance on auditory feedback monitoring may contribute to their disorder presentation. The distinction between responders and nonresponders was not linked to AOS diagnosis, so additional work is needed to develop hypotheses for candidacy and underlying control mechanisms.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14963628
Effects of flavonol-rich green tea cultivar (Camellia sinensis L.) on plasma oxidized LDL levels in hypercholesterolemic mice
Authors: Nomura Sachiko , Monobe Manami , Ema Kaori , Matsunaga Akiko , Maeda-Yamamoto Mari , Horie Hideki
Published: September 2015

To examine the possible benefits of tea flavonols, we compared anti-atherogenic effects between common and flavonol-rich tea cultivars. The tea infusion made from a flavonol-rich cultivar, but not a common cultivar, significantly decreased the plasma oxidized low-density lipoprotein level in mice fed a high-cholesterol diet. The result suggests that tea flavonols have the potential to protect against cardiovascular diseases.
A robust AMMI model for the analysis of genotype-by-environment data
Authors: Rodrigues Paulo C. , Monteiro Andreia , Lourenço Vanda M.
Published: September 2015

Motivation: One of the most widely used models to analyse genotype-by-environment data is the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) model. Genotype-by-environment data resulting from multi-location trials are usually organized in two-way tables with genotypes in the rows and environments (location-year combinations) in the columns. The AMMI model applies singular value decomposition (SVD) to the residuals of a specific linear model, to decompose the genotype-by-environment interaction (GEI) into a sum of multiplicative terms. However, SVD, being a least squares method, is highly sensitive to contamination and the presence of even a single outlier, if extreme, may draw the leading principal component towards itself resulting in possible misinterpretations and in turn lead to bad practical decisions. Since, as in many other real-life studies the distribution of these data is usually not normal due to the presence of outlying observations, either resulting from measurement errors or sometimes from individual intrinsic characteristics, robust SVD methods have been suggested to help overcome this handicap.

Results: We propose a robust generalization of the AMMI model (the R-AMMI model) that overcomes the fragility of its classical version when the data are contaminated. Here, robust statistical methods replace the classic ones to model, structure and analyse GEI. The performance of the robust extensions of the AMMI model is assessed through a Monte Carlo simulation study where several contamination schemes are considered. Applications to two real plant datasets are also presented to illustrate the benefits of the proposed methodology, which can be broadened to both animal and human genetics studies.

Availability and implementation: Source code implemented in R is available in the supplementary material under the function r-AMMI.

Contact:  paulocanas@gmail.com

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
BamHash: a checksum program for verifying the integrity of sequence data
Authors: Óskarsdóttir Arna , Másson Gísli , Melsted Páll
Published: September 2015

Summary: Large resequencing projects require a significant amount of storage for raw sequences, as well as alignment files. Because the raw sequences are redundant once the alignment has been generated, it is possible to keep only the alignment files. We present BamHash, a checksum based method to ensure that the read pairs in FASTQ files match exactly the read pairs stored in BAM files, regardless of the ordering of reads. BamHash can be used to verify the integrity of the files stored and discover any discrepancies. Thus, BamHash can be used to determine if it is safe to delete the FASTQ files storing raw sequencing read after alignment, without the loss of data.

Availability and implementation: The software is implemented in C++, GPL licensed and available at https://github.com/DecodeGenetics/BamHash

Contact:  pmelsted@hi.is
Navigating by the Stars: Investigating the Actual and Perceived Validity of Online User Ratings
Authors: de Langhe Bart , Fernbach Philip M. , Lichtenstein Donald R.
Published: September 2015

This research documents a substantial disconnect between the objective quality information that online user ratings actually convey and the extent to which consumers trust them as indicators of objective quality. Analyses of a data set covering 1272 products across 120 vertically differentiated product categories reveal that average user ratings (1) lack convergence with Consumer Reports scores, the most commonly used measure of objective quality in the consumer behavior literature, (2) are often based on insufficient sample sizes which limits their informativeness, (3) do not predict resale prices in the used-product marketplace, and (4) are higher for more expensive products and premium brands, controlling for Consumer Reports scores. However, when forming quality inferences and purchase intentions, consumers heavily weight the average rating compared to other cues for quality like price and the number of ratings. They also fail to moderate their reliance on the average user rating as a function of sample size sufficiency. Consumers’ trust in the average user rating as a cue for objective quality appears to be based on an “illusion of validity.”
Remifentanil Requirement for Inhibiting Responses to Tracheal Intubation and Skin Incision Is Reduced in Patients With Parkinson's Disease Undergoing Deep Brain Stimulator Implantation
Authors: Wang Jia-Feng , Xu Xiao-Ping , Yu Xi-Ya , Li Jin-Bao , Wu Xi , Chen Jian-Chun , Hu Xiao-Wu , Deng Xiao-Ming
Published: September 2015

Background:

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease affecting the quality of life in the elderly. We speculated that PD patients might have abnormal pharmacodynamics due to the degenerative neural system, and the present study was performed to investigate the pharmacodynamics of remifentanil in PD patients.

Materials and Methods:

Two arms of patients were recruited, including 31 PD patients undergoing pulse generator placement after deep brain stimulator implantation and 31 pair-controlled patients undergoing intracranial surgery without PD (NPD). Patients were anesthetized with target-controlled infusion of propofol and remifentanil. The effective concentration of remifentanil to inhibit responses to intubation and skin incision in 50% and 95% patients (EC50and EC95) was determined by the up and down method.

Results:

Demographic data, bispectral index, and hemodynamic values were similar between the PD and the NPD groups. The average remifentanil concentration used in the PD group for tracheal intubation is significantly lower than in the NPD group (P<0.001). The EC50for inhibiting the response to tracheal intubation were 1.86 ng/mL (95% confidential interval [CI], 1.77-1.96 ng/mL) in the PD group and 3.20 ng/mL (95% CI, 3.13-3.27 ng/mL) in the NPD group. The average remifentanil concentration used in the PD group for skin incision is significantly lower than in the NPD group (P<0.001). EC50for inhibiting the response to skin incision were 2.17 ng/mL (95% CI, 2.09-2.25 ng/mL) in the PD group and 3.09 ng/mL (95% CI, 3.02-3.17 ng/mL) in the NPD group.

Conclusions:

The remifentanil concentrations required for inhibiting responses to tracheal intubation and skin incision are reduced markedly in PD patients undergoing pulse generator placement (NCT01992692).
A Modification to the McHale Procedure Reduces Operative Time and Blood Loss
Authors: Godfrey Jenna , McGraw Jessica , Kallur Antony , Silva Selina , Szalay Elizabeth
Published: September 2015

Background:

Treatment of symptomatic spastic hip dislocations in adolescent patients with cerebral palsy includes a variety of described salvage type procedures. In 1990, McHale and colleagues described a technique involving a femoral head resection, valgus-producing proximal femoral osteotomy, and advancement of the lesser trochanter into the acetabulum. We have modified this technique in 3 ways by: performing it in the lateral position with a more posterior approach, not advancing the lesser trochanter into the acetabulum, and closing the capsule over the acetabulum. The purpose of this paper is to describe our technique and to compare the results to Castle type procedures and McHale procedures performed as originally described.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed all salvage type procedures performed at our institution for spastic hip dislocations in children with cerebral palsy from 2003 to 2013. Preoperative and postoperative pain, estimated blood loss, operative time, length of stay in the hospital, and postoperative pelvis radiographs were reviewed for heterotopic ossification formation and proximal femoral migration.

Results:

Twenty-six patients with 30 hip procedures were reviewed. The modified McHale technique had shorter operative times when compared with the supine McHale technique and the Castle procedure (134, 171, and 139 min, respectively). There was a trend toward less blood loss in the modified McHale technique, but this was not significant. There was no difference in length of stay in the hospital. The majority of McHale patients (>63%) had pain relief postoperatively, where half of the Castle patients required a revision surgery for pain (4 of 8). There was less heterotopic ossification seen in the modified McHale technique (6.25%) when compared with supine McHale and Castle techniques (both 50%). However, there was more proximal femoral migration in the modified McHale group.

Conclusions:

The modified McHale technique is faster with otherwise equivocal results in the immediate operative periods. There is less heterotopic bone formation but more proximal femoral migration with this new technique.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV—case series.
Transfer of Pectoralis Major to Subscapularis in the Management of Brachial Plexus Birth Palsy Sequels
Authors: Lahiji Faryvar A. , Tahririan Mohammad A. , Karami Mohsen , Madadi Firooz , Emami Mohammad , Maleki Arash
Published: September 2015

Background:

Limitations in abduction and external rotation are the sequel of brachial palsy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate functional outcomes of modified L’Episcopo procedure in children with brachial palsy who do not have gross shoulder joint subluxation.

Methods:

From 2002 to 2012, a continuous series of 22 patients with brachial plexus birth palsy underwent a modified L’Episcopo procedure. Through an axillary approach, subscapularis release with latissimus dorsi rerouting and transfer of pectoralis major to subscapularis footprint was performed.

Results:

The mean age of patients at surgery was 49 months. The mean follow-up time was 51 months (range, 24 to 90 mo). Preoperatively, the mean active abduction and external rotation were 77.5 and 2.5 degrees, respectively. The mean active abduction and external rotation were 135.6 and 32 degrees, respectively, at the final follow-up (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

This modified L’Episcopo technique is an effective and reproducible procedure that improves shoulder function significantly.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.
Novel Totally Robotic Repair of Right Ventricular Outflow Tract Obstruction
Authors: Gao Changqing , Yang Ming , Xiao Cangsong , Zhang Huajun
Published: September 2015

Right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) obstruction is among the commonest congenital heart defects in the grown-up, and pulmonary stenosis is the dominant subtype. We described our successful novel surgical technique of totally robotic antegrade RVOT repair in two cases of pulmonary stenosis with concomitant repair of atrial septal defect using da Vinci SI Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Inc, Sunnyvale, CA USA) with excellent surgical outcome. We conclude that robotic antegrade repair of the valvular and subvalvular subset of RVOT obstruction is feasible in adults.
Transthoracic Extracorporeal Gastric Conduit Preparation for Minimally Invasive Ivor-Lewis Esophagectomy
Authors: McGuire Anna L. , Gilbert Sebastien
Published: September 2015

Objective

During totally minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE), the gastric conduit is typically constructed via laparoscopy. Trauma from laparoscopic instruments, inability to palpate the gastroepiploic arcade, and challenges in optimal positioning of the stomach for intra-abdominal stapling have led to the widespread use of laparotomy as part of hybrid MIE procedures. Our objective was to evaluate the safety of transthoracic extracorporeal gastric conduit preparation. We hypothesize that this alternative technique is equivalent in safety to the laparoscopic approach.

Methods

This is a retrospective comparison of laparoscopic and transthoracic extracorporeal gastric conduit preparation with regard to anastomotic and respiratory outcomes.

Results

During a 3-year period, 30 patients underwent MIE with a right intrathoracic anastomosis (extracorporeal conduit, 15; laparoscopic conduit, 15). Mean age (58.6 vs 67 years, P = 0.59), tumor location (gastroesophageal junction vs middle and lower esophageal, P = 0.27), and histology (adenocarcinoma vs other 26.7%, P = 0.68) were similar between groups. Anastomotic technique and operating surgeon were the same for all patients. Patients in the laparoscopic gastric conduit group were more likely to have undergone induction chemoradiotherapy (40% vs 80%, P = 0.030). There was no significant difference between groups with respect to anastomotic complications, including anastomotic leak and anastomotic stricture (20% vs 13.3%, P = 0.70). Transthoracic gastric conduit preparation was not associated with increased respiratory complications (8% vs 12%, P = 0.09).

Conclusions

Transthoracic gastric conduit preparation is a simple, minimally invasive alternative laparotomy for gastric conduit preparation during MIE. No additional incision is required. The technique may help surgeons overcome shortcomings of the laparoscopic approach without impacting perioperative risk.
Early and Midterm Results of No-Touch Aorta Multivessel Small Thoracotomy Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting: A Propensity Score-Matched Study
Authors: Ziankou Aliaksandr , Ostrovsky Yuri
Published: September 2015

Objective

To carry out the comparative analysis of early and midterm results of no-touch aorta multivessel small thoracotomy coronary artery bypass grafting (MVST CABG), conventional off-pump (OPCABG) and on-pump CABG (ONCABG).

Methods

From 2007 to 2014, 537 consecutive patients underwent CABG by the same surgeon. Propensity score computer matching was performed, and a total of 453 patients were successfully matched in 3 groups of 151 patients.

Results

Significant differences were found in the intraoperative blood loss: 220 (180; 300) mL in MVST CABG versus 400 (300; 550) mL in OPCABG vs 350 (250; 435) mL in ONCABG group; first 24-hour postoperative blood loss: 170 (100; 280), 320 (200; 470), and 380 (200; 500)mL, respectively; operation time: 352.4 ± 74.4,289.3 ± 55.0, and 280.4 ± 56.4 minutes, respectively; median time to return to full physical activity: 14, 56, and 56 days, respectively (P < 0.05); rate of deep wound infection: 0.0%, 2.0%, and 2.0%, respectively; and postoperative length of stay (surgical department): 4.5, 7.0, and 7.5 days, respectively (P < 0.1). No significant differences were observed in rates of severe in-hospital events (P > 0.05), cumulative midterm survival, and freedom from major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

The MVST CABG seems as safe as OPCABG and ONCABG and is associated with less wound infections, perioperative blood loss, shorter hospital length of stay and time to return to full physical activity. Multivessel small thoracotomy CABG can be applied to most patients with coronary heart disease saving the effectiveness during midterm follow-up. The MVST CABG can be introduced avoiding a prolonged learning curve.
Once-daily Mesalamine Formulation for Maintenance of Remission in Ulcerative Colitis
Authors: Gordon Glenn L. , Zakko Salam , Murthy Uma , Sedghi Shahriar , Pruitt Ronald , Barrett Andrew C. , Bortey Enoch , Paterson Craig , Forbes William P. , Lichtenstein Gary R.
Published: September 2015

Goals:

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of mesalamine granules 1.5 g once daily for maintenance of ulcerative colitis (UC) remission.

Background:

Mesalamine is a first-line treatment for induction and maintenance of UC remission.

Study:

A phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of patients with a history of mild to moderate UC, currently in remission, who received mesalamine granules once daily for 6 months. The primary efficacy endpoint was percentage of patients maintaining UC remission at 6 months.

Results:

A significantly greater percentage of patients receiving mesalamine granules versus placebo were in remission at 6 months (79.9% vs. 66.7%; P=0.03). A greater percentage of patients receiving mesalamine granules maintained a revised Sutherland Disease Activity Index (SDAI)≤2 with no individual component of revised SDAI>1 and rectal bleeding=0 at 6 months (72.0% vs. 58.1%; P=0.04). No significant differences between groups were observed for change from baseline to 6 months for total SDAI score or its components (ie, stool frequency, rectal bleeding, mucosal appearance, physician’s rating of disease). Mesalamine granules treatment resulted in a significantly longer remission duration versus placebo (P=0.02) and decreased patients’ risk of relapse by 43% (hazard ratio=0.57; 95% confidence interval, 0.35-0.93; P=0.02). Mesalamine granules were well tolerated, and adverse events related to hepatic, renal, and pancreatic function—potential concerns with long-term treatment—occurred at a rate similar to placebo.

Conclusions:

Once-daily mesalamine granules are efficacious and safe for the maintenance of UC remission.
Interactive effects of pasture management intensity, release from grazing and prescribed fire on forty subtropical wetland plant assemblages
Authors: Boughton Elizabeth H. , Quintana‐Ascencio Pedro F. , Bohlen Patrick J. , Fauth John E. , Jenkins David G.
Published: September 2015

Pasture management intensity, livestock grazing and prescribed fire are three widespread agricultural practices that affect small, isolated wetlands, but few studies have investigated their individual and interactive effects. Pasture management intensity refers to the degree of human alteration of grassland, ranging from intensively managed pastures planted with introduced forage, fertilizer/lime additions and artificial drainage to semi‐natural pastures with mixed native and non‐native vegetation, no fertilizer/lime additions and little or no artificial drainage.

We examined individual and interactive effects of these three agricultural practices on individual, isolated wetlands using a replicated, full‐factorial experiment on 40 entire wetlands in south Florida, USA. Wetlands were embedded in two pasture management intensities: intensively managed and semi‐natural.

After three years of treatment initiation, vegetation of wetlands released from grazing and unburned embedded in semi‐natural pastures had significantly lower evenness and coefficient of conservatism scores compared to wetlands released from grazing and burned, grazed unburned wetlands and grazed burned wetlands in the same pasture management intensity. For wetlands embedded in intensively managed pastures, evenness and coefficient of conservatism scores did not differ among treatments.

Release from grazing increased abundance of the native, weedy herb, Eupatorium capillifolium.

Grazing interacted with prescribed fire to affect shrub abundance and non‐native richness; relative abundance of shrubs and non‐native richness were greater in wetlands released from grazing and burned and did not differ among burn treatments in grazed wetlands. Interactive effects, especially three‐way interactions, were uncommon and not as important as differences between the two pasture management intensities.

Synthesis and applications. Vegetation diversity and floristic quality of wetlands embedded in intensively managed pastures resisted common restoration management techniques such as release from grazing and prescribed fire, at least in the short term. In contrast, removing all top‐down disturbances from wetlands embedded in semi‐natural grasslands can negatively affect vegetation species diversity and floristic quality. Future studies should examine how intensity and seasonality of grazing and prescribed fire affect wetland vegetation, and track long‐term responses to evaluate lag effects.
Performing red reflex eye examinations increases the rate of neonatal conjunctivitis
Authors: Ulanovsky Irena , Shnaider Morya , Geffen Yuval , Smolkin Tatiana , Mashiach Tatyana , Blazer Shraga , Makhoul Imad R.
Published: September 2015

Aim

Red reflex eye examinations often require opening the eyelids, risking infection. We evaluated links between this procedure and neonatal conjunctivitis.

Methods

We divided 18 872 neonates of more than 35 weeks of gestation into two birth periods, 2008–2009 and 2010–2011, before and after red reflex examinations were carried out by our facility. The rates of clinical conjunctivitis, bacterial conjunctivitis and bacterial growth percentage were compared between the two periods.

Results

The 2010–2011 period included more Caesarean deliveries and longer lengths of stay (LOS) than the 2008–2009 period. The clinical conjunctivitis rate increased significantly during 2010–2011 (p = 0.029), but the bacterial conjunctivitis and bacterial growth percentages did not differ between the two periods. Variables that were independently and significantly associated with clinical conjunctivitis included being born in 2010–2011, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.22, male gender (OR 1.31) and LOS (OR 1.19). Bacterial conjunctivitis was associated with vaginal delivery (OR 3.65), males delivered by Caesarean (OR 2.68) and LOS (OR 1.37).

Conclusion

Clinical conjunctivitis was significantly associated with the later study period, male gender and LOS. Conjunctival swab sampling increased significantly following the implementation of red reflex examinations, but without changes in the bacterial conjunctivitis rate and the bacterial growth percentage.
Serological evidence that activation of ubiquitous human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) plays a role in chronic idiopathic/spontaneous urticaria (CIU)
Authors: Dreyfus D H
Published: September 2015

Acute infection with viral pathogens in the herpesviridae family can trigger acute urticaria, and reactivation of herpesviridae is associated with cutaneous urticarial-like syndromes such as drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome/drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS). Reactivation of latent herpesviridae has not been studied systematically in chronic idiopathic/spontaneous urticaria (CIU). This review proposes that CIU is an inflammatory disorder with autoimmune features (termed ‘CVU’ for chronic viral urticaria), based on serology consistent with the hypothesis that reactivation of a latent herpesvirus or -viruses may play a role in CIU. Serology obtained from a cohort of omalizumab (Xolair)-dependent patients with severe CIU was consistent with previous HHV-6 infection, persistent viral gene expression and replication. CIU patients also exhibited serological evidence of increased immune response to HHV-4 (Epstein–Barr virus, or EBV) but not all CIU patients were infected with EBV. These observations, combined with case reports of CIU response to anti-viral therapy, suggest that HHV-6, possibly interacting with HHV-4 in cutaneous tissues, is a candidate for further prospective study as a co-factor in CIU.
Effect of intra‐operative autonomic nerve stimulation on pelvic nerve preservation during radical laparoscopic proctectomy
Authors: Fang J.‐F. , Wei B. , Zheng Z.‐H. , Chen T.‐F. , Huang Y. , Huang J.‐L. , Lei P.‐R. , Wei H.‐B.
Published: September 2015

Aim

This study assessed the effect of intra‐operative electrical nerve stimulation (INS) on pelvic autonomic nerve preservation (PANP) during laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer.

Method

A total of 189 consecutive cases of radical laparoscopic proctectomy were included. PANP was assessed visually or with INS. Urinary function was evaluated by residual urine volume (RUV), International Prostatic Symptom Score (IPSS) and recatheterization rate. Erectile function was evaluated using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF‐5) scale.

Results

INS successfully confirmed PANP in 65 (91.5%) patients, while direct vision confirmed PANP in only 72 (61.0%) patients. Compared with the successfully confirmed patients, failed patients in the INS group exhibited higher postoperative RUV (100.0 ± 34.6 vs 25.2 ± 13.6 ml, P = 0.003), higher IPSS (7 days, 20.0 ± 8.6 vs 6.5 ± 2.4, P = 0.012; 1 month, 13.5 ± 6.0 vs 5.3 ± 1.9, P = 0.020; 6 months, 11.7 ± 5.1 vs 4.5 ± 1.7, P = 0.018), a greater number of incidences of a micturition disorder (66.7% vs 1.5%, P = 0.000), higher recatheterization rates (33.3% vs 1.5%, P = 0.017) and a lower IIEF score at 3 months (8.25 ± 0.96 vs 10.93 ± 1.99, P = 0.012) and 6 months (12.50 ± 1.29 vs 15.63 ± 1.65, P = 0.001) postoperatively. Compared with the vision group, the INS group had less deterioration in postoperative RUV (31.5 ± 26.4 vs 54.0 ± 46.7 ml, P = 0.000), lower IPSS (7 days, 7.7 ± 5.0 vs 11.0 ± 6.6, P = 0.000; 1 month, 6.0 ± 3.3 vs 7.6 ± 5.4, P = 0.012) and higher IIEF score (3 months, 10.69 ± 2.07 vs 9.42 ± 2.05, P = 0.001; 6 months, 15.36 ± 1.85 vs 13.64 ± 2.00, P = 0.000) as well as a lower incidence of urination disorders (7.0% vs 17.8%, P = 0.038).

Conclusion

INS is effective for the accurate evaluation of PANP during radical laparoscopic proctectomy. Combined with INS, laparoscopic proctectomy is more effective in urogenital function protection.
Achieving the composite endpoint of glycated haemoglobin <7.0%, no weight gain and no hypoglycaemia in the once‐weekly dulaglutide AWARD programme
Authors: Dungan K. M. , Raz I. , Skrivanek Z. , Sealls W. , Fahrbach J. L.
Published: September 2015

Aim

To compare the effectiveness of dulaglutide 1.5 and 0.75 mg with active comparators and placebo with regard to a composite endpoint of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), weight and hypoglycaemia, using post hoc analyses.

Methods

A logistic regression analysis was performed on the intention‐to‐treat population, using data from the last observation carried forward, and the composite endpoint of HbA1c <7.0% (53 mmol/mol), no weight gain (≤0 kg) and no hypoglycaemia (glucose <3.0 mmol/l or severe hypoglycaemia) after 26 weeks for each trial in the AWARD programme separately.

Results

At 26 weeks, within each study, 37–58% of patients on dulaglutide 1.5 mg, 27–49% of patients on dulaglutide 0.75 mg, and 9–61% of patients on active comparators achieved the composite endpoint. Significantly more patients reached the composite endpoint with dulaglutide 1.5 mg than with metformin, sitagliptin, exenatide twice daily or insulin glargine: odds ratio (OR) 1.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0, 2.2; p < 0.05], OR 4.5 (95% CI 3.0, 6.6; p < 0.001), OR 2.6 (95% CI 1.8, 3.7; p < 0.001) and OR 7.4 (95% CI 4.4, 12.6; p < 0.001), respectively, with no difference between dulaglutide 1.5 mg and liraglutide 1.8 mg. In addition, significantly more patients reached the composite endpoint with dulaglutide 0.75 mg than with sitagliptin or insulin glargine: OR 3.3 (95% CI 2.2, 4.8; p < 0.001) and OR 4.5 (95% CI 2.7, 7.8; p < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusions

Dulaglutide is an effective treatment option, resulting in a similar or greater proportion of patients reaching the HbA1c target of <7.0% (53 mmol/mol), without weight gain or hypoglycaemia compared with active comparators.
Preputial fibroma in a gelding
Authors: De Meyer A. , Vandenabeele S. , Ververs C. , Martens A. , Roels K. , De Lange V. , Hoogewijs M. , De Schauwer C. , Govaere J.
Published: September 2015

An 11‐year‐old gelding presented with a large mass located in the dermis of his preputium that surrounded the penis completely. This mass was first noted years ago but did not increase in size. Histological examination diagnosed a fibroma. No treatment was initiated since no signs of discomfort were noticed and the gelding was performing at a high level in competitive showjumping. Next to skin tumours, tumours of the penis and preputium are most common. Most frequently, squamous cell carcinomas and sarcomas are diagnosed. Although fibromas can develop anywhere in connective tissue, a preputial location of a fibroma in a gelding is rare. Differential diagnosis and possible treatment options are discussed.
Long‐term elevated air [CO2] strengthens photosynthetic functioning and mitigates the impact of supra‐optimal temperatures in tropical Coffea arabica and C. canephora species
Authors: Rodrigues Weverton P. , Martins Madlles Q. , Fortunato Ana S. , Rodrigues Ana P. , Semedo José N. , Simões‐Costa Maria C. , Pais Isabel P. , Leitão António E. , Colwell Filipe , Goulao Luis , Máguas Cristina , Maia Rodrigo , Partelli Fábio L. , Campostrini Eliemar , Scotti‐Campos Paula , Ribeiro‐Barros Ana I. , Lidon Fernando C. , DaMatta Fábio M. , Ramalho José C.
Published: September 2015

The tropical coffee crop has been predicted to be threatened by future climate changes and global warming. However, the real biological effects of such changes remain unknown. Therefore, this work aims to link the physiological and biochemical responses of photosynthesis to elevated air [CO2] and temperature in cultivated genotypes of Coffea arabica L. (cv. Icatu and IPR108) and Coffea canephora cv. Conilon CL153. Plants were grown for ca. 10 months at 25/20 °C (day/night) and 380 or 700 μl CO2 l−1 and then subjected to temperature increase (0.5 °C day−1) to 42/34 °C. Leaf impacts related to stomatal traits, gas exchanges, C isotope composition, fluorescence parameters, thylakoid electron transport and enzyme activities were assessed at 25/20, 31/25, 37/30 and 42/34 °C. The results showed that (1) both species were remarkably heat tolerant up to 37/30 °C, but at 42/34 °C a threshold for irreversible nonstomatal deleterious effects was reached. Impairments were greater in C. arabica (especially in Icatu) and under normal [CO2]. Photosystems and thylakoid electron transport were shown to be quite heat tolerant, contrasting to the enzymes related to energy metabolism, including RuBisCO, which were the most sensitive components. (2) Significant stomatal trait modifications were promoted almost exclusively by temperature and were species dependent. Elevated [CO2], (3) strongly mitigated the impact of temperature on both species, particularly at 42/34 °C, modifying the response to supra‐optimal temperatures, (4) promoted higher water‐use efficiency under moderately higher temperature (31/25 °C) and (5) did not provoke photosynthetic downregulation. Instead, enhancements in [CO2] strengthened photosynthetic photochemical efficiency, energy use and biochemical functioning at all temperatures. Our novel findings demonstrate a relevant heat resilience of coffee species and that elevated [CO2] remarkably mitigated the impact of heat on coffee physiology, therefore playing a key role in this crop sustainability under future climate change scenarios.
How to Foster Toddlers' Mental‐State Talk, Emotion Understanding, and Prosocial Behavior: A Conversation‐Based Intervention at Nursery School
Authors: Grazzani Ilaria , Ornaghi Veronica , Agliati Alessia , Brazzelli Elisa
Published: September 2015

Recent years have seen the development and implementation of a range of training programs aimed at improving children's socio‐emotional skills. Nevertheless, few studies have been conducted with toddlers attending nursery school. In this study, we adopted observational and experimental paradigms to examine the efficacy of an intervention based on conversing about emotions with small groups of 2‐ to 3‐year‐old children. The intervention was designed to promote toddlers' mental‐state talk, emotion understanding (EU), and prosocial behavior. The training group significantly outperformed the control group in the use of mental‐state language, especially emotional‐state lexicon,EU, and prosocial behavior toward peers. There was also a significant Group × Age interaction, with the older training group participants displaying greater gains inEUthan the younger ones. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of these findings.
Histological analysis of loaded zirconia and titanium dental implants: an experimental study in the dog mandible
Authors: Thoma Daniel S. , Benic Goran I. , Muñoz Fernando , Kohal Ralf , Sanz Martin Ignacio , Cantalapiedra Antonio González , Hämmerle Christoph H. F. , Jung Ronald E.
Published: September 2015

Objective

To assess whether or not peri‐implant soft tissue dimensions and hard tissue integration of loaded zirconia implants are similar to those of a titanium implant.

Materials and methods

In six dogs, two one‐piece zirconia implants (VC, ZD), a two‐piece zirconia implant (BPI) and a control one‐piece titanium implant (STM) were randomly placed. CAD/CAM crowns were cemented at 6 months. Six months later, animals were killed and histomorphometric analyses were performed, including: the level of the mucosal margin, the extent of the peri‐implant mucosa, the marginal bone loss and the bone‐to‐implant contact (BIC). Means of outcomes variables were calculated together with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals.

Results

In general, the mucosal margin was located coronally to the implant shoulder. The buccal peri‐implant mucosa ranged between 2.64 ± 0.70 mm (VC) and 3.03 ± 1.71 mm (ZD) (for all median comparisons p > 0.05). The relative marginal bone loss ranged between 0.65 ± 0.61 mm (BPI) and 1.73 ± 1.68 mm (ZD) (buccal side), and between 0.55 ± 0.37 mm (VC) and 1.69 ± 1.56 mm (ZD) (lingual side) (p > 0.05). The mean BIC ranged between 78.6% ± 17.3% (ZD) and 87.9% ± 13.6% (STM) without statistically significant differences between the groups (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

One‐ and two‐piece zirconia rendered similar peri‐implant soft tissue dimensions and osseointegration compared to titanium implants that were placed at 6 months of loading. Zirconia implants, however, exhibited a relatively high fracture rate.
Squaring the round: An unusual progressive graphomotor impairment with post‐mortem findings
Authors: Code Chris , Tree Jeremy J. , Mariën Peter
Published: September 2015

Investigations of neurodegenerative disorders may reveal functional relationships in the cognitive system. C.S. was a 63‐year‐old right‐handed man with post‐mortem confirmed Pick's disease with a range of progressive impairments including non‐fluent aphasia, speech, limb, oculomotor, and buccofacial apraxia, but mostly intact intelligence, perception, orientation, memory, semantics, and phonology. During progression, agrammatism in writing with impairments in syntactic comprehension emerged in parallel with an unusual graphomotor deficit in drawing and writing, with an increasing deterioration of graphic short‐term memory. We investigated C.S.'s graphomotor deficit longitudinally using tests of writing and drawing on letters, words, and sentences and drawing to command and copying. We also tested C.S.'s short‐term graphemic buffer experimentally. Analysis showed deficits on selective aspects of graphomotor implementation of writing and drawing, mainly affecting the production of circles and curves, but not short straight lines in drawing and writing, and graphomotor short‐term memory, which paralleled impairments of written syntax and syntactic comprehension. We believe this to be the first detailed analysis of such an unusual progressive impairment in graphomotor production, which may be related to problems with agrammatic agraphia and impairments affecting shared components of cognition reflecting damage to shared neural networks. Alternatively, they may simply reflect the effects of coincidental damage to separate mechanisms responsible for aspects of writing, drawing, and syntactic processing. Longitudinal investigations of emerging deficits in progressive conditions like C.S.'s provides an opportunity to examine the progressive emergence of symptoms in an individual with multiple progressive impairments as they appear and examine putative relationships between them.
Who Uses Facts Up Front? A Baseline Examination of Who is Using Standardized Front‐of‐Package Nutrition Disclosures
Authors: Kees Jeremy , Fitzgerald M. Paula
Published: September 2015

The Facts Up Front front‐of‐package (FOP) nutrition system is currently displayed on packaged foods in the United States. This initiative is being implemented by more than 50 manufacturers, retailers, and wholesalers in the United States on their branded and private‐label packaged food products. The in‐store presence of Facts Up Front is supported by a recently launched consumer education campaign. This study employs a sample of 1,400 female primary household shoppers with children, with oversamples of Hispanic and African American ethnic subgroups, to examine initial awareness and evaluations of Facts Up Front. Results show that Hispanics are more aware of and engaged with Facts Up Front than Caucasians. African Americans report higher levels of engagement and understanding of Facts Up Front vs. Caucasians. Importantly, Hispanic and African American mothers also report using this FOP system to make decisions. Based on these findings, important implications are offered for consumer welfare and public policy.