bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Equity and justice for all
Authors: Kinloch Valerie , Dixon Kerry
Published: October 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the cultivation of anti-racist practices with pre- and in-service teachers in post-secondary contexts, and the tensions of engaging in this work for equity and justice in urban teacher education.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper relies on critical race theory (CRT) and critical whiteness studies (CWS), as well as auto-ethnographic and storytelling methods to examine how black in-service teachers working with a black teacher educator and white pre-service teachers working with a white teacher educator enacted strategies for cultivating anti-racist practices.

Findings

Findings indicate that for black and white educators alike, developing critical consciousness and anti-racist pedagogical practices requires naming racism as the central construct of oppression. Moreover, teachers and teacher educators demonstrated the importance of explicitly naming racism and centralizing (rather than de-centralizing) the political project of anti-racism within the current socio-political climate.

Research limitations/implications

In addition to racism, educators’ racialized identities must be centralized to support individual anti-racist pedagogical practices. Storying racism provides a context for this individualized work and provides a framework for disrupting master narratives embedded in educational institutions.

Originality/value

Much has been written about the importance of teachers connecting to students’ out-of-school lives to increase academic achievement and advance educational justice. Strategies for forging those connections include using assets-based practices and linking school curricula to students’ community and cultural identities. While these connections are important, this paper focuses on teachers’ explicit anti-racist practices in urban education.
Beyond censorship: politics, teens, and ELA teacher candidates
Authors: Dávila Denise , Barnes Meghan E.
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Grounded in the scholarship addressing teacher self-censorship around controversial topics, this paper aims to investigate a three-part research question: How do secondary English language arts (ELA) teacher–candidates (TCs) in the penultimate semester of their undergraduate teacher education program position political texts/speeches, interpret high school teens’ political standpoints and view the prospects of discussing political texts/speeches with students? The study findings provide insights to the ways some TCs might position themselves as novice ELA teachers relative to political texts/speeches, students, colleagues and families in their future school communities.

Design/methodology/approach

Audio-recorded data from whole-class and small-group discussions were coded for TCs’ positioning of political texts/speeches, interpretations of teens’ political standpoints and viewpoints on discussing with students President Obama’s speech, “A More Perfect Union” (“A.M.P.U.”) The coded data set was further analyzed to identify themes across the TCs’ perspectives.

Findings

The data set tells the story of a group of TCs whose positionalities, background knowledge and practical experiences in navigating divergent perspectives would influence both their daily selection and censorship of political texts/speeches like “A.M.P.U.” and their subsequent willingness to guide equitable yet critical conversations about controversial issues in the secondary ELA classroom.

Originality/value

In advance of the 2018 midterm elections, this paper considers how the common core state standards’ (CCSS) recommendations to include more nonfiction documents in ELA instruction positions ELA teachers to provide interdisciplinary support in helping students think critically about political issues. It expands on the body of scholarship that, thus far, has been primarily grounded in the research on social studies instruction.
Three dimensional MHD stagnation point flow of Al-Cu alloy suspended water based nanofluid with second order slip and convective heating
Authors: Nithyadevi N. , Gayathri P. , Chamkha A.
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The paper aims to examine the boundary layers of a three-dimensional stagnation point flow of Al-Cu nanoparticle-suspended water-based nanofluid in an electrically conducting medium. The effect of magnetic field on second-order slip effect and convective heating is also taken into account.

Design/methodology/approach

The thermophysical properties of alloy nanoparticles such as density, specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity are computed using appropriate formula. The non-linear parabolic partial differential equations are transformed to ordinary differential equations and solved by shooting technique.

Findings

The influence of compositional variation of alloy nanoparticle, nanoparticle concentration, magnetic effect, slip parameters and Biot number are presented for various flow characteristics. Interesting results on skin friction and Nusselt number are obtained for different composition of aluminium and copper.

Originality/value

A novel result of the analysis reveals that impact of magnetic field near the boundary is suppressed by the slip effect.
Numerical analysis of turbulent/transitional natural convection in trapezoidal enclosures
Authors: Salari Mahmoud , Rashidi Mohammad Mehdi , Hasani Malekshah Emad , Hasani Malekshah Masoud
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Because the local Re numbers, ratio of inertia to viscous forces, are not same at different regions of the enclosures, the present study aims to deal with the influences of using the turbulent/transition models on numerical results of the natural convection and flow field within a trapezoidal enclosure.

Design/methodology/approach

The three-dimensional (3D) trapezoidal enclosure with different inclined side walls of 75, 90 and 105 degrees are considered, where the side walls are heated and cooled at Ra = 1.5 × 109 for all cases. The turbulent models of the k-ε-RNG, k- ω-shear-stress transport (SST) and the newly developed transition/turbulent model of Reθ-γ-transition SST are utilized to analyze the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics within the enclosure and compared their results with validated results.

Findings

Comprehensive comparisons have been carried out for all cases in terms of flow and temperature fields, as well as turbulent quantities, such as turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent viscosity ratio. Furthermore, the velocity and thermal boundary layers have been investigated, and the approximate transition regions for laminar, transitional and turbulent regimes have been determined. Finally, the heat transfer coefficient and skin friction coefficient values have been presented and compared in terms of different turbulent models and configurations. The results show that the transition/turbulence model has better prediction for the flow and heat fields than fully turbulent models, especially for local parameters for all abovementioned governing parameters.

Originality value

The originality of this work is to analyze the 3D turbulent/transitional natural convection with different turbulence/transition models in a trapezoidal enclosure.
How do professional caregivers perceive their health and well-being?
Authors: Perry Meredith Amy , Mulligan Hilda , Smith Catherine
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The global ageing population places increased demands on the professional caregiver workforce. Literature reveals that although many in this workforce experience stress and fatigue, they also experience high levels of work satisfaction. These findings seem contradictory and therefore warrant further qualitative exploration. The purpose of this paper is to explore how professional caregivers describe their health and well-being and to understand the interplay of work and life on health and well-being.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected via semi-structured individual or group interviews with 31 professional caregivers from in-home or residential care situations in three geographic locations across NZ and analysed for themes. The general inductive approach was used for data analysis.

Findings

The authors present two themes: “A holistic interpretation of health” discusses caregivers’ perceptions of the meaning of health and well-being. Three interrelated sub-themes (“Fulfilment of an inherent nature”, “Obligation to look after oneself”, and “Risk management”) reflect the interplay of factors which influence health and well-being as a caregiver and make up the second theme of “Being in tune”. If balance was not achieved, caregivers recognised this as a risk to their health and well-being, especially to their psychological health, and considered leaving the profession.

Originality/value

The authors identified that caregivers considered health and well-being from a holistic perspective. They had insight into factors influencing their health. Despite high levels of stress, there was an overall positive perception of health and well-being that appears due in part to participating in a profession that fulfils an inherent nature. Collaborative problem solving between management and workforce, alongside recognising and affirming the unique skills of this workforce may help to empower caregiver resilience.
Effects of a non‐native grass invasion decline over time
Authors: Flory S. Luke , Bauer Jonathan , Phillips Richard P. , Clay Keith
Published: October 2017

Most research on dynamics and impacts of plant invasions has evaluated patterns and effects over brief time periods (i.e. <4 years). As such, little is known about the persistence of invasions and their long‐term impacts on native species.

To experimentally evaluate longer‐term effects of invasions, we established field plots with native tree and herbaceous species and then invaded half of the plots with the most widespread invasive grass in the eastern United States (Microstegium vimineum). Over 8 years, we quantified invader and native plant biomass, native plant diversity, and tree density and size.

Microstegium was dominant during the first 4 years of the experiment, constituting more than 60% of herbaceous plant biomass in the plots, and native herbaceous biomass was 57% lower and diversity was 44% lower in invaded vs. control plots. However, both Microstegium and herbaceous native species declined in later years. By the end of the experiment, Microstegium was only 2% of community biomass, and there was no difference in native herbaceous biomass in invaded and control plots.

We applied a fire treatment in years 6 and 7 to test if repeated disturbance is required to maintain invader dominance and to evaluate how this common management practice in eastern US forests affected invasive and native plants. Tree density was 65% lower and tree diameters were 28–51% smaller on average in fire‐treated compared with control quadrants, resulting in significantly greater light availability in fire‐treated areas. Consequently, Microstegium and native herbaceous species biomass increased significantly where fire was applied. However, only native species were persistent, and after 8 years, Microstegium was nearly absent, regardless of the fire treatment.

Synthesis. The invasive grass was initially abundant and suppressed native species, but invader decline over time corresponded with succession to native herbaceous species dominance when fire was applied, and to native tree dominance without fire such that after 8 years, the initial effects of invasion were no longer apparent. Thus, our data provide some of the first experimental evidence that while the initial effects of plant invasions can be dramatic, invaders and their impacts may decline over time.
Mycorrhizae, invasions, and the temporal dynamics of mutualism disruption
Authors: Grove Sara , Haubensak Karen A. , Gehring Catherine , Parker Ingrid M.
Published: October 2017

An increasingly recognized impact of plant invaders is the disruption of positive interactions between native plants and their belowground mutualistic mycorrhizal fungi. We reviewed 112 studies from 61 publications that report invader impacts on mycorrhizal fungi. We describe emerging patterns on the frequency of negative, neutral and positive invader effects on mycorrhizal fungal abundance, richness and community composition, and we evaluate how these outcomes vary with invasion age. We also describe the evidence for three mechanisms of disruption: (1) plant‐plant competition that alters host quantity or quality (2) changes in soil properties such as nutrient availability and (3) allelopathy.

Invaders can disrupt native mutualisms if they are non‐mycorrhizal, associate with a different type of mycorrhiza, or associate with different taxa of the same type of mycorrhiza as the native plants. Invaders that enrich soil nutrients can cause declines in mycorrhizal abundance, shifts in fungal community composition, and cause native plants to reduce their dependence on mycorrhizas. Invaders that produce allelopathic compounds cause mycorrhizal abundance to decrease and alter community composition because of variation in the sensitivity of different fungi to toxins.

While the evidence for disruption of the mycorrhizal mutualism with invasion is strong, temporal patterns have not yet emerged from the literature. Invasion age was not clearly associated with extent of disruption, and the timing of recovery following invader removal was highly variable. Differences in the biology of native and invasive plants, their interactions with mycorrhizal fungi and the surrounding landscape contributed to this variation.

Synthesis. Our systematic review suggests that invaders frequently decrease mycorrhizal abundance and alter fungal community composition while only occasionally affecting fungal species richness. The development of invader impacts, as well as the restoration of native communities after invader removal, are influenced by a suite of plant, fungal and environmental traits that change over time. However, few studies have examined the temporal dynamics of mycorrhizal disruption, and results are variable. Future research should focus on the temporal scale of mutualism disruption while considering plant phylogenetics and demography, fungal functional traits such as spore longevity and dispersal, and soil chemistry.
Climate and rapid local adaptation as drivers of germination and seed bank dynamics of Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) in North America
Authors: Blossey Bernd , Nuzzo Victoria , Dávalos Andrea
Published: October 2017

Local differences in climate conditions may facilitate rapid evolutionary changes in introduced plants to optimize timing of germination or ability to survive in seed banks, which may constitute beneficial demographic adaptations during range expansions. Understanding differences in germination requirements and emergence patterns across a species’ range is critical for demographic modelling and potential invasive species control efforts.

We assessed germination responses of Alliaria petiolata using seeds collected from 10 populations spanning much of the North American distribution of the species. We compared germination responses under different stratification regimes in a growth chamber over 2·5 years, and evaluated seedling emergence in a common garden in Ithaca, New York over 13 years. We further evaluated how climate overlap between Ithaca and original collection sites influenced emergence patterns.

In the laboratory, germination of all populations was similar and highest at 4 °C stratification. Seeds exposed to sub‐zero temperatures delayed germination and population responses were variable. In the common garden, seedlings from most populations emerged over 13 years, and emergence patterns were strongly influenced by population. Annual emergence was positively correlated with spring temperature and inversely correlated with number of spring days with minimum temperature below freezing. Climate overlap between the common garden and original collection location enhanced germination, but common garden climate conditions over the course of the 13‐year experiment and population identity had greater explanatory power.

Synthesis. Laboratory germination tests did not reflect seedling emergence under field conditions. After 150 years of residence time in North America, Alliaria petiolata populations have developed striking differences in their responses to local climates and stratification requirements suggesting that a complex interplay of pre‐adaptation, rapid evolutionary changes, and phenotypic plasticity result in locally adapted populations.
Outcome standardisation – next rung in the ladder for perinatal epidemiology
Authors: Thorp John
Published: October 2017

Deputy Editor‐in‐Chief, Dr John Thorp, discusses his top articles from this issue in an audio podcast available at: https://soundcloud.com/bjog/november-editors-choice-2017.
Bacterial catabolism of lignin‐derived aromatics: New findings in a recent decade: Update on bacterial lignin catabolism
Authors: Kamimura Naofumi , Takahashi Kenji , Mori Kosuke , Araki Takuma , Fujita Masaya , Higuchi Yudai , Masai Eiji
Published: October 2017

Lignin is the most abundant phenolic polymer; thus, its decomposition by microorganisms is fundamental to carbon cycling on earth. Lignin breakdown is initiated by depolymerization catalysed by extracellular oxidoreductases secreted by white‐rot basidiomycetous fungi. On the other hand, bacteria play a predominant role in the mineralization of lignin‐derived heterogeneous low‐molecular‐weight aromatic compounds. The outline of bacterial catabolic pathways for lignin‐derived bi‐ and monoaryls are typically composed of the following sequential steps: (i) funnelling of a wide variety of lignin‐derived aromatics into vanillate and syringate, (ii) O demethylation of vanillate and syringate to form catecholic derivatives and (iii) aromatic ring‐cleavage of the catecholic derivatives to produce tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates. Knowledge regarding bacterial catabolic systems for lignin‐derived aromatic compounds is not only important for understanding the terrestrial carbon cycle but also valuable for promoting the shift to a low‐carbon economy via biological lignin valorisation. This review summarizes recent progress in bacterial catabolic systems for lignin‐derived aromatic compounds, including newly identified catabolic pathways and genes for decomposition of lignin‐derived biaryls, transcriptional regulation and substrate uptake systems. Recent omics approaches on catabolism of lignin‐derived aromatic compounds are also described.
Relationship between UGT1A1*27 and UGT1A1*7 polymorphisms and irinotecan‐related toxicities in patients with lung cancer
Authors: Fukuda Minoru , Okumura Manabu , Iwakiri Tomomi , Arimori Kazuhiko , Honda Takuya , Kobayashi Kazuma , Senju Hiroaki , Takemoto Shinnosuke , Ikeda Takaya , Yamaguchi Hiroyuki , Nakatomi Katsumi , Matsuo Nobuko , Mukae Hiroshi , Ashizawa Kazuto
Published: October 2017

Background

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of gene polymorphisms, including UGT1A1*7, *27, and *29, on the safety of irinotecan therapy.

Methods

The eligibility criteria were: lung cancer patients scheduled to undergo irinotecan therapy, aged ≥ 20 years, with a performance status of 0–2. Thirty‐one patients were enrolled and their blood was collected and used to examine the frequency of UGT1A1*6, *7, *27, *28, and *29 polymorphisms and the concentrations of irinotecan, SN‐38, and SN‐38G after irinotecan therapy.

Results

The patients’ characteristics were as follows: male/female 25/6, median age 71 years (range 55–84), stage IIB/IIIA/IIIB/IV 2/6/11/12, and adenocarcinoma/squamous cell carcinoma/small cell carcinoma/other 14/10/3/4, respectively. The −/−, *6/−, *7/−, *27/−, *28/−, and *29/− UGT1A1 gene polymorphisms were observed in 10 (32%), 10 (32%), 2 (6%), 2 (6%), 7 (23%), and 0 (0%) cases, respectively. The UGT1A1*27 polymorphism occurred separately from the UGT1A1*28 polymorphism. The lowest leukocyte counts of the patients with the UGT1A1*27 and UGT1A1*6 gene polymorphisms were lower than those observed in the wild‐type patients. SN‐38 tended to remain in the blood for a prolonged period after the infusion of irinotecan in patients with UGT1A1*27 or UGT1A1*28 polymorphisms. No severe myelotoxicity was seen in the patients with UGT1A1*7.

Conclusion

UGT1A1*27 can occur separately from UGT1A1*28 and is related to leukopenia during irinotecan treatment. UGT1A1*7 is less relevant to irinotecan‐induced toxicities, and UGT1A1*29 seems to have little clinical impact.
Comparative anatomical study of sound production and reception systems in the common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) and the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) heads
Authors: Arribart M. , Ognard J. , Tavernier C. , Richaudeau Y. , Guintard C. , Dabin W. , Ben Salem D. , Jung J.‐L.
Published: October 2017

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans were used to analyse, respectively, the soft tissues and the bones of the heads of four common dolphins and three harbour porpoises. This imaging study was completed by an examination of anatomical sections performed on two odontocete heads (a subadult common dolphin and a subadult harbour porpoise). The three complementary approaches allowed to illustrate anatomical differences in the echolocation systems of the common dolphin and the harbour porpoise. We captured images confirming strong differences of symmetry of the melon and of its connexions to the MLDB (Monkeys Lips/Dorsal Bursae) between the common dolphin and the harbour porpoise. The melon of the common dolphin is asymmetrically directly connected to the right bursae cantantes at its right side, whereas the melon of the harbour porpoise is symmetrical, and separated from the two bursae cantantes by a set of connective tissues. Another striking difference comes from the bursae cantantes themselves, less deeply located in the head of the common dolphin than in the harbour porpoise.
Outcomes of percutaneous cholecystostomy and predictors of subsequent cholecystectomy
Authors: Cooper Scott , Donovan Michael , Grieve David A.
Published: October 2017

Background

The use of a percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) in the management of severe acute cholecystitis is a well recognized alternative to acute cholecystectomy. The need for definitive surgical management remains controversial.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of hospital records at Nambour General Hospital between 2012 and 2016 was conducted and data relating to indications, demographics, comorbidities and outcomes were collected.

Results

Thirty PC patients (20 male and 10 female) were identified, with a mean age of 77 years (range 46–93). Thirteen proceeded to cholecystectomy, nine elective and four emergent. Mean time to operation was 97 days (range 1–480). Ten were performed laparoscopically with a complication rate of 23% (3/13). One patient in the operative group died. Seventeen patients did not proceed to cholecystectomy. Fifteen resolved and were discharged, and two died. Three of those discharged were readmitted with gallstone disease requiring treatment, one of which died. A total of 71% (12/17) of the non‐operative group died and three of those had a cause of death related to gallstone disease. The operative group was younger (P = 0.01) and had a lower estimated mortality risk (P < 0.05). In this cohort, this translated to an overall survival benefit (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

Predictors of eventual cholecystectomy include younger age and lower estimated mortality risk. Patients who require a PC for the treatment of acute cholecystitis and subsequently go on to cholecystectomy can expect to have a favourable outcome.
Letter: enteral nutrition therapy for the induction of remission in paediatric Crohn's disease—Authors’ reply
Authors: Feathers A. , Swaminath A. , Ananthakrishnan A. N. , Falzon L. , Li Ferry S.
Published: October 2017

Linked Content

This article is linked to Dai et al and Swaminath et al papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14337 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14253.
Genetic polymorphisms associated with smoking behaviour predict the risk of surgery in patients with Crohn's disease
Authors: Lang B. M. , Biedermann L. , van Haaften W. T. , de Vallière C. , Schuurmans M. , Begré S. , Zeitz J. , Scharl M. , Turina M. , Greuter T. , Schreiner P. , Heinrich H. , Kuntzen T. , Vavricka S. R. , Rogler G. , Beerenwinkel N. , Misselwitz B. ,   the Swiss IBD Cohort Study Group
Published: October 2017

Background

Smoking is a strong environmental factor leading to adverse outcomes in Crohn's disease, but a more benign course in ulcerative colitis. Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are associated with smoking quantity and behaviour.

Aim

To assess whether smoking‐associated SNPs interact with smoking to influence the clinical course of inflammatory bowel diseases.

Methods

Genetic and prospectively obtained clinical data from 1434 Swiss inflammatory bowel disease cohort patients (821 Crohn's disease and 613 ulcerative colitis) were analysed. Six SNPs associated with smoking quantity and behaviour (rs588765, rs1051730, rs1329650, rs4105144, rs6474412 and rs3733829) were combined to form a risk score (range: 0‐12) by adding the number of risk alleles. We calculated multivariate models for smoking, risk of surgery, fistula, Crohn's disease location and ulcerative colitis disease extent.

Results

In Crohn's disease patients who smoke, the number of surgeries was associated with the genetic risk score. This translates to a predicted 3.5‐fold (95% confidence interval: 2.4‐ to 5.7‐fold, P<.0001) higher number of surgical procedures in smokers with 12 risk alleles than individuals with the lowest risk. Patients with a risk score >7 had a significantly shorter time to first intestinal surgery. The genetic risk score did not predict surgery in ulcerative colitis or occurrence of fistulae in Crohn's disease. SNP rs6265 was associated with ileal disease in Crohn's disease (P<.05) and proctitis in ulcerative colitis (P<.05).

Conclusions

SNPs associated with smoking quantity is associated with an increased risk for surgery in Crohn's disease patients who smoke. Our data provide an example of genetics interacting with the environment to influence the disease course of inflammatory bowel disease.
Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair for strangulated inguinal hernia
Authors: Matsuda Akihisa , Miyashita Masao , Matsumoto Satoshi , Sakurazawa Nobuyuki , Kawano Youichi , Kuriyama Sho , Sekiguchi Kumiko , Ando Fumihiko , Matsutani Takeshi , Uchida Eiji
Published: October 2017

Introduction

Laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP) is widely accepted in elective inguinal hernioplasty. However, given the scarcity of data, the feasibility and safety of TAPP in strangulated hernia cases have not yet been determined.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated the data from a consecutive series of 33 patients who had undergone surgery for acute strangulated inguinal hernia associated with suspected visceral ischemic damage by either TAPP (TAPP group, n = 11) or conventional open hernioplasty via the anterior approach (anterior group, n = 22).

Results

The TAPP group had a significant longer surgical duration than the anterior group (147 vs 84 min) and relatively less blood loss. Incision and enlargement of the hernial orifice, which enables easy reduction of the strangulated organ, was performed in the last 7 of 11 cases in the TAPP group. The morbidity was lower in the TAPP group, but the difference was not statistically significant (18% vs 23%). The TAPP group had a significantly shorter postoperative hospital stay than the anterior group (7 vs 10 days).

Conclusion

For surgeons with sufficient knowledge of the anatomy and expertise in reducing the strangulated organ, TAPP for strangulated inguinal hernia is at least comparable to open hernioplasty via the anterior approach in short‐term outcomes.
Geochronology of detrital muscovite and zircon constrains the sediment provenance changes in the Yangtze River during the late Cenozoic
Authors: Sun Xilin , Li Chang'an , Kuiper Klaudia F. , Wang Jietao , Tian Yuntao , Vermeesch Pieter , Zhang Zengjie , Zhao Juxing , Wijbrans Jan R.
Published: October 2017

The geometry and evolution of rivers originating from the Tibetan plateau are influenced by topography and climate change during the India‐Asia collision. The Yangtze River is the longest among these rivers and formed due to capturing many rivers on the eastern Tibetan Plateau by the middle Yangtze. The timing of these capture events is still controversial. Here, we use detrital muscovite 40Ar/39Ar and zircon U–Pb ages to constrain the provenance of late Cenozoic sediments in the Jianghan Basin in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. The combined data suggest that late Pliocene sediments were mainly derived from a local source in the Jianghan Basin including the Dabie Shan. The middle Pleistocene sediments were derived from the Min River west of the Three Gorges. This implies that at least one river, perhaps the palaeo‐Han River, originating from the Dabie Shan region, flowed through the centre of the Jianghan Basin during the late Pliocene. The appearance of sediment from the Min River in the Jianghan Basin somewhere between late Pliocene and middle Pleistocene suggests that the Three Gorges section of the Yangtze River was formed somewhere between late Pliocene and middle Pleistocene (N2– Q2).
Adjuvant pretreatment with alum protects neonatal mice in sepsis through myeloid cell activation
Authors: Rincon J C , Cuenca A L , Raymond S L , Mathias B , Nacionales D C , Ungaro R , Efron P A , Wynn J L , Moldawer L L , Larson S D
Published: October 2017

The high mortality in neonatal sepsis has been related to both quantitative and qualitative differences in host protective immunity. Pretreatment strategies to prevent sepsis have received inadequate consideration, especially in the premature neonate, where outcomes from sepsis are so dismal. Aluminium salts-based adjuvants (alum) are used currently in many paediatric vaccines, but their use as an innate immune stimulant alone has not been well studied. We asked whether pretreatment with alum adjuvant alone could improve outcome and host innate immunity in neonatal mice given polymicrobial sepsis. Subcutaneous alum pretreatment improves survival to polymicrobial sepsis in both wild-type and T and B cell-deficient neonatal mice, but not in caspase-1/11 null mice. Moreover, alum increases peritoneal macrophage and neutrophil phagocytosis, and decreases bacterial colonization in the peritoneum. Bone marrow-derived neutrophils from alum-pretreated neonates produce more neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) and exhibit increased expression of neutrophil elastase (NE) after in-vitro stimulation with phorbol esters. In addition, alum pretreatment increases bone marrow and splenic haematopoietic stem cell expansion following sepsis. Pretreatment of neonatal mice with an alum-based adjuvant can stimulate multiple innate immune cell functions and improve survival. These novel findings suggest a therapeutic pathway for the use of existing alum-based adjuvants for preventing sepsis in premature infants.
Post‐operative corticosteroid irrigation for chronic rhinosinusitis after endoscopic sinus surgery: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Yoon H.Y. , Lee H.S. , Kim I.H. , Hwang S.H.
Published: October 2017

Background

Recently, topical steroid therapy delivery using high‐volume sinonasal irrigations has been used more frequently, following endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), to improve drug delivery into the paranasal sinuses.

Objective

The goal of this study was to perform a systematic review with meta‐analysis of the efficacy of steroid nasal irrigation on post‐operative management of Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) following ESS.

Methods

Five databases (PubMed, SCOPUS, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane database) from inception to March 2017 were independently reviewed by two researchers. Studies that scored CRS endoscopic findings and CRS‐related quality of life (QOL) post‐operatively before and after steroid nasal irrigation and that compared the effects of steroid nasal irrigation (treatment groups) with saline alone irrigation (control group) were included in the analysis.

Results

Twelve studies (n = 360) met inclusion criteria. Steroid nasal irrigation significantly reduced the endoscopic score compared with pre‐treatment values and also improved QOL. Adverse effects following steroid nasal irrigation such as increased intraocular pressure (IOP) and hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis disturbance were not significant. However, compared with saline alone irrigation, the additional effects of steroid irrigation were not significant in the view of the endoscopic score and disease‐specific QOL.

Conclusion

Although steroid nasal irrigation would not induce adverse effects related to systemic steroid absorption, the beneficial effects of additional steroids in saline irrigation were ambiguous in regard to endoscopic score and CRS‐related QOL improvement compared with saline alone irrigation. However, further clinical trials with robust research methodologies should be conducted to confirm the results of this study.
Age of diagnosis, incidence and prevalence of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis—A South African perspective
Authors: Seedat R.Y. , Schall R.
Published: October 2017

Objectives

To determine the distribution of the age of diagnosis of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) and to determine the incidence and prevalence of RRP in both adults and children in the Free State province of South Africa in order to provide data from a population in sub‐Saharan African.

Design

Retrospective record review.

Participants

All patients with RRP in the Free State province of South Africa between 2011 and 2015.

Main outcome measures

Distribution of the age of diagnosis of RRP and incidence and prevalence of RRP.

Results

The best fitting mixture distribution for the age of diagnosis of RRP was a two‐component mixture of log‐normal distributions. Within the first component (JoRRP), the age of diagnosis was significantly lower in patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)11 disease (median 3.2 year) than those with HPV6 disease (median 5.6 years) (P = .021), while in the second component (AoRRP), there was no significant difference in the age of diagnosis between HPV11 disease (30.7 year) and HPV6 disease (median 44.0 years) (P = .0696).

The incidence and prevalence of JoRRP were 1.34/100000 population/year and 3.88/100000 population, respectively, while the incidence and prevalence of AoRRP were 0.18/100000 population/year and 0.38/100000 population, respectively.

Conclusion

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis in the Free State province of South Africa is a disease with a predominantly juvenile onset, with AoRRP having a lower prevalence than in Europe. This is probably reflective of the situation in sub‐Saharan Africa.
Gum chewing aids bowel function return and analgesic requirements after bowel surgery: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Byrne C. M. , Zahid A. , Young J. M. , Solomon M. J. , Young C. J.
Published: October 2017

Aim

The aim was to compare the effectiveness of chewing sugar‐free gum after bowel resection on bowel function and length of stay.

Method

This was a randomized controlled trial of patients undergoing elective open or laparoscopic bowel surgery, who were allocated into two groups: a chewing gum group (CG); or a nonchewing gum group (NG). Primary outcomes were time to discharge (length of hospital stay [LOS]), time to first flatus (TFF) and time to first bowel motion (TBM). Secondary outcomes were complication rates, pain and total morphine equivalent (TMEq) medication for 7 days after the procedure.

Results

Between 2010 and 2013, 162 patients were randomized; four were excluded, leaving 158 in the study (82 in the CG and 76 in the NG). There was no difference in LOS between the CG (5.8 days) and the NG (6.1 days) (P = 0.403) or in the median TFF between the CG (42.0 h) and the NG (58.0 h) (P = 0.076). The median TBM was lower in the CG (40.0 h) than in the NG (90.0 h) (P = 0.002). There was no difference in intra‐operative complications between the CG (9%) and the NG (9%) (P = 0.901) or in early postoperative complications (44% for CG and 55% for NG) (P = 0.131). There was no difference in TMEq at 24 h postprocedure, but the CG had reduced TMEq from days 2 to 7 post procedure and for the 7‐day total. Pain was higher among patients in the NG on day 3.

Conclusion

Chewing sugar‐free gum resulted in an earlier return to bowel function and decreased analgesic requirements. There was no decrease in overall LOS or postoperative complications.
A randomized controlled trial of four different regimes of biofeedback programme in the treatment of faecal incontinence
Authors: Young C. J. , Zahid A. , Koh C. E. , Young J. M. , Byrne C. M. , Solomon M. J. , Rex J. , Candido J.
Published: October 2017

Aim

Biofeedback is an established, effective and non‐invasive treatment for faecal incontinence (FI). The aim was to compare the effectiveness of four different biofeedback treatment regimes.

Method

This was a randomized control trial of patients with FI, stratified into two groups (metropolitan and rural) and then randomized into two subgroups (groups 1 and 2 within metropolitan, groups 3 and 4 within rural) with varying face‐to‐face and telephone biofeedback components. All patients received standardized counselling and education, dietary modification and the use of anti‐diarrhoeal medications. Group 1 received four monthly face‐to‐face biofeedback treatments, groups 2 and 3 received one face‐to‐face biofeedback followed by telephone biofeedback and group 4 received a one‐off face‐to‐face biofeedback treatment. Primary outcomes were patient‐assessed severity of FI and quality of life as assessed by the 36‐item Short Form Health Survey and direct questioning of objectives. Secondary outcomes included St Mark's incontinence score, anxiety, depression and anorectal physiology measures (resting, squeeze pressures; isotonic, isometric fatigue times).

Results

Between 2006 and 2012, 351 patients were recruited. One patient died leaving 350 for analysis. 332 (95%) were women. Mean age was 60 (SD = 14). All groups had significant improvements in FI, quality of life, incontinence score and mental status (P < 0.001 each). There were no differences in improvements in FI between groups although patient satisfaction was less with reduced face‐to‐face contact. There were modest improvements in isotonic and isometric fatigue times suggesting improved sphincter endurance (both P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Biofeedback is effective for FI. Although face‐to‐face and telephone biofeedback is not necessary to improve FI, it is important for patient satisfaction.
Symbol Grounding Without Direct Experience: Do Words Inherit Sensorimotor Activation From Purely Linguistic Context?
Authors: Günther Fritz , Dudschig Carolin , Kaup Barbara
Published: October 2017

Theories of embodied cognition assume that concepts are grounded in non‐linguistic, sensorimotor experience. In support of this assumption, previous studies have shown that upwards response movements are faster than downwards movements after participants have been presented with words whose referents are typically located in the upper vertical space (and vice versa for downwards responses). This is taken as evidence that processing these words reactivates sensorimotor experiential traces. This congruency effect was also found for novel words, after participants learned these words as labels for novel objects that they encountered either in their upper or lower visual field. While this indicates that direct experience with a word's referent is sufficient to evoke said congruency effects, the present study investigates whether this direct experience is also a necessary condition. To this end, we conducted five experiments in which participants learned novel words from purely linguistic input: Novel words were presented in pairs with real up‐ or down‐words (Experiment 1); they were presented in natural sentences where they replaced these real words (Experiment 2); they were presented as new labels for these real words (Experiment 3); and they were presented as labels for novel combined concepts based on these real words (Experiment 4 and 5). In all five experiments, we did not find any congruency effects elicited by the novel words; however, participants were always able to make correct explicit judgements about the vertical dimension associated to the novel words. These results suggest that direct experience is necessary for reactivating experiential traces, but this reactivation is not a necessary condition for understanding (in the sense of storing and accessing) the corresponding aspects of word meaning.
Basic self‐disturbance, neurocognition and metacognition: A pilot study among help‐seeking adolescents with and without attenuated psychosis syndrome
Authors: Koren Dan , Scheyer Ravit , Reznik Noa , Adres Merav , Apter Alan , Parnas Josef , Seidman Larry J.
Published: October 2017

Aim

The goal of this pilot study was to assess the association between basic self‐disturbance (SD) and deficits in neurocognitive and metacognitive functioning among help‐seeking adolescents with and without attenuated psychosis syndrome (APS).

Methods

Sixty‐one non‐psychotic, help‐seeking adolescents (age 13‐18) were assessed with the examination of anomalous self‐experience, the structured interview for prodromal syndromes and a new metacognitive approach to neurocognitive assessment applied to two non‐social (executive functions and verbal memory) and two social (theory of mind and emotion recognition) domains. After each answer, subjects were also requested to indicate their level of confidence in the answer and to decide whether they desired it to be “counted” toward their total score on the task. Each volunteered answer earned a 5‐cent gain if correct, but an equal fine if wrong.

Results

As hypothesized, metacognitive monitoring and control had a significant contribution to the prediction of SD over and above neurocognitive functioning and attenuated psychotic symptoms. However, the direction of this association was positive rather than negative. Also, inconsistent with or hypothesis, it was not moderated by the presence of APS.

Conclusions

These pilot results provide preliminary support a modest association between SD and metacognition, which is not reducible to neurocognition and APS. In addition, they raise an intriguing possibility regarding metacognitive monitoring and control being indicators of hyper‐reflectivity that characterizes individuals with SD. However, further research with larger samples and high‐stress assessment conditions are needed to assess this possibility.
Towards a better understanding of soil organic carbon variation in Madagascar
Authors: Andriamananjara A. , Ranaivoson N. , Razafimbelo T. , Hewson J. , Ramifehiarivo N. , Rasolohery A. , Andrisoa R. H. , Razafindrakoto M. A. , Razafimanantsoa M.‐P. , Rabetokotany N. , Razakamanarivo R. H.
Published: October 2017

Soil organic carbon (SOC) is an important carbon pool in terrestrial ecosystems. Prediction of SOC based on soil properties and environmental factors helps to describe the spatial and vertical distribution in SOC; however, the effectiveness and accuracy of various prediction methods, including classical and recently developed model approaches, need to be tested for tropical soil and environments. In this study, random forest (RF) and linear mixed effects model (LMM) approaches were tested to predict the spatial and vertical variation of SOC stocks in Eastern Madagascar. Topography, climate, soil types and vegetation‐based variables were used as predictor variables for modelling SOC stocks at different soil depths to 1 m. The LMM was the most accurate method for predicting SOC stocks for different depth ranges; altitude, soil clay content, land use and precipitation were identified as the most relevant factors for prediction. The accuracy of prediction in SOC modelling decreased with increasing soil depth, resulting in a root mean square prediction error (RMSE) that ranged from 1.98 Mg ha−1(90–100‐cm depth) to 5.54 Mg ha−1(10–20‐cm depth) for LMM, which resolved 43–68% of the variation in SOC stocks. Explanatory variables, which contributed to the fixed effect of the model, explained from 2.6 to 28.2% of the total variance, whereas the random effect contributed from 21.7 to 35.0%. This study emphasizes the strength of LMM for predicting SOC stocks in tropical soil taking into account the random effect related to sampling. These results could be used to improve SOC mapping in Madagascar.

Highlights

Prediction accuracy of vertical variation in SOC stocks was tested with RF and LMM approaches.

Linear mixed effects model provides the most accurate predictions of SOC stocks.

Altitude, clay content, climate and land use were identified as relevant predictor variables of SOC.

The LMM can be used to improve SOC mapping of tropical soil.
Motor performance deterioration accelerates after 50 years of age in Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth type 1A patients
Authors: Tozza S. , Bruzzese D. , Pisciotta C. , Iodice R. , Esposito M. , Dubbioso R. , Ruggiero L. , Topa A. , Spina E. , Santoro L. , Manganelli F.
Published: October 2017

Background and purpose

The aim of our study was to describe, by a case‐control and cross‐sectional design, the correlation between clinical impairment and age in Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth type 1A (CMT1A) patients.

Methods

Seventy CMT1A patients and 70 sex‐ and age‐matched healthy controls were enrolled. Motor performance was assessed through the 10‐m walk test, the 6‐min walk test and the 9‐hole peg test of the dominant and non‐dominant side, and muscle strength was measured by using the Medical Research Council score. In the CMT1A group, disability and quality of life were evaluated using the Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth Neuropathy Score (CMTNS) and the Short Form 36 (SF‐36) questionnaire. Cross‐sectional relationships between age and all clinical measures were analyzed and differences in the slopes between cases and controls were calculated. The occurrence of a structural change in the age‐related progression of clinical measures was explored.

Results

The deterioration of motor performance correlated with age in both groups with a greater slope in CMT1A patients than controls. The deterioration of CMTNS and SF‐36 correlated with age in the CMT1A group. The deterioration of all clinical measures with the exception of the SF‐36 questionnaire showed a structural change at the 50th year of age. The rate of deterioration was no different between patients and controls until 50 years of age, whereupon it became significantly greater in CMT1A patients.

Conclusion

Our study supports that the disease progression in CMT1A patients is an age‐related process and the 50th year of age represents a critical moment after which the clinical decline becomes faster.