bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alterations in Hair Follicle Morphology and Hair Shaft Production After Follicular Unit Transplantation
Authors: Azar Reza P. , Thomas Alexander H. , Maurer Marcus , Lindner Gerd
Published: February 2016

Follicular unit transplantation is the most commonly performed technique in modern restorative hair transplantation surgery. It relies on the acquisition of intact follicular units from microdissected scalp skin strips and their subsequent transplantation into the recipient regions affected by alopecia. Ideally, the translocation of follicular units from the balding-resistant areas of the scalp (usually the occipital region) to the recipient site should not result in any morphological change in the grafts. Nevertheless, the insults associated with surgical intervention present grafted follicles to mechanical and chemical cues differently from those of the physiological steady-state conditions in undamaged skin. This disruption of the normal follicular microenvironment might alter important aspects of hair biology in grafts, for example, hair cycle and pigmentation, and, in turn, could lead to differences in hair appearance, eventually culminating in a diminished esthetical outcome of the surgery. In this study, the authors analyzed native and grafted scalp hair follicles (HFs) from 2 patients who had undergone follicular unit transplantation surgeries formerly. Scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy-based histomorphometry revealed a marked enlargement of follicular structures in the grafts with a concomitant increase in hair shaft diameter. Immunohistological staining confirmed a thickening of the dermal sheath in transplanted HFs that also harbored a denser vascular network. Taken together, these results show that the grafted HFs analyzed were subjected to marked morphological changes during their residence in the recipient site and that this phenomenon is associated with a modulation of follicular vascularization.
Standardizing Handoff Communication
Authors: Nasarwanji Mahiyar F. , Badir Aysel , Gurses Ayse P.
Published: February 2016

This study synthesizes information contained in 27 mnemonics to identify what information should be communicated during a handoff. Clustering and content analysis resulted in 12 primary information clusters that should be communicated. Given the large amount of information identified, it would be beneficial to use a structured handoff communication tool developed using a participatory approach. In addition, we recommend local standardization of information communicated during handoffs with variation across settings.
Changes in the expression of the human adenine nucleotide translocase isoforms condition cellular metabolic/proliferative status
Authors: Gavaldà-Navarro Aleix , Mampel Teresa , Viñas Octavi
Published: February 2016

Human cells express four mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocase (hANT) isoforms that are tissue-specific and developmentally regulated. hANT1 is mainly expressed in terminally differentiated muscle cells; hANT2 is growth-regulated and is upregulated in highly glycolytic and proliferative cells; and hANT3 is considered to be ubiquitous and non-specifically regulated. Here, we studied how the expression of hANT isoforms is regulated by proliferation and in response to metabolic stimuli, and examined the metabolic consequences of their silencing and overexpression. In HeLa and HepG2 cells, expression of hANT3 was upregulated by shifting metabolism towards oxidation or by slowed growth associated with contact inhibition or growth-factor deprivation, indicating that hANT3 expression is highly regulated. Under these conditions, changes in hANT2 mRNA expression were not observed in either HeLa or HepG2 cells, whereas in SGBS preadipocytes (which, unlike HeLa and HepG2 cells, are growth-arrest-sensitive cells), hANT2 mRNA levels decreased. Additionally, overexpression of hANT2 promoted cell growth and glycolysis, whereas silencing of hANT3 decreased cellular ATP levels, limited cell growth and induced a stress-like response. Thus, cancer cells require both hANT2 and hANT3, depending on their proliferation status: hANT2 when proliferation rates are high, and hANT3 when proliferation slows.
The eastern migratory caribou: the role of genetic introgression in ecotype evolution
Authors: Klütsch Cornelya F. C. , Manseau Micheline , Trim Vicki , Polfus Jean , Wilson Paul J.
Published: February 2016

Understanding the evolutionary history of contemporary animal groups is essential for conservation and management of endangered species like caribou (Rangifer tarandus). In central Canada, the ranges of two caribou subspecies (barren-ground/woodland caribou) and two woodland caribou ecotypes (boreal/eastern migratory) overlap. Our objectives were to reconstruct the evolutionary history of the eastern migratory ecotype and to assess the potential role of introgression in ecotype evolution. STRUCTURE analyses identified five higher order groups (i.e. three boreal caribou populations, eastern migratory ecotype and barren-ground). The evolutionary history of the eastern migratory ecotype was best explained by an early genetic introgression from barren-ground into a woodland caribou lineage during the Late Pleistocene and subsequent divergence of the eastern migratory ecotype during the Holocene. These results are consistent with the retreat of the Laurentide ice sheet and the colonization of the Hudson Bay coastal areas subsequent to the establishment of forest tundra vegetation approximately 7000 years ago. This historical reconstruction of the eastern migratory ecotype further supports its current classification as a conservation unit, specifically a Designatable Unit, under Canada’s Species at Risk Act. These findings have implications for other sub-specific contact zones for caribou and other North American species in conservation unit delineation.
An open library of human kinase domain constructs for automated bacterial expression
Authors: Albanese Steven K. , Parton Daniel L. , Işık Mehtap , Rodríguez-Laureano Lucelenie , Hanson Sonya M. , Behr Julie M. , Gradia Scott , Jeans Chris , Levinson Nicholas M. , Seeliger Markus A. , Chodera John D.
Published: February 2016

Kinases play a critical role in many cellular signaling pathways and are dysregulated in a number of diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and neurodegeneration. Since the FDA approval of imatinib in 2001, therapeutics targeting kinases now account for roughly 50% of current cancer drug discovery efforts. The ability to explore human kinase biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology in the laboratory is essential to making rapid progress in understanding kinase regulation, designing selective inhibitors, and studying the emergence of drug resistance. While insect and mammalian expression systems are frequently used for the expression of human kinases, bacterial expression systems are superior in terms of simplicity and cost-effectiveness but have historically struggled with human kinase expression. Following the discovery that phosphatase coexpression could produce high yields of Src and Abl kinase domains in bacterial expression systems, we have generated a library of 52 His-tagged human kinase domain constructs that express above 2µg/mL culture in a simple automated bacterial expression system utilizing phosphatase coexpression (YopH for Tyr kinases, Lambda for Ser/Thr kinases). Here, we report a structural bioinformatics approach to identify kinase domain constructs previously expressed in bacteria likely to express well in a simple high-throughput protocol, experiments demonstrating our simple construct selection strategy selects constructs with good expression yields in a test of 84 potential kinase domain boundaries for Abl, and yields from a high-throughput expression screen of 96 human kinase constructs. Using a fluorescence-based thermostability assay and a fluorescent ATP-competitive inhibitor, we show that the highest-expressing kinases are folded and have well-formed ATP binding sites. We also demonstrate how the resulting expressing constructs can be used for the biophysical and biochemical study of clinical mutations by engineering a panel of 48 Src mutations and 46 Abl mutations via single-primer mutagenesis and screening the resulting library for expression yields. The wild-type kinase construct library is available publicly via Addgene, and should prove to be of high utility for experiments focused on drug discovery and the emergence of drug resistance.
PoPoolationTE2: comparative population genomics of transposable elements using Pool-Seq
Authors: Kofler Robert , Gómez-Sánchez Daniel , Schlöetterer Christian
Published: February 2016

The evolutionary dynamics of transposable elements (TEs) are still poorly understood. One reason is that TE abundance needs to be studied at the population level, and despite recent advances in sequencing technologies, characterizing TE abundance in multiple populations by sequencing individuals separately is still too expensive. While sequencing pools of individuals (Pool-Seq) dramatically reduces sequencing costs, a comparison of TE abundance between pooled samples has been difficult, if not impossible, due to various biases. Here, we introduce a novel bioinformatic tool, PoPoolationTE2, which is specifically tailored for the comparison of TE abundance among pooled population samples or different tissues. Using computer simulations we demonstrate that PoPoolationTE2 not only faithfully recovers TE insertion frequencies and positions but, by homogenizing the power to identify TEs acrosss samples, it provides an unbiased comparison of TE abundance between pooled population samples. We anticipate that PoPoolationTE2 will greatly facilitate the analysis of TE insertion patterns in a broad range of applications.
Wiener index on rows of unit cells of the face-centred cubic lattice
Authors: Mujahed Hamzeh , Nagy Benedek
Published: February 2016

The Wiener index of a connected graph, known as the `sum of distances', is the first topological index used in chemistry to sum the distances between all unordered pairs of vertices of a graph. The Wiener index, sometimes called the Wiener number, is one of the indices associated with a molecular graph that correlates physical and chemical properties of the molecule, and has been studied for various kinds of graphs. In this paper, the graphs of lines of unit cells of the face-centred cubic lattice are investigated. This lattice is one of the simplest, the most symmetric and the most usual, cubic crystal lattices. Its graphs contain face centres of the unit cells and other vertices, called cube vertices. Closed formulae are obtained to calculate the sum of shortest distances between pairs of cube vertices, between cube vertices and face centres and between pairs of face centres. Based on these formulae, their sum, the Wiener index of a face-centred cubic lattice with unit cells connected in a row graph, is computed.
Nominations for the Ewald Prize
Authors: Dacombe M.
Published: February 2016

Nominations for the 11th Ewald Prize are invited.
So much theory, so little practice: a literature review of workplace improvisation training
Authors: Ratten Vanessa , Hodge Josh
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to critically review the research literature on training interventions to increase the workplace application of improvisation.

Design/methodology/approach

– A literature review was undertaken, work was considered in light of research methodology (qualitative, quantitative and discussion) and themes were identified and coded in Nvivo.

Findings

– Although there is a substantial body of research on improvisation as a workplace phenomenon, there is only limited empirical research on the workplace application of improvisation training.

Research limitations/implications

– Further research is needed in the field, specific recommendations are made.

Practical implications

– This paper provides an in-depth briefing on the current state of the literature for trainers and HR professionals who are considering the merits of using improvisation training in their workplace.

Originality/value

– Mintzberg (1973) suggested that up to 90 per cent of managerial behaviour is improvised. This paper provides a new depth of understanding on the workplace application of improvisation training and the paucity of knowledge in the field.
An empirical approach to consumer buying behavior in Indian automobile sector
Authors: Maheshwari Prateek , Seth Nitin , Gupta Anoop Kumar
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– In today’s highly competitive business scenario, advertising symbolizes one of the key marketing activities. The purpose of this paper is to understand the relationship between advertisement effectiveness and consumer buying behavior for major automobile companies of central India.

Design/methodology/approach

– A judicious mix of qualitative (focus group and Delphi technique) and quantitative (structured questionnaire survey) research methods was used for the present study.

Findings

– Study found that for automobile sector, effective advertisements have a positive impact on consumer buying behavior. It suggests that customer’s attitude can be shaped favorably through effective advertising. Automobile companies must arrange special training sessions and learning programs for their sales force to ensure supportive customer purchasing behavior.

Research limitations/implications

– The scope of the present study is limited to major automobile companies of central India only. Although, the findings can be interpreted and generalized in a global business scenario.

Originality/value

– The research work is first of its kind that attempts to study the impact of effective advertising on consumer buying behavior in Indian automobile context. The findings and recommendations can be used for strategic planning of training sessions and workshops for different stakeholders in automobile industry.
Anticipated work discrimination scale: a chronic illness application
Authors: McGonagle Alyssa , Roebuck Adam , Diebel Hannah , Aqwa Justin , Fragoso Zachary , Stoddart Sarah
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The authors sought initial validity evidence for a measure of anticipated discrimination in the workplace using three samples of working adults with various chronic illnesses. The purpose of this paper is to propose a single factor structure, correlations with stigma dimensions, discriminant validity from similar scales, and incremental validity in predicting work-related outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

– Adults working at least 20 hours per week with various chronic illnesses (Sample 1n=332, Sample 2n=193, Sample 3n=230) voluntarily completed an online survey. Structural equation modeling and hierarchical multiple regression were used to analyze the data.

Findings

– Results supported the proposed single-factor structure, along with proposed correlations with strain, and job attitudes (job satisfaction, affective commitment, and both procedural justice). Discriminant validity was observed between anticipated discrimination and procedural justice perceptions and perceived impact on performance. The scale demonstrated incremental validity in predicting strain beyond the relevant controls in all three samples, although it only demonstrated incremental validity in predicting job satisfaction in Samples 1 and 3 and affective commitment in Sample 1.

Research limitations/implications

– Study limitations include the use of single-source, cross-sectional data, omission of a non-stigmatized sample, and a deductive approach to item generation. Future research should attempt to validate the scale on other stigmatized worker populations.

Practical implications

– Organizations may use this scale to monitor employees’ perceptions of anticipated discrimination and researchers may use it as a measure of a workplace stressor.

Originality/value

– The vast majority of existing stigma and discrimination scales do not specifically address the workplace context. This study contributes to the literature by providing psychometric information for a workplace anticipated discrimination scale using samples from an under-represented worker population.
Job embeddedness: is it always a good thing?
Authors: Marasi Shelly , Cox Susie S. , Bennett Rebecca J
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to compare the explanatory power of reactance theory and power dependence theory in predicting the moderating effect of job embeddedness on the organizational trust-workplace deviance relationship.

Design/Methodology/Approach

– Cross-sectional data were collected from a sample of nurses (n=353) via an online survey organization. The data were analyzed using hierarchical regression.

Findings

– Job embeddedness significantly moderated the organizational trust-workplace deviance relationship such that participants who experienced low organizational trust and high job embeddedness engaged in more workplace deviance than those experiencing low organizational trust and low job embeddedness.

Practical implications

– Organizations should attempt to build and maintain employees’ organizational trust since employees who lack organizational trust are more likely to act deviantly. Additionally, organizations should realize that job embeddedness is not always beneficial. Therefore, organizations should seek to reduce negative perceptions of job embeddedness by alerting employees (especially those who are the most distrusting) of other job opportunities and providing more generalizable skill training, to enhance employees’ perceptions of mobility.

Originality value

– This study demonstrates that job embeddedness can be applied to models (i.e., the organizational trust-workplace deviance relationship) beyond those that have previously included turnover as an outcome (i.e., Leeet al., 2014), and that such influences may be negative. More notably, the results provide evidence supporting the notion of the negative side of job embeddedness.
Crossover effects of work-family conflict among Chinese couples
Authors: Lu Chang-qin , Lu Jing-Jing , Du Dan-yang , Brough Paula
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the crossover effects of one partner’s work-family conflict (WFC) on the other partner’s family satisfaction, physical well-being, and mental well-being. The study tests the moderating effect of the opposite partner’s family identity salience within the crossover process in a Chinese context.

Design/methodology/approach

– A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect matched data from 212 Chinese dual-earner couples. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was employed to test the research hypotheses.

Findings

– The results showed that there were significantly negative crossover effects of husbands’ WFC on their wives’ family satisfaction, physical well-being, and mental well-being, and vice versa. The authors found that the wives’ family identity salience mitigated the crossover effects of the husbands’ WFC, but the husbands’ family identity did not moderate the crossover effect of the wives’ WFC.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to investigate the crossover effects of WFC among dual-earner couples in China. Further, the study integrated family identity salience into the WFC crossover process between couples from the receiver’s view and provided evidence that partners differed in the ways they dealt with each other’s stress. This research advances scholarly discussions of the psychological crossover process and fills a key gap of considering complex role variables as moderators within this crossover process.
Psychological contract violation and turnover intention: do cultural values matter?
Authors: Arshad Rasidah
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of cultural value orientations (mastery and subjugation) in moderating the relationship between psychological contract violation (PCV) and turnover intention.

Design/methodology/approach

– A longitudinal survey method was used to collect data from downsizing survivors in two phases. The final sample was 281 cases. Confirmatory factor analysis and hierarchical regression models were used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

– PCV is positively related to turnover intention, and the relationship is moderated by cultural value orientations. Specifically, the relationship is stronger among downsizing survivors with a high level of subjugation orientation (SO) and/or a low level of mastery orientation (MO) in comparison with downsizing survivors with a low level of SO and/or a high level of MO.

Research limitations/implications

– The contribution of the study lies in the utility of examining culture at an individual level of analysis in relation to PC and downsizing research. Despite a generic human functioning model, some subtle cultural influences exist affecting the processes within the model. The negative reactions to downsizing are not simply a function of situational factors, but also reflect individual differences in cultural value orientations.

Originality/value

– The study addresses the need to examine the role of cultural value orientations in influencing the relationship between PCV, and employee behaviors. Such an examination is important because cultural differences may result in unique interpretations and reactions to PCV.
Do employees share knowledge when encountering abusive supervision?
Authors: Wu Wei-Li , Lee Yi-Chih
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– Despite the prevalence of destructive leadership in today’s workplace, the authors know little about its influence on knowledge sharing among employees. Using the conservation of resources (COR) theory, the authors examine how abusive supervision influences psychological capital and affects knowledge sharing. Further, the authors take a context variable (group trust) to explore its cross-level influence on the above causal relationship. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– This study conducts multi-level analyses of knowledge sharing. Abusive supervision and psychological capital are the determinants of knowledge sharing at the individual level. Group trust is considered a group-level variable with cross-level influences. The final sample for an empirical test conducted using hierarchical linear modeling includes 449 group members of 55 working groups.

Findings

– Empirical results show that abusive supervision is negatively related to knowledge sharing. The results also indicate that psychological capital mediates the relationship between abusive supervision and knowledge sharing. At the group level, group trust has a direct cross-level impact on employees’ knowledge sharing and mitigates the relationship between abusive supervision and psychological capital.

Originality/value

– Applying the COR theory, this is the first research to discuss how destructive leadership (i.e. abusive supervision) influences knowledge sharing. Based on the multi-level perspective, the authors also examine how group trust can have a cross-level impact on knowledge sharing and the relationship between abusive supervision and psychological capital.
Does scheduling matter? When unscheduled decision making results in more effective meetings
Authors: Eisenbart Boris , Garbuio Massimo , Mascia Daniele , Morandi Federica
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– Managers spend a great deal of time in meetings making decisions critical to organisational success, yet the design aspects of meetings remain largely understudied. The purpose of this paper is to elaborate on the potential impact of one critical design aspect of meetings – namely, whether a decision to be taken (or the meeting in general) was scheduled or not – on the use of distributed information, information elaboration, conflict, speed of decision making, and, ultimately, decision-making effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research presented in this paper combines a literature review with empirical data obtained from questionnaires and direct observation of decision making meetings on organisational issues in a hospital. One meeting was scheduled, the other two were unscheduled. A second questionnaire was administered 12 months after the respective decision making meetings to explore and evaluate the efficiency of the decisions made and their implementation.

Findings

– This paper suggests that a scheduled meeting with a shared agenda of all decisions to be taken may induce decision makers to form opinions upfront at the meeting, with these opinions eventually serving as sources of conflict during group discussion. Because of the nature of the conflict generated, these meetings are more likely to run long and to not deliver the expected outcomes.

Originality/value

– The study contributes to the debate on group decision-making processes by examining the effect of meeting scheduling on information elaboration and conflict in real-world decision-making settings. Although robust evidence has supported the existence of relationships between information elaboration, conflict, and decision-making effectiveness, previous studies have mainly focused on the effects of these processes during scheduled meetings and experimental settings. The findings of the present study show the effect of meeting scheduling on decision-making effectiveness in real-world settings.
Determining strategic shifts between codification and personalization in operational environments
Authors: Venkitachalam Krishna , Willmott Hugh
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to indicate that managers responsible for decision making often have a limited appreciation of strategic shifts between codification and personalization of knowledge in different operational environments. This study is motivated by a concern to illuminate the influence of diverse business environments in the shift between strategies of knowledge in organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative multiple case-study method was adopted to research four case organizations drawn from multiple industries – manufacturing, research, education and consulting – that are positioned within contrasting operating environments (i.e. local, national, international and multinational, respectively).

Findings

– Results from the case studies suggest that four factors condition shifts between codification and personalization strategies in different operational environments that are of critical significance for the effective use of knowledge in organizations. The authors have also found that strategic shifts between codification and personalization are continuous and emergent.

Originality/value

– The study suggests that the combination of multi-operational types and four elements (i.e. competition, organizational size, organizational structure and information technology) are highly relevant for determining the shifts between codification and personalization strategies in organizations.
Modeling the Thin‐Layer Drying of Fruits and Vegetables: A Review
Authors: Onwude Daniel I. , Hashim Norhashila , Janius Rimfiel B. , Nawi Nazmi Mat , Abdan Khalina
Published: February 2016

The drying of fruits and vegetables is a complex operation that demands much energy and time. In practice, the drying of fruits and vegetables increases product shelf‐life and reduces the bulk and weight of the product, thus simplifying transport. Occasionally, drying may lead to a great decrease in the volume of the product, leading to a decrease in storage space requirements. Studies have shown that dependence purely on experimental drying practices, without mathematical considerations of the drying kinetics, can significantly affect the efficiency of dryers, increase the cost of production, and reduce the quality of the dried product. Thus, the use of mathematical models in estimating the drying kinetics, the behavior, and the energy needed in the drying of agricultural and food products becomes indispensable. This paper presents a comprehensive review of modeling thin‐layer drying of fruits and vegetables with particular focus on thin‐layer theories, models, and applications since the year 2005. The thin‐layer drying behavior of fruits and vegetables is also highlighted. The most frequently used of the newly developed mathematical models for thin‐layer drying of fruits and vegetables in the last 10 years are shown. Subsequently, the equations and various conditions used in the estimation of the effective moisture diffusivity, shrinkage effects, and minimum energy requirement are displayed. The authors hope that this review will be of use for future research in terms of modeling, analysis, design, and the optimization of the drying process of fruits and vegetables.
Understanding drivers of Demand for Emergency Service Trends in Years 2010–2014 in New South Wales: An initial overview of the DESTINY project
Authors: Dinh Michael M , Berendsen Russell Saartje , Bein Kendall J , Chalkley Dane , Muscatello David , Paoloni Richard , Ivers Rebecca
Published: February 2016

Objective

This study aims to describe the general characteristics and data definitions used in a population‐based data set of ED presentations in New South Wales (NSW), used to form the basis of future‐trend analyses.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of the Emergency Department Data Collection registry, which provided clinical and demographic information of ED presentations across all EDs in NSW between 2010 and 2014. Presenting problems and ED diagnoses were classified using broad clinical categories including injury/musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, ear nose and throat, and mental health. Presentations were linked by patient to allow for analysis of representations, and population data were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Results

There were 11.8 million presentations that were analysed from 150 EDs (80.6% of all EDs). The rate of ED presentations was highest in those aged 85 years and older and appears to increase across all age groups between 2010 and 2014. The most common ED diagnosis categories were injury/musculoskeletal (27.5%) followed by abdominal/gastrointestinal (12.3%), respiratory (9%) and cardiovascular (8%). Both the Systematised Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (66%) and the International Classification of Diseases (24%) were used to code ED diagnoses.

Conclusions

The elderly population had the highest rate of ED attendances. The use of diverse diagnosis classifications and source information systems may present problems with further analysis. Patterns and characteristics of ED presentations in NSW were broadly consistent with those reported in other states in Australia.
The Other Green Revolution: Land Epistemologies and the Mexican Revolutionary State
Authors: Marchesi Greta
Published: February 2016

This paper explores the development of Mexican Revolutionary land epistemologies in the years following the global Great Depression. Demonstrating how ideas about agrarian life informed national development efforts across multiple spheres, including public education, state‐sponsored media, and governmental conservation projects, it argues that human–nature relations were constitutive of state visions of Revolutionary citizenship. Scholarly work interrogating the role of scientific knowledge in land politics has focused on the ways that territorial dispossessions are routed through expert truth claims; this study deviates from that work by asking how resource conflicts can also produce new knowledge to support progressive platforms for change.
The Relationship of Cerebral Vessel Pathology to Brain Microinfarcts
Authors: Arvanitakis Zoe , Capuano Ana W. , Leurgans Sue E. , Buchman Aron S. , Bennett David A. , Schneider Julie A.
Published: February 2016

The relationship of cerebral vessel pathology to brain microinfarcts is not fully understood. We examined associations of cerebral vessel pathology with microinfarcts among community‐dwelling persons who came to autopsy. Brain specimens were derived from 1,066 deceased subjects (mean age‐at‐death = 88 years, 65% women) participating in a cohort study of aging. Microinfarcts were classified by number, age and location. Severity of vessel pathologies was graded semi‐quantitatively. Almost a third of subjects (n = 300; 28%) had at least one chronic microinfarct, including 128 cortical only, 120 subcortical only, and 47 with both. Moderate‐to‐severe atherosclerosis was present in 430 (41%) subjects, arteriolosclerosis in 382 (36%), and amyloid angiopathy in 374 (35%). The odds of one or multiple microinfarct(s) was increased for more severe atherosclerosis (OR =1.22; 95%CI: 1.03–1.45), arteriolosclerosis (OR =1.18; 95%CI: 1.02–1.37) and amyloid angiopathy (OR =1.13; 95%CI: 1.00–1.28). Separately, the odds of subcortical microinfarct(s) was increased for atherosclerosis (OR =1.49; 95%CI: 1.20–1.84) and arteriolosclerosis (OR =1.39; 95%CI: 1.16–1.67) but not amyloid angiopathy; whereas the odds of cortical microinfarct(s) was increased for amyloid angiopathy (OR =1.26; 95%CI: 1.09–1.46) only. While cerebral vessel pathologies are associated with microinfarct burden, atherosclerosis and arteriolosclerosis are associated with subcortical microinfarcts, and amyloid angiopathy with cortical microinfarcts.
Protection against cardiac hypertrophy by geniposide involves the GLP‐1 receptor / AMPKα signalling pathway
Authors: Ma Zhen‐Guo , Dai Jia , Zhang Wen‐Bin , Yuan Yuan , Liao Hai‐Han , Zhang Ning , Bian Zhou‐Yan , Tang Qi‐Zhu
Published: February 2016

Background and Purpose

Activation of glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) receptor exerts a range of cardioprotective effects. Geniposide is an agonist of GLP‐1 receptor, but its role in cardiac hypertrophy remains completely unknown. Here, we have investigated its protective effects and clarified the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Experimental Approach

The transverse aorta was constricted in C57/B6 mice and then geniposide was given orally for 7 weeks. Morphological changes, echocardiographic parameters, histological analyses and hypertrophic markers were used to evaluate hypertrophy.

Key Results

Geniposide inhibited the hypertrophic response induced by constriction of the transverse aorta or by isoprenaline. Activation of 5′‐AMP‐activated protein kinase‐α (AMPKα) and inhibition of mammalian target of rapamycin, ERK and endoplasmic reticulum stress were observed in hypertrophic hearts that were treated with geniposide. Furthermore, Compound C (CpC) or knock‐down of AMPKα restricted protection of geniposide against cell hypertrophy and activation of mammalian target of rapamycin and ERK induced by hypertrophic stimuli. CpC or shAMPKα also abolished the protection of geniposide against endoplasmic reticulum stress induced by thapsigargin or dihtiothreitol. The cardio‐protective effects of geniposide were ablated in mice subjected to CpC. GLP‐1receptor blockade counteracted the anti‐hypertrophic response and activation of AMPKα by geniposide. Knock‐down of GLP‐1 receptor also offset the inhibitory effects of geniposide on cardiac hypertrophy in vivo.

Conclusions and Implications

Geniposide protected against cardiac hypertrophy via activation of the GLP‐1 receptor/AMPKα pathway. Geniposide is a potential therapeutic drug for cardiac hypertrophy.
Developmental dysplasia of the hip: usefulness of next generation genomic tools for characterizing the underlying genes – a mini review
Authors: Basit S. , Hannan M. A. , Khoshhal K. I.
Published: February 2016

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is one of the most common skeletal anomalies. DDH encompasses a spectrum of the disorder ranging from minor acetabular dysplasia to irreducible dislocation, which may lead to premature arthritis in later life. Involvement of genetic factors underlying DDH became evident when several studies reported chromosomal loci linked to DDH in families with multiple affected individuals. Moreover, using association studies, variants in genes involved in chondrogenesis and joint formation have been shown to be associated with DDH. At least, one study identified a pathogenic variant in the chemokine receptor gene in DDH. No genetic analysis has been reported or carried out in DDH patients from the Middle East. Here, we review the literature related to genetics of DDH and emphasized the usefulness of new generation technologies in identifying genetic variants underlying DDH in consanguineous families.
Graphs in Scientific Visualization: A Survey
Authors: Wang Chaoli , Tao Jun
Published: February 2016

Graphs represent general node‐link diagrams and have long been utilized in scientific visualization for data organization and management. However, using graphs as a visual representation and interface for navigating and exploring scientific data sets has a much shorter history, yet the amount of work along this direction is clearly on the rise in recent years. In this paper, we take a holistic perspective and survey graph‐based representations and techniques for scientific visualization. Specifically, we classify these representations and techniques into four categories, namely partition‐wise, relationship‐wise, structure‐wise and provenance‐wise. We survey related publications in each category, explaining the roles of graphs in related work and highlighting their similarities and differences. At the end, we reexamine these related publications following the graph‐based visualization pipeline. We also point out research trends and remaining challenges in graph‐based representations and techniques for scientific visualization.
Review of 3‐year outcomes of a very‐low‐energy diet‐based outpatient obesity treatment programme
Authors: Sumithran P. , Prendergast L. A. , Haywood C. J. , Houlihan C. A. , Proietto J.
Published: February 2016

Obesity is a complex disorder that requires a multidisciplinary treatment approach. This review evaluated 3‐year outcomes of a very‐low‐energy diet (VLED)‐based programme at a tertiary hospital multidisciplinary weight management clinic. Medical records of all patients who agreed to undertake the VLED programme and who did not undergo bariatric surgery during the 3‐year follow‐up period were examined. Baseline data collection included demographic and anthropometric characteristics, childhood onset of obesity and co‐existing medical conditions. Weight was modelled using a linear mixed effects analysis. Logistic regression analyses were used to model the probability of continuing to attend the clinic and to identify pre‐treatment factors associated with longer duration of attendance. Data from 1109 patients were included. A total of 231 patients (19.2%) were still attending the clinic 3 years after their initial appointment. Mean weight loss among patients who attended the clinic for 3 years was 6.4 kg (3.5%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.8, 4.2%). People who were prescribed pharmacotherapy maintained greater weight loss at 3 years (7.7% vs. 2.3% without pharmacotherapy, 95% CI for difference 3.9, 7.0%). People who had an onset of obesity in childhood, who had co‐existing hypertension or coronary artery disease, and who did not currently smoke were more likely to continue to attend the clinic for up to 3 years. In summary, in an outpatient weight management clinic, patients who undertook a VLED‐based programme and continued in follow‐up achieved a clinically significant weight loss at 3 years, particularly if pharmacotherapy was used for weight loss maintenance.
Self‐expanding metal stents for acute refractory esophageal variceal bleeding: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: McCarty Thomas R , Njei Basile
Published: February 2016

Background and Aim

Esophageal variceal bleeding is a severe complication of portal hypertension with significant morbidity and mortality. A substantial portion of cirrhotics fail to respond to conventional medical therapy and band ligation, necessitating alternative treatments including self‐expanding metal stent (SEMS) placement for acute refractory esophageal variceal bleeding. In the present study, we carried out a systematic review and structured meta‐analysis of all eligible studies to evaluate the technical feasibility, safety, clinical efficacy, and survival advantage of SEMS placement for the treatment of of acute esophageal variceal bleeding.

Methods

Searches of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases were carried out through December 2015. Individual study proportions were transformed into a quantity using the Freeman–Tukey variant of the arcsine square root transformed proportion. Combined weighted proportions, and meta‐regression were then determined.

Results

The search yielded 12 studies involving n = 155 patients included in our meta‐analysis. Pooled clinical success rate in achieving hemostasis within 24 h was 96% (95% CI, 0.90–1.00). Technical success for SEMS deployment endoscopically was achieved in 97% of patients (95% CI, 0.91–1.00). Total adverse events (including rebleeding after 48 h, ulceration, and stent migration) were shown in 36% of patients after SEMS placement (95% CI, 0.23–0.50). Pooled 30‐day and 60‐day survival rates were 68% (95% CI, 0.56–0.80) and 64% (95% CI, 0.48–0.78), respectively.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that esophageal SEMS placement is a technically feasible modality and highly efficacious in achieving hemostasis in acute esophageal variceal hemorrhage.
Prevention of age‐induced N(ε)‐(carboxymethyl)lysine accumulation in the microvasculature
Authors: Fuijkschot Wessel W. , de Graaff Hjalmar J. , Berishvili Ekatarina , Kakabadze Zurab , Kupreishvili Koba , Meinster Elisa , Houtman Maaike , van Broekhoven Amber , Schalkwijk Casper G. , Vonk Alexander B. A. , Krijnen Paul A. J. , Smulders Yvo M. , Niessen Hans W. N.
Published: February 2016

Objective

N(ε)‐(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) is one of the major advanced glycation end products in both diabetics and nondiabetics. CML depositions in the microvasculature have recently been linked to the aetiology of acute myocardial infarction and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease, possibly related to local enhancement of inflammation and oxidative processes. We hypothesized that CML deposition in the microvasculature of the heart and brain is age‐induced and that it could be inhibited by a diet intervention with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega‐3 fatty acid known for its anti‐inflammatory and antioxidative actions.

Materials and methods

ApoE−/− mice (n = 50) were fed a Western diet and were sacrificed after 40, 70 and 90 weeks. Part of these mice (n = 20) were fed a Western diet enriched with DHA from 40 weeks on. CML in cardiac and cerebral microvessels was quantified using immunohistochemistry.

Results

Cardiac microvascular depositions of CML significantly increased with an immunohistochemical score of 11·85 [5·92–14·60] at 40 weeks, to 33·17 [17·60–47·15] at 70 weeks (P = 0·005). At the same time points, cerebral microvascular CML increased from 6·45; [4·78–7·30] to 12·99; [9·85–20·122] (P = 0·003). DHA decreased CML in the intramyocardial vasculature at both 70 and 90 weeks, significant at 70 weeks [33·17; (17·60–47·15) vs. 14·73; (4·44–28·16) P = 0·037]. No such effects were found in the brain.

Conclusions

Accumulation of N(ε)‐(carboxymethyl)lysine in the cerebral and cardiac microvasculature is age‐induced and is prevented by DHA in the intramyocardial vessels of ApoE−/− mice.
Dysautonomia in prodromal α‐synucleinopathy: peripheral versus central autonomic degeneration
Authors: Dahms C. , Guenther A. , Schwab M. , Schultze T. , Nowack S. , Hoyer D. , Ehrhardt J. , Witte O. W. , Mayer G. , Rupprecht S.
Published: February 2016

Background and purpose

There is an urgent need for early predictive markers for the course of disease in prodromal α‐synucleinopathies such as idiopathic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behaviour disorder. Autonomic cardiac/vascular dysfunction is a prominent feature in advanced α‐synucleinopathies, but its diagnostic value as an early neurodegenerative marker remains unclear. The latter may be complicated since synuclein‐mediated neurodegeneration may involve central and peripheral components of the autonomic nervous system.

Methods

The diagnostic value of autonomic symptoms and central and peripheral autonomic markers of blood pressure and heart rate regulation were prospectively evaluated in 20 subjects with idiopathic REM sleep behaviour disorder and 20 age‐matched healthy controls.

Results

Although subjects with REM sleep behaviour disorder showed no clinical autonomic symptoms, blood pressure (P ≤ 0.035) and heart rate response (P ≤ 0.065) were slightly diminished during orthostatic challenge. Autonomic dysregulation was distinctively reflected in lower resting heart rate (all components, P ≤ 0.05) and blood pressure variability (low frequency component, P ≤ 0.024) indicating peripheral cardiac/vascular denervation. In contrast, baroreflex sensitivity and central cardiac autonomic outflow (sympathovagal balance) were well preserved indicating intact central autonomic regulation. Heart rate variability [very low frequency component, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) 0.80, P ≤ 0.001] and blood pressure variability (low frequency component ROC AUC 0.73, P ≤ 0.01) but not baroreflex sensitivity and sympathovagal balance showed an excellent diagnostic accuracy in identifying subjects with REM sleep behaviour disorder and healthy controls.

Conclusions

Cardiac/vascular dysfunction in prodromal α‐synucleinopathy arises from peripheral rather than from central autonomic degeneration. Autonomic indices encoded in heart rate and blood pressure variability are precise functional markers of early synuclein‐mediated neurodegeneration.
Adaptation of a plant pathogen to partial host resistance: selection for greater aggressiveness in grapevine downy mildew
Authors: Delmas Chloé E. L. , Fabre Frédéric , Jolivet Jérôme , Mazet Isabelle D. , Richart Cervera Sylvie , Delière Laurent , Delmotte François
Published: February 2016

An understanding of the evolution of pathogen quantitative traits in response to host selective pressures is essential for the development of durable management strategies for resistant crops. However, we still lack experimental data on the effects of partial host resistance on multiple phenotypic traits (aggressiveness) and evolutionary strategies in pathogens. We performed a cross‐inoculation experiment with four grapevine hosts and 103 isolates of grapevine downy mildew (Plasmopara viticola) sampled from susceptible and partially resistant grapevine varieties. We analysed the neutral and adaptive genetic differentiation of five quantitative traits relating to pathogen transmission. Isolates from resistant hosts were more aggressive than isolates from susceptible hosts, as they had a shorter latency period and higher levels of spore production. This pattern of adaptation contrasted with the lack of neutral genetic differentiation, providing evidence for directional selection. No specificity for a particular host variety was detected. Adapted isolates had traits that were advantageous on all resistant varieties. There was no fitness cost associated with this genetic adaptation, but several trade‐offs between pathogen traits were observed. These results should improve the accuracy of prediction of fitness trajectories for this biotrophic pathogen, an essential element for the modelling of durable deployment strategies for resistant varieties.