bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hormonal regulation of cereal endosperm development with a focus on rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Basunia Mafroz A. , Nonhebel Heather M.
Published: April 2019

The endosperm of cereal grain forms the staple diet for most of the world’s population, and feeds much of their stock. Grain size and quality are determined largely by events taking place during coenocytic nuclear division, endosperm cellularisation and cell differentiation, and the production of storage molecules. Thus, understanding the complex signalling processes occurring at each of these steps is essential for maintaining and improving our food supply. Here, we critically review evidence for the effects of phytohormones on grain size, as well as hormone homeostasis, signalling and crosstalk. We focus on rice endosperm due to the importance of rice as a food crop and a model grass, as well as its relative neglect in recent reviews; however, data from other cereals are also discussed due to strong evidence for conserved signalling networks operating during grain development. Discussion is restricted to auxin, cytokinin, ethylene, abscisic acid and gibberellin. Our review highlights the need for accurate hormone determinations combined with information on gene expression. We present evidence for separate, localised signalling roles for auxin at different stages of grain development and highlight key research questions for other hormones where much less data are available.
Restoring subtidal marine macrophytes in the Anthropocene: trajectories and future-proofing
Authors: Wood G. , Marzinelli E. M. , Coleman M. A. , Campbell A. H. , Santini N. S. , Kajlich L. , Verdura J. , Wodak J. , Steinberg P. D. , Vergés A.
Published: April 2019

Anthropogenic activities have caused profound changes globally in biodiversity, species interactions and ecosystem functions and services. In terrestrial systems, restoration has emerged as a useful approach to mitigate these changes, and is increasingly recognised as a tool to fortify ecosystems against future disturbances. In marine systems, restoration is also gaining traction as a management tool, but it is still comparatively scant and underdeveloped relative to terrestrial environments. Key coastal habitats, such as seaweed forests and seagrass meadows are showing widespread patterns of decline around the world. As these important ecosystems increasingly become the target of emerging marine restoration campaigns, it is important not only to address current environmental degradation issues, but also to focus on the future. Given the rate at which marine and other environments are changing, and given predicted increases in the frequency and magnitude of multiple stressors, we argue for an urgent need for subtidal marine macrophyte restoration efforts that explicitly incorporate future-proofing in their goals. Here we highlight emerging scientific techniques that can help achieve this, and discuss changes to managerial, political and public frameworks that are needed to support scientific innovation and restoration applications at scale.
Establishment and comparison of different intrauterine adhesion modelling procedures in rats
Authors: Sun Li , Zhang Siwen , Chang Qiyuan , Tan Jichun
Published: April 2019

Intrauterine adhesion (IUA) is caused by endometrial damage and leads to the formation of scar fibrosis and repair disorders. We compared four different rat IUA modelling procedures in order to establish a stable animal model suitable for investigating IUA. Twenty female Sprague­–Dawley rats were randomly divided into four groups. IUA was induced on one side of each rat uterus by ethanol instillation, heat stripping, mechanical injury or mechanical injury with infection (dual-injury); the other side of the uterus was left intact as a control. After 8 days the rats were sacrificed, their uteri were examined for histomorphology and expression of endometrial markers was checked using immunohistochemistry. All four IUA modelling procedures resulted in visual pathophysiological changes in the rat uterus, including stenosis, congestion and loss of elasticity. Endometrial thinning, shrinkage of glands and formation of fibrotic hyperplasia were also observed. All four procedures resulted in the downregulation of cytokeratin 18 and vimentin expression compared with control tissues, as well as the upregulation of collagen I expression. After mechanical injury and dual-injury the expression of interleukin 6 was significantly increased. Overall, our results suggest that ethanol instillation is the most stable IUA modelling procedure. Mechanical injury reliably yielded inflammatory indicators.
Measuring the average shape of transition paths during the folding of a single biological molecule
Authors: Hoffer Noel Q. , Neupane Krishna , Pyo Andrew G. T. , Woodside Michael T.
Published: April 2019

Significance

Transition path shapes encode key information about folding mechanisms because they represent the sequence of microscopic motions followed while traversing the critical transition states within the energy barrier separating folded and unfolded states. However, they are technically challenging to measure and have not been observed experimentally. We present measurements of transition path shapes, determining the average shapes for the folding of DNA hairpins. We find that time domain averages are sensitive to instrumental artifacts, but extension domain averages match the dominant path shape predicted theoretically for diffusion over a 1D landscape. Path shape variances reveal sequence-dependent changes in the diversity of transition paths, suggesting that multiple parallel pathways through the transition states can be detected simultaneously in a single molecule.
Rigidity percolation and geometric information in floppy origami
Authors: Chen Siheng , Mahadevan L.
Published: April 2019

Significance

Origami structures are a particularly interesting class of thin-sheet–based mechanical metamaterials that rely on folds for their morphology and mechanical properties. Here, we study how excess folds in a simple origami pattern control the rigidity of the structure. Furthermore, we show that the onset of geometrical cooperativity in the system allows for information storage in a scale-free manner. Understanding how mechanical rigidity and geometric information can be simultaneously controlled in folded sheets has implications for structures on a range of scales, from graphene to architecture.
Using phonotactics to reconstruct degrammaticalization
Authors: Daniels Don
Published: April 2019

The principle of directionality is an important part of the comparative method: in order to arrive at a reconstruction, historical linguists need a robust theory that informs them in what direction linguistic change is likely to proceed. But any such theory will have exceptions. How are these to be spotted? I examine one case in which a counter-directional change, degrammaticalization, can be reconstructed by invoking the phonotactics of the proto-language. The degrammaticalized form is the Sirva 3sgpronounbe, and the proto-language is Proto-Sogeram. After making this reconstruction, I also demonstrate that it can be used to enhance our understanding of degrammaticalization.Bespawned a small family of related forms, which shows us that degrammaticalized forms can become polygrammaticalized in the same way as other grammatical morphemes.
Prepositions, Case and Verbal Prefixes
Authors: Biskup Petr
Published: April 2019

This monograph is concerned with prepositional elements in Slavic languages, prepositions, verbal prefixes and functional elements of prepositional nature. It argues that verbal prefixes are incorporated prepositions projecting their argument structure in the complement of the verbal root and that their meaning is based on the two-argument meaning of prepositions, enriched with the CAUSE operator. The book investigates idiomaticity in the realm of prefixed verbs and proposes a novel analysis of non-compositional prefixed verbs based on the operation of predicate transfer. It also offers a uniform analysis of cases. Prepositional as well as non-prepositional cases are treated as a reflection of the agreement operation, whereat the type of prepositional case is determined by semantic properties of the decomposed preposition. Furthermore, it examines prepositions from a diachronic perspective and argues that they can be grammaticalised as future markers under certain circumstances.
Children’s acquisition of sociolinguistic variation
Authors: Miller Karen
Published: April 2019

This paper provides a review of past research on children’s acquisition of sociolinguistic variation and the impact that variable input has on the acquisition of grammatical morphology. I describe findings from both corpus studies and experimental studies, focusing primarily on the acquisition of variably produced plural morphology and subject-verb agreement. I make two predictions: (i) variable input impacts the time course of acquisition, such that variably produced morphology takes longer to acquire than non-variably produced morphology. And, (ii) variable input does not impact patterns of acquisition. Regardless of input-type, children pass through the same developmental linguistic stages.
When OR is conjunctive in child Mandarin
Authors: Huang Haiquan , Thornton Rosalind , Crain Stephen
Published: April 2019

According to a recent proposal, children license a conjunctive inference for statements with disjunction even without a licensing expression that adults require, e.g., the deontic modal verb is allowed to (Singh, Wexler, Astle, Kamawar, & Fox, 2016; Tieu et al., 2017). However, the rates of children’s conjunctive inferences vary considerably across studies, which may be due to the different experimental tasks and materials. Using a Truth Value Judgment Task (Crain & Thornton, 1998), the present study systematically investigated children’s interpretation of disjunctive sentences with and without a deontic modal verb. It was found that children computed conjunctive inferences only in sentences with the deontic modal verb. We discuss the possible reasons for the varying findings of children’s interpretation of disjunction in previous studies.
On the learnability of implicit arguments
Authors: Mateu Victoria , Hyams Nina
Published: April 2019

It has been argued that the experiencer argument of seem is always syntactically projected, and should thus induce an intervention effect even when not overtly produced. The results of our experimental study provide evidence for this claim – English-speaking children perform poorly on raising with seem, whether the intervening experiencer argument is overt or implicit. Conversely, Spanish-speaking children show adult-like performance with the raising semi-modal verb parecer ‘seem’, which does not take an experiencer argument. This outcome raises questions regarding learnability, i.e. English-speaking children must know to project an implicit experiencer with seem, while Spanish-speaking children must not do so with the functional verb parecer. In this paper we provide a learning path that resolves this learning challenge.
The acquisition of Mandarin reflexives by heritage speakers and second language learners
Authors: Chen Chung-Yu
Published: April 2019

This study investigates (a) whether heritage speakers (HSs) and second language learners (L2ers) acquire the properties of Mandarin reflexives and (b) whether HSs have an advantage over L2ers in acquiring the binding properties of Mandarin reflexives: taziji ‘himself/herself’, which requires local antecedents, and ziji ‘self’, which allows local and long-distance (LD) antecedents. Fourteen native speakers (NSs), 14 HSs, and 12 L2ers completed a Truth Value Judgment Task. Unlike NSs, HSs and L2ers predominantly allowed local but not LD interpretations, possibly due to English transfer and/or local binding as the default option. Regarding taziji, HSs patterned with NSs in accepting only local interpretations, while L2ers overaccepted the LD interpretations and underaccepted the local interpretations, possibly due to indeterminacy in judgments or misanalysis of taziji as the pronoun ta.
Acquisition of word order in L2 Spanish
Authors: Gonzalez Darriba Patricia
Published: April 2019

Previous studies on Spanish adverb placement investigated how English natives reset their L1 [‑raise] to [+raise] but neglected the acquisition of adverb placement with haber (particularly, manner adverbs). The acquisition of haber/Participle/Adverb in Spanish depends on (1) the apparent lack of autonomy of haber forms, and (2) the neutral syntactic position of the adverb. To investigate the acquisition of “haber + manner adverb” by Spanish learners, 18 Spanish monolinguals and 33 L1 English Spanish learners completed a Grammaticality Judgment Task and an Explicit Production Task. Results suggest that (a) haber verbal forms lack autonomy; (b) había behaves as a syntactic clitic, and ha as a syntactic-phonological clitic; and (c) acquisition of “haber + manner adverb” order occurs successfully in learners.
The V-copy construction in Mandarin
Authors: Bartos Huba
Published: April 2019

The focus of this study is the so-called verb-copy construction(s) of Mandarin Chinese, where two (or even more) copies of the same verb surface in a single clause, without any semantic consequence of this multiplicity. This family of constructions has received various analyses in the generative tradition (e.g., Tsao 1987; Huang 1988; Li 1990; Shi 1996; Paul 2002a, Gouguet 2005; Cheng 2007), each with its strengths and weaknesses. In recent years, there emerged some partially converging proposals that build on the minimalist framework of Chomsky (1995, 2000, 2001), and fundamentally agree that in these constructions both VP-level and V-level operations are involved (V-copy is not one construction, but a group of surface lookalikes, with different underlying structures), and syntactic effects are heavily interspersed with semantic/pragmatic and phonetic considerations in a proper account; see: Gouguet (2005), Bartos (2008), Cheng (2007), Tieu (2009). On the other hand, some other recent contributions (Fang & Sells 2007; Hsu 2008) seem to call several assumptions of the earlier analyses into question, and present data neglected by those proposals. The present paper briefly reviews the earlier accounts, examines and mostly refutes the new potential counterarguments, and refines Bartos’s earlier analysis to cater for the full range of structural variation involved, by incorporating certain compatible components of Gouguet’s (2005) and Tieu’s (2009) proposals into it.
Null object constructions, VP-ellipsis, and sentence interpretation
Authors: Pan Haihua
Published: April 2019

This paper discusses issues related to VP-Ellipsis and null object constructions in Mandarin Chinese. It consists of two parts. First, pace Li (1998) and Xu (2003), but in line with Huang (1988a, b, 1991), the paper argues that it is not true that no null object construction (NOC) sentences can be analyzed as VP-ellipsis in Mandarin Chinese, and it will show that the reason for the fact that the interpretation patterns of the relevant sentences deviate from those of their English counterparts is not because there is no VP-ellipsis in Chinese but because Chinese pronouns and reflexives exhibit some special properties different from those in English. The claim in this paper is that the so-called NOC sentences are ambiguous in structure and can be analyzed as either VP-ellipsis or NOC. Second, pace Kehler (1993), the paper claims that it is not the parallel vs. non-parallel distinction but the semantic and discourse constraints of coordinate constructions with too and ye ‘also’ in VP-ellipsis that help explain why some VP-ellipsis sentences are ungrammatical in English and Mandarin Chinese, respectively. Hence, the coordination construction in neither English nor Chinese is constrained by the so-called syntactic condition which is based on the parallel vs. non-parallel distinction, as proposed in Kehler (1993), and discourse factors play a crucial role in the interpretation of coordination construction in the two languages concerned.
Contextual variations of internal and external modifications in Chinese requests
Authors: Li Shuai
Published: April 2019

This study investigates contextual variations in mitigation production (consisting of internal and external modifications) in Chinese request-making (i.e., what native Chinese speakers consider appropriate to say in hypothetical scenarios). The participants were 22 native Chinese speakers recruited from a university in China. They completed a 20-item Oral Discourse Completion Test (ODCT) tapping two contextual variables: power and imposition. The results show that: (1) both power and imposition exerted significant influence on the frequency of producing internal and external modifications, (2) the various internal and external modifiers were differentially associated with the two contextual variables, and (3) the preferred sequential organization of external modifications differed according to context types.
The psychologization of the Underground Man
Authors: Boulogne Pieter
Published: April 2019

After reading L’esprit souterrain, the first French translation of Dostoevsky’s Notes
from the Underground, Nietzsche embraced Dostoevsky as a master psychologist, notwithstanding their ideological
differences. This article argues that the much-discussed influence of Dostoevsky on Nietzsche can be better understood by
unraveling the specific nature of the translation L’esprit souterrain. An analysis shows that as a consequence of
the adopted translation strategy, the character of the Underground Man, who in the Russian context functions as a
philosophical-ideological type, becomes a purely psychological type. This is all the more important, since Nietzsche’s enthusiasm
for Dostoevsky led to rereadings of Dostoevsky through a Nietzschean lens.
Linguistic ideology and the pre-modern English Bible
Authors: Bell Canon Elizabeth
Published: April 2019

Can the prestige of a language be an argument for the translation of a sacred text? Conversely, if a language is
perceived as substandard, is that an argument against translation? In the history of the English Bible, scholars and theologians
have argued both for and against a vernacular scripture, but the debate has not always been based on religious beliefs. Following
the Norman Invasion of 1066, the translation debate shifted from the religious to the linguistic. In other words, the argument
against translation became based on the perception that English was “too rude” to properly convey the complex nature of Holy
Scripture. Reformers like William Tyndale protested this view, arguing that the linguistic argument against a Bible in the
vernacular really masked an almost maniacal desire on the part of the ecclesiastical establishment to control the message. This
paper takes a closer look at historical arguments for and against an English Bible from the Anglo-Saxon period through the Tyndale
Bible.
When pregnancy tames the wolf
Authors: Niewold Timothy B. , Mehta-Lee Shilpi
Published: April 2019

A state of relative immunosuppression exists in normal pregnancy. In this issue of JEM, Hong et al. (https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.20190185) perform blood immunomonitoring in pregnancy, in both healthy women and women with lupus, and observe early and sustained transcriptional modulation of lupus-related pathways in both groups. When signatures of inflammation did not normalize in lupus, risk of pregnancy complications was increased.
Increasing the penetration depth of temporal focusing multiphoton microscopy for neurobiological applications
Authors: Rowlands Christopher J , Bruns Oliver T , Franke Daniel , Fukamura Dai , Jain Rakesh K , Bawendi Moungi G , So Peter T C
Published: April 2019

The first ever demonstration of temporal focusing with short wave infrared (SWIR) excitation and emission is demonstrated, achieving a penetration depth of 500 µm in brain tissue. This is substantially deeper than the highest previously-reported values for temporal focusing imaging in brain tissue, and demonstrates the value of these optimized wavelengths for neurobiological applications.
Influence of the illumination spectrum and observation angle on temperature measurements using thermochromic liquid crystals
Authors: Moller S , König J , Resagk C , Cierpka C
Published: April 2019

As measurements of velocity and temperature fields are of paramount importance for analyzing heat transfer problems, the development and characterization of measuring techniques is an ongoing challenge. In this respect, optical measurements have become a powerful tool, as both quantities can be measured noninvasively. For instance, combining particle image velocimetry (PIV) and particle image thermometry (PIT) using thermochromic liquid crystals (TLCs) as tracer particles allows for a simultaneous measurement of velocity and temperature fields with low uncertainty. However, the temperature dependency of the color appearance of TLCs, which is used for the temperature measurements, is affected by several experimental parameters. In particular, the spectrum of the white light source, necessary for the illumination of TLCs, shows a greater influence on the range of color play with temperature of TLCs. Therefore, two different spectral distributions of the white light illumination have been tested. The results clearly indicate that a spectrum with reduced intensities in the blue range and increased intensities in the red range leads to a higher sensitivity for temperature measurements, which decreases the measurement uncertainty. Furthermore, the influence of the angle between illumination and observation of TLCs has been studied in detail. It is shown that the temperature measurement range of TLCs drastically decreases with an increasing angle between illumination and observation. A high sensitivity is obtained for angles in between

and

, promising temperature measurements with a very low uncertainty within this range. Finally, a new calibration approach for temperature measurements via the color of TLCs is presented. Based on linear interpolation of the temperature dependent value of hue, uncertainties in the range of 0.1 K are possible, offering the possibility to measure very small temperature differences. The potential of the developed approach is shown at the example of simultaneous measurements of velocity and temperature fields in Rayleigh–Bénard convection.
An overview of diagnostic upgrade and experimental progress in the KTX
Authors: Liu Wandong , Mao Wenzhe , Lan Tao , Zhuang Ge , Zheng Jian , Yuan Peng , Li Hong , Xie Jinlin , Liu Ahdi , Wu Zhengwei , Liu Zixi , Wan Shude , Wang Hai , Wen Xiaohui , Zhou Haiyang , Wei Zian , You Wei , Tu Cui , Tan Mingsheng , Li Zichao , Adil Yolbarsop , Xu Hangqi , Deng Tijian , Zhu Junfeng , Chen Chen , Zhang Sen , Wu Jiaren , Zu Yiming , Luo Bing , Xiao Chijin , Ding Weixing
Published: April 2019

The Keda Torus eXperiment (KTX) is still operated in the commissioning phase, and preparation for the operation capability of the KTX phase II upgrade is underway. The diagnostics in the KTX have been greatly developed: (1) the terahertz interferometer has been upgraded to seven chords for electron density profile inversion; (2) a Thomson scattering system with a 5 Joule laser has been installed and commissioning is in progress; (3) a 3D movable probe system has been developed for the electromagnetic turbulence measurement; (4) double-foil soft x-ray imaging diagnostics have been set up and a bench test has been completed; (5) an edge capacitive probe has been installed for the radial electrical field measurement; (6) a multi-channel spectrograph system has been built for detecting impurities of carbon and oxygen. In addition, the design of a new compact torus injection system has been completed for feeding and momentum driving. Pilot research, such as the 3D reversed field pinch physics and electromagnetic turbulence, etc, have been conducted in the discharge status of the KTX. The 3D spectra characters of electromagnetic turbulence are firstly measured using a classical two-point technique by Langmuir probe arrays set on the 3D movable probe system and edge magnetic sensors. The forward scattering is collected by the interferometer system, which shows the potential for turbulence research. The electromagnetic turbulence is tentatively investigated in the KTX. The formation of a quasi-single-helicity state in the KTX regime is also preliminarily explored in simulation.
Changes in Low‐Income Households’ Spending and Time Use Patterns in Response to the 2013 Sunset of the ARRA‐SNAP Benefit
Authors: Kim Jiyoon (June) , Rabbitt Matthew P , Tuttle Charlotte
Published: April 2019

We examine the effects of the 2013 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit cut on households’ food expenditures, as well as other expenditure categories by analyzing data from the 2012–2014 Consumer Expenditure Survey (CEX). Making use of the short panel structure of the CEX, we employ difference‐in‐differences methods with household fixed effects. Results show that reduced SNAP benefits significantly decreased the food‐at‐home expenditure of SNAP households, but increased expenditure on used cars and public transportation. To further explore these findings, we use the American Time Use Survey (ATUS), where we find that SNAP households spent less time on food preparation, but more time on market work (both formal work and informal work) after the 2013 SNAP benefit cut. Our findings suggest that cutting program benefits by any level is immediately reflected in low‐income household's food expenditure. Our results also indicate that an increase in transportation expenditures correspond with the observed increase in labor supply for participant households. These reveal important information about the behaviors and coping strategies of low‐income households as they respond to a negative shock to their income.
Reducing opioid use for chronic pain in older adults
Authors: Goga Joshana K , Michaels Annie , Zisselman Marc , DePaolo Antonio , Khushalani Sunil , Walters J Ken , Poloway Anita , Roca Robert , Kopp Matthew
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Implementation of the SAFE PAIN algorithm for reducing opioid use for chronic pain in older adults is described.

A multidisciplinary team at Sheppard Pratt Health System, the largest private provider of psychiatric care in Maryland, used lean methodology to identify the root causes for noncompliance to evidence-based practices for patients in the geropsychiatry unit treated for osteoarthritis or chronic back pain. The team collaborated to develop a facility-specific treatment algorithm, called SAFE PAIN (Sheppard Pratt Health System Algorithm For Elderly Patient Centered Analgesia Interdisciplinary Nagara), was based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s evidence-based recommendations that included nonpharmacologic interventions as a first-line therapy for patients with osteoarthritis or chronic back pain. Rates of prescribing new opioids and prescribing evidence-based alternative medications via the SAFE PAIN algorithm were evaluated from March 1 to September 30, 2017 and compared with baseline (2012–2016). The lean methodology interventions led to zero new opioid orders during the study period, a significant decrease compared with previous years (p < 0.01). The rates of prescribing evidence-based alternative medications increased significantly from the baseline period to postimplementation (p < 0.01). Lean methodology interventions also decreased waste in several processes.

Conclusion

The prescribing rate of new opioids for osteoarthritis and chronic back pain decreased and the prescribing rate for evidence-based medications increased after implementation of the SAFE PAIN algorithm in a geropsychiatry unit.
Necessity creates opportunities for chimpanzee tool use
Authors: Grund Charlotte , Neumann Christof , Zuberbühler Klaus , Gruber Thibaud
Published: April 2019

Although social transmission mechanisms of animal cultures are well studied, little is known about the origins of behavioral innovations, even in established tool users such as chimpanzees. Previous work has suggested that wild chimpanzees are especially prone to engaging with tools during extended periods of low food availability and after long travel, supporting the hypothesis that cultural innovation is facilitated by necessity revealing opportunities. Here, we tested this hypothesis with a field experiment that directly compared subjects’ immediate variation in measures of current energy balance with their interest in a novel foraging problem, liquid honey enclosed in an apparatus accessible by tool use. We found that the previous distance traveled directly predicted subjects’ manipulations of both the apparatus and the tool, whereas previous feeding time was negatively correlated to manipulation time. We conclude that “necessity” augments chimpanzees’ likelihood of engaging with ecological “opportunities,” suggesting that both factors are scaffolding foraging innovation in this and potentially other species.
Comparing Word Characteristic Effects on Vocabulary of Children with Cochlear Implants
Authors: Lund Emily
Published: April 2019

Many studies have evaluated overall vocabulary knowledge of children who use cochlear implants, but there has been minimal focus on how word form characteristics affect this knowledge. This study evaluates the effects of neighborhood density and phonotactic probability on the expressive vocabulary of 81 children between five and seven years old (n = 27 cochlear implant users, n = 27 children matched for chronological age, and n = 27 children matched for vocabulary size). Children were asked to name pictures associated with words that have common and rare phonotactic probability and high and sparse neighborhood density. Results indicate that children with cochlear implants, similar to both groups of children with typical hearing, tend to know words with common probability/high density or with rare probability/ sparse density. Patterns of word knowledge for children with cochlear implants mirrored younger children matched for vocabulary size rather than age-matched children with typical hearing.
Electrocardiographic optimization techniques in resynchronization therapy
Authors: Pujol-López Margarida , San Antonio Rodolfo , Mont Lluís , Trucco Emilce , Tolosana José María , Arbelo Elena , Guasch Eduard , Heist Edwin Kevin , Singh Jagmeet P
Published: April 2019

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a cornerstone of therapy for patients with heart failure, reduced left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, and a wide QRS complex. However, not all patients respond to CRT: 30% of CRT implanted patients are currently considered clinical non-responders and up to 40% do not achieve LV reverse remodelling. In order to achieve the best CRT response, appropriate patient selection, device implantation, and programming are important factors. Optimization of CRT pacing intervals may improve results, increasing the number of responders, and the magnitude of the response. Echocardiography is considered the reference method for atrioventricular and interventricular (VV) intervals optimization but it is time-consuming, complex and it has a large interobserver and intraobserver variability. Previous studies have linked QRS shortening to clinical response, echocardiographic improvement and favourable prognosis. In this review, we describe the electrocardiographic optimization methods available: 12-lead electrocardiogram; fusion-optimized intervals (FOI); intracardiac electrogram-based algorithms; and electrocardiographic imaging. Fusion-optimized intervals is an electrocardiographic method of optimizing CRT based on QRS duration that combines fusion with intrinsic conduction. The FOI method is feasible and fast, further reduces QRS duration, can be performed during implant, improves acute haemodynamic response, and achieves greater LV remodelling compared with nominal programming of CRT.
De novo genome assembly of the white-spotted flower chafer (Protaetia brevitarsis)
Authors: Wang Kui , Li Pengpeng , Gao Yongyang , Liu Chunqin , Wang Qinglei , Yin Jiao , Zhang Jie , Geng Lili , Shu Changlong
Published: April 2019

Background

Protaetia brevitarsis, commonly known as the white-spotted flower chafer, is an important Scarabaeidae insect that is distributed in most Asian countries. Recently, research on the insect's harmfulness to crops, usefulness in agricultural waste utilization, edibility, medicinal value, and usability in insect immunology has provided sufficient impetus to demonstrate the need for a detailed study of its biology. Herein, we sequenced the whole genome of this species to improve our understanding and study of P. brevitarsis.

Findings

We developed a highly reliable genome resource for P. brevitarsis (Lewis, 1879; Coleoptera: Cetoniinae) using Illumina and PacBio sequencing platforms. A total of 135.75 gigabases (Gb) was generated, providing 150-fold coverage based on the 810-megabases (Mb) estimated genome size. The assembled P. brevitarsis genome was 751 Mb (including the scaffolds longer than 2 kilobases (kb)) with 327 scaffolds, and the N50 length of the assembly was 2.94 Mb. A total of 34,110 (22,229 in scaffolds and 11,881 located in alleles) genes were identified using Evidence Modeler, which was based on the gene prediction results obtained from 3 different methods (ab initio, RNA sequencing based, and known gene based).

Conclusions

We assembled a high-quality P. brevitarsis genome, which will not only provide insight into the biology of the species but also provide a wealth of information that will inform researchers on the evolution, control, and utilization of P. brevitarsis.
In vitro activity of ampicillin and ceftriaxone against ampicillin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium
Authors: Lorenzo Michael P , Kidd James M , Jenkins Stephen G , Nicolau David P , Housman Seth T
Published: April 2019

Objectives

To assess activity of the combination of ceftriaxone and ampicillin against clinical isolates of ampicillin-susceptible Enterococcus faecium.

Methods

Ampicillin-susceptible E. faecium (n = 29) and Enterococcus faecalis (n = 10) collected from locations in the USA and France were used for this analysis. Susceptibility testing was performed by gradient diffusion strip (GDS) and broth microdilution (BMD). Synergy with the combination of ceftriaxone and ampicillin was assessed in all isolates using GDS crossing and double disc diffusion methods. Selected isolates (nine E. faecium and three E. faecalis) were assessed for synergy in time–kill studies using ampicillin alone and in combination with ceftriaxone.

Results

In isolates of E. faecium, the median (range) ampicillin MIC by BMD was 0.5 (0.25–4) mg/L and by GDS it was 2 (1–8)  mg/L. In E. faecalis, the median (range) ampicillin MIC by BMD was 0.5 (0.5–1) mg/L and by GDS it was 2 (0.75–3) mg/L. A total of 24/29 (82.8%) isolates of E. faecium displayed synergy by GDS and 22/29 (75.9%) by double disc diffusion. Seven of 10 (70%) isolates of E. faecalis displayed synergy by GDS and 4/10 (40%) by double disc diffusion. Time–kill studies found synergy in 3/9 (33.3%) E. faecium and 3/3 (100%) E. faecalis.

Conclusions

In contrast to the demonstrated synergy in time–kill models of ceftriaxone and ampicillin for E. faecalis, this combination does not appear to provide uniform synergy in E. faecium. Antagonism was not observed. Clinical correlation is necessary and caution should be used when considering ampicillin and ceftriaxone for the treatment of infections caused by ampicillin-susceptible E. faecium.
Morphological and Molecular Species Identification of Termites Attacking Ironwood Trees, Casuarina equisetifolia (Fagales: Casuarinaceae), in Guam
Authors: Park Jong-Seok , Husseneder Claudia , Schlub Robert L
Published: April 2019

Ironwood trees (Casuarina equisetifolia subsp. equisetifolia L.) are ecologically and economically important trees in tropical and subtropical regions of the Indo-Pacific. Ironwood is one of the dominant tree species in Guam, but since 2002, this tree has been declining dramatically. A previous study showed that numerous sick or dead trees were under termite attack. However, the species of termites were not identified. As a first step to investigate causal relationships between termites and ironwood tree death, we assigned termites collected from ironwood trees to species using a combination of morphological characters and DNA barcoding of the 12S, 16S, COI, COII, and ITS2 regions. Based on morphology and comparisons to reference sequences in NCBI GenBank, the most likely species assignments were Nasutitermes takasagoensis (Nawa) (Blattodea: Termitidae) found to infest 45 trees, followed by Coptotermes gestroi (Wasmann) (Blattodea: Rhinotermitidae) (2 trees), Microcerotermes crassus Snyder (Blattodea: Termitidae) (2 trees), and an additional unidentified Microcerotermes species (1 tree) with no close sequence match to identified species in NCBI GenBank. However, taxonomic revisions and broader representation of DNA markers of well-curated specimen in public databases are clearly needed, especially for the N. takasagoensis species complex.
Community Composition, Abundance, and Phenology of Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Soybean in the North Central Region of the United States
Authors: Pezzini Daniela T , DiFonzo Christina D , Finke Deborah L , Hunt Thomas E , Knodel Janet J , Krupke Christian H , McCornack Brian , Michel Andrew P , Philips Christopher R , Varenhorst Adam J , Wright Robert J , Koch Robert L
Published: April 2019

Stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) are an increasing threat to soybean (Fabales: Fabaceae) production in the North Central Region of the United States, which accounts for 80% of the country’s total soybean production. Characterization of the stink bug community is essential for development of management programs for these pests. However, the composition of the stink bug community in the region is not well defined. This study aimed to address this gap with a 2-yr, 9-state survey. Specifically, we characterized the relative abundance, richness, and diversity of taxa in this community, and assessed phenological differences in abundance of herbivorous and predatory stink bugs. Overall, the stink bug community was dominated by Euschistus spp. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and Chinavia hilaris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Euschistus variolarius (Palisot de Beauvois) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), C. hilaris and Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) were more abundant in the northwestern, southeastern and eastern parts, respectively, of the North Central Region of the United States. Economically significant infestations of herbivorous species occurred in fields in southern parts of the region. Species richness differed across states, while diversity was the same across the region. Herbivorous and predatory species were more abundant during later soybean growth stages. Our results represent the first regional characterization of the stink bug community in soybean fields and will be fundamental for the development of state- and region-specific management programs for these pests in the North Central Region of the United States.
Biology at Different Temperatures, Thermal Requirements, and Ecological Zoning of Opogona sacchari (Lepidoptera: Tineidae)
Authors: Fonseca Lacerda Lucas , Coelho Aloisio , Gomes Garcia Adriano , Sentelhas Paulo Cesar , Postali Parra José Roberto
Published: April 2019

The banana moth, Opogona sacchari (Bojer, 1856), is a polyphagous pest that causes serious damage to different crops around the world, particularly to bananas in southern Brazil. The insect is designated a quarantine pest in several countries including Argentina, the main consumer market for bananas produced in southern Brazil. To provide support for the management of O. sacchari, the present study investigated the biology and thermal requirements at eight temperatures (18, 22, 25, 28, 30, 32, 33, and 34 ± 1°C) and constructed a fertility life table at five temperatures (18, 22, 25, 28, and 30 ± 1°C). Above 30°C, the mortality of all life stages was 100%; the best temperature for development was 25°C. Based on this information, an ecological zoning of the pest was developed for Brazil. The lower temperature threshold was 8.6°C. The zoning indicated that the pest does not occur in regions with warmer climates, corresponding to the actual distribution of this pest in Brazil.
Issues associated with medical tourism for cancer care in Japan
Authors: Awano Nobuyasu , Takamoto Takeshi , Kawakami Junko , Genda Atsuko , Ninomiya Akiko , Ikeda Misato , Matsuno Fumie , Izumo Takehiro , Kunitoh Hideo
Published: April 2019

Background

Medical tourism has grown globally, especially in oncology field, but it may cause serious problems. We aimed to elucidate concerns generated by medical tourism at a Japanese hospital and recommend solutions.

Methods

We evaluated 72 consecutive patients with cancer who had traveled from abroad to receive second opinions, clinical examinations or treatments at our hospital between January 2015 and December 2016. Data were retrospectively collected to include the purpose of patients’ visits, presence and content of referral documents, details of treatments provided at our hospital, concordance between treatments received and patients’ expectations, troublesome hospital incidents, risks of travel and problems with payment.

Results

The purpose of the visit was actual cancer treatment in the majority of the cases. Thirteen patients could speak neither Japanese nor English. Inadequate content in patient referral documents and discordance between information from the referring physician and findings at first examination were the main issues observed in the pre-treatment phase; 33 patients decided to receive treatment at our hospital. Language differences caused problems in patients’ understanding of instructions and explanations during treatment. Additional problems included inaccurate self-evaluation of disease status, differences in cultural habits and requests for inappropriate and/or unavailable therapies. No major issues that could lead to injury in patients or medical staff were observed. Risks involved with returning home and transfer of treatment to local physicians were the main post-treatment issues.

Conclusion

Medical tourism raises various issues. Institutional and medical staff should be adequately prepared by developing working systems.
Novel Example of a Direct-Agglutinating Anti-Ku
Authors: Gannett Michael Sel , Gammon Richard R
Published: April 2019

Background

Several Kell-system antibodies are known to cause direct agglutination. Also, some specificities, such as anti-Ku, have been reported to react only via the indirect antiglobulin test (IAT).

Methods

Herein, we describe the case of a 61-year-old alloimmunized white woman who presented to an outside hospital with a gastrointestinal (GI) bleed and a “possible anti-Ku” was reported with 3+ reactivity at PEG-IAT and at Ficin-IAT; in addition to an unidentified cold antibody. Subsequently, when the patient presented to a second outside hospital, an anti-Ku that caused 3+ to 4+ reactions at saline-immediate spin (IS) was identified. The reactivity was evaluated with 0.01-M dithiothreitol (DTT) treatment of the plasma.

Results

It was determined that the strong agglutination with saline-IS was caused by immunoglobulin (Ig)M anti-Ku.

Conclusion

To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an IgM anti-Ku.
Artifacts
Authors: Novak Peter
Published: April 2019

It is of paramount importance to recognize artifacts since they can mimic various abnormalities, such as high or low blood pressure or even syncope.
Case 7: Syncope, Double
Authors: Novak Peter
Published: April 2019

Patient presents with frequent spells of passing out. Tilt test provoked two episodes of neurally mediated syncope, mixed type. Although rare, neurally mediated syncope can occur in the supine position. A second syncope can follow the first syncope almost immediately.
Case 16: Autonomic Failure or Postural Tachycardia Syndrome?
Authors: Novak Peter
Published: April 2019

Small fiber neuropathy is associated with adrenergic failure. Anxiety is common and occasionally can be identified as a transient elevation of heart rate, blood pressure, and cerebral blood flow velocity.
Case 18: Postural Tachycardia Syndrome and Small Fiber Neuropathy in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Authors: Novak Peter
Published: April 2019

Postural tachycardia syndrome and small fiber neuropathy can be associated with polycystic ovary syndrome or with the use of metformin.
Case 19: Straining-Induced Dizziness
Authors: Novak Peter
Published: April 2019

This is an example of a Valsalva-like activity (straining) inducing dizziness and headaches. Autonomic testing showed excessive increase of cerebral blood flow velocity during Phase 4 of the Valsalva maneuver, which is consistent with cerebral hyperemia. Valsalva-induced headaches are usually indomethacin-responsive.
Case 24: Orthostatic Cerebral Hypoperfusion Syndrome with Vision Loss
Authors: Novak Peter
Published: April 2019

The tilt test showed orthostatic cerebral hypoperfusion syndrome (OCHOS) with intermittent reduction in cerebral blood flow velocity and vision loss. OCHOS is associated with reduced orthostatic cerebral blood flow velocity without orthostatic hypotension or arrhythmia.
Case 29: Hypocapnic Cerebral Hypoperfusion
Authors: Novak Peter
Published: April 2019

This case presents a patient with extreme fatigue and excessive sleepiness. The tilt test provoked decline in cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFv) associated with decline in end tidal CO2, indicative of hypocapnic cerebral hypoperfusion (HYCH). There was also mild small fiber neuropathy affecting predominantly autonomic fibers associated with mild autonomic dysfunction.
Case 34: Hypocapnic Cerebral Hypoperfusion and Effect of End Tidal CO2
Authors: Novak Peter
Published: April 2019

Patient experienced symptoms of orthostatic intolerance due to cerebral hypoperfusion and to hypocapnic hyperventilation, which is typical for hypocapnic cerebral hypoventilation. (HYCH). Voluntary hyperventilation in supine position reproduced symptoms and findings.
Case 46: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Novak Peter
Published: April 2019

A 61-year-old man presents with a progressive exertional dyspnea, fatigue, orthostatic intolerance, and weakness. Autonomic testing was normal. However, there was evidence of respiratory failure associated with tachypnea and hypocapnia. Respiratory failure is characteristic of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Case 50: Small Fiber Neuropathy and Severe Autonomic Failure in Diabetes
Authors: Novak Peter
Published: April 2019

This is an example of a typical autonomic failure associated with diabetes mellitus. Autonomic testing showed generalized autonomic failure with orthostatic hypotension and severe small fiber neuropathy affecting both sensory and autonomic fibers.
Case 61: Small Fiber Neuropathy, Patchy, with Elevated Voltage-Gated Potassium Channel Antibodies
Authors: Novak Peter
Published: April 2019

This patient presents with disabling pain in the feet for several years, chronic fatigue, and a history of Lyme disease. Neuropathy workup revealed autoimmune small fiber neuropathy with patchy distribution, associated with voltage-gated potassium channel antibodies (VGKC) antibodies. VGKCs modulate the nociceptive sensory threshold. Severe hypocapnic hyperventilation in this patient may be related to chronic pain and cerebral hypoperfusion.
Case 75: Small Fiber Neuropathy, Cerebral Autoregulatory Failure, and Posttreatment Lyme Disease Syndrome
Authors: Novak Peter
Published: April 2019

This patient has a history of Lyme disease with persistent cognitive and sensory symptoms, and he may have posttreatment Lyme disease syndrome (PLDS). The autonomic testing showed small fiber neuropathy and cerebral autoregulatory failure.
Case 77: Painful Small Fiber Neuropathy in Posttreatment Lyme Disease Syndrome
Authors: Novak Peter
Published: April 2019

This case illustrates autonomic failure in painful post-Lyme disease syndrome. Autonomic testing has shown supine hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, and hypocapnic cerebral hypoperfusion (HYCH). Small fiber neuropathy was painful, affecting sensory fibers. Patient noted improvement in the pain by about 40% after 12 month of intravenous immune globulins.