bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Corticosterone and exogenous glucose alter blood glucose levels, neurotoxicity, and vascular toxicity produced by methamphetamine
Authors: Bowyer John F. , Tranter Karen M. , Sarkar Sumit , George Nysia I. , Hanig Joseph P. , Kelly Kimberly A. , Michalovicz Lindsay T. , Miller Diane B. , O'Callaghan James P.
Published: August 2017

Our previous studies have raised the possibility that altered blood glucose levels may influence and/or be predictive of methamphetamine (METH) neurotoxicity. This study evaluated the effects of exogenous glucose and corticosterone (CORT) pretreatment alone or in combination with METH on blood glucose levels and the neural and vascular toxicity produced. METH exposure consisted of four sequential injections of 5, 7.5, 10, and 10 mg/kg (2 h between injections) D‐METH. The three groups given METH in combination with saline, glucose (METH+Glucose), or CORT (METH+CORT) had significantly higher glucose levels compared to the corresponding treatment groups without METH except at 3 h after the last injection. At this last time point, the METH and METH+Glucose groups had lower levels than the non‐METH groups, while the METH+CORT group did not. CORT alone or glucose alone did not significantly increase blood glucose. Mortality rates for the METH+CORT (40%) and METH+Glucose (44%) groups were substantially higher than the METH (< 10%) group. Additionally, METH+CORT significantly increased neurodegeneration above the other three METH treatment groups (≈ 2.5‐fold in the parietal cortex). Thus, maintaining elevated levels of glucose during METH exposure increases lethality and may exacerbate neurodegeneration. Neuroinflammation, specifically microglial activation, was associated with degenerating neurons in the parietal cortex and thalamus after METH exposure. The activated microglia in the parietal cortex were surrounding vasculature in most cases and the extent of microglial activation was exacerbated by CORT pretreatment. Our findings show that acute CORT exposure and elevated blood glucose levels can exacerbate METH‐induced vascular damage, neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration and lethality.

image

Cover Image for this issue: doi. 10.1111/jnc.13819.
Falls, a fear of falling and related factors in older adults with complex chronic disease
Authors: Lee JuHee , Choi MoonKi , Kim Chang Oh
Published: August 2017

Aims and objectives

To identify factors influencing falls and the fear of falling among older adults with chronic diseases in Korea.

Background

The fear of falling and falls in older adults are significant health problems towards which healthcare providers should direct their attention. Further investigation is needed to improve nursing practice specifically decreasing risk of falls and the fear of falling in Korea.

Design

Descriptive, cross‐sectional survey.

Methods

A convenience sample of 108 patients was recruited at the geriatric outpatient department of a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. Demographic characteristics, comorbidities, medication use, fall history, level of physical activity, activities of daily living, mobility, muscle strength, and a fear of falling were investigated. Student's t tests, chi‐square tests and multiple linear regressions were used in statistical analysis.

Results

Thirty‐six participants (33.3%) among 108 subjects reported experiencing ≥1 falls in the past year. Marital status and the use of antipsychotics were associated with falls, while other factors were not significantly related to falls. Only benign prostatic hypertrophy and polypharmacy were significantly related to the fear of falling in the analysis of the relationships between chronic disease, medication use and fear of falling. In the regression model, the number of comorbidities, level of physical activity, activities of daily living and mobility were predictors of a fear of falling. Medication use was marginally significant, in the model.

Conclusion

Increasing physical activity, functional fitness and physical independence is important to decrease the fear of falling, and to encourage active and healthy lives in older adults.

Relevance to clinical practice

The findings from this study provide evidence for the development of nursing interventions for older adults. We recommend early screening for a fear of falling and nursing interventions to decrease the fear of falling through enhancing physical activity level and function.
Saving lives with caring assessments: How Tanzanian nurse‐midwives and obstetricians negotiate postpartum practices
Authors: Kohi Thecla W , Aston Megan , Mselle Lilian T , Macdonald Danielle , Mbekenga Columba , Murphy Gail Tomblin , White Maureen , OHearn Shawna , Price Sheri , Jefferies Keisha
Published: August 2017

Aims and objectives

To explore the nurse‐midwives’ and obstetricians’ experiences delivering postpartum care assessments and how it was constructed through personal, social and institutional discourses.

Introduction

The Tanzanian Government has prioritised maternal and child health as an urgent healthcare issue. Nurse‐midwives and obstetricians are the two main providers of care throughout the prenatal and postpartum periods.

Design

A qualitative design guided by a feminist poststructuralist methodology.

Methods

Ten nurse‐midwives and three obstetricians from three Regional Hospitals in Dar es Salaam participated in individual semi‐structured in‐depth interviews.

Results

Assessment emerged as a significant theme with three subthemes. Nurse‐midwives shared their beliefs and values about assessments that focused on the safety of mothers and babies. They felt proud working with mothers and babies and shared their frustrations having to deal with inadequate working conditions. Guidelines and practices were part of the institutional discourse that impacted the day‐to‐day experiences of nurse‐midwives and obstetricians. The nurse‐midwives held the belief that it was vital to complete a comprehensive assessment to identify danger signs, keep mothers and babies safe and look for any abnormalities. They were concerned that mothers were being sent home too early.

Conclusions

Nurse‐midwives’ experiences in the provision of postpartum care portray that these health providers work heartedly to make sure that the mothers and their newborns receive the best care they can provide. The health system is challenged to address the needed supplies and equipment for reproductive health in particular postpartum care services.

Relevance to clinical practice

Institutional health discourses significantly affect the practice of nurse‐midwives and obstetricians to deliver timely and effective postpartum assessments. Immediate and ongoing postpartum assessments conducted by nurse‐midwives and obstetricians can save lives. This study presents the first theme of the study: Caring assessments save lives.
Independent predictors of medication adherence among Singaporean patients following an ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack
Authors: Wang Wenru , Chia Gerk Sin , Tan Il Fan , Tye Siew Noi Janis , Wang Xiaona , Zhu Birong , Jiang Ying
Published: August 2017

Objectives

To investigate the independent predictors of medication adherence among Singaporean patients following an ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack.

Background

Secondary prevention of stroke includes optimal control over modifiable risk factors, and medication adherence is important in controlling the effect of comorbidities. However, there is a paucity of published literature on the topics of medication adherence among stroke patients, especially in the Asian population.

Design

A cross‐sectional, descriptive, correlational study.

Methods

One hundred and twenty‐one patients with ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack were recruited from a tertiary hospital in Singapore. Data collection included the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale‐8 (MMAS‐8), General Self‐Efficacy Survey (GSES) and Medical Outcome Study Social Support Survey. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to evaluate predictors of medication adherence, measured by MMAS‐8.

Results

The mean score of the MMAS‐8 was 5.07 (SD = 2.20, range 0–8), and more than 80% of the participants had low (n = 65, 53.7%) or medium (n = 34, 28.1%) levels of medication adherence. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that two factors, namely “understanding the benefits of medications” (β = 0.238, p = .010) and “having suffered from stroke twice or more” (β = 0.235, p = .014), were identified as independent predictors of medication adherence in stroke patients while the other variables were adjusted. These two factors accounted for 12.4% of the variance.

Conclusion

Medication adherence was poor in Singaporean patients following an ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack. The independent predictors identified in this study will support healthcare professionals to develop tailored intervention to improve medication adherence among this group of patients.

Relevance to clinical practice

Nurses play an important role in promoting patients’ medication adherence. Helping stroke patients understand the long‐term benefits of their medications is essential to enhance patients’ medication adherence and results in better health outcomes.
Illness trajectories in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: How illness progression is related to life narratives and interpersonal relationships
Authors: Cipolletta Sabrina , Gammino Giorgia Rosamaria , Palmieri Arianna
Published: August 2017

Aims and objectives

To identify illness trajectories in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis by analysing personal, social and functional dimensions related to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis progression.

Background

Previous studies have considered some psychological distinct variables that may moderate illness progression, but no research has combined an extensive qualitative understanding of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients’ psychological characteristics and illness progression.

Design

A mixed‐methods approach was used to combine quantitative and qualitative measures. Illness progression was assessed through a longitudinal design.

Methods

Eighteen patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis attending a Neurology Department in northern Italy participated in the study. Semi‐structured interviews to explore personal experience, and dependency grids to assess the distribution of dependency; ALSFRS‐R and neuropsychological screening were, respectively, used to measure physical and cognitive impairment. To assess the progression of the disease, ALSFRS‐R was re‐administered after 8 months and mortality rate was considered. Data were analysed using the grounded theory approach.

Results

Illness progression changed according to the perception of the disease, the trust placed in medical care, self‐construction and the distribution of dependency. Based on these categories, cases that had similar experiences were grouped, and four illness trajectories were identified: aggressiveness, threat, constriction and guilt.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that it is possible to identify different illness trajectories in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Relevance to clinical practice

Personalised intervention strategies may be construed based on the different trajectories identified.
Sleep disturbance in people with diabetes: A concept analysis
Authors: Zhu Bingqian , Vincent Catherine , Kapella Mary C , Quinn Laurie , Collins Eileen G , Ruggiero Laurie , Park Chang , Fritschi Cynthia
Published: August 2017

Aims and objectives

To clarify the meaning of sleep disturbance in people with diabetes and examine its antecedents, attributes and consequences through concept analysis.

Background

Sleep is crucial for health, and people with diabetes are frequently beset with disturbances in their sleep. The concept of sleep disturbance in people with diabetes has not been clearly defined. The inconsistent use of sleep disturbance has created confusion and impeded our understanding of the sleep in people with diabetes. This analysis will provide a conceptual foundation of sleep disturbance in diabetes, thereby facilitating more effective means for assessment and treatment.

Design

Concept analysis.

Methods

A systematic search without time restriction on the publication year was carried out using PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. Rodgers's method of evolutionary concept analysis guided the analysis. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted to identify the attributes, antecedents and consequences.

Results

Based on the 26 eligible studies, two major attributes are that sleep disturbance is a symptom and is characterised by impaired sleep quality and/or abnormal sleep duration. Two antecedents are diabetes‐related physiological change and psychological well‐being. Sleep disturbance can result in impaired daytime functioning, glucose regulation and quality of life.

Conclusions

Defining the concept of sleep disturbance in people with diabetes facilitates consistent use and effective communication in both practice and research. Sleep disturbance in people with diabetes is a complex symptom that includes impaired sleep quality and/or abnormal sleep duration. This paper contributes to the current knowledge of sleep in people with diabetes. Future research on antecedents and consequences of sleep disturbance is necessary for further clarifications.

Relevance to clinical practice

Findings from this paper underscore the need for nursing education, clinical assessment and effective management of sleep disturbance in people with diabetes.
Interventions for maintaining nasogastric feeding after stroke: An integrative review of effectiveness and acceptability
Authors: Mahoney Catherine , Veitch Linda
Published: August 2017

Aims and objectives

To investigate the effectiveness and acceptability of interventions for maintaining nasogastric tubes in adult stroke patients.

Background

Internationally, incidence of cerebral vascular disease continues to increase and stroke is the largest cause of complex disability in adults. Dysphagia is common following a stroke which necessitates feeding via a nasogastric tube. Nasogastric tubes are not well tolerated by stroke patients and may be frequently dislodged. Hence, interventions such as tape, the nasal bridle/loop or hand mittens may be used to maintain nasogastric tube position. However, evidence around the effectiveness and acceptability of these interventions has not been reviewed and synthesised.

Design

Integrative literature review.

Method

Database searches in MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Cochrane and EMBASE; manual reference list searches.

Results

Seven studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. Evidence for the effectiveness of nasal bridle/loop and hand mittens to maintain nasogastric tube position in patients after a stroke is spare and methodologically poor, and especially limited around hand mittens use. There is insufficient evidence about the acceptability of both nasal bridle/loop and hand mittens among stroke patients.

Conclusion

Current clinical practice is underpinned by assumptions around the acceptability of nasal bridle/loop and hand mittens to secure nasogastric tubes. This results in reliance on consensual judgement between professional, patients and their families to guide their use among individuals with dysphagia after stroke. Further research is required to assess the effectiveness of hand mittens and acceptability of both nasal bridle/loop and hand mittens among stroke patients to inform guideline development.

Relevance to clinical practice

Given the lack of evidence on the acceptability of hand mittens and nasal bridle/loop among stroke patients to inform evidence‐based guidelines and protocols, healthcare professionals should reach consensus on their use by exercising clinical judgement and through consultation with patients (if possible) and their families.
Cadmium‐induced melatonin synthesis in rice requires light, hydrogen peroxide, and nitric oxide: Key regulatory roles for tryptophan decarboxylase and caffeic acid O‐methyltransferase
Authors: Lee Kyungjin , Choi Geun‐Hee , Back Kyoungwhan
Published: August 2017

In plants, melatonin production is induced by stimuli such as cold and drought, and cadmium (Cd) is the best elicitor of melatonin production in rice. However, the mechanism by which Cd induces melatonin synthesis in plants remains unknown. We challenged rice seedlings with Cd under different light conditions and found that continuous light produced the highest levels of melatonin, while continuous dark failed to induce melatonin production. Transcriptional and translational induction of tryptophan decarboxylase contributed to the light induction of melatonin during Cd treatment, whereas the protein level of light‐induced caffeic acid O‐methyltransferase (COMT) was decreased by Cd treatment. In analogy, COMT enzyme activity was inhibited in vitro by Cd in a dose‐dependent manner. Notably, the Cd‐induced melatonin synthesis was significantly impaired by treatment with either an H2O2 production inhibitor (DPI) or an NO scavenger (cPTIO). The combination of both inhibitors almost completely abolished Cd‐induced melatonin synthesis, suggesting an absolute requirement for H2O2 and NO. However, neither serotonin nor N‐acetylserotonin (NAS) was induced by H2O2 alone. In contrast, NO significantly induced serotonin production but not NAS or melatonin production. This indicated that serotonin did not enter chloroplasts, where serotonin N‐acetyltransferase (SNAT) is constitutively expressed. This suggests that chloroplastidic SNAT expression prevents increased melatonin production after exposure to stress, ultimately leading to the maintenance of a steady‐state melatonin level inside cells.
Inbreeding and inbreeding avoidance in wild giant pandas
Authors: Hu Yibo , Nie Yonggang , Wei Wei , Ma Tianxiao , Van Horn Russell , Zheng Xiaoguang , Swaisgood Ronald R. , Zhou Zhixin , Zhou Wenliang , Yan Li , Zhang Zejun , Wei Fuwen
Published: August 2017

Inbreeding can have negative consequences on population and individual fitness, which could be counteracted by inbreeding avoidance mechanisms. However, the inbreeding risk and inbreeding avoidance mechanisms in endangered species are less studied. The giant panda, a solitary and threatened species, lives in many small populations and suffers from habitat fragmentation, which may aggravate the risk of inbreeding. Here, we performed long‐term observations of reproductive behaviour, sampling of mother–cub pairs and large‐scale genetic analyses on wild giant pandas. Moderate levels of inbreeding were found in 21.1% of mating pairs, 9.1% of parent pairs and 7.7% of panda cubs, but no high‐level inbreeding occurred. More significant levels of inbreeding may be avoided passively by female‐biased natal dispersal rather than by breeding dispersal or active relatedness‐based mate choice mechanisms. The level of inbreeding in giant pandas is greater than expected for a solitary mammal and thus warrants concern for potential inbreeding depression, particularly in small populations isolated by continuing habitat fragmentation, which will reduce female dispersal and increase the risk of inbreeding.
Agent‐based computational model of retinal angiogenesis simulates microvascular network morphology as a function of pericyte coverage
Authors: Walpole Joseph , Mac Gabhann Feilim , Peirce Shayn M , Chappell John C
Published: August 2017

Objective

Define a role for perivascular cells during developmental retinal angiogenesis in the context of EC Notch1‐DLL4 signaling at the multicellular network level.

Methods

The retinal vasculature is highly sensitive to growth factor‐mediated intercellular signaling. Although EC signaling has been explored in detail, it remains unclear how PC function to modulate these signals that lead to a diverse set of vascular network patterns in health and disease. We have developed an ABM of retinal angiogenesis that incorporates both ECs and PCs to investigate the formation of vascular network patterns as a function of pericyte coverage. We use our model to test the hypothesis that PC modulate Notch1‐DLL4 signaling in endothelial cell‐endothelial cell interactions.

Results

Agent‐based model (ABM) simulations that include PCs more accurately predict experimentally observed vascular network morphologies than simulations that lack PCs, suggesting that PCs may influence sprouting behaviors through physical blockade of endothelial intercellular connections.

Conclusions

This study supports a role for PCs as a physical buffer to signal propagation during vascular network formation—a barrier that may be important for generating healthy microvascular network patterns.
The inositol pyrophosphate synthesis pathway in Trypanosoma brucei is linked to polyphosphate synthesis in acidocalcisomes
Authors: Cordeiro Ciro D. , Saiardi Adolfo , Docampo Roberto
Published: August 2017

Inositol pyrophosphates are novel signaling molecules possessing high‐energy pyrophosphate bonds and involved in a number of biological functions. Here, we report the correct identification and characterization of the kinases involved in the inositol pyrophosphate biosynthetic pathway in Trypanosoma brucei: inositol polyphosphate multikinase (TbIPMK), inositol pentakisphosphate 2‐kinase (TbIP5K) and inositol hexakisphosphate kinase (TbIP6K). TbIP5K and TbIP6K were not identifiable by sequence alone and their activities were validated by enzymatic assays with the recombinant proteins or by their complementation of yeast mutants. We also analyzed T. brucei extracts for the presence of inositol phosphates using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and high‐performance liquid chromatography. Interestingly, we could detect inositol phosphate (IP), inositol 4,5‐bisphosphate (IP2), inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3), and inositol hexakisphosphate (IP6) in T. brucei different stages. Bloodstream forms unable to produce inositol pyrophosphates, due to downregulation of TbIPMK expression by conditional knockout, have reduced levels of polyphosphate and altered acidocalcisomes. Our study links the inositol pyrophosphate pathway to the synthesis of polyphosphate in acidocalcisomes, and may lead to better understanding of these organisms and provide new targets for drug discovery.
A sigh of relief or a sigh of expected relief: Sigh rate in response to dyspnea relief
Authors: Vlemincx Elke , Meulders Michel , Luminet Olivier
Published: August 2017

Research has suggested that sighs may serve a regulatory function during stress and emotions by facilitating relief. Evidence supports the hypotheses that sighs both express and induce relief from stress. To explore the potential role of sighs in the regulation of symptoms, the present study aimed to investigate the relationship between sighs and relief of symptoms, and relief of dyspnea, specifically. Healthy volunteers participated in two studies (N = 44, N = 47) in which dyspnea was induced by mild (10 cmH2O/l/s) or high (20 cmH20/l/s) inspiratory resistances. Dyspnea relief was induced by the offset of the inspiratory resistances (transitions from high and mild inspiratory resistance to no resistance). Control comparisons included dyspnea increases (transitions from no or mild inspiratory resistance to high inspiratory resistance) and dyspnea continuations (continuations of either no resistance or a high resistance). In Experiment 1, dyspnea levels were cued. In Experiment 2, no cues were provided. Sigh rate during dyspnea relief was significantly higher compared to control conditions, and sigh rate increased as self‐reported dyspnea decreased. Additionally, sigh rate was higher during cued dyspnea relief compared to noncued dyspnea relief. These results suggest that sighs are important markers of dyspnea relief. Moreover, sighs may importantly express dyspnea relief, as they are related to experiential dyspnea decreases and occur more frequently during expected dyspnea relief. These findings suggest that sighs may not only be important in the regulation of stress and emotions, but also may be functional in the regulation of dyspnea.
Seed Potatoes, Virus Management, and the Nonadoption of an Agricultural Innovation
Authors: Beissinger Abby , Goldberger Jessica R. , Benedict Christopher A. , Inglis Debra Ann
Published: August 2017

Beginning in 2012, seed potatoes in Washington State were associated with an outbreak of Potato virus Y (PVY), one of the oldest known plant viruses. The PVY outbreak seriously impacted commercial potato growers, who unknowingly purchased infected seed potatoes. Commercial potato growers, university researchers, and extension personnel blamed Washington seed potato growers for the PVY outbreak. Drawing on the literature about perceptions of innovation attributes, nonadoption of agricultural innovations, and farm‐level disease management, we offer a broader perspective on PVY management among Washington seed potato growers. We explore the reasons behind seed potato growers' nonadoption of a specific innovation that has the potential to protect potatoes from PVY problems. We argue that seed potato growers approach PVY management in logical and intentional ways, and have distinct reasons for choosing not to adopt certain PVY management practices. Our study contributes to scholarship on the perceived attributes and nonadoption of agricultural innovations, as well as interdisciplinary work on plant disease management. A better understanding of PVY management decision making can help efforts to ensure agricultural biosecurity, maintain crop quality and yield, and prevent economic losses within the potato industry in Washington State, the second largest producer of potatoes in the United States.
Proximity, Prosperity, and Participation: Examining Access to Postsecondary Education among Youth in Canada's Provincial North
Authors: Zarifa David , Hango Darcy , Pizarro Milian Roger
Published: August 2017

Despite increased proportions of students attending some form of postsecondary education (PSE), some social groups continue to face significant barriers and encounter difficulties making the transition. Previous research suggests that proximity to postsecondary institutions may have a positive impact on PSE participation rates, even more so for lower‐ and middle‐income families. We know comparatively less, however, about how these processes operate for social groups in varied social and economic contexts. In Canada, many highly ranked, prestigious universities and colleges (with greater arrays of fields) tend to be clustered in large, urban centers, and in the southernmost parts of Canadian provinces, but it is not clear whether these differences impact PSE outcomes. Drawing on cycles 1 to 4 of Statistics Canada's Youth in Transition Survey (YITS−Cohort A), our findings reveal that individuals from the northernmost parts of Canadian provinces do experience difficulties accessing various types of PSE (and in the timing of doing so). Moreover, our results suggest that much of these location effects are attributable to not only economic differences in terms of parental income but also cultural and dispositional differences related to parental education and their aspirations for their children's education.
Cooperative Federalism and Fair Housing Enforcement*
Authors: Bullock Charles S. , Lamb Charles M. , Wilk Eric M.
Published: August 2017

Objective

We investigate how three levels of government have enforced the Fair Housing Act as a cooperative federalism program.

Methods

Based on data obtained from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), we test a multivariate fixed effects logistic regression model.

Results

First, the Fair Housing Act's substantial equivalency requirement and HUD's Fair Housing Assistance Program have enabled state and local civil rights agencies to play an essential role in enforcing national fair housing policy. Second, there is little difference in the extent to which federal, state, and local agencies provide outcomes favorable to fair housing complainants. Third, local agencies have been most likely to provide favorable outcomes in recent years.

Conclusion

Encouraging state and particularly local agencies to participate more actively in fair housing enforcement would strengthen American federalism without significantly affecting complainants’ outcomes. Research involving effectiveness and efficiency in fair housing enforcement reinforces this argument.
The present perfect in Irish English
Authors: KIRK JOHN M.
Published: August 2017

This article begins with an introduction to language corpora and the approach to linguistic description arising from corpus linguistic approaches to the description of varieties. It stresses the importance of a well‐balanced, representative corpus for general language description and demonstrates the benefits of a quantitative as well as a qualitative approach. It introduces the International Corpus of English: Ireland Component (ICE‐Ireland) and presents a case study of the present perfect, with particular reference to the HAVE + –ed participle construction, the after perfect, the medial‐object perfect, the BE perfect, the extended‐now perfect, and the use of present and past tense with perfective meanings. Throughout the case study, the article underlines the importance of quantitative patterns in the data uncovered by a corpus linguistics approach.
The language of Irish films
Authors: WALSHE SHANE
Published: August 2017

This study compares evidence taken from two corpora of Irish films (40 southern and 40 northern Irish films) with data from the northern and southern spoken components of ICE‐Ireland. The results of the investigation indicate that there are numerous parallels in the findings regarding not only the relative frequency of feature occurrences, but also the contexts in which they can occur. It is hoped that, by proving the validity of studying variation in Irish English using data taken from Irish feature films, other scholars may be encouraged to do likewise for other world Englishes, such as Indian English in Bollywood or Nigerian English in Nollywood.
The echolocation transmission beam of free-ranging Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis)
Authors: Fang Liang , Wu Yuping , Wang Kexiong , Pine Matthew K. , Wang Ding , Li Songhai
Published: August 2017

While the transmission beam of odontocetes has been described in a number of studies, the majority of them that have measured the transmission beam in two dimensions were focused on captive animals. Within the current study, a dedicated cross hydrophone array with nine elements was used to investigate the echolocation transmission beam of free-ranging Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. A total of 265 on-axis clicks were analyzed, from which the apparent peak to peak source levels ranged between 168 to 207 dB (mean 184.5 dB ± 6.6 dB). The 3-dB beam width along the horizontal and vertical plane was 9.6° and 7.4°, respectively. Measured separately, the directivity index of the horizontal and vertical plane was 12.6 and 13.5 dB, respectively, and the overall directivity index (both planes combined) was 29.5 dB. The beam shape was slightly asymmetrical along the horizontal and vertical axis. Compared to other species, the characteristics of the transmitting beam of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins were relatively close to the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), likely due to the similarity in the peak frequency and waveform of echolocation clicks and comparable body sizes of the two species.
Binaural pitch fusion: Pitch averaging and dominance in hearing-impaired listeners with broad fusion
Authors: Oh Yonghee , Reiss Lina A. J.
Published: August 2017

Both bimodal cochlear implant and bilateral hearing aid users can exhibit broad binaural pitch fusion, the fusion of dichotically presented tones over a broad range of pitch differences between ears [Reiss, Ito, Eggleston, and Wozny. (2014). J. Assoc. Res. Otolaryngol. 15(2), 235–248; Reiss, Eggleston, Walker, and Oh. (2016). J. Assoc. Res. Otolaryngol. 17(4), 341–356; Reiss, Shayman, Walker, Bennett, Fowler, Hartling, Glickman, Lasarev, and Oh. (2017). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 143(3), 1909–1920]. Further, the fused binaural pitch is often a weighted average of the different pitches perceived in the two ears. The current study was designed to systematically measure these pitch averaging phenomena in bilateral hearing aid users with broad fusion. The fused binaural pitch of the reference-pair tone combination was initially measured by pitch-matching to monaural comparison tones presented to the pair tone ear. The averaged results for all subjects showed two distinct trends: (1) The fused binaural pitch was dominated by the lower-pitch component when the pair tone was either 0.14 octaves below or 0.78 octaves above the reference tone; (2) pitch averaging occurred when the pair tone was between the two boundaries above, with the most equal weighting at 0.38 octaves above the reference tone. Findings from two subjects suggest that randomization or alternation of the comparison ear can eliminate this asymmetry in the pitch averaging range. Overall, these pitch averaging phenomena suggest that spectral distortions and thus binaural interference may arise during binaural stimulation in hearing-impaired listeners with broad fusion.
Older and younger adults' identification of sentences filtered with amplitude and frequency modulations in quiet and noise
Authors: Mahajan Yatin , Kim Jeesun , Davis Chris
Published: August 2017

Adding frequency modulations (FM) cues to vocoded (AM) speech aids speech recognition for younger listeners. However, this may not be true for older listeners since they have poorer FM detection thresholds. We measured FM detection thresholds of young and older adults; and in a sentence context examined whether adding FM cues to vocoded speech would assist older adults. Young and old participants were presented vocoded sentences in quiet and multitalker-babble with/without FM cues. Older adults had elevated FM detection thresholds but received the same-size FM benefit as younger adults, showing that they have the capacity to benefit from FM speech cues.
Metabolic and immune effects of immunotherapy with proinsulin peptide in human new-onset type 1 diabetes
Authors: Alhadj Ali Mohammad , Liu Yuk-Fun , Arif Sefina , Tatovic Danijela , Shariff Hina , Gibson Vivienne B. , Yusuf Norkhairin , Baptista Roman , Eichmann Martin , Petrov Nedyalko , Heck Susanne , Yang Jennie H. M. , Tree Timothy I. M. , Pujol-Autonell Irma , Yeo Lorraine , Baumard Lucas , Stenson Rachel , Howell Alex , Clark Alison , Boult Zoe , Powrie Jake , Adams Laura , Wong Florence S. , Luzio Stephen , Dunseath Gareth , Green Kate , O’Keefe Alison , Bayly Graham , Thorogood Natasha , Andrews Robert , Leech Nicola , Joseph Frank , Nair Sunil , Seal Susan , Cheung HoYee , Beam Craig , Hills Robert , Peakman Mark , Dayan Colin M.
Published: August 2017

Immunotherapy using peptide from the self-antigen proinsulin is safe in type 1 diabetes and is associated with changes in immune regulation.
Imaging covert consciousness
Authors: Choi Huimahn Alex
Published: August 2017

Imaging and electroencephalography help to detect covert consciousness after acute brain injury.
Molecular Tests That Target the RTX Locus Do Not Distinguish between Kingella kingae and the Recently Described Kingella negevensis Species
Authors: El Houmami Nawal , Bzdrenga Janek , Durand Guillaume André , Minodier Philippe , Seligmann Hervé , Prudent Elsa , Bakour Sofiane , Bonacorsi Stéphane , Raoult Didier , Yagupsky Pablo , Fournier Pierre-Edouard
Published: August 2017

Kingella kingae
is an important invasive pathogen in early childhood. The organism elaborates an RTX toxin presumably restricted to this species. Consequently, real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays targeting the RTX locus have been developed in recent years and are gaining increasing use for the molecular diagnosis of
K. kingae
infections. However, the present study shows that
Kingella negevensis
, a
Kingella
species newly identified in young children, harbors an identical
Kingella
RTX locus, raising the question of whether
K. negevensis
can be misidentified as
K. kingae
by clinical microbiology laboratories.
In silico
comparison of
Kingella
sp. RTX and
groEL
genes and
in vitro
studies provided evidence that targeting the
rtxA
and
rtxB
genes could not differentiate between strains of
K. kingae
and
K. negevensis
, whereas targeting the
groEL
gene could. This prompted the design of a highly specific and sensitive qPCR assay targeting
K. negevensis groEL
(
kngroEL
). Ninety-nine culture-negative osteoarticular specimens from 99 children younger than 4 years of age were tested with a conventional 16S rRNA gene-based broad-range PCR assay and
Kingella
-specific
rtxB
,
K. kingae
-specific
groEL
(
kkgroEL
), and
kngroEL
qPCR assays. Forty-two specimens were
rtxB
positive, including 41 that were also
kkgroEL
positive and 1 (the remaining one) that was
kngroEL
positive. Thus, this study discloses an invasive infection caused by
K. negevensis
in humans and demonstrates that targeting the RTX locus cannot be used for the formal diagnosis of
K. kingae
infections. These findings stress the need for further studies on the epidemiology of asymptomatic carriage and invasive infections caused by
K. negevensis
in humans.
Pathogenicity Locus, Core Genome, and Accessory Gene Contributions to
Clostridium difficile
Virulence
Authors: Lewis Brittany B. , Carter Rebecca A. , Ling Lilan , Leiner Ingrid , Taur Ying , Kamboj Mini , Dubberke Erik R. , Xavier Joao , Pamer Eric G.
Published: August 2017

Clostridium difficile
is a spore-forming anaerobic bacterium that causes colitis in patients with disrupted colonic microbiota. While some individuals are asymptomatic
C. difficile
carriers, symptomatic disease ranges from mild diarrhea to potentially lethal toxic megacolon. The wide disease spectrum has been attributed to the infected host’s age, underlying diseases, immune status, and microbiome composition. However, strain-specific differences in
C. difficile
virulence have also been implicated in determining colitis severity. Because patients infected with
C. difficile
are unique in terms of medical history, microbiome composition, and immune competence, determining the relative contribution of
C. difficile
virulence to disease severity has been challenging, and conclusions regarding the virulence of specific strains have been inconsistent. To address this, we used a mouse model to test 33 clinical
C. difficile
strains isolated from patients with disease severities ranging from asymptomatic carriage to severe colitis, and we determined their relative
in vivo
virulence in genetically identical, antibiotic-pretreated mice. We found that murine infections with
C. difficile
clade 2 strains (including multilocus sequence type 1/ribotype 027) were associated with higher lethality and that
C. difficile
strains associated with greater human disease severity caused more severe disease in mice. While toxin production was not strongly correlated with
in vivo
colonic pathology, the ability of
C. difficile
strains to grow in the presence of secondary bile acids was associated with greater disease severity. Whole-genome sequencing and identification of core and accessory genes identified a subset of accessory genes that distinguish high-virulence from lower-virulence
C. difficile
strains.

IMPORTANCE
Clostridium difficile
is an important cause of hospital-associated intestinal infections, and recent years have seen an increase in the number and severity of cases in the United States. A patient’s antibiotic history, immune status, and medical comorbidities determine, in part, the severity of
C. difficile
infection. The relative virulence of different clinical
C. difficile
strains, although postulated to determine disease severity in patients, has been more difficult to consistently associate with mild versus severe colitis. We tested 33 distinct clinical
C. difficile
isolates for their ability to cause disease in genetically identical mice and found that
C. difficile
strains belonging to clade 2 were associated with higher mortality. Differences in survival were not attributed to differences in toxin production but likely resulted from the distinct gene content in the various clinical isolates.
Contrast sensitivity to spatial gratings in moderate and dim light conditions in patients with diabetes in the absence of diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Safi Sare , Rahimi Anoushiravan , Raeesi Afsaneh , Safi Hamid , Aghazadeh Amiri Mohammad , Malek Mojtaba , Yaseri Mehdi , Haeri Mohammad , Middleton Frank A , Solessio Eduardo , Ahmadieh Hamid
Published: August 2017

Objective

To evaluate the ability of contrast sensitivity (CS) to discriminate loss of visual function in diabetic subjects with no clinical signs of retinopathy relative to that of normal subjects.

Research design and methods

In this prospective cross-sectional study, we measured CS in 46 diabetic subjects with a mean age of 48±6 years, a best-corrected visual acuity of 20/20 and no signs of diabetic retinopathy. The CS in these subjects was compared with CS measurements in 46 normal control subjects at four spatial frequencies (3, 6, 12, 18 cycles per degree) under moderate (500 lux) and dim (less than 2 lux) background light conditions.

Results

CS was approximately 0.16 log units lower in patients with diabetes relative to controls both in moderate and in dim background light conditions. Logistic regression classification and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated that CS analysis using two light conditions was more accurate (0.78) overall compared with CS analysis using only a single illumination condition (accuracy values were 0.67 and 0.70 in moderate and dim light conditions, respectively).

Conclusions

Our results showed that patients with diabetes without clinical signs of retinopathy exhibit a uniform loss in CS at all spatial frequencies tested. Measuring the loss in CS at two spatial frequencies (3 and 6 cycles per degree) and two light conditions (moderate and dim) is sufficiently robust to classify diabetic subjects with no retinopathy versus control subjects.
High prevalence of CCDC103 p.His154Pro mutation causing primary ciliary dyskinesia disrupts protein oligomerisation and is associated with normal diagnostic investigations
Authors: Shoemark Amelia , Moya Eduardo , Hirst Robert A , Patel Mitali P , Robson Evelyn A , Hayward Jane , Scully Juliet , Fassad Mahmoud R , Lamb William , Schmidts Miriam , Dixon Mellisa , Patel-King Ramila S , Rogers Andrew V , Rutman Andrew , Jackson Claire L , Goggin Patricia , Rubbo Bruna , Ollosson Sarah , Carr Siobhán , Walker Woolf , Adler Beryl , Loebinger Michael R , Wilson Robert , Bush Andrew , Williams Hywel , Boustred Christopher , Jenkins Lucy , Sheridan Eamonn , Chung Eddie M K , Watson Christopher M , Cullup Thomas , Lucas Jane S , Kenia Priti , O’Callaghan Christopher , King Stephen M , Hogg Claire , Mitchison Hannah M
Published: August 2017

Rationale

Primary ciliary dyskinesia is a genetically heterogeneous inherited condition characterised by progressive lung disease arising from abnormal cilia function. Approximately half of patients have situs inversus. The estimated prevalence of primary ciliary dyskinesia in the UK South Asian population is 1:2265. Early, accurate diagnosis is key to implementing appropriate management but clinical diagnostic tests can be equivocal.

Objectives

To determine the importance of genetic screening for primary ciliary dyskinesia in a UK South Asian population with a typical clinical phenotype, where standard testing is inconclusive.

Methods

Next-generation sequencing was used to screen 86 South Asian patients who had a clinical history consistent with primary ciliary dyskinesia. The effect of a CCDC103 p.His154Pro missense variant compared with other dynein arm-associated gene mutations on diagnostic/phenotypic variability was tested. CCDC103 p.His154Pro variant pathogenicity was assessed by oligomerisation assay.

Results

Sixteen of 86 (19%) patients carried a homozygous CCDC103 p.His154Pro mutation which was found to disrupt protein oligomerisation. Variable diagnostic test results were obtained including normal nasal nitric oxide levels, normal ciliary beat pattern and frequency and a spectrum of partial and normal dynein arm retention. Fifteen (94%) patients or their sibling(s) had situs inversus suggesting CCDC103 p.His154Pro patients without situs inversus are missed.

Conclusions

The CCDC103 p.His154Pro mutation is more prevalent than previously thought in the South Asian community and causes primary ciliary dyskinesia that can be difficult to diagnose using pathology-based clinical tests. Genetic testing is critical when there is a strong clinical phenotype with inconclusive standard diagnostic tests.
Lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens) spawning habitat: a quantitative review
Authors: Baril André-Marcel , Buszkiewicz John T. , Biron Pascale M. , Phelps Quinton E. , Grant James W.A.
Published: August 2017

The loss of spawning habitat has been identified as a limiting factor to population growth for lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens, the most widely distributed species of the family in North America. While local information exists about lake sturgeon spawning habitat, a synthesis of all available data is needed across its range. Our study used meta-analytical techniques to describe the mean and range of critical spawning habitat characteristics based on data from 48 sites across all major watersheds in which lake sturgeon are found. Data were compiled into univariate habitat suitability indices to describe the spawning niche. Results indicate that peak suitability occurred at depth-averaged velocities of 0.6 m·s−1, depths of 0.55–0.85 m in small rivers (<100 m3·s−1 annual average discharge) and 0.75–5.25 m in large rivers (>100 m3·s−1), over cobble substrates (64–256 mm), and that suitable water temperatures decreased with increasing latitude. This study provides a comprehensive review of critical spawning criteria from which future habitat suitability models can be adapted.
Inferring the Limit Behavior of Some Elementary Cellular Automata
Authors: Ruivo Eurico L. P. , de Oliveira Pedro P. B.
Published: August 2017

Cellular automata locally define dynamical systems, discrete in space, time and in the state variables, capable of displaying arbitrarily complex global emergent behavior. One core question in the study of cellular automata refers to their limit behavior, that is, to the global dynamical features in an infinite time evolution. Previous works have shown that for finite time evolutions, the dynamics of one-dimensional cellular automata can be described by regular languages and, therefore, by finite automata. Such studies have shown the existence of growth patterns in the evolution of such finite automata for some elementary cellular automata rules and also inferred the limit behavior of such rules based upon the growth patterns; however, the results on the limit behavior were obtained manually, by direct inspection of the structures that arise during the time evolution. Here we present the formalization of an automatic method to compute such structures. Based on this, the rules of the elementary cellular automata space were classified according to the existence of a growth pattern in their finite automata. Also, we present a method to infer the limit graph of some elementary cellular automata rules, derived from the analysis of the regular expressions that describe their behavior in finite time. Finally, we analyze some attractors of two rules for which we could not compute the whole limit set.