bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acquired Von Willebrand Syndrome and Blood Pump Design
Authors: Rosenberg Gerson , Siedlecki Christopher A. , Jhun Choon‐Sik , Weiss William J. , Manning Keefe , Deutsch Steven , Pierce William
Published: October 2018

The existence of acquired von Willebrand syndrome (AVWS) in patients with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) is well documented and has been verified by numerous investigators. AVWS has not been observed to occur in pulsatile devices such as the SynCardia total artificial heart (TAH), the HeartMate XVE, and the Thoratec pulsatile ventricular assist device (PVAD) used as a single pump. AVWS can also occur in patients with aortic stenosis, ventricular septal defect, mitral stenosis, and patent ductus arteriosus. It has been experimentally verified that supraphysiologic shear stress that occurs under these conditions can cleave the von Willebrand molecule, but the critical magnitude of stress and duration is unclear. Limited experimental results demonstrate that shear stresses as low as 5 Pa (50 dyne/cm2) can cause cleavage. Stresses in current centrifugal pumps can be as high as two orders of magnitude greater than this value. Pulsatile LVADs have stresses almost two orders of magnitude less than continuous flow LVADs. In order to improve continuous flow LVADs, the challenge for designers is to first determine the magnitude and duration of stress that is causing AVWS and then, if possible, design a pump below these stresses.
Smart device usage in early childhood is differentially associated with fine motor and language development
Authors: Moon Jin‐Hwa , Cho Sang Yeon , Lim Sung Min , Roh Joo Hyung , Koh Min Sook , Kim Yong Joo , Nam Eunwoo
Published: October 2018

Aim

We evaluated the relationships between the use of smart devices, such as smartphones and tablet computers, and the development levels and language scores in young children.

Methods

A cross‐sectional analysis with 117 children aged three to five years was conducted. The participants were recruited from kindergartens in South Korea between November 2015 and April 2016. Parental questionnaires to assess smart device usage status by children, developmental screening test and receptive‐expressive language scale were administered; metrics included smart device usage frequency and usage time, appropriate smart device usage level, developmental levels and language scores.

Results

Smart device usage frequency was significantly positively correlated with fine motor skill development [Spearman's correlation coefficient (rs) = 0.426] in three‐year‐old children. Appropriate smart device usage level was also positively correlated with social development (rs = 0.466). However, smart device usage time was significantly negatively correlated with expressive language months (rs = −0.481). There were no such correlations in children aged four to five years. For the subcategories of appropriate usage level, the suitability of social relationship was significantly positively correlated with social development in three‐year‐old children (rs = 0.474).

Conclusion

In three‐year‐old children, smart device usage was positively correlated with fine motor development and negatively correlated with language development.
Effects of antibiotic on microflora in ileum and cecum for broilers by 16S rRNA sequence analysis
Authors: She Yue , Cai Huiyi , Liu Guohua
Published: October 2018

An experiment was conducted to analyze and compare the microbial composition, abundance, dynamic distribution, and functions without and with antibiotic fed to broilers. A 16S rRNA‐sequencing approach was used to evaluate the bacterial composition of the gut of male broilers under different groups. A total of 240 1‐day old AA male broilers were randomly assigned to two groups, with 120 broilers per group. The treatment group was administered an antibiotic with their feed, while the control group was not administered antibiotic (control group). A total of 10 replicates were assessed per treatment. The control group was fed a basal diet containing corn, soybean meal, and cottonseed meal and met the nutritional requirement. The antibiotic group was fed 100 mg/kg aureomycin (based on the basal diet). The trial lasted 42 days. Operational taxonomic unit partition and classification, alpha diversity, taxonomic composition, beta diversity, and microflora comparative analyses along with key species screening were performed for all of the treatment groups. Our data indicate that aureomycin treatment in broilers is directly correlated with variations of the gut content of specific bacterial taxa, and herein provide insights into the impact of antibiotic on microbial communities in cecum and ileum of broiler chickens.
Estimation of genetic parameters for farrowing traits in purebred Landrace and Large White pigs
Authors: Ogawa Shinichiro , Konta Ayane , Kimata Makoto , Ishii Kazuo , Uemoto Yoshinobu , Satoh Masahiro
Published: October 2018

Genetic parameters were estimated for six reproductive traits related to farrowing events in Landrace and Large White pigs; total number born (TNB), number born alive (NBA), number stillborn (NSB), total litter weight at birth (LWB), mean litter weight at birth (MWB), and gestation length (GL). We analyzed 62,534 farrowing records for 10,637 Landrace dams and 49,817 farrowing records for 8,649 Large White dams. Estimated heritabilities of TNB, NBA, NSB, LWB, MWB, and GL by single‐trait repeatability model analyses were 0.12, 0.12, 0.08, 0.18, 0.19, and 0.29, respectively, in Landrace, and 0.12, 0.10, 0.08, 0.18, 0.16, and 0.34, respectively, in Large White. Genetic correlation between NBA and NSB was unfavorable: 0.20 in Landrace and 0.33 in Large White. Genetic correlations of GL with the other five traits were weak: from −0.18 with NSB to −0.03 with NBA in Landrace, and from −0.22 with NSB to −0.07 with NBA in Large White. LWB had a highly favorable genetic correlation with NBA (0.74 in both breeds), indicating the possibility of using LWB for the genetic improvement of NBA.
Implications of shunt morphology for the surgical management of extrahepatic portosystemic shunts
Authors: White RN , Parry AT , Shales C
Published: October 2018

Objective

To describe the implications of extrahepatic portosystemic shunt morphology for the chosen site of shunt closure in dogs and cats.

Methods

A retrospective review of a consecutive series of dogs and cats managed for congenital extrahepatic portosystemic shunts.

Results

In total, 54 dogs and 10 cats met the inclusion criteria, revealing five distinct shunt types: left gastrophrenic, right gastrocaval (types Ai, Aii and Aiii), splenocaval, colocaval and left gastro‐azygos. Without exception, findings of computed tomography angiography and direct gross observations at the time of surgery confirmed four consistent sites of communication between the anomalous shunting vessel and the systemic venous system: the caudal vena cava at the level of the epiploic foramen; the left phrenic vein at the level of the oesophageal hiatus; the azygos vein at the level of the aortic hiatus; and the caudal vena cava or iliac vein at the level of the 6th or 7th lumbar vertebrae. The use of intraoperative mesenteric portography was effective for confirming that at the time of surgery all portal tributary vessels were proximal to the point of shunt attenuation.

Conclusions

Findings confirmed that for the common types of extrahepatic portosystemic shunts there were only four consistent sites of communication between the shunt and the systemic venous system. This information supports the use of a systematic approach for the location and attenuation of shunts in dogs and cats.
Pharmacogenetics and prediction of adverse events in prescription opioid use disorder patients
Authors: Muriel Javier , Margarit César , Barrachina Jordi , Ballester Pura , Flor Andrea , Morales Domingo , Horga José F. , Fernández Eduardo , Peiró Ana M.
Published: October 2018

The threats involved in the long‐term opioid treatment of chronic non‐cancer pain (CNCP) have increased notably. Strategies to identify at‐risk patients are important because there is no clear evidence showing which screening or deprescription programmes are appropriate. Our aim was to evaluate the evidence provided by pharmacogenetics applied to predict an analgesic toxicity profile in prescription opioid use disorder (POUD) patients participating in an opioid deprescription programme. Pharmacogenetic markers were analysed in an observational, prospective deprescription programme for POUD patients (n = 88) treated for CNCP. It consisted of monitoring visits (baseline, follow‐up and final), opioid rotation or discontinuation and the recording of adverse events and suspected adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Variants in OPRM1 (A118G), ABCB1 (C3435T), COMT (G472A), OPRD1 (T921C) and ARRB2 (C8622T) genes were tested by real‐time PCR. Ethics committee approved the study. Wild‐type OPRM1‐AA genotype carriers reported a significantly higher number of adverse events than OPRM1‐AG/GG (median [p25‐75], 7 [5‐11] vs 5 [3‐9]), particularly gastrointestinal system events (90% vs 63%) such as nausea (33% vs 0%). Suspected ADRs (affecting 17% of the patients) were three times higher in males than in females (30% vs 11%). The deprescription programme was effective and safe, and it achieved a significant progressive reduction in the morphine equivalent daily dose, strong opioids and other analgesics' use, without causing any changes in pain intensity or opiate abstinence syndrome. OPRM1 gene polymorphisms could identify the risk of gastrointestinal adverse events in POUD patients. Deprescription programmes including pharmacogenetic analysis should be considered during the follow‐up of this population.
The role of audience familiarity and activity outcome in children's understanding of disclaimers
Authors: Nesbit Rachel J. , Watling Dawn
Published: October 2018

Disclaimers are used prior to expected poor performance to protect the individual from being evaluated negatively by the audience (Lee et al., 1999, Personality and Individual Differences, 26, 701). In this study, 8‐, 11‐, and 14‐year‐olds (N = 147) heard stories of a protagonist telling a familiar or unfamiliar peer that they did not think that they would perform well today, followed by either no disclaimer or a disclaimer and the activity outcome. Children judged how the audience would rate the protagonist's typical performance and character, and judged their response motivation. Children judged that familiar audiences would be more positive about typical performance and character than unfamiliar audiences; this varied depending on disclaimer use and participant sex. Further, children's typical performance judgements were more positive when the outcome was negative if a disclaimer was offered, with older children recognizing the self‐presentational motivation in these conditions. Results are explored in relation to children's understanding of disclaimers.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

By 10 years, children understand the mitigating function of a disclaimer.

Audience characteristics (age and familiarity) affect children's self‐presentation judgements.

Children have difficulty understanding why someone would disclose negative information of the self.

What the present study adds

From 11 years showed an understanding of the self‐presentational (SP) function of disclaimers.

The disclaimer's mitigating function was only found when the activity outcome was negative.

More positive judgements with familiar peers, but more SP justifications with unfamiliar peers.
Is postoperative Doppler ultrasonography useful for the early detection of asymptomatic pseudoaneurysm and prevention of haemorrhagic complications after partial nephrectomy?
Authors: Nouhaud François‐Xavier , Williams Michael , Arnfield Evyn , Perera Marlon Lakmal , Cho Jonathan , Esler Rachel , Coughlin Geoff
Published: October 2018

Objective

To assess the clinical utility of systematic Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) after robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (PN) for the detection of renal artery pseudoaneurysm (PA) and to allow pre‐emptive arterial embolization to reduce the postoperative bleeding risk.

Materials and Methods

A retrospective study was conducted including all consecutive patients treated with robot‐assisted PN for renal tumours between 2015 and 2017. Every patient underwent renal DUS in the early postoperative period. The presence of PA, arteriovenous malformation or collection on the DUS, as well as the incidence of haemorrhagic complications and need for transfusion/embolization were assessed.

Results

Eighty‐three patients were included, with a median (range) age of 58 (19–80) years. The median (range) follow‐up was 5 (1–30) months. The mean (±sd) tumour size was 31 (±13.1) mm, the median (range) RENAL nephrometry score was 6 (4–11), and the mean (±sd) warm ischaemia time was 22 (±7) min. A haemostatic agent was used in 12 patients (14.5%). No patient encountered haemorrhagic complications postoperatively, and no patient required transfusion. The median (interquartile range) time to DUS postoperatively was 7 (6–8) days. DUS revealed one asymptomatic PA (1.2%), which was treated with pre‐emptive embolization. This was the only patient who encountered a Clavien grade III complication, while 20 patients (24%) had a complication grade I/II.

Conclusions

No haemorrhagic complications occurred in the present study population, although one asymptomatic PA was found. It was diagnosed early with DUS, allowing pre‐emptive management with embolization. These results suggest the potential clinical utility of early postoperative DUS in order to screen for PA to reduce the risk of post‐PN haemorrhagic complications.
21-hydroxylase autoantibodies are more prevalent in Turner syndrome but without an association to the autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I
Authors: Berglund A , Cleemann L , Oftedal B E , Holm K , Husebye E S , Gravholt C H
Published: October 2018

Turner syndrome (TS) is associated with an increased frequency of autoimmunity. Frequently observed autoimmune diseases in TS are also seen in the autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type I (APS I), of which Addison disease is a key component. An overlapping antibody profile between TS and APS I could be considered. The aim of this work was to study women with TS regarding 21-hydroxylase (21-OH) antibodies and interferon omega (IFN-ω) antibodies, a highly specific marker for APS I, to determine if there are immunological overlaps between TS and APS I. Blood samples from 141 TS were assayed for 21-OH antibodies and IFN-ω antibodies using in-vitro-transcribed and translated autoantigen. Indices with a cut-off point of 57 and 200 for 21-OH antibody and IFN-ω antibody were used as reference. The median age of TS was 31·6 years (range = 11·2–62·2). Positive indices of 21-OH antibodies were present in six TS (4%), with a mean of 144·8 (range = 60–535). None had apparent adrenal insufficiency. There was no age difference comparing 21-OH antibody-positive TS (median age = 33·9 years, range = 17·7–44·7) and 21-OH antibody-negative TS (median age = 31·6 years, range = 11·2–62·2) (P = 0·8). No TS was positive for IFN-ω antibodies (mean = 42·4, range = –435–191). No overlapping autoimmune profile between TS and APS I was found. Autoimmunity against 21-OH among TS patients was more prevalent than previously identified, suggesting an increased risk of adrenal failure in TS. However, whether adrenal impairment will develop remains unknown.
Disrupting Eurocentric epistemologies: Re‐mediating transitions to centre intersectionally‐minoritised immigrant children, families and communities
Authors: Souto‐Manning Mariana
Published: October 2018

In this article, I examine intersectionally‐minoritised immigrant children’s transitions from community‐based pre‐kindergartens to elementary schools (kindergartens) in the most segregated school system in the US. Attending to issues of blockage and fragmentation inherent to transitions, I analyse transition supports, interpreting and critiquing them through the perspectives of Latinx immigrant teachers and mothers. Through interviews, I listen to, learn from and reposition Latinx immigrant teachers and mothers as important constructors of knowledge who hold valuable (albeit often disprivileged) perspectives for reorganising the ecology of transitions. Centering the experiences of immigrant mothers and their young children, I problematise dominant understandings and conceptualisations of transition, unveiling how these privilege dominant ways of being and behaving. In doing so, I shed light on the possibility of re‐mediating transitions in ways that centre the perspectives of Latinx immigrants.
The role of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex in the motor placebo effect
Authors: Villa‐Sánchez Bernardo , Emadi Andani Mehran , Fiorio Mirta
Published: October 2018

The neural correlates of the placebo effect in the motor domain are still unknown. The aim of this study was to tackle the role of a frontal cortical region, the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC). To this end, we stimulated the cortical site corresponding to the left dlPFC with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) during a placebo procedure and measured any change in the motor placebo effect in all the participants and more specifically in placebo‐responders. Three different experiments were conducted in which healthy volunteers performed a force motor task with the index finger. The placebo treatment consisted of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). In Experiment 1 (expectation alone), participants were only verbally suggested about the positive effects of TENS. In Experiment 2 (expectation and conditioning), participants were verbally suggested about TENS and conditioned with a surreptitious increase in a visual feedback of force. In Experiment 3 (control procedure), participants were told that TENS was inefficient. Each participant was tested in three different days with anodal, cathodal and sham tDCS over the dlPFC. Results showed that in Experiment 1 and 2 force increased after the procedure, independently of tDCS. By focusing on placebo‐responders, we found that in Experiment 1 force remained stable after active tDCS, whereas it increased after inactive tDCS. These findings bring new evidence on the neural underpinnings of the motor placebo effect, by showing that independently of the polarity, active tDCS over the left dlPFC may undermine the expectation‐induced enhancement of force in placebo‐responders.
A wide window of migration phenology captures inter‐annual variability of favourable conditions: Results of a whole‐lake experiment with juvenile Pacific salmon
Authors: Hovel Rachel A. , Fresh Kurt L. , Schroder Steven L. , Litt Arni H. , Quinn Thomas P.
Published: October 2018

Survival of post‐larval and juvenile organisms can depend on multiple seasonally‐fluctuating features, including thermal conditions and food availability. Alterations in the phenology of either consumers or their prey might decouple trophic relationships and reduce consumer growth and survival, and this potential for mismatches is especially pronounced in migratory organisms that change habitats. Juvenile sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) migrate from natal streams to lake habitats, and we hypothesised that their in‐lake growth and survival depends on whether timing of migration matches suitable lake conditions.

We used mixed effects models to test the hypotheses that: (a) the most successful entry times correspond to favourable prey densities and lake thermal conditions; and (b) a mismatch in fish entry time and seasonal lake dynamics can reduce fish growth and survival. These models were applied to an 11‐year time series of migration timing, capture rate and size at smolting for juvenile sockeye salmon in Lake Washington, WA, USA.

Juvenile sockeye salmon entering Lake Washington later in the season encountered higher zooplankton abundance and warmer water, and experienced higher average rates of growth and survival, but the optimal date for lake entry ranged across years by up to a month. Zooplankton abundance and bloom timing affected fish growth and relative survival more than lake temperature, and survival was most influenced by zooplankton abundance in the spring when fish entered the lake. In contrast, fish size at seaward migration from the lake depended primarily on zooplankton abundance in the spring as they left the lake rather than the previous spring when they entered.

These results suggest that maintaining a wide window of lake entry dates allows this population to capture the annually‐varying period of favourable conditions, minimising mismatches between juvenile fish and their resources and thereby enabling successful recruitment in an unpredictable environment.
Adaptation of soil microbial growth to temperature: Using a tropical elevation gradient to predict future changes
Authors: Nottingham Andrew T. , Bååth Erland , Reischke Stephanie , Salinas Norma , Meir Patrick
Published: October 2018

Terrestrial biogeochemical feedbacks to the climate are strongly modulated by the temperature response of soil microorganisms. Tropical forests, in particular, exert a major influence on global climate because they are the most productive terrestrial ecosystem. We used an elevation gradient across tropical forest in the Andes (a gradient of 20°C mean annual temperature, MAT), to test whether soil bacterial and fungal community growth responses are adapted to long‐term temperature differences. We evaluated the temperature dependency of soil bacterial and fungal growth using the leucine‐ and acetate‐incorporation methods, respectively, and determined indices for the temperature response of growth: Q10 (temperature sensitivity over a given 10oC range) and Tmin (the minimum temperature for growth). For both bacterial and fungal communities, increased MAT (decreased elevation) resulted in increases in Q10 and Tmin of growth. Across a MAT range from 6°C to 26°C, the Q10 and Tmin varied for bacterial growth (Q10–20 = 2.4 to 3.5; Tmin = −8°C to −1.5°C) and fungal growth (Q10–20 = 2.6 to 3.6; Tmin = −6°C to −1°C). Thus, bacteria and fungi did not differ significantly in their growth temperature responses with changes in MAT. Our findings indicate that across natural temperature gradients, each increase in MAT by 1°C results in increases in Tmin of microbial growth by approximately 0.3°C and Q10–20 by 0.05, consistent with long‐term temperature adaptation of soil microbial communities. A 2°C warming would increase microbial activity across a MAT gradient of 6°C to 26°C by 28% to 15%, respectively, and temperature adaptation of microbial communities would further increase activity by 1.2% to 0.3%. The impact of warming on microbial activity, and the related impact on soil carbon cycling, is thus greater in regions with lower MAT. These results can be used to predict future changes in the temperature response of microbial activity over different levels of warming and over large temperature ranges, extending to tropical regions.
Doing gender, modestly: Conceptualizing workplace experiences of Pakistani women doctors
Authors: Masood Ayesha
Published: October 2018

Using the theoretical framework of inequality regimes, this article offers a reconceptualization of purdah as it is practised, lived and experienced by women doctors of Pakistan. Based on an ethnographic study of Pakistani women doctors, this research indicates that practising purdah in the workplace is perceived as doing femininity within the hegemonic masculine workplace culture of Pakistan. In Pakistani organizations, individual and institutionalized practices of purdah create a gendered substructure which marginalizes women doctors by dictating the norms of conduct, international ethics, organization of physical space and work allocation. Patriarchal interpretations of religious doctrines of modesty provide legitimacy to the existence of these inequality regimes. Based on this, the article argues for a system‐level theorization of purdah that accounts for both individual and institutional norms of veil. Such conceptualization contributes to our understanding of how religion intersects with gender, class and race to create complex systemic inequities in organizational structure.
Graduate students’ experiences of plagiarism by their professors
Authors: Becker Kimberly D.
Published: October 2018

This study expands the inquiry about an egregious form of academic misconduct. Participants consist of graduate students who reported a violation of academic integrity because a professor plagiarised their academic work. Based on data collected through interviews and documents, interpretative phenomenological analysis is used to examine participants’ experiences. A key research finding of relevance to Higher Education policy is: individuals in positions of authority failed to resolve the reports. This study calls for more education about authorship. Equally important, universities need clear reporting procedures and protections for students when they report academic violations.
Causality and Becoming: Scotistic Reflections
Authors: Gordon Liran Shia
Published: October 2018

Becoming is a process in which a thing moves from one state to another. In Section 1, the study will elaborate on the discussion of the Aristotelian causes taken broadly, primarily focusing on the relation between efficient and final causes. In Section 2, the study discusses the implications of Scotus’s conception of contingency and freedom, as they are reflected in the relation of the future to the past, for the efficient and final causalities. Similarly in Section 3 an examination of Scotus’s conception of matter is conducted. Based on the ideas established in these sections, the study attempts to present an initial Scotistic view of becoming.
Diplomatic relations between the eastern Roman empire and the “barbarian” successor states, 527–565
Authors: Sarantis Alexander
Published: October 2018

Diplomatic relations between the eastern Roman emperor, Justinian, and “barbarian” Ostrogothic, Vandal, Visigothic, and Frankish successor states in Italy, Africa, Spain, and Gaul, were framed by competing claims to Romanitas during a period often viewed as a crossroads between Antiquity and the Middle Ages. Modern works examining these relations and the wars which resulted disagree as to whether the ruling elites of the successor states were politically “integrated” into Roman society or were barbarian interlopers, awkwardly trying to balance the interests of Germanic military aristocracies and native Roman senatorial and ecclesiastical elites. They thus reflect competing eastern Roman and western ideologies in the aftermath of the political disintegration of the western Roman empire in the fifth century.
Work and welfare‐state trajectories in Norway over two decades: Has the goal of getting more people into work been achieved?
Authors: Hansen Hans‐Tore , Lorentzen Thomas
Published: October 2018

In this study, we investigated the work and welfare‐state trajectories of three cohorts of middle‐aged Norwegian inhabitants over a period of two decades (1994–2014). The period of this study is particularly interesting because of an extensive welfare reform that was initiated in 2006 and completed in 2011. We addressed two questions: What were the most typical labour market and welfare‐state trajectories for middle‐aged people over the past two decades, and have they changed? Second, did the work and welfare‐state trajectories of a major target group of the NAV reform – adults with a high risk of health‐related exclusion – change during our observation period? Over the period, we witnessed a sharp drop in the number of people in stable employment. Furthermore, rather than solving the problem of permanent health‐related exclusion from the labour market, policy changes have created a new problem by steering people into temporary and less secure income sources from the welfare state.
Translocation efficiencies and allocation of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in rice as affected by silicon fertilizer under high daytime temperature
Authors: Liu Qihua , Ma Hui , Sun Zhaowen , Lin Xiangqing , Zhou Xuebiao
Published: October 2018

High temperature has become a bottleneck limiting rice production in many rice‐growing districts. Silicon is considered as a beneficial element for rice development, being involved in mitigating adversity stress. In order to ascertain how high temperature and silicon affect nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) translocation efficiencies and allocation in rice plants, a field experiment with split plot design was conducted in two consecutive years. Silicon fertilizer treatments, including applying silicon fertilizer and without applying silicon fertilizer, were regarded as main plots. Temperature treatments, including high daytime temperature (HDT) and normal temperature (NT), were assigned as subplots. The results indicated that, as compared to NT, HDT reduced the translocation efficiencies of N, P and K in leaves and stems plus sheaths except for the K translocation efficiency in stems plus sheaths. Moreover, HDT decreased grain yield and the allocation rates of N, P and K in panicles at maturity. Under HDT, the application of silicon fertilizer obviously enhanced the N translocation efficiency of leaves and stems plus sheaths, and the K translocation efficiency of leaves. The application of silicon fertilizer increased grain yield and the allocation rates of N and K in panicles at maturity under HDT. Correlation analysis showed that rice grain yield was positively significantly correlated with N, P and K translocation efficiencies of leaves and their allocation rates in panicles at maturity. Conversely, grain yield was negatively related to the N and P allocation rates in leaves and stems plus sheaths at maturity. These results imply that HDT generated adverse effect on the translocation efficiency of nutrition in rice plants, which might be another damage induced by high temperature to the formation of rice grain yield. Additionally, silicon fertilizer could play a key role in positively regulating the N and K translocation efficiencies and allocation rates in rice under HDT.
Photoemission from Bi‐doped calcium aluminate glasses similar to sunlight
Authors: Li Xingyu , Cao Jiangkun , Xu Wenbin , Luo Haoyang , Wang Yafei , Wang Xiu , Peng Mingying
Published: October 2018

Light sources as the substitution for sunlight play an important role due to their practical applications in aircraft, medicine, and agriculture. Bi3+ ions show tunable emission from ultraviolet to deep red depending on local crystal field, presenting great potential in mimicking sunlight. However, these emissions are mainly limited to crystals. To stabilize Bi3+ ions inside photonic glasses with desirable emission and excellent physical properties remains challenging. Here, we managed to stabilize Bi3+ with ultrabroad and tunable emission inside glasses at air atmosphere. This emission spans the whole visible range of 350‐780 nm and matches well with the sunlight spectra. For the first time, an external quantum efficiency of 34% was obtained from Bi‐doped photonic glasses without optimizing glass composition. We find that the local oxidation atmosphere from super‐oxide ions and proper crystal field formed by AlO4 are responsible for this unique luminescence, which is revealed by the detailed comparison on the optical and structural properties of calcium aluminate glasses and Ca12Al14O33 crystals with the same composition. Moreover, glasses with distortion structure further results in multiluminescent centers of Bi3+ so as to broaden the emission band. This work provides new insights into the luminescent behaviors of Bi ions in luminescent materials, and should contribute to designing new photonic glasses in future.
Simultaneous control of particle size and morphology of α‐CaSO4·1/2H2O with organic additives
Authors: Guan Qingjun , Sun Wei , Hu Yuehua , Yin Zhigang , Zhang Chenhu , Guan Changping , Zhu Xiangnan , Ahmed Khoso Sultan
Published: October 2018

Here we reported a method to simultaneously control the particle size and morphology of α‐CaSO4·1/2H2O (α‐HH) prepared from flue gas desulfurization gypsum by adjusting the succinic acid concentration and glycerol content under mild conditions. Succinic acid controlled the crystal morphology by adsorption onto α‐HH surfaces, and glycerol controlled the crystal particle size, in which an increase in the maximal relative supersaturation (Smax) and nucleation rate of α‐HH was hypothesized to cause the change in α‐HH particle size. Then, based on the method, α‐HH with different particle sizes but with almost the same morphology was prepared, and the influence of the crystal particle size on the mechanical strength of the α‐HH pastes was explored. With decreasing α‐HH particle size from about 26 to 5 μm, the dry compressive strength of the pastes made from the α‐HH decreased remarkably from 68.02 to 34.85 MPa, which was ascribed to an increase in the internal porosity of the pastes.
Potential regulatory network in the PSG10P/miR‐19a‐3p/IL1RAP pathway is possibly involved in preeclampsia pathogenesis
Authors: Wang Nan , Li Ruizhen , Xue Min
Published: October 2018

Preeclampsia (PE), a pregnancy‐specific disorder, is a leading cause of perinatal maternal‐fetal mortality and morbidity. Impaired cell migration and invasion of trophoblastic cells and an imbalanced systemic maternal inflammatory response have been proposed as potential mechanisms of PE pathogenesis. Comparative analysis between PE placentas and normal placentas profiled differentially expressed miRNAs, lncRNAs, and mRNAs, including miR‐19a‐3p (miRNA), PSG10P (lncRNA), and IL1RAP (mRNA). This study was conducted to investigate their potential roles in PE pathogenesis. The expression of miR‐19a‐3p, PSG10P, and IL1RAP was examined in PE and normal placentas using RT‐qPCR. An in vitro experiment was performed in human trophoblast HET8/SVneo and TEV‐1 cells cultured in normoxic and hypoxic conditions. MiR‐19a‐3p targets were identified using Targetscan, miRanda, and PicTar analysis as well as luciferase reporter assays. The mouse model of PE was conducted using sFlt‐1 for in vivo tests. Lower levels of miR‐19a‐3p, but higher levels of PSG10P and IL1RAP were observed in PE placentas and the trophoblast cells in hypoxia. Luciferase reporter assays confirmed that PSG10P and IL1RAP were both direct targets of miR‐19a‐3p. Exposure to hypoxia inhibited cell viability, migration, and invasion of HET8/SVneo and TEV‐1 cells. Knocking out PSG10P and IL1RAP or overexpressing miR‐19a‐3p rescued the inhibition caused by hypoxia. In vivo experiments showed that IL1RAP promoted the expression of caspase‐3, a key apoptosis enzyme, but inhibited MMP9, which is responsible for degrading the extracellular matrix, suggesting a significant role of IL1RAP in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. miR‐19a‐3p, PSG10P, and IL1RAP were all found to be involved in PE pathogenesis. With a common targeting region in their sequences, a regulatory network in the PSG10P/miR‐19a‐3p/IL1RAP pathway may contribute to PE pathogenesis during pregnancy.
Soft tissue substitutes to increase gingival thickness: Histologic and volumetric analyses in dogs
Authors: Song Young Woo , Kim Sungtae , Waller Tobias , Cha Jae‐Kook , Cho Sung‐Won , Jung Ui‐Won , Thoma Daniel S.
Published: October 2018

Objectives

To evaluate the histologic and volumetric changes of gingival tissues following grafting with collagen‐based matrices at labial aspect of teeth in canines.

Materials and Methods

Gingival augmentation was performed in the mandibular incisor area using two types of xenogeneic cross‐linked collagen matrices (CCMs), bovine CCM for BCCM group and porcine CCM for PCCM group, whereas the contralateral sides remained untreated (B‐control group and P‐control group). Descriptive histology, histometric and volumetric analyses were performed after 12 weeks. For statistical comparison between each test group and respective control group, paired t test was used for histometric analysis, and repeated‐measured analysis of variance was used for volumetric analysis (p < 0.05).

Results

An increased number of rete pegs and an enhanced formation of new blood vessels were observed at both grafted sites compared to the corresponding control sites. There was statistically significant gain of horizontal thickness only in BCCM group (1.36 ± 0.27 mm vs. 1.26 ± 0.34 mm; p < 0.05) compared to the B‐control groups.

Conclusion

BCCM was effective for gingival augmentation in terms of horizontal thickness at the labial aspect of teeth at 12 weeks post‐surgery.
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome: clinical presentation, aetiology and management
Authors: Fedorowski A.
Published: October 2018

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a variant of cardiovascular autonomic disorder characterized by an excessive heart rate increase on standing and orthostatic intolerance. POTS affects younger individuals 15–45 years old with a distinct female predominance (≈80%). The prevalence ranges between 0.2% and 1.0% in developed countries. The onset of POTS is typically precipitated by immunological stressors such as viral infection, vaccination, trauma, pregnancy, surgery or psychosocial stress. The most common complaints are dizziness, weakness, rapid heartbeat and palpitation on standing. Moreover, patients often report physical deconditioning and reduced exercise capacity as well as headache, ‘brain fog’, dyspnoea, gastrointestinal disorders and musculoskeletal pain. The aetiology of POTS is largely unknown and three main hypotheses include an autoimmune disorder, abnormally increased sympathetic activity and catecholamine excess, and sympathetic denervation leading to central hypovolaemia and reflex tachycardia. The golden standard for POTS diagnosis is head‐up tilt test with a non‐invasive beat‐to‐beat haemodynamic monitoring. Although long‐term prognosis of POTS is poorly explored, around 50% of patients spontaneously recover within 1–3 years. After the diagnosis has been established, patient should be thoroughly educated about non‐pharmacological measures alleviating the symptoms. Exercise training may be very effective and counteract deconditioning. In more symptomatic patients, different drugs directed at controlling heart rate, increasing peripheral vasoconstriction and intravascular volume can be tested. However, the overall effects of pharmacological therapy are modest and the most affected patients remain handicapped. Future efforts should focus on better understanding of POTS pathophysiology and designing randomized controlled trials for selection of more effective therapy.
PTEN and miR‐26b: Promising prognostic biomarkers in initiation and progression of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Baghaei Fereshteh , Abdollahi Alireza , Mohammadpour Hadiseh , Jahanbin Mahsa , Naseri Taheri Fatemeh , Aminishakib Pouyan , Emami Razavi Amirnader , Kharazifard Mohamadjavad
Published: October 2018

Backgrounds

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy of the oral cavity. Phosphatase and TENsin homolog (PTEN) is a well‐known tumor suppressive gene regulated by several biomarkers including a small single‐stranded molecule, microRNA26b (miR‐26b). Here, we studied the expression of PTEN and miR‐26b in OSCC specimens in comparison with adjacent normal mucosa.

Methods

The expressions of PTEN and miR‐26b genes were evaluated at mRNA level in OSCC and adjacent normal fresh frozen tissues in 49 patients using Quantitative Real‐Time PCR and analyzed their associations with clinicopathological factors.

Results

The expression level of PTEN was significantly lower in OSCC specimens comparing with adjacent normal tissues (P‐value = 0.000). The expression of PTEN was associated with T stage (P‐value = 0.006) and N stage (P‐value = 0.043). A nonsignificant decrease in miR‐26b expression level was also observed in OSCC tissues. Additionally, in patients with more aggressive tumoral behavior, including vascular invasion (P‐value = 0.012) and positive N stage (P‐value = 0.02), significant decreases were found.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that inactivation of PTEN may have an impact on initiation and progression of OSCC. Additionally, miR‐26b might have a tumor suppressive role in OSCC.
Combined use of arginase and dichloroacetate exhibits anti-proliferative effects in triple negative breast cancer cells
Authors: Verma Angela , Lam Yau-Min , Leung Yun-Chung , Hu Xiaohui , Chen Xin , Cheung Edwin , Tam Kin Yip
Published: October 2018

Objectives

Drug combination in cancer therapy aims to achieve synergistic therapeutic effect, reduced drug dosage, reduced drug toxicity and minimizes or delays the induction of drug resistance. In the present study, we investigated the anticancer effects of the combination of two metabolic modulators, dichloroacetate (DCA) and bacillus caldovelox arginase (BCA) (or pegyated human arginase (HA)).

Methods

The combination treatments were evaluated in MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231 cells as well as in MDA-MB 231 breast cancer xenograft model.

Key findings

Dichloroacetate and BCA combination exhibited anti-proliferative effects on MCF-7 cells, which were found to be synergistic. Analysis of the gene expression upon drug treatments revealed that the synergistic anti-proliferative effect on MCF-7 cells was possibly in part due to the activation of the p53 pathway. A similar synergistic anti-proliferative effect was observed in the combined use of DCA and HA on MCF-7 and MDA-MB231 cells, which was due to induction of cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. Moreover, the combination enhanced anti-tumour activity in a MDA-MB 231 xenograft mouse model.

Conclusions

Our results suggested that dichloroacetate and arginase combination exhibited enhanced anti-cancer effects in preclinical breast cancer models which may offer an additional treatment option for breast cancer.
Regional difference in intestinal drug absorption as a measure for the potential effect of P-glycoprotein efflux transporters
Authors: Ashmawy Shimaa M , El-Gizawy Sanaa A , El Maghraby Gamal M , Osman Mohamed A
Published: October 2018

Objectives

The aim of this research was to assess regional difference in the intestinal absorption of ranitidine HCl as an indicator for the potential effect of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) efflux transporters.

Methods

In situ rabbit intestinal perfusion was used to investigate absorption of ranitidine HCl, a substrate for P-gp efflux from duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon. This was conducted both in the presence and absence of piperine as P-gp inhibitor.

Key findings

Ranitidine HCl was incompletely absorbed from rabbit intestine. The length normalized absorptive clearance (PeA/L) of ranitidine HCl was ranked as colon > duodenum > jejunum > ileum. This is the reverse order of the magnitude of P-gp expression. Coperfusion of piperine with ranitidine HCl significantly increased the PeA/L of ranitidine HCl from jejunum and ileum with no significant change on the absorption from duodenum and colon. This was confirmed by significant reduction in the length required for complete ranitidine HCl absorption from jejunum and ileum in presence piperine.

Conclusions

The results indicate that P-gp transporters play a major role in determining regional difference in intestinal absorption of ranitidine HCl. Thus, the regional absorption of drugs may be taken as an indirect indication for the role of P-gp in intestinal absorption.
The construction of people with mental health problems as risk objects: Findings of a case study inquiry
Authors: Felton Anne , Repper Julie , Avis Mark
Published: October 2018

Accessible summary

What is known on the subject?

Risk assessment and management in mental health services are contested and perceived as problematic by both professionals and service users.

There is substantial emphasis on risk as a core component of professional practice. However, recovery for people with mental health problems emphasizes self‐determination which seems to conflict with risk management.

A critique is emerging of risk assessment and management. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence which seeks to explore how professionals manage the conflicts between recovery orientated practice and risk management.

What the paper adds to existing knowledge?

The paper reports on qualitative research which highlights people with mental health problems are objectified and frequently associated with the potential for harm.

Risk dominates the work of mental health professionals and undermines individualized care.

Service users are subject to increased surveillance and medication as a result.

What are the implications for practice?

Service users’ subjective experiences need to be prioritized in mental health care by renewed focus on the relationship between professionals and service users.

Mental health professionals should question the centrality of risk to their practice.

Introduction

The emergence of recovery, alongside significant focus on risk management, creates potential for conflicting influences in mental health care. Although evidence has critiqued risk assessment, there is a lack of research that seeks to explore how professionals make decisions within these apparently incompatible agendas.

Aim

To explore how practitioners, experience potential tensions arising from delivering recovery‐orientated care and enforcing containment.

Method

This paper reports on a case study inquiry, using interviews with mental health professionals and observations in an acute ward and an assertive outreach team.

Results

Risk governed the practice of mental health professionals to such an extent it defined how service users were understood and treated. Service users were constructed as objects of risk, first by being objectified and secondly by creating a link between that object and harm.

Discussion

Hilgartner's (1992, Organizations, uncertainties and risk (pp. 39–53). Boulder, CO: Westview Press) theory of risk explains how risk dominates the identity of people with mental health problems at the cost of recovery. This results in increased monitoring, surveillance and medication to enact control.

Implications for practice

To undermine the dominance of risk, professionals should reconnect with the subjective experiences of people with mental health problems and challenge the acceptance of risk as central to their role.
Hair and saliva test fails to identify allergies in dogs
Authors: Coyner K. , Schick A.
Published: October 2018

Objectives

Several companies offer saliva and/or hair tests for food and environmental allergies in companion animals, but provide no validation of test accuracy. We examined one such hair and saliva allergy test to determine whether it could reliably differentiate between a normal dog and an allergic dog, and to examine test repeatability.

Materials and Methods

Ten fur and saliva samples were submitted from a known allergic dog and a normal, non‐allergic dog. Five fake fur samples and water were also submitted to determine whether the test could differentiate between a real dog and toy animal. The company performed testing for 128 food and environmental allergens. Statistical analyses were performed to determine whether the response distribution differed significantly between dogs, using the Pearson chi‐square coefficient, as well as to determine test–retest reliability by calculating Cohen's kappa for each allergen.

Results

The distribution of test results from samples obtained from allergic, non‐allergic or fake dogs was not different from that expected due to random chance. Test–retest reproducibility was poor to slight.

Clinical Significance

Hair and saliva testing should not be used to diagnose allergies and is not a substitute for veterinary‐directed allergy evaluation and diagnostics.