bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Prospective Assessment of Adverse Events in 3 Digestive Surgery Departments From Central Tunisia
Authors: Letaief Mondher , El Mhamdi Sana , Siddiqi Sameen , Letaief Rached , Morjane Abdelwaheb , Hamdi Abdelaziz
Published: June 2017

Objective

The aim of the study was to prospectively assess the incidence, the preventability, and the factors contributing to adverse events (AEs) in surgical departments of Tunisian hospitals.

Methods

A prospective longitudinal study evaluated the incidence of AEs in surgical departments of three university hospitals in central Tunisia. The study followed 1687 admitted patients until their discharge from the hospitals based on a standard two-stage method that first included staff interviews and review of medical records based on 18 criteria and later was followed by an expert review to confirm or reject the presence of an AE.

Results

The overall incidence of AEs was 18.1% (95% confidence interval = 16.26–19.94), with an incidence density of 21.6 events per 1000 patient-days. The most frequent AEs were those related to operative procedures (34.9%) and to hospital-acquired infections (30.3%).

The multivariate analysis shows that the proportion of AEs increased significantly with intrinsic risk factors (odds ratio [OR] = 2.51, P < 0.001), extrinsic risk factors (OR = 1.38, P = 0.02), length of stay of greater than 7 days (OR = 2.27, P < 0.001), and unplanned admissions (OR = 2.59, P < 0.01). Overall, the major consequences of suffering an AE were that 90% had a prolonged hospital stay, 6% had a permanent disability, and 4% encountered death. More than 60% of the identified AEs were considered to be preventable.

Conclusions

Surgical AEs have a significant impact on patient outcomes in terms of length of stay, disability, and mortality, and a considerable proportion of them are preventable. Prospective studies provide better insight regarding AEs under circumstances where hospital records are not optimal. Patient safety programs led by qualified health professionals can reduce patient harm in surgical departments of hospitals in most situations.
Caspase-8, RIPK1, and RIPK3 Coordinately Regulate Retinoic Acid-Induced Cell Differentiation and Necroptosis
Authors: Someda Masataka , Kuroki Shunsuke , Tachibana Makoto , Yonehara Shin
Published: June 2017

Caspase-8, which is essential for death receptor-mediated apoptosis, inhibits necroptosis by suppressing the function of RIPK1 and RIPK3 to activate MLKL. We show that knockdown ofcaspase-8expression in embryoid bodies derived from ES cells markedly enhances retinoic acid (RA)-induced cell differentiation and necroptosis, both of which are dependent onRipklandRipk3.RA treatment obviously enhanced the expression of RA-specific genes having a retinoic acid response element(RARE)to induce cell differentiation, and induced marked expression of RIPK1, RIPK3 and MLKL to stimulate necroptosis.Caspase-8knockdown induced RA receptor (RAR) to form a complex with RIPK1 and RIPK3 in the nucleus, and RAR interacting with RIPK1 and RIPK3 showed much stronger binding activity toRAREthan RAR without RIPK1 or RIPK3. In Caspase-8-deficient mouse embryos, expression of RA-specific genes was obviously enhanced. Thus, caspase-8, RIPK1, and RIPK3 regulate RA-induced cell differentiation and necroptosis bothin vitroandin vivo.
Comprehensive Benchmarking and Ensemble Approaches for Metagenomic Classifiers
Authors: McIntyre Alexa B. R. , Ounit Rachid , Afshinnekoo Ebrahim , Prill Robert J. , Hénaff Elizabeth , Alexander Noah , Minot Sam , Danko David , Foox Jonathan , Ahsanuddin Sofia , Tighe Scott , Hasan Nur A. , Subramanian Poorani , Moffat Kelly , Levy Shawn , Lonardi Stefano , Greenfield Nick , Colwell Rita R. , Rosen Gail L. , Mason Christopher E.
Published: June 2017

Background

One of the main challenges in metagenomics is the identification of microorganisms in clinical and environmental samples. While an extensive and heterogeneous set of computational tools is available to classify microorganisms using whole genome shotgun sequencing data, comprehensive comparisons of these methods are limited. In this study, we use the largest (n=35) to date set of laboratory-generated and simulated controls across 846 species to evaluate the performance of eleven metagenomics classifiers. We also assess the effects of filtering and combining tools to reduce the number of false positives.

Results

Tools were characterized on the basis of their ability to (1) identify taxa at the genus, species, and strain levels, (2) quantify relative abundance measures of taxa, and (3) classify individual reads to the species level. Strikingly, the number of species identified by the eleven tools can differ by over three orders of magnitude on the same datasets. However, various strategies can ameliorate taxonomic misclassification, including abundance filtering, ensemble approaches, and tool intersection. Indeed, leveraging tools with different heuristics is beneficial for improved precision. Nevertheless, these strategies were often insufficient to completely eliminate false positives from environmental samples, which are especially important where they concern medically relevant species and where customized tools may be required.

Conclusions

The results of this study provide positive controls, titrated standards, and a guide for selecting tools for metagenomic analyses by comparing ranges of precision and recall. We show that proper experimental design and analysis parameters, including depth of sequencing, choice of classifier or classifiers, database size, and filtering, can reduce false positives, provide greater resolution of species in complex metagenomic samples, and improve the interpretation of results.
Insular cortex sub-region-dependent distribution pattern of α-synuclein immunoreactivity in Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies
Authors: Fathy Yasmine Y. , de Jong Frank Jan , van Dam Anne-Marie , Rozemuller Annemieke J.M. , van de Berg Wilma D.J.
Published: June 2017

The insular cortex is a heterogeneous and widely connected brain region. It plays a role in autonomic, cognitive, emotional and somatosensory functions. Its complex and unique cytoarchitecture includes a periallocortical agranular, pro-isocortical dysgranular, and isocortical granular sub-regions. In Parkinson’s disease (PD), the insula shows α-synuclein inclusions in advanced stages of the disease and its atrophy correlates with cognitive deficits. However, little is known regarding its regional neuropathological characteristics and vulnerability in Lewy body diseases. The aim of this study is to assess the distribution pattern of α-synuclein pathology in the insular sub-regions and the selective vulnerability of its different cell types in PD and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Human post-mortem insular tissues from 10 donors with incidental Lewy body disease (iLBD), PD, DLB, and age-matched controls were immunostained for α-synuclein and glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP). Results showed that a decreasing gradient of α-synuclein pathology was present from agranular to granular sub-regions in iLBD, PD and PD with dementia (PDD) donors. The agranular insula was heavily inflicted, revealing various α-synuclein immunoreactive morphological structures, predominantly Lewy neurites (LNs), and astroglial synucleinopathy. While dysgranular and granular sub-regions showed a decreasing gradient of inclusions and more Lewy bodies (LBs) in deeper layers. In DLB, this gradient was less pronounced and severe pathology was observed in the granular insula compared to PDD and regardless of disease stage. Protoplasmic astrocytes showed α-synuclein inclusions and severe degenerative changes increasing with disease severity. While few von Economo neurons (VENs) in the fronto-insular region revealed inclusions, particularly in PDD patients. Our study reports novel findings on the differential involvement of the insular sub-regions in PD and particular involvement of the agranular sub-region, VENs and astrocytes. Thus, the differential cellular architecture of the insular sub-regions portrays the topographic variation and vulnerability to α-synuclein pathology in Lewy body diseases.
Central Nervous System axonal regeneration by spatially targeted drug combinations
Authors: Siddiq Mustafa M. , Johnson Nicholas P. , Zorina Yana , Yadaw Arjun Singh , Toro Carlos A. , Hansen Jens , Rabinovich Vera , Gregorich Sarah M. , Xiong Yuguang , Tolentino Rosa E. , Hannila Sari S. , Kaplan Ehud , Blitzer Robert D. , Filbin Marie T. , Cardozo Christopher P. , Passaglia Christopher L. , Iyengar Ravi
Published: June 2017

There are no known drugs or drug combinations that promote substantial central nervous system axonal regeneration after injury. We used systems pharmacology approaches to model pathways underlying axonal growth and identify a four-drug combination that regulates multiple subcellular processes in the cell body and axon using the optic nerve crush model in rats. We intravitreally injected agonists HU-210 (cannabinoid receptor-1) and IL-6 (interleukin 6 receptor) to stimulate retinal ganglion cells for axonal growth. We applied, in gel foam at the site of nerve injury, Taxol to stabilize growing microtubules, and activated protein C to clear the debris field since computational models predicted that this drug combination regulating two subcellular processes at the growth cone produces synergistic growth. Morphology experiments show that the four-drug combination promotes axonal regrowth to the optic chiasm and beyond. Physiologically, drug treatment restored pattern electroretinograms and some of the animals had detectable visual evoked potentials in the brain and behavioral optokinetic responses. We conclude that spatially targeted drug treatment can promote robust axonal regeneration and can restore limited functional recovery.
Scalable and efficient single-cell DNA methylation sequencing by combinatorial indexing
Authors: Mulqueen Ryan M. , Pokholok Dmitry , Norberg Steve , Fields Andrew J. , Sun Duanchen , Torkenczy Kristof A. , Shendure Jay , Trapnell Cole , O’Roak Brian J. , Xia Zheng , Steemers Frank J. , Adey Andrew C.
Published: June 2017

Here we present a novel method: single-cell combinatorial indexing for methylation analysis (sci-MET), which is the first highly scalable assay for whole genome methylation profiling of single cells. We use sci-MET to produce 2,697 total single-cell bisulfite sequencing libraries and achieve read alignment rates of 69 ± 7%, comparable to those of bulk cell methods. As a proof of concept, we applied sci-MET to successfully deconvolve the cellular identity of a mixture of three human cell lines.
Three-dimensional single-cell imaging with X-ray waveguides in the holographic regime
Authors: Krenkel Martin , Toepperwien Mareike , Alves Frauke , Salditt Tim
Published: June 2017

X-ray tomography at the level of single biological cells is possible in a low-dose regime, based on full-field holographic recordings, with phase contrast originating from free-space wave propagation. Building upon recent progress in cellular imaging based on the illumination by quasi-point sources provided by X-ray waveguides, here this approach is extended in several ways. First, the phase-retrieval algorithms are extended by an optimized deterministic inversion, based on a multi-distance recording. Second, different advanced forms of iterative phase retrieval are used, operational for single-distance and multi-distance recordings. Results are compared for several different preparations of macrophage cells, for different staining and labelling. As a result, it is shown that phase retrieval is no longer a bottleneck for holographic imaging of cells, and how advanced schemes can be implemented to cope also with high noise and inconsistencies in the data.
High-resolution X-ray diffraction with no sample preparation
Authors: Hansford G. M. , Turner S. M. R. , Degryse P. , Shortland A. J.
Published: June 2017

It is shown that energy-dispersive X-ray diffraction (EDXRD) implemented in a back-reflection geometry is extremely insensitive to sample morphology and positioning even in a high-resolution configuration. This technique allows high-quality X-ray diffraction analysis of samples that have not been prepared and is therefore completely non-destructive. The experimental technique was implemented on beamline B18 at the Diamond Light Source synchrotron in Oxfordshire, UK. The majority of the experiments in this study were performed with pre-characterized geological materials in order to elucidate the characteristics of this novel technique and to develop the analysis methods. Results are presented that demonstrate phase identification, the derivation of precise unit-cell parameters and extraction of microstructural information on unprepared rock samples and other sample types. A particular highlight was the identification of a specific polytype of a muscovite in an unprepared mica schist sample, avoiding the time-consuming and difficult preparation steps normally required to make this type of identification. The technique was also demonstrated in application to a small number of fossil and archaeological samples. Back-reflection EDXRD implemented in a high-resolution configuration shows great potential in the crystallographic analysis of cultural heritage artefacts for the purposes of scientific research such as provenancing, as well as contributing to the formulation of conservation strategies. Possibilities for moving the technique from the synchrotron into museums are discussed. The avoidance of the need to extract samples from high-value and rare objects is a highly significant advantage, applicable also in other potential research areas such as palaeontology, and the study of meteorites and planetary materials brought to Earth by sample-return missions.
How trust moderates social media engagement and brand equity
Authors: Chahal Hardeep , Rani Anu
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is threefold: first, to develop and measure customer engagement scale in context to social media (SM); second, to elucidate the variables that impact customers’ brand engagement on SM and its impact in building customer-based brand equity; and finally, to examine the moderating role of trust in SM brand engagement and brand equity relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected from 767 SM users working in multinational corporations of Gurgaon city, using purposive sampling technique. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were undertaken to analyze the data.

Findings

The paper outcomes indicated SM brand engagement as a bi-dimensional construct comprising information interest and personal interest. Both social factors and consumer-based factors significantly influence customers’ SM brand engagement. Specifically, results depicted that tie-strength and social identity (social factors); and opportunity seeking and product selection (consumer-based factors) strongly influence customers’ SM brand engagement in comparison to other factors.

Research limitations/implications

The research has two major limitations. First, it is limited to Gen Y only. How older and younger consumers interact with brands via SM can stimulate theoretical development as well as furnish potentially valuable strategic opportunities to brand managers in future research. Second, relationship between SM brand engagement and brand equity is examined using trust as a moderating variable. Thus, the effect of other moderating factors like perceived risk and gender can be investigated in the future.

Originality/value

The paper makes a maiden attempt to examine the moderating role of trust in the relationship between SM brand engagement and brand equity. It adds value to the marketing literature in the development of SM brand engagement scale for Gen Y.
Dyslexia policy and practice: cross‐professional and parental perspectives on the Northern Ireland context
Authors: Beck Gillian J. , Hazzard Donna , McPhillips Therése , Tiernan Barbara , Casserly Ann‐Marie
Published: June 2017

This article considers policy and practice in relation to dyslexia provision in Northern Ireland since the 2002 Task Group Report. Using interviews with original and current stakeholders, this research, funded by SCoTENS (Standing Conference on Teacher Education, North and South), examined the extent to which recommendations have been met in the intervening years. Perspectives of interviewees indicated that while pockets of good practice have existed, this has been inconsistent. Despite the Department of Education (Northern Ireland) promoting and funding a significant and replicable model of teacher education and making efforts to monitor its efficacy, concerns remain regarding the optional nature of training, the maintenance of the discrepancy model of dyslexia identification, the need for early multi‐disciplinary identification, whole‐school policy development and post‐primary provision. In addition, stakeholders questioned the sustainability of funding and advocated enhanced transparency for parents, whose voices, it would appear, can still go unheard.
Long‐term video surveillance and automated analyses reveal arousal patterns in groups of hibernating bats
Authors: Hayman David T. S. , Cryan Paul M. , Fricker Paul D. , Dannemiller Nicholas G.
Published: June 2017

Understanding natural behaviours is essential to determining how animals deal with new threats (e.g. emerging diseases). However, natural behaviours of animals with cryptic lifestyles, like hibernating bats, are often poorly characterized. White‐nose syndrome (WNS) is an unprecedented disease threatening multiple species of hibernating bats, and pathogen‐induced changes to host behaviour may contribute to mortality. To better understand the behaviours of hibernating bats and how they might relate to WNS, we developed new ways of studying hibernation across entire seasons.

We used thermal‐imaging video surveillance cameras to observe little brown bats (Myotis lucifugus) and Indiana bats (M. sodalis) in two caves over multiple winters. We developed new, sharable software to test for autocorrelation and periodicity of arousal signals in recorded video.

We processed 740 days (17,760 hr) of video at a rate of >1,000 hr of video imagery in less than 1 hr using a desktop computer with sufficient resolution to detect increases in arousals during midwinter in both species and clear signals of daily arousal periodicity in infected M. sodalis.

Our unexpected finding of periodic synchronous group arousals in hibernating bats demonstrate the potential for video methods and suggest some bats may have innate behavioural strategies for coping with WNS. Surveillance video and accessible analysis software make it now practical to investigate long‐term behaviours of hibernating bats and other hard‐to‐study animals.
The association of QT interval components with atrial fibrillation
Authors: Patel Nikhil , O'Neal Wesley T. , Whalen S. Patrick , Soliman Elsayed Z.
Published: June 2017

Background

Although abnormalities of the QT interval are associated with atrial fibrillation (AF), it is unclear whether ventricular depolarization (QRS duration) or repolarization (JT interval) is a more important marker of AF risk.

Methods

This analysis included 4,181 (95% white; 59% women) participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS) who were free of baseline AF and major intraventricular delay. A linear scale was used to compute heart rate adjusted QT (QTa), QRS (QRSa), and JT (JTa) intervals. Prolonged QTa, QRSa, and JTa were defined by values greater than the sex‐specific 95th percentile for each measurement. AF events were ascertained during the annual study electrocardiograms and from hospitalization discharge data. Cox regression was used to compute hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations of prolonged QTa, QRSa, and JTa with AF, separately.

Results

Over a mean follow‐up of 12.1 years, a total of 1,236 (30%) AF events were detected. An increased risk of AF (HR = 1.50. 95% CI = 1.20, 1.88) was observed with prolonged QTa. When we examined the association between individual components of the QTa interval and AF, the risk of AF was limited to prolonged JTa (HR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.04, 1.65) and not prolonged QRSa (HR = 1.00, 95% CI = 0.77, 1.30). Similar results were obtained per 1‐SD increase in QTa (HR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.13), QRSa (HR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.94, 1.06), and JTa (HR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.01, 1.13).

Conclusions

The JT interval is a more important marker of AF risk in the QT interval among persons who do not have ventricular conduction delays.
Angiotensin II subtype 1a receptor signaling in resident hepatic macrophages induces liver metastasis formation
Authors: Shimizu Yuki , Amano Hideki , Ito Yoshiya , Betto Tomohiro , Yamane Sakiko , Inoue Tomoyoshi , Nishizawa Nobuyuki , Matsui Yoshio , Kamata Mariko , Nakamura Masaki , Kitasato Hidero , Koizumi Wasaburo , Majima Masataka
Published: June 2017

Liver metastases from colorectal cancer (CRC) are a clinically significant problem. The renin–angiotensin system is involved in tumor growth and metastases. This study was designed to evaluate the role of angiotensin II subtype receptor 1a (AT1a) in the formation of liver metastasis in CRC. A model of liver metastasis was developed by intrasplenic injection of mouse colon cancer (CMT‐93) into AT1a knockout mice (AT1aKO) and wild‐type (C57BL/6) mice (WT). Compared with WT mice, the liver weight and liver metastatic rate were significantly lower in AT1aKO. The mRNA levels of CD31, transforming growth factor‐ β1 (TGF‐β1), and F4/80 were suppressed in AT1aKO compared with WT. Double immunofluorescence analysis showed that the number of accumulated F4/80+ cells expressing TGF‐β1 in metastatic areas was higher in WT than in AT1aKO. The AT1aKO bone marrow (BM) (AT1aKO‐BM)→WT showed suppressed formation of liver metastasis compared with WT‐BM→WT. However, the formation of metastasis was further suppressed in WT‐BM→AT1aKO compared with AT1aKO‐BM→WT. In addition, accumulated F4/80+ cells in the liver metastasis were not BM‐derived F4/80+ cells, but mainly resident hepatic F4/80+ cells, and these resident hepatic F4/80+ cells were positive for TGF‐β1. Angiotensin II enhanced TGF‐β1 expression in Kupffer cells. Treatment of WT with clodronate liposomes suppressed liver metastasis by diminishing TGF‐β1+F4/80+ cells accumulation. The formation of liver metastasis correlated with collagen deposition in the metastatic area, which was dependent on AT1a signaling. These results suggested that resident hepatic macrophages induced liver metastasis formation by induction of TGF‐β1 through AT1a signaling.
In silico‐designed novel non‐peptidic ABAD LD hot spot mimetics reverse Aβ‐induced mitochondrial impairments in vitro
Authors: Viswanath Ambily Nath Indu , Kim TaeHun , Jung Seo Yun , Lim Sang Min , Pae Ae Nim
Published: June 2017

Present work aimed to introduce non‐peptidic ABAD loop D (LD) hot spot mimetics as ABAD‐Aβ inhibitors. A full‐length atomistic model of ABAD‐Aβ complex was built as a scaffold to launch the lead design and its topology later verified by cross‐checking the computational mutagenesis results with that of in vitro data. Thereafter, the interactions of prime Aβ‐binding LD residues—Tyr101, Thr108, and Thr110—were translated into specific pharmacophore features and this hypothesis subsequently used as a virtual screen query. ELISA‐based screening of 20 hits identified two promising lead candidates, VC15 and VC19 with an IC50 of 4.4 ± 0.3 and 9.6 ± 0.1 μm, respectively. They productively reversed Aβ‐induced mitochondrial dysfunctions such as mitochondrial membrane potential loss (JC‐1 assay), toxicity (MTT assay), and ATP reduction (ATP assay) in addition to increased cell viabilities. This is the first reporting of LD hot spot‐centric in silico scheme to discover novel compounds with promising ABAD‐Aβ inhibitory potential. These chemotypes are proposed for further structural optimization to derive novel Alzheimer's disease (AD) therapeutics.
Revisiting Young Children's Understanding of the Psychological Causes of Behavior
Authors: Miller Patricia H. , Aloise‐Young Patricia A.
Published: June 2017

In 1989, Miller and Aloise challenged the prevailing belief that preschoolers tend to explain others' behavior in terms of external events or a person's physical attributes and have little understanding of psychological causes. That review documented preschoolers' understanding of, and even preference for, psychological causes as part of an emerging renaissance in developmental social‐cognitive research. The present, updated review (97 articles, participant ages 3 months to 6 years) suggests the emergence of a transformative new perspective in which social‐cognition is balanced between social and cognitive aspects rather than tilted toward cognition. Recent research on infants' awareness of mental states, young children's understanding of social categories and their judgments of the trustworthiness of informants, and cultural context reveals various ways in which preschoolers' social‐causal reasoning is social.
The Gender Politics of Human Waste and Human‐as‐Waste: Indonesian Migrant Workers and Elderly Care in Japan
Authors: Saraswati L. Ayu
Published: June 2017

Significant decline in mortality and fertility rates has led to a rapid aging population in many parts of the globe. Coupled with a decrease in caring for one's senior parents at home, this condition creates a crisis in elderly care. Most studies on elderly care in Japan, the country with the highest percentage of senior people in the world, employ theoretical approaches rooted in the fields of aging and migration studies. This article offers a new perspective by not only focusing on the voices of the Indonesian women migrant care workers in Japan by way of in‐depth interviews, but also intersecting feminist and waste studies in its analysis. This different theoretical approach allows this article to argue that the politics of disposability in the ‘global care chains’ is a gendered and ‘affective’ phenomenon. Drawing from Jaggar's ‘emotional hegemony’ and Saraswati's ‘affective structure’, this article shows that emotions matter in constructing the disposability of these migrant workers and elderly people, particularly within the capitalist currents that drive the gendered supply chains.
Effect of annealing atmosphere on leakage and dielectric characteristics of multiferroic gallium ferrite
Authors: Singh Vijay , Daryapurkar Aatish , Rajput Shailendra S. , Mukherjee Somdutta , Garg Ashish , Gupta Rajeev
Published: June 2017

Mutliferroic and magnetoelectric gallium ferrite (GaFeO3) is plagued by substantial electrical leakage in polycrystalline form. Here, we report on understanding the conduction mechanism in gallium ferrite ceramic samples vis‐à‐vis processing conditions. The results show that oxygen annealed samples exhibit minimum electrical leakage as compared to air or nitrogen annealed samples suggesting the role of oxy3gen vacancies on electrical conduction. Detailed time and temperature‐dependent impedance spectroscopy analysis of the samples showed higher activation energy of conduction in oxygen annealed samples than in air or nitrogen annealed samples. The lower activation energies of 0.3‐0.4 eV in nitrogen/air annealed samples were attributed to higher oxygen vacancy concentration while oxygen annealed samples with low oxygen vacancy concentration exhibited higher activation energy of ~0.50 eV (high frequency, i.e., grain) and 0.98 eV (low frequency, i.e., grain boundary), latter due to superior level of oxygenation at the grain boundaries. Further, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the oxygen vacancies are compensated by the valence fluctuation between Fe2+/Fe3+ ions whose extent is higher in air/nitrogen annealed samples than in oxygen annealed samples. The conduction mechanisms that could be active are most likely to be double ionization of oxygen vacancies and hopping from Fe2+ to Fe3+ states, latter especially in oxygen deficient samples.
Quantification of climatic niches in birds: adding the temporal dimension
Authors: Eyres Alison , Böhning‐Gaese Katrin , Fritz Susanne A.
Published: June 2017

Quantification of the climatic niche from geographic occurrences is an increasingly important tool for studying species’ relationships to their environment, for example to predict responses to climate change. However, as the geographic distributions of birds are seasonally dynamic, they pose a challenge to carrying out comparable and appropriate quantification of climatic niches. In this review, we first assess how relevant seasonal dynamics are across birds as a whole by compiling a database of migratory behaviour for 10 443 bird species. Second, we examine how studies have quantified climatic niches of birds. Finally, using Australia as a case study, we investigate how well existing distribution datasets represent temporal dynamics by comparing seasonal patterns of species richness obtained from point‐occurrence data with those from range maps and assess the consequences for niche quantification. We provide a consistent classification of migratory behaviour across all birds, and find that a huge variety exists between and within species that should be considered when quantifying climatic niches. Despite this, our review of the literature revealed that seasonal dynamics have often not been accounted for. For future studies, we provide a framework for selecting appropriate occurrence data depending on migratory behaviour and data availability. Our comparison of seasonal species richness patterns obtained from extent‐of‐occurrence range maps and point‐occurrence data suggests that range maps are less able to detect temporal dynamics of bird distributions than point‐occurrence data. We conclude that seasonally explicit range maps combined with climatic data for the corresponding time period can be used to adequately quantify climatic niches for resident birds, but are not adequate to quantify the climatic niches of migratory and nomadic species. Therefore, consistent quantification of climatic niches across all birds requires temporally explicit occurrence points. As such, increasing the availability of occurrence data and methods correcting biases should be a priority.
Expression of miR‐18a and miR‐34c in circulating monocytes associated with vulnerability to type 2 diabetes mellitus and insulin resistance
Authors: Wang Si‐Si , Li Yong‐Qiang , Liang Ying‐Zhi , Dong Jing , He Yan , Zhang Ling , Yan Yu‐Xiang
Published: June 2017

Chronic stress may facilitate the development of metabolic disorders including insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). MiR‐18a and miR‐34c modulate central cell responsiveness to stress by targeting glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and corticotropin‐releasing factor receptor type 1 (CRFR1) mRNA, which are important regulators of the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. This study explored the relationship between T2DM/IR and expression of miR‐18a and miR‐34c in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in an occupational sample. Three groups of study subjects were involved, including T2DM patients, impaired fasting glucose (IFG) individuals and healthy controls. The degree of IR was determined using the homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR). The expression of miR‐18a and miR‐34c in PBMCs was evaluated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR). Expression levels of miR‐18a and miR‐34c were significantly correlated with cortisol, corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF) and interleukin 6 (IL‐6) (P < 0.05). The increased levels of miR‐18a were associated with risk of T2DM (adjusted OR = 1.48, 95% CI: 1.25–1.75, P < 0.001) and IFG (adjusted OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.09–1.63, P = 0.005). By contrast, the decreased levels of miR‐34c were associated with risk of T2DM (adjusted OR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.75–0.88, P < 0.001) and IFG (adjusted OR = 0.87, 95% CI: 0.81–0.94, P < 0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, miR‐18a and miR‐34c were independent positive and negative predictors of HOMA‐IR, respectively (P < 0.001). The miRNA panel with the two miRNAs demonstrated high accuracy in the diagnosis of T2DM (AUC = 0.851, 95% CI: 0.786–0.800, P < 0.001). MiR‐18a and miR‐34c in PBMCs may be important marker of stress reaction and may play a role in vulnerability to T2DM as well as IR.
CD11b promotes the differentiation of osteoclasts induced by RANKL through the spleen tyrosine kinase signalling pathway
Authors: Yang Guoxi , Chen Xiaoyong , Yan Zhao , Zhu Qingsheng , Yang Chongfei
Published: June 2017

Macrophage surface antigen‐1 (Mac‐1, CD11b/CD18) has been implicated in the regulation of osteoclastogenesis. In the synovial tissues of patients with aseptic loosening after total hip replacement, CD11b was up‐regulated, which indicated that CD11b is closely involved in osteolysis around the prosthesis. We found that CD11b, but not CD18, promoted osteoclast (OC) maturation. Here, we show CD11b up‐regulated the levels of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), c‐Fos and nuclear factor of activated T cells, cytoplasmic‐1 (NFATc1), as well as the activity of extracellular‐regulated kinase (Erk), and as a result, osteoclast precursors (OCPs) differentiated and became tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)‐positive. In addition, increased tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) induced by ultra‐high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) particles up‐regulated the level of CD11b. Taken together, these findings suggest that CD11b is a positive regulator of osteoclastogenesis and that it functions by activating the Syk signalling pathway, while CD18 does not have the same effect.
Comparison of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing therapy, cognitive behavioral writing therapy, and wait‐list in pediatric posttraumatic stress disorder following single‐incident trauma: a multicenter randomized clinical trial
Authors: de Roos Carlijn , van der Oord Saskia , Zijlstra Bonne , Lucassen Sacha , Perrin Sean , Emmelkamp Paul , de Jongh Ad
Published: June 2017

Background

Practice guidelines for childhood posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) recommend trauma‐focused psychotherapies, mainly cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy is a brief trauma‐focused, evidence‐based treatment forPTSDin adults, but with few well‐designed trials involving children and adolescents.

Methods

We conducted a single‐blind, randomized trial with three arms (n = 103):EMDR(n = 43), Cognitive Behavior Writing Therapy (CBWT;n = 42), and wait‐list (WL;n = 18).WLparticipants were randomly reallocated toCBWTorEMDRafter 6 weeks; follow‐ups were conducted at 3 and 12 months posttreatment. Participants were treatment‐seeking youth (aged 8–18 years) with aDSM‐IVdiagnosis ofPTSD(or subthresholdPTSD) tied to a single trauma, who received up to six sessions ofEMDRorCBWTlasting maximally 45 min each.

Results

Both treatments were well‐tolerated and relative toWLyielded large, intent‐to‐treat effect sizes for the primary outcomes at posttreatment:PTSDsymptoms (EMDR:d = 1.27;CBWT:d = 1.24). At posttreatment 92.5% ofEMDR, and 90.2% ofCBWTno longer met the diagnostic criteria forPTSD. All gains were maintained at follow‐up. Compared toWL, small to large (ranged = 0.39–1.03) intent‐to‐treat effect sizes were obtained at posttreatment for negative trauma‐related appraisals, anxiety, depression, and behavior problems with these gains being maintained at follow‐up. Gains were attained with significantly less therapist contact time forEMDRthanCBWT(mean = 4.1 sessions/140 min vs. 5.4 sessions/227 min).

Conclusions

EMDRandCBWTare brief, trauma‐focused treatments that yielded equally large remission rates forPTSDand reductions in the severity ofPTSDand comorbid difficulties in children and adolescents seeking treatment forPTSDtied to a single event. Further trials of both treatments withPTSDtied to multiple traumas are warranted.
Pseudolymphoma in a cat on phenobarbital treatment
Authors: Lieser J. , Schwedes C. S.
Published: June 2017

A two‐year‐old female spayed domestic shorthair cat was presented with apathy, inappetence and generalised lymphadenomegaly. Anamnestic data included a generalised seizure disorder and phenobarbital treatment started one month before presentation. Routine blood analysis revealed only mild abnormalities and FeLV and FIV tests were negative. Both popliteal lymph nodes were aspirated and cytology was consistent with reactive lymph node hyperplasia. PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement testing diagnosed a polyclonal cell population. In the absence of another cause, lymphadenomegaly was attributed to an adverse drug reaction and phenobarbital was discontinued. The cat's condition improved and lymph node size normalised over the next 10 days. The retrospective diagnosis was phenobarbital‐induced pseudolymphoma.
Prevalence of Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Equine Nasopharyngeal and Guttural Pouch Wash Samples
Authors: Boyle A.G. , Rankin S.C. , Duffee L.A. , Morris D.
Published: June 2017

Background

Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is recognized as a cause of nosocomial infections in both human and veterinary medicine. Studies that examine the nasopharynx and guttural pouches of the horse as carriage sites for MRSA have not been reported.

Hypothesis/Objective

MRSA colonizes the nasopharynx and guttural pouch of horses. To determine the prevalence of MRSA in equine nasopharyngeal wash (NPW) and guttural pouch lavage (GPL) samples in a field population of horses.

Samples

One hundred seventy‐eight samples (123 NPW and 55 GPL) from 108 horses.

Methods

Prospective study. Samples were collected from a convenience population of clinically ill horses with suspected Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) infection, horses convalescing from a known S. equi infection, and asymptomatic horses undergoing S. equi screening. Samples were submitted for S. aureus aerobic bacterial culture with mannitol salt broth and two selective agars (cefoxitin CHROMagar as the PBP2a inducer and mannitol salt agar with oxacillin). Biochemical identification of Staphylococcus species and pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), to determine clonal relationships between isolates, were performed.

Results

Methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus (MRS) was isolated from the nasopharynx of 7/108 (4%) horses. Three horses had MRSA (2.7%), and 4 had MR‐Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP). MRSA was isolated from horses on the same farm. PFGE revealed the 3 MRSA as USA 500 strains.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Sampling the nasopharynx and guttural pouch of community‐based horses revealed a similarly low prevalence rate of MRSA as other studies sampling the nares of community‐based horses. More study is required to determine the need for sampling multiple anatomic sites when screening horses for MRSA.
Chemical and oxygen isotopic properties of ordinary chondrites (H5, L6) from Oman: Signs of isotopic equilibrium during thermal metamorphism
Authors: Ali Arshad , Nasir Sobhi J. , Jabeen Iffat , Al Rawas Ahmed , Banerjee Neil R. , Osinski Gordon R.
Published: June 2017

Mean bulk chemical data of recently found H5 and L6 ordinary chondrites from the deserts of Oman generally reflect isochemical features which are consistent with the progressive thermal metamorphism of a common, unequilibrated starting material. Relative differences in abundances range from 0.5–10% in REE (Eu = 14%), 6–13% in siderophile elements (Co = 48%), and >10% in lithophile elements (exceptions are Ba, Sr, Zr, Hf, U = >30%) between H5 and L6 groups. These differences may have accounted for variable temperature conditions during metamorphism on their parent bodies. The CI/Mg‐normalized mean abundances of refractory lithophile elements (Al, Ca, Sm, Yb, Lu, V) show no resolvable differences between H5 and L6 suggesting that both groups have experienced the same fractionation. The REE diagram shows subtle enrichment in LREE with a flat HREE pattern. Furthermore, overall mean REE abundances are ~0.6 × CI with enriched La abundance (~0.9 × CI) in both groups. Precise oxygen isotope compositions demonstrate the attainment of isotopic equilibrium by progressive thermal metamorphism following a mass‐dependent isotope fractionation trend. Both groups show a ~slope‐1/2 line on a three‐isotope plot with subtle negative deviation in ∆17O associated with δ18O enrichment relative to δ17O. These deviations are interpreted as the result of liberation of water from phyllosilicates and evaporation of a fraction of the water during thermal metamorphism. The resultant isotope fractionations caused by the water loss are analogous to those occurring between silicate melt and gas phase during CAI and chondrule formation in chondrites and are controlled by cooling rates and exchange efficiency.
Centre‐level variation in behaviour and the predictors of behaviour in 5‐year‐old children with non‐syndromic unilateral cleft lip: The Cleft Care UK study. Part 5
Authors: Waylen A. , Mahmoud O. , Wills A. K. , Sell D. , Sandy J. R. , Ness A. R.
Published: June 2017

Structured Abstract

Objectives

The aims of this study were to describe child behavioural and psychosocial outcomes associated with appearance and speech in the Cleft Care UK (CCUK) study. We also wanted to explore centre‐level variation in child outcomes and investigate individual predictors of such outcomes.

Setting and sample population

Two hundred and sixty‐eight five‐year‐old children with non‐syndromic unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) recruited to CCUK.

Materials and methods

Parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) and reported their own perceptions of the child's self‐confidence. Child facial appearance and symmetry were assessed using photographs, and intelligibility of speech was derived from audio‐visual speech recordings. Centre‐level variation in behavioural and psychosocial outcomes was examined using hierarchical models, and associations with clinical outcomes were examined using logit regression models.

Results

Children with UCLP had a higher hyperactive difficulty score than the general population. For boys, the average score was 4.5 vs 4.1 (P=.03), and for girls, the average score was 3.8 vs 3.1 (P=.008). There was no evidence of centre‐level variation for behaviour or parental perceptions of the child's self‐confidence. There is no evidence of associations between self‐confidence and SDQ scores and either facial appearance or behaviour.

Conclusions

Children born with UCLP have higher levels of behaviour problems than the general population.
A Cognitive Perspective on Policy Implementation: Reform Beliefs, Sensemaking, and Social Networks
Authors: Siciliano Michael D. , Moolenaar Nienke M. , Daly Alan J. , Liou Yi‐Hwa
Published: June 2017

Utilizing a cognitive perspective, this article examines the social processes through which teachers come to understand the Common Core State Standards. The authors begin by identifying three beliefs that have important implications for policy implementation: self‐efficacy, resource adequacy, and value for clients. They measure those beliefs and the Common Core discussion networks that emerge among teachers at three points in time. Through the use of SIENA models, the authors explore how networks and beliefs coevolve within schools. Unlike prior research on social networks, which consistently finds strong homophilous tendencies, this research finds no evidence that teachers seek out coworkers who hold similar beliefs. Rather, teachers relied on preexisting formal and informal relationships to guide interactions. Those interactions were characterized by social influence, whereby a teacher's own beliefs adapted toward the beliefs held by the members of their social network. The findings offer a novel perspective on the complex dynamic that occurs within organizations as new policies are unveiled and employees interact with one another to understand the changes those policies entail.
The Levites in the Hebrew Bible
Authors: Leuchter Mark
Published: June 2017

This article provides a summary of the many issues attending the study of the Levites as they appear throughout the Hebrew Bible. The matters of Levite origins, the figure of Moses, the relationship between the Levites and the Aaronide priests, prophecy, kingship, women and Levite status, text production, role in the cult of the Second Temple, and the wisdom tradition are revisited with an evaluation of earlier scholarship and new proposals for understanding these issues and their implications.
Petrochemistry of Granitoids in Sibolga and its Surrounding Areas, North Sumatra, Indonesia
Authors: Setiawan Iwan , Takahashi Ryohei , Imai Akira
Published: June 2017

Petrochemical studies were conducted on granitoids in Sibolga and surrounding areas in North Sumatra, Indonesia. The granitoids presented the characteristics of A‐ and I‐type ilmenite series. The syenogranites from Sarudik, the syenogranite, quartz syenite, and quartz alkali feldspar syenite from Sibuluhan Sihaporas, and the monzogranites from Sibolga Julu are A‐type granitoids that have high SiO2, CaO, Al2O3, Na2O + K2O, and Rb content, a high FeO/MgO ratio, and low Ba, Sr, and Zr content. The alkali feldspar syenite from Sarudik, the quartz alkali feldspar syenite from Tukka, and the quartz syenite from Adian Koting show I‐type characteristics. I‐type granitoids have lower SiO2, Na2O + K2O, Rb, Yb, and total REE (ΣREE) content and low FeO/MgO ratio. However, quartz syenite from the Sibolga Julu, which exhibits I‐type characteristics, has high ΣREE content but a low FeO/MgO ratio.

The granitoids consisted mainly of K‐feldspar megacrysts, quartz, plagioclase, and biotite with hornblende in some cases. Accessory minerals were zircon, apatite, allanite, and titanite. Cordierite and corundum occurred as xenocrysts and inclusions in K‐feldspar in syenogranite (Sarudik) and quartz syenite (Adian Koting). SiO2 and ΣREE content and the Rb/Sr ratio are positively correlated to each other.

The REE are enriched in quartz alkali feldspar syenites from Sibolga Julu and Sarudik, quartz syenite from Tarutung, and quartz alkali feldspar syenite, syenogranite, and quartz syenite from Sibuluhan Sihaporas. These highly‐differentiated granitoids were formed within the plate settings. In contrast, the ΣREE content of hornblende‐bearing granitoids that were formed in volcanic arc settings is low. The coexistence of cordierite and corundum with biotite and hornblende indicates that the metaluminous magma was contaminated by metasedimentary basement rocks.