bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dingo baiting did not reduce fetal/calf loss in beef cattle in northern South Australia
Authors: Campbell Greg , Coffey Andrew , Miller Heather , Read John L. , Brook Anthony , Fleming Peter J. S. , Bird Peter , Eldridge Steve , Allen Benjamin L.
Published: February 2018

Beef cattle production is the major agricultural pursuit in the arid rangelands of Australia. Dingo predation is often considered a significant threat to production in rangeland beef herds, but there is a need for improved understanding of the effects of dingo baiting on reproductive wastage. We experimentally compared fetal/calf loss on baited and non-baited treatment areas within three northern South Australian beef herds over a 2–4-year period. At re-musters, lactation was used to determine the outcomes of known pregnancies. Potential explanatory factors for fetal/calf loss (dingo baiting, dingo activity, summer heat, cow age, seasonal conditions, activity of dingo prey and selected livestock diseases) were investigated. From 3145 tracked pregnancies, fetal/calf loss averaged 18.6%, with no overall significant effect of baiting. Fetal/calf loss averaged 27.3% for primiparous (first pregnancy) heifers and 16.8% for multiparous (2nd or later calf) cows. On average, dingo-activity indices were 59.3% lower in baited treatments than in controls, although background site differences in habitat, weather and previous dingo control could have contributed to these lower indices. The overall scale and timing of fetal/calf loss was not correlated with dingo activity, time of year, a satellite-derived measure of landscape greenness (normalised difference vegetation index), or activity of alternative dingo prey. Limited blood testing suggested that successful pregnancy outcomes, especially in primiparous heifers, may have been reduced by the livestock diseases pestivirus and leptospirosis. The percentage occurrence of cattle hair in dingo scats was higher when seasonal conditions were poorer and alternative prey less common, but lack of association between fetal/calf loss and normalised difference vegetation index suggests that carrion feeding, rather than calf predation, was the more likely cause. Nevertheless, during the fair to excellent prevailing seasons, there were direct observations of calf predation. It is likely that ground baiting, as applied, was ineffective in protecting calves, or that site effects, variable cow age and disease confounded our results.
Comparison of milk production and herd characteristics in New Zealand herds milked once or twice a day
Authors: Edwards J. P.
Published: February 2018

To attract and retain quality staff, dairy farming must be competitive with industries offering conventional work hours. Full-lactation once-a-day (OAD) milking can improve staff working conditions. The aim of the present study was to compare the characteristics of OAD herds relative to a peer group of herds milked twice-a-day (TAD). Data were sourced from the Dairy Industry Good Animal Database, pairing OAD and TAD herds within 25 km, 20% herd size, and 14 days of planned start of calving. Aggregated data from these herds were extracted for the dairy production years 2007–2008 through 2015–2016. In 2015–2016, 9% of all herds tested in New Zealand were milked full-lactation OAD. Results are presented from –4 to 4 years, with 0 as the year of switching to OAD. Results indicated that herds adopting full-lactation OAD milking experienced an 11% decrease in total farm milksolid (MS; fat kg + protein kg) production (kg MS/herd) in Year 0 but, by Year 3, the prior level of production was regained. However, OAD herds remained 11% behind their TAD peer group, due to both OAD and TAD herds increasing production at a rate of 2171 kg MS/year in Years 0–4. The annual herd replacement rate was 20% for both groups. Differences also included a higher 6-week calving rate (82% TAD, 87% OAD), and a divergence in herd breed, with an increase in Jersey and a decrease in Holstein–Friesian genetics for the OAD herds from Year –2. Cows in OAD herds were less likely to be removed due to not being pregnant, but more likely to be removed due to low production or udder health. Milking interval × year interactions were significant for milk volume and liveweight breeding values, with OAD herds having lower values at Year 4. The main conclusion is that to retain an equivalent level of profitability, farm expenditure must be permanently reduced on the adoption of OAD by the initial production decrease multiplied by the long-term milk price. Farmers considering OAD should evaluate the trade-off between the ability to decrease costs to offset any decreased production and impacts on labour and/or lifestyle.
Comparing the representation of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in the Irish and UK press
Authors: O’Regan Veronica , Riordan Elaine
Published: February 2018

Coverage of migration in the media intensified during 2015 against the backdrop of a largescale European refugee crisis. Using corpus linguistics and critical discourse analysis, we explore the representation of refugees, asylum seekers, immigrants and migrants from September to November 2015, in UK and Irish newspapers. Data was collected from Nexis, using the Baker et al. (2008) RASIM framework. Using corpus linguistic techniques, we identify how these groups are represented, before drawing on CDA to examine the data sets further. Frequency lists of the UK and Irish corpora were compared across variety followed by more detailed diachronic analysis of the most frequently occurring items. The extent to which the issue of migration is refracted through a discourse of terrorism in Irish and UK coverage is compared through cluster analyses and a close CDA analysis of randomised downsamples of the Irish and UK sub-corpora drawing in particular on the DHA approach.
At the boundaries of linguistic convergence: Variation in presentational haber / haver-hi
Authors: Blas Arroyo José Luis
Published: February 2018

In this paper, we focus on an eventual convergence outcome (the pluralization of presentational haber/haver-hi) in the grammar of two Romance languages, Spanish and Catalan, which have been living side-by-side for centuries in Eastern Spain. Taking into account the sociolinguistic comparative method and on the basis of several representative corpora of the two languages in contact, the data from this research offer evidence that points to a notable congruence between the underlying grammars of both languages, which would, at least partially, account for a similar diffusion of these vernacular pluralizations. Moreover, some of the few cases of disagreement found can be explained on the basis of both internal (such as the existence of points of structural conflict in some verbal paradigms) and external factors (such as hypercorrection), which certain social groups particularly sensitive to normative pressure are more receptive to.
‘Exclamative’ and ‘quotative’ illocutionary complementisers in Catalan, European Portuguese and Spanish
Authors: Corr Alice
Published: February 2018

The use of the Ibero-Romance complementiserquein non-embedded contexts with various illocutionary functions is argued to be non-trivially distinct from its canonical function as a marker of subordination. Interpretative and grammatical differences, and variation in the availability and clause-typing of non-embedded ‘exclamative’ and ‘quotative’ illocutionaryqueacross Catalan, European Portuguese and Spanish provide evidence that the subordinating complementiser has been repurposed for the representation of pragmatic information in the complementiser systems of Ibero-Romance, a hypothesis supported by analogies drawn between illocutionaryqueand illocutionary functions of the interrogative complementisersi/sein Catalan and European Portuguese.
Public service reforms and clientelism: explaining variation of service delivery modes in Croatian social policy
Authors: Kekez Anka
Published: February 2018

This article seeks to explain the differences in outcomes of social services reform in Croatia during the previous two decades. While the service management reform was based on the principles of effectiveness, efficiency and participation in one segment of social services, in the other segment, reform was used for the development of partisan patronage networks. Using the comparable case strategy, the article focuses on six social services and relies on interviews with policy actors and official documents to map and explain different reform outcomes. The article identifies two factors that led to differences in provision of reformed social services and affected the capacity of the patronage-driven political executive to use reform as an instrument of politicized allocation of public jobs. A sufficiently institutionalized setting in which services were provided prior to the reform reduces the ability of political parties to integrate political patronage into service management. In the case of minimal or non-existent institutional setting, the presence of empowered or represented beneficiaries acts as the bulwark against political capture.
Geometric structures on Lie algebras and double extensions
Authors: Rodríguez-Vallarte M. , Salgado G.
Published: February 2018

Given a finite-dimensional real or complex Lie algebra

g

{\frak g}

equipped with a geometric structure (i.e., either an invariant metric, a symplectic or contact structure), the aim of this work is to show that the double extension process introduced by V. Kac allows one to generate Lie algebras equipped with the same type of geometric structure. In particular, for an exact symplectic Lie algebra, through a double extension process it is possible to construct new exact symplectic Lie algebras.
Abelian spiders and real cyclotomic integers
Authors: Calegari Frank , Guo Zoey
Published: February 2018

If 

Γ
\Gamma

is a finite graph, then the largest eigenvalue 

λ
\lambda

of the adjacency matrix of 

Γ
\Gamma

is a totally real algebraic integer (

λ
\lambda

is the Perron-Frobenius eigenvalue of

Γ
\Gamma

). We say that 

Γ
\Gamma

is abelian if the field generated by

λ
2

\lambda ^2

is abelian. Given a fixed graph 

Γ
\Gamma

and a fixed set of vertices of 

Γ
\Gamma

, we define a spider graph to be a graph obtained by attaching to each of the chosen vertices of 

Γ
\Gamma

some

2
2

-valent trees of finite length. The main result is that only finitely many of the corresponding spider graphs are both abelian and not Dynkin diagrams, and that all such spiders can be effectively enumerated; this generalizes a previous result of Calegari, Morrison, and Snyder. The main theorem has applications to the classification of finite index subfactors. We also prove that the set of Salem numbers of “abelian type” is discrete.
Topology of the Grünbaum–Hadwiger–Ramos hyperplane mass partition problem
Authors: Blagojević Pavle , Frick Florian , Haase Albert , Ziegler Günter
Published: February 2018

In 1960 Grünbaum asked whether for any finite mass inRd\mathbb {R}^dthere areddhyperplanes that cut it into2d2^dequal parts. This was proved by Hadwiger (1966) ford≤3d\le 3, but disproved by Avis (1984) ford≥5d\ge 5, while the cased=4d=4remained open.

More generally, Ramos (1996) asked for the smallest dimensionΔ(j,k)\Delta (j,k)in which for anyjjmasses there arekkaffine hyperplanes that simultaneously cut each of the masses into2k2^kequal parts. At present the best lower bounds onΔ(j,k)\Delta (j,k)are provided by Avis (1984) and Ramos (1996), the best upper bounds by Mani-Levitska, Vrećica and Živaljević (2006). The problem has been an active testing ground for advanced machinery from equivariant topology.

We give a critical review of the work on the Grünbaum–Hadwiger–Ramos problem, which includes the documentation of essential gaps in the proofs for some previous claims. Furthermore, we establish thatΔ(j,2)=12(3j+1)\Delta (j,2)= \frac 12(3j+1)in the cases whenj−1j-1is a power of 22,j≥5j\ge 5.
Spatial asymptotics at infinity for heat kernels of integro-differential operators
Authors: Kaleta Kamil , Sztonyk Paweł
Published: February 2018

We study a spatial asymptotic behavior at infinity of kernels

p
t

(
x
)

p_t(x)

for convolution semigroups of nonlocal pseudo-differential operators. We give general and sharp sufficient conditions under which the limits
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="limit Underscript r right-arrow normal infinity Endscripts StartFraction p Subscript t Baseline left-parenthesis r theta minus y right-parenthesis Over t nu left-parenthesis r theta right-parenthesis EndFraction comma t element-of upper T comma theta element-of upper E comma y element-of double-struck upper R Superscript d">

lim

r
→
∞

p
t

(
r
θ
−
y
)

t

ν
(
r
θ
)

,

t
∈
T
,
 
 
θ
∈
E
,
 
 
y
∈

R

d

\begin{equation*} \lim _{r \to \infty } \frac {p_t(r\theta -y)}{t \, \nu (r\theta )}, \quad t \in T, \ \ \theta \in E, \ \ y \in \mathbb {R}^d \end{equation*}

exist and can be effectively computed. Here

ν
\nu

is the corresponding Lévy density,

T
⊂
(
0
,
∞
)

T \subset (0,\infty )

is a bounded time-set, and

E
E

is a subset of the unit sphere in

R

d

\mathbb {R}^d

,

d
≥
1

d \geq 1

. Our results are local on the unit sphere. They apply to a wide class of convolution semigroups, including those corresponding to highly asymmetric (finite and infinite) Lévy measures. Key examples include fairly general families of stable, tempered stable, jump-diffusion, and compound Poisson semigroups. A main emphasis is put on the semigroups with Lévy measures that are exponentially localized at infinity, for which our assumptions and results are strongly related to the existence of the multidimensional exponential moments. Here a key example is the evolution semigroup corresponding to the so-called quasi-relativistic Hamiltonian

−
Δ
+

m
2

−
m

\sqrt {-\Delta +m^2} - m

,

m
>
0

m>0

. As a byproduct, we also obtain sharp two-sided estimates of the kernels

p
t

p_t

in generalized cones, away from the origin.
2. From Alexander to Augustus
Authors: Thonemann Peter
Published: February 2018

‘From Alexander to Augustus’ describes the twists and turns of Hellenistic history, from Alexander’s accession (336 bc) to Cleopatra’s death and the end of the Ptolemaic kingdom (30 bc). It begins by outlining Alexander’s reign and the first generation after his death (323–281 bc), when his empire fractured into three successor kingdoms, each ruled by a Macedonian king: the Antigonids in Macedon, the Ptolemies in Egypt, and the Seleucids in western and central Asia. The rising power of the imperial city-states of Carthage and Rome is described, including Rome’s victories over Philip V and Antiochus III during the 2nd century bc. It ends with the final period of the Hellenistic age (133–30 bc).
Do you want to know a secret? Turkeys, giants, and atomic bombs
Authors: Goriely Alain
Published: February 2018

When observing and trying to quantify the world around us, two simple facts can be appreciated and readily agreed upon. First, different physical quantities are characterized by different quantifiers, such as length and time. Second, objects come in different sizes. These two facts have far-reaching consequences that can be appreciated when we understand their mathematical implications and study the constraints that dimensions and size impose on physical processes. Obtaining information in this way is known as dimensional or scaling analysis. ‘Do you want to know a secret? Turkeys, giants, and atomic bombs’ considers several examples of scaling analysis and explains that dimensional analysis relies on a simple universal principle, the principle of dimensional homogeneity.
6. The roots of religious belief
Authors: Bayne Tim
Published: February 2018

One of the features of human societies is the ubiquity of religious commitment. But why do we find religious ideas compelling? ‘The roots of religious belief’ suggests we need to look beyond the arguments for God’s existence. The ‘standard model’ of religious belief is comprised of three elements: the activity of a hypersensitive agency detection device; the intuitive pull of teleological explanations; and the need to ensure that the members of a society comply with its norms. What implications might the standard model have for the rationality of religious belief? The destabilizing thesis, the by-product argument, the argument from explanatory absence, and the argument from unreliability are all discussed.
Results of Surgery for Low-Grade Brain Arteriovenous Malformation Resection by Early Career Neurosurgeons: An Observational Study
Authors: Patel Nirav J , Bervini David , Eftekhar Behzad , Davidson Andrew Stewart , Walsh Daniel C , Assaad Nazih N , Morgan Michael Kerin
Published: February 2018

BACKGROUND

For sustainability of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) surgery, results from early career cerebrovascular neurosurgeons (ECCNs) must be acceptably safe.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether ECCNs performance of Spetzler–Ponce Class A AVM (SPC A) resection can be acceptably safe.

METHODS

ECCNs completing a cerebrovascular fellowship (2004-2015) with the last author were included. Inclusion of the ECCN cases occurred if they: had a prospective database of all AVM cases since commencing independent practice; were the primary surgeon on SPC A; and had made the significant management decisions. All SPC A surgical cases from the beginning of the ECCN’s independent surgical practice to a maximum of 8 yr were included. An adverse outcome was considered a complication of surgery leading to a new permanent neurological deficit with a last modified Rankin Scale score >1. A cumulative summation (Cusum) plot examined the performance of each surgery. The highest acceptable level of adverse outcomes for the Cusum was 3.3%, derived from the upper 95% confidence interval of the last author's reported series.

RESULTS

Six ECCNs contributed 110 cases for analysis. The median number of SPC A cases operated by each ECCN was 16.5 (range 4-40). Preoperative embolization was performed in 5 (4.5%). The incidence of adverse outcomes was 1.8% (95% confidence interval: <0.01%-6.8%). At no point during the accumulated series did the combined cohort become unacceptable by the Cusum plot.

CONCLUSION

ECCNs with appropriate training appointed to large-volume cerebrovascular centers can achieve results for surgery for SPC A that are not appreciably worse than those published from high-volume neurosurgeons.
Radiographic Analysis of the Vidian Canal and Its Utility in Petrous Internal Carotid Artery Localization
Authors: Mason Eric C , Hudgins Patricia A , Pradilla Gustavo , Oyesiku Nelson M , Solares C Arturo
Published: February 2018

BACKGROUND

Endoscopic endonasal surgery of the skull base requires expert knowledge of the anatomy and a systematic approach. The vidian canal is regarded as a reliable landmark to localize the petrous internal carotid artery (pICA) near the second genu, which can be used for orientation in deep skull base approaches. There is controversy about the relationship between the vidian canal and the pICA.

OBJECTIVE

To further establish the vertical relationship between the vidian canal and the pICA to aid in surgical approaches to the skull base.

METHODS

We utilized a collection of institutional review board-approved computed tomographic (CT) angiograms (CTAs). Fifty CTAs were studied bilaterally for 100 total sides. The vidian canal was visualized radiographically to determine whether it terminates below, at, or above the level of the pICA.

RESULTS

Sixty-six of 100 vidian canals terminated inferior to the pICA (66%), which was the most common relationship observed. The average distance inferior to the pICA was 1.01 mm on the right, 1.18 mm on the left, and 1.09 mm of the total 66 sides. Less commonly, the vidian canal terminated at the level of the pICA canal in 34 sides (34%). The vidian canal was not observed to terminate superior to the pICA in any of the 50 CTAs studied.

CONCLUSION

The vidian canal terminates inferior to the pICA most commonly, but often terminates at the level of the pICA. Careful drilling clockwise inferior to superior around the vidian canal should allow for safe pICA localization in most cases.
Development of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Assays for the Detection of Seedborne Fungal Pathogens Fusarium fujikuroi and Magnaporthe oryzae in Rice Seed
Authors: Ortega Sara Franco , Tomlinson Jenny , Hodgetts Jennifer , Spadaro Davide , Gullino Maria Lodovica , Boonham Neil
Published: February 2018

Bakanae disease (caused by Fusarium fujikuroi) and rice blast (caused by Magnaporthe oryzae) are two of the most important seedborne pathogens of rice. The detection of both pathogens in rice seed is necessary to maintain high quality standards and avoid production losses. Currently, blotter tests are used followed by morphological identification of the developing pathogens to provide an incidence of infection in seed lots. Two loop-mediated isothermal amplification assays were developed with primers designed to target the elongation factor 1-α sequence of F. fujikuroi and the calmodulin sequence of M. oryzae. The specificity, sensitivity, selectivity, repeatability, and reproducibility for each assay was assessed in line with the international validation standard published by the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (PM7/98). The results showed a limit of detection of 100 to 999 fg of DNA of F. fujikuroi and 10 to 99 pg of M. oryzae DNA. When combined with a commercial DNA extraction kit, the assays were demonstrated to be effective for use in detection of the pathogens in commercial batches of infected rice seed of different cultivars, giving results equivalent to the blotter method, thus demonstrating the reliability of the method for the surveillance of F. fujikuroi and M. oryzae in seed-testing laboratories.
The Necrotrophic FungusMacrophomina phaseolinaPromotes Charcoal Rot Susceptibility in Grain Sorghum Through Induced Host Cell-Wall-Degrading Enzymes
Authors: Bandara Y. M. A. Y. , Weerasooriya D. K. , Liu S. , Little C. R.
Published: February 2018

The cell-wall-degrading enzymes (CWDE) secreted by necrotrophs are important virulence factors. Although not unequivocally demonstrated, it has been suggested that necrotrophs induce hosts to cooperate in disease development through manipulation of host CWDE. The necrotrophic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina causes charcoal rot disease in Sorghum bicolor. An RNA-seq experiment was conducted to investigate the behavior of sorghum CWDE-encoding genes after M. phaseolina inoculation. Results revealed M. phaseolina’s ability to significantly upregulate pectin methylesterase-, polygalacturonase-, cellulase-, endoglucanase-, and glycosyl hydrolase-encoding genes in a charcoal rot-susceptible sorghum genotype (Tx7000) but not in a resistant genotype (SC599). For functional validation, crude enzyme mixtures were extracted from M. phaseolina- and mock-inoculated charcoal-rot-resistant (SC599 and SC35) and -susceptible (Tx7000 and BTx3042) sorghum genotype stalks. A gel diffusion assay (pectin substrate) revealed significantly increased pectin methylesterase activity in M. phaseolina-inoculated Tx7000 and BTx3042. Polygalacturonase activity was determined using a ruthenium red absorbance assay (535 nm). Significantly increased polygalacturonase activity was observed in two susceptible genotypes after M. phaseolina inoculation. The activity of cellulose-degrading enzymes was determined using a 2-cyanoacetamide fluorimetric assay (excitation and emission maxima at 331 and 383 nm, respectively). The assay revealed significantly increased cellulose-degrading enzyme activity in M. phaseolina-inoculated Tx7000 and BTx3042. These findings revealed M. phaseolina’s ability to promote charcoal rot susceptibility in grain sorghum through induced host CWDE.
Glutamatergic Modulators in Depression
Authors: Henter Ioline D. , de Sousa Rafael Teixeira , Zarate Carlos A.
Published: February 2018

Learning objective

After participating in this activity, learners should be better able to evaluate the evidence supporting the antidepressant effects of glutamatergic modulators.

Both preclinical and clinical studies have implicated glutamatergic system dysfunction in the pathophysiology of mood disorders such as bipolar depression and major depressive disorder. In particular, rapid reductions in depressive symptoms have been noted in response to subanesthetic doses of the glutamatergic modulator ketamine in subjects with major depressive disorder or bipolar depression. These results have prompted the repurposing or development of other glutamatergic modulators, both as monotherapy or adjunctive to other therapies. Here, we highlight the evidence supporting the antidepressant effects of various glutamatergic modulators, including (1) broad glutamatergic modulators (ketamine, esketamine, dextromethorphan, dextromethorphan-quinidine [Nuedexta], AVP-786, nitrous oxide [N2O], AZD6765), (2) subunit (NR2B)-specific N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists (CP-101,606/traxoprodil, MK-0657 [CERC-301]), (3) glycine-site partial agonists (D-cycloserine, GLYX-13, sarcosine, AV-101), and (4) metabotropic glutamate receptor modulators (AZD2066, RO4917523/basimglurant, JNJ40411813/ADX71149, R04995819 [RG1578]).
MULTICOLOR IMAGING IN A CASE OF ACUTE RETINAL PIGMENT EPITHELIITIS
Authors: Roy Rupak , Saurabh Kumar , Thomas Nicey R.
Published: February 2018

Purpose:

To describe multicolor imaging findings in a case of acute retinal pigment epitheliitis.

Setting:

Vitreoretinal department of a tertiary care center in Eastern India.

Methods:

A 28-year-old lady presented with acute vision loss in the right eye since 3 days. Left eye examination was unremarkable. Best-corrected visual acuity in the right eye was 20/40. Anterior segment examination revealed clear lens with no evidence of inflammation. There were no vitreous cells. Fundus examination of the right eye revealed a round orange lesion surrounded by a hypopigmented halo in the fovea with multiple tiny hypopigmented lesions temporal to the fovea. Fundus autofluorescence imaging of the right eye showed hyperautofluorescent lesions temporal to the fovea corresponding to the hypopigmented lesions seen temporal to the fovea. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography of the right eye revealed subfoveal hyperreflective lesion in the outer retina with disruption of the ellipsoid zone and interdigitation zone with a linear extension upward. Multicolor composite image of the right eye revealed the foveal lesion as circular red patch with an inferior orange extension. The infrared reflectance image revealed hyperreflective area corresponding to the foveal lesion. The blue and green reflectance images were unremarkable. The patient reported an upper respiratory tract infection 7 days before the visual loss. A diagnosis of acute retinal pigment epitheliitis was made based on history, clinical and imaging findings.

Conclusion:

This is the first description of multicolor imaging signature of acute retinal pigment epitheliitis lesion in published literature. It seems to be a promising noninvasive imaging modality with a potential to replace color fundus photography.
Impact of Fever and Antipyretic Use on Influenza Vaccine Immune Reponses in Children
Authors: Li-Kim-Moy Jean , Wood Nicholas , Jones Cheryl , Macartney Kristine , Booy Robert
Published: February 2018

Background:

Comparing postvaccination fever rates in pediatric influenza vaccine clinical trials is difficult due to variability in how fever is reported. The impact of vaccine-related fever and antipyretic use on trivalent influenza vaccine immunogenicity in children is also unclear.

Methods:

In this pilot study, we used individual-level data provided by GlaxoSmithKline from 3 pediatric clinical trials of GlaxoSmithKline versus comparator trivalent influenza vaccine. We explored a primary study (NCT00764790), the largest trial involving young children (6–35 months, n = 3317), and further explored key findings in the 2 other trials (3–17 years, NCT00980005; 6 months to 17 years, NCT00383123). We analyzed postvaccination fever and antipyretic use, and their association with immunogenicity through use of multivariable regression.

Results:

Postvaccination fever data were reanalyzed from the primary study using the Brighton Collaboration standardized definition (vaccine-related fever ≥38°C, measured by any route, reported after each dose). Rates were substantially lower after first (2.7%–3.4%) and second doses (3.3%–4.1%), than those published (6.2%–6.6%; combined dose data, any causality). A pooled immunogenicity analysis combining the 3 studies (n = 5902) revealed children with postvaccination fever had significantly higher adjusted geometric mean titers than those without fever (ratio, 1.21–1.39; P ≤ 0.01). Conversely those with antipyretic use had significantly lower adjusted geometric mean titers (ratio, 0.80–0.87; P < 0.0006), dependent on virus strain.

Conclusions:

Varying analyses and reporting methods can result in substantially different reported fever rates in studies. Standardized reporting of fever is needed to facilitate comparison between studies. Fever and antipyretic use may have important associations with influenza vaccine immunogenicity in children and need further prospective investigation.
Orbital exenteration for sinonasal malignancies: indications, rehabilitation and oncologic outcomes
Authors: Vartanian José G. , Toledo Ronaldo N. , Bueno Thiago , Kowalski Luiz P.
Published: February 2018

Purpose of review

Review the recent literature regarding the management of orbital invasion in sinonasal malignant tumors.

Recent findings

There is a recent trend in preserving the orbit in cases of minimal invasion of periosteum and limited periorbit involvement, as well as in presence of good response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, mainly in squamous cell carcinoma and neuroendocrine histologies.

The decision about orbital exenteration in cases of sinonasal malignancies is facilitated if the patient already has clear clinical signs of intraconal invasion such as visual loss, restriction of ocular mobility or infiltration of the eyeglobe. However, in borderline situations, confirmation of orbital involvement should be performed intraoperatively. In selected cases with minimal orbital invasion without functional compromise, orbit sparing surgery can be done with acceptable oncological outcomes.
Pre-exposure Prophylaxis With Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate/Emtricitabine and Kidney Tubular Dysfunction in HIV-Uninfected Individuals
Authors: Jotwani Vasantha , Scherzer Rebecca , Glidden David V. , Mehrotra Megha , Defechereux Patricia , Liu Albert , Gandhi Monica , Bennett Michael , Coca Steven G. , Parikh Chirag R. , Grant Robert M. , Shlipak Michael G.
Published: February 2018

Background:

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) and emtricitabine (FTC) is becoming increasingly adopted for HIV prevention. Tenofovir can cause proximal tubular damage and chronic kidney disease in HIV-infected persons, but little is known regarding its nephrotoxic potential among HIV-uninfected persons. In this study, we evaluated the effects of PrEP on urine levels of the following: α1-microglobulin (α1m), a marker of impaired tubular reabsorption; albuminuria, a measure of glomerular injury; and total proteinuria.

Setting:

The Iniciativa Profilaxis Pre-Exposicion (iPrEx) study randomized HIV-seronegative men and transgender women who have sex with men to oral TDF/FTC or placebo. The iPrEx open-label extension (iPrEx-OLE) study enrolled former PrEP trial participants to receive open-label TDF/FTC.

Methods:

A cross-sectional analysis compared urine biomarker levels by study arm in iPrEx (N = 100 treatment arm, N = 100 placebo arm). Then, urine biomarker levels were compared before and after PrEP initiation in 109 participants of iPrEx-OLE.

Results:

In iPrEx, there were no significant differences in urine α1m, albuminuria, or proteinuria by treatment arm. In iPrEx-OLE, after 24 weeks on PrEP, urine α1m and proteinuria increased by 21% [95% confidence interval (CI): 10 to 33] and 18% (95% CI: 8 to 28), respectively. The prevalence of detectable α1m increased from 44% to 65% (P < 0.001) and estimated glomerular filtration rate declined by 4 mL/min/1.73 m2 (P < 0.001). There was no significant change in albuminuria (6%; 95% CI: −7% to 20%).

Conclusion:

PrEP with TDF/FTC was associated with a statistically significant rise in urine α1m and proteinuria after 6 months, suggesting that PrEP may result in subclinical tubule dysfunction.
Use of Nonantiretroviral Medications That May Impact Neurocognition: Patterns and Predictors in a Large, Long-Term HIV Cohort Study
Authors: Radtke Kendra K. , Bacchetti Peter , Anastos Kathryn , Merenstein Daniel , Crystal Howard , Karim Roksana , Weber Kathleen M. , Edmonds Andrew , Sheth Anandi N. , Fischl Margaret A. , Vance David , Greenblatt Ruth M. , Rubin Leah H.
Published: February 2018

Background:

Neurocognitive impairment is a frequent and often disabling comorbidity of HIV infection. In addition to antiretroviral therapies, individuals with HIV infection may commonly use nonantiretroviral medications that are known to cause neurocognitive adverse effects (NC-AE). The contribution of NC-AE to neurocognitive impairment is rarely considered in the context of HIV and could explain part of the variability in neurocognitive performance among individuals with HIV.

Setting:

Women's Interagency HIV Study, a prospective, multisite, observational study of US women with and without HIV.

Methods:

After a literature review, 79 medications (excluding statins) with NC-AE were identified and reported by Women's Interagency HIV Study participants. We examined factors associated with self-reported use of these medications over a 10-year period. Generalized estimating equations for binary outcomes were used to assess sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics associated with NC-AE medication use.

Results:

Three thousand three hundred women (71% with HIV) and data from ∼42,000 visits were studied. HIV infection was associated with NC-AE medication use (odds ratio = 1.52; 95% confidence interval: 1.35 to 1.71). After adjustment for HIV infection status, other predictors of NC-AE medication use included having health insurance, elevated depressive symptoms, prior clinical AIDS, noninjection recreational drug use, and an annual household income of <$12,000 (Ps < 0.004). NC-AE medication use was less likely among women who drank 1–7 or 8–12 alcoholic drinks/week (vs. abstaining) (P < 0.04).

Conclusions:

HIV infection was associated with NC-AE medication use, which may influence determinations of HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment. Providers should consider the impact of NC-AE medications when evaluating patients with HIV and concurrent neurocognitive symptoms.
A Social Network Analysis of HIV Treatment Partners and Patient Viral Suppression in Botswana
Authors: Bogart Laura M. , Mosepele Mosepele , Phaladze Nthabiseng , Lekoko Bright , Klein David J. , MacCarthy Sarah , Green Harold D.
Published: February 2018

Objective:

Many national HIV guidelines recommend that health care providers encourage patients to identify a treatment partner from their social network to support antiretroviral therapy adherence. This study examined associations of patient and treatment partner characteristics with patient viral suppression in Botswana.

Design:

One hundred thirty-one patients [67 (51.1%) virally suppressed and 64 (48.9%) not suppressed] and their treatment partners were recruited for cross-sectional interviews from one HIV clinic.

Methods:

Participants completed surveys assessing social network, sociodemographic, and psychosocial characteristics. Open-ended questions explored treatment partner relationship quality.

Results:

Multivariate logistic regressions indicated a higher likelihood of viral suppression among patients who reported greater average emotional closeness to their network members [odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 3.8 (1.3 to 11.5), P = 0.02] and whose treatment partners were spouses/partners [odds ratio (95% confidence interval) = 2.6 (1.0 to 6.7), P = 0.04]. Qualitative analyses indicated that treatment partners of suppressed patients provided both medical and nonmedical support, whereas treatment partners of unsuppressed patients focused mainly on adherence reminders and appointment accompaniment. Treatment partners, especially of unsuppressed patients, requested ongoing training and counseling skills.

Conclusions:

Additional research is needed to further explore effective characteristics of treatment partners to inform HIV treatment guidelines. Standard training for treatment partners could include medical-related information and counseling education.
Incidental Detection of Type B2 Thymoma on 68Ga-Labeled Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen PET/CT Imaging
Authors: Krishnaraju Venkata Subramanian , Basher Rajender Kumar , Singh Harmandeep , Singh Shrawan Kumar , Bal Amanjit , Mittal Bhagwant Rai
Published: February 2018

68Ga-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen is a novel radiotracer for imaging of prostate cancer. We report a hormonally treated patient with prostate carcinoma, presenting with lower urinary tract symptoms and rising prostate-specific antigen levels, who underwent 68Ga-labeled prostate-specific membrane antigen PET/CT for suspected recurrence. No tracer avid lesion was noted in the prostate gland and locoregional area. However, intense tracer avid heterogeneously enhancing soft tissue lesion with cystic areas and coarse calcifications was seen in the anterior mediastinum. PET/CT-guided biopsy from the mediastenal lesion revealed type B2 thymoma.
ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Rhabdoviridae
Authors: Walker Peter J. , Blasdell Kim R. , Calisher Charles H. , Dietzgen Ralf G. , Kondo Hideki , Kurath Gael , Longdon Ben , Stone David M. , Tesh Robert B. , Tordo Noël , Vasilakis Nikos , Whitfield Anna E. ,   ICTV Report Consortium
Published: February 2018

The family Rhabdoviridae comprises viruses with negative-sense (–) single-stranded RNA genomes of 10.8–16.1 kb. Virions are typically enveloped with bullet-shaped or bacilliform morphology but can also be non-enveloped filaments. Rhabdoviruses infect plants and animals including mammals, birds, reptiles and fish, as well as arthropods which serve as single hosts or act as biological vectors for transmission to animals or plants. Rhabdoviruses include important pathogens of humans, livestock, fish and agricultural crops. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the taxonomy of Rhabdoviridae, which is available at www.ictv.global/report/rhabdoviridae.
The Effect of Acute Pharmacological Inhibition of Urokinase Plasminogen Activator and Neuropsin Extracellular Proteases on Neuronal Networks in vitro
Authors: Van De Vijver Sebastiaan , Missault Stephan , Van Soom Jeroen , Van der Veken Pieter , Augustyns Koen , Joossens Jurgen , Dedeurwaerdere Stefanie , Giugliano Michele
Published: February 2018

Neuronal networks are surrounded by the extracellular matrix (ECM), which functions both as a scaffold and as a regulator of neuronal function. The ECM is in turn dynamically altered through the action of serine proteases, which break down its constituents. This pathway has been implicated in the regulation of synaptic plasticity and of intrinsic excitability. Here, we determined the effects of acutely inhibiting two important regulators of the ECM, Urokinase Plasminogen Activator and Neuropsin, selectively and potently with the inhibitor UAMC-01162. Spontaneous electrophysiological activity was recorded from in vitro primary rat cortical cultures using microelectrode arrays. While inhibition at a low dosage had no significant effect, at elevated concentrations network bursting dynamics and functional connectivity were drastically altered. These results indicate that the serine protease inhibition affects neuronal and synaptic properties, likely through their actions on the ECM. We propose that in the acute phase, a transient increase of excitatory synaptic efficacy is compensated for by a downregulation of single-cell excitability.
Cell death in cells overlying lateral root primordia contributes to organ growth inArabidopsis
Authors: Escamez Sacha , Bollhöner Benjamin , Hall Hardy , André Domenique , Berthet Béatrice , Voß Ute , Lers Amnon , Maizel Alexis , Bennett Malcolm , Tuominen Hannele
Published: February 2018

Unlike animal development, plant organ growth is widely accepted to be determined by cell division without any contribution of cell elimination. We investigated this paradigm duringArabidopsislateral root formation when growth of the new primordia (LRP) from pericycle-derived stem cells deep inside the root is reportedly facilitated by remodeling of the walls of overlying cells without apparent cell death. However, we observed the induction of marker genes for cell types undergoing developmental cell death in several cells overlying the growing LRP. Transmission electron microscopy, time-lapse confocal and light sheet microscopy techniques were used to establish that cell death occurred at least in a subset of endodermal LRP-overlying cells during organ emergence. Significantly, organ emergence was retarded in mutants lacking a positive cell death regulator, and restored by inducing cell death in cells overlying LRP. Hence, we conclude that in the case of LRP, cell elimination contributes to organ growth.
Diffusion rather than IFT provides most of the tubulin required for axonemal assembly
Authors: Harris J. Aaron , Van De Weghe Julie C. , Kubo Tomohiro , Witman George B. , Lechtreck Karl F.
Published: February 2018

Tubulin enters the cilia by diffusion and motor-based intraflagellar transport (IFT). The respective contributions of each route in providing tubulin for axonemal assembly are unknown. To attenuate IFT-based transport, we expressed modified GFP-tubulins in strains possessing IFT81 and IFT74 with altered tubulin binding sites. E-hook deficient GFP-β-tubulin normally incorporated into the axonemal microtubules; its transport frequency was reduced by ~90% in control cells and essentially abolished when expressed in a strain possessing IFT81 with an incapacitated tubulin-binding site. Despite the strong reduction in IFT, the share of E-hook deficient GFP-β-tubulin in the axoneme was only moderately reduced indicating that most axonemal tubulin (~80%) enters cilia by diffusion. While not providing the bulk of axonemal tubulin, we propose that motor-based IFT is nevertheless critical for ciliogenesis because it ensures high concentrations of tubulin near the ciliary tip promoting axonemal elongation.
Real-time tracking of complex ubiquitination cascades using a fluorescent confocal on-bead assay
Authors: Koszela Joanna , Pham Nhan T , Evans David , Mann Stefan , Perez-Pi Irene , Shave Steven , Ceccarelli Derek F J , Sicheri Frank , Tyers Mike , Auer Manfred
Published: February 2018

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) controls the stability, localization and/or activity of the proteome. However, the identification and characterization of complex individual ubiquitination cascades and their modulators remains a challenge. Here, we report a broadly applicable, multiplexed, miniaturized on-bead technique for real-time monitoring of various ubiquitination-related enzymatic activities. The assay, termed UPS-confocal fluorescence nanoscanning (UPS-CONA), employs a substrate of interest immobilized on a micro-bead and a fluorescently labelled ubiquitin which, upon enzymatic conjugation to the substrate, is quantitatively detected on the bead periphery by confocal imaging. UPS-CONA is suitable for studying individual enzymatic activities, including various E1, E2 and HECT-type E3 enzymes, and for monitoring multi-step reactions within ubiquitination cascades in a single experimental compartment. We demonstrate the power of the UPS-CONA technique by simultaneously following ubiquitin transfer from Ube1 through Ube2L3 to E6AP. We applied this multi-step setup to investigate the selectivity of five ubiquitination inhibitors reportedly targeting different classes of ubiquitination enzymes. Using UPS-CONA, we have identified a new activity of a small molecule E2 inhibitor, BAY 11-7082, and of a HECT E3 inhibitor, heclin, towards the Ube1 enzyme. As a sensitive, quantitative, flexible and reagent-efficient method with a straightforward protocol, UPS-CONA constitutes a powerful tool for interrogation of ubiquitination-related enzymatic pathways and their chemical modulators, and is readily scalable for large experiments.
Conservative method for attenuation of Vertical Electrooculogram based on local suppression of artifact templates from ongoing EEG
Authors: Abramov Dimitri M. , Mourão Carlos Alberto , Galhanone Paulo Ricardo , Lazarev Vladimir V.
Published: February 2018

Background

Eye movement during blinking can be a significant artifact in ERP analysis (mainly if ERP is blink-locked). Blinks produce a large positive potential in the vertical electrooculogram (VEOG), spreading towards posterior direction. Two methods are the most frequently used to suppress VEOGs: linear regression to subtract the VEOG signal from each EEG channel and Independent Component Analysis (ICA). However, both lose some EEG information.

Methods

The present algorithm (1) statistically identifies the time position of VEOGs in the frontopolar channels; (2) performs EEG averaging for each channel, which results in ‘blink templates’; (3) subtracts each template from the respective EEG at each VEOG position, only when the linear correlation index between the template and the segment is greater than a threshold L. The signals from twenty subjects were acquired using a behavioral test and were treated using FilterBlink for subsequent ERP analysis. A model was designed to test the method for each subject using twenty copies of the EEG signal from the mid-central channel of the subject (which has almost no VEOG) representing each one of the 20 EEG channels and their respective blink templates. At the same 200 equidistant time points (marks), a signal (2.5 sinusoidal cycles at 1050 ms to emulate an ERP) was mixed with each model channel, along with the respective blink template of that channel, between 500 to 1200 ms after each mark.

Results

According to the model, VEOGs interfered with both ERPs and the ongoing EEG mainly on the anterior medial leads, and no significant effect was observed on the mid-central channel (Cz). FilterBlink recovered approximately 90% (at Fp1) to 98% (Fz) of the original ERP and EEG signals to L of 0.1. In the analysis of real signals, the method reduced drastically the VEOG effect on the EEG after ERP and blink-artifact averaging.

Conclusion

The method is very simple and effective for VEOG attenuation without significant distortion of the EEG signal and embedded ERPs in all channels.
Spacing of Cue-approach Training Leads to Better Maintenance of Behavioral Change
Authors: Bakkour Akram , Botvinik-Nezer Rotem , Cohen Neta , Hover Ashleigh M. , Poldrack Russell A. , Schonberg Tom
Published: February 2018

The maintenance of behavioral change over the long term is essential to achieve public health goals such as combatting obesity and drug use. Previous work by our group has demonstrated a reliable shift in preferences for appetitive foods following a novel non-reinforced training paradigm. In the current studies, we tested whether distributing training trials over two consecutive days would affect preferences immediately after training as well as over time at a one-month follow-up. In four studies, three different designs and an additional pre-registered replication of one sample, we found that spacing of cue-approach training induced a shift in food choice preferences over one month. The spacing and massing schedule employed governed the long-term changes in choice behavior. Applying spacing strategies to training paradigms that target automatic processes could prove a useful tool for the long-term maintenance of health improvement goals with the development of real-world behavioral change paradigms that incorporate distributed practice principles.