bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing Millennials in College‐Level Fashion Design Studios: A Study of Evidence‐Based Practice
Authors: Kincade Doris H. , Turner Windi D. , Solis Oscar J. , Dull Elizabeth H.
Published: August 2018

Providing quality feedback that is both positive and effective while maintaining the required student grade confidentiality is a conundrum for faculty. This issue is particularly complex for faculty teaching studio courses (e.g. fashion design) with performance or creativity components where feedback has traditionally been given publicly as desktop reviews in the open studio. The difficulty of giving feedback in the studio‐style classroom is compounded when teaching millennial college students who tend to reject any criticism, public or otherwise, of their work. Previous research on assessment, rubrics and feedback as well as personal experience with studio classes provide background to this evidenced‐based study comparing three feedback and delivery methods: abbreviated rubric, extensive rubric and one‐to‐one meetings (e.g. dialogical assessment) guided by a project list. Grade consistency and ranking of grades were evaluated. Studio projects from a fashion design course were graded across two semesters using the multiple methods. Comparisons were made based on: (a) student reaction, (b) quality of rework and (c) time to grade. The outcomes showed that the one‐to‐one meetings as a feedback and delivery method of assessment had several benefits over two other methods, including added student engagement and improvement of rework.
A qualitative evaluation of the STOMA psychosocial intervention programme for colorectal cancer patients with stoma
Authors: Lim Siew Hoon , Chan Sally Wai Chi , Lai Jiunn Herng , He Hong‐Gu
Published: August 2018

Aims

To explore the experiences of patients who underwent a Support availability, Thinking positively with acceptance, Overcoming social stigma, Minimizing negative feelings, Analyzing self‐efficacy in stoma care (STOMA) psychosocial intervention programme for people with colorectal cancer with stoma.

Background

The STOMA psychosocial intervention programme was developed to improve stoma‐related health outcomes for patients with colorectal cancer and stoma. Evaluation was carried out to explore their experiences.

Design

A qualitative exploratory approach was adopted.

Methods

A total of 13 people with colorectal cancer, who were: (a) scheduled for surgery that resulted in a surgical formation of stoma at a tertiary public hospital in Singapore, and (b) were allocated to the intervention group and received the STOMA psychosocial intervention programme, were recruited for the qualitative evaluation study (September to November 2016). Participants were asked to comment on the contents and delivery methods of the intervention, and the effect of the presence of family members during the sessions. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

Findings

Four themes were generated: (a) individual attitudes towards stoma, (b) benefits of the STOMA psychosocial intervention programme, (c) strengths of the STOMA psychosocial intervention programme, and (d) recommendations for future programmes.

Conclusion

The qualitative evaluation reflected the benefits of the intervention programme in improving the outcome of people with colorectal cancer with stoma with its multimodal and multidimensional approach.

Trial Registration Number: ISRCTN41915584.
Effectiveness of reflexology on anxiety of patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Chandrababu Ramesh , Rathinasamy Eilean Lazarus , Suresh C. , Ramesh Jyothi
Published: August 2018

Aim

To appraise the evidence concerning the effect of reflexology on the anxiety in patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures.

Background

Anxiety, fear, and other unpleasant emotional experiences are common among patients before and after cardiovascular interventional procedures. The higher anxiety may affect prognosis and recovery of patients.

Design

A systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Data sources

The MEDLINE, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Cochrane Library), EMBASE, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were searched between 2001–2017.

Review methods

Randomized controlled trials evaluated the effectiveness of reflexology on anxiety among patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures were included. Meta‐analysis was done using Revman 5.3.

Results

Ten trials, representing 760 patients with the mean age of 59, fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Reflexology significantly decreased the anxiety of patients undergoing cardiovascular interventional procedures in the treatment group compared with the control group.

Conclusion

Reflexology has some positive effects on anxiety among patients undergoing cardiovascular procedures. It may be a useful complementary therapy and further research is necessary to create reliable evidence.
Nursing Organizations’ Health Policy Content on Facebook and Twitter Preceding the 2016 United States Presidential Election
Authors: Waddell Ashley
Published: August 2018

Aim

The aim of this study was to describe and analyse Facebook and Twitter content associated with three United States national nursing organizations during the month preceding the 2016 United States presidential election.

Background

Social media is increasingly significant in political and civil society dialogue. Many professional nursing organizations have an explicit commitment to advancing health policy and have established a presence on social media platforms; yet, little is known about what policy topics professional nursing organizations choose to disseminate.

Design

Descriptive study of qualitative data from three national nursing organizations’ social media posts 1 month prior to the 2016 United States presidential election.

Methods

Content analysis of social media content was guided by the Conceptual Module of Nursing and Health Policy and the Culture of Health Action Framework.

Results

A total of 2,137 social media units were collected. National Nurses United shared more policy‐related content on Facebook and Twitter than the American Nurses Association and the American Academy of Nursing. Two policy issues relevant in the 2016 national election—expanded use and regulation of marijuana and containing the cost of prescription drugs—received considerable attention on the nursing organizations’ social media feeds, while a substantial percentage of analysed content was not related to health policy.

Conclusion

Professional nursing organizations often represent the voice of nurses in policy discussions. Organization leaders and members should consider how social media content could enhance nurses’ policy participation and advance dialogue about health and well‐being in the context of high‐stakes healthcare debates.
Climate niche conservatism and complex topography illuminate the cryptic diversification of Asian shrew‐like moles
Authors: Wan Tao , He Kai , Jin Wei , Liu Shao‐Ying , Chen Zhong‐Zheng , Zhang Bin , Murphy Robert W. , Jiang Xue‐Long
Published: August 2018

Aim

The drivers of extraordinary species diversity and endemism in biodiversity hotspots remain elusive. To identify such drivers, it is necessary to understand the origin of allopatric cryptic diversity that formed as an important part of the biodiversity in low‐latitude montane areas. Here, we test hypotheses regarding the patterns and processes that underlie the diversity of Asian shrew‐like moles (Uropsilus, Uropsilinae, Talpidae), which exhibit strikingly high cryptic diversity. Specifically, we test the hypotheses that niche conservatism and complex topography explain the largely cryptic diversification of these small montane mammals.

Location

The mountains of Southwest China (MSC), which are a biodiversity hotspot, and adjacent areas.

Materials and methods

A total of 186 specimens that include all seven species of Uropsilus were collected from key geographical areas of the MSC. One mitochondrial and six nuclear genes were sequenced for phylogenetic and phylogeographical analyses. We reconstructed the phylogeny and delimited species boundaries within Uropsilus using multiple methods. We also tested the hypothesis of phylogenetic niche conservatism and examined the effect of topography on genetic divergence. Furthermore, we implemented a hierarchical examination of spatial‐temporal dynamics in our study system.

Results

Phylogenetic and species delimitation analyses discovered vastly more cryptic diversity than had been identified in morphology‐based taxonomy. Significant niche similarity between sibling phylogroups was detected and the genetic structure of Uropsilus accorded well with the topography of the MSC. Relatively stable biogeographical diffusion and demography, as well as in situ persistence during the last glacial cycle, were detected.

Main conclusions

Our analysis indicates that much genetic diversification has occurred without evident niche divergence; hence topographical diversity has provided strongly geographical isolation and ecological gradients which reinforce niche conservatism for sedentary organisms. Cryptic species, as the consequence of a lack of variability in the traits, is attributed to stabilizing selection by the optimal ecological and/or climatic envelopes over evolutionary time‐scales. Our findings indicate that global biodiversity in certain areas could be underestimated. Analyses of other biological systems can determine the universality of niche conservatism in the MSC.
Cloning and Partial Characterization of a Cold Shock Domain‐Containing Protein Gene from the Dinoflagellate Scrippsiella trochoidea
Authors: Deng Yunyan , Hu Zhangxi , Chai Zhaoyang , Tang Ying Zhong
Published: August 2018

CSPs, cold shock domain (CSD) containing proteins, are demonstrated to be involved in low temperature responses and various cellular processes under normal growth conditions. Here, we used the cosmopolitan, toxic, and resting cyst‐producing dinoflagellate Scrippsiella trochoidea as a representative harmful algal bloom‐forming dinoflagellate to investigate the expression patterns of CSP in vegetative cells in response to temperature shocks and in resting cysts, with an objective to probe the possible function of CSP in dinoflagellates. The full‐length cDNA of a CSP gene from S. trochoidea (StCSP) was obtained which has a solely N‐terminal CSD with conserved nucleic acids binding motifs. The qPCR results together indicated StCSP expression was not modulated by temperature at the transcriptional level and implied this gene may not be associated with temperature stress responses in S. trochoidea as the gene's name implies. However, we observed significantly higher StCSP transcripts in resting cysts (newly formed and maintained in dormancy for different periods of time) than that observed in vegetative cells (at exponential and stationary stages), indicating StCSP is actively expressed during dormancy of S. trochoidea. Taking together our recent transcriptomic work on S. trochoidea into consideration, we postulate that StCSP may play roles during encystment and cyst dormancy of the species.
The new therapeutic choice of tranexamic acid solution in treatment of erythematotelangiectatic rosacea
Authors: Bageorgou Fotini , Vasalou Varvara , Tzanetakou Vasiliki , Kontochristopoulos George
Published: August 2018

Background

Erythematotelangiectatic rosasea is a common,chronic, relapsing disease characterized mainly by vascular components, for which many therapies may exist but with limited efficacy.

Objectives

We decided to test the efficacy of tranexamic acid when applied topically on the affected areas.,Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic,thus we considered it could be effective at this type of rosacea.

Methods

This is an unblinded study. We included 20 patients, having erythematotelangiectatic rosacea. All patients were women between 27 and 65 years‐old. We divided the patients in two groups,the first group was treated only with tranexamic acid solution (Transamin inj/sol 500 mg/5 mL) infused wet dressing for 20 minutes, and the second group was treated with microneedling simultaneously with tranexamic acid solution topical application followed by tranexamic acid solution infused dressing therapy,every 15 days for four sessions.

Results

The improvement assecion was outlined according to the Investigator Global Assessment of Rosacea Severity Score (IGA‐RSS) and the use of clinical photos and dermoscopy. All patients were improved in the end of the therapy. There was statistically significant improvement, 2 units IGA‐RSS in the first group, whereas 3 units IGA‐RSS in the second group. The improvement lasted more than four months. The tolerability of the use of tranexamic acid was also asessed.

Conclusions

According to our results a new really promising simple, safe and cheap treatment option targeting mainly to the vascular net and the erythema of rosacea is proposed.
The Legalization of Medical/Recreational Marijuana: Implications for School Health Drug Education Programs
Authors: Donnelly Joseph , Young Michael
Published: August 2018

BACKGROUND

More than half of US states have legalized medical marijuana. Several states have also legalized it for recreational use. In spite of states' actions, marijuana remains illegal under federal law. It remains to be seen, however, if the Trump administration will enforce federal law in states that have legalized marijuana. For now, it appears the move toward state legalization of marijuana will increase. Because of its legal status, research concerning the medical benefits of marijuana has been limited.

METHODS

We reviewed the literature pertaining to medical use and legalization of marijuana.

RESULTS

Available research shows that marijuana can benefit some conditions. There are also concerns about harmful effects on both individual and public health and whether legalization will lead to increased marijuana use among youth. Each of these elements has implications for school‐based drug education programs. Researchers have shown that the 10 states with the highest rate of past month marijuana use by youth all have legalized recreational and/or medical use of marijuana, whereas none of the 10 states with the lowest rate of past month marijuana use by youth, has legalized marijuana. In the debate over legalization schools can potentially serve as a community resource, providing accurate information concerning marijuana.

CONCLUSIONS

Teachers and parents should continue to discourage young people from using marijuana (as well as alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs).
Chemically induced inflammation and nerve damage affect the distribution of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide‐like immunoreactive (VIP‐LI) nervous structures in the descending colon of the domestic pig
Authors: Makowska Krystyna
Published: August 2018

Background

The enteric nervous system (ENS), situated in the wall of the gastrointestinal tract, regulates the majority of intestinal activities in physiological conditions and during pathological processes. Enteric neurons are diversified in terms of active substance expression. One of the most important neuropeptides within the ENS is vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). It seems to be one among the important inhibitory peptides in addition to neuropeptide Y (NPY), nitric oxide (NO), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) of the intestinal motility and secretion, however, many issues connected with distribution and roles of VIP in the large intestine, especially during pathological states, still remain unknown.

Methods

Changes in the VIP‐like immunoreactivity of the enteric nervous structures under experimental pathological states, including chemically induced inflammation and nerve damage was examined using the double immunofluorescence technique with commercial antibodies.

Key Results

Generally, both pathological factors studied caused an increase in the number of VIP‐like immunoreactive (VIP‐LI) neurons and nerve fibers, but the intensity of fluctuations depended on both the acting factor and the part of the ENS studied.

Conclusions and Inferences

The obtained results suggest that VIP participates in pathological processes concerning the digestive tract, and its exact functions probably depend on the type of damaging factor acting on the intestine.
Why Do Countries Regulate Environmental Health Risks Differently? A Theoretical Perspective
Authors: Clahsen Sander C. S. , van Kamp Irene , Hakkert Betty C. , Vermeire Theo G. , Piersma Aldert H. , Lebret Erik
Published: August 2018

Why do countries regulate, or prefer to regulate, environmental health risks such as radiofrequency electromagnetic fields and endocrine disruptors differently? A wide variety of theories, models, and frameworks can be used to help answer this question, though the resulting answer will strongly depend on the theoretical perspective that is applied. In this theoretical review, we will explore eight conceptual frameworks, from different areas of science, which will offer eight different potential explanations as to why international differences occur in environmental health risk management. We are particularly interested in frameworks that could shed light on the role of scientific expertise within risk management processes. The frameworks included in this review are the Risk Assessment Paradigm, research into the roles of experts as policy advisors, the Psychometric Paradigm, the Cultural Theory of Risk, participatory approaches to risk assessment and risk management, the Advocacy Coalition Framework, the Social Amplification of Risk Framework, and Hofstede's Model of National Cultures. We drew from our knowledge and experiences regarding a diverse set of academic disciplines to pragmatically assemble a multidisciplinary set of frameworks. From the ideas and concepts offered by the eight frameworks, we derive pertinent questions to be used in further empirical work and we present an overarching framework to depict the various links that could be drawn between the frameworks.
Participation without Negotiating: Influence of Stakeholder Power Imbalances and Engagement Models on Agricultural Policy Development in Uganda
Authors: Yami Mastewal , van Asten Piet , Hauser Michael , Schut Marc , Pali Pamela
Published: August 2018

Although the political context in Uganda exhibits democratic deficit and patronage, research and development actors have given little attention to the possible negative impact these may have on agricultural policymaking and implementation processes. This article examines the influence of power in perpetuating prevailing narratives around public participation in agricultural policymaking processes. The analysis is based on qualitative data collected between September 2014 and May 2015 using 86 in‐depth interviews, 18 focus group discussions, and recorded observations in stakeholder consultations. Results indicate that while the political setting provides space for uncensored debates, the policymaking process remains under close control of political leaders, technical personnel, and high‐level officers in the government. Policy negotiation remains limited to actors who are knowledgeable about the technical issues and those who have the financial resources and political power to influence decisions, such as international donors. There is limited space for negotiation of competing claims and interests in the processes by public and private actors actively engaged in agricultural development, production, processing, and trade. Thus, efforts to achieve good governance in policy processes fall short due to lack of approaches that promote co‐design and co‐ownership of the policies.
Rumination, Brooding, and Reflection: Prospective Associations with Suicide Ideation and Suicide Attempts
Authors: Horwitz Adam G. , Czyz Ewa K. , Berona Johnny , King Cheryl A.
Published: August 2018

Objective

Rumination is often cited as a risk factor for suicide, yet few studies of rumination have utilized clinical samples, and no studies have examined its prospective association with suicide attempts. The purpose of this study was to examine concurrent and prospective associations of brooding and reflection (the two components of rumination) with suicide ideation and suicide attempts among a high‐risk clinical sample.

Method

Participants were 286 adolescents and young adults (77% Caucasian, 59% female) aged 13–25 seeking psychiatric emergency services. A majority (71%) were presenting with a primary complaint of suicide ideation or recent suicide attempt. Participants completed a baseline assessment at the index visit; 226 participants (79%) completed a 4‐month follow‐up assessment of suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Results

Brooding was associated with lifetime history of one or more suicide attempts, but not concurrent suicide ideation. Reflection was not associated with lifetime suicide attempts or concurrent suicide ideation. Furthermore, prospective associations of brooding and reflection with suicide ideation and suicide attempts were weak‐to‐small in magnitude and statistically nonsignificant.

Conclusions

Rumination appears to have a limited association with suicide‐related outcomes within a high‐risk clinical sample. Additional longitudinal studies utilizing clinical samples are critically needed to better understand these associations.
Simultaneous Longitudinal Examination of Hopelessness, Thwarted Belongingness, and Perceived Burdensomeness as Predictors of Suicide Ideation
Authors: Roeder Kathryn M. , Cole David A.
Published: August 2018

Objective

Based on Beck's hopelessness model (Beck, Kovacs, & Weissman, Journal of the American Medical Association, 234, 1975, 1146) and Joiner's (Why people die by suicide, 2005, Harvard University Press, Boston, MA) interpersonal theory of suicide, this study simultaneously examined three cognitive risk factors (hopelessness, thwarted belongingness, and perceived burdensomeness) as predictors of suicide ideation.

Method

The study focused on high school and college students (ns = 192 and 142, respectively), assessed twice 4 months apart.

Results

When hopelessness, perceived burdensomeness, and thwarted belongingness were examined separately, each cognitive risk factor predicted future suicide ideation in both groups. When the three cognitions were tested simultaneously, none emerged as uniquely predictive of suicide ideation. A longitudinal, latent variable model suggested that a common factor underlying all three types of cognition significantly predicted suicide ideation. Furthermore, thwarted belongingness predicted both hopelessness and perceived burdensomeness over time.

Conclusions

Results suggest ways that aspects of Beck's and Joiner's theories complement each other and could be combined to yield a more comprehensive understanding of cognitive factors associated with suicide ideation.
Nowcasting global economic growth: A factor‐augmented mixed‐frequency approach
Authors: Ferrara Laurent , Marsilli Clément
Published: August 2018

Assessing accurately global economic conditions is a great challenge for economists. The International Monetary Fund proposes within its periodic World Economic Outlook report a measure of the global GDP annual growth, that is generally considered as the benchmark nowcast by macroeconomists. In this paper, we put forward an alternative approach to provide monthly nowcasts of the annual global growth rate. Our approach builds on a Factor‐Augmented MIxed DAta Sampling (FA‐MIDAS) model that enables: (i) to account for a large monthly database including various countries and sectors of the global economy and (ii) to nowcast a low‐frequency macroeconomic variable using higher frequency information. Pseudo‐real‐time results over the period 2010–16 show that this approach provides reliable and timely nowcasts of the world GDP annual growth on a monthly basis.
Assessing rabies knowledge gaps in human and animal healthcare professionals practicing in Washington, DC—A one health approach
Authors: Hennenfent Andrew K. , Iyengar Preetha , Davies‐Cole John
Published: August 2018

Once a person is exposed to the rabies virus, it is universally fatal unless postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) is administered promptly. In the United States, determining whether PEP recommeded is often a collaborative effort where health departments work with both animal and human healthcare professionals to enact animal quarantines (or rabies testing), recommending PEP when appropriate. A failure in the knowledge base of either profession can result in incorrect PEP recommendations and an increased risk of adverse outcomes. To assess rabies knowledge in licensed physicians and veterinarians practicing in Washington, DC, we conducted a survey from December 2, 2016, to January 2, 2017, assessing their knowledge of the clinical signs, epidemiology and the primary vectors of rabies. These responses were compared between the two groups. Physician‐specific or veterinary‐specific questions regarding the correct PEP schedule and administration site or animal quarantine recommendations, respectively, were also included. Nine hundred and fifty‐two physicians and 125 veterinarians responded. Veterinarians were more likely to select the correct vectors and clinical signs in animals than physicians. Physicians more likely selected the correct transmission routes. Less than half of physicians identified the correct PEP schedule (39.4%) and administration site (49.0%). Half of veterinarians (50.0%) correctly identified quarantine length for wildlife‐exposed vaccinated dogs compared to only 19.4% for unvaccinated dogs. Several knowledge gaps were identified amongst physicians and veterinarians. Due to the fatal nature of rabies, it is important that all healthcare providers have an understanding of current recommendations. Health departments can work to correct these gaps and serve as a bridge between human and animal healthcare professionals.
A cellular mechanism of muscle memory facilitates mitochondrial remodelling following resistance training
Authors: Lee Hojun , Kim Kijeong , Kim Boa , Shin Junchul , Rajan Sudarsan , Wu Jingwei , Chen Xiongwen , Brown Michael D. , Lee Sukho , Park Joon‐Young
Published: August 2018

Key points

Referring to the muscle memory theory, previously trained muscles acquire strength and volume much faster than naive muscles.

Using extreme experimental models such as synergist ablation or steroid administration, previous studies have demonstrated that the number of nuclei increases when a muscle becomes enlarged, which serves as a cellular muscle memory mechanism for the muscle.

In the present study, we found that, when rats were subjected to physiologically relevant resistance training, the number of myonuclei increased and was retained during a long‐term detraining period.

The acquired myonuclei were related to a greater degree of muscle hypertrophic and mitochondrial biogenesis processes following subsequent hypertrophic conditions.

Our data suggest a cellular mechanism supporting the notion that exposing young muscles to resistance training would help to restore age‐related muscle loss coupled with mitochondrial dysfunction in later life.

Muscle hypertrophy induced by resistance training is accompanied by an increase in the number of myonuclei. The acquired myonuclei are viewed as a cellular component of muscle memory by which muscle enlargement is promoted during a re‐training period. In the present study, we investigated the effect of exercise preconditioning on mitochondrial remodelling induced by resistance training. Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into four groups: untrained control, training, pre‐training or re‐training. The training groups were subjected to weight loaded‐ladder climbing exercise training. Myonuclear numbers were significantly greater (up to 20%) in all trained muscles compared to untrained controls. Muscle mass was significantly higher in the re‐training group compared to the training group (∼2‐fold increase). Mitochondrial content, mitochondrial biogenesis gene expression levels and mitochondrial DNA copy numbers were significantly higher in re‐trained muscles compared to the others. Oxidative myofibres (type I) were significantly increased only in the re‐trained muscles. Furthermore, in vitro studies using insulin‐like growth factor‐1‐treated L6 rat myotubes demonstrated that myotubes with a higher myonuclear number confer greater expression levels of both mitochondrial and nuclear genes encoding for constitutive and regulatory mitochondrial proteins, which also showed a greater mitochondrial respiratory function. These data suggest that myonuclei acquired from previous training facilitate mitochondrial biogenesis in response to subsequent retraining by (at least in part) enhancing cross‐talk between mitochondria and myonuclei in the pre‐conditioned myofibres.
On the reliability of acoustic annotations and automatic detections of Antarctic blue whale calls under different acoustic conditions
Authors: Leroy Emmanuelle C. , Thomisch Karolin , Royer Jean-Yves , Boebel Olaf , Van Opzeeland Ilse
Published: August 2018

Evaluation of the performance of computer-based algorithms to automatically detect mammalian vocalizations often relies on comparisons between detector outputs and a reference data set, generally obtained by manual annotation of acoustic recordings. To explore the reproducibility of these annotations, inter- and intra-analyst variability in manually annotated Antarctic blue whale (ABW) Z-calls are investigated by two analysts in acoustic data from two ocean basins representing different scenarios in terms of call abundance and background noise. Manual annotations exhibit strong inter- and intra-analyst variability, with less than 50% agreement between analysts. This variability is mainly caused by the difficulty of reliably and reproducibly distinguishing single calls in an ABW chorus made of overlaying distant calls. Furthermore, the performance of two automated detectors, based on spectrogram correlation or subspace-detection strategy, is evaluated by comparing detector output to a “conservative” manually annotated reference data set, which comprises only analysts' matching events. This study highlights the need for a standardized approach for human annotations and automatic detections, including a quantitative description of their performance, to improve the comparability of acoustic data, which is particularly relevant in the context of collaborative approaches in collecting and analyzing large passive acoustic data sets.
Impacts of forests on children’s diet in rural areas across 27 developing countries
Authors: Rasolofoson Ranaivo A. , Hanauer Merlin M. , Pappinen Ari , Fisher Brendan , Ricketts Taylor H.
Published: August 2018

Nearby forests improve children’ diets in developing countries, and access to capital enhances the effect.
Opioid prescribing decreases after learning of a patient’s fatal overdose
Authors: Doctor Jason N. , Nguyen Andy , Lev Roneet , Lucas Jonathan , Knight Tara , Zhao Henu , Menchine Michael
Published: August 2018

Feedback reduces opioid prescriptions

Most people addicted to opioids began taking them because they were legally prescribed. Little attention has been paid to changing physicians' prescribing behavior. Using a randomized controlled trial format, Doctor
et al.
monitored the effect of notifying physicians who had a patient die of opioid overdose within 12 months of a prescription. The physicians received an injunction to prescribe safely from their county's medical examiner. This intervention led to reductions in high-intensity prescribing, reductions in the likelihood that an opioid-naïve patient received a prescription, and a reduction in overall cumulative opioid intake.

Science
, this issue p.
588
Finding useful biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease
Authors: Chen-Plotkin Alice S. , Albin Roger , Alcalay Roy , Babcock Debra , Bajaj Vikram , Bowman Dubois , Buko Alex , Cedarbaum Jesse , Chelsky Daniel , Cookson Mark R. , Dawson Ted M. , Dewey Richard , Foroud Tatiana , Frasier Mark , German Dwight , Gwinn Katrina , Huang Xuemei , Kopil Catherine , Kremer Thomas , Lasch Shirley , Marek Ken , Marto Jarrod A. , Merchant Kalpana , Mollenhauer Brit , Naito Anna , Potashkin Judith , Reimer Alyssa , Rosenthal Liana S. , Saunders-Pullman Rachel , Scherzer Clemens R. , Sherer Todd , Singleton Andrew , Sutherland Margaret , Thiele Ines , van der Brug Marcel , Van Keuren-Jensen Kendall , Vaillancourt David , Walt David , West Andrew , Zhang Jing
Published: August 2018

The recent advent of an “ecosystem” of shared biosample biorepositories and data sets will aid efforts to define biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease.
A protective Langerhans cell–keratinocyte axis that is dysfunctional in photosensitivity
Authors: Shipman William D. , Chyou Susan , Ramanathan Anusha , Izmirly Peter M. , Sharma Sneh , Pannellini Tania , Dasoveanu Dragos C. , Qing Xiaoping , Magro Cynthia M. , Granstein Richard D. , Lowes Michelle A. , Pamer Eric G. , Kaplan Daniel H. , Salmon Jane E. , Mehrara Babak J. , Young James W. , Clancy Robert M. , Blobel Carl P. , Lu Theresa T.
Published: August 2018

Langerhans cells limit ultraviolet radiation–induced keratinocyte apoptosis and skin injury, and this axis is dysfunctional in lupus photosensitivity.
An Introduction to the Structure and Function of the Catalytic Core Enzyme of
Escherichia coli
RNA Polymerase
Authors: Sutherland Catherine , Murakami Katsuhiko S.
Published: August 2018

RNA polymerase (RNAP) is the essential enzyme responsible for transcribing genetic information stored in DNA to RNA. Understanding the structure and function of RNAP is important for those who study basic principles in gene expression, such as the mechanism of transcription and its regulation, as well as translational sciences such as antibiotic development. With over a half-century of investigations, there is a wealth of information available on the structure and function of
Escherichia coli
RNAP. This review introduces the structural features of
E. coli
RNAP, organized by subunit, giving information on the function, location, and conservation of these features to early stage investigators who have just started their research of
E. coli
RNAP.
Glaucoma-associated long-term mortality in a rural cohort from India: the Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study
Authors: Khanna Rohit C , Murthy Gudlavalleti V S , Giridhar Pyda , Marmamula Srinivas , Pant Hira B , Palamaner Subash Shantha Ghanshyam , Chakrabarti Subhabrata , Gilbert Clare E , Rao Gullapalli Nageswara
Published: August 2018

Aim

To evaluate glaucoma-associated mortality in a rural cohort in India.

Methods

The study cohort comprised individuals aged 40 years and above who took part in the Andhra Pradesh Eye Disease Study (APEDS1) during 1996–2000. All participants underwent detailed comprehensive eye examination. Glaucoma was defined using International Society of Geographic and Epidemiologic Ophthalmology criteria. This cohort was followed up after a decade (June 2009 to January 2010; APEDS2). Mortality HR analysis for ocular risk factors was performed using Cox proportional hazards regression after adjusting for sociodemographic, lifestyle and clinical variables.

Results

In APEDS1, 2790 individuals aged more than or equal to 40 years were examined. 47.4% were male. Forty-five participants had primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and 66 had primary angle closure disease (PACD). Ten years later, 1879 (67.3%) were available, 739 (26.5%) had died and 172 (6.2%) had migrated; whereas 22 of the 45 (48.8%) with POAG and 22 of the 66 (33.3%) with PACD had died. In univariate analysis, a higher mortality was associated with POAG (HR 1.9; 95% CI 1.23 to 2.94), pseudoexfoliation (HR 2.79; 95% CI 2.0 to 3.89), myopia (HR 1.78; 95% CI 1.54 to 2.06) and unit increase in cup:disc ratio (HR 4.49; 95% CI 2.64 to 7.64). In multivariable analysis, only cup:disc ratio remained independently associated with mortality (HR 2.5; 95% CI 1.3 to 5.1). The association remained significant when other ocular parameters were included in the model (HR 2.1; 95% CI 1.03 to 4.2).

Conclusions

This is the first longitudinal study to assess the association of glaucoma and mortality in a rural longitudinal cohort in India. Increased cup:disc ratio could be a potential marker for ageing and would need further validation.
Association of plasma vitamin C concentration to total and cause-specific mortality: a 16-year prospective study in China
Authors: Wang Shao-Ming , Fan Jin-Hu , Taylor Philip R , Lam Tram Kim , Dawsey Sanford M , Qiao You-Lin , Abnet Christian C
Published: August 2018

Background

Vitamin C insufficiency occurs across many countries and has been hypothesised to increase risk of various diseases. Few prospective studies with measured circulating vitamin C have related deficiency to disease mortality, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries.

Methods

We randomly selected 948 subjects (473 males and 475 females) aged 53–84 years from a Chinese cohort and measured meta-phosphoric acid-preserved vitamin C concentrations in plasma samples collected in 1999–2000. A total of 551 deaths were accrued from sample collection through 2016, including 141 from cancer, 170 from stroke and 174 from heart diseases. Vitamin C was analysed using season-specific quartiles, as a continuous variable and as a dichotomous variable based on sufficiency status (normal >28 µmol/L vs low ≤28 µmol/L). HRs and 95% CIs were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

We found significant inverse associations between higher plasma vitamin C concentrations and total mortality in quartile (HRQ4 vs Q10.75, 95% CI 0.59 to 0.95), continuous (HRq20umol/L0.90, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.99) and dichotomous analyses (HRnormal-vs-low0.77, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.95). We observed significant lower risks of heart disease (ptrend-by-quantile=0.03) and cancer deaths (pglobal-across-quantile=0.04) for higher vitamin C, whereas the association was attenuated for stroke in adjusted models. Similar inverse associations were found when comparing normal versus low vitamin C for heart disease (HRnormal-vs-low0.62, 95% CI 0.42 to 0.89).

Conclusion

In this long-term prospective Chinese cohort study, higher plasma vitamin C concentration was associated with lower total mortality, heart disease mortality and cancer mortality. Our results corroborate the importance of adequate vitamin C to human health.
Performance of PML diagnostic criteria in natalizumab-associated PML: data from the Dutch-Belgian cohort
Authors: Wijburg Martijn T , Warnke Clemens , Barkhof Frederik , Uitdehaag Bernard M J , Killestein Joep , Wattjes Mike P
Published: August 2018

Objective

To test the current progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) diagnostic criteria by applying them to patients previously diagnosed with natalizumab (NTZ)-associated PML in a real-world clinical setting.

Methods

Patients from the Dutch-Belgian NTZ-PML cohort (n=28) were reviewed at the time of first diagnostic work-up and during follow-up, using the PML diagnostic criteria as proposed in a consensus statement from the American Academy of Neurology.

Results

At first diagnostic work-up, 18 patients (64.3%) met the criteria for high diagnostic certainty for PML (‘definite PML’ or ‘probable PML’). During follow-up, this increased to 20 patients (71.4%) as JC virus DNA was detected in cerebrospinal fluid of two additional patients. Nonetheless, 28.6% of patients were still classified as ‘possible PML’ or ‘not PML’ (6 (21.5%) and 2 (7.1%) patients, respectively) despite a very high suspicion for PML based on lesion evolution and signs of PML-immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome on MRI, and development of compatible symptoms.

Conclusions

The current case definition of PML has low sensitivity for diagnosis of NTZ-PML in a real-world clinical setting in which MRI is frequently used for PML screening. This may delay diagnosis and appropriate management of PML, and may complicate a valid estimation of PML incidence during NTZ therapy.
Association between age, deprivation and specific comorbid conditions and the receipt of major surgery in patients with non-small cell lung cancer in England: A population-based study
Authors: Belot Aurélien , Fowler Helen , Njagi Edmund Njeru , Luque-Fernandez Miguel-Angel , Maringe Camille , Magadi Winnie , Exarchakou Aimilia , Quaresma Manuela , Turculet Adrian , Peake Michael D , Navani Neal , Rachet Bernard
Published: August 2018

Introduction

We investigated socioeconomic disparities and the role of the main prognostic factors in receiving major surgical treatment in patients with lung cancer in England.

Methods

Our study comprised 31 351 patients diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer in England in 2012. Data from the national population-based cancer registry were linked to Hospital Episode Statistics and National Lung Cancer Audit data to obtain information on stage, performance status and comorbidities, and to identify patients receiving major surgical treatment. To describe the association between prognostic factors and surgery, we performed two different analyses: one using multivariable logistic regression and one estimating cause-specific hazards for death and surgery. In both analyses, we used multiple imputation to deal with missing data.

Results

We showed strong evidence that the comorbidities ‘congestive heart failure’, ‘cerebrovascular disease’ and ‘chronic obstructive pulmonary disease’ reduced the receipt of surgery in early stage patients. We also observed gender differences and substantial age differences in the receipt of surgery. Despite accounting for sex, age at diagnosis, comorbidities, stage at diagnosis, performance status and indication of having had a PET-CT scan, the socioeconomic differences persisted in both analyses: more deprived people had lower odds and lower rates of receiving surgery in early stage lung cancer.

Discussion

Comorbidities play an important role in whether patients undergo surgery, but do not completely explain the socioeconomic difference observed in early stage patients. Future work investigating access to and distance from specialist hospitals, as well as patient perceptions and patient choice in receiving surgery, could help disentangle these persistent socioeconomic inequalities.
Green halogenation reactions for (hetero)aromatic ring systems in alcohol, water, or no solvent
Authors: Kajorinne Jessie K. , Steers Jennifer C.M. , Merchant Marnie E. , MacKinnon Craig D.
Published: August 2018

A new method of brominating aromatic and heteroaromatic ring systems is investigated. The combination of hydrobromic acid as the halogen source, hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant, and ethanol, water, or no solvent are evaluated as greener conditions than those that have been previously published. The new conditions give high yields and good regioselectivity for a variety of substrates when the ring is activated by electron-donating groups or heteroatoms. Phenols, anisole, thiophenes, and pyrrole give comparable or superior results when compared to a traditional bromination by N-bromosuccinimide in tetrahydrofuran. Other nitrogen-containing heterocycles do not react under the conditions because they are protonated and hence deactivated; similarly, substrates with electron-withdrawing groups are not brominated. The reaction is very tolerant of a variety of functional groups.
Sequential analysis and design of fixed-precision sampling of Lake Kariba fishes using Taylor’s power law
Authors: Xu Meng , Kolding Jeppe , Cohen Joel E.
Published: August 2018

Taylor’s power law (TPL), which states that the variance of abundance is a power function of mean abundance, has been used to design sampling of agricultural pests and fish species. We show that TPL holds for means and variances of abundance of accumulated fish samples in the fished and unfished areas separately of Lake Kariba (between Zambia and Zimbabwe), measuring abundance indices by number and weight separately. We use TPL parameters estimated from sequentially accumulated samples to update a stopping line of fixed precision 0.1 after each new sample from a sampling day. In these Lake Kariba data, depending on the sampling area and abundance measure, our updated stopping-line method requires 21% to 41% of the number of sampling days and 19% to 40% of the number of samples that are planned a priori and performed under systematic sampling. Our novel method yields mean abundance estimates similar to those from systematic sampling and provides a conservative approach to reaching a fixed sampling precision level with reduced sampling labor and time. Using mixed-effect modeling for cumulative means and variances with either number or weight from both fished and unfished areas, we find that fishing increases the slope of TPL. This study provides the conceptual framework and an empirical case study for implementing a sequential sampling method for fish assemblages of an inland lake. The possible limitations and applications of our method for sampling in other environments are discussed.
Quantifying the impacts of human activities on reported greenhouse gas emissions and removals in Canada’s managed forest: conceptual framework and implementation
Authors: Kurz W.A. , Hayne S. , Fellows M. , MacDonald J.D. , Metsaranta J.M. , Hafer M. , Blain D.
Published: August 2018

The land sector is expected to contribute to strategies aimed at mitigating global temperature increases and this necessitates an improved understanding of human actions on land sector emissions and removals. Current Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change guidelines for the land sector of national greenhouse gas inventories are based on the assumption that all emissions and removals in managed lands are caused by humans. In Canada, however, natural disturbances in managed forests can result in large and highly variable emissions and subsequent removals that mask the impacts of management activities. Here we describe methods to isolate and quantify the impacts of management on trends in estimated anthropogenic emissions and removals in Canada’s managed forest by partitioning fluxes from two land components: fluxes from lands dominated by natural disturbance effects and fluxes from the remaining managed forests. The sum of the flux estimates of the two land components is equal to net emissions and removals in managed forest lands. Separating highly variable natural disturbance fluxes from the remaining fluxes in managed forest lands increases the understanding of how human activities impact flux trends. Comparing these anthropogenic emissions and removals with those from natural disturbances quantifies their relative contributions to global atmospheric CO2 concentrations.
Cosmography parameters in inflationary scenario and their interrelation with slow-roll parameters
Authors: Das Dipanjana , Dutta Sourav , Chakraborty Subenoy
Published: August 2018

This work investigates the inflationary era with slow-roll approximation in the perspective of cosmography parameters. The slow-roll parameters are determined in terms of cosmography parameters and then the cosmography parameters are constrained by the slow-roll approximations. The three important parameters in inflationary scenario, namely the spectral index, tensor to scalar ratio and number of e-foldings, are also expressed in terms of cosmography parameters. Finally, all relevant parameters are analyzed graphically for a known inflationary solution.