bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optogenetik – eine Chance für fortgeschrittene retinale Dystrophien
Authors: Swiersy A. , Klapper S. , Busskamp V.
Published: March 2017

Die Optogenetik nutzt genetisch modifizierte lichtaktive Proteine, um Zellen durch Licht nicht invasiv zu manipulieren. Der Prototyp dieser Proteine ist Channelrhodopsin2 (ChR2), ein unselektiver Kationenkanal. Dieser kann elektrisch erregbare Zellen durch Lichtimpulse depolarisieren. Die Kombination von Channelrhodopsin und Halorhodopsin (eNpHR), eine hyperpolarisierende lichtgetriebene Cl−-Pumpe, ermöglicht eine komplexe Modulation neuronaler Aktivität sowohl in vitro als auch in vivo. Sehr schnell stellte sich heraus, dass die Optogenetik für die Behandlung von Sehbehinderungen, die mit der Degeneration der Photorezeptoren einhergehen, gute Chancen zur Therapie bietet. Dabei werden funktionslose Photorezeptoren durch die ektopische Expression der hyperpolarisierenden Pumpe eNpHR reaktiviert. Aber auch andere Zellen der Retina können durch die induzierte Expression von ChR2 die Aufgabe des Lichtempfangs übernehmen und damit zu künstlichen Photorezeptoren werden. Mit diesem Übersichtsartikel möchten wir eine kurze Einführung zur Retina und deren Rolle sowohl in der physiologischen als auch in der pathologischen Lichtwahrnehmung geben. Weiterhin werden optogenetische Strategien zur Wiederherstellung der Lichtwahrnehmungen aufgezeigt und strukturelle sowie funktionelle Eigenschaften der auf Rhodopsin basierenden optogenetischen Werkzeuge diskutiert. Letztendlich wird die Anwendbarkeit für die Wiederherstellung des Sehvermögens durch die Optogenetik bewertet.
EliIE: An open-source information extraction system for clinical trial eligibility criteria
Authors: Kang Tian , Zhang Shaodian , Tang Youlan , Hruby Gregory W , Rusanov Alexander , Elhadad Noémie , Weng Chunhua
Published: March 2017

Objective

To develop an open-source information extraction system called Eligibility Criteria Information Extraction (EliIE) for parsing and formalizing free-text clinical research eligibility criteria (EC) following Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership Common Data Model (OMOP CDM) version 5.0.

Materials and Methods

EliIE parses EC in 4 steps: (1) clinical entity and attribute recognition, (2) negation detection, (3) relation extraction, and (4) concept normalization and output structuring. Informaticians and domain experts were recruited to design an annotation guideline and generate a training corpus of annotated EC for 230 Alzheimer’s clinical trials, which were represented as queries against the OMOP CDM and included 8008 entities, 3550 attributes, and 3529 relations. A sequence labeling–based method was developed for automatic entity and attribute recognition. Negation detection was supported by NegEx and a set of predefined rules. Relation extraction was achieved by a support vector machine classifier. We further performed terminology-based concept normalization and output structuring.

Results

In task-specific evaluations, the best F1 score for entity recognition was 0.79, and for relation extraction was 0.89. The accuracy of negation detection was 0.94. The overall accuracy for query formalization was 0.71 in an end-to-end evaluation.

Conclusions

This study presents EliIE, an OMOP CDM–based information extraction system for automatic structuring and formalization of free-text EC. According to our evaluation, machine learning-based EliIE outperforms existing systems and shows promise to improve.
Evolution of Sagittal Imbalance Following Corrective Surgery for Sagittal Plane Deformity
Authors: McDowell Michael M. , Tempel Zachary J. , Gandhoke Gurpreet S. , Khattar Nicholas K. , Hamilton D. Kojo , Kanter Adam S. , Okonkwo David O.
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND: Sagittal balance in adult spinal deformity is a major predictor of quality of life. A temporary loss of paraspinal muscle force and somatic pain following spine surgery may limit a patient's ability to maintain posture.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the evolution of sagittal balance and clinical outcomes during recovery from adult spinal deformity surgery.

METHODS: Retrospective review of a prospective observational database identified a consecutive series of patients with sagittal vertical axis (SVA) > 40 mm undergoing adult deformity surgery. Radiographic parameters and clinical outcomes were measured out to 2 yr after surgery.

RESULTS: A total of 113 consecutive patients met inclusion criteria. Mean preoperative SVA was 90.3 mm, increased to 104.6 mm in the first week, then gradually reduced at each follow-up interval to 59.2 mm at 6 wk, 45.0 mm at 3 mo, 38.6 mm at 6 mo, and 34.1 mm at 1 yr (all P < .05). SVA did not change between 1 and 2 yr. Pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis (PI-LL) corrected immediately from 25.3° to 8.5° (16.8° change; P < .01) and a decreased pelvic tilt from 27.6° to 17.6° (10° change; P < .01). No further change was noted in PI-LL. Pelvic tilt increased to 20.2° (P = .01) at 6 wk and held steady through 2 yr. Mean Visual Analog Scale, Oswestry Disability Index, and Short Form-36 scores all improved; pain rapidly improved, whereas disability measures improved as SVA improved.

CONCLUSION: Radiographic assessment of global sagittal alignment did not fully reflect surgical correction of sagittal balance until 6 mo after adult deformity surgery. Sagittal balance initially worsened then steadily improved at each interval over the first year postoperatively. At 1 yr, all clinical and radiographic measures outcomes were significantly improved.
Executive Summary
Authors: Rushton Cynda Hylton , Schoonover-Shoffner Kathy , Kennedy Maureen Shawn
Published: March 2017

To examine practices for addressing moral distress, a collaborative project was developed by the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics, the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, the American Journal of Nursing, and the Journal of Christian Nursing, along with the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and the American Nurses Association. Its purpose was to identify strategies that individuals and systems can use to mitigate the detrimental effects of moral distress and foster moral resilience. On August 11 and 12, 2016, an invitational symposium, State of the Science: Transforming Moral Distress into Moral Resilience in Nursing, was held at the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in Baltimore, Maryland. Forty-five nurse clinicians, researchers, ethicists, organization representatives, and other stakeholders took part. The result of the symposium was group consensus on recommendations for addressing moral distress and building moral resilience in four areas: practice, education, research, and policy. Participants and the organizations represented were energized and committed to moving this agenda forward. The full report is available online at http://journals.lww.com/ajnonline/Pages/Moral-Distress-Supplement.aspx
Customized Corneal Cross-Linking—A Mathematical Model
Authors: Caruso Ciro , Epstein Robert L. , Ostacolo Carmine , Pacente Luigi , Troisi Salvatore , Barbaro Gaetano
Published: March 2017

Purpose:

To improve the safety, reproducibility, and depth of effect of corneal cross-linking with the ultraviolet A (UV-A) exposure time and fluence customized according to the corneal thickness.

Methods:

Twelve human corneas were used for the experimental protocol. They were soaked using a transepithelial (EPI-ON) technique using riboflavin with the permeation enhancer vitamin E–tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate. The corneas were then placed on microscope slides and irradiated at 3 mW/cm2 for 30 minutes. The UV-A output parameters were measured to build a new equation describing the time-dependent loss of endothelial protection induced by riboflavin during cross-linking, as well as a pachymetry-dependent and exposure time-dependent prescription for input UV-A fluence. The proposed equation was used to establish graphs prescribing the maximum UV-A fluence input versus exposure time that always maintains corneal endothelium exposure below toxicity limits.

Results:

Analysis modifying the Lambert–Beer law for riboflavin oxidation leads to graphs of the maximum safe level of UV-A radiation fluence versus the time applied and thickness of the treated cornea. These graphs prescribe UV-A fluence levels below 1.8 mW/cm2 for corneas of thickness 540 μm down to 1.2 mW/cm2 for corneas of thickness 350 μm. Irradiation times are typically below 15 minutes.

Conclusions:

The experimental and mathematical analyses establish the basis for graphs that prescribe maximum safe fluence and UV-A exposure time for corneas of different thicknesses. Because this clinically tested protocol specifies a corneal surface clear of shielding riboflavin on the corneal surface during UV-A irradiation, it allows for shorter UV-A irradiation time and lower fluence than in the Dresden protocol.
Rapid Warming of Donor Corneas Is Safe and Improves Specular Image Quality
Authors: Tran Khoa D. , Clover Jameson , Ansin Amy , Stoeger Christopher G. , Terry Mark A.
Published: March 2017

Purpose:

To determine whether warming donor corneas to near-physiological temperatures can safely shorten warming times while providing high-quality specular images during tissue evaluation.

Methods:

Mated corneas were warmed at room temperature (RT) or at 35°C for 4 hours upon removal from cold storage. Specular images and endothelial cell densities were acquired and rated every hour. Additional mated corneas were subjected to 2 rounds of 4-hour incubation at either RT or 35°C. Endothelial cell loss (ECL) was quantified 14 days after the initial incubation using Calcein-acetoxymethyl (Calcein-AM) and FIJI trainable segmentation. Cultures inoculated with common ocular pathogens were subjected to 2 warming cycles at RT for 4 hours or 35°C for 2 hours. Colony counts were taken over the course of 2 weeks after inoculation.

Results:

Specular image quality ratings were consistently higher for corneas warmed at 35°C compared with those at RT. Image quality ratings for corneas warmed at 35°C for 1.5 hours were higher than corneas warmed at RT for 4 hours (P = 0.04). No differences in ECL were observed between the 2 warming conditions (RT = 13.1% ± 7.6% ECL, 35°C = 13.9% ± 6% ECL, P = 0.75). There was no difference in colony counts for pathogens tested between the 2 warming conditions.

Conclusions:

Warming donor corneas to near-physiological temperatures for a short time can increase specular image quality while reducing the time tissues are unrefrigerated at eye banks. This method allows for more efficient specular imaging without inducing additional ECL or increasing pathogen growth.
Expansion of the phenotypic spectrum in three families of methyl CpG-binding protein 2 duplication syndrome
Authors: Moirangthem Amita , Tuteja Bhatia Moni , Srivastava Priyanka , Mandal Kausik , Rai Archana , Phadke Shubha R.
Published: March 2017

The methyl CpG-binding protein 2 duplication syndrome (OMIM #300260) is characterized by hypotonia, developmental delay, spasticity, seizures, and recurrent infections. It is fully penetrant in males and the females can have varied manifestations because of skewed X-inactivation. The size of the duplication can range from 0.2 Mb to over 100 Mb. Around 150 cases have been reported in the literature so far. Here, we report the unusual findings in three cases such as hepatomegaly, ataxia and females with mild intellectual disability that further expand the phenotypic spectrum of this disorder. This paper also stresses the need to perform microarray and/or multiplex ligation probe amplification in all cases of nonspecific intellectual disability.
The Mecklenburg County Interlocal Agreement: An 18-Year Collaboration Between Medicine and Public Health
Authors: Piper Crystal N. , Plescia Marcus , Keener Stephen R. , DeHaven Mark
Published: March 2017

Context:

Better integration of public health and medical services has been a long-standing goal in the United States and has been widely discussed in the scientific literature.

Objective:

To identify key lessons and outcomes of the Mecklenburg County Interlocal Agreement, one of the longest running efforts integrating health care delivery and public health services in a major metropolitan area.

Design:

In-depth key informant interviews and brief questionnaires of leaders involved in the Mecklenburg County Interlocal Agreement.

Setting:

Charlotte-Mecklenburg County, North Carolina.

Participants:

Convenience sample of 15 past and present employees and administrative leaders of the Mecklenburg County Privatization Initiative from the Mecklenburg County Health Department (N = 7) and Carolinas Healthcare System (N = 8).

Main Outcome Measures:

Attitudes reflecting the effects of the Mecklenburg County Privatization Initiative, based on 6 “synergies” for evaluating the effectiveness of health care and public health system collaboration.

Results:

Mean scores were calculated for 21 questionnaire items, using 5-point Likert scales (1 = no impact; 5 = great impact). Mean scores were calculated by averaging the multiple-item question sets reflecting each of the 6 synergies. Synergy scores ranged from a low of 3.1 (3 items reflecting whether the collaboration “Used clinical practice to identify and address community health problems”) to a high of 3.7 (3 items reflecting whether the collaboration “Improved health care by coordinating services for individuals”). The in-depth interviews indicated a clear impact for the 2 synergies linked to individual care. Increased access to care emerged as a strong theme, along with the belief that medical care services were improved and that these improvements persist.

Conclusion:

The findings of this study provide perspective from an 18-year contractual agreement for a large health care system to operate county public health functions. Implications include the need to incorporate well-defined public health principles in any collaborative agreement and to focus these efforts at the primary care level.
Lead Exposure and Developmental Disabilities in Preschool-Aged Children
Authors: Delgado Christine F. , Ullery Mary Anne , Jordan Melissa , Duclos Chris , Rajagopalan Sudha , Scott Keith
Published: March 2017

Context:

Lead is a preventable environmental toxin that has been previously associated with deficits in cognition, academic performance, attention, and behavior in children. Very few studies, however, have examined the relationship between exposure to lead and documented developmental disabilities.

Objective:

This study examined the relative risk of lead exposure on developmental disabilities in preschool-aged children.

Design:

A statewide lead surveillance data set containing blood lead level (BLL) was integrated with another statewide data set containing developmental disability classifications for special education placement for preschool-aged children.

Participants:

The participants were the 85 178 children (average age 2.6 years) whose records in both data sets were able to be linked. Forty-six percent of the participants had an identified developmental disability.

Main Outcome Measure:

Developmental disability classification served as the main outcome measure.

Results:

A high BLL, defined as 5 μg/dL or more, was associated with significantly increased risk for developmental disabilities (risk ratio [RR] = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.01-1.08), particularly intellectual disability (RR = 1.58, 95% CI = 1.10-2.25) and developmental delay (DD; RR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.06-1.17).

Conclusions:

The results of this study are consistent with previous research identifying an association between lead exposure and numerous intellectual and educational outcomes and demonstrate that high BLL is associated with meeting eligibility criteria for developmental disabilities in young children. Continued research, surveillance, and prevention efforts are needed to further reduce the negative impacts of lead on individuals and society. Reducing or eliminating lead exposure would improve outcomes for individual children (eg, better academic performance) and reduce the burden to society (eg, lower enrollments in special education systems).
Root Cause Analyses of Reported Adverse Events Occurring During Gastrointestinal Scope and Tube Placement Procedures in the Veterans Health Association
Authors: Soncrant Christina , Mills Peter D. , Neily Julia , Paull Douglas E. , Hemphill Robin R.
Published: March 2017

Objective

This study describes reported adverse events related to gastrointestinal (GI) scope and tube placement procedures (between January 2010 and June 2012), in the Veterans Health Administration. Adverse events, including those related to GI procedures resulting in preventable harm, continue to occur.

Methods

This is a descriptive review of root cause analysis reports of GI scope and tube placement procedures from the National Center for Patient Safety database. Adverse event type, procedure, location, severity, and frequency were extracted. Spearman ρ was used to determine associations between types of adverse events and harm levels.

Results

We reviewed 27 cases of reported adverse events related to GI invasive procedures. Of the adverse events for which we could determine location (n = 25), 10 (40%) were in the operating room and 15 (60%) occurred in a nonoperating room. Endoscopies were associated with the least amount of harm. The most frequently reported adverse event types were human factors (22.22%, n = 6) and retained items (18.52%, n = 5). Retained item events were associated with the most harm. The most common root causes were lack of standardization in the process of care and suboptimal communication.

Conclusions

Retained items after invasive procedures and human factors errors were the most common and harmful type of adverse event in this study. Efforts to reduce adverse events during GI invasive procedures include improving situational awareness of the risk of retained items, standardization of care, communication between providers, and inspection of instruments for intactness before and after procedures.
Recombinant expression inE. coliof human FGFR2 with its transmembrane and extracellular domains
Authors: Bajinting Adam , Ng Ho Leung
Published: March 2017

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) are a family of receptor tyrosine kinases containing three domains: an extracellular receptor domain, a single transmembrane helix, and an intracellular tyrosine kinase domain. FGFRs are activated by fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) as part of complex signal transduction cascades regulating angiogenesis, skeletal formation, cell differentiation, proliferation, cell survival, and cancer. We have developed the first recombinant expression system inE. colito produce a construct of human FGFR2 containing its transmembrane and extracellular receptor domains. We demonstrate that the expressed construct is functional in binding heparin and dimerizing. Size exclusion chromatography demonstrates that the purified FGFR2 does not form a complex with FGF1 or adopts an inactive dimer conformation. Progress towards the successful recombinant production of intact FGFRs will facilitate further biochemical experiments and structure determination that will provide insight into how extracellular FGF binding activates intracellular kinase activity.
Risk and protective factors for alcohol use among school-going adolescents in Montevideo (Uruguay)
Authors: Fernandez Maria Eugenia , Daset Lilian , Vanderplasschen Wouter , Costa Ball Cesar Daniel , Van Damme Lore , Vindevogel Sofie
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore risk and protective factors for alcohol use among school-going adolescents in Montevideo (Uruguay).

Design/methodology/approach

A self-report survey was administered to 331 school-going adolescents in Montevideo (Uruguay) (Mage=13; SD=0.05), using the alcohol screening instrument of the Uruguayan National Drug Board to assess adolescents’ alcohol use (yes/no), a screening instrument for psychopathology and resilience (the adolescent self-report) and a socio-demographic questionnaire.

Findings

Logistic regression analyses identified antisocial behaviour, substance use and negative emotionality (F2), disruptive and dysregulated behaviour (F8), higher age and recent death of a close relative as risk factors, while the number of close friends was identified as a protective factor for past year alcohol use (yes/no). No straightforward relationship was found between schools and the risk for the past year alcohol use. In addition, age, F2, F8 and recent death of a close relative appeared to be the most robust predictors.

Research limitations/implications

The study was the first in Uruguay to relate adolescents’ alcohol use to risk and protective factors. Given the cross-sectional nature of the study, causal relationships could not be determined.

Originality/value

The study provides preliminary recommendations for policy makers and other stakeholders involved in youth affairs on core elements to focus on school-, community- and family-based alcohol prevention programmes for adolescents.
Prevalence of HIV risk-related drug use and sexual activity among men who have sex with men attending a specialist UK club drug clinic
Authors: Bowden-Jones Owen , Whitelock Claire , Abdulrahim Dima , Hemmings Stacey , Margetts Alexander , Crawford Michael
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine patterns of drug use among a cohort of drug treatment-seeking drug-using gay men and other men who have sex with men (MSM), and whether these activities differ between, or predict, HIV status.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional study was conducted in a specialist club drug clinic in London covering 407 consecutive attendees who identified as MSM. Substance use, including injecting drug use (IDU), associated sexual activity and self-reported HIV status were measured by clinical interview and National Drug Treatment Monitoring System data tool.

Findings

Over a 45-month period, 407 MSM attended the clinic. In total, 62.1 per cent were HIV positive, 48.9 per cent had injected drugs, 14.9 per cent reported needle sharing and 73.3 per cent used drugs to facilitate sex. The most commonly reported problem drugs were GHB/GBL (54.3 per cent) methamphetamine (47.7 per cent) and mephedrone (37.8 per cent). HIV status was associated with methamphetamine, mephedrone, IDU, sharing equipment, using drugs to facilitate sex, older age and older age of drug initiation, as well as Hepatitis C virology (HCV) status. Use of methamphetamine, HCV infection, older age and IDU predicted HIV positive status in a logistic regression model.

Practical implications

The findings describe a constellation of risk factors including high levels of IDU, sharing of equipment and high-risk sexual activity in a population with high rates of HIV positive serology. They also provide further evidence for a link between HIV infection and use of methamphetamine.

Social implications

The authors suggest a need for greater awareness of HIV-related risk activities and promotion of HIV prevention strategies for MSM by both sexual health and drug treatment services.

Originality/value

This paper is amongst the very first studies of its nature.
Idea labs: instituting an innovation discovery process capable of sustaining the business
Authors: Narayanan V.K.
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Sustaining product innovation in an established company – increasingly the key to a company’s economic success, and perhaps its survival – is a challenging task The author describes a and the model often referred to as an “Idea lab” that has emerged as a necessary organizational feature to accomplish this goal.

Design/methodology/approach

The author explains how to manage Idea labs as deliberately established locations, where individuals and teams with new product ideas can work together for concentrated bursts of time, sharpening and focusing their product concept, embedding the voice of the customer in product design and charting alternative progression paths for their ideas to be developed into potentially profitable offerings by units of the business that will nurture them.

Findings

In today’s organizations, the managerial prime directive is fundamentally being redefined as one of addressing the challenge of sustained, profitable innovation that opens new markets or reinvigorates existing ones. Idea labs should be considered a vital process in fostering sustaining innovation.

Practical implications

A critical success factor is the interplay between idea originators, technology specialists and product managers with a keen awareness of customer needs, competitor initiatives and genuine product differentiation.

Originality/value

A comprehensive guide for top managers and innovators, the article details the four key facets of Idea labs: Positioning in the firm’s innovation value chain. Tasks. Processes. Structure.
Folliculosebaceous neoplasms: A review of clinical and histological features
Authors: Ho Jonathan , Bhawan Jag
Published: March 2017

Numerous benign and occasionally malignant tumors arise from the folliculosebaceous apparatus. Confusing terminology, rarity of malignant variants and overlapping histological features can lead to diagnostic uncertainty. This review highlights the clinical and histopathological features that help to classify these entities, as well as the various syndromes associated with certain members of this large family of tumors.
The Autonomy Rationale for Religious Freedom
Authors: Ahmed Farrah
Published: March 2017

Courts and scholars across jurisdictions increasingly identify personal autonomy as the primary rationale for the right to religious freedom. But there are tensions between autonomy on one hand, and religious belief, practice and proselytism on the other. This paper will focus on two tensions which have unappreciated implications for religious freedom jurisprudence, particularly that of the ECHR. The first tension stems from the resistance of some religious beliefs to revision. The second stems from the manipulative nature of some modes of religious proselytism. This paper argues that, given these tensions, the protection currently offered to religious beliefs, practices and proselytism by the right to religious freedom cannot be justified by reference to the value of autonomy. This finding has significant implications for the justification of the right to religious freedom.
Dopaminergic agents in the treatment of bipolar depression: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Szmulewicz A. G. , Angriman F. , Samamé C. , Ferraris A. , Vigo D. , Strejilevich S. A.
Published: March 2017

Objective

To systematically examine the effects of dopaminergic agents (modafinil, armodafinil, pramipexole, methylphenidate, and amphetamines) on bipolar depression outcomes.

Methods

Meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials was performed to assess the efficacy and safety of treatment with dopaminergic agents in bipolar depression. In a secondary analysis, findings from both randomized controlled trials and high‐quality observational studies were pooled by means of meta‐analytic procedures to explore dopaminergic treatment‐related new mania.

Results

Nine studies (1716 patients) were included in our meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials. Treatment with dopaminergic agents for bipolar depression was associated with an increase in both response (1671 individuals, RR 1.25, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.50) and remission rates (1671 individuals, RR 1.40, 95% CI 1.14, 1.71). There was no evidence of an increased risk of mood switch associated with this treatment (1646 individuals, RR 0.96, 95% CI 0.49, 1.89). Our secondary analysis (1231 individuals) yielded a cumulative incidence of mood switch of 3% (95% CI 1.0, 5.0) during a mean follow‐up period of 7.5 months.

Conclusions

Preliminary findings suggest that dopaminergic agents may represent a useful alternative for the treatment of bipolar depression, with no evidence for a related increase in the risk of mood destabilization during short‐term follow‐up.
Demography of a genetic sexing strain ofAnastrepha ludens(Diptera:Tephritidae): effects of selection based on mating performance
Authors: Quintero‐Fong Luis , Toledo Jorge , Ruiz‐Montoya Lorena , Rendón Pedro , Orozco‐Dávila Dina , Valle‐Mora Javier , Liedo Pablo
Published: March 2017

Tapachula‐7 is a genetic sexing strain ofAnastrepha ludens(Loew) (Diptera:Tephritidae) developed for the application of thesterileinsecttechnique (SIT). To improve the sexual performance of this strain, a mass‐reared colony was established from males selected for their sexual competitiveness.

Males from selected colonies are more sexually competitive than nonselected males. The present study aimed to analyse the demographic changes recorded in the study colony throughout four consecutive generations, comparing this colony with the parental colony and a wild strain.

The results obtained showed that, in the selected strain, fecundity increased, whereas survival diminished, compared with the laboratory parental strain. The increases in fecundity rates were observed at the first generation after selection. No changes were observed in the duration of the reproductive period in the selected strain.

Compared with wild flies, selected flies had lower life expectancy, earlier and shorter reproductive period, and greater daily fecundity at young ages (10–30 days), although with lower lifetime fecundity rates.

The four generations of the selected colony showed similar patterns of survival and reproduction. The better mating performance and the increase in early fecundity suggest that selection could contribute to improve rearing efficiency andSITeffectiveness.
Using coarse‐scale species distribution data to predict extinction risk in plants
Authors: Darrah Sarah E. , Bland Lucie M. , Bachman Steven P. , Clubbe Colin P. , Trias‐Blasi Anna
Published: March 2017

Aim

Less than 6% of the worlds described plant species have been assessed on the IUCN Red List, leaving many species invisible to conservation prioritization. Large‐scale Red List assessment of plant species is a challenge, as most species’ ranges have only been resolved to a coarse scale. As geographic distribution is a key assessment criterion on the IUCN Red List, we evaluate the use of coarse‐scale distribution data in predictive models to assess the global scale and drivers of extinction risk in an economically important plant group, the bulbous monocotyledons.

Location

Global.

Methods

Using coarse‐scale species distribution data, we train a machine learning model on biological and environmental variables for 148 species assessed on the IUCN Red List in order to identify correlates of extinction risk. We predict the extinction risk of 6439 ‘bulbous monocot’ species with the best of 13 models and map our predictions to identify potential hotspots of threat.

Results

Our model achieved 91% classification accuracy, with 88% of threatened species and 93% of non‐threatened species accurately predicted. The model predicted 35% of bulbous monocots presently ‘Not Evaluated’ under IUCN criteria to be threatened and human impacts were a key correlate of threat. Spatial analysis identified some hotspots of threat where no bulbous monocots are yet on the IUCN Red List, for example central Chile.

Main conclusions

This is the first time a machine learning model has been used to determine extinction risk at a global scale in a species‐rich plant group. As coarse‐scale distribution data exist for many plant groups, our methods can be replicated to provide extinction risk predictions across the plant kingdom. Our approach can be used as a low‐cost prioritization tool for targeting field‐based assessments.
Parasitoids follow herbivorous insects to a novel host plant, generalist predators less so
Authors: Grosman Amir H. , Holtz Anderson Mathias , Pallini Angelo , Sabelis Maurice W. , Janssen Arne
Published: March 2017

The ‘enemy‐free space’ hypothesis predicts that herbivorous insects can escape their natural enemies by switching to a novel host plant, with consequences for the evolution of host plant specialisation. However, if natural enemies follow herbivores to their novel host plants, enemy‐free space may only be temporary. We tested this by studying the colonisation of the introduced tree Eucalyptus grandis (Hill) Maiden (Myrtaceae) by insects in Brazil, where various species of herbivores have added eucalyptus to their host plant range, which consists of native myrtaceous species such as guava. Some herbivores, for example, Thyrinteina leucoceraea Ringe (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), cause outbreaks in eucalyptus plantations but not on guava, possibly because eucalyptus offers enemy‐free space. We sampled herbivores (mainly Lepidoptera species) and natural enemies on eucalyptus and guava and assessed parasitism of Lepidoptera larvae on both host plant species during ca. 2 years. Overall, predators were encountered more frequently on guava than on eucalyptus. In contrast, parasitoids were encountered equally and parasitism rates of Lepidoptera larvae were similar on both host plants. This indicates that herbivores may escape some enemies by moving to a novel host plant. However, this escape may be temporary and may vary with time. We argue that studying temporal and spatial patterns of enemy‐free space and the response of natural enemies to host use changes of their herbivorous prey is essential for understanding the role of natural enemies in the evolution of host plant use by herbivorous arthropods.
Effect of degree of crystallographic texture on ferro‐ and piezoelectric properties of Ba0.85Ca0.15TiO3 piezoceramics
Authors: Schultheiß Jan , Clemens Oliver , Zhukov Sergey , von Seggern Heinz , Sakamoto Wataru , Koruza Jurij
Published: March 2017

Crystallographic texturing is a promising approach to reduce the performance gap between randomly oriented polycrystalline piezoelectrics and perfectly oriented single crystals. Here, the influence of the degree of crystallographic texture on the electromechanical properties and their temperature stability of the lead‐free perovskite ferroelectric Ba0.85Ca0.15TiO3 is investigated. Samples with a broad range of (100),(001) crystallographic texture (Lotgering factor 26%‐83%) were prepared by the reactive templated grain growth method. Crystallographic and microstructural analysis have been carried out using X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, while the temperature‐dependent electromechanical properties were characterized by dielectric, piezoelectric, polarization, and strain measurements. It was revealed that the total bipolar strain and the coercive field are linearly dependent on the Lotgering factor. The total bipolar strain increased by 80%, whereas the coercive field decreased by 18% due to crystallographic texturing. Likewise, the temperature stability of the electromechanical properties of the samples was found to be dependent on the degree of texture. A sample with a high degree of texture exhibited a Curie temperature of 117°C, which is 21% higher compared to a counterpart with a low degree of texture. This was related to chemical inhomogeneity and a modified internal mechanical stress state.
Anisotropic compressive properties of porous CNT/SiC composites produced by direct matrix infiltration of CNT aerogel
Authors: Han Daoyang , Mei Hui , Farhan Shameel , Xiao Shanshan , Xia Junchao , Cheng Laifei
Published: March 2017

Carbon nanotube‐reinforced silicon carbide composites (CNT/SiC) produced by direct infiltration of matrix into a porous CNT arrays have been demonstrated to possess a unique microstructure and excellent micro‐mechanical properties. However, the thickness of the array preforms is usually very small, typically less than 2 mm. Therefore, fabrication of macroscopic CNT/SiC composites by chemical vapor infiltration (CVI) process requires that the nanoscale fillers could form macroscopic architectures with an open pore network. Here, this study reports an experimental strategy for the fabrication of SiC matrix composites reinforced by CNT based on an ice‐segregation‐induced self‐assembly (ISISA) technique. Macroscopic CNT aerogel with well‐defined macroporous network was produced by ISISA technique and was subsequently infiltrated by SiC in a CVI reactor. After five CVI cycles, the porosity of as‐fabricated composites was 11.6±0.3% and the machined specimens exhibited lamellar structure with parallel lamellaes intersected at discrete angles. By observed, there are in fact five different representative anisotropic macrostructures, the compressive strengths of these five different loading modes with respect to lamella orientation were 933±55, 619±34, 200±45, 199±21, and 297±41 MPa, respectively, and the failure mechanisms were attributed to the anisotropic nature of the macrostructures. Energy dissipation toughening mechanism at the nanoscale such as CNT pull‐out was observed and the phase composition of the fabricated materials included β‐SiC, CNT, and SiO2.
Factors Associated With Early Readmission Among Patients Discharged to Post‐Acute Care Facilities
Authors: Horney Carolyn , Capp Roberta , Boxer Rebecca , Burke Robert E.
Published: March 2017

Background

Over a quarter of Medicare patients admitted to the hospital are discharged to post‐acute care (PAC) facilities, but face high rates of readmission. Timing of readmission may be an important factor in identifying both risk for and preventability of future readmissions. This study aims to define factors associated with readmission within the first week of discharge to PAC facilities following hospitalization.

Design and Measurements

This was a secondary analysis of the 2011 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases (SID) for California, Massachusetts, and Florida. The primary outcome was all‐cause readmission within 7 days after hospital discharge, compared to readmission on days 8–30, for patients aged 65 and older who were discharged from the hospital to a PAC facility. Predictor variables included patient, index hospitalization, and hospital characteristics; multivariable logistic regression was used to identify significant predictors of readmission within 7 days.

Results

There were 81,173 hospital readmissions from PAC facilities in the first 30 days after hospital discharge. Patients readmitted within the first week were older, white, urban, had fewer comorbid illnesses, had a higher number of previous hospital admissions, and less commonly had Medicare as a payer. Longer index hospital length of stay (LOS) was associated with decreased risk of early readmission (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.70–0.74 for LOS 4–7 days and 0.60; 95% CI 0.56–0.64 for LOS ≥8 days).

Conclusions

Shorter length of index hospital stay is associated with earlier readmission and suggests that for this comorbid, older population, a shorter hospital stay may be detrimental. Readmission after 1 week is associated with increased chronic disease burden, suggesting they may be associated with factors that are less modifiable.
Evaluation of Intra Root Canal Er,Cr:YSGG Laser Irradiation on Prosthetic Post Adherence
Authors: Quinto Jose , Amaral Marcello Magri , Francci Carlos Eduardo , Ana Patricia Aparecida , Moritz Andreas , Zezell Denise Maria
Published: March 2017

Purpose

In clinical prosthetics procedures, including endodontics and post fixation, the presence of a smear layer can reduce the post bond strength. An Er,Cr:YSGG laser, which emits at 2780 nm, can promote a smear‐layer‐free surface due to the ablation process. Considering these aspects, the purpose of this work was to evaluate the influence of Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation using either a radial or an axial fiber tip on the bond strength of three resin cements to the fiber‐reinforced composite posts.

Materials and Methods

Ninety recently extracted single rooted human teeth had their root canal instrumented and were randomly distributed into nine experimental groups, in which three resin cements (total‐etching Variolink II, self‐etching Panavia F, and self‐adhesive RelyX Unicem Aplicap) and three root canal treatments (no treatment, laser irradiation using the radial fiber tip, laser irradiation using the axial fiber tip) were used. Specimens were then sectioned into three sections (cervical, middle, and apical thirds) with two slices on each section. A push‐out test was performed on each slice, and the values were recorded as MPa. The push‐out data were analyzed by a Ryan‐Joiner normality test followed by a two‐way ANOVA test and Tukey pairwise comparison. The statistical analysis was performed on each third section separately, with a 5% significance level.

Results

Laser irradiation with axial fiber tip significantly increased the post bond strength of RelyX Unicem Aplicap on middle third of specimens (p < 0.001) when compared to other root canal treatments (unlased or irradiated with radial tip). Considering the Panavia resin cement, laser irradiation with either axial or radial tips promoted a significant increase on the post bond strength of middle third when compared to unlased specimens (p < 0.001); however, laser irradiation did not influence the post bond strength of Variolink resin cement.

Conclusions

The use of the Er,Cr:YSGG laser for clinical prosthetics procedures enhances the post bond strength of Panavia and RelyX Unicem Aplicap resin cements, mainly at middle third of roots, and does not interfere with the bond strength of Variolink resin cement. For the RelyX Unicem Aplicap system, the use of axial tip is most advantageous and can be recommended for future clinical application.
The Fundamental Contradiction Redux? Liberty, Coercion, and American Legal Development
Authors: Baumgardner Paul
Published: March 2017

In Liberty and Coercion: The Paradox of American Government from the Founding to the Present, Gary Gerstle offers an ambitious account of American legal development from our nation's founding up to the present day. In many ways, Gerstle's account is in keeping with the long scholarly tradition of linking legal liberalism with changes in American law and politics. However, Liberty and Coercion also calls to mind critical legal scholarship, most notably Duncan Kennedy's “The Structure of Blackstone's Commentaries” and the idea of the fundamental contradiction. After reconstructing Kennedy's central claims, I highlight how they actually undermine Liberty and Coercion and jeopardize the larger legal liberal tradition.
Correlated patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation across an avian family
Authors: Van Doren Benjamin M. , Campagna Leonardo , Helm Barbara , Illera Juan Carlos , Lovette Irby J. , Liedvogel Miriam
Published: March 2017

Comparative studies of closely related taxa can provide insights into the evolutionary forces that shape genome evolution and the prevalence of convergent molecular evolution. We investigated patterns of genetic diversity and differentiation in stonechats (genus Saxicola), a widely distributed avian species complex with phenotypic variation in plumage, morphology and migratory behaviour, to ask whether similar genomic regions have become differentiated in independent, but closely related, taxa. We used whole‐genome pooled sequencing of 262 individuals from five taxa and found that levels of genetic diversity and divergence are strongly correlated among different stonechat taxa. We then asked whether these patterns remain correlated at deeper evolutionary scales and found that homologous genomic regions have become differentiated in stonechats and the closely related Ficedula flycatchers. Such correlation across a range of evolutionary divergence and among phylogenetically independent comparisons suggests that similar processes may be driving the differentiation of these independently evolving lineages, which in turn may be the result of intrinsic properties of particular genomic regions (e.g. areas of low recombination). Consequently, studies employing genome scans to search for areas important for reproductive isolation or adaptation should account for corresponding regions of differentiation, as these regions may not necessarily represent speciation islands or evidence of local adaptation.
Surgical retrieval of a guide wire lost during central venous catheterization in a dog
Authors: Hardy Jade M. , Lansdowne Jennifer L. , Himsel Carol A. , Freer Sean R.
Published: March 2017

Objective

To report a case of successful surgical removal of a guide wire lost during central venous catheterization.

Case Summary

A 28 kg, 4‐year‐old female neutered mixed breed dog presented to the primary care veterinarian with diabetic ketosis. During the process of central venous catheterization, the guide wire was accidently released and the entire length of the guide wire slipped into the jugular vein. Due to the absence of nearby interventional radiology facilities, surgical intervention was proposed. An ultrasound was used to determine that the guide wire was located in the caudal vena cava extending caudally into the right internal iliac vein. Rommel tourniquets were placed around the iliac vein cranial to the bifurcation of the common iliac vein into the external and internal iliac veins. A venotomy was performed in the right common iliac vein and the guide wire was grasped with hemostats and gently removed while alternately relaxing the cranial then caudal tourniquets. During anesthesia, ventricular premature contractions were noted that varied in frequency with the dog's positioning. Postoperative color flow Doppler ultrasound evaluation of the caudal vena cava, right common, internal and external iliac veins, and right femoral vein was normal with no evidence of thrombosis. Several days postoperative the dog's diabetic ketosis and ventricular premature contractions had resolved and color flow Doppler ultrasound evaluation was normal with no evidence of thrombosis.

New or Unique information provided

To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported veterinary case of loss and subsequent surgical retrieval of a central venous catheter guide wire.
Abnormal ultrasound appearance of the amniotic membranes – diagnostic and significance: a pictorial essay
Authors: Pleș Liana , Sima Romina Marina , Moisei Cristina , Moga Marius Alexandru , Dracea Laura
Published: March 2017

The obstetrical ultrasound may identify the protrusion of the uterine surface or placental area into the amniotic cavity. The differential diagnosis of this pathology with uterine adhesions, septate uterus, circumvallate placenta, amniotic band or amniotic sheet can be sometimes difficult. The purpose of the pictorial essay is to exemplify the presence of the amniotic sheet and circumvallate placenta in routine obstetrics screening of all trimesters of pregnancy.
Cyst-to-kidney volume ratio in the sonographic diagnosis of unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney in children
Authors: Ayaz Sevin , Dilli Alper , Gültekin Salih Sinan , Ayaz Ümit Yaşar
Published: March 2017

Aims: To evaluate the usefulness of the cyst-to-kidney volume ratio determined by ultrasonography (US) in unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney (MCDK) in children.Material and methods: Our study group included 21 children (average age: 431 days) with unilateral MCDK and 22 children (average age: 440 days) with unilateral grade IV hydronephrosis due to ureteropelvic junction obstruction as the control group. All the children underwent transabdominal US. In children with MCDK, we calculated cyst-to-kidney volume ratios (volume of the largest cyst/volume of the MCDK) and in the control group the volume ratios of the renal pelvis and the largest calyx (volume of the pelvis or largest calyx/volume of the ipsilateral hydronephrotic kidney). Ellipsoid formula was used to calculate kidney and pelvis volumes. Sphere volume formula was used to calculate the largest cyst and calyx volumes.Results: The mean cyst-to-kidney volume ratio (0.38±0.21) was significantly higher than the mean volume ratios of the renal pelvises (0.10±0.05) and the largest calyces (0.04±0.02) (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between cyst-to-kidney volume ratio and the ages of the children (r=0.141, p=0.541).Conclusions: With the aid of both the qualitative sonographic criteria and the newer data that we have proposed, US is a useful tool in the initial diagnosis of MCDK and for differentiation of MCDKs from grade IV hydronephrotic kidneys in children. The cyst-tokidney volume ratio is independent of age and thus, it can be helpful in the diagnosis of unilateral MCDK at any age.