bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modifiable risk factors for patellar tendinopathy in athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sprague Andrew L , Smith Angela H , Knox Patrick , Pohlig Ryan T , Grävare Silbernagel Karin
Published: July 2018

Objective

To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis identifying (1) potential modifiable risk factors and (2) associated modifiable factors for patellar tendinopathy in athletes.

Design

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and grouped based on study design. Meta-analytic statistics were performed for items reported by five or more studies. A strength of evidence rating is provided for items not appropriate for meta-analysis.

Data sources

PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Cinahl were searched on 14 November 2017.

Eligibility criteria

Quantitative, original research reporting potential modifiable risk factors or associated factors, comparing athletes with patellar tendinopathy with a group without the injury.

Results

862 records were screened and 31 articles were included (6 prospective, 25 cross-sectional). There was a lack of strong evidence for any potential modifiable risk factor or associated factors. There was limited or conflicting evidence that decreased ankle dorsiflexion range of motion, decreased posterior thigh and quadriceps flexibility, greater volume of jump training, more volleyball sets played per week, greater countermovement jump (CMJ) height and greater activity volume are potential modifiable risk factors. Meta-analysis supported greater activity volume (Cohen’s d=0.22, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.39, p=0.008), higher body weight (0.36, 0.17 to 0.55, p<0.001) and greater CMJ height (0.31, 0.07 to 0.56, p=0.01) as associated modifiable factors.

Conclusions

There is a lack of strong evidence for any potential modifiable risk factors or associated factors. Factors with lower levels of support may be of interest in designing prevention programmes but require further research in high-quality, prospective studies.
Antioxidants for preventing and reducing muscle soreness after exercise: a Cochrane systematic review
Authors: Ranchordas Mayur K , Rogerson David , Soltani Hora , Costello Joseph T
Published: July 2018

Objective

To determine whether antioxidant supplements and antioxidant-enriched foods can prevent or reduce delayed-onset muscle soreness after exercise.

Methods

We searched the Cochrane Bone, Joint and Muscle Trauma Group Specialised Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE, Embase, SPORTDiscus, trial registers, reference lists of articles and conference proceedings up to February 2017.

Results

In total, 50 studies were included in this review which included a total of 1089 participants (961 were male and 128 were female) with an age range of 16–55 years. All studies used an antioxidant dosage higher than the recommended daily amount. The majority of trials (47) had design features that carried a high risk of bias due to selective reporting and poorly described allocation concealment, potentially limiting the reliability of their findings. We rescaled to a 0–10 cm scale in order to quantify the actual difference between groups and we found that the 95% CIs for all five follow-up times were all well below the minimal important difference of 1.4 cm: up to 6 hours (MD −0.52, 95% CI −0.95 to −0.08); at 24 hours (MD −0.17, 95% CI −0.42 to 0.07); at 48 hours (mean difference (MD) −0.41, 95% CI −0.69 to −0.12); at 72 hours (MD −0.29, 95% CI −0.59 to 0.02); and at 96 hours (MD −0.03, 95% CI −0.43 to 0.37). Thus, the effect sizes suggesting less muscle soreness with antioxidant supplementation were very unlikely to equate to meaningful or important differences in practice.

Conclusions

There is moderate to low-quality evidence that high-dose antioxidant supplementation does not result in a clinically relevant reduction of muscle soreness after exercise of up to 6 hours or at 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours after exercise. There is no evidence available on subjective recovery and only limited evidence on the adverse effects of taking antioxidant supplements.
Impact of active and passive social facilitation on self-paced endurance and sprint exercise: encouragement augments performance and motivation to exercise
Authors: Edwards Andrew Mark , Dutton-Challis Lia , Cottrell David , Guy Joshua H , Hettinga Florentina Johanna
Published: July 2018

Objective

The positive effect of an audience on performance is anecdotally well known, but the impact of such social facilitation to both performance and the motivation to exercise have not been thoroughly explored. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate verbal encouragement as a means to promote positive behavioural adherence to exercise and augmented performance. 

Methods

Twelve untrained but active individuals (seven female), age 24±3 years participated in this study. Exercise conditions with external verbal encouragement (EVE) and without external verbal encouragement (WEVE) were compared in both endurance (20 min) and sprint (2 × 30 s Wingate) cycling tasks in a randomised crossover design. Results were analysed by separate 2 (EVE/WEVE) × 2 (sprint/endurance) within-subjects analyses of variance for each dependent variable. Statistical significance was set at p≤0.05. 

Results

EVE resulted in a significant increase,F(1,11)=15.37, p=0.002,ηp2=0.58 in the average power generated by participants in each exercise bout on the cycle ergometer. EVE also had a significant effect on reported motivation to exercise the next day,F(1,11)=5.5, p=0.04,ηp2=0.33, which did not differ between type of exercise.

Conclusion

External encouragement in both sprint and endurance activities resulted in large improvements in performance and motivation to continue an exercise regimen the next day, which has important implications for health, adherence and maximising physical performance using a practical intervention.
Effective dynamics of a conditioned generalized linear Glauber model
Authors: Kaviani Sara , Jafarpour Farhad H.
Published: July 2018

In order to study the stochastic Markov processes conditioned on a specific value of a time-integrated observable, the concept of ensembles of trajectories has been recently used extensively. In this paper, we consider a generic reaction–diffusion process consisting of classical particles with nearest-neighbor interactions on a one-dimensional lattice with periodic boundary conditions. By introducing a time-integrated current as a physical observable, we have found certain constraints on the microscopic transition rates of the process under which the effective process contains local interactions; however, with rescaled transition rates comparing to the original process. A generalization of the linear Glauber model is then introduced and studied in detail as an example. Associated effective dynamics of this model is investigated and constants of motion are obtained.
Quantum Fisher information of two superconducting charge qubits under dephasing noisy channel
Authors: Abdel-Hameed Hamada , Zidan Nour , Metwally Nasser
Published: July 2018

The Quantum Fisher information (QFI) of a two charged qubits system that interacts locally with a dephasing channel is quantified with respect to the charged qubits’ and the channel’s parameters. The behavior of Fisher information displays different phenomena as; the sudden changes (increasing/decreasing); the gradual decay and freezing of the QFI. It is shown that the QFI of the dephasing parameter decays gradually and vanishes completely as one increases the initial energies of the qubits and their mutual energy. The possibility of estimating the charged qubits’ energies may be maximized at smaller values of the initial dephasing’s parameter. The estimation degree of the mutual information reaches its upper bounds by increasing the initial energies. It is depicted that, by controlling the qubits’ and the channel’s parameters, the QFI may be frozen. We expect that this result may be interesting in the context of quantum encoding and quantum cryptography.
Two-dimensional systolic complexes satisfy property A
Authors: Hoda Nima , Osajda Damian
Published: July 2018

We show that two-dimensional systolic complexes are quasi-isometric to quadric complexes with flat intervals. We use this fact along with the weight function of Brodzki, Campbell, Guentner, Niblo and Wright [J. Brodzki, S. J. Campbell, E. Guentner, G. A. Niblo and N. J. Wright, Property A and [Formula: see text] cube complexes, J. Funct. Anal. 256(5) (2009) 1408–1431] to prove that two-dimensional systolic complexes satisfy property A.
The braid shelf
Authors: Dehornoy Patrick
Published: July 2018

The braids of [Formula: see text] can be equipped with a self-distributive operation ⊳ enjoying a number of deep properties. This text is a survey of known properties and open questions involving this structure, its quotients, and its extensions.
Special moves for open book decompositions of 3-manifolds
Authors: Piergallini Riccardo , Zuddas Daniele
Published: July 2018

We provide a complete set of two moves that suffice to relate any two open book decompositions of a given 3-manifold. One of the moves is the usual plumbing with a positive or negative Hopf band, while the other one is a special local version of Harer’s twisting, which is presented in two different (but stably equivalent) forms. Our approach relies on 4-dimensional Lefschetz fibrations, and on 3-dimensional contact topology, via the Giroux-Goodman stable equivalence theorem for open book decompositions representing homologous contact structures.
On gauss codes of virtual doodles
Authors: Bartholomew Andrew , Fenn Roger , Kamada Naoko , Kamada Seiichi
Published: July 2018

We discuss Gauss codes of virtual diagrams and virtual doodles. The notion of a left canonical Gauss code is introduced and it is shown that oriented virtual doodles are uniquely presented by left canonical Gauss codes.
Longitudinal mapping knot invariant for SU(2)
Authors: Clark W. Edwin , Saito Masahico
Published: July 2018

The knot coloring polynomial defined by Eisermann for a finite pointed group is generalized to an infinite pointed group as the longitudinal mapping invariant of a knot. In turn, this can be thought of as a generalization of the quandle 2-cocycle invariant for finite quandles. If the group is a topological group, then this invariant can be thought of as a topological generalization of the 2-cocycle invariant. The longitudinal mapping invariant is based on a meridian–longitude pair in the knot group. We also give an interpretation of the invariant in terms of quandle colorings of a 1-tangle for generalized Alexander quandles without use of a meridian–longitude pair in the knot group. The invariant values are concretely evaluated for the torus knots [Formula: see text], their mirror images, and the figure eight knot for the group SU(2).
More intrinsically knotted graphs with 22 edges and the restoring method
Authors: Kim Hyoungjun , Mattman Thomas , Oh Seungsang
Published: July 2018

A graph is called intrinsically knotted if every embedding of the graph contains a knotted cycle. Johnson, Kidwell and Michael, and, independently, Mattman, showed that intrinsically knotted graphs have at least 21 edges. Recently, Lee, Kim, Lee and Oh, and, independently, Barsotti and Mattman, showed that [Formula: see text] and the 13 graphs obtained from [Formula: see text] by [Formula: see text] moves are the only intrinsically knotted graphs with 21 edges. Also Kim, Lee, Lee, Mattman and Oh showed that there are exactly three triangle-free intrinsically knotted graphs with 22 edges having at least two vertices of degree 5. Furthermore, there is no triangle-free intrinsically knotted graph with 22 edges that has a vertex with degree larger than 5. In this paper, we show that there are exactly five triangle-free intrinsically knotted graphs with 22 edges having exactly one degree 5 vertex. These are Cousin 29 of the [Formula: see text] family, Cousins 97 and 99 of the [Formula: see text] family and two others that were previously unknown.
Lower central subgroups of a free group and its subgroup
Authors: Song Minkyoung
Published: July 2018

For a given free group [Formula: see text] of arbitrary rank (possibly infinite), and its subgroup [Formula: see text], we address the question whether a lower central subgroup of [Formula: see text] can contain a lower central subgroup of [Formula: see text]. We show that the answer is no if [Formula: see text] does not normally generate [Formula: see text]. The question comes from a study of Hirzebruch-type invariants from iterated [Formula: see text]-covers for three-dimensional homology cylinders.
Geometry of balanced and absorbing subsets of topological modules
Authors: García-Pacheco Francisco Javier , Piniella Pablo
Published: July 2018

We define the concepts of balanced set and absorbing set in modules over topological rings, which coincide with the usual concepts when restricting to topological vector spaces. We show that in a topological module over an absolute semi-valued ring whose invertibles approach [Formula: see text], every neighborhood of [Formula: see text] is absorbing. We also introduce the concept of total closed unit neighborhood of zero (total closed unit) and prove that the only total closed unit of the quaternions [Formula: see text] is its closed unit ball [Formula: see text]. On the other hand, we also prove that if [Formula: see text] is an absolute semi-valued unital real algebra, then its closed unit ball [Formula: see text] is a total closed unit. Finally, we study the geometry of modules via the extreme points and the internal points, showing that no internal point can be an extreme point and that absorbance is equivalent to having [Formula: see text] as an internal point.
On diameter of the zero-divisor and the compressed zero-divisor graphs of skew Laurent polynomial rings
Authors: Hashemi Ebrahim , Abdi Mona , Alhevaz Abdollah
Published: July 2018

Let [Formula: see text] be an associative ring with nonzero identity. The zero-divisor graph [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is the (undirected) graph with vertices the nonzero zero-divisors of [Formula: see text], and distinct vertices [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are adjacent if and only if [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]. Let [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] be the set of all right annihilators and the set of all left annihilator of an element [Formula: see text], respectively, and let [Formula: see text]. The relation on [Formula: see text] given by [Formula: see text] if and only if [Formula: see text] is an equivalence relation. The compressed zero-divisor graph [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] is the (undirected) graph with vertices the equivalence classes induced by [Formula: see text] other than [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], and distinct vertices [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are adjacent if and only if [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text]. The goal of our paper is to study the diameter of zero-divisor and the compressed zero-divisor graph of skew Laurent polynomial rings over noncommutative rings. We give a complete characterization of the possible diameters of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], where the base ring [Formula: see text] is reversible and also has the [Formula: see text]-compatible property.
Existence of heteroclinic solutions for a class of problems involving the fractional Laplacian
Authors: Alves Claudianor O. , Ambrosio Vincenzo , Torres Ledesma César E.
Published: July 2018

In this paper, we study the existence of heteroclinic solution for a class of nonlocal problems of the type [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] are continuous functions verifying some technical conditions. For example [Formula: see text] can be asymptotically periodic and potential [Formula: see text] can be the Ginzburg–Landau potential, that is, [Formula: see text].
Directing Cinematographic Drones
Authors: Galvane Quentin , Lino Christophe , Christie Marc , Fleureau Julien , Servant Fabien , Tariolle François-Louis , Guillotel Philippe
Published: July 2018

Quadrotor drones equipped with high-quality cameras have rapidly raised as novel, cheap, and stable devices for filmmakers. While professional drone pilots can create aesthetically pleasing videos in short time, the smooth—and cinematographic—control of a camera drone remains challenging for most users, despite recent tools that either automate part of the process or enable the manual design of waypoints to create drone trajectories.

This article moves a step further by offering high-level control of cinematographic drones for the specific task of framing dynamic targets. We propose techniques to automatically and interactively plan quadrotor drone motions in dynamic three-dimensional (3D) environments while satisfying both cinematographic and physical quadrotor constraints. We first propose the
Drone Toric Space
, a dedicated camera parameter space with embedded constraints, and derive some intuitive on-screen viewpoint manipulators. Second, we propose a dedicated path planning technique that ensures both that cinematographic properties can be enforced along the path and that the path is physically feasible by a quadrotor drone. At last, we build on the
Drone Toric Space
and the specific path planning technique to coordinate the motion of multiple drones around dynamic targets. A number of results demonstrate the interactive and automated capacities of our approaches on different use-cases.
Combining deep reinforcement learning with prior knowledge and reasoning
Authors: Bougie Nicolas , Cheng Li Kai , Ichise Ryutaro
Published: July 2018

Recent improvements in deep reinforcement learning have allowed to solve problems in many 2D domains such as Atari games. However, in complex 3D environments, numerous learning episodes are required which may be too time consuming or even impossible especially in real-world scenarios. We present a new architecture to combine external knowledge and deep reinforcement learning using only visual input. A key concept of our system is augmenting image input by adding environment feature information and combining two sources of decision. We evaluate the performances of our method in 3D partially-observable environments from the Microsoft Malmo platform. Experimental evaluation exhibits higher performance and faster learning compared to a single reinforcement learning model.
Invariant Recognition Shapes Neural Representations of Visual Input
Authors: Tacchetti Andrea , Isik Leyla , Poggio Tomaso A.
Published: July 2018

Recognizing the people, objects, and actions in the world around us is a crucial aspect of human perception that allows us to plan and act in our environment. Remarkably, our proficiency in recognizing semantic categories from visual input is unhindered by transformations that substantially alter their appearance (e.g., changes in lighting or position). The ability to generalize across these complex transformations is a hallmark of human visual intelligence, which has been the focus of wide-ranging investigation in systems and computational neuroscience. However, while the neural machinery of human visual perception has been thoroughly described, the computational principles dictating its functioning remain unknown. Here, we review recent results in brain imaging, neurophysiology, and computational neuroscience in support of the hypothesis that the ability to support the invariant recognition of semantic entities in the visual world shapes which neural representations of sensory input are computed by human visual cortex.
[18F]Fluorocholine and [18F]Fluoroacetate PET as Imaging Biomarkers to Assess Phosphatidylcholine and Mitochondrial Metabolism in Preclinical Models of TSC and LAM
Authors: Verwer Eline E. , Kavanagh Taylor R. , Mischler William J. , Feng You , Takahashi Kazue , Wang Shuyan , Shoup Timothy M. , Neelamegam Ramesh , Yang Jing , Guehl Nicolas J. , Ran Chongzhao , Massefski Walter , Cui Ye , El-Chemaly Souheil , Sadow Peter M. , Oldham William M. , Kijewski Marie F. , El Fakhri Georges , Normandin Marc D. , Priolo Carmen
Published: July 2018

Purpose:

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by inactivating mutations of the TSC1 or TSC2 gene, characterized by neurocognitive impairment and benign tumors of the brain, skin, heart, and kidneys. Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a diffuse proliferation of α-smooth muscle actin–positive cells associated with cystic destruction of the lung. LAM occurs almost exclusively in women, as a TSC manifestation or a sporadic disorder (TSC1/TSC2 somatic mutations). Biomarkers of whole-body tumor burden/activity and response to rapalogs or other therapies remain needed in TSC/LAM.

Experimental Design:

These preclinical studies aimed to assess feasibility of [18F]fluorocholine (FCH) and [18F]fluoroacetate (FACE) as TSC/LAM metabolic imaging biomarkers.

Results:

We previously reported that TSC2-deficient cells enhance phosphatidylcholine synthesis via the Kennedy pathway. Here, we show that TSC2-deficient cells exhibit rapid uptake of [18F]FCH in vivo and can be visualized by PET imaging in preclinical models of TSC/LAM, including subcutaneous tumors and pulmonary nodules. Treatment with rapamycin (72 hours) suppressed [18F]FCH standardized uptake value (SUV) by >50% in tumors. Interestingly, [18F]FCH-PET imaging of TSC2-deficient xenografts in ovariectomized mice also showed a significant decrease in tumor SUV. Finally, we found rapamycin-insensitive uptake of FACE by TSC2-deficient cells in vitro and in vivo, reflecting its mitochondrial accumulation via inhibition of aconitase, a TCA cycle enzyme.

Conclusions:

Preclinical models of TSC2 deficiency represent informative platforms to identify tracers of potential clinical interest. Our findings provide mechanistic evidence for testing the potential of [18F]FCH and [18F]FACE as metabolic imaging biomarkers for TSC and LAM proliferative lesions, and novel insights into the metabolic reprogramming of TSC tumors.
Prognostic Impact of Residual HPV ctDNA Detection after Chemoradiotherapy for Anal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Cabel Luc , Jeannot Emmanuelle , Bieche Ivan , Vacher Sophie , Callens Celine , Bazire Louis , Morel Adeline , Bernard-Tessier Alice , Chemlali Walid , Schnitzler Anne , Lièvre Astrid , Otz Joelle , Minsat Mathieu , Vincent-Salomon Anne , Pierga Jean-Yves , Buecher Bruno , Mariani Pascale , Proudhon Charlotte , Bidard François-Clément , Cacheux Wulfran
Published: July 2018

Purpose: Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is the current standard of care for patients diagnosed with locally advanced anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC), but some patients develop local and/or distant relapse during follow-up. This study was designed to monitor human papillomavirus (HPV) circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) levels during CRT in patients with ASCC.

Experimental Design: We analyzed samples from patients with HPV16- or HPV18-positive locally advanced ASCC. Blood samples were collected before and after CRT. HPV16 or HPV18 ctDNA detection was performed by droplet digital-PCR.

Results: HPV ctDNA was detected before CRT in 29 of 33 patients with stages II–III ASCC [sensitivity: 88%; 95% confidence interval (CI), 72–95]; ctDNA positivity rate was associated with tumor stage (64% and 100% in stages II and III, respectively; P = 0.008). Among ctDNA-positive patients at baseline, ctDNA levels were higher in N+ than in N− tumors (median 85 copies/mL, range = 8–9,333 vs. 32 copies/mL, range = 3–1,350; P = 0.03). ctDNA detection at baseline had no significant prognostic impact. After CRT, three of 18 (17%) patients displayed residual detectable HPV ctDNA; ctDNA detection after CRT was strongly associated with shorter disease-free survival (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions: This is the first proof-of-concept study assessing the prognostic value of ctDNA after CRT in locally advanced ASCC. In most patients, HPV ctDNA can be detected before CRT and becomes undetectable during CRT. In this study, we show that residual ctDNA levels after CRT are associated with very poor outcome. Clin Cancer Res; 24(22); 5767–71. ©2018 AACR.
Fluoride-Releasing Effect of a Modified Resin Denture Containing S-PRG Fillers on Salivary Fluoride Retention: A Randomized Clinical Study
Authors: Kiatsirirote Kritirat , Sitthisettapong Thanya , Phantumvanit Prathip , Chan Daniel C.N.
Published: July 2018

This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effect of a resin denture base containing 20wt% surface prereacted glass ionomer (S-PRG) fillers on saliva fluoride concentrations as a surrogate evaluation of caries control. The study was a double-blind randomized clinical trial with a total of 110 participants aged 35–60 years who wore a removable partial resin denture for 1.5 years. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive a partial resin denture fabricated either with or without 20wt% S-PRG fillers (n = 55 per group). After 14 days of wearing the dentures, 5,000 ppm fluoride gel was applied nightly on both sides of the denture before storing it in a denture box overnight every night for 1.5 years. The salivary fluoride concentration was measured at baseline, on days 1, 14, and 15, and at 3 months and 1.5 years of wearing the denture. A significant increase in salivary fluoride concentration in the S-PRG denture group was observed from baseline to day 1, followed by a significant decrease to an approximate baseline level. After recharge with 5,000 ppm fluoride gel, salivary fluoride increased markedly on day 15 and remained elevated at month 3 through to 1.5 years. The resin denture base containing 20wt% S-PRG fillers demonstrated an initial fluoride release that increased saliva fluoride concentrations, but the fluoride release from within the material was short lived. The long-term effect of sustained fluoride release from the denture when combined with a regular fluoride recharge regimen may be beneficial for caries prevention.
Cooperative contributions of structural and functional connectivity to successful memory in aging
Authors: Davis Simon W. , Szymanski Amanda , Boms Homa , Fink Thomas , Cabeza Roberto
Published: July 2018

Understanding the precise relation between functional connectivity and structural (white matter) connectivity and how these relationships account for cognitive changes in older adults are major challenges for neuroscience. We investigate these issues using an approach in which structural equation modeling (SEM) is employed to integrate functional and structural connectivity data from younger and older adults ( n = 62), analyzed with a common framework based on regions connected by canonical tract groups (CTGs). CTGs (e.g., uncinate fasciculus) serve as a common currency between functional and structural connectivity matrices, and ensure equivalent sparsity in connectome information. We used this approach to investigate the neural mechanisms supporting memory for items and memory for associations, and how they are affected by healthy aging. We found that different structural and functional CTGs made independent contributions to source and item memory performance, suggesting that both forms of connectivity underlie age-related differences in specific forms of memory. Furthermore, the relationship between functional and structural connectivity was best explained by a general relationship between latent constructs—a relationship absent in any specific CTG group. These results provide insights into the relationship between structural and functional connectivity patterns, and elucidate their relative contribution to age-related differences in source memory performance.
Dissenting Bodies
Authors: Winegar Jessica
Published: July 2018

This article explores the art of Adham Hafez, an Egypt-based performer, choreographer and music composer, in relation to the political and social turmoil in Egypt leading up to and following the 2011 uprising. Hafez’s work through and on the body highlights how the uprisings themselves were a rejection of various assaults on the body rendered by the Egyptian state, colonialism and global capitalism. By focusing on the ways that Hafez’s performances reconfigure the senses, and relations between the body and language, this article shows how performance can be a site of dissensus that creates potentially transformative resonance between bodies—in Tahrir Square and beyond.
An integrative description of a new tardigrade species Mesobiotus romani sp. nov. (Macrobiotidae: harmsworthi group) from the Ecuadorian Pacific coast
Authors: ROSZKOWSKA MILENA , STEC DANIEL , GAWLAK MAGDALENA , KACZMAREK ŁUKASZ
Published: July 2018

In a mixed moss and lichen sample collected in Esmeraldas Province in north-western Ecuador, 20 tardigrades and 11 eggs, belonging to a new species of the genus Mesobiotus, were found. In addition to the traditional taxonomic description with morphometrics, light and scanning microscopy imaging, we also provide nucleotide sequences of three nuclear (18S rRNA, 28S rRNA, ITS-2) and one mitochondrial (COI) DNA fragments of the new species. Based on the egg chorion morphology, Mesobiotus romani sp. nov. is the most similar to: M. binieki, M. coronatus, M. dimentmani, M. patiens, M. perfidus, M. philippinicusi, M. pseudoblocki, M. pseudocoronatus, M. pseudopatiens, M. radiatus, M. rigidus, M. simulans and M. wuzhishanensis, but differs mainly by some specific characters of both egg and adult morphology, and morphometrics.
A new fistulose demosponge species from the Persian Gulf
Authors: GUTEKUNST V. , MÜLLER A.U. , POHL T. , BRÜMMER F. , MALIK H. , FAWZI N. , ERPENBECK D. , LEHNERT H.
Published: July 2018

During a scientific expedition to the Palinurus Rock, Persian Gulf, Iraq, a reef, which was discovered first in 2012, we found a new species which we tentatively assigned to Ciocalypta (Porifera, Demospongiae, Suberitida, Halichondriidae). Genetic results from different authors (Morrow & Cardenas, 2015, Redmond et al., 2013, Erpenbeck et al., 2012) suggest that several species of Ciocalypta and other species from Suberitida (e.g. several Axinyssa, Petromica, Topsentia, Cymbastela, Halichondria (Eumastia)) are indeed no Suberitida but belong to taxa yet unnamed. The species described here genetically clearly belongs to this new taxon outside Suberitida which awaits definition. Morphologically the new species clearly would be classified as Ciocalypta. Therefore the new species is described and compared to similar morphological species, some of them, as the type species, true Suberitida and true Ciocalypta, others belong to taxa still in need of a name.
New annelid species from the deepest known whale-fall environment: Bathykermadeca thanatos sp. nov. (Annelida: Polynoidae)
Authors: JIMI NAOTO , FUJIWARA YOSHIHIRO , KAJIHARA HIROSHI
Published: July 2018

A new species of polynoid annelids, Bathykermadeca thanatos sp. nov., is described based on specimens collected from sunken whale bones in the Nansei-Shoto Trench in the Philippine Sea at a depth of 4974 m. The cetacean-carcass community at the site exceeds the deepest record reported to date. This new species can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the following features: i) there is only one type of neurochaetae, ii) the teeth lack serration and grow inwardly, iii) median antenna extends beyond the tip of frontal filament, iv) nephridial papillae are present in segments 12–15, and v) there are about 50 notochaetae in each parapodium.
Wing polymorphism in Anaphothrips graminum (Thysanoptera: Thripidae)
Authors: MINAEI KAMBIZ
Published: July 2018

Of the 83 species of Anaphothrips in the world (ThripsWiki 2018), only four are recorded in Iran so far (Alavi et al. 2018): A. microptera, A. obscurus, A. sineconus and A. sudanensis. Among these, A. sineconus was collected from Haloxylon persicum (Amaranthaceae) while the others are related to various grasses (Poaceae). Color and structural variation among and within the species of Anaphothrips have been demonstrated by several authors (Kudo, 1989, Nakao 1996, Mound & Masumoto 2009). In this paper a fifth species, A. graminum, is recorded from Iran based on specimens collected from grasses. The previously unknown micropterous morph of this species is described, as this is different in color from the macropterous morph, and in contrast to the original description the male has a pore plate on sternite VIII. The terminology used here follows Mound and Masumoto (2009). Most specimens are deposited in the Department of Plant Protection, Shiraz University, Shiraz, Iran (PPSU). Two females (one micropterous and one macropterous) are deposited in ANIC - the Australian National Insect Collection, CSIRO, Canberra.
Association between Oral Candida and Bacteriome in Children with Severe ECC
Authors: Xiao J. , Grier A. , Faustoferri R.C. , Alzoubi S. , Gill A.L. , Feng C. , Liu Y. , Quivey R.G. , Kopycka-Kedzierawski D.T. , Koo H. , Gill S.R.
Published: July 2018

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal organism frequently detected in the oral cavity of children with severe early childhood caries (S-ECC). Previous studies suggested the cariogenic potential of C. albicans, in vitro and in vivo, and further demonstrated its synergistic interactions with Streptococcus mutans. In combination, the 2 organisms are associated with higher caries severity in a rodent model. However, it remains unknown whether C. albicans influences the composition and diversity of the entire oral bacterial community to promote S-ECC onset. With 16s rRNA amplicon sequencing, this study analyzed the microbiota of saliva and supragingival plaque from 39 children (21 S-ECC and 18 caries-free [CF]) and 33 mothers (17 S-ECC and 16 CF). The results revealed that the presence of oral C. albicans is associated with a highly acidogenic and acid-tolerant bacterial community in S-ECC, with an increased abundance of plaque Streptococcus (particularly S. mutans) and certain Lactobacillus/Scardovia species and salivary/plaque Veillonella and Prevotella, as well as decreased levels of salivary/plaque Actinomyces. Concurrent with this microbial community assembly, the activity of glucosyltransferases (cariogenic virulence factors secreted by S. mutans) in plaque was significantly elevated when C. albicans was present. Moreover, the oral microbial community composition and diversity differed significantly by disease group (CF vs. S-ECC) and sample source (saliva vs. plaque). Children and mothers within the CF and S-ECC groups shared microbiota composition and diversity, suggesting a strong maternal influence on children’s oral microbiota. Altogether, this study underscores the importance of C. albicans in association with the oral bacteriome in the context of S-ECC etiopathogenesis. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to examine how fungal-bacterial interactions modulate the onset and severity of S-ECC, potentially leading to novel anticaries treatments that address fungal contributions.
The Sociology Teaching Fellowship: A Mentorship Model for Graduate Student Teacher Training
Authors: Innocente Nathan , Baker Jayne
Published: July 2018

Scholars have long emphasized the importance of teacher training in higher education, including in sociology. Such calls have led to modest improvements in opportunities for graduate students to develop teaching-related skills and experience. However, many of these opportunities are not specific to sociology and may lack a teaching component. In this paper, we outline a teaching fellowship model for graduate student teacher training that integrates group training sessions, peer collaboration, and a teaching practicum component under the guidance of a faculty mentor. In the fellowship, graduate student teaching fellows receive a stipend for sharing the development and teaching of an undergraduate course, with supports and feedback throughout. We include data from post-fellowship questionnaires and follow-up data from fellows who went on to teach their own courses to highlight the strengths of the program. The data indicate that the fellowship is an overwhelmingly positive experience for graduate students.
Endovascular management of extensive lower extremity acute deep vein thrombosis with AngioJet rheolytic thrombectomy plus catheter-directed thrombolysis from contralateral femoral access
Authors: Liu Guang , Zhao Zhen , Cui Chaoyi , Ye Kaichuang , Yin Minyi , Liu Xaiobing , Qin Jinbao , Huang Xintian , Lu Min , Jiang Mier , Li Weimin , Lu Xinwu
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to report the clinical outcomes of endovascular treatment for extensive lower limb deep vein thrombosis with AngioJet rheolytic thrombectomy (ART) plus catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) using a contralateral femoral approach.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of consecutive ART+CDT treatments in 38 deep vein thrombosis patients (LET I-III, from September 2014 to March 2016) was performed.

Results

The technical success rate was 100%. Complete lysis was achieved in 82% of LET III segments (calf veins), 87% of LET II segments (popliteal-femoral veins), and 90% of LET III segments (iliac veins). The best results were obtained in patients treated within seven days of symptom onset. During follow-up, well-preserved, competent femoral valves were observed in 86% of the patients, and recanalization of LET III, LET II, and LET I segments was achieved in 100%, 94%, and 91% of the patients, respectively. The post-thrombotic syndrome rate was 17% during a mean 20-month follow-up.
The Narrative Production of Stakeholder Engagement Processes
Authors: Quick Kathryn S.
Published: July 2018

Narrative work is a critical aspect of producing complex stakeholder engagement processes. I demonstrate the value of attending to the effort and consequences of enactment forms of narrative work to complement attention to talk forms of narrative work. Through ethnographic analysis of a contentious planning effort, I show how master narratives structure expectations about what a “participatory process” involves, how narrative logics provide momentum for moving through an engagement process, and how storytelling represents perspectives, imagines futures, and persuades. I suggest prompts for investigating, designing, and troubleshooting narrative work to improve engagement processes.
Violence Experiences in Childhood and Adolescence Among Gay Men and Transgender Women Living in Perú: A Qualitative Exploration
Authors: Juárez-Chávez Elisa , Cooney Erin E. , Hidalgo Alberto , Sánchez Jorge , Poteat Tonia
Published: July 2018

The overall goal of this study was to qualitatively explore the different types of violence experienced by gay men (GM) and transgender women (TW) living in Peru during childhood and adolescence, as well as their potential consequences and sources of protection. Participants were selected using purposive sampling. Recruitment took place in a community-based organization in Lima, Peru. In all, 32 GM and 23 TW participated in a total of four Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and 25 in-depth interviews (IDI). Qualitative data collection was conducted between July and October 2016. Four FGD took place with GM ( n = 21) and one with TW ( n = 9). In addition, 11 IDI with GM and 14 with TW were conducted. Data were analyzed using descriptive inductive analysis. Three main types of violence were experienced in childhood and adolescence: (a) violence occurring in the home or otherwise perpetrated by family members, (b) school-based violence, and (c) sexual violence. Both GM and TW experience violence within and outside school and home. School systems should make teachers and parents aware of the impact of homophobic and transphobic bullying and violence. Certain modifications in schools, such as having all-gender bathrooms and promoting activities that are not grounded in gender roles, could be very effective at reducing homophobic and transphobic violence. Schools should also address sexual violence more actively, among both male and female students. Parents’ attitudes toward homosexuality and gender diversity need to be addressed by future interventions.
Seroprevalence of maternal HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis in a major maternity hospital in North Kordofan, Sudan
Authors: Elkheir Sirelkhatim M , Babiker Zahir OE , Elamin Sabah K , Yassin Mohammed IA , Awadalla Khidir E , Bealy Mohamed A , Agab Eldour Ahmed A , Alloba Fath E , Atabani Sowsan F , Osman Husam KE , Babiker Abdel G , Herieka Elbushra AM
Published: July 2018

Routine infectious diseases screening of Sudanese pregnant women has been patchy due to scarcity of healthcare resources and social stigma. We sought to determine the seroprevalence of HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) at El Obeid Maternity Hospital in western Sudan. We also explored the association between these infections and a set of socio-demographic and maternal variables. Unlinked anonymous testing for HIV-1/2 antibodies, hepatitis B surface antigen, and Treponema pallidum antibodies was performed on residual blood samples collected during routine ANC (August 2016–March 2017). Seroprevalence of HIV was 1.13% (5/444; 95% CI 0.37–2.61%), hepatitis B 2.93% (13/444; 95% CI 1.57–4.95%), and syphilis 7.43% (33/444; 95% CI 5.17–10.28%). On bivariate analysis, there were no statistically significant associations between hepatitis B, syphilis, or a composite outcome including any of the three infections and age, stage of pregnancy, gravidity, parity, previous mode of delivery, history of blood transfusion, or husband polygamy. Urgent action is needed to scale up routine maternal screening for HIV, hepatitis B, and syphilis on an opt-out basis. Further research into the socio-demographic and behavioural determinants of these infections as well as their clinical outcomes is needed.
Peripheral loss of regulatory T cells and polyautoimmunity in an HIV-infected patient
Authors: Quiros-Roldan E , Zanini B , Ferraresi A , Castellano M , Giustini V , Sottini A , Castelli F , Imberti L
Published: July 2018

We report a case of a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/hepatitis C virus-co-infected patient with an optimal virological status but with a poor CD4+ cell profile, followed up in the University Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases of Brescia, Italy. He presented several autoimmune diseases (ADs) over the years concomitant with CD4+ cell increase episodes following severe immune depression of unknown cause. We studied T- and B-cell subsets and found low levels of K-deleting Recombination Excision Circles, T-cell Receptor Excision Circles and B and T memory subpopulations, which indicated that the bone marrow and thymic outputs were lower than in healthy controls. The most relevant phenotypic alteration was in the regulatory T-cell (Treg) population, because total Tregs as well as naïve, central memory and effector memory cells were detected at very low levels. This was the first case of polyautoimmunity defined as the presence of more than one AD in the same individual, occurring in an HIV patient. Several factors may be implicated, including genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, concomitant therapies and dysregulation of immune system cells. The extremely low number of Tregs found in our patient may play a major role in the regulation of the immune response and the development of all ADs.
Reproduction and opportunity: A study of dual career, aspirations and elite sports in Danish SportsClasses
Authors: Skrubbeltrang Lotte Stausgaard , Karen David , Nielsen Jens Christian , Olesen Jesper Stilling
Published: July 2018

In this article we analyze the patterns of retention in SportsClasses of promising young athletes in Denmark. Since 2005, SportsClasses have provided extra training for potential elite athletes in Grades 7–9 in designated Danish public schools. They were introduced after the Danish Ministry of Culture lowered the age of recruitment for athletes from 15 to 12 in response to increased competition in the world of elite sports. The SportsClasses attempt to balance collaboration between two different organizations: Danish public schools; and sports clubs. Using a survey of the student population in 2013 and a follow-up sample in 2015, we explored the respondents’ social backgrounds and experiences in order to understand their likelihood of retention during the program and their career aspirations. Focusing on socioeconomic status (SES), the role of having parents in elite sports, gender, and type of sport, we studied what key experiences and relationships lead students to abandon or sustain their interest in careers related to sports and how this differed for boys and girls. By applying Bourdieu’s concepts of habitus and types of capital, we concluded that the program produced elements of both reproduction and opportunity but that the patterns strongly favored the retention of boys compared to girls. Our findings also suggest that the overlap between school and sport may have lead students from higher SES background to focus on education rather than sports.
Feasibility of Responsive Teaching With Mothers and Young Children With Autism in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alquraini Turki , Al-Odaib Ali , Al-Dhalaan Hesham , Merza Haniah , Mahoney Gerald
Published: July 2018

A randomized controlled trial was conducted to assess the feasibility of Responsive Teaching (RT) with a sample of 28 Saudi Arabian preschool-aged children with diagnoses of autism and their mothers over a 4-month period of time. RT is an early intervention curriculum that attempts to promote children’s development by encouraging parents to engage in highly responsive interactions. Subjects were randomly assigned to treatment conditions: the Control group received standard community services; the RT group received weekly RT parent–child sessions in addition to standard services. Consistent with the focus of the intervention, RT mothers made significantly greater increases in Responsiveness and Affect than Control group mothers. There were also significant group differences in pre- and posttreatment measures of children’s language and social and fine motor developmental scores. On average, the developmental improvements observed for RT children were 44% greater for social development, 37% greater for language development, and 24% greater for fine motor development than the improvements observed for Control group children. Implications of these findings for providing early intervention services for young children with autism and are discussed.
Ethnic Group Inequality, Partisan Networks, and Political Clientelism
Authors: Wang Yi-ting , Kolev Kiril
Published: July 2018

How do ethnic group divisions affect parties’ linkage strategies? The provision of private or local club goods favoring co-ethnics by politicians has been well documented in the literature. However, whether clientelism tends to be more widespread in ethnically highly fragmented societies has not been systematically examined. Utilizing a dataset that includes information on more than 450 parties in eighty competitive party systems, we show that the mere presence of multiple ethnic groups does not lead to more clientelistic exchange. Nevertheless, in countries characterized by high levels of economic inequality between politically relevant ethnic groups, parties are more likely to rely on clientelistic strategies to attract votes. In addition, this positive relationship between ethnic income inequality and clientelism is contingent on parties’ ties to ethnic social networks. Specifically, in ethnically unequal societies, parties that can rely on existing ethnic organizations particularly engage in clientelistic modes of electoral mobilization.