bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Offender Race, Risk Level, and Participant Emotion on Juvenile Probation Case Judgments
Authors: Petty Taylor , Wiener Richard L.
Published: March 2019

Research has consistently demonstrated minority youth are treated unfairly within the juvenile justice system, yet little research has explored the psychology of juvenile probation judgments and the ways they contribute to disparate treatment. This article reports on two experiments that explored the influence of participant fear on juvenile probation judgments by varying the offender's race (Black or White) and risk information across two studies which invoked fear, anger or no emotion in participants. In Study 1, fearful participants who received no risk information were more likely to recommend a control‐oriented supervision approach for a Black offender, but not a White offender. Fearful participants who received moderate risk information were not influenced by the offender's race. Study 2 increased the amount of risk information (Low, Moderate, High), such that all participants received some risk information. Participants relied on the risk information to make their decisions, and we found no biasing race or emotion effects.
Apelin peptides linked to anti‐serum albumin domain antibodies retain affinity in vitro and are efficacious receptor agonists in vivo
Authors: Read Cai , Yang Peiran , Kuc Rhoda E. , Nyimanu Duuamene , Williams Thomas L. , Glen Robert C. , Holt Lucy J. , Arulanantham Haren , Smart Andrew , Davenport Anthony P. , Maguire Janet J.
Published: March 2019

The apelin receptor is a potential target in the treatment of heart failure and pulmonary arterial hypertension where levels of endogenous apelin peptides are reduced but significant receptor levels remain. Our aim was to characterise the pharmacology of a modified peptide agonist, MM202, designed to have high affinity for the apelin receptor and resistance to peptidase degradation and linked to an anti‐serum albumin domain antibody (AlbudAb) to extend half‐life in the blood. In competition, binding experiments in human heart MM202‐AlbudAb (pKi = 9.39 ± 0.09) bound with similar high affinity as the endogenous peptides [Pyr1]apelin‐13 (pKi = 8.83 ± 0.06) and apelin‐17 (pKi = 9.57 ± 0.08). [Pyr1]apelin‐13 was tenfold more potent in the cAMP (pD2 = 9.52 ± 0.05) compared to the β‐arrestin (pD2 = 8.53 ± 0.03) assay, whereas apelin‐17 (pD2 = 10.31 ± 0.28; pD2 = 10.15 ± 0.13, respectively) and MM202‐AlbudAb (pD2 = 9.15 ± 0.12; pD2 = 9.26 ± 0.03, respectively) were equipotent in both assays, with MM202‐AlbudAb tenfold less potent than apelin‐17. MM202‐AlbudAb bound to immobilised human serum albumin with high affinity (pKD = 9.02). In anaesthetised, male Sprague Dawley rats, MM202‐AlbudAb (5 nmol, n = 15) significantly reduced left ventricular systolic pressure by 6.61 ± 1.46 mm Hg and systolic arterial pressure by 14.12 ± 3.35 mm Hg and significantly increased cardiac contractility by 533 ± 170 mm Hg/s, cardiac output by 1277 ± 190 RVU/min, stroke volume by 3.09 ± 0.47 RVU and heart rate by 4.64 ± 2.24 bpm. This study demonstrates that conjugating an apelin mimetic peptide to the AlbudAb structure retains receptor and in vivo activity and may be a new strategy for development of apelin peptides as therapeutic agents.
Evaluation of the psychometric properties of the endoscopic endonasal sinus and skull base surgery questionnaire (EES‐Q) in a prospective cohort study
Authors: ten Dam Ellen , Korsten‐Meijer Astrid G.W. , Hoving Eelco W. , Kuijlen Jos M. , van der Laan Bernard F.A.M. , Feijen Robert A. , Krabbe Paul F.M.
Published: March 2019

Objectives

The patients' perspective on health has become increasingly important when assessing treatment outcomes. Recently, the Endoscopic Endonasal Sinus and Skull Base Surgery Questionnaire (EES‐Q) was developed to determine the impact of endoscopic endonasal surgery on health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to evaluate the test‐retest reliability, construct validity and responsiveness of the EES‐Q.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

University Medical Center Groningen, tertiary referral hospital, the Netherlands.

Participants

One hundred patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal surgery because of sinus or anterior skull base pathology.

Main outcome measures

Test‐retest reliability, construct validity and responsiveness.

Results

The EES‐Q domains exhibited good test‐retest reliability (ICC > 0.90). Construct validity was corroborated by significant positive and negative correlations between the EES‐Q and the Sino‐Nasal Outcome Test‐22 (SNOT‐22) and postoperative health status (P < 0.01) respectively. The correlation between the social EES‐Q domain and the ability to move and perform usual activities (EuroQol‐5D‐3L [EQ‐5D‐3L]) was significant positive (P < 0.01). In patients with paranasal sinus pathology, the EES‐Q was responsive to clinical change (Cohen's d = 0.6).

Conclusion

The EES‐Q is a reliable and acceptable responsive disease‐specific HRQoL instrument. The expected construct validity of the EES‐Q is supported by the results in this study. Inconveniences in social functioning had the greatest negative impact on postoperative health status rating. This reflects the importance of a multidimensional HRQoL assessment after EES. The results indicate that the EES‐Q is a promising disease‐specific tool for the HRQoL assessment after endoscopic endonasal sinus or anterior skull base surgery.
A hierarchical recurrent approach to predict scene graphs from a visual‐attention‐oriented perspective
Authors: Gao Wenjing , Zhu Yonghua , Zhang Wenjun , Zhang Ke , Gao Honghao
Published: March 2019

A scene graph provides a powerful intermediate knowledge structure for various visual tasks, including semantic image retrieval, image captioning, and visual question answering. In this paper, the task of predicting a scene graph for an image is formulated as two connected problems, ie, recognizing the relationship triplets, structured as , and constructing the scene graph from the recognized relationship triplets. For relationship triplet recognition, we develop a novel hierarchical recurrent neural network with visual attention mechanism. This model is composed of two attention‐based recurrent neural networks in a hierarchical organization. The first network generates a topic vector for each relationship triplet, whereas the second network predicts each word in that relationship triplet given the topic vector. This approach successfully captures the compositional structure and contextual dependency of an image and the relationship triplets describing its scene. For scene graph construction, an entity localization approach to determine the graph structure is presented with the assistance of available attention information. Then, the procedures for automatically converting the generated relationship triplets into a scene graph are clarified through an algorithm. Extensive experimental results on two widely used data sets verify the feasibility of the proposed approach.
Inner entanglements: Narrowing the search in classical planning by problem reformulation
Authors: Chrpa Lukáš , Vallati Mauro , McCluskey Thomas Leo
Published: March 2019

In the field of automated planning, the central research focus is on domain‐independent planning engines that accept planning tasks (domain models and problem descriptions) in a description language, such as Planning Domain Definition Language, and return solution plans. The performance of planning engines can be improved by gathering additional knowledge about specific planning domain models/tasks (such as control rules) that can narrow the search for a solution plan. Such knowledge is often learned from training plans and solutions of simple tasks. Using techniques to reformulate the given planning task to incorporate additional knowledge, while keeping to the same input language, allows to exploit off‐the‐shelf planning engines. In this paper, we present inner entanglements that are relations between pairs of operators and predicates that represent the exclusivity of predicate achievement or requirement between the given operators. Inner entanglements can be encoded into a planner's input language by transforming the original planning task; hence, planning engines can exploit them. The contribution of this paper is to provide an in‐depth analysis and evaluation of inner entanglements, covering theoretical aspects such as complexity results, and an extensive empirical study using International Planning Competition benchmarks and state‐of‐the‐art planning engines.
On sampling inside obstacles for boosted sampling of narrow corridors
Authors: Kala Rahul
Published: March 2019

Narrow corridors are a cause of intense problems in sampling‐based approaches due to the small probability of generation of samples inside the narrow corridor. The obstacle‐based sampling and bridge test sampling techniques rely on generating fresh samples at every iteration. Memory of the forbidden configuration space can lead to the discovery of new narrow corridors or generating additional key samples inside the same narrow corridor. Hence, in this paper, it is proposed to additionally solve the problem of generating a roadmap in the forbidden configuration space, called as the dual roadmap. The dual roadmap, so generated, has vertices that are collision‐prone and stores the structure of the forbidden configuration space. To reduce memory and computation time, only the boundary of the forbidden configuration space is stored, which is more informative. The dual roadmap, so constructed, is used to generate valid samples inside the middle of the narrow corridors. The construction of the additional roadmap takes a very small time and memory and is largely the biproduct of obstacle‐based sampling that is normally thrown away. Experimental results show that the proposed sampling method is very effective for finding narrow corridors as compared to popular sampling methodologies existing in the literature.
Reconciling empirical interactions and species coexistence
Authors: Maynard Daniel S. , Wootton J. Timothy , Serván Carlos A. , Allesina Stefano
Published: March 2019

Coexistence in ecological communities is governed largely by the nature and intensity of species interactions. Countless studies have proposed methods to infer these interactions from empirical data, yet models parameterised using such data often fail to recover observed coexistence patterns. Here, we propose a method to reconcile empirical parameterisations of community dynamics with species‐abundance data, ensuring that the predicted equilibrium is consistent with the observed abundance distribution. To illustrate the approach, we explore two case studies: an experimental freshwater algal community and a long‐term time series of displacement in an intertidal community. We demonstrate how our method helps recover observed coexistence patterns, capture the core dynamics of the system, and, in the latter case, predict the impacts of experimental extinctions. Collectively, these results demonstrate an intuitive approach for reconciling observed and empirical data, improving our ability to explore the links between species interactions and coexistence in natural systems.
Food sharing and affiliation: An experimental and longitudinal study in cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus)
Authors: Liévin‐Bazin Agatha , Pineaux Maxime , Le Covec Mathilde , Gahr Manfred , Bovet Dalila , von Bayern Auguste M. P.
Published: March 2019

Food sharing has attracted much attention because of its apparently altruistic nature and its link to prosociality. However, food sharing has been mostly studied in a reproductive context, during courtship and parental care, where the fitness benefits are obvious. We still lack a clear understanding of the functions of food sharing outside any reproductive context and within social groups of same‐aged peers. Previous studies suggest that cofeeding, the action to let another animal feed from the same monopolizable food source, may be used to build and strengthen bonds between individuals. This may be particularly crucial in social birds forming long‐term associations between mates or siblings such as psittacids and corvids. Here, we investigated food sharing and affiliative behaviors such as allopreening in a psittacine species, namely in a group of captive juvenile cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) consisting of five siblings and five unrelated birds. Our main objective was to study the developmental pattern of food sharing over time and its implication in social bonding depending on kinship, affiliation, and sex. Studying cockatiels in this context is providing many new information since most of the studies on food sharing in birds focused on corvids. We found that, contrary to jackdaws, cockatiels continued to share food with multiple individuals, although the frequency of cofeeding as well as the number of cofeeding partners decreased over time. Cockatiels shared more food with their siblings than with other conspecifics but they were not more likely to do cofeeding with birds of the opposite sex. We also found evidence that young cockatiels exchanged more food with those from whom they received food (reciprocity) and, to a lesser extent, allopreening (interchange), than from other cockatiels. Our findings suggest that in cockatiels, food sharing within social groups serves the formation (and maintenance) of affiliative bonds, especially between siblings, rather than pair bonds, but might additionally be explained by reciprocity, interchange, and harassment avoidance.
Fixing the emissions trading scheme: Carbon price stability in the EU and China
Authors: Boute Anatole , Zhang Hao
Published: March 2019

This paper critically questions the legal and economic foundation of price regulation in environmental markets, with a focus on the European Union (EU) and Chinese Emissions Trading Schemes (ETSs). In 2018, the EU adopted a structural reform of its own ETS with the objective of increasing and stabilising carbon prices. This reform raises fundamental questions concerning the free market nature of the ETS and its function as a driver of low‐carbon investments. On the one hand, regulatory adjustments are necessary to address the large surplus of allowances that can result from exogenous shocks (e.g. economic downturn). On the other hand, the risk of regulatory intervention in the market undermines investor certainty. In China, limited regulatory independence and more stringent government control over the market exacerbates the threat posed by price control measures to the integrity of China's ETS and its role as a driver of investments in environmental protection.
Attenuated total reflection Fourier‐transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy to diagnose osteoarthritis in equine serum
Authors: Paraskevaidi M. , Hook P. D. , Morais C. L. M. , Anderson J. R. , White R. , Martin‐Hirsch P. L. , Peffers M. J. , Martin F. L.
Published: March 2019

Background

Reliable and validated biomarkers for osteoarthritis (OA) are currently lacking.

Objectives

To develop an accurate and minimally invasive method to assessOA‐affected horses and provide potential spectral markers indicative of disease.

Study design

Observational, cross‐sectional study.

Methods

Our cohort consisted of 15 horses withOAand 48 without clinical signs of the disease, which were used as controls. Attenuated total reflection Fourier‐transform infrared (ATR‐FTIR) spectroscopy was used to investigate serum samples (50 μL) collected from these horses. Spectral processing and multivariate analysis revealed differences and similarities, allowing for detection of spectral biomarkers that discriminated between the two cohorts. A supervised classification algorithm, namely principal component analysis coupled with quadratic discriminant analysis (PCA‐QDA), was applied to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy.

Results

Segregation between the two different cohorts,OA‐affected and controls, was achieved with 100% sensitivity and specificity. The six most discriminatory peaks were attributed to proteins and lipids. Four of the spectral peaks were elevated inOAhorses, which could be potentially due to an increase in lipids, protein expression levels and collagen, all of which have been previously reported inOA. Two peaks were found decreased and were tentatively assigned to the reduction of proteoglycan content that is observed duringOA.

Main limitations

The control group had a wide range of ages and breeds. PresymptomaticOAcases were not included. Therefore, it remains unknown whether this test could also be used as an early diagnostic tool.

Conclusions

This spectrochemical approach could provide an accurate and cost‐effective blood test, facilitating point‐of‐care diagnosis of equineOA.
Pareto–Koopmans efficiency in two‐stage network data envelopment analysis in the presence of undesirable intermediate products and nondiscretionary factors
Authors: Maleki Samira , Ebrahimnejad Ali , Kazemi Matin Reza
Published: March 2019

Many studies have recently been conducted on the evaluation of system performance with a two‐stage network structure in data envelopment analysis (DEA) literature. One of the topics of interest to researchers has been the mitigation of undesirable products or nondiscretionary factors into their corresponding possible production set (PPS) and their impact on overall efficiency calculations. Determination of decision‐making units (DMUs) with Pareto–Koopmans efficiency status is decisive in identifying benchmark units. The calculated overall efficiency status is compromised when both undesirable products and nondiscretionary factors are present. This work utilizes an axiomatic approach. A novel PPS for a two‐stage network in presence of undesirable intermediate products and nondiscretionary exogenous inputs is introduced. Based on this PPS and by focusing on the principle of mathematical dominance, new models for evaluating overall and divisional efficiencies are presented. In addition, by proposing a two‐step network DEA approach, a necessary and sufficient condition for detection of DMUs with Pareto–Koopmans efficiency status is provided. And by introducing a two‐step algorithm, a novel technique for determining overall efficiency conditions is produced. Finally, the proposed technology is applied to a practical example, and outcomes are discussed.
Poleward shift in large‐river fish communities detected with a novel meta‐analysis framework
Authors: Maire Anthony , Thierry Eva , Viechtbauer Wolfgang , Daufresne Martin
Published: March 2019

Ongoing global changes are causing major ecological shifts worldwide. Biological trends need to be assessed over long periods of time to better understand past and current community responses.

The present study developed a methodological framework for meta‐analyses to be conducted that account for the temporal and spatial autocorrelation of observational data. We provided the R code for processing this framework, which enables temporal trends to be tested through the analysis of long‐term, spatially structured datasets. Taking both types of autocorrelation into account resulted in more conservative but arguably more reliable statistical outcomes.

This meta‐analysis framework was then applied to investigate long‐term trends in environmental and fish‐community time series in multiple stations in large French rivers over the past 4 decades.

General significant upward and downward trends were highlighted in water temperature and flow discharge, respectively, over the study period. Concomitantly, the density of numerous species increased, resulting in large increases in both species richness (about + 50%) and total fish abundance (approximately four‐fold), but with no significant trend in species evenness. Strong changes in species composition were observed during the study period, with an overall upward trend in the relative abundance of newcomers (i.e. species not sampled during the first years of the survey), while the trend in relative abundance of non‐native species was non‐significant. Moreover, the strongest signal underlying community changes was replacement of northern by southern species.

This study showed major changes in fish density and community structure in large rivers over the past 40 years and represents, to our knowledge, one of the first large‐scale actual demonstrations (i.e. based on observations rather than predictions) of an overall poleward shift of freshwater fish communities in response to ongoing global changes.
Winter hardiness of Miscanthus (III): Genome‐wide association and genomic prediction for overwintering ability in Miscanthus sinensis
Authors: Dong Hongxu , Clark Lindsay V. , Lipka Alexander E. , Brummer Joe E. , Głowacka Katarzyna , Hall Megan C. , Heo Kweon , Jin Xiaoli , Peng Junhua , Yamada Toshihiko , Ghimire Bimal Kumar , Yoo Ji Hye , Yu Chang Yeon , Zhao Hua , Long Stephen P. , Sacks Erik J.
Published: March 2019

Overwintering ability is an important selection criterion for Miscanthus breeding in temperate regions. Insufficient overwintering ability of the currently leading Miscanthus biomass cultivar, M. ×giganteus (M×g) ‘1993–1780', in regions where average annual minimum temperatures are −26.1°C (USDA hardiness zone 5) or lower poses a pressing need to develop new cultivars with superior cold tolerance. To facilitate breeding of Miscanthus, this study characterized phenotypic and genetic variation of overwintering ability in an M. sinensis germplasm panel consisting of 564 accessions, evaluated in field trials at three locations in North America and two in Asia. Genome‐wide association (GWA) and genomic prediction analyses were performed. The Korea/N China M. sinensis genetic group is a valuable gene pool for cold tolerance. The Yangtze‐Qinling, Southern Japan, and Northern Japan genetic groups were also potential sources of cold tolerance. A total of 73 marker–trait associations were detected for overwintering ability. Estimated breeding value for overwintering ability based on these 73 markers could explain 55% of the variation for first winter overwintering ability among M. sinensis. Average genomic prediction ability for overwintering ability across 50 fivefold cross‐validations was high (~0.73) after accounting for population structure. Common genomic regions for overwintering ability were detected by GWA analyses and a previous parallel QTL mapping study using three interconnected biparental F1 populations. One QTL on Miscanthus LG 8 encompassed five GWA hits and a known cold‐responsive gene, COR47. The other overwintering ability QTL on Miscanthus LG 11 contained two GWA hits and three known cold stress‐related genes, carboxylesterase 13 (CEX13), WRKY2 transcription factor, and cold shock domain (CSDP1). Miscanthus accessions collected from high latitude locations with cold winters had higher rates of overwintering, and more alleles for overwintering, than accessions collected from southern locations with mild winters.
A Lille model for predicting the response of severe alcoholic hepatitis to corticosteroid treatment in Japanese patients
Authors: Suzuki Yuji , Kakisaka Keisuke , Suzuki Akiko , Takahara Takeshi , Sasaki Tokio , Sato Takuro , Yonezawa Takehiro , Nitta Hiroyuki , Takikawa Yasuhiro
Published: March 2019

Aim

Corticosteroids are the most widely used agents for the treatment of severe alcoholic hepatitis (SAH). The therapeutic effectiveness of corticosteroids is assessed by the Lille model, which has been validated well in patient cohorts in North America and Europe; however, its usefulness has not yet been confirmed independently in Japanese patients. The present study aimed to determine whether the Lille model could predict the prognosis of SAH in Japanese patients.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study including 32 SAH patients who were admitted to our institute from April 2011 to February 2018. According to the previously validated Lille model cut‐off value, patients who received corticosteroids were classified as corticosteroid responders or non‐responders (with responders obtaining a Lille score ≥ 0.45), followed by assessment for the 6‐month prognosis.

Results

Out of 32 patients, 26 were treated with corticosteroids. The 28‐day and 6‐month mortality rates in the corticosteroid‐treated group were 23.1% and 46.2%, respectively. The median Lille score was significantly higher in patients who died or underwent liver transplantation (0.647) than in those who survived without undergoing transplantation (0.226; P < 0.0182). The 6‐month transplant‐free survival rate of non‐responders (Lille score ≥ 0.45) was significantly lower (27.3%; 95% confidence interval, 9.0–58.6%) than that of responders (Lille score < 0.45, 73.3%; 95% confidence interval, 46.7–90.0%; P = 0.0149, log–rank test).

Conclusions

The Lille score could be useful for predicting the 6‐month prognosis of Japanese SAH patients after corticosteroid therapy.
Zoo elephant research: contributions to conservation of captive and free‐ranging species
Authors: Bechert U. S. , Brown J. L. , Dierenfeld E. S. , Ling P. D. , Molter C. M. , Schulte B. A.
Published: March 2019

African elephantsLoxodonta africanaand Asian elephantsElephas maximusare not thriving in many captive settings and are threatened throughout their native ranges. Many zoos supportin situconservation projects and provide opportunities to conductex situresearch in controlled settings with comparably approachable animals. Zoo elephant projects may facilitate fieldwork with free‐ranging elephants (e.g. development of non‐invasive sampling and analytical tools), which may then also improve the husbandry of elephants in human care. Free‐ranging elephants also benefit from drug therapies and veterinary care when they are orphaned, kept as working elephants or brought in as rehabilitation cases – especially as human–elephant conflicts become more common as a result of ever‐expanding human populations. Much has been learned about the basic biology and husbandry needs of elephants but, often, the more we learn, the more questions arise. There are physiological differences between African and Asian elephants, and this should affect the management of these animals. This paper will provide brief overviews of the current state of knowledge regarding the pharmacology, nutrition, reproduction, sensory biology and diseases (primarily elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus infections) relevant to elephants with recommendations for future research.
Thermal expansion and heat capacity of Sm2ScTaO7 – A promising material for thermal barrier coatings
Authors: Gavrichev Konstantin S. , Shlyakhtina Anna V. , Khoroshilov Andrey V. , Tyurin Alexander V. , Ashmarin Artem A. , Konysheva Elena Yu.
Published: March 2019

The experimental results presented for Sm2ScTaO7 pyrochlore in this study, temperature dependence of heat capacity and retaining the pyrochlore structure with the temperature variation, as well as the constant value of the thermal expansion coefficient in a wide temperature range, can be considered as evidences for the absence of a previously reported phase transition in the high‐temperature region for this compound. This means that Sm2ScTaO7 pyrochlore is no doubt a promising material for thermal barrier coatings.
The association of calcium channel blockers with β‐cell function in type 2 diabetic patients: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Zhao Dong , Cao Yu , Yu Cai‐Guo , Yuan Sha‐Sha , Zhang Ning , Zhang Yuan‐Yuan , Staessen Jan A. , Feng Ying‐Mei
Published: March 2019

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients are often accompanied with hypertension. However, the association of antihypertensive drugs with β‐cell function has not been well studied. To investigate this question, the authors performed a cross‐sectional study involving 882 hypertensive T2DM patients. To assess β‐cell function, patients were given 75g glucose orally and C‐peptide levels before and 1, 2, and 3 hours after glucose intake were measured. Homa‐β was computed by Homeostasis Model Assessment model to evaluate β‐cell function using fasting C‐peptide and glucose levels in the plasma. Multivariable‐adjusted analysis was performed to evaluate the association of antihypertensive drugs with C‐peptide levels, HbA1c, and Homa‐β. Among 882 hypertensive patients, 547 (62.0%) received antihypertensive treatment. Multivariate‐adjusted analysis demonstrated that use of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) was negatively associated with HbA1c levels (CCBs: 0.95 [95% CI: 0.92‐0.98], P = 0.002). Our data further illustrated that the C‐peptide levels before and 1, 2, and 3 hours of OGTT were 1.10‐, 1.18‐, 1.19‐, and 1.15‐fold increase in T2DM patients taking CCBs (P = 0.084 for fasting C‐peptide levels; P ≤ 0.024 for C‐peptide levels at 1, 2, and 3 hours after OGTT) in comparison with non‐CCB users. Nevertheless, usage of any other antihypertensive drugs did neither associated with HbA1c nor associated with C‐peptide levels (P ≥ 0.11). In conclusion, CCB treatment was negatively associated with HbA1c levels but positively associated with β‐cell function in hypertensive T2DM patients, implying that CCBs could be considered to treat hypertensive T2DM patients with reduced β‐cell function.
New insights into a spectrum of developmental malformations related tomTORdysregulations: challenges and perspectives
Authors: Mühlebner A. , Bongaarts A. , Sarnat H. B. , Scholl T. , Aronica E.
Published: March 2019

In recent years the role of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway has emerged as crucial for normal cortical development. Therefore, it is not surprising that aberrant activation ofmTORis associated with developmental malformations and epileptogenesis. A broad spectrum of malformations of cortical development, such as focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), have been linked to either germline or somatic mutations inmTORpathway‐related genes, commonly summarised under the umbrella term ‘mTORopathies’. However, there are still a number of unanswered questions regarding the involvement ofmTORin the pathophysiology of these abnormalities. Therefore, a monogenetic disease, such asTSC, can be more easily applied as a model to study the mechanisms of epileptogenesis and identify potential new targets of therapy. Developmental neuropathology and genetics demonstrate thatFCD IIb and hemimegalencephaly are the same diseases. Constitutive activation ofmTORsignalling represents a shared pathogenic mechanism in a group of developmental malformations that have histopathological and clinical features in common, such as epilepsy, autism and other comorbidities. We seek to understand the effect ofmTORdysregulation in a developing cortex with the propensity to generate seizures as well as the aftermath of the surrounding environment, including the white matter.
The Role of Parents and Family Networks in Adolescent Health‐Seeking in Ethiopia
Authors: Lindstrom David P. , Liu Mao‐Mei , Jira Challi
Published: March 2019

Objective: This study examines the roles of parents, extended kin, and exchange networks in adolescent health‐seeking behavior in Ethiopia.

Background: Prior studies highlight the role of mothers in children's health, whereas fathers, extended kin, and other network partners remain largely unexamined. The gender intensification hypothesis suggests that adolescents gravitate toward same‐gender parents for advice and assistance with health‐related issues. A more expansive view of the hypothesis suggests that other same‐gender adults may also be important sources of support.

Method: Survey data were used from a random sample of 2,084 youth ages 13 to 17 collected in urban and rural communities in southwestern Ethiopia. Sources of advice, treatment, and accompaniment to get treatment were examined. Random intercept logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with receipt of formal health care.

Results: Fathers and mothers played an important role in all phases of adolescent health‐seeking behavior. Fathers' involvement was especially common in rural areas and more so with boys than girls. Extended kin and exchange networks also played a role and were even more important for boys in female‐headed households, suggesting that they may have substituted for absent fathers.

Conclusion: Adolescents rely heavily on parents and other adults for health advice and treatment. Who children go to for assistance is highly gendered, especially in rural areas.

Implications: Studies of adolescent health‐seeking and interventions designed to improve health services utilization need to recognize the important involvement of parents and other closely related adults in advising youth and accompanying them to get treatment.
Early high‐dose caffeine citrate for extremely preterm infants: Neonatal and neurodevelopmental outcomes
Authors: Firman Brooke , Molnar Attila , Gray Peter H
Published: March 2019

Aim

To examine neonatal morbidities, including the incidence of cerebellar haemorrhage (CBH), and neurodevelopmental outcomes following the administration of high loading dose caffeine citrate compared to standard loading dose caffeine citrate.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of 218 preterm infants <28 weeks’ gestation who received a loading dose of caffeine citrate within the first 36 h of life at the Mater Mothers' Hospital over a 3‐year period (2011–2013). Two groups were compared, with 158 neonates in the high‐dose cohort receiving a median dose of caffeine citrate of 80 mg/kg and 60 neonates in the standard dose cohort receiving a median dose of 20 mg/kg. Routine cranial ultrasound, including mastoid views, was performed during the neonatal period. At 2 years of age, infants presented for follow‐up and were assessed with the Neurosensory Motor Developmental Assessment (NSMDA) and the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development‐III (Bayley‐III).

Results

There was no difference in the incidence of neonatal morbidities, including CBH, between the two groups. The incidence of CBH in the high‐dose group was 2.5% compared to 1.7% in the standard‐dose group. There was no difference in the neurodevelopmental follow‐up scores as evaluated with the NSMDA and the Bayley‐III.

Conclusions

The use of early high loading dose caffeine citrate in extremely preterm infants was not shown to be associated with CBH or abnormal long‐term neurodevelopmental outcomes. The overall incidence of CBH, however, was much lower than in studies using magnetic resonance imaging techniques. It is suggested that a large randomised clinical trial is needed to determine the optimal dose of caffeine citrate when given early to very preterm infants.
Association of lung lesions measured by thoracic ultrasonography at first diagnosis of bronchopneumonia with relapse rate and growth performance in feedlot cattle
Authors: Timsit Edouard , Tison Nicolas , Booker Calvin W. , Buczinski Sébastien
Published: March 2019

Background

Severity of lung lesions quantified by thoracic ultrasonography (TUS) at time of bronchopneumonia (BP) diagnosis predicted death among steers not treated for this condition. Further research is needed to confirm that lung lesions detected by TUS can be associated with negative outcomes in cattle with BP that subsequently were treated.

Objective

To quantify the effects on relapse rate and average daily gain (ADG) of lung lesions detected by TUS at first BP diagnosis in feedlot cattle.

Animals

Prospective cohort of mixed beef‐breed steers (n = 93; 243 ± 36 kg) and heifers (n = 51; 227 ± 42 kg) with BP at 4 feedlots.

Methods

Thoracic ultrasonography was performed by the same clinician and 16‐second TUS videos were evaluated offline for maximal depth and area of lung consolidation, maximum number of comet tails, and maximal depth of pleural fluid. Individual ADG was calculated between 1 and 120 days after arrival. Effects of lesions on relapse rate and ADG were investigated using mixed regression models.

Results

Maximal depth of lung consolidation was associated with a higher risk of relapse (odds ratio [OR], 1.337/cm; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.042‐1.714) and lower ADG (− 34 g/cm; −64 to −4). Maximal area of lung consolidation also was associated with a higher relapse risk (OR, 1.052/cm2; 1.009‐1.097) but not with ADG. Comet tails and pleural fluid were not associated with risk of relapse or ADG.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Quantifying maximal depth and area of lung consolidation by TUS at first BP diagnosis can provide useful prognostic information in feedlot cattle.
The combined effects of an extreme heatwave and wildfire on tallgrass prairie vegetation
Authors: Ratajczak Zak , Churchill Amber C. , Ladwig Laura M. , Taylor Jeff H. , Collins Scott L.
Published: March 2019

Questions

Climate extremes are predicted to become more common in many ecosystems. Climate extremes can promote and interact with disturbances, but the combined effects of climate extremes and disturbances have not been quantified in many ecosystems. In this study, we ask whether the dual impact of a climate extreme and concomitant disturbance (wildfire) has a greater affect than a climate extreme alone.

Location

Tallgrass prairie in the Konza Prairie Biological Station, northeastern Kansas, USA.

Methods

We quantified the response of a tallgrass prairie plant community to a 2‐year climate extreme of low growing‐season precipitation and high temperatures. In the first year of the climate extreme, a subset of plots was burned by a growing‐season wildfire. This natural experiment allowed us to compare community responses to a climate extreme with and without wildfire.

Results

In plots exposed to the climate extreme but not wildfire, community structure, diversity, and composition showed minor to insignificant changes, such as a 20% reduction in grass cover and a slight increase in species diversity. Plots exposed to both the climate extreme and wildfire underwent larger changes, including an 80% reduction in grass cover, 50% increase in forb cover, and increased plant diversity. Two years after the climate extreme, structural shifts in burned plots showed little sign of recovery, indicating a potentially lasting shift in plant community structure.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that community responses to climate extremes need to account for climate‐related disturbances — in this case, high temperatures, drought and wildfire. This response diverged from our expectation that heat, drought, and an additional fire would favor grasses. Although growing‐season wildfires in tallgrass prairie have been rare in recent decades, they will likely become more common with climate change, potentially leading to changes in grassland structure.
Paclitaxel‐coated balloon in the treatment of recurrent dysfunctional arteriovenous access, real‐world experience and longitudinal follow up
Authors: Phang Chee Chin , Tan Ru Yu , Pang Suh Chien , Tan Chee Wooi , Teh Swee Ping , Cheng Rui‐Wern , Kho Yu Xuan , Chong Tze Tec , Gogna Apoorva , Foo Wai Yin , Tan Chieh Suai
Published: March 2019

Aim

Dysfunctional arteriovenous (AV) access remains a significant cause of morbidity and hospital admission for patients with end stage renal failure on haemodialysis. This study was performed to evaluate the impact of paclitaxel‐coated Balloon (PCB) on the patency of AV access with recurrent stenoses.

Methods

We retrospectively studied haemodialysis patients who presented to our centre with recurrent AV access dysfunction and compared intervention‐free patency using plain balloon versus PCB.

Results

A total of 147 patients were followed up longitudinally. Intervention‐free patency was better following PCB compared to previous intervention using plain balloons (6.4 ± 5.8 versus 4.0 ± 3.7, P < 0.01). The 3‐ and 6‐month patency rates after PCB were significantly better compared to standard plain angioplasty balloon: 69.4% versus 52.4%, P < 0.01 and 42.9% versus 15.6%, P < 0.01 respectively. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis of circuit patency demonstrated the superiority of PCB over plain balloon angioplasty in both arteriovenous fistula and arteriovenous graft (P < 0.01 and P = 0.01 respectively) although the patency of arteriovenous fistula remained significantly better than arteriovenous graft following interventions with PCB (P < 0.01). Age of AV access and the number of previous interventions were found to be significant predictors of patency following PCB intervention.

Conclusion

Arteriovenous access intervention with PCB was shown to be superior compared to plain balloon in the treatment of both non‐thrombosed and thrombosed AV accesses in our multi‐ethnic population.
Development and validation of the 22‐item Tarumi's Modern‐Type Depression Trait Scale: Avoidance of Social Roles, Complaint, and Low Self‐Esteem (TACS‐22)
Authors: Kato Takahiro A. , Katsuki Ryoko , Kubo Hiroaki , Shimokawa Norihiro , Sato‐Kasai Mina , Hayakawa Kohei , Kuwano Nobuki , Umene‐Nakano Wakako , Tateno Masaru , Setoyama Daiki , Kang Dongchon , Watabe Motoki , Sakamoto Shinji , Teo Alan R. , Kanba Shigenobu
Published: March 2019

Aim

Understanding premorbid personality is important, especially when considering treatment selection. Historically, the premorbid personality of patients with major depression in Japan was described asShuchaku‐kishitsu[similar to Typus melancholicus], as proposed by Shimoda in the 1930s. Since around 2000, there have been increased reports in Japan of young adults with depression who have had premorbid personality differing from the traditional type. In 2005, Tarumi termed this novel condition ‘dysthymic‐type depression,’ and more recently the condition has been calledShin‐gata/Gendai‐gata Utsu‐byo[modern‐type depression (MTD)]. We recently developed a semi‐structured diagnostic interview to evaluate MTD. Development of a tool that enables understanding of premorbid personality in a short time, especially at the early stage of treatment, is desirable. The object of this study was to develop a self‐report scale to evaluate the traits of MTD, and to assess the scale's psychometric properties, diagnostic accuracy, and biological validity.

Methods

A sample of 340 participants from clinical and community settings completed measures. Psychometric properties were assessed with factor analysis. Diagnostic accuracy of the MTD traits was compared against a semi‐structured interview.

Results

The questionnaire contained 22 items across three subscales, thus we termed it the 22‐item Tarumi's Modern‐Type Depression Trait Scale: Avoidance of Social Roles, Complaint, and Low Self‐Esteem (TACS‐22). Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and convergent validity were all satisfactory. Among patients with major depression, the area under the curve was 0.757 (sensitivity of 63.1% and specificity of 82.9%) and the score was positively correlated with plasma tryptophan.

Conclusion

The TACS‐22 possessed adequate psychometric properties and diagnostic accuracy in an initial sample of Japanese adults. Additional research on its ability to support clinical assessment of MTD is warranted.
Development of hemolytic paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria without graft loss following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for acquired aplastic anemia
Authors: Oved Joseph H. , Stanley Natasha , Babushok Daria V. , Huang Yanping , Duke Jamie L. , Monos Dimitrios S. , Teachey David T. , Olson Timothy S.
Published: March 2019

PNH is the most common clonal hematopoietic disorder arising in patients with aAA. PNH is caused by mutations in PIGA, a gene that encodes the catalytic subunit of an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of GPI anchors, transmembrane glycolipids required for cell surface expression of many proteins. PNH clones likely arise as immune escape mechanisms in aAA by preventing CD1D‐restricted T‐cell recognition of GPI anchors and GPI‐linked autoantigens. Though many patients with aAA treated with IST will develop subclinical PNH clones, only a subset will develop PNH disease, characterized by increased thrombosis, intravascular hemolysis, and potential for severe organ dysfunction. In contrast to IST, allogeneic HSCT for patients with aAA is thought to cure bone marrow aplasia and prevent hematopoietic clonal evolution to PNH. Herein, we present a phenomenon of host‐derived PNH disease arising in a patient with aAA many years following MSD‐BMT, highlighting the importance of monitoring for this clonal disease in aAA patients with stable mixed donor/recipient chimerism after HSCT. We also provide a literature review for similar occurrences of PNH arising after HSCT.
Moral Character and the Significance of Action: Judging Dmitri Karamazov
Authors: Pacovská Kamila
Published: March 2019

The paper considers the problematic relation between a person and her action as it is expressed in the problem of blame and moral judgement. I argue that blaming someone for her action does affect our moral judgement of her, but does not imply condemnation of her moral character. I use the example of Dmitri Karamazov to show that a response to a particular situation, although shaped by the previous character of the person, does not follow from it and can in turn affect and change the person's character by changing the way in which she perceives what is valuable.
Overexpression of CD 133 and BCL‐2 in non‐small cell lung cancer with neuroendocrine differentiation after transformation in ALK rearrangement‐positive adenocarcinoma
Authors: Koyama Kiyoko , Katsurada Naoko , Jimbo Naoe , Tachihara Motoko , Tamura Daisuke , Nakata Kyosuke , Nagano Tatsuya , Yamamoto Masatsugu , Kamiryo Hiroshi , Kobayashi Kazuyuki , Itoh Tomoo , Nishimura Yoshihiro
Published: March 2019

Transformation to small cell lung cancer is one phenomenon of acquired resistance to anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) tyrosine kinase inhibitors in ALK rearrangement‐positive non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Few case reports have focused on other types of histological transformation. We report a case of transformation of ALK rearrangement‐positive adenocarcinoma to NSCLC with neuroendocrine differentiation during alectinib therapy. A 36‐year‐old woman presented with a tumor in the left lower lobe and bone metastases. She was diagnosed with ALK rearrangement‐positive adenocarcinoma by histopathology of the primary tumor. Alectinib had been effective for 8 months before new lesions appeared. Histopathological re‐examination of a recurrent tumor revealed poorly differentiated carcinoma with insulinoma‐associated protein 1 (INSM1) expression, which remained ALK‐positive. Expression of CD133, BCL‐2, and SOX2 was positive in comparison to the initial tumor. Expression of SOX2 became more strongly positive than it was before treatment. The immunohistochemical findings of these markers associated with cancer stem‐like cells and/or neuroendocrine differentiation suggest that cancer stem cells play a role in the mechanisms of histological transformation and acquired resistance of ALK rearrangement‐positive cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first report to suggest an association between cancer stem‐like cells and histological transformation in ALK rearrangement‐positive lung cancer.
Policy Entrepreneurs, Legislators, and Agenda Setting: Information and Influence
Authors: Anderson Sarah E. , DeLeo Rob A. , Taylor Kristin
Published: March 2019

Policy entrepreneurs are thought to be instrumental in agenda change, yet we lack knowledge of how legislators perceive their role in the agenda formation process. Using data from a national survey of state legislators, we examine whether entrepreneurs shape the legislative agenda on disaster preparedness and relief, which types of entrepreneurs are most influential, and what strategies they use in their interactions with legislators. The results indicate that legislators who report contact with policy entrepreneurs are more likely to have introduced related legislation, evidence of the important link between entrepreneurs and policy change. While entrepreneurs utilize a variety of different strategies, the analysis reveals policymakers are particularly receptive to entrepreneurs who provide new and reliable information. This finding suggests the influence of entrepreneurs lies not only in their ability to define problems and build coalitions, but also in their distinctive ability to provide information to elected officials, an important role that has largely been overlooked by existing literature.