bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
BARTONELLA HENSELAE NEURORETINITIS ASSOCIATED WITH CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION, CHOROIDAL ISCHEMIA, AND ISCHEMIC OPTIC NEUROPATHY
Authors: Ghadiali Quraish , Ghadiali Larissa K. , Yannuzzi Lawrence A.
Published: July 2017

Purpose:

We describe a healthy 37-year-old man with Bartonella henselae (B. henselae) neuroretinitis with concurrent central retinal vein occlusion and ischemic optic neuropathy resulting in optic atrophy and choroidal ischemia.

Methods:

Case report.

Results:

A 37-year-old man presented with unilateral decreased vision and a fundus examination consistent with neuroretinitis. Further imaging review supported a concurrent diagnosis of central retinal vein occlusion. Although initially negative, repeat serological testing for B. henselae infection was positive. Multimodal imaging displayed severe outer retinal disruption, ischemic optic neuropathy, and choroidal ischemia. The patient demonstrated near complete resolution of fundus findings and restoration of outer retinal architecture. Residual findings included optic disk pallor and ischemic choroidopathy.

Discussion:

B. henselae neuroretinitis may be associated with concurrent retinal vascular occlusive disease and ischemic optic neuropathy. Central retinal vein occlusion and choroidal ischemia leading to optic nerve atrophy are additional sequelae further expanding the clinical spectrum of this entity.
Fibromyxoma of the Tarsus: A Case Report
Authors: Lee Yeon Hee , Kim Ju Mi , Kim Jin-Man , Lee Sung Bok
Published: July 2017

A 61-year-old woman presented with a slow-growing mass on the right upper eyelid. The hard, fixed, and nontender mass was apparent on the right upper eyelid. It was immobile, and it seemed to be adhered to the tarsus. Total excision of the mass was performed. A histopathological examination revealed a solid mass with fibrous and myxoid areas with scattered spindle- to stellate-shaped cells in a fibromyxoid matrix. The immunochemistry examination stained positively for CD34 and CD99. Based on these findings, the lesion was diagnosed as a tarsal fibromyxoma. Although rare, a fibromyxoma originating from the tarsus should be considered in the differential diagnosis of solid tarsal lesions.
Treatment of Pediatric IgG4-Related Orbital Disease With TNF-α Inhibitor
Authors: Jalaj Sanjai , Dunbar Kristen , Campbell Ashley , Kazim Michael
Published: July 2017

The authors describe a 9-year-old female who presented with swelling, proptosis, and tenderness of the right upper eyelid and MRI imaging demonstrating right lacrimal gland enlargement. After failing treatment with corticosteroids, the patient underwent a biopsy that was consistent with IgG4-related orbital disease. She was subsequently successfully treated with adalimumab (TNF-α inhibitor). This is the first case report of the successful use of a TNF-α inhibitor for the treatment of IgG4-related orbital disease in a child.
A Case of Verrucous Psoriasis
Authors: Sergeyenko Artem , Clay Tiffany , Guo Aibing Mary
Published: July 2017

Psoriasis is a common, complex immune-mediated disease that may present with several clinical variants. Some of these variants include plaque-type psoriasis vulgaris and pustular, erythrodermic, and guttate psoriasis. We are presenting a case of the verrucous variant, a rare atypical presentation of psoriasis.
Ulcerations on the Hands and Fingers
Authors: Agnetta Vlatka , Jacob Sharon E.
Published: July 2017

Teledermatology is a term to describe the provision of dermatologic medical services through telecommunication technology. This is a teledermatology case of ulcerations on the hands and fingers.
Can Preoperative CT Scans Be Used to Predict Facial Nerve Stimulation Following CI?
Authors: Hatch Jonathan L. , Rizk Habib G. , Moore Michael W. , Camposeo Elizabeth E. , Nguyen Shaun A. , Lambert Paul R. , Meyer Ted A. , McRackan Theodore R.
Published: July 2017

Objectives:

1) To determine the ability of preoperative computed tomography (CT) to predict facial nerve stimulation (FNS) after cochlear implantation (CI). 2) To recognize the limitations of CT in predicting FNS.

Study Design:

Patient control study.

Setting:

Tertiary care academic medical center.

Subjects:

Adult patients with CI from 2003 to 2015.

Methods:

Patients with severe FNS (n = 4) were compared with randomly selected CI patients (n = 28). Three blinded reviewers evaluated preoperative temporal bone CT scans to measure the distance from the labyrinthine segment of the facial nerve to the basal turn of the cochlea and attempted to predict whether or not the subject had FNS after CI.

Results:

In total, 32 CT scans were evaluated representing 49 ears that underwent CI.

The distances (mm) measured from the labyrinthine segment of the facial nerve to the basal turn of the cochlea in both the axial (0.3 ± 0.3 versus 0.6 ± 0.3) and coronal (0.4 ± 0.2 versus 0.6 ± 0.2) orientation were significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0034) respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient demonstrated good (K 
> 0.7) reviewer correlation in both the reviewers’ measurements and predictions. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for preoperative CT scans to predict FNS were 38.5, 85.1, 19.2, and 93.8% respectively. The reviewers were 23% accurate in predicting FNS.

Conclusion:

Based on a blinded retrospective patient-control study, CT scan measurements show a significantly reduced distance between the labyrinthine facial nerve and the basal turn of the cochlea in patients with FNS. However, it is difficult to predict who will have FNS based on these measurements.
Activities in a social networking-based discussion group by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography doctors
Authors: Kang Xiaoyu , Zhao Lina , Liu Na , Wang Xiangping , Zhang Rongchun , Liu Zhiguo , Liang Shuhui , Yao Shaowei , Tao Qin , Jia Hui , Pan Yanglin , Guo Xuegang
Published: July 2017

Background

Online social networking is increasingly being used among medical practitioners. However, few studies have evaluated its use in therapeutic endoscopy. Here, we aimed to analyze the shared topics and activities of a group of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) doctors in a social networking-based endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography discussion group (EDG).

Materials and methods

Six ERCP trainers working in Xijing Hospital and 48 graduated endoscopists who had finished ERCP training in the same hospital were invited to join in EDG. All group members were informed not to divulge any private information of patients when using EDG. The activities of group members on EDG were retrospectively extracted. The individual data of the graduated endoscopists were collected by a questionnaire.

Results

From June 2014 to May 2015, 6924 messages were posted on EDG, half of which were ERCP related. In total, 214 ERCP-related topics were shared, which could be categorized into three types: sharing experience/cases (52.3%), asking questions (38.3%), and sharing literatures/advances (9.3%). Among the 48 graduated endoscopists, 21 had a low case volume of less than 50 per year and 27 had a high volume case volume of 50 or more. High-volume graduated endoscopists posted more ERCP-related messages (P=0.008) and shared more discussion topics (P=0.003) compared with low-volume graduated endoscopists. A survey showed that EDG was useful for graduated endoscopists in ERCP performance and management of post-ERCP complications, etc.

Conclusion

A wide range of ERCP-related topics were shared on the social networking-based EDG. The ERCP-related behaviors on EDG were more active in graduated endoscopists with an ERCP case volume of more than 50 per year.
Electrical stimulation therapy for dysphagia: a follow-up survey of USA dysphagia practitioners
Authors: Barikroo Ali , Carnaby Giselle , Crary Michael
Published: July 2017

The aim of this study was to compare current application, practice patterns, clinical outcomes, and professional attitudes of dysphagia practitioners regarding electrical stimulation (e-stim) therapy with similar data obtained in 2005. A web-based survey was posted on the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Special Interest Group 13 webpage for 1 month. A total of 271 survey responses were analyzed and descriptively compared with the archived responses from the 2005 survey. Results suggested that e-stim application increased by 47% among dysphagia practitioners over the last 10 years. The frequency of weekly e-stim therapy sessions decreased while the reported total number of treatment sessions increased between the two surveys. Advancement in oral diet was the most commonly reported improvement in both surveys. Overall, reported satisfaction levels of clinicians and patients regarding e-stim therapy decreased. Still, the majority of e-stim practitioners continue to recommend this treatment modality to other dysphagia practitioners. Results from the novel items in the current survey suggested that motor level e-stim (e.g. higher amplitude) is most commonly used during dysphagia therapy with no preferred electrode placement. Furthermore, the majority of clinicians reported high levels of self-confidence regarding their ability to perform e-stim. The results of this survey highlight ongoing changes in application, practice patterns, clinical outcomes, and professional attitudes associated with e-stim therapy among dysphagia practitioners.
The Use of Multistate Models to Examine Associations of Stress and Adherence With Transitions Among HIV Care States Observed in a Clinical HIV Cohort
Authors: Blitz Sandra , Antoniou Tony , Burchell Ann , Walmsley Sharon , Light Lucia , Gardner Sandra , Rourke Sean , Cooper Curtis , Kendall Claire , Loutfy Mona , Rachlis Anita , Wobeser Wendy , Benoit Anita , Raboud Janet ,   on behalf of the OHTN Cohort Study Team
Published: July 2017

Background:

The “cascade of care” is a framework for quantifying the trajectory of people with HIV along the continuum of HIV care. We extended this framework to recognize that individuals may transition back and forth between states of care and to identify factors associated with movement among states of care over time, with particular focus on stress, depression, and adherence.

Methods:

The Ontario HIV Treatment Network Cohort Study is a multisite HIV clinical cohort. We analyzed data from participants who had initiated antiretroviral therapy, achieved virologic suppression, completed ≥1 study questionnaire including psychosocial data, and had ≥1 viral load (VL) result within 2 years of a questionnaire. Follow-up time from the first suppressed VL was divided into 6-month intervals and classified into 1 of 3 states for HIV care retention: (1)
suppressed VL
(VL <50 copies/mL), (2)
unsuppressed VL
(VL >50 copies/mL), and (3)
unobserved
. Multistate models were used to determine the association of transitioning between states and time-updated demographic and clinical characteristics.

Results:

In total, 1842 participants were included. After multivariable adjustment, poor adherence [hazard ratio (HR) 1.88, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19 to 2.98) and stress (HR = 1.38; 95% CI: 1.04 to 1.83) were associated with transitions from suppressed to unsuppressed VL. Similarly, low adherence (HR = 1.52; 95% CI: 1.14 to 2.04) and stress (HR = 1.25; 95%: 1.03, 1.51) were associated with transitions from suppressed to unobserved states.

Conclusions:

Higher levels of stress and low adherence are associated with transitions to less favorable states of care. Interventions to manage stress and facilitate adherence may improve engagement in HIV care.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Psoriatic Arthritis
Authors: Maldonado-Ficco Hernán , Sheane Barry J. , Thavaneswaran Arane , Chandran Vinod , Gladman Dafna D.
Published: July 2017

Objective

The aims of this study were to describe the indications for, and features of, axial/peripheral joint magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and to examine the influence of MRI findings on clinical practice.

Methods

All axial and peripheral (hand and/or foot) MRI scans on patients attending the Toronto PsA clinic l between 2003 and 2014 were included. Scan details were garnered from the radiologist’s official report. A chart review was performed to determine if MRI findings contributed to a change of treatment.

Results

One hundred sixty-eight scans were performed on 125 patients (135 axial and 33 peripheral). The mean age was 50.5 (SD, 11.5) years, with 51.2% being female. Mean duration of PsA was 11.2 (SD, 10.9) years. Of the axial scans, the majority were performed on the whole spine (excluding the sacrum) (27.4%) or the sacroiliac joints and spine together (45.2%). The predominant indications were for suspected inflammatory (51.1%) or degenerative (24.4%) disease. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed inflammatory and/or structural change in 34.1% versus 54.8% with degenerative changes. In MRI axial inflammation (n = 25), the majority (48%) had sacroiliac joint involvement, whereas 28% had inflammation at 2 or more sites.

Of the periphery, 60.6% of scans were on hands and 21.2% were on feet alone. The main indications were for suspected subclinical synovitis (78.8%). Inflammatory arthritis was the MRI diagnosis in 72.7%. Magnetic resonance imaging findings influenced treatment change (n = 32) in 56.3%, but were insufficient to effect treatment change without clinical findings (100%).

Conclusions

Magnetic resonance imaging is useful in evaluating patients with active PsA, particularly when suspecting inflammation and radiographic findings are unhelpful. In some cases, it can be used as an adjunct to clinical examination in determining treatment change.
Multi-fractal characterization of bacterial swimming dynamics: a case study on real and simulatedSerratia marcescens
Authors: Koorehdavoudi Hana , Bogdan Paul , Wei Guopeng , Marculescu Radu , Zhuang Jiang , Carlsen Rika Wright , Sitti Metin
Published: July 2017

To add to the current state of knowledge about bacterial swimming dynamics, in this paper, we study the fractal swimming dynamics of populations ofSerratia marcescensbacteria bothin vitroandin silico, while accounting for realistic conditions like volume exclusion, chemical interactions, obstacles and distribution of chemoattractant in the environment. While previous research has shown that bacterial motion is non-ergodic, we demonstrate that, besides the non-ergodicity, the bacterial swimming dynamics is multi-fractal in nature. Finally, we demonstrate that the multi-fractal characteristic of bacterial dynamics is strongly affected by bacterial density and chemoattractant concentration.
Non-goal-directed recall of specific events in apes after long delays
Authors: Lewis Amy , Call Josep , Berntsen Dorthe
Published: July 2017

We examined if apes spontaneously remember one-time, distinctive events across long delays when probed by discriminant cues. Apes witnessed an experimenter hide a cache of food, which they could then retrieve. They retrieved one of two food types; one more distinctive than the other. Two, 10 or 50 weeks later, the apes returned to the same enclosure and found a piece of the previously hidden food on the ground. An experimenter who had not hidden the food was also present. Apes immediately searched the location where the food was previously hidden (no food was here), showing recall of the event. One week later, apes returned to the same enclosure, with the same food on the ground, but now the experimenter that had hidden the food was present. Again, apes immediately searched the hiding location. Apes that had not witnessed the hiding event did not search. There was no significant effect of food type, and retention declined from exposure to the two-week delay, then levelled, consistent with the forgetting curve in humans (Ebbinghaus, H. 1964 Memory: a contribution to experimental psychology (transl. H.A. Ruger & C.E. Bussenvis). New York, NY: Dover. (Original work published 1885.)). This is the first study to show apes can recall a one-time, non-goal-directed event longer than two weeks ago and that apes' recall declines in accordance with a standard retention function.
Specificity in diversity: single origin of a widespread ciliate-bacteria symbiosis
Authors: Seah Brandon K. B. , Schwaha Thomas , Volland Jean-Marie , Huettel Bruno , Dubilier Nicole , Gruber-Vodicka Harald R.
Published: July 2017

Symbioses between eukaryotes and sulfur-oxidizing (thiotrophic) bacteria have convergently evolved multiple times. Although well described in at least eight classes of metazoan animals, almost nothing is known about the evolution of thiotrophic symbioses in microbial eukaryotes (protists). In this study, we characterized the symbioses between mouthless marine ciliates of the genusKentrophoros, and their thiotrophic bacteria, using comparative sequence analysis and fluorescencein situhybridization. Ciliate small-subunit rRNA sequences were obtained from 17 morphospecies collected in the Mediterranean and Caribbean, and symbiont sequences from 13 of these morphospecies. We discovered a newKentrophorosmorphotype where the symbiont-bearing surface is folded into pouch-like compartments, illustrating the variability of the basic body plan. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that all investigatedKentrophorosbelonged to a single clade, despite the remarkable morphological diversity of these hosts. The symbionts were also monophyletic and belonged to a new clade within the Gammaproteobacteria, with no known cultured representatives. Each host morphospecies had a distinct symbiont phylotype, and statistical analyses revealed significant support for host–symbiont codiversification. Given that these symbioses were collected from two widely separated oceans, our results indicate that symbiotic associations in unicellular hosts can be highly specific and stable over long periods of evolutionary time.
DIscrete Dynamical Model of Mechanisms Determining the Relations of Biodiversity and Stability at Different Levels of Organization of Living Matter
Authors: Bespalov Yu. G , Nosov K. V. , Kabalyants P. S.
Published: July 2017

The paper aims at building the model of relations of biodiversity and stability at different levels of organization of living matter with the use of discrete dynamical models. The relations revealed in the study are illustrated by case studies of zooplankton community of the eutrophicated lake and the colorimetric parameters of the microalgae community of phytobenthos and phytoperiphyton. The results offer: (1) new approaches to estimating the risk of mass development of toxic cyanobacteria in eutrophicated reservoirs, and (2) new indicators for unmasking animals with protective coloring on the background of plant communities by image processing of digital photos.
Personalized intrinsic network topography mapping and functional connectivity deficits in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Dickie Erin W. , Ameis Stephanie H. , Viviano Joseph D. , Smith Dawn E. , Calarco Navona , Shahab Saba , Voineskos Aristotle N.
Published: July 2017

Background

Recent advances demonstrate individually specific variation in brain architecture in healthy individuals using fMRI data. To our knowledge, the effects of individually specific variation in complex brain disorders have not been previously reported.

Methods

We developed a novel approach (Personalized Intrinsic Network topography, PINT) for localizing individually specific resting state networks using conventional resting state fMRI scans. Using cross-sectional data from participants with ASD (n=393) and TD controls (n=496) across 15 sites we tested: 1) effect of diagnosis and age on the variability of intrinsic network locations and 2) whether prior findings of functional connectivity differences in ASD as compared to TD remain after PINT application.

Results

We found greater variability in the spatial locations of resting state networks within individuals with ASD as compared to TD. In TD participants, variability decreased from childhood into adulthood, and increased again in late-life, following a ‘U-shaped’ pattern, which was not present in those with ASD. Comparison of intrinsic connectivity between groups revealed that the application of PINT decreased the number of hypo-connected regions in ASD.

Conclusions

Our results provide a new framework for measuring altered brain functioning in neurodevelopmental disorders that may have implications for tracking developmental course, phenotypic heterogeneity, and ultimately treatment response. We underscore the importance of accounting for individual variation in the study of complex brain disorders.
Cell shape regulates subcellular organelle location to control early Ca2+signal dynamics in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells
Authors: Calizo R. C. , Bell M. K. , Ron A. , Hu M. , Bhattacharya S. , Wong N. J. , Janssen W.G.M. , Perumal G. , Pederson P. , Scarlata S. , Hone J. , Azeloglu E. U. , Rangamani P. , Iyengar R.
Published: July 2017

The shape of the cell is connected to its function; however, we do not fully understand underlying mechanisms by which global shape regulates a cell’s functional capabilities. Using theory, experiments and simulation, we investigated how physiologically relevant cell shape changes affect subcellular organization, and consequently intracellular signaling, to control information flow needed for phenotypic function. Vascular smooth muscle cells going from a proliferative and motile circular shape to a contractile fusiform shape show changes in the location of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, inter-organelle distances and differential distribution of receptors in the plasma membrane. These factors together lead to the modulation of signals transduced by the M3muscarinic receptor/Gq/PLCβ pathway at the plasma membrane, amplifying Ca2+dynamics in the cytoplasm and the nucleus resulting in phenotypic changes, as determined by increased activity of myosin light chain kinase in the cytoplasm and enhanced nuclear localization of the transcription factor NFAT. Taken together, our observations show a systems level phenomenon whereby global cell shape affects subcellular organization to modulate signaling that enables phenotypic changes.
Flat-to-curved transition during clathrin-mediated endocytosis correlates with a change in clathrin-adaptor ratio and is regulated by membrane tension
Authors: Bucher Delia , Frey Felix , Sochacki Kem A. , Kummer Susann , Bergeest Jan-Philip , Godinez William J. , Kräusslich Hans-Georg , Rohr Karl , Taraska Justin W. , Schwarz Ulrich S. , Boulant Steeve
Published: July 2017

Although essential for many cellular processes, the sequence of structural and molecular events during clathrin-mediated endocytosis remains elusive. While it was believed that clathrin-coated pits grow with a constant curvature, it was recently suggested that clathrin first assembles to form a flat structure and then bends while maintaining a constant surface area. Here, we combine correlative electron and light microscopy and mathematical modelling to quantify the sequence of ultrastructural rearrangements of the clathrin coat during endocytosis in mammalian cells. We confirm that clathrin-coated structures can initially grow flat and that lattice curvature does not show a direct correlation with clathrin coat assembly. We demonstrate that curvature begins when 70% of the final clathrin content is acquired. We find that this transition is marked by a change in the clathrin to clathrin-adaptor protein AP2 ratio and that membrane tension suppresses this transition. Our results support the model that mammalian cells dynamically regulate the flat-to-curved transition in clathrin-mediated endocytosis by both biochemical and mechanical factors.
Methyl donor deficient diets cause distinct alterations in lipid metabolism but are poorly representative of human NAFLD
Authors: Lyall Marcus J , Cartier Jessy , Richards James A , Cobice Diego , Thomson John P , Meehan Richard R , Anderton Stephen M , Drake Amanda J
Published: July 2017

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global health issue. Dietary methyl donor restriction is used to induce a NAFLD/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) phenotype in rodents, however the extent to which this model reflects human NAFLD remains incompletely understood. To address this, we undertook hepatic transcriptional profiling of methyl donor restricted rodents and compared these to published human NAFLD datasets.

Adult C57BL/6J mice were maintained on control, choline deficient (CDD) or methionine/choline deficient (MCDD) diets for four weeks; the effects on methyl donor and lipid biology were investigated by bioinformatic analysis of hepatic gene expression profiles followed by a cross-species comparison with human expression data of all stages of NAFLD.

Compared to controls, expression of the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) packaging carboxylesterases (Ces1d,Ces1f,Ces3b) and the NAFLD risk allelePnpla3were suppressed in MCDD; withPnpla3and the liver predominantCesisoform,Ces3b, also suppressed in CDD. With respect to 1-carbon metabolism, down-regulation ofChka,Chkb,Pcty1a,GnmtandAhcywith concurrent upregulation ofMat2asuggests a drive to maintain S-adenosylmethionine levels. There was minimal similarity between global gene expression patterns in either dietary intervention and any stage of human NAFLD, however some common transcriptomic changes in inflammatory, fibrotic and proliferative mediators were identified in MCDD, NASH and HCC.

In conclusion, this study suggests suppression of VLDL assembly machinery may contribute to hepatic lipid accumulation in these models, but that CDD and MCDD rodent diets are minimally representative of human NAFLD at the transcriptional level.

Summary statement

We used transcriptional profiling of methyl donor restricted rodents to examine effects on methyl donor and lipid biology. We report novel mechanisms for lipid accumulation in this model and describe significant disparity between both dietary interventions and human disease.
The effect of depth variation on disparity tasks in natural scenes
Authors: Iyer Arvind V. , Burge Johannes
Published: July 2017

Local depth variation is a distinctive property of natural scenes and its effects on perception have only recently begun to be investigated. Here, we demonstrate how natural depth variation impacts performance in two fundamental tasks related to stereopsis: half-occlusion detection and disparity detection. We report the results of a computational study that uses a large database of calibrated natural stereo-images with precisely co-registered laser-based distance measurements. First, we develop a procedure for precisely sampling stereo-image patches from the stereo-images, based on the distance measurements. The local depth variation in each stereo-image patch is quantified by disparity contrast. Next, we show that increased disparity contrast degrades performance in half-occlusion detection and disparity detection tasks, and changes the size and shape of the optimal spatial integration areas (“receptive fields”) for computing the task-relevant decision variables. Then, we show that a simple binocular image statistic predicts disparity contrast in natural scenes. Finally, we report results on the most likely patterns of disparity variation in natural scenes. Our findings motivate computational and psychophysical investigations of the mechanisms that underlie disparity estimation in local regions of natural scenes.
5,6-Dimethyl-2-[(5-methyl-1,2-oxazol-3-yl)methyl]-1-(prop-2-en-1-yl)-1H-1,3-benzodiazole
Authors: Benyahya Mohamed Ali , El Azzaoui Brahim , Sebbar Nada Kheira , Ouzidan Younes , Essassi El Mokhtar , Mague Joel T.
Published: July 2017

In the title compound, C17H19N3O, the benzodiazole moiety is twisted slightly end-to-end. In the crystal, two sets of weak C—H...N hydrogen bonds form sheets approximately parallel to (100), which are formed into bilayers by pairwise C—H...π(ring) interactions.
Methyl 5-methylpyrazine-2-carboxylate
Authors: Rillema D. Paul , KomReddy Venugopal , Senaratne Nilmini K. , Eichhorn David M.
Published: July 2017

In the structure of methyl 5-methyl-2-pyrazinecarboxylate, C7H8N2O2, the non-H atoms of the molecule are nearly planar, with a dihedral angle of 5.4 (1)° between the plane of the pyrazine ring and the plane defined by C—C(O)—O. In the crystal, molecules are linked via C—H...N and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming layers parallel to (100).
Strategies for positioning animal welfare as personally relevant
Authors: van Riemsdijk Lenka , Ingenbleek Paul T.M. , Houthuijs Marleen , van Trijp Hans C.M.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Next to organic food products, an assortment of ethical products is emerging in the supermarket that targets the large market segment of consumers that are open for ethical product choices but do not restrict themselves to them. The purpose of this paper is to examine the positioning strategies that marketers use to persuade consumers in this segment to buy animal-friendly products (AFPs).

Design/methodology/approach

The authors approach product positioning from a consumption values perspective from which they examine strategies that make animal welfare (AW) personally relevant to the buyer because they reinforce AW with suitable consumption value (functional, emotional, social, sensory, epistemic and/or ethical). Using data from 129 AFPs from a Dutch supermarket, the authors explore the positioning strategies of these products.

Findings

The results identified four different strategies used to position AFPs in a Dutch supermarket. They respectively call upon consumers’ emotions, functional or sensory perceptions, curiosity and sense of public welfare. The findings also show substantial category differences, with fresh products relying predominantly on emotional value and processed food on functional value.

Originality/value

This study is the first to empirically explore positioning strategies of AFPs on the basis of their consumption values. The study offers a novel perspective to understand how companies try to extend the market for AFPs, thus providing a basis for a new research agenda.
Consumer preferences towards healthier reformulation of a range of processed meat products
Authors: Shan Liran Christine , Regan Áine , Monahan Frank J. , Li Chenguang , Lalor Fiona , Murrin Celine , Wall Patrick G. , McConnon Áine
Published: July 2017

Purpose

In response to increasing public health concerns about processed meat consumption, many innovations in meat technology focus on health-oriented product reformulations. Processed meat is not a homogeneous food category. The purpose of this paper is to explore consumer perception of the “healthier” reformulation of different processed meat products using two approaches: salt and fat reduction; and enrichment with healthy ingredients.

Design/methodology/approach

Seven focus group interviews were carried out with 40 Irish regular meat consumers (30 female, ten male) who were solely or jointly responsible for food shopping. Two rounds of card sorting procedures were employed to reveal perceptions on reformulation of 20 different processed meat products. Thematic analysis was used for analysing transcripts.

Findings

Health and flavour concerns and product popularity were the main factors influencing participants’ perceptions. Some participants were unsure or had misconceptions about the healthiness of certain meat products. Participants suggested reducing salt and fat content in processed meat products they perceived as the least healthy ones (theme 1) and improving the healthiness of products which were favoured by children (theme 2) and those meat products which people consumed regularly as a source of protein (theme 3). Participants were not in favour of any reformulation of speciality-type products (theme 4).

Originality/value

Consumer insights identified in this study can inform future approaches to making processed meats healthier.
The global competitiveness of European wine producers
Authors: Balogh Jeremiás Máté , Jámbor Attila
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Comparative advantage is an important indicator in the analysis of international trade flow; however, in empirical studies on agriculture it is often neglected. The purpose of this paper is to analyse global comparative advantage in the European Union (EU) wine industry and to test the duration and stability of trade indices.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper applies the theory of comparative advantages by using the Balassa indices to European wine trade (based on the 16 biggest producers) data from the period 2000-2013. Moreover, it applies stability and duration analysis on comparative advantages calculated.

Findings

Results suggest that Bulgaria, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Spain are the highest ranked European wine producers in the world market and have the largest comparative advantages. However, duration and stability tests indicate that trade advantages have weakened for the majority of these countries. The paper discusses a number of reasons for this downturn, including changes to Common Agricultural Policy wine regulation, economic crisis, and the rise of New World wine producers.

Originality/value

The originality of the paper is that it applies the theory of comparative advantage to top wine exporters in the EU. The paper also makes valuable contributions to the wine literature by analysing the duration and stability of comparative advantage in the global wine trade. Moreover, the identification of industry-specific causes for changing patterns in comparative advantage in the EU might be important to the wine industry.
Clients and cases: ambiguity and the division of labour in professional service firms
Authors: Alvehus Johan
Published: July 2017

Purpose

By drawing on a detailed case study of the work of tax consultants, the purpose of this paper is to develop a more detailed understanding of the role of ambiguity in professional work, and its relationship to the division of labour in professional service firms (PSFs).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on a three-year, longitudinal interpretive case study comprising 42 interviews, supplemented by observations and document data.

Findings

The research determines that processes of “obfuscation” and “privatisation” separate client work from case work. This maintains a division of labour between junior and senior professionals, which in turn facilitates financial leverage. The findings indicate that a more nuanced view on the role and origins of ambiguity is needed; particularly the role ambiguity plays in the division of labour. While inherent in professional work, ambiguity is also an effect of the way work processes are organised in order to obtain leverage.

Research limitations/implications

The research is based on a case study. Therefore, the paper explores its topic in empirical detail, but at the same time calls for exploring the topic in different contexts. The paper encourages further research on the role ambiguity plays being constituted by structural arrangements, and on the way the core of professionalism is inverted by the division of labour. The paper highlights the value of detailed empirical approaches for understanding professional work.

Practical implications

The paper draws attention to the way ambiguity becomes a part in sustaining a division of labour among professional workers, and to the importance of this in maintaining financial leverage as well as in creating a precarious work situation for junior professionals.

Social implications

The paper raises concerns about the way professional work is legitimated in society as opposed to how it is constructed in PSFs.

Originality/value

The paper challenges prevalent notions of professional work as ambiguous, offering instead a way of engaging with professional work processes in detail, theoretically and methodologically. Traditional assumptions about the division of labour and the “core” of professional work are problematized, and traditional assumptions about ambiguity as a cause of specific structural arrangements are questioned.
Learning domain taxonomies: the TaxoLine approach
Authors: El Idrissi Esserhrouchni Omar , Frikh Bouchra , Ouhbi Brahim , Ibrahim Ismail Khalil
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to present an online framework for building a domain taxonomy, called TaxoLine, from Web documents automatically.

Design/methodology/approach

TaxoLine proposes an innovative methodology that combines frequency and conditional mutual information to improve the quality of the domain taxonomy. The system also includes a set of mechanisms that improve the execution time needed to build the ontology.

Findings

The performance of the TaxoLine framework was applied to nine different financial corpora. The generated taxonomies are evaluated against a gold-standard ontology and are compared to state-of-the-art ontology learning methods.

Originality/value

The experimental results show that TaxoLine produces high precision and recall for both concept and relation extraction than well-known ontology learning algorithms. Furthermore, it also shows promising results in terms of execution time needed to build the domain taxonomy.
MATVIZ: a semantic query and visualization approach for metallic materials data
Authors: Zhang Xiaoming , Chen Huilin , Ruan Yanqin , Pan Dongyu , Zhao Chongchong
Published: July 2017

Purpose

With the rapid development of materials informatics and the Semantic Web, the semantic-driven solution has emerged to improve traditional query technology, which is hard to discover implicit knowledge from materials data. However, it is a nontrivial thing for materials scientists to construct a semantic query, and the query results are usually presented in RDF/XML format which is not convenient for users to understand. This paper aims to propose an approach to construct semantic query and visualize the query results for metallic materials domain.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors design a query builder to generate SPARQL query statements automatically based on domain ontology and query conditions inputted by users. Moreover, a semantic visualization model is defined based on the materials science tetrahedron to support the visualization of query results in an intuitive, dynamic and interactive way.

Findings

Based on the Semantic Web technology, the authors design an automatic semantic query builder to help domain experts write the normative semantic query statements quickly and simply, as well as a prototype (named MatViz) is developed to visually show query results, which could help experts discover implicit knowledge from materials data. Moreover, the experiments demonstrate that the proposed system in this paper can rapidly and effectively return visualized query results over the metallic materials data set.

Originality/value

This paper mainly discusses an approach to support semantic query and visualization of metallic materials data. The implementation of MatViz will be a meaningful work for the research of metal materials data integration.
A nonlinear method for multiparameter inversion of pre‐stack seismic data based on anisotropic Markov random field
Authors: Zhang Hongbing , Guo Qiang , Liang Lifeng , Cao Chenghao , Shang Zuoping
Published: July 2017

Multiparameter inversion for pre‐stack seismic data plays a significant role in quantitative estimation of subsurface petrophysical properties. However, it remains a complicated problem due to the non‐unique results and unstable nature of the processing; the pre‐stack seismic inversion problem is ill‐posed and band‐limited. Combining the full Zoeppritz equation and additional assumptions with edge‐preserving regularisation can help to alleviate these problems. To achieve this, we developed an inversion method by constructing a new objective function that includes edge‐preserving regularisation and soft constraints based on anisotropic Markov random fields and is intended especially for layered formations. We applied a fast simulated annealing algorithm to solve the nonlinear optimisation problem. The method directly obtains reflectivity RPP values using the full Zoeppritz equation instead of its approximations and effectively controls the stability of the multiparameter inversion by assuming a sectionally constant S‐ and P‐wave velocity ratio and using the generalised Gardner equation. We substituted the inverted parameters, i.e., the P‐wave velocity, the fitting deviation of S‐wave velocity, and the density were inverted instead of the P‐wave velocity, the S‐wave velocity, and the density, and the generalised Gardner equation was applied as a constraint. Test results on two‐dimensional synthetic data indicated that our substitution obtained improved results for multiparameter inversion. The inverted results could be improved by utilising high‐order anisotropic Markov random field neighbourhoods at early stages and low‐order anisotropic Markov random field neighbourhoods in the later stages. Moreover, for layered formations, using a large horizontal weighting coefficient can preserve the lateral continuity of layers, and using a small vertical weighting coefficient allows for large longitudinal gradients of the interlayers. The inverted results of the field data revealed more detailed information about the layers and matched the logging curves at the wells acceptably over most parts of the curves.
‘You have to comply with paper’: debt, documents, and legal consciousness in Bolivia
Authors: Ellison Susan Helen
Published: July 2017

Globally, alternative dispute resolution (ADR) advocates celebrate informality as a means to improve access to justice for poor people and to unburden courts, emphasizing the spoken dimensions of conflict resolution rather than the written product. Yet residents of El Alto, Bolivia, are preoccupied with the graphic artefacts produced by ADR programmes: conciliation accords. This article argues that Alteños pursue conciliation accords because of their isomorphism – shared physical traits – with legal documents. In mobilizing legal‐like documents as avatars of coercive state authority, Alteños reveal how the urban poor marshal ambiguous bureaucratic documentary procedures to reorder untenable social relations and to give some teeth to oral arrangements amid economic insecurity and dubious judicial prospects.
Benzoate and Sorbate Salts: A Systematic Review of the Potential Hazards of These Invaluable Preservatives and the Expanding Spectrum of Clinical Uses for Sodium Benzoate
Authors: Piper Joseph D. , Piper Peter W.
Published: July 2017

Sodium benzoate and potassium sorbate are extremely useful agents for food and beverage preservation, yet concerns remain over their complete safety. Benzoate can react with the ascorbic acid in drinks to produce the carcinogen benzene. A few children develop allergy to this additive while, as a competitive inhibitor of D‐amino acid oxidase, benzoate can also influence neurotransmission and cognitive functioning. Model organism and cell culture studies have raised some issues. Benzoate has been found to exert teratogenic and neurotoxic effects on zebrafish embryos. In addition, benzoate and sorbate are reported to cause chromosome aberrations in cultured human lymphocytes; also to be potently mutagenic toward the mitochondrial DNA in aerobic yeast cells. Whether the substantial human consumption of these compounds could significantly increase levels of such damages in man is still unclear. There is no firm evidence that it is a risk factor in type 2 diabetes. The clinical administration of sodium benzoate is of proven benefit for many patients with urea cycle disorders, while recent studies indicate it may also be advantageous in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, early‐stage Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Nevertheless, exposure to high amounts of this agent should be approached with caution, especially since it has the potential to generate a shortage of glycine which, in turn, can negatively influence brain neurochemistry. We discuss here how a small fraction of the population might be rendered—either through their genes or a chronic medical condition—particularly susceptible to any adverse effects of sodium benzoate.
Perineural invasion present exclusively in central tissue blocks of Mohs surgical excisions of basal cell carcinoma
Authors: Young Lauren , Coates Dougal , Pagliaro John , Francis David , Williamson Richard , Gaspar Zoran
Published: July 2017

Perineural invasion (PNI) may be present in basal cell carcinomas (BCC) treated with Mohs micrographic surgery. This single‐centre, non‐randomised, prospective study demonstrates the potential for PNI to exist exclusively within the central tissue blocks of Mohs specimens.
Roles of APOL1 G1 and G2 variants in sickle cell disease patients: kidney is the main target
Authors: Kormann Raphaël , Jannot Anne‐Sophie , Narjoz Céline , Ribeil Jean‐Antoine , Manceau Sandra , Delville Marianne , Joste Valentin , Prié Dominique , Pouchot Jacques , Thervet Eric , Courbebaisse Marie , Arlet Jean‐Benoît
Published: July 2017

In African‐American patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), APOL1 G1 and G2 variants are associated with increased risk of sickle cell nephropathy (SCN). To determine the role of APOL1 variants in SCD patients living in Europe, we genotyped 152 SCD patients [aged 30·4 (24·3–36·4) years], mainly of Sub‐Saharan African ancestry, for APOL1 G1 and G2 and for variants of four genes with kidney tropism (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, and HMOX1). Homozygous or double‐heterozygous APOL G1 and G2 genotypes were strongly associated with end stage renal disease (P = 0·003) and worse Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes stages (P = 0·001). Further, these genotypes were associated in an age‐dependent manner with lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, P = 0·008), proteinuria (P = 0·009) and albuminuria (P < 0·001) but not with other SCD complications. Compared to APOL1 G1/wild type (WT), the APOL1 G2/WT genotype was associated with a lower eGFR (P = 0·04) in an age‐dependent manner, suggesting that the G2/WT patients are likely to have worse kidney prognosis. Other genes variants analysed were not associated with SCN or other SCD complications. Our data indicate that APOL1 screening should be considered for the management of SCD patients, including those of non‐African‐American origin, as those with homozygous or double heterozygous variants are clearly at higher risk of SCN.
Combined intravitreal methotrexate and immunochemotherapy followed by reduced‐dose whole‐brain radiotherapy for newly diagnosed B‐cell primary intraocular lymphoma
Authors: Kaburaki Toshikatu , Taoka Kazuki , Matsuda Junko , Yamashita Hideomi , Matsuda Izuru , Tsuji Hideki , Tanaka Rie , Nakazaki Kumi , Nakamura Fumihiko , Kamiya Kohei , Kurokawa Mineo , Ohtomo Kuni , Aihara Makoto
Published: July 2017

Primary intraocular lymphoma (IOL) has a propensity for central nervous system (CNS) relapse within 2 years of initial diagnosis, affecting clinical outcome. To reduce CNS relapse, we performed the combination treatment protocols of intravitreal methotrexate injections, methotrexate‐based systemic induction chemotherapy and consolidation high‐dose cytarabine and reduced‐dose whole brain radiation therapy (rdWBRT, 23·4 Gy) for B‐cell primary IOL with or without newly diagnosed CNS involvement. All patients underwent longitudinal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cognitive assessment for evaluation of treatment‐induced leucoencephalopathy. Seventeen patients initiated and 16 completed the protocol treatment. CNS relapse occurred in 2 patients and intraocular relapse in 3. Four‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) was 74·9% and 4‐year overall survival (OS) was 86·3%, with a median follow‐up period of 48·9 months. Of 11 patients without CNS involvement, 1 had CNS relapse and 3 intraocular relapse, and 4‐year PFS and OS was 72·7% and 88·9%, respectively. Although white matter abnormalities shown by MRI were significantly increased at 4 years after rdWBRT, only one patient developed mild cognitive impairment. The combination of intravitreal chemotherapy, prophylactic systemic chemotherapy and rdWBRT for primary IOL showed a potential to reduce CNS relapse rate and improved 4‐year PFS and OS without increase of cognitive dysfunction.