bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Class formation and commodity chains in the making of regional monocultures: Agrarian reform from above and below in Mexico's henequen and cotton zones
Authors: Bair Jennifer
Published: July 2019

This paper analyses the rise and fall of two regional monocultures in Mexico: the henequen zone in the southern state of Yucatán and the cotton‐growing area of La Laguna. Both regions experienced a dramatic expansion of commodity production between 1870 and 1910, but their key crops came to be cultivated under different labour regimes: debt peonage in the case of henequen and wage labour in the case of cotton. The process of class formation that unfolded in each region culminated in the 1930s in different kinds of crises. In Yucatán, a political struggle between hacienda owners and the federal government resulted in an agrarian reform “from above.” In La Laguna, class conflict between rural wageworkers and the landed bourgeoisie forced an agrarian reform “from below.” These previously distinct labour regimes converged in subsequent decades, however, as rural producers became de facto wageworkers on state‐organized and state‐administered production units known as collective ejidos. Ultimately, changes in the global markets for cotton and henequen, combined with the inability of the Mexican state to reconcile the political logic of agrarian clientelism with shifting commodity chain dynamics, resulted in the collapse of these regional monocultures in the late 20th century.
Homocysteine, folic acid, and vitamin B12 levels in patients on isotretinoin therapy for acne vulgaris: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Kim Hyun Jung , Lee Seung Min , Lee Jong Suk , Lee Sung Yul , Chung Euy Hyun , Cho Moon Kyun , Lee Sang Hoon , Kim Jung Eun
Published: July 2019

Background

Oral isotretinoin (Iso) is one of the most commonly used drugs for patients with moderate‐to‐severe acne; however, its use has been associated with several adverse effects. Some studies have suggested an association between Iso therapy and homocysteine (Hcy), folic acid, and vitamin B12 plasma levels.

Objective

To evaluate the changes in plasma Hcy, folic acid, and vitamin B12 levels during Iso therapy for acne using meta‐analytic methods.

Methods

Five scientific databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS, and Web of Science) were searched according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analyses (PRISMA) guidelines up to December 2018. A review of 734 publications identified 10 studies that assessed plasma levels of Hcy, folic acid, and vitamin B12 during Iso therapy in acne patients.

Results

A total of 10 studies consisting of 592 patients were included in the meta‐analysis. Plasma Hcy levels were significantly increased after Iso therapy (weighted mean difference [WMD]: 2.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.78‐4.20, I2 = 86%), whereas folic acid levels were significantly decreased after Iso therapy (WMD: −1.03, 95% CI: −1.90 to −0.17, I2 = 89%).

Conclusions

This meta‐analysis found that Iso therapy was associated with changes in plasma levels of Hcy and folic acid in acne patients. However, further evaluation in controlled studies is needed to verify these results.
Longer Repetition Time Proton MR Spectroscopy Shows Increasing Hippocampal and Parahippocampal Metabolite Concentrations with Aging
Authors: Sporn Leo , MacMillan Erin L. , Ge Ruiyang , Greenway Kyle , Vila‐Rodriguez Fidel , Laule Cornelia
Published: July 2019

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Previous magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies have concluded that hippocampal and parahippocampal metabolite concentrations remain stable during healthy adult aging. However, these studies used short repetition times (TR ≤ 2 seconds), which lead to incomplete longitudinal magnetization recovery, and thus, heavily T1‐weighted measurements. It is important to accurately characterize brain metabolites changes with age to enable appropriate interpretations of MRS findings in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. Our goal was to assess hippocampal brain metabolite concentrations in a large cohort of diversely aged healthy volunteers using a longer TR of 4 seconds.

METHODS

Left hippocampal MR spectra were collected from 38 healthy volunteers at 3T. Absolute metabolite concentrations were determined for total N‐acetyl‐aspartate (tNAA), total creatine (tCr), total choline (tCho), glutamate and glutamine (Glx), and myoinositol (mI). Individual partial correlations between each metabolite with age were assessed using demographic information and voxel compartmentation as confounders.

RESULTS

Hippocampal tNAA, tCr, tCho, and mI all increased with age (NAA: R2 = .17, P = .041; tCr: R2 = .45, P = .0002; tCho: R2 = .37, P = .001; mI: R2 = .44, P = .0003). There were no relationships between age and signal to noise ratio, linewidth, or scan date, indicating the correlations were not confounded by spectral quality. Furthermore, we did not observe a trend with age in the voxel tissue compartmentations.

CONCLUSIONS

We observed increases in hippocampal/parahippocampal metabolite concentrations with age, a finding that is in contrast to previous literature. Our findings illustrate the importance of using a sufficiently long TR in MRS to avoid T1‐relaxation effects influencing the measurement of absolute metabolite concentrations.
Effects of bicuspid extractions and incisor retraction on upper airway of Asian adults and late adolescents: A systematic review
Authors: Ng Jing Hao , Song Yi Lin , Yap Adrian U. J.
Published: July 2019

Objectives

This systematic review aimed to assess the effects of bicuspid extractions and incisor retraction on airway dimension, hyoid position and breathing of adults and late adolescents.

Methods

The review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Eight databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Scopus were searched to August 2018. Minimum age of participants was 16 years. The intervention was dual‐arch bicuspid extractions with incisor retraction. Outcomes were airway dimension, hyoid position and breathing assessment.

Results

All nine publications meeting inclusion criteria were from Asia. They were divided into three Asian subregions. All East Asian lateral cephalometric studies reported anteroposterior airway narrowing at the oropharynx and sometimes the hypopharynx. However, the narrowing was small, comparable to measurement errors, and highly variable. Two out of three East Asian computed tomography (CT) studies described reductions in airway dimensions. The single functional breathing study showed increased simulated flow resistance after incisor retraction in East Asians. South Asian studies had mixed findings, with some reporting significant airway narrowing. The single study from West Asia found no significant airway or hyoid changes.

Conclusions

Airway response to bicuspid extractions and incisor retraction varied substantially when assessed with cephalometry. CT measurements present larger effect sizes and smaller variations, providing stronger evidence of airway narrowing. Orthodontic extractions for incisor retraction may be more frequently indicated in Asia, and East Asians seem particularly susceptible to airway narrowing and postero‐inferior hyoid movement with incisor retraction. Better designed CT studies are needed for confirmation due to small effect size and large variability.
Narrow Framing and Long‐Term Care Insurance
Authors: Gottlieb Daniel , Mitchell Olivia S.
Published: July 2019

We propose a model of narrow framing in insurance and test it using data from a new module we designed and fielded in the Health and Retirement Study. We show that respondents subject to narrow framing are substantially less likely to buy long‐term care insurance than average. This effect is much larger than the effects of risk aversion or adverse selection, and it offers a new explanation for why people underinsure their later‐life care needs.
Capturing key sensory moments during biscuit consumption: Using TDS to evaluate several concurrent sensory modalities
Authors: Le Calvé Bénédicte , Saint‐Léger Christine , Gaudreau Nadine , Cayeux Isabelle
Published: July 2019

In an industrial context focusing on fat reduction in biscuits, the temporal dominance of sensations (TDS) evaluation method was applied to six biscuits differing in fat level (full, 30% fat reduced, or 50% fat reduced) and fat quality (butter or margarine). A list of 10 attributes for texture, taste, and olfactive modalities was produced based on a previously undertaken sensory profile (data not shown). TDS curves, pairwise comparison curves, and sensory trajectories were valuable tools for identifying the main dominance differences according to fat levels. The 50% fat‐reduced products were clearly discriminated from full‐fat products. Inclusion of the three sensory modalities within the attribute list was anticipated as a complex task. Nevertheless, specific sensory phases were identified and key flavor dominances defined. Dynamic sensory profiling opens the door to the creation of tailor‐made flavor compositions that compensate for part of the identified olfactive and taste losses.

Practical Applications

This work highlights the added value of considering several sensory modalities: taste, olfaction, and texture, at the same time, into TDS study. The definition of specific sensory phases over the food consumption will guide products developers to create specific flavors or combinations of flavors and taste compounds to cover the sensory gap observed in fat, sugar, or salt reduction context.
Study of the structural properties of goat's milk chocolates with different concentrations of cocoa mass
Authors: de Jesus Silva Grazielly , Gonçalves Ben‐Hur Ramos Ferreira , de Jesus Josane Cardim , Vidigal Márcia Cristina Teixeira Ribeiro , Minim Luis Antonio , Ferreira Sukarno Olavo , Bonomo Renata Cristina Ferreira , Ferrão Sibelli Passini Barbosa
Published: July 2019

The objective of this study was to assess the microstructural characteristics of goat's milk chocolates formulated with different concentrations of cocoa mass by rheological measurements and microscopy. For rheological characterization, rotational and oscillatory tests were performed, while crystal morphology was observed by means of atomic force microscopy (AFM) and 3D optical profilometer. It was verified that the chocolates presented pseudoplastic and thixotropic behavior. The Herschel–Bulkley model adequately described the flow behavior of the formulations. In the oscillatory tests, it was found that the tangent δ (loss) decreased from 0.33 to 0.17 as a function of the increase in cocoa mass concentration. The creep recovery tests were consistent with the other rheological tests. The analysis of AFM and profilometer indicated that there are different microscopic pores on the surface of the chocolates, and that with the increase in the concentration of cocoa mass, it has a structure with greater interactions.
Workplace Violence: Examining Interpersonal and Impersonal Violence among Truck Drivers
Authors: Gray Garry , Lindsay Katie
Published: July 2019

Employees who work alone are at greater risk of workplace violence. One of the higher‐risk lone worker occupations in North America is truck driving. Drawing on interviews with 158 truck drivers across the United States and Canada, this article examines how truck drivers interpret and experience both interpersonal and impersonal forms of workplace violence. Rather than rely on police enforcement and safety regulations, the truck drivers in this study believed that they were primarily on their own with regard to workplace violence. As a result, truck drivers described how they continually engage in informal personal safety strategies in order to decrease their chances of being victimized. These findings reveal how neoliberal responsibilization approaches to health and safety serve to conceal structural patterns of power and risk by containing individual responsibility for safety at the frontline. Overall, this study points to the need for law and policy to better incorporate the frontline experiences of workers when attempting to decrease the risk of workplace violence.
Stereotactic image‐guided microwave ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma using a computer‐assisted navigation system
Authors: Lachenmayer Anja , Tinguely Pascale , Maurer Martin H. , Frehner Lorenz , Knöpfli Marina , Peterhans Matthias , Weber Stefan , Dufour Jean‐François , Candinas Daniel , Banz Vanessa
Published: July 2019

Background & Aims

Ablation plays an important role in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Because image‐guided navigation technology has recently entered the clinical setting, we aimed to analyse its safety, therapeutic and procedural efficiency.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of patients treated with stereotactic image‐guided microwave ablation (SMWA) between January 2015 and December 2017. Interventions were performed using computertomography‐guidance with needle trajectory, ablation planning and automatic single‐marker patient registration. Needle placement and ablation coverage was controlled by image fusion under general anaesthesia with jet‐ventilation.

Results

In total 174 ablations were performed in 88 patients during 119 interventions. Mean age was 66 (46‐84) years, 74 (84.1%) were men and 74% were Child Pugh Class A. Median tumour size was 16 (4‐45) mm, 62.2% were BCLC A. Median lateral and longitudinal error of needle placement were 3.2 (0.2‐14.1) and 1.6 (0‐15.8) mm. Median one tumour (1‐4) was ablated per session. One patient developed a Dindo IIIb (0.8%) complication, six minor complications. After re‐ablation of 12 lesions, an efficacy rate of 96.3% was achieved. Local tumour progression was 6.3% (11/174). Close proximity to major vessels was significantly correlated with local tumour progression (P < .05). Median overall follow‐up was 17.5 months after intervention and 24 months after initial diagnosis. BCLC stage, child class and previous treatment were significantly correlated with overall survival (P < .05).

Conclusion

Stereotactic image‐guided microwave ablation is a safe and efficient treatment for HCC offering a curative treatment approach in general and in particular for lesions not detectable on conventional imaging or untreatable because of difficult anatomic locations.
Mass balance model of Lake Volta fisheries: The use of Ecopath model
Authors: Mensah Emmanuel T. D. , Dankwa Hederick R. , Lauridsen Torben L. , Trolle Dennis , Asmah Ruby , Campion Benjamin B. , Edziyie Regina , Christensen Villy
Published: July 2019

A mass balance model of trophic interactions among ten key functional producer and consumer groups in Lake Volta was constructed using the Ecopath model to study the energy flows and species interactions in the lake. The present study was based on secondary and primary data on fish catch, diet composition, phytoplankton and zooplankton biomasses, collected in 2015 and 2016. Additional information on growth parameters of major species required for balancing the Ecopath model was obtained from sampling and FishBase. The functional groups were detritus, phytoplankton, zooplankton, benthos, prey fish, Tilapia, Bagrus, Chrysichthys, Alestes and Synodontis species. Four trophic levels were identified in the Lake Volta ecosystem, with the energy flow occurring mainly within the first three trophic levels. The calculated ecotrophic efficiency value of the primary producers (phytoplankton: 0.17; detritus: 0.22) indicated they were least exploited, compared to the secondary producers, zooplankton (0.80) and benthos (0.50). All secondary consumers had ecotrophic efficiency values higher than the primary producers, indicating they are exploited in the ecosystem. The main energy flows in the lake were from phytoplankton and detritus at trophic level I, and Bagrus species, the top predator, at a level of 3.30. The network analysis, illustrating a connectance index of 0.43 and an omnivory index of 0.06, in the lake system indicated the ecosystem is unstable, somewhat immature and still in a developing stage.
Literary Intentionalism
Authors: Kubala Robbie
Published: July 2019

In the philosophical debate about literary interpretation, actual intentionalists claim, and anti‐intentionalists deny, that an acceptable interpretation of fictional literature must be constrained by the author's intentions. This paper argues that a close examination of the two most influential recent strands in this debate reveals a surprising convergence. Both sides (a) focus on literary works as they are, where work identity is determined in part by certain (successfully realized) categorial intentions concerning, for example, title, genre, and large‐scale instances of allusion, allegory, and irony, and (b) allow that works can acceptably be interpreted for unintended meanings—since an intentional act can, under a different description, exhibit unintended features. Insofar as both sides do this, they turn out to share the same interpretive policy concerning authorial intention. This suggests that philosophers should shift the interpretation debate away from issues of authorial intention and toward issues about the aims of interpretation.
The Need for an Ethics of Sustainable Knowledge Production
Authors: Pack Justin
Published: July 2019

The modern research university is an unsustainable institution. It normalizes academic activity along the lines of a scientist engaged in normal science and seeks to measure the success or failure of academics based largely on the quantity of their contributions to a particular discipline, often measured in terms of papers published and conference presentations. The ensuing race to produce academic studies is creating unprecedented mountains of academic studies, but often in haphazard, unstructured, and unsustainable ways, especially in the humanities and the social sciences, which do not discover nomothetic laws or accumulate knowledge in a fashion similar to science. This not only undermines the quality of work being done and the character of academics doing this work but also results in the thoughtless, endless, largely unstructured mountains of new studies that no one can keep up with.
Explaining Evidence Denial as Motivated Pragmatically Rational Epistemic Irrationality
Authors: Shaffer Michael J.
Published: July 2019

This paper introduces a model for evidence denial that explains this behavior as a manifestation of rationality, and it is based on the contention that social values (measurable as utilities) often underwrite these sorts of responses. Moreover, it contends that the value associated with group membership in particular can override epistemic reason when the expected utility of a belief or belief system is great. It is also true, however, that it appears to be the case that it is still possible for such unreasonable believers to reverse this sort of dogmatism and to change their beliefs in a way that is epistemically rational. The conjecture made here is that we should expect this to happen only when the expected utility of the beliefs in question dips below a threshold where the utility value of continued dogmatism and the associated group membership is no longer sufficient to motivate defusing the counterevidence that tells against such epistemically irrational beliefs.
Cross‐talk between Tor1 and Sch9 regulates hyphae‐specific genes or ribosomal protein genes in a mutually exclusive manner inCandida albicans
Authors: Kim Se Woong , Joo Yoo Jin , Chun Yu Jin , Park Young Kwang , Kim Joon
Published: July 2019

The human fungal pathogenCandida albicansswitches its morphology from yeast to hyphal forms. The morphological transition may renderC. albicansvirulent. Several signaling cascades, including those of the cyclic AMP‐protein kinase A and mitogen‐activated protein kinase pathways, are responsible for morphogenesis. In this study, we observed a reduction in gene transcription of ribosomal proteins during true hyphae formation. Moreover, morphogenesis‐dependent decrease in ribosomal protein gene transcription was confirmed in constitutive yeast or filamentous growing strains. We consistently observed that polysome and monosome levels were decreased by hyphal stimuli through TORC1 and Sch9 kinases. Taken together, these results provide several lines of evidence to show that the Tor1–Sch9 kinase cascade, which stimulates transcription of ribosomal protein genes, exists inC. albicans.Thus, the present study revealed a novel link between ribosome biogenesis and morphogenesis inC. albicansthat is mediated by Tor1 and Sch9.
Two Kinds of Cognitive Expertise
Authors: Chudnoff Elijah
Published: July 2019

Expertise is traditionally classified into perceptual, cognitive, and motor forms. I argue that the empirical research literature on expertise gives us compelling reasons to reject this traditional classification and accept an alternative. According to the alternative I support there is expertise in forming impressions, which further divides into expertise in forming sensory and intellectual impressions, and there is expertise in performing actions, which further divides into expertise in performing mental and bodily actions. The traditional category of cognitive expertise splits into two–expertise in forming intellectual impressions and expertise in performing mental actions. I consider and address a challenge to my case in favor of adopting this alternative classification of expertise that derives from dual process theories of cognition.
Metastatic pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma to the mandible: report of a rare case and review of the literature
Authors: Rizq M. , Nawwar M. , Ramadan O.
Published: July 2019

Pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma is a rare and aggressive variant of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) that usually occurs only in adults aged 45 years or older. Jaw metastasis from a soft‐tissue sarcoma of the extremity is likewise very rare, with only a few previously reported cases. Here, we describe the case of a 47‐year‐old female patient with mandibular metastasis from a previously excised pleomorphic RMS of the right thigh but died 1 month after due to lung metastases. This is, to our knowledge, the first reported case of mandibular metastasis from pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma of the extremity. In cases such as these, patients may have widespread disease, and thus, surgery may only have a limited role in its management. Optimal treatment remains undefined.
Intensity of innovation in public sector organizations: The role of push and pull factors
Authors: Clausen Tommy Høyvarde , Demircioglu Mehmet Akif , Alsos Gry A.
Published: July 2019

The public sector is under pressure to provide new public services with increasingly scarce resources. In response, practitioners and academics have called for more innovation in the public sector. Our understanding of sources of innovation within public sector organizations, however, is inadequate. Motivated by this gap, we develop a conceptual model of how push and pull sources enable innovation within public sector organizations. Key to our theory is that push and pull sources of innovation are enabled by innovation capabilities. Five hypotheses are tested using cross‐country survey data from European public sector organizations. Empirical analysis offers strong support for the central role played by innovation capability in enabling push and pull sources of innovation within public sector organizations. This article advances knowledge of the sources of innovation in the public sector and extends theorizing on push and pull mechanisms by examining their relevance to innovation in a public sector context.
Genome assembly provides insights into the genome evolution and flowering regulation of orchardgrass
Authors: Huang Linkai , Feng Guangyan , Yan Haidong , Zhang Zhongren , Bushman Bradley Shaun , Wang Jianping , Bombarely Aureliano , Li Mingzhou , Yang Zhongfu , Nie Gang , Xie Wengang , Xu Lei , Chen Peilin , Zhao Xinxin , Jiang Wenkai , Zhang Xinquan
Published: July 2019

Orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.) is an important forage grass for cultivating livestock worldwide. Here, we report an ~1.84‐Gb chromosome‐scale diploid genome assembly of orchardgrass, with a contig N50 of 0.93 Mb, a scaffold N50 of 6.08 Mb and a super‐scaffold N50 of 252.52 Mb, which is the first chromosome‐scale assembled genome of a cool‐season forage grass. The genome includes 40 088 protein‐coding genes, and 69% of the assembled sequences are transposable elements, with long terminal repeats (LTRs) being the most abundant. The LTRretrotransposons may have been activated and expanded in the grass genome in response to environmental changes during the Pleistocene between 0 and 1 million years ago. Phylogenetic analysis reveals that orchardgrass diverged after rice but before three Triticeae species, and evolutionarily conserved chromosomes were detected by analysing ancient chromosome rearrangements in these grass species. We also resequenced the whole genome of 76 orchardgrass accessions and found that germplasm from Northern Europe and East Asia clustered together, likely due to the exchange of plants along the ‘Silk Road’ or other ancient trade routes connecting the East and West. Last, a combined transcriptome, quantitative genetic and bulk segregant analysis provided insights into the genetic network regulating flowering time in orchardgrass and revealed four main candidate genes controlling this trait. This chromosome‐scale genome and the online database of orchardgrass developed here will facilitate the discovery of genes controlling agronomically important traits, stimulate genetic improvement of and functional genetic research on orchardgrass and provide comparative genetic resources for other forage grasses.
Pediatric leukemia cutis: A case series
Authors: Andriescu Elena Corina , Coughlin Carrie C. , Cheng Carol E. , Prajapati Vimal H. , Huang Jennifer T. , Schmidt Birgitta A. , Degar Barbara A. , Aplenc Richard , Pillai Vinodh , Yan Albert C. , Liang Marilyn G.
Published: July 2019

Background

Pediatric leukemia cutis (LC) is often difficult to diagnose due to similarity in appearance to other dermatologic diseases. Several case reports and smaller case series have been published in the medical literature, but studies on larger cohorts of children with LC are lacking.

Objective

This study aimed to better characterize the clinical features, course, and prognosis of LC in the pediatric population.

Methods

We performed a retrospective case series of 31 patients diagnosed with LC at Boston Children's Hospital and the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

Results

The number and morphology of LC lesions varied among patients, with the head and lower extremities being the most common sites of involvement. Leukemia cutis presented concomitantly with systemic leukemia in the majority of cases. Most cases of LC arose during initial leukemia episodes, rather than with relapsed leukemia. Acute myeloid leukemia was the subtype most frequently associated with LC, followed by acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Diagnosis altered treatment timing and therapeutic decisions.

Conclusion

Children most often present concomitantly with LC and systemic leukemia. Since the morphology and distribution of LC varies, physicians must maintain a high index of suspicion for this diagnosis, as the presence of LC may change the management of systemic leukemia.
Long QT syndrome with a de novo CALM2 mutation in a 4‐year‐old boy
Authors: Fujita Shuhei , Nakagawa Ryo , Futatani Takeshi , Igarashi Noboru , Fuchigami Takamasa , Saito Shinsuke , Ohno Seiko , Horie Minoru , Hatasaki Kiyoshi
Published: July 2019

Background

Human calmodulin (CALM) gene mutation has been reported to be related to inherited arrhythmia syndromes, but the genotype–phenotype relationship remains unclear.

Methods and Results

We report here a 4‐year‐old boy who had cardiac arrest while playing in a kindergarten playground. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was initiated immediately. Eleven minutes after the cardiac arrest, ambulance crews arrived and an automated external defibrillator was attached. His heart rhythm, which was ventricular fibrillation (VF), was returned to sinus rhythm after only one shock delivery. The boy was brought to hospital by air ambulance. During transfer, electrocardiogram (ECG) showed transient VF. On arrival, chest radiograph showed a cardiothoracic ratio of 55% without pulmonary congestion. A 12‐lead ECG showed a normal sinus rhythm, biphasic T wave, and prolongation of the corrected QT interval. On ECG, VF was preceded by torsade de pointes or frequent polymorphic premature ventricular contractions (PVC). Echocardiography showed a normal heart structure with decreased cardiac function. On the second day of hospitalization, ECG showed remarkable QT prolongation, T‐wave alternans, and frequent PVC. Thereafter, propranolol was started. The ECG showed rapid improvement of QT prolongation and T‐wave abnormality. Genetic test indicated a CALM2 mutation, and he was diagnosed with long QT syndrome‐15 (LQT15).

Conclusions

CALM mutations cause long QT syndrome (LQTS), catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) and idiopathic VF. This patient with a CALM2 p.N98S mutation had both phenotypes of LQTS and CPVT.
Genetic and epigenetic alterations of SDH genes in patients with sporadic succinate dehydrogenase‐deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumors
Authors: Shi Shan‐shan , Wang Yan‐feng , Bao Wei , Ye Sheng‐bin , Wu Nan , Wang Xuan , Xia Qiu‐yuan , Li Rui , Shen Qin , Zhou Xiao‐jun
Published: July 2019

This study aimed to investigate the association of SDH gene mutations and promoter methylation with succinate dehydrogenase‐deficient gastrointestinal stromal tumors (SDH‐deficient GISTs) and to further discuss the potential molecular mechanisms underlying SDHB expression loss in these tumors. First, a total of 26 patients with SDH‐deficient GISTs were selected by identifying the loss of SDHB protein expression and wild‐type for KIT and PDGFRa mutations. Then SDH gene mutations and promoter methylation were detected by DNA sequencing and methylation‐specific polymerase chain reaction, respectively, and the clinical and pathological data of SDH‐deficient GISTs patients were collected and analyzed accordingly. The results of genetic testing demonstrated that 38.46% (10/26) of these patients harbored mutations in SDHB, SDHC, and SDHD genes (3 cases with double mutations). Besides, aberrant promoter methylation of SDH genes was detected in 10 out of 26 cases (38.46%), including 8 cases in SDHA gene, 3 cases in SDHB gene, 1 case in both SDHA and SDHB genes. It is suggested that SDH gene mutations and promoter methylation may contribute to the loss of SDH protein expression in sporadic SDH‐deficient GISTs. This study indicated that the genetic and epigenetic alterations of SDH genes may occur during tumor formation.
Epithelioid variant of gastrointestinal stromal tumor harboring PDGFRA mutation and MLH1 gene alteration: A case report
Authors: Kobayashi Mizuho , Inaguma Shingo , Raffeld Mark , Kato Hiroyuki , Suzuki Shugo , Wakasugi Takehiro , Mitsui Akira , Kuwabara Yoshiyuki , Lasota Jerzy , Ikeda Hiroshi , Miettinen Markku , Takahashi Satoru
Published: July 2019

Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most important and common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, especially in the stomach. GISTs are usually driven by activating mutations in either KIT or PDGFRA genes. It is known that activating gene mutations predicts, to a certain extent, not only the morphology of the tumor cells but also a response to treatment with tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Here, we present a case of an epithelioid variant of GIST harboring PDGFRA and MLH1 gene alterations in the stomach of a 55‐year‐old Japanese woman. The tumor of 98 mm with multiple cysts showed exophytic growth from the gastric fundus. Histopathologically, it consisted of scattered medium‐sized epithelioid tumor cells in a loose myxoid background. Based on c‐kit and DOG‐1 immunoreactivity and a PDGFRA mutation (p.Trp559_Arg560del), the tumor was diagnosed as an epithelioid variant GIST. Interestingly, it had a gene alteration (p.Met524Ile) in the MLH1 gene of unknown pathogenicity. It was assigned to Group 3a (low risk for malignant behavior). After surgery, the patient has been on imatinib therapy and disease‐free for 10 months.
Event‐related brain potentials reveal how multiple aspects of semantic processing unfold across parafoveal and foveal vision during sentence reading
Authors: Payne Brennan R. , Stites Mallory C. , Federmeier Kara D.
Published: July 2019

Recent event‐related brain potential (ERP) experiments have demonstrated parafoveal N400 expectancy and congruity effects, showing that semantic information can be accessed from words in parafoveal vision (a conclusion also supported by some eye‐tracking work). At the same time, it is unclear how higher‐order integrative aspects of language comprehension unfold across the visual field during reading. In the current study, we recorded ERPs in a parafoveal flanker paradigm, while readers were instructed to read passively for comprehension or to judge the plausibility of sentences in which target words varied in their semantic expectancy and congruity. We directly replicated prior work showing graded N400 effects for parafoveal viewing, which are then not duplicated when the target words are processed foveally. Critically, although N400 effects were not modulated by task goals, a posteriorly distributed late positive component thought to reflect semantic integration processes was observed to semantic incongruities only in the plausibility judgment task. However, this effect was observed at a considerable delay, appearing only after words had moved into foveal vision. Our findings thus suggest that semantic access can be initiated in parafoveal vision, whereas central foveal vision may be necessary to enact higher‐order (and task‐dependent) integrative processing.
On integrity in immunity during ontogeny or how thymic regulatory T cells work
Authors: Dembic Zlatko
Published: July 2019

The Standard model of T cell recognition asserts that T cell receptor (TCR) specificities are positively and negatively selected during ontogeny in the thymus and that peripheral T cell repertoire has mild self‐major histocompatibility complex (MHC) reactivity, known as MHC restriction of foreign antigen. Thus, the TCR must bind both a restrictive molecule (MHC allele) and a peptide reclining in its groove (pMHC ligand) in order to transmit signal into a T cell. The Standard and Cohn's Tritope models suggest contradictory roles for complementarity‐determining regions (CDRs) of the TCRs. Here, I discuss both concepts and propose a different solution to ontogenetic mechanism for TCR‐MHC–conserved interaction. I suggest that double (CD4+CD8+)‐positive (DP) developing thymocytes compete with their αβTCRs for binding to self‐pMHC on cortical thymic epithelial cells (cTECs) that present a selected set of tissue‐restricted antigens. The competition between DPs involves TCR editing and secondary rearrangements, similar to germinal‐centre B cell somatic hypermutation. These processes would generate cells with higher TCR affinity for self‐pMHC, facilitating sufficiently long binding to cTECs to become thymic T regulatory cells (tTregs). Furthermore, CD4+Foxp3+tTregs can be generated by mTECs viaAire‐dependent andAire‐independent pathways, and additionally on thymic bone marrow–derived APCs including thymicAire‐expressing B cells. Thymic Tregs differ from the induced peripheral Tregs, which comprise the negative feedback loop to restrain immune responses. The implication of thymocytes’ competition for the highest binding to self‐pMHC is the co‐evolution of species‐specific αβTCR V regions with MHC alleles.
Gene modification by fast‐track recombineering for cellular localization and isolation of components of plant protein complexes
Authors: Hu Zhoubo , Ghosh Ajit , Stolze Sara C. , Horváth Mihály , Bai Bing , Schaefer Sabine , Zündorf Simone , Liu Shanda , Harzen Anne , Hajheidari Mohsen , Sarnowski Tomasz J. , Nakagami Hirofumi , Koncz Zsuzsa , Koncz Csaba
Published: July 2019

To accelerate the isolation of plant protein complexes and study cellular localization and interaction of their components, an improved recombineering protocol is described for simple and fast site‐directed modification of plant genes in bacterial artificial chromosomes (BACs). Coding sequences of fluorescent and affinity tags were inserted into genes and transferred together with flanking genomic sequences of desired size by recombination into Agrobacterium plant transformation vectors using three steps of E. coli transformation with PCR‐amplified DNA fragments. Application of fast‐track recombineering is illustrated by the simultaneous labelling of CYCLIN‐DEPENDENT KINASE D (CDKD) and CYCLIN H (CYCH) subunits of kinase module of TFIIH general transcription factor and the CDKD‐activating CDKF;1 kinase with green fluorescent protein (GFP) and mCherry (green and red fluorescent protein) tags, and a PIPL (His18‐StrepII‐HA) epitope. Functionality of modified CDKF;1 gene constructs is verified by complementation of corresponding T‐DNA insertion mutation. Interaction of CYCH with all three known CDKD homologues is confirmed by their co‐localization and co‐immunoprecipitation. Affinity purification and mass spectrometry analyses of CDKD;2, CYCH, and DNA‐replication‐coupled HISTONE H3.1 validate their association with conserved TFIIH subunits and components of CHROMATIN ASSEMBLY FACTOR 1, respectively. The results document that simple modification of plant gene products with suitable tags by fast‐track recombineering is well suited to promote a wide range of protein interaction and proteomics studies.
The impact of first‐aid dressing design on healing of porcine partial thickness wounds
Authors: Wlaschin Katie F. , Ninkovic Jana , Griesgraber George W. , Colak Atan Semra , Young Alexi J. , Pereira Junia M. , Solberg Michael J. , Smith Graham , Parks Patrick J. , McNulty Amy K. , Langer‐Anderson Delony L.
Published: July 2019

Literature describes that a well‐maintained moist wound healing environment leads to faster healing by preventing scabbing and drying of the wound. A moist wound speeds healing by allowing for unimpeded movement of newly dividing epidermal cells in the wound. Contrary to what is described in literature and practiced by clinicians, first‐aid dressings used at home by consumers advertise breathability and absorptivity as benefits. This manuscript examines the effects of dressing breathability and highly absorptive pads on healing and wound appearance in a porcine dermatome wound model, designed to mimic an abrasion injury. Partial thickness wounds were covered with an experimental silicone‐polymer film dressing and various over‐the‐counter bandages for time frames ranging from 4 to 11 days. The progression of healing was quantified by histology and wound‐size reduction measurements. The thickness and persistence of a scab or serocellular crust (SCC) over the injury was measured using both pixel density and optical coherence tomography to supplement visual observations, demonstrating new tools for quantification of SCC over wounds. The results of the experiments illustrate the impact of dressing features on the rate of wound reepithelialization and the formation of SCC. Both a low moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) and the absence of an absorptive layer were important in speeding wound healing. Surprisingly, use of a dressing with a low MVTR and a highly absorptive pad healed significantly more slowly than a comparative dressing with a low MVTR and no absorptive pad, even though both dressings had very little scab formation over the wound. This study shows that breathability and absorbency of dressings play independent roles in providing an optimal healing environment, and that these properties can vary widely among commercially available dressings.
Hemoglobin screening using cloud based mobile photography applications [Online First]
Authors: Wightman Rojas Pedro Mario , Mass Noriega Luis Alberto , Salazar Silva Augusto
Published: July 2019

Objective: This paper aims to present Selfienemia, a novel non-invasive hemoglobin estimation mobile application working under controlled illumination conditions. Materials and methods: Mobile application was supported by a parameter optimization and curve fitting backend in the cloud to provide dynamic and device independent results based on a-priori observations and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) color scale.  Thirty-four and sixty-four individuals were involved during both the mobile app training and posterior blind test respectively. Results: Selfienemia (Mobile App) was found to be suitable as a non-invasive hemoglobin estimation tool. Estimation levels showed high correlation against the gold standard invasive test. Skin pigmentation and color components were found to have specific relationships labeling individuals within one Hb concentration group. Conclusion: Selfienemia may provide an effective way to screen hemoglobin in medical shortage situations. However, it still can’t replace traditional invasive testing. Future work must include testing additional fitting techniques for illumination aware scenarios as well as quantification of skin pigmentation effects on estimation results.
Novel computational approach to solve convolutional integral equations: method of sampling for one dimension [Online First]
Authors: Paez Rueda Carlos Ivan , Bustamante Miller Roberto
Published: July 2019

Objective: This paper proposes a new methodology to solve one-dimensional cases of integral equations with difference kernels using Fourier analysis. Methodology: In this study, it was proven that any Fredholm equation of the first kind can be expressed as an extended convolutional problem; consequently, a new approach to solve that problem, using the nonideal instantaneous sampling theory and Fourier analysis, can be developed. Results and Discussion: The proposal was extensively evaluated and compared with the method of moments by considering two benchmarks. The first was a narrowband problem related to a second-order differential equation with specific boundaries. The second was a standard wideband problem related to wire antenna radiation in electrodynamics, known as the Pocklington equation. In both cases, we derived new interpretations and different approaches to solve the problems efficiently. Conclusions: The new proposal generalized the method of moments via new interpretations, strategies and design rules. We found that the techniques based on the method of moments are point-matching procedures independent of the weighting functions; the basis functions can be designed as generalized interpolation functions with more information provided by the original domain; the weighting functions literally represent a sampled linear filter; the unknown continuous function can be approximated without using the classical variational approach; and several new strategies based on the Fourier transform can be used to reduce the computational cost
Acoustic noise and vision differentially warp the auditory categorization of speech
Authors: Bidelman Gavin M. , Sigley Lauren , Lewis Gwyneth A.
Published: July 2019

Speech perception requires grouping acoustic information into meaningful linguistic-phonetic units via categorical perception (CP). Beyond shrinking observers' perceptual space, CP might aid degraded speech perception if categories are more resistant to noise than surface acoustic features. Combining audiovisual (AV) cues also enhances speech recognition, particularly in noisy environments. This study investigated the degree to which visual cues from a talker (i.e., mouth movements) aid speech categorization amidst noise interference by measuring participants' identification of clear and noisy speech (0 dB signal-to-noise ratio) presented in auditory-only or combined AV modalities (i.e., A, A+noise, AV, AV+noise conditions). Auditory noise expectedly weakened (i.e., shallower identification slopes) and slowed speech categorization. Interestingly, additional viseme cues largely counteracted noise-related decrements in performance and stabilized classification speeds in both clear and noise conditions suggesting more precise acoustic-phonetic representations with multisensory information. Results are parsimoniously described under a signal detection theory framework and by a reduction (visual cues) and increase (noise) in the precision of perceptual object representation, which were not due to lapses of attention or guessing. Collectively, findings show that (i) mapping sounds to categories aids speech perception in “cocktail party” environments; (ii) visual cues help lattice formation of auditory-phonetic categories to enhance and refine speech identification.
Rapid approach to complex boronic acids
Authors: Neochoritis Constantinos G. , Shaabani Shabnam , Ahmadianmoghaddam Maryam , Zarganes-Tzitzikas Tryfon , Gao Li , Novotná Michaela , Mitríková Tatiana , Romero Atilio Reyes , Irianti Marina Ika , Xu Ruixue , Olechno Joe , Ellson Richard , Helan Victoria , Kossenjans Michael , Groves Matthew R. , Dömling Alexander
Published: July 2019

Nanoliter acoustic dispensing technology is an efficient way to synthesize large, diverse, and complex libraries of boronic acids.
Carbon and sulfur isotopes in tree rings as a proxy for volcanic degassing
Authors: D’Arcy Fiona , Boucher Étienne , De Moor J. Maarten , Hélie Jean-François , Piggott Robert , Stix John
Published: July 2019

Trees are useful archives of past atmospheric conditions. They have most commonly been used to infer large-scale changes in climate, industrial pollution, and the magnitude and frequency of geological hazards. While geochemical changes in tree rings have been linked to localized anthropogenic smelter pollution, their potential to track geochemical changes in volcanic degassing has not yet been fully realized. Here, we applied a new proxy using sulfur and carbon isotopes in tree rings to examine fluctuations in gas emission at Turrialba volcano, Costa Rica. Since 2009, Turrialba has emitted a persistent gas plume and increasingly frequent explosions and ash eruptions as activity has accelerated. We collected cores from a species of alder tree, Alnus acuminata, at several locations surrounding the volcano. Biannual isotopic analysis of rings demonstrated a notable δ34S shift of –5.2‰ and a similarly sharp δ13C shift of +1.3‰ in trees downwind of the plume following the onset of strong degassing in 2009. We propose that these shifts in the isotopic values of the tree correspond to those of the volcanic SO2 and CO2, and in the case of the δ13C, an additional fractionation caused by leaf impairment from exposure to volcanic SO2. This new proxy can be applied to other volcanoes as a novel method of obtaining a temporal record of degassing, a crucial tool for volcano monitoring.