bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
AGE AND ITS RELATION TO CRIME IN TAIWAN AND THE UNITED STATES: INVARIANT, OR DOES CULTURAL CONTEXT MATTER?*
Authors: STEFFENSMEIER DARRELL , ZHONG HUA , LU YUNMEI
Published: April 2017

Current empirical and theoretical understanding of the relation between age and crime is based almost entirely on data from the United States and a few prototypical Western societies for which age‐specific crime information across offense types is available. By using Western databases, Hirschi and Gottfredson (1983) projected that the age distribution of crime is always and everywhere robustly right‐skewed (i.e., sharp adolescent peak)—a thesis that is both contested and widely accepted in criminology and social science writings. In the study described here, we tested this age–crime invariance thesis by comparing age–crime patterns in Taiwan (a non‐Western Chinese society) with those in the United States. In light of Taiwan's collectivist culture versus the U.S. individualist gestalt, we anticipated more divergence than homogeneity in their age–crime schedules. Our findings show robust divergence in Taiwan's age–crime patterns compared with U.S. patterns and the reverted J‐shaped norm projected by Hirschi and Gottfredson. Implications for research and theory on the age–crime relation and for studying human development or life‐course topics more broadly are discussed.
Evaluation of the Chinese herbal medicine Jinlida in type 2 diabetes patients based on stratification: Results of subgroup analysis from a 12‐week trial
Authors: Tian Jiaxing , Lian Fengmei , Yang Libo , Tong Xiaolin
Published: April 2017

Background

The Chinese herbal medicine Jinlida can significantly enhance the hypoglycemic action of metformin. However, the population showing the best responses to Jinlida has not been clarified. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficacy of Jinlida in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) after stratification.

Methods

Data were analyzed from a 12‐week randomized placebo‐controlled double‐blind multicenter study with 192 T2DM patients (186 completed the study). The efficacy evaluation included HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and 2‐h postprandial glucose (2hPG) levels stratified by baseline HbA1c, sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and duration of T2DM diagnosis. Homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA‐IR) and homeostatic model assessment of β‐cell function (HOMA‐β) were also evaluated stratified by baseline insulin levels.

Results

In the Jinlida group, HbA1c was significantly reduced (P < 0.05). Greater reductions were observed in patients with baseline HbA1c >8.5%, in males and in those aged >60 years, with a BMI ≤24 kg/m2, or with a duration of T2DM diagnosis >5 years (P < 0.05). Compared with baseline, Jinlida significantly alleviated insulin resistance (P < 0.05) in patients with baseline insulin levels >20 mU/L. Jinlida also significantly improved β‐cell function in patients with baseline insulin levels ≤20 mU/L (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Jinlida significantly improved glycemic control, with greater improvements in patients with poor glycemic control and male, elderly, of normal weight, or with a long disease course. Furthermore, Jinlida alleviated insulin resistance with hyperinsulinemia and promoted insulin secretion with hypoinsulinemia. These results need to be further confirmed in clinical trials.
Allometric equations for yield predictions of enset (Ensete ventricosum) and khat (Catha edulis) grown in home gardens of southern Ethiopia
Authors: Mellisse B.T. , Descheemaeker K. , Mourik M.J. , van de Ven G.W.J.
Published: April 2017

Enset is a large, single‐stemmed perennial herbaceous plant domesticated as a staple food crop only in Ethiopia. Khat is a perennial plant cultivated for its economically important leaves and twigs that are the sources of stimulant when chewed. We address the issue of yield estimation of both crops, as they are important for the livelihoods of smallholders in the home garden systems in Southern Ethiopia and have received little attention so far. The objective of this study was to develop linear allometric models for estimating the edible (food and feed) and commercial yields of enset and khat plants, respectively. Data were collected from 20 enset and 100 khat plants. Diameter at 50‐cm height (d50), pseudostem height (hp) and their combination were good predictor variables for the food products of enset with adjusted R2 values above 0.85, while d50, hp, edible pseudostem height (hep), total height (ht) and their combination were good predictor variables for the feed products of enset with adjusted R2 values above 0.70. For dwarf khat plants crown area (ca) combined with total height (ht) resulted in the best prediction with an adjusted R2 of 0.77, while the leaf and twig dry weight for tall khat plants was best predicted by ca with adjusted R2 of 0.43. In all cases linear models were used.
Methodological Reflections on the Contribution of Qualitative Research to the Evaluation of Clinical Ethics Support Services
Authors: Wäscher Sebastian , Salloch Sabine , Ritter Peter , Vollmann Jochen , Schildmann Jan
Published: April 2017

This article describes a process of developing, implementing and evaluating a clinical ethics support service intervention with the goal of building up a context‐sensitive structure of minimal clinical‐ethics in an oncology department without prior clinical ethics structure. Scholars from different disciplines have called for an improvement in the evaluation of clinical ethics support services (CESS) for different reasons over several decades. However, while a lot has been said about the concepts and methodological challenges of evaluating CESS up to the present time, relatively few empirical studies have been carried out. The aim of this article is twofold. On the one hand, it describes a process of development, modifying and evaluating a CESS intervention as part of the ETHICO research project, using the approach of qualitative‐formative evaluation. On the other hand, it provides a methodological analysis which specifies the contribution of qualitative empirical methods to the (formative) evaluation of CESS. We conclude with a consideration of the strengths and limitations of qualitative evaluation research with regards to the evaluation and development of context sensitive CESS. We further discuss our own approach in contrast to rather traditional consult or committee models.
Effect of weight reduction on glycated haemoglobin in weight loss trials in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Gummesson Anders , Nyman Elisabeth , Knutsson Mikael , Karpefors Martin
Published: April 2017

Aim

To quantify the effect of weight loss on glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) at group level, based on data from published weight loss trials in overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods

A systematic literature search in MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane CENTRAL (January 1990 through December 2012) was conducted to identify prospective trials of energy‐reduced diets, obesity drugs or bariatric surgery in adult, overweight and obese patients with T2D. Based on clinical data with follow‐up from 3 to 24 months, a linear model was developed to describe the effect of weight reduction on HbA1c.

Results

The literature search identified 58 eligible articles consisting of 124 treatment groups and 17 204 subjects, yielding a total of 250 data points with concurrent mean changes from baseline in weight and HbA1c. The model‐based analyses indicated a linear relationship between weight loss and HbA1c reduction, with an estimated mean HbA1c reduction of 0.1 percentage points for each 1 kg of reduced body weight for the overall population. Baseline HbA1c was a significant covariate for the relationship between weight loss and HbA1c: high HbA1c at baseline was associated with a greater reduction in HbA1c for the same degree of weight loss. The collected trial data also indicated weight‐loss‐dependent reductions in antidiabetic medication.

Conclusions

At group level, weight loss in obese and overweight patients with T2D was consistently accompanied by HbA1c reduction in a dose‐dependent manner. The model developed in the present study estimates that for each kg of mean weight loss, there is a mean HbA1c reduction of 0.1 percentage points. HbA1c‐lowering is greater in populations with poor glycaemic control than in well controlled populations with the same degree of weight loss. This summary of data from previous trials regarding the effect of weight reduction on HbA1c may be used to support the design and interpretation of future studies that aim to demonstrate the efficacy of weight loss interventions for T2D treatment.
Effects of dapagliflozin on insulin‐requirement, glucose excretion and ß‐hydroxybutyrate levels are not related to baseline HbA1c in youth with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Biester Torben , Aschemeier Baerbel , Fath Maryam , Frey Marcel , Scheerer Markus F. , Kordonouri Olga , Danne Thomas
Published: April 2017

Youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) infrequently achieve HbA1c targets. Therefore, this placebo‐controlled, randomized, crossover study was set up to assess the safety, effect and pharmacokinetics of a single dose of 10 mg dapagliflozin (DAPA) as add‐on to insulin in relationship to HbA1c in youth. A total of 33 youths (14 males, median age 16 years, diabetes duration 8 years) were included and stratified into 3 baseline HbA1c categories (<7.5%, 7.5%‐9.0% or >9.0; n = 11 each). During the study period of 24 hours, intravenous insulin administration and glucose‐infusion kept blood glucose levels at 160 to 220 mg/dL. DAPA reduced mean insulin dose by 13.6% (
P
 < .0001 by ANOVA) and increased urinary glucose excretion by 610% (143.4 vs 22.4 g/24 h;
P
 < .0001), both irrespective of baseline HbA1c. Six independent episodes in 6 patients with plasma ß‐hydroxybutyrate levels between ≥0.6 and <1.0 mmol/L were observed after liquid meal challenges, 5 episodes in the DAPA group and 1 in the placebo group. This study provides a proof‐of‐concept, irrespective of preexisting HbA1c levels, for adjunct SGLT2‐inhibitor therapy in the paediatric age group by lowering insulin dose and increasing glucose excretion.
Split tasks of asymmetric nucleotide‐binding sites in the heterodimeric ABC exporter EfrCD
Authors: Hürlimann Lea M. , Hohl Michael , Seeger Markus A.
Published: April 2017

Many heterodimeric ATP‐binding cassette (ABC) exporters evolved asymmetric ATP‐binding sites containing a degenerate site incapable of ATP hydrolysis due to noncanonical substitutions in conserved sequence motifs. Recent studies revealed that nucleotide binding to the degenerate site stabilizes contacts between the nucleotide‐binding domains (NBDs) of the inward‐facing transporter and regulates ATP hydrolysis at the consensus site via allosteric coupling mediated by the D‐loops. However, it is unclear whether nucleotide binding to the degenerate site is strictly required for substrate transport. In this study, we examined the functional consequences of a systematic set of mutations introduced at the degenerate and consensus site of the multidrug efflux pump EfrCD of Enterococcus faecalis. Mutating motifs which differ among the two ATP‐binding sites (Walker B, switch loop, and ABC signature) or which are involved in interdomain communication (D‐loop and Q‐loop) led to asymmetric results in the functional assays and were better tolerated at the degenerate site. This highlights the importance of the degenerate site to allosterically regulate the events at the consensus site. Mutating invariant motifs involved in ATP binding and NBD closure (A‐loop and Walker A) resulted in equally reduced transport activities, regardless at which ATP‐binding site they were introduced. In contrast to previously investigated heterodimeric ABC exporters, mutation of the degenerate site Walker A lysine completely inactivated ATPase activity and substrate transport, indicating that ATP binding to the degenerate site is essential for EfrCD. This study provides novel insights into the split tasks of asymmetric ATP‐binding sites of heterodimeric ABC exporters.
Editorial: Finding the silver lining: incorporating resilience and adaptiveness into studies of psychopathology
Authors: Burt S. Alexandra
Published: April 2017

The editor muses about studies that might complement and enhance current etiologic studies of psychopathology, many of which focus on monotonically increasing maladaptative outcomes in response to increasing levels of risk/vulnerability. More meaningful and consistent considerations of the resilience counterfactual (e.g., Why are some youth with a given neural deficit unaffected? Why are some youth exposed to a given adversity unaffected?) should strengthen our causal inferences. We might also more frequently test for U‐shaped associations with outcome (e.g., Does level of psychopathology predict deleterious outcomes in a dose‐response fashion, or is the association curvilinear whereby moderate predict good outcomes?). In line with the latter, we might also more frequently consider the adaptive value of the disorder in evolutionary terms (e.g., Why is this disorder still part of the human repertoire? What might be its adaptive value for the species?).
An Evaluation of Benchmarks for Esthetic Orientation of the Occlusal Plane
Authors: Priest George , Wilson Michael G.
Published: April 2017

Purpose

This patient study was designed to measure the validity of both the horizontal and Camper's planes, which are used as benchmarks to reestablish the sagittal orientation of the occlusal plane angles in dental rehabilitation.

Materials and Methods

Profile digital photographs were made of the first 100 consenting dentate patients as they closed on an occlusal plane analyzer while maintaining natural head posture. Using a digital screen protractor, three angles were measured: the occlusal plane angle relative to the horizontal plane, and the angle between the occlusal plane and Camper's plane from both the superior and inferior borders of the tragus of the ear.

Results

The angle between the occlusal plane and the horizontal reference plane for the 100 patients ranged from –8.72° to +18.08° (mean +3.25°); the angle between the occlusal plane and Camper's plane, from the superior border of the tragus to the ala of the nose demonstrated a range from –8.49° to +15.16° (mean +3.03°); and the angle between Camper's plane, from the inferior border of the tragus to the ala of the nose and the occlusal plane demonstrated a range from –15.57° to +9.15° (mean –4.09°).

Conclusions

Occlusal plane angles measured in this patient population with natural dentitions demonstrated a relatively small mean deviation from both the horizontal plane and Camper's plane when using the superior border of the tragus as the distal reference point, but the range was quite broad and could result in unacceptable occlusal plane angles in many patients undergoing dental rehabilitation. Clinical Implications: Both Camper's plane and the horizontal reference plane may be acceptable initial reference planes for oral rehabilitation, but additional anatomic and esthetic parameters are required for verification of an esthetically pleasing occlusal plane angle.
BATNAs in Negotiation: Common Errors and Three Kinds of “No”
Authors: Sebenius James K.
Published: April 2017

The best alternative to a negotiated agreement (“BATNA”) concept in negotiation has proven to be immensely useful. In tandem with its value in practice, BATNA has become a wildly successful acronym (with more than 14 million Google results). But the initial characterization of this concept in Getting to Yes (Fisher, Ury, and Patton 1991), as well as many later interpretations, can be problematic, limiting, and even misleading in several ways, which this article analyzes and illustrates. First, early characterizations could be easily read to imply that one's BATNA could not itself be a negotiated agreement. Second, and more seriously, common descriptions of one's BATNA as the “best outside option, independent of the other side” needlessly limit its applicability, especially in the many bargaining relationships in which BATNAs are inherently interdependent. Third, BATNAs are often mistakenly described mainly as “last resorts” relevant only in case of impasse or “if the other side is more powerful.” Other uses of the term “BATNA” such as the common question, “How do I negotiate if I have no BATNA?” reflect misconceptions. Although savvy negotiators and analysts generally avoid these pitfalls, the less sophisticated can go astray. This article offers robust correctives to these misimpressions and relates these to three different kinds of “no” in negotiation: a “tactical no,” a “reset no” that permits away‐from‐the‐table moves to favorably alter the underlying setup, and a “final no.”
The Effects of Perceived Procedural Justice on Conflict Management between Spouses, and the Mediating Role of Dyadic Adjustment
Authors: Peleg‐Koriat Inbal , Nelson Noa , Ben‐ari Rachel
Published: April 2017

In this study, we examined the role that perceived procedural justice (PPJ) plays in the conflict management behaviors that intimate spouses adopt and endorse. In this context, PPJ has been defined as the degree to which one perceives that his or her spouse makes decisions fairly, considerately, and in a participatory manner. To test the impact of perceived procedural justice on conflict resolution behavior, we applied the dual‐concern model of conflict management style. In an experiment in which participants read fictional scenarios and predicted spouses’ responses, we found that perceptions of strong PPJ enhanced the prediction of integrating (problem solving), compromising, and, to a lesser degree, obliging behavior. Perceived procedural justice also caused a reduction in avoidance behavior, but no effect we found on dominating (competing) behavior.

In a following correlational study, we also found that PPJ positively correlated to enhanced integrating, compromising, and obliging behaviors, and these correlations were partially or fully mediated by the degree of “dyadic adjustment,” which is a measure of relationship health. In addition, in this second study, we found no correlation between perceived procedural justice and dominating or avoiding behavior.

In both studies, participants either predicted or chose collaborative behaviors more than non‐collaborative ones. We conclude that the perception that one's partner is behaving in a procedurally just way can enhance active and egalitarian collaboration in marriage and other intimate partner relationships, but that the absence of PPJ does not seem to encourage active non‐collaboration, particularly not highly self‐centered dominating behavior.
More than Just Insults: Rethinking Sociology's Contribution to Scholarship on Racial Microaggressions
Authors: Embrick David G. , Domínguez Silvia , Karsak Baran
Published: April 2017

Our goal with this special issue is to expand currently untapped ideas about racial microaggressions from a sociological point of view. As noted, research on this issue comes largely out of psychiatry, psychology, and education—disciplines that tend to place less emphasis on structural and institutional causes of racism. There is a need for more sociologically guided research to examine how subtle, covert, and non‐apparent forms of racism affect minorities physiologically, psychologically, and emotionally—and how these micronooses can best be understood in a larger context of structural racism. Examination of racial microaggressions from a sociological point of view promises additional insight to help understand the complexities of contemporary race and racism in America and abroad.
Management of endometriosis‐related pelvic pain
Authors: Hoo Wee‐Liak , Hardcastle Rebecca , Louden Keith
Published: April 2017

Key content

The variable signs and symptoms of endometriosis contribute to significant diagnostic delay.

Empirical hormonal treatment of endometriosis‐related pain with cycle suppression may be considered without a definitive diagnosis of endometriosis.

When considering laparoscopy to diagnose and treat endometriosis, a balance must be found between the need to avoid the very long diagnostic delays currently experienced and the likelihood of treatment benefits, set against the cost and risk of laparoscopy.

Treatment for endometriosis‐related pain symptoms includes a range of medical and surgical options with varying levels of evidence.

Minimally invasive surgery should be performed by a surgeon trained to undertake surgical treatment for mild to moderate disease, thereby avoiding the need for repeat laparoscopy in the absence of severe disease, i.e. a ‘see and treat’ policy.

Women with deep infiltrating endometriosis should be referred to an accredited endometriosis centre, such as the British Society for Gynaecological Endoscopy (BSGE) in the UK.

Learning objectives

To understand the diagnostic difficulties surrounding endometriosis diagnosis and management.

To identify the supporting evidence for treating endometriosis‐related pain.

Ethical issues

When should laparoscopy for women with minimal endometriosis symptoms be performed?

Should radical surgery always be performed in women in whom deep infiltrating endometriosis is found?
Rapoport–Zink spaces for spinor groups
Authors: Howard Benjamin , Pappas Georgios
Published: April 2017

After the work of Kisin, there is a good theory of canonical integral models of Shimura varieties of Hodge type at primes of good reduction. The first part of this paper develops a theory of Hodge type Rapoport–Zink formal schemes, which uniformize certain formal completions of such integral models. In the second part, the general theory is applied to the special case of Shimura varieties associated with groups of spinor similitudes, and the reduced scheme underlying the Rapoport–Zink space is determined explicitly.
Vibration Control of Two-Degree-of-Freedom Structures Utilizing Sloshing in Nearly Square Tanks
Authors: Ikeda Takashi , Harata Yuji , Ninomiya Shota
Published: April 2017

This paper investigates the vibration control of a towerlike structure with degrees of freedom utilizing a square or nearly square tuned liquid damper (TLD) when the structure is subjected to horizontal, harmonic excitation. In the theoretical analysis, when the two natural frequencies of the two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) structure nearly equal those of the two predominant sloshing modes, the tuning condition, 1:1:1:1, is nearly satisfied. Galerkin's method is used to derive the modal equations of motion for sloshing. The nonlinearity of the hydrodynamic force due to sloshing is considered in the equations of motion for the 2DOF structure. Linear viscous damping terms are incorporated into the modal equations to consider the damping effect of sloshing. Van der Pol's method is employed to determine the expressions for the frequency response curves. The influences of the excitation frequency, the tank installation angle, and the aspect ratio of the tank cross section on the response curves are examined. The theoretical results show that whirling motions and amplitude-modulated motions (AMMs), including chaotic motions, may occur in the structure because swirl motions and Hopf bifurcations, followed by AMMs, appear in the tank. It is also found that a square TLD works more effectively than a conventional rectangular TLD, and its performance is further improved when the tank width is slightly increased and the installation angle is equal to zero. Experiments were conducted in order to confirm the validity of the theoretical results.
Cartilage Stiffness and Knee Loads Distribution: A Discrete Model for Landing Impacts
Authors: Moir Lindsay , Piovesan Davide , Schmitz Anne
Published: April 2017

Musculoskeletal simulations can be used to determine loads experienced by the ligaments and cartilage during athletic motions such as impact from a drop landing, hence investigating mechanisms for injury. An open-source discrete element knee model was used to perform a forward dynamic simulation of the impact phase of a drop landing. The analysis was performed for varying moduli: nominal stiffness based on the literature, stiffness increased by 10%, and decreased by 10%. As the cartilage stiffness increased, the medial compartment contact load decreased. Conversely, the lateral compartment load and medial collateral ligament (MCL) force increased, causing a shift in the load distribution. However, these changes were insignificant compared to the overall magnitude of the contact forces (<4% change). The anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), and lateral collateral ligament (LCL) loads remain unchanged between varying cartilage stiffness values. The medial compartment bears a majority of the load (860 N in the medial compartment versus 540 N in the lateral) during the impact phase of a drop landing, which agrees with physiological data that the medial side of the knee is more affected by osteoarthritis (OA) than the lateral side. The model was then simplified using a linear Kelvin–Voight model for the cartilage and linear pretensioned springs representing the cumulative ligament bundles. This allowed for a validation of the system and the extrapolation of the results as the mass and cartilage stiffness varied. This is one of the few studies to quantify this load distribution and shows that the results are invariant to changes in cartilage stiffness. This effect is due to the precompression system created by the coordinated action of cartilage and ligaments.
An Indirect Indentation Method for Evaluating the Linear Viscoelastic Properties of the Brain Tissue
Authors: Samadi-Dooki Aref , Voyiadjis George Z. , Stout Rhett W.
Published: April 2017

Indentation experiments offer a robust, fast, and repeatable testing method for evaluating the mechanical properties of the solid-state materials in a wide stiffness range. With the advantage of requiring a minimal sample preparation and multiple tests on a small piece of specimen, this method has recently become a popular technique for measuring the elastic properties of the biological materials, especially the brain tissue whose ultrasoft nature makes its mechanical characterization very challenging. Nevertheless, some limitations are associated with the indentation of the brain tissue, such as improper surface detection, negative initial contact force due to tip-tissue moisture interaction, and partial contact between the tip and the sample. In this study, an indirect indentation scheme is proposed to overcome the aforementioned difficulties. In this way, the indentation force is transferred from a sharp tip to the surface of the tissue slices via a rigid coverslip. To demonstrate the accuracy of this method, the linear viscoelastic properties of the white and gray matters of the bovine brain samples are measured by imposing small cyclic loads at different frequencies. The rate, regional, directional, and postmortem time dependence of the viscoelastic moduli are investigated and compared with the previous results from cyclic shear and monotonic experiments on the brain tissue. While findings of this research present a comprehensive set of information for the viscoelastic properties of the brain at a wide frequency range, the central goal of this paper is to introduce a novel experimentation technique with noticeable advantages for biomechanical characterization of the soft tissue.
Determining magnetic susceptibilities of everyday materials using an electronic balance
Authors: Laumann Daniel , Heusler Stefan
Published: April 2017

The magnetic properties of an object and its interaction with an external magnetic field can be described through the magnetic (volume) susceptibility χV, which divides nearly all kinds of matter into diamagnetic, paramagnetic, and ferromagnetic substances. Quantitative measurements of χV are usually technically sophisticated or require the investigation of substances with high values of χV to reveal meaningful results. Here, we show that both diamagnetic and paramagnetic effects in everyday materials can be measured using only an electronic balance and a neodymium magnet, both of which are within the reach of typical introductory college and high school physics classrooms. The experimental results match related literature values remarkably well.
The GAN Exonuclease or the Flap Endonuclease Fen1 and RNase HII Are Necessary for Viability of Thermococcus kodakarensis
Authors: Burkhart Brett W. , Cubonova Lubomira , Heider Margaret R. , Kelman Zvi , Reeve John N. , Santangelo Thomas J.
Published: April 2017

Many aspects of and factors required for DNA replication are conserved across all three domains of life, but there are some significant differences surrounding lagging-strand synthesis. In
Archaea
, a 5′-to-3′ exonuclease, related to both bacterial RecJ and eukaryotic Cdc45, that associates with the replisome specifically through interactions with GINS was identified and designated GAN (for
G
INS-
a
ssociated
n
uclease). Despite the presence of a well-characterized flap endonuclease (Fen1), it was hypothesized that GAN might participate in primer removal during Okazaki fragment maturation, and as a Cdc45 homologue, GAN might also be a structural component of an archaeal CMG (Cdc45, MCM, and GINS) replication complex. We demonstrate here that, individually, either Fen1 or GAN can be deleted, with no discernible effects on viability and growth. However, deletion of both Fen1 and GAN was not possible, consistent with both enzymes catalyzing the same step in primer removal from Okazaki fragments
in vivo
. RNase HII has also been proposed to participate in primer processing during Okazaki fragment maturation. Strains with both Fen1 and RNase HII deleted grew well. GAN activity is therefore sufficient for viability in the absence of both RNase HII and Fen1, but it was not possible to construct a strain with both RNase HII and GAN deleted. Fen1 alone is therefore insufficient for viability in the absence of both RNase HII and GAN. The ability to delete GAN demonstrates that GAN is not required for the activation or stability of the archaeal MCM replicative helicase.

IMPORTANCE
The mechanisms used to remove primer sequences from Okazaki fragments during lagging-strand DNA replication differ in the biological domains. Bacteria use the exonuclease activity of DNA polymerase I, whereas eukaryotes and archaea encode a flap endonuclease (Fen1) that cleaves displaced primer sequences. RNase HII and the GINS-associated exonuclease GAN have also been hypothesized to assist in primer removal in
Archaea
. Here we demonstrate that in
Thermococcus kodakarensis
, either Fen1 or GAN activity is sufficient for viability. Furthermore, GAN can support growth in the absence of both Fen1 and RNase HII, but Fen1 and RNase HII are required for viability in the absence of GAN.
Long-term cost reduction of routine medications following a residential programme combining physical activity and nutrition in the treatment of type 2 diabetes: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Lanhers Charlotte , Walther Guillaume , Chapier Robert , Lesourd Bruno , Naughton Geraldine , Pereira Bruno , Duclos Martine , Vinet Agnès , Obert Philippe , Courteix Daniel , Dutheil Frédéric
Published: April 2017

Objectives

To demonstrate that lifestyle modifications will reduce the cost of routine medications in individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D), through a mechanism involving glycaemic control.

Design

A within-trial cost-medication analysis with a 1-year time horizon.

Setting

Controlled environment within the spa resort of Chatel-Guyon, France.

Participants

Twenty-nine participants (aged 50–70 years) with T2D.

Interventions

A 1-year follow-up intervention, beginning with a 3-week residential programme combining high exercise volume (15–20 hours/week), restrictive diet (−500 kcal/day) and education. Participants continued their routine medication, independently managed by their general practitioner.

Main outcome measures

Number of medications, number of pills, cost of medications and health-related outcomes.

Results

Twenty-six participants completed the 1-year intervention. At 1 year, 14 patients out of 26 (54%) stopped/decreased their medications whereas only 5 (19%) increased or introduced new drugs (χ2=6.3, p=0.02). The number of pills per day decreased by 1.3±0.3 at 12 months (p<0.001). The annual cost of medications for T2D were lower at 1 year (€135.1±43.9) versus baseline (€212.6±35.8) (p=0.03). The regression coefficients on costs of routine medication were 0.507 (95% CI 0.056 to 0.959, p=0.027) for HbA1c and 0.156 (95% CI −0.010 to 0.322, p=0.06) for blood glucose levels. Diabetics patients with HbA1c >6.5% in the highest (last) quartile doubled their routine medication costs (66% vs 33%, p=0.037).

Conclusions

Individuals with T2D reduced routine medication costs following a long-term lifestyle intervention that started with a 3-week residential programme. Combining high exercise volume, restrictive diet and education effectively supported the health of T2D. The main factor explaining reduced medication costs was better glycaemic control, independent of weight changes. Despite limitations precluding generalisability, cost-effective results of reduced medication should contribute to the evidence base required to promote lifestyle interventions for individuals with T2D.

Trial registration number

NCT00917917; Post-results.
Evolution of boldness and life history in response to selective harvesting
Authors: Andersen Ken H. , Marty Lise , Arlinghaus Robert
Published: April 2017

Whether intensive harvesting alters the behavioral repertoire of exploited fishes is currently unknown, but plausible. We extend a fish life-history model to account for boldness as a personality trait that affects foraging intensity, which affects energy intake and risk from predation and fishing gear. We systematically investigate life-history and behavioral trait evolution along the boldness–timidity axis in response to the full range of common selectivity and exploitation patterns in fisheries. In agreement with previous studies, we find that any type of harvesting selects for fast life histories and that merely elevated, yet unselective, fishing mortality favors boldness. We also find that timid-selective fishing (which can be expected in species targeted by active gear types) selects for increased boldness. By contrast, increased timidity is predicted when fishing targets bolder individuals common to passive gears, whether in combination with selection on size or not. Altered behavior caused by intensive harvesting should be commonplace in nature, which can have far-reaching ecological, evolutionary, and managerial impacts. Evolution of timidity is expected to strongly erode catchability, which will negatively affect human well-being and influence the reliability of stock assessments that rely on fishery-dependent data.
Bornane[2,3-b]pyrazino-fused [30]trithiadodecaazahexaphyrin. Synthesis, acid-base behavior and nickel(II) coordination ability
Authors: Lomova Tatyana N. , Filatov Maxim S. , Islyaikin Mikhail K.
Published: April 2017

Polydentate ligand-bornane[2,3-b]pyrazino-fused [30]trithiadodecaazahexaphyrin has been synthesized by crossover condensation of the racemic mixture of (R/S)-bornane[2[Formula: see text],3[Formula: see text]-b]-2,3-dicyanopyrazine and 2,5-diamino-1,3,4-thiadiazole. Its coordination ability, acid-base behavior and stability were studied by chemical kinetics/thermodynamics, UV-vis spectrophotometry and quantum chemical DFT/B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) methods. The fourth-order kinetic equation with the kinetic constant of 3.38 × 108 s[Formula: see text].mol3.L[Formula: see text] and the association mechanism according to the Langford−Gray classification were established for the fused [30]trithiadodecaazahexaphyrin–nickel diacetate–DMF system. The stepwise protonation of macrocyclic ligand with p[Formula: see text] of -1.41 in CH2Cl2-CF3COOH mixtures at the Hammett acidity functions ([Formula: see text] changed from -2.0 to 2.0 and quantitative parameters of ligand stability in AcOH–H2SO4 mixtures was obtained. The chemical structure of protonated forms and ligand destruction mechanism have been proposed. The obtained results are of interest for development of technological regulations of complex formation and for the transition to the hetero nuclear complexes.
10 Years of Networking Networking Women
Authors: Jaffrès-Runser Katia , Rollins Sami , Camp Tracy , Heinzelman Wendi
Published: April 2017

Networking Networking Women (N2Women) celebrated its 10-year anniversary at the fifth N2Women Workshop co-located with MobiCom 2016. Founded in 2006 by Tracy Camp and Wendi Heinzelman, N2Women is a discipline-specific community for researchers in the communications and networking field. The main goal of N2Women is to foster connections among the underrepresented women in computer networking and related research fields. N2Women allows women to connect with other women who share the same research interests, who attend the same conferences, who face the same career hurdles, and who share common career objectives.
Thermal Esophageal Injury following Ingestion of Boiling Mushroom Water
Authors: Prevost Allison , Talley Adam , Klepper Emily , McDonough Elizabeth
Published: April 2017

Thermal esophageal and gastric damage from ingestion of hot liquids is poorly studied in pediatrics. Limited case reports exist in the literature. Many cases presented with chest pain, dysphagia, and odynophagia. Variable histologic findings were reported. No definitive management guidelines exist for such injuries. We provide a report of the acute assessment and management of an obvious thermal esophageal injury and contribute to what is known about this presentation. A 16-year-old male presented with odynophagia, dysphagia, and hematemesis following ingestion of “nearly boiling” mushroom water. Ondansetron, pantoprazole, ketorolac, maintenance intravenous fluids, and a clear liquid diet were started. At sixty hours after ingestion, an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed blistering and edema of the soft palate and epiglottis, circumferential erythema of the entire esophagus with an exudate likely to be desquamated mucosa, and linear erythema of the body and fundus of the stomach. An EGD one month after ingestion showed no residual effects from the injury. The pantoprazole was weaned and restrictions to his diet were lifted. To better standardize care in these rare esophageal injuries, the development of a clinical care algorithm may be beneficial to provide clinicians with a guide for management based on outcomes of previously reported cases.
Exophiala (Wangiella) dermatitidis Prosthetic Aortic Valve Endocarditis and Prosthetic Graft Infection in an Immune Competent Patient
Authors: Berger Jay S. , Cusumano Lucas R. , Derose Joseph J. , Sarwar Uzma N.
Published: April 2017

Exophiala (Wangiella) dermatitidis is an emerging dematiaceous fungus associated with high mortality rates and is a rare cause of endocarditis. We describe the first case of E. dermatitidis endocarditis of a prosthetic aortic valve and aortic graft in an immune competent patient with no clear risk factors of hematological acquisition.
Novel Basic Block of Multilevel Inverter Using Reduced Number of On-State Switches and Cascaded Circuit Topology
Authors: Prayag Aparna , Bodkhe Sanjay
Published: April 2017

In this paper a basic block of novel topology of multilevel inverter is proposed. The proposed approach significantly requires reduced number of dc voltage sources and power switches to attain maximum number of output voltage levels. By connecting basic blocks in series a cascaded multilevel topology is developed. Each block itself is also a multilevel inverter. Analysis of proposed topology is carried out in symmetric as well as asymmetric operating modes. The topology is investigated through computer simulation using MATLAB/Simulink and validated experimentally on prototype in the laboratory.
Insulin Promotes the Proliferation of Human Umbilical Cord Matrix-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Activating the Akt-Cyclin D1 Axis
Authors: Li Peng , Wei Jinsong , Gao Xiang , Wei Bo , Lin Hao , Huang Rui , Niu Yanru , Lim Kyu , Jing Kaipeng , Chu Jiaqi
Published: April 2017

Background. The functions of insulin in mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) remain poorly understood.Methods.MSC from human umbilical cord matrix (UCM) cultured in serum-free media (SFM) with or without insulin were subjected to various molecular biological analyses to determine their proliferation and growth states, expression levels of Akt-cyclin D1 signaling molecules, and in vitro differentiation capacities.Results.Insulin accelerated the G1-S cell cycle progression of UCM-MSC and significantly stimulated their proliferation and growth in SFM. The pro-proliferative action of insulin was associated with augmented cyclin D1 and phosphorylated Akt expression levels. Akt inactivation remarkably abrogated insulin-induced increases in cyclin D1 expression and cell proliferation, indicating that insulin enhances the proliferation of UCM-MSC via acceleration of the G1-S transition mediated by the Akt-cyclin D1 pathway. Additionally, the UCM-MSC propagated in SFM supplemented with insulin exhibited similar specific surface antigen profiles and differentiation capacities as those generated in conventional media containing fetal bovine serum.Conclusions.These findings suggest that insulin acts solely to promote UCM-MSC proliferation without affecting their immunophenotype and differentiation potentials and thus have important implications for utilizing insulin to expand clinical-grade MSC in vitro.
Esthetic Rehabilitation with Direct Composite Veneering: A Report of 2 Cases
Authors: Sowmya Kyatham , Dwijendra K. S. , Pranitha V. , Roy Konda Karthik
Published: April 2017

Esthetic or cosmetic dentistry is one of the main areas of dental practice. Increasing demand of patients for esthetics has resulted in the development of several techniques for restoring the anterior teeth. Composite resin restorations have become an integral part of contemporary restorative dentistry and can be called “star of minimal invasion” due to its conservative concepts. The direct composite veneering allows restoring the tooth in a natural way and preservation of sound tooth structure when compared to indirect restorations. This article presents two case reports of esthetic rehabilitation of anterior teeth using direct composite veneering with two-year follow-up with acceptable outcome.
Body Mass Index, Haemoglobin, and Total Lymphocyte Count as a Surrogate for CD4 Count in Resource Limited Settings
Authors: Kwantwi Louis Boafo , Tunu Bismark Kwame , Boateng Daniel , Quansah Dan Yedu
Published: April 2017

Background. In view of the lack of evidence on the possibility of an economically viable, easy, and readily available biomarker to substitute the traditional role of CD4 counts in HIV disease progression, this study seeks to investigate the potential use of body mass index (BMI), haemoglobin (Hb), and total lymphocyte count (TLC) as surrogate biomarkers for monitoring the disease. Methods. This cross-sectional study was undertaken at the antiretroviral clinic (ART) of the Bomso Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. We recruited 384 individuals who were 18 years or older and confirmed HIV seropositive patients. Blood samples were assayed for TLC and Hb. Weight and height were determined and BMI was calculated. Result. At a cut-off point of 12.15 g/dL, Hb had sensitivity and specificity of 73.9% and 56.8%, respectively, whereas BMI had 69.6% and 80.1% sensitivity and specificity, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were also 100% among the studied participants at a cut-off point of 1200 mm−3 for TLC. There was a significant positive correlation between CD4 count and Hb (rho 0.262, p=0.0001), BMI (rho 0.301, p=0.0001), and TLC (rho 0.834, p=0.0001). Conclusion. The study demonstrates that TLC, Hb, and BMI may provide some useful prognostic information independent of that provided by CD4 count.
Systemic Pseudohypoaldosteronism Type I: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Nur Nasifa , Lang Cameron , Hodax Juanita K. , Quintos Jose Bernardo
Published: April 2017

Systemic pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA) type I is a rare genetic disorder resulting from mutations in the subunits of the epithelial sodium channel that manifests as severe salt wasting, hyperkalemia, and metabolic acidosis in infancy. In this article we report a patient with systemic PHA type I presenting with severe dehydration due to salt wasting at 6 days of life. She was found to have a known mutation in the SCNN1A gene and subsequently required treatment with sodium supplementation. We also review the clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatment of systemic PHA type I and summarize data from 27 cases with follow-up data.
Measuring Student Transformation in Entrepreneurship Education Programs
Authors: Gedeon Steven A.
Published: April 2017

This article describes how to measure student transformation primarily within a university entrepreneurship degree program. Student transformation is defined as changes in knowledge (“Head”), skills (“Hand”), and attitudinal (“Heart”) learning outcomes. Following the institutional impact model, student transformation is the primary goal of education and all other program goals and aspects of quality desired by stakeholders are either input factors (professors, courses, facilities, support, etc.) or output performance (number of startups, average starting salary, % employment, etc.). This goal‐setting framework allows competing stakeholder quality expectations to be incorporated into a continuous process improvement (CPI) model when establishing program goals. How to measure these goals to implement TQM methods is shown. Measuring student transformation as the central focus of a program promotes harmony among competing stakeholders and also provides a metric on which other program decisions (e.g., class size, assignments, and pedagogical technique) may be based. Different stakeholders hold surprisingly different views on defining program quality. The proposed framework provides a useful way to bring these competing views into a CPI cycle to implement TQM requirements of accreditation. The specific entrepreneurial learning outcome goals described in the tables in this article may also be used directly by educators in nonaccredited programs and single courses/workshops or for other audiences.
Obesity and Low-Grade Inflammation among Young Finnish Men with Early-Onset Alopecia
Authors: Hirsso Päivi , Rajala Ulla , Hiltunen Liisa , Jokelainen Jari , Keinänen-Kiukaanniemi Sirkka , Näyhä Simo
Published: April 2017

Background: Previous investigations have revealed an association of androgenetic alopecia (AGA), especially in younger subjects with severe early-onset AGA, with ischemic heart disease. Objective: To examine the possible association between early-onset alopecia and low-grade inflammation measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) that has been recommended for the assessment of the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Methods: The study population consisted of young men (n = 727, aged 25–34 years) participating in a national survey. The grade of alopecia was assessed by a trained nurse using the Norwood/Hamilton Classification Scale. Results: Men with moderate to extensive alopecia (17%) had a higher body mass index and larger waist, upper arm, hip and waist circumference than those with little to no alopecia (p < 0.05), and statistically insignificant differences were seen in the waist-to-hip circumference ratio (WHR), diastolic blood pressure and hs-CRP. With increasing hs-CRP, the mean WHR increased, but only among men with moderate to extensive alopecia (p = 0.043). Conclusion: Our findings show a relation between moderate to extensive alopecia and low-grade inflammation – a predictor of a future CVD – especially combined with central obesity, among men younger than 35 years.