bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparing for Change and Uncertainty
Authors: Peters Valerie
Published: August 2017

This chapter discusses how university faculty members in higher education respond to change, especially change that embraces technology. The resistance to change, situated in the “independent entrepreneur” professorial model that continues to exist in most music education doctoral programs and most university faculties, is discussed. A collaborative model with faculty working together to prepare undergraduate students for the complexity of music teaching in the twenty-first century is proposed. Attitudes and core beliefs about technology integration are discussed, as well as the difficulty of coming to a common understanding of how technological changes might orient teacher certification around the world. Finally, preparing future teachers for an uncertain future is proposed as a professional teacher education competency, a way for teachers to take charge of their own continued professional development and to initiate and sustain changes in their own local contexts.
Editors’ Introduction
Authors: Mantie Roger , Ruthmann S. Alex
Published: August 2017

This introduction provides, first, an elaboration on the handbook’s premise, which seeks to trouble notions of authority and expertise by celebrating the diversity of stakeholders and opinions that narrate the landscape of technology and music education. Second, this introduction provides brief summaries of the contributions that make up the four main parts of the handbook. Twenty-two Core Perspective authors consist of ten females and twelve males across six continents that include the countries Australia, Canada, China, Mexico, Singapore, Uganda, United Kingdom, and the United States. Selected authors include school and community music practitioners, industry members, higher education researchers, and music teacher educators, embracing theoretical frames that include philosophy, history, sound studies, ethnomusicology, social and cultural psychology, and critical theory. To further reinforce the perspectival nature of the handbook, another nineteen authors provide Further Perspectives to various subparts in the volume. We encourage you, the reader, to continue the dialogue begun in this handbook through adding your personal perspectives online via our companion website (http://global.oup.com/us/ohtme).
Globalization and Technology in Twenty-First-Century Education
Authors: Leong Samuel
Published: August 2017

Information and communication technology has created a global “network society”. A new type of space created by rearranged global interactions have allowed for distant synchronous, real-time interaction between people, territories, and organizations in diverse educational, culture, economic, and political domains. This chapter surveys the inclusion of technology in twenty-first-century education policy and national curriculums. It discusses how learners and teachers can benefit from hardware and software that are increasingly complementing and converging to create products capable of multiple functions. But the emphasis on the possibilities offered by the electronic-digital and cyber dimensions should not come at the expense of the human dimension as the world becomes increasingly characterized and dominated by technology. Technology should never be allowed to define who we are or drive human choices and actions in an era of incomprehensible technological complexity and change.
Why Shylocke Loses His Case
Authors: Skinner Quentin
Published: August 2017

According to many recent critics we should think of the trial scene in The Merchant of Venice as a dramatization of the rival demands of equity and the letter of the law. But this not only leads to a misunderstanding of the structure of the scene, but to a misidentification of what is at issue in the case. The scene needs to be viewed less in legal and more in rhetorical terms. The trial hinges on Shylock’s belief that his case takes the form of a constitutio iuridicalis that is absoluta. Portia is able to show that it is not a constitutio iuridicalis but a constitutio legalis. It is the success of this rhetorical move that forces Shylock to withdraw his case.
Corporate Persons, between Law and Literature
Authors: Turner Henry
Published: August 2017

This essay examines the history of the corporation as both ‘person’ and ‘group’ and compares legal theories of corporate personhood with poetic and theatrical ideas about ‘personation,’ fictional ‘personality,’ and allegorical ‘personification’. Major examples include Calvin’s Case (1608) and the case of Sutton’s Hospital (1612), Spenser’s Faerie Queene, assorted plays by Shakespeare, Hobbes’s Leviathan, and Ben Jonson’s The Alchemist and Bartholomew Fair. The essay concludes with some theoretical speculation about the pragmatic and mimetic nature of corporate personhood today, especially in advertising and branding. It suggests that our current debates over corporations are symptomatic of a more general impoverishment in our public discourse concerning ethical ideas and the value of collective action.
Contract and Conjugality in Early Modern England
Authors: Stretton Tim
Published: August 2017

Literary scholars have long been aware of the near saturation of English Renaissance plays with marriage plots. Many Jacobean City Comedies, for example, use marriages to contrast traditional visions of society, formed around reciprocal obligations within a status hierarchy, with a more self-interested and contractual view of social relations. This chapter highlights links between marital contracts and financial contracts and considers changes in contractual thinking in the context of unprecedented litigation over conditional bonds; the displacement of dower by jointure in marital negotiations; and the increasingly contractual nature of private marital separations (in a society where divorce in the modern sense was unavailable).
Legal Reform and 2 Henry IV
Authors: Strain Virginia
Published: August 2017

In numerous early modern legal and literary representations, it is the governability of the legal-political system itself and its office-holders, rather than the people, that comes under scrutiny. This article will flesh out the forms and discourse of legal reform in early modern English culture and in 2 Henry IV. Unlike 1 Henry IV, in which reform appears largely as a projected personal strategy that is revealed in the crown prince’s famous first soliloquy, reform is an external and diffuse legal principle in the sequel. I argue that in order to understand the prince’s personal reformation we need to examine first the additional models of reform that are projected, implemented, or unrealized by others. This chapter seeks to understand how a number of agents and groups that are represented in this sequel construct a durable or disastrous relationship, through reform, to the forces of state formation.
Common Law Scholarship and the Written Word
Authors: Williams Ian
Published: August 2017

This chapter considers early modern common law scholarship both in the Inns of Court and outside of them. It investigates the relationship between oral scholarship in the Inns, manuscript, and printed texts. The sixteenth and seventeenth centuries have been identified as the period in which the common law changed from a system of predominantly oral learning to one based primarily on texts. Particular attention is paid to the issue of the circulation of legal scholarship, particularly in manuscript, the possibility of scribal production, and the limits on such circulation. The chapter also considers the purpose(s) behind certain forms of scholarship, such as patronage, and the textual sources used by common lawyers.
Forensic Rhetoric and Humanist Education
Authors: Eden Kathy
Published: August 2017

This chapter explores how the rhetoric of the Roman forum shaped humanist education in sixteenth-century England as demonstrated in the textbooks of Erasmus, Leonard Cox, Richard Rainolde, John Brinsley, and others. Through the influence of a small number of Roman rhetorical manuals widely read by these schoolmasters and their students, including the Ad Herennium, Cicero’s De inventione, and Quintilian’s Institutio oratoria, legal principles and procedures, such as status, circumstances, artificial and inartificial proofs, and topical argumentation, impact not only the full range of writing exercises derived from the progymnasmata, from the preliminary theme and epistle to the advanced declamation, but reading practices as well.
Neo-Latin Writings and Religion
Authors: Bloemendal Jan
Published: August 2017

This chapter explores the many genres of neo-Latin writing in which theology found its place. Not only theological writings from both Roman Catholic and Protestant authors were written in Latin, but also in other genres theological issues were brought to the fore in Latin, such as political narratives like Thomas More’s Utopia, religiously inspired school and academic drama, Buchanan’s Psalm Paraphrases and other religious poetry, and in letters. Foremost through correspondence, but also by means of other genres, contacts existed between the United Kingdom and the continent. In addition, the relationship between Latin and vernacular writings on theological issues is assessed during the course of this chapter. The discussion as a whole examines the distinctions made in the period between theological beliefs and religious practices and considers how Latin constituted an apt medium in which to analyse ideas and practices with clarity.
John Donne
Authors: Adlington Hugh
Published: August 2017

This chapter argues that the distinctive qualities of John Donne’s religious thought and temperament are revealed as much through the manner or expressive mode of his religious writing as they are through its matter or doctrinal content. To illustrate, the chapter analyses the rhetoric and prosody of Holy Sonnet 19 (‘Oh, to vex me’) in the light of two key contexts: Donne’s letters, poems, and prose works from his middle years (1606–14), and the religious and theological controversies of the same period, including fiercely argued doctrinal debates about the means of salvation and bitter religio-political disputes over the Oath of Allegiance. The chapter concludes by showing the degree to which Donne’s compelling union of dialectical reason and associative poesis in his religious writing both shares in and departs from literary traits and mentalities found in other religious writers of the period.
Islamic Communities
Authors: Andrea Bernadette
Published: August 2017

This chapter examines four ‘time-spaces’ to situate the lives of individuals from the Islamic world in early modern England and their impact on its literary imagination: 1) the presence of Tartars, Chaldeans, and scattered ‘Others’ from the Islamic world in England from the 1550s to the 1570s; 2) the letters Queen Elizabeth I issued to various Muslim sovereigns from the 1580s to the 1590s; 3) Moroccan and Persian embassies at the English court through the 1680s; and 4) Muslim converts and captives in England through the 1690s. This history of the marginal presence of individuals from the Islamic world in England prior to the eighteenth century and their disproportionate resonance in the literature of the era thus becomes one of the facilitating conditions for the emerging anglocentric discourse of empire on a global scale.
Lyric Poetry
Authors: Clarke Elizabeth , Jackson Simon
Published: August 2017

Legitimized by the poetry of the Bible, devotional lyric verse—crossing denominational lines, often combining Reformation spirituality with Renaissance rhetoric—flourished in early modern England. Poets like Mary and Philip Sidney and George Herbert modelled their work on the Book of Psalms, at times imitating the prosodic simplicity of the Sternhold and Hopkins metrical psalms, elsewhere adapting the sophisticated stanzaic variety of the Marot/Beze Psalter. Women like Aemilia Lanyer and Anne Southwell used the Song of Songs to express their devotion to Christ. The ‘mystical marriage’ was often used by women such as Barbara Mackay, who produced a version of the Song of Songs in manuscript, and Elizabeth Melville, who parodied Petrarchan poetry; and it was employed in shocking fashion by John Donne. The religious lyric exists on the borderline of public and private: in conclusion, we present such lyrics as social and occasional, and examine their relationship with music.
Religion in Times of War and Republic, 1642–60
Authors: Eales Jacqueline
Published: August 2017

Religious debate was central to the revolutionary politics of the 1640s and 1650s. One area of disagreement between Charles I and the Long Parliament concerned the nature and structure of the English national Church: whether bishops should be abolished in line with the Calvinist reformed Churches of the continent and if the religious changes of Charles’ Personal Rule were legal. From 1640 puritan demands for religious reform led to a proliferation of modes of worship ranging from Scottish-style Presbyterianism to independent congregations headed by charismatic local leaders who generated fears of heresy. The civil war sects were so loosely organized that most did not survive the Restoration of 1660, when the re-establishment of the episcopal Church 1660 was welcomed by the Royalists. However, a powerful legacy of religious dissent allowed groups such as the Quakers and Baptists to persist and flourish.
Animals
Authors: Stilt Kristen
Published: August 2017

This chapter examines the scholarship in the new and growing field of study of Islamic animal law. It starts by defining the field of animal law generally and then explaining what makes animal law scholarship Islamic. Turning to Islamic animal law, the chapter first explains the origins of the field and then discusses contemporary Islamic animal law scholarship, which dates to the early-twenty first century and has focused on questions of purity and the dog; causing animals harm; anthropocentricism; and slaughter and the designation of halal. The chapter concludes by identifying promising areas for future scholarship.
Too Old to Tango? Job Loss and Job Search Among Older Workers
Authors: Klehe Ute-Christine , De Pater Irene E. , Koen Jessie , Kira Mari
Published: August 2017

Older workers are often shielded from job loss by high tenure, yet are struck particularly harshly when seeking reemployment after job loss. This article combines earlier research on coping with job loss and job search with insights on employability for older workers. We outline the situation of older workers, highlighting their vulnerability to possible job-loss and to stereotypes that may lower their perceived employability. Then we outline how this may place older workers in precarious situations regarding (a) the threat of losing their jobs, (b) suffering from loss of nonmonetary benefits (or latent functions) associated with work, (c) having different and fewer coping options than younger job-seekers, and (d) facing fewer chances of finding reemployment. Older workers face an uphill battle when searching for reemployment, which is partially explained by retirement as an alternative coping reaction to age-related stereotypes, discrimination that undermines older workers’ employability, and other factors.
Hypoxemic Patients With Bilateral Infiltrates Treated With High-Flow Nasal Cannula Present a Similar Pattern of Biomarkers of Inflammation and Injury to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Patients*
Authors: García-de-Acilu Marina , Marin-Corral Judith , Vázquez Antonia , Ruano Laura , Magret Mònica , Ferrer Ricard , Masclans Joan R. , Roca Oriol
Published: August 2017

Objective:

To examine whether patients with acute hypoxemia and bilateral opacities treated with high-flow nasal cannula and acute respiratory distress syndrome patients who were directly mechanically ventilated are similar in terms of lung epithelial, endothelial, and inflammatory biomarkers.

Design:

Prospective, multicenter study.

Setting:

ICUs at three university tertiary hospitals.

Patients:

Intubated and nonintubated patients admitted to the ICU with acute hypoxemia (Pao
2/Fio
2 ≤ 300) and bilateral opacities.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

Either high-flow nasal cannula or mechanical ventilation was initiated, at the discretion of the attending physician. We measured plasma biomarkers of lung epithelial injury (receptor for advanced glycation end products and surfactant protein D) and endothelial injury (angiopoietin-2) and inflammation (interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and interleukin-33 and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2) within 24 hours of acute respiratory distress syndrome onset. Propensity score matching was performed using six different variables (Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, Pao
2/Fio
2, origin of acute respiratory distress syndrome, steroids, renal failure and need for vasopressors). Nonhypoxemic mechanically ventilated critically ill patients and healthy volunteers served as controls. Of the 170 patients enrolled, 127 (74.7%) were intubated and 43 (25.3%) were treated with high-flow nasal cannula at acute respiratory distress syndrome onset. After propensity score matching (39 high-flow nasal cannula patients vs 39 mechanical ventilation patients), no significant differences were observed in receptor for advanced glycation end products, surfactant protein D, angiopoietin-2, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, interleukin-33, and soluble suppression of tumorigenicity-2 between matched patients who were treated with high-flow nasal cannula and those who were intubated at acute respiratory distress syndrome onset. After matching, no differences in mortality or length of stay were observed. All biomarkers (with the exception of interleukin-33) were higher in both groups of matched acute respiratory distress syndrome patients than in both control groups.

Conclusions:

Acute hypoxemic patients with bilateral infiltrates treated with high-flow nasal cannula presented a similar pattern of biomarkers of inflammation and injury to acute respiratory distress syndrome patients undergoing direct mechanical ventilation. The results suggest that these high-flow nasal cannula patients should be considered as acute respiratory distress syndrome patients.
Meta-Analysis of Long Thoracic Nerve Decompression and Neurolysis Versus Muscle and Tendon Transfer Operative Treatments of Winging Scapula
Authors: Nath Rahul K. , Somasundaram Chandra
Published: August 2017

Background:

Injury to long thoracic and the spinal accessory nerves can cause winging scapula as a result of weakness and paralysis of the trapezius and serratus anterior muscles. Although these nerve and muscle operations have been reported to correct winging scapula due to various causes, there is no report on comparing the outcomes of these procedures in peer-reviewed Pubmed-indexed literature. In this article, we compared the improvements in the restoration of shoulder functions in winging scapula patients after long thoracic nerve decompression (LTND) in our present study with outcomes of muscle and tendon transfer operations published in the literature (Aetna cited articles).

Methods:

Twenty-five winging scapula patients met the inclusion criteria, who had LTND and neurolysis at our clinic since 2008. Electromyographic evaluation of the brachial plexus and long thoracic nerve distribution was performed preoperatively for all our patients in this study. Operating surgeon (R.K.N.) examined all patients and measured pre- and postoperative range of motion of the affected shoulder. The mean follow-up was 23 months (range, 13–46 months). Age of our patients in this study at the time of surgery was between 13 and 63 years. These patients had winging scapula between 5 days (tennis injury) and several years before surgery and some were unknown.

Results:

Shoulder flexion and abduction improved to an average of 163˚ (P < 0.000006) and 157˚ (P < 0.0000005) from 104˚ and 97˚ at least 1-year post-LTND in 25 winging scapula patients in our present study. This is statistically significant in comparison to the reported improvements resulting from muscle and tendon transfer procedures in the Pubmed-indexed (Aetna cited) literature.

Conclusion:

This meta-analysis suggests that nerve surgeries such as LTND and neurolysis are effective techniques in correcting winging scapula in comparison with muscle transfer operations.
Cochlear Implants Meet Regenerative Biology: State of the Science and Future Research Directions
Authors: Dabdoub Alain , Nishimura Koji
Published: August 2017

The cochlear implant, the first device to restore a human sense, is an electronic substitute for lost mechanosensory hair cells. It has been successful at providing hearing to people with severe to profound hearing loss and as of 2012, an estimated 324,000 patients worldwide have received cochlear implants. Users of cochlear implants however, suffer from difficulties in processing complex sounds such as music and in discriminating sounds in noisy environments. Recent advances in regenerative biology and medicine are opening new avenues for enhancing the efficacy of cochlear implants by improving the neural interface in the future and offer the possibility of an entirely biological solution for hearing loss in the long term. This report comprises the latest developments presented in the first Symposium on cochlear implants and regenerative biology, held at the 14th International Conference on Cochlear Implants in 2016 in Toronto, Canada.
Linking Deafness and Dementia: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Lin Vincent Y. W. , Black Sandra E.
Published: August 2017

The rising incidence of dementia locally and worldwide has now reached a critical level. The associated costs associated with these individuals will ultimately be untenable to most societies. Furthermore there is a paucity of highly effective treatments. However, the recent discovery of the association of hearing loss and dementia may open many potential opportunities. Although we still are acquiring knowledge on the pathophysiology of this association, clinicians are hopeful that our current highly effective treatments of hearing loss may ultimately be shown to have a positive effect on those with dementia.
Impact of Cochlear Implantation on Cognitive Functions of Older Adults: Pilot Test Results
Authors: Jayakody Dona M. P. , Friedland Peter L. , Nel Esmeralda , Martins Ralph N. , Atlas Marcus D. , Sohrabi Hamid R.
Published: August 2017

Background:

A significant relationship between hearing loss and cognitive impairment has been previously reported. Overall, improvement in speech perception in quiet and quality of life has been observed after cochlear implantation. However, the impact of hearing loss treatment using cochlear implantation on cognitive functions is yet to be fully elucidated.

Objective:

To investigate the impact of cochlear implantation on cognitive and psychological functions of older adults.

Study Design:

Prospective patient-control study.

Participants:

A total of 39 participants took part in the study: 23 cochlear implant (CI) candidates (M = 69.04 ± 12.35 yr) and 16 CI recipients (M = 61.75 ± 15.62 yr). All participants completed an assessment of hearing (pure-tone thresholds and speech perception in quiet), and a computerised, nonverbal test battery of cognitive function assessment, as well as a depression, anxiety, and stress scale.

Results:

Independent-sample t test scores for the changes between 0 and 12 months revealed that CI recipients performed significantly better on measures of simple reaction time, cognitive flexibility, paired-associate learning, working memory, and strategy use (p < 0.05) compared with implant candidates. Compared with the candidates, recipients also showed significantly lower stress scores (p < 0.05) after 1 year use of a CI.

Conclusion:

Our results indicate that even in participants with a long duration, severe to profound hearing loss, cochlear implantation has some impact on improving a number of cognitive functions. This finding warrants future longitudinal investigations with a large sample size to examine if the observed cognitive enhancement benefits are sustainable.
Cognitive Abilities and Quality of Life After Cochlear Implantation in the Elderly
Authors: Sonnet Marie-Hortense , Montaut-Verient Bettina , Niemier Jean-Yves , Hoen Michel , Ribeyre Laurence , Parietti-Winkler Cécile
Published: August 2017

Objective:

To evaluate quality of life (QoL) and cognitive function in elderly patients with cochlear implants relative to auditory improvement, using geriatric validated scales.

Study Design:

Prospective observational study.

Setting:

A tertiary referral center for cochlear implantation (CI) and a geriatric center in Nancy, France.

Patients:

Sixteen consecutive patients were included, from 65 to 80 years old, with postlingual severe-to-profound deafness.

Main Outcome Measures:

Evaluations were conducted before and at 6 and 12 months after cochlear implant surgery. A monosyllabic word recognition test was used to measure speech perception. QoL was evaluated by the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment for elderly people; cognitive function was evaluated by the Mini-Mental State Examination; depression was evaluated by the Hamilton Scale; autonomy was evaluated by the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living.

Results:

Speech intelligibility evolved from 10% before surgery to 63% and 69% at 6 and 12 months after cochlear implant activation, respectively. QoL showed significant improvement in sensory abilities. The Mini-Mental State Examination evaluations remained stable and executive functions tended to improve. Autonomy improved significantly.

Conclusion:

Cochlear implantation improves autonomy and the QoL in the elderly. Cognitive functions are not influenced by surgery, but executive functions appear to benefit from implantation. Age should not be a limiting factor, and cochlear implantation can be proposed as an efficient treatment for severe-to-profound hearing loss in the elderly.
Adherence to a Gluten‐free Diet
Authors: Mehta Pooja , Pan Zhaoxing , Riley Marisa D. , Liu Edwin
Published: August 2017

We aimed to determine whether tissue transglutaminase (tTG) autoantibody positivity was associated with dietitian‐assessed adherence to a gluten‐free diet in pediatric patients with celiac disease and identify areas where adherence falters. We reviewed the records of children with celiac disease who had a standardized evaluation of adherence by a registered dietitian. A negative tTG value was not associated with good adherence (P = NS). Adherent and nonadherent children differed with respect to purposeful and accidental gluten exposure (P < 0.0001), knowledge (P = 0.003), cross‐contact (P = 0.003), potential exposure via medications and cosmetics (P = 0.004), and potential exposure while at restaurants (P < 0.0001), but not with respect to potential exposure at school (P = NS). Based on our findings, we suggest that negative tTG levels are not necessarily indicative of good adherence to a gluten‐free diet in pediatric patients with celiac disease. A separate assessment of adherence is needed focusing on knowledge, behavior while dining out, and intent to adhere.
The Risk of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Differs Among Preterm Pigs Fed Formulas With Either Lactose or Maltodextrin
Authors: Buddington Randal K. , Davis Samantha L. , Buddington Karyl K.
Published: August 2017

Objectives:

When breast milk is unavailable for preterm infants, formulas are needed that won't increase the risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). Adding novel ingredients to formula to reduce NEC has not been effective clinically. Instead, we tested the prediction that NEC can be reduced by removing the maltodextrin now included in preterm formulas.

Methods:

The preterm pig model of spontaneous NEC was used to evaluate growth, health, and intestinal responses to 6 to 7 days of feeding formulas that were identical except for the source of carbohydrate; either 100% lactose or maltodextrin; colostrum was used as the control.

Results:

Formula with maltodextrin resulted in a 50% incidence of NEC with 30% mortality. The lactose formula and colostrum resulted in a 0% incidence of NEC. Growth was highest for pigs fed the formula with lactose, intermediate with maltodextrin, and minimal when bovine colostrum was fed (P < 0.05). Although the small intestine was larger when colostrum was fed (P < 0.05), because rates of glucose uptake were lower (P < 0.05), total small intestine capacities to transport glucose were similar for healthy pigs in all 3 groups.

Conclusions:

If lactose‐based formulas reduce NEC clinically, the transition of preterm infants to enteral feeding can be accelerated, improving growth and development, and shortening reliance on parenteral nutrition. Although colostrum protects against NEC, chronic feeding does not promote body weight gain after preterm birth. The preterm pig can be used for preclinical studies that evaluate the mechanisms by which carbohydrates and other ingredients influence growth, development, health, and risk of NEC.
Effect of Cyproheptadine on Weight and Growth Velocity in Children With Silver‐Russell Syndrome
Authors: Lemoine Anaïs , Harbison Madeleine D. , Salem Jennifer , Tounian Patrick , Netchine Irène , Dubern Béatrice
Published: August 2017

Objectives:

Nutritional management of children with Silver‐Russell syndrome (SRS) is crucial, especially before initiating growth hormone therapy. Since cyproheptadine (CYP) has been reported to be orexigenic, we retrospectively investigated the effects of CYP on changes in weight and height in patients with SRS.

Methods:

Anthropometric parameters (weight [W], length or height [H], weight on expected weight for height [W/H], and body mass index) were recorded for 34 children with SRS receiving CYP. We specifically analyzed the anthropometric parameters (expressed in median) in a group of 23 patients treated with CYP at baseline (M0‐CYP) and every 3 months (M3 to M12‐CYP) after the initiation of CYP treatment.

Results:

The 23 children with SRS treated by CYP only had weight stagnation during the months preceding the start of treatment. Anthropometric parameters, especially the weight, differed significantly between M0‐CYP and all other times (M3, M6, M9, M12‐CYP). After 1 year of treatment, a gain in overall length/height and weight was observed (W: +1.1 standard deviations from the mean [SDS]; H: +0.5 SDS). At M3, significant improvements in W/H (74.9% vs 79.3% [P = 0.01]) and body mass index (−3.4 vs −2.4 SDS [P = 0.001]) were also observed. Twenty‐one patients (91%) improved their weight by at least +0.5 SDS, and 12 (52%) by at least +1 SDS.

Conclusions:

Our results show that CYP can be effective in patients with SRS with significant improvements in growth velocity and nutritional status before initiation of growth hormone therapy. Further prospective studies are required to confirm these results.
Botulinum toxin use in rehabilitation clinics: a survey to highlight differences and similarities
Authors: Singh Rajiv
Published: August 2017

Spasticity is a complex condition and its management is multifaceted, involving physical therapies as well as interventions with botulinum toxin. There is currently no standard for best practice and also wide variation in spasticity service set-ups and the background of clinicians involved in treatment. This could potentially cause large differences in practice. The aim of this survey was to attempt to identify some of the common elements of service delivery as well as highlight any significant variations in service models. It was hoped that the results would assist healthcare professionals working with toxins to gauge or improve their own service provision in the light of any findings. A survey of 48 botulinum toxin experts was conducted at a national conference in the UK. Questions included (i) numbers of patients referred and diagnostic groups, (ii) staff composition of each clinic, (iii) methods of spasticity assessment, (iv) outcome measures and treatment goals commonly used and (v) follow-up arrangements. There were broad areas of agreement between experts such as methods of assessment of spasticity, treatment, injection guidance and follow-up arrangements. However, there were differences in diagnostic groups seen, staff composition and in outcome measurement across a wide range of clinic settings. There are considerable variations in practice between toxin experts. This survey may help practitioners identify areas of improvement in their services or explore alternative service arrangements.
Variable MIBG Activity in the Same Renal Cyst
Authors: Zhao Xiaofei , Zhuang Hongming
Published: August 2017

A series of 123I-MIBG scanning was performed in a 33-year-old woman with a history of ganglioneuroblastoma and a known left renal cyst. The initial studies did not reveal any MIBG activity in the renal cyst. However, increased MIBG activity was noted in the same renal cyst in the subsequent follow-up scans.
Expanding the scope of quality measurement in surgery to include nonoperative care: Results from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program emergency general surgery pilot
Authors: Wandling Michael W. , Ko Clifford Y. , Bankey Paul E. , Cribari Chris , Cryer H. Gill , Diaz Jose J. , Duane Therese M. , Hameed S. Morad , Hutter Matthew M. , Metzler Michael H. , Regner Justin L. , Reilly Patrick M. , Reines H. David , Sperry Jason L. , Staudenmayer Kristan L. , Utter Garth H. , Crandall Marie L. , Bilimoria Karl Y. , Nathens Avery B.
Published: August 2017

BACKGROUND

Patients managed nonoperatively have been excluded from risk-adjusted benchmarking programs, including the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). Consequently, optimal performance evaluation is not possible for specialties like emergency general surgery (EGS) where nonoperative management is common. We developed a multi-institutional EGS clinical data registry within ACS NSQIP that includes patients managed nonoperatively to evaluate variability in nonoperative care across hospitals and identify gaps in performance assessment that occur when only operative cases are considered.

METHODS

Using ACS NSQIP infrastructure and methodology, surgical consultations for acute appendicitis, acute cholecystitis, and small bowel obstruction (SBO) were sampled at 13 hospitals that volunteered to participate in the EGS clinical data registry. Standard NSQIP variables and 16 EGS-specific variables were abstracted with 30-day follow-up. To determine the influence of complications in nonoperative patients, rates of adverse outcomes were identified, and hospitals were ranked by performance with and then without including nonoperative cases.

RESULTS

Two thousand ninety-one patients with EGS diagnoses were included, 46.6% with appendicitis, 24.3% with cholecystitis, and 29.1% with SBO. The overall rate of nonoperative management was 27.4%, 6.6% for appendicitis, 16.5% for cholecystitis, and 69.9% for SBO. Despite comprising only 27.4% of patients in the EGS pilot, nonoperative management accounted for 67.7% of deaths, 34.3% of serious morbidities, and 41.8% of hospital readmissions. After adjusting for patient characteristics and hospital diagnosis mix, addition of nonoperative management to hospital performance assessment resulted in 12 of 13 hospitals changing performance rank, with four hospitals changing by three or more positions.

CONCLUSION

This study identifies a gap in performance evaluation when nonoperative patients are excluded from surgical quality assessment and demonstrates the feasibility of incorporating nonoperative care into existing surgical quality initiatives. Broadening the scope of hospital performance assessment to include nonoperative management creates an opportunity to improve the care of all surgical patients, not just those who have an operation.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Care management, level IV; Epidemiologic, level III.
Pancreas Transplantation With Portal-Enteric Drainage for Patients With Endocrine and Exocrine Insufficiency From Extensive Pancreatic Resection
Authors: Barbas Andrew S. , Al-Adra David P. , Goldaracena Nicolas , Dib Martin J. , Selzner Markus , Sapisochin Gonzalo , Cattral Mark S. , McGilvray Ian D.
Published: August 2017

Although the primary indication for pancreas transplantation is type I diabetes, a small number of patients requires pancreas transplantation to manage combined endocrine and exocrine insufficiency that develops after extensive native pancreatic resection. The objective of this case report was to describe the operative and clinical course in 3 such patients and present an alternative technical approach.
SMRT sequencing reveals differential patterns of methylation in two O111:H- Shiga toxigenicEscherichia coliisolates from a historic hemolytic uremic syndrome outbreak in Australia
Authors: Forde Brian M. , McAllister Lauren J. , Paton James C. , Paton Adrienne W. , Beatson Scott A.
Published: August 2017

Shiga toxigenicEscherichia coli(STEC) are important food-borne pathogens and a major cause of haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) worldwide. In 1995 a severe HUS outbreak in Adelaide occurred. A recent genomic analysis of STEC O111:H-strains 95JB1 and 95NR1 from this outbreak found that the more virulent isolate, 95NR1, harboured two additional copies of the Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) genes although the structure of the Stx2-converting prophages could not be fully resolved due to the fragmented assembly. In this study we have used Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) single molecule real-time (SMRT) long read sequencing to characterise the complete epigenome (genome and methylome) of 95JB1 and 95NR1. Using long reads we completely resolved the structure of two, tandemly inserted, stx2-converting phage in 95NR1. Our analysis of the methylome of 95NR1 and 95JB1 identified hemi-methylation of a novel motif (5’-CTGCm6AG-3’) in more than 4000 sites in the 95NR1 genome. These sites were entirely unmethalyted in the 95JB1, including at least 180 potential promoter regions that could explain regulatory differences between the strains. We identified a Type IIG methyltransferase encoded in both genomes in association with three additional genes in an operon-like arrangement. IS1203mediated disruption of this operon in 95JB1 is the likely cause of the observed differential patterns of methylation between 95NR1 and 95JB1. This study demonstrates the enormous potential of PacBio SMRT sequencing to resolve complex prophage regions and reveal the genetic and epigenetic heterogeneity within a clonal population of bacteria.
Simulation of cancer cell line pharmacogenomics data to optimise experimental design and analysis strategy
Authors: Mistry Hitesh , Chapman Phil
Published: August 2017

Background

Explaining the variability in drug sensitivity across a panel of cell lines using genomic information is a key aspect of cancer drug discovery. The results of such analyses may ultimately determine which patients are likely to benefit from a new treatment. There are numerous experimental factors that can influence the outcomes of cell line screening panels such as the number of replicates, number of doses explored etc. Simulation studies can aid in understanding how variability in these experimental factors can affect the statistical power of a given analysis method. In this study dose response data was simulated for a variety of experimental designs and the ability of different methods to retrieve the original simulation parameters was compared. The analysis methods under consideration were a combination of non-linear least squares and ANOVA, conventional approach, versus non-linear mixed effects.

Results

Across the simulation studies explored the mixed-effects approach gave similar and in some situations greater statistical power than the conventional approach. In particular the mixed-effects approach gave significantly greater power when there was less information per dose response curve, and when more cell lines screened. More generally the best way to improve statistical power was to screen more cell lines.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates the value of simulating data to understand design and analysis choices in the context of cancer drug sensitivity screening. By illustrating the performance of different methods in different situations these results will help researchers in the field generate and analyse data on future preclinical compounds. Ultimately this will benefit patients by ensuring that biomarkers of drug sensitivity have an increased chance of being identified at the preclinical stage.
Induction of X-chromosome Inactivation by the Histone Demethylase SMCX/KDM5C
Authors: Gayen Srimonta , Maclary Emily , Murata-Nakamura Yumie , Vallianatos Christina N. , Porter Robert S. , Garay Patricia M. , Iwase Shigeki , Kalantry Sundeep
Published: August 2017

XYmale andXXfemale mammals equalize X-linked gene expression through the mitotically-stable transcriptional inactivation of an X-chromosome in females. Although most genes are silent on the inactive-X, some escape silencing and are expressed at higher levels in females vs. males. Here, we show that the escapeeSmcx/Kdm5c, encoding a histone H3K4me2/3 demethylase, underlies the female-specific induction of X-inactivation. Mouse embryonic epiblast cells and differentiating embryonic stem cells (ESCs) lacking SMCX show reduced expression of Xist RNA, which is required for X-inactivation.Smcx-heterozygous epiblast cells do not silence X-linked genes efficiently, despite robustXistexpression. Overexpression of mouse or human SMCX, but not a catalytically-inactive SMCX or the Y-chromosome homolog SMCY, is sufficient to induceXistand, separately, to silence X-linked genes in male ESCs. Finally, SMCX dose is inversely correlated with H3K4me2 at X-linked loci. Thus, X-inactivation initiates through the evolutionarily conserved, dose-dependent function of the histone demethylase SMCX.
The genetic architecture of the network underlying flowering time variation inArabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Sasaki Eriko , Frommlet Florian , Nordborg Magnus
Published: August 2017

Flowering time is a key adaptive trait in plants and is tightly controlled by a complex regulatory network that responds to seasonal signals. In a rapidly changing climate, understanding the genetic basis of flowering time variation is important for both agriculture and ecology. Genetic mapping has revealed many genetic variants affecting flowering time, but the effects on the gene regulatory networks in population-scale are still largely unknown. We dissected flowering time networks using multi-layered Swedish population data fromArabidopsis thaliana, consisting of flowering time and transcriptome collected under constant 10°C growth temperature in addition to full genome sequence data. Our analysis identified multiple alleles of the key flowering time geneFLOWERING LOCUS C(FLC) as the primary determinant of the network underlying flowering time variation under our condition. Genetic variation ofFLCaffects multiple-pathways through known flowering-time genes includingFLOWERING LOCUS T(FT), andSUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1(SOC1). We demonstrated that an extremely simple single-locus model ofFLCinvolving allelic variation and expression explains almost a half of flowering time variation, with 60% of the effect being mediated throughFLCexpression. Furthermore, the accuracy of the model fitted at 10°C is almost unchanged at 16°C.
Pegivirus avoids immune recognition but does not attenuate acute-phase disease in a macaque model of HIV infection
Authors: Bailey Adam L. , Buechler Connor R. , Matson Daniel R. , Peterson Eric J. , Brunner Kevin G. , Mohns Mariel S. , Breitbach Meghan , Stewart Laurel M. , Ericsen Adam J. , Capuano Saverio , Simmons Heather A. , Yang David T. , O’Connor David H.
Published: August 2017

Human pegivirus (HPgV) protects HIV+ people from HIV-associated disease, but the mechanism of this protective effect remains poorly understood. We sequentially infected cynomolgus macaques with simian pegivirus (SPgV) and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) to model HIV+HPgV co-infection. SPgV had no effect on acute-phase SIV pathogenesis – as measured by SIV viral load, CD4+ T cell destruction, and immune activation – suggesting that HPgV’s protective effect is exerted primarily during the chronic phase of HIV infection. We also examined the immune response to SPgV in unprecedented detail, and found that this virus elicits virtually no activation of the immune system despite persistently high titers in the blood over long periods of time. Overall, this study expands our understanding of the pegiviruses – an understudied group of viruses with a high prevalence in the global human population – and suggests that the protective effect observed in HIV+HPgV co-infected people occurs primarily during the chronic phase of HIV infection.

One Sentence Summary

Pegivirus avoids immune recognition but does not attenuate acute-phase disease in a macaque model of HIV infection.

Short Title

Pegivirus and AIDS-virus co-infection

Accessible Summary

People infected with HIV live longer, healthier lives when they are co-infected with the human pegivirus (HPgV) – an understudied virus with a high prevalence in the global human population. To better understand how HPgV protects people with HIV from HIV-associated disease, we infected macaques with simian versions of these two viruses (SPgV and SIV). We found that SPgV had no impact on the incidence of SIV-associated disease early during the course of SIV infection – a time when SIV and HIV are known to cause irreversible damage to the immune system. Oddly, we found that the immune system did not recognize SPgV; a finding that warrants further investigation. Overall, this study greatly expands on our understanding of the pegiviruses and their interaction with the immune system.
Asymmetric cell volume changes regulate epithelial morphogenesis in zebrafish Kupffer’s vesicle
Authors: Dasgupta Agnik , Merkel Matthias , Jacob Andrew E. , Dawson Jonathan , Lisa Manning M. , Amack Jeffrey D.
Published: August 2017

How epithelial cell behaviors are coordinately regulated to sculpt tissue architecture is a fundamental question in biology. Kupffer's vesicle (KV), a transient organ with a fluid - filled lumen, provides a simple system to investigate the interplay between intrinsic cellular mechanisms and external forces during epithelial morphogenesis. Using 3 - dimensional (3D) analyses of single cells we identify asymmetric cell volume changes along the anteroposterior axis of KV that coincide with asymmetric cell shape changes. Blocking ion flux prevents these cell volume changes and cell shape changes. Vertex simulations suggest cell shape changes do not depend on lumen expansion. Consistent with this prediction, asymmetric changes in KV cell volume and shape occur normally when KV lumen growth fails due to leaky cell adhesions. These results indicate ion flux mediates asymmetric cell volume changes that contribute to asymmetric cell shape changes in KV, and that these changes in epithelial morphology are separable from lumen - generated forces.