bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Speech Planning at Turn Transitions in Dialog Is Associated With Increased Processing Load
Authors: Barthel Mathias , Sauppe Sebastian
Published: July 2019

Speech planning is a sophisticated process. In dialog, it regularly starts in overlap with an incoming turn by a conversation partner. We show that planning spoken responses in overlap with incoming turns is associated with higher processing load than planning in silence. In a dialogic experiment, participants took turns with a confederate describing lists of objects. The confederate’s utterances (to which participants responded) were pre‐recorded and varied in whether they ended in a verb or an object noun and whether this ending was predictable or not. We found that response planning in overlap with sentence‐final verbs evokes larger task‐evoked pupillary responses, while end predictability had no effect. This finding indicates that planning in overlap leads to higher processing load for next speakers in dialog and that next speakers do not proactively modulate the time course of their response planning based on their predictions of turn endings. The turn‐taking system exerts pressure on the language processing system by pushing speakers to plan in overlap despite the ensuing increase in processing load.
Cardiovascular risk reduction with periodontal treatment in patients on the waiting list for renal transplantation
Authors: Santos‐Paul Marcela A. , Neves Ricardo Simões , Gowdak Luis Henrique W. , de Paula Flávio J. , David‐Neto Elias , Bortolotto Luiz A. , Ramires José Antonio F. , De Lima Jose Jayme G.
Published: July 2019

Background

Cardiovascular mortality is increased in chronic kidney disease, a condition with a high prevalence of periodontal disease. Whether periodontitis treatment improves prognosis is unknown.

Methods

The effect of periodontal treatment on the incidence of cardiovascular events and death in 206 waitlist hemodialysis subjects was compared with that in 203 historical controls who did not undergo treatment. Patients were followed up for 24 months or until death or transplantation.

Results

The prevalence of moderate/severe periodontitis was 74%. Coronary artery disease correlated with the severity of periodontal disease (P = .02). Survival free of cardiovascular events (94% vs 83%, log‐rank 0.009), coronary events (97% vs 89%, log‐rank = 0.009), and cardiovascular death (96% vs 87%, log‐rank = 0.037) was higher in the evaluated group. Death by any cause did not differ between groups. Multivariate analysis showed that treatment was associated with reduction in cardiovascular events (HR 0.43; 95% CI 0.22‐0.87), coronary events (HR 0.31; 95% CI 0.12‐0.83), and cardiovascular deaths (HR 0.43; 95% CI 0.19‐0.98).

Conclusion

Periodontal treatment reduced the 24‐month incidence of cardiovascular events and cardiovascular death, suggesting that periodontal treatment may improve cardiovascular outcomes. We suggest that periodontal screening and eventual treatment may be considered in patients with advanced renal disease.
Number of levels required to assess Breslow thickness in cutaneous invasive melanoma: An observational study
Authors: Bishop Jamie , Tallon Ben
Published: July 2019

Background

Melanoma is a globally significant and highly prevalent disease, with Breslow thickness widely recognized as the most important histologic indicator of prognosis. In the newest edition of the AJCC Cancer Staging Manual, changes have been made to the definition of stages based on Breslow thickness. It is therefore imperative we accurately measure the Breslow thickness in a standardized fashion.

Methods

Our study aimed to identify the optimal number of levels required to measure Breslow thickness. We reviewed archived cases of previously diagnosed invasive melanomas and assessed whether there was a change of T stage with the greater number of levels examined.

Results

In our series of 54 cases, 10 (18.5%) cases were upgraded as additional levels were examined, statistically significant at the threshold of three levels.

Conclusions

Our data suggests the optimal number of levels to examine is 3, with no benefit seen in further levels up to 10.
Fine needle aspiration cytology of cribriform adenocarcinoma of minor salivary gland, a recently defined entity
Authors: Kakkar Aanchal , Bhardwaj Nishu , Sakthivel Pirabu , Singh Chirom Amit , Jain Deepali , Mathur Sandeep R. , Iyer Venkateswaran K.
Published: July 2019

Cribriform Adenocarcinoma of Minor Salivary Glands (CAMSG) is a recently recognized, distinct neoplasm of minor salivary gland origin. Its histological and cytological features show considerable overlap with other head and neck cancers like papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Presence of cribriform and glomeruloid structures, metachromatically staining matrix, and a lack of colloid can help distinguish CAMSG from PTC.
Atypical shape bias and categorization in autism: Evidence from children and computational simulations
Authors: Tovar Ángel Eugenio , Rodríguez‐Granados Angélica , Arias‐Trejo Natalia
Published: July 2019

The shape bias, a preference for mapping new word labels onto the shape rather than the color or texture of referents, has been postulated as a word‐learning mechanism. Previous research has shown deficits in the shape bias in children with autism even though they acquire sizeable lexicons. While previous explanations have suggested the atypical use of color for label extension in individuals with autism, we hypothesize an atypical mapping of novel labels to novel objects, regardless of the physical properties of the objects. In Experiment 1, we demonstrate this phenomenon in some individuals with autism, but the novelty of objects only partially explains their lack of shape bias. In a second experiment, we present a computational model that provides a developmental account of the shape bias in typically developing children and in those with autism. This model is based on theories of neurological dysfunctions in autism, and it integrates theoretical and empirical findings in the literature of categorization, word learning, and the shape bias. The model replicates the pattern of results of our first experiment and shows how individuals with autism are more likely to categorize experimental objects together on the basis of their novelty. It also provides insights into possible mechanisms by which children with autism learn new words, and why their word referents may be idiosyncratic. Our model highlights a developmental approach to autism that emphasizes deficient representations of categories underlying an impaired shape bias.
Perceiving gaze from head and eye rotations: An integrative challenge for children and adults
Authors: Mihalache Diana , Feng Huanghao , Askari Farzaneh , Sokol‐Hessner Peter , Moody Eric J. , Mahoor Mohammad H. , Sweeny Timothy D.
Published: July 2019

Gaze is an emergent visual feature. A person's gaze direction is perceived not just based on the rotation of their eyes, but also their head. At least among adults, this integrative process appears to be flexible such that one feature can be weighted more heavily than the other depending on the circumstances. Yet it is unclear how this weighting might vary across individuals or across development. When children engage emergent gaze, do they prioritize cues from the head and eyes similarly to adults? Is the perception of gaze among individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) emergent, or is it reliant on a single feature? Sixty adults (M = 29.86 years‐of‐age), thirty‐seven typically developing children and adolescents (M = 9.3 years‐of‐age; range = 7–15), and eighteen children with ASD (M = 9.72 years‐of‐age; range = 7–15) viewed faces with leftward, rightward, or direct head rotations in conjunction with leftward or rightward pupil rotations, and then indicated whether the face was looking leftward or rightward. All individuals, across development and ASD status, used head rotation to infer gaze direction, albeit with some individual differences. However, the use of pupil rotation was heavily dependent on age. Finally, children with ASD used pupil rotation significantly less than typically developing (TD) children when inferring gaze direction, even after accounting for age. Our approach provides a novel framework for understanding individual and group differences in gaze as it is actually perceived—as an emergent feature. Furthermore, this study begins to address an important gap in ASD literature, taking the first look at emergent gaze perception in this population.
Putting affected people at the centre of humanitarian action: an argument for the principle of humanitarian subsidiarity
Authors: Gibbons Pat , Roughneen Dualta , McDermott Ronan , Maitra Sulagna
Published: July 2019

The humanitarian system has grown organically over the course of a generation to become a complex system bound by a common primary mandate. Its guiding principles provide it with a unique identity and separate humanitarian actors from other aid‐related stakeholders. However, all of the evidence suggests that humanitarian actors will extend their reach and engage in new and unprecedented ways with an expanded mandate in years to come. Now, more than ever, they are challenged to retain the moral high ground and to put disaster‐affected people at the centre of humanitarian action. Consequently, this paper proposes that the humanitarian system introduce a new principle: humanitarian subsidiarity. It moves the conception of subsidiarity beyond meanings ascribed by the Catholic Church and the European Union and links it instead to the attributes of agency, accountability, and trust to find accommodation with the core humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence.
Predicting the non‐linear collapse of plant–frugivore networks due to habitat loss
Authors: Vidal Mariana Morais , Banks‐Leite Cristina , Tambosi Leandro Reverberi , Hasui Érica , Develey Pedro Ferreira , Silva Wesley Rodrigues , Guimarães Paulo Roberto , Metzger Jean Paul
Published: July 2019

Habitat loss can trigger cascades of secondary extinctions, changing the organization of interacting assemblages. Until recently, most extinction models in interaction systems had limited ecological realism. Here, we estimate a realistic sequence of species extinctions resulting from habitat loss to assess its impacts on the structure of frugivory networks from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. We show that realistic and random extinctions led to similar patterns. We also identified a threshold in the response of network structure to habitat loss. When forest cover was reduced to less than 40% of the landscape, network organization changed dramatically. Hence, the number of species being lost, rather than the order of species extinctions, is the key determinant of its impacts on the organization of frugivory networks. We highlight the need to conserve around 40% of forest cover to keep the basic organization of frugivory networks, a threshold already reached at the best‐preserved Brazilian Atlantic Forest bioregion.
High prevalence of Wolbachia infection does not explain unidirectional cytoplasmic incompatibility of Altica flea beetles
Authors: Wei Jing , Segraves Kari A. , Xiao Bing‐Han , Li Wen‐Zhu , Yang Xing‐Ke , Xue Huai‐Jun
Published: July 2019

1. Wolbachia are intracellular bacteria found in a wide range of arthropods that can impact reproductive isolation of their hosts. Previous studies showed unidirectional cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) and high infection rates by Wolbachia in the closely related leaf beetles Altica fragariae and Altica viridicyanea; however, whether this reproductive isolation was induced by Wolbachia remains unclear.

2. This study estimated the prevalence of Wolbachia in Altica beetles, assessed genetic diversity of Wolbachia strains infecting these beetles, and tested whether Wolbachia‐induced CI explains reproductive isolation of A. fragariae and A. viridicyanea.

3. The results show that all of the 11 tested Altica species were infected by Wolbachia, and the infection rate was as high as 97.0% (n = 235). Multi‐strain infections were common, being found in 10 of the 11 species tested and accounting for 23.0% of all screened specimens. In total, 35 Wolbachia strains were identified based on 208 wsp sequences obtained. Although a majority of A. fragariae and A. viridicyanea individuals from the Beijing population were infected with only one strain each, multi‐strain infections did occur in both species. Antibiotic curing experiments did not change hatching success in either inter‐ or intraspecific crosses of A. fragariae and A. viridicyanea, indicating that these Wolbachia strains do not induce CI. These results were further corroborated by the lack of the Wolbachia cifB gene, which is responsible for causing CI.

4. These findings suggest that high prevalence of Wolbachia infection is unlikely to contribute to reproductive isolation and speciation in this system.
Use of visual and olfactory cues of flowers of two brassicaceous species by insect pollinators
Authors: Barragán‐Fonseca Katherine Y. , van Loon Joop J.A. , Dicke Marcel , Lucas‐Barbosa Dani
Published: July 2019

1. Pollinating insects exploit visual and olfactory cues associated with flower traits indicative of flower location and reward quality. Pollination can induce changes in these flower‐associated cues, thereby influencing the behaviour of flower visitors.

2. This study investigated the main cues exploited by the syrphid flyEpisyrphus balteatusand the butterflyPieris brassicaewhen visiting flowers ofBrassica nigraandRaphanus sativusplants. Whether pollen is used as a cue and whether pollination‐induced changes affect flower volatile emission and the behavioural responses of the two pollinator species were also studied.

3. Pollinator preference was investigated by offering visual and olfactory cues individually as well as simultaneously in two‐choice bioassays. Plant treatments included emasculation, hand‐pollination and untreated control plants. The composition of flower volatiles from pollinated and unpollinated control plants was analysed by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry.

4. Both pollinators exhibited a strong bias for visual cues over olfactory cues. Neither pollinator used pollen as a cue. However,E. balteatusdiscriminated between newly opened and long‐open flowers at short distance only when pollen was available. Flower visits by pollinators were influenced by pollination‐induced changes inB. nigrabut notR. sativusflowers.Pieris brassicaeonly responded to pollination‐induced changes when visual and olfactory cues were offered simultaneously. The blend of volatiles emitted byB. nigra, but notR. sativusinflorescences was affected by pollination.

5. Collectively, the findings of this study show that different pollinators exploit different visual and olfactory traits when searching for flowers of two brassicaceous plant species.
Qualitative investigation of perceived barriers to and enablers of sport participation for young people with first episode psychosis
Authors: Brooke Lauren E. , Gucciardi Daniel F. , Ntoumanis Nikos , Lin Ashleigh
Published: July 2019

Aims

The aim and objective of the study was building on a previous call for the development of sport‐based life skills interventions for young people with first episode of psychosis (FEP) (Brooke, Lin, Ntoumanis, & Gucciardi, 2018), to explore the barriers and enablers to sport participation for young people with FEP.

Method

We used a semi‐structured interview format to conduct one‐to‐one interviews with young people (aged 16‐25; n = 10) with FEP, and one‐to‐one interviews and focus groups with their clinicians (n = 33). Questions focused on barriers and facilitators (intrapersonal, interpersonal, psychological, environment, health/safety, logistical) to sport participation young people with FEP. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data.

Results

Four themes (and 11 sub‐themes) emerged from the analysis: (a) the need for sport in FEP recovery (perceived benefits; resource gap); (b) barriers (logistical; psychological); (c) enablers (positive environmental expectations and experiences) and (d) programme design (sport programme/type; life skills training; application to barriers/enablers).

Conclusion

The participants responded favourably to the idea of using sport to promote recovery post‐FEP, and provided an insight into why sport is currently underutilized within FEP recovery efforts. The barriers, enablers, and specific suggestions for how to limit the barriers and strengthen the enablers are valuable for sport‐based intervention design, and may be applicable to non‐sport‐based interventions for people with FEP.
Form and content of attenuated psychotic symptoms in psychometrically assessed positive and negative schizotypy
Authors: Trask Christi L. , Cohn Jonathan R. , Paxson Aaliyah M. , Hansen Geoffrey S. , Cicero David C.
Published: July 2019

Aim

Greater attention is being paid to early detection and identification of individuals who are at high risk of developing psychosis. One area of interest is the particular content types of psychotic‐like experiences (PLEs), which can be thought of as attenuated, non‐clinical positive symptoms (eg, feeling perplexed by reality). Previous research has examined content of PLEs in clinical high‐risk samples. The current study aimed to build upon these findings by analysing content in a psychometrically determined high‐risk sample.

Methods

One hundred fifty‐three undergraduates with scores greater than 1.96 SDs above the mean on a measure of schizotypy symptoms participated in a semi‐structured interview for the assessment of prodromal syndromes. Each interview was transcribed verbatim and content of PLEs was rated according to the Content of Attenuated Positive Symptoms scale.

Results

Frequencies of content items in the psychometric high‐risk sample were similar to those found in a clinical high‐risk sample. Multiple regression analyses revealed that certain content items were more predictive of decreased global functioning and increased positive symptom severity.

Conclusions

Content items that were associated with worse outcomes may be cause for greater concern if endorsed by individuals presenting for treatment. Future research should examine content of PLEs in a longitudinal design to determine whether particular items could predict subsequent conversion to a schizophrenia‐spectrum disorder.
Modulatory effect of curcumin analogs on the activation of metalloproteinases in human periodontal stem cells
Authors: Boșca Adina B. , Ilea Aranka , Sorițău Olga , Tatomir Corina , Miklášová Natalia , Pârvu Alina E. , Mihu Carmen M. , Melincovici Carmen S. , Fischer‐Fodor Eva
Published: July 2019

Periodontitis progresses due to increased levels of active metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the imbalance between MMPs and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs). Natural curcumin limits the lytic activity of MMPs but has low cellular uptake. Use of synthetic curcumin analogs could be a means of overcoming this limitation of treatment efficiency. Human periodontal stem cells were isolated from gingival tissue, gingival ligament fibers, periodontal ligament, and alveolar bone. The effect of five synthetic curcumin analogs was compared with that of natural curcumin by assessing cytotoxicity [by 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay], the cellular uptake (by fluorometry), the proteolytic activities of MMP‐2 and ‐9 (by zymography), and the levels of TIMP‐1 (by ELISA). Our results indicated increased cytotoxicity of synthetic curcumins for doses between 100 and 250 μM. At a concentration of 10 μM, cellular uptake of synthetic curcumins varied depending on their chemical structure. The curcumin compounds modulated pro‐MMP‐2 levels and increased TIMP‐1 production. There was no detectable synthesis of pro‐MMP‐9 and no activation of MMPs 2 and 9. Gingival tissue and gingival ligament fiber stem cells were most responsive to treatment, showing inverse correlations between pro‐MMP‐2 and TIMP‐1 levels. In conclusion, synthetic curcumins influenced the balance between pro‐MMP‐2 and TIMP‐1 in human periodontal stem cells in vitro, and this could open perspectives for their application as adjuvants in periodontal therapy.
Yellow plumage colour of Great Tits Parus major correlates with changing temperature and precipitation
Authors: Laczi Miklós , Hegyi Gergely , Nagy Gergely , Pongrácz Rita , Török János
Published: July 2019

Weather is known to affect the phenology and behaviour of birds, but weather‐related changes of phenotypic traits involved in communication have received little attention. Using an 8‐year dataset, we investigated links between carotenoid‐based reflectance of the freshly moulted breast of Great Tits Parus major, weather during the moulting period and food availability during the preceding breeding season, and we investigated interannual changes. In both sexes, we found a change of colour expression to more saturated and darker yellow over the study period in parallel with increasingly dry and warm weather during moult. These results indicate that the expression of traits playing roles in communication may be controlled by weather and may therefore shift in response to changing climate.
Development and implementation of an expert rule set for automated reflex testing and validation of routine coagulation tests in a large pathology network
Authors: Mohammed Soma , Ule Priebbenow Violeta , Pasalic Leonardo , Favaloro Emmanuel J.
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Haemostasis laboratories play a critical role in diagnosis and treatment of individuals with bleeding or thrombotic disorders. Routine coagulation assays such as prothrombin time (PT)/ international normalized ratio (INR), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), are used in monitoring of anticoagulant therapy, as provided for treatment/prevention of thromboembolic disease, and also inform on potential haemostasis dysfunction. Increasing pressure is applied on clinical laboratories to improve response (test turnaround) times, reduce error rates and standardize policies. To this end, we describe our experience with the development and implementation of an automated process for reflex testing and validation of routine coagulation test results in a large pathology network compromising 27 laboratories.

Methods

Custom‐built expert rules were created to perform reflex testing and fully automate routine test validation. These rules were developed/implemented over a 15‐month period, including 6 months for development/ testing and 9 months for training/implementation of >100 personnel at 27 sites.

Results

These rules have enabled adherence of standardized pre‐analytical (sample integrity) checks, automated reflex decisions, automated verification and overall alignment of network practices. In addition, clinically significant results are immediately referred to haematologists. We report an improvement in test turnaround times, also reflecting savings in operator time.

Conclusion

The process was generally well received and generally beneficial to most laboratories in the network.
Performance evaluation of Revohem™ FVIII chromogenic and Revohem™ FIX chromogenic in the CS‐5100 autoanalyser
Authors: Suzuki Atsuo , Suzuki Nobuaki , Kanematsu Takeshi , Shinohara Sho , Arai Nobuo , Kikuchi Ryosuke , Matsushita Tadashi
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Chromogenic substrate assay (CSA) reagents Revohem™ FVIII and Revohem™ FIX are now available as in vitro diagnostic reagents for autoanalysers in Japan. In this study, we evaluated the performance of these reagents in the CS‐5100 automated coagulation analyser.

Methods

We assessed within‐run and between‐day imprecision, on‐board stability and frozen‐storage stability of Revohem FVIII and FIX. Sensitivity to lupus anticoagulant (LA) was examined using LA‐positive patient plasma. Correlations were analysed using plasma samples from normal individuals and patients with haemophilia A (HA) or B (HB) or von Willebrand disease (VWD).

Results

Imprecision was <2% for Revohem FVIII and <6.5% for Revohem FIX. On‐board storage of Revohem FVIII resulted in a <10% decrease in FVIII levels from baseline at 24 hours, whereas Revohem FIX showed a >10% decrease at 8 hours. Revohem FVIII showed good stability while frozen for 22 days. Although Revohem FIX showed degradation due to freeze‐thawing, a new calibration improved stability up to 22 days. Interference from LA was not observed with Revohem FVIII or FIX. The FVIII CSA‐CSA correlation was excellent in normal (r = 0.9924), HA (r = 0.9945) and VWD (r = 0.9914). The FVIII CSA‐OSA correlation was good in normal (r = 0.8468) and excellent in HA (r = 0.975) and VWD (r = 0.9936). The FIX CSA‐OSA correlation was fair in normal (r = 0.4791) and excellent in HB (r = 0.9501).

Conclusion

Revohem FVIII and FIX both showed excellent performance in the CS‐5100 analyser. These reagents could be useful in routine laboratory testing for diagnosing and treating haemophilia.
Manufacturer defensive and offensive advertising in competing distribution channels
Authors: Martín‐Herrán Guiomar , Sigué Simon P.
Published: July 2019

This paper investigates how two competing manufacturers should invest in defensive and offensive advertising in a two‐segment market and whether they should each adopt a decentralized or an integrated channel if their goal is to maximize total channel profits. We find that manufacturers in decentralized channels can exclusively undertake either of the two types of advertising or combine the two at the equilibrium. In integrated channels, they can either combine the two or exclusively undertake defensive advertising. When multiple equilibria exist, strategies that combine both types of advertising should be preferred to exclusive defensive advertising strategies, which are better than exclusive offensive advertising strategies. Also, total channel profits are higher in decentralized channels than in integrated channels when the brands are moderately or highly substitutable. Conversely, total channel profits of integrated channels are higher than those of decentralized channels in areas where the brands are relatively differentiated and the offensive advertising retaliatory capacity of the rival is stronger. Theoretical and managerial implications of these findings are discussed.
Retinal development in mandarinfishSiniperca chuatsiand morphological analysis of the photoreceptor layer
Authors: Zhang Ruiqi , Zhao Jinliang , Hao YueYue , Cao Xiaoyin , Zhao Yan , Tang Shoujie
Published: July 2019

We describe the process of retinal development in mandarinfishSiniperca chuatsifrom larvae to young fish. The developmental characteristics of the retinal structure and related cells were identified.Siniperca chuatsiwere found to exhibit an altricial mode of retinal development that required considerable time to be completed after hatching. The retina was classed as a pure cone type during the early developmental stage. In the subsequent developmental stages, however, double cones gradually occupied the majority of the cone cells, while rod cells represented the majority of the photoreceptor cells. The outer segment (OS) of the rod cells were significantly longer compared with other morphological features, the OS of the two kinds of cone cells were significantly elongated and the diameters of the inner segment (IS) and OS of the double cone cells were significantly narrower in the later developmental stages. Combined with the scattered arrangement of cone cells at the different stages, the retina was found to have sacrificed a considerable part of visual acuity in the developmental process. The distribution of cone cells was observed to have gradually become regionalised during development. The findings of the present study also indicated thatS. chuatsihave a high photosensitivity under dim light conditions as a result of specialised structures of the OS of photoreceptor cells and an increased number of rod cells. The loose arrangement of the cone mosaic presumably resulted in a poor imaging quality and, to some extent, the regionalisation of the cone‐cell distribution compensated for the above shortcomings, which would enhance the ability ofS. chuatsito perceive targets in important directions for effective predation behaviour.
A new species of Trichomycterus Valenciennes 1832 (Trichomycteridae: Siluriformes) from the Rio Doce drainage with remarkable similarities with Bullockia and a CT‐scan survey
Authors: Reis Vinícius J. C. , de Pinna Mário C. C. , Pessali Tiago C.
Published: July 2019

A new species of Trichomycterus is described from rocky and psammic sectors near the main channel of the middle and upper Rio Doce basin in Southeastern Brazil. Trichomycterus astromycterus n. sp., is distinguished from all congeners by a number of autapomorphic characters, such as the distally expanded maxilla; the short and thick mesethmoid cornua; and the elongated anterior process of the vomer. Additional characters (short barbels, large head, 33 vertebrae, ii+8 or ii+9 dorsal‐fin rays, nine dorsal‐fin pterygiophores, markedly enlarged lips, narrow caudal peduncle, bilobed caudal fin with the lower lobe longer than the upper one) also distinguish the new species from all its congeners in Southeastern Brazil and from most congeners anywhere. Examination of internal anatomy reveals that T. astromycterus shares some intriguing characteristics with the austral genus Bullockia Arratia et al., 1978. However, the phylogenetic significance of such similarities is still uncertain and will require further comparative study. For this reason, the new species is provisionally included in the all‐encompassing genus Trichomycterus. An osteological description is presented on the basis of CT‐scan imaging and cleared and stained specimens.
Brain Amyloid PET Tracer Delivery is Related to White Matter Integrity in Patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Brown Eric E. , Rashidi‐Ranjbar Neda , Caravaggio Fernando , Gerretsen Philip , Pollock Bruce G. , Mulsant Benoit H. , Rajji Tarek K. , Fischer Corinne E. , Flint Alastair , Mah Linda , Herrmann Nathan , Bowie Christopher R. , Voineskos Aristotle N. , Graff‐Guerrero Ariel ,   on behalf of the PACt‐MD Study Group
Published: July 2019

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Amyloid deposition, tau neurofibrillary tangles, and cerebrovascular dysfunction are important pathophysiologic features in Alzheimer's disease. Pittsburgh compound B ([11C]‐PIB) is a positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer used to quantify amyloid deposition in vivo. In addition, certain models of [11C]‐PIB delivery reflect cerebral blood flow rather than amyloid plaques. As cerebral blood flow and perfusion deficits are associated with white matter pathology, we hypothesized that [11C]‐PIB delivery in white matter regions may reflect white matter integrity.

METHODS

We obtained [11C]‐PIB‐PET scans and quantified white matter hyperintensities and global fractional anisotropy on magnetic resonance images as biomarkers of white matter pathology in 34 older participants with mild cognitive impairment with or without a history of major depressive disorder. We analyzed the [11C]‐PIB time‐activity curve data with models associated with cerebral blood flow: the early maximum standard uptake value and the relative delivery parameter R1. We used a global white matter region of interest.

RESULTS

Both of the partial‐volume corrected PET parameters were correlated with white matter hyperintensities and fractional anisotropy.

CONCLUSION

Future studies are warranted to explore whether [11C]‐PIB PET is a “triple biomarker” that may provide information about amyloid deposition, cerebral blood flow, and white matter pathology.
Reliability and Validity of T‐scan and 3D Intraoral Scanning for Measuring the Occlusal Contact Area
Authors: Ayuso‐Montero Raul , Mariano‐Hernandez Yumaysla , Khoury‐Ribas Laura , Rovira‐Lastra Bernat , Willaert Eva , Martinez‐Gomis Jordi
Published: July 2019

Purpose

To determine the reliability of T‐scan and 3D intraoral scan techniques for assessing the occlusal contact area (OCA), compared to occlusal registration and also to assess the validity of the techniques.

Materials and Methods

Thirty‐one dentate adults participated in this cross‐sectional study. T‐scan records were used to measure the OCA at maximum bite force and at 50% of maximum force using the software's bite force selection tool. A second method measured the OCA between 2 virtual models scanned intraorally using a 3D surface scan and considering the occlusal contact at 2 interocclusal distances (0‐100 and 0‐200 µm). The third method measured OCA using occlusal registration at moderate and maximum occlusal force, and considering contact at the 2 interocclusal distances (0‐100 and 0‐200 µm). Images obtained using the 3 methods were analyzed using ImageJ software. Test‐retest reliability was assessed by the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and validity by Pearson correlations.

Results

ICCs ranged from 0.56 to 0.79 (p < 0.001) for the T‐scan; 0.37 to 0.61 (p < 0.05) for 3D surface scan; and 0.92 to 0.95 (p < 0.0005) for occlusal registration. The highest OCA values were obtained using the T‐scan, and the lowest using the 3D surface scan. Occlusal registration measurements had the highest correlations with those of the other techniques.

Conclusions

T‐scan is a reliable method for measuring the OCA, but the 3D surface scan is not. Occlusal registration showed a high validity.
Blood‐fluid level in the brain
Authors: Law Suvikrom , Bowornkitiwong Walaiporn
Published: July 2019

See Answer
Plasmodium sexual differentiation: how to make a female
Authors: Ralph Stuart A. , Cortés Alfred
Published: July 2019

Sexual development is integral to the transmission of Plasmodium parasites between vertebrates and mosquitos. Recent years have seen great advances in understanding the gene expression that underlies commitment of asexual parasites to differentiate into sexual gametocyte stages, then how they mature and form gametes once inside a mosquito. Less well understood is how parasites differentially control development to become males or females. Plasmodium parasites are haploid at the time of sexual differentiation, but a clonal haploid line can produce both male and female gametocytes, so they presumably lack the sex‐determining alleles present in some other eukaryotes. Though the molecular switch to initiate male or female development remains hidden, recent studies reveal regulatory proteins needed for the sex‐specific maturation of male and female gametocytes. Yuda and collaborators report the characterization of a transcription factor necessary for female gametocyte maturation. With renewed attention on malaria elimination, sex has been an increasing focus because transmission‐blocking strategies are likely to be an important component of elimination efforts.
Fusarium onychomycoses in Switzerland—A mycological and histopathological study
Authors: Rammlmair Anna , Mühlethaler Konrad , Haneke Eckart
Published: July 2019

Onychomycoses in temperate climates are most commonly due to dermatophytes, particularly Trichophyton rubrum. Non‐dermatophyte nail infections are much less frequent, and their diagnosis requires a careful and repeated search for a potential dermatophyte that may have been overgrown in culture. A series of histological slides of suspected onychomycoses with uncommon fungal morphology prompted us to search for non‐dermatophytic moulds causing dermatophytosis‐like nail infections. Thirty cases were identified by culture as F solani, F oxysporum, F dimerum or F spp, and two more were only diagnosed histopathologically. None of these patients was immunocompromised. Treatment was mostly unsuccessful with terbinafine whereas itraconazole showed a moderately better treatment result; in all cases, a topical ciclopirox nail varnish in a hydroxychitosan base was added.
Differential responses of endothelial cells on three‐dimensional scaffolds to lipopolysaccharides from periodontopathogens
Authors: Gualtero Diego F. , Lafaurie Gloria I. , Fontanilla Marta R.
Published: July 2019

Studies have been conducted on the pathogenicity of periodontopathogens in cultures of endothelial cells on two‐dimensional (2D) polystyrene surfaces, where the monolayer formed is not exposed to proteins of the subendothelial matrix. In this work, we developed a culture system by seeding human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) onto three‐dimensional (3D) scaffolds of collagen type I, a subendothelial protein. The inflammatory responses of the HCAEC monolayers, formed either on 3D scaffolds or directly on a 2D polystyrene plate, to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) were evaluated. The transcription of 3 genes, the secretion of 40 cytokines and 2 prostanoids, and the adhesion of monocytes to 2D and 3D cultures with or without exposure to lipopolysaccharides (control) were assessed. HCAECs exhibited differences in transcriptional and secretory profiles between the 3D and 2D models. In addition, the inflammatory responses of HCAEC to Aa‐LPS and Pg‐LPS differed between the two models. In 3D cultures treated with Aa‐LPS, the levels of IL‐8, RANTES, G‐CSF, ICAM‐1, IL‐6, and TXA2 were significantly higher than those in the controls. In 2D cultures treated with Aa‐LPS, IL‐8, RANTES, G‐CSF, ICAM‐1, TNF‐RI, PGI2, and TXA2 levels were significantly higher than those in their controls. In the presence of Aa‐LPS, monocyte adhesion did not differ between treated and control 3D cultures but was significantly higher in treated 2D cultures than in the controls. In response to Pg‐LPS, cytokine‐prostaglandin secretion and monocyte adhesion did not differ between 3D and 2D cultures. These data indicate that HCAECs respond differently to these two types of LPS.
Thermal plasticity of the circadian clock is under nuclear and cytoplasmic control in wild barley
Authors: Bdolach Eyal , Prusty Manas Ranjan , Faigenboim‐Doron Adi , Filichkin Tanya , Helgerson Laura , Schmid Karl J. , Greiner Stephan , Fridman Eyal
Published: July 2019

Temperature compensation, expressed as the ability to maintain clock characteristics (mainly period) in face of temperature changes, that is, robustness, is considered a key feature of circadian clock systems. In this study, we explore the genetic basis for lack of robustness, that is, plasticity, of circadian clock as reflected by photosynthesis rhythmicity. The clock rhythmicity of a new wild barley reciprocal doubled haploid population was analysed with a high temporal resolution of pulsed amplitude modulation of chlorophyll fluorescence under optimal (22°C) and high (32°C) temperature. This comparison between two environments pointed to the prevalence of clock acceleration under heat. Genotyping by sequencing of doubled haploid lines indicated a rich recombination landscape with minor fixation (less than 8%) for one of the parental alleles. Quantitative genetic analysis included genotype by environment interactions and binary‐threshold models. Variation in the circadian rhythm plasticity phenotypes, expressed as change (delta) of period and amplitude under two temperatures, was associated with maternal organelle genome (the plasmotype), as well as with several nuclear loci. This first reported rhythmicity driven by nuclear loci and plasmotype with few identified variants, paves the way for studying impact of cytonuclear variations on clock robustness and on plant adaptation to changing environments.
TCR α+β+/CD19+ cell–depleted hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for pediatric patients
Authors: Mitchell Richard , Cole Theresa , Shaw Peter J. , Mechinaud Francoise , O'Brien Tracey , Fraser Chris
Published: July 2019

TCR α+β+/CD19+ cell depletion is an emerging technique for ex vivo graft manipulation in HSCT. We report 20 pediatric patients who underwent TCR α+β+/CD19+ cell–depleted HSCT in four Australian centers. Conditioning regimen was dependent on HSCT indication, which included immunodeficiency (n = 14), Fanconi anemia (n = 3), and acute leukemia (n = 3). Donor sources were haploidentical parent (n = 17), haploidentical sibling (n = 2), or matched unrelated donor (n = 1). Mean cell dose was 8.2 × 108/kg TNC, 12.1 × 106/kg CD34+ cells, and 0.4 × 105/kg TCR α+β+ cells. All patients achieved primary neutrophil and platelet engraftment, with average time to neutrophil engraftment 11 days (range 8‐22) and platelet engraftment 24 days (range 12‐69). TRM at 1 year was 15%. Rate of grade II‐IV aGVHD at 1 year was 20% with no grade III‐IV aGVHD seen. CMV reactivation occurred in 81% of CMV‐positive recipients, with one patient developing CMV disease. Average time to CD4 recovery (>400 × 106/L) was 258 days. Overall survival for the cohort at 5 years was 80%. This report highlights the initial experience of TCR α+β+/CD19+ cell–depleted HSCT in Australian centers, with high rates of engraftment, low rates of aGVHD, and acceptable TRM.
Serum high‐mobility group box 1 is associated with the onset and severity of acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: Yamaguchi Kakuhiro , Iwamoto Hiroshi , Sakamoto Shinjiro , Horimasu Yasushi , Masuda Takeshi , Miyamoto Shintaro , Nakashima Taku , Ohshimo Shinichiro , Fujitaka Kazunori , Hamada Hironobu , Hattori Noboru
Published: July 2019

Background and objective

High‐mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is a known mediator of acute lung injury through the acceleration of pro‐inflammatory –signalling. Previous studies showed that HMGB1 is increased in the lung and circulation of patients with acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE‐IPF). This study investigated the predictive value of circulatory HMGB1 for disease progression and prognosis of IPF in the stable phase and AE phase.

Methods

In total, 76 patients with stable IPF, 17 patients with AE‐IPF, 37 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 74 healthy controls were included. Serum HMGB1 levels were compared among the four groups and the associations of HMGB1 levels with the onset of AE and prognosis were evaluated in patients with stable IPF. The prognostic value of HMGB1 was determined in AE‐IPF.

Results

Serum HMGB1 levels in patients with stable IPF were significantly higher than those in healthy controls, and in patients with AE‐IPF they were even higher than the levels in either of these groups (6.26 ± 5.27, 3.42 ± 2.69 and 19.20 ± 16.76 ng/mL, respectively). There was no significant difference in serum HMGB1 levels between stable IPF patients and COPD patients. Higher levels of HMGB1 were associated with earlier onset of AE in stable IPF patients and with shorter survival in AE‐IPF patients (P = 0.030 and 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

Higher levels of serum HMGB1 predict earlier onset of AE in stable IPF patients and shorter survival in AE‐IPF patients, indicating that HMGB1 is associated with acute deterioration of the disease.
Personalized exercise training in chronic lung diseases
Authors: Armstrong Matthew , Vogiatzis Ioannis
Published: July 2019

Chronic respiratory diseases (CRD) are characterized by exertional dyspnoea, exercise limitation and reduced health‐related quality of life (QoL). Exercise training is essential for improving symptoms, physical function and QoL. Current research available supports the effectiveness of exercise training in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis and interstitial lung disease (ILD). However, recent studies have also shown safety and effectiveness of exercise training in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) and asthma. Despite the lack of clinical guidelines for exercise training in PAH, a recent Cochrane review has reported improvements in functional capacity and effective reductions in mean pulmonary arterial pressure. In the other CRD, a number of Cochrane reviews, supported by numerous randomized controlled trials, have been published outlining the benefits of different types of exercise training. The aim of this review is to establish the principles and modalities of personalized exercise training and the effects of exercise training across a number of CRD. In addition, this review provides information on personalized exercise prescription for CRD patients with co‐morbidities.
The Effects of Regulations on Private School Choice Program Participation: Experimental Evidence from Florida
Authors: DeAngelis Corey A. , Burke Lindsey M. , Wolf Patrick J.
Published: July 2019

Objective

This is the first experimental evaluation of the effects of various regulations on the willingness of private school leaders to participate in a hypothetical school voucher program.

Methods

We use surveys to randomly assign different regulations to 2,958 private school leaders in Florida and ask them whether they would participate in a new private school choice program during the following school year.

Results

We received responses from 327 private school leaders. Relative to no additional regulations, our most conservative models find that open‐enrollment mandates reduce the likelihood that private schools are certain to participate by 17 percentage points or 70 percent. State standardized testing requirements reduce the likelihood that private schools are certain to participate by 12 percentage points or 46 percent. We find no evidence to suggest that the prohibition of copayment affects participation overall. We find limited evidence to suggest that regulations are more likely to deter higher‐quality schools.as measured by tuition levels and enrollment trends.

Conclusion

These results suggest that various regulations of private school choice programs come with costs and perhaps unintended consequences.
A reliable traffic prediction approach for bike‐sharing system by exploiting rich information with temporal link prediction strategy
Authors: Zhou Yan , Li Yanxi , Zhu Qing , Chen Fen , Shao Junming , Luo Yunxin , Zhang Yeting , Zhang Pengcheng , Yang Weijun
Published: July 2019

Bike‐sharing systems have been widely used in major cities across the world. As bike borrowing and return at different stations in different periods are not balanced, the bikes in a bike‐sharing system need to be redistributed frequently to rebalance the system. Therefore, traffic flow forecasting of the bike‐sharing system is an important issue, as this is conducive to achieving rebalancing of the bike system. In this article, we present a new traffic flow prediction approach based on the temporal links in dynamic traffic flow networks. A station clustering algorithm is first introduced to cluster stations into groups. A temporal link prediction method based on the dynamic traffic flow network method (STW+M) is then proposed to predict the traffic flow between stations. In our method, the non‐negative tensor decomposition and time‐series analysis model capture the rich information (temporal variabilities, spatial characteristics, and weather information) of the across‐clusters transition. Then, a temporal link prediction strategy is used to forecast potential links and weights in the traffic flow network by investigating both the network structure and the results of tensor computations. In order to assess the methods proposed in this article, we have used the data of bike‐sharing systems in New York and Washington, DC to conduct bike traffic prediction and the experimental results have shown that our method produces the lowest root mean square error (RMSE) and mean square error (MSE). Compared to four prediction methods from the literature, our RMSE and MSE of the two datasets have been lowered by an average of 2.55 (Washington, DC) and 2.41 (New York) and 3.35 (Washington, DC) and 2.96 (New York), respectively. The results show that the proposed approach improves predictions of traffic flow.