bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Role of protein dynamics in enthalpy-driven recognition of topologically distinct dsRNAs by dsRBDs
Authors: Paithankar H , Chugh J
Published: December 2019

Taking leads from the fact that a handful of double-stranded RNA-binding domains (dsRBDs) interact with a massive number of topologically distinct double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) in crucial biological pathways, and to understand the adaptability required by dsRBDs to target the pool of dsRNA substrates, we employed two independent model dsRBDs in an ITC and NMR spectroscopy based study. Our previous study revealed the presence of microsecond timescale dynamics in RNA-binding regions in the two dsRBDs studied. In the current study, results from ITC-based titrations showed that the binding of dsRBD with topologically distinct dsRNAs is enthalpy-driven, with each dsRNA-dsRBD pair having distinct combination of enthalpy-entropy yielding a similar change in free energy upon RNA-binding. We also show that the each of the dsRNA, used in this study, binds to the dsRBD in a unique mode. Further, intrinsic conformational exchange present in the RNA-binding regions of the apo-dsRBD was shown to quench upon binding with a dsRNA, while conformational exchange got induced at the residues that are in close proximity to where exchange was present in the apo-protein. This apparent relay of conformational exchange from one site to the other site upon dsRNA-binding thus suggests the importance of intrinsic dynamics to adapt to target a variety of dsRNA-shapes.

Statement of Significance

This study reports that the interaction between dsRBDs and dsRNAs is enthalpy-driven, is perturbed by subtle changes in dsRNA shapes, and exhibits a classic case of enthalpy-entropy compensation. Further, the intrinsic microsecond timescale conformational exchange present in the apo-dsRBD was observed to get quenched upon RNA-binding. An apparent relay of conformational exchange was also observed from quenched sites to spatially proximal sites upon RNA-binding, suggesting highly adaptive nature of the dsRBD, a critical feature required to target topologically distinct dsRNA.
Prolonged anesthesia alters brain synaptic architecture
Authors: Wenzel Michael , Leunig Alexander , Han Shuting , Peterka Darcy S. , Yuste Rafael
Published: December 2019

Prolonged medically-induced coma (pMIC), a procedure performed in millions of patients worldwide, leads to cognitive impairment, yet the underlying brain mechanism remains unknown. No experimental studies of medically-induced coma (MIC) exceeding ~6 hours exist. For MIC of less than 6 hours, studies in developing rodents have documented transient changes of cortical synapse formation. However, in adulthood, cortical synapses are thought to become stabilized. Here, we establish pMIC (up to 24 hrs) in adolescent and mature mice, and combine repeated behavioral object recognition assessments with longitudinal two-photon imaging of cortical synapses. We find that pMIC affects cognitive function, and is associated with enhanced synaptic turnover, generated by enhanced synapse formation during pMIC, while the post-anesthetic period is dominated by synaptic loss. These results carry profound implications for intensive medical care, as they point out at significant structural side effects of pMIC on cortical brain synaptic architecture across age levels.
Environmental stress maintains trioecy in nematode worms
Authors: Anderson Ashlyn G. , Bubrig Louis T. , Fierst Janna L.
Published: December 2019

Sex is determined by chromosomes in mammals but it can be influenced by the environment in many worms, crustaceans and vertebrates. Despite this, there is little understanding of the relationship between ecology and the evolution of sexual systems. The nematodeAuanema freiburgensishas a unique sex determination system in which individuals carrying one X chromosome develop into males while XX individuals develop into females in stress-free environments and self-fertile hermaphrodites in stressful environments. Theory predicts that trioecious populations with coexisting males, females and hermaphrodites should be unstable intermediates in evolutionary transitions between mating systems. In this article we study a mathematical model of reproductive evolution based on the unique life history and sex determination ofA. freiburgensis. We develop the model in two scenarios, one where the relative production of hermaphrodites and females is entirely dependent on the environment and one based on empirical measurements of a population that displays incomplete, ‘leaky’ environmental dependence. In the first scenario environmental conditions can push the population along an evolutionary continuum and result in the stable maintenance of multiple reproductive systems. The second ‘leaky’ scenario results in the maintenance of three sexes for all environmental conditions. Theoretical investigations of reproductive system transitions have focused on the evolutionary costs and benefits of sex. Here, we show that the flexible sex determination system ofA. freiburgensismay contribute to population-level resilience in the microscopic nematode’s patchy, ephemeral natural habitat. Our results demonstrate that life history, ecology and environment may play defining roles in the evolution of sexual systems.
Inducible cell-specific mouse models for paired epigenetic and transcriptomic studies of microglia and astroglia
Authors: Chucair-Elliott Ana J. , Ocañas Sarah R. , Stanford David R. , Ansere Victor A. , Buettner Kyla B. , Porter Hunter , Eliason Nicole L. , Reid Justin , Sharpe Amanda L. , Stout Michael B. , Beckstead Michael J. , Miller Benjamin F. , Richardson Arlan , Freeman Willard M.
Published: December 2019

Epigenetic regulation of gene expression occurs in a cell type-specific manner. Current cell-type specific neuroepigenetic studies rely on cell sorting methods that can alter cell phenotype and introduce potential confounds. Here we demonstrate and validate a Nuclear Tagging and Translating Ribosome Affinity Purification (NuTRAP) approach for temporally controlled labeling and isolation of ribosomes and nuclei, and thus RNA and DNA, from specific CNS cell types. Paired analysis of the transcriptome and DNA modifications in astrocytes and microglia demonstrates differential usage of DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in CG and non-CG contexts that corresponds to cell type-specific gene expression. Application of this approach in LPS treated mice uncovers microglia-specific transcriptome and epigenome changes in inflammatory pathways that cannot be detected with tissue-level analysis. The NuTRAP model and the validation approaches presented can be applied to any CNS cell type for which a cell type-specific cre is available.
Apical Constriction Reversal upon Mitotic Entry Underlies Different Morphogenetic Outcomes of Cell Division
Authors: Ko Clint S. , Kalakuntla Prateek , Martin Adam C.
Published: December 2019

During development, coordinated cell shape changes and cell divisions sculpt tissues. While these individual cell behaviors have been extensively studied, how cell shape changes and cell divisions that occur concurrently in epithelia influence tissue shape is less understood. We addressed this question in two contexts of the earlyDrosophilaembryo: premature cell division during mesoderm invagination, and native ectodermal cell divisions with ectopic activation of apical contractility. Using quantitative live-cell imaging, we demonstrated that mitotic entry reverses apical contractility by interfering with medioapical RhoA signaling. While premature mitotic entry inhibits mesoderm invagination, which relies on apical constriction, mitotic entry in an artificially contractile ectoderm induced ectopic tissue invaginations. Ectopic invaginations resulted from medioapical myosin loss in neighboring mitotic cells. This myosin loss enabled non-mitotic cells to apically constrict through mitotic cell stretching. Thus, the spatial pattern of mitotic entry can differentially regulate tissue shape through signal interference between apical contractility and mitosis.
Sub physiological temperature induces pervasive alternative splicing in Chinese hamster ovary cells
Authors: Tzani Ioanna , Monger Craig , Motheramgari Krishna , Gallagher Clair , Hagan Ryan , Kelly Paul , Costello Alan , Meiller Justine , Floris Patrick , Zhang Lin , Clynes Martin , Bones Jonathan , Barron Niall , Clarke Colin
Published: December 2019

RNA sequencing (RNASeq) has been widely used to associate alterations in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cell gene expression with bioprocess phenotypes, however alternative mRNA splicing, has thus far, received little attention. In this study, we utilised RNASeq for transcriptomic analysis of a monoclonal antibody producing CHOK1 cell line subjected to a temperature shift. More than 2,365 instances of differential splicing were observed 24hrs after the reduction of cell culture temperature. 1,163 of these alternative splicing events were identified in genes where no changes in abundance were detected by standard differential expression analysis. Ten examples of alternative splicing were selected for independent validation using qPCR in the monoclonal antibody producing CHOK1 line used for RNASeq and a further 2 CHOK1 cell lines. This analysis provided evidence that exon skipping and mutually exclusive splicing events occur in genes linked to the cellular response to changes in temperature and mitochondrial function. While further work is required to determine the impact of changes in mRNA sequence on cellular phenotype, this study demonstrates that alternative splicing analysis can be utilised to gain a deeper understanding of post-transcriptional regulation in CHO cells during biopharmaceutical production.
Boundary tourism and touristic boundaries in Marseille’s northern districts
Authors: Hascoët Yannick
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the touristic classification of the developing practices in the northern districts of Marseille (France).

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on participant observation and semi-structured interviews, sometimes conducted within a sightseeing tour situation and loosely inspired by the “guided tours” technique.

Findings

The paper shows there is currently no definition of tourism in itself, just tourism for itself. Hence, the touristic classification of the implementations in Marseille’s northern districts is relative, relational and transversal.

Research limitations/implications

The paper does not exhaust (far from it) the subject of the touristic classification of the implementations in Marseille or, a fortiori, the debate on what “makes” tourism. This paper is simply one link in the historical chain of Marseille’s northern districts, which are (or are not) currently being invented as a tourist destination.

Practical implications

This research has led to sustained and continuous exchanges since 2012 with the Hôtel du Nord cooperative, which discusses and integrates the academic point of view into its practice, most notably to advance in its relationship with the touristic classification of the practices it deploys.

Originality/value

The contribution made by this paper to the debate on the classification of contemporary tourism is based on a domain that is as yet relatively unexplored from this point of view and which has benefited from the close investigation of practices that the author’s embedded-researcher position has allowed.
Assessing firesetters with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Taylor John L. , Thorne Ian
Published: December 2019

Purpose

People with intellectual disabilities who set fires are a heterogeneous and clinically complex group who present significant challenges to the wider community and to forensic practitioners working in forensic mental health and correctional settings. There is little available in the literature to support professionals when considering assessment and formulation for clients exhibiting these perturbing behaviours. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper the materials available to assist forensic practitioners in considering assessment and formulation of people with intellectual disabilities who set fires are described and outlined.

Findings

An assessment scheme is proposed for organising information from a variety of sources to assist professionals in understanding the nature of risks and clinical needs of firesetters with intellectual disabilities. A newly revised risk assessment measure designed for this population is provided.

Practical implications

Forensic practitioners are provided with a framework and tools to assist with their assessment and formulation of firesetters with intellectual disabilities.

Originality/value

This is the first time a newly revised risk assessment for firesetting behaviour by people with intellectual disabilities has been presented.
A non-programmers guide to enhancing and making sense of EZ Proxy logs
Authors: Murphy Sarah Anne
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Libraries throughout the world use OCLC’s EZproxy software to manage access to e-resources. When cleaned, processed, visualized and enhanced, these logs paint a valuable picture of a library’s impact on researcher’s lives. The purpose of this paper is to share techniques and procedures for enhancing and de-identifying EZproxy logs using Tableau, a data analytics and visualization software, and Tableau Prep, a tool used for cleaning, combining and shaping data for analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

In February 2018, The Ohio State University Libraries established an automated daily process to extract and clean EZproxy log files. The assessment librarian created a series of procedures in Tableau and Tableau Prep to union, parse and enhance these files by adding information such as user major, user status (faculty, graduate or undergraduate) and the title of the requested resource. She last stripped the data set of identifiers and applied best practices for maintaining confidentiality to visualize the data.

Findings

The data set is currently 1.5m rows and growing. The visualizations may be filtered by date, user status and user department/major where applicable. Safeguards are in place to limit data presentation when filters might reveal a user’s identity.

Originality/value

Tableau used in concert with Tableau Prep allows an assessment librarian to clean and combine data from various sources. Once procedures for cleaning and combining data sources are established, the data driving visualizations can be set to refresh on a set schedule. This expedites the ability of librarians to derive actionable insights from EZproxy data and to share the library’s positive impact on researcher’s lives.
Marketing management capability: the construct and its dimensions
Authors: Brown Dalila , Foroudi Pantea , Hafeez Khalid
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the relationship between corporate cultural/intangible assets and marketing capabilities by examining managers’ and entrepreneurs’ perceptions in a retail setting.

Design/methodology/approach

Nineteen face-to-face interviews were conducted with UK small and medium sized enterprise (SMEs) managers and entrepreneurs to identify six sub-capabilities that form marketing capability. The authors further validated the relationship between marketing sub-capabilities and its antecedent tangible and intangible assets. The qualitative approach used provided a deeper insight into the motivations, perceptions and associations of the stakeholders behind these intangible concepts, and their relationships with their customers.

Findings

The research identified that there is a strong relationship between tangible and intangible assets, their components and the following capabilities: corporate/brand identity management, market sensing, customer relationship, social media/communication, design/innovation management and performance management. In addition, companies need to understand clearly what tangible and intangible assets comprise these capabilities. Where performance management is one of the key internal capabilities, companies must highlight the importance of strong cultural assets that substantially contribute to a company’s performance.

Originality/value

Previous work on dynamic capability analysis is too generic, predominantly relating to the manufacturing sector, and/or focussing on using a single case study example. This study extends the concept of marketing capability in a retail setting by identifying six sub-capabilities and describing the relationship of each with tangible and intangible assets. Through extensive qualitative analysis, the authors provide evidence that by fully exploiting their embedded culture and other intangible components, companies can more favourably engage with their customers to attain a sustainable competitive advantage.
Bidirectional blade technology on naviform cores from northern Arabia: New evidence of Arabian‐Levantine interactions in the Neolithic
Authors: Crassard Rémy , Hilbert Yamandú H.
Published: December 2019

Discovered in March 2015, the sites of DAJ‐112 and DAJ‐125 in the Al‐Jawf province of northern Saudi Arabia consist of a large collection of surface lithic artefacts that can be compared to well‐known Pre‐Pottery Neolithic (PPN) B technology from the Levant: the two sites include bidirectional blade technology with naviform core preparation and opposed platforms surface exploitation, as well as burin production at a wide scale. Other surface scatters have been identified during the 2013 and 2015 surveys, showing these two sites are not isolated in Al‐Jawf, as rather important occurrences of Early Holocene technology have been identified across the region. Although the sites from Al‐Jawf are surface occurrences and not radiometrically dated, the finds have proven to be extremely significant, representing a southward incursion of classic naviform cores‐based technology, thus expanding the geographical distribution of this technology beyond the Levant. By addressing the lithic evidence from northern Arabia, the expansion and/or influence of PPN populations and cultural elements will be discussed.
The research cost of adapting agriculture to climate change: A global analysis to 2050
Authors: Baldos Uris Lantz C. , Fuglie Keith O. , Hertel Thomas W.
Published: December 2019

Investments in agricultural research and development (R&D) made over the next few decades will likely prove critical in offsetting adverse climate change impacts on the global food system. In this study, we offer cost estimates of public R&D‐led adaptation to climate change grounded in an explicit framework relating the flow of annual R&D expenditures to building knowledge capital and thereby raising productivity in agriculture. Our research uses a comprehensive collection of historical public agricultural R&D expenditure and a literature review of elasticity estimates linking knowledge stocks to agricultural productivity growth for key world regions. Given climate‐driven crop yield projections generated from extreme combinations of crop and global circulation models, we find that offsetting crop yield losses projected by climate and crop models over 2006–2050 would require increased R&D adaptation investments of between $187 billion and $1,384 billion (in 2005 $PPP) if we invest between 2020 and 2040. This is 16–118% higher than global R&D investment if present spending trends continue. Although these costs are significant, worldwide R&D‐led climate adaptation could offer favorable economic returns. Moreover, R&D‐led adaptation could deliver gains in food security and environmental sustainability by mitigating food price increases and slowing cropland expansion.
Cash transfer program and child underweight—Empirical evidence from a causal mediation analysis
Authors: Liao Pei‐An , Chang Hung‐Hao , Su Yi‐Ju
Published: December 2019

Despite the existence of a voluminous literature on cash transfer programs, little is known about their impacts on the underweight of children. To fill the knowledge gap, this study uses a unique individual panel data set to analyze how participation in the Children Sponsorship Program (CSP) improves underweight status among needy children and adolescents in Taiwan. This study examines not only the program effect on children's underweight, but also underscores the potential pathways behind the program effect by employing a causal mediation analysis. Our analysis finds that exiting the CSP has a negative impact on the improvement of underweight status. Moreover, eating breakfast every day and receiving pocket money from parents can be two significant mediators that link the effect of exiting the CSP and the change in underweight status among children and adolescents.
Morphological features of the gastrointestinal tract of Garganey (Anas querquedula, Linnaeus 1758)—Oesophagus to coprodeum
Authors: Hanafy Basma G. , Abumandour Mohamed M. A. , Bassuoni Naglaa F.
Published: December 2019

The present work was aimed to study the gastrointestinal tract in Garganey from the oesophagus to coprodeum by the aid of the gross morphology, scanning electron microscopy and histology. At the level of the thoracic inlet, the oesophagus had a thick part which had numerous tortuous longitudinal folds carried transverse folds on them. Histologically, the thick part had thick epithelium and appeared more folded with more and larger glands. The mucosa of the proventriculus had mucosal folds appeared as a leaf‐like with rounded tips. The openings of the proventriculus glands were projected with papillae on the epithelial surface. The gizzard lined with horizontal layer of cuticle which sent vertical parts of cuticle. The duodenal villi were pentagonal in shape with sharply pointed tips, while the jejunal villi were triangular with rounded ends, and the ileal villi were wide and pentagonal in shape with pointed tips. The mucosa of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum was thrown into villi lined by simple columnar epithelium with goblet cells with difference in the form, length, density and number. The apical points of the duodenal and ileal villi appeared pointed, while the jejunal villi had rounded ends. The jejunal villi were longer and numerous than the duodenal villi, but the ileal villi appeared with different length and less numerous. The mucosa of the caecum had numerous mucous glands which surrounded by circular crypts. The rectal mucosa had longitudinal folds and semilunar and circular crypts. The mucosa of the coprodeum had longitudinal folds surrounded by crypts.
Endothelial–platelet interactions in influenza‐induced pneumonia: A potential therapeutic target
Authors: Rommel Marcel G. E. , Milde Christian , Eberle Regina , Schulze Harald , Modlich Ute
Published: December 2019

Every year, influenza viruses spread around the world, infecting the respiratory systems of countless humans and animals, causing illness and even death. Severe influenza infection is associated with pulmonary epithelial damage and endothelial dysfunction leading to acute lung injury (ALI). There is evidence that an aggressive cytokine storm and cell damage in lung capillaries as well as endothelial/platelet interactions contribute to vascular leakage, pro‐thrombotic milieu and infiltration of immune effector cells. To date, treatments for ALI caused by influenza are limited to antiviral drugs, active ventilation or further symptomatic treatments. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of influenza‐mediated pathogenesis, permissive animal models and histopathological changes of lung tissue in both mice and men and compare it with histological and electron microscopic data from our own group. We highlight the molecular and cellular interactions between pulmonary endothelium and platelets in homeostasis and influenza‐induced pathogenesis. Finally, we discuss novel therapeutic targets on platelets/endothelial interaction to reduce or resolve ALI.
Manual perineal protection: The know‐how and the know‐why
Authors: Kleprlikova Hana , Kalis Vladimir , Lucovnik Miha , Rusavy Zdenek , Blaganje Mija , Thakar Ranee , Ismail Khaled M.
Published: December 2019

Manual perineal protection is an obstetric intervention to mitigate the risk of perineal trauma. There are two effective techniques (Finnish and Viennese) with minor but distinctive differences in between them. The main aim of this study was to explore clinicians’ knowledge about the manual perineal protection technique they use. The study took place in three maternity units that support manual perineal protection policy in three European countries (Czech Republic, Slovenia and the UK). Our study demonstrated that the majority of participants are aware of the concept of manual perineal protection. However, there were significant differences between staff responses regarding their views and experience with manual perineal protection in general. Less than 6% of respondents were able to provide an accurate account of the actual maneuvers they perform when manually protecting the perineum. Although this is not necessarily synonymous with suboptimal performance, it highlights the potential need to give more attention to the theory that underpins the technical skill in manual perineal protection training programs.
Towards a New Flashmob Unionism: The Case of theFight for 15Movement
Authors: Pasquier Vincent , Daudigeos Thibault , Barros Marcos
Published: December 2019

Unionism renewal has been described as a hybridization process between ‘old’ and ‘new’ logics. Understanding how these two potentially conflicting logics might be combined, however, has so far received little attention. Through the study of the Fight for 15 (FF15) movement, we investigate how the old ‘collectivist’ logic of action‐oriented unions and the new ‘connectivist’ logic are being hybridized. To do so, we develop a mixed‐methods approach that combines interviews with Twitter data. We evidence three mechanisms through which the collectivist and connectivist logics are being hybridized, namely, imbrication, camouflage and cumulation. We suggest to name ‘flashmob unionism’ the hybrid logic of FF15, characterized by apparently spontaneous mobilizations, a loosely co‐ordinated organization, a personalized communication and online virality.
Mitochondrial pharmacology: featured mechanisms and approaches for therapy translation
Authors: Wang Xin , Galli Gina , Campanella Michelangelo
Published: December 2019

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Mitochondrial Pharmacology: Featured Mechanisms and Approaches for Therapy Translation. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v176.22/issuetoc
Emergency myelopoiesis contributes to immune cell exhaustion and pulmonary vascular remodelling
Authors: Fu Chunhua , Lu Yuanqing , Williams Mason A. , Brantly Mark L. , Ventetuolo Corey E. , Morel Laurence M. , Mehrad Borna , Scott Edward W. , Bryant Andrew J.
Published: December 2019

Background and Purpose

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) secondary to chronic lung disease (World Health Organization Group 3 PH) is deadly, with lung transplant being the only available long‐term treatment option. Myeloid‐derived cells are known to affect progression of both pulmonary fibrosis and PH, although the mechanism of action is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of myeloid cell proliferation induced by emergency myelopoiesis on development of PH and therapy directed against programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1), expressed by myeloid cells in prevention of pulmonary vascular remodelling.

Experimental Approach

LysM.Cre‐DTR (“mDTR”) mice were injected with bleomycin (0.018 U·g−1, i.p.) while receiving either vehicle or diphtheria toxin (DT; 100 ng, i.p.) to induce severe PH. Approximately 4 weeks after initiation of bleomycin protocol, right ventricular pressure measurements were performed and tissue samples collected for histologic assessment. In a separate experiment, DT‐treated mice were given anti‐PD‐L1 antibody (αPD‐L1; 500 μg, i.p.) preventive treatment before bleomycin administration.

Key Results

Mice undergoing induction of emergency myelopoiesis displayed more severe PH, right ventricular remodelling and pulmonary vascular muscularization compared to controls, without a change in lung fibrosis. This worsening of PH was associated with increased pulmonary myeloid‐derived suppressor cell (MDSC), particularly polymorphonuclear MDSC (PMN‐MDSC). Treatment with αPD‐L1 normalized pulmonary pressures. PD‐L1 expression was likewise found to be elevated on circulating PMN‐MDSC from patients with interstitial lung disease and PH.

Conclusions and Implications

PD‐L1 is a viable therapeutic target in PH, acting through a signalling axis involving MDSC.

LINKED ARTICLES

This article is part of a themed issue on Risk factors, comorbidities, and comedications in cardioprotection. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v178.1/issuetoc
Unequal opportunities and public policy: The impact of parental disability benefits on child postsecondary attendance
Authors: Chen Kelly , Osberg Lars , Phipps Shelley
Published: December 2019

This paper uses Canada's National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth to examine whether greater cash transfers available to parents with disabilities when their child was aged 5 to 15 increase the chances that the child will attend postsecondary education (PSE) as a young adult. We exploit differences across provinces and over time in the generosity of provincial disability benefits programs in Canada and find that higher disability benefits when the child was aged 5 to 15 years increase the probability that he or she will have attended or be attending PSE by age 19 to 25. The estimated effect size increases with the severity of the parental disability and the number of disabled parents. Because lower disability benefits significantly worsen performance of public school aged children on standardized math tests and elevate anxiety symptoms, one plausible pathway from disability benefit levels to PSE attendance may be through the cognitive and non‐cognitive skills children acquire by the age of 15. We conclude that the level of disability transfers available early in a child's life mitigates the impact of having a parent with a disability as a source of inequality of opportunity and of unequal probability of PSE participation.
A high level of serum neopterin is associated with rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease and reduced survival in dermatomyositis
Authors: Peng Q-L , Zhang Y-M , Liang L , Liu X , Ye L-F , Yang H-B , Zhang L , Shu X-M , Lu X , Wang G-C
Published: December 2019

Neopterin is primarily synthesized and released by activated macrophages/monocytes upon stimulation with interferon-γ and is considered as a marker for macrophage activation. This study aimed to analyze the serum levels of neopterin in patients with dermatomyositis (DM) in association with clinical manifestations, laboratory data and patient prognosis. One hundred and eighty-two consecutive DM patients and 30 healthy controls were retrospectively enrolled into the study. Serum levels of neopterin were significantly increased in DM patients compared to healthy controls (P < 0·001). High serum neopterin levels were associated with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene (MDA5) antibody, rapidly progressive interstitial lung disease (RP-ILD) and characteristic DM cutaneous involvement. Longitudinal assessment of serum samples revealed that the serum neopterin levels were closely correlated with disease severity (β = 30·24, P < 0·001). In addition, a significant increase in serum neopterin concentration of non-survivors was observed when compared to that of survivors (P < 0·001). Receiver operator characteristic curves showed that serum neopterin could distinguish non-survivors and survivors at an optimal cut-off level of 22·1 nmol/l with a sensitivity and specificity of 0·804 and 0·625, respectively (P < 0·001). Kaplan–Meier survival curves revealed that DM patients with serum neopterin > 22·1 nmol/l had a significantly higher mortality compared to the patient group with serum neopterin < 22·1 nmol/l (log-rank P < 0·001). Multivariate regression analysis identified high serum neopterin concentration to be an independent risk factor for poor prognosis in DM (adjusted hazard ratio = 4·619, 95% confidence interval = 2·092–10·195, P < 0·001). In conclusion, increased serum levels of neopterin were significantly associated with RP-ILD and reduced survival in DM patients, suggesting it as a promising biomarker in disease evaluation of DM.
Young Mandarin learners use function words to distinguish between nouns and verbs
Authors: Ma Weiyi , Zhou Peng , Golinkoff Roberta M.
Published: December 2019

Mandarin requires neither determiners nor morphological inflections, which casts doubt on Mandarin‐speaking children's ability to use function words as a syntactic bootstrapping tool to identify the form class of a new word. This study examined 3‐ and 5‐year‐old Mandarin learners' ability to use function words to interpret new words as either nouns or verbs in the absence of the requirement for determiners and inflections in the ambient language. In Experiment 1, 3‐, and 5‐year‐old Mandarin‐speaking children were exposed to eight novel words embedded in sentence frames differing only in the form class markers used. The 5‐year‐olds interpreted the novel words as either nouns or verbs depending on the form class markers they heard, while the 3‐year‐olds learned only the nouns. Experiment 2 confirmed that the 5‐year‐olds understood the function of the verb‐marker. Thus, Mandarin‐speaking children can use function words to distinguish nouns versus verbs, and this ability appears between three and five years of age.
Clinical benefit of presurgical EEG‐fMRI in difficult‐to‐localize focal epilepsy: A single‐institution retrospective review
Authors: Kowalczyk Magdalena A. , Omidvarnia Amir , Abbott David F. , Tailby Chris , Vaughan David N. , Jackson Graeme D.
Published: December 2019

Objective

The aim of this report is to present our clinical experience of electroencephalography–functional magnetic resonance imaging (EEG‐fMRI) in localizing the epileptogenic focus, and to evaluate the clinical impact and challenges associated with the use of EEG‐fMRI in pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy.

Methods

We identified EEG‐fMRI studies (n = 118) in people with focal epilepsy performed at our center from 2003 to 2018. Participants were referred from our Comprehensive Epilepsy Program in an exploratory research effort to address often difficult clinical questions, due to complex and difficult‐to‐localize epilepsy. We assessed the success of each study, the clinical utility of the result, and when surgery was performed, the postoperative outcome.

Results

Overall, 50% of EEG‐fMRI studies were successful, meaning that data were of good quality and interictal epileptiform discharges were recorded. With an altered recruitment strategy since 2012 with increased inclusion of patients who were inpatients for video‐EEG monitoring, we found that this patients in this selected group were more likely to have epileptic discharges detected during EEG‐fMRI (96% of inpatients vs 29% of outpatients, P<.0001). To date, 48% (57 of 118) of patients have undergone epilepsy surgery. In 10 cases (17% of the 59 successful studies) the EEG‐fMRI result had a “critical impact” on the surgical decision. These patients were difficult to localize because of subtle abnormalities, apparently normal MRI, or extensive structural abnormalities. All 10 had a good seizure outcome at 1 year after surgery (mean follow‐up 6.5 years).

Significance

EEG‐fMRI results can assist identification of the epileptogenic focus in otherwise difficult‐to‐localize cases of pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy. Surgery determined largely by localization from the EEG‐fMRI result can lead to good seizure outcomes. A limitation of this study is its retrospective design with nonconsecutive recruitment. Prospective clinical trials with well‐defined inclusion criteria are needed to determine the overall benefit of EEG‐fMRI for preoperative localization and postoperative outcome in focal epilepsy.
Distortion of the local magnetic field appears to neither disrupt nocturnal navigation nor cue shelter recognition in the amblypygid Paraphrynus laevifrons
Authors: Wiegmann Daniel D. , Casto Patrick , Hebets Eileen A. , Bingman Verner P.
Published: December 2019

Many arthropods are known to be sensitive to the geomagnetic field and exploit the field to solve spatial problems. The polarity of the geomagnetic field is used, for instance, as an orientation cue by leafcutter ants as they travel on engineered trails in a rainforest and by Drosophila larvae as they move short distances in search of food. A ubiquitous orientation cue like the geomagnetic field may be especially useful in complex, cluttered environments like rainforests, where the reliability of celestial cues used to navigate in more open environments may be poor. The neotropical amblypygid Paraphrynus laevifrons is a nocturnal arachnid that wanders nightly in the vicinity of its shelter and occasionally travels 30 m or more in the rainforest understory before it returns to its shelter. Here, we conducted a field experiment to determine whether navigation by P. laevifrons is guided by the ambient magnetic field and a complimentary laboratory experiment to assess whether a magnetic anomaly could be used to pinpoint the entrance of a shelter. In the field experiment, subjects were fitted with a radio transmitter and a small, powerful magnet or a similar‐sized brass disk and displaced 10 m from their shelter. The return rate of magnet‐fitted subjects was similar to that of brass‐fitted subjects and to that of subjects in an earlier study fitted with only a radio transmitter. In the laboratory experiment, we trained P. laevifrons with a protocol under which the amblypygid Phrynus marginemaculatus rapidly learns—in 1–14 trials over two daily sessions—to associate an olfactory stimulus with access to a shelter. The conditioned stimulus here was a magnetic anomaly characterized by a high total field intensity and a 180° reversal of the polarity of the ambient magnetic field. The magnetic anomaly‐shelter contingency was not learned in 50 trials conducted over 10 daily sessions. These results imply prima facie that P. laevifrons does not rely on a magnetic compass to locate or recognize a shelter and, perhaps, that the magnetic field cannot be detected, but alternative explanations are discussed.
Social context and prey composition are associated with calling behaviour in a diving seabird
Authors: McInnes Alistair M. , Thiebault Andrea , Cloete Trevor , Pichegru Lorien , Aubin Thierry , McGeorge Cuan , Pistorius Pierre A.
Published: December 2019

Social cohesion and prey location in seabirds are largely enabled through visual and olfactory signals, but these behavioural aspects could potentially also be enhanced through acoustic transfer of information. Should this be the case, calling behaviour could be influenced by different social–ecological stimuli. African PenguinsSpheniscus demersuswere equipped with animal‐borne video recorders to determine whether the frequency and types of calls emitted at sea were dependent on behavioural modes (commuting, sedentary and dive bout) and social status (solitary vs. group). For foraging dive bouts we assessed whether the timing and frequency of calls were significantly different in the presence of schooling prey vs. single fish. The probability of call events was significantly more likely for birds commuting early and late in the day (for solitary birds) and during dive bouts (for groups). During foraging dive bouts the frequency of calls was significantly greater for birds diving in the presence of schooling fish and birds called sooner after a catch in these foraging scenarios compared with when only single fish were encountered. Three call types were recorded, 'flat', 'modulated' and 'two‐voice' calls, but there was no significant relationship detected with these call types and behavioural modes for solitary birds and birds in groups. The results of this study show that acoustic signalling by African Penguins at sea is used in a variety of behavioural contexts and that increased calling activity in the presence of more profitable prey could be of crucial importance to seabirds that benefit from group foraging.
Evaluation of non‐lethal gut microbiome sampling methods in a passerine bird
Authors: Berlow Mae , Kohl Kevin D. , Derryberry Elizabeth P.
Published: December 2019

Gut microbial communities play critical roles in the biological functions of their host, such as mediating nutrient absorption, digesting food components the host cannot, and offering protection against enteric pathogens. Extensive research on gut microbial communities has been conducted on mammals, including humans and rodents, but much less work has been done in birds. Furthermore, much of the research on host–microbe interactions make use of faecal samples and rectal/cloacal swabs as a proxy for intestinal samples, which can be difficult to obtain directly. However, little is known about the overlap between the microbial communities of the gut, faeces and swabs, which limits interpretability of results based on faecal samples and swabs. To address this gap in knowledge, we compared the microbiome from five sample types – proventriculus, small intestine, large intestine, cloacal swabs and faeces – across individual Zebra FinchesTaeniopygia guttatahoused in constant conditions with a standardized diet. We compared diversity and community composition through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our results show that microbial communities from both cloacal swabs and faeces were distinct from proventriculus and small intestinal samples, but generally indistinguishable from large intestinal samples, indicating that these non‐lethal samples may be useful proxies for large intestinal bacterial communities. Gaining insight into non‐invasive sampling techniques for passerines has implications for studies of gut microbial diversity and abundance in wild bird populations. Furthermore, reliable non‐lethal sampling is necessary for experiments where repeated sampling is required.
Morphological variability in unrepaired bilateral clefts with and without cleft palate evaluated with geometric morphometrics
Authors: Latif Abdul , Kuijpers Mette A. R. , Rachwalski Martin , Latief Benny S. , Kuijpers‐Jagtman Anne Marie , Fudalej Piotr S.
Published: December 2019

In subjects with orofacial clefts, there is an unresolved controversy on the effect of congenital maxillary growth deficiency vs. the effect of surgical intervention on the outcome of treatment. Intrinsic growth impairment in subjects with orofacial clefts can be studied by comparing facial morphology of subjects with untreated cleft and unaffected individuals of the same ethnic background. Bilateral cleft lip and palate is the most severe and least prevalent form of the orofacial cleft. The aim of this study was to compare facial morphology in subjects with unrepaired complete bilateral clefts and unaffected controls using geometric morphometrics. Lateral cephalograms of 39 Indonesian subjects with unrepaired bilateral complete cleft lip and alveolus (mean age: 24 years), or unrepaired bilateral complete cleft lip, alveolus, and palate (mean age: 20.6 years) and 50 age and ethnically matched controls without a cleft (25 males, 25 females, mean age: 21.2 years) were digitized and traced and shape variability was explored using principal component analysis, while differences between groups and genders were evaluated with canonical variate analysis. Individuals with clefts had a more pronounced premaxilla than controls. Principal component analysis showed that facial variation in subjects with clefts occurred in the anteroposterior direction, whereas in controls it was mostly in the vertical direction. Regression analysis with group, sex, and age as covariates and principal components from 1 to 6 as dependent variables demonstrated a very limited effect of the covariates on the facial shape variability (only 11.6% of the variability was explained by the model). Differences between cleft and non‐cleft subjects in the direction of facial variability suggest that individuals with bilateral clefts can have an intrinsic growth impairment affecting facial morphology later in life.
Well‐off small‐scale tobacco growers and farm workers in the Mexican agrarian reform (1972–1990)
Authors: Mackinlay Horacio
Published: December 2019

In this article, I study small‐scale growers of blonde tobacco varieties from the state of Nayarit in Mexico who had contract farming arrangements with the state‐owned company Tabamex (1972–1990). I refer to them as “well‐off small‐scale tobacco growers” given that in the 1960s, 1970s, and the 1980s, they became one of the subaltern social groups that benefited the most from the Mexican Agrarian Reform. I want to set this research apart from the ones carried out on tobacco growers in Nayarit, which have almost exclusively understood this group as agricultural producers and have perceived as secondary, and even as anecdotal, the impact of the high levels of wage labour hired in the region. I argue that in order to have a better understanding of the social relations at play, it is important to take into account that Nayarit tobacco growers have also been employers of farm workers. Hence in my analysis, I have also included the seasonal farm workers hired by these small‐scale tobacco growers because of their importance in the labour force. More specifically, I have looked into the vulnerability and invisibility of these workers both within this branch of agricultural activity and state institutions.
Resuscitation status and characteristics and outcomes of patients transferred from subacute care to acute care hospitals: A multi‐site prospective cohort study
Authors: Street Maryann , Dunning Trisha , Bucknall Tracey , Hutchinson Alison M , Rawson Helen , Hutchinson Anastasia F , Botti Mari , Duke Maxine M , Mohebbi Mohammadreza , Considine Julie
Published: December 2019

Aims and objectives

To examine the relationship between resuscitation status and (i) patient characteristics; (ii) transfer characteristics; and (iii) patient outcomes following an emergency inter‐hospital transfer from a subacute to an acute care hospital.

Background

Patients who experience emergency inter‐hospital transfers from subacute to acute care hospitals have high rates of acute care readmission (81%) and in‐hospital mortality (15%).

Design

This prospective, exploratory cohort study was a subanalysis of data from a larger case–time–control study in five Health Services in Victoria, Australia. There were 603 transfers in 557 patients between August 2015 and October 2016. The study was conducted in accordance with the STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology guidelines.

Methods

Data were extracted by medical record audit. Three resuscitation categories (full resuscitation; limitation of medical treatment (LOMT) orders; or not‐for‐cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) orders) were compared using chi‐square or Kruskal–Wallis tests. Stratified multivariable proportional hazard Cox regression models were used to account for health service clustering effect.

Findings.

Resuscitation status was 63.5% full resuscitation; 23.1% LOMT order; and 13.4% not‐for‐CPR. Compared to patients for full resuscitation, patients with not‐for‐CPR or LOMT orders were more likely to have rapid response team calls during acute care readmission or to die during hospitalisation. Patients who were not‐for‐CPR were less likely to be readmitted to acute care and more likely to return to subacute care.

Conclusions

Two‐thirds of patients in subacute care who experienced an emergency inter‐hospital transfer were for full resuscitation. Although the proportion of patients with LOMT and not‐for‐CPR orders increased after transfer, there were deficiencies in the documentation of resuscitation status and planning for clinical deterioration for subacute care patients.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

As many subacute care patients experience clinical deterioration, patient preferences for care need to be discussed and documented early in the subacute care admission.