bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemicogenetic recruitment of specific interneurons suppresses seizure activity
Authors: Călin Alexandru , Stancu Mihai , Zagrean Ana-Maria , Jefferys John G. , Ilie Andrei S. , Akerman Colin J.
Published: March 2018

Enhancing the brain’s endogenous inhibitory mechanisms represents an important strategy for suppressing epileptic discharges. Indeed, drugs that boost synaptic inhibition can disrupt epileptic seizure activity, although these drugs generate complex effects due to the broad nature of their action. Recently developed chemicogenetic techniques provide the opportunity to pharmacologically enhance endogenous inhibitory mechanisms in a more selective manner. Here we use chemicogenetics to assess the anti-epileptic potential of enhancing the synaptic output from three major interneuron populations in the hippocampus: parvalbumin (PV), somatostatin (SST) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) expressing interneurons. Targeted pre- and post-synaptic whole cell recordings in an in vitro hippocampal mouse model revealed that all three interneuron types increase their firing rate and synaptic output following chemicogenetic activation. However, the interneuron populations exhibited different anti-epileptic effects. Recruiting VIP interneurons resulted in a mixture of pro-epileptic and anti-epileptic effects. In contrast, recruiting SST or PV interneurons produced robust suppression of epileptiform activity. PV interneurons exhibited the strongest effect per cell, eliciting at least a five-fold greater reduction in epileptiform activity than the other cell types. Consistent with this, we found that chemicogenetic recruitment of PV interneurons was effective in an in vivo mouse model of hippocampal seizures. Following efficient delivery of the chemicogenetic tool, pharmacological enhancement of the PV interneuron population suppressed a range of seizure-related behaviours and prevented generalized seizures. Our findings therefore support the idea that selective chemicogenetic enhancement of synaptic inhibitory pathways offers potential as an anti-epileptic strategy.

Significance statement

Drugs that enhance synaptic inhibition can be effective anticonvulsants but often cause complex effects due to their widespread action. Here we examined the anti-epileptic potential of recently developed chemicogenetic techniques, which offer a way to selectively enhance the synaptic output of distinct types of inhibitory neurons. A combination of in vitro and in vivo experimental models were used to investigate seizure activity in the mouse hippocampus. We find that chemicogenetically recruiting the parvalbumin-expressing population of inhibitory neurons produces the strongest anti-epileptic effect per cell, and that recruiting this cell population can suppress a range of epileptic behaviours in vivo. The data therefore support the idea that targeted chemicogenetic enhancement of synaptic inhibition offers promise for developing new treatments.
ESR1, WT1, WNT4, ATM and TERT loci are major contributors to uterine leiomyoma predisposition
Authors: Välimäki Niko , Kuisma Heli , Pasanen Annukka , Heikinheimo Oskari , Sjöberg Jari , Bützow Ralf , Sarvilinna Nanna , Heinonen Hanna-Riikka , Tolvanen Jaana , Bramante Simona , Tanskanen Tomas , Auvinen Juha , Piltonen Terhi , Alkodsi Amjad , Lehtonen Rainer , Kaasinen Eevi , Palin Kimmo , Aaltonen Lauri A.
Published: March 2018

Uterine leiomyomas (ULs) are benign tumors that are a major burden to women’s health. A genome-wide association study on 5,417 UL cases and 331,791 controls was performed, followed by replication of the genomic risk in two cohorts. Effects of the identified risk alleles were evaluated in view of molecular and clinical features.

Five loci displayed a genome-wide significant association; the previously reported TNRC6B, and four novel loci ESR1 (ERα), WT1, WNT4, and ATM. The sixth hit TERT is also a conceivable target. The combined polygenic risk contributed by these loci was associated with MED12 mutation-positive tumors. The findings link genes for uterine development and genetic stability to leiomyomagenesis. While the fundamental role of sex hormones in UL aetiology has been clear, this work reveals a connection to estrogen receptor alpha on genetic level and suggests that determinants of UL growth associated with estrogen exposure have an inherited component.
The anti-apoptosis ubiquitin E3 ligase XIAP promotes autophagosome-lysosome fusion during autophagy
Authors: Poetsch Isabella , Ebner Petra , Deszcz Luiza , Bachtrog Iris , Stephani Madlen , Díaz Carlos Gómez , Dagdas Yasin , Ikeda Fumiyo
Published: March 2018

The Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein (IAP) family members are well-known endogenous regulators of apoptosis. Whether these proteins regulate other degradation pathways is unclear. Here, we discovered that the IAP member X-linked IAP (XIAP) is crucial for macroautophagy. Loss of XIAP in mouse and human cells inhibited starvation-induced degradation of LC3 proteins and an autophagy substrate p62. It also led to the accumulation of mature autophagosomes, suggesting that XIAP controls autophagic flux by mediating autolysosome formation.Xiap∆RING/∆RINGcells phenocopy the autophagy defects ofXiap−/−cells, suggesting that the ubiquitinating activity mediated by the catalytic RING domain is critical for autophagic flux. We found that XIAP physically interacts with Syntaxin 17, a regulator of autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Syntaxin 17-positive mature autophagosomes positive accumulate in the cytoplasm of starvedXiap−/−cells, suggesting that XIAP might regulate its dissociation from autophagosomes after fusion. XIAP selectively interacts with GABARAP among LC3 family members via the LIR-Docking Site (LDS). Together, our data suggest that XIAP-mediated ubiquitination regulates key autophagy regulators to promote autophagosome-lysosome fusion.
Fission yeast NDR/LATS kinase Orb6 regulates exocytosis via phosphorylation of exocyst complex
Authors: Tay Ye Dee , Leda Marcin , Spanos Christos , Rappsilber Juri , Goryachev Andrew B. , Sawin Kenneth E.
Published: March 2018

NDR/LATS kinases regulate multiple aspects of cell polarity and morphogenesis from yeast to mammals, but few of their substrates are known. Fission yeast NDR/LATS kinase Orb6 has been proposed to control cell polarity via spatial regulation of Gef1, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor for the small GTPase Cdc42. Here we show that Orb6 plays a critical role as a positive regulator of exocytosis, independent of Gef1. Through Orb6 inhibition in vivo and quantitative global phosphoproteomics, we identify several proteins involved in membrane trafficking as Orb6 targets, and we confirm Sec3 and Sec5, conserved components of the exocyst complex, as substrates of Orb6 both in vivo and in vitro. Our results suggest that Orb6 kinase activity is crucial for exocyst localization to actively-growing cell tips and for exocyst activity during septum dissolution after cytokinesis. We further show that Orb6 phosphorylation of Sec3 serine-201 contributes to exocyst function in parallel with exocyst protein Exo70. We propose that Orb6 contributes to polarized growth by regulating membrane trafficking at multiple levels.
A Patient-Derived Cellular Model for Huntington’s Disease Reveals Phenotypes at Clinically Relevant CAG Lengths
Authors: Hung Claudia Lin-Kar , Maiuri Tamara , Bowie Laura Erin , Gotesman Ryan , Son Susie , Falcone Mina , Giordano James Victor , Mattis Virginia , Lau Trevor , Kwan Vickie , Wheeler Vanessa , Schertzer Jonathan , Singh Karun , Truant Ray
Published: March 2018

The huntingtin protein participates in several cellular processes that are disrupted when the polyglutamine tract is expanded beyond a threshold of 37 CAG DNA repeats in Huntington’s disease (HD). Cellular biology approaches to understand these functional disruptions in HD have primarily focused on cell lines with synthetically long CAG length alleles that clinically represent outliers in this disease and a more severe form of HD that lacks age-onset. Patient-derived fibroblasts are limited to a finite number of passages before succumbing to cellular senescence. We used human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) to immortalize fibroblasts taken from individuals of varying age, sex, disease onset and CAG repeat length, which we have termed TruHD cells. TruHD cells display classic HD phenotypes of altered morphology, size and growth rate, increased sensitivity to oxidative stress, aberrant ADP/ATP ratios and hypophosphorylated huntingtin protein. We additionally observed dysregulated ROS-dependent huntingtin localization to nuclear speckles in HD cells. We report the generation and characterization of a human, clinically relevant cellular model for investigating disease mechanisms in HD at the single cell level, which, unlike transformed cell lines, maintains TP53 function critical for huntingtin transcriptional regulation and genomic integrity.
Prediction of prostate cancer by deep learning with multilayer artificial neural network
Authors: Takeuchi Takumi , Hattori-Kato Mami , Okuno Yumiko , Iwai Satoshi , Mikami Koji
Published: March 2018

Objectives

To predict the rate of prostate cancer detection on prostate biopsy more accurately, the performance of deep learning utilizing a multilayer artificial neural network was investigated.

Materials and methods

A total of 334 patients who underwent multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging before ultrasonography-guided transrectal 12-core prostate biopsy were enrolled in the analysis. Twenty-two non-selected variables as well as selected ones by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (Lasso) regression analysis and by stepwise logistic regression analysis were input into the constructed multilayer artificial neural network (ANN) programs. 232 patients were used as training cases of ANN programs, and the remaining 102 patients were for the test to output the probability of prostate cancer existence, accuracy of prostate cancer prediction, and area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve with the learned model.

Results

With any prostate cancer objective variable, Lasso and stepwise regression analyses selected 12 and 9 explanatory variables from 22, respectively. In common between them, age at biopsy, findings on digital rectal examination, findings in the peripheral zone on MRI diffusion-weighted imaging, and body mass index were positively influential variables, while numbers of previous prostatic biopsy and prostate volume were negatively influential. Using trained ANNs with multiple hidden layers, the accuracy of predicting any prostate cancer in test samples was about 5-10% higher compared with that with logistic regression analysis (LR). The AUCs with multilayer ANN were significantly larger on inputting variables that were selected by the stepwise logistic regression compared with the AUC with LR. The ANN had a higher net-benefit than LR between prostate cancer probability cut-off values of 0.38 and 0.6.

Conclusion

ANN accurately predicted prostate cancer without biopsy marginally better than LR. However, for clinical application, ANN performance may still need improvement.
{Bis[2-(diisopropylphosphanyl)ethyl]amine}carbonyl(tetrahydroborato)cobalt(I)
Authors: Junge Kathrin , Cingolani Andrea , Spannenberg Anke , Beller Matthias
Published: March 2018

In the structure of title borohydride pincer complex, [Co(BH4)(C16H37NP2)(CO)], the cobalt(I) metal exhibits a distorted square-pyramidal coordination geometry with the basal positions occupied by the P and N atoms of the tridentate ligand and by the C atom of the carbon monoxide ligand. In the crystal, molecules interact only by van der Waals forces.
Gambling-related harms and homelessness: findings from a scoping review
Authors: Bramley Stephanie , Norrie Caroline , Manthorpe Jill
Published: March 2018

Purpose

People experiencing homelessness are being identified as a potentially vulnerable group in relation to gambling-related harm. The purpose of this paper is to explore the links between gambling-related harm and homelessness.

Design/methodology/approach

A scoping review of the English-language literature was conducted in 2016-2017 using a wide range of international sources. Qualitative content analysis was employed to code and identify key themes within the literature.

Findings

Five themes were identified: emerging knowledge about why people experiencing homelessness may participate in gambling; emerging knowledge about the prevalence of gambling within the homeless population; the likelihood that gambling-related harm is under-reported within the homeless population; emerging knowledge about the extent that people experiencing homelessness access gambling support services; and limited awareness about the potential impact of gambling participation among people experiencing homelessness.

Originality/value

The paper reviews research concerning the links between gambling, gambling-related harm and homelessness, which may be relevant to those working with people experiencing homelessness.
Open kitchen vs closed kitchen
Authors: Byun Jaemun , Jang SooCheong (Shawn)
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This study aims to investigate, when a service failure occurs, whether circumstantial cues could be used to encourage more positive responses by customers toward restaurants through the mediation of causal attribution.

Design/methodology/approach

A 2 (cause of service failure: easily observable vs difficult-to-observe) × 2 (kitchen design: open vs closed) between-subject experiment is used to analyze customers’ causal attributions of service failures and resultant responses.

Findings

When a service failure whose cause is easy to identify occurs, customers at open-kitchen restaurants show more negative responses than those at closed-kitchen restaurants because they are likely to attribute the responsibility to the restaurant. Attribution is confirmed to mediate the relationship between the interaction of service failure by kitchen design and customers’ responses.

Practical implications

Diverse circumstantial cues should be actively used to encourage more positive responses by customers. The mediating role of causal attribution should be considered in managing customers’ responses toward service failures.

Originality/value

This study finds that circumstantial cues could be useful in dealing with service failures in restaurants by confirming the mediating role of causal attribution.
Do loyalty programs really matter for hotel operational and financial performance?
Authors: Hua Nan , Wei Wei , L. DeFranco Agnes , Wang Dan
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This study aims to use a sample of 2,120 individual hotel properties between 2011 and 2013 to evaluate the impact of loyalty programs on hotel operational and financial performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This study provides empirical support for the impact of loyalty program based on both cross-sectional and panel data analyses and uses the instrumental variable technique to avoid potential heteroscedasticity, autocorrelation and simultaneity issues.

Findings

Findings of this study show that loyalty program expenses have a significant and positive impact on all three operational performance indicators of RevPAR, ADR and Occupancy and the financial performance indicator of gross operating profit.

Research limitations/implications

This study suggests that the benefits of loyalty programs should be understood against the backdrop of a reasonable set of controlled variables such as e-commerce, franchise, advertising, other marketing expenses, hotel size and hotel chain scales.

Originality/value

Given the conflicting viewpoints about the positive and negative impacts of loyalty programs, and that the literature is scant on empirical validation of the impact of loyalty programs on the overall operational and financial performance of hotel properties, this study is an early attempt to empirically test the impact of loyalty programs on a number of hotel operational and financial performance indicators by using an extensive list of individual hotel properties between 2011 and 2013.
Motivation exchange rate: the real value of incentives
Authors: Huang Yundong
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how individuals compare the value of different types of incentive. This is similar to comparison in the financial field for currency exchange. The proposed exchange rate between incentives is referred to here as motivation exchange rate (MER).

Design/methodology/approach

Survey-based empirical data were analyzed to test for the existence of MER, based on 330 samples collected from a number of organizations. Partial least square-based structural equation modeling was applied to test the research model, specifically examining the exchange rate between intrinsic motivation and monetary incentives.

Findings

Individuals place their own value on job enjoyment. The present analysis suggests that MER exists between intrinsic motivation and monetary incentive and varies among individuals.

Originality/value

The motivation literature has shown that individuals have their own preferences for different types of incentives. When studying employees’ working behavior, scholars have traditionally focused on preferred incentives. However, the present study reveals that these predominant incentives may change when employees are sufficiently compensated by other types of incentive; how much is “sufficient” depends on MER, as elaborated here.
Parametric study on load ratio effect on the flexural bending behaviour of axially-restrained HSS steel beams subjected to fire
Authors: Salem Osama (Sam)
Published: March 2018

Purpose

In fire condition, the limiting temperature of a restrained steel beam depends on a few parameters, e.g. temperature distributions along and across the beam, beam’s load ratio and span length. The purpose of this study is to investigate the structural fire behaviour of axially restrained steel beams under different beam’s load ratios, taking into consideration the effect of the beam’s end connections configuration.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-dimensional finite element (FE) computer model has been developed to simulate the structural fire behaviour of axially restrained steel beams and their end connections. After successfully validating the developed model against the outcomes of the available large-size fire resistance experiments, the FE model has been used in a parametric study to investigate the beam’s load ratio effect on the behaviour of the axially restrained steel beams and their end connections.

Findings

The parametric study showed that increasing the beam loading level significantly increased the beam deflections at elevated temperatures; where, increasing the beam’s load ratio from 0.5 to 0.9 reduced the beam fire resistance by about 100 s. In contrast, decreasing the beam’s load ratio from 0.5 to 0.3 allowed the beam to easily achieve a 30-min fire resistance rating with no fire protection applied.

Originality/value

Experimental parametric studies are difficult to control in a laboratory setting and are also expensive and time consuming. Therefore, the reasonable accuracy of the validated FE model in reproducing the experimental fire behaviour of steel beams and their end connections makes it a very useful tool for both numerical and analytical studies.
Financial restructuring and target capital structure
Authors: Mielcarz Paweł , Osiichuk Dmytro , Owczarkowski Ryszard
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to present an iterative algorithm that yields the amount of debt contracting/repayment or equity investment necessary to achieve the target capital structure. The model also helps to estimate the gains in shareholder value that result from financial restructuring process and lead to the optimal leverage ratio.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper maintains that certain benchmarks – i.e. industry average financial leverage and unlevered beta corrected for cash – make it possible to determine the parameters of the optimal capital structure for the company, so a failure to adjust to the target may result in value destruction.

Findings

The paper presents an iterative algorithm that yields the amount of debt contracting/repayment or equity investment necessary to achieve the target capital structure.

Originality/value

The proposed algorithm overcomes the methodological problems of existing approaches to the estimation of shareholder value gained through financial restructuring and implicitly solves the circularity problem in the calculation of the weighted average cost of capital.
The motivational heterogeneity of an all-equity capital structure
Authors: Caban David
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate whether all-equity firms are a heterogeneous group as it relates to agency costs when compared to a matched sample of levered firms and to contribute toward the understanding of the “low leverage” puzzle and the motivations behind such a perplexing phenomenon.

Design/methodology/approach

Propensity score matching (PSM) is used to control for endogeneity issues common to this line of research. Because all-equity firms are self-selecting, it is not possible to conduct a true randomized study. PSM attempts to simulate a randomized study by selecting matching observations with similar propensity scores as the all-equity observations.

Findings

Agency costs are not the only explanation leading to the implementation of an all-equity capital structure. The motivation of such structure is strongly influenced by free cash flows (FCF) and growth opportunities (GO), whereby firms that have high levels FCF combined with low GO exhibit higher levels of agency costs versus their levered peers, while those that have low levels of FCF and high GO exhibit no significant difference in agency costs.

Practical implications

A better understanding of why a firm chooses such an extreme capital structure can help investors, auditors and potential future creditors in their decision-making process.

Originality/value

Most prior research treats capital structure as an exogenous variable. By applying PSM, not previously used in prior research, a new methodology is used to address the endogeneity issue related to observational studies such as this one. This paper contributes toward further understanding the perplexing “low-leverage” puzzle often discussed in the financial and accounting literature.
How does directors’ remuneration affect SMEs’ performance?
Authors: Afrifa Godfred Adjappong , Adesina Oluseyi Oluseun
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to empirically explain the relationship between the remuneration levels of a sample of listed small and medium enterprise (SME) directors and firm performance. The paper also investigates whether deviations from the optimal directors’ remuneration level reduces firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a panel data regression analysis of 802 AIM-listed SMEs over an eight-year period (2005-2012).

Findings

Using a non-linear approach, the results show that an optimum director’s remuneration level is calculated by comparing the benefits and costs of director’s remuneration. Hence, the paper not only shows how directors’ remuneration level affects firm performance but it also extends the stream of knowledge by indicating how a deviation from the optimal point influences UK-listed SME performances. Moreover, the results show that the effect of directors’ remuneration on firm performance is greater during a financial crisis period.

Originality/value

Compared with previous literature on directors’ remuneration, this paper focuses on AIM-listed SMEs, and the author’s finding of a concave relationship between directors’ remuneration level and performance of leads them to recommend that firms, especially SMEs, should endeavour to determine the optimal level of directors’ remuneration to maximise performance.
Doing time on a TC: how effective are drug-free therapeutic communities in prison? A review of the literature
Authors: Aslan Laura
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Therapeutic communities (TC’s) are consciously designed, living-learning environments designed to evoke social, psychological and behavioural change. The success of the residential TC model saw these community-led, self-help environments for addicts move into custodial settings and early evidence suggests this transition was effective. The purpose of this paper is to examine the evidence relevant to the effectiveness of prison based, drug-free TCs.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to establish their true efficiency, particular focus has been placed on studies conducted over the last ten years (2007-2017).

Findings

To date, the TC remains superior to other forms of drug treatment in reducing recidivism and drug relapse amongst addicts who offend.

Originality/value

Outcomes of this review highlighted the importance of aftercare in providing transitional support; a fundamental aspect of treatment necessary for success and for maintaining long-term recovery post release.
U.K. trials of airway transplants are in limbo
Authors: Warren Matt
Published: March 2018

Studies are based on flawed evidence and could harm patients, scientists say.
U.S. blames ‘massive’ hack of research data on Iran
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: March 2018

Targets included nearly 8000 professors in 22 countries.
Putting immune cells on a diet
Authors: Leslie Mitch
Published: March 2018

To treat immune illnesses, researchers are probing drugs that could starve troublemaker cells.
AAAS Annual Meeting examines need for diversity in science
Authors: Jarvis Michaela
Published: March 2018

Workplace homogeneity and implicit bias continue to impede progress
Anatomy of STEM teaching in North American universities
Authors: Stains M. , Harshman J. , Barker M. K. , Chasteen S. V. , Cole R. , DeChenne-Peters S. E. , Eagan M. K. , Esson J. M. , Knight J. K. , Laski F. A. , Levis-Fitzgerald M. , Lee C. J. , Lo S. M. , McDonnell L. M. , McKay T. A. , Michelotti N. , Musgrove A. , Palmer M. S. , Plank K. M. , Rodela T. M. , Sanders E. R. , Schimpf N. G. , Schulte P. M. , Smith M. K. , Stetzer M. , Van Valkenburgh B. , Vinson E. , Weir L. K. , Wendel P. J. , Wheeler L. B. , Young A. M.
Published: March 2018

Lecture is prominent, but practices vary
Keeping science honest
Authors: Sundin Josefin , Jutfelt Fredrik
Published: March 2018

We are the whistle-blowers. Our ethical obligations as scientists made it impossible for us to accept a publication of fabricated results, even though it could have cost us our scientific careers. The process was slow and arduous, but worked nevertheless. Would we do it again? Yes. It was something we had to do to retain our trust in science.
Protein- and RNA-Enhanced Fermentation by Gut Microbiota of the Earthworm Lumbricus terrestris
Authors: Zeibich Lydia , Schmidt Oliver , Drake Harold L.
Published: March 2018

Earthworms are a dominant macrofauna in soil ecosystems and have determinative effects on soil fertility and plant growth. These invertebrates feed on ingested material, and gizzard-linked disruption of ingested fungal and bacterial cells is conceived to provide diverse biopolymers in the anoxic alimentary canals of earthworms. Fermentation in the gut is likely important to the utilization of ingested biopolymer-derived compounds by the earthworm. This study therefore examined the fermentative responses of gut content-associated microbes of the model earthwormLumbricus terrestristo (i) microbial cell lysate (to simulate gizzard-disrupted cells) and (ii) dominant biopolymers of such biomass, protein, and RNA. The microbial cell lysate augmented the production of H2, CO2, and diverse fatty acids (e.g., formate, acetate, propionate, succinate, and butyrate) in anoxic gut content microcosms, indicating that the cell lysate triggered diverse fermentations. Protein and RNA also augmented diverse fermentations in anoxic microcosms of gut contents, each yielding a distinct product profile (e.g., RNA yielded H2and succinate, whereas protein did not). The combined product profile of protein and RNA treatments was similar to that of cell lysate treatments, and 16S rRNA-based analyses indicated that many taxa that responded to cell lysate were similar to taxa that responded to protein or RNA. In particular, protein stimulatedPeptostreptococcaceae,Clostridiaceae, andFusobacteriaceae, whereas RNA stimulatedAeromonadaceae. These findings demonstrate the capacity of gut-associated obligate anaerobes and facultative aerobes to catalyze biopolymer-driven fermentations and highlight the potential importance of protein and RNA as substrates linked to the overall turnover dynamics of organic carbon in the alimentary canal of the earthworm.

IMPORTANCEThe subsurface lifestyle of earthworms makes them an unnoticed component of the terrestrial biosphere. However, the propensity of these invertebrates to consume their home, i.e., soil and litter, has long-term impacts on soil fertility, plant growth, and the cycling of elements. The alimentary canals of earthworms can contain up to 500 ml anoxic gut content per square meter of soil, and ingested soil may contain 109or more microbial cells per gram dry weight, considerations that illustrate that enormous numbers of soil microbes are subject to anoxia during gut passage. Feeding introduces diverse sources of biopolymers to the gut, and the gut fermentation of biopolymers could be important to the transformation of matter by the earthworm and its capacity to utilize fermentation-derived fatty acids. Thus, this study examined the capacity of microbes in earthworm gut contents to ferment protein and RNA, dominant biopolymers of cells that become disrupted during gut passage.
Prevalence and distribution of hypertension and related risk factors in Jilin Province, China 2015: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Wu Junduo , Li Tianyi , Song Xianjing , Sun Wei , Zhang Yangyu , Liu Yingyu , Li Longbo , Yu Yunpeng , Liu Yihang , Qi Chao , Liu Bin
Published: March 2018

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and distribution of hypertension and its related factors in Jilin province, China.

Design

A cross-sectional study in four cities and four rural counties in Jilin as part of a national Chinese study.

Participants and setting

A total of 15 206 participants who were ≥15 years old and were selected using a stratified multistage random sampling method.

Main outcome measures

The prevalence of hypertension.

Results

The prevalence of hypertension in Jilin province was 24.7%. Moreover, the prevalence of hypertension increased with age in both sexes, and was higher in men than in women. The modifiable factors that were associated with hypertension were body mass index, smoking and alcohol drinking. The risk factors identified are similar to those in southern China, except smoking, which has no association with hypertension prevalence in the South.

Conclusions

Age, sex, body mass index, smoking and alcohol drinking were risk factors of hypertension. Control of these related risk factors, especially smoking, may be helpful in the treatment and management of hypertension in Jilin province.
Prevalence of stroke, risk factors, disability and care needs in older adults in Singapore: results from the WiSE study
Authors: Teh Wen Lin , Abdin Edimansyah , Vaingankar Janhavi Ajit , Seow Esmond , Sagayadevan Vathsala , Shafie Saleha , Shahwan Shazana , Zhang Yunjue , Chong Siow Ann , Ng Li Ling , Subramaniam Mythily
Published: March 2018

Objectives

The aims of the present study were to establish the prevalence of stroke, and to explore the association between stroke prevalence and sociodemographic and health factors, disability, cognitive functioning and care needs among older adult residents in Singapore.

Setting

Data were drawn from the Well-being of the Singapore Elderly study—a cross-sectional epidemiological survey conducted from 2012 to 2013 on older adults living in Singapore.

Participants

Participants were Singapore residents (citizens and permanent residents) 60 years and above who were living in Singapore during the survey period . Older adult residents who were institutionalised were also included in this study. Those who were not living in Singapore or who were not contactable were excluded from the study. The response rate was 65.6 % (2565/3913). A total population sample of 2562 participants completed the survey. Participants comprised 43.6% males and 56.4% females. The sample comprised 39.4% Chinese, 29.1% Malay, 30.1% Indian and 1.4% other ethnicities .

Primary and secondary outcome measures

History of stroke, along with other health and mental health conditions, disability and cognitive functioning, were determined by self-report.

Results

Weighted stroke prevalence was 7.6% among older adults aged 60 and above. At a multivariate level, Malay ethnicity (OR 0.41, p=0.012, 95% CI 0.20 to 0.82), hypertension (OR 4.58, p=0.001, 95% CI 1.84 to 11.40), heart trouble (OR 2.45, p=0.006, 95% CI 1.30 to 4.63), diabetes (OR 2.60, p=0.001, 95% CI 1.49 to 4.53) and dementia (OR 3.57, p=0.002, 95% CI 1.57 to 8.12) were associated with stroke prevalence.

Conclusions

Several findings of this study were consistent with previous reports. Given that Singapore’s population is ageing rapidly, our findings may indicate the need to review existing support services for stroke survivors and their caregivers. Future research could investigate the association between various sociodemographic and health conditions and stroke prevalence to confirm some of the findings of this study.
Simulation in shoulder dystocia: does it change outcomes?
Authors: Kim Tana , Vogel Rachel I , Das Kamalini
Published: March 2018

Background

Shoulder dystocia is an obstetrical emergency that requires immediate and appropriate provider response to decrease neonatal morbidity.

Objective

To determine whether institution of shoulder dystocia simulation training improves maternal and neonatal outcomes at delivery.

Study design

This retrospective cohort study compared maternal and neonatal outcomes before (1 September 2008–31 December 2009) and after (1 January 2010–31 December 2014) a mandatory shoulder dystocia simulation curriculum was instituted. Χ2 and Fisher’s exact tests along with multivariate logistic regression models were conducted to adjust for potential confounding.

Results

Of 8930 vaginal deliveries that met eligibility criteria over the 6-year period, 299 (3.3%) deliveries were complicated by a shoulder dystocia. The adjusted frequency of shoulder dystocia was approximately two times higher after training implementation (1.9% vs 3.8%; adjusted OR=1.80 (1.23 to 2.65), p=0.003). Neonatal outcomes such as brachial plexus injury (5.0% vs 7.7%; p=0.75), clavicle fracture (5.0% vs 4.6%; p=1.00) and humerus fracture (0.0% vs 1.9%; p=1.00) were not statistically different after training. Additionally, no significant differences in episiotomy (5.0% vs 4.6%; p=1.00), postpartum haemorrhage (10.0% vs 12.4%; p=0.80) and severe perineal laceration (10.0% vs 6.6%; p=0.50) were observed.

Conclusions

The overall frequency of shoulder dystocia reportedly doubled after training despite stable operative vaginal delivery and caesarean delivery rates. No significant improvements were seen in maternal or neonatal outcomes after simulation training. As shoulder dystocias are rare events, simulation training may not necessarily improve neonatal outcomes, but it may increase overall provider awareness and intervention.
Diagnostic concordance of reporting lymphovascular invasion in breast cancer
Authors: Rakha Emad A , Abbas Areeg , Pinto Ahumada Pablo , ElSayed Maysa E , Colman Derek , Pinder Sarah E , Ellis Ian O
Published: March 2018

Aims

This study aims to assess the diagnostic agreement of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in invasive breast cancer (BC).

Methods

Data on LVI were collected from the UK National Health Service Breast Screening Programme pathology external quality assurance scheme database. 101 BCs assessed over a 10-year period (2004–2014) were included. Cases were scored by an average of 600 pathologists. Three H&E stained slides from each case were reviewed by three pathologists and additional variables were evaluated.

Results

In the whole series, the overall κ value was 0.4 (range 0.26–0.53). On review, LVI was detected in all three slides in 20 cases (20%), in two slides in 12 cases and in one of the three slides in 9 cases and was not seen in 60 cases. For concordance analysis, the first and last groups were used to represent cases with definite (LVI+) and absent LVI (LVI–), respectively. In the LVI+group (n=20), the level of agreement ranged from 0.54 to 0.99 (median 0.86). In the LVI– group (n=60), the level of agreement ranged from 0.52 to 1.00 (median 0.93), with 44% of cases showing interobserver concordance of >95%. There was a correlation between increasing number of involved lymphovascular spaces in the section and higher LVI reporting concordance. Some degree of retraction/fixation artefacts was observed in 35% of cases; this was associated with a lower concordance rate.

Conclusions

The concordance of reporting LVI is variable. Cases without LVI and those with multiple involved vessels are likely to have the highest concordance and the highest detection rates.
CARRYOVER EFFECT OF ELITE HIGH SCHOOL TO JOB MARKET FOR UNIVERSITY GRADUATES: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM A UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION DATA
Authors: CHO DONGHUN , CHO JOONMO
Published: March 2018

This paper estimates carryover effects of attending elite high schools on job markets after students’ university graduation. Most of the previous literature focused on returns of elite or private school attendance on academic achievements in university education. Instead, this study investigates whether the education effect of elite high school is carried forward to the job market after university studies. Our study utilizes unique university-employment-matched data obtained from one Korean university administration. In addition to students’ academic performance, such as grade point average (GPA), we also include participation in extracurricular activities to better control for the self-selection effect portable from elite high school as well as the quality of university education. The empirical results show that the education at elite high schools does not only positively affect the academic performance at university, but interestingly, it is found to be carried forward to the job market even after university graduation.
Strongly correlated superconductivity
Authors: Yanagisawa T. , Miyazaki M. , Yamaji K.
Published: March 2018

We investigate the electronic properties of the ground state of strongly correlated electron systems. We use an optimization variational Monte Carlo method for the two-dimensional Hubbard model and the three-band d-p model. The many-body wavefunction is improved and optimized by introducing variational parameters that control the correlation between electrons. The on-site repulsive Coulomb interaction U induces strong antiferromagnetic (AF) correlation. There is a crossover from weakly to strongly correlated regions as U increases. We show an idea that high-temperature superconductivity occurs as a result of this crossover in the strongly correlated region where U is greater than the bandwidth.
Effect of exercise therapy combined with branched-chain amino acid supplementation on muscle strengthening in persons with osteoarthritis
Authors: Ikeda Takashi , Jinno Tetsuya , Masuda Tadashi , Aizawa Junya , Ninomiya Kazunari , Suzuki Koji , Hirakawa Kazuo
Published: March 2018

Background: Improving lower limb muscle strength is important in preventing progression of osteoarthritis (OA) and its symptoms. Exercise with branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation has been reported to affect protein anabolism in young and elderly persons. However, few studies provided daily BCAAs for patients with OA.

Objective: This study examined the effects of combined BCAAs and exercise therapy on physical function improvement in women with hip OA scheduled for total hip arthroplasty.

Methods: The subjects were 43 women with OA (age: 64.2[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]9.4). The participants were randomly divided into two groups: BCAA ([Formula: see text]) and control ([Formula: see text]). The combined therapy was carried out for one month. Exercise intervention involved hip abductor muscle exercise in both groups. For the nutritional intervention, 6[Formula: see text]g of BCAAs or 1.2[Formula: see text]g of starch were consumed within 10[Formula: see text]min before starting the exercise.

Results: There was a marginally significant difference in the main effect between the groups in 10-m timed gait time. The improvement rate in hip abductor muscle strength of the contralateral side was significantly greater in the BCAA group.

Conclusion: By combining BCAA intake and exercise therapy, a significant improvement in hip abductor muscle strength of the contralateral side was achieved in women with OA.
STUDY ON TYPES OF TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION PARTNER AND INNOVATION PERFORMANCE: FOCUSING ON INCREMENTAL AND RADICAL INNOVATION
Authors: KIM HYEON CHANG , YOON WOOJIN
Published: March 2018

This study conducts an empirical analysis on the relationship between innovation and the type of partner based on the assumption that the knowledge and information acquired from partners would vary depending on their type from the perspective of learning through technology cooperation. It further expands the discussion by looking at the relationship between geographic distance between partners and innovation as well as absorptive capacity, a variable that moderates it. The knowledge required for product development is classified into explicit and implicit knowledge, and based on such knowledge type, the form of learning and innovation is categorized into STI (Science, Technology and Innovation) and DUI (Doing, Using and Interacting). Accordingly, technology cooperation partners are divided into STI and DUI partners. The study analyzes the effect of the cooperation partner type on radical and incremental innovation. Unlike the hypothesis, cooperation with a STI partner had a positive effect on incremental innovation while a DUI partner had such effect on radical innovation. The geographical distance between partners had a negative effect on incremental innovation and the moderating effect of appropriability was not verified.
SEROEPIDEMIOLOGIC SURVEY OF CANINE LEPTOSPIROSIS IN NORTHERN TAIWAN DURING 2008–2015
Authors: Hsu Chia-Hsin , Liu I-Li , Liu Cheng-Chi , Liu Bang-Hung , Pan Ming-Jeng , Lin Chen-Si
Published: March 2018

Leptospirosis is an important infectious zoonosis that may cause life-threatening illness in both humans and animals. This study aimed to identify the serovars of Leptospira using the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and the effect of season on serum-positive cases detected in National Taiwan University Veterinary Hospital from August 2008 to September 2015. This study also compared the characteristics of serum-positive and serum-negative cases. Among 159 suspected cases, 78 serum-positive (MAT titer [Formula: see text]) and 81 serum-negative cases were identified. In serum-positive cases, the most common pathogenic serovars were Canicola (18.2%), Icterohaemorrhagiae (23.6%), and Shermani (20.0%). Significantly more serum-positive cases were identified in fall (September to November) than other seasons ([Formula: see text]). Dogs aged 1–5 years (odds ratio [Formula: see text] 1.7) were more likely to be identified as being serum-positive cases of canine leptospirosis than serum-negative cases. However, no significant difference was observed regarding breed, gender, and regional distribution. The serum concentrations of liver enzymes, total bilirubin, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine were elevated in both serum-positive and serum-negative cases, with no significance. White blood cell (WBC) counts of serum-positive cases were statistically higher than those of serum-negative cases ([Formula: see text]). In conclusion, more precaution must be taken with dogs aged 1–5 years because of their higher risk of leptospirosis; additionally, significantly elevated WBC count may be a suitable indicator in suspected cases of canine leptospirosis.
Nonlinear flutter response of pre-heated functionally graded panels
Authors: Xia Wei , Zhao Xinghong , Li Datao , Shen Shengping
Published: March 2018

The thermo-mechanical behavior of functionally graded (FG) panels is investigated in supersonic air flow. The three-node triangular element based on the Mindlin plate theory is employed to account for the transverse shear strains, and the von-Karman nonlinear strain–displacement relation is utilized considering the geometric nonlinearity. The effective material properties of the FG material are assumed to vary through the thickness according to simple power law distribution. The aeroelastic equation is established using the first-order piston theory, the linear rule of mixture and the principle of virtual work. A multi-mode approach is utilized to form the reduced-order model. Nonlinear flutter response is obtained by solving the reduced-order aeroelastic equation in time using the Runge–Kutta fourth-order method. Numerical simulation reveals that the multi-mode reduced-order model has a good convergence property. By using the 24-mode model the variation of flutter amplitude with dimensionless dynamic pressure, and the route of nonlinear flutter response from simple harmonic limit cycle oscillation (LCO) to non-harmonic periodic oscillation are examined.
The Oxysterol-Binding Protein Cycle: Burning Off PI(4)P to Transport Cholesterol
Authors: Antonny Bruno , Bigay Joëlle , Mesmin Bruno
Published: March 2018

To maintain an asymmetric distribution of ions across membranes, protein pumps displace ions against their concentration gradient by using chemical energy. Here, we describe a functionally analogous but topologically opposite process that applies to the lipid transfer protein (LTP) oxysterol-binding protein (OSBP). This multidomain protein exchanges cholesterol for the phosphoinositide phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate [PI(4)P] between two apposed membranes. Because of the subsequent hydrolysis of PI(4)P, this counterexchange is irreversible and contributes to the establishment of a cholesterol gradient along organelles of the secretory pathway. The facts that some natural anti-cancer molecules block OSBP and that many viruses hijack the OSBP cycle for the formation of intracellular replication organelles highlight the importance and potency of OSBP-mediated lipid exchange. The architecture of some LTPs is similar to that of OSBP, suggesting that the principles of the OSBP cycle—burning PI(4)P for the vectorial transfer of another lipid—might be general.