bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Bracero Program, 1942–1964
Authors: García Juan R.
Published: August 2018

The Bracero Program began in 1942 as a temporary wartime measure but was extended repeatedly until 1964. During that time, more than 4.5 million braceros received contracts to work in the United States, primarily as agricultural laborers. Before the program ended, braceros worked in thirty-eight states in the United States, with the majority contracted by eight states.

With the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941 and the subsequent sinking of two Mexican vessels by German submarines, Mexico and the United States entered into a bilateral agreement. In actuality, there were two bilateral agreements, the first extending from 1942 to 1949, and the second, enacted as Public Law 78, starting in 1951 and culminating in 1964. Throughout the program’s existence Mexico strove to ensure favorable conditions under which braceros were to be contracted, especially in light of the strong opposition to the program among a number of sectors in Mexico and the long history of discrimination against people of Mexican descent in the United States. Like Mexico, the United States faced opposition to the contract labor program from both employers and labor unions. Employers were wary of too much government interference in their ability to secure a plentiful and cheap labor supply, while labor unions viewed the program as a threat to organizing efforts and as an obstacle to achieving better working conditions and pay for agricultural workers in the United States. The Bracero Program also deeply affected the braceros themselves in both positive and negative ways. And it had a profound impact on the families of the braceros who left to work in the United States. The program was plagued by a number of issues and problems, primarily resulting from a lack of enforcement and widespread contract violations. Despite the problems associated with the program, both countries touted its benefits, not only to their economy, but to the braceros themselves. The braceros did not passively accept their fate and challenged their treatment in a variety of ways. Although the Bracero Program ended in 1964, its legacy continues to affect US–Mexican relations to this day. Furthermore, former braceros and their descendants have undertaken a movement to demand reimbursement for wages promised them under the requirements of the Bracero Program.
History of the English Language
Authors: van Kemenade Ans
Published: August 2018

The status of English in the early 21st century makes it hard to imagine that the language started out as an assortment of North Sea Germanic dialects spoken in parts of England only by immigrants from the continent. Itself soon under threat, first from the language(s) spoken by Viking invaders, then from French as spoken by the Norman conquerors, English continued to thrive as an essentially West-Germanic language that did, however, undergo some profound changes resulting from contact with Scandinavian and French. A further decisive period of change is the late Middle Ages, which started a tremendous societal scale-up that triggered pervasive multilingualism. These repeated layers of contact between different populations, first locally, then nationally, followed by standardization and 18th-century codification, metamorphosed English into a language closely related to, yet quite distinct from, its closest relatives Dutch and German in nearly all language domains, not least in word order, grammar, and pronunciation.
Diel, seasonal, and interannual patterns in mesozooplankton abundance in the Sargasso Sea
Authors: Ivory Jami A , Steinberg Deborah K , Latour Robert J
Published: August 2018

Temporal changes in mesozooplankton abundance affect planktonic food web interactions and biogeochemistry. We enumerated mesozooplankton from monthly day and night tows in the epipelagic zone at the Bermuda Atlantic Time-series Study (BATS) site in the Sargasso Sea (1999–2010). Abundances of each taxon were determined using a ZooScan imaging system and microscopy. Generalized linear models were used to determine environmental parameters that best explained abundance patterns. Taxa with pronounced diel vertical migration included euphausiids, amphipods, Limacina spp. pteropods, and other shelled pteropods. Taxa with a pronounced spring abundance peak included euphausiids, appendicularians, and Limacina spp., while harpacticoid copepods peaked in late summer, and calanoid copepods in late winter/early spring and summer. Many taxa increased in 2003, coincident with a diatom bloom and the largest primary production peak in the time series. Long-term, increasing trends occurred in calanoid and oncaeid copepods, and ostracods, with barnacle nauplii significantly increasing. Sub-decadal-scale climate oscillations and long-term warming may be driving decreases in shelled pteropods and appendicularians. Chaetognath abundance increased in response to increased density of a major prey taxon, calanoid copepods. Calanoid copepods and ostracods increased with increasing water column stratification index and the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation index, indicating warmer sea surface temperatures favour these taxa.
On the Hausdorff Dimension of Bernoulli Convolutions
Authors: Akiyama Shigeki , Feng De-Jun , Kempton Tom , Persson Tomas
Published: August 2018

We give an expression for the Garsia entropy of Bernoulli convolutions in terms of products of matrices. This gives an explicit rate of convergence of the Garsia entropy and shows that one can calculate the Hausdorff dimension of the Bernoulli convolution $\nu _{\beta }$ to arbitrary given accuracy whenever $\beta $ is algebraic. In particular, if the Garsia entropy $H(\beta )$ is not equal to $\log (\beta )$ then we have a finite time algorithm to determine whether or not $\operatorname{dim_H} (\nu _{\beta })=1$.
Administering Spiritual Assessments with Refugees: An Overview of Conceptually Distinct Assessment Options
Authors: Hodge David R
Published: August 2018

The global refugee population has increased dramatically over the last decade, suggesting helping professionals will increasingly encounter refugees in diverse practice settings. Despite the central role spirituality plays in the lives of many refugees, the extant research suggests most practitioners have received minimal training in addressing this critical topic. To assist helping professionals provide effective and ethical services to the culturally unique refugee population, this article conceptualizes assessment as a two-stage process in which a brief assessment is universally administered to help legitimize spirituality in practice settings followed, if clinically warranted, by a comprehensive assessment. Five conceptually distinct comprehensive assessment approaches are discussed along with their respective strengths and limitations: spiritual histories—a completely verbally based approach—and four diagrammatic models: spiritual lifemaps, genograms, eco-maps and ecograms. Developing familiarity with a variety of comprehensive approaches equips practitioners to select the approach that best fits the interests and needs of both refugees and practitioners. Engaging refugees in this manner assists practitioners to optimize services by identifying spiritual resources that can be leveraged to solve problems and eliminate barriers to effective service provision.
Consultation Session and General Treatment Session Procedures
Authors: Kearney Christopher A. , Albano Anne Marie
Published: August 2018

Chapter 3 covers what happens during a consultation session. The therapist usually summarizes assessment results and provides recommendations to the family about treatment. Some general points are presented regarding treatment sessions such as how long treatment will last and how to handle missed sessions. The importance of completing homework between sessions is discussed as well as the importance of gradually increasing the child’s school attendance. Parents are encouraged to discuss any issues with the therapist and to rely on the therapist for support throughout the treatment process. Parents are also encouraged to read all the chapters in this workbook no matter what their child’s reason for school refusal may be.
The Evaluation
Authors: Rubenzer Steve
Published: August 2018

This chapter considers evaluation strategies beginning from receipt of the referral to the conclusion of the interview. It emphasizes the value of obtaining information before the evaluation, particularly from police reports, input from the defense attorney, and school and/or psychiatric records. Examiners are encouraged to covertly observe the examinee’s speech and demeanor and to seek out sources of collateral information, which may include data from jails and people in the community. The importance of avoiding bias and focusing on relevant information is emphasized. The limitations of collateral sources, such as from treatment providers and disability exams from institutions such as the Veterans Administration and Social Security Administration, are highlighted. The use of Internet data and associated ethical considerations are discussed, and demographic factors and behavioral indicators of feigning or poor effort are presented.
CST Instruments and General Clinical Measures
Authors: Rubenzer Steve
Published: August 2018

This chapter discusses the most commonly used instruments for assessing competency to stand trial, their vulnerability to feigning, and attempts and approaches to remedying this deficiency. In contrast, general clinical measures such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Inventory–2, the Minnesota Multiphasic Inventory–Restructured Form, and the Personality Assessment Inventory are both well-armed and well-researched as self-report validity tests. Each has multiple validity indexes and scales, including those that are not included in the publisher’s scoring services. The rationale and research regarding these indices are reviewed, with emphasis on studies involving criminal defendants, and recommended cutoff cutoff scores, with associated diagnostic statistics, are provided.
Tests of Feigned or Exaggerated Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Rubenzer Steve
Published: August 2018

This chapter reviews the most popular and promising instruments for assessing poor effort or feigned cognitive impairment. Referred to as performance validity tests (PVTs), these instruments vary from very brief to quite long and also vary substantially in sophistication and performance. The advantages and disadvantages of each are reported along with the costs of their use (time and money), diagnostic statistics, and recommended cutoff scores. The various PVTs discussed in the chapter are well validated in neurological samples but less so in psychiatric ones. The chapter concludes by noting that although many PVTs are now described as effort tests, there has been no research to accurately measure how much mental effort different tests require.
Growing a ‘cosmic beast’: observations and simulations of MACS J0717.5+3745
Authors: Jauzac M , Eckert D , Schaller M , Schwinn J , Massey R , Bahé Y , Baugh C , Barnes D , Dalla Vecchia C , Ebeling H , Harvey D , Jullo E , Kay S T , Kneib J-P , Limousin M , Medezinski E , Natarajan P , Nonino M , Robertson A , Tam S I , Umetsu K
Published: August 2018

We present a gravitational lensing and X-ray analysis of a massive galaxy cluster and its surroundings. The core of MACS J0717.5+3745 ($M(R\lt 1\, {\rm Mpc})\sim$ $2 \times 10^{15}\, \, {\rm M}_{\odot }$, $z$ = 0.54) is already known to contain four merging components. We show that this is surrounded by at least seven additional substructures with masses ranging $3.8{-}6.5\times 10^{13}\, \, {\rm M}_{\odot }$, at projected radii 1.6–4.9 Mpc. We compare MACS J0717 to mock lensing and X-ray observations of similarly rich clusters in cosmological simulations. The low gas fraction of substructures predicted by simulations turns out to match our observed values of 1–$4{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$. Comparing our data to three similar simulated haloes, we infer a typical growth rate and substructure infall velocity. That suggests MACS J0717 could evolve into a system similar to, but more massive than, Abell 2744 by $z$ = 0.31, and into a ∼ $10^{16}\, \, {\rm M}_{\odot }$ supercluster by $z$ = 0. The radial distribution of infalling substructure suggests that merger events are strongly episodic; however, we find that the smooth accretion of surrounding material remains the main source of mass growth even for such massive clusters.
Merits and caveats of propensity scores to adjust for confounding
Authors: Fu Edouard L , Groenwold Rolf H H , Zoccali Carmine , Jager Kitty J , van Diepen Merel , Dekker Friedo W
Published: August 2018

Proper adjustment for confounding is essential when estimating the effects of treatments or risk factors on health outcomes in observational data. To this end, various statistical methods have been developed. In the past couple of years, the use of propensity scores (PSs) to control for confounding has increased. Proper understanding of this method is necessary to critically appraise research in which it is applied. In this article, we provide an overview of PS methods, explaining their concept, advantages and possible disadvantages. Furthermore, the use of PS matching, PS adjustment and PS weighting is illustrated using data from the Netherlands Cooperative Study on the Adequacy of Dialysis (NECOSAD) cohort of dialysis patients.
Afghanistan Particulate Matter Enhances Pro-Inflammatory Responses in IL-13-Exposed Human Airway Epithelium via TLR2 Signaling
Authors: Berman Reena , Downey Gregory P , Dakhama Azzeddine , Day Brian J , Chu Hong Wei
Published: August 2018

Since the start of Afghanistan combat operations in 2001, there has been an increase in complaints of respiratory illnesses in deployed soldiers with no previous history of lung disorders. It is postulated that deployment-related respiratory illnesses are the result of inhalation of desert particulate matter (PM) potentially acting in combination with exposure to other pro-inflammatory compounds. Why some, but not all, soldiers develop respiratory diseases remains unclear. Our goal was to investigate if human airway epithelial cells primed with IL-13, a type 2 inflammatory cytokine, demonstrate stronger pro-inflammatory responses to Afghanistan desert PM (APM). Primary human brushed bronchial epithelial cells from non-deployed, healthy subjects were exposed to APM, both with and without IL-13 pretreatment. APM exposure in conjunction with IL-13 resulted in significantly increased expression of IL-8, a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in neutrophil recruitment and activation. Furthermore, expression of TLR2 mRNA was increased after combined IL-13 and APM exposure. siRNA-mediated TLR2 knockdown dampened IL-8 production after exposure to APM with IL-13. APM with IL-13 treatment increased IRAK-1 (a downstream signaling molecule of TLR2 signaling) activation, while IRAK-1 knockdown effectively eliminated the IL-8 response to APM and IL-13. Our data suggest that APM exposure may promote neutrophilic inflammation in airways with a type 2 cytokine milieu.
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ORAL IRON SUPPLEMENTATION AND RETINAL OR SUBRETINAL HEMORRHAGE IN THE COMPARISON OF AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION TREATMENT TRIALS
Authors: Song Delu , Ying Gui-Shuang , Dunaief Joshua L. , Bhuyan Rupak , Li Yafeng , Maguire Maureen G. , Grunwald Juan E. , Daniel Ebenezer , Hagstrom Stephanie , Martin Daniel F. ,   the Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatment Trial Research Group
Published: August 2018

Purpose:

Because patients often take iron supplements without medical indication, and iron can accumulate in vascular endothelial cells, the authors evaluated the association of oral iron supplementation with retinal/subretinal hemorrhage in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Methods:

A post hoc secondary data analysis of comparison of age-related macular degeneration treatments trials was performed. Participants were interviewed for use of oral iron supplements. Trained readers evaluated retinal/subretinal hemorrhage in baseline fundus photographs. Adjusted odds ratios from multivariate logistic regression models assessed the association between iron use and baseline hemorrhage adjusted by age, sex, smoking, hypertension, anemia, and use of antiplatelet/anticoagulant drugs.

Results:

Among 1,165 participants, baseline retinal/subretinal hemorrhage was present in the study eye in 71% of 181 iron users and in 61% of 984 participants without iron use (adjusted odds ratio = 1.47, P = 0.04), and the association was dose dependent (adjusted linear trend P = 0.048). Iron use was associated with hemorrhage in participants with hypertension (adjusted odds ratio = 1.87, P = 0.006) but not without hypertension. The association of iron use with hemorrhage remained significant among hypertensive participants without anemia (adjusted odds ratio = 1.85, P = 0.02).

Conclusion:

Among participants of comparison of age-related macular degeneration treatments trials, the use of oral iron supplements was associated with retinal/subretinal hemorrhage in a dose–response manner. Unindicated iron supplementation may be detrimental in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration.
Inadequate Communication Exacerbates the Support Needs of Current and Bereaved Caregivers in Advanced Heart Failure and Impedes Shared Decision-making
Authors: Fitzsimons Donna , Doherty Leanne C. , Murphy Mary , Dixon Lana , Donnelly Patrick , McDonald Kenneth , McIlfatrick Sonja
Published: August 2018

Background:

Clinicians face considerable challenges in identifying patients with advanced heart failure who experience significant symptom burden at the end of life. Often, these patients are cared for in the community by a loved one who has limited access to support from specialist services, including palliative care.

Aim:

The aims of this study were to explore caregivers' experience when caring for a loved one with advanced heart failure at the end of life and to identify any unmet psychosocial needs.

Methods:

This article reports findings of a qualitative study, using semistructured, one-to-one interviews with current and bereaved caregivers, who participated in a larger mixed-methods study. Interviews were conducted by a trained researcher, digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and imported to NVivo 11 for data management and coding. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and an inductive approach.

Results:

The 30 interviews included 20 current caregivers and 10 bereaved caregivers. The central feature of the caregivers' experience was identified as being “a physical and emotional rollercoaster.” There were 3 main themes identified: poor communication, living with uncertainty, and lack of service provision. These themes were supported by 6 subthemes: inadequate understanding of palliative care, a 24/7 physical burden, emotional burden, inability to plan, no care continuity, and dying lonely and unsupported.

Conclusions:

Caregivers in advanced heart failure need clearer communication regarding diagnosis and prognosis of their loved one's condition to help with the uncertainty of their situation. Improved identification of palliative care needs and more coordinated service provision are urgently required to address their physical and emotional challenges from diagnosis through bereavement.
Acute Biliary Pancreatitis is Associated With Adverse Outcomes in the Elderly
Authors: Patel Kishan , Li Feng , Luthra Anjuli , Hinton Alice , Lara Luis , Groce Royce , Hosmer Amy , McCarthy Sean T. , Strobel Sebastian , Conwell Darwin L. , Krishna Somashekar G.
Published: August 2018

Goals and Background:

In the elderly (age, 65 y or older), acute pancreatitis is most frequently because of gallstones; however, there is a paucity of national estimates evaluating outcomes of acute biliary pancreatitis (ABP). Hence, we utilized a representative population database to evaluate the outcomes of ABP among the elderly.

Study:

The National Readmission Database provides longitudinal follow-up of inpatients for 1 calendar-year. All adult inpatients (18 y or older) with an index primary admission for ABP between 2011 and 2014 were evaluated for clinical outcomes of mortality, severe acute pancreatitis (SAP), and 30-day readmission. Outcomes between age groups (≥65 vs. <65 y) were compared using multivariate and one-to-one propensity score–matched analyses.

Results:

Among 184,763 ABP admissions, 41% were elderly. Index mortality and SAP rates in the elderly were 1.96% and 21.5%, respectively. Elderly patients underwent more ERCPs (27.5% vs. 23.6%; P<0.001) and less frequent cholecystectomies (44.4% vs. 58.7%; P<0.001). Elderly patients had increased odds of mortality and SAP along with an age-dependent increase in the odds of adverse outcomes; patients aged 85 years or older demonstrated the highest odds of SAP [odds ratio (OR), 1.3; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2, 1.4] and mortality (OR, 2.2; 95% CI: 1.7, 2.9) within in the elderly cohort. Propensity score–matched analysis substantiated that mortality (OR, 2.8; 95% CI: 2.2, 3.5) and SAP (OR, 1.2; 95% CI: 1.1, 1.3) were increased in the elderly.

Conclusions:

Current national survey reveals adverse clinical outcomes among elderly patients hospitalized with ABP. Consequently, there is a need for effective management strategies for this demographic as the aging population is increasing nationally.
Applications of Immunohistochemistry to Endocrine Pathology
Authors: Higgins Sara E. , Barletta Justine A.
Published: August 2018

The role of immunohistochemistry (IHC) in endocrine pathology is similar to that in other organ systems in that it can aid in the subclassification of tumors within an organ, confirm site of primary in metastatic disease, provide prognostic information, identify underlying genetic alterations, and predict response to treatment. Although most endocrine tumors do not require IHC to render a diagnosis, there are certain scenarios in which IHC can be extremely helpful. For example, in thyroid, IHC can be used to support tumor dedifferentiation, in the adrenal it can aid in the diagnosis of low-grade adrenocortical carcinomas, and in paragangliomas it can help identify tumors arising as part of an inherited tumor syndrome. This review will focus on the applications of IHC in tumors of the thyroid, parathyroids, adrenals, and paraganglia in adults.
The Ethical and Professional Use of Social Media in Surgery: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Bennett Katelyn G. , Berlin Nicholas L. , MacEachern Mark P. , Buchman Steven R. , Preminger B. Aviva , Vercler Christian J.
Published: August 2018

Although certain medical societies have released guidelines on the use of social media, plastic surgery, with its inherent visual nature and potential for sensationalism, could benefit from increasing direction regarding the ethical use of social media. The authors hypothesized that although general platitudes for use exist in the literature, guidelines articulating the boundaries of professional use are nonspecific. Systematic searches of MEDLINE, Embase.com, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were completed on January 18, 2017. Searches consisted of a combination of Medical Subject Headings terms and title and abstract keywords for social media and professionalism concepts. In addition, the authors manually searched the three highest impact plastic surgery journals (ending in October of 2017). Two authors screened all titles and abstracts. Studies related to clinical medicine, patient care, and the physician-patient relationship were included for full-text review. Articles related to surgery merited final inclusion. The initial search strategy yielded 954 articles, with 28 selected for inclusion after final review. The authors’ manual search yielded nine articles. Of the articles from the search strategy, 10 were published in the urology literature, eight were published in general surgery, six were published in plastic surgery, three were published in orthopedic surgery, and one was published in vascular surgery. Key ethical themes emerged across specialties, although practical recommendations for professional social media behavior were notably absent. In conclusion, social media continue to be a domain with potential professional pitfalls. Appropriate use of social media must extend beyond obtaining consent, and plastic surgeons must adhere to a standard of professionalism far surpassing that of today’s media culture.
Large Forehead Mass Resulting From Chronic Head Banging
Authors: Ovadia Steven A. , Gonzalez Daniel , Thaller Seth R.
Published: August 2018

Head banging is a commonly observed movement disorder which is typically self-limited. Complications secondary to this behavior are rare. In this report, the authors present the case of a 15-year-old patient who was treated for a forehead mass which developed secondary to chronic head banging. Surgical excision was performed for treatment of the lesion. Results from surgical pathology were notable for fibrosis consistent with history of chronic head banging. Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging and physical examination were also consistent with this diagnosis. This is a rare clinical entity that should be considered in patients presenting with a forehead mass and a history of head banging.
Frontal Bone Fracture Patterns Suggesting Involvement of Optic Canal Damage
Authors: Imajo Koji , Nagasao Tomohisa , Aizezi Niyazi , Morotomi Tadaaki , Tamai Motoki , Miyake Minoru
Published: August 2018

Purpose:

Fracture of the frontal bone can be accompanied by damage to the optic canal. The present study uses finite element analysis to identify fracture patterns, suggesting the involvement of the optic canal.

Methods:

Ten finite-element skull models were generated from computer tomography data of 10 persons. Then, dynamic analyses simulating collision of a 2-cm-radius brass ball to 6 regions on the frontal bone in the 10 models were performed. Fracture patterns presented by the frontal bone in the 60 experiments were observed, and all those involving the optic canal were selected. Commonalities of the selected fracture patterns were identified.

Results:

Fracture of the optic canal was observed in 9 of the 60 patients. In all 9 patients, fracture existed on the anterior and posterior walls of the frontal sinus and on the superior orbital wall.

Conclusion:

When the anterior and posterior walls of the frontal sinus and the superior orbital wall are all broken, the optic canal is highly likely to be involved in the damage. When this pattern is observed in emergency examination, preventive decompression of the optic nerve should be considered to avoid potential occurrence of blindness.
Proteomics-based comparative mapping of the human brown and white adipocyte secretome reveals EPDR1 as a novel batokine
Authors: Deshmukh Atul S. , Peijs Lone , Nielsen Søren , Bayarri-Olmos Rafael , Larsen Therese J. , Jespersen Naja Z. , Hattel Helle , Holst Birgitte , Garred Peter , Tang-Christensen Mads , Sanfridson Annika , Gerhart-Hines Zachary , Pedersen Bente K. , Mann Matthias , Scheele Camilla
Published: August 2018

Secreted proteins from adipose tissue play a role in metabolic cross-talk and homeostasis. We performed high sensitivity mass spectrometry-based proteomics on the cell media of in vitro differentiated, non-immortalized brown adipocytes derived from supraclavicular adipose of adult humans and white adipocytes derived from subcutaneous adipose of adult humans. We identified 471 potentially secreted proteins covering interesting protein categories such as hormones, growth factors, growth factor binding proteins, cytokines, extracellular matrix proteins, and proteins of the complement system, which were differentially regulated in brown and white adipocytes. A total of 101 proteins were exclusively quantified in brown adipocytes, among these ependymin-related protein 1 (EPDR1). Ablation of EPDR1 impaired the induction of thermogenic transcripts in response to norepinephrine in brown adipocytes, while EPDR1-treated mice increased their energy consumption, suggesting a role in brown fat commitment and activation. Our work reveals substantial differences between the secretomes of brown and white human adipocytes and identifies novel candidate batokines.
General aspects of visceral leishmaniasis with or without HIV co-infection in Northeast Brazil
Authors: Silva de Lima Uiara Regina , Vanolli Luciano , Moraes Elizabeth Coelho , Ithamar Jorim Severino , Silva de Azevedo e Conceição de Maria Pedrozo e
Published: August 2018

Background

The case of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection was reported in Spain first in 1985, and coincidence of these diseases has also been confirmed in more than 35 countries.

Methodology

We performed a comparative study in the state’s reference hospital for infectious/parasitic diseases, which treats adults with HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), between January 2007 and July 2017. The data obtained using this protocol were analyzed using SPSS.

Principal findings

In total, 163 patients were evaluated in this study, including 126 patients with coincident VL/HIV and 37 patients with VL alone. Both groups consisted primarily of male patients. The most commonly affected age group was 30–39 years (p < 0.001). Fever (p < 0.001) and hair loss (p = 0.007), which were more common in patients with VL alone, were more common. On hemogram, segmented neutrophils (p < 0.0001) were found to be more in the VL/HIV group than in the VL alone group. Additionally, AST and ALT levels differed between the groups (p < 0.001). On average, HIV was diagnosed 2.6 years before VL (p < 0.001). VL relapse was observed only in the co-infection group (36.5% of cases). Fever (β = +0.17; p = 0.032) in the first VL/HIV episode was identified as a risk factor for relapse (R2 = 0.18). The death rate of co-infected patients was 11.1%.

Conclusion/Significance

VL/HIV was prevalent among young adults, whereas the median patient age was higher in the VL group. The classic symptomatology of VL was more common in patients not co-infected with HIV, but attention is needed regarding the presence of fever in the first episode of VL as a risk factor for relapse in co-infected patients. No cases of VL relapse occurred in patients without HIV.

AUTHOR SUMMARY

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) and HIV have maintained increasing rates of populational occurrence in the Northeast region of Brazil, with advancing in rural areas and VL advancing in urban areas. This dynamic explains the increase of co-infection from 0.7% in 2001 to 8.5% in 2012. The state of Maranhão presents a large number of cases in the Northeast Brazil, a region with the majority of patients with this co-infection. The severity presented by these patients, in the observation of frequent relapses and high lethality, is presented in this study, which contributes to epidemiological, clinical, laboratorial, and evolutionary knowledge, trying to demonstrate these in the statistical data. Therefore, it should be pointed out that young adult patients with HIV/AIDS who present with any cytopenia, with or without hepatosplenomegaly and accompanied by fever or not, must be investigated for VL.
Levels of outpatient prescribing for four major antibiotic classes and rates of septicemia hospitalization in adults in different US states
Authors: Goldstein E. , Olesen S. , Karaca Z. , Steiner C. , Viboud C. , Lipsitch M.
Published: August 2018

Background

Rates of sepsis/septicemia hospitalization in the US have risen significantly during recent years, and antibiotic resistance and use may contribute to those rates through various mechanisms.

Methods

We used multivariable linear regression to relate state-specific rates of outpatient prescribing overall for fluoroquinolones, penicillins, macrolides, and cephalosporins between 2011-2012 to state-specific rates of hospitalization with septicemia (ICD-9 codes 038.xx present anywhere on discharge diagnosis) in each of the following age groups of adults: (18-49y, 50-64y, 65-74y, 75-84y, 85+y) reported to the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) between 2011-2012, adjusting for additional covariates, and random effects associated with the ten US Health and Human Services (HHS) regions.

Results

Rates of penicillin prescribing were positively associated with septicemia hospitalization rates in the analyses for persons aged 50-64y, 65-74y, and 74-84y. Percent African Americans in a given age group was positively associated with septicemia hospitalization rates in the analyses for persons aged 75-84y and over 85y. Average minimal daily temperature was positively associated with septicemia hospitalization rates in the analyses for persons aged 18-49y, 50-64y, 75-84y and over 85y.

Conclusions

Our results suggest positive associations between the rates of prescribing for penicillins and the rates of sepsis hospitalization in US adults aged 50-84y. Further studies are needed to understand the potential effect of antibiotic replacement in the treatment of various syndromes, such as replacement of fluoroquinolones by other antibiotics, possibly penicillins following the recent US FDA guidelines on restriction of fluoroquinolone use, on the rates of sepsis hospitalization.
A freeze-and-thaw induced-fragment of the microtubule-associated protein Tau in rat brain extracts: implications for the biochemical assessment of neurotoxicity
Authors: Vasconcelos Israel C. , Campos Raquel M. , Schwaemmle Hanna K. , Masson Ana P. , Ferrari Gustavo D. , Alberici Luciane C. , Faça Vitor M. , Garcia-Cairasco Norberto , Sebollela Adriano
Published: August 2018

Tau is a microtubule-associated protein responsible for controlling the stabilization of microtubules in neurons. Tau function is regulated by phosphorylation. However, in some neurological diseases Tau becomes aberrantly hyperphosphorylated, which contributes to the pathogenesis of neurological diseases, known as tauopathies. Western blotting (WB) has been widely employed to determine Tau levels in neurological disease models. However, Tau quantification by WB should be interpreted with care, as this approach has been recognized as prone to produce artifactual results if not properly performed. In this study, our goal was to evaluate the influence of a freeze-and-thaw cycle, a common procedure preceding WB, to the integrity of Tau in brain homogenates from rats, 3xTg-AD mice and human samples. Homogenates were prepared in ice-cold RIPA buffer supplemented with protease/phosphatase inhibitors. Immediately after centrifugation, an aliquot of the extracts was analyzed via WB to quantify total and phosphorylated Tau levels. The remaining aliquots were stored for at least 2 weeks at either −20°C or −80°C and then subjected to WB. Extracts from rodent brains submitted to freeze-and-thaw presented a ~25 kDa fragment immunoreactive to anti-Tau antibodies. An in-gel digestion followed by mass spectrometry analysis in excised bands revealed this ~25 kDa species corresponds to a Tau fragment. Freeze-and-thaw-induced Tau proteolysis was detected even when extracts were stored at −80°C. This phenomenon was not observed in human samples at any storage condition tested. Based on these findings, we strongly recommend the use of fresh extracts of brain samples in molecular analysis of Tau levels in rodents.
Climate as a driver of adaptive variations in ecological strategies inArabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Vasseur François , Sartori Kevin , Baron Etienne , Fort Florian , Kazakou Elena , Segrestin Jules , Garnier Eric , Vile Denis , Violle Cyrille
Published: August 2018

Background and aims

The ‘CSR classification’ categorizes plant species between stress-tolerators, ruderals (R) and competitors (C). Initially proposed as a general framework to describe ecological strategies at the interspecific level, this scheme has recently been used to investigate the variation of strategies within species. For instance, ample variation along the S-R axis was found inArabidopsis thaliana, with stress-tolerator accessions predominating in hot and dry regions.

Methods

In this study, the range of CSR strategies withinA. thalianawas evaluated across 426 accessions originating from North Africa to Scandinavia. A position in the CSR strategy space was allocated for every accession based on three functional traits: leaf area, leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and specific leaf area (SLA). Results were related to climate at origin and compared to a previous study performed on the same species. Furthermore, the role of natural selection in phenotypic differentiation between lineages was investigated with Qst-Fstcomparisons, using the large genetic information available for this species.

Key results

Substantial variation in ecological strategies along the S-R axis was found inA. thaliana. By contrast with previous findings, stress-tolerator accessions predominated in cold climates, notably Scandinavia, where late flowering was associated with traits related to resource conservation such as high LDMC and low SLA. Because of trait plasticity, variations in CSR classification to growth conditions were also observed for the same genotypes.

Conclusions

There is a latitudinal gradient of ecological strategies inA. thalianaas a result of within-species adaptation to climate. Our study also underlines the importance of growth conditions and of the methodology used for trait measurement, notably age versus stage measurement, to infer the strength and direction of trait-environment relationships. Taken together, this highlights the potential and limitations of the CSR classification to explain functional adaptation to the environment.
TP53mutations and drug sensitivity in acute myeloid leukaemia cells with acquired MDM2 inhibitor resistance
Authors: Michaelis Martin , Schneider Constanze , Rothweiler Florian , Rothenburger Tamara , Mernberger Marco , Nist Andrea , Deimling Andreas von , Speidel Daniel , Stiewe Thorsten , Cinatl Jindrich
Published: August 2018

Background:

MDM2 inhibitors are under investigation for the treatment of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) patients in phase III clinical trials. To study resistance formation to MDM2 inhibitors in AML cells, we here established 45 sub-lines of the AMLTP53wild-type cell lines MV4-11 (15 sub-lines), OCI-AML-2 (10 sub-lines), OCI-AML-3 (12 sub-lines), and SIG-M5 (8 sub-lines) with resistance to the MDM2 inhibitor nutlin-3.

Methods: Nutlin-3-resistant sub-lines were established by continuous exposure to stepwise increasing drug concentrations. TheTP53status was determined by next generation sequencing, cell viability was measured by MTT assay, and p53 was depleted using lentiviral vectors encoding shRNA.

Results:

All MV4-11 sub-lines harboured the same R248W mutation and all OCI-AML-2 sub-lines the same Y220C mutation, indicating the selection of pre-existingTP53-mutant subpopulations. In concordance, rare alleles harbouring the respective mutations could be detected in the parental MV4-11 and OCI-AML-2 cell lines. The OCI-AML-3 and SIG-M5 sub-lines were characterised by varyingTP53mutations or wild typeTP53, indicating the induction ofde novo TP53mutations. Doxorubicin, etoposide, gemcitabine, cytarabine, and fludarabine resistance profiles revealed a noticeable heterogeneity among the sub-lines even of the same parental cell lines. Loss-of-p53 function was not generally associated with decreased sensitivity to cytotoxic drugs.

Conclusion:

We introduce a substantial set of models of acquired MDM2 inhibitor resistance in AML. MDM2 inhibitors select, in dependence on the nature of a given AML cell population, pre-existingTP53-mutant subpopulations or inducede novo TP53mutations. Although loss-of-p53 function has been associated with chemoresistance in AML, nutlin-3-adapted sub-lines displayed in the majority of experiments similar or increased drug sensitivity compared to the respective parental cells. Hence, chemotherapy may remain an option for AML patients after MDM2 inhibitor therapy failure. Even sub-lines of the same parental cancer cell line displayed considerable heterogeneity in their response to other anti-cancer drugs, indicating the need for the detailed understanding and monitoring of the evolutionary processes in cancer cell populations in response to therapy as part of future individualised treatment protocols.
Study of mitotic chromatin supports a model of bookmarking by histone modifications and reveals nucleosome deposition patterns
Authors: Javasky Elisheva , Shamir Inbal , Gandhi Shashi , Egri Shawn , Sandler Oded , Rothbart Scott B. , Kaplan Noam , Jaffe Jacob D. , Goren Alon , Simon Itamar
Published: August 2018

Mitosis encompasses key molecular changes including chromatin condensation, nuclear envelope breakdown, and reduced transcription levels. Immediately after mitosis, the interphase chromatin structure is reestablished and transcription resumes. The reestablishment of the interphase chromatin is probably achieved by “bookmarking,” i.e., the retention of at least partial information during mitosis. To gain a deeper understanding of the contribution of histone modifications to the mitotic bookmarking process, we merged proteomics, immunofluorescence, and ChIP-seq approaches. We focused on key histone modifications and employed HeLa-S3 cells as a model system. Generally, in spite of the general hypoacetylation observed during mitosis, we observed a global concordance between the genomic organization of histone modifications in interphase and mitosis, suggesting that the epigenomic landscape may serve as a component of the mitotic bookmarking process. Next, we investigated the nucleosome that enters nucleosome depleted regions (NDRs) during mitosis. We observed that in ∼60% of the NDRs, the entering nucleosome is distinct from the surrounding highly acetylated nucleosomes and appears to have either low levels of acetylation or high levels of phosphorylation in adjacent residues (since adjacent phosphorylation may interfere with the ability to detect acetylation). Inhibition of histone deacetylases (HDACs) by the small molecule TSA reverts this pattern, suggesting that these nucleosomes are specifically deacetylated during mitosis. Altogether, by merging multiple approaches, our study provides evidence to support a model where histone modifications may play a role in mitotic bookmarking and uncovers new insights into the deposition of nucleosomes during mitosis.
Debt financing decisions of SMEs in emerging markets: empirical evidence from Malaysia
Authors: Wasiuzzaman Shaista , Nurdin Nabila
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the various factors that influence a small and medium enterprise’s (SME) decision to apply for bank loans.

Design/methodology/approach

Data from survey responses of 145 SMEs from Selangor and the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur are used for this purpose. Exploratory factor analysis, logistic regression and SEM-PLS are used to analyze the data.

Findings

The findings from the survey show that an SME’s financial performance, its access to finance and its legal form play a significant positive role in its decision to apply for debt financing. Private limited SMEs that perform well and are able to access to various financing options are more likely to apply for financing. However, there is also evidence of a significant negative influence of credit history on the decision to apply for financing, as SMEs with a poor credit history are more likely to apply for financing. The age of an SME has weak influence while its size is found to be insignificant in influencing its decision to apply for financing.

Originality/value

The results imply the role of financial market imperfections such as adverse selection and information asymmetry in defining the SME’s demand for debt financing. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of the debt financing decisions of SMEs.
Aspiration, foreignness liability and market potential
Authors: Li Lee , Qian Gongming , Qian Zhengming , Lu Irene R.R.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Using behavioral theory of the firm, the purpose of this paper is to examine how a small firm’s performance relative to historical and social aspirations is related to its international entrepreneurial orientation (IEO). This study also explores two environmental factors, liability of foreignness (LoF) and host-country market potential (HMP), as the moderators for the relationship of performance and IEO.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses survey for data collection from Canadian small firms and employs regression models for data analysis.

Findings

The results show that small firms demonstrate stronger IEO when their performance is below aspirations, but their IEO diminishes when their performance exceeds aspirations. The authors also found that a small firm’s LoF does not moderate the impact of its performance feedback on IEO. However, the authors found HMP plays a moderating role when a small firm’s performance is below aspirations.

Originality/value

This study investigates the relationship of IEO to aspiration and found that this relationship is moderated by HMP. The study advances our knowledge on small firms’ international behavior.
Public relations education in an emerging democracy: the case of Ghana
Authors: Thompson Esi Eduwaa
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how lecturers in public relations (PR) in Ghana are preparing students to be effective practitioners. The study also aims to extend understanding of PR education to an emerging democracy in response to calls for examining how future practitioners are shaped in different contexts.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopted a qualitative open-ended key informant in-depth interview approach with 12 purposively sampled PR lectures in accredited higher education institutions in Ghana.

Findings

PR education in Ghana is shaped by the local socio-political and economic context and influenced by western approaches. The opportunity to teach PR at the diploma level (prior to a bachelor’s level) provides another layer of PR training. Extensive use of social media in Ghana suggests that more focus should be placed on teaching about the strategic use of these technologies in industry. In the face of real challenges, under-resourced lecturers find ways to appropriate and provide students with skills needed for industry.

Research limitations/implications

The use of a qualitative data gathering method suggests that this study should be considered an introduction into PR education in Ghana, which requires further investigation with generalizable samples.

Originality/value

This study profiles PR education in Ghana. It also responds to calls to examine the preparation of future practitioners in different context beyond the western world.
Wind tunnel testing of additive manufactured aircraft components
Authors: Teo Z.W. , New T.H. , Li Shiya , Pfeiffer T. , Nagel B. , Gollnick V.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to report on the physical distortions associated with the use of additive manufactured components for wind tunnel testing and procedures adopted to correct for them.

Design/methodology/approach

Wings of a joined-wing test aircraft configuration were fabricated with additive manufacturing and tested in a subsonic closed-loop wind tunnel. Wing deflections were observed during testing and quantified using image-processing procedures. These quantified deflections were then incorporated into numerical simulations and results had agreed with wind tunnel measurement results.

Findings

Additive manufacturing provides cost-effective wing components for wind tunnel test components with fast turn-around time. They can be used with confidence if the wing deflections could be accounted for systematically and accurately, especially at the region of aerodynamic stall.

Research limitations/implications

Significant wing flutter and unsteady deflections were encountered at higher test velocities and pitch angles. This reduced the accuracy in which the wing deflections could be corrected. Additionally, wing twists could not be quantified as effectively because of camera perspectives.

Originality/value

This paper shows that additive manufacturing can be used to fabricate aircraft test components with satisfactory strength and quantifiable deflections for wind tunnel testing, especially when the designs are significantly complex and thin.