bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seminal SIRT1 expression in infertile oligoasthenoteratozoospermic men with varicocoele
Authors: Mostafa T. , Nabil N. , Rashed L. , Makeen K. , El‐Kasas M. A. , Mohamaed H. A.
Published: January 2018

In a case‐controlled study, we assessed the expressed seminal NAD‐dependent protein deacetylase (SIRT1) expression in infertile oligoasthenoteratozoospermic (OAT) men associated with varicocoele. Our study involved 81 men, recruited from the University hospitals, after ethical approval and informed consent. They were allocated into fertile normozoospermic men (n = 23), infertile OAT men without varicocoele (n = 23) and infertile OAT men with varicocoele (n = 35). Inclusion criteria consisted of confirmation of abnormal semen parameters and normal female partners whereas exclusion criteria were leukocytospermia, tobacco smoking, hormonal therapy, immunological disorders, dyslipidemia, hypogonadism, cardiovascular disorders, morbid obesity, and hepatic or renal failures. All participants had an interview to assess clinical history, clinical examination, semen analysis, and estimation of seminal SIRT1 expression. Seminal SIRT1 expression was significantly lower in infertile OAT men than fertile men. Among infertile OAT men, seminal SIRT1 expression was significantly lower in those with varicocoele than in those without. Additionally, seminal SIRT1 expression was significantly lower in varicocoele grade III cases compared with other grades. Seminal SIRT1 expression was positively correlated with sperm concentration (r = 0.327, p = 0.001), total sperm motility (r = 0.532, p = 0.001), and sperm normal forms (r = 0.469, p = 0.001). Our results suggest that seminal SIRT1 expression has a role of male infertility being significantly decreased in infertile OAT men in general and in infertile OAT men associated with varicocoele in particular.
Predicting corticosteroid‐free endoscopic remission with vedolizumab in ulcerative colitis
Authors: Waljee A. K. , Liu B. , Sauder K. , Zhu J. , Govani S. M. , Stidham R. W. , Higgins P. D. R.
Published: January 2018

Background

Vedolizumab is an effective therapy for ulcerative colitis (UC), but costly and slow to work. New clinical responses occur after 30 weeks of therapy.

Aims

To enable physicians, patients, and insurers to predict whether a patient with UC will respond to vedolizumab at an early time point after starting therapy.

Methods

The clinical study data request website provided the phase 3 clinical trial data for vedolizumab. Random forest models were trained on 70% and tested on 30% of the data to predict corticosteroid‐free endoscopic remission at week 52. Models were constructed using baseline data, or data through week 6 of vedolizumab therapy from 491 subjects.

Results

The AuROC for prediction of corticosteroid‐free endoscopic remission at week 52 using baseline data was only 0.62 (95% CI: 0.53‐0.72), but was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.65‐0.82) when using data through week 6. A total of 47% of subjects were predicted to be remitters, and 59% of these subjects achieved corticosteroid‐free endoscopic remission, in contrast to 21% of the predicted non‐remitters. A week 6 prediction using FCP ≤234 μg/g was nearly as accurate.

Conclusions

A machine learning algorithm using laboratory data through week 6 of vedolizumab therapy was able to accurately identify which UC patients would achieve corticosteroid‐free endoscopic remission on vedolizumab at week 52. Application of this algorithm could have significant implications for clinical decisions on whom to continue on this costly medication when the benefits of the vedolizumab are not clinically apparent in the first 6 weeks of therapy.
Case of complete mesh migration into the stomach after mesh hiatoplasty for a hiatal hernia
Authors: Oguri Yohei , Cho Haruhiko , Yajima Kazuhito , Oohinata Ryouki , Iwasaki Yoshiaki
Published: January 2018

Mesh migration is a rare complication of surgery for a hiatal hernia. Here, we present the case of a 72‐year‐old who complained of dysphasia and bodyweight loss. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed incarcerated mesh in the lumen of the esophagogastric junction. Surgery was performed under both endoscopy and laparoscopy, and the mesh was successfully removed via gastrostomy. To the best of our knowledge, our case is the first in which mesh that had migrated into the esophagogastric junction was removed by a combination of laparoscopic and endoscopic procedure, although the cases of 17 patients in which mesh migrated into the stomach after mesh hiatoplasty have previously been reported in the literature.
Social dominance orientation moderates the effectiveness of mindset messages
Authors: Hoyt Crystal L. , B. Forsyth Rachel , Burnette Jeni L.
Published: January 2018

In this work, we examine whether differences in social dominance orientation (SDO) moderate the effectiveness of mindsets of intelligence messages. We suggest that SDO is a foundational ideological belief system, on which individuals vary, that maintains the desire to endorse fixed beliefs about the nature of human intelligence. Thus, attempts to change individuals’ mindsets should be met with resistance from those who strongly endorse the social dominance ideology – individuals high on SDO. In contrast, individuals low on SDO are less likely to use mindsets of intelligence to justify an ideological belief system, and thus, mindset manipulations should be effective for them. We test these predictions across three experimental studies (NStudy1 = 271, NStudy2 = 207, NStudy3 = 313). Across the studies, we find that individuals who are high, relative to low, on SDO have more fixed beliefs about the nature of intelligence and show smaller effects of manipulations of mindsets. However, when comparing to a control condition, there was no evidence that high‐SDO participants resisted the growth message that contradicts their ideology more than the fixed one that supports it; additionally, low‐SDO participants showed heightened responsiveness to a fixed message. We discuss implications for theoretical advances in our understanding of mindsets.
Acute ethanol exposure has bidirectional actions on the endogenous neuromodulator adenosine in rat hippocampus
Authors: Hughes Victoria , Richardson Magnus J E , Wall Mark J
Published: January 2018

Background and Purpose

Ethanol is a widely used recreational drug with complex effects on physiological and pathological brain function. In epileptic patients, the use of ethanol can modify seizure initiation and subsequent seizure activity with reports of ethanol being both pro‐ and anticonvulsant. One proposed target of ethanol's actions is the neuromodulator adenosine, which is released during epileptic seizures to feedback and inhibit the occurrence of subsequent seizures. Here, we investigated the actions of acute ethanol exposure on adenosine signalling in rat hippocampus.

Experimental Approach

We have combined electrophysiology with direct measurements of extracellular adenosine using microelectrode biosensors in rat hippocampal slices.

Key Results

We found that ethanol has bidirectional actions on adenosine signalling: depressant concentrations of ethanol (50 mM) increased the basal extracellular concentration of adenosine under baseline conditions, leading to the inhibition of synaptic transmission, but it inhibited adenosine release during evoked seizure activity in brain slices. The reduction in activity‐dependent adenosine release was in part produced by effects on NMDA receptors, although other mechanisms also appeared to be involved. Low concentrations of ethanol (10–15 mM) enhanced pathological network activity by selectively blocking activity‐dependent adenosine release.

Conclusions and Implications

The complex dose‐dependent actions of ethanol on adenosine signalling could in part explain the mixture of pro‐convulsant and anticonvulsant actions of ethanol that have previously been reported.
The Nature and Consequences of Essentialist Beliefs About Race in Early Childhood
Authors: Mandalaywala Tara M. , Ranger‐Murdock Gabrielle , Amodio David M. , Rhodes Marjorie
Published: January 2018

It is widely believed that race divides the world into biologically distinct kinds of people—an essentialist belief inconsistent with reality. Essentialist views of race have been described as early emerging, but this study found that young children (n = 203,Mage = 5.45) hold only the more limited belief that the physical feature of skin color is inherited and stable. Overall, children rejected the causal essentialist view that behavioral and psychological characteristics are constrained by an inherited racial essence. Although average levels of children's causal essentialist beliefs about race were low, variation in these beliefs was related to children's own group membership, exposure to diversity, as well as children's own social attitudes.
Clinical outcomes with distance‐dominant multifocal and monofocal intraocular lenses in post‐LASIK cataract surgery planned using an intraoperative aberrometer
Authors: Fisher Bret , Potvin Rick
Published: January 2018

Importance

Studies evaluating the clinical benefits of intraoperative aberrometry (IA) in cataract surgery are limited.

Background

The study was designed to determine whether IA improved clinical outcomes of post‐laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) cataract surgery with different intraocular lenses (IOLs) implanted.

Design

A retrospective chart review of clinical outcomes from one surgeon at one surgical centre was conducted. It included post‐LASIK cataract surgeries where IA was used for the confirmation of IOL power, with either a distant‐dominant multifocal IOL or a monofocal IOL implanted.

Participants

Records for 44 eyes of 31 patients were analysed.

Methods

Differences in visual acuity (VA) and refractions by lens type were compared, and the effects of IA were evaluated.

Main Outcome Measures

Uncorrected distance VA and the percentage of eyes with a spherical equivalent refraction within 0.5D of the intended correction were the primary outcome measures.

Results

There was no statistically significant difference in the percentage of eyes with uncorrected distance VA of 20/25 or better between IOL groups (P = 0.41). More eyes in the multifocal group had a refraction within 0.50D of intended (P = 0.03). In 39% of cases, the preoperative and IA power calculations suggested the same IOL power. When not equal, the IA results were not significantly more likely to be ‘best’ (P = 0.08).

Conclusions and Relevance

Results suggest that a history of previous LASIK is not a contraindication to use of distant‐dominant multifocal IOLs. IA did not appear to improve clinical outcomes in post‐LASIK eyes, although a positive trend was evident.
Incidence of retinal vein occlusion in open‐angle glaucoma: a nationwide, population‐based study using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Database
Authors: Na Kyeong Ik , Jeoung Jin Wook , Kim Young Kook , Lee Won June , Park Ki Ho
Published: January 2018

Importance

We determined the association between retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and open‐angle glaucoma (OAG) in a Korean population by reviewing a dataset obtained from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA).

Background

To compare the RVO incidence for OAG patients with that for the general population in order to determine the association between RVO and OAG.

Design

Nationwide population‐based retrospective study.

Participants

HIRA data for 2011 through 2015.

Methods

The HIRA data for 2011 through 2015 was analysed in order to determine the incidence rates of RVO in the general population and in OAG patients. The standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of RVO for OAG patients were determined with respect to the age‐ and gender‐matched general population.

Main Outcome Measures

SIRs of RVO.

Results

The RVO incidence rate for the general population during the 4‐year study period (2012–2015) was 74.16 per 100 000 person‐years (95% confidence interval [CI], 73.79–74.54). A total of 272 143 OAG patients were identified in 2011 as the population at risk. The RVO incidence rate for the OAG patients was 528.95 per 100 000 person‐years (95% CI, 515.46–542.79). The expected incidences of RVO in the OAG patients were 1760.66 during the 4‐year study period. On the other hand, the observed incidences of RVO were 5758. The SIR of RVO for OAG patients in reference to the general population was 3.27 (95% CI, 3.19–3.35).

Conclusions and Relevance

The RVO incidence rate for OAG patients is significantly higher than that for the general population.
Altered cortical activation and connectivity patterns for visual attention processing in young adults post‐traumatic brain injury: A functional near infrared spectroscopy study
Authors: Wu Ziyan , Mazzola Catherine A. , Catania Lori , Owoeye Oyindamola , Yaramothu Chang , Alvarez Tara , Gao Yu , Li Xiaobo
Published: January 2018

Aims

This study aimed at understanding the neurobiological mechanisms associated with inattention induced by traumatic brain injury (TBI). To eliminate the potential confounding caused by the heterogeneity of TBI, we focused on young adults postsports‐related concussion (SRC).

Methods

Functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) data were collected from 27 young adults post‐SRC and 27 group‐matched normal controls (NCs), while performing a visual sustained attention task. Task responsive cortical activation maps and pairwise functional connectivity among six regions of interest were constructed for each subject. Correlations among the brain imaging measures and clinical measures of attention were calculated in each group.

Results

Compared to the NCs, the SRC group showed significantly increased brain activation in left middle frontal gyrus (MFG) and increased functional connectivity between right inferior occipital cortex (IOC) bilateral calcarine gyri (CG). The left MFG activation magnitude was significantly negatively correlated with the hyperactive/impulsive symptom severity measure in the NCs, but not in the patients. The right hemisphere CG‐IOC functional connectivity showed a significant positive correlation with the hyperactive/impulsive symptom severity measure in patients, but not in NCs.

Conclusion

The current data suggest that abnormal left MFG activation and hyper‐communications between right IOC and bilateral CG during visual attention processing may significantly contribute to behavioral manifestations of attention deficits in patients with TBI.
Zero‐sum landscape effects on acorn predation associated with shifts in granivore insect community in new holm oak (Quercus ilex) forests
Authors: Ruiz‐Carbayo Helena , Bonal Raúl , Pino Joan , Espelta Josep Maria
Published: January 2018

Aim

Landscape attributes can determine plant–animal interactions via effects on the identity and abundance of the involved species. As most studies have been conducted in a context of habitat loss and fragmentation, we know very little about interaction assembly in new habitats from a landscape approach. This study aimed to test the effect of forest age and connectivity on acorn predation by a guild of predator insects differing in dispersal ability and resilience mechanisms: two weevils (Curculio elephas and C. glandium) and one moth (Cydia fagiglandana) in expanding Quercus ilex forests.

Location

Barcelona, Spain.

Methods

We assessed the proportion of infested acorns and identified the predator at the species level in five patches of connected old forests, connected new forests and isolated new forests. Effects of habitat age and connectivity at three scales (tree, patch and landscape) were analysed using generalized linear mixed‐effects models.

Results

Predation by weevils was positively associated with old connected forests, while moths, with better dispersal ability, were able to predate upon all patches equally. Moreover, C. elephas, the weevil with lower dispersal ability, exhibited colonization credits in the new isolated patches. In spite of these changes in the guild of seed predators, the proportion of infested acorns was non‐significantly different among forests.

Main conclusions

The guild of seed predators may vary depending on forest age and connectivity. However, because those with higher dispersal ability may replace less mobile species, this resulted in zero‐sum effects of landscape attributes on acorn predation (i.e., similar predation rates in well‐connected old forests vs. isolated new forests).
Gradients of disturbance and environmental conditions shape coral community structure for south‐eastern Indian Ocean reefs
Authors: Zinke Jens , Gilmour James P. , Fisher Rebecca , Puotinen Marji , Maina Joseph , Darling Emily , Stat Michael , Richards Zoe T. , McClanahan Timothy R. , Beger Maria , Moore Cordelia , Graham Nicholas A. J. , Feng Ming , Hobbs Jean‐Paul A. , Evans Scott N. , Field Stuart , Shedrawi George , Babcock Russ C. , Wilson Shaun K.
Published: January 2018

Aim

To describe, model and assess the relative importance of environmental and climatic factors likely influencing the regional distribution of coral cover and assemblages with contrasting life histories and susceptibilities to bleaching.

Location

We compiled the first comprehensive empirical dataset for coral communities in the south‐eastern Indian Ocean (SEIO), incorporating information from 392 sites along the western coast of Australia and offshore atolls/islands across ~19° of latitude.

Methods

We assessed hard coral cover and community composition to genus using point‐intercept transects or point‐count analysis of digital images taken along transects. We explored spatial variation in environmental conditions and in composition of corals with contrasting life histories. After de‐trending the temporal patterns, we assessed the relative importance of environmental metrics to coral cover, life histories and bleaching susceptibility using a full subsets model‐selection approach with generalized additive mixed models, accounting for both temporal and among site variation.

Results

The distribution of temperature, light, the frequency of temperature anomalies and tropical cyclones appear to be drivers of coral community structure. Functional diversity of low‐ to mid‐latitude coral communities may convey some resilience to thermal stress, while higher latitude communities dominated by Competitive and Bleaching‐Susceptible taxa may lack this functional resilience. These patterns likely reflect varying historical exposure to cyclones and temperature anomalies.

Main conclusions

As evident in recent years, changing background conditions and regimes of disturbance in coming decades will shift the distribution, functional diversity and resilience of coral reefs throughout the SEIO. The rate and magnitude of environmental change will ultimately determine the future of the tropical reefs and whether the higher latitude reefs provide some refuge from climate change. Our study highlights the need to quantify the distributional properties of key environmental metrics to better understand and predict reef condition through coming decades.
Advanced endoscopic imaging for diagnosis of inflammatory bowel diseases: Present and future perspectives
Authors: Sivanathan Visvakanth , Tontini Gian Eugenio , Möhler Markus , Galle Peter R. , Neumann Helmut
Published: January 2018

Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) causing severe damage of the luminal gastrointestinal tract. Differential diagnosis between both disease entities is sometimes awkward requiring a multifactorial pathway, including clinical and laboratory data, radiological findings, histopathology and endoscopy. Apart from disease diagnosis, endoscopy in IBD plays a major role in prediction of disease severity and extent (i.e. mucosal healing) for tailored patient management and for screening of colitis‐associated cancer and its precursor lesions. In this state‐of‐the‐art review, we focus on current applications of endoscopy for diagnosis and surveillance of IBD. Moreover, we will discuss the latest guidelines on surveillance and provide an overview of the most recent developments in the field of endoscopic imaging and IBD.
Integrated anatomical and physiological mapping of striatal afferent projections
Authors: Choi Kyuhyun , Holly Elizabeth N. , Davatolhagh M. Felicia , Beier Kevin T. , Fuccillo Marc V.
Published: January 2018

The dorsomedial striatum, a key site of reward‐sensitive motor output, receives extensive afferent input from cortex, thalamus and midbrain. These projections are integrated by striatal microcircuits containing both spiny projection neurons and local circuit interneurons. To explore target cell specificity of these projections, we compared inputs onto D1‐dopamine receptor‐positive spiny neurons, parvalbumin‐positive fast‐spiking interneurons and somatostatin‐positive low‐threshold‐spiking interneurons, using cell type‐specific rabies virus tracing and optogenetic‐mediated projection neuron recruitment in mice. While the relative proportion of retrogradely labelled projection neurons was similar between target cell types, the convergence of inputs was systematically higher for projections onto fast‐spiking interneurons. Rabies virus is frequently used to assess cell‐specific anatomical connectivity but it is unclear how this correlates to synaptic connectivity and efficacy. To test this, we compared tracing data with target cell‐specific measures of synaptic efficacy for anterior cingulate cortex and parafascicular thalamic projections using novel quantitative optogenetic measures. We found that target‐specific patterns of convergence were extensively modified according to region of projection neuron origin and postsynaptic cell type. Furthermore, we observed significant divergence between cell type‐specific anatomical connectivity and measures of excitatory synaptic strength, particularly for low‐threshold‐spiking interneurons. Taken together, this suggests a basic uniform connectivity map for striatal afferent inputs upon which presynaptic–postsynaptic interactions impose substantial diversity of physiological connectivity.
Behavioural and neural sequelae of stressor exposure are not modulated by controllability in females
Authors: Baratta Michael V. , Leslie Nathan R. , Fallon Isabella P. , Dolzani Samuel D. , Chun Lauren E. , Tamalunas Andrew M. , Watkins Linda R. , Maier Steven F.
Published: January 2018

The degree of behavioural control that an organism has over a stressor is a potent modulator of the stressor's impact; controllable stressors produce none of the neurochemical and behavioural sequelae that occur if the stressor is uncontrollable. Research demonstrating the importance of control and the neural mechanisms responsible has been conducted almost entirely with male rats. It is unknown if behavioural control is stress blunting in females, and whether or not a similar resilience circuitry is engaged. Female rats were exposed to controllable, yoked uncontrollable or no tailshock. In separate experiments, behavioural (juvenile social exploration, fear and shuttle box escape) and neurochemical (activation of dorsal raphe serotonin and dorsal raphe‐projecting prelimbic neurons) outcomes, which are sensitive to the dimension of control in males, were assessed. Despite successful acquisition of the controlling response, behavioural control did not mitigate dorsal raphe serotonergic activation and behavioural outcomes induced by tailshock, as it does in males. Moreover, behavioural control failed to selectively engage prelimbic cells that project to the dorsal raphe as in males. Pharmacological activation of the prelimbic cortex restored the stress‐buffering effects of control. Collectively, the data demonstrate stressor controllability phenomena are absent in females and that the protective prelimbic circuitry is present but not engaged. Reduced benefit from coping responses may represent a novel approach for understanding differential sex prevalence in stress‐related psychiatric disorders.
Nestin expression and in vivo proliferative potential of tanycytes and ependymal cells lining the walls of the third ventricle in the adult rat brain
Authors: Hendrickson Michael L. , Zutshi Ipshita , Wield Alyssa , Kalil Ronald E.
Published: January 2018

There is a disagreement in the literature concerning the degree of proliferation of cells in the walls of the third ventricle (3rdV) under normal conditions in the adult mammalian brain. To address this issue, we mapped the cells expressing the neural stem/progenitor cell marker nestin along the entire rostrocaudal extent of the 3rdV in adult male rats and observed a complex distribution. Abundant nestin was present in tanycyte cell bodies and processes and also was observed in patches of ependymal cells as well as in isolated ependymal cells throughout the walls of the 3rdV. However, we observed very limited ependymal cell or tanycyte proliferation in normal adult rats as determined by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation or the expression of Ki‐67. Moreover, fewer than 13% of the cells that were BrdU‐positive (BrdU+) or Ki‐67‐positive (Ki‐67+) expressed nestin. These observations stand in contrast to those made in the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricle (SVZ) and subgranular zone of the hippocampal formation (SGZ), where cell proliferation measured by BrdU incorporation or Ki‐67 expression is observed frequently in cells that also express nestin. Thus, while ependymal cell or tanycyte cell proliferation can be promoted by the addition of mitogens, dietary modifications or other in vivo manipulations, the proliferation of ependymal cells and tanycytes in the walls of the 3rdV is very limited in the normal adult male rat brain.
Liver function and dysfunction – a unique window into the physiological reach of ER stress and the unfolded protein response
Authors: Rutkowski D. Thomas
Published: January 2018

The unfolded protein response (UPR) improves endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein folding in order to alleviate stress. Yet it is becoming increasingly clear that the UPR regulates processes well beyond those directly involved in protein folding, in some cases by mechanisms that fall outside the realm of canonical UPR signaling. These pathways are highly specific from one cell type to another, implying that ER stress signaling affects each tissue in a unique way. Perhaps nowhere is this more evident than in the liver, which—beyond being a highly secretory tissue—is a key regulator of peripheral metabolism and a uniquely proliferative organ upon damage. The liver provides a powerful model system for exploring how and why the UPR extends its reach into physiological processes that occur outside the ER, and how ER stress contributes to the many systemic diseases that involve liver dysfunction. This review will highlight the ways in which the study of ER stress in the liver has expanded the view of the UPR to a response that is a key guardian of cellular homeostasis outside of just the narrow realm of ER protein folding.
At the crossway of ER‐stress and proinflammatory responses
Authors: Reverendo Marisa , Mendes Andreia , Argüello Rafael J. , Gatti Evelina , Pierre Philippe
Published: January 2018

Immune cells detect specific microbes or damage to tissue integrity in order to initiate efficient immune responses. Abnormal accumulation of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) can be seen as a sign of cellular malfunction and stress that triggers a collection of conserved emergency rescue programs. These different signaling cascades, which favor ER proteostasis and promote cell survival, are collectively known as the unfolded protein response (UPR). In recent years, a synergy between the UPR and inflammatory cytokine production has been unraveled, with different branches of the UPR entering in a cross‐talk with specialized microbe sensing pathways, which turns on or amplify inflammatory cytokines production. Complementary to this synergetic activity, UPR induction alone, can itself be seen as a danger signal, and triggers directly or indirectly inflammation in different cellular and pathological models, this independently of the presence of pathogens. Here, we discuss recent advances on the nature of these cross‐talks and how innate immunity, metabolism dysregulation, and ER‐signaling pathways intersect in specialized immune cells, such as dendritic cells (DCs), and contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases.
Dialysis disequilibrium syndrome leading to sudden brain death in a chronic hemodialysis patient
Authors: Dalia Tarun , Tuffaha Ahmad M.
Published: January 2018

Dialysis disequilibrium syndrome (DDS) is a rare central nervous system (CNS) disease which develops in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD). Although it has been reported in patients receiving chronic HD, DDS is more common during or immediately after the first HD treatment. The exact incidence of DDS is unknown. Death in DDS is an extremely rare phenomenon and to the best of our knowledge only 9 cases have been reported showing this association. We present a unique case of a 42‐year‐old female on chronic HD, and no prior history of CNS disease, who developed brain death in the setting of DDS 2 hours into the dialysis treatment. A literature review of all previously reported cases was performed.
Proposed diagnostic criteria for acute‐on‐chronic liver failure in Japan
Authors: Mochida Satoshi , Nakayama Nobuaki , Ido Akio , Inoue Kazuaki , Genda Takuya , Takikawa Yasuhiro , Sakaida Isao , Terai Shuji , Yokosuka Osamu , Shimizu Masahito , Takikawa Hajime
Published: January 2018

To establish diagnostic criteria for acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF) in Japan, the Intractable Hepato‐Biliary Disease Study Group of Japan undertook a multicenter pilot survey for patients fulfilling the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL), Association for the Study of the Liver–Chronic Liver Failure (EASL‐Clif) Consortium, or Chinese Medical Association (CMA) diagnostic criteria for ACLF. The APASL criteria were suitable for screening Japanese patients with ACLF when patients whose conditions were triggered by gastrointestinal bleeding were included within the disease entity, and the EASL‐Clif Consortium criteria were useful for classifying the severity of the patients’ conditions. Based on these observations, the Study Group proposed the following diagnostic criteria for ACLF in Japan: patients with cirrhosis and a Child–Pugh score of 5–9 should be diagnosed as having ACLF when a deterioration of liver function (serum bilirubin level ≥5.0 mg/dL and prothrombin time value ≤40% of the standardized values and/or international normalization rate ≥1.5) caused by severe liver damage develops within 28 days after acute insults, such as alcohol abuse, bacterial infection, gastrointestinal bleeding, or the exacerbation of underlying liver diseases. The severities of the patients can be classified into four grades depending on the extent of the deterioration in organ functions, including kidney, cerebral, blood coagulation, circulatory and respiratory functions, as well as liver function. The usefulness of these novel criteria should be validated prospectively in a large‐scale cohort in the future.
Utility of Pathology Imagebase for standardisation of prostate cancer grading
Authors: Egevad Lars , Delahunt Brett , Berney Daniel M , Bostwick David G , Cheville John , Comperat Eva , Evans Andrew J , Fine Samson W , Grignon David J , Humphrey Peter A , Hörnblad Jonas , Iczkowski Kenneth A , Kench James G , Kristiansen Glen , Leite Katia R M , Magi‐Galluzzi Cristina , McKenney Jesse K , Oxley Jon , Pan Chin‐Chen , Samaratunga Hemamali , Srigley John R , Takahashi Hiroyuki , True Lawrence D , Tsuzuki Toyonori , van der Kwast Theo , Varma Murali , Zhou Ming , Clements Mark
Published: January 2018

Aims

Despite efforts to standardise grading of prostate cancer, even among experts there is still a considerable variation in grading practices. In this study we describe the use of Pathology Imagebase, a novel reference image library, for setting an international standard in prostate cancer grading.

Methods and results

The International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) recently launched a reference image database supervised by experts. A panel of 24 international experts in prostate pathology reviewed independently microphotographs of 90 cases of prostate needle biopsies with cancer. A linear weighted kappa of 0.67 (95% confidence interval = 0.62–0.72) and consensus was reached in 50 cases. The interobserver weighted kappa varied from 0.48 to 0.89. The highest level of agreement was seen for Gleason score (GS) 3 + 3 = 6 (ISUP grade 1), while higher grades and particularly GS 4 + 3 = 7 (ISUP grade 3) showed considerable disagreement. Once a two‐thirds majority was reached, images were moved automatically into a public database available for all ISUP members at www.isupweb.org. Non‐members are able to access a limited number of cases.

Conclusions

It is anticipated that the database will assist pathologists to calibrate their grading and, hence, decrease interobserver variability. It will also help to identify instances where definitions of grades need to be clarified.
Decomposition of systematic and total risk variations in emerging markets
Authors: Lee Meng‐Horng , Hooy Chee‐Wooi , Brooks Robert
Published: January 2018

This paper examines the country‐versus‐industry debate in international diversification in the context of systematic risk. We employ the popular decomposition approach proposed by Heston and Rouwenhorst and cover 2,045 individual firms from 36 emerging countries across 39 industries. Generally, we find a domination of country factors in the sample period of 1990–2012, particularly after the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, which implies that country‐based diversification is still superior to industry‐based diversification in emerging markets. In addition, we document high variability of the common factor coupled with a diminishing trend of country and industry factors, which limits the desired risk reduction from diversification in emerging markets. A convergence between systematic and total risk is found beginning in 2007, which coincides with the timing of the Global Financial Crisis.
The moderating effect of social support on the relationship between physical health and suicidal thoughts among Chinese rural elderly: A nursing home sample
Authors: Zhang Dan , Yang Yang , Wu Menglian , Zhao Xia , Sun Yaoyao , Xie Hui , Li Hongkai , Li Yuqin , Wang Kefang , Zhang Jie , Jia Jihui , Su Yonggang
Published: January 2018

Suicide rate is relatively high among Chinese rural elderly. While there has been some exciting work on reporting and preventing suicide among community‐dwelling elderly, only a few published studies have addressed the issues of rural nursing homes in China. This study aimed to investigate the relationship among perceived social support, physical health, and suicidal thoughts of the elderly living in Chinese rural nursing homes. It also examined the moderating effects of social support on the path from physical health to suicidal thoughts of the rural institutional elderly in China. This study investigated 205 participants aged 60 years and above in Chinese rural nursing homes. Participants’ suicidal thoughts, perceived social support, and physical health were assessed. This study conducted descriptive analysis, Student's t‐test, and Pearson's chi‐square test to test how physical health and social support predicted suicidal thoughts, as well as the moderating effects of family's, friends’, and others’ social support on physical health and suicidal thoughts. Both physical health and perceived social support were significantly related to suicidal thoughts. Perceived social support from family, friends, and significant others moderated the relationship between physical health and suicidal thoughts. Findings of this study suggested that increasing social support and improving physical health would be effective in both suicide prevention and intervention for the residents in Chinese rural nursing homes.
An Exact Test of the Improvement of the Minimum Variance Portfolio
Authors: Glabadanidis Paskalis
Published: January 2018

I propose an exact finite sample test of the risk reduction of the global minimum variance (GMV) portfolio. The GMV test statistic is proportional to the reduction in the variance of the GMV portfolio and has a straightforward geometric and portfolio interpretation and complements the celebrated GRS test in Gibbons et al. (1989). In practical applications, the GMV test leads to a rejection of the null hypothesis of no improvement in the GMV portfolio more often than the GRS test rejects the null hypothesis of no improvement in the risk‐return profile of the tangent portfolio. The power of the GMV test increases with the variance reduction of the GMV portfolio. Using test asset returns scaled by predetermined predictive variables is equivalent to increasing the overall number of test assets and leads to substantial power gains.
Fama–French in China: Size and Value Factors in Chinese Stock Returns
Authors: Hu Grace Xing , Chen Can , Shao Yuan , Wang Jiang
Published: January 2018

We investigate the size and value factors in the cross‐section of returns for the Chinese stock market. We find a significant size effect but no robust value effect. A zero‐cost small‐minus‐big (SMB) portfolio earns an average premium of 0.61% per month, which is statistically significant with a t‐value of 2.89 and economically important. In contrast, neither the market portfolio nor the zero‐cost high‐minus‐low (HML) portfolio has average premiums that are statistically different from zero. In both time‐series regressions and Fama–MacBeth cross‐sectional tests, SMB represents the strongest factor in explaining the cross‐section of Chinese stock returns. Our results contradict several existing studies which document a value effect. We show that this difference comes from the extreme values in a few months in the early years of the market with a small number of stocks and high volatility. Their impact becomes insignificant with a longer sample and proper volatility adjustment.
Boom‐Baby CEOs, Career Experience, and Risk Taking: A Natural Experiment Using Chinese CEOs’ Growth Paths
Authors: Hao Ying , Wang Shaofei , Chou Robin K. , Ko Kuan‐Cheng
Published: January 2018

China's economy represents a unique experimental environment, in that it has undergone a successful transformation from a planned to a more open system. Leveraging this natural experimental setting, this study examines the impacts of CEOs’ formative experiences on their risk‐taking behavior. Two events likely constitute formative experiences for CEOs: economic reforms that commenced in 1978 and their prior career experiences. In turn, CEOs’ risk tolerance attitudes likely reflect the influences of these significant events. The results show that CEOs who experienced economic reforms in their early adult life exhibit higher risk‐taking likelihood and greater risk tolerance than those who grew up during the planned economy era. Furthermore, firm performance achieved by CEOs’ risk taking is significantly better when CEOs originally started working in and then remained within business sectors.
The impact of globalisation on child soldiering: challenges and opportunities in the context of the Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Kiyala Jean Chrysostome K.
Published: January 2018

The impact of globalisation, the perception of the world as a global village, is discernible in the rapid spread of ideologies, the regionalisation of violent conflicts and inter‐state hostilities, the proliferation and availability of light weapons, and the illicit trade of minerals that helps finance armed groups, militias and proxies of foreign powers staging military campaigns against established governments. It is within this changing environment that children are recruited and used as soldiers. Despite a major threat posed by globalisation to children's security, this article argues that international efforts have emerged to provide an ongoing response to the deviant use of child soldiers. This is based on both international jurisprudence pertaining to children's rights, and advocacy by transnational non‐governmental organisations to stop all recruitment, exploitation and use of children in hostilities. The kadogo children associated with armed groups and forces in the Democratic Republic of Congo are used as a case study that depicts both the challenges and opportunities of globalisation for the contemporary child soldiering phenomenon.
Amorphous Ge‐Sb‐Se thin films fabricated by co‐sputtering: Properties and photosensitivity
Authors: Halenkovič Tomáš , Gutwirth Jan , Němec Petr , Baudet Emeline , Specht Marion , Gueguen Yann , Sangleboeuf Jean‐Christophe , Nazabal Virginie
Published: January 2018

Amorphous Ge–Sb–Se thin films were fabricated by a rf‐magnetron co‐sputtering technique employing the following cathodes: GeSe2, Sb2Se3, and Ge28Sb12Se60. The influence of the composition, determined by energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, on the optical properties was studied. Optical properties were analyzed based on variable angle spectroscopic ellipsometry and UV‐Vis‐NIR spectrophotometry. The results show that the optical bandgap range 1.35‐2.08 eV with corresponding refractive index ranging from 3.33 to 2.36 can be reliably covered. Furthermore, morphological and topographical properties of selenide‐sputtered films studied by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy showed a good quality of fabricated films. In addition, structure of the films was controlled using Raman scattering spectroscopy. Finally, irreversible photoinduced changes by means of change in optical bandgap energy and refractive index of co‐sputtered films were studied revealing the photobleaching effect in Ge‐rich films when irradiated by near‐bandgap light under Ar atmosphere. The photobleaching effect tends to decrease with increasing antimony content.
Synergetic enhancement of mechanical and electrical properties in Ce0.8Sm0.1Nd0.1O2−δ/La10Si6O27 composite electrolytes
Authors: Yuan Yajie , Li Tianjun , Nishijima Hiroki , Pan Wei , Gong Jianghong , Wang Kai , Wang Min , Zhang Mengfei , Zhao Xiaohui
Published: January 2018

It has been demonstrated that the samarium and neodymium codoped ceria (Ce0.8Sm0.1Nd0.1O2−δ abbreviated SNDC) shows high ionic conductivity at intermediate operating temperature (0.012 S/cm at 500°C. However, the poor mechanical properties limited its applications in solid fuel cells and oxygen sensors. Present research reports an approach to improve the mechanical properties of SNDC by adding another kind of oxide solid electrolyte, the apatite‐type lanthanum silicate (La10Si6O27 abbreviated LSO). The SNDC/LSO composites were prepared by mixing the powders with different proportion, and sintered at 1600°C. Their structure, morphology, mechanical, and electrical properties were characterized. It was found that with the 5wt%‐7wt% LSO addition, both the flexural strength and the fracture toughness were improved. The improvement of flexural strength for the SNDC reached as high as 71%. It is also seen that the ionic conductivity of SNDC was enhanced with the adding of 5wt% LSO. The enhanced mechanical properties and electrical conductivity of SNDC/LSO composites make them a promising candidates for high‐performance SOFCs and oxygen sensors.
Concentration of filaggrin monomers, its metabolites and corneocyte surface texture in individuals with a history of atopic dermatitis and controls
Authors: Engebretsen K.A. , Bandier J. , Kezic S. , Riethmüller C. , Heegaard N.H.H. , Carlsen B.C. , Linneberg A. , Johansen J.D. , Thyssen J.P.
Published: January 2018

Background

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is characterized by skin barrier dysfunction. Notably, a high number of nano‐scale protrusions on the surface of corneocytes, which can be expressed by the Dermal Texture Index (DTI), were recently associated with paediatric AD, loss‐of‐function mutations in filaggrin gene (FLG) and reduced levels of natural moisturizing factors (NMF). No study has so far examined the association between these parameters and monomeric filaggrin levels in adults.

Objective

To determine DTI, monomeric filaggrin and NMF in healthy controls and a group of patients with controlled dermatitis.

Methods

A total of 67 adults (20 healthy controls and 47 dermatitis patients) were included. In the patient population, a personal history of AD was diagnosed by the U.K. Working Party's Diagnostic Criteria. All participants were tested for FLG mutations (R501X, 2282del4, R2447X). Transepidermal water loss, monomeric filaggrin, DTI and NMF were measured.

Results

In the patient population, 78.7% (37/47) had a history of AD and 59.5% (28/47) had FLG mutations. Patients had significantly higher levels of DTI and significantly lower levels of monomeric filaggrin and NMF compared to the 20 healthy controls. Among patients, reduced level of monomeric filaggrin and NMF correlated with the presence of FLG mutations and clinical phenotypes such as xerosis, palmar hyperlinearity and AD. Among healthy controls, DTI was significantly higher in the oldest age group compared to the two younger age groups.

Conclusion

A significant difference in DTI, monomeric filaggrin and NMF levels was found when comparing dermatitis patients with healthy controls. These findings suggest that even mild dermatitis or non‐visible inflammation has a significant and negative effect on the skin barrier as inflammation is known to reduce filaggrin levels. DTI was significantly increased in aged individuals in the healthy control group, suggesting a gradual change in corneocyte morphology with age.
Evaluating Environmental Performance of Industrial Park Development: The Case of Shenyang
Authors: Dong Huijuan , Liu Zuoxi , Geng Yong , Fujita Tsuyoshi , Fujii Minoru , Sun Lu , Zhang Liming
Published: January 2018

In order to improve the overall sustainability of industrial parks, it is necessary to understand the development characteristics of industrial parks so that appropriate management measures can be raised. Under such a circumstance, this study analyzes the changes in the environmental performance of Shenyang Economic and Technology Development Zone (SETDZ) in terms of emergy‐based indicators and explores underlying driving forces using decomposition analysis methods. The results show that in the industrial recruitment stage (2001–2006), the total emergy increased rapidly and the sustainability level decreased significantly because of the exploitation of local resources with the expansion of industrial scale. After entering the industrial cluster and upgrading stage (2007–2010), the total emergy increased even faster, while the environmental performance did not decrease too much because of the improved resource efficiency and improved technological progress. The implementation of industrial symbiosis (IS) (2011–2013) could have further effectively reduced the total emergy consumption and improved the environmental performance, but current symbiosis efforts were not sufficient and need to be further promoted. Gross regional product and area of the industrial park were the most important driving factors to the total emergy for all the development stages. In terms of emergy sustainability, renewable emergy ratio (R1/U) was one key impact factor. Therefore, how to improve the ratio of renewable resources and enhance IS scopes will be the key strategies for its sustainable development.