bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kernel multitask regression for toxicogenetics
Authors: Bernard Elsa , Jiao Yunlong , Scornet Erwan , Stoven Veronique , Walter Thomas , Vert Jean-Philippe
Published: August 2017

The development of high-throughputin vitroassays to study quantitatively the toxicity of chemical compounds on genetically characterized human-derived cell lines paves the way topredictive toxicogenetics, where one would be able to predict the toxicity of any particular compound on any particular individual. In this paper we present a machine learning-based approach for that purpose, kernel multitask regression (KMR), which combines chemical characterizations of molecular compounds with genetic and transcriptomic characterizations of cell lines to predict the toxicity of a given compound on a given cell line. We demonstrate the relevance of the method on the recent DREAM8 Toxicogenetics challenge, where it ranked among the best state-of-the-art models, and discuss the importance of choosing good descriptors for cell lines and chemicals.
Learning causal biological networks with the principle of Mendelian randomization
Authors: Badsha Md. Bahadur , Qiuyan Fu Audrey
Published: August 2017

Although large amounts of genomic data are available, it remains a challenge to reliably infer causal (i.e., regulatory) relationships among molecular phenotypes (such as gene expression), especially when many phenotypes are involved. We extend the interpretation of the Principle of Mendelian randomization (PMR) and present MRPC, a novel machine learning algorithm that incorporates the PMR in classical algorithms for learning causal graphs in computer science. MRPC learns a causal biological network efficiently and robustly from integrating genotype and molecular phenotype data, in which directed edges indicate causal directions. We demonstrate through simulation that MRPC outperforms existing general-purpose network inference methods and other PMR-based methods. We apply MRPC to distinguish direct and indirect targets among multiple genes associated with expression quantitative trait loci.
Generalization guides human exploration in vast decision spaces
Authors: Wu Charley M. , Schulz Eric , Speekenbrink Maarten , Nelson Jonathan D. , Meder Bjöorn
Published: August 2017

From foraging for food to learning complex games, many aspects of human behaviour can be framed as a search problem with a vast space of possible actions. Under finite search horizons, optimal solutions are generally unobtainable. Yet how do humans navigate vast problem spaces, which require intelligent exploration of unobserved actions? Using a variety of bandit tasks with up to 121 arms, we study how humans search for rewards under limited search horizons, where the spatial correlation of rewards (in both generated and natural environments) provides traction for generalization. Across a variety of diifferent probabilistic and heuristic models, we find evidence that Gaussian Process function learning—combined with an optimistic Upper Confidence Bound sampling strategy—provides a robust account of how people use generalization to guide search. Our modelling results and parameter estimates are recoverable, and can be used to simulate human-like performance, providing insights about human behaviour in complex environments.
Development of subcortical volumes across adolescence in males and females: A multisample study of longitudinal changes
Authors: Herting Megan M. , Johnson Cory , Mills Kathryn L. , Vijayakumar Nandita , Dennison Meg , Liu Chang , Goddings Anne-Lise , Dahl Ronald E. , Sowell Elizabeth R. , Whittle Sarah , Allen Nicholas B. , Tamnes Christian K.
Published: August 2017

The developmental patterns of subcortical brain volumes in males and females observed in previous studies have been inconsistent. To help resolve these discrepancies, we examined developmental trajectories using three independent longitudinal samples of participants in the age-span of 8-22 years (total 216 participants and 467 scans). These datasets, including Pittsburgh (PIT; University of Pittsburgh, USA), NeuroCognitive Development (NCD; University of Oslo, Norway), and Orygen Adolescent Development Study (OADS; The University of Melbourne, Australia), span three countries and were analyzed together and in parallel using mixed-effects modeling with both generalized additive models and general linear models. For all regions and across all samples, males were found to have significantly larger volumes as compared to females, and significant sex differences were seen in age trajectories over time. However, direct comparison of sample trajectories and sex differences identified within samples were not consistent. The trajectories for the amygdala, putamen, and nucleus accumbens were most consistent between the three samples. Our results suggest that even after using similar preprocessing and analytic techniques, additional factors, such as image acquisition or sample composition may contribute to some of the discrepancies in sex specific patterns in subcortical brain changes across adolescence, and highlight region-specific variations in congruency of developmental trajectories.
OptoGap: an optogenetics-enabled assay for quantification of cell-cell coupling in multicellular cardiac tissue
Authors: Yu Jinzhu , Boyle Patrick M. , Klimas Aleksandra , Williams John C. , Trayanova Natalia , Entcheva Emilia
Published: August 2017

Intercellular electrical coupling is an essential means of communication between cells. It is important to obtain quantitative knowledge of such coupling between cardiomyocytes and nonexcitable cells when, for example, pathological electrical coupling between myofibroblasts and cardiomyocytes yields increased arrhythmia risk or during the integration of donor (e.g. cardiac progenitor) cells with native cardiomyocytes in cell-therapy approaches. Currently, there is no direct method for assessing heterocellular coupling within multicellular tissue. Here we demonstrate experimentally and computationally a new contactless assay for electrical coupling, OptoGap, based on selective illumination of inexcitable cells that express optogenetic actuators and optical sensing of the response of coupled excitable cells, e.g. cardiomyocytes, that are light-insensitive. Cell-cell coupling is quantified by the energy required to elicit an action potential via junctional current from the light-stimulated cell(s). The proposed technique is experimentally validated against the standard indirect approach, GapFRAP, using light-sensitive cardiac fibroblasts and non-transformed cardiomyocytes in a two-dimensional setting. It’s potential applicability to the complex three-dimensional setting of the native heart is corroborated by computational modeling and proper calibration.

Intercellular coupling is a fundamental form of communication between cells, essential for the synchronization of physiological processes in different organs. Pathologically altered coupling or the emergence ofde novocoupling between native and donor cells are problems of interest in many cardiac applications, e.g. during cell delivery and cell integration for cardiac repair therapy1,2. In particular, interactions between cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts are of interest, especially the pro-arrhythmic increase in coupling as the latter transition to myofibroblasts3-6.

Electrical coupling in cardiac tissue is mediated primarily by low-resistance paths formed by gap-junctional proteins (connexins), that can link cardiomyocytes (CMs) to each other and to non-cardiomyocytes (nCMs), such as fibroblasts. Qualitative and quantitative methods, e.g. immunofluorescence, messenger RNA and Western blots, are often used to assay connexin expression levels as a surrogate measure of coupling, but they do not provide functional information. A method for direct quantification of cell-cell coupling within the multicellular tissue context is highly desirable.
Unexpected variation across mitochondrial gene trees and evidence for systematic error: How much gene tree variation is biological?
Authors: Richards Emilie J. , Brown Jeremy M. , Barley Anthony J. , Chong Rebecca A. , Thomson Robert C.
Published: August 2017

The use of large genomic datasets in phylogenetics has highlighted extensive topological variation across genes. Much of this discordance is assumed to result from biological processes. However, variation among gene trees can also be a consequence of systematic error driven by poor model fit, and the relative importance of these biological versus methodological factors in explaining gene tree variation is a major unresolved question in phylogenetics. Using mitochondrial genomes to control for biological causes of gene tree variation, we estimate the extent of gene tree discordance driven by systematic error and employ posterior prediction to highlight the role of model fit. We find that the amount of discordance among mitochondrial gene trees is similar to the amount of discordance found in other studies that assume only biological causes of variation. This similarity suggests that the role of systematic error in generating gene tree variation is underappreciated and that critical evaluation of the fit between assumed models and the data used for inference is important for the resolution of unresolved phylogenetic questions.
Detection of live mycobacteria with a solvatochromic trehalose probe for point-of-care tuberculosis diagnosis
Authors: Kamariza M. , Shieh P. , Rodriguez-Rivera F. P. , Ealand C. S. , Chu B. , Martinson N. , Kana B. D. , Bertozzi C. R.
Published: August 2017

Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death from an infectious bacterial disease. Poor diagnostic tools to detect active disease plague TB control programs and affect patient care. Accurate detection of liveMycobacterium tuberculosis(Mtb), the causative agent of TB, will improve TB diagnosis and patient treatment. We report that live mycobacteria can be specifically detected with a fluorogenic trehalose analog. We designed a 4-N,N-dimethylamino-1,8- naphthalimide-trehalose (DMN-Tre) conjugate that undergoes >700-fold fluorescence increase when transitioned from aqueous to hydrophobic environments. This enhancement occurs upon metabolic conversion of DMN-Tre to trehalose monomycolate and incorporation into the outer membrane. DMN-Tre labeling enabled the rapid, no-wash visualization of mycobacterial and corynebacterial species without nonspecific labeling of Gram-positive or –negative bacteria. DMN-Tre labeling was selective for live mycobacteria and was reduced by treatment with TB drugs. Lastly, DMN-Tre labeled Mtb in TB-positive sputum samples suggesting this operationally simple method may be deployable for TB diagnosis.
Phase transition sequences in tetramethylammonium tetrachlorometallates by X-ray diffraction and spectroscopic measurements
Authors: Binns Jack , McIntyre Garry J , Barreda-Argüeso José A. , González Jesús , Aguado Fernando , Rodríguez Fernando , Valiente Rafael , Parsons Simon
Published: August 2017

The phase transition sequences of two members of the tetramethylammonium tetrachlorometallate(III) family of hybrid organic–inorganic salts have been determined and structurally characterized as a function of temperature for the first time. Unusually, a reduction in point-group symmetry with increasing temperature until reaching a cubic prototype phase is observed. Two additional intermediate phases are observed for Fe3+. First-principles calculations and the presence of short Cl...Cl contacts for Ga3+suggest the [GaCl4]−anion to be conformationally hindered due to stronger lone-pair–σ-hole interactions. The conformationally more flexible Fe3+structures show sublattice melting with the onset of rotational disorder in the [NMe4]+cations occurring 40 K below the corresponding onset of rotational disorder in the [FeCl4]−sublattice.
Using a skill-building tool to enhance employee engagement
Authors: Bandura Randall P. , Lyons Paul R.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to provide some bounds to the concept of employee engagement, explain how it links to job performance and offer a practical training tool, skill-charting (SC), that can assist a manager and her/his employees attain higher levels of work engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

The discussion of SC and employee engagement is based on a literature review of recent research.

Findings

In the realm of opportunities for managers to encourage and enhance employee engagement, the learning and problem-solving tool, SC, presents a practical means to achieve positive results in several domains.

Originality/value

There are few instances in the literature where highly specific advice is offered to practitioners regarding how managers can quickly and directly stimulate, encourage and assist employees to reach higher levels of engagement. The approach suggested in this paper can be of much value to both manager and employees.
Tumour‐targeting bacteria‐based cancer therapies for increased specificity and improved outcome
Authors: Felgner Sebastian , Pawar Vinay , Kocijancic Dino , Erhardt Marc , Weiss Siegfried
Published: August 2017

‘You have cancer’ – a devastating diagnosis that still strikes patients hard. Despite substantial improvements of standard therapies over the years, there is still no general cure available. Here, we review the revival of an old concept – the use of bacteria as cancer therapeutics. Bacteria‐mediated tumor therapy has great potential to evolve into a powerful tool against malignant solid tumors.
The ω‐3 fatty acid α‐linolenic acid extends Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan via NHR‐49/PPARα and oxidation to oxylipins
Authors: Qi Wenbo , Gutierrez Gloria E. , Gao Xiaoli , Dixon Hong , McDonough Joe A. , Marini Ann M. , Fisher Alfred L.
Published: August 2017

The dietary intake of ω‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids has been linked to a reduction in the incidence of aging‐associated disease including cardiovascular disease and stroke. Additionally, long‐lived Caenorhabditis elegans glp‐1 germ line‐less mutant animals show a number of changes in lipid metabolism including the increased production of the ω‐3 fatty acid, α‐linolenic acid (ALA). Here, we show that the treatment of C. elegans with ALA produces a dose‐dependent increase in lifespan. The increased longevity of the glp‐1 mutant animals is known to be dependent on both the NHR‐49/PPARα and SKN‐1/Nrf2 transcription factors, although the mechanisms involved are incompletely understood. We find that ALA treatment increased the lifespan of wild‐type worms and that these effects required both of these transcription factors. Specifically, NHR‐49 was activated by ALA to promote the expression of genes involved in the β‐oxidation of lipids, whereas SKN‐1 is not directly activated by ALA, but instead, the exposure of ALA to air results in the oxidation of ALA to a group of compounds termed oxylipins. At least one of the oxylipins activates SKN‐1 and enhances the increased longevity resulting from ALA treatment. The results show that ω‐3 fatty acids inhibit aging and that these effects could reflect the combined effects of the ω‐3 fatty acid and the oxylipin metabolites. The benefits of ω‐3 fatty acid consumption on human health may similarly involve the production of oxylipins, and differences in oxylipin conversion could account for at least part of the variability found between observational vs. interventional clinical trials.
Will growth in cryptomarket drug buying increase the harms of illicit drugs?
Authors: Aldridge Judith , Stevens Alex , Barratt Monica J.
Published: August 2017

Background and aim

Cryptomarkets—on‐line, anonymous market‐places for illicit goods and services that specialize mainly in drugs—account for a small but rapidly growing share of the illicit drug market in many countries. Policy responses so far are based generally on the assumption that their rise will only increase drug harms. In this contribution for debate, we question this assumption.

Methods

We provide a narrative review of the emerging literature connected to drug cryptomarkets. We use MacCoun & Reuter's formula to understand the effect of population‐level increases in use on total harm as depending on the level of harm associated with each unit of use. We then consider the potential for cryptomarkets to increase or decrease the harms and benefits related to each unit of drug use, with specific attention to the quality of drugs sold and the non‐drug‐related harms and benefits for customers.

Results

It is likely that cryptomarkets will increase both the amount and the range of substances that are sold. However, we argue that the effects on harms will depend upon whether cryptomarkets also increase the quality and safety of products that are sold, provide harm‐reducing information to consumers and reduce transactional conflict involved in drug purchasing.

Conclusions

There is an emerging and rapidly growing evidence base connected to the macro and micro harms and benefits of cryptomarkets for drug users. Future researchers should use appropriately matched comparative designs to establish more firmly the differential harms and benefits of sourcing drugs both on‐ and off‐line. While it is unlikely that the on‐line drug trade can be eradicated completely, cryptomarkets will respond to regulation and enforcement in ways that have complex, and sometimes unanticipated, effects on both harms and benefits.
Was It Possible to Stabilise the Price of Wool? Organised Wool Marketing 1916 to 1970
Authors: Abbott Malcolm , Merrett David
Published: August 2017

Wool is the only Australian commodity for which there has been an attempt to organise price stability through a buffer stock scheme (1970–91). Growers pressed for the introduction of a scheme since the early 1920s. We test the veracity of claims that the sale of the stockpiles optimised growers' returns. We also simulate the likely outcomes of the reserve price schemes (RPS) proposed in 1925 and 1952, respectively. Our findings are that post‐war stockpile disposals did not optimise wool growers' incomes, the undercapitalised proposed RPS of the 1920s would have collapsed in the depression, and that the post‐1952 RPS would have been in considerable difficulty.
Implementing entrustable professional activities: the yellow brick road towards competency‐based training?
Authors: Moore David , Young Christopher J. , Hong Jonathan
Published: August 2017

Background

We describe implementation of competency‐based postgraduate surgical training, using an entrustable professional activities (EPAs) programme. The programme aims to improve patient outcomes by optimizing supervision of surgical trainees, creating opportunities for additional teaching and feedback. The curriculum was designed to maximize feasibility for implementation within a colorectal surgical department.

Methods

The curriculum was developed using previously described methods by consensus between two consultants within the department. Seven EPAs were identified and described for each grade of trainee. A consultant within the teaching faculty or a delegate is required to assess each EPA and provide formal feedback until the trainee is given permission to act autonomously.

Results

It is hoped the programme can progress with minimal disruption to key stakeholders. We will record trainee assessment data anticipating that performance of trainees on other tasks in the future may provide some evidence of validity for the EPA assessments.

Conclusions

There are perceived benefits and problems evident in the EPA model at this early stage of implementation. The programme should result in an increase in the number of formative assessments and feedback opportunities for trainees. The assessment process is familiar to supervisors, which should facilitate implementation of the curriculum. There is concern that supervisors may require further training to ensure the assessment process is objective and reproducible. The EPA programme could make the process of delegating patient care to trainees more transparent, but we have not identified a method of widely disseminating trainee assessment data without the potential to prejudice trainees unfairly.
Comparisons of neutrophil‐, monocyte‐, eosinophil‐, and basophil‐ lymphocyte ratios among various systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases
Authors: Yang Zaixing , Zhang Zhiyu , Lin Feng , Ren Yingpeng , Liu Donghong , Zhong Renqian , Liang Yan
Published: August 2017

This study was aimed to evaluate levels of neutrophil‐ (NLR), monocyte‐ (MLR), eosinophil‐ (ELR), and basophil‐lymphocyte ratio (BLR) and their association with inflammatory markers in systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs). A total of 1139 SARD patients and 170 healthy individuals were enrolled. Clinical and laboratory data were extracted. NLR and MLR were significantly increased, but BLR decreased in most SARD patients (p < 0.05). ELR were significantly decreased in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, but increased in those with other SARDs (p < 0.001). In SLE patients, C‐reactive protein (CRP) showed positive correlation with NLR, MLR, and BLR. IgG negatively correlated with NLR, and did positively with ELR. IgM negatively correlated with NLR and MLR. In those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS), and osteoarthritis (OA), NLR and MLR positively correlated with erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and CRP. In primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) patients, ESR showed positive correlation with NLR and MLR. IgA had positive correlation with BLR. In polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM) patients, ESR and CRP positively correlated with NLR. Additionally, significant correlations were also found between CRP and BLR, IgG and ELR, IgM and ELR. In systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, clear correlations were only observed between CRP and NLR or MLR. In mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) patients, NLR positively correlated with ESR and CRP, while NLR and MLR did negatively with IgM. In polymyalgia rheumatic (PMR) patients, MLR positively correlated with CRP, while ELR did negatively with IgG. This study demonstrated increased NLR and MLR and deceased BLR in most SARDs, decreased ELR in SLE and increased ELR in other SARDs. Furthermore, NLR and MLR may be useful tools to reflect inflammatory status of SARDs.
Outcome-dependent Sampling with Interval-censored Failure Time Data
Authors: Zhou Qingning , Cai Jianwen , Zhou Haibo
Published: August 2017

Epidemiologic studies and disease prevention trials often seek to relate an exposure variable to a failure time that suffers from interval-censoring. When the failure rate is low and the time intervals are wide, a large cohort is often required so as to yield reliable precision on the exposure-failure-time relationship. However, large cohort studies with simple random sampling could be prohibitive for investigators with a limited budget, especially when the exposure variables are expensive to obtain. Alternative cost-effective sampling designs and inference procedures are therefore desirable. We propose an outcome-dependent sampling (ODS) design with interval-censored failure time data, where we enrich the observed sample by selectively including certain more informative failure subjects. We develop a novel sieve semiparametric maximum empirical likelihood approach for fitting the proportional hazards model to data from the proposed interval-censoring ODS design. This approach employs the empirical likelihood and sieve methods to deal with the infinite-dimensional nuisance parameters, which greatly reduces the dimensionality of the estimation problem and eases the computation difficulty. The consistency and asymptotic normality of the resulting regression parameter estimator are established. The results from our extensive simulation study show that the proposed design and method works well for practical situations and is more efficient than the alternative designs and competing approaches. An example from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study is provided for illustration.
Do Infants Really Experience Emotional Contagion?
Authors: Ruffman Ted , Lorimer Benjamin , Scarf Damian
Published: August 2017

Several modern theories on the origins of human empathy and morality hold that empathic understanding is innate and use research on emotional contagion to support this claim. However, all studies on emotional contagion are limited and far from conclusive. In this article, we argue that the findings from these studies could be explained alternatively in terms of neonates responding to nonemotional acoustic features of the cries they hear rather than to the emotional distress the cries convey. We highlight several areas of concern in the literature and show how research findings on emotional contagion fit comfortably within the alternative framework of acoustic features. Beyond its implications for the literature on emotional contagion, the questions we raise have implications for theories on the origins of morality and empathic understanding. Given the recent proliferation of these theories, this highlights the need to examine with greater scrutiny the evidence that supports them, particularly studies on emotional contagion.
Japanese multicenter clinical trial of intravenous polyethylene glycol‐treated immunoglobulin and comparison with previous clinical trial of sulfonated immunoglobulin in Guillain–Barré syndrome
Authors: Nomura Kyoichi , Kusunoki Susumu ,   the Research Group of IVIG for GBS in Japan
Published: August 2017

Objective

In Japan, freeze‐dried sulfonated human immunoglobulin is indicated for the treatment of patients with Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS), and the efficacy and safety of this intravenous immunoglobulin treatment is well established. However, the efficacy and safety of freeze‐dried polyethylene glycol‐treated human immunoglobulin (PEG‐Ig; Kenketsu Glovenin‐I) in patients with GBS remains unclear. In the present study, we therefore evaluated the efficacy and safety of treatment with PEG‐Ig in patients with GBS.

Methods

We carried out a multicenter, open‐label, single‐arm Japanese clinical trial to verify the efficacy and safety of treatment with PEG‐Ig in patients with GBS.

Results

The percentage of patients who improved one grade on the Hughes’ functional grading scale after 4 weeks (primary outcome) of treatment with PEG‐Ig was 65.0% (95% confidence interval 40.8–84.6). The median period required for the one‐grade functional grading improvement after treatment with PEG‐Ig was 15.0 days (interquartile range 8.5–33.0 days). Although the incidence of adverse drug reactions to PEG‐Ig treatment was 72.7%, none of the adverse reactions was serious.

Conclusions

The results of the present study confirmed that treatment with PEG‐Ig was as therapeutically useful as treatment with sulfonated human immunoglobulin in patients with GBS.
Realistic Ultrasound Simulation of Complex Surface Models Using Interactive Monte‐Carlo Path Tracing
Authors: Mattausch Oliver , Makhinya Maxim , Goksel Orcun
Published: August 2017

Ray‐based simulations have been shown to generate impressively realistic ultrasound images in interactive frame rates. Recent efforts used GPU‐based surface raytracing to simulate complex ultrasound interactions such as multiple reflections and refractions. These methods are restricted to perfectly specular reflections (i.e. following only a single reflective/refractive ray), whereas real tissue exhibits roughness of varying degree at tissue interfaces, causing partly diffuse reflections and refractions. Such surface interactions are significantly more complex and can in general not be handled by conventional deterministic raytracing approaches. However, these can be efficiently computed by Monte‐Carlo sampling techniques, where many ray paths are generated with respect to a probability distribution. In this paper, we introduce Monte‐Carlo raytracing for ultrasound simulation. This enables the realistic simulation of ultrasound‐tissue interactions such as soft shadows and fuzzy reflections. We discuss how to properly weight the contribution of each ray path in order to simulate the behaviour of a beamformed ultrasound signal. Tracing many individual rays per transducer element is easily parallelizable on modern GPUs, as opposed to previous approaches based on recursive binary raytracing. We further propose a significant performance optimization based on adaptive sampling.
Measurement of the zygomatic region for the optimal placement of quad zygomatic implants
Authors: Hung Kuo‐feng , Ai Qi‐yong , Fan Sheng‐chi , Wang Feng , Huang Wei , Wu Yi‐qun
Published: August 2017

Background

The zygomatic implant is suggested to be placed in zygomatic areas with the largest thickness, but regions to obtain the largest bone‐to‐implant contact (BIC) were unknown.

Purpose

To identify the zygomatic regions for placing quad zygomatic implants that obtain the largest BIC.

Materials and Methods

The zygomatic thicknesses of 300 zygomata were measured at total 12 points on the superior, middle, and inferior areas on the 3‐dimensional reconstruction images. In 50 edentulous maxillae, the zygomatic BICs of virtually placed implants were measured and the incidence of the intrusion into the infratemporal fossa calculated at each point.

Results

The largest thickness in the superior, middle, and inferior regions were at Point A1 (8.01 ± 2.10 mm), Point B1 (7.02 ± 1.73 mm), and Point C0 (6.65 ± 1.66 mm), respectively. The virtually placed implants at Point A3 (16.70 ± 4.18 mm) and Point B1 (12.07 ± 3.84 mm) had the highest BICs while retaining the minimum incidence of the intrusion complications.

Conclusion

To obtain the largest BICs and avoid the intrusion complications, results suggested that the postero‐superior region (Point A3) and the center of zygoma (Point B1) were the optimal places for the placement of quad zygomatic implants.
Comparison of marginal bone loss and implant success between axial and tilted implants in maxillary All‐on‐4 treatment concept rehabilitations after 5 years of follow‐up
Authors: Hopp Milena , de Araújo Nobre Miguel , Maló Paulo
Published: August 2017

Background

There is need for more scientific and clinical information on longer‐term outcomes of tilted implants compared to implants inserted in an axial position.

Purpose

Comparison of marginal bone loss and implant success after a 5‐year follow‐up between axial and tilted implants inserted for full‐arch maxillary rehabilitation.

Material and Methods

The retrospective clinical study included 891 patients with 3564 maxillary implants rehabilitated according to the All‐on‐4 treatment concept. The follow‐up time was 5 years. Linear mixed‐effect models were performed to analyze the influence of implant orientation (axial/tilted) on marginal bone loss and binary logistic regression to assess the effect of patient characteristics on occurrence of marginal bone loss >2.8 mm. Only those patients with measurements of at least one axial and one tilted implant available were analyzed. This resulted in a data set of 2379 implants (1201 axial, 1178 tilted) in 626 patients (=reduced data set).

Results

Axial and tilted implants showed comparable mean marginal bone losses of 1.14 ± 0.71 and 1.19 ± 0.82 mm, respectively. Mixed model analysis indicated that marginal bone loss levels at 5 years follow up was not significantly affected by the orientation (axial/tilted) of the implants in the maxillary bone. Smoking and female gender were associated with marginal bone loss >2.8 mm in a logistic regression analysis. Five‐year implant success rates were 96%. The occurrence of implant failure showed to be statistically independent from orientation.

Conclusions

Within the limitations of this study and considering a follow‐up time of 5 years, it can be concluded that tilted implants behave similarly with regards to marginal bone loss and implant success in comparison to axial implants in full‐arch rehabilitation of the maxilla. Longer‐term outcomes (10 years +) are needed to verify this result.
Design and evaluation of planning and mathematical models for generating learning paths
Authors: Sanchez Nigenda R. , Maya Padrón C. , Martínez‐Salazar I. , Torres‐Guerrero F.
Published: August 2017

Education research has emphasized the need to develop instructional design tools to facilitate the generation of learning paths for students. Learning paths are important because they enable the personalization and optimization of the learning process. In this work, we present a flexible conceptual framework that allows the representation of curricula information as Artificial Intelligence Planning and Mathematical Programming models to facilitate the generation of learning paths by domain independent algorithms. The resulting models consider a rich set of properties from the education domain, like hierarchical learning structures, enabling conditions, temporal actions, mandatory activities, quality accumulation functions, and metric information. We show that the proposed mathematical models return optimal solutions very efficiently if we relax the total ordering constraints of learning paths. These relaxations allow evaluating greedy planning algorithms to identify the properties from the models that increase the complexity of solution synthesis. We expect that the results of this research can be helpful to education researchers and computer scientists in the quest of scalable systems that capture more flexible standards to model learning and compute more informed learning paths for students.
Value of a flow cytometry cross‐match in the setting of a negative complement‐dependent cytotoxicity cross‐match in heart transplant recipients
Authors: Keeshan Britton C. , O'Connor Matthew J. , Lin Kimberly Y. , Monos Dimitrios , Lind Curt , Mascio Christopher E. , Rame Jesus Eduardo , Spray Thomas L. , Shaddy Robert E. , Rossano Joseph W.
Published: August 2017

Complement‐dependent cytotoxicity cross‐match (CDCXM) is used for evaluation of preformed HLA‐specific antibodies in patients undergoing heart transplantation. Flow cytometry cross‐match (FCXM) is a more sensitive assay and used with increasing frequency. To determine the clinical relevance of a positive FCXM in the context of negative CDCXM in heart transplantation, the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database was analyzed. Kaplan‐Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazard modeling were used to assess graft survival for three different patient cohorts defined by cross‐match results: T‐cell and B‐cell CDCXM+ (“CDCXM+” cohort), CDCXM− but T‐cell and/or B‐cell FCXM+ (“FCXM+” cohort), and T‐cell/B‐cell CDCXM− and FCXM‐ (“XM−” cohort). During the study period, 2558 patients met inclusion criteria (10.7% CDCXM+, 18.8% FCXM+, 65.5% XM−). CDCXM+ patients had significantly decreased graft survival compared to FCXM+ and XM− cohorts (P = .003 and <.001, respectively). CDCXM− and FCXM+ patients did not have decreased graft survival compared to XM− patients (P = .09). In multivariate analysis, only CDCXM+ was associated with decreased graft survival (HR 1.22, 95% CI 1.01‐1.49). In conclusion, positive FCXM in the context of negative CDCXM does not confer increased risk of graft failure. Further study is needed to understand implications of CDCXM and FCXM testing in heart transplant recipients.
The influence of functional warm ischemia time on DCD liver transplant recipients’ outcomes
Authors: Coffey Jessica C. , Wanis Kerollos N. , Monbaliu Diethard , Gilbo Nicholas , Selzner Markus , Vachharajani Neeta , Levstik Mark A. , Marquez Max , Doyle Maria B. Majella , Pirenne Jacques , Grant David , Heimbach Julie K. , Chapman William , Vogt Kelly , Hernandez‐Alejandro Roberto
Published: August 2017

Background

Duration of functional warm ischemia (f‐WIT) is thought to have a causal effect on outcomes in controlled donation after circulatory death (DCD) liver transplantation (LT).

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted at five centers. Data were extracted on donor and recipient characteristics, with attention to parameters recorded during withdrawal of life support to in situ cold perfusion. F‐WIT was the time elapsed from any of the hemodynamic and oxygenation parameters to the start of in situ cold perfusion. Parameters were as follows: MAP ≤ 50 mm Hg; SBP ≤ 50 mm Hg; and SPO2 ≤ 60%. The primary endpoint was a composite of disseminated ischemic cholangiopathy (IC), primary non‐function (PNF), and early graft failure.

Results

35 patients (14%) developed one or more of the primary outcomes. On univariate analysis, older donors and longer WITs were associated with greater likelihood of complications. Of the f‐WIT variations analyzed, only f‐WIT with SpO2 ≤ 60% was longer among patients with complications. On multivariate analysis, only donor age was a significant predictor of complications.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that, of the f‐WITs, f‐WIT with SpO2 ≤ 60% is most predictive of post‐DCD complications. However, results suggest that there may be an alternate etiology for poor outcomes, and that donor age plays a key role.
Do storybooks with anthropomorphized animal characters promote prosocial behaviors in young children?
Authors: Larsen Nicole E. , Lee Kang , Ganea Patricia A.
Published: August 2017

For millennia, adults have told children stories not only to entertain but also to impart important moral lessons to promote prosocial behaviors. Many such stories contain anthropomorphized animals because it is believed that children learn from anthropomorphic stories as effectively, if not better than, from stories with human characters, and thus are more inclined to act according to the moral lessons of the stories. Here we experimentally tested this belief by reading preschoolers a sharing story with either human characters or anthropomorphized animal characters. Reading the human story significantly increased preschoolers' altruistic giving but reading the anthropomorphic story or a control story decreased it. Thus, contrary to the common belief, realistic stories, not anthropomorphic ones, are better for promoting young children's prosocial behavior.
Selling winners, buying losers: Mental decision rules of individual investors on their holdings
Authors: Leal Cristiana Cerqueira , Loureiro Gilberto , Armada Manuel J. Rocha
Published: August 2017

We extend the study of the disposition effect − the preference for selling (holding) current winning (losing) stocks − by adding a new element to this decision process: the investors’ preference to purchase additional units of the current losing stocks. Using a unique database, we find that individual investors prefer to sell their winning stocks and, simultaneously, hold and increase their exposure to the losing ones. The additional purchase is pervasive across investors, but stronger for less sophisticated investors. Our evidence suggests that reference prices, prior stock returns, stock visibility, and investor performance and sophistication are determinants of investors’ trading behavior.
The impact of age and sex on the reporting of cough and angioedema with renin–angiotensin system inhibitors: a case/noncase study in VigiBase
Authors: Alharbi Fawaz F. , Kholod Anzhelika A.V. , Souverein Patrick C. , Meyboom Ronald H. , de Groot Mark C.H. , de Boer Anthonius , Klungel Olaf H.
Published: August 2017

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of age and sex on the reporting of cough and angioedema related to renin–angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors. A case/noncase study was performed in VigiBase. Two case groups were identified, reports of cough and reports of angioedema, and noncases were all reports of all other adverse events. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between reporting of cough and angioedema with each class of RAS inhibitors stratified by age/sex and to control for confounding. The reporting of cough with angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors was significantly higher in women than in men [adjusted reporting odds ratio (ROR): 44.0, 95% CI (43.2–44.8) for women vs. 29.2, 95% CI (28.5–29.9) for men]. There was no difference in reporting of cough linked to angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and aliskiren between men and women. In contrast, the reporting of angioedema with ACE inhibitors and ARBs was significantly higher in men than in women, but for aliskiren, women had a significantly higher ROR than men [adjusted ROR: 5.20, 95% CI (4.18–6.46) for women vs. 3.04, 95% CI (2.30–4.02) for men]. The reporting of cough with ACE inhibitors was increased with age until reaching a plateau at middle adulthood (40–59 years) and the reporting of angioedema with ACE inhibitors was increased with age until elderly (60–79 years). Age had only a slight effect on the reporting of cough and angioedema with ARBs and aliskiren. Both age and sex have substantial effects on the reporting of cough and angioedema with RAS inhibitors and in particular ACE inhibitors. Further study is needed to determine whether these differences mainly express different adverse drug reaction risks in subgroups or also can be explained by factors influencing reporting.
Behavioural changes of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) after marine boulder reef restoration: Implications for coastal habitat management and Natura 2000 areas
Authors: Kristensen L. D. , Støttrup J. G. , Svendsen J. C. , Stenberg C. , Højbjerg Hansen O. K. , Grønkjær P.
Published: August 2017

While marine reefs are degraded globally, the responses of fish to marine reef restoration remain uncertain, particularly in temperate waters. This study measured the effect of marine boulder reef restoration on the behaviour of Atlantic cod, Gadus morhua L., in a Natura 2000 area using acoustic telemetry. Cod were tagged and released in the study area before and after the restoration and tracked continuously for six months. A larger fraction of the released fish remained in the study area after restoration (94%) than before (53%). Moreover, throughout the study period, cod spent significantly more hours per day and prolonged their residence time in the study area after the restoration. The study indicates that marine reefs subjected to boulder extraction can be restored and function as favourable cod habitats. Temperate marine boulder reef restoration represents a valuable management tool to improve habitats for temperate fish species.
Variation in characteristics among gizzard shad populations: The role of impoundment size and productivity
Authors: Michaletz P. H.
Published: August 2017

Population characteristics of gizzard shad, Dorosoma cepedianum (Lesueur), an ecologically important fish species in Midwestern and southern USA impoundments, vary widely among water bodies. Impoundment productivity is known to influence population variables (e.g., recruitment, growth, mortality, size and age composition), but the role of impoundment morphometry (e.g., surface area, depth) is unknown. Differences in population characteristics of gizzard shad were compared between large and small impoundments across an impoundment–productivity gradient (indexed by total phosphorus [TP] concentration). Populations shifted from those comprised mostly of low abundances (indexed by catch per unit effort [CPUE], fish/hr of electric fishing) of long‐lived, large adults to those comprised of high abundances of short‐lived, small adults as TP increased. However, the trends in population variables across the TP gradient were less apparent in small impoundments than in large impoundments owing to considerable variation at a given TP level. Further analysis revealed that CPUE of gizzard shad was lowest in the smallest impoundments (<33 ha surface area) regardless of TP concentrations, probably because of more frequent winter kills. Overall, population characteristics were influenced by both density‐dependent effects and impoundment characteristics. Characteristics of gizzard shad were highly variable among populations, which have important consequences for ecosystem structure and function.
Reclaiming Moral Individualism: Jewish Identity in Arthur Schnitzler'sProfessor Bernhardi
Authors: Schreckenberger Helga
Published: August 2017

The protagonist of Arthur Schnitzler's playProfessor Bernhardi(1912) falls victim to an anti‐Semitic smear campaign that costs him his career. Bernhardi's unwavering adherence to his ethical principles and the triumph of his opportunistic detractors has been linked to the crisis of liberalism in Austria at the end of the nineteenth century. This article reads Bernhardi's individual ethics in the context of contemporary discourses on the relationship of the individual and society that surfaced in response to the increasing anti‐Semitism in Europe such as Émile Durkheim's defense of individualism in “Individualism and the Intellectuals” (1898) and Werner Sombart's discussion of Jewish contribution to society inDie Juden und das Wirtschaftsleben(1911). It argues that Bernhardi's insistence on moral individualism should not be read as Schnitzler's mourning of a failed political ideal but as his reclaiming of the values of Enlightenment for Jewish identity.
Feuchtwanger's Jud Süß and the Ambiguities of Jewish Political Power
Authors: Cooper Gabriel
Published: August 2017

This reading reassesses Feuchtwanger's novel Jud Süß (1925) as historical fiction, focusing on the temporality of the events portrayed, rather than the era in which the author wrote. An examination of the motif of betrayal, intrinsic to the historical setting's characterization, lends insight into the novel's portrayal of Jewish political power as deeply ambivalent. Whereas previous scholarship has uncritically received Feuchtwanger's justification for writing the novel, I argue that the author's interest lay in his subject – the court Jew, Josef Süß Oppenheimer – precisely as a historical Jewish figure. Through his protagonist, Feuchtwanger sought to probe dilemmas that confronted Jews torn between religious community and civil society. Ultimately, the novel espouses a pessimistic view of Jewish political power, and as response to the “Jewish question,” it exposes the insincerity of the state's offer of equal rights to Jews in exchange for relinquishing Judaism.
Multiple influences on participating in physical activity in older age: Developing a social ecological approach
Authors: Boulton Elisabeth R. , Horne Maria , Todd Chris
Published: August 2017

Background

Evidence of the benefits of engaging in physical activity (PA) is strong, yet the number of older adults meeting the recommended 150 min/wk is low. Policy to increase uptake and adherence has focussed on the health benefits of PA, but may not be the most successful approach.

Objective

This qualitative study sought to ask older adults what the components of a successful intervention to promote PA would be, by asking active older adults what motivated them to be active and asking inactive older adults what might encourage them to change.

Design, setting and participants

Focus groups and semi‐structured interviews were held with 60 community‐dwelling older adults, aged 50‐87 years. Framework analysis was used to analyse the data, and themes congruent with a social ecological model of behaviour change were developed.

Findings

Five themes emerged that influenced PA engagement at multiple levels: individual; interpersonal; perceived environment; community or organizational; and policy. PA engagement was determined by attitude or health status for some participants, but for the majority, PA being enjoyable, sociable, affordable, accessible, flexible and seasonal were more important than the health benefits.

Discussion and conclusions

A social ecological model is presented, highlighting the fact that both motivated and unmotivated older adults need to have a range of appropriately labelled, appealing and accessible activities to choose from when thinking about engaging in PA. Policymakers and practitioners need to ensure that their offers of activity sessions are easy to access and easy to remain involved in.