bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
S100B and Inflammatory Cytokine Levels in Blood as Potential Markers of Blood–Brain Barrier Damage and Psychiatric Impairment in Comorbid Hepatitis C Viral Infection and Alcohol Use Disorder
Authors: Loftis Jennifer M. , Valerio Juno , Taylor Jonathan , Huang Elaine , Hudson Rebekah , Taylor‐Young Patricia , Chang Michael , Ho Samuel B. , Dieperink Eric , Miranda Juan Luis , Hauser Peter
Published: June 2018

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and alcohol use disorder (AUD) both adversely affect the immune system resulting in alterations in immune cell signaling and inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to investigate how comorbid AUD contributes to abnormalities in inflammatory mediators and psychiatric impairments in adults with HCV.

Methods

Alcohol use, mood, and inflammatory factors were evaluated at 3 time points (baseline, week 4, and week 12) in Veterans with HCV, with (n = 42) and without (n = 13) comorbid AUD. Peripheral indices of immune activation, blood–brain barrier (BBB) damage (S100 calcium‐binding protein B [S100B]), liver function, and viral load were measured using immunoassays and polymerase chain reaction assays.

Results

Comorbid AUD was associated with increased symptoms of depression and anxiety, elevated levels of liver enzymes, and altered expression of inflammatory factors. Alcohol consumption was positively correlated with the severity of psychiatric symptoms. Univariate analysis identified significant group differences in interleukin (IL)‐8 (p = 0.006), IL‐10 (p = 0.03), and S100B (p = 0.048), with increased levels in participants with AUD, which persisted over time despite reductions in alcohol use and no significant change in HCV viral load. Statistically significant effects of study group or time were not found for the other immune factors assessed. Exploratory receiver operating characteristic curve analysis evaluated the ability of IL‐8, IL‐10, and S100B to differentiate between levels of alcohol consumption and generated biomarker cutoff values used to identify low risk and unhealthy alcohol use groups.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that HCV and comorbid AUD are associated with greater psychiatric impairments, potentially resulting from increased inflammation, dysregulated cytokine expression, and compromised BBB function. Alcohol‐induced BBB damage may increase the risk of neuropathological consequences within the context of chronic HCV infection.
Which institutional investor types are the most informed?
Authors: Chen Zhe , Forsberg David , Gallagher David R.
Published: June 2018

We examine the informativeness of quarterly disclosed portfolio holdings across four institutional investor types: hedge funds, mutual funds, pension funds and private banking firms. Overweight positions outperform underweight positions only for hedge funds. By decomposing holdings and stock returns, we find that hedge funds are superior to other institutional investors both at picking industries and stocks and that they are better at forecasting long‐term as well as short‐term returns. Furthermore, our results show that hedge funds, mutual funds and pension funds are able to successfully time the market. The outperformance of hedge funds is not explained by a liquidity premium.
Temperature can limit the invasion range of the ambrosia beetle Euwallacea nr. fornicatus
Authors: Umeda Colin , Paine Timothy
Published: June 2018

Temperature heavily affects the development rate of insects. Until temperatures become too extreme, insects will generally experience greater rates of development at higher temperatures and slower rates of development at lower temperatures.

The invasive ambrosia beetle Euwallacea nr. fornicatus Eichhoff, referred to as the polyphagous shot hole borer (PSHB), was tested for development rates at a range of temperatures between 15 and 32 °C.

Based on the development rates recorded, it was calculated that the tmin, tmax and topt were 13.34, 33.08 and 27.51 °C, respectively.

The number of degree days required for PSHB to complete development from egg to adult was estimated to be approximately 398 degree days.

These results can be used to predict the potential distribution of PSHB, as well as where climatic factors may limit their establishment. Furthermore, the development information can be of use when predicting an increase in beetle activity.
Differences in cost consciousness between physicians and nurses in German neonatal intensive care units
Authors: Schmitz Hannah , Martakis Kyriakos , Roth Bernd , Pfaff Holger , Scholten Nadine
Published: June 2018

Aim

This study assessed the cost consciousness of nurses and physicians in German neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) and identified factors affecting cost consciousness.

Methods

This study on cost consciousness was part of the German Safety4NICU study, a cross‐sectional survey conducted from 2015 to 2016. All 224 German NICUs were invited to take part in the survey, and written consent was obtained from the leading physicians and nurses. The various professions were addressed via specific questionnaires. The cost survey tool identified the participants' responsibility and their desired focus on cost consciousness.

Results

Of the 1406 nurses and 496 physicians from 84 NICUs, 64.4% of the nurses and 62.5% of the physicians agreed that they shared responsibility for controlling costs. The computed score to define the overall cost consciousness level was 4.47. We identified a significantly positive association between cost consciousness, longer total clinical work experience and a decreased number of NICU intensive care beds. Increased cost consciousness was found in both men and physicians. Other hospital characteristics did not have an effect.

Conclusion

Neonatology is a medical speciality where the tension between economics and the benefit of patients is extremely high. We found a moderate level of cost consciousness among NICU physicians and nurses.
Low‐saturated‐fat and low‐cholesterol diet does not alter pubertal development and hormonal status in adolescents
Authors: Sadov Sergey , Virtanen Helena E. , Main Katharina M. , Andersson Anna‐Maria , Juul Anders , Jula Antti , Raitakari Olli T. , Pahkala Katja , Niinikoski Harri , Toppari Jorma
Published: June 2018

Aim

The aim was to assess the influence of dietary counselling on the pubertal development and hormonal status in healthy adolescents.

Methods

We used a subcohort of 193 healthy boys (52%) and girls (48%) from the Special Turku Coronary Risk Factor Intervention Project. Participants were recruited by nurses at the well‐baby clinics in Turku Finland in 1990–1992 and randomised into intervention and control groups. Intervention children received low‐saturated fat and low‐cholesterol dietary counselling initiated at seven months of age. Participants were examined once a year with Tanner staging, anthropometric measurements and serial reproductive hormones from 10 to 19 years of age. In girls, postmenarcheal hormones were not analysed.

Results

Pubertal hormones in boys or girls did not differ between the intervention and control groups. However, we observed slight differences in pubertal progression by Tanner staging and in anthropometric parameters. The intervention boys progressed faster to G4 (p = 0.008), G5 (p = 0.008) and P5 (p = 0.03). The intervention boys were taller than control boys (p = 0.04), while weight and body mass index did not differ.

Conclusion

Dietary intervention did not affect pubertal hormonal status. This finding supports the safety of implemented counselling in respect to puberty.
Potential mechanisms in fear of birth: The role of pain catastrophizing and intolerance of uncertainty
Authors: Rondung Elisabet , Ekdahl Johanna , Sundin Örjan
Published: June 2018

Background

Although many pregnant women experience fear, worry, or anxiety relating to the upcoming birth, little is known regarding the psychological mechanisms contributing to these experiences. In this study, we wanted to take a first step in trying to identify mechanisms of potential interest. The objective of this cross‐sectional study was thus to investigate pain catastrophizing, intolerance of uncertainty, positive worry beliefs, and cognitive avoidance as potential mechanisms predicting fear of birth among pregnant women.

Methods

A sample of 499 pregnant women, recruited in antenatal health care settings in 2 Swedish regions, completed the Fear of Birth Scale, along with measurements of the mechanisms of interest. Linear and logistic hierarchical regression analyses were used to investigate the extent to which pain catastrophizing, intolerance of uncertainty, positive worry beliefs, and cognitive avoidance predicted fear of birth, both as a continuous and a dichotomous measure.

Results

Logistic regression analysis showed high levels of pain catastrophizing and intolerance of uncertainty to be the best predictors of fear of birth, OR 3.49 (95% CI 2.17‐5.61) and OR 3.25 (95% CI 2.00‐5.27), respectively. Positive beliefs about worry and cognitive avoidance were both correlated with fear of birth as a continuous measure, but did not contribute to the logistic regression model.

Conclusions

Pain catastrophizing and intolerance of uncertainty were the most evident predictors of fear of birth. Although preliminary, the findings suggest that interventions targeting catastrophic cognitions and intolerance of uncertainty might be relevant to psychological treatment for fear, worry, or anxiety relating to giving birth.
Reopening the dialogue between the theory of social representations and discursive psychology for examining the construction and transformation of meaning in discourse and communication
Authors: Batel Susana , Castro Paula
Published: June 2018

The theory of social representations (TSR) and discursive psychology (DP) originated as different social psychological approaches and have at times been presented as incompatible. However, along the years convergence has also been acknowledged, and, lately, most of all, practised. With this paper, we discuss how versions of TSR focusing on self–other relations for examining cultural meaning systems in/through communication, and versions of DP focusing on discourse at cultural, ideological, and interactional levels, can come together. The goal is to help forge a stronger social–psychological exploration of how meaning is constructed and transformed in and through language, discourse, and communication, thus extending current understanding of social change. After presenting a theoretical proposal for integrating those versions of TSR and DP, we offer also an integrated analytical strategy. We suggest that together these proposals can, on one hand, help TSR systematize analyses of social change that are both more critical and better grounded in theorizations of language use, and, on the other, provide DP with analytical tools able to better examine both the relational contexts where the construction and transformation of meaning are performed and their effects on discourse. Finally, we give some illustrations of the use of this analytical strategy.
α‐particle therapy for synovial sarcoma in the mouse using an astatine‐211‐labeled antibody against frizzled homolog 10
Authors: Li Huizi Keiko , Sugyo Aya , Tsuji Atsushi B. , Morokoshi Yukie , Minegishi Katsuyuki , Nagatsu Kotaro , Kanda Hiroaki , Harada Yosuke , Nagayama Satoshi , Katagiri Toyomasa , Nakamura Yusuke , Higashi Tatsuya , Hasegawa Sumitaka
Published: June 2018

Synovial sarcoma (SS) is a rare yet refractory soft‐tissue sarcoma that predominantly affects young adults. We show in a mouse model that radioimmunotherapy (RIT) with an α‐particle emitting anti‐Frizzled homolog 10 (FZD10) antibody, synthesized using the α‐emitter radionuclide astatine‐211 (211At‐OTSA101), suppresses the growth of SS xenografts more efficiently than the corresponding β‐particle emitting anti‐FZD10 antibody conjugated with the β‐emitter yettrium‐90 (90Y‐OTSA101). In biodistribution analysis, 211At was increased in the SS xenografts but decreased in other tissues up to 1 day after injection as time proceeded, albeit with a relatively higher uptake in the stomach. Single 211At‐OTSA101 doses of 25 and 50 μCi significantly suppressed SS tumor growth in vivo, whereas a 50‐μCi dose of 90Y‐OTSA101 was needed to achieve this. Importantly, 50 μCi of 211At‐OTSA101 suppressed tumor growth immediately after injection, whereas this effect required several days in the case of 90Y‐OTSA101. Both radiolabeled antibodies at the 50‐μCi dosage level significantly prolonged survival. Histopathologically, severe cellular damage accompanied by massive cell death was evident in the SS xenografts at even 1 day after the 211At‐OTSA101 injection, but these effects were relatively milder with 90Y‐OTSA101 at the same timepoint, even though the absorbed doses were comparable (3.3 and 3.0 Gy, respectively). We conclude that α‐particle RIT with 211At‐OTSA101 is a potential new therapeutic option for SS.
Sinapic acid phenethyl ester as a potent selective 5‐lipoxygenase inhibitor: Synthesis and structure–activity relationship
Authors: Touaibia Mohamed , Hébert Martin J. G. , Levesque Natalie A. , Doiron Jérémie A. , Doucet Marco S. , Jean‐François Jacques , Cormier Marc , Boudreau Luc H. , Surette Marc E.
Published: June 2018

Given the hepatotoxicity and an unfavorable pharmacokinetic profile of zileuton (Zyflo®), currently the only approved and clinically used 5‐Lipoxygenase (5‐LO) inhibitor, the search for potent and safe 5‐LO inhibitors is highly demanded. The action of several phenolic acid phenethyl esters as potential 5‐Lipoxygenase (5‐LO) inhibitors has been investigated. For this purpose, a series of 14 phenethyl esters was synthesized and their impact on 5‐LO inhibition was evaluated. The effects of position and number of hydroxyl and methoxy groups on the phenolic acid were investigated. The shortening of the linker between the carbonyl and the catechol moiety as well as the presence of the α,β‐unsaturated carbonyl group was also explored. The sinapic acid phenethyl ester (10), which can be named SAPE (10) by analogy to caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), inhibited 5‐LO in a concentration‐dependent manner and outperformed both zileuton (1) and CAPE (2). With an IC50 of 0.3 μm, SAPE (10) was threefold more potent than CAPE (2) and 10‐fold more potent than zileuton (1), the only 5‐LO inhibitor approved for clinical use. Unlike CAPE (2), SAPE (10) had no effect on 12‐lipoxygenase (12‐LO) and less effect on cyclooxygenase 1 (COX‐1) which makes it a more selective 5‐LO inhibitor.
Retracted: Unified Framework for Efficient and Enriched Water Animation with Surface and Wave Foams
Authors: Kim Jong‐Hyun , Lee Jung
Published: June 2018

The above article from Computer Graphics Forum, published online on 28 June 2018 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been retracted by agreement between the authors, the journal Editors Min Chen and Bedrich Benes and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The retraction has been agreed due to both authors wishing to adhere to the high professional standard for academic publications.
“We Are Visioning It”: Aspirational Planning and the Material Landscapes of Delhi's Metro
Authors: Sadana Rashmi
Published: June 2018

To what extent is Delhi's metro rail system a social leveler and a global emblem of middle‐class modernity—in idea and practice? This essay illustrates how the language and aims of planning and infrastructural development achieve class‐based goals in a city of deep social inequalities. Based on fieldwork in Delhi, the essay details architects' visions and work practices on the Metro, and how they interact with new forms of technocratic governance instituted by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation. By breaking down the broader development‐based ideology that the Metro represents, the essay tracks how architects and planners are involved in diverse forms of “aspirational planning” that ultimately privilege and enact a notion of upward mobility rather than social equality.
Profilometric changes of peri‐implant tissues over 5 years: A randomized controlled trial comparing a one‐ and two‐piece implant system
Authors: Sapata Vitor Marques , Sanz-Martín Ignacio , Hämmerle Christoph H. F. , Cesar Neto João B. , Jung Ronald E. , Thoma Daniel S.
Published: June 2018

Objectives

To assess the profilometric changes of the buccal soft tissues between baseline and 5 years of loading using a one‐ and two‐piece dental implant system.

Materials and methods

Sixty patients randomly received dental implants of either a two‐piece type (BRA) or a one‐piece type (STM). Casts were obtained at baseline (after crown insertion), at the 1‐year and at the 5‐year follow‐up. Stereolithography files were obtained from the casts for digital superimposition. One implant and the contralateral natural tooth were selected for the analysis. Thirty‐three patients (BRA = 16; STM = 17) were included. Measurements included changes for crown height (CH) and estimated soft tissue thickness, as well as the profilometric change at the implant and the tooth site. Nonparametric methods were applied for the statistical analyses and medians and quartiles presented.

Results

The BRA group lost −0.39 mm and the STM group lost −0.40 mm of volume between baseline and the 5‐year follow‐up at the implant site (p > 0.05). The tooth site lost −0.18 mm (BRA) and −0.12 mm (STM) (p > 0.05). Volume differences between implants and teeth amounted to −0.05 mm (baseline to 1 year) and −0.25 mm (baseline to 5 years) for BRA, while for STM, the values were 0.03 mm (baseline to 1 year) and −0.16 mm (baseline to 5 years). The changes for implant CH at 1 and 5 years of follow‐up amounted 0.10 and 0.09 mm (BRA) and to 0.03 and 0.22 mm (STM). The changes in tissue thickness at 1 and 5 years in the BRA group amounted to −0.28 and −0.66 mm at 1 mm, −0.21 and −0.46 mm at 3 mm, and −0.32 and −0.45 mm at 5 mm, respectively. The changes in the STM group amounted to −0.15 and −0.54 mm at 1 mm, −0.24 and −0.48 mm at 3 mm, and −0.32 and −0.57 mm at 5 mm, respectively. No significantly different medians were observed.

Conclusions

Minimal profilometric and linear changes occurred at implant sites between baseline and 5 years, between implant and tooth sites and between the two implant systems.
Low recurrence rate of head and neck basal cell carcinoma treated with Mohs micrographic surgery: A retrospective study of 1021 cases
Authors: Kuiper Elsa M. , van den Berge Bente A. , Spoo Julia R. , Kuiper Jeroen , Terra Jorrit B.
Published: June 2018

Objective

Mohs micrographic surgery (MMS) is the treatment of choice for high‐risk primary basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and recurrent BCC of the head and neck, showing fewer recurrences compared with surgical excision (SE). The objectives of this study were to determine the recurrence rate of head and neck BCC after MMS and to develop a prediction model with significant risk factors for recurrence.

Design

A retrospective study of patient records.

Methods

All BCCs treated with MMS between 1 January 1995 and 1 July 2013 at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) were selected retrospectively. Recorded parameters were patient characteristics, tumour size, tumour location, histopathological subtype, previous treatment, the number of stages until microscopic clearance, defect size, adverse events, follow‐up time and recurrence after MMS.

Results

The study covered 1021 MMS operations conducted on primary BCCs (57.4%), residual BCCs (25.6%) and recurrent BCCs (17.0%). The median follow‐up time was 54.0 months (ranging from 1 to 221 months). The 5‐year cumulative probability of recurrence was 3.3%: 2.6% for primary BCCs, 5.4% for residual BCCs and 2.9% for recurrent BCCs. An aggressive histopathological subtype, residual BCCs and recurrent BCCs were significant risk factors for predicting a higher risk of recurrence after MMS.

Conclusion

This large‐scale retrospective study showed low recurrence rates after MMS for primary and recurrent BCCs. Residual BCCs treated with MMS had relatively higher recurrence rates. The risk of recurrence for MMS‐treated residual aggressive BCCs was more than four times higher than that for primary non‐aggressive BCCs.
Patterns of hospital admission in 54 501 patients with epistaxis over a 20‐year period in Scotland, UK
Authors: Douglas Catriona M. , Tikka Theofano , Broadbent Benedict , Calder Nick , Montgomery Jenny
Published: June 2018

Background

Epistaxis affects most people over their lifetime. It is the commonest ear, nose and throat emergency. Hospital admission and socio‐economic deprivation have been associated with mental health disorders, respiratory illness and with emergency hospital admissions. Low socio‐economic status has never previously been associated with epistaxis, a common reason for admission to ear, nose and throat departments throughout the UK.

Methods

Demographics from Information Services Division Scotland were analysed over a period of 20 years. This focused on gender, number of admissions, number of bed days, socio‐economic deprivation (Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation) and mortality within 1 year.

Results

Data from 54 501 patients were assessed. Admission numbers and length of stay have significantly decreased (P < 0.0001). Males are more frequently affected (P = 0.001). Admission numbers were higher for patients in more deprived areas (P < 0.001). Mean duration of stay has decreased by 1 bed day. Surgical intervention of epistaxis has increased significantly (P < 0.001). There is an associated 1‐year mortality rate of 9.8% following epistaxis.

Conclusion

There has been a significant decrease in hospital admissions and length of hospital stay in patients admitted with epistaxis over the past 20 years. There is a significant association with deprivation and epistaxis admission.
Human–Computer Interaction in Face Matching
Authors: Fysh Matthew C. , Bindemann Markus
Published: June 2018

Automatic facial recognition is becoming increasingly ubiquitous in security contexts such as passport control. Currently, Automated Border Crossing (ABC) systems in the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) require supervision from a human operator who validates correct identity judgments and overrules incorrect decisions. As the accuracy of this human–computer interaction remains unknown, this research investigated how human validation is impacted by a priori face‐matching decisions such as those made by automated face recognition software. Observers matched pairs of faces that were already labeled onscreen as depicting the same identity or two different identities. The majority of these labels provided information that was consistent with the stimuli presented, but some were also inconsistent or provided “unresolved” information. Across three experiments, accuracy consistently deteriorated on trials that were inconsistently labeled, indicating that observers’ face‐matching decisions are biased by external information such as that provided by ABCs.
Risk‐sensitive planning for conserving coral reefs under rapid climate change
Authors: Beyer Hawthorne L. , Kennedy Emma V. , Beger Maria , Chen Chaolun Allen , Cinner Joshua E. , Darling Emily S. , Eakin C. Mark , Gates Ruth D. , Heron Scott F. , Knowlton Nancy , Obura David O. , Palumbi Stephen R. , Possingham Hugh P. , Puotinen Marji , Runting Rebecca K. , Skirving William J. , Spalding Mark , Wilson Kerrie A. , Wood Sally , Veron John E. , Hoegh‐Guldberg Ove
Published: June 2018

Coral reef ecosystems are seriously threatened by changing conditions in the ocean. Although many factors are implicated, climate change has emerged as a dominant and rapidly growing threat. Developing a long‐term strategic plan for the conservation of coral reefs is urgently needed yet is complicated by significant uncertainty associated with climate change impacts on coral reef ecosystems. We use Modern Portfolio Theory to identify coral reef locations globally that, in the absence of other impacts, are likely to have a heightened chance of surviving projected climate changes relative to other reefs. Long‐term planning that is robust to uncertainty in future conditions provides an objective and transparent framework for guiding conservation action and strategic investment. These locations constitute important opportunities for novel conservation investments to secure less vulnerable yet well‐connected coral reefs that may, in turn, help to repopulate degraded areas in the event that the climate has stabilized.
Transplant advocacy in the era of the human immunodeficiency virus organ policy equity act
Authors: Steel Jennifer L. , Gordon Elisa J. , Dulovich Michelle , Kingsley Kendal , Tevar Amit , Ganesh Swaytha , Brindley Emily , Sood Puneet , Humar Abhinav
Published: June 2018

In 2013, the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act was passed to permit the conduct of research on the transplantation of organs from donors infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) into recipients who are HIV‐positive. The HOPE Act workshop had many objectives including the discussion of the ethical issues involved in HIV‐positive to HIV‐positive transplantation, the informed consent process, and the role of independent advocates in the context of HIV to HIV transplantation. As of 2018, 22 transplant hospitals are approved, or undergoing approval, to perform HIV‐positive to HIV‐positive transplant surgeries, and this number is expected to grow. This study aims to: (i) briefly review the history and research of HIV+ transplantation prior to the HOPE Act, (ii) describe the ethical principles supporting the HOPE Act, (iii) characterize the informed consent process, and (iv) provide guidance regarding the role of independent advocates in the context of HIV‐positive to HIV‐positive transplantation.
Wonder and Moral Education
Authors: Schinkel Anders
Published: June 2018

Many authors have claimed a moral and educational significance for wonder. In this article Anders Schinkel assesses these claims in order to address the question whether we do indeed have reason to stimulate the sense of wonder and to provoke experiences of wonder in education with a view to its moral effects or importance. Are there moral effects of wonder — or does wonder have a moral significance — that give us a (further) reason to promote children's sense of wonder and to attempt to elicit the experience of wonder in children? And if so, will any experience of wonder do, from a moral perspective, or do only some experiences of wonder — in specific contexts, or with a specific object — have the desired effect? Schinkel argues that, although there is certainly a case to be made for wonder's moral (educational) importance, it needs to be made cautiously. Wonder coheres more easily with some emotions and attitudes than with others, but in the end its moral significance depends to a large extent on how we interpret or make sense of our wonder and what we wonder at. In moral education, therefore, the value of wonder depends on how it is framed and morally charged.
Abiotic triggers for sea and river lamprey spawning migration and juvenile outmigration in the River Rhine, Germany
Authors: Baer Jan , Hartmann Frank , Brinker Alexander
Published: June 2018

The activity patterns of migrating lampreys (sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus and river lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis) are poorly understood. This study uses extensive screening data from the cooling water intake of a nuclear power plant on the River Rhine, Germany, gathered on 1308 days over 46 consecutive months between 2011 and 2014. More than 34,000 lampreys were retrieved, of which the great majority (99.9%) were outmigrating nonfeeding postmetamorphic individuals. The main factors controlling outmigration were season, water temperature and river discharge. The bulk of downstream migration was observed each year in spring at water temperatures between 9 and 12°C, with earlier migrations during significant discharge peaks between December and February. The migration activity of postmetamorphic individuals declined during summer and autumn, regardless of discharge. Turbidity increased the occurrence of postmetamorphic lampreys and supported diurnal migration, which accounted for nearly 20% of all lamprey records. In winter, outmigrating individuals of both species exhibited significantly longer body lengths than those detected during other seasons. Haematophagus postmetamorphic sea lampreys were also retrieved (n = 28) and represent the most upstream records of parasitically feeding sea lamprey detected thus far. Adult lampreys migrating upstream were found mainly in spring, but in very low numbers, indicating high prespawning mortalities. The study points to a challenging future for the protection of lampreys in this area: the long duration and the round‐the‐clock nature of the observed migration demand flexible solutions to realise safe operational windows for water intake stations and to minimise impacts on juvenile lampreys.
Spatial and temporal variation in fish community structure and diversity in the largest tropical flood‐pulse system of South‐East Asia
Authors: Ngor Peng Bun , Grenouillet Gaël , Phem Sea , So Nam , Lek Sovan
Published: June 2018

The Tonle Sap River and Lake (TSRL) is South‐East Asia's largest tropical flood pulse with a flow‐reversal system that supports one of the world's largest freshwater fisheries. However, among the world's tropical floodplains, the resources of the TSRL have received little ecological research. Here, we described the spatiotemporal TSRL fish diversity and community variation using daily records from 2012 to 2015 on fish abundance from six sites covering the TSRL system. We found that high fish diversity occurred in sites located in the middle of Tonle Sap Lake, and the lowest diversity was observed in the southern section. The spatial abundance distribution patterns displayed a river–lake gradient, with three fish assemblages that were clustered based on their composition similarities and were characterised by 96 indicator species. In the southern section, fish assemblages were characterised by longitudinal migratory fishes; in contrast, in the middle system, fish assemblages were represented by species with combined ecological attributes (i.e. longitudinal and lateral migratory species and floodplain residents). Towards the northern section, fish assemblages were composed of lateral migratory and floodplain resident species. Species richness and abundance peaked at approximately 2–2.5 and 4 months, respectively, after the peak flow in early October, during which Tonle Sap River resumes its normal flow direction (outflow). This suggests that seasonal flood pulses (i.e. rising and falling water levels) play a pivotal role in structuring spatiotemporal variation in the TSRL fish assemblages. Our study has implications for fisheries monitoring and conservation initiatives.
Fish community response to environmental variations in an impacted Neotropical basin
Authors: Silveira Estevan Luiz da , Ballester Eduardo Luis Cupertino , Costa Karine Andréa da , Scheffer Elizabeth Weinhardt de Oliveira , Vaz‐dos‐Santos André Martins
Published: June 2018

Fish communities’ organisation is a challenging task due to global, local and temporal variations related to biotic and abiotic factors, highlighting anthropic activities. The Verde River Basin (VRB) was chosen as a model to the fish community study due to its complexity, presenting a longitudinal gradient of degradation. The ichthyofauna and abiotic factors were sampled during twelve months in four sites. Analyses employed rarefaction curves with Hill numbers estimators and canonical correspondence analysis. The endemic Apareiodon sp. (not described), Hypostomus albopunctatus, H. strigaticeps, Oligosarcus paranensis, Neoplecostomus yapo and Trichomycterus diabolus were associated with structurally complex and well‐preserved environments. In contrary, Astyanax aff. fasciatus, Corydoras ehrhardti, Geophagus brasiliensis, H. ancistroides and Phalloceros harpagos showed tolerance to impacted environments. The methods here employed allowed to identify and explain differences in the ichthyofauna structure, distinguishing the influence of spatial, temporal and human effects on the fish communities.
Evaluating the effectiveness of a preclinical practice of tooth preparation using digital training system: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Liu L. , Li J. , Yuan S. , Wang T. , Chu F. , Lu X. , Hu J. , Wang C. , Yan B. , Wang L.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of preclinical training on ceramic crown preparation using digital training system compared with traditional training method.

Materials and methods

A sample of 66 participating fourth‐year undergraduate dental students were randomly assigned to one of two groups for ceramic crown preparation: experimental group as trained using digital method with Online Peer‐Review System (OPRS) and Real‐time Dental Training and Evaluation System (RDTES); control group as trained using traditional method with instructor demonstration and evaluation. At the completion of training periods, both groups performed the preparation of ceramic crown of upper left central incisor, which were blindly scored by the experienced instructors under the pre‐defined assessment criteria. The results of both were compared using Student's t‐test or Wilcoxon signed rank test. The level of significance was P < .05. The questionnaires regarding the benefits or drawbacks of digital training system were answered by the students of experimental group.

Results

Five of 15 items in the assessment outcome of the digital group were significantly better than the traditional group. The questionnaire results from the students of the experimental group indicated 96.97% of the students agreed or strongly agreed that using digital training system could better improve the practical ability than traditional method. The total scores of practical results were significantly positively correlated with the points of the questionnaires.

Conclusion

The digital training system with OPRS and RDTES might be a good alternative to the traditional training method in the preclinical course of dental practice.
Differential leukocyte counts on admission predict outcomes in patients with acute ischaemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis
Authors: Malhotra K. , Goyal N. , Chang J. J. , Broce M. , Pandhi A. , Kerro A. , Shahripour R. B. , Alexandrov A. V. , Tsivgoulis G.
Published: June 2018

Background and purpose

To determine the association of differential leukocyte counts on admission with efficacy and safety outcomes in patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT).

Methods

Consecutive patients with AIS receiving IVT were evaluated at two stroke centers. Differential leukocyte counts and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (NLR) were determined during the initial 12 h of admission. Efficacy outcomes were favorable functional outcome (FFO) (modified Rankin Scale scores of 0–1) and functional independence (FI) (modified Rankin Scale scores of 0–2) at 3 months, whereas safety outcomes were symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and 3‐month mortality.

Results

Among 657 IVT‐treated patients with AIS, the mean age was 64 ± 14 years, 50% were female and median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 7 points (interquartile range, 4–13). Lower neutrophil and leukocyte counts and NLR counts were observed in patients with 3‐month FFO and FI, whereas higher counts were observed in patients who died at 3 months. The best discriminative factors for 3‐month FFO and FI were NLR < 2.2 (sensitivity 51.4%, specificity 63.1%) and leukocyte count <8100/μL (sensitivity 57.5%, specificity 55.1%), respectively. After adjustment for potential confounders, NLR < 2.2 was associated with higher odds of FFO [odds ratio (OR), 1.56; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.08–2.24; P = 0.018], whereas leukocyte count <8100/μL demonstrated higher odds of 3‐month FI (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.11–2.57; P = 0.014) and lower odds of 3‐month mortality (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.16–0.60; P = 0.001). Combined neutrophil (<6800/μL) and leukocyte (<8100/μL) counts demonstrated a strong interaction for 3‐month FI (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.13–2.67; P interaction = 0.012).

Conclusions

Differential leukocyte counts on admission were independently associated with clinical outcomes in patients with AIS treated with IVT. These inflammatory biomarkers are potential targets for adjunctive neuroprotection in this stroke subgroup.
Effect of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on healing of temporomandibular joints in rats with induced rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: El Qashty Rana M. N. , Mohamed Nesreen N. , Radwan Lobna R. S. , Ibrahim Fatma M. M.
Published: June 2018

The healing capacity of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) has been evaluated in various studies. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of BMMSCs on the healing of temporomandibular joints (TMJs) with induced rheumatoid arthritis. Fifty healthy male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into three groups: group I (n = 10), negative control; group II (n = 20), positive control (induction of arthritis by adjuvant followed by intravenous injection of 0.1 ml of PBS); and group III (n = 20), intervention (as for group II but injected intravenously with 1 × 106 cells ml−1of BMMSCs suspended in PBS). Half of the rats in each group were euthanized 3 wk after the start of the experiment and the other half was euthanized after 5 wk. Group I revealed normal TMJ features. Group II showed thickening of disc, thinning of cartilage, disordered bone trabeculae, and decreased in mean % area staining positive of collagen fibers at 3 wk, while at 5 wk these effects were more aggravated. Group III showed nearly normal thickness of disc and condylar cartilage, nearly normal arrangement of bone trabeculae and regenerated collagen fibers at 3 wk, while after 5 wk the TMJ features were almost normal. Two‐wayanovarevealed statistically significant differences between groups. Thus, treatment of induced rheumatoid arthritis with BMMSCs shows promising results that need to be further investigated in humans.
Genetic algorithm supported by expert system to solve land redistribution problem
Authors: Haklı Hüseyin , Uğuz Harun , Çay Tayfun
Published: June 2018

Land redistribution, a real‐world optimization problem, involves the distribution of land parcels in predetermined blocks based on the landowners' preferences. This process, measured in weeks or months, is usually performed manually by a technician with the support of computer software. Although various techniques have been developed in recent years to solve this complex problem, they all require improvement. This study aimed to develop a new technique and produce applicable redistribution plans using a genetic algorithm (GA) in combination with an expert system. Blocks of cadastral parcels were determined by a GA using a new objective function to consider the overflow and residual areas as well as the landowners' preferences. The expert system was employed to close (reduce to zero) the overflow or residual areas occurring after the GA distribution. To investigate the performance of the proposed method, the system was used on a real study area and the results were compared against those obtained for the same cadastral situation undertaken by a technician using a similar method from published literature. The experimental results showed that the method proposed in this study performed better than the other methods because it provided a successful and applicable redistribution plan for the study area in a much shorter time.
Fisheries in life cycle assessment: Operational factors for biotic resources depletion
Authors: Hélias Arnaud , Langlois Juliette , Fréon Pierre
Published: June 2018

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is the normed and international framework for assessing the environmental impacts of most human activities. LCA is commonly used to assess various aspects of fisheries but is only at the onset for estimating impacts of fish removal. This study proposes original characterization factors (CFs) to quantify impacts on biotic resources using the mass of fish caught. This mid‐point assessment occurs in impact pathways leading to “natural resources,” one of the three areas of protection in LCA, and thus fisheries can be compared according to the depleted stock fraction. CFs are defined by the marginal approach applied to the Schaefer model, representing the dynamics of the stocks. They combine catches, current biomass and maximum intrinsic growth rates, determined from the application of the CMSY algorithm (Froese et al. (2017), Fish Fish, 18, 506) with FAO and FishBase data. A multistock CF is also proposed and used for multispecies‐stocks. CFs for the 4,993 stocks defined from global FAO areas are obtained and sorted according to the robustness of the model hypotheses. CF values among stocks generally tend to decrease when fish catches increase because high catches are generally associated with abundant stocks. Multispecies‐stocks CFs for the northeast Atlantic Ocean are compared to ICES‐based CFs and are reliable for the main fished stocks. With this simple and generic structure, this operational fish resource depletion potential could be extended to other biotic resources.
How to organize secondary capital city regions: Institutional drivers of locational policy coordination
Authors: Kaufmann David , Sager Fritz
Published: June 2018

We analyze locational policy coordination in the metropolitan regions of secondary capital cities. Secondary capital cities—defined as capitals that are not the primary economic city of their nation states—serve as the political center of their nation states; however, they must simultaneously explore new ways to develop their own regional economies. Locational policies, and their regional coordination, aim to strengthen the economic competitiveness of metropolitan regions. Our comparison of the metropolitan regions of Bern, Ottawa–Gatineau, The Hague, and Washington, D.C., reveals that vertical institutional fragmentation, together with high local tax autonomy, create an unlevel playing field, which prompts jurisdictions to behave fiercely in regional tax competition. These findings are troubling for secondary capital cities given their propensity to be located in fragmented metropolitan regions and the capital city‐specific local tax autonomy constraints imposed on them.
Liver stiffness reduction and serum fibrosis score improvement in HIV/hepatitis C virus‐coinfected patients treated with direct‐acting antivirals
Authors: Fabbri G , Mastrorosa I , Vergori A , Timelli L , Lorenzini P , Zaccarelli M , Cicalini S , Bellagamba R , Plazzi MM , Mazzotta V , Antinori A , Ammassari A
Published: June 2018

Objectives

Only a few studies have addressed liver stiffness dynamics after hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment in patients with HIV/HCV coinfection. The aim was to evaluate the variation in liver stiffness and in serum liver fibrosis scores in HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients before and after treatment with direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs).

Methods

Liver stiffness measured using transient elastography as well as serum liver fibrosis scores [fibrosis‐4 (FIB‐4) score and the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI)] were evaluated before and at 6–12 months after DAA treatment. Variation in the outcome variables was evaluated using the Wilcoxon nonparametric test. Univariate analysis and multivariate regression models were used.

Results

A total of 78 HIV/HCV‐coinfected subjects were included in the study. Median values of hepatic stiffness significantly decreased after DAA treatment compared with baseline [16.8 (interquartile range (IQR) 10.2–27.0) kPa at baseline vs. 9.4 (IQR 6.7–15.0) kPa after DAA treatment; P < 0.01). Further, a decrease in median FIB‐4 score [2.8 (IQR 1.5–4.8) vs. 2.0 (IQR 1.3–3.2), respectively; P < 0.01] and APRI [0.9 (IQR 0.5–2.2) vs. 0.4 (IQR 0.2–0.7), respectively; P < 0.01] was found. In univariate analysis, liver stiffness decrease was associated with increasing age, ‘other’ HCV genotype (vs. G1), the presence of cirrhosis, higher pre‐DAA liver stiffness, sofosbuvir‐based regimens and longer DAA treatment (all P < 0.05). Multivariate regression confirmed the significance of the association only with higher baseline liver stiffness (P < 0.01). Greater FIB‐4 and APRI reductions were associated with higher respective baseline values, while the presence of hepatic steatosis correlated with lower score reduction after DAA.

Conclusions

A reduction in liver stiffness and an improvement in fibrosis scores were observed in HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients soon after DAA treatment. The clinical implications of these observations need to be evaluated in larger populations with longer follow‐up.
Performance assessment and definition of improvement paths for microfinance institutions: an application to a network of village banks in Cameroon
Authors: Piot‐Lepetit Isabelle , Nzongang Joseph
Published: June 2018

The objective of this paper is an assessment of the financial and social performance of a network of village banks in Cameroon and the provision of data‐driven guidance to managers helping them in their decision‐making process. An analysis framework in three stages is developed. First, a data envelopment analysis (DEA) is implemented for measuring efficiency, identifying best practices, and setting goals to less efficient microfinance institutions. Then, a DEA operating frontiers (DEA‐OF) model is designed to identify improvement paths setting short‐term goals toward their long‐term DEA objective and providing effective and time‐dependent guidance to managers in their efficiency improvement process. Finally, DEA and DEA‐OF results are translated into financial and nonfinancial indicators daily used by managers through three different and interrelated scorecards. Results of this third stage are used for identifying village banks ready for the new phase of development of the network aiming to fund community projects.
Increasing pre‐acclimation temperature reduces the freezing tolerance of winter‐type faba bean (Vicia faba L.)
Authors: Landry Erik J. , Hu Jinguo
Published: June 2018

Autumn‐sown winter‐type faba bean (Vicia faba L.) has been shown to have a yield advantage over spring sowing. Still, adoption of this overwintered pulse crop remains limited in temperate locations, due to inadequate winter hardiness. This research sought to understand how the prevailing temperature during emergence and seedling development, that is pre‐acclimation, influences freezing tolerance. Seedlings grown under a controlled “warm” 17/12°C (day/night) pre‐acclimation environment were initially less freezing tolerant than those grown under a “cold” 12/5°C temperature treatment. Stem and particularly root tissues were primarily responsible for slower cold acclimation, and there was a genotype specific response of above‐ground tissues to pre‐acclimation treatment. Both above and below‐ground tissues should be tested across a range of pre‐acclimation temperatures when screening faba bean germplasm for freezing tolerance.
Kinetics of microwave synthesis of AlN by carbothermal‐reduction‐nitridation at low temperature
Authors: Chikami Hideaki , Fukushima Jun , Hayashi Yamato , Takizawa Hirotsugu
Published: June 2018

Aluminum nitride (AlN) was synthesized at 1000‐1400°C from a mixture of alumina and carbon powders using 2.45 GHz microwaves in a N2 atmosphere. High nitridation ratios (>0.90) were obtained in the temperature range 1200‐1400°C. The apparent activation energy of the carbothermal reduction and nitridation (CRN) reaction using 2.45 GHz microwave irradiation was calculated from the nitridation ratio. The value obtained, 79.9 kJ/mol, is 11% of the energy reported for conventional synthesis using α‐Al2O3 as the raw material. This result indicates that 2.45 GHz microwave irradiation could promote the kinetics of the CRN reaction, and AlN could be effectively synthesized at low temperature.