bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impaired Orthostatic Blood Pressure Recovery Is Associated with Unexplained and Injurious Falls
Authors: Finucane Ciarán , O'Connell Matthew D. L. , Donoghue Orna , Richardson Kathryn , Savva George M. , Kenny Rose Anne
Published: March 2017

Objectives

Cardiovascular disorders are recognized as important modifiable risk factors for falls. However, the association between falls and orthostatic hypotension (OH) remains ambivalent, particularly because of poor measurement methods of previous studies. The goal was to determine for the first time to what extent OH (and variants) are risk factors for incident falls, unexplained falls (UF), injurious falls (IF) and syncope using dynamic blood pressure (BP) measurements in a population study.

Design

Nationally representative longitudinal cohort study–The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)–wave 1 (2009–2011) with 2‐year follow‐up at wave 2 (2012–2013).

Setting

Community‐dwelling adults.

Participants

Four thousand one hundred twenty‐seven participants were randomly sampled from the population of older adults aged ≥50 years resident in Ireland.

Measurements

Continuous BP recordings measured during active stands were analyzed. OH and variants (initial OH and impaired orthostatic BP stabilization OH(40)) were defined using dynamic BP measurements. Associations with the number of falls, UF, IF, and syncope reported 2 years later were assessed using negative binomial and modified Poisson regression as appropriate.

Results

Participants had a mean age of 61.5 (8.2) years (54.2% female). OH(40) was associated with increased relative risk of UF (RR: 1.52 95% CI: 1.03–2.26). OH was associated with all‐cause falls (IRR: 1.40 95% CI: 1.01–1.96), UF(RR: 1.81 95% CI: 1.06–3.09), and IF(RR: 1.58 95% CI: 1.12–2.24). IOH was not associated with any outcome.

Conclusion

With the exception of initial orthostatic hypotension, beat‐to‐beat measures of impaired orthostatic BP recovery (delayed recovery OH (40) or sustained orthostatic hypotension OH) are independent risk factors for future falls, unexplained falls, and injurious falls.
Creation of an Interprofessional Teledementia Clinic for Rural Veterans: Preliminary Data
Authors: Powers Becky B. , Homer Marcia C. , Morone Natalia , Edmonds Natali , Rossi Michelle I.
Published: March 2017

The teledementia clinic is a new model of care that expands the reach of specialized geriatric and dementia care using clinical video telehealth (CVT) to rural veterans, who frequently lack access to specialty care. The clinic is a Veterans Affairs (VA) Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center clinical demonstration project. It is located in the Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System tertiary referral hospital and serves veterans in affiliated rural community‐based outpatient clinics (CBOCs). Rural CBOC primary care providers refer clinic patients, or referral is according to previous cognitive impairment diagnosis in a VAPHS geriatric clinic. Patients undergo interprofessional dementia assessment by a geriatrician, geropsychologist, geriatric psychiatrist or neurologist, and social worker using CVT technology. Metrics for clinic evaluation included rural patients served and savings in travel time, distance, and costs. Assessments collected depended upon individual presentation and included cognitive tests, geriatric depression scales, functional assessment, and the Zarit Burden Interview. A patient satisfaction survey was created and administered. In the first year, 95 individuals were served in 156 clinic visits and 251 interprofessional provider encounters. Of patients served, 61 lived in rural ZIP codes, 72 were diagnosed with dementia, 19 were diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, and four were found to have primarily psychiatric diagnoses rather than cognitive impairment. The average Functional Assessment Staging of Alzheimer's Disease Scale score was 4.3 ± 1.3. This clinic model demonstrates that CVT technology is a feasible means of providing interprofessional dementia evaluations and follow‐up to rural presidents.
Prevalence, types and associations of medically unexplained symptoms and signs. A cross‐sectional study of 1023 adults with intellectual disabilities
Authors: Osugo M. , Morrison J. , Allan L. , Kinnear D. , Cooper S.‐A.
Published: March 2017

Background

Medically unexplained symptoms and signs are common in the general population and can respond to appropriate managements. We aimed to quantify the types and prevalence of unexplained symptoms and signs experienced by adults with ID and to determine the associated factors.

Method

In a population‐based study, 1023 adults with ID aged 16 and over had a detailed health assessment, which systematically considered symptoms and signs. Descriptive data were generated on their symptoms and signs. Backwards stepwise logistic modelling was undertaken to determine the factors independently associated with the unexplained symptoms.

Results

Medically unexplained symptoms and signs were present in 664 (64.9%), 3.8 times higher than in the general population, and 470 (45.9%) had multiple unexplained symptoms or signs. Some were similar to those reported in the general population, such as dyspnoea, dyspepsia, headache, nausea and dizziness. However, others are not commonly reported in the general population, including dysphagia, ataxia, polyuria, oedema and skin rash. Having unexplained symptoms and signs was independently associated with older age, female gender, not having Down syndrome, extent of ID and more GP visits in the last 12 months. It was not associated with living in deprived areas, type of living/support arrangements, number of hospital visit in the last 12 months, smoking, autism, problem behaviours or mental disorders.

Conclusions

People with ID have substantial additional unexplained symptoms and signs, some of which are painful or disabling. These findings should inform the content of health checks undertaken for adults with intellectual disabilities, which should not just focus on management of their long‐term conditions and health promotion.
Comparative assessment of 6‐[18F]fluoro‐L‐m‐tyrosine and 6‐[18F]fluoro‐L‐dopa to evaluate dopaminergic presynaptic integrity in a Parkinson's disease rat model
Authors: Becker Guillaume , Bahri Mohamed Ali , Michel Anne , Hustadt Fabian , Garraux Gaëtan , Luxen André , Lemaire Christian , Plenevaux Alain
Published: March 2017

Because of the progressive loss of nigro‐striatal dopaminergic terminals in Parkinson's disease (PD), in vivo quantitative imaging of dopamine (DA) containing neurons in animal models of PD is of critical importance in the preclinical evaluation of highly awaited disease‐modifying therapies. Among existing methods, the high sensitivity of positron emission tomography (PET) is attractive to achieve that goal. The aim of this study was to perform a quantitative comparison of brain images obtained in 6‐hydroxydopamine (6‐OHDA) lesioned rats using two dopaminergic PET radiotracers, namely [18F]fluoro‐3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl‐L‐alanine ([18F]FDOPA) and 6‐[18F]fluoro‐L‐m‐tyrosine ([18F]FMT). Because the imaging signal is theoretically less contaminated by metabolites, we hypothesized that the latter would show stronger relationship with behavioural and post‐mortem measures of striatal dopaminergic deficiency. We used a within‐subject design to measure striatal [18F]FMT and [18F]FDOPA uptake in eight partially lesioned, eight fully lesioned and ten sham‐treated rats. Animals were pretreated with an L‐aromatic amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor. A catechol‐O‐methyl transferase inhibitor was also given before [18F]FDOPA PET. Quantitative estimates of striatal uptake were computed using conventional graphical Patlak method. Striatal dopaminergic deficiencies were measured with apomorphine‐induced rotations and post‐mortem striatal DA content. We observed a strong relationship between [18F]FMT and [18F]FDOPA estimates of decreased uptake in the denervated striatum using the tissue‐derived uptake rate constant Kc. However, only [18F]FMT Kc succeeded to discriminate between the partial and the full 6‐OHDA lesion and correlated well with the post‐mortem striatal DA content. This study indicates that the [18F]FMT could be more sensitive, with respect of [18F]FDOPA, to investigate DA terminals loss in 6‐OHDA rats, and open the way to in vivo L‐aromatic amino acid decarboxylase activity targeting in future investigations on progressive PD models.

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The impact of EU Objective 1 funds on regional development: Evidence from the U.K. and the prospect of Brexit
Authors: Di Cataldo Marco
Published: March 2017

Brexit means that regions of the United Kingdom will lose access to the EU Cohesion Policy. Have EU funds been effective, and what might be the consequences of an interruption of EU financial support? This paper studies the impact of “Objective 1” funding—the highest form of EU aid—in Cornwall and South Yorkshire, two of the U.K.’s most subsidized regions. Counterfactual methodologies assessing their labor market and economic performance provide evidence of a positive effect of EU Objective 1 funds. When in 2006 South Yorkshire lost Objective 1 eligibility, this massively reduced its share of EU funds and the region was unable to sustain the gains obtained in previous years. This suggests that while Structural Funds may be effectively improving socio‐economic conditions of poorer regions, the performance of subsidized areas could be deeply affected by a reduction (or worse, an interruption) of EU aid.
Integral occurrence probability: combining cover and relative shoot frequencies based on bounded point‐to‐plant distances
Authors: Van Calster Hans , Damgaard Christian
Published: March 2017

Aims

To introduce a new distance‐based field method for (herbaceous, terrestrial) plant species that relates cover to relative shoot frequency as a continuous process of occurrence probabilities and to explain how these data can be analysed.

Methods

We propose to measure shortest distances from a sample of sampling points to the nearest above‐ground part of plant species (up to a maximum search distance). We show how, after appropriate transformation of the point‐to‐plant distances to a 0–1 interval scale, cover as well as relative shoot frequency at any area up to the searched area can be read from the same curve. This leads to the notion of an integral occurrence probability, which we propose as a new species abundance measure. For estimation and regression modelling we make use of the zero‐and‐one inflated beta distribution. We supply all code required for these analyses.

Results

Simulations of plant distribution patterns showed that the integral occurrence probability is able to differentiate between plant abundance patterns that differed in terms of relative cover, density and type of spatial distribution pattern. It is more sensitive to these differences than either cover or relative shoot frequency alone. The method allows summing occurrence probabilities over species to predict expected species richness as a function of the area searched. Aggregation across species, while accounting for overlap in species spatial distributions, is a simple matter of taking the minimum among the point‐to‐plant distances at each sampling point. The latter was demonstrated with data from a field trial in Nardetea grassland.

Conclusions

The method could be a viable alternative for currently employed field methods, such as visual cover estimates, point‐intercept sampling and recording the frequency of plant species in equal‐area plots. Applications include, but are not limited to, conservation management monitoring and ground‐truthing of remote sensing data.
Optimising sampling methods for small mammal communities in Neotropical rainforests
Authors: Bovendorp Ricardo S. , MCCleery Robert A. , Galetti Mauro
Published: March 2017

Quantifying mammalian biodiversity is a critical yet daunting challenge, particularly in species‐rich ecosystems. Non‐volant small mammals account for >60% of the mammalian diversity and often require several survey methods to estimate their species richness and abundance, because of differences in their size and behaviour.

Using 117 studies at 278 sites in a species‐rich biome, the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, we determined the influence of trap configuration, trap type, and sampling effort on measures of species richness and abundance.

We used generalised linear mixed‐effects models to determine which methodological approaches influenced estimates of species richness and abundance at the sampling sites. We used estimates of beta (β) to determine which methods improved species richness and abundance estimates, and generated predicted values for the overall species richness as a function of trap configuration (line transect, grid, or both), trap type (pitfall traps, live‐traps or both), and sampling effort (number of trap‐nights).

Our results indicated that sites in which pitfall traps alone were used generated higher estimates of the overall small mammal species richness and abundance, and rodent abundance, than sites in which only live‐traps were used. Sites in which pitfall traps alone were used also produced higher estimates of species richness and abundance, and rodent species richness and abundance, than sites in which both trap types were used. Increased sampling effort led to increased estimates of species richness, but sites in which pitfall traps were used alone or together with live‐traps had higher estimates of species richness with less sampling effort than sites in which live‐traps only were used. Using pitfall traps greatly reduced the number of trap‐nights necessary to obtain a good estimate of small mammal species richness in a community.

We found no influence of trap configuration (line transects or grids) on estimates of species richness, but the abundance of rodents was estimated to be higher in sites where both line transects and grids were used, than in sites where only one trap configuration was used.

Our review shows the importance of using pitfall traps in research, monitoring, and environmental impact studies on species‐rich small mammal communities.
HIV‐positive Malawian women with young children prefer overweight body sizes and link underweight body size with inability to exclusively breastfeed
Authors: Croffut Samantha E. , Hamela Gloria , Mofolo Innocent , Maman Suzanne , Hosseinipour Mina C. , Hoffman Irving F. , Bentley Margaret E. , Flax Valerie L.
Published: March 2017

Before the prevention of mother‐to‐child transmission (PMTCT) program was widely implemented in Malawi, HIV‐positive women associated exclusive breastfeeding with accelerated disease progression and felt that an HIV‐positive woman could more successfully breastfeed if she had a larger body size. The relationship between breastfeeding practices and body image perceptions has not been explored in the context of the Option B+ PMTCT program, which offers lifelong antiretroviral therapy. We conducted in‐depth interviews with 64 HIV‐positive women in Lilongwe District, Malawi to investigate body size perceptions, how perceptions of HIV and body size influence infant feeding practices, and differences in perceptions among women in PMTCT and those lost to follow‐up. Women were asked about current, preferred, and healthy body size perceptions using nine body image silhouettes of varying sizes, and vignettes about underweight and overweight HIV‐positive characters were used to elicit discussion of breastfeeding practices. More than 80% of women preferred an overweight, obese, or morbidly obese silhouette, and most women (83%) believed that an obese or morbidly obese silhouette was healthy. Although nearly all women believed that an HIV‐positive overweight woman could exclusively breastfeed, only about half of women thought that an HIV‐positive underweight woman could exclusively breastfeed. These results suggest that perceptions of body size may influence beliefs about a woman's ability to breastfeed. Given the preference for large body sizes and the association between obesity and risk of noncommunicable diseases, we recommend that counseling and health education for HIV‐positive Malawian women focus on culturally sensitive healthy weight messaging and its relationship with breastfeeding practices.
Warm–cold colonization: response of oaks to uplift of the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains
Authors: Meng Hong‐Hu , Su Tao , Gao Xiao‐Yang , Li Jie , Jiang Xiao‐Long , Sun Hang , Zhou Zhe‐Kun
Published: March 2017

Clarifying the relationship between distribution patterns of organisms and geological events is critical to understanding the impact of environmental changes on organismal evolution. Quercus sect. Heterobalanus is now distributed across the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains (HHM) and warm lowland in East China, yet how the distribution patterns of this group changed in response to the HHM uplift remains largely unknown. This study examines the effect of tectonic events in the HHM region on the oaks, providing a biological perspective on the geological history of this region. Fifty‐six populations of Quercus sect. Heterobalanus were genotyped using four chloroplast DNA regions and nine nuclear simple sequence repeat loci to assess population structure and diversity, supplemented by molecular dating and ancestral area reconstructions. The underlying demographic dynamics were compared using ecological niche models of the species distributions during the last glacial maximum and the present. These analyses illustrate that Quercus sect. Heterobalanus diversified as the HHM uplifted and climatic cooling during the mid‐Miocene, colonizing the cold habitats from warm broadleaf mixed forests. Lineages in cold highlands and warm lowlands have diverged as a consequence of local adaptation to diverging climates since the late Miocene. Our results suggest that continuous uplift of the HHM in the late Miocene to early Pliocene accompanied by simultaneous cooling triggered the differentiation of oaks. The biogeography of Quercus sect. Heterobalanus illuminates the geological events responsible for the modern‐day HHM.
Paracoccidioidomycosis infection in domestic and wild mammals by Paracoccidioides lutzii
Authors: Mendes Josiara F. , Klafke Gabriel B. , Albano Ana Paula N. , Cabana Ângela L. , Teles Alessandra J. , de Camargo Zoilo P. , Xavier Melissa O. , Meireles Mário Carlos A.
Published: March 2017

Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a systemic mycosis that occurs in several Latin American countries, especially in Brazil. It is caused by the thermo‐dimorphic fungus Paracoccidioides spp. Serological studies to detect animal infection represent an excellent strategy for data on the agent's ecology. Although the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) is an endemic area for PCM in humans, there is scarce information available on the ecology of the agent in the region. This study aimed to investigate the infection by Paracoccidioides lutzii in animals living in RS, Brazil. A total of 85 wild mammals, 200 horses and 196 domestic dogs, previously tested for infection by P. brasiliensis, were included in this study. Serum samples from the animals were tested by ELISA to detect anti‐ P. lutzii antibodies. From the 481 animals tested, 105 (21.8%) were seropositive for IgG anti‐P. lutzii. Of these, 54 were also positive for P. brasiliensis. A total of 11 horses (10.5%), 30 dogs (28.8%) and 10 wild mammals (9.5%) were positive only for P. lutzii (n=51). The detection of anti‐P. lutzii antibodies in animals of RS suggests that the fungus can be found in southern Brazil, despite being described mainly in the midwest and southeast of the country.
Single‐frequency and multi‐frequency bioimpedance analysis: What is the difference?
Authors: Yalin Serkan Feyyaz , Gulcicek Sibel , Avci Suna , Erkalma Senates Banu , Altiparmak Mehmet Riza , Trabulus Sinan , Alagoz Selma , Yavuzer Hakan , Doventas Alper , Seyahi Nurhan
Published: March 2017

Aim

Bioelectrical impedance analysis is a promising method in determining the body compartments in haemodialysis patients. In this study, we aimed to investigate the agreement between two widely used methods: the single‐frequency and multi‐frequency bioelectrical impedance analyses.

Methods

Maintenance haemodialysis patients were enrolled in the study. Single‐frequency and multi‐frequency bioelectrical impedance analyses were performed consecutively before haemodialysis. A second bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed right after the haemodialysis session. A third bioelectrical impedance analysis was performed one hour after haemodialysis. We used weight change as a measure of fluid removal during haemodialysis session.

Results

Bioelectrical impedance analysis estimates from both devices had significant differences. Best agreement was observed between single frequency and multifrequency devices’ extracellular water estimates immediately after haemodialysis (mean difference 0.076 L). We found the best agreement between weight change and extracellular water change using single‐frequency bioimpedance analysis. Moreover, one hour waiting time did not improve the agreement between weight and extracellular water changes for both devices. Different estimates seem to be caused by different raw impedance data measured by both devices and device‐specific equations.

Conclusion

There are significant differences among bioelectrical impedance measurements performed with different bioelectrical impedance analyzers. Using open source software might be an important step forward in the development of standardized measurements.
Physiological and structural tradeoffs underlying the leaf economics spectrum
Authors: Onoda Yusuke , Wright Ian J. , Evans John R. , Hikosaka Kouki , Kitajima Kaoru , Niinemets Ülo , Poorter Hendrik , Tosens Tiina , Westoby Mark
Published: March 2017

The leaf economics spectrum (LES) represents a suite of intercorrelated leaf traits concerning construction costs per unit leaf area, nutrient concentrations, and rates of carbon fixation and tissue turnover. Although broad trade‐offs among leaf structural and physiological traits have been demonstrated, we still do not have a comprehensive view of the fundamental constraints underlying theLEStrade‐offs.

Here, we investigated physiological and structural mechanisms underpinning theLESby analysing a novel data compilation incorporating rarely considered traits such as the dry mass fraction in cell walls, nitrogen allocation, mesophyllCO2diffusion and associated anatomical traits for hundreds of species covering major growth forms.

The analysis demonstrates that cell wall constituents are major components of leaf dry mass (18–70%), especially in leaves with high leaf mass per unit area (LMA) and long lifespan. A greater fraction of leaf mass in cell walls is typically associated with a lower fraction of leaf nitrogen (N) invested in photosynthetic proteins; and lower within‐leafCO2diffusion rates, as a result of thicker mesophyll cell walls.

The costs associated with greater investments in cell walls underpin theLES: long leaf lifespans are achieved via higherLMAand in turn by higher cell wall mass fraction, but this inevitably reduces the efficiency of photosynthesis.
Compensation of corneal oblique astigmatism by internal optics: a theoretical analysis
Authors: Liu Tao , Thibos Larry N.
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Oblique astigmatism is a prominent optical aberration of peripheral vision caused by oblique incidence of rays striking the refracting surfaces of the cornea and crystalline lens. We inquired whether oblique astigmatism from these two sources should be expected, theoretically, to have the same or opposite signs across the visual field at various states of accommodation.

Methods

Oblique astigmatism was computed across the central visual field for a rotationally‐symmetric schematic‐eye using optical design software. Accommodative state was varied by altering the apical radius of curvature and separation of the biconvex lens's two aspheric surfaces in a manner consistent with published biometry. Oblique astigmatism was evaluated separately for the whole eye, the cornea, and the isolated lens over a wide range of surface curvatures and asphericity values associated with the accommodating lens. We also computed internal oblique astigmatism by subtracting corneal oblique astigmatism from whole‐eye oblique astigmatism.

Results

A visual field map of oblique astigmatism for the cornea in the Navarro model follows the classic, textbook description of radially‐oriented axes everywhere in the field. Despite large changes in surface properties during accommodation, intrinsic astigmatism of the isolated human lens for collimated light is also radially oriented and nearly independent of accommodation both in theory and in real eyes. However, the magnitude of ocular oblique astigmatism is smaller than that of the cornea alone, indicating partial compensation by the internal optics. This implies internal oblique astigmatism (which includes wavefront propagation from the posterior surface of the cornea to the anterior surface of the lens and intrinsic lens astigmatism) must have tangentially‐oriented axes. This non‐classical pattern of tangential axes for internal astigmatism was traced to the influence of corneal power on the angles of incidence of rays striking the internal lens.

Conclusions

Partial compensation of corneal astigmatism by internal optics is due mainly to the highly converging nature of wavefronts incident upon the lens resulting from corneal refraction. The degree of compensation is quadratically dependent on eccentricity but is expected to diminish as the eye accommodates. Neutralising the cornea by index‐matching defeats internal compensation, revealing classical, radially‐oriented oblique astigmatism in the isolated lens.
A Case with Juvenile Xanthogranuloma and Progressive Nodular Histiocytosis Overlap
Authors: Guidolin Lucia , Noguera‐Morel Lucero , Hernández‐Martín Angela , Fernández‐Llaca Héctor , Rodríguez‐Peralto José Luis , Torrelo Antonio
Published: March 2017

A patient with overlap between juvenile xanthogranuloma and progressive nodular histiocytosis is presented. He had progressive, superficial, small, yellow‐reddish papules and large dermal nodules, consistent with progressive nodular histiocytosis. Histopathology showed distinctive features of juvenile xanthogranuloma. Our patient reinforces the view that progressive nodular histiocytosis is not a distinct clinical entity, but an evolutionary form of juvenile xanthogranuloma.
A Novel Homozygous Missense Mutation in HOXC13 Leads to Autosomal Recessive Pure Hair and Nail Ectodermal Dysplasia
Authors: Li Xiaoxiao , Orseth Meredith Lee , Smith J. Michael , Brehm Mary Abigail , Agim Nnenna Gebechi , Glass Donald Alexander
Published: March 2017

Pure hair and nail ectodermal dysplasia (PHNED) is a rare disorder that presents with hypotrichosis and nail dystrophy while sparing other ectodermal structures such as teeth and sweat glands. We describe a homozygous novel missense mutation in the HOXC13 gene that resulted in autosomal recessive PHNED in a Hispanic child. The mutation c.812A>G (p.Gln271Arg) is located within the DNA‐binding domain of the HOXC13 gene, cosegregates within the family, and is predicted to be maximally damaging. This is the first reported case of a missense HOXC13 mutation resulting in PHNED and the first reported case of PHNED identified in a North American family. Our findings illustrate the critical role of HOXC13 in human hair and nail development.
Teledermatology as a Means to Provide Multispecialty Care: A Case of Global Specialty Collaboration
Authors: Madu Pamela N. , Chang Aileen Y. , Kayembe Mukendi K. , Kovarik Carrie L.
Published: March 2017

Telemedicine can serve as a platform for specialty collaboration and potentially address the lack of specialized and subspecialized care globally. In this article we present a case in which the use of teledermatology facilitated global collaboration between multiple specialists and subspecialists, resulting in high‐quality care of a child from a remote area of Botswana. We present the lessons learned and factors that should be considered when engaging in global specialty collaboration, especially between developed and developing countries. We also discuss the potential limitations of telemedicine when used within a global context. With these considerations in mind, global specialty collaboration facilitated by telemedicine can provide a potential solution to the lack of access to specialized and subspecialized care.
Usefulness of Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Neonatal Dacryocystocele
Authors: Vázquez‐Osorio Igor , Hernández‐Martín Angela
Published: March 2017

Neonatal dacryocystocele is an uncommon process that may evolve into acute dacryocystitis within the first weeks of life. Neonatal acute dacryocystitis must be treated promptly to avoid potential severe infectious complications. High‐frequency ultrasound is a noninvasive method of diagnosing dacryocystocele, facilitating early therapeutic intervention.
Intragenic Copy Number Variation in the Filaggrin Gene in Ethiopian Patients with Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Fernandez Kerstin , Asad Samina , Taylan Fulya , Wahlgren Carl‐Fredrik , Bilcha Kassahun D. , Nordenskjöld Magnus , Winge Mårten C.G. , Bradley Maria
Published: March 2017

Genetic variants in filaggrin (FLG) involving truncating mutations or intragenic copy number variation are strongly associated with the risk of developing atopic dermatitis (AD) in European and Asian populations. Few loss‐of‐function mutations have been identified in Africans, although an association between FLG copy number variation and AD severity in a small African American cohort has been proposed. We studied the association between FLG copy number and AD in 132 Ethiopians and found no association between AD severity and FLG copy number, suggesting that other, still unidentified genetic factors are of more importance in predisposing Ethiopians to AD.
Seeking help from a female friend: Girls' competencies, friendship features, and intentions
Authors: SEARS HEATHER A. , MCAFEE SUSAN M.
Published: March 2017

Adolescent girls frequently manage problems by seeking help from friends. We examined girls' intentions of seeking help from a female friend and whether these intentions were related to their competencies (emotional competence, self‐disclosure) directly and/or indirectly via specific friendship features (companionship, closeness). Participants included 222 Canadian girls (Grades 9–12) who completed an anonymous survey at school. Results showed that girls had high intentions of seeking help from a female friend and that higher self‐disclosure competence was linked directly to higher intentions. Both competencies were linked indirectly to higher intentions mediated by friendship features. These findings indicate that competencies make help seeking by girls from girls likely in multiple ways and suggest how coping programs can address help seeking in girl–girl friendships.
Situational precursors of revenge: Social exclusion, relationship type, and opportunity
Authors: ELSHOUT MAARTJE , NELISSEN ROB M. A. , VAN BEEST ILJA , ELSHOUT SUZAN , VAN DIJK WILCO W.
Published: March 2017

Little is known about the situational factors that turn feelings of revenge into actual acts of revenge. Addressing this gap in the literature, this study selected a representative sample of people who acted on their feelings of revenge (avengers) and of people who did not (nonavengers), obtaining a reflection of typical antecedents of revenge. Results revealed that avengers did not report more severe offenses. Neither did avengers report less closeness to offenders nor a larger number of audience members toward whom they might want to prove something. Results did reveal that revenge was more prevalent (a) among young, male friends and acquaintances; (b) in contexts involving social exclusion; and (c) if there was a possibility to take revenge.
Feasibility and interpretation of global longitudinal strain imaging in pediatric heart transplant recipients
Authors: Wisotzkey Bethany L. , Jorgensen Neal W. , Albers Erin L. , Kemna Mariska S. , Boucek Robert J. , Kronmal Richard A. , Law Yuk M. , Bhat Aarti H.
Published: March 2017

Evaluation of myocardial mechanics after heart transplant is important in monitoring allograft function and identifying rejection. Speckle tracking global longitudinal strain (GLS) may be more sensitive to early regional changes from rejection. This study aimed to determine feasibility of GLS in pediatric hearts during surveillance echocardiograms, compare their GLS to published norms (−18% to −22%), and assess association of GLS with other indices of graft function. Retrospective review of transplant echocardiograms from 2013 to 2014. Philips QLAB was used for post‐acquisition GLS analysis. Multiple linear regression was used to assess the association of GLS with echocardiographic/catheterization indices, and B‐type natriuretic peptide (BNP). Forty‐seven patients (84 studies) were included. Calculation of GLS was feasible in 82 studies (97%) with inter‐ and intra‐observer variability of 0.71 and 0.69. Patients (n=9) with rejection had GLS of −16.4% (SD=3.5%) compared to those without [−16.8% (SD=3.7%)]. GLS worsened linearly with increasing Ln(BNP) (P=<.001), left ventricular volume in diastole (P=<.001), septal a’ wave (P=<.001), and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (P=<.001). Speckle tracking‐based GLS is feasible and reproducible in pediatric heart recipients and is reduced at baseline. The role of GLS and BNP in detecting early systolic dysfunction warrants further investigation.
A recombinant cystatin from Ascaris lumbricoides attenuates inflammation of DSS‐induced colitis
Authors: Coronado S. , Barrios L. , Zakzuk J. , Regino R. , Ahumada V. , Franco L. , Ocampo Y. , Caraballo L.
Published: March 2017

Helminthiasis may ameliorate inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease and asthma. Information about immunomodulators from Ascaris lumbricoides is scarce, but could be important considering the co‐evolutionary relationships between helminths and humans. We evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of a recombinant cystatin from A. lumbricoides on an acute model of dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)‐induced colitis in mice. From an A. lumbricoides cDNA library, we obtained a recombinant cystatin (rAl‐CPI). Protease activity inhibition was demonstrated on cathepsin B and papain. Immunomodulatory effects were evaluated at two intraperitoneal doses (0.5 and 0.25 μg/G) on mice with DSS‐induced colitis. Body weight, colon length, Disease Activity Index (DAI), histological inflammation score, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, gene expression of cytokines and cytokines levels in colon tissue were analysed. Treatment with rAl‐CPI significantly reduced DAI, MPO activity and inflammation score without toxic effects. Also, IL‐10 and TGF‐B gene overexpression was observed in rAl‐CPI‐treated group compared to DSS‐exposed control and healthy mice. Furthermore, a reduction in IL‐6 and TNF‐A expression was found, and this was confirmed by the levels of these cytokines in colonic tissue. In conclusion, rAl‐CPI reduces inflammation in a mouse model of DSS‐induced colitis, probably by increasing the expression of anti‐inflammatory cytokines and reducing pro‐inflammatory ones.
The honeybee Apis mellifera contributes to Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus spread via pollination
Authors: Darzi E. , Smith E. , Shargil D. , Lachman O. , Ganot L. , Dombrovsky A.
Published: March 2017

The tobamovirus Cucumber green mottle mosaic virus (CGMMV) is efficiently transmitted between plants by mechanical contact. So far, no clear evidence has been reported regarding the transmission potential of the virus by beneficial pollinator insects. This study examined the capability of the well‐known pollinator honeybee Apis mellifera to transmit CGMMV in cucurbits using melon and cucumber plants as a model. In order to provide a clear answer to that question, five experiments were designed on various scales performed under three environmental conditions. The results show that under protected cropping conditions, CGMMV is transmitted by the honeybees. The location of the beehive in relation to both the CGMMV primary inoculum source and the healthy plants during honeybee foraging plays an important role in the efficiency of CGMMV spread. Furthermore, in the presence of early stage CGMMV‐inoculated plants, the efficiency of CGMMV spread to uninoculated plants placed on the honeybees’ path to the beehive may increase. To the authors’ knowledge, CGMMV transmission by honeybees has not yet been shown, and this study can be adopted for other tobamovirus related research.
Diversity of strategies for escaping reactive oxygen species production within photosystem I among land plants: P700 oxidation system is prerequisite for alleviating photoinhibition in photosystem I
Authors: Takagi Daisuke , Ishizaki Kimitsune , Hanawa Hitomi , Mabuchi Tomohito , Shimakawa Ginga , Yamamoto Hiroshi , Miyake Chikahiro
Published: March 2017

In land plants, photosystem I (PSI) photoinhibition limits carbon fixation and causes growth defects. In addition, recovery from PSI photoinhibition takes much longer than PSII photoinhibition when the PSI core‐complex is degraded by oxidative damage. Accordingly, PSI photoinhibition should be avoided in land plants, and land plants should have evolved mechanisms to prevent PSI photoinhibition. However, such protection mechanisms have not yet been identified, and it remains unclear whether all land plants suffer from PSI photoinhibition in the same way. In the present study, we focused on the susceptibility of PSI to photoinhibition and investigated whether mechanisms of preventing PSI photoinhibition varied among land plant species. To assess the susceptibility of PSI to photoinhibition, we used repetitive short‐pulse (rSP) illumination, which specifically induces PSI photoinhibition. Subsequently, we found that land plants possess a wide variety of tolerance mechanisms against PSI photoinhibition. In particular, gymnosperms, ferns and mosses/liverworts exhibited higher tolerance to rSP illumination‐induced PSI photoinhibition than angiosperms, and detailed analyses indicated that the tolerance of these groups could be partly attributed to flavodiiron proteins, which protected PSI from photoinhibition by oxidizing the PSI reaction center chlorophyll (P700) as an electron acceptor. Furthermore, we demonstrate, for the first time, that gymnosperms, ferns and mosses/liverworts possess a protection mechanism against photoinhibition of PSI that differs from that of angiosperms.
Iosif of Volokolamsk and Serapion of Novgorod in Conflict
Authors: SMITH T. ALLAN
Published: March 2017

This article examines the famous conflict beween Iosif of Volokolamsk and Archbishop Serapion of Novgorod that in 1509 saw Iosif excommunicated and then Serapion deposed. The immediate cause of the conflict was the transfer of Iosif's monastery from the control of the local prince, Fedor Borisovich, to the protection of the grand prince of Moscow, Vasilii III Ivanovich, without the prior knowledge or consent of the ecclesiastical superior, the archbishop of Novgorod. While the episode has attracted previous scholarly attention, this article examines the handling of the canonical issues underlying the positions of the two protagonists.
Imperial Challengers: Tsarist Responses to Armenian Raids into Anatolia, 1875–90
Authors: RIEGG STEPHEN B.
Published: March 2017

This article considers Russo‐Armenian political ties in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. It focuses on the rise of a diverse Armenian nationalist movement in the South Caucasus, the most prominent faction of which strove to aid the Armenians of the neighboring Ottoman Empire. Whereas the concept of Armenian nationalism in the late nineteenth century is often considered within the context of the professional revolutionary parties that characterized organized political activism of the era, this article highlights the actions of Armenian student groups and small vigilante circles, which furtively crossed from Russian territory into Ottoman domains to assist and avenge their compatriots. I argue that Russian officials struggled to define and diminish Armenian political and cultural self‐determination, resulting in a patchwork of policies and efforts that rarely yielded the political and interethnic stability that the state sought in the South Caucasus.
“Husband under the Bed”: Specular Enclosures, Cuckoldry, and Logorrhea in Dostoevsky's Early Works
Authors: ERMAN IRINA
Published: March 2017

This article seeks to demonstrate how Dostoevsky processes the devices vaudeville, folk theater, and particularly the cuckold play into his own unique, genre‐bending art form. By focusing on his overlooked 1848 half‐vaudeville, half‐feuilleton “The Other Man's Wife and the Husband under the Bed,” and placing it in the context of his other works, I explore the influence of the cuckold play on Dostoevsky's tendency to privilege two‐in‐one scenarios, such as doubling, and sometimes the literal enclosure of two men in one tight space. I argue that the main concern that emerges from Dostoevsky's theatrical influences is the relationship between discourse and space. Specifically, in contrast to Bakhtin's focus on “thresholds” as the paradigmatic loci of Dostoevsky's poetics, I point out the way that spatial and specular enclosures originate excessive, logorrheic discourse and the dialogization, or doubling of the characters' inner monologues.
Estimating the Number of Block Boundaries from Diagonal Blockwise Matrices Without Penalization
Authors: Brault Vincent , Delattre Maud , Lebarbier Emilie , Mary‐Huard Tristan , Lévy‐Leduc Céline
Published: March 2017

In computational biology, numerous recent studies have been dedicated to the analysis of the chromatin structure within the cell by two‐dimensional segmentation methods. Motivated by this application, we consider the problem of retrieving the diagonal blocks in a matrix of observations. The theoretical properties of the least squares estimators of both the boundaries and the number of blocks are investigated. More precisely, the contribution of the paper is to establish the consistency of these estimators. A surprising consequence of our results is that, contrary to the one‐dimensional case, a penalty is not needed for retrieving the true number of diagonal blocks. Finally, the results are illustrated on synthetic data.
Multiorgan motion tracking in dynamic magnetic resonance imaging for evaluation of pelvic system mobility and shear strain
Authors: Jiang Z. , Witz J.‐F. , Lecomte‐Grosbras P. , Dequidt J. , Cotin S. , Rubod C. , Duriez C. , Brieu M.
Published: March 2017

Female pelvic disorders have a large social impact; the diagnosis of which relies on a key indication: pelvic mobility. The normal mobility is present in a healthy patient, meanwhile the hypermobility can be a sign of female pelvic prolapse and the hypomobility for endometriosis. The evaluation of pelvic mobility is based on medical image analysis. However, the latter does not provide precise values of these indicators directly. Moreover, suspension devices play an important role in pelvic organ function but can hardly be observed on medical images. Our objective is to propose an image‐based analysis tool for the quantitative evaluation of pelvic mobility and the shear strain which has an impact on suspension devices. Hence, this paper introduces a such tool based on an efficient and semiautomatic motion tracking of multiple pelvic organs: the bladder, vagina, and rectum presented in dynamic magnetic resonance imaging sequences. The method was validated on prototypical images and applied to different mobility cases. The computed displacement and shear strain fields provide important information on the quality of suspension devices between organs for a fine diagnosis in the clinical context, for example, the early diagnosis of female pelvic prolapse and the localization of possible lesion areas before surgery. Meanwhile, the predicted mobility can be used to compare with the finite element model for numerical simulation.
Introducing students to the application of statistics and investigative methods in political science
Authors: Wells Dominic D. , Nemire Nathan A.
Published: March 2017

This exercise introduces students to the application of statistics and its investigative methods in political science. It helps students gain a better understanding and a greater appreciation of statistics through a real world application.
Development and Psychometric Properties of the Nursing Critical Thinking in Clinical Practice Questionnaire
Authors: Zuriguel‐Pérez Esperanza , Falcó‐Pegueroles Anna , Roldán‐Merino Juan , Agustino‐Rodriguez Sandra , Gómez‐Martín Maria del Carmen , Lluch‐Canut Maria Teresa
Published: March 2017

Background and Aim

A complex healthcare environment, with greater need for care based on the patient and evidence‐based practice, are factors that have contributed to the increased need for critical thinking in professional competence. At the theoretical level, Alfaro‐LeFevre () put forward a model of critical thinking made up of four components. And although these explain the construct, instruments for their empirical measurement are lacking. The purpose of the study was to develop and validate the psychometric properties of an instrument, the Nursing Critical Thinking in Clinical Practice Questionnaire (N‐CT‐4 Practice), designed to evaluate the critical thinking abilities of nurses in the clinical setting.

Methods

A cross‐sectional survey design was used. A pool of items was generated for evaluation by a panel of experts who considered their validity for the new instrument, which was finally made up of 109 items. Following this, validation was carried out using a sample of 339 nurses at a hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Reliability was determined by means of internal consistency and test–retest stability over time, although the validity of the construct was assessed by means of confirmatory factor analysis.

Results

The content validity index of the N‐CT‐4 Practice was .85. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the whole instrument was .96. The intraclass correlation coefficient was .77. Confirmatory factor analysis showed that the instrument was in line with the four‐dimensional model proposed by Alfaro‐LeFevre ().

Linking Evidence to Action

The psychometric properties of theN‐CT‐4 Practice uphold its potential for use in measuring critical thinking and in future research related with the examination of critical thinking.
Metacognition and Self-regulated Learning in Predicting University Students' Academic Achievement in Turkey
Authors: Çetin Barış
Published: March 2017

The purpose of this study was to determine whether perceived levels of self-regulated learning and metacognition predicted the ultimate grade point average (GPA) attained by 206 female and 70 male college seniors (aged 21 to 27) finishing their elementary education teaching certification studies at a university in Turkey. Data regarding individual levels of metacognition were collected through the administration of the “Metacognitive Skills Inventory for Adults” (Schraw & Dennison, 1994) and translated to Turkish by Ozcan (2007). A separate scale authored by Turan (2009) was administered to the same set of participants to obtain levels of perceived self-regulated learning. Findings indicated that students’ self-regulated learning and metacognition total scores correlated with each other but neither scale was predictive of the students’ GPAs at a significant level in the hypothesized positive direction. Interestingly, self- regulated learning scores were significantly related to GPA but in a negative direction.