bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ancient Ways
Authors: Weinel Jonathan
Published: March 2018

This chapter discusses shamanism, explaining the ethos and mythology of several indigenous societies, and how these belief systems relate to the design of art and music. First, a general overview of shamanism is provided, which outlines the typical role and function of a shaman. An explanation of the shamanic visionary experience, a type of altered state of consciousness, is then provided. Following this, the chapter explores a variety of visual art from indigenous shamanic cultures, including examples from San, Native American, Huichol, Tukano, and Shipibo traditions. The sound and music of shamanic and trance cultures is also discussed, with reference to Vodou, Tukano, Mazatec, Kiowa, and Mayan examples, and relevant field recordings. Through the course of this discussion, the chapter establishes a view of how shamanic art and music invoke a sense of the spirit world, which informs the subsequent discourse of Inner Sound.
Stock Epithets and Cross-Cultural Cognomens
Authors: Reeves John C. , Reed Annette Yoshiko
Published: March 2018

This chapter assembles sources which utilize several popular epithets that accompany the figure of Enoch and serve to identify him even in those literary contexts which do not explicitly use the name “Enoch.” These include distinctive phraseology like “seventh from Adam,” “righteous,” “scribe of righteousness,” and even certain messianic correlations. Included also in this chapter are a series of literary portraits found primarily in Arabic language texts which provide a description of the physical appearance of this antediluvian forefather. Attention is also drawn to certain popular aliases borne by Enoch in later literary settings, such as the angel Metatron, the Graeco-Egyptian teacher Hermes Trismegistus, and the qur’ānic prophet Idrīs.
Necessary Existence
Authors: Pruss Alexander R. , Rasmussen Joshua L.
Published: March 2018

A necessary being is a concrete entity that cannot fail to exist. An example of such a being might be the God of classical theism or the universe of necessitarians. Necessary Existence offers and carefully defends a number of novel arguments for the thesis that there exists at least one necessary being, while inviting the reader to a future investigation of what the neccessary being(s) is (are) like. The arguments include a defense of a classic contingency argument, a series of new modal arguments from possible causes, an argument from abstract objects, and a Gödelian argument from perfections. Furthermore, arguments against the possibility of a necessary being are critically examined. Among these arguments are old and new arguments from conceivability, a subtraction argument, problems with causation, and an argument from parsimony. Necessary Existence also includes a defense of the axioms of S5 modal logic, which is a framework for understanding several arguments for necessary existents.
The future of eDNA metabarcoding
Authors: Taberlet Pierre , Bonin Aurélie , Zinger Lucie , Coissac Eric
Published: March 2018

Environmental DNA-based research is undergoing rapid developments, but its democratization in basic and applied research remains hampered by the biases introduced by molecular approaches, the difficulties in estimating absolute organisms’ abundances, and a lack of general consensus in molecular protocols. Chapter 19 “The future of eDNA metabarcoding” provides an overview of these current challenges and discusses how shotgun sequencing, capture-based methods, inclusion of internal standards, and development of new data repositories could alleviate these limits and facilitate cross-experiments comparisons. This chapter finally turns to open questions on the potentiality of new sequencing methods and proposes directions to improve biodiversity estimates and ecological inferences and predictions from eDNA data, and ultimately stimulate further developments and integration of eDNA metabarcoding into academic and operational ecological research and monitoring.
Republican Satire in the Dock
Authors: Goh Ian
Published: March 2018

This chapter treats the account of the courtroom activities—Q. Mucius Scaevola Augur defending himself when brought to trial for extortion in 119 bc by T. Albucius—in book 2 of Gaius Lucilius’ satires as an example of forensic oratory in post-Gracchan Republican Rome. The fragments of Lucilius’ verse record of the trial are considered in their historical and literary context, with a view to their influence on later satirical tradition. The fragments reveal intimations of force standing in for physical injury, problems resulting from the impact of philosophy on speaking styles, and ironies of mixed identity put to service in courtroom repartee. Lucilius is something of a stenographer, whose take on the trial is slanted towards its relevance for equestrians and its sensational elements redolent of Pacuvian tragedy; finally, the identification of poet and defendant encapsulates the trial’s interest and uniqueness.
Introduction
Authors: Eland John H.
                            D. , Feifel Raimund
Published: March 2018

After very brief historical notes, the basis of the TOF-PEPECO technique is explained and other techniques for spectra of doubly charged positive ions are described and compared with this modern method. The meaning of ionisation energies in the context of molecular double ionisation is discussed, with their relationship to electron orbital configurations. With the advent of photoelectron spectroscopy in the 1960s, new techniques allowed complete spectra of valence electron ionisations for each molecule to be revealed in a single measurement. The effects on the spectra of the different major pathways from starting molecules to final doubly ionised states are explained. Details of the experiments are given, including pulsed lamps, synchrotron radiation as light sources, and the magnetic bottle time-of-flight electron spectrometer.
Atomic xenon, Xe
Authors: Eland John H.
                            D. , Feifel Raimund
Published: March 2018

This chapter shows, using atomic xenon as a prototype, how coincidence maps and double photionisation spectra are created from the raw electron timing data, and how direct and indirect photoionisation pathways can be distinguished in the maps. A minor feature in the maps is recognised as coming from electron-impact single ionisation, which can be studied by the same technique. The chapter also explains how a simple formula can be used, with constants calibrated by measuring electrons of known energy, to convert the times of flight into kinetic energies. This introductory chapter concludes with a summary of some basic features of double photoionisation and of the spectra presented in this book, exemplified by Xe, including times of flight, energy resolution, ionisation, and Auger decay.
Diatomic molecules
Authors: Eland John H.
                            D. , Feifel Raimund
Published: March 2018

Double ionisation of most of the experimentally accessible diatomic molecules has been studied previously by several techniques, including Auger spectroscopy, double electron transfer, kinetic energy release, and high-level theory. New double photoionisation spectra of HBr, HI, N2, CO, NO, O2, Br2, ICl, and I2 are presented here with analysis to identify the electronic states of the doubly charged ions. A simple empirical model is introduced to estimate double ionisation energies on the basis of orbital energies. For CO, NO, and O2, an indirect double ionisation mechanism is found, involving dissociation of a singly charged molecular ion followed by atomic autoionisation of one fragment. Energies of the dication states are listed with distinction between adiabatic and vertical values.
Core–core and core–valence double ionisation
Authors: Eland John H.
                            D. , Feifel Raimund
Published: March 2018

Basic concepts of inner shell double ionisation phenomena are discussed and examples are presented. An empirical model to calculate single-site K-shell double ionisation energies is proposed and the enhanced chemical shifts in double L-shell ionisation are illustrated. Core–valence double ionisation spectra are shown to closely resemble photoelectron spectra from single ionisation in many cases. Core–valence double ionisation spectra of NH3, CO, CO2, OCS, CS2, CF4, Si(CH3)4, benzene, and C60 are presented with analysis. In the context of core ionisation it is customary to use the very economical ‘KLM’ notation, which is universally used in Auger spectroscopy, as well as the chemists’ familiar 1s, 2s, 2p, and so on. This chapter uses the KLM notation sparingly where its brevity is an advantage, so a short table list of equivalents is also included here.
Introduction
Authors: Piatkowski Marcin
Published: March 2018

The introduction serves as an executive summary of the book. It lays out the book’s main objectives, arguments, and the storyline. It describes the structure of the book. It explains what is original about the book and how it complements the existing literature.
Brentano’s System
Authors: Kriegel Uriah
Published: March 2018

This chapter pulls together the results of the previous chapters to offer a condensed articulation of Brentano’s overall system, and the manner in which it offers a unified account of the true, the good, and the beautiful.
Introduction to biometric measures for Games User Research
Authors: Nacke Lennart E.
Published: March 2018

This chapter presents the physiological metrics used in Games User Research (GUR). Aimed at GUR professionals in the games industry, it explains what methods are available to researchers to measure biometric data while subjects are engaged in play. It sets out when it is appropriate to use biometric measures in GUR projects, the kind of data generated, and the differing ways it can be analysed. The chapter also discusses the trade-offs required when interpreting physiological data, and will help games researchers to make informed decisions about which research questions can benefit from biometric methodologies. As the equipment needed to collect biometric data becomes more sophisticated as well as cheaper, physiological testing of players during a game’s development will become more common. At the same time, Games User Researchers will become more discriminating in its use. Where in the past professionals in the games industry have used biometric testing to generate quick, actionable feedback about player responses to elements of a game, and have been less concerned with the scientific robustness of their methodology, as GUR develops a new breed of games industry professionals are attempting to deploy good academic practice in their researches.
Making Sense of Old Testament Genocide
Authors: Hofreiter Christian
Published: March 2018

This book investigates the effective history of some of the most problematic passages in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament): passages involving the concept or practice of herem. These texts contain prima facie divine commands to commit genocide as well as descriptions of genocidal military campaigns commended by God. The book presents and analyses the solutions that Christian interpreters from antiquity until today have proposed to the concomitant moral and hermeneutical challenges. A number of ways in which the texts have been used to justify violence and war or to criticize Christianity are also addressed. Apart from offering the most comprehensive presentation of the effective history (Wirkungsgeschichte) of herem texts to date, the book presents an analysis and critical evaluation of the theological and hermeneutical assumptions underlying each of the several approaches and their exegetical and practical consequences. The resulting taxonomy and hermeneutical map is an original contribution to the history of exegesis and to the study of religion and violence. It may also help Christian and other religious readers today make sense of these troubling biblical texts. Apart from an introduction and conclusion, this book contains four diachronic chapters in which the various exegetical approaches are set out: pre-critical (from the OT to the Apostolic Fathers), dissenting (Marcion and other ancient critics), figurative (from Origen to high medieval times), divine command ethics (from Augustine to Calvin) and violent (from Ambrose via the Crusades to Puritan North America). A fifth chapter presents near-contemporary reiterations and variations of the historic approaches.
Life and Works: A Sketch
Authors: Darrigol Olivier
Published: March 2018

This is a brief scientific biography of Boltzmann, including the vicissitudes of his uncommon life and the principal developments of his works about the kinetic-molecular theory. Boltzmann was a man of broad culture with many interests in literature, poetry, music, mathematics, philosophy, technology, pedagogy, and more; he was a man of action, an efficient administrator, a caring husband and father, a thoughtful colleague, an inborn teacher, and a joyous, humorous companion in informal circumstances. Of these many facets of Boltzmann’s personality, this chapter will examine reflections in the theory that made him most famous.
Lectures on Gas Theory (1896, 1898)
Authors: Darrigol Olivier
Published: March 2018

This chapter is devoted mostly to the two volumes of Boltzmann’s Lectures on gas theory, published in 1896 and 1898, with special attention to the novel elements in Boltzmann’s representation of his own contributions and to his silencing of earlier aspects of his theory. Although Boltzmann’s primary intention probably was to improve the diffusion of his own results and to clarify their foundation, he also wanted to give a full, partly historical account of the developments of the theory, including topics to which he had little contributed, such as van der Waals’ theory, and even approaches he had proved to be unsatisfactory, such as Maxwell’s first method for the computation of transport phenomena.
Parton Distribution Functions
Authors: Campbell John , Huston Joey , Krauss Frank
Published: March 2018

Parton Distribution Functions (PDFs) are a necessary ingredient in the calculation of cross sections at collider experiments with hadron beams. This chapter explores the techniques of determining the PDFs and their uncertainties, based on global analyses of data sets arising from a variety of hard-scattering processes. PDFs are determined at leading order, next-to-leading order, and next-to-next-to-leading order, with the corresponding orders of hard coefficients and evolution. Differences in the PDFs of different orders, and in their uncertainties, are described. Combinations of PDFs from different global fitting groups are discussed, and several useful tools for comparisons of PDFs are described.
Evaluations of Police Reforms: Utility or Futility?
Authors: Holmberg Lars
Published: March 2018

In recent years, four Nordic countries have implemented large-scale police reforms. Reforms have been evaluated and the present article discusses the merits of such processes. Three topics are discussed: first, it is argued that such evaluations are by nature of limited methodological rigour. The common model of nationwide implementation at one point in time limits possibilities for more sophisticated models of evaluation. Second, due to the nature of such evaluations, they are of limited value as a tool for organizational reorganization. In fact, organizational response to evaluation may take the form of denial rather than change. Third, it might be assumed that countries planning major police reforms would study such evaluations in detail and revise their plans accordingly, but available evidence from Norway and Sweden suggests otherwise. The article concludes with a discussion whether it would be possible to devise evaluations in ways that would increase their worth and impact.
‘Treatment Not Trident’: Medical Activism, Health Inequality and Anti-Militarism in 1980s Britain
Authors: Laucht Christoph
Published: March 2018

In 1985, Britain’s chief group of medical anti-nuclear weapons activists, the Medical Campaign Against Nuclear Weapons (MCANW), launched its ‘Treatment, Not Trident’ (TNT) campaign. TNT called on the Thatcher Government to cancel the acquisition of the Trident nuclear weapon system and divert those funds to the National Health Service and foreign aid instead. Using TNT, this article makes some more general observations about key aspects of the history, nature and ideologies of medical activism in relation to anti-militarism and health inequality. Alongside a conceptualisation of ‘medical activism’, it offers an examination of chief ways in which the strategic mobilisation of health and welfare priorities, and a growing interest in developing nations enabled MCANW to reach a larger audience. Moreover, higher levels of professionalisation, politicisation and inclusivity contributed to TNT’s success, making it a crucial moment in the development of both MCANW and medical activism in general.
Maternal Use of Antiepileptic Agents During Pregnancy and Major Congenital Malformations in Children
Authors: Bromley Rebecca L. , Weston Jennifer , Marson Anthony G.
Published: March 2018

(Abstracted from JAMA 2017;318(17):1700–1701)

The majority of pregnant women with epilepsy require consistent antiepileptic therapy during the course of pregnancy. Because of the necessity of these treatment regimens, information regarding epilepsy pharmaceuticals and their possible associations with congenital defects is required to help inform clinical decisions in this vulnerable patient population.
Effects of Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 Genotypes on Steady-State Plasma Concentrations of Escitalopram and its Desmethyl Metabolite in Japanese Patients With Depression
Authors: Tsuchimine Shoko , Ochi Shinichiro , Tajiri Misuzu , Suzuki Yutaro , Sugawara Norio , Inoue Yoshimasa , Yasui-Furukori Norio
Published: March 2018

Background:

Plasma concentrations of the S-enantiomer of citalopram were different between extensive and poor CYP2C19 metabolizers in healthy subjects and depressed patients. However, most studies applied dose-corrected concentrations. Thus, we studied the effects of polymorphisms of the CYP2C19 gene on raw plasma drug concentrations in Japanese patients with depression.

Methods:

Subjects in this study consisted of 412 depressed patients receiving 5, 10, 15, or 20 mg of escitalopram once a day. Plasma concentrations of escitalopram and desmethylescitalopram were quantified using HPLC. CYP2C19 genotypes were identified using polymerase chain reaction methods.

Results:

There were no differences in the steady-state plasma concentrations of escitalopram or desmethylescitalopram in each dose group (5, 10, 15, or 20 mg of escitalopram) among CYP2C19 genotype groups. However, 1-way analysis of variance showed significant effects of CYP2C19 genotypes on the dose-adjusted plasma concentration of escitalopram but not in the dose-adjusted plasma concentration of desmethylescitalopram. Analysis of covariance including age, sex, and body weight showed significant effects of CYP2C19 genotypes on the dose-adjusted plasma concentration of escitalopram and the ratio of desmethylescitalopram to escitalopram.

Conclusions:

These findings suggest that the CYP2C19 variants are associated with steady-state plasma concentrations of escitalopram to some extent but are not associated with desmethylescitalopram.
Static and Dynamic Pupillary Characteristics in Clinically Unilateral Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome
Authors: Tekin Kemal , Sekeroglu Mehmet Ali , Kiziltoprak Hasan , Yetkin Esat , Doguizi Sibel , Yilmazbas Pelin
Published: March 2018

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to perform a comparison of static and dynamic pupillometry measurements in patients with clinically unilateral pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES) and age-matched controls.

Methods:

This prospective cross-sectional study consisted of 38 patients with unilateral PES and 40 control participants. A quantitative pupillometry system was used to evaluate the pupil characteristics of eyes with PES (group 1), clinically unaffected fellow eyes (group 2), and healthy eyes (group 3). Static pupillometry measurements including scotopic pupil diameter (PD), mesopic PD, low photopic PD, and high photopic PD were undertaken. Subsequently, dynamic pupillometry measurements including resting diameter, amplitude of pupil contraction, latency of pupil contraction, duration of pupil contraction, velocity of pupil contraction, latency of pupil dilation, duration of pupil dilation, and velocity of pupil dilation were undertaken.

Results:

There were statistically significant differences between the groups with regard to scotopic PD, mesopic PD, and low photopic PD (P<0.001). The pairwise comparisons exhibited that group 1 shows significantly lower PD values compared with groups 2 and 3. Group 2 also had significantly lower PD values compared with group 3. In addition, groups 1 and 2 had statistically significantly lower values of amplitude of pupil contraction, velocity of pupil contraction, duration of pupil dilatation, and velocity of pupil dilatation values compared with group 3. Moreover, group 1 and 2 demonstrated statistically significantly prolonged latency of pupil dilatation compared with group 3.

Conclusions:

Static and dynamic pupil characteristics of affected eyes and their fellow eyes of cases with unilateral PES are different from the healthy subjects.
Initial Palivizumab Dose Administration in Outpatient Clinic After Hospital Discharge
Authors: Stockton Winifred , Chen Yanjun , Jun Allison , Lee Tina , Chilvers Murphy Michelle , Magedman Grace
Published: March 2018

Background:

Palivizumab provides passive immunity for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), but poor adherence compromises protection. A hospital initiative promoted administration of first palivizumab doses at an outpatient clinic immediately after discharge. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the impact of the initiative on location and timing of first palivizumab dose, patient adherence, reimbursement, acquisition cost and RSV-positive hospital readmissions.

Methods:

This retrospective cohort study included pediatric patients who received palivizumab from 2012 to 2016. Three groups were compared: “before initiative,” “transition” and “after initiative.” Patients who did not qualify for palivizumab or who were eligible for palivizumab in previous RSV seasons were excluded. Multivariable logistic and linear regressions adjusted for patients’ characteristics were used in outcome analysis.

Results:

After adjusting for patients’ characteristics, there was a 13.5-fold (95% confidence interval: 5.9–30.5, P < 0.0001) increase in odds that patients would receive outpatient administration of palivizumab and 2.7-fold (95% confidence interval: 1.3–5.7, P = 0.0103) increase in odds of receiving the second dose within 35 days after initiative implementation compared with before. Although there was no significant difference in reimbursement percentage after initiative implementation (32% ± 30% after initiative and 31% ± 22% before), calculated palivizumab acquisition costs were 20.8% lower. RSV readmissions were not significantly different.

Conclusions:

Implementation of an initiative with defined workflow, multidisciplinary collaboration, and early case management efforts to obtain insurance authorization increased outpatient administration of first palivizumab doses. Patient adherence improved as demonstrated by more timely receipt of the second palivizumab dose. There was no difference in reimbursement; however, acquisition cost decreased which is valuable considering low reimbursement rates. RSV-positive readmissions did not change significantly.
First Case of Bacteremia Caused by Kytococcus schroeteri in a Child With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia
Authors: Bayraktar Banu , Dalgic Nazan , Duman Nurcan , Petmezci Ercüment
Published: March 2018

Kytococcus schroeteri is a commensal organism of the human skin, which may cause serious infections in immunocompromised patients. We report the first case of K. schroeteri bacteremia in a child with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (Bruker Daltonics, Germany). İdentification was confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
Sessile Serrated Adenomas in Young Patients may have Limited Risk of Malignant Progression
Authors: Bettington Mark , Brown Ian , Rosty Christophe , Walker Neal , Liu Cheng , Croese John , Rahman Tony , Pearson Sally-Ann , McKeone Diane , Leggett Barbara , Whitehall Vicki
Published: March 2018

Goals:

To provide preliminary evidence that sessile serrated adenomas (SSA) are low-risk polyps in young patients.

Background:

SSAs are the dominant polyp of the serrated neoplasia pathway and as such are the precursor of up to 20% of colorectal carcinomas (CRC). Up to 90% of these cancers are expected to harbor a BRAF mutation. SSAs are being diagnosed with increasing frequency in young patients, placing a significant burden on colonoscopic services. Evidence to direct the surveillance intervals for these young patients is not available.

Study:

We utilized 2 patient cohorts comprising (1) a consecutive series of patients who underwent outpatient colonoscopy through a tertiary hospital and (2) a consecutive series of resection specimens for CRC processed through a gastrointestinal pathology service. The prevalence of SSAs by age was determined in the patients undergoing colonoscopy and compared with the ages of patients with BRAF mutated CRC in the pathology series.

Results:

The prevalence of SSAs was similar irrespective of age. By comparison, BRAF mutated CRCs were very rare (3.8% of cases) in patients younger than 50 years of age and uncommon (9.3% of cases) in patients younger than 60 years of age, but increased to 39.8% in patients older than 80 years of age.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that SSAs develop at a young age, but have a prolonged dwell time and are unlikely to develop into cancer in patients younger than 60 years of age. These findings highlight the need for further targeted research to determine the most appropriate surveillance intervals for young patients with sporadic SSAs.
Factors Associated With Health Care Utilization of Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection in New York State
Authors: Mathews Steven N. , Lamm Ryan , Yang Jie , Park Jihye , Tzimas Demetrios , Buscaglia Jonathan M. , Pryor Aurora , Talamini Mark , Telem Dana , Bucobo Juan C.
Published: March 2018

Background:

The incidence of infection due to Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) and subsequent economic burden are substantial.

Goals:

The impact of changing practice patterns on demographics at risk and utilization of health care resources for recurrence of CDI remains unclear.

Study:

A total of 291,163 patients hospitalized for CDI were identified from 1995 to 2014 from the New York SPARCS database. The χ2 test, the Welch t test, and multivariable logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate factors related to readmission.

Results:

Hospital admissions and readmissions for CDI peaked in 2008 at 20,487 and 13,795, respectively, and have since decreased (linear trend, 0.9706 and 0.9464, respectively; P<0.0001). In total, 60,077 (21%) patients required ≥2 admissions. Risk factors for readmission included: age 55 to 74, government insurance, hypertension, diabetes, anemia, hypothyroidism, chronic pulmonary disease, rheumatoid arthritis, renal failure, peripheral vascular disease, and depression (all P<0.05). Trends in surgery showed a similar peak in 2008 at 165 and have since decreased (linear trend, 0.8660; P<0.0001). A total of 1830 (0.63%) patients with CDI underwent surgery, with emergent being more common than elective (71% vs. 29%).

Conclusions:

Hospital admissions and readmissions for CDI peaked in 2008 and have since been steadily declining. These trends may be secondary to improved diagnostic capabilities and evolving antibiotic regimens. More than 1 in 5 hospitalized patients had at least 1 readmission. Numerous risk factors for these patients have been identified. Although <1% of all patients with CDI undergo surgery, these rates have also been declining.
The American Organization of Nurse Executives and American Hospital Association Initiatives Work to Combat Violence
Authors: Wray Karen
Published: March 2018

Violence affecting healthcare workers and healthcare organizations continues to be a serious safety issue. In this Leadership Perspectives column, Karen Wray, an American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) member who has experienced a mass causality incident 1st hand, outlines AONE's continuing work to promote safety and combat violence. She discusses recent work on violence issues by the American Hospital Association, AONE's parent organization.
Caring for the Orthopaedic Patient With a History of Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Chicoski Allyson S.
Published: March 2018

Bariatric surgery is performed on the gastrointestinal tract as a solution to obesity, and prevalence of these surgical procedures continues to rise. Bariatric surgery creates restrictive and/or malabsorptive properties, causing nutritional deficits from the physiological changes in absorption and a hypoacidic environment. Although surgery induces sustained weight loss, decreases mortality, and provides resolution or improvement to comorbidities of obesity, it can also come with complications. Common long-term complications of bariatric surgery include malnutrition, anemia, impaired wound healing, and impaired bone health. It is essential that nurses and the healthcare team caring for orthopaedic individuals with a history of bariatric surgery be aware of the special needs of these individuals, especially in the promotion of bone health. Using a multidisciplinary approach for the advancement of the orthopaedic patient's health will help promote quality patient care.
Intrathecal Baclofen Therapy Prior to Spinal Fusion for Patients With Gross Motor Function Classification System IV-V Cerebral Palsy
Authors: Buxton Kristin , Difazio Rachel , Morgan Ann , McCabe Margaret , Forbes Peter W.
Published: March 2018

BACKGROUND:

Patients with Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) IV–V cerebral palsy (CP) have significant spasticity and frequently develop scoliosis. Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) pumps are effective in managing spasticity. The effect of ITB therapy on the postoperative course following spinal fusion in patients with GMFCS IV–V CP has not been described. This study sought to compare postoperative recovery, including complications, in patients using ITB therapy with those with no ITB therapy.

PURPOSE:

Evaluate the effect of ITB on the postoperative recovery for patients with GMFCS IV–V CP who undergo spinal fusion for scoliosis.

METHODS:

Health records for patients with GMFCS IV–V CP who underwent a spinal fusion for scoliosis at a major quaternary-care children's hospital from January 2009 to October 2015 were reviewed and relevant data were abstracted. Descriptive statistics and regression models were used to compare patients.

RESULTS:

Sixty-nine patients were included—19 ITB therapy and 50 no ITB therapy. Demographic and operative characteristics were similar across groups. The mean length of stay for patients in the ITB therapy group was 11.2 days and 14.3 days for the no ITB therapy group, with no difference between groups (p = .12). Pain scores in both groups decreased at the same rate, with scores in the ITB therapy group averaging one-half point lower (p = .32). The average amount of morphine equivalents (p = .71) and benzodiazepine equivalents (p = .53) used were similar between groups. Complication rates were significantly different between groups. Four (21%) of the ITB therapy patients had 1 or more complications whereas 28 (56%, p = .01) in the no ITB therapy group had 1 or more complications. The average number of complications per patient in the ITB therapy group was 0.3 (SD: 0.075, range: 0–3) and the no ITB therapy group was 1.1 (SD: 1.1, range: 0–6, p = .01).

CONCLUSIONS:

There was no significant difference in length of stay, pain scores, or pain/spasticity medication use between groups after spinal fusion, but there was a significantly lower incidence of complications in the ITB therapy group.
Are Patients Willing to Travel for Better Ovarian Cancer Care?
Authors: Shalowitz David I. , Nivasch Esther , Burger Robert A. , Schapira Marilyn M.
Published: March 2018

(Abstracted from Gynecol Oncol 2018;148:42–48)

Superior survival outcomes are obtained by patients with ovarian cancer who are treated by experienced gynecologic oncologists and in hospitals with high case volumes. The relationship between ovarian cancer case volume and survival outcomes has led to recommendations for centralizing ovarian cancer care in high-volume institutions in the United States.
Stillbirth and Neonatal Mortality in Pregnancies Complicated by Major Congenital Anomalies: Findings From a Large European Cohort
Authors: Groen Henk , Bouman Katelijne , Pierini Anna , Rankin Judith , Rissmann Anke , Haeusler Martin , Yevtushok Lyubov , Loane Maria , Erwich Jan Jaap H. M. , de Walle Hermien E. K.
Published: March 2018

(Abstracted from Prenat Diagn 2017;37:1100–1111)

Modern ultrasound technology has revolutionized prenatal screening and provided women with a means of obtaining clinical information that can help inform their decision making about their pregnancy through detection of congenital anomalies (CAs). Not all CAs are detectable in the gestational window where abortion is legally allowed.
Taste alterations and cancer treatment
Authors: van Oort Sophie , Kramer Ellen , de Groot Jan-Willem , Visser Otto
Published: March 2018

Purpose of review

In this review, we explore issues on the physiology of taste and smell and we critically review recent literature of taste and smell changes and the impact on food preferences throughout the cancer treatment trajectory.

Recent findings

Subjective measurements such as validated questionnaires can be valuable for the clinical setting and many studies describe taste and smell changes by self-report. Because both smell and taste are interrelated, these subjective results are difficult to interpret. Recent studies have looked more specifically at one type of malignancy with a consistent and homogeneous treatment with chemotherapy using objective taste assessment such as electrogustometry, liquid tastants or filter paper strips.

Taste is a combination of different sensations: smell, texture, temperature and saliva play an important role in determining the overall flavor of food. The mechanism for taste and smell abnormalities in cancer patients treated with systemic therapies remains unclear.
Structure of the human lipid-sensitive cation channel TRPC3
Authors: Fan Chen , Choi Wooyoung , Du Juan , Lü Wei
Published: March 2018

The TRPC channels are crucially involved in store-operated calcium entry and calcium homeostasis, and they are thus implicated in human diseases such as neurodegenerative disease, cardiac hypertrophy, and spinocerebellar ataxia. We present structure of the full-length human TRPC3, a lipid-gated TRPC member, in a lipid-occupied, closed state at 3.3 Angstrom. TRPC3 has an acorn-like shape with four elbow-like membrane reentrant helices prior to the first transmembrane helix. The TRP helix is perpendicular to, and thus disengaged from, the pore-lining S6, suggesting a different gating mechanism. The third transmembrane helix S3 is remarkably long, resulting in a windmill-like transmembrane domain, and constituting an extracellular domain that may serve as a sensor of external stimuli. We identified two lipid binding sites, one being sandwiched between the pre-S1 elbow and the S4-S5 linker, and the other being close to the ion-conducting pore, where the conserved LWF motif of the TRPC family is located.
The Functional effects of voluntary and involuntary visual phantom color on conscious awareness
Authors: Chang Shuai , Pearson Joel
Published: March 2018

The constructive nature of vision is perhaps most evident during hallucinations, mental imagery, synesthesia, perceptual filling-in, and many illusions in which conscious visual experience does not overtly correspond to retinal stimulation: phantom vision. However, the relationship between voluntary and involuntary phantom vision remains largely unknown. Here, we investigated two forms of visual phantom color, neon phantom color spreading and voluntary color mental imagery and their effect on subsequent binocular rivalry perception. Passively viewing neon phantom color induced time sensitive, suppressive effects on spatially non-overlapping subsequent binocular rivalry. These effects could be attenuated by rotating the color-inducers, or like color imagery, by concurrent uniform luminance stimulation. The degree of neon color induced rivalry suppression predicted the degree of voluntary color imagery facilitation, both on subsequent rivalry perception. Further, these suppressive and facilitative effects were additive when experienced successively. Our results suggest potential sensory mechanistic commonalities between voluntary and involuntary phantom vision.
Lost in translation: egg transcriptome reveals molecular signature to predict developmental success and novel maternal-effect genes
Authors: Cheung Caroline T. , Nguyen Thaovi , Cam Aurélie Le , Patinote Amélie , Journot Laurent , Reynes Christelle , Bobe Julien
Published: March 2018

Background

Good quality or developmentally competent eggs result in high survival of progeny. Previous research has shed light on factors that determine egg quality, however, large gaps remain. Initial development of the embryo relies on maternally-inherited molecules, such as transcripts, deposited in the egg, thus, they would likely reflect egg quality. We performed transcriptome analysis on zebrafish fertilized eggs of different quality from unrelated, wildtype couples to obtain a global portrait of the egg transcriptome to determine its association with developmental competence and to identify new candidate maternal-effect genes.

Results

Fifteen of the most differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were validated by quantitative real-time PCR. Gene ontology analysis showed that enriched terms included ribosomes and translation. In addition, statistical modeling using partial least squares regression and genetics algorithm also demonstrated that gene signatures from the transcriptomic data can be used to predict reproductive success. Among the validated DEGs,otulinaandslc29a1awere found to be increased in good quality eggs and to be predominantly localized in the ovaries. CRISPR/Cas9 knockout mutants of each gene revealed remarkable subfertility whereby the majority of their embryos were unfertilizable. The Wnt pathway appeared to be dysregulated in theotulinaknockout-derived eggs.

Conclusions

Our novel findings suggested that even in varying quality of eggs due to heterogeneous causes from unrelated wildtype couples, gene signatures exist in the egg transcriptome, which can be used to predict developmental competence. Further, transcriptomic profiling revealed two new potential maternal-effect genes that have essential roles in vertebrate reproduction.
Preclinical Study: Sunitinib-suppressed MiR-452-5p Facilitates Renal Cancer Cell Invasion and Metastasis Through Modulating SMAD4/SMAD7/EMT Signals
Authors: Li Saiyang , Zhang Jin , Chen Yonghui , Ma Junjie , Kong Wen , Gong Dongkui , Zheng Junhua , Xue Wei , Zhai Wei , Xu Yunfei
Published: March 2018

Although microRNAs (miRNAs) have been revealed as crucial modulators in tumor metastasis and target therapy, our understanding of their roles in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) and Sunitinib treatment is limited. Here, We focused on 2 published microarray data to select out our anchored miRNA which was downregulated after Sunitinib treatment while upregulated in metastasis RCC tissues. Then we discovered that treating with Sunitinib, the targeted receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), inhibited renal cell migration and invasion via attenuating the expression of miR-452-5p. The novel identified miR-452-5p was upregulated and associated with poor prognosis in RCC. Preclinical studies using multiple RCC cells and xenografts model illustrated that miR-452-5p could promote RCC cell migration and invasionin vitroandin vivo. Mechanistically, P65 could directly bind to the miR-452-5p promoter and thus transcriptionally induce miR-452-5p expression, which led to post-transcriptionally abrogate SMAD4 expression, thus inhibition of its downstream signals including SMAD7 and EMT (Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition) associated genes. Our study presented a road map for targeting this newly identified miR-452-5p and its SMAD4/SMAD7/EMT signals pathway, which imparted a new potential therapeutic strategy for mRCC treatment.
Arabidopsis thaliana egy2 mutants display altered expression level of genes encoding crucial photosystem II proteins
Authors: Adamiec Małgorzata , Misztal Lucyna , Kosicka Ewa , Paluch-Lubawa Ewelina , Luciński Robert
Published: March 2018

EGY2 is a zinc – containing, intramembrane protease, located in the thylakoid membrane. It is consider to be involved in the regulated intramembrane proteolysis - a mechanism leading to activation of membrane-anchored transcription factors through proteolytic cleavage, which causes them to be released from the membrane. The physiological functions of EGY2 in chloroplasts remains poorly understood. To answer the question what is the significance of EGY2 in chloroplast functioning two T-DNA insertion lines devoid of EGY2 protein were obtained and the mutants phenotype and photosystem II parameters were analyzed. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements revealed that the lack of EGY2 protease caused changes in non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and minimum fluorescence yield (F0) as well as higher sensitivity of photosystem II (PSII) to photoinhibition. Further immunoblot analysis revealed significant changes in the accumulation levels of the three chloroplast-encoded PSII core apoproteins: PsbA (D1) and PsbD (D2) forming the PSII reaction centre and PsbC – a protein component of CP43, a part of inner PSII antennae. The accumulation level of nuclear-encoded proteins Lhcb1-3 - a components of the major light-harvesting complex II (LHCII) as well as proteins forming minor peripheral antennae complexes, namely Lhcb4 (CP29), Lhcb5 (CP26), and Lhcb6 (CP24) remain, however, unchanged. The lack of EGY2 led to a significant increase in the level of PsbA (D1) with simultaneous decrease in accumulation levels of PsbC (CP43) and PsbD (D2). To test the hypothesis that the observed changes in the abundance of chloroplast-encoded proteins are a consequence of changes in gene expression levels, real-time PCR was performed. The obtained results shown that egy2 mutants display an increased expression of PSBA and reduction in the PSBD and PSBC genes. Simultaneously pTAC10, pTAC16 and FLN1 proteins were found to accumulate in thylakoid membranes of analyzed mutant lines. These proteins interact with core complex of plastid encoded RNA polymerase and may be involved in the regulation of chloroplast gene expression.
Horizontal transfer and proliferation of Tsu4 in Saccharomyces paradoxus
Authors: Bergman Casey M.
Published: March 2018

Background

Recent evidence suggests that horizontal transfer plays a significant role in the evolution of of transposable elements (TEs) in eukaryotes. Many cases of horizontal TE transfer (HTT) been reported in animals and plants, however surprisingly few examples of HTT have been reported in fungi.

Findings

Here I report evidence for a novel HTT event in fungi involvingTsu4inSaccharomyces paradoxusbased on (i) high similarity betweenTsu4elements inS. paradoxusandS. uvarum, (ii) a patchy distribution ofTsu4inS. paradoxusand general absence from its sister speciesS. cerevisiae, and (iii) discordance between the phylogenetic history ofTsu4sequences and species in theSaccharomyces sensu strictogroup. Available data suggests the HTT event likely occurred somewhere in the Nearctic, Neotropic or Indo-Australian part of theS. paradoxusspecies range, and that a lineage related toS. uvarumorS. eubayanuswas the donor species. The HTT event has led to massive proliferation ofTsu4in the South American lineage ofS. paradoxus, which exhibits partial reproductive isolation with other strains of this species because of multiple reciprocal translocations. Full-lengthTsu4elements are associated with both breakpoints of one of these reciprocal translocations.

Conclusions

This work shows that comprehensive analysis of TE sequences in essentially-complete genome assemblies derived from long-read sequencing provides new opportunities to detect HTT events in fungi and other organisms. This work also provides support for the hypothesis that HTT and subsequent TE proliferation can induce genome rearrangements that contribute to post-zygotic isolation in yeast.
Conservation and Divergence of YODA MAPKKK Function in Regulation of Grass Epidermal Patterning
Authors: Abrash Emily , Gil M Ximena Anleu , Matos Juliana L , Bergmann Dominique C
Published: March 2018

All multicellular organisms must properly pattern cell types to generate functional tissues and organs. The organized and predictable cell lineages of the Brachypodium leaf enabled us to characterize the role of the MAPK kinase kinase gene BdYODA1 in regulating asymmetric cell divisions. We find that YODA genes promote normal stomatal spacing patterns in both Arabidopsis and Brachypodium, despite species-specific differences in those patterns. Using lineage tracing and cell fate markers, we show that, unexpectedly, patterning defects in bdyoda1 mutants do not arise from faulty physical asymmetry in cell divisions but rather from improper enforcement of alternative cellular fates after division. These cross-species comparisons allow us to refine our interpretations of MAPK activities during plant asymmetric cell divisions.

Summary Statement

Analysis of Brachypodium leaf epidermis development reveals that the MAPKKK, BdYODA1, regulates asymmetric divisions by enforcing resultant cell fates rather than driving initial physical asymmetries.
Roles of G1 cyclins in the temporal organization of yeast cell cycle - a transcriptome-wide analysis
Authors: Teufel Lotte , Tummler Katja , Flöttmann Max , Herrmann Andreas , Barkai Naama , Klipp Edda
Published: March 2018

Oscillating gene expression is crucial for correct timing and progression through cell cycle. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, G1 cyclins Cln1-3 are essential drivers of the cell cycle and have an important role for temporal fine-tuning. We measured time-resolved transcriptome-wide gene expression for wild type and cyclin single and double knockouts over cell cycle with and without osmotic stress. Clustering of expression profiles, peak-time detection of oscillating genes, integration with transcription factor network dynamics, and assignment to cell cycle phases allowed us to quantify the effect of genetic or stress perturbations on the duration of cell cycle phases. Cln1 and Cln2 showed functional differences, especially affecting later phases. Deletion of Cln3 led to a delay of START followed by normal progression through later phases. Our data and network analysis suggest mutual effects of cyclins with the transcriptional regulators SBF and MBF.