bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Home‐Based Exercise Supported by General Practitioner Practices: Ineffective in a Sample of Chronically Ill, Mobility‐Limited Older Adults (the HOMEfit Randomized Controlled Trial)
Authors: Hinrichs Timo , Bücker Bettina , Klaaßen‐Mielke Renate , Brach Michael , Wilm Stefan , Platen Petra , Mai Anna
Published: September 2016

Objectives

To evaluate the effects a home‐based exercise program delivered to ill and mobility‐limited elderly individuals on physical function, physical activity, quality of life, fall‐related self‐efficacy, and exercise self‐efficacy.

Design

Randomized controlled trial (ISRCTN Registry, Reg.‐No. ISRCTN17727272).

Setting

Fifteen general practitioner (GP) practices and participants' homes.

Participants

Chronically ill and mobility‐limited individuals aged 70 and older (N = 209).

Interventions

An exercise therapist delivered the experimental intervention—a 12‐week multidimensional home‐based exercise program integrating behavioral strategies—in individual counseling sessions at the GPs' practices and over the telephone. The control intervention focused on promoting light‐intensity activities of daily living. Interventions took place between February 2012 and March 2013.

Measurements

The primary outcome was functional lower body strength (chair‐rise test). Secondary outcomes were physical function (battery of motor tests), physical activity (step count), health‐related quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 8‐item Short‐Form Survey), fall‐related (Falls Efficacy Scale—International Version), and exercise self‐efficacy (Selbstwirksamkeit zur sportlichen Aktivitaet (SSA) scale). Postintervention differences between the groups were tested using analysis of covariance (intention to treat; adjusted for baseline value and GP practice; significance level P ≤ .05).

Results

Participants had a mean age ± standard deviation of 80 ± 5, 74% were female, 87% had three or more chronic diseases, and 54% used a walking aid. The difference (intention to treat; experimental minus control) between adjusted postintervention chair‐rise times was −0.1 (95% confidence interval = −1.8–1.7). Differences for all secondary outcomes were also nonsignificant.

Conclusion

The program was ineffective in the target population. Possibilities for improving the concept will have to be evaluated.
Association Between Social Participation and 3‐Year Change in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in Community‐Dwelling Elderly Adults
Authors: Tomioka Kimiko , Kurumatani Norio , Hosoi Hiroshi
Published: September 2016

Objectives

To investigate whether social participation (SP) in older adults is associated with ability to perform instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs).

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

Two local municipalities of Nara, Japan.

Participants

Individuals aged 65 to 96 (n = 2,774 male, n = 3,586 female) free of IADL disability at baseline.

Measurements

SP and IADLs were assessed using self‐administered questionnaires. SP was categorized into five types and assessed using the number and type of social activities. IADLs were evaluated using the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology Index of Competence. Logistic regression analysis stratified according to sex was used to examine change in IADLs according to SP, with nonparticipation as a reference.

Results

During the 3‐year follow‐up, 13.6% of men and 9.0% of women reported IADL decline. After adjusting for age, family structure, body mass index, pension, occupation, medical treatment, self‐rated health, drinking, smoking, depression, cognitive function, and activities of daily living, participation in various social activities was inversely associated with change in IADLs in women but not men. Participation in the following types of social activities had significant inverse associations with IADL disability: hobby clubs (odds ratio (OR) = 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.49–0.94) for men and local events (OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.48–0.95), hobby clubs (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.36–0.79), senior citizen clubs (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.56–0.97), and volunteer groups (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.32–0.99) for women.

Conclusion

Participation in a variety of different types of social activities was associated with change in IADLs over the 3 years of this study in women, and participation in hobby clubs was associated with change in IADLs in men and women. Recommending that community‐dwelling elderly adults participate in social activities appropriate for their sex may promote successful aging.
Knowledge Gaps in Cardiovascular Care of Older Adults: A Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and American Geriatrics Society: Executive Summary
Authors: Rich Michael W. , Chyun Deborah A. , Skolnick Adam H. , Alexander Karen P. , Forman Daniel E. , Kitzman Dalane W. , Maurer Mathew S. , McClurken James B. , Resnick Barbara M. , Shen Win K. , Tirschwell David L.
Published: September 2016

The incidence and prevalence of most cardiovascular disorders increase with age, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death and major disability in adults aged 75 and older. Despite the effect of CVD on quality of life, morbidity, and mortality in older adults, individuals aged 75 and older have been markedly underrepresented in most major cardiovascular trials, and virtually all trials have excluded older adults with complex comorbidities, significant physical or cognitive disabilities, frailty, or residence in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. As a result, current guidelines are unable to provide evidence‐based recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of older adults typical of those encountered in routine clinical practice. The objectives of this scientific statement are to summarize current guideline recommendations as they apply to older adults, identify critical gaps in knowledge that preclude informed evidence‐based decision‐making, and recommend future research to close existing knowledge gaps. To achieve these objectives, a detailed review was conducted of current American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) and American Stroke Association (ASA) guidelines to identify content and recommendations that explicitly targeted older adults. A pervasive lack of evidence to guide clinical decision‐making in older adults with CVD was found, as well as a paucity of data on the effect of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions on outcomes that are particularly important to older adults, such as quality of life, physical function, and maintenance of independence. Accordingly, there is a critical need for a multitude of large population‐based studies and clinical trials that include a broad spectrum of older adults representative of those seen in clinical practice and that incorporate relevant outcomes important to older adults in the study design. The results of these studies will provide the foundation for future evidence‐based guidelines applicable to older adults and enhance person‐centered care of older individuals with CVD in the United States and around the world.
Comparison of The Canary System and DIAGNOdent for the in vitro detection of caries under opaque dental sealants
Authors: Silvertown Josh D. , Wong Bonny P. Y. , Abrams Stephen H. , Sivagurunathan Koneswaran S. , Mathews Sapna M. , Amaechi Bennett T.
Published: September 2016

Aim

The aim of the present study was to investigate the ability of operators using The Canary System and DIAGNOdent to detect natural pit and fissure caries under four commonly‐used opaque dental sealants.

Methods

Mixed sound and carious pits/fissures (N = 105) selected from 40 human teeth were randomly assigned (10 teeth/group) to one of four opaque sealant groups (Delton, Embrace WetBond, Helioseal F, UltraSeal XT Plus). Selected pits/fissures sites on occlusal surfaces were scanned with The Canary System and DIAGNOdent, sealed, re‐scanned, and subjected to polarized light microscopy to confirm whether the scanned regions were sound or carious. Sensitivities and specificities for each detection method before and after sealant placement were calculated.

Results

The Canary System and DIAGNOdent were able to distinguish between sound and carious tissue beneath opaque sealants with an accuracy of 76% and 59%, respectively.

Conclusions

The Canary System can serve as a clinical tool to aid dental professionals to detect and monitor the status of caries lesions and tooth structure underneath sealant. The increased likelihood of false‐positive diagnoses with DIAGNOdent due to intrinsic auto‐fluorescence of sealant filler and opacifying agents might limit its usefulness as an aid to detect caries underneath opaque sealants.
Gender Asymmetry in Educational and Income Assortative Marriage
Authors: Qian Yue
Published: September 2016

The reversal of the gender gap in education has reshaped the U.S. marriage market. Drawing on data from the 1980 U.S. Census and the 2008–2012 American Community Surveys, the author used log‐linear models to examine gender asymmetry in educational and income assortative mating among newlyweds. Between 1980 and 2008–2012, educational assortative mating reversed from a tendency for women to marry up to a tendency for women to marry down in education, whereas the tendency for women to marry men with higher incomes than themselves persisted. Moreover, in both time periods, the tendency for women to marry up in income was generally greater among couples in which the wife's education level equaled or surpassed that of the husband than among couples in which the wife was less educated than the husband. The author discusses the implications of the rising female advantage in education for gender change in heterosexual marriages.
Psychological Well‐being Among Older Adults: The Role of Partnership Status
Authors: Wright Matthew R. , Brown Susan L.
Published: September 2016

Today's older adults are increasingly unmarried. Some are in cohabiting unions, others are dating, and many remain unpartnered. Unmarried older adults are at risk of poorer well‐being than married older adults, but it is unclear whether older cohabitors fare worse than or similar to their married counterparts; nor have well‐being differences among cohabitors, daters, and unpartnered persons been considered. Conceptualizing marital status as a continuum of social attachment, data from Waves I and II of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project are used to examine how older married, cohabiting, dating, and unpartnered individuals differ across multiple indicators of psychological well‐being. Among men, cohabitors appear to fare similarly to the married, and better than daters and the unpartnered. In contrast, there are few differences in psychological well‐being by partnership status for women.
Offence or defence? Approach and avoid goals in the multi‐agency emergency response to a simulated terrorism attack
Authors: Power Nicola , Alison Laurence
Published: September 2016

When operating in multiteam settings, it is important that goals are cohesive between team members, especially in high‐stakes, risky, and uncertain environments. This study explored goal consistency during a multiteam emergency response simulation. A total of n = 50 commanders from the UK Police Services, Fire and Rescue Services, and Ambulance Services took part in a simulated terrorism exercise, who were split into n = 13 teams. Each team responded to the same simulated terrorist event, which was based on a ‘Marauding Terrorist Firearms Attack’ (MTFA) at a city centre train station. Data were collected using electronically time‐stamped ‘decision logs’ and post‐incident questionnaires that measured team members’ self‐reported goals. Goals that were ‘attack’ focussed (e.g., ‘treat patients’) were coded as ‘approach’ (i.e., focussed on achieving positive outcomes) and goals that were ‘defence’ focussed (e.g., protect emergency responders) were coded as ‘avoid’ (i.e., focussed on avoiding negative outcomes). It emerged that different agencies prioritized different goal types; Fire commanders initially prioritized avoid goals but then increased approach orientations, Ambulance commanders were consistently approach oriented, and Police commanders showed goal conflict (tensions between adopting approach and avoid goals). Despite goal differences, participants rated that their interagency goals were consistent in a post‐scenario questionnaire, suggesting that commanders were unaware of the nuanced differences between their agency‐specific objectives. At the multiteam level, teams who predominantly held attack/approach goals were significantly faster at decision logging early in the incident, yet defend/avoid teams were faster at decision logging later into the incident. Implications for multiteam coordination are discussed.

Practitioner points

The ‘save life’ goal in multiteam emergency response settings is vague and open to interpretation. This can impede coordination when agencies assume that they are working towards the same ‘save life’ goal, but are actually focussed on different and role‐specific objectives with regard to how they will achieve it.

A joint decision model that helps to clarify agency‐specific tactical priorities may be more useful in multiteam contexts than one that uses ambiguous and abstract (i.e., ‘save life’) interagency goals.

A focus on achieving positive outcomes (attack/approach goal; e.g., ‘treat patients’) can speed up decision‐making during the early stages of an incident, but when the situation becomes more complex and dynamic, then a focus on avoiding negative outcomes (defend/avoid goal; e.g., protect emergency responders from harm) might lead to faster action.

When responding to complex emergencies, practitioners should focus on satisficing to achieve ‘least‐worst’ outcomes rather trying to maximize gains.
Enterprise Risk Management and the Cost of Capital
Authors: Berry‐Stölzle Thomas R. , Xu Jianren
Published: September 2016

Enterprise risk management (ERM) is a process that manages all risks in an integrated, holistic fashion by controlling and coordinating any offsetting risks across the enterprise. This research investigates whether the adoption of the ERM approach affects firms' cost of equity capital. We restrict our analysis to the U.S. insurance industry to control for unobservable differences in business models and risk exposures across industries. We simultaneously model firms' adoption of ERM and the effect of ERM on the cost of capital. We find that ERM adoption significantly reduces firm's cost of capital. Our results suggest that cost of capital benefits are one answer to the question how ERM can create value.
Seasonal variability of respiratory syncytial virus infection in the Top End of the Northern Territory (2012–2014)
Authors: Fagan Peter , McLeod Charlie , Baird Robert W
Published: September 2016

Aim

To determine the prevalence of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in the Top End of the Northern Territory and investigate potential drivers of seasonality including rainfall and humidex (humidity and heat index).

Methods

We performed a retrospective audit of laboratory confirmed cases of RSV from January 2012 to August 2014. Demographic details including age, sex and ethnicity were examined. RSV cases were correlated with monthly rainfall and humidex.

Results

There were 272 positive isolates detected from 4305 clinical samples (positivity rate 6.3%). The majority of cases occurred in children <12 months (n = 151, 55.5%), with a higher burden of disease seen in Indigenous compared to non‐Indigenous infants in this age category (P < 0.005). The prevalence of RSV in the 0–5 years age category was 58/10 000 children per annum. Indigenous patients had higher prevalence rates (88.8/10 000 population per annum) and younger onset of infection (7.5 months; Interquartile range (IQR) 3–19 months compared to 13 months for non‐Indigenous children; IQR 5 months to 2.4 years). RSV cases correlated most strongly with rainfall in the preceding month (r = 0.72).

Conclusions

The Top End of the Northern Territory has a distinct RSV season that correlates with rainfall and humidex, which differs from Southern Australian disease patterns.
Low prevalence of Kingella kingae carriage in children aged 6–48 months in Sydney, Australia
Authors: Khatami Ameneh , Rivers Braden RL , Outhred Alexander C , Kesson Alison M
Published: September 2016

Aim

A prospective observational study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of oropharyngeal carriage of Kingella kingae in healthy Australian pre‐school children.

Methods

Screening for carriage of K. kingae as well as Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, and K. kingae was undertaken using a single bacterial throat swab taken from well children aged 6 months to 4 years. Standard laboratory procedures were used for culture and identification of organisms.

Results

One hundred children were enrolled between October and December 2014 at the Children's Hospital at Westmead. Median age was 24.0 months (range 6.1–48.8 months); 52 children were male and 36 attended day‐care facilities. Forty‐one children had siblings aged less than 5 years and 67 children had siblings of any age. K. kingae oropharyngeal carriage was not detected in any of the children. Rates of carriage of other organisms were: 30% S. aureus, 21% H. influenzae, 2% S. pneumoniae and 2% S. pyogenes. Thirty‐eight children were colonised with Kingella denitrificans.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that prevalence of K. kingae carriage in pre‐school children in Sydney is very low and support local and national guidelines that recommend flucloxacillin as empiric first‐line therapy for children with osteoarticular infections. Studies conducted over the winter months and in other Australian centres could help answer outstanding questions regarding differences in carriage rates of K. kingae in children.
The potential role of polyphenols in the modulation of skin cell viability by Aspalathus linearis and Cyclopia spp. herbal tea extracts in vitro
Authors: Magcwebeba Tandeka Unathi , Riedel Sylvia , Swanevelder Sonja , Swart Pieter , De Beer Dalene , Joubert Elizabeth , Andreas Gelderblom Wentzel Christoffel
Published: September 2016

Objectives

The relationship between polyphenol constituents, antioxidant properties of aqueous and methanol extracts of green tea (Camellia sinensis), the herbal teas, rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) and honeybush (Cyclopia spp.), against skin cell viability was investigated in vitro.

Methods

The effect of extracts, characterised in terms of polyphenol content and antioxidant properties, on cell viability of premalignant, normal and malignant skin cells was determined.

Key findings

Phenolic composition, particularly high levels of potent antioxidants, of rooibos and green tea methanol extracts was associated with a strong reduction in cell viability specifically targeting premalignant cells. In contrast, the aqueous extracts of Cyclopia spp. were more effective in reducing cell viability. This correlated with a relatively high flavanol/proanthocyanidin content and ABTS radical cation scavenging capacity. The major green tea flavanol (epigallocatechin gallate) and rooibos dihydrochalcone (aspalathin) exhibited differential effects against cell viability, while the major honeybush xanthone (mangiferin) and flavanone (hesperidin) lacked any effect presumably due to a cytoprotective effect. The underlying mechanisms against skin cell viability are likely to involve mitochondrial dysfunction resulting from polyphenol–iron interactions.

Conclusions

The polyphenol constituents and antioxidant parameters of herbal tea extracts are useful tools to predict their activity against skin cell survival in vitro and potential chemopreventive effects in vivo.
Productive performance of weanling piglets was improved by administration of a mixture of bacteriophages, targeted to control Coliforms and Clostridium spp. shedding in a challenging environment
Authors: Hosseindoust A. R. , Lee S. H. , Kim J. S. , Choi Y. H. , Kwon I. K. , Chae B. J.
Published: September 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of bacteriophages in different environments on growth performance, digestibility, ileal and caecal microbiota, gut morphology and immunity of weanling pigs. Two hundred piglets were randomly assigned to four treatment groups with five replicate pens with 10 pigs per pen. A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was used to investigate the response of weanling pigs to supplemental bacteriophages (0 and 1.0 g/kg of diet) in contaminated or hygienic environments. Bacteriophages supplementation did not affect average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI) and gain:feed in phases I and III; however, there was a significant improvement in ADG and gain:feed in phase II. The supplementation of bacteriophages increased the overall gain:feed of pigs. The overall result showed a greater ADG and ADFI in hygienic room. There were reductions in population of both ileal (p < 0.05) and caecal (p < 0.01) Clostridium spp. and ileal coliforms (p < 0.01) with the inclusion of bacteriophages in the diet. Bacteriophages increased ileal Lactobacillus and caecal Bifidobacterium and tended to increase ileal Bifidobacterium (p = 0.08). Contaminated environment decreased ileal Lactobacillus and caecal Bifidobacterium and tended to increase ileal Clostridium (p = 0.08) and coliforms (p = 0.08). Total anaerobic bacteria was tended to decrease (p = 0.06) in contaminated environment. Jejunal villus height increased in pigs received bacteriophages, but they did not affect other morphological items. The interaction between bacteriophages and environment tended to be significant (p = 0.06) for ileal villus height and ileal villus height to crypt depth ratio. The overall faecal score was significantly greater in hygienic environment and bacteriophages groups. The present findings indicate that there is an interactive effect on feed efficiency between bacteriophages and contaminated environment. In addition, bacteriophages improve jejunum morphology, and intestinal microbiota of pigs.
Teachers' personal learning networks (PLNs): exploring the nature of self‐initiated professional learning online
Authors: Tour Ekaterina
Published: September 2016

In the field of Literacy Studies, online spaces have been recognised as providing many opportunities for spontaneous and self‐initiated learning. While some progress has been made in understanding these important learning experiences, little attention has been paid to teachers' self‐initiated professional learning. Contributing to the debates about learning online, this article explores three teachers' self‐initiated professional learning about digital technologies through their Personal Learning Networks. It reports the findings from a larger qualitative project and examines how the participants' digital literacy practices shaped their deliberate professional learning. The analysis identified several attributes of the participants' learning which, according to them, made professional learning appealing and effective: social, personalised, active and reciprocal, ongoing and blended. The article concludes by discussing how these findings can be used to draw out implications for teachers' professional learning.
Staphylococcus aureus SufT: an essential iron‐sulphur cluster assembly factor in cells experiencing a high‐demand for lipoic acid
Authors: Mashruwala Ameya A. , Roberts Christina A. , Bhatt Shiven , May Kerrie L. , Carroll Ronan K. , Shaw Lindsey N. , Boyd Jeffrey M.
Published: September 2016

Staphylococcus aureus SufT is composed solely of the domain of unknown function 59 (DUF59) and has a role in the maturation of iron‐sulphur (Fe‐S) proteins. We report that SufT is essential for S. aureus when growth is heavily reliant upon lipoamide‐utilizing enzymes, but dispensable when this reliance is decreased. LipA requires Fe‐S clusters for lipoic acid (LA) synthesis and a ΔsufT strain had phenotypes suggestive of decreased LA production and decreased activities of lipoamide‐requiring enzymes. Fermentative growth, a null clpC allele, or decreased flux through the TCA cycle diminished the demand for LA and rendered SufT non‐essential. Abundance of the Fe‐S cluster carrier Nfu was increased in a ΔclpC strain and a null clpC allele was unable to suppress the LA requirement of a ΔsufT Δnfu strain. Over‐expression of nfu suppressed the LA requirement of the ΔsufT strain. We propose a model wherein SufT, and by extension the DUF59, is essential for the maturation of holo‐LipA in S. aureus cells experiencing a high demand for lipoamide‐dependent enzymes. The findings presented suggest that the demand for products of Fe‐S enzymes is a factor governing the usage of one Fe‐S cluster assembly factor over another in the maturation of apo‐proteins.
Regulation, sensory domains and roles of two Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC27774 Crp family transcription factors, HcpR1 and HcpR2, in response to nitrosative stress
Authors: Cadby Ian T. , Ibrahim Susan A. , Faulkner Matthew , Lee David J. , Browning Douglas , Busby Stephen J. , Lovering Andrew L. , Stapleton Melanie R. , Green Jeffrey , Cole Jeffrey A.
Published: September 2016

In silico analyses identified a Crp/Fnr family transcription factor (HcpR) in sulfate‐reducing bacteria that controls expression of the hcp gene, which encodes the hybrid cluster protein and contributes to nitrosative stress responses. There is only one hcpR gene in the model sulfate‐reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio vulgaris Hildenborough, but two copies in Desulfovibrio desulfuricans 27774, which can use nitrate as an alternative electron acceptor to sulfate. Structures of the D. desulfuricans hcpR1, hcpR2 and hcp operons are reported. We present evidence that hcp expression is regulated by HcpR2, not by HcpR1, and that these two regulators differ in both their DNA‐binding site specificity and their sensory domains. HcpR1 is predicted to be a b‐type cytochrome. HcpR1 binds upstream of the hcpR1 operon and its synthesis is regulated coordinately with hcp in response to NO. In contrast, hcpR2 expression was not induced by nitrate, nitrite or NO. HcpR2 is an iron‐sulfur protein that reacts with NO and O2. We propose that HcpR1 and HcpR2 use different sensory mechanisms to regulate subsets of genes required for defense against NO‐induced nitrosative stress, and that diversification of signal perception and DNA recognition by these two proteins is a product of D. desulfuricans adaptation to its particular environmental niche.
Aquinas and the Problem of No Best World
Authors: Keltz B. Kyle
Published: September 2016

Thomas Aquinas is often mentioned in the debate regarding whether God must create a best possible world. Contemporary philosophers usually place Aquinas alongside philosophers who also believe that there can be no best possible world. However, contemporary philosophers have been inconsistent in their understanding of Aquinas’ position. Some have placed him in the same category as Gottfried Leibniz, agreeing that God must create one best possible world.
The role of subchondral bone damage in post‐traumatic osteoarthritis
Authors: Coughlin Thomas R. , Kennedy Oran D.
Published: September 2016

Osteoarthritis (OA), the most common musculoskeletal disease in the United States, is characterized by cartilage breakdown, pain, and restricted movement. Post‐traumatic OA (PTOA) occurs subsequent to traumatic joint injury, such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture, and makes up 12% of the overall disease burden, with healthcare costs of approximately $3 billion/year. The current paradigm for PTOA is based on the observation that joint injury affects multiple tissues, all of which may contribute to subsequent joint failure. Subchondral bone plays a significant role in PTOA, as shown by magnetic resonance imaging evidence that subchondral bone marrow lesions (BMLs) are present in 80% of ACL rupture cases immediately after joint injury. The presence of BMLs indicates an acute consequence of injury, specifically in subchondral bone, which could be targeted with preventative therapy. BMLs may be a direct representation of physical damage to bone tissue. Interestingly, microdamage is known to induce osteoclast‐mediated remodeling in bone. Furthermore, the contiguous link between subchondral bone and articular cartilage may allow transport of small molecules, resulting from these remodeling processes, to cross the osteochondral junction and contribute to PTOA development. Targeting subchondral bone by inhibiting subchondral remodeling, particularly in the early phase postinjury, may be a potential approach for preventing PTOA.
The relative contributions of species richness and species composition to ecosystem functioning
Authors: Sandau Nadine , Fabian Yvonne , Bruggisser Odile T. , Rohr Rudolf P. , Naisbit Russell E. , Kehrli Patrik , Aebi Alexandre , Bersier Louis‐Félix
Published: September 2016

How species diversity influences ecosystem functioning has been the subject of many experiments and remains a key question for ecology and conservation biology. However, the fact that diversity cannot be manipulated without affecting species composition makes this quest methodologically challenging. Here, we evaluate the relative importance of diversity and of composition on biomass production, by using partial Mantel tests for one variable while controlling for the other. We analyse two datasets, from the Jena (2002–2008) and the Grandcour (2008–2009) Experiments. In both experiments, plots were sown with different numbers of species to unravel mechanisms underlying the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (BEF). Contrary to Jena, plots were neither mowed nor weeded in Grandcour, allowing external species to establish. Based on the diversity–ecosystem functioning and competition theories, we tested two predictions: 1) the contribution of composition should increase with time; 2) the contribution of composition should be more important in non‐weeded than in controlled systems. We found support for the second hypothesis, but not for the first. On the contrary, the contribution of species richness became markedly more important few years after the start of the Jena Experiment. This result can be interpreted as suggesting that species complementarity, rather than intraspecific competition, is the driving force in this system. Finally, we explored to what extent the estimated relative importance of both factors varied when measured on different spatial scales of the experiment (in this case, increasing the number of plots included in the analyses). We found a strong effect of scale, suggesting that comparisons between studies, and more generally the extrapolation of results from experiments to natural situations, should be made with caution.
Infection Rates of Electrical Leads Used for Percutaneous Neurostimulation of the Peripheral Nervous System
Authors: Ilfeld Brian M. , Gabriel Rodney A. , Saulino Michael F. , Chae John , Peckham P. Hunter , Grant Stuart A. , Gilmore Christopher A. , Donohue Michael C. , deBock Matthew G. , Wongsarnpigoon Amorn , Boggs Joseph W.
Published: September 2016

Background

Percutaneous neurostimulation of the peripheral nervous system involves the insertion of a wire “lead” through an introducing needle to target a nerve/plexus or a motor point within a muscle. Electrical current may then be passed from an external generator through the skin via the lead for various therapeutic goals, including providing analgesia. With extended use of percutaneous leads sometimes greater than a month, infection is a concern. It was hypothesized that the infection rate of leads with a coiled design is lower than for leads with a noncoiled cylindrical design.

Methods

The literature was retrospectively reviewed for clinical studies of percutaneous neurostimulation of the peripheral nervous system of greater than 2 days that included explicit information on adverse events. The primary endpoint was the number of infections per 1,000 indwelling days.

Results

Forty‐three studies were identified that met inclusion criteria involving coiled (n = 21) and noncoiled (n = 25) leads (3 studies involved both). The risk of infection with noncoiled leads was estimated to be 25 times greater than with coiled leads (95% confidence interval [CI] 2 to 407, P = 0.006). The infection rates were estimated to be 0.03 (95% CI 0.01 to 0.13) infections per 1,000 indwelling days for coiled leads and 0.83 (95% CI 0.16 to 4.33) infections per 1,000 indwelling days for noncoiled leads (P = 0.006).

Conclusions

Percutaneous leads used for neurostimulation of the peripheral nervous system have a much lower risk of infection with a coiled design compared with noncoiled leads: approximately 1 infection for every 30,000 vs. 1,200 indwelling days, respectively.
Search for plasma biomarkers in drug‐free patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia using metabolome analysis
Authors: Kageyama Yuki , Kasahara Takaoki , Morishita Hiromasa , Mataga Nobuko , Deguchi Yasuhiko , Tani Munehide , Kuroda Kenji , Hattori Kotaro , Yoshida Sumiko , Inoue Koki , Kato Tadafumi
Published: September 2016

Aim

There is an urgent need for diagnostic biomarkers of bipolar disorder (BD) and schizophrenia (SZ); however, confounding effects of medication hamper biomarker discovery. In this study, we conducted metabolome analyses to identify novel plasma biomarkers in drug‐free patients with BD and SZ.

Methods

We comprehensively analyzed plasma metabolites using capillary electrophoresis time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry in patients with SZ (n = 17), BD (n = 6), and major depressive disorder (n = 9) who had not received psychotropics for at least 2 weeks, and in matched healthy controls (n = 19). The results were compared with previous reports, or verified in an independent sample set using an alternative analytical approach.

Results

Lower creatine level and higher 2‐hydroxybutyric acid level were observed in SZ than in controls (uncorrected P = 0.016 and 0.043, respectively), whereas they were unaltered in a previously reported dataset. Citrulline was nominally significantly decreased in BD compared to controls (uncorrected P = 0.043); however, this finding was not replicated in an independent sample set of medicated patients with BD. N‐methyl‐norsalsolinol, a metabolite of dopamine, was suggested as a candidate biomarker of BD; however, it was not detected by the other analytical method. Levels of betaine, a previously reported candidate biomarker of schizophrenia, were unchanged in the current dataset.

Conclusion

Our preliminary findings suggest that the effect of confounding factors, such as duration of illness and medication, should be carefully controlled when searching for plasma biomarkers. Further studies are required to establish robust biomarkers for these disorders.
Pretransplant patient, parent, and family psychosocial functioning varies by organ type and patient age
Authors: Eaton Cyd K. , Lee Jennifer L. , Loiselle Kristin A. , Reed‐Knight Bonney , Mee Laura L. , Gutierrez‐Colina Ana M. , Blount Ronald L.
Published: September 2016

The goal of this study was to compare pretransplant patient HRQOL, parent psychological functioning, and the impact of the patient's ongoing illness on the family between organ types (ie, kidney, liver, heart) and age‐groups (ie, children, AYAs). The sample included 80 pediatric patients with end‐stage organ disease who were evaluated for transplantation and their parents. Parents completed self‐ and proxy reports at patients' pretransplant evaluations. Results indicated that patients evaluated for heart transplants consistently had lower HRQOL and their parents had greater psychological distress compared to the kidney and liver groups. Within the heart group, parents and families of children (<12 years old) experienced significantly more distress and impact of the patient's illness on the family compared to those of AYAs (≥12 years old). Pediatric patients awaiting heart transplants, particularly younger children, and their parents and families may have greater psychosocial needs compared to patients awaiting kidney or liver transplants.
Notch signaling in oral squamous neoplasia
Authors: Sakamoto Kei
Published: September 2016

Notch signaling is involved in cell–cell communication. It is an evolutionarily ancient mechanism and plays a fundamental role in development. The typical function of Notch signaling is the regulation of cell fate segregation at asymmetric division; however, a role in tumorigenesis has also been suggested. Inactivating mutations of NOTCH1 are present in about 10 % of cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, oral cavity, esophagus, and lung, rendering it one of the most frequently mutated genes in squamous cell carcinoma. Mouse knockout studies have demonstrated that Notch1 is imperative for early development but is dispensable for formation of the squamous epithelium. However, loss of Notch signaling predisposes the epidermis to hyperplasia and increases tumor incidence. This tumor‐inducing effect resulting from the loss of Notch signaling is associated with non‐cell‐autonomous effects that are elicited by subtle alteration of epithelial cell features, generating a wound‐like microenvironment in the underlying stroma. We found that Notch1 was expressed specifically in the basal cells of the oral squamous epithelium. In cancer and oral epithelial dysplasia, it was significantly downregulated, suggesting that reduced Notch activity plays a distinct role in oral neoplasia.
Advances in endoscopic surgery for small animal reproduction
Authors: Katic N , Dupré G
Published: September 2016

Contents

Although endoscopic surgery entered its “golden era” in the mid‐1980s, it is still advancing at a tremendous pace. Novel surgical techniques and devices are continuously developed and applied, and new indications (and/or contraindications) for the use of endoscopic surgery are routinely reported in the literature and subjected to systematic assessments. Although endoscopic surgery (laparoscopy in particular) has already become established as the gold standard in human medicine, it has yet to be proven as a viable alternative to open surgery in the field of veterinary medicine. The advantages of minimally invasive surgery include better intra‐operative visualization, reduced postoperative pain, reduced scar formation and increased postoperative mobility. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that the application of this will continue to expand. Small animal reproduction, a field within the broad discipline of veterinary medicine, has already recognized and begun to reap the benefits of endoscopic surgery. Herein, we retrospectively review the most recent successful novel applications of endoscopic surgery in the small animal reproduction system to provide small animal reproductive surgeons with important knowledge to help improve their own veterinarian medical practice.
Assessment of canine neonatal viability—the Apgar score
Authors: Veronesi MC
Published: September 2016

Contents

Perinatal mortality is relatively high in dogs, with deaths peaking around the time of birth and during the first week of age. Among the several causes of canine perinatal mortality, whelping is the greatest cause. Therefore, early neonatal assistance at birth should be mandatory with dogs. In comparison with human neonatology, knowledge and technological ability in canine neonatology is tremendously scarce. The Apgar score for the newborn viability assessment at birth represents a feasible method for the prompt recognition of newborns that will need special assistance immediately after birth. The five parameters of the Apgar score were adapted to the canine species by different studies. Advantages and limits, as well as clinical applications, are presented and discussed in further detail. It was concluded that the Apgar score represents the easiest and simplest, non‐invasive and reliable method, that could be performed under every clinical and practical condition, for newborn puppies viability evaluations and short‐term survival prognosis.
An overview of peatland restoration in North America: where are we after 25 years?
Authors: Chimner Rodney A. , Cooper David J. , Wurster Frederic C. , Rochefort Line
Published: September 2016

Peatland restoration in North America (NA) was initiated approximately 25 years ago on peat‐extracted bogs. Recent advances in peatland restoration in NA have expanded the original concepts and methodology. Restoration efforts in NA now include restoring peatlands from many diverse types of disturbances (e.g. roads, agriculture, grazing, erosion, forestry, and petrol industry infrastructure impacts) and occur in a greater array of peatland types (e.g. fens and swamps). Because fens are groundwater and surface flow driven, techniques to restore the hydrology of fens are generally more complicated than bogs. Restoring a greater variety of peatland types on a large‐scale basis (>10 ha) commands new techniques for reestablishing a broader array of plants other than Sphagnum spp., including non‐Sphagnum mosses, sedges, nonericaceous shrubs, and trees. The rationale for restoring peatlands has expanded to include legal requirements, wetland mitigation and banking, climate mitigation, water quality, and as part of responsible ecosystem management for industry or society. In the past 25 years, peatland restoration in NA has evolved from (1) trial and error to a more empirically based scientific approach, (2) small site‐specific experiments to landscape‐scale restoration (e.g. hydrological connectivity, ecological fragmentation), and (3) individual stakeholder (academic) to multiple stakeholders across jurisdictional boundaries (private, local, and regional governmental agencies, NGOs, and so on). However, many research gaps still exist that must be addressed to enhance our ability to restore peatlands successfully.
Hydrologic restoration in a dynamic subtropical mangrove‐to‐marsh ecotone
Authors: Howard Rebecca J. , Day Richard H. , Krauss Ken W. , From Andrew S. , Allain Larry , Cormier Nicole
Published: September 2016

Extensive hydrologic modifications in coastal regions across the world have occurred to support infrastructure development, altering the function of many coastal wetlands. Wetland restoration success is dependent on the existence of hydrologic regimes that support development of appropriate soils and the growth and persistence of wetland vegetation. In Florida, United States, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program (CERP) seeks to restore, protect, and preserve water resources of the greater Everglades region. Herein we describe vegetation dynamics in a mangrove‐to‐marsh ecotone within the impact area of a CERP hydrologic restoration project currently under development. Vegetation communities are also described for a similar area outside the project area. We found that vegetation shifts within the impact area occurred over a 7‐year period; cover of herbaceous species varied by location, and an 88% increase in the total number of mangrove seedlings was documented. We attribute these shifts to the existing modified hydrologic regime, which is characterized by a low volume of freshwater sheet flow compared with historical conditions (i.e. before modification), as well as increased tidal influence. We also identified a significant trend of decreasing soil surface elevation at the impact area. The CERP restoration project is designed to increase freshwater sheet flow to the impact area. Information from our study characterizing existing vegetation dynamics prior to implementation of the restoration project is required to allow documentation of long‐term project effects on plant community composition and structure within a framework of background variation, thereby allowing assessment of the project's success in restoring critical ecosystem functions.
Probing the global kinome and phosphoproteome in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii via sequential enrichment and quantitative proteomics
Authors: Werth Emily G. , McConnell Evan W. , Gilbert Thomas S. Karim , Couso Lianez Inmaculada , Perez Carlos A. , Manley Cherrel K. , Graves Lee M. , Umen James G. , Hicks Leslie M.
Published: September 2016

The identification of dynamic protein phosphorylation events is critical for understanding kinase/phosphatase‐regulated signaling pathways. To date, protein phosphorylation and kinase expression have been examined independently in photosynthetic organisms. Here we present a method to study the global kinome and phosphoproteome in tandem in a model photosynthetic organism, the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Chlamydomonas), using mass spectrometry‐based label‐free proteomics. A dual enrichment strategy targets intact protein kinases via capture on immobilized multiplexed inhibitor beads with subsequent proteolytic digestion of unbound proteins and peptide‐based phosphorylation enrichment. To increase depth of coverage, both data‐dependent and data‐independent (via SWATH, Sequential Windowed Acquisition of All Theoretical Fragment Ion Mass Spectra) mass spectrometric acquisitions were performed to obtain a more than 50% increase in coverage of the enriched Chlamydomonas kinome over coverage found with no enrichment. The quantitative phosphoproteomic dataset yielded 2250 phosphopeptides and 1314 localized phosphosites with excellent reproducibility across biological replicates (90% of quantified sites with coefficient of variation below 11%). This approach enables simultaneous investigation of kinases and phosphorylation events at the global level to facilitate understanding of kinase networks and their influence in cell signaling events.
Interactive patient blood management dashboards used in Western Australia
Authors: Trentino Kevin M. , Swain Stuart G. , Geelhoed Gary C. , Daly Frank F.S. , Leahy Michael F.
Published: September 2016

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A survey of the use of arterial catheters in anesthetized dogs and cats: 267 cases
Authors: Trim Cynthia M. , Hofmeister Erik H. , Quandt Jane E. , Shepard Molly K.
Published: September 2016

Objectives

To describe the clinical practice of insertion of arterial catheters in anesthetized dogs and cats, to document complications of arterial catheterization, and to determine risk factors associated with the complications.

Design

Prospective clinical study and retrospective evaluation of medical records.

Setting

University teaching hospital.

Animals

Dogs (n = 251) and 13 cats anesthetized for clinical procedures with arterial catheters inserted for blood pressure monitoring.

Interventions

None.

Measurements and Main Results

Details of the animal and catheter were collected at the time of anesthesia. On the following day, the catheter site was palpated and observed for abnormalities and the medical records of all animals were reviewed retrospectively for complications. Details of catheter placement were available for 216 catheters: 158 catheters in a dorsal pedal artery, 50 catheters in the median caudal (coccygeal) artery, 6 in the median artery, and 1 each in a cranial tibial and lingual artery. Blood pressure was obtained from 200 catheters, and 12 catheters failed before the end of anesthesia. Postoperative observational data obtained from 112 catheters described a palpable arterial pulse at 73 sites and no pulse at 21 sites. No risk factor for arterial occlusion was identified. No complications resulting from arterial catheterization were noted in the medical records.

Conclusions

Arterial catheterization resulted in loss of a peripheral pulse postoperatively in 21/94 (22.3%) of animals examined, although no evidence of tissue ischemia was noted in the medical records of any of the patients in this study. These results suggest that insertion of a catheter in the dorsal pedal or coccygeal arteries was not associated with a high risk for complications. However, the course of arterial occlusion postoperatively warrants further investigation.