bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A NanoLuc luciferase-based assay enabling the real-time analysis of protein secretion and injection by bacterial type III secretion systems
Authors: Westerhausen Sibel , Nowak Melanie , Torres-Vargas Claudia , Bilitewski Ursula , Bohn Erwin , Grin Iwan , Wagner Samuel
Published: August 2019

The elucidation of the molecular mechanisms of secretion through bacterial protein secretion systems is impeded by a lack of assays to quantitatively assess secretion kinetics. Also the analysis of the biological role of these secretion systems as well as the identification of inhibitors targeting these systems would greatly benefit from the availability of a simple, quick and quantitative assay to monitor principle secretion and injection into host cells. Here we present a versatile solution to this need, utilizing the small and very bright NanoLuc luciferase to assess secretion and injection through the type III secretion system encoded bySalmonellapathogenicity island 1. The NanoLuc-based secretion assay features a very high signal-to-noise ratio and sensitivity down to the nanoliter scale. The assay enables monitoring of secretion kinetics and is adaptable to a high throughput screening format in 384-well microplates. We further developed NanoLuc and split-NanoLuc-based assays that enable the monitoring of type III secretion-dependent injection of effector proteins into host cells.

Importance

The ability to secrete proteins to the bacterial cell surface, to the extracellular environment, or even into target cells is one of the foundations of interbacterial as well as pathogen-host interaction. While great progress has been made in elucidating assembly and structure of secretion systems, our understanding of their secretion mechanism often lags behind, not last because of the challenge to quantitatively assess secretion function. Here, we developed a luciferase-based assay to enable the simple, quick, quantitative, and high throughput-compatible assessment of secretion and injection through virulence-associated type III secretion systems. The assay allows detection of minute amounts of secreted substrate proteins either in the supernatant of the bacterial culture or within eukaryotic host cells. It thus provides an enabling technology to elucidate the mechanisms of secretion and injection of type III secretion systems and is likely adaptable to assay secretion through other bacterial secretion systems.
Towards a moss sclerophylly continuum: Evolutionary history, water chemistry and climate control traits of hygrophytic mosses
Authors: Fernández‐Martínez Marcos , Berloso Ferran , Corbera Jordi , Garcia‐Porta Joan , Sayol Ferran , Preece Catherine , Sabater Francesc
Published: August 2019

Mosses are amongst the oldest and simplest plants, they can be found almost everywhere in the world, and they condition the structure and function of many ecosystems. Their sensitivity to environmental changes makes them very interesting subjects of study in ecology, and understanding them can provide insights into the evolutionary history of plants. However, the study of moss traits and their relationship with their environment is far behind that of vascular plants.

We sampled 303 assemblages of aquatic and semi‐aquatic (hygrophytic) mosses growing in semi‐natural springs distributed around the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula to study how moss traits vary depending on their evolutionary history, climate and water chemistry. To do so, we analysed 30 moss species and 17 traits using phylogenetic comparative methods and an extended RLQ analysis, accounting for spatial and phylogenetic information. We hypothesized that there is a sclerophylly continuum in mosses living across a gradient of high and low water conductivity springs that may mimic sclerophylly in vascular plants that live in stressful environments.

Results indicated that life‐forms and, especially, morphological traits were well preserved phylogenetically and responsive to water chemistry and climate. That combined with spatial autocorrelation in environmental variables resulted in a clustered distribution of phylogenetically closely related mosses in space. Mosses living in springs with a warm and dry climate that discharge hard water mainly presented species with needle‐like leaves, were denser, and had lower water absorption capacity. The opposite was found in cold, humid and soft water springs.

Synthesis. Our results suggest that climate and water chemistry are main determinants of traits of hygrophytic mosses and of species distributions. We found evidence of a potential sclerophylly continuum in moss traits, which we hypothesize may be mainly related to physical and physiological constraints produced by water chemistry. Our findings describe moss sclerophylly in a gradient of water conductivity similar to that found in vascular plants with water availability and temperature. Further experimental studies will be required to confirm the observations found in this study.

A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
A field experiment of walkaway distributed acoustic sensing vertical seismic profile in a deep and deviated onshore well in Japan using a fibre optic cable deployed inside coiled tubing
Authors: Kobayashi Yuki , Uematsu Yuto , Mochiji Shimpei , Xue Ziqiu
Published: August 2019

A two‐dimensional walkaway vertical seismic profiling survey using distributed acoustic sensing was conducted at an onshore site in Japan. The maximum depth and the deviation of the observation well were more than 4,000 m and 81 degrees, respectively. Among the several methods for installing fibre optic cables, we adopted the inside coiled tubing method, in which coiled tubing containing a fibre optic cable is deployed. The signal‐to‐noise ratio of the raw shot gather was low, possibly due to poor coupling between the fibre optic cable and the subsurface formation resulting from the fibre optic cable deployment method and the existence of considerable tubewave noise. Nevertheless, direct P‐wave arrivals, P–P reflections and P–S converted waves exhibited acceptable signal‐to‐noise ratios after careful optimization of gauge length for distributed acoustic sensing optical processing and the application of carefully parameterized tubewave noise suppression. One of the challenges in current distributed acoustic sensing vertical seismic profile data processing is the separation of P‐ and S‐waves using only one‐component measurements. Hence, we applied moveout correction using two‐dimensional ray tracing. This process effectively highlights only reflected P‐waves, which are used in subsequent subsurface imaging. Comparison with synthetic well seismograms and two‐dimensional surface seismic data confirms that the final imaging result has a sufficiently high quality for subsurface monitoring. We acquired distributed acoustic sensing vertical seismic profile data under both flowing conditions and closed conditions, in which the well was shut off and no fluid flow was allowed. The two imaging results are comparable and suggest the possibility of subsurface imaging and time‐lapse monitoring using data acquired under flowing conditions. The results of this study suggest that, by adopting the inside coiled tubing method without drilling a new observation well, more affordable distributed acoustic sensing vertical seismic profile monitoring can be achieved in fields such as CO2 capture and storage and unconventional shale projects, where monitoring costs have to be minimized.
Antioxidative Activity of Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and Oregano (Origanum vulgare) Essential Oils and Their Effect on Oxidative Stability of Minced Pork Packaged Under Vacuum and Modified Atmosphere
Authors: Boskovic Marija , Glisic Milica , Djordjevic Jasna , Starcevic Marija , Glamoclija Natasa , Djordjevic Vesna , Baltic Milan Z.
Published: August 2019

The antioxidant stability of minced pork treated with thyme and oregano essential oils (EOs) was determined. Minced pork containing different concentrations (0%, 0.3%, 0.6%, or 0.9%) of thyme (TEO) or oregano essential oil (OEO) and packaged under vacuum or modified atmosphere (MAP) (30%O2/50%CO2/20%N2) was evaluated within 15 days of refrigeration (3 ± 1 °C) storage. EOs were examined for scavenging capacity toward 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl, nitric oxide radicals, and hydroxyl, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (butylated hydroxytoluene was used as positive controls). The order of antioxidative effectiveness was as follows: butylated hydroxytoluene > OEO > TEO, with significant differences between agents (P < 0.05). Lipid oxidation in meat was determined by monitoring malondialdehyde (MDA) formation and lipolysis was assessed by measuring the acidity index immediately and after 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 days of storage. EOs significantly (P < 0.05) increased the stability of minced pork with respect to lipid oxidation compared with the control, and the antioxidative effect was dose‐dependent. Moreover, vacuum packaging resulted in mince with significantly lower oxidation and lipolysis levels than modified atmosphere packaged mince (P < 0.05). The results demonstrate that both EOs examined effectively reduced lipid oxidation in raw pork mince after 2 weeks’ storage.

Practical Application

The natural food preservatives market is growing rapidly, as is high demand for organic foods. These results are likely to be of interest to the scientists, researchers, and persons who work in the meat industry. Results and discussion can contribute to a better understanding of antioxidative properties of essential oils in food model. Furthermore, no study has reported the effect of these MAP on pork oxidative stability.
Sequence capture phylogenomics of historical ethanol‐preserved museum specimens: Unlocking the rest of the vault
Authors: Derkarabetian Shahan , Benavides Ligia R. , Giribet Gonzalo
Published: August 2019

Natural history collections play a crucial role in biodiversity research, and museum specimens are increasingly being incorporated into modern genetics‐based studies. Sequence capture methods have proven incredibly useful for phylogenomics, providing the additional ability to sequence historical museum specimens with highly degraded DNA, which until recently have been deemed less valuable for genetic work. The successful sequencing of ultraconserved elements (UCEs) from historical museum specimens has been demonstrated on multiple tissue types including dried bird skins, formalin‐fixed squamates and pinned insects. However, no study has thoroughly demonstrated this approach for historical ethanol‐preserved museum specimens. Alongside sequencing of “fresh” specimens preserved in >95% ethanol and stored at −80°C, we used extraction techniques specifically designed for degraded DNA coupled with sequence capture protocols to sequence UCEs from historical museum specimens preserved in 70%–80% ethanol and stored at room temperature, the standard for such ethanol‐preserved museum collections. Across 35 fresh and 15 historical museum samples of the arachnid order Opiliones, an average of 345 UCE loci were included in phylogenomic matrices, with museum samples ranging from six to 495 loci. We successfully demonstrate the inclusion of historical ethanol‐preserved museum specimens in modern sequence capture phylogenomic studies, show a high frequency of variant bases at the species and population levels, and from off‐target reads successfully recover multiple loci traditionally sequenced in multilocus studies including mitochondrial loci and nuclear rRNA loci. The methods detailed in this study will allow researchers to potentially acquire genetic data from millions of ethanol‐preserved museum specimens held in collections worldwide.
The UK's Exit Charge from the EU: Insights from Modes of Accounting
Authors: Heald David , Wright Iain
Published: August 2019

Whatever the final charge on the UK for leaving the EU, the money itself is relatively marginal to the former's public finances. However, this charge is politically sensitive and financially aggravating during one of the longest periods of fiscal austerity in the UK's history. The ways in which leaving is conceptualized have implications for any continuing financial obligations that must be managed within the context of fiscal austerity and political uncertainty. Yet, leaving the EU is a unique transaction: it is not analogous, for example, to a divorce settlement, the leaving of a club, the termination of a commercial contract, the leaving of a treaty‐based international organization, or secession from a state. Analyzing the formulation of the charge in terms of the four modes of government accounting—financial reporting, statistical accounting, budgeting, and fiscal sustainability projections—enhances its fiscal transparency. It evidences not only the weakness and inconsistency of the UK's negotiating position but also the dominance in EU thinking of the short‐term budgetary calculations of the 2014–20 Multiannual Financial Framework over its long‐term sustainability without a large net contributor. The final amount paid by the UK will depend on the resolution of competing perspectives as well as on liabilities and contingent liabilities associated with the increasingly complex EU financial architecture.
Comparison of forces acting on maxillary incisors during tracheal intubation with different laryngoscopy techniques: a blinded manikin study
Authors: Schieren M. , Kleinschmidt J. , Schmutz A. , Loop T. , Staat M. , Gatzweiler K.‐H. , Wappler F. , Defosse J.
Published: August 2019

Dental trauma is a common complication of tracheal intubation. As existing evidence is insufficient to validly assess the impact of different laryngoscopy techniques on the incidence of dental trauma, the force exerted onto dental structures during tracheal intubation was investigated. An intubation manikin was equipped with hidden force sensors in all maxillary incisors. Dental force was measured while 104 anaesthetists performed a series of tracheal intubations using direct laryngoscopy with a Macintosh blade, and videolaryngoscopy with a C‐MAC®, or the hyperangulated GlideScope® or KingVision® laryngoscopes in both normal and difficult airway conditions. A total of 624 tracheal intubations were analysed. The median (IQR [range]) peak force of direct laryngoscopy in normal airways was 21.1 (14.0–32.8 [2.3–127.6]) N and 29.3 (17.7–44.8 [3.3–97.2]) N in difficult airways. In normal airways, these were lower with the GlideScope and KingVision hyperangulated laryngoscopes, with a reduction of 4.6 N (p = 0.006) and 10.9 N (p < 0.001) compared with direct laryngoscopy, respectively. In difficult airways, these were lower with the GlideScope and KingVision hyperangulated laryngoscopes, with a reduction of 9.8 N (p < 0.001) and 17.6 N (p < 0.001) compared with direct laryngoscopy, respectively. The use of the C‐MAC did not have an impact on the median peak force. Although sex of anaesthetists did not affect peak force, more experienced anaesthetists generated a higher peak force than less experienced providers. We conclude that hyperangulated videolaryngoscopy was associated with a significantly decreased force exerted on maxillary incisors and might reduce the risk for dental injury in clinical settings.
Delayed diagnosis of anorectal malformations in neonates
Authors: Kruger Paul , Teague Warwick J. , Khanal Rija , Hutson John M. , King Sebastian K.
Published: August 2019

Background

Anorectal malformations (ARM) are common congenital abnormalities of the terminal hindgut. Ideally, ARM should be diagnosed at, or shortly following, birth by careful physical examination of the perineum. Delayed diagnosis has been implicated as a risk factor for complications, including intestinal perforation. This study aimed to determine the rate of delayed diagnosis and associated intestinal perforation in ARM.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed for all ARM patients managed at The Royal Children's Hospital over a 16‐year period (2000–2015). Data collected included ARM type, timing of diagnosis and complications. Delayed diagnosis was defined as being at more than 24 h of age.

Results

A total of 243 ARM patients (male 146/243, 60%) were included. The most frequent ARM types were perineal fistula (83/243, 34%) and rectovestibular fistula (40/243, 16%). Diagnosis was delayed beyond 24 h of age in 92 of 243 (38%) patients. The ARM type most commonly delayed in diagnosis was perineal fistula (37/83, 45%). Two patients in whom diagnosis was delayed suffered an intestinal perforation.

Conclusion

Delayed diagnosis in ARM patients remains a common, and potentially fatal, occurrence. Improved assessment of newborns is required to ensure timely diagnosis of ARM, and avoidance of complications associated with delayed diagnosis.
Declining incidence of pyloric stenosis in New Zealand
Authors: Yau Annie , Cha Ryan , Jayaratnam Sridharan , Wilson Toni , Kukkady Askar , Evans Stephen M. , Wells Jonathan M.
Published: August 2019

Background

Pyloric stenosis is a relatively common paediatric surgical condition, but a worldwide decline in its incidence has been observed in recent decades. The objective of this study was to identify if the incidence of pyloric stenosis in New Zealand has been declining.

Methods

A retrospective review of the four New Zealand paediatric surgical centres’ theatre databases from 2007 to 2017. Demographic data were recorded for all infants who had a pyloromyotomy and annual incidences of pyloric stenosis calculated.

Results

A total of 393 infants underwent a pyloromyotomy for pyloric stenosis during the study period. Most infants (81%) were of European ethnicity. There was a significant decline (P = 0.0001) in the national incidence of pyloric stenosis from 0.73/1000 live births (LB) in 2007 to 0.39/1000 LB in 2017. From 2007 to 2017, the incidence of male infants with pyloric stenosis declined from 1.27/1000 LB to 0.62/1000 LB. The current annual incidence of pyloric stenosis in New Zealand is 0.39/1000 LB.

Conclusions

The incidence of pyloric stenosis in New Zealand has significantly declined in the last decade and is currently the lowest reported incidence in the world involving a predominantly European cohort. A decline in male infants developing pyloric stenosis was also observed. Further study is required to investigate causes for this low incidence and declining trend.
Suction stability management in small incision lenticule extraction: incidence and outcomes of suction loss in 4000 consecutive procedures
Authors: Reinstein Dan Z. , Archer Timothy J. , Vida Ryan S. , Carp Glenn I.
Published: August 2019

Purpose

To report the incidence and outcomes of suction loss during small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).

Methods

The incidence of suction loss was measured over 4000 consecutive SMILE procedures and categorized by cause, the interface in which suction was lost and management (restart/continue SMILE, re‐SMILE thinner cap, convert to laser in‐situ keratomileusis [LASIK]). One‐year outcomes were compared to the fellow eye where no suction loss occurred.

Results

There were 20 cases of suction loss (0.50%): during the lenticule interface in seven eyes, lenticule side cut in one eye, cap interface in nine eyes and small incision for three eyes. Small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) was continued in seven eyes, thinner cap SMILE in four eyes, LASIK in eight eyes, and the small incision was manually completed in one eye. Suction loss was caused by a Bell's reflex in 10 eyes, fixation light tracking in six eyes, patient anxiety in two eyes, a nociceptive reflex in one eye and false suction in one eye. There was no difference in results for suction loss and fellow eyes, respectively: uncorrected distance visual acuity was 20/20 or better in 100% in both groups, spherical equivalent was within ±0.50 D in 85% and 79%, one line loss of corrected distance visual acuity in 5% and 0%, and no eyes lost two lines.

Conclusion

Suction loss can be managed depending on the interface during which suction is lost. Treatment was completed on the same day in all instances. Visual and refractive outcomes were unaffected compared to the fellow eye in this series.
Use of proton pump inhibitors and the risk of cholangitis: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Min Yang Won , Kang Danbee , Shin Ju‐Young , Kang Minwoong , Park Joo Kyung , Lee Kwang Hyuck , Lee Jong Kyun , Lee Kyu Taek , Rhee Poong‐Lyul , Kim Jae J. , Guallar Eliseo , Cho Juhee , Lee Hyuk
Published: August 2019

Background

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use may alter the gut microbiome and increase the risk of cholangitis. However, the association of PPI use with the risk of incident cholangitis has not been evaluated.

Aim

To evaluate whether PPI use was associated with a higher risk of cholangitis.

Methods

This cohort study included a nationwide representative sample of the Korean general population followed up for 10 years (1 January 2003 to 31 December 2013). PPI use was identified from treatment claims and considered as a time‐varying variable. Incident cholangitis was identified from hospitalisation and out‐patient visit claims.

Results

During 4 212 003 person‐years of follow‐up, 58,863 participants had at least one PPI prescription and 1 834 participants developed cholangitis. The age‐, sex‐, residential area‐ and income‐adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for incident cholangitis comparing PPI use with non‐use was 6.06 (95% CI, 4.64‐7.91). The association was essentially unchanged in fully adjusted models (HR 5.75; 95% CI, 4.39‐7.54). The risk was highest during PPI treatment and decreased gradually after PPI discontinuation (Ptrend <.001).

Conclusions

In this large cohort, PPI use was associated with an increased risk of cholangitis. Physicians prescribing PPIs should consider cholangitis as a potential complication of PPI use.
Agranulocytosis attributed to metamizole: An analysis of spontaneous reports in EudraVigilance 1985‐2017
Authors: Hoffmann Falk , Bantel Carsten , Jobski Kathrin
Published: August 2019

Despite ongoing debates about its safety, the use of metamizole (dipyrone) is still increasing in many countries. In this study, we analysed spontaneous reports of suspected metamizole‐associated agranulocytosis recorded in EudraVigilance database from 1985 to 2017 with regard to patient and treatment characteristics as well as fatal vs non‐fatal outcomes and compared these findings among countries. A total of 1448 reports from 31 different countries were included (Germany 42.0%; Spain 29.6%; Switzerland 13.1%; other countries 15.3%). Mean age of patients was 53.6 years (63.4% females). Differences among countries were observed, for example with respect to patient age, route of administration and daily doses. Overall, median time between starting metamizole and developing an agranulocytosis was 13 days with 34.7% of cases occurring up to 7 days. This time was much shorter in patients who had already received metamizole before (median: 6 vs 15 days). About 16% of cases ended fatally. Patients with fatal outcomes were older and more often had also received methotrexate compared to those with non‐fatal outcomes. When adjusting for age and sex in a multivariable logistic regression, methotrexate was associated with an increased risk of fatal outcomes (odds ratio: 5.18; 95% confidence interval: 3.06‐8.78). In conclusion, metamizole‐associated agranulocytosis is still a life‐threatening condition, especially in the elderly and those also receiving methotrexate. As agranulocytosis can develop weeks after last administration and independently of dose and duration of treatment, prescribers and patients should be aware of its signs and symptoms.
Exploring the clinical utility of two staging models for bipolar disorder
Authors: van der Markt Afra , Klumpers Ursula M. H. , Dols Annemiek , Draisma Stasja , Boks Marco P. , van Bergen Annet , Ophoff Roel A. , Beekman Aartjan T. F. , Kupka Ralph W.
Published: August 2019

Objective

To assess the clinical utility of two staging models for bipolar disorder by examining distribution, correlation, and the relationship to external criteria. These are primarily defined by the recurrence of mood episodes (model A), or by intra‐episodic functioning (model B).

Methods

In the Dutch Bipolar Cohort, stages according to models A and B were assigned to all patients with bipolar‐I‐disorder (BD‐I; N = 1396). The dispersion of subjects over the stages was assessed and the association between the two models calculated. For both models, change in several clinical markers were concordant with the stage was investigated.

Results

Staging was possible in 87% of subjects for model A and 75% for model B. For model A, 1079 participants (93%) were assigned to stage 3c (recurrent episodes). Subdividing stage 3c with cut‐offs at 5 and 10 episodes resulted in subgroups containing 242, 510, and 327 subjects. For model B, most participants were assigned to stage II (intra‐episodic symptoms, N = 431 (41%)) or stage III (inability to work, N = 451 (43%)). A low association between models was found. For both models, the clinical markers “age at onset,” “treatment resistance,” and “episode acceleration” changed concordant with the stages.

Conclusion

The majority of patients with BD‐I clustered in recurrent stage 3 of Model A. Model B showed a larger dispersion. The stepwise change in several clinical markers supports the construct validity of both models. Combining the two staging models and sub‐differentiating the recurrent stage into categories with cut‐offs at 5 and 10 lifetime episodes improves the clinical utility of staging for individual patients.
Ecosystem services provided by armadillos
Authors: Rodrigues Thiago F. , Mantellatto Aline M. B. , Superina Mariella , Chiarello Adriano G.
Published: August 2019

Awareness of the natural ecological processes provided by organisms that benefit human well‐being has significantly progressed towards the goal of making conservation a mainstream value. Identifying different services and the species that provide them is a vital first step for the management and maintenance of these so‐called ecosystem services. Herein, we specifically address the armadillos, which play key functional roles in terrestrial ecosystems, including as ecosystem engineers, predators, and vectors of invertebrates and nutrients, although these roles have often been overlooked. Armadillos can control pests, disperse seeds, and be effective sentinels of potential disease outbreaks or bioindicators of environmental contaminants. They also supply important material (meat, medicines) and non‐material (learning, inspiration) contributions all over the Americas. We identify key gaps in the understanding of ecosystem services provided by armadillos and areas for future research required to clarify their functional role in terrestrial ecosystems and the services they supply. Such information will produce powerful arguments for armadillo conservation.
Creating business out of bright light: Scientists and the commercialization of synchrotron‐enabled research
Authors: Holroyd Carin
Published: August 2019

Governments have attached a high priority to the commercialization of science and technology as a foundation for participation in the “new economy.” Scientists typically view their work in less commercial terms and focus on making contributions to knowledge. When governments invest in large‐scale scientific infrastructure, like synchrotrons, they are increasingly concerned about the business and employment outcomes. This study examines the attitudes of synchrotron scientists at the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan toward government expectations and programs supporting commercialization. The scientists are, as a group, ambivalent toward strong commercialization efforts and feel that the expectations of government are unrealistic. Many, however, appreciate the financial and political requirements to focus on commercial activities, and a significant number see both research and societal benefits in engaging actively with private sector partners.
Impact of hyperlipidemia as a coexisting factor on the prognosis of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Chen Chengfang , Wang Mingming , Wang Hongya , Xiong Wenping , Dai Qinglei , Wang Baowei , Liang Xuhui , Wang Haibo
Published: August 2019

Objective

To define the impact of hyperlipidemia as a coexisting factor on the prognosis of Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (ISSHL), we prospectively analysed the Lipid‐lowering therapy Group (LLTG) data compared with Control Group (CG) data to determine the effects of Lipid intervention on the prognosis of sudden hearing loss.

Design

A prospective, non‐randomized study.

Setting

Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Shandong, China.

Participants

A total of 653 in‐patient SSHL patients were enrolled between January 2014 to August 2018.

Main outcome measures

From January 2014 to August 2018, 653 patients with ISSHL who also had hyperlipidemia as coexisting factor were identified. Patients enrolled in LLTG (n = 200) or CG (n = 453) were compared by a propensity score matching analysis (PSM, caliper = 0.01, n = 2) to balance pre‐existing clinical characteristics. After matching, the effective rate of different hyperlipidemia types and different types of audiogram in both groups were performed by Cochran‐Mantel‐Haenszel test (CMH).

Results

After PSM, 440 patients were studied (146 in LLTG, 294 in CG), and the influence of interference factors was balanced, meanwhile, the final hearing level was better in LLTG than CG (P = .043), and hearing gain was higher in LLTG than CG (P = .006). Cure rate (32.9%), significant improvement rate (22.6%) and the total effective rate (76.0%) in LLTG were better than that in CG group (26.5%, 15.6% and 63.6%) after the Pearson chi‐square test (P < .05). Analysis with the Cochran‐Mantel‐Haenszel test showed that the total effective rate was better in LLTG than CG respectively (P = .009) in each different hyperlipidemia types, and there were statistically significant differences in TG higher group (TG Group; P = .018). Moreover, the total effective rate was better in LLTG than CG (P = .006) for all patterns of audiogram, and there were statistically significant differences in flat audiogram (P = .043).

Conclusions

Lipid‐lowering therapy can improve the curative effect of sudden hearing loss patients combined with hyperlipidemia. There was a significant difference in the total effective rate of TG Group after lipid intervention, suggesting that there might be causal relationship between TG and sudden hearing loss. There was a significant difference in the total effective rate between flat audiogram, which may suggest flat hearing loss was more likely caused by vascular dysfunction.
Visceral adipose tissue normative values in adults from the United States usingGELunariDXA
Authors: Hirsch Katie R. , Blue Malia N. M. , Trexler Eric T. , Smith‐Ryan Abbie E.
Published: August 2019

Objectives

To create normative data for visceral adipose tissue (VAT) derived from theGELunariDXAspecific to sex and age cohorts for adults in the United States (US).

Methods

A cross‐sectional analysis of 649 adults were evaluated [Mean ± SD (Range): Males:n = 351; Age = 33·2 ± 17·4 years (18–75 years); Body mass index (BMI) = 26·5 ± 5·4 kg·m−2(17·5–44·2 kg·m−2); Females:n = 298; Age = 28·5 ± 14·3 years (18·0–75·0 years);BMI=25·8 ± 6·9 kg·m−2(17·9–54·8 kg·m−2)]. From a total body dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan,VATmass (kg) and volume (cm3) were quantified from the software‐delineated region‐of‐interest. The relationship betweenVATand age was evaluated using regression analysis. SeparateVATpercentiles were stratified by age range (18–19 years; 20–24 years; 25–50 years; 50+ years) for males and females.

Results

In both males and females, there was a positive, non‐linear relationship betweenVATand age (R2 = 0·47–0·49;P<0·0001). In males, the 50th percentile forVATmass and volume, stratified by age was: 18–19 years (0·18 kg; 185·67 cm3), 20–24 years (0·25 kg; 261·21 cm3), 25–49 years (0·71 kg; 746·27 cm3) and 50+ years (1·62 kg; 1708·36 cm3). In females, the 50th percentile forVATmass and volume, stratified by age was: 18–19 years (0·04 kg; 44·90 cm3), 20–24 years (0·06 kg; 59·57 cm3), 25–49 years (0·55 kg; 579·28 cm3) and 50+ years (1·21 kg; 1284·59 cm3).

Conclusion

These normative values provide a reference forVATmass and volume inUSadults 18–75 years of age obtained using theGELunariDXA. Measures ofVATprovide important information about metabolic and cardiovascular health risk beyond that ofBMIand per cent body fat.
Do infants have a sense of numerosity? A p‐curve analysis of infant numerosity discrimination studies
Authors: Smyth Rachael E. , Ansari Daniel
Published: August 2019

Research demonstrating that infants discriminate between small (e.g., 1 vs. 3 dots) and large numerosities (e.g., 8 vs. 16 dots) is central to theories concerning the origins of human numerical abilities. To date, there has been no quantitative meta‐analysis of the infant numerical competency data. Here, we quantitatively synthesize the evidential value of the available literature on infant numerosity discrimination using a meta‐analytic tool called p‐curve. In p‐curve the distribution of available p‐values is analyzed to determine whether the published literature examining particular hypotheses contains evidential value. p‐curves demonstrated evidential value for the hypotheses that infants can discriminate between both small and large unimodal and cross‐modal numerosities. However, the analyses also revealed that the published data on infants’ ability to discriminate between large numerosities is less robust and statistically powered than the data on their ability to discriminate small numerosities. We argue there is a need for adequately powered replication studies to enable stronger inferences in order to use infant data to ground theories concerning the ontogenesis of numerical cognition.
Neuroplastic reorganization in children with ocular and cerebral visual impairment
Authors: Bauer Corinna M
Published: August 2019

This commentary is on the original article by Bathelt et al. on pages 125‐131 of this issue.
Progression of behavioural disturbances in frontotemporal dementia: a longitudinal observational study
Authors: Cosseddu M. , Benussi A. , Gazzina S. , Alberici A. , Dell'Era V. , Manes M. , Cristillo V. , Borroni B. , Padovani A.
Published: August 2019

Background and purpose

Behavioural disturbances are the core features of frontotemporal dementia (FTD); however, symptom progression is still not well characterized during the entire course of the disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate behavioural symptoms at baseline and during the disease course in a large cohort of patients with behavioural variant FTD (bvFTD), non‐fluent/agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA) and semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (PPA).

Methods

We evaluated 403 patients with FTD, 167 of whom had at least 1‐year follow‐up evaluation (for a total of 764 assessments). Behavioural symptoms were assessed and rated through the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) and Frontal Behavioural Inventory (FBI). Disease severity was evaluated through the Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration ‐Clinical Dementia Rating scale (FTLD‐CDR). Linear mixed models were used to model behavioural measures (NPI, FBI and the five FBI‐behavioural core criteria scores) as a function of disease severity (FTLD‐CDR score) and clinical phenotype.

Results

At baseline, patients with bvFTD showed more behavioural disturbances compared with those with nfvPPA (P = 0.004). Negative symptoms (apathy and loss of empathy) showed a trend to an increase throughout the course of the disease in both bvFTD and PPA (P < 0.001 until intermediate stages). Positive symptoms (disinhibition, perseverations and hyperorality) increased until intermediate phases (P < 0.001) followed by a progressive reduction in later phases, whereas they were less common in nfvPPA throughout the disease course.

Conclusion

We demonstrated that behavioural disturbances differed in FTD and with disease severity. Positive symptoms appeared to improve in the advanced stages, highlighting the importance of taking into account the disease severity as outcome measure in clinical trials.
Promoting intercultural thinking and reflection through U.S. history
Authors: Tocaimaza‐Hatch C. Cecilia , Bloom Melanie
Published: August 2019

Language textbooks present cultural content in a typically homogeneous fashion, thereby ignoring inherent diversity both within and between cultures and reinforcing monodimensional views. Consequently, instructors must find ways to facilitate students’ critical engagement with and reflection on cultural representations in order to provide them with the space to more critically examine cultural heterogeneity, which is essential for effective and appropriate interactions in real settings. The current study describes novel cultural modules built around the PBS documentary series Latino Americans to be integrated into a Spanish 1 course. The modules introduced students to historical events regarding the long‐standing Latino presence in the United States and Latinos’ points of view, perceptions, and values. To ascertain the effectiveness of the modules, students’ development of intercultural sensitivity was assessed via surveys and class observations. The analysis was framed using M. Bennett's model of intercultural development. Results demonstrated students’ shifts in both ethnocentric and ethnorelative perceptions of cultural difference. Regarding ethnorelative perspectives, results suggest discrete improvements particularly as seen in the prevalence of data that support a shift toward acceptance.
An integrated pathway for building regional phylogenies for ecological studies
Authors: Eme David , Anderson Marti J. , Struthers Carl D. , Roberts Clive D. , Liggins Libby
Published: August 2019

Aim

Phylogenies are increasingly used in community ecology, biogeography and macroecology. However, sourcing a phylogeny comprising the entire species pool for a focal region can be difficult. Typically, a bespoke phylogeny must be created requiring considerable data manipulation and the use of many standalone software packages. Here we present a suite of methodological tools within the popular R environment that help to build molecular phylogenies appropriate for ecological studies with a regional focus.

Innovation

Our R package regPhylo provides a pipeline to construct a Bayesian posterior distribution of time‐calibrated trees suitable to address ecological questions. The novel contributions of regPhylo include options to: use prior phylogenetic knowledge through flexible topological constraints; include spatial metadata in sourcing DNA sequences; and include taxa without DNA sequences and then infer consequent phylogenetic uncertainty. Specifically, regPhylo helps researchers: retrieve DNA sequences; enhance available metadata; select DNA sequences based on their length or spatial proximity to the region of study; align sequences; and perform quality control. Output from the pipeline is a file ready to run in the Bayesian tree reconstruction software beast2, appropriate for estimating time‐calibrated trees and including phylogenetic uncertainty for downstream analyses.

Main conclusions

Overall, regPhylo improves the integration of popular standalone phylogenetic software into the flexible R environment. It provides a novel approach to include topological constraints based on prior knowledge, include taxa without DNA sequences, and select spatially appropriate DNA sequences. When coupled with a Bayesian tree‐building process, our approach provides estimates of uncertainty in both topology and branch lengths. We demonstrate the utility of the package by constructing a posterior distribution of time‐calibrated phylogenies for the New Zealand marine ray‐finned fishes (Actinopterygii) providing the unprecedented opportunity to include phylogenetic information in downstream ecological analyses for marine fishes in this region.
Inter‐population variation in the behaviour of adult and juvenile Red‐footed Boobies Sula sula
Authors: Mendez Loriane , Prudor Aurelien , Weimerskirch Henri
Published: August 2019

Early life is a critical phase of the life cycle of animals and is attracting increased attention because little information is available on the behaviour of young individuals during this period. Behaviour during early life is probably influenced by the environmental conditions encountered by young animals, but data on intraspecific variation between breeding sites during this crucial period of life are limited. Here we study variability in the foraging behaviour of juveniles and adults in three colonies of a pantropical seabird, the Red‐footed Booby Sula sula. Both adults and juveniles were measured and fitted with GPS loggers in three remote islands: Genovesa (Galapagos, Eastern Pacific Ocean), Europa (Western Indian Ocean) and Surprise (New Caledonia, Western Pacific Ocean). Foraging behaviour was compared between age‐classes, sex and colonies by examining trip characteristics, different behaviours at sea, potential associations between individuals and morphological characteristics. Compared with adults, juveniles conducted shorter trips that were restricted to around the colony, especially on Genovesa (max. range: 203.4 ± 125.1 km and 3.6 ± 3.1 km, respectively). Juveniles appeared more constrained by poor flight skills and experience rather than by their morphology. Adults travelled 45% of the time during at‐sea trips, whereas juveniles spent a a lower proportion of time travelling but foraged more often using an ‘area‐restricted search’ behaviour, potentially training to catch prey. Associations between juveniles were commonly detected in the three colonies and occurred mostly during foraging, suggesting that social learning is an important strategy. Variability of morphometric measurements in both adults and juveniles was high between sites, with larger birds found on Genovesa. These results suggest that adaptations to local environmental conditions are already visible in their early life. Future studies should continue to investigate the behavioural flexibility of juvenile birds to better understand the effect of local environmental conditions during this critical stage of life.
Effect of controlled crystallization on polaronic transport in phosphate‐based glass‐ceramics
Authors: Pavić Luka , Nikolić Juraj , Graça Manuel P.F. , Costa Benilde F.O. , Valente Manuel A. , Skoko Željko , Šantić Ana , Moguš‐Milanković Andrea
Published: August 2019

The effect of induced crystallization on changes in electrical transport of two types of glass‐ceramics, pure polaron conductive 40Fe2O3‐60P2O5 (F40) (mol%) and predominantly polaronic 5Li2O‐5ZnO‐40P2O5‐50WO3 (Li‐50W) (mol%) was investigated. F40 glass‐ceramics produced at low heat‐treatment temperatures contain single‐phase Fe3(P2O7)2 whereas at higher temperatures two more phases Fe4(P2O7)3 and Fe(PO3)3 are formed. Structural modifications strongly depend on the crystallization temperature and time. The appearance of crystalline phases studied by Mössbauer spectroscopy exhibits changes in Fe2+/Fetot ratio in crystalline/glassy phases. The detailed analysis of different iron sites allows their correlation with changes in electrical conductivity as crystallization progresses. Depending on the course of crystallization, the contribution of each phase to the overall conductivity is determined by the frequency dependence of Zʺ(ω) and Mʺ(ω). DC conductivity shows a sharp decrease as Fe3(P2O7)2 phase appears and consequently glass matrix remains impoverished in Fe2+‐Fe3+ pairs. In the multiphase systems prepared at higher crystallization temperatures, the overall electrical conductivity increases although the continuous grain boundaries along different crystalline grains play a limiting factor. In contrast, the slight conductivity change in Li‐50W glass‐ceramics upon crystallization is a result of remaining W5+‐W6+ pairs in the residual glassy phase. Independence of electrical transport on Li+ ions confirms predominantly polaronic transport in Li‐50W glass‐ceramics.
Sexual system in the tanaidacean Falsapseudes bowmani (Crustacea: Malacostraca: Peracarida)
Authors: Kakui Keiichi , Hiruta Chizue , Uyeno Daisuke
Published: August 2019

With more than 40,000 species, Malacostraca is the most diverse crustacean class. Most malacostracans are gonochoristic, but simultaneous hermaphrodites are also known. Tanaidacea is one of two malacostracan orders that includes simultaneously hermaphroditic species; so far, simultaneous hermaphroditism has been confirmed externally and internally in only two tanaidacean species, both in the genus Apseudes (Apseudidae). Here we show, through external and internal morphological observations of fixed specimens, that the apseudid Falsapseudes bowmani is a simultaneous hermaphrodite, making Falsapseudes the second tanaidacean genus in which simultaneous hermaphroditism has been confirmed both externally and internally. In this species, the epistome (a projection on the clypeus) was thick and elongate in large specimens but was thin and spiniform in smaller specimens; the brooding of eggs or embryos was observed only in thin‐epistome individuals, although a pair of ovaries was confirmed in both thick‐ and thin‐epistome individuals. This suggests that individuals with a thick epistome may act as males while also retaining the female reproductive organs.
Freshwater sponge (Porifera: Spongillidae) distribution across a landscape: Environmental tolerances, habitats, and morphological variation
Authors: Evans Karen L. , Montagnes David J. S.
Published: August 2019

Freshwater sponges are important to ecosystem functioning; however, information about their biogeography and interspecific variation is fragmentary, limiting our ability to assess their role. Although the specific epithets of two common species suggest that sponges found in lentic habitats are Spongilla lacustris, and those found in lotic habitats are Ephydatia fluviatilis, the number of sponge species in the UK is unresolved. We sampled sponges in a variety of habitats and used both morphological and molecular (D3 domain of 28S rDNA) methods to identify six species, including the first record of Trochospongilla horrida. We contrasted species in terms of their environmental tolerances, habitats, and variation, and we expanded on the limited information available about the geographic distributions of these sponges. In our study, most sponge species colonized a variety of substrates, but exhibited different distributions. The most widespread sponge, S. lacustris, was present at lower mean water temperatures and was more often located above a latitude of 55°N. Ephydatia fluviatilis was the most common species in rivers, but was also located in lentic habitats. Salinity in anthropogenic habitats was not a significant factor for the presence of E. fluviatilis or the more patchily distributed species Eunapius fragilis. Instead, these species occurred more frequently at sites with negative oxidation–reduction potential. Sponge biodiversity may be affected by substrate availability in anthropogenic habitats, invasive species, and improved ability to recognize sponge taxa. Crucially, we provide foundation data as a prerequisite for future ecological evaluation.