bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning behind glass walls: learning style and partition-room, is there a correlation?
Authors: Düştegör Dilek , Elhussein Mariam A. , Alghamdi Amani , Nagy Naya
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how a very particular learning environment, namely, partition rooms, affect students’ teaching experience and further explore if students’ learning styles is a pertinent determinant. Partition rooms are very common in Saudi Arabia when lectures are held by male instructors for female students. The male instructor delivers his lesson behind a glass wall, creating an environment of limited visual and auditory interaction. Various digital tools are present, meant to overcome the gap caused by the lack of direct student–teacher contact.

Design/methodology/approach

The researchers collected data from a sample of 109 female students who are studying at Level 4 Computer Science Department, College of Computer Sciences and Information Technology, at a public university in Saudi Arabia. All of them experienced a minimum of two courses undertaken in a partition room. The survey consists of two parts with a total of 53 questions. The first 20 questions were adopted from the perceptual learning style preference questionnaire (PLSP).

Findings

Research findings reveal that students are affected differently by the various dimensions of the partition room depending on their learning style.

Originality/value

There are fewer results in the literature that study learners of our particular group, namely, Saudi females. The study focuses on students studying IT and related fields. This study is almost unique, as most studies of the kind are related to the experience of females learning English as a foreign language. Therefore, the authors’ research gives much-needed insight into the conditions and perceptions of female students studying toward their degree in a technical field.
Application of visual management panel on an airplane assembly station
Authors: Siaudzionis Filho Felipe Alberto Bastos , Pontes Heráclito Lopes Jaguaribe , Albertin Marcos Ronaldo , de Lima Raphael Luiz Maia , Moraes Thais de Castro
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The management of materials consists of an important analysis for industries as there are factors in several areas that should be considered. For this, it should take into account logistical factors, quality and production, because one piece delivered in a large lead time or outside the technical quality standards, imply delays in the project or rework. In this context, the importance of creating a control method of input and output of tools in an aviation industry in the city of Toulouse, France, was seen due to the amount of many incomplete arrivals or inappropriate material for use. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a philosophy of lean manufacturing tools and visual management (VM). A VM panel with information documents of all tools used in an assembly station of a model airplane was applied. With all data collected to carry out the project, the panel was created with the most relevant information of each tool and applied to an assembly station. That done, the production supervisors, mechanical and electrical supervisors were trained in the operation. Despite a change of management, it was realized that all supported the change due to the ease of understanding of the method and a good VM.

Findings

At the end of the work, materials management became more simplified, operators were more satisfied because of the non-occurrence of tools mistakes and the control time decreased from 120 to 15 minutes.

Research limitations/implications

The application of this project has begun in an assembly station; however, it has been validated to be applied throughout the facility and its applications are being studied for other industries with different models.

Practical implications

This project developed a visual panel for support visual communication of the airplane assembly line. Its usage eliminates tools lost, inefficiencies and decreases lost time with tools selection.

Originality/value

This work proposes a way to simplify the management tools for assembly station plane using a VM panel based on the lean philosophy. The study was conducted at the Final Assembly Line of an aircraft model from a unit of an aircraft company.
Promoting volunteer engagement in the heritage sector
Authors: Smithson Charlotte , Rowley Jennifer , Fullwood Roger
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to offer insights into the processes associated with promoting volunteer engagement adopted by a large UK heritage attraction during a period of significant change. Engaged volunteers were regarded as essential to sustain, and where appropriate, to enhance the customer experience.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was adopted. This involved review of relevant documentation and interviews and focus groups between researchers, managers and volunteers.

Findings

Working from the philosophical stance that information and involvement are strong predecessors to “buy-in”, the managers of the attraction used a series of initiatives that kept volunteers both informed and involved. These initiatives include a values-based induction programme, information and communication, training and development, and creating new narratives.

Originality/value

Volunteer engagement influences volunteer commitment to the organisation. This case study offers some insights into initiatives adopted in one heritage organisation to promote volunteer engagement, and thereby provides a basis for other organisations to reflect on their practices in this area.
Mobile services in the libraries of the world’s top universities
Authors: Pakdaman Naeini Maryam , Sharif Moghaddam Hadi , Ziaei Soraya , Ghaebi Amir
Published: May 2018

Purpose

As many organizations and institutions in recent years are trying to update their hardware and software platforms toward using mobile technology, libraries and information centers as trustees and leaders of information management and information science need to be futurists in this area. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the status of using mobile-based services in the world’s top university libraries.

Design/methodology/approach

In this direct observation and quantitative research survey, the authors reviewed the status of using mobile-based services in the libraries of the world’s top universities.

Findings

The results showed that 84 percent of the libraries of the top 50 universities in the world have made their websites mobile-friendly and provide mobile-based services; however, only 30 percent of them have designed mobile library application. The findings of this study revealed that mobile phone services such as “Search catalog,” “Hour of library,” “Contact,” “Ask the librarian” and “News” in more than 50 percent of the libraries with mobile-based services has been used. While some services like “Services for disabled,” “Library card,” “Library Strategic Plan” and “Financial services” are less important to deliver on the mobile platform.

Research limitations/implications

The results of the current research are only limited to this environment. Furthermore limited access to all features of some mobile library applications is another limitation of this work. Also, failure to download some of the university apps from the usual App store due to the nationality of the researchers is other limitations of the study. The authors try to find more details of these apps with connecting to the librarians of this statistic society.

Practical implications

The research results indicated that the majority of libraries in the world’s top universities have moved toward designing and using mobile platform in their websites. This survey suggests that the academic libraries of developing countries in order to follow this trend are supposed to plug in most used services based on experience of academic libraries of top universities.

Originality/value

The research results indicated that the majority of libraries in the world’s top universities have moved toward designing and using mobile platform in their websites. This survey suggests that the Iranian academic libraries affiliated with the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education are also trying to follow this trend in order to meet the users’ information needs.
Research Note: First results of a low‐altitude unmanned aircraft system gamma survey by comparison with the terrestrial and aerial gamma survey data
Authors: Parshin Alexander , Grebenkin Nikolay , Morozov Vladimir , Shikаlenko Fedor
Published: May 2018

In order to increase the efficiency of geological survey in difficult landscape‐morphological conditions, the authors have developed low‐altitude gamma technology surveys based on a multi‐rotor unmanned aircraft system, also known informally as Drones. These results have been compared against those from standard terrestrial and aerial gamma surveys. The successful results obtained at the reference site show that the developed methodology enables compilation of high‐quality data in difficult landscape conditions. These results yield the same level of information content as standard terrestrial gamma surveys. The exact unmanned aircraft system altitude over the earth must be maintained for carrying out high‐quality surveys. It was found that a CsI(Tl) detector with sizes 80 × 80 mm (vol. 0.4 dm3) enables obtaining of high‐quality radiometric data at altitudes of up to 70 m, at a speed of at least 20 km/h. The authors believe that low altitude ‘quasi‐terrestrial’ gamma surveys with a terrain drape may in the future replace terrestrial gamma surveys since they can offer better effectiveness at a lower cost.
Seed storage of Brazilian cacti species in different threat categories
Authors: dos Santos Amanda P. , Hassemer Gustavo , Meiado Marcos V.
Published: May 2018

Cactaceae is considered the fifth most endangered taxonomic group. In light of this, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of different low‐temperature storage techniques in maintaining the viability of seeds of cacti in different threat categories. Seeds of six cacti taxa were stored in a cold chamber (8°C), a freezer (−5°C), in liquid nitrogen (−196°C) and at room temperature (25–27°C) for a period of 0, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 13 months. At each evaluation interval we removed a seed sample for each taxon studied, which was distributed into four repetitions of 25 seeds maintained at room temperature under 12‐h light/dark photoperiods. We evaluated the germinability, mean germination time and synchronization index. Most of the studied taxa presented germinability of above 50%, which was influenced by time and by storage temperatures. Also, most taxa stored at room temperature presented a significant reduction in germinability, whereas almost all taxa showed maintenance of the seed viability when stored in a cold chamber, a freezer or liquid nitrogen. This response can be justified by the reduction of the seed metabolism and the degradation of the reserve compounds of the seeds while at lower temperatures. Our results indicate that storage at low temperatures is an effective method for the conservation of cacti seeds and can be used for the formation of artificial seed banks of threatened cacti species.
HOW COLLECTIVE IS COLLECTIVE EFFICACY? THE IMPORTANCE OF CONSENSUS IN JUDGMENTS ABOUT COMMUNITY COHESION AND WILLINGNESS TO INTERVENE
Authors: BRUNTON‐SMITH IAN , STURGIS PATRICK , LECKIE GEORGE
Published: May 2018

Existing studies have generally measured collective efficacy by combining survey respondents’ ratings of their local area into an overall summary for each neighborhood. Naturally, this approach results in a substantive focus on the variation in average levels of collective efficacy between neighborhoods. In this article, we focus on the variation in consensus of collective efficacy judgments. To account for differential consensus among neighborhoods, we use a mixed‐effects location‐scale model, with variability in the consensus of judgments treated as an additional neighborhood‐level random effect. Our results show that neighborhoods in London differ, not just in their average levels of collective efficacy but also in the extent to which residents agree with one another in their assessments. In accord with findings for U.S. cities, our results show that consensus in collective efficacy assessments is affected by the ethnic composition of neighborhoods. Additionally, we show that heterogeneity in collective efficacy assessments is consequential, with higher levels of criminal victimization, worry about crime, and risk avoidance behavior in areas where collective efficacy consensus is low.
Skin autofluorescence, a non‐invasive biomarker for advanced glycation end products, is not related to the number of pregnancies
Authors: Van Waateringe Robert P. , Truyens Laura , Van Den Berg Paul P. , Lutgers Helen L. , Wolffenbuttel Bruce H.R.
Published: May 2018

Highlights

Skin autofluorescence (SAF) assesses subcutaneous accumulation of advanced glycation end products and has been shown to predict future cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

A higher number of pregnancies was significantly associated with higher SAF, even after correction for relevant confounders like waist circumference, creatinine clearance, and diabetes status, but not after correction for age.

Women with the highest SAF Z‐score had a more unfavorable risk factor profile, with higher body mass index and waist circumference, higher blood pressure, lower high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, and higher triglyceride levels.
Impact of current and scaled‐up levels of hepatitis C prevention and treatment interventions for people who inject drugs in three UK settings—what is required to achieve the WHO's HCV elimination targets?
Authors: Ward Zoe , Platt Lucy , Sweeney Sedona , Hope Vivian D. , Maher Lisa , Hutchinson Sharon , Palmateer Norah , Smith Josie , Craine Noel , Taylor Avril , Martin Natasha , Ayres Rachel , Dillon John , Hickman Matthew , Vickerman Peter
Published: May 2018

Aims

To estimate the impact of existing high‐coverage needle and syringe provision (HCNSP, defined as obtaining more than one sterile needle and syringe per injection reported) and opioid substitution therapy (OST) on hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID) in three UK settings and to determine required scale‐up of interventions, including HCV treatment, needed to reach the World Health Organization (WHO) target of reducing HCV incidence by 90% by 2030.

Design

HCV transmission modelling using UK empirical estimates for effect of OST and/or HCNSP on individual risk of HCV acquisition.

Setting and participants

Three UK cities with varying chronic HCV prevalence (Bristol 45%, Dundee 26%, Walsall 19%), OST (72–81%) and HCNSP coverage (28–56%).

Measurements

Relative change in new HCV infections throughout 2016–30 if current interventions were stopped. Scale‐up of HCNSP, OST and HCV treatment required to achieve the WHO elimination target.

Findings

Removing HCNSP or OST would increase the number of new HCV infections throughout 2016 to 2030 by 23–64 and 92–483%, respectively. Conversely, scaling‐up these interventions to 80% coverage could achieve a 29 or 49% reduction in Bristol and Walsall, respectively, whereas Dundee may achieve a 90% decrease in incidence with current levels of intervention because of existing high levels of HCV treatment (47–58 treatments per 1000 PWID). If OST and HCNSP are scaled‐up, Walsall and Bristol can achieve the same impact by treating 14 or 40 per 1000 PWID annually, respectively (currently two and nine treatments per 1000 PWID), while 18 and 43 treatments per 1000 PWID would be required if OST and HCNSP are not scaled‐up.

Conclusions

Current opioid substitution therapy and high‐coverage needle and syringe provision coverage is averting substantial hepatitis C transmission in the United Kingdom. Maintaining this coverage while getting current drug injectors onto treatment can reduce incidence by 90% by 2030.
Genome‐wide association study reveals novel genes for the ear size in sheep (Ovis aries)
Authors: Gao L. , Xu S.‐S. , Yang J.‐Q. , Shen M. , Li M.‐H.
Published: May 2018

Variations in ear size can be observed in livestock such as sheep; however, the genetic basis of variable ear size in sheep is still poorly understood. To investigate causative genes associated with ear size in sheep, a genome‐wide association study was performed in 115 adult Duolang sheep with different‐sized floppy ears using the Ovine Infinium HD BeadChip. We found 38 significant SNPs at the genome‐wide or chromosome‐wise 5% significance level after Bonferroni correction. The most significant association (P = 1.61 × 10−6) was found at SNP rs402740419, located in the DCC gene, which plays a critical role in ear development. Also, we observed two additional significant SNPs, rs407891215 in PTPRD and rs407769095 in SOX5, both of which are functionally associated with ear developmental processes. Our results are useful for future sheep breeding and provide insights into the genetic basis of ear size development in sheep and other livestock.
In Vitro Hemodynamic Evaluation of an Adult Pulsatile Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation System
Authors: Wang Shigang , Moroi Morgan , Brehm Christoph E. , Kunselman Allen R. , Ündar Akif
Published: May 2018

The objective of this study was to evaluate a pulsatile extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) system in terms of hemodynamic energy generation and transmission under various pulsatile amplitudes, flow rates, and pseudopatient pressures in a simulated adult ECMO circuit. Surplus hemodynamic energy (SHE), a measure of the quality of pulsatility, was used to quantify pulsatile flow. The circuit consisted of an i‐cor diagonal pump, an adult XLung oxygenator, a 21 Fr Medtronic Biomedicus femoral arterial cannula, a 23/25 Fr Sorin RAP femoral venous cannula, and 3/8 in ID tubing for both arterial and venous lines. The circuit was primed with lactated Ringer's solution and then packed red blood cells (hematocrit 37%). Trials were conducted at 36°C with flow rates of 2‐5 L/min (1 L/min increments) under nonpulsatile and pulsatile mode with pulsatile amplitudes of 1000–5000 rpm (1000 rpm increments). The pseudopatient pressure was maintained at 40–100 mm Hg (20 mm Hg increments). Real‐time pressure and flow data were recorded for analysis using a custom‐made data acquisition system. There was no SHE generated by the pump under nonpulsatile mode. Under pulsatile mode, SHE levels increased with increasing pulsatile amplitude and pseudopatient pressure (P < 0.01) but decreased with increasing flow rate. SHE levels were significantly higher at flow rates of 2–4 L/min. In addition, the XLung oxygenator had acceptable pressure drops (36.1–104.9 mm Hg) and percentages of total hemodynamic energy loss (19.6–43.9%) during all trials. The novel pulsatile ECMO system can create nonpulsatile and pulsatile flow in an adult ECMO model. However, pulsatility gradually weakened with increasing flow rates. Pulsatile amplitude settings were found to have a great impact on pulsatility.
Inhibition of protein arginine methyltransferase 3 activity selectively impairs liver X receptor‐driven transcription of hepatic lipogenic genes in vivo
Authors: Nahon Joya E , Groeneveldt Christianne , Geerling Janine J , van Eck Miranda , Hoekstra Menno
Published: May 2018

Background and Purpose

Agonists for the liver X receptor (LXR) are considered promising therapeutic moieties in cholesterol‐driven diseases by promoting cellular cholesterol efflux pathways. However, current clinical application of these agents is hampered by concomitant LXR‐induced activation of a lipogenic transcriptional network, leading to hepatic steatosis. Recent studies have suggested that protein arginine methyltransferase 3 (PRMT3) may act as a selective co‐activator of LXR activity. Here, we verified the hypothesis that PRMT3 inhibition selectively disrupts the ability of LXR to stimulate lipogenesis while maintaining its capacity to modulate macrophage cholesterol homeostasis.

Experimental Approach

A combination of the LXR agonist T0901317 and palm oil was administered to C57BL/6 mice to maximally stimulate LXR and PRMT3 activity. PRMT3 activity was inhibited using the allosteric inhibitor SGC707.

Key Results

Treatment with SGC707 did not negatively influence the T0901317/palm oil‐induced up‐regulation of the cholesterol efflux ATP‐binding cassette transporter genes, ABCA1 and ABCG1, in peritoneal cells. In contrast, SGC707 treatment was associated with a significant decrease in the hepatic expression of the lipogenic gene fatty acid synthase (−64%). A similar trend was observed for stearoyl‐coenzyme A desaturase and acetyl CoA carboxylase expression (−43%; −56%). This obstruction of lipogenic gene transcription coincided with a significant 2.3‐fold decrease in liver triglyceride content as compared with the T0901317 and palm oil‐treated control group.

Conclusion and Implications

We showed that inhibition of PRMT3 activity by SGC707 treatment selectively impairs LXR‐driven transcription of hepatic lipogenic genes, while the positive effect of LXR stimulation on macrophage cholesterol efflux pathways is maintained.
Genome‐wide compound heterozygosity analysis highlighted 4 novel susceptibility loci for congenital heart disease in Chinese population
Authors: Jiang T. , Huang M. , Jiang T. , Gu Y. , Wang Y. , Wu Y. , Ma H. , Jin G. , Dai J. , Hu Z.
Published: May 2018

Genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) have achieved great success in deciphering the genetic cause of congenital heart disease (CHD). However, the heritability of CHD remains to be clarified, and numerous genetic factors responsible for occurrence of CHD are yet unclear. In this study, we performed a genome‐wide search for relaxed forms of compound heterozygosity (CH) in association with CHD using our existing GWAS data including 2265 individuals (957 CHD cases and 1308 controls). CollapsABEL was used to iteratively test the association between the CH genotype and the CHD phenotype in a sliding window manner. We highlighted 17 genetic loci showing suggestive CH‐like associations with CHD (P < 5 × 10−8), among which 4 genetic loci had expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) effects in blood (PeQTL < 0.01). After conditional association analysis, each loci had only 1 independently effective signal reaching the significance threshold (rs2071477/rs3129299 at 6p21.32, P = 2.47 × 10−10; rs10773097/rs2880921 at 12q24.31, P = 3.30 × 10−8; rs73032040/rs7259476 at 19q13.11, P = 1.14 × 10−8; rs10416386/rs4239517 at 19q13.31, P = 1.15 × 10−9), together explained 7.83% of the CHD variance. Among these 4 associated loci, outstanding candidates for CHD‐associated genes included UBC, CFM2, ZNF302, LYPD3 and CADM4. Although replication studies with larger sample size are warranted, the first CH GWAS of CHD may extend our current knowledge of the genetic contributions to CHD in the Han Chinese population.
Multiple acquired smooth muscle hamartomas with thick‐walled blood vessels on scalp
Authors: Jain Sarina , Patro Sibasish , Darkase Bhushan , Dongre Atul M. , Khopkar Uday S.
Published: May 2018

Smooth muscle hamartoma (SMH) is a benign hamartomatous condition that consists of a dermal proliferation of smooth muscle cells. We hereby report a case of multiple, acquired SMHs on scalp. A 25‐year‐old male had a 6‐year history of multiple, asymptomatic, hyperpigmented plaques on the scalp which were progressively increasing in number and size. Histopathological examination revealed large thick‐walled blood vessels, in addition to the haphazardly arranged discrete smooth muscle bundles in the reticular dermis. This case of SMH is unusual in being acquired, having multiple lesions, involving scalp, and having thick‐walled blood vessels apart from arrector pili muscle bundles. It emphasizes the wide spectrum of clinical and histopathological variations that may be associated with acquired SMH.
A comprehensive examination of the network position hypothesis across multiple river metacommunities
Authors: Henriques‐Silva Renato , Logez Maxime , Reynaud Nathalie , Tedesco Pablo A. , Brosse Sebastien , Januchowski‐Hartley Stephanie R. , Oberdorff Thierry , Argillier Christine
Published: May 2018

The hierarchical branching nature of river networks can have a strong influence on the assembly of freshwater communities. This unique structure has spurred the development of the network position hypothesis (NPH), which states that the strength of different assembly processes depends on the community position in the river network. Specifically, it predicts that 1) headwater communities should be exclusively controlled by the local environment given that they are more isolated and environmentally heterogeneous relative to downstream reaches. In contrast, 2) downstream communities should be regulated by both environmental and dispersal processes due to increased connectivity given their central position in the riverscape. Although intuitive, the NPH has only been evaluated on a few catchments and it is not yet clear whether its predictions are generalizable. To fill this gap, we tested the NPH on river dwelling fishes using an extensive dataset from 28 French catchments. Stream and climatic variables were assembled to characterize environmental conditions and graph theory was applied on river networks to create spatial variables. We tested both predictions using variation partitioning analyses separately for headwater and downstream sites in each catchment. Only 10 catchments supported both predictions, 11 failed to support at least one of them, while in 7 the NPH was partially supported given that spatial variables were also significant for headwater communities. We then assembled a dataset at the catchment scale (e.g. topography, environmental heterogeneity, network connectivity) and applied a classification tree analysis (CTA) to determine which regional property could explain these results. The CTA showed that the NPH was not supported in catchments with high heterogeneity in connectivity among sites. In more homogeneously connected catchments, the NPH was only supported when headwaters were more environmentally heterogeneous than downstream sites. We conclude that the NPH is context dependent even for taxa dispersing exclusively within streams.
Diversity of Phytophthora species in Valdivian rainforests and association with severe dieback symptoms
Authors: Jung Thomas , Durán Alvaro , Sanfuentes von Stowasser Eugenio , Schena Leonardo , Mosca Saveria , Fajardo Sebastian , González Mariela , Navarro Ortega Angella D. , Bakonyi Jozsef , Seress Diana , Tomšovský Michal , Cravador Alfredo , Maia Cristiana , Horta Jung Marilia
Published: May 2018

The Valdivian rainforest, one of the global hotspots of biodiversity, is a temperate rainforest originating as a Tertiary relic from the supercontinent Gondwana. In November 2014, a survey of Phytophthora diversity was performed in 13 natural forest stands and 20 forest streams and rivers in two protected areas near Valdivia and in a temperate montane forest in the Concepción area. One planted stand each of the introduced tree species Castanea sativa and Fagus sylvatica were also included. Using baiting assays, eight described species and four previously unknown taxa of Phytophthora were isolated from 86% of the 50 rhizosphere soil samples from seven of the eight tree species sampled in 12 forest stands, and from 20 streams: P. chlamydospora, P. cinnamomi, P. kernoviae, P. lacustris, P. plurivora, P. pseudosyringae, P. ×cambivora, P. ×stagnum, P. valdiviana nom. prov. from Clade 2b, P. madida nom. prov. from Clade 8a, and P. chilensis nom. prov. and P. pseudokernoviae nom. prov. The latter two species are the closest relatives of P. kernoviae from Clade 10. Phytophthora pseudokernoviae nom. prov. was also isolated from necrotic leaves of Drimys winteri. From the Valdivia river, a swarm of three Clade 6 hybrids was recovered. Each hybrid isolate resulted from multiple reticulation events with P. thermophila as maternal and both P. amnicola and P. chlamydospora as paternal parents. In addition, three previously unknown and recently described Nothophytophthora species, N. caduca, N. chlamydospora and N. valdiviana, were isolated from several forest streams. Phytophthora cinnamomi, the most common and widespread species in soils of native forests, was associated with severe dieback of Valdivian rainforest trees, in particular D. winteri, Luma apiculata, Nothofagus dombeyi and the endangered Saxegothaea conspicua. A first pathogenicity test demonstrated high aggressiveness of P. cinnamomi to several native tree species, including N. dombeyi, Blepharocalyx cruckshanksii and Gevuina avellana.
Delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol potentiates fear memory salience through functional modulation of mesolimbic dopaminergic activity states
Authors: Fitoussi Aurelie , Zunder Jordan , Tan Huibing , Laviolette Steven R.
Published: May 2018

Chronic or acute exposure to delta‐9‐tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, has been associated with numerous neuropsychiatric side‐effects, including dysregulation of emotional processing and associative memory formation. Clinical and preclinical evidence suggests that the effects of THC are due to the ability to modulate mesolimbic dopamine (DA) activity states in the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and ventral tegmental area (VTA). Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which THC modulates mesolimbic DA function and emotional processing are not well understood. Using an olfactory associative fear memory procedure combined with in vivo neuronal electrophysiology, we examined the effects of direct THC microinfusions targeting the shell region of the NAc (NASh) and examined how THC may modulate the processing of fear‐related emotional memory and concomitant activity states of the mesolimbic DA system. We report that intra‐NASh THC dose‐dependently potentiates the emotional salience of normally subthreshold fear conditioning cues. These effects were dependent upon intra‐VTA transmission through GABAergic receptor mechanisms and intra‐NASh DAergic transmission. Furthermore, doses of intra‐NASh THC that potentiated fear memory salience were found to modulate intra‐VTA neuronal network activity by increasing the spontaneous firing and bursting frequency of DAergic neurones whilst decreasing the activity levels of a subpopulation of putative GABAergic VTA neurones. These findings demonstrate that THC can act directly in the NASh to modulate mesolimbic activity states and induce disturbances in emotional salience and memory formation through modulation of VTA DAergic transmission.
Voxel‐based morphometry in creative writers: Grey matter increase in a prefronto‐thalamic‐cerebellar network
Authors: Neumann Nicola , Domin Martin , Erhard Katharina , Lotze Martin
Published: May 2018

Continuous practice modulates those features of brain anatomy specifically associated with requirements of the respective training task. This study aimed to highlight brain structural changes going along with long‐term experience in creative writing. To this end, we investigated the grey matter volume of 23 expert writers with voxel‐based morphometry and compared it to 28 matched nonexpert controls. Expert writers had higher grey matter volume in the right superior frontal and middle frontal gyri (BA 9,10) as well as left middle frontal gyrus (BA 9, 10, 46), the bilateral medial dorsal nuclei of the thalamus and left posterior cerebellum. A regression analysis confirmed the association of enhanced grey matter volume in the right superior frontal gyrus (BA 10) with practice index of writing. In region‐of‐interest based regression analyses, we found associations of grey matter volume in the right Broca’s analogue (BA 44) and right primary visual cortex (BA 17) with creativity ratings of the texts written during scanning, but not with a standardised verbal creativity test. Creative writing thus seems to be strongly connected to a prefronto‐thalamic‐cerebellar network that supports the continuous generation, organisation and revision of ideas that is necessary to write literary texts.
Interplay between adenylate metabolizing enzymes and AMP‐activated protein kinase
Authors: Camici Marcella , Allegrini Simone , Tozzi Maria Grazia
Published: May 2018

Purine nucleotides are involved in a variety of cellular functions, such as energy storage and transfer, and signalling, in addition to being the precursors of nucleic acids and cofactors of many biochemical reactions. They can be generated through two separate pathways, the de novo biosynthesis pathway and the salvage pathway. De novo purine biosynthesis leads to the formation of IMP, from which the adenylate and guanylate pools are generated by two additional steps. The salvage pathways utilize hypoxanthine, guanine and adenine to generate the corresponding mononucleotides. Despite several decades of research on the subject, new and surprising findings on purine metabolism are constantly being reported, and some aspects still need to be elucidated. Recently, purine biosynthesis has been linked to the metabolic pathways regulated by AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK is the master regulator of cellular energy homeostasis, and its activity depends on the AMP : ATP ratio. The cellular energy status and AMPK activation are connected by AMP, an allosteric activator of AMPK. Hence, an indirect strategy to affect AMPK activity would be to target the pathways that generate AMP in the cell. Herein, we report an up‐to‐date review of the interplay between AMPK and adenylate metabolizing enzymes. Some aspects of inborn errors of purine metabolism are also discussed.
Molecular systematics and historical biogeography of the genusGerrhonotus(Squamata: Anguidae)
Authors: García‐Vázquez Uri O. , Nieto‐Montes de Oca Adrián , Bryson Robert W. , Schmidt‐Ballardo Walter , Pavón‐Vázquez Carlos J.
Published: May 2018

Aim

Multiple geological and climatic events have created geographical or ecological barriers associated with speciation events, playing a role in biological diversification in Mexico. Here, we evaluate the influence of Neogene geological events and of Pleistocene climate change in the diversification of the genusGerrhonotususing molecular dating and ancestral area reconstruction.

Location

Mexico and south‐central United States.

Methods

A multilocus sequence dataset was generated for 86 individuals ofGerrhonotusfrom most Mexican biogeographical provinces and belonging to five of the seven currently recognized species, as well as two putative undescribed species. Phylogeographical structure was explored using Poisson‐Tree‐Processes molecular species delimitation. Divergence events were estimated based on the fossil record using a relaxed uncorrelated lognormal clock. Ancestral areas were estimated at divergence events across the tree using a probabilistic Bayesian approach.

Results

Extensive geographical structure was evident within three well‐supported clades. These clades probably diverged from each other in the early to mid‐Miocene, and their divergence was followed by six divergences in the late Miocene and eight divergences in the Pliocene. The ancestral origin ofGerrhonotuswith keeled dorsal scales (keeled‐scaleGerrhonotus) was reconstructed to be across the Pacific Coast Province. Our phylogenetic analyses did not support the monophyly ofGerrhonotus.

Main conclusions

Miocene and Pliocene geomorphology, perhaps in conjunction with climate change, appears to have induced allopatric divergence on a relatively small spatial scale in this genus. The late Miocene–Pliocene reduction in the highlands along the Tehuantepec fault probably created a large marine embayment that led to an early divergence in a clade ofGerrhonotus. Our analysis suggests uplifting of the Trans‐Mexican Volcanic Belt during this same time period resulted in additional diversification. This was followed by more recent, independent colonization events in the Pliocene from the Mexican Plateau to the Sierra Madre Oriental, Sierra Madre Occidental, Tamaulipas and Edwards Plateau provinces. A genusGerrhonotuswith the keeled‐scale species in addition toColoptychon rhombifer(=G. rhombifer) is strongly supported. Inclusion of the smooth dorsal‐scale species in the genus is uncertain and maintained only tentatively.
Iriarteeae palms tracked the uplift of Andean Cordilleras
Authors: Bacon Christine D. , Velásquez‐Puentes Francisco J. , Hoorn Carina , Antonelli Alexandre
Published: May 2018

Aim

The high biodiversity of northern South America is unparalleled and includes several centres of diversity such as Amazonia, the Andes and the Chocó. Movement of lineages amongst and within these bioregions is thought to be rare, and the effect of those dispersals on the distribution, diversity, and community assembly remains poorly understood. Here we address these effects by studying divergence times, biogeographical history, and species diversification of the palm tribe Iriarteeae, an ecologically dominant forest component.

Location

Central and South America.

Methods

We developed a calibrated phylogeny and a spatially explicit diversification model that incorporates molecular and fossil data. In these analyses, we included a new fossil Iriartea species Gemmamonocolpites galeanoana, derived from new samples of Miocene deposits in western Amazonia. We also estimated the geographical range evolution of lineages and tested whether speciation and extinction rates were affected by dispersal events using a simulation approach in ClaSSE.

Results

Dispersal amongst bioregions was not evenly distributed across the topology. We found that Amazonian communities are overdispersed across the phylogeny, whereas Andean taxa are clustered. Dispersal events were associated with increases in species diversification and were concomitant with periods of Andean uplift. Migration into montane areas occurred several times from lowland Amazonian ancestors, and montane taxa subsequently recolonized the Amazonian bioregion.

Main conclusions

Our results suggest that the diversification of Iriarteeae palms closely followed the west‐to‐east surface uplift history of the Northern Andes. From an early, lowland Amazonian ancestor, the first diversification events took place in the earliest emerging mountain chain, the Western Cordillera. From there multiple range expansions followed eastwards and back into the lowlands. This study demonstrates how geological events within a single mountain range can affect the geographical expansion and diversification of lineages.
Inflammatory cytokines and peripheral mediators in the pathophysiology of pruritus in cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Lewis D.J. , Huang S. , Duvic M.
Published: May 2018

Cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma (CTCL) includes a diverse group of neoplasms, including mycosis fungoides and Sézary syndrome. One of the earliest and most common symptoms of CTCL is pruritus, which affects up to 88% of patients. The severity of pruritus can range from mild to very debilitating, producing tremendous discomfort and a significant decrease in quality of life. Patients with advanced disease, in particular, may experience a more chronic, intractable pruritus. However, the underlying mechanism of pruritus in CTCL remains unknown. Conventional antipruritic agents, such as antihistamines, gamma‐aminobutyric acid analogs and antidepressants, are only partially effective in relieving symptoms, suggesting a more complex, unique pathophysiology. In this review, we summarize the current research on cytokines and peripheral mediators implicated in pruritus in CTCL.
Calculation of nonstationary flood return period considering historical extraordinary flood events
Authors: Yang L. , Li J. , Sun H. , Guo Y. , Engel B.A.
Published: May 2018

With climate change and intensification of human activities, the flood generation mechanism has been influenced which results in the nonstationarity of flood time series. In this study, in order to use historical flood data for flood frequency analysis, a nonlinear AutoRegressive exogenous (ARX) model was employed to complement missing flood data between the historical and recorded data. The key statistics of the complemented time series agreed well with those of the documented record. Using EWT (the expected waiting time until an exceedance) and ENE (the expected number of events in m year is one), nonstationary flood return periods were estimated by the complemented and recorded annual maximum flood peak series, respectively. The results showed that the return levels under nonstationarity are smaller than those under stationarity due to the construction of small hydraulic structures and many check dams after 1980s. This study implies that it is necessary to refine the flood return levels and the corresponding flood control measures for nonstationary flood series due to environmental change.
Maternal regulation of the infant's hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis stress response: Seymour ‘Gig’ Levine's legacy to neuroendocrinology
Authors: Suchecki D.
Published: May 2018

Thirty years ago, Seymour ‘Gig’ Levine published a serendipitous, yet, seminal finding with respect to the regulatory role of maternal presence on the corticosterone stress response of neonatal rats during the developmental period known as the stress hyporesponsive period. At the same time, his group of students also investigated the stress response of infant monkeys with respect to maternal separation, as a means of understanding the stress to the primary caregiver resulting from disruptions of attachment. Gig and his group of students and collaborators, mainly in the USA and the Netherlands, investigated how initial social relationships buffer the stress response of nonhuman primates and rodent infants. His work in rodents involved determining how prolonged deprivation of maternal care disinhibits the stress response of neonates and how maternal behaviours regulate specific aspects of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis. Maternal deprivation for 24 hours was useful for determining the importance of nutrition in suppressing the corticosterone stress response, whereas anogenital licking and grooming inhibited stress‐induced adrenocortoctrophic hormone release, with the combination of both behaviours preventing the effects of maternal deprivation on the central hypothalamic stress response. Levine's group also studied the consequences of maternal deprivation on basal and stress‐induced activity of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis in juveniles and the persistent effects of the replacement of maternal behaviours on these parameters. Gig's legacy allowed many groups around the world to use the 24‐hour maternal deprivation paradigm as an animal model of vulnerability and resilience to stress‐related psychiatric disorders, as well as in studies of the neurobiological underpinnings of disruption of the mother‐infant relationship and loss of parental care, a highly prevalent condition in humans. This review pays homage to a great scientist and mentor, whose discoveries paved the way for the understanding of how early social relationsships build resilience or lead to susceptibility to emotional disorders later in life.
“Coming from a different place”: Partnerships between consumers and health services for system change
Authors: Scholz Brett , Bocking Julia , Banfield Michelle , Platania‐Phung Chris , Happell Brenda
Published: May 2018

Aims and objectives

The aim of the current study is to explore whether and how the expectations of consumers to be “representative” influences consumers’ ability to contribute to health services partnerships.

Background

Health standards call for services to partner with consumers in service development and governance. While existing research criticises the assumption that individual mental health consumers working with mental health services must be representative of consumers more broadly, research has yet to explore whether this requirement exists for consumers of other health services. Requiring individual consumers to be representative of consumers more broadly marginalises and limits consumer involvement.

Design

A qualitative, exploratory design was employed.

Methods

Consumers (n = 6), clinicians (n = 7) and health managers (n = 5) were interviewed about consumer participation in health services. Data analysis was conducted through the lens of social exchange theory and informed by discursive psychological principles.

Results

The current study extends the existing literature within mental health, finding that consumers of other health services are also held responsible for representing broader communities. Data also suggested that a requirement to be representative would marginalise consumers with a passion to bring about change in health systems.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that organisations might need a culture change so that individual consumers are not expected to be representative of consumers more broadly and that participation be made more accessible for diverse groups of consumers.

Relevance to clinical practice

Given the role that nurses might play as allies to consumers within health services, the findings of this study contribute to knowledge about the expectations placed on consumers and the ways that nurses might advocate for better partnerships.
From breaking point to breakthrough during the ICU stay: A qualitative study of family members’ experiences of long‐term intensive care patients’ pathways towards survival
Authors: Haugdahl Hege S , Eide Regina , Alexandersen Ingeborg , Paulsby Tove Engan , Stjern Berit , Lund Stine Borgen , Haugan Gørill
Published: May 2018

Aims and objectives

To explore family members’ experiences of long‐term intensive care unit (ICU) patients’ pathways towards survival and to highlight family members’ efforts to promote the patient's health during the ICU stay.

Background

Although considerable research has been devoted to the substantial burden of long‐term ICU patients, less attention has been paid to health‐promoting factors that facilitate patients’ health and survival during ICU stays. Support from family members can improve patient outcome. However, there is little knowledge of the specific contributions provided by family members.

Design

A hermeneutic phenomenological approach, within the context of Antonovsky's salutogenic theory and Merleau‐Ponty's phenomenology of the body, involving the body as the fundament of experience and understanding.

Methods

In‐depth qualitative interviews. Thirteen family members of long‐term ICU patients were interviewed once, at six to 18 months after ICU discharge. The consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research were used.

Results

Three themes were identified: (i) A body at a breaking point; (ii) family members’ presence; and (iii) breaking through. In the perspective of the family members, their beloved ones were at a breaking point between life and death. The family's presence was significantly health promoting, demonstrating and communicating love and sensitivity. Moreover, family members’ understanding of the patient's unique characteristics and personality was crucial to the patient's experience of being understood, recognised and acknowledged. Inner strength represented a life force capable of moving the patient from the breaking point towards a breakthrough towards life. Family members purposely used their knowledge about the patient to trigger, nurture and release the patient's inner strength.

Conclusions

Family presence helps to trigger, arouse and release a patient's inner strength, representing important health‐promoting factors facilitating patients’ health and survival during an ICU stay.

Relevance to clinical practice

Insights into the unique and vital health‐promoting influence of family participation indicate the responsibility of the ICU team to provide support for families.