bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Moderation of baclofen response by a GABAB receptor polymorphism: results from the BacALD randomized controlled trial
Authors: Morley Kirsten C. , Luquin Natasha , Baillie Andrew , Fraser Isabel , Trent Ronald J. , Dore Glenys , Phung Nghi , Haber Paul S.
Published: July 2018

Background and Aims

Baclofen has been shown to reduce alcohol consumption in alcohol‐dependent individuals, but there is marked heterogeneity in response. An association between GABBR1 rs29220 and alcohol dependence has been demonstrated previously. The present study evaluated whether the response to baclofen is moderated by a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs29220) in the GABAB receptor subunit 1 gene (GABBR1).

Design

Double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study.

Setting

Australia.

Participants

Seventy‐two alcohol‐dependent men and women receiving 12 weeks of 30 mg/day of baclofen, 75 mg baclofen or placebo.

Measurements

Primary outcomes included time to lapse (any drinking) and relapse (> 5 drinks per day in men and > 4 in women). We also examined alcohol consumption at follow‐up (drinks per drinking day, number of heavy drinking days and percentage days abstinent).

Findings

We observed significant medication × genotype interaction effect for time to relapse (P = 0.049) and a near‐significant interaction effect for time to lapse (P = 0.055). For the CC genotype group, the relapse hazard ratio for baclofen versus placebo was 0.32 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.14–0.75] and for the G– group it was 1.07 (95% CI = 0.43–2.63). There was also a significant medication × genotype interaction for follow‐up alcohol consumption (drinks per drinking day, heavy drinking days and days abstinent) (P = 0.02). Covarying for baseline levels of craving, aspartate aminotransferase and abstinence before enrolment reduced the medication × genotype effect for time to lapse and relapse but not for alcohol consumption at follow‐up.

Conclusions

The GABBR1 rs29220 polymorphism may influence treatment response and possibly predict adverse effects to baclofen in the treatment of alcohol dependence.
San Juan, the Fragile City: Finance Capital, Class, and the Making of Puerto Rico's Economic Crisis
Authors: Villanueva Joaquín , Cobián Martín , Rodríguez Félix
Published: July 2018

This paper narrates Puerto Rico's fiscal and financial crisis through a reading of San Juan's urban landscape. We underscore the role of capital in the city, primarily embodied by the local capitalist class (the Criollo bloc) and foreign capitalists. Historically excluded from the manufacturing sector (dominated by US capitalists), the Criollo bloc accumulates its wealth by concentrating financial assets in the city. In times of crisis, the Criollo bloc resorts to the acquisition of new assets and asset exchange with foreign capitalists to remain solvent and provide short‐term solutions to the state's fiscal and financial limits. The survival of the local capitalist class, we demonstrate, is dependent on asset stripping. Drawing on Clyde Woods, we document how asset stripping unevenly redistributes wealth and risks along class and racial lines within a colonial economy. The finance capital/asset stripping basis of San Juan's economy renders it an extremely fragile city, we contend.
Environmental tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy has limited effect on infant birthweight and umbilical vein endothelial nitric oxide synthase
Authors: Hedengran Katrine K. , Andersen Malene R. , Szecsi Pal B. , Lindh Christian , Uldbjerg Niels , Stender Steen
Published: July 2018

Introduction

Women who smoke, deliver significantly smaller infants. These infants have reduced levels of the vasodilator endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) levels in the umbilical vessels, which may reduce fetal growth. Serum cotinine, the degradation product of nicotine, can be used to determine the level of tobacco exposure. Newborns of environmental smokers are suggested to be smaller and shorter in weight, length, and head circumference. eNOS levels have not yet been studied in these infants. We investigated the existence of a relation between maternal environmental tobacco smoke exposure, eNOS activity, concentration, and birthweight.

Material and methods

We included 263 healthy singleton pregnancies categorized into three groups according to measured cotinine levels: 175 nonsmokers, 38 smokers, and 50 environmental smokers. Cotinine was quantified by mass spectrometry with a detection limit of .2 ng/mL; eNOS activity and concentration were measured in endothelial cells (ECs) of the umbilical vein.

Results

Infants born to environmental smokers had similar weights to infants born to nonsmokers (47 g heavier, P = .48). Cotinine concentrations were .06/.09/.12 ng/mL (quartiles) in infants born to nonsmokers, .27/.37/.81 ng/mL in infants born to women exposed to environmental tobacco smoke, and 43.0/63.8/108.1 ng/mL in infants born to smokers. The eNOS concentration was 1.65 ± .92 ng/106 ECs (mean ± SD) in nonsmokers and 1.71 ± 1.00 ng/106 ECs in environmental smokers. The eNOS activity was 52.0 ± 20.6 pmol l‐citrulline/min/106 ECs in nonsmokers and 48.7 ± 19.8 pmol l‐citrulline/min/106 ECs in environmental smokers.

Conclusions

Infants born to environmental smokers, as judged by umbilical serum cotinine levels close to .2 ng/mL, are not associated with lower birthweight or reduced eNOS activity, or concentration in the fetal vascular bed.
6 There is No Means by Which I Live: Livelihood and Power at the Margins of the State
Authors: Thurston T. L.
Published: July 2018

The social and political power of marginal highland dwellers is examined through comparison of historical and archaeological data in early Sweden and modern Lesotho, southern Africa. Upland dwellers negotiated political and environmental challenges while struggling to establish community in the face of high taxation, uprooting, and violence. Current understandings of the medical and psychosocial impacts of such challenges indicate that individuals experience severe stress, but also intense attachment to their environment, even when living in highly marginal places with tenuous livelihoods. This nexus may help clarify similar archaeological cases.
Lead isotope and metal source of Shang bronzes: a response to Sun et al.’s comments
Authors: Liu S. R. , Chen K. L. , Rehren Th. , Mei J. J. , Chen J. L. , Liu Y. , Killick D.
Published: July 2018

In this brief response to Sun et al.’s () comments on our paper, we re‐emphasize that archaeological, chemical and isotopic evidence are all relevant to the discussion about the metal source of the Shang period with highly radiogenic lead isotope ratios. The southern African bronzes have much lower lead contents and quite different lead isotopic signatures than the Shang bronzes. More importantly, there was no metallurgy of any kind in southern Africa before c.200 ce, so southern Africa cannot possibly be the source of Shang bronze, which date to about 1500 to 1000 bce.
Clinical issues in cannabis use
Authors: Bonomo Yvonne , Souza José Diogo S. , Jackson Aidan , Crippa José Alexandre S. , Solowij Nadia
Published: July 2018

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit substance worldwide and the prevalence of users continues to increase. Over the last 2 decades, the world has seen significant changes regarding cannabis for recreational use as well as application in its use as a therapeutic medicine. This is likely to have influenced the decreasing perception of risks associated with the use of cannabis. Cannabis, however, is not benign and, depending on the pattern of its use, can incur a range of harmful effects, which have implications when prescribing medicinal cannabinoids for individuals. Based on research evidence from recreational use of cannabis as well as the emerging data from trials of medicinal cannabis, we propose some clinical domains that will need specific considerations when prescribing medicinal cannabis.
Tu Youyou winning the Nobel Prize: Ethical research on the value and safety of traditional Chinese medicine
Authors: Zheng Wei‐rong , Li En‐chang , Peng Song , Wang Xiao‐shang
Published: July 2018

In 2015, the Chinese pharmacologist, Tu Youyou, was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for the discovery of artemisinin. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was the source of inspiration for Tu's discovery and provides an opportunity for the world to know more about TCM as a source of medical knowledge and practice. In this article, the value of TCM is evaluated from an ethical perspective. The characteristics of ‘jian, bian, yan, lian’ are explored in the way they promote accessibility and economic efficiency for TCM. The article also examines how the increased use and prevalence of TCM reflects the scientific, cultural, and ethical values of TCM and their increasing attraction in meeting major challenges to medicine and health systems currently and in the future. The article discusses safety issues within TCM, which is a controversial area, and also comments on some shortcomings and challenges which pose difficulties for more widespread and greater uptake of TCM‐derived clinical or therapeutic interventions. The article concludes that TCM is generally safe if it is used according to TCM theory and where such applications are cognizant of the strengths and weaknesses of TCM. TCM has important bioethical values which may inform potential measures for meeting challenges facing global health care systems and the article argues that it can have an increasing role in improving human health.
Use of machine learning to predict early biochemical recurrence after robot‐assisted prostatectomy
Authors: Wong Nathan C. , Lam Cameron , Patterson Lisa , Shayegan Bobby
Published: July 2018

Objectives

To train and compare machine‐learning algorithms with traditional regression analysis for the prediction of early biochemical recurrence after robot‐assisted prostatectomy.

Patients and Methods

A prospectively collected dataset of 338 patients who underwent robot‐assisted prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer was examined. We used three supervised machine‐learning algorithms and 19 different training variables (demographic, clinical, imaging and operative data) in a hypothesis‐free manner to build models that could predict patients with biochemical recurrence at 1 year. We also performed traditional Cox regression analysis for comparison.

Results

K‐nearest neighbour, logistic regression and random forest classifier were used as machine‐learning models. Classic Cox regression analysis had an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.865 for the prediction of biochemical recurrence. All three of our machine‐learning models (K‐nearest neighbour (AUC 0.903), random forest tree (AUC 0.924) and logistic regression (AUC 0.940) outperformed the conventional statistical regression model. Accuracy prediction scores for K‐nearest neighbour, random forest tree and logistic regression were 0.976, 0.953 and 0.976, respectively.

Conclusions

Machine‐learning techniques can produce accurate disease predictability better that traditional statistical regression. These tools may prove clinically useful for the automated prediction of patients who develop early biochemical recurrence after robot‐assisted prostatectomy. For these patients, appropriate individualized treatment options can improve outcomes and quality of life.
“I feel like just a normal person now”: An exploration of the perceptions of people with intellectual disabilities about what is important in the provision of positive behavioural support
Authors: McKenzie Karen , Whelan Kathryn J. , Mayer Claire , McNall Anne , Noone Steve , Chaplin Jill
Published: July 2018

Accessible Summary

People with a learning disability do not always get good support

We wanted to know what they thought about positive behavioural support

They told us many important things about good and bad support

Good support included being treated as a human being, having a good and full life and being helped with behaviour and skills.

Background

There is a growing evidence base about the effectiveness of positive behavioural support (PBS) in relation to behaviours that challenge (CB). There is, however, limited research from the perspective of individuals receiving this support. The objective of this qualitative study was to obtain the views of participants with an intellectual disability about what was important to them in relation to receiving PBS.

Materials and methods

Seven participants with an intellectual disability, recruited via support organisations in the North East of England, gave their views about their support through interviews (n = 3) and a focus group (n = 4). Data were collected between April and June 2016 and were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Four themes were identified: the importance of being treated as a human being; the wider impact of PBS; the contrast of PBS with previous experiences of support; and the beneficial impact of positive support. PBS was valued for its wide impact on quality of life, with a reduction in CB being just one of many important aspects.

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of including service user perspectives and quality‐of‐life indicators in research which evaluates service provision and support.
Sex‐specific autistic endophenotypes induced by prenatal exposure to valproic acid involve anandamide signalling
Authors: Melancia Francesca , Schiavi Sara , Servadio Michela , Cartocci Veronica , Campolongo Patrizia , Palmery Maura , Pallottini Valentina , Trezza Viviana
Published: July 2018

Background and Purpose

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is more commonly diagnosed in males than in females. Prenatal exposure to the antiepileptic drug valproic acid (VPA) is an environmental risk factor of ASD. Male rats prenatally exposed to VPA show socio‐emotional autistic‐like dysfunctions that have been related to changes in the activity of the endocannabinoid anandamide. Here, we have investigated if prenatal VPA induced sex‐specific autistic endophenotypes involving anandamide signalling.

Experimental Approach

We studied sex‐specific differences in the ASD‐like socio‐emotional, cognitive and repetitive symptoms displayed during development of Wistar rats of both sexes, prenatally exposed to VPA. The involvement of anandamide was followed by Western blotting of cannabinoid CB1 receptors and by inhibiting its metabolism.

Key Results

Female rats were less vulnerable to the deleterious effects of prenatal VPA exposure on social communication, emotional reactivity and cognitive performance than male rats. Conversely, as observed in male rats, prenatal VPA exposure induced selective deficits in social play behaviour and stereotypies in the female rat offspring. At the neurochemical level, prenatal VPA exposure altered phosphorylation of CB1 receptors in a sex‐specific, age‐specific and tissue‐specific manner. Enhancing anandamide signalling through inhibition of its degradation reversed the behavioural deficits displayed by VPA‐exposed animals of both sexes.

Conclusions and Implications

These findings highlight sexually dimorphic consequences of prenatal VPA exposure that may be related to sex‐specific effects of VPA on endocannabinoid neurotransmission in the course of development and introduce a new therapeutic target for reversing autistic‐like symptoms in both sexes.
Regulation of antitumor miR‐144‐5p targets oncogenes: Direct regulation of syndecan‐3 and its clinical significance
Authors: Yamada Yasutaka , Arai Takayuki , Kojima Satoko , Sugawara Sho , Kato Mayuko , Okato Atsushi , Yamazaki Kazuto , Naya Yukio , Ichikawa Tomohiko , Seki Naohiko
Published: July 2018

In the human genome, miR‐451a, miR‐144‐5p (passenger strand), and miR‐144‐3p (guide strand) reside in clustered microRNA (miRNA) sequences located within the 17q11.2 region. Low expression of these miRNAs is significantly associated with poor prognosis of patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) (miR‐451a: P = .00305; miR‐144‐5p: P = .00128; miR‐144‐3p: P = 9.45 × 10−5). We previously reported that miR‐451a acted as an antitumor miRNA in RCC cells. Involvement of the passenger strand of the miR‐144 duplex in the pathogenesis of RCC is not well understood. Functional assays showed that miR‐144‐5p and miR‐144‐3p significantly reduced cancer cell migration and invasive abilities, suggesting these miRNAs acted as antitumor miRNAs in RCC cells. Analyses of miR‐144‐5p targets identified a total of 65 putative oncogenic targets in RCC cells. Among them, high expression levels of 9 genes (FAM64A, F2, TRIP13, ANKRD36, CENPF, NCAPG, CLEC2D, SDC3, and SEMA4B) were significantly associated with poor prognosis (P < .001). Among these targets, expression of SDC3 was directly controlled by miR‐144‐5p, and its expression enhanced cancer cell aggressiveness. We identified genes downstream by SDC3 regulation. Data showed that expression of 10 of the downstream genes (IL18RAP, SDC3, SH2D1A, GZMH, KIF21B, TMC8, GAB3, HLA‐DPB2, PLEK, and C1QB) significantly predicted poor prognosis of the patients (P = .0064). These data indicated that the antitumor miR‐144‐5p/oncogenic SDC3 axis was deeply involved in RCC pathogenesis. Clustered miRNAs (miR‐451a, miR‐144‐5p, and miR‐144‐3p) acted as antitumor miRNAs, and their targets were intimately involved in RCC pathogenesis.
Disparities in dental healthcare utilization in China
Authors: Li Chaofan , Yao Nengliang (Aaron) , Yin Aitian
Published: July 2018

Objectives

The goal of this study was to investigate inequality in dental service utilization in Chinese middle‐aged and senior adults and changes in inequality over time and to determine the sources of inequality.

Methods

The data included 17 648 individuals aged 45 years and older in 2013 and 15 450 individuals in 2015 who participated in the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The concentration index was used to quantify the degree of inequality. A decomposition method was employed to determine the sources of inequality, including need variables (demographic characteristics, self‐reported health status, and presence of chronic diseases), living standard (measured by household consumption expenditure per capita), other non‐need variables (education level, marital status, region of residence, urban–rural difference and type of health insurance plans).

Results

The better‐off not only had a higher likelihood of using dental care services than did the worse‐off but also used them more often than the worse‐off. The concentration index for probability of dental care utilization increased from 0.074 to 0.112 between 2013 and 2015, and the concentration index for total number of dental visits increased from 0.085 to 0.127. Living standard, education, health insurance plans and urban–rural disparities showed a pro‐rich contribution to the inequality. The living standard contributed about 70% to the pro‐rich inequality.

Conclusions

Dental care utilization in the Chinese middle‐aged and older adults was concentrated in the better‐off. Inequality in dental care utilization widened from 2013 to 2015. Achieving equity in dental care utilization remains a challenge for the healthcare system in China.
Fluoride intake and urinary fluoride excretion in 4‐ and 8‐year‐old children living in urban and rural areas of Southwest Nigeria
Authors: Ibiyemi O. , Zohoori F. V. , Valentine R. A. , Maguire A.
Published: July 2018

Objectives

To estimate and compare total daily fluoride intake (TDFI), daily urinary fluoride excretion (DUFE), daily fluoride retention (DFR), fractional urinary fluoride excretion (FUFE) and fractional fluoride retention (FFR) in 4‐ and 8 year‐old Nigerians and explore associations between these outcomes to improve understanding of fluoride metabolism.

Methods

Using a cross‐sectional observational study, 72 four‐year‐olds and 72 eight‐year‐olds were recruited from nursery and primary schools (respectively) in lower and higher water F areas of urban and rural localities in Oyo State, southwest Nigeria. TDFI from diet and toothpaste ingestion was assessed using a validated Food Frequency Questionnaire and visual scale of toothpaste used during toothbrushing. DUFE was measured by collecting a 24‐hour urine sample, FUFE estimated as the ratio between DUFE and TDFI, DFR estimated as TDFI‐TDFE (where TDFE = DUFE + estimated faecal F excretion (ie TDFI × 10%), and FFR was estimated as [(TDFI‐DFR)/TDFI] × 100. Data were analysed using ANOVA with post hoc tests and Student's t tests and strengths of associations between key variables measured.

Results

Mean (SD) TDFI, DUFE, DFR, FUFE and FFR were 0.137 (0.169) mg/kg bw/d, 0.032 (0.027) mg/kg bw/d, 0.091 (0.147) mg/kg bw/d, 44% (44%) and 46% (44%), respectively, for 4‐year‐olds. Corresponding values for 8‐year‐olds (n = 63) were 0.106 (0.130) mg/kg bw/d, 0.022 (0.017) mg/kg bw/d, 0.073 (0.107) mg/kg bw/d, 36% (30%) and 54% (30%), respectively. Dietary contribution to TDFI was 79% and 75% (respectively), for 4‐ and 8‐year‐olds. Mean (SD) TDFI from toothpaste ingestion was 0.021 (0.013) mg/kg bw/d in 4‐year‐olds, 0.014 (0.010) mg/kg bw/d in 8‐year‐olds (P = .002) but with no differences between areas. Differences in dietary F intake determined the main differences in F exposure between areas. The positive correlation between TDFI and DUFE was weak for 4‐year‐olds (r = +.29) and strong for 8‐year‐olds (r = +.64). A strong positive correlation was observed between TDFI and DFR for both age groups: (r) = +.98 for 4‐year‐olds and (r) = +.99 for 8‐year‐olds.

Conclusion

Fluoride intake in these 4‐ and 8‐year‐old Nigerians was much higher than the “optimal range” of 0.05‐0.07 mg/kg bw/d in rural, higher F water areas, with diet as the main contributor. F retention was similar in both age groups, with almost half of TDFI retained in the body. In terms of risk vs benefit for fluorosis and dental caries, this finding should be considered when mitigating against excessive fluoride exposure and planning F‐based prevention.
Real‐world multicentre experience of the pathological features of colonic ischaemia and their relationship to symptom duration, disease distribution and clinical outcome
Authors: Fenster M. , Feuerstadt P. , Brandt L. J. , Mansoor M. S. , Huisman T. , Aroniadis O. C.
Published: July 2018

Aim

To determine the pathological features of colonic ischaemia (CI) and their relationship to symptom duration, disease distribution and clinical outcome in a real‐world, clinical setting.

Method

A retrospective, multicentre chart review was performed in patients diagnosed with CI at Montefiore Medical Center (January 2005 to July 2015), and Yale‐New Haven Hospital (January 2005 to June 2010). Patients were included if clinical presentation, colonoscopic findings and colonic pathology were all consistent with CI.

Results

Six hundred and sixteen patients with pathologically proven CI were included. Common pathological findings included inflammation (51.1%), ulceration (38.2%), fibrosis (26.0%) and necrosis (20.4%). Infarction and ghost cells were seen in 1.6% and 0.2% of cases, respectively. There was a significant relationship between symptom duration and hyalinization of the lamina propria (P = 0.05) and cryptitis/crypt abscesses (P = 0.01). Patients with isolated right CI (IRCI) were more likely than patients with isolated left CI (ILCI) to exhibit necrosis (P < 0.01), cryptitis/crypt abscess (P < 0.01) and inflammation (P = 0.03). Patients with poor outcomes were more likely to exhibit necrosis (P < 0.01) and capillary fibrin thrombi (P < 0.01) and less likely to exhibit fibrosis (P < 0.01) and epithelial changes (P < 0.01).

Conclusion

CI is accompanied by a broad spectrum of pathological findings. The traditional pathognomonic findings of CI are rare and cannot be relied upon to exclude the diagnosis. Patients with IRCI and/or poor outcomes were more likely to have pathological findings of necrosis than patients who had ILCI and/or nonpoor outcomes.
Development of brain functional connectivity and its relation to infant sustained attention in the first year of life
Authors: Xie Wanze , Mallin Brittany M. , Richards John E.
Published: July 2018

The study of brain functional connectivity is crucial to understanding the neural mechanisms underlying the improved behavioral performance and amplified ERP responses observed during infant sustained attention. Previous investigations on the development of functional brain connectivity during infancy are primarily confined to the use of functional and structural MRI techniques. The current study examined the relation between infant sustained attention and brain functional connectivity and their development during infancy with high‐density EEG recordings. Fifty‐nine infants were tested at 6 (N = 15), 8 (N =14), 10 (N = 17), and 12 (N = 13) months. Infant sustained attention was defined by measuring infant heart rate changes during infants’ looking. Functional connectivity was estimated from the electrodes on the scalp and with reconstructed cortical source activities in brain regions. It was found that infant sustained attention was accompanied by attenuated functional connectivity in the dorsal attention and default mode networks in the alpha band. Graph theory analyses showed that there was an increase in path length and a decrease in clustering coefficient during infant sustained attention. The functional connectivity within the visual, somatosensory, dorsal attention, and ventral attention networks and graph theory measures of path length and clustering coefficient were found to increase with age. These findings suggest that infant sustained attention is accompanied by distinct patterns of brain functional connectivity. The current findings also suggest the rapid development of functional connectivity in brain networks during infancy.
Seed manipulation by ants: disentangling the effects of ant behaviours on seed germination
Authors: Fernandes Tiago V. , Paolucci Lucas N. , Carmo Flávia M. S. , Sperber Carlos F. , Campos Ricardo I.
Published: July 2018

1. Seed manipulation by ants can play a key role in seed germination through two main behaviours: elaiosome detachment and seed scarification. Despite the fact that these behaviours are commonplace, their effects have only been quantified independently, and their consequences on seed germination remain controversial.

2. Here we experimentally investigate the effects of ant manipulation on seed germination, disentangling the contributions of these two ant behaviours to this process. To do so, under laboratory conditions, we studied the effects of seed manipulation by Acromyrmex subterraneus on germination of seeds from Mabea fistulifera, a myrmecochorous plant. We established six experimental treatments: (i) unmanipulated seeds; (ii) ant‐manipulated seeds with the elaiosome detached and scarified; (iii) ant‐manipulated seeds with the elaiosome detached and non‐scarified; (iv) hand‐manipulated seeds with the elaiosome remaining and scarified; (v) hand‐manipulated seeds with the elaiosome detached and scarified; and (vi) hand‐manipulated seeds with elaiosome detached and non‐scarified.

3. We found that both elaiosome detachment and seed scarification decreased seed germination rates. Moreover, there was no difference in germination rates whether the seeds were manipulated by researcher's hand or by ants, suggesting a lack of other ant‐manipulation effects on seeds.

4. The present study shows that manipulation by A. subterraneus can exert negative effects on germination of a myrmecochorous seed. Accordingly, we suggested that studies evaluating the benefits of myrmecochory for plants, based only on seed removal amount and distance, may be overestimating those benefits. Our results contribute to the understanding of the potential mechanisms influencing plant recruitment, especially for myrmecochorous plants inhabiting tropical forests.
Early interventions in a US military FIRST episode psychosis program
Authors: Hann Michael C. , Caporaso Evan , Loeffler George , Cuellar Adrian , Herrington Lisa , Marrone Laura , Yoon Jong
Published: July 2018

Aim

Naval Medical Center San Diego's Psychiatric Transition Program is a specialized first episode psychosis treatment program that delivers coordinated specialty care to military service members with psychotic disorders. Due to the unique military environment, military service members with first episode psychosis are hypothesized to receive care very early after the emergence of first psychotic symptoms, resulting in significantly reduced duration of untreated psychosis. This study's aim is to calculate the duration of untreated psychosis for patients enrolled in Naval Medical Center San Diego's Psychiatric Transition Program (NMCSD PTP) from 01JUL2014‐31DEC2016.

Methods

Patients included in this study had a diagnosis of schizophreniform disorder (13.04%), schizophrenia (43.48%), schizoaffective disorder (8.70%), other specified schizophreniform disorder (30.43%), or brief psychotic disorder (4.35%) upon discharge from military service and NMCSD PTP. Duration of untreated psychosis was defined as the interval from emergence of positive psychotic symptoms to antipsychotic medication initiation. Duration of untreated psychosis was measured through retrospective review of the electronic medical record. A total of 69 subjects in the Naval Medical Center San Diego's Psychiatric Transition Program met inclusion criteria. Mean and median values as well as standard deviations were calculated for all included subjects.

Results

The mean duration to scheduled (non‐PRN) neuroleptic medication was 37 days (median: 4 days). The mean duration to PRN neuroleptic medication was 21 days (median: 2 days).

Conclusions

These data support our view that the structure of the military and military healthcare system markedly shortens the DUP for military service members who experience first episode psychosis.
Evaluating pedotransfer functions of the Splintex model
Authors: Huf Dos Reis A. M. , Armindo R. A. , Durães M. F. , De Jong Van Lier Q.
Published: July 2018

The soil water retention curve (SWRC) is an essential hydraulic function for the understanding and modelling of soil hydraulic processes. Its direct determination is time consuming and sometimes expensive because it requires extensive sampling, especially when spatial and temporal variation of soil hydraulic properties are an issue. The use of pedotransfer functions (PTFs) is a viable alternative to predict the parameters of SWRC from more easily determined soil attributes. Splintex is a physically based engineering model containing two PTFs to estimate SWRC parameters and saturated hydraulic conductivity, but its performance and functionality have not yet been fully evaluated and disseminated for soil science. We examined the functionality of the PTFs available in Splintex to estimate parameters of the Van Genuchten–Mualem (VGM) SWRC equation with a laboratory‐measured dataset containing information on particle size, bulk and particle density, saturated water content and parameters of the SWRCs. In addition, we tested the performance of both PTFs for deriving some soil physical–structural variables calculated from estimated SWRC parameters. Compared with VGM parameters fitted to the laboratory dataset, the model performed well. Its predictive performance for soil air capacity, relative field capacity and soil physical–structural quality indices was also evaluated. The performance of Splintex for estimating the VGM parameters depended on the combined effect of all input variables rather than on isolated correlations between an input variable and a model parameter.

Highlights

Splintex provides two PTFs to estimate the Van Genuchten–Mualem parameters of the SWRC.

In addition to PTF1 input, PTF2 needs an additional soil water content–retention observation.

Performance of Splintex‐PTF1 against measured data and ‐PTF2 prediction is presented.

PTF2 provided better results than PTF1 for estimating SPQ indices.
Towards a predictive model of species interaction beta diversity
Authors: Graham Catherine H. , Weinstein Ben G.
Published: July 2018

Species interactions are fundamental to community dynamics and ecosystem processes. Despite significant progress in describing species interactions, we lack the ability to predict changes in interactions across space and time. We outline a Bayesian approach to separate the probability of species co‐occurrence, interaction and detectability in influencing interaction betadiversity. We use a multi‐year hummingbird–plant time series, divided into training and testing data, to show that including models of detectability and occurrence improves forecasts of mutualistic interactions. We then extend our model to explore interaction betadiversity across two distinct seasons. Despite differences in the observed interactions among seasons, there was no significant change in hummingbird occurrence or interaction frequency between hummingbirds and plants. These results highlight the challenge of inferring the causes of interaction betadiversity when interaction detectability is low. Finally, we highlight potential applications of our model for integrating observations of local interactions with biogeographic and evolutionary histories of co‐occurring species. These advances will provide new insight into the mechanisms that drive variation in patterns of biodiversity.
Putting the Roman periphery on the map: the geography of Romanness, orthodoxy, and legitimacy in Victricius of Rouen's De Laude sanctorum
Authors: Natal David
Published: July 2018

Victricius of Rouen's De laude sanctorum (c.396) contains an original discussion of the cult of relics, introduced by a brief excursus on his recent trip to Britain. In this article, I argue that the author used both sections to define two symbolic territories, Britain and the centre of the empire, which invited his audience to think geographically about the concepts of Romanness, orthodoxy, and legitimacy. Exploiting a long‐standing tradition of stereotypes and geographical imaginations, Victricius used his argument of the unity of relics to justify his position in the Felician controversy, a contemporary episcopal and political conflict.
Crop‐to‐wild hybridization in cherries—Empirical evidence from Prunus fruticosa
Authors: Macková Lenka , Vít Petr , Urfus Tomáš
Published: July 2018

Crop cultivation can lead to genetic swamping of indigenous species and thus pose a serious threat for biodiversity. The rare Eurasian tetraploid shrub Prunus fruticosa (ground cherry) is suspected of hybridizing with cultivated allochthonous tetraploid P. cerasus and autochthonous diploid P. avium. Three Prunus taxa (447 individuals of P. fruticosa, 43 of P. cerasus and 73 of P. avium) and their hybrids (198 individuals) were evaluated using analysis of absolute genome size/ploidy level and multivariate morphometrics. Flow cytometry revealed considerable differentiation in absolute genome size at the tetraploid level (average 2C of P. fruticosa = 1.30 pg, average 2C of P. cerasus = 1.42 pg, i.e., a 9.2% difference). The combination of methods used allowed us to ascertain the frequency of hybrids occurring under natural conditions in Central Europe. The morphological evaluation of leaves was based upon distance‐based morphometrics supplemented by elliptic Fourier analysis. The results provided substantial evidence for ongoing hybridization (hybrids occurred in 39.5% of P. fruticosa populations). We detected homoploid introgressive hybridization with alien P. cerasus at the tetraploid level. We also found previously overlooked but frequent triploid hybrids resulting from heteroploid hybridization with indigenous P. avium, which, however, probably represent only the F1 generation. Although both hybrids differ in ploidy, they cannot be distinguished using morphometrics. Hybrids are frequent and may endanger wild populations of genuine P. fruticosa via direct niche competition or, alternatively or in addition, via introgression at the homoploid level (i.e., genetic swamping). The cultivation of cherries thus substantially threatens the existence of genuine P. fruticosa.
Nuclear Lamin is required for Winged Eye‐mediated transdetermination of Drosophila imaginal disc
Authors: Masuko Keita , Furuhashi Hirofumi , Komaba Kanae , Numao Eriko , Nakajima Rumi , Fuse Naoyuki , Kurata Shoichiro
Published: July 2018

Drosophila imaginal discs often change their cell fate under stress conditions, and this phenomenon, called transdetermination (TD), has long been a useful model for studying cell fate plasticity during regeneration. We previously identified a chromatin‐associated protein, Winged Eye (Wge), which induces eye‐to‐wing TD upon its over‐expression in eye imaginal discs. However, the molecular mechanism of Wge‐mediated TD remains obscure. Here, we analyzed Wge‐interacting proteins and found that several heterochromatin‐related proteins, including a nuclear lamina protein, Lamin (Lam), were associated with Wge protein in cultured cells. Knockdown experiments revealed that Lam is indeed required for Wge‐mediated eye‐to‐wing TD. Moreover, Wge over‐expression altered the spatial organization of genomic DNA inside the cell nuclei. Accordingly, we suggest that Wge interacts with Lam to link some genomic regions with the nuclear periphery and regulates chromatin dynamics in imaginal disc TD.
The Evolution of Sustainability Measurement Research
Authors: Mura Matteo , Longo Mariolina , Micheli Pietro , Bolzani Daniela
Published: July 2018

Research in sustainability measurement has been growing at a very high pace over the past years, and it has explored a variety of issues, from sustainability disclosure to measurement in green supply chains, from the diffusion of environmental standards to the political use of sustainability metrics. This study is the first to report and discuss the results of a comprehensive review of the sustainability measurement literature. In particular, the authors adopt a wide conceptualization of the measurement process, and analyze data through a bibliometric method–bibliographic coupling. The results show that the literature is divided into eight distinct areas of inquiry and 12 sub‐fields, some of which have expanded significantly over recent years, and others appear to be waning. Furthermore, the lack of a comprehensive view of sustainability measurement has led to the development of many separate communities, resulting in duplications of effort, incomplete framing of the problem, and the proposal of partial solutions. However, findings drawn in sustainability measurement research could inform current debates in performance measurement and management in three main ways: by emphasizing stakeholders’ roles in the design, implementation and use of measures; by indicating ways to establish common measures and sharing data between organizations; and by adopting novel theoretical perspectives. Equally, future sustainability measurement studies could benefit from consideration of extant research on strategic performance measurement and on the behavioral effects of measurement practices.
Performance Measurement and Management Systems: A Perspective from Complexity Theory
Authors: Okwir Simon , Nudurupati Sai S. , Ginieis Matías , Angelis Jannis
Published: July 2018

Complexity negatively impacts the process of continually improving performance management systems (PMSs). The extant PMS literature considers complexity to be a result of the external environment rather than a user response to that environment. However, this paper argues that organizations generally face internal complexity when adopting PMSs. Introducing PMSs into an organization can have varied effects in those organizations based on the complexity of an organization's associated members and its interactions. This study aims to understand the emergence of complexities while implementing and using PMSs in organizations. From the complexity theory perspective, four system properties (ontological, teleological, genetic and functional) are used to understand complexity in PMSs. The paper builds on a systematic literature review consisting of 76 papers and analyses them in the light of exploring sources of complexity when implementing and using PMSs. From the outset, complexity is understood to be a result of the conflict between existing organizational practices and mechanisms and the organizational controls associated with PMSs. The key findings abstracted six sources of complexity in this study: role, task and procedural types of complexity associated with the social dimension, and methodological, analytical and technological types of complexity associated with the technical dimension. The study findings contribute to the current discussion regarding why PMSs typically lag and are not responsive and resilient in emerging contexts. While understanding and exploring all organizational controls that moderate a PMS is useful, organizations should construct the necessary capabilities, depending on their context and adapt to the changes associated with PMSs.
Effectiveness of biologics in Australian patients with rheumatoid arthritis: a large observational study: REAL
Authors: Nicholls Dave , Barrett Rina , Button Peter , Truman Matt , Bird Paul , Roberts Lynden , Tymms Kathleen , Littlejohn Geoffrey , Griffiths Hedley
Published: July 2018

Background

The comparative effectiveness of biologic treatment regimens in a real world Australian population is unknown.

Aim

To assess the effectiveness of biological disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs (bDMARD) as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate and/or other conventional DMARD (cDMARD) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

A retrospective, non‐interventional study was conducted that investigated the use of bDMARD in adult patients with RA in routine clinical practice. Data were extracted from the Optimising Patient Outcomes in Australian Rheumatology – Quality Use of Medicines Initiative database. Real‐world effectiveness was measured using the 28‐joint disease activity score (DAS28) and clinical disease activity index (CDAI) by treatment group at baseline, weeks 12 and 24.

Results

A total of 2970 patients was included with a median (min–max) age of 60.0 (19.0–94.0) years and median (min–max) duration of RA before first bDMARD treatment of 6.0 (0.2–58.3) years. A total of 1177 patients received more than one bDMARD during the analysis period of 1 January 1997 to 15 August 2015. Patients had 4922 treatment ‘episodes’ (defined as a cycle of continuous individual bDMARD prescribing in a single patient). Patients received a mean (SD) of 1.7 (1.0) episodes of treatment with median (min–max) treatment duration of 0.7 (0–11.8) years; median treatment duration was higher with the first treatment episode. bDMARD were most commonly initiated in combination with methotrexate (73.9% of episodes) and least commonly as monotherapy (9.9% of episodes). Median (min–max) baseline DAS28 decreased from 5.3 (0–8.7) with the first bDMARD to 3.7 (0–8.8) with the second. Median baseline CDAI similarly decreased.

Conclusions

Patients tended to persist longer on their first bDMARD treatment. bDMARD as monotherapy or in combination appear to be accepted treatment strategies in the real world.
Investigations on ferromagnetism of Li and Mn codoped LiZnN by first‐principles calculations
Authors: Cui Yan , Zhu Ji Guo , Tao Hua Long , Liu Shi Min , Lv Yun Zhuo , He Ming , Song Bo , Zhang Zhi Hua
Published: July 2018

Electronic structures and magnetic properties of Li and Mn codoped LiZnN systems were investigated by using the first‐principles calculations. Mn‐doped LiZnN systems preferred the antiferromagnetic states, while Mn/Li codoped LiZnN systems were ferromagnetic and more stable than the Mn‐doped LiZnN systems. The magnetic moments mostly arose from Mn‐3d states, which hybridized with N‐2p and Li‐2s states near the Fermi level. The ferromagnetic coupling was suggested to be attributed to the p‐d hybridization by the Mn–N–Mn chain. The results indicated that nonstoichiometry of Li was very essential for the ferromagnetism of Li(Zn,Mn)N system.
Sexual Harassment and Assault in Domestic Work: An Exploration of Domestic Workers and Union Organizers in Brazil
Authors: Ribeiro Corossacz Valeria
Published: July 2018

Os estudos sobre trabalho doméstico demostram que os assédios sexuais contra as trabalhadoras domésticas por parte dos empregadores representam um problema difundido em todo o mundo. No Brasil, é uma questão amplamente conhecida, cujas características remetem ao passado de escravidão. Nesse artigo apresento os dados de uma pesquisa entre trabalhadoras domésticas e sindicalistas que foram entrevistadas com o objetivo de examinar esse fenômeno, colocando‐o em relação às condições de trabalho, ao racismo e sexismo presentes na sociedade brasileira. Examino de forma detalhada as reações das mulheres aos assédios sexuais e à questão do silêncio que envolve essa forma de violência, sugerindo que o silêncio das trabalhadoras sobre as experiências de assédio no emprego deve ser interpretado como uma forma de reação e resiliência, relacionadas a uma situação mais ampla de opressão social. [antropologia social, Brasil, classe, gênero, raça, trabalho]
Did the Founding of the Federal Reserve Affect the Vulnerability of the Interbank System to Contagion Risk?
Authors: CARLSON MARK , WHEELOCK DAVID C.
Published: July 2018

The Federal Reserve System was established to supplant the private interbank system, which was widely seen as a source of instability. We examine how the Fed's presence affected the interbank system's resilience to solvency and liquidity shocks and whether those shocks might have been contagious. The interbank system became more resilient to solvency shocks but less resilient to liquidity shocks as banks sharply reduced their liquid assets after the Fed's founding. The industry's response illustrates how the introduction of a lender of last resort can alter private behavior in ways that increase the likelihood that the lender will be needed.
Using Market Expectations to Test for Speculative Bubbles in the Crude Oil Market
Authors: PAVLIDIS EFTHYMIOS G. , PAYA IVAN , PEEL DAVID A.
Published: July 2018

The wide fluctuations of oil prices from 2003 to 2008 have attracted the interest of academics and policymakers. A popular view is that these fluctuations were caused by speculative bubbles due to the increased financialization of oil futures markets. This hypothesis, however, is difficult to examine since the fundamental price of oil is unobservable and, therefore, econometric evidence in favor of bubbles may actually be due to misspecified market fundamentals. In this paper, we extend two recently proposed methodologies for bubble detection that alleviate this problem by using market expectations of future prices. Both methodologies provide no evidence of speculative bubbles.