bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phenotypic spectrum of mutations in IBA57, a candidate gene for cavitating leukoencephalopathy
Authors: Liu M. , Zhang J. , Zhang Z. , Zhou L. , Jiang Y. , Wang J. , Xiao J. , Wu Y.
Published: July 2017

IBA57 is involved in the biogenesis of mitochondrial [4Fe‐4S] proteins. Eighteen cases with IBA57 mutations have been reported to date. We described a novel phenotype in 11 children with cavitating leukoencephalopathy and summarized the phenotypic spectrum of IBA57 mutations. The median age of onset was 9 months, with an initial presentation of motor regression. Deterioration of neurological function reached its peak within 4 months. The median interval between onset and last follow‐up was 2.9 years (0.4‐10.0). All cases survived and remained stable. Severe motor handicap was observed in 50.0% of the patients, 52.9% to 71.4% had a delay in communication, problem solving or personal‐social skills, and 20.0% had mild symptomatic fluctuations. In the peak phase, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions were mainly observed in the periventricular/central white matter, and cavitating lesions and patchy high diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) signals were observed. The numbers and extent of restricted diffusional lesions were reduced, and atrophy was prominent in the recovery phase. Eight novel mutations in IBA57 were identified in our study. This study provided more information about the natural history and evolution of neuroimaging. Combined with previously reported patient studies, our findings suggest that defects in IBA57 can produce diverse phenotypes. IBA57 should be considered a candidate gene for cavitating leukoencephalopathy.
Biological parameters used in setting captive‐breeding quotas for Indonesia's breeding facilities
Authors: Janssen Jordi , Chng Serene C. L.
Published: July 2017

The commercial captive breeding of wildlife is often seen as a potential conservation tool to relieve pressure on wild populations, but laundering of wild‐sourced specimens as captive bred can seriously undermine conservation efforts and provide a false sense of sustainability. Indonesia is at the center of such controversy; therefore, we examined Indonesia's captive‐breeding production plan (CBPP) for 2016. We compared the biological parameters used in the CBPP with parameters in the literature and with parameters suggested by experts on each species and identified shortcomings of the CBPP. Production quotas for 99 out of 129 species were based on inaccurate or unrealistic biological parameters and production quotas deviated more than 10% from what parameters in the literature allow for. For 38 species, the quota exceeded the number of animals that can be bred based on the biological parameters (range 100–540%) calculated with equations in the CBPP. We calculated a lower reproductive output for 88 species based on published biological parameters compared with the parameters used in the CBPP. The equations used in the production plan did not appear to account for other factors (e.g., different survival rate for juveniles compared to adult animals) involved in breeding the proposed large numbers of specimens. We recommend the CBPP be adjusted so that realistic published biological parameters are applied and captive‐breeding quotas are not allocated to species if their captive breeding is unlikely to be successful or no breeding stock is available. The shortcomings in the current CBPP create loopholes that mean mammals, reptiles, and amphibians from Indonesia declared captive bred may have been sourced from the wild.
Body fat distribution is more predictive of all‐cause mortality than overall adiposity
Authors: Lee Sung Woo , Son Jee Young , Kim Jeong Min , Hwang Seung‐sik , Han Jin Suk , Heo Nam Ju
Published: July 2017

Aims

The relationship between directly measured body fat and all‐cause mortality has been rarely studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive significance of computed tomography (CT)‐measured body fat, including both visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA), for mortality.

Methods

The study included 36 656 participants who underwent abdominal CT as part of a health check‐up at a single university‐affiliated healthcare center in 2007 to 2015. Of those, 32 593 participants with data regarding vital status as of May 2016 were included in the final analysis. The main factors evaluated were VFA, SFA and visceral‐to‐subcutaneous fat area ratio (VSR), and the primary outcome was all‐cause mortality.

Results

There were 253 deaths during a mean follow‐up of 5.7 years. Increased SFA was associated with decreased all‐cause mortality, whereas an increased VFA and VSR were related to increased all‐cause mortality. Compared with the predictive power of body mass index (BMI), SFA and VSR showed a larger area under the curve than did BMI. In Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis, increased SFA and VSR were associated with decreased and increased hazard of all‐cause death, respectively. However, in multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analysis, only VSR was independently associated with all‐cause mortality. Moreover, this relationship was paralleled by the harmful impact of increased VSR on metabolic profiles.

Conclusion

Increased VSR was an independent predictor of all‐cause mortality. This suggests that the location of fat deposits may be more important than the actual amount of body fat.
Glycaemic outcomes of an Individualized treatMent aPproach for oldER vulnerable patIents: A randomized, controlled stUdy in type 2 diabetes Mellitus (IMPERIUM)
Authors: Heller Simon R. , Pratley Richard E. , Sinclair Alan , Festa Andreas , Kiljański Jacek , Brusko Cynthia S. , Duan Ran , Heine Robert J.
Published: July 2017

Aims

To compare the glycaemic outcomes of 2 glucose‐lowering treatment strategies in vulnerable (moderately ill and/or frail) patients aged ≥65 years with type 2 diabetes whose individual HbA1c targets were not met with diet/exercise and/or oral anti‐hyperglycaemic medications (OAMs).

Methods

The primary endpoint of this study was a composite of achieving/maintaining individualized HbA1c targets without “clinically significant” hypoglycaemia (severe hypoglycaemia or repeated hypoglycaemia causing interruption of patients’ activities or blood glucose <54 mg/dL). Strategy‐A comprised glucose‐dependent therapies (n = 99) with a non‐sulphonylurea OAM and a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist as the first injectable. Strategy‐B comprised non‐glucose‐dependent therapies (n = 93) with sulphonylurea as the preferred OAM and insulin glargine as the first injectable.

Results

There was no significant difference between Strategy‐A and Strategy‐B in percentages of patients achieving the primary endpoint (64.5% vs 54.9%; P = .190). Mean incidences (A vs B) of total (10.2% vs 53.8%), documented symptomatic (5.1% vs 36.6%), and asymptomatic (8.2% vs 32.3%) hypoglycaemia were lower for Strategy‐A (P < .001 each). Proportions of patients achieving/maintaining HbA1c target (A, 63.3% vs B, 55.9%) were similar.

Conclusion

Similar proportions of older, vulnerable aged ≥65 years patients with type 2 diabetes achieved/maintained glycaemic treatment goals without clinically significant hypoglycaemia with Strategies A or B. However, Strategy‐A resulted in lower risk of total, documented symptomatic, and asymptomatic hypoglycaemia. These results identify an approach of potential clinical benefit in this age group and will inform future clinical research in older patients with type 2 diabetes.
A screening echocardiogram to identify diastolic dysfunction leads to better outcomes
Authors: Ghany Reyan , Palacio Ana , Chen Gordon , Dawkins Elissa , Ghany Alina , Forbes Emancia , Tajiri Thiago , Tamariz Leonardo
Published: July 2017

Background

Diastolic dysfunction (DD) can lead to heart failure and higher mortality. Echocardiograms can detect DD but are not indicated for screening in older adults. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of DD and the impact of identifying it in seniors.

Methods

We performed screening echocardiograms in 5227 consecutive patients between January 2014 and March 2015 in 36 senior‐focused value‐based clinics across six states. We determined the presence of the grade of DD and defined stage B grade II/III (asymptomatic) and of stage C grade II/III (symptomatic) DD by the presence or absence of typical HF symptoms. We obtained prescribed medications from the electronic health record to determine absolute changes in HF therapy before and after the echocardiogram.

Results

We included a group with no DD (n=649), a group with grade 1 DD (n=2875), and those with grades 2 and 3 (n=1357) who had normal ejection fraction. The prevalence of grade 2 or 3 DD with preserved ejection fraction was 25%; 95% CI: 24–26. The absolute change of ace‐inhibitor use before and after the echocardiogram increased by 14, 19, 23, 27 in patients without DD, those with grade 1, grade 2 or 3 asymptomatic and grade 2 or 3 symptomatic, respectively. The use of β‐blocker, statin, and diuretic had similar trends.

Conclusions

Seniors without previously known stage B or stage C heart failure have moderate‐to‐severe DD, 27% of whom were stage C. Identifying seniors with DD leads to improvement in care.
Environmental diversity constrains learning in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: TOSH COLIN R. , BROGAN BARRY
Published: July 2017

1. Much is known about how enriched environmental diversity affects ability to learn across the months and years that are the developmental periods of large animals.

2. Less is known about how diversity impacts learning across the minutes and hours during which sensory environments of small foraging animals such as insects may vary dramatically.

3. This study shows that Drosophila melanogaster exposed to a diversity of odour–taste associations over a few minutes subsequently learn standard associative learning tasks poorly.

4. This effect is robust to variation in odours used in all parts of experiments.

5. Findings may have an impact on at least three major research areas in ecology: the relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning; the evolution of floral constancy in pollinators; and the pest‐protective effects of mixed species crops.
Parallel foraging cycles for different resources in leaf‐cutting ants: a clue to the mechanisms of rhythmic activity
Authors: BOCHYNEK THOMAS , TANNER JAMES L. , MEYER BERND , BURD MARTIN
Published: July 2017

1. Leaf‐cutting ants display regular diel cycles of foraging, but the regulatory mechanisms underlying these cycles are not well known. There are, however, some indications in the literature that accumulation of leaf tissue inside a nest dampens recruitment of foragers, thereby providing a negative feedback that can lead to periodic foraging. We investigated two foraging cycles occurring simultaneously in an Atta colombica colony, one involving leaf harvesting and the other exploiting an ephemeral crop of ripe fruit.

2. Leaf harvesting followed a typical diel pattern of a 10–12 h foraging bout followed by a period of inactivity, while fruit harvesting occurred continuously, but with a regular pre‐dawn dip in activity that marked a 24 h cycle.

3. Although the results of the present study are drawn from a single field colony, the difference found is consistent with a mechanism of negative feedback regulation acting in parallel on two resources that differ in their rates of distribution and processing, creating cycles of formation and depletion of material caches.

4. This hypothesis should provoke further interest from students of ant behaviour and some simple manipulative experiments that would begin to test it are outlined. Any role of resource caches in regulating foraging by Atta colonies may have similarities to the logistics of warehouse inventories in human economic activity.
An enemy of your enemy is your friend: Impact of predators on aggregation behavior of gammarids
Authors: Jermacz Łukasz , Andrzejczak Jagoda , Arczyńska Emilia , Zielska Joanna , Kobak Jarosław
Published: July 2017

Predation pressure may affect many aspects of prey behavior, including forming groups and changes in social interactions. We studied the aggregation behavior of competing gammaridsDikerogammarus villosusandPontogammarus robustoides(Amphipoda, Crustacea) to check whether they modify their preferences for conspecifics or heterospecifics in response to predator (the racer gobyBabka gymnotrachelus) kairomones in the presence or absence of stone shelters (alternative protection source). Both species exhibited preferences toward shelters occupied by conspecifics over empty shelters and conspecifics apart from shelters, suggesting that their aggregation depends not only on habitat heterogeneity, but also on their social interactions. Moreover, gammarids in the presence of shelters (safer conditions) preferred conspecifics over heterospecifics, but predator kairomones made them form aggregations irrespective of species. In the predator presence,P. robustoidesincreased its aggregation level only in the sheltered conditions, whereasD. villosusexhibited this response only in the absence of shelters, suggesting that this behavior can protect it against predators. Therefore, we tested the antipredator effectiveness ofD. villosusaggregations by exposing them to fish predation. Gobies foraged most effectively on immobile single gammarids compared to moving and aggregated individuals. Fish also avoided aggregated prey, confirming the protective character of aggregations. We have demonstrated that the predator presence increases aggregation level of prey gammarids and affects their social behavior by reducing antagonistic interactions and avoidance between competing species. This is likely to affect their distribution and functioning in the wild, where predator pressure is a standard situation.
Contact calling behaviour in the male ring‐tailed lemur (Lemur catta)
Authors: Bolt Laura M. , Tennenhouse Erica
Published: July 2017

The ring‐tailed lemur (Lemur catta) is a group‐living strepsirhine primate endemic to Madagascar that has a complex vocal repertoire including affiliative moan and hmm calls. Past research has suggested that both vocalisations may be contact calls, and we assessed their usage in addition to examining the effect of individual differences and social factors on male calling behaviour. We tested three hypotheses: the group cohesion, preferred companion and individual differences hypotheses. From March to July 2010, 565 h of focal animal data were collected on 31 males aged ≥1 year at the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve, Madagascar. Focal males were observed for 30 min, with vocalisations, allogrooming and agonistic interactions noted using one‐zero sampling, and general behaviour, nearest neighbour identity and distance noted using instantaneous point sampling, all at 2.5 min intervals. We found support for the group cohesion hypothesis for both vocalisations, and support for the preferred companion and individual differences hypotheses for the hmm but not the moan vocalisation. Moan and hmm calls maintained the distance between a male and his nearest neighbour, and were made at higher rates during behaviours which may lead to separation from conspecifics, such as travel and vigilance. Males made hmm calls at higher rates when they were low‐ranking, and/or when the nearest neighbour of a male or a preferred companion of either sex. Low‐ranking males may hmm call to maintain proximity to specific individuals within social groups who will show them increased tolerance, with the hmm signalling peaceful intent. Ring‐tailed lemurs are one of the best living models of gregarious primate ancestors, and gaining a better knowledge of the function and range of usage of their contact calls informs our understanding of the evolution of primate cognition.
Effects of lions on behaviour and endocrine stress in plains zebras
Authors: Périquet Stéphanie , Richardson Peter , Cameron Elissa Z. , Ganswindt André , Belton Lydia , Loubser Elize , Dalerum Fredrik
Published: July 2017

Living under predation risk may alter both behaviour and physiology of potential prey. In extreme cases, such alterations may have serious demographic consequences, and recent studies support that non‐lethal effects of predation may have broad ecological consequences. However, behavioural and physiological responses to predation risk may be related to trade‐offs associated with resource acquisition and direct predation risk. We validated an enzyme‐linked immunoassay (EIA) for non‐invasive monitoring of stress in plains zebras (Equus quagga) from faecal material. We used this assay in combination with behavioural data to assess if plains zebras living with and without lions (Panthera leo) in a mountain savannah in southern Africa differed in behaviour and physiology, and if such differences were influenced by seasons with contrasting resource availability. Zebra group sizes did not differ between areas with and without lions, but zebra groups had more juveniles in an area with lions than groups in an area without lions, but only during the wet season. Similarly, we observed differences in individual vigilance, foraging behaviour and stress hormone concentrations, but all these differences were influenced by seasons. Despite these seasonal influences, our study did not suggest that zebras in an area with lions spent a higher proportion of time being vigilant, a lower proportion of time foraging, or had higher stress hormone levels. Our results instead suggest that zebras' responses to lion presence were highly context dependent and the result of complex interactions between resource abundance and cues about predation risk. Because of the obvious ecological and evolutionary ramifications of such findings, we argue that further research is needed to define the spatial and temporal scales over which predators impose indirect effects on their prey.
The ontogeny of personality traits in the desert funnel‐web spider, Agelenopsis lisa (Araneae: Agelenidae)
Authors: Bosco Jennifer M. , Riechert Susan E. , O'Meara Brian C.
Published: July 2017

Trait consistency over time is one of the cornerstones of animal personality. Behavioral syndromes are the result of correlations between behaviors. While repeatability in behavior is not a requirement for behavioral syndromes, the two concepts studied together provide a more comprehensive understanding of how behavior can change over ontogeny. The roles of ontogenetic processes in the emergence of personality and behavioral syndromes have received much individual attention. However, the characterization of both individual trait consistency and behavioral syndromes across both sexes, as in our study, has been relatively rare. Ontogeny refers to changes that occur from conception to maturation, and juveniles might be expected to undergo different selection pressures than sexually mature individuals and also will experience profound changes in hormones, morphology, and environment during this period. In this study, we test for behavioral trait consistency and behavioral syndromes across six time points during ontogenetic development in the desert funnel‐web spider (Agelenopsis lisa). Our results indicate behavioral traits generally lack consistency (repeatability) within life stages and across ontogeny. However, penultimate males and mature females do exhibit noticeable mean‐level changes, with greater aggressive responses toward prey, shorter latencies to explore their environment and in the exhibition of risk‐averse responses to predatory cues. These traits also show high repeatability. Some trait correlations do exist as well. In particular, a strong correlation between aggressiveness toward prey and exploration factors is observed in mature males. However, because correlations among these factors are unstable across ontogeny and vary in strength over time, we conclude that behavioral syndromes do not exist in this species. Nevertheless, our results indicate that increased consistency, increasing average trait values, and varying correlations between traits may coincide with developmentally important changes associated with sexual maturation, albeit at different time points in males and females. This period of the life cycle merits systematic examination across taxa.
Facial cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis associated with Alternaria infectoriae infection
Authors: González‐Medina S. , Dukes J. , Rasotto R. , Szekely A. , Borman A. M.
Published: July 2017

Cutaneous nodular disease in the horse is relatively rare and usually associated with arthropod bites, dermal hyperplasia and inflammatory or neoplastic infiltrates. Equine phaeohyphomycosis, particularly alternariosis, has been previously described in the literature and is usually associated with Alternaria alternata. In this article we report a case of phaeohyphomycosis caused by a member of Alternaria section Infectoriae in a horse. To our knowledge this is the first time that this organism has been identified in equids. Despite A. Infectoriae being commonly isolated in individuals receiving immunosuppressive therapy and/or suffering from Cushing's syndrome, we could not determine a link between pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction and fungal infection in this case. The mare responded well to surgical excision of the cutaneous lesions and made a full recovery.
The signature of human pressure history on the biogeography of body mass in tetrapods
Authors: Rapacciuolo Giovanni , Marin Julie , Costa Gabriel C. , Helmus Matthew R. , Behm Jocelyn E. , Brooks Thomas M. , Hedges S. Blair , Radeloff Volker C. , Young Bruce E. , Graham Catherine H.
Published: July 2017

Aim

Examining the biogeography of body size is crucial for understanding how animal communities are assembled and maintained. In tetrapods, body size varies predictably with temperature, moisture, productivity seasonality and topographical complexity. Although millennial‐scale human pressures are known to have led to the extinction of primarily large‐bodied tetrapods, human pressure history is often ignored in studies of body size that focus on extant species. Here, we analyse 11,377 tetrapod species of the Western Hemisphere to test whether millennial‐scale human pressures have left an imprint on contemporary body mass distributions throughout the tetrapod clade.

Location

Western Hemisphere.

Time period

Contemporary.

Major taxa studied

Tetrapods (birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles).

Methods

We mapped the distribution of assemblage‐level median tetrapod body mass at a resolution of 110 km across the Western Hemisphere. We then generated multivariate models of median body mass as a function of temperature, moisture, productivity seasonality and topographical complexity, as well as two variables capturing the history of human population density and human‐induced land conversion over the past 12,000 years. We controlled for both spatial and phylogenetic autocorrelation effects on body mass–environment relationships.

Results

Human pressures explain a small but significant portion of geographical variation in median body mass that cannot be explained by ecological constraints alone. Overall, the median body mass of tetrapod assemblages is lower than expected in areas with a longer history of high human population density and land conversion, but there are important differences among tetrapod classes.

Main conclusions

At this broad scale, the effect of human pressure history on tetrapod body mass is low relative to that of ecology. However, ignoring spatial variation in the history of human pressure is likely to lead to bias in studies of the present‐day functional composition of tetrapod assemblages, at least in areas that have long been influenced by humans.
Ketamine Infusion Combined With Magnesium as a Therapy for Intractable Chronic Cluster Headache: Report of Two Cases
Authors: Moisset Xavier , Clavelou Pierre , Lauxerois Michel , Dallel Radhouane , Picard Pascale
Published: July 2017

Background

Chronic cluster headache (CH) is a rare, highly disabling primary headache condition. As NMDA receptors are possibly overactive in CH, NMDA receptor antagonists, such as ketamine, could be of interest in patients with intractable CH.

Case reports

Two Caucasian males, 28 and 45 years‐old, with chronic intractable CH, received a single ketamine infusion (0.5 mg/kg over 2 h) combined with magnesium sulfate (3000 mg over 30 min) in an outpatient setting. This treatment led to a complete relief from symptoms (attack frequency and pain intensity) for one patient and partial relief (50%) for the other patient, for 6 weeks in both cases.

Conclusion

The NMDA receptor is a potential target for the treatment of chronic CH. Randomized, placebo‐controlled studies are warranted to establish both safety and efficacy of such treatment.
The PhD conundrum in South African academia
Authors: Breier Mignonne , Herman Chaya
Published: July 2017

South African universities need more academics with PhDs, from historically disadvantaged population groups in particular, but they face a conundrum. In order to have more staff with PhDs, they need to produce more PhD graduates. But in order to produce more PhD graduates, they need more staff with PhDs to supervise. This article explores this conundrum by comparing academic qualifications with national policies and targets, by developing a quantitative profile of staff without PhDs and describing government and institutional measures to improve academic qualifications. An institution's supervisory capacity is found to be closely related to institutional history. Four main factors are identified: (a) whether or not the institution was originally established as a traditional university or as a technikon; (b) whether or not it was advantaged or disadvantaged under apartheid, which was closely related to the racial group for which it was established; (c) whether or not it was merged post 2004; and if so, (d) with what type of institution it was merged.
The Environmental History of Colonial Mexico
Authors: Conway Richard
Published: July 2017

In spite of the sizable scholarly literature on New Spain, and notwithstanding the fact that environmental history is now a highly influential field, on first glance, there seem to be surprisingly few works of environmental history for colonial Mexico. Or are there? This article suggests that as a multi‐disciplinary enterprise and as an area of history that overlaps and blends with many others, the environmental history of colonial Mexico has been far more abundant than a first glance might suggest. The blurring of the boundaries between disciplines and different kinds of history has become a hallmark of the scholarship in recent years. The adoption of methodological approaches from microhistory has become another. Together, these trends challenge our ideas about what it means to study environmental history even as they point us towards new opportunities for research.
Seasonal variation in food availability influences the breeding strategy of White‐collared Blackbirds Turdus albocinctus on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Fan Li‐Qing , Chen Guo‐Liang , Da Xin‐Wei , Luo Juan‐Juan , Xian Li‐Li , Ren Qing‐Miao , Xie Yu‐Yan , Du Bo
Published: July 2017

Parent birds show a continuous spectrum of breeding strategies, ranging from a low‐fecundity and high‐survival pattern to a high‐fecundity, low‐survival pattern. Investigations of parental breeding strategies under variable environmental conditions can illustrate how parents trade‐off the benefits and costs of these two extreme strategies. White‐collared Blackbirds Turdus albocinctus can breed twice a year on the Tibetan Plateau. We show that both life‐history traits and parental feeding behaviour differ between these two breeding attempts. In the first attempt, the birds produced small clutches and fledged a small number of nestlings of high body condition. In the second attempt, they produced larger clutches and fledged more nestlings of lower body condition. Males made greater contributions to brood provisioning compared with females in the first attempt but there was no sex difference in brood provisioning in the second attempt. In the first attempt, producing smaller clutches can shorten the nestling period, and the increased male contribution to brood provisioning can protect the energy reserves of females. Thus, females can begin a second attempt sooner and produce larger clutches. During the second nesting attempt, when conditions are warmer and wetter, parents rely on a broader array of food types (both invertebrates and plant material, primarily berries) than during the first attempt, which includes only animal food such as arthropods and annelids. We suggest that this difference in breeding strategies between nesting attempts and sexes is in part influenced by marked seasonal variation in food availability.
Lack of Ikaros cripples expression of Foxo1 and its targets in naive T cells
Authors: Agnihotri Parul , Robertson Nicholas M. , Umetsu Sarah E. , Arakcheeva Ksenia , Winandy Susan
Published: July 2017

Ikaros is a transcription factor that regulates lymphocyte development from the level of the haematopoietic stem cell. Lack of Ikaros reduces the ability of progenitor cells to commit to the T‐cell lineage, resulting in reduced numbers of early thymic T‐cell progenitors and mature T cells. Mature CD4 T cells that lack Ikaros have defects in proliferation, T helper cell differentiation, cytokine expression and the ability to become anergic. A role for Ikaros in the naive T cell has not yet been identified. The receptors interleukin‐7 receptor α (IL‐7Rα) and l‐selectin are important for ensuring survival and proper homing of naive T cells, respectively. Here we show that lack of Ikaros leads to reduced expression of these receptors in naive T cells, which impacts their ability to home and survive in response to IL‐7. We define the mechanism underlying this phenotype as a requirement for Ikaros in maintenance of expression of Foxo1, a transcriptional regulator that is required for their expression. We also demonstrate that CD4 T cells lacking Ikaros are significantly crippled in their ability to become induced regulatory T cells, a phenotype also linked to reduced Foxo1 expression. Finally, we show that restoring Ikaros function to Ikaros‐deficient CD4 T cells increases levels of Foxo1 message. Together, these studies define, for the first time, a role for Ikaros in naive T cells and establish it as the first transcriptional regulator required for maintaining levels of Foxo1 gene expression in these cells.
A random arrival rule for division problems with multiple references
Authors: Borrero D.V. , Sánchez F.J. , Hinojosa M.A. , Mármol A.M.
Published: July 2017

We address the problem of the division of a homogeneous, infinitely divisible good among a set of agents when several characteristics have to be taken into account. Specifically, we extend the classic random arrival rule to division problems which do not necessarily represent a bankruptcy situation, and in which several references are considered for each agent. We establish the links of the extended rule with the classic random arrival rule and we prove that the outcomes coincide with the Shapley value of an appropriate cooperative game. The results permit a complete description of the allocations that would be obtained for any value of the quantity to be divided.
Unpacking the complexity of planning with persons with cognitive disability and complex support needs
Authors: Collings Susan , Dew Angela , Dowse Leanne
Published: July 2017

Background

Planners will engage with people with cognitive disability and complex support needs in the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme, but the specific skills needed to build sustainable plans with this group are not yet known.

Method

A qualitative study was conducted to explore the barriers and facilitators to planning with people with cognitive disability and complex support needs. Focus groups were held with 99 planning practitioners across metropolitan and regional locations in New South Wales, Australia.

Results

Thematic analysis showed planners need to build a partnership based on mutual trust and respect with a person with complex support needs and harness a range of skills to respond to individual support needs, learning capacity, systemic hurdles and life challenges.

Conclusions

Planner skills can be used to address barriers to planning for people with cognitive disability and complex support needs. Gaining skills took professional support and personal commitment.
Explaining the relationship between temperament and symptoms of psychiatric disorders from preschool to middle childhood: hybrid fixed and random effects models of Norwegian and Spanish children
Authors: Wichstrøm Lars , Penelo Eva , Rensvik Viddal Kristine , de la Osa Nuria , Ezpeleta Lourdes
Published: July 2017

Background

Four explanations for the concurrent and prospective associations between temperament and psychopathology in children have been suggested: predisposition, complication/scar, common cause/continuity, and pathoplasty/exacerbation. Because the confounding effects of common causes have not been ruled out in prior work, the support for the various explanations is uncertain.

Methods

Screen‐stratified community samples of 4‐year olds in Trondheim, Norway (n = 1,042), and 3‐year olds in Barcelona, Spain (n = 622), were assessed biennially for symptoms of attention‐deficit/hyperactivity (ADHD), oppositional defiant (ODD), conduct (CD), anxiety, and depressive disorders through interviewer‐based psychiatric interviews across four waves of data collection. The parents completed child temperament ratings. The data were analyzed with random and fixed effects regression adjusted for all time‐invariant unmeasured confounders (e.g., genetics, common methods bias, item overlap).

Results

In both Norway and Spain and across ages, negative affect predisposed children to symptoms of all disorders except CD, low effortful control predisposed children to ADHD and ODD‐symptoms, and surgency predisposed children to increased ADHD‐symptoms. Complication effects were observed in the Spanish children for ADHD‐symptoms, which increased surgency and diminished effortful control, and for ODD‐symptoms, which decreased surgency. The common cause and pathoplasty/exacerbation explanations were not supported.

Conclusions

The present results are consistent with the view that temperament plays a causal role in the development of symptoms of psychiatric disorders in children. Because temperament is malleable, interventions targeting the affective, attentional, and behavioral regulatory components of temperament may reduce psychopathology in children.
Effects of different direction of temperature jump treatment on cucumbers
Authors: Zhao Songsong , Yang Zhao , Zhang Lei , Luo Na , Wang Chao
Published: July 2017

A novel method of uninterrupted temperature jump treatment was proposed. Effects of different directions of temperature jump were studied. Cucumbers were first put into ice‐water for 40 min (CST) and then immersed into hot water (40 °C) for 20 min uninterruptedly (CHT); and reversely, cucumbers immersed into hot water (HST) for 20 min and then ice‐water for 40 min (HCT). The results showed that the decay incidence of CHT was 24.0 and 49.3% lower than that of CST and HST respectively. And the CAT activity of CHT was also obviously higher than that of CST and HST. However, the HCT displayed negative results except CAT and POD activity. The results demonstrate that temperature jump treatment of appropriate direction (CHT) integrates respective advantages of cold and heat shock to further improve resistance abilities. With the temperature jump treatment of negative direction (HCT), the damage of thermal stress could produce harmful effects on preservation quality.

Practical applications

To provide the circulating water of constant temperature, the equipment of temperature shock treatment for fruit and vegetable is designed. This equipment can meet the requirement of different direction of temperature jump treatment. The results reveal that the temperature, time and direction of jump treatment have an important influence on the sensory quality and antioxidant enzymes. In terms of storage quality of the cucumber, CHT, temperature jump from low to high, shows better results than single temperature treatment (CST and HST). However, HCT, temperature jump from high to low, causes the damage from thermal stress. The optimal treatment intensity is not determined by simple combination of some treatment parameters. The direction of temperature jump has a significant influence on physicochemical properties. This article provides an experimental basis for acquiring the best control of three factors (T‐T‐D) to improve preservation quality of fruit and vegetable maximally.
Thermal inactivation of Salmonella spp. in commercial tree nut and peanut butters in finished packaging
Authors: Wright Daniel G. , Minarsich Joseph , Daeschel Mark A. , Waite‐Cusic Joy
Published: July 2017

Peanut and tree nut butters have been implicated in Salmonella outbreaks in recent years. Previous studies investigated efficacy of thermal treatments to reduce Salmonella in multiple peanut butter formulations; however, evidence is lacking to support thermal treatment of tree nut butters. This study evaluated thermal treatments to reduce Salmonella in commercial nut butter formulations in final package. Formulations (n = 6) were inoculated with a Salmonella cocktail and packaged in glass jars before thermal treatment (boiling waterbath, holding times: 0–90 min, >90 °C). Salmonella survivors were enumerated using standard dilution and plating on Hektoen Enteric Agar (37 °C, 24–48 hr). Low levels of survivors (<1 CFU/g) were quantified using a one‐tube most probable number technique. Thermal treatments at >90 °C with a 30‐min hold time effectively reduced >5 log CFU/g of Salmonella in tree nut formulations; however, holding times >60 min were required to achieve similar reductions in peanut butter.

Practical applications

This study was designed to provide evidence to support a reconditioning proposal for the processing of tree nut butters that were linked to an outbreak of Salmonella Paratyphi L(+)tartrate(+). There were no previous reports in the scientific literature to demonstrate the efficacy of thermal treatment to inactivate Salmonella spp. in tree nut butters, including nut butters with more complex formulations. Ideally, reconditioning of contaminated product would not require repackaging of the products; therefore, this study was designed to determine treatment parameters that could be easily achieved with the product remaining in its original packaging. This report supports thermal treatment as an option for reconditioning contaminated tree nut butter products using a thermal process that is less intense than what would be necessary to reduce Salmonella spp. in peanut butter products.
Survival of foodborne bacteria on strawberries and antibacterial activities of Hibiscus sabdariffa extracts and chemical sanitizers on strawberries
Authors: Gómez‐Aldapa Carlos A. , Portillo‐Torres Lizbeth A. , Villagómez‐Ibarra José R. , Rangel‐Vargas Esmeralda , Téllez‐Jurado Alejandro , Cruz‐Gálvez Andrés M. , Castro‐Rosas Javier
Published: July 2017

The potential of 13 foodborne bacteria to attach and survival on strawberries and the antimicrobial activities of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyx extracts and chemical sanitizers against foodborne bacteria on strawberries were investigated. Strawberries were inoculated with thirteen foodborne bacteria: Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella flexneri, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Typhimurium, S. Typhi, S. Montevideo, Vibrio cholerae O1, and six pathotypes of Escherichia coli: O157:H7, Non‐O157:H7‐Shiga toxin‐producing, enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic, enteroinvasive, and enteroaggregative. The antibacterial effects of four roselle calyx extracts (in water, methanol, acetone, and ethyl acetate), sodium hypochlorite, colloidal silver, and acetic acid against all pathogenic bacteria were evaluated on contaminated strawberries. All foodborne bacteria attached and survived on strawberries at least 15 days. Acetonic and methanolic roselle calyx extracts caused a greater reduction in the concentration (until 3.8‐log10 reduction in some cases) of all foodborne bacteria than the sodium hypochlorite, colloidal silver and acetic acid on contaminated strawberries.

Practical applications

The strawberry is an important crop in United States, Spain, and Mexico. However, fresh strawberries have been associated with foodborne disease caused by E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella. There is little information about the attachment and survival of foodborne bacteria on strawberries. A number of studies have shown that chemical agents used to eliminate pathogenic bacteria on fruits have a limited antimicrobial effect. Roselle calyx extracts are reported to have an antimicrobial effect. This study provides information about the attachment and survival of different foodborne bacteria on strawberries and information on the significant impact of dry roselle calyx extracts may be potentially useful in disinfection procedures of strawberries.
Determination of five macrolide antibiotic residues in milk by micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography with field amplified sample stacking
Authors: Hong Yue‐Qin , Guo Xin , Chen Guan‐Hua , Zhou Jia‐Wei , Zou Xue‐Mei , Liao Xue , Hou Ting
Published: July 2017

The aim of this study is to develop a new micellar electrokinetic capillary chromatography with field amplified sample stacking for the determination of five kinds of macrolide antibiotic residues in milk. The main factors that affect the separation and enrichment of these analytes were optimized. The optimum running buffer was composed of 60 mM phosphate, 5 mM sodium cholate, and 1.0 mM cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide at pH 7.0. The separation voltage was 20 kV and the sample was electrokinetically injected at 10 kV for 120 s. The detection wavelength was set at 195 nm. Under the optimized conditions, the enrichment factor of tilmicosin, erythromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin, and tylosin were 866, 565, 908, 702, and 675, respectively. The limits of detection ranged from 0.002 to 0.004 mg/kg. The method shall meet the requirement of their maximum residue limits ruled by China, the European Union, the United States, and other countries.

Practical applications

The developed method has been applied successfully to the determination of the milk samples spiked at 0.05 and 0.1 mg/kg. The recoveries ranging from 72.8 to 93.7% demonstrate that the method can be applied to the detection of tilmicosin, erythromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin, and tylosin residues in milk.
Rifaximin has minor effects on bacterial composition, inflammation, and bacterial translocation in cirrhosis: A randomized trial
Authors: Kimer Nina , Pedersen Julie S , Tavenier Juliette , Christensen Jeffrey E , Busk Troels M , Hobolth Lise , Krag Aleksander , Al‐Soud Waleed Abu , Mortensen Martin S , Sørensen Søren J , Møller Søren , Bendtsen Flemming ,   members of the CoRif study group
Published: July 2017

Background and Aim

Decompensated cirrhosis is characterized by disturbed hemodynamics, immune dysfunction, and high risk of infections. Translocation of viable bacteria and bacterial products from the gut to the blood is considered a key driver in this process. Intestinal decontamination with rifaximin may reduce bacterial translocation (BT) and decrease inflammation. A randomized, placebo‐controlled trial investigated the effects of rifaximin on inflammation and BT in decompensated cirrhosis.

Methods

Fifty‐four out‐patients with cirrhosis and ascites were randomized, mean age 56 years (± 8.4), and model for end‐stage liver disease score 12 (± 3.9). Patients received rifaximin 550‐mg BD (n = 36) or placebo BD (n = 18). Blood and fecal (n = 15) sampling were conducted at baseline and after 4 weeks. Bacterial DNA in blood was determined by real‐time qPCR 16S rRNA gene quantification. Bacterial composition in feces was analyzed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.

Results

Circulating markers of inflammation, including tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukins 6, 10, and 18, stromal cell‐derived factor 1‐α, transforming growth factor β‐1, and high sensitivity C‐reactive protein, were unaltered by rifaximin treatment. Rifaximin altered abundance of bacterial taxa in blood marginally, only a decrease in Pseudomonadales was observed. In feces, rifaximin decreased bacterial richness, but effect on particular species was not observed. Subgroup analyses on patients with severely disturbed hemodynamics (n = 34) or activated lipopolysaccharide binding protein (n = 37) revealed no effect of rifaximin.

Conclusion

Four weeks of treatment with rifaximin had no impact on the inflammatory state and only minor effects on BT and intestinal bacterial composition in stable, decompensated cirrhosis (NCT01769040).
Brassica rapa hairy root extracts promote skin depigmentation by modulating melanin production and distribution
Authors: Sena Luigi Michele , Zappelli Claudia , Apone Fabio , Barbulova Ani , Tito Annalisa , Leone Antonella , Oliviero Teresa , Ferracane Rosalia , Fogliano Vincenzo , Colucci Gabriella
Published: July 2017

Background

Skin whitening products, used for ages by Asian people for cultural and esthetic purposes, are very popular nowadays in Western countries as well, where the need to inhibit skin spots after sun exposure has become not only a cosmetic but also a health‐related issue. Thus, the development of effective and safe depigmenting agents derived from natural products gets continuous attention by cosmetic brands and consumers.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of two preparations, obtained from the hairy root cultures of the species Brassica rapa, on melanogenesis and the expression of the extracellular matrix proteins involved in a correct pigment distribution.

Methods

The two preparations, obtained by water‐ethanol extraction and by digestion of cell‐wall glycoproteins of the root cells, were chemically characterized and tested on skin cell cultures and on human skin explants to investigate on their dermatological activities.

Results

Both the extracts were able to decrease melanin synthesis pathway in melanocytes and modulate the expression of genes involved in melanin distribution. One of the extracts was also effective in inducing the expression of laminin‐5 and collagen IV, involved into the maintenance of tissue integrity. The two extracts, when tested together on human skin explants, demonstrated a good synergic hypopigmenting activity.

Conclusions

Taken together, the results indicate that the extracts from B. rapa root cultures can be employed as cosmetic active ingredients in skin whitening products and as potential therapeutic agents for treating pigmentation disorders.
Australian and New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation Neonatal Resuscitation guidelines 2016
Authors: Liley Helen G , Mildenhall Lindsay , Morley Peter ,   on behalf of the Australian New Zealand Committee on Resuscitation
Published: July 2017

New Australian and New Zealand Neonatal Resuscitation guidelines reflect recent advances in neonatal resuscitation science, as critically appraised by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation. Substantial changes since the 2010 guidelines include: (i) updates to the Newborn Resuscitation Flowchart to include a greater emphasis on maintaining normal body temperature, and to emphasise the importance of beginning assisted ventilation by 1 min in infants who have absent or ineffective spontaneous breathing; (ii) updates to the physiology of the normal perinatal transition that resuscitation is trying to restore; (iii) recommendations for more frequent reinforcement of training, and for structured feedback for resuscitation training instructors; (iv) new guidance in relation to the timing of cord clamping for preterm newborn infants; (v) recommendation to monitor body temperature on admission to newborn units as a resuscitation quality indicator; (vi) suggestion to consider electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring (as an adjunct to oximetry) to obtain more rapid and accurate estimation of heart rate during resuscitation; (vii) removal of previous suggestions to intubate meconium‐exposed, non‐vigorous term infants to suction the trachea; and (viii) suggestion to establish vascular access to enable administration of intravenous adrenaline (epinephrine) as soon as chest compressions are deemed to be needed.