bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phloretin attenuates hyperuricemia‐induced endothelial dysfunction through co‐inhibiting inflammation and GLUT9‐mediated uric acid uptake
Authors: Liu Shuyun , Yuan Yujia , Zhou Yijie , Zhao Meng , Chen Younan , Cheng Jingqiu , Lu Yanrong , Liu Jingping
Published: April 2017

Hyperuricemia is an important risk factor for cardiovascular and renal diseases. Phloretin had shown antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory properties, but its role in endothelial injury is rarely reported. In this study, we aimed to investigate the protective effect of phloretin on UA‐induced injury in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The effects of UA and phloretin on cell viability, inflammation, THP‐1 monocyte adhesion, endothelial cell tube formation, GLUT9 expression and UA uptake in human umbilical vein endothelial cells were evaluated. The changes of nuclear factor‐kappa B/extracellular regulated protein kinases signalling were also analysed. Our results showed that UA reduced cell viability and tube formation, and increased inflammation and monocytes adhesion in human umbilical vein endothelial cells in a dose‐dependent manner. In contrast, phloretin significantly attenuated pro‐inflammatory factors expression and endothelial injury induced by UA. Phloretin inhibited the activation of extracellular regulated protein kinases/nuclear factor‐kappa B pathway, and reduced GLUT9 and it mediated UA uptake in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. These results indicated that phloretin attenuated UA‐induced endothelial injury via a synergic mechanism including direct anti‐inflammatory effect and lowering cellular UA uptake. Our study suggested that phloretin might be a promising therapy for hyperuricemia‐related cardiovascular diseases.
Application of an adaptive neuro_fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) in the modeling of rapeseeds' oil extraction
Authors: Farzaneh Vahid , Bakhshabadi Hamid , Gharekhani Mehdi , Ganje Mohammad , Farzaneh Farahnaz , Rashidzadeh Shilan , Carvalho Isabel S.
Published: April 2017

In the present study, the temperature and moisture content of the output seeds of the cooking pot were considered as inputs or independent variables and the insoluble fine partial content of the extracted oil, moisture content of the extracted oil and obtained meals, as well as the oil content of the achieved meals and acidity value of the extracted oil were considered as responses and were designed. Three different activation functions, including Gaussian membership and triangular as well as trapezoidal were applied and studied. The trapezoidal function with a 3–3 membership function for the three output variables including insoluble fine partials of oil, oil acidity and moisture content of the meals as well as the triangle membership function with 2–2 and 3–3 functions, respectively, for moisture content of the extracted oil and the oil content of the obtained meals were evaluated and detected as optimized models in the current study. The above mentioned models demonstrated higher correlation coefficients (R2) between the experimental and predicted values and the lowest root mean squared errors, confirming the adaptability of the applied models in the present study.

Practical applications

Today, because of the high demand for crops for extensive application in the human diet, increases in the efficiency of the processing are attracting much more attention. In this regard, discovering and detection of the optimized conditions for processing with the minimum wastes looks very important and economic. Therefore, the uses of predictive methods in different food processes have been considered appropriate tools for improving of the efficiency of the processes as well as the enhancement of the quality of the produced products. In this respect, the ANFIS design as a novel predictive analytic tool, along with Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN), are applied extensively. Thus regarding the above mentioned content, ANFIS design was applied to predict and optimize some of the selected physico‐chemical properties of the extracted oil through the extraction process. Therefore prediction of the optimized conditions of oil extraction could improve the quality of the extracted oil and performance of the extraction process with the minimum wastes during short and logical extraction time.
Impact of Transitional Care Services for Chronically Ill Older Patients: A Systematic Evidence Review
Authors: Le Berre Mélanie , Maimon Geva , Sourial Nadia , Guériton Muriel , Vedel Isabelle
Published: April 2017

Transitions in care from hospital to primary care for older patients with chronic diseases (CD) are complex and lead to increased mortality and service use. In response to these challenges, transitional care (TC) interventions are being widely implemented. They encompass education on self‐management, discharge planning, structured follow‐up and coordination among the different healthcare professionals. We conducted a systematic review to determine the effectiveness of interventions targeting transitions from hospital to the primary care setting for chronically ill older patients.. Randomized controlled trials were identified through Medline, CINHAL, PsycInfo, EMBASE (1995–2015). Two independent reviewers performed the study selection, data extraction and assessment of study quality (Cochrane “Risk of Bias”). Risk differences (RD) and number needed to treat (NNT) or mean differences (MD) were calculated using a random‐effects model. From 10,234 references, 92 studies were included. Compared to usual care, significantly better outcomes were observed: a lower mortality at 3 (RD: −0.02 [−0.05, 0.00]; NNT: 50), 6, 12 and 18 months post‐discharge, a lower rate of ED visits at 3 months (RD: −0.08 [−0.15, −0.01]; NNT: 13), a lower rate of readmissions at 3 (RD: −0.08 [−0.14, −0.03]; NNT: 7), 6, 12 and 18 months and a lower mean of readmission days at 3 (MD: −1.33; [−2.15, −0.52]), 6, 12 and 18 months. No significant differences were observed in quality of life. In conclusion, TC improves transitions for older patients and should be included in the reorganization of healthcare services.
The effectiveness of crisis resource management and team debriefing in resuscitation education of nursing students: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Coppens Imgard , Verhaeghe Sofie , Van Hecke Ann , Beeckman Dimitri
Published: April 2017

Aims and objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate (i) whether integrating a course on crisis resource management principles and team debriefings in simulation training, increases self‐efficacy, team efficacy and technical skills of nursing students in resuscitation settings and (ii) which phases contribute the most to these outcomes.

Background

Crisis resource management principles have been introduced in health care to optimise teamwork. Simulation training offers patient safe training opportunities. There is evidence that simulation training increases self‐efficacy and team efficacy but the contribution of the different phases like crisis resource management principles, simulation training and debriefing on self‐efficacy, team efficacy and technical skills is not clear.

Design

Randomised controlled trial in a convenience sample (n = 116) in Belgium. Data were collected between February 2015–April 2015.

Methods

Participants in the intervention group (n = 60) completed a course on crisis resource management principles, followed by a simulation training session, a team debriefing and a second simulation training session. Participants in the control group (n = 56) only completed two simulation training sessions. The outcomes self‐efficacy, team efficacy and technical skills were assessed after each simulation training. An ancillary analysis of the learning effect was conducted.

Results

The intervention group increased on self‐efficacy (2.13%, p = .02) and team efficacy (9.92%, p < .001); the control group only increased significantly on team efficacy (4.5%, p = .001). The intervention group scored significantly higher on team efficacy (8.49%, p < .001) compared to the control group.

Conclusion

Combining crisis resource management principles and team debriefings in simulation training increases self‐efficacy and team efficacy. The debriefing phase contributes the most to these effects.

Relevance to clinical practice

By partnering with healthcare settings, it becomes possible to offer interdisciplinary simulation training that can increase patient safety.
Implementing augmentative and alternative communication in critical care settings: Perspectives of healthcare professionals
Authors: Handberg Charlotte , Voss Anna Katarina
Published: April 2017

Aims and objectives

To describe the perspectives of healthcare professionals caring for intubated patients on implementing augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) in critical care settings.

Background

Patients in critical care settings subjected to endotracheal intubation suffer from a temporary functional speech disorder and can also experience anxiety, stress and delirium, leading to longer and more complicated hospitalisation and rehabilitation. Little is known about the use of AAC in critical care settings.

Method

The design was informed by interpretive descriptive methodology along with the theoretical framework symbolic interactionism, which guided the study of healthcare professionals (n = 48) in five different intensive care units. Data were generated through participant observations and 10 focus group interviews.

Results

The findings represent an understanding of the healthcare professionals' perspectives on implementing AAC in critical care settings and revealed three themes. Caring Ontology was the foundation of the healthcare professionals' profession. Cultural Belief represented the actual premise in the interactions during the healthcare professionals' work, saving lives in a biomedical setting whilst appearing competent and efficient, leading to Triggered Conduct and giving low priority to psychosocial issues like communication.

Conclusion

Lack of the ability to communicate puts patients at greater risk of receiving poorer treatment, which supports the pressuring need to implement and use AAC in critical care. It is documented that culture in biomedical paradigms can have consequences that are the opposite of the staffs' ideals. The findings may guide staff in implementing AAC strategies in their communication with patients and at the same time preserve their caring ontology and professional pride.

Relevance to clinical practice

Improving communication strategies may improve patient safety and make a difference in patient outcomes. Increased knowledge of and familiarity with AAC strategies may provide healthcare professionals with an enhanced feeling of competence.
Validation of a modified early warning score‐linked Situation‐Background‐Assessment‐Recommendation communication tool: A mixed methods study
Authors: Burger Debora , Jordan Sue , Kyriacos Una
Published: April 2017

Aims and objectives

To develop and validate a modified Situation‐Background‐Assessment‐Recommendation communication tool incorporating components of the Cape Town modified early warning score vital signs chart for reporting early signs of clinical deterioration.

Background

Reporting early signs of physiological and clinical deterioration could prevent “failure to rescue” or unexpected intensive care admission, cardiac arrest or death. A structured communication tool incorporating physiological and clinical parameters allows nurses to provide pertinent information about a deteriorating patient in a logical order.

Design

Mixed methods instrument development and validation.

Methods

We used a sequential three‐phase method: cognitive interviews, content validation and inter‐rater reliability testing to validate a self‐designed communication tool. Participants were purposively selected expert nurses and doctors in government sector hospitals in Cape Town.

Results

Cognitive interviews with five experts prompted most changes to the communication tool: 15/42 (35.71%) items were modified. Content validation of a revised tool was high by a predetermined ≥70% of 18 experts: 4/49 (8.2%) items were modified. Inter‐rater reliability testing by two nurses indicated substantial to full agreement (Cohen's kappa .61–1) on 37/45 (82%) items. The one item achieving slight agreement (Cohen's kappa .20) indicated a difference in clinical judgement. The high overall percentage agreement (82%) suggests that the modified items are sound. Overall, 45 items remained on the validated tool.

Conclusion

The first modified early warning score‐linked Situation‐Background‐Assessment‐Recommendation communication tool developed in South Africa was found to be valid and reliable in a local context.

Relevance to clinical practice

Nurses in South Africa can use the validated tool to provide doctors with pertinent information about a deteriorating patient in a logical order to prevent a serious adverse event. Our findings provide a reference for other African countries to develop and validate communication tools for reporting early signs of clinical deterioration.
Clinical comparison of the efficacy of three different bowel preparation methods on the infectious complications following transrectal ultrasonography‐guided prostate biopsy in nursing practice
Authors: Zhang Xin‐hong , Jia Yong , Guo Wei‐hua , Ma Yu‐rong , Yang Jing , Zhang Yu , Hou Si‐chuan , Zhang Chang‐cun
Published: April 2017

Aims and objectives

To assess the effects of three different bowel preparation methods on the incidence of infectious complications in patients who underwent transrectal ultrasonography‐guided prostate biopsy.

Background

The standard bowel preparation protocol for prostate biopsy has not been established.

Design

A retrospective study in a single centre.

Methods

From January 2013–December 2015, the clinical records of 1,130 patients who underwent prostate biopsy were, respectively, reviewed. All the patients received metronidazole prophylaxis before biopsy. The patients were divided into three groups according to the bowel preparation methods: patients in Group A (n = 402) received only soapy enema; patients in Group B (n = 413) received polyethylene glycol; while patients in Group C (n = 315) received polyethylene glycol plus povidone–iodine enema. Infectious complications were classified as fever (>37.5°C), urinary tract infection and sepsis. The postoperative adverse events were also observed.

Results

The overall postbiopsy infectious complications were observed in 48 (4.25%) patients of all the cases, including 23 (5.72%) cases in Group A, 20 (4.84%) cases in Group B and five patients (1.59%) in Group C. There was significant difference among the groups (p = .018). In detail, these infectious complications included 22 (1.95%) cases of fever and 26 (2.30%) cases of urinary tract infection. No sepsis was observed among the total patients. The incidence of adverse events was 14.43% (58/402) occurred in Group A, 25.91% (107/413) in Group B and 26.67% (84/315) in Group C. The difference was statistically significant.

Conclusions

Our study confirmed that combined preparation regimens of polyethylene glycol with povidone–iodine enema could significantly reduce the postbiopsy infection rate. Conventional soapy enema is associated with less adverse events.

Relevance to clinical practice

Findings of this study provide useful evidence‐based information for healthcare professionals. The application of combined preparation regimens of polyethylene glycol with povidone–iodine enema resulted in better improvement in the prevention of postbiopsy infection.
Suppression of interictal spikes during phasic rapid eye movement sleep: a quantitative stereo‐electroencephalography study
Authors: Campana C. , Zubler F. , Gibbs S. , de Carli F. , Proserpio P. , Rubino A. , Cossu M. , Tassi L. , Schindler K. , Nobili L.
Published: April 2017

Tonic and phasic rapid eye movement (REM) sleep seem to represent two different brain states exerting different effects on epileptic activity. In particular, interictal spikes are suppressed strongly during phasicREMsleep. The reason for this effect is not understood completely. A different level of synchronization in phasic and tonicREMsleep has been postulated, yet never measured directly. Here we assessed the interictal spike rate across non‐REM(NREM) sleep, phasic and tonicREMsleep in nine patients affected by drug resistant focal epilepsy: five with typeIIfocal cortical dysplasia and four with hippocampal sclerosis. Moreover, we applied different quantitative measures to evaluate the level of synchronization at the local and global scale during phasic and tonicREMsleep. We found a lower spike rate in phasicREMsleep, both within and outside the seizure onset zone. This effect seems to be independent from the histopathological substrate and from the brain region, where epileptic activity is produced (temporal versus extra‐temporal). A higher level of synchronization was observed during tonicREMsleep both on a large (global) and small (local) spatial scale. PhasicREMsleep appears to be an interesting model for understanding the mechanisms of suppression of epileptic activity.
Plasma pharmacokinetics and muscle residue dynamics of mebendazole in Carassius auratus
Authors: Xiao X. , Zhao Y. , Zhou Y. , Wang Z.
Published: April 2017

Mebendazole is approved for use in aquatic animals and is widely used in Chinese aquaculture. We developed a pharmacokinetic and residue analysis for mebendazole levels in the goldfish (Carassius auratus). Plasma and muscle samples of C. auratus were taken after oral administration of 10 mg/kg mebendazole. The maximal drug plasma concentration of 0.55 mg/L was achieved at 48 hr and then declined with the elimination half‐life (T1/2β) of 7.99 hr. Administration of 10 mg/kg by oral gavage for 5 successive days resulted in a peak mebendazole concentration of 0.70 mg/kg in muscle at 96 hr after the last dose. The drug was then eliminated at a relatively slow rate from muscle with T1/2β of 68.41 hr. There was no detectable mebendazole in any muscle samples at 24 days postadministration. The AUClast in plasma and muscle was 19.42 and 105.33 mg hr/L, respectively. These data provide information for dosage recommendations and withdrawal time determinations for mebendazole use in aquariums.
Restraint, Reaction, and Penal Fantasies: Notes on the Death Penalty in Israel, 1967–2016
Authors: Dudai Ron
Published: April 2017

What role does the death penalty play in contexts of protracted political violence? What does it symbolize for its opponents and proponents in such contexts? Can it survive as a potent topic of political life even without actual executions? Since 1967, the death penalty has been a lawful sanction in Israel's military courts, which have jurisdiction over Palestinians in the Occupied Territories. Though it has never been carried out, it has been intensely debated throughout this period and the topic has retained major political, cultural, and judicial significance. I argue that both sides in these debates use the topic mostly symbolically, rather than as an issue of public policy. For opponents, refraining from using the death penalty has become a symbol of restraint, used in self-legitimation. For proponents, death penalty advocacy serves as what I term a penal fantasy, an outlet for frustration, symbolizing defiance against the image of restraint.
Hate Thy Neighbor: Lessons for Neighborhood Integration for the Post-Obama Era and Beyond
Authors: Bell Jeannine
Published: April 2017

This essay explores contemporary racial harassment, hate crimes, and violence targeted at African Americans and other racial minorities who have moved to white neighborhoods in the 1990s and 2000s, as described in my book Hate Thy Neighbor: Move In Violence and the Persistence of Segregation in American Housing. The essay details the experiences of blacks, Latinos, and Asian Americans who face race-based hate crimes upon integrating white neighborhoods. This violence is not limited to a specific geographic area of the United States, and is an important factor in continuing patterns of racial segregation. Social segregation and the failure of existing law to address this violence are important factors in its survival. Analyzing the roots and causes of such violence, the essay calls for greater attention to the enforcement of legal remedies designed to address neighborhood hate crime.
The potential for mycobiont sharing between shrubs and seedlings to facilitate tree establishment after wildfire at Alaska arctic treeline
Authors: Hewitt Rebecca E. , Chapin F. Stuart , Hollingsworth Teresa N. , Taylor D. Lee
Published: April 2017

Root‐associated fungi, particularly ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF), are critical symbionts of all boreal tree species. Although climatically driven increases in wildfire frequency and extent have been hypothesized to increase vegetation transitions from tundra to boreal forest, fire reduces mycorrhizal inoculum. Therefore, changes in mycobiont inoculum may potentially limit tree‐seedling establishment beyond current treeline. We investigated whether ectomycorrhizal shrubs that resprout after fire support similar fungal taxa to those that associate with tree seedlings that establish naturally after fire. We then assessed whether mycobiont identity correlates with the biomass or nutrient status of these tree seedlings. The majority of fungal taxa observed on shrub and seedling root systems were EMF, with some dark septate endophytes and ericoid mycorrhizal taxa. Seedlings and adjacent shrubs associated with similar arrays of fungal taxa, and there were strong correlations between the structure of seedling and shrub fungal communities. These results show that resprouting postfire shrubs support fungal taxa compatible with tree seedlings that establish after wildfire. Shrub taxon, distance to the nearest shrub and fire severity influenced the similarity between seedling and shrub fungal communities. Fungal composition was correlated with both foliar C:N ratio and seedling biomass and was one of the strongest explanatory variables predicting seedling biomass. While correlative, these results suggest that mycobionts are important to nutrient acquisition and biomass accrual of naturally establishing tree seedlings at treeline and that mycobiont taxa shared by resprouting postfire vegetation may be a significant source of inoculum for tree‐seedling establishment beyond current treeline.
Codiversification of gastrointestinal microbiota and phylogeny in passerines is not explained by ecological divergence
Authors: Kropáčková Lucie , Těšický Martin , Albrecht Tomáš , Kubovčiak Jan , Čížková Dagmar , Tomášek Oldřich , Martin Jean‐François , Bobek Lukáš , Králová Tereza , Procházka Petr , Kreisinger Jakub
Published: April 2017

Vertebrate gut microbiota (GM) is comprised of a taxonomically diverse consortium of symbiotic and commensal microorganisms that have a pronounced effect on host physiology, immune system function and health status. Despite much research on interactions between hosts and their GM, the factors affecting inter‐ and intraspecific GM variation in wild populations are still poorly known. We analysed data on faecal microbiota composition in 51 passerine species (319 individuals) using Illumina MiSeq sequencing of bacterial 16S rRNA (V3–V4 variable region). Despite pronounced interindividual variation, GM composition exhibited significant differences at the interspecific level, accounting for approximately 20%–30% of total GM variation. We also observed a significant correlation between GM composition divergence and host's phylogenetic divergence, with strength of correlation higher than that of GM vs. ecological or life history traits and geographic variation. The effect of host's phylogeny on GM composition was significant, even after statistical control for these confounding factors. Hence, our data do not support codiversification of GM and passerine phylogeny solely as a by‐product of their ecological divergence. Furthermore, our findings do not support that GM vs. host's phylogeny codiversification is driven primarily through trans‐generational GM transfer as the GM vs. phylogeny correlation does not increase with higher sequence similarity used when delimiting operational taxonomic units. Instead, we hypothesize that the GM vs. phylogeny correlation may arise as a consequence of interspecific divergence of genes that directly or indirectly modulate composition of GM.
A Cross‐Linguistic Perspective on Syntactic Complexity in L2 Development: Syntactic Elaboration and Diversity
Authors: De Clercq Bastien , Housen Alex
Published: April 2017

Syntactic and linguistic complexity have been studied extensively in applied linguistics as indicators of linguistic performance, development, and proficiency. Recent publications have equally highlighted the reductionist approach taken to syntactic complexity measurement, which often focuses on one or two measures representing complexity at the level of clause‐linking or the sentence, but eschews complexity measurement at other syntactic levels, such as the phrase or the clause. Previous approaches have also rarely incorporated measures representing the diversity of syntactic structures in learner productions. Finally, complexity development has rarely been considered from a cross‐linguistic perspective, so that many questions pertaining to the cross‐linguistic validity of complexity measurement remain. This article reports on an empirical study on syntactic complexity development and introduces a range of syntactic diversity measures alongside frequently used measures of syntactic elaboration. The study analyzed 100 English and 100 French second language oral narratives from adolescent native speakers of Dutch, situated at 4 proficiency levels (beginner–advanced), as well as native speaker benchmark data from each language. The results reveal a gradual process of syntactic elaboration and syntactic diversification in both learner groups, while, especially in French, considerable differences between learners and native speakers reside in the distribution of specific clause types.
MM1‐type sporadic Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease with 1‐month total disease duration and early pathologic indicators
Authors: Iwasaki Yasushi , Kato Hiroko , Ando Tetsuo , Mimuro Maya , Kitamoto Tetsuyuki , Yoshida Mari
Published: April 2017

A 62‐year‐old man presented with abnormal behavior and cognitive impairment. Diffusion‐weighted images (DWI) obtained on MRI showed extensive hyperintense regions in the cerebral cortex and striatum. Myoclonus was recognized, and the patient died 1 month after the onset; his condition did not reach the akinetic mutism state. The brain weighed 1300 g and showed no apparent atrophy. Extensive spongiform changes were observed in the cerebral neocortex, striatum, thalamus and cerebellar cortex, but gliosis was mild or absent. Neuropil rarefaction and neuron loss were not apparent. Mild proliferation of anti‐ GFAP‐positive astrocytes was observed in the cerebral cortex, but unaffected regions were noted. Regions without spongiform changes and GFAP‐positive astrocytes included the hippocampal formation and subiculum. PrP immunostaining showed extensive diffuse synaptic‐type PrP deposition in the gray matter, including the hippocampal region, but it was also mild. PrP gene analysis revealed no mutation with methionine homozygosity at polymorphic codon 129. Western blot analysis of proteinase K‐resistant PrP indicated type 1 PrPSc. The clinicopathological findings of the present case confirm several hypotheses: (i) the earliest pathologic evidence observed by HE staining in CJD are spongiform changes; (ii) DWI hyperintense regions indicate these spongiform changes; and (iii) regions without spongiform changes, gliosis and proliferation of GFAP‐positive astrocytes, but with PrP deposition, exist in the early disease stage.
The effects of high‐intensity interval training vs. moderate‐intensity continuous training on body composition in overweight and obese adults: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Wewege M. , van den Berg R. , Ward R. E. , Keech A.
Published: April 2017

Objective

The objective of this study is to compare the effects of high‐intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate‐intensity continuous training (MICT) for improvements in body composition in overweight and obese adults.

Methods

Trials comparing HIIT and MICT in overweight or obese participants aged 18–45 years were included. Direct measures (e.g. whole‐body fat mass) and indirect measures (e.g. waist circumference) were examined.

Results

From 1,334 articles initially screened, 13 were included. Studies averaged 10 weeks × 3 sessions per week training. Both HIIT and MICT elicited significant (p < 0.05) reductions in whole‐body fat mass and waist circumference. There were no significant differences between HIIT and MICT for any body composition measure, but HIIT required ~40% less training time commitment. Running training displayed large effects on whole‐body fat mass for both HIIT and MICT (standardized mean difference −0.82 and −0.85, respectively), but cycling training did not induce fat loss.

Conclusions

Short‐term moderate‐intensity to high‐intensity exercise training can induce modest body composition improvements in overweight and obese individuals without accompanying body‐weight changes. HIIT and MICT show similar effectiveness across all body composition measures suggesting that HIIT may be a time‐efficient component of weight management programs.
Exploring the association between childhood and adolescent obesity and depression: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Quek Ying‐Hui , Tam Wilson W. S. , Zhang Melvyn W. B. , Ho Roger C. M.
Published: April 2017

This meta‐analysis aimed to evaluate the association between childhood and adolescent obesity and depression. We systematically searched PubMed, PsycInfo, EMBASE and Science Direct for studies that compared prevalence of depression and depressive symptoms in normal weight and obese children and adolescents. Observational studies were included if they reported body mass index and assessed depression by validated instruments or diagnostic interviews. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. We used the random‐effect model to calculate the pooled odds ratios, standard mean differences (SMDs) and subgroup analysis. Findings for a total of 51,272 participants were pooled across 18 studies and examined. Our analyses demonstrated a positive association between childhood and adolescent obesity and depression (pooled odds ratio = 1.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1–1.64,p = 0.005) and more severe depressive symptoms (SMD = 0.23, 95% CI: 0.025–0.44,p = 0.028) in the obese groups. Overweight subjects were not more likely to have either depression (pooled odds ratio = 1.16, 95% CI: 0.93–1.44,p = 0.19) or depressive symptoms (SMD = 0, 95% CI: −0.101 to 0.102,p = 0.997). Non‐Western and female obese subjects were significantly more likely to have depression and severe depressive symptoms (p < 0.05). In conclusion, obese children and adolescents are more likely to suffer from depression and depressive symptoms, with women and non‐Western people at higher risk.
Causation or selection – examining the relation between education and overweight/obesity in prospective observational studies: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Kim T. J. , Roesler N. M. , von dem Knesebeck O.
Published: April 2017

Numerous studies have investigated the association between education and overweight/obesity. Yet less is known about the relative importance of causation (i.e. the influence of education on risks of overweight/obesity) and selection (i.e. the influence of overweight/obesity on the likelihood to attain education) hypotheses. A systematic review was performed to assess the linkage between education and overweight/obesity in prospective studies in general populations. Studies were searched within five databases, and study quality was appraised with the Newcastle–Ottawa scale. In total, 31 studies were considered for meta‐analysis. Regarding causation (24 studies), the lower educated had a higher likelihood (odds ratio: 1.33, 1.21–1.47) and greater risk (risk ratio: 1.34, 1.08–1.66) for overweight/obesity, when compared with the higher educated. However, these associations were no longer statistically significant when accounting for publication bias. Concerning selection (seven studies), overweight/obese individuals had a greater likelihood of lower education (odds ratio: 1.57, 1.10–2.25), when contrasted with the non‐overweight or non‐obese. Subgroup analyses were performed by stratifying meta‐analyses upon different factors. Relationships between education and overweight/obesity were affected by study region, age groups, gender and observation period. In conclusion, it is necessary to consider both causation and selection processes in order to tackle educational inequalities in obesity appropriately.
Assembly and comparison of two closely related Brassica napus genomes
Authors: Bayer Philipp E. , Hurgobin Bhavna , Golicz Agnieszka A. , Chan Chon‐Kit Kenneth , Yuan Yuxuan , Lee HueyTyng , Renton Michael , Meng Jinling , Li Ruiyuan , Long Yan , Zou Jun , Bancroft Ian , Chalhoub Boulos , King Graham J. , Batley Jacqueline , Edwards David
Published: April 2017

As an increasing number of plant genome sequences become available, it is clear that gene content varies between individuals, and the challenge arises to predict the gene content of a species. However, genome comparison is often confounded by variation in assembly and annotation. Differentiating between true gene absence and variation in assembly or annotation is essential for the accurate identification of conserved and variable genes in a species. Here, we present the de novo assembly of the B. napus cultivar Tapidor and comparison with an improved assembly of the Brassica napus cultivar Darmor‐bzh. Both cultivars were annotated using the same method to allow comparison of gene content. We identified genes unique to each cultivar and differentiate these from artefacts due to variation in the assembly and annotation. We demonstrate that using a common annotation pipeline can result in different gene predictions, even for closely related cultivars, and repeat regions which collapse during assembly impact whole genome comparison. After accounting for differences in assembly and annotation, we demonstrate that the genome of Darmor‐bzh contains a greater number of genes than the genome of Tapidor. Our results are the first step towards comparison of the true differences between B. napus genomes and highlight the potential sources of error in future production of a B. napus pangenome.
FDG‐PET in macrophage activation syndrome associated with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis
Authors: Shimizu Masaki , Ikawa Yasuhiro , Mizuta Mao , Takakura Maiko , Inoue Natsumi , Nishimura Ryosei , Yachie Akihiro
Published: April 2017

We herein describe a case of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (s‐JIA)‐associated macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) in which the 18Ffluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (18FFDG‐PET) findings were characteristic. The pattern of greater 18FFDG accumulation into the spleen compared with the liver was more remarkable in this patient compared with s‐JIA. This pattern, however, was also observed in cases of acute leukemia. In the present patient, serum interleukin (IL)‐18 was extremely elevated (255 000 pg/mL), whereas in leukemia patients it is mildly elevated (360–1480 pg/mL). 18FFDG‐PET might be a useful indicator of s‐JIA and MAS in patients with fever of unknown origin. The pattern of 18FFDG accumulation, however, can also be observed in acute leukemia. The combination of 18FFDG‐PET and serum IL‐18 might be useful for the diagnosis of s‐JIA and MAS.
Portosystemic shunt as a cause of congenital hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia
Authors: Yoshii Keisuke , Noda Masahiro , Naiki Yasuhiro , Horikawa Reiko
Published: April 2017

Congenital hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (CHH) is characterized by the inappropriate secretion of insulin from pancreatic beta cells in the presence of hypoglycemia. We herein describe the case of a 5‐month‐old boy with CHH due to congenital portosystemic shunt (CPSS). Insulin secreted from pancreatic beta cells flows into the portal vein and is first metabolized in the liver. First‐pass elimination of insulin in the liver leads to great decrease in insulin concentration by approximately 40–80% in humans. CPSS accounts for a large quantity of insulin delivery into the systemic circulation due to the lack of hepatic first‐pass elimination. Hypoglycemia can result from consistently high levels of insulin after reaching normal glucose level. CPSS therefore should be considered as a rare cause of CHH, especially in the case of post‐prandial hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia.
Mass Customization and Guardrails: “You Can Not Be All Things to All People”
Authors: Çil Eren B. , Pangburn Michael S.
Published: April 2017

A mass customization strategy enables a firm to match its product designs to unique consumer tastes. In a classic horizontal product‐differentiation framework, a consumer's utility is a decreasing function of the distance between their ideal taste and the taste defined by the most closely aligned product the firm offers. A consumer thus considers the taste mismatch associated with their purchased product, but otherwise the positioning of the firm's product portfolio (or, “brand image”) is immaterial. In contrast, self‐congruency theory suggests that consumers assess how well both the purchased product and its overall brand image match with their ideal taste. Therefore, we incorporate within the consumer utility function both product‐specific and brand‐level components. Mass customization has the potential to improve taste alignment with regard to a specific purchased product, but at the risk of increasing brand dilution. Absent brand dilution concerns, a firm will optimally serve all consumers’ ideal tastes at a single price. In contrast, by endogenizing dilution costs within the consumer utility model, we prove that a mass‐customizing firm optimally uses differential pricing. Moreover, we show that the firm offers reduced prices to consumers with extreme tastes (to stimulate consumer “travel”), with a higher and fixed price being offered to those consumers having more central (mainstream) tastes. Given that a continuous spectrum of prices will likely not be practical in application, we also consider the more pragmatic approach of augmenting the uniformly priced mass customization range with preset (non‐customized) outlying designs, which serve customers at the taste extremes. We prove this practical approach performs close to optimal.
Heuristics for Base‐Stock Levels in Multi‐Echelon Distribution Networks
Authors: Rong Ying , Atan Zümbül , Snyder Lawrence V.
Published: April 2017

We study inventory optimization for locally controlled, continuous‐review distribution systems with stochastic customer demands. Each node follows a base‐stock policy and a first‐come, first‐served allocation policy. We develop two heuristics, the recursive optimization (RO) heuristic and the decomposition‐aggregation (DA) heuristic, to approximate the optimal base‐stock levels of all the locations in the system. The RO heuristic applies a bottom‐up approach that sequentially solves single‐variable, convex problems for each location. The DA heuristic decomposes the distribution system into multiple serial systems, solves for the base‐stock levels of these systems using the newsvendor heuristic of Shang and Song (2003), and then aggregates the serial systems back into the distribution system using a procedure we call “backorder matching.” A key advantage of the DA heuristic is that it does not require any evaluation of the cost function (a computationally costly operation that requires numerical convolution). We show that, for both RO and DA, changing some of the parameters, such as leadtime, unit backordering cost, and demand rate, of a location has an impact only on its own local base‐stock level and its upstream locations’ local base‐stock levels. An extensive numerical study shows that both heuristics perform well, with the RO heuristic providing more accurate results and the DA heuristic consuming less computation time. We show that both RO and DA are asymptotically optimal along multiple dimensions for two‐echelon distribution systems. Finally, we show that, with minor changes, both RO and DA are applicable to the balanced allocation policy.
Prostaglandin synthesis enzymes' gene transcription in bitches with endometritis
Authors: García Mitacek MC , Praderio RG , Stornelli MC , de la Sota RL , Stornelli MA
Published: April 2017

Contents

Endometritis is a major cause of infertility in many domestic species. However, until now the pathogenesis of the endometritis in the bitch is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the gene transcription pattern of prostaglandin (PG) synthesis enzymes (cyclooxygenase [COX2], PTGES‐1 and PGFS) in the endometrium of bitches with or without endometritis. Thirty mixed breed bitches in dioestrus, aged between 1 and 5 years, and weighing between 10 and 30 kg were used. After ovariohysterectomy (OVX), uterine biopsy samples were collected from the middle part of both horns. Then, endometrial epithelium was collected using the cytobrush method and mRNA analysis was performed by real‐time RT‐PCR. Data were analysed with Kruskal–Wallis anova using the sas® software. Uterine condition was identified by endometrial biopsies (normal endometria [n = 11; NE], acute endometritis [n = 10; AE] and chronic endometritis [n = 9; CE]). The COX2, PTGES‐1 and PGFS/AKR1C3 mRNA expression in bitches with and without endometritis was similar. Except for PGFS/AKR1C3, gene transcription of COX2 and PTGES‐1 was significantly increased in AE compared with CE. In addition, COX2 gene transcription was significantly increased in AE compared with NE. In contrast, no differences were found for COX2, PTGES‐1 and PGFS/AKR1C3 mRNA expression in the samples of NE compared with CE.
Development and Application of a Probabilistic Risk–Benefit Assessment Model for Infant Feeding Integrating Microbiological, Nutritional, and Chemical Components
Authors: Boué Géraldine , Cummins Enda , Guillou Sandrine , Antignac Jean‐Philippe , Le Bizec Bruno , Membré Jeanne‐Marie
Published: April 2017

A probabilistic and interdisciplinary risk–benefit assessment (RBA) model integrating microbiological, nutritional, and chemical components was developed for infant milk, with the objective of predicting the health impact of different scenarios of consumption. Infant feeding is a particular concern of interest in RBA as breast milk and powder infant formula have both been associated with risks and benefits related to chemicals, bacteria, and nutrients, hence the model considers these three facets.Cronobacter sakazakii, dioxin‐like polychlorinated biphenyls (dl‐PCB), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were three risk/benefit factors selected as key issues in microbiology, chemistry, and nutrition, respectively. The present model was probabilistic with variability and uncertainty separated using a second‐order Monte Carlo simulation process. In this study, advantages and limitations of undertaking probabilistic and interdisciplinary RBA are discussed. In particular, the probabilistic technique was found to be powerful in dealing with missing data and to translate assumptions into quantitative inputs while taking uncertainty into account. In addition, separation of variability and uncertainty strengthened the interpretation of the model outputs by enabling better consideration and distinction of natural heterogeneity from lack of knowledge. Interdisciplinary RBA is necessary to give more structured conclusions and avoid contradictory messages to policymakers and also to consumers, leading to more decisive food recommendations. This assessment provides a conceptual development of the RBA methodology and is a robust basis on which to build upon.
Sociotechnical Resilience: A Preliminary Concept
Authors: Amir Sulfikar , Kant Vivek
Published: April 2017

This article presents the concept of sociotechnical resilience by employing an interdisciplinary perspective derived from the fields of science and technology studies, human factors, safety science, organizational studies, and systems engineering. Highlighting the hybrid nature of sociotechnical systems, we identify three main constituents that characterize sociotechnical resilience: informational relations, sociomaterial structures, and anticipatory practices. Further, we frame sociotechnical resilience as undergirded by the notion of transformability with an emphasis on intentional activities, focusing on the ability of sociotechnical systems to shift from one form to another in the aftermath of shock and disturbance. We propose that the triad of relations, structures, and practices are fundamental aspects required to comprehend the resilience of sociotechnical systems during times of crisis.
A novel HLA‐B allele: HLA‐B*40:242
Authors: Zheng J. W. , Xie J. H. , Sun Y. , Jiang Y. Q. , Xiang D.
Published: April 2017

The HLA‐B*40:242 allele differs from B*40:54 by 1 nucleotide substitution at position 190.
Teaching about sexuality and veiling in Islam
Authors: Defibaugh Amy , Krutzsch Brett
Published: April 2017

This article proposes strategies for teaching about sexuality in Islam through student‐centered learning activities, such as self‐reflection, multimedia presentations, and small group discussions. We focus on a diversity of perspectives related to veiling in Islam. The approaches we describe help students deconstruct and reevaluate common U.S. cultural assumptions that equate veiling in Islam with the oppression of Muslim women. Through the use of Likert scale questionnaires and written reflection papers, we have found that students are able to acknowledge and distinguish a multiplicity of perspectives regarding veiling and sexuality in Islam after they have been introduced to academic scholarship on the history of veiling, and after they have had multiple opportunities to engage in small and large group discussions on the topic.
Evaluation of osseous‐associated cervical spondylomyelopathy in dogs using kinematic magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Provencher Michele , Habing Amy , Moore Sarah A. , Cook Laurie , Phillips Gary , da Costa Ronaldo C.
Published: April 2017

Osseous‐associated cervical spondylomyelopathy in dogs is characterized by both static and dynamic spinal cord compression; however, standard MRI methods only assess static compression. In humans with cervical spondylotic myelopathy, kinematic MRI is commonly used to diagnose dynamic spinal cord compressions. The purpose of this prospective, analytical study was to evaluate kinematic MRI as a method for characterizing the dynamic component of osseous‐associated cervical spondylomyelopathy in dogs. We hypothesized that kinematic MRI would allow visualization of spinal cord compressions that were not identified with standard imaging. Twelve client‐owned dogs with osseous‐associated cervical spondylomyelopathy were enrolled. After standard MRI confirmed a diagnosis of osseous‐associated cervical spondylomyelopathy, a positioning device was used to perform additional MRI sequences with the cervical vertebral column flexed and extended. Morphologic and morphometric (spinal cord height, intervertebral disc width, spinal cord width, vertebral canal height, and spinal cord area) assessments were recorded for images acquired with neutral, flexion, and extension imaging. A total of 25 compressions were seen with neutral positioning, while extension identified 32 compressions. There was a significant association between extension positioning and presence of a compressive lesion at C4‐C5 (p= 0.02). Extension was also associated with a change in the most severe site of compression in four out of 12 (33%) dogs. None of the patients deteriorated neurologically after kinematic imaging. We concluded that kinematic MRI is a feasible method for evaluating dogs with osseous‐associated cervical spondylomyelopathy, and can reveal new compressions not seen with neutral positioning.