bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inference for Instrumental Variables: A Randomization Inference Approach
Authors: Kang Hyunseung , Peck Laura , Keele Luke
Published: February 2018

The method of instrumental variables provides a framework to study causal effects in both randomized experiments with non-compliance and in observational studies where natural circumstances produce as if random nudges to accept treatment. Traditionally, inference for instrumental variables relied on asymptotic approximations of the distribution of the Wald estimator or two-stage least squares, often with structural modelling assumptions and/or moment conditions. We utilize the randomization inference approach to instrumental variables inference. First, we outline the exact method, which uses the randomized assignment of treatment in experiments as a basis for inference but lacks a closed form solution and may be computationally infeasible in many applications. We then provide an alternative to the exact method, the almost exact method, which is computationally feasible but retains the advantages of the exact method. We also review asymptotic methods of inference, including those associated with two-stage least squares, and analytically compare them with randomization inference methods. We also perform additional comparisons by using a set of simulations. We conclude with three different applications from the social sciences.
Clinical and genetic features of the patients with X‐Linked agammaglobulinemia from Turkey: Single‐centre experience
Authors: Esenboga S. , Cagdas D. , Ozgur T. T. , Gur Cetinkaya P. , Turkdemir L. M. , Sanal O. , VanDerBurg M. , Tezcan I.
Published: February 2018

X‐linked agammaglobulinemia is a primary immunodeficiency disorder resulting from BTK gene mutations. There are many studies in the literature suggesting contradictory ideas about phenotype‐genotype correlation. The aim of this study was to identify the mutations and clinical findings of patients with XLA in Turkey, to determine long‐term complications related to the disease and to analyse the phenotype‐genotype correlation. Thirty‐two patients with XLA diagnosed between 1985 and 2016 in Pediatric Immunology Department of Hacettepe University Ihsan Dogramaci Children's Hospital were investigated. A clinical survey including clinical features of the patients was completed, and thirty‐two patients from 26 different families were included in the study. Getting early diagnosis and regular assessment with imaging techniques seem to be the most important issues for improving the health status of the patients with XLA. Early molecular analysis gives chance for definitive diagnosis and genetic counselling, but not for predicting the clinical severity and prognosis.
Is stiffness related to athletic groin pain?
Authors: Gore S. J. , Franklyn‐Miller A. , Richter C. , Falvey E. C. , King E. , Moran K.
Published: February 2018

Athletic groin pain (AGP) is a common injury prevalent in field sports. One biomechanical measure that may be of importance for injury risk is stiffness. To date however, stiffness has not been examined in AGP. The primary aim was to determine whether AGP affects vertical and joint stiffness and if so, whether successful rehabilitation is associated with a change in stiffness. Sixty‐five male patients with AGP and fifty male controls were recruited to this study. Assessment included a biomechanical examination of stiffness during a lateral hurdle hop test. Subjects with AGP were tested pre‐ and post‐rehabilitation, while controls were tested once. AGP subjects were cleared for return to play in a median time of 9.14 weeks (5.14‐29.0). Stiffness was significantly different at pre‐rehabilitation in comparison with controls for four of the ten stiffness values examined: ankle plantar flexor, knee extensor, hip abductor, and vertical stiffness (P < .05, D = 0.36‐0.79). Despite clearance for return to play, of these four variables, only hip abductor stiffness changed significantly from pre‐ to post‐rehabilitation (P = .05, D = 0.35) to become non‐significantly different to the uninjured group (P = .18, D = 0.26). These findings suggest that hip abductor stiffness may represent a target for AGP rehabilitation. Conversely, given the clearance for return to play, the lower sagittal plane and vertical stiffness in the AGP group in comparison with the uninjured controls likely represents either a compensatory mechanism to reduce the risk of further injury or a consequence of neuromuscular detraining.
Computing with cognitive spatial frames of reference in GIS
Authors: Scheider Simon , Hahn Jürgen , Weiser Paul , Kuhn Werner
Published: February 2018

In everyday communication, people effortlessly translate between spatial cognitive frames of reference. For example, a tourist guide translates from a map (“the fountain is north‐west of the church”) into a cognitive frame for a tourist (“the fountain in front of the church”). While different types of cognitive reference frames and their relevance for language cultures have been studied in considerable depth, we still lack adequate transformation models. In this article, we argue that transformations in current Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are inappropriate to this end. Appropriate transformation models need to go beyond point discretization to take into account vague transformations, in order to deal with forms, sizes, and vagueness of spatial relations relative to ground objects. We argue thatneural fieldsshould be used to denote fuzzy positions, directions, and sizes in a particular frame. We proposefuzzy vector spacesto approximate neural field behavior with affine transformations, including fuzzy translation, rotation, and scaling, in order to efficiently transform between different cognitive perspectives. We use an implementation in Haskell to describe a geographic map from the perspective of six well‐known cognitive frames of reference. Based on these findings, we give an outlook on the principles of a “neural GIS.”
Intravenous iron isomaltoside improves hemoglobin concentration and iron stores in female iron‐deficient blood donors: a randomized double‐blind placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Gybel‐Brask Mikkel , Seeberg Jens , Thomsen Lars L. , Johansson Pär I.
Published: February 2018

BACKGROUND

This trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of intravenous (IV) iron isomaltoside (Monofer) in comparison with placebo in first‐time female blood donors.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The trial was a prospective, double blind, placebo‐controlled, randomized, comparative, single‐center trial of 85 first‐time female blood donors. The subjects were randomly assigned 1:1 to either 1000 mg IV iron isomaltoside infusion or placebo. The primary endpoint of the trial was change in hemoglobin (Hb) from baseline to right before the third blood donation.

RESULTS

The increase in Hb was significantly higher for iron isomaltoside compared with placebo right before both the second blood donation (p = 0.0327) and the third blood donation (primary endpoint, p < 0.0001). Improvements in other iron‐related variables (plasma iron, plasma ferritin, transferrin saturation, and reticulocyte count) in favor of iron isomaltoside were also observed. The trial was not powered on patient‐reported outcomes. However, improvements in iron stores and Hb levels after iron isomaltoside administration were supported by the fact that several of the fatigue symptoms scores showed numerical differences in favor of iron isomaltoside. There were no differences in side effects between the groups.

CONCLUSION

In iron‐deficient female blood donors a single IV iron isomaltoside administration resulted in an improvement in Hb concentration and iron stores and demonstrated a favorable safety profile comparable to placebo.
A field trial in Thailand of the efficacy of oral fluralaner for the treatment of dogs with generalized demodicosis
Authors: Duangkaew Lerpen , Larsuprom Lawan , Anukkul Pojnicha , Lekcharoensuk Chalermpol , Chen Charles
Published: February 2018

Background

Generalized demodicosis in dogs can be challenging to manage, especially in adult‐onset cases.

Hypothesis/objectives

This study evaluated the efficacy of oral fluralaner at the dose of 25–50 mg/kg for the treatment of canine generalized demodicosis.

Animals

Client‐owned dogs from Bangkok, Thailand, diagnosed with generalized demodicosis according to published criteria.

Methods

Deep skin scrapings were performed at three to five affected areas to evaluate numbers of mites. Repeat examinations were performed monthly until parasitological cure; dogs were then followed up for two to 12 months. Parasitological cure was defined as two negative skin scrapings achieved one month apart.

Results

One hundred and fifteen dogs were included in the study, 73 with adult‐onset demodicosis and 42 with juvenile‐onset demodicosis. Twenty one dogs were lost to follow‐up and 27 had one negative skin scraping but did not return. Sixty seven dogs (21 with juvenile‐onset and 46 with adult‐onset disease) reached parasitological cure, which occurred after two, three and four months in 63%, 85% and 100% (respectively) of dogs with adult‐onset demodicosis, cumulatively, and after two and three months in 81% and 100% of dogs with juvenile‐onset demodicosis. Underlying causes associated with adult‐onset demodicosis included atopic dermatitis, neoplasia, metabolic diseases and idiopathy. No adverse effects of fluralaner were observed in any of the dogs.

Conclusion

Fluralaner given at the label dose for flea and tick prevention is effective for the treatment of canine generalized demodicosis.
Donor understandings of blood and the body in relation to more frequent donation
Authors: Lynch R. , Cohn S.
Published: February 2018

Background and objectives

The INTERVAL trial aimed to find the optimum frequency of blood donation to enhance blood supplies and maintain donor health. This not only requires biological knowledge, but also an appreciation of donor perspectives, and how their experiences and beliefs might be central if any changes are ever to be made. To address this, trial participants were interviewed about their ideas of blood and the body in relation to their experiences of increased donation frequency.

Materials and methods

Thirty in depth face‐to‐face interviews conducted with blood donors participating in the trial.

Results

Three key themes emerged: ideas about how blood and iron reserves are replenished, and what people did to facilitate this; beliefs about physiological differences relating to age and gender; and practical issues that affected the experience of donation. Overall, participants interviewed welcomed more frequent donation, despite a range of pragmatic concerns.

Conclusion

Despite some practical obstacles, increased donation frequency aligned with participant's ideas about bodily replenishment, the value of donation, and their identity as enduring blood donors. They therefore supported the idea of increasing frequency of donation, independently of the biomedical evidence from the trial itself.
Hepatitis C: from discovery to cure
Authors: Li Y. , Li S. , Duan X. , Yang C. , Xu M. , Chen L.
Published: February 2018

Background and Objectives

With a prevalence of approximately 71 million infected individuals globally, chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the major causes of chronic hepatitis leading to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This review aimed to summarize the general history of HCV and provide a perspective on future journey of HCV.

Materials and Methods

We searched for articles published in periodicals, monographs and edited books with the key words including ‘non‐A, non‐B hepatitis’, ‘HCV’, ‘interferon’ and ‘direct‐antiviral agents (DAAs)’. And the data emphasized HCV emergence, identification, treatment, epidemiology as well as the cellular and animal models leading to the eradication of HCV infections, were summarized.

Results and Conclusion

The battle against hepatitis C is destined to be recorded in history as one of science's remarkable success. Although the revolutionary direct‐antiviral agents (DAAs) are able to cure more than 95% of HCV patients, access to diagnosis and therapy remains improved. More efforts should be made to promote HCV screening, treatment delivery and vaccine development.
Zoonotic disease transmission associated with feral cats in a metropolitan area: A geospatial analysis
Authors: Taetzsch S. J. , Bertke Andrea S. , Gruszynski K. R.
Published: February 2018

Feral cats raise public health concerns due to their large population numbers and ability to harbour pathogens that cause disease in people, pets, and wildlife. Information regarding the potential for feral cats to intersect with areas frequented by humans is lacking. This study examined the potential for feral cats and human territories to overlap in the Richmond metropolitan area of Central Virginia. Feral cats (n = 275) were trapped for monthly trap‐neuter‐release (TNR) clinics from July to November 2016. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to map feral cat trapping locations, elementary and preschools, public parks, and community gardens, and to evaluate the potential for cat interaction with these areas, presuming a maximum habitat radius of 0.44 miles. We found that 8.0% of feral cats in the Richmond metropolitan area had potential to range onto public elementary or preschool property, and 81.5% of feral cats trapped in Richmond City had potential to roam into one or more places of interest, including elementary and preschool grounds, public parks, and community gardens. This provides public health, veterinary, and human health professionals with important information that can be used to focus resources in an effort to reduce zoonosis associated with feral cat populations.
Redefining Constructions of Sexuality and Sexual Wellbeing across Generations: Lessons from Ageing Aboriginal Women
Authors: Tinashe Dune , Jo. Stewart , Wendy Tronc , Vanessa Lee , Virginia Mapedzahama , Rubab Firdaus , Tensae Mekonnen
Published: February 2018

This study explored how Indigenous women living in Australia understand, experience and construct sexuality within contexts dominated by revealed the impact of Eurocentric conceptualisations of gender, embodiment and intimacy. This project was informed by feminist methodology and collected data using semi-structured focus groups, which naturally took on the yarning method. The discussions, held on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, were had with women aged 42 to 73 years, across three focus groups. The women primarily constructed sexuality within Australia’s history of colonisation, discrimination and prejudice against Indigenous people, the uptake of European values and their impact on Indigenous people over time and across generations. Self-esteem was a central feature across all major themes and described as integral to health constructions of sexuality and health relationships. Changes over time were characterised by the women’s commitment to instilling self-esteem in following generations as well as limitations to self-esteem resulting from discrimination. Socialising future generations to display and embrace intimacy was also central to a healthy construction of sexuality. The findings from this study reinforce that learning from Indigenous women about sexuality and ageing is key to enriching the evidence-base as well as health worker and researcher capacity while reinforcing the importance of self-care among Indigenous older women. Integrating such an approach with Indigenous women has the potential to increase the effectiveness and relevance of health promotion and wellbeing programmes aimed at older Indigenous women in the present and future.
Calcium signalling in the acinar environment of the exocrine pancreas: physiology and pathophysiology
Authors: Gryshchenko Oleksiy , Gerasimenko Julia V. , Peng Shuang , Gerasimenko Oleg V. , Petersen Ole H.
Published: February 2018

Key points

Ca2+ signalling in different cell types in exocrine pancreatic lobules was monitored simultaneously and signalling responses to various stimuli were directly compared.

Ca2+ signals evoked by K+‐induced depolarization were recorded from pancreatic nerve cells. Nerve cell stimulation evoked Ca2+ signals in acinar but not in stellate cells.

Stellate cells are not electrically excitable as they, like acinar cells, did not generate Ca2+ signals in response to membrane depolarization.

The responsiveness of the stellate cells to bradykinin was markedly reduced in experimental alcohol‐related acute pancreatitis, but they became sensitive to stimulation with trypsin.

Our results provide fresh evidence for an important role of stellate cells in acute pancreatitis. They seem to be a critical element in a vicious circle promoting necrotic acinar cell death. Initial trypsin release from a few dying acinar cells generates Ca2+ signals in the stellate cells, which then in turn damage more acinar cells causing further trypsin liberation.

Physiological Ca2+ signals in pancreatic acinar cells control fluid and enzyme secretion, whereas excessive Ca2+ signals induced by pathological agents induce destructive processes leading to acute pancreatitis. Ca2+ signals in the peri‐acinar stellate cells may also play a role in the development of acute pancreatitis. In this study, we explored Ca2+ signalling in the different cell types in the acinar environment of the pancreatic tissue. We have, for the first time, recorded depolarization‐evoked Ca2+ signals in pancreatic nerves and shown that whereas acinar cells receive a functional cholinergic innervation, there is no evidence for functional innervation of the stellate cells. The stellate, like the acinar, cells are not electrically excitable as they do not generate Ca2+ signals in response to membrane depolarization. The principal agent evoking Ca2+ signals in the stellate cells is bradykinin, but in experimental alcohol‐related acute pancreatitis, these cells become much less responsive to bradykinin and then acquire sensitivity to trypsin. Our new findings have implications for our understanding of the development of acute pancreatitis and we propose a scheme in which Ca2+ signals in stellate cells provide an amplification loop promoting acinar cell death. Initial release of the proteases kallikrein and trypsin from dying acinar cells can, via bradykinin generation and protease‐activated receptors, induce Ca2+ signals in stellate cells which can then, possibly via nitric oxide generation, damage more acinar cells and thereby cause additional release of proteases, generating a vicious circle.
Collaborative and indigenous mental health therapy: Tataihono – Stories of Maori healing and psychiatry
Authors: NiaNia Wiremu , Bush Allister , Epston David
Published: February 2018

Reviewed by Dr Matt Shepherd (Ngati Tama).
Why do I need research and theory? A guide for social workers.
Authors: Anderson-Meger Jennifer
Published: February 2018

Reviewed by Sonya Hunt, University of Waikato, New Zealand.
Rights and wrongs
Authors: Doel Mark
Published: February 2018

Reviewed by David Griffin, Family Works, New Zealand.
High-temperature molecular beam epitaxy of hexagonal boron nitride layers
Authors: Cheng Tin S. , Summerfield Alex , Mellor Christopher J. , Davies Andrew , Khlobystov Andrei N. , Eaves Laurence , Foxon C. Thomas , Beton Peter H. , Novikov Sergei V.
Published: February 2018

The growth and properties of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) have recently attracted much attention due to applications in graphene-based monolayer thick two dimensional (2D)-structures and at the same time as a wide band gap material for deep-ultraviolet device (DUV) applications. The authors present their results in the high-temperature plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PA-MBE) of hBN monolayers on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite substrates. Their results demonstrate that PA-MBE growth at temperatures ∼1390 °C can achieve mono- and few-layer thick hBN with a control of the hBN coverage and atomically flat hBN surfaces which is essential for 2D applications of hBN layers. The hBN monolayer coverage can be reproducible controlled by the PA-MBE growth temperature, time and B:N flux ratios. Significantly thicker hBN layers have been achieved at higher B:N flux ratios. The authors observed a gradual increase of the hBN thickness from 40 to 70 nm by decreasing the growth temperature from 1390 to 1080 °C. However, by decreasing the MBE growth temperature below 1250 °C, the authors observe a rapid degradation of the optical properties of hBN layers. Therefore, high-temperature PA-MBE, above 1250 °C, is a viable approach for the growth of high-quality hBN layers for 2D and DUV applications.
Temporal Trends of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Simultaneity in Brazilian Students
Authors: Martins Rafaela Costa , Ricardo Luiza Isnardi Cardoso , Mendonça Gerfeson , de Rosa Daiana Lopes , da Gama Bastos Letícia Lemos Ayres , de Vargas Nunes Coll Carolina , Bielemann Renata Moraes
Published: February 2018

Objective: To evaluate trends in physical activity and sedentary behavior simultaneity among Brazilian students from 2009 to 2015 and its association with independent variables. Methods: This study presents a panel of 3 cross-sectional studies carried out in 2009, 2012, and 2015 (Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde do Escolar—PeNSE). The population was comprised of ninth-grade public and private schools students from Brazilian capitals. Physical activity and sedentary behavior variables were combined to create the outcome of simultaneity of these risk factors. Results: A large proportion of students were simultaneously inactive and sedentary in the 3 surveys. However, it was possible to observe a downward trend (2009: 56.4%; 95% confidence interval, 55.7–57.1; 2012: 53.7%; 95% confidence interval, 53.0–54.4; 2015: 51.9%; 95% confidence interval, 51.2–52.7). In 2015, estimates of physical inactivity and sedentary behavior simultaneity were greater than 48% for 20 out of 27 of the Brazilian states. Significant declining trends were observed among mideast residents, females, nonwhite, and those attending private schools. Only around 5%–7% of the adolescents were both active and nonsedentary in the 3 surveys. Conclusion: Despite of a slight decreasing trend in the proportion of Brazilian students simultaneously inactive and sedentary throughout the period, the prevalence remained elevated across the surveys.
Effects of Mental Fatigue on Physical Endurance Performance and Muscle Activation Are Attenuated by Monetary Incentives
Authors: Brown Denver M.Y. , Bray Steven R.
Published: February 2018

Physical performance is impaired following cognitive control exertion. Incentives can ameliorate adverse carryover effects of cognitive control exertion but have not been investigated for physical endurance. This study examined the effect of monetary incentives on physical performance and muscle activation following exposure to a mentally fatiguing, cognitive control task. Participants (N = 82) performed two isometric endurance handgrip trials separated by a 12-min cognitive control manipulation using a 2 (high cognitive control [HCC]/low cognitive control [LCC]) × 2 (incentive/no incentive) design. Mental fatigue was significantly higher in the HCC conditions. Performance decreased in the HCC/no incentive condition but was unaffected in the HCC/incentive condition, which did not differ from the low cognitive control conditions. Electromyography data revealed increased muscle activation in the HCC/no incentive condition, which was also attenuated in the HCC/incentive condition. Findings show that incentives counteract the negative effects of HCC on physical endurance and alter central drive to motor units.
Fractal Dynamics, Variability, and Coordination in Human Locomotion
Authors: Ducharme Scott W. , van Emmerik Richard E.A.
Published: February 2018

In human locomotion, the magnitude of gait variability is a strong predictor of fall risk and frailty due to aging and disease. Beyond variability magnitude, the past two decades have provided emerging alternative methodologies for studying biological variability. Specifically, coordination variability has been found to be critically important within a healthy, adaptive system. While many activities aim to minimize end-point variability, greater coordination variability indicates a more flexible system, and is greater in experts compared to novices, or healthy compared to diseased individuals. Finally, variability structure (i.e., fractal dynamics) may describe the overall adaptive capacity of the locomotor system. We provide empirical support that fractal dynamics are associated with step length symmetry during challenging split-belt treadmill walking. Individuals whose fractal scaling approached 1/f fractal scaling during constrained walking also exhibited the best gait adaptability performance. Importantly, this relation between fractality and gait adaptability was not observed in unperturbed preferred speed walking.
The Past and Future of Clock-Like Timing in Motor Performance
Authors: Zelaznik Howard N.
Published: February 2018

Over the past 18 years, Zelaznik and colleagues have promoted what is known as the event-emergent timing distinction. According to this framework, control of timing can be based upon a neurological clock-like process or upon an emergent process. I review the highlights of this research program that supports this distinction, then describe a new line of research that examines whether timing is a goal of the task or a consequence of other movement constraints. These results highlight the importance of goals in the control of timing.
Phylogenetic Evidence for the Existence of Multiple Strains of Rickettsia parkeri in the New World
Authors: Nieri-Bastos Fernanda A. , Marcili Arlei , De Sousa Rita , Paddock Christopher D. , Labruna Marcelo B.
Published: February 2018

The bacterium
Rickettsia parkeri
has been reported to infect ticks of the “
Amblyomma maculatum
species complex” in the New World, where it causes spotted fever illness in humans. In South America, three additional rickettsial strains, namely, Atlantic rainforest, NOD, and Parvitarsum, have been isolated from the ticks
Amblyomma ovale
,
Amblyomma nodosum
, and
Amblyomma parvitarsum
, respectively. These three strains are phylogenetically closely related to
R. parkeri
,
Rickettsia africae
, and
Rickettsia sibirica
. Herein, we performed a robust phylogenetic analysis encompassing 5 genes (
gltA
,
ompA
,
virB4
,
dnaA
, and
dnaK
) and 3 intergenic spacers (
mppE-pur
,
rrl-rrf
-ITS, and
rpmE
-tRNA
fMet
) from 41 rickettsial isolates, including different isolates of
R. parkeri
,
R. africae
,
R. sibirica
,
Rickettsia conorii
, and strains Atlantic rainforest, NOD, and Parvitarsum. In our phylogenetic analyses, all New World isolates grouped in a major clade distinct from the Old World
Rickettsia
species (
R. conorii
,
R. sibirica
, and
R. africae
). This New World clade was subdivided into the following 4 clades: the
R. parkeri
sensu stricto
clade, comprising the type strain Maculatum 20 and all other isolates of
R. parkeri
from North and South America, associated with ticks of the
A. maculatum
species complex; the strain NOD clade, comprising two South American isolates from
A. nodosum
ticks; the Parvitarsum clade, comprising two South American isolates from
A. parvitarsum
ticks; and the strain Atlantic rainforest clade, comprising six South American isolates from the
A. ovale
species complex (
A. ovale
or
Amblyomma aureolatum
). Under such evidences, we propose that strains Atlantic rainforest, NOD, and Parvitarsum are South American strains of
R. parkeri
.

IMPORTANCE
Since the description of
Rickettsia parkeri
infecting ticks of the “
Amblyomma maculatum
species complex” and humans in the New World, three novel phylogenetic close-related rickettsial isolates were reported in South America. Herein, we provide genetic evidence that these novel isolates, namely, strains Atlantic rainforest, NOD, and Parvitarsum, are South American strains of
R. parkeri.
Interestingly, each of these
R. parkeri
strains seems to be primarily associated with a tick species group, namely,
R. parkeri
sensu stricto
with the “
Amblyomma maculatum
species group,”
R. parkeri
strain NOD with
Amblyomma nodosum
,
R. parkeri
strain Parvitarsum with
Amblyomma parvitarsum
, and
R. parkeri
strain Atlantic rainforest with the “
Amblyomma ovale
species group.” Such rickettsial strain-tick species specificity suggests a coevolution of each tick-strain association. Finally, because
R. parkeri
sensu stricto
and
R. parkeri
strain Atlantic rainforest are human pathogens, the potential of
R. parkeri
strains NOD and Parvitarsum to be human pathogens cannot be discarded.
Factors predicting the success of trabeculectomy bleb enhancement with needling
Authors: Than Jonathan Y-X L , Al-Mugheiry Toby S , Gale Jesse , Martin Keith R
Published: February 2018

Background

Bleb needling is widely used to restore flow and lower intraocular pressure (IOP) in a failing trabeculectomy. We aimed to measure the safety and efficacy of needling in a large cohort and identify factors that were associated with success and failure.

Methods

This retrospective audit included all patients who underwent needling at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge over a 10-year period. Data were available on 91 patients (98% of patients identified), including 191 needlings on 96 eyes. Success was defined as IOP below 21 mm Hg or 16 mm Hg or 13 mm Hg consistently, without reoperation or glaucoma medication. Risk factors for failure were assessed by Cox proportional hazard regression and Kaplan-Meier curves.

Results

Success defined as IOP <16 mm Hg was 66.6% at 12 months and 53% at 3 years and success defined as IOP <21 mm Hg was 77.1% at 12 months and 73.1% at 3 years. Failure after needling was most common in the first 6 months. Factors that predicted failure were flat or fibrotic blebs (non-functional) and no longer injected, while success was predicted by achieving a low IOP immediately after needling. No significant complications were identified.

Conclusion

Needling was most successful soon after trabeculectomy, but resuscitation of a long-failed trabeculectomy had lower likelihood of success. The safety and efficacy compare favourably with alternative treatment approaches.
Prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium in different population groups: systematic review andmeta-analysis
Authors: Baumann Lukas , Cina Manuel , Egli-Gany Dianne , Goutaki Myrofora , Halbeisen Florian S , Lohrer Gian-Reto , Ali Hammad , Scott Pippa , Low Nicola
Published: February 2018

Background

Mycoplasma genitalium is a common cause of non-gonococcal non-chlamydial urethritis and cervicitis. Testing of asymptomatic populations has been proposed, but prevalence in asymptomatic populations is not well established. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of M. genitalium in the general population, pregnant women, men who have sex with men (MSM), commercial sex workers (CSWs) and clinic-based samples,

Methods

We searched Embase, Medline, IndMED, African Index Medicus and LILACS from 1 January 1991 to 12 July 2016 without language restrictions. We included studies with 500 participants or more. Two reviewers independently screened and selected studies and extracted data. We examined forest plots and conducted random-effects meta-analysis to estimate prevalence, if appropriate. Between-study heterogeneity was examined using the I2 statistic and meta-regression.

Results

Of 3316 screened records, 63 were included. In randomly selected samples from the general population, the summary prevalence was 1.3% (95% CI 1.0% to 1.8%, I2 41.5%, three studies, 9091 people) in countries with higher levels of development and 3.9% (95% CI 2.2 to 6.7, I2 89.2%, three studies, 3809 people) in countries with lower levels. Prevalence was similar in women and men (P=0.47). In clinic based samples, prevalence estimates were higher, except in asymptomatic patients (0.8%, 95% CI 0.4 to 1.4, I2 0.0%, three studies, 2889 people). Summary prevalence estimates were, in the following groups: pregnant women 0.9% (95% CI 0.6% to 1.4%, I2 0%, four studies, 3472 people), MSM in the community 3.2% (95% CI 2.1 to 5.1, I2 78.3%, five studies, 3012 people) and female CSWs in the community 15.9% (95% CI 13.5 to 18.9, I2 79.9%, four studies, 4006 people).

Discussion

This systematic review can inform testing guidelines for M. genitalium. The low estimated prevalence of M. genitalium in the general population, pregnant women and asymptomatic attenders at clinics does not support expansion of testing to these groups.

Registration numbers

PROSPERO: CRD42015020420
Long-term directional trajectories among lake crustacean zooplankton communities and water chemistry
Authors: Lamothe Karl A. , Jackson Donald A. , Somers Keith M.
Published: February 2018

Understanding community responses to disturbance is a long-standing challenge in ecology and will remain a critical issue as human activity continues to alter environmental conditions. This is particularly concerning for freshwater communities, which are often subject to the effects of multiple disturbances on the landscape. With crustacean zooplankton community composition data and associated water chemistry from 19 Ontario lakes, we quantify the relative magnitude and directionality of change over three decades using distances in multivariate ordinations. The data span a gradient of impact from minimally disturbed reference lakes to lakes with known impacts from experimental acidification trials, atmospheric acidification, and regional land-use changes. Most communities exhibited changes from historical conditions, including previously described reference systems. Zooplankton communities in experimentally acidified lakes showed gradual, directional patterns with a return to historical conditions postmanipulation, but have since deviated again from historical conditions. Most zooplankton communities in atmospherically acidified lakes showed gradual, directional trajectories over time. Overall, our results demonstrate that zooplankton communities are changing among both minimally disturbed lake systems and lakes known to be impacted by human activities.
Hybrid anomaly and gravity mediation for electroweak supersymmetry
Authors: Zhu Bin , Ding Ran , Li Tianjun
Published: February 2018

In this paper, we propose a hybrid mediation and hybrid supersymmetry breaking. In particular, the RG-invariant anomaly mediation is considered. Together with additional gravity mediation, the slepton tachyon problem of anomaly mediation is solved automatically. The special properties are that all color sparticles masses fall into several TeV regions due to the large [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] which are well beyond the scope of current LHC Run II limits. Unlike the gauge mediation, the dark matter candidate is still the lightest neutralino and the correct dark matter relic density can be realized within the framework of mixed axion-Wino dark matter. Due to the existence of multi-component axion-Wino dark matter, the direct detection cross-section is suppressed to evade the tightest LUX, PandaX bound.
Interdependence between electrical and magnetic properties of polycrystalline cobalt-substituted tungsten bronze multiferroic ceramics
Authors: Jindal Shilpi , Devi Sheela , Vasishth Ajay , Batoo Khalid Mujasam , Kumar Gagan
Published: February 2018

Polycrystalline cobalt-substituted tungsten bronze ferroelectric ceramics with chemical composition Ba5CaTi[Formula: see text]CoXNb8O[Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text], 0.02, 0.04 and 0.08) were synthesized by solid state reaction technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique was used to confirm the phase formation and it revealed the formation of single phase tetragonal structure with space group P4bm. The surface morphology of the samples was studied by using the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. The dielectric properties such as dielectric constant and dielectric loss have been investigated as a function of temperature and frequency. The [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] studies confirmed the coexistent of ferroelectricity and magnetism at room temperature. The [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] loop study indicated an increase in the coercive field while the [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] study depicted a decrease in the magnetization with the incorporation of cobalt ions.
Are We There Yet? IPv6 in Australia and China
Authors: Zander Sebastian , Wang Xuequn
Published: February 2018

IP (Internet Protocol) version 6 (IPv6) was standardised in 1998 to address the expected runout of IP version 4 (IPv4) addresses. However, the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 has been very slow in many countries. We investigate the state of IPv6 deployment in Australian and Chinese organisations based on a survey of organisations’ IT staff. Compared to earlier studies, IPv6 deployment has advanced markedly, but it is still years away for a significant portion of organisations. We provide insights into the deployment problems, arguments for deploying IPv6, and how to speed up the transition, which are relevant for many countries.
Discovering Discontinuity in Big Financial Transaction Data
Authors: Tuarob Suppawong , Strong Ray , Chandra Anca , Tucker Conrad S.
Published: February 2018

Business transactions are typically recorded in the company ledger. The primary purpose of such financial information is to accompany a monthly or quarterly report for executives to make sound business decisions and strategies for the next business period. These business strategies often result in transitions that cause underlying infrastructures and components to change, including alteration in the nomenclature system of the business components. As a result, a transaction stream of an affected component would be replaced by another stream with a different component name, resulting in discontinuity of a financial stream of the same component. Recently, advancement in large-scale data mining technologies has enabled a set of critical applications to utilize knowledge extracted from a vast amount of existing data that would otherwise have been unused or underutilized. In financial and services computing domains, recent studies have illustrated that historical financial data could be used to predict future revenues and profits, optimizing costs, among other potential applications. These prediction models rely on long-term availability of the historical data that traces back for multiple years. However, the discontinuity of the financial transaction stream associated with a business component has limited the learning capability of the prediction models. In this article, we propose a set of machine learning–based algorithms to automatically discover component name replacements, using information available in general ledger databases. The algorithms are designed to be scalable for handling massive data points, especially in large companies. Furthermore, the proposed algorithms are generalizable to other domains whose data is time series and shares the same nature as the financial data available in business ledgers. A case study of real-world IBM service delivery retrieved from four different geographical regions is used to validate the efficacy of the proposed methodology.
Finite Satisfiability of the Two-Variable Guarded Fragment with Transitive Guards and Related Variants
Authors: Kieroński Emanuel , Tendera Lidia
Published: February 2018

We consider extensions of the two-variable guarded fragment, GF
2
, where distinguished binary predicates that occur only in guards are required to be interpreted in a special way (as transitive relations, equivalence relations, preorders, or partial orders). We prove that the only fragment that retains the finite (exponential) model property is GF
2
with
equivalence guards
without equality. For remaining fragments, we show that the size of a minimal finite model is at most doubly exponential. To obtain the result, we invent a strategy of building finite models that are formed from a number of multidimensional grids placed over a cylindrical surface. The construction yields a 2-NE
xp
T
ime
upper bound on the complexity of the finite satisfiability problem for these fragments. We improve the bounds and obtain optimal ones for all the fragments considered, in particular NE
xp
T
ime
for GF
2
with equivalence guards, and 2-E
xp
T
ime
for GF
2
with
transitive guards
. To obtain our results, we essentially use some results from integer programming.
Coronary microvascular dysfunction in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Dryer Kathryn , Gajjar Mark , Narang Nikhil , Lee Margaret , Paul Jonathan , Shah Atman P. , Nathan Sandeep , Butler Javed , Davidson Charles J. , Fearon William F. , Shah Sanjiv J. , Blair John E. A.
Published: February 2018

There are multiple proposed mechanisms for the pathophysiology of heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). We hypothesized that coronary microvascular dysfunction is common in these patients. In a prospective, observational study, patients undergoing cardiac catheterization with HFpEF [left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction ≥ 50% and with clinical HF] were compared with similar patients without HFpEF. Patients with ≥50% stenosis were excluded, and coronary flow reserve (CFR) and the index of microvascular resistance (IMR) were measured after adenosine administration using a guidewire, with CFR ≤ 2 and IMR ≥ 23 being abnormal. Baseline characteristics and CFR and IMR were compared in 30 HFpEF patients and 14 control subjects. Compared with control subjects, HFpEF patients were older (65.4 ± 9.6 vs. 55.1 ± 3.1 yr, P < 0.01), had higher numbers of comorbidities (4.4 ± 1.5 vs. 2.6 ± 1.9, P = 0.002), had higher median B-type natriuretic peptide [161 (interquartile range: 75–511) pg/dl vs. 37 (interquartile range: 18.5–111) pg/dl, P < 0.01], and had higher LV end-diastolic pressure (17.8 ± 4.2 vs. 8.4 ± 4.2, P < 0.01). HFpEF patients had lower CFR (2.55 ± 1.60 vs. 3.84 ± 1.89, P = 0.024) and higher IMR (26.7 ± 10.3 vs. 19.7 ± 9.7 units, P = 0.037) than control subjects. Most (71.4%) control subjects had normal coronary physiology, whereas 36.7% of HFpEF patients had both abnormal CFR and IMR and another 36.7% had either abnormal CFR or IMR. In conclusion, this is the first study that has reported invasively determined CFR and IMR in HFpEF patients. We demonstrated the presence of four distinct coronary physiology groups in HFpEF patients. Investigation into the potential mechanisms for these findings is needed.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY In this prospective observational study of patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), we found that patients with HFpEF had more abnormalities of coronary flow and resistance than asymptomatic control patients, indicating that coronary microvascular dysfunction may play a role in the HFpEF disease process.
Mitotic Phosphorylation of SENP3 Regulates DeSUMOylation of Chromosome-Associated Proteins and Chromosome Stability
Authors: Wei Bo , Huang Chao , Liu Bin , Wang Yang , Xia Nansong , Fan Qiuju , Chen Guo-Qiang , Cheng Jinke
Published: February 2018

Progression of mitotic cell cycle and chromosome condensation and segregation are controlled by posttranslational protein modifications such as phosphorylation and SUMOylation. However, how SUMO isopeptidases (SENP) regulate cell mitotic procession is largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that precise phosphorylation of SENP3 during mitosis suppresses SENP3 deSUMOylation activity towards chromosome-associated proteins, including topoisomerase IIα (TopoIIα). Cyclin B-dependent kinases 1 and protein phosphatase 1α were identified as the kinase and phosphatase in control of mitotic SENP3 phosphorylation, respectively. SENP3 phosphorylation decreased its interaction with TopoIIα, resulting in reduced SENP3 deSUMOylation activity on TopoIIα. Furthermore, we observed mitotic arrest, increased chromosome instability, and promotion of tumorigenesis in cells expressing a nonphosphorylatable SENP3 mutant. These data show that SENP3 phosphorylation plays a crucial role in regulating the SUMOylation of chromosome-associated proteins and chromosome stability in mitosis.

Significance: Phosphorylation of SENP3 regulates SUMOylation of chromosome-associated proteins to maintain genomic stability during mitosis. Cancer Res; 78(9); 2171–8. ©2018 AACR.
Determination of Cardiac Output in Pulmonary Hypertension Using Impedance Cardiography
Authors: Dupuis Marion , Noel-Savina Elise , Prévot Gregoire , Tétu Laurent , Pillard Fabien , Rivière Daniel , Didier Alain
Published: February 2018

Background: Cardiac output (CO) is a prognostic factor in pulmonary hypertension (PH). Right heart catheterisation using the direct Fick method or thermodilution (TD) is the reference technique for CO measurement. Impedance cardiography (IPc) is a known non-invasive method of measuring CO. Objectives: In our study, we assume that the measurement of CO by IPc using the PHYSIOFLOW® system is as accurate as TD or using the direct Fick method in patients with PH in group 1 or group 4. Methods: A total of 75 patients were enrolled in a prospective study carried out at the hypertension reference centre of Toulouse University Hospital. Right heart catheterisation was performed for the diagnosis or follow-up of the disease. CO was measured using the Fick method, TD, and IPc simultaneously. A Bland-Altman analysis was plotted. Results: CO was 5.7 ± 1.9 L/min as measured by the Fick method, 5.4 ± 1.5 L/min by TD, and 5.5 ± 1.7 L/min by IPc. The bias between CO measurements by IPc and the direct Fick method was 0.149 L/min (95% CI, –0.298 to 0.596). The bias between CO measurements by IPc and the TD method was –0.153 L/min (95% CI, –0.450 to 0.153). The correlation decreased with the more extreme CO values (< 3 L/min or > 7 L/min). A few factors changed the agreement between measurements (BMI or membership in group 4). Conclusion: To conclude, this study shows that the measurement of CO by IPc in PH patients is reliable compared to the direct Fick method and TD obtained by right heart catheterisation. This accuracy decreases for extreme CO values.
A Case of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Unknown Primary that Responded to the Multi-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Lenvatinib
Authors: Kimura-Tsuchiya Reiko , Sasaki Eisaku , Nakamura Izumi , Suzuki Satoshi , Kawana Satoshi , Okouchi Chiyo , Fukushima Toshihiko , Hashimoto Yuko , Suzuki Shinichi , Saji Shigehira
Published: February 2018

Lenvatinib is an oral tyrosine kinase inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors 1, 2, and 3, fibroblast growth factor receptors 1 through 4, as well as platelet-derived growth factor receptor α, RET, and KIT. At present, lenvatinib is used in the treatment of thyroid cancer and renal cell carcinoma. We herein report a case of a 67-year-old patient with squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary who was effectively treated with lenvatinib. The patient was initially diagnosed as having undifferentiated thyroid cancer, and after total thyroidectomy and bilateral lymph node dissection, lenvatinib was administered for the treatment of residual lymph node metastasis. A computed tomography scan after 1 month of lenvatinib administration showed marked regression of the lymph nodes, but interstitial pneumonia was also detected. Because the drug lymphocyte stimulation test for lenvatinib was strongly positive, we concluded that the interstitial pneumonia was induced by lenvatinib. The interstitial pneumonia only improved by the withdrawal of lenvatinib. Finally, his thyroid tumor was diagnosed as a metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma; however, we were unable to identify the primary lesion. This is the first reported case of interstitial pneumonia induced by lenvatinib.