bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Suppression of homeostatic gene expression and increased expression of metabolism-related genes are early features of glaucoma in optic nerve head microglia
Authors: Tribble James R , Harder Jeffrey M , Williams Pete A , John Simon W M
Published: November 2019

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss. Ocular hypertension is a major risk factor for glaucoma and recent work has demonstrated critical early neuroinflammatory insults occur in the optic nerve head following ocular hypertension. Microglia and infiltrating monocytes are likely candidates to drive these neuroinflammatory insults. However, the exact molecular identity / transcriptomic profile of microglia early following ocular hypertensive insults is unknown. To elucidate the molecular identity of microglia during early glaucoma pathogenesis, we performed RNA-sequencing of microglia mRNA from the optic nerve head of a genetic mouse model of glaucoma (DBA/2J) at a time point following ocular hypertensive insults, but preceding detectable neurodegeneration (with microglia identified as being CD45lo/CD11b+/CD11c−). Furthermore, RNA-sequencing was performed on optic nerve head microglia from mice treated with radiation therapy, a potent therapy preventing neuroinflammatory insults. Transcriptomic profiling of optic nerve head microglia mRNA identifies early metabolic priming with marked changes in mitochondrial gene expression, and changes to phagocytosis, inflammatory, and sensome pathways. The data predict that many functions of microglia that help maintain tissue homeostasis are affected. Comparative analysis of these data with data from previously published whole optic nerve head tissue or monocyte-only samples from DBA/2J mice demonstrate that many of the neuroinflammatory signatures in these data sets arise from infiltrating monocytes and not reactive microglia. Finally, our data demonstrate that radiation therapy of DBA/2J mice potently abolishes these microglia metabolic transcriptomic changes at the same time points. Together, our data provide a unique resource for the community to help drive further hypothesis generation and testing in glaucoma.
Visual Cell Sorting: A High-throughput, Microscope-based Method to Dissect Cellular Heterogeneity
Authors: Hasle Nicholas , Cooke Anthony , Srivatsan Sanjay , Huang Heather , Stephany Jason J. , Krieger Zachary , Jackson Dana , Tang Weiliang , Pendyala Sriram , Monnat Raymond J. , Trapnell Cole , Hatch Emily M. , Fowler Douglas M.
Published: November 2019

Microscopy is a powerful tool for characterizing complex cellular phenotypes, but linking these phenotypes to genotype or RNA expression at scale remains challenging. Here, we present Visual Cell Sorting, a method that physically separates hundreds of thousands of live cells based on their visual phenotype. Visual Cell Sorting uses automated imaging and phenotypic analysis to direct selective illumination of Dendra2, a photoconvertible fluorescent protein expressed in live cells; these photoactivated cells are then isolated using fluorescence-activated cell sorting. First, we use Visual Cell Sorting to assess the effect of hundreds of nuclear localization sequence variants in a pooled format, identifying variants that improve nuclear localization and enabling annotation of nuclear localization sequences in thousands of human proteins. Second, we use Visual Cell Sorting to recover cells that retain normal nuclear morphologies after paclitaxel treatment, then derive their single cell transcriptomes to identify multiple pathways associated with paclitaxel resistance in human cancers. Unlike alternative methods, Visual Cell Sorting depends on inexpensive reagents and commercially available hardware. As such, it can be readily deployed to uncover the relationships between visual cellular phenotypes and internal states, including genotypes and gene expression programs.
Transcriptional regulatory network controlling the ontogeny of hematopoietic stem cells
Authors: Gao Peng , Chen Changya , Howell Elizabeth D. , Li Yan , Tober Joanna , Uzun Yasin , He Bing , Gao Long , Zhu Qin , Siekmann Arndt , Speck Nancy A. , Tan Kai
Published: November 2019

Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) ontogeny is accompanied by dynamic changes in gene regulatory networks. We performed RNA-Seq and histone mark ChIP-Seq to define the transcriptomes and epigenomes of cells representing key developmental stages of HSC ontogeny in the mouse. The five populations analyzed were embryonic day 10.5 (E10.5) endothelium and hemogenic endothelium from the major arteries (dorsal aorta, umbilical and vitelline), an enriched population of pre-hematopoietic stem cells (pre-HSCs), fetal liver HSCs, and adult bone marrow HSCs. We observed dynamic and combinatorial epigenetic changes that mark regulatory DNA sequences including gene promoters and enhancers. Using epigenetic signatures, we identified enhancers for each developmental stage. Only 12% of enhancers are primed, and 78% are active, suggesting the vast majority of enhancers are establishedde novoat the developmental stages where they are required to control their target genes, without prior priming in earlier stages. We constructed developmental-stage-specific transcriptional regulatory networks during HSC ontogeny by linking enhancers and predicted bound transcription factors to their target promoters using a novel computational algorithm. Our computational analyses predicted known transcriptional regulators for the endothelial-to-hematopoietic transition, validating our overall approach, and identified putative novel transcription factors whose regulon activities correlate with the emergence of pre-HSCs. We validated roles for the broadly expressed transcription factors SP3 and MAZ in arterial hemogenic endothelium. Our data and computational analyses provide a useful resource for uncovering regulators of HSC formation.
RADA is a main branch migration factor in plant mitochondrial recombination and its defect leads to mtDNA instability and cell cycle arrest
Authors: Chevigny Nicolas , Weber-Lotfi Frédérique , Nadiras Cédric , Fertet Arnaud , Le Ret Monique , Bichara Marc , Erhardt Mathieu , Dietrich André , Raynaud Cécile , Gualberto José M.
Published: November 2019

The mitochondria of flowering plants have large and complex genomes whose structure and segregation are modulated by recombination activities. The late steps of mitochondrial recombination are still poorly characterized: while the loss of mitochondrial recombination is not viable, a deficiency in RECG1-dependent branch migration has little impact on plant development, implying the existence of alternative pathways. Here we present RADA, an ortholog of bacterial RadA/Sms, which is required for the processing of organellar recombination intermediates. While bacterial RadA is dispensable, RADA-deficient plants are severely impacted in their development and fertility, correlating with increased mtDNA ectopic recombination and replication of recombination-generated subgenomes. The radA mutation is epistatic to recG1, indicating that RADA drives the main branch migration pathway of plant mitochondria. In contrast, the double mutation radA recA3 is lethal, underlining the importance of an alternative RECA3-dependent pathway. Although RADA is dually targeted to mitochondria and chloroplasts, we found little to no effects of radA on the stability of the plastidial genome. The stunted growth of radA mutants could not be correlated with obvious defects in mitochondrial gene expression. Rather, it seems that is partially caused by a retrograde signal that activates nuclear genes repressing cell cycle progression.
Behavioral signatures of a developing neural code
Authors: Avitan Lilach , Pujic Zac , Mölter Jan , McCullough Michael , Zhu Shuyu , Sun Biao , Myhre Ann-Elin , Goodhill Geoffrey J
Published: November 2019

During early life neural codes must develop to appropriately transform sensory inputs into behavioral outputs. Here we demonstrate a direct link between the maturity of neural coding in the visual brain and developmental changes in visually-guided behavior. In zebrafish larvae we show that visually-driven hunting behavior improves from 4 to 15 days post-fertilization, becoming faster and more accurate. During the same period population activity in the optic tectum refines, leading to improved decoding and information transmission of spatial position, particularly in the representation of the frontal visual field. Remarkably, individual differences in decoding can predict each fish’s hunting success. Together these results show how the neural codes required to subserve a natural behavior emerge during development.
Profiling of chromatin accessibility across Aspergillus species and identification of transcription factor binding sites in the Aspergillus genome using filamentous fungi ATAC-seq
Authors: Huang Lianggang , Li Xuejie , Dong Liangbo , Wang Bin , Pan Li
Published: November 2019

To identify cis-regulatory elements (CREs) and motifs of TF binding is an important step in understanding the regulatory functions of TF binding and gene expression. The lack of experimentally determined and computationally inferred data means that the genome-wide CREs and TF binding sites (TFBs) in filamentous fungi remain unknown. ATAC-seq is a technique that provides a high-resolution measurement of chromatin accessibility to Tn5 transposase integration. In filamentous fungi, the existence of cell walls and the difficulty in purifying nuclei have prevented the routine application of this technique. Herein, we modified the ATAC-seq protocol in filamentous fungi to identify and map open chromatin and TF-binding sites on a genome-scale. We applied the assay for ATAC-seq among different Aspergillus species, during different culture conditions, and among TF-deficient strains to delineate open chromatin regions and TFBs across each genome. The syntenic orthologues regions and differential changes regions of chromatin accessibility were responsible for functional conservative regulatory elements and differential gene expression in the Aspergillus genome respectively. Importantly, 17 and 15 novel transcription factor binding motifs that were enriched in the genomic footprints identified from ATAC-seq data of A. niger, were verified in vivo by our artificial synthetic minimal promoter system, respectively. Furthermore, we first confirmed the strand-specific patterns of Tn5 transposase around the binding sites of known TFs by comparing ATAC-seq data of TF-deficient strains with the data from a wild-type strain.
Intermediate-resolution crystal structure of the human adenovirus B serotype 3 fibre knob in complex with the EC2-EC3 fragment of desmoglein 2
Authors: Vassal-Stermann Emilie , Hutin Stephanie , Fender Pascal , Burmeister Wim P.
Published: November 2019

The cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure of the complex between the trimeric human adenovirus B serotype 3 fibre knob and human desmoglein 2 fragments containing cadherin domains EC2 and EC3 has been published, showing 3:1 and 3:2 complexes. Here, the crystal structure determined at 4.5 Å resolution is presented with one EC2-EC3 desmoglein fragment bound per fibre knob monomer in the asymmetric unit, leading to an apparent 3:3 stoichiometry. However, in concentrated solution the 3:2 complex is predominant, as shown by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), while cryo-EM at lower concentrations showed a majority of the 3:1 complex. Substitution of the calcium ions bound to the desmoglein domains by terbium ions allowed confirmation of the X-ray model using their anomalous scattering and shows that at least one binding site per cluster of calcium ions is intact and exchangeable and, combined with SAXS data, that the cadherin domains are folded even in the distal part that is invisible in the cryo-EM reconstruction.
Bringing terroir back to the roots? A methodological proposal for studying local food products
Authors: Garçon Lucile
Published: November 2019

Purpose

In line with various scientific papers warning against an inconsistent use of this adjective for food qualification, the purpose of this paper is to point out the sweeping assertion that “local” equates to “ecological”.

Design/methodology/approach

Looking beyond the measurement of carbon emissions to assess impacts on the environment, this paper addresses ecological issues in terms of interactions with the environment. To this end, it enhances an under-the-skin approach that goes through “local” fruit and vegetables to look into seed management and plant breeding practices.

Findings

This method, tested with 2 vegetative species – apple and potato – on 12 case studies in Europe, allows to build a typology that discriminates between: producing food without reproducing plants, grafting trees and storing tubers for maintaining landraces, and sowing seeds to restart the breeding process from the early beginning, trying in this way to enhance the capacity of plants to better fit with their environment. The typology matches a gradient that describes various degrees of intensity of environment–society relationships, from disconnection to adaptation – conceived on the one hand as already stabilized and on the other hand as still evolving.

Research limitations/implications

This analytical framework sheds light on contradictions that many local food networks have to face while yearning for a recognition by a geographical indication.

Originality/value

The paper argues that vegetal material might be a fruitful research object for tracking the controversies that unfold along the construction of local food products. It discusses social constructivist approaches of terroir while advocating for a materialist approach.
Political CSR initiatives as levers of marginalisation: the disconnect between representatives and the so-called represented in the mining industry
Authors: Roussey Clara , Balas Nicolas , Palpacuer Florence
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The transformative potential of CSR is a far-reaching question. It has been analysed through the lens of the inclusion of stakeholders concerned by social and environmental issues in political CSR fora such as multi-stakeholder initiatives or, on the contrary, their exclusion from these processes. This paper aims to highlight the transformation or status quo produced by political corporate social responsibility (PCSR) initiatives, the extent of transformation being a function of the degree of inclusiveness, or conversely of exclusion, of these initiatives. From a promise of inclusion to the inability of corporate-society fora to act on the actual levers of marginalisation, PCSR scholars have developed contrasted views on these initiatives.

Design/methodology/approach

This led us to elaborate a hypothesis that such initiatives intrinsically act as levers in the recurring marginalisation of directly affected stakeholders. Drawing on an empirical study of the CSR discourses of mining industry stakeholders – both corporations and civil society – involved in an informal multi-stakeholder initiative, this paper discusses the disconnect between its representatives and the needs of the directly affected stakeholders.

Findings

To explore this disconnect, the authors draw on the voices and causes framework developed by Boltanski et al. (1984), which provided us with a relational system involving victims, guilty parties, complainants and judges.

Originality/value

Accordingly, the authors highlight a set of three interrelated marginalisation mechanisms (i.e. the capture of the role of the judge by PCSR initiatives, the side-lining of victims’ needs by complainants, the intertwining of the guilty party and the judge), which empirically support the lack-of-inclusiveness hypothesis.
Entertain me, I’ll stay longer! The influence of types of entertainment on mall shoppers' emotions and behavior
Authors: Elmashhara Maher Georges , Soares Ana Maria
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a broader typology and inventory of recreational facilities and activities in shopping malls. The paper then investigates the relation between the proposed entertainment types and shopper behavior both directly and indirectly by considering the mediation of shopper emotional states.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey-based study with a sample size of 484 mall shoppers is used to test the proposed model.

Findings

The results indicate that permanent entertainment predicts shopper satisfaction directly and indirectly when considering the emotional state of pleasure as a mediator. Moreover, findings indicate that permanent entertainment indirectly influences the desire to stay at the mall through pleasure and arousal. In addition, pleasure mediates the relation of temporary and special event entertainment with satisfaction and the desire to stay at the mall.

Practical implications

This study adds to a better understanding of the role of entertainment types in shopping malls. The study also reveals how each type of entertainment can enhance different emotions and behaviors. Practical suggestions to this end are offered.

Originality/value

There is a lack of studies taking into consideration the different types of entertainment in shopping malls. This study is among the first to examine the effects of each entertainment type on specific behavioral responses. Moreover, the study addresses the mediating role played by shoppers’ emotional states on the impact of entertainment types in satisfaction and desire to stay at the mall.
What drives green experiential loyalty towards green restaurants?
Authors: Wu Hung-Che , Cheng Ching-Chan , Ai Chi-Han
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use a multi-level model as a framework to examine the relationships among experiential quality, green emotional attachment, green image, green switching experience, green experiential satisfaction and green experiential loyalty for the green restaurant industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The data used in this study were based on a sample of 515 customers at a green restaurant in Taipei City of Taiwan. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression analysis.

Findings

The findings identify that interaction quality, peer-to-peer quality, physical environment quality, outcome quality, enjoyment quality and management quality influence experiential quality, which in turn results in green emotional attachment and green image respectively. Experiential quality, green image and green switching experience influence green experiential satisfaction, which in turn results in green emotional attachment. Green loyalty is influenced by green emotional attachment, green image, green experiential satisfaction and green switching experience. Green image moderates the relationships between experiential quality, physical environment quality and outcome quality.

Practical implications

To increase experiential quality and green emotional attachment, enhance green image, green experiential satisfaction and green loyalty and decrease green switching experience, the study findings will help green restaurant management develop and implement market-orientated service strategies.

Originality/value

This is the first study to investigate the effects of experiential quality, green emotional attachment, green image, green switching experience and green experiential satisfaction on green experiential loyalty in a green restaurant setting.
Performance management: a qualitative study of relational boundaries in personal assistance
Authors: Porter Tom , Shakespeare Tom , Stöckl Andrea
Published: November 2019

Personal assistance (PA) is a model of support where disabled people take control of recruiting, training and managing the people that support them. Personal assistance differs from other forms of care, such as domiciliary or informal care, because the disabled person is in control of how, when and by whom they are supported. With the advent of personal health budgets, PA is no longer limited to social care but is also central to future NHS services and funding arrangements. The aims of this study were to gain a deeper understanding of PA relationships, and to explore how both parties manage interpersonal challenges. We report on data from 58 qualitative interviews with disabled employers and personal assistants. Applying concepts from Goffman's (1959) scheme of impression management, we present an analysis of the relational dynamics that occur when two people cooperate in shared endeavours. Goffman's concepts of team members and non‐persons, in addition to the themes of regions and information control, aid a more fundamental understanding of the relational dynamics that occur between disabled employers and their PAs.
Taxonomic status of Chinese blue sheep (Pseudois nayaur): new evidence of a distinct subspecies
Authors: GAO Hui , LI Nannan , HUANG Yongjie , QIAO Fujie , LI Junle , LI Zongzhi , LI Yanxiang , WANG Zhenghuan , TENG Liwei , LIU Zhensheng
Published: November 2019

The blue sheep is an endemic species to the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau and surrounding regions. It has been regarded as having 2 subspecies: Pseudois nayaur nayaur and P. n. szechuanensis. However, such a classification remains controversial. Herein, we analyze 10 microsatellite loci and part of the mitochondrial control region for clarification in such taxonomic debates. We use samples from 168 individuals from 6 geographic populations covering almost all the distribution areas of the species in China to carry out comparisons. Phylogenetic trees derived from both the microsatellite and mitochondrial markers combined with the discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) and the STRUCTURE analysis reveal that the individuals in the Helan Mountains are well grouped with a distinct evolutionary lineage and are significantly different from the other populations of P. n. szechuanensis according to Fst values, implying that this isolated population should be categorized as a valid subspecies; namely, Pseudois nayaur alashanicus. The isolation‐by‐distance (IBD) analysis shows a significant positive relationship between genetic and geographical distances among the populations.
Berberine ameliorates cellular senescence and extends the lifespan of mice via regulating p16 and cyclin protein expression
Authors: Dang Yao , An Yongpan , He Jinzhao , Huang Boyue , Zhu Jie , Gao Miaomiao , Zhang Shun , Wang Xin , Yang Baoxue , Xie Zhengwei
Published: November 2019

Although aging and senescence have been extensively studied in the past few decades, however, there is lack of clinical treatment available for anti‐aging. This study presents the effects of berberine (BBR) on the aging process resulting in a promising extension of lifespan in model organisms. BBR extended the replicative lifespan, improved the morphology, and boosted rejuvenation markers of replicative senescence in human fetal lung diploid fibroblasts (2BS and WI38). BBR also rescued senescent cells with late population doubling (PD). Furthermore, the senescence‐associated β‐galactosidase (SA‐β‐gal)‐positive cell rates of late PD cells grown in the BBR‐containing medium were ~72% lower than those of control cells, and its morphology resembled that of young cells. Mechanistically, BBR improved cell growth and proliferation by promoting entry of cell cycles from the G0 or G1 phase to S/G2‐M phase. Most importantly, BBR extended the lifespan of chemotherapy‐treated mice and naturally aged mice by ~52% and ~16.49%, respectively. The residual lifespan of the naturally aged mice was extended by 80%, from 85.5 days to 154 days. The oral administration of BBR in mice resulted in significantly improved health span, fur density, and behavioral activity. Therefore, BBR may be an ideal candidate for the development of an anti‐aging medicine.
When to consider electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
Authors: Kellner C. H. , Obbels J. , Sienaert P.
Published: November 2019

Objective

To familiarize the reader with the role of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) in current psychiatric medicine.

Method

We review clinical indications for ECT, patient selection, contemporary ECT practice, maintenance treatment and ECT in major treatment guidelines.

Results

ECT is underutilized largely due to persisting stigma and lack of knowledge about modern ECT technique.

Conclusion

ECT remains a vital treatment for patients with severe mood disorders, psychotic illness and catatonia.
The complex TIE between macrophages and angiogenesis
Authors: Du Cheyne Charis , Tay Hanna , De Spiegelaere Ward
Published: November 2019

Macrophages are primarily known as phagocytic immune cells, but they also play a role in diverse processes, such as morphogenesis, homeostasis and regeneration. In this review, we discuss the influence of macrophages on angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation from the pre‐existing vasculature. Macrophages play crucial roles at each step of the angiogenic cascade, starting from new blood vessel sprouting to the remodelling of the vascular plexus and vessel maturation. Macrophages form promising targets for both pro‐ and anti‐angiogenic treatments. However, to target macrophages, we will first need to understand the mechanisms that control the functional plasticity of macrophages during each of the steps of the angiogenic cascade. Here, we review recent insights in this topic. Special attention will be given to the TIE2‐expressing macrophage (TEM), which is a subtype of highly angiogenic macrophages that is able to influence angiogenesis via the angiopoietin–TIE pathway.
Endotoxin‐induced changes in expression of cyclooxygenase isoforms in the lamellar tissue of extracorporeally haemoperfused equine limbs
Authors: Patan‐Zugaj Bianca , Egerbacher Monika , Licka Theresia F.
Published: November 2019

Angiogenesis and sepsis‐related equine laminitis have several features in common. Both events can be induced by endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide— LPS) and both are associated with increased expression of the enzyme cyclooxygenase (COX), of which two isoforms (COX‐1 and COX‐2) exist. To examine the causal relationship between LPS exposure and COX expression and to investigate the tissue distribution of COX in the LPS‐exposed tissue, the technique of extracorporeal haemoperfusion of isolated equine forelimbs was utilized. Perfusion was performed for 10 hr under physiological conditions (control‐perfused limbs,n = 5) and with addition of 80 ng/L of endotoxin (LPS‐perfused limbs;n = 5). After perfusion, samples of lamellar tissue were collected from the dorsal aspect of the hoof wall. Additional control samples were collected from three non‐perfused limbs. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using antibodies against COX‐1 and COX‐2, and intensity of immunohistochemical staining was scored for each isoform. In the lamellar tissue of control‐ and LPS‐perfused limbs, there was no significant difference in COX‐1 staining intensity and distribution, whereas COX‐2 expression was significantly increased in LPS‐perfused limbs (especially in endothelial cells, fibroblasts and intravasal leucocytes as well as in epidermal basal cells at the base of the primary epidermal lamellae). These results suggest that COX‐2 and its metabolites are involved in the initiation of pathological changes seen in sepsis‐associated events such as sepsis‐related laminitis. In such cases, COX‐2 could therefore be an important therapeutic target; however, early therapy may be required as increase in COX‐2 expression occurs within 10 hr after LPS exposure.
Systematic use of the serum C‐reactive protein concentration and computed tomography for the detection of intestinal anastomotic leaks
Authors: Ho Yiu Ming , Laycock Juliet , Kirubakaran Arangan , Hussain Labib , Clark Jeremy
Published: November 2019

Background

This study aimed to characterize the time‐dependent relationship between serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) and anastomotic integrity in the early post‐operative period and to develop a systematic use of CRP and computed tomography.

Methods

Patients aged 18 years or over who had the formation of a left‐sided colonic or a colorectal anastomosis, in Royal Sussex County Hospital, were included. The post‐operative day (POD) CRP cut‐off values were calculated according to receiver operating characteristic analysis to evaluate the sensitivities and specificities of the proposed cut‐off parameters.

Results

A total of 125 left‐sided colonic and colorectal anastomoses were recruited and analysed. When comparing to POD1 CRP cut‐off, the calculated CRP ratio cut‐off values of all the rest of PODs (2–5) were highly significant in the laparoscopic group and the overall group (P < 0.001). This statistically significant ratio was also demonstrated in the open group at POD2 (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

CRP and CRP ratios cut‐off values were sensitive to detect an anastomotic leak in the early post‐operative period. The cut‐off values could facilitate the development of systematic use of CRP and computed tomography.
Non‐obstetric abdominal surgery during pregnancy and birth outcomes: A Danish registry‐based cohort study
Authors: Rasmussen Anne S. , Christiansen Christian F. , Ulrichsen Sinna P. , Uldbjerg Niels , Nørgaard Mette
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Surgery during pregnancy may increase the risk of adverse birth outcomes. In this nationwide registry‐based cohort study including women aged 15‐54 years with singleton birth or miscarriage, we examined the association between non‐obstetric abdominal surgery during pregnancy and the birth outcomes small‐for‐gestational‐age (SGA), preterm birth, and miscarriage.

Material and methods

The study used data on births or miscarriages from the large national Danish registries in 1997‐2015. We calculated absolute risks and risk differences for the main outcomes and used Cox regression analysis with non‐obstetric abdominal surgery as a time‐varying exposure, adjusting for maternal age, year of last menstrual period, major abdominal surgery before pregnancy, maternal smoking status, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. Our main outcome measures were risks and hazard ratios (HRs) for SGA, very preterm or preterm birth, and miscarriage after gestational week 7 overall, stratified by calendar year, and, for SGA, trimester of pregnancy. Finally, absolute risk of miscarriage stratified by time since surgery.

Results

Absolute risks in surgically treated vs untreated were 3.4% vs 2.7% for SGA (adjusted HR 1.3, 95% CI 1.1‐1.5), 2.2% vs 0.8% for very preterm birth (adjusted HR 2.8, 95% CI 2.2‐3.5), 8.3% vs 4.3% for preterm birth (adjusted HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.9‐2.3), and 8.2% vs 6.1% for miscarriage (adjusted HR 3.1, 95% CI 2.7‐3.5). For miscarriage, the risk was highest the first week after surgery and levelled out after 2 weeks.

Conclusions

Surgery during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of SGA, very preterm birth, preterm birth and miscarriage, and the risk of miscarriage is highest the first week after surgery.
Ciliary muscle dimensions by swept‐source optical coherence tomography and correlation study in a large population
Authors: Fernández‐Vigo José Ignacio , Shi Hang , Kudsieh Bachar , Arriola‐Villalobos Pedro , De‐Pablo Gómez‐de‐Liaño Lucía , García‐Feijóo Julián , Fernández‐Vigo José Ángel
Published: November 2019

Purpose

To examine ciliary muscle (CM) dimensions in vivo by swept‐source optical coherence tomography (SS‐OCT) in a large healthy population. To assess the reproducibility of CM measurements and correlations with different parameters.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study, the following CM measurements were made in 495 eyes of 495 subjects in the temporal and nasal quadrants: length (CML), area (CMA) and thickness at distances of 1000 μm (CMT1), 2000 μm (CMT2) and 3000 μm (CMT3) from the scleral spur using the SS‐OCT DRI‐Triton® (Topcon, Tokyo, Japan). These dimensions were then assessed for correlations with the factors age, gender, refractive error, anterior chamber angle (ACA) and intraocular pressure (IOP). The reproducibility of CM measurements was determined in 85 of the participants.

Results

Mean age was 41.4 ± 17.5 years (range 5–83). The following means were recorded as follows: CML = 4.57 ± 0.73 mm (range 2.16–6.97), CMA = 1.35 ± 0.31 mm2 (2.04–5.45), CMT1 = 558 ± 98 μm (299–891), CMT2 = 366 ± 100 μm (89–629) and CMT3 = 210 ± 75 μm (36–655). Negative correlation was detected between CML/CMA and age (R = −0.516/R = −0.404; p < 0.001) and refractive error (R = −0.519/R = −0.538; p < 0.001). No gender differences were observed (p ≥ 0.150). Both CML and CMA were correlated with ACA (R = 0.498 and 0.546; p < 0.001) and slightly with IOP (R = −0.175; p < 0.001). The reproducibility of the CM measurements was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient ≥0.878).

Conclusions

Swept‐source optical coherence tomography is a valid tool for in vivo CM measurements. Our data indicate a larger CM in myopes and its diminishing size with age.
Evaluation of a deep learning system for the joint automated detection of diabetic retinopathy and age‐related macular degeneration
Authors: González‐Gonzalo Cristina , Sánchez‐Gutiérrez Verónica , Hernández‐Martínez Paula , Contreras Inés , Lechanteur Yara T. , Domanian Artin , van Ginneken Bram , Sánchez Clara I.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

To validate the performance of a commercially available, CE‐certified deep learning (DL) system, RetCAD v.1.3.0 (Thirona, Nijmegen, The Netherlands), for the joint automatic detection of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) in colour fundus (CF) images on a dataset with mixed presence of eye diseases.

Methods

Evaluation of joint detection of referable DR and AMD was performed on a DR‐AMD dataset with 600 images acquired during routine clinical practice, containing referable and non‐referable cases of both diseases. Each image was graded for DR and AMD by an experienced ophthalmologist to establish the reference standard (RS), and by four independent observers for comparison with human performance. Validation was furtherly assessed on Messidor (1200 images) for individual identification of referable DR, and the Age‐Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) dataset (133 821 images) for referable AMD, against the corresponding RS.

Results

Regarding joint validation on the DR‐AMD dataset, the system achieved an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 95.1% for detection of referable DR (SE = 90.1%, SP = 90.6%). For referable AMD, the AUC was 94.9% (SE = 91.8%, SP = 87.5%). Average human performance for DR was SE = 61.5% and SP = 97.8%; for AMD, SE = 76.5% and SP = 96.1%. Regarding detection of referable DR in Messidor, AUC was 97.5% (SE = 92.0%, SP = 92.1%); for referable AMD in AREDS, AUC was 92.7% (SE = 85.8%, SP = 86.0%).

Conclusion

The validated system performs comparably to human experts at simultaneous detection of DR and AMD. This shows that DL systems can facilitate access to joint screening of eye diseases and become a quick and reliable support for ophthalmological experts.
Rediscovering famous assemblages: A rare Bronze Age crucible from El Argar, Spain
Authors: Mongiatti A. , Montero‐Ruiz I.
Published: November 2019

A rare open shallow crucible from the British Museum collection, excavated at the Bronze Age site of El Argar in south‐east Spain by Louis and Henri Siret, was studied using X‐radiography and scanning electron microscopy. The crucible has relatively thick walls, a spout and a non‐refractory fabric. It was used for melting copper alloys for various possible purposes, such as alloying, refining, recycling or before casting, at around 1100°C. Both arsenic and tin were detected in various places and concentrations in the analysed specimens. This crucible could have been used during the period of transition from arsenic‐rich copper to tin bronzes in the El Argar culture, or used for the recycling of arsenic‐rich copper artefacts being alloyed with tin to produce tin bronzes. This melting crucible is a rare example of its kind to have been investigated scientifically, as most crucibles from contemporary sites on the Iberian Peninsula are generally associated with smelting. This study has also crucially shed more light on the types of alloys and variety of activities undertaken during that transitional period between the use of arsenical copper and tin bronzes in this region.
Listen to the voice of the customer—First steps towards stakeholder democracy
Authors: Edinger‐Schons Laura Marie , Lengler‐Graiff Lars , Scheidler Sabrina , Mende Gina , Wieseke Jan
Published: November 2019

Recently, calls have grown louder for more stakeholder democracy that is, letting stakeholders participate in the process of organizing, decision‐making, and governance in corporations, especially in the area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. Despite the relevance of the subject, the impact of customer involvement in CSR on their company‐related attitudes and behaviors still represents a major research void. The paper at hand develops a conceptual framework of consumer involvement in CSR based on the existing literature, theories of stakeholder democracy, and organizational boundaries as well as drawing from the qualitative focus group interviews (N = 24). The framework is tested on a large scale, two‐time point field‐experimental study (N = 3,397). More specifically, consumer reactions to three degrees of customer involvement (i.e., information, feedback, and dialogue) are tested in two different CSR domains (i.e., company‐internal business process vs. company‐external philanthropic CSR). Results indicate that the customer involvement in CSR has a more beneficial effect in terms of strengthening customer outcomes in CSR domains that directly affect external stakeholders of the company (i.e., philanthropic CSR) than in domains that mainly concern company‐internal stakeholders (i.e., business process CSR).
Misusing uteruses? Childrearing capacity and access to transplantable wombs
Authors: Tonkens Ryan
Published: November 2019

In light of recent successful uterus transplantations, it is reasonable to expect that womb transplants will become more commonplace in the future. If this happens, important questions emerge about who should receive the donated wombs. Some arguments have been advanced that suggest that potential recipients should be screened for their anticipated childrearing capacity, as one component of a comprehensive process for determining eligibility. The main arguments provided in support of this position have to do with the presumed responsibility of the state to protect future children from harm, and with avoiding complicity for any resulting harm experienced by the child born through the transplanted uterus. The purpose of this paper is to reject this position, based on two main criticisms: (1) screening potential uterus recipients for anticipated childrearing ability, but not also screening other kinds of morally equal family builders, is unjustly discriminatory; and (2) with respect to actions performed in good faith (e.g. providing a transplantable uterus to someone for the purpose of having a child), one is not morally blameworthy for the consequences of those actions (a) that one did not intend, and (b) that were directly caused by someone else, and (c) where others are directly responsible for making sure that those consequences do not come about. These criticisms are sufficient for concluding that the state is not justified in assessing the anticipated childrearing capacity of potential uterus recipients, and this is so regardless of whether or not there is a scarcity of transplantable uteruses available.
Emergencies in haematology: tumour lysis syndrome
Authors: Durani Urshila , Hogan William J.
Published: November 2019

Tumour lysis syndrome (TLS) is a significant complication of haematologic malignancies and their management. The syndrome consists of laboratory abnormalities either alone (laboratory TLS) or with clinical sequelae including renal failure, seizures, and arrhythmias (clinical TLS). Clinical TLS is a predictor for worse overall morbidity and mortality in cancer patients, but can be prevented. Thus, accurate prognostication is critical to appropriate management of patients at risk for TLS, and incorporates both disease factors (tumour type and burden) and patient factors (baseline renal insufficiency or hyperuricaemia). Strategies to prevent TLS include hydration and allopurinol in low‐ and intermediate‐risk patients and rasburicase in high‐risk patients.
Inequality and growth: What comes from the different inequality measures?
Authors: Bartak Jakub , Jabłoński Łukasz
Published: November 2019

The objective of the paper is to verify if income inequality impedes the growth rates in OECD countries in the period of 1990–2014 and to reveal whether the choice of the income inequality measure determines the sign and the strength of the estimated relationship. We use system GMM to estimate parameters of a dynamic panel growth model. The research indicates that income inequality negatively affects economic growth. We also find evidence that various measures of inequality bring the different scale of consequences for economic growth, with measures that give more weight to the middle part of the distribution being the weakest predictor of GDP growth. Simultaneously, we present the test of weak instruments, which helps to explain these differences.
Effects of dietary protein:carbohydrate balance on life‐history traits in six laboratory strains of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Kim Kun , Jang Taehwan , Min Kyung‐Jin , Lee Kwang Pum
Published: November 2019

Drosophila melanogaster Meigen (Diptera: Drosophilidae) is a key model insect for studying life span and aging. Many laboratory strains of D. melanogaster are currently used by laboratories worldwide, but they are known to vary considerably in their physiology, behavior, and life histories. Although the importance of dietary protein:carbohydrate (P:C) balance as a predominant determinant of life span and other life‐history traits has been highlighted in recent research, it remains unexplored whether the impacts of P:C balance on these fitness‐related traits vary in a strain‐specific manner in D. melanogaster. In this study, we compared the life‐history consequences (life span, egg production rate, pre‐adult survival, development time, and body mass at eclosion) of six laboratory strains of D. melanogaster (w1118, yw, Oregon‐R, white Canton‐S, Canton‐S‐SNU, and Canton‐S‐Inha) allocated to one of four synthetic diets differing in P:C ratio (1:16, 1:4, 1:1, or 4:1). The effects of dietary P:C balance on various adult and larval life‐history traits were qualitatively similar across all strains studied in this study. Regardless of fly strain, adults exhibited a shortened life span and improved egg production on a diet with the highest P:C ratio of 4:1. In all strains, larvae raised on a diet comprising the lowest P:C ratio of 1:16 suffered high mortality, delayed development time, and reduced body mass. Despite the general similarity in the direction of the effect of P:C balance across strains, fly strains differed in the magnitude of their life‐history responses to dietary P:C balance, as indicated by a significant interaction between fly strain and dietary P:C ratio for all measured traits except body mass at eclosion. Possible mechanisms explaining such strain‐specific responses are discussed.
The association between stressors and telomeres in non‐human vertebrates: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Chatelain Marion , Drobniak Szymon M. , Szulkin Marta
Published: November 2019

Animal response to stressors such as harsh environmental conditions and demanding biological processes requires energy generated through increased mitochondrial activity. This results in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In vitro and some in vivo studies suggest that oxidative damage of DNA caused by ROS is responsible for telomere shortening. Since telomere length is correlated with survival in many vertebrates, telomere loss is hypothesised to trigger cellular ageing and/ or to reflect the harshness of the environment an individual has experienced. To improve our understanding of stress‐induced telomere dynamics in non‐human vertebrates, we analysed 109 relevant studies in a meta‐analytical framework. Overall, the exposure to possible stressors was associated with shorter telomeres or higher telomere shortening rate (average effect size = −0.16 ± 0.03). This relationship was consistent for all phylogenetic classes and for all a priori‐selected stressor categories. It was stronger in the case of pathogen infection, competition, reproductive effort and high activity level, which emphasises their importance in explaining intraspecific telomere length variability and, potentially, lifespan variability. Interestingly, the association between stressor exposure and telomeres in one hand, and oxidative stress in the other hand, covaried, suggesting the implication of oxidative stress in telomere dynamics.
A transdiagnostic sleep and circadian intervention for adolescents: six‐month follow‐up of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Dong Lu , Dolsen Emily A. , Martinez Armando J. , Notsu Haruka , Harvey Allison G.
Published: November 2019

Background

This study examined the 6‐month follow‐up outcomes of the Transdiagnostic Sleep and Circadian Intervention (TranS‐C), compared to Psychoeducation about sleep and health (PE).

Methods

Adolescents (mean [SD] = 14.77 [1.84] years) with eveningness chronotype and “at‐risk” in at least one of five health domains were randomized to receive TranS‐C (n = 89) or PE (n = 87) at a university‐based clinic. Primary outcomes were average weeknight total sleep time and bedtime calculated from sleep diary, a questionnaire measure of circadian preference, and composite risks in five health domains. Secondary outcomes were selected sleep diary indices, sleepiness, and self‐ and parent‐reported sleep, parent‐reported risks in five health domains.

Results

Relative to PE, TranS‐C showed treatment effects through 6‐month follow‐up on only one primary outcome; namely eveningness circadian preference. TranS‐C also showed treatment effects on two sleep and circadian secondary outcomes, including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and sleep‐diary measured weeknight‐weekend discrepancy in wakeup time. TranS‐C did not show treatment effects on self‐report or parent‐report composite risks in five health domains. PE showed benefit, relative to TranS‐C, from posttreatment to 6‐month follow‐up for reducing parent‐reported behavioral health risk (secondary outcome).

Conclusions

In at‐risk adolescents, the evidence supports the TranS‐C treatment effects over six months on improving sleep and circadian functioning on selected outcomes but not on reducing risk in five health domains.