bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An exploratory trial of a health education programme to promote healthy lifestyles through social and emotional competence in young children: Study protocol
Authors: Bermejo‐Martins Elena , López‐Dicastillo Olga , Mujika Agurtzane
Published: July 2017

Aim

To implement and evaluate a health education programme based on the development of social and emotional competence in young children.

Background

Children's social and emotional skills play a key role in the adoption and maintenance of their lifestyles. Currently, a more comprehensive perspective dealing with these aspects is needed to promote healthy habits in children and develop effective health education programmes.

Design

An exploratory randomized controlled trial.

Methods

A convenience sample of 30 children (5 and 6 years old) will be recruited from a public school in Spain, with 15 participants in the experimental group and 15 in the control group. Participants in the experimental group will receive the first unit of the programme, consisting of developing emotional knowledge skills around daily health habits (eating, hygiene, sleep and physical exercise) using different game‐based dynamics and an emotional diary, while those in the control group will continue with their usual school routine. Outcome measures include emotional knowledge ability, basic social skills and children's health profile. The perceived impact of the intervention by parents, acceptability (by parents and children) and feasibility of the programme will be also assessed. Data will be collected at baseline, postintervention and at 7‐month follow‐up.

Discussion

This study offers an innovative intervention aimed at improving children's healthy lifestyles from a holistic perspective by addressing social and emotional competence as one of the most influential aspects of children's development. This exploratory trial is an essential step to explore crucial aspects of the full‐scale clinical trial.
Genetic connectivity of a coral reef ecosystem predator: the population genetic structure and evolutionary history of the Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi)
Authors: Bernard Andrea M. , Horn Rebekah L. , Chapman Demian D. , Feldheim Kevin A. , Garla Ricardo C. , Brooks Edd J. , Gore Mauvis A. , Shivji Mahmood S.
Published: July 2017

Aim

The Caribbean reef shark (Carcharhinus perezi) is one of few extant reef sharks inhabiting the Atlantic Ocean. Its variability in movements across habitat types suggests the possibility of a complex genetic population structure. Here, we use mitochondrial and nuclearDNAto investigate the genetic connectivity of the Caribbean reef shark across contemporary and evolutionary time‐scales and relate our findings to the ecology of this understudied species.

Location

Tropical western Atlantic and Caribbean.

Methods

Samples were obtained from 216 individuals from six western Atlantic and Caribbean locations. Individuals were genotyped at seven nuclear microsatelliteDNAloci and sequenced at two mitochondrial (control region [CR];NADHdehydrogenase subunit 4 [ND4]) and one nuclear locus (lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]). Analyses to resolve the population genetic structure and evolutionary history of this species were adopted.

Results

Sequencing of theCR(1,068 bp,n = 216),ND4 (741 bp,n = 213) andLDH(258 bp,n = 165) loci, resolved 11, 8 and 13 unique haplotypes (or alleles), respectively. Overall, Caribbean reef sharks showed low levels of genetic diversity and most marker sets identified strong genetic differences (FSTand ΦST) between sharks sampled in Brazil versus all other locations (msatFST > 0.017;CR‐ND4 ΦST > 0.013). MitochondrialDNAshowed evidence of increased genetic partitioning among western North Atlantic sampling sites, although widespread haplotype sharing (~85%–92%) and a shallow population history were found.

Main Conclusions

Findings of genetic differentiation are concordant with previous movement studies showing residency and/or site‐fidelity to specific locations by individuals. However, similar to other reef shark studies, we found that the level of genetic connectivity among populations was context dependent—i.e., sharks occupying isolated habitats showed greater genetic differentiation compared with those sharks occupying semi‐isolated or continuous reef habitats. Furthermore, low genetic diversity and a shallow mitochondrial population history were found, suggesting historical demographic fluctuations, including population collapse and more recent expansions.
Mobilizing Citizens for Costly Policies: The Conditional Effect of Party Cues on Support for International Bailouts in the European Union
Authors: Stoeckel Florian , Kuhn Theresa
Published: July 2017

Previous research finds citizens' attitudes towards international redistribution in the European sovereign debt crisis to be related to party preferences. This article further reveals the nature of this link. We show that citizens follow party cues on international bailouts, rather than having merely ideologically congruent positions. By employing an original survey experiment that exposes respondents to elite cues, we additionally uncover underlying dynamics. First, party cues mobilize support for bailouts even in the face of salient elite dissent and, second, even a strong elite consensus does not affect citizens without PID and low levels of political sophistication. The findings of the experiment are cross‐validated with data from the voter survey of European Election Study 2014. The results suggest that current debates about international bailout packages deepen a polarization between politicized and non‐politicized Europeans.
Gonadal morphogenesis and sex differentiation in cultured Ussuri catfishTachysurus ussuriensis
Authors: Pan Z. J. , Zhu C. K. , Wang H. , Zhou F. J. , Qiang X. G.
Published: July 2017

The objective of this study was to investigate the optimal developmental time to perform sex reversal in Ussuri catfishTachysurus ussuriensis, to develop monosex breeding in aquaculture. Systematic observations of gonadal sex differentiation ofP. ussiriensiswere conducted. The genital ridge formed at 9 days post fertilization (dpf) and germ cells begin to proliferate at 17 dpf. The ovarian cavity began forming on 21 dpf and completed by 25 dpf while presumptive testis remained quiescent. The primary oocytes were at the chromatin nucleolus stage by 30 dpf, the peri‐nucleolus stage by 44 dpf and the cortical alveoli stage by 64 dpf. The germinal vesicle migrated towards the animal pole (polarization) at 120 dpf. In presumptive testis, germ cells entered into mitosis and blood vessels appeared in the proximal gonad on 30 dpf. The efferent duct anlage appeared on 36 dpf and formation of seminal lobules with spermatogonia and lobules interstitium occurred at 120 dpf. Therefore, gonadal sex differentiation occurred earlier in females than in males, with the histological differentiation preceding cytologic differentiation inT. ussuriensis. This indicates that undifferentiated gonads directly differentiate into ovary or testis between 17 and 21 dpf and artificial induction of sexual reversal by oral steroid administration must be conducted before 17 dpf.
Fine needle aspiration of abdominal organs: a review of current recommendations for achieving a diagnostic sample
Authors: Liffman R. , Courtman N.
Published: July 2017

With the improved accessibility to ultrasound, fine needle aspiration of abdominal organs is now performed frequently in many veterinary practices. Despite this, there are many ‘unknowns’ as to the best method to produce a high‐quality sample. This report begins by highlighting recent literature on the risks and benefits of abdominal fine needle aspiration. It follows with recommendations about the equipment and method best suited to the procedure, including needle and syringe size and aspirationversusnon‐aspiration techniques. Various smear preparations and laboratory submission requirements are also discussed. The final aspect of the review more specifically discusses fine needle aspiration of specific abdominal organs: the liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, urinary bladder, prostate and abdominal lymph nodes.
Silent Disagreement: Microinteractional Solutions to Moral Dissent Among Catholic Converts
Authors: Ellis Rachel
Published: July 2017

How do converts manage their disagreements with religious teachings? Previous literature on religious dissent has largely focused on church members advocating change or apostatizing, solutions largely unavailable to initiates. Based on six months of ethnographic observations in a Catholic conversion class and 21 in‐depth interviews with converts, sponsors, and teachers, I demonstrate how microinteractional norms encourage an atmosphere of silence around disagreement. I then show how initiates explain this conflict avoidant response by justifying their doubt, engaging in a process ofhierarchical deference, in which initiates call upon the top‐down structure of the Catholic Church to defer control upward, and faulting human imperfection rather than the institution itself. While “culture wars” debates of the past two decades have investigated a purported moral polarization of the American public, this study contributes to a growing literature on how the moderate majority negotiates disagreements between their beliefs and religious teachings.
Hypophysitis, Panhypopituitarism, and Hypothalamitis in a Scottish Terrier Dog
Authors: Polledo L. , Oliveira M. , Adamany J. , Graham P. , Baiker K.
Published: July 2017

A 6‐year old male neutered Scottish Terrier was referred with a 1 week history of progressive lethargy and anorexia. Neurological examination localized a lesion to the forebrain and hormonal testing showed panhypopituitarism. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed a rounded, well‐defined, suprasellar central mass. The mass was slightly hyperintense to the cortical grey matter on T2‐weighted (T2W), hypointense on T1‐weighted (T1W) images and without T2* signal void. There was a central fusiform enhancement of the mass after contrast administration which raised the suspicion of a pituitary neoplasm. Rapid deterioration of the dog prevented further clinical investigations. Histopathologic examination revealed a lymphocytic panhypophysitis of unknown origin suspected autoimmune involving the hypothalamus (hypothalamitis). This is a unique case report of a dog presenting with inflammatory hypophysitis and hypothalamitis of suspected autoimmune origin with detailed clinical, MRI, histology and immunohistochemistry findings.
Invasion of Ligustrum lucidum (Oleaceae) in subtropical secondary forests of NW Argentina: declining growth rates of abundant native tree species
Authors: Malizia Agustina , Osinaga‐Acosta Oriana , Powell Priscila Ana , Aragón Roxana
Published: July 2017

Aims

Ligustrum lucidum, native to China, is one of the dominant exotic and invasive tree species in secondary forests in Argentina. (1) We assessed its invasion during 20 yr in post‐agricultural secondary forests dominated by native tree species, and (2) evaluated tree demographic rates of native individuals under and away from L. lucidum trees that invaded these forests.

Locations

Four 1‐ha permanent plots of secondary forests, subtropical Andes of Tucumán, Argentina.

Methods

We quantified the invasion of L. lucidum individuals (≥10‐cm diameter) from 1991 to 2011 within four 1‐ha plots of secondary forests and analysed annual growth and mortality rates of native tree individuals (≥10‐cm diameter) under and away from L. lucidum trees. For this, we compared tree demographic rates of all native individuals together (community level) under and away from individuals of L. lucidum, referred to as exotic and native neighbourhoods, respectively. Then, we described the relative growth rate of native tree species in exotic/native neighbourhoods (species level) and related them to their demographic life histories and morpho‐physiological traits.

Results

Both density and basal area of L. lucidum increased from 0.1% to 4% between 1991 and 2011. Native tree individuals grew 65% less in exotic neighborhoods compared to native neighborhoods. Relative growth rate showed negative values under L. lucidum individuals for the abundant species Ocotea porphyria, Parapitadenia excelsa, Juglans austalis and Allophylus edulis, indicating competition; while less abundant species Terminalia triflora, Cupania vernalis and Blepharocalix saliscifolius showed positive growth values under L. lucidum, suggesting a facilitation process. Thus, L. lucidum competes efficiently with some native tree species, particularly with those abundant species that dominate the canopy.

Conclusions

Ligustrum lucidum is invading post‐agricultural secondary forests dominated by native tree species. While invading, L. lucidum competes with native abundant tree species that dominate the main structure of the forest canopy. As this invasive trend will likely increase in the near future, L. lucidum may alter forest structure, composition and dynamics, as well ecosystem functioning.
Building disciplinary literacy: an analysis of history, science and math teachers' close reading strategies
Authors: Paul Casey Medlock
Published: July 2017

This collective case study explores the strategies history, science and math teachers use to conduct close readings in their disciplines. Through qualitative analysis of forum posts and lesson plans submitted to a Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) designed as professional development (PD), this study examines the strategies history, science and math teachers reported using to conduct close readings in their discipline, as well as how these teachers conduct close readings after receiving professional development on reading strategies for their disciplines. Ultimately, the research showed that while more teachers reported using disciplinary literacy strategies following the PD, they did not necessarily report using the strategies that, according to experts in their fields, are considered to be the most important for their discipline.
Compositions and microstructures of CB sulfides: Implications for the thermal history of the CB chondrite parent body
Authors: Srinivasan Poorna , Jones Rhian H. , Brearley Adrian J.
Published: July 2017

We studied textures and compositions of sulfide inclusions in unzoned Fe,Ni metal particles within CBa Gujba, CBa Weatherford, CBb HH 237, and CBb QUE 94411 in order to constrain formation conditions and secondary thermal histories on the CB parent body. Unzoned metal particles in all four chondrites have very similar metal and sulfide compositions. Metal particles contain different types of sulfides, which we categorize as: homogeneous low‐Cr sulfides composed of troilite, troilite‐containing exsolved daubreelite lamellae, arcuate sulfides that occur along metal grain boundaries, and shock‐melted sulfides composed of a mixture of troilite and Fe, Ni metal. Our model for formation proposes that the unzoned metal particles were initially metal droplets that formed from splashing by a partially molten impacting body. Sulfide inclusions later formed as a result of precipitation of excess S from solid metal at low temperatures, either during single stage cooling or during a reheating event by impacts. Sulfides containing exsolution lamellae record temperatures of ≪600 °C, and irregular Fe‐FeS intergrowth textures suggest localized shock melting, both of which are indicative of heterogeneous heating by impact processes on the CB parent body. Our study shows that CBa and CBb chondrites formed in a similar environment, and also experienced similar secondary impact processing.
The cosmic‐ray exposure history of the Twannberg iron meteorite (IIG)
Authors: Smith Thomas , Hofmann Beda A. , Leya Ingo , Merchel Silke , Pavetich Stefan , Rugel Georg , Scharf Andreas
Published: July 2017

The Twannberg iron meteorite is one out of only six members of the group IIG. The combined noble gas and radionuclide data obtained in this new systematic study indicate that Twannberg with its ~570 recently recovered specimens was a large object with a preatmospheric radius in the range of ~2 m, which corresponds to ~250 × 103 kg. The cosmic‐ray exposure age for Twannberg is 182 ± 45 Ma. The most surprising result is the long terrestrial age of Tterr =  ka, which is unexpected considering the humid conditions in Switzerland. However, this age is in accord with glaciation events, indicating that the less shielded samples from Mt. Sujet were found close to the position of the original strewn field, whereas the samples from Gruebmatt and Twannbach, which are from more shielded positions, were glacially transported to the east–northeast during the second last ice age (185–130 ka ago) from an original position west of Mt. Sujet.
Defensive repertoire of Drosophila larvae in response to toxic fungi
Authors: Trienens Monika , Kraaijeveld Ken , Wertheim Bregje
Published: July 2017

Chemical warfare including insecticidal secondary metabolites is a well‐known strategy for environmental microbes to monopolize a food source. Insects in turn have evolved behavioural and physiological defences to eradicate or neutralize the harmful microorganisms. We studied the defensive repertoire of insects in this interference competition by combining behavioural and developmental assays with whole‐transcriptome time‐series analysis. Confrontation with the toxic filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans severely reduced the survival of Drosophila melanogaster larvae. Nonetheless, the larvae did not behaviourally avoid the fungus, but aggregated at it. Confrontation with fungi strongly affected larval gene expression, including many genes involved in detoxification (e.g., CYP, GST and UGT genes) and the formation of the insect cuticle (e.g., Tweedle genes). The most strongly upregulated genes were several members of the insect‐specific gene family Osiris, and CHK‐kinase‐like domains were over‐represented. Immune responses were not activated, reflecting the competitive rather than pathogenic nature of the antagonistic interaction. While internal microbes are widely acknowledged as important, our study emphasizes the underappreciated role of environmental microbes as fierce competitors.
Spatial connectivity in an adult‐sedentary reef fish with extended pelagic larval phase
Authors: Antoni L. , Saillant E.
Published: July 2017

Understanding the spatial scale of demographic connectivity in marine reef fishes dispersing pelagic larvae is a challenging task because of the technical difficulties associated with tagging and monitoring the movements of progeny at early life stages. Several studies highlighted a strong importance of local retention with levels of dispersal of ecological significance restricted to short distances. To date little information is available in species where pelagic dispersal lasts for long periods of time. In this work, population structure and connectivity were studied in the grey triggerfish, Balistes capriscus. Grey triggerfish larvae and juveniles remain associated with floating Sargassum sp. beds for an estimated period of 4–7 months before settling on benthic habitats where they remain sedentary as adults. Analysis of genetic variation among populations along the continental shelf of the northern Gulf of Mexico and U.S. east coast, encompassing over 3,100 km of coastline, revealed homogeneous allele frequencies and a weak isolation‐by‐distance pattern. Moment and maximum‐likelihood estimates of dispersal parameters both indicated occurrence of large neighbourhoods with estimates of the dispersal distribution parameter σ of 914 and 780 km, respectively. Simulated distributions of dispersal distances using several distribution functions all featured substantial fractions of long‐distance dispersal events with the 90% percentiles of travel distance prior to settlement averaging 1,809 km. These results suggest a high dependency of local recruitment on the output of nonlocal spawning stocks located hundreds of kilometres away and a reduced role of local retention in this species.
Neuronal control of experimental colitis occurs via sympathetic intestinal innervation
Authors: Willemze R. A. , Welting O. , van Hamersveld H. P. , Meijer S. L. , Folgering J. H. A , Darwinkel H. , Witherington J. , Sridhar A. , Vervoordeldonk M. J. , Seppen J. , de Jonge W. J.
Published: July 2017

Background

Vagus nerve stimulation is currently clinically evaluated as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease. However, the mechanism by which this therapeutic intervention can have an immune‐regulatory effect in colitis remains unclear. We determined the effect of intestine‐specific vagotomy or intestine‐specific sympathectomy of the superior mesenteric nerve (SMN) on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)‐induced colitis in mice. Furthermore, we tested the efficacy of therapeutic SMN stimulation to treat DSS‐induced colitis in rats.

Methods

Vagal and SMN fibers were surgically dissected to achieve intestine‐specific vagotomy and sympathectomy. Chronic SMN stimulation was achieved by implantation of a cuff electrode. Stimulation was done twice daily for 5 minutes using a biphasic pulse (10 Hz, 200 μA, 2 ms). Disease activity index (DAI) was used as a clinical parameter for colitis severity. Colonic cytokine expression was measured by quantitative PCR and ELISA.

Key Results

Intestine‐specific vagotomy had no effect on DSS‐induced colitis in mice. However, SMN sympathectomy caused a significantly higher DAI compared to sham‐operated mice. Conversely, SMN stimulation led to a significantly improved DAI compared to sham stimulation, although no other parameters of colitis were affected significantly.

Conclusions & Inferences

Our results indicate that sympathetic innervation regulates the intestinal immune system as SMN denervation augments, and SMN stimulation ameliorates DSS‐induced colitis. Surprisingly, intestine‐specific vagal nerve denervation had no effect in DSS‐induced colitis.
Incidence of eosinophilic esophagitis in the Netherlands continues to rise: 20‐year results from a nationwide pathology database
Authors: Warners M. J. , de Rooij W. , van Rhijn B. D. , Verheij J. , Bruggink A. H. , Smout A. J. P. M. , Bredenoord A. J.
Published: July 2017

Background

The incidence of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) has increased rapidly. Most epidemiologic data were gathered in single‐center studies over a short timeframe, possibly explaining the heterogeneous incidences.

Aim

The aim of this study was to retrospectively estimate the Dutch nationwide incidence of EoE over the last 20 years.

Methods

The Dutch pathology registry (PALGA) was queried to identify pathology reports describing esophageal eosinophilia from 1996 to 2016. Cases were eligible if EoE was confirmed by the pathologist. Using the annual Dutch population data, the incidence of EoE was calculated.

Key Results

The search yielded 11 288 reports of which 5080 described esophageal eosinophilia. Eosinophilic esophagitis was diagnosed in 2161 patients, 1574 (73%) males and 365 (17%) children. The incidence increased from 0.01 (95% CI 0‐0.02) in 1996 to 2.07 (95% CI 2.05‐2.23) per 100 000 inhabitants in 2015. The incidence was higher in males than in females, 3.02 (95% CI 2.66‐3.41) vs 1.14 (95% CI 0.93‐1.38), odds ratio (OR) 2.66 (95% CI 2.10‐3.36) and higher in adults than in children, 2.23 (95% CI 1.99‐2.49) vs 1.46 (95% CI 1.09‐1.91), OR 1.78 (95% CI 1.32‐2.40). Incidence of EoE increased more than 200‐fold, whereas endoscopy rates only tripled, from 30 in 1996 to 105 per 100 000 inhabitants in 2015. We observed no seasonal variation.

Conclusions and Inferences

In the last decades, the Dutch EoE incidence has increased tremendously and still continues to rise. This expansion is only partially driven by increased endoscopy rates.
Prosecretory effect of loperamide in ileal and colonic mucosae of mice displaying high or low swim stress‐induced analgesia associated with high and low endogenous opioid system activity
Authors: Wasilewski A. , Misicka A. , Sacharczuk M. , Fichna J.
Published: July 2017

Background

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is characterized by abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habit. The aim of this study was to characterize the effect of loperamide hydrochloride (LOP) and naloxone hydrochloride (NLX), an opioid agonist and antagonist, respectively, on electrolyte equilibrium in ileal and colonic mucosae and to estimate the possible influence of divergent activity of the endogenous opioid system (EOS) on IBS therapy.

Methods

Two mouse lines bidirectionally selected for high (HA) and low (LA) swim stress‐induced analgesia associated with high and low EOS activity were used in this study. To assess the effect of LOP and NLX on HA/LA lines in vivo, we used the castor oil‐induced diarrhea model. Changes in electrolyte equilibrium were determined on the basis of short‐circuit current (ΔIsc) in isolated mouse ileum and colon exposed to LOP and NLX and stimulated by forskolin (FSK), veratridine (VER), and bethanechol (BET).

Key Results

In vivo, we found that LOP significantly prolonged time to appearance of diarrhea in HA and LA lines. In vitro, LOP and NLX increased ΔIsc in FSK‐ and VER‐stimulated colonic tissue, respectively, in HA line. In the ileum, LOP increased ΔIsc in FSK‐ and VER‐stimulated tissue and decreased ΔIsc in BET‐stimulated tissues in HA line.

Conclusions & Inferences

Individual differences in EOS activity may play a crucial role in the response to the IBS‐D therapy, thus some patients may be at an increased risk of side effects such as constipation or diarrhea.
Full‐layer mucosal histology in achalasia: Histological epithelial wave is characteristic in “pinstripe pattern”‐positive achalasia
Authors: Sato H. , Takahashi K. , Nakajima N. , Hasegawa G. , Mizuno K. , Hashimoto S. , Ikarashi S. , Hayashi K. , Honda Y. , Yokoyama J. , Sato Y. , Terai S.
Published: July 2017

Background

Previously, the mucosal histology in achalasia has only been investigated using superficial biopsy or surgically resected esophageal specimens in end‐stage cases. We investigated the histology of the full‐layer mucosa in early and advanced achalasia.

Methods

Endoscopy was performed for the pinstripe pattern (PSP) (an early achalasia indicator) and dilation and thickening of the mucosa (advanced achalasia indicators). A mucosal entry site for peroral endoscopic myotomy was created using cap‐fitted endoscopic mucosal resection to access the full‐layer mucosa and the submucosa.

Key Results

Mucosal histology was compared between 32 patients with achalasia and 15 controls. Histological esophagitis with findings of inflammatory cell infiltration and dilated intercellular spaces was observed more in patients with achalasia than in controls (87.5% vs 13.3%, P<.001; 84.4% vs 46.7%, P=.049). Muscularis mucosae (MM) atrophy and epithelial wave were only observed in achalasia (40.6% vs 0%, P=.005; 28.1% vs 0%, P=.043). Fibrosis was more common in achalasia, but without statistical significance (31.3% vs 20.0%, P=.503). In achalasia with endoscopic dilation and thickening of the mucosa, MM atrophy was observed histologically, and in cases involving endoscopic PSP, the histological epithelial wave was observed.

Conclusions & Inferences

Histological findings of esophagitis were observed endoscopically even in early achalasia. Pinstripe pattern corresponds to the epithelial wave observed histologically in achalasia, whereas endoscopic findings in advanced achalasia correspond to MM atrophy. Appropriate management is necessary during early achalasia to prevent progression to advanced achalasia with more severe histological changes.
Cyclic vomiting syndrome is a prevalent and under‐recognized condition in the gastroenterology outpatient clinic
Authors: Sagar R. C. , Sood R. , Gracie D. J. , Gold M. J. , To N. , Law G. R. , Ford A. C.
Published: July 2017

Background

Cyclic vomiting syndrome (CVS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder (FGID) characterized by intermittent episodes of nausea and vomiting. Our aim was to report its prevalence and associated features.

Methods

Data concerning demographics, symptoms, and psychiatric comorbidity were collected. Symptoms compatible with CVS were classified as per Rome III criteria. We recorded whether a diagnosis of CVS was considered in patients after negative investigation. We compared demographics and association with other FGIDs in patients with and without CVS.

Key Results

920 of 1002 patients provided data. Of the 920 patients, 112 (12.2%) had symptoms compatible with CVS. Thirteen (11.6%) of these had an organic cause for their symptoms, but 99 patients (88.4%) were deemed to have CVS (prevalence=10.8%). Organic causes for symptoms compatible with CVS included gastroparesis, large hiatus hernia, achalasia, and small bowel obstruction. Only 39.4% of patients with CVS were asked about vomiting symptoms at their initial consultation, and a diagnosis of CVS was considered in only four (4.0%) of the 99 patients. CVS was associated with younger age, tobacco smoking, never having married, psychiatric comorbidity, and presence of symptoms compatible with other FGIDs (P≤.01).

Conclusions and Inferences

Prevalence of CVS in this outpatient gastroenterology adult population was 10.8%. Identified associations included younger age, tobacco smoking, psychiatric comorbidity, and symptoms compatible with other FGIDs. The condition was considered as a possible diagnosis in <5% of patients who met the diagnostic criteria.
Expression of BrpA in Streptococcus mutans is regulated by FNR‐box mediated repression
Authors: Liao S. , De A. , Thompson T. , Chapman L. , Bitoun J.P. , Yao X. , Yu Q. , Ma F. , Wen Z.T.
Published: July 2017

Our previous studies showed that brpA in Streptococcus mutans, which encodes a member of the LytR‐CpsA‐Psr family of proteins, can be co‐transcribed with brpB upstream as a bicistronic operon, and the intergenic region also has strong promoter activity. To elucidate how brpA expression is regulated, the promoter regions were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction‐based deletions and site‐directed mutagenesis and a promoterless luciferase gene as a reporter. Allelic exchange mutagenesis was also used to examine genes encoding putative trans‐acting factors, and the impact of such mutations on brpA expression was analyzed by reporter assays. Multiple elements in the short brpA promoter (nucleotide −1 to −344 relative to start cordon ATG) were shown to have a major impact on brpA expression, including an FNR‐box, for a putative binding site of an FNR‐type of transcriptional regulator. When compared with the intact brpA promoter, mutations of the highly conserved nucleotides in FNR‐box from TTGATgtttAcCtt to TTACAgaaaGtTac resulted in 1362‐fold increases of luciferase activity (P < .001), indicative of the FNR‐box‐mediated repression as a major mechanism in regulation of brpA expression. When luciferase reporter was fused to the upstream brpBA promoter (nucleotides −784 to −1144), luciferase activity was decreased by 4.5‐fold (P < .001) in the brpA mutant, TW14D, and by 67.7‐fold (P < .001) in the brpB mutant, JB409, compared with the wild‐type, UA159. However, no such effects were observed when the reporter gene was fused to the short brpA promoter and its derivatives. These results also suggest that brpA expression in S. mutans is auto‐regulated through the upstream brpBA promoter.
Solitary fibrous tumour of the tongue: a case report
Authors: Kaneko T. , Kawano R. , Horie N. , Shimoyama T.
Published: July 2017

Solitary fibrous tumours (SFTs) are uncommon benign mesenchymal neoplasms that occur relatively rarely in the oral cavity. An SFT in the tongue of a 67‐year‐old woman is presented. A firm, asymptomatic, dome‐shaped mass was found on the left ventral surface of the tongue. Complete surgical resection of the mass was performed. Microscopically, the tumour was well‐circumscribed and composed of variably cellular and patternless distributions of bland spindle and ovoid cells within variably collagenous stroma, with interspersed large branching or “staghorn”‐shaped vessels. Immunohistochemically, tumour cells were positive for CD34 and STAT6, but negative for CD68, S‐100 protein, epithelial membrane antigen and α‐smooth muscle actin.
Differential expression of insulin‐like growth factor family members in immature cumulus–oocyte complexes from dairy cows with different genotypes
Authors: Lopes AC , Palhão MP , Fernandes CAC , Sudano MJ , Castilho ACS , Caixeta ES
Published: July 2017

Contents

It has been evident the improvement of in vitro embryo production (IVEP) in dairy cows. Nevertheless, it is known that differences in the number and quality of oocytes between taurine and zebu females impact the efficiency and economic viability of IVEP. As the insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) system is related to follicular and oocyte development, we aimed to quantify mRNA abundance of IGF system members and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A (PAPPA) in the cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs) of Gir, 1/2 Holstein × 1/2 Gir and Holstein cows. Four pools of 30 immature COCs from Gir, 1/2 Holstein × 1/2 Gir and Holstein cows were obtained by ovum pickup (OPU), and the oocytes and cumulus cells (CC) were mechanically separated and stored at −80°C. Total RNA was extracted from pools of 30 oocytes and their respective CC. Expression of target genes was assessed by real‐time RT‐PCR. In oocytes, the abundance of IGFR1 mRNA was higher (p < .05) in Gir cows compared with the other breeds. In contrast, in CC, mRNA encoding IGF2 (p < .05), IGFR2 (p < .05) and IGFBP4 (p < .01) was higher in Holstein donors compared with Gir and 1/2 Holstein × 1/2 Gir cows. Additionally, the abundance of PAPPA mRNA was higher in oocytes (p < .001) and CC (p < .01) in Gir and 1/2 Holstein × 1/2 Gir cows compared with the Holstein donors. In conclusion, the higher abundance of PAPPA mRNA in the oocytes and CC from Gir and cross‐breed donors combined with the low expression of IGFBP4 in the CC suggests an enhancement of the bioavailability of IGF‐free when compared with Holstein COCs.
Passing the buck? Analyzing the delegation of discretion after transposition of European Union law
Authors: Dörrenbächer Nora , Mastenbroek Ellen
Published: July 2017

This article seeks to map and explain the extent to which national legislators constrain discretion contained in European Union directives during transposition. To this end, we use standard hypotheses from the domestic delegation literature regarding the necessity of policy conflict and transaction costs. Our empirical approach is based on a focused comparison of the transposition of several provisions of the Asylum Reception Conditions Directive in France, Germany, and the Netherlands. In order to capture content‐specific aspects of discretion we employ an innovative measurement tool, the so‐called Institutional Grammar Tool. The study shows that while all three states formally comply with the directive, the level of European Union discretion delegated to practical implementers varies considerably across the cases. Standard delegation theory cannot fully explain the patterns. Instead, existing delegation theories have to be adjusted to the transposition context, by accounting for domestic preferences regarding the status quo.
A worldwide consensus on nudging? Not quite, but almost
Authors: Sunstein Cass R. , Reisch Lucia A. , Rauber Julius
Published: July 2017

Nudges are choice‐preserving interventions that steer people's behavior in specific directions while still allowing them to go their own way. Some nudges have been controversial, because they are seen as objectionably paternalistic. This study reports on nationally representative surveys in eight diverse countries, investigating what people actually think about nudges and nudging. The study covers Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, Russia, South Africa, and South Korea. Generally, we find strong majority support for nudges in all countries, with the important exception of Japan, and with spectacularly high approval rates in China and South Korea. We connect the findings here to earlier studies involving Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Our primary conclusion is that while citizens generally approve of health and safety nudges, the nations of the world appear to fall into three distinct categories: (i) a group of nations, mostly liberal democracies, where strong majorities approve of nudges whenever they (a) are seen to fit with the interests and values of most citizens and (b) do not have illicit purposes; (ii) a group of nations where overwhelming majorities approve of nearly all nudges; and (iii) a group of nations that usually show majority approval, but markedly reduced approval rates. We offer some speculations about the relationship between approval rates and trust.
“Not Allowed to Inherit My Kingdom”: Amenity Development and Social Inequality in the Rural West
Authors: Sherman Jennifer
Published: July 2017

This article, based on 84 in‐depth interviews and 10 months of ethnography, focuses on the rural Washington community of “Paradise Valley,” whose economic bases in mining, ranching, and logging declined by the end of the twentieth century. Recently, economic development has focused on amenity‐based tourism and second‐home ownership, as well as attracting wealthy in‐migrants. Job growth has been concentrated in construction and service sectors, particularly low‐paid, part‐time, and seasonal jobs in hospitality, retail, and food services. The community has changed from a relatively homogenous population of working‐class residents to a more diverse and divided community. The article explores outcomes of these changes, including gentrification and housing shortages, unemployment and underemployment, and a social divide in which the community's longtime and working‐class residents are marginalized. I explore these social consequences of amenity‐based development, illustrating the ways in which the social divide is reproduced and the gradual disenfranchisement of those with roots in earlier social and economic systems in the valley, focusing on the changing meanings and uses of different types of symbolic capital.
“Now that we can ask and tell: The social movement legacy of the DADT repeal”
Authors: Connell Catherine
Published: July 2017

The 2010 Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal Act, along with the 2016 DOD announcement regarding the impending inclusion of transgender soldiers, created the possibility of open and unsanctioned military service for LGBTQs for the first time in US history. This article provides an overview of how these policy changes came about, from the emergence of DADT to the legal and activist challenges to its legitimacy, including its ultimate repeal and the subsequent move to extend open service to transgender people. After summarizing what we know so far about how the repeal has (and has not) changed the experience of service for LGBTQs, I consider how these policy changes have been received and interpreted by LGBTQ activists and scholars. Open military service is either viewed as one of the most exciting or the most damning developments of LGBTQ organizing in the 21st century, according to the two most prominent activist perspectives. This review outlines the key arguments of each perspective and concludes by considering the value of reconciling these disparate vantage points when analyzing the future of LGBTQ social movement strategy.
Syncretisms with the Nominal Complementizer
Authors: Baunaz Lena , Lander Eric
Published: July 2017

Nominal complementizers (e.g. Eng.that, Fr.que) often have the same morphophonological form as other grammatical items, such as demonstrative, relative, and wh‐pronouns. In this paper we treat such overlaps as instantiations of syncretism, and we discuss the different patterns of syncretism with the nominal complementizer in various languages. We treat the syncretism facts within a nanosyntactic framework (Starke, Caha), meaning that complementizers are not simplex heads ofCP(or ForceP/FinP in Rizzi'ssense) but actually composed of multiple features, each feature corresponding to a head in a single functional sequence which is responsible for building demonstratives, complementizers, relativizers, and wh‐pronouns (for alternative decompositions of complementizers in Romance, Balkan, and Germanic, see also Baunaz,, to appear Sanfelice & Poletto; and Leu, respectively). Interestingly, moreover, many of the languages under discussion show a bound morpheme appearing as an integral part of the internal morphological makeup of quantifiers. This bound morpheme may also be syncretic with the complementizer (Romance ‐que/‐che, Serbo‐Croatian ‐što, Modern Greek ‐ti, Finnish ‐kin, and Hungarianho‐) or not (Germanic ‐thing/‐ting, for which see also Leu). We call this the ‘nominal core’ (n), and its behavior with regard to syncretism is crucial for determining the hierarchical ordering of the functional sequence.
West Nile Virus lineage‐2 inCulexspecimens from Iran
Authors: Shahhosseini Nariman , Chinikar Sadegh , Moosa‐Kazemi Seyed Hassan , Sedaghat Mohammad Mehdi , Kayedi Mohammad Hassan , Lühken Renke , Schmidt‐Chanasit Jonas
Published: July 2017

Objective

Screening of mosquitoes for viruses is an important forecasting tool for emerging and re‐emerging arboviruses. Iran has been known to harbour medically important arboviruses such as West Nile virus (WNV) and dengue virus (DENV) based on seroepidemiological data. However, there are no data about the potential mosquito vectors for arboviruses in Iran. This study was performed to provide mosquito and arbovirus data from Iran.

Materials and Methods

A total of 32 317 mosquitos were collected at 16 sites in five provinces of Iran in 2015 and 2016.RT‐PCRfor detection of flaviviruses was performed. ThePCRamplicons were sequenced, and 109WNVsequences, including one obtained in this study, were used for phylogenetic analyses.

Results

The 32 317 mosquito specimens belonging to 25 species were morphologically distinguished and distributed into 1222 pools.Culex pipienss.l. comprised 56.429%. One mosquito pool (0.08%), containing 46 unfedCx. pipiens pipiensformpipiens(Cpp) captured in August 2015,was positive for flavivirusRNA. Subsequent sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the detected IranianWNVstrain belongs to lineage 2 and clusters with a strain recently detected in humans. No flaviviruses other thanWNVwere detected in the mosquito pools.

Conclusion

Cpp could be a vector forWNVin Iran. Our findings indicate recent circulation ofWNVlineage‐2 strain in Iran and provide a solid base for more targeted arbovirus surveillance programs.
The Political Biographies of Social Workers in a Neoliberal Era
Authors: Gwilym Hefin
Published: July 2017

It is argued in this article that since the 1980s there has been a paradigm shift away from social work as a social justice and social transformative profession to a depoliticised, neutral and technocratic activity. This shift has occured during the era of neoliberalism which some commentators regard as an example of ‘hegemony’ at work in the social work profession. The article contextualises the political nature of social work and the ascendancy of neoliberalism and its ally managerialism in the profession. It explores these phenomena through an empirical study of the political biographies of fourteen social workers who have developed into political careers, such as parliamentarians. Fourteen biographical interviews were conducted and analysed using a constructivist grounded theory analysis process. The findings demonstrate how participants sustained their social work identity in the face of the neoliberal ascendancy within the social work profession and maintained a stable social reformist political identity throughout their life course to date. It also demonstrates how strongly attached the participants are to their social work identity during their political careers. The research has importance for the social work profession not least because this group can advocate on behalf of the profession at a critical time.
Internal carotid, external carotid and vertebral artery blood flow responses to 3 days of head‐out dry immersion
Authors: Ogoh Shigehiko , Hirasawa Ai , de Abreu Steven , Denise Pierre , Normand Hervé
Published: July 2017

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

The extent to which weightlessness associated with a fluid shift from the peripheral to the central circulation influences the blood flow in each cerebral artery remains unknown. The present study was designed to explore the effect of short‐term weightlessness conditions on both anterior and posterior cerebral blood flow.

What is the main finding and its importance?

Short‐term weightlessness affects both anterior and posterior cerebral vasculature. However, a heterogeneous cerebral blood flow response in each cerebral artery did not occur during 3 days of dry immersion.

We have recently demonstrated that a heterogeneous cerebral blood flow (CBF) response in each cerebral artery might contribute to the maintenance of circulatory homeostasis in the brain. However, the extent to which weightlessness associated with a fluid shift from the peripheral to the central circulation influences the distribution of CBF in each cerebral artery remains unknown. We hypothesized that a dry immersion‐induced fluid shift (weightlessness conditions) would cause a heterogeneous CBF response in each cerebral artery. During and after 3 days of dry immersion, the blood flows in the internal carotid (ICA), external carotid (ECA) and vertebral arteries (VA) were measured by Doppler ultrasonography using an 8 MHz linear transducer. Although the 3 days of dry immersion and the 2 days recovery period did not change the blood flow in each cerebral artery, the conductance in both ICA and VA decreased during dry immersion on days 2 and 3 (ICA, 2.95 and 3.23 ml min−1 mmHg−1; VA, 1.10 and 1.05 ml min−1 mmHg−1, respectively) from the baseline (ICA, 3.47 ml min−1 mmHg−1, P = 0.027; VA, 1.23 ml min−1 mmHg−1, P = 0.004). In addition, Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated that the 3 days of dry immersion induced a decrease in cardiac output (P = 0.004) that was associated with changes in ICA (P = 0.046) and VA blood flow (P = 0.021), but not ECA blood flow (P = 0.466). These findings suggest that short exposures to weightlessness, acting via a cephalad redistribution of fluid volume and blood flow in the human body, influenced the cerebral vasculature in each cerebral artery but did not cause a heterogeneous CBF response in each cerebral artery.
An Adaptive Fuzzy H∞ Synergetic Approach to Robust Control
Authors: Medjbeur L. , Harmas M. N. , Benaggoune S. , Zehar K.
Published: July 2017

Robust control often requires some adaptive approach in evaluating systems dynamics to handle parameters variations and external disturbances. Therefore, an error due to dynamics approximation is inevitably added to uncertainties already present in the model. This issue is addressed in this paper, through the combination of two robust techniques, Hinf and synergetic control. These latter are used to ensure reducing tracking error in the overall closed-loop system while guaranteeing stability via Lyapunov synthesis. With the aim of handling parameters variations, an indirect adaptive fuzzy scheme is used to elaborate system model. Simulation studies are conducted to assess the proposed approach on two practical systems, and the results are compared to a sliding mode proportional integral (PI)-based technique. It is to be noted that a large class of systems depicted as control affine systems will be considered in this paper. An induction motor and an inverted pendulum representing, respectively, a linear and a nonlinear system are utilized in this study showing improvement due to the suggested approach, in overall performance over its sliding mode control counterpart.