bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrochemotherapy with bleomycin associated with doxorubicin induces tumor regression and decreases the proliferative index in canine cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Anjos Denner S. , Bueno Cynthia , Magalhães Larissa F. , Magalhães Georgia M. , Mattos-Junior Ewaldo , Pinto Marcela M.R. , Nardi Andrigo B. De , Brunner Carlos H.M. , Leis-Filho Antonio F. , Fonseca-Alves Carlos E. , Calazans Sabryna G.
Published: November 2018

Canine cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is the most common skin cancer in dogs, and due to its low metastatic rate, local treatments such as electrochemotherapy (ECT) promote disease control or even complete remission and increase the survival time in most cases. This study aimed to evaluate the expression of BAX, Bcl-2, and Ki67 and clinical parameters in dogs with cSCC subjected to ECT. A prospective clinical nonrandomized study was performed in dogs with naturally occurring cSCC treated with ECT. Eighteen lesions (from 11 dogs) were selected, independent of breed, sex and age. The ECT protocol consisted of bleomycin plus doxorubicin followed by electric pulses characterized by 8 biphasic electric pulses lasting 100 ms, 1 Hz and 1000 V/cm. Among the 18 lesions, the lesion volume significantly decreased after treatment (p=0.04). The tumor size at D0 had no impact on survival time or prognosis (P>0.05). A decreased mitotic index was observed at compared with D0 (P=0.019). We also observed more intratumoral necrosis at D21 compared to D0 (P=0.041). The median expression level of Ki67 was 277.96 at D0 and 193.92 at D21. Thus, tumor samples had a lower proliferative index after ECT (D21) (P=0.031). The survival times of subjects with Ki67 values lower and higher than the Ki67 median value were not significantly different (P>0.05). Regarding apoptotic markers, there was no significant difference in BAX or Bcl-2 expression between D0 and D21 (P>0.05) or in overall survival between subjects with different levels of apoptotic markers. Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between BAX and Bcl-2 before ECT (D0) (P=0.0379, r=0.5067). In conclusion, there was no change in BAX and Bcl-2 protein expression levels in response to ECT at the time points evaluated, and ECT was able to reduce tumor volume and cellular proliferation in cSCC.
BEAST 2.5: An Advanced Software Platform for Bayesian Evolutionary Analysis
Authors: Bouckaert Remco , Vaughan Timothy G. , Barido-Sottani Joëlle , Duchêne Sebastián , Fourment Mathieu , Gavryushkina Alexandra , Heled Joseph , Jones Graham , Kühnert Denise , Maio Nicola De , Matschiner Michael , Mendes Fábio K. , Müller Nicola F. , Ogilvie Huw , Plessis Louis du , Popinga Alex , Rambaut Andrew , Rasmussen David , Siveroni Igor , Suchard Marc A. , Wu Chieh-Hsi , Xie Dong , Zhang Chi , Stadler Tanja , Drummond Alexei J.
Published: November 2018

Elaboration of Bayesian phylogenetic inference methods has continued at pace in recent years with major new advances in nearly all aspects of the joint modelling of evolutionary data. It is increasingly appreciated that some evolutionary questions can only be adequately answered by combining evidence from multiple independent sources of data, including genome sequences, sampling dates, phenotypic data, radiocarbon dates, fossil occurrences, and biogeographic range information among others. Including all relevant data into a single joint model is very challenging both conceptually and computationally. Advanced computational software packages that allow robust development of compatible (sub-)models which can be composed into a full model hierarchy have played a key role in these developments.

Developing such software frameworks is increasingly a major scientific activity in its own right, and comes with specific challenges, from practical software design, development and engineering challenges to statistical and conceptual modelling challenges. BEAST 2 is one such computational software platform, and was first announced over 4 years ago. Here we describe a series of major new developments in the BEAST 2 core platform and model hierarchy that have occurred since the first release of the software, culminating in the recent 2.5 release.

Author summary

Bayesian phylogenetic inference methods have undergone considerable development in recent years, and joint modelling of rich evolutionary data, including genomes, phenotypes and fossil occurrences is increasingly common. Advanced computational software packages that allow robust development of compatible (sub-)models which can be composed into a full model hierarchy have played a key role in these developments. Developing scientific software is increasingly crucial to advancement in many fields of biology. The challenges range from practical software development and engineering, distributed team coordination, conceptual development and statistical modelling, to validation and testing. BEAST 2 is one such computational software platform for phylogenetics, population genetics and phylodynamics, and was first announced over 4 years ago. Here we describe the full range of new tools and models available on the BEAST 2.5 platform, which expand joint evolutionary inference in many new directions, especially for joint inference over multiple data types, non-tree models and complex phylodynamics.
MTS1338, a smallMycobacterium tuberculosisRNA, regulates transcriptional shifts consistent with bacterial adaptation for entering into dormancy and survival within host macrophages
Authors: Salina Elena G. , Grigorov Artem , Skvortsova Yulia , Majorov Konstantin , Bychenko Oksana , Ostrik Albina , Logunova Nadezhda , Ignatov Dmitriy , Kaprelyants Arseny , Apt Alexander , Azhikina Tatyana
Published: November 2018

Small non-coding RNAs play a significant role in bacterial adaptation to changing environmental conditions. We investigated the dynamics of expression of MTS1338, a small non-coding RNA ofMycobacterium tuberculosis, in the mouse modelin vivo, regulation of its expression in theex vivoinfected macrophages, and the consequences of its overexpression in bacterial cultures. Here we demonstrate that MTS1338 significantly contributes to host-pathogen interactions. Activation of the host immune system triggered NO-inducible up-regulation of MTS1338 in macrophage-engulfed mycobacteria. Constitutive overexpression of MTS1338 in cultured mycobacteria improved their survivalin vitrounder low pH conditions. MTS1338 up-regulation launched a spectrum of shifts in the transcriptome profile similar to those reported forM. tuberculosisadaptation to hostile intra-macrophage environment. Using the RNA-seq approach, we demonstrate that gene expression changes accompanying MTS1338 overexpression indicate reduction in translational activity and bacterial growth, which is consistent with entering the dormant state. Taken together, our results suggest a direct involvement on this sRNA in the interplay between mycobacteria and the host immune system during infectious process.
How does cilium length affect beating?
Authors: Bottier M. , Thomas KA. , Dutcher SK. , Bayly PV.
Published: November 2018

The effects of cilium length on the dynamics of cilia motion were investigated by high-speed video microscopy of uniciliate mutants of the swimming alga,Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.Cells with short cilia were obtained by deciliating cells via pH shock and allowing cilia to reassemble for limited times. The frequency of cilia beating was estimated from motion of the cell body and of the cilium. Key features of the ciliary waveform were quantified from polynomial curves fitted to the cilium in each image frame. Most notably, periodic beating did not emerge until the cilium reached a critical length between 2-4 µm. Surprisingly, in cells that exhibited periodic beating, the frequency of beating was similar for all lengths with only a slight decrease in frequency as length increased from 4 µm to the normal length of 10-12 µm. The waveform average curvature (rad/µm) was also conserved as the cilium grew. The mechanical metrics of ciliary propulsion: force, torque, and power all increased in proportion to length. Mechanical efficiency of beating appeared to be maximal at the normal wild-type length of 10-12 μm. These quantitative features of ciliary behavior illuminate the biophysics of cilia motion and, in future studies, may help distinguish competing hypotheses of the underlying mechanism of oscillation.
Distributed correlates of visually-guided behavior across the mouse brain
Authors: Steinmetz Nicholas A. , Zatka-Haas Peter , Carandini Matteo , Harris Kenneth D.
Published: November 2018

Behavior arises from neuronal activity, but it is not known how the active neurons are distributed across brain regions and how their activity unfolds in time. Here, we used high-density Neuropixels probes to record from ~30,000 neurons in mice performing a visual contrast discrimination task. The task activated 60% of the neurons, involving nearly all 42 recorded brain regions, well beyond the regions activated by passive visual stimulation. However, neurons selective for choice (left vs. right) were rare, and found mostly in midbrain, striatum, and frontal cortex. Those in midbrain were typically activated prior to contralateral choices and suppressed prior to ipsilateral choices, consistent with a competitive midbrain circuit for adjudicating the subject’s choice. A brain-wide state shift distinguished trials in which visual stimuli led to movement. These results reveal concurrent representations of movement and choice in neurons widely distributed across the brain.
A good man is hard to find: project management, entrepreneurship and serendipity
Authors: Gartner William B.
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper commentary is to explore the intersection of project management and entrepreneurship through a poetic exploration of Flannery O’Connor’s short story: “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” Through the use of the Japanese Haiku format, this commentary probes the nature and meaning of “projects,” the importance of goals and their limitations, the influence of context across time, and the role of agency and circumstance in entrepreneurship as denoted by the idea of serendipity.

Design/methodology/approach

Poesis.

Findings

Imagination steers the course. Vision sees the possibility; But the mind’s eye sees through a distorted lens that is always misfit. So the unplanned path becomes the project. Always; Accidents happen.

Originality/value

Project Management: Goals with temporary; Collective action; Entrepreneurship: “Organizing collective Action.” Compromise?
Remittances, ICT and doing business in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Asongu Simplice , Biekpe Nicholas , Tchamyou Vanessa
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how linkages between information and communication technology (ICT) and remittances affect the doing of business.

Design/methodology/approach

The focus is on a panel of 49 Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries for the period 2000–2012. The empirical evidence is based on the generalized method of moments.

Findings

While the authors establish some appealing results in terms of net negative effects on constraints to the doing of business (i.e. time to start a business and time to pay taxes), some positive net effects are also apparent (i.e. number of start-up procedures, time to build a warehouse and time to register a property). The authors also establish ICT penetration thresholds at which the unconditional effect of remittances can be changed from positive to negative, notably: for the number of start-up procedures, an internet level of 9.00 penetration per 100 people is required, while for the time to build a warehouse, a mobile phone penetration level of 32.33 penetration per 100 people is essential. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to assess linkages between ICT, remittances and doing business in SSA.
Large-cap vs small-cap portfolio performance: new empirical evidence from ETFs
Authors: Rompotis Gerasimos
Published: November 2018

Purpose

A well-documented pattern in the literature concerns the outperformance of small-cap stocks relative to their larger-cap counterparts. This paper aims to address the “small-cap versus large-cap” issue using for the first time data from the exchange traded funds (ETFs) industry.

Design/methodology/approach

Several raw return and risk-adjusted return metrics are estimated over the period 2012-2016.

Findings

Results are partially supportive of the “size effect”. In particular, small-cap ETFs outperform large-cap ETFs in overall raw return terms even though they fail the risk test. However, outperformance is not consistent on an annual basis. When risk-adjusted returns are taken into consideration, small-cap ETFs are inferior to their large-cap counterparts.

Research limitations/implications

This research only covers the ETF market in the USA. However, given the tremendous growth of ETF markets worldwide, a similar examination of the “small vs large capitalization” issue could be conducted with data from other developed ETF markets in Europe and Asia. In such a case, useful comparisons could be made, so that we could conclude whether the findings of the current study are unique and US-specific or whether they could be generalized across the several international ETF markets.

Practical implications

A possible generalization of the findings would entail that profitable investment strategies could be based on the different performance and risk characteristics of small- and large-cap ETFs.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine the performance of ETFs investing in large-cap stock indicesvis-à-visthe performance of ETFs tracking indices comprised of small-cap stocks.
Maize‐dominated landscapes reduce bumblebee colony growth through pollen diversity loss
Authors: Hass Annika Louise , Brachmann Lara , Batáry Péter , Clough Yann , Behling Hermann , Tscharntke Teja
Published: November 2018

Bumblebees are important pollinators for a wide range of crops and wild plants. Performance of their colonies depends on pollen and nectar as food resources, but flowering plants are scarce in modern agricultural landscapes. It is well‐known that semi‐natural habitats can enhance floral resources and bumblebee abundance, but the impact of different crop types and their heterogeneity at the landscape scale remains unclear.

We tested the effect of two different crop types (oilseed rape [OSR] and maize) and of configurational (field border density) and compositional heterogeneity (crop diversity) on weight gain of buff‐tailed bumblebee colonies (Bombus terrestris) and the pollen diversity collected by them in 20 landscapes in Central Germany.

We found that augmenting maize cover had a detrimental effect on pollen diversity collected by bumblebees, probably due to intensive management resulting in low plant diversity. This low pollen diversity translated into reduced colony growth, since colonies with high pollen diversity gained more weight than colonies with low pollen diversity.

In contrast, OSR cover and configurational and compositional heterogeneity did neither affect colony growth nor pollen diversity. However, for OSR, the timing of the flowering period was important. When OSR fields had a high flower cover at the end of the OSR blooming period, colonies showed increased growth rates.

Synthesis and applications. Our results complement previous laboratory studies by showing that high pollen diversity leads to better colony performance under field conditions. Therefore, the maintenance of floral diversity in agricultural landscapes is crucial to ensure that bumblebees can fulfil their nutritional needs. However, the heterogeneity of crops, at least under the currently very low levels of crop rotation, does not contribute to this aim. In contrast, crop identity and timing of mass‐flowering crops turned out to be important factors, as maize reduced pollen resources, while late blooming oilseed rape (OSR) was beneficial to bumblebee colonies. Hence, maize cover per landscape should be reduced and strategies to enhance landscape wide flower diversity, especially towards and after the end of oilseed rape bloom, should be promoted to support bumblebee colonies that provide important pollination services.
Safety and acceptability of medical abortion through telemedicine after 9 weeks of gestation: a population‐based cohort study
Authors: Endler M , Beets L , Gemzell Danielsson K , Gomperts R
Published: November 2018

Objective

To assess the safety and acceptability of abortion through telemedicine at >9+0 weeks of gestation.

Design

Cohort study.

Setting

Poland.

Population

Six hundred and fifteen women who requested and underwent a abortion through telemedicine from 1 June to 31 December 2016.

Methods

Risks of adverse outcomes were calculated as adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) by unconditional logistic regression according to gestational age at abortion: ≤9 or >9 weeks of gestation.

Main outcome measures

Self‐reported clinical visits for complaints related to the abortion within 0–1 days of the treatment, heavy bleeding, pain or bleeding more than expected, and low satisfaction.

Results

Among women undergoing a abortion at ≤9 or >9 weeks of gestation, 3.3 versus 11.7% went to hospital with concerns within 0–1 days of the termination (aOR 3.82, 95% CI 1.90–7.69). Among women undergoing a abortion from 11+1 to 14+2 weeks of gestation, the rate was 22.5% (aOR 9.20, 95% CI 3.58–23.60). Among women undergoing a abortion at ≤9 or >9 weeks of gestation, the rate of heavy bleeding was 6.8 versus 10.1% (aOR 1.65, 95% CI 0.90–3.04), the rate of low satisfaction was 2.4 versus 1.6% (aOR 0.69, 95% CI 0.14–3.36), the rate of bleeding more than expected was 45.6 versus 57.8% (aOR 1.26, 95% CI 0.78–2.02), and the rate of pain more than expected was 35.6 versus 38.8% (aOR 1.11, 95% CI 0.71–1.71).

Conclusions

Medical abortion through telemedicine at >9 weeks of gestation is associated with a higher risk of same‐day or day‐after clinical visits for concerns related to the procedure, and this risk increases with gestational age. Self‐reported rates of heavy bleeding, low satisfaction, or unmet expectations with medical abortion do not increase with gestational age.

Tweetable abstract

A cohort study shows that abortion through telemedicine at >9 weeks of gestation is associated with more hospital visits but not with increased bleeding.
Association of common type 1 and type 2 diabetes gene variants with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Ramu Deepika , Perumal Venkatesan , Paul Solomon F. D.
Published: November 2018

Background

The aim of this meta‐analysis was to determine the association of common type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) gene variants (protein tyrosine phosphatase non‐receptor 22 [PTPN22] rs2476601C/T, insulin [INS] rs689A/T and transcription factor 7‐like 2 [TCF7L2] rs7903146C/T) with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA).

Methods

A systematic search of electronic databases was conducted up to 2017 and data from 16 independent case‐control studies for three gene variants were pooled. The pooled allele and genotype frequencies for each T1D and T2D gene variant were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the strength of the association. Heterogeneity tests and evaluation of publication bias were performed for all studies.

Results

In all, 8869 cases and 20 829 controls pooled from 16 case‐control studies were included in the analysis. For rs2476601, a significant association was found for homozygote TT (OR 2.67; 95% CI 1.92‐3.70; P < 0.0001), heterozygote CT (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.44‐1.79; P < 0.0001), and the T allele (OR 1.62; 95% CI 1.48‐1.78; P < 0.0001). Overall, a significant inverse association was observed for rs689 in the TT genotype (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.30‐0.64; P < 0.0001), AT genotype (OR 0.53; 95% CI 0.45‐0.62; P < 0.0001), and T allele (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.52‐0.71; P < 0.0001). For the rs7903146 polymorphism, the T allele (OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.00‐1.40; P = 0.04) may be associated with the risk of LADA.

Conclusion

The rs2476601C/T, rs689A/T, and rs7903146C/T polymorphisms were found to be associated with the risk of LADA, thereby indicating that, genetically, LADA could be an admixture of both T1D and T2D.
Quantitative analysis of connectivity in populations of a semi‐aquatic mammal using kinship categories and network assortativity
Authors: Escoda Lídia , Fernández‐González Ángel , Castresana Jose
Published: November 2018

Analysing the impact of anthropogenic and natural river barriers on the dispersal of aquatic and semi‐aquatic species may be critical for their conservation. Knowledge of kinship relationships between individuals and reconstructions of pedigrees obtained using genomic data can be extremely useful, not only for studying the social organization of animals, but also inferring contemporary dispersal and quantifying the effect of specific barriers on current connectivity. In this study, we used kinship data to analyse connectivity patterns in a small semi‐aquatic mammal, the Pyrenean desman (Galemys pyrenaicus), in an area comprising two river systems with close headwaters and dams of various heights and types. Using a large SNP dataset from 70 specimens, we obtained kinship categories and reconstructed pedigrees. To quantify the barrier effect of specific obstacles, we built kinship networks and devised a method based on the assortativity coefficient, which measures the proportion between observed and expected kinship relationships across a barrier. The estimation of this parameter enabled us to infer that the most important barrier in the area was the watershed divide between the rivers, followed by a dam on one of the rivers. Other barriers did not significantly reduce the expected number of kinship relationships across them. This strategy and the information obtained with it may be crucial in determining the most important connectivity problems in an area and help develop conservation plans aimed at improving genetic exchange between populations of threatened species.
Temporal pattern of neuronal insulin release during Caenorhabditis elegans aging: Role of redox homeostasis
Authors: Minniti Alicia N. , Arriagada Héctor , Zúñiga Soledad , Bravo‐Zehnder Marcela , Alfaro Iván E. , Aldunate Rebeca
Published: November 2018

The insulin‐IGF‐1/DAF‐2 pathway has a central role in the determination of aging and longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans and other organisms. In this paper, we measured neuronal insulin secretion (using INS‐22::Venus) during C. elegans lifespan and monitored how this secretion is modified by redox homeostasis. We showed that INS‐22::Venus secretion fluctuates during the organism lifetime reaching maximum levels in the active reproductive stage. We also demonstrate that long‐lived daf‐2 insulin receptor mutants show remarkable low levels of INS‐22::Venus secretion. In contrast, we found that short‐lived mutant worms that lack the oxidation repair enzyme MSRA‐1 show increased levels of INS‐22::Venus secretion, specifically during the reproductive stage. MSRA‐1 is a target of the insulin‐IGF‐1/DAF‐2 pathway, and the expression of this antioxidant enzyme exclusively in the nervous system rescues the mutant insulin release phenotype and longevity. The msra‐1 mutant phenotype can also be reverted by antioxidant treatment during the active reproductive stage. We showed for the first time that there is a pattern of neuronal insulin release with a noticeable increment during the peak of reproduction. Our results suggest that redox homeostasis can modulate longevity through the regulation of insulin secretion, and that the insulin‐IGF‐1/DAF‐2 pathway could be regulated, at least in part, by a feedback loop. These findings highlight the importance of timing for therapeutic interventions aimed at improving health span.
The farming of trust:
Authors: SESHIA GALVIN SHAILA
Published: November 2018

Certification is increasingly used in diverse spheres of social, political, and economic life, in which it is associated with transparency projects and audit cultures. In the Doon Valley of the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, the state government has supported certified organic agriculture since the early 2000s. Although practices of document keeping and inspections required by organic certification were intended to make agrarian practices legible and transparent, in practice they often failed to do so. Officials charged with conducting certification ultimately framed organic agriculture as a moral enterprise, finding sentiments ofviśvās(trust, belief, or faith) to be crucial to their work. Rather than producing certainty and transparent knowledge, certification practices may generate forms of uncertainty that compel, and rely for their resolution on, sentiments of trust. [organic agriculture, certification, audit, transparency, trust, bureaucracy, India]
WHO laboratory validation of Xpert® CT/NG and Xpert® TV on the GeneXpert system verifies high performances
Authors: Jacobsson Susanne , Boiko Iryna , Golparian Daniel , Blondeel Karel , Kiarie James , Toskin Igor , Peeling Rosanna W. , Unemo Magnus
Published: November 2018

Effective tests for diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), used point of care to inform treatment and management decisions, are urgently needed. We evaluated the analytical sensitivity and specificity of the Xpert® CT/NG and Xpert® TV tests, examining 339 samples spiked with phenotypically and/or genetically diverse strains of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Trichomonas vaginalis, and other related species that may cross‐react. The APTIMA Combo 2 test and APTIMA TV test were used as reference tests. The analytical sensitivity for all three agents in the Xpert® CT/NG and Xpert® TV tests was ≤102 genome equivalents/reaction. The analytical specificity of both tests was high. False‐positive results were identified in the Xpert® TV test when challenging with high concentrations of Trichomonas tenax, Trichomonas gallinae, Trichomonas stableri, and Trichomonas aotus. However, the clinical relevance of these cross‐reactions can likely be neglected, because these species have not been identified in urogenital samples from humans. In conclusion, the analytical sensitivity and specificity of the user‐friendly Xpert® CT/NG and Xpert® TV tests on the GeneXpert system were high. The results support the use of specimens from also extra‐genital sites, for example, pharynx and rectum. However, appropriate clinical validations are additionally required.
The importance of early diagnosis of Mycobacterium abscessus complex in patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Ravnholt Cecilie , Kolpen Mette , Skov Marianne , Moser Claus , Katzenstein Terese L. , Pressler Tania , Høiby Niels , Qvist Tavs
Published: November 2018

Mycobacterium abscessus complex can cause severe lung infections and has proven to be a serious threat to patients with cystic fibrosis and a challenge for clinicians due to difficulties in timely diagnosis and complex multidrug treatment regimes. Mycobacterial culture is the gold standard for diagnosis, but in most cystic fibrosis centers it is performed less frequently than culture for other pathogens. Consensus today recommends just one annual mycobacterial culture for asymptomatic patients with cystic fibrosis, a strategy likely to lead to diagnostic delays. Postponement of diagnosis might be the deciding factor in whether an early colonization turns into chronic infection. This review highlights the latest developments in knowledge about the pathogenicity and clinical consequences of M. abscessus complex pulmonary disease, addressing the central theme of why pulmonary infection requires early identification and aggressive antibiotic treatment. The window of opportunity, before M. abscessus complex transforms from a mucosal colonizer to a chronic biofilm infection, is where microbial eradication is most likely to be successful, making early diagnosis essential for improved outcomes.
What the Doctors Don't See: Physicians as Gatekeepers, Injured Latino Immigrants, and Workers' Compensation System
Authors: Castillo Carla G.
Published: November 2018

Workers' compensation systems require injured employees to overcome cumbersome requirements in order to obtain health‐care and salary‐replacement benefits. The structural vulnerabilities of Latino immigrants put them at greater risk for workplace injuries and further complicate their search for redress. As a medico‐legal system, workers' compensation relies on medical professionals to interrogate the bodies of injured low‐wage immigrant workers. This article aims to clarify how workers' trajectories are impacted by interactions with health‐care system. Utilizing activist research methods, I collaborated with Fuerza Laboral, a worker center in Rhode Island, from the fall of 2013 to the end of 2014, to survey and interview injured Latino workers, physicians, and legal professionals. I bring together worker narratives and physician reflections to identify how the compensation system's reliance on biomedicine contributes to poor outcomes for injured immigrant workers. Considering the medical “gaze,” prejudice against injured workers, racial and ethnic bias in medicine, and the pitfalls of cultural competency training, I outline the mechanics of how the medical‐legal system corrodes the patient‐physician relationship. Evaluating the risks of positioning physicians as gatekeepers, I advocate for uncoupling medical evaluations from compensation cases, the importance of healthcare system reform, and medical curricula that emphasize structural analysis. Such reforms may liberalize access to health care for injured workers as well as stymie bias in medical education.
Transfers of landowner willingness to accept: A convergent validity and reliability test using choice experiments in two Canadian watersheds
Authors: Trenholm Ryan , Lantz Van , Haider Wolfgang , Knowler Duncan
Published: November 2018

We examined the reliability and validity of transferring estimates of marginal willingness to accept and compensating surplus. In doing so, we used data from two case studies applying choice experiments to elicit landowner preferences for incentive‐based wetland conservation programs in two adjacent watersheds in Southern Ontario, Canada (Grand and Upper Thames Rivers in parallel in 2013). The choice experiment data were modeled in willingness to accept space using a generalized multinomial logit. Transfer reliability was investigated by calculating transfer errors, while validity was investigated by testing the equality of utility functions as well as by assessing the similarity of welfare estimates using traditional hypothesis tests and equivalence tests. The main findings are that transfers of willingness to accept are similar to existing transfers of willingness to pay in terms of validity and reliability. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis finds that including demographic variables in the choice model can lead to lower transfer validity though does not substantially affect reliability. Though further research is required, our results suggest that willingness to accept can be transferred as part of policy analyses.
Glycaemic efficacy and safety of linagliptin compared to a basal‐bolus insulin regimen in patients with type 2 diabetes undergoing non‐cardiac surgery: A multicentre randomized clinical trial
Authors: Vellanki Priyathama , Rasouli Neda , Baldwin David , Alexanian Sara , Anzola Isabel , Urrutia Maria , Cardona Saumeth , Peng Limin , Pasquel Francisco J. , Umpierrez Guillermo E. ,   Linagliptin Inpatient Research Group
Published: November 2018

Aims

The use of incretin‐based therapy, rather than or complementary to, insulin therapy is an active area of research in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). We determined the glycaemic efficacy and safety of linagliptin compared to a basal‐bolus insulin regimen in hospitalized surgical patients with T2D.

Materials and Methods

This prospective open‐label multicentre study randomized T2D patients undergoing non‐cardiac surgery with admission blood glucose (BG) of 7.8 to 22.2 mmol/L who were under treatment with diet, oral agents or total insulin dose (TDD) ≤ 0.5 units/kg/day to either linagliptin (n = 128) daily or basal‐bolus (n = 122) with glargine once daily and rapid‐acting insulin before meals. Both groups received supplemental insulin for BG > 7.8 mmol/L. The primary endpoint was difference in mean daily BG between groups.

Results

Mean daily BG was higher in the linagliptin group compared to the basal‐bolus group (9.5 ± 2.6 vs 8.8 ± 2.3 mmol/L/dL, P = 0.03) with a mean daily BG difference of 0.6 mmol/L (95% confidence interval 0.04, 1.2). In patients with randomization BG < 11.1 mmol/L (63% of cohort), mean daily BG was similar in the linagliptin and basal‐bolus groups (8.9 ± 2.3 vs 8.7 ± 2.3 mmol/L, P = 0.43); however, patients with BG ≥ 11.1 mmol/L who were treated with linagliptin had higher BG compared to the basal‐bolus group (10.9 ± 2.6 vs 9.2 ± 2.2 mmol/L, P < 0.001). Linagliptin resulted in fewer hypoglycaemic events (1.6% vs 11%, P = 0.001; 86% relative risk reduction), with similar supplemental insulin and fewer daily insulin injections (2.0 ± 3.3 vs 3.1 ± 3.3, P < 0.001) compared to the basal‐bolus group.

Conclusions

For patients with T2D undergoing non‐cardiac surgery who presented with mild to moderate hyperglycaemia (BG < 11.1 mmol/L), daily linagliptin is a safe and effective alternative to multi‐dose insulin therapy, resulting in similar glucose control with lower hypoglycaemia.
Consequences of ignoring spatial variation in population trend when conducting a power analysis
Authors: Weiser Emily L. , Diffendorfer Jay E. , López‐Hoffman Laura , Semmens Darius , Thogmartin Wayne E.
Published: November 2018

Long‐term, large‐scale monitoring programs are becoming increasingly common to document status and trends of wild populations. A successful program for monitoring population trend hinges on the ability to detect the trend of interest. Power analyses are useful for quantifying the sample size needed for trend detection, given expected variation in the population. Four components of variation (within‐year variation at a given site, interannual variation within a site, variation among sites in the interannual variation, and variation among sites in mean abundance or density) are commonly considered in power analyses for population trend, but a fifth is rarely considered: variation among sites in the local trend. Spatial variation in trend is expected to reduce statistical power, but the magnitude of this reduction has not been fully explored. We used computer simulations to evaluate the consequences of ignoring spatial variation in trend under a variety of sampling designs and wide ranges of other components of variation. The effect of spatial variation in trend on power was minor when other input parameters took extreme values that made the trend either very difficult or very easy to detect. However, at moderate values of the other parameters, spatial variation in trend had a strong effect, reducing statistical power by up to 60%. In some cases, ignoring spatial variation in trend resulted in an 80% probability of a type I error (falsely detecting a trend in a stable population). Spatial variation in trend is therefore an important consideration when designing a long‐term monitoring program for many species, especially those affected by local conditions at sites that are repeatedly surveyed. If variation in trend is ignored, as in many previous power analyses, the recommended sampling design will likely be insufficient to detect the trend of interest and lead to potentially false conclusions of a stable population.
How chemotherapy and radiotherapy damage the tissue: Comparative biology lessons from feather and hair models
Authors: Gao QingXiang , Zhou GuiXuan , Lin Sung‐Jan , Paus Ralf , Yue ZhiCao
Published: November 2018

Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are common modalities for cancer treatment. While targeting rapidly growing cancer cells, they also damage normal tissues and cause adverse effects. From the initial insult such as DNA double‐strand break, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a general stress response, there are complex regulatory mechanisms that control the actual tissue damage process. Besides apoptosis, a range of outcomes for the damaged cells are possible including cell cycle arrest, senescence, mitotic catastrophe, and inflammatory responses and fibrosis at the tissue level. Feather and hair are among the most actively proliferating (mini‐)organs and are highly susceptible to both chemotherapy and radiotherapy damage, thus provide excellent, experimentally tractable model systems for dissecting how normal tissues respond to such injuries. Taking a comparative biology approach to investigate this has turned out to be particularly productive. Started in chicken feather and then extended to murine hair follicles, it was revealed that in addition to p53‐mediated apoptosis, several other previously overlooked mechanisms are involved. Specifically, Shh, Wnt, mTOR, cytokine signalling and ROS‐mediated degradation of adherens junctions have been implicated in the damage and/or reparative regeneration process. Moreover, we show here that inflammatory responses, which can be prominent upon histological examination of chemo‐ or radiotherapy‐damaged hair follicle, may not be essential for the hair loss phenotype. These studies point to fundamental, evolutionarily conserved mechanisms in controlling tissue responses in vivo, and suggest novel strategies for the prevention and management of adverse effects that arise from chemo‐ or radiotherapy.
Insights into the regeneration of skin from Acomys, the spiny mouse
Authors: Maden Malcolm , Brant Jason O.
Published: November 2018

Members of the Acomys genus, known as spiny mice, are unique among mammals in being perfectly capable of regenerating large areas of skin that have been removed. During this regenerative process hairs, sebaceous glands, erector pili muscles, adipocytes and the panniculus carnosus all regenerate and the dermis does not scar. We review here the processes that the epidermis and the individual components of the dermis undergo during spiny mouse regeneration as well as the molecules that have been identified as potentially important in regeneration. We then relate this to what has been proposed as playing a role in studies from the laboratory mouse, Mus musculus. Differences in the immune systems of spiny mice and laboratory mice are also highlighted as this is suggested to play a part not only in the perfect wound healing that embryos display but also in regeneration in lower vertebrates.
Integrated Hydrological Modeling of Climate Change Impacts in a Snow‐Influenced Catchment
Authors: Cochand Fabien , Therrien René , Lemieux Jean‐Michel
Published: November 2018

The potential impact of climate change on water resources has been intensively studied for different regions and climates across the world. In regions where winter processes such as snowfall and melting play a significant role, anticipated changes in temperature might significantly affect hydrological systems. To address this impact, modifications have been made to the fully integrated surface‐subsurface flow model HydroGeoSphere (HGS) to allow the simulation of snow accumulation and melting. The modified HGS model was used to assess the potential impact of climate change on surface and subsurface flow in the Saint‐Charles River catchment, Quebec (Canada) for the period 2070 to 2100. The model was first developed and calibrated to reproduce observed streamflow and hydraulic heads for current climate conditions. The calibrated model was then used with three different climate scenarios to simulate surface flow and groundwater dynamics for the 2070 to 2100 period. Winter stream discharges are predicted to increase by about 80, 120, and 150% for the three scenarios due to warmer winters, leading to more liquid precipitation and more snowmelt. Conversely, the summer stream discharges are predicted to fall by about 10, 15, and 20% due to an increase in evapotranspiration. However, the annual mean stream discharge should remain stable (±0.1 m3/s). The predicted increase in hydraulic heads in winter may reach 15 m and the maximum decrease in summer may reach 3 m. Simulations show that winter processes play a key role in the seasonal modifications anticipated for surface and subsurface flow dynamics.
Ranges and drivers of risk associated with sports and recreational activities in people with haemophilia: results of the Activity‐Intensity‐Risk Consensus Survey of US physical therapists
Authors: Hernandez Grace , Baumann Kimberly , Knight Susan , Purrington Heidi , Gilgannon Marc , Newman Jennifer , Tobase Patricia , Mathew Sheba , Cooper David L.
Published: November 2018

Introduction

Limited evidence describes physical activity‐associated bleeding risks for people with haemophilia, and risks are usually described only generically.

Aim

To assess activity‐specific ranges of risk for joint, soft tissue and head bleeds by identifying inherent and modifiable risk factors associated with each activity, based on opinions of expert physical therapists (PTs).

Methods

Physical therapists from US haemophilia treatment centres (HTCs) participated in a survey of 101 physical activities. For each activity, PTs provided minimum/maximum risk scores (low = 1; high = 5), and indicated specific bleeding risks in six joints and three injury types (bruising, muscle bleeding, head injury). Risk drivers were identified from free‐text comments and explored at a consensus meeting, where they were categorized as inherent or modifiable and activity‐driven or patient‐driven.

Results

Of 32 invited PTs, 17 participated; median experience was 24 years as a PT and 16 years at an HTC. Only a few activities had a wide range of risk assessments encompassing both lower and upper ends of the response range. Joint injury risks were consistent with position and physical requirements, and head and muscle bleed risks were associated with physical contact. Eight PTs participated in the consensus meeting; key risk drivers identified included progression from seasonal to year‐round participation, overtraining and improper body mechanics. Inherent risks included impact with surface/ball/equipment and field/surface condition; modifiable risks included safety equipment and tricks/stunts.

Conclusions

These data provide a framework for discussion with patients/families, recognizing how certain activities may be modified to decrease risk, and identifying activities with nonmodifiable inherent risks.
Systemic alterations induced by phospholipase A2, BmooTX‐I, isolated from Bothrops moojeni snake venom
Authors: Costa Kellen Cristina Torres , de Sousa Bruna Barbosa , Dias Edigar Henrique Vaz , Pereira Déborah Fernanda da Cunha , Matias Mariana Santos , Oliveira Wilson Júnior , Mundim Antônio Vicente , Mamede Carla Cristine Neves , Izidoro Luíz Fernando Moreira , Costa Júnia de Oliveira , de Oliveira Fábio
Published: November 2018

Ophidic accidents are among the problems of public health in Brazil. The components from bothropic venom are responsible for many systemic clinical complications resulting from envenomation. The present work aimed to analyse the systemic changes induced in mice after intraperitoneal administration of BmooTX‐I, a myotoxic acidic phospholipase A2 isolated from Bothrops moojeni venom. Urinalysis was performed and the following plasma biochemical markers were documented: urea, creatinine and uric acid (renal function); glucose and amylase (pancreatic function); alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and gamma‐GT (intra‐ and extrahepatic function); creatine kinase and enzymatic lactate (muscle function). Our results showed that after the intraperitoneal injection of BmooTX‐I the urine of these animals showed glycosuria, proteinuria, haematuria, bacteriuria, bilirubinuria, polyuria and nitrite. The plasma biochemical analysis showed alterations in levels of urea, creatinine and uric acid. Amylase concentration was not altered significantly, but the plasma glucose increased significantly compared to controls. The plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase decreased and increased, respectively, in these same animals. On the other hand, the plasma γGT concentration did not undergo significant modification compared to the control group. The plasma concentration of CK increased, while the enzymatic lactate concentration decreased after the injection of the BmooTX‐I. Therefore, in mice BmooTX‐I is capable of causing systemic alterations which manifest as renal, muscular, hepatic and pancreatic impairment.
Synthesis, optical, and magnetic properties of six‐layered Aurivillius bismuth ferrititanate
Authors: Huang Yanlin , Mi Longqing , Qin Jie , Bi Shala , Seo Hyo Jin
Published: November 2018

This work reports on the preparation, structure, photochemical, and magnetic properties of six‐layered Aurivillius bismuth ferrititanates, that is, Bi7Ti3Fe3O21, Bi7(Ti2Nb)Fe3O21+δ, and Bi7(Ti2Mg)Fe3O21−δ nanoparticles. The samples were prepared through the modified citrate complexation and precursor film process. The XRD Rietveld refinements were conducted to study the phase formations and crystal structure. The morphological and chemical component characteristics were investigated using SEM, TEM, and EDX analyses. Bi7Ti3Fe3O21, Bi7(Ti2Nb)Fe3O21+δ, and Bi7(Ti2Mg)Fe3O21−δ nanoparticles present an indirect allowed transitions with band energies of 2.04, 2.03, and 2.02 eV, respectively. The hybridized (O2p+Fet2g+Bi6s) formed the valence band (VB) and electronic components of (Ti–3d+Fe–eg) formed the conduction band (CB) of this six‐layered Aurivillius bismuth ferrititanate. The three samples showed efficient photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) dyes with the excitation wavelength λ > 420 nm. The optical absorption, photodegradation, and magnetic abilities were improved through microstructural modification on “B” site via partial substitution of Mg2+ and Nb5+ for Ti4+. The photocatalytic results were discussed based on the layer structure and multivalent Fe ions. Fe3+/2+ in the perovskite slabs (Bi5Fe3Ti3O19)2− could act as the catalytic mediators in the photocatalysis process. As a photocatalyst, Aurivillius Bi7(Ti2Mg)Fe3O21−δ nanoparticle is advantageous due to its photocatalytic and magnetically recoverable abilities.