bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rationale and Models for Career Advancement Sponsorship in Academic Medicine: The Time Is Here; the Time Is Now
Authors: Gottlieb Amy S. , Travis Elizabeth L.
Published: July 2018

The business community has honed the concept of sponsorship and promulgated its utility for harnessing the talent of high-performing women and minorities whose contributions often go unrecognized within organizations. In recent years, academic medicine has begun to do the same. Whereas mentorship often centers on personal and professional development (e.g., skill building and goal setting), sponsorship focuses on enhancing the visibility, credibility, and professional networks of talented individuals. For upward career mobility, mentorship is limited in scope. Sponsorship, on the other hand, directly targets career advancement and is anchored in the sponsor’s awareness of organizational structures and critical professional opportunities for junior faculty. Men are more likely to garner sponsors informally, and these sponsors tend to be male. Existing disparities between male and female medical faculty in achievement of academic rank and leadership roles, compensation, and research support suggest that high-performing women have a visibility gap. Such systemic inequity reflects a suboptimal business model that limits organizational potential. Formal sponsorship programs that match women with senior leaders facilitate access to beneficial relationships and institutionalize the value of equal opportunity. In this Perspective, the authors describe two successful sponsorship models that exist within academic medicine, the Society of General Internal Medicine’s Career Advising Program and MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Leaders’ Sponsorship Program. They issue a call to action for much broader implementation of sponsorship programming to cultivate the advancement of all talented medical faculty and provide recommendations for such endeavors.
The Contextual Curriculum: Learning in the Matrix, Learning From the Matrix
Authors: Schrewe Brett , Ellaway Rachel H. , Watling Christopher , Bates Joanna
Published: July 2018

Changes in the health care landscape over the last 25 years have led to an expansion of training sites beyond the traditional academic health sciences center. The resulting contextual diversity in contemporary medical education affords new opportunities to consider the influence of contextual variation on learning. The authors describe how different contextual patterns in clinical learning environments—patients, clinical and educational practices, physical geography, health care systems, and culture—form a contextual learning matrix. Learners’ participation in this contextual matrix shapes what and how they learn, and who they might become as physicians.

Although competent performance is critically dependent on context, this dependence may not be actively considered or shaped by medical educators. Moreover, learners’ inability to recognize the educational affordances of different contexts may mean that they miss critical learning opportunities, which in turn may affect patient care, particularly in the unavoidable times of transition that characterize a professional career. Learners therefore need support in recognizing the variability of learning opportunities afforded by different training contexts. The authors set out the concept of the contextual curriculum in medical education as that which is learned both intentionally and unintentionally from the settings in which learning takes place. Further, the authors consider strategies for medical educators through which the contextual curriculum can be made apparent and tangible to learners as they navigate a professional trajectory where their environments are not fixed but fluid and where change is a constant.
Syndecan-2–positive, Bone Marrow–derived Human Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Attenuate Bacterial-induced Acute Lung Injury and Enhance Resolution of Ventilator-induced Lung Injury in Rats
Authors: Masterson Claire , Devaney James , Horie Shahd , O’Flynn Lisa , Deedigan Laura , Elliman Steve , Barry Frank , O’Brien Timothy , O’Toole Daniel , Laffey John G.
Published: July 2018

What We Already Know about This Topic

What This Article Tells Us That Is New

Background

Human mesenchymal stromal cells demonstrate promise for acute respiratory distress syndrome, but current studies use highly heterogenous cell populations. We hypothesized that a syndecan 2 (CD362)–expressing human mesenchymal stromal cell subpopulation would attenuate Escherichia coli–induced lung injury and enhance resolution after ventilator-induced lung injury.

Methods

In vitro studies determined whether CD362+ human mesenchymal stromal cells could modulate pulmonary epithelial inflammation, wound healing, and macrophage phagocytosis. Two in vivo rodent studies determined whether CD362+ human mesenchymal stromal cells attenuated Escherichia coli–induced lung injury (n = 10/group) and enhanced resolution of ventilation-induced injury (n = 10/group).

Results

CD362+ human mesenchymal stromal cells attenuated cytokine-induced epithelial nuclear factor kappa B activation, increased epithelial wound closure, and increased macrophage phagocytosis in vitro. CD362+ human mesenchymal stromal cells attenuated Escherichia coli–induced injury in rodents, improving arterial oxygenation (mean ± SD, 83 ± 9 vs. 60 ± 8 mmHg, P < 0.05), improving lung compliance (mean ± SD: 0.66 ± 0.08 vs. 0.53 ± 0.09 ml · cm H2O−1, P < 0.05), reducing bacterial load (median [interquartile range], 1,895 [100–3,300] vs. 8,195 [4,260–8,690] colony-forming units, P < 0.05), and decreasing structural injury compared with vehicle. CD362+ human mesenchymal stromal cells were more effective than CD362− human mesenchymal stromal cells and comparable to heterogenous human mesenchymal stromal cells. CD362+ human mesenchymal stromal cells enhanced resolution after ventilator-induced lung injury in rodents, restoring arterial oxygenation (mean ± SD: 113 ± 11 vs. 89 ± 11 mmHg, P < 0.05) and lung static compliance (mean ± SD: 0.74 ± 0.07 vs. 0.45 ± 0.07 ml · cm H2O−1, P < 0.05), resolving lung inflammation, and restoring histologic structure compared with vehicle. CD362+ human mesenchymal stromal cells efficacy was at least comparable to heterogenous human mesenchymal stromal cells.

Conclusions

A CD362+ human mesenchymal stromal cell population decreased Escherichia coli–induced pneumonia severity and enhanced recovery after ventilator-induced lung injury.
Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Validity, and Reliability Study of the Turkish Version of Back Performance Scale
Authors: Maras Gokhan , Citaker Seyit , Meray Jale
Published: July 2018

Study Design.

Validation of a performance scale.

Objective.

The purpose of this study is to investigate adaptation, validity, and reliability of the Turkish version of the Back Performance Scale (BPS).

Summary of Background Data.

Low back pain affects people of all ages and causes pain, disability, and psychosocial problems. BPS is a condition-specific performance measure of activity limitation in patients with low back pain. The purpose of this study is to investigate the cross-cultural adaptation, validity, and reliability of the Turkish version of the BPS.

Methods.

The study included 180 patients with low back pain. For the reliability assessment of the scale, test-retest, and internal consistency analyses were performed. The results of the test-retest analysis were analyzed by Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) method. For the internal consistency, Cronbach Alpha value was calculated and to construct validity, total points of the BPS were compared with the total points of Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) using Pearson correlation coefficient analysis.

Results.

BPS was found to have high internal consistency (Cronbach alpha value 0.827). Test-retest results were found highly correlated (range from 0.723 to 0.899). Factor analysis indicated that the scale had one factor. BPS is well correlated with RMDQ and ODI (Pearson correlation coefficient with RMDQ 0.576 and with ODI 0.603).

Conclusion.

The Turkish version of BPS is valid and reliable.

Level of Evidence: 3
Irisin Protects Heart Against Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury Through a SOD2-Dependent Mitochondria Mechanism
Authors: Wang Zhen , Chen Ken , Han Yu , Zhu Hua , Zhou Xinyu , Tan Tao , Zeng Jing , Zhang Jun , Liu Yukai , Li Yu , Yao Yonggang , Yi Jianxun , He Duofen , Zhou Jingsong , Ma Jianjie , Zeng Chunyu
Published: July 2018

Irisin, a muscle-origin protein derived from the extracellular domain of the fibronectin domain-containing 5 protein (FNDC5), has been shown to modulate mitochondria welfare through paracrine action. Here, we test the hypothesis that irisin contributes to cardioprotection after myocardial infarction by preserving mitochondrial function in cardiomyocytes. Animal model studies show that intravenous administration of exogenous irisin produces dose-dependent protection against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced injury to the heart as reflected by the improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction and the reduction in serum level of cTnI (n = 15, P < 0.05). I/R-induced apoptosis of cardiomyocytes is reduced after irisin treatment. The irisin-mediated protection has, at least in part, an effect on mitochondrial function because administration of irisin increases irisin staining in the mitochondria of the infarct area. Irisin also reduces I/R-induced oxidative stress as determined by mitochondrial membrane potential evaluation and superoxide FLASH event recording (n = 4, P < 0.05). The interaction between irisin and superoxide dismutase2 (SOD2) plays a key role in the protective process because irisin treatment increases SOD activity (n = 10, P < 0.05) and restores the mitochondria localization of SOD2 in cardiomyocytes (n = 5, P < 0.05). These results demonstrate that irisin plays a protective role against I/R injury to the heart. Targeting the action of irisin in mitochondria presents a novel therapeutic intervention for myocardial infarction.
A Common mdr1 Gene Polymorphism is Associated With Changes in Linezolid Clearance
Authors: Allegra Sarah , Di Paolo Antonello , Cusato Jessica , Fatiguso Giovanna , Arrigoni Elena , Danesi Romano , Corcione Silvia , D'Avolio Antonio
Published: July 2018

Background:

Several factors contribute to the high variability of linezolid plasma exposure in patients. Very recently, it has been suggested that linezolid could be an ABCB1 substrate. Therefore, the present clinical study was aimed at investigating whether ABCB1 polymorphisms could predict linezolid pharmacokinetics in 27 critically ill patients.

Methods:

Genotypes were assessed through a real-time polymerase chain reaction allelic discrimination system, and linezolid plasma concentrations, considering trough concentration (Ctrough) and area under the time-concentration curve (AUC), were analyzed through a nonlinear mixed-effects modeling approach.

Results:

A significant effect of abcb1 c.3435C>T polymorphism on linezolid clearance was found, whose values accounted for 13.19 L/h in wild-type homozygotes and 7.82 L/h in the remaining individuals. That difference was statistically significant despite the large interindividual variability (60.8%). Terminal half-life and volume of distribution values significantly differed between c.3435CC and c.3435CT/TT patients (2.78 versus 5.45 hours and 37.43 versus 46.71 L, respectively). On the contrary, a modest trend was observed for the difference in AUC and Ctrough based on c.3435C>T genotypes. Simulation according to the final model revealed that the cumulative response fraction for the AUC/MIC parameter was better for .3435CC individuals compared with individuals carrying at least one c.3435T allele with respect to methicillin-sensitive S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and Streptococcus pneumoniae species.

Conclusions:

The obtained results suggest the possible influence of ABCB1 in linezolid pharmacokinetics, bringing new interest for pharmacogenetic analyses in antimicrobial chemotherapy. These analyses could be incorporated in therapeutic protocols for precision medicine, including a combined use of genetic evaluation (for starting dose) and follow-up therapeutic drug monitoring.
COMBINED INTERNAL LIMITING MEMBRANE FLAP AND AUTOLOGOUS PLASMA CONCENTRATE TO CLOSE A LARGE TRAUMATIC MACULAR HOLE IN A PEDIATRIC PATIENT
Authors: Finn Avni P. , Chen Xi , Viehland Christian , Izatt Joseph A. , Toth Cynthia A. , Vajzovic Lejla
Published: July 2018

Purpose:

To describe a case of a large, traumatic macular hole in a pediatric patient closed using an internal limiting membrane flap in combination with autologous plasma concentrate (APC).

Methods:

Description of a surgical technique as performed in one patient.

Results:

Successful macular hole closure and improvement in postoperative visual acuity were achieved in the patient in whom the technique was performed.

Conclusion:

The combined use of APC with the internal limiting membrane flap is advantageous because the APC acts to hold the internal limiting membrane in proper position and promotes the proliferation of glial cells through the presence of growth factors. This technique may be particularly advantageous in chronic or recalcitrant holes particularly in the setting of trauma.
Development of the Modified Lenticule Edge Dissection Technique for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction
Authors: Liu Manli , Wang Huan , Lin Haiqin , Liu Quan
Published: July 2018

Purpose:

To identify and develop an efficient technique to separate the lenticule edge in small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE).

Methods:

Four hundred eyes of 400 consecutive patients with myopia assigned to receive SMILE were included in the study. Eyes with poor-quality laser treatment were excluded, and the second eye of the same patient was included. Two skilled surgeons performed SMILE in the Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center. Each surgeon was allotted 200 patients. One surgeon used the modified technique, whereas the other surgeon used the conventional technique to identify and separate the lenticule edge. All intraoperative complications associated with lenticule edge dissection and the duration of lenticule dissection were recorded.

Results:

There were 200 eyes each in the modified technique group (group A) and the conventional technique group (group B). The mean lenticule dissection time was 49 ± 10 seconds in group A and 59 ± 43 seconds in group B (P = 0.002). Within 70 seconds, lenticule dissection was completely finished in 96.5% of eyes in group A and 86.0% in group B. Difficult lenticule dissection was experienced in 3.5% (7/200) of cases in group A and in 14.0% (28/200) of cases in group B.

Conclusions:

The modified lenticule edge dissection technique of SMILE is simpler and faster in identifying the correct dissection plane. It is efficient in reducing surgical manipulation, shortening the learning curve required for lenticule dissection, and allows surgeons to perform SMILE more safely and efficiently.
Orbital Extension of Conjunctival Pseudoadenomatous Hyperplasia
Authors: Charles Norman C. , Palu Richard N.
Published: July 2018

A 41-year-old woman developed persistent unilateral conjunctivitis following an upper respiratory infection. A white cystic lesion of the inferior fornix was noted on computed tomography scan to extend behind the orbital septum into the anterior portion of the orbit. Following subtotal excision, histopathology showed benign pseudoadenomatous (pseudoglandular) hyperplasia. The case represents the 5th report of this lesion occurring in the conjunctiva and the only instance of its extension into the orbit.
Outcomes after pancreas retransplantation: is the juice worth the squeeze?
Authors: Perosa Marcelo , Sergi Francisco , Noujaim Huda
Published: July 2018

Purpose of review

Pancreas retransplantations are rarely carried out, and their outcomes are still debatable because of a lack of studies and clinical series on this issue.

Recent findings

In general, pancreas retransplantations achieve similar or even higher patient survival than primary transplantations; however, it should be noted that this finding may be biased, as only healthier patients are selected for retransplantation. Graft survival in retransplantations is usually lower than that in primary transplantation, but this comparison may also be biased, as most retransplantations are solitary pancreas transplantations (which are known to have lower graft survival), whereas primary transplantations are mostly simultaneous kidney–pancreas transplantations. Technical loss is similar between primary pancreas transplantations and pancreas retransplantations, but the occurrence of surgical complications is greater in the latter.

This review summarizes the literature on pancreas retransplantations, comparing them with primary transplantations, and demonstrates that in selected patients in experienced centres, retransplantation can be a valid and effective option for returning the patient to an insulin-free state.
Osteoporosis
Authors: Capriotti Teri , Scanlon Meghan
Published: July 2018

Home healthcare clinicians are in a unique position to assess patients for risk of osteoporosis and fragility fractures. They are also key members of the interdisciplinary care team in the recovery of patients with fragility fractures. Home healthcare clinicians care for an aging patient population with diverse conditions and multiple medications that can increase their risk of osteoporosis. Bone mineral density in addition to an evaluation of clinical risk factors are necessary to diagnose osteoporosis; DEXA and FRAX are the tools available. Undertreatment of osteoporosis is common among community dwelling elderly adults. Lack of patient adherence and insufficient physician prescription of medications are common. There are a wide array of osteoporosis medications and patients need education about their use. With the growing number of older adults in the population, increasing numbers will be vulnerable to osteoporosis and fragility fracture. Home healthcare clinicians need to be proactive to assess the aging population and assist in their treatment of this common disorder.
The Effect of Stabilization Exercises on Pain, Disability, and Pelvic Floor Muscle Function in Postpartum Lumbopelvic Pain
Authors: Teymuri Zahra , Hosseinifar Mohammad , Sirousi Mostafa
Published: July 2018

Objective

The effect of stabilization exercises on pain, disability, and pelvic floor muscle function in postpartum lumbopelvic pain.

Design

This is a single-blind, randomized controlled trial.

Setting

This study was performed at the physiotherapy clinic, Zahedan University of Medical Science, from January to November 2017.

Participants

Thirty-six multiparous women with persistent postpartum lumbopelvic pain were recruited at least 3 mos after delivery.

Interventions

Subjects in the training group (n = 18) received electrotherapy modalities and specific stabilizing exercises. The control group (n = 18) received only electrotherapy modalities.

Main Outcome Measures

Pain, disability, and bladder base displacement (at rest and pelvic floor muscles contraction) were measured through visual analog scale, Oswestry Disability Index questionnaires, and transabdominal ultrasound imaging respectively at baseline and after 6 wks of intervention.

Results

Between-groups comparison showed significant improvement in pain, disability, and bladder base displacement in the training group (P < 0.05). In within-group comparison, training group had significant difference for all variables (P < 0.05). In the control group, pain and disability had significant difference (P < 0.05), whereas bladder base displacement had no significant change (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The stabilizing exercises can remarkably improve pain, disability, and pelvic floor muscles function in postpartum lumbopelvic pain (Clinical Trial Registry: NCT03030846).
Preoperative Multimodal Analgesia Decreases Postanesthesia Care Unit Narcotic Use and Pain Scores in Outpatient Breast Surgery
Authors: Barker Jenny C. , DiBartola Kaitlin , Wee Corinne , Andonian Nicole , Abdel-Rasoul Mahmoud , Lowery Deborah , Janis Jeffrey E.
Published: July 2018

Background:

The opioid epidemic demands changes in perioperative pain management. Of the 33,000 deaths attributable to opioid overdose in 2015, half received prescription opioids. Multimodal analgesia is a practice-altering evolution that reduces reliance on opioid medications. Ambulatory breast surgery is an ideal opportunity to implement these strategies.

Methods:

A retrospective review of 560 patients undergoing outpatient breast procedures was conducted. Patients received (1) no preoperative analgesia (n = 333); (2) intraoperative intravenous acetaminophen (n = 78); (3) preoperative oral acetaminophen and gabapentin (n = 95); or (4) preoperative oral acetaminophen, gabapentin and celecoxib (n = 54). Outcomes included postanesthesia care unit narcotic use, pain scores, postanesthesia care unit length of stay, rescue antiemetic use, and 30-day complications.

Results:

Both oral multimodal analgesia regimens significantly reduced postanesthesia care unit narcotic use (oral acetaminophen and gabapentin, 14.3 ± 1.7; oral gabapentin, acetaminophen, and celecoxib, 11.9 ± 2.2; versus no drug, 19.2 ± 1.1 mg oral morphine equivalents; p = 0.0006), initial pain scores (oral acetaminophen and gabapentin, 3.9 ± 0.4; oral gabapentin, acetaminophen, and celecoxib, 3.4 ± 0.7; versus no drug, 5.3 ± 0.3 on a 1 to 10 scale, p = 0.0002) and maximum pain scores (oral acetaminophen and gabapentin, 4.3 ± 0.4; oral gabapentin, acetaminophen, and celecoxib, 3.6 ± 0.7; versus no drug, 5.9 ± 0.3 on a 1 to 10 scale; p < 0.0001). Both oral regimens were better than no medications or intravenous acetaminophen alone in multivariate models after controlling for age, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, length of surgery, prior narcotic prescription availability, and intraoperative local anesthetic. Postanesthesia care unit length of stay, antiemetic use, and 30-day complications were not different.

Conclusions:

Preoperative oral multimodal analgesia reduces narcotic use and pain scores in outpatient breast plastic surgery. These regimens are inexpensive, improve pain control, and contribute to narcotic-sparing clinical practice in the setting of a national opioid epidemic.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, III.
Augmentation Gluteoplasty: A Brazilian Perspective
Authors: Rosique Rodrigo G. , Rosique Marina J. F.
Published: July 2018

According to recent data, augmentation gluteoplasty continues to gain popularity in the United States and globally, especially in procedures involving fat grafts. However, serious concerns about its safety have been raised over the past 2 years. Will this trend continue or has it already reached its peak? The answer depends on how the technique is going to be performed hereafter. In this article, the following seven learning objectives for performing gluteal augmentation safely and effectively are covered: (1) the concept of what is a beautiful buttock and how to select the patients who will have better outcomes; (2) diagram each patient’s needs for liposuction and graft; (3) use maneuvers for contouring and projection; (4) compare specific indications for fat graft and gluteal implants; (5) evaluate ptosis grade to indicate whether volume repositioning is sufficient; (6) formulate care protocols for risk management; and (7) develop lasting and high-satisfaction-rate results. It is pivotal to recognize each patient’s body characteristics and ability to achieve a good result, and to work on her expectations preoperatively and accordingly to perform the procedure in the safest manner possible.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, V.
Broken Sacral Neuromodulation Lead Migration Into the Sigmoid Colon: A Case Report
Authors: Shannon Megan B. , Gupta Neil , Eberhardt Joshua , Farooq Ahmer V.
Published: July 2018

Sacral neuromodulation is an effective treatment of urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, and idiopathic urinary retention. The procedure is considered low risk with overall low complication rates. This report describes a 40-year-old woman who underwent sacral neuromodulation explant and full-system implant for weaning efficacy of her device. During device removal, the tined lead broke and was left in situ. Four months later, she was diagnosed as having a wound infection at the site of the retained lead. Imaging revealed lead fragment migration into the sigmoid colon. A colocutaneous fistula was noted soon thereafter. The retained lead was removed during a colonoscopy and the fistula healed. A retained lead can result in migration through the peritoneum and into the colon. This can be managed with assistance from colorectal or gastroenterology consultants.
Incidence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Early Acute Kidney Injury After Heart Transplantation: An 18-year Experience
Authors: García-Gigorro Renata , Renes-Carreño Emilio , Corres Peiretti María Angélica , Arribas López Primitivo , Perez Vela Jose Luis , Gutierrez Rodríguez Julián , Delgado Juan Francisco , Cortina Romero Jose María , Montejo González Juan Carlos
Published: July 2018

Background

Little is known about the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI), as defined using the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome classification, after heart transplantation (HT). Our objective was to evaluate the impact of AKI in a cohort of HT recipients. (Setting: University Hospital.)

Methods

We studied 310 consecutive HT recipients from 1999 to 2017, with AKI being defined according to the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcome criteria. Risk factors were analyzed by multivariable analyses, and survival by Kaplan-Meier curves and a risk-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression model.

Results

One hundred twenty-five (40.3%) patients developed AKI, with 73 (23.5%), 18 (5.8%), and 34 (11%) patients having AKI stages 1, 2, and 3, respectively. Cardiac tamponade (odds ratio [OR], 16.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-138), acute right ventricular failure (OR, 3.54; 95% CI, 1.82-6.88), and major bleeding (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.18-5.1) were the principal risk factors for AKI. Patients with AKI had a greater hospital mortality (3.8% vs 16%, P < 0.05), especially those requiring renal replacement therapy (46.9% vs 5.4%, P = 0.006). Acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy was independently associated with hospital mortality (OR, 11.03; 95% CI, 4.08-29.8). With a median follow-up after hospital discharge of 6.7 years (interquartile range, 2.4-11.6), overall survival at 1, 5, and 10 years was 95.4%, 85.1%, and 75.4% versus 85.2%, 69.8% and 63.5% among patients without AKI and with AKI stages 2 to 3, respectively (P = 0.08).

Conclusions

The onset of AKI after HT is mainly associated with postoperative complications. Only severe AKI stage predicts worse short-term outcome, with this impact appearing to be lost at long-term follow-up.
Defining the risk landscape in the context of pathogen pollution:
Toxoplasma gondii
in sea otters along the Pacific Rim
Authors: Burgess Tristan L. , Tim Tinker M. , Miller Melissa A. , Bodkin James L. , Murray Michael J. , Saarinen Justin A. , Nichol Linda M. , Larson Shawn , Conrad Patricia A. , Johnson Christine K.
Published: July 2018

Pathogens entering the marine environment as pollutants exhibit a spatial signature driven by their transport mechanisms. The sea otter (
Enhydra lutris
), a marine animal which lives much of its life within sight of land, presents a unique opportunity to understand land–sea pathogen transmission. Using a dataset on
Toxoplasma gondii
prevalence across sea otter range from Alaska to California, we found that the dominant drivers of infection risk vary depending upon the spatial scale of analysis. At the population level, regions with high
T. gondii
prevalence had higher human population density and a greater proportion of human-dominated land uses, suggesting a strong role for population density of the felid definitive host of this parasite. This relationship persisted when a subset of data were analysed at the individual level: large-scale patterns in sea otter
T. gondii
infection prevalence were largely explained by individual exposure to areas of high human housing unit density, and other landscape features associated with anthropogenic land use, such as impervious surfaces and cropping land. These results contrast with the small-scale, within-region analysis, in which age, sex and prey choice accounted for most of the variation in infection risk, and terrestrial environmental features provided little variation to help in explaining observed patterns. These results underscore the importance of spatial scale in study design when quantifying both individual-level risk factors and landscape-scale variation in infection risk.
Causal reasoning in rats' behaviour systems
Authors: Bowers Robert Ian , Timberlake William
Published: July 2018

Conceiving of stimuli and responses as causes and effects, and assuming that rats acquire representational models of causal relations from Pavlovian procedures, previous work by causal model theory proponents attempted to train rat subjects to represent stimulus A as a cause of both stimulus B and food. By these assumptions, with formal help from Bayesian networks, self-production of stimulus B should reduce expectation of alternative causes, including stimulus A, and their effects, including food. Reduced feeder-directed responding to stimulus B when self-produced has been taken as evidence for a general causal reasoning capacity among rats involving mental maps of causal relations. Critics have rejoined that response competition can explain these effects. The present research replicates the key effect, but uses continuous and finer-grained measurement of a broader range of behaviours. Behaviours not recorded in previous studies contradict both prior explanations. Even results cited in support of these explanations, when measured in finer detail and continuously over longer periods, show patterns not expected by either view, but supportive of a specific-process approach with attention to motivational factors. Still, the abstract prediction from Bayesian networks holds, providing a potentially complementary normative analysis. Behaviour systems theory provides firmer framing for such theories than representational-map alternatives.
Frequency dispersion reveals chromophore diversity and colour-tuning mechanism in parrot feathers
Authors: Barnsley Jonathan E. , Tay Elliot J. , Gordon Keith C. , Thomas Daniel B.
Published: July 2018

Variation in animal coloration is often viewed as the result of chemically distinct pigments conferring different hues. The role of molecular environment on hue tends to be overlooked as analyses are mostly performed on free pigments extracted from the integument. Here we analysed psittacofulvin pigments within parrot feathers to explore whether thein situorganization of pigments may have an effect on hue. Resonance Raman spectra from a red region of a yellow-naped amazonAmazona auropalliatatail feather show frequency dispersion, a phenomenon that is related to the presence of a range of molecular conformations (and multiple chromophores) in the pigment, whereas spectra from a yellow region on the same feather do not show the same evidence for multiple chromophores. Our findings are consistent with non-isomeric psittacofulvin pigments behaving as a single chromophore in yellow feather barbs, which implies that psittacofulvins are dispersed into a structurally disordered mixture in yellow feathers compared with red feathers. Frequency dispersion in red barbs may instead indicate that pigments are structurally organized through molecule–molecule interactions. Major differences in the hues of parrot feathers are thus associated with differences in the organization of pigments within feathers.
Cavitating flow-induced unsteady pressure pulsations in a low specific speed centrifugal pump
Authors: Zhang Ning , Gao Bo , Li Zhong , Jiang Qifeng
Published: July 2018

With the development of cavitation, the high-energy pressure wave from a cavitation bubble collapsing is detrimental to the stable operation of centrifugal pumps. The present paper concentrates on pressure pulsations under cavitation conditions, and pressure amplitudes at the blade-passing frequency (
f
BPF
) and RMS values in the 0–500 Hz frequency band are combined to investigate cavitation-induced pressure pulsations. The results show that components at
f
BPF
always dominate the pressure spectrum even at the full cavitation stage. For points P1–P7 on the volute side wall, with a decreasing cavitation number, the pressure energy first remains unchanged and then it rises rapidly after the critical point. For point In1 in a volute suction pipe located close to the cavitation region, the pressure energy changes slightly at high cavitation numbers; then for a particular cavitation number range, the pressure energy decreases, and finally increases again. For different flow rates, the pressure energy at the critical point is much lower than the initial amplitude at the non-cavitation condition for In1. This demonstrates that the cavitation cloud in the typical stage is partially compressible, and the emitted pressure wave from a collapsing cavitation bubble is absorbed and attenuated significantly. Finally, this leads to the pressure energy decreasing rapidly for the measuring point In1 near the cavitation region.
Multiple adaptive and non-adaptive processes determine responsiveness to heterospecific alarm calls in African savannah herbivores
Authors: Meise Kristine , Franks Daniel W. , Bro-Jørgensen Jakob
Published: July 2018

Heterospecific alarm calls may provide crucial survival benefits shaping animal behaviour. Multispecies studies can disentangle the relative importance of the various processes determining these benefits, but previous studies have included too few species for alternative hypotheses to be tested quantitatively in a comprehensive analysis. In a community-wide study of African savannah herbivores, we here, for the first time to our knowledge, partition alarm responses according to distinct aspects of the signaller–receiver relationship and thereby uncover the impact of several concurrent adaptive and non-adaptive processes. Stronger responses were found to callers who were vulnerable to similar predators and who were more consistent in denoting the presence of predators of the receiver. Moreover, alarm calls resembling those of conspecifics elicited stronger responses, pointing to sensory constraints, and increased responsiveness to more abundant callers indicated a role of learning. Finally, responses were stronger in risky environments. Our findings suggest that mammals can respond adaptively to variation in the information provided by heterospecific callers but within the constraints imposed by a sensory bias towards conspecific calls and reduced learning of less familiar calls. The study thereby provides new insights central to understanding the ecological consequences of interspecific communication networks in natural communities.
Elite swimmers do not exhibit a body mass index trade-off across a wide range of event distances
Authors: Gagnon Christian M. , Steiper Michael E. , Pontzer Herman
Published: July 2018

There is a trade-off reflected in the contrasting phenotypes of elite long-distance runners, who are typically leaner, and elite sprinters, who are usually more heavily muscled. It is unclear, however, whether and how swimmers' bodies vary across event distances from the 50 m swim, which is about a 20–30 s event, to the 10 000 m marathon swim, which is about a 2 h event. We examined data from the 2012 Olympics to test whether swimmers’ phenotypes differed across event distances. We show that across all swimming event distances, from the 50 m sprint to the 10 000 m marathon, swimmers converge on a single optimal body mass index (BMI) in men's and women's events, in marked contrast with the strong inverse relationship between BMI and event distance found in runners. The absence of a speed–endurance trade-off in the body proportions of swimmers indicates a fundamental difference in design pressures and performance capability in terrestrial versus aquatic environments.
Extremely fast feeding strikes are powered by elastic recoil in a seahorse relative, the snipefish,Macroramphosus scolopax
Authors: Longo Sarah J. , Goodearly Tyler , Wainwright Peter C.
Published: July 2018

Among over 30 000 species of ray-finned fishes, seahorses and pipefishes have a unique feeding mechanism whereby the elastic recoil of tendons allows them to rotate their long snouts extremely rapidly in order to capture small elusive prey. To understand the evolutionary origins of this feeding mechanism, its phylogenetic distribution among closely related lineages must be assessed. We present evidence for elastic recoil-powered feeding in snipefish (Macroramphosus scolopax) from kinematics, dynamics and morphology. High-speed videos of strikes show they achieve extremely fast head and hyoid rotational velocities, resulting in rapid prey capture in as short a duration as 2 ms. The maximum instantaneous muscle-mass-specific power requirement for head rotation in snipefish was above the known vertebrate maximum, which is evidence that strikes are not the result of direct muscle power. Finally, we show that the over-centre conformation of the four-bar linkage mechanism coupling head elevation to hyoid rotation in snipefish can function as a torque reversal latch, preventing the head from rotating and providing the opportunity for elastic energy storage. The presence of elastic recoil feeding in snipefish means that this high-performance mechanism is not restricted to the Syngnathidae (seahorses and pipefish) and may have evolved in parallel.
Specific histone modifications associate with alternative exon selection during mammalian development
Authors: Hu Q , Greene CS , Heller EA
Published: July 2018

Alternative splicing (AS) is frequent during early mouse embryonic development. Specific histone post-translational modifications (hPTMs) have been shown to regulate exon splicing by either directly recruiting splice machinery or indirectly modulating transcriptional elongation. In this study, we hypothesized that hPTMs regulate expression of alternatively spliced genes for specific processes during differentiation. To address this notion, we applied an innovative machine learning approach to relate global hPTM enrichment to AS regulation during mammalian tissue development. We found that specific histone modifications, H3K36me3 and H3K4me1, play a dominant role in skipped exon selection among all the tissues and developmental time points examined. In addition, we used iterative random forest model to identify interactions of several hPTMs that associated with skipped exon selection during tissue development. Collectively, our data demonstrated a link between hPTMs and alternative splicing which will drive further experimental studies on the functional relevance of these modifications to alternative splicing.
Rns regulates nonpilus adhesin EtpA in human EnterotoxigenicE.coli(ETEC)
Authors: Madhavan T.P.Vipin
Published: July 2018

Rns, an araC family of transcriptional activator (AFTR) is known to regulate many of the known pili in human ETEC. Apart from pili, Rns is also known to regulate some nonpilus genes believed to have role in virulence. EtpA is a nonpilus adhesin, encoded with inetpBACoperon in ETEC genome. Using a combination of qRT-PCR and gel shift assay, we show that Rns binds to upstream of etpBAC operon and upregulates the expression of EtpA. This is the first report of Rns regulating a known virulence factor in ETEC.
The effect of anti-IL-6 receptor antibody for the treatment of McH-lpr/lpr-RA1 mice that spontaneously developed ankylosing arthritis
Authors: Izumiyama Takuya , Mori Yu , Takeda Kazu , Mori Naoko , Mori Shiro , Kodama Tetsuya , Itoi Eiji
Published: July 2018

[Background]

McH-lpr/lpr-RA1 mice are a new strain of mice which spontaneously develop arthritis in the ankle, leading finally to ankylosis. There is no published data that drug treatment has been trialed on these mice.

[Objectives]

This study examined the effect of the mouse anti-IL-6 receptor antibody, MR16-1, for the treatment of ankylosis in McH-lpr/lpr-RA1 mice.

[Methods]

Male McH-lpr/lpr-RA1 mice were randomly divided into control and treatment groups. MR16-1 was administered from 10 weeks of age for the treatment group. Saline was applied for the control group. The drug was administered once a week, at an initial dose of 2 mg, then maintained at 0.5 mg once per week thereafter. The effects were evaluated by the histopathological synovitis score, in vivo imaging using indocyanine green liposomes, and analysis of the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines.

[Results]

Tissue analyses were carried out at 14, 17 and 20 weeks of age. The synovitis scores of treated groups were significantly lower compared with those of the control group at every age. The kappa coefficient was 0.77. However, progression of ankylosis persisted in the MR16-1 treated group. In vivo imaging using indocyanine green liposomes showed significant decreases in signal intensities of treated groups at week 14, but no significant differences were observed at week 18. Blood serum amyloid A levels in treated groups were significantly lower at 17 weeks of age. The gene expression levels of Tnf and Il17 were also significantly lower in MR16-1 treated groups.

[Conclusions]

Administration of the anti-IL-6 receptor antibody is effective for the treatment of synovitis and bone destruction of McH-lpr/lpr-RA1 mice. McH-lpr/lpr-RA1 mice may be a suitable experimental model for the development of new treatments for spondyloarthritis. IL6 signal blockade could contribute to the treatment of spondyloarthritis, and further studies should be carried out to confirm its potential in the prevention of deformity associated with ankylosis.
Impacts of landscape composition, marginality, and climatic stability on the patterns of endemism of Cerrado woody plants
Authors: Vidal Júnior João de Deus , Souza Anete Pereira de , Koch Ingrid
Published: July 2018

Aim

Although various theories have been proposed to explain the outstanding endemism of plants in the Cerrado, four hypotheses about the mechanisms of diversification and distribution are most supported: (1) plateau/valley, (2) stable/unstable climate, (3) core/peripheral distribution, and (4) soil fertility. The first argues that plateaus harbor more ancient lineages than valleys and therefore presents higher endemism. The second theory suggests that climatic stable environments maintained more paleoendemic species. The third scenario attributes the distribution of endemism to gradients of conditions available to locally adapted species and predicts higher endemism in nuclear than in marginal areas. The last theory suggests that lower fertility soils account for higher endemism due to the habitat specialization of its species. We compared endemism patterns with the predictions of each theory to discuss their importance.

Location

Brazil.

Time period

Quaternary.

Major taxa studied

Angiosperms.

Methods

We mapped the endemism using records of 311 plant species of the Cerrado and applied spatial analysis and distribution models to summarize the importance of each predictor of endemism.

Results

We identified 28 areas in which the higher endemism of Cerrado plants were concentrated and presented a map of its distribution. We found correlations among endemism, climate stability, elevation, and marginality, which supported the plateau/valley, core/peripheral, and stable/unstable hypotheses. No association between soil fertility and endemism was detected. We propose that plateaus are more stable climatic environments, and this characteristic along with their elevation and centrality are predictive of endemism.

Main conclusions

We concluded that most of the endemism is concentrated in overlapping areas of stability of species, which are concentrated in higher elevation central regions. Soil fertility was not linked to endemism. We recommend that central plateaus in the Cerrado require special attention in conservation to optimize the protection of endemic species in the biome.
The role of geographical distance on the relationship between cultural intelligence and knowledge transfer
Authors: Vlajcic Davor , Marzi Giacomo , Caputo Andrea , Dabic Marina
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the ways in which the geographical distance between headquarters and subsidiaries moderates the relationship between cultural intelligence and the knowledge transfer process.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 103 senior expatriate managers working in Croatia from several European and non-European countries was used to test the hypotheses. Data were collected using questionnaires, while the methodology employed to test the relationship between the variables was partial least square. Furthermore, interaction-moderation effect was utilized to test the impact of geographical distance and, for testing control variables, partial least square multigroup analysis was used.

Findings

Cultural intelligence plays a significant role in the knowledge transfer process performance. However, geographical distance has the power to moderate this relationship based on the direction of knowledge transfer. In conventional knowledge transfer, geographical distance has no significant impact. On the contrary, data have shown that, in reverse knowledge transfer, geographical distance has a moderately relevant effect. The authors supposed that these findings could be connected to the specific location of the knowledge produced by subsidiaries.

Practical implications

Multinational companies should take into consideration that the further away a subsidiary is from the headquarters, and the varying difference between cultures, cannot be completely mitigated by the ability of the manager to deal with cultural differences, namely cultural intelligence. Thus, multinational companies need to allocate resources to facilitate the knowledge transfer between subsidiaries.

Originality/value

The present study stresses the importance of cultural intelligence in the knowledge transfer process, opening up a new stream of research inside these two areas of research.