bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EWSR1‐PBX3 gene fusion in cutaneous syncytial myoepithelioma
Authors: MacKinnon William F. , Carter Michael D. , Bridge Julia A. , Tremaine Robert D. , Walsh Noreen M.G.
Published: March 2019

Cutaneous syncytial myoepithelioma (CSM) is a recently recognized, histopathological variant of myoepithelial (ME) tumors of the skin. It is characterized by a syncytial arrangement of spindled, ovoid, and/or epithelioid cells forming a well‐circumscribed, unencapsulated dermal nodule. There is a paucity of intervening stroma, and absent duct or gland formation. Strong immunohistochemical staining for S100 and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) has been described, while cytokeratin expression has been uncommon. The majority of CSMs harbor a rearrangement involving the EWSR1 gene. Although various fusion partner genes have been discovered in ME tumors at other anatomic sites, none has yet been described in CSM. We present a case of CSM represented clinically by a papule on the mid‐upper back of a healthy 44‐year‐old female. It exhibited morphological and immunohistochemical features of a CSM with strong, diffuse S100 and alpha‐actin expression, and focal positivity for EMA and cytokeratin AE1/AE3. Fluorescence in‐situ hybridization showed an EWSR1 gene rearrangement. Massively parallel next‐generation RNA sequencing revealed PBX3 as the fusion partner. The EWSR1‐PBX3 gene fusion has been previously identified in three cases of ME tumors of bone and soft tissue, and in a case of retroperitoneal leiomyoma. This is the first report of an EWSR1‐PBX3 fusion in CSM.
Early intervention programmes for infants at high risk of atypical neurodevelopmental outcome
Authors: Hutchon Betty , Gibbs Deanna , Harniess Phillip , Jary Sally , Crossley Siew‐Lian , Moffat Jane V , Basu Neela , Basu Anna P
Published: March 2019

The purpose of this review is to present a new framework, EI SMART (early intervention: sensorimotor development, attention and regulation, relationships, and therapist support) for identifying key components that could contribute to more effective interventions for infants at high risk of atypical neurodevelopmental outcome. We present a clinical consensus of current challenges and themes in early intervention, based on multidisciplinary group discussions, including parents of high‐risk infants, supported by a literature review. Components to include in early intervention programmes are: (1) promotion of self‐initiated, developmentally appropriate motor activity; (2) supporting infant self‐regulation and the development of positive parent‐infant relationships; and (3) promotion of early communication skills, parent coaching, responsive parenting, and supporting parental mental well‐being. Such multimodal programmes may need to be evaluated as a package.

What this paper adds

Early intervention programmes should address sensorimotor development, attention, self‐regulation, and early communication skills.

Therapist input to the programme should include parent coaching and support for parental mental well‐being.
Delays in anti‐hyperglycaemic therapy initiation and intensification are associated with cardiovascular events, hospitalizations for heart failure and all‐cause mortality
Authors: Nichols Gregory A. , Romo‐LeTourneau Victoria , Vupputuri Suma , Thomas Sheila M.
Published: March 2019

Aims

The aims of this study were to assess the impact of delays in treatment intensification (TI) on cardiovascular events, heart failure, and all‐cause mortality at typical stages of anti‐hyperglycaemic therapy.

Materials and Methods

Using electronic health record data, we created three TI cohorts of diabetes patients who: 1) initiated metformin (MET) as their first anti‐hyperglycaemic therapy; 2) added a sulfonylurea (SU) to MET; and 3) initiated insulin (INS) while using MET or SU, alone or in combination. Primary exposure variables were haemoglobin A1C value preceding cohort therapy (pre‐TI A1C) and time to intensification, that is, the time between pre‐TI A1C >7% and cohort index date. Cox regression models were used to analyse the associated risk of cardiovascular events, hospitalizations for heart failure and all‐cause mortality.

Results

In the MET cohort, each additional percentage point of pre‐TI A1C was associated with a 10% increased risk of a CV event (HR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.03–1.07; P = 0.004), a 7% increased risk of HF hospitalization (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01–1.14; P = 0.034) and a 7% increased risk of all‐cause mortality (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01–1.14; P = 0.032). Pre‐TI A1C was associated with a 9% increased risk of a CV event in the INS cohort (HR,1.09; 95% CI, 1.04–1.13; P < 0.001). Each month of delay in TI was significantly associated with a 6% increased risk of hospitalization for HF (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.00–1.13; P = 0.040) and all‐cause mortality (HR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.00–1.13; P = 0.050) in the MET cohort.

Conclusions

Delays in TI were associated with poor outcomes over a mean follow‐up period of nearly five years. Earlier initiation and more rapid intensification of pharmacotherapy could reduce the risk of poor outcomes.
Zoogeographical regions and geospatial patterns of phylogenetic diversity and endemism of New World bats
Authors: López‐Aguirre Camilo , Hand Suzanne J. , Laffan Shawn W. , Archer Michael
Published: March 2019

The analysis of regional scale patterns of diversity allows insights into the processes that have shaped modern biodiversity at the macro‐scale. Previous analyses studying biogeographic regionalisation across different high‐level taxa have shown similar trends at a global scale. However, incorporating phylogenetic methods when comparing biogeographic regionalisation between subgroups facilitates identification of mechanisms leading to the biogeographic distribution of specific taxa. We analysed the spatial trends of phylogenetic diversity and phylogenetic endemism of 325 species of New World bats, using updated range maps of the modern distributions. These analyses showed phylogeographic signals that reflect the different evolutionary histories of these families. Zoogeographical zones were detected based on range‐weighted phylogenetic turnover. Values of high phylogenetic diversity and endemism were distributed differently across families, suggesting niche conservatism, but a general latitudinal trend of diversity was evident across taxa. Overall, two main bioregions were shared across New World bat taxa (Nearctic and Neotropical), with two additional subregions (Andean and La Platan). We found strong support for an additional transitional zone in the Pacific coast of South America for Emballonuridae and Molossidae. Differences in regionalisation across families indicate that niche conservatism, in situ diversification and dispersal ability are major drivers for the regionalisation of New World bats, within a dual‐centre of diversification scenario. We also found strong inter‐familial support for an independent Caribbean biogeographic region.
Stability and synchrony across ecological hierarchies in heterogeneous metacommunities: linking theory to data
Authors: Wang Shaopeng , Lamy Thomas , Hallett Lauren M. , Loreau Michel
Published: March 2019

Understanding stability across ecological hierarchies is critical for landscape management in a changing world. Recent studies showed that synchrony among lower‐level components is key to scaling temporal stability across two hierarchical levels, whether spatial or organizational. But an extended framework that integrates both spatial scale and organizational level simultaneously is required to clarify the sources of ecosystem stability at large scales. However, such an extension is far from trivial when taking into account the spatial heterogeneities in real‐world ecosystems. In this paper, we develop a partitioning framework that bridges variability and synchrony measures across spatial scales and organizational levels in heterogeneous metacommunities. In this framework, metacommunity variability is expressed as the product of local‐scale population variability and two synchrony indices that capture the temporal coherence across species and space, respectively. We develop an R function ‘var.partition’ and apply it to five types of desert plant communities to illustrate our framework and test how diversity shapes synchrony and variability at different hierarchical levels. As the observation scale increased from local populations to metacommunities, the temporal variability of plant productivity was reduced mainly by factors that decreased species synchrony. Species synchrony decreased from local to regional scales, and spatial synchrony decreased from species to community levels. Local and regional species diversity were key factors that reduced species synchrony at the two scales. Moreover, beta diversity contributed to decreasing spatial synchrony among communities. We conclude that our new framework offers a valuable toolbox for future empirical studies to disentangle the mechanisms and pathways by which ecological factors influence stability at large scales.
Genome annotation and antimicrobial properties of Bacillus toyonensis VU‐DES13, isolated from the Folsomia candida gut
Authors: Agamennone Valeria , van Straalen Joeri , Brouwer Abraham , de Boer Tjalf E. , Hensbergen Paul J. , Zaagman Niels , Braster Martin , van Straalen Nico M. , Roelofs Dick , Janssens Thierry K.S.
Published: March 2019

Antibiotic resistance necessitates the search for new bioactive compounds with novel mechanisms of action. Natural products derived from bacteria and fungi are widely used in the field of medicine and new environments can be explored as sources of antimicrobials. Bacteria associated with springtails have shown high inhibitory activity against pathogens. Here, we characterized a bacterial strain with high potential for antimicrobial activity, isolated from the gut of the springtail Folsomia candida Willem (Collembola: Isotomidae). The strain was characterized using the ‘analytical profile index’ and the ‘minimal inhibitory concentration’ assay to test for antibiotic resistance. Agar overlay and agar disk diffusion assays were used to test the inhibitory activity of the strain and its extract against a variety of pathogens, and reporter assays were used to investigate the mode of action. High‐performance liquid chromatography was used to analyze and fractionate the extract of bacterial culture, followed by additional assays on the fractions. The genome of the strain was screened for presence of antibiotic resistance genes and secondary metabolite gene clusters. The isolate was identified as Bacillus toyonensis Jiménez et al., but it displayed differences in metabolic profile when compared to the type species. The isolate was highly resistant to penicillin and inhibited the growth of a variety of pathogenic microorganisms. Genome analysis revealed an enrichment of resistance genes for β‐lactam antibiotics compared to the type isolate. Also, secondary metabolite clusters involved in the production of siderophores, bacteriocins, and nonribosomal peptide synthetases were identified. In conclusion, a unique Bacillus strain was isolated from the gut of F. candida, for which we provide evidence of inhibitory activity against an array of pathogens. This, coupled with high resistance to penicillin as substantiated by the presence of resistance genes, points to the potential of B. toyonensis VU‐DES13 to provide a new source of antimicrobial compounds.
Guiding lights: Foraging responses of juvenile nocturnal orb‐web spiders to the presence of artificial light at night
Authors: Willmott Nikolas J. , Henneken Jessica , Elgar Mark A. , Jones Therésa M.
Published: March 2019

The reach of artificial light at night (ALAN) is growing rapidly around the globe, including the increasing use of energy‐efficient LED lights. Many studies document the physiological costs of light at night, but far fewer have focused on the potential benefits for nocturnal insectivores and the likely ecological consequences of shifts in predator–prey relationships. We investigated the effects of ALAN on the foraging behaviour and prey capture success in juvenile Australian garden orb‐web spiders (Eriophora biapicata). Laboratory experiments demonstrated that juvenile spiders were attracted to LED lights when choosing foraging sites, but prey availability was a stronger cue for remaining in a foraging site. Field experiments revealed a significant increase in prey capture rates for webs placed near LED lights. This suggests that any physiological costs of light at night may be offset by the foraging benefits, perhaps partially explaining recently observed increases in the size, fecundity and abundance of some orb‐web spider species in urban environments. Our results highlight the potential long‐term consequences of night lighting in urban ecosystems, through the impact of orb‐web spiders on insect populations.
Latinx Mental Health Scholars' Experiences with Cultural Adaptation and Implementation of Systemic Family Interventions
Authors: Cooper Daniel K. , Wieling Elizabeth , Domenech Rodríguez Melanie M. , Garcia‐Huidobro Diego , Baumann Ana , Mejia Anilena , Le Huynh‐Nhu , Cardemil Esteban V. , Acevedo‐Polakovich Ignacio D.
Published: March 2019

An increasing number of culturally adapted family‐level interventions address mental health disparities with marginalized populations in the United States. However, with these developments many barriers have arisen, such as challenges with degree of cultural fit, engagement, and sustainability. We conducted 12 elite phenomenological interviews with mental health scholars involved in prevention and intervention family research with various Latinx communities within and outside of the United States. These scholars discussed their experiences of overcoming barriers in their research. We used thematic analysis to code and analyze participant responses, and our findings support the gaps in previous literature and highlight potential pathways to overcoming barriers in cultural adaptation research. Themes included the need for: (a) better understanding of the intersection between culture and context; (b) community‐centered approaches to addressing implementation challenges; and (c) structural changes within institutional, governmental, and political levels. We discuss implications for researchers and practitioners working with Latinx families.
A proteomics analysis of CK2β(−/−) C2C12 cells provides novel insights into the biological functions of the non‐catalytic β subunit
Authors: Borgo Christian , Franchin Cinzia , Cesaro Luca , Zaramella Silvia , Arrigoni Giorgio , Salvi Mauro , Pinna Lorenzo A.
Published: March 2019

The acronym CK2 (derived from the misnomer ‘casein kinase‐2’) denotes a pleiotropic acidophilic protein kinase implicated in a plethora of cellular functions, whose abnormally high expression correlates with malignancy. CK2 holoenzyme is composed of two catalytic (α and/or α′) and two noncatalytic β‐subunits. The β‐subunits are not responsible for either activation or inactivation of the catalytic ones. Hence, to gain additional information about the roles of the individual CK2 subunits, we have generated C2C12 myoblasts entirely devoid either of both catalytic subunits, or of the β‐subunit. Here, we show that while CK2α/α′(−/−) cells grow similarly to wild‐type cells, the growth of CK2β(−/−) cells is severely impaired, consistent with the hypothesis that not all cellular functions of the β‐subunit are mediated by CK2 holoenzyme. To get a deeper insight into the functional implications of the β‐subunit, a quantitative proteomics study of CK2β(−/−) cells was performed, leading to the identification and quantification of more than 1200 proteins. Of these, 187 showed a significantly altered expression (fold change ≥ 1.5 or ≤ −1.5) as compared to wild‐type cells. A functional analysis of these proteins discloses the implication of CK2β in many processes, for example, cell cycle, proliferation, transport, metabolic processes, etc., and in some of which the catalytic subunits of CK2 do not seem to play a relevant role. On the other hand, the pool of ecto‐CK2 is not apparently affected by the lack of the β‐subunit. Collectively, our data corroborate the concept that the cellular functions of the β‐subunit of CK2 are partially independent of CK2 holoenzyme.
Use of microsatellite‐based paternity assignment to establish where Corn Crake Crex crex chicks are at risk from mechanized mowing
Authors: Green Rhys E. , Brekke Patricia , Ward Hannah , Slaymaker Matt , van der Velde Marco , Komdeur Jan , Dugdale Hannah L.
Published: March 2019

We used microsatellite DNA to assign probable parentage of young Corn Crakes to adult males and females and used these assignments to estimate the distribution of distances between broods of chicks and juveniles and the night‐time singing place of the father at the time of initiation of the clutch. Estimated distances for broods of young chicks were in accord with those estimated previously by radiotracking, but distances were greater for older unfledged independent chicks not studied previously. Our results indicate that modifications of the timing and method of mowing to reduce losses of nests and chicks should be implemented inside an area within about 500 m of the singing places of male Corn Crakes, rather than the 250 m previously considered to be safe.
How much medication is delivered in a novel drug delivery technique that uses a tattoo machine?
Authors: Arbache Samir , Mattos Elizabeth da Costa , Diniz Milton F. , Paiva Pedro Y. A. , Roth Dirlene , Arbache Samia T. , Oliveira Edna L. T. , Michalany Nilceo S. , Hirata Sergio H.
Published: March 2019

Background

Even though dermatologists often perform drug delivery procedures, it is necessary to assess their safety.

Objective

Quantify the amount of medication delivered using the MMP drug delivery technique and outline other safety parameters.

Methods

Using a simple and novel technique, we attempted to quantify the amount of medication delivered by weighing human skin samples before and after delivery.

Results

In drug delivery done on human skin using a liquid with a density of 1,271,460 μg/ml (the values expressed in this manuscript are in µg), a needling density of 570 perforations/cm2, and a needling depth of 300 microns, we estimate that 1,175 μg/cm2 were delivered (standard deviation 601 μg/cm2, standard error 190 μg/cm2).

Limitations

This result is only applicable to the protocol proposed in this study for the MMP drug delivery technique.

Conclusion

The MMP drug delivery technique injects small amounts of medication (1,175 μg/cm2) homogeneously into the dermis.
Discrimination of aged rice using colorimetric sensor array combined with volatile organic compounds
Authors: Lin Hao , Yan Song , Song BenTeng , Wang Zhuo , Sun Li
Published: March 2019

This article studied the distribution of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) expose to colorimetric sensors array on stored rice. COMSOL Multiphysics software was utilized to simulate the flow field in reaction chambers, where arc baffle with different curvature in different position were employed for optimization. It was observed that the velocity field was the most uniform when the curvature of baffle was 3.3 and the vertical distance from the front end of the baffle to the inlet was 1.5 cm. The research results revealed that color changes of the sensors exposed to the same VOCs in the designed chamber were more uniform than that of free volatilization chamber. Fresh and aged rice samples were 100% correctly identified by principal components analysis when the designed chamber was used, while the recognition percentage was 90% using the free volatilization chamber.

Practical applications

This work presents a nondestructive method for the discrimination of aged rice. The data and figures presented clearly suggest the optimized chamber can extremely improve the reaction between volatile organic compounds and colorimetric sensor array. When the optimized reaction chamber was performed to detect the fresh and aged rice, all of the samples were discriminated successfully. This research results supports a potential way for fast, nondestructive detection of freshness in rice industry.
“Yes! We Have a Home‐Based Palliative Care Program!”
Authors: Anne Calton Brook , Ritchie Christine
Published: March 2019

This editorial comments on the article by Wang et al. in this issue.
Management of inguinal hernia with prolapsed ovary in very low birthweight infants during neonatal intensive care unit hospitalisation
Authors: Kurobe Masashi , Harada Atsushi , Sugihara Tetsuro , Baba Yuji , Hiramatsu Tomomasa , Ohashi Shinsuke , Otsuka Masahiko
Published: March 2019

Aim

Prolapsed ovary (PO) in an inguinal hernia (IH) may cause torsion and infarction; however, the management of IH with PO in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants during neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) hospitalisation remains inconsistent.

Methods

The medical records of 47 IHs in 30 VLBW infants during NICU hospitalisation between 2008 and 2017 were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

Of the 47 IHs, PO was diagnosed in 18 (38.3%). Post‐natal age and body weight at diagnosis of IH with PO were 71 (44–172) days and 2120 (1305–2965) g, respectively. Seventeen IHs with PO underwent surgery for correction electively just before discharge from the NICU at the age and body weight of 94 (51–187) days and 2645 (2340–2945) g, respectively. Therefore, the time interval between diagnosis and surgery was 15 (7–90) days. There was no torsion of ovary before surgery and no postoperative complications, including apnoea and recurrence.

Conclusions

The high incidence of IH with PO in VLBW infants during NICU hospitalisation was confirmed in this study. Under careful observation, elective IH repair just before discharge from the NICU could be one acceptable option for the management of IH with PO in VLBW infants during NICU hospitalisation to prevent torsion and infarction of ovary.
Cancer‐Related Beliefs and Perceptions in Appalachia: Findings from 3 States
Authors: Vanderpool Robin C. , Huang Bin , Deng Yangyang , Bear Todd M. , Chen Quan , Johnson Meghan F. , Paskett Electra D. , Robertson Linda B. , Young Gregory S. , Iachan Ronaldo
Published: March 2019

Background: Appalachians experience increased rates of cancer incidence and mortality compared to non‐Appalachians. Many factors may contribute to the elevated cancer burden, including lack of knowledge and negative beliefs about the disease.

Methods: Three National Cancer Institute (NCI)‐designated cancer centers with Appalachian counties in their respective population‐based geographic service areas—Kentucky, Ohio, and Pennsylvania—surveyed their communities to better understand their health profiles, including 5 items assessing cancer beliefs. Weighted univariate and bivariate statistics were calculated for each of the 3 state's Appalachian population and for a combined Appalachian sample. Weighted multiple linear regression was used to identify factors associated with a cancer beliefs composite score. Data from the combined Appalachian sample were compared to NCI's Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS).

Results: Data from 1,891 Appalachian respondents were included in the analysis (Kentucky = 798, Ohio = 112, Pennsylvania = 981). Significant differences were observed across the 3 Appalachian populations related to income, education, marital status, rurality, perceptions of present income, and body mass index (BMI). Four of 5 cancer beliefs were significantly different across the 3 states. Education, BMI, perceptions of financial security, and Kentucky residence were significantly associated with a lower composite score of cancer beliefs. When comparing the combined Appalachian population to HINTS, 3 of 5 cancer belief measures were significantly different.

Conclusions: Variations in cancer beliefs were observed across the 3 states’ Appalachian populations. Interventions should be tailored to specific communities to improve cancer knowledge and beliefs and, ultimately, prevention and screening behaviors.
Petrography and geochemistry of the impact to postimpact transition layer at the El'gygytgyn impact structure in Chukotka, Arctic Russia
Authors: Maierhofer Karin , Koeberl Christian , Brigham‐Grette Julie
Published: March 2019

The 3.6 Ma El'gygytgyn impact structure, located in northeast Chukotka in Arctic Russia, was largely formed in acidic volcanic rocks. The 18 km diameter circular depression is today filled with Lake El'gygytgyn (diameter of 12 km) that contains a continuous record of lacustrine sediments of the Arctic from the past 3.6 Myr. In 2009, El'gygytgyn became the focus of the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) in which a total of 642.4 m of drill core was recovered. Lithostratigraphically, the drill cores comprise lacustrine sediment sequences, impact breccias, and deformed target rocks. The impactite core was recovered from 316.08 to 517.30 meters below lake floor (mblf). Because of the rare, outstanding recovery, the transition zone, ranging from 311.47 to 317.38 m, between the postimpact lacustrine sediments and the impactite sequences, was studied petrographically and geochemically. The transition layer comprises a mixture of about 6 m of loose sedimentary and volcanic material containing isolated clasts of minerals and melt. Shock metamorphic effects, such as planar fractures (PFs) and planar deformation features (PDFs), were observed in a few quartz grains. The discoveries of silica diaplectic glass hosting coesite, kinked micas and amphibole, lechatelierite, numerous impact melt shards and clasts, and spherules are associated with the impact event. The occurrence of spherules, impact melt clasts, silica diaplectic glass, and lechatelierite, about 1 m below the onset of the transition, marks the beginning of the more coherent impact ejecta layer. The results of siderophile interelement ratios of the transition layer spherules give indications of the relative contribution of the meteoritical component.
Optimising feedback for early career professionals: a scoping review and new framework
Authors: Mattick Karen , Brennan Nicola , Briscoe Simon , Papoutsi Chrysanthi , Pearson Mark
Published: March 2019

Context

Meta‐analyses have shown that feedback can be a powerful intervention to increase learning and performance but there is significant variability in impact. New trials are adding little to the question of whether feedback interventions are effective, so the focus now is how to optimise the effect. Early career professionals (ECPs) in busy work environments are a particularly important target group. This literature review aimed to synthesise information to support the optimal design of feedback interventions for ECPs.

Methods

We undertook a scoping literature review, using search terms such as ‘feedback’ and ‘effectiveness’ in MEDLINE, MEDLINE‐In‐Process, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Education Research Complete, Education Resources Information Center, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Social Sciences Citation Index and Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, to identify empirical studies describing feedback interventions in busy workplaces published in English since 1990. We applied inclusion criteria to identify studies for the mapping stage and extracted key data to inform the next stage. We then selected a subset of papers for the framework development stage, which were subjected to a thematic synthesis by three authors, leading to a new feedback framework and a modified version of feedback intervention theory specifically for ECPs.

Results

A total of 80 studies were included in the mapping stage, with roughly equal studies from hospital settings and school classrooms, and 17 papers were included in the framework development stage. The feedback framework comprised three main categories (audit, feedback and goal setting) and 22 subcategories. The review highlighted the limited empirical research focusing solely on feedback for ECPs, which was surprising given the particular nuances in feedback for ECPs identified through this study.

Conclusions

We offer the feedback framework to optimise the design of future feedback interventions for early career professionals and encourage future feedback research to move away from generic models and tailor work to specific target audiences.
Heat shock protein 90 does not contribute to cutaneous vasodilatation in older adults during heat stress
Authors: Fujii Naoto , McGarr Gregory W. , Hatam Kion , Chandran Nithila , Muia Caroline M. , Nishiyasu Takeshi , Boulay Pierre , Ghassa Reem , Kenny Glen P.
Published: March 2019

Objectives

Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) contributes to cutaneous vasodilatation during exercise in the heat through nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS)–dependent mechanisms in young adults. We hypothesized that similar responses would be observed in older middle‐aged adults.

Methods

In nineteen habitually active older middle‐aged (56 ± 5 years) men (n = 9) and women (n = 10), cutaneous vascular conductance (CVC) was measured at four forearm skin sites continuously treated with (a) lactated Ringers solution (Control), (b) 10 mmol/L L‐NAME (NOS inhibitor), (c) 178 μmol/L geldanamycin (HSP90 inhibitor), or (d) 10 mmol/L L‐NAME and 178 μmol/L geldanamycin combined. Participants rested in an upright semi‐recumbent position in the heat (35°C) for 70 minutes, followed by a 50‐minute bout of moderate‐intensity cycling (~55% peak oxygen uptake) and a 30‐minute recovery period in the heat.

Results

In both men and women, we observed no significant effects of HSP90 inhibition on CVC throughout rest, exercise, and recovery in the heat (all P > 0.27). Conversely, NOS inhibition and dual NOS and HSP90 inhibition attenuated CVC relative to Control throughout the protocol (all P ≤ 0.05).

Conclusions

While NOS mediates cutaneous vasodilatation during rest, exercise, and recovery in the heat, HSP90 does not measurably influence this response in habitually active older middle‐aged men or women under these conditions.
Reconstruction of coronary circulation networks: A review of methods
Authors: Vigneshwaran Vibujithan , Sands Gregory B. , LeGrice Ian J. , Smaill Bruce H. , Smith Nicolas P.
Published: March 2019

Building anatomically accurate models of the coronary vascular system enables potentially deeper understandings of coronary circulation. To achieve this, (a) images at different levels of vascular network—arteries, arterioles, capillaries, venules, and veins—need to be obtained through suitable imaging modalities; and (b) from images, morphological and topological information needs to be extracted using image processing techniques. While there are several modalities that enable the imaging of large vessels, microcirculation imaging—capturing vessels having diameter lesser than 100 μm—has to date been typically confined to small regions of the heart. This spatially limited microcirculatory information has often been used within cardiac models, with the potentially erroneous assumption that it is representative of the whole organ. However, with the recent advancements in imaging and image processing, it is rapidly becoming feasible to acquire, process, and quantify microcirculation data at the scale of whole organ. In this review, we summarize the progress toward this goal followed through a presentation of the current state‐of‐the‐art imaging and image processing techniques in the context of coronary microcirculation extraction, prominently but not exclusively, from small animals.
Machine learning in plant–pathogen interactions: empowering biological predictions from field scale to genome scale
Authors: Sperschneider Jana
Published: March 2019

Machine learning (ML) encompasses statistical methods that learn to identify patterns in complex datasets. Here, I review application areas in plant–pathogen interactions that have recently benefited from ML, such as disease monitoring, the discovery of gene regulatory networks, genomic selection for disease resistance and prediction of pathogen effectors. However, achieving robust performance from ML is not trivial and requires knowledge of both the methodology and the biology. I discuss common pitfalls and challenges in using ML approaches. Finally, I highlight future opportunities for ML as a tool for dissecting plant–pathogen interactions using high‐throughput data, for example, through integration of diverse data sources and the analysis with higher resolution, such as from individual cells or on elaborate spatial and temporal scales.
Energy costs of salinity tolerance in crop plants: night‐time transpiration and growth
Authors: Fricke Wieland
Published: March 2019

Plants grow and transpire during the night. The aim of the present work was to assess the relative flows of carbon, water and solutes, and the energy involved, in sustaining night‐time transpiration and leaf expansive growth under control and salt‐stress conditions.

Published and unpublished data were used, for barley plants grown in presence of 0.5–1 mM NaCl (control) and 100 mM NaCl.

Night‐time leaf growth presents a more efficient use of taken‐up water compared with day‐time growth. This efficiency increases several‐fold with salt stress. Night‐time transpiration cannot be supported entirely through osmotically driven uptake of water through roots under salt stress. Using a simple three‐ (root medium/cytosol/vacuole) compartment approach, the energy required to support cell expansion during the night is in the lower percentage region (0.03–5.5%) of the energy available through respiration, under both, control and salt‐stress conditions. Use of organic (e.g. hexose equivalents) rather than inorganic (e.g. Na+, Cl−, K+) solutes for generation of osmotic pressure in growing cells, increases the energy demand by orders of magnitude, yet requires only a small portion of carbon assimilated during the day.

Night‐time transpiration and leaf expansive growth should be considered as a potential acclimation mechanism to salinity.
Patient‐specific Instrumentation Affects Rotational Alignment of the Femoral Component in Total Knee Arthroplasty: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Cucchi Davide , Menon Alessandra , Aliprandi Alberto , Soncini Giulia , Zanini Beatrice , Ragone Vincenza , Compagnoni Riccardo , Ferrua Paolo , Fossati Chiara , Randelli Pietro
Published: March 2019

Objective

To evaluate whether patient‐specific instrumentation (PSI) improve the accuracy of femoral component rotational alignment with respect to conventionally‐implanted total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

Methods

Twenty‐four patients were randomized to receive a TKA implanted with PSI or conventional instrumentation. Implant orientation was compared on Computed Tomography (CT). Surgical time, recuts, and component size variations from planning were recorded. Preoperative and postoperative Oxford knee score and visual analogue scale were compared to assess clinical outcomes.

Results

Femoral components implanted with patient‐specific instrumentation were aligned with greater external rotation than those implanted with conventional instrumentation (P = 0.022). No significant differences were found in surgical times, number of recuts, and clinical outcomes. Surgeon modifications from the planned size were necessary in 58% of PSI cases.

Conclusion

Femoral components implanted with PSI had greater external rotation than with conventional instrumentation. Surgeons must carefully evaluate component sizes when using PSI, both in planning and during surgery.
Implantation of a dual‐chamber pacemaker with epicardial leads in adults using a minimally invasive subxyphoid approach
Authors: Kempa Maciej , Laskawski Grzegorz , Budrejko Szymon , Slawinski Grzegorz , Raczak Grzegorz , Rogowski Jan
Published: March 2019

Background

Implantation of transvenous pacemaker systems is a standard method used to treat patients with bradycardia. There are some clinical settings in which that method cannot be used despite existing indications (such as developmental defects of the cardiovascular system and limited venous access or infections). In such cases, an epicardial pacing system may be implanted with cardiac surgery techniques, at a cost of certain surgical risks. The least invasive approach is subxyphoid, but it traditionally allows to place only a ventricular lead and achieve a single‐chamber VVI pacing system.

Aim

The aim of our study was to determine the feasibility of subxyphoid implantation of dual‐chamber pacing systems using thoracoscopic tools, as well as to and examine the short‐ and mid‐term outcomes of such procedures.

Methods

Patients were qualified for an epicardial pacemaker system in case of absolute indications for permanent pacing therapy and coexisting contraindications for a transvenous system. DDD systems were implanted in 10 consecutive patients, in general anesthesia, in a cardiac surgery operating room, using subxyphoid access to pericardial space and a standard set of minimally invasive thoracoscopic tools.

Results

Implantation of a dual‐chamber pacing system using the above approach was successful in all attempts. No serious complications were observed. Pacing and sensing parameters were appropriate at implantation and remained such during the follow‐up of 2‐27 months.

Conclusion

Implantation of a dual‐chamber pacing system using a minimally invasive subxyphoid approach is feasible. Appropriate pacing and sensing values may be obtained and they remain stable during follow‐up.
Pediatric toxic epidermal necrolysis treated successfully with infliximab
Authors: Chafranska Lana , Saunte Ditte M. , Behrendt Nille , Nygaard Ulrikka , Christensen Ryan J. , Sand Carsten , Jemec Gregor B.
Published: March 2019

Successful management of toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) with tumor necrosis factor‐α inhibitors has been described in adults. We present a case of a 7‐year‐old boy with infection‐associated TEN, diagnosed by typical clinical and histopathological features, most likely caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Treatment with a single dose of infliximab 5 mg/kg intravenously on day 5 after the onset of symptoms was followed by cessation of all blister formation over 3 days and complete resolution within a week. Sequelae were mild, consisting of postinflammatory hyperpigmentation and dry eyes.
Topical sirolimus as an effective treatment for a deep neurofibroma in a patient with neurofibromatosis type I
Authors: Malhotra Neel , Levy Jonathan Michael Stephen , Fiorillo Loretta
Published: March 2019

A 14‐year‐old boy with neurofibromatosis type I (NF1) presented with a painful neurofibroma on his right palm. The lesion was treated with topical sirolimus, resulting in decreased size and pain and improvement in motor function of his hand. This case demonstrates the efficacy of topical sirolimus in the management of neurofibromas in NF1.
Dermoscopy of subungual red comets associated with tuberous sclerosis complex
Authors: Sechi Andrea , Savoia Francesco , Patrizi Annalisa , Sacchelli Lidia , Neri Iria
Published: March 2019

We report here our experience on the use of dermoscopy for the detection of subungual red comets, which are sometimes present in the nails of patients affected by tuberous sclerosis complex. Dermoscopy allowed us to visualize, with better resolution than the naked eye, very tortuous capillaries surrounded by a whitish halo and close parallel binary tortuous capillaries. In some cases, subungual red comets are associated with the presence of periungual or subungual fibromas, but their exact pathogenesis remains unknown.
Narratives of Commemoration: Identity, Memory, and Conflict in Northern Ireland 1916–2016
Authors: Hancock Landon E.
Published: March 2019

Identity differences have long driven the Northern Irish conflict. An important aspect of identity formation for Northern Ireland are the events of 1916 and the narratives that surround the yearly commemorations of the Easter Rising and the Battle of the Somme. For Republicans, the Easter Rising led to the creation of the first IRA and created a symbolic link to the Provisional IRA that was active during the Troubles. For Loyalists, the Battle of the Somme represents a significant loss and a special tie to a sense of Britishness that sustains the Loyalist community. For both communities, attempts to rewrite these narratives have generated new fears of cultural extinction, most especially for Loyalists, and led to a series of political clashes during the centenary commemorations in 2016. Historical commemoration in Northern Ireland continues to resist postconflict reconciliation and represents yet another venue for antagonistic, oppositional identities.
Maslov and Kuznetsov: Camping and Revamping Classical Scenarios
Authors: GOSCILO HELENA
Published: March 2019

Among the Neoacademists’ programmatic revival of earlier art forms, none–with the possible exception of Ol’ga Tobreluts–as regularly reached so far back to bygone eras as Oleg Maslov and Viktor Kuznetsov once they launched their artistic collaboration in 1993. Finding inspiration in Greco‐Roman antiquity and its evocation in seventeenth‐ccentury French classicism and the Victorian era in England, their art chiefly comprised large paintings or photographed tableaux vivants derived from literary or visual works that intimated or described sexual play, which they revised most frequently in an irreverent tongue‐in‐cheek vein. Like most of the Neoacademists’ work, theirs depended on the body (normally their own) and adopted a gay aesthetic of campy excess that implied an erotic bond between the two artists or, in the case of group constellations, among all participants. Self‐consciously performative, the two artists solicited their audiences’ complicity, relying on humor to establish the shared recognition of “quotation marks” that served as a knowing wink–a wink that registered the temporary assumption of roles instead of the articulation of a sustained and heartfelt “philosophy of life.”
Zhamtsarano among the Western Buryats: The “Field Notes” as a Source for Buryat Social History in the Early Twentieth Century
Authors: MONTGOMERY ROBERT W.
Published: March 2019

The Buryat scholar Tsyben Zhamtsarano (1880 or 1881–1942) is best known for his scholarly contributions as a folklorist and philologist, his participation in the Buryat national movement and Mongolia's revolutionary government, and his tragic end as a victim of the Stalinist purges. Yet he also was a keen observer of Buryat daily life. This article utilizes the “field notes” that he gathered during folklore expeditions in the Buryat territories of Irkutsk Province between 1903 and 1907 to explore aspects of Western Buryat society in the first decade of the twentieth century: relations between the Western Buryats and Russian officialdom; social ills such as alcoholism and disease; Western Buryat religious life (Buddhism, Shamanism, and Russian Orthodoxy); and the birth of native social and political activism.
Fostering social and emotional intelligence: What are the best current strategies in parenting?
Authors: Segrin Chris , Flora Jeanne
Published: March 2019

This review focuses on parenting practices that are beneficial or antagonistic to the development of emotional and social intelligence in children. We start by reviewing the somewhat nebulous concepts of emotional and social intelligence. This is followed by an examination of the association between well‐known parenting styles such as authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, and directive parenting and various indicators of child emotional and social intelligence. The strategic emotion‐coaching parenting style is also examined for its connections to comparable child outcomes. Parenting practices such as inductive discipline and parental availability also appear to cultivate emotional and social intelligence in children. Finally, overparenting is discussed as a parenting practice that apparently corrupts the development of these traits in emerging adults. We conclude that best practices, where emotional intelligence and social intelligence are the benchmarks, blend parental care and concern with a degree of parental demands on children that are appropriate for their developmental stage.
Pooled CRISPR/Cas9 reveals redundant roles of plastidial phosphoglycerate kinases in carbon fixation and metabolism
Authors: Li Ruizi , Qiu Zhimin , Wang Xiaoguo , Gong Pingping , Xu Qinzhen , Yu Qing‐bo , Guan Yuefeng
Published: March 2019

Phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) is a highly conserved reversible enzyme that participates in both glycolysis and photosynthesis. In Arabidopsis thaliana, one cytosolic PGK (PGKc) and two plastidial PGKs (PGKp) are known. It remains debatable whether the two PGKp isozymes are functionally redundant or specialized in plastidial carbon metabolism and fixation. Here, using a pooled clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated protein 9 (Cas9) strategy, we found that plants with single mutations in pgkp1 or pgkp2 were not significantly affected, whereas a pgkp1pgkp2 double mutation was lethal due to retarded carbon fixation, suggesting that PGKp isozymes play redundant functional roles. Metabolomic analysis demonstrated that the sugar‐deficient pgkp1pgkp2 double mutation was partially complemented by exogenous sugar, although respiration intermediates were not rescued. Chloroplast development was defective in pgkp1pgkp2, due to a deficiency in glycolysis‐dependent galactoglycerolipid biosynthesis. Ectopic expression of a plastid targeting PGKc did not reverse the pgkp1pgkp2 double‐mutant phenotypes. Therefore, PGKp1 and PGKp2 play redundant roles in carbon fixation and metabolism, whereas the molecular function of PGKc is more divergent. Our study demonstrated the functional conservation and divergence of glycolytic enzymes.
The plant Pontin and Reptin homologues, RuvBL1 and RuvBL2a, colocalize with TERT and TRB proteins in vivo, and participate in telomerase biogenesis
Authors: Schořová Šárka , Fajkus Jiří , Záveská Drábková Lenka , Honys David , Schrumpfová Petra Procházková
Published: March 2019

Telomerase maturation and recruitment to telomeres is regulated by several telomerase‐ and telomere‐associated proteins. Among a number of proteins, human Pontin and Reptin play critical roles in telomerase biogenesis. Here we characterized plant orthologues of Pontin and Reptin, RuvBL1 and RuvBL2a, respectively, and show association of Arabidopsis thaliana RuvBL1 (AtRuvBL1) with the catalytic subunit of telomerase (AtTERT) in the nucleolus in vivo. In contrast to mammals, interactions between AtTERT and AtRuvBL proteins in A. thaliana are not direct and they are rather mediated by one of the Arabidopsis thaliana Telomere Repeat Binding (AtTRB) proteins. We further show that plant orthologue of dyskerin, named AtCBF5, is indirectly associated with AtTRB proteins but not with the AtRuvBL proteins in the plant nucleus/nucleolus, and interacts with the Protection of telomere 1 (AtPOT1a) in the nucleolus or cytoplasmic foci. Our genome‐wide phylogenetic analyses identify orthologues in RuvBL protein family within the plant kingdom. Dysfunction of AtRuvBL genes in heterozygous T‐DNA insertion A. thaliana mutants results in reduced telomerase activity and indicate the involvement of AtRuvBL in plant telomerase biogenesis.