bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inhalational versus Intravenous Induction of Anesthesia in Children with a High Risk of Perioperative Respiratory Adverse Events
Authors: Ramgolam Anoop , Hall Graham L. , Zhang Guicheng , Hegarty Mary , von Ungern-Sternberg Britta S.
Published: March 2018

Background

Limited evidence suggests that children have a lower incidence of perioperative respiratory adverse events when intravenous propofol is used compared with inhalational sevoflurane for the anesthesia induction. Limiting these events can improve recovery time as well as decreasing surgery waitlists and healthcare costs. This single center open-label randomized controlled trial assessed the impact of the anesthesia induction technique on the occurrence of perioperative respiratory adverse events in children at high risk of those events.

Methods

Children (N = 300; 0 to 8 yr) with at least two clinically relevant risk factors for perioperative respiratory adverse events and deemed suitable for either technique of anesthesia induction were recruited and randomized to either intravenous propofol or inhalational sevoflurane. The primary outcome was the difference in the rate of occurrence of perioperative respiratory adverse events between children receiving intravenous induction and those receiving inhalation induction of anesthesia.

Results

Children receiving intravenous propofol were significantly less likely to experience perioperative respiratory adverse events compared with those who received inhalational sevoflurane after adjusting for age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status and weight (perioperative respiratory adverse event: 39/149 [26%] vs. 64/149 [43%], relative risk [RR]: 1.7, 95% CI: 1.2 to 2.3, P = 0.002, respiratory adverse events at induction: 16/149 [11%] vs. 47/149 [32%], RR: 3.06, 95% CI: 1.8 to 5.2, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Where clinically appropriate, anesthesiologists should consider using an intravenous propofol induction technique in children who are at high risk of experiencing perioperative respiratory adverse events.
The Introduction of a Preoperative MRI Protocol Significantly Reduces Unplanned Return to the Operating Room in the Treatment of Pediatric Osteoarticular Infections
Authors: Griswold Branum G. , Sheppard Evan , Pitts Charlie , Gilbert Shawn R. , Khoury Joseph G.
Published: March 2018

Background:

Pediatric osteoarticular infection can cause severe morbidity. Some infectious loci may be difficult to identify clinically, and there may be more than one. There is little agreement regarding the appropriate use of preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in this setting. After noting an unacceptably high rate of unplanned returns to the operating room for recurrent infection, clinicians at a tertiary care children’s hospital noticed many patients had adjacent foci of infection on postoperative MRI. As a result, patients experienced prolonged treatment courses and multiple surgeries. An interdisciplinary team instituted practice guidelines whereby all patients with suspected osteoarticular infection underwent MRI for planned debridement during a reserved morning slot with a surgical suite on hold to proceed directly to surgery if indicated. Images were reviewed in real time to form the surgical plan. Young patients that required sedation for MRI were taken to surgery under the same anesthetic used for MRI without being awakened. The purpose of our retrospective study is to determine if implementing the practice guidelines for acute management of osteoarticular infection reduced unplanned returns to the operating room.

Methods:

A total of 93 patients with osteoarticular infection were included in this study. A total of 40 cases, group A, were treated before implementing practice guidelines; 53 cases, group B, were treated after implementing practice guidelines. Our primary outcomes of interest were the identification of adjacent infections prior to surgery and need for repeat surgery, either planned or unplanned.

Results:

Implementation of these guidelines reduced repeat surgery from 50% of patients to <27% (P=0.0099). Of patients requiring repeat surgery, 85% (n=17) were unplanned in group A versus 60% (n=9) in group B (P=0.0099). Adjacent infections were identified in 47.5% (n=19) of patients in group A, versus 60% (n=32) in group B. Adjacent infections were known before surgery in 32% (n=6) of patients in group A versus 72% (n=23) in group B. There were no statistically significant differences in initial patient characteristics or sites of infection.

Conclusions:

Implementing these guidelines reduced the need for repeat surgery in this population. It is difficult to predict with sufficient accuracy which patients need preoperative MRI. While resource intensive, preoperative MRI appears to offer substantial benefit in preoperative planning.
Activated Prothrombin Complex Concentrate Versus 4-Factor Prothrombin Complex Concentrate for Vitamin K-Antagonist Reversal*
Authors: Rowe A. Shaun , Dietrich Scott K. , Phillips John W. , Foster Kaci E. , Canter Joshua R.
Published: March 2018

Objectives:

To compare the international normalized ratio normalization efficacy of activated prothrombin complex concentrates and 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrates and to evaluate the thrombotic complications in patients treated with these products for warfarin-associated hemorrhage.

Design:

Retrospective, Multicenter Cohort.

Setting:

Large, Community, Teaching Hospital.

Patients:

Patients greater than 18 years old and received either activated prothrombin complex concentrate or 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate for the treatment of warfarin-associated hemorrhage. We excluded those patients who received either agent for an indication other than warfarin-associated hemorrhage, pregnant, had a baseline international normalized ratio of less than 2, received a massive transfusion as defined by hospital protocol, received plasma for treatment of warfarin-associated hemorrhage, or were treated for an acute warfarin ingestion.

Interventions:

Patients in the activated prothrombin complex concentrate group (enrolled from one hospital) with an international normalized ratio of less than 5 received 500 IU and those with an international normalized ratio greater than 5 received 1,000 IU. Patients in the 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate (enrolled from a separate hospital) group received the Food and Drug Administration approved dosing algorithm.

Measurements and Main Results:

A total of 158 patients were included in the final analysis (activated prothrombin complex concentrate = 118; 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate = 40). Those in the 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate group had a higher pretreatment international normalized ratio (2.7 ± 1.8 vs 3.5 ± 2.9; p = 0.0164). However, the posttreatment international normalized ratio was similar between the groups. In addition, even when controlling for differences in the pretreatment international normalized ratio, there was no difference in the ability to achieve a posttreatment international normalized ratio of less than 1.4 (odds ratio, 0.753 [95% CI, 0.637–0.890]; p = 0.0009). Those in the activated prothrombin complex concentrate group did have higher odds of achieving a posttreatment international normalized ratio of less than 1.2 (odds ratio, 3.23 [95% CI, 1.34–7.81]; p = 0.0088). There was only one posttreatment thrombotic complication reported.

Conclusions:

A low, fixed dose of activated prothrombin complex concentrate was as effective as standard dose 4-factor prothrombin complex concentrate for normalization of international normalized ratio. In addition, we did not see an increase in thrombotic events.
Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma, a Novel Manifestation of PDGFRA-Rearranged Neoplasm
Authors: Behdad Amir , Allen Pamela , Lu Xinyan , Zhou Xiaolong Alan , Guitart Joan , Chen Qing , Pro Barbara
Published: March 2018

Patients withPDGFRA-rearranged hematopoietic neoplasms typically present with chronic eosinophilic leukemia and rarely with acute myeloid leukemia or T-lymphoblastic lymphoma. However, mature T-cell lymphoma has not been previously associated with PDGFRA aberrations. We report a patient who presented with simultaneous T-lymphoblastic lymphoma, focal myeloid proliferation, and cutaneous cytotoxic T-cell lymphoma refractory to chemotherapy. The presence of myeloid and lymphoid lineages prompted genetic and molecular studies. APDGFRArearrangement was identified in all compartments: cutaneous, lymph node, and bone marrow. Treatment with imatinib resulted in an excellent response in cutaneous and systemic disease. We report the first case of a mature cutaneous T-cell lymphoma withPDGFRArearrangement, expanding the spectrum of neoplasms associated with this genetic abnormality. Our case underscores the great importance of recognizingPDGFRArearrangement in unusual cases of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, systemic lymphoid, and myeloid neoplasms. These patients may respond well to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, despite resistance to conventional chemotherapy.
Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty Learning Curve for Graft Preparation in an Eye Bank Using 645 Donor Corneas
Authors: Parekh Mohit , Ruzza Alessandro , Romano Vito , Favaro Elisa , Baruzzo Mattia , Salvalaio Gianni , Grassetto Andrea , Ferrari Stefano , Ponzin Diego
Published: March 2018

Purpose:

To investigate the learning curve of Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) graft preparation in an eye bank.

Methods:

Four operators prepared 645 DMEK grafts using the stripping technique between 2014 and 2017 at the Veneto Eye Bank Foundation, Italy. Endothelial cell loss (ECL) and tissue wastage were recorded retrospectively after DMEK preparation and correlated with the number of tissues prepared each year by each operator. On average, our operators performed 1 donor preparation a week over the course of this study. Only donors older than 60 years were used in this study, and approximately 10% of donors had diabetes. The Wilcoxon test for paired data and 1-way ANOVA were used for checking statistical significance with the Tukey test as post hoc analysis. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

ECL did not change significantly over time from operator 1. Significant ECL drop was noted from operator 2 between years 2014–2016 (P = 0.0049) and 2017 (P = 0.0094); from operator 3 between years 2015–2016 (P = 0.0288) and 2017 (P = 0.0097); and from operator 4 between 2015–2016 (P = 0.0469) and 2017 (P = 0.0331). Operators 1 and 3 did not show a significant difference, considering every 50 grafts prepared by each operator. Operator 2 showed significant ECL drop between 1 to 50 and 51 to 100 (P = 0.0002) and 1 to 50 and 101 to 150 (P = 0.0001) grafts. Operator 4 showed significant ECL drop between 1 to 50 and 101 to 150 (P = 0.002) and 51 to 100 and 101 to 141 (P = 0.0207) grafts. No intraoperator difference was observed per 50 grafts (P > 0.05).

Conclusions:

There is a learning curve for DMEK graft preparation. ECL and tissue wastage can be reduced with practice and skills. However, each operator may be limited to his or her own learning capability.
Association of Postoperative Topical Prostaglandin Analog or Beta-Blocker Use and Incidence of Pseudophakic Cystoid Macular Edema
Authors: Wendel Colten , Zakrzewski Helena , Carleton Bruce , Etminan Mahyar , Mikelberg Frederick S.
Published: March 2018

Purpose:

The purpose of this article is to determine the association of postoperative topical prostaglandin analog (PGA) or topical beta-blocker use and the incidence of pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (CME).

Methods:

This was a nested case-control study. All adult patients who underwent cataract surgery between January 1, 2006 and December 31, 2016 and who were enrolled in the PharMetrics Plus database were eligible for inclusion. The association between postoperative topical PGAs (bimatoprost, latanoprost, and travoprost/travoprost-z) or beta-blocker (betaxolol, levobunolol, and timolol) use and the incidence of pseudophakic CME was assessed by conditional logistic regression.

Results:

Five hundred eight cases and 5080 controls were included in the analyses. Incidence of pseudophakic CME was found to be statistically significantly associated with the current postoperative use of both topical PGAs [relative risk (RR), 1.86; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-3.32] and topical beta-blockers (RR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.08-6.49). Postoperative use of each of bimatoprost (RR, 2.73; 95% CI, 1.35%-5.53%) and travoprost/travoprost-z (RR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.42-7.03) in the year before diagnosis was demonstrated to be statistically significantly associated with the incidence of pseudophakic CME. This association was not observed to be statistically significant with the postoperative use of latanoprost (RR, 1.55; 95% CI, 0.84-2.88).

Conclusions:

To the best of our knowledge this is the largest study that has investigated the association between postoperative topical PGA or topical beta-blocker use and the incidence of pseudophakic CME. Postoperative use of both topical PGAs and topical beta-blockers was found to be associated with the incidence of pseudophakic CME.
Surgical Outcomes of a New Low-Cost Nonvalved Glaucoma Drainage Device in Refractory Glaucoma: Results at 1 Year
Authors: Pathak Ray Vanita , Rao Divya P.
Published: March 2018

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to report the early outcomes in terms of efficacy and safety of a new, indigenously manufactured, low-cost nonvalved drainage device [AADI (Aurolab Aqueous Drainage Implant)] in the management of refractory glaucoma in the Indian population.

Methods:

Retrospective review of consecutive patients older than 12 years, who underwent glaucoma drainage device surgery (GDD) using AADI, by a single fellowship-trained surgeon, between January 2014 and December 2016, who had at least 3 months of documented post-op follow-up.

Outcome measures:

Primary—intraocular pressure (IOP).

Secondary—number of antiglaucoma medication (AGM), LogMAR best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and complications.

Complete success was defined as IOP ≥5 mm Hg and ≤21 mm Hg or reduction of IOP by ≥20% from baseline without AGM; qualified success with use of AGM. Failure was defined as inability to meet IOP criteria, loss of perception of light, explantation or any additional glaucoma surgery.

Results:

A total of 54 eyes of 51 patients were included. Mean follow up was 12.1±6.3 months. The IOP and number of AGM required was significantly lower at every visit postoperatively (P<0.001). Median LogMAR BCVA remained unchanged (P=0.5). Complications occurred in 22 patients (40.7%). Complete success was seen in 66.6%; overall success was 92.6%.

Conclusions:

New nonvalved GDD (AADI) surgery is effective in reducing IOP and need for AGM with a safety profile similar to published reports of prevailing GDDs. It thus has the ability to breach the cost barrier in low-to-middle income countries; further follow-up is required to determine sustainability over time.
Linking the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory-Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT) to the International Classification of Function
Authors: Thompson Sharon V. , Cech Donna J. , Cahill Susan M. , Krzak Joseph J.
Published: March 2018

Purpose:

The purpose of the current study was to examine how comprehensively the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory-Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT) addresses Activity and Participation components of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF).

Methods:

Two raters individually linked the 276 items of the PEDI-CAT to the ICF using ICF linking rules, the PEDI-CAT manual, and the ICF browser. Agreement between reviewers was evaluated, and reliability of the linking process was assessed using Cohen's κ.

Results:

All 9 chapters of Activity and Participation were represented within the PEDI-CAT. The highest frequency of representation was in Mobility (43%) and Self-care (20%) chapters. Agreement between the 2 raters was strong (κ = 0.84). Two items were not definable in the ICF, and 3 linked to Body Function codes.

Conclusions:

The PEDI-CAT was strongly representative of the Activities and Participation component of the ICF. The linking process had substantial reliability.
Short-Term Recovery of Balance Control: Association With Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Pediatric Oncology
Authors: Gilchrist Laura S. , Tanner Lynn R.
Published: March 2018

Purpose:

To describe the incidence and short-term recovery of balance control in children and adolescents receiving neurotoxic treatment for noncentral nervous system cancers and to investigate the association of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy and balance control.

Methods:

Sixty-five children and adolescents diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma, or other solid tumors were tested 3 to 6 months into treatment and 3 and 6 months following treatment using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Balance Subscale and Pediatric Modified Total Neuropathy Scale scores of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN).

Results:

Seventy-eight percent of the participants scored 1 standard deviation or more below population means on the balance subscale while on treatment, and this improved to 53% by 6 months posttreatment, with the leukemia group performing worse at both time points. On-treatment balance scores were moderately associated with motor CIPN, while at 6 months posttreatment they were more closely associated with sensory CIPN.

Conclusions:

Mild to moderate balance impairments improve but can persist, even when CIPN has improved, 6 months after treatment for childhood cancer.
Increased Single-Fiber Jitter Level Is Associated With Reduction in Motor Function With Aging
Authors: Chung Tae , Tian Yanli , Walston Jeremy , Hoke Ahmet
Published: March 2018

Objective

Age-associated skeletal muscle weakness is a major contributing factor to an increased late life mortality and morbidity, but its neurobiology is poorly understood. Previously, we provided histological evidence of dying-back axonal degeneration of motor neurons and denervation of neuromuscular junctions in age-associated muscle weakness. Given this, we aimed to evaluate the relation between impaired neuromuscular transmission and various aspects of age-associated muscle weakness.

Design

We compared two electrophysiological measures, single-fiber jitter and compound motor action potential in mice of different age groups, and correlated them with various physical performance measures, such as grip strength, standing and walking time, and treadmill performance.

Results

Consistent with our previous histological data, single-fiber jitter, a measure of neuromuscular junction transmission, was significantly increased in older animals, whereas compound motor action potential shows no difference between young and old age groups. Neither jitter nor compound motor action potential correlated with any of physical performance measures, except for jitter and standing activity.

Conclusions

Impaired neuromuscular transmission—represented as increase in single-fiber electromyography jitter level—reflects decline in motor function with aging.
Comparative Analysis of Linear and Nonlinear Dimension Reduction Techniques on Mass Cytometry Data
Authors: Konstorum Anna , Jekel Nathan , Vidal Emily , Laubenbacher Reinhard
Published: March 2018

Mass cytometry, also known as CyTOF, is a newly developed technology for quantification and classification of immune cells that can allow for analysis of over three dozen protein markers per cell. The high dimensional data that is generated requires innovative methods for analysis and visualization. We conducted a comparative analysis of four dimension reduction techniques – principal component analysis (PCA), isometric feature mapping (Isomap), t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE), and Diffusion Maps by implementing them on benchmark mass cytometry data sets. We compare the results of these reductions using computation time, residual variance, a newly developed comparison metric we term neighborhood proportion error (NPE), and two-dimensional visualizations. We find that t-SNE and Diffusion Maps are the two most effective methods for preserving relationships of interest among cells and providing informative visualizations. In low dimensional embeddings, t-SNE exhibits well-defined phenotypic clustering. Additionally, Diffusion Maps can represent cell differentiation pathways with long projections along each diffusion component. We thus recommend a complementary approach using t-SNE and Diffusion Maps in order to extract diverse and informative cell relationship information in a two-dimensional setting from CyTOF data.
The Medical Genome Reference Bank: a whole-genome data resource of 4,000 healthy elderly individuals. Rationale and cohort design
Authors: Lacaze Paul , Pinese Mark , Kaplan Warren , Stone Andrew , Brion Marie-Jo , Woods Robyn L , McNamara Martin , McNeil John J , Dinger Marcel E , Thomas David M
Published: March 2018

Allele frequency data from human reference populations is of increasing value for filtering and assignment of pathogenicity to genetic variants. Aged and healthy populations are more likely to be selectively depleted of pathogenic alleles, and therefore particularly suitable as a reference populations for the major diseases of clinical and public health importance. However, reference studies of the healthy elderly have remained under-represented in human genetics. We have developed the Medical Genome Reference Bank (MGRB), a large-scale comprehensive whole-genome dataset of confirmed healthy elderly individuals, to provide a publicly accessible resource for health-related research, and for clinical genetics. It also represents a useful resource for studying the genetics of healthy aging. The MGRB comprises 4,000 healthy, older individuals with no reported history of cancer, cardiovascular disease or dementia, recruited from two Australian community-based cohorts. DNA derived from blood samples will be subject to whole genome sequencing. The MGRB will measure genome-wide genetic variation in 4,000 individuals, mostly of European decent, aged 60-95 years (mean age ≥ 75 years). The MGRB has committed to a policy of data sharing, employing a hierarchical data management system to maintain participant privacy and confidentiality, whilst maximizing research and clinical usage of the database. The MGRB will represent a dataset of international significance, broadly accessible to the clinical and genetic research community.
Sex- and Context-dependent Effects of Oxytocin on Social Reward Processing
Authors: Ma Xiaole , Zhao Weihua , Luo Ruixue , Zhou Feng , Geng Yayuan , Xu Lei , Gao Zhao , Zheng Xiaoxiao , Becker Benjamin , Kendrick Keith M
Published: March 2018

We interact socially and form bonds with others because such experiences are rewarding. However, an insecure attachment style or social anxiety can reduce these rewarding effects. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) may facilitate social interactions either by increasing their rewarding experience or by attenuating anxiety, although effects can be sex- and attachment-style dependent. In this study, 64 pairs of same-sex friends completed a social sharing paradigm in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, between-subject design with one friend inside an MRI scanner and the other in a remote behavioral testing room. In this way we could examine whether intranasal-OXT differentially modulated the emotional impact of social sharing and associated neural processing. Additionally, we investigated if OXT effects were modulated by sex and attachment style. Results showed that in women, but not men, OXT increased ratings for sharing stimuli with their friend but not with a stranger, particularly in the friend in the scanner. Corresponding neuroimaging results showed that OXT decreased both amygdala and insula activity as well as their functional connectivity in women when they shared with friends but had the opposite effect in men. On the other hand, OXT did not enhance responses in brain reward circuitry. In the PLC treated group amygdala responses in women when they shared pictures with their friend were positively associated with attachment anxiety and OXT uncoupled this. Our findings demonstrate that OXT facilitates the impact of sharing positive experiences with others in women, but not men, and that this is associated with differential effects on the amygdala and insula and their functional connections. Furthermore, OXT particularly reduced increased amygdala responses during sharing in individuals with higher attachment anxiety. Thus, OXT effects in this context may be due more to reduced anxiety when sharing with a friend than to enhanced social reward.
Cytoplasmic translocation of nuclear lysine-specific demethylase-1 (LSD1/KDM1A) in human hepatoma cells is induced by its inhibitors
Authors: Yabuta Suemi , Shidoji Yoshihiro
Published: March 2018

Histone-modifiable lysine-specific demethylase-1 (LSD1/KDM1A) is often upregulated in many cancers, including hepatoma, and is regarded as oncoprotein. We previously reported that the hepatoma-preventive geranylgeranoic acid (GGA) inhibits KDM1A activity at the same IC50as that of the clinically used drug tranylcypromine, a verified inhibitor of KDM1A. Here, we report that these inhibitors induced cytoplasmic translocation of nuclear KDM1A in a human hepatoma-derived cell line. Immunofluorescence studies revealed cytoplasmic localization of KDM1A, 3 h after addition of GGA or tranylcypromine in HuH-7 cells. Geranylgeraniol and all-transretinoic acid were both unable to induce translocation of nuclear KDM1A, whereas farnesoic acid showed the weak activity. Furthermore, GGA did not affect subcellular localization of another histone lysine-specific demethylase, KDM5A. This suggests that the inhibitor-induced translocation of nuclear KDM1A to the cytoplasm is specific for KDM1A. These data demonstrate for the first time that KDM1A inhibitors specifically induce the cytoplasmic translocation of nuclear KDM1A.

Abbreviations

ATRA

all-transretinoic acid

CoREST

corepressor for element 1-silencing transcription factor

DIC

differential interference contrast

FA

farnesoic acid

GGOH

geranylgeraniol

GGA

geranylgeranoic acid

LSD1/KDM1A

lysine-specific demethylase-1

pHH3

phospho-histone H3(Ser10)

TCP

trans-2-phenylcyclopropylamine
segment_liftover: a Python tool to convert segments between genome assemblies
Authors: Gao Bo , Huang Qingyao , Baudis Michael
Published: March 2018

The process of assembling a species’ reference genome may be performed in a number of iterations, with subsequent genome assemblies differing in the coordinates of mapped elements. The conversion of genome coordinates between different assemblies is required for many integrative and comparative studies. While currently a number of bioinformatics tools are available to accomplish this task, most of them are tailored towards the conversion of single genome coordinates. When converting the boundary positions of segments spanning larger genome regions, segments may be mapped into smaller subsegments if the original segment’s continuity is disrupted in the target assembly. Such a conversion may lead to a relevant degree of data loss in some circumstances such as copy number variation (CNV) analysis, where the quantitative representation of a genomic region takes precedence over base-specific accuracy. segment_liftover aims at continuity-preserving remapping of genome segments between assemblies and provides features such as approximate locus conversion, automated batch processing and comprehensive logging to facilitate processing of datasets containing large numbers of structural genome variation data.
Small differences in learning speed for different food qualities can drive efficient collective foraging in ant colonies
Authors: Oberhauser F. B. , Koch A. , Czaczkes T. J.
Published: March 2018

Social insects frequently make important collective decisions, such as selecting the best food sources. Many collective decisions are achieved via communication, for example by differential recruitment depending on resource quality. However, even species without recruitment can respond to a changing environment on collective level by tracking food source quality.

We hypothesised that an apparent collective decision to focus on the highest quality food source can be explained by differential learning of food qualities. Ants may learn the location of higher quality food faster, with most ants finally congregating at the best food source.

To test the effect of reward quality and motivation on learning inLasius niger, we trained individual ants to find a reward of various sucrose molarities on one arm of a T-maze in spring and in autumn after one or four days of starvation.

As hypothesised, ants learned fastest in spring and lowest in autumn, with reduced starvation leading to slower learning. Surprisingly, the effect of food quality and motivation on the learning speed of individuals which persisted in visiting the feeders was small. However, persistence rates varied dramatically: All ants in spring made all (6) return visits to all food qualities, in contrast to 33% of ants in autumn under low starvation.

Fitting the empirical findings into an agent-based model revealed that even a tendency of ants to memorise routes to high quality food sources faster can result in ecologically sensible colony-level behaviour. Low motivation colonies are also choosier, due to increasing sensitivity to food quality.

Significance statement

Collective decisions of insects are often achieved via communication and/or other interactions between individuals. However, animals can also make collective decisions in the absence of communication.

We show that foraging motivation and food quality can affect both route memory and the likelihood to return to the food source and thus mediate selective food exploitation. An agent-based model, implemented with our empirical findings, demonstrates that, at the collective level, even small differences in learning lead to ecologically sensible behaviour: mildly starved colonies are selective for high quality food while highly starved colonies exploit all food sources equally.

We therefore suggest that non-interactive factors such as individual learning and the foraging motivation of a colony can mediate or even drive group level behaviour. Instead of accounting collective behaviour exclusively to social interactions, possible contributing individual processes should also be considered.
TRPV1 regulates opioid analgesia during inflammation
Authors: Basso Lilian , Aboushousha Reem , Fan Churmy Yong , Iftinca Mircea , Melo Helvira , Flynn Robyn , Agosti Francina , Hollenberg Morley D. , Thompson Roger , Bourinet Emmanuel , Trang Tuan , Altier Christophe
Published: March 2018

Acute inflammation in humans or mice enhances the analgesic properties of opioids. However, the inflammatory transducers that prime opioid receptor signaling in nociceptors are unknown. We found that TRPV1−/− mice are insensitive to peripheral opioid analgesia in an inflammatory pain model. We report that TRPV1 channel activation drives a MAPK signaling pathway accompanied by the shuttling of β-arrestin2 to the nucleus. This shuttling in turn prevents: β-arrestin2-receptor recruitment, subsequent internalization of agonist-bound mu opioid receptor (MOR), and suppression of DAMGO-induced inhibition of N-type calcium current observed upon desensitization. Consequently, inflammation-induced activation of TRPV1 preserves opioid analgesic potency in a mouse model of opioid receptor desensitization. Overall, our work reveals a TRPV1-mediated signaling mechanism, involving β-arrestin2 nuclear translocation, that underlies the peripheral opioid control of inflammatory pain. Our data single out TRPV1 channels as modulators of opioid analgesia.
ARGminer: A web platform for crowdsourcing-based curation of antibiotic resistance genes
Authors: Arango-Argoty G. A. , Guron G. K. P. , Garner E. , Riquelme M.V. , Heath L. S. , Pruden A. , Vikesland P. J. , Zhang L.
Published: March 2018

Curation of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) databases is labor intensive and requires expert knowledge to manually collect, correct, and/or annotate individual genes. Consequently, most existing ARG databases contain only a small number of ARGs (~5k genes) and updates to these databases tend to be infrequent, commonly requiring years for completion and often containing inconsistencies. Thus a new approach is needed to achieve a truly comprehensive ARG database while also maintaining a high level of accuracy. Here we propose a new web-based curation system, ARGminer, that supports the annotation and inspection of several key attributes of potential ARGs, including gene name, antibiotic category, resistance mechanism, evidence for mobility and occurrence in clinically-important bacterial strains. Here we employ crowdsourcing as a novel strategy to overcome limitations of manual curation and expand curation capacity towards achieving a truly comprehensive and perpetually up-to-date database. Further, machine learning is employed as a powerful means to validate database curation, drawing from natural language processing to infer correct and consistent nomenclature for each potential ARG. We develop and validate the crowdsourcing approach by comparing performances of multiple cohorts of curators with varying levels of expertise, demonstrating that ARGminer is a time and cost efficient means of achieving accurate ARG curation. We further demonstrate the reliability of a trust validation filter for rejecting input generated by spammers. Crowdsourcing was found to be as accurate as expert annotation, with an accuracy >90% for the annotation of a diverse test set of ARGs. The ARGminer public search platform and database is available at http://bench.cs.vt.edu/argminer.
mRNA structure dynamics identifies the embryonic RNA regulome
Authors: Beaudoin Jean-Denis , Novoa Eva Maria , Vejnar Charles E , Yartseva Valeria , Takacs Carter , Kellis Manolis , Giraldez Antonio J
Published: March 2018

RNA folding plays a crucial role in RNA function. However, our knowledge of the global structure of the transcriptome is limited to steady-state conditions, hindering our understanding of how RNA structure dynamics influences gene function. Here, we have characterized mRNA structure dynamics during zebrafish development. We observe that on a global level, translation guides structure rather than structure guiding translation. We detect a decrease in structure in translated regions, and we identify the ribosome as a major remodeler of RNA structure in vivo. In contrast, we find that 3’-UTRs form highly folded structures in vivo, which can affect gene expression by modulating miRNA activity. Furthermore, we find that dynamic 3’-UTR structures encode RNA decay elements, including regulatory elements in nanog and cyclin A1, key maternal factors orchestrating the maternal-to-zygotic transition. These results reveal a central role of RNA structure dynamics in gene regulatory programs.
Further studies of ion channels in the electroreceptor of the skate through deep sequencing, cloning and cross species comparisons
Authors: Clusin William T. , Wu Ting-Hsuan , Shi Ling-Fang , Kao Peter N.
Published: March 2018

Our comparative studies seek to understand the structure and function of ion channels in cartilaginous fish that can detect very low voltage gradients in seawater. The principal channels of the electroreceptor include a calcium activated K channel, whose α subunit is Kcnma1, a voltage-dependent calcium channel, Cacna1d, and a relatively uncharacterized K channel which interacts with the calcium channel to produce fast (20 Hz) oscillations. Large conductance calcium-activated K channels (BK) are comprised of four α subunits, encoded by Kcnma1 and modulatory β subunits of the Kcnmb class. We recently cloned and published the skate Kcnma1 gene and most of Kcnmb4 derived from using purified mRNA of homogenized isolated electroreceptors. Bellono et al. have recently performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) on purified mRNA from skate electroreceptors and found several ion channels including Kcnma1. We searched the the Bellono et al RNA-seq repository for additional channels and subunits. Our most significant findings are the presence of two Shaker type voltage dependent potassium channel sequences which are grouped together as isoforms in the data repository. The larger of these is a skate ortholog of the voltage dependent fast potassium channel Kv1.1, which is expressed at appreciable levels and seems likely to explain the 20 Hz oscillations believed to occur in vivo. The second was more similar to Kv1.5 than to Kv1.1 but was somewhat atypical. We also found a beta subunit sequence (Kcnab2) which appears not to cause fast inactivation due to specific structural features. The new channels and subunits were verified by RT-PCR and the Kv1.1 sequence was confirmed by cloning. We also searched the RNA-seq repository for accessory subunits of the calcium activated potassium channel, Kcnma1, and found a computer generated assembly that contained a complete sequence of its beta subunit, Kcnmb2. Skate Kcnmb2 has a total of 279 amino acids, with 51 novel amino acids at the N-terminus which may play a specific physiological role. This sequence was confirmed by PCR and cloning. However, skate Kcnmb2 is expressed at low levels in the electroreceptor compared to Kcnma1 and skate Kcnmb1 (beta1) is absent. The evolutionary origin of the newly described channels and subunits was studied by aligning skate sequences with human sequences and those found in related fish: the whale shark (R. typus) an elasmobranch, and ghost shark (C.milii). There is also homology with the lamprey, which has electroreceptors. An evolutionary tree is presented. Further research should include focusing on the subcellular locations of these channels in the receptor cells, their gating behavior, and the effects of accessory subunits on gating.
Multiplexedin situprotein imaging using DNA-barcoded antibodies with extended hybridization chain reactions
Authors: Wang Yu , Zeng Yitian , Saka Sinem K. , Xie Wenxin , Goldaracena Isabel , Kohman Richie E. , Yin Peng , Church George M.
Published: March 2018

Immunofluorescence (IF) imaging using antibodies to visualize specific biomolecules is a widely used technique in both biological and clinical laboratories. Standard IF imaging methods using primary antibodies followed by secondary antibodies have low multiplexing capability due to limited availability of primary antibodies raised in different animal species. Here, we used a DNA-based signal amplification method, Hybridization Chain Reaction (HCR), to replace secondary antibodies to achieve multiplexed imaging using primary antibodies of the same species with superior signal intensity. To enable imaging with DNA-conjugated antibodies, we developed a new antibody staining protocol to minimize nonspecific binding of antibodies caused by conjugated DNA oligonucleotides. We also expanded the HCR hairpin pool from previously published 5 to 13 for highly multiplexedin situimaging. We finally demonstrated multiplexedin situprotein imaging using the technique in both cultured cells and mouse retina sections.
Efficient expression of genes in the Drosophila germline using a UAS-promoter free of interference by Hsp70 piRNAs
Authors: DeLuca Steven Z. , Spradling Allan C.
Published: March 2018

Controlling the expression of genes using a binary system involving the yeast GAL4 transcription factor has been a mainstay ofDrosophila melanogasterdevelopmental genetics for twenty-five years. However, most existing GAL4 expression constructs only function effectively in somatic cells, but not in germ cells during oogenesis, for unknown reasons. A special UAS promoter, UASp was created that does express during oogenesis, but the need to use different constructs for somatic and female germline cells has remained a significant technical limitation. Here we show that the expression problem of UASt and many other Drosophila molecular tools in germline cells is caused by their coreHsp70promoter sequences, which are targeted in female germ cells byHsp70-directed piRNAs generated from endogenousHsp70gene sequences. In a genetic background lacking genomicHsp70genes and associated piRNAs, UASt-based constructs function effectively during oogenesis. By reducingHsp70sequences targeted by piRNAs, we created UASz, which functions better than UASp in the germline and like UASt in somatic cells.
Crystal structure and Hirshfeld surface analysis of 3-cyanophenylboronic acid
Authors: Cárdenas-Valenzuela A. Jaquelin , González-García Gerardo , Zárraga- Nuñez Ramón , Höpfl Herbert , Campos-Gaxiola José J. , Cruz-Enríquez Adriana
Published: March 2018

In the title compound, C7H6BNO2, the mean plane of the –B(OH)2 group is twisted by 21.28 (6)° relative to the cyanophenyl ring mean plane. In the crystal, molecules are linked by O—H...O and O—H...N hydrogen bonds, forming chains propagating along the [101] direction. Offset π–π and B...π stacking interactions link the chains, forming a three-dimensional network. Hirshfeld surface analysis shows that van der Waals interactions constitute a further major contribution to the intermolecular interactions, with H...H contacts accounting for 25.8% of the surface.
2,2′-Disulfanediylbis(pyridineN-oxide)–hydrogen peroxide (1/1)
Authors: Lynch Will , Padgett Clifford W.
Published: March 2018

In the title co-crystal, C10H8N2O2S2·H2O2, both molecules are generated by crystallographic twofold symmetry; the dihedral angle between the pyridine rings is 101.16 (9)°. In the crystal, the components are linked by O—H...O hydrogen bonds to generate [010] chains of alternating 2,2′-dithiobis(pyridineN-oxide) and hydrogen peroxide molecules. The structure was refined as a two-component inversion twin.
Industrial proximity and vertical integration of multinational firms
Authors: Yoon Haeyeon , Hur Jung
Published: March 2018

Purpose

With the rise of foreign direct investment and global value chain, firms organize their plant allocation across countries to take advantage of production cost reduction opportunities and market access. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the production-supply strategies of Korean firms over foreign and domestic affiliates, using industrial proximity between Korean parent firms and their affiliates.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper first, using the Survey of Business Activities provided by Statistics Korea, the authors build a matching data set between a parent firm and each affiliate both in domestic and foreign countries. Second, the authors define their vertical relationship based on the input requirement coefficients of the Input-Output table (IO table). Furthermore, using the same IO table, the authors define the proximity for the pairs of the parent firm and the affiliates in domestic and foreign markets. Then, the authors test the relationship between the parent firm’s choice for foreign affiliate and their proximity index.

Findings

The main result shows that the stronger the industrial proximity between a final good producing firm and its input supplying affiliate is, the more likely the cross-border vertical integration is to be observed than the domestic vertical integration. Also, the authors find that the firms whose production structure accords the main result outperform and conduct more self-R&D and less R&D on trust than the other firms.

Originality/value

The finding is novel and original in a sense that the authors showed for the first time at firm-level microdata evidence that there is an optimal pattern of organizing supply chains within a multinational firm.
FMECA-based maintenance planning through COPRAS-G and PSI
Authors: Pancholi Nilesh , Bhatt Mangal
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent at which the reliability of an aluminium wire rolling mill can be improved by ameliorating current control and maintenance practices.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper deals with the discrimination of the most critical components by substantial shop-floor failure data. The research work narrates a method for evaluating maintainability criticality index for each failure cause of identified critical components through two different MCDM approaches: one based on grey-complex proportional risk assessment (COPRAS-G) and the other based on preference section index (PSI).

Findings

The primary findings of this research work are to prioritize the maintenance activities by comparing results obtained through different failure analysis models. It is proposing improvements in the maintenance plan of critical components like bearings, gears and shafts of an aluminium wire rolling mill which are commonly representing the most critical components in a large range of industrial processes.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of the proposed study is that the failure models may not represent failures due to the first instant every time as adequate of design as such components are not checked for a high failure rate.

Practical implications

The proposed study is an interdisciplinary work which will help to understand about the working lives of components and associated failures. It will lead to reengineer new tools efficiently and to gain the maintenance excellence.

Originality/value

Originality mainly consists in the contemporary application of two non-identical MCDM-based methods (COPRAS-G and PSI). It will help to elucidate maintenance issues of major process industries and recommended deliverable keys.
Maintenance management for transportation process in quarry industry
Authors: Rukijkanpanich Jittra , Pasuk Panit
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to enhance the capability in managing the maintenance of the transportation process from a quarry to a crushing plant, measured by the availability value and the process capability value.

Design/methodology/approach

The maintenance management plan consists of plans for three levels of management: strategy, tactical and operational maintenance plans. The Deming cycle is a continuous improvement tool use for controlling and monitoring activities of the plans. There are three Deming cycles according to these plans, the first of which involves the improvement of machine performance and investment evaluation. The second involves the improvement of plans, schedule, and activities of preventive maintenance including autonomous maintenance. The third is for human resource development on maintenance works. Moreover, the feedback of a prior round of each cycle comes early to detect abnormalities that provide better capability in maintenance.

Findings

Three Deming cycles can use for enhancing the maintenance management. The parameters are availability (A) of machines and the capability process (Cpk) of the transportation process. The results of this research state that the availability value of machines increases to 80-92 percent while the process capability value increases to 0.56.

Practical implications

The maintenance management, especially strategic plan, tactical plan and operational plan via the Deming cycle, can be implemented in other medium-sized industries with limited technology and personnel. It was found that the implementation of the plans has continued to progress with the Deming cycle.

Originality/value

This paper proposes how to successfully implement the maintenance management for medium-sized industries with limited technology and personnel. The maintenance management of three levels is carried out simultaneously by using the Deming cycle. This work has proven to be successful which can be expressed in the availability and the capability process values.