bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What's Behind the “Nones‐sense”? Change Over Time in Factors Predicting Likelihood of Religious Nonaffiliation in the United States
Authors: Strawn Kelley D.
Published: July 2019

The proportion of people in the United States who identify as unaffiliated with any religious tradition (Nones) has risen steadily since the 1990s. Empirical investigations have examined this phenomenon, and point to a range of sociodemographic and associational variables as significant predictors of religious nonaffiliation. To build on these, the research reported here uses nearly five decades of General Social Survey data and binary logistic regression to examine change over time in the direction and size of effect on the likelihood that various factors predict religious nonaffiliation. While some factors (like age and political orientation) behave as expected over time, other factors decrease in their effect on likelihood (e.g., residence in the Far West), lose effect on likelihood (e.g., being college‐educated), or never showed likelihood of effect in the first place (e.g., residence in New England).
Errando Discimus: Has Post‐Yugoslav Political and Social Science Neglected Religion?
Authors: Veković Marko , Đogatović Veljko
Published: July 2019

This article explores the issue of neglecting religion in the post‐Yugoslav political and social science literature (1990–2018). Therefore, it offers a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the leading political and social science journals from Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina. The research question that this article will tackle is: Has post‐Yugoslav political and social science neglected religion? The hypothesis of this article is that, although there was an obvious need for in‐depth studies of the relationship between religion and politics in the post‐Yugoslav region, leading political and social science journals published from Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina have neglected religion. In order to test our hypothesis, we employ content analysis by examining the archives of the leading journals published in the above stated states and basic statistics in order to highlight the percentage and extent of published articles dealing with religion compared to the total volume of articles published.
Geographical indications and cultural artworks in Nigeria: A cue from other jurisdictions
Authors: Lawal‐Arowolo Ayoyemi
Published: July 2019

Developing countries benefit from the registration of geographical indications (GIs) in the agricultural and artisan sectors. The extension of GIs to the artisan sector serves as a best practice to Nigeria. Nigeria has many indigenous forms of cultural artworks that are influenced by the environment. Artworks from places like Benin and other regions in Nigeria are location specific. This paper explores generally the utilization of GIs to protect cultural artworks and the monetary and nonmonetary benefits of such works. The trend of registering GIs to protect culture, arts, and traditional knowledge is crucial to the economic growth of Nigeria otherwise it deprives those dependent on the creation of cultural artworks of a means to benefit from their hard work by a process known to them for decades.
The Age Pay Gap and Labour Market Heterogeneity: A New Empirical Approach Using Data for Italy
Authors: Töpfer Marina
Published: July 2019

Using Italian microdata over the period 2005–2016, this paper studies the difference in pay between elderly (55–64) and adult (34–54) workers in Italy along the wage distribution. The estimation strategy consists in using a three‐way fixed effects wage model and adjusting the wage gap for (observed and unobserved) labour market heterogeneity. The estimation relies on OLS as well as on unconditional quantile regressions. The analysis beyond the mean shows substantial differences in the age pay gap along the wage distribution and finds particularly pronounced gaps at the top. The fixed effects of interest (individual, job, and industry) are estimated via a partitioned procedure. Adjusting the gap for labour market heterogeneity reduces the gap almost to zero. The results suggest that individual differences between the cohorts both observed and unobserved are the main driver of the gap.
Geography best explains global patterns of genetic diversity and postglacial co‐expansion in marine turtles
Authors: Reid Brendan N. , Naro‐Maciel Eugenia , Hahn Anelise Torres , FitzSimmons Nancy N. , Gehara Marcelo
Published: July 2019

For many species, climate oscillations drove cycles of population contraction during cool glacial periods followed by expansion during interglacials. Some groups, however, show evidence of uniform and synchronous expansion, while others display differences in the timing and extent of demographic change. We compared demographic histories inferred from genetic data across marine turtle species to identify responses to postglacial warming shared across taxa and to examine drivers of past demographic change at the global scale. Using coalescent simulations and approximate Bayesian computation (ABC), we estimated demographic parameters, including the likelihood of past population expansion, from a mitochondrial data set encompassing 23 previously identified lineages from all seven marine turtle species. For lineages with a high posterior probability of expansion, we conducted a hierarchical ABC analysis to estimate the proportion of lineages expanding synchronously and the timing of synchronous expansion. We used Bayesian model averaging to identify variables associated with expansion and genetic diversity. Approximately 60% of extant marine turtle lineages showed evidence of expansion, with the rest mainly exhibiting patterns of genetic diversity most consistent with population stability. For lineages showing expansion, there was a strong signal of synchronous expansion after the Last Glacial Maximum. Expansion and genetic diversity were best explained by ocean basin and the degree of endemism for a given lineage. Geographic differences in sensitivity to climate change have implications for prioritizing conservation actions in marine turtles as well as for identifying areas of past demographic stability and potential resilience to future climate change for broadly distributed taxa.
Exploring differences in individual and group judgements in standard setting
Authors: Yeates Peter , Cope Natalie , Luksaite Eva , Hassell Andrew , Dikomitis Lisa
Published: July 2019

Context

Standard setting is critically important to assessment decisions in medical education. Recent research has demonstrated variations between medical schools in the standards set for shared items. Despite the centrality of judgement to criterion‐referenced standard setting methods, little is known about the individual or group processes that underpin them. This study aimed to explore the operation and interaction of these processes in order to illuminate potential sources of variability.

Methods

Using qualitative research, we purposively sampled across UK medical schools that set a low, medium or high standard on nationally shared items, collecting data by observation of graduation‐level standard‐setting meetings and semi‐structured interviews with standard‐setting judges. Data were analysed using thematic analysis based on the principles of grounded theory.

Results

Standard setting occurred through the complex interaction of institutional context, judges’ individual perspectives and group interactions. Schools’ procedures, panel members and atmosphere produced unique contexts. Individual judges formed varied understandings of the clinical and technical features of each question, relating these to their differing (sometimes contradictory) conceptions of minimally competent students, by balancing information and making suppositions. Conceptions of minimal competence variously comprised: limited attendance; limited knowledge; poor knowledge application; emotional responses to questions; ‘test‐savviness’, or a strategic focus on safety. Judges experienced tensions trying to situate these abstract conceptions in reality, revealing uncertainty.

Groups constructively revised scores through debate, sharing information and often constructing detailed clinical representations of cases. Groups frequently displayed conformity, illustrating a belief that outlying judges were likely to be incorrect. Less frequently, judges resisted change, using emphatic language, bargaining or, rarely, ‘polarisation’ to influence colleagues.

Conclusions

Despite careful conduct through well‐established procedures, standard setting is judgementally complex and involves uncertainty. Understanding whether or how these varied processes produce the previously observed variations in outcomes may offer routes to enhance equivalence of criterion‐referenced standards.
Socioeconomic status and dialysis quality of care
Authors: Krishnasamy Rathika , Jegatheesan Dev , Lawton Paul , Gray Nicholas A
Published: July 2019

Aim

Lower socioeconomic status (SES) has been associated with increased dialysis mortality. This study aimed to determine if the quality of care (QOC) delivered to dialysis patients varied by SES.

Methods

All non‐Indigenous adults commencing haemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) registered with the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry between 2002 and 2012 were included. Each patient's location at dialysis start was classified into SES quartiles of advantaged to disadvantaged. Guidelines were used to determine attainment of adequate QOC at 6–<18 months and 18–<30 months after dialysis start, using logistic regression models. QOC measures included pre‐dialysis phosphate, calcium, haemoglobin, transferrin saturation and ferritin. HD‐related parameters included single pool Kt/V and percentage with functioning arteriovenous fistula/graft. PD‐related parameters included weekly Kt/V and percentage transferring to HD.

Results

Of 19 486 commencing dialysis, the median age was 65 years (interquartile range 53–74), 62.2% were male and 85.1% were Caucasian. At 6–<18 months after dialysis start, there were no significant differences by SES in attainment of biochemical targets, PD or HD adequacy. The disadvantaged quartile was less likely to achieve haemoglobin targets (odds ratio 0.88, 0.80–0.96, P = 0.01) or have a functioning arteriovenous fistula or graft (odds ratio 0.79, 0.68–0.92, P = 0.003) compared with the most advantaged group. Vascular access differences persisted at 18–<30 months.

Conclusion

Other than vascular access, area‐level SES has minimal impact on QOC attainment among non‐Indigenous dialysis patients in Australia. Increased mortality in lower SES groups may be due to pre‐dialysis factors and other variables such as health‐related behaviours, lifestyle and literacy.
OsPEX5 regulates rice spikelet development through modulating jasmonic acid biosynthesis
Authors: You Xiaoman , Zhu Shanshan , Zhang Wenwei , Zhang Jie , Wang Chunming , Jing Ruonan , Chen Weiwei , Wu Hongming , Cai Yue , Feng Zhiming , Hu Jinlong , Yan Haigang , Kong Fei , Zhang Huan , Zheng Ming , Ren Yulong , Lin Qibing , Cheng Zhijun , Zhang Xin , Lei Cailin , Jiang Ling , Wang Haiyang , Wan Jianmin
Published: July 2019

Spikelet is the primary reproductive structure and a critical determinant of grain yield in rice. The molecular mechanisms regulating rice spikelet development still remain largely unclear.

Here, we report that mutations in OsPEX5, which encodes a peroxisomal targeting sequence 1 (PTS1) receptor protein, cause abnormal spikelet morphology.

We show that OsPEX5 can physically interact with OsOPR7, an enzyme involved in jasmonic acid (JA) biosynthesis and is required for its import into peroxisome. Similar to Ospex5 mutant, the knockout mutant of OsOPR7 generated via CRISPR‐Cas9 technology has reduced levels of endogenous JA and also displays an abnormal spikelet phenotype. Application of exogenous JA can partially rescue the abnormal spikelet phenotype of Ospex5 and Osopr7. Furthermore, we show that OsMYC2 directly binds to the promoters of OsMADS1, OsMADS7 and OsMADS14 to activate their expression, and subsequently regulate spikelet development.

Our results suggest that OsPEX5 plays a critical role in regulating spikelet development through mediating peroxisomal import of OsOPR7, therefore providing new insights into regulation of JA biosynthesis in plants and expanding our understanding of the biological role of JA in regulating rice reproduction.
Isolation by phenology synergizes isolation by distance across a continuous landscape
Authors: Peters Madeline A. E. , Weis Arthur E.
Published: July 2019

Pollen is generally dispersed over short distances, which promotes population genetic structure across continuous two‐dimensional space. Quantitative genetic variance in flowering time structures mating pools in the temporal dimension, at least with respect to the phenology loci. We asked if these two phenomena, isolation by distance (IBD) and isolation by phenology (IBP), synergistically promote genetic structure.

We constructed an individual‐based model that tracked genotype frequencies at flowering time and neutral loci across a uniform landscape, over multiple generations, under four mating schemes: panmixia, IBD only, IBP only, and IBP × IBD.

IBD × IBP divided the population into spatial clusters of early‐, mid‐, and late‐flowering genotypes and strongly increased its quantitative genetic variance. Flowering time did not cluster under IBP, but its genetic variance increased moderately. IBD induced mild spatial structure in a nonassortative reference trait but did not change its variance. Importantly, the spatial correlation of genotypes at neutral loci was twice as strong under IBD × IBP compared with IBD alone. IBD × IBP also drew neutral loci into gametic disequilibrium with flowering time loci, structuring them temporally.

Temporal and spatial mating pool structure promotes local differentiation. This trend would facilitate adaptation on small spatial scales.
Beliefless Knowing
Authors: Silva Paul
Published: July 2019

Orthodox epistemology tells us that knowledge requires belief. While there has been resistance to orthodoxy on this point, the orthodox position has been ably defended and continues to be widely endorsed. In what follows, I aim to undermine the belief requirement on knowledge. I first show that awareness does not require belief. Next, I turn my attention to the relation between knowledge and awareness, showing that awareness entails knowledge in a certain range of cases and thus that the cases of awareness without belief that I discuss are also cases of knowledge without belief. Throughout I draw attention to the fact that these are not isolated cases and that beliefless knowledge is a rather common phenomenon. I conclude by arguing that beliefless knowledge is consistent with the idea that all knowledge is grounded in belief and the idea that knowledge is essentially a representational state.
Disaster preparation: Survey of patients with food allergies in Kobe, Japan
Authors: Hirase Satoshi , Okafuji Ikuo , Kasai Kazuko , Matsumoto Kazunori , Tanaka Yukiko , Tanaka Yuya , Tsuruta Satoru
Published: July 2019

Background

Securing food for patients with food allergies may be more difficult during disasters, but reports on the status of household allergen‐free food reserves in preparation for disasters are limited. This study investigated the household stock status of allergen‐free foods in preparation for disasters in Kobe City after the Great Hanshin‐Awaji Earthquake.

Methods

The survey targets were 172 parents of patients with a food allergy who underwent in‐hospital oral food challenge test for allergies at four hospitals from October 2016 to March 2017. Of these, 158 patients with allergies to eggs, milk and wheat were included in the analysis. The first survey was performed to investigate patient characteristics and stockpiling status of allergen‐free foods in parallel with oral food challenge tests. The second survey was performed on the follow‐up visit to investigate any changes in behavior.

Results

Median patient age was 3 years, with boys comprising 68.4% of the patients. Eggs were the most eliminated food, and the median number of foods avoided was 2. A total of 82.3% of parents had experienced disasters. The proportion of households that stockpiled allergy‐free meals was 42.4%, and the median amount was 3 days. The stockpiling situation did not differ according to the parents’ disaster experience. In the second survey, 45.3% had modified their stockpiling practice.

Conclusions

Even in this area where the Great Hanshin‐Awaji Earthquake occurred, household stockpiles of allergen‐free foods are inadequate; therefore, all medical staff should educate families about the necessity of stocking allergen‐free food for disasters.
Impairment in recognition of emotional facial expressions in Alzheimer's disease is represented by EEG theta and alpha responses
Authors: Güntekin Bahar , Hanoğlu Lütfü , Aktürk Tuba , Fide Ezgi , Emek‐Savaş Derya Durusu , Ruşen Ece , Yıldırım Ebru , Yener Görsev G.
Published: July 2019

Behavioral studies have shown that the recognition of facial expressions may be impaired in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). The identification and recognition of a facial expression might be represented by event‐related brain oscillations. The present study aims to analyze EEG event‐related oscillations and determine the electrophysiological indicators of impaired facial expression recognition in AD patients. EEGs of 30 healthy controls and 30 AD patients were recorded during their perception of three different facial expressions (angry, happy, neutral). Event‐related power spectrum and phase locking were analyzed in the theta (4‒7) and alpha (8‒13 Hz) frequency bands with the EEGLAB open toolbox. There was a significant facial Expression × Group interaction (p < 0.05) for the theta power spectrum; the healthy control group had higher theta power than the AD group during the perception of angry facial expressions (p < 0.05). There was a significant hemisphere difference between the two groups (p < 0.05). There was a right hemisphere alpha power dominance in healthy subjects. However, AD patients did not have this alpha power asymmetry. The present study, for the first time in the literature, presents the electrophysiological indicators of impaired recognition of facial expression in AD patients. The current study could be a basis for future studies that will analyze emotional processing in different kinds of dementia patients, and this study may have provided indicators of electrophysiological correlates of behavioral problems observed in clinical practice.
David Aven v Costa Rica: A step forward towards investor accountability for environmental harm?
Authors: Tamayo‐Álvarez Rafael
Published: July 2019

Investment treaty arbitration has become a laboratory for testing the limits of international corporate responsibility, because arbitrators are often asked to consider instances of investors’ misconduct that compromise fundamental social values and interests. The decision in David Aven v Costa Rica is a glaring example of this case law. The dispute originated from a real estate project halted by local authorities for adversely impacting fragile ecosystems. This case note examines the arbitral tribunal’s approach to environmental harm caused by foreign investors.
Myths and numbers on whistleblower rewards
Authors: Nyreröd Theo , Spagnolo Giancarlo
Published: July 2019

Whistleblower rewards have been used extensively in the United States to limit procurement fraud and tax evasion, and since the financial crisis their use has been extended to fight financial fraud. There is currently debate over their introduction in Europe, but authorities there appear considerably less enthusiastic than their American counterparts. While it is important that these tools are scrutinized in a lively democratic debate, much has been written – even by important institutional players – that has no empirical backing or openly contrasts the available evidence from independent research. In this paper we review some of the most debated issues regarding the potential benefits and costs of financial incentives for whistleblowers, while trying to separate existing evidence from conjectures with no empirical support, and myths in contrast to available evidence.
Causal Inference with Multistate Models—Estimands and Estimators of the Population Attributable Fraction
Authors: von Cube Maja , Schumacher Martin , Wolkewitz Martin
Published: July 2019

The population attributable fraction (PAF) is a popular epidemiological measure for the burden of a harmful exposure within a population. It is often interpreted causally as the proportion of preventable cases after an elimination of exposure. Originally, the PAF was defined for cohort studies of fixed length with a baseline exposure or cross-sectional studies. An extension of the definition to complex time-to-event data is not straightforward. We revise the proposed approaches in the literature and provide a clear concept of the PAF for these data situations. The conceptualization is achieved by a proper differentiation between estimands and estimators as well as causal effect measures and measures of association.
Writing
Authors: Roberts Tom
Published: July 2019

This intervention poses a question about the practice of writing in contemporary geographical research, namely, in what ways might post‐humanist thinking reconfigure geography's relationship with writing? I explore the idea that academic writing remains thoroughly entangled with the excessive force of nonhuman matters. My intervention is inspired by the work of Brian Massumi and Erin Manning and their call to approach writing as a process of research creation, one that cannot be reduced to the communication of information generated by other means. Post‐humanist thinking thus requires not only that we situate writing in the world, but that we, as practitioners of human geography, approach our relationship with words as a post‐human practice in its own right.
Reassessment of hepatitis B virus window periods for two transcription‐mediated amplification assays using screening data of South African blood donors
Authors: Vermeulen Marion , van Drimmelen Harry , Coleman Charl , Sykes Wendy , Reddy Ravi , Busch Michael , Kleinman Steve , Lelie Nico
Published: July 2019

BACKGROUND

Transcription‐mediated amplification assays for HBV DNA detection have transitioned from the Ultrio to the Ultrio Plus assay, which features increased analytic sensitivity due to inclusion of a target enhancer reagent. The impact on HBV detection for different categories of HBV infection has not been fully evaluated.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) detection rates as well as viral load (VL) distributions in HBV nucleic acid test (NAT)‐yield samples were compared during 1 year of screening of South African blood donors with the Ultrio assay and the subsequent year by the Ultrio Plus version. HBV‐DNA concentration at the HBsAg seroconversion point was established by regression analysis using a set of antibody to hepatitis B core antigen–negative acute viremic samples.

RESULTS

Ultrio Plus detected twofold more window‐period (WP) NAT yield donations and 1.7‐fold more occult HBV infections than Ultrio. The VL distribution data indicated that Ultrio not only missed samples of less than 100 copies/mL, but also a substantial number higher than this level. The VL at the HBsAg seroconversion point was estimated at 916 copies/mL, whereas the VL at the NAT‐conversion points was calculated at 63 and 4.1 copies/mL for Ultrio and Ultrio Plus. This reduced the infectious WP (compared to HBsAg testing) by 10.3 and 20.4 days, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The higher‐than‐expected increase in HBV‐NAT yields after introduction of the Ultrio Plus assay is likely attributable to variable sensitivity of the former Ultrio assay for different HBV samples. Therefore, previously published HBV WP reduction and residual risk estimates based on analytical sensitivity of the Ultrio assay need to be revised.
Arginine vasopressin improves cerebral perfusion following controlled haemorrhage in adult ewes
Authors: Berry Mary J. , Darby Jack R. T. , O'Byrne David M. , Dyson Rebecca M. , Sixtus Ryan , Holman Stacey L. , Abelentseva Alexandra , Bowler Paul , Stanbridge Kate , Morrison Janna L.
Published: July 2019

Key points

Traumatic haemorrhagic shock carries significant morbidity and mortality related to the severity and duration of tissue hypoperfusion, much of which occurs in the pre‐hospital environment where therapy must be easy to use and would augment, not replace, local haemorrhage control measures.

Vasopressor therapy use in haemorrhagic shock remains controversial. Potential benefits from improved blood pressure and tissue perfusion need to be weighed against possible harm from increased blood loss if haemorrhage is uncontrolled.

We demonstrate that 20 IU I.M. vasopressin produces a progressive, sustained and clinically significant increase in blood pressure and carotid blood flow compared to 1 mg I.M. adrenaline or placebo in an animal model of controlled haemorrhagic shock.

I.M. vasopressin may play a role in the early management of haemorrhagic shock by improving cerebral perfusion and haemodynamic stability; however, further studies are required to establish the potential benefit against the risk of exacerbating haemorrhage, if it is uncontrolled.

Haemorrhagic shock causes significant morbidity and mortality. Novel pre‐hospital therapy to improve haemodynamic stability and cerebral perfusion may improve outcomes but remains controversial. In an ovine model of controlled haemorrhagic shock, the effects of early intramuscular arginine vasopressin (AVP), adrenaline or placebo on haemodynamic stability and cerebral perfusion were compared. Carotid pressure and flow catheters were placed in healthy, anaesthetized adult ewes. Frontal cortex cerebral oxygenation was measured using near infrared spectroscopy. Controlled, rapid, haemorrhage (∼30% estimated blood volume) was induced. Five minutes post‐bleed a 1 ml intramuscular dose of 0.9% saline, adrenaline 1 mg or AVP 20 IU was administered. Carotid blood pressure and flow improved significantly in the AVP group over the first 30 min post‐intervention. To emulate standard trauma care, 1 L of 0.9% saline was infused 30 min post‐bleed followed by re‐transfusion of the sheep's own blood at 60 min post‐bleed. Carotid blood pressure and flow in the AVP group remained significantly higher post‐crystalloid infusion, but this difference was lost post‐blood transfusion. Data were analysed by two‐way ANOVA with time, group as the main factors. When compared to saline or adrenaline, a single dose of intramuscular AVP resulted in a progressive and sustained increase in carotid artery blood pressure and flow with commensurate increase in cerebral oxygenation. Intramuscular AVP has potential as an emergency pre‐hospital therapy following exsanguinating haemorrhage; however, further studies are required to investigate whether the benefit of improved perfusion pressure outweighs the risks of exacerbating ongoing bleeding.
Highly spectrally undersampled vowels can be classified by machines without supervision
Authors: Kathiresan Thayabaran , Maurer Dieter , Dellwo Volker
Published: July 2019

An unsupervised automatic clustering algorithm (k-means) classified 1282 Mel frequency cepstral coefficient (MFCC) representations of isolated steady-state vowel utterances from eight standard German vowel categories with fo between 196 and 698 Hz. Experiment I obtained the number of MFCCs (1–20) in connection with the spectral bandwidth (2–20 kHz) at which performance peaked (five MFCCs at 4 kHz). In experiment II, classification performance with different ranges of fo revealed that ranges with fo > 500 Hz reduced classification performance but it remained well above chance. This shows that isolated steady state vowels with strongly undersampled spectra contain sufficient acoustic information to be classified automatically.
Long noncoding RNA NEAT1 mediates neuronal histone methylation and age-related memory impairment
Authors: Butler Anderson A. , Johnston Daniel R. , Kaur Simranjit , Lubin Farah D.
Published: July 2019

Aging-related expression of the lncRNA NEAT1 facilitates epigenetic inhibition of memory formation.
Translating Recent Microbiome Insights in Otitis Media into Probiotic Strategies
Authors: van den Broek Marianne F. L. , De Boeck Ilke , Kiekens Filip , Boudewyns An , Vanderveken Olivier M. , Lebeer Sarah
Published: July 2019

The microbiota of the upper respiratory tract (URT) protects the host from bacterial pathogenic colonization by competing for adherence to epithelial cells and by immune response regulation that includes the activation of antimicrobial and (anti-)inflammatory components. However, environmental or host factors can modify the microbiota to an unstable community that predisposes the host to infection or inflammation. One of the URT diseases most often encountered in children is otitis media (OM).
Draft Genome Sequence of Escherichia albertii Strain Mex-12/320a, Isolated from an Infant with Diarrhea and Harboring Virulence Genes Associated with Diarrheagenic Strains of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli
Authors: Maldonado-Puga Samantha , Meza-Segura Mario , Becerra Adriana , Zaidi Mussaret B. , Estrada-Garcia Teresa
Published: July 2019

Escherichia albertii
is an emerging human enteropathogen. We report the draft genome sequence of
E. albertii
strain Mex-12/320a, isolated from an infant with diarrhea. The presence of the pathogenic island O122/IE6 and the
nleA
gene, previously found in diarrheagenic enteropathogenic
Escherichia coli
strains, suggests that
E. albertii
may cause acute diarrhea.
Complete Genome Sequences of Newcastle Disease Virus Isolates from Backyard Chickens in Northern India
Authors: Maan Sushila , Mor Sunil K. , Jindal Naresh , Joshi Vinay G. , Ravishankar Chintu , Singh Vikash K. , Ravindran Rajasekhar , Sahoo Niranjana , Radzio-Basu Jessica , Schilling Megan A. , McVey Walter R. , Mahajan Nand K. , Kapur Vivek , Goyal Sagar M.
Published: July 2019

The molecular characterization of three Newcastle disease viruses (NDV) isolated from backyard chickens in the state of Haryana, India, was undertaken. Two genotype II strains and one genotype XIIIc class II isolate with genome sizes of 15,186 and 15,192 nucleotides (nt), respectively, were identified.
Draft Genome Sequence of Strain LSUCC0112, a Gulf of Mexico Representative of the Oligotrophic Marine
Gammaproteobacteria
Authors: Coelho Jordan T. , Henson Michael W. , Thrash J. Cameron
Published: July 2019

Here, we present the draft genome sequence of strain LSUCC0112, a cultured representative from the Gulf of Mexico that is phylogenetically close to the OM182 clade within oligotrophic marine
Gammaproteobacteria
. LSUCC0112 shows the potential for aerobic heterotrophy, glycogen synthesis, flagellar motility, and assimilatory sulfate reduction.
Methylomes of Two Extremely Halophilic
Archaea
Species, Haloarcula marismortui and Haloferax mediterranei
Authors: DasSarma Shiladitya , Fomenkov Alexey , DasSarma Satyajit L. , Vincze Tamas , DasSarma Priya , Roberts Richard J.
Published: July 2019

The genomes of two extremely halophilic
Archaea
species,
Haloarcula marismortui
and
Haloferax mediterranei
, were sequenced using single-molecule real-time sequencing. The ∼4-Mbp genomes are GC rich with multiple large plasmids and two 4-methyl-cytosine patterns. Methyl transferases were incorporated into the Restriction Enzymes Database (REBASE), and gene annotation was incorporated into the Haloarchaeal Genomes Database (HaloWeb).
mSphere of Influence: a Sphere of Influence beyond the Bench Can Help Shape the Future of U.S. Research
Authors: Spurgeon Megan E.
Published: July 2019

Megan E. Spurgeon works in the field of viral oncology. In this mSphere of Influence article, she reflects on how the paper “Rescuing US biomedical research from its systemic flaws” by Bruce Alberts, Marc W. Kirschner, Shirley Tilghman, and Harold Varmus (Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 111:5773–5777, 2014,
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1404402111
) made an impact on her by influencing her research and career outlook.
The Nuclear Export Receptors TbMex67 and TbMtr2 Are Required for Ribosome Biogenesis in Trypanosoma brucei
Authors: Rink Constance , Ciganda Martin , Williams Noreen
Published: July 2019

The nuclear export of ribosomal subunits (60S and 40S) depends in part on the activity of the essential auxiliary export receptors TbMtr2 and TbMex67. When these proteins are individually depleted from the medically and agriculturally significant parasite
Trypanosoma brucei
, distinct alterations in the processing of the rRNAs of the large subunit (60S) are observed as well as aberrations in the assembly of functional ribosomes (polysomes). We also established that TbMex67 and TbMtr2 interact directly or indirectly with the protein components of the 5S RNP, including the trypanosome-specific P34/P37. The critical role that TbMex67 and TbMtr2 play in this essential biological process together with their parasite-specific interactions may provide new therapeutic targets against this important parasite.
Systemic lupus erythematosus and melioidosis
Authors: Che Rahim Mohd Jazman , Mohammad Nurashikin , Kamaruddin Muhammad Imran , Wan Ghazali Wan Syamimee
Published: July 2019

We reported a case of a young female patient presented with sepsis and diagnosed with melioidosis and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) within the same admission. She presented with 1-week history of productive cough, progressive dyspnoea together with prolonged fever, arthralgia, rashes and oral ulcers. She had septicemic shock, respiratory failure requiring intubation and ventilation in intensive care unit and subsequently developed acute renal failure requiring haemodialysis. Antibiotics and immunosuppressive treatment including low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide were commenced. She had a remarkable recovery and was discharged after 6 weeks. There was no evidence of active SLE or relapse of melioidosis during clinic follow-ups.
Estimated number of ophthalmologists worldwide (International Council of Ophthalmology update): will we meet the needs?
Authors: Resnikoff Serge , Lansingh Van Charles , Washburn Lindsey , Felch William , Gauthier Tina-Marie , Taylor Hugh R , Eckert Kristen , Parke David , Wiedemann Peter
Published: July 2019

Background/aims

To estimate 2015 global ophthalmologist data and analyse their relationship to income groups, prevalence rates of blindness and visual impairment and gross domestic product (GDP) per capita.

Methods

Online surveys were emailed to presidents/chairpersons of national societies of ophthalmology and Ministry of Health representatives from all 194 countries to capture the number and density (per million population) of ophthalmologists, the number/density performing cataract surgery and refraction, and annual ophthalmologist population growth trends. Correlations between these data and income group, GDP per capita and prevalence rates of blindness and visual impairment were analysed.

Results

In 2015, there were an estimated 232 866 ophthalmologists in 194 countries. Income was positively associated with ophthalmologist density (a mean 3.7 per million population in low-income countries vs a mean 76.2 in high-income countries). Most countries reported positive growth (94/156; 60.3%). There was a weak, inverse correlation between the prevalence of blindness and the ophthalmologist density. There were weak, positive correlations between the density of ophthalmologists performing cataract surgery and GDP per capita and the prevalence of blindness, as well as between GDP per capita and the density of ophthalmologists doing refractions.

Conclusions

Although the estimated global ophthalmologist workforce appears to be growing, the appropriate distribution of the eye care workforce and the development of comprehensive eye care delivery systems are needed to ensure that eye care needs are universally met.
Risk factors and prognosis of seizures in adults with community-acquired bacterial meningitis in Denmark: observational cohort studies
Authors: Larsen Fredrikke Tove Birgitta Dam , Brandt Christian Thomas , larsen Lykke , Klastrup Vibeke , Wiese Lothar , Helweg-Larsen Jannik , Riber Mette , Hansen Birgitte Rønde , Østergaard Andersen Christian , Nielsen Henrik , Bodilsen Jacob
Published: July 2019

Objective

To examine predefined risk factors and outcome of seizures in community-acquired bacterial meningitis (CABM).

Design

Observational cohort studies

Setting

Denmark

Participants

In the derivation cohort, we retrospectively included all adults (>15 years of age) with CABM in North Denmark Region from 1998 to 2014 and at Hvidovre and Hillerød hospitals from 2003 to 2014. In the validation cohort, we prospectively included all adults (>18 years of age) with CABM treated at all departments of infectious diseases in Denmark from 2015 to 2017.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

In the derivation cohort, we used modified Poisson regression to compute adjusted relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals for predefined risk factors for seizures during CABM as well as for risks of death and unfavourable outcome assessed by the Glasgow Outcome Scale score (1-4). Next, results were validated in the validation cohort.

Results

In the derivation cohort (n=358), risk factors for seizures at any time were pneumococcal aetiology (RR 1.69, 1.01–2.83) and abnormal cranial imaging (RR 2.27, 1.46–3.53), while the impact of age >65 years and immunocompromise was more uncertain. Examining seizures occurring after admission, risk factors were abnormal cranial imaging (RR 2.23, 1.40–3.54) and immunocompromise (RR 1.59, 1.01–2.50). Seizures at any time were associated with increased risks of in-hospital mortality (RR 1.45, 1.01–2.09) and unfavourable outcome at discharge (RR 1.27, 1.02–1.60). In the validation cohort (n=379), pneumococcal aetiology (RR 1.69, 1.10–2.59) and abnormal cranial imaging (RR 1.68, 1.09–2.59) were confirmed as risk factors for seizures at any time. For seizures occurring after admission, only pneumococcal meningitis (RR 1.92, 1.12–3.29) remained significant. Seizures at any time were also associated with in-hospital mortality (RR 3.26, 1.83–5.80) and unfavourable outcome (RR 1.23, 1.00–1.52) in this cohort.

Conclusions

Pneumococcal aetiology, immunocompromise and abnormal cranial imaging were risk factors for seizures in CABM. Seizures were strongly associated with mortality and unfavourable outcome.
Molecular epidemiological study of enterovirus D68 in hospitalised children in Hong Kong in 2014–2015 and their complete coding sequences
Authors: Wang Haichao , Tao Kinpong , Leung Cheuk Yin , Hon Kam Lun , Yeung C M Apple , Chen Zigui , Chan K S Paul , Leung Ting-Fan , Chan W Y Renee
Published: July 2019

Background

Human enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) was first isolated in 1962 and has aroused public concern recently because of a nationwide outbreak among children in 2014–2015 in the USA. The symptoms include fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough and muscle pains. It might be associated with severe respiratory illness in individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions and its potential association with acute flaccid myelitis is under investigation. In Asia, EV-D68 cases have been reported in several countries.

The study

We aimed to understand the EV-D68 prevalence and their genetic diversity in Hong Kong children.

Methods

A total of 10 695 nasopharyngeal aspirate (NPA) samples from hospitalised patients aged <18 years were collected from September 2014 to December 2015 in two regional hospitals. NPAs tested positive for enterovirus/rhinovirus (EV/RV) were selected for genotyping. For those identified as EV-D68, their complete coding sequences (CDSs) were obtained by Sanger sequencing. A maximum-likelihood phylogeny was constructed using all EV-D68 complete coding sequences available in GenBank (n=482).

Results

2662/10 695 (24.9%) were tested positive with EV/RV and 882/2662 (33.1%) were selected randomly and subjected to molecular classification. EV-D68 was detected in 15 (1.70%) samples from patients with clinical presentations ranging from wheezing to pneumonia and belonged to subclade B3. Eight CDSs were successfully obtained. A total of 10 amino acid residue polymorphisms were detected in the viral capsid proteins, proteases, ATPase and RNA polymerase.

Conclusion

B3 subclade was the only subclade found locally. Surveillance of EV-D68 raises public awareness and provides the information to determine the most relevant genotypes for vaccine development.
‘Rethinking “Disease”: a fresh diagnosis and a new philosophical treatment’
Authors: Powell Russell , Scarffe Eric
Published: July 2019

Despite several decades of debate, the concept of disease remains hotly contested. The debate is typically cast as one between naturalism and normativism, with a hybrid view that combines elements of each staked out in between. In light of a number of widely discussed problems with existing accounts, some theorists argue that the concept of disease is beyond repair and thus recommend eliminating it in a wide range of practical medical contexts. Any attempt to reframe the ‘disease’ discussion should answer the more basic sceptical challenge, and should include a meta-methodological critique guided by our pragmatic expectations of what the disease concept ought to do given that medical diagnosis is woven into a complex network of healthcare institutions. In this paper, we attempt such a reframing, arguing that while prevailing accounts do not suffer from the particular defects that prominent critics have identified, they do suffer from other deficits—and this leads us to propose an amended hybrid view that places objectivist approaches to disease on stronger theoretical footing, and satisfies the institutional-ethicaldesiderataof a concept of disease in human medicine. Nevertheless, we do not advocate a procrustean approach to ‘disease’. Instead, we recommend disease concept pluralism between medical and biological sciences to allow the concept to serve the different epistemic and institutional goals of these respective disciplines.
MicroRNA-378-3p/5p suppresses the migration and invasiveness of oral squamous carcinoma cells by inhibiting KLK4 expression
Authors: Cui Zhi , Sun Shiqun , Liu Qilin , Zhou Xuechun , Gao Siyu , Peng Peixuan , Li Qianpeng
Published: July 2019

Distant metastasis frequently occurs in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and contributes to the adverse prognosis for patients with OSCC. However, the potential mechanisms behind the metastasis have not yet been clarified. This study investigated the role of miR-378 in the migration and invasiveness of OSCC in vitro and in vivo. According to our results, the migration and invasiveness of OSCC cells were increased in cells overexpressing miR-378, and reduced in cells where miR-378-3p/5p was silenced. In addition, overexpression of miR-378 suppressed the expressions and activities of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and MMP-2. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) was restrained by overexpression of miR-378, as evidenced by an increase in E-cadherin expression and decrease in N-cadherin and uPA expression. However, knockdown of miR-378-3p/5p produced the opposite results. Moreover, kallikrein-related peptidase 4 (KLK4) was confirmed to be a target gene of miR-378. Overexpression of KLK4 reversed the induced decrease in migration and invasiveness of cells overexpressing miR-378 by upregulating the levels of MMP-9, MMP-2, and N-cadherin, and downregulating the level of E-cadhrin. Finally, the number of metastasis nodules in the lung tissues of nude mice was reduced by overexpression of miR-378, whereas the number of metastases increased with knockdown of miR-378. Taken together, our results suggest that the miR-378–KLK4 axis is involved in the mechanisms behind the migration and invasiveness of OSCC cells. Targeting the miR-378–KLK4 axis may be an effective measure for treating OSCC.
Pollination-related functions of decorative sterile flowers of nine JapaneseHydrangeaspecies (Hydrangeaceae)
Authors: Wong Sato Akira A. , Kato Makoto
Published: July 2019

Most species of Hydrangea (Hydrangeaceae) have a flower arrangement in which several large sterile decorative flowers surround a dense cluster of small fertile flowers. These decorative flowers have been hypothesized to attract pollinators, but this has yet to be tested for this genus. To identify whether the decorative flowers have functions related to pollination success, we carried out field manipulation experiments in which we clipped or mounted decorative flowers of nine Hydrangea species, eight with and one without inherent decorative flowers, and recorded insect visits to the intact and treated inflorescences. The results showed that for most of the studied species, the presence of decorative flowers increased the frequency of visits and weakly increased the frequency of visits per unit area to inflorescences. Decorative flowers appeared to act as landing-sites for three species for which flowers represented a high proportion of the inflorescence surface area (i.e., H. scandens, H. luteovenosa, and H. macrophylla). The results suggest that the main function of decorative flowers of the studied Hydrangea species is to boost attractiveness to pollinators by increasing the inflorescence surface area, whereas the landing-site function was evident only in certain species.
Climate change, increasing forest fire incidence, and the value of visibility: evidence from British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Haider Wolfgang , Knowler Duncan , Trenholm Ryan , Moore Jeff , Bradshaw Phil , Lertzman Ken
Published: July 2019

Climate change may increase the occurrence and severity of forest fires, leading to worsening wildfire seasons. More frequent burn events would have various effects due to increased haze and smoke, including a greater incidence of impacts on human health and reduced or impaired visibility. In areas such as the Lower Fraser Valley of British Columbia, which prides itself on panoramic mountain and city views, individuals may be willing to pay to address deteriorating visibility conditions arising from wildfires or other sources. However, studies consistently show that any attempt to ask individuals how much they are willing to pay to improve local visibility will be confounded with the benefits of improving local health conditions. We used a discrete choice experiment to estimate the value of potential improvements in local visibility in the Lower Fraser Valley, but we included the consideration of health effects and found that these two attributes were indeed linked. As human preferences are rarely homogeneous, we also considered heterogeneity in respondents’ preferences for increases in the number of improved-visibility days versus healthy days. Finally, we applied our results to estimate the value of damages from visibility disruptions related to wildfire smoke from 2002 to 2018 in the Lower Fraser Valley.