bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Total elbow arthroplasty versus plate fixation for distal humeral fractures in elderly patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Jordan Robert W. , Saithna Adnan , Kimani Peter , Modi Chetan , Drew Stephen , Lawrence Tom
Published: June 2018

Background:

Distal humeral fractures represent about 1% to 2% of adult fractures. Open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) has traditionally been the standard treatment; however, fracture comminution and osteoporotic bone may prevent adequate fixation, and total elbow arthroplasty (TEA) is an alternative. The aim of this meta-analysis was to determine which procedure provided superior clinical outcomes for elderly patients with distal humeral fractures.

Methods:

A systematic review of the literature was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Cases series and comparative studies reporting functional outcomes or complications after TEA and ORIF in patients over 60 yr of age with an acute distal humeral fracture were included. The studies were appraised using validated quality assessment scales. Results were pooled from different studies using meta-analysis techniques, and the functional outcomes, complications, and frequency of revision surgery were compared.

Results:

The search strategy identified 27 studies: one randomized controlled trial, four comparative studies, 14 ORIF cases series, and eight TEA case series. TEA was associated with statistically significant and clinically superior Mayo Elbow Performance score (MEPS) and Disability of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) scores when compared to ORIF in elderly patients while having a statistically significant lower complication rate.

Conclusions:

Meta-analysis of comparative studies demonstrated that TEA is associated with statistically significant and clinically superior MEPS and DASH scores when compared to ORIF in elderly patients.
Predictors of mortality after isolated proximal humeral fractures in elderly patients
Authors: Hofmann Kurt J. , Prokuski Vanessa C. , Allar Benjamin G. , Tybor David , Ryan Scott P.
Published: June 2018

Background:

The overall incidence of proximal humeral fractures is steadily growing, but little is known about the mortality rates after these fractures in elderly patients. As life expectancy continues to increase, knowledge of mortality rates and predictors of mortality for these fractures will become progressively more important. The purpose of this study was to present the 30-day and 1-year mortality of elderly patients who sustained isolated proximal humeral fractures and to evaluate potential risk factors for increased mortality.

Methods:

We identified 205 patients older than 60 yr with isolated proximal humeral fractures. Mean age was 74.3 yr (range, 60-99 yr) and mean follow-up was 3.9 yr (range, 5 days-8 yr). Thirty-day and 1-year mortality rates were calculated. Age, gender, fracture classification, patient disposition, initial treatment, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) and van Walraven modified Elixhauser Comorbidity Index (ECI) were analyzed in Cox Proportional Hazards models to estimate effect on mortality.

Results:

Fifty-six percent of patients sustained Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) 11-A fractures, 43% were OTA 11-B, and 1% were OTA 11-C. One hundred and sixty-six patients (81%) were treated nonoperatively. The 30-day mortality rate was 2.0%; 1-year mortality rate was 4.4%. Each additional year of patient age increased mortality 12% (hazard ratio [HR]=1.12, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07, 1.17). Women did not differ from men (HR=1.74, 95% CI: 0.80, 3.77). Controlling for age and gender, there was no increased mortality in those admitted at time of injury (HR=1.89, 95% CI: 0.92, 3.88), or those with operative fixation (HR=0.78, 95% CI: 0.27, 2.29). After adjusting for age, neither CCI (HR=1.07, 95% CI: 0.95, 1.23) nor ECI (HR=1.01, 95% CI: 0.97, 1.06) affected mortality.

Conclusions:

The 1-year mortality for elderly patients with isolated proximal humeral fractures was 4.4%, lower than previously reported. Age increased mortality but comorbidity indices did not.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV, Therapeutic.
Implementation of a Flipped Classroom for Nuclear Medicine Physician CME
Authors: Komarraju Aparna , Bartel Twyla B. , Dickinson Lisa A. , Grant Frederick D. , Yarbrough Tracy L.
Published: June 2018

Introduction:

Increasingly, emerging technologies are expanding instructional possibilities, with new methods being adopted to improve knowledge acquisition and retention. Within medical education, many new techniques have been employed in the undergraduate setting, with less utilization thus far in the continuing medical education (CME) sphere. This paper discusses the use of a new method for CME—the “flipped classroom,” widely used in undergraduate medical education. This method engages learners by providing content before the live (“in class”) session that aids in preparation and fosters in-class engagement.

Methods:

A flipped classroom method was employed using an online image-rich case-based module and quiz prior to a live CME session at a national nuclear medicine meeting. The preparatory material provided a springboard for in-depth discussion at the live session—a case-based activity utilizing audience response technology. Study participants completed a survey regarding their initial experience with this new instructional method. In addition, focus group interviews were conducted with session attendees who had or had not completed the presession material; transcripts were qualitatively analyzed.

Results:

Quantitative survey data (completed by two-thirds of the session attendees) suggested that the flipped method was highly valuable and met attendee educational objectives. Analysis of focus group data yielded six themes broadly related to two categories—benefits of the flipped method for CME and programmatic considerations for successfully implementing the flipped method in CME.

Discussion:

Data from this study have proven encouraging and support further investigations around the incorporation of this innovative teaching method into CME for nuclear imaging specialists.
Trends in Glaucoma Surgical Procedures in Portugal: A 16-Year Nationwide Study (2000-2015)
Authors: Barbosa-Breda João , Gonçalves-Pinho Manuel , Santos João V. , Rocha-Sousa Amândio , Abegão-Pinto Luís , Stalmans Ingeborg , Freitas Alberto
Published: June 2018

Purpose:

Glaucoma leads as the first cause of irreversible blindness. The number of patients will greatly increase in upcoming years and changes will have to be accomplished to cope with those numbers. As such, data are important to understand the effect of new policies introduced in glaucoma management. Only few countries have described their glaucoma surgical profile and, in Europe, only the United Kingdom described the last 15 years. The aim of this study is to assess the glaucoma surgical profile and its changes in mainland Portugal from 2000 to 2015.

Methods:

Retrospective database analysis of inpatient and surgical outpatients’ episodes of all public hospitals in mainland Portugal was performed. The annual absolute numbers of ophthalmic procedures, as well as their surgical rate (per 100,000 inhabitants) were calculated.

Results:

Glaucoma patients undergoing glaucoma procedures were 67±14 years old and 50% were female. During the study period there was an increase in the number and surgical rate of glaucoma procedures. Trabeculectomy showed a stable surgical rate (7 per 100,000 inhabitants) despite a reduction in terms of relative weight among glaucoma procedures. At the same time, the surgical rate of glaucoma drainage devices and cyclophotoablation increased, while remaining stable for cyclocryoablation.

Conclusions:

In Portugal, trabeculectomy had a stable surgical rate throughout the study period, being the most performed glaucoma surgical procedure. Other surgeries, like glaucoma drainage devices and cyclophotoablation are gaining ground among glaucoma specialists. Our results match what has been published by other countries worldwide and can be used to achieve a better health planning.
Endophthalmitis Following XEN Stent Exposure
Authors: Karri Bhavani , Gupta Chandni , Mathews Divya
Published: June 2018

Backround:

XEN45 Gel stents are in their infancy, and clinical expertise with microsurgical glaucoma devices are increasing. The soft flexible nature of the XEN stent together with its malleability under the conjunctival tissue should negate any risk of exposure of the XEN45 stent (XEN). However, we report a case in which sight-threatening endophthalmitis was the presenting feature of this complication.

Case Report:

We present a case of uncomplicated XEN implantation that developed endophthalmitis 4 months after surgery. She gave an 8-day history of diarrhea before presentation. She was noted to have exposure of the XEN stent at the point of entry of the XEN into the subconjunctival space. The stent was removed, pars plana vitrectomy was carried out, and intravitreal antibiotics were administered. Achieving low intraocular pressures, bearing in mind her preservative allergy, became a challenge, as we struggled to manage her advanced glaucoma medically. A CyPass Micro-Stent was subsequently inserted to control the intraocular pressure.

Conclusions:

Episodes of XEN stent exposure may not be so isolated. We postulate that poor handwashing transmitted the causative organism to the exposed stent, which then resulted in endopthalmitis. We would like to highlight a few learning points from this case.
Nasolacrimal Sac Diverticulum: A Case Series and Literature Review
Authors: Enright Nicholas J. , Brown Sebastian J. , Rouse Hannah C. , McNab Alan A. , Hardy Thomas G.
Published: June 2018

Purpose:

To describe the demographics, presentation, treatment, and outcome in 10 cases of lacrimal sac diverticulum and to review the literature on this topic, and to determine the incidence of diverticula from a series of dacryocystograms.

Methods:

Data were collected for all consecutive patients with lacrimal sac diverticulum seen between 2003 and 2015, including patient demographics, clinical presentation, imaging findings, treatment, and follow-up. A systematic literature review was performed for cases of lacrimal sac diverticulum. A retrospective review of 400 consecutive dacryocystograms was performed to determine the incidence of lacrimal sac diverticulum.

Results:

Ten cases (9 patients) of lacrimal sac diverticulum are described, and a further 36 cases were discovered through a literature review. Epiphora, swelling, and dacryocystitis and/or diverticulitis were the most common presenting complaints. When all 46 cases are combined, lacrimal patency was demonstrated in 50% of cases. Dacryocystography diagnosed only 57% of patients with diverticulum, not helped by the addition of ultrasound or CT. The incidence of diverticulum was 3.2% on review of 400 consecutive dacryocystograms (1.6% per lacrimal system). Surgical management with dacryocystorhinostomy and/or diverticulum excision was effective in all 34 operated cases at resolving symptoms in the case series and literature review.

Conclusions:

Lacrimal sac diverticula present with epiphora, medial canthal swelling, dacryocystitis, and/or diverticulitis. Dacryocystography, despite being the most sensitive radiologic test, is only 59% sensitive, and adjunctive CT and ultrasound have limited use. Surgical management is recommended because conservative management often fails. Dacryocystorhinostomy, diverticulum excision, or a combination thereof appears to be equivalent in achieving resolution of symptoms.
Enhanced External Counterpulsation and Recovery From a Plyometric Exercise Bout
Authors: Valenzuela Pedro L. , Montalvo Zigor , Torrontegi Elaia , Sánchez-Martínez Guillermo , Lucia Alejandro , de la Villa Pedro
Published: June 2018

Objective:

To analyze the effectiveness of enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) on recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD).

Design:

This study followed a crossover, placebo-controlled, counterbalanced design.

Participants:

Ten healthy active subjects (7 male; 27 ± 4 years).

Interventions:

Participants performed a plyometric exercise bout (10 sets of 10 jumps interspersed with 1-minute rests) and were then assigned to recover for 30 minutes with either EECP (cuff pressure = 80 mm Hg) or a Sham intervention (0 mm Hg) immediately after exercise and at 24 hours after exercise. Two weeks later, they repeated the protocol with the other recovery intervention.

Main Outcome Measures:

Muscle soreness, creatine kinase (CK) activity, jump performance, and tensiomyographic variables were measured before exercise, and 24 and 48 hours after exercise.

Results:

The mean jump height of the plyometric bout did not differ between EECP and Sham (P> 0.05). Exercise resulted in increased muscle soreness (P< 0.001) and CK levels (P< 0.001), as well as in impaired jump performance (P< 0.05). No changes were observed in tensiomyographic variables. No significant differences were found between interventions for any of the study outcomes.

Conclusions:

No benefits on recovery from EIMD after a plyometric exercise bout were observed with EECP.
Endobronchial Ultrasound-guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration in the Diagnosis of Breast Cancer Thoracic Metastases and Detection of Receptor Discordance
Authors: Argento A. Christine , Gilstrap Daniel L. , Shofer Scott , Mahmood Kamran , Blackwell Kimberly , Wahidi Momen M.
Published: June 2018

Background:

Metastasis of breast cancer to mediastinal lymph nodes is common and biopsy of suspicious lesions can have important diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications, particularly with respect to tumor receptor status. Our aim was to show that endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) can be used for the diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer and demonstrate reliable receptor evaluation that can result in change of therapy.

Methods:

A retrospective review of consecutive adult patients undergoing EBUS-TBNA from May 2007 to September 2012 was performed. Data collected for patients with a history of breast cancer included patient demographics, tumor pathology, receptor analysis, imaging, and bronchoscopy or surgical results.

Results:

Sixty-four patients with a history of breast cancer aged from 31 to 81 years underwent EBUS-TBNA for the evaluation of mediastinal lymphadenopathy of which 16 patients had not been previously treated for their breast cancer with systemic therapy. Eighty suspicious lymph nodes were biopsied measuring 0.8 to 3.1 cm in diameter. Fifty-nine (92%) patients had diagnostic cytology for malignancy or benign lymphoid tissue. Breast malignancy was identified in 33 (52%) patients and 23 (70%) of these had sufficient samples for the evaluation of estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 status. Overall 48% of the patients with receptors analyzed had discordance between the primary tumor and metastasis.

Conclusions:

EBUS-TBNA is a useful tool for evaluating mediastinal lymphadenopathy in patients with a history of breast cancer and can provide information on the concordance of receptors status between the primary tumor and metastatic sites in the thorax.
Evaluation of probiotic potentials of Lactobacillus isolated from traditional fermented foods of Garo Hills, Meghalaya, India
Authors: Mishra Birendra K. , Hati Subrota , Das Sujit , Kumari Reena
Published: June 2018

The current study deals with isolation of Lactobacillus species from naturally fermented foods of Garo Hills region of Meghalaya and to characterize the selected isolates for exploring their probiotic potentials. Out of eight selected isolates, Lactobacillus rhamnosus (K4E) and Lactobacillus helveticus (K14) were found to tolerate pH 2 and pH 3 for 1.5 and 3 h. Lactobacillus fermentum (K16) could survive efficiently at 0.5% bile salts after 1.5 and 3 h and reduced cholesterol efficiently (60.64%) as compared with the other isolates. The isolates K4E and L. fermentum (K7) exhibited the highest cell surface hydrophobicity (69.95 and 60.13%, respectively). L. rhamnosus (K4E) strain displayed highest antioxidant activity and L. helveticus (K14) exhibited the highest autoaggregation (81.32%) and proteolytic activity (0.67). Antibiotic susceptibility pattern of selected isolates were also observed by using Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method and antimicrobial activity was tested against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi, Psuedomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis. Further, the evolutionary relatedness between the Lactobacillus isolates was signified by a DNA alignment programme, multiple alignment using fast fourier transform v6.864. The present study affirms their potential for exploitation in the development of novel functional fermented foods as probiotics for the betterment of human health in north-eastern region of India.
Effectiveness and Cognitive Changes With Ultrabrief Right Unilateral and Other Forms of Electroconvulsive Therapy in the Treatment of Mania
Authors: Wong Vincent Khung Hoon , Tor Phern Chern , Martin Donel M. , Mok Yee Ming , Loo Colleen
Published: June 2018

Objective

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment in mania. However, there is little evidence regarding the use of ultrabrief right unilateral (RUL-UB) ECT in treatment of acute manic episodes. The aim of this study was to report on the effectiveness and cognitive profile of ECT in bipolar mania, including a sample who received RUL-UB ECT.

Methods

This naturalistic study retrospectively collected data in 33 patients who received ECT with concurrent antipsychotics for mania between October 1, 2014, and July 30, 2016. Electroconvulsive therapy was given using RUL-UB, brief-pulse right unilateral, or brief-pulse bitemporal approaches, dosed according to the patient's seizure threshold. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS) score, and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) were administered to patients before and after the ECT course.

Results

For the whole sample, there was a significant improvement in BPRS (total score and manic subscale), YMRS, and MoCA total scores across the ECT treatment course. The overall BPRS response rate was 84%, and mean scores decreased from 42.1 (SD, 12.0) to 26.0 (SD, 4.0). The 13 patients who received RUL-UB ECT also showed significant improvement in BPRS, YMRS, and MoCA scores over the treatment course.

Conclusions

Electroconvulsive therapy in general and also specifically RUL-UB ECT were effective in treating mania and also led to global cognitive improvement.
Fitness consequences of threshold trait expression subject to environmental cues
Authors: Michalczyk Łukasz , Dudziak Magdalena , Radwan Jacek , Tomkins Joseph L.
Published: June 2018

Most cases of alternative reproductive tactics (ARTs) are thought to represent conditional strategies, whereby high-status males express highly competitive phenotypes, whereas males below a certain status threshold resort to sneaky tactics. The underlying evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) model assumes that males of high competitive ability achieve higher fitness when expressing the territorial phenotype, whereas the less competitive males are more fit as sneakers, caused by fitness functions for the ARTs having different slopes and intersecting at a threshold value of competitive ability. The model, however, is notoriously difficult to test as it requires access to low-status territorials and high-status sneakers, that rarely occur in nature. Here, we test the conditional ESS in the androdimorphic acarid mite
Sancassania berlesei
, where large males tend to develop into an armoured, aggressive ‘fighter’ morph, while small males become unarmoured, non-aggressive ‘scramblers’. In addition to body size, male morph is affected by pheromones produced by big populations, with fighters being suppressed in dense colonies. By manipulating pheromone concentration, we obtained high-status scramblers and low-status fighters. We also estimated status- and size-dependent fitness functions for male morphs across a range of population sizes. Fighters had the highest fitness in small populations and their fitness declined with increasing density, whereas the reverse was true for scramblers, providing support for condition-dependent ESS with respect to demography. However, whereas male fitness increased with body size, the fitness functions did not differ significantly between morphs. Thus, although we found evidence for the intersection of morph fitness functions with respect to demography, we did not find such an intersection in relation to male body size. Our results highlight how demography can exert selection pressures shaping the evolution of the conditional strategy in species with ARTs.
Body mass predicts isotope enrichment in herbivorous mammals
Authors: Tejada-Lara Julia V. , MacFadden Bruce J. , Bermudez Lizette , Rojas Gianmarco , Salas-Gismondi Rodolfo , Flynn John J.
Published: June 2018

Carbon isotopic signatures recorded in vertebrate tissues derive from ingested food and thus reflect ecologies and ecosystems. For almost two decades, most carbon isotope-based ecological interpretations of extant and extinct herbivorous mammals have used a single diet–bioapatite enrichment value (14‰). Assuming this single value applies to all herbivorous mammals, from tiny monkeys to giant elephants, it overlooks potential effects of distinct physiological and metabolic processes on carbon fractionation. By analysing a never before assessed herbivorous group spanning a broad range of body masses—sloths—we discovered considerable variation in diet–bioapatite δ
13
C enrichment among mammals. Statistical tests (ordinary least squares, quantile, robust regressions, Akaike information criterion model tests) document independence from phylogeny, and a previously unrecognized strong and significant correlation of δ
13
C enrichment with body mass for all mammalian herbivores. A single-factor body mass model outperforms all other single-factor or more complex combinatorial models evaluated, including for physiological variables (metabolic rate and body temperature proxies), and indicates that body mass alone predicts δ
13
C enrichment. These analyses, spanning more than 5 orders of magnitude of body sizes, yield a size-dependent prediction of isotopic enrichment across Mammalia and for distinct digestive physiologies, permitting reconstruction of foregut versus hindgut fermentation for fossils and refined mean annual palaeoprecipitation estimates based on δ
13
C of mammalian bioapatite.
De novo genome and transcriptome analyses provide insights into the biology of the trematode human parasite Fasciolopsis buski
Authors: Biswal Devendra K. , Roychowdhury Tanmoy , Pandey Priyatama , Tandon Veena
Published: June 2018

Many trematode parasites cause infection in humans and are thought to be a major public health problem. Their ecological diversity in different regions provides challenging questions on evolution of these organisms. In this report, we perform transcriptome analysis of the giant intestinal fluke, Fasciolopsis buski, using next generation sequencing technology. Short read sequences derived from polyA containing RNA of this organism were assembled into 30677 unigenes that led to the annotation of 12380 genes. Annotation of the assembled transcripts enabled insight into processes and pathways in the intestinal fluke, such as RNAi pathway and energy metabolism. The expressed kinome of the organism was characterized by identifying all protein kinases. We have also carried out whole genome sequencing and used the sequences to confirm absence of some of the genes, not observed in transcriptome data, such as genes involved in fatty acid biosynthetic pathway. Transcriptome data also helped us to identify some of the expressed transposable elements. Though many Long Interspersed elements (LINEs) were identified, only two Short Interspersed Elements (SINEs) were visible. Overall transcriptome and draft genome analysis of F. buski helped us to characterize some its important biological characteristics and provided enormous resources for development of a suitable diagnostic system and anti-parasitic therapeutic molecules.
Assessment of the effects of transthyretin peptide inhibitors inDrosophilamodels of neuropathic ATTR
Authors: Saelices Lorena , Pokrzywa Malgorzata , Pawelek Katarzyna , Eisenberg David S.
Published: June 2018

Transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTR) is a fatal disease caused by the systemic aggregation and deposition of transthyretin (TTR), a blood transporter that is mainly produced in the liver. TTR deposits are made of elongated amyloid fibrils that interfere with normal tissue function leading to organ failure. The current standard care for hereditary neuropathic ATTR is liver transplantation or stabilization of the native form of TTR by tafamidis. In our previous work, we explored an additional strategy to halt protein aggregation by capping pre-existing TTR fibrils with structure-based designed peptide inhibitors. Our best peptide inhibitor TabFH2 has shown to be effective at inhibiting not only TTR aggregation but also amyloid seeding driven by fibrils extracted from ATTR patients. Here we evaluate the effects of peptide inhibitors in twoDrosophilamodels of neuropathic ATTR and compared their efficacy with diflunisal, a protein stabilizer currently used off-label for the treatment of ATTR. Our peptide inhibitor TabFH2 was found the most effective treatment, which resulted in motor improvement and the reduction of TTR deposition. Ourin vivostudy shows that inhibiting TTR deposition by peptide inhibitors may represent a therapeutic strategy for halting the progression of ATTR.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

Familial Amyloid Polyneuropathy (FAP) is a hereditary condition caused by the deposition of transthyretin (TTR) in nerves. Marked by progressive deficit and disability, FAP has no cure and limited therapeutic options. The replacement of the production source of mutant TTR by liver transplantation and the stabilization of native TTR by compounds, current lines of treatment, often fail to halt disease progression. Previously, we discovered that two segments of TTR drive amyloid deposition, and designed structure-based peptide inhibitors. Here we evaluate these peptide inhibitors in FAP models ofDrosophila. The most efficient inhibitor resulted in an improvement of locomotor abilities and a reduction of TTR deposition. This study points to peptide inhibitors as a potential therapeutic strategy for FAP.
Predicting cellular aging following exposure to adversity: Does accumulation, recency, or developmental timing of exposure matter?
Authors: Marini Sandro , Davis Kathryn A. , Soare Thomas W. , Suderman Matthew J. , Simpkin Andrew J. , Smith Andrew D.A.C. , Wolf Erika J. , Relton Caroline L. , Dunn Erin C.
Published: June 2018

Exposure to adversity has been linked to accelerated biological aging, which in turn has been shown to predict numerous health problems, including neuropsychiatric disease. In recent years, measures of DNA methylation-based epigenetic age – known as “epigenetic clocks” – have been used to estimate accelerated epigenetic aging. Yet, few studies have been conducted in children. Using data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (n=973), we explored the prospective association between repeated measures of childhood exposure to seven types of adversity on epigenetic age assessed at age 7 using the Horvath and Hannum epigenetic clocks. With a Least Angle Regression variable selection procedure, we evaluated the effects of the developmental timing, accumulation, and recency of adversity exposure. We found that exposure to sexual or physical abuse, financial stress, or neighborhood disadvantage during sensitive periods in early and middle childhood best explained variability in the deviation of the Hannum epigenetic age from the chronological age. Secondary sex-stratified analyses identified particularly strong sensitive period effects, such that by age 7, girls who were exposed to abuse at age 3.5 were biologically older than their unexposed peers by almost 2 months. These effects were undetected in analyses comparing children “exposed” versus “unexposed” to adversity. Our results suggest that exposure to adversity may alter methylation processes in ways that perturb normal cellular aging and that these effects may be heightened during sensitive periods in development. Research is needed to demonstrate the effect of accelerated epigenetic aging on negative health outcomes following childhood adversity exposure.
Hazard detection with monocular bioptic telescopes in a driving simulator
Authors: Tang Xiaolan , Bronstad P. Matthew , Spano Lauren , Doherty Amy L. , Moharrer Mojtaba , Peli Eli , Bowers Alex R.
Published: June 2018

ABSTRACT

Purpose:Recently we developed a driving simulator paradigm to evaluate detection of road hazards when using a bioptic telescope and conducted an initial study using normally-sighted observers with simulated vision loss. We now extend our investigation to quantifying the extent to which visually impaired bioptic users are able to use their fellow (non-telescope) eye to compensate for the ring scotoma of a monocular bioptic telescope. We tested the hypothesis that detection rates would be higher in binocular viewing (fellow eye could potentially compensate) than monocular viewing (fellow eye patched so it could not compensate) for pedestrian hazards present in the scene only while the telescope was being used.

Methods:Sixteen bioptic telescope users (17-80 y) completed six test drives, including three with binocular viewing interleaved between three with monocular viewing. While driving, they used their own monocular bioptic telescopes to read information on highway road signs (n = 71) and pressed the horn when they saw a pedestrian hazard (n = 50). Twenty-six of the pedestrians were programed to appear, run on the road ahead of the driver for 1s within the ring scotoma and then disappear, within the period when participants were reading signs through the bioptic. The timing of the head movement to look into and out of the bioptic was determined and events were then categorized by whether or not the pedestrian hazard was present in the scene only while using the bioptic.

Results:When pedestrian hazards were in the scene only while subjects were using the bioptic to read a sign, detection rates were significantly higher in binocular than monocular viewing (68% vs. 40%). However, when pedestrians when subjects had a brief view of the pedestrian either beforeor after looking through the bioptic, then detection rates did not differ in binocular and monocular viewing (78% vs. 79%). By comparison, when not using the bioptic detection rates were higher (> 90%) and reaction times were shorter (without 0.95 s vs. with 1.25 s)

Conclusions:Our results suggest that under binocular viewing conditions the fellow eye was able to compensate for the ring scotoma to a certain extent when subjects used a monocular telescope to read road signs; however, performance was not as good as without the bioptic.
SCMarker: ab initio marker selection for single cell transcriptome profiling
Authors: Wang Fang , Liang Shaoheng , Kumar Tapsi , Navin Nicholas , Chen Ken
Published: June 2018

Single-cell RNA-sequencing data generated by a variety of technologies, such as Drop-seq and SMART-seq, can reveal simultaneously the mRNA transcript levels of thousands of genes in thousands of cells. It is often important to identify informative genes or cell-type-discriminative markers to reduce dimensionality and achieve informative cell typing results. We present an ab initio method that performs unsupervised marker selection by identifying genes that have subpopulation-discriminative expression levels and are co- or mutually-exclusively expressed with other genes. Consistent improvements in cell-type classification and biologically meaningful marker selection are achieved by applying SCMarker on various datasets in multiple tissue types, followed by a variety of clustering algorithms. The source code of SCMarker is publicly available at https://github.com/KChen-lab/SCMarker.

Author Summary

Single cell RNA-sequencing technology simultaneously provides the mRNA transcript levels of thousands of genes in thousands of cells. A frequent requirement of single cell expression analysis is the identification of markers which may explain complex cellular states or tissue composition. We propose a new marker selection strategy (SCMarker) to accurately delineate cell types in single cell RNA-sequencing data by identifying genes that have bi/multi-modally distributed expression levels and are co- or mutually-exclusively expressed with some other genes. Our method can determine the cell-type-discriminative markers without referencing to any known transcriptomic profiles or cell ontologies, and consistently achieves accurate cell-type-discriminative marker identification in a variety of scRNA-seq datasets.
Insights into the molecular basis of wooden breast based on comparative analysis of fast- and slow-growth broilers
Authors: Marie Hubert Shawna , Williams Travis J. , Athrey Giridhar
Published: June 2018

Wooden breast has emerged as an important condition in the poultry industry and affects the breast muscle of commercial meat-type chickens (broilers). Thus far, the condition has been classified as a myopathy, confirmed to not have an infectious origin, with molecular data showing the muscle to be under oxidative stress. The objective in this study was to query the functional origins of wooden breast and reveal its molecular similarities to known conditions based on pathway analyses. To carry out an in-depth comparative analysis, we generated RNAseq data from wooden breast affected birds and incorporated breast specific transcriptomic data from previously published studies. The comparative datasets were constructed from a range of commercial fast-growth and slow-growth varieties. Analysis of high-impact variants identified from transcriptome data provided a list of genes important in cell signaling, cell proliferation, cytoskeletal development, and calcium metabolism as being affected by nucleotide changes. Overlaying the lists of significantly differentially expressed genes with the list of high-impact variants produced a list of twenty genes that suggest an association of mechanistic and functional causes for woody breast; supporting a polygenic basis for this condition. Our study demonstrates that wooden breast shows an age-dependent gene expression pattern, with pathway analysis showing enrichment of glycolysis, cell differentiation, tumor suppression and inhibition, further indicating a complex condition with few similarities to myopathies. In summary, our results indicate the existence of a mechanistic, heritable basis for wooden breast, the drivers of which deserve more in-depth investigation. Additionally, they also suggest wooden breast to be a more complex condition than previously reported, potentially involving other organ systems.
A deep proteome and transcriptome abundance atlas of 29 healthy human tissues
Authors: Wang Dongxue , Eraslan Basak , Wieland Thomas , Hallström Björn , Hopf Thomas , Zolg Daniel Paul , Zecha Jana , Asplund Anna , Li Li-hua , Meng Chen , Frejno Martin , Schmidt Tobias , Schnatbaum Karsten , Wilhelm Mathias , Ponten Frederik , Uhlen Mathias , Gagneur Julien , Hahne Hannes , Kuster Bernhard
Published: June 2018

Genome-, transcriptome- and proteome-wide measurements provide valuable insights into how biological systems are regulated. However, even fundamental aspects relating to which human proteins exist, where they are expressed and in which quantities are not fully understood. Therefore, we have generated a systematic, quantitative and deep proteome and transcriptome abundance atlas from 29 paired healthy human tissues from the Human Protein Atlas Project and representing human genes by 17,615 transcripts and 13,664 proteins. The analysis revealed that few proteins show truly tissue-specific expression, that vast differences between mRNA and protein quantities within and across tissues exist and that the expression levels of proteins are often more stable across tissues than those of transcripts. In addition, only ~2% of all exome and ~7% of all mRNA variants could be confidently detected at the protein level showing that proteogenomics remains challenging, requires rigorous validation using synthetic peptides and needs more sophisticated computational methods. Many uses of this resource can be envisaged ranging from the study of gene/protein expression regulation to protein biomarker specificity evaluation to name a few.
How national culture influences individuals’ subjective experience with paradoxical tensions
Authors: Keller Joshua , Wen Chen Erica , Leung Angela K.-Y.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how national culture influences individuals’ subjective experience of tension when confronting paradoxical demands that arise during their day-to-day organizational experience. The paper further explores two types of paradoxical demands (task oriented and relational oriented) and two mediating mechanisms (tolerance for contradictions and harmony enhancement concerns) that exhibit contrary cultural effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing from a sample of white-collar workers in China and the USA, the authors first inductively generated scenarios with task-oriented and relational-oriented paradoxical demands and then conducted three studies where participants rated the perceived tension from the scenarios. In Study 1, they examined cross-cultural differences in perceived tension and the mediating role of tolerance for contradictions. In Study 2, they primed Americans with proverbs that promoted tolerance for contradictions. In Study 3, they examined the indirect effects of harmony enhancement concerns in China in relational-oriented paradoxical demands.

Findings

The results found that for task-oriented paradoxical demands, Chinese participants were less likely than American participants to experience tension and the effects were mediated by a higher tolerance for contradictions. Americans exposed to proverbs that promoted tolerance for contradictions also experienced less tension. For relational-oriented paradoxical demands, on the other hand, the authors found no cross-cultural differences, as the indirect effects of a tolerance for contradictions were mitigated by negative indirect effects of greater harmony enhancement concerns.

Originality/value

This paper demonstrates that culture can influence the tension that individuals subjectively experience when they confront paradoxical conditions, suggesting that individuals learn implicitly how to cope with tensions associated with paradoxes from their broader cultural environment. However, the authors also found different cultural effects within different paradoxical conditions, suggesting that the knowledge that individuals acquire from their broader cultural environment is multifaceted.
Influence of multiple endorser-product patterns on purchase intention
Authors: Liang Huai-Liang , Lin Ping-I
Published: June 2018

Purpose

Enterprises must select the best optimal endorser-product fit in order to maximize the limited budget available for endorsements. Previous studies have determined that the influence of athlete endorsers is greater than is that of celebrity endorsers on consumer attitudes toward sport products. However, different endorsers may possess different levels of influence on products. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This study developed two field experiments to investigate the influence of endorser-product fits on consumer purchase intentions. Participants in Study 1 were 295 individuals (220 male consumers, 75 female consumers, M age=32 yr) in the two Baseball Stadiums in Taiwan. Participants in Study 2 were 317 EMBA students (204 men, 113 women, M age=34 yr) at a certain university in Taiwan.

Findings

The results determined no significant moderating effect of celebrity endorser-product fit and purchase intention, whereas athlete endorser-product fit enhanced consumers’ purchase intentions in low product involvement scenarios. In high product involvement scenarios, a moderating relationship between endorser-product fit and purchase intentions was observed. These findings can provide a reference regarding endorsers and product patterns for enterprises to maximize the value of endorsers.

Originality/value

Using the multiple endorser-product patterns, this study provides useful findings in terms of the perceived value of endorser-product and purchase intention. The results of this study can help enterprises to choose the most suitable endorser when they are subject to budget constraints. Detailed descriptions of the expected results and discussion are reported in the text.
Impact of behavioral factors on investors’ financial decisions: case of the Egyptian stock market
Authors: Metawa Noura , Hassan M. Kabir , Metawa Saad , Safa M. Faisal
Published: June 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between investors’ demographic characteristics (age, gender, education level and experience) and their investment decisions through behavioral factors (sentiment, overconfidence, overreaction and underreaction and herd behavior) as mediator variables in the Egyptian stock market.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper collects data from a structured questionnaire survey carried out among 384 local Egyptian, foreign, institutional and individual investors. This paper used a partial multiple regression method to analyze the effect of investors’ demographic characteristics on investment decisions through behavioral factors as the mediator variable.

Findings

Investor sentiment, overreaction and underreaction, overconfidence and herd behavior significantly affect investment decisions. Also, age, gender and the level of education have significant positive effects on investment decisions by investors. Experience does not play a significant role in investment decisions, but as investors gain experience, they tend to overlook the emotional factors.

Practical implications

The findings of this paper would help to understand common behavioral patterns of investors and indicate a path toward the growth of the Egyptian stock market.

Originality/value

There is a lack of research in behavioral finance covering Middle East and North African markets. This paper attempts to fulfill the gap by analyzing behavioral factors in the Egyptian market.
“Captured by evils” – combating black money, corruption and money laundering in Bangladesh
Authors: Solaiman S.M.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate that the recurrent amnesties to black money holders (BMHs) in Bangladesh have not benefited the national economy, rather have increased corruption and money laundering, and that offering further opportunity to whiten back money as recommended by the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh will do more harm than good.

Design/methodology/approach

This research relies on both primary and secondary materials adopting an archival analysis of the existing literature.

Findings

The major findings include the following: the recurrent amnesties to BMHs have damaging impacts on corruption and money laundering in Bangladesh; the Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh’s recommendation to provide further opportunity to legalise black money is flawed, ill thought-out and misjudgement of the futility of the amnesties offered to date; and the black money problem could be better addressed through using educational, preventive and punitive measures that have been specifically formulated in this paper.

Research limitations/implications

This research does not examine the flaws that may remain in the provisions of existing laws; rather it gives emphasis to the enforcement of the law in place. Legal flaws thus can be a subject matter of another endeavour.

Practical implications

As implications, it is expected that this research will encourage the concerned authorities in Bangladesh to stop offering amnesties to BMHs for good. Also, other countries facing a similar problem can learn from the experience of Bangladesh presented, and specific recommendations submitted, in this paper, in dealing with black money, corruption and money laundering.

Social implications

It is expected that if the recommendations furnished in this paper are implemented, corruption in, and money laundering from, Bangladesh will reduce. This reduction will facilitate ensuring fairness in the society in many respects, deter criminal activities associated with black money and enable honest taxpayers to buy their homes in a level-playing filed.

Originality/value

This paper presents original research in terms of analysis of materials and the recommendations submitted to deal with corruption, black money and money laundering.
Illicit Bitcoin transactions: challenges in getting to the who, what, when and where
Authors: Irwin Angela S.M. , Turner Adam B.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the intelligence and investigatory challenges experienced by law enforcement agencies in discovering the identity of illicit Bitcoin users and the transactions that they perform. This paper proposes solutions to assist law enforcement agencies in piecing together the disparate and complex technical, behavioural and criminological elements that make up cybercriminal offending.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review was conducted to highlight the main law enforcement challenges and discussions and examine current discourse in the areas of anonymity and attribution. The paper also looked at other research and projects that aim to identify illicit transactions involving cryptocurrencies and the darknet.

Findings

An optimal solution would be one which has a predictive capability and a machine learning architecture which automatically collects and analyses data from the Bitcoin blockchain and other external data sources and applies search criteria matching, indexing and clustering to identify suspicious behaviours. The implementation of a machine learning architecture would help improve results over time and would be less manpower intensive. Cyber investigators would also receive intelligence in a format and language that they understand and it would allow for intelligence-led and predictive policing rather than reactive policing. The optimal solution would be one which allows for intelligence-led, predictive policing and enables and encourages information sharing between multiple stakeholders from the law enforcement, financial intelligence units, cyber security organisations and fintech industry. This would enable the creation of red flags and behaviour models and the provision of up-to-date intelligence on the threat landscape to form a viable intelligence product for law enforcement agencies so that they can more easily get to the who, what, when and where.

Originality/value

The development of a functional software architecture that, in theory, could be used to detected suspicious illicit transactions on the Bitcoin network.