bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential for Meta-Scientific Inquiry to Improve the Usefulness of HRD Research Outcomes for Practice
Authors: Passmore David L. , Chae Chungil
Published: September 2019

The Problem

Meta-science, that is, science about science, is an application of scientific method to explain and control the methods and enterprise of science. The field of inquiry of meta-science emerged originally in reaction to problems with reproducibility and replicability of seemingly settled science. These same problems could affect research evidence conducted by human resource development (HRD) researchers and, as a result, could limit the applicability of HRD research outcomes to HRD practice.

The Solution

Discussed in this article are examples of meta-scientific issues and solutions that ultimately affect the transition of knowledge derived through research to practice in the field of HRD. Problems with the reproducibility and replication of research conducted in the field are detailed as are meta-scientific issues involved in judging the quality of scientific work, methodology-agnostic applications of meta-scientific inquiry, requirements for sharing data and code, and the need to let theory guide research.

The Stakeholders

Researchers would benefit from the considerations of meta-scientific concerns in the design, conduct, and reporting of research to improve the replicability and reproducibility of research outcomes. Knowledge of meta-scientific principles and cautions by adopters of research outcomes would inject healthy skepticism into decisions about whether research outcomes are worthy for application in practice or to guide future research.
What Do We Want? INHIBITION. When Do We Want it? NOW
Authors: Maguire Jamie L.
Published: September 2019

[Box: see text]
Effective fault detection in structural health monitoring systems
Authors: Chaabane Marwa , Mansouri Majdi , Abodayeh Kamaleldin , Ben Hamida Ahmed , Nounou Hazem , Nounou Mohamed
Published: September 2019

A new fault detection technique is considered in this article. It is based on kernel partial least squares, exponentially weighted moving average, and generalized likelihood ratio test. The developed approach aims to improve monitoring the structural systems. It consists of computing an optimal statistic that merges the current information and the previous one and gives more weight to the most recent information. To improve the performances of the developed kernel partial least squares model even further, multiscale representation of data will be used to develop a multiscale extension of this method. Multiscale representation is a powerful data analysis way that presents efficient separation of deterministic characteristics from random noise. Thus, multiscale kernel partial least squares method that combines the advantages of the kernel partial least squares method with those of multiscale representation will be developed to enhance the structural modeling performance. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is assessed using two examples: synthetic data and benchmark structure. The simulation study proves the efficiency of the developed technique over the classical detection approaches in terms of false alarm rate, missed detection rate, and detection speed.
‘Build memories’, collages on paper, 2017
Authors: Gegisian Aikaterini
Published: September 2019

‘Build Memories’ is a collage series that explores the layered historic and geographic landscape of Istanbul and Thessaloniki. The work focuses on the shared Byzantine and Ottoman past of the two cities, which is interlinked with the multicultural lives and transcultural memories of their inhabitants. The collaging of images of popular culture sourced from tourist catalogues of Greece and Turkey becomes in the work a strategy for the transformation of collective memories into a composite landscape. The collages literally build memory as a transcultural space deposited in the urban fabric.
High sensitivity troponin measurement in critical care: Flattering to deceive or ‘never means nothing’?
Authors: Hinton Jonathan , Mariathas Mark , Grocott Michael PW , Curzen Nick
Published: September 2019

Introduction

Troponin elevation is central to the diagnosis of acute type 1 myocardial infarction. It is, however, elevated in a range of other conditions, including type 2 myocardial infarction, and this setting is increasingly associated with adverse clinical outcomes. Patients within intensive care frequently have at least one organ failure together with a range of co-morbidities. Interpretation of troponin assay results in this population is challenging. This clinical uncertainty is compounded by the introduction of ever more sensitive troponin assays.

Areas covered

The aims of this review are to (a) describe the currently available literature about the use of troponin assays in intensive care, (b) analyse the challenges presented by the introduction of increasingly sensitive troponin assays and (c) assess whether the role of troponin assays in intensive care may change in the future, dependent upon recent and ongoing research suggesting that they are predictive of outcome regardless of the underlying cause: the ‘never means nothing’ hypothesis.
Recovery from profound acidosis (pH 6.685) in multi-organ dysfunction syndrome
Authors: Davies Eryl A , Saleh Christopher , Bannard-Smith Jonathan
Published: September 2019

Acidosis is a common feature of patients referred to critical care from the emergency department. We present the case of a 49-year-old female with multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) and an arterial pH of 6.685 on arrival to the emergency department. This case is unique as the patient was in circulatory shock with MODS from rhabdomyolysis on arrival and had not suffered a cardiac arrest. We believe this to be the first reported case of full recovery from such an extreme metabolic disturbance in this context, and discuss the relevance of profound acidosis to early clinical decision-making.
Weight Gain After ACL Reconstruction in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients
Authors: MacAlpine Elle M. , Talwar Divya , Storey Eileen P. , Doroshow Scott M. , Lawrence J. Todd R.
Published: September 2019

Background:

Adolescent athletes who sustain an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear have significantly reduced activity levels during recovery. Activity level is linked to body mass index (BMI); however, it is unclear how recovery from an ACL reconstruction (ACLR) affects relative BMI and whether these changes persist after return to activity.

Hypothesis:

Patients’ BMI percentile will significantly increase after ACLR, but will trend toward baseline after return to activity.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Level of Evidence:

Level 3.

Methods:

A retrospective review of 666 pediatric and adolescent patients who underwent ACLR was performed. Body mass was assessed by evaluating change in BMI percentile at 8 standard-of-care time windows relative to BMI percentile at time of surgery. Linear regression and bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the effect of time window and other demographic factors on the change in BMI percentile. These analyses were rerun after dividing patients by clinical obesity categorization (underweight, normal, overweight, or obese) at time of surgery to assess the effect of preinjury body mass levels.

Results:

BMI percentile of all BMI categories tended to increase postoperatively, peaking 6 to 9 months after surgery, with a median increase of 1.83 percentile points. After this peak, BMI approached baseline but remained elevated at 0.95 percentile points 2 years postoperatively. Beginning 3 months after surgery, the normal-weight group had significantly larger changes in BMI percentile at each time window, peaking at 4.15 points above baseline at 9 months. This BMI increase among normal-weight patients persisted in the second postoperative year, with a median percentile increase of 2.63 points.

Conclusion:

Pediatric and adolescent patients, especially those with a normal BMI, undergo significant changes to their BMI during recovery from ACLR.

Clinical Relevance:

Patients’ failure to return to their presurgical BMI percentile 2 years postoperatively suggests that ACLR may have long-reaching and often unappreciated effects on body mass.
Hadza Hunter-Gatherers Disagree on Perceptions of Moral Character
Authors: Smith Kristopher M. , Apicella Coren L.
Published: September 2019

To the extent that moral character is grounded in stable and observable truths, there should exist agreement between people in their judgments of others’ character. In Western populations, this agreement is found. We examine whether this is universal in Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania. Ninety-four judges ranked their campmates on global character and relevant character traits for a total of 802 observations. Judges disagreed on rankings of global character, generosity, and honesty but agreed more on hard work and hunting ability. Individual rankings on specific traits predicted character evaluations. There was agreement between judges on the extent to which generosity and hard work related to character. These findings suggest that Hadza have shared beliefs about what traits constitute character but disagree on which of their campmates exhibit these traits. We discuss these findings in light of other research suggesting that stable moral dispositions may not be universal.
Answers to the New trade union strategies for new forms of employment questionnaire
Authors: Engblom Samuel , Lundberg Magnus
Published: September 2019

The personal scope of Swedish labour law is almost exclusively defined by the concept of the employee. Few workers other than employees are covered. From a comparative perspective, the Swedish concept of employee is rather wide, and the exemptions from the personal scope are few. There are no intermediary categories between employees and self-employed workers, but the scope of e.g. some occupational safety and health regulations is extended to cover some self-employed workers. Swedish trade unions are allowed to organise self-employed workers and many unions do so. There are some examples of collective bargaining agreements covering or regulating the conditions of self-employed workers.
Trade union representation for new forms of employment
Authors: Schlachter Monika
Published: September 2019

Defining the personal scope of application of the right to be represented by a trade union for collective bargaining purposes starts by defining the notion of employee/worker on whose behalf the conclusion of collective agreements is not disputed. In the German legal system, a sub-category of self-employed persons, known as ‘employee-like’ persons, is also included in the scope of the statute on collective agreements. For all other self-employed persons, however, no such statutory inclusion exists. They are, rather, prevented from collective price setting by (national und EU) competition law. Upon a closer look at the social purpose of exempting collective agreements from the restrictions of competition law, it is necessary to differentiate according to the existence of a structural power imbalance to the detriment of one contracting party much rather than according to the type of contract concluded. Some self-employed persons, specifically those categorised as workers under a new form of employment, do need collective bargaining as much as employees do, as they find themselves in a comparably weak individual bargaining position.
‘New trade union strategies for new forms of employment’: Focus on Italy
Authors: Gramano Elena , Gaudio Giovanni
Published: September 2019

The article aims at providing an exhaustive description of the current scope of application of labour law, with the goal to assess who is entitled to exercise fundamental labour and social rights within the Italian legal system. More specifically, this assessment is used to test the main hypothesis of the Authors of the ETUC report ‘New trade union strategies for new forms of employment’, according to which the idea of the ‘personal work relation’ may be used to redefine the personal scope of application of labour law as applicable to any person that is ‘ engaged by another to provide labour, unless that person is genuinely operating a business on her or his own account’. The article concludes that, although the Italian legal system cannot be currently reframed around the idea of the ‘personal work relation’, there are few signs under Italian law of a trend of enlarging the scope of application of labour laws in order to apply certain traditional labour rights not only to employees but also to certain types of independent contractors.
n-3 PUFAs reduce tumor load and improve survival in a NASH-tumor mouse model
Authors: Liebig Marie , Dannenberger Dirk , Vollmar Brigitte , Abshagen Kerstin
Published: September 2019

Background:

With 9.1% of all cancer deaths, hepatocellular carcinoma is the second leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide. Due to the increasing prevalence of metabolic syndrome, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has evolved into a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma development. Herein, we investigated whether a dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementation improves the outcome of progressive NAFLD.

Methods:

Feeding three high-fat diets, differing in n-3 and n-6 PUFA contents and ratios (n-3/n-6: 1:8, 1:1, 5:1), the impact of n-3 PUFAs and n-3/n-6 PUFA ratios on NAFLD-related liver fibrosis and tumorigenesis was analyzed in 12- and 20-week-old streptozotocin/high-fat diet (STZ/HFD)-treated mice.

Results:

Feeding of n-3 PUFA-rich diets (1:1 and 5:1) resulted in increased hepatic n-3 PUFA content and n-3/n-6 PUFA ratio with decreased hepatic lipid accumulation. In 20-week-old mice, n-3 PUFA-rich diets alleviated tumor load significantly, with reduced liver/body weight index, tumor size, and tumor number. Finally, these effects were accompanied by a significant improvement of survival of these mice.

Conclusions:

Herein, we showed that increased n-3 PUFA content and n-3/n-6 PUFA ratios lead to improved survival and attenuated tumor progression in STZ/HFD-treated mice. Thus, n-3 PUFAs could be the basis for new therapeutic options against NAFLD-related tumorigenesis.
From invisible to visible: Kwai and the hierarchical cultural order of China’s cyberspace
Authors: Liu Kevin Ziyu
Published: September 2019

Contemporary China owns over 750 million Internet users, and a short-video-sharing app named Kwai has over 600 million users. From 2016 to 2017, when Kwai emerged as the largest short-video-sharing app and the fourth largest social media app in China, its major competitor Dou Yin was just released, and no other similar app could post a serious threat to Kwai. However, the emergence of Kwai to the mainstream public was tightly intertwined with a media discourse that established Kwai as a representation of rural China and low culture. Words like “vulgar,” “low,” “absurd,” and so forth were constantly used to describe Kwai and its users, and Kwai embodied a representativeness of rural and low culture that carries a taken-for-granted characteristic. This article unpacks Kwai’s controversial emergence and examines the power relations and cultural dynamics that were at play when Kwai was established by the mainstream media discourse a rural and culturally low. It interrogates the media discourse that constructs a regime of representation of Kwai, as well as how it contributes to the establishment of a regime of truth about Kwai, rural China, and rural Chinese. I unearth the seemingly natural condition of this representativeness and argue that Kwai’s controversial emergence from 2016 to 2017 signifies China’s rural–urban dichotomy, as well as a dominance of urban culture. I also indicate that we see a flow of this cultural dynamic from the physical world to the cyberspace, where the urban culture exercises the power to define and marginalize the rural.
Persistent Socioeconomic Inequality in Child Dental Caries in England despite Equal Attendance
Authors: Ravaghi V. , Hargreaves D.S. , Morris A.J.
Published: September 2019

Introduction:

Despite a decline in the prevalence of dental caries among children in England and ongoing arrangements for the provision of free dental care up to the age of 18 y, there is limited information on the pattern and trend of socioeconomic inequalities in dental caries and dental attendance.

Methods:

We estimated the magnitude of deprivation-related inequalities for dental caries and dental attendance in young children, using publicly available data and 2 regression-based summary measures of inequalities: slope index of inequality and relative index of inequality.

Results:

We found no significant absolute or relative inequalities in dental attendance across English areas in the past decade, while there were persistent absolute and relative inequalities in dental caries. Socioeconomic inequalities in dental caries decreased between 2007 and 2012; thereafter, the relative inequalities increased.

Conclusions:

The apparent widening inequality in child dental caries in England despite equal access to dental care is a challenge for policy makers.

Knowledge Transfer Statement:

While caries prevalence among English children has declined over the past decade, there has been an increase in socioeconomic inequalities in oral health despite there being no inequality in dental attendance. This has implications for the development of oral health strategy and planning dental services.
Endoscopy-Assisted Vitrectomy Outcomes During Silicone Oil Removal After Complex Retinal Detachment Repair
Authors: Vila Natalia , Rampakakis Emmanouil , Rezende Flavio
Published: September 2019

Purpose:

This retrospective study recorded intraoperative findings during silicone oil removal and postoperative anatomical outcomes comparing endoscopy-assisted pars plana vitrectomy (E-PPV) vs pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) alone after proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR)-related retinal detachment (RD) repair.

Methods:

This single-center retrospective study included patients who underwent PPV for silicone oil removal after RD with PVR from July 2009 to January 2017. Patients with diabetic tractional RD, history of trauma, uveitis, or endophthalmitis were excluded. After 2013, an endoscopic visualization system (E2 MicroProbe; Endo Optiks) was used in a nonrandomized fashion. Data collection included reattachment rate, intraoperative endoscopic findings and phthisis rate.

Results:

Fifty-four eyes of 54 patients were included. The mean participant age was 58.4 ± 12.9 years and 36 (65.5%) participants were male. The mean (± SD) follow-up duration after oil removal was 24.3 ± 20.1 months. E-PPV combined with wide-angle visualization system was performed in 26 (48.1%) of the patients; the surgical management was modified after endoscopic examination in 17 (65.4%) of the cases. Reattachment rate in the E-PPV group was 96.2% compared with 76.0% in the PPV-alone group ( P = .04).

Conclusions:

E-PPV for silicone oil removal appears to be advantageous for prevention of RD recurrence, thus achieving better reattachment rates. A thorough examination is facilitated by endoscopic visualization and contributory factors for anterior PVR can be identified and treated.
Telemedicine for Retinopathy of Prematurity in 2020
Authors: Bowe Theodore , Ung Cindy , Campbell J. Peter , Yonekawa Yoshihiro
Published: September 2019

Purpose:

Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is the leading cause of visual impairment in premature infants, and middle-income nations are currently experiencing the “third epidemic” of ROP. Screening programs are essential to prevent negative visual outcomes, but screening efforts require a great amount of resources from healthcare systems and are difficult to marshal, particularly in geographically isolated or resource-limited settings. Telemedical screening programs using remote digital fundus imaging (RDFI) systems hold the promise of alleviating many of the burdens that currently make screening for ROP logistically challenging.

Methods:

Literature review of the current evidence for RDFI telescreening for ROP, with editorial discussion and recommendations.

Results:

In this review, we summarize the robust body of literature regarding the efficacy of RDFI, the feasibility of telescreening programs, and experiences from current live telescreening programs. We discuss the strengths and limitations of the current evidence and of the screening programs and consider the best practices in developing de novo telemedical screening programs for ROP. The review concludes with a discussion of promising future areas of research and development.

Conclusions:

RDFI ROP screening programs can be accurate and reliable. They show promise in improving many current challenges in screening infants for ROP, may be able to improve some aspects of care, and have been demonstrated to be cost-effective.
NHRD Paper on ‘Decoding Strategic HR’
Authors: Das Sujitesh
Published: September 2019

Having been a practitioner of strategic HR, I offer some general understanding of the challenges and benefits of a strategic HR orientation and caveats along the way of executing a strategic HR practice, also using the research-based view. I believe strategic HR largely depends on the HR managers themselves, though a supportive leader makes a big impact. I also believe that a sound understanding of why we do what we do plays a central role towards design and implementation of a strategic HR practice.
Socio-demographic determinants of unmet need for family planning among married women in Pakistan
Authors: Asif Muhammad Farhan , Pervaiz Zahid
Published: September 2019

Background

Family planning is considered as an effective tool to control population and to bring improvement in maternal and child health. The Government of Pakistan has been continuously struggling to improve the availability of family planning services. However, like many other developing countries of the world, unmet need for family planning still exists in the country. According to Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2012–13, the prevalence of unmet need for family planning is 21% in the country. The objective of this study is to investigate the determinants of unmet need for family planning among married women in Pakistan.

Methods

Secondary data of Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey 2012–13 has been used to analyze the determinants of unmet need for family planning through Binary and Multinomial Logistic regressions.

Results

Outcomes of the study show that the likelihood of unmet need for family planning among married women in Pakistan goes on to decrease with an increase in their age and education. The likelihood of unmet need for family planning decreases with the increase in wealth status of women’s household, number of living children and husband’s education. Similarly, the women residing in rural areas are more likely to have unmet need for family planning as compared with women living in urban areas. The women who lack mass media exposure, who are not employed and who have fear of side effects for using contraceptives are more likely to have unmet need for family planning.

Conclusions

Fear of side effects for using contraceptives has been identified as the major cause of unmet need for family planning in Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan has been putting a lot of efforts to convince people about the usefulness of population control programs. A huge media campaign has been launched to persuade people about the benefits of birth control. But the efforts of the government do not seem to be very much effective to clear the perception of people about side effects of contraceptive use. Hence, fear of side effects still remains one of the most important reason behind unmet need for family planning.
Video intervention for the psychiatric waiting room: proof-of-concept randomised controlled trial of RESOLVE (Relaxation Exercise, SOLVing problem and cognitive Errors)
Authors: Naeem Farooq , Munshi Tariq , Gratzer David , Rodie David , Irfan Muhammad , Rao Sanjay , Husain Nusrat , Farooq Saeed , Sanches Marcos , Ayub Muhammad , Lecomte Tania
Published: September 2019

Background

The waiting room in psychiatric services can provide an ideal setting for offering evidence-based psychological interventions that can be delivered through electronic media. Currently, there is no intervention available that have been developed or tested in mental health.

Aims

This proof-of-concept study aimed to evaluate a pilot design of RESOLVE (Relaxation Exercise, SOLving problem and cognitiVe Errors) to test the procedure and obtain outcome data to inform future, definitive trials (trial registration at Clinicaltrials.gov NCT02536924, REB Number: PSIY-477-15).

Method

Forty participants were enrolled and equally randomised to the intervention, RESOLVE plus treatment as usual arm (TAU), or to a control group (TAU only). Those in the intervention group watched RESOLVE in a room adjacent to the waiting area. Participants in the control received routine care. Outcome measures included the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale; the Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluations outcome measure; and the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule. These measures were performed by a masked assessor at baseline and at 6-week follow-up. Additionally, we measured the number of contacts with mental health services during the prior 4 weeks. Both intention-to-treat and per protocol analyses were performed.

Results

The study proved feasible. We were able to recruit the required number of participants. There was a statistically significant improvement in depression (P < 0.001), anxiety (P < 0.001), general psychopathology (P < 0.001) and disability (P = 0.0361) in favour of the intervention group. People in the intervention group were less likely to contact the service (P = 0.012) post-intervention.

Conclusions

Findings provide preliminary evidence that evidence-based psychosocial interventions can be delivered through electronic media in a waiting-room setting. The outcome data from this study will be used for future definitive trials.

Declaration of interest

None.
CBE1 is a manchette and mitochondria associated protein with a potential role in somatic cell proliferation
Authors: Pleuger Christiane , Lehti Mari S , Cooper Madeleine , O’Connor Anne E , Merriner D Jo , Smyth Ian M , Cottle Denny L , Fietz Daniela , Bergmann Martin , O’Bryan Moira K
Published: September 2019

Ciliated bronchial epithelium 1 (CBE1) is a microtubule-associated protein localized to the manchette and developing flagellum during spermiogenesis, and associated with sperm maturation arrest in humans. It was hypothesized that CBE1 functions in microtubule-mediated transport mechanisms and sperm tail formation. To test this hypothesis, we analysed Cbe1 expression and localization during spermiogenesis, and in mouse IMCD3 cells as a model of ciliogenesis. Further, we generated and analysed the fertility of a Cbe1 mutant mouse line. Mice containing a homozygous deletion in the long forms of Cbe1 were born at a lower frequency than predicted by Mendelian inheritance, however, adult male mice were fertile. An in-depth analysis of the Cbe1 gene revealed alternative transcript variants, which were not affected by the exon 2 mutation. To assess whether short variants compensate for the loss of long variants, exons 2 and 4 (which affect all variants) were individually mutated in IMCD3 cells and the effect on cell proliferation and ciliogenesis analysed. In wild type IMCD3 cells, both variants were upregulated during cilia assembly. CBE1 protein was not a structural component of cilia, rather, CBE1 localised to the mitochondria and the contractile ring of dividing IMCD3 cells. While IMCD3 cells carrying the mutation in long variants showed no phenotypic alterations, the mutation in exon 4 resulted in a significantly decreased proliferation rate. This study reveals that long isoforms of CBE1 are not essential for male fertility. Data, however, suggests that CBE1 is associated to intra-manchette transport and mid-piece formation of the sperm tail.
Quality of Recovery After Breast Surgery: A Multicenter Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Pectoral Nerves Interfascial Plane (Pectoral Nerves II) Block With Surgical Infiltration
Authors: Barrington Michael J. , Seah Gloria J. , Gotmaker Robert , Lim Daniel , Byrne Kelly
Published: September 2019

BACKGROUND:

Pectoral nerves (PECS II) block is a popular regional analgesia technique for breast surgery. PECS II block or local infiltration by surgeon may improve outcomes including quality of recovery (QoR).

METHODS:

In this multicenter randomized clinical trial, 104 female patients undergoing breast surgery received: (1) PECS II block with local anesthetic and surgical infiltration with 0.9% saline (PECS group) or (2) PECS II block with 0.9% saline and surgical infiltration with local anesthetic (infiltration group). Patients, anesthetists, surgeons, nursing staff, and research assistants were blinded to group allocation. Patients received standardized general anesthesia and multimodal analgesia. The primary outcome was the global score (maximum score, 150; good recovery, 118) of the multidimensional (pain, comfort, independence, psychological, emotional) QoR-15 questionnaire measured 24 hours postoperatively. Secondary outcomes were pain, and its functional interference measured 24 hours and 3 months postoperatively using the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) short form (0, optimal; 120, worst possible). Randomly assigned groups were compared on outcomes using the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, and the results were reported as median difference with 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS:

One hundred eight patients were recruited from August 17, 2016 to June 8, 2018, and 4 patients were withdrawn. Twelve patients from 104 had mastectomy, with the remainder having less invasive surgery. Baseline QoR-15 global scores reported as median [quartiles] were 135 [129, 143] in the PECS group and 139 [127, 143] in the infiltration group. The 24-hour QoR-15 global score reported as median [quartiles] was 131 [116, 140] in the PECS group and 123 [117, 143] in the infiltration group (P = .60), with median difference (95% confidence interval) of −2 (−9 to 5). The median difference reported as infiltration minus PECS for QoR-15 domains was pain 0 (−2 to 1), physical comfort −1 (−3 to 2), physical independence 0 (−2 to 1), psychological support 0 (0–0), and emotions 0 (−1 to 2) (P > .28). The BPI pain subscale at 24 hours (0–40, lower score indicates less pain), reported as median [quartiles], was 7 [2, 13] in the PECS group and 10 [5, 17] in the infiltration group (P = .15). The BPI global score at 24 hours, reported as median [quartiles], was 20 [7, 36] in the PECS group and 23 [10, 43] in the infiltration group (P = .34) and at 3 months was 0 [0, 14] and 0 [0, 11] (P = .85).

CONCLUSIONS:

After mostly minor surgery for breast cancer, PECS II block was not superior to local infiltration by the surgeon.
Experimental models and tools to tackle glioblastoma
Authors: Robertson Faye L. , Marqués-Torrejón Maria-Angeles , Morrison Gillian M. , Pollard Steven M.
Published: September 2019

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the deadliest human cancers. Despite increasing knowledge of the genetic and epigenetic changes that underlie tumour initiation and growth, the prognosis for GBM patients remains dismal. Genome analysis has failed to lead to success in the clinic. Fresh approaches are needed that can stimulate new discoveries across all levels: cell-intrinsic mechanisms (transcriptional/epigenetic and metabolic), cell-cell signalling, niche and microenvironment, systemic signals, immune regulation, and tissue-level physical forces. GBMs are inherently extremely challenging: tumour detection occurs too late, and cells infiltrate widely, hiding in quiescent states behind the blood-brain barrier. The complexity of the brain tissue also provides varied and complex microenvironments that direct cancer cell fates. Phenotypic heterogeneity is therefore superimposed onto pervasive genetic heterogeneity. Despite this bleak outlook, there are reasons for optimism. A myriad of complementary, and increasingly sophisticated, experimental approaches can now be used across the research pipeline, from simple reductionist models devised to delineate molecular and cellular mechanisms, to complex animal models required for preclinical testing of new therapeutic approaches. No single model can cover the breadth of unresolved questions. This Review therefore aims to guide investigators in choosing the right model for their question. We also discuss the recent convergence of two key technologies: human stem cell and cancer stem cell culture, as well as CRISPR/Cas tools for precise genome manipulations. New functional genetic approaches in tailored models will likely fuel new discoveries, new target identification and new therapeutic strategies to tackle GBM.
SH3YL1 cooperates with ESCRT-I in the sorting and degradation of the EGF receptor
Authors: Hasegawa Junya , Jebri Imen , Yamamoto Hikaru , Tsujita Kazuya , Tokuda Emi , Shibata Hideki , Maki Masatoshi , Itoh Toshiki
Published: September 2019

Ubiquitinated membrane proteins such as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are delivered to early endosomes and then sorted to lysosomes via multivesicular bodies (MVBs) for degradation. The regulatory mechanism underlying formation of intralumenal vesicles en route to generation of MVBs is not fully understood. In this study, we found that SH3YL1, a phosphoinositide-binding protein, had a vesicular localization pattern overlapping with internalized EGF in endosomes in the degradative pathway. Deficiency of SH3YL1 prevents EGF trafficking from early to late endosomes and inhibits degradation of EGFR. Moreover, we show that SH3YL1 mediates EGFR sorting into MVBs in a manner dependent on its C-terminal SH3 domain, which is necessary for the interaction with an ESCRT-I component, Vps37B. Taken together, our observations reveal an indispensable role of SH3YL1 in MVB sorting and EGFR degradation mediated by ESCRT complexes.
Tetraspanin CD151 and integrin α3β1 contribute to the stabilization of integrin α6β4-containing cell-matrix adhesions
Authors: te Molder Lisa , Juksar Juri , Harkes Rolf , Wang Wei , Kreft Maaike , Sonnenberg Arnoud
Published: September 2019

Tetraspanin CD151 has been suggested to regulate cell adhesion through its association with laminin-binding integrins α3β1 and α6β4; however, its precise function in keratinocyte adhesion remains elusive. In this study, we investigated the role of CD151 in the formation and maintenance of laminin-associated adhesions. We show that CD151, through binding to integrin α3β1, plays a critical role in the stabilization of an adhesion structure with a distinct molecular composition of hemidesmosomes with tetraspanin features. These hybrid cell-matrix adhesions, which are formed early during cell adhesion and spreading and at later stages of cell spreading, are present in the central region of the cells. They contain the CD151–α3β1/α6β4 integrin complexes and the cytoskeletal linker protein plectin, but are not anchored to the keratin filaments. In contrast, hemidesmosomes, keratin filament-associated adhesions that contain integrin α6β4, plectin, BP180 (encoded by COL17A1) and BP230 (encoded by DST), do not require CD151 for their formation or maintenance. These findings provide new insights into the dynamic and complex regulation of adhesion structures in keratinocytes and the pathogenic mechanisms underlying skin blistering diseases caused by mutations in the gene for CD151.
How people initiate energy optimization and converge on their optimal gaits
Authors: Selinger Jessica C. , Wong Jeremy D. , Simha Surabhi N. , Donelan J. Maxwell
Published: September 2019

A central principle in motor control is that the coordination strategies learned by our nervous system are often optimal. Here we combined human experiments with computational reinforcement learning models to study how the nervous system navigates possible movements to arrive at an optimal coordination. Our experiments used robotic exoskeletons to reshape the relationship between how participants walk and how much energy they consume. We found that while some participants used their relatively high natural gait variability to explore the new energetic landscape and spontaneously initiate energy optimization, most participants preferred to exploit their originally preferred, but now suboptimal, gait. We could nevertheless reliably initiate optimization in these exploiters by providing them with the experience of lower cost gaits suggesting that the nervous system benefits from cues about the relevant dimensions along which to re-optimize its coordination. Once optimization was initiated, we found that the nervous system employed a local search process to converge on the new optimum gait over tens of seconds. Once optimization was completed, the nervous system learned to predict this new optimal gait and rapidly returned to it within a few steps if perturbed away. We then use our data to develop reinforcement learning models that can predict experimental behaviours, and these models to inductively reason about how the nervous system optimizes coordination. We conclude that the nervous system optimizes for energy using a prediction of the optimal gait, and then refines this prediction with the cost of each new walking step.
The osmorespiratory compromise: physiological responses and tolerance to hypoxia are affected by salinity acclimation in the euryhaline Atlantic killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus)
Authors: Giacomin Marina , Bryant Heather J. , Val Adalberto L. , Schulte Patricia M. , Wood Chris M.
Published: September 2019

The characteristics of the fish gill that maximize gas exchange are the same that promote diffusion of ions and water to and from the environment, therefore, physiological trade-offs are likely to occur. Here we investigated how salinity acclimation affects whole animal respiratory gas-exchange during hypoxia using Fundulus heteroclitus, a fish that inhabits salt marshes where salinity and oxygen levels vary greatly. Salinity had marked effects on hypoxia tolerance, with fish acclimated to 11 and 35 ppt showing much longer time to loss of equilibrium (LOE) in hypoxia than 0-ppt acclimated fish. Fish acclimated to 11 ppt (isosmotic salinity) exhibited the greatest capacity to regulate ṀO2 under hypoxia, as measured through the Regulation Index (RI) and Pcrit. At 35 ppt, fish had a higher RMR but a lower RI than 11 ppt fish, but there were no differences in gill morphology, ventilation, or blood O2 transport properties between these groups. In contrast, 0-ppt acclimated fish had the highest ventilation and lowest O2 extraction efficiency in normoxia and hypoxia, indicating a higher ventilatory workload in order to maintain similar levels of ṀO2. These differences were related to the alterations in gill morphology, where 0-ppt fish had the smallest lamellar surface area with greatest epithelial cell coverage (i.e. thicker lamellae, longer diffusion distance) and a larger interlamellar cell mass, contrasting to 11 ppt fish that had overall the highest respiratory surface area. The alteration of an array of physiological parameters provides evidence for a compromise between salinity and hypoxia tolerance in killifish acclimated to fresh water.
Out in the cold and sick: Low temperatures and fungal infections impair a frog's skin defenses
Authors: Robak Matthew J. , Reinert Laura K. , Rollins-Smith Louise A. , Richards-Zawacki Corinne L.
Published: September 2019

Amphibians worldwide continue to battle an emerging infectious disease, chytridiomycosis, caused by Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Southern leopard frogs, Rana sphenocephala, are known to become infected with this pathogen, yet they are considered ‘of least concern’ for declines due to chytridiomycosis. Previous studies have shown that R. sphenocephala secretes four antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) onto their skin which may play an important role in limiting susceptibility to chytridiomycosis. Here we examined the (1) effects of temperature and AMP depletion on infections with Bd and (2) effects of temperature and Bd infection on the capacity to secrete AMPs in juvenile leopard frogs. Pathogen burden and mortality were greater in frogs exposed to Bd at low temperature but did not increase following monthly AMP depletion. Both low temperature and Bd exposure reduced the capacity of juvenile frogs to restore peptides after monthly depletions. Frogs held at 14°C were poorly able to restore peptides in comparison with those at 26 °C. Frogs held at 26 °C were better able to restore their peptides, but when exposed to Bd, this capacity was significantly reduced. These results strongly support the hypothesis that both colder temperatures and Bd infections impair the capacity of juvenile frogs to produce and secrete AMPs, an important component of their innate defense against chytrid fungi and other pathogens. Thus, in the face of unpredictable climate changes and enzootic pathogens, assessments of disease risk should consider the potential for effects of environmental variation and pathogen exposure on the quality of host defenses.
An Azulene-Based Chiral Helicene and Its Air-Stable Cation Radical
Authors: Narita Masahiro , Teraoka Takaaki , Murafuji Toshihiro , Shiota Yoshihito , Yoshizawa Kazunari , Mori Shigeki , Uno Hidemitsu , Kanegawa Shinji , Sato Osamu , Goto Kenta , Tani Fumito
Published: September 2019

A helicene compound called AIBTh, wherein two azulene units are fused with isobenzothiophene, has been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic and crystallographic methods. The enantiomers of AIBTh were resolved by HPLC, exhibiting stable optical activity. AIBTh showed two reversible oxidation and one irreversible reduction waves with a HOMO-LUMO gap of 2.07 eV. Upon one-electron oxidation of AIBTh, its air-stable cation radical was isolated and analyzed by EPR as well as X-ray crystallography. Based on the EPR spectrum, the crystal structure, and DFT calculation, it is suggested that favorable resonance structures including aromatic tropylium cation forms and wide delocalization of electronic spin are dominating in the electronic structure of the cation radical.
Treatment optimisation for hepatitis C in the era of combination direct-acting antiviral therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Jones Christopher R. , Flower Barnaby F. , Barber Ella , Simmons Bryony , Cooke Graham S.
Published: September 2019

Background: Prior to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy, personalised medicine played an important role in the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV). Whilst simplified treatment strategies are central to treatment scale-up, some patients will benefit from treatment optimisation. This systematic review and meta-analysis explores treatment optimisation strategies in the DAA era.

Methods: We systematically searched Medline, Embase, and Web of Science for studies that adopted a stratified or personalised strategy using a licensed combination DAA regimen, alone or with additional agents. We performed a thematic analysis to classify optimisation strategies and a meta-analysis of sustained virologic response rates (SVR), exploring heterogeneity with subgroup analyses and meta-regression.

Results: We included 64 studies (9450 participants). Thematic analysis found evidence of three approaches: duration, combination, and/or dose optimisation. We separated strategies into those aiming to maintain SVR in the absence of predictors of failure, and those aiming to improve SVR in the presence of predictors of failure. Shortened duration regimens achieve pooled SVR rates of 94.2% (92.3-95.9%) for 8 weeks, 81.1% (75.1-86.6%) for 6 weeks, and 63.1% (39.9-83.7%) for ≤4 weeks. Personalised strategies (100% vs 87.6%; p<0.001) and therapy shortened according to ≥3 host/viral factors (92.9% vs 81.4% or 87.2% for 1 or 2 host/viral factors, respectively; p=0.008) offer higher SVR rates when shortening therapy. Hard-to-treat HCV genotype 3 patients suffer lower SVR rates despite treatment optimisation (92.6% vs 98.2%; p=0.001).

Conclusions: Treatment optimisation for individuals with multiple predictors of treatment failure can offer high SVR rates. More evidence is needed to identify with confidence those individuals in whom SVR can be achieved with shortened duration treatment.
Complex technique of automated detection and evaluation of parameters of waste disposal facilities according to space survey data
Authors: Рихтер Андрей , Rihter Andrey
Published: September 2019

The monograph proposes a method of automated detection of waste disposal facilities, carried out in three successive stages: detection of the location of objects, selection of objects and selection of components of objects. Vegetation and soil reaction indices were used according to space surveys and ground surveys to assess the impact of landfills on the natural environment. The possibility of a complex automated approach to the interpretation of landfills multispectral satellite imagery, representation of landfills in a multidimensional feature space, including brightness temperatures on the blue, green, red, near infrared and thermal channels is described.
For students and teachers, as well as anyone interested in space environmental monitoring.
Major stressors influencing the river ecosystems of Far and Mid Western Development Regions of Nepal
Authors: Sharma Subodh , Shah Ram Devi Tachamo
Published: September 2019

Maintaining healthy river ecosystem is essential both from aquatic biodiversity conservation perspective as well as for the socio-cultural and economic development of nations all over the world. Many rivers in Nepal have largely been modified with the purpose of supplying drinking water, irrigating agricultural lands, producing hydro-electricity, and operating water mills. During the process, rivers are channelized and the river bed materials are removed. Such activities of river bed excavation have changed both the natural flow regimes and morphological characteristics of rivers. Studies on the impacts caused by such stressors on river ecosystems are lacking in the context of Nepalese river systems. Therefore we have assessed how these stressors might change the faunal composition of benthic macroinvertebrates in headwaters of the Western region of Nepal. The study was conducted in the headwaters of rivers of Mahakali and Karnali rivers. Habitat specific benthic macroinvertebrates were sampled from 33 sites seasonally in the year 2016 and 2017. Physical characteristics of rivers including river bed composition, water abstractions and other local stressors including waste dumping and washing-bathing were noted in the field. The study showed that macroinvertebrates community structures were significantly different in the habitat modified sites compared to reference sites. In general, abstracted sites coupled with river bed removals were found to be colonized by fewer taxa with high dominance of pool preference biota such as genera of Mayflies (Torleya spp., Caenis spp., Choroterpes spp.) and families of true flies (Chironomidae and Ceratopogoniidae). Macroinvertebrates’ abundance was significantly lower in the habitat modified sites. This study envisages that maintaining river’s habitats with minimal flows all round year could preserve ecological integrity of river systems.