bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Online classification of frequent behaviours based on multidimensional trajectories
Authors: Pan Xinlong , Wang Haipeng , He You , Xiong Wei , Jian Tao
Published: February 2017

In early warning surveillance domain, frequent behaviours could be mined from historical trajectories. Based on the mined frequent behaviours, online classification technology could be used to classify the continuously updated target trajectories. Online classification of frequent behaviours is of great significance for situation assessment, threat assessment and command decision. There are a lot of researches on trajectory classification. However, they cannot distinguish behaviours whose space position is similar but the moving speed and direction are quite different. The online classification performances of them are also not appropriate for early warning surveillance application. The authors propose a conformal multi‐class classifier based on conformal predictor and propose a multi‐factor non‐conformity measure based on multidimensional trajectories firstly. Then, they present a sequential multi‐factor Hausdorff nearest neighbour conformal multi‐class classifier, which could online learn and classify frequent behaviours. Experiments in both simulated military scenario and realistic civilian scenario show the presented algorithm has a good performance to online classify frequent behaviours and would have a wide prospect in early warning surveillance systems.
Synthesis conditions of Mg(OH)2 nanostructures by hydrothermal route
Authors: Treviño Patricia , Perez‐Robles Juan F. , Millan‐Malo Beatriz , Samaniego‐Benitez Jose E. , Menchaca‐Menchaca Juan A.
Published: February 2017

Here, the synthesis conditions involved in the obtention of magnesium hydroxide [Mg(OH)2] nanoparticles by hydrothermal route are studied. The aim is to control the characteristics of the products only by setting the correct reaction conditions. In addition, they have simplified the method by using simpler equipment in the synthesis and eliminating any further purification processes to obtain pure Mg(OH)2 particles in a scalable, safe, and economic process. They present the role of the treatment temperature by means of differential scanning calorimetry, water/magnesium oxide ratio, ageing time, and temperature increase rate and the characteristics of the resulting Mg(OH)2 particles. Characterisation of the products was carried out by X‐ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy.
Surgical Management of Congenital Abdominal Wall Defects in Germany: A Population-Based Study and Comparison with Literature Reports
Authors: Dietrich Janine , Zeidler Jan , Blaser Jochen , Gosemann Jan , Lacher Martin , Ure Benno , Dingemann Carmen
Published: February 2017

Introduction We aimed to analyze for the first time the characteristics, treatment modalities, and outcomes in infants with congenital abdominal wall defects (CAWDs) in Germany and to compare the results with current literature reports.

Patients and Methods Data of a health insurance covering approximately 10% of the German population were analyzed. Patients who had undergone CAWD closure during a period of nearly 6 years were included. Surgical approach was categorized into primary versus secondary closure. Complications were defined as any reintervention within 1 year after initial treatment.

Results Patients with gastroschisis were treated in 24 centers, newborns with omphalocele in 34 centers. There was no mortality, and the type of surgical approach had no significant impact on the incidence of complications in both gastroschisis and omphalocele. Out of 39 patients with gastroschisis, 72% had undergone primary closure being associated with a shorter duration of ventilation (p = 0.003) and hospitalization (p < 0.001). Out of 54 patients with omphalocele, 54% had undergone secondary closure, whereas modality of management did not affect duration of ventilation and hospitalization. Although heterogeneous, data of the current literature were comparable to those of this study.

Conclusion Unbiased data demonstrate for the first time that the quality of the current surgical management of newborns with CAWD across Germany is excellent. There was no correlation of complications with the method of closure in gastroschisis and omphalocele.
Utilisation of loss and waste during the food-production cycle as livestock feed
Authors: Thieme Olaf , Makkar Harinder P. S.
Published: February 2017

Approximately one-third of the food produced is wasted, which has high environmental, economic and social costs. Besides, it adversely affects food security. A part of such losses and non-food parts of the agricultural products can be safely used as animal feed, without compromising animal product safety and animal and human welfare. FAO organised an e-conference to generate discussion and obtain inputs on definition of food loss in context to their use as animal feed and to identify roles of various stakeholders in the feed production and use chain for converting such waste to worth in the form of animal feed. This review presents a synthesis of the conference proceedings. Future areas of work and way forward have also been discussed.
Feeding diets with fodder beet decreased methane emissions from dry and lactating dairy cows in grazing systems
Authors: Jonker Arjan , Scobie David , Dynes Robyn , Edwards Grant , De Klein Cecile , Hague Helen , McAuliffe Russel , Taylor Anna , Knight Trevor , Waghorn Garry
Published: February 2017

Fodder beet (Beta vulgaris L.) has a very high readily fermentable carbohydrate concentration, which could affect rumen fermentation and reduce enteric methane (CH4) emissions. The objective of the current study was to estimate CH4 emissions from dry dairy cows grazing either fodder beet supplemented with perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)-dominated pasture silage (6 kg DM/cow/day; FB+Sil) or forage kale (Brassica oleracea L.) supplemented with barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) straw (3 kg DM/cow/day; kale+Str; dry cows, Experiment 1), and from dairy cows in early lactation grazing perennial ryegrass-dominated pasture alone (pasture) or supplemented with fodder beet bulbs (3 kg DM/cow/day; past+FB; lactating cows; Experiment 2). Methane measurements were performed using GreenFeed units (C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD, USA) for 40 days in August–September 2015 (Experiment 1) and for 22 days in November–December 2015 (Experiment 2), from 45 and 31 Holstein–Friesian × Jersey dairy cows in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Dry cows grazing FB+Sil in Experiment 1 produced 18% less CH4 (g/day) and had 28% lower CH4 yield (g/kg DM intake; P < 0.001) than did cows grazing kale+Str. Lactating cows grazing past+FB in Experiment 2 produced 18% less CH4 and had 16% lower CH4 intensity (g/kg fat and protein-corrected milk production; P < 0.01) than did cows grazing pasture alone, while milk production and composition were similar for the two groups. In conclusion, feeding fodder beet at ~50% and 20% of the diet of dry and lactating dairy cows in pastoral systems can mitigate CH4 emissions.
In vitro evaluation of the methane mitigation potential of a range of grape marc products
Authors: Russo V. M. , Jacobs J. L. , Hannah M. C. , Moate P. J. , Dunshea F. R. , Leury B. J.
Published: February 2017

Grape marc consists of the skins, seeds and stems remaining after grapes have been pressed to make wine. Interest in grape marc for use as a dietary feed additive for ruminants has grown after recent research showed that inclusion of grape marc in the diet of dairy cows reduced their enteric methane (CH4) emissions. In the present research, in vitro fermentations were conducted on 20 diverse grape marcs to evaluate their potential as ruminant feed supplements and, in particular, mitigants of enteric CH4 emissions. The grape marcs, which were sourced from vineyards in south-eastern Australia, contained a range of red and white grape varieties with different proportions of skins, seeds and stalks, and had diverse chemical compositions. For each grape marc, four replicate samples, each of 1 g DM, were incubated in vitro with ruminal fluid. The volumes of total gas and CH4 produced after 48 h of incubation were determined. Total gas production ranged from 21.8 to 146.9 mL and CH4 production from 6.8 to 30.3 mL. White grape marcs produced more (P < 0.05) total gas (81.8 mL) than did red grape marcs (61.0 mL), but had a lower (P < 0.05) percentage of CH4 (25.3% and 30.3% of total gas). Grape marcs with a higher proportion of seeds produced less (P < 0.05) total gas than did the types composed of either skin or stalks; however, the seed types produced the greatest (P < 0.05) percentage of CH4 (49.8% of total gas). It is concluded that grape marcs differ greatly in their potential as mitigants of enteric CH4 emissions for ruminal production systems.
Progress in friction stir welding of Ni alloys
Authors: Lemos G. V. B. , Hanke S. , Dos Santos J. F. , Bergmann L. , Reguly A. , Strohaecker T. R.
Published: February 2017

In recent years, interest has been increasing in application of Nickel alloys in the oil industry. For subsea engineering, the possibility to weld high-strength materials in an effective manner is essential. Friction Stir Welding (FSW) is alternative to join several materials retaining their properties or even improving them. This fact is relevant for Corrosion-Resistant Alloys (CRA) used in deep-water exploitation of hydrocarbons. Publications up to now have focused on FSW of Inconel® series as alloy 600, 625, and 718. To provide a solid basis for development, this review discusses the crucial points for FSW. The tool materials are described, as well as the joint microstructure and properties achieved. Furthermore, the basics of the corrosion resistance and the early corrosion studies of FSW joints are presented. It is concluded that FSW is a promising process for Ni alloys, but depends on upcoming research regarding tool technology and corrosion investigations.
An improved assembly of the loblolly pine mega-genome using long-read single-molecule sequencing
Authors: Zimin Aleksey V. , Stevens Kristian A. , Crepeau Marc W. , Puiu Daniela , Wegrzyn Jill L. , Yorke James A. , Langley Charles H. , Neale David B. , Salzberg Steven L.
Published: February 2017

The 22-gigabase genome of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) is one of the largest ever sequenced. The draft assembly published in 2014 was built entirely from short Illumina reads, with lengths ranging from 100 to 250 base pairs (bp). The assembly was quite fragmented, containing over 11 million contigs whose weighted average (N50) size was 8206 bp. To improve this result, we generated approximately 12-fold coverage in long reads using the Single Molecule Real Time sequencing technology developed at Pacific Biosciences. We assembled the long and short reads together using the MaSuRCA mega-reads assembly algorithm, which produced a substantially better assembly, P. taeda version 2.0. The new assembly has an N50 contig size of 25 361, more than three times as large as achieved in the original assembly, and an N50 scaffold size of 107 821, 61% larger than the previous assembly.
Draft genome of the honey bee ectoparasitic mite, Tropilaelaps mercedesae, is shaped by the parasitic life history
Authors: Dong Xiaofeng , Armstrong Stuart D. , Xia Dong , Makepeace Benjamin L. , Darby Alistair C. , Kadowaki Tatsuhiko
Published: February 2017

The number of managed honey bee colonies has considerably decreased in many developed countries in recent years and ectoparasitic mites are considered as major threats to honey bee colonies and health. However, their general biology remains poorly understood. We sequenced the genome of Tropilaelaps mercedesae, the prevalent ectoparasitic mite infesting honey bees in Asia, and predicted 15 190 protein-coding genes that were well supported by the mite transcriptomes and proteomic data. Although amino acid substitutions have been accelerated within the conserved core genes of two mites,T. mercedesae and Metaseiulus occidentalis, T. mercedesae has undergone the least gene family expansion and contraction between the seven arthropods we tested. The number of sensory system genes has been dramatically reduced, but T. mercedesae contains all gene sets required to detoxify xenobiotics. T. mercedesae is closely associated with a symbiotic bacterium (Rickettsiella grylli-like) and Deformed Wing Virus, the most prevalent honey bee virus. T. mercedesae has a very specialized life history and habitat as the ectoparasitic mite strictly depends on the honey bee inside a stable colony. Thus, comparison of the genome and transcriptome sequences with those of a tick and free-living mites has revealed the specific features of the genome shaped by interaction with the honey bee and colony environment. Genome and transcriptome sequences of T. mercedesae, as well as Varroa destructor (another globally prevalent ectoparasitic mite of honey bee), not only provide insights into the mite biology, but may also help to develop measures to control the most serious pests of the honey bee.
Meaningful use of health information technology and declines in in-hospital adverse drug events
Authors: Furukawa Michael F , Spector William D , Rhona Limcangco M , Encinosa William E
Published: February 2017

Objective: Nationwide initiatives have promoted greater adoption of health information technology as a means to reduce adverse drug events (ADEs). Hospital adoption of electronic health records with Meaningful Use (MU) capabilities expected to improve medication safety has grown rapidly. However, evidence that MU capabilities are associated with declines in in-hospital ADEs is lacking.

Methods: Data came from the 2010–2013 Medicare Patient Safety Monitoring System and the 2008–2013 Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) Analytics Database. Two-level random intercept logistic regression was used to estimate the association of MU capabilities and occurrence of ADEs, adjusting for patient characteristics, hospital characteristics, and year of observation.

Results: Rates of in-hospital ADEs declined by 19% from 2010 to 2013. Adoption of MU capabilities was associated with 11% lower odds of an ADE (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.84–0.96). Interoperability capability was associated with 19% lower odds of an ADE (95% CI, 0.67- 0.98). Adoption of MU capabilities explained 22% of the observed reduction in ADEs, or 67,000 fewer ADEs averted by MU.

Discussion: Concurrent with the rapid uptake of MU and interoperability, occurrence of in-hospital ADEs declined significantly from 2010 to 2013. MU capabilities and interoperability were associated with lower occurrence of ADEs, but the effects did not vary by experience with MU. About one-fifth of the decline in ADEs from 2010 to 2013 was attributable to MU capabilities.

Conclusion: Findings support the contention that adoption of MU capabilities and interoperability spurred by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act contributed in part to the recent decline in ADEs.
Development of an automated assessment tool for MedWatch reports in the FDA adverse event reporting system
Authors: Han Lichy , Ball Robert , Pamer Carol A , Altman Russ B , Proestel Scott
Published: February 2017

Objective: As the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) receives over a million adverse event reports associated with medication use every year, a system is needed to aid FDA safety evaluators in identifying reports most likely to demonstrate causal relationships to the suspect medications. We combined text mining with machine learning to construct and evaluate such a system to identify medication-related adverse event reports.

Methods: FDA safety evaluators assessed 326 reports for medication-related causality. We engineered features from these reports and constructed random forest, L1 regularized logistic regression, and support vector machine models. We evaluated model accuracy and further assessed utility by generating report rankings that represented a prioritized report review process.

Results: Our random forest model showed the best performance in report ranking and accuracy, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.66. The generated report ordering assigns reports with a higher probability of medication-related causality a higher rank and is significantly correlated to a perfect report ordering, with a Kendall’s tau of 0.24 (P = .002).

Conclusion: Our models produced prioritized report orderings that enable FDA safety evaluators to focus on reports that are more likely to contain valuable medication-related adverse event information. Applying our models to all FDA adverse event reports has the potential to streamline the manual review process and greatly reduce reviewer workload.
Diagnostic and therapeutic considerations in patients with hypogammaglobulinemia after rituximab therapy
Authors: Kado Ruba , Sanders Georgiana , McCune W. Joseph
Published: February 2017

Purpose of review

There are no established guidelines for evaluating and treating hypogammaglobulinemia in patients with rheumatic disease who receive B-cell depleting agents. The purpose of this article is to review findings in the work-up and treatment of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) that can guide our evaluation of patients with autoimmune disease who develop hypogammaglobulinemia after rituximab/B-cell depleting therapy.

Recent findings

Infection rates are higher in rheumatic disease patients who develop hypogammaglobulinemia than those who do not. However, not all patients who develop hypogammaglobulinemia are at increased risk of developing infection after B-cell depleting therapy. Recent consensus statements have helped refine the diagnosis of impaired immune responses in patients with CVID, and can provide guidance for the diagnostic work-up and therapeutic decision making for patients with secondary drug induced hypogammaglobulinemia.

Based on findings in studies of CVID, assessment of vaccine response in patients with hypogammglogulinemia after rituximab therapy in the setting of recurrent infections can help predict propensity for infection and thus guide decision making with regards to intravenous immunoglobulin supplementation and retreatment with rituximab.
Pain and overcorrection in clubfeet treated by Ponseti method
Authors: Hayes Christopher B. , Murr Kevin A. , Muchow Ryan D. , Iwinski Henry J. , Talwalkar Vishwas R. , Walker Janet L. , Milbrandt Todd A. , Hosseinzadeh Pooya
Published: February 2017

Long-term outcomes of Ponseti casting have consistently shown improvement over soft-tissue release. The incidence of foot pain and overcorrection in clubfeet treated by Ponseti method has not been reported. We studied the rate of overcorrection and its association with pain in clubfeet treated with Ponseti casting. A retrospective review of clubfoot patients treated with Ponseti method with at least 8 years of follow-up was carried out. Patient charts were reviewed for demographic data, recurrence, type and number of procedures, and patient-reported complaints of foot pain. Pedobarographs were used to document overcorrection. Eighty-one patients comprising 115 clubfeet were included in the study. There were 14 (12.2%) feet with valgus overcorrection and 101 feet that had achieved a normal, plantigrade position. Overall, 50% of patients with overcorrected clubfeet and 32% with corrected, plantigrade clubfeet experienced pain. Overcorrection was found to be predictive of pain complaints (P<0.001). Hence, valgus overcorrection occurs after Ponseti casting, with an incidence of 12%.
Open reduction versus in-situ fixation of neglected lateral condyle fractures: a comparative study
Authors: Prakash Jatin , Mehtani Anil
Published: February 2017

The management of neglected fracture of the lateral condyle of the humerus is controversial. Careful neglect and conservative management with early ulnar nerve transposition and ostetomy, in-situ surgical fixation and accurate open reduction and internal fixation are all recommended as treatment options. However, an overgrowth of fractured condyle, highly distorted anatomy, contracted soft tissue and almost unrecognizable fracture ends make open reduction a challenging task. As the functional loss is not severe, in-situ fixation of the fragment provides a good alternative. There have been proponents of both surgeries with very limited data on comparison on both procedures. Here, we present our experience of 45 patients, 22 treated with anatomical reduction and 23 treated with in-situ fixation with no attempts of anatomical restoration, and attempted to evaluate the results of two surgeries with a follow-up of at least 2 years. Neglected fractures of the lateral condyle were surgically treated with two different techniques. In all, 22 patients were treated with open reduction and fixation whereas 23 patients were treated with in-situ fixation to render the elbow stable. Patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years. These patients were studied in terms of functional scores and radiological union. Radiological union was better in the anatomical reduction group with one nonunion compared with five in the in-situ group. However, functional results and elbow range were better in the in-situ fixation group. The surgical time was 57 min in in-situ fixation compared with 73 min in the anatomical reduction group. Complication rates were found to be high in the open reduction group. In-situ fixation of neglected lateral condyle fractures is an effective technique for the treatment of these difficult fractures presenting late compared with anatomical fixation. Radiological union, although less successful compared with open anatomical reduction, leads to better functional outcome, with decreased surgical time and postoperative complications.
A peripherally inserted central catheter line, inserted the day before surgery, decreases the time from induction to incision for spinal deformity surgery and safely provides central venous access during surgery: a pilot study
Authors: Stuedemann Anne E. , Schwend Richard M. , Thomas Valorie K. , Leamon Julia M. , Lightner Tammy S.
Published: February 2017

Pediatric patients undergoing surgery for spinal deformity may benefit from central venous access to provide intraoperative monitoring and fluid resuscitation. For pediatric surgical patients requiring central access, we hypothesized that placing a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line preoperatively should decrease time from induction of anesthesia to incision and result in improved patient safety and decreased operating room charges. This was a retrospective, nonrandomized, and case comparison study. Clinical records of all children with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis or neuromuscular scoliosis treated surgically by the senior author between December 2007 and April 2012 were reviewed. Control group patients had a central venous catheter (CVC) placed by the anesthesiologist after induction of anesthesia. The trial group had a PICC placed under local anesthesia the day before surgery by an experienced vascular access team. The time from induction of anesthesia to the time for the surgical incision was determined for each study group. The CVC line placement charges were determined by the operating room time charges at $214/min. Charges saved were the mean time difference multiplied by the operating room time charge, less the charge for PICC line insertion ($1282). There were 29 neuromuscular patients, the mean age was 13 years (SD: 4 years). The mean time from induction to incision for the PICC group was 91 min [95% confidence interval (CI): 67–115 min] and for the CVC group 113 min (95% CI: 99–127 min, P=0.083). For this mean time difference of 22 min, the estimated cost savings would be $3426 per patient. There were 59 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, the mean age was 14 years (SD: 2 years). The mean time from induction to incision for the PICC group was 78 min (95% CI: 74–82 min) and for the CVC group 106 min (95% CI: 96–116  min, P≤0.001). For this mean time difference of 28 min, the estimated cost savings would be $4710 per patient. When planning central vascular access for a pediatric spine patient, placing central access the day before surgery can decrease the time from induction to incision, therefore decreasing time under general anesthesia, potentially improving patient safety, and overall value. Prospective research into the use of PICC lines in pediatric spinal fusion surgery is planned. Level of Evidence: Level III.
Growing Rods Are an Effective Fusionless Method of Controlling Early-Onset Scoliosis Associated With Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1): A Multicenter Retrospective Case Series
Authors: Jain Viral V. , Berry Chirag A. , Crawford Alvin H. , Emans John B. , Sponseller Paul D.
Published: February 2017

Background:

Spinal deformities associated with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) often have an early onset. These curves frequently develop dysplastic features. Rapid progression is common, and is often difficult to control with casting or bracing. Spinal fusion at a young age can potentially interfere with chest and trunk growth. Growing rods (GRs) have been used in early-onset scoliosis (EOS) effectively. The purpose of this study was to evaluate GR use in NF1.

Methods:

Retrospective data collection was performed from a multicenter EOS database with additional patients from our own institute. Each patient had a genetic diagnosis of NF1 and was treated with GR. Results were compared with reported results of GR in EOS in the literature.

Results:

Fourteen patients from 5 centers underwent a total of 71 procedures with an average follow-up of 54 months. Mean age at surgery was 6.8 years. Means of initial and final curves were 74 and 36 degrees, respectively (51% correction). Spine grew at an average of 39 mm (11.2 mm per year). Implant-related complications were the most common (8/14, 57%), including failure of proximal construct (5/14), rod breakage (2/14), and prominent implants (1/14). There was no significant difference between screws and hooks as proximal anchors (Fischer test). Two patients had deep infection that needed debridement.

Conclusions:

This retrospective pooled data study is the first report on the treatment of early-onset NF1 scoliosis with GRs. The use of GRs in these patients effectively controls the spinal deformity and facilitates growth of the spine. The complications were no greater than those seen in other conditions causing EOS. Failure of proximal anchors was found to be the most common complication.

Level of Evidence:

Level IV—retrospective case series.
A preclinical screen to evaluate pharmacotherapies for the treatment of agitation in dementia
Authors: O’Hare Eugene , Page Deaglan , Curran William , Hong Jeong-Sup , Kim Eun-Mee
Published: February 2017

Agitation associated with dementia is frequently reported clinically but has received little attention in preclinical models of dementia. The current study used a 7PA2 CM intracerebroventricular injection model of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to assess acute memory impairment, and a bilateral intrahippocampal (IH) injection model of AD (aggregated Aβ1–42 injections) and a bilateral IH injection model of dementia with Lewy bodies (aggregated NAC61–95 injections) to assess chronic memory impairment in the rat. An alternating-lever cyclic-ratio schedule of operant responding was used for data collection, where incorrect lever perseverations measured executive function (memory) and running response rates (RRR) measured behavioral output (agitation). The results indicate that bilateral IH injections of Aβ1–42 and bilateral IH injections of NAC61–95 decreased memory function and increased RRRs, whereas intracerebroventricular injections of 7PA2 CM decreased memory function but did not increase RRRs. These findings show that using the aggregated peptide IH injection models of dementia to induce chronic neurotoxicity, memory decline was accompanied by elevated behavioral output. This demonstrates that IH peptide injection models of dementia provide a preclinical screen for pharmacological interventions used in the treatment of increased behavioral output (agitation), which also establish detrimental side effects on memory.
CHOROIDAL BLOOD FLOW AND THICKNESS AS PREDICTORS FOR RESPONSE TO ANTI-VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR THERAPY IN MACULAR EDEMA SECONDARY TO BRANCH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION
Authors: Okamoto Masahiro , Yamashita Mariko , Sakamoto Taiji , Ogata Nahoko
Published: February 2017

Purpose:

To determine the choroidal blood flow and subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT) in eyes with macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO).

Methods:

Thirty-two eyes of 32 patients with macular edema secondary to a BRVO were treated with a single intravitreal injection of ranibizumab (IVR) and were followed for 2 months. The central retinal thickness and SCT, and the retinal and choroidal blood flows were evaluated, and they were compared between the recurrent and resolved groups.

Results:

At the baseline, the SCT of eyes with a BRVO was significantly thicker than that of the fellow eye (P < 0.01). It was also significantly thicker in the recurrent group than in the resolved group (P = 0.03). The reduction of the retinal blood flow was found only after 1 week in the resolved group. The SCT and choroidal blood flow were significantly reduced during the follow-up period in the resolved group but not in the recurrent group.

Conclusion:

The choroid is involved in the pathology of BRVO and the SCT at the baseline may be a predictive factor in the treatment of intravitreal injection of ranibizumab for macular edema secondary to BRVO.
The Influence of Phacoemulsification on Intraocular Pressure Control and Trabeculectomy Survival in Uveitic Glaucoma
Authors: Almobarak Faisal A. , Alharbi Ali H. , Morales Jose , Aljadaan Ibrahim
Published: February 2017

Objectives:

To evaluate the influence of phacoemulsification on intraocular pressure (IOP) control and survival of mitomycin C (MMC)-enhanced trabeculectomy in uveitic glaucoma (UG).

Materials and Methods:

Retrospective case-control study included 54 eyes from 40 patients with UG who underwent MMC-enhanced trabeculectomy as an initial procedure to treat glaucoma at King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 2002 and 2014. Eyes were divided into 2 groups: the first group included eyes that later underwent cataract surgery in the form of phacoemulsification, and the second group included eyes that did not have cataract surgery. The main outcome measures were changes in the IOP, the number of antiglaucoma medications, IOP control, and trabeculectomy survival.

Results:

There were no differences in the overall trabeculectomy survival of eyes that underwent cataract surgery and those that did not (P=0.681, log-rank) nor the final IOP [15.54 mm Hg (±6.3) in the study group and 13.34 mm Hg (±5.6) in the control group, P=0.247]. However, more antiglaucoma medications were needed to control the IOP after cataract surgery at the last follow-up [1.59 medications (±1.4) in the study group and 0.50 medications (±0.7) in the control group; P=0.009].

Conclusions:

UG eyes that underwent phacoemulsification following MMC-enhanced trabeculectomy required more medications to control the IOP than those that did not undergo cataract surgery and therefore less IOP control. Such changes in IOP control did not affect the overall trabeculectomy survival rate.
Perceptions of Parents With Preterm Infants Hospitalized in Singaporean Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Yang Yen Yen , He Hong-Gu , Lee Soke Yee , Holroyd Eleanor , Shorey Shefaly , Koh Serena S. L.
Published: February 2017

Perceptions of parents with preterm infants who were hospitalized in a Singapore-based neonatal intensive care unit were observed. Convenience sampling method was used to recruit 8 parents of preterm infants. Semistructured face-to-face in-depth interviews were used to collect data between November 2013 and February 2014. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Four themes were identified: “negative emotions versus positive emotions,” “finding ways forward,” “nature of support received from various sources,” and “need more informational and professional support.” Parents of preterm infants experienced a multitude of emotions that varied from shock and sadness to excitement and anticipation through their babies' birth, hospitalization, and impending discharge. These parents adopted several strategies to cope with their birth and subsequent infant hospitalization. While their neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) experience was perceived as positive for most parents, some suggestions were made to improve on the information provided and professional care. This study provides evidence to health care professionals in addressing parents' negative emotions and coping abilities in practice. Emotional and informational support for parents is important for them to be more competent in coping with the hospitalization of their newborn in the NICU.
The benefit of statins in chronic hepatitis C patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zheng Yi-Xiang , Zhou Peng-Cheng , Zhou Rong-Rong , Fan Xue-Gong
Published: February 2017

Background and aim

Besides regulating lipid metabolism, statins have garnered considerable interest because of their antiviral and antineoplastic properties. The potential benefit of statins using in chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients is not well described. This meta-analysis was carried out to quantitatively assess the efficacy of statins in improving the therapeutic effect and prognosis of patients with CHC.

Patients and methods

We searched electronic databases for relevant studies comparing the course of benefit in CHC patients with statins versus without statins. Risk estimates were pooled to assess the association of statins use with sustained virological response and the prognosis of CHC patients.

Results

Twenty-three studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Meta-analysis of 16 homogeneous studies showed that the sustained virological response rate increased by 31% [relative risk (RR)=1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23–1.39] in 12 791 CHC patients with statins as an adjuvant under the general antiviral therapy compared with those without this adjuvant therapy. Moreover, meta-analysis of seven studies suggested that statins was beneficial on several specific poor outcomes of CHC patients (RR=0.49; 95% CI: 0.42–0.56). CHC patients with statin use were found to be inversely associated with a 55% reduced risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (RR=0.45; 95% CI: 0.36–0.57) and 53% reduced risk of cirrhosis (RR=0.47; 95% CI: 0.33–0.67) as well as 44% reduced risk of mortality (RR=0.56; 95% CI: 0.46–0.69). However, significant heterogeneity and publication bias were present in some of our analyses.

Conclusion

Beneficial effects of statins use were found in the therapy and the prognosis of CHC patients. Further prospective studies are still needed to confirm these benefits.
Valued Living and Its Relationship to Medication Adherence in Patients with Bipolar and Comorbid Substance Use Disorders
Authors: Gaudiano Brandon A. , Wenze Susan J. , Weinstock Lauren M. , Tezanos Katherine M. , Miller Ivan W.
Published: February 2017

Bipolar disorder with comorbid substance abuse is associated with high rates of treatment nonadherence. Adherence interventions developed to date have had mixed effects in this population. Valued living (i.e., the consistency between a patient’s personal values and daily actions) represents a potentially useful treatment target that may improve adherence. We investigated the relationship between valued living, medication adherence, symptoms, and functioning in a sample of 39 patients diagnosed with bipolar disorder and a comorbid substance use disorder. Results showed that greater values-action consistency explained a unique amount of variance (R
2 change = 15.2%) in medication adherence even after controlling for symptom severity, functional impairment, and other reported reasons for nonadherence. Drug use and treatment beliefs also predicted nonadherence. Findings suggest that valued living should be investigated further as a potentially malleable treatment target in future adherence intervention research.
Functional Outcome in the Middle Course of Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Martino Diego J. , Igoa Ana , Scápola María , Marengo Eliana , Samamé Cecilia , Strejilevich Sergio A.
Published: February 2017

The aim of this study was to assess the long-term functional outcome of patients with bipolar disorder (BD). At baseline and after a follow-up period of at least 48 months, three measures of functioning were administered: psychosocial functioning (GAF), employment status (full-time, part-time, and unemployment/disability), and a self-reported measure of functional recovery. At baseline, patients with more than five previous affective episodes exhibited poorer outcomes on all measures of functioning than patients with less than five previous episodes. However, along a mean follow-up period of 77 months, measures of functioning tended to remain stable or improved slightly. These results highlight the limitation of studies comparing measures of functioning between patients with many and few episodes to evaluate functional outcome. Likewise, these preliminary results do not support the hypothesis that functional outcome deteriorates over the course of BD.
Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes Among HIV/TB-Coinfected Children in the International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) Network
Authors: Carlucci James G. , Blevins Peratikos Meridith , Kipp Aaron M. , Lindegren Mary L. , Du Quy T. , Renner Lorna , Reubenson Gary , Ssali John , Yotebieng Marcel , Mandalakas Anna M. , Davies Mary-Ann , Ballif Marie , Fenner Lukas , Pettit April C. ,   for the International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) Network
Published: February 2017

Introduction:

Management of tuberculosis (TB) is challenging in HIV/TB-coinfected children. The World Health Organization recommends nucleic acid amplification tests for TB diagnosis, a 4-drug regimen including ethambutol during intensive phase (IP) of treatment, and initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) within 8 weeks of TB diagnosis. We investigated TB treatment outcomes by diagnostic modality, IP regimen, and ART status.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study among HIV/TB-coinfected children enrolled at the International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS treatment sites from 2012 to 2014. We modeled TB outcome using multivariable logistic regression including diagnostic modality, IP regimen, and ART status.

Results:

Among the 386 HIV-infected children diagnosed with TB, 20% had microbiologic confirmation of TB, and 20% had unfavorable TB outcomes. During IP, 78% were treated with a 4-drug regimen. Thirty-one percent were receiving ART at the time of TB diagnosis, and 32% were started on ART within 8 weeks of TB diagnosis. Incidence of ART initiation within 8 weeks of TB diagnosis was higher for those with favorable TB outcomes (64%) compared with those with unfavorable outcomes (40%) (P = 0.04). Neither diagnostic modality (odds ratio 1.77; 95% confidence interval: 0.86 to 3.65) nor IP regimen (odds ratio 0.88; 95% confidence interval: 0.43 to 1.80) was associated with TB outcome.

Discussion:

In this multinational study of HIV/TB-coinfected children, many were not managed as per World Health Organization guidelines. Children with favorable TB outcomes initiated ART sooner than children with unfavorable outcomes. These findings highlight the importance of early ART for children with HIV/TB coinfection, and reinforce the need for implementation research to improve pediatric TB management.
MetaCherchant - an algorithm for analyzing genomic environment of antibiotic resistance gene in gut microbiota
Authors: Olekhnovich Evgenii I. , Vasilyev Artem T. , Ulyantsev Vladimir I. , Tyakht Alexander V.
Published: February 2017

Antibiotic resistance is an important global public health problem. Human gut human microbiota is an accumulator of resistance genes potentially providing them to pathogens. It is important to develop tools for identifying the mechanisms of how resistance is transmitted between gut microbial species and pathogens. We developed MetaCherchant - an algorithm for extracting the genomic environment of antibiotic resistance genes from metagenomic data in the form of a graph. The algorithm was validated on simulated datasets and applied to new "shotgun" metagenomes of gut microbiota from patients withHelicobacter pyloriwho underwent antibiotic therapy. Genomic context was reconstructed for several dominant resistance genes; taxonomic annotation of the context showed the species carrying the genes. Application of MetaCherchant in differential mode produced specific graph structures suggesting the evidence of possible resistance gene transmission within a mobile element that occurred as a result of the antibiotic therapy. MetaCherchant is a promising tool giving researchers an opportunity to get an insight into dynamics of resistance transmission in vivo based on metagenomic data.
Foreground-background segmentation revealed during natural image viewing
Authors: Papale Paolo , Leo Andrea , Cecchetti Luca , Handjaras Giacomo , Kay Kendrick , Pietrini Pietro , Ricciardi Emiliano
Published: February 2017

One of the major challenges in visual neuroscience is represented by foreground-background segmentation. Data from nonhuman primates show that segmentation leads to two distinct, but associated processes: the enhancement of neural activity during figure processing (i.e., foreground enhancement) and the suppression of background-related activity (i.e., background suppression). To study foreground-background segmentation in ecological conditions, we introduce a novel method based on parametric modulation of low-level image properties followed by application of simple computational image-processing models. By correlating the outcome of this procedure with human fMRI activity measured during passive viewing of 334 natural images, we reconstruct easily interpretable “neural images” from seven visual areas: V1, V2, V3, V3A, V3B, V4 and LOC. Results show evidence of foreground enhancement for all tested regions, while background suppression specifically occurs in V4 and LOC. “Neural images” reconstructed from V4 and LOC revealed a preserved spatial resolution of foreground textures, indicating a richer representation of the salient part of natural images, rather than a simplistic model of object shape. Our results indicate that scene segmentation is an automatic process that occurs during natural viewing, even when individuals are not required to perform any particular task.
Towards Coordinated International Support of Core Data Resources for the Life Sciences
Authors: Anderson W. , Apweiler R. , Bateman A. , Bauer G.A. , Berman H. , Blake J.A. , Blomberg N. , Burley S.K. , Cochrane G. , Di Francesco V. , Donohue T. , Durinx C. , Game A. , Green E.D. , Gojobori T. , Goodhand P. , Hamosh A. , Hermjakob H. , Kanehisa M. , Kiley R. , McEntyre J. , McKibbin R. , Miyano S. , Pauly B. , Perrimon N. , Ragan M.A. , Richards G. , Teo Y-Y. , Westerfield M. , Westhof E. , Lasko P.F.
Published: February 2017

On November 18-19, 2016, the Human Frontier Science Program Organization (HFSPO) hosted a meeting of senior managers of key data resources and leaders of several major funding organizations to discuss the challenges associated with sustaining biological and biomedical (i.e., life sciences) data resources and associated infrastructure. A strong consensus emerged from the group that core data resources for the life sciences should be supported through a coordinated international effort(s) that better ensure long-term sustainability and that appropriately align funding with scientific impact. Ideally, funding for such data resources should allow for access at no charge, as is presently the usual (and preferred) mechanism. Below, the rationale for this vision is described, and some important considerations for developing a new international funding model to support core data resources for the life sciences are presented.
Dissociable effects of surprising rewards on learning and memory
Authors: Rouhani N. , Norman K. A. , Niv Y.
Published: February 2017

The extent to which rewards deviate from learned expectations is tracked by a signal known as a “reward prediction error”, but it is unclear how this signal interacts with episodic memory. Here, we investigated whether learning in a high-risk environment, with frequent large prediction errors, gives rise to higher fidelity memory traces than learning in a low-risk environment. In Experiment 1, we showed that higher magnitude prediction errors, positive or negative, improved recognition memory for trial-unique items. Participants also increased their learning rate after large prediction errors. In addition, there was an overall higher learning rate in the low-risk environment. Although unsigned prediction errors enhanced memory and increased learning rate, we did not find a relationship between learning rate and memory, suggesting that these two effects were due to separate underlying mechanisms. In Experiment 2, we replicated these results with a longer task that posed stronger memory demands and allowed for more learning. We also showed improved source and sequence memory for high-risk items. In Experiment 3, we controlled for the difficulty of learning in the two risk environments, again replicating the previous results. Moreover, equating the range of prediction errors in the two risk environments revealed that learning in a high-risk context enhanced episodic memory above and beyond the effect of prediction errors to individual items. In summary, our results across three studies showed that (absolute) prediction error magnitude boosted both episodic memory and incremental learning, but the two effects were not correlated, suggesting distinct underlying systems.
Observation of histone nuclear import in living cells: implications in the processing of newly synthesised H3.1 & H4
Authors: Smith Michael James , Bowman Andrew James
Published: February 2017

Highlights

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Small-molecule-gated tether-and-release system for rapid pulse-chase of nuclear proteins

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Tracking nuclear import of histone H3.1 and H4 and their incorporation at sites of active replication

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Tethered H3.1 and H4 are monomeric and do not associate with ASF1, NASP, RbAp46 or HAT1 in the cytosol

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Importin-β proteins as cytosolic binders of monomeric histones

We present here a cytosolic tether-and-release system to study the import and dynamics of newly synthesised nuclear proteins. Release is gated by rapamycin-induced recruitment and activation of a viral protease, with cleavage of a peptide linker releasing the tethered cargo. We use this system to investigate nucleo-cytoplasmic divisions in the histone H3.1 & H4 deposition pathway, revealing that, contrary to previous analyses, H3.1 and H4 are predominantly monomeric in the cytosol, and only associate with the core histone chaperoning machinery after translocation to the nucleus. Whilst we do not detect interaction with known H3-H4 chaperones in the cytosol we do detect interaction with a number of importin-β proteins, that may serve a dual import and chaperoning function, preventing aggregation of histones until they are handed-off to the core histone chaperoning machinery in the nucleus.