bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Young and biased: Children's perceptions of overweight peers
Authors: Rex‐Lear Madeline , Jensen‐Campbell Lauri A. , Lee Sarah
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This study examined whether the age, ethnicity, sex, and weight of children influenced weight‐based biases.

Methods

Elementary school children (N = 367; boys = 177; Mage = 9.31 years) provided their perceptions of thin, average, and heavy target children. The age and ethnicity as well as the actual height and weight of each participant was also collected.

Results

Children rated heavier child targets more negatively than average or thin counterparts. Participant and target ethnicity did not moderate weight biases. Boys were more likely than girls to stigmatize overweight targets regardless of the target's sex. Girls were more likely to stigmatize overweight boys. Young children and those who were thinner were less biased than older and heavier children, but still rated heavier targets negatively.

Conclusion

The ubiquity of a negative weight bias, even in children, underscores the need for constructing plans in which to not only deal the health concerns associated with obesity but also develop strategies for children who might be physically and/or psychologically struggling with the biases associated with being overweight.
Formal and informal care after stroke: A longitudinal analysis of survivors’ post rehabilitation hospital discharge
Authors: Pucciarelli Gianluca , Ausili Davide , Rebora Paola , Arisido Maeregu W. , Simeone Silvio , Alvaro Rosaria , Vellone Ercole
Published: March 2019

Aims

To describe the type and the amount of formal and informal care received during the first year after home discharge and to identify the baseline predictors of the formal and informal care needs of stroke survivors.

Design

Longitudinal study. Data were collected between June 2013–May 2016.

Methods

Survivors (N = 415) were enrolled during discharge from rehabilitation hospitals and interviewed at 3 (T1), 6 (T2), 9 (T3), and 12 (T4) months. The linear mixed effects model with random intercept and random slopes was used to trend for the amount of formal and informal care received by survivors during the four observation times.

Results

Regarding formal care, only physiotherapy and speech therapy decreased significantly over time. Stroke survivors received a mean of 17 hr of paid informal care per week at T1 and these hours did not significantly decrease after one year from discharge, while unpaid informal care decreased significantly over time. Higher numbers of paid informal caregiving were predicted by older age, higher education levels, lower physical functioning, and living without unpaid informal caregivers while higher numbers of unpaid informal care were predicted by lower physical functioning and living with unpaid informal caregivers.

Conclusions

Stroke has a great effect on survivors’ lives. During the first few months after rehabilitation hospital discharge, survivors need further care because they are often discharged before achieving independent functioning.

Impact

The results of this study could be important to guide future interventions aimed at imporving stroke survivors' conditions after post rehabilitation hospital discharge.
Maximum morning home systolic blood pressure is an indicator of the development of diabetic nephropathy: The KAMOGAWA‐HBP study
Authors: Okamura Takuro , Ushigome Emi , Kitagawa Nobuko , Oyabu Chikako , Tanaka Toru , Hasegawa Goji , Nakamura Naoto , Ohnishi Masayoshi , Tsunoda Sei , Ushigome Hidetaka , Yokota Isao , Hamaguchi Masahide , Asano Mai , Yamazaki Masahiro , Fukui Michiaki
Published: March 2019

Aims/Introduction

The maximum value of home systolic blood pressure is correlated with damage to target organs, including diabetic nephropathy. However, the precise relationship between the development of diabetic nephropathy and maximum home systolic blood pressure has not been elucidated.

Materials and Methods

In this prospective 2‐year cohort subanalysis of the KAMOGAWA‐HBP study, the patient population was 477 Japanese patients with normoalbuminuria. We investigated the effects of mean and maximum home blood pressure on the development of diabetic nephropathy, which we defined as a urinary albumin excretion value ≥30 mg/g creatinine. Among the 477 patients, 67 developed diabetic nephropathy.

Results

In our multivariate logistic regression analyses, the maximum morning home systolic blood pressure was significantly positively associated with the development of diabetic nephropathy after adjusting for patient sex and age, smoking status, the diabetes mellitus duration, body mass index, creatinine, total cholesterol, hemoglobin A1c, and antihypertensive medication use (odds ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval 1.03–1.42, P = 0.021).

Conclusions

Maximum home blood pressure can be identified at a glance, and its measurement would thus be helpful to healthcare providers who treat patients with diabetes and normoalbuminuria.
Pulmonary Mycobacterium abscessus complex in children with cystic fibrosis: A practical management guideline
Authors: Andrew Eden C , Connell Tom , Robinson Phil , Curtis Nigel , Massie John , Robertson Colin , Harrison Joanne , Shanthikumar Shivanthan , Bryant Penelope A , Starr Mike , Steer Andrew , Ranganathan Sarath , Gwee Amanda
Published: March 2019

The treatment of Mycobacterium abscessus complex (MABSC) pulmonary infections is an emerging challenge in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Multidrug therapy for prolonged durations is required and carries the significant burden of drug‐related toxicity, cost and selective pressure for multiresistant bacteria. International guidelines acknowledge that clinical and in vitro data to support treatment regimens are limited, particularly in children. As part of a collaboration between the infectious diseases and respiratory units at our institution, we have developed a modified treatment guideline that aims to balance the aims of MABSC eradication and slowing disease progression with minimising drug toxicity and resistance. The outcomes of this treatment approach will be monitored and reported. In this manuscript, we discuss the available evidence for treatment choices and present our treatment guideline for paediatric patients with CF and MABSC infection.
Efficacy of an orally administered anti‐diarrheal probiotic paste (Pro‐Kolin Advanced) in dogs with acute diarrhea: A randomized, placebo‐controlled, double‐blinded clinical study
Authors: Nixon Sophie L. , Rose Lindsay , Muller Annika T.
Published: March 2019

Background

Acute diarrhea is a common clinical presentation of dogs. The effect of specific anti‐diarrheal probiotic pastes (ADPPs) in the management of acute, uncomplicated diarrhea in dogs is unknown.

Hypothesis

Administration of an ADPP containingEnterococcus faecium4b1707 will improve the clinical outcome of acute, uncomplicated diarrhea in dogs compared to placebo.

Animals

One hundred forty‐eight client‐owned dogs with acute diarrhea as the main clinical sign.

Methods

Double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled, randomized, blocked, multicenter clinical field study conducted at 14 primary care veterinary practices in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Results

The ADPP was associated with better clinical outcome compared to placebo in dogs with acute, uncomplicated diarrhea. Dogs in the ADPP group had a significantly shorter duration of diarrhea (ADPP: median, 32 hours; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2‐118;n = 51; Placebo: median, 47 hours; 95% CI, 4‐167;n = 58;P = .008) and the rate of resolution of diarrhea was 1.60 times faster in the ADPP group than in the Placebo group (ratio, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.08‐2.44;P = .02). Fewer dogs required additional medical intervention (AMI) for non‐improvement or worsening in the ADPP group compared to the Placebo group (3.5% of dogs and 14.8% of dogs, respectively), with a relative risk of 0.88 (P = .04; AMI, ADPP, 3.5%, 2/57 dogs; Placebo, 14.8%, 9/61 dogs; relative risk, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.77‐0.99).

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

The ADPP may accelerate resolution of acute diarrhea in dogs and decrease the requirement for AMI.
Anatomical, histomorphological and molecular classification of cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Kendall Timothy , Verheij Joanne , Gaudio Eugenio , Evert Matthias , Guido Maria , Goeppert Benjamin , Carpino Guido
Published: March 2019

Cholangiocarcinoma constitutes a heterogeneous group of malignancies that can emerge at any point of the biliary tree. Cholangiocarcinoma is classified into intrahepatic, perihilar and distal based on its anatomical location. Histologically, conventional perihilar/distal cholangiocarcinomas are mucin‐producing adenocarcinomas or papillary tumours; intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas are more heterogeneous and can be sub‐classified according to the level or size of the displayed bile duct. Cholangiocarcinoma develops through multistep carcinogenesis and is preceded by dysplastic and in situ lesions. Definition and clinical significance of precursor lesions, including biliary intraepithelial neoplasia, intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct, intraductal tubulopapillary neoplasms and mucinous cystic neoplasm, are discussed in this review. A main challenge in diagnosing cholangiocarcinoma is the fact that tumour tissue for histological examination is difficult to obtain. Thus, a major clinical obstacle is the establishment of the correct diagnosis at a tumour stage that is amenable to surgery which still represents the only curable therapeutic option. Current standards, methodology and criteria for diagnosis are discussed. Cholangiocarcinoma represents a heterogeneous tumour with regard to molecular alterations. In intrahepatic subtype, mainly two distinctive morpho‐molecular groups can currently be discriminated. Large‐duct type intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma shows a high mutation frequency of oncogenes and tumour suppressor genes, such as KRAS and TP53 while Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1/2 mutations and Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 2‐fusions are typically seen in small‐duct type tumours. It is most important to ensure the separation of the given anatomical subtypes and to search for distinct subgroups within the subtypes on a molecular and morphological basis.
Recruitment of specific flavonoid B‐ring hydroxylases for two independent biosynthesis pathways of flavone‐derived metabolites in grasses
Authors: Lam Pui Ying , Lui Andy C.W. , Yamamura Masaomi , Wang Lanxiang , Takeda Yuri , Suzuki Shiro , Liu Hongjia , Zhu Fu‐Yuan , Chen Mo‐Xian , Zhang Jianhua , Umezawa Toshiaki , Tobimatsu Yuki , Lo Clive
Published: March 2019

In rice (Oryza sativa), OsF2H and OsFNSII direct flavanones to independent pathways that form soluble flavone C‐glycosides and tricin‐type metabolites (both soluble and lignin‐bound), respectively. Production of soluble tricin metabolites requires CYP75B4 as a chrysoeriol 5′‐hydroxylase. Meanwhile, the close homologue CYP75B3 is a canonical flavonoid 3′‐hydroxylase (F3′H). However, their precise roles in the biosynthesis of soluble flavone C‐glycosides and tricin–lignins in cell walls remain unknown.

We examined CYP75B3 and CYP75B4 expression in vegetative tissues, analyzed extractable flavonoid profiles, cell wall structure and digestibility of their mutants, and investigated catalytic activities of CYP75B4 orthologues in grasses.

CYP75B3 and CYP75B4 showed co‐expression patterns with OsF2H and OsFNSII, respectively. CYP75B3 is the sole F3′H in flavone C‐glycosides biosynthesis, whereas CYP75B4 alone provides sufficient 3′,5′‐hydroxylation for tricin–lignin deposition. CYP75B4 mutation results in production of apigenin‐incorporated lignin and enhancement of cell wall digestibility. Moreover, tricin pathway‐specific 3′,5′‐hydroxylation activities are conserved in sorghum CYP75B97 and switchgrass CYP75B11.

CYP75B3 and CYP75B4 represent two different pathway‐specific enzymes recruited together with OsF2H and OsFNSII, respectively. Interestingly, the OsF2H‐CYP75B3 and OsFNSII‐CYP75B4 pairs appear to be conserved in grasses. Finally, manipulation of tricin biosynthesis through CYP75B4 orthologues can be a promising strategy to improve digestibility of grass biomass for biofuel and biomaterial production.
Virtual Periacetabular Osteotomy and Anatomical Measurements
Authors: Xu Gang , Dong Chao , Zdzislaw Krol , Krieg Andreas H
Published: March 2019

Objective

To report on a CT scan virtual periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) process to evaluate the potential risk of different PAO cutting planes.

Methods

A total of 123 patients (64 men and 59 women) underwent virtual PAO. We defined two retroacetabular cutting (RC) planes: the RC plane and the RC+ plane (10 mm posteriorly as compared to the RC plane). Subsequently, we measured the anatomical minimum distance between the acetabulum and the sciatic notch, the minimum distance between the acetabulum and the retroacetabular cutting plane (osteotomy of the posterior column), and the osteotomy length in the cranio‐caudal direction.

Results

The mean (standard deviation [SD]) minimum distance between the acetabulum and the sciatic notch was 25.82 ± 3.52 mm (95% confidence intervals [CI], 25.36–26.25 mm). In men, the mean (SD) minimum distance between the acetabulum and sciatic notch (27.18 ± 3.47 mm; 95% CI, 26.56–27.78 mm) was significantly (3 mm) larger than in women (24.34 ± 2.92 mm; 95% CI, 23.82–24.89 mm; P < 0.001).

The mean (SD) minimum distance between the acetabulum and the retroacetabular plane was significantly larger for the RC+ plane (6.97 ± 0.91 mm) than for the RC plane (P < 0.001). In men, this distance (10.23 ± 3.84 mm) was significantly (2.3 mm) larger than in women (7.94 ± 3.45 mm; P < 0.001).

The mean (SD) osteotomy length was significantly larger for the RC+ plane (61.78 ± 6.75 mm) than for the RC plane (68.48 ± 6.65) mm; P < 0.001). All three evaluated parameters had significantly shorter lengths in women than in men.

Conclusion

The safety space for PAO in women was narrower than in men. By shifting the RC plane 10 mm into the posterior direction, the RC+ plane provides a safer cutting distance and shorter osteotomy line in the PAO than the RC plan, which is important to avoid intraarticular penetration.
“A Greater Danger than a Division of the German Army”: Bible Students and Opposition to War in World War I America
Authors: Knox Zoe
Published: March 2019

In June 1918, seven leaders of the International Bible Students Association (IBSA), a small but high profile Christian community, were convicted under the United States Espionage Act and sentenced to twenty years in prison. The conviction stemmed from the unique position on Christianity and war propagated by Charles Taze Russell, the Bible Students’ fountainhead. The refusal of the IBSA leaders to countenance the hypernationalism which accompanied America's entry into World War I in April 1917 but instead to circulate widely antiwar literature made them a target for governmental authorities intent on silencing those opposed to America's involvement, particularly communities invoking the Bible to condemn militarism and conflict. This article argues that the fundamental differences between the IBSA's antiwar position and those of the historic peace churches made them a particular challenge to the American political and religious establishment, which regarded Bible Student theology as explicitly political and cast their literature as a potent weapon against America's prosecution of the war. It ultimately aims to write the IBSA into the history of opposition to war not in spite of but because of their unusual position on Christianity and armed conflict. By doing so, the article also reveals the origins of conscientious objection for Jehovah's Witnesses, as the Bible Students are now called, known worldwide for their refusal to perform military service.
Rhynchosporium leaf scald disease incidence: seed source and spatial pattern
Authors: Topp C. F. E. , Hughes G. , Nevison I. M. , Butler A. , Oxley S. J. P. , Havis N. D.
Published: March 2019

A programme of field trials for the study of the winter barley–Rhynchosporium commune pathosystem is reported. The associated seedborne disease rhynchosporium leaf scald is regarded as having an important impact on barley yields. The analysis in this study relates to the impact of the seed source (commercial or farm‐saved seed) on disease incidence and to the spatial pattern of rhynchosporium leaf scald disease incidence. Disease incidence data were calculated from field data recorded as disease severity. Mean disease incidence was higher in the crops grown from farm‐saved seed than in those grown from commercial seed, although great agronomic significance cannot be attached to this result. The spatial pattern of rhynchosporium leaf scald disease incidence was characterized in terms of the binary power law (BPL) and was indicative of an aggregated pattern. Programme‐wide BPL results were described using a novel phytopathological application of a random coefficients model. These results have application in field sampling for rhynchosporium leaf scald disease.
Covariate-Assisted Ranking and Screening for Large-Scale Two-Sample Inference
Authors: Tony Cai T. , Sun Wenguang , Wang Weinan
Published: March 2019

Two-sample multiple testing has a wide range of applications. The conventional practice first reduces the original observations to a vector of p-values and then chooses a cut-off to adjust for multiplicity. However, this data reduction step could cause significant loss of information and thus lead to suboptimal testing procedures. We introduce a new framework for two-sample multiple testing by incorporating a carefully constructed auxiliary variable in inference to improve the power. A data-driven multiple-testing procedure is developed by employing a covariate-assisted ranking and screening (CARS) approach that optimally combines the information from both the primary and the auxiliary variables. The proposed CARS procedure is shown to be asymptotically valid and optimal for false discovery rate control. The procedure is implemented in the R package CARS. Numerical results confirm the effectiveness of CARS in false discovery rate control and show that it achieves substantial power gain over existing methods. CARS is also illustrated through an application to the analysis of a satellite imaging data set for supernova detection.
Zolpidem Use and Suicide Death in South Korea: A Population‐Based Case–Control Study
Authors: Choi BongKyoo , Sung Hi Gin , Nam Jin Hyun , Shin Ju‐Young
Published: March 2019

Objective

To investigate whether zolpidem use is associated with suicide death in adults.

Method

We conducted a case–control study using the National Health Insurance Service‐National Sample Cohort (NHIS‐NSC) database. Cases were adults with a suicide record (ICD‐10 codes; X‐60‐X84, Y87.0) between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2013. 10 Controls were matched to each case by age, sex, index year, region, income level, and health insurance type. Zolpidem use during 2 years before suicide was quantified. Adjusted odd ratios (aORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using conditional logistic regression.

Results

The percentage of zolpidem users was significantly higher in cases (451 of 1,928 [23.4%]) than in controls (832 of 18,404 [4.5%]). After controlling for potential confounders, zolpidem use was significantly associated with suicide (aORs, 2.09; 95% CI, 1.74–2.52). Dose–response relationships were observed (for trend, p < .0001). Consistent findings were observed when analyses were restricted to suicide death (aORs, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.73–2.51) and nonmedication poisoning suicide death cases (aORs, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.74–2.53).

Conclusions

We found a significant and positive association between zolpidem use and suicide. Zolpidem should be prescribed cautiously and with due caution of increased suicide risk.
Sports participation is inversely associated with C‐reactive protein levels in adolescents: ABCD Growth Study
Authors: Cayres Suziane Ungari , Werneck André Oliveira , Urban Jacqueline Bexiga , Turi‐Lynch Bruna Camilo , Barbosa Maurício Fregonesi , Fernandes Romulo Araújo
Published: March 2019

Objective

To analyze the relationship between sports participation and C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels in adolescents and to identify the possible role of mediation developed by trunk fatness (TF).

Methods

Cross‐sectional design, part of the longitudinal study entitled “Analysis of Behaviors of Children During Growth” (ABCD Growth Study), Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil. The sample comprised 259 adolescents (14.7 ± 2.1 [182 boys and 77 girls]) stratified according to sex and engagement in sports in agreement with the inclusion criteria: absence of any known diseases; previous engagement in sports for at least 12 months (≥300 minutes weekly); no regular engagement in sports in the previous 12 months (non‐regular sports participation or <300 min/wk); written parental consent and adolescents' assent both signed. Engagement in sports was self‐reported. CRP levels were used to assess the inflammatory status. TF was estimated by a densitometer scanner. Age, biological maturation, HOMA‐IR, and blood pressure were treated as covariates.

Results

There was no mediation effect of TF in the association of any indicators of sports practice and CRP. However, a direct effect of sports was observed on CRP levels when considering previous months of engagement, frequency, and volume of sports for boys and also previous months of engagement in sports for girls.

Conclusion

Previous sports participation and the amount of engagement in sports per week (≥300 min/wk) presented an inverse relationship with CRP levels; however, trunk fatness did not mediate this process.
HLA‐A*02:672Q, a novel HLA‐A*02 variant, detected in a Taiwanese individual
Authors: Yang Kuo‐Liang , Lin Py‐Yu
Published: March 2019

Nucleotide substitution at residue 563 of A*02:06:01:01 results in a novel allele, HLA‐A*02:672Q.
The Arabidopsis heterotrimeric G‐protein β subunit, AGB1, is required for guard cell calcium sensing and calcium‐induced calcium release
Authors: Jeon Byeong Wook , Acharya Biswa R. , Assmann Sarah M.
Published: March 2019

Summary

Cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]cyt) and heterotrimeric G‐proteins are universal eukaryotic signaling elements. In plant guard cells, extracellular calcium (Cao) is as strong a stimulus for stomatal closure as the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA), but underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we report that the sole Arabidopsis heterotrimeric Gβ subunit, AGB1, is required for four guard cell Cao responses: induction of stomatal closure; inhibition of stomatal opening; [Ca2+]cyt oscillation; and inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (InsP3) production. Stomata in wild‐type Arabidopsis (Col) and in mutants of the canonical Gα subunit, GPA1, showed inhibition of stomatal opening and promotion of stomatal closure by Cao. By contrast, stomatal movements of agb1 mutants and agb1/gpa1 double‐mutants, as well as those of the agg1agg2 Gγ double‐mutant, were insensitive to Cao. These behaviors contrast with ABA‐regulated stomatal movements, which involve GPA1 and AGB1/AGG3 dimers, illustrating differential partitioning of G‐protein subunits among stimuli with similar ultimate impacts, which may facilitate stimulus‐specific encoding. AGB1 knockouts retained reactive oxygen species and NO production, but lost YC3.6‐detected [Ca2+]cyt oscillations in response to Cao, initiating only a single [Ca2+]cyt spike. Experimentally imposed [Ca2+]cyt oscillations restored stomatal closure in agb1. Yeast two‐hybrid and bimolecular complementation fluorescence experiments revealed that AGB1 interacts with phospholipase Cs (PLCs), and Cao induced InsP3 production in Col but not in agb1. In sum, G‐protein signaling via AGB1/AGG1/AGG2 is essential for Cao‐regulation of stomatal apertures, and stomatal movements in response to Cao apparently require Ca2+‐induced Ca2+ release that is likely dependent on Gβγ interaction with PLCs leading to InsP3 production.
Establishment of cell line and in vivo mouse model of canine Langerhans cell histiocytosis
Authors: Son Nguyen V. , Uchida Kazuyuki , Thongtharb Atigan , Chambers James K. , Kishimoto Takuya E. , Tomiyasu Hirotaka , Ohmi Aki , Tsujimoto Hajime , Nakayama Hiroyuki
Published: March 2019

A cell line named FB‐LCH01, derived from a dog diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH), was established and characterized. FB‐LCH01 had C‐shaped nucleoli, characterized by modal chromosome aberrations. The original tumour cells as well as established FB‐LCH01 cells were immunopositive for human leukocyte antigen‐DR, Iba‐1 and E‐cadherin, and immunonegative for CD163 and CD204, suggesting Langerhans cell origin. Furthermore, the characteristics of FB‐LCH01 were compared with those of two canine histiocytic sarcoma cell lines (PWC‐HS01 and FCR‐HS02) established previously. Expression of E‐cadherin was detected only in FB‐LCH01, but not in PWC‐HS01 and FCR‐HS02. All (n = 9) the severe combined immunodeficiency mice inoculated with the FB‐LCH01 cells developed subcutaneous tumour masses after 3 weeks. Eight of nine mice also developed metastatic lesions in the lymph nodes (8/8; 100%), lung (5/8; 62.5%), stomach (5/8; 62.5%), heart (4/8; 50%), pancreas (4/8; 50%), kidney (3/8; 37.5%), skin (3/8; 37.5%) and bone marrow (1/8; 12.5%). Tumour cells were pleomorphic and round‐ to polygonal‐shaped with prominent anisocytosis and anisokaryosis. The xenotransplanted tumour cells maintained the immunohistochemical features of the original tumour with persistent E‐cadherin expression at injection site and some visceral organs. In conclusion, the established cell line as well as the mice xenotransplant model in this study reflect the nature of canine LCH and may serve as promising models for investigating the patho‐tumorigenesis and therapy of the disease.
Efficacy of Olorofim (F901318) against
Aspergillus fumigatus
,
A. nidulans
, and
A. tanneri
in Murine Models of Profound Neutropenia and Chronic Granulomatous Disease
Authors: Seyedmousavi S. , Chang Y. C. , Law D. , Birch M. , Rex J. H. , Kwon-Chung K. J.
Published: March 2019

The emergence of azole resistance in
Aspergillus fumigatus
as well as an increasing frequency of multiresistant cryptic
Aspergillus
spp. necessitates exploration of new classes of antifungals.
Genome-Wide Identification of Fitness Factors in Seawater for
Edwardsiella piscicida
Authors: Wei Lifan , Wu Yanyan , Yang Guanhua , Xu Rongjing , Liu Xiaohong , Liu Qin , Zhang Yuanxing , Ma Yue , Wang Qiyao
Published: March 2019

Edwardsiella piscicida
is one of the most important marine pathogens and causes serious edwardsiellosis in farmed fish during the summer-autumn seasonal changes, resulting in enormous losses to aquaculture industries worldwide. Survival and transmission of the pathogen in seawater are critical steps that increase the risk of outbreaks. To investigate the mechanism of survival in seawater for this marine pathogen, we used transposon insertion sequencing analysis to explore the fitness determinants in summer and autumn seawater. Approximately 127 genes linked to metabolism and virulence, as well as other processes, were revealed in
E. piscicida
to contribute to better adaptations to the seasonal alternations of seawater environments; these genes provide important insights into the infection outbreak mechanisms of
E. piscicida
and potential improved treatments or vaccines against marine pathogens.
Staphylococcal Superantigens Stimulate Epithelial Cells through CD40 To Produce Chemokines
Authors: Schlievert Patrick M. , Cahill Michael P. , Hostager Bruce S. , Brosnahan Amanda J. , Klingelhutz Aloysius J. , Gourronc Francoise A. , Bishop Gail A. , Leung Donald Y. M.
Published: March 2019

Menstrual toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a serious infectious disease associated with vaginal colonization byStaphylococcus aureusproducing the exotoxin TSS toxin 1 (TSST-1). We show that menstrual TSS occurs after TSST-1 interaction with an immune costimulatory molecule called CD40 on the surface of vaginal epithelial cells. Other related toxins, where the entire family is called the superantigen family, bind to CD40, but not with a high-enough apparent affinity to cause TSS; thus, TSST-1 is the only exotoxin superantigen associated. Once the epithelial cells become activated by TSST-1, they produce soluble molecules referred to as chemokines, which in turn facilitate TSST-1 activation of T lymphocytes and macrophages to cause the symptoms of TSS. Identification of small-molecule inhibitors of the interaction of TSST-1 with CD40 may be useful so that they may serve as additives to medical devices, such as tampons and menstrual cups, to reduce the incidence of menstrual TSS.
Clostridium difficile Modulates the Gut Microbiota by Inducing the Production of Indole, an Interkingdom Signaling and Antimicrobial Molecule
Authors: Darkoh Charles , Plants-Paris Kimberly , Bishoff Dayna , DuPont Herbert L.
Published: March 2019

Clostridium
difficile
infection is the leading cause of hospital-acquired and antibiotic-associated diarrhea worldwide.
C. difficile
flourishes in the colon after the diversity of the beneficial and protective gut microbiota have been altered by antibiotic therapy.
C. difficile
tends to persist, as does dysbiosis, encouraging recurrence a few days to weeks after treatment, and this further complicates treatment options. Here, we show that
C. difficile
might persist by manipulating the indigenous microbiota to produce indole, a bioactive molecule that inhibits the growth and reconstitution of the protective gut microbiota during infection. This discovery may explain a unique strategy
C. difficile
uses to control other bacteria in the colon and provide insight into the complex interactions and chemical warfare among the gut microbiota.
Scaling early child development: what are the barriers and enablers?
Authors: Cavallera Vanessa , Tomlinson Mark , Radner James , Coetzee Bronwynè , Daelmans Bernadette , Hughes Rob , Pérez-Escamilla Rafael , Silver Karlee L , Dua Tarun
Published: March 2019

The Sustainable Development Goals,Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health(2016–2030) and Nurturing Care Framework all include targets to ensure childrenthrive. However, many projects to support early childhood development (ECD) do not ‘scale well’ and leave large numbers of children unreached. This paper is the fifth in a series examining effective scaling of ECD programmes. This qualitative study explored experiences of scaling-up among purposively recruited implementers of ECD projects in low- and middle-income countries. Participants were sampled, by means of snowball sampling, from existing networks notably through Saving Brains®, Grand Challenges Canada®. Findings of a recent literature review on scaling-up frameworks, by the WHO, informed the development of a semistructured interview schedule. All interviews were conducted in English, via Skype, audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Interviews were analysed using framework analysis. Framework analysis identified six major themes based on a standard programme cycle: planning and strategic choices, project design, human resources, financing and resource mobilisation, monitoring and evaluation, and leadership and partnerships. Key informants also identified an overarching theme regarding what scaling-up means. Stakeholders have not found existing literature and available frameworks helpful in guiding them to successful scale-up. Our research suggests that rather than proposing yet more theoretical guidelines or frameworks, it would be better to support stakeholders in developing organisational leadership capacity and partnership strategies to enable them to effectively apply a practical programme cycle or systematic process in their own contexts.
Demonstrating value: association of cost and quality outcomes with implementation of a value-driven oncology-hospitalist inpatient collaboration for patients with lung cancer
Authors: Manzano Joanna-Grace , Park Anne , Lin Heather , Liu Suyu , Halm Josiah
Published: March 2019

The hospitalist model of care has gained favour in many hospital systems for the value, cost-effectiveness and quality of care that hospitalists provide. Hospitalists are experts in high-acuity medical problems of patients and they are intimately knowledgeable about hospital operations that enable efficiency of patient care. This results in tremendous cost-savings for institutions especially since hospitalists are also obligated to be involved in quality and practice improvement initiatives. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center employs oncology-hospitalists for many of their patients with cancer needing inpatient services. This physician team has expertise in both cancer-related and comorbidity-related reasons for hospitalisation. In September 2015, the thoracic and head and neck medical oncology team started a collaboration with the Oncology Hospitalist team whereby a proportion of patients with thoracic malignancies were directly admitted to hospitalists for inpatient care. To determine the value of this collaboration, a pre- and post- implementation study was done to compare quality outcomes such as readmission rates and length of stay (LOS) between the two groups. Adjusted outcomes showed that readmission rates were similar for both physician groups both at baseline and after implementation of the collaborative (p=0.680 and p=0.840, respectively). Median LOS was similar for both groups at baseline (4 days) and was not significantly different post-implementation (4vs5 days, p=0.07). The adjusted cost of a hospitalisation was also similar for hospitalist encounters and thoracic oncology encounters. This initial study showed that quality of care remained comparable for patients with lung cancer who were admitted to either service. With possibly shorter LOS but comparable readmission outcomes and adjusted cost for patients discharged from the hospitalist service, there is a strong value benefit for the implemented Thoracic Oncology-Hospitalist inpatient collaborative.
Comparison of two ultrasound-guided techniques for greater occipital nerve injections in chronic migraine: a double-blind, randomized, controlled trial
Authors: Flamer David , Alakkad Husni , Soneji Neilesh , Tumber Paul , Peng Philip , Kara Jamal , Hoydonckx Yasmine , Bhatia Anuj
Published: March 2019

Background and objectives

Two ultrasound (US)-guided techniques for greater occipital nerve (GON) block have been described for the management of headache disorders: a “proximal or central” technique targeting the GON at the level of the second cervical vertebra and a “distal or peripheral” technique targeting the GON at the level of the superior nuchal line. In this multicenter, prospective, randomized control trial, we compared accuracy, effectiveness, and safety of these two techniques in patients with chronic migraines (CMs).

Methods

Forty patients with refractory CMs were randomized to receive either a proximal or distal US-guided GON block with bupivacaine and methylprednisolone acetate. The primary outcome was the difference in Numerical Rating Score (NRS) for headache intensity at 1 month. Secondary outcomes were effectiveness, performance, and safety-related. Effectiveness-related outcomes included NRS for headache intensity, number of headache days per week, patient satisfaction, quality of life, assessment of sleep quality, and sleep interruption. Performance-related outcomes included procedure time, accuracy of block, and patient discomfort. Safety-related outcomes included an assessment for adverse effects.

Results

NRS pain scores were significantly reduced at 24 hours and at 1 week postprocedure in both cohorts and at 1 and 3 months in the proximal group as compared with the baseline. There was no significant difference in NRS pain scores between the two cohorts at any of the follow-up time points. There was a significant reduction in number of headache days per week at 1 month in both groups, and a significant improvement in sleep interruption at 1 week in both groups. There were no significant adverse effects.

Conclusions

This study was designed to compare two different US-guided approaches for blocking the GON. Our results demonstrate that both distal and proximal techniques can provide a short-term improvement in headache intensity, reduction in number of headache days per week, and an improvement in sleep interruption. The proximal GON technique may confer more sustained analgesic benefit compared with the distal approach in patients with CM headaches.

Trial registration number

NCT02031822
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Autochthonous Angiostrongylus vasorum in Finland
Authors: Tiškina Valentina , Lindqvist Eeva‐Liisa , Blomqvist Anna‐Clara , Orav Merle , Stensvold Christen Rune , Jokelainen Pikka
Published: March 2019

Angiostrongylus vasorum has spread farther north in Europe. In this study, two autochthonous findings from dogs from Finland are described: in February 2014, the infection was diagnosed in a 10‐month‐old labrador retriever, and in February 2017, in a three‐year‐old French bulldog. These diagnoses were based on direct detection of the larvae from faeces of the dogs. The dogs had no history of travel to or import from abroad; the first lived in Southern Finland and the other in Western Finland, about 150 km apart. The dogs had no clinical signs attributable to angiostrongylosis. An online questionnaire was used to survey the extent to which veterinarians in Finland have self‐reportedly observed canine A vasorum infections. A total of 38 veterinarians authorised to work in Finland answered the questionnaire in December 2017, and 9 (24%) of them reported having seen one or more dogs with A vasorum infection in Finland. The results suggest that at least five individual dogs with A vasorum infection would have been seen in Finland, three of which had an apparently autochthonous infection. While the geographical distribution of A vasorum in Finland remains largely unknown, findings have started to appear from domestic dogs. It remains possible that some veterinarians could have misdiagnosed, for example, Crenosoma vulpis larvae as those of A vasorum, and the findings without confirmation using antigen test could be due to coprophagy and passage of ingested larvae; however, this does not change the main conclusion that can be made: A vasorum is already multifocally present in Finland. Increasing awareness about A vasorum is important in areas where it is emerging and spreading.
Annexin A2 expression and partners during epithelial cell differentiation
Authors: Zibouche Malik , Illien Françoise , Ayala-Sanmartin Jesus
Published: March 2019

The members of the annexin family of calcium- and phospholipid-binding proteins participate in different cellular processes. Annexin A2 binds to S100A10, forming a functional heterotetrameric protein that has been involved in many cellular functions, such as exocytosis, endocytosis, cell junction formation, and actin cytoskeleton dynamics. Herein, we studied annexin A2 cellular movements and looked for its partners during epithelial cell differentiation. By using immunofluorescence, mass spectrometry (MS), and western blot analyses after S100A10 affinity column separation, we identified several annexin A2–S100A10 partner candidates. The association of putative annexin A2–S100A10 partner candidates obtained by MS after column affinity was validated by immunofluorescence and sucrose density gradient separation. The results show that three proteins are clearly associated with annexin A2: E-cadherin, actin, and caveolin 1. Overall, the data show that annexin A2 can associate with molecular complexes containing actin, caveolin 1, and flotillin 2 before epithelial differentiation and with complexes containing E-cadherin, actin, and caveolin 1, but not flotillin 2 after cell differentiation. The results indicate that actin, caveolin 1, and E-cadherin are the principal protein partners of annexin A2 in epithelial cells and that the serine phosphorylation of the N-terminal domain does not play an essential role during epithelial cell differentiation.
Biologging in combination with biotelemetry reveals behavior of Atlantic salmon following exposure to capture and handling stressors
Authors: Lennox Robert J. , Chapman Jacqueline M. , Twardek William M. , Broell Franziska , Bøe Kristin , Whoriskey Frederick G. , Fleming Ian A. , Robertson Martha , Cooke Steven J.
Published: March 2019

We investigated the response of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) to capture and handling stressors by analyzing fine-scale locomotor activity using accelerometer data loggers and broader-scale movements by tracking migration with radiotelemetry. Half the sample population was exposed to experimental exercise and air exposure and released with a control group to simulate fisheries handling. All but two of the surviving fish (both in the treatment group) returned to the counting fence to resume the 2016 spawning migration (survival = 86%–91%). There were no differences in postrelease locomotor activity, measured by an index of total body action (jerk), between control and treatment salmon (p = 0.81). Comparison of mean time to return to the counting fence against a null model revealed that treatment salmon were significantly delayed in returning to the counting fence (p < 0.01), whereas control fish were not (p = 0.24). Both the abiotic environment and human interactions influenced locomotor activity of the migratory fish and synchrony of the migration with untreated conspecifics.
A Review on Calibration Methods of Timing-Skew in Time-Interleaved ADCs
Authors: Li Xin , Huang Cheng , Ding Desheng , Wu Jianhui
Published: March 2019

Time-interleaving has been a popular choice for multi-GHz analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) with a resolution of 8–14 bits. Unfortunately, inherent defects such as offset, gain, timing-skew mismatches among sub-ADCs degrade overall performance seriously. At present, the method for eliminating offset and gain mismatch is fairly straightforward; however, calibration for timing-skew is still in a state of exploration. A systematic overview of various calibration methods for timing-skew in time-interleaved ADCs (TI-ADCs) has been provided in this paper. Meanwhile, current state-of-the-art TI-ADCs recently are reported and several noteworthy trends can be observed from the statistical results.
Computational Elucidation of Elastic Percolation Threshold in Isotropic and Anisotropic Microstructures with Voronoi Tessellation
Authors: Naeini V. Fadaei , Zarei M. H. , Baniassadi M. , Shirani M. , Baghani M.
Published: March 2019

In this paper, the mechanical properties of randomly shaped microstructures containing two different elastic materials are investigated. Representative volume elements (RVE) containing random tessellations were created using a random generating procedure. The procedure divides the RVE surface by Voronoi tessellations and the elastic behavior of the surface is analyzed under tensile and shear deformations using the finite element method (FEM). Components of stress tensor for each element obtained from FE analysis were used to compute the overall elastic properties of the microstructure. Percolation threshold was defined based on the instantaneous gradient of the tensile and shear modulus diagrams. Numerical results reveal that the percolation thresholds in tensile and shear modes for isotropic RVE are almost the same while there is a remarkable difference between percolation thresholds for an anisotropic case. Furthermore, in the procedure performed in this study, a distinct inconsistency in elastic properties of anisotropic microstructure in longitudinal and transverse directions is observed. The mentioned method presents a paradigmatic overview for generating random isotropic and anisotropic tessellations with different aspect ratios on microstructures and evaluating their overall properties and percolation limit for them.
Signaling game models of equity financing under information asymmetry and finite project life
Authors: Wang Qiuqi , Kwok Yue Kuen
Published: March 2019

We develop the real option signaling game models of equity financing of a risky project under asymmetric information, where the firm quality is known to the firm management but not outside investors. Unlike the usual assumption of perpetuity of investment, we assume that the time window of the investment opportunity has a finite time horizon. The firm chooses the optimal time to issue equity to raise capital for the investment project. The number of shares of equity issued to fund the project depends on the outside investors’ belief on the firm quality. The low-type firm has the incentive to sell overpriced securities through mimicking the investment strategy of the high-type firm in terms of investment timing and number of equity shares. On the other hand, the high-type firm may adopt the separating strategy by imposing mimicking costs on the low-type firm. We examine the incentive compatibility constraints faced by the firm under different quality types and discuss characterization of the separating and pooling equilibriums. We also explore how the separating and pooling equilibriums evolve over the time span of the investment opportunity. The information costs and abnormal returns exhibit interesting time dependent behaviors, in particular, at time close to expiry of the investment opportunity.
Quality Evaluation of Solution Sets in Multiobjective Optimisation
Authors: Li Miqing , Yao Xin
Published: March 2019

Complexity and variety of modern multiobjective optimisation problems result in the emergence of numerous search techniques, from traditional mathematical programming to various randomised heuristics. A key issue raised consequently is how to evaluate and compare solution sets generated by these multiobjective search techniques. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of solution set quality evaluation. Starting with an introduction of basic principles and concepts of set quality evaluation, this article summarises and categorises 100 state-of-the-art quality indicators, with the focus on what quality aspects these indicators reflect. This is accompanied in each category by detailed descriptions of several representative indicators and in-depth analyses of their strengths and weaknesses. Furthermore, issues regarding attributes that indicators possess and properties that indicators are desirable to have are discussed, in the hope of motivating researchers to look into these important issues when designing quality indicators and of encouraging practitioners to bear these issues in mind when selecting/using quality indicators. Finally, future trends and potential research directions in the area are suggested, together with some guidelines on these directions.
Reasoning about Strategic Abilities
Authors: Bulling Nils , Jamroga Wojciech , Popovici Matei
Published: March 2019

In alternating-time temporal logic ATL*, agents with perfect recall assign choices to sequences of states, i.e., to possible finite histories of the game. However, when a nested strategic modality is interpreted, the new strategy does not take into account the previous sequence of events. It is as if agents collect their observations in the nested game again from scratch, thus, effectively forgetting what they observed before. Intuitively, it does not fit the assumption of agents having perfect recall of the past. In this article, we investigate the alternative semantics for ATL*where the past is not forgotten in nested games. We show that the standard semantics of ATL*coincides with the “truly perfect recall” semantics for agents with perfect information and in case of so-called “objective” abilities under uncertainty. On the other hand, the two semantics differ significantly for the most popular (“subjective”) notion of ability under imperfect information. The same applies to the standard vs. “truly perfect recall” semantics of ATL*with persistent strategies. We compare the relevant variants of ATL*by looking at their expressive power, sets of validities, and tractability of model checking.