bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vapour pressure deficit: The hidden driver behind plant morphofunctional traits in controlled environments
Authors: Amitrano Chiara , Arena Carmen , Rouphael Youssef , De Pascale Stefania , De Micco Veronica
Published: September 2019

Currently, climate change is threatening farming opportunities to feed a growing population, making necessary the implementation of worldwide cultivable lands, also through the improvement of highly intensified cropping systems such as greenhouses and indoor growing modules. To ameliorate plant performance and reach the potential yield in controlled environment, these systems should be based on the fine control of all microclimatic factors among which vapour pressure deficit (VPD) plays a major role. VPD represents a driver for transpiration in plants, and it is crucial in inducing specific plant structure and physiological behaviour. VPD changes with relative air humidity and temperature, and through its control it is possible to regulate the entire evaporative demand of an indoor cultivation. Therefore, VPD control becomes critical to improve plant growth and productivity. The regulation of VPD in controlled environment should be managed dynamically because VPD can modulate morphophysiological processes in plants, which adapt to the new environmental conditions and in turn, modify the environment itself, thus requiring the continuous update of VPD according to phenological phases. The aim of this review is to report VPD effects on plant growth and physiological processes as carbon metabolism and water use efficiency in controlled environments. Available information about the wide variety of VPD effects on different plant traits and species is summarised, considering the structure‐mediated regulation of water fluxes in plant. Towards the goal of optimising cultivation strategies in protected agriculture, the importance of considering possible interaction between VPD and other microclimatic factors is highlighted. Finally, future research areas, which should be explored further, based on needed synergies among different expertise from biological and horticultural fields, are identified and discussed.
Effect of long‐term mineral fertilisation on soil microbial abundance, community structure and diversity in a Typic Hapludoll under intensive farming systems
Authors: Verdenelli Romina A. , Dominchin María F. , Pérez‐Brandan Carolina , Rovea Adrián , Vargas‐Gil Silvina , Meriles José M.
Published: September 2019

Fertiliser application can not only influence plant communities, but also the soil microbial community dynamics, and consequently soil quality. Specifically, mineral fertilisation can directly or indirectly affect soil chemical properties, microbial abundance and, the structure and diversity of soil microbial communities. We investigated the impact of six different mineral fertiliser regimes in a maize/soybean rotation system: control (CK, without fertilisation), PS (application of phosphorus plus sulphur), NS (application of nitrogen plus S), NP (application of N plus P), NPS (application of N, P plus S) and NPSm (application of N, P, S plus micronutrients). Soil samples were collected at the physiological maturity stage of maize and soybean in March of 2013 and 2014, respectively. Overall, mineral fertilisation resulted in significantly decreased soil pH and increased total organic carbon compared with the control (CK). The analysis of terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T‐RFLP) revealed that mineral fertilisers caused a shift in the composition of both bacterial and fungal communities. In 2013, the highest value of Shannon diversity of bacterial terminal restriction fragments (TRFs) was found in control soils. In 2014, NPSm treated soils showed the lowest values of diversity for both bacterial and fungal TRFs. In both crop growing seasons, the analysis of phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) detected the lowest value of total microbial biomass under CK. As PLFA analysis can be used to evaluate total microbial community, this result suggests that fertilisation increased total microbial biomass. When the bacterial and fungal abundance were examined using real time polymerase chain reaction, the results revealed that mineral fertilisation led to decreased bacterial abundance (16S rRNA), while fungal abundance (18S rRNA) was found to be increased in both crop growing seasons. Our results show that mineral fertiliser application has a significant impact on soil properties, bacterial and fungal abundance and microbial diversity. However, further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms involved in the changes to microbial communities as a consequence of mineral fertilisation.
Effects of Alcohol and Estrogen Receptor Blockade Using ICI 182,780 on Bone in Ovariectomized Rats
Authors: Wagner Lindsay , Howe Kathy , Philbrick Kenneth A. , Maddalozzo Gianni F. , Kuah Amida F. , Wong Carmen P. , Olson Dawn A. , Branscum Adam J. , Iwaniec Urszula T. , Turner Russell T.
Published: September 2019

Background

Estrogen signaling is essential for the sexual dimorphism of the skeleton, is required for normal bone remodeling balance in adults, and may influence the skeletal response to alcohol. High levels of alcohol consumption lower bone mass in ovary‐intact but not ovariectomized (ovx) rats. However, the extremely rapid rate of bone loss immediately following ovx may obscure the effects of alcohol. We therefore determined (i) whether heavy alcohol consumption (35% caloric intake) influences bone in sexually mature ovx rats with established cancellous osteopenia and (ii) whether ICI 182,780 (ICI), a potent estrogen receptor signaling antagonist, alters the skeletal response to alcohol.

Methods

Three weeks following ovx, rats were randomized into 5 groups, (i) baseline, (ii) control + vehicle, (iii) control + ICI, (iv) ethanol (EtOH) + vehicle, or (v) EtOH + ICI, and treated accordingly for 4 weeks. Dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry, microcomputed tomography, blood measurements of markers of bone turnover, and gene expression in femur and uterus were used to evaluate response to alcohol and ICI.

Results

Rats consuming alcohol had lower bone mass and increased fat mass. Bone microarchitecture of the tibia and gene expression in femur were altered; specifically, there was reduced accrual of cortical bone, net loss of cancellous bone, and differential expression of 19/84 genes related to bone turnover. Furthermore, osteocalcin, a marker of bone turnover, was lower in alcohol‐fed rats. ICI had no effect on weight gain, body composition, or cortical bone. ICI reduced cancellous bone loss and serum CTX‐1, a biochemical marker of bone resorption; alcohol antagonized the latter 2 responses. Neither alcohol nor ICI affected uterine weight or gene expression.

Conclusions

Alcohol exaggerated bone loss in ovx rats in the presence or absence of estrogen receptor blockade with ICI. The negligible effect of alcohol on uterus and limited effects of ICI on bone in alcohol‐fed ovx rats suggest that estrogen receptor signaling plays a limited role in the action of alcohol on bone in a rat model for chronic alcohol abuse.
Acute surgical experience of Australian general surgical trainees
Authors: Di Re Angelina M. , Adusumilli Sanjay , O'Grady Greg , Lam Vincent
Published: September 2019

Background

A principle of Australian general surgical training is exposure to a variety of operative and clinical experiences. These are potentially being impacted upon by expanding post‐fellowship training positions, mandatory reduced working hours, and advances in non‐operative care. This study aims to report the recent acute surgical experience of Australian general surgical trainees.

Methods

A de‐identified summary of general surgical trainee logbook data was obtained from General Surgeons Australia, over a 6‐year period (2009–2014). Case volumes in operative and non‐operative acute surgical cases were analysed, encompassing 5307 individual logbooks from 12 consecutive training terms.

Results

There was a mean of 112.2 ± 6.8 total major operative cases per trainee per term. There was an increase in case volumes reported from terms 1–8 (from 102.1 to 122.9), with the most recent reported volume being 117.8 cases per trainee in term 12. The total major operative primary operator rate increased from 35.5% in term 1 to 40.6% in term 8, with the most recent reported rate being 41.8% in term 12. Open and laparoscopic colorectal case volumes have remained stable. Operative trauma case volumes have increased.

Conclusion

The acute surgical operative case experience of general surgical trainees has not declined. However, it should continue to be monitored in view of the changing scope of surgical practice.
Decomposing polarisation across developing countries: case study of China, India, and Indonesia
Authors: Muttaqien Arip , O'Donoghue Cathal , Sologon Denisa
Published: September 2019

We investigate the contributions of various factors in the differences in polarisation across China, India, and Indonesia using micro‐simulation and decomposition methods. Using household expenditure from harmonised data from these countries, China was found to have the highest polarisation, while India has the lowest. Using India as the base country, the differences in the labour market structures in India and Indonesia have a slightly decreasing effect on polarisation. The effects of the differences in demographic composition and expenditure structures/parameters, however, are uncertain. Further, the differences in polarisation between China and Indonesia can be explained mostly by the differences in the expenditure structures. China's expenditure structure tends to increase polarisation, as evidenced by the resulting reduction in the size of the middle class.
Statin use and longitudinal changes in prostate volume; results from the REduction by DUtasteride of prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) trial
Authors: Allott Emma H. , Csizmadi Ilona , Howard Lauren E. , Muller Roberto L. , Moreira Daniel M. , Andriole Gerald L. , Roehrborn Claus G. , Freedland Stephen J.
Published: September 2019

Objective

To test the association between statin use and prostate volume (PV) change over time using data from the REduction by DUtasteride of prostate Cancer Events (REDUCE) trial, a 4‐year randomised controlled trial testing dutasteride for prostate cancer chemoprevention.

Subjects/Patients and Methods

We identified men with a baseline negative prostate biopsy from REDUCE who did not undergo prostate surgery or develop prostate cancer over the trial period. Men reported statin use at baseline. PV was determined from transrectal ultrasonography performed to guide prostate biopsy at baseline, and 2‐ and 4‐years after randomisation. Multivariable generalised estimating equations tested differences in PV change over time by statin use, overall and stratified by treatment arm. We tested for interactions between statins and time in association with PV using the Wald test.

Results

Of 4106 men, 17% used statins at baseline. Baseline PV did not differ by statin use. Relative to non‐users, statin users had decreasing PVs over the trial period (P = 0.027). Similar patterns were seen in the dutasteride and placebo arms, although neither reached statistical significance. The mean estimated PV was modestly but significantly lower in statin users relative to non‐users in the dutasteride arm at 2‐years (4.5%, P = 0.032) and 4‐years (4.0%, P = 0.033), with similar (3–3.3%) but non‐significant effects in the placebo arm.

Conclusion

If confirmed, our present findings support a role for statins in modestly attenuating PV growth, with a magnitude of effect in line with previously reported prostate‐specific antigen‐lowering effects of statins (~4%). Future studies are needed to assess whether this putative role for statins in PV growth could impact lower urinary tract symptom development or progression.
The effects of insecticides on two splice variants of the glutamate‐gated chloride channel receptor of the major malaria vector, Anopheles gambiae
Authors: Atif Mohammed , Lynch Joseph W. , Keramidas Angelo
Published: September 2019

Background and Purpose

Between half to 1 million people die annually from malaria. Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes are major malaria vectors. Unfortunately, resistance has emerged to the agents currently used to control A. gambiae, creating a demand for novel control measures. The pentameric glutamate‐gated chloride channel (GluCl) expressed in the muscle and nerve cells of these organisms are a potentially important biological target for malaria control. The pharmacological properties of Anophiline GluCl receptors are, however, largely unknown. Accordingly, we compared the efficacy of four insecticides (lindane, fipronil, picrotoxin, and ivermectin) on two A. gambiae GluCl receptor splice variants with the aim of providing a molecular basis for designing novel anti‐malaria treatments.

Experimental Approach

The A. gambiae GluCl receptor b1 and c splice variants were expressed homomerically in Xenopus laevis oocytes and studied with electrophysiological techniques, using two‐electrode voltage‐clamp.

Key Results

The b1 and c GluCl receptors were activated with similar potencies by glutamate and ivermectin. Fipronil was more potent than picrotoxin and lindane at inhibiting glutamate‐ and ivermectin‐gated currents. Importantly, b1 GluCl receptors exhibited reduced sensitivity to picrotoxin and lindane. They also recovered from these effects to a greater extent than c GluCl receptors

Conclusions and Implications

The two splice variant subunits exhibited differential sensitivities to multiple, structurally divergent insecticides, without accompanying changes in the sensitivity to the endogenous neurotransmitter, glutamate, implying that drug resistance may be caused by alterations in relative subunit expression levels, without affecting physiological function. Our results strongly suggest that it should be feasible to develop novel subunit‐specific pharmacological agents.
Relaxin reduces endothelium‐derived vasoconstriction in hypertension: Revealing new therapeutic insights
Authors: Leo Chen Huei , Ng Hooi Hooi , Marshall Sarah A. , Jelinic Maria , Rupasinghe Thusitha , Qin Chengxue , Roessner Ute , Ritchie Rebecca H. , Tare Marianne , Parry Laura J.
Published: September 2019

Background and Purpose

Endothelium‐derived vasoconstriction is a hallmark of vascular dysfunction in hypertension. In some cases, an overproduction of endothelium‐derived prostacyclin (PGI2) can cause contraction rather than relaxation. Relaxin is well known for its vasoprotective actions, but the possibility that this peptide could also reverse endothelium‐derived vasoconstriction has never been investigated. We tested the hypothesis that short‐term relaxin treatment mitigates endothelium‐derived vasoconstriction in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Experimental Approach

Male Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and SHR were subcutaneously infused with either vehicle (20 mmol·L−1 sodium acetate) or relaxin (13.3 μg·kg−1·hr−1) using osmotic minipumps for 3 days. Vascular reactivity to the endothelium‐dependent agonist ACh was assessed in vitro by wire myography. Quantitative PCR and LC‐MS were used to identify changes in gene expression of prostanoid pathways and PG production, respectively.

Key Results

Relaxin treatment ameliorated hypertension‐induced endothelial dysfunction by increasing NO‐dependent relaxation and reducing endothelium‐dependent contraction. Notably, short‐term relaxin treatment up‐regulated mesenteric PGI2 receptor (IP) expression, permitting PGI2–IP‐mediated vasorelaxation. In the aorta, reversal of contraction was accompanied by suppression of the hypertension‐induced increase in prostanoid‐producing enzymes and reduction in PGI2‐evoked contractions.

Conclusions and Implications

Relaxin has region‐dependent vasoprotective actions in hypertension. Specifically, relaxin has distinct effects on endothelium‐derived contracting factors and their associated vasoconstrictor pathways in mesenteric arteries and the aorta. Taken together, these observations reveal the potential of relaxin as a new therapeutic agent for vascular disorders that are associated with endothelium‐derived vasoconstriction including hypertension.
Psychological, social and everyday visual impact of diabetic macular oedema and diabetic retinopathy: a systematic review
Authors: Cooper O. A. E. , Taylor D. J. , Crabb D. P. , Sim D. A. , McBain H.
Published: September 2019

Aims

To synthesize the evidence on the impact of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular oedema from the patient perspective.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted using MEDLINE Complete, PsycINFO, EMBASE and AMED. We included articles investigating the impact of the condition on quality of life, symptoms, visual functioning, activities of daily living, well‐being, social functioning, and financial status. The studies evaluated were observational, including cross‐sectional, prospective cohort and retrospective cohort designs. Outcome data were extracted and synthesized.

Results

Searches yielded 5114 publications. After screening, 85 studies were included, measuring the following outcomes: visual functioning (n=46); quality of life (n=22); well‐being (n=16); functional status (n=5); work (n=4); and visual task performance (n=2). Diabetic retinopathy has a considerable impact on visual functioning and this is greater in people with greater disease severity. Diabetic retinopathy significantly limits activities including working, driving, walking and reading, and has the potential to have a negative impact on psychological well‐being.

Conclusions

Diabetic retinopathy is associated with poor self‐reported visual functioning, well‐being, and health‐related quality of life. Ability to perform basic everyday tasks appears to diminish with disease severity. Some studies suggest impaired mobility and problems with work, but there are gaps in this evidence.
Striatal dopamine transporter changes after glucose loading in humans
Authors: Pak Kyoungjune , Seo Seongho , Kim Keunyoung , Lee Myung Jun , Shin Myung Jun , Suh Sunghwan , Im Hyung‐Jun , Park Jung‐Jun , Kim Seong‐Jang , Kim In Joo
Published: September 2019

Aims

The dopamine transporter (DAT) actively translocates dopamine that is released from the presynaptic neurons across the membranes of nerve terminals into the extracellular space. We hypothesized that glucose loading‐induced changes in striatal DAT levels could be associated with food intake in humans.

Materials and methods

An intravenous bolus injection of 18F‐FP‐CIT was administered after infusion of glucose or placebo (normal saline), and emission data were acquired over 90 minutes in 33 healthy males. For a volume‐of‐interest‐based analysis, an atlas involving sub‐striatal regions of ventral striatum (VST), caudate nucleus and putamen was applied. DAT availability and binding potential (BPND) were measured using a simplified reference tissue method with cerebellum as the reference.

Results

The glucose‐loaded BPND from the VST negatively correlated with body mass index (BMI), whereas the placebo‐loaded BPND from the VST did not. After loading with glucose, there were substantial increases in BPNDs: 18.3%, 71.7% and 34.0% on average in the VST, caudate nucleus and putamen, respectively.

Conclusion

Striatal DAT changes after glucose loading, and BMI is associated with glucose‐loaded DAT availability, not with placebo‐loaded DAT availability. DAT might have a role in the reward system of eating behavior.
Efficacy and safety of gemigliptin as add‐on therapy to insulin, with or without metformin, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (ZEUS II study)
Authors: Cho Young Min , Deerochanawong Chaicharn , Seekaew Samroeng , Suraamornkul Swangjit , Benjachareonwong Sunun , Sattanon Sarinya , Chamnan Parinya , Sirirak Thanitha , Kosachunhanun Natapong , Pratipanawatr Thongchai , Suwanwalaikorn Sompongse , Lee Woo Je , Kim Sungrae , Choi Seonghui , Kang Eun Seok , Oh Taekeun , Kwon Sam , Lee Moon‐Kyu
Published: September 2019

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of gemigliptin added to a stable dose of insulin alone or of insulin in combination with metformin in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. After a two‐week run‐in period, patients were randomized 2:1 to receive gemigliptin 50 mg or placebo once daily as add‐on to background therapy with insulin or insulin plus metformin for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was change in haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) from baseline at Week 24. Baseline characteristics were similar between the gemigliptin (n = 188) and placebo (n = 95) groups in terms of HbA1c (8.1%). At Week 24, the gemigliptin group showed a statistically significant reduction in mean HbA1c from baseline as compared with placebo (between‐group mean difference, −0.7% [95% CI, −0.9% to −0.4%]; P‐value < 0.0001). The incidence of overall adverse events and the number of hypoglycaemic adverse events were similar between the study groups. Gemigliptin added to insulin alone or to insulin in combination with metformin resulted in superior glycaemic control compared to that in the placebo group and was well tolerated for 24 weeks in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, without causing weight gain or increasing the incidence of hypoglycaemia.
Promoting ownership in a “post‐aid effectiveness” world: Evidence from Rwanda and Liberia
Authors: Keijzer Niels , Klingebiel Stephan , Scholtes Fabian
Published: September 2019

Motivation

After generating considerable momentum in the period 2005–2011, policy debates on the aid effectiveness agenda—including the core principle of ownership—witnessed a sharp decline. Current trends raise questions about the continuing relevance of ownership as a fundamental principle for development co‐operation.

Purpose

This article analyses how approaches to managing development co‐operation have evolved in Rwanda and Liberia, two aid‐dependent post‐conflict states that were previously at the forefront of the aid effectiveness agenda. It presents new evidence on how ownership features and is promoted in development co‐operation relations.

Approach and Methods

The article draws on 48 semi‐structured interviews, complemented by a review of academic literature, policy documents and grey sources concerning the two countries and the broader subject matter.

Findings

Recent years have shown considerable drift in Liberia’s approach to development co‐operation management, while Rwanda retained its established system to manage its external partnerships and incentivize donor behaviour. Both cases illustrate challenges in promoting ownership among all relevant stakeholders, with a key shift being that donors increasingly favour the “what” of co‐operation over the “how.”

Policy implications

In view of the importance of ownership for the sustainability of development co‐operation, policy‐makers should consider reinvigorating and repositioning a self‐standing development effectiveness agenda. Such an international initiative should adjust to new co‐operation trends, notably the increased practice of predetermining co‐operation themes and the promotion of multi‐stakeholder approaches.
Occupational Social Value and Returns to Long Hours
Authors: Gicheva Dora
Published: September 2019

This paper examines the phenomenon of uncompensated long hours in jobs with pro‐social characteristics and presents evidence that long‐hour wage premiums and occupational social value are substitutes in compensating salaried workers who supply hours exceeding the standard working week. I show that the social value of an occupation—in particular the degree to which jobs involve helping or providing service to others—is inversely related to long‐hour pay. Allowing for heterogeneity in the degree to which workers value their job's helping orientation lets me explore how gender differences in employees’ attitudes toward pro‐social behaviour can explain some of the observed occupational sorting trends and gender differences in long‐hour compensation. Women tend to be more strongly drawn to ‘helping’ occupations and at the same time receive lower long‐hour premiums in these jobs relative to men. I offer a theoretical framework to rationalize the empirical trends.
Machine learning applications in epilepsy
Authors: Abbasi Bardia , Goldenholz Daniel M.
Published: September 2019

Machine learning leverages statistical and computer science principles to develop algorithms capable of improving performance through interpretation of data rather than through explicit instructions. Alongside widespread use in image recognition, language processing, and data mining, machine learning techniques have received increasing attention in medical applications, ranging from automated imaging analysis to disease forecasting. This review examines the parallel progress made in epilepsy, highlighting applications in automated seizure detection from electroencephalography (EEG), video, and kinetic data, automated imaging analysis and pre‐surgical planning, prediction of medication response, and prediction of medical and surgical outcomes using a wide variety of data sources. A brief overview of commonly used machine learning approaches, as well as challenges in further application of machine learning techniques in epilepsy, is also presented. With increasing computational capabilities, availability of effective machine learning algorithms, and accumulation of larger datasets, clinicians and researchers will increasingly benefit from familiarity with these techniques and the significant progress already made in their application in epilepsy.
Du machisme au coparentage: pour une révolution des mentalités en Italie
Authors: MARTONE Michel
Published: September 2019

Cet article décrit les processus législatifs et judiciaires complexes nécessaires pour que le droit au coparentage s'impose dans le droit du travail italien. Après avoir expliqué que le système juridique italien a jusqu'à présent assimilé la protection de la famille à la seule protection de la femme et de la maternité, l'auteur décrit l'évolution législative qui a permis de reconnaître aux pères un rôle fondamental dans l'éducation des enfants. Il montre ensuite que la jurisprudence, en retenant une interprétation moderne des principes inscrits dans la loi, contribue à vaincre la résistance à une telle évolution dans une société encore marquée par la domination masculine.
Reframing resilience: Strengthening continuity of patient care to improve the mental health of immigrants and refugees
Authors: Wylie Lloy , Corrado Ann Marie , Edwards Nandni , Benlamri Meriem , Murcia Monroy Daniel E.
Published: September 2019

Refugee and immigrant populations experience many pre‐ and post‐migration risk factors and stressors that can negatively impact their mental health. This qualitative study aimed to explore the system‐level issues that affect the access to, as well as quality and outcomes of mental health care for immigrants and refugees, with a particular focus on challenges in the continuity of patient care. A multidisciplinary group of health providers, including nurses, identified six themes including (i) perceived access to care; (ii) coordination amongst health care providers; (iii) patient connections with community organizations; (iv) coordinated care planning; (v) organizational protocols, policies and procedures and (vi) systemic and health care training needs. Although patient resilience is seen as a pivotal way for vulnerable populations to cope with hardship, there is a clear need for creating a resilient health care system that is able to anticipate and adapt to adverse situations. The findings from this study have implications for nurses, who are uniquely positioned to advocate for public health policy that improves the continuity of health care by creating systemic resilience.
How do interruptions affect user contributions on social commerce?
Authors: Zhang Yixin , Liu Libo , Ho Shuk Ying
Published: September 2019

Social commerce is an extension of e‐commerce, in which social media is leveraged to promote user contributions. Our study asks how interruptions in relation to interface design influence two types of user contributions: creating shared content and appreciating others' content. We use two interface designs, pagination and infinite scrolling, to manipulate the extent of interruptions to social commerce users. On the basis of the capacity theory of attention, we develop five hypotheses. We empirically test our model using a lab experiment and a field study to show that interruptions reduce users' content appreciation but increase their content creation and that user characteristics moderate these effects. The theoretical and practical contributions of our study are discussed.
Blood pressure control and cardiovascular risk profile in hypertensive patients under specialist care in Argentina: Results from the CHARTER study
Authors: Marín Marcos , Barochiner Jessica , Rodríguez Pablo , Renna Nicolás , Castellaro Carlos , Espeche Walter , De Cerchio Alejandro , Del Sueldo Mildren , Vissani Sergio , Zilberman Judith
Published: September 2019

Worldwide, hypertension control rate is far from ideal. Some studies suggest that patients treated by specialists have a greater chance to achieve control. The authors aimed to determine the BP control rate among treated hypertensive patients under specialist care in Argentina, to characterize patients regarding their cardiovascular risk profile and antihypertensive drug use, and to assess the variables independently associated with adequate BP control. The authors included adult hypertensive patients under stable treatment, managed in 10 specialist centers across Argentina. Office BP was measured thrice with a validated oscillometric device. Adequate BP control was defined as an average of the three readings <140/90 mm Hg (and <150/90 in patients older than 80 years). The authors estimated the proportion of adequate BP control and the variables independently associated with it through a multiple conditional logistic regression model. Among the 1146 included patients, 48.2% were men with a mean age of 63.5 (±13.1) years old. Mean office BP was 135.3 (±14.8)/80.8 (±10) mm Hg, with a 64.8% (95% CI: 62%‐67.6%) of adequate control. The mean number of antihypertensive drugs was 2.1 per participant, the commonest being angiotensin receptor blockers and calcium channel blockers. In multivariable analysis, only female sex was a predictor of adequate BP control (OR 1.33 [95% CI 1.02‐1.72], P = .04). In conclusion, almost 65% of hypertensive patients treated in specialist centers in Argentina have adequate BP control. The challenge for future research is to define strategies in order to translate this control rate to the primary care level, where most patients are managed.
Phenotypic variability can promote the evolution of adaptive plasticity by reducing the stringency of natural selection
Authors: Draghi Jeremy
Published: September 2019

Adaptive phenotypic plasticity is a potent but not ubiquitous solution to environmental heterogeneity, driving interest in what factors promote and limit its evolution. Here, a novel computational model representing stochastic information flow in development is used to explore evolution from a constitutive phenotype to an adaptively plastic response. Results show that populations tend to evolve robustness to developmental stochasticity, but that this evolved robustness limits evolvability; specifically, robust genotypes have less ability to evolve adaptive plasticity when presented with a mix of both the ancestral environment and a new environment. Analytic calculations and computational experiments confirm that this constraint occurs when the initial mutational steps towards plasticity are pleiotropic, such that mutant fitnesses decline in the environment to which their parents are well‐adapted. Greater phenotypic variability improves evolvability in the model by lessening this decline as well as by improving the fitness of partial adaptations to the new environment. By making initial plastic mutations more palatable to natural selection, phenotypic variability can increase the evolvability of an innovative, plastic response without improving evolvability to simpler challenges such as a shifted optimum in a single environment. Populations that evolved robustness by negative feedback between the trait and its rate of change show a particularly strong constraining effect on the evolvability of plasticity, revealing another mechanism by which evolutionary history can limit later innovation. These results document a novel mechanism by which weakening selection could actually stimulate the evolution of a major innovation.
Assessment of the effectiveness of invisible aligners compared with conventional appliance in aesthetic and functional orthodontic treatment: A systematic review
Authors: Pithon Matheus Melo , Baião Felipe Carvalho Souza , Sant´ Anna Letícia Iandeyara Dantas de Andrade , Paranhos Luiz Renato , Cople Maia Lucianne
Published: September 2019

To seek scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of invisible aligners, in the aesthetic and functional aspects, compared with that of conventional braces. An electronic search was performed with a complementary grey literature search for in vivo research. No language restrictions were applied. Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, ClinicalTrials and GreyLiterature databases were used. Studies were first selected by title and abstract; those potentially eligible were read in full. Non‐randomized studies were assessed for risk of bias using the tools Methodological Index for Non‐randomized Studies (MINORS) and Cochrane Collaboration Common Scheme for Bias as a function of the presence of randomization. The search found 559 studies, of which 55 were potentially eligible. A total of 4 articles were included in this systematic literature review: three non‐randomized controlled studies and one randomized controlled study, three with low risk of bias (RoB) and one with moderate RoB. Three studies showed time of correction of dental crowding shorter or equal to that of the control group and only one study showed less time of correction using conventional braces. Invisible aligners were deficient with respect to anterior/posterior and vertical corrections compared with fixed orthodontic appliances. Invisible aligners are effective in promoting dental alignment, but present clinical limitations in relation to the conventional system.
Suggestibility and false memories in relation to intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorder: a meta‐analytic review
Authors: Griego A. W. , Datzman J. N. , Estrada S. M. , Middlebrook S. S.
Published: September 2019

Background

A systematic literature review was conducted to evaluate previous research that examined intellectual disability (ID) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in relation to memory distortions (i.e. suggestibility and false memories). There were two goals for the current study; the first goal was to identify significant trends in past literature that fulfilled previously established selection criteria. The second goal was to establish reliability and effect sizes for suggestibility and false memory for samples with diagnoses of ID or ASD.

Methods and Procedures

Articles that were selected for inclusion in the current study were required to have a clinically diagnosed sample, as well as a non‐clinical control group. Studies were also required to have a post‐hoc power score higher than .30 to prevent the effects of underpowered studies and limit the potential for publication bias. Selected studies were also required to have provided pertinent information required to complete the analyses (e.g. means, standard deviations, p‐values, or correlation coefficients). Any study that did not provide the required information was excluded.

Results and Conclusions

Two empirical Bayes omnibus analyses revealed a significant effect for participants diagnosed with ID (z = 6.10, p < .001), which supported the researchers' hypothesis. The results indicated increased susceptibility toward memory suggestibility and false memories when compared with the general population. However, the results of the analyses did not support the researchers' hypothesis regarding participants diagnosed with ASD. The analyses indicated that participants diagnosed with ASD displayed decreased suggestibility and were less likely to develop false memories (z = ‐2.37, p = 0.018).
Synaptic vesicle generation from activity‐dependent bulk endosomes requires a dephosphorylation‐dependent dynamin–syndapin interaction
Authors: Cheung Giselle , Cousin Michael A.
Published: September 2019

Activity‐dependent bulk endocytosis generates synaptic vesicles (SVs) during intense neuronal activity via a two‐step process. First, bulk endosomes are formed direct from the plasma membrane from which SVs are then generated. SV generation from bulk endosomes requires the efflux of previously accumulated calcium and activation of the protein phosphatase calcineurin. However, it is still unknown how calcineurin mediates SV generation. We addressed this question using a series of acute interventions that decoupled the generation of SVs from bulk endosomes in rat primary neuronal culture. This was achieved by either disruption of protein–protein interactions via delivery of competitive peptides, or inhibition of enzyme activity by known inhibitors. SV generation was monitored using either a morphological horseradish peroxidase assay or an optical assay that monitors the replenishment of the reserve SV pool. We found that SV generation was inhibited by, (i) peptides that disrupt calcineurin interactions, (ii) an inhibitor of dynamin I GTPase activity and (iii) peptides that disrupt the phosphorylation‐dependent dynamin I–syndapin I interaction. Peptides that disrupted syndapin I interactions with eps15 homology domain‐containing proteins had no effect. This revealed that (i) calcineurin must be localized at bulk endosomes to mediate its effect, (ii) dynamin I GTPase activity is essential for SV fission and (iii) the calcineurin‐dependent interaction between dynamin I and syndapin I is essential for SV generation. We therefore propose that a calcineurin‐dependent dephosphorylation cascade that requires both dynamin I GTPase and syndapin I lipid‐deforming activity is essential for SV generation from bulk endosomes.

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Phosphorylation of unique C‐terminal sites of the mu‐opioid receptor variants 1B2 and 1C1 influences their Gs association following chronic morphine
Authors: Chakrabarti Sumita , Liu Nai‐Jiang , Gintzler Alan R.
Published: September 2019

We recently demonstrated in rat spinal cord that a regimen of escalating doses of systemic morphine, analogous to regimens used clinically for chronic pain management, selectively up‐regulates the mu‐opioid receptor (MOR) splice variants MOR‐1B2 and MOR‐1C1 mRNA and functional protein. This study investigated the potential relevance of up‐regulating MOR‐1B2 and MOR‐1C1 to the ability of chronic morphine to shift MOR signaling from predominantly Gi/Go inhibitory to Gs stimulatory. Specifically, we tested the hypotheses that chronic morphine induces phosphorylation of carboxyl terminal sites unique to MOR‐1B2 and MOR‐1C1, and that this phosphorylation is causally related to augmented association of these variants with Gsα. Hypotheses were validated by (i) abolition of the chronic morphine‐induced increment in MOR‐1C1 and MOR‐1B2 association with Gsα by inhibitors of protein kinase A and Casein kinase 2, respectively; (ii) failure of chronic morphine to augment MOR variant Gsα interactions in Chinese hamster ovary cells transiently transfected with either rat MOR‐1C1 or MOR‐1B2 in which targeted protein kinase A and Casein kinase 2 serine phosphorylation sites, respectively, were mutated to alanine; (iii) abrogation of chronic morphine‐induced augmented MOR Gsα association in spinal cord of male rats following intrathecal administration of dicer substrate small interfering RNAs targeting MOR‐1B2/MOR‐1C1 mRNA. The ability of chronic morphine to not only up‐regulate‐specific MOR variants but also their carboxyl terminal phosphorylation and consequent augmented association with Gsα may represent a novel component of opioid tolerance mechanisms, suggesting novel potential targets for tolerance abatement.

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Posterior occluding pairs of teeth or dentures and 1‐year mortality in nursing home residents in Japan
Authors: Dewake Nanae , Hashimoto Hiroko , Nonoyama Toshiya , Nonoyama Kaoru , Shimazaki Yoshihiro
Published: September 2019

Background

Associations between tooth loss and mortality have been reported in older individuals. However, limited information is available regarding the association between occlusion and mortality in nursing home residents.

Objective

We investigated the association between posterior occluding pairs (POPs) of teeth or dentures and 1‐year mortality in nursing home residents.

Methods

The subjects of this study were residents from four nursing homes in Aichi prefecture, Japan, who were capable of eating and were enrolled in baseline examinations. We examined the number of present teeth and POPs (0‐8 pairs), defined as pairs of occluding natural, restored or fixed prosthetic post‐canine teeth. Then, we defined prosthetic POPs (0‐8 pairs) as pairs of occluding natural, restored or fixed prosthetic post‐canine teeth and removable dentures. Nutritional status, activities of daily living, cognitive function and comorbid conditions were assessed. One year later, we followed up the subjects. Ultimately, we analysed 173 elderly people (mean age ± SD: 87.1 ± 8.6 years; the survival group: N = 145, the deceased group: N = 28).

Results

In univariate analyses, mortality was significantly associated with age, peripheral vascular disease, nutritional status, diet texture and POPs. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, subjects who had 0 prosthetic POPs had significantly higher odds of a high mortality, compared with 8 prosthetic POPs.

Conclusion

Lack of properly occluding posterior teeth, whether remaining teeth or dentures, is associated with 1‐year mortality. (228 words/250).
Updated Nutrition Standards for School Meals Associated With Improved Weight Outcomes for Boys in Elementary School
Authors: Vericker Tracy C. , Gearing Maeve E. , Kim Sharon D.
Published: September 2019

BACKGROUND

In response to the Healthy, Hunger‐Free Kids Act of 2010, the US Department Agriculture updated the nutrition standards for school meals to improve nutrition‐related health outcomes for children. This study assesses the association between implementation of the updated nutrition standards and child weight.

METHODS

A quasi‐experimental design and multivariate regression analysis is used to compare longitudinal changes in BMI z‐scores for school lunch participants and nonparticipants across 2 nationally representative third grade cohorts of children—those exposed to the updated standards (N = 5480) and those not exposed (N = 9240).

RESULTS

Boys who ate school lunches after implementation of the updated standards experienced slower BMI z‐score growth than did nonparticipants; participants' BMI z‐scores increased by 0.10 compared with 0.18 for nonparticipants. We find no relationship between school lunch participation and BMI z‐scores for girls.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides evidence that the updated nutrition standards for school meals are associated with improved weight outcome for boys, but have no effect for girls, 1 year after implementation. These findings are encouraging and provide support for continued focus on improving the nutritional quality of school meals.
CONNECT: Implementation of a School‐Based Alcohol Screening and Brief Intervention for Youth in the Cherokee Nation
Authors: Garrett Brady A. , Komro Kelli A. , Merlo Lisa J. , Livingston Bethany J. , Rentmeester Shelby , Tobler Amy , Livingston Melvin D. , Kominsky Terrence K.
Published: September 2019

BACKGROUND

There is growing optimism regarding the use of screening and brief intervention (SBI) to identify and reduce risk behaviors during adolescence. However, understanding successful SBI implementation remains unclear. We previously reported the effects of CONNECT, a school‐based SBI, on reducing the primary outcome, the rate of monthly alcohol use among primarily American Indian (AI) and White high school students in the Cherokee Nation. In this paper, we describe the design and implementation process for CONNECT.

METHOD

CONNECT was designed to reduce alcohol use with 2 key strategies: (1) SBI with motivational interviewing (MI), implemented by a school‐based CONNECT coach, and (2) a media campaign.

RESULTS

Implementation results indicate that during each semester of the 2–1/2 years, between 73% and 100% of eligible students had at least one 15‐minute meeting with a CONNECT coach. Postcards and posters with positive communication tips for parents were displayed in CONNECT communities. No statistically significant differences occurred between the CONNECT and control groups on the hypothesized intermediate outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

We describe implementation of a universal, school‐based, culturally adapted SBI that was effective in reducing alcohol use among youth living in the Cherokee Nation. Schools provide an important context for universal delivery of SBI interventions, such as CONNECT, for diverse adolescent populations, including AI youth.
School‐based fluoride varnish programs: a national survey
Authors: Bakhurji Eman , Hoaglin Cooper LeeAnn
Published: September 2019

Purpose

To identify and describe school‐based fluoride varnish (FV) programs in K‐12 grades children in the United States.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study utilized an online, self‐administered survey to identify and describe school‐based FV programs in 2016. Several public health directories, mainly The Association of States and Territorial Dental Directors directory, were contacted to identify FV programs. The survey's questionnaire included 23 closed‐ended questions regarding program description, assessment, and process.

Results

Of 85 identified programs, 52 responded (response rate = 61 percent) with 40 school‐based FV programs in operation in 27 states. About 85 percent of responding programs apply FV as part of an existing school‐based program. Dental sealants on permanent teeth are the most common procedure provided in addition to FV (92 percent). One‐third of programs apply FV once a year versus 28 percent that apply FV twice a year.

Conclusions

Evidence‐based guidelines for FV in school‐based programs are needed to ensure cost‐effectiveness and continuity.