bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Less Mindful, More Struggle and Growth
Authors: Liu Xiaoyan , Wang Lili , Zhang Qian , Wang Ruifang , Xu Wei
Published: July 2018

Treatment of posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSSs) and facilitation of posttraumatic growth (PTG) are two encouraging areas of research, yet little is understood about the relationships between dispositional mindfulness, PTSSs, and PTG. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether PTSSs is correlated with PTG among breast cancer patients in China and explore the role of mindfulness in this relationship. A sample of 202 Chinese breast cancer patients voluntarily participated in the study by completing a set of questionnaires. The results revealed that PTSSs were significantly positively correlated with PTG. Structural equation modeling showed that mindfulness did not moderate but mediated the relation between PTSSs and PTG. These findings indicate that breast cancer patients with higher mindfulness may recover from PTSSs through a different process. Posttraumatic growth may not be the only positive indicator of posttraumatic individuals.
Is Internet Addiction a Clinical Symptom or a Psychiatric Disorder? A Comparison With Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Caldiroli Alice , Serati Marta , Buoli Massimiliano
Published: July 2018

The general purpose of this review is to present an updated literature overview of neurobiological/clinical aspects of Internet addiction (IA), particularly of overlaps and differences with bipolar affective disorder (BPAD). Articles with clinical/neurobiological aspects of IA or similarities/differences with BPAD as main topics, from 1990 to present and written in English language, were included. Comorbidity between IA and other psychiatric disorders, including BPAD, is common. Dysfunctions in dopaminergic pathways have been found both in IA and in mood disorders. Most of investigations in IA support a chronic hypodopaminergic dysfunctional state in brain reward circuit and an excessive reward experience during mood elevation. Neuroimaging studies show prefrontal cortex abnormalities shared between addictive and bipolar patients. BPAD and IA present numerous overlaps, such as polymorphisms in nicotinic receptors genes, anterior cingulate/prefrontal cortex abnormalities, serotonin/dopamine dysfunctions, and good response to mood stabilizers. The future is to clarify diagnostic criteria to better define the IA/BPAD relationship.
Emotion Regulation Difficulties in Relation to Anxiety, Depression, and Functional Impairment Among Treatment-Seeking Smokers
Authors: Chase Tannah , Teng Ellen J. , Schmidt Norman B. , Zvolensky Michael J.
Published: July 2018

Psychological distress is elevated among smokers and plays a key role in the maintenance of smoking behavior. Although research has implicated emotion regulation (ER) difficulties as a transdiagnostic construct for psychological distress, empirical work has not yet investigated ER difficulties among treatment-seeking smokers. The purpose of the current study was to increase understanding of ER difficulties in relation to depression, anxious arousal, and functional impairment among treatment-seeking smokers. Participants included adult daily treatment-seeking smokers (N = 568; M

age
= 37, SD = 13.46; 51.9% male). Results indicated that global ER difficulties were significantly related to depression, anxious arousal, and functional impairment. Analyses focused on the lower-order facets of ER and indicated that limited access to ER strategies, difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior, and lack of emotional clarity were significantly related to depression; limited access to ER strategies, nonacceptance of emotions, and impulsivity were significantly associated with anxious arousal; and limited access to ER strategies and difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior were significantly related to functional impairment. The significant ER effects were evident above and beyond the variance accounted for by neuroticism and tobacco dependence. These findings highlight the importance of considering ER difficulties to better understand psychological distress among smokers.
The Pediatric Index of Mortality as a Trigger Tool for the Detection of Serious Errors and Adverse Events*
Authors: Rüegger Christoph M. , Frey Bernhard
Published: July 2018

Objectives:

To test the hypothesis that patients who die in a PICU despite a low predicted mortality at PICU admission are affected by serious errors and adverse events.

Design:

Retrospective cross-sectional review of medical records for serious errors and adverse events.

Setting:

Tertiary interdisciplinary neonatal PICU.

Patients:

All admissions to our PICU who died despite a low expected mortality (Pediatric Index of Mortality) of less than 10% (trigger-positive admissions). They were compared with a random sample of 100 PICU admissions with a Pediatric Index of Mortality of less than 10% who survived (trigger-negative admissions).

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

There were 7,383 admissions (91%) with a Pediatric Index of Mortality 2 below 10%. Seventy-two trigger-positive admissions and 100 trigger-negative admissions met the criteria for detailed chart review. Forty-five serious errors and adverse events were identified, 0.47 per trigger-positive admission and 0.11 per trigger-negative admission (p < 0.001). Nineteen serious errors and adverse events (42%) were related to clinical sepsis acquired during the PICU stay, 17 (89%) in trigger-positive admissions and two (11%) in trigger-negative admissions (p < 0.001). A further 18 serious errors and adverse events (40%) were intervention related, nine (50%) in trigger-positive admissions and nine (50%) in trigger-negative admissions (p = 0.46). Eight serious errors and adverse events (18%) were associated with medication use, all of which occurred in trigger-positive admissions (p = 0.001). The median (interquartile range) age for admissions with and without serious errors and adverse events was 0.3 months (0.0–4.6 mo) and 7.4 months (0.4–58.4 mo) (p < 0.001), and their median (interquartile range) duration of invasive ventilation was 140 hours (50–451 hr) and 2 hours (0–41 hr) (p < 0.001), respectively.

Conclusions:

The records of PICU patients with a low expected mortality at admission and death in PICU should be reviewed routinely and/or discussed at morbidity and mortality meetings. These patients may have experienced more in-hospital safety-related events compared with PICU patients with a low Pediatric Index of Mortality who survived. Such adverse events may be amenable to system changes, thus improving patient care.
Albumin 5% Versus Crystalloids for Fluid Resuscitation in Children After Cardiac Surgery*
Authors: Dingankar Adil R. , Cave Dominic A. , Anand Vijay , Sivarajan V. Ben , Nahirniak Susan , Sheppard Cathy , Hanot Jan , Garcia Guerra Gonzalo
Published: July 2018

Objectives:

To determine the clinical benefit of using colloids versus crystalloids for volume resuscitation in children admitted after cardiac surgery.

Design:

Retrospective pre-/postintervention cohort study.

Setting:

Stollery Children’s Hospital tertiary care pediatric cardiac ICU.

Patients:

Children admitted to the pediatric cardiac ICU after cardiac surgery.

Interventions:

Fluid resuscitation policy change in which crystalloids replaced albumin 5% as the primary fluid strategy for resuscitation after cardiac surgery.

Measurements and Main Results:

Children who underwent cardiac surgery in the 6 months prior to the policy change (5% albumin group) were compared with children admitted during the 6 months after (crystalloid group). Demographic, perioperative, and outcome variables (fluid intake days 1–4 postoperative, vasoactive therapy, blood products, time to negative fluid balance, renal replacement therapies, mechanical ventilation, pediatric cardiac ICU, and length of stay) were collected. Data were analyzed using linear and logistic multivariate analysis. The study included 360 children. There was no association between fluid group and fluid intake (mL/kg) on day 1 postoperatively (coefficient, 2.84; 95% CI, 5.37–11.05; p = 0.497). However, crystalloid group was associated with significantly less fluid intake on day 2 (coefficient, –12.8; 95% CI, –22.0 to –3.65; p = 0.006), day 3 (coefficient, –14.9; 95% CI, –24.3 to –5.57; p = 0.002), and on the first 48 hours postoperative (coefficient, 10.1; 95% CI, –27.9 to –1.29; p = 0.032). Pediatric cardiac ICU stay (coefficient, –1.29; 95% CI, –2.50 to –0.08; p = 0.036) was shorter for the crystalloid group. There were no significant differences in the time to negative balance, need for renal replacement therapy, mechanical ventilation days, hospital stay, or pediatric cardiac ICU survival.

Conclusions:

In our study, the use of albumin 5% for resuscitation after cardiac surgery was not associated with less fluid intake but rather the opposite. Albumin administration did not provide measured clinical benefit while exposing children to side effects and generating higher costs to the healthcare system.
Anticholinergic Medication Burden in Pediatric Prolonged Critical Illness: A Potentially Modifiable Risk Factor for Delirium
Authors: Madden Kate , Hussain Kinza , Tasker Robert C.
Published: July 2018

Objectives:

It is important to describe and understand the prevalence and risk factors for the syndrome of delirium in critical illness. Since anticholinergic medication may contribute to the development of delirium in the PICU, we have sought to quantify anticholinergic medication exposure in patients with prolonged admission. We have used Anticholinergic Drug Scale scores to quantify the magnitude or extent of this burden.

Design:

Retrospective cohort study, January 2011 to December 2015.

Setting:

Single academic medical center PICU.

Patients:

Children under 18 years old with a PICU admission of 15 days or longer, requiring mechanical ventilation.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

Daily Anticholinergic Drug Scale scores for the first 15 days of admission, in each of 88 subjects (total of 1,320 PICU days), were collected and assessed in relation to demographic data, severity of illness, and medication use. Median (interquartile range) of daily Anticholinergic Drug Scale score was 5 (interquartile range, 3–7). Anticholinergic Drug Scale score was not associated with age, sex, medical history, presenting Severity of Illness score, PICU length of stay, ventilator hours, or hospital mortality. Medications most frequently associated with high Anticholinergic Drug Scale score were low potency anticholinergic drugs such as morphine, midazolam, vancomycin, steroids, and furosemide, with the exception of ranitidine (Anticholinergic Drug Scale score 2). Patients receiving high doses of midazolam infusion had significantly higher Anticholinergic Drug Scale scores compared with those receiving lower or no midazolam dosing.

Conclusions:

A high number of medications with anticholinergic effects are administered to PICU patients receiving prolonged mechanical ventilation. These exposures are much higher than those reported in adult intensive care patients. Since anticholinergic drug exposure is associated with delirium, further study of this exposure in PICU patients is needed.
Mitral Annular Plane Systolic Excursion as a Predictor of Mortality in Children With Septic Shock
Authors: EL-Zayat Rania Salah , Shalaby Awny Gamal
Published: July 2018

Objectives:

Myocardial dysfunction is well recognized in severe sepsis and septic shock. Echocardiography provides rapid, noninvasive, and bedside evaluation of cardiac function in patients with hemodynamic instability. Mitral annular plane systolic excursion is an M-mode–derived echocardiographic variable used to assess longitudinal left ventricular systolic function. No data are available about the uses of mitral annular plane systolic excursion in children with septic shock. Therefore, we aimed to assess the prognostic significance of mitral annular plane systolic excursion in children with septic shock and to correlate it with the most commonly used measures of left ventricular systolic function and myocardial injury.

Design:

A prospective cohort study.

Setting:

The study carried out at the PICU of Menoufia University Hospital in the period from March 2015 to September 2016.

Patients:

We serially enrolled 50 children with septic shock.

Interventions:

Complete diagnostic workup was performed for each patient including calculation of Pediatric Risk of Mortality III score. Transthoracic echocardiography was done to obtain mitral annular plane systolic excursion and the left ventricular ejection fraction measurement within 24 hours of inclusion then repeated on third and fifth days. Patients were followed up until hospital discharge or death. The predictive power of mitral annular plane systolic excursion was determined using the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Measurements and Main Results:

Mitral annular plane systolic excursion was significantly lower in nonsurvivors compared with survivors (p < 0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed an area under the curve of 0.892 for mitral annular plane systolic excursion on day 1. The cut-off point was 7.9 mm with 82.76% sensitivity and 80.95% specificity. Furthermore, follow-up of the patient’s systolic function showed that mitral annular plane systolic excursion was significantly lower in nonsurvivors compared with survivors on days of follow-up, whereas left ventricular ejection fraction was not significantly different between survivors and nonsurvivors at any day. Mitral annular plane systolic excursion was positively correlated with left ventricular ejection fraction (p = 0.044) and duration of hospital stay (p < 0.001) and negatively correlated with Pediatric Risk of Mortality III score (p < 0.001) and cardiac troponin I level (p < 0.001).

Conclusions:

Measurement of mitral annular plane systolic excursion at admission added a prognostic value in septic shock children. Compared with the left ventricular ejection fraction, longitudinal systolic function might be more sensitive in the detection of myocardial dysfunction in critically ill children and should receive more attention.
Surgical Management of Strabismus in Patients With Orbital Fracture
Authors: Xia Qing , Wang Zhonghao , Yan Jianhua
Published: July 2018

Purpose:

Till date, the surgical policy of strabismus in patients with orbital fracture is scarcely described in literature. The purpose of this study was to describe the clinical features and surgical experience in patients with strabismus and persistent diplopia after orbital fracture repair, or in patients who need not receive surgery for orbital fracture.

Patients and Methods:

Retrospective review was performed on patients with orbital fracture who received strabismus surgery between 2004 and 2016 in Eye Hospital, Zhongshan Ophthalimc Center, Sun Yat-sen University, China. The following clinical data were recorded from the patients’ charts: the nature of fracture, age at surgery, preoperative motor alignment, stereoacuity, surgical methods, surgical outcomes, and complications. Deviations of 10 prism diopter (PD) or less of horizontal angle and deviation of 5 PD or less of vertical angle in the primary position were considered to be a successful outcome.

Results:

A total of 29 patients (23 males and 6 females) with an average age of 32.4 ± 16.6 years (2–61 years) were recruited in this study. The strabismus was paralytic in 16 patients, restrictive in 2 patients, and both paralytic and restrictive in 11 patients. The surgical methods were quite various in each patient; however, all patients underwent either rectus recession or rectus recession plus resection. With at least 6 months of follow-up, preoperative horizontal deviation of 32.79 ± 22.84 PD was reduced to 6.69 ± 13.01 PD (P < 0.01). The vertical deviation was reduced from 22.76 ± 17.66 PD to 6.59 ± 7.98 PD (P < 0.01). Sixteen patients (55.2%) were considered as success, whereas a surgical undercorrection was observed in 44.8%. There were no surgical complications.

Conclusions:

The clinical manifestations of strabismus in patients with orbital fracture or after fracture repair are quite complex, often involving both paralytic and restrictive factors. The surgical treatment of each patient needs to be individualized. The rectus muscle recession and resection seems to be predictable, effective, and stable.
Evaluation of Heart Functions With Detailed Echocardiogram in Patients With Septum Deviation
Authors: Caglar Ozge , Aksit Ercan
Published: July 2018

Background:

One of the most important reasons for nasal congestion is septum deviation. Nasal septal deviation increases airway resistance and can cause systemic problems. In this study, echocardiographic findings were compared with the normal population to see how cardiac function was affected in patients with obstructive nasal septum deviation.

Methods:

This study included a young patient group with 44 obstructive septum deviation patients and 30 healthy individuals with no nasal-related problems. Echocardiography was performed by the same cardiologist and results were compared with normal patients. The authors got permission from the ethics committee of faculty for the study (E. 116795).

Results:

In the patient group with septum deviation, pulmonary artery pressure was high. In addition, the size of the right heart chambers was also increased. TAPSE, pulmonary acceleration time, ejection fraction, and right ventricular outflow tract-fractional shortening were found to be lower than the normal group.

Conclusion:

Patients with obstructive septum deviations should be evaluated early for cardiologic functions.
Association of pain after trauma with long-term functional and mental health outcomes
Authors: Herrera-Escobar Juan Pablo , Apoj Michel , Weed Christina , Harlow Alyssa Fitzpatrick , Al Rafai Syeda Sanam , Lilley Elizabeth , Kasotakis George , Brasel Karen , Kaafarani Haytham M.A. , Velmahos George , Salim Ali , Haider Adil Hussain
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND

Chronic pain after trauma is associated with serious clinical, social, and economic burden. Due to limitations in trauma registry data and previous studies, the current prevalence of chronic pain after trauma is unknown, and little is known about the association of pain with other long-term outcomes. We sought to describe the long-term burden of self-reported pain after injury and to determine its association with positive screen for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), functional status, and return to work.

METHODS

Trauma survivors with moderate or severe injuries and one completed follow-up interview at either 6 months or 12 months after injury were identified from the Functional Outcomes and Recovery after Trauma Emergencies project. Multivariable logistic regression models clustered by facility and adjusting for confounders were used to obtain the odds of positive PTSD screening, not returning to work, and functional limitation at 6 months and 12 months after injury, in trauma patients who reported to have pain on a daily basis compared to those who did not.

RESULTS

We completed interviews on 650 patients (43% of eligible patients). Half of patients (50%) reported experiencing pain daily, and 23% reported taking pain medications daily between 6 months and 12 months after injury. Compared to patients without pain, patients with pain were more likely to screen positive for PTSD (odds ratio [OR], 5.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.97–8.85), have functional limitations for at least one daily activity (OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.38–4.26]), and not return to work (OR, 1.86; 95% CI, 1.02–3.39).

CONCLUSIONS

There is a significant amount of self-reported chronic pain after trauma, which is in turn associated with positive screen for PTSD, functional limitations, and delayed return to work. New metrics for measuring successful care of the trauma patient are needed that span beyond mortality, and it is important we shift our focus beyond the trauma center and toward improving the long-term morbidity of trauma survivors.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic/Care management, level III.
Efficacy of Parenteral Amantadine Therapy in the Treatment of Multiple System Atrophy With Predominant Parkinsonism
Authors: Friedberg Adit , Erikh Ilana , Nassar Maria , Sprecher Elliot , Schlesinger Ilana
Published: July 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess clinical response to a high-dose intravenous (IV) amantadine given for 5 consecutive days in patients with multiple system atrophy parkinsonism (MSA-P).

Methods

Subjects with a diagnosis of MSA-P treated with IV amantadine were included. Patients' disease severity before and after therapy was evaluated using the Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale (UMSARS).

Results

Fourteen subjects (8 females) were included. In 10 subjects (71.4%), clinical improvement was noted. The UMSARS score after treatment decreased by 2 points (median [interquartile range, 0–3]) when compared with UMSARS score at baseline (P = 0.0020). Upon examining the walking parameter, a trend of improvement was shown (P = 0.0625) (range, 0–1 points). Neither specific demographic parameters nor occurrence of adverse effects was found to be a predictive factor for improvement. Adverse events were mild and transient except for one patient who experienced acute psychosis prompting treatment cessation, upon which psychosis resolved.

Conclusions

Our preliminary data show that IV amantadine may be a safe and effective therapy in MSA-P. A double-blind placebo-controlled trial is needed to establish the true benefit of amantadine therapy.
Visual and Positional Modulation of Pendular Seesaw Nystagmus: Implications for the Mechanism
Authors: Kim Sung-Hee , Kim Hyo-Jung , Oh Sea-Won , Kim Ji-Soo
Published: July 2018

Background:

The mechanisms of pendular seesaw nystagmus (SSN) remain unknown.

Methods:

We evaluated modulation of pendular SSN by removal of visual fixation, convergence, and positional changes in 2 patients, one with bitemporal hemianopia due to a traumatic damage of the optic chiasm and the other with platybasia compressing the medulla and lower cerebellum.

Results:

In both patients, the pendular SSN markedly decreased or disappeared with convergence, without visual fixation in darkness, during static head tilt toward each shoulder while sitting and while supine.

Conclusions:

The similar patterns of nystagmus modulation observed in our patients with a different etiology indicate a common role of both visual and otolithic inputs in generating pendular SSN.
Trigeminal Hyperexcitability in Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension: A Blink Reflex Study
Authors: Samanci Bedia , Altıokka-Uzun Güneş , Kocasoy Orhan Elif , Ekizoğlu Esme , Öge Ali Emre , Baykan Betül
Published: July 2018

Purpose:

To compare blink reflex examination findings in patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) with migraineurs and controls and to investigate the role of blink reflex data in the follow-up by evaluating their relationship with clinical symptoms.

Methods:

We included 23 patients with IIH, 15 migraineurs, and 16 controls. Blink reflex was studied with bilateral paired stimulations, and the 2R2/1R2 and 2R2c/1R2c area ratios, 1R2, 2R2, 1R2c, and 2R2c latencies were compared (R2:ipsilateral R2 response, R2c:contralateral R2 response).

Results:

2R2/1R2 area ratios at 200, 300, and 500 ms interstimulus intervals were significantly higher in the IIH group compared with the controls, and significantly higher 2R2/1R2 area ratio at 200 ms interstimulus interval was also detected in the IIH group compared with the migraine group. Significantly shorter 2R2 latencies were found at 500 and 800 ms interstimulus intervals in IIH group compared with the migraine group and controls. Significantly higher 2R2/1R2 area ratios at 500, 800 ms, and 2R2c/1R2c area ratios at 300, 500, and 800 ms were detected in patients with IIH in remission compared with patients with attacks.

Conclusions:

The significant increase in R2 recovery rates in patients with IIH in remission suggests that there is an increased excitability in the trigeminal pathways. Our findings may provide a new perspective for IIH mechanism related to trigeminal hyperexcitability and evaluating new management strategies.
Influence of the Montage of Stimulation Electrodes for Intraoperative Neuromonitoring During Orthopedic Spine Surgery
Authors: Berends Hanneke I. , Journée Henricus L.
Published: July 2018

Purpose:

In transcranial electrical stimulation, induced motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are influenced by the montage of stimulation electrodes. Differences are to be examined between coronal and sagittal stimulation.

Methods:

Forty-five patients with idiopathic scoliosis were included. Coronal and sagittal montages were obtained by electrode placement at C3C4 and Cz'F using large contact electrodes. Corkscrew and short needle electrodes were additionally placed at C3C4 in five patients. Voltage motor thresholds (MTvoltage) and MEP amplitudes at 2 times MTvoltage (MEP2MTvoltage) were obtained of upper and lower extremity muscles. Differences of MTvoltage and MEP2MTvoltage at Cz'F and C3C4 and between electrodes were analyzed.

Results:

MEP2MTvoltage benefits from coronal positioning. Correlations between MTvoltage and impedance were not significant for large electrodes at Cz'F, very low for C3C4, and high for short needles or corkscrew electrodes. MTvoltage of short needles and corkscrews was up to 200% higher compared with MTvoltage of long needles. MTcurrent is increased by 20% to 30% and 2% to 10% for the arm and leg muscles, respectively.

Conclusions:

Biphasic stimulation at C3C4 is advised when constant voltage stimulation is used to monitor the spinal cord during orthopedic spine surgery. MTvoltage of corkscrew and small needle electrodes are highly sensitive to electrode impedances.
Overview of the SAMPL6 host-guest binding affinity prediction challenge
Authors: Rizzi Andrea , Murkli Steven , McNeill John N. , Yao Wei , Sullivan Matthew , Gilson Michael K. , Chiu Michael W. , Isaacs Lyle , Gibb Bruce C. , Mobley David L. , Chodera John D.
Published: July 2018

Accurately predicting the binding affinities of small organic molecules to biological macro-molecules can greatly accelerate drug discovery by reducing the number of compounds that must be synthesized to realize desired potency and selectivity goals. Unfortunately, the process of assessing the accuracy of current computational approaches to affinity prediction against binding data to biological macro-molecules is frustrated by several challenges, such as slow conformational dynamics, multiple titratable groups, and the lack of high-quality blinded datasets. Over the last several SAMPL blind challenge exercises, host-guest systems have emerged as a practical and effective way to circumvent these challenges in assessing the predictive performance of current-generation quantitative modeling tools, while still providing systems capable of possessing tight binding affinities. Here, we present an overview of the SAMPL6 host-guest binding affinity prediction challenge, which featured three supramolecular hosts: octa-acid (OA), the closely related tetra-endo-methyl-octa-acid (TEMOA), and cucurbit[8]uril (CB8), along with 21 small organic guest molecules. A total of 119 entries were received from 10 participating groups employing a variety of methods that spanned from electronic structure and movable type calculations in implicit solvent to alchemical and potential of mean force strategies using empirical force fields with explicit solvent models. While empirical models tended to obtain better performance than first-principle methods, it was not possible to identify a single approach that consistently provided superior results across all host-guest systems and statistical metrics. Moreover, the accuracy of the methodologies generally displayed a substantial dependence on the system considered, emphasizing the need for host diversity in blind evaluations. Several entries exploited previous experimental measurements of similar host-guest systems in an effort to improve their physical-based predictions via some manner of rudimentary machine learning; while this strategy succeeded in reducing systematic errors, it did not correspond to an improvement in statistical correlation. Comparison to previous rounds of the host-guest binding free energy challenge highlights an overall improvement in the correlation obtained by the affinity predictions for OA and TEMOA systems, but a surprising lack of improvement regarding root mean square error over the past several challenge rounds. The data suggests that further refinement of force field parameters, as well as improved treatment of chemical effects (e.g., buffer salt conditions, protonation states) may be required to further enhance predictive accuracy.
Oxytocin modulates the intrinsic dynamics between attention-related large scale networks
Authors: Xin Fei , Zhou Feng , Zhou Xinqi , Ma Xiaole , Geng Yayuan , Zhao Weihua , Yao Shuxia , Dong Debo , Biswal Bharat B. , Kendrick Keith M. , Becker Benjamin
Published: July 2018

Attention and salience processing have been linked to the intrinsic between- and within-network dynamics of large scale networks engaged in internal (default mode network, DN) and external attention allocation (dorsal attention, DAN, salience network, SN). The central oxytocin (OXT) system appears ideally organized to modulate widely distributed neural systems and to regulate the switch between internal attention and salient stimuli in the environment. The current randomized placebo (PLC) controlled between-subject pharmacological resting-state fMRI study in N = 187 (OXT, n = 94; n = 93; single-dose intranasal administration) healthy male and female participants employed an independent component analysis (ICA) approach to determine the modulatory effects of OXT on the within- and between-network dynamics of the DAN-SN-DN triple network system. OXT increased the functional integration between subsystems within SN and DN and increased functional segregation of the DN with the SN and DAN engaged in attentional control. Whereas no sex differences were observed, OXT effects on the DN-SN interaction were modulated by autism traits. Together, the findings suggest that OXT may facilitate efficient attentional allocation towards social cues by modulating the intrinsic functional dynamics between DN components engaged in social processing and large-scale networks involved in external attentional demands (SN, DAN).
Coping with stress: morphological changes in response to environmental stimuli in a fungal plant pathogen
Authors: Francisco Carolina Sardinha , Ma Xin , Zwyssig Maria Manuela , McDonald Bruce A. , Palma-Guerrero Javier
Published: July 2018

During their life cycles, pathogens have to adapt to many biotic and abiotic environmental stresses to maximize their overall fitness. Morphological transitions are one of the least understood of the many strategies employed by fungal plant pathogens to adapt to constantly changing environments, even though different morphotypes may play important biological roles. We characterized the responses of the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici to a series of environmental stresses in order to understand the effects of changing environments on fungal morphology and adaptation. We found that all tested stresses induced morphological changes, but different responses were found among four different strains. A transcription analysis showed that morphogenesis and virulence factors are co-regulated. We discovered that Z. tritici forms chlamydospores and demonstrated that these structures are better able to survive extreme cold, heat and drought than other cell types. We also show that blastospores (the “yeast-like” form of the pathogen typically found only in laboratory conditions) can form from germinated pycnidiospores on the surface of wheat leaves, suggesting that this morphotype can play an important role in the natural history of Z. tritici. Our findings illustrate how changing environmental conditions can affect cellular morphology and lead to the formation of new morphotypes, with each morphotype having a potential impact on both pathogen survival and disease epidemiology.
Evolutionarily informed deep learning methods: Predicting transcript abundance from DNA sequence
Authors: Washburn Jacob D. , Mejia-Guerra Maria Katherine , Ramstein Guillaume , Kremling Karl A. , Valluru Ravi , Buckler Edward S. , Wang Hai
Published: July 2018

Deep learning methodologies have revolutionized prediction in many fields, and show potential to do the same in molecular biology and genetics. However, applying these methods in their current forms ignores evolutionary dependencies within biological systems and can result in false positives and spurious conclusions. We developed two novel approaches that account for evolutionary relatedness in machine learning models: 1) gene-family guided splitting, and 2) ortholog contrasts. The first approach accounts for evolution by constraining the models training and testing sets to include different gene families. The second, uses evolutionarily informed comparisons between orthologous genes to both control for and leverage evolutionary divergence during the training process. The two approaches were explored and validated within the context of mRNA expression level prediction, and have prediction auROC values ranging from 0.72 to 0.94. Model weight inspections showed biologically interpretable patterns, resulting in the novel hypothesis that the 3’ UTR is more important for fine tuning mRNA abundance levels while the 5’ UTR is more important for large scale changes.
Geographic variation in reproductive assurance of Clarkia pulchella
Authors: Bontrager Megan , Muir Christopher D. , Angert Amy L.
Published: July 2018

Climate can affect plant populations through direct effects on physiology and fitness, and through indirect effects on their relationships with pollinating mutualists. We therefore expect that geographic variation in climate might lead to variation in plant mating systems. Biogeographic processes, such as range expansion, can also contribute to geographic patterns in mating system traits. We manipulated pollinator access to plants in eight sites spanning the geographic range of Clarkia pulchella to investigate geographic and climatic drivers of fruit production and seed set in the absence of pollinators (reproductive assurance). We examined how reproductive assurance and fruit production varied with the position of sites within the range of the species and with temperature and precipitation. We found that reproductive assurance in C. pulchella was greatest in populations in the northern part of the species’ range, and was not well-explained by any of the climate variables that we considered. In the absence of pollinators, some populations of C. pulchella have the capacity to increase fruit production, perhaps through resource reallocation, but this response is climate-dependent. Pollinators are important for reproduction in this species, and recruitment is sensitive to seed input. The degree of autonomous self-pollination that is possible in populations of this mixed-mating species may be shaped by historic biogeographic processes or variation in plant and pollinator community composition rather than variation in climate.
Phosphorylation of Arp2 is not essential for Arp2/3 complex activity in fission yeast
Authors: Epstein Alexander E. , Espinoza-Sanchez Sofia , Pollard Thomas D.
Published: July 2018

LeClaireet al.presented evidence that phosphorylation of three sites on the Arp2 subunit activates Arp2/3 complex to nucleate actin filaments. We mutated the homologous residues of Arp2 (Y198, T233 and T234) in the fission yeast genome to amino acids that preclude or mimic phosphorylation. Arp2/3 complex is essential for the viability of fission yeast, yet strains unable to phosphorylate these sites grew normally. Y198F/T233A/T234A Arp2 was only nonfunctional if GFP-tagged, as observed by LeClaireet al.inDrosophilacells. Replacing both T233 and T234 with aspartic acid was lethal, suggesting that phosphorylation might be inhibitory. Nevertheless, blocking phosphorylation at these sites had the same effect as mimicking it: slowing assembly of endocytic actin patches. Mass spectrometry revealed phosphorylation at a fourth conserved Arp2 residue, Y218, but both blocking and mimicking phosphorylation of Y218 only slowed actin patch assembly slightly. Therefore, phosphorylation of Y198, T233, T234 and Y218 is not required for the activity of fission yeast Arp2/3 complex.

Previous research concluded that phosphorylation at three sites on Arp2 is necessary to activate Arp2/3 complex. Epstein et al. make genomic substitutions blocking or mimicking phosphorylation to demonstrate that phosphorylation of these three sites does not regulate Arp2/3 complex in fission yeast.
TISMorph: A tool to quantify texture, irregularity and spreading of single cells
Authors: Alizadeh Elaheh , Xu Wenlong , Castle Jordan , Foss Jacqueline , Prasad Ashok
Published: July 2018

A number of recent studies have shown that cell shape and cytoskeletal texture can be used as sensitive readouts of the physiological state of the cell. However, utilization of this information requires the development of quantitative measures that can describe relevant aspects of cell shape. In this paper we develop a toolbox, TISMorph, to calculate set of quantitative measures to address this need. Some of the measures introduced here are used previously and others are new and have desirable properties for shape and texture quantification of cells. These measures, broadly classifiable into the categories of textural, spreading and irregularity measures, are tested by using them to discriminate between osteosarcoma cell lines treated with different cytoskeletal drugs. We find that even though specific classification tasks often rely on a few measures, these are not the same between all classification tasks, thus requiring the use of the entire suite of measures for classification and discrimination. We provide detailed descriptions of the measures, well as TISMorph package to implement them. Image based quantitative analysis has the potential to become a new field of biological data (“image-omics”), providing quantitative insight into cellular processes.
Mixed fruit juices from Cerrado
Authors: Schiassi Maria Cecília Evangelista Vasconcelos , Lago Amanda Maria Teixeira , Souza Vanessa Rios de , Meles Juliana dos Santos , Resende Jaime Vilela de , Queiroz Fabiana
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to optimize a mixed juice made from Brazilian Cerrado fruits (cagaita, mangaba and marolo).

Design/methodology/approach

The juices were evaluated by rheological, physical, physicochemical, nutritional and sensory acceptance analyses. The mixture design is a widely used tool for product optimization, allowing the determination of factors, combinations and levels that provide best responses.

Findings

The results show that using mangaba pulp negatively contributed to juice acceptance, but resulted in the highest ascorbic acid content. The treatments produced using cagaita and marolo pulps presented a greater acceptance by consumers, and contributed to higher antioxidant activity and phenolic compounds content. The juice prepared with a mixture of equivalent quantities of the three fruits had the highest β-carotene and lycopene contents.

Practical implications

This research has shown that different fruit combinations can improve sensory and nutritional characteristics, adding value to the final product.

Social implications

The processing of mixed juices could increase population access to the nutrients present in Brazilian Cerrado fruits, given that they are seasonal and perishable fruits.

Originality/value

In recent years, there has been an increase in the development of new food products based on Cerrado native fruits, however information on the chemical and nutritional characteristics, rheological behavior, and sensory attributes of the derivative products are still limited, resulting in a lack of scientific investments in this area. In addition, it is necessary to optimize the developed products to offer the consumer a unique product, combining the characteristics of two or more fruits, which adds value to the final product.
An evaluation of Swiss agriculture’s contribution to food security with decision support system for food security strategy
Authors: Ferjani Ali , Mann Stefan , Zimmermann Albert
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the domestic agriculture’s contribution to food security in the case of missing imports of food and feed to the food supplies of the country.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the Decision Support System for food Security Strategy and Supply Management (DSS-ESSA) to simulate whether a country with as low a level of self-sufficiency (around 60 per cent) as Switzerland would theoretically be capable of supplying its own population with a sufficient quantity of domestically produced food. The authors try to estimate the short-term and long-term impacts of the missing imports of food and feed on the energy supply in Switzerland.

Findings

Findings are summarised as follows. Starting with the long-term impact, the results show that in the long-term an energy supply of 2,340 kcal/person/day would be possible if the appropriate available cultivated area and optimised production existed. However, in the short-time, the potential and the time required to adapt and expand agricultural production depends primarily on the crop-rotation land available and on the existing infrastructure.

Research limitations/implications

In the present version of DSS-ESSA no economic and environmental module has been integrated.

Originality/value

The current model version has been funded by the Swiss Federal Office for Agriculture and aims at supporting Swiss policy-makers to guide changes. Numerous additional data such as technical production contexts are regularly checked by experts.
Co-creation with customers and suppliers: an exploratory study
Authors: Bettiga Debora , Ciccullo Federica
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Co-creation along the new product development (NPD) seems the winning approach in nowadays market. The purpose of this paper is to explore the collaboration and interaction flows between suppliers and customers in co-creation initiatives devoted to NPD.

Design/methodology/approach

After developing a classification of demand-side and supply-side involvement in co-creation along the NPD process, 13 cases of co-creation in the consumer goods industry, within the Italian context, have been analyzed.

Findings

Three patterns of co-creation have been identified: supplier-driven approach: companies co-creating with suppliers in multiple NPD phases, while involving customers only in one; customer-driven approach: companies involving customers in multiple phases, while engaging suppliers only in one and firm-driven approach: companies involving both customers and suppliers in one single phase. Further, the locus of relevant knowledge drives to different co-creation approaches.

Research limitations/implications

The work contributes to extant literature by: providing a classification of demand-side and supply-side involvement in NPD; empirically investigating the interaction flows between customers and suppliers in co-creation initiatives along the NPD; highlighting the factors potentially affecting a concurrent involvement of customers and suppliers in NPD.

Practical implications

The findings can help to efficiently and effectively design and manage the relation with both suppliers and customers in co-creation projects devoted to NPD.

Originality/value

The involvement of suppliers and customers in co-creation initiatives has been so far analyzed only separately in literature. This study opens a new stream of research, stressing how the evolution of the market, toward a more participative one, spurs the need to investigate the collaboration and interaction flows between the two actors.
FINRA’s disciplinary actions in 2017: increased restitution ordered with minimal changes in number of cases
Authors: Rubin Brian , Pollet Adam
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (FINRA) 2017 disciplinary actions, the issues that resulted in the most significant fines and restitution and the emerging enforcement trends from 2017 and beyond.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach of this paper discusses the disciplinary actions in 2017 and prior years, details the top 2017 enforcement issues measured by total fines assessed, including anti-money laundering, trade reporting, electronic communications, books and records, research analysts and research reports, and explains current enforcement trends, including restitution, suitability cases and technological issues.

Findings

In 2017, restitution more than doubled from the prior year, resulting in the fourth highest total sanctions (fines combined with restitution and disgorgement) assessed by FINRA over the past 10 years.

Practical implications

Firms and their representatives should heed the trends in both the substantial restitution FINRA is ordering and the related enforcement issues in the cases FINRA has brought.

Originality/value

This paper provides expert analysis and guidance from experienced securities enforcement lawyers.
“Extracellular matrix remodelling in the liver of rats subjected to dietary choline deprivation and/or thioacetamide administration”
Authors: Al‐Humadi Hussam , Alhumadi Ahmed , Al‐Saigh Rafal , Strilakou Athina , Lazaris Andreas C , Gazouli Maria , Liapi Charis
Published: July 2018

Choline deprivation is a recognized experimental approach to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, while thioacetamide (TAA)‐induced liver fibrosis resembles alcoholic liver fibrogenesis. In order to elucidate the effect of TAA on liver extracellular matrix composition under choline deprivation due to choline‐deficient diet (CDD) administration, we evaluated the transcriptional and immunohistochemical (IHC) pattern of major hepatic matrix metalloproteinases (namely, MMP‐2, ‐9) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP‐1, ‐2) in adult male albino Wistar rats at 30, 60 and 90 days. In the CDD+TAA group, IHC showed an early progressive increase in MMP‐2 expression, while MMP‐9 initially exhibited a significant increase followed by a gradual decrease; TIMP‐1 and TIMP‐2 IHC expressions showed gradual increase throughout the experiment. The MMPs‐TIMPs regulation at the transcriptional level was found to be increased in all groups throughout the experiment. The increased MMP‐2/TIMP‐2 and suppressed MMP‐9/TIMP‐1 ratios in IHC and in real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) seemed to correlate with the degree of liver fibrosis. These results support the important role of MMPs and TIMPs in controlling the hepatic pathogenesis and shed more light on the recently described experimental approach to liver disease (steatohepatitis) under the impact of two insults (TAA and CDD).