bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Testing the effects of a century of fires: Requirements for post‐fire succession predict the distribution of threatened bird species
Authors: Connell Jemima , Watson Simon J. , Taylor Rick S. , Avitabile Sarah C. , Clarke Rohan H. , Bennett Andrew F. , Clarke Michael F.
Published: September 2017

Aim

Managing fire is critical for the conservation of biodiversity in many ecosystems globally. To manage fire effectively, it is necessary to identify the temporal and spatial scales at which it affects a diverse range of species. This information is challenging to obtain for rare and threatened species for which data often are sparse, and in systems with long fire‐return intervals (e.g. >100 years). We tested the effects of a century of fires on the distribution of 12 threatened bird species across a 100,000 km2 region in which “long‐unburnt” vegetation has been identified as important for the diversity of common species.

Location

Semi‐arid mallee woodlands of south‐eastern Australia.

Methods

We developed spatially explicit models to identify the effects of fire history and climatic factors on the distribution of 12 threatened bird species, including two globally endangered species, the Mallee Emu‐wren (Stipiturus mallee) and Black‐eared Miner (Manorina melanotis).

Results

Fire was a driver of distribution for all species. Four species were common in younger vegetation (<20 years post‐fire) and 11 were most common in mid (20–60 years post‐fire) to older (>60 years post‐fire) vegetation. Species’ distributions were further restricted to areas associated with particular vegetation types and climatic conditions.

Main conclusions

Comprehensive investigation of the response to fire by a range of threatened species highlights the importance of what is now recognized as mid‐successional mallee vegetation (20–60 years post‐fire), and that species’ preferences for previously identified “long‐unburnt” vegetation extend to ≥60 years post‐fire. Fire management conducted with incomplete knowledge, or which is focussed on introducing prescribed burns or suppressing fires for early/late‐successional species alone, is unlikely to maximize biodiversity. Effective fire management for biodiversity requires the promotion of ecological processes that result in key successional stages at particular locations in the landscape.
Better glycaemic control and less hypoglycaemia with insulin glargine 300 U/mL vs glargine 100 U/mL: 1‐year patient‐level meta‐analysis of the EDITION clinical studies in people with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Ritzel Robert , Roussel Ronan , Giaccari Andrea , Vora Jiten , Brulle‐Wohlhueter Claire , Yki‐Järvinen Hannele
Published: September 2017

Aims

To investigate the efficacy and safety of insulin glargine 300 U/mL (Gla‐300) vs insulin glargine 100 U/mL (Gla‐100) over 12 months in a patient‐level meta‐analysis, using data from the EDITION studies in people with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).

Methods

EDITION 1, 2 and 3 were multicentre, randomized, open‐label, 2‐arm, parallel‐group, treat‐to‐target phase IIIa studies. Similar study designs and endpoints enabled a meta‐analysis to be conducted.

Results

Reductions in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) were better sustained over 12 months with Gla‐300 than with Gla‐100 (least squares [LS] mean difference in change from baseline: −0.10 % [95% confidence interval {CI} −0.18 to −0.02] or −1.09 mmol/mol [95% CI −2.01 to −0.20]; P = .0174). Risk of confirmed (≤3.9 mmol/L) or severe hypoglycaemia was 15% lower with Gla‐300 vs Gla‐100 at night (relative risk 0.85 [95% CI 0.77–0.92]) and 6% lower at any time of day (relative risk 0.94 [95% CI 0.90–0.98]). Rates of hypoglycaemia were 18% lower with Gla‐300 vs Gla‐100 at night (rate ratio 0.82 [95% CI 0.67–0.99]), but comparable at any time of day. HbA1c <7.0 % without nocturnal hypoglycaemia was achieved by 24% more participants with Gla‐300 than with Gla‐100 (relative risk 1.24 [95% CI 1.03–1.50]). Severe hypoglycaemia was rare; in both treatment groups the incidence of events at any time of day was ≤3.6%, while rates were ≤0.08 events per participant‐year.

Conclusions

In a broad population of people with T2DM over 12 months, use of Gla‐300 provided more sustained glycaemic control and significantly lower hypoglycaemia risk at night and at any time of day compared with Gla‐100.
Comparative effectiveness of once‐weekly glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists with regard to 6‐month glycaemic control and weight outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Unni Sudhir , Wittbrodt Eric , Ma Junjie , Schauerhamer Marisa , Hurd Jeff , Ruiz‐Negrón Natalia , McAdam‐Marx Carrie
Published: September 2017

A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients with type 2 diabetes in an electronic medical record database to compare real‐world, 6‐month glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) and weight outcomes for exenatide once weekly with those for dulaglutide and albiglutide. The study included 2465 patients: exenatide once weekly, n = 2133; dulaglutide, n = 201; and albiglutide, n = 131. The overall mean (standard deviation [s.d.]) age was 60 (11) years and 54% were men; neither differed among the comparison groups. The mean (s.d.) baseline HbA1c was similar in the exenatide once‐weekly (8.3 [1.7]%) and dulaglutide groups (8.5 [1.5]%; P = .165), but higher in the albiglutide group (8.7 [1.7]%; P < .001). The overall mean (s.d.) HbA1c change was −0.5 (1.5)% (P < .001) and this did not differ among the comparison groups in either adjusted or unadjusted analyses. The mean (s.d.) weight change was −1.4 (4.7) kg for exenatide once weekly and −1.6 (3.7) kg for albiglutide (P = .579), but was greater for dulaglutide, at −2.7 (5.7) kg (P = .001). Outcomes were similar in subsets of insulin‐naive patients with baseline HbA1c ≥7.0% or ≥9.0%. All agents significantly reduced HbA1c at 6 months, with no significant differences among agents or according to baseline HbA1c in insulin‐naive subgroups.
Initiating therapy in patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes: Combination therapy vs a stepwise approach
Authors: Cersosimo Eugenio , Johnson Eric L. , Chovanes Christina , Skolnik Neil
Published: September 2017

There is clear evidence that achieving glycaemic targets reduces the risk of developing complications as a result of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Many patients, however, continue to have suboptimal glycaemic control because of issues that include unclear advice on how to achieve these targets as well as clinical inertia. The two management approaches recommended for patients newly diagnosed with T2D are stepwise and combination therapy, each of which has advantages and disadvantages.

Stepwise therapy may result in good patient adherence and allow greater individualization of therapy, and minimization of side effects and cost, and so may be appropriate for patients who are closer to goal. Stepwise therapy, however, may also lead to frequent delays in achieving glycaemic goals and longer exposure to hyperglycaemia. Combination therapy, which is now emerging as an important therapy option, has a number of potential advantages over stepwise therapy, including reduction in clinical inertia and earlier and more frequent achievement of glycated haemoglobin goals by targeting multiple pathogenic mechanisms simultaneously, which may more effectively delay disease progression. Compared with stepwise therapy, the disadvantages of combination therapy include reduced patient adherence resulting from complex, multi‐drug regimens, difficulty determining the cause of poor efficacy and/or side effects, patient refusal to accept disease, and higher cost. Fixed‐dose and fixed‐ratio combinations are novel therapeutic approaches which may help address several issues of treatment complexity and patient burden associated with combination therapy comprising individual drugs. The choice of which drugs to administer and the decision to use stepwise vs combination therapy, however, should always be made on an individualized basis.
Diagnosis checking of statistical analysis in RCTs indexed in PubMed
Authors: Lee Paul H. , Tse Andy C. Y.
Published: September 2017

Background

Statistical analysis is essential for reporting of the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), as well as evaluating their effectiveness. However, the validity of a statistical analysis also depends on whether the assumptions of that analysis are valid.

Objective

To review all RCTs published in journals indexed in PubMed during December 2014 to provide a complete picture of how RCTs handle assumptions of statistical analysis.

Methods

We reviewed all RCTs published in December 2014 that appeared in journals indexed in PubMed using the Cochrane highly sensitive search strategy. The 2014 impact factors of the journals were used as proxies for their quality. The type of statistical analysis used and whether the assumptions of the analysis were tested were reviewed.

Results

In total, 451 papers were included. Of the 278 papers that reported a crude analysis for the primary outcomes, 31 (27·2%) reported whether the outcome was normally distributed. Of the 172 papers that reported an adjusted analysis for the primary outcomes, diagnosis checking was rarely conducted, with only 20%, 8·6% and 7% checked for generalized linear model, Cox proportional hazard model and multilevel model, respectively. Study characteristics (study type, drug trial, funding sources, journal type and endorsement of CONSORT guidelines) were not associated with the reporting of diagnosis checking.

Conclusion

The diagnosis of statistical analyses in RCTs published in PubMed‐indexed journals was usually absent. Journals should provide guidelines about the reporting of a diagnosis of assumptions.
Role of population genetics in guiding ecological responses to climate
Authors: Rehfeldt Gerald E. , Leites Laura P. , Joyce Dennis G. , Weiskittel Aaron R.
Published: September 2017

Population responses to climate were assessed using 3–7 years height growth data gathered for 266 populations growing in 12 common gardens established in the 1980s as part of five disparate studies ofPinus contortavar.latifolia. Responses are interpreted according to three concepts: the ecological optimum, the climate where a population is competitively exclusive and in which, therefore, it occurs naturally; the physiological optimum, the climate where a population grows best but is most often competitively excluded; and growth potential, the innate capacity for growth at the physiological optimum. Statistical analyses identified winter cold, measured by the square root of negative degree‐days calculated from the daily minimum temperature (MINDD01/2), as the climatic effect most closely related to population growth potential; the colder the winter inhabited by a population, the lower its growth potential, a relationship presumably molded by natural selection. By splitting the data into groups based on populationMINDD01/2and using a function suited to skewed normal distributions, regressions were developed for predicting growth from the distance in climate space (MINDD01/2) populations had been transferred from their native location to a planting site. The regressions were skewed, showing that the ecological optimum of most populations is colder than the physiological optimum and that the discrepancy between the two increases as the ecological optimum becomes colder. Response to climate change is dependent on innate growth potential and the discrepancy between the two optima and, therefore, is population‐specific, developing out of genotype‐environment interactions. Response to warming in the short‐term can be either positive or negative, but long term responses will be negative for all populations, with the timing of the demise dependent on the amount of skew. The results pertain to physiological modeling, species distribution models, and climate‐change adaptation strategies.
Histamine and Migraine
Authors: Yuan Hsiangkuo , Silberstein Stephen D.
Published: September 2017

Background

Histamine is an ancient “tissue amine” preceding multicellular organisms. In the central nervous system (CNS), its fibers originate solely from the tuberomammillary nucleus and travel throughout the brain. It is mainly responsible for wakefulness, energy homeostasis, and memory consolidation. Recently, several studies suggest a potential role of histamine in migraine pathogenesis and management.

Methods

Narrative review of current literature regarding histamine and migraine.

Results

Histamine plays a crucial role in migraine pathogenesis: sustaining the neurogenic inflammation pathway. Interaction between mast cells (MC) and calcitonin‐gene related protein (CGRP) results in sensitization of trigeminal afferents and trigeminal ganglia (TG). Histamine binds with differing affinities to four different histaminergic G‐protein coupled receptors, activating protein kinases, or triggering calcium release with subsequent mode of actions. Histamine 1 receptor (H1R) and histamine 2 receptor (H2R) antagonists are frequently used for the treatment of allergy and gastric acid secretion, respectively, but their antagonism is probably ineffective for migraine. Histamine 3 receptor (H3R) and histamine 4 receptor (H4R) have a threefold higher affinity than H1R/H2R for histamine and are found almost exclusively on neurons and immune tissues, respectively. H3R acts as an autoreceptor or as a heteroreceptor, lowering the release of histamine and other neurotransmitters. This is a potential target for anti‐nociception and anti‐neurogenic inflammation. To date, several small clinical trials using low dose histamine or Nα‐methylhistamine have demonstrated migraine prophylactic efficacy, probably via H3R or other undetermined pathways.

Conclusion

The histamine system interacts with multiple regions in the CNS and may hypothetically modulate the migraine response. Low dose histamine may be a promising option for migraine prevention.
Fluidity of places in everyday food consumption: Introducing snackscapes
Authors: Syrjälä Henna , Luomala Harri T. , Autio Minna
Published: September 2017

Snack consumption encompasses the repetitive habits of consumers in various everyday life spaces. Despite the pervasiveness of snack consumption worldwide, the phenomenon of snacking has not been given extensive attention, unlike other areas of food consumption research. Yet, snacking shows certain distinctive features, such as fluidity of places. This study leans on foodscape literature and introduces the concept of snackscape, which enables us to showcase the multiplicity of places in snacking culture. While prior foodscape studies are located in certain tangible places, such as urban surroundings, festival sites or particular geographical areas, snackscapes demonstrate how snacks may be consumed, for instance, on the move from one place to another, or in a variety of places that are not part of one's ordinary routines, such as on a picnic or a holiday trip to a foreign country. The findings show how places of habitual snack consumption vary from time to time—or are even on the move. This is a powerful demonstration of how a routine‐like consumption practice takes place in everyday life. This study also highlights important consumer policy issues, especially in regard to young consumers and their snacking habits. Thereby, the study brings forward the agentic capacity of snackscapes having implications on engaging in healthier snack consumption.
CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS AND MATERNAL DIET4
Authors: PITT DAVID B. , SAMSON PATRICIA E.
Published: September 2017

Nutritional deficiency has been shown by many workers to be teratogenic to the animal embryo. Vitamins of the B group especially appear to be essential for normal organogenesis. This is consistent with the known general functions of the B vitamins, which, acting as intracellular enzymes, promote rapid cell growth, for example, in the adult hæmatopoietic and gastro‐intestinal systems.

In this study an attempt has been made to detect deficiencies in the diets of 99 mothers who bore malformed children. When their estimated diets were compared with those of a matched control series, some small differences were found in several groups of malformation, especially congenital heart disease and talipes. The most usual differences were in iron and the B group vitamins, thiamine and niacin ; but whether these differences are biologically important cannot be stated. No differences were found in mongolism and spina bifida.
The intestinal microbiota: Antibiotics, colonization resistance, and enteric pathogens
Authors: Kim Sohn , Covington April , Pamer Eric G.
Published: September 2017

The human gastrointestinal tract hosts a diverse network of microorganisms, collectively known as the microbiota that plays an important role in health and disease. For instance, the intestinal microbiota can prevent invading microbes from colonizing the gastrointestinal tract, a phenomenon known as colonization resistance. Perturbations to the microbiota, such as antibiotic administration, can alter microbial composition and result in the loss of colonization resistance. Consequently, the host may be rendered susceptible to colonization by a pathogen. This is a particularly relevant concern in the hospital setting, where antibiotic use and antibiotic‐resistant pathogen exposure are more frequent. Many nosocomial infections arise from gastrointestinal colonization. Due to their resistance to antibiotics, treatment is often very challenging. However, recent studies have demonstrated that manipulating the commensal microbiota can prevent and treat various infections in the intestine. In this review, we discuss the members of the microbiota, as well as the mechanisms, that govern colonization resistance against specific pathogens. We also review the effects of antibiotics on the microbiota, as well as the unique epidemiology of immunocompromised patients that renders them a particularly high‐risk population to intestinal nosocomial infections.
A bacteriophages journey through the human body
Authors: Barr Jeremy J.
Published: September 2017

The human body is colonized by a diverse collective of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, protozoa and viruses. The smallest entity of this microbial conglomerate are the bacterial viruses. Bacteriophages, or phages for short, exert significant selective pressure on their bacterial hosts, undoubtedly influencing the human microbiome and its impact on our health and well‐being. Phages colonize all niches of the body, including the skin, oral cavity, lungs, gut, and urinary tract. As such our bodies are frequently and continuously exposed to diverse collections of phages. Despite the prevalence of phages throughout our bodies, the extent of their interactions with human cells, organs, and immune system is still largely unknown. Phages physically interact with our mucosal surfaces, are capable of bypassing epithelial cell layers, disseminate throughout the body and may manipulate our immune system. Here, I establish the novel concept of an “intra‐body phageome,” which encompasses the collection of phages residing within the classically “sterile” regions of the body. This review will take a phage‐centric view of the microbiota, human body, and immune system with the ultimate goal of inspiring a greater appreciation for both the indirect and direct interactions between bacteriophages and their mammalian hosts.
Host‐microbiota interactions and adaptive immunity
Authors: McCoy Kathy D. , Ronchi Francesca , Geuking Markus B.
Published: September 2017

All mucosal surfaces are colonized with a vast number of microbes, which are essential for stimulating and regulating the immune system. While intrinsic and innate mechanisms exist to promote a strong barrier between the microbiota and the host to ensure compartmentalization, the microbiota is also able to induce robust adaptive immunity. In this review, we discuss the interplay between the microbiota and the adaptive immune system, with a focus on the induction of mucosal and systemic antibody responses and newly defined roles of maternal antibodies. We also highlight recent studies that aim to decipher microbial antigen‐specificity of the T‐cell compartment.
Interactions between bile salts, gut microbiota, and hepatic innate immunity
Authors: Schubert Kristin , Olde Damink Steven W.M. , von Bergen Martin , Schaap Frank G.
Published: September 2017

Bile salts are the water‐soluble end products of hepatic cholesterol catabolism that are released into the duodenum and solubilize lipids due to their amphipathic structure. Bile salts also act as endogenous ligands for dedicated nuclear receptors that exert a plethora of biological processes, mostly related to metabolism. Bile salts are actively reclaimed in the distal part of the small intestine, released into the portal system, and subsequently extracted by the liver. This enterohepatic cycle is critically dependent on dedicated bile salt transporters. In the intestinal lumen, bile salts exert direct antimicrobial activity based on their detergent property and shape the gut microbiota. Bile salt metabolism by gut microbiota serves as a mechanism to counteract this toxicity and generates bile salt species that are distinct from those of the host. Innate immune cells of the liver play an important role in the early recognition and effector response to invading microbes. Bile salts signal primarily via the membrane receptor TGR5 and the intracellular farnesoid‐x receptor, both present in innate immune cells. In this review, the interactions between bile salts, gut microbiota, and hepatic innate immunity are discussed.
Interplay of innate lymphoid cells and the microbiota
Authors: Britanova Liudmila , Diefenbach Andreas
Published: September 2017

Innate lymphoid cells (ILC) are a recently identified group of innate lymphocytes that are preferentially located at barrier surfaces. Barrier surfaces are in direct contact with complex microbial ecosystems, collectively referred to as the microbiota. It is now believed that the interplay of the microbiota with host components (i.e. epithelial cells and immune cells) promotes host fitness by regulating organ homeostasis, metabolism, and host defense against pathogens. In this review, we will give an overview of this multifaceted interplay between ILC and components of the microbiota.
Diagnostic accuracy of a new algorithm to detect atrial fibrillation in a home blood pressure monitor
Authors: Kabutoya Tomoyuki , Imai Yasushi , Hoshide Satoshi , Kario Kazuomi
Published: September 2017

The authors evaluated a new algorithm for detecting atrial fibrillation (AF) using a home blood pressure monitor. Three serial blood pressure values were measured by the monitor in 16 patients with AF and 20 patients with sinus rhythm. The authors defined “monitor AF in irregular pulse peak (IPP) 25” as follows: (1) IPP: |interval of pulse peak − the average of the interval of the pulse peak| ≥ the average of the interval of the pulse peak ×25%; (2) irregular heart beat: beats of IPP ≥ total pulse ×20%; and (3) monitor AF: two or more irregular heart beats of the three blood pressure measurements. Cutoff IPP values were set at 20% (IPP20) and 15% (IPP15). The monitor's AF specificity was 1.0 in IPP25, IPP20, and IPP15, and its sensitivity was 0.88 in IPP25, 0.94 in IPP20, and 1.0 in IPP15. The new algorithm had high diagnostic accuracy for detecting AF and a low false‐positive rate.
Subgroups in language trajectories from 4 to 11 years: the nature and predictors of stable, improving and decreasing language trajectory groups
Authors: McKean Cristina , Wraith Darren , Eadie Patricia , Cook Fallon , Mensah Fiona , Reilly Sheena
Published: September 2017

Background

Little is known about the nature, range and prevalence of different subgroups in language trajectories extant in a population from 4 to 11 years. This hinders strategic targeting and design of interventions, particularly targeting those whose difficulties will likely persist.

Methods

Children's language abilities from 4 to 11 years were investigated in a specialist language longitudinal community cohort (N = 1,910). Longitudinal trajectory latent class modelling was used to characterise trajectories and identify subgroups. Multinomial logistic regression was used to identify predictors associated with the language trajectories children followed.

Results

Three language trajectory groups were identified: ‘stable’ (94% of participants), ‘low‐decreasing’ (4%) and ‘low‐improving’ (2%). A range of child and family factors were identified that were associated with following either the low‐improving or low‐increasing language trajectory; many of them shared. The low‐improving group was associated with mostly environmental risks: non‐English‐speaking background, social disadvantage and few children's books in the home. The low‐decreasing group was associated with mainly biological risks: low birth weight, socioemotional problems, lower family literacy and learning disability.

Conclusions

By 4 years, services can be confident that most children with low language will remain low to 11 years. Using rigid cut‐points in language ability to target interventions is not recommended due to continued individual variability in language development. Service delivery models should incorporate monitoring over time, targeting according to language abilities and associated risks and delivery of a continuum of interventions across the continuum of need.
Do sleep problems mediate the link between adverse childhood experiences and delinquency in preadolescent children in foster care?
Authors: Hambrick Erin P. , Rubens Sonia L. , Brawner Thomas W. , Taussig Heather N.
Published: September 2017

Background

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with multiple mental and physical health problems. Yet, mechanisms by which ACEs confer risk for specific problems are largely unknown. Children in foster care typically have multiple ACEs and high rates of negative sequelae, including delinquent behaviors. Mechanisms explaining this link have not been explored in this population. Impaired sleep has been identified as a potential mechanism by which ACEs lead to delinquency in adolescents, because inadequate sleep may lead to poor executive function and cognitive control – known risk factors for delinquency.

Methods

Interviews were conducted with 516 maltreated children in foster care, ages 9–11 years, and their caregivers regarding child exposure to ACEs, sleep problems, engagement in delinquent acts, symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, and current psychotropic medication use. ACEs data were also obtained from child welfare case records.

Results

After controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, placement type (residential, kin, foster), length of time in placement, posttraumatic stress symptoms, and current psychotropic medication use, sleep partially mediated the association between ACEs and delinquency.

Conclusions

Although delinquency is likely multiply determined in this population, improving sleep may be one important strategy to reduce delinquency.
Grading effect of abnormal glucose status on arterial stiffness and a new threshold of 2‐h post‐load glucose based on a Chinese community study
Authors: Liu Zhi‐Ke , Wu Ke‐Ye , Dai Xiao‐Tong , Che Qian‐Zi , Chen Si , Jia Jia , Li Jian‐Ping , Huo Yong , Zhang Yan , Chen Da‐Fang
Published: September 2017

Aims/Introduction

To investigate the relationship between various glucose metabolic status and arterial stiffness, and further explore the threshold of blood glucose indices for the risk of arterial stiffness.

Materials and Methods

The present cross‐sectional study included 4,851 individuals from a Chinese community. Overnight fasting blood glucose and 2‐h post‐load glucose were sampled. Arterial stiffness was measured as brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity. The association was examined using generalized linear regression models. The threshold effect was explored using two piecewise linear regression models by the smoothing plot.

Results

After adjustment for covariates, isolated impaired fasting glucose, isolated impaired glucose tolerance, combined glucose intolerance and newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus were associated with a greater risk of arterial stiffness compared with normal glucose tolerance (B = 18.09, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.42–35.76, P = 0.045; B = 28.51, 95% CI: 3.40–53.62, P = 0.026; B = 60.70, 95% CI: 38.37–83.04, P < 0.001; B = 95.06, 95% CI: 71.88–118.25, P < 0.001, respectively). Furthermore, there was a non‐linear relationship between 2‐h post‐load glucose and arterial stiffness. A threshold for 2‐h post‐load glucose of 6.14 mmol/L was observed for the risk of arterial stiffness.

Conclusions

Impaired fasting glucose, impaired glucose tolerance, combined glucose intolerance and newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus were related to a greater risk of arterial stiffness compared with normal glucose levels. A threshold for 2‐h post‐load glucose of 6.14 mmol/L probably exists for the risk of arterial stiffness.
Detecting Item Drift in Large‐Scale Testing
Authors: Guo Hongwen , Robin Frederic , Dorans Neil
Published: September 2017

The early detection of item drift is an important issue for frequently administered testing programs because items are reused over time. Unfortunately, operational data tend to be very sparse and do not lend themselves to frequent monitoring analyses, particularly for on‐demand testing. Building on existing residual analyses, the authors propose an item index that requires only moderate‐to‐small sample sizes to form data for time‐series analysis. Asymptotic results are presented to facilitate statistical significance tests. The authors show that the proposed index combined with time‐series techniques may be useful in detecting and predicting item drift. Most important, this index is related to a well‐known differential item functioning analysis so that a meaningful effect size can be proposed for item drift detection.
Modeling Skipped and Not‐Reached Items Using IRTrees
Authors: Debeer Dries , Janssen Rianne , De Boeck Paul
Published: September 2017

When dealing with missing responses, two types of omissions can be discerned: items can be skipped or not reached by the test taker. When the occurrence of these omissions is related to the proficiency process the missingness is nonignorable. The purpose of this article is to present a tree‐based IRT framework for modeling responses and omissions jointly, taking into account that test takers as well as items can contribute to the two types of omissions. The proposed framework covers several existing models for missing responses, and many IRTree models can be estimated using standard statistical software. Further, simulated data is used to show that ignoring missing responses is less robust than often considered. Finally, as an illustration of its applicability, the IRTree approach is applied to data from the 2009 PISA reading assessment.
The Association Between Family Leisure and Family Quality of Life: A Meta‐Analysis of Data from Parents and Adolescents
Authors: Hodge Camilla J. , Duerden Mat D. , Layland Eric K. , Lacanienta Andrew , Goates Michael C. , Niu Xiaoyue Maggie
Published: September 2017

The body of family leisure research has grown over the past 25 years; however, efforts to quantitatively synthesize that body of literature have not been made. Therefore, we conducted a meta‐analysis of published and unpublished literature reporting on parent and adolescent child data regarding shared leisure experiences and family quality‐of‐life indicators across k = 23 articles identified from a broad, systematic search of literature. Using random effects, we measured the associations of (a) family leisure participation with family quality of life and (b) family leisure satisfaction with family quality of life. Results indicated significant associations of small to moderate effect sizes in both models. Moderating variables of marital status and nationality produced varying levels of influence on the effect size of the association between family leisure satisfaction and family quality.
Relationship Maintenance: A Review of Research on Romantic Relationships
Authors: Ogolsky Brian G. , Monk J. Kale , Rice TeKisha M. , Theisen Jaclyn C. , Maniotes Christopher R.
Published: September 2017

Relationship maintenance encompasses a broad array of activities that partners may use to preserve their romantic partnerships. For this article, we systematically review the vast literature (N = 1,149 articles) on relationship maintenance in romantic relationships. We first identify the relevant constructs and propose a conceptual model to organize the literature. Then we turn our focus to the empirical research on the processes and social context of relationship maintenance. We conclude by highlighting the lingering questions in the study of relationship maintenance and offering recommendations for future research.
Effects of lateral olfactory tract stimulation on Fos immunoreactivity in vasopressin neurones of the rat piriform cortex
Authors: Tsuji C. , Tsuji T. , Allchorne A. , Leng G. , Ludwig M.
Published: September 2017

In the main olfactory system, odours are registered at the main olfactory epithelium and are then processed at the main olfactory bulb (MOB) and, subsequently, by the anterior olfactory nucleus (AON), the piriform cortex (PC) and the cortical amygdala. Previously, we reported populations of vasopressin neurones in different areas of the rat olfactory system, including the MOB, accessory olfactory bulb (AOB) and the AON and showed that these are involved in the coding of social odour information. Utilising immunohistochemistry and a transgenic rat in which an enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter gene is expressed in vasopressin neurones (eGFP‐vasopressin), we now show a population of vasopressin neurones in the PC. The vasopressin neurones are predominantly located in the layer II of the PC and the majority co‐express the excitatory transmitter glutamate. Furthermore, there is no sex difference in the number of neurones expressing vasopressin. Electrical stimulation of the lateral olfactory tract leads to a significant increase in the number of Fos‐positive nuclei in the PC, MOB, AOB, dorsal AON and supraoptic nucleus (SON). However, there was only a significant increase in Fos expression in vasopressin cells of the PC and SON. Thus, functionally distinct populations of vasopressin cells are implicated in olfactory processing at multiple stages of the olfactory pathway.
Unravelling hypothyroidism in AL amyloidosis: Authors' reply
Authors: Muchtar E. , Gertz M. A.
Published: September 2017

Click here to view the Letter to the Editor by Dr. Benvenga and Guarneri
Standard and reduced doses of dabigatran, rivaroxaban and apixaban for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Staerk L. , Gerds T. A. , Lip G. Y. H. , Ozenne B. , Bonde A. N. , Lamberts M. , Fosbøl E. L. , Torp‐Pedersen C. , Gislason G. H. , Olesen J. B.
Published: September 2017

Background

Comparative data of non‐vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC) are lacking in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).

Objective

We compared effectiveness and safety of standard and reduced dose NOAC in AF patients.

Methods

Using Danish nationwide registries, we included all oral anticoagulant‐naïve AF patients who initiated NOAC treatment (2012–2016). Outcome‐specific and mortality‐specific multiple Cox regressions were combined to compute average treatment effects as 1‐year standardized differences in stroke and bleeding risks (g‐formula).

Results

Amongst 31 522 AF patients, the distribution of NOAC/dose was as follows: dabigatran standard dose (22.4%), dabigatran‐reduced dose (14.0%), rivaroxaban standard dose (21.8%), rivaroxaban reduced dose (6.7%), apixaban standard dose (22.9%), and apixaban reduced dose (12.2%). The 1‐year standardized absolute risks of stroke/thromboembolism were 1.73–1.98% and 2.51–2.78% with standard and reduced NOAC dose, respectively, without statistically significant differences between NOACs for given dose level. Comparing standard doses, the 1‐year standardized absolute risk (95% CI) for major bleeding was for rivaroxaban 2.78% (2.42–3.17%); corresponding absolute risk differences (95% CI) were for dabigatran −0.93% (−1.45% to −0.38%) and apixaban, −0.54% (−0.99% to −0.05%). The results for major bleeding were similar for reduced NOAC dose. The 1‐year standardized absolute risk (95% CI) for intracranial bleeding was for standard dose dabigatran 0.19% (0.22–0.50%); corresponding absolute risk differences (95% CI) were for rivaroxaban 0.23% (0.06–0.41%) and apixaban, 0.18% (0.01–0.34%).

Conclusions

Standard and reduced dose NOACs, respectively, showed no significant risk difference for associated stroke/thromboembolism. Rivaroxaban was associated with higher bleeding risk compared with dabigatran and apixaban and dabigatran was associated with lower intracranial bleeding risk compared with rivaroxaban and apixaban.
A novel MAs(III)‐selective ArsR transcriptional repressor
Authors: Chen Jian , Nadar Venkadesh Sarkarai , Rosen Barry P.
Published: September 2017

Microbial expression of genes for resistance to heavy metals and metalloids is usually transcriptionally regulated by the toxic ions themselves. Arsenic is a ubiquitous, naturally occurring toxic metalloid widely distributed in soil and groundwater. Microbes biotransform both arsenate (As(V)) and arsenite (As(III)) into more toxic methylated metabolites methylarsenite (MAs(III)) and dimethylarsenite (DMAs(III)). Environmental arsenic is sensed by members of the ArsR/SmtB family. The arsR gene is autoregulated and is typically part of an operon that contains other ars genes involved in arsenic detoxification. To date every identified ArsR is regulated by inorganic As(III). Here we described a novel ArsR from Shewanella putrefaciens selective for MAs(III). SpArsR orthologs control expression of two MAs(III) resistance genes, arsP that encodes the ArsP MAs(III) efflux permease, and arsH encoding the ArsH MAs(III) oxidase. SpArsR has two conserved cysteine residues, Cys101 and Cys102. Mutation of either resulted in loss of MAs(III) binding, indicating that they form an MAs(III) binding site. SpArsR can be converted into an As(III)‐responsive repressor by introduction of an additional cysteine that allows for three‐coordinate As(III) binding. Our results indicate that SpArsR evolved selectivity for MAs(III) over As(III) in order to control expression of genes for MAs(III) detoxification.
Polyamine is a critical determinant of Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6 for GacS‐dependent bacterial cell growth and biocontrol capacity
Authors: Park Ju Yeon , Kang Beom Ryong , Ryu Choong‐Min , Anderson Anne J. , Kim Young Cheol
Published: September 2017

The Gac/Rsm network regulates, at the transcriptional level, many beneficial traits in biocontrol‐active pseudomonads. In this study, we used Phenotype MicroArrays, followed by specific growth studies and mutational analysis, to understand how catabolism is regulated by this sensor kinase system in the biocontrol isolate Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6. The growth of a gacS mutant was decreased significantly relative to that of the wild‐type on ornithine and arginine, and on the precursor of these amino acids, N‐acetyl‐l‐glutamic acid. The gacS mutant also showed reduced production of polyamines. Expression of the genes encoding arginine decarboxylase (speA) and ornithine decarboxylases (speC) was controlled at the transcriptional level by the GacS sensor of P. chlororaphis O6. Polyamine production was reduced in the speC mutant, and was eliminated in the speAspeC mutant. The addition of exogenous polyamines to the speAspeC mutant restored the in vitro growth inhibition of two fungal pathogens, as well as the secretion of three biological control‐related factors: pyrrolnitrin, protease and siderophore. These results extend our knowledge of the regulation by the Gac/Rsm network in a biocontrol pseudomonad to include polyamine synthesis. Collectively, our studies demonstrate that bacterial polyamines act as important regulators of bacterial cell growth and biocontrol potential.
Factors related to diagnostic delay of oral squamous cell carcinoma in southern Thailand: Revisited
Authors: Kerdpon D , Jantharapattana K , Sriplung H
Published: September 2017

Objectives

To evaluate the impact of more open access to health services by Thailand's universal health coverage (UHC) on diagnostic delay of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) by comparing results with our previous study prior to the UHC. Reasons for delay in attending healthcare professional (HCP) consultation were also investigated.

Methods

A structure questionnaire was employed to interview 154 OSCC consecutive patients. Variables were included for Cox proportional regression models to conclude the hazard ratio of each delay.

Results

Regarding patient delay, those who had more than 12‐year education showed less delay (HR 0.46, 95% CI: 0.21–1.01) while longer delay was found in farmers (HR 1.49, 95% CI: 1.05–2.11). Compared with the previous study, there was no association between herbal medication and patient delay, herbal medication and total delay, nor religion and total delay. Professional delay showed no association with any variable. Only half of the patients received initial proper HCP management in both studies. Patient delay was mostly (89.9%) due to unawareness of the lesion severity.

Conclusions

Open access to the healthcare system had an influence on diagnostic delay. Public education and precise clinical acumen by HCPs in OSCC diagnosis are needed for early detection.
Implicit Association with Suicide as Measured by the Suicide Affect Misattribution Procedure (S‐AMP) Predicts Suicide Ideation
Authors: Tucker Raymond P. , Wingate LaRicka R. , Burkley Melissa , Wells Tony T.
Published: September 2017

The identification of indirect markers of suicide that do not rely on explicit self‐report of suicide ideation is vital, as research indicates that a significant number of individuals who die by suicide do not discuss or explicitly deny thoughts of suicide with a provider in their last health care interaction. The current study tests whether a new measure of implicit association with suicide, a modified version of the Affect Misattribution Procedure (AMP), predicts suicide ideation in participants oversampled for the experience of suicide ideation. Results indicated that implicit associations with suicide‐related images were positively correlated with levels of suicide ideation and predicted suicide ideation when entered as a simultaneous predictor with symptoms of depression, thwarted belongingness, and perceived burdensomeness. Implicit associations with positive and negative images were unrelated to thoughts of suicide. The modified version of the AMP may be a particularly useful indirect measure of suicide ideation that can be easily included in suicide risk assessment paradigms in clinical practice and research studies.
Negative pressure therapy versus passive open abdominal drainage for the treatment of septic peritonitis in dogs: A randomized, prospective study
Authors: Spillebeen Anneleen L. , Robben Joris H. , Thomas Rachel , Kirpensteijn Jolle , van Nimwegen Sebastiaan A.
Published: September 2017

Objective

To compare passive open abdominal drainage (POAD) and negative‐pressure abdominal drainage (NPAD) using the ABThera™ system in the treatment of septic peritonitis.

Study design

Randomized prospective clinical trial.

Animals

Dogs (n = 16) with septic peritonitis.

Methods

Dogs with septic peritonitis were randomly assigned to one of two treatment protocols: NPAD versus POAD. Anesthesia time, operating time, duration of drainage, costs, survival, and complications were compared between techniques. Hematological and biochemical parameters in blood and abdominal fluid, and histopathological findings of omentum and abdominal wall tissue samples were compared between NPAD and POAD at time of initial surgery and at time of closure.

Results

Overall survival was 81%. Treatment costs, anesthesia and operating time, drainage time, survival, and postoperative complications were similar between techniques. Loss of total plasma protein and decreased inflammation‐related factors in abdominal fluid at time of closure were noted in all patients. Neutrophilic inflammation was greater in abdominal wall samples after NPAD. POAD patients showed discomfort during bandage changes and had frequent leakage of abdominal fluid outside of the bandage.

Conclusion

NPAD is an effective alternative to POAD for treatment of septic peritonitis, based on costs and survival. NPAD resulted in less abdominal fluid leakage, and evidence of superior healing on histological evaluation of abdominal tissues.
Hedonic Price Modeling of New Residential Property Values in Xi’an City, China
Authors: Liu Kai , Ichinose Toshiaki
Published: September 2017

This study analyzed new residential property values of Xi’an City in March, 2014. Results show that accessibility indices, such as distance to CBD, have been well capitalized into the residential property values. Particularly, a within-zone housing unit is sold 9.4% more than if it was outside the attendance zone of a Key Primary School, i.e. home buyers have how much willingness-to-pay for the high-quality educational resource. Another corollary is got that the accessibility to subway stations has not significantly been capitalized, only with a low premium reflecting in the real estate market of Xi’an City. Considered that spatial local singularities caused by unobserved variables or estimation bias can be associated with multi-regression errors, this study herein has explored an unconventional viewpoint to residual problem, which combines the regional differences (coming from real world) and the spatial distributions of singularities (feedback from data). Furthermore, whole samples are classified into 5 agglomerations for revealing the underlying reasons about the future trend and variation of real estate market within each region. It is effective to provide scientific basis of decision making for the real estate investors and planners.