bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Real‐life experience of a stent‐less revascularization strategy using a combination of excimer laser and drug‐coated balloon for patients with acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Harima Ayako , Sairaku Akinori , Inoue Ichiro , Nishioka Kenji , Oka Toshiharu , Nakama Yasuharu , Dai Kazuoki , Ohi Kuniomi , Hashimoto Haruki , Kihara Yasuki
Published: February 2018

Objectives

We aimed to test a novel stent‐less revascularization strategy using a combination of excimer laser coronary angioplasty (ELCA) and drug‐coated balloon (DCB) for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Background

Percutaneous coronary intervention with drug eluting stents is a standard invasive treatment for ACS. Some unsolved issues however remain, such as stent thrombosis and bleeding risks associated with dual antiplatelet therapy.

Methods

Consecutive ACS patients were planned to receive either a DCB application following ELCA without a stent implantation or conventional revascularization with a coronary stent. The endpoints were (i) major cardiac adverse events (MACEs), defined as the composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarctions, and target lesion revascularization; (ii) target vessel revascularization (TVR); and (iii) angiographic outcome.

Results

Since a greater than expected number of patients allocated to the stent‐less treatment arm eventually received a bailout stenting, the following 3 as‐treated groups were compared; DCB with ELCA group (N = 60), Stent with ELCA group (N = 23), and Stent without ELCA group (N = 85). During a mean follow‐up period of 420 ± 137 days, and with angiographic 6‐ and 12‐month‐follow‐up rates of 96.7%, 87%, and 81.2%, and 50%, 65.2%, and 45.9%, respectively, the MACE rate did not differ across the groups (10%, 4.3%, and 3.5%; P = 0.22) while an incidence of TVR was more common (15%, 0, and 4.7%; P = 0.02) and the diameter stenosis at 6‐months of follow‐up was greater (25.7 ± 18.2, 14.9 ± 13.1 and 16.2 ± 15.4%; P = 0.002) in the DCB with ELCA group.

Conclusions

The stent‐less revascularization strategy with DCB and ELCA was associated with a higher occurrence of restenosis in ACS patients.
Brain Quantitative MRI Metrics in Astronauts as a Unique Professional Group
Authors: Hasan Khader M. , Mwangi Benson , Keser Zafer , Riascos Roy , Sargsyan Ashot E. , Kramer Larry A.
Published: February 2018

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

As part of its technological sophistication, the International Space Station (ISS) Program operates a robust medical surveillance schedule for its rotating 6‐person crew to control the known health risks and to address knowledge gaps related to human health in space flight environment. Recent evidence on visual impairment in a subset of ISS crew has renewed the interest in the effects of long‐duration space flight on the central nervous system (CNS). Through retrospective analysis in a sample of 10 healthy astronauts, we demonstrate the utility of multimodal quantitative magnetic resonance imaging (qMRI) with diffusion tensor imaging (DTI)‐based customized brain templates to examine the structural attributes of various CNS compartments in this occupational group.

METHODS

The study included 10 healthy astronauts (45‐55 years). All subjects had previous space flights with the median duration of 110 days. Multimodal quantitative structural imaging modalities performed and used in analyses.

RESULTS

A host of CNS features are presented, which are largely commensurate with the available normative data. Remarkably, some of our findings demonstrate statistically significant positive features suggestive of structural neuroplasticity conceivably associated with the professional activities of astronauts, and compensatory neurogenesis that counterweighs the expected normative volume loss with age.

CONCLUSIONS

The novelty of this exploratory report is in the demonstration of a qMRI toolset as a potential capability for characterization and surveillance of unique professional groups, and for future prospective examinations of the effects of various long‐term exposures on CNS.
Dispositional malevolence and impression formation: Dark Tetrad associations with accuracy and positivity in first impressions
Authors: Rogers Katherine H. , Le Marina T. , Buckels Erin E. , Kim Mikayla , Biesanz Jeremy C.
Published: February 2018

Objective

The Dark Tetrad traits (subclinical psychopathy, narcissism, Machiavellianism, and everyday sadism) have interpersonal consequences. At present, however, how these traits are associated with the accuracy and positivity of first impressions is not well understood. The present article addresses three primary questions. First, to what extent are perceiver levels of Dark Tetrad traits associated with differing levels of perceptive accuracy? Second, to what extent are target levels of Dark Tetrad traits associated with differing levels of expressive accuracy? Finally, to what extent can Dark Tetrad traits be differentiated when examining perceptions of and by others?

Method

In a round‐robin design, undergraduate participants (N = 412) in small groups engaged in brief, naturalistic, unstructured dyadic interactions before providing impressions of their partner.

Results

Dark Tetrad traits were associated with being viewed and viewing others less distinctively accurately and more negatively.

Conclusions

Interpersonal perceptions that included an individual scoring highly on one of the Dark Tetrad traits differed in important ways from interactions among individuals with more benevolent personalities. Notably, despite the similarities between the Dark Tetrad, traits had unique associations with interpersonal perceptions.
Pharmacokinetics of orbifloxacin in crucian carp (Carassius auratus) after intravenous and intramuscular administration
Authors: Yang F. , Yang F. , Wang G. , Shi W. , Kong T. , Yang P. , Bai D. , Zhou B.
Published: February 2018

The pharmacokinetics of orbifloxacin was studied after a single dose (7.5 mg/kg) of intravenous or intramuscular administration to crucian carp (Carassius auratus) reared in freshwater at 25°C. Plasma samples were collected from six fish per sampling point. Orbifloxacin concentrations were determined by high‐performance liquid chromatography with a 0.02 μg/ml limit of detection, then were subjected to noncompartmental analysis. After intravenous injection, initial concentration of 5.83 μg/ml, apparent elimination rate constant (λz) of 0.039 hr−1, apparent elimination half‐life (T1/2λz) of 17.90 hr, systemic total body clearance (Cl) of 75.47 ml hr−1 kg−1, volume of distribution (Vz) of 1,948.76 ml/kg, and volume of distribution at steady‐state (Vss) of 1,863.97 ml/kg were determined, respectively. While after intramuscular administration, the λz, T1/2λz, mean absorption time (MAT), absorption half‐life (T1/2ka), and bioavailability were determined as 0.027 hr−1, 25.69, 10.26, 7.11 hr, and 96.46%, respectively, while the peak concentration was observed as 3.11 ± 0.06 μg/ml at 2.0 hr. It was shown that orbifloxacin was completely but relatively slowly absorbed, extensively distributed, and slowly eliminated in crucian carp, and an orbifloxacin dosage of 10 mg/kg administered intravenously or intramuscularly would be expected to successfully treat crucian carp infected by strains with MIC values ≤0.5 μg/ml.
Efficacy of elbasvir and grazoprevir in participants with hepatitis C virus genotype 4 infection: A pooled analysis
Authors: Asselah Tarik , Reesink Hendrik , Gerstoft Jan , de Ledinghen Victor , Pockros Paul J. , Robertson Michael , Hwang Peggy , Asante‐Appiah Ernest , Wahl Janice , Nguyen Bach‐Yen , Barr Eliav , Talwani Rohit , Serfaty Lawrence
Published: February 2018

Background & Aims

The aim of this integrated analysis was to assess the efficacy of the once‐daily combination of elbasvir 50 mg and grazoprevir 100 mg, with and without ribavirin in HCV genotype 4 (GT4)‐infected participants enrolled in the Phase 2/3 clinical programme with elbasvir/grazoprevir.

Methods

Treatment‐naïve and treatment‐experienced participants 18 years of age or older with chronic HCV GT4 infection and baseline HCV RNA ≥10 000 IU/mL were included in the analysis. The analysis population was the full analysis set (FAS; all participants who received at least 1 dose of study medication) and a total of 155 HCV GT4 participants were evaluated. The primary endpoint was sustained virologic response at week 12 (SVR12; HCV RNA less than the lower limit of quantitation at 12 weeks after the completion of study therapy).

Results

Overall, among GT4‐infected participants treated with 12 or 16 weeks of elbasvir/grazoprevir ± ribavirin, the SVR12 efficacy rates were 96.4% (107/111) in treatment‐naïve participants and 88.6% (39/44) in treatment‐experienced participants. The SVR12 rates were 96.0% (97/101) in treatment‐naïve participants treated with 12 weeks of elbasvir/grazoprevir and 100% (8/8) in treatment‐experienced participants treated with 16 weeks of elbasvir/grazoprevir plus ribavirin. Efficacy was not impacted by GT4 subtype.

Conclusions

The regimens of 12 weeks of elbasvir/grazoprevir without ribavirin, and 16 weeks of elbasvir/grazoprevir plus ribavirin, were efficacious in HCV GT4‐infected treatment‐naïve and treatment‐experienced participants respectively. Baseline NS5A resistance‐associated substitutions did not impact the efficacy of elbasvir/grazoprevir in GT4‐infected participants.
The impact of bacteriophages on phyllosphere bacterial abundance and composition
Authors: Morella Norma M. , Gomez Annika L. , Wang Grant , Leung Michelle S. , Koskella Britt
Published: February 2018

Interactions between bacteria and bacteriophage viruses (phages) are known to influence pathogen growth and virulence, microbial diversity and even biogeochemical cycling. Lytic phages in particular infect and lyse their host cells, and can therefore have significant effects on cell densities as well as competitive dynamics within microbial communities. Despite the known impacts of lytic phages on the ecology and evolution of bacteria in free‐living communities, little is known about the role of lytic phages in host‐associated microbiomes. We set out to characterize the impact of phages in the tomato phyllosphere, that is the bacteria associated with above‐ground plant tissues, by transferring microbial communities from field‐grown tomato plants to juvenile plants grown under mostly sterile conditions in either the presence or absence of their associated phage community. In three separate experiments, we found that the presence of phages affects overall bacterial abundance during colonization of new host plants. Furthermore, bacterial community analysis using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing shows that phages significantly alter the relative abundance of dominant community members and can influence both within‐ and among‐host diversity. These results underscore the importance of lytic phages in host‐associated microbiomes and are relevant to microbiome transplantation approaches, as they suggest transferring nonbacterial components of the microbiome among hosts is likely to have a strong impact on growth of both the resident and colonizing microbiota.
Modeling the hematocrit distribution in microcirculatory networks: A quantitative evaluation of a phase separation model
Authors: Rasmussen Peter M. , Secomb Timothy W. , Pries Axel R.
Published: February 2018

Objective

Theoretical models are essential tools for studying microcirculatory function. Recently, the validity of a well‐established phase separation model was questioned and it was claimed that it produces problematically low hematocrit predictions and lack of red cells in small diameter vessels. We conducted a quantitative evaluation of this phase separation model to establish common ground for future research.

Methods

Model predictions were validated against a comprehensive database with measurements from 4 mesenteric networks. A Bayesian data analysis framework was used to integrate measurements and network model simulations into a combined analysis and to model uncertainties related to network boundary conditions as well as phase separation model parameters. The model evaluation was conducted within a cross‐validation scheme.

Results

Unlike the recently reported results, our analysis demonstrated good correspondence in global characteristics between measurements and predictions. In particular, predicted hematocrits for vessels with small diameters were consistent with measurements. Incorporating phase separation model parameter uncertainties further reduced the hematocrit validation error by 17% and led to the absence of red‐cell‐free segments. Corresponding model parameters are presented as alternatives to standard parameters.

Conclusions

Consistent with earlier studies, our quantitative model evaluation supports the continued use of the established phase separation model.
Comparative virulence of Candida auris with Candida haemulonii, Candida glabrata and Candida albicans in a murine model
Authors: Fakhim Hamed , Vaezi Afsane , Dannaoui Eric , Chowdhary Anuradha , Nasiry Davood , Faeli Leila , Meis Jacques F. , Badali Hamid
Published: February 2018

The incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFIs) caused by uncommon Candida species with diverse virulence and susceptibility profiles has increased in recent years. Due to scarce clinical and experimental data on the pathogenicity of Candida auris, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the virulence of two rare clinically relevant species, C. auris and Candida haemulonii with Candida glabrata and Candida albicans in an immunocompetent murine model of disseminated infection. Immunocompetent ICR female mice were infected with three inoculum sizes (1 × 105, 1 × 106 and 1 × 107 CFU/mouse) of two C. auris strains and one isolate of C. haemulonii, C. glabrata and C. albicans. Tissue burden on days 5 and 10 postchallenge and mortality rate were used as virulence markers. A high virulence was found for C. albicans, followed by C. auris, C. glabrata and C. haemulonii, respectively. Candida albicans showed high virulence with a medium survival time of 9.5 days for mice infected with 1 × 107 CFU/mouse. For inocula at 1 × 106 and 1 × 107 CFU/mouse, there were significant differences in fungal burden at day 10 between C. albicans, C. auris and C. glabrata isolates compared with C. haemulonii (P < .0001). Overall, no significant differences between C. albicans with C. auris and C. glabrata were observed in mice infected with three different inocula (P > .05). In general, the highest fungal load of all isolates was detected in kidney followed by spleen, liver and lung tested with three different inocula on the two different experimental days. Histopathological examination revealed the abundant presence of yeast cells with pseudohyphae for C. albicans and only yeast cells for C. auris, C. glabrata and C. haemulonii, in all the kidney tissue samples. In conclusion, C. albicans is a highly virulent opportunistic fungus, as the clinical and experimental data demonstrate, and also our results demonstrate a low virulence of C. haemulonii in immunocompetent animals. Altogether, this study highlights the pathogenic potential of C. auris.
Robustness of early warning signals for catastrophic and non‐catastrophic transitions
Authors: Dutta Partha Sharathi , Sharma Yogita , Abbott Karen C.
Published: February 2018

Early warning signals (EWS) are statistical indicators that a rapid regime shift may be forthcoming. Their development has given ecologists hope of predicting rapid regime shifts before they occur. Accurate predictions, however, rely on the signals being appropriate to the system in question. Most of the EWS commonly applied in ecology have been studied in the context of one specific type of regime shift (the type brought on by a saddle‐node bifurcation, at which one stable equilibrium point collides with an unstable equilibrium and disappears) under one particular perturbation scheme (temporally uncorrelated noise that perturbs the net population growth rate in a density independent way). Whether and when these EWS can be applied to other ecological situations remains relatively unknown, and certainly underappreciated. We study a range of models with different types of dynamical transitions (including rapid regime shifts) and several perturbation schemes (density‐dependent uncorrelated or temporally‐correlated noise) and test the ability of EWS to warn of an approaching transition. We also test the sensitivity of our results to the amount of available pre‐transition data and various decisions that must be made in the analysis (i.e. the rolling window size and smoothing bandwidth used to compute the EWS). We find that EWS generally work well to signal an impending saddle‐node bifurcation, regardless of the autocorrelation or intensity of the noise. However, EWS do not reliably appear as expected for other types of transition. EWS were often very sensitive to the length of the pre‐transition time series analyzed, and usually less sensitive to other decisions. We conclude that the EWS perform well for saddle‐node bifurcation in a range of noise environments, but different methods should be used to predict other types of regime shifts. As a consequence, knowledge of the mechanism behind a possible regime shift is needed before EWS can be used to predict it.
Cholesterol accumulation by suppression of SMT1 leads to dwarfism and improved drought tolerance in herbaceous plants
Authors: Chen Miao , Chen Jingjing , Luo Na , Qu Rongda , Guo Zhenfei , Lu Shaoyun
Published: February 2018

Dwarfism and drought tolerance are 2 valuable traits in breeding of many crops. In this study, we report the novel physiological roles of cholesterol in regulation of plant growth and drought tolerance. Compared with the wild type, sterol‐C24‐methyltransferase 1 (SMT1) gene transcript was greatly reduced in a bermudagrass mutant with dwarfism and enhanced drought tolerance, accompanied with cholesterol accumulation, elevated transcript levels of a small group of genes including SAMDC, and increased concentrations of putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd), and spermine (Spm). Knock‐down of OsSMT1 expression by RNA interference resulted in similar phenotypic changes in transgenic rice. Moreover, exogenously applied cholesterol also led to elevated transcripts of a similar set of genes, higher levels of Put, Spd, and Spm, improved drought tolerance, and reduced plant height in both bermudagrass and rice. We revealed that it is Spm, but not Spd, that is responsible for the height reduction in bermudagrass and rice. In conclusion, we suggest that cholesterol induces expression of SAMDC and leads to dwarfism and elevated drought tolerance in plants as a result of the promoted Spd and Spm synthesis.
Successful management of living donor liver transplantation for biliary atresia with single ventricle physiology—from peri‐transplant through total cavopulmonary connection: A case report
Authors: Yamada Yohei , Hoshino Ken , Oyanagi Takayuki , Gatayama Ryohei , Maeda Jun , Katori Nobuyuki , Fuchimoto Yasushi , Hibi Taizo , Shinoda Masahiro , Matsubara Kentaro , Obara Hideaki , Aeba Ryo , Kitagawa Yuko , Yamagishi Hiroyuki , Kuroda Tatsuo
Published: February 2018

Children with single ventricle physiology have complete mixing of the pulmonary and systemic circulations, requiring staged procedures to achieve a separation of these circulations, or Fontan circulation. The single ventricle physiology significantly increases the risk of mortality in children undergoing non‐cardiac surgery. As liver transplantation for patients with single ventricle physiology is particularly challenging, only a few reports have been published. We herein report a case of successful LDLTx for an 8‐month‐old pediatric patient with biliary atresia, heterotaxy, and complex heart disease of single ventricle physiology. The cardiac anomalies included total anomalous pulmonary venous return type IIb, intermediate atrioventricular septal defect, tricuspid regurgitation grade III, coarctation of aorta, interrupted inferior vena cava, bilateral superior vena cava, and polysplenia syndrome. Following LDLTx, the patient sequentially underwent total cavopulmonary shunt + Damus‐Kaye‐Stansel at 3 years of age and extracardiac total cavopulmonary connection (EC‐TCPC) completion at 5 years of age; 7 years have now passed since LDLTx (2 years post–EC‐TCPC). We describe the details of the management of LTx in the presence of cardiac anomalies and report the long‐term cardiac and liver function, from peri‐LDLTx through EC‐TCPC completion.
Why are males more attractive after brood care? Proximate causes of enhanced sex pheromone emission in a burying beetle
Authors: Chemnitz Johanna , Fujan Ina S. , Winkelmann Carola , Steiger Sandra
Published: February 2018

Recent studies demonstrate that pheromones can be costly to produce and emit and, therefore, the types and quantities that they express are likely to covary with individual condition. Previous experiments reveal that, when given the opportunity to breed and care for young, male burying beetles Nicrophorus vespilloides go on to produce a higher amount of their sex pheromone and attract more females than control males that do not exhibit parental care. This finding is surprising because parental care is usually assumed to be energetically costly, reducing the future capacity to invest in sexual signalling. However, burying beetles reproduce on dead vertebrates and the carrion meal might enable males to acquire resources that can subsequently be allocated to pheromone signalling. Alternatively, males might accumulate pheromone precursors because they do not emit their sex pheromone during brood care. To shed light on the mechanisms of enhanced pheromone emission after brood care, in the present study, we test the effect of diet quality, social condition during care (biparental versus uniparental care) and an experimentally enforced calling pause on subsequent male pheromone emission, body weight and energy storage components. The experimentally enforced calling pause and social condition during brood care demonstrate no impact on pheromone quantity. However, the results of the present study suggest that the vertebrate carrion meal during brood care partly explains enhanced pheromone release after care. Unravelling the biosynthetic pathways of the pheromone components and analyzing the impact of potential microbial symbionts on pheromone production represents a fruitful avenue for future research.
Effects of a prevention program for internet addiction among middle school students in South Korea
Authors: Yang Sun‐Yi , Kim Hee‐Soon
Published: February 2018

Objectives

This study explored the effects of a self‐regulatory efficacy improvement program on self‐control, self‐efficacy, internet addiction, and time spent on the internet among middle school students in South Korea. The program was led by school nurses, and it is integrated self‐efficacy and self‐regulation promotion strategies based on Bandura's social cognitive theory.

Design and Sample

A quasi‐experimental, nonequivalent, control group, pre–posttest design was used. The participants were 79 middle school students.

Measures

Measurements included the Self‐Control Scale, Self‐Efficacy Scale, Internet Addiction Proneness Scale, and an assessment of internet addiction.

Results

Self‐control and self‐efficacy significantly increased and internet addiction and time spent on the internet significantly decreased in the intervention group compared with the control group.

Conclusion

A program led by school nurses that integrated and applied self‐efficacy and self‐regulation intervention strategies proved effective for prevention of students’ internet addiction.
Tumor deposits in salivary gland tumors
Authors: Sarioglu Sulen , Kilicarslan Emel , Aydin Barbaros , Kozen Melih Arif , Akman Fadime , Oztop Ilhan , Ada Emel , Ikiz Ahmet Omer
Published: February 2018

Tumor deposits (TDs), identified in different types of carcinomas are associated with poor prognosis. Salivary gland tumors were evaluated for the first time for TDs in this series. Pathological and clinical features of 25 salivary gland carcinomas primarily treated surgically including neck dissection were determined and all cases were evaluated for TDs in dissection specimens. Seven patients (28%) had TDs. There was no difference for TDs when histological type, tumor grade, tumor localization, pT, pN stage, surgical margin, lymphovascular, perineural invasion, local recurrence, distant metastatic disease and overall survival were considered. Disease‐free survival rates at 12 and 24 months were 52.5%, 28.6% and 73.3%, 57.1%, for cases with and without TDs (P = 0.463). Overall survival rates at 12 and 24 months for these groups were 85.7% and 57.1 versus 86.7% and 66.7% respectively (P = 0.916). Mean estimated recurrence‐free survival time for all cases, TD negative and TD positive cases were: 171.86, 182.72 and 82.42 months, respectively. Mean estimated overall survival time for these groups were 175.80, 186.489 and 89.70 months, respectively. TDs were described in salivary gland tumors for the first time in this series and seem to be associated with poor prognosis requiring further evaluation in larger series.
Segmentectomy versus lobectomy in early non‐small cell lung cancer of 2 cm or less in size: A population‐based study
Authors: Moon Mi Hyoung , Moon Young Kyu , Moon Seok Whan
Published: February 2018

Background and objective

Standard surgical management for early stage lung cancer is lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection. The feasibility of limited resection remains controversial; we retrospectively assessed lung cancer‐specific survival (LCSS) and overall survival (OS) in early stage non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) to evaluate whether segmentectomy is comparable to standard lobectomy.

Methods

Patients with primary NSCLC of 20 mm or less who were diagnosed from 2000 to 2014 were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. To compare the two surgical interventions, a propensity score analysis was performed between lobectomy and segmentectomy.

Results

Of the 15 358 patients analysed, there were 14 549 lobectomies and 809 segmentectomies. The 5‐year OS was 76% for the lobectomy group and 74.4% for the segmentectomy group. There were no significant differences in OS or LCSS among patients who underwent lobectomy versus segmentectomy, as demonstrated by the propensity‐matched hazard ratio (HR) for OS (HR: 1.195, 95% CI: 0.993–1.439) and LCSS (HR: 1.124, 95% CI: 0.860–1.469). The inverse propensity‐weighted analysis also supported these results. Segmentectomy was more likely to be performed in elderly patients. In the subset of patients aged ≥75 years, the segmentectomy group demonstrated comparable OS (HR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.87–1.58, P = 0.31) and LCSS (HR: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.59–1.51, P = 0.81), compared with the lobectomy group.

Conclusion

Equivalent OS and LCSS were demonstrated in patients with primary NSCLC of 20 mm or less without lymph node or distant metastasis.
Macroeconomic Effects of Commodity Price Shocks in a Low‐income Economy: The Case of Tobacco in Malawi
Authors: Bangara Bertha Chipo , Dunne John Paul
Published: February 2018

A major concern for developing economies is a dependence on commodities when their prices are volatile as a major change in the international commodity price can have important implications for economic growth. While some cross‐country studies exist, there is lack of country specific studies that take into account the different characteristics of low‐income economies. This paper contributes to the growing literature by considering the case of Malawi and the macroeconomic impact of price shocks in its major export crop of tobacco. Using a structural vector autoregression (SVAR) approach on quarterly Malawian data from 1980:1 to 2012:4, the paper establishes that a positive tobacco price shock has a significant positive impact on the country's gross domestic product, decreasing consumer prices and inducing real exchange rate appreciation. The results are robust to alternative specifications of a SVAR on difference stationary data and cointegrating VAR. The cointegrating VAR confirms the existence of a long run‐relationship among the variables and causality that runs from tobacco prices.
Culture, Region, and Cross‐National Violent Crime
Authors: Corcoran Katie E. , Stark Rodney
Published: February 2018

Past cross‐national crime research has focused on structural factors with considerably less attention paid to cultural predictors. We extend the culture of honor thesis by identifying the importance of cultural gender inequality and test a direct measure of it on cross‐national violent crime rates. While prior research typically uses regional variables as proxies for culture, by using a direct cultural measure we are also able to identify whether culture contributes to explaining the regional associations found previously. Based on national surveys of 153 nations and more than a million respondents, this study is able to explore cultural, structural, and regional predictors of violent crime rates cross‐nationally. Two regions, Latin America and sub‐Saharan Africa, are far above the rest of the world in terms of violent crime rates. It turns out that most of the standard structural variables found to be important in previous cross‐national studies no longer have significant effects when controls for these two regions are imposed. On the other hand, we find that our measure of cultural gender inequality has one of the largest associations with violent crime rates, net of region, and also explains portions of both regional associations.
Comparison of stratum corneum thickness between two proposed methods of calculation using Raman spectroscopic depth profiling of skin water content
Authors: Lee M. , Won K. , Kim E. J. , Hwang J. S. , Lee H. K.
Published: February 2018

Background/purpose

The stratum corneum (SC) is the most important layer for the barrier function of skin, so investigation of the SC is very important in cosmetic and medical research. Here, we calculated the SC thickness using the depth profile of the skin's water concentration based on previously described methods, and then compared the results.

Methods

Seven Korean women in their 30s participated in this study. Raman spectroscopy was used to measure the in vivo depth profile of skin water concentration. A total of 21 areas were measured at forearm. Microsoft Excel 2007 was used to calculate SC thickness based on the slope and intersection methods.

Results

The slope method and the intersection method gave a forearm SC thickness calculated at 21.3 ± 2.6 μm and 17.6 ± 2.8 μm, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two calculation methods but the two methods showed strong correlation of SC thickness results (r = .899).

Conclusion

Although there was a difference in calculated SC thickness of about 20% between the two methods, these results reveal that the two SC thickness calculation methods using Raman spectroscopy were suitable for measuring SC thickness, a finding consistent with other published results.
Acute haemolysis, DIC and renal failure after transfusion of uncross‐matched blood during trauma resuscitation: illustrative case and literature review
Authors: Fiorellino J. , Elahie A. L. , Warkentin T. E.
Published: February 2018

Aims/Objectives

The aims of this study were to report a patient with acute haemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR) after transfusing uncross‐matched red blood cell (RBC) units and to identify the frequency of this complication.

Background

Uncross‐matched RBC units are commonly transfused in emergencies, but the frequency of acute HTR is unknown.

Methods

We describe a male stabbing victim who received three units of uncross‐matched RBC units complicated by acute intravascular HTR, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and renal failure. We identified 14 studies evaluating the frequency of acute HTR post‐emergency transfusion of uncross‐matched RBC units.

Results

Acute HTR was shown by haemoglobinuria, free‐plasma haemoglobin and methemalbumin, with anti‐K and anti‐Fya eluted from recipient red cells; acute DIC featured severe hypofibrinogenemia, thrombocytopenia, elevated fibrin D‐dimer and multiple bilateral renal infarcts. Two of the three transfused units reacted with pre‐existing RBC alloantibodies [anti‐K (titre, 128), anti‐Fya (titre, 512)], explained by transfusion 25 years earlier. Our literature review found the frequency of acute HTR following emergency transfusion of uncross‐matched RBC units to be 2/3998 [0·06% (95% CI, 0·01–0·21%)].

Conclusions

Although emergency transfusion of uncross‐matched blood is commonly practiced at trauma centres worldwide, with low risk of acute HTR (<1/1000), our well‐documented patient case demonstrates the potential for acute HTR with severe complications.
Blood donation history and eligibility assessment in a community‐based sample of men who have sex with men
Authors: Custer Brian , Murcia Karla , Robinson William T. , McFarland Willi , Raymond Henry Fisher
Published: February 2018

BACKGROUND

In 2016, the US Food and Drug Administration changed the regulation from a permanent deferral from donation for men who have sex with men (MSM) to a 1‐year deferral since last sexual contact. It is unknown what proportions of MSM try to donate and if they would be willing to answer individual risk‐based questions to assess their current eligibility.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The National HIV Behavioral Surveillance surveys periodically measure human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalence and risk behaviors among MSM using a venue‐based, time‐location sampling method. In the 2014 cycle, that is, before the policy change, investigators in San Francisco and New Orleans added questions about blood donation. Questions inquired into three domains: donation history, policy awareness, and knowledge about HIV testing of donations.

RESULTS

There were 404 and 557 respondents in San Francisco and New Orleans, respectively. Nearly one in three MSM in San Francisco (27.4%) and New Orleans (31.4%) tried to donate after their first MSM contact. A majority (63.1% in San Francisco, 58.8% in New Orleans) somewhat or strongly agreed that they would be willing to be asked detailed questions for donation eligibility assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

The proportion of MSM who reported trying to donate was similar in the two cities. However, a substantial proportion did not agree to be asked more detailed risk behavior questions to assess eligibility. In these two geographic locations, prominent regional differences were not evident.
Clinical findings and normative ocular data for free‐living Anna's (Calypte anna) and Black‐chinned (Archilochus alexandri) Hummingbirds
Authors: Moore Bret A. , Maggs David J. , Kim Soohyun , Motta Monica J. , Bandivadekar Ruta , Tell Lisa A. , Murphy Christopher J.
Published: February 2018

Objective

To estimate the prevalence of ocular disease and obtain normative ocular data for free‐living hummingbirds.

Animals studied

Two hundred and sixty‐three free‐living, adult Hummingbirds from coastal and inland central California were studied, including Anna's (Calypte anna, n = 186) and Black‐chinned (Archilochus alexandri; n = 77) hummingbirds.

Procedures

Slit lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy were performed on all individuals. Rebound tonometry, measurement of horizontal palpebral fissure length, and streak retinoscopy were performed on select individuals. Five conscious Anna's Hummingbirds underwent ocular imaging including fundus photography, digital slit lamp photography, and anterior segment and retinal optical coherence tomography.

Results

The prevalence of ocular disease in this population was 2.28%. Ocular imaging revealed a thin cornea, shallow anterior chamber, large lens, and a single central, deep convexiclivate fovea. Mean ± SD intraocular pressure was 11.21 ± 2.23 mm Hg. Mean ± SD eyelid length was 2.59 ± 0.19 mm. All eyes were emmetropic or mildly hyperopic with a mean (range) ± SD refractive error of +0.32 (−0.25 to +1) ± 0.33 diopters.

Conclusions

Consistent with previous reports, these data suggest that hummingbirds have visual characteristics found in predatory and prey species, as well as a low prevalence of spontaneous ocular disease. This work provides a set of reference values and clinical findings that can be used in the future research on hummingbird vision and ocular disease. It also provides representative diagnostic images of normal birds and demonstrates that advanced ocular imaging can be performed on manually restrained hummingbirds without pharmacologic dilation.
Effects of hyaluronate‐carboxymethylcellulose membranes on the clinical outcome of horses undergoing emergency exploratory celiotomy
Authors: Troy Jarrod R. , Holcombe Susan J. , Fogle Callie A. , Epstein Kira L. , Woodie J. Brett
Published: February 2018

Objective

To determine the influence of hyaluronate‐carboxymethylcellulose (HA‐CMC) membranes applied to intestinal anastomoses or enterotomies on postoperative complications after emergency exploratory celiotomy.

Study design

Multicenter retrospective case‐controlled series.

Animals

Adult horses (59 in the HA‐CMC group and 91 controls).

Methods

Medical records from 4 referral hospitals were searched for horses ≥1 year of age, treated between 2008 and 2014 with emergency exploratory celiotomy, and surviving at least 24 hours postoperatively. Horses receiving repeat celiotomy during the same hospitalization were excluded. Horses who received HA‐CMC were matched with controls who did not receive HA‐CMC but had similar intestinal lesions and procedures at the same referral hospital. Postoperative complications (colic, nasogastric reflux, fever, incisional infection, and septic peritonitis), duration of hospitalization, and survival were compared between groups. Data were compared between horses by t test, Wilcoxon signed rank test, and χ2 test.

Results

The volume of nasogastric reflux at admission (P = .02) and the duration of administration of lidocaine after surgery (P = .02) were greater in horses with HA‐CMC membranes than in controls. No difference in postoperative complications or survival was detected between groups: 48 of 59 (81%) horses treated with HA‐CMC survived until discharge from the hospital compared with 80 of 91 (88%) horses in the control group (P = .27). Fifteen of 21 horses treated with HA‐CMC and 30 of 43 horses in the control group survived >12 months after hospital discharge.

Conclusion

Application of HA‐CMC membranes to anastomoses or intestinal incisions did not influence postoperative complications or survival after emergency celiotomy compared with controls.

Clinical significance

The safety and efficacy of HA‐CMC membrane application to intestinal sites during colic surgery in horses is equivocal.
Duty hours restriction for our surgical trainees: An ethical obligation or a bad idea?
Authors: Adin Christopher A. , Fogle Callie A. , Marks Steven L.
Published: February 2018

To ensure patient safety and protect the well‐being of interns and residents, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) issued guidelines in 2003 limiting the working hours of physician trainees. Although many supported the goals of the ACGME, institutions struggled to restructure their programs and hire staff required by this unfunded mandate. Numerous studies have analyzed the effects of duty hours restrictions on patient outcomes and physician training over the past 15 years. Most agree that duty hours restrictions improved well‐being of house officers, but these improvements came at the expense of continuity, and patient hand‐offs led to medical errors. Effects on resident training are program specific, with duty hours restrictions having the most deleterious effects on surgical disciplines. Because veterinary specialists assume a similar role in providing 24‐hour patient care, interns and residents face work‐related stress as a result of extended working hours, on‐call duty, and an increasingly complex caseload. The North Carolina State Veterinary Hospital is staffed by approximately 100 house officers representing almost every veterinary specialty group. We surveyed departing house officers regarding their quality of life and training experience. Sixty‐six percent of interns and residents reported that they do not have time to take care of personal needs, and 57%‐62% felt neutral or dissatisfied with their mental and physical well‐being. Most trainees believed that decreased duty hours would improve learning, but 42% believed that decreased caseload would be detrimental to training. Veterinary educators must consider post‐DVM veterinary training guidelines that maintain patient care with a good learning environment for interns and residents.
Exploring species boundaries with multiple genetic loci using empirical data from non‐biting midges
Authors: Lin Xiao‐Long , Stur Elisabeth , Ekrem Torbjørn
Published: February 2018

Over the past decade, molecular approaches to species delimitation have seen rapid development. However, species delimitation based on a single locus, for example, DNA barcodes, can lead to inaccurate results in cases of recent speciation and incomplete lineage sorting. Here, we compare the performance of Automatic Barcode Gap Discovery (ABGD), Bayesian Poisson tree processes (PTP), networks, generalized mixed Yule coalescent (GMYC) and Bayesian phylogenetics and phylogeography (BPP) models to delineate cryptic species previously detected by DNA barcodes within Tanytarsus (Diptera: Chironomidae) non‐biting midges. We compare the results from analyses of one mitochondrial (cytochrome c oxidase subunit I [COI]) and three nuclear (alanyl‐tRNA synthetase 1 [AATS1], carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 [CAD1] and 6‐phosphogluconate dehydrogenase [PGD]) protein‐coding genes. Our results show that species delimitation based on multiple nuclear DNA markers is largely concordant with morphological variation and delimitations using a single locus, for example, the COI barcode. However, ABGD, GMYC, PTP and network models led to conflicting results based on a single locus and delineate species differently than morphology. Results from BPP analyses on multiple loci correspond best with current morphological species concept. In total, 10 lineages of the Tanytarsus curticornis species complex were uncovered. Excluding a Norwegian population of Tanytarsus brundini which might have undergone recent hybridization, this suggests six hitherto unrecognized species new to science. Five distinct species are well supported in the Tanytarsus heusdensis species complex, including two species new to science.
Reduced Fatigue in Passive Versus Active Recovery: An Examination of Repeated-Change-of-Direction Sprints in Basketball Players
Authors: Madueno Maria C. , Dalbo Vincent J. , Guy Joshua H. , Giamarelos Kate E. , Spiteri Tania , Scanlan Aaron T.
Published: February 2018

Purpose: To investigate the physiological and performance effects of active and passive recovery between repeated-change-of-direction sprints. Methods: Eight semiprofessional basketball players (age: 19.9 [1.5] y; stature: 183.0 [9.6] cm; body mass: 77.7 [16.9] kg; body fat: 11.8% [6.3%]; and peak oxygen consumption: 46.1 [7.6] mL·kg−1·min−1) completed 12 × 20-m repeated-change-of-direction sprints (Agility 5-0-5 tests) interspersed with 20 seconds of active (50% maximal aerobic speed) or passive recovery in a randomized crossover design. Physiological and perceptual measures included heart rate, oxygen consumption, blood lactate concentration, and rating of perceived exertion. Change-of-direction speed was measured during each sprint using the change-of-direction deficit (CODD), with summed CODD time and CODD decrement calculated as performance measures. Results: Average heart rate (7.3 [6.4] beats·min−1; P = .010; effect size (ES) = 1.09; very likely) and oxygen consumption (4.4 [5.0] mL·kg−1·min−1; P = .12; ES = 0.77; unclear) were moderately greater with active recovery compared with passive recovery across sprints. Summed CODD time (0.87 [1.01] s; P = .07; ES = 0.76, moderate; likely) and CODD decrement (8.1% [3.7%]; P < .01; ES = 1.94, large; almost certainly) were higher with active compared with passive recovery. Trivial–small differences were evident for rating of perceived exertion (P = .516; ES = 0.19; unclear) and posttest blood lactate concentration (P = .29; ES = 0.40; unclear) between recovery modes. Conclusions: Passive recovery between repeated-change-of-direction sprints may reduce the physiological stress and fatigue encountered compared with active recovery in basketball players.
Environmental Controls of Oyster-Pathogenic Vibrio spp. in Oregon Estuaries and a Shellfish Hatchery
Authors: Gradoville Mary R. , Crump Byron C. , Häse Claudia C. , White Angelicque E.
Published: February 2018

Vibriospp. have been a persistent concern for coastal bivalve hatcheries, which are vulnerable to environmental pathogens in the seawater used for rearing larvae, yet the biogeochemical drivers of oyster-pathogenicVibriospp. in their planktonic state are poorly understood. Here, we present data tracking oyster-pathogenicVibriobacteria in Netarts Bay and Yaquina Bay in Oregon, USA, as well as in adjacent coastal waters and a local shellfish hatchery, through the 2015 upwelling season.Vibriopopulations were quantified using a culture-independent approach of high-throughputVibrio-specific 16S rRNA gene sequencing paired with droplet digital PCR, and abundances were analyzed in the context of local biogeochemistry. The most abundant putative pathogen in our samples wasVibrio coralliilyticus. Environmental concentrations of totalVibriospp. andV. coralliilyticuswere highest in Netarts Bay sediment samples and higher in seawater from Netarts Bay than from nearshore coastal waters or Yaquina Bay. In Netarts Bay, the highestV. coralliilyticusconcentrations were observed during low tide, and abundances increased throughout the summer. We hypothesize that the warm shallow waters in estuarine mudflats facilitate the local growth of theV. coralliilyticuspathogen. Samples from larval oyster tanks in Whiskey Creek Shellfish Hatchery, which uses seawater pumped directly from Netarts Bay, contained significantly lower totalVibriospecies concentrations, but roughly similarV. coralliilyticusconcentrations, than did the bay water, resulting in a 30-fold increase in the relative abundance of theV. coralliilyticuspathogen in hatchery tanks. This suggests that theV. coralliilyticuspathogen is able to grow or persist under hatchery conditions.

IMPORTANCEIt has been argued that oyster-pathogenicVibriospp. have contributed to recent mortality events in U.S. shellfish hatcheries (R. A. Elston, H. Hasegawa, K. L. Humphrey, I. K. Polyak, and C. Häse, Dis Aquat Organ 82:119–134, 2008,https://doi.org/10.3354/dao01982); however, these events are often sporadic and unpredictable. The success of hatcheries is critically linked to the chemical and biological composition of inflowing seawater resources; thus, it is pertinent to understand the biogeochemical drivers of oyster-pathogenicVibriospp. in their planktonic state. Here, we show that Netarts Bay, the location of a local hatchery, is enriched in oyster-pathogenicV. coralliilyticuscompared to coastal seawater, and we hypothesize that conditions in tidal flats promote the local growth of this pathogen. Furthermore,V. coralliilyticusappears to persist in seawater pumped into the local hatchery. These results improve our understanding of the ecology and environmental controls of theV. coralliilyticuspathogen and could be used to improve future aquaculture efforts, as multiple stressors impact hatchery success.
Draft Genome Sequence of a Novel
Thermofilum
sp. Strain from a New Zealand Hot Spring Enrichment Culture
Authors: Reysenbach Anna-Louise , Donaho John A. , Hinsch Todd M. , Kelley John F. , Kouba Kathleen , Podar Mircea , Stott Matthew B.
Published: February 2018

A draft genome of a new
Thermofilum
sp. strain was obtained from an enrichment culture metagenome. Like its relatives,
Thermofilum
sp. strain NZ13 is adapted to organic-rich thermal environments and has to depend on other organisms and the environment for some key amino acids, purines, and cofactors.