bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical Management of a Persistent Stapedial Artery: A Review
Authors: Goderie Thadé Pieter Marie , Alkhateeb Waiel Hussain Fadhlallah , Smit Conrad Frits , Hensen Erik Frans
Published: June 2017

Objective:

To evaluate the outcome and per- and postoperative complications of the surgical management of patients with a persistent stapedial artery (PSA).

Methods:

A systemic literature search for reports on patients treated for pulsatile tinnitus and/or conductive hearing loss caused by a PSA was conducted of the PubMed and Embase databases using the terms “stapedial” and “artery.” Inclusion criteria were adequate description of the intervention and pre- and postoperative signs and symptoms. In addition, one case of a PSA, treated at VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands, was included in this series.

Intervention:

Middle ear surgery consisting of stapedotomy or stapedectomy, and/or transection of the PSA.

Main Outcome Measures:

Pre- and postoperative hearing levels, pre- and postoperative pulsatile tinnitus, and per- and postoperative complications.

Results:

Seventeen patients and 18 operated ears were evaluated (16 patients described in 14 articles and our case). Twelve out of 14 ears in which a stapedotomy or stapedectomy was initiated experienced improvement in hearing. In four cases pulsatile tinnitus was described pre- and postoperatively. In all four, pulsatile tinnitus subsided after transection of the PSA. Peroperative bleeding from the PSA was described in four patients, which could be controlled during the procedure. No significant postoperative sequelae were reported.

Conclusions:

In case of a PSA, improvement of conductive hearing loss is best achieved by stapes surgery, while pulsatile tinnitus is effectively treated with transection of the PSA. To date no long-term postoperative complications have been reported.
Muscle mass and physical recovery in ICU: innovations for targeting of nutrition and exercise
Authors: Wischmeyer Paul E. , Puthucheary Zudin , San Millán Iñigo , Butz Daniel , Grocott Michael P.W.
Published: June 2017

Purpose of review

We have significantly improved hospital mortality from sepsis and critical illness in last 10 years; however, over this same period we have tripled the number of ‘ICU survivors’ going to rehabilitation. Furthermore, as up to half the deaths in the first year following ICU admission occur post-ICU discharge, it is unclear how many of these patients ever returned home or a meaningful quality of life. For those who do survive, recent data reveals many ‘ICU survivors’ will suffer significant functional impairment or post-ICU syndrome (PICS). Thus, new innovative metabolic and exercise interventions to address PICS are urgently needed. These should focus on optimal nutrition and lean body mass (LBM) assessment, targeted nutrition delivery, anabolic/anticatabolic strategies, and utilization of personalized exercise intervention techniques, such as utilized by elite athletes to optimize preparation and recovery from critical care.

Recent findings

New data for novel LBM analysis technique such as computerized tomography scan and ultrasound analysis of LBM are available showing objective measures of LBM now becoming more practical for predicting metabolic reserve and effectiveness of nutrition/exercise interventions. 13C-Breath testing is a novel technique under study to predict infection earlier and predict over-feeding and under-feeding to target nutrition delivery. New technologies utilized routinely by athletes such as muscle glycogen ultrasound also show promise. Finally, the role of personalized cardiopulmonary exercise testing to target preoperative exercise optimization and post-ICU recovery are becoming reality.

New innovative techniques are demonstrating promise to target recovery from PICS utilizing a combination of objective LBM and metabolic assessment, targeted nutrition interventions, personalized exercise interventions for prehabilitation and post-ICU recovery. These interventions should provide hope that we will soon begin to create more ‘survivors’ and fewer victim's post-ICU care.
Being Fully Present
Authors: Walker Amy J. , Lewis Frances M. , Al-Mulla Hebah , Alzawad Zainab , Chi Nai-Ching
Published: June 2017

Background:

Oncology nurses can assist patients in gaining skills and confidence in multiple areas of illness self-management, including parenting skills. Child-rearing parents with cancer are a unique population because they must self-manage their illness and also help their child manage the intrusion of cancer on everyday life. The telephone offers an inexpensive channel for nurses to assist mothers in developing competencies to parent their child. The acceptability and attributed gains from such telephone services are unknown.

Objective:

The aims of this study were to (1) describe the gains child-rearing mothers attribute to participation in a nurse-delivered telephone cancer parenting program and (2) assess mothers’ evaluation of the telephone as a channel for delivering the program.

Methods:

Study participants were child-rearing mothers diagnosed with cancer (N = 31) who had completed a manualized telephone-delivered cancer parenting program by a nurse. Mothers were interviewed 1 month after exiting the program by a specially trained interviewer masked on the content of the program.

Results:

Most mothers were white (74%), highly educated, and had breast cancer (93.5%). Mothers attributed gains from the program in 3 areas: (1) being fully present for my child, (2) communicating in new ways, and (3) putting away my assumptions.

Conclusions:

Communication skills learned from nurses can assist mothers to self-manage the impact of the cancer on their own well-being and add to their parenting skills and competencies to help their children.

Implications for Practice:

The telephone is an effective and indeed preferred channel for delivering services to child-rearing parents impacted by cancer.
Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Eliminates Racial Disparities in Postoperative Length of Stay After Colorectal Surgery
Authors: Wahl Tyler S. , Goss Lauren E. , Morris Melanie S. , Gullick Allison A. , Richman Joshua S. , Kennedy Gregory D. , Cannon Jamie A. , Vickers Selwyn M. , Knight Sara J. , Simmons Jeffrey W. , Chu Daniel I.
Published: June 2017

Objective:

To investigate the effects of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) on racial disparities in postoperative length of stay (pLOS) after colorectal surgery.

Background:

Racial disparities in surgical outcomes exist. We hypothesized that ERAS would reduce disparities in pLOS between black and white patients.

Methods:

Patients undergoing ERAS in 2015 were 1:1 matched by race/ethnicity, age, sex, and procedure to a pre-ERAS group from 2010 to 2014. After stratification by race/ethnicity, expected pLOS was calculated using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project Risk Calculator. Primary outcome was the observed pLOS and observed-to-expected difference in pLOS. Secondary outcomes were National Surgical Quality Improvement Project postoperative complications including 30-day readmissions and mortality. Adjusted sensitivity analyses on pLOS were also performed.

Results:

Of 420 patients (210 ERAS and 210 pre-ERAS) examined, 28.3% were black. Black and white patients were similar in age, body mass index, sex, American Anesthesia Association class, and minimally invasive approaches. Within the pre-ERAS group, black patients stayed a mean of 2.7 days longer than expected compared with white patients (P < 0.05). Overall, ERAS patients had a significantly shorter pLOS (5.7 vs 8 days) and observed-to-expected difference (−0.7 vs 1.4 days) compared with pre-ERAS patients (P < 0.01). In the ERAS group, disparities in pLOS were reduced with no differences in readmissions or mortality between black and white patients. On sensitivity analyses, race/ethnicity remained a significant predictor of pLOS among pre-ERAS patients, but not for ERAS patients.

Conclusions:

ERAS eliminated racial differences in pLOS between black and white patients undergoing colorectal surgery. Reduced pLOS occurred without increases in mortality, readmissions, and most postoperative complications. ERAS may provide a practical approach to reducing disparities in surgical outcomes.
Outcomes of Lymphedema Microsurgery for Breast Cancer-related Lymphedema With or Without Microvascular Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Engel Holger , Lin Chia-Yu , Huang Jung-Ju , Cheng Ming-Huei
Published: June 2017

Objective:

This study investigated the outcome of lymphedema microsurgery with or without microsurgical breast reconstruction for breast cancer-related lymphedema (BCRL).

Background:

Complete decongestive therapy, lymphovenous anastomosis, and vascularized lymph node flap transfer are the 3 major treatment modalities for BCRL. Releasing axillary contracture and transferring a free flap may potentially improve the BCRL.

Methods:

Between 2004 and 2015, 124 patients with BCRL who underwent 3 treatment modalities without or with microsurgical breast reconstruction were included in this study as groups I and II, respectively. Patients were offered the lymphedema microsurgery depending on the availability of patent lymphatic ducts on indocyanine green lymphography if they failed to complete decongestive therapy. The circumferential difference, reduction rate, and episodes of cellulitis were used to evaluate the outcome of treatments.

Results:

Improvements in the circumferential difference (12.8 ± 4.2% vs 11.5 ± 5.3%), the reduction rate (20.4 ± 5.1% vs 14.7 ± 6%), and episodes of cellulitis (1.7 ± 1.1 vs 2.1 ± 2.4 times/yr) did not significantly differ between groups I and II (P = 0.06, 0.07, and 0.06, respectively). In both groups, vascularized lymph node flap transfer was significantly superior to lymphovenous anastomosis or complete decongestive therapy in terms of improvements in the circumferential difference, reduction rate and episodes of cellulitis (P = 0.04, 0.04, and 0.06, respectively).

Conclusions:

Microsurgical breast reconstruction did not improve the outcome of BCRL. Improvements in BCRL were better for lymphatic microsurgery than complete decongestive therapy. Moreover, vascularized lymph node flap transfer provided greater improvements in the BCRL than lymphovenous anastomosis.
Sirolimus Increases T-Cell Abundance in the Sun Exposed Skin of Kidney Transplant Recipients
Authors: Burke Michael Thomas , Sambira Nahum Lauren C. , Isbel Nicole M. , Carroll Robert P. , Soyer Hans Peter , Francis Ross , Bridge Jennifer Anne , Hawley Carmel , Oliver Kimberly , Staatz Christine E. , Wells James William
Published: June 2017

Background

Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) receiving the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor sirolimus may display a reduced risk of skin cancer development compared to KTRs receiving calcineurin inhibitors. Despite studies investigating the effects of these 2 drug classes on T cells in patient blood, the effect these drugs may have in patient skin is not yet known.

Methods

Fifteen patients with chronic kidney disease (not recipients of immunosuppressive drugs), and 30 KTRs (15 receiving a calcineurin inhibitor, and 15 receiving sirolimus) provided matched samples of blood, sun exposed (SE) and non-SE skin. The abundance of total CD8+and CD4+T cells, memory CD8+and CD4+T cells, and regulatory T (Treg) cells in each sample was then assessed by flow cytometry.

Results

Sirolimus treatment significantly increased absolute numbers of CD4+T cells, memory CD8+- and CD4+T cells, and Treg cells in SE skin versus paired samples of non-SE skin. No differences were found in the absolute number of any T cell subset in the blood. Correlation analysis revealed that the percentage of T cell subsets in the blood does not always accurately reflect the percentage of T-cell subsets in the skin of KTRs. Furthermore, sirolimus significantly disrupts the balance of memory CD4+T cells in the skin after chronic sun exposure.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that immunosuppressive drug class and sun exposure modify the abundance of multiple T-cell subsets in the skin of KTRs. Correlation analysis revealed that the prevalence of Treg cells in KTR blood does not accurately reflect the prevalence of Treg cells in KTR skin.
Tyrannosauroid integument reveals conflicting patterns of gigantism and feather evolution
Authors: Bell Phil R. , Campione Nicolás E. , Persons W. Scott , Currie Philip J. , Larson Peter L. , Tanke Darren H. , Bakker Robert T.
Published: June 2017

Recent evidence for feathers in theropods has led to speculations that the largest tyrannosaurids, includingTyrannosaurus rex, were extensively feathered. We describe fossil integument fromTyrannosaurusand other tyrannosaurids (Albertosaurus, Daspletosaurus, GorgosaurusandTarbosaurus), confirming that these large-bodied forms possessed scaly, reptilian-like skin. Body size evolution in tyrannosauroids reveals two independent occurrences of gigantism; specifically, the large sizes inYutyrannusand tyrannosaurids were independently derived. These new findings demonstrate that extensive feather coverings observed in some early tyrannosauroids were lost by the Albian, basal to Tyrannosauridae. This loss is unrelated to palaeoclimate but possibly tied to the evolution of gigantism, although other mechanisms exist.
No evidence for extrinsic post-zygotic isolation in a wild
Saccharomyces
yeast system
Authors: Charron Guillaume , Landry Christian R.
Published: June 2017

Although microorganisms account for the largest fraction of Earth's biodiversity, we know little about how their reproductive barriers evolve. Sexual microorganisms such as
Saccharomyces
yeasts rapidly develop strong intrinsic post-zygotic isolation, but the role of extrinsic isolation in the early speciation process remains to be investigated. We measured the growth of F
1
hybrids between two incipient species of
Saccharomyces paradoxus
to assess the presence of extrinsic post-zygotic isolation across 32 environments. More than 80% of hybrids showed either partial dominance of the best parent or over-dominance for growth, revealing no fitness defects in F
1
hybrids. Extrinsic reproductive isolation therefore likely plays little role in limiting gene flow between incipient yeast species and is not a requirement for speciation.
Mitochondrial DNA 3243A>G heteroplasmy is associated with changes in cytoskeletal protein expression and cell mechanics
Authors: Kandel Judith , Picard Martin , Wallace Douglas C. , Eckmann David M.
Published: June 2017

Mitochondrial and mechanical alterations in cells have both been shown to be hallmarks of human disease. However, little research has endeavoured to establish connections between these two essential features of cells in both functional and dysfunctional situations. In this work, we hypothesized that a specific genetic alteration in mitochondrial function known to cause human disease would trigger changes in cell mechanics. Using a previously characterized set of mitochondrial cybrid cell lines, we examined the relationship between heteroplasmy for the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) 3243A>G mutation, the cell cytoskeleton, and resulting cellular mechanical properties. We found that cells with increasing mitochondrial dysfunction markedly differed from one another in gene expression and protein production of various co-regulated cytoskeletal elements. The intracellular positioning and organization of actin also differed across cell lines. To explore the relationship between these changes and cell mechanics, we then measured cellular mechanical properties using atomic force microscopy and found that cell stiffness correlated with gene expression data for known determinants of cell mechanics, γ-actin, α-actinin and filamin A. This work points towards a mechanism linking mitochondrial genetics to single-cell mechanical properties. The transcriptional and structural regulation of cytoskeletal components by mitochondrial function may explain why energetic and mechanical alterations often coexist in clinical conditions.
The Weierstrassian movement patterns of snails
Authors: Reynolds Andy , Santini Giacomo , Chelazzi Guido , Focardi Stefano
Published: June 2017

Weierstrassian Lévy walks are the archetypical form of random walk that do not satisfy the central limit theorem and are instead characterized by scale invariance. They were originally regarded as a mathematical abstraction but subsequent theoretical studies showed that they can, in principle, at least, be generated by chaos. Recently, Weierstrassian Lévy walks have been found to provide accurate representations of the movement patterns of mussels (Mytilus edulis) and mud snails (Hydrobia ulvae) recorded in the laboratory under controlled conditions. Here, we tested whether Weierstrassian Lévy walks and chaos are present under natural conditions in intertidal limpetsPatella vulgataandP. rustica,and found that both characteristics are pervasive. We thereby show that Weierstrassian Lévy walks may be fundamental to how molluscs experience and interact with the world across a wide range of ecological contexts. We also show in an easily accessible way how chaos can produce a wide variety of Weierstrassian Lévy walk movement patterns. Our findings support the Lévy flight foraging hypothesis that posits that because Lévy walks can optimize search efficiencies, natural selection should have led to adaptations for Lévy walks.
The impact of induced anxiety on affective response inhibition
Authors: Aylward Jessica , Valton Vincent , Goer Franziska , Mkrtchian Anahit , Lally Níall , Peters Sarah , Limbachya Tarun , Robinson Oliver J.
Published: June 2017

Studying the effects of experimentally induced anxiety in healthy volunteers may increase our understanding of the mechanisms underpinning anxiety disorders. Experimentally induced stress (via threat of unpredictable shock) improves accuracy at withholding a response on the sustained attention to response task (SART), and in separate studies improves accuracy to classify fearful faces, creating an affective bias. Integrating these findings, participants at two public science engagement events (
n
 = 46,
n
 = 55) were recruited to explore the effects of experimentally induced stress on an affective version of the SART. We hypothesized that we would see an improved accuracy at withholding a response to affectively congruent stimuli (i.e. increased accuracy at withholding a response to fearful ‘no-go’ distractors) under threat of shock. Induced anxiety slowed reaction time, and at the second event quicker responses were made to fearful stimuli. However, we did not observe improved inhibition overall during induced anxiety, and there was no evidence to suggest an interaction between induced anxiety and stimulus valence on response accuracy. Indeed Bayesian analysis provided decisive evidence against this hypothesis. We suggest that the presence of emotional stimuli might make the safe condition more anxiogenic, reducing the differential between conditions and knocking out any threat-potentiated improvement.
Culture moderates changes in linguistic self-presentation and detail provision when deceiving others
Authors: Taylor Paul J. , Larner Samuel , Conchie Stacey M. , Menacere Tarek
Published: June 2017

Change in our language when deceiving is attributable to differences in the affective and cognitive experience of lying compared to truth telling, yet these experiences are also subject to substantial individual differences. On the basis of previous evidence of cultural differences in self-construal and remembering, we predicted and found evidence for cultural differences in the extent to which truths and lies contained self (versus other) references and perceptual (versus social) details. Participants (
N
 = 320) of Black African, South Asian, White European and White British ethnicity completed a catch-the-liar task in which they provided genuine and fabricated statements about either their past experiences or an opinion and counter-opinion. Across the four groups we observed a trend for using more/fewer first-person pronouns and fewer/more third-person pronouns when lying, and a trend for including more/fewer perceptual details and fewer/more social details when lying. Contrary to predicted cultural differences in emotion expression, all participants showed more positive affect and less negative affect when lying. Our findings show that liars deceive in ways that are congruent with their cultural values and norms, and that this may result in opposing changes in behaviour.
Phylogenetic evidence for the ancient Himalayan wolf: towards a clarification of its taxonomic status based on genetic sampling from western Nepal
Authors: Werhahn Geraldine , Senn Helen , Kaden Jennifer , Joshi Jyoti , Bhattarai Susmita , Kusi Naresh , Sillero-Zubiri Claudio , Macdonald David W.
Published: June 2017

Wolves in the Himalayan region form a monophyletic lineage distinct from the present-day Holarctic grey wolf
Canis lupus
spp. (Linnaeus 1758) found across Eurasia and North America. Here, we analyse phylogenetic relationships and the geographic distribution of mitochondrial DNA haplotypes of the contemporary Himalayan wolf (proposed in previous studies as
Canis himalayensis
) found in Central Asia. We combine genetic data from a living Himalayan wolf population collected in northwestern Nepal in this study with already published genetic data, and confirm the Himalayan wolf lineage based on mitochondrial genomic data (508 bp cytochrome
b
and 242 bp D-loop), and X- and Y-linked zinc-finger protein gene (ZFX and ZFY) sequences. We then compare the genetic profile of the Himalayan wolf lineage found in northwestern Nepal with canid reference sequences from around the globe with maximum likelihood and Bayesian phylogeny building methods to demonstrate that the Himalayan wolf forms a distinct monophyletic clade supported by posterior probabilities/bootstrap for D-loop of greater than 0.92/85 and cytochrome
b
greater than 0.99/93. The Himalayan wolf shows a unique Y-chromosome (ZFY) haplotype, and shares an X-chromosome haplotype (ZFX) with the newly postulated African wolf. Our results imply that the Himalayan wolf distribution range extends from the Himalayan range north across the Tibetan Plateau up to the Qinghai Lakes region in Qinghai Province in the People's Republic of China. Based on its phylogenetic distinction and its older age of divergence relative to the Holarctic grey wolf, the Himalayan wolf merits formal classification as a distinct taxon of special conservation concern.
Foraging intention affects whether willow tits call to attract members of mixed-species flocks
Authors: Suzuki Toshitaka N. , Kutsukake Nobuyuki
Published: June 2017

Understanding how individual behaviour influences the spatial and temporal distribution of other species is necessary to resolve the complex structure of species assemblages. Mixed-species bird flocks provide an ideal opportunity to investigate this issue, because members of the flocks are involved in a variety of behavioural interactions between species. Willow tits (Poecile montanus) often produce loud calls when visiting a new foraging patch to recruit other members of mixed-species flocks. The costs and benefits of flocking would differ with individual foraging behaviours (i.e. immediate consumption or caching); thus, willow tits may adjust the production of loud calls according to their foraging intention. In this study, we investigated the link between foraging decisions and calling behaviour in willow tits and tested its influence on the temporal cohesion with members of mixed-species flocks. Observations at experimental foraging patches showed that willow tits produced more calls when they consumed food items compared with when they cached them. Playback experiments revealed that these calls attracted flock members and helped to maintain their presence at foraging patches. Thus, willow tits adjusted calling behaviour according to their foraging intention, thereby coordinating the associations with members of mixed-species flocks. Our findings demonstrate the influence of individual decision-making on temporal cohesion with other species and highlight the importance of interspecific communication in mixed-species flocking dynamics.
Nineteenth-century collapse of a benthic marine ecosystem on the open continental shelf
Authors: Tomašových Adam , Kidwell Susan M.
Published: June 2017

The soft-sediment seafloor of the open continental shelf is among the least-known biomes on Earth, despite its high diversity and importance to fisheries and biogeochemical cycling. Abundant dead shells of epifaunal suspension-feeding terebratulid brachiopods (
Laqueus
) and scallops on the now-muddy mainland continental shelf of southern California reveal the recent, previously unsuspected extirpation of an extensive offshore shell-gravel ecosystem, evidently driven by anthropogenic siltation. Living populations of attached epifauna, which formerly existed in a middle- and outer-shelf mosaic with patches of trophically diverse muds, are restricted today to rocky seafloor along the shelf edge and to the sandier shelves of offshore islands. Geological age-dating of 190 dead brachiopod shells shows that (i) no shells have been produced on the mainland shelf within the last 100 years, (ii) their shell production declined steeply during the nineteenth century, and (iii) they had formerly been present continuously for at least 4 kyr. This loss, sufficiently rapid (less than or equal to 100 years) and thorough to represent an ecosystem collapse, coincides with intensification of alluvial-plain land use in the nineteenth century, particularly livestock grazing. Extirpation was complete by the start of twentieth-century urbanization, warming, bottom fishing and scientific surveys. The loss of this filter-feeding fauna and the new spatial homogeneity and dominance of deposit- and detritus-feeders would have altered ecosystem functioning by reducing habitat heterogeneity and seawater filtering. This discovery, attesting to the power of this geological approach to recent ecological transitions, also strongly increases the spatial scope attributable to the negative effects of siltation, and suggests that it has been under-recognized on continental shelves elsewhere as a legacy of coastal land use.
Pay-off-biased social learning underlies the diffusion of novel extractive foraging traditions in a wild primate
Authors: Barrett Brendan J. , McElreath Richard L. , Perry Susan E.
Published: June 2017

The type and variety of learning strategies used by individuals to acquire behaviours in the wild are poorly understood, despite the presence of behavioural traditions in diverse taxa. Social learning strategies such as conformity can be broadly adaptive, but may also retard the spread of adaptive innovations. Strategies like pay-off-biased learning, by contrast, are effective at diffusing new behaviour but may perform poorly when adaptive behaviour is common. We present a field experiment in a wild primate,
Cebus capucinus
, that introduced a novel food item and documented the innovation and diffusion of successful extraction techniques. We develop a multilevel, Bayesian statistical analysis that allows us to quantify individual-level evidence for different social and individual learning strategies. We find that pay-off-biased and age-biased social learning are primarily responsible for the diffusion of new techniques. We find no evidence of conformity; instead rare techniques receive slightly increased attention. We also find substantial and important variation in individual learning strategies that is patterned by age, with younger individuals being more influenced by both social information and their own individual experience. The aggregate cultural dynamics in turn depend upon the variation in learning strategies and the age structure of the wild population.
Evaluation of self-collected rectal swabs for the detection of bacteria responsible for sexually transmitted infections in a cohort of HIV-1-infected patients
Authors: Edouard Sophie , Tamalet Catherine , Tissot-Dupont Hervé , Colson Philippe , Ménard Amélie , Ravaux Isabelle , Dhiver Catherine , Tomei Christelle , Stein Andreas , Raoult Didier
Published: June 2017

Purpose. The standard approach to screening sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has often been restricted to urogenital specimens. Most current guidelines, however, also recommend testing extra-genital sites, including rectal locations, because asymptomatic rectal carriage of pathogens has often been reported. The aim of our study was to evaluate self-collected rectal swabs to screen bacterial STIs in HIV-infected patients in Marseille, France.

Methodology. Between January 2014 and December 2015, 118 HIV-infected patients (93 males and 25 females) agreed to self-sample anal swabs for detection of bacterial STI. Detection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Chlamydia trachomatis, Treponema pallidum, Mycoplasma genitalium and Haemophilus ducreyi was performed using in-house qPCR assay.

Results/Key findings. Bacterial STIs were found in 8 % (9/118) of the patients. C. trachomatis was the most commonly detected bacterium (4.2 %) followed by N. gonorrhoeae (2.5 %), M. genitalium (1.7 %) and T. pallidum (0.8 %). All the positive patients were males. The rectal carriage of pathogenic bacteria was fortuitously discovered for seven men (78 %) who did not present rectal signs of STIs and was suspected for two men who presented proctitis (22 %).

Conclusion. In conclusion, testing extra-genital sites is crucial for the diagnosis of STIs in men and women presenting or not concomitant urogenital infections in order to detect asymptomatic carriage with the aim of controlling and preventing transmission to their sexual partners.
Local-Global Parcellation of the Human Cerebral Cortex From Intrinsic Functional Connectivity MRI
Authors: Schaefer Alexander , Kong Ru , Gordon Evan M. , Laumann Timothy O. , Zuo Xi-Nian , Holmes Avram J. , Eickhoff Simon B. , Yeo B. T. Thomas
Published: June 2017

A central goal in systems neuroscience is the parcellation of the cerebral cortex into discrete neurobiological “atoms”. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) offers the possibility ofin-vivohuman cortical parcellation. Almost all previous parcellations relied on one of two approaches. The local gradient approach detects abrupt transitions in functional connectivity patterns. These transitions potentially reflect cortical areal boundaries defined by histology or visuotopic fMRI. By contrast, the global similarity approach clusters similar functional connectivity patterns regardless of spatial proximity, resulting in parcels with homogeneous (similar) rs-fMRI signals. Here we propose a gradient-weighted Markov Random Field (gwMRF) model integrating local gradient and global similarity approaches. Using task-fMRI and rs-fMRI across diverse acquisition protocols, we found gwMRF parcellations to be more homogeneous than four previously published parcellations. Furthermore, gwMRF parcellations agreed with the boundaries of certain cortical areas defined using histology and visuotopic fMRI. Some parcels captured sub-areal (somatotopic and visuotopic) features that likely reflect distinct computational units within known cortical areas. These results suggest that gwMRF parcellations reveal neurobiologically meaningful features of brain organization and are potentially useful for future applications requiring dimensionality reduction of voxel-wise fMRI data. Multi-resolution parcellations generated from 1489 participants are available (https://github.com/ThomasYeoLab/CBIG/tree/master/stable_projects/brain_parcellation/Schaefer2018_LocalGlobal)
Matryoshka: Ratiometric biosensors from a nested cassette of green- and orange-emitting fluorescent proteins
Authors: Ast Cindy , Foret Jessica , Oltrogge Luke M. , De Michele Roberto , Kleist Thomas J. , Ho Cheng-Hsun , Frommer Wolf B.
Published: June 2017

Sensitivity, dynamic and detection range as well as exclusion of expression and instrumental artifacts are critical for the quantitation of data obtained with fluorescent protein (FP)-based biosensorsin vivo. Current biosensors designs are, in general, unable to simultaneously meet all these criteria. Here, we describe a generalizable platform to create dual-FP biosensors with large dynamic ranges by employing a single FP-cassette, named GO-(Green-Orange) Matryoshka. The cassette nests a stable reference FP (large Stokes shift LSSmOrange) within a reporter FP (circularly permuted green FP). GO-Matryoshka yields green and orange fluorescence upon blue excitation. As proof of concept, we converted existing, single-emission biosensors into a series of ratiometric calcium sensors (MatryoshCaMP6s) and ammonium transport activity sensors (AmTryoshka1;3). We additionally identified the internal acid-base equilibrium as a key determinant of the GCaMP dynamic range. Matryoshka technology promises flexibility in the design of a wide spectrum of ratiometric biosensors and expandedin vivoapplications.
Extreme conservation of miRNA complements in Opisthorchiids
Authors: Ovchinnikov Vladimir Y. , Mordvinov Viatcheslav A. , Fromm Bastian
Published: June 2017

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key players in parasite-host communication and potential biomarkers for the detection of parasitic infections from host blood. Consequently, it is crucial to precisely know the miRNA complements of medically important agents such as the liver flukes of the Opisthorchiidae. Using publicly available and new datasets we curated and reannotated the surprisingly small and variable miRNA complements previously described forOpistorchis viverrini, O. felineusandClonorchis sinesis.We find three highly similar miRNA complements with 53 identical and two miRNA genes with species specific sequences that signify a set of potential biomarkers and promising candidates for further investigations.
The iPSYCH2012 case-cohort sample: New directions for unravelling genetic and environmental architectures of severe mental disorders
Authors: Pedersen Carsten Boecker , Bybjerg-Grauholm Jonas , Pedersen Marianne Gioertz , Grove Jakob , Agerbo Esben , Baekvad-Hansen Marie , Poulsen Jesper Buchhave , Hansen Christine Soeholm , McGrath John , Als Thomas D. , Goldstein Jacqueline , Neale Benjamin , Daly Mark , Hougaard David , Mors Ole , Nordentoft Merete , Boerglum Anders , Werge Thomas , Mortensen Preben Bo
Published: June 2017

The iPSYCH consortium has established a large Danish population-based Case-Cohort sample (iPSYCH2012) aimed at unravelling the genetic and environmental architecture of severe mental disorders. The iPSYCH2012 sample is nested within the entire Danish population born 1981-2005 including 1,472,762 persons. This paper introduces the iPSYCH2012 sample and outlines key future research directions. Cases were identified as persons with schizophrenia (N=3,540), autism (N=16,146), ADHD (N=18,726), and affective disorder (N=26,380), of which 1928 had bipolar affective disorder. Controls were randomly sampled individuals (N=30,000). Within the sample of 86,189 individuals, a total of 57,377 individuals had at least one major mental disorder. DNA was extracted from the neonatal dried blood spot samples obtained from the Danish Neonatal Screening Biobank and genotyped using the Illumina PsychChip. Genotyping was successful for 90% of the sample. The assessments of exome sequencing, methylation profiling, metabolome profiling, vitamin-D, inflammatory and neurotrophic factors are in progress. For each individual, the iPSYCH2012 sample also includes longitudinal information on health, prescribed medicine, social and socioeconomic information and analogous information among relatives. To the best of our knowledge, the iPSYCH2012 sample is the largest and most comprehensive data source for the combined study of genetic and environmental aetiologies of severe mental disorders.
The ash dieback invasion of Europe was founded by two individuals from a native population with huge adaptive potential
Authors: McMullan Mark , Rafiqi Maryam , Kaithakottil Gemy , Clavijo Bernardo , Bilham Lorelei , Orton Elizabeth , Percival-Alwyn Lawrence , Ward Ben J. , Edwards Anne , Saunders Diane G.O. , Garcia Gonzalo , Wright Jonathan , Verweij Walter , Koutsovoulos Georgios , Yoshida Kentaro , Hosoya Tsuyoshi , Williamson Louisa , Jennings Philip , Ioos Renaud , Husson Claude , Hietala Ari M. , Vivian-Smith Adam , Solheim Halvor , MaClean Dan , Fosker Christine , Hall Neil , Brown James K.M. , Swarbreck David , Blaxter Mark , Downie Allan , Clark Matthew D.
Published: June 2017

Accelerating international trade and climate change make pathogen spread an increasing concern.Hymenoscyphus fraxineus,the causal agent of ash dieback is one such pathogen, moving across continents and hosts from Asian to European ash. Most European common ash(Fraxinus excelsior)trees are highly susceptible toH. fraxineusalthough a small minority (~5%) evidently have partial resistance to dieback. We have assembled and annotated a draft of theH. fraxineusgenome which approaches chromosome scale. Pathogen genetic diversity across Europe, and in Japan, reveals a tight bottleneck into Europe, though a signal of adaptive diversity remains in key host interaction genes (effectors). We find that the European population was founded by two divergent haploid individuals. Divergence between these haplotypes represents the 'shadow' of a large source population and subsequent introduction would greatly increase adaptive potential and the pathogen's threat. Thus, EU wide biological security measures remain an important part of the strategy to manage this disease.
Simultaneous GCaMP6-based Fiber Photometry and fMRI in Rats
Authors: Liang Zhifeng , Ma Yuncong , Watson Glenn D.R. , Zhang Nanyin
Published: June 2017

Understanding the relationship between neural and vascular signals is essential for interpretation of functional MRI (fMRI) results with respect to underlying neuronal activity. Simultaneously measuring neural activity using electrophysiology with fMRI has been highly valuable in elucidating the neural basis of the blood oxygenation-level dependent (BOLD) signal. However, this approach is also technically challenging due to the electromagnetic interference that is observed in electrophysiological recordings during MRI scanning. Recording optical correlates of neural activity, such as calcium signals, avoids this issue, and has opened a new avenue to simultaneously acquire neural and BOLD signals. The present study is the first to demonstrate the feasibility of simultaneously and repeatedly acquiring calcium and BOLD signals in animals using a genetically encoded calcium indicator, GCaMP6. This approach was validated with a visual stimulation experiment, during which robust increases of both calcium and BOLD signals in the superior colliculus were observed. In addition, repeated measurement in the same animal demonstrated reproducible calcium and BOLD responses to the same stimuli. Taken together, simultaneous GCaMP6-based fiber photometry and fMRI recording presents a novel, artifact-free approach to simultaneously measuring neural and fMRI signals. Furthermore, given the cell-type specificity of GCaMP6, this approach has the potential to mechanistically dissect the contributions of individual neuron populations with respect to BOLD signal, and ultimately reveal its underlying neural mechanisms.
An integrated genomic analysis of anaplastic meningioma identifies prognostic molecular signatures
Authors: Collord Grace , Tarpey Patrick , Kurbatova Natalja , Martincorena Inigo , Moran Sebastian , Castro Manuel , Nagy Tibor , Bignell Graham , Maura Francesco , Berna Jorge , Tubio Jose M. , McMurran Chris E. , Young Adam M.H. , Young Matthew D. , Noorani Imran , Price Stephen J , Watts Colin , Leipnitz Elke , Kirsch Matthias , Schackert Gabriele , Pearson Danita , Devadass Abel , Ram Zvi , Collins V. Peter , Allinson Kieren , Jenkinson Michael D. , Zakaria Rasheed , Syed Khaja , Hanemann C. Oliver , Dunn Jemma , McDermott Michael W. , Kirollos Ramez W , Vassiliou George S. , Esteller Manel , Behjati Sam , Brazma Alvis , Santarius Thomas , McDermott Ultan
Published: June 2017

Anaplastic meningioma is a rare and aggressive brain tumor characterised by intractable recurrences and dismal outcomes. Here, we present an integrated analysis of the whole genome, transcriptome and methylation profiles of primary and recurrent anaplastic meningioma. A key finding was the delineation of two distinct molecular subgroups that were associated with diametrically opposed survival outcomes. Relative to lower grade meningiomas, anaplastic tumors harbored frequent driver mutations in SWI/SNF complex genes, which were confined to the poor prognosis subgroup. Our analyses discern two biologically distinct variants of anaplastic meningioma with potential prognostic and therapeutic significance.
5FM: youth radio in the digital age
Authors: Abratt Russell , Cullinan Justine
Published: June 2017

Subject area

The subject areas are marketing management and brand management.

Study level/applicability

The study is applicable to post-graduate brand management course and post-graduate marketing management course.

Case overview

In December 2015, Justine Cullinan, station manager of 5FM – a commercial, national music-radio station – reviewed the listenership and revenue figures for the year. When she took over as station manager in October 2014, 5FM had been through a three-year period of sharply declining listenership and revenue. Since then, by growing 5FM’s online community and adjusting the station’s overall strategy, the tide of decline had slowed. 5FM’s limited marketing budget prevented it from attracting listeners through traditional marketing avenues. Cullinan wondered how she could grow audiences and revenue and forge a new way for radio to benchmark success in a world where online communities were ever more important.

Expected learning outcomes

At the end of this case, students will understand the following concepts: brand awareness; brand promise; brand communication; and brand revitalisation strategies.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.

Subject code

CSS: 8: Marketing
Cross-cultural differences in the entrepreneurial activity of men and women: a fuzzy-set approach
Authors: Crespo Nuno Fernandes
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The aim of this paper is threefold: to identify the combinations of national culture dimensions that lead to high (or low) entrepreneurial activity (EA) for men and women, to understand the role of economic development as a relevant condition that combines with national culture dimensions to achieve high (or low) male or female EA and to identify the differences between the configurations that lead to those outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) and from the Hofstede Centre for 77 countries, this study uses a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to explore complex causal relations between national culture dimensions, the level of economic development (conditions) and the male and female EA (outcomes).

Findings

This research provides three major insights. First, it is not possible to talk about a single culture that promotes entrepreneurship, but instead in several entrepreneurial cultures. This is particularly interesting when distinguishing between genders, because there are configurations that are specific to one of the genders. Second, different levels of economic development (high/low) combine with national culture dimensions to produce different configurations that can lead to high EA. Third, differences found between the solutions for both genders are higher in the case of the configurations that lead to high EA than in the ones that lead to low EA.

Practical implications

These results are very important to governments and policy makers with the objective of stimulating the EA within their specific countries. When designing public policies to promote entrepreneurship, they should take into consideration the specific cultural context of the country. The cultural context of each country presents multiple dimensions; therefore, the design of public policies should not rely on single, occasional and unarticulated policies. There are countries where the cultural context only promotes EA for males or females. In those cases, the public policies should differentiate between men and women, to be equally effective.

Originality/value

By using a configurational approach, this study identifies several configurations of national culture dimensions and the level of economic development that lead to the same outcomes: high (or low) EA. Some of the configurations are specific to achieving only male or female EA (high or low).
Mental health staff views on improving burnout and mental toughness
Authors: Posner Zoe , Janssen Jessie , Roddam Hazel
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Burnout in mental health staff is acknowledged as a major problem. The purpose of this paper is to gain an understanding of mental health staff views on improving burnout and mental toughness in mental health staff.

Design/methodology/approach

Ten participants from two mental health rehabilitation units across the north-west of England took part in a Nominal Group Technique. Participants consisted of mental health workers from varied roles in order to capture views from a multidisciplinary team. The main question posed to the staff was “What strategies and techniques do you think could help improve burnout and mental toughness in mental health staff”.

Findings

The study revealed that the top three ideas to take forward to help improve burnout and mental toughness in mental health staff were improving the culture/organisation, improving staff wellbeing and education. Additionally, staff were highly motivated and enthusiastic about engaging in discussion about what could be done to improve their wellbeing and the importance of taking this forward.

Originality/value

This study is unique in involving mental health staff in discussing their ways of improving their mental health. It is also unique as it has found the nine strategies to do this and these could be used in targeted training for mental health staff.
An integrative transformative service framework to improve engagement in a social service ecosystem: the case of He Waka Tapu
Authors: Hepi Maria , Foote Jeff , Finsterwalder Jörg , Moana-o-Hinerangi Moana-o-Hinerangi , Carswell Sue , Baker Virginia
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This study aims to understand the engagement between an indigenous social service provider and marginalised clients deemed “hard-to-reach” to gain an insight into how to improve the client’s engagement and well-being through transformative value co-creation.

Design/methodology/approach

The exploratory study’s findings draw on primary data employing a qualitative research approach through document analysis and in-depth interviews with clients, social workers and stakeholders of the focal social service provider in New Zealand.

Findings

The findings indicate that there are inhibitors and enablers of value or well-being co-creation. The lack of client resources and a mismatch between client and social worker are primary barriers. Other actors as well as cultural practices are identified as enablers of well-being improvement.

Research limitations/implications

This research reports on a single social service provider and its clients. These findings may not be readily transferrable to other contexts.

Practical implications

Findings indicate that social service providers require a heightened awareness of the inhibitors and enablers of social service co-creation.

Social implications

Both the integrative framework and the findings provide a sound critique of the prevailing policy discourse surrounding the stigmatisation of members of society deemed “hard-to-reach” and the usefulness of such an approach when aiming at resolving social issues.

Originality/value

This is the first exploratory study that reports on the engagement between a social service provider and its clients in a dedicated Māori (indigenous) context by employing an integrative research approach combining transformative service research, activity theory and engagement theory.