bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gamer emotions in laughter
Authors: O’Hagan Minako , Flanagan Marian
Published: September 2018

This study is motivated by the assumption that today’s function-oriented game localisation approach has room for improvement by
incorporating an affect-oriented approach. It draws on the concept of “affective framing” in a game with humour as “emotionally
competent stimuli”. Laughter as emotion data were collected from German, Japanese and Irish participants playing in their native
language relevant versions of the US-origin casual game Plants vs. Zombies. This small-scale
empirical study, combined with gamer interviews and gameplay trajectory, reveal evidence of specific functions of gamer emotions
across all three groups, most often as a relief during game play, facilitating the gamer’s ability to retain engagement by
accessing the emotional function of humour. The data suggest that affective framing through humour that is made culturally
relevant is deemed more important for the German group than the other groups. This group negatively perceived cultural stereotypes
in the game, whereas the Irish group perceived cultural associations positively. The focus on user emotions brings the neglected
affective dimension to the fore and towards affect-oriented game localisation as interdisciplinary research.
Can self-esteem and creative intelligence foster accuracy and creativity in professional translators?
Authors: Cifuentes-Férez Paula , Meseguer Cutillas Purificación
Published: September 2018

Over this last decade translation process research has provided evidence for the importance of studying translators and
interpreters’ individual differences so as to gain a better understanding of the cognitive processes involved in translation and
the potential impact of the translator’s personality and emotions on translation performance. Drawing on previous research on the
impact of self-esteem and creativity on translation, the present paper describes an experiment to measure the effect of
self-esteem and creative intelligence on the written translation performance of a sample of 44 Spanish professional translators.
The results reveal that (a) the more creative translators are, the more creative translations they produce; and (b) the higher
translators’ self-esteem is, the lower the scores for accuracy.
Final report for CCQM-K86.b relative quantification of Bt63 in GM rice matrix sample
Authors: Dong Lianhua , Sui Zhiwei , Wang Jing , Tang Vincent H M , Chum Winnie W Y , Lee Foo–wing , Sin Della W M , Pérez–Urquiza Melina , Burns Malcolm , Ellison Stephen L R , Parkes Helen , Milavec Mojca , Prawettongsopon Chaiwat , Griffiths Kate R , McLaughlin Jacob L H , Shibayama Sachie , Akyurek Sema , Akgoz Muslum
Published: September 2018

A key comparison CCQM-K86.b was performed to demonstrate and document the capacity of National Metrology Institutes (NMIs) and Designated Institutes (DIs) in the determination of the relative quantity of two specific genomic DNA fragments present in a rice powder. The study provides the support for the following measurement claim: "Quantification of the ratio of the number of copies of specified intact sequence fragments of a length up to 150 nucleotides following extraction from an unprocessed, high starch ground seed matrix, with a copy number ratio from 0.005 to 1". The study was carried out under the auspices of the Nucleic Acids Working Group (NAWG) of the Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance: Metrology in Chemistry and Biology (CCQM) and was jointly coordinated by the National Institute of Metrology, China (NIMC) and Government Laboratory Hong Kong (GLHK).The following laboratories (in alphabetical order) participated in this key comparison study: CENAM (Mexico); GLHK (Hong Kong); LGC (United Kingdom); NIB (Slovenia); NIMC (P.R. of China); NIMT (Thailand); NMIA (Australia); NMIJ (Japan); TÜBITAK-UME (Turkey). Good agreement was observed between the reported results.

KEY WORDS FOR SEARCH

Genetically modified (GM) crops, digital PCR, copy number ratio, GM rice

Main text

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database kcdb.bipm.org/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
The History of Childhood: A Very Short Introduction
Authors: Marten James
Published: September 2018

The History of Childhood: A Very Short Introduction describes the differing experiences of childhood across time and place, focusing on conflict, change, war, reform, and the issues and conditions that have shaped childhood throughout history. Childhood is a constantly shifting concept; the age at which a child becomes a youth and a youth becomes an adult has varied by class, religion, ethnicity, place, and economic need. From the rules of Confucian childrearing in twelfth-century China to the struggles of children living as slaves in the Americas or as cotton mill workers in Industrial Age Britain, this VSI shows that the lives of children reveal important and sometimes uncomfortable truths about civilization.
1. Traditions
Authors: Marten James
Published: September 2018

More is known about ancient childhoods in the West than elsewhere in the world, but from what is known, all cultures believed that childhood was more than a phase of biological immaturity, and all developed institutions, practices, and concepts designed to bring children up to continue their cultures. “Traditions” describes what is known about childhood in prehistory, outside the ancient West, in the ancient West, and in pre-contact America. It goes on to consider the visions of childhood in Christianity, Islam, and other religions, and childhood in the medieval world. The life of a child was shaped by the rise of settled societies and complex economies, systems of belief, and philosophical and practical innovations.
2. Revolutions
Authors: Marten James
Published: September 2018

The succession of revolutions that followed the long medieval period in Europe profoundly affected childhood. The Reformation, the Enlightenment, and the political revolutions of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries led to an expansion of democratic governments and the concomitant development of public education and social welfare programs. They also led to efforts by Western nations to eliminate, to separate, and, eventually, to integrate (on Western terms) subjugated peoples—often by manipulating children and forcing deep changes in child-rearing practices. “Revolutions” considers common childhood experiences around the world; the impact of the Renaissance, the Reformation, and the Enlightenment on childhood; and how indigenous and colonial customs impacted on each other.
2. Pre-colonial political systems and colonialism
Authors: Taylor Ian
Published: September 2018

Pre-colonial Africa had a wide diversity of politics and government, all related to the type of economic systems practised. Hunter-gatherers practised a form of primitive communism, while elsewhere three broad systems may be identified: large centralized kingdoms and empires; centralized mid-sized kingdoms; and widely scattered chiefdoms. ‘Pre-colonial political systems and colonialism’ explains that political and social identities were generally more related to affiliations, such as sharing a common language, than to being an inhabitant of a particular territory. It also outlines the impact of the slave trade, which began in the 15th century, and the different types of late-19th-century colonial rule on the African people and their politics.
Social constructions
Authors: Bruce Steve
Published: September 2018

Sociology could be described as the study of social structures and social institutions, and sociological work is often divided into topics such as class structure, the family, crime and deviance, and religion. But how is sociology distinctive? ‘Social constructions’ examines what constitutes sociology. Biology provides a useful starting point because if we can understand the extent to which the biology of most animals determines their lives, and then appreciate the extent to which it fails to do so for humans, we can see the importance of culture. It concludes that reality is socially constructed, our behaviour has hidden social causes, and much of social life is profoundly ironic.
The modern world
Authors: Bruce Steve
Published: September 2018

Although we can view sociology as a disinterested intellectual discipline that stands aside from the world it observes, sociology is itself a symptom of the very things it describes. ‘The modern world’ summarizes what sociology sees as distinctive about the social formations that concern it, considering modernity, social order, social mobility, and postmodernity. The key sociological proposition that much of our world is inadvertent and unintended is important, not just for understanding why things do not go as planned, but also for understanding why things are as they are. This has serious policy implications, because if we misunderstand the causes of what concerns us, we misdirect our efforts to change it.
4. Early modern sainthood
Authors: Yarrow Simon
Published: September 2018

‘Early modern sainthood’ describes the impact of the 16th-century Reformation on the image of the Christian saint. The Reformation, triggered by Augustinian friar Martin Luther, was a struggle for the highest stakes between fierce adversaries over the relationship between church and state, the authority and mission of the Church, the fundamental doctrines of the Christian faith, and the conscience of every soul in Christendom. It spurred immense intellectual creativity, fuelled iconoclasm and bitter polemic, and brought protracted war and martyrdom. It ultimately divided Europe into the Catholic states of southern Europe and those states of northern Europe whose princes embraced various kinds of Protestantism.
5. Gendering the saints
Authors: Yarrow Simon
Published: September 2018

Historically, men have always received greater public recognition for their sanctity than women. Why were women under-represented among those venerated as saints? The church is historically a patriarchal institution and the abiding sense that sainthood is a male distinction meshed with other historically patriarchal discourses of the family, and of medical and philosophical knowledge. ‘Gendering the saints’ explains that despite these difficulties, the road to sanctity for women was not impassable. It discusses the contexts in which different varieties of female sanctity emerged and flourished and considers three portraits of female sanctity—Teresa of Ávila, Thérèse of Lisieux, and Mother Teresa—women who shared a name, but found their own distinctive paths to sainthood.
Sexual differences in weaponry and defensive behavior in a neotropical harvestman
Authors: Segovia Júlio M G , Murayama Gabriel P , Willemart Rodrigo H
Published: September 2018

Sexual differences in morphology can evolve by sexual selection and/or natural selection. In some species, only males have morphological structures that are used as weapons. Since some weapons may also be used for defensive purposes, males and females may behave differently towards predators. In some species of harvestmen (Arachnida and Opiliones), males have sharp apophyses (“spines”) on their 4th pair of legs whereas females lack them. Those apophyses are used in male–male fights and in antipredatory behaviors. The harvestmen antipredatory repertory also encompasses passive defenses such as thanatosis (death feigning), retaliation (attack on predators), and chemical defense. Due to the sexual differences on weaponry, we hypothesized that males and females of Mischonyx cuspidatus (Gonyleptidae) rely on different defensive strategies. We experimentally induced males and females to perform 3 defensive behaviors: thanatosis, pinching with legs, and chemical release. We predicted that females would engage more in passive and chemical defenses than males, whereas males would rely more on retaliation than females. As expected, females performed thanatosis more often than males. Likewise, males performed retaliation more often than females. We did not find differences in the rate of chemical defense use between the sexes. This study provides evidence that due to sexual dimorphism, alternative antipredatory behaviors may have been selected in the different sexes in M. cuspidatus.
Efficacy and Safety of Ombitasvir/Paritaprevir/Ritonavir and Dasabuvir With or Without Ribavirin in Patients With Chronic Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 1 Infection Receiving Opioid Substitution Therapy: A Post Hoc Analysis of 12 Clinical Trials
Authors: Grebely Jason , Puoti Massimo , Wedemeyer Heiner , Cooper Curtis , Sulkowski Mark S , Foster Graham R , Berg Thomas , Villa Erica , Rodriguez-Perez Federico , Wyles David L , Schnell Gretja , Alami Negar N , Zhang Zhenzhen , Dumas Emily , Dore Gregory J
Published: September 2018

Background

We evaluated the impact of opioid substitution therapy (OST) on the completion, adherence, efficacy, and safety of the 3-direct-acting antiviral regimen of ombitasvir, paritaprevir (identified by AbbVie and Enanta) co-dosed with ritonavir, and dasabuvir ± ribavirin among patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype (GT) 1, with or without compensated cirrhosis.

Methods

Data were pooled from GT1-infected patients enrolled in 12 phase II/III/IIIb clinical trials and categorized by use of OST. Patients with ongoing drug use were excluded. HCV treatment completion, treatment adherence (≥90%), sustained virologic response at post-treatment week 12 (SVR12), and adverse events were assessed.

Results

Of 4747 patients, 3% (n = 149) received OST. Among patients receiving OST vs those not receiving OST, 82% (n = 122) vs 52% (n = 2409) had GT1a infection; 76% (n = 113) vs 61% (n = 2792) were treatment naïve; and 17% (n = 25) vs 18% (n = 830) had cirrhosis, respectively. The proportion of patients completing HCV treatment did not differ between those receiving and not receiving OST (97% [n = 144] vs 98% [n = 4510], respectively), whereas adherence to treatment was reduced in patients receiving vs those not receiving OST (88% [n = 105] vs 97% [n = 4057], respectively). SVR12 was similar between patients receiving and not receiving OST (94% [n = 140] vs 96% [n = 4405], respectively; P = .273). Treatment was well tolerated.

Conclusions

Although treatment adherence was lower in patients receiving OST vs those not receiving OST, treatment completion and SVR12 were similar between groups. These data support the use of direct-acting antiviral therapies in patients receiving OST.
A Connectomic Atlas of the Human Cerebrum—Chapter 8: The Posterior Cingulate Cortex, Medial Parietal Lobe, and Parieto-Occipital Sulcus
Authors: Baker Cordell M , Burks Joshua D , Briggs Robert G , Conner Andrew K , Glenn Chad A , Manohar Krishna , Milton Camille K , Sali Goksel , McCoy Tressie M , Battiste James D , O’Donoghue Daniel L , Sughrue Michael E
Published: September 2018

In this supplement, we build on work previously published under the Human Connectome Project. Specifically, we seek to show a comprehensive anatomic atlas of the human cerebrum demonstrating all 180 distinct regions comprising the cerebral cortex. The location, functional connectivity, and structural connectivity of these regions are outlined, and where possible a discussion is included of the functional significance of these areas. In part 8, we specifically address regions relevant to the posterior cingulate cortex, medial parietal lobe, and the parieto-occipital sulcus.
A Connectomic Atlas of the Human Cerebrum—Chapter 11: Tractographic Description of the Inferior Longitudinal Fasciculus
Authors: Sali Goksel , Briggs Robert G , Conner Andrew K , Rahimi Meherzad , Baker Cordell M , Burks Joshua D , Glenn Chad A , Battiste James D , Sughrue Michael E
Published: September 2018

In this supplement, we seek to show a comprehensive anatomic atlas of the human cerebrum demonstrating all 180 distinct regions comprising the cerebral cortex. The location, functional connectivity, and structural connectivity of these regions are outlined, and where possible a discussion is included of the functional significance of these areas. In this chapter, we specifically address regions integrating to form the inferior longitudinal fasciculus.
A Connectomic Atlas of the Human Cerebrum—Chapter 14: Tractographic Description of the Frontal Aslant Tract
Authors: Briggs Robert G , Conner Andrew K , Rahimi Meherzad , Sali Goksel , Baker Cordell M , Burks Joshua D , Glenn Chad A , Battiste James D , Sughrue Michael E
Published: September 2018

In this supplement, we show a comprehensive anatomic atlas of the human cerebrum demonstrating all 180 distinct regions comprising the cerebral cortex. The location, functional connectivity, and structural connectivity of these regions are outlined, and where possible a discussion is included of the functional significance of these areas. In this chapter, we specifically address the regions integrating to form the frontal aslant tract.
A Connectomic Atlas of the Human Cerebrum—Chapter 17: Tractographic Description of the Cingulum
Authors: Briggs Robert G , Conner Andrew K , Sali Goksel , Rahimi Meherzad , Baker Cordell M , Burks Joshua D , Glenn Chad A , Battiste James D , Sughrue Michael E
Published: September 2018

In this supplement, we show a comprehensive anatomic atlas of the human cerebrum demonstrating all 180 distinct regions comprising the cerebral cortex. The location, functional connectivity, and structural connectivity of these regions are outlined, and where possible a discussion is included of the functional significance of these areas. In this chapter, we specifically address regions integrating to form the cingulum.
A Connectomic Atlas of the Human Cerebrum—Chapter 18: The Connectional Anatomy of Human Brain Networks
Authors: Briggs Robert G , Conner Andrew K , Baker Cordell M , Burks Joshua D , Glenn Chad A , Sali Goksel , Battiste James D , O’Donoghue Daniel L , Sughrue Michael E
Published: September 2018

BACKGROUND

It is widely understood that cortical functions are mediated by complex, interdependent brain networks. These networks have been identified and studied using novel technologies such as functional magnetic resonance imaging under both resting-state and task-based conditions. However, no one has attempted to describe these networks in terms of their cortical parcellations.

OBJECTIVE

To describe our approach to network modeling and discuss its significance for the future of neuronavigation in brain surgery using the cortical parcellation scheme detailed within this supplement.

METHODS

Using network models previously elucidated by our group using coordinate-based meta-analytic techniques, we show the anatomic position and underlying white matter tracts of the cortical regions comprising 8 functional networks of the human cerebrum. These network models are displayed using Synaptive's clinically available BrightMatter tractography software (Synaptive Medical, Toronto, Canada).

RESULTS

The relevant cortical parcellations of 8 different cerebral networks have been identified. The fiber tracts between these regions were used to construct anatomically precise models of the networks. Models are described for the dorsal attention, ventral attention, semantic, auditory, supplementary motor, ventral premotor, default mode, and salience networks.

CONCLUSION

Our goal is to move towards more precise, anatomically specific models of brain networks that can be constructed for individual patients and utilized in navigational platforms during brain surgery. We believe network modeling and future advances in navigation technology can provide a foundation for improving neurosurgical outcomes by allowing us to preserve complex brain networks.
Association of Muscle Strength and Walking Performance in Adult Patients With Pompe Disease
Authors: Favejee Marein M , van der Meijden Jan C , Kruijshaar Michelle E , Rizopoulos Dimitris , van der Ploeg Ans T , Bussmann Johannes B J
Published: September 2018

Background

The loss of the ability to walk is among the most prominent signs of Pompe disease. The associations with muscle strength have not been described.

Objective

The objective of this study was to estimate the associations of walking performance with muscle strength in 4 specific lower extremity muscle groups along with other factors in adult patients with Pompe disease.

Design

This was a single-center, cross-sectional study.

Methods

Muscle strength (hand-held dynamometry of hip flexion and abduction and knee extension and flexion) and walking performance (unable to walk, able with aids, walking without aids but with a waddling gait, or walking without aids and with a normal gait) were assessed in 107 patients at their first visit. Relationships between walking performance and muscle strength were studied through multivariate analyses and regression modeling. Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), disease duration, and use of ventilator support were taken into account as potential confounders. The results were transformed into a nomogram to allow the probability of a patient having a certain level of walking performance to be calculated based on the values of the independent variables.

Results

Walking performance declined significantly with decreasing muscle strength of hip flexion and abduction and knee extension and flexion. The final selected model, including strength of the hip abductor and knee extensor, BMI, age, sex, and use of ventilation, predicted 66% of the cases accurately.

Limitations

These results are based on cross-sectional data and do not predict future changes.

Conclusions

In adult people with Pompe disease, walking performance can be explained by muscle strength, BMI, age, sex, and ventilation use. The proposed model gives insight into how an individual is expected to walk based on his or her risk factors and serves as a starting point to unraveling factors associated with walking performance and ultimately to developing a prognostic model.
Chronic maternal inflammation during late gestation impairs subsequent β-cell function but not islet growth in fetal sheep
Authors: Abebe M D , Cadaret C N , Barnes T B , Beede K A , Yates D T
Published: September 2018

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) greatly increases perinatal mortality and morbidity rates, and leads to much greater risk for metabolic complications later in life. One such complication is the development of glucose intolerance or diabetes, which typically develops concurrently with abhorrent patterns of insulin secretions due to diminished β-cell mass and impaired function as well as an overall reduction in pancreatic endocrine tissue. The mechanisms by which IUGR causes problems with health and function of the pancreatic islets are not well understood. Therefore, our goal for this study was to determine how materno-fetal inflammation (MI) affects β-cell growth and function. To do this, we compared the average islet areas, plasma insulin concentrations, and blood glucose concentrations between MI-IUGR fetal lambs (n = 7) and control fetal lambs (n = 7). Pregnant ewes were injected with saline (controls) or 0.1-µg/kg bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) every 3 d from days 100 to 115 of gestation (term = 150 d). Throughout late gestation, arterial blood of the fetus was periodically drawn and analyzed for plasma insulin (ELISA) and blood glucose (ABL90 FLEX) levels. On day 125 of gestation, ewes were euthanized and fetal pancreas was extracted. Sections of the fetal pancreas were then fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, sectioned (cryostat) at a thickness of 8 µm, stained for insulin-positive area, and imaged on 20x magnification for analysis of average islet area. Between MI-IUGR and control fetuses, there were no differences in average islet areas (1675 ± 286 and 1678 ± 287 µm2, respectively), which indicates that MI did not impair growth and physical development of fetal islets. In addition, blood glucose was similar in all fetuses. However, results showed less (P ≤ 0.05) plasma insulin concentration in MI-IUGR fetuses (0.39 ± 0.07 ng/mL) than in controls (0.70 ± 0.09 ng/mL). This indicates impaired β-cell functional capacity in MI-IUGR fetuses despite normal growth, which is quantified by a tendency (P = 0.08) for strong positive correlation (r = 0.91) between plasma insulin and islet area in control fetuses but an absence of correlation in MI-IUGR fetuses. From this study, we can conclude that MI-IUGR has no effect on the growth and physical development of β cells; however, it does greatly affect their function.
A longitudinal study of digital cushion thickness and its function as a predictor for compromised locomotion and hoof lesions in Holstein cows
Authors: Stambuk Cassandra R , McArt Jessica A A , Bicalho Rodrigo C , Miles Asha M , Huson Heather J
Published: September 2018

Lameness is a major animal welfare and economic issue for the dairy industry and is a challenge to overcome due to multifaceted causes. Digital cushion thickness (DCT) is a strong predictor of lameness and is phenotypically associated with incidence of claw horn disruption lesions (CHDL; sole ulcers and white line disease). We hypothesized that DCT varies between digits and across lactation within the cow. This variation could be characterized to predict the occurrence of CHDL or compromised locomotion. BCS, visual locomotion score (VLS), DCT, and presence or absence of lesions were collected at 4 time points: <40 d prepartum (DPP), 1 to 30 d in milk (DIM), 90 to 120 DIM, and ≥255 DIM for 183 commercial Holstein cows enrolled in the study. Cows underwent digital sonographic examination for the measurement of DCT evaluated at the typical sole ulcer site beneath the flexor tuberosity for the right front medial and lateral digits and right hind medial and lateral digits. Factors such as parity number and stage in lactation were obtained from farm management software (DairyComp 305; Valley Agricultural Software, Tulare, CA). Cows were grouped by parity: primiparous (parity = 1) or multiparous (parity ≥ 2). The prevalence of CHDL among time points ranged from 0% to 4.2% for primiparous cows vs. 2.5% to 25% for multiparous cows, whereas the prevalence of lameness based on VLS of 3 to 5 ranged from 1.7% to 8.3% for primiparous cows vs. 12.7% to 33% for multiparous cows. DCT varied within primiparous and multiparous cows based on stage of lactation and digit (P < 0.05) and was thicker for both parity groups prior to dry off (≥255 DIM) and thinnest prior to calving (<40 DPP) and after peak lactation (90 to 120 DIM). The DCT of the front medial digit was thickest for primiparous heifers, whereas the hind lateral digit was thickest for multiparous cows. The DCT of the hind medial digit was thinnest for both parity groups. Parity group and DCT of the hind lateral digit <40 DPP were important predictors of CHDL (P < 0.05), whereas parity group and DCT of the hind lateral digit and front lateral digit at 1 to 30 DIM were key predictors of VLS lameness (P < 0.05). These results may help identify animals with higher odds of developing these diseases by highlighting key time points and specific digits of importance for monitoring. In addition, it improves our biological understanding of the relationship between DCT and lameness.
Effects of dietary supplementation of l-methionine vs. dl-methionine on performance, plasma concentrations of free amino acids and other metabolites, and myogenesis gene expression in young growing pigs
Authors: Yang Zhongyue , Hasan Md Shamimul , Htoo John K , Burnett Derris D , Feugang Jean M , Crenshaw Mark A , Liao Shengfa F
Published: September 2018

Methionine (Met), the second or third limiting amino acid (AA) in typical swine diets, plays important roles in promoting swine health and growth, especially, muscle growth. Whereas dl-Met products have been used in swine industry for many years, l-Met products have been developed recently. This research was conducted to study the effects of supplemental l-Met or dl-Met on nutrient metabolism, muscle gene expression, and growth performance of pigs. Twenty crossbred young barrows (initial body weight [BW] 21.2 ± 2.7 kg) were randomly assigned to 20 individual pens and two dietary treatments according to a completely randomized design with pigs serving as the experiment unit (n = 10). Two corn and soybean meal-based diets (diets 1 and 2) were formulated to meet or exceed the recommended requirements for energy, AA, and other nutrients (NRC. 2012. Nutrient requirements of swine, 11th ed. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; AMINODat 5.0). Crystalline l-Met and dl-Met were supplemented to diets 1 and 2 (both at 0.13%, as-fed basis), respectively. After 4 wk of an ad libitum feeding trial, BW and feed intake were measured to calculate average daily gain (ADG), average daily feed intake (ADFI), and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F). Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein for analyses of plasma AA and metabolite concentrations. The longissimus dorsi muscle samples were collected for analysis of myogenesis gene expression. Data were analyzed using Student’s t-test. There were no differences (P = 0.56 to 0.94) in ADG, ADFI, or G:F between pigs fed the two experimental diets and no differences between diets were observed in plasma free AA concentrations. No differences were observed between pigs fed the two diets in expression of mRNA for eight myogenesis-related genes, which were myogenic differentiation 1, myogenin, myogenic factors 5, muscle regulatory factor 4 (a.k.a. myogenic factors 6), and myocyte enhancer factors 2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D. In conclusion, results of this experiment indicate that the bioefficacy of l-Met is not different from that of dl-Met, which is likely because of an efficient conversion of d-Met to l-Met by pigs.
Application of Game Theory to Explore the Dynamics of Host−Pathogen Association in Phytobiomes
Authors: Kim Man S. , Zhang Huan , Shim Won Bo
Published: September 2018

Recent advances in sequencing technology and big data analytics are moving plant pathology into a new era where we are now pursuing a deeper systems-level understanding of host–pathogen associations. For past several decades, scientists have predominantly tried to delineate and streamline these interactions into single pathogen–single host model systems, using reductionist experimental approaches. As many of us are aware, there have been several significant proposed ideas and models to help simplify and conceptualize the complex nature of associations that occur between plants and pathogens. However, equipped with vastly improved technology we now have opportunities to further explore multicomponent host–pathogen associations as well as microbe–microbe associations in phytobiomes and agroecosystems. Here, we would like to share our perspective on how game theory concepts could be adopted to study the dynamics of complex phytobiomes and to help us gain fresh and transformative insight.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). This is an open-access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license .
Transgenerational transmission of maternal stimulatory experience in domesticated birds
Authors: Liu Lei , Yang Ning , Xu Guiyun , Liu Shuli , Wang Di , Song Jiuzhou , Duan Zhongyi , Yang Shuang , Yu Ying
Published: September 2018

The environmental stimuli experienced by a female can influence phenotypes and gene expression in the subsequent generations. We used a specifically designed domesticated‐bird model to examine the transgenerational transmission of maternal stimulus exposure, a phenomenon that has been observed but has not been understood in noninbred animals. We subjected parental generation [filial (F)0] hens to viral‐ or bacterial‐like stimulation after artificial insemination. Subsequent filial generations F1 and F2 transmitted growth or fertility variations without further stimulation in contrast to the controls. The whole‐genome bisulfite sequence and next‐generation mRNA sequencing of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) from the F1 generation revealed DNA methylome and transcriptome differences in the F1 polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic [poly(I:C)] acid or LPS offspring, compared with the F1 controls. In the F1 offspring, DNA methylation changes induced by maternal immune stimulation may have contributed to transcriptional variation. Pathways analysis indicated that the metabolic processes of xenobiotics and drug metabolism pathways, as well as reproduction‐related pathways, were involved in the transgenerational transmission of maternal stimulatory experience. Furthermore, LPS‐induced transcriptional transmission may have contributed to subfertility, as indicated by the results of comparative analysis between the transcriptomes of spleen tissues across the F0 and F1 generations, as well as the correlative analysis between the transcriptome and reproductive phenotypes. Our findings provide a framework for determining the mechanisms by which maternal stimulatory factors can be inherited transgenerationally with respect to growth, fertility, DNA methylation, and transcriptional levels in outbred animals.—Liu, L., Yang, N., Xu, G., Liu, S., Wang, D., Song, J., Duan, Z., Yang, S., Yu, Y. Transgenerational transmission of maternal stimulatory experience in domesticated birds. FASEB J. 32, 7002–7017 (2018). www.fasebj.org
Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty With Ipsilateral Below Knee Amputation Positioned Over a Radiolucent Triangle
Authors: Maupin Jeremiah J. , Correll Evan S. , Thakral Rishi
Published: September 2018

Positioning for primary and revision total knee arthroplasty in patients with ipsilateral below knee amputation requires special consideration. Prior case reports have described various strategies, each having their own limitations. Here we describe a novel technique flexing the amputated extremity over a radiolucent triangle. All equipment for this technique is readily available in most operating rooms and does not require the need for a second assistant to help stabilize the extremity during the procedure.
Diagnostic Assessment of Assumptions for External Validity
Authors: Webster-Clark Michael A. , Sanoff Hanna K. , Stürmer Til , Peacock Hinton Sharon , Lund Jennifer L.
Published: September 2018

Background:

Methods developed to estimate intervention effects in external target populations assume that all important effect measure modifiers have been identified and appropriately modeled. Propensity score–based diagnostics can be used to assess the plausibility of these assumptions for weighting methods.

Methods:

We demonstrate the use of these diagnostics when assessing the transportability of treatment effects from the standard of care for metastatic colorectal cancer control arm in a phase III trial (HORIZON III) to a target population of 1,942 Medicare beneficiaries age 65+ years.

Results:

In an unadjusted comparison, control arm participants had lower mortality compared with target population patients treated with the standard of care therapy (trial vs. target hazard ratio [HR] = 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.58, 0.89). Applying inverse odds of sampling weights attenuated the trial versus target HR (weighted HR = 0.96, 95% CI = 0.73, 1.26). However, whether unadjusted or weighted, hazards did not appear proportional. At 6 months of follow-up, mortality was lower in the weighted trial population than the target population (weighted trial vs. target risk difference [RD] = −0.07, 95% CI = −0.13, −0.01), but not at 12 months (weighted RD = 0.00, 95% CI = −0.09, 0.09).

Conclusion:

These diagnostics suggest that direct transport of treatment effects from HORIZON III to the Medicare population is not valid. However, the proposed sampling model might allow valid transport of the treatment effects on longer-term mortality from HORIZON III to the Medicare population treated in clinical practice. See video abstract at, http://links.lww.com/EDE/B435.
Randomized clinical trial: a double-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of alginate–antacid (Gaviscon Double Action) chewable tablets in patients with gastro-oesophageal reflux disease
Authors: Wilkinson Joanne , Wade Alan , Thomas S. Jane , Jenner Bartosz , Hodgkinson Victoria , Coyle Cathal
Published: September 2018

Background

The alginate–antacid Gaviscon Double Action (Gaviscon DA) has a combined acid-neutralizing and reflux-suppressing action. Response to treatment in a symptomatic gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) population has not yet been tested in a large-scale clinical study.

Aim

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of Gaviscon DA compared with matched placebo tablets in the reduction of upper gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with GERD.

Participants and methods

In this multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, adults with GERD symptoms (N=424) received Gaviscon DA or placebo tablets for 7 days. The primary endpoint was a clinically important reduction of at least 1.5 points in the Reflux Disease Questionnaire (RDQ) GERD dimension (combined heartburn/regurgitation) between baseline and the end of the treatment. Secondary endpoints included the change in RDQ score from baseline for individual RDQ dimensions and Overall Treatment Evaluation.

Results

A significantly greater proportion of patients treated with Gaviscon DA met the primary endpoint compared with placebo (47.8 vs. 33.2%, respectively,P=0.0031; odds ratio: 1.85, 95% confidence interval: 1.23–2.78). A significant treatment effect was also observed for heartburn, regurgitation and dyspepsia individually. Patients in the Gaviscon DA group rated their overall treatment response greater than patients in the placebo group [mean Overall Treatment Evaluation (SD): 3.2 (3.08) vs. 2.2 (3.34);P<0.001]. No notable differences in the incidence of adverse events were observed between treatments.

Conclusion

The alginate–antacid combination, Gaviscon DA, is an effective and well-tolerated treatment to reduce reflux symptoms and associated dyspepsia in symptomatic GERD patients.
Employers as Consumers of Healthcare
Authors: Boston-Fleischhauer Carol
Published: September 2018

Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway, and JP Morgan Chase shocked the industry with its announcement to join forces to cut healthcare costs and improve healthcare services for its employees. This is just the latest of employer efforts to disrupt the industry by the creation of alternative healthcare delivery networks that demonstrate high-value, low-cost services as compared with what traditional provider systems have to offer. What factors are behind this industry disruption, and what are the key implications for nurse executives?
Creating the Framework for a Healthy Practice Environment
Authors: Graystone Rebecca
Published: September 2018

The link between healthy work environments and patient safety, nursing satisfaction, and quality outcomes is well established, yet many nurses work in environments that are unsafe and uncivil. What are the essential elements that contribute to a healthy practice environment? How can we create roles and working conditions that enable nurses to be fulfilled and happy in their careers? This month’s Magnet Perspectives column explores the relationship between a healthy practice environment and better outcomes and examines how the Journey to Magnet Excellence® leads to higher nurse satisfaction and retention, improved interdisciplinary collaboration, excellent patient care, and exemplary patient results.
Evaluating the Clinical Practice Model's Strengths and Improvement Opportunities Using the Professional Practice Framework Assessment Survey
Authors: Burke Laura J. , Shaw Christine L. , Schwartz Cathy , Nelson John W. , Edwards Mike , Pfaff Jann , Seitz Verna
Published: September 2018

OBJECTIVES

The aims of this study are (1) to describe the division, organizational strengths, and improvement opportunities of self-reported behaviors indicative of the multidimensional construct of professional practice and (2) to understand demographic characteristics that contributed to these strengths and improvement opportunities.

BACKGROUND

Prior to implementing a system-wide interdisciplinary shared governance structure, ProHealth Care measured staff attitudes toward the multidimensional construct of professional practice as proposed within the Clinical Practice Model framework using the Professional Practice Framework Assessment Survey (PPFA-S).

METHODS

Clinical and support staff were invited to share their views toward professional practice using the previously validated, reliable tool, the PPFA-S.

RESULTS

Partnering relationships, scope of practice, and shared purpose were strengths. Strategies were initiated to strengthen networking councils, integrated competency, evidence-based practice, transformative capacity, and clinical tools.

CONCLUSIONS

The survey identified professional practice strengths and improvement opportunities across the organization as well as factors contributing to these strengths and opportunities. These findings were useful to help guide system integration.
Physiatry as a Leader for Postacute Care in Integrated Healthcare Systems
Authors: Bartels Matthew N.
Published: September 2018

Because health care is being moved to a higher level of accountability, there has been a focus on improving outcomes through improving postacute care. The issues of cost and readmissions to acute care settings are very important, but the focus on patient function has not been foremost. Because of the fact that most postacute care needs are based on functional limitations and that physiatrists are well versed in transitions of care, rehabilitation of patients back to community settings, team building, and leadership, it is appropriate for rehabilitation medicine to take a leadership role in the planning and development of postacute care services in the new integrated healthcare systems that are becoming prevalent in healthcare. This review discusses some of the issues in postacute care, the growth of the integrated health system model, and how there are opportunities and challenges for physiatric leadership to help develop these new models of care.
Tertiary structural motif sequence statistics enable facile prediction and design of peptides that bind anti-apoptotic Bfl-1 and Mcl-1
Authors: Frappier Vincent , Jenson Justin M. , Zhou Jianfu , Grigoryan Gevorg , Keating Amy E.
Published: September 2018

Understanding the relationship between protein sequence and structure well enough to rationally design novel proteins or protein complexes is a longstanding goal in protein science. The Protein Data Bank (PDB) is a key resource for defining sequence-structure relationships that has supported the development of critical resources such as rotamer libraries and backbone torsional statistics that quantify the probabilities of protein sequences adopting different structures. Here, we show that well-defined, non-contiguous structural motifs (TERMs) in the PDB can also provide rich information useful for protein-peptide interaction prediction and design. Specifically, we show that it is possible to rapidly predict the binding energies of peptides to Bcl-2 family proteins as accurately as can be done with widely used structure-based tools, without explicit atomistic modeling. One benefit of a TERM-based approach is that prediction performance is less sensitive to the details of the input structure than are methods that evaluate energies using precise atomic coordinates. We show that protein design using TERM energies (dTERMen) can generate highly novel and diverse peptides to target anti-apoptotic proteins Bfl-1 and Mcl-1. 15 of 17 peptides designed using dTERMen bound tightly to their intended targets, and these peptides have just 15 - 38% sequence identity to any known native Bcl-2 family protein ligand. High-resolution structures of four designed peptides bound to their targets provided opportunities to analyze strengths and limitations of this approach. Dramatic success designing peptides using dTERMen, which comprised going from input structure to experimental validation of high-affinity binders in approximately one month, provides strong motivation for further developing TERM-based approaches to design.
Xrs2 and Tel1 independently contribute to MR-mediated DNA tethering and replisome stability
Authors: Oh Julyun , Lee So Jung , Rothstein Rodney , Symington Lorraine S.
Published: September 2018

The yeast Mre11-Rad50-Xrs2 (MRX) complex has structural, signaling and catalytic functions in the cellular response to DNA damage. Xrs2, the eukaryotic-specific component of the complex, is required for nuclear import of Mre11 and Rad50, and to recruit the Tel1 kinase to damage sites. We show that nuclear-localized MR complex (Mre11-NLS) catalyzes homology-dependent repair without Xrs2, but MR cannot activate Tel1 and it fails to tether DSBs resulting in sensitivity to genotoxins, replisome instability and increased gross chromosome rearrangements (GCRs). Fusing the Tel1 interaction domain from Xrs2 to Mre11-NLS is sufficient to restore telomere elongation and Tel1 signaling to Xrs2-deficient cells. Furthermore, Tel1 stabilizes Mre11-DNA association, and this stabilization function becomes important for DNA damage resistance in the absence of Xrs2. Enforcing Tel1 recruitment to the nuclear MR complex fully rescues end tethering, stalled replication fork stability and suppresses GCRs, highlighting important roles for Xrs2 and Tel1 to ensure optimal MR activity.

Highlights

Xrs2 is required for recruitment but not for activation of Tel1 kinase

Tel1 and Xrs2 function independently to optimize MR activity at DSBs and stalled replication forks

Stable association of Mre11 at DSBs is required to maintain end-to-end tethering

MR-mediated DNA tethering promotes replisome stability and genome integrity
Impaired ureagenesis due to arginine-insensitive N-acetylglutamate synthase
Authors: Sonaimuthu Parthasarathy , Senkevitch Emilee , Haskins Nantaporn , Uapinyoying Prech , McNutt Markey , Morizono Hiroki , Tuchman Mendel , Caldovic Ljubica
Published: September 2018

The urea cycle protects the central nervous system from ammonia toxicity by converting ammonia to non-toxic urea. N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) is an enzyme that catalyzes the formation of N-acetylglutamate (NAG), an allosteric activator of carbamylphosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1), the rate limiting enzyme of the urea cycle. Enzymatic activity of mammalian NAGS doubles in the presence of L-arginine but the physiological significance of NAGS activation by L-arginine is unknown. Previously, we have described the creation of a NAGS knockout (Nags−/−) mouse, which develops hyperammonemia without N-carbamylglutamate and L-citrulline supplementation (NCG+Cit). In order to investigate the effect of L-arginine on ureagenesisin vivo, we used adeno associated virus (AAV) mediated gene transfer to deliver either wild-type or E354A mutant mouse NAGS (mNAGS), which is not activated by L-arginine, toNags−/−mice. The ability of the E354A mNAGS mutant protein to rescueNags−/−mice was determined by measuring their activity on the voluntary wheel following NCG+Cit withdrawal. TheNags−/−mice that received E354A mNAGS remained apparently healthy and active but had elevated plasma ammonia concentration despite similar expression levels of the E354A mNAGS and control wild-type NAGS proteins. The corresponding mutation in human NAGS (NP 694551.1:p.E360D) that abolishes binding and activation by L-arginine was also identified in a patient with hyperammonemia due toNAGSdeficiency. Taken together, our results suggest that L-arginine binding to the NAGS enzyme is essential for normal ureagenesis.