bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of corneal collagen cross‐linking (PACK‐CXL) and voriconazole treatments in experimental fungal keratitis
Authors: Özdemir Hüseyin Baran , Kalkancı Ayşe , Bilgihan Kamil , Göçün Pınar Uyar , Öğüt Betül , Karakurt Funda , Erdoğan Merve
Published: June 2018

Purpose

To compare the antifungal efficacy of corneal collagen cross‐linking with photoactivated riboflavin (PACK‐CXL) and voriconazole in experimental Fusarium solani and Candida albicans keratitis models.

Methods

Sixty‐four corneas of 32 New Zealand rabbits were included and divided into two main groups. Intrastromal injection of Fusarium and Candida suspensions was performed, and it was observed that keratitis was formed on the third day. Both groups were randomly separated into the following four groups: control, PACK‐CXL, voriconazole and PACK‐CXL combined with voriconazole. PACK‐CXL was applied using 0.25% riboflavin in an accelerated Dresden protocol (total ultraviolet A dose 5.4 J/cm²). Voriconazole was applied topically as 7x1/day with a dose of 1% (10 mg/ml). Corneal buttons were excised on the tenth day, and microbiological and pathological examinations were performed.

Results

The PACK‐CXL and PACK‐CXL combined with voriconazole groups each had 100 colony‐forming unit (CFU/ml) of reproduced micro‐organisms compared with 500 CFU/ml in the voriconazole group and 1500 CFU/ml in the control group (p < 0.001) in the Fusarium keratitis model. The PACK‐CXL combined with voriconazole group had 100 CFU/ml, the PACK‐CXL group had 150 CFU/ml, and the voriconazole group had 200 CFU/ml of reproduced micro‐organisms compared with 4000 CFU/ml in the control group (p < 0.002) in the Candida keratitis model. (p < 0.001). Fewer hyphae and non‐specific stromal changes were observed in the pathological cross sections examined in subgroups that used CXL.

Conclusion

There was less fungus reproduction and a lower keratitis score for Fusarium solani and Candida albicans in the treatment groups compared to the control groups, especially in groups that used PACK‐CXL. These results suggest that it is useful to combine PACK‐CXL treatment with medical treatment in the fungal keratitis algorithm at the early stage of the disease.
Muscle mass and inspired oxygen influence oxygen extraction at maximal exercise: Role of mitochondrial oxygen affinity
Authors: Cardinale D. A. , Larsen F. J. , Jensen‐Urstad M. , Rullman E. , Søndergaard H. , Morales‐Alamo D. , Ekblom B. , Calbet J. A. L. , Boushel R.
Published: June 2018

Aim

We examined the Fick components together with mitochondrial O2 affinity (p50mito) in defining O2 extraction and O2 uptake during exercise with large and small muscle mass during normoxia (NORM) and hyperoxia (HYPER).

Methods

Seven individuals performed 2 incremental exercise tests to exhaustion on a bicycle ergometer (BIKE) and 2 on a 1‐legged knee extension ergometer (KE) in NORM or HYPER. Leg blood flow and VO2 were determined by thermodilution and the Fick method. Maximal ADP‐stimulated mitochondrial respiration (OXPHOS) and p50mito were measured ex vivo in isolated mitochondria. Mitochondrial excess capacity in the leg was determined from OXPHOS in permeabilized fibres and muscle mass measured with magnetic resonance imaging in relation to peak leg O2 delivery.

Results

The ex vivo p50mito increased from 0.06 ± 0.02 to 0.17 ± 0.04 kPa with varying substrate supply and O2 flux rates from 9.84 ± 2.91 to 16.34 ± 4.07 pmol O2·s−1·μg−1 respectively. O2 extraction decreased from 83% in BIKE to 67% in KE as a function of a higher O2 delivery and lower mitochondrial excess capacity. There was a significant relationship between O2 extraction and mitochondrial excess capacity and p50mito that was unrelated to blood flow and mean transit time.

Conclusion

O2 extraction varies with mitochondrial respiration rate, p50mito and O2 delivery. Mitochondrial excess capacity maintains a low p50mito which enhances O2 diffusion from microvessels to mitochondria during exercise.
Editorial: von Willebrand factor and CRP levels may predict survival in liver cirrhosis
Authors: Merli M. , Di Gregorio V.
Published: May 2018

Linked Content

This article is linked to Mandorfer et al papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14522 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14624.
Editorial: grey zone, a new area of interest in chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Ridruejo E.
Published: May 2018

Linked Content

This article is linked to Bonacci et al paper. To view this article visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14613.
Letter: new thresholds need to be defined when using point of care assays to monitor infliximab trough levels in IBD patients
Authors: Dutzer D. , Nasser Y. , Berger A. E. , Roblin X. , Paul S.
Published: May 2018

Linked Content

This article is linked to Papamichael et al paper. To view this article visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14458.
Editorial: HBeAg seroconversion is not sufficient to allow cessation of nucleos(t)ide analogue treatment in Caucasian hepatitis B patients
Authors: Ingiliz P. , Canbay A.
Published: May 2018

Linked Content

This article is linked to Van Hees et al paper. To view this article visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14560.
Editorial: platelet transfusions in cirrhosis—do the risks outweigh the unclear benefits?
Authors: Patel Y. A. , Muir A. J.
Published: May 2018

Linked Content

This article is linked to Støy et al and Støy and Shawcross papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14600 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14671.
Letter: proton pump inhibitor use and risk of fracture
Authors: Zhao J. , Wang J. M. , Zhang X. W. , An R. , Liang C.
Published: May 2018

Linked Content

This article is linked to Torvinen‐Kiiskinen et al paper. To view this article visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14589.
Letter: serum HBcrAg is a useful marker for disease monitoring, predicting treatment response and disease outcome of chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Authors: Wang M.‐L. , Chen E.‐Q. , Tao C.‐M. , Tang H.
Published: May 2018

Linked content

This article is linked to Mak et al and Mak and Yuen papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14376 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14684.
Vitamin D assays and the definition of hypovitaminosis D: results from the First International Conference on Controversies in Vitamin D
Authors: Sempos Christopher T. , Heijboer Annemieke C. , Bikle Daniel D. , Bollerslev Jens , Bouillon Roger , Brannon Patsy M. , DeLuca Hector F. , Jones Glenville , Munns Craig F. , Bilezikian John P. , Giustina Andrea , Binkley Neil
Published: May 2018

The First International Conference on Controversies in Vitamin D was held in Pisa, Italy, 14–16 June 2017. The meeting's purpose was to address controversies in vitamin D research, review the data available, to help resolve them, and suggest a research agenda to clarify areas of uncertainty. The serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentration [i.e. the sum of 25(OH)D3 and 25(OH)D2] remains the critical measurement for defining vitamin D status. Assay variation for 25(OH)D has contributed to the current chaos surrounding efforts to define hypovitaminosis D. An essential requirement to develop a consensus on vitamin D status is that measurement of 25(OH)D and, in the future, other potential vitamin D biomarkers [e.g. 1α,25(OH)2D3, 3‐epi‐25(OH)D, 24,25(OH)2D3, vitamin D‐binding protein, free/bioavailable 25(OH)D and parathyroid hormone] be standardized/harmonized, to allow pooling of research data. Vitamin D Standardization Program tools are described and recommended for standardizing 25(OH)D measurement in research. In the future, similar methodology, based on National Institute for Standards and Technology standard reference materials, must be developed for other candidate markers of vitamin D status. Failure to standardize/harmonize vitamin D metabolite measurements is destined to promulgate continued chaos. At this time, 25(OH)D values below 12 ng ml–1 (30 nmol l–1) should be considered to be associated with an increased risk of rickets/osteomalacia, whereas 25(OH)D concentrations between 20 ng ml–1 and 50 ng ml–1 (50–125 nmol l–1) appear to be safe and sufficient in the general population for skeletal health. In an effort to bridge knowledge gaps in defining hypovitaminosis D, an international study on rickets as a multifactorial disease is proposed.
Current issues in tropical phenology: a synthesis
Authors: Abernethy Katharine , Bush Emma R. , Forget Pierre‐Michel , Mendoza Irene , Morellato Leonor Patricia C.
Published: May 2018

We retrace the development of tropical phenology research, compare temperate phenology study to that in the tropics and highlight the advances currently being made in this flourishing discipline. The synthesis draws attention to how fundamentally different tropical phenology data can be to temperate data. Tropical plants lack a phase of winter dormancy and may grow and reproduce continually. Seasonal patterns in environmental parameters, such as rainfall, irradiance or temperature, do not necessarily coincide temporally, as they do in temperate climes. We review recent research on the drivers of phenophase cycles in individual trees, species and communities and highlight how significant innovations in biometric tools and approaches are being driven by the need to deal with circular data, the complexity of defining tropical seasons and the myriad growth and reproductive strategies used by tropical plants. We discuss how important the use of leaf phenology (or remotely‐sensed proxies of leaf phenophases) has become in tracking biome responses to climate change at the continental level and how important the phenophase of forests can be in determining local weather conditions. We also highlight how powerful analyses of plant responses are hampered at many tropical sites by a lack of contextual data on local environmental conditions. We conclude by arguing that there is a clear global benefit in increasing long term tropical phenology data collection and improving empirical collection of local climate measures, contemporary to the phenology data. Directing more resources to research in this sector will be widely beneficial.
Annual cycles are the most common reproductive strategy in African tropical tree communities
Authors: Adamescu Gabriela S. , Plumptre Andrew J. , Abernethy Katharine A. , Polansky Leo , Bush Emma R. , Chapman Colin A. , Shoo Luke P. , Fayolle Adeline , Janmaat Karline R. L. , Robbins Martha M. , Ndangalasi Henry J. , Cordeiro Norbert J. , Gilby Ian C. , Wittig Roman M. , Breuer Thomas , Hockemba Mireille Breuer‐Ndoundou , Sanz Crickette M. , Morgan David B. , Pusey Anne E. , Mugerwa Badru , Gilagiza Baraka , Tutin Caroline , Ewango Corneille E. N. , Sheil Douglas , Dimoto Edmond , Baya Fidèle , Bujo Flort , Ssali Fredrick , Dikangadissi Jean‐Thoussaint , Jeffery Kathryn , Valenta Kim , White Lee , Masozera Michel , Wilson Michael L. , Bitariho Robert , Ndolo Ebika Sydney T. , Gourlet‐Fleury Sylvie , Mulindahabi Felix , Beale Colin M.
Published: May 2018

We present the first cross‐continental comparison of the flowering and fruiting phenology of tropical forests across Africa. Flowering events of 5446 trees from 196 species across 12 sites and fruiting events of 4595 trees from 191 species across 11 sites were monitored over periods of 6 to 29 years and analyzed to describe phenology at the continental level. To study phenology, we used Fourier analysis to identify the dominant cycles of flowering and fruiting for each individual tree and we identified the time of year African trees bloom and bear fruit and their relationship to local seasonality. Reproductive strategies were diverse, and no single regular cycle was found in >50% of individuals across all 12 sites. Additionally, we found annual flowering and fruiting cycles to be the most common. Sub‐annual cycles were the next most common for flowering, whereas supra‐annual patterns were the next most common for fruiting. We also identify variation in different subsets of species, with species exhibiting mainly annual cycles most common in West and West Central African tropical forests, while more species at sites in East Central and East African forests showed cycles ranging from sub‐annual to supra‐annual. Despite many trees showing strong seasonality, at most sites some flowering and fruiting occurred all year round. Environmental factors with annual cycles are likely to be important drivers of seasonal periodicity in trees across Africa, but proximate triggers are unlikely to be constant across the continent.
Current state of therapeutic development for rare cancers in Japan, and proposals for improvement
Authors: Kawai Akira , Goto Toshio , Shibata Tatsuhiro , Tani Kenzaburo , Mizutani Shuki , Nishikawa Akiyoshi , Shibata Taro , Matsumoto Seiichi , Nagata Kyosuke , Narukawa Mamoru , Matsui Shigeyuki , Ando Masashi , Toguchida Junya , Monden Morito , Heike Toshio , Kimura Shinya , Ueda Ryuzo
Published: May 2018

This article discusses current obstacles to the rapid development of safe and effective treatments for rare cancers, and considers measures required to overcome these challenges. In order to develop novel clinical options for rare cancers, which tend to remain left out of novel therapeutic development because of their paucity, efficient recruitment of eligible patients, who tend to be widely dispersed across the country and treated at different centers, is necessary. For this purpose, it is important to establish rare cancer registries that are linked with clinical studies, to organize a central pathological diagnosis system and biobanks for rare cancers, and to consolidate patients with rare cancers to facilities that can conduct clinical studies meeting international standards. Establishing an all‐Japan cooperative network is essential. Clinical studies of rare cancers have considerable limitations in study design and sample size as a result of paucity of eligible patients and, as a result, the level of confirmation of the efficacy and safety shown by the studies is relatively low. Therefore, measures to alleviate these weaknesses inherent to external conditions need to be explored. It is also important to reform the current research environment in order to develop world‐leading treatment for rare cancers, including promotion of basic research, collaboration between industry and academia, and improvement of the infrastructure for clinical studies. Collaboration among a wide range of stakeholders is required to promote the clinical development of treatment for rare cancers under a nationwide consensus.
A ZPR1 mutation is associated with a novel syndrome of growth restriction, distinct craniofacial features, alopecia, and hypoplastic kidneys
Authors: Ito Y.A. , Smith A.C. , Kernohan K.D. , Pena I.A. , Ahmed A. , McDonell L.M. , Beaulieu C. , Bulman D.E. , Smidt A. , Sawyer S.L. ,   Care4Rare Canada Consortium, Dyment D.A. , Boycott K.M. , Clericuzio C.L.
Published: May 2018

A novel autosomal recessive disorder characterized by pre‐ and postnatal growth restriction with microcephaly, distinctive craniofacial features, congenital alopecia, hypoplastic kidneys with renal insufficiency, global developmental delay, severe congenital sensorineural hearing loss, early mortality, hydrocephalus, and genital hypoplasia was observed in 4 children from 3 families of New Mexican Hispanic heritage. Three of the children died before 3 years of age from uremia and/or sepsis. Exome sequencing of the surviving individual identified a homozygous c.587T>C (p.Ile196Thr) mutation in ZPR1 Zinc Finger (ZPR1) that segregated appropriately in her family. In a second family, the identical variant was shown to be heterozygous in the affected individual's parents and not homozygous in any of her unaffected siblings. ZPR1 is a ubiquitously expressed, highly conserved protein postulated to transmit proliferative signals from the cell membrane to the nucleus. Structural modeling reveals that p.Ile196Thr disrupts the hydrophobic core of ZPR1. Patient fibroblast cells showed no detectable levels of ZPR1 and the cells showed a defect in cell cycle progression where a significant number of cells remained arrested in the G1 phase. We provide genetic and molecular evidence that a homozygous missense mutation in ZPR1 is associated with a rare and recognizable multisystem syndrome.
Reproducibility of pulse wave velocity and augmentation index derived from non‐invasive occlusive oscillometric tonometry analysis in adolescents
Authors: Haapala Eero A. , Veijalainen Aapo , Kujala Urho M. , Finni Taija
Published: June 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the short‐term reproducibility of aortic pulse wave velocity (PWVao) and augmentation index (AIx%) assessed by the non‐invasive oscillometric device. Altogether of 55 (19 boys, 36 girls) adolescents 16–19‐years‐of‐age participated in the study. PWVao and AIx% were measured during the same laboratory visit at 2 min intervals using the Arteriograph™ device. Peak oxygen uptake (V̇O2peak) was assessed by the maximal exercise test on a cycle ergometer and body fat percentage by bioelectrical impedance analysis. We studied reproducibility using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), coefficient variation with the root‐means‐square method expressed as percentages (CV%), and 95% limit of agreement (95% LA) and coefficient repeatability of the Bland‐Altman plot. ICC for PWVao was 0·90, CV% 3·7 and the limits of agreement were −0·70 and 0·58 with a coefficient repeatability of 0·65. ICC for AIx% was 0·88, CV% 29·1%, and the limits of agreement were −6·8 and 7·1 with a coefficient repeatability of 6·9. No relevant differences in ICC, CV%, and coefficient repeatability for PWVao between adolescents with higher or lower V̇O2peak or body fat percentage were observed. For AIx%, ICC was lower, CV% higher and coefficient repeatability higher in adolescents with higher V̇O2peak or lower body fat percentage than in adolescents with lower V̇O2peak or higher body fat percentage. Short‐term reproducibility of Arteriograph™‐derived PWVao was relatively good and was not affected by V̇O2peak or adiposity. However, the reproducibility of AIx% was modest especially among adolescents with higher V̇O2peak and lower body fat percentage.
Achieving glycaemic control without weight gain, hypoglycaemia, or gastrointestinal adverse events in type 2 diabetes in the SUSTAIN clinical trial programme
Authors: DeVries J. Hans , Desouza Cyrus , Bellary Srikanth , Unger Jeffrey , Hansen Oluf K. H. , Zacho Jeppe , Woo Vincent
Published: June 2018

Aim

To evaluate the potential for semaglutide to help people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) achieve glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) targets while avoiding unwanted outcomes, such as weight gain, hypoglycaemia and gastrointestinal (GI) side effects.

Materials and methods

Data from the phase IIIa SUSTAIN 1 to 5 clinical trials were analysed. Participants had inadequately controlled T2D and were drug‐naïve (SUSTAIN 1) or on a range of background treatments (SUSTAIN 2 to 5). The main protocol‐specified composite endpoint was the proportion of participants achieving HbA1c <53 mmol/mol (7.0%) at end of treatment (30 or 56 weeks) without weight gain and with no severe or blood glucose (BG)‐confirmed symptomatic hypoglycaemia. A post hoc composite endpoint was the proportion of participants achieving the primary composite endpoint without moderate or severe GI adverse events (AEs).

Results

Across the SUSTAIN trials 1 to 5, 3918 participants with T2D were randomized to once‐weekly subcutaneous semaglutide 0.5 mg, 1.0 mg, or comparators (placebo, sitagliptin 100 mg, exenatide extended release 2.0 mg or insulin glargine). The proportion of participants achieving HbA1c <53 mmol/mol (7.0%) with no weight gain and no severe/BG‐confirmed symptomatic hypoglycaemia was 47% to 66% (semaglutide 0.5 mg) and 57% to 74% (semaglutide 1.0 mg) vs 7% to 19% (placebo) and 16% to 29% (active comparators; all P < .0001). More participants achieved the primary composite endpoint with no moderate or severe GI AEs with semaglutide vs comparators (all P < .0001).

Conclusion

Semaglutide helped more people with T2D achieve HbA1c targets than did comparators in the SUSTAIN 1 to 5 trials, while avoiding unwanted outcomes such as weight gain, hypoglycaemia and GI side effects.
EncounteringSupai: An Ecology of Spiritual Perception in the Ecuadorian Amazon
Authors: Mezzenzana Francesca
Published: June 2018

In this article I set out to draw an “ecology” of spiritual perception among the Runa of the Ecuadorian Amazon. In particular, I look at the ways in whichsupaibeings—forest spirits—are perceived by the Runa through two main sensory modalities: smelling and dreaming. Inspired by recent advances in the anthropology of religious learning, I then explore how certain Runa people—those who have undertaken a bodily training known assasi—are more likely than others to encountersupaibeings. This ritual training is conceived ascorporeallearning. I conclude by suggesting that attention and self‐attention developed during such corporeal practices play a central role in the perception of forest spirits. [spirits, perception, attention, learning, Amazonia]
Mimesis, Metaphors, Models, and Feet in American Dreams
Authors: Mageo Jeannette
Published: June 2018

Dreamers copy images from memories, I ague in this article, to serve as metaphors for problems with a cultural model, but they change remembered images to comment on these problems. What this means is that dreaming is mimetic in nature. I define mimesis as copying with alterations, where the reproduction specifies a subject of thought and variations comment on that subject. In longer dreams, these alterations are of three types: (1) dreamers pose a question as a visually absent element of a memory; (2) dreamers re‐present the same question through a succession of different metaphors; and (3) dreamers blend images associated with a primary cultural model with images associated with a secondary cultural model. I base this argument on dream data collected from Northwestern American college students, zooming in on the dream of a young woman about her feet and about a cultural model I call “the Pinup” that is fundamental to the contemporary rating of female bodies.
Expected versus Ex Post Profitability in the Cross‐Section of Industry Returns
Authors: Detzel Andrew , Schaberl Philipp , Strauss Jack
Published: June 2018

Asset pricing theory predicts a positive cross‐sectional relation between expected profitability and expected returns. However, empirical studies typically use lagged ex post profitability as a proxy for expected profitability. In this article, we use out‐of‐sample combination forecasts to estimate expected industry‐level operating profit, gross profit, operating cash flow, and net income. We then construct real‐time industry‐rotation strategies based on high and low expected profitability. For each measure except gross profit, these predicted‐profitability strategies earn significant alpha net of transaction costs and outperform strategies based on ex post profitability.
Human land use promotes the abundance and diversity of exotic species on Caribbean islands
Authors: Jesse Wendy A. M. , Behm Jocelyn E. , Helmus Matthew R. , Ellers Jacintha
Published: May 2018

Human land use causes major changes in species abundance and composition, yet native and exotic species can exhibit different responses to land use change. Native populations generally decline in human‐impacted habitats while exotic species often benefit. In this study, we assessed the effects of human land use on exotic and native reptile diversity, including functional diversity, which relates to the range of habitat use strategies in biotic communities. We surveyed 114 reptile communities from localities that varied in habitat structure and human impact level on two Caribbean islands, and calculated species richness, overall abundance, and evenness for every plot. Functional diversity indices were calculated using published trait data, which enabled us to detect signs of trait filtering associated with impacted habitats. Our results show that environmental variation among sampling plots was explained by two Principal Component Analysis (PCA) ordination axes related to habitat structure (i.e., forest or nonforest) and human impact level (i.e., addition of man‐made constructions such as roads and buildings). Several diversity indices were significantly correlated with the two PCA axes, but exotic and native species showed opposing responses. Native species reached the highest abundance in forests, while exotic species were absent in this habitat. Human impact was associated with an increase in exotic abundance and species richness, while native species showed no significant associations. Functional diversity was highest in nonforested environments on both islands, and further increased on St. Martin with the establishment of functionally unique exotic species in nonforested habitat. Habitat structure, rather than human impact, proved to be an important agent for environmental filtering of traits, causing divergent functional trait values across forested and nonforested environments. Our results illustrate the importance of considering various elements of land use when studying its impact on species diversity and the establishment and spread of exotic species.
International volunteerism and development in Asia‐Pacific
Authors: Yea Sallie , Sin Harng Luh , Griffiths Mark
Published: May 2018

In Asia, and across the “global South”, volunteerism has grown enormously in the last two decades. Hundreds of thousands of people now undertake work on development projects in poorer areas of the global South, and volunteerism has become a key way in which cross‐cultural encounters form relations of development between poor and rich countries and between marginal and empowered subjects. Reflecting this growth, geographical discussions of volunteerism have expanded over the past decade. While initial work lauded the benefits and positive potentials of international volunteerism, more recent work and popular media have increasingly questioned such views and suggested that, instead, international volunteerism has the propensity to replicate colonial relationships, and benefits are heavily skewed towards volunteers. These criticisms themselves bear witness to deeper structural and ideological concerns principally centred around the pervasive neoliberalisation of international volunteering and volunteer tourism. Yet, despite its critics, international volunteering remains one of the most common and easily accessible ways in which (any)one can “care for” or “do their part” to address social and economic injustices in the global South. This themed section extends critical discussions of volunteerism in Asia‐Pacific by questioning its developmental effects – including effects that are material, relational and discursive. Through the six papers in this themed section, and insights gained from fieldwork in Singapore, Japan, Cambodia and India, we consider the impacts of international volunteerism; the infrastructure and organisations promoting volunteerism; the subjective positionalities of volunteers; and how marginal populations experience volunteerism.
Long‐Term Impacts on Groundwater and Reductive Dechlorination Following Bioremediation in a Highly Characterized Trichloroethene DNAPL Source Area
Authors: Schaefer Charles E. , Lavorgna Graig M. , Haluska Alexander A. , Annable Michael D.
Published: May 2018

High‐resolution soil and groundwater monitoring was performed to assess the long‐term impacts of bioremediation using bioaugmentation with a dechlorinating microbial consortium (and sodium lactate as the electron donor) in a well‐characterized trichloroethene (TCE) dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) source area. Monitoring was performed up to 3.7 years following active bioremediation using a high‐density monitoring network that included several discrete interval multi‐level sampling wells. Results showed that despite the absence of lactate, lactate fermentation transformation products, or hydrogen, biogeochemical conditions remained favorable for the reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethenes. In locations where soil data showed that TCE DNAPL sources persisted, local contaminant rebound was observed in groundwater, whereas no rebound or continuous decreases in chlorinated ethenes were observed in locations where DNAPL sources were treated. While ethene levels measured 3.7 years after active treatment suggested relatively low (2 to 30%) dechlorination of the parent TCE and daughter products, carbon stable isotope analysis showed that the extent of complete dechlorination was much greater than indicated by ethene generation and that the estimated first‐order rate constant describing the complete dechlorination of TCE at 3.7 years following active bioremediation was approximately 3.6 y–1. Overall, results of this study suggest that biological processes may persist to treat TCE for years after cessation of active bioremediation, thereby serving as an important component of remedial treatment design and long‐term attenuation.
Joint disease in haemophilia: Pathophysiology, pain and imaging
Authors: van Vulpen L. F. D. , Holstein K. , Martinoli C.
Published: May 2018

Haemarthroses cause major morbidity in patients with haemophilia. Blood has devastating effects on all joint components, resulting in synovitis, osteochondral degeneration and ultimately end‐stage haemophilic arthropathy. Key players in this process are iron and inflammation. Preventing joint bleeds is of utmost importance to maintain joint health as targeted therapies directed against blood‐induced inflammation and iron‐mediated processes are lacking. Joint bleeds result in acute pain as well as chronic pain due to synovitis or arthropathy. Acute pain originates from nociceptors activated by tissue damage. In chronic inflammation, central and peripheral sensitization of nociceptors might occur resulting in chronic pain. This also triggers a series of brain disorders such as emotional fear, anxiety, mood depression and impairment of cognitive functions. Treatment of haemophilia‐related pain not only consists of analgesics, but also of exercise, education and in selected cases antidepressants and anticonvulsants. For objective assessment of joint structural outcome and detecting earlier changes of haemophilic arthropathy, both ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging have shown valuable. Both can be considered equally able to reveal signs of disease activity. MR imaging is able to visualize haemosiderin deposition and is more comprehensive in depicting osteochondral changes. Disadvantages of MR imaging are the duration of the examination, evaluation of a single joint at a time, costs and may require sedation, and it may need intraarticular contrast injection to depict initial osteochondral changes with accuracy. As such, US is a more useful screening tool and can be used for repeated follow‐up examinations.
Optimal R&D outsourcing
Authors: Leoni Patrick L.
Published: May 2018

We study optimal contracts when R&D is outsourced to another company. We find that, when a realistic assumption holds, the optimal contract always leads in equilibrium to low chances of having a successful technical innovation, given announced compensations. This assumption is significantly different from those used in the literature, and it is necessary for the result to hold. Our work shows that R&D outsourcing typically performs poorly.
Communication frictions, sentiments, and nonlinear business cycles
Authors: Xu Libo , Serletis Apostolos
Published: June 2018

In the context of a rational expectations macroeconomic model with communication frictions, we show that the level of economic activity is a nonlinear and time‐varying function of aggregate economic fundamentals and sentiment shocks. In particular, because of communication frictions, it is possible for small changes in sentiment shocks to cause large changes in aggregate output, and, similarly, for large changes in sentiment shocks to cause small changes in aggregate output. We also find that communication frictions have nonlinear effects on the variance of aggregate output, meaning that improving the communication does not always reduce the variance of aggregate output.
A retrospective review of great ape cardiovascular disease epidemiology and pathology
Authors: Strong V. J. , Martin M. , Redrobe S. , White K. , Baiker K.
Published: June 2018

Cardiovascular disease is associated with significant mortality in zoo‐housed great apes, yet little is known about its epidemiology and aetiopathogenesis, and therefore its diagnosis, treatment and prevention. In this retrospective study, the frequency and patterns of cardiovascular disease‐associated mortality in zoo‐housed great apes is explored. Data relating to 71 great apes [Bonobos Pan paniscus (n = 13), Chimpanzees Pan troglodytes (n = 37), Western lowland gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla (n = 15), and Bornean orangutans Pongo pygmaeus and Sumatran orangutans Pongo abelii (n = 6)], which died between 2004 and 2014, were studied and key information relating to their signalment (taxa, age, sex), and manner and cause of death analysed. Male sex and increasing age were found to be associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease‐associated death. Relative to the other taxa, orangutans appeared to be less at risk of heart disease‐associated mortality. Deaths were often found to be sudden and unexpected. Cardiomyopathies were the most frequently diagnosed cardiovascular disorder. Of these, a group of cardiomyopathies characterized by the presence of myocardial fibrosis were most common, although there were inconsistencies with regards the reporting of other histopathological features. The study identified potential risk factors involved in great ape cardiovascular disease aetiopathogenesis which warrant further exploration. The findings also suggest a need for proactive screening to identify those affected earlier in the disease course. Finally, the study highlights a critical need for improvements to be made to the current approach to post‐mortem investigation of great ape heart disease and the subsequent reporting of cardiovascular lesions.
Soccer Analytics: Unravelling the Complexity of “The Beautiful Game”
Authors: Bornn Luke , Cervone Dan , Fernandez Javier
Published: May 2018

While national soccer teams compete this June to win the World Cup, analysts will be crunching data behind the scenes to pursue an advantage. Luke Bornn, Dan Cervone and Javier Fernandez explore the evolution of soccer analytics
About “Her Emails”
Authors: Salahub Christopher , Oldford Wayne
Published: May 2018

During the 2016 US presidential election campaign, Hillary Clinton's emails were the source of much debate and controversy – and may have played a decisive role in her defeat by Donald Trump. Christopher Salahub and Wayne Oldford have built a tool to analyse the contents of her private server. What more can we learn?
Disparities in Water Quality in Indian Country
Authors: Conroy‐Ben Otakuye , Richard Rain
Published: May 2018

Tribal Nations in the United States are afflicted by a number of disparities including health, socioeconomics, education, and contaminant exposure to name a few. To understand drinking water quality disparities, we analyzed Safe Drinking Water Act violations in Indian Country found in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) and compared them to violations in non‐tribal areas of the same state for the time period 2014 – 2017. The violations assessed were total point accumulations per year per 1,000 customers, health‐based maximum contaminant limit (MCL), reporting and monitoring, and public notice for each state reporting tribal data. Violation point disparities were evident, as tribal facilities acquired nearly six times the points of the national average. In some states, health‐based tribal water quality was better than in non‐tribal communities, however Arizona, Iowa, Idaho, Montana, Utah, and Wyoming had MCL violations affecting a greater percentage of tribal populations than non‐tribal. Nation‐wide, monitoring and reporting violations affected tribal communities at nearly twice the rate of non‐tribal customers. Public notice reporting was high and comparable for both tribal and non‐tribal facilities. Finally, a comparison of small drinking water facilities, under which ∼97% of the surveyed tribal drinking water falls, confirmed state‐wide disparities. Solutions for the apparent disparities in Indian Country and on non‐tribal lands may be as simple as rectifying monitoring and reporting violations, though this correction will not shift the overall water quality difference. Addressing MCL and treatment violations is the next step to reduce the disparity.
Assessment of the genetic and economic impact of performance recording and genotyping in Australian commercial sheep operations
Authors: Santos B.F.S. , Amer P.R. , Granleese T. , Byrne T.J. , Hogan L. , Gibson J.P. , van der Werf J.H.J.
Published: May 2018

With the new opportunities from DNA technology, multitier breeding schemes have the potential to become more effective and more integrated. Integrated breeding schemes can also be better adapted to account for potential genotype by environment interactions (G × E) between tiers. In this case, phenotypic and genotype information from lower tiers becomes more valuable as it involves measurement of traits that directly represent the breeding objective. The objective of this study was to compare scenarios that represented different selection strategies and their economic effectiveness in fine‐wool commercial sheep operations that exploit multitier breeding structures. Genomic selection (GS) applied in the multiplier and the commercial tier presented the largest additional revenue among all scenarios, as it resulted in the largest amount of genetic progress. The largest benefits from GS were outweighed by the genotyping costs, which made DNA parentage the most feasible strategy for the multiplier tier, resulting in the highest cumulative net present value (CNPV). The benefits of phenotypes and genotype information from the commercial environment were larger in the presence of G × E between the nucleus and the commercial tier. The CNPV was larger with a 50% reduction in genotyping costs, which increased the returns of GS scenarios by 2.7‐fold on average. Higher selection intensity when selecting multiplier rams also resulted in larger benefits. In this case, returns for the breeding scheme were 3.5‐fold higher when 33% of multiplier males were selected based on commercial information, compared to scenarios selecting 50% of the available multiplier rams. The benefits of collecting commercial phenotypes and genotypes were long term, which means that return on investment often took more than 10 years to be achieved, and were largely dependent on two‐stage selection to reduce cost while maintaining selection efficiency and on the cost of a genotype test.
Effects of a modelling example for teaching information problem solving skills
Authors: Frerejean J. , van Strien J.L.H. , Kirschner P.A. , Brand‐Gruwel S.
Published: May 2018

Although students often appear to be skilled in retrieving and making use of information from the internet, research shows that their information problem solving skills are overestimated. They show deficiencies in many of the necessary skills, such as generation of search terms, selection of sources, and critical processing of information. It is therefore necessary to design and develop effective instruction to foster information problem solving skills. Research shows that learning from examples can be an effective approach for teaching complex cognitive skills in ill‐structured domains, such as writing or communicating. To explore whether this also holds for information problem solving, this study investigates the effects of presenting a modelling example in an online information problem solving training. Results of two experiments show that viewing a modelling example, presented as a screencast of an expert thinking out loud and interspersed with cognitive prompts, leads to a higher posttest performance than performing a practice task. The effect persisted on a delayed posttest 1 week later. The results imply that information problem solving instruction in an online setting can benefit from employing video‐based modelling examples.
Analysis of the level of clinical skills of physician assistants tested with simulated intensive care patients
Authors: van Vught Anneke J.A.H. , van den Brink Geert T.W.J. , Hilkens Murielle G.E.C. , van Oers Jos A.H.
Published: May 2018

Rationale, aims, and objectives

Since adequate staffing in intensive care units (ICUs) is an increasing problem worldwide, we investigated whether physician assistants (PAs) are able to substitute medical residents (MR) in ICUs with at least the same quality of clinical skills. In this study, we analysed the level of clinical skills of PAs in direct comparison with those who traditionally performed these tasks, ie, MR with 6 to 24 months of work experience in the ICU.

Method

Physician assistants and MRs in the ICUs were observed on their clinical skills by means of a simulated ICU comprising 2 scenarios on a human patient simulator with typical ICU cases. The level of clinical skills of PAs and MRs was videotaped and scored with predefined checklists by 2 independent intensivists per scenario. Percentage of the total score was calculated, and means were compared by Student t test.

Results

A total of 11 PAs and 10 MRs participated in the study. Physician assistants and MRs scored equal (PA 66% ± 13% vs MR 68% ± 9%, P = .86) on their clinical performance in the simulated ICU setting.

Conclusion

This study showed equal performance of PAs and MRs on clinical skills in the simulated ICU setting.
Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration used in diagnosing gastric linitis plastica: Metastatic lymph nodes can be valuable targets
Authors: Liu Yuan , Chen Ke , Yang Xiu‐Jiang
Published: June 2018

Background and Aim

The aim of this study was to assess the performance of endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine‐needle aspiration (EUS‐FNA) for the diagnosis of gastric linitis plastic (GLP).

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed all the cases undergoing EUS for suspected GLP from January 2012 to September 2017. We included patients with GLP confirmed pathologically with white‐light endoscopy (WLE)‐guided biopsy or EUS‐FNA. Diagnostic value of WLE biopsy and EUS‐FNA was further analyzed.

Results

A total of 107 cases of suspected GLP were referred for EUS examination in our center. Twenty‐six patients were eligible and included. GLP was confirmed in 15 cases by EUS‐FNA, nine cases by WLE biopsy, and eight cases by surgical pathology. The positive rate of EUS‐FNA and WLE biopsy for involved gastric wall was 71.43% (15/21) and 47.37% (9/19). EUS‐FNA of metastatic lymph nodes was also performed in 16 cases, and 15 (93.75%) were proved to be malignant, including all 13 that were positive for peri‐gastric lymph nodes, and two of three (66.67%) that were positive rate for retroperitoneal lymph nodes. Diameters of punctured lymph nodes ranged from 3.30 to 22.70 mm, with an average of 12.12 mm.

Conclusions

Pathological diagnosis of GLP by invasive endoscopy is still intractable, even at a late stage. Positive results can be obtained even in small or distant lymph nodes.
How effective is adjunctive antimicrobial photodynamic therapy in treating deep periodontal pockets in periodontal disease? A systematic review
Authors: Akram Zohaib
Published: June 2018

The aim of the present systematic review was to evaluate the efficacy of antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) that is used as an adjunctive therapy with scaling and root planing (SRP) in deep periodontal pockets (≥5 mm). The addressed Patients, Intervention, Comparators, Outcomes, and Study design question was: In patients with advanced periodontitis (population), what is the effect of aPDT as adjunct to SRP (intervention) in comparison to SRP alone (comparison) on deep probing depths (outcome)? Electronic and manual literature searches were conducted using the following databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Oral Health Group Trials Register, up to and including February 2018. Six randomized trials were included. All studies used the combined approach aPDT+SRP and SRP in the test and control groups, respectively. The follow‐up period ranged from 12 to 48 weeks. Wavelengths, power density, and duration of irradiation used were 670 nm, 500 mW cm−2, and 60 seconds, respectively. All studies showed significant reduction of probing depth (PD) ≥5 mm with aPDT at follow up. Considering the effects of adjunctive aPDT compared to SRP, only two studies showed additional benefit of adjunctive aPDT in reducing PD ≥5 mm compared to SRP alone at follow up. The overall mean difference for PD reduction (weighted mean difference = 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] = −0.03 to −0.66, P = .08) was also not significant between the aPDT and SRP groups at follow up. Whether aPDT as an adjunct to SRP is efficacious in the reduction of PD ≥5 mm compared to SRP alone in periodontal disease remains debatable, given that the available scientific evidence is weak.
Strengthening Clinical Research in Marriage and Family Therapy: Challenges and Multilevel Solutions
Authors: Wittenborn Andrea K. , Blow Adrian J. , Holtrop Kendal , Parra‐Cardona José R.
Published: June 2018

There is a critical need for high‐quality and accessible treatments to improve mental health. Yet, there are indications that the research being conducted by contemporary marriage and family therapy (MFT) scholars focuses less on advancing and disseminating clinical interventions than in previous decades. In this article, we describe challenges to increasing rigorous clinical research in MFT. We use systems mapping and the intervention‐level framework to identify strategic goals designed to drive innovation in clinical research in the field. It is our hope this article encourages dialog and action among MFT stakeholder groups to support clinical science that will improve the health and functioning of families.
The Axes of Debt: A Preface to Three Essays
Authors: Bretherton Luke , Singh Devin
Published: May 2018

This is a preface to three essays on different aspects of ontological and economic debt as themes in religious ethics. It frames their contribution by arguing that debt is central to traditions of philosophical and religious ethics yet is woefully neglected as a thematic problem and problematic in contemporary iterations of these traditions. In order to situate debt as a central moral concern, it is argued that any consideration of debt must wrestle with how debt exists on two axes. One is the axis of ontological and economic debt. The other is the axis of debt as an expression of mutuality and debt as a mode of domination. These axes generate deep ambiguities regarding the moral status of debt. But contemporary religious and philosophical ethics struggles to articulate, let alone address, this ambiguity due to being wedded to modern conceptions of the autonomous subject. The essay closes by setting out the themes of the three essays, the connections between them, and how they can be a catalyst for further reflection on this vital but under‐researched topic.