bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conhecimento e prática do exame papanicolaou entre estudantes de escolas públicas do período noturno
Authors: Mendes Lorena Campos , Elias Thaís Cristina , Silva Sueli Riul da
Published: April 2018

El objeto del presente estudio fue comprobar la eficacia de actividades educativas realizadas con estudiantes sobre la prueba de Papanicolaou. Se trata de una investigación cuasiexperimental realizada con estudiantes de la enseñanza secundaria, educación de jóvenes adultos y magisterio del turno nocturno de escuelas públicas. Primero se utilizó una herramienta con la finalidad de comprobar el conocimiento previo. Luego se realizaron actividades educativas relativas al Papanicolaou y, después, se volvió a utiliza la herramienta. Los resultados indicaron que la gran mayoría de la población objeto de estudio afirmó ya haber tenido relaciones sexuales (92,6%) y tener pareja (76,1%). La necesidad de hacer la prueba de Papanicolaou fue una cuestión importante: 102 (18,9%) mujeres dijeron nunca haberla realizado. Las pruebas estadísticas mostraron que las actividades educativas agregaron más información sobre el tema. Las evidencias de este estudio apuntan que el conocimiento es insuficiente y que la práctica del Papanicolaou no es tan usual entre las mujeres. Se destaca la necesidad de trasmitir información referente a este asunto debido a su gran importancia para las distintas poblaciones.
Aspectos sociodemográficos e clínicos relacionados à qualidade de vida de pacientes em hemodiálise
Authors: Nogueira Isadora Lorenna Alves , Tinôco Jéssica Dantas de Sá , Paiva Maria das Graças Mariano Nunes de , Trindade Amanda de Oliveira Pantuza , Lira Ana Luisa Brandão de Carvalho , Enders Bertha Cruz
Published: April 2018

Objetivo: identificar los aspectos sociodemográficos y clínicos asociados con la calidad de vida de pacientes en hemodiálisis. Método: estudio transversal, realizado con 200 individuos durante el primer semestre de 2015. Se utilizó un itinerario estructurado de anamnesis y un examen físico para la obtención de las variables de interés, además del instrumento SF-36 para evaluar los dominios de la calidad de vida. Se realizaron pruebas Chi-cuadrado, exacto de Fisher y U de Mann-Whithey para analizar la asociación estadística entre las variables, considerando el valor p.
Análise dos fatores de risco para eventos hemorrágicos em pacientes anticoagulados
Authors: Camerini Flavia Giron , Fassarella Cintia Silva , Henrique Danielle De Mendonça , Franco Andrezza Serpa , Silva Lolita Dopico da
Published: April 2018

Objetivo: analizar los factores de riesgo relacionados con la incidencia de hemorragias en pacientes anticoagulados. Método: se trata de un estudio de cohorte retrospectivo, a partir de análisis documental. Se investigaron 867 expedientes de pacientes internados en 2011 y 2012, con una muestra de 79 pacientes que utilizaron heparina sódica en infusión continua. Para cuantificar la probabilidad de las hemorragias a partir de los diferentes factores de riesgo, se realizaron tratamientos estadísticos no paramétricos y medidas de asociación. Resultados: se evidenció una tasa de 21,52% (n = 17) de hemorragias. De los 17 pacientes con hemorragias, el 94,11% presentó uno o más factores de riesgo, con prevalencia de: tiempo de tromboplastina parcial activada superior a los 100 segundos (88,24%); edad mayor que 60 años (70,59%) e hipertensión arterial 64,71%. Los pacientes con tiempo de tromboplastina parcial activada elevada presentaron un riesgo 9,29 veces mayor para hemorragias (p = 0,0008). Conclusión: entre los seis factores de riesgo analizados, cinco presentaron asociación positiva con la incidencia de hemorragias. Los cuidados de enfermería basados en la identificación de los factores de riesgo previenen las hemorragias, aumentando la seguridad en la utilización de anticoagulantes y, por consiguiente, mejorando la calidad de la atención de enfermería.
Investigating right wing authoritarianism with a very short authoritarianism scale
Authors: Bizumic Boris , Duckitt John
Published: April 2018

Authoritarianism has been an important explanatory concept for more than 60 years and a powerful predictor of social, political, and intergroup attitudes and behaviour. An important impediment to research on authoritarianism has been the length of the measures available, particularly with the contemporary emphasis on the need for social research to use larger, more representative samples and measure multiple constructs across multiple domains. We therefore developed a six-item Very Short Authoritarianism (VSA) scale that equally represented the three content subdimensions and two directions of wording of Altemeyer’s widely used Right Wing Authoritarianism (RWA) scale. Over four samples (N = 1,601) from three countries the VSA scale showed satisfactory internal consistency and the expected hierarchical factor structure with three primary factors loading on a single higher-order factor. Additionally, the scale predicted variables such as nationalism, ethnocentrism, political orientation, political party/candidate support, attitudes towards ingroups or outgroups and anti-minority bias at moderate to strong levels with effects very close to those obtained for much longer established measures of RWA (including Altemeyer’s scale). The VSA scale also showed clearly better reliability and validity than a short measure of authoritarian parental values that has been used to measure authoritarianism.
Aerobic Fitness and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living in People with Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Sebastião Emerson , Pilutti Lara A. , Motl Robert W.
Published: April 2018

Background:

There is ample evidence that aerobic fitness is reduced in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), and this may yield a reduction in independence in instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). This study examined the association between aerobic fitness and self-reported IADLs in persons with MS.

Methods:

Sixty-two adults with MS completed an incremental exercise test as a measure of aerobic fitness (peak oxygen consumption), a demographic questionnaire, and an IADL scale and underwent a neurologic examination for characterization of disability level (ie, Expanded Disability Status Scale) in a single session.

Results:

The analysis revealed a weak but significant association between aerobic fitness and total IADL score (r = 0.28 [95% CI, 0.03–0.49], P = .033). Those reporting dependence in different IADL categories (eg, shopping, food preparation, housekeeping, laundry, and responsibility for own medication) presented with lower aerobic fitness compared with those reporting independence, although the difference was not statistically significant.

Conclusions:

These findings extend previous studies on activities of daily living in people with MS and underscore the need for studies examining the potential effect of aerobic exercise interventions on independence regarding IADLs in this population.
Can random mutation explain the phenotypic variability?
Authors: Zapata Trejo Víctor A
Published: April 2018

The epigenome regulates the gene expression of all differentiated cells and indicates which specific genes must be transcribed. It is argued that the expression factors that act in specific genes of the somatic cells involved in a behavior also act in the partial transcription of the same genes in the most undifferentiated cells of the germ line. It is proposed how a probabilistic view of the random mutation can explain the evolution of the phenotypes and integrate all the evidence pointing to a conjunct evolution with the environment.
Xeno-miRNet: a comprehensive database and analytics platform to explore xeno-miRNAs and their potential targets
Authors: Fan Yannan , Habib Maria , Xia Jianguo
Published: April 2018

Xeno-miRNAs are microRNAs originating from exogenous species detected in host biofluids. A growing number of studies have suggested that many of these xeno-miRNAs may be involved in cross-species interactions by targeting host mRNAs. To date, hundreds of xeno-miRNAs have been reported in different hosts at various abundance levels. Many more miRNAs could be potentially transferred to human circulation system based on computational predictions. There is a clear need for bioinformatics resources and tools dedicated to xeno-miRNA annotations and their potential functions. To address this need, we have systematically curated xeno-miRNAs from multiple sources, performed target predictions using well-established algorithms, and developed a user-friendly web-based tool - Xeno-miRNet to allow researchers to search and explore xeno-miRNAs and their potential targets within different host species. Xeno-miRNet currently contains 1,702 (including both detected and predicted) xeno-miRNAs from 54 species and 98,053 potential gene targets in six hosts. The web application is freely available at http://xeno.mirnet.ca .
The Study on the Interpersonal Meanings of Modality in Micro-blogging English News Discourse by the case of “Donald Trump’s Muslim Entry Ban”
Authors: Rui Zhai , Jingxia Liu
Published: April 2018

News is a kind of writing style, which is so valuable that many linguists choose it to study. This thesis aims to conduct a systemic analysis of modality type, value and orientation under the framework of Halliday’s Systemic-functional Grammar in order to explore the interpersonal meanings of modality in English news discourse. The research data is drawn from micro-blogging official platforms, among which 20 pieces of news discourse in all are selected to establish a small type of corpus. All the 20 pieces of news discourse are taken from the micro-blogging in 1.20 to 2.20 of 2017. All the news is about “Donald Trump’s Muslim Entry Ban” (A ban made by Donald Trump, which claimed that Muslim can’t enter America). Meanwhile, both qualitative and quantitative research methods are adopted to discover the distribution of modality in micro-blogging news discourse and its interpersonal meanings, and hence to deepen people’s cognition and understanding on micro-blogging news discourse. Through a detailed analysis, the study has a lot of findings. We found that modality language is widely used in micro-blogging news. From the perspective of modality type, reporters prefer to use finite modal adjunct such as will in the type of modulation to show their emotional attitude of the target thing. From the perspective of modality value, we can see that median value is the most popular among three values for reporters, and “will” and “would” are the most popular expressions that express the speaker’s expectations, willingness and determination or the reporter’s views, attitudes on the possibility of a certain event. Meanwhile, from the perspective of modality orientation, the speaker or writer tends to use implicit objective orientation in order to show objectiveness of the news discourse and get rid of writers’ responsibilities. This paper attempts to analyze modality in micro-blogging English news discourse from the perspective of interpersonal functions which aims to provide a new method for discourse analysis and acts as a beneficial complementary to modality language analysis.
Religious Pluralism in Yan Martel’s Life of Pi: A Case of Intertextual Correspondence with Swami Vivekananda’s Religious Philosophy
Authors: Kuriakose John
Published: April 2018

Yan Martel’s Life of Pi – the story as well as its religious ideology—exhibits apparent intertextual correspondence with the concept of “Universalism” the Indian mystic Swami Vivekananda preached to the world more than a century ago. Martel’s central character Pi represents this concept of religion, which finds the same set of universally valid principles in all religions of the world, and thus embraces all religions with the willingness to worship God in all places of worship, irrespective of whether they belong to Islam or Christianity or Buddhism or Hinduism. This perception of religiousness of Life of Pi comes as a solution to the concerns of the present religiously divided, material and greedy world that speaks a lot in vain about ecumenism, interfaith and constructive interaction among religions. The story of the shipwreck with the horrible experiences of Pi in the lifeboat  in the presence of  the Indian tiger Richard Parker and his  eventual survival validates this concept of God and works out a formula for a harmonious coexistence of religions and other conflicting forces in the world. Thus the book becomes a great religious allegory in tune with the fundamentals of all religious traditions: a pilgrimage on the sea of Karma to be united with the Absolute, a metaphor of the Atman seeking to realize Brahman, and an allegory on the concept of retributive justice of God by which sins are punished and virtues rewarded.
Short- and Long-term Effects of Repetition Strategies on Vocabulary Retention
Authors: Altalhab Sultan
Published: April 2018

This experimental study examines the role of oral and written repetition strategies in consolidating new vocabulary in the classroom context. The participants in this study were divided into three treatment groups: oral, written and oral+written. A pretest and three delayed post-tests given at one day, one week and six weeks intervals were utilised in the study. The short and long-term retention of 12 unknown words was investigated over one semester. The results revealed that all three types of repetition strategies were effective in retaining new vocabulary in the short-term. However, in the long-term, the oral+written group achieved superior results while the oral group was the least effective. The findings on the effectiveness of employing these strategies across two levels of vocabulary knowledge (meaning recall and form recall) are discussed. These findings demonstrate the importance of repetition strategies in vocabulary learning.
The Effect of Using Video Technology on Improving Reading Comprehension of Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners
Authors: Mohammadian Amir , Saed Amin , Shahi Younes
Published: April 2018

With the development of educational technology, the concept of technology-enhanced multimedia instructions is using widely in the educational settings. Technology can be employed in teaching different skills such as listening, reading, speaking and writing. Among these skills, reading comprehension is the skill in which EFL learners have some problems to master. Regarding this issue, the present study aimed at investigating the effect of video materials on improving reading comprehension of Iranian intermediate EFL learners. A Longman Placement Test was administered to 30 EFL learners to ensure that learners are at the same level of proficiency. The students were chosen from the state high schools in Chabahar.  The participants were regarded as intermediate learners and were divided into two groups (one experimental group and one control group). Then, a pre-test of reading comprehension was administered to assess the participants’ reading comprehension. The participants of experimental group used video files to improve their reading comprehension while the control group received conventional approaches of teaching reading comprehension. Finally, all the participants were assigned a 40-item multiple-choice reading comprehension post-test. The results of the study indicated that video materials had a significant effect on promoting reading comprehension of Iranian intermediate EFL learners (p = .000, <.05).
The Cultural Values in Texts of English Coursebooks for Junior High School in Ambon, Moluccas-Indonesia
Authors: J. Lekawael Rosina Fransisca , Emzir - , Rafli Zainal
Published: April 2018

This study aimed at investigating and understanding the cultural values in texts of English coursebooks in Ambon, Moluccas, Indonesia. The researchers used content analysis method to analyze data in depth, detailed, and complete about the cultural values. The result of this research revealed that the cultural values from texts view found in the English coursebooks were prestige, honesty, discipline, alignment, individuality, diversity, hard-working, generosity, creativity, beauty, equality, fighting spirit, mutual help, caring, proud, independent, and belief. Thus, there were three dominant values that are, diversity, beauty, and alignment. Those results lead to implication that English teacher can apply the cultural values in teaching processes. Then, for the further language researchers can conduct related research on the impact of the cultural values to the attitude and the teenagers’ age.
Exploring the Effect of Teaching Test-Taking Strategies on Intermediate Level Learners on Reading Section of Ielts; Learners’ Attitude in Focus
Authors: Khoshsima Hooshang , Saed Amin , Mousaei Fatemeh
Published: April 2018

Language proficiency tests have become common instruments to judge people based on their performance. Thus, the scores on language proficiency tests, such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), play a crucial role in the test-takers’ lives. Because of increasing demands on the part of students to get a good score on these tests, test preparatory courses have emerged. These preparatory courses, characteristically short and limited in terms of time, equip IELTS candidates with the skills required for passing the test, called test-taking strategies. The present study explored the effect of strategy teaching- namely wash-back effect on reading section of academic IELTS on intermediate learners in Iran. Besides, learners’ attitude toward the strategy teaching was investigated as well. According to the descriptive statistics and t-test results, those learners who received strategy teaching outperformed those who had not received strategy teaching in reading section of IELTS.According to t-test results, there was a significant difference between the mean scores of the two groups since the p value was lower than .05 (p < .001).  Furthermore, the learners had positive attitudes toward receiving strategy teaching since there was a significant difference between the obtained mean score and the presupposed average because the p value was lower than .05.
Cultural Preservation: Rediscovering the Endangered Oral Tradition of Maluku (A Case Study on Kapata of Central Maluku)
Authors: Rahman Fathu , Slamatin Letlora Prihe
Published: April 2018

Language and culture are two aspects which interchange each other where the language is a medium to get information about the culture. As the product of language and culture, oral tradition plays a vital role in Maluku not only as the most powerful and sacred chant that regulate the life of people but also as the folk song that contains history, advice, and prayer. Kapata nowadays is assumed as the endangered oral traditions in Maluku. To rediscover the endangered oral traditions, descriptive qualitative research by using interview and library study in gaining the supporting information was implemented. Furthermore, this research was aimed (1) to figure out the history of Kapata and the way to preserve it (2) to map out the categories of Kapata and its function in social life, and (3) to elaborate the meaning of language expression conveyed in Kapata. Through this research, it is hoped that Kapata can be preserved by implementing it in formal education, art performance and framing in an advanced documentation so that all generations of Maluku are able to not only to recognize and make use it in social life as the way to preserve the Kapata as an endangered oral tradition.
Assessing the Impacts of Extreme Agricultural Droughts in China Under Climate and Socioeconomic Changes
Authors: Yu Chaoqing , Huang Xiao , Chen Han , Huang Guorui , Ni Shaoqiang , Wright Jonathon S. , Hall Jim , Ciais Philippe , Zhang Jie , Xiao Yuchen , Sun Zhanli , Wang Xuhui , Yu Le
Published: April 2018

Agricultural food production in China is deeply vulnerable to extreme droughts. Although there are many studies to evaluate this issue from different aspects, comprehensive assessments with full consideration of climate change, crop rotations, irrigation effects, and socioeconomic factors in broad scales have not been well addressed. Considering both the probability of drought occurrence and the consequential yield losses, here we propose an integrated approach for assessing past and future agricultural drought risks that relies on multimodel ensemble simulations calibrated for rice, maize, and wheat (RMW) in China. Our results show that irrigation has reduced drought‐related yield losses by 31 ± 2%; the largest reductions in food production were primarily attributable to socioeconomic factors rather than droughts during 1955–2014. Unsustainable water management, especially groundwater management, could potentially cause disastrous consequences in both food production and water supply in extreme events. Our simulations project a rise of 2.5~3.3% in average rice, maize, and wheat productivity before 2050 but decrease thereafter if climate warming continues. The frequency of extreme agricultural droughts in China is projected to increase under all examined Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP). A current 100‐year drought is projected to occur once every 30 years under RCP 2.6, once every 13 years under RCP 4.5, and once every 5 years under RCP 8.5. This increased occurrence of severe droughts would double the rate of drought‐induced yield losses in the largest warming scenario. Policies for future food security should prioritize sustainable intensification and conservation of groundwater, as well as geographically balanced water resource and food production.
Transcriptional regulation of human amelotin gene by interleukin‐1β
Authors: Yamazaki Mizuho , Mezawa Masaru , Noda Keisuke , Iwai Yasunobu , Matsui Sari , Takai Hideki , Nakayama Yohei , Ogata Yorimasa
Published: April 2018

One of the major causes of tooth loss is chronic inflammation of the periodontium, the tissues surrounding the tooth. Amelotin (AMTN) is a tooth enamel protein which is expressed in maturation‐stage ameloblasts and also in the internal basal lamina of junctional epithelium, a unique epithelial structure attached to the tooth surface which protects against the constant microbiological challenge to the periodontium. Localization of AMTN suggests that its function could be involved in the dentogingival attachment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of interleukin‐1β (IL‐1β) on AMTN gene transcription in human gingival epithelial Ca9‐22 cells. IL‐1β increased AMTN mRNA and protein levels at 3 h, and the levels reached maximum at 6 and 12 h. IL‐1β induced luciferase activities of human AMTN gene promoter constructs (−211, −353, −501, −769, and −950AMTN), but these activities were partially inhibited in −353AMTN constructs that included 3‐bp mutations in CCAAT/enhancer binding protein 1 (C/EBP1), C/EBP2, and Ying Yang 1 (YY1) elements. Transcriptional activities induced by IL‐1β were abrogated by protein kinase A (PKA), tyrosine kinase, mitogen‐activated protein kinase kinase (MEK1/2), and phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase (PI3K) inhibitors. Gel shift and ChIP assays showed that IL‐1β increased C/EBPβ binding to C/EBP1 and C/EBP2, and YY1 binding to YY1 elements after 3 h, and that these DNA–protein interactions were inhibited by PKA, tyrosine kinase, MEK1/2, and PI3K inhibitors. These results demonstrated that IL‐1β increases AMTN gene transcription in human gingival epithelial cells mediated through C/EBP1, C/EBP2, and YY1 elements in the human AMTN gene promoter.
Sex Differences in Quality of Life in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Jolly Meenakshi , Sequeira Winston , Block Joel A. , Toloza Sergio , Bertoli Ana , Blazevic Ivanna , Vila Luis M. , Moldovan Ioana , Torralba Karina D. , Mazzoni Davide , Cicognani Elvira , Hasni Sarfaraz , Goker Berna , Haznedaroglu Seminur , Bourre‐Tessier Josiane , Navarra Sandra V. , Mok Chi Chiu , Weisman Michael , Clarke Ann E. , Wallace Daniel , Alarcón Graciela
Published: April 2018

Objective

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) predominantly affects women. Clinical phenotype and outcomes in SLE may vary by sex and are further complicated by unique concerns that are dependent upon sex‐defined roles. We aimed to describe sex differences in disease‐specific quality of life (QoL) assessment scores using the Lupus Patient‐Reported Outcome (LupusPRO) tool in a large international study.

Methods

Cross‐sectional data from 1,803 patients with SLE on demographics, self‐identified sex status, LupusPRO, and disease activity were analyzed. The LupusPRO tool has 2 constructs: health‐related QoL (HRQoL) and non‐HRQoL. Disease activity and damage were evaluated using the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment version of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index and the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index, respectively. Nonparametric tests were used to compare QoL and disease activity by sex.

Results

A total of 122 men and 1,681 women with SLE participated. The mean age was similar by sex, but the damage scores were greater among men. Men fared worse on the non‐HRQoL social support domain than women (P = 0.02). When comparing disease and QoL among men and women ages ≤45 years, men were found to have greater damage and worse social support than women. However, women fared significantly worse on lupus symptoms, cognition, and procreation domains with trends for worse functioning on physical health and pain‐vitality domains.

Conclusion

In the largest study of a diverse group of SLE patients, utilizing a disease‐specific QoL tool, sex differences in QoL were observed on both HRQoL and non‐HRQoL constructs. Although men performed worse in the social support domain, women (especially those in the reproductive age group) fared worse in other domains. These observations may assist physicians in appropriately addressing QoL issues in a sex‐focused manner.
Hybrid Paper–Plastic Microchip for Flexible and High‐Performance Point‐of‐Care Diagnostics
Authors: Draz Mohamed Shehata , Moazeni Maryam , Venkataramani Manasa , Lakshminarayanan Harini , Saygili Ecem , Lakshminaraasimulu Nivethitha Kota , Kochehbyoki Kamyar Mehrabi , Kanakasabapathy Manoj Kumar , Shabahang Shirin , Vasan Anish , Bijarchi Mohamad Ali , Memic Adnan , Shafiee Hadi
Published: April 2018

A low‐cost and easy‐to‐fabricate microchip remains a key challenge for the development of true point‐of‐care (POC) diagnostics. Cellulose paper and plastic are thin, light, flexible, and abundant raw materials, which make them excellent substrates for mass production of POC devices. Herein, a hybrid paper–plastic microchip (PPMC) is developed, which can be used for both single and multiplexed detection of different targets, providing flexibility in the design and fabrication of the microchip. The developed PPMC with printed electronics is evaluated for sensitive and reliable detection of a broad range of targets, such as liver and colon cancer protein biomarkers, intact Zika virus, and human papillomavirus nucleic acid amplicons. The presented approach allows a highly specific detection of the tested targets with detection limits as low as 102 ng mL−1 for protein biomarkers, 103 particle per milliliter for virus particles, and 102 copies per microliter for a target nucleic acid. This approach can potentially be considered for the development of inexpensive and stable POC microchip diagnostics and is suitable for the detection of a wide range of microbial infections and cancer biomarkers.
3D‐Printed Biomimetic Scaffold Simulating Microfibril Muscle Structure
Authors: Kim WonJin , Kim Minseong , Kim Geun Hyung
Published: April 2018

In the human body, microfibril structures can be found in several types of tissue, such as muscles, nerves, and even tendons. However, most micropatterned fabrication methods have focused on 2D surface patterned configurations, which imitate the alignment and fusion of cardiac and skeletal muscle cells. Despite the development of these 2D methods, it has continued to be a challenge to fabricate realistic 3D microfibril structures. The goal of this study is to develop a micropatterned polycaprolactone (PCL) microfiber strut. This process uses a microfibrillation/leaching process of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) from a PVA/PCL mixture to imitate skeletal muscle cell alignment and fusion in vitro. To attain the optimal processing conditions, a variety of parameters—including a mixture ratio, processing temperature, and pneumatic pressure—are considered. To increase biocompatibility of a microfibrous PCL bundle, the fabricated structure is supplemented with type‐I collagen. The myoblasts (C2C12 cells) are used to determine the cellular responses of the fabricated structure. By analyzing cell proliferation and myogenic differentiation, it can be confirmed that the hybrid microfibrillated structure can be an important potential platform to obtain efficient regeneration of muscle cells.
Tunable Molecular‐Scale Materials for Catalyzing the Low‐Overpotential Electrochemical Conversion of CO2
Authors: Rosen Brian A. , Hod Idan
Published: April 2018

Electrochemical CO2 reduction provides a clean and viable alternative for mitigating the environmental aspects of global greenhouse gas emissions. To date, the simultaneous goals of CO2 reduction at high selectivity and activity have yet to be achieved. Here, the importance of engineering both sides of the electrode–electrolyte interface as a rational strategy for achieving this milestone is highlighted. An emphasis is placed on researchers contributing to the design of solid electrodes based on metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) and electrolytes based on room‐temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). Future research geared toward optimizing the electrode–electrolyte interface for efficient and selective CO2 reduction can be achieved by understanding the structure of newly designed RTILs at the electrified interface, as well as structure–activity relationships in highly tunable MOF platforms.
Evolution at the tips: Asclepias phylogenomics and new perspectives on leaf surfaces
Authors: Fishbein Mark , Straub Shannon C. K. , Boutte Julien , Hansen Kimberly , Cronn Richard C. , Liston Aaron
Published: April 2018

Premise of the Study

Leaf surface traits, such as trichome density and wax production, mediate important ecological processes such as anti‐herbivory defense and water‐use efficiency. We present a phylogenetic analysis of Asclepias plastomes as a framework for analyzing the evolution of trichome density and presence of epicuticular waxes.

Methods

We produced a maximum‐likelihood phylogeny using plastomes of 103 species of Asclepias. We reconstructed ancestral states and used model comparisons in a likelihood framework to analyze character evolution across Asclepias.

Key Results

We resolved the backbone of Asclepias, placing the Sonoran Desert clade and Incarnatae clade as successive sisters to the remaining species. We present novel findings about leaf surface evolution of Asclepias—the ancestor is reconstructed as waxless and sparsely hairy, a macroevolutionary optimal trichome density is supported, and the rate of evolution of trichome density has accelerated.

Conclusions

Increased sampling and selection of best‐fitting models of evolution provide more resolved and robust estimates of phylogeny and character evolution than obtained in previous studies. Evolutionary inferences are more sensitive to character coding than model selection.
Plastic breeding system response to day length in the California wildflowerMimulus douglasii
Authors: Barnett Laryssa L. , Troth Ashley , Willis John H.
Published: April 2018

Premise of the Study

Angiosperms have evolved multiple breeding systems that allow reproductive success under varied conditions. Striking among these are cleistogamous breeding systems, where individuals can produce alternative flower types specialized for distinct mating strategies. Cleistogamy is thought to be environmentally‐dependent, but little is known about environmental triggers. If production of alternate flowers is environmentally induced, populations may evolve locally adapted responses.Mimulus douglasii, exhibits a cleistogamous breeding system, and ranges across temperature and day‐length gradients, providing an ideal system to investigate environmental parameters that control cleistogamy.

Methods

We compared flowering responses acrossMimulus douglasiipopulation accessions that produce distinct outcrossing and self‐pollinating flower morphs. Under controlled conditions, we determined time to flower, and number and type of flowers produced under different temperatures and day lengths.

Key Results

Temperature and day length both affect onset of flowering. Long days shift flower type from predominantly chasmogamous to cleistogamous. The strength of the response to day length varies across accessions whether temperature varies or is held constant.

Conclusions

Cleistogamy is an environmentally sensitive polyphenism inMimulus douglasii, allowing transition from one mating strategy to another. Longer days induce flowering and production of cleistogamous flowers. Shorter days induce chasmogamous flowers. Population origin has a small effect on response to environmental cues.
Does Natural Mentoring Matter? A Multilevel Meta‐analysis on the Association Between Natural Mentoring and Youth Outcomes
Authors: Van Dam L. , Smit D. , Wildschut B. , Branje S.J.T. , Rhodes J.E. , Assink M. , Stams G.J.J.M.
Published: April 2018

In this meta‐analytic review, we examined the relation between natural mentoring and youth outcomes in four domains: academic and vocational functioning, social‐emotional development, physical health, and psychosocial problems. Natural mentoring relationships are thought to foster positive youth development and buffer against the risks associated with the tumultuous years of adolescence. Two separate meta‐analyses were conducted on the presence of a natural mentor and the quality of the natural mentoring relationship, including thirty studies from 1992 to present. The findings indicated that the presence of a natural mentor was significantly associated with positive youth outcomes (r = .106). A larger effect size was found for the quality of the natural mentoring relationship in terms of relatedness, social support, and autonomy support (r = .208). The largest effect sizes were found for social‐emotional development and academic and vocational functioning. Risk‐status (e.g., teenage mothers, homeless youth, youth in foster care, and youth of alcoholic parents) did not moderate the relation between presence and quality of natural mentoring relationships and youth outcomes, which may indicate that natural mentors are generally beneficial for all youth regardless of risk‐status. Implications for theory and practice concerning the quality of the natural mentoring relationship are discussed.
Lorentz Violation and Topologically Trapped Fermions in 2+1 Dimensions
Authors: Correa Rafael A. C. , de Paula Wayne , de Souza Dutra Alvaro , Frederico Tobias
Published: April 2018

The full spectrum of two‐dimensional fermion states in a scalar soliton trap with a Lorentz breaking background is investigated in the context of graphene, where the Lorentz symmetry should not be strictly valid. The field theoretical model with Lorentz breaking terms represents Dirac electrons in one valley and in a scalar field background. The Lorentz violation comes from the difference between the Dirac electron and scalar mode velocities, which should be expected when modelling the electronic and lattice excitations in graphene. Here, only one Lorentz‐violating parameter is considered, belonging to the scalar sector. The analytical methods developed in the context of 1+1 field theories are extended to explore the effect of the Lorentz symmetry breaking in the charge carrier density of two‐dimensional materials in the presence of a domain wall with a kink profile. The width and the depth of the trapping potential from the kink is controlled by the Lorentz violating term, which is reflected analytically in the band structure and properties of the trapped states. These findings enlarge previous studies of the edge states obtained with domain wall and in strained graphene nanoribbon in a chiral gauge theory.
Brief Report: Circulating Cytokine Profiles and Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody Specificity in Patients With Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody–Associated Vasculitis
Authors: Berti Alvise , Warner Roscoe , Johnson Kent , Cornec Divi , Schroeder Darrell , Kabat Brian , Langford Carol A. , Hoffman Gary S. , Fervenza Fernanado C. , Kallenberg Cees G. M. , Seo Philip , Spiera Robert , St.Clair E. William , Brunetta Paul , Stone John H. , Merkel Peter A. , Specks Ulrich , Monach Paul A. ,   the RAVE‐ITN Research Group
Published: April 2018

Objective

To evaluate circulating cytokine profiles in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitis (AAV), classified by antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) specificity (proteinase 3 ANCA [PR3‐ANCA] versus myeloperoxidase ANCA [MPO‐ANCA]) or by clinical diagnosis (granulomatosis with polyangiitis [GPA] versus microscopic polyangiitis [MPA]).

Methods

A panel of 29 cytokines was tested in 186 patients with active AAV at inclusion into the Rituximab in AAV trial. Cytokine concentrations were compared between groups within each classification system. Multivariable analyses adjusted for age, sex, and renal insufficiency were performed, with each biomarker as a dependent variable and ANCA specificity and clinical diagnosis as explanatory variables of interest.

Results

Levels of 9 circulating cytokines (interleukin‐6 [IL‐6], granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor [GM‐CSF], IL‐15, IL‐18, CXCL8/IL‐8, CCL‐17/thymus and activation–regulated chemokine [TARC], IL‐18 binding protein [IL‐18 BP], soluble IL‐2 receptor α [sIL‐2Rα], and nerve growth factor β [NGFβ]) were significantly higher in PR3‐AAV than MPO‐AAV, 4 cytokines (sIL6R, soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type II [sTNFRII], neutrophil gelatinase–associated lipocalin [NGAL], and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 [sICAM‐1]) were higher in MPO‐AAV than in PR3‐AAV, 6 cytokines (IL‐6, GM‐CSF, IL‐15, IL‐18, sIL‐2Rα, and NGFβ) were higher in GPA than in MPA, and 3 cytokines (osteopontin, sTNFRII, and NGAL) were higher in MPA than in GPA (all P < 0.05). For nearly all cytokines, the difference between PR3‐AAV and MPO‐AAV was larger than that between GPA and MPA. The multivariate analysis showed that 8 cytokines (IL‐15, IL‐8, IL‐18 BP, NGF‐β, sICAM‐1, TARC, osteopontin, and kidney injury molecule 1 (P < 0.05) distinguished patients with AAV better (lower P values and larger effect sizes) when grouped by ANCA specificity than by clinical diagnosis.

Conclusion

Distinct cytokine profiles were identified for PR3‐AAV versus MPO‐AAV and for GPA versus MPA. Differences in these circulating immune mediators are more strongly associated with ANCA specificity than with clinical diagnosis, suggesting that heterogeneity in the AAV subtypes extends beyond clinical phenotypes.
The effect of physical activity interventions on youth with autism spectrum disorder: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Healy Sean , Nacario Adam , Braithwaite Rock E. , Hopper Chris
Published: April 2018

The purpose of this meta‐analysis was to examine the effect of physical activity interventions on youth diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Standard meta‐analytical procedures determining inclusion criteria, literature searches in electronic databases, coding procedures, and statistical methods were used to identify and synthesize articles retained for analysis. Hedge's g (1988) was utilized to interpret effect sizes and quantify research findings. Moderator and outcome variables were assessed using coding procedures. A total of 29 studies with 30 independent samples (N = 1009) were utilized in this analysis. Results from meta‐analyses indicated an overall moderate effect (g = 0.62). Several outcomes indicated moderate‐to‐large effects (g ≥ 0.5); specifically, moderate to large positive effects were revealed for participants exposed to interventions targeting the development of manipulative skills, locomotor skills, skill‐related fitness, social functioning, and muscular strength and endurance. Moderator analyses were conducted to explain variance between groups; environment was the only subgrouping variable (intervention characteristics) to produce a significant difference (QB = 5.67, P < 0.05) between moderators. While no significant differences were found between other moderators, several trends were apparent within groups in which experimental groups outperformed control groups. Autism Res 2018, 11: 818–833. © 2018 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Lay Summary

Results of the meta‐analysis—a method for synthesizing research—showed physical activity interventions to have a moderate or large effect on a variety of outcomes, including for the development of manipulative skills, locomotor skills, skill‐related fitness, social functioning, and muscular strength and endurance. The authors conclude that physical activity's standing as an evidence‐based strategy for youth with ASD is reinforced.
Approaches to Identifying the Emerging Innovative Water Technology Industry in the United States
Authors: Wood Allison R. , Harten Teresa , Gutierrez Sally C.
Published: April 2018

Clean water is vital to sustaining our natural environment, human health, and our economy. As infrastructure continues to deteriorate and water resources become increasingly threatened, new technologies will be needed to ensure safe and sustainable water in the future. Though the US water industry accounts for approximately 1% gross domestic product and regional “clusters” for water technology exist throughout the country, this emerging industry has not been captured by recent studies. As use of the term “cluster” becomes more prevalent, regional mapping efforts have revealed international differences in definition yet showcase this industry's economic impact. In reality, institutional processes may inhibit altering industry coding to better describe water technology. Forgoing the benefits of national economic tracking, alternative data sets are available, which may support new ways of identifying these clusters. This work provides cluster definitions; summarizes current approaches to identifying industry activity using data, interviews, and literature; and sets a foundation for future research.
Population-based study of mortality and major amputation following lower limb revascularization
Authors: Heikkila K , Loftus I M , Mitchell D C , Johal A S , Waton S , Cromwell D A
Published: April 2018

Background

The aim of this study was to estimate separate risks of major lower limb amputation and death following revascularization for peripheral artery disease (PAD) using competing risks analysis.

Methods

Routinely collected data from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) were used to identify patients who underwent endovascular or open lower limb revascularization for PAD in England from 2005 to 2015. The primary outcomes were major lower limb amputation and death within 5 years of revascularization. Cox proportional hazards and Fine–Gray competing risks regression were used to examine the competing risks of these outcomes.

Results

Some 164 845 patients underwent their first lower limb revascularization for PAD during the study interval. Most were men (64·6 per cent) and the median age was 71 (i.q.r. 62–78) years. Following endovascular revascularization, the 5-year cumulative incidence of amputation was 4·2 per cent in patients with intermittent claudication and 18·0 per cent in those with a record of tissue loss. The corresponding rates were 10·8 and 25·3 per cent respectively after open revascularization, and 8·1 and 25·0 per cent after combined procedures. The 5-year cumulative incidence of death varied from 24·5 to 39·8 per cent, depending on procedure type. Competing risks methods consistently produced lower estimates than standard methods.

Conclusion

The 5-year risk of major amputation following lower limb revascularization for PAD appears lower than estimated previously. Patients undergoing revascularization for tissue loss and those who require an open procedure are at highest risk of limb loss.
Rehabilitation use in multiple sclerosis: Do illness representations matter?
Authors: Glattacker Manuela , Giesler Jürgen M. , Klindtworth Katharina , Nebe Angelika
Published: April 2018

Objectives

Multidisciplinary rehabilitation improves illness outcomes and is recommended in clinical guidelines for multiple sclerosis (MS). However, many people with MS do not make use of rehabilitation. We do not know much about the barriers to the use of rehabilitation in MS, but in other patient groups, illness representations have proven to be predictors of service utilization. Therefore, the aim of our study was to explore whether, in patients with MS, illness representations are associated with self‐reports of rehabilitation use in the past and the intention to use rehabilitation in the future, beyond sociodemographic and illness‐related factors.

Materials and Methods

Patients were recruited in a cross‐sectional nationwide online survey in Germany. Hierarchical binary logistic regression analysis was used to analyze whether illness representations are associated with the use of rehabilitation in the past and the intention to use rehabilitation in the future, over and above socio‐demographic and illness‐related variables.

Results

There were 590 patients, who had MS, participating in the study. Illness representations were correlated to both outcome variables beyond sociodemographic and illness‐related factors: The probabilities of having the intention to use rehabilitation and of making using of rehabilitation were higher in patients who believed that their MS was controllable by treatment and perceived that their MS would have severe consequences.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that addressing patients’ illness representations may facilitate the intention to use and the use of multimodal rehabilitation, contributing to better illness outcomes.
Enhanced switching and familial susceptibility for psychosis
Authors: Sabb Fred W. , Hellemann Gerhard , Allen Nicholas B. , Bearden Carrie E.
Published: April 2018

Introduction

Working Memory and Task‐Switching are essential components of cognitive control, which underlies many symptoms evident across multiple neuropsychiatric disorders, including psychotic and mood disorders. Vulnerability to these disorders has a substantial genetic component, suggesting that clinically unaffected first‐degree relatives may carry some vulnerability‐related traits. Converging evidence from animal and human studies demonstrates that dopamine transmission, striatal and frontal brain regions, and attention and switching behaviors are essential components of a multilevel circuit involved in salience, and disruptions in that circuit may lead to features of psychosis. Yet, it is possible that unaffected relatives may also possess characteristics that protect against development of illness. We hypothesized that reduced switch cost in a cued task‐switching task, may be a behavioral expression of this “resilience” phenotype that will be observable in unaffected relatives.

Methods

We tested a large community sample (n = 536) via the web, to assess different subcomponents of cognitive control, including task‐switching and working memory, as well as risk‐taking, among individuals who report having an affected relative with a psychotic or mood disorder.

Results

Healthy individuals with suspected genetic risk due to a self‐reported familial history of a psychotic disorder demonstrated better task‐switching performance compared to healthy people without a psychiatrically ill relative and those with a relative with a mood disorder. This result was specific to illness status and task domain, in that individuals with a personal history of depression or anxiety did not show improved task‐switching performance, and this improvement was selective to task‐switching and not seen in other putative cognitive control domains (working memory or risk taking).

Conclusions

Although this study has limitations and independent replication is needed, these preliminary findings suggest a potential avenue for understanding susceptibility to these disorders by highlighting possible protective as well as vulnerability‐related aspects of risk phenotypes.