bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Co-Occurrence of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Cardiovascular Disease Among Ethnic/Racial Groups in the United States
Authors: Vidal Carmen , Polo Ruth , Alvarez Kiara , Falgas-Bague Irene , Wang Ye , Lê Cook Benjamin , Alegría Margarita
Published: May 2018

Objective

Trauma and/or symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been linked to the onset of cardiovascular disease (CVD), but the exact mechanism has not been determined. We examine whether the risk of CVD is different among those who have a history of trauma without PTSD symptoms, those who have experienced trauma and developed any symptoms of PTSD, and those with a PTSD diagnosis. Furthermore, we examine whether this association varies across ethnic/racial groups.

Methods

We used two data sets that form part of the Collaborative Psychiatric Epidemiology Surveys - the National Latino and Asian American Study and the National Comorbidity Survey Replication.

Results

We found an increased likelihood of cardiovascular events for those with a diagnosis of PTSD (odds ratio [OR] = 2.10, 95% CI = 1.32–3.33) when compared with those who had not experienced trauma. We did not find an increased risk for those who had experienced trauma without symptoms or with subclinical symptoms of PTSD. The higher likelihood of having a cardiovascular event in those with PTSD was significant for non-Latino whites (OR = 1.86, 95% CI = 1.08–3.11), Latinos (OR = 1.94, 95% CI = 1.04–3.62), and non-Latino blacks (OR = 3.73, 95% CI = 1.76–7.91), but not for Asian respondents.

Conclusions

The constellation of symptoms defining PTSD diagnosis reflect adverse reactions to traumatic events and indicate that complex responses to traumatic events may be a risk factor for CVD.
Coronary artery disease risk and lipidomic profiles are similar in familial and population-ascertained hyperlipidemias
Authors: Rämö Joel T. , Ripatti Pietari , Tabassum Rubina , Söderlund Sanni , Matikainen Niina , Gerl Mathias J. , Klose Christian , Stitziel athan O. , Havulinna Aki S. , Salomaa Veikko , Freimer Nelson B. , Jauhiainen Matti , Palotie Aarno , Taskinen Marja-Riitta , Simons Kai , Ripatti Samuli
Published: May 2018

Aims: To characterize and compare coronary artery disease (CAD) risk and detailed lipidomic profiles of individuals with familial and population-ascertained hyperlipidemias.

Methods and Results: We determined incident CAD risk for 760 members of 66 hyperlipidemic families (≥ 2 first degree relatives with the same hyperlipidemia) and 19,644 Finnish FINRISK population study participants. We also quantified 151 lipid species in plasma or serum samples from 550 members of 73 hyperlipidemic pedigrees and 897 FINRISK participants using a mass spectrometric shotgun lipidomics platform. Hyperlipidemias (LDL-C or triacylglycerides over 90th population percentile) were associated with increased CAD risk (high LDL-C: HR 1.74, 95% CI 1.48–2.04; high triacylglycerides: HR 1.38, 95% CI 1.09–1.74) and the risk estimates were very similar between the family and population samples. High LDL-C was associated with altered levels of 105 lipid species in families (p-value range 0.033–7.3*10−20 at 5% false discovery rate) and 51 species in the population samples (p-value range 0.017–6.8*10−21). Hypertriglyceridemia was associated with altered levels of 117 lipid species in families (p-value range 0.035–1.8*10−49) and 119 species in the population sample (p-value range 0.038–2.3*10−56). The lipidomics profiles of hyperlipidemias were highly similar in families and population samples.

Conclusion: We identified distinct lipidomic profiles associated with high LDL-C and triacylglyceride levels. CAD risk, lipidomic profiles and genetic profiles are highly similar between familial and population-ascertained hyperlipidemias, providing evidence of similar and overlapping underlying mechanisms. Our results do not support different screening and treatment for such hyperlipidemias.
Development and validation of 58K SNP-array and high-density linkage map in Nile tilapia (O. niloticus)
Authors: Joshi Rajesh , Árnyasi Mariann , Lien Sigbjørn , Gjøen Hans Magnus , Alvarez Alejandro Tola , Kent Matthew
Published: May 2018

Despite being the second most important aquaculture species in the world accounting for 7.4% of global production in 2015, tilapia aquaculture has lacked genomic tools like SNP-arrays and high-density linkage maps to improve selection accuracy and accelerate genetic progress. In this paper we describe the development of a genotyping array containing more than 58,000 SNPs for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). SNPs were identified from whole genome resequencing of 32 individuals from the commercial population of the Genomar strain, and selected for the SNP-array based on polymorphic information content and physical distribution across the genome using the Orenil1.1 genome assembly as reference sequence. SNP-performance was evaluated by genotyping 4991 individuals, including 689 offspring belonging to 41 full-sib families, which revealed high-quality genotype data for 43,588 of the SNPs. A preliminary genetic linkage map was constructed using Lepmap2 which in turn was integrated with information from the O_niloticus_UMD1 genome assembly to produce an integrated physical and genetic linkage map comprising 40,186 SNPs distributed across 22 linkage groups. Around one-third of the linkage groups showed a different recombination rate between sexes, with male and female map lengths differing by a factor of 1.2 (1359.6cM and 1632.9cM respectively), with most linkage groups displayed a sigmoid recombination profile. Finally, the sex-determining locus in this population was mapped to position 40.53 cM on linkage group 23, in the vicinity of the anti-Müllerian hormone (amh) gene. These new resources has the potential to greatly influence and improve the genetic gain when applying genomic selection and surpass the difficulties of efficient selection for invasive traits in tilapia.
A non-canonical-PPARγ/RXRα-binding sequence regulates leptin expression in response to changes in adipose tissue mass
Authors: Zhang Yinxin , Dallner Olof Stefan , Nakadai Tomoyoshi , Fayzikhodjaeva Gulya , Lu Yi-Hsueh , Lazar Mitchell A. , Roeder Robert G. , Friedman Jeffrey M.
Published: May 2018

Leptin expression decreases after fat loss and is increased when obesity develops and its proper quantitative regulation is essential for the homeostatic control of fat mass. We previously reported that a distant leptin enhancer (LE1), 16kb upstream from the transcription start site (TSS), confers fat-specific expression in a BAC transgenic reporter mouse (BACTG). However this and the other elements that we identified do not account for the quantitative changes in leptin expression that accompany alterations of adipose mass. In this report, we used ATAC-seq to identify a 17bp non-canonical-PPARγ/RXRα-binding site leptin regulatory element 1 (LepRE1) within LE1, and show that it is necessary for the fat-regulated quantitative control of reporter (luciferase) expression. While BACTG reporter mice with mutations in this sequence still show fat-specific expression, luciferase is no longer decreased after food restriction and weight loss. Similarly the increased expression of leptin reporter associated with obesity inob/obmice is impaired. A functionally analogous LepRE1 site is also found in a second, redundant DNA regulatory element 13kb downstream of the TSS. These data uncouple the mechanisms conferring qualitative and quantitative expression of the leptin gene and further suggest that factor(s) that bind to LepRE1 quantitatively control leptin expression and might be components of a lipid sensing system in adipocytes.

Significance

Leptin gene expression is highly correlated with the lipid content of individual fat cells suggesting that it is regulated by a "fat sensing" signal transduction pathway. This study is thus analogous to studies that led to the identification of a cholesterol-sensing pathway by studying the regulation of the LDL receptor gene by intracellular cholesterol. Several lines of investigation have suggested that, in addition to adipocytes, liver, neurons and other cell types can also sense changes in lipid content though the molecular mechanisms are unknown. The data here provide a critical first step toward elucidating the components of this system, which would be of great importance. These studies also identify a previously underappreciated role of PPARγ/RXRα complex to regulate leptin expression.
Bayesian Analysis of Retinotopic Maps
Authors: Benson Noah C. , Winawer Jonathan
Published: May 2018

Human visual cortex is organized into multiple retinotopic maps. Characterizing the arrangement of these maps on the cortical surface is essential to many visual neuroscience studies. Typically, maps are obtained by voxel-wise analysis of fMRI data. This method, while useful, maps only a portion of the visual field and is limited by measurement noise and subjective assessment of boundaries. We developed a novel Bayesian mapping approach which combines observation–a subject’s retinotopic measurements from small amounts of fMRI time–with a prior–a learned retinotopic atlas. This process automatically draws areal boundaries, corrects discontinuities in the measured maps, and predicts validation data more accurately than an atlas alone or independent datasets alone. This new method can be used to improve the accuracy of retinotopic mapping, to analyze large fMRI datasets automatically, and to quantify differences in map properties as a function of health, development and natural variation between individuals.
A novel histone H4 variant regulates rDNA transcription in breast cancer
Authors: Long Mengping , Sun Xulun , Shi Wenjin , An Yanru , Leung Tsz Chui Sophia , Ding Dongbo , Cheema Manjinder S. , MacPherson Nicol , Nelson Chris , Ausio Juan , Yan Yan , Ishibashi Toyotaka
Published: May 2018

Histone variants, present in various cell types and tissues, are known to exhibit different functions. For example, histone H3.3 and H2A.Z are both involved in gene expression regulation, whereas H2A.X is a specific variant that responds to DNA double-strand breaks. In this study, we characterized H4G, a novel hominidae-specific histone H4 variant. H4G expression was found in a variety of cell lines and was particularly overexpressed in the tissues of breast cancer patients. H4G was found to localize primarily to the nucleoli of the cell nucleus. This localization was controlled by the interaction of the alpha helix 3 of the histone fold motif with the histone chaperone, nucleophosphomin 1. In addition, we found that H4G nucleolar localization increased rRNA levels, protein synthesis rates, and cell cycle progression. Furthermore, micrococcal nuclease digestion of H4G-containing nucleosomes reconstitutedin vitroindicated that H4G destabilizes the nucleosome, which may serve to alter nucleolar chromatin in a way that enhances rDNA transcription in breast cancer tissues.
Inversion variants in human and primate genomes
Authors: Catacchio Claudia Rita , Maggiolini Flavia Angela Maria , D'Addabbo Pietro , Bitonto Miriana , Capozzi Oronzo , Signorile Martina Lepore , Miroballo Mattia , Archidiacono Nicoletta , Eichler Evan E. , Ventura Mario , Antonacci Francesca
Published: May 2018

For many years, inversions have been proposed to be a direct driving force in speciation since they suppress recombination when heterozygous. Inversions are the most common large-scale differences among humans and great apes. Nevertheless, they represent large events easily distinguishable by classical cytogenetics, whose resolution, however, is limited. Here, we performed a genome-wide comparison between human, great ape, and macaque genomes using the net alignments for the most recent releases of genome assemblies. We identified a total of 156 putative inversions, between 103 kb and 91 Mb, corresponding to 136 human loci. Combining literature, sequence, and experimental analyses, we analyzed 109 of these loci and found 67 regions inverted in one or multiple primates, including 28 newly identified inversions. These events overlap with 81 human genes at their breakpoints, and seven correspond to sites of recurrent rearrangements associated with human disease. This work doubles the number of validated primate inversions larger than 100 kb, beyond what was previously documented. We identified 74 sites of errors, where the sequence has been assembled in the wrong orientation, in the reference genomes analyzed. Our data serve two purposes: First, we generated a map of evolutionary inversions in these genomes representing a resource for interrogating differences among these species at a functional level; second, we provide a list of misassembled regions in these primate genomes, involving over 300 Mb of DNA and 1978 human genes. Accurately annotating these regions in the genome references has immediate applications for evolutionary and biomedical studies on primates.
Event-based processing of neutron scattering data at the Spallation Neutron Source
Authors: Granroth Garrett E. , An Ke , Smith Hillary L. , Whitfield Pamela , Neuefeind Joerg C. , Lee Jooseop , Zhou Wenduo , Sedov Vladislav N. , Peterson Peter F. , Parizzi Andre , Skorpenske Harley , Hartman Steven M. , Huq Ashfia , Abernathy Douglas L.
Published: May 2018

The Spallation Neutron Source at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA, ushered in a new era of neutron scattering experiments through the use of event-based data. Tagging each neutron event allows pump–probe experiments, measurements with a parameter asynchronous to the source, measurements with continuously varying parameters and novel ways of testing instrument components. This contribution will focus on a few examples. A pulsed magnet has been used to study diffraction under extreme fields. Continuous ramping of temperature is becoming standard on the POWGEN diffractometer. Battery degradation and phase transformations under heat and stress are often studied on the VULCAN diffractometer. Supercooled Al2O3 was studied on NOMAD. A study of a metallic glass through its glass transition was performed on the ARCS spectrometer, and the effect of source variation on chopper stability was studied for the SEQUOIA spectrometer. Besides a summary of these examples, an overview is provided of the hardware and software advances to enable these and many other event-based measurements.
Crystal structure of a heterometallic coordination polymer: catena-poly[[[tetraaquacobalt(II)]-μ-pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylato-calcium(II)-μ-pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylato] dihydrate]
Authors: Lin Jie-Shuang , Zhang Bing-Guang
Published: May 2018

In the crystal of the title polymeric complex, {[CoCa(C7H3NO4)2(H2O)4]·2H2O}
n
(1), the CoII ion is N,O,O′-chelated by two pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate anions in a distorted N2O4 octahedral geometry, and two carboxylate O atoms of pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate anions bridge tetraaquacalcium(II) units to form polymeric chains propagating along the b-axis direction. In the crystal, O—H...O and C—H...O hydrogen bonds, and offset π–π stacking interactions [intercentroid distances = 3.551 (1) and 3.746 (1) Å] involving inversion-related pyridine rings link the polymeric chains and lattice water molecules to form a supramolecular three-dimensional framework.
Automated map sharpening by maximization of detail and connectivity
Authors: Terwilliger Thomas C. , Sobolev Oleg V. , Afonine Pavel V. , Adams Paul D.
Published: May 2018

An algorithm for automatic map sharpening is presented that is based on optimization of the detail and connectivity of the sharpened map. The detail in the map is reflected in the surface area of an iso-contour surface that contains a fixed fraction of the volume of the map, where a map with high level of detail has a high surface area. The connectivity of the sharpened map is reflected in the number of connected regions defined by the same iso-contour surfaces, where a map with high connectivity has a small number of connected regions. By combining these two measures in a metric termed the `adjusted surface area', map quality can be evaluated in an automated fashion. This metric was used to choose optimal map-sharpening parameters without reference to a model or other interpretations of the map. Map sharpening by optimization of the adjusted surface area can be carried out for a map as a whole or it can be carried out locally, yielding a locally sharpened map. To evaluate the performance of various approaches, a simple metric based on map–model correlation that can reproduce visual choices of optimally sharpened maps was used. The map–model correlation is calculated using a model withBfactors (atomic displacement factors; ADPs) set to zero. This model-based metric was used to evaluate map sharpening and to evaluate map-sharpening approaches, and it was found that optimization of the adjusted surface area can be an effective tool for map sharpening.
Approaches to altering particle distributions in cryo-electron microscopy sample preparation
Authors: Drulyte Ieva , Johnson Rachel M. , Hesketh Emma L. , Hurdiss Daniel L. , Scarff Charlotte A. , Porav Sebastian A. , Ranson Neil A. , Muench Stephen P. , Thompson Rebecca F.
Published: May 2018

Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) can now be used to determine high-resolution structural information on a diverse range of biological specimens. Recent advances have been driven primarily by developments in microscopes and detectors, and through advances in image-processing software. However, for many single-particle cryo-EM projects, major bottlenecks currently remain at the sample-preparation stage; obtaining cryo-EM grids of sufficient quality for high-resolution single-particle analysis can require the careful optimization of many variables. Common hurdles to overcome include problems associated with the sample itself (buffer components, labile complexes), sample distribution (obtaining the correct concentration, affinity for the support film), preferred orientation, and poor reproducibility of the grid-making process within and between batches. This review outlines a number of methodologies used within the electron-microscopy community to address these challenges, providing a range of approaches which may aid in obtaining optimal grids for high-resolution data collection.
Advance or face
Authors: Li Rui , Xu Jia , Zhou Mingshan , Wang Tianyu
Published: May 2018

Purpose

In accordance with the traditional ranking of “scholar, farmer, artisan and merchant” in China, entrepreneurs are characterized as having lower social status, and are driven by face consciousness to engage in conspicuous consumption. Education is not only a human capital investment but also a conspicuous consumption good. This study aims to investigate how entrepreneurial households manage their education expenditure differently from non-entrepreneurial households and what the underlying mechanism is.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Chinese Household Finance Survey 2011 data, this study empirically examines the education expenditure differentials between entrepreneurial and non-entrepreneurial households. Regression analyses on matched samples are carried out and the results are quite robust across different model specifications.

Findings

On the basis of the empirical analysis, this study finds that entrepreneurial households annually spend 19.30 per cent more on education than non-entrepreneurial households. The empirical results provide no evidence that education generates a greater increase in income for entrepreneurial households than for their non-entrepreneurial counterparts, which indicates that the education expenditure differentials do not result from different income returns to education. The findings show that education is a conspicuous good and the gap in education expenditure is partially attributable to different demands for the conspicuous consumption, which results from different face consciousness between the two kinds of households.

Originality/value

The results of this study reveal the significance and economic consequences of face consciousness for entrepreneurial households from the perspective of education.
Linkages among workplace negative behavioral incidents
Authors: Mardanov Ismatilla , Cherry John
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical evidence of the linkages between such negative workplace behaviors as abusive supervision and coworker bullying (CB)/mobbing; also, the study explores the linkages between such negative behaviors and work-life outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use “negative acts,” abusive supervision, and workplace bullying/mobbing and develop work-life outcomes scales to test a data set collected from randomly selected respondents in the Midwest of the USA. The two-stage data collection offsets common method variance.

Findings

The authors find evidence that American supervisors and employees commit negative behavioral acts rarely. However, the data analyses indicate that many significant relationships exist among negative acts, abusive supervision, CB/mobbing, and employee well-being.

Research limitations/implications

Companies are reluctant to allow surveying their employees on the subject of negative acts. Therefore, respondents in this study are a random sample. Many statistically significant interrelationships were detected.

Practical implications

This study will reinvigorate discussion on workplace negative behaviors, bullying, and their effects on employee well-being.

Social implications

Addressing and reducing negative workplace behaviors will reduce employee stress and anxiety and improve the quality of employees’ work and life.

Originality/value

The scales were selected and developed, and the data set was constructed specifically for this study; the interactions of negative acts, abusive supervision, CB and mobbing, and work-life outcomes are tested together in a workplace scenario for the first time.
The information needs of the Ghanaian immigrant
Authors: Atiso Kodjo , Kammer Jenna , Adkins Denice
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This study aims to examine the information needs of Ghanaian immigrants who have settled in Maryland in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an ethnographic approach, immigrants from Ghana shared their information needs, challenges and sources they rely upon for information. In total, 50 Ghanaian immigrants participated in this study.

Findings

Findings indicate that like many immigrant populations, Ghanaians who have immigrated to the USA primarily rely on personal networks, mediated through social media, as their primary sources of information. Despite the availability of immigration resources in the library, Ghanaian immigrants may not view it as a useful resource.

Social implications

While this study examines a single immigrant population, its social implications are important to libraries who aim to serve immigrant populations in their community.

Originality/value

This study provides new information about African immigrant population, a population whose information needs have rarely been covered in the literature.
Leader identity development in healthcare: an existential-phenomenological study
Authors: Koskiniemi Anne , Vakkala Hanna , Pietiläinen Ville
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to take an existential-phenomenological perspective to understand and describe the experienced leader identity development of healthcare leaders working in dual roles. Leader identity development under the influence of strong professional identities of nurses and doctors has remained an under-researched phenomenon to which the study contributes.

Design/methodology/approach

Existential-phenomenology serves as a perspective underpinning the whole research, and an existential-phenomenological method is applied in the interview data analysis.

Findings

The study showed leader identity development in healthcare to be most strongly influenced and affected by clinical work and its meanings and followers’ needs and leader–follower relationships. In addition, four other key categories were presented as meaningful in leader identity development; leader identity development is an ongoing process occurring in relations of the key categories.

Originality/value

The existential-phenomenological approach and analysis method offer a novel way to understand leader identity development and work identities as experienced.
Cost drivers for managing dialysis facilities in a large chain in Taiwan
Authors: Cho Chia-Ching , Chiu AnAn , Huang Shaio Yan , Liu Shuen-Zen
Published: May 2018

Purpose

As the rise in expenditures will be even faster when the baby-boom generation soon reaches healthcare-dependent ages, healthcare providers are facing cost management decision of achieving superior performance. Taiwan provides a unique environment that the dialysis service providers face only one medical buyer. The purpose of this paper is to discuss cost factors of dialysis facilities.

Design/methodology/approach

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of factors influencing the dialysis costs using the data collected from a large renal clinic chain at Taiwan. The multiple linear regression analysis is employed to examine the factors influencing dialysis costs. The research sample composed of 1,255 patients is collected from 16 dialysis centers in Taiwan.

Findings

The results indicate that the treatment costs of dialysis are influenced by managerial factors including capacity utilization rate (CUR), the percentage of shares held by the owners and the geographical location of clinics (LC). The findings assist renal clinics to identify the parts critical to the cost control. Our results indicate that medical variable costs for performing the dialysis treatments are significantly influenced by such managerial factors as CUR, the percentage of owners’ shares holding and LC.

Practical implications

By identifying a comprehensive set of costs drivers for dialysis services, this study provides useful information for both health providers and policy makers. In specific, the result assists these providers to consider the utilization of better mechanisms/instruments to control costs by increasing the operational efficiency and achieving the economies of scale.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to exploring costs drivers that are generally absent from the extant literature. The result suggests that the regulators should be aware that the dialysis providers may reject costly patients. Hence, to establish the appropriate monitoring mechanisms to prevent such incidence is important. Finally, many other countries in addition to Taiwan also have a similar practice as national health insurances or services (e.g. Medicare in the USA or National Health Service in the UK). Those health systems may all face a similar cost control issues for handling end-stage renal disease patients. The analysis can help health systems worldwide to better design the reimbursement rates to account for the differences existed in dealing with the dialysis treatment costs.
When and why firms issue sukuk?
Authors: Ahmed Hasib , Hassan M. Kabir , Rayfield Blake
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze whether investors perceive the issuance of sukuk differently than they do in case of conventional bonds, by using event study with superior data. Then, it analyzes whether financial characteristics of issuers can explain the abnormal return and likelihood of sukuk issuance. Finally, the paper proposes a testable model explaining the investor reaction.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses market model event study to assess investor reaction to the issuance of sukuk. Then, linear and logistic regressions are used to test whether financial characteristics of issuers can explain the abnormal return and likelihood of sukuk issuance. To investigate the differences between sukuk issuers and bond issuers, this paper tests the difference in means of issuer characteristics. Finally, the sample is subdivided into good and bad firm prospects according to dividend/earnings ratio and book-to-market ratio. The subdivisions are used to test the proposed model explaining the investor reaction.

Findings

The study finds that a large variety of firms issues sukuk. The event study reports significant negative abnormal returns around the announcement date of sukuk issuance. The study also reveals that the earning prospect of issuer firms affect the investor reaction. Firms with lower earning prospect receive a negative reaction from the investors. Also, smaller, or financially unhealthy firms are more likely to issue sukuk. Smaller and riskier firms issue sukuk, because participation in the market is less constrained. In other words, the risk-sharing nature of sukuk might imply that the firm is not confident about the future prospect. However, if the firm has good earnings prospects, investors react to the issuance of sukuk negatively.

Research limitations/implications

Reliability and availability of data is a hurdle to test the investor reaction model. As more data become available, the models implications can be further tested.

Originality/value

This paper uses the most complete set of data to study sukuk, making it the most selection bias-free and complete study. Moreover, the proposed investor reaction model will enrich the theory.
Development of traditional flavour in commercial doogh by addition of lipase
Authors: Sasanian Nazanin , Mortazavian Amir Mohammad , Hosseini Hedayat , Mohammadi Reza , Nayebzadeh Kooshan , Sasanian Negar
Published: May 2018

The combined effects of lipase/cream reaction, temperature/time and pH of fermentation on levels of free fatty acids (FFAs), biochemical changes, oxidative stability and flavour development of the dough during 21 days of cold storage were investigated. Levels of short‐chain FFAs increased in doogh samples, while long‐chain FFAs decreased. Under the severe conditions of the lipase/cream reaction, the lowest pH drop, acidity increase and the highest intensity of lipid oxidation were observed. Treatment with a shorter reaction time and a lower temperature of the lipase/cream mixture and a lower final pH of fermentation (4.0‐20‐30) achieved the highest sensory acceptability, which could be used to improve industrial doogh.
CTC1‐STN1 coordinates G‐ and C‐strand synthesis to regulate telomere length
Authors: Gu Peili , Jia Shuting , Takasugi Taylor , Smith Eric , Nandakumar Jayakrishnan , Hendrickson Eric , Chang Sandy
Published: May 2018

Coats plus (CP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in CTC1, a component of the CST (CTC1, STN1, and TEN1) complex important for telomere length maintenance. The molecular basis of how CP mutations impact upon telomere length remains unclear. The CP CTC1L1142H mutation has been previously shown to disrupt telomere maintenance. In this study, we used CRISPR/Cas9 to engineer this mutation into both alleles of HCT116 and RPE cells to demonstrate that CTC1:STN1 interaction is required to repress telomerase activity. CTC1L1142H interacts poorly with STN1, leading to telomerase‐mediated telomere elongation. Impaired interaction between CTC1L1142H:STN1 and DNA Pol‐α results in increased telomerase recruitment to telomeres and further telomere elongation, revealing that C:S binding to DNA Pol‐α is required to fully repress telomerase activity. CP CTC1 mutants that fail to interact with DNA Pol‐α resulted in loss of C‐strand maintenance and catastrophic telomere shortening. Our findings place the CST complex as an important regulator of both G‐strand extensions by telomerase and C‐strand synthesis by DNA Pol‐α.
Test Characteristics of Point‐of‐care Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Retinal Detachment in the Emergency Department
Authors: Kim Daniel J. , Francispragasam Mario , Docherty Gavin , Silver Byron , Prager Ross , Lee Donna , Maberley David
Published: May 2018

Background

Previous studies of point‐of‐care ultrasound (POCUS) have reported high sensitivities and specificities for retinal detachment (RD). Our primary objective was to assess the test characteristics of POCUS performed by a large heterogeneous group of emergency physicians (EPs) for the diagnosis of RD.

Methods

This was a prospective diagnostic test assessment of POCUS performed by EPs with varying ultrasound experience on a convenience sample of emergency department (ED) patients presenting with flashes or floaters in one or both eyes. After standard ED assessment, EPs performed an ocular POCUS scan targeted to detect the presence or absence of RD. After completing their ED visit, all patients were assessed by a retina specialist who was blinded to the results of the POCUS scan. We calculated sensitivity and specificity with associated exact binomial confidence intervals (CIs) using the retina specialist's final diagnosis as the reference standard.

Results

A total of 30 EPs enrolled 115 patients, with median age of 60 years and 64% female. The retina specialist diagnosed RD in 16 (14%) cases. The sensitivity and specificity of POCUS for detecting RD were 75% (95% CI = 48%–93%) and 94% (95% CI = 87%–98%), respectively. The positive likelihood ratio was 12.4 (95% CI = 5.4–28.3), and negative likelihood ratio was 0.27 (95% CI = 0.11–0.62).

Conclusions

A large heterogeneous group of EPs can perform POCUS with high specificity but only intermediate sensitivity for RD. A negative POCUS scan in the ED performed by a heterogeneous group of providers after a 1‐hour POCUS didactic is not sufficiently sensitive to rule out RD in a patient with new‐onset flashes or floaters.
Effects of subsidized crop insurance on crop choices
Authors: Yu Jisang , Sumner Daniel A.
Published: May 2018

This study focuses on how subsidized crop insurance affects crop choices. Crop insurance may change farm investments by reducing risks and providing subsidies. First, actuarially fair insurance reduces risks in crop production and marketing, holding the expected return constant. Second, insurance subsidies encourage farms to purchase crop insurance, which increases the expected return to insured risky crops. Farms also have many self‐insurance mechanisms such as crop diversification or working off the farm. We derive conditions under which (1) unsubsidized and actuarially fair crop insurance or (2) insurance premium subsidies lead to more investment in a risky higher return crop. We then examine the role of self‐insurance for these conditions. The impact of premium subsidies is decomposed into a direct profit effect and an indirect coverage effect. These effects are explained by substitutions between market insurance and self‐insurance and between a risky crop and a safe crop. We discuss each effect as a combination of subsidy and risk effects. Numerical illustrations show that an insurance subsidy has a larger impact on risky crop investments compared to that of an input subsidy when farms are more risk‐averse and have high costs of self‐insurance. The framework provides a novel way to evaluate subsidized crop insurance programs.
AN EXAMINATION OF NEW GENERATION COOPERATIVES IN THE UPPER MIDWEST: SUCCESSES, FAILURES, AND LIMITATIONS
Authors: GRASHUIS Jasper , COOK Michael
Published: May 2018

A new organizational form, the new generation cooperative (NGC), emerged in the United States during the 1990s as farm producers came together to collectively add value to raw farm commodities. As compared to the traditional cooperative, the NGC facilitates a strong market orientation by defining membership and requiring high supply and equity capital commitments. Approximately 100 such value‐added ventures formed during a period called ‘cooperative fever’, but public and producer interest dissipated in the 2000s. With secondary data collected from print media publications, we conclude that many of the original NGCs exited by means of bankruptcy or liquidation because of challenges common to most business organizations. However, other failures and conversions of large, successful NGCs also indicate an inherent equity and liquidity constraint, suggesting a limited ability of the organizational form to drive complex and capital‐intensive value‐added ventures. We conclude by raising possible conditions for the future viability of producer‐owned business organizations in the value‐added agri‐food industry.
Pharmacokinetics and C‐reactive protein modelling of anti‐interleukin‐6 antibody (PF‐04236921) in healthy volunteers and patients with autoimmune disease
Authors: Li Cheryl , Shoji Satoshi , Beebe Jean
Published: May 2018

Aims

The purpose of this study was to characterize pharmacokinetics (PK) of PF‐04236921, a novel anti‐interleukin‐6 monoclonal antibody, and its pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship on serum C‐reactive protein (CRP) in healthy volunteers and patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Crohn's disease (CD).

Methods

Population modelling analyses were conducted using nonlinear mixed effects modelling. Data from two phase 1 healthy volunteer studies, a phase 1 RA study, a Phase 2 CD study and a Phase 2 SLE study were included.

Results

A two‐compartment model with first order absorption and linear elimination and a mechanism‐based indirect response model adequately described the PK and PK/PD relationships, respectively. Central compartment volume of distribution (Vc) positively correlated with body weight. Clearance (CL) negatively correlated with baseline albumin concentration and positively correlated with baseline CRP and creatinine clearance, and was slightly lower in females. After correcting for covariates, CL in CD subjects was approximately 60% higher than other populations. Maximum inhibition of PF‐04236921 on CRP production (Imax) negatively correlated with baseline albumin. Imax positively correlated with baseline CRP and the relationship was captured as a covariance structure in the PK/PD model.

Conclusion

Integrated population PK and PK/PD models of PF‐04236921 have been developed using pooled data from healthy subjects and autoimmune patients. The current model enables simulation of PF‐04236921 PK and PD profiles under various dosing regimens and patient populations and should facilitate future clinical study of PF‐04236921 and other anti‐interleukin‐6 monoclonal antibodies.
Optimal Two-Stage Dynamic Treatment Regimes from a Classification Perspective with Censored Survival Data
Authors: Hager Rebecca , Tsiatis Anastasios A. , Davidian Marie
Published: May 2018

Clinicians often make multiple treatment decisions at key points over the course of a patient's disease. A dynamic treatment regime is a sequence of decision rules, each mapping a patient's observed history to the set of available, feasible treatment options at each decision point, and thus formalizes this process. An optimal regime is one leading to the most beneficial outcome on average if used to select treatment for the patient population. We propose a method for estimation of an optimal regime involving two decision points when the outcome of interest is a censored survival time, which is based on maximizing a locally efficient, doubly robust, augmented inverse probability weighted estimator for average outcome over a class of regimes. By casting this optimization as a classification problem, we exploit well-studied classification techniques such as support vector machines to characterize the class of regimes and facilitate implementation via a backward iterative algorithm. Simulation studies of performance and application of the method to data from a sequential, multiple assignment randomized clinical trial in acute leukemia are presented.
Varying-Coefficient Semiparametric Model Averaging Prediction
Authors: Li Jialiang , Xia Xiaochao , Wong Weng Kee , Nott David
Published: May 2018

Forecasting and predictive inference are fundamental data analysis tasks. Most studies employ parametric approaches making strong assumptions about the data generating process. On the other hand, while nonparametric models are applied, it is sometimes found in situations involving low signal to noise ratios or large numbers of covariates that their performance is unsatisfactory. We propose a new varying-coefficient semiparametric model averaging prediction (VC-SMAP) approach to analyze large data sets with abundant covariates. Performance of the procedure is investigated with numerical examples. Even though model averaging has been extensively investigated in the literature, very few authors have considered averaging a set of semiparametric models. Our proposed model averaging approach provides more flexibility than parametric methods, while being more stable and easily implemented than fully multivariate nonparametric varying-coefficient models. We supply numerical evidence to justify the effectiveness of our methodology.
Potassium octatitanate fibers induce persistent lung and pleural injury and are possibly carcinogenic in male Fischer 344 rats
Authors: Abdelgied Mohamed , El‐Gazzar Ahmed M. , Alexander David B. , Alexander William T. , Numano Takamasa , Iigou Masaaki , Naiki‐Ito Aya , Takase Hirotsugu , Abdou Khaled Abbas , Hirose Akihiko , Taquahashi Yuhji , Kanno Jun , Tsuda Hiroyuki , Takahashi Satoru
Published: May 2018

Potassium octatitanate fibers (K2O·8TiO2, POT fibers) are widely used as an alternative to asbestos. We investigated the pulmonary and pleural toxicity of POT fibers with reference to 2 non‐fibrous titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2), photoreactive anatase (a‐nTiO2) and inert rutile (r‐nTiO2). Ten‐week‐old male F344 rats were given 0.5 mL of 250 μg/mL suspensions of POT fibers, a‐nTiO2, or r‐nTiO2, 8 times (1 mg/rat) over a 15‐day period by trans‐tracheal intrapulmonary spraying (TIPS). Rats were killed at 6 hours and at 4 weeks after the last TIPS dose. Alveolar macrophages were significantly increased in all treatment groups at 6 hours and at 4 weeks. At week 4, a‐nTiO2 and r‐nTiO2 were largely cleared from the lung whereas a major fraction of POT fibers were not cleared. In the bronchoalveolar lavage, alkaline phosphatase activity was elevated in all treatment groups, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity was elevated in the a‐nTiO2 and POT groups. In lung tissue, oxidative stress index and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) index were elevated in the a‐nTiO2 and POT groups, and there was a significant elevation in C‐C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) mRNA and protein in the POT group. In pleural cavity lavage, total protein was elevated in all 3 treatment groups, and LDH activity was elevated in the a‐nTiO2 and POT groups. Importantly, the PCNA index of the visceral mesothelium was increased in the POT group. Overall, POT fibers had greater biopersistence, induced higher expression of CCL2, and provoked a stronger tissue response than a‐nTiO2 or r‐nTiO2.
Effects of whole‐body vibration on heart rate variability: acute responses and training adaptations
Authors: Wong Alexei , Figueroa Arturo
Published: May 2018

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive and practical measure of cardiac autonomic nervous system function, mainly the sympathetic and parasympathetic modulations of heart rate. A low HRV has been shown to be indicative of compromised cardiovascular health. Interventions that enhance HRV are therefore beneficial to cardiovascular health. Whole‐body vibration (WBV) training has been proposed as an alternative time‐efficient exercise intervention for the improvement of cardiovascular health. In this review, we discuss the effect of WBV both acute and after training on HRV. WBV training appears to be a useful therapeutic intervention to improve cardiac autonomic function in different populations, mainly through decreases in sympathovagal balance. Although the mechanisms by which WBV training improves symphathovagal balance are not yet well understood; enhancement of baroreflex sensitivity, nitric oxide bioavailability and angiotensin II levels seem to play an important role.
High pressure Raman study of type‐I collagen
Authors: Paschou Amalia Maria , Katsikini Maria , Christofilos Dimitrios , Arvanitidis John , Ves Sotirios
Published: May 2018

The high pressure response of type‐I collagen from bovine Achilles tendon is investigated with micro‐Raman spectroscopy. Fluorinert™ and methanol‐ethanol mixtures were used as pressure transmitting media (PTM) in a diamond anvil cell. The Raman spectrum of collagen is dominated by three bands centred at approximately 1450, 1660 and 2930 cm−1, attributed to C–H deformation, C=O stretching of the peptide bond (amide‐I band) and C–H stretching modes respectively. Upon pressure increase, using Fluorinert™ as PTM, a shift towards higher frequencies of the C–H stretching and deformation peaks is observed. Contrary, the amide‐I band peaks are shifted to lower frequencies with moderate pressure slopes. On the other hand, when using the alcohol mixture as PTM, the amide‐I band exhibits more pronounced C=O bond softening, deduced from the shift to lower frequencies, suggesting a strengthening of the hydrogen bonds between glycine and proline residues of different collagen chains due to the presence of the polar alcohol molecules. Furthermore, some of the peaks exhibit abrupt changes in their pressure slopes at approximately 2 GPa, implying a variation in the compressibility of the collagen fibres. This could be attributed to a pitch change from 10/3 to 7/2, sliding of the tropocollagen molecules, twisting variation at the molecular level and/or elimination of the D‐gaps induced by kink compression. All spectral changes are reversible upon pressure release, which indicates that denaturation has not taken place. Finally, a minor lipid phase contamination was detected in some sample spots. Its pressure response is also monitored.
Dialysis modality and mortality in polycystic kidney disease
Authors: Zhou Chenchen , Gu Yaodong , Mei Changlin , Dai Bing , Wang Yi , Xue Cheng
Published: May 2018

Introduction: Identifying the appropriate modality between hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an unresolved issue in polycystic kidney disease (PKD) patients. This study aims to illustrate whether the mortality and survival are different among individuals receiving HD comparing PD.

Methods: We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure about cohort studies involving PKD patients with end stage renal disease and comparing HD with PD. We calculated pooled risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for dichotomous data. Primary outcomes were the mortality and survival (not the technique survival).

Findings: Eight studies involving 7685 PKD patients were identified. There were no significant differences in mortality (RR 1.06, 95% CI 0.84–1.34, P = 0.61) and 5‐year survival rate (RR 0.99, 95% CI 0.80–1.22, P = 0.90) between HD and PD. PD was not associated with higher risks of abdominal infections and hernia. However, HD was associated with a higher incidence of renal cyst hemorrhage (RR 2.53, 95% CI 1.05–6.12, P = 0.04).

Discussion: There are no significant differences of mortality and survival between different dialysis modalities in PKD. PD may be as successful as HD for PKD patients receiving renal replacement therapy.