bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Yield of Computed Tomography of the Head Among Patients Presenting With Syncope: A Systematic Review
Authors: Viau J. Alexander , Chaudry Hina , Hannigan Ailish , Boutet Mish , Mukarram Muhammad , Thiruganasambandamoorthy Venkatesh
Published: April 2019

Background

Overuse of head computed tomography (CT) for syncope has been reported. However, there is no literature synthesis on this overuse. We undertook a systematic review to determine the use and yield of head CT and risk factors for serious intracranial conditions among syncope patients.

Methods

We searched Embase, Medline, and Cochrane databases from inception until June 2017. Studies including adult syncope patients with part or all of patients undergoing CT head were included. We excluded case reports, reviews, letters, and pediatric studies. Two independent reviewers screened the articles and collected data on CT head use, diagnostic yield (proportion with acute hemorrhage, tumors or infarct), and risk of bias. We report pooled percentages, I2, and Cochran's Q‐test.

Results

Seventeen articles with 3,361 syncope patients were included. In eight ED studies (n = 1,669), 54.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 34.9%–73.2%) received head CT with a 3.8% (95% CI = 2.6%–5.1%) diagnostic yield and considerable heterogeneity. In six in‐hospital studies (n = 1,289), 44.8% (95% CI = 26.4%–64.1%) received head CT with a 1.2% (95% CI = 0.5%–2.2%) yield and no heterogeneity. In two articles, all patients had CT (yield 2.3%) and the third enrolled patients ≥ 65 years old (yield 7.7%). Abnormal neurologic findings, age ≥ 65 years, trauma, warfarin use, and seizure/stroke history were identified as risk factors. The quality of all articles referenced was strong.

Conclusion

More than half of patients with syncope underwent CT head with a diagnostic yield of 1.1% to 3.8%. A future large prospective study is needed to develop a robust risk tool.
Ethanol Exposure Increases miR‐140 in Extracellular Vesicles: Implications for Fetal Neural Stem Cell Proliferation and Maturation
Authors: Tseng Alexander M. , Chung Dae D. , Pinson Marisa R. , Salem Nihal A. , Eaves Sarah E. , Miranda Rajesh C.
Published: April 2019

Background

Neural stem cells (NSCs) generate most of the neurons of the adult brain in humans, during the mid‐first through second‐trimester period. This critical neurogenic window is particularly vulnerable to prenatal alcohol exposure, which can result in diminished brain growth. Previous studies showed that ethanol (EtOH) exposure does not kill NSCs, but, rather, results in their depletion by influencing cell cycle kinetics and promoting aberrant maturation, in part, by altering NSC expression of key neurogenic miRNAs. NSCs reside in a complex microenvironment rich in extracellular vesicles, shown to traffic miRNA cargo between cells.

Methods

We profiled the miRNA content of extracellular vesicles from control and EtOH‐exposed ex vivo neurosphere cultures of fetal NSCs. We subsequently examined the effects of one EtOH‐sensitive miRNA, miR‐140‐3p, on NSC growth, survival, and maturation.

Results

EtOH exposure significantly elevates levels of a subset of miRNAs in secreted extracellular vesicles. Overexpression of one of these elevated miRNAs, miR‐140‐3p, and its passenger strand relative, miR‐140‐5p, significantly increased the proportion of S‐phase cells while decreasing the proportion of G0/G1 cells compared to controls. In contrast, while miR‐140‐3p knockdown had minimal effects on the proportion of cells in each phase of the cell cycle, knockdown of miR‐140‐5p significantly decreased the proportion of cells in G2/M phase. Furthermore, miR‐140‐3p overexpression, during mitogen‐withdrawal–induced NSC differentiation, favors astroglial maturation at the expense of neural and oligodendrocyte differentiation.

Conclusions

Collectively, the dysregulated miRNA content of extracellular vesicles following EtOH exposure may result in aberrant neural progenitor cell growth and maturation, explaining brain growth deficits associated with prenatal alcohol exposure.
Evaluating the correlation between adrenal gland dimensions and aortic diameter in healthy dogs
Authors: Ghavidel Mahshid , Mirshahi Ali , Azizzadeh Mohammad , Khoshnegah Javad
Published: April 2019

In the present study, the relationship of normal adrenal dimensions with weight, aortic diameter, age and sex was evaluated. Moreover, a formula for estimating the normal dimensions of adrenal gland was provided. Thirty‐two intact adult dogs that were considered healthy based on history, physical examination, routine blood works and specific adrenal tests as well as absence of any abnormal ultrasonographic findings were included. Adrenal glands and abdominal aorta were imaged in the sagittal plane by ultrasound. Length, maximal height of the cranial and caudal poles, area and circumference of the left and right adrenal glands and also the internal diameter of the abdominal aorta were measured. Analysis showed that there is a positive correlation between the adrenal gland dimensions and weight and aortic diameter. The ratio of adrenal gland dimensions and the aortic diameter was calculated, but this ratio showed a great amount of variability in tandem with a significant correlation to the weight; Meaning that the ratio of the adrenal gland dimensions to the aortic diameter was not a reliable index for evaluating the size of the normal adrenal gland in animals with different weights. Therefore, we used the weight along with adrenal measurements in a linear regression model, and then, we were able to estimate the adrenal gland dimensions in different weights. Knowing the relationship of normal adrenal dimensions with the indices such as weight, age, sex and diameter of abdominal aorta can help the clinicians to diagnose the adrenal gland diseases.
Erythrocytes restrict microvesicle‐induced production of reactive oxygen species by polymorphonuclear leukocytes
Authors: Winberg Line Kjær , Rasmussen Niclas Stefan , Nielsen Claus Henrik , Jacobsen Søren
Published: April 2019

Microvesicles (MVs) are extracellular vesicles released by several cell types upon activation or apoptosis. MVs have the potential to activate complement, which has been suggested to mediate their clearance. However, it is not clear how complement‐opsonized MVs are prevented from activating circulating polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) with release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and potential damage of endothelium and other bystander cells as consequence. We hypothesized that binding of opsonized MVs to erythrocytes (Es) attenuates MV‐induced PMN activation. To test this, normal PMNs were exposed to MVs in the presence and absence of Es from allogenic healthy donors. As analyzed by flow cytometry, the presence of Es restricted the PMN binding of MVs by about 85% (p = 0.002) and mediated a 60–70% inhibition of the PMN production of the ROS H2O2, induced by MVs, when lipopolysaccharide was used as a primer (p = 0.002). The competitive binding of MVs to Es was partly dependent on complement, since EDTA inhibited MV binding to Es by 75%. These data suggest that Es, through competitive binding, may restrict MV‐induced activation of circulating PMNs and thereby serve a role as a regulator of PMN activation.
Flexible Industrial Work in the European Periphery: Factory Regimes and Changing Working‐Class Cultures in the Spanish Steel Industry
Authors: Gonzalez‐Polledo Elena , Sabaté Muriel Irene
Published: April 2019

This article explores how two steel industry firms operating in northern Spain have adapted to neoliberalism and globalization. Despite their geographical proximity, the comparison between their different trajectories, production, and ownership profiles highlights how their distinct factory regimes, while becoming entangled in global market dynamics, have allowed the emergence of contrasting definitions of workers’ identities, labor politics, and livelihood strategies, raising questions concerning (1) processes of distribution of privileges, skills, and knowledge among the workforce, and (2) the shaping of social relations, values, and meanings that result in the formation of particular factory regimes. The unequal position of steelmaking in regional economies, and the effects of economic policies that framed social relations in each firm, evince important differences between them, including contrasting expressions of resistance, discipline, and sociality on the shop floor. Our comparison considers how particular factory regimes bring forward different prospects as these firms face further industrial transformation, restructuring, and an increasingly uncertain future.
Bayesian Modeling of Air Pollution Extremes Using Nested Multivariate Max-Stable Processes
Authors: Vettori Sabrina , Huser Raphaël , Genton Marc G.
Published: April 2019

Capturing the potentially strong dependence among the peak concentrations of multiple air pollutants across a spatial region is crucial for assessing the related public health risks. In order to investigate the multivariate spatial dependence properties of air pollution extremes, we introduce a new class of multivariate max-stable processes. Our proposed model admits a hierarchical tree-based formulation, in which the data are conditionally independent given some latent nested positive stable random factors. The hierarchical structure facilitates Bayesian inference and offers a convenient and interpretable characterization. We fit this nested multivariate max-stable model to the maxima of air pollution concentrations and temperatures recorded at a number of sites in the Los Angeles area, showing that the proposed model succeeds in capturing their complex tail dependence structure.
Scalable Estimation and Regularization for the Logistic Normal Multinomial Model
Authors: Zhang Jingru , Lin Wei
Published: April 2019

Clustered multinomial data are prevalent in a variety of applications such as microbiome studies, where metagenomic sequencing data are summarized as multinomial counts for a large number of bacterial taxa per subject. Count normalization with ad hoc zero adjustment tends to result in poor estimates of abundances for taxa with zero or small counts. To account for heterogeneity and overdispersion in such data, we suggest using the logistic normal multinomial (LNM) model with an arbitrary correlation structure to simultaneously estimate the taxa compositions by borrowing information across subjects. We overcome the computational difficulties in high dimensions by developing a stochastic approximation EM algorithm with Hamiltonian Monte Carlo sampling for scalable parameter estimation in the LNM model. The ill-conditioning problem due to unstructured covariance is further mitigated by a covariance-regularized estimator with a condition number constraint. The advantages of the proposed methods are illustrated through simulations and an application to human gut microbiome data.
Variance Component Tests of Multivariate Mediation Effects Under Composite Null Hypotheses
Authors: Huang Yen-Tsung
Published: April 2019

Mediation effects of multiple mediators are determined by two associations: one between an exposure and mediators ( -) and the other between the mediators and an outcome conditional on the exposure ( -). The test for mediation effects is conducted under a composite null hypothesis, that is, either one of the - and - associations is zero or both are zeros. Without accounting for the composite null, the type 1 error rate within a study containing a large number of multimediator tests may be much less than the expected. We propose a novel test to address the issue. For each mediation test , , we examine the - and - associations using two separate variance component tests. Assuming a zero-mean working distribution with a common variance for the element-wise - (and -) associations, score tests for the variance components are constructed. We transform the test statistics into two normally distributed statistics under the null. Using a recently developed result, we conduct hypothesis tests accounting for the composite null hypothesis by adjusting for the variances of the normally distributed statistics for the - and - associations. Advantages of the proposed test over other methods are illustrated in simulation studies and a data application where we analyze lung cancer data from The Cancer Genome Atlas to investigate the smoking effect on gene expression through DNA methylation in 15 114 genes.
Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of lipophilically modified bisphenol Z derivatives
Authors: Stitzlein Lea M. , Stang Christopher R. T. , Inbody Laura R. , Rao P. S. S. , Schneider Ryan A. , Dudley Richard W.
Published: April 2019

In the present study, a small library of bisphenol Z (BPZ) derivatives was synthesized and investigated for anti‐proliferative effects in cultured breast and glioblastoma cell lines. Synthesized BPZ derivatives varied in molecular size, polarity, and lipophilicity. Of the 8 derivatives tested, compounds 4 and 6, both of which displayed the highest degree of lipophilicity, were most active at inducing cell death as determined by the XTT assay. Cell membranes were interrogated using trypan blue staining and were shown to remain intact during treatments with 4 and 6. Activation of caspase enzymes (3 and/or 7) was noted to occur following treatment with compound 4. Polar BPZ derivatives, those with a substituted amine or alcohol, were devoid of any inhibitory or proliferative effects. The remaining derivatives seem to lack sufficient lipophilicity to execute an overt toxic effect. Our results suggest that increasing the lipophilic character of BPZ enhances the cytotoxic effects.
Kinetic and molecular dynamic studies of inhibitors of shikimate dehydrogenase from methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Enríquez‐Mendiola Daniel , Téllez‐Valencia Alfredo , Sierra‐Campos Erick , Campos‐Almazán Mara , Valdez‐Solana Mónica , Gómez Palacio‐Gastélum Marcelo , Avitia‐Domínguez Claudia
Published: April 2019

Due to its resistance to many antibiotics, methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) have become a worldwide health problem creating the urgent necessity of developing new drugs against this pathogen. In this sense, one approach is to search for inhibitors of important enzymes in its metabolism. According to this, the shikimate pathway is an important metabolic route in bacteria and its enzymes are considered as great targets for the development of new antibiotic drugs. One of these enzymes is the shikimate dehydrogenase that catalyzes the reversal reduction from 3‐dehydroshikimate to shikimate using NADPH as cofactor. In this work, four new compounds were found capable of inhibiting the shikimate dehydrogenase (SDH) from S. aureus (SaSDH) activity. A detailed kinetic characterization showed that the most potent inhibitor presented a Ki of 8 and 10 μM with respect to shikimate and NADP+, respectively, and a mixed partial inhibition mechanism for both substrates. Molecular dynamics studies revealed that the four inhibitors perturb the structure of SaSDH affecting important domains. Toxicological and physicochemical parameters indicated that these compounds can be considered as potential drugs. Therefore, these compounds are good hits that will help in the process to obtain a new drug against MRSA.
In vitro efficacy of three different implant surface decontamination methods in three different defect configurations
Authors: Keim David , Nickles Katrin , Dannewitz Bettina , Ratka Christoph , Eickholz Peter , Petsos Hari
Published: April 2019

Objectives

Evaluation of in vitro efficacy of three different implant surface decontamination methods in a peri‐implant bone defect model.

Material and methods

A total of 180 implants were stained with indelible red color and distributed to standardized peri‐implant bone defect resin models with a circumferential defect angulation of 30°, 60°, or 90° (supraosseous defect). Sixty implants were assigned to each type of defect. All implants were cleaned by the same examiner. For each type of defect, 20 implants were cleaned for 2 min with one of 3 devices: curette (CUR), sonicscaler (SOSC), or air abrasion with glycine powder (APA). Thereafter, photographs were taken from both sides of each implant and the cumulative uncleaned implant surface area was measured by color recognition technique. Scanning electron micrographs (SEM) were examined to assess morphologic surface damages.

Results

The cleaning efficacy as percent (%) of residual color was significantly different for each of the 3 defect angulations (p < 0.001) for each treatment device: 30° CUR: 53.44% > SOSC: 19.69% > APA: 8.03%; 60° CUR: 57.13% > SOSC: 11.4% > APA: 0.13%; and 90° CUR: 48.1% > SOSC: 13.07% > APA: 0.58%. The differences between the three different cleaning modalities within each defect type were also significant (p < 0.005). SEM micrographs showed no surface damages after the use of APA.

Conclusion

Air powder abrasion is the most efficient (APA > SOSC > CUR) and less surface damaging treatment modality for each defect angulation in this in vitro model.
Tetralogy of Fallot with absent pulmonary valve—When the ductus is present: A case of isolated branch pulmonary artery and review of literature
Authors: Rao Sruti , Najm Hani K. , Stewart Robert D. , Ahmad Munir , Erenberg Francine , Yaman Malek
Published: April 2019

Tetralogy of Fallot/Absent Pulmonary Valve (TOF/APV) has been classically associated with the absence of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). We present a rare case of APV in TOF with a discontinuous left pulmonary artery (LPA) that was suspected during fetal echocardiogram. Postnatal echocardiogram confirmed the origin of a hypoplastic LPA from the PDA. Despite an aneurysmal (right pulmonary artery) (RPA), axial imaging demonstrated widely patent tracheobronchial system with no evidence of bronchial compression. Clinically, the child required only minimal respiratory support. Genetic testing was positive for 22 q11deletion, commonly associated with this lesion. Surgery consisted of unifocalization of the discontinuous LPA with placement of a valved pulmonary homograft during complete repair of this lesion. Our case highlights the importance of prenatal detection, to aid in the prompt initiation of prostaglandins so as to ensure early rehabilitation of the left lung. Inability to visualize one of the branch pulmonary arteries (PA's) and a PDA on fetal echocardiogram in TOF/APV must raise suspicion for an eccentric branch PA with ductal origin.
Echocardiographic imaging of the Medtronic Micro Vascular Plug™ during off label placement in the premature infant with patent ductus arteriosus
Authors: Berry James M. , Hiremath Gurumurthy , Heal Elisabeth , Bass John L.
Published: April 2019

Objectives

To report the usefulness of harmonic imaging in echocardiography to visualize and direct the implantation of the Medtronic micro vascular plug (MVP).

Background

Off label use of the MVP was reported for transcatheter occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in premature infants. The device is poorly visible on fluoroscopy and echocardiography.

Methods

In 9 consecutive premature infants, the MVP was used for transcatheter closure of the PDA. In each, the ability of conventional echocardiographic imaging was compared to harmonic imaging, and the device was deployed in the PDA using echocardiography.

Results

In each subject, harmonic imaging proved superior to conventional echocardiography to visualize the MVP in premature infants using 12 and 8 MHz probes. Once the delivery, catheter was across the PDA into the descending aorta, and the MVP advanced to the catheter tip, positioning, and deployment of the device was possible without fluoroscopy. All devices were deployed appropriately with immediate occlusion and no obstruction to the left pulmonary artery or aorta.

Conclusions

The MVP can be accurately imaged using harmonic imaging, even in the near field in premature infants. Precise implantation of the MVP in the PDA of premature infants is possible with echocardiographic imaging of the device and vascular structures.
Accelerometer activity tracking in horses and the effect of pasture management on time budget
Authors: Maisonpierre I. N. , Sutton M. A. , Harris P. , Menzies‐Gow N. , Weller R. , Pfau T.
Published: April 2019

Background

Accelerometry is an accepted means of quantifying human physical activity. Quantitative physical activity tracking could be beneficial for studies into equine health and disease prevention, for example in relation to obesity management.

Objectives

Validate accelerometer use in grazing horses, determine between‐day repeatability, and assess the effects of pasture size on time budget (i.e. duration in each activity category).

Study design

Proof of concept.

Methods

Accelerometers (ActiGraph) were positioned at the poll. Horses underwent 5 min of observed activity in three categories: standing, grazing and ambulating. Receiver‐operating characteristic curve analysis, used on ten second data epochs, calculated cut points between the activities. A 20‐day study was then undertaken on 6 horses at pasture. Time in each category (per day) was deduced; a Mann Whitney U test was performed to compare standard vs. small paddock and day vs. night turn out.

Results

Cut‐off values with the optimum sensitivity (94.7–97.7%) and specificity (94.7–96.8%) were found to be <127.6 counts for standing, 127.6–702.7 counts for grazing and >702.7 counts for ambulating. Repeatability was analysed descriptively: Median (IQR) of the between‐day difference in minutes standing, grazing and ambulating were 46.9 (21.3–87.9), 77.3 (40.2–124.5) and 15.6 (6.8–40.2) respectively. Median times standing and ambulating were significantly different between standard and small paddocks: standing: 8.7 vs. 10.3 h (P<0.001); ambulating: 55.7 vs. 39.6 min (P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in the median time spent grazing. There were significant differences between day and night: standing: 32.95% vs. 50.97% (P = 0.001), grazing: 60.81% vs. 46.77% (P<0.001) and ambulating: 4.57% vs. 2.40% (P<0.001).

Main limitations

Small sample size and lack of cross‐validation of cut‐off points on independent, ‘unseen’ data.

Conclusions

Accelerometry can differentiate standing, grazing and ambulating in horses. Our proof‐of‐concept study demonstrates modifying pasture size influences activity budgets; opening avenues into studying obesity management.
State ownership and banks’ information rents: Evidence from China
Authors: Yu Fengyan , Liang Qi , Wang Wei
Published: April 2019

In a lending relationship, a bank with an information advantage regarding its client tends to hold up the borrower and charge higher interest rates. We conjecture that state‐owned enterprises (SOEs), with worse information asymmetry, are subject to greater information rents. State‐owned banks place less emphasis on information production and hence extract lower rents compared to profit‐maximizing private banks. We use the decline of loan interest rates around the borrowers’ equity initial public offerings (IPOs) as the proxy of banks’ information rents. We find SOEs in China experience larger declines in loan interest rates around their IPOs; the central government‐controlled Big Four banks exhibit smaller declines in rates they charge, and their rate declines concentrate on loans made to SOEs.
Projecting impacts of global climate and land‐use scenarios on plant biodiversity using compositional‐turnover modelling
Authors: Di Marco Moreno , Harwood Tom D. , Hoskins Andrew J. , Ware Chris , Hill Samantha L. L. , Ferrier Simon
Published: April 2019

Nations have committed to ambitious conservation targets in response to accelerating rates of global biodiversity loss. Anticipating future impacts is essential to inform policy decisions for achieving these targets, but predictions need to be of sufficiently high spatial resolution to forecast the local effects of global change. As part of the intercomparison of biodiversity and ecosystem services models of the Intergovernmental Science‐Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, we present a fine‐resolution assessment of trends in the persistence of global plant biodiversity. We coupled generalized dissimilarity models, fitted to >52 million records of >254 thousand plant species, with the species–area relationship, to estimate the effect of land‐use and climate change on global biodiversity persistence. We estimated that the number of plant species committed to extinction over the long term has increased by 60% globally between 1900 and 2015 (from ~10,000 to ~16,000). This number is projected to decrease slightly by 2050 under the most optimistic scenario of land‐use change and to substantially increase (to ~18,000) under the most pessimistic scenario. This means that, in the absence of climate change, scenarios of sustainable socio‐economic development can potentially bring extinction risk back to pre‐2000 levels. Alarmingly, under all scenarios, the additional impact from climate change might largely surpass that of land‐use change. In this case, the estimated number of species committed to extinction increases by 3.7–4.5 times compared to land‐use‐only projections. African regions (especially central and southern) are expected to suffer some of the highest impacts into the future, while biodiversity decline in Southeast Asia (which has previously been among the highest globally) is projected to slow down. Our results suggest that environmentally sustainable land‐use planning alone might not be sufficient to prevent potentially dramatic biodiversity loss, unless a stabilization of climate to pre‐industrial times is observed.
Association of different bioimpedanciometry estimations of muscle mass with functional measures
Authors: Bahat Gulistan , Kilic Cihan , Ilhan Birkan , Karan Mehmet A , Cruz‐Jentoft Alfonso
Published: April 2019

Aim

To investigate the muscle mass adjustment technique that best correlates with functional measures.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was designed. Community‐dwelling older adults aged ≥60 years were assessed for body composition and functional measures between November 2012 and July 2017 in the geriatric outpatient clinic of a university hospital. Body composition was assessed with bioimpedance analysis. Skeletal muscle mass (SMM) was adjusted by height2, weight or body mass index (BMI). Functional and disability measures included handgrip strength assessed by a Jamar hydraulic hand dynamometer, gait speed by 4‐m usual gait speed, frailty by the Fatigue, Resistance, Ambulation, Illnesses and Loss of Weight scale score, activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL scores. Nutrition was evaluated by the Mini Nutritional Assessment – Short Form.

Results

A total of 1437 older adults (458 men, 979 women) with a mean age of 74.6 ± 7.0 years were included. The prevalences of low muscle mass were 2.4%, 47.8% and 20.3% when SMM was adjusted by height2, weight and BMI, respectively. Multivariate analyses adjusted for age, number of diseases, drugs and the Mini Nutritional Assessment – Short Form score revealed that when the SMM was adjusted by BMI, low muscle mass showed better associations with grip strength, gait speed, ADL, instrumental ADL and frailty than the height2 or the weight‐adjusted SMM.

Conclusions

SMM adjustment by BMI to designate low muscle mass was better associated with functional and disability measures than adjustment by height2 and weight. The present results put forward the SMM index (by BMI) as the best adjustment method for SMM. These findings might be relevant for defining both sarcopenia and malnutrition. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 593–597.
Experiences of women with cervical dysplasia and associated diagnoses using electronic cigarettes for smoking substitution
Authors: James Shirley A. , Cheney Marshall K. , Smith Katie M. , Beebe Laura A.
Published: April 2019

Introduction

The aim of this qualitative study was to describe the motivation and experiences of women with cervical dysplasia and associated diagnoses who used electronic cigarettes (ECs) to reduce the number of cigarettes they smoked.

Methods

Qualitative interviews were conducted with 26 women aged 18‐65 years with cervical dysplasia and associated diagnoses who smoked at least three cigarettes daily for the past year or more and who enrolled in an intervention designed to substitute regular cigarettes with ECs. At the 12‐week follow‐up, patients were contacted by telephone. Semi‐structured interviews were recorded, then transcribed, coded and analysed for themes.

Results

When confronted with a new diagnosis associated with smoking, women in this study were eager to try ECs to help them reduce their intake of cigarettes. Women reported that physical cues similar to smoking, delivery of nicotine sufficient to assist with smoking reduction and the security of having the device available to use in instances where temptations to smoke may occur were all positive experiences in trying the device. Other women in the study reported negative experiences, such as a lack of sufficient nicotine to eliminate cravings, heaviness of the device and the need to keep it charged. Depression, nicotine addiction and habit were factors that made it difficult to decrease cigarette consumption.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that ECs may help with smoking substitution in patients who must reduce smoking due to medical conditions or diagnoses.
Dataset for reporting of carcinoma of the urethra (in urethrectomy specimens): recommendations from the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR)
Authors: Shanks Jonathan H , Srigley John R , Brimo Fadi , Comperat Eva , Delahunt Brett , Koch Michael , Lopez‐Beltran Antonio , Reuter Victor E , Samaratunga Hemamali , Tsuzuki Toyonori , van der Kwast Theo , Varma Murali , Grignon David
Published: April 2019

The International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting (ICCR) is a not‐for‐profit organisation sponsored by the Royal Colleges of Pathologists of Australasia and the United Kingdom, the College of American Pathologists, the Canadian Association of Pathologists in association with the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, the European Society of Pathology, the American Society of Clinical Pathology and the Faculty of Pathology, Royal College of Physicians of Ireland. Its goal is to produce standardised, internationally agreed‐upon, evidence‐based datasets for cancer pathology reporting throughout the world. This paper describes the development of a cancer dataset by the multidisciplinary ICCR expert panel for the reporting of carcinoma of the urethra in urethrectomy specimens. The dataset is composed of ‘required’ (mandatory) and ‘recommended’ (non‐mandatory) elements, which are based on a review of the most recent evidence and supported by explanatory commentary. Fourteen required elements and eight recommended elements were agreed by the international dataset authoring committee to represent the essential/required (core) and recommended (non‐core) information for the reporting of carcinoma of the urethra in urethrectomy specimens. Use of an internationally agreed, structured pathology dataset for reporting carcinoma of the urethra (in urethrectomy specimens) will provide the necessary information for optimal patient management, will facilitate consistent data collection and will provide valuable data for research and international benchmarking. The dataset will be valuable for those countries and institutions that are not in a position to develop their own datasets.
Debt contract strictness and auditor specialization
Authors: Callahan Carolyn M. , Peters Gary F. , Zhang Joseph H.
Published: April 2019

The conflicts of interest among managers, shareholders and creditors resulting in agency costs, can be mitigated by restricting managers’ adverse behavior, through financial covenants to better align the various stakeholder interests. Thus, debt contract strictness represents an important aspect of agency costs between creditors, shareholders, and management that is not always captured by interest rates. The contract setting provides a unique opportunity to investigate how creditors may rely on auditors to alleviate information uncertainty stemming from reliance on management's financial reporting and thus alleviate the creditor's potential loss of invested capital. After controlling for borrower risks, loan characteristics, and audit factors, we show that auditor industry specialization is significantly associated with a reduction in the strictness of debt contracts, consistent with creditors viewing certain industry expert auditors as effective monitors against financial reporting manipulation aimed at the avoidance of debt covenant triggers that protect creditors against potential loss. Further, we find that the association between loan strictness and auditor specialization is attenuated by stronger corporate governance systems, external monitors, and prior lender relationships.
The shape of biogeography: Endemism, maps, and classification of fish distributions in the western Pacific
Authors: Parenti Lynne R.
Published: April 2019

Aim

The aim of this study is to describe and illustrate with maps the distribution and shape of biotic areas of endemism of fish clades in the western Pacific, including East Asia and Australasia. This study also depicts the allopatric or sympatric distributions of major subclades and makes general statements about the shared history among the areas using information provided by the shape of the distributions, phylogeny, and geology. This study also tests the hypothesis that Australasia is a locus of survival or differentiation for inferred “basal” subclades of global taxa.

Location

Western Pacific.

Taxa

Teleost fishes.

Methods

Clades are mapped to illustrate the shape of their distribution and to infer the shared relationships among distribution, phylogeny, and geology. Phylogenetic hypotheses for groups of taxa are converted into area cladograms which are used to summarize area relationships. This information is compared with that from other clades, ecology, and geology, to make general statements about the biogeographical history of the fish biota.

Results

The distribution of each clade has an identifiable shape. The “basal” subclades of many widespread teleost fish taxa are endemic to the western Pacific, including East Asia and Australasia; hence, this is the inferred location of a principal vicariant event for each clade. The “basal” subclade and its sister clade may be allopatric and represent remnants of general distributional patterns. The distribution of a clade, including its geography and its relationship with a geographical or geological feature, conveys historical information about the clade and the area in which it evolved: its area of endemism. These features repeat in unrelated or distantly related taxa in the biota indicating a shared history.

Main conclusions

The western Pacific including East Asia and Australasia is a locus of survival or differentiation, the site of the principal breaks in the distribution, for an array of teleost clades. It is not their center of origin. Biology and geology should be integrated in biogeographical analyses. Modern distributions reflect remnants of once more widespread distributions. When biogeography acknowledges the connections and correlations between geology and biology, it implements a guiding principle of the work of Alexander von Humboldt.
Standardized sampling plan for Aphis gossypii based on the cotton cultivar, plant phenology and crop size
Authors: Araújo Tamíris A. , Araújo Lúcia Helena A. , Silva Nilson R. , Luz Carlos Eduardo A. , da Silva Ézio M. , Moreira Márcio D. , Suinaga Fábio A. , Picanço Marcelo C. , Bastos Cristina S.
Published: April 2019

A standardized sampling plan is the starting point for developing a decision‐making system for pest control. Aphis gossypii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is a destructive sap‐feeding pest on cotton worldwide. However, research addressing cotton cultivar, plant phenology and field size with the aim of developing a sampling plan for A. gossypii has not been done. Therefore, in this study, we developed a standardized sampling for A. gossypii as a function of these factors. To accomplish this, A. gossypii densities in four experimental cotton cultivars were sampled weekly during year one to determine the ideal aphid characteristic to sample (by individual or colony). During year one and two, A. gossypii densities were sampled weekly in the same cultivars to determine sampling unit, sampling technique and the number of samples for an A. gossypii sampling plan. Using the sample number determined, the sampling time was recorded for cotton field size of 1, 5, 10, 50, 100 and 150 ha in order to estimate the sampling cost. In cotton, the count of individuals was the best characteristic for the assessment of A. gossypii. Leaves of the most apical branches for the vegetative and reproductive cotton plant stage were the best sampling units. The best sampling technique was direct counting. The cotton cultivar did not affect the development of the sampling plan. The A. gossypii sampling plan involved the evaluation of 58 samples per zone and required 20 min (<0.35 min/sample) for the evaluation of these samples. However, the walking time between samples was the main factor responsible for the total sampling time and cost in cotton fields, and this factor strongly depends on the size of the cotton field.
Environmental niche patterns of native and non‐native fishes within an invaded African river system
Authors: Kadye Wilbert T. , Booth Anthony J.
Published: April 2019

To test ecological niche theory, this study investigated the spatial patterns and the environmental niches of native and non‐native fishes within the invaded Great Fish River system, South Africa. For the native fishes, there were contrasting environmental niche breadths that varied from being small to being large and overlapped for most species, except minnows that were restricted to headwater tributaries. In addition, there was high niche overlap in habitat association among fishes with similar distribution. It was therefore inferred that habitat filtering‐driven spatial organisation was important in explaining native species distribution patterns. In comparison, most non‐native fishes were found to have broad environmental niches and these fishes showed high tolerance to environmental conditions, which generally supported the niche opportunity hypothesis. The proliferation of multiple non‐native fishes in the mainstem section suggest that they form a functional assemblage that is probably facilitated by the anthropogenic modification of flow regimes through inter‐basin water transfer. Based on the distribution patterns observed in the study, it was inferred that there was a likelihood of negative interactions between native and non‐native fishes. Such effects are likely to be exacerbated by altered flow regime that was likely to have negative implications for native ichthyofauna.
Effect of dextran and enzymatically decomposed dextran on calcium carbonate precipitation
Authors: Abraham Karin , Splett Liza , Köster Elena , Flöter Eckhard
Published: April 2019

The effect of dextran's molecular mass distribution (T40, T500, T2000, and enzymatically decomposed T2000) on the size and shape of calcium carbonate particles precipitated during carbonation, a step in the sugar manufacturing process, was investigated. Image analysis combined with size exclusion chromatography was used to distinguish harmful and harmless dextran sizes aiming at targeted mitigation of dextran‐related effects by dextranase. The data indicate that dextran with molecular masses above 10 kDa promotes agglomeration, indicated by an increase in particle projection area. This effect was especially found for broadly distributed intermediate but rather low molecular mass dextran (10–85 kDa). Based on particle shape data, the agglomeration of calcium carbonate crystals in the absence and in the presence of low molecular mass dextran (<85 kDa) appears to be oriented and similar to each other. In contrast, the data suggest that high molecular mass dextran (>85 kDa) promotes nonoriented agglomeration and an increase in surface roughness. Once the dextran was significantly decomposed by enzyme action (10 or 50 mg/kg juice) to smaller molecules in the size range below 10 kDa, no dextran‐related effects on particle size and shape were found anymore.

Practical applications

The presence of dextran is known to cause several adverse effects during sugar manufacture. Among them, dextran can affect the size and shape distribution of calcium carbonate particles precipitated during carbonation as a part of the sugar beet raw juice purification. As a result, the purification as well as the filtration process can be affected. These dextran‐related effects are usually mitigated by enzymatic decomposition, a gradual reduction in molecular mass. For a targeted enzyme application, the decomposition products need to be identified and the corresponding effects due to varying molecular mass fractions on the precipitation of calcium carbonate need to be analyzed. Only then, a sufficient decomposition to harmless molecule sizes can be ensured. Thus, the data gathered give a clear guidance for dextranase treatment in sugar manufacture.
A novel discharge pathway for patients with advanced cancer requiring home parenteral nutrition
Authors: Bond A. , Teubner A. , Taylor M. , Willbraham L. , Gillespie L. , Farrer K. , McMahon M. , Leahy G. , Abraham A. , Soop M. , Clamp A. R. , Hasan J. , Mitchell C. , Jayson G. C. , Lal S.
Published: April 2019

Background

The use of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) for palliative indications is increasing internationally and is the leading indication in some countries. Discharge onHPNcan be complex in metabolically unstable patients and requires intestinal failure expertise.

Methods

Between 2012 and 2018, we performed a retrospective analysis aiming to assess the impact of a novel remote discharge pathway for palliativeHPNpatients. This was evaluated using a quality improvement approach.

Results

One hundred and twenty‐five patients with active malignancy [mean (range) age 58 (25–80) years] were referred to theintestinal failure unit (IFU)for remote discharge. Of 82 patients were discharged from the oncology Centre onHPNusing the pathway. The remaining 43 patients either declinedHPNor the Oncology team felt that the patient became too unwell forHPNor died prior to discharge. There was an increase in patients referred for remote discharge from 13 in 2012 to 43 in 2017. The mean number of days between receipt of referral by theIFUto discharge onHPNfrom the oncology centre reduced from 29.4 days to 10.1 days. Following remote discharge, the mean number of days onHPNwas 215.9 days. Catheter‐related blood stream infection rates in this cohort were very low at 0.169 per 1000 catheter days.

Conclusions

This is the first study to demonstrate the remote safe, effective and rapid discharge of patients requiring palliativeHPNbetween two hospital sites. This allows patients with a short prognosis more time in their desired location.
Using anticipatory life cycle assessment to enable future sustainable construction
Authors: Göswein Verena , Rodrigues Carla , Silvestre José D. , Freire Fausto , Habert Guillaume , König Jakob
Published: April 2019

The built environment is the largest single emitter of CO2 and an important consumer of energy. Much research has gone into the improved efficiency of building operation and construction products. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is commonly used to assess existing buildings or building products. Classic LCA, however, is not suited for evaluating the environmental performance of developing technologies. A new approach, anticipatory LCA (a‐LCA), promises various advantages and can be used as a design constraint during the product development stage. It helps overcome four challenges: (i) data availability, (ii) stakeholder inclusion, (iii) risk assessment, and (iv) multi‐criteria problems. This article's contribution to the line of research is twofold: first, it adapts the a‐LCA approach for construction‐specific purposes in theoretical terms for the four challenges. Second, it applies the method to an innovative prefabricated modular envelope system, the CleanTechBlock (CTB), focusing on challenge (i). Thirty‐six CTB designs are tested and compared to conventional walls. Inclusion of technology foresight is achieved through structured scenario analysis. Moreover, challenge (iv) is tackled through the analysis of different environmental impact categories, transport‐related impacts, and thickness of the wall assemblies of the CTB. The case study results show that optimized material choice and product design is needed to reach the lowest environmental impact. Methodological findings highlight the importance of context‐specific solutions and the need for benchmarking new products.
Sexual cues influence cocaine‐induced locomotion, anxiety and the immunoreactivity of oestrogen receptor alpha and tyrosine hydroxylase in both sexes
Authors: He Chen , Wang Jianli , Ma Ming , Wang Heng
Published: April 2019

Dyadic physical social interaction influences cocaine‐seeking behaviour, although whether limited sexual cues (LSC) from an opposite‐sex partner influence the behavioural responses to cocaine is unclear. We investigated this issue using a cylindrical wire cage containing a stimulus mouse; the subject mouse (of the opposite sex) had access to this stimulus mouse during a “binge” injection pattern (injected with cocaine or saline vehicle twice a day at 6‐hour intervals). Following the second injection, locomotion and anxiety‐like behaviours were examined using the open‐field and elevated plus maze test, at the same time as oestrogen receptor (ER)α and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) immunoreactivities were also examined. The data indicate that LSC enhanced cocaine‐stimulated locomotion in both sexes and inhibited the levels of anxiety caused by cocaine in males only. Accompanying these changes, the interaction between LSC and cocaine altered ERα immunoreactivity in the ventral medial nuclei of the hypothalamus (VMH) and medial amygdaloid nucleus (MeA) of males, whereas such interaction effects occurred in the VMH, MeA, arcuate nucleus (AR), bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and lateral septum (LS) of females. LSC increased cocaine‐induced ERα immunoreactivity in the VMH in males and reduced cocaine‐induced ERα immunoreactivity in the AR and LS in females. LSC up‐regulated cocaine‐induced increases in ventral tegmental area (VTA) TH immunoreactivity in females only. Our present data suggest that interactions between LSC and cocaine led to changes in ERα and TH immunoreactivity in a brain region‐specific manner, which showed subtle differences in both sexes. The effects of LSC‐mediated cocaine‐induced locomotion and anxiety may be associated with alterations in ERα and dopamine activation.
Agrarian social movements: The absurdly difficult but not impossible agenda of defeating right‐wing populism and exploring a socialist future
Authors: Borras Saturnino M.
Published: April 2019

Parallels, resemblances, and interconnections between contemporary right‐wing populism and the populism of agrarian movements are examined in this essay. The two are partly linked through their social base in the countryside. This paper explores an agenda for political conversation and research on possible contributions to the twin efforts of splitting the ranks of right‐wing populists while expanding the united front of democratic challengers. The challenge is how to transform the identified interconnections into a left‐wing political project that can erode right‐wing populism. This requires a reclaiming of populism. In exploring this agenda, the paper revisits the ideas and practices of right‐wing populism and agrarian populism and the awkward overlaps and fundamental differences between them. It concludes with a discussion on the challenge of forging a reformulated class‐conscious left‐wing populism as a countercurrent to right‐wing populism, and as a possible political force against capitalism and towards a socialist future.