bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial stress and central adiposity: A Brazilian study with users of the public health system
Authors: Freitas Flávia Vitorino , Barbosa Wagner Miranda , Azevedo Silva Laíz Aparecida , de Oliveira Garozi Marianna Junger , de Assis Pinheiro Júlia , Borçoi Aline Ribeiro , Conti Catarine Lima , Arpini Juliana Krüger , de Paula Heberth , de Oliveira Mayara Mota , Archanjo Anderson Barros , Silva de Freitas Érika Aparecida , de Oliveira Daniela Rodrigues , Borloti Elizeu Batista , Louro Iuri Drumond , Alvares-da-Silva Adriana Madeira
Published: July 2018

Objective

To assess the association between indicators of psychosocial stress and central adiposity in adult users of the Unified Health System (SUS) from Southeast of Brazil.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted with 384 adults (20 to 59 years old) from the city of Alegre, Southeastern Brazil. The simple random sample represented the population using the public health system of the municipality. The prevalence of obesity was based on the Body Mass Index, and central adiposity (dependent variable) was measured by waist circumference in centimeters. The independent variables were the following indicators of psychosocial stress: food and nutrition insecurity (yes/no), serum cortisol (μg/dL), symptoms suggestive of depression using the Beck Depression Inventory-II ≥ 17 (yes/no), and altered blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mmHg (yes/no). Univariate linear regression was performed between central adiposity and each stress indicator, and later the models were adjusted for socioeconomic, health, and lifestyle variables. All analyses were stratified by rural and urban location.

Results

The prevalence of weight excess was 68.3%, and 71.5% of individuals presented an increased risk for metabolic complications related to central adiposity. Mean waist circumference scores for the rural and urban population were 89.3 ± 12.7 cm and 92.9 ± 14.7 cm, respectively (p = 0.012). Indicators of stress that were associated with central adiposity were: cortisol in the rural population and altered blood pressure in the urban population. This occurred both in the raw analysis and in the models adjusted for confounding factors.

Conclusion

The associations between stress and adiposity were different between rural (cortisol - inverse association) and urban (altered blood pressure) lifestyles, confirming the influence of local and psychosocial subsistence on the modulation of stress and on how individuals react or restrain stressors. Stress reduction strategies can be useful in public health programs designed to prevent or treat obesity.
Retention of adults from fishing communities in an HIV vaccine preparedness study in Masaka, Uganda
Authors: Bahemuka Ubaldo , Abaasa Andrew , Ruzagira Eugene , Lindan Christina , Price Matt A , Kamali Anatoli , Fast Pat
Published: July 2018

Introduction

People living in fishing communities around Lake Victoria may be suitable for enrolment in HIV prevention trials because of high HIV incidence. We assessed the ability to recruit and retain individuals from fishing communities into an HIV vaccine preparedness cohort study in Masaka, Uganda.

Methods

HIV high risk, sero-negative adults (18-49 years) were identified from four fishing villages bordering Lake Victoria through door-to-door HIV counselling and testing (HCT). Interested persons were referred for: screening, enrolment, and quarterly follow-up visits at a study clinic located approximately 40 kilometres away. Repeat HCT, HIV risk assessment, and evaluation and treatment for sexually transmitted infections were provided. Rates of and factors associated with study dropout were assessed using Poisson regression models.

Results

A total of 940 participants were screened between January 2012 and February 2015, of whom 654 were considered for the analysis. Over a two-year follow-up period, 197 (30.1%) participants dropped out of the study over 778.9 person-years, a dropout rate of 25.3 / 100 person-years. Dropout was associated with being female (aRR =1.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12-2.18), age, being 18-24 years (aRR=1.64; 95% CI 1.03-2.60), 25-34 years (aRR=1.63; 95% CI 1.04-2.55); having no education (aRR=2.02; 95% CI: 1.23-3.31); living in the community for less than one year (aRR=2.22; 95% CI: 1.46-3.38) or 1-5 years (aRR=1.68; 95% CI: 1.16-2.45) and occupation.

Conclusions

It is possible to recruit and retain individuals from fishing communities, however, intensified participant tracing may be necessary in a vaccine trial to keep in follow up female, young, less educated, those in mobile occupations and new residents.
Drosophila ZDHHC8 palmitoylates scribble and Ras64B and controls growth and viability
Authors: Strassburger Katrin , Kang Evangeline , Teleman Aurelio A.
Published: July 2018

Palmitoylation is an important posttranslational modification regulating diverse cellular functions. Consequently, aberrant palmitoylation can lead to diseases such as neuronal disorders or cancer. In humans there are roughly one hundred times more palmitoylated proteins than enzymes catalyzing palmitoylation (palmitoyltransferases). Therefore, it is an important challenge to establish the links between palmitoyltransferases and their targets. From publicly available data, we find that expression of human ZDHHC8 correlates significantly with cancer survival. To elucidate the organismal function of ZDHHC8, we study the Drosophila ortholog of hZDHHC8, CG34449/dZDHHC8. Knockdown of dZDHHC8 causes tissue overgrowth while dZDHHC8 mutants are larval lethal. We provide a list of 159 palmitoylated proteins in Drosophila and present data suggesting that scribble and Ras64B are targets of dZDHHC8.
Modulation of ADARs mRNA expression in congenital heart defect patients
Authors: Altaf Faiza , Vesely Cornelia , Sheikh Abdul Malik , Munir Rubab , Shah Syed Tahir Abbass , Tariq Aamira
Published: July 2018

Adenosine (A) to inosine (I) RNA editing, is a hydrolytic deamination reaction catalyzed by adenosine deaminase (ADAR) acting on RNA enzymes. RNA editing is a molecular process that involves the post-transcriptional modification of RNA transcripts. Interestingly, few studies have been carried out to determine the role of RNA editing in vascular disease. The current study found that in blood samples positive for congenital heart disease (CHD) ADAR1 and ADAR2 expression change at RNA level was opposite to each other. That is, an increase of ADAR1 mRNA was noticed in human CHD cases, whereas ADAR2 mRNA was vastly down-regulated. The increase in ADAR1 may be explained by the stress induced by CHD. The dramatic decrease in ADAR2 in CHD cases was unexpected and prompted further investigation into its effects on the heart. Therefore we performed expression analysis on a microarray data encompassing ischemic and non-Ischemic cardiomyopathy patient myocardial tissues. A strong down-regulation of ADAR2 was observed in both ischemic and especially non-ischemic cases. However, ADAR1 showed a mild increase in the case of non-ischemic myocardial tissues. To further explore the role of ADAR2 with respect to heart physiology. We selected a protein coding gene filamin B (FLNB). FLNB is known to play an important role in heart development. Although there were no observable changes in its expression, the editing levels of FLNB dropped dramatically in ADAR2-/- mice. We also performed miRNA profiling from ADAR2 -/- mice heart tissue revealed a decrease in expression of miRNAs. It is established that aberrant expression of these miRNAs is often associated with cardiac defects. This study proposes that sufficient amounts of ADAR2 might play a vital role in preventing cardiovascular defects.
Survey of bacteria associated with western corn rootworm life stages reveals no difference between insects reared in different soils
Authors: Ludwick Dalton C. , Ericsson Aaron C. , Meihls Lisa N. , Gregory Michelle L.J. , Finke Deborah L. , Coudron Thomas A. , Hibbard Bruce E. , Shelby Kent S.
Published: July 2018

Western corn rootworm (Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) is a serious pest of maize (Zea mays L.) in North America and parts of Europe. With most of its life cycle spent in the soil feeding on maize root tissues, this insect is likely to encounter and interact with a wide range of soil and rhizosphere microbes. Our knowledge of the role of microbes in pest management and plant health remains incomplete. An important component of an effective pest management strategy is to know which microorganisms are present that could play a role in life history or management. For this study, insects were reared in soils from different locations. Insects were sampled at each life stage to determine the possible core bacteriome. Additionally, soil was sampled at each life stage and resulting bacteria were identified to determine the contribution of soil to the rootworm bacteriome, if any. We analyzed the V4 hypervariable region of bacterial 16S rRNA genes with Illumina MiSeq to survey the different species of bacteria associated with the insects and the soils. The bacterial community associated with insects was significantly different from that in the soil. Some differences appear to exist between insects from non-diapausing and diapausing colonies while no significant differences in community composition existed between the insects reared on different soils. Despite differences in the bacteria present in immature stages and in male and female adults, there is a possible core bacteriome of approximately 16 operational taxonomic units (i.e., present across all life stages). This research may give insights into how resistance to Bt develops, improved nutrition in artificial rearing systems, and new management strategies.
A three year follow-up study of gadolinium enhanced and non-enhanced regions in multiple sclerosis lesions using a multi-compartment T2 relaxometry model
Authors: Chatterjee Sudhanya , Commowick Olivier , Afacan Onur , Combes Benoit , Warfield Simon K. , Barillot Christian
Published: July 2018

Demyelination, axonal damage and inflammation are critical indicators of the onset and progress of neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) in patients. Due to physical limitations of imaging such as acquisition time and imaging resolution, a voxel in a MR image is heterogeneous in terms of tissue microstructure such as myelin, axons, intra and extra cellular fluids and free water. We present a multi-compartment tissue model which estimates the water fraction (WF) of tissues with short, medium and high T2 relaxation times in a T2 relaxometry MRI voxel. The proposed method is validated on test-retest data of healthy controls. This model was then used to study longitudinal trends of the tissue microstructures for two sub-regions of the lesions: gadolinium enhanced (E+) and non-enhanced (L–) regions of MS lesions in 10 MS patients over a period of three years. The water fraction values in E+ and L– regions were found to be significantly different (p < 0.05) over the period of first three months. The results of this study also showed that the estimates of the proposed T2 relaxometry model on brain tissue microstructures have potential to distinguish between regions undergoing active blood brain barrier breakdown from the other regions of the lesion.
Integrative data analysis predicts YY1 as a Cis-regulator in the 3D Cell Culture Models of MCF10A at the Stiffness Level of High Mammographic Density
Authors: Cheng Qingsu , Khoshdeli Mina , Zang Chongzhi , Parvin Bahram
Published: July 2018

Previous studies have shown that in 3D cell culture models of human mammary cells (HMEC) (i) colony organizations are heterogeneous, and (ii) ERBB2 is overexpressed in MCF10A when the stiffness of the microenvironment is increased to that of high mammographic density (MD). The goal of the current study is to identify transcription factors that regulate processes associated with the increased stiffness of the microenvironment. Two HMEC premalignant lines of MCF7 and 184A1 are cultured in 3D, colonies are imaged using confocal microscopy, and colony organizations and heterogeneity are quantified as a function of the stiffness of the microenvironment. In parallel and surrogate assays, colony organizations are profiled by transcriptomics. Transcriptome data are enriched by correlative analysis with the computed morphometric indices, from 3D culture, and a subset of transcriptome data is selected. This subset is then processed with Model-based Analysis of Regulation of Gene Expression (MARGE) and publicly available ChIP-seq data to predict regulatory transcription factors. The integrative analysis indicated that YY1 regulates ERBB2 in the 3D cell culture of MCF10A when the stiffness of the microenvironment is increased to that of high MD. Subsequent experimental validation confirmed that YY1 is only expressed at the high stiffness value of the microenvironment concomitant with the overexpression of ERBB2 in MCF10A. Furthermore, using ERBB2 positive SKBR3 cell line, co-expression of YY1 and ERBB2 is absent, which indicates that YY1 regulates tumorigenicity through multiple pathways.

Author’s summary

MCF10A is a premalignant immortalized human mammary cell that has been isolated from a patient with fibrocystic and lost several barriers toward transformation. In an earlier study, we showed that ERBB2 is upregulated in 3D cultures of MCF10A when the stiffness of the microenvironment is increased to that of high mammographic density. Here, we leverage publicly available ChIP-seq data to predict and validate the cis-regulator of ERBB2. Our integrated experimental and computation protocol provides a pathway for elucidating regulators that can potentially be targeted for intervention.
BCG overexpressing an endogenous STING agonist provides enhanced protection against pulmonary tuberculosis
Authors: Dey Ruchi Jain , Dey Bappaditya , Singh Alok Kumar , Praharaj Monali , Bishai William
Published: July 2018

Stimulator of interferon genes (STING) has emerged as a key signaling receptor that induces proinflammatory cytokines, and small molecule STING agonists are being developed as anticancer and antiviral agents. Here we report a strategy of delivering a STING agonist from within live BCG. We generated a recombinant BCG (BCG-disA-OE) that overexpresses the endogenous mycobacterial diadenylate cyclase gene and releases high levels of the STING agonist c-di-AMP. In macrophages BCG-disA-OE elicited statistically significantly stronger TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IRF3, and IFN-β levels than BCG-WT. In a 24-week guinea pig vaccination-Mtb challenge model, BCG-disA-OE reduced lung weights, pathology scores, and Mtb CFU counts in lungs by 28% (p<0.05), 34%, and 2.0 log10 CFU units (p < 0.5) compared with BCG-WT, respectively. Overproduction of the STING agonist c-di-AMP significantly enhanced the protective efficacy of BCG against pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Our findings support the development of BCG-vectored STING agonists as a TB vaccine strategy.
A novel truncating variant of GLI2 associated with Culler-Jones syndrome impairs Hedgehog signalling
Authors: Valenza Fabiola , Cittaro Davide , Stupka Elia , Biancolini Donatella , Patricelli Maria Grazia , Bonanomi Dario , Lazarević Dejan
Published: July 2018

Background

GLI2 encodes for a transcription factor that controls the expression of several genes in the Hedgehog pathway. Mutations in GLI2 have been described as causative of a spectrum of clinical phenotypes, notably holoprosencephaly, hypopituitarism and postaxial polydactyl. Methods: In order to identify causative genetic variant, we performed exome sequencing of a trio from an Italian family with multiple affected individuals presenting clinical phenotypes in the Culler-Jones syndrome spectrum. We performed a series of assays, both in vitro and in ovo (Chicken model) to test the functional properties of GLI2 mutation.

Results

Here we report a novel deletion c.3493delC (p.P1167LfsX52) in the C-terminal activation domain of GLI2, and cell-based functional assays confirmed the pathogenicity of the identified variant and revealed a dominant-negative effect of mutant GLI2 on Hedgehog signalling.

Conclusion

Our results highlight the variable clinical manifestation of GLI2 mutations and emphasize the value of functional characterisation of novel gene variants to assist genetic counselling and diagnosis.
A Reproducible Neurobiology of Depressive Rumination
Authors: Pisner D.A. , Shumake J. , Beevers C.G. , Schnyer D.M.
Published: July 2018

Depressive Rumination (DR), which involves a repetitive focus on one’s distress, has been linked to alterations in functional connectivity of the ‘triple-network’, consisting of Default-Mode, Salience, and Executive Control networks. A structural basis for these functional alterations that can dually explain DR’s persistence as a stable trait remains unexplored, however. Using diffusion and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, we investigated multimodal relationships between DR severity, white-matter microstructure, and resting-state functional connectivity in depressed adults, and then directly replicated our results in a phenotypically-matched, independent sample (total N = 78). Among the fully-replicated findings, DR severity was associated with: (a) global microstructure of the right Superior Longitudinal Fasciculus and local microstructure of distributed primary-fiber and crossing-fiber white-matter; (b) an imbalance of functional connectivity segregation and integration of the triple-network; and (c) ‘multi-layer’ associations linking these microstructural and functional connectivity biomarkers to one another. Taken together, the results provide reproducible evidence for a multi-layer, microstructural-functional network model of rumination in the depressed brain.
Patenting or not? The dilemma of academic spin-off founders
Authors: Ferri Salvatore , Fiorentino Raffaele , Parmentola Adele , Sapio Alessandro
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of patenting on the performance of academic spin-off firms (ASOs) in the post-creation stage. Specifically, our study analyses how the combination of knowledge transfer mechanisms by ASOs and patents can foster ASOs’ early growth performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors explored the relations between patenting processes and spin-off performance through econometric methods applied to a broad sample of Italian ASOs. The research adopts a deductive approach, and the hypotheses are tested using panel data models by considering the sales growth rate as the dependent variable regressed over measures of patenting activity and quality and assuming that firm-specific unobservable drivers of growth are captured by random effects.

Findings

The empirical analysis shows that the incorporation of knowledge transferred by the parent university and academic founders through patents affects the performance of ASOs. Specifically, the authors find that the number of patents is a positive driver of ASOs’ performance, whilst patent age does not have a significant impact on growth. Moreover, spin-offs with a larger endowment of patents obtained before foundation, surprisingly, grow less on average.

Practical implications

The findings have implications for ASO founders by suggesting that patenting processes reap benefits. However, in the trade-off of external knowledge access vs internal knowledge protection, it may be better to begin patenting after the foundation of ASOs.

Originality/value

The authors enrich the on-going debate about the connections between knowledge transfer and organizational performance. This paper combines the concepts of patents and ASOs by providing evidence on the role of patenting processes as a transfer mechanism of explicit knowledge in ASOs. Furthermore, the authors contribute to the literature on costs and benefits of patents by hinting at unexpected findings.
Consumers’ understanding of autonomous driving
Authors: Cho Eunae , Jung Yoonhyuk
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore consumers’ understanding of autonomous driving by comparing perceptions of occasional drivers (ODs) and frequent drivers (FDs).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with 41 drivers. Their responses were categorized into thematic categories or topics on the basis of content analysis, and the topics were structured based on the core-periphery model. Finally, the authors visualized the structure on a perceptual map by adopting a maximum tree approach.

Findings

Respondents’ understanding of autonomous driving were categorized into 10 topics. There were significant differences in topics and their relationships between ODs and FDs. Findings also show that FD can better detect hazardousness from autonomous driving environments than ODs.

Research limitations/implications

Differently from prior studies’ focus on its technological aspect and some derived benefits, the study examines it from the viewpoint of consumers, who are critical participants in the dissemination of autonomous driving.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that rather than focusing on developing the highest level of autonomous cars, developing in an evolutionary way by adding automated functions to existing cars can be the better strategy to dominate the autonomous vehicle market.

Originality/value

This study is a pioneering work in that it can be an initial empirical work on autonomous driving from the customer standpoint.
Strategic behaviour of Russian companies with regard to intangibles
Authors: Jardón Carlos Fernández , Molodchik Mariia , Paklina Sofiia
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore strategy-specific competencies with regard to intangibles and provides empirical evidence of intangible-based strategy groups for Russian companies. Additionally, the study examines the link between intangible-based strategy and company performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses strategic group theory and the resource-based view framework to identify similar strategic behaviour of companies by employment of intangibles. In line with the intellectual capital concept, the study provides a cluster analysis that considers four types of intangibles: human, relational, innovation and process capital. These are measured through publicly available data using principal component analysis. The empirical part of the study uses a database of 1,096 Russian public companies, which covers the period 2004–2014.

Findings

As a result, the study reveals three profiles of strategic behaviour with regard to intangibles. The majority of Russian public companies (63.5 per cent) are Generics and pursue a non-intensive intangible strategy. Only 13.3 per cent of companies constitute the intangible-intensive profile by having endowment of all intellectual resources higher than the sample average. The remaining companies (23.2 per cent) also pursue an intangible-intensive strategy with a focus on innovation capital. Intangible-intensive strategic groups outperform Generics.

Originality/value

The study proposes a novel intangible-based strategy continuum, which straddles two polar strategies: generic and smart. The study introduces insights to better understand the differences in performance across intangible-intensive strategies and presents a new empirical inquiry into strategic behaviour with regard to intangibles in Russia.
Enhancing service firm performance through customer involvement capability and innovativeness
Authors: Anning-Dorson Thomas , Hinson Robert Ebo , Amidu Mohammed , Nyamekye Michael Boadi
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Because of the paucity of empirical research on firm-level capabilities of firms for effective customer involvement, the purpose of this study is to evaluate service firms’ capacity to coopt customers to enhance the innovativeness and firm performance relationship. This study conceptualizes involvement capabilities of service firms as a strategic driver that exploits their internal firm assets, which in turn facilitates the positive relationship between innovativeness and firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 344 managers of service firms across different sub-sectors in an emerging economy. The study first confirmed the constructs through confirmatory factor analysis before analyzing hypothesized relationships. Regression models were specified with robust standard errors to test the hypothesized relationships.

Findings

The study found that involvement capability of service firms helps them to exploit their relational assets and create and manage strong customer participation. Additionally, it was found that involvement capabilities enable service firms to capitalize on the competencies of customers, which in turn improves the outcomes of their innovativeness. The results showed that the interaction between involvement capability and innovativeness enhances firm performance significantly.

Practical implications

Service firms can enhance customer participation in the value creation process by increasing their involvement capabilities. The increase in such capabilities will enhance the innovativeness of service firms, thereby improving their financial and non-financial performance.

Originality/value

This study offers guidance on how a firm’s innovativeness and customer involvement work together within the service operation to enhance firm performance.
Insights into microbial community structure and function from a shallow, simulated CO2‐leakage aquifer demonstrate microbial selection and adaptation
Authors: Gulliver Djuna , Lipus Daniel , Ross Daniel , Bibby Kyle
Published: July 2018

Geological carbon storage is likely to be a part of a comprehensive strategy to minimize the atmospheric release of carbon dioxide (CO2), raising concerns that injected CO2 will leak into overlying freshwater aquifers. CO2(aq) leakage may impact the dominant microbial community responsible for important ecosystem functions such as nutrient cycling, metal cycling and carbon conversion. Here, we examined the impact of an experimental in situ CO2‐leakage on a freshwater aquifer microbial community. High‐throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated lower microbial diversity in freshwater wells with CO2 concentrations above 1.15 g l−1. Metagenomic sequencing and population genome binning were used to evaluate the metabolic potential of microbial populations across four CO2 exposed samples and one control sample. Population genome binning resulted in the recovery and annotation of three metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs). Two of the MAGs, most closely related to Curvibacter and Sulfuricurvum, had the functional capacity for CO2 utilization via carbon fixation coupled to sulfur and iron oxidation. The third draft genome was an Archaea, most closely related to Methanoregula, characterized by the metabolic potential for methanogenesis. Together, these findings show that CO2 leakage in a freshwater aquifer poses a strong selection, driving both microbial community structure and metabolic function.
Science Diplomacy and Trust Building: ‘Science China’ in the Arctic
Authors: Su Ping , Mayer Maximilian
Published: July 2018

Science diplomacy creates possibilities for trust building in international relations. We draw on studies of science, diplomacy, and trust in IR and explore Chinese scientific activities in the Arctic in order to sketch out four mechanisms that produce procedural and generalized forms of trust: the sharing of resources and infrastructure, personal interactions, science‐based institutions, and spillover effects. The materials of the case of ‘science China’ also help to question assumptions about science diplomacy in IR as they illustrate its inherent tensions, boundaries, and limitations.
Tradeoffs between productivity and nitrogen conservation in wild and domesticated plants of the perennial crop Physaria (Brassicaceae)
Authors: Pastor‐Pastor A. , Vilela A.E. , González‐Paleo L.
Published: July 2018

Domestication of desert‐adapted perennials has been proposed as an alternative to increase cropping intensity in low input environments. However, selection for high yield in perennial crops provokes indirect changes in plant resource use. These changes might alter how nitrogen is acquired, allocated, used and stored, thus affecting plant longevity and yield stability. Using the perennial forb Physaria as a model, we compared the pattern of N allocation, use and conservation of high‐yield accessions (Y), and stable yield accessions (S), with their wild counterpart (W). We found a negative relationship between seed yield and N conservation capacity and their associated traits. The shift of strategy provoked by high yield selection implies changes in N allocation and a decrease in nitrogen use efficiency and conservation capacity at plant‐ and leaf‐level. S accessions also increase allocation to seeds, although they kept the N use and conservation traits of their wild counterparts, remaining in an intermediate position between the Y and W accessions profiles. The shift of strategy provoked by high yield selection implies a decrease in nitrogen use efficiency and conservation capacity that may be behind the loss of longevity and yield on subsequent years. Wild and stable accessions were more conservative and show traits that promote nitrogen conservation. These are key traits that should not be lost during the selection process if breeders want to achieve the adequate ideotype of perennial crop for arid systems.
Premorbid academic and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia and its associations with negative symptoms and cognition
Authors: Bucci P. , Galderisi S. , Mucci A. , Rossi A. , Rocca P. , Bertolino A. , Aguglia E. , Amore M. , Andriola I. , Bellomo A. , Biondi M. , Cuomo A. , dell'Osso L. , Favaro A. , Gambi F. , Giordano G. M. , Girardi P. , Marchesi C. , Monteleone P. , Montemagni C. , Niolu C. , Oldani L. , Pacitti F. , Pinna F. , Roncone R. , Vita A. , Zeppegno P. , Maj M. ,   Italian Network for Research on Psychoses
Published: July 2018

Objective

The study aimed to explore premorbid academic and social functioning in patients with schizophrenia, and its associations with the severity of negative symptoms and neurocognitive impairment.

Method

Premorbid adjustment (PA) in patients with schizophrenia was compared to early adjustment in unaffected first‐degree relatives and healthy controls. Its associations with psychopathology, cognition, and real‐life functioning were investigated. The associations of PA with primary negative symptoms and their two factors were explored.

Results

We found an impairment of academic and social PA in patients (P ≤ 0.000001) and an impairment of academic aspects of early adjustment in relatives (P ≤ 0.01). Patients with poor PA showed greater severity of negative symptoms (limited to avolition after excluding the effect of depression/parkinsonism), working memory, social cognition, and real‐life functioning (P ≤ 0.01 to ≤0.000001). Worse academic and social PA were associated with greater severity of psychopathology, cognitive impairment, and real‐life functioning impairment (P ≤ 0.000001). Regression analyses showed that worse PA in the academic domain was mainly associated to the impairment of working memory, whereas worse PA in the social domain to avolition (P ≤ 0.000001).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that poor early adjustment may represent a marker of vulnerability to schizophrenia and highlight the need for preventive/early interventions based on psychosocial and/or cognitive programs.
Modification of polypropylene fibres with cationic polypropylene dispersion for improved dyeability
Authors: Mahmud‐Ali Amalid , Wright Tom , Pham Tung , Bechtold Thomas
Published: July 2018

Polypropylene (PP) fibres are important hydrophobic fibres which are used in the production of functional textiles such as sports textiles. The absence of functional groups and low polarity make PP fibres difficult to dye, thus mass coloration during fibre extrusion is the major technique applied today. However, the disadvantage of mass coloration is the low flexibility and the demand to produce high volumes. A new method to modify the surface of PP fibres utilises the deposition and thermal fixation of cationic PP dispersion. Through padding and thermal fixation of a cationic PP dispersion, dyeable 100% PP fibres can be obtained. The effects of fixation temperature, and of the amount of dispersion used on the modified fibres were studied using Fourier Transform‐infrared spectroscopy, laser scanning microscopy, dyeing experiments with CI Acid Red 151, and by determining selected fastness properties. The results indicate the potential of this new method to produce surface‐modified 100% PP fibres, which can be dyed in conventional acid‐dyeing processes and therefore used in fibre blends, for example in combination with wool.
Prescribed sedative and other psychotropic medication use among clients attending alcohol and other drug treatment
Authors: Foulds James A. , Manning Victoria , Garfield Joshua B. B. , Allsop Steve J. , Lam Tina , Arunogiri Shalini , Lubman Dan I.
Published: July 2018

Introduction and Aims

Prescribed psychotropic medications contribute to overdose mortality among people with alcohol and other drug (AOD) disorders. We report on prescribed psychotropic medication use among AOD treatment service attendees, focusing on sedative drugs.

Design and Methods

Prospective multi‐site naturalistic outcome study in residential and outpatient AOD treatment facilities in Victoria and Western Australia. A convenience sample of 480 people (57% male; mean age 36.1) entering treatment were surveyed, of whom 313 (65%) were followed up by telephone interview after a median of 377 days. Participants’ prescribed psychotropic medication use was ascertained by self‐report at baseline and follow‐up.

Results

At baseline, 41% of participants reported prescribed sedative medication (benzodiazepine, zopiclone or zolpidem) use within the past month, including prescriptions to treat withdrawal symptoms. At follow‐up, the cohort reported a reduced rate of past month prescribed sedative use (23%; P < 0.001) and this rate did not significantly differ between those who continued to use their primary drug of concern and those who were abstinent at follow‐up (P = 0.08). Among those with opioids as their primary drug of concern, one‐third were still being prescribed a sedative at follow‐up (P > 0.99 for change from baseline). At baseline, 40% of participants were prescribed an antidepressant and 13% an antipsychotic medication, which remained similar at follow‐up (45% and 13%, respectively).

Discussion and Conclusions

The high level of prescribed sedative drug use reported by people receiving AOD treatment is a serious public health concern given the increasing incidence of drug overdose deaths in Australia.
Modelling and mapping regional‐scale patterns of fishing impact and fish stocks to support coral‐reef management in Micronesia
Authors: Harborne Alastair R. , Green Alison L. , Peterson Nate A. , Beger Maria , Golbuu Yimnang , Houk Peter , Spalding Mark D. , Taylor Brett M. , Terk Elizabeth , Treml Eric A. , Victor Steven , Vigliola Laurent , Williams Ivor D. , Wolff Nicholas H. , zu Ermgassen Philine S.E. , Mumby Peter J.
Published: July 2018

Aim

Use a fishery‐independent metric to model and map regional‐scale fishing impact, and demonstrate how this metric assists with modelling current and potential fish biomass to support coral‐reef management. We also examine the relative importance of anthropogenic and natural factors on fishes at biogeographical scales.

Location

Reefs of five jurisdictions in Micronesia.

Methods

A subset of 1,127 fish surveys (470 surveys) was used to calculate site‐specific mean parrotfish lengths (a proxy for cumulative fishing impact), which were modelled against 20 biophysical and anthropogenic variables. The resulting model was extrapolated to each 1 ha reef cell in the region to generate a fishing impact map. The remaining data (657 surveys) were then used to model fish biomass using 15 response variables, including fishing impact. This model was used to map estimated current regional fish standing stocks and, by setting fishing impact to 0, potential standing stocks.

Results

Human population pressure and distance to port were key anthropogenic variables predicting fishing impact. Total fish biomass was negatively correlated with fishing, but the influence of natural gradients of primary productivity, sea surface temperature, habitat quality and larval supply was regionally more important.

Main conclusions

Mean parrotfish length appears to be a useful fishery‐independent metric for modelling Pacific fishing impact, but considering environmental covariates is critical. Explicitly modelling fishing impact has multiple benefits, including generation of the first large‐scale map of tropical fishing impacts that can inform conservation planning. Using fishing impact data to map current and potential fish stocks provides further benefits, including highlighting the relative importance of fishing on fish biomass and identifying key biophysical variables that cause maximum potential biomass to vary significantly across the region. Regional‐scale maps of fishing, fish standing stocks and the potential benefits of protection are likely to lead to improved conservation outcomes during reserve network planning.
Delays and barriers to the commencement of clozapine in eligible people with a psychotic disorder: A literature review
Authors: Thien Kristen , O'Donoghue Brian
Published: July 2018

Aim

While the majority of individuals with a first episode of psychosis (FEP) achieve symptomatic remission with the appropriate treatment, there is a small but significant proportion who do not achieve remission of symptoms despite adequate treatment with at least two antipsychotic medications (termed treatment resistance). Clozapine is indicated in individuals who fulfil the criteria for treatment‐resistant schizophrenia, however, despite it being the most effective antipsychotic medication, there can be delays in the commencement of clozapine in eligible patients.

Methods

A systematic search was performed to identify articles reporting either the time taken to commence clozapine (or delays) in eligible individuals or articles reporting barriers to the commencement of clozapine. The initial search generated 5588 articles and of these, 18 were eligible.

Results

13 studies described delays in commencing clozapine and five studies reported on the barriers to the commencement of clozapine. The duration of delay from when an individual was deemed eligible for clozapine treatment to the time of clozapine commencement ranged from 19.3 weeks to 5.5 years. In addition, the duration of illness prior to clozapine initiation ranged from 1.1 to 9.7 years. It was found that some clinicians were more inclined to prescribe antipsychotic polypharmacy or doses higher than recommended than to prescribe clozapine.

Conclusions

Delays in commencing clozapine have been consistently demonstrated. Early intervention for psychosis services are the ideal settings to identify individuals with persistent positive psychotic symptoms and commence clozapine if indicated.
Pax6‐dependent regulation of the rat Fabp7 promoter activity
Authors: Inada Hitoshi , Numayama‐Tsuruta Keiko , Mochizuki Kentaro , Sasaki‐Hoshino Makiko , Osumi Noriko
Published: July 2018

Fabp7 gene encodes a brain‐specific fatty acid‐binding protein that is widely used as a marker for neural stem cells. Here, we report that the activity of rat Fabp7 promoter was regulated directly by a transcription factor, Pax6. Deletion analyses identified an essential region (−837 to −64 from transcription start site) in the rat Fabp7 promoter. This region controls promoter activity in rat embryos and in the mouse cultured cell line MEB5. Over‐expressing wild‐type Pax6 or a dominant‐negative Pax6 mutant enhanced and suppressed, respectively, the promoter activity. Pax6 can bind the region directly, although the region contains no clear binding motif for Pax6. The rat Fabp7 promoter also contains conserved binding sites for Pbx/POU (−384 to −377) and CBF1 (−270 to −262). However, specific deletion of the sites showed no significant reduction in the promoter activity, although a gel mobility shift assay confirmed that CBF1 binds the conserved sequence. Taken together, these results suggest that the rat Fabp7 promoter is mainly regulated by Pax6. The Pax6‐dependent regulation of the rat Fabp7 expression might have an evolutionary aspect between rat and mouse; the former may need to efficiently use fatty acids to make the brain bigger than the latter.
Type‐3 von Willebrand disease in India—Clinical spectrum and molecular profile
Authors: Elayaperumal S. , Fouzia N. A. , Biswas A. , Nair S. C. , Viswabandya A. , George B. , Abraham A. , Oldenburg J. , Edison E. S. , Srivastava A.
Published: July 2018

Introduction

Type 3 von Willebrand disease (VWD) is the rare and most severe form of VWD which results from a near‐complete deficiency of the von Willebrand factor (VWF). This study evaluates in detail the molecular pathology of type‐3 VWD in India. One hundred and two patients from 90 families were evaluated.

Patients and methods

Phenotypic data, including bleeding scores (BS), were documented using structured questionnaires. Diagnosis of type 3 VWD was based on undetectable VWF antigen levels in the plasma. Genomic DNA from these patients was screened for mutations in VWF gene. Structural modeling and expression studies were carried out for missense mutations.

Results

Out of 102 patients, mutations could be identified in 91% (n = 93). Fifty‐five different gene variants were identified. Thirty‐four (61.8%) were novel. Mutations could be identified in both the alleles in 90 patients, while no causative mutation could be identified in 9 patients; twenty‐four (23.5%) patients had mutations clustered in the propeptide region of VWF. Interestingly, five mutations accounted for the defects in 37/93 (39.8%) patients. Structural analysis and in vitro studies on missense mutations imply impaired processes associated with secretion of VWF.

Conclusion

This study is one of the largest series to define the molecular basis of type‐3 VWD.
Fracture incidence of instruments from a single‐file reciprocating system by students in an endodontic graduate programme: a cross‐sectional retrospective study
Authors: Caballero‐Flores H. , Nabeshima C. K. , Binotto E. , Machado M. E. L.
Published: July 2018

Aim

To assess the fracture incidence of instruments from single‐file reciprocating systems when used by students in an endodontic graduate programme.

Methodology

Dental records and periapical radiographs of patients treated by students on an endodontic graduate programme using reciprocating systems were assessed. Data on tooth type, number of treated root canals, number of fractured instruments, fragment size, angle, radius, arc length and position of root canal curvature where fractures occurred were tabulated for analysis. The risk of fracture was calculated for each group of teeth, root canal and root thirds, whilst the incidence of fractures reported for the reciprocating systems was compared using the chi‐squared test at 5% significance level.

Results

Overall, 2056 root canals (826 teeth) from 810 patients were included. The incidence of fractured files from single‐file reciprocating systems in relation to a number of instrumented canals was 0.92%. Fracture rates of 0.84% and 0.93% were found in 830 and 1226 root canals instrumented with WaveOne and Reciproc systems, respectively. No significant differences were observed between the systems. The highest fracture rate was 52.6% in the mesiobuccal root of mandibular molars. The central angle, radius and arc length of the curvature of root canals where the instruments fractured ranged from 58° to 84°, from 1.7 to 7.2 mm and from 2.4 to 7.6 mm, respectively.

Conclusion

The use of WaveOne and Reciproc single‐file reciprocating systems in an endodontic graduate programme was associated with a low incidence of instrument fractures.
Activation of αSMA expressing perivascular cells during reactionary dentinogenesis
Authors: Vidovic‐Zdrilic I. , Vijaykumar A. , Mina M.
Published: July 2018

Aim

To examine the contribution of perivascular cells expressing αSMA to reactionary dentinogenesis.

Methodology

An inducible, Cre‐loxP in vivo fate‐mapping approach was used to examine the contribution of the descendants of cells expressing the αSMA‐CreERT2 transgene to reactionary dentinogenesis in mice molars. Reactionary dentinogenesis was induced by experimental mild injury to dentine without pulp exposure. The Student's t test was used to determine statistical significance at *P ≤ 0.05.

Results

The lineage tracing experiments revealed that mild injury to dentine first led to activation of αSMA‐tdTomato+ cells in the entire pulp chamber. The percentage of areas occupied by αSMA‐tdTomato+ in injured (7.5 ± 0.7%) teeth were significantly higher than in teeth without injury (2 ± 0.5%). After their activation, αSMA‐tdTomato+ cells migrated towards the site of injury, gave rise to pulp cells and a few odontoblasts that became integrated into the existing odontoblast layer expressing Col2.3‐GFP and Dspp.

Conclusion

Mild insult to dentine activated perivascular αSMA‐tdTomato+ cells giving rise to pulp cells as well as a few odontoblasts that were integrated into the pre‐existing odontoblast layer.
Mechanical reduction in intracanal Enterococcus faecalis when using three different single‐file systems: an ex vivo comparative study
Authors: Üreyen Kaya B. , Erik C. E. , Sesli Çetin E. , Köle M. , Maden M.
Published: July 2018

Aim

To evaluate the bacterial reduction achieved by WaveOne Gold (Dentsply Sirona Endodontics, Ballaigues, Switzerland), Hyflex EDM (Coltene‐Whaledent, Altstätten, Switzerland), and XP‐endo Shaper (FKG Dentaire SA, La Chaux‐de‐Fonds, Switzerland) in canals infected with Enterococcus faecalis. The null hypothesis (H0) was that there would be no difference amongst the NiTi systems in reducing the root canal bacterial load.

Methodology

Seventy‐four mandibular premolar teeth with straight and round root canals were selected. Sixty‐two root canals were contaminated with E. faecalis for 4 weeks and subjected to mechanical preparation with one of three single‐file NiTi rotary systems (WaveOne Gold, Hyflex EDM, and XP Endo Shaper). Twelve non‐contaminated root canals were used as negative controls. Bacterial samples were collected with sterile paper points (Dentsply Sirona Endodontics) before and after rotary instrumentation to quantify the bacterial load. Five roots from each instrumentation group were evaluated topographically from the coronal, middle and apical thirds by SEM. The bacterial reduction was calculated and analysed statistically by the Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn post hoc tests, all at 5% significance.

Results

The samples taken before instrumentation showed approximately 9.64 log CFU bacterial load. Instrumentation with the Hyflex EDM and XP‐endo Shaper resulted in significantly greater bacterial reduction than those with WaveOne Gold (P = 0.00). All specimens had bacterial growth. SEM images supported the CFU/mL data. Thick and dense debris was observed in WaveOne Gold samples. Instrumentation resulted in the disruption of the biofilm‐like structure, and both areas of clean and open dentinal tubules and areas with thick debris were observed in Hyflex EDM and XP‐endo Shaper samples.

Conclusions

Instrumentation in straight and round canals of premolar teeth with the Hyflex EDM and XP‐endo Shaper resulted in significantly greater bacterial reduction than WaveOne Gold. No instrumentation system rendered root canals completely free from bacteria.