bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Collagen density regulates the activity of tumor-infiltrating T cells
Authors: Kuczek Dorota E , Larsen Anne Mette H , Carretta Marco , Kalvisa Adrija , Siersbæk Majken S , Simões Ana Micaela C , Roslind Anne , Engelholm Lars H , Donia Marco , Svane Inge Marie , Straten Per thor , Grøntved Lars , Madsen Daniel H
Published: December 2018

Background

Tumor progression is accompanied by dramatic remodeling of the surrounding extracellular matrix leading to the formation of a tumor-specific ECM, which is often more collagen-rich and of increased stiffness. The altered ECM of the tumor supports cancer growth and metastasis, but it is unknown if this effect involves modulation of T cell activity. To investigate if a high-density tumor-specific ECM could influence the ability of T cells to kill cancer cells, we here studied how T cells respond to 3D culture in different collagen densities.

Methods

T cells cultured in 3D conditions surrounded by a high or low collagen density were imaged using confocal fluorescent microscopy. The effects of the different collagen densities on T cell proliferation, survival, and differentiation were examined using flow cytometry. Cancer cell proliferation in similar 3D conditions was also measured. Triple-negative breast cancer specimens were analyzed for the number of infiltrating CD8+ T cells and for the collagen density. Whole-transcriptome analyses were applied to investigate in detail the effects of collagen density on T cells. Computational analyses were used to identify transcription factors involved in the collagen density-induced gene regulation. Observed changes were confirmed by qRT-PCR analysis.

Results

T cell proliferation was significantly reduced in a high-density matrix compared to a low-density matrix and prolonged culture in a high-density matrix led to a higher ratio of CD4+ to CD8+ T cells. The proliferation of cancer cells was unaffected by the surrounding collagen-density. Consistently, we observed a reduction in the number of infiltrating CD8+ T-cells in mammary tumors with high collagen-density indicating that collagen-density has a role in regulating T cell abundance in human breast cancer.

Whole-transcriptome analysis of 3D-cultured T cells revealed that a high-density matrix induces downregulation of cytotoxic activity markers and upregulation of regulatory T cell markers. These transcriptional changes were predicted to involve autocrine TGF-B signaling and they were accompanied by an impaired ability of tumor-infiltrating T cells to kill autologous cancer cells.

Conclusions

Our study identifies a new immune modulatory mechanism, which could be essential for suppression of T cell activity in the tumor microenvironment.
One-dimensional sliding assists σ70-dependent promoter binding by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase
Authors: Heller Iddo , Marchetti Margherita , Mazumder Abhishek , Chakraborty Anirban , Malinowska Agata M. , Roos Wouter H. , Ebright Richard H. , Peterman Erwin J.G. , Wuite Gijs J.L.
Published: December 2018

The search for a promoter on DNA by RNA polymerase (RNAP) is an obligatory first step in transcription. The role of facilitated diffusion during promoter search has been controversial. Here, we re-assessed facilitated diffusion in promoter search by imaging motions of single molecules of Escherichia coli RNAP σ70 holoenzyme on single DNA molecules suspended between optical traps in a manner that absolutely avoided interactions with surfaces. The assay enabled us to observe unambiguous one-dimensional sliding of RNAP σ70 holoenzyme for thousands of DNA base pairs during promoter search. Analysis of binding kinetics revealed short binding events on nonspecific DNA (0.4 s), intermediate binding events on A/T-rich DNA (1.6 s), and long binding events at or near promoters (>300 s). We estimate a lower bound for the “diffusion facilitation threshold” – the RNAP concentration at which three-dimensional search and one-dimensional sliding contribute equally to promoter binding – of 0.2 μM RNAP. The results suggest facilitated diffusion occurs in promoter search by RNAP, even at the relatively high, 0.2-0.6 μM, concentrations of RNAP in cells.

Significance statement

The flow of genetic information from DNA to RNA is of central importance to living systems, and it can only start after an RNA polymerase (RNAP) has found a promoter site. But how does this enzyme find promoter sites on DNA in the first place? In recent years, debate on this topic has favored a promoter search mechanism that is dominated by three-dimensional diffusion of RNAP, rather than by one-dimensional sliding of RNAP on DNA. Here, we designed an improved single-molecule assay that unambiguously revealed extensive one-dimensional sliding of RNAP on DNA. Our results imply that, at the RNAP concentrations in living cells, the promoter-search process is facilitated by one-dimensional sliding on DNA.
Prediction of Neurocognitive Profiles in Youth From Resting State fMRI
Authors: Sripada Chandra , Rutherford Saige , Angstadt Mike , Thompson Wesley K. , Luciana Monica , Weigard Alex , Hyde Luke , Heitzeg Mary
Published: December 2018

Difficulties with higher-order cognitive functions in youth are a potentially important vulnerability factor for the emergence of problematic behaviors and a range of psychopathologies. This study examined 2,013 9-10 year olds in the first data release from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development 21-site consortium study in order to identify resting state functional connectivity patterns that predict individual-differences in three domains of higher-order cognitive functions: General Ability, Speed/Flexibility, and Learning/Memory. We found that connectivity patterns involving task control networks and default mode network were prominently implicated in predicting individual differences across participants across all three domains. In addition, for General Ability scores specifically, we observed consistent cross-site generalizability, with statistically significant predictions in 14 out of 15 held-out sites. These findings demonstrate that resting state connectivity can be leveraged to produce generalizable markers of neurocognitive functioning. Additionally, they highlight the importance of task control-default mode network inter-connections as a major locus of individual differences in cognitive functioning in early adolescence.
Guided nuclear exploration increases CTCF target search efficiency
Authors: Hansen Anders S. , Amitai Assaf , Cattoglio Claudia , Tjian Robert , Darzacq Xavier
Published: December 2018

Mammalian genomes are enormous. For a DNA-binding protein, this means that the number of non-specific, off-target sites vastly exceeds the number of specific, cognate sites. How mammalian DNA-binding proteins overcome this challenge to efficiently locate their target sites is not known. Here through live-cell single-molecule tracking, we show that CCCTC-binding factor, CTCF, is repeatedly trapped in small zones in the nucleus in a manner that is largely dependent on its RNA-binding region (RBR). Integrating theory, we devise a new model, Anisotropic Diffusion through transient Trapping in Zones (ADTZ), to explain this. Functionally, transient RBR-mediated trapping increases the efficiency of CTCF target search by ∼2.5 fold. Since the RBR-domain also mediates CTCF clustering, our results suggest a “guided” mechanism where CTCF clusters concentrate diffusing CTCF proteins near cognate binding sites, thus increasing the local ON-rate. We suggest that local “guiding” may represent a general target search mechanism in mammalian cells.
YAP-independent mechanotransduction drives breast cancer progression
Authors: Lee Joanna Y. , Chang Jessica , Dominguez Antonia A. , Nam Sungmin , Chang Julie , Lee Hong-pyo , Varma Sushama , Qi Lei S. , West Robert B. , Chaudhuri Ovijit
Published: December 2018

Increased tissue stiffness is a driver of breast cancer progression. The transcriptional regulator YAP is considered a universal mechanotransducer, based largely on 2D culture studies. However, the role of YAP during in vivo breast cancer remains unclear. Here, we find that mechanotransduction occurs independently of YAP in breast cancer patient samples and mechanically tunable 3D cultures. Mechanistically, the lack of YAP activity in 3D culture and in vivo is associated with the absence of stress fibers and an order of magnitude decrease in nuclear cross-sectional area relative to 2D culture. This work highlights the context-dependent role of YAP in mechanotransduction, and establishes that YAP does not mediate mechanotransduction in breast cancer.
Exploring the role of Polycomb recruitment in Xist-mediated silencing of the X chromosome in ES cells
Authors: Bousard Aurélie , Raposo Ana Cláudia , Żylicz Jan Jakub , Picard Christel , Pires Vanessa Borges , Qi Yanyan , Syx Laurène , Chang Howard Y. , Heard Edith , Rocha Simão Teixeira da
Published: December 2018

Xist RNA has been established as the master regulator of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) in female eutherian mammals but its mechanism of action remains unclear. By creating novel Xist mutants at the endogenous locus in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, we dissect the role of the conserved A-B-C-F repeats. We find that transcriptional silencing can be largely uncoupled from Polycomb repressive complex 1 and 2 (PRC1/2) recruitment, which requires repeats B and C. Xist ΔB+C RNA specifically loses interaction with PCGF3/5 subunits of PRC1, while binding of other Xist partners is largely unaffected. However, a slight relaxation of transcriptional silencing in Xist ΔB+C indicates a role for PRC1/2 proteins in early stabilization of gene repression. Distinct modules within the Xist RNA are therefore involved in the convergence of independent chromatin modification and gene repression pathways. In this context, Polycomb recruitment seems to be of moderate relevance in the initiation of silencing.
Examining healthcare systems: a market analysis for Kenya
Authors: Davis Elise Catherine , Menser Terri , Cerda Juarez Alondra , Tomaszewski Lesley E. , Kash Bita A.
Published: December 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to present a literature review of the health workforce, hospital and clinic systems, infrastructure, primary care, regulatory climate, the pharmaceutical industry and community health behavior of the Kenyan health-care system with the purpose of providing a thorough background on the health-care environment in Kenya.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review was conducted using Pub Med, searching for “Kenya” in the title of articles published from January 1, 2015 to February 24, 2016; this provided a broad overview of the type of research being conducted in Kenya. Other data provided by governmental agencies and non-governmental agencies was also reviewed to describe the current state of population health in Kenya.

Findings

An initial review of 615 Pubmed articles included 455 relevant articles. A complete review of these studies was conducted, resulting in a final sample of 389 articles. These articles were categorized into three main subject areas with 14 secondary subject areas (Figure 1).

Research limitations/implications

The narrow scope of the search parameters set for the systematic review was a necessary limitation to focus on the most relevant literature. The findings of this study provide a thorough background on health care in Kenya to researchers and practitioners.

Originality/value

This compilation of data specific to Kenya provides a detailed summary of both the country’s health-care services and health status, focusing on potential means of realizing increased quality and length of life.
Modified sewer asset management to accommodate London’s future sustainable development
Authors: Tade Oluwagbenga , O’Neill Siobhan , Smith Kenneth G. , Williams Tracey , Ali Amer , Bayyati Ali , See Hwee
Published: December 2018

Purpose

This paper is about best practice in managing legacy drainage assets to support sustainable urban regeneration. The purpose of this paper is to describe best practice sewer asset management (AM) and to adjust the current reactive maintenance approach for sewers, to one that accommodates long-term operational and town planning needs. The development of an improved sewer deterioration model (DM) provided an important tool for this.

Design/methodology/approach

This research adopts a mixture of qualitative and quantitative approaches to analyse a total network length of 24,252 km which represents 703,156 records of historic sewer structural condition inspection data. This was used to build an improved DM. These models were used as inputs into a proactive AM approach that improves upon recommendations in the Sewerage Rehabilitation Manual developed by Water Research Centre.

Findings

This is a paradigm shift and goes beyond the current culture of OFWAT (Water Services Regulation Authority) supervision, five-year asset management period and occasional environmental penalties. A new legislative model may be needed; especially because a report by UKWIR (Water Industry Research) in 2015 identified that nationally the rate of sewer network deterioration is outpacing available investment and significant health problems may arise in addition to those from developmental pressures.

Research limitations/implications

The authors have researched and managed old sewer networks and present a review of the new issues raised by intensive development, particularly for the London region, but applicable elsewhere, and how these must lead to a modified risk, and novel incentive-based approach to AM, if the system is not to fail.

Originality/value

Large, legacy databases of several decades of sewer network performance records have been combined and analysed as stratified, heterogeneous sets with Gaussian distributions; thereby improving on previous assumptions of homogeneous data. The resulting rigorous DMs are the foundation of new approaches to sustainable risk management of large urban networks.
Linear stability analysis of double-layered porous journal bearings under coupled-stress lubrication with slip flow and percolation effect of additives
Authors: Some Shitendu , Guha Sisir Kumar
Published: December 2018

Purpose

In the application of hydrostatic double-layered porous journal bearings, instability of bearing systems is a major problem. On the other hand, the use of non-Newtonian fluid as a lubricant is more practical in the present days. Furthermore, in case of porous bearing, neglecting slip effect and percolation effect of additives into the pores may lead to erroneous result. Hence, this paper aims to present the linear stability analysis of finite hydrostatic double-layered porous journal bearings lubricated with coupled-stress lubricant with tangential velocity slip and percolation effect.

Design/methodology/approach

First, considering the tangential velocity slip, the most general modified Reynolds-type equation has been derived for the film region and the governing equations for flow in the coarse and fine layers of porous medium incorporating the percolation effect. A linearized first-order perturbation method has been applied to obtain the threshold of stability in terms of critical mass parameter. The effect of various parameters on the stability is investigated and represented in the form of graphs. Furthermore, a comparison between the stability of double- and single-layered porous journal bearings has been exhibited.

Findings

In this paper, threshold of stability has been obtained in terms of critical mass parameter. The effect of slip coefficient, percolation factor, coupled-stress parameter, eccentricity ratio and bearing feeding parameter on the stability has been found.

Originality/value

There is no literature available so far that addresses the analysis of the linear stability of externally pressurized double-layered porous journal bearings with slip flow, including the percolation effect under coupled-stress lubrication. But in this paper, all these points are included which made this paper valuable in design purpose.
Modeling and analysis of FMS performance variables by fuzzy TISM
Authors: Jain Vineet , Soni Vimlesh Kumar
Published: December 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the flexible manufacturing system performance variables and analyze the interactions among these variables. Interpretive structural modeling (ISM) has been reported for this but no study has been done regarding the interaction of its variables. Therefore, fuzzy TISM (total ISM) has been applied to deduce the relationship and interactions between the variables and driving and dependence power of these variables are examined by fuzzy MICMAC.

Design/methodology/approach

Fuzzy TISM and fuzzy MICMAC analysis have been applied to deduce the relationship and interactions among the variables and driving and dependence power of these variables are examined by fuzzy MICMAC.

Findings

In total, 15 variables have been identified from the extensive literature review. The result showed that automation, use of automated material handling, an effect of tool life and rework percentage have high driving power and weak dependence power in the fuzzy TISM model and fuzzy MICMAC analysis. These are also at the lowest level in the hierarchy in the fuzzy TISM model.

Originality/value

Fuzzy TISM model has been suggested for manufacturing industries with fuzzy MICMAC analysis. This proposed approach is a novel attempt to integrate TISM approach with the fuzzy sets. The integration of TISM with fuzzy sets provides flexibility to decision-makers to further understand the level of influences of one criterion over another, which was earlier present only in the form of binary (0, 1) numbers; 0 represents no influence and 1 represents influence.
Offender interviews: implications for intelligence-led policing
Authors: Summers Lucia , Rossmo D. Kim
Published: December 2018

Purpose

Intelligence-led policing (ILP) involves the analysis of data to inform the development and implementation of strategic actions aimed at more efficiently reducing crime. The purpose of this paper is to examine how chronic acquisitive offenders – a focus of ILP – respond to police patrol, and how this knowledge can be turned into actionable strategies to reduce crime.

Design/methodology/approach

Interviews were conducted with 137 chronic offenders who had multiple convictions for burglary, robbery and/or vehicle crime. The interviews involved the collection of both qualitative and quantitative data, including responses to situational crime vignettes.

Findings

When encountering police patrols, criminals were initially more likely to displace (e.g. committing crime elsewhere and/or later in the day) than to desist from offending. Some of the conditions under which police patrol was most effective were identified, including offenders’ fear of being recognized by officers. Repeated thwarted crime attempts appeared to be most impactful, with even the most chronic offenders becoming “worn down.”

Practical implications

The profiles of top offenders should be systematically disseminated to front line officers to augment the effectiveness of police patrol and minimize the possibility of crime displacement.

Originality/value

Offender interviews are a valuable source of information but they have been underutilized within an ILP framework. This research illustrates how offender interview research can inform and support the role of police in preventing crime.
Toward understanding short‐selling activity: demand and supply
Authors: Cheung Adrian W. K. , Kot Hung Wan , Lam Eric F. Y. , Leung Harry K. M.
Published: December 2018

We investigate the demand and supply sides of short‐selling activity in the US from 2003 to 2015. We construct four types of demand‐side variables from fundamentals, and three types of supply‐side variables from institutional ownership (IO) and stock loan data. The supply‐side variables play a more important role in determining short selling than the demand‐side variables. The IO of quasi‐indexer type is the most important supply‐side variable, while the arbitrage and hedging with options market is the most important demand‐side variable. Finally, a portfolio sorting approach confirms the same results.
Freeze stress of deciduous trees induces attacks by opportunistic ambrosia beetles
Authors: Ranger Christopher M. , Schultz Peter B. , Frank Steven D. , Reding Michael E.
Published: December 2018

A broad host range and the utilization of living but weakened trees contribute, in part, to the invasion success of ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae). The present study assessed the capability of freeze stress to induce attacks by ambrosia beetles.

Freeze stress predisposed Cercis canadensis L., Cornus florida L., Malus pumila Mill. and Styrax japonicus Sieb. to attack under field conditions, although no attacks occurred on untreated trees. More attacks occurred on freeze‐stressed versus flood‐stressed M. pumila in Virginia but not for S. japonicus in Ohio. Attacks on flooded trees were skewed towards the base of the trunk, whereas attacks on freeze‐stressed trees mainly occurred around the upper regions of the trunk and into the branches. The predominant species recovered were Anisandrus maiche Stark and Xylosandrus germanus (Blandford) in Ohio, and Xylosandrus crassiusculus (Motschulsky) in Virginia.

Ethanol emissions from trunks of S. japonicus were detected by solid phase microextraction‐gas chromatography–mass spectrometry at 1 day after imposing freeze stress, peaking 4 days after injury.

Trees with an intolerance of freeze stress are predicted to be vulnerable to attack, especially when subjected to mild winter temperatures followed by late‐spring freezes. Freeze stress could thereby facilitate the destructiveness of exotic ambrosia beetles.
Useful technique for draining a large cystic tumor through the round ligament in laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy
Authors: Monden Kazuteru , Sadamori Hiroshi , Hioki Masayoshi , Ohno Satoshi , Sasaki Kyo , Saneto Hiromi , Ueki Toru , Yabushita Kazuhisa , Sakaguchi Kousaku , Takakura Norihisa
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Some cystic liver tumors are huge when the diagnosis is made or surgery is needed. Although reducing tumor size by preoperative aspiration or drainage of the contents of the cystic tumor is helpful for liver resection, such procedures have a risk of tumor dissemination.

Materials and Surgical Technique

After the round ligament was dissected, a 12‐Fr drainage catheter was inserted into the tumor via the round ligament under ultrasonography. At that time, close attention was paid to avoid having the catheter deviate outside the round ligament. Through the inserted catheter, fluid was drained from the cystic lesion, and the stump of the round ligament was clipped to avoid fluid leakage. The left Glissonian pedicle was then taped. Laparoscopic left hemihepatectomy was performed under a good operative field because of tumor shrinkage.

Discussion

Three cases underwent these procedures without any spillage of the contents of the cystic tumor. This method is useful for the reduction of tumor size and has a low risk of intra‐abdominal leakage of the contents, resulting in a secure and good operative field.
Recipient working status is independently associated with outcomes in heart and lung transplantation
Authors: Rudasill Sarah E. , Iyengar Amit , Kwon Oh Jin , Sanaiha Yas , Dobaria Vishal , Benharash Peyman
Published: December 2018

Employment status may capture elements of patients’ physical strength, mental resilience, and socioeconomic status to better prognosticate transplant outcomes. This study characterized the effect of working status on thoracic transplant outcomes by evaluating the United Network for Organ Sharing registry for adult lung or heart transplants from 2005 to 2016. Kaplan‐Meier estimates illustrated 5‐year and 10‐year survival by working status at transplant, while multivariable Cox proportional hazards regressions controlled for baseline differences, including functional and socioeconomic status. Of 17 778 lung transplant recipients, 1700 (9.6%) worked at transplant and experienced significantly lower 5‐year mortality than nonworking recipients (38.6% vs 45.5%, P < 0.001). Of 21 394 heart transplant recipients, 1289 (6.0%) were employed and experienced significantly lower 10‐year mortality than nonworking recipients (34.1% vs 40.2%, P < 0.001). Adjusted Cox regressions demonstrated that employment significantly reduced mortality independent of functional status for both lung (HR: 0.86 [0.78‐0.95], P = 0.003) and heart (HR: 0.84 [0.72‐0.97], P = 0.023) recipients. After accounting for insurance status, the effect of working status persisted only in lung transplantation (HR: 0.89 [0.81‐0.98], P = 0.023). Since heart and lung transplant candidates employed at transplant face lower long‐term mortality, working status must encompass a broad set of physical, psychological, and socioeconomic variables that may prognosticate post‐transplant outcomes.
Affordances of Item Formats and Their Effects on Test‐Taker Cognition under Uncertainty
Authors: Moon Jung Aa , Keehner Madeleine , Katz Irvin R.
Published: December 2018

The current study investigated how item formats and their inherent affordances influence test‐takers’ cognition under uncertainty. Adult participants solved content‐equivalent math items in multiple‐selection multiple‐choice and four alternative grid formats. The results indicated that participants’ affirmative response tendency (i.e., judge the given information as True) was affected by the presence of a grid, type of grid options, and their visual layouts. The item formats further affected the test scores obtained from the alternatives keyed True and the alternatives keyed False, and their psychometric properties. The current results suggest that the affordances rendered by item design can lead to markedly different test‐taker behaviors and can potentially influence test outcomes. They emphasize that a better understanding of the cognitive implications of item formats could potentially facilitate item design decisions for large‐scale educational assessments.
Naturalized distributions show that climatic disequilibrium is structured by niche size in pines (PinusL.)
Authors: Perret Daniel L. , Leslie Andrew B. , Sax Dov F.
Published: December 2018

Aim

The assumption that the native distributions of species are in equilibrium with climate has been shown to be frequently violated, despite its centrality to many niche model applications. We currently lack a framework that predicts these violations. Here, we examine whether variation in climatic disequilibrium is structured by properties of species’ native distributions and climatic niches.

Location

Global.

Methods

We built climatic niche models for 106 pine (PinusL.) species, including 25 that have naturalized outside their native range. We measured the extent of climate space occupied exclusively by naturalized populations and considered what fraction of this space was available within the native continent and near the native range. We examined the consequences of disequilibrium for estimates of potential range filling and sister species niche conservatism.

Results

Most species (23 of 25) have naturalized in climate conditions outside the native niche, leading to increases in the total known suitable climate space. Increases in niche size were negatively related to native niche size. Increases were often large; one species expanded its niche by almost 10% of the global climate space. These increases were associated primarily with cooler, wetter and less seasonal climates. Increases in known niche size lowered potential range filling estimates within species’ native continent and ecoregion. Naturalized data did not strengthen support for niche conservatism among sister species.

Main conclusions

Among pines, climatic disequilibrium is the norm and not the exception. The magnitude of this disequilibrium can be vast, such that the native range greatly under‐represents the true climatic tolerances of some species. Fortunately, this disequilibrium can be predicted largely by the size of a species’ native niche. Accounting for this disequilibrium can improve our ability to characterize ecological phenomena, including potential range filling. This is an essential step towards improving the conservation value of ecological niche models.
Comparison of brain perfusion patterns in dementia with Lewy bodies patients with or without cingulate island sign
Authors: Ishibashi Masato , Kimura Noriyuki , Sumi Kaori , Aso Yasuhiro , Matsubara Etsuro
Published: December 2018

Aim

The aim of the present study was to examine the differences in the brain perfusion single‐photon emission computed tomography patterns compared in dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) with or without cingulate island sign (CIS).

Methods

A total of 43 patients with DLB and 63 patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) were included in the study. The CIScore was determined based on the posterior cingulate area and the occipital cortex using the eZIS software. The CIScore was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Statistical parametric mapping 8 was used for the voxel‐by‐voxel group analysis of single‐photon emission computed tomography.

Results

The mean CIScore was significantly lower in DLB patients than in Alzheimer's disease patients. The age at examination was higher in the normal CIScore subgroup than in the abnormal CIScore subgroup based on optimal cut‐off value. Statistical parametric mapping 8 analysis showed Alzheimer's disease‐specific hypoperfusion in the normal‐CIScore subgroup. Furthermore, stratifying the patients by age before applying the optimal CIScore cut‐off improved the largest area under the receiver operating characteristic curve in patients aged ≤78 years compared with patients aged >79 years.

Conclusions

The present findings suggest that older DLB patients might have a normal CIScore because of concomitant multiple pathology. Therefore, age should be considered when interpreting the CIScore. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 197–202.
Informality, emotion and gendered career paths: The hidden toll of maternity leave on female academics and researchers
Authors: Maxwell Nicola , Connolly Linda , Ní Laoire Caitríona
Published: December 2018

While the negative impact of child‐raising and caring on women's career progression in academia is well‐established, less is known about the role of academic women's lived experiences of maternity leave as an institutional practice. This article presents the findings of a qualitative study of the lived experiences of female academics and researchers in an Irish university. The analysis intrinsically links organizational structures and problems with the lived and felt dimensions of work. The findings point to the need for better structural accommodations for maternity leave which address the relationship between caring and career disadvantage within academia. The article adds to existing literature on the intersection of motherhood and academia by unpicking the specific role of maternity leave as both a lived experience and an institutional practice that can reinforce gender inequalities in academia.
And … action? Gender, knowledge and inequalities in the UK screen industries
Authors: Eikhof Doris Ruth , Newsinger Jack , Luchinskaya Daria , Aidley Daniela
Published: December 2018

This article explores how a knowledge ecology framework can help us better understand the production of gender knowledge, especially in relation to improving gender equality. Drawing on Law, Ruppert, and Savage, it analyses what knowledge of gender inequality is made visible and actionable in the case of the UK screen sector. We show: (i) that the gender knowledge production for the UK screen sector operated with reductionist understandings of gender and gender inequality, and presented gender inequality as something that needed evidencing rather than changing; and (ii) that gender knowledge was circulated in two relatively distinct circuits, a policy‐ and practice‐facing one focused on workforce statistics and a more heterogeneous and critical academic one. We then discuss which aspects of gender inequality in the UK screen industry remained invisible and thus less actionable. The article concludes with a critical appreciation of how the knowledge ecology framework might help better understand gender knowledge production, in relation to social change in the UK screen sector and beyond.
Molecular diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in gastric biopsies: Evaluation of the Amplidiag®H. pylori + ClariR assay
Authors: Hays Constantin , Delerue Thibault , Lamarque Dominique , Burucoa Christophe , Collobert Ghislaine , Billöet Annick , Kalach Nicolas , Raymond Josette
Published: December 2018

Background

Adapted treatments for Helicobacter pylori infection, guided by determining antimicrobial resistance, are associated with high eradication rates. We evaluated the performance of the Amplidiag® H. pylori + ClariR PCR assay (Amplidiag®) for detecting H. pylori and its clarithromycin resistance from gastric biopsies taken during endoscopy in comparison to culture and our “in‐house” PCR.

Materials and Methods

A total of 127 gastric biopsies were analyzed (98 adults; 29 children). Culture, PCR Amplidiag®, and in‐house PCR were performed in parallel. The in‐house PCR combined amplification and sequencing of a 267‐bp fragment of the H. pylori 23S rRNA gene. Discrepancies were controlled by amplification of glmM gene.

Results

For detection of H. pylori, Amplidiag® and the in‐house PCR were concordant in 118 of 127 of cases: 66 negative and 52 positive. Discrepancies were observed in nine cases, all with low bacterial load: Amplidiag® did not detect seven biopsies positive on in‐house PCR but detected two positive biopsies that were negative on in‐house PCR. Among the 19 of 52 (36%) H. pylori cases resistant to clarithromycin, only four biopsies with mixed populations exhibited discordant results between the two PCR methods. The A2142T mutation was not detected by Amplidiag®. With the in‐house PCR and amplified glmM gene as the reference method, the sensitivity and specificity of Amplidiag® was 88.5% (95% confidence interval 83‐94.1) and 100%.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated the high sensitivity of the PCR‐based Amplidiag® H. pylori test, especially with low H. pylori load, and the probability of its clarithromycin resistance analysis. For clinical use, a well‐designed trial with a large scale of samples may still be needed.
Long‐term safety and drug survival of acitretin in psoriasis: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Chularojanamontri Leena , Silpa‐archa Narumol , Wongpraparut Chanisada , Limphoka Pichaya
Published: December 2018

Background

This retrospective observational study aimed to investigate the long‐term safety, drug survival, and factors associated with the survival of acitretin in a real‐world setting.

Methods

Data of adult patients with psoriasis who attended Siriraj Hospital between 2012 and 2017 and were treated with acitretin were reviewed. Demographic data and clinical courses were recorded. The Kaplan–Meier curve and Cox regression were used to calculate drug survival and the factors associated with drug survival, respectively.

Results

Of 104 patients, 56 and 48 were male and female, respectively, with a mean treatment duration of 3.2 years. The mean cumulative dose per patient was 19.28 ± 7.84 mg/day. Acitretin was administered to 73, 39, 24, and six patients for more than 1, 3, 5, and 10 years, respectively. Most side effects were mild and tolerable; only nine patients withdrew acitretin due to side effects. No patients developed clinical features of cirrhosis or uncontrolled hyperlipidemia. The drug survival rates were 79%, 69.5%, 61.2%, 57.6%, and 53.5% at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 years, respectively, higher than those of previous studies. Patients without obesity, metabolic syndrome, and dyslipidemia did not have a significantly longer acitretin survival compared to patients with these comorbidities.

Conclusions

Long‐term, low‐dose acitretin in patients with psoriasis is unlikely to cause significant liver or lipid problems. In countries with difficulty accessing biological agents for psoriasis, acitretin may have a high drug survival rate due to its long‐term safety. This study has several limitations: its retrospective nature, single‐center study design, and small sample size.
Survey of patients of the Tver region of Russia regarding maggots and maggot therapy
Authors: Morozov Artem M. , Sherman Ronald A.
Published: December 2018

The 21st century is seeing a resurgence in the use of maggot therapy—using the physical and biochemical benefits of fly larvae to debride and heal chronic, problematic wounds. Maggots are repulsive to many people, and this could interfere with the acceptance of this modality. Before instituting a maggot therapy programme at our institution, we sought to better understand the psychological barriers that may exist among patients in the Tver region of Russia. Between 2014 and 2016, all patients with arterial insufficiency and trophic ulcers at City Clinical Hospital No. 7 in Tver were administered a survey consisting of six images. Subjects were asked to rank the images in the order of least to most repulsive or disgusting. A total of 576 subjects were recruited for this study: 414 (72%) women and 162 (28%) men. Nearly 60% of subjects considered the images of maggots to be more repulsive than images of gangrenous wounds. This finding is significant because it indicates that much education and support will need to be conducted to address patient fears and anxiety if patients are to be comfortable with a maggot therapy programme.
Evaluation of bulk tank raw milk and raw chicken meat samples as source of ESBL producing Escherichia coli in Turkey: Recent insights
Authors: Kürekci Cemil , Osek Jacek , Aydın Muhsin , Tekeli İbrahim Ozan , Kurpas Monika , Wieczorek Kinga , Sakin Fatih
Published: December 2018

Extended spectrum β‐lactamase producing Escherichia coli (ESBL‐EC) was detected in 86.6% of chicken and 22.6% of bulk tank milk (BTM) samples. Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed 49 distinct restriction profiles among 66 isolates, and 62.3% of the isolates carried the blaCTX‐M gene, among which CTX‐M‐1 was found to be the predominant ESBL types in chicken isolates, whereas CTX‐M‐15 was the commonest among BTM samples. Additionally, of 52 ESBL‐EC isolates from chicken meat samples, 36.5%, 9.6%, and 7.7% harbored the blaTEM, blaCMY‐2, and blaSHV‐12 genes, respectively, compared with 28.5% of the blaTEM and 7.1% of the blaSHV‐12 markers among BTM isolates. The fimH gene was present in 51 isolates of chicken and in 14 isolates of BTM samples, while other virulence genes iutA (n = 31), iroN (n = 26), kpsMT II (n = 5), papC (n = 2), papG allele II (n = 2), papG allele II‐III (n = 2), and papEF (n = 2) were only present in chicken meat isolates. Overall, it can be said that contaminated chicken meat and BTM might serve as vehicles for playing potential role in zoonotic transmission of ESBL‐EC to humans in Turkey.

Practical applications

Extended spectrum β‐lactamase producing E. coli (ESBL‐EC) have been considered to be one of the major worldwide clinical problems and have been frequently isolated from the foods of animal origins such as chicken meat, fish, and raw milk. The current study aimed to isolate ESBL‐EC from chicken and bulk tank milk samples and further characterize the strains by PFGE, identifying resistance genes and as well as virulence genes. Given the high prevalence of CTX‐M‐15/55 type ESBL‐EC strains possessing important virulence genes in chicken and milk samples, it can be said that foods of animal origins might be an important risk factor for extraintestinal ESBL‐EC infections for humans.
Physicochemical and rheological properties of purees based on Mafafa (Xanthosoma robustum) and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) with the addition of cryoprotectants
Authors: Rodríguez‐Marin Nelson D. , Figueroa‐Chaverra Aylin A. , Sánchez‐Jiménez Mayerly A. , Orozco‐Orrego Vanessa , Bohórquez‐Orozco Constanza , García Omar R. , Pinzón Magda I. , Sánchez Leidy T. , Villa Cristian C.
Published: December 2018

Growing interest in processed frozen products with similar characteristics to natural products has generated the study of new products in the food industry field. The characteristics of each matrix, the process of elaboration, composition, and structure of the additives and the interactions amongst these modify the food's texture, structure, physical and sensory properties and, hence, interfere directly with consumer acceptance. This research studied the effect of adding cryoprotectors during frozen storage on the rheological, physicochemical, structural, and microbiological properties in a Mafafa‐quinoa‐olive oil puree. To carry out the study, the rheological properties were determined through dynamic oscillatory tests and in steady state; likewise, the physicochemical properties (humidity, color, pH, and syneresis) were analyzed. Regarding physicochemical properties, the humidity content in the purees formulated varied between 57 and 74%, without important variation (p > .05) with respect to the formulation, however, in the storage during the freezing/thawing process, this parameter diminished in greater proportion in those purees containing carrageenan as cryoconservant. Both the addition of cryoconservants and the storage time affected significantly (p < .05) the puree's syneresis, with the degree of exudation being lower in the formulation containing xanthan gum at 1% w/w. During the freezing/thawing process, decreased apparent viscosity was noted. Additionally, the analysis of the viscoelastic properties of the purees evidences that already described, given that a significant effect (p < .05) was observed of the formulation of purees in the elastic component G′, in contrast with a notable decrease in the viscous component G″.
MUM effect in medical education: taking into account the recipient and training setting
Authors: de Leng Wendy E , Stegers‐Jager Karen M , Born Marise Ph , Themmen Axel P N
Published: December 2018

de Leng et al. argue that feedback communicators can be made more comfortable delivering unpleasant messages if clinical training settings promote trainees’ learning‐goal orientation.
Foreground–background separation technique for crack detection
Authors: Nayyeri Fereshteh , Hou Lei , Zhou Jun , Guan Hong
Published: December 2018

Current level‐2 condition assessment methods for critical infrastructure assets mostly rely on human visual investigation of visible damages and patterns at the structure surface, which can be a costly, time‐consuming, and subjective exercise in reality. In this article, a novel method for crack detection is proposed via salient structure extraction from textured background. This method first extracts strong edges and distinguishes them from strong textures in a local neighborhood. Then, the spatial distribution of texture features is estimated to detect cracks as salient structures that are not widely spread across the whole image. The outputs from these two key steps are fused to calculate the final structure saliency map for generation of the crack masks. This method was validated on a data set with 704 images and the outcome revealed an average f‐measure of 75% in detecting the concrete cracks that is significantly higher than two other baseline methods.
Role of lysine residues of the Magnaporthe oryzae effector AvrPiz‐t in effector‐ and PAMP‐triggered immunity
Authors: Bai Pengfei , Park Chan‐Ho , Shirsekar Gautam , Songkumarn Pattavipha , Bellizzi Maria , Wang Guo‐Liang
Published: December 2018

Magnaporthe oryzae is an important fungal pathogen of both rice and wheat. However, how M. oryzae effectors modulate plant immunity is not fully understood. Previous studies have shown that the M. oryzae effector AvrPiz‐t targets the host ubiquitin‐proteasome system to manipulate plant defence. In return, two rice ubiquitin E3 ligases, APIP6 and APIP10, ubiquitinate AvrPiz‐t for degradation. To determine how lysine residues contribute to the stability and function of AvrPiz‐t, we generated double (K1,2R‐AvrPiz‐t), triple (K1,2,3R‐AvrPiz‐t) and lysine‐free (LF‐AvrPiz‐t) mutants by mutating lysines into arginines in AvrPiz‐t. LF‐AvrPiz‐t showed the highest protein accumulation when transiently expressed in rice protoplasts. When co‐expressed with APIP10 in Nicotiana benthamiana, LF‐AvrPiz‐t was more stable than AvrPiz‐t and was less able to degrade APIP10. The avirulence of LF‐AvrPiz‐t on Piz‐t:HA plants was less than that of AvrPiz‐t, which led to resistance reduction and lower accumulation of the Piz‐t:HA protein after inoculation with the LF‐AvrPiz‐t‐carrying isolate. Chitin‐ and flg22‐induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was higher in LF‐AvrPiz‐t than in AvrPiz‐t transgenic plants. In addition, LF‐AvrPiz‐t transgenic plants were less susceptible than AvrPiz‐t transgenic plants to a virulent isolate. Furthermore, both AvrPiz‐t and LF‐AvrPiz‐t interacted with OsRac1, but the suppression of OsRac1‐mediated ROS generation by LF‐AvrPiz‐t was significantly lower than that by AvrPiz‐t. Together, these results suggest that the lysine residues of AvrPiz‐t are required for its avirulence and virulence functions in rice.
Two Consecutive Polar Amino Acids at the End of Helix E are Important for Fast Turnover of the Archaerhodopsin Photocycle
Authors: Geng Xiong , Dai Gang , Chao Luomeng , Wen Durige , Kikukawa Takashi , Iwasa Tatsuo
Published: December 2018

Archaerhodopsins (ARs) is one of the members of microbial rhodopsins. Threonine 164 (T164) and serine 165 (S165) residues of the AR from Halorubrum sp. ejinoor (HeAR) are fully conserved in ARs, although they are far from the proton transfer channel and the retinal Schiff base, and are likely involved in a hydrogen‐bonding network at the end of the Helix E where most microbial rhodopsins assume a “bent structure”. In the present work, T164 and/or S165 were replaced with an alanine (A), and the photocycles of the mutants were analyzed with flash photolysis. The amino acid replacements caused profound changes to the photocycle of HeAR including prolonged photocycle, accelerated decay of M intermediate and appearance of additional two intermediates which were evident in T164A‐ and T164A/S165A‐HeAR photocyles. These results suggest that although T164 and S165 are located at the far end of the photoactive center, these two amino acid residues are important for maintaining the fast turnover of the HeAR photocycle. The underlying molecular mechanisms are discussed in relation to hydrogen‐bonding networks involving these two amino acids. Present study may arouse our interests to explore the functional role of the well‐conserved “bent structure” in different types of microbial rhodopsin.
From Polarized We/They Public Opinion on European Integration Towards Social Representations of Public Dialogue
Authors: Mahendran Kesi
Published: December 2018

Social psychology has established that oppositional we/they categorization is central to dis/identification with European integration (Chryssochoou, 2000; Hewstone, 1986; Mummendey & Walduz, 2004). As Europe faces fresh uncertainties, for example, Brexit, this article reveals the multipositional features of public‐opinion formation. Drawing on meta‐representational approaches, it reveals how we/they categorization moves from oppositional forms towards diplomatic nonoppositional forms when citizens speak about the general public in “a public capacity” (Dewey, 1927/1954). Two interview‐led studies in England, Ireland, Germany, Scotland, and Sweden (n = 100) brought participants into dialogue with the ideals of European integration. Analysis reveals six dialogical positions on the general public—avant‐garde, advocating, homesteading, distancing, segmenting, and progressive. These rest on social representations of the public as having freedom from movement, freedom of movement, and freedom through movement. Understanding the public’s multipositional capacities and the interplay between self‐world narratives and European integration narratives is one step towards depolarization and public dialogue on Europe.