bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ancient Greek Spermatology
Authors: König Jacqueline
Published: December 2019

From the fifth century bc onwards, the scientific interests of the ancient Greeks—already traceable in the earliest remaining sources—expanded to include zoology and related matters. The first philosopher known to have written a book about human biology was Alcmaeon of Croton, who is described as a pupil of Pythagoras. One important basic question in his research concerned the origin and nature of semen. According to the Viennese medical historian Erna Lesky, Alcmaeon held merely that semen has its origin in the brain. My suggestions are that Alcmaeon saw the abdomen as the place of origin of the material part of semen and that in his theory all (or at least more) parts of the body were present in the semen, while the brain functioned as a necessary transit port through which life entered.
Climate change threatens micro-endemic amphibians of an important South American high-altitude center of endemism
Authors: Cordier Javier M. , Lescano Julián N. , Ríos Natalia E. , Leynaud Gerardo C. , Nori Javier
Published: December 2019

Species inhabiting broad altitudinal gradients are particularly exposed to the effects of global climate change (GCC). Those species reaching mountain tops are the most negatively affected. Here, using ecological niche models we estimated the climate change exposure of endemic amphibians of the most important extra-Andean mountain system of Argentina: the Sierras Pampeanas Centrales. Our results pinpoint that micro-endemic amphibians of this mountain system are heavily exposed to the effects of GCC, with important constraints of suitable climatic conditions for the six analyzed species. Among the most important findings, our models predict a high probability of a total disappearance of suitable climatic conditions for two of the species, currently restricted to mountain tops. This high exposure, in synergy with their very restricted ranges, and other important human induced threats (as fish invasion and emergent diseases), pose a serious threat to these endemic species, which can enter into the “extinction pathway” in a near future if no concrete conservation actions are taken. Our findings provide additional evidence of the great negative impact of GCC in high-altitude centers of endemism.
Phylogenetic relationships of the bacchine flower flies (Diptera: Syrphidae) based on molecular characters, with a description of a new species of Melanostoma (Schiner, 1860)
Authors: Mengual Ximo
Published: December 2019

The phylogenetic relationships among the genera of the tribe Bacchini sensu lato (i.e., Syrphinae with simple, unsegmented aedeagus) were inferred using molecular evidence. The mitochondrial protein-coding gene cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and the nuclear ribosomal 28S and 18S rRNA genes for 54 bacchine taxa were analyzed using Bayesian inference and Maximum Likelihood. Among the analyzed taxa there is a new species of Melanostoma (Schiner) from Cameroon, Melanostoma janeceki Mengual, sp. nov., which is described in full. This new species has a complete metasternum without excavation, a characteristic that is not present in other species of Melanostoma, usually with an excavated metasternum, but it is the diagnostic character of the genus Afrostoma Skevington, Thompson & Vockeroth. Based on the phylogenetic placement of Melanostoma janeceki Mengual, sp. nov. the taxonomic status of Afrostoma as a genus is discussed and a new generic classification of Bacchini stat. rev. and Melanostomini stat. rev. is presented in the light of the inferred phylogeny. Results did not recover Bacchini sensu lato monophyletic, but into two groups as follows: Melanostoma and related genera, and Baccha, Platycheirus and related genera. Pseudoplatychirus van Doesburg is considered junior synonym of Platycheirus Le Peletier & Audinet-Serville, and Afrostoma Skevington, Thompson & Vockeroth as junior synonym of Melanostoma. Pyrophaena Schiner and Eocheilosia Hull comb. nov. are ranked as valid genera, and consequently, the genus Platycheirus is divided into four subgenera: Platycheirus (Carposcalis) (Enderlein), Platycheirus (Pachysphyria) (Enderlein), Platycheirus (Platycheirus), and Platycheirus (Tuberculanostoma) (Fluke) comb. nov.
Haptic and Auditory–Haptic Attentional Blink in Spatial and Object-Based Tasks
Authors: Rau Pei-Luen Patrick , Zheng Jian , Wang Lijun , Zhao Jingyu , Wang Dangxiao
Published: December 2019

Dual-task performance depends on both modalities (e.g., vision, audition, haptics) and task types (spatial or object-based), and the order by which different task types are organized. Previous studies on haptic and especially auditory–haptic attentional blink (AB) are scarce, and the effect of task types and their order have not been fully explored. In this study, 96 participants, divided into four groups of task type combinations, identified auditory or haptic Target 1 (T1) and haptic Target 2 (T2) in rapid series of sounds and forces. We observed a haptic AB (i.e., the accuracy of identifying T2 increased with increasing stimulus onset asynchrony between T1 and T2) in spatial, object-based, and object–spatial tasks, but not in spatial–object task. Changing the modality of an object-based T1 from haptics to audition eliminated the AB, but similar haptic-to-auditory change of the modality of a spatial T1 had no effect on the AB (if it exists). Our findings fill a gap in the literature regarding the auditory–haptic AB, and substantiate the importance of modalities, task types and their order, and the interaction between them. These findings were explained by how the cerebral cortex is organized for processing spatial and object-based information in different modalities.
Effects of auxin and urea derivatives on adventitious rooting in chestnut and oak microshoots
Authors: Vielba Jesús M. , Vidal Nieves , Ricci Ada , Castro Ricardo , Covelo Purificación , Carmen San-Jose M. , Sanchez Conchi
Published: December 2019

The present study investigated how auxin concentration and the method of application affected the formation of adventitious roots in microshoots of chestnut (Castanea sativa) and oak (Quercus robur). The activity of two urea derivatives (2, 3-MDPU and 3, 4-MDPU) was also evaluated. Microshoots were derived from basal sprouts of two mature chestnut trees (P1 and P2) and one adult oak genotype (Sainza). In chestnut, rooting percentage was positively affected by auxin in a dose-dependent manner, particularly in shoots treated with the hormone for 24 h. The effect of auxin on rooting also differed depending on the application method. In shoots treated for 24 h, the highest concentration of auxin produced the healthiest rooted plantlets, in terms of the root system and shoot quality. By contrast, in shoots treated by the basal quick-dip method, the shoot quality was best at the lowest auxin concentration. The effect of urea derivatives on the root system depended on the species as well as on the auxin concentration and application period. Use of the MDPUs improved the root system architecture of auxin-treated shoots by promoting lateral root development and triggering the synchronous initiation of root primordia at the base of the shoot. Shoot quality was also improved by MDPUs, which promoted resumption of growth and reduced shoot-tip necrosis.
“A River as a Character” (2019)
Authors: Gough-Brady Catherine
Published: December 2019

As a filmmaker, the author felt the need to develop a deep connection with her subject, but was unsure how to do so with the Murray-Darling River. Initially, she saw the river as a system akin to what Pierre Bourdieu calls a field: forces external to the author acting upon each other. She felt that to connect with the river she needed to adjust her habitus (personal dispositions; way of being) to its field. This continued once the author returned to Melbourne, but through the medium of the images of the river. During the edit, she shifted from seeing the river as a field of external forces to seeing it as a habitus, a way of being. This was necessary for the river to become a character, rather than just a location.
Reassessment of Pterolepis parnassiifolia (Melastomataceae, Melastomateae) and a new combination for the genus

Authors: FREITAS JULIANA G. , SANTOS ANDREA K.A. , PERAZA-FLORES LIZANDRO N.
Published: December 2019

We clarified the identity and nomenclature of Pterolepis parnassiifolia. A new combination, Pterolepis piatensis, is also proposed to recognize at species level the previously described P. parnassiifolia var. piatensis. We included full morphological descriptions, photographs, drawings, and discussions on the taxonomy, distribution and conservation of both species. We also included a table of main morphological characters separating P. parnassiifolia from P. piatensis.
Taxonomic status, occurrence and lectotypification in the genus Ophiuros (Poaceae) in India

Authors: GOSAVI KUMAR VINOD C. , KAMBALE SHARAD S. , JANARTHANAM MALAPATI K.
Published: December 2019

Present status and taxonomically valuable characters of Ophiuros (Poaceae) have been discussed. The distribution of O. exaltatus and O. megaphyllus is provided based on field survey and herbarium consultation in various herbaria in India. Lectotype for O. megaphyllus have been designated.
Magnolia napoensis (subsect. Talauma, Magnoliaceae): a new species from the Amazonian lowlands of Ecuador and Peru

Authors: ARROYO FRANK , PÉREZ ÁLVARO J. , DAHUA MACHOA ALEX , NEILL DAVID A. , ORTEGA-PEÑA ALONDRA SALOME , VÁZQUEZ-GARCÍA J. ANTONIO
Published: December 2019

Magnolia napoensis, a new species from the Amazonian lowlands of Ecuador and Peru is described and illustrated. This species belongs to subsection Talauma; it is similar to M. rimachii in leaf shape but differs from the latter in being taller with a larger diameter and having fewer lateral leaf veins, more numerous hypsophylls, larger flowers, longer outer petals, more numerous stamens and fruits ovoid and ribbed vs. subglobose and smooth. The new species differs from M. neillii by its leaves with fewer lateral veins, glabrous petioles and terminal internodes, more numerous hypsophylls, fewer stamens and ovoid fruits of smaller size, with fewer carpels. Magnolia napoensis is assessed as endangered (EN B2ab(iii)) in accordance with the IUCN criteria.
A new Rindera (Boraginaceae) species from Western Anatolia, Turkey

Authors: YILDIRIM HASAN
Published: December 2019

Rindera cetineri Yıldırım (Boraginaceae) is described here as a new species. Diagnostic morphological characters, a full description, and detailed illustrations are given herein. Rindera cetineri is restricted to the Akdağ Mountain in the Çameli district of the province of Denizli in western Anatolia, Turkey. It shows morphological similarities to Rindera lanata, Rindera graeca, Rindera caespitosa, and Rindera dumanii. It is easily distinguished from these species, especially by its linear to linear lanceolate and light pinkish-purple with darker striation lobes; corolla lobes divided into 2/5–1/2 corolla lenght; anther shorter than lobes.
Alysicarpus bhuibavadensis (Fabaceae) a new species from Western Ghats of India

Authors: DALAVI JAGDISH VISHNU , BRAMHADANDE SNEHA , POKLE DEELIP , YADAV SHRIRANG
Published: December 2019

Alysicarpus bhuibavadensis is described here as a new species from Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra state, India. Alysicarpus bhuibavadensis is close to A. tetragonolobus and A. gracilis in its morphology but distinct by means of pubescent leaves, axillary lax racemes, included pods with thickened beak.
Revision of the Protohermes species from Tibet, China (Megaloptera: Corydalidae)
Authors: LIU XINGYUE , YANG DING
Published: January 2020

The species of the genus Protohermes from Tibet are recorded and revised. Protohermes tibetanusYang & Yang is now a junior synonym of P. infectus (McLachlan) and two species are described as new to science: Protohermes latus sp. nov., and Protohermes motuoensis sp. nov. A key to the species from Tibet is presented.
Getting In, Getting Hired, Getting Sideways Looks: Organizational Hierarchy and Perceptions of Racial Discrimination
Authors: Wingfield Adia Harvey , Chavez Koji
Published: January 2020

This article argues that black workers’ perceptions of racial discrimination derive not just from being in the minority, but also from their position in the organizational structure. Researchers have shown that black individuals encounter an enormous amount of racial discrimination in the workplace, including but not limited to exclusion from critical social networks, wage disparities, and hiring disadvantages. But fewer studies examine the extent to which black workers believe racial discrimination is a salient factor in their occupational mobility or the factors that might explain their divergent perceptions of racial discrimination. Based on 60 in-depth interviews with black medical doctors, nurses, and technicians in the healthcare industry, we show that black workers’ status within an organizational hierarchy fundamentally informs perceptions of the nature and type of workplace racial discrimination. These findings have implications for understanding how racial dynamics at work are linked to mental health, occupational satisfaction, and organizational change.
Still hold aloft the banner of social change? Nonprofit advocacy in the wave of commercialization
Authors: Zhang Zhibin , Guo Chao
Published: January 2020

Nonprofit organizations worldwide are increasingly seeking commercial means of financing. Would commercialization compromise the civic functions of nonprofit organizations, especially their policy advocacy efforts for social change? In this article, we address this profound concern by examining policy advocacy by commercialized nonprofits in Singapore. Applying a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis approach in theory building, this study identifies multiple causal configurations of organizational and environmental conditions under which nonprofit organizations can still maintain a high level of advocacy activities in the wave of commercialization. The configurational theory that this study develops sheds new light on our understanding of the causal complexity underlying nonprofit advocacy and informs decision-making on how to uphold nonprofit civic functions in the commercializing context.
Trust in Local Government: Service Satisfaction, Culture, and Demography
Authors: Christensen Tom , Yamamoto Kiyoshi , Aoyagi Saizo
Published: January 2020

Trust in government is expected to promote effective implementation of public services. However, people in different cultures and on different levels do not always recognize the same concept of trust. Using a survey for Japanese and Norwegian citizens, the primary factors determining trust on the local level are examined. The analysis shows that the satisfaction with public service performance is highly influential in both countries, which is partly also true for political-cultural factors, while demographical factors are of minor influence. There are also variations in trust toward different institutions and actors, and the national factor is also significant.
The Banality of Segregation: Why Hirsch Still Helps Us Understand Our Racial Geography
Authors: Taylor Keeanga-Yamahtta
Published: January 2020

Even as laws have banished the practice, residential segregation continues to be a defining feature of the metropolitan United States. How does the scholarship of Arnold Hirsch help us to understand its persistence even as its mechanisms morph in multiple ways? How also do we understand the dynamic ways that African Americans have resisted this enclosure through politics but also through the creation of community and culture within that space?
Multi-frequency micro-vibration control with hybrid adaptive control algorithm
Authors: Fang Yubin , Zhu Xiaojin , Hu Jiaming , Gao Zhiyuan , Zhang Hesheng
Published: January 2020

As a popular adaptive algorithm for active vibration control (AVC), filtered-x least mean square (FxLMS) algorithm sometimes fails to suppress multiple narrowband disturbance. To control multi-frequency structure vibration, parallel-form FxLMS algorithm can be employed. However, the conventional parallel-form FxLMS does not perform well in the situation of disturbance frequency mismatch and wideband measurement noise. For this issue, the majority of the improvement approaches are based on adaptive frequency estimator. It increased the computational burden of the parallel-form FxLMS algorithm. Therefore, taking the advantage of feedback control, a hybrid adaptive control for AVC is proposed in this paper. And the “posterior” residual error is adopted for better robustness. The convergence analysis of the hybrid AVC algorithm is given. Co-simulations with ADAMS and SIMULINK are implemented to verify the effectiveness in micro-vibration control system. Some comparison experiments are implemented in a micro-vibration AVC experimental system for several typical disturbances. Experimental results confirm the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
INGRESS: Interactive visual grounding of referring expressions
Authors: Shridhar Mohit , Mittal Dixant , Hsu David
Published: January 2020

This article presents INGRESS, a robot system that follows human natural language instructions to pick and place everyday objects. The key question here is to ground referring expressions: understand expressions about objects and their relationships from image and natural language inputs. INGRESS allows unconstrained object categories and rich language expressions. Further, it asks questions to clarify ambiguous referring expressions interactively. To achieve these, we take the approach of grounding by generation and propose a two-stage neural-network model for grounding. The first stage uses a neural network to generate visual descriptions of objects, compares them with the input language expressions, and identifies a set of candidate objects. The second stage uses another neural network to examine all pairwise relations between the candidates and infers the most likely referred objects. The same neural networks are used for both grounding and question generation for disambiguation. Experiments show that INGRESS outperformed a state-of-the-art method on the RefCOCO dataset and in robot experiments with humans. The INGRESS source code is available at https://github.com/MohitShridhar/ingress .
Effect of the valve design on pressure drop, pressure recovery, and spatial positioning of vena contracta
Authors: Tasca Giordano , Lucherini Federico , Romagnoni Claudia , Jaworek Michal , Redaelli Alberto , Antona Carlo , Vismara Riccardo
Published: January 2020

Background:

Bioprostheses are complex structures and yield a very complex fluid dynamics. Hence, it can be hypothesized that prosthesis structural characteristics affect the position of the vena contracta and, consequently, influences the pattern and the extent of pressure recovery downstream from the vena contracta.

Materials and methods:

The study was performed on pericardial aortic prostheses, specifically Crown 21 and 23 (LivaNova PLC, UK), Trifecta 19 and 21 (Edwards Lifescience, USA), and Magna 19 and 21(Abbott, USA), tested in an “ad hoc” devised steady flow loop circuit at four flow rates (10, 15, 20, and 25 L/min). Fluid dynamic quantities were obtained by direct pressure measurement and Doppler interrogation.

Results:

Pressure drop at 25 L/min flow rate was 26.5 ± 0.3 mm Hg and 14.9 ± 0.1 mm Hg for the Trifecta 19 and 21, 37.1 ± 1.0 mm Hg and 27.3 ± 0.4 mm Hg for the Magna 19 and 21, and 36.6 ± 1.0 mm Hg and 22.7 ± 0.1 mm Hg for Crown 21 and 23, respectively. The vena contracta was shorter for Trifecta compared with the Magna and the Crown in which it developed further downstream and as far as 1 cm from the valve leaflets fringes. The pressure recovery was 54% ± 1% for Trifecta 21, 39% ± 1% for Magna 21, and 41% ± 2% for Crown 23 with different patterns.

Conclusion:

The design of bioprosthesis affects pressure recovery and the position of the vena contracta. The different patterns of pressure recovery might have clinical impact.
Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy in goats: is PrP rapid test sensitivity affected by genotype?
Authors: Simmons Marion M. , Thorne Leigh , Ortiz-Pelaez Angel , Spiropoulos John , Georgiadou Soteria , Papasavva-Stylianou Penelope , Andreoletti Olivier , Hawkins Stephen A.C. , Meloni Daniela , Cassar Claire
Published: January 2020

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) surveillance in goats relies on tests initially approved for cattle, subsequently assessed for sheep, and approval extrapolated for use in “small ruminants.” The current EU-approved immunodetection tests employ antibodies against various epitopes of the prion protein PrPSc, which is encoded by the host PRNP gene. The caprine PRNP gene is polymorphic, mostly at codons different from the ovine PRNP. The EU goat population is much more heterogeneous than the sheep population, with more PRNP-related polymorphisms, and with marked breed-related differences. The ability of the current tests to detect disease-specific PrPSc generated against these different genetic backgrounds is currently assumed, rather than proven. We examined whether common polymorphisms within the goat PRNP gene might have any adverse effect on the relative performance of EU-approved rapid tests. The sample panel comprised goats from the UK, Cyprus, France, and Italy, with either experimental or naturally acquired scrapie at both the preclinical and/or unknown and clinical stages of disease. Test sensitivity was significantly lower and more variable when compared using samples from animals that were preclinical or of unknown status. However, all of the rapid tests included in our study were able to correctly identify all samples from animals in the clinical stages of disease, apart from samples from animals polymorphic for serine or aspartic acid at codon 146, in which the performance of the Bio-Rad tests was profoundly affected. Our data show that some polymorphisms may adversely affect one test and not another, as well as underline the dangers of extrapolating from other species.
Comparison of Hypoglycemia and Safety Outcomes With Long-Acting Insulins Versus Insulin NPH in Pregestational and Gestational Diabetes
Authors: Sleeman Allyson , Odom Jessica , Schellinger Megan
Published: January 2020

Background: Current guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend insulin as the standard therapy for treatment of pregestational and gestational diabetes (PGDM and GDM). However, the guidelines do not specify which type(s) of insulin to utilize. Additionally, there are limited published data regarding safety parameters of insulin in this population. Objective: To evaluate if insulin glargine or detemir (long-acting insulin) results in less hypoglycemia, hospitalizations, or delivery complications compared with intermediate-acting insulin neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) in PGDM and GDM. Methods: This single-center, retrospective, observational cohort study included pregnant women who were 18 years or older with PGDM or GDM and received insulin therapy during pregnancy at an outpatient obstetric clinic. The primary outcome was the frequency of hypoglycemia (BG < 60 mg/dL). Secondary outcomes included emergency department visits and hospitalizations, delivery complications, and the duration of time at glycemic targets during pregnancy. Results: A total of 63 patients were included for evaluation. There was no significant difference in the frequency of hypoglycemia between the long-acting and NPH groups (4.4 vs 6.2 events per patient, respectively; P = 0.361). Patients receiving long-acting insulin had significantly more encounters with diabetes education (10.6 vs 5.1 visits per patient, P = 0.002) and more consistently provided glucose readings at their appointments (8.3 vs 4.8, P = 0.043). There was no difference in hospitalizations or maternal and neonatal complications. Conclusion and Relevance: Long-acting insulins did not reduce the frequency of hypoglycemia compared with NPH. The results of this study confirm the need for additional investigations with larger populations.
Smart Flow for the evaluation of the hemodialysis arteriovenous fistula
Authors: Colucci Marco , Torreggiani Massimo , Bernardi Irene , Stangalino Simone , Catucci Davide , Esposito Vittoria , Sileno Giuseppe , Esposito Ciro
Published: January 2020

Background:

Smart Flow is an innovative tool available on the Carestream Touch Prime Ultrasound machines, which provides automated blood flow measurement and shows the vectors that form the blood flow in the vessel. We compared the use of Smart Flow with traditional Duplex Doppler Ultrasound to evaluate blood flow of arteriovenous fistulas in prevalent hemodialysis patients.

Methods:

A total of 31 chronic patients on hemodialysis were enrolled. Blood flow was measured on the brachial artery with Smart Flow and duplex Doppler ultrasound. In a subset of 26 patients, a video of the juxta-anastomotic efferent vein was recorded and analyzed to calculate an index of flow turbulence.

Results:

We enrolled 21 males and 10 females aged 68.52 ± 11.64 years at the time of evaluation with an average arteriovenous fistulas vintage of 50.23 ± 47.42 months and followed them up for 18.03 ± 5.18 months. Smart Flow and Duplex Doppler Ultrasound blood flow measurements positively correlated (p < 0.0001) in the same patient but Smart Flow gave higher blood flow values (995.0 vs 730.3 mL/min, p < 0.0001), and the Duplex Doppler Ultrasound blood flow standard deviation was similar to Smart Flow (125.4 vs 114.4 mL/min, p < 0.0001). The time needed to evaluate arteriovenous fistulas with Smart Flow was significantly shorter than Duplex Doppler Ultrasound (67.58 ± 19.89 vs 146.3 ± 26.35 s, p < 0.0001). No correlation was found between blood flow turbulence and the subsequent access failure.

Conclusion:

Smart Flow is reliable, reproducible, and faster than traditional duplex ultrasound. However, the additional information given by the Smart Flow technique does not seem to add any further benefits in terms of prediction of the access failure.
‘Our words are stronger’: Re-enforcing boundaries through ritual work in a terrorist news event
Authors: Sumiala Johanna , Räisä Tiina
Published: January 2020

This article investigates the ritual work in terrorist news events, using the Berlin truck attack as a case in point. The article connects with the larger cluster of anthropologically inspired communication research on media events as public rituals in news media and applies digital media ethnography as its method. Fieldwork is conducted in 15 online news sites. The article identifies three key phases through which the ritual work was carried out: the rupture in the news event (ritualised as the strike), the liminal phase (ritualised as the manhunt) and the reconstitution of order following the attack (ritualised as the mourning). The article concludes with an interpretation of the broader social implications of the ritual work and related naturalisation of ‘friends’ and ‘foes’ and suggests that this type of ritual work contributes to a collective mythologisation of terrorism in news media and society at large.
The democratic legitimacy of public participation in planning: Contrasting optimistic, critical, and agnostic understandings
Authors: Zakhour Sherif
Published: January 2020

How does public participation in planning and environmental governance engender democratic legitimacy? Drawing a distinction between the optimistic and critical participation literature, I argue that both these strands of research have tended to neglect the public’s perspective on this question. This oversight has, in effect, produced strongly normative and essentialist understandings of democratic legitimacy that treat legitimicy as intrinsic to either process or substance of participatory governance. Proceeding from an anti-essentialist understanding of democratic legitimacy, which primarily relies on contemporary social perceptions and expectations of democratic institutions, I outline a normatively agnostic framework for exploring how legitimacy is engendered through participation. Using this framework to investigate citizen experiences of participation processes in Sweden, I highlight how democratic legitimacy can gainfully be understood as a multidimensional, provisional, and contingent quality that individual citizen participants “confer” and “retract” in a plurality of ways. Based on this, I conclude by suggesting that sustained research engagement with the public’s expectations and experiences of participatory governance can reveal critical insights into the potentials and challenges for realizing democratic planning outcomes.
The System xc- Cystine/Glutamate Antiporter: An Exciting Target for Antiepileptogenic Therapy?
Authors: Gallagher Martin
Published: January 2020

[Box: see text]
Measuring Problem Online Video Gaming and Its Association With Problem Gambling and Suspected Motivational, Mental Health, and Behavioral Risk Factors in a Sample of University Students
Authors: Biegun Jeff , Edgerton Jason D. , Roberts Lance W.
Published: January 2020

Recently, the issue of problem online video game playing and its potential connection with problem gambling has drawn increased attention. Although conceptually similar to many behavioral addictions, there is still no clear consensus on how to best measure and assess problem video game playing. This study validates one proposed measure of problem video gaming—the Problem Video Game Playing Test (PVGT)—in a Canadian undergraduate university student sample. Multivariate results indicate that problem video gaming is positively associated with the average length of time spent gaming, social alienation, and online gaming motives such as competition, escape, coping, recreation, and socializing; but, contrary to the gateway hypothesis, problem gambling and several of its mental health correlates—depression, anxiety, and stress—are not associated with problem video gaming as measured by the PVGT. Limitations and implications of this analysis are discussed.
Use of SGLT-2 Inhibitors in Patients With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: El Hage Lea , Kashyap Sangeeta R , Rao Pratibha
Published: January 2020

Introduction: Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are the newest class of oral antihyperglycemic medications approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). Although they are not approved for use in type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1), SGLT2 inhibitors may help DM1 patients achieve their HbA1c goals by decreasing their insulin requirements, without inducing hypoglycemic episodes and weight gain. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 26 patients with DM1 treated with off-label SGLT-2 inhibitors. The primary objective was change in HbA1c and weight. The secondary objective was assessing the effect on insulin requirements, blood pressure, and lipid profile. Results: Improvement in HbA1c level was seen in 20 of the 26 patients (77%) after initiation of SGLT-2 inhibitors. The average decrease in HbA1c was 0.32% ( P = .032), with changes seen as early as 1 month posttherapy and maintained with continued SGLT-2 inhibitor use. There was a trend toward weight loss that was not significant. No significant changes in blood pressure or lipid profiles were seen except for a slight increase in low-density lipoprotein ( P = .049). No patient developed euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis. Three patients discontinued therapy due to uncontrolled genital yeast infections. Conclusion: SGLT-2 inhibitors can be a useful adjunctive therapy in patients with DM1 to improve glycemic control and weight. Although our study did not show any significant changes in the metabolic profile and insulin requirements in these patients, a larger sample size may yield different results.
Proximal peroneal artery traumatic pseudoaneurysm following a compound proximal tibial shaft fracture managed with an external fixator: A case report
Authors: Ileperuma Malinda Rasith , Hewavithana Badra
Published: December 2019

A case of post-traumatic proximal peroneal artery pseudoaneurysm following a proximal tibial shaft fracture, complicated by acute compartment syndrome, fixed using an external fixator, in a 22-year-old female is presented. She was investigated for sudden-onset bleeding from the external fixator pin site, 6 weeks after the initial injury, was anaemic and diagnosed with a pseudoaneurysm at lower limb angiography. Contrast leak from the site of pseudoaneurysm was noted and open surgery with ligation of the pseudoaneurysm was performed. This rare complication of a proximal tibial shaft fracture has to be considered in patients presenting with acute bleeding from the surgical site or from pin sites after a significant lag period and requires a high index of suspicion.
Whole genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of human metapneumovirus strains from Kenya and Zambia
Authors: Kamau Everlyn , Oketch John W. , de Laurent Zaydah R. , Phan My V. T. , Agoti Charles N. , Nokes D. James , Cotten Matthew
Published: January 2020

Background

Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is an important cause of acute respiratory illness in young children. Whole genome sequencing enables better identification of transmission events and outbreaks, which is not always possible with sub-genomic sequences.

Results

We report a 2-reaction amplicon-based next generation sequencing method to determine the complete genome sequences of five HMPV strains, representing three subgroups (A2, B1 and B2), directly from clinical samples. In addition to reporting five novel HMPV genomes from Africa we examined genetic diversity and sequence patterns of publicly available HMPV genomes. We found that the overall nucleotide sequence identity was 71.3 and 80% for HMPV group A and B, respectively, the diversity between HMPV groups was greater at amino acid level for SH and G surface protein genes, and multiple subgroups co-circulated in various countries. Comparison of sequences between HMPV groups revealed variability in G protein length (219 to 241 amino acids) due to changes in the stop codon position. Genome-wide phylogenetic analysis showed congruence with the individual gene sequence sets except for F and M2 genes.

Conclusion

This is the first genomic characterization of HMPV genomes from African patients.
Using whole-genome SNP data to reconstruct a large multi-generation pedigree in apple germplasm
Authors: Muranty Hélène , Denancé Caroline , Feugey Laurence , Crépin Jean-Luc , Barbier Yves , Tartarini Stefano , Ordidge Matthew , Troggio Michela , Lateur Marc , Nybom Hilde , Paprstein Frantisek , Laurens François , Durel Charles-Eric
Published: January 2020

Background

Apple (MalusxdomesticaBorkh.) is one of the most important fruit tree crops of temperate areas, with great economic and cultural value. Apple cultivars can be maintained for centuries in plant collections through grafting, and some are thought to date as far back as Roman times. Molecular markers provide a means to reconstruct pedigrees and thus shed light on the recent history of migration and trade of biological materials. The objective of the present study was to identify relationships within a set of over 1400 mostly old apple cultivars using whole-genome SNP data (~ 253 K SNPs) in order to reconstruct pedigrees.

Results

Using simple exclusion tests, based on counting the number of Mendelian errors, more than one thousand parent-offspring relations and 295 complete parent-offspring families were identified. Additionally, a grandparent couple was identified for the missing parental side of 26 parent-offspring pairings. Among the 407 parent-offspring relations without a second identified parent, 327 could be oriented because one of the individuals was an offspring in a complete family or by using historical data on parentage or date of recording. Parents of emblematic cultivars such as ‘Ribston Pippin’, ‘White Transparent’ and ‘Braeburn’ were identified. The overall pedigree combining all the identified relationships encompassed seven generations and revealed a major impact of two Renaissance cultivars of French and English origin, namely ‘Reinette Franche’ and ‘Margil’, and one North-Eastern Europe cultivar from the 1700s, ‘Alexander’. On the contrary, several older cultivars, from the Middle Ages or the Roman times, had no, or only single, identifiable offspring in the set of studied accessions. Frequent crosses between cultivars originating from different European regions were identified, especially from the nineteenth century onwards.

Conclusions

The availability of over 1400 apple genotypes, previously filtered for genetic uniqueness and providing a broad representation of European germplasm, has been instrumental for the success of this large pedigree reconstruction. It enlightens the history of empirical selection and recent breeding of apple cultivars in Europe and provides insights to speed-up future breeding and selection.
The association between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein at admission and progressive motor deficits in patients with penetrating artery infarctions
Authors: Gong Pengyu , Liu Yukai , Huang Ting , Chen Wenxiu , Jiang Teng , Gong Yachi , Lu Min , Wang Meng , Zhang Yingdong , Zhang Xiaohao , Deng Qiwen , Zhou Junshan
Published: December 2019

Background

A fraction of patients with penetrating artery infarction (PAI) experience progressive motor deficit deterioration (PMD). We sought to investigate the role of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) at admission in predicting PMD.

Methods

From January 2015 to September 2018, consecutive patients with PAI from three centers were prospectively enrolled in this study. PMD was defined as worsening of motor function score by ≥1 point on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale during the first 5 days after admission. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the relationship between hs-CRP and PMD in patients with PAI. We also performed receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and constructed a nomogram to assess the overall discriminative ability of hs-CRP in predicting PMD.

Results

We ultimately included 544 patients (mean age, 65.4 ± 11.8 years). A total of 85 (15.6%) patients were identified to have PMD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that hs-CRP was independently associated with PMD (P = 0.001). The optimal cutoff value for hs-CRP as a predictor for PMD was 3.48 mg/L, with a sensitivity of 73.64% and a specificity of 82.35% (area under curve, 0.792). Moreover, the nomogram we constructed indicated that higher level of hs-CRP was an indicator of PMD (c-index = 0.780, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our study suggested that hs-CRP might be a useful biomarker for predicting the risk of PMD in patients with PAI.
Novel variants in a patient with late-onset hyperprolinemia type II: diagnostic key for status epilepticus and lactic acidosis
Authors: Motte Jeremias , Fisse Anna Lena , Grüter Thomas , Schneider Ruth , Breuer Thomas , Lücke Thomas , Krueger Stefan , Nguyen Huu Phuc , Gold Ralf , Ayzenberg Ilya , Ellrichmann Gisa
Published: December 2019

Background

Hyperprolinemia type 2 (HPII) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of the proline metabolism, that affects the ALDH4A1 gene. So far only four different pathogenic mutations are known. The manifestation is mostly in neonatal age, in early infancy or early childhood.

Case presentation

The 64-years female patient had a long history of abdominal pain, and episode of an acute neuritis. Ten years later she was admitted into the neurological intensive-care-unit with acute abdominal pain, multiple generalized epileptic seizures, a vertical gaze palsy accompanied by extensive lactic acidosis in serum 26.0 mmol/l (reference: 0.55–2.2 mmol/l) and CSF 12.01 mmol/l (reference: 1.12–2.47 mmol/l). Due to repeated epileptic seizures and secondary complications a long-term sedation with a ventilation therapy over 20 days was administered. A diagnostic work-up revealed up to 400-times increased prolin-level in urine CSF and blood. Furthermore, a low vitamin-B6 serum value was found, consistent with a HPII causing secondary pyridoxine deficiency and seizures. The ALDH4A1 gene sequencing confirmed two previously unknown compound heterozygous variants (ALDH4A1 gene (NM_003748.3) Intron 1: c.62 + 1G > A - heterozygous and ALDH4A1 gene (NM_003748.3) Exon 5 c.349G > C, p.(Asp117His) - heterozygous). Under high-dose vitamin-B6 therapy no further seizures occurred.

Conclusion

We describe two novel ALDH4A1-variants in an adult patient with hyperprolinemia type II causing secondary pyridoxine deficiency and seizures. Severe and potentially life-threatening course of this treatable disease emphasizes the importance of diagnostic vigilance and thorough laboratory work-up including gene analysis even in cases with atypical late manifestation.
Loss of Stag2 cooperates with EWS-FLI1 to transform murine Mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: El Beaino Marc , Liu Jiayong , Wasylishen Amanda R. , Pourebrahim Rasoul , Migut Agata , Bessellieu Bryan J. , Huang Ke , Lin Patrick P.
Published: January 2020

Background

Ewing sarcoma is a malignancy of primitive cells, possibly of mesenchymal origin. It is probable that genetic perturbations other than EWS-FLI1 cooperate with it to produce the tumor. Sequencing studies identified STAG2 mutations in approximately 15% of cases in humans. In the present study, we hypothesize that loss of Stag2 cooperates with EWS-FLI1 in generating sarcomas derived from murine mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs).

Methods

Mice bearing an inducible EWS-FLI1 transgene were crossed to p53−/− mice in pure C57/Bl6 background. MSCs were derived from the bone marrow of the mice. EWS-FLI1 induction and Stag2 knockdown were achieved in vitro by adenovirus-Cre and shRNA-bearing pGIPZ lentiviral infection, respectively. The cells were then treated with ionizing radiation to 10 Gy. Anchorage independent growth in vitro was assessed by soft agar assays. Cellular migration and invasion were evaluated by transwell assays. Cells were injected with Matrigel intramuscularly into C57/Bl6 mice to test for tumor formation.

Results

Primary murine MSCs with the genotype EWS-FLI1 p53−/− were resistant to transformation and did not form tumors in syngeneic mice without irradiation. Stag2 inhibition increased the efficiency and speed of sarcoma formation significantly in irradiated EWS-FLI1 p53−/− MSCs. The efficiency of tumor formation was 91% for cells in mice injected with Stag2-repressed cells and 22% for mice receiving cells without Stag2 inhibition (p < .001). Stag2 knockdown reduced survival of mice in Kaplan-Meier analysis (p < .001). It also increased MSC migration and invasion in vitro but did not affect proliferation rate or aneuploidy.

Conclusion

Loss of Stag2 has a synergistic effect with EWS-FLI1 in the production of sarcomas from murine MSCs, but the mechanism may not relate to increased proliferation or chromosomal instability. Primary murine MSCs are resistant to transformation, and the combination of p53 null mutation, EWS-FLI1, and Stag2 inhibition does not confer immediate conversion of MSCs to sarcomas. Irradiation is necessary in this model, suggesting that perturbations of other genes beside Stag2 and p53 are likely to be essential in the development of EWS-FLI1-driven sarcomas from MSCs.
Correction to: Human papillomavirus type 18 oncoproteins exert their oncogenicity in esophageal and tongue squamous cell carcinoma cell lines distinctly
Authors: Boon Siaw Shi , Chen Zigui , Li Jintao , Lee Karen Y. C. , Cai Liuyang , Zhong Rugang , Chan Paul K. S.
Published: December 2019

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported that during the production process, Table 1 was omitted.
Comparison between refractive outcomes of femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery and standard phacoemulsification
Authors: Shaheen Mohamed Shafik , AbouSamra Amir , Helaly Hany Ahmed , Said Amr , Elmassry Ahmed
Published: January 2020

Background

To compare the visual and refractive outcomes of femtosecond laser assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) using Victus platform (Technolas Bausch and Lomb (B&L), Munich, Germany) and conventional phacoemulsification cataract surgery (CPCS).

Methods

A retrospective study of 100 eyes operated for cataract. FLACS was performed in 50 eyes and CPCS was done in another 50 eyes. Preoperative and 6 months postoperative visual and refractive evaluation (efficacy, safety, predictability, and surgically induced astigmatism) as well as higher-order aberrations were analyzed. Efficacy index which equals post-operative mean of uncorrected distance visual acuity (UDVA) divided by preoperative mean corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) was calculated in both groups. Safety index equals post-operative mean of corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) divided by preoperative mean CDVA.

Results

Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (LogMAR), UDVA improved in both groups after surgery (p < 0.05). It was 0.23 ± 0.20 and 0.291 ± 0.311 log MAR in FLACS and CPCS groups respectively. Safety index was 1.777 in FLACS group and 1.744 in CPCS groups showing high degree of safety of both measures. Mean surgically induced astigmatism (SIA) was 0.35 ± 0.67 D and 0.901 ± 0.882 D in FLACS and CPCS groups respectively (p = 0.015). The post-operative comparison between both groups was in favor of CPCS group vs. FLACS group regarding total aberrations (0.563 ± 0.386 vs. 0.91 ± 1.20) (p = 0.03), while low order aberrations were significantly less in FLACS group vs. CPCS group (0.64 + 0.63 vs. 2.07 + 3.15) (p = 0.027). RMS high order aberration was higher in FLACS group vs. CPCS group but of no statistical significance 0.54 ± 0.96 vs. 0.328 ± 0.360 (p = 0.082).

Conclusion

Femtosecond laser -assisted cataract surgery was a safe and precise procedure but enhanced visual outcomes only minimally when compared to conventional cataract surgery in experienced hands. Both FLACS and manual surgeries can achieve a high efficacy, predictability and safety with slight superior outcomes in FLACS.

Trial registration number

PACTR201804003256258 (date: 27 Mar 2018) Available at: https://pactr.samrc.ac.za/
Risk factors associated with osteonecrosis of femoral head after internal fixation of femoral neck fracture:a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xu Jing-Li , Liang Zheng-Rong , Xiong Bing-Lang , Zou Qi-Zhao , Lin Tian-Ye , Yang Peng , Chen Da , Zhang Qing-Wen
Published: December 2019

Background

Although the risk factors associated with osteonecrosis of femoral head (ONFH) after internal fixation of femoral neck fracture (IFFNF) have been frequently reported, the results remain controversial. Therefore, its related risk factors were systematically evaluated and meta-classified in this study.

Methods

Literature on risk factors of ONFH caused by IFFNF was retrieved in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library due June 2019. Review Manager 5.3 software was applied to data synthesis, and Stata 13.0 software was adopted for analyses of publication bias and sensitivity.

Results

A total of 17 case-control studies with 2065 patients were included. The risk of ONFH after IF was 0.40-fold higher in patients with Garden III-IV FNF than that in patients with Garden I-II (OR: 0.40, 95%CI: 0.29–0.55). The risk of OFNH with retained IF was uplifted by 0.04 times (OR: 0.04, 95%CI: 0.02–0.07). There was nonsignificant relationship between gender and ONFH after IFFNF (OR: 1.27, 95%CI: 0.84–1.94). Moreover, ONFH after IFFNF presented no association with age (OR:1.66, 95%CI: 0.89–3.11), injury-operation interval (OR:1.29, 95%CI: 0.82–2.04), fracture reduction mode (OR:1.98, 95%CI: 0.92–4.26), preoperative traction (OR:1.69, 95%CI: 0.29–9.98) and mechanism of injury (OR:0.53, 95%CI: 0.06–4.83). Egger’s and Begg’s tests indicated a publication bias (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

It was demonstrated that Garden classification and retained IF were important influencing factors of ONFH after IFFNF. Gender, age, injury-operation interval, fracture reduction mode, preoperative traction and the mechanism of ONFH were irrelevant to the complication.