bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risiko-Screening im Handballsport – Welche funktionellen Tests sind sinnvoll?
Authors: Hainc Scheller Christoph , Keller Matthias , Kurz Eduard
Published: September 2018

Hintergrund Ein Weg zur optimierten Verletzungsprophylaxe ist der Einsatz funktioneller Testbatterien im Sport. Auf Basis dieser Ergebnisse können korrigierende Übungen empfohlen werden, mit dem Ziel die Defizite zu beheben. Ziel dieser Untersuchung war es, Ergebnisse ausgewählter funktioneller Tests mit dem Auftreten von Verletzungen bei jugendlichen Handballspielern zu vergleichen.

Material und Methoden An dieser Studie nahmen 31 Spieler aus den Nachwuchsmannschaften eines Handballbundesligisten teil. Vor Beginn der Rückrunde absolvierten alle Spieler den Functional-Movement-Screen, Y-Balance-Test, Front-Hop-Test, Side-Hop-Test und Square-Hop-Test. Alle Verletzungen, die nach der Testung aufgetreten sind, wurden bis zum Abschluss der Saison dokumentiert.

Ergebnisse Innerhalb des Untersuchungszeitraums wurden 4 Nicht-Kontakt-Verletzungen und 4 Kontakt-Verletzungen registriert. Spieler, die eine Nicht-Kontakt-Verletzung erlitten haben, zeigten im Side-Hop-Test eine Seitensymmetrie von 78 % (Unverletzte und Kontakt-Verletzungen > 85 %) und im Y-Balance-Test einen Composite-Score von 87 % (Unverletzte und Kontakt-Verletzungen > 90 %). Für den Functional-Movement-Screen, die Front- und Square-Hop-Tests konnten keine deutlichen Unterschiede zwischen verletzten und unverletzten Spielern festgestellt werden.

Schlussfolgerung Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie weisen darauf hin, dass innerhalb von Funktionsuntersuchungen im Handball neben Low-Threshold-Tests auch Testverfahren aus dem High-Threshold-Bereich angewendet werden sollten. Besonders geeignet für Handballsportler scheinen nach den Erfahrungen dieser Untersuchung der Y-Balance-Test und der Side-Hop-Test zu sein.
Immunotherapy in Autoimmune and Neuroinflammation-Related Epilepsies
Authors: Willis Erin , Samanta Debopam , Arya Kapil
Published: September 2018

There is increasing recognition of the role played by neuroinflammation both as a factor in the development of epilepsy as well as a consequence of seizures. Autoimmune encephalitis and epilepsies have emerged as an important etiology of drug-refractory epilepsies. The recognition of these entities is vital for immunomodulation and is the cornerstone in its management. Immunotherapy treatment regimens in these conditions continue to be refined, and there is an increasing knowledge in their use. This article attempts to review the experience with the use of different immunotherapies in specific autoimmune and neuroinflammation-related encephalitis and epilepsies including their mechanisms of action and potential side effects.
An Anatomic Study of the Facial Nerve Trunk and Branching Pattern in an African Population
Authors: Thuku Francis Mutahi , Butt Fawzia , Guthua Symon W. , Chindia Mark
Published: September 2018

There are known racial variations in the branching and furcation pattern and the length of the facial nerve (FN) trunk and hardly any studies from the black African population. Surgeries around the FN predispose it to trauma and warrant a detailed anatomy of its branching pattern. Using a descriptive cross-sectional study, a total of 40 FN (20 fresh cadavers) were dissected to record the pattern and length of the FN. The frequency of various patterns of FN using the Davis et al classification was as follows: type I: 10 (25%), type II: 9 (22.5%), type III: 7 (17.5%), type IV: 6 (15%), type V: 2 (5%), and type VI: 6 (15%). The nerve bifurcated in 32(80%) and trifurcated in 8(20%) of the cadavers. There was no statistical difference in the branching patterns ( p = 0.509) and furcation types ( p = 0.414) between the sides and gender. The length of the trunk of the FN measured from the stylomastoid foramen to the bifurcation point was 16.14(−/+ 3.28 mm). The results from this data established a variation in the anatomical branching pattern of the FN in a black Kenyan population.
Placebo-Nocebo-Ethik für die Patientenkommunikation
Authors: Friedrich Daniel , Reichardt Jan-Ole , Rittner Heike
Published: September 2018

Die Patientenaufklärung ist „täglich Brot“ des klinisch tätigen Anästhesisten und gleichzeitig ein zentrales Rechtfertigungselement medizinischer Behandlungsmaßnahmen. Durch Auslösen von Placebo- und Noceboeffekten kann sie den Behandlungserfolg aber auch selbst maßgeblich beeinflussen. Einem daraus drohenden Konflikt verschiedener medizinethischer Prinzipien kann mit entsprechenden praktischen Strategien wirksam begegnet werden.
Ruminal protein digestibility of Australian produced oilseed meals
Authors: Heim Rebecca A. L. , Krebs Gaye L.
Published: September 2018

Initially, samples of Australian canola, soybean, cottonseed and flaxseed meal produced by solvent-extraction, expeller and cold-press technologies collected from late 2014 to early 2015 were analysed for general chemical composition, protein and ruminal digestibility characteristics. The oilseed meals had levels of ash, neutral-detergent insoluble crude protein, total intestinal digested protein, B1, B2, B3 and C protein content similar to those in previous reports, but lower Fraction A (non-protein N) levels than in previous reports. Acid-detergent insoluble fibre, metabolisable energy, total digestible nutrients, ash (P < 0.05), neutral-detergent fibre, in vitro dry matter digestibility, crude protein (CP), true protein, acid-detergent insoluble CP, soluble protein, in vitro rumen-undegradable protein (RUP), total tract digested protein, Fraction A, B2 and C (P < 0.01) differed among oilseed types. Dry matter, the ratio of RUP to total tract digested protein (P < 0.05), CP, lipid, soluble protein, RUP, Fraction A, B1 and B2 (P < 0.01) differed among oil-extraction techniques. Utilising an in vitro simulated rumen proteolysis procedure by Krishnamoorthy et al. (1983), mean ranges of in vitro RUP were greater and varied more so in canola (18.8–70.1%) than soybean (40.3–54.0%), cottonseed (31.5–33.9%) and flaxseed (18.5–21.8%) meals. Estimated RUP was lower (P < 0.01) in cold-press than expeller and solvent-extraction oilseed meals.
Effect of Alternation of Chloropropoxy and Propoxy Units and Impact of the Ethylol-Group Number on Properties of Surfactants
Authors: Ahmadova Gulnara A. , Abilova Aygul Z. , Rahimov Ravan A. , Askerzade Seadet M. , Asadov Ziyafaddin H. , Zubkov Fedor I. , Ahmadbayova Saida F.
Published: September 2018

Surfactants based on myristic acid, epichlorohydrin, and propylene oxide were obtained in two ways. First, the ester of myristic acid and epichlorohydrin was synthesised, and then with propylene oxide. Second, myristic acid was first reacted with propylene oxide, and then with epichlorohydrin. In both cases, the reactions were carried out at 150–160°C using triethylamine as a catalyst. The obtained chloropropoxy-propoxy and propoxy-chloropropoxy esters of myristic acid are non-ionic surfactants. These products were transformed into cationic surfactants by interaction with several ethanolamines. The specific electroconductance and surface activity of the obtained surfactants, characters that vary with the colloidal–chemical parameters of the surfactants, depended on such factors as the sequence of the epichlorohydrin and propylene oxide units inside the polar group of the obtained ionic surfactants, the presence of the methyl group linked to the N-atom, as well as the number of ethylol groups. It was revealed that the synthesised surfactants possess a property of localising thin (thickness <1 mm) petroleum films spread over different types of water.
Effects of task type, task-type repetition, and performance criteria on L2 oral production
Authors: Hu Xingchao
Published: September 2018

This study investigates the impact of task type, task-type repetition, and performance criteria on oral second language production. One hundred and forty-four Chinese learners of English were randomly paired and assigned to either a map task or a picture-story task. Each task type was repeated a week later via a different exemplar. Each experimental group was then further divided between “high” and “low” performance criterion groups, and a control group (CG). Both the high criterion (HC) and the low criterion (LC) groups were informed at the outset that they would be asked to perform an additional activity upon completion of the baseline task. The HC speakers undertook a more demanding post-task activity and the LC group a less demanding one, with no extra post-task requirement for the CG. Analysing participants’ language production in terms of complexity, accuracy, and fluency, a strong effect for task type was observed. Task-type repetition resulted in greater accuracy and affected all fluency measures (though not all in the same direction). Finally, the high criterion condition was positively related to phrasal complexity and fluency on both task types, but negatively associated with subordination complexity on the picture-story task, findings not attested in previous studies. Results are discussed in terms of the limited attentional resources model on second language performance. The study contributes to our understanding of how pre-specified task performance criteria can affect students’ performance of a task.
Structure formation in clustering DBI dark energy model with constant sound speed
Authors: Fahimi K , Karami K , Asadzadeh S , Rezazadeh K
Published: September 2018

Within the framework of DBI non-canonical scalar field model of dark energy, we study the growth of dark matter perturbations in both the linear and non-linear regimes. In our DBI model, we consider the anti-de Sitter warp factor $f(\phi)=f_0\, \phi ^{-4}$ with constant f0 > 0 and assume the DBI dark energy to be clustered and its sound speed cs to be constant. In the linear regime, we use the pseudo-Newtonian formalism to obtain the growth factor of dark matter perturbations and conclude that for smaller cs (or $\tilde{f_0} \equiv f_0 H_0^2/M_P^2$), the growth factor of dark matter is smaller for clustering DBI model compared to the homogeneous one. In the non-linear regime based on the spherical collapse model, we obtain the linear overdensity δc($z$c), the virial overdensity Δvir($z$c), overdensity at the turn around ζ($z$c), and the rate of expansion of collapsed region hta($z$). We point out that for the smaller cs (or $\tilde{f_0}$), the values of δc($z$c), Δvir($z$c), ζ($z$c), and hta($z$) in non-clustering DBI models deviate more than the ΛCDM compared to the clustering DBI models. Finally, with the help of spherical collapse parameters we calculate the relative number density of halo objects above a given mass and conclude that the differences between clustering and homogeneous DBI models are more pronounced for the higher mass haloes at high redshift.
Peripheral Lung Nodule Diagnosis and Fiducial Marker Placement Using a Novel Tip-Tracked Electromagnetic Navigation Bronchoscopy System
Authors: Belanger Adam R. , Burks Allen C. , Chambers David M. , Ghosh Sohini , MacRosty Christina R. , Conterato Anna J. , Rivera M. Patricia , Akulian Jason A.
Published: September 2018

Background:

Electromagnetic navigation (EMN) has improved bronchoscopic access to peripheral pulmonary nodules. A novel EMN system utilizing novel tip-tracked instruments for endobronchial [electromagnetic navigation bronchoscopy (ENB)] as well as transthoracic lung biopsy [electromagnetic-guided transthoracic needle aspiration (EMTTNA)] has become available. The system provides real-time feedback as well as the ability to biopsy lesions outside of the airway. These advances have the potential to improve diagnostic yield over previous EMN systems.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective review of consecutive peripheral bronchoscopy cases utilizing a novel EMN platform for biopsy and/or fiducial marker (FM) placement at a tertiary care university hospital. We analyzed factors that may influence diagnostic yield including lesion size.

Results:

Our study included 108 patients who underwent EMN-guided bronchoscopy between June 2015 and April 2017 for the diagnosis of peripheral lung lesions and/or the placement of FMs for stereotactic body radiotherapy. Ninety-three patients underwent biopsy utilizing ENB +/− EMTTNA. The combined diagnostic yield was 78%. EMTTNA provided a diagnosis for 5 patients in whom the ENB biopsy results were negative. Diagnostic yield by nodules <20, 20 to 30, and >30 mm in size was 30/45 (67%), 27/30 (90%), and 16/18 (89%), respectively. Sixty-five patients underwent FM placement with a total of 133 FM placed.

Conclusion:

This novel tip-tracked EMN system incorporating both ENB and EMTTNA can guide biopsy and FM placement with a high degree of success and with a low complication rate. Multicentered prospective trials are required to develop algorithmic approaches to combine ENB and EMTTNA into a single procedure.
Ex vivo dynamics of human glioblastoma cells in a microvasculature-on-a-chip system correlates with tumor heterogeneity and subtypes
Authors: Xiao Yang , Kim Dongjoo , Dura Burak , Zhang Kerou , Yan Runchen , Li Huamin , Han Edward , Ip Joshua , Zou Pan , Liu Jun , Chen Ann Tai , Vortmeyer Alexander O. , Zhou Jiangbing , Fan Rong
Published: September 2018

The perivascular niche (PVN) plays an essential role in brain tumor stem-like cell (BTSC) fate control, tumor invasion, and therapeutic resistance. Herein we report on the use of a microvasculature-on-a-chip system as a PVN model to evaluate the dynamics of BTSCs ex vivo from 10 glioblastoma patients. We observed that BTSCs preferentially localize in the perivascular zone. Live cell tracking revealed that the cells residing in the vicinity of microvessels had the lowest motility, while a fraction of cells on the microvessels unexpectedly possessed the highest motility and migrated over the longest distance. These results indicate that the perivascular zone is a niche for BTSCs, while the microvascular tracks are also a path for long-distance tumor cell migration and invasion. Additionally, the degree of co-localization between tumor cells and microvessels varied significantly across patients. To validate the results from our microvasculature-on-a-chip system, we used single-cell transcriptome sequencing (10 patients and 21,750 single cells in total) to identify the subtype of each tumor cell. The co-localization coefficient was found to correlate positively with proneural (stem-like) or mesenchymal (invasive) but not classical (proliferative) tumor cells. Furthermore, we found that a gene signature profile including PDGFRA correlated strongly with the “homing” of brain tumor cells to the PVN. Our findings demonstrated that ex vivo dynamics of human brain tumor cells in a microvasculature-on-a-chip model can recapitulate in vivo tumor cell dynamics, heterogeneity, and subtypes, representing a new route to the study of human tumor cell biology and uncover patient-specific tumor cell functions.
Two-photon frequency division multiplexing for functional in vivo imaging: a feasibility study
Authors: Tsyboulski Dmitri , Orlova Natalia , Ledochowitsch Peter , Saggau Peter
Published: September 2018

Recently, we presented a new approach to create high-speed amplitude modulation of femtosecond laser pulses and tag multiple excitation beams with specific modulation frequencies. In this work, we discuss the utility of this method to record calcium signals in brain tissue with two-photon frequency-division multiplexing (2P-FDM) microscopy. While frequency-multiplexed imaging appears slightly inferior in terms of image quality as compared to conventional two-photon laser scanning microscopy due to shot noise-induced cross-talk between frequency channels, applying this technique to record average signals from regions of interest (ROI) such as neuronal cell bodies was found to be promising. We use phase information associated with each pixel or waveform within a selected ROI to phase-align and recombine the signals into one extended amplitude-modulated waveform. This procedure narrows the frequency detection window, effectively decreasing noise contributions from other frequency channels. Using theoretical analysis, numerical simulations, and in vitro imaging we demonstrate a reduction of cross-talk by more than an order of magnitude and predict the usefulness of 2P-FDM for functional studies of brain activity.
Structural properties of individual instances predict human effort and performance on an NP-Hard problem
Authors: Franco Juan Pablo , Yadav Nitin , Bossaerts Peter , Murawski Carsten
Published: September 2018

Life presents us with decisions of varying degrees of difficulty. Many of them are NP-hard, that is, they are computationally intractable. Two important questions arise: which properties of decisions drive extreme computational hardness and what are the effects of these properties on human-decision making? Here, we postulate that we can study the effects of computational complexity on human decision-making by studying the mathematical properties of individual instances of NP-hard problems. We draw on prior work in computational complexity theory, which suggests that computational difficulty can be characterized based on the features of instances of a problem. This study is the first to apply this approach to human decision-making. We measured hardness, first, based on typical-case complexity (TCC), a measure of average complexity of a random ensemble of instances, and, second, based on instance complexity (IC), a measure that captures the hardness of a single instance of a problem, regardless of the ensemble it came from. We tested the relation between these measures and (i) decision quality as well as (ii) time expended in a decision, using two variants of the 0-1 knapsack problem, a canonical and ubiquitous computational problem. We show that participants expended more time on instances with higher complexity but that decision quality was lower in those instances. These results suggest that computational complexity is an inherent property of the instances of a problem, which affect human and other kinds of computers.
Introduction of Kinesin-13 family specific residues increases the microtubule end residence time of a Kinesin-1
Authors: Belsham Hannah R. , Friel Claire T.
Published: September 2018

Kinesins that regulate microtubule dynamics, such as the Kinesin-13 MCAK, require the ability to recognise the microtubule end. All microtubule regulating kinesins studied to date have this ability and thus exhibit increased microtubule end residence times. In contrast, purely translocating kinesins such as Kinesin-1 do not need to recognise the microtubule end for their function. The residues K524, E525 and R528 in the α4 helix of the Kinesin-13, MCAK, are critical for microtubule end recognition. Here, we show that introducing these Kinesin-13 family-specific residues into a Kinesin-1 increases its microtubule-end residence time up to 4-fold. However, this increase in end residence is not sufficient to confer microtubule depolymerisation activity to a Kinesin-1.

Significance Statement

The introduction of Kinesin-13 family specific residues from the α4 helix of the microtubule depolymerising kinesin, MCAK, into a Kinesin-1, increases the microtubule-end residence time between 2 and 4-fold. This demonstrates both the significance of these residues in modulating microtubule end residence, and the capacity to tune kinesin function by modifying the microtubule binding face of the motor domain using protein engineering. Increasing the microtubule end residence time in this way is not sufficient to confer depolymerisation activity to a Kinesin-1. Thus, indicating that the ability to recognise and reside at the microtubule end is not the only determinant of depolymerisation activity. The Kinesin-13 motor domain may also possess the ability to actively break interactions between tubulin subunits.
Contribution of rare copy number variants to bipolar disorder risk is limited to schizoaffective cases
Authors: Charney Alexander W. , Stahl Eli A. , Green Elaine K. , Chen Chia-Yen , Moran Jennifer L. , Chambert Kimberly , Belliveau Richard A. , Forty Liz , Gordon-Smith Katherine , Lee Phil H. , Bromet Evelyn J , Buckley Peter F , Escamilla Michael A , Fanous Ayman H. , Fochtmann Laura J , Lehrer Douglas S. , Malaspina Dolores , Marder Stephen R. , Morley Christopher P. , Nicolini Humberto , Perkins Diana O. , Rakofsky Jeffrey J. , Rapaport Mark H. , Medeiros Helena , Sobell Janet L. , Backlund Lena , Bergen Sarah E. , Juréus Anders , Schalling Martin , Lichtenstein Paul , Knowles James A. , Burdick Katherine E. , Jones Ian , Jones Lisa A , Hultman Christina M. , Perlis Roy , Purcell Shaun M. , McCarroll Steven A. , Pato Carlos N. , Pato Michele T. , Florio Ariana Di , Craddock Nick , Landén Mikael , Smoller Jordan W. , Ruderfer Douglas M. , Sklar Pamela
Published: September 2018

Background

Genetic risk for bipolar disorder (BD) is conferred through many common alleles, while a role for rare copy number variants (CNVs) is less clear. BD subtypes schizoaffective disorder bipolar type (SAB), bipolar I disorder (BD I) and bipolar II disorder (BD II) differ according to the prominence and timing of psychosis, mania and depression. The factors contributing to the combination of symptoms within a given patient are poorly understood.

Methods

Rare, large CNVs were analyzed in 6353 BD cases (3833 BD I [2676 with psychosis, 850 without psychosis], 1436 BD II, 579 SAB) and 8656 controls. Measures of CNV burden were integrated with polygenic risk scores (PRS) for schizophrenia (SCZ) to evaluate the relative contributions of rare and common variants to psychosis risk.

Results

CNV burden did not differ in BD relative to controls when treated as a single diagnostic entity. Burden in SAB was increased compared to controls (p-value = 0.001), BD I (p-value = 0.0003) and BD II (p-value = 0.0007). Burden and SCZ PRS were higher in SAB compared to BD I with psychosis (CNV p-value = 0.0007, PRS p-value = 0.004) and BD I without psychosis (CNV p-value = 0.0004, PRS p-value = 3.9 × 10−5). Within BD I, psychosis was associated with higher SCZ PRS (p-value = 0.005) but not with CNV burden.

Conclusions

CNV burden in BD is limited to SAB. Rare and common genetic variants may contribute differently to risk for psychosis and perhaps other classes of psychiatric symptoms.
Large prospective losses lead to sub-optimal sensorimotor decisions in humans
Authors: Adkins Tyler J. , Lewis Richard L. , Lee Taraz G.
Published: September 2018

The rationality of human behavior has been a major problem in philosophy for centuries. The pioneering work of Kahneman and Tversky provides strong evidence that people are not rational. Recent work in psychophysics argues that incentivized sensorimotor decisions (such as deciding where to reach to get a reward) maximizes expected gain, suggesting that it may be impervious to cognitive biases and heuristics. We rigorously tested this hypothesis using multiple experiments and multiple computational models. We obtained strong evidence that people deviated from the objectively rational strategy when potential losses were large. They instead appeared to follow a strategy in which they simplify the decision problem and satisfice rather than optimize. This work is consistent with the framework known as bounded rationality, according to which people behave rationally given their computational limitations.
Coupled active systems encode emergent behavioral dynamics of the unicellular predatorLacrymaria olor
Authors: Coyle Scott M. , Flaum Ellie M. , Li Hongquan , Krishnamurthy Deepak , Prakash Manu
Published: September 2018

Multiple active systems in a cell work together to produce sophisticated cellular behaviors such as motility and search. However, it is often unclear how this coupling specifies the complex emergent dynamics that define such behaviors. As a model system, we analyzed the hunting strategy ofLacrymaria olor, a unicellular predatory ciliate that uses extreme morphological changes to extend, contract and whip an apparent “cell neck” over many body lengths to capture prey. Tracking millions of unique subcellular morphologies over time revealed that these fast dynamics encode a comprehensive local search behavior apparent only at longer timescales. This hunting behavior emerges as a tug-of-war between active sub-cellular structures that use surface cilia and cortex contractility to deform the structure of the neck. The resulting search space can be described mathematically using a small number of normal shape modes that change amplitude rapidly during hunts. The distribution of these shape modes in space and time reveals a transition point between tense and compressed neck morphologies at the mean neck length, such that new shapes are readily sampled by repeatedly extending and retracting across this critical length. Molecular perturbations to the cell-signaling controller show that coupling between ciliary and contractile programs is needed to maintain this length/shape relationship; neither system alone provides the dynamic repertoire of shapes necessary for comprehensive search. Our results highlight the utility of coupling antagonistic active systems as a strategy for encoding or engineering complex behaviors in molecular machines.

One Sentence Summary:Analysis of millions of unique cellular morphologies of the highly dynamic single-celled predatorLacrymaria olorreveals that it programs a comprehensive search space and emergent hunting behavior through coupling surface based active cilia and cortex based contractile molecular systems together.
Statistical Model of Motor Evoked Potentials for Simulation of Transcranial Magnetic and Electric Stimulation
Authors: Goetz Stefan M. , Alavi S. M. Madhi , Deng Zhi-De , Peterchev Angel V.
Published: September 2018

Motor evoked potentials (MEPs) are widely used for biomarkers and dose individualization in transcranial stimulation. The large variability of MEPs requires sophisticated methods of analysis to extract information fast and correctly. However, models of MEPs that represent their characteristic features are lacking. This work presents a statistical model that can simulate long sequences of individualized MEP amplitude data with properties matching experimental observations. The MEP model includes three sources of trial-to-trial variability to mimic excitability fluctuations, variability in the neural and muscular pathways, and physiological and measurement noise. It also generates virtual human subject data from statistics of population variability. All parameters are extracted as statistical distributions from experimental data from the literature. The model exhibits previously described features, such as stimulusintensity-dependent MEP amplitude distributions, including bimodal ones. The model can generate long sequences of test data for individual subjects with specified parameters or for subjects from a virtual population. The presented MEP model is the most detailed to date and can be used for the development and implementation of dosing and biomarker estimation algorithms for transcranial stimulation.
Diversity within the adenovirus fiber knob hypervariable loops influences primary receptor interactions
Authors: Baker Alexander T. , Greenshields-Watson Alexander , Coughlan Lynda , Davies James A. , Uusi-Kerttula Hanni , Cole David K. , Rizkallah Pierre J. , Parker Alan L.
Published: September 2018

Adenovirus based vectors are of increasing importance for wide ranging therapeutic applications. As vaccines, vectors derived from human adenovirus species D serotypes 26 and 48 (HAdV-D26/48) are demonstrating promising efficacy as protective platforms against infectious diseases. Significant clinical progress has been made, yet definitive studies underpinning mechanisms of entry, infection, and receptor usage are currently lacking. Here, we performed structural and biological analysis of the receptor binding fiber-knob protein of HAdV-D26/48, reporting crystal structures, and modelling putative interactions with two previously suggested attachment receptors, CD46 and Coxsackie and Adenovirus Receptor (CAR). We provide evidence of a low affinity interaction with CAR, with modelling suggesting affinity is attenuated through extended, semi-flexible loop structures, providing steric hindrance. Conversely,in silicoandin vitroexperiments are unable to provide evidence of interaction between HAdV-D26/48 fiber-knob with CD46, or with Desmoglein 2. Our findings provide new insight to the cell-virus interactions of HAdV-D26/48, with important implications for the design and engineering of optimised Ad-based therapeutics.
Quality assessment of tissue samples stored in a specialized human lung biobank
Authors: Lindner M. , Morresi-Hauf A. , Stowasser A. , Hapfelmeier A. , Hatz R. , Koch I.
Published: September 2018

Human sample, from patients or healthy donors, are a valuable link between basic research and clinic. Especially in translational research, they play an essential role in understanding development and progression of diseases as well as in developing new diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Stored in biobanks, fast access to appropriate material becomes possible. However, biobanking in a clinical context faces several challenges. In practice, collecting samples during clinical routine does not allow to strictly adhere to protocols of sample collection in all aspects. This may influence sample quality to variable degrees. Time from sample draw to asservation is a variable factor, and influences of prolonged storage at ambient temperature of tissues are not well understood. We investigated whether delays between 5 minutes and 3 hours, and the use of RNAlater RNA-preserving reagent would lead to a relevant drop in sample quality, measured by quantitative mRNA expression analysis. Our findings suggest that even under ambient conditions, delays up to 3 hours do not have a major impact on sample quality as long as the tissue remains intact.
Changes in Microorganisms in the Rhizosphere of Mulberry Genotypes with Differing Resistance to Bacterial Wilt
Authors: Guo Yao , Yu Cui , Hu Xingming , Deng Wen , Li Yong , Zhu Zhixian , Mo Rongli , Dong Zhaoxia
Published: September 2018

A close relationship between soil-borne diseases, soil microbial community structure, and functional diversity has been described in the mulberry plant. In the present study, microbial abundance, community structure, and functional diversity in the soil rhizosphere were compared in resistant (Kangqing10) and susceptible (Guisang12) mulberry genotypes using the dilution plate method, micro-ecology technology, and polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). The goal of this study was to develop better management methods for mulberry cultivation and preventing and controlling bacterial wilt. Rhizosphere soil microorganisms were more abundant in the resistant normal mulberry genotype than in the susceptible normal mulberry genotype. Carbon source utilization was better in the susceptible normal mulberry genotype. These properties were lower in the resistant sickly mulberry genotype than in the susceptible sickly mulberry genotype. PCR-DGGE indicated that the bacterial and fungal community structures of the resistant genotypes were more stable than those of the susceptible genotypes. Correlation regression analysis implicated mulberry bacterial wilt in the loss of soil nutrients, particularly organic matter and nitrogen, which can disrupt the balance of the soil microbial community. Loss of soil organic matter and nitrogen had a lower impact on resistant genotype plants than on susceptible genotype plants. Therefore, resistant genotype plants displayed some resistance to bacterial wilt. Further insights into the soil rhizosphere microbial diversities of resistant and susceptible genotypes will help in the control and prevention of mulberry bacterial wilt.
Internships in China: exploring contextual perspectives
Authors: Rose Philip
Published: September 2018

Purpose

Globally internships have become an increasingly pervasive means by which to enhance university learning and graduate employability. Whilst this practice has crossed national borders, the transferability of internships across national contexts has been largely assumed rather than empirically substantiated. The purpose of this paper is to explore interns’ and the host organisations’ perspectives of internships within the Chinese context.

Design/methodology/approach

Qualitative data were gathered though a series of semi-structured interviews with interns and host organisations in China, results were interpreted via thematic analysis.

Findings

Overall the study revealed both the interns’ and host organisations’ perspectives were consistent with those within other national contexts. Particularly, the findings highlighted the key role of individual interns’ dispositions, and internship supervision, as well as the conceptualization of internships as a career entry point. The study also identified a contextually specific variable ofguanxi, as playing an influential role within the Chinese context.

Research limitations/implications

The study was exploratory in nature, thus further research is required, to further substantiate the variables and relationships detected.

Originality/value

The study establishes the transferability of a number of theoretical premises to the Chinese internship context. The transportable nature of the internship experience suggests the appropriateness of a degree of standardisation of internship design across national contexts. Whilst, also suggesting cultural phenomenon such asguanxishould be considered when designing internships to achieve desired outcomes within a Chinese context.
Alan Maynard: A Sceptical Economist and His View of Health Care and Health Policy
Authors: Goddard Maria , Bloor Karen
Published: September 2018

Professor Alan Maynard applied both his wit and wisdom to the analysis of health care and health policy for over five decades. As a leading health economist, he made an immense contribution to the analysis and understanding of many of the key issues that are still at the heart of the current debates about the National Health Service. His academic interests were wide ranging, including health systems and reform, performance, workforce, regulation, public health and the pharmaceutical industry. Alan's natural ability to communicate with varied audiences established the relevance of health economics thinking and language to policy and practice, both nationally and internationally.
Clinical and Autopsy Characteristics of Fatal Methamphetamine Toxicity in Australia
Authors: Darke Shane , Duflou Johan , Lappin Julia , Kaye Sharlene
Published: September 2018

Characteristics of death attributed solely to methamphetamine toxicity (MT, n = 93) by forensic pathologists were examined and compared to cases of multiple drug toxicity (MDT, n = 634). The mean age of MT cases was 36.7 years, and 86.0% were male. Strenuous activity was reported in 12.9%. The most common witness observations were: collapse (60.3%), difficulty in breathing (36.2%), and hyperthermia (27.6%). MT cases had higher blood methamphetamine (0.54 vs. 0.11 mg/L) and amphetamine (0.04 vs. 0.02 mg/L) concentrations and lower likelihoods for opioids (12.5% vs. 80.9%), hypnosedatives (27.3 vs. 60.7%), antidepressants (14.8 vs. 29.8%), and antipsychotics (9.1 vs. 19.7%). MT cases had significantly heavier hearts than MDT cases (423.4 vs. 385.8 g) and were more likely to have cardiomegaly (37.1 vs. 20.4%) and replacement fibrosis (25.7 vs. 14.5%). The clinical picture was of a sudden cardiac event in a middle‐aged man with a high methamphetamine concentration. Cardiovascular signs of heavy methamphetamine use are frequently seen.
Management of post‐partum haemorrhage in the Timor Leste National Ambulance Service
Authors: Moores Jonathan , de Jesus Gustodio A
Published: September 2018

Objective

Timor Leste has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world at 215 per 100 000 live births.1 Post‐partum haemorrhage (PPH) accounts for 27% of maternal deaths globally. Annually the Timor Leste National Ambulance Service (TLNAS) attends over 20 000 cases, of which 2% are diagnosed with PPH. The objective of this study was to evaluate prehospital care of PPH patients transported by the TLNAS.

Methods

A retrospective audit of PPH patients transported between May 2015 and May 2017. The inclusion criteria were patients diagnosed with PPH and transported during the study period.

Results

Data from the patient care records of 214 TLNAS PPH patients were abstracted using the PPH care evaluation tool. Paramedics diagnosed 211 (97%) PPH patients, took observations on 181 (85%) and obtained a patient history from 193 (90%) patients. TLNAS paramedics did not regularly provide other treatment including oxygen 36 (17%), intravenous isotonic crystalloid fluid 117 (55%), uterine massage 0 (0%), external aortic compression 0 (0%) and non‐pneumatic anti‐shock garments 9 (4%).

Conclusions

This research has shown that paramedics are not consistently using available clinical interventions.
Doing well by doing good: agricultural biotechnology in the fight against hunger
Authors: Giannakas Konstantinos , Yiannaka Amalia
Published: September 2018

A recent FAO report estimates that more than 800 million people around the world have been facing malnutrition and hunger. This article develops a simple, empirically relevant multimarket framework of heterogeneous consumers and an imperfectly competitive innovating firm to analyze the profit‐maximizing strategies of innovating firms in hunger‐stricken areas of the world. The analysis shows that, when the association of the GM technology with malnutrition and hunger reduction in food insecure areas of the world decreases consumer aversion to the GM technology in the rest of the world, the innovating firm can find it economically optimal to reduce its price and increase consumer access to nutritious food in these hunger‐stricken areas. When the impact of hunger reduction on consumer attitudes toward the GM technology is relatively strong, the firm will find it optimal to offer its GM technology in the hunger‐stricken areas for free as its losses in these areas are more than compensated by its gains in the rest of the world. This result is in contrast with the standard assumption of innovators’ desire to exercise the market power conferred by their intellectual property rights and provides some analytical support to the strategic corporate social responsibility (CSR) hypothesis.
Assessment of candidate folate sensitive‐differentially methylated regions in a randomised controlled trial of continued folic acid supplementation during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy
Authors: Harrison Alan , Pentieva Kristina , Ozaki Mari , McNulty Helene , Parle‐McDermott Anne
Published: September 2018

Scope

The aim of this study was to identify if specific regions of the human genome were sensitive to folate status by displaying changes in their DNA methylation patterns in response to continued folic acid supplementation during pregnancy.

Methods and Results

Samples (n = 119) from a previous randomised controlled trial in pregnancy were used to compare the DNA methylation profiles of the same woman pre‐ versus post‐folic acid intervention. Candidate genes were identified from the literature and a pilot genome wide screen of six women (three from each of the folic acid and placebo arms of the trial). We did not observe consistent DNA methylation changes in response to folic acid intervention at any of our candidate genes (RASA4, DHFR, DHFR2, RASSF1A, EIF2C3, ATPF1). We did identify a 40% decrease in DNA methylation at the RASA4 promoter correlating with a 3.5‐fold increase in its mRNA abundance in an in vitro cell culture model.

Conclusion

Continued folic acid intervention over a 22‐week period did not appear to significantly influence the DNA methylation status of six candidate genes in blood samples of women compared to placebo. However, DNA methylation may play a role in the gene expression control of the RASA4 gene.
Update of spectrum c.35delG and c.‐23+1G>A mutations on the GJB2 gene in individuals with autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss
Authors: Azadegan‐Dehkordi Fatemeh , Ahmadi Reza , Koohiyan Mahbobeh , Hashemzadeh‐Chaleshtori Morteza
Published: September 2018

Hearing loss (HL) is the most common birth defect and the most prevalent sensorineural condition worldwide. It is associated with more than 1,000 mutations in at least 90 genes. Mutations of the gap junction beta‐2 protein (GJB2) gene located in the nonsyndromic hearing loss and deafness (DFNB1) locus (chromosome 13q11‐12) are the main causes of autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss worldwide, but important differences exist between various populations. In the present article, two common mutations of the GJB2 gene are compared for ethnic‐specific allele frequency, their function, and their contribution to genetic HL in different populations. The results indicated that mutations of the GJB2 gene could have arisen during human migration. Updates on the spectrum of mutations clearly show that frequent mutations in the GJB2 gene are consistent with the founder mutation hypothesis.
Reported adherence to current antenatal corticosteroid guidelines in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Tuohy Jeremy F. , Harding Jane E. , Crowther Caroline A. , Bloomfield Frank H.
Published: September 2018

Background

Antenatal corticosteroids (ANC) reduce mortality and morbidity in preterm babies, but prescription practices vary.

Aims

To assess obstetricians’ compliance with the recommendations of the Australian and New Zealand clinical practice guidelines on use of ANC.

Materials and Methods

An anonymous online questionnaire was distributed to Fellows of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

Results

All respondents reported prescribing an initial course of ANC according to the guidelines if preterm birth at 28 weeks’ gestation was expected within 24 or 72 h. However, 22% reported prescribing ANC even if birth was not expected within seven days. This was reported more often by practitioners not using adjunct tests to predict preterm birth (14% vs 69%; P < 0.001). An initial course of ANC at ≥35 weeks was prescribed by 52% of respondents. However, 93% reported prescribing ANC at ≥35 weeks prior to elective caesarean section. Repeat courses of ANC were prescribed by 76% of respondents. Of these, 89% reported prescribing repeat courses beyond the guideline recommendations at ≥33 weeks and 29% exceeded the recommendations on number of repeat courses.

Conclusions

For infants born at <35 weeks, current ANC prescribing patterns in Australia and New Zealand are consistent with the guideline recommendations and result in high rates of administration in this group. However, administration of ANC to groups where benefits have not been demonstrated is commonly reported. Adherence to the guideline recommendations would decrease ANC exposure to babies for whom there is no strong evidence of benefit.
Cross‐border surrogacy: Experiences of heterosexual and gay parents in Sweden
Authors: Sydsjö Gunilla , Skoog Svanberg Agneta , Lampic Claudia
Published: September 2018

Introduction

Surrogacy is a controversial method of assisted reproduction that is not permitted in many countries. While there is some evidence that families following surrogacy seem to fare well, there is limited knowledge about the experiences of parents who turn to cross‐border surrogacy. The aim of the present study was therefore to investigate the experiences of heterosexual parents and gay fathers who chose cross‐border surrogacy to have a child.

Material and methods

This cross‐sectional survey describes the experiences of 30 families (18 heterosexual parent and 12 gay father families). Participants were recruited through a website for a Swedish surrogacy interest group. The participants were requested individually to complete a postal questionnaire including study‐specific questions on their experiences of disclosure and the Swedish Parenting Stress Questionnaire.

Results

All couples but one were still living together and had a child (3 months to 5 years). Parenting stress levels were generally low and were not related to sexual orientation. While almost all parents were open about the child’s mode of conception in contacts with health care, gay fathers were significantly more open about using surrogacy in contacts with preschool (P = 0.004) and child recreational activities (P = 0.005) compared with heterosexual parents. A majority described being treated positively or “as any other parent” in these contexts.

Conclusions

Heterosexual and gay parents reported low levels of parenting stress and generally experienced positive or neutral reactions to their parenthood in contacts with healthcare providers, in preschool, and in the child’s recreational activities.
The Public Regime for Migrant Child Education in Thailand: Alternative Depictions of Policy
Authors: Nawarat Nongyao , Medley Michael
Published: September 2018

This article analyzes the conceptualization and depiction of Thailand’s public policy on education for the children of migrant workers in the country by examining a cluster of fairly recent literature on the subject. The studied texts broadly share the view that Thailand’s policy of providing full education to these children is subject to gaps and patchy implementation. An analytical review of the literature on conceptualizing this policy shows, however, that this picture is misleading as it tends to reduce policy to an idealized intention. Rather, Thailand has a plurality of local policies ambiguously governed by a national policy, which in turn does not predominantly aim at education for all. We contend that our improved characterization of the situation helps create more productive openings for research and policy change on this important topic.
Rational Higher‐Order Belief Revision in Young Children
Authors: Kimura Katherine , Gopnik Alison
Published: September 2018

Belief revision can occur at multiple levels of abstraction, including lower‐level and higher‐order beliefs. It remains unclear, however, how conflicting evidence interacts with prior beliefs to encourage higher‐order belief revision. This study explores how 4‐ and 5‐year‐olds (N = 96) respond to evidence that directly conflicts with their causal higher‐order beliefs. When shown a single event that directly violated a strongly supported prior belief, preschoolers largely maintained their initial higher‐order belief. However, when the prior belief was more weakly supported and the counterevidence was stronger, children changed their minds. These findings indicate that young children can revise their higher‐order beliefs and, furthermore, do so depending on the strength of both the evidence and their prior beliefs.
Gender differences in egalitarian behavior and attitudes in early childhood
Authors: Benenson Joyce F. , Durosky Ariel , Nguyen Jennifer , Crawford Alexandra , Gauthier Evelyne , Dubé Éloise
Published: September 2018

It is axiomatic that human females are more egalitarian than males. However, surprisingly little empirical research exists that empirically assesses this stereotype. We created two studies designed to objectively examine egalitarian behavior in 3‐ to 5‐year‐old children. In Study 1 we compared the egalitarian behavior and attitudes of American girls versus boys by tabulating the extent to which each gender awarded the same number of stickers to, and liked to the same degree, two puppets. One puppet followed the child's instructions or actions while the other did not during a drawing task in which the child played the roles of leader and peer. In the peer role, girls exhibited more egalitarian behavior than boys. In Study 2, French‐Canadian children were shown two drawings by unknown peers—one messily and one neatly colored—, then asked to distribute stickers to each peer's drawing. Again, girls exhibited more egalitarian behavior than boys. Results suggest the origins of gender differences in egalitarian behavior occur early in life and merit further investigation.