bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visible-Light-Induced Radical Polynitration of Arylboronic Acids: Synthesis of Polynitrophenols
Authors: Song Jinna , Bi Xihe , Zhang Qi , Raveendra Babu Kaki , Huang Zhouliang
Published: June 2018

We report a visible light-assisted one-pot method for the synthesis of polynitrophenols through radical tandem hydroxylation and nitration of arylboronic acids by utilizing copper(II) nitrate tri­hydrate as the nitro source. This method features mild conditions, a simple procedure, and good functional group tolerance. Compared to conventional methods, this work provides a straightforward approach for the polynitration of aromatic compounds.
Artificial Intelligence: Bayesian versus Heuristic Method for Diagnostic Decision Support
Authors: Elkin Peter , Schlegel Daniel , Anderson Michael , Komm Jordan , Ficheur Gregoire , Bisson Leslie
Published: June 2018

Evoking strength is one of the important contributions of the field of Biomedical Informatics to the discipline of Artificial Intelligence. The University at Buffalo's Orthopedics Department wanted to create an expert system to assist patients with self-diagnosis of knee problems and to thereby facilitate referral to the right orthopedic subspecialist. They had two independent sports medicine physicians review 469 cases. A board-certified orthopedic sports medicine practitioner, L.B., reviewed any disagreements until a gold standard diagnosis was reached. For each case, the patients entered 126 potential answers to 26 questions into a Web interface. These were modeled by an expert sports medicine physician and the answers were reviewed by L.B. For each finding, the clinician specified the sensitivity (term frequency) and both specificity (Sp) and the heuristic evoking strength (ES). Heuristics are methods of reasoning with only partial evidence. An expert system was constructed that reflected the posttest odds of disease-ranked list for each case. We compare the accuracy of using Sp to that of using ES (original model, p < 0.0008; term importance * disease importance [DItimesTI] model, p < 0.0001: Wilcoxon ranked sum test). For patient referral assignment, Sp in the DItimesTI model was superior to the use of ES. By the fifth diagnosis, the advantage was lost and so there is no difference between the techniques when serving as a reminder system.
Using Clinical Data Standards to Measure Quality: A New Approach
Authors: D'Amore John , Li Chun , McCrary Laura , Niloff Jonathan , Sittig Dean , McCoy Allison , Wright Adam
Published: June 2018

Background Value-based payment for care requires the consistent, objective calculation of care quality. Previous initiatives to calculate ambulatory quality measures have relied on billing data or individual electronic health records (EHRs) to calculate and report performance. New methods for quality measure calculation promoted by federal regulations allow qualified clinical data registries to report quality outcomes based on data aggregated across facilities and EHRs using interoperability standards.

Objective This research evaluates the use of clinical document interchange standards as the basis for quality measurement.

Methods Using data on 1,100 patients from 11 ambulatory care facilities and 5 different EHRs, challenges to quality measurement are identified and addressed for 17 certified quality measures.

Results Iterative solutions were identified for 14 measures that improved patient inclusion and measure calculation accuracy. Findings validate this approach to improving measure accuracy while maintaining measure certification.

Conclusion Organizations that report care quality should be aware of how identified issues affect quality measure selection and calculation. Quality measure authors should consider increasing real-world validation and the consistency of measure logic in respect to issues identified in this research.
Chronische Pankreatitis und Pankreaskarzinom – Tumorrisiko und Screening
Authors: Beyer Georg , D’Haese Jan , Ormanns Steffen , Mayerle Julia
Published: June 2018

Chronic pancreatitis is a fibroinflammatory syndrome of the exocrine pancreas, which is characterized by an increasing incidence, high morbidity and lethality. Common etiologies besides alcohol and nicotine consumption include genetic causes and risk factors. The life time risk for the development of pancreatic cancer is elevated 13- to 45-fold depending on the underlying etiology. In patients with chronic pancreatitis clinical, laboratory and imaging surveillance for early detection of complications, including pancreatic cancer, is recommended, although the available methods lack the desired sensitivity and specificity. In this article we review the epidemiology, etiologies and risk factors for chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer and discuss current recommendations for screening and management of patients at risk for tumor development.
Winners and losers: communicating the potential impacts of policies
Authors: Brick Cameron , Freeman Alexandra L. J. , Wooding Steven , Skylark William J. , Marteau Theresa M. , Spiegelhalter David J.
Published: June 2018

Individual decision-makers need communications that succinctly describe potential harms and benefits of different options, but policymakers or citizens evaluating a policy are rarely given a balanced and easily understood summary of the potential outcomes of their decision. We review current policy option communication across diverse domains such as taxes, health, climate change, and international trade, followed by reviews of guidance and evidence for communication effectiveness. Our conceptual synthesis identifies four characteristics of policy options that make their communication particularly difficult: heterogeneous impacts on different segments of the population, multiple outcomes, long timescales, and large uncertainties. For communicators that are trying to inform rather than persuade, these complexities reveal a core tension between issue coverage and comprehensibility. We find little empirical evidence for how to communicate policy options effectively. We identify promising current communications, analyze them based on the above synthesis, and suggest priorities for future research. Recognizing the particular challenges of balanced, effective policy option communications could lead to better guidelines and support for policy decision-making.
Performance investigations of modified asymmetric blade H-Darrieus VAWT rotors
Authors: Mazarbhuiya Hussain Mahamed Sahed Mostafa , Biswas Agnimitra , Sharma Kaushal Kumar
Published: June 2018

Wind is an important renewable energy resource, which can be extracted for power generation by horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines (VAWTs). VAWTs can be installed in low wind speed regimes for small-scale power generation. However, for better performance in such a scenario, an improved rotor blade configuration is essential. This paper investigates the performances of an asymmetric blade H-Darrieus rotor with a blade span constant relative thickness (RT) and a variable thickness (VT) at different low wind speeds between 4 and 6 m/s. Both static and steady-state performances have been evaluated. Different blade span thickness to chord ratios (t/c) of 30% and 45% (constant RT case) are considered by increasing the blade thickness of the considered base profile NACA 63-415 while keeping the chord length same (5.0 cm). After determining the optimal blade RT, a new blade span variable thickness (VT) H-Darrieus rotor has been designed with a thicker portion (t/c =37.5%) on the top end and a thinner portion (t/c = 22.5%) on the bottom end of the blade, i.e., the thickness of the blade profile throughout the blade span is not the same. The thickness gradually decreases from top to bottom of the blades. The effects of all the thickness modifications have been studied with respect to the performance improvement of the H-Darrieus rotor. It has been shown that constant blade span RT (t/c = 45%) can largely improve the starting characteristics of the asymmetric blade H-Darrieus rotor, whereas blade span VT design can result in better power coefficients of the same in low wind speed conditions. Furthermore, an attempt has also been made to study the fluctuations of steady state torque at the selected wind speeds for understanding the stability and smoothness of operation. Moreover, the fluctuations of power and torque coefficients due to steady turbulence intensity and flow non-uniformity over a constant wind speed have also been demonstrated to connect with real-life applications of the H-Darrieus rotor.
New tandem upconversion device improves night vision technology
Authors: Johnson-Groh Mara
Published: June 2018

An improvement on conventional organic upconversion devices demonstrates improved efficiency for converting near-infrared light to visible, and may be a promising future for low-cost, large-area imaging technology.
Genome-wide detection of copy-number variations in local cattle breeds
Authors: Di Gerlando Rosalia , Sardina Maria Teresa , Tolone Marco , Sutera Anna Maria , Mastrangelo Salvatore , Portolano Baldassare
Published: June 2018

The aim of the present study was to identify copy-number variations (CNVs) in Cinisara (CIN) and Modicana (MOD) cattle breeds on the basis of signal intensity (logR ratio) and B allele frequency of each marker, using Illumina’s BovineSNP50K Genotyping BeadChip. The CNVs were detected with the PennCNV and SVS 8.7.0 software and were aggregated into CNV regions (CNVRs). PennCNV identified 487 CNVs in CIN that aggregated into 86 CNVRs, and 424 CNVs in MOD that aggregated into 81 CNVRs. SVS identified a total of 207 CNVs in CIN that aggregated into 39 CNVRs, and 181 CNVs in MOD that aggregated into 41 CNVRs. The CNVRs identified with the two softwares contained 29 common CNVRs in CIN and 17 common CNVRs in MOD. Only a small number of CNVRs identified in the present study have been identified elsewhere, probably because of the limitations of the array used. In total, 178 and 208 genes were found within the CNVRs of CIN and MOD respectively. Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analyses showed that several of these genes are involved in milk production, reproduction and behaviour, the immune response, and resistance/susceptibility to infectious diseases. Our results have provided significant information for the construction of more-complete CNV maps of the bovine genome and offer an important resource for the investigation of genomic changes and traits of interest in the CIN and MOD cattle breeds. Our results will also be valuable for future studies and constitute a preliminary report of the CNV distribution resources in local cattle genomes.
Dynamics of phytosterols content and concentration in sunflower grains
Authors: Belo Raúl González , Velasco Leonardo , Nolasco Susana M. , Izquierdo Natalia G.
Published: June 2018

Phytosterols are allies in the control of plasma cholesterol and in preventing cardiovascular diseases. As vegetable oils are the main source of phytosterols, characterising environmental factors that determine phytosterols accumulation in the oil is an important objective. The present research focuses on evaluating how intercepted solar radiation (ISR, the main environmental factor affecting oil accumulation) can determine phytosterol accumulation in sunflower oil. The aim of this work was to study the dynamics of phytosterols accumulation under different ISR levels and its relationships with the dynamics of oil accumulation. Two field experiments were conducted with hybrids with different fatty acid composition. Treatments applied during grain filling were: two levels of defoliation (75% and 80%) and a control. A 50% grain thinning treatment was also applied. Oil phytosterols concentration increased with defoliation during grain-filling period, whereas phytosterols content per grain decreased. β-sitosterol and campesterol were the most affected sterols. Reduction in ISR did not affect the rates of phytosterols accumulation. The durations of the accumulation period of these components varied in accordance with the duration of oil accumulation period. These results reinforce the importance of environmental factor in determining oil quality in sunflower grains.
Combinatorial drug discovery in nanoliter droplets
Authors: Kulesa Anthony , Kehe Jared , Hurtado Juan E. , Tawde Prianca , Blainey Paul C.
Published: June 2018

Significance

The conventional single-agent approach to therapeutics is challenged by the redundancy and feedback in biological networks. The use of multiple drugs in combination might improve desired functional outcomes while reducing toxicity and overcoming drug resistance. However, the complexity and resources required to test many combinations have slowed discovery efforts. Here, we introduce a screening platform that automatically constructs combinations of drugs from nanoliter-scale droplets, greatly simplifying screening logistics and reducing resource consumption. We applied our platform to discover drug pairs that act synergistically against the model pathogen
Escherichia coli
. Our platform can be further developed to support many types of phenotypic assays in a variety of disease models.
Conformational control and DNA-binding mechanism of the metazoan origin recognition complex
Authors: Bleichert Franziska , Leitner Alexander , Aebersold Ruedi , Botchan Michael R. , Berger James M.
Published: June 2018

Significance

The onset of chromosomal DNA replication relies on dedicated initiator proteins to chaperone ring-shaped helicases onto DNA. In most eukaryotes, initiators are multisubunit protein complexes that require ATP to bind DNA and to aid helicase recruitment and loading. Although structural studies have recently elucidated high-resolution views of the initiator in isolation or in helicase-containing loading intermediates, how the eukaryotic initiator itself associates with DNA and how these interactions are regulated by conformational changes are not well understood. We use a combination of biochemical and structural studies of the
Drosophila
initiator origin recognition complex (ORC) to show that conformational alterations in metazoan ORC help regulate its DNA-binding activity, and that ORC, together with its cofactor Cdc6, bends substrate DNA prior to helicase loading.
Cultural and stress-related manifestations of political controversial language in the European Parliament from the view
of interpreters
Authors: Kučiš Vlasta , Majhenič Simona
Published: June 2018

Translation and interpreting are not only linguistic activities, but also to a large extent primarily activities of cultural
transfer. Transcultural communication displays complexity, diversity and readiness for conflict in communicative interaction, so
the interpreter/translator, as an intercultural mediator, is assigned a special communicative role in this regard. This article
examines how interpreters at the European Parliament deal with controversial language rendering evaluative components of political
statements as well as whether there is a rise in stress-related disfluencies in the interpretation of such statements and whether
intonation (dis)similarities between the source text and the interpretations occur in the context of cultural and lexical
know-how. Seven excerpts from four sessions of the European Parliament in the last six years and their interpretations into
Croatian, Slovene, English, French and German were analysed from the point of view of stress and culture. Deviations in pitch and
intensity levels of both the speaker and the interpreters were calculated and statistically compared in the light of differing
cultural know-how. The intonation results for these interpreting examples showed that all the interpreters followed the speaker’s
pitch deviations to a certain extent. Analysis of politically-controversial statements also revealed that more than 80% of the
interpretations selected contained stress-related disfluencies and almost 70% contained some form of discrepancy with the source
text at a lexical level. The interpretations therefore largely contained fewer negative evaluative components of controversial
language than the speakers in the European Parliament.
The prionlike domain of FUS is multiphosphorylated following DNA damage without altering nuclear localization
Authors: Rhoads Shannon N. , Monahan Zachary T. , Yee Debra S. , Leung Andrew Y. , Newcombe Cameron G. , O’Meally Robert N. , Cole Robert N. , Shewmaker Frank P.
Published: June 2018

FUS (fused in sarcoma) is an abundant, predominantly nuclear protein involved in RNA processing. Under various conditions, FUS functionally associates with RNA and other macromolecules to form distinct, reversible phase-separated liquid structures. Persistence of the phase-separated state and increased cytoplasmic localization are both hypothesized to predispose FUS to irreversible aggregation, which is a pathological hallmark of subtypes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. We previously showed that phosphorylation of FUS’s prionlike domain suppressed phase separation and toxic aggregation, proportionally to the number of added phosphates. However, phosphorylation of FUS’s prionlike domain was previously reported to promote its cytoplasmic localization, potentially favoring pathological behavior. Here we used mass spectrometry and human cell models to further identify phosphorylation sites within FUS’s prionlike domain, specifically following DNA-damaging stress. In total, 28 putative sites have been identified, about half of which are DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) consensus sites. Custom antibodies were developed to confirm the phosphorylation of two of these sites (Ser-26 and Ser-30). Both sites were usually phosphorylated in a subpopulation of cellular FUS following a variety of DNA-damaging stresses but not necessarily equally or simultaneously. Importantly, we found DNA-PK–dependent multiphosphorylation of FUS’s prionlike domain does not cause cytoplasmic localization.
The Economics of Food Vendors Specialized to Serving the Women, Infants, and Children Program
Authors: McLaughlin Patrick W. , Saitone Tina L. , Sexton Richard J.
Published: June 2018

This paper focuses on the impacts of food vendors that have emerged primarily or exclusively to redeem benefits for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Program. Federal regulations impose strict requirements on state WIC agencies which authorize vendors that derive more than 50% of their food sales through WIC. Such vendors are commonly known as above‐50 or A50 vendors, and most state WIC agencies do not authorize them. Using extensive transactions‐level data for the Greater Los Angeles area (GLA), we examine A50 vendors’ performance in the WIC program, including their pricing behavior relative to other WIC vendors in a but‐for world where A50 vendors are not authorized. We also conduct econometric tests designed to gauge A50 vendors’ impacts on WIC program access and participation, and costs charged for WIC foods by other program vendors. Results indicate that A50 vendors operating in GLA (a) modestly reduced WIC program food costs relative to a but‐for world where they were not authorized, (b) had a modest pro‐competitive effect on the pricing behavior of small, non‐A50 vendors, which have tended to charge the highest absolute prices for WIC foods in California, (c) caused a modest reduction in participant travel distance (and, hence, transaction costs), and (d) appear to have facilitated participant access. On balance, our results suggest that A50 vendors can improve the food‐delivery environment for the WIC program and facilitate participant access to WIC benefits without imposing additional food costs on the program.
A practical guide for DNase-seq data analysis: from data management to common applications
Authors: Liu Yongjing , Fu Liangyu , Kaufmann Kerstin , Chen Dijun , Chen Ming
Published: June 2018

Deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I)-hypersensitive site sequencing (DNase-seq) has been widely used to determine chromatin accessibility and its underlying regulatory lexicon. However, exploring DNase-seq data requires sophisticated downstream bioinformatics analyses. In this study, we first review computational methods for all of the major steps in DNase-seq data analysis, including experimental design, quality control, read alignment, peak calling, annotation of cis-regulatory elements, genomic footprinting and visualization. The challenges associated with each step are highlighted. Next, we provide a practical guideline and a computational pipeline for DNase-seq data analysis by integrating some of these tools. We also discuss the competing techniques and the potential applications of this pipeline for the analysis of analogous experimental data. Finally, we discuss the integration of DNase-seq with other functional genomics techniques.
Metaxa2 Database Builder: enabling taxonomic identification from metagenomic or metabarcoding data using any genetic marker
Authors: Bengtsson-Palme Johan , Richardson Rodney T , Meola Marco , Wurzbacher Christian , Tremblay Émilie D , Thorell Kaisa , Kanger Kärt , Eriksson K Martin , Bilodeau Guillaume J , Johnson Reed M , Hartmann Martin , Nilsson R Henrik
Published: June 2018

Motivation

Correct taxonomic identification of DNA sequences is central to studies of biodiversity using both shotgun metagenomic and metabarcoding approaches. However, no genetic marker gives sufficient performance across all the biological kingdoms, hampering studies of taxonomic diversity in many groups of organisms. This has led to the adoption of a range of genetic markers for DNA metabarcoding. While many taxonomic classification software tools can be re-trained on these genetic markers, they are often designed with assumptions that impair their utility on genes other than the SSU and LSU rRNA. Here, we present an update to Metaxa2 that enables the use of any genetic marker for taxonomic classification of metagenome and amplicon sequence data.

Results

We evaluated the Metaxa2 Database Builder on 11 commonly used barcoding regions and found that while there are wide differences in performance between different genetic markers, our software performs satisfactorily provided that the input taxonomy and sequence data are of high quality.

Availability and implementation

Freely available on the web as part of the Metaxa2 package at http://microbiology.se/software/metaxa2/.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
TranscriptClean: variant-aware correction of indels, mismatches and splice junctions in long-read transcripts
Authors: Wyman Dana , Mortazavi Ali
Published: June 2018

Motivation

Long-read, single-molecule sequencing platforms hold great potential for isoform discovery and characterization of multi-exon transcripts. However, their high error rates are an obstacle to distinguishing novel transcript isoforms from sequencing artifacts. Therefore, we developed the package TranscriptClean to correct mismatches, microindels and noncanonical splice junctions in mapped transcripts using the reference genome while preserving known variants.

Results

Our method corrects nearly all mismatches and indels present in a publically available human PacBio Iso-seq dataset, and rescues 39% of noncanonical splice junctions.

Availability and implementation

All Python and R scripts used in this paper are available at https://github.com/dewyman/TranscriptClean.
mol2sphere: spherical decomposition of multi-domain molecules for visualization and coarse grained spatial modeling
Authors: Masison Joseph , Michalski Paul J , Loew Leslie M , Schuyler Adam D
Published: June 2018

Motivation

Proteins, especially those involved in signaling pathways are composed of functional modules connected by linker domains with varying degrees of flexibility. To understand the structure–function relationships in these macromolecules, it is helpful to visualize the geometric arrangement of domains. Furthermore, accurate spatial representation of domain structure is necessary for coarse-grain models of the multi-molecular interactions that comprise signaling pathways.

Results

We introduce a new tool, mol2sphere, that transforms the atomistic structure of a macromolecule into a series of linked spheres corresponding to domains. It does this with a k-means clustering algorithm. It may be used for visualization or for coarse grain modeling and simulation.

Availability and implementation

PyMOL plugin, source, and documentation

https://nmrbox.org/registry/mol2sphere. SpringSaLaD executables and documentation: http://vcell.org/ssalad, SpringSaLaD v.2 source: https://github.com/jmasison/SpringSaLaD.
‘Specimens of Bark Cloth, 1769’: the travels of textiles collected on Cook’s first voyage
Authors: Thomas Nicholas
Published: June 2018

The voyages of Captain James Cook (1728–1779) inaugurated, among manifold historical processes, an encounter of textile traditions. Pacific Islanders were keenly interested in European fabrics; Europeans were fascinated by Oceanic textiles such as beaten bark cloth, which was extensively collected from Cook’s first voyage onwards. Among manifestations of European interest, bark cloth sample books such as those produced as multiples by Alexander Shaw in 1787 have been a focus of research and curatorial activity in recent years. This essay considers a recently-identified book of specimens which pre-dates Shaw’s by some fifteen years. It exemplifies a brief but seemingly intense European interest in Polynesian bark cloth, embracing the fabrics’ technical, material, aesthetic, social and ritual aspects.
Radial distribution of stellar motions in Gaia DR2
Authors: Kawata Daisuke , Baba Junichi , Ciucă Ioana , Cropper Mark , Grand Robert J J , Hunt Jason A S , Seabroke George
Published: June 2018

By taking advantage of the superb measurements of position and velocity for an unprecedented large number of stars provided in Gaia DR2, we have generated the first maps of the rotation velocity, Vrot, and vertical velocity, Vz, distributions as a function of the Galactocentric radius, Rgal, across a radial range of 5 < Rgal < 12 kpc. In the R − Vrot map, we have identified many diagonal ridge features, which are compared with the location of the spiral arms and the expected outer Lindblad resonance of the Galactic bar. We have detected also radial wave-like oscillations of the peak of the vertical velocity distribution.
Gender Differences in Negative Affect During Acute Tobacco Abstinence Differ Between African American and White Adult Cigarette Smokers
Authors: Pang Raina D , Bello Mariel S , Liautaud Madalyn M , Weinberger Andrea H , Leventhal Adam M
Published: June 2018

Introduction

Prior studies have found heightened negative affect following tobacco abstinence in women compared to men. However, experimental work addressing whether these findings generalize across racial groups is scarce. This study investigated whether race (non-Hispanic White vs. non-Hispanic African American) moderated gender differences in abstinence-induced negative affect and smoking behavior.

Methods

Data were collected from 2010 to 2017 from two separate laboratory studies investigating experimentally manipulated tobacco abstinence. Following a baseline session, adult daily smokers (≥10 cigarettes/day; women: n = 297, 83.8% non-Hispanic African American; men: n = 492, 86.2% non-Hispanic African American) attended two counterbalanced lab sessions (16 hours abstinent vs. non-abstinent) and completed self-report measures of negative affect followed by a laboratory analogue smoking reinstatement task.

Results

We found a gender × race interaction for several negative affect states and composite negative affect (βs = −.12 to −.16, Ps < .05). Analyses stratified by race showed that non-Hispanic White women compared to non-Hispanic White men exhibited greater abstinence-induced increases in anger, anxiety, and composite negative affect (βs = −.20 to −.29, Ps < .05). No significant gender differences in abstinence-induced negative affect were found for non-Hispanic African American smokers (βs = .00 to − .04, Ps > .05).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that negative affect during acute tobacco abstinence may be a clinically important and intervenable factor that can inform cessation interventions specifically for non-Hispanic White women smokers. Further empirical exploration of mechanisms underlying interactions of gender and race in tobacco addiction may benefit smoking cessation efforts in non-Hispanic African American women smokers.

Implications

This study contributes to a scant body of research examining the intersectional influence of race and gender on abstinence-induced negative affect—a central, motivationally prepotent feature of tobacco withdrawal. Using a laboratory-based design to experimentally manipulate abstinence, we provide evidence of a gender × race interaction on negative affect–related withdrawal. Our findings suggest that gender differences in abstinence-induced negative affect observed among non-Hispanic White smokers may not generalize to non-Hispanic African American smokers, highlighting the need for future work to address potential mechanisms underlying the racially discrepant impact of gender on affective tobacco withdrawal.
VERA monitoring of the radio jet 3C 84 in the period of 2007–2013: Detection of non-linear motion
Authors: Hiura Koichiro , Nagai Hiroshi , Kino Motoki , Niinuma Kotaro , Sorai Kazuo , Chida Hikaru , Akiyama Kazunori , D’Ammando Filippo , Giovannini Gabriele , Giroletti Marcello , Hada Kazuhiro , Honma Mareki , Koyama Shoko , Orienti Monica , Orosz Gabor , Sawada-Satoh Satoko
Published: June 2018

We present a kinematic study of the sub-parsec-scale radio jet of the radio galaxy 3C 84/NGC 1275 with the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry (VERA) array at 22 GHz for 80 epochs from 2007 October to 2013 December. The averaged radial velocity of the bright component “C3” with reference to the radio core is found to be 0.27 ± 0.02 c between 2007 October and 2013 December. This constant velocity of C3 is naturally explained by the advancing motion of the head of the mini-radio lobe. We also find a non-linear component in the motion of C3 with respect to the radio core. We briefly discuss possible origins of this non-linear motion.
Do patients with and without a regular primary care physician have their psychological distress looked after differently?
Authors: Sun Kai Sing , Lam Tai Pong , Lam Kwok Fai , Lo Tak Lam , Chao David Vai Kiong , Lam Edmund Wing Wo , Wu Dan
Published: June 2018

Background

While qualitative studies suggested that continuity of care by primary care physicians (PCPs) facilitated consultations for psychological problems, there was limited quantitative evidence. This survey compared management of psychological distress between patients with and without a regular PCP.

Methods

A questionnaire survey was conducted with 1626 adult primary care attenders from 13 private and 6 public clinics in Hong Kong. Management of psychological distress between respondents with a regular PCP and those without were compared. Effects of demographic factors were adjusted for by multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Among the 1626 respondents, 650 (40.0%) reported that they had ever experienced psychological distress. Of the 650 respondents experienced distress, 307 (47.2%) had a regular PCP. A significantly higher proportion of patients with a regular PCP than those without reported: (i) their PCPs sometimes/often asked about psychological problems [37.7 versus 20.1%, adjusted OR = 2.241]; (ii) they sometimes/often mentioned their psychological problems to PCPs [45.2 versus 24.9%, adjusted OR = 2.503]; and (iii) their distress had been treated by PCPs [22.1 versus 13.4%, adjusted OR = 1.702].

Conclusion

Patients with a regular PCP have around double odds of receiving mental health care. Continuity of care by PCPs should be emphasized in mental health care delivery.
Can public financing of the private sector defeat antimicrobial resistance?
Authors: James Jack E
Published: June 2018

Public financing to incentivise private sector innovation in antimicrobial pharmaceuticals is believed by many to be necessary to defeat growing threats from antimicrobial resistance. Large cash incentives from the public sector are said to be essential to stimulate ‘normal’ market forces capable of unleashing much-needed innovation. However, there is little evidence to suggest that lack of innovation in drug development is peculiar to antimicrobials or that current deficits in the supply of antimicrobials is due to unique inefficiencies in the antimicrobial market. Neither the history of drug development in general nor of antimicrobial innovation in particular supports economic interventions intended to stimulate private sector supply of new antimicrobials. On the contrary, public underwriting of the private sector, which by definition is compelled to prioritise profit, risks dire consequences for future global health.
CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated efficient and precise targeted integration of donor DNA harboring double cleavage sites in Xenopus tropicalis
Authors: Mao Cheng‐Zhou , Zheng Li , Zhou Yi‐Min , Wu Hai‐Yan , Xia Jing‐Bo , Liang Chi‐Qian , Guo Xiao‐Fang , Peng Wen‐Tao , Zhao Hui , Cai Wei‐Bin , Kim Soo‐Ki , Park Kyu‐Sang , Cai Dong‐Qing , Qi Xu‐Feng
Published: June 2018

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated (Cas) 9 system has emerged as a powerful tool for knock‐in of DNA fragments via donor plasmid and homology‐independent DNA repair mechanism; however, conventional integration includes unnecessary plasmid backbone and may result in the unfaithful expression of the modified endogenous genes. Here, we report an efficient and precise CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated integration strategy using a donor plasmid that harbors 2 of the same cleavage sites that flank the cassette at both sides. After the delivery of donor plasmid, together with Cas9 mRNA and guide RNA, into cells or fertilized eggs, concurrent cleavages at both sides of the exogenous cassette and the desired chromosomal site result in precise targeted integration without plasmid backbone. We successfully used this approach to precisely integrate the EGFP reporter gene into the myh6 locus or the GAPDH locus in Xenopus tropicalis or human cells, respectively. Furthermore, we demonstrate that replacing conventional terminators with the endogenous 3UTR of target genes in the cassette greatly improves the expression of reporter gene after integration. Our efficient and precise method will be useful for a variety of targeted genome modifications, not only in X. tropicalis, but also in mammalian cells, and can be readily adapted to many other organisms.—Mao, C.‐Z., Zheng, L., Zhou, Y.‐M., Wu, H.‐Y., Xia, J.‐B., Liang, C.‐Q., Guo, X.‐F., Peng, W.‐T., Zhao, H., Cai, W.‐B., Kim, S.‐K., Park, K.‐S., Cai, D.‐Q., Qi, X.‐F. CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated efficient and precise targeted integration of donor DNA harboring double cleavage sites in Xenopus tropicalis. FASEB J. 32, 6495–6509 (2018). www.fasebj.org
Inflammasome activation in Kupffer cells confers a protective response in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis through pigment epithelium‐derived factor expression
Authors: Adak Moumita , Das Debajyoti , Niyogi Sougata , Nagalakshmi Challa , Ray Dipika , Chakrabarti Partha
Published: June 2018

Hepatocellular death or ballooning distinguishes the transition of simple steatosis to irreversible nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). However, the molecular mechanism of hepatocellular apoptosis in NASH is largely unclear, and discovery of endogenous mediators that could prevent or inhibit cell death is thereby critical in intercepting NASH progression. Here, we identified pigment epithelium‐derived factor (PEDF), a secreted, moonlighting hepatokine as 1 hepatoprotective agent in mice with diet‐induced NASH. Hepatic PEDF expression is induced by IL‐1β, which is derived from inflammasome activation in liver‐resident Kupffer cells, an effect that is negatively regulated by TNF‐α and predominantly secreted by monocyte‐derived, recruited, hepatic macrophages. Mechanistically, reciprocal and opposing roles for IL‐1β and TNF‐α in PEDF expression are mediated by differential activation of nf‐ΚB. Although augmented TNF‐α production leads to temporal reduction of PEDF expression in NASH, PEDF conversely abrogates TNF‐α‐mediated hepatocyte death by modulating the extrinsic apoptosis pathway. Thus, our study highlights PEDF as a functionally important hepatokine in NASH progression by linking inflammasome activation and hepatocellular death.—Adak, M., Das, D., Niyogi, S., Nagalakshmi, C., Ray, D., Chakrabarti, P. Inflammasome activation in Kupffer cells confers a protective response in nonalcoholic steatohe‐patitis through pigment epithelium‐derived factor expression. FASEB J. 32, 6510–6524 (2018). www.fasebj.org
Common and Uncommon Imaging Presentations of Ectopic Pregnancy
Authors: Schallert Kellan , DeAngelis Gia , Krishnaraj Arun
Published: June 2018

Ectopic pregnancy most commonly occurs in a fallopian tube (∼95%1) (Figure 1). Major risk factors for ectopic pregnancy include a history of pelvic inflammatory disease or previous tubal surgery. Additional risk factors include smoking, assisted reproductive technology, and the use of an intrauterine device.2 Ectopic pregnancies located outside the fallopian tube have a poorer prognosis, as they have more blood supply, grow larger, and have an elevated risk of catastrophic hemorrhage if ruptured. The clinical presentation of pelvic pain, elevated β-human chorionic gonadotropin, and vaginal bleeding is similar, regardless of the location of an ectopic pregnancy; thus, imaging plays a crucial role in directing management. Early diagnosis by imaging has played a key role in reducing maternal mortality and allowing patients to pursue more conservative management options to reduce morbidity and preserve future fertility. However, ruptured ectopic pregnancy still remains the leading cause of maternal death in the first trimester.3 Uncommon locations of ectopic pregnancy often are missed or incorrectly diagnosed at initial imaging, resulting in poor outcomes.
The Changing Face of HIV Care: Expanding HIV Training in an Internal Medicine Residency Program
Authors: Barakat Lydia Aoun , Dunne Dana W. , Tetrault Jeanette M. , Soares Sarita , Chia David , Ogbuagu Onyema E. , Moriarty John P. , Huot Stephen J. , Green Michael L.
Published: June 2018

Problem

People with HIV/AIDS are living longer and are at an increased risk of comorbidities. A qualified physician workforce is needed to care for this growing population.

Approach

In 2012, a novel three-year HIV training track (HIV TT) was implemented as part of the Yale Primary Care Residency Program. To prepare for the implementation of this program, a needs assessment was performed, a web-based curriculum and 12 HIV-specific entrustable professional activities (EPAs) were created, and adequate clinical training opportunities in HIV and primary care were established. Program evaluation included process, learner, and outcome evaluations from 2012 to 2017.

Outcomes

Since its inception, the HIV TT has enrolled a total of 11 residents (6–7 at a time), with 5 graduating to date. Residents delivered high-quality HIV and primary care for a diverse panel of patients; improved their knowledge and performance in HIV care, including according to the HIV-specific EPAs; and were highly satisfied with the program. All faculty remained with the program, and patients indicated satisfaction.

Next Steps

Next steps include enhanced coordination of residents’ schedules, improved EPA documentation, evaluation of residents’ HIV and non-HIV competence beyond residency, and monitoring graduates’ career trajectories. Expanding HIV training within internal medicine residency programs is feasible and effective and has the potential to alleviate the shortage of physicians trained to provide HIV care and primary care in a single setting.
Academic Medical Centers and High-Need, High-Cost Patients: A Call to Action
Authors: Blumenthal David , McCarthy Douglas , Shah Tanya B.
Published: June 2018

Health care delivery systems, including academic medical centers (AMCs), are increasingly focused on improving care for vulnerable, high-need, high-cost patients, in part because value-based payment models offer the promise of financial returns, or the avoidance of losses, for doing so. AMCs and other providers that have participated in Medicare and Medicaid demonstrations and value-based payment programs have important insights to offer about the features of successful and promising programs for high-need, high-cost patients. As more AMCs embrace value-based payment, they may have greater flexibility to provide services that address the medical and nonmedical needs of clinically complex patients and thereby reduce avoidable health care utilization. AMCs have many opportunities to create high-performing health systems, establish operational evidence for how to transform delivery systems, and train the next generation of providers to better address the care of high-need, high-cost individuals.
Development and Evaluation of “Chronic Illness Care Smartphone Apps” on Nursing Students’ Knowledge, Self-efficacy, and Learning Experience
Authors: Kang Jiyoung , Suh Eunyoung E.
Published: June 2018

This study developed smartphone-based virtual experiential nursing applications to care for patients with chronic illness, especially patients with hypertension and diabetes, and evaluated the effect of the applications on nursing students’ knowledge, self-efficacy, and learning experiences. Applications using gamification elements were developed according to the steps of assessment, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. Knowledge and self-efficacy were assessed via questionnaires, while learning experiences were assessed via six focus group interviews after the applications were used for 1 week. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, χ2 test, Fisher’s exact test, t test for the homogeneity of participants (experimental, 49; control, 43), an independent t test, and a paired t test for effectiveness in each group. Qualitative data were analyzed using qualitative thematic analysis. Knowledge on hypertension (t = 4.41, P < .001) and diabetes (t = 2.45, P < .009), as well as self-efficacy for hypertension (t = 3.08, P < .002) and diabetes (t = 1.75, P < .043), significantly improved in the experimental group compared to the control group. Students may use the applications as complementary learning resources without the limitations of time and space, and students were satisfied overall with their use. The chronic illness care smartphone applications are effective learning resources that assist students in assessing patients’ health problems and implementing nursing care plans to improve patient conditions.
EVALUATION OF MULTISPECTRAL IMAGING IN DIAGNOSING DIABETIC RETINOPATHY
Authors: Li Liang , Zhang Pu , Liu Hong , Liu Yu-Hua , Gao Ling
Published: June 2018

Purpose:

To investigate multispectral imaging (MSI) as a novel diagnostic approach for diabetic retinopathy (DR) in clinic.

Methods:

A total of 50 Type-2 diabetic patients (99 eyes) were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. All subjects underwent digital fundus photography (DFP), MSI, and fundus fluorescein angiography. A total exact agreement, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of no DR/mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) and severe NPDR/proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) grading were calculated based on DFP and MSI and were compared with fundus fluorescein angiography.

Results:

Compared with fundus fluorescein angiography, the exact agreement for MSI was 0.835; for DFP, it was 0.614; the sensitivity for no DR/mild NPDR in both MSI and DFP was 100%, and for severe NPDR/PDR, it was 97.4% and 88.3%. The specificity for no DR/mild NPDR in MSI and DFP was 96.3% and 95%, and for severe NPDR/PDR, it was 100% in both. The positive predictive value for no DR/mild NPDR in MSI and DFP was 86.4% and 82.6%, and for severe NPDR/PDR, it was 100% in both; the negative predictive value for no DR/mild NPDR in MSI and DFP was 100%, and for severe NPDR/PDR, it was 91.7% and 71.0% in both.

Conclusion:

Multispectral imaging displayed an excellent agreement with fundus fluorescein angiography in DR grading, which suggested that it might serve as a new diagnostic technique and an informative tool for evaluating DR.
A Review of Current Concepts of the Etiology and Treatment of Myopia
Authors: Cooper Jeffrey , Tkatchenko Andrei V.
Published: June 2018

Myopia occurs in more than 50% of the population in many industrialized countries and is expected to increase; complications associated with axial elongation from myopia are the sixth leading cause of blindness. Thus, understanding its etiology, epidemiology, and the results of various treatment regiments may modify current care and result in a reduction in morbidity from progressive myopia. This rapid increase cannot be explained by genetics alone. Current animal and human research demonstrates that myopia development is a result of the interplay between genetic and the environmental factors. The prevalence of myopia is higher in individuals whose both parents are myopic, suggesting that genetic factors are clearly involved in myopia development. At the same time, population studies suggest that development of myopia is associated with education and the amount time spent doing near work; hence, activities increase the exposure to optical blur. Recently, there has been an increase in efforts to slow the progression of myopia because of its relationship to the development of serious pathological conditions such as macular degeneration, retinal detachments, glaucoma, and cataracts. We reviewed meta-analysis and other of current treatments that include: atropine, progressive addition spectacle lenses, orthokeratology, and multifocal contact lenses.
The Efficacy of a Comprehensive Reminder System to Improve Health Behaviors and Blood Pressure Control in Hypertensive Ischemic Stroke Patients
Authors: Wan Li-Hong , Zhang Xiao-Pei , You Li-Ming , Ruan Heng-Fang , Chen Shao-Xian
Published: June 2018

Background and Objective:

The health behaviors of hypertensive stroke patients in China are not satisfactory. In this study, we tested the effect of a Health Belief Model Comprehensive Reminder System on health behaviors and blood pressure control in hypertensive ischemic stroke patients after occurrence and hospital discharge.

Methods:

A randomized, parallel-group, assessor-blinded experimental design yielded participation of 174 hospitalized hypertensive ischemic stroke patients. The intervention consisted of face-to-face and telephone health belief education, a patient calendar handbook, and weekly automated short-message services. Data were collected at baseline and 3 months after discharge.

Results:

Three months after discharge, the intervention group showed statistically, significantly better health behaviors for physical activity, nutrition, low-salt diet, and medication adherence. The intervention group also had statistically, significantly decreased systolic blood pressure and increased blood pressure control rate. Smoking and alcohol use behaviors were not affected.

Conclusion:

At 3 months, use of the Comprehensive Reminder System based on the Health Belief Model, yielded improvement in most health behaviors and blood pressure control in hypertensive ischemic stroke patients. Continued implementation of this intervention protocol is warranted to determine the long-term effect. Smoking and alcohol use behaviors need to be targeted with a different intervention.