bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“It Feels So Alien” or the Same Old S—: Attachment to Divergent Cultural Models in Insecure Times
Authors: Strauss Claudia
Published: September 2018

Instead of conceptualizing poor people as a group with a fixed culture, we need to understand diverse, shared frameworks for responding to economic adversity. Over half of all Americans of working age can expect to be in a poor or near‐poor household at some point. Differing interpretations of their low incomes under flexible capitalism are illustrated by the responses of two unemployed middle‐aged sisters from a white working‐class family in now poverty‐stricken San Bernardino County, California. Their divergent interpretations (one blamed herself and fell into depression; the other did not) show that even members of the same subgroup can draw upon different personally compelling cultural models to navigate social and individual change. This person‐centered multiple‐cultural‐models approach is needed as a corrective both to portrayals of culture as a stable group adaptation to an unchanging economic situation and to theories of persons as buffeted by economic shifts without guiding narratives.
Introduction: Person‐Centered Approaches in the Study of Culture and Poverty
Authors: Lowe Edward D. , Strauss Claudia
Published: September 2018

This introduction to a special collection of articles on the theme of poverty and personhood provides an overview of the collection's response to recent calls for a reconsideration of culture in urban poverty studies. We argue that such a reconsideration must confront two theoretical problems if it is to be successful. First, the analyses must make a sustained effort to define clearly the theoretical model of “culture” used in the analyses and why this theoretical perspective is illuminative without reproducing the problematic uses of culture in past scholarship. Second, this reconsideration must come to terms with the problematic relationship between culture and human subjectivities. The remainder of the article describes how this special collection addresses these two concerns by bringing together recent innovations in person‐centered ethnography that draws considerably from psychodynamic theory, phenomenology, and a theory from cognitive anthropology that replaces bounded cultures with variably distributed, affectively imbued cultural models. Cultural models also include expectations about others’ judgments. This introductory article concludes by highlighting four contributions the accompanying research articles make as a collection to the question of how we might better understand the relation of culture and human subjectivity in the study of urban poverty.
Memory Fields
Authors: Linger Daniel T.
Published: September 2018

George Orwell's novel1984raises a key question in the politics of memory: how far can the nation‐state reach into minds and reshape personal memories? Addressing it requires a theoretical framework that can encompass public and personal representations of the past. I develop the conceptmemory field, defined as the set of public and personal memories associated with a putatively past event, object, or situation. The memory field associated with the Kent State University massacre of May 4, 1970 exemplifies the diversity of memory, its constructed nature, its political uses, its brute qualities, and its implications for identities. I compare several additional cases drawn from the ethnographic and historical literatures, assessing the impact of the state's memory‐control tactics on personal memories. I close with a reflection on the emergent politics of memory in Donald Trump's United States.
Gaze following in 4.5‐ and 6‐month‐old infants: The impact of proximity on standard gaze following performance tests
Authors: Astor Kim , Gredebäck Gustaf
Published: September 2018

Gaze following (GF), the ability to synchronize visual attention with others, is often considered a foundation of social cognition. In this study, GF was assessed while changing the space between an actor's eyes and the gaze target. This was done to address a potential confound in the gold standard GF performance test, namely the spatial bias of the actors’ eye position that occurs when the actor turns the head to look at a target, offsetting the eye position from a centered position toward the attended target. Our results suggest that both 4.5 (n = 27) and 6 (n = 30)‐month‐old infants can follow an actor's gaze regardless of proximity. This is the first demonstration that early GF is not dependent on proximity cues, and our results strengthen previous findings suggesting that GF develops well before 6 months of age. The study was preregistered, and all data and analysis routines can be downloaded with provided links.
Analyst expertise and the value of cash holdings
Authors: Lu Louise Yi , Wu Yi (Ava)
Published: September 2018

This study investigates whether analyst expertise mitigates the value destruction associated with an increase in cash holdings. We find that analyst expertise increases the marginal value of cash holdings, and that this effect is more pronounced for firms in an environment where analysts’ forecasts are more dispersed and for firms with weaker monitoring from institutional shareholders. Overall, our results are consistent with our conjecture that analyst expertise enhances external monitoring, thereby preventing potential misuse of cash holdings and the associated destruction of cash value.
Rhizosheath formation and involvement in foxtail millet (Setaria italica) root growth under drought stress
Authors: Liu Tie‐Yuan , Ye Nenghui , Song Tao , Cao Yunying , Gao Bei , Zhang Di , Zhu Fuyuan , Chen Moxian , Zhang Yingjiao , Xu Weifeng , Zhang Jianhua
Published: September 2018

The rhizosheath, a layer of soil particles that adheres firmly to the root surface by a combination of root hairs and mucilage, may improve tolerance to drought stress. Setaria italica (L.) P. Beauv. (foxtail millet), a member of the Poaceae family, is an important food and fodder crop in arid regions and forms a larger rhizosheath under drought conditions. Rhizosheath formation under drought conditions has been studied, but the regulation of root hair growth and rhizosheath size in response to soil moisture remains unclear. To address this question, in this study we monitored root hair growth and rhizosheath development in response to a gradual decline in soil moisture. Here, we determined that a soil moisture level of 10%–14% (w/w) stimulated greater rhizosheath production compared to other soil moisture levels. Root hair density and length also increased at this soil moisture level, which was validated by measurement of the expression of root hair‐related genes. These findings contribute to our understanding of rhizosheath formation in response to soil water stress.
Consumer Reactions to Price Comparison and Disclosure Information in Prescription Drug Print Advertising
Authors: Aikin Kathryn J. , Betts Kevin R. , Southwell Brian G. , Boudewyns Vanessa , Johnson Mihaela , Breslav A.D.S.
Published: September 2018

Advertisers sometimes include price‐comparison information in direct‐to‐consumer (DTC) prescription drug ads because consumers may value such savings when considering drug options. It is not known whether a context statement—a disclosure noting that compared products may or may not be equally effective or safe or costly—could improve consumer understanding of risk, efficacy, and price. Using a between‐subjects experiment, we tested effects of price claim type (price comparison versus general cost savings) and presence of a disclosure statement in a fictitious but professionally developed DTC prescription drug print ad. Results indicated that when people remembered seeing the disclosure, they demonstrated uncertainty regarding risks, efficacy, and savings; however, most did not notice the disclosure, despite its prominent placement in the ad.
Impact of subsidized fortified wheat on anaemia in pregnant Indian women
Authors: Chakrabarti Suman , Kishore Avinash , Raghunathan Kalyani , Scott Samuel P.
Published: September 2018

The World Health Assembly called for a 50% global anaemia reduction in women of reproductive age (15–49 years of age) from 2012 to 2025. India accounts for the most cases of anaemia in the world, and half of all pregnant Indian women are anaemic. In India, the government implemented a 4‐year food‐based safety net programme from 2008 to 2012 involving the provision of fortified wheat flour through its public distribution system. We assessed programme impact on anaemia among pregnant women (n = 10,186) using data from the 2002–2004 and 2012–2013 Indian District Level Health Surveys. The difference‐in‐differences method was used to estimate the impact on haemoglobin (Hb) and anaemia in pregnant women living in northern India (Punjab) and southern India (Tamil Nadu), with pregnant women in neighbouring states without wheat fortification programmes serving as controls. In northern India, we found no impact on Hb (β = −0.184, P = 0.793) or anaemia reduction (β = −0.01, P = 0.859), as expected, given that the intervention targeted only nonpoor households and demand for fortified wheat was low. In southern India, where intervention coverage was high, we found no impact on Hb (β = −0.001, P = 0.998) but did see an impact on anaemia reduction (β = −0.08, P = 0.042), which was unexpected given low consumption of wheat in this predominantly rice‐eating region. India's wheat fortification programmes were largely ineffective in terms of reducing anaemia among pregnant women. As policymakers expand fortification programs, it is critical to ensure that the fortified food is universally available and distributed widely through well‐functioning and popular outlets.
A genetic risk score and number of myopic parents independently predict myopia
Authors: Ghorbani Mojarrad Neema , Williams Cathy , Guggenheim Jeremy A
Published: September 2018

Purpose

To investigate whether a genetic risk score (GRS) improved performance of predicting refractive error compared to knowing a child's number of myopic parents (NMP) alone.

Methods

This was a retrospective analysis of data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) birth cohort study. Refractive error was assessed longitudinally between age 7–15 using non‐cycloplegic autorefraction. Genetic variants (n = 149) associated with refractive error from a Consortium for Refractive Error And Myopia (CREAM) genome‐wide association study were used to calculate a GRS for each child. Using refractive error at ages 7 and 15 years as the outcome variable, coefficient of determination (R2) values were calculated via linear regression models for the predictors: NMP, GRS and a combined model.

Results

Number of myopic parents was weakly predictive of refractive error in children aged 7 years, R2 = 3.0% (95% CI 1.8–4.1%, p < 0.0001) and aged 15 years, R2 = 4.8% (3.1–6.5%, p < 0.0001). The GRS was also weakly predictive; age 7 years, R2 = 1.1% (0.4–1.9%, p < 0.0001) and 15 years R2 = 2.6% (1.3–3.9%, p < 0.0001). Combining the 2 variables gave larger R2 values at age 7, R2 = 3.7% (2.5–5.0%, p < 0.0001) and 15, R2 = 7.0% (5.0–9.0%, p < 0.0001). The combined model improved performance at both ages (both p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

A GRS improved the ability to detect children at risk of myopia independently of knowing the NMP. We speculate this may be because NMP captures information concerning environmental risk factors for myopia. Nevertheless, further gains are required to make such predictive tests worthwhile in the clinical environment.
Multiple circadian clock outputs regulate diel turnover of carbon and nitrogen reserves
Authors: Flis Anna , Mengin Virginie , Ivakov Alexander A. , Mugford Sam T. , Hubberten Hans‐Michael , Encke Beatrice , Krohn Nicole , Höhne Melanie , Feil Regina , Hoefgen Rainer , Lunn John E. , Millar Andrew J. , Smith Alison M. , Sulpice Ronan , Stitt Mark
Published: September 2018

Plants accumulate reserves in the daytime to support growth at night. Circadian regulation of diel reserve turnover was investigated by profiling starch, sugars, glucose 6‐phosphate, organic acids, and amino acids during a light–dark cycle and after transfer to continuous light in Arabidopsis wild types and in mutants lacking dawn (lhy cca1), morning (prr7 prr9), dusk (toc1, gi), or evening (elf3) clock components. The metabolite time series were integrated with published time series for circadian clock transcripts to identify circadian outputs that regulate central metabolism. (a) Starch accumulation was slower in elf3 and prr7 prr9. It is proposed that ELF3 positively regulates starch accumulation. (b) Reducing sugars were high early in the T‐cycle in elf3, revealing that ELF3 negatively regulates sucrose recycling. (c) The pattern of starch mobilization was modified in all five mutants. A model is proposed in which dawn and dusk/evening components interact to pace degradation to anticipated dawn. (d) An endogenous oscillation of glucose 6‐phosphate revealed that the clock buffers metabolism against the large influx of carbon from photosynthesis. (e) Low levels of organic and amino acids in lhy cca1 and high levels in prr7 prr9 provide evidence that the dawn components positively regulate the accumulation of amino acid reserves.
Silver‐Doped TiO2‐Coated Cotton Fabric as an Effective Photocatalytic System for Dye Decolorization in UV and Visible Light
Authors: Mishra Anu , Butola Bhupendra Singh
Published: September 2018

In this study, titanium tetra‐isopropoxide was used as a precursor of TiO2 for in situ coating on cotton fabric by sol–gel method. Subsequently, silver nitrate was used as doping agent to prepare silver‐doped TiO2‐coated cotton fabric during hydrothermal treatment. The treated samples were characterized through field‐emission scanning electron microscopy, energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectroscopy and UV–visible absorption spectroscopy to study morphology, composition of deposited elements and light absorption behavior of treated samples. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy was carried out to analyze the electronic state of silver in TiO2‐coated fabric after hydrothermal treatment. Doping of silver on TiO2‐coated fabric and subsequent hydrothermal treatment was found to enhance dye decolorization rate of rhodamine B dye solution in both UV and visible light radiations with respect to undoped TiO2. The study shows that an optimal level of silver‐doped TiO2‐coated fabric can be used repeatedly for dye decolorization without significant loss in its photocatalytic activity. The self‐cleaning properties of samples were also studied using methylene blue as a staining agent. It was observed that the presence of 1.8% silver on the weight of titanium in doped samples provides almost 82% of stain degradation.
Governing sustainable palm oil supply: Disconnects, complementarities, and antagonisms between state regulations and private standards
Authors: Pacheco Pablo , Schoneveld George , Dermawan Ahmad , Komarudin Heru , Djama Marcel
Published: September 2018

The global palm oil value chain has grown in complexity; stakeholder relationships and linkages are increasingly shaped by new public and private standards that aim to ameliorate social and environmental costs while harnessing economic gains. Regulatory initiatives in the emerging policy regime complex struggle to resolve sector‐wide structural performance issues: pervasive land conflicts, yield differences between companies and smallholders, and carbon emissions arising from deforestation and peatland conversion. Identifying opportunities for more effective governance of the palm oil value chain and supply landscapes, this paper explores disconnects, complementarities, and antagonisms between public regulations and private standards, looking at the global, national, and subnational policy domains shaping chain actors’ conduct. Greater complementarities have emerged among transnational instruments, but state regulation disconnects persist and antagonisms prevail between national state regulations and transnational private standards. Emerging experimental approaches, particularly at subnational level, aim to improve coordination to both enhance complementarities and resolve disconnects.
Technical evaluation for the proposal of a different cricondentherm limit for the Caribbean coast within Colombian gas quality regulations
Authors: Navarro Ochoa Ingrid , Figueredo Medina Manuel Alfredo
Published: September 2018

Introduction: The cricondentherm is the highest temperature above which a liquid cannot be formed, regardless of the pressure. According to the Colombian natural gas transmission regulations, this temperature should not exceed 7.2°C. Although this restriction is currently applied over the whole country, it is possible to propose a different limit on the cricondentherm for the Colombian Caribbean coast. Methods: In this document, the current hydrocarbon dew point (HCDP) limits for gas transport pipelines in several countries worldwide are analyzed, the weather conditions on the Colombian Caribbean coast are reviewed, and a thermodynamic and hydraulic study is developed, taking into account the composition of the gas (before any treatment) from three fields on the Caribbean coast, the elevation profile of one of the gas pipelines on the Caribbean coast, and the influence of the weather conditions on the behavior of gas in the pipeline. Results: Some countries define their HCDP values depending on the region through which the gas is transported. Simulations of the chosen gas pipeline with lean gases without any treatment at the worst ambient conditions of the Colombian Caribbean coast show that there is a slight liquid condensation at 21°C, indicating a gap with the current regulations (7.2°C) in which an additional maximum cricondentherm can be proposed for the Colombian Caribbean coast. Conclusions: From this work, it is concluded that a new cricondentherm for warm climates in Colombia, within the transmission regulations, should be between 10 and 12.6°C. This proposal is based on the results obtained in simulations and the acknowledgment that some of the Colombian gas pipelines operate only in warm regions of the country.
Synthesis, antibacterial activity and DNA interactions of lanthanide(III) complexes of N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones
Authors: Londoño-Mosquera Juan-David , Aragón-Muriel Alberto , Polo Cerón Dorian
Published: September 2018

This paper reports the synthesis and detailed characterization of six novel lanthanide complexes of La(III), Eu(III) and Nd(III) with N(4)-substituted thiosemicarbazones derived from the 2-carboxybenzaldehyde. The IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopic studies confirmed the coordination of the thiocarbonyl (C=S), azomethine (C=N) and carboxylate (COO-) groups to the metal centers, and the carboxylate was coordinated in a bidentate manner. The elemental and thermal analyses suggest that lanthanide complexes were formed in 1:2 molar ratios (metal:ligand). The molar conductivity values confirmed the non-electrolytic nature of the complexes. The interaction of these complexes with calf thymus DNA (CT-DNA) was investigated by UV absorption and viscosity measurements. It was found that the Eu(III) and Nd(III) complexes could roll along the DNA strands through groove interactions. Furthermore, lanthanide complexes could promote the oxidative cleavage of plasmid pBR322 in a high-oxidative stress environment. Finally, the Schiff base ligands (L) and their complexes were evaluated for their antibacterial activities against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria using a microdilution procedure. The results indicate that the lanthanide complexes exhibit more potent antibacterial activity than the free ligands.
Electrical and optical characterization of CdTe solar cells with CdS and CdSe buffers—A comparative study
Authors: Mia Md Dalim , Swartz Craig H. , Paul Sanjoy , Sohal Sandeep , Grice Corey R. , Yan Yanfa , Holtz Mark , Li Jian V.
Published: September 2018

A study is reported comparing the electrical and optical properties of CdTe solar cells, prepared using CdS and CdSe buffer layers, to investigate defects in the bulk and interface, carrier transport, and recombination. Temperature dependent capacitance–voltage measurement and admittance spectroscopy were used to extract carrier concentration, resistivity, charge carrier mobility, and their temperature dependence. The authors identify the presence of two defect signatures corresponding to carrier freeze-out and the formation of a Schottky back-contact barrier. The back-contact barrier height (≈300 meV) extracted from the temperature dependent current density–voltage (JVT) experiment was confirmed by conventional admittance spectroscopy. The activation energies of mobility (resistivity) are 101.2 ± 2.5 meV (92.6 ± 2.3 meV) and 84.7 ± 2.7 meV (77.6 ± 4.5 meV) for CdS and CdSe buffer layers, respectively. Intensity dependent photoluminescence analysis demonstrates that the CdSe/CdTe device exhibits lower radiative efficiency than the CdS/CdTe device. This confirms the presence of higher defects in the CdSe/CdTe device corroborated by temperature dependent VOC analysis. The comparative electrical and optical analysis provides insight into improving the performance of CdTe solar cell device by selenization.
Transcranial brain atlas
Authors: Xiao Xiang , Yu Xiaoting , Zhang Zong , Zhao Yang , Jiang Yihan , Li Zheng , Yang Yihong , Zhu Chaozhe
Published: September 2018

A transcranial brain atlas is a new kind of brain atlas specialized for transcranial noninvasive brain stimulation/imaging techniques.
Transparent arrays of bilayer-nanomesh microelectrodes for simultaneous electrophysiology and two-photon imaging in the brain
Authors: Qiang Yi , Artoni Pietro , Seo Kyung Jin , Culaclii Stanislav , Hogan Victoria , Zhao Xuanyi , Zhong Yiding , Han Xun , Wang Po-Min , Lo Yi-Kai , Li Yueming , Patel Henil A. , Huang Yifu , Sambangi Abhijeet , Chu Jung Soo V. , Liu Wentai , Fagiolini Michela , Fang Hui
Published: September 2018

We report a transparent, bilayer-nanomesh microelectrode array for concurrent electrophysiology recording and two-photon imaging.
Accelerated ex situ breeding of
GBSS
- and
PTST1
-edited cassava for modified starch
Authors: Bull Simon E. , Seung David , Chanez Christelle , Mehta Devang , Kuon Joel-Elias , Truernit Elisabeth , Hochmuth Anton , Zurkirchen Irene , Zeeman Samuel C. , Gruissem Wilhelm , Vanderschuren Hervé
Published: September 2018

The growing need for cassava, a food and fuel crop, has led to a new plant breeding technique designed to accelerate breeding of cassava with modified starch.
Human thymopoiesis is influenced by a common genetic variant within the
TCRA-TCRD
locus
Authors: Clave Emmanuel , Araujo Itauá Leston , Alanio Cécile , Patin Etienne , Bergstedt Jacob , Urrutia Alejandra , Lopez-Lastra Silvia , Li Yan , Charbit Bruno , MacPherson Cameron Ross , Hasan Milena , Melo-Lima Breno Luiz , Douay Corinne , Saut Noémie , Germain Marine , Trégouët David-Alexandre , Morange Pierre-Emmanuel , Fontes Magnus , Duffy Darragh , Di Santo James P. , Quintana-Murci Lluis , Albert Matthew L. , Toubert Antoine ,   The Milieu Intérieur Consortium
Published: September 2018

Aging, sex, and genetics substantially affect human thymic function.
Direct and Indirect Effects on Viral Translation and RNA Replication Are Required for AUF1 Restriction of Enterovirus Infections in Human Cells
Authors: Ullmer Wendy , Semler Bert L.
Published: September 2018

Picornaviruses primarily infect the gastrointestinal or upper respiratory tracts of humans and animals and may disseminate to tissues of the central nervous system, heart, skin, liver, or pancreas. Many common human pathogens belong to the
Picornaviridae
family, which includes viruses known to cause paralytic poliomyelitis (poliovirus); myocarditis (coxsackievirus B3 [CVB3]); the common cold (human rhinovirus [HRV]); and hand, foot, and mouth disease (enterovirus 71 [EV71]), among other illnesses. There are no specific treatments for infection, and vaccines exist for only two picornaviruses: poliovirus and hepatitis A virus. Given the worldwide distribution and prevalence of picornaviruses, it is important to gain insight into the host mechanisms used to restrict infection. Other than proteins involved in the innate immune response, few host factors have been identified that restrict picornavirus replication. The work presented here seeks to define the mechanism of action for the host restriction factor AUF1 during infection by poliovirus and CVB3.
Complete Genome Sequence of a Microcystin-Degrading Bacterium, Sphingosinicella microcystinivorans Strain B-9
Authors: Jin Haiyan , Nishizawa Tomoyasu , Guo Yong , Nishizawa Akito , Park Ho-Dong , Kato Hajime , Tsuji Kiyomi , Harada Ken-ichi
Published: September 2018

Sphingosinicella microcystinivorans
strain B-9 has the ability to degrade cyanobacterial hepatotoxic cyclic peptides, microcystins, and nodularins. This is the first report of the complete genome sequence of the microcystin-degrading bacterium.
Whole-Genome Sequences of Two Pseudomonas fluorescens Strains Isolated from Roots of Tomato and Cucumber Plants
Authors: Sevigny Joseph L. , LaJoie Jessica , Shehata Shania , Christensen Elijah , Cornfield Scott , Koziol Lori
Published: September 2018

Pseudomonas fluorescens
strain EC1 was isolated from
Cucumis sativus
(cucumber) roots, and
P. fluorescens
SC1 was isolated from
Solanum lycopersicum
(tomato) roots. The
P. fluorescens
SC1 genome has a total sequence length of 6,157,842 bp, and the
P. fluorescens
EC1 genome has a total sequence length of 6,125,428 bp.
Closed Genome Sequences of Two Clostridium botulinum Strains Obtained by Nanopore Sequencing
Authors: Gonzalez-Escalona Narjol , Haendiges Julie , Miller Jesse D. , Sharma Shashi K.
Published: September 2018

Here we report the genome sequences of two toxin-producing
Clostridium botuli
num
strains, one environmental sample (83F) and one clinical sample (CDC51232). The genomes were closed by a combination of long-read and short-read sequencing.
Draft Genome Sequences of Escherichia coli Strains FP2 and FP3, Isolated from the Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
Authors: Denny Allison L. , Arruda Susan E.
Published: September 2018

Draft genomes of two strains of
Escherichia coli
, FP2 and FP3, isolated from the feces of the Canada goose (
Branta canadensis
), were sequenced. Genome sizes were 5.26 Mb with a predicted G+C content of 50.54% (FP2) and 5.07 Mb with a predicted G+C content of 50.41% (FP3).
Association of guideline and policy changes with incidence of lifestyle advice and treatment for uncomplicated mild hypertension in primary care: a longitudinal cohort study in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink
Authors: Sheppard James P , Stevens Sarah , Stevens Richard J , Mant Jonathan , Martin Una , Hobbs F.D. Richard , McManus Richard J
Published: September 2018

Objectives

Evidence to support initiation of pharmacological treatment in patients with uncomplicated (low risk) mild hypertension is inconclusive. As such, clinical guidelines are contradictory and healthcare policy has changed regularly. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of lifestyle advice and drug therapy in this population and whether secular trends were associated with policy changes.

Design

Longitudinal cohort study.

Setting

Primary care practices contributing to the Clinical Practice Research Datalink in England.

Participants

Data were extracted from the linked electronic health records of patients aged 18–74 years, with stage 1 hypertension (blood pressure between 140/90 and 159/99 mm Hg), no cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and no treatment, from 1998 to 2015. Patients exited if follow-up records became unavailable, they progressed to stage 2 hypertension, developed a CVD risk factor or received lifestyle advice/treatment.

Primary outcome measures

The association between policy changes and incidence of lifestyle advice or treatment, examined using an interrupted time-series analysis.

Results

A total of 108 843 patients were defined as having uncomplicated mild hypertension (mean age 51.9±12.9 years, 60.0% female). Patientsspent a median 2.6 years (IQR 0.9–5.5) in the study, after which 12.2% (95% CI 12.0% to 12.4%) were given lifestyle advice, 29.9% (95% CI 29.7% to 30.2%) were prescribed medication and 19.4% (95% CI 19.2% to 19.6%) were given both. The introduction of the quality outcomes framework (QOF) and subsequent changes to QOF indicators were followed by significant increases in the incidence of lifestyle advice. Treatment prescriptions decreased slightly over time, but were not associated with policy changes.

Conclusions

Despite secular trends that accord with UK guidance, many patients are still prescribed treatment for mild hypertension. Adequately powered studies are needed to determine if this is appropriate.
Investigating equalisation of health inequalities during adolescence in four low-income and middle-income countries: an analysis of the Young Lives cohort study
Authors: Ward Joseph L , Viner Russell M
Published: September 2018

Objective

To investigate if socioeconomic gradients in health reduce during adolescence (the equalisation hypothesis) in four low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC).

Setting

Analysis of the Young Lives Study cohorts in Ethiopia, Peru, Vietnam and India.

Participants

A total of 3395 participants (across the four cohorts) aged 6–10 years at enrolment and followed up for 11 years.

Outcomes measured

Change in income-related health inequalities from mid-childhood to late adolescence. Socioeconomic status was determined by wealth index quartile. The health indicators included were self-reported health, injuries in the previous 4 years, presence of long-term health problems, low mood, alcohol use, overweight/obesity, thinness and stunting. The relative risk of each adverse health outcome between highest and lowest wealth index quartile were compared across four waves of the study within each country.

Results

We found steep socioeconomic gradients across multiple health indicators in all four countries. Socioeconomic gradients remained similar across all waves of the study, with no significant decrease during adolescence.

Conclusion

We found no consistent evidence of equalisation for income-related health inequalities in youth in these LMIC. Socioeconomic gradients for health in these cohorts appear to persist and be equally damaging across the early life course and during adolescence.
Spatio - temporal modelling assessing the burden of malaria in affected low and middle-income countries: a scoping review
Authors: Odhiambo Julius Nyerere , Sartorius Benn
Published: September 2018

Introduction

Spatio - temporal modelling of malaria has proven to be a valuable tool for forecasting as well as control and elimination activities. This has been triggered by an increasing availability of spatially indexed data, enabling not only the characterisation of malaria at macrospatial and microspatial levels but also the development of geospatial techniques and tools that enable health policy planners to use these available data more effectively. However, there has been little synthesis regarding the variety of spatio - temporal approaches employed, covariates employed and ‘best practice’ type recommendations to guide future modelling decisions. This review will seek to summarise available evidence on the current state of spatio - temporal modelling approaches that have been employed in malaria modelling in low and middle-income countries within malaria transmission limits, so as to guide future modelling decisions.

Methods and analysis

A comprehensive search for articles published from January 1968 to April 2018 will be conducted using of the following electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, JSTOR, Cochrane CENTRAL via Wiley, Academic Search Complete via EBSCOhost, MasterFILE Premier via EBSCOhost, CINAHL via EBSCOhost, MEDLINE via EBSCOhost and Google Scholar. Relevant grey literature sources such as unpublished reports, conference proceedings and dissertations will also be incorporated in the search. Two reviewers will independently conduct the title screening, abstract screening and, thereafter, a full-text review of all potentially eligible articles. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols guidelines will be used as the standard reporting format. A qualitative thematic analysis will be used to group and evaluate selected studies around their aim, spatio - temporal methodology employed, covariates used and model validation techniques.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not applicable to this study. The results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal and presented in conferences related to malaria and spatial epidemiology.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42017076427.
Long-term retreatment rates of cerebral aneurysms in a population-level cohort
Authors: Daileda Taylor , Vahidy Farhaan S , Chen Peng Roc , Kamel Hooman , Liang Conrad W , Savitz Sean I , Sheth Sunil A
Published: September 2018

Background

The likelihood of retreatment in patients undergoing procedures for cerebral aneurysms (CAs) has an important role in deciding the optimal treatment type. Existing determinations of retreatment rates, particularly for unruptured CAs, may not represent current clinical practice.

Objective

To use population-level data to examine a large cohort of patients with treated CAs over a 10-year period to estimate retreatment rates for both ruptured and unruptured CAs and explore the effect of changing treatment practices.

Methods

We used administrative data from all non-federal hospitalizations in California (2005–2011) and Florida (2005–2014) and identified patients with treated CAs. Surgical clipping (SC) and endovascular treatments (ETs) were defined by corresponding procedure codes and an accompanying code for ruptured or unruptured CA. Retreatment was defined as subsequent SC or ET.

Results

Among 19 482 patients with treated CAs, ET was performed in 12 007 (62%) patients and SC in 7475 (38%). 9279 (48%) patients underwent treatment for unruptured CAs and 10203 (52%) for ruptured. Retreatment after 90 days occurred in 1624 (8.3%) patients (11.2% vs 3.7%, ET vs SC). Retreatment rates for SC were greater in unruptured than in ruptured aneurysms (4.6% vs 3.1%), but the opposite was true for ET (10.6% vs 11.8%). 85% of retreatments were within 2 years of the index treatment. Retreatment was associated with age (OR=0.99, 95% CI 0.98 to 0.99), female sex (OR=1.5, 95% CI 1.3 to 1.7), Hispanic versus white race (OR=0.86, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.98), and ET versus SC (OR=3.25, 95% CI 2.85 to 3.71). The adjusted 2-year retreatment rate decreased from 2005 to 2012 for patients with unruptured CAs treated with ET (11% to 8%).

Conclusions

Retreatment rates for CAs treated with ET were greater than those for SC. However, for patients with unruptured CAs treated with ET, we identify a continuous decline in retreatment rate over the past decade.
Cardiologist perceptions of family-centred rounds in cardiovascular clinical care
Authors: Ludmir Jonathan , Liu Xinggang , Gupta Anuj , Ramani Gautam V , Liu Stanley S , Zakaria Sammy , Verceles Avelino C , Shah Nirav G , McCurdy Michael T , Dammeyer Jennifer A , Netzer Giora
Published: September 2018

Objective

Few data exist regarding physician attitudes and implementation of family-centred rounds (FCR) in cardiovascular care. This study aimed to assess knowledge and attitudes among cardiologists and cardiology fellows regarding barriers and benefits of FCRs.

Methods

An electronic, web-based questionnaire was nationally distributed to cardiology fellows and attending cardiologists.

Results

In total, 118 subjects were surveyed, comprising cardiologists (n=64, 54%) and cardiology fellows (n=54, 46%). Overall, 61% of providers reported participating in FCRs and 64% felt family participation on rounds benefits the patient. Both fellows and cardiologists agreed that family rounds eased family anxiety (fellows, 63%; cardiologists, 56%; p=0.53), improved communication between the medical team and the patient and family (fellows, 78%; cardiologists, 61%; p=0.18) and improved patient safety (fellows, 59%; cardiologists, 47%; p=0.43). Attitudes regarding enhancement of trainee education were similar (fellows, 69%; cardiologists, 55%; p=0.19). Fellows and cardiologists felt that family increased the duration of rounds (fellows, 78%; cardiologists, 80%; p=0.18) and led to less efficient rounds (fellows, 54%; cardiologists, 58%; p=0.27).

Conclusion

The majority of cardiologists and fellows believed that FCRs benefited families, communication and patient safety, but led to reduced efficiency and longer duration of rounds.
Pet owners’ perceptions of veterinary safety practices
Authors: Fowler Heather , Irimia Bianca , Ramirez Vickie , Meischke Hendrika , Rabinowitz Peter
Published: September 2018

Veterinary workers must care for their animal patients while simultaneously protecting their own health and safety. This process can be complicated by the presence and perception of pet owners who may not agree with a given tactic used to protect veterinary workers from injury. We conducted focus groups of pet owners in the Seattle area during November 2016 to gain a deeper understanding of their perceptions relating to veterinary worker safety practices. Focus group interviews were recorded and transcribed and study themes identified and summarised. Twenty pet owners participated in three focus groups. Study themes arising from the focus group discussions could be categorised into human, animal, behavioural and environmental domains as outlined in a One Health Occupational Safety and Health (OHOSH) model. Communication was a recurring study theme identified, suggesting that lacking or impaired veterinary personnel‐client communication plays a key role in the safe delivery of veterinary services and can negatively impact the use of safety practices among veterinary personnel. Our study suggests that it is important for veterinary personnel to communicate to clients the reasons for policies related to worker safety. Such communication can help engage the veterinary client in order to effectively avoid situations that precipitate injury.
Origin of the southernmost Arctic tundra of continental North America
Authors: Payette Serge , Pilon Vanessa , Frégeau Mathieu
Published: September 2018

The Arctic tundra extends beyond the treeline north of 58°N in eastern North America and north of 66°N in western North America and Eurasia. A marked exception to this distribution is the azonal tundra situated as far south as 54°30′–45′N, in the Pointe-Louis-XIV area (JABA), along the fast-rising coasts of James Bay–Hudson Bay. The unusual position of JABA calls into question the influence of climate as the main causal factor for its existence. Macrocharcoal remains extracted from tundra and forest soils were used along a 105 km transect to date the onset of the boreal environment based on past occurrence of conifer fires. Assuming crustal uplift 1.3 m 100 year−1 and 2.4 m 100 year−1 over and before the last 1000 years, and after correcting site elevation at the time the oldest conifer fires occurred, trees established along the coast before 4000 cal. BP. Given charcoal distribution suggesting boreal vegetation in sites ≤13 m a.s.l., JABA was created after 4000 cal. BP when the flat, elongated peninsula emerged above marine waters. It is concluded that JABA origin was most likely caused by the synergistic impact of geophysical factors, isostatic uplift and topography, on a coastal environment already influenced by cold, wind-exposed conditions.
Detecting genetic regions associated with height in the native ponies of the British Isles by using high density SNP genotyping
Authors: Skujina Ilze , Winton Clare L. , Hegarty Matthew J. , McMahon Robert , Nash Deborah M. , Davies Morel Mina C.G. , McEwan Neil R.
Published: September 2018

Height is an important characteristic in the equine industry although little is known about its genetic control in native British breeds of ponies. This study aimed to map QTL data with the withers height in four pony breeds native to the British Isles, including two different sections within Welsh Cobs. In this study, a genome-wide analysis approach using the Illumina EquineSNP50 Infinium BeadChip was applied to 105 ponies and cobs. Analysis identified 222 highly significant height-associated SNPs (P ≤ 10−5), among which three SNPs on ECA9 have also been previously reported elsewhere. The highest number of significant SNPs associated to height in the native British horses were located on ECA1, ECA8, and ECA16.
No Need for Draco’s Code: Evidence from China’s “Strike Hard” Campaigns
Authors: WANG FANG , CHEN SHUO , WANG DAN
Published: September 2018

The occasional “strike hard” campaigns against crime launched by the Chinese government provide an opportunity to isolate the separate effects of severity and certainty of punishment on the crime rate. The “strike hard” campaigns increase the severity of the punishment but keep the certainty of the punishment unchanged. We use provincial panel data from 1988 to 2015 to examine the impacts of the two strategies on the crime rate with pooled mean group models. The empirical results show that a significant decrease in crime rates is associated with greater certainty of detection, but greater severity has no significant effect. A 1% increase in the detection rate (a measurement of certainty) predicts about 2.7% lower crime rate. The results are robust even after considering the endogenous nature of punishment policies and controlling for the measurement error in the officially reported data.
Metabolic Gene Clusters in Eukaryotes
Authors: Nützmann Hans-Wilhelm , Scazzocchio Claudio , Osbourn Anne
Published: September 2018

In bacteria, more than half of the genes in the genome are organized in operons. In contrast, in eukaryotes, functionally related genes are usually dispersed across the genome. There are, however, numerous examples of functional clusters of nonhomologous genes for metabolic pathways in fungi and plants. Despite superficial similarities with operons (physical clustering, coordinate regulation), these clusters have not usually originated by horizontal gene transfer from bacteria, and (unlike operons) the genes are typically transcribed separately rather than as a single polycistronic message. This clustering phenomenon raises intriguing questions about the origins of clustered metabolic pathways in eukaryotes and the significance of clustering for pathway function. Here we review metabolic gene clusters from fungi and plants, highlight commonalities and differences, and consider how these clusters form and are regulated. We also identify opportunities for future research in the areas of large-scale genomics, synthetic biology, and experimental evolution.
Acute HIIE elicits similar changes in human skeletal muscle mitochondrial H2O2 release, respiration, and cell signaling as endurance exercise even with less work
Authors: Trewin Adam J. , Parker Lewan , Shaw Christopher S. , Hiam Danielle S. , Garnham Andrew , Levinger Itamar , McConell Glenn K. , Stepto Nigel K.
Published: September 2018

It remains unclear whether high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) elicits distinct molecular responses to traditional endurance exercise relative to the total work performed. We aimed to investigate the influence of exercise intensity on acute perturbations to skeletal muscle mitochondrial function (respiration and reactive oxygen species) and metabolic and redox signaling responses. In a randomized, repeated measures crossover design, eight recreationally active individuals (24 ± 5 yr; V̇o2peak: 48 ± 11 ml·kg−1·min−1) undertook continuous moderate-intensity [CMIE: 30 min, 50% peak power output (PPO)], high-intensity interval (HIIE: 5 × 4 min, 75% PPO, work matched to CMIE), and low-volume sprint interval (SIE: 4 × 30 s) exercise, ≥7 days apart. Each session included muscle biopsies at baseline, immediately, and 3 h postexercise for high-resolution mitochondrial respirometry ( Jo2) and H2O2 emission ( Jh2o2) and gene and protein expression analysis. Immediately postexercise and irrespective of protocol, Jo2 increased during complex I + II leak/state 4 respiration but Jh2o2 decreased ( P < 0.05). AMP-activated protein kinase and acetyl co-A carboxylase phosphorylation increased ~1.5 and 2.5-fold respectively, while thioredoxin-reductase-1 protein abundance was ~35% lower after CMIE vs. SIE ( P < 0.05). At 3 h postexercise, regardless of protocol, Jo2 was lower during both ADP-stimulated state 3 OXPHOS and uncoupled respiration ( P < 0.05) but Jh2o2 trended higher ( P < 0.08) and PPARGC1A mRNA increased ~13-fold, and peroxiredoxin-1 protein decreased ~35%. In conclusion, intermittent exercise performed at high intensities has similar dynamic effects on muscle mitochondrial function compared with endurance exercise, irrespective of whether total workload is matched. This suggests exercise prescription can accommodate individual preferences while generating comparable molecular signals known to promote beneficial metabolic adaptations.
Altered Small-World Networks in First-Episode Schizophrenia Patients during Cool Executive Function Task
Authors: Zhao Zongya , Cheng Yaqing , Li Zhenxin , Yu Yi
Published: September 2018

At present, little is known about brain functional connectivity and its small-world topologic properties in first-episode schizophrenia (SZ) patients during cool executive function task. In this paper, the Trail Making Test-B (TMT-B) task was used to evaluate the cool executive function of first-episode SZ patients and electroencephalography (EEG) data were recorded from 14 first-episode SZ patients and 14 healthy controls during this cool executive function task. Brain functional connectivity between all pairs of EEG channels was constructed based on mutual information (MI) analysis. The constructed brain functional networks were filtered by three thresholding schemes: absolute threshold, mean degree, and a novel data-driven scheme based on orthogonal minimal spanning trees (OMST), and graph theory was then used to study the topographical characteristics of the filtered brain graphs. Results indicated that the graph theoretical measures of the theta band showed obvious difference between SZ patients and healthy controls. In the theta band, the characteristic path length was significantly longer and the cluster coefficient was significantly smaller in the SZ patients for a wide range of absolute threshold T. However, the cluster coefficient showed no significant changes, and the characteristic path length was still significantly longer in SZ patients when calculated as a function of mean degree K. Interestingly, we also found that only the characteristic path length was significantly longer in SZ patients compared with healthy controls after using the OMST scheme. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the characteristic path length was positively correlated with executive time of TMT-B for the combined SZ patients and healthy controls (r=0.507, P=0.006), but not for SZ patients alone (r=0.072, P=0.612). The above results suggested a less optimal organization of the brain network and could be useful for understanding the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying cool executive dysfunction in first-episode SZ patients.
Management of Thrombosis Risk in a Carrier of Hemophilia A with Low Factor VIII Levels with Atrial Fibrillation: A Clinical Case and Literature Review
Authors: Murray Nigel P. , Muñoz Lorena , Minzer Simona , Lopez Marco Antonio
Published: September 2018

Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common age-related arrthymia and a leading cause of stroke in the elderly; with an aging hemophilia population, the number of patients developing AF is increasing. There are no controlled trials on thromboprophylaxis in this group of patients, only consensus opinion was based on small case reports. We present a female patient, carrier for hemophilia and with clinically moderately severe hemophilia who developed FA. We discuss the literature with respect to this group of patients and current recommendations for thromboprophylaxis.