bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Randomized Trial of a Yogurt‐type Amino Acid−based Formula in Infants and Children With Severe Cow's Milk Allergy
Authors: Payot François , Lachaux Alain , Lalanne Florent , Kalach Nicolas
Published: November 2017

Objectives:

Evaluation of a spoon‐fed amino acid−based formula (AAF) with a yogurt‐type texture compared to the reference oral liquid formula (Neocate).

Methods:

Phase III/IV, prospective, randomized (1:1), open‐label, multicenter study in infants/young children (6–36 months) with severe cow's milk protein allergy (CMA) who had consumed AAF for ≥1 month before the study. Patients received reference+test formula (Neocate with a yogurt‐type texture for spoon‐feeding: group 1) or reference formula (group 2) for 28 days. The study formulae were integrated into the patients’ usual daily diet. Efficacy on Day 0, 14, and 28 was assessed primarily in terms of symptoms associated with CMA. The evolution of symptoms, amount of formula consumed, nutritional and energy intake, anthropometric data, and tolerability were also assessed.

Results:

The incidence of CMA symptoms was similar in each group (P > 0.05) on day 0, 14, and 28. For specific symptoms, there was little change from day 0 and no significant difference between groups for incidence on day 0 or evolution at day 14 or 28. There was no difference in formula consumption (day 0–day 28) between groups (P = 0.90), but nutritional value was generally higher for group 1 and calcium intake was statistically higher for group 1 (P < 0.05). Weight‐for‐height, weight‐for age, and body mass index‐for‐age z scores were higher for group 1 than group 2 (P < 0.05). Both formulae were well tolerated.

Conclusions:

There was no difference in efficacy, formula consumption, and tolerability between the new spoon‐fed yogurt‐type AAF formula and the reference formula, whereas significantly higher calcium intake was achieved with the new formula.
Prediction of Poor Prognosis After Severe Head Injury in Children Using Logistic Regression
Authors: Ichikawa Rie , Maeda Yukihiro , Shibuya Akiko , Umesato Yoshimasa , Kondo Yoshiaki , Maeda Takeshi , Yoshino Atsuo , Takahashi Shori
Published: November 2017

Objectives

Head trauma is one of the main causes of death in childhood and often leaves severe disability with serious neurological damage. Appropriate treatment must be provided immediately to improve outcomes. This study was performed to identify factors associated with a poor prognosis at an early stage of severe head injury in children.

Methods

The subjects were registered in the Japan Neurotrauma Data Bank. They were 119 children (mean age, 8 years; male, 67.2%) with severe head injury registered during a period of 4 years (from July 1, 2004 to June 30, 2006 and from July 1, 2009 to June 30, 2011). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to examine relationships among factors and outcome 6 months after discharge. Logistic regression analysis was performed to develop models for poor prognosis and death.

Results

Outcome was evaluated based on the Glasgow Outcome Scale: 73 children (61.3%) had good recovery, 11 (9.2%) had moderate disability, 8 (6.7%) had severe disability, 4 (3.3%) were in a vegetative state, and 23 (19.3%) had died. Four factors were identified as predictors of a poor prognosis: serum glucose level greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL, Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission less than or equal to 5, presence of mydriasis, and presence of traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage. Three factors were identified as predictors of death: serum glucose level greater than or equal to 200 mg/dL, Glasgow Coma Scale score on admission less than or equal to 5, and presence of mydriasis.

Conclusions

Using these predictors, subsequent exacerbation may be predicted just after arrival at the hospital and appropriate treatment can be provided immediately.
Paroxysmal Tonic Upgaze in Children
Authors: Kartal Ayse
Published: November 2017

Background

In clinical practice, nonepileptic paroxysmal events during infancy and childhood are common reasons for parents and caregivers to seek for medical advice. These events are mostly unrecognized and considered as an epileptic seizure because of the clinical features resembling an epileptic seizure. Paroxysmal tonic upgaze, which consists of recurrent episodes of sustained upward deviation of the eyes and incomplete downward saccades, and normal horizontal eye movements without impairment of consciousness, is a diagnostic challenge for the pediatrician and pediatric neurologist. In general, the entity was defined as an apparently benign phenomenon with normal investigations and eventual complete resolution of the symptoms, although some authors reported on patients with associated neurologic signs, such as ataxia, developmental delay, and abnormal brain magnetic resonance imaging finding.

Methods

The patients were 3 children (1 boy and 2 girls) who were between 5 and 18 months old experiencing rapid ocular movements with sustained conjugate upward deviation of the eyes. Their attacks, which were recorded using a video or electroencephalogram system, were also investigated comprehensively, including neurologic examination, electroencephalograms, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and metabolic tests. Paroxysmal tonic upgaze attacks have decreased in number or disappeared in 2 patients, but 1 patient exhibited mild abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging and had relatives with epilepsy.

Conclusions

In conclusion, paroxysmal tonic upgaze is an apparently benign phenomenon with unclear pathophysiology of various proposed mechanisms such as genetic predisposition, immaturity of the brain stem, neurotransmitter depletion, or immune dysregulation. It is important to recognize the clinical presentation of paroxysmal tonic upgaze and distinguish the disorders from epilepsy for deciding the treatment and prognosis of the patients.
Ultrasound-Guided Popliteal Sciatic Nerve Block for an Ankle Laceration in a Pediatric Emergency Department
Authors: Mori Takaaki , Hagiwara Yusuke
Published: November 2017

Although ultrasound-guided peripheral nerve block has recently been introduced into pediatric emergency departments, knowledge of its use is limited. We present here a case demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of ultrasound-guided popliteal sciatic nerve block for a pediatric spoke injury in a pediatric emergency department setting.
Novel and preclinical treatment strategies in pneumococcal meningitis
Authors: Bewersdorf Jan P. , Grandgirard Denis , Koedel Uwe , Leib Stephen L.
Published: November 2017

Purpose of review

Pneumococcal meningitis is the most frequent form of bacterial meningitis in Europe and the United States. Although early antimicrobial and adjuvant therapy with dexamethasone have helped to improve disease outcome in adults, mortality and morbidity rates remain unsatisfactorily high, emphasizing the need for additional treatment options. Promising targets for adjuvant therapy have been identified recently and will be the focus of this review.

Recent findings

Brain disease in pneumococcal meningitis is caused by direct bacterial toxicity and excessive meningeal inflammation. Accordingly, promising targets for adjuvant therapy comprise limiting the release of toxic bacterial products and suppressing inflammation in a way that maximally protects against tissue injury without hampering pathogen eradication by antibiotics. Among the agents tested so far in experimental models, complement inhibitors, matrix-metalloproteinase inhibitors, and nonbacteriolytic antibiotics or a combination of the above have the potential to more efficiently protect the brain either alone (e.g., in children and outside the high-income settings) or in addition to adjuvant dexamethasone. Additionally, new protein-based pneumococcal vaccines are being developed that promise to improve disease prevention, namely by addressing the increasing problem of serotype replacement seen with pneumococcal conjugate vaccines.

Pneumococcal meningitis remains a life-threatening disease requiring early antibiotic and targeted anti-inflammatory therapy. New adjuvant therapies showed promising results in animal models but need systematic clinical testing.
Surgeons’ Perceptions Toward Providing Care for Diverse Patients
Authors: Changoor Navin R. , Udyavar Nidhi R. , Morris Megan A. , Torain Maya , Mullen John T. , Kent Tara S. , Smink Douglas S. , Green Alexander , Haider Adil H.
Published: November 2017

Objective:

We sought to understand the experiences of surgical residents and faculty with treating culturally diverse patients, and identify recommendations for establishing and implementing structured cultural competency training.

Summary Background Data:

Cultural competency training for medical professionals could reduce healthcare disparities, yet is currently not a standard part of surgical residency training. Few studies have explored the perspectives of surgical residents and faculty on the skills needed to provide cross-cultural care.

Study Design:

A purposeful sample of surgical residents and faculty from 4 academic institutions was recruited for semistructured qualitative interviews. We developed an in-depth interview guide and performed interviews to thematic saturation. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using grounded theory methodology.

Results:

We interviewed 16 attending surgeons and 15 surgical residents. Participant demographics were: male (51.6%), White (58.1%), Black (9.7%), Asian (22.5%), and Hispanic (9.7%). Four main themes emerged from the data: 1) aspects of culture that can inform patient care; 2) specific cultural challenges related to surgical care, including informed consent, pain management, difficult diagnoses and refusal of treatment, emergency situations, and end-of-life issues; 3) need for culturally competent care in surgery to navigate cultural differences; 4) perceived challenges and facilitators to incorporating cultural competency into the current training paradigm.

Conclusions:

Surgeons identified the need to provide better cross-cultural care and proposed tenets for training. Based on these findings, we suggest the development and dissemination of a cultural dexterity training program that will provide surgeons with specific knowledge and skills to care for patients from diverse sociocultural backgrounds.
Postpartum Headache
Authors: Richardson Kathleen J.
Published: November 2017

Approximately 40% of all women report experiencing headaches during the postpartum period, regardless of a previous headache history. This case narrative describes the clinical case of a 22-year-old woman who presented for the evaluation of an intractable headache for 2½ weeks. It demonstrates the inherent difficulty in diagnosing patients not presenting with “textbook” symptoms and highlights the fact that signs and symptoms of eclampsia/preeclampsia, such as elevated blood pressure, may fall below the threshold for hypertensive emergencies and not be considered in the differential. Emergency department providers must possess a strong knowledge base and skill set to recognize subtle presentations and direct care accordingly to ensure positive patient outcomes.
A Randomized, Double-Blind Trial to Determine if Vapocoolant in the Adult Population Improves Patient Perception of Pain With Peripheral Intravascular Access
Authors: Edwards Courtney , Noah Christina
Published: November 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the use of a topical anesthetic spray (vapocoolant) at the site of intravenous access reduces pain and anxiety associated with peripheral intravenous (PIV) catheter insertion in an adult emergency department population. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-center trial, conducted from July to August, in an adult emergency department where 72 patients with orders for PIV insertion receiving either topical vapocoolant spray (n = 38) or placebo spray (n = 34). Vapocoolant or placebo was applied to the intravenous site and allowed to evaporate before cleansing and insertion. The primary outcome was patient perception of pain and anxiety with PIV needle insertion using a 0–10 Likert scale. Secondary outcomes included patient/staff preference or desire for vapocoolant/placebo use in future procedures and staff perception of patient pain and anxiety. Patient groups did not vary significantly in the history of intravenous access, nor anxiety preprocedure, and the sprays did not affect ability to obtain intravenous access. Patient perception of pain did not vary significantly between vapocoolant (2) and placebo populations (2.5), nor did the scores vary significantly for patient-forecasted anxiety in future procedures using the same methods (0.5 for vapocoolant, 0 for placebo; p > 0.05). Eighty-nine percent of nurses and patients would use vapocoolant in future procedures, whereas 74% would use placebo; the difference was not significant (p > 0.05). No skin blanching or lesions were noted. Among adult patients in the Parkland Emergency Department receiving PIV access, no significant differences in pain relief or alleviation of anxiety were found between treatment using a topical anesthetic spray or placebo.
Does Suprapubic Stimulation in Infants Facilitate Collection of a Clean Catch Urine Specimen?
Authors: Hall-Million Shannon , Howard Patricia Kunz
Published: November 2017

Review of recent evidence with translation to practice for the advanced practice nurse (APN) role is presented using a case study module for “Faster Clean Catch Urine Collection (Quick Wee Method) From Infants: Randomised Controlled Trial.” This prospective study enrolled 344 infants between 1 and 12 months of age seeking care in an emergency department with a complaint that led to the ordering of a clean catch urine specimen. Use of the Quick Wee procedure yielded clean catch urine specimens without the use of an invasive procedure. Variables of interest were time to specimen collection and patient and provider satisfaction with procedure. Study subjects in the intervention group voided spontaneously within 5 min more often than subjects in the usual care group. This study highlights the important role of the APN in ordering clean catch urine specimen collection and avoidance of invasive procedures.
Central control of eye movements
Authors: Baird-Gunning Jonathan J.D. , Lueck Christian J.
Published: November 2017

Purpose of review

Eye-movement research continues to provide an excellent tool for understanding the central control of motor function, both in health and disease. This article reviews recent findings in relation to saccadic eye movements, particularly antisaccades and microsaccades, with particular emphasis on the control of inaction, something which has recently become topical.

Recent findings

Microsaccades are under the control of the cerebral cortex, particularly the frontal and parietal eye fields. Their frequency and direction alters following presentation of visual stimuli. Spontaneous alterations in their frequency are correlated with alterations in the frequency of the gamma-band activity in the visual cortex as well as, interestingly, the heartbeat. Studies of saccades in Parkinson's disease have demonstrated abnormalities of prosaccade suppression which have variously been shown to correlate with freezing of gait, postural instability, minimal cognitive change and stimulation of the subthalamic nuclei. In stroke patients, abnormal patterns of saccade activity are associated with poor performance on reaching studies when using the weak arm.

Eye-movement studies continue to provide new insights into the control of movement in general but have been particularly useful in investigating the process of suppressing unwanted movement.
Statistical methods to detect pleiotropy in human complex traits
Authors: Hackinger Sophie , Zeggini Eleftheria
Published: November 2017

In recent years pleiotropy, the phenomenon of one genetic locus influencing several traits, has become a widely researched field in human genetics. With the increasing availability of genome-wide association study summary statistics, as well as the establishment of deeply phenotyped sample collections, it is now possible to systematically assess the genetic overlap between multiple traits and diseases. In addition to increasing power to detect associated variants, multi-trait methods can also aid our understanding of how different disorders are aetiologically linked by highlighting relevant biological pathways. A plethora of available tools to perform such analyses exists, each with their own advantages and limitations. In this review, we outline some of the currently available methods to conduct multi-trait analyses. First, we briefly introduce the concept of pleiotropy and outline the current landscape of pleiotropy research in human genetics; second, we describe analytical considerations and analysis methods; finally, we discuss future directions for the field.
Parasite infection induces size-dependent host dispersal: consequences for parasite persistence
Authors: Terui Akira , Ooue Keita , Urabe Hirokazu , Nakamura Futoshi
Published: November 2017

Host dispersal is now recognized as a key predictor of the landscape-level persistence and expansion of parasites. However, current theories treat post-infection dispersal propensities as a fixed trait, and the plastic nature of host's responses to parasite infection has long been underappreciated. Here, we present a mark–recapture experiment in a single host–parasite system (larval parasites of the freshwater mussel
Margaritifera laevis
and its salmonid fish host
Oncorhynchus masou masou
) and provide, to our knowledge, the first empirical evidence that parasite infection induces size-dependent host dispersal in the field. In response to parasite infection, large fish become more dispersive, whereas small fish tend to stay at the home patch. The observed plasticity in dispersal is interpretable from the viewpoint of host fitness: expected benefits (release from further infection) may exceed dispersal-associated costs for individuals with high dispersal ability (i.e. large fish) but are marginal for individuals with limited dispersal ability (i.e. small fish). Indeed, our growth analysis revealed that only small fish hosts incurred dispersal costs (reduced growth). Strikingly, our simulation study revealed that this plastic dispersal response of infected hosts substantially enhanced parasite persistence and occupancy in a spatially structured system. These results suggest that dispersal plasticity in host species is critical for understanding how parasites emerge, spatially spread, and persist in nature. Our findings provide a novel starting point for building a reliable, predictive model for parasite/disease management.
Ergodic and localized regions in quantum spin glasses on the Bethe lattice
Authors: Mossi G. , Scardicchio A.
Published: October 2017

By considering the quantum dynamics of a transverse-field Ising spin glass on the Bethe lattice, we find the existence of a many-body localized (MBL) region at small transverse field and low temperature. The region is located within the thermodynamic spin glass phase. Accordingly, we conjecture that quantum dynamics inside the glassy region is split into a small MBL region and a large delocalized (but not necessarily ergodic) region. This has implications for the analysis of the performance of quantum adiabatic algorithms.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Breakdown of ergodicity in quantum systems: from solids to synthetic matter’.
A perspective on quantum integrability in many-body-localized and Yang–Baxter systems
Authors: Moore Joel E.
Published: October 2017

Two of the most active areas in quantum many-particle dynamics involve systems with an unusually large number of conservation laws. Many-body-localized systems generalize ideas of Anderson localization by disorder to interacting systems. While localization still exists with interactions and inhibits thermalization, the interactions between conserved quantities lead to some dramatic differences from the Anderson case. Quantum integrable models such as the XXZ spin chain or Bose gas with delta-function interactions also have infinite sets of conservation laws, again leading to modifications of conventional thermalization. A practical way to treat the hydrodynamic evolution from local equilibrium to global equilibrium in such models is discussed. This paper expands upon a presentation at a discussion meeting of the Royal Society on 7 February 2017. The work described was carried out with a number of collaborators, including Jens Bardarson, Vir Bulchandani, Roni Ilan, Christoph Karrasch, Siddharth Parameswaran, Frank Pollmann and Romain Vasseur.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Breakdown of ergodicity in quantum systems: from solids to synthetic matter’.
Dynamical manifestations of quantum chaos: correlation hole and bulge
Authors: Torres-Herrera E. J. , Santos Lea F.
Published: October 2017

A main feature of a chaotic quantum system is a rigid spectrum where the levels do not cross. We discuss how the presence of level repulsion in lattice many-body quantum systems can be detected from the analysis of their time evolution instead of their energy spectra. This approach is advantageous to experiments that deal with dynamics, but have limited or no direct access to spectroscopy. Dynamical manifestations of avoided crossings occur at long times. They correspond to a drop, referred to as correlation hole, below the asymptotic value of the survival probability and to a bulge above the saturation point of the von Neumann entanglement entropy and the Shannon information entropy. By contrast, the evolution of these quantities at shorter times reflects the level of delocalization of the initial state, but not necessarily a rigid spectrum. The correlation hole is a general indicator of the integrable–chaos transition in disordered and clean models and as such can be used to detect the transition to the many-body localized phase in disordered interacting systems.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Breakdown of ergodicity in quantum systems: from solids to synthetic matter’.
Evolutionary dynamics of bacteria in the gut microbiome within and across hosts
Authors: Garud Nandita R. , Good Benjamin H. , Hallatschek Oskar , Pollard Katherine S.
Published: October 2017

Gut microbiota are shaped by a combination of ecological and evolutionary forces. While the ecological dynamics have been extensively studied, much less is known about how species of gut bacteria evolve over time. Here we introduce a model-based framework for quantifying evolutionary dynamics within and across hosts using a panel of metagenomic samples. We use this approach to study evolution in ∼30 prevalent species in the human gut. Although the patterns of between-host diversity are consistent with quasi-sexual evolution and purifying selection on long timescales, we identify new genealogical signatures that challenge standard population genetic models of these processes. Within hosts, we find that genetic differences that accumulate over ∼6 month timescales are only rarely attributable to replacement by distantly related strains. Instead, the resident strains more commonly acquire a smaller number of putative evolutionary changes, in which nucleotide variants or gene gains or losses rapidly sweep to high frequency. By comparing these mutations with the typical between-host differences, we find evidence that some sweeps are seeded by recombination, in addition to new mutations. However, comparisons of adult twins suggest that replacement eventually overwhelms evolution over multi-decade timescales, hinting at fundamental limits to the extent of local adaptation. Together, our results suggest that gut bacteria can evolve on human-relevant timescales, and they highlight the connections between these short-term evolutionary dynamics and longer-term evolution across hosts.
Acute physical exercise improves memory consolidation in humans via BDNF and endocannabinoid signaling
Authors: Bosch Blanca Marin , Bringard Aurélien , Logrieco Maria Grazia , Lauer Estelle , Imobersteg Nathalie , Thomas Aurélien , Ferretti Guido , Schwartz Sophie , Igloi Kinga
Published: November 2017

Regular physical exercise enhances memory functions and neurogenesis in the hippocampus, an effect partially mediated by BDNF (Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor). Acute exercise promotes the release of endocannabinoids (especially anandamide, AEA), which enhance BDNF release and improve hippocampal plasticity in rodents. How acute exercise affects BDNF and AEA levels and influences memory performance in humans remains to date unknown. Here we combined blood biomarkers, behavioral and fMRI measurements to assess the impact of acute physical exercise on associative memory and underlying neurophysiological mechanisms. For each participant, memory was tested after three conditions: rest, moderate or high exercise intensity. A long-term memory retest took place 3 months later. At both test and retest, memory performance increased after moderate but not high intensity exercise or rest. We also show that memory benefited from exercise-related increases in both AEA and BNDF levels: AEA boosted hippocampal activity during memory recall, while BDNF enhanced hippocampal memory representations and long-term performance.
Pollinator traits and competitive context shape dynamic foraging behavior in bee communities
Authors: Briggs Heather M. , Brosi Berry J.
Published: November 2017

Interspecific interactions (e.g. competition) can dynamically shape individual and species-level resource use within communities. Understanding how interspecific competition between pollinators species shapes resource use is of particular interest because pollinator foraging behavior (“floral fidelity”) is directly linked to plant reproductive function through the movement of conspecific pollen. Through targeted species removals, this study aims to gain a predictive understanding of how interspecific competition can influence pollinator foraging behavior. We explore how traits—specifically pollinator tongue length, known to dictate pollinator resource partitioning—influence behavioral plasticity and drive dynamic interspecific interactions. Our results demonstrate that bee species vary in their floral fidelity and that tongue length explains a large part of this variation. Bees with shorter tongues move between plant species (floral infidelity) more often than bees with longer tongues. We did not find significant variation in the response of bee species to a reduction in interspecific competition, but rather saw a guild-wide reduction in floral fidelity in response to the removal of the dominant bee species Finally, our results suggest that tongue length of the most abundant bee species, a site-level attribute, explains much of the site-to-site variation in pollinator foraging behavior. In particular, we found that as the tongue length of the most abundant bee in the site increases, the site level foraging fidelity decreases. With global pollinator populations on the decline, novel interactions between plants and pollinators are likely to occur. Exploring how the competitive landscape shapes foraging plasticity will help us generalize to other plant pollinator systems and begin to better predict the functional implications of competitive interactions.
A neuronal mechanism underlying decision-making deficits during hyperdopaminergic states
Authors: Verharen Jeroen P.H. , de Jong Johannes W. , Roelofs Theresia J.M. , Huffels Christiaan F.M. , van Zessen Ruud , Luijendijk Mieneke C.M. , Hamelink Ralph , Willuhn Ingo , den Ouden Hanneke E.M. , van der Plasse Geoffrey , Adan Roger A.H. , Vanderschuren Louk J.M.J.
Published: November 2017

Hyperdopaminergic states in mental disorders are associated with disruptive deficits in decision-making. However, the precise contribution of topographically distinct mesencephalic dopamine pathways to decision-making processes remains elusive. Here we show, using a multidisciplinary approach, how hyperactivity of ascending projections from the ventral tegmental area (VTA) contributes to faulty decision-making in rats. Activation of the VTA-nucleus accumbens pathway leads to insensitivity to loss and punishment due to impaired processing of negative reward prediction errors. In contrast, activation of the VTA-prefrontal cortex pathway promotes risky decision-making without affecting the ability to choose the economically most beneficial option. Together, these findings show how malfunction of ascending VTA projections affects value-based decision-making, providing a mechanistic understanding of the reckless behaviors seen in substance abuse, mania, and after dopamine replacement therapy in Parkinson’s disease.
Beyond the Michaelis-Menten equation: Accurate and efficient estimation of enzyme kinetic parameters
Authors: Choi Boseung , Rempala Grzegorz A. , Kim Jae Kyoung
Published: November 2017

Examining enzyme kinetics is critical for understanding cellular systems and for using enzymes in industry. The Michaelis-Menten equation has been widely used for over a century to estimate the enzyme kinetic parameters from reaction progress curves of substrates, which is known as the progress curve assay. However, this canonical approach works in limited conditions, such as when there is a large excess of substrate over enzyme. Even when this condition is satisfied, the identifiability of parameters is not always guaranteed, and often not verifiable in practice. To overcome such limitations of the canonical approach for the progress curve assay, here we propose a Bayesian approach based on an equation derived with the total quasi-steady-state approximation. In contrast to the canonical approach, estimates obtained with this proposed approach exhibit little bias for any combination of enzyme and substrate concentrations. Importantly, unlike the canonical approach, an optimal experiment to identify parameters with certainty can be easily designed without any prior information. Indeed, with this proposed design, the kinetic parameters of diverse enzymes with disparate catalytic efficiencies, such as chymotrypsin, fumarase, and urease, can be accurately and precisely estimated from a minimal amount of timecourse data. A publicly accessible computational package performing the Bayesian inference for such accurate and efficient enzyme kinetics is provided.
Fungal chromatin mapping identifies BasR, as the regulatory node of bacteria-induced fungal secondary metabolism
Authors: Fischer Juliane , Müller Sebastian Y. , Netzker Tina , Jäger Nils , Gacek-Matthews Agnieszka , Scherlach Kirstin , Stroe Maria C. , García-Altares María , Pezzini Francesco , Schoeler Hanno , Reichelt Michael , Gershenzon Jonathan , Krespach Mario K. C. , Shelest Ekaterina , Schroeckh Volker , Valiante Vito , Heinzel Thorsten , Hertweck Christian , Strauss Joseph , Brakhage Axel A.
Published: November 2017

The eukaryotic epigenetic machinery is targeted by bacteria to reprogram the response of eukaryotes during their interaction with microorganisms. In line, we discovered that the bacteriumStreptomyces rapamycinicustriggered increased chromatin acetylation and thus activation of the silent secondary metabolismorsgene cluster leading to the production of orsellinic acid in the fungusAspergillus nidulans. Using this model we aim at understanding molecular mechanisms of communication between bacteria and eukaryotic microorganisms based on bacteria-triggered chromatin modification. By genome-wide ChIP-seq analysis of acetylated histone H3 (H3K9ac, H3K14ac) we uncovered the unique chromatin landscape inA. nidulansupon co-cultivation withS. rapamycinicus. Genome-wide acetylation of H3K9 correlated with increased gene expression, whereas H3K14 appears to function in transcriptional initiation by providing a docking side for regulatory proteins. In total, histones belonging to six secondary metabolism gene clusters showed higher acetylation during co-cultivation including theors, aspercryptin, cichorine, sterigmatocystin, anthrone and 2,4-dihydroxy-3-methyl-6-(2-oxopropyl)benzaldehyde gene cluster with the emericellamide cluster being the only one with reduced acetylation and expression. Differentially acetylated histones were also detected in genes involved in amino acid and nitrogen metabolism, signaling, and genes encoding transcription factors. In conjunction with LC-MS/MS and MALDI-MS imaging, molecular analyses revealed the cross-pathway control and Myb-like transcription factor BasR as regulatory nodes for transduction of the bacterial signal in the fungus. The presence ofbasRin other fungal species allowed forecasting the inducibility of ors-like gene clusters byS. rapamycinicusin these fungi, and thus their effective interaction with activation of otherwise silent gene clusters.
MYC activity is required for maintenance of the Neuromesodermal Progenitor signalling network and for correct timing of segmentation clock gene oscillations
Authors: Mastromina Ioanna , Verrier Laure , Storey Kate G. , Dale J. Kim
Published: November 2017

The Myc transcriptional regulators are implicated in a range of cellular functions, including proliferation, cell cycle progression, metabolism and pluripotency maintenance. Here, we investigated the expression, regulation and function of Myc during mouse embryonic axis elongation and segmentation. Expression of bothcMycandMycNin the domains where neuromesodermal progenitors (NMPs) and underlying caudal pre-somitic mesoderm (cPSM) cells reside is coincident WNT and FGF signals; factors known to maintain progenitors in an undifferentiated state. Pharmacological inhibition of MYC activity, downregulates expression of WNT/FGF components. In turn, we find thatcMycexpression is WNT, FGF and NOTCH regulated, placing it centrally in the signalling circuit that operates in the tail end that both sustains progenitors and drives maturation of the PSM into somites. Interfering with MYC function in the PSM, where it displays oscillatory expression, delays the timing of segmentation clock oscillations and thus of somite formation. In summary, we identify Myc as a component that links NMP maintenance and PSM maturation during the body axis elongation stages of mouse embryogenesis.

Summary Statement

MYC operates in a positive feedback loop with WNT/FGF signals to maintain the progenitors which facilitate body axis elongation while its activity is crucial for timing of the segmentation clock.
Mono- and dinuclear CuII complexes of the benzyldipicolylamine (BDPA) ligand: crystal structure, synthesis and characterization
Authors: Sivanesan Dharmalingam , Youn Min Hye , Park Ki Tae , Kim Hak Joo , Grace Andrews Nirmala , Jeong Soon Kwan
Published: October 2017

The crystal structures of mono- and dinuclear CuII trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate) complexes with benzyldipicolylamine (BDPA) are described. From equimolar amounts of Cu(triflate)2 and BDPA, a water-bound CuII mononuclear complex, aqua(benzyldipicolylamine-κ3
N,N′,N′′)bis(trifluoromethanesulfonato-κO)copper(II) tetrahydrofuran monosolvate, [Cu(CF3SO3)2(C19H19N3)(H2O)]·C4H8O, (I), and a triflate-bridged CuII dinuclear complex, bis(μ-trifluoromethanesulfonato-κ2
O:O′)bis[(benzyldipicolylamine-κ3
N,N′,N′′)(trifluoromethanesulfonato-κO)copper(II)], [Cu2(CF3SO3)4(C19H19N3)2], were synthesized. The presence of residual moisture in the reaction medium afforded water-bound complex (I), whereas dinuclear complex (II) was synthesized from an anhydrous reaction medium. Single-crystal X-ray structure analysis reveals that the CuII centres adopt slightly distorted octahedral geometries in both complexes. The metal-bound water molecule in (I) is involved in intermolecular O—H...O hydrogen bonds with triflate ligands and tetrahydrofuran solvent molecules. In (II), weak intermolecular C—H...F(triflate) and C—H...O(triflate) hydrogen bonds stabilize the crystal lattice. Complexes (I) and (II) were also characterized fully using FT–IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and elemental analysis.
Abortion Law and Scotland: An Issue of What?
Authors: Thomson Jennifer
Published: November 2017

In recent years, several decisions have been made regarding the devolution of abortion laws from central government at Westminster to the devolved regions of the United Kingdom. This article considers the decision to devolve abortion law to Scotland. It addresses Westminster debates from the time, employing a discursive analysis to examine the arguments made for this legislative move. It argues that the debate was largely a proxy argument for the broader question of Westminster–Edinburgh relations and Scottish independence. It further argues that utilising abortion in this way is problematic, and politicises an area which is better seen as an issue solely of women's rights.
The Value of Going Green in the Hotel Industry: Evidence from Beijing
Authors: Zhang Li , Wu Jing , Liu Hongyu , Zhang Xiaoling
Published: October 2017

Based on several unique datasets in Beijing, this article investigates the value of going green in the hotel industry by combining the traditional hedonic pricing model with the state‐of‐the‐art content analysis of online reviews. The results indicate that the rate of complaints about the indoor environmental quality of green hotels is roughly 19% lower than that for nongreen hotels. Hedonic regression analysis concludes that green hotels enjoy a significant room rate premium of 6.5% without reducing occupancy rates, mainly due to improved indoor environmental quality. Recognizing the presence of such cobenefits is likely to induce hoteliers to embrace green practices.
Channel Evolution Models as Predictors of Sediment Yield
Authors: Keane Tim D. , Sass Christopher K.
Published: November 2017

This paper recounts our predictions of channel evolution of the Black Vermillion River (BVR) and sediment yields associated with the evolutionary sequence. Channel design parameters allowed for the prediction of stable channel form and coincident sediment yields. Measured erosion rates and basin‐specific bank erosion curves aided in prediction of the stream channel succession time frame. This understanding is critical in determining how and when to mitigate a myriad of instability consequences. The BVR drains approximately 1,062 km2 in the glaciated region of Northeast Kansas. Once tallgrass prairie, the basin has been modified extensively for agricultural production. As such, channelization has shortened the river by nearly 26 km from pre‐European dimensions; shortening combined with the construction of numerous flow‐through structures have produced dramatic impacts on discharge and sediment dynamics. Nine stream reaches were established within three main tributaries of the BVR in 2007. Reaches averaged 490 m in length, were surveyed, and assessed for channel stability, while resurveys were conducted annually through 2010 to monitor change. This work illustrates the association of current stream state, in‐channel sediment contributions, and prediction of future erosion rates based on stream evolution informed by multiple models. Our findings suggest greater and more rapid sedimentation of a federal reservoir than has been predicted using standard sediment prediction methods.
Enhanced recovery after surgery using uniportal video‐assisted thoracic surgery for lung cancer: A preliminary study
Authors: Huang Haitao , Ma Haitao , Chen Shaomu
Published: October 2017

Background

This study investigated the clinical efficiency of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) using uniportal video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery for lung cancer.

Methods

The clinical data of 83 patients with early‐stage non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) at the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University from January 2016 to February 2017 were retrospectively analyzed. ERAS was applied to 38 patients (ERAS group), while 45 patients received conventional surgical treatment (control group). The operative duration, number of lymph nodes retrieved, blood loss, visual analogue scale (VAS), postoperative duration of chest tube placement, length of hospital stay, and postoperative complications were compared between the groups.

Results

Surgeries were conducted successfully in all patients, and no mortality occurred during the perioperative period. The ERAS group had better VAS on the third postoperative day, shorter chest tube duration, and shorter length of hospital stay (P < 0.05). No differences between the groups in terms of operative duration, number of lymph nodes retrieved, blood loss, VAS on the first postoperative day, or complication rate were found (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

ERAS using uniportal video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery for NSCLC patients is safe and practicable, and could also reduce the length of hospital stay.
Learning from the Law. A review of 21 years of litigation for pain during caesarean section
Authors: McCombe K. , Bogod D. G.
Published: November 2017

The large majority of caesarean sections in the UK are now carried out under neuraxial anaesthesia. Although this technique is widely accepted as being the safest option in most circumstances, the use of regional anaesthesia increases the risk of patients experiencing intra‐operative discomfort or pain. Pain during operative obstetric delivery is the commonest successful negligence claim relating to regional anaesthesia against obstetric anaesthetists in the UK. In the following article, using a database of over 360 cases spanning 21 years, we break down and examine the recurrent components of medicolegal claims concerning pain during caesarean section and consider how anaesthetists might avoid litigation.
Changes in oxygen saturation and the retinal nerve fibre layer in patients with optic neuritis – a pilot study
Authors: Svrčinová Tereza , Mareš Jan , Chrapek Oldřich , Šínová Irena , Rybariková Martina , Otruba Pavel , Kaňovský Petr , Šín Martin
Published: November 2017

Purpose

Assessment of retinal oxygen saturation, thickness of a retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) and functional changes in the optic nerve during optic neuritis (ON) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Methods

Thirty‐two patients withONdue toMSwithin 3 months of onset of symptoms were enrolled [22 females, 10 males, age 34 ± 9 years, median 32.5 years, 22 patients with the clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), 10 patients with relapsing‐remitting from ofMS(RRMS)]. All patients were examined using optical coherence tomography (OCTmodel 4000, Carl Zeiss Meditec, Dublin, CA, USA), automatic optical oximetry (Oxymap ehf, Reykjavik, Iceland) and using visual evoked potentials (VEP) (Metronic Keypoint®, Minneapolis, MN,USA).

Results

Arterio‐venous difference (AVD) was increased in patientsONaffected eye compared to patients' unaffected eye (PUE) [34.2 ± 4.7 versus 31.3 ± 4.6, p = 0.044 (mean ± standard deviation)]. No statistically significant difference was found in vessel oxygen saturation as well as inRNFLthickness inONaffected eyes when compared to unaffectedMSeyes and healthy individuals. Significantly lower optic nerve conduction velocity was found in the affected eye when compared to unaffectedMSeye and healthy (p < 0.0001 for both comparisons). No correlation between oxygen saturation values andVEPwas observed in patients withMS.

Conclusion

TheAVDin oxygen saturation is altered in patients with acuteON. In the early stage ofON,AVDcould reflect inflammatory and metabolic changes in the affected eye. Therefore, oximetry could be used as another diagnostic method inMSpatients in suspicion ofON. This result would be promising for future investigation in this field.
Multi‐product exporters, variable markups and exchange rate fluctuations
Authors: Caselli Mauro , Chatterjee Arpita , Woodland Alan
Published: November 2017

In this paper we investigate how firms adjust markups across products in response to fluctuations in the real exchange rate. We estimate markups at the market–product–plant level using detailed panel production and cost data from Mexican manufacturing between 1994 and 2007. Exploiting variation in the real exchange rate in the aftermath of the peso crisis in December 1994, we provide robust empirical evidence that plants increase their markups and producer prices in response to a real depreciation and that this increase is greater for products with higher productivity. Thus, we provide direct evidence for the theoretical mechanism of variable markup response behind incomplete and heterogeneous exchange rate pass‐through on producer prices. Our empirical methodology allows us to decompose the producer price response to exchange rate shocks into a markup and a marginal cost component using our markup estimates. Using these estimates, we establish that marginal cost at the product–plant level increases more in response to real exchange rate depreciation if the plant has higher share of imported inputs.
Assessing anxiety disorders in children and adolescents
Authors: Spence Susan H.
Published: November 2017

Background

Given the relatively high prevalence of anxiety problems among young people and their adverse consequences if left untreated, it is important that clinicians and researchers have access to reliable and valid assessment tools to facilitate early detection, case formulation, treatment design and evaluation of outcomes.

Method

This paper presents the findings of a pragmatic review of the literature regarding the assessment of anxiety in young people in multiple contexts, including mental health services, school‐based screening and research trials.

Results

Commonly used diagnostic interviews, questionnaire measures and alternative assessment methods are described, along with psychometric properties and practical issues. The review indicates the complexities of assessing anxiety problems given the high level of comorbidity between anxiety disorders and with depression. It also highlights the different approaches required for assessment across different age groups, the need for multiple informants and issues relating to the lack of agreement between reporters. There is a strong evidence‐base for several diagnostic instruments and anxiety scales, although the accuracy of youth and parent report scales in forming clinical diagnoses is not sufficiently strong to justify their use in isolation for diagnostic purposes.

Conclusions

The assessment of youth anxiety should ideally include a multiinformant, multimethod approach, with measures tailored to the age of the child, and the purpose of the evaluation. There is now a sufficiently strong research base to enable clinicians and researchers to ensure that they select evidence‐based instruments.
Application‐Specific Tone Mapping Via Genetic Programming
Authors: Debattista K.
Published: November 2017

High dynamic range (HDR) imagery permits the manipulation of real‐world data distinct from the limitations of the traditional, low dynamic range (LDR), content. The process of retargeting HDR content to traditional LDR imagery via tone mapping operators (TMOs) is useful for visualizing HDR content on traditional displays, supporting backwards‐compatible HDR compression and, more recently, is being frequently used for input into a wide variety of computer vision applications. This work presents the automatic generation of TMOs for specific applications via the evolutionary computing method of genetic programming (GP). A straightforward, generic GP method that generates TMOs for a given fitness function and HDR content is presented. Its efficacy is demonstrated in the context of three applications: Visualization of HDR content on LDR displays, feature mapping and compression. For these applications, results show good performance for the generated TMOs when compared to traditional methods. Furthermore, they demonstrate that the method is generalizable and could be used across various applications that require TMOs but for which dedicated successful TMOs have not yet been discovered.