bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pregnancy Complications Associated With Maternal Hypothyroidism: A Systematic Review
Authors: Shinohara Danielle Rosani , Santos Thais da Silva , de Carvalho Hayalla Corrêa , Lopes Laíza Cristina Bahls , Günther Luciene Setsuko Akimoto , Aristides Sandra Mara Alessi , Teixeira Jorge Juarez Vieira , Demarchi Izabel Galhardo
Published: April 2018

Importance

Hypothyroidism is one of the most prevalent diseases in pregnancy, but there is no consensus about its management in pregnant women.

Objective

In this systematic review, we evaluated the association between pregnancy complications and treated or untreated maternal hypothyroidism.

Evidence Acquisition

PubMed and reference lists were searched for the Medical Subject Headings terms “pregnancy complications” and “hypothyroidism.” The eligibility criteria for inclusion in the study were an original study published between 2002 and 2013. Six reviewers independently selected the studies, and 3 extracted the data. Two reviewers assessed the risk of bias and quality of the studies.

Results

Eighteen studies were included in the systematic review. The most prevalent complications associated with maternal hypothyroidism were abortion, intrauterine fetal death, preterm delivery, and preeclampsia. The pregnancy outcome depended on the treatment that was received by the patient.

Conclusions

Strong evidence indicates that maternal hypothyroidism is associated with maternal-fetal complications, but no consensus was found among the studies reviewed herein. The dose of levothyroxine that is required to maintain euthyroidism is still questioned, but studies have suggested that levothyroxine should be adjusted according to the gestational period and laboratory profile.

Target Audience

Obstetricians and gynecologists, family physicians.

Learning Objectives

After completing this activity, the learner should be better able to examine the association between hypothyroidism and pregnancy complications; compare the complications related to hypothyroidism before, during, and after pregnancy; analyze the relationship between complications encountered and the results of laboratory tests; and assess the ways in which the treatment is commonly performed.
Deconstructing dogma: Nonoperative management of small bowel obstruction in the virgin abdomen
Authors: Collom Morgan L. , Duane Therese M. , Campbell-Furtick Mackenzie , Moore Billy J. , Haddad Nadeem N. , Zielinski Martin D. , Ray-Zack Mohamed D. , Yeh Daniel D.
Published: April 2018

BACKGROUND

Management of small bowel obstruction (SBO) has become more conservative, especially in those patients with previous abdominal surgery (PAS). However, surgical dogma continues to recommend operative exploration for SBO with no PAS. With the increased use of computed tomography imaging resulting in more SBO diagnoses, it is important to reevaluate the role of mandatory operative exploration. Gastrografin (GG) administration decreases the need for operative exploration and may be an option for SBO without PAS. We hypothesized that the use of GG for SBO without PAS will be equally effective in reducing the operative exploration rate compared with that for SBO with PAS.

METHODS

A post hoc analysis of prospectively collected data was conducted for patients with SBO from February 2015 through December 2016. Patients younger than 18 years, pregnant patients, and patients with evidence of hypotension, bowel strangulation, peritonitis, closed loop obstruction or pneumatosis intestinalis were excluded. The primary outcome was operative exploration rate for SBO with or without PAS. Rate adjustment was accomplished through multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Overall, 601 patients with SBO were included in the study, 500 with PAS and 101 patients without PAS. The two groups were similar except for age, sex, prior abdominal surgery including colon surgery, prior SBO admission, and history of cancer. Multivariate analysis showed that PAS (odds ratio [OR], 0.47; p = 0.03) and the use of GG (OR, 0.11; p < 0.01) were independent predictors of successful nonoperative management, whereas intensive care unit admission (OR, 16.0; p < 0.01) was associated with a higher likelihood of need for operation. The use of GG significantly decreased the need for operation in patients with and without PAS.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with and without PAS who received GG had lower rates of operative exploration for SBO compared with those who did not receive GG. Patients with a diagnosis of SBO without PAS should be considered for the nonoperative management approach using GG.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic, level IV.
Analysing disturbance response of cell-to-cell communication systems: a case study for activator-repressor-diffuser motif
Authors: Kotsuka Taishi , Hori Yutaka
Published: April 2018

In biomolecular communication networks, bacterial cells communicate with each other using a cell-to-cell communication mechanism mediated by diffusible signaling molecules. The dynamics of molecular concentrations in such systems are approximately modeled by reaction-diffusion equations. In this paper, we analyse the ability of cell-to-cell communication systems to attenuate impulsive disturbances with various spatial frequency profiles by computing the integrated squared concentration of molecules. In particular, we perform in-depth study of disturbance responses for an activator-repressor-diffuser biocircuit in the spatial frequency domain to characterize its spatial frequency gain.
Using a robotic fish to investigate individual differences in social responsiveness in the guppy
Authors: Bierbach David , Landgraf Tim , Romanczuk Pawel , Lukas Juliane , Nguyen Hai , Wolf Max , Krause Jens
Published: April 2018

Responding towards the actions of others is one of the most important behavioral traits whenever animals of the same species interact. Mutual influences among interacting individuals may modulate the social responsiveness seen and thus makes it often difficult to study the level and variation of individuality in responsiveness. Here, biomimetic robots (BRs) that are accepted as conspecifics but controlled by the experimenter can be a useful tool. Studying the interactions of live animals with BRs allows pinpointing the live animal’s level of responsiveness by removing confounding mutuality. In this paper, we show that live guppies (Poecilia reticulata) exhibit consistent differences among each other in their responsiveness when interacting with a biomimetic fish robot - ‘Robofish’ - and a live companion. It has been repeatedly suggested that social responsiveness correlates with other individual behavioral traits like risk-taking behavior (‘boldness’) or activity level. We tested this assumption in a second experiment. Interestingly, our detailed analysis of individual differences in social responsiveness using the Robofish, suggests that responsiveness is an independent trait, not part of a larger behavioral syndrome formed by boldness and activity.
Tinnitus development is associated with synaptopathy of inner hair cells in Mongolian gerbils
Authors: Tziridis Konstantin , Forster Jan , Buchheidt-Dörfler Isabelle , Krauss Patrick , Schilling Achim , Wendler Olaf , Sterna Elisabeth , Schulze Holger
Published: April 2018

Human hearing loss (HL) is often accompanied by comorbidities like tinnitus which is affecting up to 15% of the adult population. Rodent animal studies could show that tinnitus may not only be a result of apparent HL due to cochlear hair cell damage but can also be a consequence of synaptopathy at the inner hair cells (IHC) already induced by moderate sound traumata. Here we investigate synaptopathy previously shown in mice in our animal model, the Mongolian gerbil, and relate it to behavioral signs of tinnitus. Tinnitus was induced by a mild monaural acoustic trauma leading to monaural noise induced HL in the animals, quantified by auditory brainstem response (ABR) audiometry. Behavioral signs of tinnitus percepts were detected by measurement of prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response in a gap-noise paradigm. 14 days after trauma, the cochleae of both ears were isolated and IHC synapses were counted within several spectral regions of the cochlea. Behavioral signs of tinnitus were only found in animals with IHC synaptopathy, independent of type of HL. On the other hand, animals with apparent HL but without behavioral signs of tinnitus showed a reduction in amplitudes of ABR waves I&II but no significant changes in the number of synapses at the IHC. We conclude – in line with the literature – that HL is caused by damage to the IHC or by other reasons but that the development of tinnitus, at least in our animal model, is closely linked to synaptopathy at the IHC.
High-dimensional single-cell cartography reveals novel skeletal muscle resident cell populations
Authors: Giordani Lorenzo , He Gary J. , Negroni Elisa , Sakai Hiroshi , Law Justin Y. C. , Mona Siu M. , Wan Raymond , Tajbakhsh Shahragim , Cheung Tom H. , Le Grand Fabien
Published: April 2018

Adult tissue repair and regeneration require the activation of resident stem/progenitor cells that can self-renew and generate differentiated progeny. The regenerative capacity of skeletal muscle relies on muscle satellite cells (MuSCs) and their interplay with different cell types within the niche. Yet, our understanding of the cells that compose the skeletal muscle tissue is limited and molecular definitions of the principal cell types are lacking. Using a combined approach of single-cell RNA-sequencing and mass cytometry, we precisely mapped the different cell types in adult skeletal muscle tissue and highlighted previously overlooked populations. We identified known functional populations, characterized their gene signatures, and determined key markers. Among the ten main cell populations present in skeletal muscle, we found an unexpected complexity in the interstitial compartment and identified two new cell populations. One express the transcription factor Scleraxis and generate tenocyte-like cells. The second express smooth muscle and mesenchymal cell markers (SMMCs). While distinct from MuSCs, SMMCs are endowed with myogenic potential and promote MuSC engraftment following transplantation. Our high-dimensional single-cell atlas uncovers principles of an adult tissue composition and can be exploited to reveal unknown cellular sub-fractions that contribute to tissue regeneration.
Sample manipulation and data assembly for robust microcrystal synchrotron crystallography
Authors: Guo Gongrui , Fuchs Martin R. , Shi Wuxian , Skinner John , Berman Evanna , Ogata Craig M. , Hendrickson Wayne A. , McSweeney Sean , Liu Qun
Published: April 2018

With the recent developments in microcrystal handling, synchrotron microdiffraction beamline instrumentation and data analysis, microcrystal crystallography with crystal sizes of less than 10 µm is appealing at synchrotrons. However, challenges remain in sample manipulation and data assembly for robust microcrystal synchrotron crystallography. Here, the development of micro-sized polyimide well-mounts for the manipulation of microcrystals of a few micrometres in size and the implementation of a robust data-analysis method for the assembly of rotational microdiffraction data sets from many microcrystals are described. The method demonstrates that microcrystals may be routinely utilized for the acquisition and assembly of complete data sets from synchrotron microdiffraction beamlines.
Spatial–temporal neighbourhood-level house price index
Authors: Sipan Ibrahim , Mar Iman Abdul Hamid , Razali Muhammad Najib
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a spatio-temporal neighbourhood-level house price index (STNL-HPI) incorporating a geographic information system (GIS) functionality that can be used to improve the house price indexation system.

Design/methodology/approach

By using the Malaysian house price index (MHPI) and application of geographically weighted regression (GWR), GIS-based analysis of STNL-HPI through an application called LHPI Viewer v.1.0.0, the stand-alone GIS-statistical application for STNL-HPI was successfully developed in this study.

Findings

The overall results have shown that the modelling and GIS application were able to help users understand the visual variation of house prices across a particular neighbourhood.

Research limitations/implications

This research was only able to acquire data from the federal government over the period 1999 to 2006 because of budget limitations. Data purchase was extremely costly. Because of financial constraints, data with lower levels of accuracy have been obtained from other sources. As a consequence, a major portion of data was mismatched because of the absence of a common parcel identifier, which also affected the comparison of this system to other comparable systems.

Originality/value

Neighbourhood-level HPI is needed for a better understanding of the local housing market.
An examination of the social economy: some new theoretical insights
Authors: Alam Jasmine , Boamah Mustapha Ibn , Moir Rob
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze social profit institutions (SPIs) in the context of the social economy. By drawing on case studies of existing businesses, this paper attempts to situate these businesses more broadly within the social economy.

Design/methodology/approach

Various case studies are investigated to illustrate the innovative features of each model through a Lean Canvas tool.

Findings

The findings of the paper provide academics and social entrepreneurs alike more clarity on some of the evolving defining attributes and design features of each of the models SPIs employ.

Research limitations/implications

One of the future challenges is to devise a framework or categorization system that encompasses all of the new forms of businesses, and hybrids, in a way which reflects their uniqueness and individual design.

Practical implications

It allows for entrepreneurs in search of a sustainable business model to develop innovative business models and it provides better understanding on how to meet dual objectives.

Originality/value

The paper proposes a definition for SPIs and establishes the importance of classifying SPIs.
An empirical analysis of nature, magnitude and determinants of farmers’ indebtedness in India
Authors: Datta Subhendu , Tiwari Aviral Kumar , Shylajan C.S.
Published: April 2018

Purpose

According to the 70th round of the National Sample Survey published by the Government of India in 2014, the incidence of indebtedness among households in the rural areas of Telangana state, India, is twice that of rural all-India. Around 59 per cent of rural households are indebted in Telangana as against 31 per cent all-India. The purpose of this paper is to examine the extent and magnitude of indebtedness among rural households in the Medak district of Telangana state. Further, the authors wanted to identify the sources of credit to these households and for what purpose the loans were utilised.

Design/methodology/approach

To achieve the objective, the authors conducted a primary-level household survey in one of the distressed districts in newly formed state. The authors applied the Bayesian and the Lasso regression methods to identify the factors that impact indebtedness of a household.

Findings

The OLS results based on the Lasso regression results show that among all the explanatory variables, principal occupation, use of modern technology, the rate of interest, household medical expenditure and source of loan are significant, indicating that these variables significantly affect the loan taken by the farmers in the study area. The study shows that alternative sources of non-farm income and promotion of modern technology in agriculture can reduce the incidence of farmers’ indebtedness in India.

Originality/value

The paper contains significant information with regard to indebtedness. It focusses on the issue troubling the authorities the most. It provides the ground realities of the incidence of indebtedness in Medak, one of the most distressed districts of Telangana, a Southern Indian state. There have been very few similar studies done in the newly formed state. The paper has employed an advanced statistical technique, i.e. Heckman’s selection regression technique, to study farmers’ indebtedness in India. It provides a means of correcting for non-randomly selected samples, which otherwise can lead to erroneous conclusions and poor policy.
Attitudes toward intimate partner “honor”-based violence in India, Iran, Malaysia and Pakistan
Authors: Lowe Michelle , Khan Roxanne , Thanzami Vanlal , Barzy Mahsa , Karmaliani Rozina
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Although intimate partner violence (IPV) and “honor”-based violence (HBV) are major concerns throughout the world, little research has investigated the acceptance of these forms of abuse outside of the West. The purpose of this paper is to therefore respond to this gap in the literature by exploring attitudes toward HBV in a fictional depiction of IPV across four Asian samples: India, Iran, Malaysia and Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

Participants (n=579) read a hypothetical scenario in which a husband, despite his own marital infidelity, verbally abuses and physically assaults his wife after discovering that she has been unfaithful. Participants then completed a questionnaire that assessed perceptions of damage to the husband’s honor, approval of intimate partner HBV against the wife, and perceptions of both the victim-wife and the perpetrator-husband.

Findings

The findings revealed that more males than females, across all four nations, were endorsing of honor-adhering attitudes in response to the perceived threat to the husband’s reputation resulting from the wife’s infidelity. Additionally, of the four samples, Pakistani participants were the most approving and Malaysians least endorsing of honor-adhering attitudes.

Originality/value

The results are discussed in relation to studies of honor-adherence in Asian populations. This study provides an original glimpse into the perceptions of intimate partner HBV in these not-often sampled nationalities.
The impact of financial support from non-resident family members on the financial performance of newer agribusiness firms in India
Authors: Gill Amarjit , Mand Harvinder Singh , Obradovich John D. , Mathur Neil
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of financial support from non-resident family members (FSNRFM) on the financial performance of newer agribusiness firms in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Owners of newer agribusiness firms (five years old or less) from India were surveyed regarding the perceived impact ofFSNRFMon the financial performance of newer agribusiness firms.

Findings

The results show that newer agribusiness firms withFSNRFMperform better than those withoutFSNRFM; and build higher levels of internal financing sources relative to the newer agribusiness firms withoutFSNRFM, which, in turn, improves their performance.

Research limitations/implications

This is a co-relational study that investigated the association betweenFSNRFMand financial performance of newer agribusiness firms. There is not necessarily a causal relationship between the two. The findings of this study may only be generalized to firms similar to those that were included in this research.

Originality/value

The study enriches the literature concerning newer agribusiness firms and the factors that improve their financial performance. The results of this study can be of great significance for owners of these firms, financial managers, farm management consultants, and other stakeholders to understand the impact ofFSNRFMon financial performance of newer agribusiness firms.
Does technology transfer training concern for agriculture output in India? A critical study on a lateritic zone in West Bengal
Authors: Chandra Pradipta , Bhattacharjee Titas , Bhowmick Bhaskar
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore and identify the indicators of institutional barriers hindering the technology transfer training (TTT) process behind the technology adoption lag affecting the agricultural output in India through development of a scale.

Design/methodology/approach

Quantitative technique has been followed for data collection through a close-ended questionnaire scored on the seven-point Likert scale. The sample size was considered as 161; target respondents were farmers and farmer-centric individuals. Data were analyzed using an exploratory factor analysis technique.

Findings

Factor analysis revealed that there are three significant factors related to TTT process, namely, comprehension, customization and generalization, which are liable for institutional barriers in technology adoption by farmers.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitation is biasness from both respondents’ end and interviewer’s end might exist during survey due to differences in perception.

Social implications

The key beneficiaries from this research are the small and marginal farming community in India. They can enhance their productivity through an appropriate training process. Corporates will show interest in investment through the mechanism of corporate social responsibility.

Originality/value

Under this study, the factors of the institutional barriers from the farmers’ perspective are being introduced as a new research contribution, especially for the resource crunch area of Jangalmahal and other similar places in India.
Investment strategies in the Latin American agri-business sub-sectors of agricultural commodities, biofuels and meat chains
Authors: Saravia-Matus Silvia , Saravia Matus Jimmy , Sotomayor Octavio , Rodriguez Adrian
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review and examine the recent investment trends of firms operating in the food, feed and biofuel production and processing sectors in Latin America. The inter-related nature of these three sub-sectors and the great expansion they have gone through in the last decade showcases a series of socioeconomic and environmental policy challenges thus making it relevant to identify their different business models through a typology.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper first presents an unprecedented literature review based on field observations and media coverage of agri-business strategies of the food, feed and biofuel production in the region. It then moves to an in-depth analysis of investment operations that serve to classify such firms into a business model typology considering degree of internationalization and integration. The typology is a useful mechanism to enhance public policy analysis and uncover market or government incentives behind business decisions.

Findings

By focusing on investment strategies, the paper illustrates how both market and government incentives shape and affect the performance and consolidation of different players in the food, feed and biofuel sub-sectors in Latin America. The resulting effects have strong economic as well as social and environmental implications because such economic activities have an impact on global food and energy security.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations include a reliance on largely qualitative evidence and research methods due to unavailability of consistent numerical data in these specific agri-business sub-sectors.

Originality/value

This paper is unique in its focus on business models in a particularly relevant set of agri-business sub-sectors in Latin America and its implications to promote investment and innovation in value chain development while considering regional-specific challenges.
Neighbourhood planning: national strategy for ‘bottom up’ governance
Authors: Bogusz Barbara
Published: April 2018

Purpose

The paper aims to consider whether Neighbourhood Panning provides the appropriate output legitimacy for citizen engagement in the planning process. The Localism Act 2011 transformed the planning process by shifting decision-making powers away from the local institutions and transferring them to local people. Neighbourhood planning has created a new dynamic in planning by using “bottom up” governance processes which enables local people to shape the area where they live. Local referenda are used to inject output legitimacy in to neighbourhood planning, and this planning self-determination can be considered as “spatial sovereignty”, whereby the recipients of the planning decisions are also the primary stakeholders that have shaped planning policy.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper will examine how Localism, as an evolving concept of local governance, is enfranchising local communities to take control of planning and development in their area. The paper will draw upon the experience of the revised planning methodology introduced by the Localism Act 2011 and consider its impact on the delivery of broader public policy objectives contained within the National Planning Policy Framework.

Findings

Localism provides an alternative form of citizen engagement and democratic legitimation for planning decisions which transcends the traditional forms of participatory democracy, and recognises that other paths of democratic law-making are possible.

Originality/value

The paper argues that neighbourhood planning has created a paradigm whereby local planning preferences, as an expression of spatial sovereignty, do not necessarily align with the broader public policy objective to build homes in the right places.
Thermomechanical stress analysis for gas turbine blade with cooling structures
Authors: Tong Fujuan , Gou Wenxuan , Li Lei , Gao Wenjing , Feng Yue Zhu
Published: April 2018

Purpose

Blade tip clearance has always been a concern for the gas turbine design and control. The numerical analysis of tip clearance is based on the turbine components displacement. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the thermal and mechanical effects on a real cooling blade rather than the simplified model.

Design/methodology/approach

The coupled fluid-solid method is used. The thermal analysis involves solid and fluid domains. The distributions of blade temperature, stress and displacement have been calculated numerically under real turbine operating conditions.

Findings

Temperature contour can provide a reference for stress analysis. The results show that temperature gradient is the main source of solid stress and radial displacement. Compared with thermal or mechanical effect, there is a great change of stress magnitude for the thermomechanical effect. Large stress gradients are found between the leading and trailing edge of turbine cooling blade. Also, the blade radial displacement is mainly attributed to the thermal load rather than the centrifugal force. The analysis of the practical three-dimensional model has achieved the more precise results.

Originality/value

It is significant for clearance design and life prediction.
Postnatal persistence of fetal cardiovascular remodelling associated with assisted reproductive technologies: a cohort study
Authors: Valenzuela‐Alcaraz B , Serafini A , Sepulveda‐Martínez A , Casals G , Rodríguez‐López M , Garcia‐Otero L , Cruz‐Lemini M , Bijnens B , Sitges M , Balasch J , Gratacós E , Crispi F
Published: April 2018

Objective

To assess the postnatal persistence of fetal cardiovascular remodelling associated with assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in children at 3 years of age.

Design

A cohort study of children conceived by ART.

Setting

Maternal‐Fetal Medicine Unit, Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Spain.

Population sample

Eighty singleton pregnancies conceived by ART and 80 spontaneously conceived (controls) followed from fetal life up to childhood.

Methods

Cardiovascular evaluation was performed at 3 years of corrected age, including echocardiography, carotid intima‐media (cIMT) by ultrasound, and blood pressure.

Main outcome measures

Postnatal persistence of cardiovascular changes in children conceived by ART.

Results

Compared with controls, children conceived by ART showed larger atria (right atrial area: control 4.9 cm2 (0.9) versus ART 5.5 cm2 (0.9), P < 0.001), more globular ventricles (right ventricular sphericity index: control mean 1.8 (SD 0.5) versus ART 1.6 (0.2), P < 0.001), and signs of systolic (tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion: control 18 mm (2) versus ART 16 mm (3), P < 0.001) and diastolic dysfunction (isovolumic relaxation time: control 68 ms (12) versus ART 79 ms (12), P < 0.001). ART children also presented increased systolic blood pressure (control 90 mmHg (6) versus ART 94 mmHg (5), P < 0.003) and cIMT (control 0.52 μm (0.14) versus ART 0.60 μm (0.16), P < 0.001) as compared with those spontaneously conceived.

Conclusions

Cardiovascular changes previously reported in ART fetuses persist postnatally at 3 years of age. These results underscore the importance of future studies for assessing the long‐term cardiovascular health associated with ART.

Tweetable abstract

Cardiovascular changes described in fetuses conceived by ART, persist in children at 3 years of age.
The rs4686434 variant in the fetuin B (FETUB) locus is associated with intrahepatic triglyceride content in obese Chinese adults
Authors: Li Zhibin , Lin Mingzhu , Liu Changqin , Chen Zheng , Wang Dongmei , Shi Xiulin , Yang Shuyu , Li Xue‐Jun
Published: April 2018

Background

This study explored associations of genetic variants in the fetuin B (FETUB) locus with intrahepatic triglyceride (IHTG) content.

Methods

Four tagging single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the FETUB locus and patatin‐like phospholipase domain containing 3 (PNPLA3) rs738409 and transmembrane 6 super family member 2 (TM6SF2) rs58542926 were genotyped in 418 obese Chinese adults in whom serum FETUB and IHTG were measured.

Results

Subjects carrying the minor G allele for FETUB rs4686434 (AG/GG) had lower serum FETUB levels (mean [±SD] 3.89 ± 1.36 vs 4.22 ± 1.46 μg/mL; P = 0.021) and IHTG content (12.7 ± 9.4% vs 14.6 ± 9.8%; P = 0.045) than their controls (AA), whereas IHTG content was higher in those carrying the minor G allele for PNPLA3 rs738409 (CG/GG) than in their controls (CC; 14.5 ± 10.1% vs 12.0 ± 8.6%; P = 0.012). After adjusting for potential confounders, IHTG content was lower in carriers of the minor G allele for FETUB rs4686434 (AG/GG vs AA, β −2.27 ± 0.91, P = 0.012), but was higher in carriers of the minor G allele for PNPLA3 rs738409 (CG/GG vs CC, β 2.65 ± 0.97, P = 0.006). There was a significant joint effect between FETUB rs4686434 and PNPLA3 rs738409 on IHTG content, with increasing genetic risk score (counting the risk allele of A in rs4686434 and G in rs738409) being associated with higher IHTG content (β 1.85 ± 0.48, P <0.001).

Conclusions

Carrying the minor G allele for FETUB rs4686434 was significantly associated with decreased IHTG content and may affect hepatic triglyceride accumulation in individuals at high risk of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease.
Glycemic control is related to cognitive dysfunction in Chinese children with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: He Jing , Li Shichen , Liu Fang , Zheng Hong , Yan Xiang , Xie Yuting , Li Xia , Zhou Zhiguang , Zhu Xiongzhao
Published: April 2018

Background

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is considered a risk factor for the development of cognitive difficulties. The present study examined whether the cognitive performance of Chinese children with T1DM differs from that of healthy control (HC) children, and whether cognitive dysfunction is related to glycemic control.

Methods

Using a cross‐sectional design, cognitive tests were administered, including general intelligence tests, to pediatric T1DM patients (n = 105) and HCs (n = 90). The effects of specific diabetes‐related variables, including an earlier diabetes onset (<7 years of age), severe hypoglycemia, chronic hyperglycemia, and diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), on cognitive outcomes were examined.

Results

The T1DM group had lower IQ (P = 0.001) and attention (P = 0.018) scores than the HC group. Among T1DM patients, a younger age of diabetes onset was related to poorer performance on the visuospatial perception test (P = 0.017) and delayed logical memory (P = 0.012). Greater exposure to hyperglycemia over time was associated with lower visuospatial perception (P = 0.029), and DKA had a negative effect on the IQ score (P = 0.024). Compared with the late severe hypoglycemia subgroup, the early severe hypoglycemia subgroup (<7 years old) performed worse on both immediate (P = 0.001) and delayed (P = 0.049) visual memory tests.

Conclusions

Chinese children with T1DM showed deficits in IQ and attention. Earlier age of diabetes onset, chronic hyperglycemia, and DKA affected particular cognitive domains. Early exposure to severe hypoglycemia had negative effects on visual memory.
Allopurinol and endothelial function: A systematic review with meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Alem Manal M.
Published: April 2018

Aim

Oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction are two inter‐related conditions commonly seen in patients with cardiovascular risk factors. The enzyme, xanthine oxidase, is an important contributor to these phenomena but to a variable degree in different patient populations. This meta‐analysis will summarize the effect of allopurinol, an established xanthine oxidase inhibitor, on endothelial function among patients with different comorbidities.

Methods

Medline Complete, PubMed, ProQuest, ClinicalKey, Wiley Online Library, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched till July 29, 2017. Meta‐analysis was planned for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that investigated allopurinol effects on endothelial function. A random effect model was used to calculate the standardized mean difference (with 95% confidence intervals: CI) as an estimate of effect size. Heterogeneity was quantified by four types of information: Q statistics, I2 statistic, Tau‐squared (T2), and Tau (T).

Results

Thirty eligible studies were identified; 12 were included in the final analysis and subdivided among 3 patient’s groups: patients with chronic heart failure (CHF; 197 patients), patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD; 183 patients), and patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM; 170 patients). Allopurinol was found to have a statistically significant benefit on endothelial function in patients with CHF and CKD but not in type 2 DM. The standardized mean differences and CI in the three patient’s groups were 0.776 (0.429, 1.122), 0.350 (0.009, 0.690), and 1.331 (−0.781, 3.444), respectively.

Conclusion

Allopurinol has an antioxidant property that might partially reverse endothelial dysfunction in patients with certain comorbidities. The importance of this property and the magnitude of the beneficial effect are likely to be related to the relative contribution of xanthine oxidase into the oxidative stress associated with different underlying pathologies.
Animal movement models for migratory individuals and groups
Authors: Hooten Mevin B. , Scharf Henry R. , Hefley Trevor J. , Pearse Aaron T. , Weegman Mitch D.
Published: April 2018

Animals often exhibit changes in their behaviour during migration. Telemetry data provide a way to observe geographic position of animals over time, but not necessarily changes in the dynamics of the movement process. Continuous‐time models allow for statistical predictions of the trajectory in the presence of measurement error and during periods when the telemetry device did not record the animal's position. However, continuous‐time models capable of mimicking realistic trajectories with sufficient detail are computationally challenging to fit to large datasets. Furthermore, basic continuous‐time model specifications (e.g. Brownian motion) lack realism in their ability to capture nonstationary dynamics.

We present a unified class of animal movement models that are computationally efficient and provide a suite of approaches for accommodating nonstationarity in continuous trajectories due to migration and interactions among individuals. Our approach uses process convolutions to allow for flexibility in the movement process while facilitating implementation and incorporating location uncertainty. We show how to nest convolution models to incorporate interactions among migrating individuals to account for nonstationarity and provide inference about dynamic migratory networks.

We demonstrate these approaches in two case studies involving migratory birds. Specifically, we used process convolution models with temporal deformation to account for heterogeneity in individual greater white‐fronted goose migrations in Europe and Iceland, and we used nested process convolutions to model dynamic migratory networks in sandhill cranes in North America.

The approach we present accounts for various forms of temporal heterogeneity in animal movement and is not limited to migratory applications. Furthermore, our models rely on well‐established principles for modelling‐dependent data and leverage modern approaches for modelling dynamic networks to help explain animal movement and social interaction.
Diabetes and necrotizing soft tissue infections—A prospective observational cohort study: Statistical analysis plan
Authors: Rosén A. , Arnell P. , Madsen M. B. , Nedrebø B. G. , Norrby‐Teglund A. , Hyldegaard O. , dos Santos V. M. , Bergey F. , Saccenti E. ,   INFECT Study Group, Skrede S.
Published: April 2018

Background

Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are rare but carry a high morbidity and mortality. The multicenter INFECT project aims to improve the understanding of the pathogenesis, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and prognosis of NSTIs. This article describes the study outline and statistical analyses that will be used.

Methods

Within the framework of INFECT project, patients with NSTI at 5 Scandinavian hospitals are enrolled in a prospective observational cohort study. The goal is to evaluate outcome and characteristics for patients with NSTI and diabetes compared to patients with NSTI without diabetes. The primary outcome is mortality at 90 days after inclusion. Secondary outcomes include days alive and out of ICU and hospital, SAPS II, SOFA score, infectious etiology, amputation, affected body area, and renal replacement therapy. Comparison in mortality between patients with diabetes type 1 and 2 as well as between insulin‐treated and non‐insulin–treated diabetes patients will be made. Clinical data for diabetic patients with NSTI will be reported.

Conclusion

The study will provide important data on patients with NSTI and diabetes.
Wireless high‐frequency dorsal root ganglion stimulation for chronic low back pain: A pilot study
Authors: Billet B. , Hanssens K. , De Coster O. , Nagels W. , Weiner R. L. , Wynendaele R. , Vanquathem N.
Published: April 2018

Objective

Evaluation of the efficacy of a wireless high‐frequency stimulator placed over selected DRG of exiting nerve roots for the treatment of chronic low back pain.

Design

Feasibility.

Subjects

Six subjects with chronic, intractable back pain refractory to standard medical treatment.

Methods

Four stimulators (Freedom‐4A) provided by Stimwave Technologies, were implanted over the DRG exiting nerve roots, bilaterally at both the T9 and L2 vertebral levels. Subjects were asked to evaluate stimulation independently with the devices turned on at T9 and subsequently L2 for each of 2 weeks. Subjects were then monitored for 8 weeks with the preferred stimulator. Pain reduction with the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), functionality with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC) and medication usage were evaluated.

Results

Four subjects preferred T9 stimulation with only one subject preferring stimulation at L2. One subject dropped out of the study before conclusion of the 4‐week evaluation and is not included in this report. Average pain levels (n = 5) at 12‐week post‐implantation decreased with 61% for back pain and 56% for leg pain with a significant reduction in pain medication, including a 100% reduction in opioid pain medications. The average reduction in disability was 12%. Subjects reported an average impression of change of 6 (1 = no change, 7 = great deal better).

Conclusions

Wireless high‐frequency stimulation of the DRG is a viable option to treat chronic low back pain. Preliminary results show a subject preference for stimulation at the T9 vertebral level.
Fetal Cerebral Circulation as Target of Maternal Alcohol Consumption
Authors: Bukiya Anna N. , Dopico Alex M.
Published: April 2018

Alcohol (ethanol [EtOH]) is one of the most widely used psychoactive substances worldwide. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy may result in a wide range of morphological and neurodevelopmental abnormalities termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), with the most severe cases diagnosed as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS and FASD are not readily curable and currently represent the leading preventable causes of birth defect and neurodevelopmental delay in the United States. The etiology of FAS/FASD remains poorly understood. This review focuses on the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) on fetal cerebrovascular function. A brief introduction to the epidemiology of alcohol consumption and the developmental characteristics of fetal cerebral circulation is followed by several sections that discuss current evidence documenting alcohol‐driven alterations of fetal cerebral blood flow, artery function, and microvessel networks. The material offers mechanistic insights at the vascular level itself into the pathophysiology of PAE.
Space–Time Analyses of Alcohol Outlets and Related Motor Vehicle Crashes: Associations at City and Census Block‐Group Levels
Authors: Lipton Robert , Ponicki William R. , Gruenewald Paul J. , Gaidus Andrew
Published: April 2018

Background

Past research has linked alcohol outlet densities to drinking, drunken driving, and alcohol‐related motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). Because impaired drivers travel some distances from drinking places to crash locations, spatial relationships between outlets and crashes are complex. We investigate these relationships at 3 geographic levels: census block groups (CBGs), adjacent (nearby) areas, and whole cities.

Methods

We examined risks of all injury MVCs as well as “had been drinking” (HBD) and single‐vehicle‐nighttime (SVN) subgroups using data from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System across CBGs among 50 California cities from 2001 to 2008. Relationships between outlet densities at the city level, within CBGs, and in adjacent CBGs and crashes were examined using Bayesian Poisson space–time analyses controlling for population size income and other demographics (all as covariates).

Results

All injury MVCs were positively related to adjacent CBG population size (relative rate [RR] = 1.008, 95% credible interval (CI) = 1.004, 1.012), and outlet densities at CBG (RR = 1.027, CI = 1.020, 1.035), nearby area (RR = 1.084, CI = 1.060, 1.106) and city levels (RR = 1.227, CI = 1.147, 1.315), and proportion of bars or pubs at the city level (RR = 2.257, CI = 1.187, 4.125). HBD and SVN crashes were comparatively less frequent in high outlet density CBG (RR = 0.993, CI = 0.987, 0.999; RR = 0.963, CI = 0.951, 0.975) and adjacent areas (RR = 0.979, CI = 0.962, 0.996; RR = 0.909, CI = 0.883, 0.936), but positively associated with city‐level proportions of bars (RR = 3.373, CI = 0.736, 15.644; RR = 10.322, CI = 1.704, 81.215). Overall, a 10% increase in all outlets was related to 2.8% more injury crashes (CI = 2.3, 3.3) and 2.5% more HBDs (CI = 1.7, 3.3). A 10% increase in bars was related to 1.4% more crashes, 4.3% more HBDs, and 10.3% more SVNs.

Conclusions

Population size and densities of bars or pubs were found to be associated with crash rates, with population effects appearing across cities and outlet effects appearing within dense downtown areas. Summary estimates of outlet and population impacts on MVCs must consider varying contributions at multiple spatial scales.
Taking advantage from phenotype variability in a local animal genetic resource: identification of genomic regions associated with the hairless phenotype in Casertana pigs
Authors: Schiavo G. , Bertolini F. , Utzeri V. J. , Ribani A. , Geraci C. , Santoro L. , Óvilo C. , Fernández A. I. , Gallo M. , Fontanesi L.
Published: April 2018

Casertana is an endangered autochthonous pig breed (raised in south‐central Italy) that is considered to be the descendant of the influential Neapolitan pig population that was used to improve British breeds in the 19th century. Casertana pigs are characterized by a typical, almost complete, hairless phenotype, even though a few Casertana pigs are normal haired. In this work, using Illumina PorcineSNP60 BeadChip data, we carried out a genome‐wide association study and an FST analysis with this breed by comparing animals showing the classical hairless phenotype (n = 81) versus pigs classified as haired (n = 15). Combining the results obtained with the two approaches, we identified two significant regions: one on porcine chromosome (SSC) 7 and one on SSC15. The SSC7 region contains the forkhead box N3 (FOXN3) gene, the most plausible candidate gene of this region, considering that mutations in another gene of the same family (forkhead box N1; Foxn1 or FOXN1) are responsible for the nude locus in rodents and alopecia in humans. Another potential candidate gene, rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 10 (ARHGEF10), is located in the SSC15 region. FOXN3 and ARHGEF10 have been detected as differentially expressed in androgenetic and senescent alopecia respectively. This study on an autochthonous pig breed contributes to shed some light on novel genes potentially involved in hair development and growth and demonstrates that local animal breeds can be valuable genetic resources for disclosing genetic factors affecting unique traits, taking advantage of phenotype variability segregating in small populations.
Firms’ Technology Innovation Activity: Does Financial Structure Matter?
Authors: Khan Muhammad Kaleem , He Ying , Akram Umair , Zulfiqar Salman , Usman Muhammad
Published: April 2018

In this paper we estimate the extent to which financial structure influences technology innovation activity (TIA) in China. Based on a variety of specifications and by employing panel data estimation techniques, we find that a capital‐market‐based financial structure supports TIA more efficiently than a bank‐bases financial structure does. Chinese firms in high‐tech industry are getting privilege from overwhelming financial development in China to enhance their TIA. Private firms in particular are becoming more and more active in TIA by taking advantage of China's developing capital market, whereas state‐owned enterprises are advancing in technological innovation owing to continuous financial support from the state‐owned credit market.
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation by diesel exhaust particles mediates epithelium‐derived cytokines expression in severe allergic asthma
Authors: Weng C.‐M. , Wang C.‐H. , Lee M.‐J. , He J.‐R. , Huang H.‐Y. , Chao M.‐W. , Chung K. F. , Kuo H.‐P.
Published: April 2018

Background

Exposure to environmental pollutants promotes Th2 cell responses. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation aggravates allergic responses. Epithelium‐derived thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), interleukin (IL)‐25, and IL‐33 are implicated in the dysregulation of Th2 immune responses in severe allergic asthma.

Methods

Bronchial biopsies of 28 allergic severe asthma and 6 mild asthma subjects from highly polluted areas were analyzed for AhR nuclear translocation (NT), cytokine expression, and gene activation. Cultured primary epithelial cells were stimulated with diesel exhausted particles (DEP) to determine AhR‐mediated IL‐33, Il‐25, and TSLP synthesis and release.

Results

Primary bronchial epithelial cells exposed to DEP showed upregulation of IL‐33, IL‐25, and TSLP. These effects were abolished by knockdown of AhR by siRNA. Increased AhR/ARNT binding to promoters of IL‐33, IL‐25, and TSLP was found using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Allergic severe asthma with high AhR NT had higher bronchial gene and protein expression of IL‐33, IL‐25, and TSLP. These patients derived clinical benefit from anti‐IgE treatment.

Conclusion

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation by DEP mediates upregulation of IL‐33, IL‐25, and TSLP with Th2 activation, potentially linking environmental pollution and allergic severe asthma.