bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Update on the genetics of nonbacterial osteomyelitis in humans
Authors: Cox Allison J. , Ferguson Polly J.
Published: June 2018

Purpose of review

To summarize the current advances in our understanding or the genetic basis of nonbacterial osteomyelitis.

Recent findings

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a complex genetic disorder. Past discoveries identified several single gene defects (LPIN2, Pstpip2 and IL1RN) that cause IL-1-mediated sterile multifocal osteomyelitis. Recently Lorden et al.'s studies show that LIPIN2 deficiency can activate the NLRP3 inflammasome through alterations in the function of P2X7 receptor providing evidence that Majeed syndrome is an NLRP3 inflammasomopathy. New gene discoveries include the identification of FBLIM1 as a CRMO susceptibility gene. Mutations in FBLIM1 were found in a consanguineous family with CRMO. Fblim1 is one of the most significantly differentially expressed gene in bone from chronic multifocal osteomyelitis (cmo) mice, plays a role in IL-10-driven anti-inflammatory responses, and is involved in the physiology of bone remodeling. Lastly, new data on the putative CRMO susceptibility locus on chromosome 18 is presented here. Using Sanger sequencing, rather than microsatellite analysis, the DS18S60 susceptibility region could not be replicated in a larger cohort.

CRMO occurs in humans, nonhuman primates, dogs and mice. There is a genetic component to disease but the genetic basis has only been identified for a small percentage of all cases.
MULTIMODAL IMAGING IN A CASE OF CENTRAL RETINAL ARTERY OCCLUSION IN THE PRESENCE OF TYPE 2 MACULAR TELANGIECTASIA
Authors: Ingolotti Mariana , Roig Melo-Granados Enrique Alfonso , González-Madrigal Pedro Mario , Ruiz García Humberto
Published: June 2018

Purpose:

To report a case of central retinal artery occlusion in a patient with macular telangiectasia Type 2 using multimodal imaging.

Methods:

Observational case report.

Results:

A 58-year-old woman who presented with acute painless unilateral vision loss was diagnosed with central retinal artery occlusion in her right eye with macular telangiectasia Type 2 findings in both eyes. Fundus examination revealed retinal whitening with unusual cherry-red spot plus small crystalline deposits in the temporal macula. Surprisingly, spectral domain optical coherence tomography of the contralateral eye showed characteristically intraretinal hyporreflective spaces, whereas optical coherence tomography angiography exhibited microvascular abnormalities in the deep capillary plexus. At follow-up, a pseudolamellar macular hole was noticed in the affected eye with no recovery of best-corrected visual acuity.

Conclusion:

This case describes an onset of central artery occlusion in a patient with underlying macular telangiectasia Type 2 and suggests that it had a possible role in the acceleration of its natural course. The utility of multimodal imaging lies on better accuracy in diagnosis as well as prognosis, management, and monitoring of the disease.
Analysis of Clozapine Use and Safety by Using Comprehensive National Data From the Japanese Clozapine Patient Monitoring Service
Authors: Inada Ken , Oshibuchi Hidehiro , Ishigooka Jun , Nishimura Katsuji
Published: June 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate clozapine use and its associated adverse effects in patients in Japan.

Methods

We analyzed data recorded from July 2009 to January 2016 (N = 3780 patients) in the Clozaril Patient Monitoring Service, which was established in Japan in 2009 and includes all Japanese patients who have been prescribed clozapine.

Results

The treatment discontinuation rate was 23.9% (869/3780 cases). The average ± SD treatment duration was 234.9 ± 306.9 days (median, 115 days), and the average ± SD dosage was 186.41 ± 151.6 mg/d. The estimated treatment continuation rates resulting from all-cause discontinuation were 78.2 after 1 year and 72.9% after 2 years of treatment. The incidence of neutropenia/leucopenia was 5.4% (206/3780 cases). The average ± SD dose before discontinuation was 233.36 ± 168.15 mg (median, 200 mg; range, 4–600 mg). The incidence of glucose intolerance was 15.4% (583/3780 cases). Of 3780 patients, 98 (2.67%) developed glucose intolerance before and after taking clozapine administration, whereas 485 patients (12.8%) developed glucose intolerance after taking clozapine. The average ± SD time from treatment initiation to new onset of glucose intolerance was 382.2 ± 420.2 days (median, 216 days; range, 4–2053 days).

Conclusions

The data obtained in this study, particularly regarding the incidence of clozapine-induced adverse events, will enable the optimal and safe use of clozapine in Japanese patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia.
Current Practices in Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship Trauma Training
Authors: Fleisher Diana T. , Katz-Sidlow Rachel J. , Meltzer James A.
Published: June 2018

Objective

The management of injured children is a required element of pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) fellowship training. Given the relatively infrequent exposure of trainees to major trauma, it is important to understand how programs train fellows and assess their competency in pediatric trauma.

Methods

An online survey was sent to 84 PEM fellowship program directors (PDs). Program directors were asked to describe their program's characteristics, the degree of fellow independence, educational techniques used to train fellows in trauma, and their expectation of fellows' competency in 14 core trauma-related skills upon graduation. Program directors were classified as having high expectations if they anticipated that graduating fellows could perform 12 trauma skills or more independently.

Results

Fifty-nine programs (70%) responded. Although most programs (55, 93%) identified as pediatric trauma centers, fellows at the majority of programs (41, 69%) spent some or all of their trauma experience at an outside hospital. Only a minority of programs (17, 29%) allowed fellows to lead pediatric trauma resuscitations as independent attendings without precepting. Programs used over a dozen different educational methods to varying degrees. Less than half of programs (28, 47%) used a formal trauma curriculum. Whereas 33 PDs (56%) had high expectations, only 9 (15%) expected fellows to be able to perform all 14 skills.

Conclusions

There is considerable variability in how PEM fellows are trained to care for injured children. Most PDs do not realistically expect fellows to be able to perform all recommended trauma skills after graduation. Our findings highlight the need for further research and efforts to standardize the training of PEM fellows in pediatric trauma.
A new approach to solving the feature-binding problem in primate vision
Authors: Isbister James B. , Eguchi Akihiro , Ahmad Nasir , Galeazzi Juan M. , Buckley Mark J. , Stringer Simon
Published: June 2018

We discuss a recently proposed approach to solve the classic feature-binding problem in primate vision that uses neural dynamics known to be present within the visual cortex. Broadly, the feature-binding problem in the visual context concerns not only how a hierarchy of features such as edges and objects within a scene are represented, but also the hierarchical relationships between these features at every spatial scale across the visual field. This is necessary for the visual brain to be able to make sense of its visuospatial world. Solving this problem is an important step towards the development of artificial general intelligence. In neural network simulation studies, it has been found that neurons encoding the binding relations between visual features, known as binding neurons, emerge during visual training when key properties of the visual cortex are incorporated into the models. These biological network properties include (i) bottom-up, lateral and top-down synaptic connections, (ii) spiking neuronal dynamics, (iii) spike timing-dependent plasticity, and (iv) a random distribution of axonal transmission delays (of the order of several milliseconds) in the propagation of spikes between neurons. After training the network on a set of visual stimuli, modelling studies have reported observing the gradual emergence of polychronization through successive layers of the network, in which subpopulations of neurons have learned to emit their spikes in regularly repeating spatio-temporal patterns in response to specific visual stimuli. Such a subpopulation of neurons is known as a polychronous neuronal group (PNG). Some neurons embedded within these PNGs receive convergent inputs from neurons representing lower- and higher-level visual features, and thus appear to encode the hierarchical binding relationship between features. Neural activity with this kind of spatio-temporal structure robustly emerges in the higher network layers even when neurons in the input layer represent visual stimuli with spike timings that are randomized according to a Poisson distribution. The resulting hierarchical representation of visual scenes in such models, including the representation of hierarchical binding relations between lower- and higher-level visual features, is consistent with the hierarchical phenomenology or subjective experience of primate vision and is distinct from approaches interested in segmenting a visual scene into a finite set of objects.
Comparison of Generally Recognized as Safe Organic Acids for Disinfecting Fresh-cut Lettuce
Authors: Wang Jiayi , Tao Dongbing , Liu Yubo , Han Siwen , Zheng Fenge , Wu Zhaoxia
Published: June 2018

In this study, we aimed to determine the organic acids (acetic, lactic, citric, malic, propionic, succinic, and tartaric acids; 1% and 0.5%, w/w or v/v) that were most effective for fresh-cut lettuce disinfection based on analysis of quality (i.e., color, electrolyte leakage, and sensory quality) and microbial examination. The results showed that these acids did not negatively affect the color quality (i.e., L*, a*, b*, whiteness index, and sensory color). Additionally, 0.5% lactic acid led to the lowest electrolyte leakage (0.83%), which was not significantly different (p > 0.05) from that of distilled water (0.46%). Lactic acid (1%) did not affect the sensory quality and led to the highest microbial reduction (1.45 log reduction in aerobic plate counts [APCs]; 2.31 log reduction in molds and yeasts [M&Y]) and was therefore recommended as the primary choice for lettuce disinfection. Malic acid (0.5%), with a 1.07% electrolyte leakage rate, 0.73 log reduction in APCs, and 1.40 log reduction in M&Y, was better than the other six acids (0.5%) and was recommended as a pH regulator and a potential synergistic agent for oxidizing sanitizers. Acetic acid (1%) negatively affected the sensory quality and led to the highest electrolyte leakage (2.90%). Microbial analysis showed that propionic acid (0.5% and 1%) was ineffective for disinfection of lettuce (p > 0.05); thus, acetic and propionic acids were not recommended. Our results provide insights into the choice of sanitizers and formula design in food safety.

IMPORTANCE

Since chlorine is forbidden in several countries, generally recognized as safe organic acids are used in minimal processing industries and in household sanitizers. The disinfection efficacy of organic acids has been studied when used alone or with oxidizing sanitizers. However, since different antibacterial mechanisms, contact time, fresh produce, and concentration have been reported, the acids most effective for single fresh produce disinfection, especially that of lettuce, an important salad vegetable, are not known. Moreover, in developing countries, because of imperfections in field management, cold chain transportation, and minimal processing industry development, the demand for low-cost household sanitizers is greater than that for minimally processed fresh produce. In this work, microbial load in lettuce was determined after disinfecting with seven GRAS organic acids. The changes in quality were also determined. These results provide insights into the choice of minimal processing sanitizers and a formula design for household sanitizers.
Does marital status affect how firms interpret job applicants’ un/employment histories?
Authors: Maurer-Fazio Margaret , Wang Sili
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore whether single and married female job candidates’ un/employment histories differentially affect their chances of obtaining interviews through China’s internet job boards, and to consider whether firms’ discrimination against, and/or preference for, candidates who are un/employed vary with the duration of unemployment spells.

Design/methodology/approach

Resumes of fictitious applicants are carefully crafted in terms of realistic work histories and educational backgrounds. Candidates’ experiences of unemployment and the revelation of their marital status are controlled. Over 7,000 applications are submitted to real job postings. Callbacks are carefully tracked and recorded. Linear probability models are employed to assess the roles of particular characteristics.

Findings

The marital status of female candidates affects how recruiters screen their applications. While current spells of unemployment, whether short or long term, significantly reduce married women’s chances of obtaining job interviews in the Chinese context, they strongly increase the likelihood that single women will be invited for interviews. Chinese firms appear to “forgive” long-term gaps in women’s employment histories as long as those gaps are followed by subsequent employment.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to explore how marital status affects the ways that firms, when hiring, interpret spells of unemployment in candidates’ work histories. It is also the first to explore the effects of both marital status and unemployment spells in hiring in the context of China’s dynamic internet job board labor market.
The role of egocentric networks in achieving resilience: a case study from the apparel sector
Authors: Bhattacharjya Jyotirmoyee
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the egocentric network-based strategies used by upstream firms to ensure their own resilience when the disruptions originate with downstream partners.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper adopts a case study approach as this is well-suited to the investigation of a complex phenomenon from multiple perspectives.

Findings

The study finds that the egocentric networks of upstream firms participating in the supply network of a retailer could ensure their own resilience even after the sudden demise of the downstream entity.

Originality/value

The study addresses the lack of adequate empirical research examining resilience from the perspectives of multiple entities in a supply network. It is also one of the few papers to address resilience from the perspective of upstream players in the context of a disruption originating with downstream partners. The findings suggest that the lack of visibility in relation to the financial health of more powerful downstream partners could be problematic from a supplier’s perspective. It identifies well-developed egocentric networks as being essential for minimizing consequences of limited downstream visibility and the impact on social capital.
Kaizen: working responsively with psychopathic traits
Authors: Henfrey Sarah Anne
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe how Kaizen, an accredited offending behaviour programme designed for high risk and need offenders within Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS), lends itself to responsive delivery with those meeting the criteria for psychopathy.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper describes how the theoretical rationale and model of change underpinning Kaizen can be applied to those with high levels of psychopathic traits given the available literature in this area.

Findings

It is argued that Kaizen is applicable to those meeting the criteria for psychopathy.

Research limitations/implications

As a contemporary intervention, the efficacy of Kaizen in its ability to support participants in their journey towards desistance and therefore to contribute to the service wide aim of reducing reoffending is yet to be evaluated. In turn, its applicability to those meeting the criteria for psychopathy is yet to be explored.

Practical implications

This paper lends support to the applicability of Mann and Carter’s (2012) six organising principles of programme design in the treatment of high risk, high need offenders who meet the criteria for psychopathy. It encourages practitioners to consider Kaizen as a possible intervention option for this population and offers guidance as to how the programme might be used to best effect. The paper also highlights the importance of evaluating the efficacy of participation in Kaizen for this population.

Originality/value

In time, Kaizen will replace Chromis as the offer by Intervention Services (HMPPS) for high risk offenders with a high level or combination of psychopathic trait. This paper describes this forthcoming change in approach and the rationale underpinning it.
Making peer-focused self-management programmes work in public mental health
Authors: Satinsky Emily , Crepaz-Keay David , Kousoulis Antonis
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the Mental Health Foundation’s experiences designing, implementing and evaluating peer-focused self-management programmes. Through a discussion of barriers and good practice, it outlines ways to be successful in making such projects work to improve mental health and wellbeing among at-risk populations.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 11 Mental Health Foundation programmes implemented over the past ten years were reviewed through reading manuals and publications and interviewing programme managers. Key data were extracted from each programme to analyse trends in aims, outcomes and recommendations.

Findings

Through a focus on peer-work, programmes taught individuals from a variety of societal sectors self-management skills to effectively deal with life stressors. Through sharing in non-judgmental spaces and taking ownership of programme design and content, individuals realised improvements in wellbeing and goal achievement.

Practical implications

Good practice, barriers and recommendations can be taken from this review and applied to future peer-focused self-management programmes. By better embedding quantitative and qualitative evaluations into programme development and implementation, programmes can add to the evidence base and effectively target needs.

Originality/value

This review lays out valuable experience on an innovative community service paradigm and supports the evidence on effectiveness of peer-focused self-management programmes with a variety of group populations.
Analysis of radial vibrations in thick walled hollow poroelastic cylinder in the framework of Biot’s extension theory
Authors: Gurijala Rajitha , Perati Malla Reddy
Published: June 2018

Purpose

In this paper, wave propagation in a poroelastic thick-walled hollow cylinder is investigated in the framework of Biot’s extension theory. Biot’s theory of poroelasticity is valid for isotropic porous solids saturated with non-viscous fluid. The bulk and shear viscosities are not considered in the classical Biot’s theory. Biot’s extension theory takes all these into an account. Biot’s extension theory is applied here to investigate the radial vibrations in thick-walled hollow poroelastic cylinder. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

By considering the stress-free boundaries, the frequency equation is obtained in the presence of dissipation. Limiting case when the ratio between thickness and inner radius is very small is investigated numerically. In the limiting case, the asymptotic expansions of Bessel functions are employed so that frequency equation is separated into two parts which gives attenuation coefficient and phase velocity. If the shear viscosity is neglected, then the problem reduces to that of the classical Biot’s theory.

Findings

For the numerical purpose, the solids Berea sandstone and bone are used. The results are presented graphically.

Originality/value

Radial vibrations of thick-walled hollow poroelastic cylinder are investigated in the framework of Biot’s extension theory. Due to the mathematical complexity, limiting case is considered. The complex valued frequency equation is discussed numerically which gives the attenuation coefficient and phase velocity. If shear viscosity is neglected, then the problem reduces to that of the classical Biot’s theory. The comparison has been made between the current results and that of classical results.
Antiglycine receptor antibody related disease: a case series and literature review
Authors: Swayne A. , Tjoa L. , Broadley S. , Dionisio S. , Gillis D. , Jacobson L. , Woodhall M. R. , McNabb A. , Schweitzer D. , Tsang B. , Vincent A. , Irani S. R. , Wong R. , Waters P. , Blum S.
Published: June 2018

Background and purpose

Antibodies to glycine receptors (GlyR‐Abs) were first defined in progressive encephalopathy with rigidity and myoclonus (PERM) but were subsequently identified in other clinical presentations. Our aim was to assess the clinical associations of all patients identified with GlyR‐Abs in Queensland, Australia, between April 2014 and May 2017 and to compare these to cases reported in the literature.

Methods

A literature review identified the clinical features of all published GlyR‐Ab‐positive cases through online databases. A case series was undertaken via collection of clinical information from all patients diagnosed or known to immunology, pathology or neurological services in Queensland during the study period of 3 years.

Results

In all, 187 GlyR‐Ab‐positive cases were identified in the literature. The majority (47.6%) had PERM, 22.4% had epilepsy, but the remaining 30% included mixed phenotypes consisting of cerebellar ataxia, movement disorders, demyelination and encephalitis/cognitive dysfunction. By contrast, in our series of 14 cases, eight had clinical presentations consistent with seizures and epilepsy and only three cases had classical features of PERM. There was one case each of global fatiguable weakness with sustained clonus, laryngeal dystonia and movement disorder with hemiballismus and tics. The rate of response to immune therapy was similar in all groups.

Conclusion

Antibodies to glycine receptors are linked to a spectrum of neurological disease. The results of the literature review and our case series suggest a greater relationship between GlyR‐Abs and epilepsy than previously reported.
Ictal and preictal power changes outside of the seizure focus correlate with seizure generalization
Authors: Naftulin Jason S. , Ahmed Omar J. , Piantoni Giovanni , Eichenlaub Jean‐Baptiste , Martinet Louis‐Emmanuel , Kramer Mark A. , Cash Sydney S.
Published: June 2018

Objective

The treatment of focal epilepsies is largely predicated on the concept that there is a “focus” from which the seizure emanates. Yet, the physiological context that determines if and how ictal activity starts and propagates remains poorly understood. To delineate these phenomena more completely, we studied activity outside the seizure‐onset zone prior to and during seizure initiation.

Methods

Stereotactic depth electrodes were implanted in 17 patients with longstanding pharmacoresistant epilepsy for lateralization and localization of the seizure‐onset zone. Only seizures with focal onset in mesial temporal structures were used for analysis. Spectral analyses were used to quantify changes in delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma, and high gamma frequency power, in regions inside and outside the area of seizure onset during both preictal and seizure initiation periods.

Results

In the 78 seizures examined, an average of 9.26% of the electrode contacts outside of the seizure focus demonstrated changes in power at seizure onset. Of interest, seizures that were secondarily generalized, on average, showed power changes in a greater number of extrafocus electrode contacts at seizure onset (16.7%) compared to seizures that remained focal (3.8%). The majority of these extrafocus changes occupied the delta and theta bands in electrodes placed in the ipsilateral, lateral temporal lobe. Preictally, we observed extrafocal high‐frequency power decrements, which also correlated with seizure spread.

Significance

This widespread activity at and prior to the seizure‐onset time further extends the notion of the ictogenic focus and its relationship to seizure spread. Further understanding of these extrafocus, periictal changes might help identify the neuronal dynamics underlying the initiation of seizures and how therapies can be devised to control seizure activity.
Does the Mandatory Bid Rule Add Value to Target Shareholders?
Authors: Eswar Sapnoti K.
Published: June 2018

I investigate whether implementation of the mandatory bid rule—the rule that grants all shareholders the right to participate in a takeover transaction at equal terms—affects target announcement returns. I use a difference‐in‐differences approach and the staggered adoption of the rule across 15 European countries. I find that the rule change leads to higher target returns. In full transactions, better accounting standards and shareholder protection norms of the acquirer leads to higher target returns. In majority transactions, greater value transfer from acquirers with weak accounting standards leads to higher target returns. I find weak evidence of overpayment by acquirers.
Bibliometric analysis of 100 most cited articles on oral submucous fibrosis
Authors: Gondivkar Shailesh M. , Sarode Sachin C. , Gadbail Amol R. , Gondivkar Rima S. , Chole Revant , Sarode Gargi S.
Published: June 2018

Background

Citation analysis reflects the scientific recognition and influential performance of an article in the scientific community. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize the 100 most cited articles on oral submucous fibrosis (OSF).

Methods

A list of 100 most cited articles related to OSF was retrieved from the Science Citation Index‐Expanded tool of Scopus database in May 2018. The articles were further reviewed, and basic information was recorded including the number of citations, citation density, journals, with its impact factor, category and quartile, publication year, authors, institution and country of origin, article type and level of evidence. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the results.

Results

The most frequently cited article received 780 citations, while the least frequently cited article received 49 (mean 107.5 citations per article). There were 38 different journals with Journal of Oral Pathology and Medicine having the most citations (n = 22). The 100 most cited articles were published from 1966 to 2013, with 81% published after 1990. Thirteen authors listed 5 or more articles in the top 100 list, and India was found to be the most prolific country with 38 articles. In terms of article type, there were 72 research articles and 28 review articles.

Conclusions

This first citation analysis of the 100 most cited articles renders a historical perspective on the progress of research in the field of OSF and enables the comprehensive identification and recognition of the most important and relevant research topics concerned.
Presidential Address: Going Public: The Art and Science of Researching Domestic Violence and Religion
Authors: Nason‐Clark Nancy
Published: June 2018

Going public with our research is both an “art” and a “science.” It involves elements of “vulnerability” and elements of “resiliency,” two key themes that have emerged in my program of research on domestic violence and religion. I harness the concepts of vulnerability and resiliency to argue that public engagement involves the scholar in an ongoing negotiation between the science and the art of disseminating his or her research results. The article concludes with references to our web‐based resources (http://www.theraveproject.org) and the way we have used stained glass to tell the story of research results.
Replication‐coupled histone H3.1 deposition determines nucleosome composition and heterochromatin dynamics during Arabidopsis seedling development
Authors: Benoit Matthias , Simon Lauriane , Desset Sophie , Duc Céline , Cotterell Sylviane , Poulet Axel , Le Goff Samuel , Tatout Christophe , Probst Aline V.
Published: June 2018

Developmental phase transitions are often characterized by changes in the chromatin landscape and heterochromatin reorganization. In Arabidopsis, clustering of repetitive heterochromatic loci into so‐called chromocenters is an important determinant of chromosome organization in nuclear space. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms involved in chromocenter formation during the switch from a heterotrophic to a photosynthetically competent state during early seedling development.

We characterized the spatial organization and chromatin features at centromeric and pericentromeric repeats and identified mutant contexts with impaired chromocenter formation.

We find that clustering of repetitive DNA loci into chromocenters takes place in a precise temporal window and results in reinforced transcriptional repression. Although repetitive sequences are enriched in H3K9me2 and linker histone H1 before repeat clustering, chromocenter formation involves increasing enrichment in H3.1 as well as H2A.W histone variants, hallmarks of heterochromatin. These processes are severely affected in mutants impaired in replication‐coupled histone assembly mediated by CHROMATIN ASSEMBLY FACTOR 1 (CAF‐1). We further reveal that histone deposition by CAF‐1 is required for efficient H3K9me2 enrichment at repetitive sequences during chromocenter formation.

Taken together, we show that chromocenter assembly during post‐germination development requires dynamic changes in nucleosome composition and histone post‐translational modifications orchestrated by the replication‐coupled H3.1 deposition machinery.
Feeling the force: how pollen tubes deal with obstacles
Authors: Burri Jan T. , Vogler Hannes , Läubli Nino F. , Hu Chengzhi , Grossniklaus Ueli , Nelson Bradley J.
Published: June 2018

Physical forces are involved in the regulation of plant development and morphogenesis by translating mechanical stress into the modification of physiological processes, which, in turn, can affect cellular growth. Pollen tubes respond rapidly to external stimuli and provide an ideal system to study the effect of mechanical cues at the single‐cell level. Here, pollen tubes were exposed to mechanical stress while monitoring the reconfiguration of their growth and recording the generated forces in real‐time.

We combined a lab‐on‐a‐chip device with a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)‐based capacitive force sensor to mimic and quantify the forces that are involved in pollen tube navigation upon confronting mechanical obstacles. Several stages of obstacle avoidance were identified, including force perception, growth adjustment and penetration.

We have experimentally determined the perceptive force threshold, which is the force threshold at which the pollen tube reacts to an obstacle, for Lilium longiflorum and Arabidopsis thaliana. In addition, the method we developed provides a way to calculate turgor pressure based on force and optical data.

Pollen tubes sense physical barriers and actively adjust their growth behavior to overcome them. Furthermore, our system offers an ideal platform to investigate intracellular activity during force perception and growth adaption in tip growing cells.
Diversity and forest productivity in a changing climate
Authors: Ammer Christian
Published: June 2018

ContentsSummary50I.Introduction50II.Drivers of the diversity–productivity relationship51III.Patterns of the diversity–productivity relationship55IV.Responses of mixed stands to climate change57V.Conclusions60Acknowledgements61References61

Although the relationship between species diversity and biomass productivity has been extensively studied in grasslands, the impact of tree species diversity on forest productivity, as well as the main drivers of this relationship, are still under discussion. It is widely accepted that the magnitude of the relationship between tree diversity and forest stand productivity is context specific and depends on environmental conditions, but the underlying mechanisms of this relationship are still not fully understood. Competition reduction and facilitation have been identified as key mechanisms driving the diversity–productivity relationship. However, contrasting results have been reported with respect to the extent to which competition reduction and facilitation determine the diversity–productivity relationship. They appear to depend on regional climate, soil fertility, functional diversity of the tree species involved, and developmental stage of the forest. The purpose of this review is to summarize current knowledge and to suggest a conceptual framework to explain the various processes leading to higher productivity of species‐rich forests compared with average yields of their respective monocultures. This framework provides three pathways for possible development of the diversity–productivity relationship under a changing climate.
Not All Partial Grounds Partly Ground: Some Useful Distinctions in the Theory of Grounding
Authors: Wygoda Cohen Shlomit
Published: June 2018

The aim of this paper is to argue for some useful distinctions in the theory of grounding. I do so by first introducing the notion of grounding, discussing some of its features, and arguing that grounds must play some role in bringing about what they ground (sec.1). I then argue that there are various distinct roles a fact may play in bringing about another, and more particularly that we should distinguish between three such roles; enablers, partial grounds, and facts that partly ground (sec. 2). Finally, I present two theoretical advantages to incorporating these distinctions into our theory of grounding. Namely, that it reframes, and arguably dissolves, the contingentist‐necessitarian debate (sec. 3), and that it helps to elegantly deal with the purported counterexamples to the transitivity of grounding and thus maintain the plausible elements of the assumption that grounding is a transitive relation (sec.4).
Clinical behaviour of patients exposed to organic dust and diagnosed with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Authors: De Sadeleer Laurens J. , Verleden Stijn E. , De Dycker Els , Yserbyt Jonas , Verschakelen Johny A. , Verbeken Eric K. , Nemery Benoit , Verleden Geert M. , Hermans Frederik , Vanaudenaerde Bart M. , Wuyts Wim A.
Published: June 2018

Background and objective

Although idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients experience a worse survival compared with chronic hypersensitivity pneumonitis (CHP), organic dust exposure is a known risk factor for both IPF and CHP.

Methods

We divided patients diagnosed with IPF, based on their exposure to moulds/birds (absent: group A; present: group B). We retrospectively compared pulmonary function and survival between groups A and B, and a separate CHP cohort (group C).

Results

A total of 293 patients were included (group A: n = 171, group B: n = 73, group C: n = 49). Demographics and baseline pulmonary function did not differ between groups A and B, but significant differences were seen between groups B and C. Median survival of group B was 84 months, which was longer than group A (43 months, P = 0.002), but lower than group C (157 months, P = 0.04), in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Antifibrotic treatment resulted in a better outcome in group A (hazard ratio (HR): 0.44) and group B (HR: 0.12) without interaction between exposure and antifibrotic use (P = 0.20). Forced vital capacity (FVC) decline was not associated with mould/bird exposure in this cohort.

Conclusion

Group B patients experienced a better outcome compared with (non‐exposed) IPF patients, although worse compared with CHP patients. Antifibrotic treatment in group B resulted in a similar beneficial effect compared with group A. Further research is needed to ascertain the diagnostic designation in this exposed usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) patient group without other CHP features.
Malignant airway obstruction: What to do?
Authors: Phillips Martin J.
Published: June 2018

See related Article
Spontaneous gastric dilatation‐volvulus in two cats
Authors: Leary Meredith L. , Sinnott‐Stutzman Virginia
Published: June 2018

Objectives

To describe 2 cases of gastric dilatation‐volvulus (GDV) in cats. To describe 2 unique clinical settings in which the disease occurs in cats, and to highlight the differences between GDV in cats and dogs.

Case Series Summary

Two neutered female Persian cats were presented for evaluation of respiratory distress. Initial physical examination revealed tachypnea, dyspnea, and a markedly distended and painful abdomen in both cats. Radiographs revealed a gas‐dilated stomach and gastrointestinal (GI) tract in both cats but were only diagnostic for GDV in 1 case. Gastric dilatation‐volvulus was confirmed during exploratory laparotomy and gastropexy was performed in each case. Both cats were successfully discharged from the hospital.

New and Unique Information Provided

Gastric dilatation‐volvulus in cats is a rare event and appears to occur in 2 clinical settings: in combination with traumatic diaphragmatic hernia (as previously reported) and without a history of trauma or diaphragmatic hernia, as in the 2 cases reported here. Clinicians should consider GDV in the list of differentials for cats with respiratory distress and abdominal distension, even if classic radiographic findings are not present.
Extensive marine-terminating ice sheets in Europe from 2.5 million years ago
Authors: Rea Brice R. , Newton Andrew M. W. , Lamb Rachel M. , Harding Rachel , Bigg Grant R. , Rose Phil , Spagnolo Matteo , Huuse Mads , Cater John M. L. , Archer Stuart , Buckley Francis , Halliyeva Maral , Huuse Jane , Cornwell David G. , Brocklehurst Simon H. , Howell John A.
Published: June 2018

Ice sheets repeatedly advanced into the central North Sea, south of ~60°N, from 2.53 Ma ago onward moving over slippery beds with low slung profiles.
MXenes stretch hydrogel sensor performance to new limits
Authors: Zhang Yi-Zhou , Lee Kang Hyuck , Anjum Dalaver H. , Sougrat Rachid , Jiang Qiu , Kim Hyunho , Alshareef Husam N.
Published: June 2018

We developed stretchable and self-healable MXene hydrogel that can sense complex motions without multiple sensor arrays.
Strengthening the links between mapping, planning and global engagement for disease elimination: lessons learnt from trachoma
Authors: Courtright Paul , Rotondo Lisa A , MacArthur Chad , Jones Iain , Weaver Angela , Negash Biruck Kebede , Olobio Nicholas , Binnawi Kamal , Bush Simon , Abdala Mariamo , Haddad Danny , Bonfield Astrid , Emerson Paul , Sarah Virginia , Solomon Anthony W
Published: June 2018

Background

Trachoma is the leading infectious cause of blindness. Until recently, reliable data on the global extent of the disease, detailed plans for elimination, and government, donor and partner engagement were all inadequate.

Methods

The trachoma community undertook a systematic, three-pronged strategy to map trachoma district by district, develop national-level trachoma elimination plans, and create a framework for governments, donors and partners to convene and coordinate in support of trachoma elimination.

Result

There has been a frame-shift in internal and external perceptions of the global trachoma programme, from being an effort working towards disease control in focussed geographical areas, to one in the process of achieving worldwide disease elimination. Multiple factors contributed to the successful implementation of mapping, planning, and cross-sectional engagement of governments, partners and donors.

Conclusions

Elimination of trachoma is possible if the right combination of factors is in place. Planning for success is a critical first step. Some remaining challenges must still be addressed if the elimination targets are to be successfully attained.
A Review of User Interface Design for Interactive Machine Learning
Authors: Dudley John J. , Kristensson Per Ola
Published: June 2018

Interactive Machine Learning (IML) seeks to complement human perception and intelligence by tightly integrating these strengths with the computational power and speed of computers. The interactive process is designed to involve input from the user but does not require the background knowledge or experience that might be necessary to work with more traditional machine learning techniques. Under the IML process, non-experts can apply their domain knowledge and insight over otherwise unwieldy datasets to find patterns of interest or develop complex data-driven applications. This process is co-adaptive in nature and relies on careful management of the interaction between human and machine. User interface design is fundamental to the success of this approach, yet there is a lack of consolidated principles on how such an interface should be implemented. This article presents a detailed review and characterisation of Interactive Machine Learning from an interactive systems perspective. We propose and describe a structural and behavioural model of a generalised IML system and identify solution principles for building effective interfaces for IML. Where possible, these emergent solution principles are contextualised by reference to the broader human-computer interaction literature. Finally, we identify strands of user interface research key to unlocking more efficient and productive non-expert interactive machine learning applications.
Dandelion++
Authors: Fanti Giulia , Venkatakrishnan Shaileshh Bojja , Bakshi Surya , Denby Bradley , Bhargava Shruti , Miller Andrew , Viswanath Pramod
Published: June 2018

Recent work has demonstrated significant anonymity vulnerabilities in Bitcoin's networking stack. In particular, the current mechanism for broadcasting Bitcoin transactions allows third-party observers to link transactions to the IP addresses that originated them. This lays the groundwork for low-cost, large-scale deanonymization attacks. In this work, we present \Algopp, a first-principles defense against large-scale deanonymization attacks with near-optimal information-theoretic guarantees. Dandelion++ builds upon a recent proposal called Dandelion that exhibited similar goals. However, in this paper, we highlight some simplifying assumptions made in Dandelion, and show how they can lead to serious deanonymization attacks when violated. In contrast, Dandelion++ defends against stronger adversaries that are allowed to disobey protocol. Dandelion++ is lightweight, scalable, and completely interoperable with the existing Bitcoin network. We evaluate it through experiments on Bitcoin's mainnet (i.e., the live Bitcoin network) to demonstrate its interoperability and low broadcast latency overhead.
Immunotherapy Resistance by Inflammation-Induced Dedifferentiation
Authors: Mehta Arnav , Kim Yeon Joo , Robert Lidia , Tsoi Jennifer , Comin-Anduix Begoña , Berent-Maoz Beata , Cochran Alistair J. , Economou James S. , Tumeh Paul C. , Puig-Saus Cristina , Ribas Antoni
Published: June 2018

A promising arsenal of targeted and immunotherapy treatments for metastatic melanoma has emerged over the last decade. With these therapies, we now face new mechanisms of tumor-acquired resistance. We report here a patient whose metastatic melanoma underwent dedifferentiation as a resistance mechanism to adoptive T-cell transfer therapy (ACT) to the MART1 antigen, a phenomenon that had been observed only in mouse studies to date. After an initial period of tumor regression, the patient presented in relapse with tumors lacking melanocytic antigens (MART1, gp100) and expressing an inflammation-induced neural crest marker (NGFR). We demonstrate using human melanoma cell lines that this resistance phenotype can be induced in vitro by treatment with MART1 T cell receptor–expressing T cells or with TNFα, and that the phenotype is reversible with withdrawal of inflammatory stimuli. This supports the hypothesis that acquired resistance to cancer immunotherapy can be mediated by inflammation-induced cancer dedifferentiation.

Significance: We report a patient whose metastatic melanoma underwent inflammation-induced dedifferentiation as a resistance mechanism to ACT to the MART1 antigen. Our results suggest that future melanoma ACT protocols may benefit from the simultaneous targeting of multiple tumor antigens, modulating the inflammatory response, and inhibition of inflammatory dedifferentiation-inducing signals. Cancer Discov; 8(8); 935–43. ©2018 AACR.

This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 899
Avaliação da técnica de uso de dispositivos inalatórios no controle ambulatorial de asma e DPOC
Authors: Garib Junia Rios , Leite Beatriz Carvalho Martins  Brandão , Reis Victor Chaves , Campos Marcelo Leonardo Araujo , Medrado Sarah Veiga , Silva Flávio Mendonça Andrade da
Published: June 2018

INTRODUÇÃO: Asma e Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica (DPOC) são doenças prevalentes no Brasil e seu controle é realizado com dispositivos inalatórios (DI), cuja técnica de uso apresenta sérias dificuldades. Esse fator atinge negativamente o controle da doença e aumenta os custos para o sistema de saúde. Assim, é fundamental uma melhoria na sustentabilidade do tratamento. Atualmente, não se dispõe de dados de análise da técnica de DI em Belo Horizonte, o que justifica a realização desse trabalho. OBJETIVO: Avaliar a prevalência de erros na técnica de uso de DI em pacientes portadores de asma ou DPOC, acompanhados no Ambulatório de Pneumologia da Faculdade Ciências Médicas – MG. MÉTODOS: Estudo transversal experimental no qual foram avaliados 95 pacientes em uso de um ou mais dispositivos inalatórios. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de erros foi de 94,9%, sendo maior nos DIs pressurizados (98,7%) em comparação aos dispositivos em pó (88,8%). CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência de erros na técnica de uso de DI no Ambulatório de Pneumologia da Faculdade Ciências Médicas – MG é semelhante à observada em outros estudos, sendo importante sempre orientar o paciente sobre o uso na primeira prescrição, assim como reavaliá-lo periodicamente, uma vez que esses erros podem ser corrigidos.
Diferenças entre os sexos e faixas etárias na epidemiologia acidentes vasculares cerebrais isquêmicos em um hospital de Uberlândia entre 2011 e 2015
Authors: Rodrigues Mateus De Sousa , E Santana Leonardo Fernandes , Leal Daniel Borges , Gomes Orlando Vieira
Published: June 2018

Os Acidentes vasculares cerebrais isquêmicos (AVCI) ocorrem pela obstrução de uma artéria cerebral por um trombo, êmbolo ou compressão mecânica por tecidos circundantes. Os AVCI respondem por 80-87% dos Acidentes Vasculares Cerebrais (AVC). Essa etiologia é a segunda maior causa de morte no mundo e de óbitos naturais em homens e mulheres no Brasil. Entretanto, existem poucos estudos sobre o perfil dos AVCI em cidades interioranas do país como Uberlândia. Nesse sentido, o objetivo desse trabalho é descrever o perfil de AVCI em um Hospital de Uberlândia entre 2011-2015 por sexo e faixa etária. Trata-se de um estudo transversal. Foi considerado apenas esse tipo de AVC, excluindo os eventos por causas hemorrágicas. Esse estudo observou que o AVCI se comporta de maneira diferente de acordo com o sexo e faixa etária. Quanto ao sexo, esse evento vascular foi levemente mais prevalente em mulheres. Quanto à faixa etária, até os 70 anos, o AVCI predominou em homens. Após essa idade, as mulheres passaram a liderar. Esse padrão foi semelhante à prevalência por faixa etária dos seguintes fatores de risco modificáveis: hipertensão, fibrilação atrial, diabetes mellitus tipo 2 e tabagismo. O conhecimento dessa epidemiologia nos oferece uma maior proximidade ao real contexto do AVCI em nosso meio, refletindo a necessidade de uma atenção individualizada aos grupos mais acometidos mostrados nesse estudo.