bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An ordinal day model of spruce beetle trap capture phenology in northern Colorado
Authors: Davis T. S. , Hansen E. M.
Published: October 2017

Spruce beetle populations (Dendroctonus rufipennis) (Coleoptera: Scolytinae) in Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) stands were monitored at twelve sites for 6 years in northern Colorado using pheromone‐baited Lindgren funnel traps. During the trapping period, over 30,000 beetles were captured, and beetle abundance data were used to construct empirical models of trap capture phenology based on day of year, accumulation of thermal units and thermal day thresholds, with the goal of informing future regional trapping efforts and producing a simple model for use by forest managers. Ordinal day models outperformed thermal accumulation and thermal threshold models in both predictive power and parsimony. Mean date of earliest capture was Day 153 (June 2) and ranged from Day 126 to Day 161 (May 6–June 10), and mean date of final capture was Day 243 (August 31) and ranged from Day 220 to Day 286 (August 8–October 13). A two‐parameter logistic function was the most parsimonious of several ordinal day models, accounting for 81% of the variance in cumulative trap capture across all sites and dates. The model predicts 50% of trap captures to occur by Day 181 (June 30). This model has application as a decision support tool for forest ecosystem managers concerned with the timing of trap deployment or D. rufipennis mitigation treatments.
Female breast cancer management and survival: The experience of major public hospitals in South Australia over 3 decades—trends by age and in the elderly
Authors: Roder David , Farshid Gelareh , Kollias Jim , Koczwara Bogda , Karapetis Christos , Adams Jacqui , Joshi Rohit , Keefe Dorothy , Miller Caroline , Powell Kate , Fusco Kellie , Eckert Marion , Buckley Elizabeth , Beckmann Kerri , Price Timothy
Published: October 2017

Background

Clinical registry data from major South Australian public hospitals were used to investigate trends in invasive breast‐cancer treatment and survival by age.

Methods

Disease‐specific survival was calculated for the 1980 to 2013 diagnostic period using Kaplan‐Meier product‐limit estimates, with a censoring of live cases on December 31, 2014. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine differences in survival by age and tumour characteristic. First‐round treatments following diagnosis were analysed, using multiple logistic regression to adjust for confounding.

Results

Five‐year survival increased from 75% in the 1980s to 87% in 2000 to 2013, consistent with national trends, and with increases occurring irrespective of age. There was an increased use of breast conserving surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and hormone treatments. Five‐year survival was lower for women aged 80+ years, increasing from 65% in the 1980s to 74% in 2000 to 2013. Lower survival in these older women persisted after adjusting for TNM stage, other clinical variables, and diagnostic year, without evidence of a reduced disparity over time. Older women were less likely to have surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy throughout 1980 to 2013. By comparison, their use of hormone therapy was elevated. The adjusted relative odds of mastectomy (as opposed to breast conserving surgery) were lower for the 80+ year age range.

Conclusions

Breast‐cancer survival increases applied to all ages, including 80+ years, but poorer outcomes persisted in this older group and the gap did not reduce.

A key question is whether the best trade‐off now exists between optimally therapeutic cancer treatment and accommodations for frailty and co‐morbidity in the aged, or whether opportunities exist for better trade‐offs and better survival.

Local registry data are important for describing local service activity and outcomes by age for local service providers, health administrations and consumer groups; monitoring disparities; and indicating effects of local initiatives.
Physical activity interventions are delivered consistently across hospitalized older adults but multimorbidity is associated with poorer rehabilitation outcomes: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Jones Jacky , Jones Gareth D. , Thacker Michael , Faithfull Sara
Published: October 2017

Background

Older adults live with multimorbidity including frailty and cognitive impairment often requiring hospitalization. While physical activity interventions (PAIs) are a normal rehabilitative treatment, their clinical effect in hospitalized older adults is uncertain.

Objective

To observe PAI dosing characteristics and determine their impact on clinical performance parameters.

Design

A single‐site prospective observational cohort study in an older persons' unit.

Subjects

Seventy‐five older persons' unit patients ≥65 years.

Intervention

PAI; therapeutic contact between physiotherapy clinician and patient.

Measurements

Parameters included changes in activities‐of‐daily‐living (Barthel Index), handgrip strength, balance confidence, and gait velocity, measured between admission and discharge (episode). Dosing characteristics were PAI temporal initiation, frequency, and duration. Frailty/cognition status was dichotomized independently per participant yielding 4 subgroups: frail/nonfrail and cognitively‐impaired/cognitively‐unimpaired.

Results

Median (interquartile range) PAI initiation occurred after 2 days (1‐4), frequency was 0.4 PAIs per day (0.3‐0.5), and PAI duration per episode was 3.75 hours (1.8‐7.2). All clinical parameters improved significantly across episodes: grip strength median (interquartile range) change, 2.0 kg (0.0‐2.3) (P < .01); Barthel Index, 5 (3‐8) (P < .01); gait velocity, 0.06 m.∙s−1 (0.06‐0.16) (P < .01); and balance confidence, −3 (−6 to −1) (P < .01). Physical activity intervention dosing remained consistent within subgroups. While several moderate to large associations between amount of PAIs and change in clinical parameters were observed, most were within unimpaired subgroups.

Conclusions

PAI dosing is consistent. However, while clinical changes during hospital episodes are positive, more favourable responses to PAIs occur if patients are nonfrail/cognitively‐unimpaired. Therefore, to deliver a personalized rehabilitation approach, adaptation of PAI dose based on patient presentation is desirable.
A qualitative study on community pharmacists' decision‐making process when making a diagnosis
Authors: Sinopoulou Vassiliki , Summerfield Paul , Rutter Paul
Published: October 2017

Rationale, aims, and objectives

Self‐care policies are increasingly directing patients to seek advice from community pharmacists. This means pharmacists need to have sound diagnostic decision‐making skills to enable them to recognise a variety of conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the process by which pharmacists manage patient signs and symptoms and to explore their use of decision‐making for diagnostic purposes.

Methods

Data were collected through semi‐structured, face‐to‐face interviews with community pharmacists working in England, between August 2013 and November 2014. Pharmacists were asked to share their experiences on how they performed patient consultations, and more specifically how they would approach a hypothetical headache scenario. As part of the interview, their sources of knowledge and experience were also explored. Framework analysis was used to identify themes and subthemes.

Results

Eight interviews were conducted with pharmacists who had a wide range of working practice, from 1 year through to 40 years of experience. The pharmacists' main motivations during consultations were product selection and risk minimisation. Their questioning approach and decision‐making relied heavily on mnemonic methods. This led to poor quality information gathering—although pharmacists acknowledged they needed to “delve deeper” but were often unable to articulate how or why. Some pharmacists exhibited elements of clinical reasoning in their consultations, but this seemed, mostly, to be unconscious and subsequently applied inappropriately. Overall, pharmacists exhibited poor decision‐making ability, and often decisions were based on personal belief and experiences rather than evidence.

Conclusions

Community pharmacists relied heavily on mnemonic methods to manage patients' signs and symptoms with diagnosis‐based decision‐making being seldom employed. These findings suggest practicing pharmacists should receive more diagnostic training.
Monitoring of Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions in Older Inpatients: A French Multicenter Study
Authors: Pandraud‐Riguet Irène , Bonnet‐Zamponi Dominique , Bourcier Elsa , Buyse Marion , Laribe‐Caget Sandra , Frémont Patrick , Pautas Eric , Verny Christiane , Hindlet Patrick , Fernandez Christine
Published: October 2017

Objectives

To determine whether potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) or potentially inappropriate associations (PIAs) prescribed knowingly are associated with patient monitoring.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

Geriatric units (n = 56) in 28 hospitals.

Participants

Inpatients aged 75 and older (N = 1,327).

Measurements

Potentially inappropriate prescriptions (PIP) were defined as a PIM or a PIA selected by an expert board from lists of explicit criteria (Beers, Priscus, Laroche, French Health Agency) using a Delphi process. They were considered to be prescribed knowingly if they were maintained after reassessment by the geriatrician and the clinical pharmacist. Primary outcome was the rate of PIPs maintained (prescribed knowingly) and for which a geriatrician declared that specific monitoring was performed. Secondary outcomes were the parameters monitored and the rate of participants receiving knowingly a PIP.

Results

One thousand sixty‐three PIPs were detected in 607 participants (46%). After reassessment, 826 (78%) PIPs were maintained in 490 participants (37%), the main reasons being participant's regular treatment and lack of alternative. Psychotropic (36%), cardiovascular (including antithrombotics) (29%), and laxative or antiemetic drugs (16%) were the most‐frequent classes prescribed knowingly. The geriatricians declared to perform clinical or biological monitoring for 69% (n = 570) of PIMs or PIAs prescribed knowingly. Three types of specific monitoring were identified: clinical, biological, and follow‐up with a specialist.

Conclusion

Approximately three‐quarters of PIMs or PIAs were prescribed knowingly, of which 69% were monitored, with wide variations in occurrence and in quality according to drug classes. This underlines the need for accurate guidelines on PIP monitoring.
Predicting Discharge to Institutional Long‐Term Care After Stroke: A Systematic Review and Metaanalysis
Authors: Burton Jennifer K. , Ferguson Eilidh E. C. , Barugh Amanda J. , Walesby Katherine E. , MacLullich Alasdair M. J. , Shenkin Susan D. , Quinn Terry J.
Published: October 2017

Background/Objectives

Stroke is a leading cause of disability worldwide, and a significant proportion of stroke survivors require long‐term institutional care. Understanding who cannot be discharged home is important for health and social care planning. Our aim was to establish predictive factors for discharge to institutional care after hospitalization for stroke.

Design

We registered and conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis (PROSPERO: CRD42015023497) of observational studies. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL Plus to February 2017. Quantitative synthesis was performed where data allowed.

Setting

Acute and rehabilitation hospitals.

Participants

Adults hospitalized for stroke who were newly admitted directly to long‐term institutional care at the time of hospital discharge.

Measurements

Factors associated with new institutionalization.

Results

From 10,420 records, we included 18 studies (n = 32,139 participants). The studies were heterogeneous and conducted in Europe, North America, and East Asia. Eight studies were at high risk of selection bias. The proportion of those surviving to discharge who were newly discharged to long‐term care varied from 7% to 39% (median 17%, interquartile range 12%), and the model of care received in the long‐term care setting was not defined. Older age and greater stroke severity had a consistently positive association with the need for long‐term care admission. Individuals who had a severe stroke were 26 times as likely to be admitted to long‐term care than those who had a minor stroke. Individuals aged 65 and older had a risk of stroke that was three times as great as that of younger individuals. Potentially modifiable factors were rarely examined.

Conclusion

Age and stroke severity are important predictors of institutional long‐term care admission directly from the hospital after an acute stroke. Potentially modifiable factors should be the target of future research. Stroke outcome studies should report discharge destination, defining the model of care provided in the long‐term care setting.
Note on the Rate and Energy Efficiency Limits for Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Gutowski Timothy , Jiang Sheng , Cooper Daniel , Corman Gero , Hausmann Michael , Manson Jan‐Anders , Schudeleit Timo , Wegener Konrad , Sabelle Matias , Ramos‐Grez Jorge , Sekulic Dusan P.
Published: October 2017

We review the process rates and energy intensities of various additive processing technologies and focus on recent progress in improving these metrics for laser powder bed fusion processing of metals, and filament and pellet extrusion processing of polymers and composites. Over the last decade, observed progress in raw build rates has been quite substantial, with laser metal processes improving by about 1 order of magnitude, and polymer extrusion processes by more than 2 orders of magnitude. We develop simple heat transfer models that explain these improvements, point to other possible strategies for improvement, and highlight rate limits. We observe a pattern in laser metal technologies that mimics the development of machine tools; an efficiency plateau, where faster rates require more power with no change in energy nor rate efficiency.
Comparing the broad socio‐cognitive profile of youth with Williams syndrome and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome
Authors: Weisman O. , Feldman R. , Burg‐Malki M. , Keren M. , Geva R. , Diesendruck G. , Gothelf D.
Published: October 2017

Background

Numerous studies have assessed the socio‐cognitive profile in Williams syndrome (WS) and, independently, in 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11.2DS). Yet, a cross‐syndrome comparison of these abilities between individuals with these two syndromes with known social deficits has not been conducted.

Methods

Eighty‐two children participated in four study groups: WS (n = 18), 22q112.DS (n = 24), age‐matched individuals with idiopathic developmental disability (IDD; n = 20) and typically developing (TD) controls (n = 20). Participants completed four socio‐cognitive tests: facial emotion recognition, mental state attribution, differentiating real from apparent emotions and trait inference based on motives and actions‐outcomes.

Results

The current findings demonstrate that children with WS were better in labelling happy faces compared with children with 22q11.2DS, partially reflecting their exaggerated social drive. In the false belief task, however, the WS and IDD groups performed poorly compared with the 22q11.2DS group, possibly due to their difficulty to interpret subtle social cues. When asked to identify the gap between real‐negative vs. apparent‐positive emotions, the 22q11.2DS group performed similarly to TD children but better than the WS group, possibly due to their anxious personality and their innate bias towards negatively valence cues. Finally, individuals with WS were more willing to become friends with a story character even when the character's motives were negative, reflecting their difficulty to avoid potentially harmful real‐life situations.

Conclusions

Overall, our multi‐facet socio‐cognitive battery uncovered strengths and weaknesses in social cognition that are syndrome‐specific, shared among the genetic syndromes, or common to the three clinical groups compared with healthy controls. Our findings underscore the need to devise age‐specific and condition‐specific assessment tools and intervention programs towards improving these children's socio‐cognitive deficits.
Arterial stiffness, cognitive impairment and dementia: confounding factor or real risk?
Authors: Iulita M. Florencia , Noriega de la Colina Adrián , Girouard Hélène
Published: October 2017

Large artery stiffness is a frequent condition that arises with ageing, and is accelerated by the presence of co‐morbidities like hypertension, obesity and diabetes. Although epidemiological studies have indicated an association between arterial stiffness, cognitive impairment and dementia, the precise effects of stiff arteries on the brain remains obscure. This is because, in humans, arterial stiffness is often accompanied by other factors such as age, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis and inflammation, which could themselves damage the brain independently of stiffness. Therefore, the question remains: is arterial stiffness a true risk for cognitive decline? Or, is it a confounding factor? In this review, we provide an overview of arterial stiffness and its impact on brain function based on human and animal studies. We summarize the evidence linking arterial stiffness to cognitive dysfunction and dementia, and discuss the role of new animal models to better understand the mechanisms by which arterial stiffness affects the brain. We close with an overview of treatments to correct stiffness and discuss the challenges to translate them to real patient care.

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This article is part of the Special Issue “Vascular Dementia”.
Rapid changes in brain aromatase activity in the female quail brain following expression of sexual behaviour
Authors: de Bournonville C. , Ball G. F. , Balthazart J. , Cornil C. A.
Published: October 2017

In male quail, oestrogens produced in the brain (neuro‐oestrogens) exert a dual action on male sexual behaviour: they increase sexual motivation within minutes via mechanisms activated at the membrane but facilitate sexual performance by slower, presumably nuclear‐initiated, mechanisms. Recent work indicates that neuro‐oestrogens are also implicated in the control of female sexual motivation despite the presence of high circulating concentrations of oestrogens of ovarian origin. Interestingly, aromatase activity (AA) in the male brain is regulated in time domains corresponding to the slow “genomic” and faster “nongenomic” modes of action of oestrogens. Furthermore, rapid changes in brain AA are observed in males after sexual interactions with a female. In the present study, we investigated whether similar rapid changes in brain AA are observed in females allowed to interact sexually with males. A significant decrease in AA was observed in the medial preoptic nucleus after interactions that lasted 2, 5 or 10 minutes, although this decrease was no longer significant after 15 minutes of interaction. In the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, a progressive decline of average AA was observed between 2 and 15 minutes, although it never reached statistical significance. AA in this nucleus was, however, negatively correlated with the sexual receptivity of the female. These data indicate that sexual interactions affect brain AA in females as in males in an anatomically specific manner and suggest that rapid changes in brain oestrogens production could also modulate female sexual behaviour.
Response of in ovo administration of zinc on egg hatchability and immune response of commercial broiler chicken
Authors: Jose N. , Elangovan A. V. , Awachat V. B. , Shet D. , Ghosh J. , David C. G.
Published: October 2017

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of in ovo administration of different forms of zinc with respect to hatchability and performance of commercial broiler chicken. In trial 1, the fertile eggs on day 18 were divided into six treatment groups: Group I as control without any supplementation of zinc, group II to IV were supplemented with 0.5 mg zinc per egg as zinc sulphate, zinc methionine or nano zinc, respectively, and Group V with nano zinc at 0.25 mg zinc per egg. Sixth group received 0.5 ml citric acid per egg as sham control. The results of the first trial indicated that in ovo administration of nano zinc at both levels and zinc methionine resulted in complete failure of hatchability. A second trial to validate the result of trial 1 consisted of Group I control (no administration). Group II and Group III were supplemented with zinc sulphate and zinc methionine, respectively, at 0.5 mg zinc per egg. Group IV and Group V were supplemented with nano zinc at 0.04 and 0.08 mg per egg. In the second trial, again there was a similar pattern for zinc sulphate and zinc methionine. Administration of Zn by nano form had around 80% hatchability on fertile eggs in comparison with the unadministered control eggs (92%). There was no difference (p > .05) in body weight gain, feed intake and FCR. No difference (p > .05) was observed between treatments for cell‐mediated immune response and humoral immune response. Nano Zn‐administered group showed a non‐significant downregulation of MUC2 gene. It could be concluded that in ovo administration of higher levels of zinc has to be with caution for the developing embryo of commercial broiler chicken.
Growth performance of piglets during the first two weeks of lactation affects the development of the intestinal microbiota
Authors: Morissette B. , Talbot G. , Beaulieu C. , Lessard M.
Published: October 2017

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of newborn piglet weight gain during the first 2 weeks of lactation on the luminal and mucosal microbiota of the ileum and colon. The microbiota from high‐weight‐gain (HWG) and low‐weight‐gain (LWG) 2‐week‐old piglets was characterized by amplicon length heterogeneity PCR (LH‐PCR) and compared using diversity indices and multivariate statistical analyses. At birth, LWG piglets weighted in average 0.26 kg less than HWG piglets (p = .002). The weight difference between LWG and HWG piglets increased with time and reached 2.1 kg after 16 days of lactation (p < .0001). Based on these growth performance differences, estimated colostrum and milk intake was greater in HWG than in LWG piglets (p < .0001). Analysis of the LH‐PCR data of the microbiota using non‐metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) and blocked multiresponse permutation procedure (MRBP) revealed that the microbiota of the HWG and LWG piglets tended to differ in ileal mucosa (p = .097) and differed in colonic lumen (p = .024). The microbiota of HWG piglets had higher levels of Bacteroidetes, Bacteroides and Ruminoccocaceae, and lower proportions of Actinobacillus porcinus and Lactobacillus amylovorus when compared with those of LWG piglets. As the weight gain of nursing piglets is highly correlated with the amount of ingested colostrum and milk, the results strongly suggest that colostrum and milk intake in the first 2 weeks of life influenced the development of the gut microbiota.
Effect of feed intake level and dietary protein content on the body temperature of pigs housed under thermo neutral conditions
Authors: Morales A. , Ibarra N. , Chávez M. , Gómez T. , Suárez A. , Valle J. A. , Camacho R. L. , Cervantes M.
Published: October 2017

Feed intake and diet composition appear to affect the body temperature of pigs. Two trials were conducted to analyse the effect of feed intake level and dietary protein content on the intestinal temperature (IT) of pigs housed under thermo neutral conditions. Ten pigs (64.1 ± 1.3 kg initial body weight) fitted with an ileal cannula were used. A thermometer set to register the IT at 5‐min intervals was implanted into the ileum through the cannula. In both trials, the ambient temperature ranged from 19.1 to 21.6°C and the pigs were fed at 07:00 and 19:00 hr (same amount each time). In trial 1, the pigs were fed daily 1.2 or 1.8 kg of a wheat–soybean meal diet. The IT followed a similar pattern along a 24‐hr period regardless the feed intake level. The IT rapidly increased up to 0.61 and 0.74°C after the morning meal and up to 0.53 and 0.47°C after the evening meal in pigs fed 1.2 and 1.8 kg/d respectively. The postprandial IT was higher in pigs fed 1.8 kg after each meal (p < .05). In trial 2, pigs were fed daily 1.8 kg of a low (11%) or a high (22%) crude protein diet. The IT followed a similar pattern along the 24‐hr period regardless the dietary protein level. The postprandial IT did not differ between pigs fed the low protein or the high protein (p > .10). The IT rapidly increased up to 0.66 and 0.62°C after the morning meal in pigs fed the high‐ and low‐protein diet (p < .05), but there was no change after the evening meal (p > .10). In conclusion, the feed intake level affected the IT of pigs housed under TN conditions, but the dietary protein content had no effect.
The efficacy of using exogenous enzymes cocktail on production, egg quality, egg nutrients and blood metabolites of laying hens fed distiller's dried grains with solubles
Authors: Abd El‐Hack M. E. , Chaudhry M. T. , Mahrose K. M. , Noreldin A. , Emam M. , Alagawany M.
Published: October 2017

An experiment was performed using 120 Hisex Brown laying hens for evaluating the effects of different inclusion levels of corn distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as a replacement of soybean meal (SBM) with or without enzyme cocktail on performance, egg quality, egg nutrients and blood metabolites in laying hens through 22–42 weeks of age. A 4 × 2 factorial design experiment was performed including four substitution levels of DDGS (0, 250, 500 and 750 g/kg respectively) and two enzyme cocktail levels (0 and 250 mg/kg diet). The used enzyme in this study “Gallazyme” composed of xylanase, Trichoderma longibrachiatum (600 units/g), protease, Bacillus subtilis (8,000 units/g) and amylase and Bacillus amyloliquofaciens (800 units/g). The control diet showed the best feed efficiency followed by the intermediate levels of DDGS. The lowest value of feed efficiency was found in the group fed the highest level of DDGS. Enzyme addition improved feed efficiency and decreased laying rate. Increasing DDGS levels was associated with albumin and shell thickness increases. Dietary DDGS depressed all egg components except the organic matter which maximised in enzyme‐treated groups. Increasing DDGS level was accompanied by increase in yolk cholesterol and total lipids. No significant impacts were detected with enzymes supplementation on yolk lipids profile. Excepting serum calcium and phosphorous, all serum constituents increased with increasing level of DDGS. Using enzyme markedly depressed serum ammonia by 15.02% and increased calcium by 6.44% compared with enzyme‐free diets. Interaction between DDGS and enzyme was significant on most of studied parameters. It could be concluded that using enzyme cocktail in DDGS‐based diets may improve feed efficiency and egg quality, in addition to lowering blood ammonia and increasing blood calcium. It is recommended to substitute SBM by DDGS up to 500 g/kg diet.
Milk fatty acid profile from cows fed with mixed rations and different access time to pastureland during early lactation
Authors: Barca J. , Carriquiry M. , Olazabal L. , Fajardo M. , Chilibroste P. , Meikle A.
Published: October 2017

Milk fatty acid (FA) profiles were determined in Holstein cows (n = 27) fed total mixed rations (TMR) ad libitum (G0) or diet composed by TMR (50% dry matter [DM] offered) plus grazing of pasture with 6 hr of access time to paddock in one session (G1) or 9 hr in two sessions (G2) at 45 days in milk (DIM). Moreover, milk FA was determined at 65 DIM when G0 cows turned out to G1 diet without adaptation period (Post‐G0), G1 remained as controls. Milk FA was quantified using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Preformed FA at 45 DIM was greater (+27%) for G2 than G0 cows (p < .05). Stearic acid (C18:0) was 30% greater for G2 cows (p < .05). De novo FA was lowest for G2 cows (p < .05). Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) did not differ (p < .12), while vaccenic acid (C18:1trans) was twofold greater for grazing treatments (p < .01). Linolenic acid [C18:3(n‐3)] was greatest for G2 and lowest for G0 cows (p < .01). Omega 6 FA was greater for G0 than grazing cows, mainly due to linoleic acid [18:2cis(n‐6); p < .05]. These results determined that n‐6/n‐3 ratio was almost threefold greater for G0 than grazing cows (p < .001). When diet of G0 cows changed to include pasture (Post‐G0), preformed FA increased (p < .05), explained mainly by the increase (p < .05) of stearic (C18:0) and C18:1trans, while de novo FA tended to decrease (p < .1). Moreover, the amount of CLA and C18:3(n‐3) tended to increase (p < .1) in Post‐G0 cows. Offering 50% of dietary DM from pasture modified milk FA profile in early lactation potentially beneficial for human health. When TMR‐fed cows were turned out to 50% pasture, milk FA profile reflected dietary change without need of an adaptation period.
Molecular mechanisms underlying Grateloupia imbricata (Rhodophyta) carposporogenesis induced by methyl jasmonate
Authors: Garcia‐Jimenez Pilar , Montero‐Fernández Montserrat , Robaina Rafael R.
Published: October 2017

When applied in vitro, methyl jasmonate is sensed by the red seaweed Grateloupia imbricate, substantially and visually affecting its carposporogenesis. However, although there is some understanding of the morphological changes induced by methyl jasmonate in vitro, little is known about the genes that are involved in red seaweed carposporogenesis and how their protein products act. For the work reported herein, the expression of genes in red seaweed that encode enzymes involved in the synthesis of methyl jasmonate (jasmonic acid carboxyl methyl transferase and a putative methyl transferase) was monitored. Additionally the genes involved in oxidation (cytochrome P450 and WD40), jasmonate synthesis, signal transduction, and regulation of reactive oxygen species (MYB), and reproduction (ornithine decarboxylase) were monitored. To determine when or if the aforementioned genes were expressed during cystocarp development, fertilized and fertile thalli were exposed to methyl jasmonate and gene expression was measured after 24 and 48 h. The results showed that methyl jasmonate promoted differential gene expression in fertilized thalli by 24 h and upregulated expression of the ornithine decarboxylase gene only by 48 h in fertile thalli (0.75 ± 003 copies · μL−1 at 24 h vs. 1.11 ± 0.04 copies · μL−1 at 48 h). We conclude that Ornithine decarboxylase expression involves methyl jasmonate signaling as well as development and maturation of cystocarps.
Cell wall physicochemical properties determine the thallus biomineralization pattern of Padina gymnospora (Phaeophyceae)
Authors: de Carvalho Rodrigo Tomazetto , Rocha Gustavo Miranda , Paradas Wladimir Costa , Soares Angélica Ribeiro , Ank Guarino Gláucia , Passos Raoni Moreira Ferreira , Amado Filho Gilberto Menezes , Farina Marcos , Salgado Leonardo Tavares
Published: October 2017

Approximately half of the Padina (Dictyotales, Phaeophyceae) species mineralize aragonite needles over the adaxial thallus surface, where mineral bands are interspersed with nonmineralized regions along the thallus from the apical to basal end. However, this calcification pattern and the related algal properties are not well understood. Therefore, this work was performed to elucidate a potential role of cell walls in the inhibition/induction of mineralization in the brown alga Padina gymnospora. In a comparison of specific thallus regions, differences were identified in the cellulose distribution, microfibrils arrangement and thickness, distribution and abundance of phenolic substances, and physical differences among the surfaces of the thallus (deformation, adhesion, topography, and nano‐rugosity). In vitro mineralization assays indicated that phenolic substances are strong modulators of calcium carbonate crystals growth. In addition, de novo mineralization assays over cell wall surfaces that were used as templates, even without cellular activity, indicated that the cell wall remains a key factor in the induction/inhibition of mineralization. Overall, the current findings indicate a strong correlation between the physico‐chemical and structural properties of the cell wall and the alternation pattern of the mineralization bands over the thallus of P. gymnospora.
Antimicrobial peptides as a possible interlink between periodontal diseases and its risk factors: A systematic review
Authors: Li S. , Schmalz G. , Schmidt J. , Krause F. , Haak R. , Ziebolz D.
Published: October 2017

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a critical role in controlling innate and acquired immune responses. Local dysregulation of AMP is implicated in the pathogenesis of periodontal diseases as a response to periodontal pathogen challenge. Changes in AMP expression also characterize tobacco smoking, diabetes mellitus, obesity and rheumatoid arthritis, which are established risk factors of periodontal diseases, suggesting AMP may act as putative mechanistic links between these. The aim was to evaluate and summarize critically the current evidence pertaining to interrelationships between AMPs, periodontal diseases and selected periodontal disease risk factors. General and theme specific keywords were used to search the PUBMED database for studies relevant to AMP, periodontal diseases, smoking, diabetes mellitus, obesity and rheumatoid arthritis and critically reviewed. A total of 131 abstracts and 119 full text articles were screened for relevance; 13 studies were selected for inclusion after critical review. Local AMP dysregulation characteristic to periodontal diseases appears to occur within a broader landscape of complex systemic immune perturbations independently induced by smoking, metabolic and rheumatoid disease. The nature of these interactions and mechanistic pathways involved are inadequately understood. AMPs could be possible mechanistic interlinks between periodontal diseases and its risk factors. However, such evidence is very limited and more in vivo and in vitro studies are necessary to clarify the nature of such relationships. A greater understanding of AMPs as shared mediators is essential for unraveling their value as therapeutic or biomarker candidates.
Block Bootstrap for the Empirical Process of Long‐Range Dependent Data
Authors: Tewes Johannes
Published: October 2017

We consider the bootstrapped empirical process of long‐range dependent data. It is shown that this process converges to a semi‐degenerate limit, where the random part of this limit is always Gaussian. Thus the bootstrap might fail when the original empirical process accomplishes a noncentral limit theorem. However, even in this case our results can be used to estimate a nuisance parameter that appears in the limit of many nonparametric tests under long memory. Moreover, we develop a new resampling procedure for goodness‐of‐fit tests and a test for monotonicity of transformations.
Family Narratives of Biliteracy
Authors: Kabuto Bobbie
Published: October 2017

This article explores the concept of narratives of biliteracy or how two bilingual mothers defined biliteracy for their families through the construction of narratives. This study is approached through a theoretical discussion of narratives to investigate how the two families constructed certain versions of their realities as they observed, interpreted and made sense of their children's experiences in reading in two languages. After presenting each family's narrative, this study will explore how underlying these narratives are language‐driven ideologies that allowed each mother to construct different meanings of bilingualism and biliteracy for their families. The findings and conclusion suggest that these language‐driven ideologies were based on how the mothers discussed the positive and negative effects that learning in two languages has on their children's educational and transnational experiences.
Risk factors for resurgery in men with artificial urinary sphincter: Role of urethral strictures
Authors: Traverso Paolo , Mantica Guglielmo , Gallo Fabio , Benelli Andrea , Becco Davide , De Rose Aldo Franco , Simonato Alchiede
Published: October 2017

Objective

The aims of the present study were to evaluate the outcome of implantation of an artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) in male patients with iatrogenic urinary incontinence and to analyse possible risk factors for resurgery, with particular focus on the effects of posterior urethral strictures (US).

Methods

The outcomes of AUS implantation surgeries performed by 2 surgeons on consecutive patients between January 1999 and 2015 were evaluated retrospectively. Univariate analysis with Cox proportional hazard regression was used to assess correlations between resurgery (explantation or substitution of the urethral cuff) and risk factors. Hazard ratios (HR) associated with AUS survival and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated and Kaplan–Meier were constructed. Patients who underwent resurgery for mechanical failure were excluded from the study.

Results

In all, 73 male patients were monitored for a maximum of 190 months (median follow‐up duration 36 months). The risk of resurgery was 3.75‐fold greater in patients with than without stenosis (HR 3.75; 95% CI 1.47‐9.59). In addition, Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed a significantly shorter AUS survival time in patients with than without stenosis treatment.

Conclusions

Prior treatment for US increases the relative risk of AUS failure. Despite not being an absolute contraindication for AUS implantation, we suggest that patients with previous treatment for US are informed of potential risks.
Scalable Structural Modal Identification Using Dynamic Sensor Network Data with STRIDEX
Authors: Matarazzo Thomas J. , Pakzad Shamim N.
Published: October 2017

This article uses the formulation of the structural identification using expectation maximization (STRIDE) algorithm for compatibility with the truncated physical model (TPM) to enable scalable, output‐only modal identification using dynamic sensor network (DSN) data. The DSN data class is an adaptable and efficient technique for storing measurements from a very large number of sensing nodes, which is the case in mobile sensor networks and BIGDATA problems. In this article, the STRIDEX output‐only identification algorithm is proposed for the stochastic TPM to estimate structural modal properties (frequencies, damping ratios, and mode shapes) directly from DSN data. The spatial information produced by this novel algorithm, called STRIDEX (“X” for extended), is scalable, as demonstrated in a strategy to construct high‐resolution mode shapes from a single DSN data set using a series of independent identification runs. The ability to extract detailed structural system information from DSN data in a computationally scalable framework is a step toward mobile infrastructure informatics in a large urban setting. The performance of the STRIDEX algorithm is demonstrated, using the simulated response of a 5,000 DOF structure, and experimentally, using measurements from two mobile sensor cars, which scanned about 8,000 points on a beam specimen in the laboratory. In the experimental results, a mobile sensor is shown to provide over 120 times more mode shape points than a fixed sensor.
Disruption of calcineurin catalytic subunit (cnaA) in Epichloë festucae induces symbiotic defects and intrahyphal hyphae formation
Authors: Mitic Milena , Berry Daniel , Brasell Emma , Green Kimberly , Young Carolyn A. , Saikia Sanjay , Rakonjac Jasna , Scott Barry
Published: October 2017

Calcineurin is a conserved calcium/calmodulin‐dependent protein phosphatase, consisting of a catalytic subunit A and a regulatory subunit B, which is involved in calcium‐dependent signalling and regulation of various important cellular processes. In this study, we functionally characterized the catalytic subunit A (CnaA) of the endophytic fungus Epichloë festucae which forms a symbiotic association with the grass host Lolium perenne. We deleted the CnaA‐encoding gene cnaA in E. festucae and examined its role in hyphal growth, cell wall integrity and symbiosis. This ΔcnaA strain had a severe growth defect with loss of radial growth and hyper‐branched hyphae. Transmission electron microscopy and confocal microscopy analysis of the mutant revealed cell wall defects, aberrant septation and the formation of intrahyphal hyphae, both in culture and in planta. The mutant strain also showed a reduced infection rate in planta. The fluorescence of mutant hyphae stained with WGA‐AF488 was reduced, indicating reduced chitin accessibility. Together, these results show that E. festucae CnaA is required for fungal growth, maintaining cell wall integrity and host colonization.
Renoprotective effects of topiroxostat for Hyperuricaemic patients with overt diabetic nephropathy study (ETUDE study): A prospective, randomized, multicentre clinical trial
Authors: Mizukoshi Toshihiro , Kato Sawako , Ando Masahiko , Sobajima Hiroshi , Ohashi Norimi , Naruse Tomohiko , Saka Yosuke , Shimizu Hideaki , Nagata Takanobu , Maruyama Shoichi
Published: October 2017

Aim

We aimed to evaluate the anti‐albuminuric effects of topiroxostat in Japanese hyperuricaemic patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Methods

In this 24‐week, multicentre, open‐label, randomized (1 : 1) trial, we assigned hyperuricaemic patients with diabetic nephropathy (estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥ 20 mL/min per 1.73m2) and overt proteinuria (0.3 ≤ urine protein to creatinine ratio (UPCR) <3.5 g/g Cr) to either high dose (160 mg daily) or low dose (40 mg daily) topiroxostat. The primary endpoint was the change in albuminuria indicated by urine albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio (UACR) from the baseline at the final time point.

Results

A total of 80 patients underwent randomization. The changes in UACR after 24 weeks of treatment (or at the final time point if patients failed to reach 24 weeks) relative to the baseline were −122 mg/gCr (95% CI: −5.1 to −240.1, P = 0.041) in patients treated with high dose, while treatment with low dose topiroxostat could not show significant reduction (P = 0.067). In the linear mixed model including baseline albuminuria, eGFR, age, and sex as covariates, the decreases in UACR were still significant from baseline to 12 weeks by 228.7 ± 83.2 mg/gCr (P = 0.0075) in the high dose group. The adverse‐event profile during this study was not different between the groups.

Conclusion

Topiroxostat 160 mg daily reduced albuminuria in patients with diabetic nephropathy. (Funded by Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho; Trial registration, UMIN000015403).
Relaxation of tyrosine pathway regulation underlies the evolution of betalain pigmentation in Caryophyllales
Authors: Lopez‐Nieves Samuel , Yang Ya , Timoneda Alfonso , Wang Minmin , Feng Tao , Smith Stephen A. , Brockington Samuel F. , Maeda Hiroshi A.
Published: October 2017

Diverse natural products are synthesized in plants by specialized metabolic enzymes, which are often lineage‐specific and derived from gene duplication followed by functional divergence. However, little is known about the contribution of primary metabolism to the evolution of specialized metabolic pathways.

Betalain pigments, uniquely found in the plant order Caryophyllales, are synthesized from the aromatic amino acid l‐tyrosine (Tyr) and replaced the otherwise ubiquitous phenylalanine‐derived anthocyanins. This study combined biochemical, molecular and phylogenetic analyses, and uncovered coordinated evolution of Tyr and betalain biosynthetic pathways in Caryophyllales.

We found that Beta vulgaris, which produces high concentrations of betalains, synthesizes Tyr via plastidic arogenate dehydrogenases (TyrAa/ADH) encoded by two ADH genes (BvADHα and BvADHβ). Unlike BvADHβ and other plant ADHs that are strongly inhibited by Tyr, BvADHα exhibited relaxed sensitivity to Tyr. Also, Tyr‐insensitive BvADHα orthologs arose during the evolution of betalain pigmentation in the core Caryophyllales and later experienced relaxed selection and gene loss in lineages that reverted from betalain to anthocyanin pigmentation, such as Caryophyllaceae.

These results suggest that relaxation of Tyr pathway regulation increased Tyr production and contributed to the evolution of betalain pigmentation, highlighting the significance of upstream primary metabolic regulation for the diversification of specialized plant metabolism.
Postaxial limb hypoplasia (PALH): the classification, clinical features, and related developmental biology
Authors: Zhang Zeng , Yi Dan , Xie Rong , Hamilton John L. , Kang Qing‐Lin , Chen Di
Published: October 2017

Postaxial limb hypoplasia (PALH) is a group of nonhereditary diseases with congenital lower limb deficiency affecting the fibular ray, including fibular hemimelia, proximal femoral focal deficiency, and tarsal coalition. The etiology and the developmental biology of the anomaly are still not fully understood. Here, we review the previous classification systems, present the clinical features, and discuss the developmental biology of PALH.
Making sense of frailty: An ethnographic study of the experience of older people living with complex health problems
Authors: Skilbeck Julie Kathryn , Arthur Antony , Seymour Jane
Published: October 2017

Aim

To explore how older people with complex health problems experience frailty in their daily lives.

Background

A better understanding of the personal experience of frailty in the context of fluctuating ill‐health has the potential to contribute to the development of personalised approaches to care planning and delivery.

Design

An ethnographic study of older people, living at home, receiving support from a community matron service in a large city in the North of England.

Methods

Up to six care encounters with each of ten older people, and their community matron, were observed at monthly intervals, over a period of time ranging from 4 to 11 months. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with the older participants in their own homes. Fieldwork took place over a 4‐year period. Data analysis was undertaken using the constant comparative method.

Findings

The experience of frailty was understood through the construction of four themes: Fluctuating ill‐health and the disruption of daily living; Changes to the management of daily living; Frailty as fear, anxiety and uncertainty; Making sense of changes to health and daily living.

Conclusions

Older people work hard to shape and maintain daily routines in the context of complicated and enduring transitions in health and illness. However, they experience episodic moments of frailty, often articulated as uncertainty, where daily living becomes precarious and their resilience is threatened. Developing an understanding of the personal experiences of frail older people in the context of transition has the potential to inform nursing practice in person‐centred care .

Implications for practice

Nurses need to support frail older people to maintain independence and continuity of personhood in the context of daily routines.