bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antimicrobial Resistance in
Bordetella bronchiseptica
Authors: Kadlec Kristina , Schwarz Stefan
Published: July 2018

Bordetella bronchiseptica
is involved in respiratory tract infections mainly in dogs and pigs but may also cause infections in humans. Valid and representative data on antimicrobial susceptibility of
B. bronchiseptica
is rare. Approved antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods have been published, but very few clinical breakpoints are available. The MIC values are low for most agents but high for β-lactam antibiotics and macrolides. Information on the genetic basis of resistance is scarce. For a small number of isolates that are resistant or show elevated MICs, the molecular basis of resistance was identified. Three tetracycline resistance genes,
tet
(A),
tet
(C), and
tet
(31), coding for major facilitator superfamily efflux pumps, were identified. Two other major facilitator superfamily exporter genes confer resistance to chloramphenicol (
cmlB1
) or to chloramphenicol and florfenicol (
floR
). Two class B chloramphenicol acetyltransferase genes (
catB1
and
catB3
), which confer resistance to nonfluorinated phenicols by enzymatic inactivation, have been identified in
B. bronchiseptica
. Like the trimethoprim resistance genes
dfrA1
and
dfrB1
, which code for trimethoprim-insensitive dihydrofolate reductases, the genes
catB1
and
catB3
were located on gene cassettes and found in class 1 integrons also harboring the sulfonamide resistance gene
sul1
. In addition, the gene
sul2
has also been detected. Both
sul1
and
sul2
code for sulfonamide-insensitive dihydropteroate synthases. A gene cassette harboring the β-lactamase gene
bla
OXA-2
was also identified, whereas β-lactam resistance in
B. bronchiseptica
seems to be more likely due to reduced influx in combination with the species-specific β-lactamase encoded by
bla
BOR-1
. The resistance genes were mostly located on conjugative plasmids.
Small RNAs Involved in Regulation of Nitrogen Metabolism
Authors: Prasse Daniela , Schmitz Ruth A.
Published: July 2018

Global (metabolic) regulatory networks allow microorganisms to survive periods of nitrogen starvation or general nutrient stress. Uptake and utilization of various nitrogen sources are thus commonly tightly regulated in
Prokarya
(
Bacteria
and
Archaea
) in response to available nitrogen sources. Those well-studied regulations occur mainly at the transcriptional and posttranslational level. Surprisingly, and in contrast to their involvement in most other stress responses, small RNAs (sRNAs) involved in the response to environmental nitrogen fluctuations are only rarely reported. In addition to sRNAs indirectly affecting nitrogen metabolism, only recently it was demonstrated that three sRNAs were directly involved in regulation of nitrogen metabolism in response to changes in available nitrogen sources. All three
trans
-acting sRNAs are under direct transcriptional control of global nitrogen regulators and affect expression of components of nitrogen metabolism (glutamine synthetase, nitrogenase, and PII-like proteins) by either masking the ribosome binding site and thus inhibiting translation initiation or stabilizing the respective target mRNAs. Most likely, there are many more sRNAs and other types of noncoding RNAs, e.g., riboswitches, involved in the regulation of nitrogen metabolism in
Prokarya
that remain to be uncovered. The present review summarizes the current knowledge on sRNAs involved in nitrogen metabolism and their biological functions and targets.
Recommendations for the selection and treatment of patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension for venous sinus stenting
Authors: Fargen Kyle M , Liu Kenneth , Garner Rebecca M , Greeneway Garret P , Wolfe Stacey Q , Crowley R Webster
Published: July 2018

Introduction

Although venous sinus stenting (VSS) has emerged as a promising treatment option for patients with idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) and associated venous sinus stenosis, there is considerable ambiguity regarding patient selection criteria, treatment protocols, and management strategies.

Methods

An extensive literature review was performed to identify all reports of VSS in patients with IIH using PubMed. Recommendations for the selection and treatment of patients with IIH with VSS are outlined as determined based on author opinion from supporting studies. Due to the lack of randomized trials and few published prospective studies, standard grading scales for recommendations and level of evidence are not fully applicable and therefore a revised grading scale has been provided for recommendations.

Results

The literature review identified a total of eight systematic reviews or meta-analyses and 29 published patient series on VSS. Recommendations for patient selection for diagnostic catheter angiography, angiography procedural considerations, stenting procedural considerations, and retreatment are provided based on the literature. Recommendations that were considered strong included: performance of venous sinus manometry to assess candidacy for treatment prior to stenting; administration of antiplatelet agents prior to stenting and for a follow-up period of at least 3–6 months; performance of post-stenting manometry to confirm resolution of pressure gradient; and performance of repeat angiography and manometry on patients with recurrence of symptoms after resolution with stenting to evaluate for recurrent stenosis.

Conclusion

VSS for patients with IIH with venous sinus stenosis is now an established and effective treatment option. These recommendations have been provided, based on a summative review of the available published literature, to assist in standardizing care for patients with IIH undergoing VSS.
Exposure to tobacco in video games and smoking among gamers in Argentina
Authors: Pérez Adriana , Thrasher James , Cabrera Noelia , Forsyth Susan , Peña Lorena , Sargent James D , Mejía Raúl
Published: July 2018

Background

Our objective was to assess whether exposure to tobacco in video games is associated with smoking among adolescent gamers from Argentina.

Methods

Cross-sectional data were analysed from students in public and private middle schools in Argentina. Tobacco content in video games was estimated using previously validated methods and adolescents’ tobacco exposure was assessed by multiplying tobacco content in the top three video games they play by the hours played per day. The primary outcome was current smoking. Multilevel logistic regression models adjusted for clustering within schools, regressing current smoking on tobacco exposure in video games (ie, none, low, high) after controlling for age, sex, parental education, parenting style, parental rules about the use of video games, rebelliousness, sensation seeking and ‘technophilia’.

Results

Of the 3114 students who participated, 92% of boys (1685/1802) and 56% of girls (737/1312) played video games and were included in the analytical sample. The prevalence of smoking was 13.8% among boys and 22.0% among girls; 74.5% of boys played video games more than 1 hour per day compared with 47.7% of girls. High exposure to tobacco content in video games compared with no exposure was independently associated with current smoking among girls (OR 1.78; 95% CI 1.02 to 3.09) but not among boys (OR 0.98; 95% CI 0.64 to 1.51).

Conclusions

Greater exposure to tobacco content in video games was associated with higher likelihood of smoking among Argentine girls who play video games, suggesting the need for policies that limit these exposures.
Electrocardiogram‐gated 16‐multidetector computed tomographic angiography of the coronary arteries in dogs
Authors: Auriemma Edoardo , Armienti Felice , Morabito Simona , Specchi Swan , Rondelli Vincenzo , Domenech Oriol , Guglielmini Carlo , Lacava Giuseppe , Zini Eric , Khouri Toufic
Published: July 2018

The aims of this study were to assess if ECG‐gated 16‐multidetector CT (MDCT) provides sufficient temporal and spatial resolution to evaluate canine coronary arteries and provide a detailed description of their anatomy. A total of 24 dogs were included. Images were reviewed to assess: (1) coronary artery opacification and dominance; (2) choice of optimal R‐R ECG reconstruction interval for both left coronary artery (LCA) and right coronary artery (RCA); (3) branching patterns of the left main coronary artery (LMCA); and (4) diameter and length of the LCA and RCA and classification of their branches by adapting a previously described segmental coding system. The degree of opacification of the coronary arteries was subjectively judged as excellent or good in five and 19 dogs, respectively. All hearts showed a left coronary dominance. The best R‐R reconstruction interval for both LCA and RCA arteries was 75 per cent. Seven different subtypes of LMCA branching patterns were noted. Therami circumflexusandinterventricularis paraconaliswere divided into three angiographic segments, and theramus septi interventricularisand the RCA in two and three segments, respectively. ECG‐gated 16‐MDCT coronary angiography provides adequate resolution to assist the basic anatomy of the main coronary artery branches.
Fully Electronically Tunable and Easily Cascadable Square/Triangular Wave Generator with Duty Cycle Adjustment
Authors: Chaturvedi Bhartendu , Kumar Atul
Published: July 2018

A novel multiple-output dual-X current conveyor transconductance amplifier with buffer-based square/triangular wave generator is introduced in the paper. The proposed generator provides square wave in current mode and triangular wave in voltage mode. Outputs as square and triangular waves are available from terminals with appropriate impedance levels thereby making the proposed generator circuit easily cascadable in both current and voltage modes. The oscillation frequency and amplitude of output square wave are electronically and independently controllable. One more interesting feature of the proposed generator circuit is the adjustable duty cycle. The proposed circuit of square/triangular wave generator is verified through the HSPICE simulation results carried using 0.18[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m CMOS technology. The simulation results show linear variation of duty cycle against external DC current over a range of 6.5–96%. The variation of square wave’s amplitude via bias current is found to be linear from 10[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]A to 80[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]A. Moreover, the proposed generator can operate very well up to 23.8[Formula: see text]MHz with nonlinearity less than 5%. The proposed generator circuit is also experimentally verified.
Self-normalized asymptotic properties for the parameter estimation in fractional Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process
Authors: Jiang Hui , Liu Junfeng , Wang Shaochen
Published: July 2018

In this paper, we consider the self-normalized asymptotic properties of the parameter estimators in the fractional Ornstein–Uhlenbeck process. The deviation inequalities, Cramér-type moderate deviations and Berry–Esseen bounds are obtained. The main methods include the deviation inequalities and moderate deviations for multiple Wiener–Itô integrals [P. Major, Tail behavior of multiple integrals and U-statistics, Probab. Surv. 2 (2005) 448–505; On a multivariate version of Bernsteins inequality, Electron. J. Probab. 12 (2007) 966–988; M. Schulte and C. Thäle, Cumulants on Wiener chaos: Moderate deviations and the fourth moment theorem, J. Funct. Anal. 270 (2016) 2223–2248], as well as the Delta methods in large deviations [F. Q. Gao and X. Q. Zhao, Delta method in large deviations and moderate deviations for estimators, Ann. Statist. 39 (2011) 1211–1240]. For applications, we propose two test statistics which can be used to construct confidence intervals and rejection regions in the hypothesis testing for the drift coefficient. It is shown that the Type II errors tend to be zero exponential when using the proposed test statistics.
Absolutely split metacyclic groups and weak metacirculants
Authors: Cui Li , Zhou Jin-Xin
Published: July 2018

Let [Formula: see text] be positive integers, and let [Formula: see text] be a split metacyclic group such that [Formula: see text]. We say that [Formula: see text] is absolutely split with respect to[Formula: see text] provided that for any [Formula: see text], if [Formula: see text], then there exists [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. In this paper, we give a sufficient and necessary condition for the group [Formula: see text] being absolutely split. This generalizes a result of Sanming Zhou and the second author in [Weak metacirculants of odd prime power order, J. Comb. Theory A 155 (2018) 225–243]. We also use this result to investigate the relationship between metacirculants and weak metacirculants.

Metacirculants were introduced by Alspach and Parsons in [Formula: see text] and have been a rich source of various topics since then. As a generalization of this class of graphs, Marušič and Šparl in 2008 introduced the so-called weak metacirculants. A graph is called a weak metacirculant if it has a vertex-transitive metacyclic automorphism group. In this paper, it is proved that a weak metacirculant of [Formula: see text]-power order is a metacirculant if and only if it has a vertex-transitive split metacyclic automorphism group. This provides a partial answer to an open question in the literature.
Not If, But How CEOs Affect Product Innovation: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda
Authors: Back Pascal , Bausch Andreas
Published: July 2018

While scholars have long emphasized the role of firms’ CEOs in shaping innovation outcomes, the question of underlying mechanisms remains widely unanswered. In light of this, we stress that the relationship between organizational aspects (e.g. resource allocation or culture) and product innovation should not mark the end of an intellectual quest. Instead, these enablers are also particularly contingent upon the corporate leaders. Based on 81 empirical studies, we reveal the impact of CEO characteristics (demographics, personality, and cognition) and leadership on firm-level variables that enable product innovation. Finally, we outline fruitful avenues for future research and provide managerial implications.
University Spin-Offs: A New Framework Integrating Enablers, Stakeholders and Results
Authors: Sheriff Michael , Muffatto Moreno
Published: July 2018

University spin-offs with patents (USOPs) are entrepreneurial ventures created by exploiting research results and inventions. USOPs are characterized with a high growth potential and are capable of attracting external investments. To explore the challenges apparent in the creation of USOPs, we reviewed the existing framework to identify key missing elements. Our study proposes a new framework that incorporates Key elements that enhance the creation of USOPs. The new framework focused on the interactions of elements such as national intellectual property regimes, national university assessments, the local entrepreneurship ecosystems where the universities are located, the entrepreneurial orientations and strategies of universities, and stakeholders as independent variables with USOPs as the dependent variable. There is therefore a need for a critical reflection on national and university policies and strategies to enhance the creation of USOPs.
Market Opportunity Analysis in Thailand: Case of Individual Power Sources by Thermoelectric-Generator Technology for Portable Electronics
Authors: Maolikul Surapree , Chavarnakul Thira , Kiatgamolchai Somchai
Published: July 2018

Thermoelectrics, an energy-conversion technology, has been developed for its potential to support portable electronics with an innovative power source. Primarily focusing on the metropolitan market in Thailand, the study, thus, aimed at the market insight into portable electronics users’ characteristics and opinions of thermoelectric-generator (TEG) technology commercialization. The business research was conducted to analyze their behaviors for power-supply lacking problems, encountering heat or cold sources, purchasing decision for a TEG-based charger and key decision factors. For practical applications, an innovative TEG-based charger should be more flexible by harnessing various heat or cold sources from ambient situations to generate electrical power.
Proof of a q-congruence conjectured by Tauraso
Authors: Guo Victor J. W.
Published: July 2018

Using a [Formula: see text]-series identity of Carlitz and a [Formula: see text]-analogue of Morley’s congruence due to Pan, we give a proof of a [Formula: see text]-congruence conjectured by Tauraso.
Computation of Euclidean minima in totally definite quaternion fields
Authors: Cerri Jean-Paul , Lezowski Pierre
Published: July 2018

We describe an algorithm that allows to compute the Euclidean minimum (for the norm form) of any order of a totally definite quaternion field over a number field [Formula: see text] of degree strictly greater than [Formula: see text]. Our approach is a generalization of the previous work dealing with number fields. The algorithm was practically implemented when [Formula: see text] has degree [Formula: see text].
Rubble Pile Asteroids
Authors: Walsh Kevin J.
Published: July 2018

The moniker rubble pile is typically applied to all Solar System bodies >200 m and <∼10 km in diameter; in this size range, there is an abundance of evidence that nearly every object is bound primarily by self-gravity, with significant void space or bulk porosity between irregularly shaped constituent particles. The understanding of this population is derived from wide-ranging population studies of derived shape and spin, decades of observational studies in numerous wavelengths, evidence left behind from impacts on planets and moons, and the in situ study of a few objects via spacecraft flyby or rendezvous. The internal structure, however, which is responsible for the name rubble pile, is never directly observed but belies a violent history. Many or most of the asteroids on near-Earth orbits and those most accessible for rendezvous and in situ study are likely by-products of the continued collisional evolution of the main asteroid belt.
Privacy Policy and Technology in Biomedical Data Science
Authors: Arellano April Moreno , Dai Wenrui , Wang Shuang , Jiang Xiaoqian , Ohno-Machado Lucila
Published: July 2018

Privacy is an important consideration when sharing clinical data, which often contain sensitive information. Adequate protection to safeguard patient privacy and to increase public trust in biomedical research is paramount. This review covers topics in policy and technology in the context of clinical data sharing. We review policy articles related to ( a) the Common Rule, HIPAA privacy and security rules, and governance; ( b) patients’ viewpoints and consent practices; and ( c) research ethics. We identify key features of the revised Common Rule and the most notable changes since its previous version. We address data governance for research in addition to the increasing emphasis on ethical and social implications. Research ethics topics include data sharing best practices, use of data from populations of low socioeconomic status (SES), recent updates to institutional review board (IRB) processes to protect human subjects’ data, and important concerns about the limitations of current policies to address data deidentification. In terms of technology, we focus on articles that have applicability in real world health care applications: deidentification methods that comply with HIPAA, data anonymization approaches to satisfy well-acknowledged issues in deidentified data, encryption methods to safeguard data analyses, and privacy-preserving predictive modeling. The first two technology topics are mostly relevant to methodologies that attempt to sanitize structured or unstructured data. The third topic includes analysis on encrypted data. The last topic includes various mechanisms to build statistical models without sharing raw data.
Regulation of Neuronal Differentiation, Function, and Plasticity by Alternative Splicing
Authors: Furlanis Elisabetta , Scheiffele Peter
Published: July 2018

Posttranscriptional mechanisms provide powerful means to expand the coding power of genomes. In nervous systems, alternative splicing has emerged as a fundamental mechanism not only for the diversification of protein isoforms but also for the spatiotemporal control of transcripts. Thus, alternative splicing programs play instructive roles in the development of neuronal cell type–specific properties, neuronal growth, self-recognition, synapse specification, and neuronal network function. Here we discuss the most recent genome-wide efforts on mapping RNA codes and RNA-binding proteins for neuronal alternative splicing regulation. We illustrate how alternative splicing shapes key steps of neuronal development, neuronal maturation, and synaptic properties. Finally, we highlight efforts to dissect the spatiotemporal dynamics of alternative splicing and their potential contribution to neuronal plasticity and the mature nervous system.
Caveolin-3 KO disrupts t-tubule structure and decreases t-tubularICadensity in mouse ventricular myocytes
Authors: Bryant Simon M. , Kong Cherrie H. T. , Watson Judy J. , Gadeberg Hanne C. , Roth David M. , Patel Hemal H. , Cannell Mark B. , James Andrew F. , Orchard Clive H.
Published: July 2018

Caveolin-3 (Cav-3) is a protein that has been implicated in t-tubule formation and function in cardiac ventricular myocytes. In cardiac hypertrophy and failure, Cav-3 expression decreases, t-tubule structure is disrupted, and excitation-contraction coupling is impaired. However, the extent to which the decrease in Cav-3 expression underlies these changes is unclear. We therefore investigated the structure and function of myocytes isolated from the hearts of Cav-3 knockout (KO) mice. These mice showed cardiac dilatation and decreased ejection fraction in vivo compared with wild-type control mice. Isolated KO myocytes showed cellular hypertrophy, altered t-tubule structure, and decreased L-type Ca2+channel current ( ICa) density. This decrease in density occurred predominantly in the t-tubules, with no change in total ICa, and was therefore a consequence of the increase in membrane area. Cav-3 KO had no effect on L-type Ca2+channel expression, and C3SD peptide, which mimics the scaffolding domain of Cav-3, had no effect on ICain KO myocytes. However, inhibition of PKA using H-89 decreased ICaat the surface and t-tubule membranes in both KO and wild-type myocytes. Cav-3 KO had no significant effect on Na+/Ca2+exchanger current or Ca2+release. These data suggest that Cav-3 KO causes cellular hypertrophy, thereby decreasing t-tubular ICadensity.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Caveolin-3 (Cav-3) is a protein that inhibits hypertrophic pathways, has been implicated in the formation and function of cardiac t-tubules, and shows decreased expression in heart failure. This study demonstrates that Cav-3 knockout mice show cardiac dysfunction in vivo, while isolated ventricular myocytes show cellular hypertrophy, changes in t-tubule structure, and decreased t-tubular L-type Ca2+current density, suggesting that decreased Cav-3 expression contributes to these changes in cardiac hypertrophy and failure.
Therapeutic Potential of Leelamine, a Novel Inhibitor of Androgen Receptor and Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Authors: Singh Krishna B. , Ji Xinhua , Singh Shivendra V.
Published: July 2018

Clinical management of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) resulting from androgen deprivation therapy remains challenging. CRPC is driven by aberrant activation of androgen receptor (AR) through mechanisms ranging from its amplification, mutation, post-translational modification, and expression of splice variants (e.g., AR-V7). Herein, we present experimental evidence for therapeutic vulnerability of CRPC to a novel phytochemical, leelamine (LLM), derived from pine tree bark. Exposure of human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP (an androgen-responsive cell line with mutant AR), C4-2B (an androgen-insensitive variant of LNCaP), and 22Rv1 (a CRPC cell line with expression of AR-Vs), and a murine prostate cancer cell line Myc-CaP to plasma achievable concentrations of LLM resulted in ligand-dependent (LNCaP) and ligand-independent (22Rv1) growth inhibition in vitro that was accompanied by downregulation of mRNA and/or protein levels of full-length AR as well as its splice variants, including AR-V7. LLM treatment resulted in apoptosis induction in the absence and presence of R1881. In silico modeling followed by luciferase reporter assay revealed a critical role for noncovalent interaction of LLM with Y739 in AR activity inhibition. Substitution of the amine group with an isothiocyanate functional moiety abolished AR and cell viability inhibition by LLM. Administration of LLM resulted in 22Rv1 xenograft growth suppression that was statistically insignificant but was associated with a significant decrease in Ki-67 expression, mitotic activity, expression of full-length AR and AR-V7 proteins, and secretion of PSA. This study identifies a novel chemical scaffold for the treatment of CRPC. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(10); 2079–90. ©2018 AACR.
ALKBH5 Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer Motility by Decreasing Long Non-Coding RNA KCNK15-AS1 Methylation
Authors: He Yuan , Hu Hao , Wang Yandong , Yuan Hao , Lu Zipeng , Wu Pengfei , Liu Dongfang , Tian Lei , Yin Jie , Jiang Kuirong , Miao Yi
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: Mounting evidence suggests that epitranscriptional modifications regulate multiple cellular processes. N6-Methyladenosine (m6A), the most abundant reversible methylation of mRNA, has critical roles in cancer pathogenesis. However, the mechanisms and functions of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) methylation remain unclear. Pancreatic cancer resulted in 411,600 deaths globally in 2015. By the time of pancreatic cancer diagnosis, metastasis has often occurred in other parts of the body. The present study sought to investigate lncRNA m6A modification and its roles in pancreatic cancer. Methods: Differential expression between cancer cells and matched normal cells was evaluated to identify candidate lncRNAs. The lncRNA KCNK15-AS1 was detected in cancer tissues and various pancreatic cells using RT-qPCR. KCNK15-AS1 was transfected into cells to explore its role in migration and invasion. Then, m6A RNA immunoprecipitation was performed to detect methylated KCNK15-AS1 in tissues and cells. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers were used to evaluate KCNK15-AS1-mediated EMT processes. Results: KCNK15-AS1 was downregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues compared with paired adjacent normal tissues. KCNK15-AS1 inhibited migration and invasion in MIA PaCa-2 and BxPC-3 cells. Furthermore, total RNA methylation in cancer cells was significantly enriched relative to that in immortalized human pancreatic duct epithelial (HPDE6-C7) cells. In addition, the m6A eraser ALKBH5 was downregulated in cancer cells, which can demethylate KCNK15-AS1 and regulate KCNK15-AS1-mediated cell motility. Conclusion: Our results have revealed a novel mechanism by which ALKBH5 inhibits pancreatic cancer motility by demethylating lncRNA KCNK15-AS1, identifying a potential therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.
Human β3-Adrenoreceptor is Resistant to Agonist-Induced Desensitization in Renal Epithelial Cells
Authors: Milano Serena , Gerbino Andrea , Schena Giorgia , Carmosino Monica , Svelto Maria , Procino Giuseppe
Published: July 2018

Background/Aims: We recently showed that the β3-adrenoreceptor (β3AR) is expressed in mouse kidney collecting ducts (CD) cells along with the type-2 vasopressin receptor (AVPR2). Interestingly, a single injection of a β3AR selective agonist promotes a potent antidiuretic effect in mice. Before considering the feasibility of chronic β3AR agonism to induce antidiuresis in vivo, we aimed to evaluate in vitro the signaling and desensitization profiles of human β3AR. Methods: Human β3AR desensitization was compared with that of human AVPR2 in cultured renal cells. Video imaging and FRET experiments were performed to dissect β3AR signaling under acute and chronic stimulation. Plasma membrane localization of β3AR, AVPR2 and AQP2 after agonist stimulation was studied by confocal microscopy. Receptors degradation was evaluated by Western blotting. Results: In renal cells acute stimulation with the selective β3AR agonist mirabegron, induced a dose-dependent increase in cAMP. Interestingly, chronic exposure to mirabegron promoted a significant increase of intracellular cAMP up to 12 hours. In addition, a slow and slight agonist-induced internalization and a delayed downregulation of β3AR was observed under chronic stimulation. Furthermore, chronic exposure to mirabegron promoted apical expression of AQP2 also up to 12 hours. Conversely, long-term stimulation of AVPR2 with dDAVP showed short-lasting receptor signaling, rapid internalization and downregulation and apical AQP2 expression for no longer than 3 h. Conclusions: Overall, we conclude that β3AR is less prone than AVPR2 to agonist-induced desensitization in renal collecting duct epithelial cells, showing sustained cAMP production, preserved membrane localization and delayed degradation after 12 hours agonist exposure. These results may be important for the potential use of chronic pharmacological stimulation of β3AR to promote antidiuresis overcoming in vivo renal concentrating defects caused by inactivating mutations of the AVPR2.
Оцінка ефективності лікування хронічного катарального гінгівіту в працівників птахофабрик за даними клінічних спостережень та параклінічних індексів
Authors: Pupin T. I. , Kardashevska O. I.
Published: July 2018

Summary. The research of periodontal diseases provides the basis for a generalized conclusion that the occurrence of pathological changes in the teeth-containing tissues occurs when the general state of the organism changes, due to the action of a number of endogenous and exogenous factors that determine the approaches to the treatment and prevention of these diseases. Despite the automation and mechanization of poultry farms, an increasing percentage of poultry workers are exposed to adverse productive factors, which lead to occupational diseases, in particular periodontal diseases.The aim of the study – to evaluate the effectiveness of the developed scheme of treatment of chronic catarrhal gingivitis in poultry factory workers according to clinical observations and paraclinical indices.Materials and Methods. To evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment of chronic catarrhal gingivitis (CCG), there were 39 employees of poultry farms, whо were divided into 2 equal groups: the main (20 persons), in which treatment was performed according to the scheme we developed and control (19 people), where patients were treated for according to the “Protocols of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine” the provision of medical care in the specialty “Therapeutic Dentistry”.Results and Discussion. In case of poultry factory workers, patients with CCG, 1 month after treatment, the index of PI in the main group was (0.45±0.03) points, the value of the index of PMA decreased by 2 times: (12.28±2.28) %, the value of the index OHI- S corresponded to satisfactory hygiene: (0.98±0.02) points. Six months after treatment, patients in the main group who tested for stabilization of the periodontal index of PI with a value of (0.45±0.04) points, a decrease in the PMA index to (11.79±2.23) and an OHI-S index of (1.08±0.01) score. In 12–18 months, the value of the index of PI in the main group was (0.63±0.23) points, the index PMA fell to (14.37±2.26) %. The condition of oral hygiene according to the OНI-S index in the main group was assessed as “satisfactory” with a value of (1.28±0.04) points.Conclusions. In the main group, the elimination of the inflammatory process in the gums was clinically observed at all stages, which was confirmed by a decrease in the periodontal indices PMA up to (11.79±2.23) %, PI up to (14.37±2.26) %, a decrease in the index of the hygiene index OHI-S to (1.08±0.01) points. Thus, the proposed therapeutic model allowed to increase the efficiency and reduce the duration of treatment of chronic catarrhal gingivitis in workers of poultry farms.
Risk adapted approaches to prophylaxis of thrombotic complications at gisterectomy
Authors: Kryvokulsky B. D. , Zhulkevich I. V.
Published: July 2018

Мета роботи: провести оцінку стану системи гемостазу, розробити індивідуальні підходи для визначення груп ризику та профілактику тромботичних ускладнень (ТУ) у хворих на рак ендометрія (РЕ) на доопераційному етапі. Оптимізувати хірургічну тактику при виявленні тромбів у судинах малого таза при гістеректомії.Матеріали і методи. При дослідженні використано загальноклінічні методи обстеження: лабораторні, ультразвукове дослідження, гістологічні методи; математичний, статистичний – для аналізу та узагальнення данних у пакеті Statgraph (v.3.0).Результати досліджень та їх обговорення. До операції рівень D-димеру у 58,50 % хворих перевищував норму, що свідчило про активацію системи зсідання крові та загрозу розвитку ТУ, що було підтверджено у 5,4 % хворих, завдяки проведеню еластографії судин малого таза. До операції спостерігали збільшення рівня D-димеру у 86 (58,50 %) хворих, при операційному втручанні у 109 хворих (74,15 %).Під час гістеректомії проведено ревізію кукс судин малого таза на наявність тромбів. У 11,56 % хворих при ревізії кукс судин малого таза виявлені тромботичні маси за лінійним розміром були від 0,3 до 5,4 см, що підтверджено гістологічним дослідженням. У 17 пaцієнток під час проведення тромбектомії було виділено 19 тромбів.Створено математичну модель для рівняння множинної регресії, яка може бути використана для прогнозу наявності (відсутності) тромбів у венах малого таза.Розроблено алгоритм оптимізації діагностичної та хірургічної тактики у хворих РЕ з врахуванням ризику можливих ТУ, який дозволяє оптимізувати діагностичну і хірургічну тактику, що сприяє активному виявленню тромбів у хворих із РЕ.
Mortalidade hospitalar em pacientes idosos no Sistema Único de Saúde, região Sudeste
Authors: Cordeiro Paula , Martins Mônica
Published: July 2018

OBJETIVO: Avaliar fatores associados ao óbito hospitalar em idosos internados por doenças do aparelho circulatório específicas no Sistema Único de Saúde, considerando a mortalidade hospitalar ajustada como indicador de efetividade. MÉTODOS: As informações foram extraídas do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares. Foram selecionadas 385.784 internações de idosos por doenças hipertensivas, doença isquêmica do coração, insuficiência cardíaca congestiva e doenças cerebrovasculares, na região Sudeste entre 2011 e 2012. Idade, sexo, admissão de emergência, diagnóstico principal e dois índices de comorbidade foram incluídos na regressão logística para o ajuste do risco de óbito. As análises foram desenvolvidas em dois níveis: internação e hospital. RESULTADOS: Observou-se maior chance de morrer nas idades mais avançadas, nas internações de urgência, por doenças cerebrovasculares, com registro de comorbidade, especialmente pneumonia e perda de peso, nas internações para cuidado clínico e com uso de unidades de terapia intensiva. A taxa de mortalidade hospitalar ajustada foi 11,1% nos hospitais privados, 12,3% nos filantrópicos e 14,4% nos públicos, mas houve grande variabilidade entre hospitais. A razão de mortalidade hospitalar ajustada (razão entre óbitos observados e preditos) variou entre 103,3% nos hospitais filantrópicos e 118,2% nos hospitais privados. CONCLUSÕES: Embora haja insuficiências na fonte de informação, a capacidade de discriminação do modelo de ajuste de risco mostrou-se razoável. A variabilidade na mortalidade hospitalar ajustada foi ampla e comparativamente maior nos hospitais privados. Apesar dos limites, os resultados favorecem o uso da mortalidade hospitalar ajustada por risco no monitoramento da qualidade do cuidado hospitalar prestado ao idoso.
Idosos com câncer no município de São Paulo: quais fatores determinam o local do óbito?
Authors: Leite Adna Kelly Ferreira , Ribeiro Karina Braga
Published: July 2018

OBJETIVO: Investigar os fatores associados ao óbito domiciliar entre idosos que morreram por câncer em uma cidade de grande porte. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo, incluindo todos os óbitos por câncer (CID C00-C97) ocorridos entre 2006 e 2012, entre residentes do município de São Paulo com 60 anos de idade ou mais. A fonte de dados foi o Sistema de Informações de Mortalidade e a proporção de óbitos foi estimada segundo local, sexo, faixa etária, raça/cor, escolaridade, estado civil, tipo de câncer, disponibilidade de leitos hospitalares e ano do óbito. O teste qui-quadrado foi utilizado para investigar as associações entre o local do óbito e as variáveis sociodemográficas e clínicas. A regressão logística foi empregada para identificar fatores associados à morte domiciliar. Foram estimadas as razões de chance brutas e ajustadas e os intervalos de confiança de 95%. RESULTADOS: A maioria dos óbitos ocorreu em hospitais (88,2%). Houve associação significativa entre o local de óbito e as seguintes variáveis: sexo, raça/cor, escolaridade, faixa etária, estado civil, tipo de câncer, disponibilidade de leitos hospitalares e ano do óbito. Na análise multivariada, todas as variáveis, exceto a disponibilidade de leitos hospitalares, permaneceram como preditores independentes de óbito domiciliar. CONCLUSÕES: Houve predomínio de óbitos hospitalares, com aumento na frequência no período. O sexo feminino, maior escolaridade, o status de casado ou viúvo e a raça negra foram associados à menor chance de óbito domiciliar, enquanto o aumento da idade, a raça/cor amarela e as neoplasias sólidas estiveram associados à maior chance de morrer em casa.
Doença renal crônica: suscetibilidade em uma amostra representativa de base populacional
Authors: Vanelli Chislene Pereira , Paula Rogério Baumgratz de , Costa Mônica Barros , Bastos Marcus Gomes , Miranda Layla de Souza Pires , Colugnati Fernando Antonio Basile
Published: July 2018

A doença renal crônica apresenta elevada morbimortalidade. Com o objetivo de rastrear a doença, realizou-se estudo de base populacional em cidade de porte médio do sudeste brasileiro. Com base no instrumento SCreening for Occult REnal Disease (SCORED) foram avaliados 1.016 indivíduos com média de idade 44 (DP = 13,2) anos. Hipertensão arterial e diabetes mellitus, principais causas de doença renal crônica, foram relatados por 34,7% e 10,5%, respectivamente. Além disso, 31,3% da amostra apresentou risco aumentado para a doença, levando a uma estimativa de prevalência de 5,4%. Um método simples para rastreio permitiu a detecção precoce de população de risco para doença renal crônica.
QTc Interval and Risk of Cardiac Events in Adults With Anorexia Nervosa
Authors: Frederiksen Tanja Charlotte , Krogh Christiansen Morten , Charmoth Østergaard Pernille , Hove Thomsen Per , Graff Claus , Clausen Loa , Kjærulf Jensen Henrik
Published: July 2018

Background:

The literature contains several cases of anorexia nervosa (AN) patients with prolonged QTc interval. However, the risk of prolonged QTc interval is controversial and the risk of cardiac events in AN patients has yet to be investigated.

Methods:

We estimated the difference in mean QTc interval and relative risk of borderline prolonged QTc (>440 ms) and prolonged QTc (>460 ms) between 430 adult women AN patients and 123 healthy controls using 3 correction formulas. In a follow-up study, we estimated the risk of a primary end point (a composite of ventricular tachycardia, aborted cardiac arrest, and cardiac arrest) in AN patients compared with a population-based cohort derived from the Danish Civil Register.

Results:

Mean QTc for AN patients was 408 ms (Hodges), 402 ms (Fridericia), and 399 ms (Bazett). Hodges’ found a slightly increased mean QTc (6.8 ms, 95% confidence interval, 1.6–12.0;
P
=0.01) and percentage with QTc >440 ms in AN patients (relative risk, 3.7, 95% confidence interval, 1.4–10.3;
P
=0.01), not observed with Fridericia’s and Bazett’s formulas. There was no difference in the risk of QTc >460 ms between AN patients and healthy controls. During a median follow-up of 10.1 years, AN patients had an increased risk of the primary end point compared with the population-based cohort (hazard ratio, 10.4, 95% confidence interval, 2.6–41.6;
P
=0.001). However, absolute numbers were small with cumulative incidences of 0.5% and 0.07%, respectively, after 10 years. No events occurred in any AN patient with QTc >440 ms. All-cause mortality was also significantly increased in AN patients compared with the population-based cohort (hazard ratio, 11.2, 95% confidence interval, 5.1–24.5;
P
<0.001).

Conclusions:

Overall, there was no difference in mean QTc interval or risk of prolonged QTc between AN patients and healthy controls. However, AN patients had a notably increased all-cause mortality, as well as an increased risk of cardiac events, which was not related to the baseline QTc interval.
Making the Most of School Vacation: A Field Experiment of Small Group Math Instruction
Authors: Schueler Beth E.
Published: July 2018

Catching students up who have fallen behind academically is a key challenge for educators, and can be difficult to do in a cost-effective manner. This field experiment examines the causal effect of a program designed to provide struggling sixth and seventh graders with math instruction delivered in small groups of roughly ten students by select teachers over weeklong vacation breaks. The program was implemented in a set of low-performing Massachusetts middle schools undergoing turnaround reforms. Attendance at these “Vacation Academies” increased the probability that students scored proficient or higher on Common Core–aligned math exams by 10 percentage points and reduced students’ exposure to exclusionary discipline by decreasing out-of-school suspensions post-Academy. I find suggestive evidence of positive spillover effects on English Language Arts achievement and end-of-course grades in math and reading. Participants assigned to a single primary teacher for the entire week saw larger reductions in out-of-school suspensions than did students who rotated through teachers specializing in particular lessons. However, teacher specialization was associated with greater test score gains, suggesting a trade-off in outcomes depending on program design. Overall, the program's low cost and lack of a highly competitive teacher selection process make it a scalable approach to individualizing instruction.
Does Broad-Based Merit Aid Improve College Completion? Evidence from New Mexico's Lottery Scholarship
Authors: Erwin Christopher , Binder Melissa
Published: July 2018

We use the natural experiment of a state lottery scholarship to measure the effect of generous financial aid on graduation rates at New Mexico's flagship public university. During the study period, the scholarship program paid full tuition for eight semesters for any state resident earning a 2.5 grade point average in their first semester at any public two-year or four-year college. We find a significant positive completion effect of 10 percentage points (17.9 percent) for academically well-prepared students that is offset by a large negative effect of 11.6 percentage points (38.8 percent) for less-prepared students. We posit that the scholarship program, which effectively erased the difference in tuition at two- and four-year colleges, may have induced weaker students to take their chances on a more prestigious, yet riskier, academic path.
Ottelia guanyangensis (Hydrocharitaceae), a new species from southwestern China
Authors: LI ZHI-ZHONG , LIAO KUO , ZOU CHUN-YU , LIU YAN , HU GUANG-WAN , WANG QING-FENG , CHEN JIN-MING
Published: July 2018

Ottelia guanyangensis (Hydrocharitaceae), a new species from southwestern China, is described and illustrated. This aquatic plant is a perennial, submersed herb with bisexual flowers and a hexagonal-cylindric fruit. It is related to O. acuminata var. songmingensis and O. balansae but differs from these two taxa by its bisexual flowers, spathe with 2–5 flowers, trinerved leaf with obvious cross veins, and a winged, hexagonal-cylindric fruit. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on nuclear DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences and three chloroplast DNA sequences (rbcL, trnK5’ intron and trnS-trnG) resolves O. guanyangensis as a distinct clade, which further justifies its recognition as a new species.
Multisite Generalization of the SHArP Weather Generator
Authors: Smith Kimberly , Strong Courtenay , Rassoul-Agha Firas
Published: July 2018

Generalization of point-scale stochastic weather generators to simultaneously produce output at multiple sites provides more powerful support for hydrology and climate change impact studies. Generalization preserves the statistical properties of each individual site while maintaining proper spatial correlation over the domain. Here, generalization of the daily precipitation and temperature components of the stochastic harmonic autoregressive parametric (SHArP) weather generator is presented. The generalization process for temperature involves conversion of vector time series to matrix time series that capture between-site covariances of maximum and minimum daily temperature. Between-site temperature covariances depend on spatial precipitation-occurrence patterns (POPs), of which there are up to 2M for M sites. To dramatically reduce the number of covariance matrices that drive temperature, multisite SHArP uses empirical orthogonal function analysis to categorize the POPs and harmonic smoothing to reduce the number of parameters describing the temporal evolution (annual cycle) of the elements in the covariance matrices. By modeling precipitation-regime-specific residuals, the model is shown to capture statistically significant spatial and temporal contrasts in observed temperature covariance. For precipitation simulation, we extend existing techniques by adding a trend term to the occurrence and amount parameters. Multisite generalization of the framework is illustrated by simulating stochastic historical and future temperature and precipitation across complex terrain over northern Utah on the basis of historical station observations and historical and future statistically downscaled climate model output.
Ethics, politics and feminist organizing: Writing feminist infrapolitics and affective solidarity into everyday sexism
Authors: Vachhani Sheena J , Pullen Alison
Published: July 2018

This article critically examines a 21st century online, social movement, the Everyday Sexism Project (referred to as the ESP), to analyse resistance against sexism that is systemic, entrenched and institutionalized in society, including organizations. Our motivating questions are: what new forms of feminist organizing are developing to resist sexism and what are the implications of thinking ethico-politically about feminist resistance that has the goals of social justice, equality and fairness? Reading the ESP in this way leads to a conceptualization of how infrapolitical feminist resistance emerges at grassroots level and between individuals in the form of affective solidarity, which become necessary in challenging neoliberal threats to women’s opportunity and equality. Our contribution conceptualizes affective solidarity as central to this feminist resistance against sexism and involves two modes of feminist organizing: the politics of experience and empathy. By addressing the ethical and political demands of solidarity we can build resurgent, politically vibrant feminist organizing and resistance that mobilizes feminist consciousness and builds momentum for change. Our conclusion is that an ethico-politics of feminist resistance moves away from individualizing experiences of sexism towards collective resistance and organizes solidarity, experience and empathy that may combat ignorance and violence towards women.