bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ewing Sarcoma in Older Adults: A Clinicopathologic Study of 50 Cases Occurring in Patients Aged ≥40 Years, With Emphasis on Histologic Mimics
Authors: Jahanseir Khadijeh , Folpe Andrew L. , Graham Rondell P. , Giannini Caterina , Robinson Steven I. , Sukov William , Fritchie Karen
Published: December 2019

Objective. We explore the clinicopathologic features of Ewing sarcoma (ES) presenting in older adulthood. Methods. Cases of molecularly confirmed ES arising in patients aged ≥40 years were evaluated. Results. Fifty patients were identified (33 males/17 females; 41-86 years). The majority of tumors (41) arose at extraskeletal sites, while 9 were bone primaries. Twenty-eight cases showed nested architecture, while the remaining cases showed sheet-like growth. Tumor cytology was categorized as conventional (n = 39), crushed (n = 5), clear cell (n = 4), rhabdoid (n = 3), and epithelioid (n = 2). Fifty percent had necrosis, while rosettes were noted in 1 case. Immunostains performed ranged from 1 to 28 (median = 10). Follow-up (n = 43, 1-147 months) revealed 15 patients with metastasis. Conclusion. Although rare, ES should be considered in the differential diagnosis for round cell malignancies in older adult patients. In this cohort, ES is most often extraskeletal, and may show unusual morphologic features, closely simulating more common neoplasms in this age group.
The feasibility of outpatient conversion and revision hip arthroplasty in selected patients
Authors: Crawford David A , Lombardi Adolph V , Berend Keith R , Morris Michael J , Adams Joanne B
Published: December 2019

Background:

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) continues moving to the outpatient arena, and may be feasible for some conversion and revision scenarios. Controversy surrounds appropriate patient selection. The purpose of this study is to report complications associated with outpatient revision and conversion THA, and to determine if comorbidities are associated with complications or overnight stay.

Methods:

From June 2013 through August 2018, 46 patients (47 hips) underwent conversion ( n = 10) or revision ( n = 37) THA at a free-standing ambulatory surgery centre. This represented only 6.3% of revision THA cases at our institution during the study period that were selected for outpatient surgery. Mean patient age was 58.0 years, and 52% of patients were males. 1 or more major comorbidities were present in 15 patients (32%) including 1 valvular disease, 7 arrhythmia, 2 thromboembolism history, 3 obstructive sleep apnoea, 3 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 2 asthma, 4 frequent urination, and 1 renal disease.

Results:

44 (94%) patients were discharged same day without incident, none required transfer to acute facility, and 3 stayed overnight (2 convenience, 1 for medical reasons - urinary retention). The patient kept overnight for medical reasons had no major comorbidities. 3 patients were placed on an extended course of antibiotics, including 2 with positive intraoperative cultures and 1 for cellulitis. There were no major complications, readmissions, or subsequent surgeries within 90 days.

Conclusions:

Outpatient revision hip arthroplasty is safe in selected patients undergoing minor or partial revisions. Presence of medical comorbidities was not associated with risk of complications. Medical optimisation and a multimodal programme to mitigate risk of blood loss and reduce narcotic need facilitate the safe performance of arthroplasty in an outpatient setting.
‘The devil is in the level’: understanding inequality in Australia’s Film, TV and Radio industries
Authors: Luckman Susan , Anderson Heather , Sinha Ruchi , Rentschler Ruth , Chalklen Charlotte
Published: December 2019

This article applies a quantitative analysis of gender diversity variables to custom data sets of 2011 and 2016 Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data for Film, TV and Radio employment. Prima facie, employment figures across a whole sector or employment segment can appear to be broadly representative of the Australian population, but looking more closely, it becomes apparent that the ‘devil is in the level’. Although there is often parity at the macro level, drilling down into specific roles and their differential levels of seniority and power reveals inequalities between those in key and more secure gatekeeping positions and those further down the organisational hierarchy. Focusing on gender, this article will argue that the lack of diversity at senior levels of employment is a key contributing factor to lack of diversity within cultural and creative industries, reinforcing power imbalances and social and economic inequity.
Why and how higher media concentration equals lower news diversity – The Mediahuis case
Authors: Hendrickx Jonathan , Ranaivoson Heritiana
Published: December 2019

This article critically assesses the effects of media mergers on news diversity at Mediahuis, one of the leading players in the media market of the Belgian region of Flanders. The founding of Mediahuis (in 2013) has led to an extremely concentrated Flemish newspaper market, as it owns and publishes four of the seven daily newspapers. We conducted ethnographic research inside the newsroom of Het Nieuwsblad, Mediahuis’ biggest newspaper, and assess the editorial independence, the changes journalists face on a daily basis due to ongoing digitalization, changing roles and values both within and beyond journalism, and the effect of the merger on the media management of what is now Mediahuis. We also performed an in-depth news diversity study in which we analysed over 3000 newspaper articles appearing in 2013 and 2018 in the four papers. Using this mixed method approach of combining ethnographic research and content analyses, the global results of this study reveal that while the editorial independence has been fairly well maintained, there has been a drastic increase in the number of articles being recycled across newspapers. Overall, over half of all articles produced for four of the seven Flemish newspapers are recycled in at least two of the four Mediahuis newspapers on a daily basis, with an increase from 36 to 51 per cent between 2013 and 2018. This practice has been facilitated by lowering the total number of working journalists, and sharing a content management system which facilitates copy-pasting articles across newspapers and websites.
Policing Normalcy: Men of Color Speak Back at a Ridiculously White Institution
Authors: Gershon Walter S.
Published: December 2019

This article serves as supplemental information for a performative presentation of what the author calls sound arts–based research (SABR) and how it can function as sounded scholarship and sound art for social justice in education. Utilizing a combination of sound and text, this article documents everyday experiences of policing for young men of color at a Ridiculously White Institution (RWI). Focusing on processes of intention, attention, expression, and reception, this article also seeks to more clearly parse the often subtle, nuanced ethical differences between more artistic sound-making and (qualitative) sounded scholarship.
Angelica polysaccharide ameliorates memory impairment in Alzheimer’s disease rat through activating BDNF/TrkB/CREB pathway
Authors: Du Qian , Zhu Xiaoyu , Si Jieru
Published: December 2019

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Angelica sinensis polysaccharides (ASP) on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and its underlying mechanisms. In our study, we build the AD model by injecting Aβ25–35. Morris water maze (MWM) was applied to investigate learning and memory. Moreover, neurotransmitters, free radical, and inflammatory factors were also measured. Pathological change and neuronal death in hippocampus CA1, CA3, and DG region were detected by HE staining and Nissl staining. The neuronal apoptosis was detected by TUNEL. The expressions of caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Bax were measured by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. The expressions of BDNF, TrkB, p-Akt, Akt, p-CREB, and CREB were measured by Western blot. Our results showed that ASP could ameliorate spatial learning and memory deficiency in AD rats. ASP decreased AchE level and increased the levels of Ach and chAT in AD rats. ASP could increase the activity of SOD and CAT, decrease MDA activity, and inhibit the expression levels of inflammatory factors and neurons apoptosis in AD rats. Pathological change of hippocampus CA1, CA3, and DG region was ameliorated by ASP. In addition, the effects of ASP were reversed by K252a (TrkB inhibitor). Our study demonstrated that ASP could ameliorate memory impairment in AD rat through activating BDNF/TrkB/CREB pathway.

Impact statement

The present study demonstrated that ASP could ameliorate memory impairment through regulation of the balance of neurotransmitters, free radical metabolism, inflammation, and neurons apoptosis. Moreover, the mechanism of ASP on memory impairment may be related to BDNF/TrkB/CREB pathway in AD. Our research provides an innovatively regulatory mechanism about the ASP in AD rat and points a new way to the treatment of AD.
Multiarm, multistage randomized controlled trials with stopping boundaries for efficacy and lack of benefit: An update to nstage
Authors: Blenkinsop Alexandra , Choodari-Oskooei Babak
Published: December 2019

Royston et al.’s (2011, Trials 12: 81) multiarm, multistage (MAMS) framework for the design of randomized clinical trials uses intermediate outcomes to drop research arms early for lack of benefit at interim stages, increasing efficiency in multiarm designs. However, additionally permitting interim evaluation of efficacy on the primary outcome measure could increase adoption of the design and result in practical benefits, such as savings in patient numbers and cost, should any efficacious arm be identified early. The nstage command, which aids the design of MAMS trial designs, has been updated to support this methodological extension. Operating characteristics can now be calculated for a design with binding or nonbinding stopping rules for lack of benefit and with efficacy stopping boundaries. An additional option searches for a design that strongly controls the familywise error rate at the desired level. We illustrate how the new features can be used to design a trial with the drop-down menu, using the original comparisons from the MAMS trial STAMPEDE as an example. The new functionality of the command will serve a broader range of trial objectives and increase efficiency of the design and thus increase uptake of the MAMS design in practice.
Permutation tests for stepped-wedge cluster-randomized trials
Authors: Thompson Jennifer , Davey Calum , Hayes Richard , Hargreaves James , Fielding Katherine
Published: December 2019

Permutation tests are useful in stepped-wedge trials to provide robust statistical tests of intervention-effect estimates. However, the permute command does not produce valid tests in this setting because individual observations are not exchangeable. We introduce the swpermute command, which permutes clusters to sequences to maintain exchangeability. The command provides additional functionality for performing analyses of stepped-wedge trials. In particular, we include the withinperiod option, which performs the specified analysis separately in each period of the study with the resulting period-specific intervention-effect estimates combined as a weighted average. We also include functionality to test nonzero null hypotheses to aid in the construction of confidence intervals. Examples of the application of swpermute are given using data from a trial testing the impact of a new tuberculosis diagnostic test on bacterial confirmation of a tuberculosis diagnosis.
Vector autoregressive-based Granger causality test in the presence of instabilities
Authors: Rossi Barbara , Wang Yiru
Published: December 2019

In this article, we review Granger causality tests that are robust to the presence of instabilities in a vector autoregressive framework. We also introduce the gcrobustvar command, which illustrates the procedure in Stata. In the presence of instabilities, the Granger causality robust test is more powerful than the traditional Granger causality test.
Speaking Stata: Some simple devices to ease the spaghetti problem
Authors: Cox Nicholas J.
Published: December 2019

The spaghetti problem arises in graphics when multiple time series or other functional traces show mostly a tangled mess. Devices to improve on graphical defaults include transformed scales (especially logarithmic scales); trying to increase the graph area showing the data (especially by losing the legend whenever possible); different colors sometimes; subdividing data into a few groups; subtraction to focus on residuals or smoothing to reduce noise; selection or sampling of what is shown or emphasized; and stacking series vertically.
Multistage identification method for real-time abnormal events of streaming data
Authors: Luo Hao , Sun Kexin , Wang Junlu , Liu Chengfeng , Ding Linlin , Song Baoyan
Published: December 2019

With the development of streaming data processing technology, real-time event monitoring and querying has become a hot issue in this field. In this article, an investigation based on coal mine disaster events is carried out, and a new anti-aliasing model for abnormal events is proposed, as well as a multistage identification method. Coal mine micro-seismic signal is of great importance in the investigation of vibration characteristic, attenuation law, and disaster assessment of coal mine disasters. However, as affected by factors like geological structure and energy losses, the micro-seismic signals of the same kind of disasters may produce data drift in the time domain transmission, such as weak or enhanced signals, which affects the accuracy of the identification of abnormal events (“the coal mine disaster events”). The current mine disaster event monitoring method is a lagged identification, which is based on monitoring a series of sensors with a 10-s-long data waveform as the monitoring unit. The identification method proposed in this article first takes advantages of the dynamic time warping algorithm, which is widely applied in the field of audio recognition, to build an anti-aliasing model and identifies whether the perceived data are disaster signal based on the similarity fitting between them and the template waveform of historical disaster data, and second, since the real-time monitoring data are continuous streaming data, it is necessary to identify the start point of the disaster waveform before the identification of the disaster signal. Therefore, this article proposes a strategy based on a variable sliding window to align two waveforms, locating the start point of perceptual disaster wave and template wave by gradually sliding the perceptual window, which can guarantee the accuracy of the matching. Finally, this article proposes a multistage identification mechanism based on the sliding window matching strategy and the characteristics of the waveforms of coal mine disasters, adjusting the early warning level according to the identification extent of the disaster signal, which increases the early warning level gradually with the successful result of the matching of 1/ N size of the template, and the piecewise aggregate approximation method is used to optimize the calculation process. Experimental results show that the method proposed in this article is more accurate and be used in real time.
Physical Activity and Fitness in White- and Blue-Collar Retired Men
Authors: Pieczyńska Anna , Zasadzka Ewa , Trzmiel Tomasz , Pawlaczyk Mariola
Published: December 2019

The average life expectancy has increased and despite a distinct feminization of aging, the number of older males continues to grow. Physical activity has a positive effect on health and helps to slow down the negative consequences of aging. The aim of the study was to evaluate possible relationships between physical fitness, physical activity and type of work during occupational activity among retired men (aged ≥65 years), no longer professionally active. The study included 104 men (aged from 65 to 90 years), further stratified into blue- and white-collar groups (66 and 38 subjects, respectively). The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) was used to assess their physical activity levels. Physical performance was assessed using the Short Physical Performance Battery test (SPPB) and handgrip strength (HGS) measurement. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) was used to identify the risk for depression. Mean physical activity in the study population was moderate in almost 70%, high in 19% and low in 11% of the subjects. Men with high physical activity levels had better SPPB and GDS scores ( p = .01 and p = .001, respectively). In the blue-collar group, the IPAQ scores were lower than in the white-collar group, although the differences were statistically insignificant. The SPPB scores and mean HGS for the dominant hand were similar in both groups. Occupational physical activity should not substitute other forms of physical activity. Regardless of the type of work performed before retirement, the men obtained similar results in terms of their physical activity.
The Meaning of Living for Men Suffering From Primary Hyperhidrosis
Authors: Shayesteh Alexander , Brulin Christine , Nylander Elisabet
Published: December 2019

Primary hyperhidrosis means excessive focal sweating and it has a negative effect on the mental health of those affected. Although there is no gender difference regarding the prevalence of the disease, men are less likely to seek help for this condition. The aim of this study was to explore the meaning of living with primary hyperhidrosis in men. Interviews with 15 men, selected by purposive sampling, were performed at Umeå University Hospital in Sweden between June 2016 and October 2017, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis technique according to Graneheim and Lundman (2004). This study found one theme, namely, to be captured in a filthy body, based on the categories: surrender to the condition reluctantly; prepare for a sweat attack; withdraw from close contacts; and worry about others’ perceptions. The theme describes men living with hyperhidrosis feeling filthy while they struggle to control or hide the excessive sweating. Insufficient understanding from others and being reminded from the sweating is stressful and results in a sense of captivity. Interpreting the result, we conclude that the disease could stigmatize the individual, which has a negative effect on mental health and the will to seek help. Meanwhile, providing information about the disease early, as in schools, could increase the willingness of men to seek medical help. The results of this study also reinforce quantitative studies reporting the negative effects of primary hyperhidrosis on mental health.
Tensile and bending behavior of thin-walled triaxial weave fabric composites
Authors: Zhou Xiaotao , Ma Xiaofei , Fan Yesen , Li Huanxiao
Published: December 2019

The laminate model of thin-walled triaxial weave fabric composites (hereinafter referred to as shell-membrane structure) to calculate the equivalent tensile Young’s modulus and bending stiffness is derived. Three-dimensional beam element finite element model of shell-membrane structure under different loading angles is established, and the tensile and bending properties of shell-membrane structure were simulated, respectively. Both results of laminate model and three-dimensional beam element finite element model verify the “size effect,” indicating that the shell-membrane structure can be equivalent to linear material in the small deformation range. And the shell-membrane structure exhibits an in-plane quasi-isotropic property. These two methods are convenient for the mechanical properties solving in engineering applications.
Study on strong spinning preparation method and mechanism of the industrial pure titanium ultrafine crystallization
Authors: Yang Yu , Jia Yanyan
Published: December 2019

Ultrafine crystallization of industrial pure titanium allowed for higher tensile strength, corrosion resistance, and thermal stability and is therefore widely used in medical instrumentation, aerospace, and passenger vehicle manufacturing. However, the ultrafine crystallizing batch preparation of tubular industrial pure titanium is limited by the development of the spinning process and has remained at the theoretical research stage. In this article, the tubular TA2 industrial pure titanium was taken as the research object, and the ultrafine crystal forming process based on “5-pass strong spin-heat treatment-3 pass-spreading-heat treatment” was proposed. Based on the spinning process test, the ultimate thinning rate of the method is explored and the evolution of the surface microstructure was analyzed by metallographic microscope. The research suggests that the multi-pass, medium–small, and thinning amount of spinning causes the grain structure to be elongated in the axial and tangential directions, and then refined, and the axial fiber uniformity is improved. The research results have certain scientific significance for reducing the consumption of high-performance metals improving material utilization and performance, which also promote the development of ultrafine-grain metals’ preparation technology.
The Epidemiology of Operative Pediatric Hand Trauma: A Retrospective Chart Review
Authors: Koshy John C. , Grome Luke J. , Schultz Kelly , Bell Bryce , Reece Edward , Pederson William C.
Published: December 2019

Background: Hand injuries are common in the pediatric population with a wide spectrum of morbidity that can occur. Simple injuries are distinguished from complex injuries by the number of fingers/systems that are involved. The epidemiology of simple and complex operative hand trauma in the pediatric population has not yet been defined. Methods: A retrospective review was performed of all pediatric patients requiring operative intervention for hand trauma at a major children’s hospital over a 3-year period (2015-2017). Data pertaining to demographics, mechanism, severity, type of surgery, and other factors related to hand trauma were then analyzed and interpreted. Results: Three hundred seventy-one pediatric hand injuries over a 3-year period required surgical intervention, with 19.2% being classified as complex. The average patient age was 11.0 years. A total of 68.7% of patients were men. Bony injuries made up 86.3% of simple injuries, with the proximal phalanx being the most commonly fractured bone. Complex injuries occurred more frequently in men and required a greater number of surgeries (1.6 vs 1.0). Of the complex injuries, only major injuries (severity score >100) required a significantly greater number of surgeries. Major hand injuries were mostly caused by motorized vehicles and required a significantly greater number of surgeries (3.8), compared with other causes of injuries. Conclusions: Operative hand injuries occur along a spectrum of morbidity in the pediatric population. While most of the injuries are simple and require only 1 procedure, more complex injuries can also occur and deserve a higher level of care and attention.
Health-related quality of life and readmission of patients with cardiovascular disease in South Korea
Authors: Kim Hyun Su , Kim Yoonjung , Kwon Haejin
Published: December 2019

Aims:

The purpose of this study was to investigate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with cardiovascular disease and its relationship to hospital readmission.

Methods:

The cross-sectional study used data from 1037 adults aged ⩾19 years diagnosed with myocardial infarction or angina pectoris. Raw data were obtained from the fourth to sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007–2014).

Results:

Readmission was found to be associated with age, living status, education level, unemployment, individual income level, stroke, osteoarthritis, diabetes, depression, low stress level, walking days per week, and activity limitations due to cardiovascular disease.

Conclusion:

In summary, readmission was related to HRQOL among patients with myocardial infarction. Interventions that consider efforts to reduce readmission through improved diagnosis and development of systematic management of cardiovascular disease symptoms are required.
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors and Antioxidants From the Root of Gluta usitata
Authors: Kumboonma Pakit , Saenglee Somprasong , Senawong Thanaset , Phaosiri Chanokbhorn
Published: December 2019

A new glycoside, glutacoside (1), as well as 6 known compounds was isolated and identified from the root of Gluta usitata. Their structures were determined by Infrared spectroscopy, Mass spectroscopy, and 1-Dimensional and 2-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy data. The histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitory and antioxidant activities of the obtained compounds were evaluated. Molecular docking experiments of the selected compound with representatives of class I (HDAC2 and HDAC8) and class II (HDAC4 and HDAC7) HDAC isoforms displayed potential isoform-selective HDAC inhibitors. Molecular docking data showed consistent results to the in vitro experiments with the highest potency against HDAC8. The docking studies suggested that the phenolic and carbonyl group can be favorably accommodated at the gorge region of the binding site. Furthermore, the phenolic groups also acted as major roles for antioxidant activities.
Un-Speaking in Tongues: Glossolalia as Ascetical Prayer
Authors: Stephenson Christopher A.
Published: December 2019

One of the next steps of integrating Pentecostal spirituality with the wider Christian spiritual tradition is to consider further glossolalia’s relationship to forms of prayer with a longer and more firmly established history. While some initial attempts to do so have connected glossolalia more closely to mystical prayer, there is ground for seeing some occasions of glossolalia also as ascetical prayer. Pentecostals and Catholics are particularly equipped to support this claim, if they can transcend some of their own typical views of glossolalia and accentuate other tendencies within their own traditions. The result may be a clearer understanding of glossolalia for all interested parties, an understanding marked by new insights about glossolalia’s value as an unintelligible form of prayer that is widely available for regular use.
Prediction of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events in young and middle-aged healthy workers: The IberScore model
Authors: Fernández-Labandera Carlos , Calvo-Bonacho Eva , Valdivielso Pedro , Quevedo-Aguado Luis , Martínez-Munoz Paloma , Catalina-Romero Carlos , Ruilope Luis M , Sánchez-Chaparro Miguel A
Published: December 2019

Aims

Our primary objective was to improve risk assessment for fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events in a working population, mostly young and healthy.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study to derive a survival model to predict fatal and non-fatal 10-year cardiovascular risk. We recruited 992,523 workers, free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease at entry, over six years, from 2004–2009. We divided the sample into two independent cohorts: a derivation one (626,515 workers; from 2004–2006) and a temporal validation one (366,008 workers; over 2007–2009). Then, we followed both cohorts over 10 years and registered all fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events. We built a new risk calculator using an estimation of cardiovascular biological age as a predictor and named it IberScore. There were remarkable differences between this new model and Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation (SCORE) (in both the specification and the equation).

Results

Over the 10-year follow-up, we found 3762 first cardiovascular events (6‰) in the derivation cohort. Most of them (80.3%) were non-fatal ischaemic events. If we had been able to use our model at the beginning of the study, we had classified in the ‘high-risk’ or ‘very high-risk’ groups 82% of those who suffered a cardiovascular event during the follow-up. All the post-estimation tests showed superior performance (true positive rate: 81.8% vs 11.8%), higher discrimination power and better clinical utility (standardised net benefit: 58% vs 13%) for IberScore when compared to SCORE.

Conclusion

Risk assessment of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events in young and healthy workers was improved when compared to the previously used model (SCORE). The latter was not reliable to predict cardiovascular risk in our sample. The new model showed superior clinical utility and provided four useful measures for risk assessment. We gained valuable insight into cardiovascular ageing and its predictors.
Use of healthcare services by patients with multiple sclerosis in France over 2010–2015: a nationwide population-based study using health administrative data
Authors: Roux J. , Guilleux A. , Lefort M. , Leray E.
Published: December 2019

Background

Most of the knowledge about people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) in France comes from cohorts, which may suffer from recruitment bias or from the unique registry located in Lorraine, East France.

Objective

To describe use of care in the French population of PwMS, over 2010–2015.

Methods

All PwMS in the French national health data system (97% of the general population covered) were included. Demographics, and use of care were described (visits with general practitioners (GPs), neurologists, nurses, physiotherapists and hospitalisations). A focus on the neurological follow-up was also conducted.

Results

A total of 112,415 PwMS were identified (sex ratio F:M = 2.4, median age 46), of whom 5005 died during follow-up. The median numbers of visits with GPs and neurologists were 6.6 and 1.3 respectively per patient-year. Moreover, 53,457 (47.6%) received multiple sclerosis (MS) treatments; about 13% of patients had no neurological follow-up, and 81.8% had at least one hospitalisation.

Conclusions

For the first time in France, this exhaustive dataset offered the opportunity to provide objective figures regarding care practices for MS at the national level, without any selection bias. It also allowed description of patients with MS according to their neurological follow-up, especially those who were absent from cohorts led by neurologists.
Bipedal Steps in the Development of Rhythmic Behavior in Humans
Authors: Larsson Matz , Richter Joachim , Ravignani Andrea
Published: December 2019

We contrast two related hypotheses of the evolution of dance: H1: Maternal bipedal walking influenced the fetal experience of sound and associated movement patterns; H2: The human transition to bipedal gait produced more isochronous/predictable locomotion sound resulting in early music-like behavior associated with the acoustic advantages conferred by moving bipedally in pace. The cadence of walking is around 120 beats per minute, similar to the tempo of dance and music. Human walking displays long-term constancies. Dyads often subconsciously synchronize steps. The major amplitude component of the step is a distinctly produced beat. Human locomotion influences, and interacts with, emotions, and passive listening to music activates brain motor areas. Across dance-genres the footwork is most often performed in time to the musical beat. Brain development is largely shaped by early sensory experience, with hearing developed from week 18 of gestation. Newborns reacts to sounds, melodies, and rhythmic poems to which they have been exposed in utero. If the sound and vibrations produced by footfalls of a walking mother are transmitted to the fetus in coordination with the cadence of the motion, a connection between isochronous sound and rhythmical movement may be developed. Rhythmical sounds of the human mother locomotion differ substantially from that of nonhuman primates, while the maternal heartbeat heard is likely to have a similar isochronous character across primates, suggesting a relatively more influential role of footfall in the development of rhythmic/musical abilities in humans. Associations of gait, music, and dance are numerous. The apparent absence of musical and rhythmic abilities in nonhuman primates, which display little bipedal locomotion, corroborates that bipedal gait may be linked to the development of rhythmic abilities in humans. Bipedal stimuli in utero may primarily boost the ontogenetic development. The acoustical advantage hypothesis proposes a mechanism in the phylogenetic development.
A Unilateral Nasal Mass With Generalized Seizures: Potential Diagnostic Pitfalls in Giant Pituitary Adenoma
Authors: Aini Rahimah , Sachlin Ida Sadja’ah , Chee Lai Chuang , Abdullah Baharudin
Published: December 2019

Giant pituitary adenomas are clinically nonfunctioning adenomas, and the clinical presentation is usually secondary to compression of the neighboring structures. Visual impairment and visual field defect are the most common preoperative symptoms, followed by headache. Generalized seizures may occur in giant pituitary adenomas when there is involvement of frontal lobes or medial temporal lobes. We present a case of a unilateral nasal mass with generalized seizures in a 55-year-old woman without prior episode of seizure and any predisposing factors. Imaging showed a sinonasal tumor with intracranial extension and histopathological examination confirmed a corticotroph adenoma. On seeing a patient with a unilateral nasal mass extending down from the roof of nasal cavity, olfactory neuroblastoma, or meningo-encephalocoele readily comes to mind. To avoid misdiagnosis and delay in treatment, imaging and, if possible, a biopsy should be considered. Giant pituitary adenoma although not common should be thought of as one of the differential diagnosis.
Are Gay Bars Closing? Using Business Listings to Infer Rates of Gay Bar Closure in the United States, 1977–2019
Authors: Mattson Greggor
Published: December 2019

Widespread alarm over gay bar closures in the United States has occurred in a vacuum of data. This visualization depicts changes in gay bar listings from the only national guidebook of LGBT places, published annually between 1964 and 2017 and again (and finally) in 2019. Trends in gay bar listings support perceptions of recent gay bar decline. They showed their largest five-year decline between 2012 and 2017, losing 18.6 percent. An additional 14.4 percent of bar listings disappeared in from 2017 to 2019. The listings at greatest risk receive little attention: Between 2007 and 2019, when all bar listings declined by 36.6 percent, lesbian bar listings shed 51.6 percent, cruisy men’s bar listings declined by 59.3 percent, and listings for bars serving people of color declined by 59.3 percent. The largest change in bar types, those serving gay men and women together, became the largest single category between 1997 and 2017. Caution must be exercised, however, in inferring rates of bar closure from bar listings.
Self-Perceptions of the Impact of Oral Problems on the Social Behavior of Preschoolers
Authors: Perazzo M.F. , Gomes M.C. , Neves É.T.B. , Firmino R.T. , Barros A.A. , Silva L.C. , Martins C.C. , Paiva S.M. , Granville-Garcia A.F.
Published: December 2019

Introduction:

Investigating preschool children’s social behaviors and the association with oral health variables helps to understand child development. Besides that, different perceptions need to be explored regarding the impact of oral problems on the social behavior between the child’s self-report and parent’s/caregiver’s proxy report.

Objective:

To determine which socioeconomic and oral factors are associated with difficulty sleeping and playing and the avoidance of smiling in preschoolers.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study was conducted with a representative random sample of 769 pairs of parents/caregivers and 5-y-old preschoolers. The preschoolers answered a questionnaire on difficulty sleeping, difficulty playing, and the avoidance of smiling for reasons related to oral problems. The parents/caregivers answered a questionnaire addressing socioeconomic characteristics as well as the use of dental services. Two calibrated dentists examined the children for the determination of dental caries, traumatic dental injury (TDI), malocclusion, and bruxism. Descriptive and Poisson regression analysis for complex samples with robust variance was used to test the associations (α = 5%).

Results:

The variables associated with difficulty sleeping were low household income (confidence interval [CI]: 1.40–3.01), number of untreated dental caries (CI, 1.02–1.04), dental pain (CI, 1.76–3.59), TDI (CI, 1.08–2.11), and anterior open bite (CI, 1.11–2.20). Difficulty playing also was associated with the low household income (CI, 1.34–3.15), number of untreated dental caries (CI, 1.01–1.04), dental pain (CI,1.42–3.61), and TDI (CI, 1.13–2.33). The number of untreated dental caries (CI, 1.02–1.05), dental pain (CI, 1.03–2.88), anterior open bite (CI, 1.30–3.26), and not using dental services (CI, 1.13–2.73) were determinant factors for the avoidance of smiling.

Conclusion:

Socioeconomic, symptomatic, and/or oral esthetic problems exerted an impact on the social behavior of the preschoolers analyzed, such as playing, sleeping, and smiling.

Knowledge Transfer Statement:

The results of the present study may help parents and clinicians to understand better the association of oral problems with the social behavior of preschool children. Moreover, this study shows the importance of listening to children in clinical decisions. These results also can help in the elaboration of oral health policies.
Hasn’t Institutional Theory Always Been Critical?!
Authors: Drori Gili S.
Published: December 2019

To the provocations by Munir (in this issue) and others who call on (neo)institutional theory to become more critical, I rebut by asking: Hasn’t institutional theory always been critical?! In response to Munir, I unpack the definition of the term ‘critical’, discussing the many meanings poured into the term, in order to assert that institutional theory is, and has always been, staunchly critical – as is evident by its role in driving the paradigmatic shift in the study of organization, organizations and organizing, and in transforming the field of organization studies as a whole.
ERS statement on standardisation of cardiopulmonary exercise testing in chronic lung diseases
Authors: Radtke Thomas , Crook Sarah , Kaltsakas Georgios , Louvaris Zafeiris , Berton Danilo , Urquhart Don S. , Kampouras Asterios , Rabinovich Roberto A. , Verges Samuel , Kontopidis Dimitris , Boyd Jeanette , Tonia Thomy , Langer Daniel , De Brandt Jana , Goërtz Yvonne M.J. , Burtin Chris , Spruit Martijn A. , Braeken Dionne C.W. , Dacha Sauwaluk , Franssen Frits M.E. , Laveneziana Pierantonio , Eber Ernst , Troosters Thierry , Neder J. Alberto , Puhan Milo A. , Casaburi Richard , Vogiatzis Ioannis , Hebestreit Helge
Published: December 2019

The objective of this document was to standardise published cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) protocols for improved interpretation in clinical settings and multicentre research projects. This document: 1) summarises the protocols and procedures used in published studies focusing on incremental CPET in chronic lung conditions; 2) presents standard incremental protocols for CPET on a stationary cycle ergometer and a treadmill; and 3) provides patients' perspectives on CPET obtained through an online survey supported by the European Lung Foundation. We systematically reviewed published studies obtained from EMBASE, Medline, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library from inception to January 2017. Of 7914 identified studies, 595 studies with 26 523 subjects were included. The literature supports a test protocol with a resting phase lasting at least 3 min, a 3-min unloaded phase, and an 8- to 12-min incremental phase with work rate increased linearly at least every minute, followed by a recovery phase of at least 2–3 min. Patients responding to the survey (n=295) perceived CPET as highly beneficial for their diagnostic assessment and informed the Task Force consensus. Future research should focus on the individualised estimation of optimal work rate increments across different lung diseases, and the collection of robust normative data.
Genome-wide association study of morbid obesity in Han Chinese
Authors: Chiang Kuang-Mao , Chang Heng-Cheng , Yang Hsin-Chou , Chen Chien-Hsiun , Chen Hsin-Hung , Lee Wei-Jei , Pan Wen-Harn
Published: December 2019

Background

As obesity is becoming pandemic, morbid obesity (MO), an extreme type of obesity, is an emerging issue worldwide. It is imperative to understand the factors responsible for huge weight gain in certain populations in the modern society. Very few genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been conducted on MO patients. This study is the first MO-GWAS study in the Han-Chinese population in Asia.

Methods

We conducted a two-stage GWAS with 1110 MO bariatric patients (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 35 kg/m2) from Min-Sheng General Hospital, Taiwan. The first stage involved 575 patients, and 1729 sex- and age-matched controls from the Taiwan Han Chinese Cell and Genome Bank. In the second stage, another 535 patients from the same hospital were genotyped for 52 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) discovered in the first stage, and 9145 matched controls from Taiwan Biobank were matched for confirmation analysis.

Results

The results of the joint analysis for the second stage revealed six top ranking SNPs, including rs8050136 (p-value = 7.80 × 10− 10), rs9939609 (p-value = 1.32 × 10− 9), rs1421085 (p-value = 1.54 × 10− 8), rs9941349 (p-value = 9.05 × 10− 8), rs1121980 (p-value = 7.27 × 10− 7), and rs9937354 (p-value = 6.65 × 10− 7), which were all located in FTO gene. Significant associations were also observed between MO and RBFOX1, RP11-638 L3.1, TMTC1, CBLN4, CSMD3, and ERBB4, respectively, using the Bonferroni correction criteria for 52 SNPs (p < 9.6 × 10− 4).

Conclusion

The most significantly associated locus of MO in the Han-Chinese population was the well-known FTO gene. These SNPs located in intron 1, may include the leptin receptor modulator. Other significant loci, showing weak associations with MO, also suggested the potential mechanism underlying the disorders with eating behaviors or brain/neural development.
The evolutionary history of the sucrose synthase gene family in higher plants
Authors: Xu Xiaoyang , Yang Yongheng , Liu Chunxiao , Sun Yuming , Zhang Ting , Hou Menglan , Huang Suzhen , Yuan Haiyan
Published: December 2019

Background

Sucrose synthase (SUS) is widely considered a key enzyme participating in sucrose metabolism in higher plants and regarded as a biochemical marker for sink strength in crops. However, despite significant progress in characterizing the physiological functions of the SUS gene family, knowledge of the trajectory of evolutionary processes and significance of the family in higher plants remains incomplete.

Results

In this study, we identified over 100 SUS genes in 19 plant species and reconstructed their phylogenies, presenting a potential framework of SUS gene family evolution in higher plants. Three anciently diverged SUS gene subfamilies (SUS I, II and III) were distinguished based on their phylogenetic relationships and unique intron/exon structures in angiosperms, and they were found to have evolved independently in monocots and dicots. Each subfamily of SUS genes exhibited distinct expression patterns in a wide range of plants, implying that their functional differentiation occurred before the divergence of monocots and dicots. Furthermore, SUS III genes evolved under relaxed purifying selection in dicots and displayed narrowed expression profiles. In addition, for all three subfamilies of SUS genes, the GT-B domain was more conserved than the “regulatory” domain.

Conclusions

The present study reveals the evolution of the SUS gene family in higher plants and provides new insights into the evolutionary conservation and functional divergence of angiosperm SUS genes.
Full-length transcriptome analysis of shade-induced promotion of tuber production in Pinellia ternata
Authors: Xue Tao , Zhang Han , Zhang Yuanyuan , Wei Shuqin , Chao Qiujie , Zhu Yanfang , Teng Jingtong , Zhang Aimin , Sheng Wei , Duan Yongbo , Xue Jianping
Published: December 2019

Background

Pinellia ternata is native to China and has been used as a traditional herb due to its antiemetic, antitussive, analgesic, and anxiolytic effects. When exposed to strong light intensity and high temperature during the reproductive growth process, P. ternata withers in a phenomenon known as “sprout tumble”, which largely limits tuber production. Shade was previously found to delay sprout tumble formation (STF); however, no information exists regarding this process at the molecular level. Hence, we determined the genes involved in tuber development and STF in P. ternata.

Results

Compared to that with natural sun-light (control), shade significantly induced chlorophyll accumulation, increased chlorophyll fluorescence parameters including initial fluorescence, maximal fluorescence, and qP, and dramatically repressed chlorophyll a:b and NPQ. Catalase (CAT) activity was largely induced by shade, and tuber products were largely increased in this environment. Transcriptome profiles of P. ternata grown in natural sun-light and shaded environments were analyzed by a combination of next generation sequencing (NGS) and third generation single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing. Corrections of SMRT long reads based on NGS short reads yielded 136,163 non-redundant transcripts, with an average N50 length of 2578 bp. In total, 6738 deferentially-expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained from the comparisons, specifically D5S vs D5CK, D20S vs D20CK, D20S vs D5S, and D20CK vs D5CK, of which, 6384 DEGs (94.8%) were generated from the D20S vs D20CK comparison. Gene annotation and functional analyses revealed that these genes were related to auxin signal transduction, polysaccharide and sugar metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, and photosynthesis. Moreover, the expression of genes enriched in photosynthesis appeared to be significantly altered by shade. The expression patterns of 16 candidate genes were consistent with changes in their transcript abundance as identified by RNA-Seq, and these might contribute to STF and tuber production.

Conclusion

The full-length transcripts identified in this study have provided a more accurate depiction of P. ternata gene transcription. Further, we identified potential genes involved in STF and tuber growth. Such data could serve as a genetic resource and a foundation for further research on this important traditional herb.