bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Etiology and long‐term rebleeding of endoscopic ulcerative lesions in the small bowel in patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding: A multicenter cohort study
Authors: Aoki Tomonori , Yamada Atsuo , Hirata Yoshihiro , Suzuki Hirobumi , Nakada Ayako , Niikura Ryota , Seto Motoko , Okamoto Makoto , Koike Kazuhiko
Published: December 2017

Background

Among patients with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB), endoscopic ulcerative lesions in the small bowel have diverse etiologies and often cause rebleeding. Certain characteristics of patients or ulcerations may be reasonable indications for diagnostic balloon‐assisted endoscopy (BAE) to assess etiology and may be risks of rebleeding; however, these characteristics are unclear. We aimed to elucidate appropriate indications for diagnostic BAE and predictors of long‐term rebleeding in patients with small bowel ulcerative lesions.

Methods

We conducted a multicenter retrospective cohort study of 68 patients with OGIB, in whom small bowel ulcerative lesions were detected by capsule endoscopy (n = 60) and/or BAE (n = 43). Patients' characteristics, including medications and endoscopic findings, were evaluated. Predictors of the need for diagnostic BAE to determine ulceration etiology were identified by logistic regression analysis. Rebleeding risks were evaluated using Cox proportional hazards analysis.

Results

Single ulcerations were diagnosed in 26 patients, and multiple ulcerations were diagnosed in 42 patients. Among 43 patients who underwent BAE, ulceration etiology was identified in 12 (28%) patients. In the etiology identification, BAE was more useful for a single ulceration than for multiple ulcerations (P < 0.001). Among the 68 patients, rebleeding occurred in 14 (21%) patients during a mean follow‐up period of 17 months. Aspirin use and multiple ulcerations were significant predictors of rebleeding (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

When we manage small bowel ulcerative lesions in OGIB patients, a single ulceration is a reasonable indication for the diagnostic BAE. The rebleeding rate was lower for single ulcerations than for multiple ulcerations.
Three types of preS1 start codon deletion variants in the natural course of chronic hepatitis B infection
Authors: Choe Won Hyeok , Kim Hong , Lee So‐Young , Choi Yu‐Min , Kwon So Young , Moon Hee Won , Hur Mina , Kim Bum‐Joon
Published: December 2017

Background and Aim

Naturally occurring hepatitis B virus variants carrying a deletion in the preS1 start codon region may evolve during long‐lasting virus–host interactions in chronic hepatitis B (CHB). The aim of this study was to determine the immune phase‐specific prevalent patterns of preS1 start codon deletion variants and related factors during the natural course of CHB.

Methods

A total of 399 CHB patients were enrolled. Genotypic analysis of three different preS1 start codon deletion variants (classified by deletion size: 15‐base pair [bp], 18‐bp, and 21‐bp deletion variants) was performed.

Results

PreS1 start codon deletion variants were detected in 155 of 399 patients (38.8%). The predominant variant was a 15‐bp deletion in the immune‐tolerance phase (18/50, 36%) and an 18‐bp deletion in the immune‐clearance phase (69/183, 37.7%). A 21‐bp deletion was the predominant variant in the low replicative phase (3/25, 12.0%) and reactivated hepatitis Be antigen (HBeAg)‐negative phase (22/141, 15.6%). The 15‐bp and 18‐bp deletion variants were more frequently found in HBeAg‐positive patients (P < 0.010 and P < 0.001, respectively), whereas the 21‐bp deletion variant was more frequently found in HBeAg‐negative patients (P < 0.001). On multiple logistic regression analyses, the 21‐bp deletion variant was independently associated with liver cirrhosis (P = 0.006), and the 15‐bp deletion variant was significantly related to an incomplete response to antiviral agents (P = 0.012).

Conclusions

The predominant type of preS1 start codon deletion variants changes according to the immune phases of CHB infection, and each variant type is associated with different clinical parameters. PreS1 start codon deletion variants might interact with the host immune response differently according to their variant types.
Mapping historical and contemporary agrarian transformations and capitalist infiltration in a complex upland environment: A case from eastern Nepal
Authors: Sugden Fraser , Seddon David , Raut Manita
Published: December 2017

The relationship that mountain communities have with global capitalism are complex, being mediated by a diverse topography and ecology, both of which provide opportunities for capital accumulation, while also isolating older, “pre‐capitalist” modes of production. This paper takes a case study valley from Nepal's eastern hills, tracing over two centuries of agrarian change and evolving interactions between “adivasi” and “semi‐feudal” economic formations with capitalism. In recent years, the expansion of markets, rising demand for cash, and climate stress have solidified migrant labour as a core component of livelihoods, and the primary mechanism of surplus appropriation from the hill peasantry. Through a focus on three altitudinal zones, however, it is demonstrated how the trajectory of this transformation, including the interactions with persisting pre‐capitalist formations, is mediated by both political–economic processes and the local agro‐ecological context.
Quantitative examination of isometric tongue protrusion forces in children with oro‐facial dysfunctions or myofunctional disorders
Authors: Rohrbach S. , Buettner F. , Pollex D. , Mathmann P. , Weinhold L. , Schubert R. , Reilmann R.
Published: December 2017

Oro‐facial dysfunctions (OFD) or oro‐facial myofunctional disorders in children lead to severe problems in teeth and jaw position, articulation, chewing and swallowing. The forces of the tongue, the central muscle for articulation, chewing and swallowing are focused on in several studies. In this examination, isometric tongue protrusion forces (TPF) of children with OFD and controls were compared. Thirty participants with OFD and 30 controls were presented a target force level as a straight line on a monitor that they were supposed to match by generating an isometric tongue force for different target levels (0.25 N and 0.5 N). Correlations of the severity of OFD (symptom score) with the capacities of the TPF 0.25 N and 0.5 N were calculated. Statistical differences were obvious in TPF variability and the accuracy, depending on the weight. Tongue contact time, expressed as per cent (TCT, total contact: 100%), was significantly lower in children with OFD (P = .005). Mean and median TPF was not different between groups. The predictive value of TPF for OFD revealed a level of 58.6% for TPF 0.25 N and 74.5% for TPF 0.5 N. Correlations of the severity of OFD were seen for some parameters. Subjects with OFD show significantly lower competencies in accuracy and endurance of tongue protrusion forces. This may have a high impact on phenotyping children with OFD and influence therapeutical approaches.
Children tolerate intradialytic oral nutrition
Authors: South Andrew M. , Fainman Bonnie , Sutherland Scott M. , Wong Cynthia J.
Published: December 2017

Background

People undergoing haemodialysis (HD) often have poor nutrition, which in turn can contribute to worse outcomes. Inadequate nutrition has a particularly deleterious effect on growth and neurocognitive development, as well as mortality, in children and adolescents. Nutritional supplementation can improve outcomes but can be difficult to administer.

Objective

Determine the tolerability of intradialytic oral nutrition in children and adolescents.

Design

A cross‐sectional quality improvement study in an outpatient paediatric HD unit. Intervention was intradialytic oral nutritional supplementation provided as protein bars and/or meals.

Subjects

Children and adolescents undergoing outpatient HD who were able to participate in surveys and eat by mouth.

Measurements

Adverse effects and symptoms on nurse‐ and patient‐reported surveys, respectively. Relationships between the predictor variables and the outcomes were assessed using generalised estimating equations.

Results

The majority of children felt better after eating on dialysis (72%) with no adverse effects (80%). On unadjusted analyses and confirmed with generalised estimating equation modelling, children who reported being hungry felt better after eating on dialysis, despite being more likely to have adverse effects.

Conclusion

The study demonstrates that our children and adolescents feel better after eating on HD with minimal adverse effects. The finding that hungry patients are more likely to feel better despite having a higher likelihood of an adverse effect demonstrates the tolerability of eating on HD. Intradialytic oral nutrition could be a safe and well‐tolerated opportunity to provide supplemental nutrition to paediatric HD patients and improve outcomes.
Comparative evaluation of GPR versus APRI and FIB‐4 in predicting different levels of liver fibrosis of chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Liu D.‐P. , Lu W. , Zhang Z.‐Q. , Wang Y.‐B. , Ding R.‐R. , Zhou X.‐L. , Huang D. , Li X.‐F.
Published: December 2017

It is of great significance to develop and evaluate noninvasive indexes predicting the level of liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate gamma‐glutamyl transpeptidase‐to‐platelet ratio (GPR) versus aspartate aminotransferase‐to‐platelet ratio index (APRI) and fibrosis index based on 4 factors (FIB‐4) in predicting different levels of liver fibrosis of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) within the framework of HBeAg‐positive and HBeAg‐negative patients. A total of 1157 HBeAg‐positive and 859 HBeAg‐negative CHB patients were enrolled, among whom the pathological stage ≥S2, ≥S3, ≥S4 were defined as significant fibrosis, extensive fibrosis and cirrhosis, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the performance of GPR, APRI and FIB‐4 in predicting different levels of liver fibrosis. In HBeAg‐positive patients, the area under ROC curves (AUROCs) of GPR in predicting extensive fibrosis and cirrhosis were both significantly larger than those of APRI (P = .0001 and P < .0001). In HBeAg‐negative patients, the AUROCs of GPR in predicting significant fibrosis and cirrhosis were significantly larger than those of FIB‐4 (P = .0006 and P = .0041). The AUROC of GPR in predicting extensive fibrosis was significantly larger than that of APRI and FIB‐4 (P = .0320 and P = .0018). Using a cut‐off of GPR > 0.500 as standard, the sensitivities and specificities of GPR in predicting significant fibrosis in HBeAg‐positive patients were 59.6% and 81.2%, and for cirrhosis 80.9% and 63.8%, respectively; and those of HBeAg‐negative patients were 60.3% and 78.3%, 84.5% and 66.1%, respectively. Regardless of HBeAg‐positive or HBeAg‐negative status, GPR had the best performance in predicting different levels of liver fibrosis.
Kinetics of Plasma Cell‐Free DNA and Creatine Kinase in a Canine Model of Tissue Injury
Authors: Wilson I.J. , Burchell R.K. , Worth A.J. , Burton S.E. , Gedye K.R. , Clark K.J. , Crosse K.R. , Jack M. , Odom T.F. , De Grey S.J. , McGlade K.M.S. , Tomlin S.C. , Lopez‐Villalobos N. , Gal A.
Published: December 2017

Background

Cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) comprises short, double‐stranded circulating DNA sequences released from damaged cells. In people, cfDNA concentrations correlate well with disease severity and tissue damage. No reports are available regarding cfDNA kinetics in dogs.

Objectives/Hypothesis

Cell‐free DNA will have a short biological half‐life and would be able to stratify mild, moderate, and severe tissue injury. Our study aims were to determine the kinetics and biological half‐life of cfDNA and to contrast them with those of creatine kinase (CK).

Animals

Three groups of 10 dogs undergoing open ovariohysterectomy, surgery for cranial cruciate ligament rupture (CCLR), or hemilaminectomy.

Methods

Plasma for cfDNA and CK analysis was collected at admission, at induction of anesthesia, postsurgery (time 0) and at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 hours after surgery.

Results

The biological half‐life of plasma cfDNA and CK were 5.64 hours (95% confidence interval [CI 95], 4.36–7.98 hours) and 28.7 hours (CI95, 25.3–33.3 hours), respectively. In the hemilaminectomy group, cfDNA concentrations differed significantly from admission at 6–12 hours after surgery. Creatine kinase activity differed among the surgical groups and reached a peak 6 hours after surgery. In the ovariohysterectomy and CCLR groups, plasma CK activity 72 hours after surgery did not differ from admission activity of the ovariohysterectomy group. In contrast, in the hemilaminectomy group, plasma CK activity after 72 hours did not return to the ovariohysterectomy group admission activity.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Plasma CK activity has a longer biological half‐life than previously thought. In contrast to plasma CK activity, cfDNA has a short half‐life and could be a useful marker for peracute severe tissue injury.
Effects of natural and anthropogenic drivers on land‐cover change and treeline dynamics in the Apennines (Italy)
Authors: Vitali Alessandro , Urbinati Carlo , Weisberg Peter J. , Urza Alexandra K. , Garbarino Matteo
Published: December 2017

Questions

How do climate, topography and human impact affect land‐cover changes, elevation of treelines and dominant tree species composition at multiple spatial scales?

Location

Apennine Mountains, Italy.

Methods

At the regional scale (n = 776 municipalities covering 43,000 km2), we assessed the relationship between human demographic processes and forest cover dynamics for the 1990–2012 period using Corine Land Cover maps and a national census data set. At the landscape scale (n = 18 landscape units of 16 km2 each), we tested the effects of site topography on forest cover changes between 1954 and 2012. At the local scale (n = 5,484 sampling points), we extracted the location and species composition of the current treeline (year 2012) using semi‐automatic segmentation methods. We quantified the association of climatic, topographic and anthropogenic variables with the position of upper treelines in the Apennines.

Results

Regional scale: human population in the Apennines decreased by 3% between 1991 and 2011. During the same time period, there was an increase in the extent of shrublands (+7%) and forests (mixed +4%, conifers +2%, broad‐leaf +1%) and a decrease in the extent of pastures (−9%). Landscape scale: forests expanded more on southwest (+109%) than on northeast (+19%) slopes. Local scale: the mean treeline altitude was 1,755 m a.s.l. Fagus sylvatica L. was the most widespread species (94%), but we also found Pinus nigra Arn. plantations and Pinus mugo Turra shrublands in the central Apennines, and Pinus heldreichii H.Christ in the southern Apennines. Overall, the elevations of the current treelines are negatively related to population density, road proximity and southwest exposures, especially among P. nigra stands.

Conclusions

At the regional scale, demographic and land‐cover changes provide evidence of widespread land abandonment and forest expansion. At the landscape scale, secondary succession occurred particularly at sites with more solar radiation (SW slopes) and a previous heavier human footprint, followed by a widespread abandonment. Treelines of the dominant tree species (F. sylvatica) were found at elevations lower than would be predicted based on climate conditions alone, suggesting a widespread and strong role of past human influence on the location of treelines. The altitudinal transition from broad‐leaf to conifer species does not generally occur here, as would be expected from a global ecological model. Anthropogenic treelines of the Apennines will react differently than natural climatic treelines to global environmental changes. Models of treeline response to global change in the Mediterranean area should account for land‐use history.
Microbial communities exhibit host species distinguishability and phylosymbiosis along the length of the gastrointestinal tract
Authors: Kohl Kevin D. , Dearing M. Denise , Bordenstein Seth R.
Published: December 2017

Host‐associated microbial communities consist of stable and transient members that can assemble through purely stochastic processes associated with the environment or by interactions with the host. Phylosymbiosis predicts that if host–microbiota interactions impact assembly patterns, then one conceivable outcome is concordance between host evolutionary histories (phylogeny) and the ecological similarities in microbial community structures (microbiota dendrogram). This assembly pattern has been demonstrated in several clades of animal hosts in laboratory and natural populations, but in vertebrates, it has only been investigated using samples from faeces or the distal colon. Here, we collected the contents of five gut regions from seven rodent species and inventoried the bacterial communities by sequencing the 16S rRNA gene. We investigated how community structures varied across gut regions and whether the pattern of phylosymbiosis was present along the length of the gut. Gut communities varied by host species and gut region, with Oscillospira and Ruminococcus being more abundant in the stomach and hindgut regions. Gut microbial communities were highly distinguishable by host species across all gut regions, with the strength of the discrimination increasing along the length of the gut. Last, the pattern of phylosymbiosis was found in all five gut regions, as well as faeces. Aspects of the gut environment, such as oxygen levels, production of antimicrobials or other factors, may shift microbial communities across gut regions. However, regardless of these differences, host species maintain distinguishable, phylosymbiotic assemblages of microbes that may have functional impacts for the host.
The evolutionary fate of heterogeneous gene duplications: A precarious overdominant equilibrium between environment, sublethality and complementation
Authors: Milesi Pascal , Assogba Benoît S. , Atyame Célestine M. , Pocquet Nicolas , Berthomieu Arnaud , Unal Sandra , Makoundou Patrick , Weill Mylène , Labbé Pierrick
Published: December 2017

Gene duplications occur at a high rate. Although most appear detrimental, some homogeneous duplications (identical gene copies) can be selected for beneficial increase in produced proteins. Heterogeneous duplications, which combine divergent alleles of a single locus, are seldom studied due to the paucity of empirical data. We investigated their role in an ongoing adaptive process at the ace‐1 locus in Culex pipiens mosquitoes. We assessed the worldwide diversity of the ace‐1 alleles (single‐copy, susceptible S and insecticide‐resistant R, and duplicated D that pair one S and one R copy), analysed their phylogeography and measured their fitness to understand their early dynamics using population genetics models. It provides a coherent and comprehensive evolutionary scenario. We show that D alleles are present in most resistant populations and display a higher diversity than R alleles (27 vs. 4). Most appear to result from independent unequal crossing‐overs between local single‐copy alleles, suggesting a recurrent process. Most duplicated alleles have a limited geographic distribution, probably resulting from their homozygous sublethality (HS phenotype). In addition, heterozygotes carrying different HS D alleles showed complementation, indicating different recessive lethal mutations. Due to mosaic insecticide control practices, balancing selection (overdominance) plays a key role in the early dynamics of heterogeneous duplicated alleles; it also favours a high local polymorphism of HS D alleles in natural populations (overdominance reinforced by complementation). Overall, our study shows that the evolutionary fate of heterogeneous duplications (and their long‐term role) depends on finely balanced selective pressures due to the environment and to their genomic structure.
Structural Displacement Measurement Using an Unmanned Aerial System
Authors: Yoon Hyungchul , Shin Jaeho , Spencer Billie F.
Published: December 2017

Vibration‐based Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) is one of the most popular solutions to assess the safety of civil infrastructure. SHM applications all begin with measuring the dynamic response of structures, but displacement measurement has been limited by the difficulty in requiring a fixed reference point, high cost, and/or low accuracy. Recently, researchers have conducted studies on vision‐based structural health monitoring, which provides noncontact and efficient measurement. However, these approaches have been limited to stationary cameras, which have the challenge of finding a location to deploy the cameras with appropriate line‐of‐sight, especially to monitor critical civil infrastructures such as bridges. The Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) can potentially overcome the limitation of finding optimal locations to deploy the camera, but existing vision‐based displacement measurement methods rely on the assumption that the camera is stationary. The displacements obtained by such methods will be a relative displacement of a structure to the camera motion, not an absolute displacement. Therefore, this article presents a framework to achieve absolute displacement of a structure from a video taken from an UAS using the following phased approach. First, a target‐free method is implemented to extract the relative structural displacement from the video. Next, the 6 degree‐of‐freedom camera motion (three translations and three rotations) is estimated by tracking the background feature points. Finally, the absolute structural displacement is recovered by combining the relative structural displacement and the camera motion. The performance of the proposed system has been validated in the laboratory using a commercial UAS. Displacement of a pinned‐connected railroad truss bridge in Rockford, IL subjected to revenue‐service traffic loading was reproduced on a hydraulic simulator, while the UAS was flown from a distance of 4.6 m (simulating the track clearance required by the Federal Railroad Administration), resulting in estimated displacements with an RMS error of 2.14 mm.
Outcome of orthodontic palatal plate therapy for orofacial dysfunction in children with Down syndrome: A systematic review
Authors: Javed F. , Akram Z. , Barillas A. P. , Kellesarian S. V. , Ahmed H. B. , Khan J. , Almas K.
Published: December 2017

To evaluate the effects of orthodontic palatal plate therapy (OPPT) in the treatment of orofacial dysfunction in children with Down syndrome (DS). Indexed databases were searched. Clinical trials in DS allocated to test (treatment with palatal plates) versus control group (without palatal plates/special physiotherapy for orofacial stimulation) with follow‐up of any time duration and assessing mouth closure, tongue position, active and inactive muscle function as outcomes. Study designs, subject demographics, frequency and duration of palatal plate therapy, method for assessment, follow‐up period and outcomes were reported according to the PRISMA guidelines. Eight clinical studies were included. The risk of bias was considered high in three studies and moderate in 5 studies. The number of children with DS ranged between 9 and 42. The mean age of children with DS at the start of the study ranged between 2 months and 12 years. The duration of palatal plate therapy ranged between 4 months and 48 months. The follow‐up period in all studies ranged from 12 to 58 months. All studies reported OPPT to be effective in improving orofacial disorders in children with DS. Most of the included studies suggest that palatal plate therapy in combination with physiotherapy/orofacial regulation therapy according to Castillo Morales/speech and language intervention seems to be effective in improving orofacial disorders in children with DS. However, the risk of bias of the included studies was high to moderate. Longitudinal trials with standardized evaluation methods, age of children at treatment initiation, treatment duration and standard orofacial outcomes are recommended.
The Creation of the Fiscal Council in Estonia: Exploring the Explanations for Its Institutional Design
Authors: Raudla Ringa , Keel Kati , Pajussaar Mari
Published: December 2017

In this paper, we explore the creation of the fiscal council (FC) in Estonia, using the perspectives of different strands of institutionalism. Our analysis shows that the institutional design of the FC was influenced, in tandem, by principal‐agent considerations, transaction costs, existing institutional configurations, path dependence, and normative concerns of the bureaucratic agents in charge of creating the new body. We conclude that in order to understand and explain the motives and factors involved in institutional design, the explanatory angles provided by rational choice, historical and sociological institutionalism should be viewed as complementary rather than contradictory.
Chrysanthemum CmHSFA4 gene positively regulates salt stress tolerance in transgenic chrysanthemum
Authors: Li Fei , Zhang Huanru , Zhao Husheng , Gao Tianwei , Song Aiping , Jiang Jiafu , Chen Fadi , Chen Sumei
Published: December 2017

Salinity‐induced Na+ toxicity and oxidative stress hamper plant growth. Here, we showed that expression of the chrysanthemum CmHSFA4, a homologue of the heat‐shock factor AtHSFA4a, is inducible by salt and localizes to the nucleus. It is a transcription activator binding with HSE. Chrysanthemum overexpressing CmHSFA4 displayed enhanced salinity tolerance by limiting Na+ accumulation while maintaining K+ concentration, which is consistent with the up‐regulation of ion transporters CmSOS1 and CmHKT2. Additionally, the transgenic plants reduced H2O2 and O2∙− accumulation under salinity, which could be due to up‐regulation of ROS scavenger activities such as SOD, APX and CAT as well as CmHSP70, CmHSP90. Together, these results suggest that CmHSFA4 conferred salinity tolerance in chrysanthemum as a consequence of Na+/K+ ion and ROS homeostasis.
Retrospective review of immunocompromised children undergoing skin biopsy for suspected invasive infection: Analysis of factors predictive of invasive mold
Authors: Smith Robert J. , Klieger Sarah B. , Sulieman Salwa E. , Berger Emily , Treat James R. , Fisher Brian T.
Published: December 2017

Objectives

Cutaneous lesions are often the first marker of invasive mold infection, which can cause substantial morbidity in immunocompromised children. The purpose of this study was to describe the evaluation and outcomes of immunocompromised children who presented with findings requiring skin biopsy because of concern about invasive infection. In children who were biopsied, we sought to determine the factors predictive of invasive mold infection.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Patients included in the study were immunocompromised individuals younger than 26 years old who underwent skin biopsy by the inpatient dermatology consultation team between January 1, 2003, and March 15, 2015, because of development of new cutaneous lesions that were suspected of being invasive infection.

Results

One hundred five encounters met the inclusion criteria. Fifty (47.6%) biopsied individuals had an infectious pathogen identified on histopathology or culture. Mold was the most common (36%) pathogen, followed by bacteria (32%) and yeast (26%). The presence of a single lesion (P = .001) and prior occlusion at the site of the lesion (P < .001) were associated with mold on biopsy. The combination of a single lesion, history of occlusion, and tissue necrosis on examination was highly predictive for invasive mold infection (86.3% [95% confidence interval 55.1‐97.0%]). Of the 18 individuals with confirmed invasive mold infection, 13 (72%) underwent surgical resection, of whom 12 (92%) survived the 30‐day follow‐up period.

Conclusion

Skin biopsy enabled the detection of a pathogen that informed directed therapeutic interventions in nearly half of participants. Institutions caring for immunocompromised children should ensure adequate staffing of clinical personnel approved to perform skin biopsies.
Chemotherapy‐induced eccrine squamous syringometaplasia in an infant
Authors: Bittar Peter G. , Casady Megan , Selim Maria A. , Prose Neil S.
Published: December 2017

There are few reports of chemotherapy‐induced eccrine squamous syringometaplasia in children. We report the first case of an infant developing this condition after treatment with busulfan, fludarabine, and antithymocyte globulin in preparation for bone marrow transplantation. Twenty‐eight days after transplantation, the infant developed faintly erythematous papules and plaques on the bilateral axillae, inguinal folds, and sites of adhesives. Punch biopsy revealed eccrine glands with dyskeratotic cells and focal squamous metaplasia consistent with chemotherapy‐induced eccrine squamous syringometaplasia.
Circadian rhythm in atopic dermatitis—Pathophysiology and implications for chronotherapy
Authors: Vaughn Alexandra R. , Clark Ashley K. , Sivamani Raja K. , Shi Vivian Y.
Published: December 2017

Circadian rhythm is a biological clock that controls a wide range of physiological functions throughout the body, including various skin functions. A 24‐h diurnal cycle, governed by an endogenous clock in the brain, largely controls cutaneous diurnal rhythm, which external factors, including temperature, humidity, diet, and stress, also modulate locally. Circadian rhythm influences cutaneous blood flow and properties of skin barrier function, such as transepidermal water loss and capacitance, and has important implications in atopic dermatitis (AD). This review explores how aberrations in circadian rhythm may play a role in the pathogenesis of AD and proposes implementation of chronotherapy to improve treatment outcomes in patients with AD.
A case of keratosis circumscripta in a Chinese boy
Authors: Zhang He , Deng Wei , Zhang Xiaoyan
Published: December 2017

Keratosis circumscripta is a rare dermatosis occurring in children and adolescents that has been reported in the English literature only in Africans and their descendants. We report here a case of keratosis circumscripta in a 13‐year‐old Chinese boy who presented with pruritic follicular keratotic rashes below both knees. This case indicates that keratosis circumscripta may not occur only in individuals of African descent.
Pernio as the presenting sign of blast crisis in acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Park Kelly K. , Tayebi Bailey , Uihlein Lily , Speiser Jodi , Mir Adnan , Gerami Pedram , Mancini Anthony , Kim Wendy
Published: December 2017

A previously healthy 5‐year‐old girl presented with acute onset of blue toes and red spots on the nose and fingers. The striking nature of these lesions, along with the finding of submandibular lymphadenopathy, prompted further evaluation. Laboratory findings were remarkable for anemia, high transaminase levels, and high blast count. Histopathologic findings were consistent with early pernio. Further examination revealed acute B‐cell lymphoblastic leukemia. Treatment of the leukemia led to resolution of the pernio.
Spatial perception: The perspectival aspect of perception
Authors: Green E.J. , Schellenberg Susanna
Published: December 2017

When we perceive an object, we perceive the object from a perspective. As a consequence of the perspectival nature of perception, when we perceive, say, a circular coin from different angles, there is a respect in which the coin looks circular throughout, but also a respect in which the coin's appearance changes. More generally, perception of shape and size properties has both a constant aspect—an aspect that remains stable across changes in perspective—and a perspectival aspect—an aspect that changes depending on one's perspective on the object. How should we account for the perspectival aspect of spatial perception? We present a framework within which to discuss the perspectival aspect of perception and put forward three desiderata that any account of the perspectival aspect of perception should satisfy. We discuss views on which the perspectival aspect of perception is analyzed in terms of constitutively mind‐dependent appearance properties as well as views on which the perspectival aspect of perception is analyzed in terms of representations of mind‐independent perspectival properties.
Decreasing fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphate aldolase activity reduces plant growth and tolerance to chilling stress in tomato seedlings
Authors: Cai Bingbing , Li Qiang , Liu Fengjiao , Bi Huangai , Ai Xizhen
Published: December 2017

In northern China, low temperature is the most common abiotic stresses for tomato plants cultivated in solar‐greenhouse in winter. We recently found that the expression and enzyme activity of fructose‐1,6‐bisphosphate aldolases (FBAs) in tomato, which are important enzymes in the Calvin–Benson cycle (CBC), were significantly altered in tomato seedlings subjected to heat/cold stresses. In order to study the role of FBA in photosynthesis and in regulating cold stress responses of tomato seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum), we transformed a tomato inbred line (FF) with RNA interference (RNAi) vector containing SlFBA7 reverse tandem repeat sequence. We found that the decreased SlFBA7 expression led to the decreased activities of FBA, as well as the activities of other main enzymes in the CBC. We also noticed a decrease in net photosynthetic rate, ribulose‐1,5‐bisphosphate and soluble sugar content, stem diameter, dry weight and seed size in RNAi SlFBA7 plants compared to wild‐type. However, there are no changes in starch contents in the RNAi transgenic plants. RNAi SlFBA7 plants showed a decreased germination rate, and an increased levels of superoxide anions (O2·‐) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) under low temperature (8/5°C) and low‐light intensity (100 μmol m−2 s−1 photon flux density) growth conditions. These findings demonstrated the important role of SlFBA7 in regulating growth and chilling tolerance of tomato seedlings, and suggested that the catalytic activity of FBA in the CBC is sensitive to temperature.
Adaptation of the Utrecht‐Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U‐MICS) to the measurement of the parental identity domain
Authors: Piotrowski Konrad
Published: December 2017

The present studies examined the psychometric properties of the Utrecht‐Management of Identity Commitments Scale (U‐MICS) adapted to the measurement of identity formation in the parental identity domain. As the parental identity domain has only been studied within the neo‐Eriksonian approach to a very limited extent, the aim of these studies was to prepare a short, valid and reliable tool for the measurement of parental identity in order to fill this gap. The associations of commitment, in‐depth exploration and reconsideration of commitment in the parental domain with well‐being and with other identity constructs were analyzed. The results showed that parental identity formation is associated with mothers’ satisfaction with life and trait anxiety and with identity formation in other areas as well. The initial results suggest that the adapted version of the U‐MICS is a valid and reliable measure that can be used in future studies on parental identity formation.
Factors associated with the delay of diagnosis of leprosy in north‐eastern Colombia: a quantitative analysis
Authors: Gómez Libardo , Rivera Alberto , Vidal Yesenia , Bilbao Jorge , Kasang Christa , Parisi Sandra , Schwienhorst‐Stich Eva‐Maria , Puchner Karl Philipp
Published: December 2017

Objectives

To determine the average time in months between the beginning of symptoms and the diagnostic confirmation of leprosy by the health system and to investigate factors associated with diagnostic delay.

Methods

A total of 249 patients older than 15 years diagnosed with leprosy between 2011 and 2015, in 20 endemic municipalities of north‐eastern Colombia, provided informed consent and were interviewed face‐to‐face. Clinical histories from health centres or hospitals where study participants were treated for leprosy were also reviewed.

Results

The mean delay in diagnosis of leprosy was 33.5 months. About 14.9% of patients showed a visible deformity or damage (disability grade 2, DG2) at the time of diagnosis. In multivariable regression analysis, five or more consultancies required to confirm the diagnosis and not seeking care immediately after noticing first symptoms were associated with longer diagnostic delay.

Conclusions

Our study found a significant delay in diagnosis of leprosy in north‐eastern Colombia, which might explain the continuously high rate of DG2 among new cases being notified in the country. Both patient‐ and health system‐related factors were associated with longer diagnostic delay. Interventions to increase awareness of disease among the general population and timely referral to a specialised health professional are urgently needed in our study setting.
Constant vigilance: plant functions guarded by resistance proteins
Authors: Su Jianbin , Spears Benjamin J. , Kim Sang Hee , Gassmann Walter
Published: December 2017

Unlike animals, plants do not have an adaptive immune system and have instead evolved sophisticated and multi‐layered innate immune mechanisms. To overcome plant immunity, pathogens secrete a diverse array of effectors into the apoplast and virtually all cellular compartments to dampen immune signaling and interfere with plant functions. Here we describe the scope of the arms race throughout the cell and summarize various strategies used by both plants and pathogens. Through studying the ongoing evolutionary battle between plants and key pathogens, we may yet uncover potential ways to achieve the ultimate goal of engineering broad‐spectrum resistant crops without affecting food quality or productivity.
Diurnal variations in intraocular pressure and central corneal thickness and the correlation between these factors in dogs
Authors: Garzón‐Ariza Alicia , Guisado Alicia , Galán Alba , Martín‐Suárez Eva
Published: December 2017

Objective

To study the diurnal variation in intraocular pressure (IOP) and central corneal thickness (CCT) in healthy Beagles by rebound tonometry and ultrasonic pachymetry, respectively, in addition to determining whether a correlation exists between these two variables.

Animals studied

Twenty eyes from 10 healthy Beagle dogs were included in the study.

Procedures

The IOP and CCT were measured by rebound tonometry and ultrasonic pachymetry, respectively, at 2‐h intervals over an 8‐hour period between 10:00 and 18:00.

Results

The mean values (± SD) of IOP obtained were 11.45 ± 2.96 at 10:00, 10.00 ± 1.89 at 12:00, 8.25 ± 1.62 at 14:00, 7.05 ± 1.05 at 16:00, and 6.55 ± 1.36 at 18:00. The mean values (± SD) of CCT obtained were 554.95 ± 72.41 at 10:00, 549.20 ± 69.10 at 12:00, 566.15 ± 80.56 at 14:00, 545.45 ± 70.19 at 16:00, and 538.30 ± 73.33 at 18:00. The IOP and CCT of dogs were found to decrease progressively from the first to the last measurement. There were statistically significant differences between the IOP (P = 0.000) and CCT values (P = 0.032) measured at different times of the day.

There was no effect or interaction between gender and eye with the dependent variables. The IOP and CCT were found to be positively correlated (r = 0.213, P = 0.034). The regression equation demonstrated that for every 100 μm increase in CCT, there was an elevation in IOP by 0.8 mmHg.

Conclusions

The CCT and IOP values were lower in the afternoon/evening than in the morning, and these were positively correlated. Both findings are important for the diagnostic interpretation of IOP values in dogs.
Use of personal protective equipment in a radiology room at a veterinary teaching hospital
Authors: Mayer Monique N. , Koehncke Niels K. , Belotta Alexandra F. , Cheveldae Isaac T. , Waldner Cheryl L.
Published: December 2017

The use of personal protective equipment by veterinary workers during radiographic imaging is inconsistent. While the self‐reported use of leaded aprons and thyroid shields approaches 100% in some studies, the use of leaded gloves and eyeglasses is much lower. Previous studies describing personal protective equipment use are based on self‐reporting. Objectives of this prospective, observational study were to describe use of leaded personal protective equipment during radiographic imaging by veterinary workers, and to compare observed use with self‐reported use. Use of leaded personal protective equipment during radiographic imaging by veterinary workers was observed over a 10 week period using two motion‐triggered video cameras, and a questionnaire was then completed by workers on their use of personal protective equipment. Workers restrained the animal during 91.8% (753/820) of exposures. An apron and a securely closed thyroid shield were worn for >99% of studies. Gloves were used correctly for 43.6% (156/358) of radiographic studies. Leaded eyeglasses were worn for 1.7% (6/358) of studies. Correct glove use was more frequent during regular working hours than after‐hours for both veterinarians (odds ratio 32.7, P = 0.001) and veterinary students (odds ratio 75.1, P < 0.001). The number of workers in the room was lower when animals were sedated (P = 0.002) or anesthetized (P = 0.017). Workers overestimated their frequency of glove use (P <0.001). In conclusion, workers use personal protective equipment less frequently in an unsupervised environment, and overestimate their use of personal protective equipment. Use of sedation or anesthesia decreases worker exposure to ionizing radiation.
Weed species composition of small‐scale farmlands bears a strong crop‐related and environmental signature
Authors: Nagy K , Lengyel A , Kovács A , Türei D , Csergő A M , Pinke G
Published: December 2017

Weed species loss due to intensive agricultural land use has raised the need to understand how traditional cropland management has sustained a diverse weed flora. We evaluated to what extent cultivation practices and environmental conditions affect the weed species composition of a small‐scale farmland mosaic in Central Transylvania (Romania). We recorded the abundance of weed species and 28 environmental, management and site context variables in 299 fields of maize, cereal and stubble. Using redundancy analysis, we revealed 22 variables with significant net effects, which explained 19.2% of the total variation in species composition. Cropland type had the most pronounced effect on weed composition with a clear distinction between cereal crops, cereal stubble and maize crops. Beyond these differences, the environmental context of croplands was a major driver of weed composition, with significant effects of geographic position, altitude, soil parameters (soil pH, texture, salt and humus content, CaCO3, P2O5, K2O, Na and Mg), as well as plot location (edge vs. core position) and surrounding habitat types (arable field, road margin, meadow, fallow, ditch). Performing a variation partitioning for the cropland types one by one, the environmental variables explained most of the variance compared with crop management. In contrast, when all sites were combined across different cropland types, the crop‐specific factors were more important in explaining variance in weed community composition.
Industria automotriz de Colombia: ¿un motor generador de valor económico agregado?
Authors: Padilla Ospina Ana Milena , Rivera Godoy Jorge Alberto
Published: December 2017

Este artículo tiene como propósito conocer el desempeño financiero del sector automotor de Colombia durante el período 2008-2014 mediante un estudio de su eficiencia, eficacia, efectividad y valor económico agregado, siguiendo como metodología el análisis de los indicadores financieros con base en información contable y los relacionados con la gestión del valor económico. Este sector genera rentabilidades contables en cada año analizado, y el comportamiento de su efectividad, en orden de importancia, depende de la eficacia, el apalancamiento financiero y la eficiencia; no obstante, tan solo en un año crea valor económico agregado (EVA) y su valor de mercado agregado (VMA) es negativo. El comportamiento del EVA está más relacionado con la orientación del indicador de rentabilidad del activo neto operacional que con la del costo de capital medio ponderado; y el primero depende de la eficacia en el control de costos y gastos, y de la eficiencia en el uso de los activos netos operacionales. A pesar de que en esta investigación se muestran los factores que han influido en el desempeño del sector automotor colombiano, estos resultados podrían fortalecerse si se pudieran hacer estudios similares para grupos de empresas más homogéneos por edad, tamaño y ubicación geográfica.
El bloque de constitucionalidad como mecanismo de interpretación constitucional. Aproximación a los contenidos del bloque en derechos en Colombia
Authors: Suelt-Cock Vanessa
Published: December 2017

En este artículo me propongo exponer cómo el concepto de bloque de constitucionalidad en Colombia, al igual que todas las instituciones jurídicas occidentales obedece a circunstancias de tiempo y lugar determinadas. Asimismo, realizar una aproximación de los contenidos en derechos del Bloque de acuerdo a pronunciamientos de la Corte Constitucional. Para lograr estos dos cometidos describo el concepto de bloque ideado en Francia y España demostrando las diferencias de los conceptos ligadas a las circunstancias de contexto en el que esta figura se idea y el contraste con el caso colombiano. Este estudio permite señalar que se ha ampliado la constitución colombiana en materia de derechos humanos de acuerdo con la teoría del pluralismo constitucional y la interpretación multinivel. Esto ha implicado cambios en la interpretación constitucional para la aplicación de derechos humanos, debido a las nuevas relaciones entre las fuentes del derecho constitucional y las del internacional.
Dynamics of cochlear nonlinearity: Automatic gain control or instantaneous damping?
Authors: Altoè Alessandro , Charaziak Karolina K. , Shera Christopher A.
Published: December 2017

Measurements of basilar-membrane (BM) motion show that the compressive nonlinearity of cochlear mechanical responses is not an instantaneous phenomenon. For this reason, the cochlear amplifier has been thought to incorporate an automatic gain control (AGC) mechanism characterized by a finite reaction time. This paper studies the effect of instantaneous nonlinear damping on the responses of oscillatory systems. The principal results are that (i) instantaneous nonlinear damping produces a noninstantaneous gain control that differs markedly from typical AGC strategies; (ii) the kinetics of compressive nonlinearity implied by the finite reaction time of an AGC system appear inconsistent with the nonlinear dynamics measured on the gerbil basilar membrane; and (iii) conversely, those nonlinear dynamics can be reproduced using an harmonic oscillator with instantaneous nonlinear damping. Furthermore, existing cochlear models that include instantaneous gain-control mechanisms capture the principal kinetics of BM nonlinearity. Thus, an AGC system with finite reaction time appears neither necessary nor sufficient to explain nonlinear gain control in the cochlea.
Aging impairs both primary and secondary RIG-I signaling for interferon induction in human monocytes
Authors: Molony Ryan D. , Nguyen Jenny T. , Kong Yong , Montgomery Ruth R. , Shaw Albert C. , Iwasaki Akiko
Published: December 2017

Age-related reduction of the adaptor protein TRAF3 compromises the innate immune response of monocytes from older individuals.