bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamic and kinetic studies of the adsorption behaviour of the natural dye cochineal on polyamide 66
Authors: Sadeghi‐Kiakhani Mousa , Safapour Siyamak , Mirnezhad Somayeh
Published: May 2018

The adsorption behaviour of the natural dye cochineal on polyamide 66 was studied at different pH values. The thermodynamic and kinetic parameters such as standard affinity (−Δμ˚), changes in enthalpy (ΔH˚) and entropy (ΔS˚), diffusion coefficient and activation energy of the diffusion, were determined for pH values of 3 and 6. Results indicated that the experimental data fitted appropriately with the Nernst isotherm. Furthermore, the partitioning ratio and −Δμ˚ decreased significantly with increasing temperature, and it was revealed that the adsorption of cochineal onto polyamide was an exothermic process. The −Δμ˚ value of polyamide dyed at pH 3 was higher than that dyed at pH 6. This is related to higher numbers of electrostatic and non‐electrostatic interactions between cochineal and polyamide at pH 3, whereas at pH 6 non‐electrostatic hydrophobic interactions between cochineal and polyamide are dominant. At pH 6 comparatively higher negative values for ΔH˚ and ΔS˚ were obtained. The diffusion coefficient increased with rises in temperature. The polyamide dyed at pH 3 had a higher diffusion coefficient at every temperature than the polyamide dyed at pH 6. The dyeing rate for polyamide at pH 3 was higher than at pH 6 and reached equilibrium in a shorter time. Furthermore, a lower activation energy of diffusion was obtained at pH 3 compared to pH 6.
A mobile health technology enabled home‐based intervention to treat frailty in adult lung transplant candidates: A pilot study
Authors: Singer Jonathan P. , Soong Allison , Bruun Allan , Bracha Ayana , Chin Greg , Hays Steven R. , Kukreja Jasleen , Rigler Julia , Golden Jeff A. , Greenland John R. , Garvey Chris
Published: May 2018

Background

Frailty is prevalent in lung transplant candidates (LTC) and is associated with waitlist delisting or death. We performed a pilot study to assess the safety and feasibility of a home‐based, mobile health technology‐facilitated intervention to treat frailty in LTC.

Methods

We performed an 8‐week, nonrandomized, home‐based exercise and nutrition intervention in LTC with Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) frailty scores of ≤11. The intervention utilized a customized, mobile device application (“app”) enabling monitoring and progression of the intervention in real time. We aimed to evaluate key process measures. Secondarily, we tested whether the intervention could improve frailty scores quantified by the SPPB and Fried Frailty Phenotype (FFP).

Results

A total of 15 subjects enrolled were 63 ± 5.7 years old; oxygen requirements ranged from 3 to 15LPM. Thirteen subjects completed the intervention. Over 108 subject‐weeks, there were no adverse events. Subjects found the app engaging and easy to work with. SPPB frailty improved in 7 (54%) and FFP improved in 8 (62%). There was a strong trend toward improved frailty scores (SPPB change 1.0 ± 1.9; P = .08; FFP change −0.6 ± 1.0; P = .07).

Conclusion

In this pilot study, we found that a home‐based prehabilitation program that leverages mobile health technology to target frailty in LTC is well received, safe, and capable of improving physical frailty scores.
Fatigue of engineering structures under combined nonproportional loads: An overview
Authors: Vormwald M. , Hertel O. , Zerres P.
Published: May 2018

Nonproportionality in fatigue is a matter of loading sequences acting on structures. In such loading cases, a life assessment‐based search of the initiation site is required. This means that for a variety of potential sites, their stress‐strain sequences must be determined and the corresponding fatigue lives have to be calculated. For the determination of local stress‐strain sequences, a superposition of the action of loads at all times for all potential sites must be performed. The superposition has not only to be performed at a particular time of a load reversal but also for a sufficiently large number of intermediate points in time. For the assessment of crack initiation under local nonproportional stress‐strain sequences, a multiaxial fatigue damage hypothesis must be specified. Due to the superiority with respect to accuracy, critical plane approaches are the favourite ones when dealing with nonproportional fatigue of ductile metals. For describing fatigue crack growth, the time sequences for the stress intensity factors corresponding to the 3 opening modes must be obtained by superposition. A mixed‐mode hypothesis must be applied to predict both the direction and the increment of crack growth at each crack front point. A first prediction trial should be based on an appropriate extension of the maximum tangential stress hypothesis. An application of a variant of the maximum shear stress hypothesis might be an amendment. Especially in the case of crack turning, the consideration of crack face contact is mandatory.
Involvement of miR‐140‐3p in Wnt3a and TGFβ3 signaling pathways during osteoblast differentiation in MC3T3‐E1 cells
Authors: Fushimi Shigeko , Nohno Tsutomu , Nagatsuka Hitoshi , Katsuyama Hironobu
Published: May 2018

The Wnt/β‐catenin signaling and TGFβ signaling pathways play a key role in osteoblast differentiation. The miRNAs play important roles in regulating gene expression at the post‐transcriptional level through fine‐tuning of protein‐encoding gene expression. However, involvement of miRNAs is not established for Wnt3a and TGFβ signaling pathways in osteoblast differentiation. Here, we examined the role of miRNAs expressed differentially after Wnt3a expression during osteoblast differentiation. Over‐expression of the Wnt3a gene increased ALP transcription, but decreased Col1, Runx2, and OCN transcription in osteoblastic MC3T3‐E1 cells. Expression profiling and quantitative PCR for miRNAs showed that miR‐140‐3p decreased in Wnt3a‐over‐expressing osteoblastic cells. Wnt3a over‐expression increased TGFβ3 expression, whereas transfection of the miR‐140‐3p mimic into MC3T3‐E1 cells significantly inhibited TGFβ3 expression. Luciferase assay for the TGFβ3 transcript showed that TGFβ3 was a direct target of miR‐140‐3p. miR‐140‐3p mimic transfection resulted in significantly increased OCN transcription, but did not affect ALP, Col1, and Runx2 transcription in MC3T3‐E1 cells. rTGFβ3 treatment decreased OCN transcription in MC3T3‐E1 cells. These results suggest that the miR‐140‐3p is involved in osteoblast differentiation as a critical regulatory factor between Wnt3a and TGFβ3 signaling pathways.
New challenges and best practices for the laboratory monitoring of factor VIII and factor IX replacement
Authors: Van den Bossche D. , Peerlinck K. , Jacquemin M.
Published: May 2018

Several recombinant factor VIII and factor IX concentrates with extended half‐life (EHL) have recently been validated by clinical studies. The availability of these novel concentrates is expected to significantly facilitate the treatment of patients with hemophilia A and B. However, the modification applied to these molecules has introduced variations in their activity measurement in routine coagulation assays. Depending on the assays, underestimations of up to 10‐fold or overestimations of up to approximately 30‐fold in the measurements of the recovery have been reported in some factor concentrates. Such biases in monitoring may lead to major under‐ or overtreatment, as well as unnecessary searching for inhibitor antibodies. In this review, we discuss the guidelines and recommendations that allow the selection of optimal strategies to monitor patients treated with these novel factor concentrates. Based on the specificities of the assays and on local regulations, different chromogenic substrate assays in addition to one‐stage clotting assays may be validated to allow the accurate measurement of all novel products. An efficient communication between the clinical laboratory and the clinicians is essential to ensure that the appropriate assays are carried out in laboratories and that the clinicians correctly evaluate the data. Further laboratory and clinical studies are still required for the optimization of the laboratory assays that can be used in the measurement of novel factor VIII and factor IX concentrates with EHL.
Antimicrobial prescription in patients dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Taverner John , Ross Lauren , Bartlett Claire , Luthe Marco , Ong Jeffrey , Irving Louis , Smallwood Natasha
Published: May 2018

Background

Despite rising antimicrobial resistance, treatment guidelines for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbations are frequently ignored. Patients with terminal conditions are often prescribed antimicrobials despite the goal of care to reduce burdensome treatments. The appropriate use of antimicrobials in patients who die from an exacerbation of COPD is unknown.

Aim

To review antimicrobial prescription during the final admission in patients who died from an acute exacerbation of COPD.

Methods

A retrospective medical record audit was performed for 475 patients who died over 12 years (2004–2015). Patients were analysed within three groups: Group 1 – pneumonia on chest radiograph, Group 2 – infective exacerbation of COPD +/− raised inflammatory markers (white cell count, C‐reactive protein) and Group 3 – non‐infective exacerbation of COPD.

Results

A total of 221 patients died from COPD. The median age was 80 years, and 136 (60%) were male. Median respiratory function: forced expiratory volume in 1 s 0.8 L (41.0%), forced vital capacity 2.0 L (74.0%) and diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide 8 (40.5%). A total of 109 (49.3%) patients used home oxygen and 156 (70.6%) were ex‐smokers.

Of the cohort, 90.5% received antimicrobials. In Groups 1, 2 and 3, 68 (94.4%), 108 (92.3%) and 24 (75.0%) patients received antimicrobials respectively. Guideline‐concordant therapy was administered to 31.7% of patients (Group 1: 79.2%, Group 2: 4.3%, Group 3: 25.0%), 60.2% of patients received ceftriaxone and 44.8% received azithromycin. The median duration of therapy was 4 days and 27.1% received antimicrobials at the time of death.

Conclusion

Antimicrobials are overprescribed, and non‐guideline antimicrobials are overused in patients who die from COPD. Further education of medical staff, regular medication reviews and the use of disease severity scores or clinical pathways may improve antimicrobial stewardship.
Hospitalisation and morbidity due to adverse drug reactions in elderly patients: a single‐centre study
Authors: Ognibene Silvia , Vazzana Natale , Giumelli Claudio , Savoldi Luisa , Braglia Luca , Chesi Giuseppe
Published: May 2018

Background

Adverse drug reaction (ADR) is a leading but under‐recognised cause of illness, particularly in frail subjects with multiple comorbidities.

Aim

To investigate the frequency, patterns and outcomes of ADR as a cause of hospitalisation in elderly patients admitted to an internal medicine ward.

Methods

We performed a retrospective observational study including every patient aged over 65 years who was admitted to our department during a 12‐month period. Patients admitted to short‐stay (<24 h) observation unit were excluded.

Results

ADR accounted for 106 of total 1750 recorded admissions, which constituted a proportion of 6.1% (95% confidence interval 5.0–7.3%). The median age of patients was 83.5 (78.0–87.0) years and 56.6% were on polypharmacy. A total of 170 ADR was recorded with 45.3% of subjects experiencing concomitantly more than one ADR from a single molecule. Diuretics were the most commonly imputed molecules (30 events, 17.6%), followed by antithrombotics (25 events, 14.7%) and central nervous system‐active drugs (16 events, 9.4%). Interactions were judged responsible for 39 cases of ADR (36.8%). An unfavourable outcome was observed in about one‐third of patients (37.7%). Among those subjects, 11 (10.4%) died and 29 (27.4%) had residual disability.

Conclusion

ADR are a common cause of hospital admission in elderly patients and are often associated with adverse outcomes. Our data underline the need of appropriate strategies aimed at identifying high‐risk patients and avoiding potentially preventable drug toxicities.
Universal social protection in Tunisia: Comparing the effectiveness and cost‐efficiency of food and energy subsidies with a proposed universal child allowance programme
Authors: Györi Mario , Soares Fabio Veras
Published: May 2018

This article compares the effectiveness and efficiency of a food and energy subsidy programme, which is currently implemented by the Tunisian government, and a universal child allowance programme that is discussed as an alternative to these subsidies. The empirical analysis is based on microsimulations on the poverty impact and the costs of both programmes based on Tunisian household survey data. Our results suggest that a universal child allowance is approximately twice as efficient (i.e. the cost of lifting one person out of poverty under a universal child allowance is half of the cost of lifting one person out of poverty using subsidies) in reducing poverty than the current food and energy subsidies. The article concludes that efficiency‐enhancing social protection reforms are possible based on a universal approach. Such reforms can be achieved without resorting to narrow poverty‐targeting as an alternative to the subsidies whose negative side‐effects (e.g. non‐negligible exclusion errors, incentives to informality and social tensions) and costs (both public and private costs related to intensive data collection to improve targeting) are usually overlooked or underestimated.
Can youth activation policies be central to social policies in MENA countries?
Authors: Barsoum Ghada
Published: May 2018

Youth unemployment is a major socio‐political issue in the Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). However, active labour market programmes (ALMPs) in support of youth employment remain less prevalent and are generally outside the purview of social policies in the region's countries. This article addresses this inconsistency. The article provides an overview of such programmes and identifies the challenges to their inclusion as a central part of the region's social policy mix. Internationally, the article notes that successful models for the integration of ALMPs into social policies have been part of long‐term reforms targeting inclusive social security systems. This has not been the case in Arab countries where access to contributory social security systems is limited and where labour markets are characterized by large informal economies and a majority of workers are without social protection. Further contributing factors pertain to limited state budgets and a limited knowledge base about the effectiveness of ALMPs in the region.
A revised sales rebate contract with effort‐dependent demand: a channel coordination approach
Authors: Heydari Jafar , Asl‐Najafi Javad
Published: May 2018

In this paper, simultaneous coordination of order quantity and sales effort (SE) decisions in a supplier/retailer system with stochastic effort‐dependent demand is investigated. The main aim of the proposed model is to attain an optimal balance that results in a Pareto‐efficient solution for both channel members. A revised sales rebate (RSR) contract is developed to achieve channel coordination. In addition to the usual incentive approach of sales rebate schemes, a punitive approach is designed for the new proposed contract as a stockout penalty. Furthermore, some numerical experiments are examined to analyze the performance of the presented model under three decision‐making scenarios (i.e., decentralized, centralized, and RSR). Additionally, some in‐depth sensitivity analyses are conducted to examine the behavior of the supply chain performance under alteration of different parameters. The results show that the proposed RSR contract leads to channel coordination, while both channel members experience a Pareto improving situation. Moreover, it is proved that the RSR contract has significant potential on neutralizing adverse impacts of demand fluctuations on channel performance indicators.
Spark plasma sintering of structure‐tailored ultrahigh‐temperature components: First step to complex net shaping
Authors: Wei Xialu , Izhvanov Oleg , Back Christina , Haines Christopher D. , Martin Darold G. , Vecchio Kenneth S. , Olevsky Eugene A.
Published: May 2018

The net‐shaping capability in spark plasma sintering (SPS) of ultrahigh‐temperature ceramics has been explored in this study. The annular or ring‐like shape is considered here as the first step to a more complex geometry compared to a solid cylinder or disk. ZrC powders have been SPS processed in specially designed graphite tooling to achieve the annular shape geometry. Experimental runs have been carried out to determine the optimal processing parameters for producing highly dense ZrC specimens in this geometry. Finite‐element modeling framework has been constructed to determine the internal stress evolution, as well as densification, during the SPS of the annular‐shaped ZrC. The formulated processing schemes for ZrC have been adapted to process SiC/ZrB2 composite powder with the purpose of making tooling components for SPS applications. The applicability of the obtained composite SPS tooling has been evaluated at high temperature and high pressure associated with SPS regimes.
Benefits of team participative decision making and its potential to affect individual creativity
Authors: Wong Yin Yee , Chow Irene Hau‐Siu , Lau Victor P. , Gong Yuanyuan
Published: May 2018

How does team participative decision‐making affect individual creative performance? Building on team climate theory (Anderson & West, 1998; West 1990, 2002; West & Sacramento, 2012), this study investigates the indirect effect of team participative decision making on employee creativity through individual perception of cognition team diversity and psychological safety. Results from 256 supervisor–subordinate dyads in 45 teams show that team participative decision making is positively associated with cognitive team diversity and psychological safety. For the mediating effects, team participative decision‐making climate is positively indirectly related to creative performance via psychological safety but not via cognitive team diversity. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Euro Area Membership and the Probability of a Sudden Stop: An Empirical Assessment
Authors: De Freitas Miguel Lebre , Nunes Luis Catela , Rodrigues Madalena Sampaio
Published: May 2018

Using quarterly data from 1995 until 2014, we investigate whether Euro Area (EA) membership influences the probability of a European Union Member State going through an episode of sudden stop or through an episode of bonanza, after controlling for a number of push and pull factors. Overall, our results do not support the claim that EA membership constituted a weakness during the recent financial crisis. On the contrary, we find that EA membership decreases the probability of a sudden stop, all else equal. We find no evidence that being part of the EA has a direct effect on the probability of bonanza. When allowing for interaction effects, our results suggest that EA membership might have mitigated the risk perception arising from higher government debt in the case of bonanzas.
Marketing Benchmarks: Do You Trust Your Friendly Marketer?
Authors: Obermiller Carl
Published: May 2018

With many products, consumers must make key decisions—the amount to use per application, the need to replace when worn out, or a reasonable amount to spend—and there are no clear answers to these questions. Consumers are unlikely to have the expertise or the motivation to find optimal answers. The term marketing benchmark is used for a marketer‐supplied indication of how much of a product to use, how often to replace it, or how much to spend on it. Even though consumers have reasons to be skeptical, a series of experiments indicate that advertised marketing benchmarks influence how much they believe they should use per application and how frequently they should replace products. Furthermore, skepticism toward advertising appears to provide only small protection against the influence of marketing benchmarks.
Encouraging Tax‐Time Savings with a Low‐Touch, Large‐Scale Intervention: Evidence from the Refund to Savings Experiment
Authors: Roll Stephen P. , Russell Blair D. , Perantie Dana C. , Grinstein‐Weiss Michal
Published: May 2018

Low‐ and moderate‐income households often struggle to save, but the annual tax refund represents a prime opportunity for these households to save toward their financial goals or build their emergency savings. This paper presents the results of a randomized, controlled experiment embedded in a free tax‐preparation product offered in 2013 to low‐ and moderate‐income households. The experiment involved approximately 470,000 filers and assessed the impact of behavioral interventions on their savings behaviors. The results show that filers exposed to the treatments, which involved the established behavioral‐economics techniques of anchoring, choice architecture, and persuasive messaging, were more likely than a control group to save their tax refund and, on average, saved more of the refund. A follow‐up survey of these tax filers found that the treatments were associated with saving more of the tax refund six months after filing. The findings also show that anchors encouraging filers to deposit certain amounts are more effective than persuasive messaging emphasizing savings.
Exploring the Interplay of Cognitive Style and Demographics in Consumers' Financial Knowledge
Authors: O'Connor Genevieve E.
Published: May 2018

Despite substantial research and advances in consumers' financial knowledge, many Americans still lack basic financial skills. One overlooked research area is the relationships between consumers' cognitive style and subjective knowledge and objective knowledge, and how these relationships vary by demographics. Based on a nationwide study (n = 817), results indicate that consumers' perception of their subjective financial knowledge varies by cognitive style, with those consumers having an intuitive cognitive style, having a higher perception of their subjective financial knowledge than those who are more analytical. More nuanced results suggest that subjective knowledge is related to the interplay of cognitive style with demographics, whereas objective knowledge is not dependent on this interplay. These and other results illustrate that understanding nuances of financial knowledge is still of pressing importance to ensure consumer well‐being.
The Development of Nonanatomic Denture Occlusion: Part II
Authors: Engelmeier Robert L.
Published: May 2018

This second part of a four‐part series concerned with the development of nonanatomic denture occlusion follows nonanatomic tooth design from the time of Victor Sears’ first nonanatomic tooth patent through the mid‐1930s. Many of the designs featured in this series exhibit genius, while others are pure nonsense. Sears claimed that a new nonanatomic tooth design appeared every 9 months on average during the first 30 years of nonanatomic tooth production. Many current nonanatomic tooth patents are further refinements of those earlier designs. Part II reviews pioneering designs that appeared during the first dozen or so years of this paradigm shift in denture occlusion philosophy.
Biotreatment of paper mill effluent using alkaliphilic Rhizobium sp. NCIM 5590 isolated from meteoric alkaline Lonar Lake, Buldhana District, Maharashtra, India
Authors: Raut Avinash A. , Phugare Swapnil S. , Kalyani Dayanand C. , Bajekal Shyam S.
Published: May 2018

Bacterial strain Rhizobium sp. was isolated from littoral soil of meteoric alkaline Lonar Lake and used to treat paper mill waste water. The bacterium was found to fix 125.7 nmol of C2H4 formed ml−1 culture media in 72 hr by ARA (acetylene reduction assay). The optimum pH for its growth was 12, whereas the optimum temperature was 40°C. The bacterium could tolerate salt concentrations up to 4%. The collected paper mill effluent used two dyes in combination, namely Acid Orange 7 (AO) and Acid Yellow 17 (AY) to produce brown paper, eventually producing coloured effluent containing unbound AO and AY. Rhizobium sp. was found to be efficient for decolorization of both AO and AY individually, as well as in a mixture of AO and AY, suggesting the ability of this strain for treating paper mill effluent. The strain was found to be efficient in reducing up to 85% of the colour from undiluted paper mill effluent within 18 hr. In addition, biotreatment also was effective in reducing COD, metals and toxicity from the waste water. Induction in the enzymes azo reductase and DCIP reductase indicated their possible involvement in biotreatment of paper mill effluent. The effluent toxicity before and after treatment was studied using Allium cepa root cells, evaluating various biochemical parameters to assess the toxicity, including lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation, antioxidant enzyme status (catalase, superoxide dismutase) and genotoxicity assays using single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE).
Transcriptomic analysis of skin pigmentation variation in the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana)
Authors: Nigenda‐Morales Sergio F. , Hu Yibo , Beasley James C. , Ruiz‐Piña Hugo A. , Valenzuela‐Galván David , Wayne Robert K.
Published: May 2018

Skin pigmentation and coat pigmentation are two of the best‐studied examples of traits under natural selection given their quantifiable fitness interactions with the environment (e.g., camouflage) and signalling with other organisms (e.g., warning coloration). Previous morphological studies have found that skin pigmentation variation in the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is associated with variation in precipitation and temperatures across its distribution range following Gloger's rule (lighter pigmentation in temperate environments). To investigate the molecular mechanism associated with skin pigmentation variation, we used RNA‐Seq and quantified gene expression of wild opossums from tropical and temperate populations. Using differential expression analysis and a co‐expression network approach, we found that expression variation in genes with melanocytic and immune functions is significantly associated with the degree of skin pigmentation variation and may be underlying this phenotypic difference. We also found evidence suggesting that the Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathway might be regulating the depigmentation observed in temperate populations. Based on our study results, we present several alternative hypotheses that may explain Gloger's rule pattern of skin pigmentation variation in opossum, including changes in pathogen diversity supporting a pathogen‐resistant hypothesis, thermal stress associated with temperate environments, and pleiotropic and epistatic interactions between melanocytic and immune genes.
A genomic evaluation of taxonomic trends through time in coast horned lizards (genus Phrynosoma)
Authors: Leaché Adam D. , McElroy Matthew T. , Trinh Anna
Published: May 2018

Determining the boundaries between species and deciding when to describe new species are challenging practices that are particularly difficult in groups with high levels of geographic variation. The coast horned lizards (Phrynosoma blainvillii, Phrynosoma cerroense and P. coronatum) have an extensive geographic distribution spanning many distinctive ecological regions ranging from northern California to the Cape Region of Baja California, Mexico, and populations differ substantially with respect to external morphology across much of this range. The number of taxa recognized in the group has been reevaluated by herpetologists over 20 times during the last 180 years, and typically without the aid of explicit species delimitation methods, resulting in a turbulent taxonomy containing anywhere from one to seven taxa. In this study, we evaluate taxonomic trends through time by ranking 15 of these species delimitation models (SDMs) using coalescent analyses of nuclear loci and SNPs in a Bayesian model comparison framework. Species delimitation models containing more species were generally favoured by Bayesian model selection; however, several three‐species models outperformed some four‐ and five‐species SDMs, and the top‐ranked model, which contained five species, outperformed all SDMs containing six species. Model performance peaked in the 1950s based on marginal likelihoods estimated from nuclear loci and SNPs. Not surprisingly, SDMs based on genetic data outperformed morphological taxonomies when using genetic data alone to evaluate models. The de novo estimation of population structure favours a three‐population model that matches the currently recognized integrative taxonomy containing three species. We discuss why Bayesian model selection might favour models containing more species, and why recognizing more than three species might be warranted.
Enteric glial cell activation protects enteric neurons from damage due to diabetes in part via the promotion of neurotrophic factor release
Authors: Luo P. , Liu D. , Li C. , He W.‐X. , Zhang C.‐L. , Chang M.‐J.
Published: May 2018

Background

Diabetes can result in pathological changes to enteric nervous system. Our aim was to test the dynamic changes of enteric neurons and identify the role of enteric glial cells (EGCs) in regulating enteric neuron expression in diabetic rats.

Methods

A single injection of streptozotocin (STZ) was used to establish diabetic rats. Animals were randomly distributed into diabetic 1‐, 4‐, 8‐, and 16‐week groups, as well as age‐matched control groups. The PGP9.5‐ and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)‐immunopositive cells were quantified by immunohistochemistry. The protein levels of PGP9.5, ChAT, nNOS, S‐100β, and c‐fos were determined by western blotting. The levels of nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin 3 (NT‐3), and glial cell‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) were tested by ELISA.

Key Results

An increase in blood glucose and a decrease in body weight were observed following STZ administration. PGP9.5 expression did not change in the diabetic ileum. However, ChAT increased after 16 weeks, and nNOS decreased after 8 and 16 weeks in the ilea of diabetic rats. The absence of degeneration of enteric neurons during the acute stage of the disease could be the consequence of the up‐regulation of GFAP, S‐100β, and c‐fos. Moreover, the content of NGF, NT‐3, and GDNF in the ileum increased by varying degrees after 1 and/or 4 weeks of diabetes. Using 2 co‐culture models of EGCs and SH‐SY5Y cells in a high glucose condition, the supportive role of EGCs was further confirmed.

Conclusions & Inferences

Enteric glial cell activation can protect enteric neurons from damage due to diabetes in the acute stage of the disease, in part via the promotion of neurotrophin release.
An integrated approach to analyzing risk in bioeconomic models
Authors: N. Poudel Biswo , P. Paudel Krishna
Published: May 2018

We provide a new integrated approach to analyzing risk in a setting where both exogenous and endogenous risks are present. We explicitly model these risks to understand their implications to the precautionary principle. We find that, among other things, the increase of exogenous risk in the presence of endogenous risk has a different impact on precaution than the increase in exogenous risk in the presence of only exogenous risk. While the latter is known to decrease precaution, the former unambiguously increases the precaution in the presence of stock effect.

Recommendations for Resource Managers

Two kinds of risk are prevalent. Endogenous risk is created by human action. Exogenous risk is created by nature.

Endogenous risk can be minimized by taking several actions. If there is only endogenous risk, resource managers should take precaution in extracting the resources.

Managers should take precaution in extracting resources if there are both endogenous and exogenous risk and if there is stock effect. Without stock effect, results are ambiguous.

If there is only exogenous risk, managers can do nothing. Therefore, managers should allow for the depletion of resources.
Protocol for a randomized controlled trial of piano training on cognitive and psychosocial outcomes
Authors: Bugos Jennifer
Published: May 2018

Age‐related cognitive decline and cognitive impairment represent the fastest growing health epidemic worldwide among those over 60. There is a critical need to identify effective and novel complex cognitive interventions to promote successful aging. Since piano training engages cognitive and bimanual sensorimotor processing, we hypothesize that piano training may serve as an effective cognitive intervention, as it requires sustained attention and engages an executive network that supports generalized cognition and emotional control. Here, I describe the protocol of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the impact of piano training on cognitive performance in adulthood, a period associated with decreased neuroplasticity. In this cluster RCT, healthy older adults (age 60–80) were recruited and screened to control for confounding variables. Eligible participants completed an initial 3‐h assessment of standardized cognitive and psychosocial measures. Participants were stratified by age, education, and estimate of intelligence and randomly assigned to one of three groups: piano training, computer brain training, or a no‐treatment control group. Computer brain training consisted of progressively difficult auditory cognitive exercises (Brain HQ; Posit Science, 2010). Participants assigned to training groups completed a 16‐week program that met twice a week for 90 minutes. Upon program completion and at a 3‐month follow‐up, training participants and no‐treatment controls completed a posttest visit lasting 2.5 hours.
Phenotypic heterogeneity of obesity‐related brain vulnerability: one‐size interventions will not fit all
Authors: Haley Andreana P. , Oleson Stephanie , Pasha Evan , Birdsill Alex , Kaur Sonya , Thompson Janelle , Tanaka Hirofumi
Published: May 2018

Intact memory and problem solving are key to functional independence and quality of life in older age. Considering the unprecedented demographic shift toward a greater number of older adults than children in the United States in the next few decades, it is critically important for older adults to maintain work productivity and functional independence for as long as possible. Implementing early interventions focused on modifiable risk factors for cognitive decline at midlife is a strategy with the highest chance of success at present, bearing in mind the current lack of dementia cures. We present a selective, narrative review of evidence linking nutrition, body composition, vascular health, and brain function in midlife to highlight the phenotypic heterogeneity of obesity‐related brain vulnerability and to endorse the development of individually tailored lifestyle modification plans for primary prevention of cognitive decline.
Endoscopic near‐infrared dental imaging with indocyanine green: a pilot study
Authors: Li Zhongqiang , Yao Shaomian , Xu Jian , Wu Ye , Li Chunhong , He Ziying
Published: May 2018

Current dental diagnosis, especially tooth abnormalities, relies largely on X‐ray–based imaging, a technique that requires specialized skills and suffers from ionizing radiation. Here, we present a pilot study in rats of an efficient, ionizing‐radiation–free and easy‐to‐use alternative for dental imaging. Postnatal rats at different ages were injected with indocyanine green and molars were imaged by a laboratory‐designed endoscopic near‐infrared (NIR) dental imaging system. The results indicate that the endoscopic NIR dental imaging can be used to observe the morphology of postnatal rat molars, especially at early postnatal stages when morphology of the molar is indistinguishable under visible conditions. A small abnormal cusp was observed and distinguished from the normal cusps by the NIR dental imaging system. Dental structures, such as unerupted molars, can be imaged as soon as 10 min after the injection of indocyanine green; imaging after 24 h shows improved imaging contrast. Overall, the endoscopic NIR fluorescence dental imaging system described here may be useful in dental research; this technique may serve as a safe, real‐time imaging tool for dental diagnosis and treatment beyond experimental systems in the future.
HOP family plays a major role in long‐term acquired thermotolerance in Arabidopsis
Authors: Fernández‐Bautista Nuria , Fernández‐Calvino Lourdes , Muñoz Alfonso , Toribio René , Mock Hans P. , Castellano M. Mar
Published: May 2018

HSP70‐HSP90 organizing protein (HOP) is a family of cytosolic cochaperones whose molecular role in thermotolerance is quite unknown in eukaryotes and unexplored in plants.

In this article, we describe that the three members of the AtHOP family display a different induction pattern under heat, being HOP3 highly regulated during the challenge and the attenuation period. Despite HOP3 is the most heat‐regulated member, the analysis of the hop1 hop2 hop3 triple mutant demonstrates that the three HOP proteins act redundantly to promote long‐term acquired thermotolerance in Arabidopsis. HOPs interact strongly with HSP90 and part of the bulk of HOPs shuttles from the cytoplasm to the nuclei and to cytoplasmic foci during the challenge. RNAseq analyses demonstrate that, although the expression of the Hsf targets is not generally affected, the transcriptional response to heat is drastically altered during the acclimation period in the hop1 hop2 hop3 triple mutant. This mutant also displays an unusual high accumulation of insoluble and ubiquitinated proteins under heat, which highlights the additional role of HOP in protein quality control. These data reveal that HOP family is involved in different aspects of the response to heat, affecting the plant capacity to acclimate to high temperatures for long periods.
Characteristics of perceived electromagnetic hypersensitivity in the general population
Authors: Gruber Michael J. , Palmquist Eva , Nordin Steven
Published: May 2018

Health problems evoked in the presence of electrical equipment is a concern, calling for better understanding for characteristics of electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS) in the general population. The present study investigated demographics, lifestyle factors, frequency and duration, coping strategies, proportion meeting clinical criteria for intolerance attributed to electromagnetic fields (EMF) and comorbidity. Using data from a large‐scale population‐based questionnaire study, we investigated persons with self‐reported (n = 91) EHS in comparison to referents (n = 3,250). Middle age, female sex and poor perceived health was found to be associated with EHS. More than 50% in the EHS group reported having EMF‐related symptoms more often than once a week, and the mean number of years experiencing EHS was 10.5. More than half of the EHS group reported that their symptoms started after a high‐dose or long‐term EMF exposure, that they actively tried to avoid EMF sources and that they mostly could affect the EMF environment. A minority of the EHS group had sought medical attention, been diagnosed by a physician or received treatment. Exhaustion syndrome, anxiety disorder, back/joint/muscle disorder, depression, functional somatic syndrome and migraine were comorbid with EHS. The results provide ground for future study of these characteristic features being risk factors for development of EHS and or consequences of EHS.
Junior doctors’ perspectives on transfusion education in Australia
Authors: Flores C. J. , Quested B. , Spigiel T. , Thomson A. , Saxon B.
Published: May 2018

Background

Early postgraduate training is a critical period to develop skills and to influence future clinical practice. Little is known about Australian junior doctors' existing transfusion knowledge and its application in patient care. This study explored their transfusion practice education preferences, developed tools to assist their practice and assessed the usefulness of these tools.

Methods

A design‐based study was conducted in two phases from April 2016 to March 2017. Phase 1 involved focus group sessions in six hospitals. Transcripts of audio recordings were analysed using thematic analysis. Findings were considered when developing transfusion practice support tools. Phase 2 surveyed junior doctors’ response to the tools provided during orientation in five hospitals. Participation was voluntary.

Results

Fifty‐two junior doctors participated in the focus groups. Their priority was to be able to practice safely, appropriately and confidently. Preferred format for transfusion learning included expert‐led face‐to‐face education; printed tools, for example lanyard cards; and for one app that covers essential aspects of transfusion practice. Adverse events management and practical transfusion prescribing were topics of most importance. Thirty‐nine survey respondents found the transfusion practice support tools useful and recommended their use to complement practice.

Conclusion

There is a need for improved education to ensure best transfusion practice and patient outcomes. Australian junior doctors want immediate, practical, reliable transfusion information from credible sources to support them in practicing safely and confidently. Their educational needs are driven by real‐time patient management. Promotion of the available resources and tools provided by the blood sector is important.
Duality for relative logarithmic de Rham–Witt sheaves and wildly ramified class field theory over finite fields
Authors: Jannsen Uwe , Saito Shuji , Zhao Yigeng
Published: May 2018

In order to study$p$-adic étale cohomology of an open subvariety$U$of a smooth proper variety$X$over a perfect field of characteristic$p>0$, we introduce new$p$-primary torsion sheaves. It is a modification of the logarithmic de Rham–Witt sheaves of$X$depending on effective divisors$D$supported in$X-U$. Then we establish a perfect duality between cohomology groups of the logarithmic de Rham–Witt cohomology of$U$and an inverse limit of those of the mentioned modified sheaves. Over a finite field, the duality can be used to study wildly ramified class field theory for the open subvariety$U$.
Governance in Sport: A Scoping Review
Authors: Dowling Mathew , Leopkey Becca , Smith Lee
Published: May 2018

This article examines the current state of sport governance research within the field of sport management. In adopting Arksey and O’Malley’s framework, a scoping review was conducted involving a comprehensive search of all published literature between 1980 and 2016. The process involved searching four electronic databases and a manual search of sport management journals. The search identified (N = 243) journal articles that examined sport governance–related issues. Findings are presented as a frequency and thematic analysis. The frequency analysis reveals a notable increase in sport governance research in recent years with a large number of nonempirical studies focused on the not-for-profit sector. The thematic analysis draws upon and extends Henry and Lee’s three notions of governance and identifies sport governance–related topics, research contexts, and social issues. Findings indicate that all three forms of governance (organizational, systemic, and political) have contributed to our understanding of sport governance, but more empirical and theoretically driven research is needed.
Mammalian EAK-7 activates alternative mTOR signaling to regulate cell proliferation and migration
Authors: Nguyen Joe Truong , Ray Connor , Fox Alexandra Lucienne , Mendonça Daniela Baccelli , Kim Jin Koo , Krebsbach Paul H.
Published: May 2018

Mammalian EAK-7 forms an alternative mTOR complex.
3D printing of a wearable personalized oral delivery device: A first-in-human study
Authors: Liang Kun , Carmone Simone , Brambilla Davide , Leroux Jean-Christophe
Published: May 2018

The performance of a 3D-printed personalized sustained delivery device is demonstrated for the first time in humans.
The first horse herders and the impact of early Bronze Age steppe expansions into Asia
Authors: de Barros Damgaard Peter , Martiniano Rui , Kamm Jack , Moreno-Mayar J. Víctor , Kroonen Guus , Peyrot Michaël , Barjamovic Gojko , Rasmussen Simon , Zacho Claus , Baimukhanov Nurbol , Zaibert Victor , Merz Victor , Biddanda Arjun , Merz Ilja , Loman Valeriy , Evdokimov Valeriy , Usmanova Emma , Hemphill Brian , Seguin-Orlando Andaine , Yediay Fulya Eylem , Ullah Inam , Sjögren Karl-Göran , Iversen Katrine Højholt , Choin Jeremy , de la Fuente Constanza , Ilardo Melissa , Schroeder Hannes , Moiseyev Vyacheslav , Gromov Andrey , Polyakov Andrei , Omura Sachihiro , Senyurt Süleyman Yücel , Ahmad Habib , McKenzie Catriona , Margaryan Ashot , Hameed Abdul , Samad Abdul , Gul Nazish , Khokhar Muhammad Hassan , Goriunova O. I. , Bazaliiskii Vladimir I. , Novembre John , Weber Andrzej W. , Orlando Ludovic , Allentoft Morten E. , Nielsen Rasmus , Kristiansen Kristian , Sikora Martin , Outram Alan K. , Durbin Richard , Willerslev Eske
Published: May 2018

Ancient steppes for human equestrians

The Eurasian steppes reach from the Ukraine in Europe to Mongolia and China. Over the past 5000 years, these flat grasslands were thought to be the route for the ebb and flow of migrant humans, their horses, and their languages. de Barros Damgaard
et al.
probed whole-genome sequences from the remains of 74 individuals found across this region. Although there is evidence for migration into Europe from the steppes, the details of human movements are complex and involve independent acquisitions of horse cultures. Furthermore, it appears that the Indo-European Hittite language derived from Anatolia, not the steppes. The steppe people seem not to have penetrated South Asia. Genetic evidence indicates an independent history involving western Eurasian admixture into ancient South Asian peoples.

Science
, this issue p.
eaar7711