bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preparation and characterisation of a novel hydrogel based on Auricularia polytricha β‐glucan and its bio‐release property for vitamin B12 delivery
Authors: Zhu Kai , Chen Xiaoyuan , Yu Da , He Yue , Song Guanglei
Published: October 2017

BACKGROUND

This study investigates a novel hydrogel synthesis method and its bio‐release property. This hydrogel, with a three‐dimensional network structure based on Auricularia polytricha β‐glucan, was characterised by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H NMR and scanning electron microscopy. Vitamin B12 (VB12, cobalamin) as a hydrophilic functional food component was entrapped into these hydrogels. The in vitro release profile of VB12 was established in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and simulated intestinal fluid (SIF).

RESULTS

The results showed that the hydrogel had medium pore size from 30 to 300 µm, and the swelling ratio increased with the degree of substitution. The hydrogel demonstrated good stability in SGF and bio‐release capability in SIF for VB12. The accumulated release rate is about 80% in SIF and below 20% in SGF, which indicated the significant different release property in stomach and intestine.

CONCLUSION

The Auricularia polytricha β‐glucan‐based hydrogel has a good swelling ratio, pepsin stability and pancrelipase‐catalysed biodegradation property. The bio‐release rate is significantly different in SIF and SGF, which indicated that this hydrogel could be a good intestinal target carrier of VB12. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry
Prospects of Contrast‐Enhanced Ultrasonography for the Diagnosis of Peripheral Arterial Disease: A Meta‐analysis
Authors: Hou Xiao‐xia , Chu Guang‐hua , Yu Yuan
Published: October 2017

Objectives

Contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) is a modern diagnostic method that can also be used to study microperfusion. This study compared the time to peak intensity measured by CEUS in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and healthy control participants.

Methods

After a comprehensive literature search in multiple electronic databases and study selection, a random‐effect meta‐analysis was performed to compare the time to peak intensity measured by CEUS in patients with PAD and healthy controls, which followed meta‐regression analyses for identification of factors affecting the outcomes.

Results

Fourteen studies (data for 322 patients with PAD and 314 healthy individuals) were used for the meta‐analysis. The age of this sample of patients with PAD was 64.92 (95% confidence interval, 62.53, 67.31) years, and that of the healthy controls was 55.32 (51.67, 58.98) years. The times to peak intensity were 18.55 (15.62, 21.48) seconds in healthy controls, 33.40 (27.65, 39.15) seconds in patients with PAD, and 76.22 (36.23, 116.22) seconds in patients with PAD and diabetes mellitus. The difference between patients with PAD and healthy controls in the time to peak intensity was statistically significant (mean difference, 24.80 [10.16, 39.44] seconds; P < .00009). The ABI was not significantly associated with the time to peak intensity in patients with PAD. Age and sex were also not significantly associated with the time to peak intensity.

Conclusions

Contrast‐enhanced ultrasonography is a valuable tool for the diagnosis of PAD based on its ability to differentiate the time to peak intensity between patients with PAD and healthy individuals, but little data are yet available to assess its diagnostic ability in clinical practice.
Variation of the floodplain forest ecosystem service value in the lower reaches of Tarim River, China
Authors: Mamat Zulpiya , Halik Ümüt , Keyimu Maierdang , Keram Ayjamal , Nurmamat Kalbinur
Published: October 2017

Ecosystem service and human activity assessment are essential for effective natural resources allocation; however, these were seldom researched in arid region. This study used the theory proposed by Millennium Ecosystem Assessment to analyse ecosystem services provided by the floodplain forest in the lower reaches of the Tarim River. Results showed the following: (a) In the research area, the ecosystem service values of approximately US$216.78 × 108 occurring from 1972 to 2015 showed a decreasing trend; (b) the total ecosystem service values for floodplain forest and water area for all land use and land cover types accounted for 87.43% of the total value in the research area, and water supply, biodiversity protection, and waste treatment accounted for 55% of the total function values—these were the highest service values; (c) this research showed that the estimated ecosystem service values of research area were inelastic to value coefficients. This study showed that future work should allow land use and Ecological Water Conveyance Project to follow with rigorous environmental impact analyses. These analyses will be crucial to maintain the stability and sustainable development in the lower reaches of the Tarim River and also can provide references for research in the arid regions of Northwest China and Central Asia.
Outlier detection and sequence reconstruction in continuous time series of ocean observation data based on difference analysis and the Dixon criterion
Authors: Jingang Jiang , Lu Sun , Zhongya Fan , Jiaguo Qi
Published: October 2017

In light of the specific characteristics of the long‐term record and complex sequence nature of the ocean observation data, a new method was developed based on the original Dixon detection criteria to be specifically detect and remove data outliers. This method combines the two traditional methods of data quality control and Dixon detection theory and assumes that the second‐order differential sequence of parameter measurements passes an appropriate stationarity test. Thus, the measurement attributes are considered to be in the same physical state and to occupy a small range of time and space, equivalent to a parallel observation test. Provided that the observations over a small range of time and space correspond to the record of a sequence covering a short period of time, this short time sequence is treated as a sliding window in the proposed new method. Outliers are detected based on lookup‐table after an index parameter Q is calculated within the sliding window. A correlation analysis and the test results show that the proposed new method can effectively instantiate a sequence of outliers characterized by different phases. Compared with other existing methods, the new method proved to be computationally efficient and easily programmable for practical implementation. Further, this method preserves the original data because the outliers are replaced by an inverse distance‐weighted average of the recorded data within the window, while other data were intact.
PAX9 regulates squamous cell differentiation and carcinogenesis in the oro‐oesophageal epithelium
Authors: Xiong Zhaohui , Ren Shuang , Chen Hao , Liu Yao , Huang Caizhi , Zhang Yawan Lyvia , Odera Joab Otieno , Chen Tong , Kist Ralf , Peters Heiko , Garman Katherine , Sun Zheng , Chen Xiaoxin
Published: October 2017

PAX9 is a transcription factor of the PAX family characterized by a DNA‐binding paired domain. Previous studies have suggested a potential role of PAX9 in squamous cell differentiation and carcinogenesis of the oro‐oesophageal epithelium. However, its functional roles in differentiation and carcinogenesis remain unclear. In this study, Pax9 deficiency in mouse oesophagus promoted cell proliferation, delayed cell differentiation, and altered the global gene expression profile. Ethanol exposure downregulated PAX9 expression in human oesophageal epithelial cells in vitro and mouse forestomach and tongue in vivo. We further showed that PAX9 was downregulated in human oro‐oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OESCC), and its downregulation was associated with alcohol drinking and promoter hypermethylation. Moreover, ad libitum feeding with a liquid diet containing ethanol for 40 weeks or Pax9 deficiency promoted N‐nitrosomethylbenzylamine‐induced squamous cell carcinogenesis in mouse tongue, oesophagus, and forestomach. In conclusion, PAX9 regulates squamous cell differentiation in the oro‐oesophageal epithelium. Alcohol drinking and promoter hypermethylation are associated with PAX9 silencing in human OESCC. PAX9 downregulation may contribute to alcohol‐associated oro‐oesophageal squamous cell carcinogenesis. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Exploratory study of impact of cancer‐related posttraumatic stress symptoms on diabetes self‐management among cancer survivors
Authors: James Janey , Harris Yael T. , Kronish Ian M. , Wisnivesky Juan P. , Lin Jenny J.
Published: October 2017

Objective

Posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) can be triggered by a diagnosis of a potentially life‐threatening illness such as cancer. Little is known about the impact of cancer‐related PTSS symptoms on self‐management behaviors for comorbid chronic medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus (DM).

Methods

We recruited patients with DM and a recent diagnosis of early‐stage cancer from 2 medical centers in New York City. Cancer‐related PTSS were assessed using the Impact of Events Scale (score ≥ 26). DM self‐management behaviors (medication adherence, exercise, healthy diet, and glucose testing) were measured 3 months later. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between cancer‐related PTSS symptoms and DM self‐management behaviors, adjusting for gender, marital status, and anxiety symptoms.

Results

Of 56 participants recruited, 33% reported cancer‐related PTSS symptoms. Elevated cancer‐related PTSS symptoms were associated with lack of healthy diet (odds ratio: 0.08, 95% confidence interval: 0.01–0.62).

Conclusions

Early‐stage cancer survivors with cancer‐related PTSS symptoms were less likely to adhere to some DM self‐management behaviors. Providers should recognize the impact of cancer‐related PTSS symptoms to better support comorbid disease management in cancer survivors.
Trends in incidence and associated risk factors of suicide mortality among breast cancer patients
Authors: Gaitanidis Apostolos , Alevizakos Michail , Pitiakoudis Michail , Wiggins Doreen
Published: October 2017

Objective

Breast cancer patients are associated with an increased risk for committing suicide. The purpose of this study was to study the trends in the incidence of suicide mortality and identify pertinent risk factors among patients with breast cancer.

Methods

A retrospective examination of the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database between years 1973 and 2013 was performed.

Results

Overall, 474 128 patients were identified of which 773 had committed suicide. There were no significant differences in the incidence of suicide mortality over the last 3 decades (1984‐1993: 0.14%, 1994‐2003: 0.16%, 2004‐2013: 0.17%, P = 0.173). On logistic regression, younger age (<30 y: OR 6.34, 95% CI: 1.98‐20.33, P = 0.002; 30‐49 y: OR 10.64, 95% CI: 7.97‐14.2, P < 0.001; 50‐69 y: OR 4.7, 95% CI: 3.64‐6.07, P < 0.001), male sex (OR 4.34, 95% CI: 2.57‐7.31, P < 0.001), nonwhite‐nonblack race (OR 1.39, 95% CI: 1.01‐1.91, P = 0.046), marital status (single: OR 1.35, 95% CI: 1.04‐1.76, P = 0.024; separated/divorced/widowed: OR 1.25, 95% CI: 1.01‐1.55, P = 0.043), undergoing surgery (OR 2.13, 95% CI: 1.23‐3.67, P = 0.007), and short‐time elapsed from diagnosis (first year: OR 4.67, 95% CI: 3.39‐6.42, P < 0.001; second year: OR 2.35, 95% CI: 1.69‐3.27, P < 0.001) were independent risk factors of suicide mortality.

Conclusions

There have been no identifiable improvements in preventing suicide mortality in the United States. Younger age, male sex, race, marital status, and undergoing surgery are independent risk factors for committing suicide, especially in the first year after diagnosis.
Cognition, quality‐of‐life, and symptom clusters in breast cancer: Using Bayesian networks to elucidate complex relationships
Authors: Xu Selene , Thompson Wesley , Ancoli‐Israel Sonia , Liu Lianqi , Palmer Barton , Natarajan Loki
Published: October 2017

Objective

Breast cancer patients frequently complain of cognitive dysfunction during chemotherapy. Patients also report experiencing a cluster of sleep problems, fatigue, and depressive symptoms during chemotherapy. We aimed to understand the complex dynamic interrelationships of depression, fatigue, and sleep to ultimately elucidate their role in cognitive performance and quality of life amongst breast cancer survivors undergoing chemotherapy treatment.

Methods

Our study sample comprised 74 newly diagnosed stage I to III breast cancer patients scheduled to receive chemotherapy. An objective neuropsychological test battery and self‐reported fatigue, mood, sleep quality, and quality of life were collected at 3 time points: before the start of chemotherapy (baseline: BL), at the end of cycle 4 chemotherapy (C4), and 1 year after the start of chemotherapy (Y1). We applied novel Bayesian network methods to investigate the role of sleep/fatigue/mood on cognition and quality of life prior to, during, and after chemotherapy.

Results

The fitted network exhibited strong direct and indirect links between symptoms, cognitive performance, and quality of life. The only symptom directly linked to cognitive performance was C4 sleep quality; at C4, fatigue was directly linked to sleep and thus indirectly influenced cognitive performance. Mood strongly influenced concurrent quality of life at C4 and Y1. Regression estimates indicated that worse sleep quality, fatigue, and mood were negatively associated with cognitive performance or quality of life.

Conclusions

The Bayesian network identified local structure (eg, fatigue‐mood‐QoL or sleep‐cognition) and possible intervention targets (eg, a sleep intervention to reduce cognitive complaints during chemotherapy).
A qualitative meta‐synthesis examining the role of women in African American men's prostate cancer screening and treatment decision making
Authors: Bergner Erin M. , Cornish Emily K. , Horne Kenay , Griffith Derek M.
Published: October 2017

Objective

Being an African American man is a risk factor for prostate cancer, and there is little consensus about the use of screening, early detection, and the efficacy of treatment for the disease. In this context, this systematic review examines the roles women, particularly wives, play in African American men's prostate cancer screening and treatment decision making.

Methods

We searched OVID Medline (R), CINAHL (EBSCO), PsychInfo (EBSCO), PubMED, Cochrane Library, ERIC (Firstsearch), and Web of Science to identify peer‐reviewed articles published between 1980 and 2016 that reported qualitative data about prostate cancer screening, diagnosis, or treatment in African American men. We conducted a systematic review of the literature using study appraisal and narrative synthesis.

Results

Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for identifying and screening 1425 abstracts and papers, we identified 10 papers that met our criteria. From our thematic meta‐synthesis of the findings from these publications, we found that women played 3 key roles in African American men's decision making regarding prostate cancer screening, diagnosis, or treatment: counselor (ie, offering advice or information), coordinator (ie, promoting healthy behaviors and arranging or facilitating appointments), and confidant (ie, providing emotional support and reassurance).

Conclusions

Women are often important confidants to whom men express their struggles, fears, and concerns, particularly those related to health, and they help men make appointments and understand medical advice. Better understanding women's supportive roles in promoting positive mental and physical outcomes may be key to developing effective interventions to improve African American men's decision making and satisfaction regarding prostate cancer screening and treatment.
Not reinventing the “Reel:” Adaptation and evaluation of an existing model for digital video information seeking
Authors: Albertson Dan , Johnston Melissa P.
Published: October 2017

Information seeking research has provided models across different contexts in order to depict the phenomena and processes of users in their search for information. Yet, no recognized model or generalization of the digital video information‐seeking process exists. The current study seeks to address this gap. Areas such as image information seeking have been examined, and existing research in these related areas demonstrates potential to support progress in digital video information seeking. In the current study, variables were adapted from an existing image seeking model and incorporated into a survey to measure their representation of video information seeking. The goal of the current analysis is to quantitatively measure and validate the phases of a selected image seeking model as also representing underlying factors of an information seeking process for digital video if adapted accordingly. Further, correlations between extracted factors were also tested in order to measure the interrelationships as part of a larger representation of digital video seeking. Results supported the factors as being representative of digital video information seeking and also produced significant correlations between them. Implications of these findings address the central research problem, in that a generalized representation of digital video information seeking has been examined and supported through the adaptation and evaluation of an existing model.
Public services or private gains: Motives behind participation on a mobile crowdsourcing application in a smart city
Authors: Lee Chei Sian , Goh Dion Hoe‐Lian , Osop Hamzah , Sin Sei‐Ching Joanna , Theng Yin Leng
Published: October 2017

The increased use of crowdsourcing to support smart city initiatives has been reported in the literature. However, a gap remains in understanding the needs motivating crowdsourcing participation in smart city projects. Integrating perspectives from self‐determination theory and public service motivation, this study investigates the motives driving the use of a mobile crowdsourcing platform prototype known as My Smart Mobile City app (i.e., MSMC) that aims to help smart cities manage public engagement with their residents. Data was collected from 100 participants. Factor analysis was conducted and results indicate that the motives driving the use of MSMC fell into three categories: affective, norm‐based and rational. Results and implications of our work are discussed.
A new formulation of vector weights in localized particle filters
Authors: Shen Zheqi , Tang Youmin , Li Xiaojing
Published: October 2017

Particle filters (PFs) constitute a sequential data assimilation method based on the Monte Carlo approximation of Bayesian estimation theory. Standard PFs use scalar weights derived from the likelihood of the approximate posterior probability density functions (PDFs) of observations and use resampling schemes to generate posterior particles. However, the scalar weights approach interferes with the localization algorithm and often results in filter degeneracy.

Recently, a localized particle filter (LPF) was developed by extending the scalar weights of PFs to vector weights, which produces various (local) posterior PDFs for different model grids and variables. With a sampling and merging approach in the resampling, a LPF can effectively solve the filter degeneracy problem and offer a practical, efficient algorithm for localization. However, this algorithm assumes the variations in the weights of a state variable of neighbouring grids to be continuous and uses a spatially linear interpolation of PF weights to determine the local weights.

In this paper, we first analyse the possible concerns associated with the linear continuity of PF weights. This assumption is found to challenge the theoretical properties of nonlinear and non‐Gaussian variations in weights and alleviate the intrinsic spatial variations of PF weights. On this basis, we propose a new algorithm to produce vector weights for PFs for neighbouring grids. Numerical experiments using the Lorenz 96 model show that our new LPF performs better than the existing LPF algorithm, indicating the advantages and potential applications of this new algorithm of vector weights in the field of data assimilation.
The South Georgia Wave Experiment (SG‐WEX): radiosonde observations of gravity waves in the lower stratosphere. Part I: Energy density, momentum flux and wave propagation direction
Authors: Moffat‐Griffin Tracy , Wright Corwin J. , Moss Andrew C. , King John C. , Colwell Steve R. , Hughes John K. , Mitchell Nicholas J.
Published: October 2017

Gravity waves play a critical role in the transport of energy and momentum throughout the atmosphere. It has been suggested that small mountainous islands located in regions of strong winds may generate significant fluxes of these waves. Such fluxes would be important because these islands are not well resolved in global circulation models. Thus, there is a need to determine the magnitude and variability of gravity waves generated from such islands: South Georgia (54°S, 37°W) has the highest mountains of these islands. Here, we present the first report of gravity waves measured by radiosondes over South Georgia. The measurements were made in two intensive campaigns as part of the South Georgia Wave EXperiment (SG‐WEX), a multi‐instrument and modelling campaign investigating gravity waves above South Georgia. The two intensive radiosonde campaigns were held in 2015, one in January and one in June/July, totalling 89 successful launches. We use these new observations to determine gravity‐wave properties in the lower stratosphere. The summer campaign observed an average wave energy density (kinetic + potential + vertical) of 3.6 J kg−1 and an average pseudo‐momentum flux of 2.3 mPa. In the winter campaign the values observed were larger: an average wave energy density of 8.4 J kg−1 and an average pseudo‐momentum flux of 8.7 mPa. Strikingly, analysis reveals that in winter 66% of waves were propagating downwards; in summer only 8% did so. These results suggest that there may be additional sources of waves in the winter stratosphere. We propose that the differences between wave properties observed during the summer and winter campaigns are due to a complex combination of factors including differences in surface wind conditions (linked to orographic wave generation), frequency of storms and the proximity of the polar stratospheric jet. These results demonstrate a large increase in gravity‐wave activity in winter above South Georgia.
Application of the broadband collision‐induced dissociation (bbCID) mass spectrometry approach for protein glycosylation and phosphorylation analysis
Authors: Couto Narciso , Davlyatova Liliya , Evans Caroline A. , Wright Phillip C.
Published: October 2017

Rationale

Analysis of post‐translationally modified peptides by mass spectrometry (MS) remains incomplete, in part due to incomplete sampling of all peptides which is inherent to traditional data‐dependent acquisition (DDA). An alternative MS approach, data‐independent acquisition (DIA), enables comprehensive recording of all detectable precursor and product ions, independent of precursor intensity. The use of broadband collision‐induced dissociation (bbCID), a DIA method, was evaluated for the identification of protein glycosylation and phosphorylation.

Methods

bbCID was applied to identify glycopeptides and phosphopeptides generated from standard proteins using a high‐resolution Bruker maXis 3G mass spectrometer. In bbCID, precursor and product ion spectra were obtained by alternating low and high collision energy. Precursor ions were assigned manually based on the detection of diagnostic ions specific to either glycosylation or phosphorylation. The composition of the glycan modification was resolved in the positive ion mode, while the level of phosphorylation was investigated in the negative ion mode.

Results

The results demonstrate for the first time that the use of a bbCID approach is suitable for the identification of glycopeptides and phosphopeptides based on the detection of specific diagnostic and associated precursor ions. The novel use of bbCID in negative ion mode allowed the discrimination of singly and multiply phosphorylated peptides based on the detection of phosphate diagnostic ions. The results also demonstrate the ability of this approach to allow the identification of glycan composition in N‐ and O‐linked glycopeptides, in positive ion mode.

Conclusions

We contend that bbCID is a valuable addition to the existing toolkit for PTM discovery. Moreover, this technique could be employed to direct targeted proteomics methods, particularly where there is no a priori information on glycosylation or phosphorylation status. This technique is immediately relevant to the characterisation of individual proteins or biological samples of low complexity, as demonstrated for the analysis of the glycosylation status of a therapeutic protein.
Structural investigation by tandem mass spectrometry analysis of a heterogeneous mixture of Lipid An isolated from the lipopolysaccharide of Aeromonas hydrophila SJ‐55Ra
Authors: Almostafa Mervt , Fridgen Travis D. , Banoub Joseph H.
Published: October 2017

Rationale

We report herein the electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI‐MS) negative ion mode and low‐energy collision‐induced dissociation tandem mass spectrometry (CID‐MS/MS) analysis of a mixture of lipid An isolated from the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of a rough‐resistant wild strain of the Gram‐negative bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila grown in the presence of phages (SJ‐55Ra). This investigation indicates that the presence of a mixture of lipid A acylated disaccharides, whose molecular structures were not relatively conserved, resulted from the incomplete LPS biosynthesis caused by the phage treatment.

Methods

The heterogeneous lipid An mixture from the LPS‐SJ55Ra was obtained following growth of the Gram‐negative bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila (SJ‐55R) in the presence of phages and isolation by the aqueous phenol method. Following hydrolysis and purification of the lipopolysaccharide, ESI‐MS and low‐energy CID‐MS/MS analyses were performed on a triple‐quadrupole (QqQ) and a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FTICR) instrument.

Results

ESI‐MS analysis suggested that this lipid An mixture contained eight molecular disaccharide anions and three monosaccharide anions. This series of lipid An was asymmetrically substituted with ((R)‐14:0(3‐OH)) fatty acids located at O‐3 and N‐2 and with branched fatty acids: (Cl4:0(3‐(R)‐O‐C14:0)) and (C12:0(3‐(R)‐O‐(14:0)) at the O‐3′ and N‐2′ positions.

Conclusions

Tandem mass spectrometric analyses allowed the exact determination of the fatty acid acylation locations on the D‐GlcpN disaccharide. The MS/MS results established that it was possible to selectively cleave C–O, C–N, and C–C bonds, together with glycosidic C–O and cross‐ring cleavages, affording excellent structural analysis of lipid A biomolecules.
Development of a physical shoulder simulator for the training of basic arthroscopic skills
Authors: McCracken Laura C. , Trejos Ana Luisa , LeBel Marie‐Eve , Poursartip Behnaz , Escoto Abelardo , Patel Rajni V. , Naish Michael D.
Published: October 2017

Background

Orthopaedic training programs are incorporating arthroscopic simulations into their residency curricula. There is a need for a physical shoulder simulator that accommodates lateral decubitus and beach chair positions, has realistic anatomy, allows for an objective measure of performance and provides feedback to trainees.

Methods

A physical shoulder simulator was developed for training basic arthroscopic skills. Sensors were embedded in the simulator to provide a means to assess performance. Subjects of varying skill level were invited to use the simulator and their performance was objectively assessed.

Results

Novice subjects improved their performance after practice with the simulator. A survey completed by experts recognized the simulator as a valuable tool for training basic arthroscopic skills.

Conclusions

The physical shoulder simulator helps train novices in basic arthroscopic skills and provides objective measures of performance. By using the physical shoulder simulator, residents could improve their basic arthroscopic skills, resulting in improved patient safety.
When dinosaurs fly: The role of firm capabilities in the ‘avianization’ of incumbents during disruptive technological change
Authors: Roy Raja , Lampert Curba M. , Stoyneva Irina
Published: October 2017

Research Summary: Prior research suggests that large incumbents will become victims of disruptive technological change. We investigate the image sensor industry in which the emergence of CMOS sensors challenged the manufacturers of CCD sensors. Although this disruptive technological change led to the demise of CCD technology, it also led to avianization—or strategic renewal—for some incumbents, similar to how some dinosaurs survived the mass Cretaceous‐Tertiary extinction by evolving into birds. We find that CCD manufacturers that did avianize were preadapted to the disruptive CMOS technology in that they possessed relevant complementary technologies and access to in‐house users that allowed them to strategically renew themselves.

Managerial Summary: We investigate the transition from CCD to CMOS image sensors in the digital image sensor industry. Although the emergence of CMOS sensors was disruptive to CCD sensors, we find that CCD sensor manufacturers such as Sony and Sharp successfully transitioned to manufacturing CMOS sensors. Contrary to popular press and prior academic research characterizing disruptive change as being a source of failure for large firms, our research reveals that firms that possess relevant complementary technologies and have access to in‐house users are able to strategically renew themselves in the face of a disruptive threat.
Added value of chromosomal microarray analysis over karyotyping in early pregnancy loss: systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Pauta M. , Grande M. , Rodriguez‐Revenga L. , Kolomietz E. , Borrell A.
Published: October 2017

Objective

To estimate the increased test success rate and incremental yield of chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) over conventional karyotyping in detection of pathogenic copy number variants (CNVs) and variants of unknown significance (VOUS) in early pregnancy loss.

Method

This was a systematic review conducted in accordance with PRISMA criteria. All articles identified in PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE and Web of Science, between January 2000 and April 2017, that described CNVs in early pregnancy losses (up to 20 weeks) were included. Risk differences were pooled to estimate the incremental yield of CMA over karyotyping overall, and after stratification. In addition, test success rate, defined as the proportion of informative results, was compared in series in which CMA and karyotyping were performed concurrently.

Results

Twenty‐three studies, reporting on 5507 pregnancy losses up to 20 weeks with full data available, met the inclusion criteria for analysis. In the series in which CMA and karyotyping were performed concurrently, CMA showed a significant improvement in success rate, providing informative results in 95% (95% CI, 94–96%) of cases compared with karyotyping in which informative results were provided in 68% (95% CI, 66–70%) of cases. Combined data from reviewed studies revealed that incremental yields of CMA over karyotyping were 2% (95% CI, 1–2%) for pathogenic CNVs and 4% (95% CI, 3–6%) for VOUS. The most common pathogenic CNVs reported were 22q11.21 and 1p36.33 deletion.

Conclusion

In comparison with conventional karyotyping, CMA provides a significant increase in test success rate and incremental diagnostic yield in early pregnancy loss. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Effect of clomiphene citrate on endometrial thickness, ovulation, pregnancy and live birth in anovulatory women: systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Gadalla M. A. , Huang S. , Wang R. , Norman R. J. , Abdullah S. A. , El Saman A. M. , Ismail A. M. , van Wely M. , Mol B. W. J.
Published: October 2017

Objectives

To compare the impact of clomiphene citrate (CC) vs other drug regimens on mid‐cycle endometrial thickness (EMT), ovulation, pregnancy and live birth rates in women with World Health Organization (WHO) group II ovulatory disorders.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, Web of Science, The Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials (CENTRAL) and the non‐MEDLINE subset of PubMed from inception to December 2016 and cross‐checked references of relevant articles. We included only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing CC used alone vs other drug regimens for ovulation induction in women with WHO group II anovulation. Outcomes were mid‐cycle EMT, ovulation, pregnancy and live birth rates. We pooled weighted mean differences (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for continuous variables (EMT) and risk ratios (RR) with 95% CI for binary variables (ovulation, pregnancy and live birth rates).

Results

We retrieved 1718 articles of which 33 RCTs (4349 women, 7210 ovulation induction cycles) were included. In 15 RCTs that compared CC with letrozole, EMT was lower in the CC group (1957 women, 3892 cycles; WMD, −1.39; 95% CI, −2.27 to −0.51; I2 = 100%), ovulation rates after CC and letrozole were comparable (1710 women, 3217 cycles; RR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.90–1.04; I2 = 47%), while CC led to a lower pregnancy rate (1957 women, 3892 cycles; RR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.63–0.95; I2 = 43%) and a lower live birth rate (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.49–0.98; I2 = 35%). In two RCTs that compared CC with CC plus metformin, EMT, ovulation and pregnancy rates were comparable (101 women, 140 cycles; WMD, −0.23; 95% CI, −0.92 to 0.45; I2 = 78%; RR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.67–1.06; I2 = 0%; and RR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.33–1.87; I2 = 0%). In three studies that compared CC with CC plus N‐acetyl cysteine (NAC), EMT was lower in the CC group (340 women, 300 cycles; WMD, −1.51; 95% CI, −1.98 to −1.04; I2 = 45%). In two studies that compared CC with CC + nitric oxide (NO) donor, EMT was lower in the CC group (120 women, 304 cycles; WMD, −1.75; 95% CI, −2.08 to −1.41; I2 = 0%). Compared with CC plus NO donor or NAC, CC showed statistically significant lower ovulation and pregnancy rates. Compared with tamoxifen in three studies, CC showed a tendency towards lower EMT (571 women, 844 cycles; WMD, −1.34; 95% CI, −2.70 to 0.01; I2 = 96%) with comparable ovulation and pregnancy rates.

Conclusions

In women with WHO group II ovulatory disorders, ovulation induction with CC might result in lower EMT than other ovulation induction regimens. Whether the lower EMT caused the lower pregnancy and live birth rates remains to be elucidated. Letrozole seems to be beneficial for these women. However, our findings should be interpreted with caution as the quality of evidence was very low. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Gonadotropin‐releasing hormone agonists for ovarian protection during cancer chemotherapy: systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Senra J. C. , Roque M. , Talim M. C. T. , Reis F. M. , Tavares R. L. C.
Published: October 2017

Objective

To evaluate the effectiveness of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) administration before and/or during cancer chemotherapy for the protection of ovarian reserve in premenopausal women without prior diagnosis of infertility.

Methods

This was a systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing administration of GnRHa before and/or during chemotherapy vs chemotherapy alone. Eligible participants were premenopausal women at any stage of cancer, without previous diagnosis of infertility. An electronic database search in MEDLINE, CENTRAL, LILACS and
ClinicalTrials.gov was performed. After selecting eligible studies, the relative risk (RR) was assessed for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI)/amenorrhea and for spontaneous pregnancy after completion of treatment.

Results

Thirteen RCTs comparing concurrent use of GnRHa and chemotherapy (609 participants) with chemotherapy alone (599 participants) were eligible for meta‐analysis. All trials were open‐label and patients had been treated for breast cancer (n = 1099) or lymphoma (n = 109). GnRHa had a significant benefit on the risk of POI/amenorrhea (RR, 0.60; 95% CI, 0.45–0.79), which persisted in subgroup analysis for breast cancer (RR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.43–0.77) but not for lymphoma patients (RR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.20–2.47). The rate of spontaneous pregnancy after completion of treatment was higher in women receiving GnRHa plus chemotherapy compared with those receiving chemotherapy alone (RR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.01–2.02). Overall, the quality of evidence was low due to the unclear risk of bias, short follow‐up and lack of objective assessment of ovarian function and reserve.

Conclusions

Evidence, albeit of low quality, supports the use of GnRHa before and/or during chemotherapy to reduce the risk of POI and increase the probability of spontaneous pregnancy in the short term. Further high quality RCTs with more accurate assessment of ovarian reserve are needed to support definitive recommendations for clinical practice. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Outcome of assisted reproduction in women with congenital uterine anomalies: a prospective observational study
Authors: Prior M. , Richardson A. , Asif S. , Polanski L. , Parris‐Larkin M. , Chandler J. , Fogg L. , Jassal P. , Thornton J. G. , Raine‐Fenning N. J.
Published: October 2017

Objectives

To assess the prevalence of congenital uterine anomalies, including arcuate uterus, and their effect on reproductive outcome in subfertile women undergoing assisted reproduction.

Methods

Consecutive women referred for subfertility between May 2009 and November 2015 who underwent assisted reproduction were included in the study. As part of the initial assessment, each woman underwent three‐dimensional transvaginal sonography. Uterine morphology was classified using the modified American Fertility Society (AFS) classification of congenital uterine anomalies proposed by Salim et al. If the external contour of the uterus was uniformly convex or had an indentation of < 10 mm, but there was a cavity indentation, it was defined as arcuate or septate. Arcuate uterus was further defined as the presence of a concave fundal indentation with a central point of indentation at an obtuse angle. Subseptate uterus was defined as the presence of a septum, not extending to the cervix, with the central point of the septum at an acute angle; if the septum extended to the internal cervical os, the uterus was defined as septate. Reproductive outcomes, including live birth, clinical pregnancy and preterm birth, were compared between women with a normal uterus and those with a congenital uterine anomaly. Subgroup analysis by type of uterine morphology and logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, body mass index, levels of anti‐Müllerian hormone, antral follicle count and number and day of embryo transfer were performed.

Results

A total of 2375 women were included in the study, of whom 1943 (81.8%) had a normal uterus and 432 (18.2%) had a congenital uterine anomaly. The most common anomalies were arcuate (n = 387 (16.3%)) and subseptate (n = 16 (0.7%)) uterus. The rate of live birth was similar between women with a uterine anomaly and those with a normal uterus (35% vs 37%; P = 0.47). The rates of clinical pregnancy, mode of delivery and sex of the newborn were also similar between the two groups. Preterm birth before 37 weeks' gestation was more common in women with uterine anomalies than in controls (22% vs 14%, respectively; P = 0.03). Subgroup analysis by type of anomaly showed no difference in the incidence of live birth and clinical pregnancy for women with an arcuate uterus, but indicated worse pregnancy outcome in women with other major anomalies (P = 0.042 and 0.048, respectively).

Conclusions

Congenital uterine anomalies as a whole, when defined using the modified AFS classification, do not affect clinical pregnancy or live‐birth rates in women following assisted reproduction, but do increase the incidence of preterm birth. The presence of uterine abnormalities more severe than arcuate uterus significantly worsens all pregnancy outcomes. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Environmental humanities and climate change: understanding humans geologically and other life forms ethically
Authors: Robin Libby
Published: October 2017

The task of reconceptualizing planetary change for the human imagination calls on a wide range of disciplinary wisdom. Environmental studies were guided by the natural sciences in the 1960s, and in the 1970s broadened to include policy and the social sciences. By the 1990s, with global environmental changes well‐documented, various humanist initiatives emerged, expanding the idea of ethics, responsibility and justice within the transdisciplinary mode of environmental studies. Shared problems, places, and scales form the basis for collaborative work in the environmental humanities, sometimes in partnerships with natural sciences and the creative arts. Experiential learning and trust in judgments based on different methods typically guide humanities interventions. Shifting the frameworks of environmental research to be more consciously inclusive and diverse is enabling concepts of the physical world that better include humans and taking ethics beyond humans to consider more‐than‐human Others. This review considers historically how the environment and the humanities became conceptualized together. It then explores three emerging fields in transdisciplinary environmental scholarship where environmental humanities are playing major leadership roles: (1) climate and biodiversity justice, both for humans and for other forms of life; (2) the Anthropocene as a metaphor for living with planetary changes and (3) life after ‘the end of nature,’ including rewilding and restoration. While environmental humanities also work in many other fields, these cases exemplify the crucial tasks of situating the human in geological and ecological terms and other life forms (the ‘more‐than‐human’) in ethical terms.WIREs Clim Change2018, 9:e499. doi: 10.1002/wcc.499

This article is categorized under:

Climate, History, Society, Culture > Disciplinary Perspectives
The fission yeast MAPK Spc1 senses perturbations in Cdc25 and Wee1 activities and targets Rad24 to restore this balance
Authors: Paul Madhurima , Ghosal Agamani , Bandyopadhyay Sushobhana , G. Prakadeeswari , Selvam Upasna , Rai Neeraj , Sundaram Geetanjali
Published: October 2017

Mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) play vital roles in multiple cellular processes and represent prominently pursued targets for development of therapeutic regimes. The MAPK Spc1 (p38 homologue) is known to be very important for both mitotic promotion and delay in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. However, the mechanism responsible for mitotic inhibition has remained elusive. Cdc25 (Cdc2 activator) and Wee1 (Cdc2 inhibtor) are important determinants of mitotic timing in all eukaryotes. Our results show that Spc1 can sense the perturbations in the balance of Cdc25 and Wee1 activities in S. pombe and that its function as a mitotic inhibitor is very important for controlling the same. An Spc1–Srk1–Rad24‐dependent pathway for mitotic inhibition has been reported earlier.Here we report the presence of an alternative mechanism wherein Spc1 targets the 14–3–3 protein, Rad24, independently of Srk1, leading to relocalization of Cdc25 and mitotic inhibition. Our observations suggest that this pathway can serve as a backup mechanism for Cdc2 inactivation in the absence of Wee1.
Counselling and Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents
Authors: Hopper Linda
Published: October 2017

It is increasingly understood that to counsel children and adolescents effectively requires specialized skills: simply adapting techniques developed for adults will not work.

Drawing on the work of Bowlby, Winnicott and others, Linda Hopper here gives a brief introduction to the emotional development of young people and shows how play and other creative means can be used to help them to express their inner feelings. In a comprehensive overview of the area, she also discusses issues of difference and identity, the counselling process and ethical issues in counselling children. The author's wide experience of working with children and adolescents shines through in vivid case studies covering a range of clients, contexts and difficulties.

Offering a judicious balance of theory and practical discussion, Counselling and Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents focuses on the essential knowledge needed to work therapeutically with children. It is thus an ideal foundation text for students undertaking training in child counselling, either as part of their initial training or in post-qualification professional development.
Novel hemotropic mycoplasmas are widespread and genetically diverse in vampire bats
Authors: VOLOKHOV D. V. , BECKER D. J. , BERGNER L. M. , CAMUS M. S. , ORTON R. J. , CHIZHIKOV V. E. , ALTIZER S. M. , STREICKER D. G.
Published: October 2017

Bats (Order: Chiroptera) have been widely studied as reservoir hosts for viruses of concern for human and animal health. However, whether bats are equally competent hosts of non-viral pathogens such as bacteria remains an important open question. Here, we surveyed blood and saliva samples of vampire bats from Peru and Belize for hemotropic Mycoplasma spp. (hemoplasmas), bacteria that can cause inapparent infection or anemia in hosts. 16S rRNA gene amplification of blood showed 67% (150/223) of common vampire bats (Desmodus rotundus) were infected by hemoplasmas. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene amplicons revealed three novel genotypes that were phylogenetically related but not identical to hemoplasmas described from other (non-vampire) bat species, rodents, humans, and non-human primates. Hemoplasma prevalence in vampire bats was highest in non-reproductive and young individuals, did not differ by country, and was relatively stable over time (i.e., endemic). Metagenomics from pooled D. rotundus saliva from Peru detected non-hemotropic Mycoplasma species and hemoplasma genotypes phylogenetically similar to those identified in blood, providing indirect evidence for potential direct transmission of hemoplasmas through biting or social contacts. This study demonstrates vampire bats host several novel hemoplasmas and sheds light on risk factors for infection and basic transmission routes. Given the high frequency of direct contacts that arise when vampire bats feed on humans, domestic animals, and wildlife, the potential of these bacteria to be transmitted between species should be investigated in future work.
Do no harm: A taxonomy of the challenges of humanitarian experimentation
Authors: Sandvik Kristin Bergtora , Jacobsen Katja Lindskov , McDonald Sean Martin
Published: October 2017

This article aims to acknowledge and articulate the notion of “humanitarian experimentation”. Whether through innovation or uncertain contexts, managing risk is a core component of the humanitarian initiative – but all risk is not created equal. There is a stark ethical and practical difference between managing risk and introducing it, which is mitigated in other fields through experimentation and regulation. This article identifies and historically contextualizes the concept of humanitarian experimentation, which is increasingly prescient, as a range of humanitarian subfields embark on projects of digitization and privatization. This trend is illustrated here through three contemporary examples of humanitarian innovations (biometrics, data modelling, cargo drones), with references to critical questions about adherence to the humanitarian “do no harm” imperative. This article outlines a broad taxonomy of harms, intended to serve as the starting point for a more comprehensive conversation about humanitarian action and the ethics of experimentation.
New Frontiers and Technologies in Submarine Volcanism Research
Authors: Carey Rebecca , Orth Karin , Chadwick Bill
Published: October 2017

AGU Chapman Conference on Submarine Volcanism: New Approaches and Research Frontier; Hobart, Tasmania, Australia, 29 January to 3 February 2017