bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Translational regulation of viral secretory proteins by the 5′ coding regions and a viral RNA-binding protein
Authors: Nordholm Johan , Petitou Jeanne , Östbye Henrik , da Silva Diogo V. , Dou Dan , Wang Hao , Daniels Robert
Published: July 2017

A primary function of 5′ regions in many secretory protein mRNAs is to encode an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) targeting sequence. In this study, we show how the regions coding for the ER-targeting sequences of the influenza glycoproteins NA and HA also function as translational regulatory elements that are controlled by the viral RNA-binding protein (RBP) NS1. The translational increase depends on the nucleotide composition and 5′ positioning of the ER-targeting sequence coding regions and is facilitated by the RNA-binding domain of NS1, which can associate with ER membranes. Inserting the ER-targeting sequence coding region of NA into different 5′ UTRs confirmed that NS1 can promote the translation of secretory protein mRNAs based on the nucleotides within this region rather than the resulting amino acids. By analyzing human protein mRNA sequences, we found evidence that this mechanism of using 5′ coding regions and particular RBPs to achieve gene-specific regulation may extend to human-secreted proteins.
What was the message of Friedman’s Presidential Address to the American Economic Association?
Authors: Forder James
Published: July 2017

It is widely accepted that the importance of Friedman’s Presidential Address to the American Economic Association lies in its criticism of policy based on the Phillips curve. However, it is argued here that a reading of the text does not support such a view, and this and other considerations suggest that any such aim was far from Friedman’s mind in 1967. His objective was the quite different one of making a case for policy ‘rules’ rather than ‘discretion’.
Construction of Full-length Infectious cDNA Clones of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus and Their Agroinoculation to Woody Plants by a Novel Method of Vacuum Infiltration
Authors: Zhang Lei , Jelkmann Wilhelm
Published: July 2017

Construction and agroinoculation of full-length infectious cDNA clones of plant RNA viruses have been used in plant virology to prove Koch’s postulates and for development of viruses as vectors for expressing foreign genes in plants. Four full-length cDNA clones (pIF3-12, pIF3-14, pIF3-15, and pIF3-19) of Apple chlorotic leaf spot virus (ACLSV) isolate 38/85 were produced. Two of the four full-length cDNA clones (pIF3-15 and pIF3-19) proved to be infectious on Nicotiana occidentalis 37B test plants by agroinoculation and were then mechanically transmissible to healthy N. occidentalis 37B. The genomic cDNAs of ACLSV pIF3-15 and pIF3-19 shared nucleotide identity of 77.5%, demonstrating mixed infections of multiple strains of ACLSV in the source tree of isolate 38/85. The two full-length cDNA clones were agroinoculated to apple seedlings by a newly developed vacuum infiltration method. The success rate of agroinoculation was greater than 78%, defined as the number of PCR positive seedlings to the number of apple seedlings that survived. ACLSV was transmissible from agroinoculated seedlings by cleft grafting. The results of this study will be useful for construction of infectious cDNA clones of plant viruses from full-length PCR fragments and agroinoculating woody host plants using the vacuum infiltration method outlined here.
Aligner optimization increases accuracy and decreases compute times in multi-species sequence data
Authors: Robinson Kelly M. , Hawkins Aziah S. , Santana-Cruz Ivette , Adkins Ricky S. , Shetty Amol C. , Nagaraj Sushma , Sadzewicz Lisa , Tallon Luke J. , Rasko David A. , Fraser Claire M. , Mahurkar Anup , Silva Joana C. , Dunning Hotopp Julie C.
Published: July 2017

As sequencing technologies have evolved, the tools to analyze these sequences have made similar advances. However, for multi-species samples, we observed important and adverse differences in alignment specificity and computation time for bwa-
mem (Burrows–Wheeler aligner-maximum exact matches) relative to bwa-aln. Therefore, we sought to optimize bwa-mem for alignment of data from multi-species samples in order to reduce alignment time and increase the specificity of alignments. In the multi-species cases examined, there was one majority member (i.e. Plasmodium falciparum or Brugia malayi) and one minority member (i.e. human or the Wolbachia endosymbiont wBm) of the sequence data. Increasing bwa-mem seed length from the default value reduced the number of read pairs from the majority sequence member that incorrectly aligned to the reference genome of the minority sequence member. Combining both source genomes into a single reference genome increased the specificity of mapping, while also reducing the central processing unit (CPU) time. In Plasmodium, at a seed length of 18 nt, 24.1 % of reads mapped to the human genome using 1.7±0.1 CPU hours, while 83.6 % of reads mapped to the Plasmodium genome using 0.2±0.0 CPU hours (total: 107.7 % reads mapping; in 1.9±0.1 CPU hours). In contrast, 97.1 % of the reads mapped to a combined Plasmodium–human reference in only 0.7±0.0 CPU hours. Overall, the results suggest that combining all references into a single reference database and using a 23 nt seed length reduces the computational time, while maximizing specificity. Similar results were found for simulated sequence reads from a mock metagenomic data set. We found similar improvements to computation time in a publicly available human-only data set.
Adhesion of dry and wet cribellate capture silk
Authors: Elettro Hervé , Neukirch Sébastien , Antkowiak Arnaud , Vollrath Fritz
Published: July 2017

We demonstrate the impressive adhesive qualities of Uloborid spider orbweb capture when dry, which are lost when the nano-filament threads are wetted. A force sensor with a 50 nN–1mN detection sensitively allowed us to measure quantitatively the stress–strain characteristics of native silk threads in both the original dry state and after wetting by controlled application of water mist with droplet sizes ranging between 3 and 5 μm and densities ranging between 104and 105per mm3. Stress forces of between 1 and 5 μN/μm2in the native, dry multifilament thread puffs were reduced to between 0.1 and 0.5 μN/μm2in the wetted collapsed state, with strain displacements reducing from between 2 and 5 mm in the dry to 0.10–0.12mm in the wetted states. We conclude that wetting cribellate threads reduce their van der Waals adhesion with implications on the thread’s adhesive strength under tension. This should be considered when discussing the evolutionary transitions of capture silks from the ancestral dry-state nanofilaments of the cribellate spider taxa to the wet-state glue droplets of the ecribellate taxa.
Performance analysis of investing in Chinese oil paintings based on a hedonic regression model of price index
Authors: Wang Fang , Zheng Xu
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to construct a price index for Chinese oil paintings and analyze the financial performance of investing in Chinese oil paintings and its potential for portfolio diversification in Chinese financial markets.

Design/methodology/approach

A hedonic regression model is applied to construct a semiannual price index for Chinese oil paintings from 2000 to 2014. The CAPM model, downside β and standard portfolio optimization are used for analyzing portfolio diversification.

Findings

The hedonic regression shows that the majority of hedonic variables, such as dimension, artist’s reputation, living status, medium and auction houses, are statistically significant in estimation. Not only the return from oil painting investments is higher than other equities, but also the β coefficient of the CAPM model and downside β indicate that Chinese oil painting may be a good hedging instrument against stock market risk. Furthermore, the portfolio optimizations under standard assumptions suggest that oil paintings as an alternative investment provide diversification benefit.

Originality/value

This paper provides a new and comprehensive analysis of characteristics and risks of investing in the Chinese oil paintings.
Institutional repository research 2005-2015: a trend analysis using bibliometrics and text mining
Authors: Ammarukleart Sujira , Kim Jeonghyun
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the longitudinal trends of research in the area of institutional repositories (IR) using bibliometric and text-mining methods.

Design/methodology/approach

The Library and Information Science Abstracts and the Web of Science citation databases were used as data sources. A total of 603 articles published in 109 peer-reviewed journals from 2005 to 2015 were collected and analyzed. The articles were analyzed in terms of publication trends, authorship patterns and keywords and phrases appearing in the article titles and abstracts.

Findings

The study shows that there has been a notable growth trend in research outputs, along with more participation and collaboration among institutes and countries. The study also found significant variability in the topics covered in the literature. In a comparison of the first period of 2005-2010 and the second period of 2011-2015, new research themes and foci, including research data, data management, linked open data, students and student research and an international audience, are observed in the later period.

Originality/value

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of publication, authorship and research themes in the IR research field. It describes the evolution of the intellectual structure of IR as a research field.
The innovating firm as corporate entrepreneurship
Authors: Urban Boris , Wood Eric
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Innovation is a multi-dimensional phenomenon and at the firm level incorporates the behaviors and interactions of individuals and various organizational factors. Not only are entrepreneurship and innovation complementary, but a combination of the two is vital to organizational success. The purpose of this paper is to respond directly to research calls to provide an integrated model of corporate entrepreneurship (CE) which encompasses both organizational- and individual-level factors.

Design/methodology/approach

A model was formulated in accordance with the study hypotheses and statistically tested. A sample of 784 responses from the South African financial sector was surveyed. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test for model fit.

Findings

The results support the hypotheses that it is through the interaction of the firm (in establishing corporate building blocks), and the individual (through entrepreneurial alertness and metacognitions) that CE activity is realized. SEM results showed that entrepreneurial alertness had the greatest direct path impact on CE.

Practical implications

Managers need to understand and leverage corporate building blocks in a manner that influences employee’s respective levels of entrepreneurial alertness and metacognitions in order to foster CE.

Originality/value

The study is one of the first to model and empirically test causal links between corporate building blocks, entrepreneurial alertness, metacognitions, and CE at the firm level. Moreover, the study takes place in an under-researched African context, allowing for fresh insights to evolve.
Role of personality style on bargaining outcomes
Authors: McCannon Bryan C. , Stevens John
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify whether personality traits can help explain the outcomes that arise in bargaining outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Experiments with subjects playing the alternating-offers bargaining game are considered. Both full information and asymmetric information treatments are considered. Subjects also complete standardized Myers-Briggs Type Indicator assessments.

Findings

Personality type measurements are shown to help explain the opening offers, rejections, and resulting wealth in the negotiations. It is shown that interactions between the personality dimensions are important and that the interaction between personality and information play a key role in bargaining outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

The research utilizes laboratory experiments to generate data. This expands our understanding of individual-level behavior, but suffers from the limitation of not replicating realistic bargaining situations.

Practical implications

The work should serve as a guide to organizations to identify traits of effective negotiators.

Social implications

Bargaining is a central economic activity. Being able to identify the root of differences in outcomes from negotiations should be able to inform institutional design issues.

Originality/value

Little work has been done connecting the rich literature in social psychology and management on personality to economic outcomes. The research on bargaining neglects to incorporate individual-level traits into the process. This research begins to bridge this gap and informs both bargaining theory as well as emphasizes on the importance of personality in application.
Hyperuricemia is an independent risk factor for psoriatic arthritis in psoriatic patients
Authors: Tsuruta Noriko , Imafuku Shinichi , Narisawa Yutaka
Published: July 2017

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a spondyloarthritic condition mainly seen in patients with psoriasis. Psoriatic patients with plaques on the scalp, gluteal fold or nail lesions are known to develop PsA more frequently, but other markers for PsA have not yet been identified. To determine which psoriatic patients are at greatest risk of developing PsA, psoriasis vulgaris (PsV) patients who visited the Department of Dermatology, Fukuoka University Hospital in 2015 were enrolled. Patients with and without PsA were statistically compared with respect to age, sex, age at onset, body mass index (BMI), smoking and drinking habits, familial history of psoriasis and comorbidities. Of 331 patients (237 men, 94 women), 55 had PsA (17%; 39 men, 16 women). PsA patients had significantly higher frequencies of nail lesions (PsA vs PsV‐only, 62% vs 29%; P < 0.0001) and hyperuricemia (PsA vs PsV‐only, 22% vs 9%; P = 0.01). These were confirmed as independent risk factors for PsA by logistic regression analysis, with odds ratios of 5.05 for nail lesions (P < 0.0001) and 4.18 for hyperuricemia (P < 0.01). There was no difference in age at onset, sex, BMI and incidence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension or dyslipidemia. Hyperuricemia is also known to be more frequent in psoriatic subjects than the normal population. Uric acid crystals are a strong stimulator of innate immunity. Considering that none of our cohort had gouty arthritis, hyperuricemia may increase uric acid crystallization in and around joints, thereby inducing PsA in psoriatic subjects. Hyperuricemia appears to be an independent risk factor for PsA.
New cooperative medical scheme and medical expenditure in rural China
Authors: Li Li
Published: July 2017

The New Cooperative Medical Scheme (NCMS) was launched in rural China in 2003, aiming to safeguard rural households against catastrophic medical expenditure. The implementation of the programme has been surrounded by the concern for the potential uncontrollable growth in medical expenditure due to moral hazard. Direct evidence on the relationship between the NCMS and total medical expenditure is still scant. Using a panel data set, the Rural Fixed‐point Survey (RFPS) 2003–2006 and a supplementary NCMS survey conducted in 2007, we find that joining the NCMS does not affect household medical expenditure.
Sudden Death Due to Coronary Arteritis
Authors: Gabarrou Gabrielle , Guilbeau‐Frugier Céline , Blanc Anthony , Telmon Norbert , Savall Frederic
Published: July 2017

We report the case of a middle‐aged man, without medical history, who suddenly died at his workplace. The autopsy highlighted a pathological heart macroscopically, with multiple small white areas on the left myocardium. Coronary dissection revealed a pseudotumoural fibromyxoid aspect within the anterior interventricular artery (AIVA) and the left main coronary trunk, including reduction in their diameter with tight stenosis. Microscopic examination of these arteries showed fibroinflammatory wall destruction. In the left myocardium, there were multiple focal ischemic areas at different stages of recovery. Our case is an illustration of primary ischemic heart disease due to coronary arteritis, with a pseudotumoural presentation, which was revealed by sudden death. We discuss the cause of death and the etiological diagnosis preceding coronary arteritis.
Earthquake Preparedness Among Japanese Hemodialysis Patients in Prefectures Heavily Damaged by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake
Authors: Sugisawa Hidehiro , Shimizu Yumiko , Kumagai Tamaki , Sugisaki Hiroaki , Ohira Seiji , Shinoda Toshio
Published: July 2017

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors related to earthquake preparedness in Japanese hemodialysis patients. We focused on three aspects of the related factors: health condition factors, social factors, and the experience of disasters. A mail survey of all the members of the Japan Association of Kidney Disease Patients in three Japanese prefectures (N = 4085) was conducted in March, 2013. We obtained 1841 valid responses for analysis. The health factors covered were: activities of daily living (ADL), mental distress, primary renal diseases, and the duration of dialysis. The social factors were: socioeconomic status, family structure, informational social support, and the provision of information regarding earthquake preparedness from dialysis facilities. The results show that the average percentage of participants that had met each criterion of earthquake preparedness in 2013 was 53%. Hemodialysis patients without disabled ADL, without mental distress, and requiring longer periods of dialysis, were likely to meet more of the earthquake preparedness criteria. Hemodialysis patients who had received informational social support from family or friends, had lived with spouse and children in comparison to living alone, and had obtained information regarding earthquake preparedness from dialysis facilities, were also likely to meet more of the earthquake preparedness criteria.
The Effects of Governance on Classification Shifting and Compensation Shielding
Authors: Joo Jeong Hwan , Chamberlain Sandra L.
Published: July 2017

Prior research (e.g., Dechow, Huson, and Sloan ) documents that, on average, compensation practices appear to shield CEO pay from income‐decreasing special items. In some circumstances, compensation shielding can be efficient. For example, it may encourage CEOs with earnings‐sensitive pay to take an action that reduces current earnings but nevertheless enhances value. Compensation shielding can be inefficient in other circumstances, such as when a board of directors is captured by an overly powerful CEO or the magnitude of negative special items has been overstated (e.g., by shifting core expenses into special items). This paper explores whether strong governance can explain cross‐sectional variation in compensation shielding, and whether stronger governance and auditing are associated with less shifting of expenses. We find that strong corporate governance mechanisms, as captured by board (and committee) independence, the Sarbanes‐Oxley (2002) Act (SOX) and its related governance reforms, and switches to Big 4 auditors, are all associated with less compensation shielding. While our evidence suggests that strong overall governance is associated with a reduction in manipulation of core earnings through classification shifting in the cross‐section, we find inconclusive evidence to suggest that board independence or SOX influence classification shifting.
The Adrenergic Mechanism of the Haemodynamic Effects of Massive Doses of Hydrocortisone in Controlled Haemorrhagic Shock in the Dog
Authors: HÄGGENDAL E. , LINDFORS MARIA , LUNDBERG D.
Published: July 2017

Haemorrhagic shock was induced in anaesthetized dogs by bleeding them into a blood reservoir system. By adjusting the blood level of the reservoir at a certain distance over the heart level the mean arterial blood pressure was kept at 6.7 kPa (50 mmHg). As has been found earlier, massive doses of hydrocortisone (80–560 mg·kg−1 body weight) caused a dose‐dependent decrease in the total peripheral resistance. The degree of vasodilation distinctly increased during concomitant alpha‐receptor blockade induced by phenoxybenzamine. The beta‐receptor blocking drug propranolol efficiently inhibited the vasodilation caused by hydrocortisone and phenoxybenzamine. The findings fit with the hypothesis that massive doses of hydrocortisone induce an increased stimulation of the adrenergic beta2‐receptors of the vascular smooth muscles.
Adolescent alcohol exposure decreases frontostriatal resting‐state functional connectivity in adulthood
Authors: Broadwater Margaret A. , Lee Sung‐Ho , Yu Yang , Zhu Hongtu , Crews Fulton T. , Robinson Donita L. , Shih Yen‐Yu Ian
Published: July 2017

Connectivity of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) matures through adolescence, coinciding with emergence of adult executive function and top‐down inhibitory control over behavior. Alcohol exposure during this critical period of brain maturation may affect development of PFC and frontolimbic connectivity. Adult rats exposed to adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE; 5 g/kg ethanol, 25 percent v/v in water, intragastrically, 2‐day‐on, 2‐day‐off, postnatal day 25–54) or water control underwent resting‐state functional MRI to test the hypothesis that AIE induces persistent changes in frontolimbic functional connectivity under baseline and acute alcohol conditions (2 g/kg ethanol or saline, intraperitoneally administered during scanning). Data were acquired on a Bruker 9.4‐T MR scanner with rats under dexmedetomidine sedation in combination with isoflurane. Frontolimbic network regions‐of‐interest for data analysis included PFC [prelimbic (PrL), infralimbic (IL), and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) portions], nucleus accumbens (NAc), caudate putamen (CPu), dorsal hippocampus, ventral tegmental area, amygdala, and somatosensory forelimb used as a control region. AIE decreased baseline resting‐state connectivity between PFC subregions (PrL‐IL and IL‐OFC) and between PFC‐striatal regions (PrL‐NAc, IL‐CPu, IL‐NAc, OFC‐CPu, and OFC‐NAc). Acute ethanol induced negative blood‐oxygen‐level‐dependent changes within all regions of interest examined, along with significant increases in functional connectivity in control, but not AIE animals. Together, these data support the hypothesis that binge‐like adolescent alcohol exposure causes persistent decreases in baseline frontolimbic (particularly frontostriatal) connectivity and alters sensitivity to acute ethanol‐induced increases in functional connectivity in adulthood.
A better model of care after surgery for early endometrial cancer – Comprehensive needs assessment and clinical handover to a woman's general practitioner
Authors: Rio Ines M. , McNally Orla
Published: July 2017

Background

Endometrial cancer is the most common invasive gynaecological cancer in Australia. Despite the fact that review after treatment of early endometrial cancer has not been shown to detect recurrent disease, practice at several hospitals brings women back for specialist hospital review for 5 years after definitive cancer surgery.

Aim

Implement an improved model of follow‐up care following hospital treatment for early endometrial cancer.

Evaluation Methods

Quantitative and qualitative.

Results

Seventy‐three of the eligible 81 women undertook the model of care. All general practitioners (GPs) agreed to follow‐up care. Thirty‐one women (42%) and 37 GPs (51%) returned surveys. All women found the nurse consultation very useful or useful with 77% reporting making lifestyle changes and 87% found the GP consultation very useful or useful with 72% reporting making lifestyle changes. Eighty‐nine percent of GPs found the care plan useful, 94% set up patient recall systems, 79% used the care plan to develop their own care plan, 100% felt confident in providing follow‐up care with 91% reporting the care plan and hospital processes improved their confidence. Comparison with the pre‐cohort women showed: higher rates of communication at various care points to GPs (from P < 0.001); more referrals (P < 0.001); and a projected decrease of nine hospital doctor appointments per patient.

Discussion

With an increasing number of people surviving cancer, in order to address holistic health needs and maintain tertiary service capacity, general practice will be required to provide more follow‐up care. Our model demonstrates an acceptable and quality mechanism for this to occur.
Statins and Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibitors are Associated with Reduced Mortality and Morbidity in Chronic Liver Disease
Authors: Stokkeland Knut , Lageborn Christine Takami , Ekbom Anders , Höijer Jonas , Bottai Matteo , Stål Per , Söderberg‐Löfdal Karin
Published: July 2017

Liver fibrosis is a common response to many chronic liver diseases. The aim of our study was to explore whether pharmacotherapy for concurrent diseases affects overall mortality, liver‐related mortality and liver‐related morbidity in patients with chronic liver disease. We performed a register‐based cohort study of all patients with a first‐time diagnosis of chronic liver disease between 2005 and 2012 in Sweden (n = 70 546). Data from the Patient Register, the Prescribed Drug Register and the Death Certificate Register were linked. We studied whether the use of statins, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers and antibiotics affected the risk of total mortality, liver‐specific mortality and morbidity. We found a reduction in mortality risk for statin users (n = 11,245) with hazard ratios from 0.57 (95% CI: 0.32–0.99) for patients with autoimmune hepatitis to 0.84 (95% CI: 0.75–0.95) for patients with alcoholic liver disease. There was a significantly reduced liver‐related mortality for patients with alcoholic liver disease who used angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, 0.85 (95% CI: 0.65–0.96). There were increased overall mortality risks for antibiotic users (n = 44,572), with hazard ratios up to 1.67 (95% CI, 1.55–1.80) for viral hepatitis. Statin use was associated with decreased risks of liver‐specific mortality and morbidity, and reduced total mortality foremost among patients with alcoholic liver disease. Angiotensin ‐converting enzyme inhibitors was associated with reduced liver‐related mortality among patients with alcoholic liver disease.
Ventricular dyssynchrony in pregnant women: A tissue Doppler study
Authors: Mahfouz Ragab A. , El‐Awady Waleed S. , Dewedar Ashraf
Published: July 2017

Objective

The aim of the study was to assess the left ventricular (LV) synchronicity in pregnant women and to identify the main determinants of LV dyssynchrony in asymptomatic pregnant women.

Methods

One hundred sixty‐seven pregnant women consecutively and 48 age‐matched nonpregnant controls were enrolled. For the assessment of LV systolic dyssynchrony, the standard deviation of the time from QRS onset to peak systolic (Tps‐LV‐ standard deviation [SD]) velocity and the maximal difference of the time from QRS onset to peak systolic velocity (Tps‐LV) from 12 segments at the apical views. For the LV diastolic dyssynchrony, the standard deviation of the time from QRS onset to peak diastolic (Tpe‐LV‐SD) velocity and the maximal difference of the time from QRS onset to peak diastolic velocity (Tpe‐LV) were calculated.

Results

Both systolic and diastolic dyssynchrony indexes were significantly higher in pregnant women than in the normal controls (Tps‐LV; P<.01, Tps‐LV‐SD; P<.03, Tpe‐LV, P<.05 and Tpe‐LV‐SD; P<.02). A total of 28 (16.8%) of the pregnant women had a dyssynchrony index above the accepted value for LV dyssynchrony (>34.4 msec). There was a significant correlation between LV dyssynchrony indexes with, multiparty, multifetal pregnancies, systolic blood pressure in pregnant women with LV dyssynchrony. Additionally LV dyssynchrony was significantly associated with elevated E/e” and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP).

Conclusions

Both systolic synchronicity and diastolic synchronicity were affected in pregnant women compared to nonpregnant women. LV dyssynchrony was significantly correlated with age, multiparity, and BNP level. Early detectable changes in systolic and diastolic synchrony may be present in pregnant women at higher risk of peripartum cardiomyopathy.
Cell‐free DNA — Minimally invasive marker of hematological malignancies
Authors: Kubaczkova Veronika , Vrabel David , Sedlarikova Lenka , Besse Lenka , Sevcikova Sabina
Published: July 2017

Although tumor cells are the most reliable source of tumor DNA, biopsy of the tumor is an invasive procedure that should be avoided in some cases. The main limitation of any biopsy is sampling of one tumor site, which may not represent all malignant clones due to the heterogeneity of the tumor. These clones respond to treatment differently and thus directly influence survival of the patient. Circulating cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) is released from multiple tumor sites, reflects overall heterogeneity of the tumor, and correlates with its progression. Detection of tumor‐specific genetic and epigenetic aberrations in cfDNA could have a direct impact on molecular diagnosis, prognosis, follow‐up of disease, monitoring of minimal residual disease, and response to treatment. While most cfDNA data are still experimental, they are very promising. This review focuses on cfDNA in hematological malignancies.
Using soy protein SiOx nanocomposite film coating to extend the shelf life of apple fruit
Authors: Liu Rui , Liu Dingyu , Liu Yan , Song Yingshi , Wu Tao , Zhang Min
Published: July 2017

Preservation properties of soy protein isolate (SPI)/nano‐SiOx composite coatings to apple fruits were investigated. The sodium dodecyl sulfonate‐modified nano‐SiOx (SNS) particles were prepared by the ultrasonic method and the counter‐ion activation method, which products were designated as USNS and CSNS, respectively. The incorporation of CSNS particles was better than USNS to improve the preservation quality of the SPI film. The best conditions for the synthesis of the composite film were as follows: 10% SPI concentration, 0.3% nano‐SiOx dosage and coating time of 60 s. Under these conditions, the climacteric peak of apples was delayed to the fifth week. The apples also had better physiological indices than the control group. Nano‐SiOx particles were inlaid and evenly dispersed into the SPI film coatings. This work provides a simple CaCl2 pre‐activation method to produce SPI film coatings with good dispersion of nano‐SiOx particles for further preservation application of fresh fruits.
Calcium–inulin wheat bread: prebiotic effect and bone mineralisation in growing rats
Authors: Salinas María V. , Hamet María Fernanda , Binaghi Julieta , Abraham Analia G. , Weisstaub Adriana , Zuleta Angela , Ronayne de Ferrer Patricia , Puppo María C.
Published: July 2017

The nutritional performance of wheat bread prepared with calcium carbonate and inulin was studied in growing rats fed with three diets (BD: diet containing bread with calcium and inulin, SD: diet with synergy1® and CD: diet control‐AIN 93G‐) up to 60 days. Animals fed with BD consumed less diet and presented a caecal pH (5.5) lower than that of the CD group (7.0) with the highest amount of anaerobic micro‐organisms (1.68 × 1010 cfu g−1) at 23 days. Microbiota profiles (DGGE) indicated that BD groups presented 66% of similarity and greater variability than the CD group, suggesting changes due to the prebiotic effect of inulin. In the BD group, calcium apparent absorption (AACa: 83%), bone mineral content (18 g kg−1), proximal tibia density (242 mg cm−2) and bone volume (BV: 41%) were higher than in the CD group. The decrease in pH due to fermentation in the large intestine increased calcium bioavailability. Although all variables studied on animals fed with diets containing the prebiotic were improved with respect to a control without inulin, in the case of bread diet, many of them were similar to those of the positive control. Consequently, the prebiotic effect was not altered during the baking process. Results suggest that wheat bread, a highly consumed product throughout the world, is an adequate vehicle for including calcium and inulin in healthy food.
Access to specialist palliative care services by people with severe and persistent mental illness: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Butler Helen , O'Brien Anthony John
Published: July 2017

Compared to the general population, people with pre‐existing serious and persistent mental illness (SPMI) have higher rates of physical illness and die at an earlier age, raising questions about their palliative and end‐of‐life care needs when they are diagnosed with an incurable physical illness. In the present study, we explored access to specialist palliative care services within one New Zealand health district. Routinely‐collected, de‐identified patient information on a cohort of people diagnosed with SPMI, and receiving specialist palliative care services from the Capital and Coast District Health Board (CCDHB), was compared to the general population from the same health district. People with SPMI are 3.5 times less likely to receive specialist palliative services compared to the general population from the Capital and Coast District Health Board. The proportion of people identifying as Māori is 1.2 times higher in the SPMI cohort than the general CCDHB population. The SPMI cohort experiences a higher level of deprivation compared to the general population in the CCDHB. The present study confirms that those diagnosed with an SPMI are less likely to use specialist palliative care services at the end of life. Research using a national dataset is needed to determine whether the study findings are applicable to the national population.
Depression as a Risk Factor of Organic Diseases: An International Integrative Review
Authors: Bica Teodora , Castelló Ruth , Toussaint Loren L. , Montesó‐Curto Pilar
Published: July 2017

Purpose and Design

This integrative review offers a systematic synthesis of the international literature regarding the role of depression as a risk factor in physical illnesses and the mechanisms of this connection. Special attention is paid to those modifiable factors.

Findings

Published studies of depression and physical illness and disease(N = 24) from five countries that were indexed in PubMed, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), APA PsycNET, Scopus, Dialnet, and CUIDEN were examined. Results suggest that depression is a significant risk factor for the development of physical illnesses and diseases. More commonly studied were the connections between depression and cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, biochemical alterations, diabetes, dementia, cognitive impairment, Alzheimer's disease, somatization and chronic pain, asthma, arthritis, and hyperlipidemia. Less frequently studied conditions connected to depression were cancer, infections, allergies, autoimmune disease, gastric ulcer, rhinitis, thyroiditis, bronchitis, migraines, fractures, and osteoporosis.

Conclusions

Mechanisms connecting depression to physical illness appear to involve alterations in the hypothalamic‐pituitary axis, unhealthy lifestyle, chronic or acute stressors including posttraumatic stress, an increase in C‐reactive protein (CRP) in men, taking antidepressant medication, and social and emotional loneliness.

Clinical Relevance

A good patient–provider relationship can help to promote decreased acute or chronic stressors, increased family and social support, decreased loneliness, modification of unhealthy lifestyles such as smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, alcohol, control of CRP, and antidepressant medication. Nurses are well placed to help prevent physical diseases through detection and referral of patients who are depressed or undiagnosed and not receiving adequate mental health treatment.
The Impact of Multiple Strategies to Encourage Fruit and Vegetable Consumption During School Lunch
Authors: Thompson Emily , Johnson David C. , Leite‐Bennett Amy , Ding Yingmei , Mehrotra Komal
Published: July 2017

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Hennepin County partnered with schools to implement lunchroom strategies to encourage fruit and vegetable consumption. An in‐depth evaluation measured changes in consumption following implementation of encouragement strategies including slicing apples and attractive labels.

METHODS

A pre‐post prospective evaluation measured changes in average fruit and vegetable consumption at 2 elementary schools. The plate waste method was used to weigh individual waste. To measure consumption, 373 students were matched pre/post. Additional measures included change in fruit and vegetable selection, change in whole servings consumed and apple consumption.

RESULTS

Average fruit consumption increased by 3.0 g (p = .09), average vegetable consumption increased by 1.1 g (p = .27), neither significantly. The number of students selecting fruit significantly increased (p = .02), while the number taking vegetables increased, but not significantly (p = .28). The number of students consuming an entire serving of fruit (p = .15) or vegetables (p = .45) both increased but not significantly. Apple consumption more than doubled at one school.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementing lunchroom changes can increase the number of students selecting fruit, and changes including slicing can increase consumption of apples. Additional strategies are needed to increase vegetable selection and fruit and vegetable consumption.
Prospective evaluation of the Whitt Neonatal Trigger Score in an ‘at‐risk’ neonatal population
Authors: Robinson Anna , Winckworth Lucinda C , Eleftheriou Georgios , Hewitson Rebecca , Holme Harriet
Published: July 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the Whitt Neonatal Trigger Score (W‐NTS), determining optimum threshold scores for consideration of medical intervention and intensive care unit admission.

Methods

All neonates on the postnatal ward (PNW) with a set of pre‐defined risk factors were scored on the W‐NTS. Neonates were divided into three groups: ‘unwell’ admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU); ‘well’, who remained on the PNW receiving standard care; and ‘intervention’, who received antibiotics but did not require admission to NICU.

Results

A total of 3315 scores from 455 neonates were collected. The W‐NTS area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC ROC) was 0.968, with a score of 2 or more predicting NICU admission, with 82.5% sensitivity and 95.0% specificity. Adopting a cut‐off score of 2 for admission would significantly improve speed to admission (11.6 vs. 6.9 h, P 0.037). A score of 0 was strongly predictive of being well enough to remain on the PNW without intervention (odds ratio 565.6, P < 0.001), and a score of 1 or more predicted the need for intravenous antibiotics with 100.0% sensitivity and 86.1% specificity (AUC ROC 0.977).

Conclusion

The W‐NTS observation chart, previously shown to outperform existing early warning scores, acts well as an adjunct to clinical assessment on the PNW, with its simplicity allowing for the successful and safe use by non‐paediatric specialists. We recommend that neonates scoring 1 should be reviewed, with a septic screen and commencement of antibiotic therapy considered, while those scoring 2 or more should be strongly considered for NICU admission for further management.
Determinants, causal connections and outcomes of corporate technology licensing: a systematic review and research agenda
Authors: Symeonidou Noni , Bruneel Johan
Published: July 2017

Exchanges in markets for technology (MfT) have grown rapidly in recent years. MfT involve transactions for the use, diffusion and creation of technology. In this article, we conduct a systematic review of the emerging market for technology literature and examine one of its most important aspects, corporate technology licensing. Using thematic analysis, we systematically review 78 papers published in 29 journals over 30 years covering the academic disciplines of technology/knowledge management, strategic management, entrepreneurship, innovation management and industrial economics. Based on this analysis, we present an organizing framework for the most prominent determinants, causal connections and outcomes of technology licensing research to date and identify a research agenda highlighting important avenues for future research in this domain.
Cellular and extracellular vesicular origins of miRNAs within the bovine ovarian follicle
Authors: Andrade GM , Meirelles FV , Perecin F , da Silveira JC
Published: July 2017

Contents

The ovarian follicle components must provide an ideal environment to ensure the success of reproductive processes, and communication between follicular cells is crucial to support proper oocyte growth. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the presence of extracellular vesicles (EVs) carrying microRNAs (miRNAs) in follicular fluid represents an important autocrine and paracrine communication mechanism inside the ovarian follicle. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that the miRNA content of EVs isolated from ovarian follicular (granulosa and cumulus–oocyte complexes) cell‐conditioned culture media is dependent upon cell type. We initially screened bovine granulosa cells (GCs) and cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs), as well as their derived EVs for 348 miRNAs using real‐time PCR, and detected 326 miRNAs in GCs and COCs cells and 62 miRNAs in GCs and COCs EVs. A bioinformatics analysis of the identified cell‐specific and differentially expressed miRNAs predicted that they likely modulate important cellular processes, including signalling pathways such as the PI3K‐Akt, MAPK and Wnt pathways. By investigating the origins of miRNAs within the follicular fluid, the results of this study provide novel insights into follicular miRNA content and intercellular communication that may be of invaluable use in the context of reproductive technologies, diagnostic of ovarian‐related diseases and/or the identification of biomarkers for oocyte and embryo quality.
Definitions of intradialytic hypotension
Authors: Assimon Magdalene M. , Flythe Jennifer E.
Published: July 2017

Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a common and often distressful complication of hemodialysis. However, despite its clinical significance, there is no consensus, evidence‐based medical definition for the condition. Over the years, numerous definitions have been implemented in both the clinical and research settings. Definition inconsistencies have hindered data synthesis and the development of evidence‐based guidelines for the prevention and treatment of IDH, as well as prevented accurate estimation of the population burden of IDH and patient risk assessment. Most existing IDH definitions are comprised of one or more of the following components: (1) intradialytic BP criteria (requisite BP declines or minimum BP thresholds), (2) the provision of interventions aimed at restoring effective arterial volume, and/or (3) patient‐reported symptoms. Remarkably, there are insufficient data to inform IDH definition construction, and it remains unknown if a single, universal definition can adequately capture the condition across patient subgroups, and in clinical and research settings.
Simulations of model magnetorheological fluids in squeeze flow mode
Authors: Ruiz-López J. A. , Wang Z. W. , Hidalgo-Alvarez R. , de Vicente J.
Published: July 2017

A particle-level simulation methodology is proposed to study the squeeze flow behavior of model magnetorheological fluids. The simulation algorithm takes into account Brownian motion and local field corrections to magnetic interactions of the particles. Simulation results obtained from using different initial configurations, including one single-particle-width chain per simulation box, random or lattice arrangements of preassembled single-particle-width chains as well as randomly dispersed particle suspensions, are compared with experimental data and predictions of a recently developed microscopic model. The assumption of single-particle-width chain structures in the systems has been shown to generate normal stresses larger than those found in experiments and the micromechanical model. However, much better agreement between the simulation and experimental results have been reached when using random initial configurations in the simulations.
Ecomorphological correlates of microhabitat selection in two sympatric Asian Box Turtle species (Geoemydidae: Cuora)
Authors: Xiao Fanrong , Wang Jichao , Shi Haitao , Long Zaizhong , Lin Liu , Wang Wei
Published: July 2017

Closely related species that co-occur in homogeneous environments often possess differing morphologies, which can result in niche divergence that minimizes interspecific competition. In the present study, we examined the relationship between ecomorphological characteristics and microhabitat selection of two Asian box turtle species, the Keeled Box Turtle (Cuora mouhotii (Gray, 1862)) and the Indochinese Box Turtle (Cuora galbinifrons Bourret, 1940), that have sympatric distributions in the rainforest of Hainan, People’s Republic of China. We found that C. mouhotii had a relatively flat shell and preferred microhabitats with rock crevices and steep slopes in the field, whereas C. galbinifrons had a domed shell and was restricted to microhabitats of deciduous leaves under bamboo growing on gentle slopes. We conclude that morphological divergence allows the two Cuora spp. to use different microhabitats and, thereby, to successfully co-occur.
Stochastic resonance for a fractional oscillator with random trichotomous mass and random trichotomous frequency
Authors: Lin Lifeng , Wang Huiqi , Zhong Suchuan
Published: July 2017

The stochastic resonance (SR) phenomena of a linear fractional oscillator with random trichotomous mass and random trichotomous frequency are investigate in this paper. By using the Shapiro–Loginov formula and the Laplace transformation technique, the exact expression of the first-order moment of the system’s steady response is derived. The numerical results demonstrate that the evolution of the output amplitude is nonmonotonic with frequency of the periodic signal, noise parameters and fractional order. The generalized SR (GSR) phenomena, including single GSR (SGSR) and doubly GSR (DGSR), and trebly GSR (TGSR), are detected in this fractional system. Then, the GSR regions in the [Formula: see text] plane are determined through numerical calculations. In addition, the interaction effect of the multiplicative trichotomous noise and memory can diversify the stochastic multiresonance (SMR) phenomena, and induce reverse-resonance phenomena.
High efficiency fluorescent white OLEDs based on DOPPP
Authors: Zhang Gang , Chen Chen , Lang Jihui , Zhao Lina , Jiang Wenlong
Published: July 2017

The white organic light-emitting devices (WOLED) with the structures of ITO/m-MTDATA (10 nm)/NPB (30 nm)/Rubrene (0.2 nm)/DOPPP (x nm)/TAz (10 nm)/Alq3 (30 nm)/LiF (0.5 nm)/Al and ITO/NPB (30 nm)/DPAVBi:Rubrene (2 wt.%, 20 nm)/ DOPPP (x nm)/TAZ (10 nm)/Alq3 (30 nm)/LiF (0.5 nm)/Al (100 nm) have been fabricated by the vacuum thermal evaporation method. The results show that the chroma of the non-doped device is the best and the color coordinates are in the range of white light. The maximum luminance is 12,750 cd/m2 and the maximum current efficiency is 8.55 cd/A. The doped device A has the maximum luminance (16,570 cd/m2), when the thickness of blue layer DOPPP is 25 nm, and the doped device B achieves the highest efficiency (10.47 cd/A), when the thickness of DOPPP is 15 nm. All the performances of the doped devices are better than the non-doped one. The results demonstrate that the doped structures can realize the energy transfer and then improve the performance of the device effectively.