bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biased gene conversion drives codon usage in human and precludes selection on translation efficiency
Authors: Pouyet Fanny , Mouchiroud Dominique , Duret Laurent , Sémon Marie
Published: November 2016

In humans, as in other mammals, synonymous codon usage (SCU) varies widely among genes. In particular, genes involved in cell differentiation or in proliferation display a distinct codon usage, suggesting that SCU is adaptively constrained to optimize translation efficiency in distinct cellular states. However, in mammals, SCU is known to correlate with large-scale fluctuations of GC-content along chromosomes, caused by meiotic recombination, via the non-adaptive process of GC-biased gene conversion (gBGC). To disentangle and to quantify the different factors driving SCU in humans, we analyzed the relationships between functional categories, base composition, recombination, and gene expression. We first demonstrate that SCU is predominantly driven by large-scale variation in GC-content and is not linked to constraints on tRNA abundance, which excludes an effect of translational selection. In agreement with the gBGC model, we show that differences in SCU among functional categories are explained by variation in intragenic recombination rate, which, in turn, is strongly negatively correlated to gene expression levels during meiosis. Our results indicate that variation in SCU among functional categories (including variation associated to differentiation or proliferation) result from differences in levels of meiotic transcription, which interferes with the formation of crossovers and thereby affects gBGC intensity within genes. Overall, the gBGC model explains 70% of the variance in SCU among genes. We argue that the strong heterogeneity of SCU induced by gBGC in mammalian genomes precludes any optimization of the tRNA pool to the demand in codon usage.
Unifying the two different classes of plant non-specific lipid-transfer proteins allergens classified in the WHO/IUIS allergen database through a motif with conserved sequence, structural and electrostatic features
Authors: Chakraborty Sandeep
Published: November 2016

The ubiquitously occuring non-specific lipid-transfer proteins (nsLTPs) in plants are implicated in key processes like biotic and abiotic stress, seed development and lipid transport. Additionally, they constitute a panallergen multigene family present in both food and pollen. Presently there are 49 nsLTP entries in the WHO/IUIS allergen database (http://allergen.org/). Analysis of full-length allergens identified only two major classes (nsLTP1,n=32 and nsLTP2,n=2), although nsLTPs are classified into many other groups. nsLTP1 and nsLTP2 are differentiated by their sequences, molecular weights, pattern of the conserved disulphide bonds and volume of the hydrophobic cavity. The conserved R44 is present in all full length nsLTP1 allergens (only Par j 2 fromParietaria judaicahas K44), while D43 is present in all but Par j 1/2 fromP. judaica(residue numbering based on PDBid:2ALGA). Although, the importance of these residues is well-established in nsLTP1, the corresponding residues in nsLTP2 remain unknown. A structural motif comprising of two cysteines with a disulphide bond (C3-C50), R44 and D43 identified a congruent motif (C3/C35/R47/D42) in a nsLTP2 protein from rice (PDBid:1L6HA), using the CLASP methodology. This also provides a quantitative method to assess the cross-reactivity potential of different proteins through congruence of an epitope and its neighbouring residues. Future work will involve obtaining the PDB structure of an nsLTP2 allergen and Par j 1/2 nsLTP1 sequences with a missing D43, determine whether nsLTP from other groups beside nsLTP1/2 are allergens, and determine nsLTP allergens from other plants commonly responsible for causing allergic reactions (chickpea, walnut, etc.) based on a genome wide identification of genes with conserved allergen features and theirin vitrocharacterization.
Nitrogen cost minimization is promoted by structural changes in the transcriptome of N deprivedProchlorococcuscells
Authors: Read Robert W. , Berube Paul M. , Biller Steven J. , Neveux Iva , Cubillos-Ruiz Andres , Chisholm Sallie W. , Grzymski Joseph J.
Published: November 2016

Prochlorococcusis a globally abundant marine cyanobacterium with many adaptations that reduce cellular nutrient requirements, facilitating growth in its nutrient-poor environment. One such genomic adaptation is the preferential utilization of amino acids containing fewer N-atoms, which minimizes cellular nitrogen requirements. We predicted that transcriptional regulation might be used to further reduce cellular N budgets during transient N limitation. To explore this, we compared transcription start sites (TSSs) inProchlorococcusMED4 under N-deprived and N-replete conditions. Of 64 genes with primary and internal TSSs in both conditions, N-deprived cells initiated transcription downstream of primary TSSs more frequently than N-replete cells. Additionally, 117 genes with only an internal TSS demonstrated increased internal transcription under N-deprivation. These shortened transcripts encode predicted proteins with ~5-20% less N content compared to full-length transcripts. We hypothesized that low translation rates, which afford greater control over protein abundances, would be beneficial to relatively slow-growing organisms likeProchlorococcus. Consistent with this idea, we found thatProchlorococcusexhibits greater usage of glycine-glycine motifs, which cause translational pausing, when compared to faster growing microbes. Our findings indicate that structural changes occur within theProchlorococcusMED4 transcriptome during N-deprivation, potentially altering the size and structure of proteins expressed under nutrient limitation.
Optical-flow analysis toolbox for characterization of spatiotemporal dynamics in mesoscale optical imaging of brain activity
Authors: Afrashteh Navvab , Inayat Samsoon , Mohsenvand Mostafa , Mohajerani Majid H.
Published: November 2016

Wide-field optical imaging techniques constitute powerful tools to sample and study mesoscale neuronal activity. The sampled data constitutes a sequence of image frames in which one can perceive the flow of brain activity starting and terminating at source and sink locations respectively. The most common data analyses include qualitative assessment to identify sources and sinks of activity as well as their trajectories. The quantitative analyses is mostly based on computing the temporal variation of the intensity of pixels while a few studies have also reported estimates of wave motion using optical-flow techniques from computer vision. A comprehensive toolbox for the quantitative analyses of mesoscale brain activity data however is still missing. We present a graphical-user-interface based Matlab®toolbox for investigating the spatiotemporal dynamics of mesoscale brain activity using optical-flow analyses. The toolbox includes the implementation of three optical-flow methods namely Horn-Schunck, Combined Local-Global, and Temporospatial algorithms for estimating velocity vector fields of perceived flow in mesoscale brain activity. From the velocity vector fields we determine the locations of sources and sinks as well as the trajectories and temporal velocities of activity flow. Using our toolbox, we compare the efficacy of the three optical-flow methods for determining spatiotemporal dynamics by using simulated data. We also demonstrate the application of optical-flow methods onto sensory-evoked calcium and voltage imaging data. Our results indicate that the combined local-global method we employ, yields results that correlate with the manual assessment. The automated approach permits rapid and effective quantification of mesoscale brain dynamics and may facilitate the study of brain function in response to new experiences or pathology.

Conflicts of Interest

none

Author contribution statement

MHM, MM, NV, and SI designed the study. NA and SI wrote Matlab®code for the toolbox and designed the simulated data. MHM, and NA performed the experiments. NA and SI analyzed the data. SI, NA, and MHM wrote the manuscript.
Modulation of Body Mass Composition using Vestibular Nerve Stimulation
Authors: McGeoch Paul D. , McKeown Jason , Peterson Hans , Ramachandran V.S.
Published: November 2016

There is increasing evidence of a “set-point” for body weight in the brain, that is regulated by the hypothalamus. This system modifies feeding behavior and metabolic rate, to keep body fat within predetermined parameters. It is also known that animals subjected to chronic centrifugation show a reduction in body fat. Experiments with mutant mice found that this loss of fat appears to be mediated by a vestibulo-hypothalamic pathway. Vestibular nerve stimulation (VeNS), also known as galvanic vestibular stimulation, involves non-invasively stimulating the vestibular system by applying a small electrical current between two electrodes placed over the mastoid processes. We suggest that any means of repeatedly stimulating the otolith organs in humans would cause a reduction in total body fat, and that VeNS would be a useful technique to use in this regard. Below we provide pilot data to support this idea.
Problems with Estimating Anthesis Phenology Parameters inZea mays: Consequences for Combining Ecophysiological Models with Genetics
Authors: Lamsal Abhishes , Welch Stephen M. , White Jeffrey W. , Thorp Kelly R. , Bello Nora
Published: November 2016

Ecophysiological crop models encode intra-species behaviors using constant parameters that are presumed to summarize genotypic properties. Accurate estimation of these parameters is crucial because much recent work has sought to link them to genotypes. The original goal of this study was to fit the anthesis date component of the CERES-Maize model to 5266 genetic lines grown at 11 site-years and genetically map the resulting parameter estimates. Although the resulting estimates had high predictive quality, numerous artifacts emerged during estimation. The first arose in situations where the model was unable to express the observed data for many lines, which ended up sharing the same parameter value. In the second (2254 lines), the model reproduced the data but there were often many parameter sets that did so equally well (equifinality). These artifacts made genetic mapping impossible, thus, revealing cautionary insights regarding a major current paradigm for linking process based models to genetics.
Integrating transcriptomic and proteomic data for accurate assembly and annotation of genomes
Authors: Prasad T.S. Keshava , Mohanty Ajeet Kumar , Kumar Manish , Sreenivasamurthy Sreelakshmi K. , Dey Gourav , Nirujogi Raja Sekhar , Pinto Sneha M. , Madugundu Anil K. , Patil Arun H. , Advani Jayshree , Manda Srikanth S. , Gupta Manoj Kumar , Dwivedi Sutopa B. , Kelkar Dhanashree S. , Hall Brantley , Jiang Xiaofang , Peery Ashley , Rajagopalan Pavithra , Yelamanchi Soujanya D. , Solanki Hitendra S. , Raja Remya , Sathe Gajanan J. , Chavan Sandip , Verma Renu , Patel Krishna M. , Jain Ankit P. , Syed Nazia , Datta Keshava K. , Khan Aafaque Ahmed , Dammalli Manjunath , Jayaram Savita , Radhakrishnan Aneesha , Mitchell Christopher J. , Na Chan-Hyun , Kumar Nirbhay , Sinnis Photini , Sharakhov Igor V. , Wang Charles , Gowda Harsha , Tu Zhijian , Kumar Ashwani , Pandey Akhilesh
Published: November 2016

Complementing genome sequence with deep transcriptome and proteome data could enable more accurate assembly and annotation of newly sequenced genomes. Here, we provide a proof-of-concept of an integrated approach for analysis of the genome and proteome of Anopheles stephensi, which is one of the most important vectors of the malaria parasite. To achieve broad coverage of genes, we carried out transcriptome sequencing and deep proteome profiling of multiple anatomically distinct sites. Based on transcriptomic data alone, we identified and corrected 535 events of incomplete genome assembly involving 1196 scaffolds and 868 protein-coding gene models. This proteogenomic approach enabled us to add 365 genes that were missed during genome annotation and identify 917 gene correction events through discovery of 151 novel exons, 297 protein extensions, 231 exon extensions, 192 novel protein start sites, 19 novel translational frames, 28 events of joining of exons, and 76 events of joining of adjacent genes as a single gene. Incorporation of proteomic evidence allowed us to change the designation of more than 87 predicted “noncoding RNAs” to conventional mRNAs coded by protein-coding genes. Importantly, extension of the newly corrected genome assemblies and gene models to 15 other newly assembled Anopheline genomes led to the discovery of a large number of apparent discrepancies in assembly and annotation of these genomes. Our data provide a framework for how future genome sequencing efforts should incorporate transcriptomic and proteomic analysis in combination with simultaneous manual curation to achieve near complete assembly and accurate annotation of genomes.
Repeated recall and PKMζ maintain fear memories in juvenile rats
Authors: Oliver Chicora F. , Kabitzke Patricia , Serrano Peter , Egan Laura J. , Barr Gordon A. , Shair Harry N. , Wiedenmayer Christoph
Published: November 2016

We examined the neural substrates of fear memory formation and maintenance when repeated recall was used to prevent forgetting in young animals. In contrast to adult rats, juveniles failed to show contextual fear responses at 4 d post-fear conditioning. Reconsolidation sessions 3 and 6 d after conditioning restored contextual fear responses in juveniles 7 d after initial training. In juveniles that received reconsolidation sessions, protein kinase M zeta (PKMζ) increased in the amygdala, but not in the hippocampus. These data suggest that repeated reminders and increased PKMζ maintain fear responses in juvenile animals that otherwise would not exhibit this behavior.
Three polymorphs of an inclusion compound of 2,2′-(disulfanediyl)dibenzoic acid and trimethylamine
Authors: Yang Yunxia , Li Lihua , Zhang Li , Dong Wenjing , Ding Keying
Published: November 2016

Polymorphism is the ability of a solid material to exist in more than one form or crystal structure and this is of interest in the fields of crystal engineering and solid-state chemistry. 2,2′-(Disulfanediyl)dibenzoic acid (also called 2,2′-dithiosalicylic acid, DTSA) is able to form different hydrogen bonds using its carboxyl groups. The central bridging S atoms allow the two terminal arene rings to rotate freely to generate various hydrogen-bonded linking modes. DTSA can act as a potential host molecule with suitable guest molecules to develop new inclusion compounds. We report here the crystal structures of three new polymorphs of the inclusion compound of DTSA and trimethylamine, namely trimethylazanium 2-[(2-carboxyphenyl)disulfanyl]benzoate 2,2′-(disulfanediyl)dibenzoic acid monosolvate, C3H10N+·C14H9O4S2−·C14H10O4S2, (1), tetrakis(trimethylazanium) bis{2-[(2-carboxyphenyl)disulfanyl]benzoate} 2,2′-(disulfanediyl)dibenzoate 2,2′-(disulfanediyl)dibenzoic acid monosolvate, 4C3H10N+·2C14H9O4S2−·C14H8O4S22−·C14H10O4S2, (2), and trimethylazanium 2-[(2-carboxyphenyl)disulfanyl]benzoate, C3H10N+·C14H9O4S2−, (3). In the three polymorphs, DTSA utilizes its carboxyl groups to form conventional O—H...O hydrogen bonds to generate different host lattices. The central N atoms of the guest amine molecules accept H atoms from DTSA molecules to give the corresponding cations, which act as counter-ions to produce the stable crystal structuresviaN—H...O hydrogen bonding between the host acid and the guest molecule. It is noticeable that although these three compounds are composed of the same components, the final crystal structures are totally different due to the various configurations of the host acid, the number of guest molecules and the inducer (i.e.ancillary experimental acid).
Cytokine and cellular responses to human herpesvirus‐6B in patients with B‐acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Nefzi Faten , Lambert Claude , Gautheret‐Dejean Agnès , Fisson Sylvain , Khebizi Quentin , Khelif Abderrahim , Agut Henri , Aouni Mahjoub
Published: November 2016

Primary infection with human herpesvirus‐6 (HHV‐6), is followed by its lifelong persistence in the host. Most T‐cell responses to HHV‐6 have been characterized using peripheral blood from healthy adults; however, the role of HHV‐6 infection in immune modulation has not been elucidated for some diseases. Therefore, in this study the immune response to HHV‐6 infection in patients with B‐acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B‐ALL) was analyzed. HHV‐6 load was quantified in blood samples taken at the time of diagnosis of leukemia and on remission. The same concentrations of anti‐ and pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐4, IL‐1, IL‐6, IL‐8, IL‐12p70, IL‐17a, TNF‐α and IFN‐γ) were detected in plasma samples from 20 patients with and 20 without detectable HHV‐6 virus loads in blood. Characterization of T‐cell responses to HHV‐6 showed low specific T‐cells frequencies of 2.08% and 1.46% in patients with and without detectable viral loads, respectively. IFN‐γ‐producing T cells were detected in 0.03%–0.23% and in 0%–0.2% of CD4+T cells, respectively. Strong production of IL‐6 was detected in medium supernatants of challenged T‐cells whatever the HHV‐6 status of the patients (973.51 ± 210.06 versus 825.70 ± 210.81 pg/mL). However, concentrations of TNF‐α and IFN‐γ were low. Thus, no association between plasma concentrations of cytokines and detection of HHV‐6 in blood was identified, suggesting that HHV‐6 is not strongly associated with development of B‐ALL. The low viral loads detected may correspond with latently infected cells. Alternatively, HHV‐6B specific immune responses may be below the detection threshold of the assays used.
The missing link in grassland restoration: arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation increases plant diversity and accelerates succession
Authors: Koziol Liz , Bever James D.
Published: November 2016

Because soil microbial communities are often altered by anthropogenic disturbance, successful plant community restoration may require the restoration of beneficial soil microbes, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. Recent evidence suggests that later successional grassland species are more strongly affected by AM fungi relative to early successional plants and that late successional plants consistently benefit from some AM fungi but not other AM fungal species. Many of these late successional species are also often missing in restorations despite being heavily seeded.

To assess the effects of AM fungal composition within grassland restorations, we inoculated plots with six different AM fungal community treatments including one of four different AM fungal species isolated from a prairie, a mixture of all four fungal species, and a non‐inoculated control. AM fungi were introduced by planting 16 different inoculated nurse plants into replicated plots. We also seeded the restoration with a diverse, 54 species prairie seed mixture.

We found that AM fungal inoculation drove plant community composition; plots inoculated with certain AM fungal treatments were dominated by desirable prairie plants, whereas plots inoculated with other AM fungal species and the non‐inoculated control were dominated by non‐desirable plants including weeds and exotic species. Specifically, we found that many early successional species established well regardless of AM fungal inoculation, whereas the establishment and growth of many late successional species was strongly dependent on the presence of specific AM fungal species. Many conservative late successional species did not occur without inoculation. Overall, total plant community richness, diversity, and Floristic Quality Index were all significantly improved with AM fungal inoculation, whereas we observed that non‐desirable plant abundance was significantly greater in the non‐inoculated plots.

Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that the lack of late successional establishment reported in many previous restorations may be due to ineffective arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities at these sites. We conclude that the reintroduction of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from reference prairie environments could improve restoration outcomes by promoting plant diversity and richness, especially for desirable later successional plant species, while simultaneously inhibiting less desirable weedy plants.
Public challenge and endorsement of sex category ambiguity in online debate: ‘The sooner people stop thinking that gender is a matter of choice the better’
Authors: Sweeting Helen , Maycock Matthew William , Walker Laura , Hunt Kate
Published: November 2016

Despite academic feminist debate over several decades, the binary nature of sex as a (perhapsthe) primary social classification is often taken for granted, as is the assumption that individuals can be unproblematically assigned a biological sex at birth. This article presents analysis of online debate on theBBCnews website in November 2013, comprising 864 readers' responses to an article entitled ‘Germany allows ‘indeterminate’ gender at birth’. It explores how discourse reflecting Western essentialist beliefs about people having one sexor‘the other’ is maintained in debates conducted in this online public space. Comments were coded thematically and are presented under five sub‐headings: overall evaluation of the German law; discussing and disputing statistics and ‘facts’; binary categorisations; religion and politics; and ‘conversations’ and threads. Although for many the mapping of binary sex onto gender was unquestionable, this view was strongly disputed by commentators who questioned the meanings of ‘natural’ and ‘normal’, raised the possibility of removing societal binary male‐female distinctions or saw maleness–femaleness as a continuum. While recognising that online commentators are anonymous and can control their self‐presentation, this animated discussion suggests that social classifications as male or female, even if questioned, remain fundamental in public debate in the early 21stcentury.
What is wrong with ‘being a pill‐taker’? The special case of statins
Authors: Polak Louisa
Published: November 2016

In an interview study of decision‐making about statins, many participants said they took pills regularly, yet described themselves as ‘not really pill‐takers’. This paper explores this paradox and its implications. The practice of pill‐taking itself can constitute a challenge to the presentation of moral adequacy, beyond the potential for rendering stigmatised illnesses visible. Meeting this challenge involves a complex process of calibrating often‐conflicting moral imperatives: to be concerned, but not too concerned, over one's health; to be informed, but not over‐informed; and deferential but not over‐deferential to medical expertise. This calibration reflects a broader tension between rival tropes: embracing medical progress and resisting medicalisation. Participants who take statins present them as unquestionably necessary; ‘needing’ pills, as opposed to choosing to take them, serves as a defence against the devalued identity of being a pill‐taker. However, needing to take statins offers an additional threat to identity, because taking statins is widely perceived to be an alternative strategy to ‘choosing a healthy lifestyle’. This perception underpins a responsibilising health promotion discourse that shapes and complicates the work participants do to avoid presenting themselves as ‘pill‐takers’. The salience of this discourse should be acknowledged where discussions of medicalisation use statins as an example.
Surface coating of silver nanoparticles on polyethylene for fabrication of antimicrobial milk packaging films
Authors: Bayani Bandpey Niloofar , Aroujalian Abdolreza , Raisi Ahmadreza , Fazel Shahrzad
Published: November 2016

In this study, antimicrobial packaging films were prepared by coating silver (Ag) nanoparticles onto the surface of low density polyethylene (LDPE) films modified by corona air plasma. The possibility of these films for use in the packaging of milk was studied. The influence of input power of the corona discharge treatment on the surface modification and performance of the fabricated Ag/LDPE nanocomposite films was also investigated. The prepared antimicrobial packaging films showed promising antimicrobial efficiency against micro‐organisms that are present in milk and were able to increase the microbial shelf life of the milk. Packages fabricated at corona input powers of 210, 500 and 800 W reached the maximum limit after 5, 8 and 14 days (respectively).
The impact of motivational interviewing on participation in childbirth preparation classes and having a natural delivery: a randomised trial
Authors: Rasouli M , AtashSokhan G , Keramat A , Khosravi A , Fooladi E , Mousavi SA
Published: November 2016

Objective

This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of motivational interviewing on women's participation in childbirth classes and their subsequent natural vaginal delivery.

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Prenatal clinic of the Shohada Women's Hospital, Behshahr, Mazandaran, Iran.

Population

This study was conducted with 230 nulliparous women. Participants were randomised into three groups, including 76 women in the motivational interviewing group, and 77 women in both the lecture and the control groups.

Methods

Participants were assessed at three time points, including at baseline (16–19 weeks of gestation) and then following the intervention (at 21 and 37 weeks of gestation). The motivational interviewing group received two focus interviews and two telephone follow‐up sessions (at 3 and 6 weeks after the last session of motivational interviewing). The lecture group received a speech session. The control group received routine care service.

Main outcome measures

Frequency of participation in childbirth preparation classes and mode of delivery.

Results

Over 90% of women in the motivational interviewing group participated in childbirth preparation classes, whereas the rate of participation in the lecture and the control groups was 59.7 and 27.3%, respectively. The probability of maternal participation in childbirth classes in the motivational interviewing and in the lecture groups was 3.3 (95% CI 2.1–4.5) and 2.2 (95% CI 1.4–3.0) times the probability of maternal participation in the control group, respectively. Moreover, the intervention groups had 1.4 (95% CI 1.1–1.8) and 1.1 (95% CI 0.9–1.4) times the probability of natural delivery, compared with the control group. The frequency of natural delivery in motivational interviewing, lecture, and control groups was 68.4, 54.5, and 48.1%, respectively. The results showed a statistically significant difference between the mean scores for the awareness and attitude scores between the three groups in different time periods.

Conclusion

We found that motivational interviewing can be a useful tool for encouraging pregnant women to attend childbirth preparation classes.

Tweetable abstract

Motivational interviewing with nulliparous women is strongly associated with their attendance in childbirth preparation classes.
The Optimized Summed Scored Attributes Method for the Classification of U.S. Blacks and Whites: A Validation Study
Authors: Kenyhercz Michael W. , Klales Alexandra R. , Rainwater Christopher W. , Fredette Sara M.
Published: November 2016

Recently, Hefner and Ousley (2014) introduced the optimized summed scored attributes (OSSA) method that maximizes between‐group differences in U.S. black and white populations by dichotomizing six cranial morphoscopic trait scores. This study tests OSSA using an independent skeletal sample (Hamann‐Todd, n = 208) and positively identified forensic cases (Mercyhurst University, n = 28, and New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner, n = 38). An evaluation of trait frequencies suggests shifting the heuristically selected sectioning point separating U.S. black and white populations from ≤ 3 to ≤ 4. We found a total correct classification of 73.0% (B = 50.9%, W = 89.2%) using the originally suggested sectioning point of ≤3, while the total correct classification increases to 79.2% (B = 80.2%, W = 78.5%) with a modified sectioning point of ≤4. With the increased total correct classification and reduced classification bias between ancestry groups, we suggest the modified sectioning point of ≤4 be used when assessing ancestry in forensic unknowns.
Bestiality in Forensically Committed Sexual Offenders: A Case Series
Authors: Holoyda Brian
Published: November 2016

Although bestiality has occurred since prehistoric times, it remains a poorly understood aspect of human sexuality. Prevalence studies in the mid‐20th century suggested that bestiality was a relatively common phenomenon. Since that time, researchers have studied bestiality among specific populations, including self‐identified “zoophiles” and inmates who report a history of bestiality. Findings from inmate research suggest that bestiality may represent a risk factor for future interpersonal violence. This study presents a case series of bestiality among sexual offenders committed under forensic commitment schemes. The case series demonstrates the range of animal partners, sexual acts, and comorbid paraphilic and nonparaphilic diagnoses in individuals who report a history of bestiality. In addition, it helps clarify potential motivations for sex with animals and how such motivations may influence the forensic psychiatric assessment of offenders who have sex with animals.
Determining the Toxicological Significance of Pregabalin in Fatalities
Authors: Elliott Simon P. , Burke Timothy , Smith Christopher
Published: November 2016

Pregabalin has become more widely prescribed and abused in recent years but is still not always included in laboratory analysis. An LC‐MS‐MS method has been developed and applied to measure pregabalin in 93 postmortem cases, including drug‐related deaths, alternative causes of death, and fatalities where pregabalin was likely to have contributed to death. Other drugs or alcohol was detected, and the most common drug types (in decreasing frequency) were antidepressants, opioids, benzodiazepines, opiates, alcohol, antipsychotics, cocaine, cardiac drugs, amphetamines, cannabis, anticonvulsants, and antihistamines. New psychoactive substances (methoxphenidine and synthetic cannabinoids) were only found in two cases. The results provide further data to assist in evaluating the significance of postmortem pregabalin concentrations and a toxicologically significant concentration of 25 mg/L is proposed. Pregabalin, especially with concomitant use of other CNS depressant drugs, presents a significant toxicological risk and existing laboratory protocols should be reviewed for their suitability to detect pregabalin.
Using Frons Width to Differentiate Blow Fly Species (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Phormia regina (Meigen) and Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau‐Desvoidy)
Authors: Langer Sarah V. , Kyle Christopher J. , Beresford David V.
Published: November 2016

Protophormia terraenovae (Robineau‐Desvoidy) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) and Phormia regina (Meigen) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are morphologically similar blow fly species commonly used for estimating postmortem intervals. Field collection and storage of adults can result in color changes, in particular on calypters and palps; often collected specimens show damage such as wing fray or fungal growth. We measured the frons width: total head width ratio using photographs (ImageJ version 1.49) to differentiate these two species. Both sexes were distinguishable to species, with the greatest difference between males: 12.34% P. terraenovae versus 1.62% P. regina, less so for females: 40.25% P. terraenovae, versus 33.65% P. regina. Incorporating this feature into future blow fly keys would help with distinguishing field‐caught specimens when other features are obstructed.
Predicting and preventing peripheral intravenous cannula insertion failure in the emergency department: Clinician ‘gestalt’ wins again
Authors: Rippey James CR , Carr Peter J , Cooke Marie , Higgins Niall , Rickard Claire M
Published: November 2016

Objective

Failed attempts at peripheral i.v. cannula (PIVC) insertion in the ED are common. The psychological, physical and economic impact of these failures is significant. We sought to explore whether clinicians of differing experience levels can predict their own likelihood (clinician ‘gestalt’) of first‐time cannula insertion success on any given patient.

Methods

Data analyses from a prospective self‐reported study assessing risk factors for first‐time insertion success in a tertiary adult ED. We constructed and compared two simple theoretical clinical decision algorithms in an attempt to improve first‐time PIVC insertion success rates.

Results

This best algorithm identified a subgroup of 18% of the total PIVC population at higher risk of failure. This 18% comprised 57% of all PIVC failures, and implementation would result in a relative risk reduction of PIVC failure by 31%.

Conclusions

When applied to our sample population, an algorithm relying on clinician gestalt to identify patients at high risk of PIVC failure had the greatest potential impact. These patients would be referred to expert PIVC inserters prior to, rather than after, failed attempts.
Risk factor analysis and predictive score for pneumonia after major/ultra‐major operations: A single‐centre, retrospective study from the Surgical Outcome Monitoring and Improvement Program database
Authors: Wong Kevin K.F. , Fung James T.K. , Leung Siu‐Kee
Published: November 2016

Aim

The aim of the present study was to identify the significant risk factors predicting the occurrence of postoperative pneumonia after major or ultra‐major operations (OT), and construct a predictive score to identify high‐risk patients for postoperative pneumonia.

Patients and Methods

A total of 6237 patients who underwent major/ultra‐major operations in a single institute were recruited to participate in the present study. Data from 1742 patients who underwent major or ultra‐major operations from July 2012 to June 2013 were retrieved from the Surgical Outcome Monitoring and Improvement Program database. Thirty‐eight variables were analysed by univariable analysis method. Significant factors with a P‐value ≤0.05 were further analysed by using the multivariable logistic regression model. A scoring system was then formulated by using these significant risk factors to identify high‐risk patients. The efficacy of this scoring system was examined by applying this to another 4495 patients.

Results

Thirty‐eight variables were included in this study (7 patients’ demographic variables, 20 preoperative and 11 operative or disease‐related variables). Five of 38 variables were found to be significant, including (i) Dependence of activity of daily living; (ii) Ascites; (iii) General anaesthesia; (iv) preoperative Dyspnoea; and (v) American Society of Anaesthesiology (ASA
) score ≥3. They formed the basis of the DAGDA score. The maximum DAGDA score was 18, with an area under the ROC curve score of 0.774 (95 per cent confidence interval: 0.711–0.836). The sensitivity and specificity of the DAGDA score with a cut‐off point of 8 were 73.6 and 73.4 per cent, respectively. Validation of the DAGDA score was examined by using another cohort group of 1329 patients (July 2010–June 2011 database), with an area under the ROC curve score of 0.751. Similar results were achieved when the scoring system was applied to the July 2013–June 2014 (1671 patients) and July 2014–June 2015 (1495 patients) database.

Conclusion

Dependence of activity of daily living, ascites, general anaesthesia, preoperative dyspnoea and ASA score ≥3 are significant risk factors associated with postoperative pneumonia after major and ultra‐major operations. The DAGDA score can be used to predict patients at high risk of developing postoperative pneumonia.
Outcome Findings from the HOPE Demonstration Field Experiment
Authors: Lattimore Pamela K. , MacKenzie Doris Layton , Zajac Gary , Dawes Debbie , Arsenault Elaine , Tueller Stephen
Published: November 2016

Research Summary

More than 1,500 probationers in four sites were randomly assigned to probation as usual (PAU) or to Honest Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (HOPE), which is modeled on Hawaii's Opportunity Probation with Enforcement (Hawaii HOPE) program that emphasizes close monitoring; frequent drug testing; and swift, certain, and fair (SCF) sanctioning. It also reserves scarce treatment resources for those most in need. The four sites offered heterogeneity in organizational relationships and populations as well as implementation that was rated very good to excellent—thus, providing a robust test of the HOPE supervision model. Recidivism results suggest that HOPE/SCF supervision was not associated with significant reductions in arrests over PAU with the exception of a reduction in drug‐related arrests in one site. There were significant—albeit conflicting—differences in time to revocation, with survival models suggesting shorter times to revocation in two sites and longer times to revocation in one site.

Policy Implications

HOPE—or the more general SCF approach to community supervision—has been widely praised as an evidence‐based practice that reduces substance use, violations, new arrests, and revocations to prison. Substantial reductions in return to prison have been associated with claims of significant cost savings for HOPE/SCF over PAU despite the need for additional resources for warning and violation hearings, drug testing, and warrant service. Results from this recently completed, four‐site randomized control trial (RCT) showed that recidivism arrest outcomes were largely similar between those on HOPE/SCF probation and those on PAU and are consistent with findings from the Delaware Decide Your Time (DYT) RCT reported in this issue. No differences in arrests between HOPE and PAU probationers suggest that HOPE can be implemented to provide greater adherence to an idealized probation in which violations are met with a swift (but non‐draconian) response without compromising public safety. Nevertheless, the larger numbers of revocations for HOPE probationers in two sites, coupled with the additional expenses for drug testing, warrant service, and so on associated with HOPE, also suggest that overall cost savings may not be realized. Although additional research is needed to determine whether there are groups for whom HOPE may be more effective than PAU, HOPE/SCF seems unlikely to offer better outcomes and lower costs for broad classes of moderate‐to‐high–risk probationers.
Adherence to therapies for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: a focus on aspirin
Authors: Packard Kathleen A. , Hilleman Daniel E.
Published: November 2016

Aim

Suboptimal adherence to medications taken chronically for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD, e.g., aspirin) continues to burden the healthcare system despite the well‐established benefits of prevention. We conducted a literature search to examine patient adherence to medications for secondary prevention of CVD—as evaluated by prescription refill data, electronic medication monitors, pill counts, and physiologic markers—to better identify an unmet need for measures to improve patient adherence to these therapies.

Methods

English‐language articles were obtained from the PubMed database using the following key words or combinations thereof “adherence,” “compliance,” “secondary prevention,” and “cardiovascular disease.” Publications that provided adherence data only for primary prevention, lacked data on medication adherence (e.g., focus on guideline adherence), emphasized quality‐of‐care outcomes, or focused on outcomes of acute interventions were excluded.

Results

Multiple patient‐, disease‐, and treatment‐related factors may contribute to poor adherence to treatment regimens, and therefore, a multifactorial approach will likely be needed to improve compliance with prescribed treatments for CVD. Although no magic bullet exists to assure full adherence, adherence programs coupled with patient counseling and education (inclusive of over‐the‐counter therapies), along with treatments that are less complex or avoid bothersome adverse effects, are more likely to be associated with successful outcomes.

Conclusion

Given the burden of CVD to the community and the healthcare system, nonadherence to CVD‐preventative medications such as aspirin remains a substantial area of unmet need and represents a key opportunity for the development of quality‐of‐care enhancement programs to improve health outcomes in this patient population.
Preferences, entry, and market structure
Authors: Bertoletti Paolo , Etro Federico
Published: November 2016

We provide a unified approach to imperfect (monopolistic, Bertrand, and Cournot) competition when preferences are symmetric over a finite but endogenous number of goods. Markups depend on the Morishima elasticity of substitution and on the number of varieties. The comparative statics of free‐entry equilibria is examined, establishing the conditions for markup neutrality with respect to income, market size, and productivity. We compare endogenous and optimal market structures for several non‐CES examples. With a generalized linear direct utility, the markup can be constant and optimal under monopolistic competition, and nonmonotonic in the number of firms under Bertrand or Cournot competition.
No news is good news: voluntary disclosure in the face of litigation
Authors: Marinovic Iván , Varas Felipe
Published: November 2016

We study disclosure dynamics when the firm value evolves stochastically over time. The presence of litigation risk, arising from the failure to disclose unfavorable information, crowds out positive disclosures. Litigation risk mitigates firms' tendency to use inefficient disclosure policies. From a policy perspective, we show that a stricter legal environment may be an efficient way to stimulate information transmission in capital markets, particularly when the nature of information is proprietary. We model the endogeneity of litigation risk in a dynamic setting and shed light on the empirical controversy regarding whether disclosure preempts or triggers litigation.
Horizontal mergers and divestment dynamics in a sunset industry
Authors: Nishiwaki Masato
Published: November 2016

Industries with declining demand tend to be riddled with chronic excess capital due to the presence of a business‐stealing effect and fixed costs. This article highlights the potential of mergers to internalize this business‐stealing effect and thereby promote divestment. Using the case of mergers in the Japanese cement industry, it examines whether such merger‐induced divestment improves total welfare based on a dynamic model of divestment. The findings suggest that merged firms indeed tended to reduce capital more actively and that, as a result of these mergers, total welfare improved despite a reduction in the consumer surplus.
The welfare cost of unpriced heterogeneity in insurance markets
Authors: Dardanoni Valentino , Li Donni Paolo
Published: November 2016

We consider the welfare loss of unpriced heterogeneity in insurance markets, which results when private information or regulatory constraints prevent insurance companies to set premiums reflecting expected costs. We propose a methodology which uses survey data to measure this welfare loss. After identifying some “types” which determine expected risk and insurance demand, we derive the key factors defining the demand and cost functions in each market induced by these unobservable types. These are used to quantify the efficiency costs of unpriced heterogeneity. We apply our methods to the US Long‐Term Care and Medigap insurance markets, where we find that unpriced heterogeneity causes substantial inefficiency.
Paraneoplastic Evans syndrome in a patient with adenocarcinoma of the lung: A case report
Authors: Yu Hong , Fu Rong , Wang Huaquan , Liu Hui , Shao Zonghong
Published: November 2016

We present a rare case of newly diagnosed Evans syndrome associated with lung papillary adenocarcinoma in which the patient showed prompt restoration of blood cell count and long‐lasting complete remission of Evans syndrome after lung cancer resection. Detailed investigation led to a diagnosis of Evans syndrome. In the first year of the disease, left lower lung papillary adenocarcinoma was diagnosed. Pulmonary lobectomy and three courses of chemotherapy were performed. Six months after the initial visit, the primary lung cancer and the autoimmune diseases appeared to be well controlled. We hypothesized that our patient's initial presentation of hematological manifestation was a paraneoplastic phenomenon associated to her underlying malignancy. This rare case report illustrates the unique relationship between primary lung cancer and the development of paraneoplastic Evans syndrome.
External Validation of the PECARN Head Trauma Prediction Rules in Japan
Authors: Ide Kentaro , Uematsu Satoko , Tetsuhara Kenichi , Yoshimura Satoshi , Kato Takahiro , Kobayashi Tohru
Published: November 2016

Objectives

The Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) head trauma prediction rules are used to assist computed tomography (CT) decision‐making for children with minor head trauma. Although the PECARN rules have been validated in North America and Europe, they have not yet been validated in Asia. In Japan, there are no clinical decision rules for children with minor head trauma. The rate of head CT for children with minor head trauma in Japan is high since CT is widely accessible across the country. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of the PECARN rules for identifying clinically important traumatic brain injuries (ciTBI) in children with minor head trauma in Japan.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary care pediatric hospital in Japan (30,000 patients/year). We enrolled all children younger than 18 years with minor head trauma (Glasgow Coma Scale ≥ 14) who presented to the emergency department within 24 hours of their injury between January and December 2013. We retrospectively classified the children into three risk categories according to the PECARN rules. The PECARN rules were considered negative when children were classified into the very‐low‐risk category. The primary outcome was considered positive when a child had ciTBI defined as head injury resulting in death, neurosurgery, intubation for > 24 hours, or hospital admission ≥ 2 nights with evidence of TBI on CT.

Results

Among 2,208 children included in the study, 24 (1.1%) had ciTBI. Sensitivities and specificities of the PECARN rules to predict ciTBI were 85.7% (12/14; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 57.2 to 98.2) and 73.5% (572/778; 95% CI = 70.3 to 76.6), respectively, for children < 2 years old, and 100% (10/10; 95% CI = 58.7 to 100) and 73.5% (1033/1406; 95% CI = 71.0 to 75.7) for children ≥ 2 years old, respectively. There were 10 cases of physically abused children < 2 years old, and six (60%) of them had ciTBI. Also, two cases of physically abused children with ciTBI were classified as very low risk. If we did not include physically abused children, the sensitivity of the PECARN rule for children < 2 years old improved from 85.7% to 100% (8/8).

Conclusions

The PECARN rules were less sensitive for physically abused children, although the rules showed excellent applicability for the cohort without physical abuse. Thoughtful consideration may be needed for cases of nonaccidental trauma. Further prospective studies are required to verify the applicability of the PECARN rules for children with minor head trauma in Japan.