bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temporal changes in chromium allergy in Denmark between 2002 and 2017
Authors: Alinaghi Farzad , Zachariae Claus , Thyssen Jacob P. , Johansen Jeanne D.
Published: November 2018

Background

In 2012, Danish authorities submitted a proposal to the European Chemical Agency restricting the content of hexavalent chromium to a maximum of 3 ppm in leather goods. Following its adoption, this proposal was implemented in 2015 as a directive in the EU.

Objectives

To examine the temporal trend of chromium contact allergy in adult dermatitis patients patch tested between 2002 and 2017, and to determine clinical characteristics and causative exposures in these patients.

Methods

All adult dermatitis patients patch tested between 2002 and 2017 were included. Patch test data were reviewed retrospectively. Comparisons were performed with the χ
2 test and logistic regression analysis.

Results

A total of 13 379 adults aged 18 to 99 years were patch tested between 2002 and 2017. The overall prevalence of chromium allergy was 2.2%. An overall decreasing trend was found for the prevalence of chromium allergy (Ptrend = 0.00002). Specifically, a significant difference was found for the study periods 2010 to 2013 (Ptrend = 0.002) and 2014 to 2017 (Ptrend < 0.0001) as compared with 2002 to 2005. Leather remained the most important single cause of allergic contact dermatitis caused by chromium. The proportion of clinically relevant leather exposures increased from 42.3% during 2002 to 2009 to 54.8% during 2010 to 2017 (P = 0.04).

Conclusions

The prevalence of chromium allergy is decreasing. The EU Directive restricting the use of hexavalent chromium in leather goods is thought to be playing a central role in this change.
Emergency general surgeons, subspeciality surgeons and the future management of emergency surgery: results of a national survey
Authors: Symons N. R. A. , McArthur D. , Miller A. , Verjee A. , Senapati A.
Published: November 2018

Aim

This study aimed to survey consultants’ experience of working as or with emergency general surgery (EGS) surgeons and to investigate the role they fulfil in the management of general and subspeciality emergencies.

Method

An electronic survey, designed to capture both quantitative and qualitative data, was piloted and then circulated to members of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland.

Results

Two hundred and forty‐two responses were received from 848 recipients (a 29% response rate) covering 104 of 135 (77%) acute NHS Trusts in England. EGS surgeons were in post in 43/141 (30%) hospitals overall and 12/24 (50%) of hospitals in London. Most respondents working in units with EGS surgeons found them to be advantageous (46/63, 73%). Consultants working with EGS surgeons were significantly more likely to support their use (49/63, 78%) than those without them (83/178, 47%) (χ2 = 16.9, P < 0.001). EGS surgeons were considered to improve the delivery of EGS (78%), create time for subspecialists (70%) and provide service (73%). However, there were concerns about the quality of surgery (43%), an insufficient standard of specialist care (54%) and compromise in the training of juniors (25%). Respondents commented on a lack of job structure with a high attrition rate (21%), the insufficient quality of applicants (18%) and that subspecialization and split on‐call was preferable (17%).

Conclusion

Respondents were supportive of the ability of EGS surgeons to relieve pressure on subspecialists; however, there were significant concerns about the sustainability and quality of the EGS surgeon role. Emergency colorectal resections should have the input of a surgeon who performs elective colorectal resections.
Allocating structured tasks in heterogeneous agent teams
Authors: Basegio Tulio L. , Bordini Rafael H.
Published: November 2018

Task allocation is an important aspect of multiagent coordination. However, there are many challenges in developing appropriate strategies for multiagent teams so that they operate efficiently. Real‐world scenarios such as flooding disasters usually require the use of heterogeneous robots and the execution of tasks with different structures and complexities. In this paper, we propose a decentralized task allocation mechanism considering different types of tasks for heterogeneous agent teams where agents play different roles and carry out tasks according to their own capabilities. We have run several experiments to evaluate the proposed mechanism. The results show that the proposed mechanism appears to scale well and provides near‐optimal allocations.
Protected areas do not mitigate biodiversity declines: A case study on butterflies
Authors: Rada Stanislav , Schweiger Oliver , Harpke Alexander , Kühn Elisabeth , Kuras Tomáš , Settele Josef , Musche Martin
Published: November 2018

Aim

To assess the effectiveness of protected areas in preventing biodiversity decline. We first test whether species richness of butterfly assemblages is higher within European Natura 2000 (N2000) sites than in their surroundings. We then assess temporal trends in butterfly richness and test whether these trends differ inside and outside the N2000 network.

Location

Germany, Europe.

Methods

We utilized generalized linear mixed‐effects models (GLMM) to analyse an 11‐year data series on species richness of butterfly assemblages collected on 245 transects across Germany, located inside and outside N2000 sites, and comprising a total of 122 butterfly species.

Results

Butterfly species richness was highest inside N2000 protected areas, while outside it constantly declined with increasing distance from N2000 sites. We found an overall decline in species richness by 10% within 11 years. This decline neither differed between transects located inside or outside the N2000 network nor varied with distance from N2000 sites.

Main conclusions

The higher species richness inside the N2000 network underlines their proper designation and their potential for the conservation of biodiversity. However, the current negative trend in butterfly species richness across Germany is not mitigated by the N2000 network, and we assume insufficient management or measures targeted at other organisms than butterflies as potential reasons.
The use of course grades as metrics in L2 research: A systematic review
Authors: Brown Alan V. , Plonsky Luke , Teimouri Yasser
Published: November 2018

Much of applied linguistics research has been concerned with classroom‐based second language (L2) development as it offers an ideal setting for examining the institutional ecology of L2 learning and teaching. However, scholars have continued to call for greater attention to the operationalization of constructs, selection of valid assessments, and use of appropriate statistical analyses. One cause for concern is the use of instructor‐constructed evaluations for research purposes, commonly found both as single assessments and, in their composite form, as course grades. The present study examined justifications for and uses of course grades in L2 research by systematically searching, coding, and analyzing course grades as variables in a sample of published L2 research in four prominent L2 journals: Foreign Language Annals, Language Learning, Modern Language Journal, and TESOL Quarterly. To provide a concrete example, this meta‐analysis investigated the relationship between L2 grades and anxiety. A number of suggestions for the use of grades and other assessment tools in educationally oriented L2 research are offered.
Ontogenetic feeding shift and size‐based zooplanktivory in Sardinella lemuru (Pisces, Clupeidae) during an upwelling in southeastern Sulu Sea, The Philippines
Authors: Metillo Ephrime B. , Campos Wilfredo L. , Villanoy Cesar L. , Hayashizaki Ken‐ichi , Tsunoda Takashi , Nishida Shuhei
Published: November 2018

Diet overlap and the importance of plankton were investigated by comparing stomach contents and 13C and 15N isotopes using a Bayesian linear mixed model of early juvenile, juvenile and adult Sardinela lemuru Bleeker during a coastal upwelling event in southeastern Sulu Sea. Assimilated food of all life stages was mainly due to the preferential ingestion of large size meso‐zooplankton at inshore areas while keeping the ability to ingest smaller zooplankton sizes. Few phytoplankton cells were ingested, and only by adults. Early juveniles and adults showed more depleted δ13C values than juveniles, indicating ontogenetic and spatial dietary shift with juveniles ingesting large herbivorous zooplankton in deeper inshore areas least influenced by terrestrial food particles. Hence, S. lemuru is chiefly an omnivorous zooplanktivore, but combined approaches of stomach contents and C and N stable isotope analyses provided new insights of its trophic ecology useful to the management of the species in the Sulu Sea.
Varroa chemosensory proteins: some are conserved across Arthropoda but others are arachnid specific
Authors: Eliash N. , Thangarajan S. , Goldenberg I. , Sela N. , Kupervaser M. , Barlev J. , Altman Y. , Knyazer A. , Kamer Y. , Zaidman I. , Rafaeli A. , Soroker V.
Published: November 2018

The tight synchronization between the life cycle of the obligatory parasitic miteVarroa destructor(Varroa) and its host, the honeybee, is mediated by honeybee chemical stimuli. These stimuli are mainly perceived by a pit organ located on the distal part of the mite’s foreleg. In the present study, we searched for Varroa chemosensory molecular components by comparing transcriptomic and proteomic profiles between forelegs from different physiological stages, and rear legs. In general, a comparative transcriptomic analysis showed a clear separation of the expression profiles between the rear legs and the three groups of forelegs (phoretic, reproductive and tray‐collected mites). Most of the differentially expressed transcripts and proteins in the mite’s foreleg were previously uncharacterized. Using a conserved domain approach, we identified 45 transcripts with known chemosensory domains belonging to seven chemosensory protein families, of which 14 were significantly upregulated in the mite’s forelegs when compared to rear legs. These are soluble and membrane bound proteins, including the somewhat ignored receptors of degenerin/epithelial Na+ channels and transient receptor potentials. Phylogenetic clustering and expression profiles of the putative chemosensory proteins suggest their role in chemosensation and shed light on the evolution of these proteins in Chelicerata.
Optimal extended warranty strategy: uniform or nonuniform pricing?
Authors: Zheng Bin , Bian Yiwen , Sun Yanhong , Ding Husong
Published: November 2018

Manufacturers are increasingly selling extended warranties to achieve high profitability. An important question is to sell the traditional or flexible extended warranty (TEW vs. FEW). TEW is sold at the time of product sales with a uniform price, while FEW can be sold at the time of product sales (the first point) or at the end of base warranty (the second point) with nonuniform prices. When selling FEW, manufacturers need to decide whether to preannounce the difference between the first‐point and second‐point warranty prices. To address such challenging issues, we develop theoretical models regarding selling TEW or FEW and find that neither of the two warranty services is always superior to the other. Particularly, FEW outperforms TEW when the manufacturer's cost efficiency of warranty is relatively high and/or the total warranty duration is relatively short. Interestingly, when selling FEW, it is not always better off concealing the price difference information, which is counterintuitive.
A two‐period pricing model with intertemporal and horizontal reference price effects
Authors: Zha Yong , Zhang Lu , Xu Chuanyong , Zhang Tingting
Published: November 2018

Consumers tend to compare the current price with historical prices of the same brand and selling prices of other brands, when they make purchase decisions. The intertemporal and horizontal reference price effect (RPE), formed by the historical price and the competitor's price, respectively, should be taken into account when developing optimal pricing strategies over several periods and in a competitive environment. This paper considers a two‐period pricing problem with two competing sellers, incorporating both types of RPE. We first develop a duopoly game to study the impacts and interactions of RPE of different types. Then we study a practice of price commitment when one firm gives up dynamic pricing. We find different types of RPEs have distinct impacts. The intertemporal RPE (IRPE) leads to a Hi‐Lo pricing strategy, while the horizontal RPE (HRPE) drives the selling prices of both periods downward. The IRPE is weakened by the HRPE, while the HRPE is weakened (intensified) in the first (second) period as the IRPE becomes stronger. Also we find price commitment is not beneficial. On the contrary, both firms may be worse off if one firm makes price commitment. Furthermore, if one firm decides to make price commitment he should announce the selling price well in advance.
Non‐breeding areas and timing of migration in relation to weather of Scottish‐breeding common sandpipers Actitis hypoleucos
Authors: Summers Ron W. , de Raad A. Louise , Bates Brian , Etheridge Brian , Elkins Norman
Published: November 2018

The number of breeding common sandpipers has declined in Britain due to poorer return rates from non‐breeding areas. To investigate little known aspects of their annual cycle, breeding common sandpipers were fitted with geolocators to track their migrations and determine their non‐breeding areas. Ten tagged birds left Scotland on 9 July (median dates and durations are given throughout the abstract). Short‐term staging was carried out by some birds in England and Ireland, then for longer by most birds in Iberia before continuing to West Africa, arriving on 28 July. Six birds spent most of the non‐breeding season (October–February) on the coast of Guinea‐Bissau, suggesting that this is a key area. Single birds occurred in Sierra Leone, Guinea, the Canary Islands and western Sahara. The southward migration from Scotland took 17.5 d (range 1.5–24 d), excluding the initial fuelling period. The first northward movement from Africa was on 12 April. Staging occurred in either Morocco, Iberia or France. Arrival in Scotland was on 2 May. The northward migration took 16 d (range 13.5–20.5 d). The main migration strategy involved short‐ and medium‐range flights, using tail‐winds in most cases. Variation in strategy was associated with departure date; birds that left later staged for shorter durations. Coastal West Africa provides two major habitats for common sandpipers: mudflats associated with mangroves and rice fields. Although the area of mangrove has been depleted, the scale of loss has probably been insufficient to account for the decline in sandpiper numbers. Rice fields are expanding, providing feeding areas for water‐birds. Meteorological data during the migrations suggest that the weather during the southward migration is unlikely to contribute to a population decline but strong cross‐winds or head‐winds during the northward migration to the breeding grounds may do so.
Migratory birds as vehicles for parasite dispersal? Infection by avian haemosporidians over the year and throughout the range of a long‐distance migrant
Authors: Pulgarín‐R Paulo C. , Gómez Camila , Bayly Nicholas J. , Bensch Staffan , FitzGerald Alyssa M. , Starkloff Naima , Kirchman Jeremy J. , González‐Prieto Ana M. , Hobson Keith A. , Ungvari‐Martin Judit , Skeen Heather , Castaño María Isabel , Cadena Carlos Daniel
Published: November 2018

Aim

The role of migratory birds in the spread of parasites is poorly known, in part because migratory strategies and behaviours potentially affecting transmission are not easy to study. We investigated the dynamics of infection by blood parasites through the annual cycle of a long‐distance Nearctic–Neotropical migratory songbird to examine the role of this species in dispersing parasites between continents.

Location

The Americas.

Taxon

Grey‐cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus, Aves, Passeriformes, Turdidae), Birds.

Methods

We used molecular and microscopy screening of haemosporidian parasites (Plasmodium,Haemoproteus, andLeucocytozoon) to examine the prevalence, distribution, and diversity of lineages through the annual cycle (breeding, migration, and wintering) of the grey‐cheeked thrush in North and Central America, Santa Marta mountains, the Andes, and the Amazon. We aimed to identify transmission areas, to examine the degree of sharing of haemosporidian lineages with resident birds in various areas and to assess the potential role of immunologically naïve juvenile individuals in parasite transmission.

Results

Prevalence and lineage diversity of haemosporidians varied significantly over time, being higher during breeding and fall and spring migration, and declining during wintering. Grey‐cheeked thrush shared few parasite lineages with tropical resident birds and slightly more lineages with other migratory and resident boreal species. We detected gametocytes in blood during spring migration stopover, but these were of lineages not found in resident tropical birds, indicating relapses of parasites transmitted elsewhere. Transmission likely occurs mostly on the breeding grounds, where juveniles and adults carried lineages restricted to closely related species of thrushes and other species of boreal birds.

Main conclusions

Long‐distance migratory songbirds are likely not important dispersers of blood parasites because there are ecological and evolutionary barriers to the interchange of parasites across vastly separated areas. Further work with thorough spatial and temporal sampling across other species, and considering the role of vectors, is necessary to understand the ecological and evolutionary factors explaining the distribution of parasites over broad scales.
On‐line rheology of pearl millet flours during extrusion: Effect of native amylose
Authors: Rudra Shalini Gaur , Nishani Srikrishna , Singh B. P.
Published: November 2018

Pearl millet is a micro‐nutrient rich crop grown in arid regions of Asia and Africa. Millet based extruded products can ensure both food and economic security amongst these malnutrition prone areas. The effect of flour crystallinity and amylose content on the rheological attributes during thermo‐mechanical processing of pearl millet cultivars was determined using on‐line rheometer during twin‐screw extrusion. The shear strain measurements indicated shear thinning behavior which was modeled using modified Power law (R2 > 0.8). Upon increase in moisture content and barrel temperature, the consistency index of pearlmillet flour was found to decrease. Higher amylose cultivars demonstrated higher consistency index. The flow behavior index increased with moisture and temperature. Modified Arrhenius model was used to explain the effect of temperature and moisture on consistency index. This study underlines the effect of crystallinity and amylose on the rheology of millets during extrusion.

Practical applications

The findings of this study shall be helpful in:

determining extrusion conditions for processing whole pearl millet flours.

screening varieties of pearlmillet suitable for different types of extruded products varying in degrees of polymeric modification.
Mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling mediates opioid‐induced presynaptic NMDA receptor activation and analgesic tolerance
Authors: Deng Meichun , Chen Shao‐Rui , Chen Hong , Luo Yi , Dong Yingchun , Pan Hui‐Lin
Published: November 2018

Opioid‐induced hyperalgesia and analgesic tolerance can lead to dose escalation and inadequate pain treatment with μ‐opioid receptor agonists. Opioids cause tonic activation of glutamate NMDA receptors (NMDARs) at primary afferent terminals, increasing nociceptive input. However, the signaling mechanisms responsible for opioid‐induced activation of pre‐synaptic NMDARs in the spinal dorsal horn remain unclear. In this study, we determined the role of MAPK signaling in opioid‐induced pre‐synaptic NMDAR activation caused by chronic morphine administration. Whole‐cell recordings of excitatory post‐synaptic currents (EPSCs) were performed on dorsal horn neurons in rat spinal cord slices. Chronic morphine administration markedly increased the frequency of miniature EPSCs, increased the amplitude of monosynaptic EPSCs evoked from the dorsal root, and reduced the paired‐pulse ratio of evoked EPSCs. These changes were fully reversed by an NMDAR antagonist and normalized by inhibiting extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2), p38, or c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK). Furthermore, intrathecal injection of a selective ERK1/2, p38, or JNK inhibitor blocked pain hypersensitivity induced by chronic morphine treatment. These inhibitors also similarly attenuated a reduction in morphine's analgesic effect in rats. In addition, co‐immunoprecipitation assays revealed that NMDARs formed a protein complex with ERK1/2, p38, and JNK in the spinal cord and that chronic morphine treatment increased physical interactions of NMDARs with these three MAPKs. Our findings suggest that opioid‐induced hyperalgesia and analgesic tolerance are mediated by tonic activation of pre‐synaptic NMDARs via three functionally interrelated MAPKs at the spinal cord level.

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Injectable profiloplasty: Forehead, nose, lips, and chin filler treatment
Authors: Bertossi Dario , Lanaro Luca , Dell'Acqua Irene , Albanese Massimo , Malchiodi Luciano , Nocini Pier Francesco
Published: November 2018

Introduction

We propose a medical filler treatment algorithm of the profile which includes forehead, nose, and chin and to evaluate profilometric results and complications.

Materials and Methods

83 case reviews of associated liquid forehead, nose, and chin plasty performed consecutively from 2014 to 2016. We monitored the horizontal and vertical sagittal stability into two age group: <40 y.o. and >40 y.o. using profilometric Arnett analysis measurements on the F, Gb, Na, Nd, Nt, Sn, ULA, LLA, B, Pg, and Gn soft‐tissue points.

Results

The results at both 3 and 6 months were consistent with the normal ranges indicated by Arnett, with a 0.8 mm maximum of defect/excess. Forehead treatment was performed in 51 (61.4%) patient. Patients >40 y.o. always needed a global correction of the forehead profile. We performed nasal treatment in 83 (100%) patient, acute nasolabial angles was the more frequent nasal defect. The lips were injected in 59 patients (71.1) more frequently >40 y.o. In 83 (100%) patients we perform a chin augmentation. The average advancement of the chin was 3 mm.

Conclusions

The correction of the projection of the forehead, of the profile and shape of the nose, of the lips and chin as well as an overall improvement in face aesthetics and harmony gives a good solution in patients avoiding the need for a surgical intervention, scars and cost of general anesthesia, thus providing the optimum in patient satisfaction.
Genetic determinants of steatosis and fibrosis progression in paediatric non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Hudert Christian A. , Selinski Silvia , Rudolph Birgit , Bläker Hendrik , Loddenkemper Christoph , Thielhorn Ria , Berndt Nikolaus , Golka Klaus , Cadenas Cristina , Reinders Jörg , Henning Stephan , Bufler Philip , Jansen Peter L. M. , Holzhütter Hermann‐Georg , Meierhofer David , Hengstler Jan G. , Wiegand Susanna
Published: November 2018

Background and Aims

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease in children and adolescents today. In comparison with adult disease, paediatric NAFLD may show a periportal localization, which is associated with advanced fibrosis. This study aimed to assess the role of genetic risk variants for histological disease pattern and severity in childhood NAFLD.

Methods

We studied 14 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in a cohort of 70 adolescents with biopsy‐proven NAFLD. Genotype was compared to an adult control cohort (n = 200) and analysed in relation to histological disease severity and liver tissue proteomics.

Results

Three of the 14 SNPs were significantly associated with paediatric NAFLD after FDR adjustment, rs738409 (PNPLA3, P = 2.80 × 10−06), rs1044498 (ENPP1, P = 0.0091) and rs780094 (GCKR, P = 0.0281). The severity of steatosis was critically associated with rs738409 (OR=3.25; 95% CI: 1.72‐6.52, FDR‐adjusted P = 0.0070). The strongest variants associated with severity of fibrosis were rs1260326, rs780094 (both GCKR) and rs659366 (UCP2). PNPLA3 was associated with a portal pattern of steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis. Proteome profiling revealed decreasing levels of GCKR protein with increasing carriage of the rs1260326/rs780094 minor alleles and downregulation of the retinol pathway in rs738409 G/G carriers. Computational metabolic modelling highlighted functional relevance of PNPLA3, GCKR and UCP2 for NAFLD development.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence for the role of PNPLA3 as a determinant of portal NAFLD localization and severity of portal fibrosis in children and adolescents, the risk variant being associated with an impaired hepatic retinol metabolism.
Lost in translation? Paradigm conflict at the primary–secondary care interface
Authors: Johnston Jennifer L , Bennett Deirdre
Published: November 2018

Context

Historically, primary care (community and family) medicine has often been viewed as lower status than secondary care (hospital) practice. Current evidence suggests this pattern continues to impact medical practice and education. Medical education has however, yet to fully reflect this power dynamic, with undergraduate training in many institutions maintaining the hegemonic position of secondary care as the prime context for learning.

Methods

In this paper, we present primary and secondary care as conflicting paradigms of medical practice. Using a sociocultural lens drawing on Figured Worlds theory, implications for medical education are explored.

Conclusions

We outline the two paradigms as having distinct epistemologies, identities and practices. Tensions at the primary–secondary care interface can, from a sociocultural perspective, be seen to impact developing identity and day‐to‐day clinical practice issues such as patient safety. We offer possibilities for engaging with paradigm conflict in meaningful ways and suggest potential changes for future educational policy and practice.
When I say … team reflexivity
Authors: Schmutz Jan B , Eppich Walter J
Published: November 2018

Team reflexivity, defined as ‘a team's ability to reflect on objectives, strategies, processes, and outcomes of past and current performance with adaptation,’ drives Schmutz and Eppich's analysis of its impact on learning and care.
Competence‐based training needs assessment for basic life support instructors
Authors: Kim Eun Jin , Roh Young Sook
Published: November 2018

Basic life support instructors play an important role in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of basic life support education. However, little is known about basic life support instructors' competence. The aim of the present study was to identify basic life support instructors' competence attributes and assess their competence‐based training needs according to their expertise. This was a descriptive survey study to identify the educational needs of basic life support instructors using importance and performance analysis. A Web‐based survey with a 29 item Competence Importance–Performance scale was undertaken with a convenience sample of 213 Korean instructors. Factor analysis identified several important factors for the competence of instructors: assessment, professional foundations, planning and preparation, educational method and strategies and evaluation. The importance and performance analysis matrix showed that training priorities for novice instructors were communication with learners and instructors, learner motivation, educational design, and qualifications of instructors, whereas checking equipment status and educational environment had the highest training priority for experienced instructors. Assessment was the most important factor in basic life support instructor's competence. A competence‐based training program is needed according to basic life support instructors' expertise.
Clinical features and long‐term outcomes of lower esophageal sphincter‐dependent and lower esophageal sphincter‐independent jackhammer esophagus
Authors: Kahn Allon , Al‐Qaisi Mohanad T. , Obeid Robert A. , Katzka David A. , Ravi Karthik M. , Ramirez Francisco C. , Crowell Michael D. , Vela Marcelo F.
Published: November 2018

Background

The most recent Chicago Classification expanded the criteria for diagnosis of jackhammer esophagus (JHE) to include the distal contractile integral (DCI) of the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The clinical impact of the manometric inclusion of LES hypercontractility remains unclear. We aimed to analyze the clinical features and long‐term outcomes of measured LES‐dependent (LD‐JHE) and LES‐independent (LI‐JHE) jackhammer esophagus.

Methods

Patients meeting diagnostic criteria for JHE were identified at two academic medical centers. High‐resolution esophageal manometry data were re‐analyzed with inclusion and exclusion of the LES DCI. LD‐JHE was defined by falling outside JHE diagnostic criteria with exclusion of the LES. A telephone survey was conducted for follow‐up utilizing the impact dysphagia (IDQ‐10) questionnaire.

Key Results

Eighty‐one patients met study inclusion criteria, with 12 (14.8%) classified as LD‐JHE. LD‐JHE patients had a significantly lower mean DCI and fewer swallows with DCI >8000 mm Hg‐s‐cm. Basal LES pressure was higher in patients with dysphagia to solids than those with dysphagia to solids and liquids. Clinical and manometric parameters were otherwise similar between groups. Sixty‐six patients had clinical or phone follow‐up at a median of 46.6 months. Forty‐one patients (62.1%) received therapies directed at JHE. There was no difference in symptom improvement for treated vs untreated patients or for JHE subtype.

Conclusions and Inferences

Our findings suggest that LD‐JHE and LI‐JHE are clinically indistinguishable and thus support existing diagnostic criteria. Furthermore, our long‐term follow‐up data suggest that JHE, irrespective of LES involvement, may improve without treatment. Further study is needed to clarify which patients merit therapeutic intervention.
How flower colour signals allure bees and hummingbirds: a community‐level test of the bee avoidance hypothesis
Authors: de Camargo Maria Gabriela Gutierrez , Lunau Klaus , Batalha Marco Antônio , Brings Sebastian , de Brito Vinícius Lourenço Garcia , Morellato Leonor Patrícia Cerdeira
Published: November 2018

Colour signals are the main floral trait for plant–pollinator communication. Owing to visual specificities, flower visitors exert different selective pressures on flower colour signals of plant communities. Although they evolved to attract pollinators, matching their visual sensitivity and colour preferences, floral signals may also evolve to avoid less efficient pollinators and antagonistic flower visitors.

We evaluated evidence for the bee avoidance hypothesis in a Neotropical community pollinated mainly by bees and hummingbirds, thecampo rupestre. We analysed flower reflectance spectra, compared colour variables of bee‐pollinated flowers (bee‐flowers; 244 species) and hummingbird‐pollinated flowers (hummingbird‐flowers; 39 species), and looked for evidence of bee sensorial exclusion in hummingbird‐flowers.

Flowers were equally contrasting for hummingbirds. Hummingbird‐flowers were less conspicuous to bees, reflecting mainly long wavelengths and avoiding red‐blind visitors. Bee‐flowers reflected more short wavelengths, were more conspicuous to bees (higher contrasts and spectral purity) than hummingbird‐flowers and displayed floral guides more frequently, favouring flower attractiveness, discrimination and handling by bees.

Along with no phylogenetic signal, the differences in colour signal strategies between bee‐ and hummingbird‐flowers are the first evidence of the bee avoidance hypothesis at a community level and reinforce the role of pollinators as a selective pressure driving flower colour diversity.
Rapid evolution of thermal plasticity in mountain lakeDaphniapopulations
Authors: Cavalheri Hamanda B. , Symons Celia C. , Schulhof Marika , Jones Natalie T. , Shurin Jonathan B.
Published: November 2018

Populations at risk of extinction due to climate change may be rescued by adaptive evolution or plasticity. Selective agents, such as introduced predators, may enhance or constrain plastic or adaptive responses to temperature. We tested responses ofDaphniato temperature by collecting populations from lakes across an elevational gradient in the presence and absence of fish predators (long‐term selection). We subsequently grew these populations at two elevations in field mesocosms over two years (short‐term selection), followed by a common‐garden experiment at two temperatures in the lab to measure life‐history traits. Both long‐term and short‐term selection affected traits, suggesting that genetic variation of plasticity within populations enabled individuals to rapidly evolve plasticity in response to high temperature. We found that short‐term selection by high temperature increased plasticity for growth rate in all populations. Fecundity was higher in populations from fishless lakes and body size showed greater plasticity in populations from warm lakes (long‐term selection). Neither body size nor fecundity were affected by short‐term thermal selection. These results demonstrate that plasticity is an important component of the life‐history response ofDaphnia, and that genetic variation within populations enabled rapid evolution of plasticity in response to selection by temperature.
Slow First, Fast Later: Temporal Speed‐Up in Service Episodes of Finite Duration
Authors: Deo Sarang , Jain Aditya
Published: November 2018

Many service environments such as outpatient departments comprise repeated episodes of finite duration wherein customers arriving during an episode must be served before the end of that episode. Scheduling resources and customer arrivals in such settings involves trading off customer wait against resources’ time and effort. We hypothesize that this trade‐off leads to a “slow first, fast later” pattern of system speed, which allows build‐up of inventory earlier for more efficient utilization of faster system speed later. As a natural corollary, we also hypothesize that greater anticipated workload, which causes faster inventory build‐up, leads to a larger increase in system speed earlier in the service episode than later. We empirically validate these hypotheses using operational data from a high volume tertiary care outpatient department. Our estimation results suggest that due to hypothesized system speed pattern, patients arriving around the middle (later) part of the episode experience 20% (63%) shorter length of stay compared to those arriving at the beginning. Further, additional anticipated workload of 1 patient per hour leads to 14%, 4%, and negligible reduction in the average length of stay during the earlier, middle, and later part of the service episode, respectively. Counterfactual simulations based on our model estimates show that “slow first, fast later” system speed pattern yields faster completion of work as compared to an equivalent constant system speed pattern.
The Law Public Opinion and the President’s Use of Executive Orders: The Long‐Run Impact of Unilateral Powers, 1953–2012
Authors: Lanier Drew Noble , Jones Brett Michael
Published: November 2018

The U.S. president may act unilaterally in issuing executive orders within the office’s inherent powers. To date, no cross‐time study has explored the relationship of his doing so with subsequent observed approval ratings. We do so here and estimate the relationship between the president’s issuing of executive orders and subsequent job approval ratings at the aggregate level. While structural factors continue to explain long‐run approval rates, the president’s use of unilateral powers also is associated through time with those rates, even when controlling for external factors such as wars and scandals. Thus, while some researchers may suspect that executive orders may undermine long‐term confidence in the institution of the presidency, we find that such uses of unilateral power may conditionally lead to gains in long‐term public opinion of the president.
Effects of melatonin on oocyte developmental competence and the role of melatonin receptor 1 in juvenile goats
Authors: Soto‐Heras Sandra , Catalá Maria‐Gracia , Roura Montserrat , Menéndez‐Blanco Irene , Piras Anna‐Rita , Izquierdo Dolors , Paramio Maria‐Teresa
Published: November 2018

Contents

Melatonin enhances in vitro embryo development in several species by improving the oocyte developmental competence during in vitro maturation (IVM). Melatonin has a wide range of actions, from scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) to regulating gene expression, and it can also act by way of melatonin receptors. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism of action of melatonin during the IVM of juvenile goat oocytes and the role of the membrane receptors. Melatonin receptor 1 was immunolocalized in cumulus cells and oocytes before and after 24 hr of IVM. The effect of melatonin on oocyte developmental competence was tested in three experimental IVM groups: (a) control, (b) 10−7 M melatonin, and (c) 10−7 M melatonin +10−7 M luzindole (an inhibitor of both melatonin receptors). After IVM oocytes were assessed for ROS levels, mitochondrial activity, adenosine 5′‐triphosphate (ATP) concentration and relative gene expression (ACTB, SLC1A1, SOD1, GPx1, BAX, DNMT1, GCLC and GDF9). IVM‐oocytes were in vitro fertilized and cultured under conventional conditions. Blastocyst rate and quality (differential cell count) were assessed at 8 days post‐fertilization. Melatonin decreased ROS levels, increased mitochondrial activity and ATP content and increased blastocyst quality compared to control group (55.8 vs. 30.4 inner cell mass ICM, p < 0.05). There was no effect on the relative gene expression due to treatment with melatonin. In conclusion, we have showed that melatonin improves oocyte developmental competence in juvenile goats by reducing ROS levels and improving mitochondrial activity.
Effectiveness of coffee for postoperative ileus in patients following abdominal surgery: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Kuo Shu-Chen , Mu Pei-Fan , Chang Li-Yin , Chou Shin-Shang , Lee Mei-Yin , Su Jui-Yuan , Shih Chiung-Fen , Curia Marianne
Published: November 2018

Review question/objective:

The purpose of this systematic review is to critically appraise, synthesize and present the best available evidence concerning the effects of coffee on postoperative ileus following abdominal surgery. The review will consider the effect of coffee and decaffeinated coffee on recovering gastrointestinal function, time to first bowel movement, time to first flatus, time to tolerance of solid food, postoperative complications and length of hospital stay.
Self-localization of a mobile swarm using noise correlations with local sources of opportunity
Authors: Naughton Perry , Roux Philippe , Schurgers Curt , Kastner Ryan , Jaffe Jules S. , Roberts Paul L. D.
Published: November 2018

Groups of coordinated underwater vehicles or sensors are powerful tools for monitoring the ocean. A requirement of many coordinated surveys is to determine a spatial reference between each node in a swarm. This work considers the self-localization of a swarm of independently moving vehicles using acoustic noise from a dominating incoherent source recorded by a single hydrophone onboard each vehicle. This method provides an inexpensive and infrastructure-free spatial reference between vehicles. Movement between the vehicles changes the swarm geometry and a self-localization estimate must be generated from data collected on short time scales. This challenges past self-localization approaches for acoustic arrays. To overcome this challenge, the proposed self-localization algorithm jointly estimates the vehicle geometry and the directionality of the ambient noise field, without prior knowledge of either estimate. To demonstrate this method, experimental results are provided when a boat is the main dominating source. The results demonstrate the ability to both estimate the direction of arrival of the boat and the relative positions of the vehicles in the swarm. The approach in this paper is not limited to moving vessels. Simulations are provided to examine three different factors that affect the proposed solution: inter-vehicle motion, vehicle geometry, and the azimuthal variance of the noise field.
In Vivo
Gentamicin Susceptibility Test for Prevention of Bacterial Biofilms in Bone Tissue and on Implants
Authors: Jensen Louise Kruse , Bjarnsholt Thomas , Kragh Kasper N. , Aalbæk Bent , Henriksen Nicole Lind , Blirup Sophie Amalie , Pankoke Karen , Petersen Andreas , Jensen Henrik Elvang
Published: November 2018

The objective of this study was to set up an
in vivo
gentamicin susceptibility test for biofilm prevention in bone tissue and on implants. Twenty-five pigs were allocated to six groups.
Role of TEM-1 β-Lactamase in the Predominance of Ampicillin-Sulbactam-Nonsusceptible
Escherichia coli
in Japan
Authors: Noguchi Taro , Matsumura Yasufumi , Kanahashi Toru , Tanaka Michio , Tsuchido Yasuhiro , Matsumura Takuro , Nakano Satoshi , Yamamoto Masaki , Nagao Miki , Ichiyama Satoshi
Published: November 2018

We investigated the epidemiology and resistance mechanisms of ampicillin-sulbactam-nonsusceptible
Escherichia coli
, focusing on the role of the TEM-1 β-lactamase. We collected all nonduplicate
E. coli
clinical isolates at 10 Japanese hospitals during December 2014 and examined their antimicrobial susceptibility, β-lactamases, TEM-1 transferability, TEM-1 β-lactamase activity, outer membrane protein profile, membrane permeability, and clonal genotypes.
RNA Sequencing-Based Transcriptional Overview of Xerotolerance in Cronobacter sakazakii SP291
Authors: Srikumar Shabarinath , Cao Yu , Yan Qiongqiong , Van Hoorde Koenraad , Nguyen Scott , Cooney Shane , Gopinath Gopal R. , Tall Ben D. , Sivasankaran Sathesh K. , Lehner Angelika , Stephan Roger , Fanning Séamus
Published: November 2018

Cronobacter sakazakii
is a pathogen of importance to neonatal health and is known to persist in dry food matrices, such as powdered infant formula (PIF) and its associated production environment. When infections are reported in neonates, mortality rates can be high. The success of this bacterium in surviving these low-moisture environments suggests that
Cronobacter
species can respond to a variety of environmental signals. Therefore, understanding those signals that aid the persistence of this pathogen in these ecological niches is an important step toward the development of strategies to reduce the risk of contamination of PIF. This research led to the identification of candidate genes that play a role in the persistence of this pathogen in desiccated conditions and, thereby, serve as a model target to design future strategies to mitigate PIF-associated survival of
C. sakazakii
.
The Search for a Practical Method for Colistin Susceptibility Testing: Have We Found It by Going Back to the Future?
Authors: Satlin Michael J.
Published: November 2018

Polymyxins are relied upon for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections, but polymyxin resistance is increasing. Only broth microdilution is recommended for polymyxin susceptibility testing, but this method is impractical for most clinical microbiology laboratories.
Blood pressure levels among Indigenous children living at different altitudes
Authors: Hirschler Valeria , Molinari Claudia , Maccallini Gustavo , Intersimone Patricia , Gonzalez Claudio Daniel ,   on behalf of the San Antonio de los Cobres Study Group Collaborators
Published: November 2018

The objective was to compare blood pressure (BP) levels in 2 groups of Indigenous Argentine school children from similar ethnic backgrounds but living at different altitudes. One hundred and fifty-two (46.3%) children (age, 4–14 years) from San Antonio de los Cobres (SAC), at 3750 m above sea level, and 176 children (53.7%) from Chicoana (CH), at 1400 m above sea level, participated in this cross-sectional study. Data for children’s anthropometry, BP, glucose, lipids, vitamin D, and insulin, as well as mothers’ height and weight were assessed. Hypertension was defined as BP ≥ 95th percentile. The prevalence of overweight/obesity among children was significantly lower in SAC (n = 17, 11.2%) than in CH (n = 74, 42%) (body mass index (BMI) > 85th percentile per US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention norms). However, the prevalence of hypertension was significantly higher among children in SAC (n = 15, 9.9%) than among those in CH (n = 2, 1.1%). Children were divided into 4 groups by mean arterial BP quartiles for comparison by ANOVA. As mean arterial BP increased, age, BMI, glucose, triglycerides, triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and insulin levels increased significantly. Multiple linear regression analyses showed that children’s mean arterial BP was significantly associated with altitude adjusted for confounding variables (R2 = 0.42). Furthermore, when mean arterial BP was replaced by systolic BP (R2 = 0.51) or diastolic BP (R2 = 0.33), similar results were obtained. Our results suggest that Indigenous children who live permanently at high altitude have higher levels of BP, adjusted for confounding variables. Routine BP measurements conducted in the SAC community could be essential for the prevention of cardiovascular disease.
Regular solutions to the fractional Euler alignment system in the Besov spaces framework
Authors: Danchin Raphaël , Mucha Piotr B. , Peszek Jan , Wróblewski Bartosz
Published: November 2018

We here construct (large) local and small global-in-time regular unique solutions to the fractional Euler alignment system in the whole space [Formula: see text], in the case where the deviation of the initial density from a constant is sufficiently small. Our analysis strongly relies on the use of Besov spaces of the type [Formula: see text], which allow to get time independent estimates for the density even though it satisfies a transport equation with no damping. Our choice of a functional setting is not optimal but aims at providing a transparent and accessible argumentation.
On well-posedness of Ericksen–Leslie’s parabolic–hyperbolic liquid crystal model in compressible flow
Authors: Jiang Ning , Luo Yi-Long , Tang Shaojun
Published: November 2018

We study the well-posedness of the Ericksen–Leslie’s parabolic–hyperbolic liquid crystal model in compressible flow. Inspired by our study for incompressible case [N. Jiang and Y.-L. Luo, On well-posedness of Ericsen–Leslie’s hyperbolic incompressible liquid crystal model, preprint (2017), arXiv:1709.06370v1 ] and some techniques from compressible Navier–Stokes equations, we first prove the local-in-time existence of the classical solution to the system with finite initial energy, under some natural constraints on the Leslie coefficients which ensure that the basic energy law is dissipative. Furthermore, with an additional assumption on the coefficients which provides a damping effect, and the smallness of the initial energy, the existence of global solution can be established.