bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cleft constructions in Hong Kong English
Authors: Yao Xinyue
Published: June 2016

Existing second language acquisition research converges on a picture where learners of English exhibit marked divergence from native speakers in their use of information-packaging constructions, even at advanced stages of acquisition. This study extends the investigation of these constructions to an emerging institutionalised second language variety, Hong Kong English. Based on the Hong Kong and British components of the International Corpus of English, the study examines the formal and functional properties ofit-clefts andwh-clefts, revealing regional variation in a number of areas, particularly in the use ofthat’s whyconstructions. Importantly, the grammar of the contact variety is found to be shaped by the transfer of gradient grammatical rules from the substrate language, and by stratification along stylistic parameters.
Protestant Pioneers in Sanskrit Studies in the Early 18th Century
Authors: Van Hal Toon
Published: June 2016

Sanskrit has played a notable role in the history of the language sciences. Its intensive study at the turn of the 19th century went hand in hand with the institutionalization of linguistics as an independent academic discipline. This paper endeavours to trace the earliest Sanskrit studies conducted by Protestant missionaries in Tranquebar (present-day Tharangambadi in Tamil Nadu) under the auspices of theDänisch-Hallesche Missionfrom 1706 onwards. In contrast to some of their Jesuit colleagues, the Protestant missionaries did not leave us full-blown manuscript grammars. However, this does not imply that the Tranquebar missionaries had no interest in the sacred language of the Hindus. It was, of course, the primary concern of all missionaries to spread the word of Christ among the indigenous people. Hence, they placed an extremely high value on a firm command of the local vernacular languages. In the case of the Tranquebar missionaries, the study of both Portuguese and Tamil was, therefore, prioritized. In a second stage, however, many of the Tranquebar missionaries, once they had mastered the local vernaculars, gained interest in Sanskrit, which they frequently styled ‘Malabaric Latin’. Partly on the basis of unpublished manuscript sources, this paper (a) investigates why the Tranquebar missionaries were interested in Sanskrit in the first place, (b) surveys the numerous problems they had to overcome, and (c) studies their interaction with scholars working in Europe, from whom they received many incentives. In so doing, the paper investigates to what extent this 18th-century interest in Sanskrit reflects a fascination with the original traditional culture and religion of South India. In conjunction with this, the paper also examines to what extent this largely overlooked chapter in early Sanskrit philology may shed an indirect light on the specific role of Sanskrit in the institutionalization of linguistics.
The ‘imperfective’ in attributive clauses in Korean as a window into the evidential past and the metaphysical future
Authors: Kim Min-Joo
Published: June 2016

This article discusses the temporal interpretation of two attributive clause markers in Korean-te-unand -nu-un, which are standardly analyzed as carrying past imperfective and present imperfective meanings, respectively. I show that-te-unand -nu-uncarry not only temporal but also modal/evidential meanings and they do so in ways hitherto unnoticed. I claim that-te-unpresents an eventuality from a retrospective point of view, providing a window into what I call ‘an evidential past’, whereas -nu-undoes so from a projective point of view, providing a window into what I call ‘a metaphysical future’. The findings of this paper suggest that the line between Tense, Aspect, Mood, and Evidentiality can be blurrier in some languages than in others, and that when interpreting attributive clauses, what is construed as the viewpoint holder and in which direction the viewpoint is headed relative to some temporal anchor may matter greatly.
Comparison of Visual Survey and Mark–Recapture Population Estimates of a Benthic Fish in Hawaii
Authors: Hain Ernie F. , Lamphere Bradley A. , Blum Michael J. , McIntyre Peter B. , Nelson Stacy A.C. , Gilliam James F.
Published: June 2016

Visual surveys are conducted to rapidly estimate population densities of stream fishes, often without calibration against more established or more widely used methods to determine precision and accuracy or to correct for potential biases. We compared population density estimates from a visual survey (VS) point quadrat method widely used in Hawaii with estimates from “in hand” individual and batch mark–recapture (BMR) methods. Visual survey sampling and individual mark–recapture (IMR) sampling were conducted in three watersheds that represent gradients of land use and prevalence of nonnative poeciliid fishes on the Island of Hawaii. Focusing on adult O‘opu Nākea Awaous stamineus, VSs were conducted prior to IMR events to allow direct comparisons of results independent of location and time. Density estimates of O‘opu Nākea from VS and IMR samplings were strongly correlated, although VS estimates were generally higher and underrepresented exceptionally large fish. Batch mark–recapture estimates of O‘opu Nākea densities were conducted for comparison with VSs at 13 sites across the archipelago. Estimates of VSs were not significantly different from BMR estimates. Estimates of VSs also exhibited less variance than did BMR estimates across sites. General linear models showed that the relationship between VS and IMR estimates varied significantly among watersheds but not seasons and that land use was associated with a greater mismatch between VS and BMR estimates of population density. These findings indicate that visual surveys using a point quadrat method are an efficient and accurate approach for estimating the abundance of small benthic fishes, such as O‘opu Nākea, in wadeable streams and that obtaining absolute densities or size distributions from VS methods would benefit from a calibration with IMR not BMR estimates.

Received July 15, 2015; accepted February 23, 2016 Published online June 29, 2016
Scale‐Dependent Seasonal Pool Habitat Use by Sympatric Wild Brook Trout and Brown Trout Populations
Authors: Davis Lori A. , Wagner Tyler
Published: June 2016

Sympatric populations of native Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis and naturalized Brown Trout Salmo trutta exist throughout the eastern USA. An understanding of habitat use by sympatric populations is of importance for fisheries management agencies because of the close association between habitat and population dynamics. Moreover, habitat use by stream‐dwelling salmonids may be further complicated by several factors, including the potential for fish to display scale‐dependent habitat use. Discrete‐choice models were used to (1) evaluate fall and early winter daytime habitat use by sympatric Brook Trout and Brown Trout populations based on available residual pool habitat within a stream network and (2) assess the sensitivity of inferred habitat use to changes in the spatial scale of the assumed available habitat. Trout exhibited an overall preference for pool habitats over nonpool habitats; however, the use of pools was nonlinear over time. Brook Trout displayed a greater preference for deep residual pool habitats than for shallow pool and nonpool habitats, whereas Brown Trout selected for all pool habitat categories similarly. Habitat use by both species was found to be scale dependent. At the smallest spatial scale (50 m), habitat use was primarily related to the time of year and fish weight. However, at larger spatial scales (250 and 450 m), habitat use varied over time according to the study stream in which a fish was located. Scale‐dependent relationships in seasonal habitat use by Brook Trout and Brown Trout highlight the importance of considering scale when attempting to make inferences about habitat use; fisheries managers may want to consider identifying the appropriate spatial scale when devising actions to restore and protect Brook Trout populations and their habitats.

Received December 11, 2015; accepted March 2, 2016 Published online June 29, 2016
The direct MEG problem in the presence of an ellipsoidal shell inhomogeneity
Authors: Dassios George , Kariotou Fotini
Published: June 2016

The forward problem of Magnetoencephalography for an ellipsoidal inhomogeneous shell-model of the brain is considered. The inhomogeneity enters through a confocal ellipsoidal shell exhibiting different conductivity than the one of the brain tissue. It is shown that, as far as the leading quadrupolic moment of the exterior magnetic field is concerned, the complicated expression associated with the field itself is the same as in the homogeneous case, while the effect of the shell is focused on the form of the generalized dipole moment. In contrast to the spherical case, where no shell inhomogeneities are “readable” outside the skull, the ellipsoidal shells establish their existence on the exterior magnetic induction field in a way that depends not only on the geometry but also on the conductivity of the shell. The degenerated spherical results are fully recovered.
Calculation of shocks using solutions of systems of ordinary differential equations
Authors: Batt Jürgen , Ravindran Renuka
Published: June 2016

The method of intrinsic characterisation of shock wave propagation avoids the cumbersome task of solving the basic systems of equations before and after the shock, and has been used by various authors for direct calculation of relevant quantities on the shock. It leads to an infinite hierarchy of ordinary differential equations, which, due to the absence of a mathematical theory, is truncated to a finite system. In most practical cases, but not in all, the solutions of the truncated systems approximate the solution of the infinite system satisfactorily. The mathematical question of the error generated is completely open. We precisely define the concept of approximation and rigorously justify the local correctness of the approximation method for positive real analytic initial data for the inviscid Burgers’ equation, which has certain features in common with systems appearing in literature. At the same time we show that the nonuniqueness of the infinite system can lead to wrong results when the initial data are only

C

∞

C^{\infty }

and that blow-up of the solutions of the truncated systems are an obstacle for straightforward global approximation. Global approximation is achieved by recomputing the initial conditions for the approximating solutions in finitely many time steps. The results obtained will have to be taken into account in a future theory for more advanced systems.
On an improved elastic dissipation model for a cantilevered beam
Authors: Zarubinskaya M. , van Horssen W.
Published: June 2016

In this paper we will study an improved elastic dissipation model for a cantilevered beam, where the damping is assumed to be proportional to the bending rate of the beam. For an earlier formulated dissipation model for the cantilevered beam it has been recently shown that damping will not always be generated. However, for the improved dissipation model it will be shown in this paper that damping will always be generated.
Nonlinear price evolution
Authors: Caginalp G.
Published: June 2016

The neoclassical price adjustment equation stipulates that prices move toward equilibrium at a rate that is proportional to the excess demand, i.e., the difference between the demand and supply divided by the demand (at that price). However, the demand and supply are generally nonlinear functions of price. We show that the information on this nonlinear variation of demand and supply leads to a more accurate description of price evolution toward equilibrium. With this additional information the optimal forecast for the price of the good or asset is given by a nonlinear equation. This yields an advantage to traders utilizing all of the available information on supply and demand functions, rather than simply the value at the current price.
Minimum free energy in linear thermoelectromagnetism
Authors: Amendola Giovambattista , Manes Adele
Published: June 2016

A closed expression is given for the minimum free energy of a linear thermoelectromagnetic conductor, whose constitutive equations relative to the electric current density and to the heat flux have memory effects. This expression, derived in the frequency domain, is related to the maximum recoverable work, which can be obtained from a given state of the material. Another equivalent expression of the minimum free energy is deduced; it allows us to give explicit formulae for the case of a discrete spectrum model.
On sums of consecutive integers
Authors: Britt Michael , Fradin Lillie , Philips Kathy , Feldman Dima , Cooper Leon
Published: June 2016

We prove the conjectures of Michael Britt and Lillie Fradin concerning sums of consecutive integers.
Reproductive traits affect the rescue of valuable and endangered multipurpose tropical trees
Authors: Sinébou Viviane , Quinet Muriel , Ahohuendo Bonaventure C. , Jacquemart Anne-Laure
Published: June 2016

Conservation strategies are urgently needed in Tropical areas for widely used tree species. Increasing numbers of species are threatened by overexploitation and their recovery might be poor due to low reproductive success and poor regeneration rates. One of the first steps in developing any conservation policy should be an assessment of the reproductive biology of species that are threatened by overexploitation. This work aimed to study the flowering biology, pollination and breeding system of V. doniana , a multipurpose threatened African tree, as one step in assessing the development of successful conservation strategies. To this end, we studied (1) traits directly involved in pollinator attraction like flowering phenology, flower numbers and morphology, and floral rewards; (2) abundance, diversity and efficiency of flower visitors; (3) breeding system, through controlled hand-pollination experiments involving exclusion of pollinators and pollen from different sources; and (4) optimal conditions for seed germination. The flowering phenology was asynchronous among inflorescences, trees and sites. The flowers produced a large quantity of pollen and nectar with high sugar content. Flowers attracted diverse and abundant visitors, counting both insects and birds, and efficient pollinators included several Hymenoptera species. We detected no spontaneous self-pollination, indicating a total dependence on pollen vectors. Vitex doniana is self-compatible and no inbreeding depression occurred in the first developmental stages. After extraction of the seed from the fruit, seed germination did not require any particular conditions or pre-treatments and the seeds showed high germination rates. These pollination and breeding characteristics as well as germination potential offer the required conditions to develop successful conservation strategies. Protection, cultivation and integration in agroforestry systems are required to improve the regeneration of the tree.
AutoSite: an automated approach for pseudo-ligands prediction—from ligand-binding sites identification to predicting key ligand atoms
Authors: Ravindranath Pradeep Anand , Sanner Michel F.
Published: June 2016

Motivation: The identification of ligand-binding sites from a protein structure facilitates computational drug design and optimization, and protein function assignment. We introduce AutoSite: an efficient software tool for identifying ligand-binding sites and predicting pseudo ligand corresponding to each binding site identified. Binding sites are reported as clusters of 3D points called fills in which every point is labelled as hydrophobic or as hydrogen bond donor or acceptor. From these fills AutoSite derives feature points: a set of putative positions of hydrophobic-, and hydrogen-bond forming ligand atoms.

Results: We show that AutoSite identifies ligand-binding sites with higher accuracy than other leading methods, and produces fills that better matches the ligand shape and properties, than the fills obtained with a software program with similar capabilities, AutoLigand. In addition, we demonstrate that for the Astex Diverse Set, the feature points identify 79% of hydrophobic ligand atoms, and 81% and 62% of the hydrogen acceptor and donor hydrogen ligand atoms interacting with the receptor, and predict 81.2% of water molecules mediating interactions between ligand and receptor. Finally, we illustrate potential uses of the predicted feature points in the context of lead optimization in drug discovery projects.

Availability and Implementation:  http://adfr.scripps.edu/AutoDockFR/autosite.html

Contact:  sanner@scripps.edu

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Inheritance-mode specific pathogenicity prioritization (ISPP) for human protein coding genes
Authors: Hsu Jacob Shujui , Kwan Johnny S.H. , Pan Zhicheng , Garcia-Barcelo Maria-Mercè , Sham Pak Chung , Li Miaoxin
Published: June 2016

Motivation: Exome sequencing studies have facilitated the detection of causal genetic variants in yet-unsolved Mendelian diseases. However, the identification of disease causal genes among a list of candidates in an exome sequencing study is still not fully settled, and it is often difficult to prioritize candidate genes for follow-up studies. The inheritance mode provides crucial information for understanding Mendelian diseases, but none of the existing gene prioritization tools fully utilize this information.

Results: We examined the characteristics of Mendelian disease genes under different inheritance modes. The results suggest that Mendelian disease genes with autosomal dominant (AD) inheritance mode are more haploinsufficiency and de novo mutation sensitive, whereas those autosomal recessive (AR) genes have significantly more non-synonymous variants and regulatory transcript isoforms. In addition, the X-linked (XL) Mendelian disease genes have fewer non-synonymous and synonymous variants. As a result, we derived a new scoring system for prioritizing candidate genes for Mendelian diseases according to the inheritance mode. Our scoring system assigned to each annotated protein-coding gene (N = 18 859) three pathogenic scores according to the inheritance mode (AD, AR and XL). This inheritance mode-specific framework achieved higher accuracy (area under curve  = 0.84) in XL mode.

Conclusion: The inheritance-mode specific pathogenicity prioritization (ISPP) outperformed other well-known methods including Haploinsufficiency, Recessive, Network centrality, Genic Intolerance, Gene Damage Index and Gene Constraint scores. This systematic study suggests that genes manifesting disease inheritance modes tend to have unique characteristics.

Availability and implementation: ISPP is included in KGGSeq v1.0 (http://grass.cgs.hku.hk/limx/kggseq/), and source code is available from (https://github.com/jacobhsu35/ISPP.git).

Contact:  mxli@hku.hk

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
GeneCodeq: quality score compression and improved genotyping using a Bayesian framework
Authors: Greenfield Daniel L. , Stegle Oliver , Rrustemi Alban
Published: June 2016

Motivation: The exponential reduction in cost of genome sequencing has resulted in a rapid growth of genomic data. Most of the entropy of short read data lies not in the sequence of read bases themselves but in their Quality Scores—the confidence measurement that each base has been sequenced correctly. Lossless compression methods are now close to their theoretical limits and hence there is a need for lossy methods that further reduce the complexity of these data without impacting downstream analyses.

Results: We here propose GeneCodeq, a Bayesian method inspired by coding theory for adjusting quality scores to improve the compressibility of quality scores without adversely impacting genotyping accuracy. Our model leverages a corpus of k-mers to reduce the entropy of the quality scores and thereby the compressibility of these data (in FASTQ or SAM/BAM/CRAM files), resulting in compression ratios that significantly exceeds those of other methods. Our approach can also be combined with existing lossy compression schemes to further reduce entropy and allows the user to specify a reference panel of expected sequence variations to improve the model accuracy. In addition to extensive empirical evaluation, we also derive novel theoretical insights that explain the empirical performance and pitfalls of corpus-based quality score compression schemes in general. Finally, we show that as a positive side effect of compression, the model can lead to improved genotyping accuracy.

Availability and implementation:  GeneCodeq is available at: github.com/genecodeq/eval

Contact:  dan@petagene.com

Supplementary information:  Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
J-GEM follow-up observations to search for an optical counterpart of the first gravitational wave source GW150914
Authors: Morokuma Tomoki , Tanaka Masaomi , Asakura Yuichiro , Abe Fumio , Tristram Paul J. , Utsumi Yousuke , Doi Mamoru , Fujisawa Kenta , Itoh Ryosuke , Itoh Yoichi , Kawabata Koji S. , Kawai Nobuyuki , Kuroda Daisuke , Matsubayashi Kazuya , Motohara Kentaro , Murata Katsuhiro L. , Nagayama Takahiro , Ohta Kouji , Saito Yoshihiko , Tamura Yoichi , Tominaga Nozomu , Uemura Makoto , Yanagisawa Kenshi , Yatsu Yoichi , Yoshida Michitoshi
Published: June 2016

We present our optical follow-up observations to search for an electromagnetic counterpart of the first gravitational wave source GW150914 in the framework of the Japanese collaboration for Gravitational wave ElectroMagnetic follow-up (J-GEM), which is an observing group utilizing optical and radio telescopes in Japan, as well as in New Zealand, China, South Africa, Chile, and Hawaii. We carried out a wide-field imaging survey with the Kiso Wide Field Camera (KWFC) on the 1.05 m Kiso Schmidt telescope in Japan and a galaxy-targeted survey with Tripole5 on the B&C 61 cm telescope in New Zealand. Approximately 24 deg2 regions in total were surveyed in i-band with KWFC and 18 nearby galaxies were observed with Tripole5 in g-, r-, and i-bands 4–12 days after the gravitational wave detection. Median 5 σ depths are i ∼ 18.9 mag for the KWFC data and g ∼ 18.9 mag, r ∼ 18.7 mag, and i ∼ 18.3 mag for the Tripole5 data. The probability for a counterpart to be in the observed area is 1.2% in the initial skymap and 0.1% in the final skymap. We do not find any transient source associated to an external galaxy with spatial offset from its center, which is consistent with the local supernova rate.
Field Evaluation of a Competitive Lateral-Flow Assay for Detection ofAlternaria brassicaein Vegetable Brassica Crops
Authors: Wakeham Alison J. , Keane Gary , Kennedy Roy
Published: June 2016

On-site detection of inoculum of polycyclic plant pathogens could potentially contribute to management of disease outbreaks. A 6-min, in-field competitive immunochromatographic lateral flow device (CLFD) assay was developed for detection of Alternaria brassicae (the cause of dark leaf spot in brassica crops) in air sampled above the crop canopy. Visual recording of the test result by eye provides a detection threshold of approximately 50 dark leaf spot conidia. Assessment using a portable reader improved test sensitivity. In combination with a weather-driven infection model, CLFD assays were evaluated as part of an in-field risk assessment to identify periods when brassica crops were at risk from A. brassicae infection. The weather-driven model overpredicted A. brassicae infection. An automated 7-day multivial cyclone air sampler combined with a daily in-field CLFD assay detected A. brassicae conidia air samples from above the crops. Integration of information from an in-field detection system (CLFD) with weather-driven mathematical models predicting pathogen infection have the potential for use within disease management systems.
Histone Deacetylase Inhibition Protects Mice Against Lethal Postinfluenza Pneumococcal Infection
Authors: Yagi Kazuma , Ishii Makoto , Namkoong Ho , Fujii Hideki , Asami Takahiro , Suzuki Shoji , Asakura Takanori , Mizoguchi Kosuke , Kamo Tetsuro , Tasaka Sadatomo , Iwata Satoshi , Kunkel Steven L. , Hasegawa Naoki , Betsuyaku Tomoko
Published: June 2016

Objectives:

Secondary bacterial pneumonia following influenza virus infection is associated with high mortality, but the mechanism is largely unknown. Epigenetic gene regulation appears to play key roles in innate and adaptive immunity. We hypothesized that histone acetylation, a major epigenetic mechanism associated with transcriptionally active chromatin, might contribute to the poor outcome of postinfluenza pneumonia.

Design:

Prospective experimental study.

Setting:

University research laboratory.

Subjects:

C57BL/6 male mice.

Interventions:

Mice were infected intranasally with 1.0 × 104 colony-forming units of Streptococcus pneumoniae, 7 days after intranasal inoculation with five plaque-forming units of influenza virus A/H1N1/PR8/34. The mice were intraperitoneally injected with the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A (1 mg/kg) or vehicle once a day from 1 hour after pneumococcal infection throughout the course of the experiment. The primary outcome was survival rate.

Measurements and Main Results:

Trichostatin A significantly suppressed histone deacetylase activity and significantly improved the survival rate of mice (56.3%) after postinfluenza pneumococcal infection when compared with vehicle-treated mice (20.0%), which was associated with a significant decrease in the total cell count of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. The interleukin-1β level in the serum and the number of natural killer cells in the lungs were significantly lower in the trichostatin A-treated group.

Conclusions:

The histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A protects mice against postinfluenza pneumonia possibly through multiple factors, including decreasing local cell recruitment into the lungs and suppressing systemic inflammation.
A Model of Consultation in Prostate Cancer Care
Authors: Paterson Catherine , Nabi Ghulam
Published: June 2016

Background:

There has been an evolution of various consultation models in the literature. Men affected by prostate cancer can experience a range of unmet supportive care needs. Thus, effective consultations are paramount in the delivery of supportive care to optimize tailored self-management plans at the individual level of need.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to critically appraise existing models of consultation and make recommendations for a model of consultation within the scope of clinical practice for prostate cancer care.

Methods:

A systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Statement Guidelines. Electronic databases were searched using a wide range of keywords and free text items to increase the sensitivity and inclusiveness of the searches. Findings were integrated in a narrative synthesis.

Results:

A total of 1829 articles were retrieved and 17 papers were included. Beneficial features ranged across a number of models that included a person-centered consultation, shared management plans, and safety netting. None of the reviewed models of consultation are suitable for use in prostate cancer care because of a range of limitations and the clinical context in which models were developed. A Cancer Care Consultation Model was informed from critical appraisal of the evidence and expert clinical and service user comment.

Conclusion:

Further research is needed to empirically test consultation models in routine clinical practice, specifically for advanced cancer specialist nurses.

Implications for Practice:

The Prostate Cancer Model of Consultation can be used to structure clinical consultations to target self-management care plans at the individual level of need over the cancer care continuum.
A Pilot Study of Proinflammatory Cytokines and Fatigue in Women With Breast Cancer During Chemotherapy
Authors: Raudonis Barbara M. , Kelley Ingrid H. , Rowe Nancy , Ellis Jenny
Published: June 2016

Background:

Fatigue remains a prevalent, persistent, and debilitating side effect of chemotherapy for stage I and II breast cancer patients. Severity of fatigue varies among patients. Evidence suggests that proinflammatory cytokines contribute to the development of fatigue.

Objective:

The aim of this study is to investigate predictors of fatigue and cytokine levels in women undergoing chemotherapy for stage I or II breast cancer.

Methods:

Piper Fatigue Scales and blood samples for interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels were collected at baseline and days 7, 14, and 21 for each chemotherapy cycle. Descriptive statistics, general linear mixed models, and graphic analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results:

The predominantly white convenience sample was composed of 11 women with stage I or II breast cancer who were 37 to 72 years old (mean, 52 years). Predictors of fatigue were type of chemotherapy drugs, time, and IL-6 levels. A predictor of IL-6 and TNF-α levels was whether chemotherapy was administered at the visit. Type of chemotherapy significantly predicted TNF-α levels. Fatigue patterns were characterized by chaotic pattern of peaks and troughs unique to each woman.

Conclusions:

Women with stage I and II breast cancer experienced variability in the severity of fatigue and levels of IL-6 and TNF-α throughout their treatment trajectories. The presence and role of genetic variants related to cancer-related fatigue may explain the individual variation and warrant further research.

Implications for Practice:

These findings highlight the importance of symptom assessments including fatigue at each clinic visit and individualized interventions throughout the cancer trajectory.
Arnica Ointment 10% Does Not Improve Upper Blepharoplasty Outcome: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Authors: van Exsel Denise C. E. , Pool Shariselle M. W. , van Uchelen Jeroen H. , Edens Mireille A. , van der Lei Berend , Melenhorst Wynand B. W. H.
Published: June 2016

Background:

It has been suggested that arnica can reduce postoperative edema and ecchymosis associated with cosmetic surgical procedures and improve outcome. Despite a high incidence of arnica use among upper blepharoplasty patients, evidence to support its treatment effect is lacking. The authors performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of arnica ointment after upper blepharoplasty.

Methods:

One hundred thirty-six bilateral upper blepharoplasty patients were randomized between arnica ointment 10% and placebo ointment. In both study arms, one periorbital area was designated as the treatment side (either arnica or placebo ointment), and the contralateral side served as an untreated (no ointment) internal control. As the primary endpoint, the overall periorbital appearance as based on light photography and judged by a medical and nonmedical panel, was assessed after 3 days, 7 days, and 6 weeks. Secondary endpoints were swelling, ecchymosis, erythema, pain, and patient satisfaction with recovery and outcome.

Results:

There was no significant difference between arnica and placebo in overall judgment of periorbital appearance 3 days, 7 days, and 6 weeks after surgery. Furthermore, swelling, ecchymosis, erythema, pain, and patient satisfaction with recovery and outcome did not differ between arnica and placebo. Postoperative outcome in untreated eyelids was not different from eyelids treated with either arnica or placebo on any of the studied outcome measures.

Conclusion:

The authors’ study demonstrates that topical arnica ointment after upper blepharoplasty does not improve postoperative outcome.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, II.
Multisite Lymphaticovenular Bypass Using Supermicrosurgery Technique for Lymphedema Management in Lower Lymphedema Cases
Authors: Mihara Makoto , Hara Hisako , Tange Shuichi , Zhou Han Peng , Kawahara Mari , Shimizu Yohei , Murai Noriyuki
Published: June 2016

Background:

The impact of lymphaticovenous anastomosis on lymphedema has yet to be defined. The authors investigated the clinical evidence regarding the effectiveness of lymphaticovenous anastomosis in lower limb lymphedema.

Methods:

Eighty-four patients (162 limbs; 73 female and 11 male patients) with lower limb lymphedema who underwent multisite lymphaticovenous anastomosis in the authors’ clinic between August of 2010 and May of 2014 were included in this retrospective study. Lymphedema was diagnosed using lymphoscintigraphy and indocyanine green lymphography. All lymphaticovenous anastomoses were performed under local anesthesia. The lymphatic vessels that were identified were classified using the normal, ectasis, contraction, and sclerosis type (NECST) classification. Limb circumference, subjective symptoms, and frequency of cellulitis were evaluated.

Results:

The average patient age was 60 years (range, 24 to 94 years); mean postoperative follow-up period was 18.3 months (range, 6 to 51 months). The postoperative change rate in limb circumference indicated that 67 limbs (47.7 percent) were classified as improved, 35 (27.3 percent) were classified as stable, and 32 (25 percent) were classified as worse. Postoperative interview revealed improvement in subjective symptoms in 67 limbs (61.5 percent), no change in 38 (34.9 percent), and exacerbation in four (3.7 percent). The postoperative mean occurrence of cellulitis was decreased to 0.13 times per year compared with 0.89 preoperatively, which was statistically significant (p= 0.00084). Multiple regression analysis using the postanastomosis limb circumference and NECST classification confirmed the following results: change rate (percent) = −0.40 + (0.30 × N) + (−0.84 × E) + (0.22 × C) + (−0.61 × S).

Conclusion:

Lymphaticovenous anastomosis is effective for lower limb lymphedema, in point of limb circumference, subjective symptoms, and the frequency of cellulitis.

CLINCAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, IV.
Remote Ischemic Preconditioning Recipient Tissues Improves the Viability of Murine Fat Transfer
Authors: Gassman Andrew A. , Lewis Michael S. , Lee Justine C.
Published: June 2016

Background:

Local ischemia before the development of recipient circulation may contribute to the highly variable long-term results of fat grafting. Remote ischemic preconditioning before adipose procurement augments the retention of fat grafts and limits subsequent liposclerosis. However, there is no literature examining what role remote ischemic preconditioning has on the fat graft recipient site.

Methods:

Subcutaneous adipose tissue from transgenic mice expressing green fluorescent protein/luciferase was injected into skin folds of wild-type mice. Donors and recipients experienced intermittent temporary hindlimb tourniquet application before harvest and transfer, respectively. The viability of the transferred tissue was examined over 28 days by luciferin bioluminescence and subsequent histologic analysis.

Results:

There was a difference in bioluminescence at days 0, 14, and 28. The remote ischemic preconditioning donor or recipient mouse–alone groups demonstrated an approximately 2- to 3-fold increase in bioluminescence. Donor and recipient remote ischemic preconditioning had a 9-fold increase in bioluminescence. Histologic analysis at 28 days confirmed the presence of donor adipocytes, and they were gradually replaced by recipient inflammation and scar tissue. However, the amount of interstitial fibrosis was substantially less in the remote ischemic preconditioning groups. These findings were more pronounced when remote ischemic preconditioning was used for both donor and recipient mice.

Conclusions:

Remote ischemic preconditioning has the ability to increase the viability of donor adipocytes and limit interstitial fibrosis. More specifically, remote ischemic preconditioning treatment of both donated adipose tissue and recipient wound beds demonstrates the greatest overall adipose cellular viability and native architecture.
Modified Great Toe Wraparound Flap with Preservation of Plantar Triangular Flap for Reconstruction of Degloving Injuries of the Thumb and Fingers: Long-Term Follow-Up
Authors: Shen Xiao Fang , Mi Jing Yi , Xue Ming Yu , Zhao Gang , Qiang Li , Zhou Xiao , Rui Yong Jun , Chim Harvey
Published: June 2016

Background:

The purpose of this article is to report the authors’ experience with the use of the modified great toe wraparound flap with preservation of a plantar triangular flap for reconstructing degloving injuries of the thumb and fingers.

Methods:

Between 2007 and 2012, 31 patients underwent reconstruction with 37 flaps. Twenty-seven patients underwent reconstruction with 31 flaps for a degloved thumb and fingers, and four patients underwent reconstruction with six flaps for degloved fingers only. A modified great toe wraparound flap with second toe medial toe hemipulp flap on a common pedicle was used for reconstruction of degloved fingers in four patients. Twelve patients had long-term follow-up, with a mean duration of 5 years (range, 2 to 8 years).

Results:

All flaps survived. The contour of the reconstructed digits was similar to the contralateral one. In patients with long-term follow-up, mean two-point discrimination of reconstructed digits was 6.2 mm (range, 3 to 8 mm). Mean Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand questionnaire score was 0.8 ± 1.0. Mean Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire score was 87.3 ± 3.7. Mean Foot and Ankle Disability Index score was 95.5 ± 2.7. The width of the preserved plantar triangular flap expanded from 35 percent to 67 percent of the width of the great toe and completely covered the weight-bearing area.

Conclusions:

Reconstruction of degloved thumb and fingers with a modified great toe wraparound flap, preserving a plantar triangular flap, results in excellent contour and functional outcome. Donor-site morbidity in the foot was minimal.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, IV.
Google Glass in the Operating Room: The Plastic Surgeon’s Perspective
Authors: Sinkin Jeremy C. , Rahman Omar F. , Nahabedian Maurice Y.
Published: June 2016

New technologies and innovations are common in the delivery of modern health care. Google Glass is one such device gaining increased attention in medical specialties. The authors surveyed residents and attending physicians in the Department of Plastic Surgery, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, on their experience using Google Glass in the operating room. Ease of use, quality of images, gaze disruption, and distraction during surgery were measured. Overall, subjects found the device to be comfortable and satisfying to wear and use during surgery to capture images of good quality. Despite some identified weaknesses, Google Glass is a unique technology with a promising plastic surgical application in the operating room.
Modified Lipoabdominoplasty: Updating Concepts
Authors: Ribeiro Ricardo Cavalcanti , Matos Wilson Novaes , Cruz Pedro Felipe Suárez
Published: June 2016

Background:

Abdominoplasty is a commonly performed aesthetic surgical procedure worldwide, and one of the most frequently performed cosmetic surgical procedures in the United States. Classic abdominoplasty was merged with liposuction in the past decade to create a new technique—lipoabdominoplasty—that was proven to be safe and effective and that improves body contour. The authors have been using lipoabdominoplasty since 2003 with excellent outcomes; however, some details have been added to improve significant shortcomings, including the lack of treatment of the pubic area and flanks, the presence of a high-position scar and, sometimes, a bulging inferior abdomen.

Methods:

The authors retrospectively studied 348 patients who underwent lipoabdominoplasty with these related surgical improvements between January of 2010 and February of 2015. Improvements to the original surgical technique included deep liposuction in the lower abdomen, pubic liposuction, and liposuction of the flanks or dorsum with power-assisted liposuction, Scarpa fascia removal in the inferior abdomen, lipoplasty and mons lipolifting, and pubic fixation.

Results:

Following these key points, superior flap slides to the pubic region by elongation of the vessels and nerves, preserving those structures, avoiding creation of a dead space, and reducing the number of the most common complications. Scarpa fascia removal in the infraumbilical region avoided bulging without increasing the seroma rate. Pubic lifting and its fixation promote rejuvenation of the entire region and avoid elevation of the remnant scar.

Conclusion:

These surgical modifications are safe and avoid common complications related to lipoabdominoplasty, with improved outcomes.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, IV.
Stress response, gut microbial diversity and sexual signals correlate with social interactions
Authors: Levin Iris I. , Zonana David M. , Fosdick Bailey K. , Song Se Jin , Knight Rob , Safran Rebecca J.
Published: June 2016

Theory predicts that social interactions are dynamically linked to phenotype. Yet because social interactions are difficult to quantify, little is known about the precise details on how interactivity is linked to phenotype. Here, we deployed proximity loggers on North American barn swallows (
Hirundo rustica erythrogaster
) to examine intercorrelations among social interactions, morphology and features of the phenotype that are sensitive to the social context: stress-induced corticosterone (CORT) and gut microbial diversity. We analysed relationships at two spatial scales of interaction: (i) body contact and (ii) social interactions occurring between 0.1 and 5 m. Network analysis revealed that relationships between social interactions, morphology, CORT and gut microbial diversity varied depending on the sexes of the individuals interacting and the spatial scale of interaction proximity. We found evidence that body contact interactions were related to diversity of socially transmitted microbes and that looser social interactions were related to signalling traits and CORT.
High turnover drives prolonged persistence of influenza in managed pig herds
Authors: Pitzer Virginia E. , Aguas Ricardo , Riley Steven , Loeffen Willie L. A. , Wood James L. N. , Grenfell Bryan T.
Published: June 2016

Pigs have long been hypothesized to play a central role in the emergence of novel human influenza A virus (IAV) strains, by serving as mixing vessels for mammalian and avian variants. However, the key issue of viral persistence in swine populations at different scales is ill understood. We address this gap using epidemiological models calibrated against seroprevalence data from Dutch finishing pigs to estimate the ‘critical herd size’ (CHS) for IAV persistence. We then examine the viral phylogenetic evidence for persistence by comparing human and swine IAV. Models suggest a CHS of approximately 3000 pigs above which influenza was likely to persist, i.e. orders of magnitude lower than persistence thresholds for IAV and other acute viruses in humans. At national and regional scales, we found much stronger empirical signatures of prolonged persistence of IAV in swine compared with human populations. These striking levels of persistence in small populations are driven by the high recruitment rate of susceptible piglets, and have significant implications for management of swine and for overall patterns of genetic diversity of IAV.
Amphibians with infectious disease increase their reproductive effort: evidence for the terminal investment hypothesis
Authors: Brannelly Laura A. , Webb Rebecca , Skerratt Lee F. , Berger Lee
Published: June 2016

Mounting an immune response to fight disease is costly for an organism and can reduce investment in another life-history trait, such as reproduction. The terminal investment hypothesis predicts that an organism will increase reproductive effort when threatened by disease. The reproductive fitness of amphibians infected with the deadly fungal pathogenBatrachochytrium dendrobatidis(Bd) is largely unknown. In this study, we explored gametogenesis in two endangered and susceptible frog species,Pseudophryne corroboreeandLitoria verreauxii alpina.Gametogenesis, both oogenesis and spermatogenesis, increased when animals were experimentally infected withBd. InP. corroboree, infected males have thicker germinal epithelium, and a larger proportion of spermatocytes. InL. v. alpina, infected males had more spermatic cell bundles in total, and a larger proportion of spermatozoa bundles. In femaleL. v. alpina, ovaries and oviducts were larger in infected animals, and there were more cells present within the ovaries. Terminal investment has consequences for the evolution of disease resistance in declining species. If infected animals are increasing reproductive efforts and producing more offspring before succumbing to disease, it is possible that population-level selection for disease resistance will be minimized.
Identification of ubiquinol cytochrome
c
reductase hinge (UQCRH) as a potential diagnostic biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Gao Feng , Liu Qicai , Li Guoping , Dong Feng , Qiu Minglian , Lv Xiaoting , Zhang Sheng , Guo Zheng
Published: June 2016

Ubiquinol cytochrome
c
reductase hinge (UQCRH) is a novel protein that localizes in the mitochondrial membrane and induces mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. It had a high expression rate of 87.10% (108/124) in lung adenocarcinoma. Moreover, serum UQCRH level in patients with lung adenocarcinoma was significantly increased compared with that of pneumonia patients (
p
< 0.0001) and normal control subjects (
p
< 0.0001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis using an optimal cut-off value of 162.65 pg ml
−1
revealed sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of lung adenocarcinoma of 88.7% and 85.7%, respectively, with an area under the curve of 0.927 (95% CI: 0.892 to 0.962,
p
< 0.0001). Serum UQCRH discriminates lung adenocarcinoma patients from the population without cancer with considerable sensitivity and specificity, but it does not distinguish between heavy smokers and lung adenocarcinoma patients. Serum UQCRH could be a potential diagnostic biomarker for lung adenocarcinoma.
Crystal structures of heterotypic nucleosomes containing histones H2A.Z and H2A
Authors: Horikoshi Naoki , Arimura Yasuhiro , Taguchi Hiroyuki , Kurumizaka Hitoshi
Published: June 2016

H2A.Z is incorporated into nucleosomes located around transcription start sites and functions as an epigenetic regulator for the transcription of certain genes. During transcriptional regulation, the heterotypic H2A.Z/H2A nucleosome containing one each of H2A.Z and H2A is formed. However, previous homotypic H2A.Z nucleosome structures suggested that the L1 loop region of H2A.Z would sterically clash with the corresponding region of canonical H2A in the heterotypic nucleosome. To resolve this issue, we determined the crystal structures of heterotypic H2A.Z/H2A nucleosomes. In the H2A.Z/H2A nucleosome structure, the H2A.Z L1 loop structure was drastically altered without any structural changes of the canonical H2A L1 loop, thus avoiding the steric clash. Unexpectedly, the heterotypic H2A.Z/H2A nucleosome is more stable than the homotypic H2A.Z nucleosome. These data suggested that the flexible character of the H2A.Z L1 loop plays an essential role in forming the stable heterotypic H2A.Z/H2A nucleosome.