bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Chilling Injury in Mangoes Using Multispectral Imaging
Authors: Hashim Norhashila , Onwude Daniel I. , Osman Muhamad Syafiq
Published: April 2018

Commodities originating from tropical and subtropical climes are prone to chilling injury (CI). This injury could affect the quality and marketing potential of mango after harvest. This will later affect the quality of the produce and subsequent consumer acceptance. In this study, the appearance of CI symptoms in mango was evaluated non‐destructively using multispectral imaging. The fruit were stored at 4 °C to induce CI and 12 °C to preserve the quality of the control samples for 4 days before they were taken out and stored at ambient temperature for 24 hr. Measurements using multispectral imaging and standard reference methods were conducted before and after storage. The performance of multispectral imaging was compared using standard reference properties including moisture content (MC), total soluble solids (TSS) content, firmness, pH, and color. Least square support vector machine (LS‐SVM) combined with principal component analysis (PCA) were used to discriminate CI samples with those of control and before storage, respectively. The statistical results demonstrated significant changes in the reference quality properties of samples before and after storage. The results also revealed that multispectral parameters have a strong correlation with the reference parameters of L*, a*, TSS, and MC. The MC and L* were found to be the best reference parameters in identifying the severity of CI in mangoes. PCA and LS‐SVM analysis indicated that the fruit were successfully classified into their categories, that is, before storage, control, and CI. This indicated that the multispectral imaging technique is feasible for detecting CI in mangoes during postharvest storage and processing.

Practical Application

This paper demonstrates a fast, easy, and accurate method of identifying the effect of cold storage on mango, nondestructively. The method presented in this paper can be used industrially to efficiently differentiate different fruits from each other after low temperature storage.
Interactions of Dihydromyricetin, a Flavonoid from Vine Tea (Ampelopsis grossedentata) with Gut Microbiota
Authors: Fan Li , Zhao Xinyuan , Tong Qing , Zhou Xiya , Chen Jing , Xiong Wei , Fang Jianguo , Wang Wenqing , Shi Chunyang
Published: April 2018

Dihydromyricetin (DMY) is the main bioactive constituent in vine tea (Ampelopsis grossedentata), which was predominantly distributed in the gastrointestinal tract and showed poor oral bioavailability. Our aim was to systematically investigate the interactions of DMY with gut microbiota. Through the metabolism study of DMY by fecal microflora in vitro, it was found that DMY could be metabolized into three metabolites by fecal microflora via reduction and dehydroxylation pathways, and the dehydroxylation metabolite was the dominant one. Meanwhile, in order to consider the influence of gut microbiota metabolism on the pharmacokinetics of DMY, the pharmacokinetics of DMY in control and pseudo‐germ‐free rats were compared. It was shown that area under the curve (AUC) could only slightly increase, however, peak concentration (Cmax) could significantly increase in the pseudo‐germ‐free rats compared with the control rats, which indicated the gut microbiota metabolism played an important role in the pharmacokinetics of DMY. In addition, the long‐term influence of DMY on gut microbiota composition by using 16S rRNA pyrosequencing was further investigated. And it was found that DMY could markedly alter the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota and modulate the gut microbiota composition. The present findings will be helpful for the future development and clinical application of DMY.

Practical Application

The gut microbiota plays an important role in the pharmacokinetics of flavonoids. As well, the long‐term supplements of flavonoids could alter the gut microbiota composition in turn. The study aims to clarify the mutual interaction of DMY with gut microbiota, which may lead to new information with respect to the mechanism study and clinical application of DMY.
Storage Stability of Dietary Nitrate and Phenolic Compounds in Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) and Arugula (Eruca sativa) Juices
Authors: Corleto Karen A. , Singh Jashbir , Jayaprakasha G. K. , Patil Bhimanagouda S.
Published: April 2018

Nitrate and polyphenols from the diet may enhance the production and bioavailability of nitric oxide, a radical signaling molecule critical for cardiovascular health. Understanding the stability of these bioactives in beetroot and arugula juices is important for their functions. In this study, the stability of nitrate and phenolics in beetroot and arugula juices was measured for 32 days at different temperatures (25, 4, −20, and −80 °C). The levels of nitrate were measured by reversed‐phase HPLC and initial levels were found to be 4965.34 ± 72.69 μg/mL for beetroot and 6310.20 ± 24.79 μg/mL for arugula. Interestingly, nitrate degradation started within 24 hr at 25 °C and after 4 days at 4 °C. At −20 °C and −80 °C, nitrate levels remained stable for one month. Total phenolics and free radical scavenging activity varied significantly during storage conditions. Beetroot juice at 25 °C, significant decrease in total phenolics and antioxidant activity was observed, whereas at 4, −20 and −80 °C, the levels remained relatively stable. By contrast, arugula juice at 25 and 4 °C, an increase in total phenolics and antioxidant activity were observed after one month. Furthermore, UPLC‐HR‐QTOF‐MS analysis demonstrated that flavonoid glucosides were converted to their aglycones and lower phenolics, resulting in higher total phenolics and antioxidant activity during storage. In conclusion, beetroot and arugula juices required frozen conditions for long‐term storage to prevent degradation of nitrate and to maintain their nutritional value.

Practical Application

Beetroot and arugula juices have health‐beneficial compounds such as nitrate and phenolics. Understanding the proper storage conditions can allow consumers to make informed choices that can help fresh juices to maintain their health promoting properties.
Shelf Life Extension of Tomato Paste Through Organoleptically Acceptable Concentration of Betel Leaf Essential Oil Under Accelerated Storage Environment
Authors: Basak Suradeep
Published: April 2018

This study was attempted with two objectives: (1) to find an acceptable concentration of betel leaf essential oil (BLEO) based on sensory evaluation that can be employed in tomato paste; (2) to evaluate the effect of the acceptable concentration of BLEO in the paste during accelerated storage under 89 ± 1.2% RH at 39 ± 1 °C. Linguistic data obtained from sensory evaluation of tomato paste treated with 4 different concentrations of BLEO were analyzed using fuzzy logic approach. The organoleptically acceptable concentration was determined to be 0.25 mg/g of BLEO in tomato paste. The effect of the selected concentration of BLEO on different physicochemical and microbial attributes of tomato paste during accelerated storage was studied. Untreated tomato paste was found to have 12% less total antioxidant capacity than treated paste at the end of storage. Based on a*/b* value in CIELAB color space, the BLEO treated paste efficiently extended the shelf life by 14 days with respect to untreated paste samples under accelerated storage conditions. BLEO comes with a tag contributing to green consumerism, and its application as food preservative is no less than a value addition to the product.

Practical Applications

Essential oil is considered to have promising potential as an alternative food preservative, and its use is practically possible if they could overcome the sensory barrier, while retaining the preservative potency. The importance of identifying the sensory attributes for commercial success of essential oil treated food product was considered in this study. It contributes to the potency of organoleptically acceptable concentration of BLEO in shelf life extension of tomato paste under accelerated storage conditions. At industrial level, the estimated shelf life of treated tomato paste can be increased by incorporating more hurdles alongside BLEO.
Correlation Between Acetogenin Content and Antiproliferative Activity of Pawpaw (Asimina triloba [L.] Dunal) Fruit Pulp Grown in Korea
Authors: Nam Jin‐Sik , Park Seo‐Yeon , Lee Hyo‐Jeong , Lee Seon‐Ok , Jang Hye‐Lim , Rhee Young Ha
Published: April 2018

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba [L.] Dunal) is widely cultivated in Korea for its fruit, which contains bioactive compounds, such as acetogenins. In this study, we investigated the acetogenin content and antiproliferative activity of pawpaw fruit pulp against various cancer cell lines and evaluated the relationship between these two variables at different maturation stages. Unripe fruit had higher antiproliferative activity than ripe fruit, and the activity level depended on acetogenin content. In addition, the presence of specific acetogenins was related to inhibition of certain cancer cell types. The unripe fruit methanol and ethanol extracts (URFM and URFE, respectively) that were rich in acetogenins strongly inhibited the growth of HT‐1080, HeLa, and AGS cells by >50% at concentrations of less than 115 μg/mL. These findings indicate that URFM and URFE have therapeutic potential for the treatment of cancer, and our study establishes a basis for further mechanistic studies of the antiproliferative activity of pawpaw fruit. However, it is necessary to further study the anticancer activity of acetogenins from pawpaw fruit using in vivo activity approaches.

Practical Application

Pawpaw (Asimina triloba) contains acetogenins that can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. In our study, we demonstrate that the antiproliferative activity is higher in unripe than in ripe fruit and depends on acetogenin content. Our results indicate that the extract of unripe pawpaw fruit has value not only as a functional food, but has therapeutic potential for the treatment of cancer as a naturally derived substance that may be less toxic than conventional chemotherapy drugs.
A Water Allocation Decision‐Support Model and Tool for Predictions in Ungauged Basins in Northeast British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Chapman Allan R. , Kerr Ben , Wilford David
Published: April 2018

Pressures on water resources due to changing climate, increasing demands, and enhanced recognition of environmental flow needs result in the need for hydrology information to support informed water allocation decisions. However, the absence of hydrometric measurements and limited access to hydrology information in many areas impairs water allocation decision‐making. This paper describes a water balance‐based modeling approach and an innovative web‐based decision‐support hydrology tool developed to address this need. Using high‐resolution climate, vegetation, and watershed data, a simple gridded water balance model, adjusted to account for locational variability, was developed and calibrated against gauged watersheds, to model mean annual runoff. Mean monthly runoff was modeled empirically, using multivariate regression. The modeled annual runoff results are within 20% of the observed mean annual discharge for 78% of the calibration watersheds, with a mean absolute error of 16%. Modeled monthly runoff corresponds well to observed monthly runoff, with a median Nash–Sutcliffe statistic of 0.92 and a median Spearman rank correlation statistic of 0.98. Monthly and annual flow estimates produced from the model are incorporated into a map‐ and watershed‐based decision‐support system referred to as the Northeast Water Tool, to provide critical information to decision makers and others on natural water supply, existing allocations, and the needs of the environment.
Contrasting results from GWAS and QTL mapping on wing length in great reed warblers
Authors: Hansson Bengt , Sigeman Hanna , Stervander Martin , Tarka Maja , Ponnikas Suvi , Strandh Maria , Westerdahl Helena , Hasselquist Dennis
Published: April 2018

A major goal in evolutionary biology is to understand the genetic basis of adaptive traits. In migratory birds, wing morphology is such a trait. Our previous work on the great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) shows that wing length is highly heritable and under sexually antagonistic selection. Moreover, a quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping analysis detected a pronounced QTL for wing length on chromosome 2, suggesting that wing morphology is partly controlled by genes with large effects. Here, we re‐evaluate the genetic basis of wing length in great reed warblers using a genomewide association study (GWAS) approach based on restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) data. We use GWAS models that account for relatedness between individuals and include covariates (sex, age and tarsus length). The resulting association landscape was flat with no peaks on chromosome 2 or elsewhere, which is in line with expectations for polygenic traits. Analysis of the distribution of p‐values did not reveal biases, and the inflation factor was low. Effect sizes were however not uniformly distributed on some chromosomes, and the Z chromosome had weaker associations than autosomes. The level of linkage disequilibrium (LD) in the population decayed to background levels within c. 1 kbp. There could be several reasons to why our QTL study and GWAS gave contrasting results including differences in how associations are modelled (cosegregation in pedigree vs. LD associations), how covariates are accounted for in the models, type of marker used (multi‐ vs. biallelic), difference in power or a combination of these. Our study highlights that the genetic architecture even of highly heritable traits is difficult to characterize in wild populations.
Orthodontic thermoformed retainers: a two‐arm laboratory study into post‐fabrication outcomes
Authors: Doğramacı EJ , Chubb DWR , Rossi‐Fedele G
Published: April 2018

Background

Retainers are commonly used to maintain post‐orthodontic occlusion stability. We aimed to determine post‐fabrication thickness and thinning rate of thermoformed retainers.

Methods

Forty‐eight retainers were fabricated from polyethylenterepthalat‐glycol copolyester or polypropylene blanks, using vacuum‐ or pressure‐thermoforming. Retainer thickness was measured at multiple locations.

Results

Thinning rate had a broad range: the mid‐labial incisor region of 1 mm polyethylenterepthalat‐glycol copolyester pressure‐thermoformed mandibular retainers had the greatest thinning rate (68.25 ± 8.26%) and smallest mean post‐fabrication thickness (0.32 ± 0.08 mm). Polyethylenterepthalat‐glycol copolyester retainers were 0.11 mm thinner than polypropylene (P=0.0222), and polypropylene retainers were 0.21 mm thicker, when pressure‐thermoformed (P<0.0001). The interaction of manufacturing method and material used, and tooth type, explained over a third of the variability in the post‐fabrication thickness of these retainers. Maxillary retainers made from 1 mm blanks were 0.04 mm thicker in the incisor region compared with the molar region (P=0.0492).

Conclusions

Thermoformed retainers do no thin uniformly against individual teeth and have variable intra‐ and inter‐arch post‐fabrication thicknesses. There is no clear benefit in using a specific type of thermoforming machine or material for increasing post‐fabrication thickness or reducing thinning rate. Blank thickness and tooth morphology influence these outcomes.
Natural fertility, infertility and the role of medically assisted reproduction: The knowledge amongst women of reproductive age in North Queensland
Authors: Cheung Nicole K. , Coffey Anne , Woods Cindy , de Costa Caroline
Published: April 2018

Background

The demand for medically assisted reproduction continues to increase, with more women encountering challenges with fertility. Due to misconceptions and gaps in knowledge, women are often unaware of the risks related to delayed childbearing. Lack of understanding of natural fertility, infertility and the role of medically assisted reproduction can lead to emotional suffering and changes in family plans.

Aims

To assess the understanding and knowledge that women of reproductive age in North Queensland have regarding natural fertility, infertility and the role of medically assisted reproduction.

Materials and Methods

Data were collected from 120 women (30 nurses, 30 teachers, 30 university students and 30 Technical and Further Education students) via the distribution of a structured questionnaire. Participants were surveyed in person about their personal plans and opinions, knowledge about natural fertility, infertility and medically assisted reproduction, and their preferred source of information.

Results

Participants demonstrated suboptimal knowledge levels throughout all sections of the questionnaire, in particular when asked about medically assisted reproduction. When asked to identify their main source of information, ‘friends and family’ was the most popular choice.

Conclusions

Results from this North Queensland study add to the existing international literature, highlighting the widespread nature of the problem. Without adequate understanding of natural fertility, the risks of infertility, and the role and limitations of medically assisted reproduction, women make uninformed decisions. Development of local reproductive health education programs need to be instigated in response.
Effects of varying numbers of Likert scale points on factor structure of the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale
Authors: Xu Meng Lin , Leung Shing On
Published: April 2018

Likert‐type rating scales are among the most widely used tools in psychological research. Different numbers of response categories would likely affect response style, data distribution, reliability, and construct validity. There is a lack of research in factor structure invariance under Likert scales with different numbers of categories. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of varying numbers of Likert points (4–11) on scale properties such as factor structure, external validity, and latent means based on the Rosenberg Self‐Esteem Scale (M. Rosenberg, ). The sample consists of 1,807 students from secondary schools in Macau. Confirmatory factor analysis shows that the correlated two‐factor model is the most appropriate one; longitudinal invariance analysis reveals that measurement invariance across Likert scales was satisfied at the scalar level. In addition, latent mean scores on the two factors as well as observed means on the subscales are comparable across Likert scales. Moreover, the measurement model across Likert scales exhibit similar external validity. Although psychometric properties are mostly similar among a different number of points, the 4‐point Likert scale is not recommended for its higher skewness and lower loadings; the 11‐point Likert scale from 0 to 10 is slightly preferred for its higher loadings and composite reliability.
Human factors enablers and barriers for successful airway management – an in‐depth interview study
Authors: Schnittker R. , Marshall S. , Horberry T. , Young K. L.
Published: April 2018

Human factors are the individual, team, environmental and organisational aspects of the anaesthetic environment that affect performance and decision‐making of anaesthesia teams. This study aimed to identify which human factors were enablers and/or barriers to anaesthesia teams during airway management challenges. Sixteen interviews were conducted with experienced anaesthetists and anaesthetic nurses using an in‐depth interview technique (the Critical Decision Method) to identify human factors enablers and/or barriers during successful management of a significant airway challenge. Thematic analysis identified three overarching enablers: equipment location and storage; experience and learning; teamwork and communication. Five overarching barriers were also identified: time and resource limitations; teamwork and communication; equipment location and storage; experience and learning; insufficient back‐up planning; and equipment preparation. This study showed that a variety of human factors issues affect the handling of airway challenges, ranging from individual and team to organisational and environmental aspects. Recommendations for the design of airway management decision support tools that relate to equipment standardisation, decision support complexity, inclusive mutual learning and teamwork are discussed.
Repair of a Giant Omphalocele in an Infant With a Pericardial Implant Crosslinked With Oligourethane
Authors: Vargas‐Mancilla Juan , Torrero‐Serrato María A. , Palacios‐Rodríguez Aarón J. , Rodríguez‐de León Gloria B. , Montes‐Rodríguez Metzeri I. , Mendoza‐Novelo Birzabith
Published: April 2018

The giant omphalocele (GO) represents a challenge for the pediatric surgeon in its management and wall abdominoplasty. Here, we report the outcome of a case in which a GO in a newborn patient was repaired with an implant derived from decellularized bovine pericardium crosslinked with oligourethane. The implantation time was extended for 6 months. This was then followed up by the retrieval of the implant and the subsequent reconstruction in a second surgical time by the closure of the abdominal wall fascia. A short hospital stay, early integration into the patient's family environment, as well as early onset of the oral route without special care of the implant or reconstructed wall nor food restrictions were observed. The reduced presence of the complications described in the literature after application of surgical meshes suggests that this implant can be an effective and safe alternative method in the treatment of abdominal wall defects such as GO.
Impact of Different Perfusion Modalities on Coronary and Carotid Blood Flow Velocities in an Adult ECLS Swine Model
Authors: Wang Shigang , Patel Sunil , Izer Jenelle M. , Clark Joseph B. , Kunselman Allen R. , Wilson Ronald P. , Ündar Akif
Published: April 2018

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of nonpulsatile and ECG‐synchronized pulsatile extracorporeal life support on coronary and carotid blood flow velocities using transthoracic echocardiography and vascular ultrasound, respectively. Nine adult swine were randomly separated into nonpulsatile (NP, n = 5) and pulsatile (P, N = 4) groups and placed on ECLS for 24 h using an i‐cor ECLS system. Noninvasive transthoracic images of the left and right coronary artery and the left carotid artery were acquired at the pre‐ECLS (baseline), 30 min, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h on‐ECLS stages. The mean diastolic velocity of the left and right coronary arteries in the NP group significantly decreased after 24 h on ECLS compared to the baseline and 30 min ECLS stages (P < 0.05). There was no statistical difference in the mean diastolic velocity of the coronary arteries in the P group at 30 min, 3‐, 6‐, 9‐, 12‐, and 24‐h ECLS compared to baseline. The P group showed a smaller decrease in the mean diastolic velocity of coronary arteries between the 30‐min ECLS and 3‐, 6‐, 9‐, 13‐, 24‐h ECLS stages compared to the NP group. The diastolic velocity of the left carotid artery in the NP group significantly decreased during 24‐h ECLS compared to the P group (P < 0.05). An ECG‐synchronized pulsatile ECLS system appeared to maintain coronary and carotid artery diastolic velocities better than conventional nonpulsatile ECLS. Further investigation of the perfusion modes during ECLS is warranted.
Ocular trauma in the Finnish elderly – Helsinki Ocular Trauma Study
Authors: Sahraravand Ahmad , Haavisto Anna‐Kaisa , Holopainen Juha M. , Leivo Tiina
Published: April 2018

Purpose

To describe epidemiology, causes, treatments and outcomes of all ocular injuries in southern Finland among people aged 61 and older.

Methods

All new ocular trauma patients, admitted to the Helsinki University Eye Hospital, during 1 year in 2011–2012. The data were from hospital records and prospectively from patient questionnaires. The follow‐up time was 3 months.

Results

The incidence for ocular injuries among the elderly was 38/100 000/year. From 118 patients 69% were men. The mean age was 70.9 years old (median 67). The hospitalization rate was 14%. Injury types were minor traumas (48%), contusions (22%), chemical injuries (10%), eyelid wounds (8%), open globe injuries (OGI; 7%) and orbital fractures (5%). The injuries occurred at home (58%), institutions (12%) and in other public places (12%). The main causes of ocular injury were falls (22%), sticks (19%), superficial foreign bodies (18%) and chemicals (12%). All OGI and 88% of contusions needed a lifelong follow‐up. A permanent visual or functional impairment occurred in 15 (13%) patients. Of these 53% were OGI, 40% contusions and 7% chemical injuries. The causes of permanent injuries were falls (seven cases, 47%), work tools, sports equipment, sticks, chemicals and eyeglasses. The incidence for legal blindness was 2.3/100 000.

Conclusion

Minor trauma was the most frequent type, and home was the location of the most occurred eye injuries. Falls were the most frequent and serious cause, but behavioural causes were not significant. Preventive measures should be directed towards the main identified causes and risk factors of the eye injuries in the elderly.
Optic disc drusen: understanding an old problem from a new perspective
Authors: Hamann Steffen , Malmqvist Lasse , Costello Fiona
Published: April 2018

Optic disc drusen (ODD) are acellular deposits located in the optic nerve head of up to 2.4% of the population. They may develop as by‐products of impaired axonal metabolism in genetically predisposed individuals, in whom a narrow scleral canal is hypothesized to play a role. Although ODD are often considered as benign innocent bystanders, recognized as part of a routine ophthalmological examination, the vast majority of patients with ODD have visual field defects. Optic disc drusen (ODD)‐associated complications with severe visual loss, most often due to anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy, are also known to occur. There are no treatments available to prevent or ameliorate the vision loss caused by ODD. In children, the ODD are usually uncalcified and buried within the optic nerve head tissue. In these cases, the condition can be difficult to diagnose, as it often resembles a papilloedema with optic nerve head swelling caused by raised intracranial pressure. During the teenage years, the ODD progressively become more calcified and probably also larger, which allow them to be visible on ophthalmoscopy. With the advent and proper utilization of high‐resolution modalities of optical coherence tomography (OCT), it has now become possible to detect even the smallest and most deeply located ODD. This allows for ODD detection at a much earlier developmental stage than has previously been possible and enhances the possibilities of research in underlying mechanisms. A review of the literature on ODD was conducted using the PUBMED database. The review focuses on the current knowledge regarding pathogenesis, diagnostics, clinical disease‐tracking methodologies, structure–function relationships and treatment strategies of ODD.
Geomorphic (dis)connectivity in a middle‐mountain context: Human interventions in the landscape modify catchment‐scale sediment cascades
Authors: Ondráčková Lenka , Máčka Zdeněk
Published: April 2018

The nature of geomorphic connectivity in headwater mountainous catchments influences the delivery of sediment to the downstream channel network. A reduced sediment supply from mountainous regions results in channel instability and loss of physical habitats. The aim of this study is to show how the small, mid‐mountainous Černá Opava catchment in the Czech Republic is organised in terms of sediment sources, sinks and (dis)connectivity of sediment transport. A field‐based approach combining GIS analysis and geomorphological mapping was adopted to unravel the nature of present‐day sediment delivery to the channel network. When the lithology and land use of an area are relatively uniform, the sediment delivery to the channel network varies spatially, according to slope–channel connectivity and the distribution of in‐channel sources (cut banks and incising reaches). Despite sediment supply being limited by forested slopes and a number of natural and anthropogenic in‐channel barriers, stream channels display no signs of “hungry water” conditions.
Finding the coast: Environmental governance and the characterisation of land and sea
Authors: Leyshon Catherine
Published: April 2018

In environmental governance for land and sea, the cultural is increasingly imbricated with the natural in the language of ecosystem services and the promise of integrated management. We are witnessing accelerated efforts to bring cultural and natural landscape character assessments into dialogue with other sorts of planning and governance mechanisms for coastal and marine environments. As land, sea, nature and culture are brought into closer correspondence, the coast assumes ever greater significance as a site and object of decision‐making in planning and environmental governance. In this paper, I draw on the critical analytical techniques of cultural geography to argue that coasts suffer from definitional ambiguity and conceptual insufficiency, both of which are exemplified by landscape and seascape characterisation, with specific consequences for environmental governance. I argue that we need to (1) both recognise and destabilise the unhelpful dichotomy between land and sea embodied in landscape and seascape character assessments, which have their provenance in landscape architecture; and (2) engage new language and conceptual tools that help us to rethink coasts critically. To this end, later on this paper, I briefly discuss alternative ways of conceptualising the coast, for example as a liminal space.
Liberal arts educated citizen: Experimentation, subjectification and ambiguous contours of youth citizenship
Authors: Cheng Yi'En
Published: April 2018

This paper draws on initial investigation into the relationship between liberal arts education in Asia and youth citizenship to examine the roles of the “institution” and the “student” in citizenship formation. The paper begins with a discussion of how emerging liberal arts education institutes in Asian cities incorporate notions of citizenship into their visions and curricular programmes, using selected cases of Shanghai, Hong Kong and Singapore. This is followed by a focus on the liberal arts college in Singapore to preliminarily analyse the ways in which a particular brand of citizenship is being produced and negotiated in/through campus space. The contention is that recent liberal arts initiatives in East Asia may be read as constitutive of higher education's ethico‐political experiment of youth citizenship, but one that produces ambiguous contours of a “liberal arts educated citizen.” The paper contributes to wider scholarship on citizenship education and institutional geographies of (youth) citizenship.
High G2 and S‐phase expressed 1 expression promotes acral melanoma progression and correlates with poor clinical prognosis
Authors: Xu Tianxiao , Ma Meng , Chi Zhihong , Si Lu , Sheng Xinan , Cui Chuanliang , Dai Jie , Yu Sifan , Yan Junya , Yu Huan , Wu Xiaowen , Tang Huan , Yu Jiayi , Kong Yan , Guo Jun
Published: April 2018

G2 and S‐phase expressed 1 (GTSE1) regulates cell cycle progression in human cancers. However, its significance and mechanism of action in acral melanoma (AM) remain unknown. In the present study, we found that GTSE1 expression was upregulated in advanced stage/metastatic AM tissues and metastatic cell lines, and correlated with higher stage (P = .028) and poor disease‐free survival (DFS) in patients with AM (P = .003). Cox regression assays validated GTSE1 expression to be an independent prognostic factor of DFS for patients with AM (P = .004). Ectopic expression of GTSE1 enhanced primary AM cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. Loss‐of‐function in GTSE1 attenuated metastatic AM cell proliferation and metastatic ability in vitro and in vivo. We additionally observed that inhibition of migration and invasion occurred concomitantly with a GTSE1 knockdown‐mediated increase in E‐cadherin and decreases in N‐cadherin and Slug. We further showed that integrin subunit alpha 2 (ITGA2) interacts with GTSE1 and is a downstream effector of GTSE1. Further, ITGA2 levels were positively correlated with GTSE1 expression in human AM tissues. Ectopic ITGA2 expression rescued siGTSE1‐mediated inhibition of migration and invasion, thereby restoring epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). In conclusion, GTSE1 expression promotes AM progression and correlates with clinical outcomes of patients with AM, and may represent a promising therapeutic target to suppress AM progression.
Phospholipase D2 promotes disease progression of renal cell carcinoma through the induction of angiogenin
Authors: Kandori Shuya , Kojima Takahiro , Matsuoka Taeko , Yoshino Takayuki , Sugiyama Aiko , Nakamura Eijiro , Shimazui Toru , Funakoshi Yuji , Kanaho Yasunori , Nishiyama Hiroyuki
Published: April 2018

A hallmark of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the presence of intracellular lipid droplets (LD) and it is assumed that phosphatidic acid (PA) produced by phospholipase D (PLD) plays some role in the LD formation. However, little is known about the significance of PLD in ccRCC. In this study, we examined the expression levels of PLD in ccRCC. The classical mammalian isoforms of PLD are PLD1 and PLD2, and the levels of both mRNA were higher at the primary tumor sites than in normal kidney tissues. Similarly, both PLD were significantly abundant in tumor cells as determined by analysis using immunohistochemical staining. Importantly, a higher level of PLD was significantly associated with a higher tumor stage and grade. Because PLD2 knockdown effectively suppressed the cell proliferation and invasion of ccRCC as compared with PLD1 in vitro, we examined the effect of PLD2 in vivo. Notably, shRNA‐mediated knockdown of PLD2 suppressed the growth and invasion of tumors in nude mouse xenograft models. Moreover, the higher expression of PLD2 was significantly associated with poorer prognosis in 67 patients. As for genes relating to the tumor invasion of PLD2, we found that angiogenin (ANG) was positively regulated by PLD2. In fact, the expression levels of ANG were elevated in tumor tissues as compared with normal kidney and the inhibition of ANG activity with a neutralizing antibody significantly suppressed tumor invasion. Overall, we revealed for the first time that PLD2‐produced PA promoted cell invasion through the expression of ANG in ccRCC cells.
Molecular biomarkers for uterine leiomyosarcoma and endometrial stromal sarcoma
Authors: Tsuyoshi Hideaki , Yoshida Yoshio
Published: April 2018

Uterine leiomyosarcoma (u‐LMS) and endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) are among the most frequent soft tissue sarcomas, which, in adults, lead to fatal lung metastases and patients have an extremely poor prognosis. Due to their rarity and heterogeneity, there are no suitable biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis, although some biomarker candidates have appeared. In 2017, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) Research Network's work on u‐LMS has confirmed mutations and deletions in RB1, TP53 and PTEN. In addition, whole‐exome sequencing of u‐LMS has confirmed and demonstrated frequent alterations in TP53, RB1, α‐thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X‐linked (ATRX) and mediator complex subunit 12 (MED12). MED12 is a useful biomarker to diagnose uterine‐derived LMS and tumors arising from (LM) with a relatively favorable prognosis. TP53 and ATRX mutations can be important mechanisms in the pathogenesis of u‐LMS and are correlated with a poor prognosis. In an update based on the 2014 WHO classification, low‐grade ESS is often associated with gene rearrangement bringing about the JAZF 1‐SUZ12 (formerly JAZF1‐JJAZ1) fusion gene, whereas high‐grade ESS is associated with the YWHAE‐NUTM fusion gene. Low‐grade ESS with JAZF1 rearrangement may correlate with metastasis. However, high‐grade ESS with metastasis with YWHAE rearrangement shows a relatively favorable prognosis. The genetic/molecular genetic aberrations in u‐LMS and ESS are reviewed, focusing on molecular biomarkers for these primary and metastatic tumors.
Need for empirical evidence to support use of social license in conservation: reply to Garnett et al.
Authors: Kendal Dave , M. Ford Rebecca
Published: April 2018

Article impact statement: Understanding the role of social license informs managers and policy makers of community support and acceptance of conservation actions.
Airway stenting for patients with airway stenosis because of small cell lung cancer
Authors: Oki Masahide , Saka Hideo
Published: April 2018

Background

Airway stenting has been reported to be useful for patients with malignant airway stenosis as a bridge to tumour‐specific therapy, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, as well as palliative therapy. However, its role in patients with small‐cell lung cancer (SCLC), the most aggressive lung cancer subtype, is unclear. We investigated the efficacy of airway stenting for patients with airway stenosis resulting from SCLC.

Methods

All stenting procedures were performed using both rigid and flexible bronchoscopes under general anaesthesia. Among 512 patients who underwent rigid bronchoscopy during a 9‐year period at a single centre, those who underwent airway stenting for airway stenosis because of SCLC were retrospectively reviewed.

Results

Twenty‐one SCLC patients with airway stenosis who underwent stenting were eligible for analysis. Twelve patients (57%) were chemoradiotherapy‐naïve. Supplemental oxygen was reduced after the procedure in 11 out of 12 patients (92%) who had previously required it. Fourteen patients (67%) received tumour‐specific therapy after the procedure. The median post‐procedural survival was 47 days (range, 5‐617 days). Longer survival was associated with the performance of post‐procedural tumour‐specific therapy, low serum lactate dehydrogenase levels and either tracheal or bronchial stenosis.

Conclusions

SCLC patients with airway stenting experienced longer survival when post‐procedural tumour‐specific therapy was performed, when they showed low serum lactate dehydrogenase levels, and when they had either tracheal or bronchial stenosis.
The association of nasal patency with small airway resistance in children with allergic and nonallergic rhinitis
Authors: Song Joo Young , Ha Eun Kyo , Sheen Yoon Ho , Kim Mi‐Ae , Lee Seung Won , Yoon Jung Won , Lee Seung Jin , Jung Young‐Ho , Lee Kyung Suk , Ahn Jae‐Cheul , Jee Hye Mi , Han Man Yong
Published: April 2018

Introduction

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is immunologically and morphologically related to disorders in the lower airway. We investigated the relationship between the anatomy of the intranasal cavity and small airway resistance in subjects with nonallergic rhinitis (NAR).

Methods

We enrolled 226 children who were 7 years old and participated in the Seongnam Atopy Project 2016. We evaluated nasal patency using acoustic rhinometry to measure the volume of the nasal cavity at 0‐5 cm, and measured lung function of the lower airway using an impulse oscillometry system (IOS) and spirometry. We also performed skin prick tests for 18 aero‐allergens, and measured blood total eosinophil counts (TEC) and rhinitis symptom scores for the previous month using a visual analog scale (VAS, range: 0‐10).

Results

We examined 226 children, 71 (31.7%) with AR, and 62 (27.7%) with NAR. Nasal patency in children with AR (median: 8.28 mm3, IQR: 7.07‐9.83) was lower than that of healthy children (median: 9.3 mm3, IQR: 7.69‐10.64, P = 0.011). Multivariate regression analysis showed that nasal patency was inversely associated with IOS resistance at 5 Hz after adjustment for compounding factors (B = −0.005, SE = 0.0032, P = 0.041). Analysis of NAR subjects, according to quartiles of nasal patency and quartiles of small airway resistance (Rrs5), indicated that nasal patency decreased as Rrs5 increased (linear trend: P = 0.020).

Conclusion

Nasal symptoms and TEC negatively correlated with nasal patency. Children with AR and NAR who had poor nasal patency had increased small airway resistance.
Recovery process and determinants of adverse event occurrence in bronchoscopic procedures performed under general anaesthesia
Authors: Özden Omaygenç Derya , Ünal Nermin , Edipoğlu Saadet İpek , Barca Şeker Tuğçe , Özgül Mehmet Akif , Turan Demet , Özdemir Cengiz , Karaca İbrahim Oğuz , Çetinkaya Erdoğan
Published: April 2018

Objective

Regarding the fact that rigid bronchoscopy is generally performed under general anaesthesia and this patient subgroup is remarkably morbid, encountering procedure and/or anaesthesia related complications are highly likely. Here, we aimed to assess factors influencing recovery and detect possible determinants of adverse event occurrence during these operations performed in a tertiary referral centre.

Methods

Eighty‐one consecutive ASA I‐IV patients were recruited for this investigation. In the operating theatre after induction of anaesthesia and advancement of the device, maintenance was provided with total intravenous anaesthesia. Neuromuscular blockage was invariably administered, and patients were ventilated manually. In addition to preoperative demographic and procedural characteristics, perioperative hemodynamic variables, recovery times and observed adverse events were noted.

Results

Basic demographic properties, ASA and Mallampati scores, and procedure specific variables as lesion localization, lesion and procedure type were comparable among groups assembled with reference to event occurrence. Patients who had experienced adverse event had higher heart rates. Recovery times were comparable between Event (–) and Event (+) groups. Relationship of recovery process were individually tested with all variables and only lesion type was detected to have an effect on respiration and extubation times. Among all parameters only procedural time seemed to be associated with adverse event occurrence (mins, 22.9 ± 11.9 vs 41.6 ± 28.8, P < .001).

Conclusion

Recovery times related with return of spontaneous respiration were significantly lower in procedures performed for treatment of tumoral diseases in this study and procedure length was determined to be the ultimate factor which had an impact on adverse event occurrence.
Disseminated Kaposi sarcoma with epithelioid morphology in an HIV/AIDS patient: A previously unreported variant
Authors: Basra Pukhraz , Paramo Juan , Alexis John
Published: April 2018

Kaposi sarcoma is an oligoclonal HHV‐8‐driven vascular proliferation that was first described by a Viennese dermatologist Dr Moritz Kaposi. The disease has been seen in different clinical‐epidemiological settings with a wide morphologic spectrum. We report a 52‐year‐old Caucasian man with HIV/AIDS and Kaposi sarcoma who presented with dyspnea and pleural effusion. He reported numerous tender subcutaneous nodules developing over the past few months on his chest, back and abdomen. An excisional biopsy of one of the nodules was performed. Touch preps revealed malignant cells in clusters. Microscopically, the neoplasm appeared undifferentiated with an epithelioid morphology, and involved the dermis and subcutaneous fat. Despite the medical history, Kaposi sarcoma was not considered foremost in the differential diagnosis. The malignant cells were positive for vimentin and negative for S100 protein, keratin AE1/3, CK7, CK20, napsin A, TTF‐1 and synaptophysin. Additional stains revealed positivity for HHV‐8, CD31 and D2‐40, supporting the diagnosis of Kaposi sarcoma. Kaposi sarcoma has been well described with many variants that may cause diagnostic difficulty. An epithelioid variant has not been reported and consequently, may cause misinterpretation of an otherwise well‐known entity that may become life threatening if appropriate treatment is not initiated in a timely manner.
Cutaneous presentation preceding acute myeloid leukemia with CD4+/CD56+ expression misdiagnosed as a blastic plasmocytoid dendritic cell neoplasm: A case report
Authors: Szablewski Vanessa , Costes Valérie , Bret Caroline , Dereure Olivier , Yosr Hicheri , Alame Melissa , Cacheux Valère
Published: April 2018

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) may initially present as cutaneous lesions corresponding to blasts involving the skin as the first clinical manifestation prior to blood and bone marrow (BM) infiltration. Such presentation is known as myeloid leukemia cutis (LC). Blastic plasmocytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) is an aggressive tumor derived from the precursors of plasmocytoid dendritic cells with cutaneous and BM involvement and leukemic dissemination. Myeloid LC and BPDCN may be difficult to distinguish as they share similar clinical and histopathological features, in particular AML with monocytic differentiation. Nevertheless, the correct diagnosis has to be made to determine adequate and effective therapy. Here, we report the case of a 61‐year‐old woman who presented with an AML with MLL rearrangement and CD4+/CD56+ expression presenting as LC and that was misdiagnosed as BPDCN. We emphasize that careful and exhaustive analyses should be performed to make the correct diagnosis.
Real‐time lexical comprehension in young children learning American Sign Language
Authors: MacDonald Kyle , LaMarr Todd , Corina David , Marchman Virginia A. , Fernald Anne
Published: April 2018

When children interpret spoken language in real time, linguistic information drives rapid shifts in visual attention to objects in the visual world. This language–vision interaction can provide insights into children's developing efficiency in language comprehension. But how does language influence visual attention when the linguistic signal and the visual world are both processed via the visual channel? Here, we measured eye movements during real‐time comprehension of a visual‐manual language, American Sign Language (ASL), by 29 native ASL‐learning children (16–53 mos, 16 deaf, 13 hearing) and 16 fluent deaf adult signers. All signers showed evidence of rapid, incremental language comprehension, tending to initiate an eye movement before sign offset. Deaf and hearing ASL‐learners showed similar gaze patterns, suggesting that the in‐the‐moment dynamics of eye movements during ASL processing are shaped by the constraints of processing a visual language in real time and not by differential access to auditory information in day‐to‐day life. Finally, variation in children's ASL processing was positively correlated with age and vocabulary size. Thus, despite competition for attention within a single modality, the timing and accuracy of visual fixations during ASL comprehension reflect information processing skills that are important for language acquisition regardless of language modality.
The 2018 update of the American College of Physicians glycaemic management recommendations: An invitation to continued inertia?
Authors: Morales Javier , Assumpcao‐Morales Merces
Published: April 2018

The management of type 2 diabetes has become increasingly controversial. Tight control has been advocated for years; however, there was a recent revision published by the American College of Physicians in which limitations were made to liberalize glycaemic goals for most diabetics, targeting a level between 7% and 8%. In recent years, the evolution of diabetes care has been such that more potent drugs, with low risk of hypoglycaemia when used in the absence of insulin or secretagogues, have made their way into the market place. Use of such agents has made it easier to achieve greater glycaemic control reasonably safely. Unfortunately, it appears that there has been a significant amount of inertia over the past decade, which continues to persist. Relaxing the glycaemic control targets, as recommended by the American College of Physicians, may only help to propagate this inertia.