bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Group‐Theme Recoloring for Multi‐Image Color Consistency
Authors: Nguyen R.M.H. , Price B. , Cohen S. , Brown M. S.
Published: October 2017

Modifying the colors of an image is a fundamental editing task with a wide range of methods available. Manipulating multiple images to share similar colors is more challenging, with limited tools available. Methods such as color transfer are effective in making an image share similar colors with a target image; however, color transfer is not suitable for modifying multiple images. Approaches for color consistency for photo collections give good results when the photo collection contains similar scene content, but are not applicable for general input images. To address these gaps, we propose an application framework for achieving color consistency for multi‐image input. Our framework derives a group color theme from the input images′ individual color palettes and uses this group color theme to recolor the image collection. This group‐theme recoloring provides an effective way to ensure color consistency among multiple images and naturally lends itself to the inclusion of an additional external color theme. We detail our group‐theme recoloring approach and demonstrate its effectiveness on a number of examples.
Photometric Stabilization for Fast‐forward Videos
Authors: Zhang Xuaner , Lee Joon‐Young , Sunkavalli Kalyan , Wang Zhaowen
Published: October 2017

Videos captured by consumer cameras often exhibit temporal variations in color and tone that are caused by camera auto‐adjustments like white‐balance and exposure. When such videos are sub‐sampled to play fast‐forward, as in the increasingly popular forms of timelapse and hyperlapse videos, these temporal variations are exacerbated and appear as visually disturbing high frequency flickering. Previous techniques to photometrically stabilize videos typically rely on computing dense correspondences between video frames, and use these correspondences to remove all color changes in the video sequences. However, this approach is limited in fast‐forward videos that often have large content changes and also might exhibit changes in scene illumination that should be preserved. In this work, we propose a novel photometric stabilization algorithm for fast‐forward videos that is robust to large content‐variation across frames. We compute pairwise color and tone transformations between neighboring frames and smooth these pair‐wise transformations while taking in account the possibility of scene/content variations. This allows us to eliminate high‐frequency fluctuations, while still adapting to real variations in scene characteristics. We evaluate our technique on a new dataset consisting of controlled synthetic and real videos, and demonstrate that our techniques outperforms the state‐of‐the‐art.
Albero: A Visual Analytics Approach for Probabilistic Weather Forecasting
Authors: Diehl A. , Pelorosso L. , Delrieux C. , Matković K. , Ruiz J. , Gröller M.E. , Bruckner S.
Published: October 2017

Probabilistic weather forecasts are amongst the most popular ways to quantify numerical forecast uncertainties. The analog regression method can quantify uncertainties and express them as probabilities. The method comprises the analysis of errors from a large database of past forecasts generated with a specific numerical model and observational data. Current visualization tools based on this method are essentially automated and provide limited analysis capabilities. In this paper, we propose a novel approach that breaks down the automatic process using the experience and knowledge of the users and creates a new interactive visual workflow. Our approach allows forecasters to study probabilistic forecasts, their inner analogs and observations, their associated spatial errors, and additional statistical information by means of coordinated and linked views. We designed the presented solution following a participatory methodology together with domain experts. Several meteorologists with different backgrounds validated the approach. Two case studies illustrate the capabilities of our solution. It successfully facilitates the analysis of uncertainty and systematic model biases for improved decision‐making and process‐quality measurements.
Exploring Online Learners' Interactive Dynamics by Visually Analyzing Their Time‐anchored Comments
Authors: Sung Ching‐Ying , Huang Xun‐Yi , Shen Yicong , Cherng Fu‐Yin , Lin Wen‐Chieh , Wang Hao‐Chuan
Published: October 2017

MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) are increasingly prevalent as an online educational resource open to everyone and have attracted hundreds of thousands learners enrolling these online courses. At such scale, there is potentially rich information of learners' behaviors embedded in the interactions between learners and videos that may help instructors and content producers adjust the instructions and refine the online courses. However, the lack of tools to visualize information from interactive data, including messages left to the videos at particular timestamps as well as the temporal variations of learners' online participation and perceived experience, has prevented people from gaining more insights from video‐watching logs. In this paper, we focus on extracting and visualizing useful information from time‐anchored comments that learners left to specific time points of the videos when watching them. Timestamps as a kind of metadata of messages can be useful to recover the interactive dynamics of learners occurring around the videos. Therefore, we present a visualization system to analyze and categorize time‐anchored comments based on topics and content types. Our system integrates visualization methods of temporal text data, namely ToPIN and ThemeRiver, which can help people understand the quality and quantity of online learners' feedback and their states of learning. To evaluate the proposed system, we visualized time‐anchored commenting data from two online course videos, and conducted two user studies participated by course instructors and third‐party educational evaluators. The results validate the usefulness of the approach and show how the quantitative and qualitative visualizations can be used to gain interesting insights around learners' online learning behaviors.
Doppler‐guided goal‐directed fluid therapy does not affect intestinal cell damage but increases global gastrointestinal perfusion in colorectal surgery: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Reisinger K. W. , Willigers H. M. , Jansen J. , Buurman W. A. , Von Meyenfeldt M. F. , Beets G. L. , Poeze M.
Published: October 2017

Aim

Individualized, goal‐directed fluid therapy (GDFT), based on Doppler measurements of stroke volume, has been proposed as a treatment strategy in terms of reducing complications, mortality and length of hospital stay in major bowel surgery. We studied the effect of Doppler‐guided GDFT on intestinal damage as compared with standard postoperative fluid replacement.

Method

Patients undergoing elective colorectal resection for malignancy were randomized either to standard intra‐ and postoperative fluid therapy or to standard fluid therapy with additional Doppler‐guided GDFT. The primary outcome was intestinal epithelial cell damage measured by plasma levels of intestinal fatty acid‐binding protein (I‐FABP). Global gastrointestinal perfusion was measured by gastric tonometry, expressed as regional (gastric) minus arterial CO2‐gap (Pr‐aCO2‐gap).

Results

I‐FABP levels were not significantly different between the intervention group and the control group (respectively, 440.8 (251.6) pg/ml and 522.4 (759.9) pg/ml, P = 0.67). Mean areas under the curve (AUCs) of intra‐operative Pr‐aCO2‐gaps were significantly lower in the intervention group than in the control group (P = 0.01), indicating better global gastrointestinal perfusion in the intervention group. Moreover, the mean intra‐operative Pr‐aCO2‐gap peak in the intervention group was 0.5 (1.0) kPa, which was significantly lower than the mean peak in the control group, of 1.4 (1.4) kPa (P = 0.03).

Conclusion

Doppler‐guided GDFT during and in the first hours after elective colorectal surgery for malignancy increases global gastrointestinal perfusion, as measured by Pr‐aCO2‐gap.
Oestrogen retains human periodontal ligament stem cells stemness in long‐term culture
Authors: Ou Qianmin , Wang Xiaoxiao , Wang Yanlan , Wang Yan , Lin Xuefeng
Published: October 2017

Objectives

During long‐term culture, loss of stemness is observed which greatly restricts the application of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs) in tissue regeneration. Oestrogen (E2) was found to significantly enhance the proliferation and osteogenic differentiation capacity in mesenchymal stem cells. Therefore, in this study, we investigated effects of E2 onhPDLSCs stemness in long‐term culture.

Materials and methods

Effects of E2 onhPDLSCs stemness were systematically evaluated. To characterize underlying the mechanisms, its effects onPI3K/AKTsignalling pathway were determined.

Results

Our results showed that E2 was able to enhance the proliferation, modify cell cycle, up‐regulate stemness‐related genes expression, promote osteogenic differentiation and elevate the positive rate ofCD146 andSTRO‐1 over 10 passages inhPDLSCs. Importantly,PI3K/AKTsigning pathway might play a role in these effects.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that E2 retainshPDLSCs stemness in long‐term culture, which might enhance its application in tissue engineering.
Report of 12 cases with tracheobronchial mucormycosis and a review
Authors: He Ruoxi , Hu Chengping , Tang Yongjun , Yang Huaping , Cao Liming , Niu Ruichao
Published: October 2017

Objectives

Tracheobronchial mucormycosis is a rare and invasive pulmonary mucormycosis involving the tracheobronchial tree.

Data source

At a 3500‐bed tertiary care center.

Study Selection

This was a retroactive study of 12 cases of tracheobronchial mucormycosis diagnosed in our hospital, and 48 cases that were previously reported in the English literature.

Results

Rhizopus was the predominant species of pathogen (66.7%). Primary bronchus was the most frequently involved location (38.2%), and upper lobes (51% of cases) were a predilection. Obstructive necrosis and mucosal necrosis were the most common pathological forms (40% and 34.5%, respectively). Fever (59.3%), cough (59.3%), dyspnea (40.7%) and hemoptysis (30.5%) were the most common symptoms. 51.4% patients had rales, 40% had moist rales and 28.6% had negative physical findings. Ninety‐five percent patients had immunosuppressive diseases. Diabetes mellitus (66.7%), diabetes ketoacidosis (21.7%), corticosteroid therapy (20%) and kidney insufficiency (18.3%) were the most common predisposing factors. 13.2% had neutropenia which was mostly among the non‐diabetic patients (P = .006). Endobronchial lesion of 23.2% had imaging reports with 33.9% exhibiting single mass. Pathological diagnosis of 76.7% used the transbronchial biopsy. The most frequent antifungal therapies were intravenous amphotericin B (79.7%), surgery (33.3%) and surgery combined with amphotericin B therapy (28.3%). Overall in‐hospital mortality was 52.5%, with hemoptysis (P = .017), dyspnea at presentation (P = .022) and angioinvasion (P = .03) as independent risk prognostic factors. In contrast, surgery (P = .003) was an independent protection prognostic factor.

Conclusions

Tracheobronchial mucormycosis is a rare but severe disease with high mortality because of its nonspecific clinical presentations and variable predisposing factors.
Tailored intraoperative localization of non‐palpable pulmonary lesions for thoracoscopic wedge resection using hybrid room technology
Authors: Stanzi Alessia , Mazza Federico , Lucio Francesco , Ghirardo Donatella , Grosso Maurizio , Locatelli Alessandro , Melloni Giulio
Published: October 2017

Introduction

VATS wedge resection can require conversion to thoracotomy when pulmonary lesions cannot be identified. Hybrid operating rooms (HORs) provide real‐time image acquisition capabilities allowing the intraoperative placement of markers to facilitate the removal of non‐palpable nodules during VATS.

Objectives

To present our workflow based on the alternative use of two different markers according to the location of the lung lesion and report our initial results.

Methods

All consecutive patients with non‐palpable lesions requiring VATS wedge resection underwent localization of the targets in HOR. Lesions were considered non‐palpable if they were small (<1 cm), deep (>1 cm from surface), subsolid, or located within a dystrophic area. Anesthetized patients were placed in lateral decubitus. Cone‐beam CT (CBCT) was performed, and the needle trajectory was planned using Syngo iGuide Needle Guidance. Metal hook‐wire or coil was placed, according to our workflow, close to the lesion and their position was verified by CBCT or fluoroscopy.

Results

Eleven VATS wedge resections were performed in 10 patients with 12 non‐palpable lesions. The localization was performed with seven hook‐wires and four coils in 30 minutes (range 17‐56 minutes). The median estimated total effective dose was 11.6 mSv (range 1.9‐24.7 mSv). Eleven lesions were removed by VATS, and one deep nodule required a thoracotomy. No complications were observed.

Conclusions

Our experience confirms that HOR is suitable for simultaneous localization and VATS resection of ‘difficult’ pulmonary lesions. A versatile approach, using different devices, seems advisable for the removal of targets in every clinical scenario, reducing the VATS conversion rate.
Atypical ALK‐positive Spitz tumors with 9p21 homozygous deletion: Report of two cases and review of the literature
Authors: Rand Andrew J. , Flejter Wendy L. , Dowling Christopher A. , Brooke Linda M. , Boland Genevieve M. , Kroshinsky Daniela , Rosenblum Isaac R. , Hernandez‐Perez Marier , Reimann Julie D. R.
Published: October 2017

ALK rearrangements occur in up to 10% of spitzoid melanocytic neoplasms. No reported cases have shown homozygous deletion of 9p21 (CDKN2A) or gains of 6p25 (RREB1) or 11q13 (CCND1), which have been associated with aggressive clinical behavior. Here we report 2 unique cases. Case 1 occurred in a 9‐year‐old male with a 14‐mm nodule on the anterior left thigh. Biopsy revealed an ALK‐positive Spitz tumor containing an irregular nodule of densely packed melanocytes with increased mitoses and loss of p16 immunoreactivity. FISH analysis showed homozygous deletion of 9p21 and gain of 6p25. Sentinel lymph node biopsy revealed small subcapsular foci of tumor. Case 2 occurred in a 7‐year‐old female with a 12‐mm nodule on the anterior right ankle. Biopsy revealed an ALK‐positive Spitz tumor containing an expansile nodule of pleomorphic epithelioid melanocytes with numerous mitoses and loss of p16 immunoreactivity. By FISH, the nodule showed homozygous deletion of 9p21 and gains of 6p25 and 11q13. Our cases show the transformation of tumors produced by an activating kinase fusion gene (ALK) through secondary genetic changes including loss of tumor suppressor activity (CDKN2A). Long‐term follow up will be important to further define the behavior of these unique Spitz tumors.
Leukocytoclastic vasculitis presenting in association with Coxiella burnetii (Q fever): A case report
Authors: Koh Stephen S. , Li Aldon , Cassarino David S.
Published: October 2017

Q fever caused by Coxiella burnetii usually presents asymptomatically or as an undifferentiated febrile disease and rarely as rash or other cutaneous manifestations of the disease. Here we present a 41‐year‐old male complaining of body ache, fever, nausea, malaise, bilateral knee pain and vomiting. Clinical examination revealed a notable erythematous blanching rash all over his body. Workup revealed positive serologic testing for C. burnetii and skin biopsy of the rash revealed leukocytoclastic vasculitis.
Does managing the consumption of people with severe alcohol dependence reduce harm? A comparison of participants in six Canadian managed alcohol programs with locally recruited controls
Authors: Stockwell Tim , Pauly Bernadette (Bernie) , Chow Clifton , Erickson Rebekah A. , Krysowaty Bonnie , Roemer Audra , Vallance Kate , Wettlaufer Ashley , Zhao Jinhui
Published: October 2017

Introduction and Aims

Managed alcohol programs (MAP) are intended for people with severe alcohol‐related problems and unstable housing. We investigated whether MAP participation was associated with changes in drinking patterns and related harms.

Design and Methods

One hundred and seventy‐five MAP participants from five Canadian cities (Hamilton, Ottawa, Toronto, Thunder Bay and Vancouver) and 189 same‐city controls were assessed for alcohol consumption, health, safety and harm outcomes. Length of stay in a MAP was investigated as a predictor of drinking patterns, non‐beverage alcohol consumption and related harms. Statistical controls were included for housing stability, age, gender, ethnic background and city of residence. Negative binomial regression and logistic regression models were used.

Results

Recently admitted MAP participants (≤2 months) and controls were both high consumers of alcohol, predominantly male, of similar ethnic background, similarly represented across the five cities and equally alcohol dependent (mean Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire = 29.7 and 31.4). After controlling for ethnicity, age, sex, city and housing stability, long‐term MAP residents (>2 months) drank significantly more days (+5.5) but 7.1 standard drinks fewer per drinking day than did controls over the last 30 days. Long‐term MAP residents reported significantly fewer alcohol‐related harms in the domains of health, safety, social, legal and withdrawal.

Discussion and Conclusions

Participation in a MAP was associated with more frequent drinking at lower quantities per day. Participation was associated with reduced alcohol‐related harms over the past 30 days. Future analyses will examine outcomes longitudinally through follow‐up interviews, police and health care records.
Care mapping for the medically complex child
Authors: Cady Rhonda G
Published: October 2017

This commentary is on the original article by Adams et al. on pages 1299–1306.
The dilemma of monotherapy or combination therapy in community‐acquired pneumonia
Authors: Vardakas Konstantinos Z. , Trigkidis Kyriakos K. , Apiranthiti Katerina N. , Falagas Matthew E.
Published: October 2017

Scope

To study the factors associated with mortality in hospitalized patients with community‐acquired pneumonia treated with monotherapy or combination therapy.

Methods

PubMed and Scopus were searched. Patients receiving macrolides, β‐lactams and fluoroquinolones, as monotherapy or in combination, were included. Meta‐analyses and meta‐regressions were performed.

Results

Fifty studies were included. Overall, monotherapy was not associated with higher mortality than combination (RR 1.14, 95% CI 0.99‐1.32, I2 84%). Monotherapy was associated with higher mortality than combination in North American and retrospective studies. β‐lactam monotherapy was associated with higher mortality than β‐lactam/macrolide combination in the primary (1.32, 1.12‐1.56, I2 85%) and most sensitivity analyses. There was no difference in mortality between fluoroquinolone monotherapy and β‐lactam/macrolide combination (0.98, 0.78‐1.23, I2 73%). In meta‐regressions, the moderators that could partially explain the observed statistical heterogeneity were the frequency of cancer patients (P = .03) and Pneumonia Severity Index score IV (P = .008).

Conclusion

Due to the considerable heterogeneity and inclusion of unadjusted data, it is difficult to recommend a specific antibiotic regimen over another. Specific antibiotic regimens, study design and the characteristics of the population under study seem to influence the reported outcomes.
The development of the cucullaris muscle and the branchial musculature in the Longnose Gar, (Lepisosteus osseus, Lepisosteiformes, Actinopterygii) and its implications for the evolution and development of the head/trunk interface in vertebrates
Authors: Naumann Benjamin , Warth Peter , Olsson Lennart , Konstantinidis Peter
Published: October 2017

The vertebrate head/trunk interface is the region of the body where the different developmental programs of the head and trunk come in contact. Many anatomical structures that develop in this transition zone differ from similar structures in the head or the trunk. This is best exemplified by the cucullaris/trapezius muscle, spanning the head/trunk interface by connecting the head to the pectoral girdle. The source of this muscle has been claimed to be either the unsegmented head mesoderm or the somites of the trunk. However most recent data on the development of the cucullaris muscle are derived from tetrapods and information from actinopterygian taxa is scarce. We used classical histology in combination with fluorescent whole‐mount antibody staining and micro‐computed tomography to investigate the developmental pattern of the cucullaris and the branchial muscles in a basal actinopterygian, the Longnose gar (Lepisosteus osseus). Our results show (1) that the cucullaris has been misidentified in earlier studies on its development in Lepisosteus. (2) Cucullaris development is delayed compared to other head and trunk muscles. (3) This developmental pattern of the cucullaris is similar to that reported from some tetrapod taxa. (4) That the retractor dorsalis muscle of L. osseus shows a delayed developmental pattern similar to the cucullaris. Our data are in agreement with an explanatory scenario for the cucullaris development in tetrapods, suggesting that these mechanisms are conserved throughout the Osteichthyes. Furthermore the developmental pattern of the retractor dorsalis, also spanning the head/trunk interface, seems to be controlled by similar mechanisms.
Grunt to go—Vocal coordination of group movements in redfronted lemurs
Authors: Sperber Anna Lucia , Werner Lynne M. , Kappeler Peter M. , Fichtel Claudia
Published: October 2017

To remain cohesive as a group, individuals must coordinate their movements between resources. In many species, vocalisations are used in this context. While some species have specific movement calls, others use calls which are also employed in different contexts. The use of such multicontextual calls has rarely been studied quantitatively, especially during both the pre‐departure and departure period associated with collective decisions. We thus investigated the use of close calls (“grunts”) for the coordination of collective movements in four groups of wild redfronted lemurs (Eulemur rufifrons) in Kirindy Forest, Western Madagascar. Group movements are started by an initiator, who moves away from the group and is joined by followers setting out in the same direction. We observed collective movements and recorded vocalisations from 18 focal individuals (54 movements recorded for followers, 21 for initiators). The grunt rate of both initiators and followers was higher in the pre‐departure period than in a control context (i.e., during foraging). Initiators of collective movements grunted more often than followers in the pre‐departure period as well as at individual departure. The latter difference was due to the initiators’ grunt rates increasing earlier than the followers’ and remaining at an elevated level for longer. These observations suggest that grunts serve to coordinate the departure by indicating the individual's readiness to move. The pre‐departure period, in which both initiators and followers showed an elevated grunt rate, may provide the basis for a shared decision on departure time. The difference in initiator and follower call rates suggests that grunts may have a recruitment function, but playback experiments are required to test this potential function. Overall, our study describes how multicontextual close calls can function as movement calls, with changes in call rate providing a potential feedback mechanism for the timing of group movements. This study thus contributes to a more detailed understanding of the mechanisms of group coordination and collective decision‐making.
Grooming behaviors of black‐tailed prairie dogs are influenced by flea parasitism, conspecifics, and proximity to refuge
Authors: Eads David A. , Biggins Dean E. , Eads Samantha L.
Published: October 2017

Grooming is a common animal behavior that aids in ectoparasite defense. Ectoparasites can stimulate grooming, and natural selection can also favor endogenous mechanisms that evoke periodic bouts of “programmed” grooming to dislodge or kill ectoparasites before they bite or feed. Moreover, grooming can function as a displacement or communication behavior. We compared the grooming behaviors of adult female black‐tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus) on colonies with or without flea control via pulicide dust. Roughly 91% of the prairie dogs sampled on the non‐dusted colony carried at least one flea, whereas we did not find fleas on two dusted colonies. During focal observations, prairie dogs on the non‐dusted colony groomed at higher frequencies and for longer durations than prairie dogs on the dusted colonies, lending support to the hypothesis that fleas stimulated grooming. However, the reduced amount of time spent grooming on the dusted colonies suggested that approximately 25% of grooming might be attributed to factors other than direct stimulation from ectoparasites. Non‐dusted colony prairie dogs rarely autogroomed when near each other. Dusted colony prairie dogs autogroomed for shorter durations when far from a burrow opening (refuge), suggesting a trade‐off between self‐grooming and antipredator defense. Allogrooming was detected only on the non‐dusted colony and was limited to adult females grooming young pups. Grooming appears to serve an antiparasitic function in C. ludovicianus. Antiparasitic grooming might aid in defense against fleas that transmit the plague bacterium Yersinia pestis. Plague was introduced to North America ca. 1900 and now has a strong influence on most prairie dog populations, suggesting a magnified effect of grooming on prairie dog fitness.
Moods, Stressors, and Severity of Marital Conflict: A Daily Diary Study of Low‐Income Families
Authors: McCormick Meghan P. , Hsueh JoAnn , Merrilees Christine , Chou Patricia , Mark Cummings E.
Published: October 2017

Objective

To examine links between negative moods, stressors, and daily marital conflict, and to test whether participation in a family‐strengthening program moderates those associations.

Background

Some family‐strengthening interventions have shown positive effects on low‐income married couples' relationships. Yet little is known about how these programs influence low‐income families' daily functioning.

Method

Families randomly assigned to the program participated in 10 weeks of relationship education. Control group families received no services. Thirty months later, participants reported on the severity of marital conflicts over a 15‐day period, as well as their moods and stressors.

Results

Dyadic models demonstrated that although moods like anger, anxiety, stress, and sadness were associated with more severe marital disagreements, associations were less strong for wives assigned to the program than to the control group. Although stress related to money was associated with more severe disagreements for husbands, associations were weaker for husbands assigned to the program than for those to the control group.

Conclusion

Family‐strengthening interventions may be able to reduce the tendency for negative moods and stressors to manifest in more severe marital conflict.

Implications

Programs may benefit from explicitly addressing the moods and stressors that individual husbands and wives report experiencing in their daily lives.
Potential of microRNAs as novel targets in the alleviation of pathological fear
Authors: Murphy C. P. , Singewald N.
Published: October 2017

The current treatment of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), phobias and other anxiety disorders, remains insufficient particularly in producing long‐lasting full symptom control. Dysfunctional fear processing is common in these disorders, including a deficiency in fear‐inhibitory mechanisms and impairment in the ability to discriminate between safety and danger cues. Research has aimed to elucidate brain circuitries, neurotransmitters and downstream signaling pathways important in the alleviation of aberrant fear, with a specific focus on mechanisms modulating fear memory and its behavioral expression. MicroRNAs (miRNA) as “fine tuners” of gene expression at the post‐transcriptional level have emerged as critical regulators of such mechanisms important in both, the generation and the inhibition of fear memories. Along these lines, abnormal expression of miRNAs has been associated with different fear‐related disorders. After providing an updated overview on the involvement of miRNAs in fear learning mechanisms, we summarize and discuss in particular those studies in which the implication of miRNAs in successful inhibition of fear has been explored. For a better overview, we dissociate the different modes of fear alleviation investigated in this regard and present studies in rodents demonstrating that specific miRNAs are involved in the destabilization of fear by interfering with consolidation/reconsolidation mechanisms or that they are associated with the generation of fear extinction or safety learning. Finally, we discuss the potential of miRNAs as biomarkers and novel therapeutic targets, as well as the challenges involved in applying the discovered mechanisms in the development of improved treatments of fear‐ and trauma‐related disorders.
The emerging role of mRNA methylation in normal and pathological behavior
Authors: Engel M. , Chen A.
Published: October 2017

Covalent RNA modifications were recently rediscovered as abundant RNA chemical tags. Similarly to DNA epigenetic modifications, they have been proposed as essential regulators of gene expression. Here we focus on 3 of the most abundant adenosine methylations: N6‐methyladenosine (m6A), N6,2′‐O‐dimethyladenosine (m6Am) and N1‐methyladenosine (m1A). We review the potential role of these modifications on mature mRNA in regulating gene expression within the adult brain, nervous system function and normal and pathological behavior.

Dynamic mRNA modifications, summarized as the epitranscriptome, regulate transcript maturation, translation and decay, and thus crucially determine gene expression beyond primary transcription regulation. However, the extent of this regulation in the healthy and maladapted adult brain is poorly understood. Analyzing this novel layer of gene expression control in addition to epigenetics and posttranslational regulation of proteins will be highly relevant for understanding the molecular underpinnings of behavior and psychiatric disorders.
Dynamics of soil biogeochemical gas emissions shaped by remolded aggregate sizes and carbon configurations under hydration cycles
Authors: Ebrahimi Ali , Or Dani
Published: October 2017

Changes in soil hydration status affect microbial community dynamics and shape key biogeochemical processes. Evidence suggests that local anoxic conditions may persist and support anaerobic microbial activity in soil aggregates (or in similar hot spots) long after the bulk soil becomes aerated. To facilitate systematic studies of interactions among environmental factors with biogeochemical emissions of CO2, N2O and CH4 from soil aggregates, we remolded silt soil aggregates to different sizes and incorporated carbon at different configurations (core, mixed, no addition). Assemblies of remolded soil aggregates of three sizes (18, 12, and 6 mm) and equal volumetric proportions were embedded in sand columns at four distinct layers. The water table level in each column varied periodically while obtaining measurements of soil GHG emissions for the different aggregate carbon configurations. Experimental results illustrate that methane production required prolonged inundation and highly anoxic conditions for inducing measurable fluxes. The onset of unsaturated conditions (lowering water table) resulted in a decrease in CH4 emissions while temporarily increasing N2O fluxes. Interestingly, N2O fluxes were about 80% higher form aggregates with carbon placement in center (anoxic) core compared to mixed carbon within aggregates. The fluxes of CO2 were comparable for both scenarios of carbon sources. These experimental results highlight the importance of hydration dynamics in activating different GHG production and affecting various transport mechanisms about 80% of total methane emissions during lowering water table level are attributed to physical storage (rather than production), whereas CO2 emissions (~80%) are attributed to biological activity. A biophysical model for microbial activity within soil aggregates and profiles provides a means for results interpretation and prediction of trends within natural soils under a wide range of conditions.
Temporal changes in soil C‐N‐P stoichiometry over the past 60 years across subtropical China
Authors: Yu Zaipeng , Wang Minhuang , Huang Zhiqun , Lin Teng‐Chiu , Vadeboncoeur Matthew A. , Searle Eric B. , Chen Han Y. H.
Published: October 2017

Controlled experiments have shown that global changes decouple the biogeochemical cycles of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P), resulting in shifting stoichiometry that lies at the core of ecosystem functioning. However, the response of soil stoichiometry to global changes in natural ecosystems with different soil depths, vegetation types, and climate gradients remains poorly understood. Based on 2,736 observations along soil profiles of 0–150 cm depth from 1955 to 2016, we evaluated the temporal changes in soil C‐N‐P stoichiometry across subtropical China, where soils are P‐impoverished, with diverse vegetation, soil, and parent material types and a wide range of climate gradients. We found a significant overall increase in soil total C concentration and a decrease in soil total P concentration, resulting in increasing soil C:P and N:P ratios during the past 60 years across all soil depths. Although average soil N concentration did not change, soil C:N increased in topsoil while decreasing in deeper soil. The temporal trends in soil C‐N‐P stoichiometry differed among vegetation, soil, parent material types, and spatial climate variations, with significantly increased C:P and N:P ratios for evergreen broadleaf forest and highly weathered Ultisols, and more pronounced temporal changes in soil C:N, N:P, and C:P ratios at low elevations. Our sensitivity analysis suggests that the temporal changes in soil stoichiometry resulted from elevated N deposition, rising atmosphericCO2concentration and regional warming. Our findings revealed that the responses of soil C‐N‐P and stoichiometry to long‐term global changes have occurred across the whole soil depth in subtropical China and the magnitudes of the changes in soil stoichiometry are dependent on vegetation types, soil types, and spatial climate variations.
Ecomorphology and foraging behaviour of Pacific boobies
Authors: Van Oordt Francis , Torres‐Mura Juan Carlos , Hertel Fritz
Published: October 2017

Wing size and shape, expressed as wing loading and aspect ratio respectively, together with bill morphology are parameters that can reveal differences related to the foraging ecology of seabirds. Six species of booby (Sulidae) that inhabit the Pacific are the focus of this study: four mainly pelagic species, Masked BoobySula dactylatra, Nazca BoobySula granti, Red‐footed BoobySula sulaand Brown BoobySula leucogaster, and two coastal species, Blue‐footed BoobySula nebouxiiand Peruvian BoobySula variegata. Pelagic boobies showed segregation among species in body mass and relative bill size, and they differed in wing morphology (wing loading and aspect ratio) from the coastal boobies. The coastal Peruvian and Blue‐footed Boobies are largely allopatric but overlap in northern Peru. In their area of sympatry, they showed evidence of character displacement in body size and in wing and bill morphology, which suggests that competition plays an important role in sympatry. This study improves our understanding of ecological interactions among Pacific boobies and of how selective pressures have shaped their ecomorphology and foraging behaviours.
CXXC5 expression in prostate cancer: implications for cancer progression
Authors: Benedetti Ines , De Marzo Angelo M. , Geliebter Jan , Reyes Niradiz
Published: October 2017

Identification of genes specifically deregulated in prostate adenocarcinoma may lead to discovery of new oncogenes/tumour suppressors with clinical relevance for diagnosis, prognosis and/or therapy. CXXC5 is a gene encoding a retinoid‐inducible nuclear factor, whose overexpression in breast tumours, metastatic malignant melanomas and papillary thyroid carcinoma has been recently reported. We previously found differential expression of CXXC5 transcripts in metastatic prostate cancer cell lines of both rat and human origin. However, knowledge on the expression of this gene in benign or malignant human prostate tissue is lacking. The aim of this study was to determine the mRNA and protein expression pattern of CXXC5 in human benign prostate tissue, proliferative inflammatory atrophy, high‐grade prostatic intra‐epithelial neoplasia and prostate cancer, using qPCR, chromogenic in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry. Our results showed that protein levels determined by immunohistochemistry were in agreement with transcript levels observed by chromogenic in situ hybridization. CXXC5 mRNA and protein expressions were significantly higher in prostate cancer, high‐grade prostatic intra‐epithelial neoplasia, and proliferative inflammatory atrophy, compared to benign prostate tissue. Significantly, within the same tissue specimens, CXXC5 staining was stronger in malignant acini than in matched adjacent, benign acini; immunostaining for this protein was mainly localized to the nucleus of benign epithelial cells and both the nucleus and cytoplasm of malignant epithelial cells. Our findings suggest that CXXC5 may play a role in the process of prostate carcinogenesis. Additional studies are required to determine the biological and clinical significance of CXXC5 in prostate cancer development and/or progression.
From nostalgia for the recent past and beyond: The temporal frames of recalled consumption experiences
Authors: Ryynänen Toni , Heinonen Visa
Published: October 2017

Studies of nostalgia are one of the research subfields of recalled consumption experiences. In addition to the nostalgic recall, the consumers' remembered experiences situate in other temporal frames, a theme rarely touched in the extant research. The aim of this research was to examine the differences between nostalgic and other recalled consumption experiences by identifying and analysing the characteristics of the temporal frames. The data set for this task comprised 480 descriptions of consumers' experiences involving an everyday consumer object. An interpretive approach was utilized to analyse the temporal frames. The results of the study indicate that the consumers described their memories in four temporal structures. These are the strong nostalgia from childhood, light nostalgia from youth, descriptions of recent past and memories linked to consumption practices and traditions that will be fostered in the future. The article proposes a conceptual framework describing the temporal frames of consumers' remembered consumption experiences that opens further avenues for research alongside of nostalgic recall.
Older consumers’ perceptions of functional foods and non‐edible health‐enhancing innovations
Authors: Puhakka Riikka , Valve Raisa , Sinkkonen Aki
Published: October 2017

Increasing interest in health and well‐being is likely to drive a growth in demand for products that have positive effects on health. Consumers’ acceptance of and willingness to buy functional foods has been widely studied, but there has not been research on consumers’ attitudes towards innovative non‐edible products with health effects. This study examines how older consumers perceive functional foods and novel non‐edible health‐enhancing products, how willing they are to purchase such products, and how health orientation influences their views. As an example of a ‘radical’ innovation, consumers’ acceptance of rubbing their hands in a specific soil‐based mixture to modulate the immune system is explored. The research material, 13 thematic interviews, was collected in Lahti region, Finland, in 2015. The study indicates that the older consumers’ market is not homogeneous. Based on a qualitative, in‐depth approach, the study distinguishes four consumer segments with different lay understandings of health and attitudes towards health‐enhancing products, which influence people's willingness to purchase such products. The segments are health‐seeking consumers, cautious consumers, critical consumers and natural health consumers. Various motives and barriers for using products with health claims are also identified. The case of rubbing hands in organic soil‐based mixture indicates the difficulty of predicting which consumer segment will first adopt this kind of ‘radical’ innovation. The results highlight that the credence qualities of a novel product must be communicated and advertised before entering the market while also taking into account the sensory properties of the product. ‘Radical innovations’ must be in a form that consumers can easily accept.
Factor XIII deficiency diagnosis: Challenges and tools
Authors: Karimi M. , Peyvandi F. , Naderi M. , Shapiro A.
Published: October 2017

Factor XIII deficiency (FXIIID) is a rare hereditary bleeding disorder arising from heterogeneous mutations, which can lead to life‐threatening hemorrhage. The diagnosis of FXIIID is challenging due to normal standard coagulation assays requiring specific FXIII assays for diagnosis, which is especially difficult in developing countries. This report presents an overview of FXIIID diagnosis and laboratory methods and suggests an algorithm to improve diagnostic efficiency and prevent missed or delayed FXIIID diagnosis. Assays measuring FXIII activity: The currently available assays utilized to diagnose FXIIID, including an overview of their complexity, reliability, sensitivity, and specificity, as well as mutational analysis are reviewed. The use of a FXIII inhibitor assay is described. Diagnostic tools in FXIIID: Many laboratories are not equipped with quantitative FXIII activity assays, and if available, limitations in lower activity ranges are important to consider. Clot solubility tests are not standardized, have a low sensitivity, and are therefore not recommended as routine screening test; however, they are the first screening test in almost all coagulation laboratories in developing countries. To minimize the number of patients with undiagnosed FXIIID, test quality should be improved in less well‐equipped laboratories. Common country‐specific mutations may facilitate diagnosis through targeted genetic analysis in reference laboratories in suspected cases. However, genetic analysis may not be feasible in every country and may miss spontaneous mutations. Centralized FXIII activity measurements should also be considered. An algorithm for diagnosis of FXIIID including different approaches dependent upon laboratory capability is proposed.
Partial nephrectomy for small children: Robot‐assisted versus open surgery
Authors: Ballouhey Quentin , Binet Aurélien , Clermidi Pauline , Braik Karim , Villemagne Thierry , Cros Jérôme , Lardy Hubert , Fourcade Laurent
Published: October 2017

Objectives

To compare the outcomes of robot‐assisted heminephrectomy for duplex kidney in children with those of open heminephrectomy.

Methods

The present retrospective multicentric analysis reviewed the records of robot‐assisted versus open heminephrectomy carried out for duplex kidney in children from 2007 to 2014. Demographic data, weight, surgical time, hospital stay, complications and outcome were recorded. Follow up was based on a clinical review, renal sonography and dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scintigraphy.

Results

A total of 15 patients underwent robot‐assisted heminephrectomy, and 13 patients underwent retroperitoneal heminephrectomy by open approach. All patients weighed <15 kg. The mean age at the time of surgery was 20.2 months (range 7–39 months) in the robotic group, and 18.4 months (range 6–41 months) in the open group. The mean hospital stay was statistically longer for the open surgery group (6.3 days, range 5–8 days vs 3.4 days, range 1–7 days; P < 0.001). Regarding postoperative pain control, total morphine equivalent intake was statistically greater for the open group (0.52 mg/kg/day vs 1.08 mg/kg/day; P < 0.001). No patient lost the remaining healthy moiety. There was no significant difference in terms of operating time, complication rate or renal outcomes.

Conclusions

Robot‐assisted heminephrectomy in small children seems to offer comparable renal outcomes with those of its standard open surgery counterpart. Specific technical adjustments are necessary, which typically increase the set‐up time.
Dimensions of life satisfaction: Immigrant and ethnic minorities
Authors: Kushnirovich Nonna , Sherman Arie
Published: October 2017

The article investigates the dimensions of life satisfaction of immigrant and ethnic minorities comparing them with the majority population. It constructs a theoretical framework, taking into account both pecuniary and non‐pecuniary dimensions of welfare. This study is based on the data of the Social Survey, administered by the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics. Immigrants in this study are regarded as a migrant minority and Israeli‐born Arab citizens as an ethnic minority. The results reveal significant life satisfaction gaps between the groups, which can be partially explained by the value of work per se and the value of leisure activities. Applying the Blinder‐Oaxaca decomposition technique, the study revealed that the gap in life satisfaction could be attributed both to the differences in pecuniary and non‐pecuniary resources for each group, and to different returns on resources. Policy targeted on increasing the economic possibilities of minority groups would decrease the life satisfaction gaps.
Highly‐skilled Migration from China and India to Canada and the United States
Authors: Lo Lucia , Li Wei , Yu Wan
Published: October 2017

Using publicly available data, this article aims to understand how immigration policies in Canada and the United States have affected the flow and utilization of highly‐skilled migrants from China and India. Reviewing existing literature on the policies about, and utilization of, human capital among highly‐skilled migrants, and describing the policy contexts in both receiving countries, we present detailed empirical evidence to show that in spite of their higher education attainment than the general population and the total foreign‐born population, China‐ and India‐born migrants are not immune from the brain waste phenomenon. This is especially so among the India‐born. We end the article with policy implications for both countries.
Free Movement in the European Union: National Institutions vs Common Policies?
Authors: Ruhs Martin
Published: October 2017

The current rules for “free movement” in the European Union (EU) facilitate unrestricted intra‐EU labour mobility and equal access to national welfare states for EU workers. The sustainability of this policy has recently been threatened by divisive debates between EU countries about the need to restrict welfare benefits for EU workers. This article develops a theory for why the current free movement rules might present particular challenges for certain EU member states. It focuses on the potential roles of three types of national institutions and social norms in determining national policy positions on free movement in the EU15 states: labour markets (especially their “flexibility”); welfare states (especially their “contributory basis”); and citizenship norms (focusing on the “European‐ness” of national identities). I show that these institutions and norms vary across member states and explain why we can expect these differences to contribute to divergent national policy preferences for reforming free movement.