bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving Knowledge Acquisition and Dissemination through Technological Interventions on Cognitive Biases
Authors: Stammers Sophie
Published: May 2019

Much of the philosophical debate regarding technological epistemic enhancement concerns interventions on cognitive capacities that are already performing well in order that they perform even better. However, several decades of research in cognitive science demonstrates that humans harbor systematic cognitive biases that can produce ill‐grounded, distorted, or otherwise epistemically faulty cognitions. Such cognitions can be stubborn and so may be good candidates for reduction or elimination through technological intervention. In this article, Sophie Stammers demonstrates that we can take two approaches in such an endeavor: interventions that halt and redirect the general processes that can generate biased cognitions; and targeted interventions that aim to extinguish or overwrite individual biased cognitions. Stammers argues that, because the general processes that produce biased cognitions also regularly produce accurate cognitions, an intervention that halts these processes altogether will have the result that the person undergoing the intervention will find it difficult to form new beliefs and acquire further knowledge, an epistemically undesirable outcome. Targeted interventions are therefore preferable because they enable us to eliminate some biases, while leaving otherwise useful processes (such as heuristics) intact. She concludes by demonstrating that our epistemic goals will be best achieved when targeted technological interventions are supplemented by attention to relevant structural features.
Genomic DNA methylation distinguishes subtypes of human focal cortical dysplasia
Authors: Kobow Katja , Ziemann Mark , Kaipananickal Harikrishnan , Khurana Ishant , Mühlebner Angelika , Feucht Martha , Hainfellner Johannes A. , Czech Thomas , Aronica Eleonora , Pieper Tom , Holthausen Hans , Kudernatsch Manfred , Hamer Hajo , Kasper Burkhard S. , Rössler Karl , Conti Valerio , Guerrini Renzo , Coras Roland , Blümcke Ingmar , El‐Osta Assam , Kaspi Antony
Published: May 2019

Objectives

Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is a major cause of drug‐resistant focal epilepsy in children, and the clinicopathological classification remains a challenging issue in daily practice. With the recent progress in DNA methylation–based classification of human brain tumors we examined whether genomic DNA methylation and gene expression analysis can be used to also distinguish human FCD subtypes.

Methods

DNA methylomes and transcriptomes were generated from massive parallel sequencing in 15 surgical FCD specimens, matched with 5 epilepsy and 6 nonepilepsy controls.

Results

Differential hierarchical cluster analysis of DNA methylation distinguished major FCD subtypes (ie, Ia, IIa, and IIb) from patients with temporal lobe epilepsy patients and nonepileptic controls. Targeted panel sequencing identified a novel likely pathogenic variant in DEPDC5 in a patient with FCD type IIa. However, no enrichment of differential DNA methylation or gene expression was observed in mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway–related genes.

Significance

Our studies extend the evidence for disease‐specific methylation signatures toward focal epilepsies in favor of an integrated clinicopathologic and molecular classification system of FCD subtypes incorporating genomic methylation.
The sound of a blood meal: Acoustic ecology of frog‐biting midges (Corethrella) in lowland Pacific Costa Rica
Authors: Virgo Jonas , Ruppert Alexander , Lampert Kathrin P. , Grafe T. Ulmar , Eltz Thomas
Published: May 2019

Animal communication systems are often exploited by eavesdropping antagonists, especially predators and ectoparasites. Female frog‐biting midges (Diptera: Corethrellidae) are known to use male anuran advertisement calls to locate their blood hosts, frogs. Here, we use acoustic midge traps broadcasting synthetic and recorded calls to identify those frog call parameters that affect midge attraction. At our study site in Pacific lowland Costa Rica, we found that overall midge attraction was influenced by both spectral and temporal acoustic parameters. Low dominant frequencies (below 1 kHz) and short pulse durations (between 125 and 500 ms) attracted the highest numbers of midges in tests with synthetic sinusoidal pure tones. These preferences partially explained the relative attractiveness of the advertisement calls of ten local frog species. The advertisement calls of the common and widespread Giant Bullfrog, Leptodactylus savagei (Anura: Leptodactylidae), attracted by far the largest number of midges, suggesting that this frog species might be a key resource for frog‐biting midges in Costa Rica. Although we found that calls of different frog species attracted different midge species/morphospecies in statistically different proportions, acoustic niche differentiation among midge species appeared to be moderate, suggesting either a limited degree of host specialization or the use of additional short‐range, that is, chemical, host recognition cues.
Magnetic resonance imaging characterisation of lesions within the collateral ligaments of the distal interphalangeal joint – 28 cases
Authors: Beasley B. , Selberg K. , Giguère S. , Allen K.
Published: May 2019

Collateral ligament (CL) desmopathy of the distal interphalangeal joint (DIPJ) is a known injury that is not uncommonly diagnosed in horses presenting for lameness isolated to the foot. Ultrasonography and radiography are often used as primary diagnostic tests with mixed success. Medical records of horses undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the foot between November 2007 and October 2015 were reviewed. Horses were included only if the MRI followed an examination that localised a component of the lameness to the foot, and the MRI study indicated that CL desmopathy of the DIPJ was the most important finding. Thirty‐four limbs from 28 horses were included and 48 CL desmopathies were identified. Of the 48; 27 were distal to the coronary band, 15 were proximal to the coronary band, five lesions involved the entire ligament, and one CL had proximal and distal focal lesions. Twenty‐four of the 28 horses were able to return to work. There was no significant association between severity or lesion location and time to return to work. This study confirms that a high proportion of CL lesions of the DIPJ are located distal to the coronary band and require MRI for an accurate diagnosis that would otherwise be missed by ultrasound examination alone.
Changing Families: A Preventive Intervention Perspective
Authors: Cowan Carolyn Pape , Cowan Philip A.
Published: May 2019

In this review of preventive interventions to promote healthy families, we begin with an account of how sociology and psychology have helped shape conflicting interpretations of changes in families over the past 70 years as evidence of either family decline or positive diversity. We argue that in either case, well‐validated programs are needed to strengthen families across the economic spectrum. Most parenting interventions have been designed for, and attended by, mothers. We present an empirically based family risk and protection model to provide a rationale for interventions that also include fathers and focus on the coparenting relationship. Using an example of 7 clinical trials of a couples group intervention for parents from diverse economic and social backgrounds, we show that including fathers and addressing the coparental relationship as well as parenting contributes to healthier outcomes for mothers, fathers, and children. Finally, we discuss implications for the future of family research and policy.
Loan Type and Debt Delinquency among Millennial and Non‐Millennial Households
Authors: Lee Jae Min , Lee Yoon G. , Kim Sungsook
Published: May 2019

This study used the 2016 Survey of Consumer Finances (SCF) and focused on whether holding different types of loans influenced debt delinquency among Millennial and non‐Millennial households. When the total sample was analyzed, there was a difference in debt delinquency between the two groups, and holding different types of loans was associated with debt delinquency. In subsample models, the logistic results showed that while auto loans’ effect on debt delinquency was negative, student loans and other installment loans’ effects on debt delinquency were positive for both groups. In addition, Millennials who held housing loans were less likely to be delinquent on debt payments overall. These findings have implications for debt management education and attention from policymakers in assisting households with a debt burden.
The Probabilistic Minisum Flow Interception Problem: Minimizing the Expected Travel Distance until Intercept under Probabilistic Interception
Authors: Tanaka Ken‐ichi , Kurita Osamu
Published: May 2019

We develop a variant of the flow interception problem (FIP) in which it is more desirable for travelers to be intercepted as early as possible in their trips. In addition, we consider flows being intercepted probabilistically instead of the deterministic view of coverage assumed in the FIP literature. We call the proposed model the probabilistic minisum FIP (PMFIP); it involves minimizing the sum of the expected distance that each flow travels until intercepted at a facility among placed facilities. This extension allows us to evaluate the effect of facility location under any given value of the interception probability and to apply the model to a variety of situations. We apply the proposed model to an example network by assuming a hypothetical situation in which people gather at a stadium from various nodes on the network, and receive some goods or services on the way to the stadium. We analyze optimal solutions obtained by varying the number of facilities and interception probability. It is shown that the expected travel distance until intercept is greatly reduced by means of a few optimally located facilities under a moderate interception probability.
‘I’m a migrant, but I’m the right sort of migrant’: Hegemonic masculinity, whiteness, and intersectional privilege and (dis)advantage in migratory academic careers
Authors: Sang Katherine J.C. , Calvard Thomas
Published: May 2019

Comparatively little attention has been paid to the international careers of many academics, with gender and ethnicity frequently ignored in discussions of migrant academics. Through the lenses of intersectionality, hegemonic masculinity and whiteness, this study explores experiences of migrant academics in Australia and New Zealand, understanding how gender and ethnicity intersect to shape experiences of relative privilege and disadvantage. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 30 academics at various stages of their careers in both Australia and New Zealand. The data reveals the complex patterns of (dis)advantage which characterize the experiences of migrant academics. While some migrant academics may experience disadvantage, for Anglo white male senior academics, considerable privilege is (re)produced through the migration experience. As such, this article suggests migratory experiences can be better understood through the intersectionality of hegemonic masculinity and whiteness to reveal how privilege is maintained.
Impact of systemic diseases and tooth‐based factors on outcome of root canal treatment
Authors: Laukkanen E. , Vehkalahti M. M. , Kotiranta A. K.
Published: May 2019

Aim

To investigate the impact of systemic health and tooth‐based factors on the outcome of root canal treatment (RCT).

Methodology

The target population consisted of all patients receiving RCT at the Helsinki University Clinic in 2008–2011. The inclusion criteria were diagnosable pre‐ and postoperative (minimum 6 months after root filling) radiographs and adequate patient records of RCT available. Teeth extracted for nonendodontic reasons were excluded. Patient documents including digital radiographs of 640 permanent teeth in 504 patients were scrutinized. The radiographs were assessed by two examiners under standardized conditions. The Periapical Index was used to define radiographically ‘healthy’ and ‘healing’ cases as successful. Data included systemic health, technical quality of root fillings, type of restoration and level of alveolar bone loss. Statistical evaluation of differences between groups included chi‐squared tests and Fisher's exact tests. Logistic regression modelling utilizing robust standard errors to allow for clustering within patients was applied to analyse factors related to the outcome of RCT.

Results

The mean age of patients was 51.5 years (standard deviation (SD) 15.0; range 10–83), and 49% were female. In 41 cases (6%), the patient had diabetes mellitus (DM), in 132 (21%) cardiovascular disease and in 284 (44%) no systemic disease. The follow‐up period was 6–71 months (mean 22.7). In the primary analyses, the success rate of RCT was 73.2% in DM patients and 85.6% in patients with no systemic disease (P = 0.043); other systemic diseases had no impact on success. In the multifactorial analysis, the impact of DM became nonsignificant and RCTs were more likely to succeed in the absence of apical periodontitis (AP; odds ratio (OR) = 4.4; P < 0.001), in teeth with optimal root filling quality (OR = 2.5; P < 0.001), in teeth restored with indirect restorations (OR = 3.7; P = 0.002) and in teeth with none/mild alveolar bone loss (OR = 2.4; P = 0.003).

Conclusions

DM diminished the success of RCT, especially in teeth with apical periodontitis. However, tooth‐based factors had a more profound impact on the outcome of RCT. This should be considered in clinical decision‐making and in assessment of RCT prognosis.
Enormous gill chambers of deep‐sea coffinfishes (Lophiiformes: Chaunacidae) support unique ventilatory specialisations such as breath holding and extreme inflation
Authors: Long Nicholas P. , Farina Stacy C.
Published: May 2019

Deep sea habitats tend to favor species with low energetic demands, and therefore we predict that deep sea fishes will have behavioral and morphological specializations of the gill ventilatory system to reduce the energetic cost of pumping water across the gills. However, it is difficult to study functional morphology of deep sea fishes due the lack of ability to conduct laboratory experiments with living fishes.

For this study, we combined analysis of publicly available video recorded by remote‐operated vehicles (ROV) with detailed anatomical study of museum specimens to document the functional morphology of the massive gill chambers that are observed in coffinfishes (Lophiiformes: Chaunacidae). Chaunacids, like other lophiiforms, exhibit highly specialised ventilatory anatomy such as an enlarged branchiostegal apparatus and restricted gill openings, but videos show them using this anatomy in a new and unusual way. We observed eight individuals ventilating extremely slowly at rates of 0.03–0.004 Hz, during which the gill chambers were full yet we saw no inhalation or exhalation for periods of 26 to 245 s. This holding breath behaviour has not been observed in any other fishes and is probably highly energetically efficient. This inflation of the gill chambers also increases body volume by up to 30%, making them more globose and difficult to be taken as prey, much like stomach inflation in pufferfishes (Tetraodontidae). We also used micro computed‐tomography (CT) scans to document the enormous branchiostegal rays and associated muscles that support this unique behaviour.
Can structural enrichment reduce predation mortality and increase recaptures of hatchery‐reared Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. fry released into the wild?
Authors: Solås Martine R. , Skoglund Helge , Salvanes Anne G. V.
Published: May 2019

Captive‐reared fish often have poor survival in the wild and may fail to boost threatened populations. Enrichment during the nursery period can in some circumstances generate a broader behavioural repertoire than conventional hatchery production. Yet, we do not know if enrichment promotes survival after release into the wild. We conducted a field experiment during three field seasons using age 0+ year Atlantic salmon Salmo salar to investigate if enrichment during rearing, in the form of structural complexity (shelters), reduced immediate (within 2 days after release) predation mortality by piscine predators (brown trout Salmo trutta) and if such rearing environments improved long‐term (2–3 months after release) post‐release survival. In addition, we investigated if predation mortality of released fry was size‐selective. S. salar fry were reared in a structurally enriched environment or in a conventional rearing environment and given otolith marks using alizarin during the egg stage to distinguish between enriched and conventionally‐reared fry. The outcome from the field experiments showed that structural enrichment did not consistently reduce immediate predation mortality and it did not improve, or had a negative effect on, the recapture rate of fry from the river 2–3 months after release. The data also showed that enriched rearing tended to reduce growth. Additionally, we found that S. trutta predators fed on small individuals of the released fry. Overall, the data suggest that structural enrichment alone is not sufficient to improve long‐term survival of hatchery‐reared fish after release and that other factors might affect post‐release survival.
Antimicrobial resistance, virulence, and molecular characterization of aquatic, clinical, and environmental Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolated from Ningbo, China
Authors: Li Nuo , Zhou Xiujuan , Song Qifa , Zhou Min , Shi Xianming
Published: May 2019

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the leading cause of illness associated with seafood consumption globally. In this study, we examined 136 V. parahaemolyticus isolates from Ningbo, China for antimicrobial resistance phenotypes, genotypes, virulence factor genes (tdh, trh, T3SS) and molecular typing. Carbenicillin resistance (100.0%) was the most prevalent in all isolates followed by ampicillin with 46.1% in aquatic, 9.2% in clinical, and 83.3% in environmental isolates. Trimethoprim‐sulfamethoxazole (7.7%), streptomycin (3.1%), tetracycline (3.1%), and nalidixic acid (1.6%) resistance were only present in aquatic isolates. The virulence factor genes tdh (83.1%) and trh (10.8%) were found in clinical isolates while tdh was carried by aquatic (6.2%) and environmental (83.3%) isolates. T3SS2α genes were present in tdh
+/trh− isolates and T3SS2β genes were present only in trh
+ isolates. Molecular typing by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus‐polymerase chain reaction classified our 136 isolates into nine clusters at a 0.66 similarity and aquatic isolates showed high degrees of genetic diversity. Our findings characterized the risk factors among aquatic, clinical, and environmental V. parahaemolyticus isolates from Ningbo, China.

Practical Applications

The threat of pathogenic Vibrio parahaemolyticus to seafood safety is more serious than ever before as antimicrobial resistance has emerged and developed globally in the past decades. This study emphasizes the antimicrobial susceptibility, virulence, and molecular characterization of aquatic, clinical, and environmental V. parahaemolyticus isolated in Ningbo, which will be helpful for improving seafood safety management.
Bacillomycin D lipopeptides from marine Bacillus megaterium as antimicrobial and preservative agents for large yellow croaker, Larimichthys crocea
Authors: Wang Mengjuan , Ma Yunxiao , Mou Haijin , Kong Qing
Published: May 2019

Large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) has rich protein content and high economic value, but has a short shelf life. Lipopeptides extracted from marine Bacillus megaterium were applied to the preservation of large yellow croaker and effectively increased the shelf life of large yellow croaker. The results showed that the total viable count (the total number of colonies), total volatile base nitrogen, texture and other indicators in the treatment groups were better than control and the difference was significant (p < .05). Furthermore, bacillomycin D with 14 and 15 carbon atoms in β‐amino fatty acids was separated from the lipopeptides and it was used to study its inhibitory effect on Aspergillus flavus, and the minimum inhibitory concentration and minimal fungicidal concentration were 50 μg/mL and 200 μg/mL, respectively. Bacillomycin D significantly inhibited the spores germination, mycelial growth, and sporulation of A. flavus. The results of scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy showed that the morphology of A. flavus was changed, and cell contents was leak after treatment with bacillomycin D.

Practical applications

Marine B. megaterium suspension and lipopeptides extracted from the strain of marine B. megaterium were applied to the preservation of large yellow croaker, and it laid the foundation for studying more potential effects of lipopeptides. Furthermore, in this study, bacillomycin D was separated from lipopeptide and it was identified 14 and 15 carbon atoms in β‐amino fatty acids. It was well‐stabilized and could later be used as preservative for large yellow croaker. The preliminary application of the preservation of large yellow croaker had proved that lipopeptides have a good development and application prospect as a new type of aquatic preservative.
Training Clinicians with Communication Skills Needed to Match Medical Treatments to Patient Values
Authors: Back Anthony L. , Fromme Erik K. , Meier Diane E.
Published: May 2019

Most clinicians currently in practice did not receive the evidence‐based communication skills training they need to provide high‐quality communication for seriously ill older adults and their families. Clinician communication skills are a critical factor in achieving a patient and family understanding of their illness that enables them to share in decision making that will result in medical treatments and social supports that are aligned with their goals and values. Research demonstrates that existing clinician competence in communication skills is extremely variable, that most clinicians need specific communication training to have an adequate level of skill, and that evidence‐based training is efficacious. A conservative estimate suggests that more than 219,000 physicians and advance practice providers (APPs) (50% of physicians in high‐contact subspecialties and 25% of all APPs) could benefit from training. Combining evidence‐based clinician training with health system workflow redesign would likely maximize the impact of this training. We conclude with recommendations designed to address gaps in communication skills through effective training and health system changes in the service of enabling all patients with serious illness and their families to receive care aligned with their personal priorities. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S435–S441, 2019.
Identifying Palliative Care Champions to Promote High‐Quality Care to Those with Serious Illness
Authors: Kamal Arif H. , Bowman Brynn , Ritchie Christine S.
Published: May 2019

Leading medical authorities advocate for routine integration of palliative care for all major causes of death in the United States. With rapid growth and acceptance, the field of palliative care is tasked with addressing a compelling question of its time: “Who will deliver timely, evidence‐based palliative care to all who should benefit?”

The current number of palliative care specialists will not suffice to meet the needs of persons with serious illness. In 2010, initial estimates quantified the shortage at 6000 to 18 000 additional palliative care physicians needed to fully staff existing programs. Unfortunately, the predicted number of specialty physicians in 2030 will likely not be larger than the workforce in existence today. These findings result in a physician‐to‐serious‐illness‐person ratio of about 1:28 000 in 2030.1

To address the workforce shortage, stronger alignment is needed between intensity of patient needs and provision of palliative care services. Such an alignment better harnesses the talents of those in a position to deliver core palliative care services (such as discussing goals of care with patients or managing their symptoms) while engaging palliative care specialists to address more complex issues.

We introduce the concept of “Palliative Care Champions,” who sit at the nexus between specialty palliative care and the larger clinical workforce. Acknowledging that the needs of most patients can be met by clinicians who have received basic palliative care training, and that specialty palliative care is not always available for those with more complex needs, there exists an important opportunity for those with additional interest to scale training and quality improvement to fill this void. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S461–S467, 2019.
Connecting Social, Clinical, and Home Care Services for Persons with Serious Illness in the Community
Authors: Golden Robyn L. , Emery‐Tiburcio Erin E. , Post Sharon , Ewald Bonnie , Newman Michelle
Published: May 2019

The medical, psychological, cognitive, and social needs of older adults with serious illness are best met by coordinated and team‐based services and support. These services are best provided in a seamless care model anchored by integrated biopsychosocial assessments focused on what matters to older adults and their social determinants of health; individualized care plans with shared goals; care provision and management; and quality measurement with continuous improvement. This model requires (1) racially and ethnically diverse healthcare professionals, including mental health and direct service workers, with training in aging and team collaboration; (2) an integrated network of community‐based organizations (CBOs) providing in‐home services; (3) an electronic communication platform that spans the system of providers and organizations with skilled technology staff; and (4) payment models that incentivize team‐based care across the continuum of services, including CBOs, with adequate salaries and academic loan forgiveness to recruit and retain high‐quality team members. Assuring that this model is effective requires ongoing quality assurance measures that include not only quality of care and utilization data to demonstrate cost offsets of service integration, but also quality of life for both the older adults and the family members caring for them. Although this may seem a lofty ideal in comparison with our current fragmented system, we review models that provide the key elements effectively and cost efficiently. We then propose an Essential Care Model that defines best practice in meeting the needs of older adults with serious illness and their families. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S412–S418, 2019.
Consensus‐Based Recommendations for an Adequate Workforce to Care for People with Serious Illness
Authors: Spetz Joanne , Dudley Nancy
Published: May 2019

The lack of an adequately prepared workforce is a critical barrier to delivering high‐quality community‐based care for individuals living with serious illness. This article presents 16 consensus‐based recommendations to improve the capacity of the workforce in this area within the next 5 years, focusing on older adults. The recommendations were developed at a summit of 40 national leaders from practice, payment, labor, advocacy, and research arenas. The consensus‐based recommendations include specific steps for geriatrics leaders including curriculum reforms to increase skills in the care of older and seriously ill populations, expanding experiential learning opportunities for students to increase interest in careers in geriatric and palliative care, developing and improving curriculum in interprofessional and cultural competency skills, preparing clinicians to support incorporation of home care aides and family caregivers as healthcare team members, development of skills to support shared decision making with patients, and requiring specific skills related to serious illness care in licensing, accreditation, and continuing education regulations. Together, these recommendations put forward a charge to healthcare leaders to act to ensure a workforce that will optimize support for those with serious illness living in the community. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S392–S399, 2019.
Building a Culturally Competent Workforce to Care for Diverse Older Adults: Scope of the Problem and Potential Solutions
Authors: Periyakoil Vyjeyanthi S.
Published: May 2019

The population of minority older adults is going to explode over the next four decades. Older adults from racial and ethnic minorities face persistent and pervasive health disparities. Health disparities exert a huge fiscal burden on the nation. The national financial cost of health disparities for the years 2002 to 2006 was an estimated 1.23 trillion dollars. As the aging population becomes more diverse, these disparity‐related costs are expected to increase. Older adults from racial and ethnic minorities face multiple barriers to accessing health and support services that will help them to age and die in place in the community. Patient‐related barriers include limited English proficiency, low health literacy, varying levels of acculturation, biases about Western healthcare and medications, mistrust of clinicians, inability to navigate the complex healthcare system, and cultural beliefs and taboos. Clinician‐related barriers include ageism (ie, discrimination against older people due to negative and inaccurate stereotypes), conscious and unconscious bias, being deeply entrenched in the culture of biomedicine, and the lack of training in the principles and practice of providing culturally respectful care. Health system–related barriers include lack of culturally tailored services, including access to medical interpreters. We conclude by identifying three specific strategies to facilitate culturally humble and respectful care for diverse patients. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:S423–S432, 2019.
Evaluation of platelet‐rich plasma vs intralesional steroid in treatment of alopecia areata
Authors: Albalat Waleed , Ebrahim Howyda M.
Published: May 2019

Background

Alopecia areata (AA) is nonscarring patchy area of hair loss. Platelets rich plasma (PRP) promotes development of new hair follicles. Dermoscopy is a diagnostic tool that helps in evaluation of skin microstructures which are not visible to naked eye.

Aim

To evaluate safety and efficacy of (PRP) vs intralesional corticosteroid (ILCs) in treatment of AA.

Patients and methods

This study was conducted on 80 patients of both sexes who had AA. Patients were classified into Group I treated by ILCs and group II treated by (PRP). Results were assessed by dermoscopic evaluation and by hair re‐growth score (RGS) at (baseline), 2, 4, 6, 8, and 12 weeks. Patients were followed up for 6 months.

Results

There was greater hair re‐growth after treatment in both groups. In group I, (26) patients (65%) showed improvement >70% compared to 29 patients (72.5%) in group II. There was significant re‐growth of pigmented hair and decrease in dystrophic hair (P < 0.001) by dermoscopic evaluation in both groups. The difference between both groups was insignificant (P = 0.57). At follow‐up, two (5%) patients in group II had relapse compared to 10 (25%) patients in group I.

Conclusion

Platelets rich plasma is safe and promising therapeutic option in AA.
The risk of moderate‐to‐severe post‐operative pain following the placement of dental implants
Authors: Wang Meijie , Li Yiyuan , Li Junying , Fan Linli , Yu Haiyang
Published: May 2019

In recent years, the implant‐supported dentures have risen rapidly, and thus, more attention was paid to post‐operative pain, following dental implantation. To explore risk factors and establish as well as validate a risk prediction model for moderate‐to‐severe post‐operative pain following dental implantation. A observational study of 352 patients with 563 implants was carried out. The following candidate predictors were collected: age, gender, pain sensitivity, anxiety, pain expectation, operator experience, position, length and number of placed implants, duration of surgery and surgery procedures. The outcome was the presence of moderate‐to‐severe post‐operative pain within the 24 hours post‐surgery. Multivariate logistic regression in combination with bootstrapping techniques was used to explore independent risk factors and establish a prediction model. The mean pain intensity score was 4.21 within 24 hours post‐operatively, while the incidence of moderate‐to‐severe pain was 61.9%. Independent risk factors of moderate‐to‐severe post‐operative pain were flap surgery, surgical template, the interaction between anxiety state and pain sensitivity, the interaction between pain sensitivity and pain expectation and the interaction between implant length and immediate implant. The area under the receiver operator characteristic curve was 0.72. The model's sensitivity was 75.7%, and the specificity was 64.2%. The model reliability was good (Nagelkerke's R2 0.226). The risk factors and the prediction model (needs further improvement) can help dentists to identify patients at increased risk of moderate‐to‐severe post‐operative pain following dental implantation.
The Up‐ and Downside of Dual Identity: Stereotype Threat and Minority Performance
Authors: Baysu Gülseli , Phalet Karen
Published: May 2019

Social identity and acculturation research mostly documents benefits of dual identity for immigrant minorities’ adaptation. Drawing on stereotype threat research, we argue that dual identity can be (1) beneficial in low‐threat contexts and (2) costly in high‐threat contexts. Two field experiments in schools induced stereotype threat by randomly assigning minority students (Study 1: N = 174, Study 2: N = 735) to stereotype threat (making ethnicity salient) versus control conditions before taking a test. We assessed dual identity as dual commitments to (combined) minority and majority cultures. In support of the predicted benefits of dual identity in low‐threat contexts, dual identifiers outperformed and had higher self‐esteem than did otherwise‐identified students in the control condition, while the advantage of dual identity disappeared in the threat condition (Study 1). In support of the predicted costs of a dual identity in high‐threat contexts, dual identifiers reported more anxiety (Study 1) and performed worse (Study 2) in the threat condition compared to the control condition. These experimental findings suggest that dual identities may either help or hinder minority performance depending on stereotype threat in academic contexts.
On the distributional effects of commodity taxation
Authors: Carbonell‐Nicolau Oriol
Published: May 2019

A commodity tax system is inequality reducing if the after‐tax distribution of income Lorenz dominates the before‐tax distribution of income, regardless of initial conditions. This paper identifies necessary and sufficient conditions under which an ad valorem commodity tax system is inequality reducing, shedding light on the role of taxing luxury—as opposed to necessary—commodities in the equalization of after‐tax incomes.
Perceived barriers related to testing, management and treatment of HCV infection among physicians prescribing opioid agonist therapy: The C‐SCOPE Study
Authors: Litwin Alain H. , Drolet Martine , Nwankwo Chizoba , Torrens Martha , Kastelic Andrej , Walcher Stephan , Somaini Lorenzo , Mulvihill Emily , Ertl Jochen , Grebely Jason
Published: May 2019

The aim of this analysis was to evaluate perceived barriers related to HCV testing, management and treatment among physicians practicing in clinics offering opioid agonist treatment (OAT). C‐SCOPE was a study consisting of a self‐administered survey among physicians practicing at clinics providing OAT in Australia, Canada, Europe and the United States between April and May 2017. A 5‐point Likert scale (1 = not a barrier, 3 = moderate barrier, 5 = extreme barrier) was used to measure responses to perceived barriers for HCV testing, evaluation and treatment across the domains of the health system, clinic and patient. Among the 203 physicians enrolled (40% USA, 45% Europe, 14% Australia/Canada), 21% were addiction medicine specialists, 29% psychiatrists and 69% were metro/urban. OAT physicians in this study reported poor access to on‐site venepuncture (35%), point‐of‐care HCV testing (16%), and noninvasive liver disease assessment (25%). Only 30% of OAT physicians reported personally treating HCV infection. Major perceived health system barriers to HCV management included the lack of funding for noninvasive liver disease testing, long wait times to see an HCV specialist, lack of funding for new HCV therapies, and reimbursement restrictions based on drug/alcohol use. Major perceived clinic barriers included the lack of peer support programmes and/or HCV case managers to facilitate linkage to care, the need to refer people off‐site for noninvasive liver disease staging, the lack of support for on‐site phlebotomy and the lack of on‐site delivery of HCV therapy. This study highlights several important modifiable barriers to enhance HCV testing, evaluation and treatment among PWID attending OAT clinics.
Conflict between Formal and Informal Rules in Policy Coordination: The Case of Child Homelessness in Mexico City
Authors: Chudnovsky Mariana , Espinosa Trujillo Natalia
Published: May 2019

Several studies in Latin America show that the failure of many social policies is related to a lack of policy coordination; this article posits that it is about not only a lack or not of coordination but also how formal and informal coordination mechanisms interact and are in conflict. The article shows that the creation of a new law in Mexico City aimed at organizing existing child homelessness policies not only failed to generate coordination between the three agencies in charge of the problem but also destroyed the informal coordination network that they had managed to build during previous years of shared work. The formal solution conflicted with preexisting practices for improving coordination and has worsened the problem by ignoring preexisting informal networks of agencies already in place. In countries where formal rules are weak, such as most Latin American nations, this aspect is a key factor to consider when designing policy solutions.
Constituent Communication Through Telephone Town Halls: A Field Experiment Involving Members of Congress
Authors: Abernathy Claire , Esterling Kevin M. , Freebourn Justin , Kennedy Ryan , Minozzi William , Neblo Michael A. , Solis Jonathan A.
Published: May 2019

Telephone town halls are an increasingly prevalent method for members of Congress (MCs) to communicate with constituents, even while garnering popular criticism for failing to facilitate engagement and accountability. Yet scholars have paid little attention to the events and their effects, and even less to how they might be improved. To remedy this problem, we report on a field experiment in which four MCs joined their constituents in telephone town halls. Overall, participation in an event improved constituents’ evaluations of the format in general, and of the MC in particular. Furthermore, we studied how these events might be improved by evaluating a reform—a single‐topic focus with predistributed briefing materials—designed to enhance deliberative interaction. This reform enhanced effects on opinions of the format without significantly altering effects on attitudes toward the MC. Our results suggest that telephone town halls hold promise for constituents, officeholders, and democratic practice.
CspA regulation of Staphylococcus aureus carotenoid levels and σB activity is controlled by YjbH and Spx
Authors: Donegan Niles P. , Manna Adhar C. , Tseng Ching Wen , Liu George Y. , Cheung Ambrose L.
Published: May 2019

Staphyloxanthin, a carotenoid in S. aureus, is a powerful antioxidant against oxidative stresses. The crtOPQMN operon driving pigment synthesis is under the control of σB. CspA, a cold shock protein, is known to control σB activity. To ascertain genes that regulate cspA, we screened a transposon library that exhibited reduced cspA expression and pigmentation. We found that the adaptor protein YjbH activates cspA expression. Spx, the redox‐sensitive transcriptional regulator and a proteolytic target for YjbH and ClpXP, complexes with αCTD of RNAP prior to binding the cspA promoter to repress cspA activity. Increased cspA expression in trans in the inactive spx C10A mutant of JE2 did not enhance pigment production while it did in JE2, suggesting that cspA is downstream to Spx in pigmentation control. As the staphyloxanthin pigment is critical to S. aureus survival in human hosts, we demonstrated that the cspA and yjbH mutants survived less well than the parent in whole blood killing assay. Collectively, our studies suggest a pathway wherein YjbH and ClpXP proteolytically cleave Spx, a repressor of cspA transcription, to affect σB‐dependent carotenoid expression, thus providing a critical link between intracellular redox sensing by Spx and carotenoid production to improve S. aureus survival during infections.
Survival factor 1 contributes to the oxidative stress response and is required for full virulence of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Authors: Yu Yang , Du Jiao , Wang Yabo , Zhang Mengyao , Huang Zhiqiang , Cai Junsong , Fang Anfei , Yang Yuheng , Qing Ling , Bi Chaowei , Cheng Jiasen
Published: May 2019

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum is a devastating necrotrophic fungal pathogen that infects over 400 species of plants worldwide. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) modulations are critical for the pathogenic development of S. sclerotiorum. The fungus applies enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidants to cope with the oxidative stress during the infection processes. Survival factor 1 was identified and characterized to promote survival under conditions of oxidative stress in Saccharomyes cerevisiae. In this research, a gene named SsSvf1 was predicted to encode a survival factor 1 homologue in S. sclerotiorum. SsSvf1 transcripts showed high expression levels in hyphae under oxidative stress. Silencing of SsSvf1 resulted in increased sensitivity to oxidative stress in culture and increased levels of intracellular ROS. Transcripts of SsSvf1 showed a dramatic increase during the initial stage of infection and the gene‐silenced strains displayed reduced virulence on oilseed rape and Arabidopsis thaliana. Inhibition of plant ROS production partially restores virulence of SsSvf1 gene‐silenced strains. SsSvf1 gene‐silenced strains exhibited normal oxalate production, but were impaired in compound appressorium formation and cell wall integrity. The results suggest that SsSvf1 is involved in coping with ROS during fungal‐host interactions and plays a crucial role in the pathogenicity of S. sclerotiorum.
Pleiotropy in developmental regulation by flowering‐pathway genes: is it an evolutionary constraint?
Authors: Auge Gabriela A. , Penfield Steven , Donohue Kathleen
Published: May 2019

Pleiotropy occurs when one gene influences more than one trait, contributing to genetic correlations among traits. Consequently, it is considered a constraint on the evolution of adaptive phenotypes because of potential antagonistic selection on correlated traits, or, alternatively, preservation of functional trait combinations. Such evolutionary constraints may be mitigated by the evolution of different functions of pleiotropic genes in their regulation of different traits. Arabidopsis thaliana flowering‐time genes, and the pathways in which they operate, are among the most thoroughly studied regarding molecular functions, phenotypic effects, and adaptive significance. Many of them show strong pleiotropic effects. Here, we review examples of pleiotropy of flowering‐time genes and highlight those that also influence seed germination. Some genes appear to operate in the same genetic pathways when regulating both traits, whereas others show diversity of function in their regulation, either interacting with the same genetic partners but in different ways or potentially interacting with different partners. We discuss how functional diversification of pleiotropic genes in the regulation of different traits across the life cycle may mitigate evolutionary constraints of pleiotropy, permitting traits to respond more independently to environmental cues, and how it may even contribute to the evolutionary divergence of gene function across taxa.
Grape‐derived polyphenols produce antidepressant effects via VGF‐ and BDNF‐dependent mechanisms
Authors: Jiang Cheng , Sakakibara Emmy , Lin Wei‐Jye , Wang Jun , Pasinetti Giulio M. , Salton Stephen R.
Published: May 2019

Recent studies suggest that bioactive dietary polyphenol preparation (BDPP) and individual polyphenolic compounds ameliorate stress‐induced depression‐like behaviors, but the underlying molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood. VGF (non‐acronymic) in the dorsal hippocampus (dHc) has been shown to play a role in depression‐like behaviors and antidepressant efficacy, and the VGF‐derived peptide TLQP‐62 (named by the N‐terminal 4 amino acids and length) infused into dHc has been shown to have antidepressant efficacy that is BDNF–TrkB dependent. Here, we investigated whether BDPP influences VGF expression in the dHc, and whether dHc VGF is required for BDPP antidepressant efficacy. We found that BDPP produced antidepressant‐like effects in naive mice and reversed the depression‐like behaviors induced by chronic variable stress. In addition, we found that BDPP had no detectable antidepressant efficacy in floxed mice with prior knockdown in the dHc of either VGF or BDNF, achieved by adeno‐associated virus‐Cre infusion. Our data indicate that dHc VGF and BDNF expression are required for the antidepressant actions of BDPP, and therefore suggest that a VGF(TLQP‐62)–BDNF–TrkB autoregulatory feedback loop could play a role in the regulation of BDPP antidepressant efficacy, much as it has been suggested to function in the antidepressant efficacies of ketamine and TLQP‐62.
Effect of systemically administered oxytocin on dose response for methylphenidate self‐administration and mesolimbic dopamine levels
Authors: Lee Mary R. , Rohn Matthew C.H. , Zanettini Claudio , Coggiano Mark A. , Leggio Lorenzo , Tanda Gianluigi
Published: May 2019

The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) alters behaviors related to the administration of drugs of abuse, including stimulants. OT also plays a key role in social bonding, which involves an interaction between OT and dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). The nature of the interaction between OT and DA in the striatum in the context of psychostimulants is unclear. We investigated the effect of OT, delivered intraperitoneally, on the methylphenidate (MP) dose–response function for self‐administration in rats. Food was used as a control condition. In a microdialysis study, we measured the effect of intraperitoneal OT on MP‐stimulated striatal DA levels. Systemic OT pretreatment caused a downward shift in the MP dose–response function for self‐administration, while having no effect on motor activity. OT also caused a reduction in food self‐administration, although a significantly higher dose of OT was required for this effect compared with that required for a reduction of MP self‐administration. Systemic OT pretreatment caused a potentiation of MP‐stimulated DA levels in the NAc shell but not in the core. The significance of these findings is discussed, including the potential of OT as a therapeutic agent for addictive disorders.