bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between tooth loss and upper gastrointestinal cancer: A 30‐year follow‐up of the Linxian Dysplasia Nutrition Intervention Trial Cohort
Authors: Zhang Su , Yu Pei , Wang Jian‐Bing , Fan Jin‐Hu , Qiao You‐Lin , Taylor Philip R.
Published: March 2019

Background

This prospective study investigated the association between tooth loss and upper gastrointestinal (UGI) cancer mortality in the Linxian Dysplasia Nutrition Intervention Trial Cohort.

Methods

Subjects were categorized into three groups according to age at baseline. No missing teeth and less or greater than median tooth loss in each group was defined as none, moderate, and severe, respectively. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were estimated using the Cox proportional hazard model.

Results

Through 30 September 2015, 541 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), 284 gastric cardia carcinoma (GCC), and 77 gastric non‐cardia carcinoma (GNCC) deaths occurred. In the six‐year follow‐up, severe tooth loss was associated with an increased risk of GCC mortality (HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.06–2.18). In the 15‐year follow‐up, moderate tooth loss increased the ESCC mortality risk by 58% (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.06–2.35), while severe loss increased the GCC mortality risk by 30% (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.03–1.64). In the 30‐year follow‐up, moderate tooth loss increased the risk of ESCC mortality (HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.01–1.76). In subjects aged < 55 at baseline and men, moderate tooth loss had 53% and 52% higher risks of ESCC mortality (HR<55 years 1.53, 95% CI 1.06–2.05; HRmen 1.52, 95% CI 1.01–2.28). No significant association was observed for GNCC in any subjects or subgroups.

Conclusion

Moderate tooth loss increased the risk of ESCC mortality, particularly in younger subjects and men. Severe tooth loss increased the risk of GCC mortality. Future studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Association of a novel SNP in the ASIP gene with skin color in black‐bone chicken
Authors: Yu S. , Wang G. , Liao J.
Published: March 2019

The agouti signaling protein gene (ASIP) is a widely studied pigmentation gene that plays an important role in melanin synthesis. To determine the variety of ASIP expression in the Muchuan Black‐Bone chicken, we examined genetic variation in the ASIP promoter region. A single nucleotide polymorphism (c.–1826A>T) was found to be associated with the skin color (dorsal and subalar) of black‐bone chicken. Individuals with TT and AT genotypes had higher ASIP mRNA levels in the skin than did those with the AA genotype (P < 0.01). In addition, individuals with the TT genotype had higher ASIP mRNA levels than did those with the AT genotype (P < 0.05). Expression of melanogenesis‐related genes (melanocortin 1 receptor and tyrosinase genes) was higher in the skin of chickens with the TT and AT genotypes than in those with the AA genotype (P < 0.01). A luciferase assay showed that promoter activity was higher in chickens with the TT genotype than in those with the AA genotype. Putative transcription factor prediction suggested that the c.–1826A>T mutation might shift the promoter binding affinity with differential transcription factors. In summary, we identified a novel mutation in the ASIP gene promoter that may affect chicken skin color by altering ASIP transcriptional activity.
Is Norton Score a useful tool for identifying high‐risk patients prior to emergency surgery?
Authors: Trostchansky Ivan , Nimrod Adi , Tiberiu Ezri , Vigorita Vincenzo , Valiñas Roberto , Karp Galia
Published: March 2019

Background

Emergency surgery in elderly patients is associated with high mortality rates. Various scoring systems may be valuable in predicting mortality and morbidity rates. It has been suggested that the Norton Score (NS) could be used to quantify frailty. We hypothesized that NS could be a useful tool for identifying high‐risk patients before emergency/urgent surgeries.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Surgery at Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel. Inclusion criteria: age ≥50 years, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status score ≥3 and urgent/emergency laparotomy. A total of 400 patients were identified, and 150 (37.5%) matched the inclusion criteria.

Results

A total of 150 patients with ASA scores of 3–5 and who underwent emergent/urgent laparotomy from 1 January 2011 through 31 January 2013 were included. Mean age was 77 ± 9.7 years. The mortality rate at 1 month was 44% (66 patients) and at 1 year was 54.7% (82 patients). A higher ASA score was significantly associated with mortality (P < 0.001). Survivors had lower frailty scores and presented significantly higher preoperative NS (Modified Frailty Index 2.45 versus 3.06, P < 0.05; NS 16.09 versus 12.94, P < 0.01). Preoperative NS was the most significant variable that predicted poor patient prognosis (odds ratio 0.84; 95% confidence interval 0.73–0.96). For ASA 3 and ASA 4, the grade of daily personal independence in activities showed a positive correlation with survival (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

NS can be a very useful and quick tool to evaluate surgical risk in emergency surgery. Our study supports the use of NS in the perioperative evaluation prior to emergency surgery.
Abdominal pain is a common and recurring problem in paediatric emergency departments
Authors: Magnúsdóttir María Björg , Róbertsson Viðar , Þorgrímsson Sigurður , Rósmundsson Þráinn , Agnarsson Úlfur , Haraldsson Ásgeir
Published: March 2019

Aim

Abdominal pain is a frequent reason for paediatric emergency department visits, but specific research is lacking. Our aim was to obtain information on the diagnosis of abdominal pain and what healthcare services children with this condition need.

Methods

This retrospective study focused on patients visiting the emergency department of the Children's Hospital Iceland in 2010 with abdominal pain and any subsequent visits up to 1 January 2015.

Results

There were 11 340 visits to the emergency department in 2010 and 1118 children made 1414 (12%) visits due to abdominal pain. The majority (58%) with abdominal pain were girls (p < 0.001) and they were older than the boys, with an average age of 12 versus 10 years (p < 0.001). The most common diagnoses were non‐specific abdominal pain (40%), constipation (22%) and viral infections (13%). During the follow‐up period, 423/1118 children (38%) visited the emergency department 883 times, 58% were girls and the most common diagnosis was non‐specific abdominal pain (37%). Of the 436 children initially diagnosed with non‐specific abdominal pain, 154 (35%) revisited the emergency department during the follow‐up period.

Conclusion

Abdominal pain was a common reason for visits to the paediatric emergency room and a third paid more than one visit.
Collagen proportionate area is an independent predictor of long‐term outcome in patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Buzzetti Elena , Hall Andrew , Ekstedt Mattias , Manuguerra Roberta , Guerrero Misas Marta , Covelli Claudia , Leandro Gioacchino , Luong TuVinh , Kechagias Stergios , Manesis Emanuel K. , Pinzani Massimo , Dhillon Amar P. , Tsochatzis Emmanuel A.
Published: March 2019

Background

Collagen proportionate area (CPA) measurement is a technique that quantifies fibrous tissue in liver biopsies by measuring the amount of collagen deposition as a proportion of the total biopsy area. CPA predicts clinical outcomes in patients with HCV and can sub‐classify cirrhosis.

Aim

To test the ability of CPA to quantify fibrosis and predict clinical outcomes in patients with NAFLD.

Methods

We assessed consecutive patients with biopsy‐proven NAFLD from three European centres. Clinical and laboratory data were collected at baseline and at the time of the last clinical follow‐up or death. CPA was performed at two different objective magnifications, whole biopsy macro and ×4 objective magnification, named standard (SM) and high (HM) magnification respectively. The correlation between CPA and liver stiffness was assessed in a sub‐group of patients.

Results

Of 437 patients, 32 (7.3%) decompensated and/or died from liver‐related causes during a median follow‐up of 103 months. CPA correlated with liver stiffness and liver fibrosis stage across the whole spectrum of fibrosis. HM CPA was significantly higher than SM CPA in stages F0‐F3 but similar in cirrhosis, reflecting a higher ability to capture pericellular/perisinusoidal fibrosis at early stages. Age at baseline (HR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01‐1.08), HM CPA (HR: 1.04 per 1% increase, 95% CI: 1.01‐1.08) and presence of advanced fibrosis (HR: 15.4, 95% CI: 5.02‐47.84) were independent predictors of liver‐related clinical outcomes at standard and competing risk multivariate Cox‐regression analysis.

Conclusions

CPA accurately measures fibrosis and is an independent predictor of clinical outcomes in NAFLD; hence it merits further evaluation as a surrogate endpoint in clinical trials.
How does principal e‐leadership affect ICT transformation across different school stages in K‐12 education: Perspectives from teachers in Shanghai
Authors: Wu Bian , Yu Xiaoxue , Hu Yiling
Published: March 2019

With the continuous deployment of ICT in K‐12 education, strong access but weak uptake has become the greatest challenge for ICT implementation in schools. As the pioneer of China’s K‐12 educational reform, Shanghai draws our attention in terms of the critical factors and the underlying mechanism of ICT transformation in K‐12 schools. The study used questionnaire survey data collected from 2894 Shanghai teachers (971 primary, 990 middle and 933 high school teachers) to investigate the relationships between government ICT policy, school principal e‐leadership, ICT implementation in schools, teacher attitudes towards ICT and pedagogical change and changes in student learning. The structural equation modelling results revealed a significant influence of e‐leadership by school principals on ICT transformation in schools, confirming the critical role of e‐leadership in ICT transformation model. In addition, the higher the school stage, the more personal rather than organisational factors affected the changes in teaching and learning. The findings imply a profound sociocultural and technological dilemma due to the pressure of getting into college and risk‐taking in ICT‐related educational transformation. The study contributes to our knowledge in terms of a more nuanced ICT transformation mechanism between school stages.
Serelaxin enhances the therapeutic effects of human amnion epithelial cell‐derived exosomes in experimental models of lung disease
Authors: Royce Simon G. , Patel Krupesh P. , Mao WeiYi , Zhu Dandan , Lim Rebecca , Samuel Chrishan S.
Published: March 2019

Background and Purpose

There is growing interest in stem cell‐derived exosomes for their therapeutic and regenerative benefits given their manufacturing and regulatory advantages over cell‐based therapies. As existing fibrosis impedes the viability and efficacy of stem cell/exosome‐based strategies for treating chronic diseases, here we tested the effects of the anti‐fibrotic drug, serelaxin, on the therapeutic efficacy of human amnion epithelial cell (AEC)‐derived exosomes in experimental lung disease.

Experimental Approach

Female Balb/c mice were subjected to either the 9.5‐week model of ovalbumin and naphthalene (OVA/NA)‐induced chronic allergic airway disease (AAD) or 3‐week model of bleomycin (BLM)‐induced pulmonary fibrosis; then administered increasing concentrations of AEC‐exosomes (5 μg or 25μg), with or without serelaxin (0.5mg/kg/day) for 7‐days. 1x106 AECs co‐administered with serelaxin over the corresponding time‐period were included for comparison in both models, as was pirfenidone‐treatment of the BLM model. Control groups received saline/corn oil or saline, respectively.

Key Results

Both experimental models presented with significant tissue inflammation, remodelling, fibrosis and airway/lung dysfunction at the time‐points studied. While AEC‐exosome (5 μg or 25μg)‐administration alone demonstrated some benefits in each model, serelaxin was required for AEC‐exosomes (25μg) to rapidly normalise chronic AAD‐induced airway fibrosis and airway reactivity, and BLM‐induced lung inflammation, epithelial damage and subepithelial/basement membrane fibrosis. Combining serelaxin with AEC‐exosomes (25μg) also demonstrated broader protection compared to co‐administration of serelaxin with 1x106 AECs or pirfenidone.

Conclusions and Implications

Serelaxin enhanced the therapeutic efficacy of AEC‐exosomes in treating basement membrane‐induced fibrosis and related airway dysfunction.
Review: The views and experiences of suicidal children and young people of mental health support services: a meta‐ethnography
Authors: Gilmour Lynne , Ring Nicola , Maxwell Margaret
Published: March 2019

Background

Suicide is amongst the leading causes of death in young people globally and a health priority worldwide. For children and young people (CYP) attempting or considering suicide there is no agreed treatment model. Development of treatment models should be informed by the views and experiences of CYP using services.

Methods

Meta‐ethnography was used to systematically identify and synthesise studies reporting the views of CYP who used mental health services following suicidal behaviour. Relevant studies were quality appraised. First order (participants) and second order (original author) data were translated to identify common and disconfirming themes and concepts. Translated findings were synthesised and led to a new hypothesis supported by additional ‘linguistic analysis’ of texts to construct a novel third order line‐of‐argument.

Results

Four studies conducted since 2006 in three countries involving 44 young people aged 11–24 years were synthesised. Translation revealed that suicidal CYP do not know where or how to access help, they cannot access help directly and when seen by mental health practitioners they do not feel listened to. Line‐of‐argument synthesis identified a silence around suicidality within the conversations CYP have with mental health practitioners and within academic research reporting. Use of the term ‘self‐harm’ to encompass suicidal behaviours potentially contributes to this silence by avoiding the word ‘suicide’.

Conclusions

Children and young people who are suicidal need to have easy access to mental health services. When using services, they want to feel listened to and have suicidal feelings acknowledged. This involves professionals referring explicitly to suicide not just self‐harm.
Transcultural adaptation process of the Griffiths‐III Mental Development Scale
Authors: Ferreira‐Vasques Amanda Tragueta , Santos Carlos Ferreira , Lamônica Dionísia Aparecida Cusin
Published: March 2019

Background

The Griffiths‐III Mental Development Scale (GMDS‐III) is used in the diagnosis of child development in several countries, presenting cross‐cultural adaptation of the original British version. In Brazil, there is a shortage of standardized and normalized diagnostic tools for the child population. The study describes the cross‐cultural adaptation of the GMDS‐III for the Brazilian reality.

Method

Ethical aspects were fulfilled (CAAE: 34802014.0.0000.5417). Six steps of the cross‐cultural adaptation process suggested by the American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons Outcomes Committee were followed: two independent translations; synthesis translations and version T1‐2 preparation; T1‐2 version retrotranslation, blinded, by two natives of the origin language and fluent in the target language; expert committee review maintaining conceptual, idiomatic, semantic, and cultural equivalence, elaborating the pre‐final version; application of the pre‐final version, in Portuguese, for 96 Brazilian children; documentation submission to the original scale authors.

Results

Five hundred seventy‐one words/expressions translated and adapted from English to Brazilian Portuguese. No gross inconsistencies or conceptual error were found in the translation. The pre‐final version was applied to 72 children, distributed along the scale age range, with no absence of response for any item, making a satisfactory distribution of the skills assessed in the instrument. Original scale authors issued a certificate agreeing with the process.

Conclusions

The GMDS‐III was adapted transculturally to the Brazilian reality following a rigorous methodology. This work is an anchor for scale normalization with application in a representative sample of Brazilian children, as well as verification of psychometric properties in the Brazilian version. This was the first step towards the beginning of the transformation of the Brazilian children's scenario regarding the use of a standardized and normalized assessment instrument, providing an early and assertive diagnosis.
Thirty‐day mortality after emergency surgery for obstructing colon cancer: survey and dedicated score from the French Surgical Association
Authors: Manceau G. , Mege D. , Bridoux V. , Lakkis Z. , Venara A. , Voron T. , De Angelis N. , Ouaissi M. , Sielezneff I. , Karoui M. ,   the AFC (French Surgical Association) Working Group
Published: March 2019

Aim

The aim was to define risk factors for postoperative mortality in patients undergoing emergency surgery for obstructing colon cancer (OCC) and to propose a dedicated score.

Method

From 2000 to 2015, 2325 patients were treated for OCC in French surgical centres by members of the French National Surgical Association. A multivariate analysis was performed for variables with P value ≤ 0.20 in the univariate analysis for 30‐day mortality. Predictive performance was assessed by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results

A total of 1983 patients were included. Thirty‐day postoperative mortality was 7%. Multivariate analysis found five significant independent risk factors: age ≥ 75 (P = 0.013), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score ≥ III (P = 0.027), pulmonary comorbidity (P = 0.0002), right‐sided cancer (P = 0.047) and haemodynamic failure (P < 0.0001). The odds ratio for risk of postoperative death was 3.42 with one factor, 5.80 with two factors, 15.73 with three factors, 29.23 with four factors and 77.25 with five factors. The discriminating capacity in predicting 30‐day postoperative mortality was 0.80.

Conclusion

Thirty‐day postoperative mortality after emergency surgery for OCC is correlated with age, ASA score, pulmonary comorbidity, site of tumour and haemodynamic failure, with a specific score ranging from 0 to 5.
Cue Combinatorics in Memory Retrieval for Anaphora
Authors: Parker Dan
Published: March 2019

Many studies have shown that memory retrieval for real‐time language processing relies on a cue‐based access mechanism, which allows the cues available at the retrieval site to directly access the target representation in memory. An open question is how different types of cues are combined at retrieval to create a single retrieval probe (“cue combinatorics”). This study addresses this question by testing whether retrieval for antecedent‐reflexive dependencies combines cues in a linear (i.e., additive) or nonlinear (i.e., multiplicative) fashion. Results from computational simulations and a reading time experiment show that target items that match all the cues of the reflexive are favored more than target items that mismatch these cues, and that different degrees of mismatches slow reading times in comparable amounts. This profile is consistent with the predictions of a nonlinear cue combination and provides evidence against models in which all cues combine in a linear fashion. A follow‐up set of simulations shows that a nonlinear rule also captures previous demonstrations of interference from nontarget items during retrieval for reflexive licensing. Taken together, these results shed new light on how different types of cues combine at the retrieval site and reveal how the method of cue combination impacts the accessibility of linguistic information in memory.
The interstitial variant of granuloma annulare: Clinicopathologic study of 69 cases with a comparison with conventional granuloma annulare
Authors: Ronen Shira , Rothschild Matan , Suster Saul
Published: March 2019

Background

The full‐blown lesion of granuloma annulare (GA) is characterized by necrobiotic granulomas with palisading of histiocytes and stromal mucin deposition. Cases in which the granulomatous features are not fully developed have been described as the “interstitial” variant; however, there is no good definition regarding their criteria for diagnosis.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of 97 cases of GA.

Results

Cases of interstitial GA (69) were paucicellular with scant to no mucin, with only a few scattered mononuclear cells but lacking well‐formed granulomas with multinucleated giant cells. Immunohistochemical study showed that the cells in conventional cases of GA stained strongly positive for CD68 and CD163, whereas the small mononuclear cells in interstitial GA were strongly positive only for CD163.

Conclusions

Interstitial GA differs from the classical GA in several respects, including morphology and immunophenotype. Use of antibodies to CD163 may be helpful for distinguishing the interstitial variant from other conditions. Recognition of the interstitial variant is of importance to explain the presence of lesions that clinically are suspicious for GA but histologically do not resemble the conventional form of the disease.
How Precious Are Scarce Products? An Experimental Study on a Turn‐and‐Earn Allocation Mechanism
Authors: Chen Yefen , Zhao Xiaobo , Zhu Wanshan , Xie Jinxing
Published: March 2019

In this study, we conduct laboratory experiments to analyze a turn‐and‐earn allocation mechanism by which a single supplier allocates scarce products to two identical retailers. Under this mechanism, the supplier uses past sales to dynamically allocate scarce capacity among downstream retailers. The experimental data show that retailers strategically and systematically order more than predicted by standard theory. We find that the psychological scarcity effect is an important phenomenon. Using cognitive hierarchy theory, we develop a behavioral model to consider the scarcity effect, which causes retailers to place additional value on the allocations in a supply‐shortfall period. Using structural estimation, we show that retailers perceive scarce products as being more precious than the standard theory predicts, and exhibit an average of 2.7 reasoning steps during strategic interactions. Moreover, the retailers exhibit social rejoice preference. They are more likely to make myopic decisions when the degree of scarcity is relatively low. Comparing with the proportional allocation mechanisms by an additional experiment, we find that the turn‐and‐earn mechanism is more beneficial to the supplier but less to the retailers.
The Impact of Timing and Bundling Flexibility on Affect‐Based Service Package Design
Authors: Dixon Michael J. , Thompson Gary M.
Published: March 2019

Past research has provided evidence that customers’ affective responses to service packages, or bundles, include aspects related to the content of the bundle and the timing of bundle elements, or events. Service design efforts that attempt to maximize these affective responses may be inhibited by the degree to which an event is flexible across time and across contextual fit. This article uses numerical simulation of an artificial problem to test hypotheses about the impact of timing flexibility and contextual‐fit flexibility on affect‐based design efforts and provides insight about how differing levels of flexibility constrain or enable designers’ ability to create bundles and schedules that adhere to behavioral‐based design attributes such as the peak, end, trend, and spread effects. Our findings suggest that different kinds of flexibility enable affect‐based schedules in different manners, and managers should consider the impact that flexibility will have on successful affect‐based scheduling efforts.
The echocardiographic assessment of the right ventricle in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia compared with athletes and matched controls
Authors: Boczar Kevin E. , Alqarawi Wael , Green Martin S. , Redpath Calum , Burwash Ian G. , Dwivedi Girish
Published: March 2019

Background

There are discrepancies in the quantitative echocardiographic criteria for the right ventricle (RV) between the revised task force criteria (TFC) for Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy/Dysplasia (ARVC/D) and the guidelines for RV assessment endorsed by American Society of Echocardiography (ASE). Importantly, these criteria do not take into account potential adaptation of the RV to exercise. The goal of this study was to compare the revised TFC quantitative echocardiographic parameters in patients with ARVC/D, athletes and matched controls.

Methods

Echocardiographic parameters of the RV were retrospectively collected in patients who fulfilled the TFC for ARVC/D, an age‐ matched, sex‐matched, and body surface area‐matched control population, and athletes (defined as individuals who exercised for more than 7 hours per week). Patients with structural heart disease were excluded in the control and athlete groups.

Results

Twenty patients with ARVC/D, 11 athletes and 20 matched controls were included. There was no significant difference between ARVC/D patients and athletes with the exception of the parasternal long axis right ventricular outflow tract diameter. All parameters were significantly different between ARVC/D patients and the control group. Furthermore, when subjects were categorized into meeting 1 major revised TFC/abnormal ASE criteria or not, only ASE criteria were able to differentiate ARVC/D from control population. Both were unable to differentiate ARVC/D from athletes.

Conclusions

Right ventricle quantitative echocardiographic criteria in the revised TFC are not specific for ARVC/D. Care should be taken in applying these criteria in athletes.
A 7000‐year history of changing plant trait composition in an Amazonian landscape; the role of humans and climate
Authors: van der Sande Masha T. , Gosling William , Correa‐Metrio Alexander , Prado‐Junior Jamir , Poorter Lourens , Oliveira Rafael S. , Mazzei Lucas , Bush Mark B.
Published: March 2019

Tropical forests are shifting in species and trait composition, but the main underlying causes remain unclear because of the short temporal scales of most studies. Here, we develop a novel approach by linking functional trait data with 7000 years of forest dynamics from a fossil pollen record of Lake Sauce in the Peruvian Amazon. We evaluate how climate and human disturbances affect community trait composition. We found weak relationships between environmental conditions and traits at the taxon level, but strong effects for community‐mean traits. Overall, community‐mean traits were more responsive to human disturbances than to climate change; human‐induced erosion increased the dominance of dense‐wooded, non‐zoochorous species with compound leaves, and human‐induced fire increased the dominance of tall, zoochorous taxa with large seeds and simple leaves. This information can help to enhance our understanding of forest responses to past environmental changes, and improve predictions of future changes in tropical forest composition.
How hormones may modulate human skin pigmentation in melasma: An in vitro perspective
Authors: Cario Muriel
Published: March 2019

Melasma is a common acquired hyperpigmentary disorder occurring primarily in photo‐exposed areas and mainly affecting women of childbearing age. To decipher the role of sex hormones in melasma, this viewpoint reviews the effects of sex hormones on cutaneous cells cultured in monolayers, in coculture, in 3D models and explants in the presence or the absence of UV. The data show that sex steroid hormones, especially oestrogen, can modulate in vitro pigmentation by stimulating melanocytes and keratinocyte pro‐pigmentary factors, but not via fibroblast or mast cell activation. In vitro data suggest that oestrogen acts on endothelial cell count, which may in turn increase endothelin‐1 concentrations. However, data on explants revealed that sex steroid even at doses observed during pregnancy cannot induce melanogenesis alone nor melanosome transfer but that it acts in synergy with UVB. In conclusion, we hypothesize that in predisposed persons, sex steroid hormones initiate hyperpigmentation in melasma by amplifying the effects of UV on melanogenesis via direct effects on melanocytes or indirect effects via keratinocytes and on the transfer of melanosomes. They also help to sustain hyperpigmentation by increasing the number of blood vessels and, in turn, the level of endothelin‐1.
Examining the Emotional Experience of Mothers Completing an Evidence‐Based Parenting Intervention: A Grounded Theory Analysis
Authors: Wolford Sarah N. , Holtrop Kendal
Published: March 2019

Parenting interventions are a well‐established treatment for addressing child behavior problems that have also been shown to improve parent psychosocial health. Yet, little is known about how caregiver emotional experiences change over time during treatment. In response, the purpose of this study was to explore the emotional experiences of mothers following their participation in an evidence‐based parenting intervention. Researchers conducted a secondary analysis of existing qualitative data. The study sample included semi‐structured interview data from 17 mothers who previously completed the GenerationPMTO parenting intervention. Data analysis followed the grounded theory approach and included a sequential process of open, axial, and selective coding using the constant comparative method. Findings indicate mothers progressed through three distinct, yet interrelated stages of emotional experience: Before PMTO, their experiences were characterized byparenting through crisis(Stage 1); during PMTO, they transitioned tocrisis stabilization(Stage 2); and following PMTO, they described experiences ofemerging recovery and resilience(Stage 3). Maternal emotional experiences in each stage occurred across three contextual realms: (a) theindividual (intrapersonal) level, (b) theparent–child relationship level, and thebroader systemic level. Results highlight the dynamic and evolving nature of maternal emotional experience throughout various stages of the intervention process and suggest how these experiences may be associated with promoting effective parenting practices and positive child outcomes.
Novel analytical model for fatigue cumulative damage estimation under random loading
Authors: Guedes Rui Miranda
Published: March 2019

A newly nonlinear cumulative damage model associated with the S‐N curve, which preserves the compatibility conditions established for S‐N plane, was proposed and assessed by Eskandari and Kim in 2015. The model requires one exponent, in addition to the S‐N curve, to calculate the residual strength. A methodology is established to determine analytically the lower bound value of the exponent. However, this value proved to be too low for a quasi‐isotropic glass‐fibre laminate, based on published residual strength data. Further on, good predictions are obtained for ascending and descending ordered block spectrum. Yet it failed at fully random spectrum. The model was modified by imposing a very small decrease on model exponent towards the lower bound value, each time an increase in peak stress occurs. This modified model has been found to give good agreement with fatigue experimental data at different spectrum loads.
Elevated HSP90 associates with expression of HIF‐1α and p‐AKT and is predictive of poor prognosis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Authors: Feng Juan , Xie Guiyuan , Zhan Yuting , Lu Junmi , Xu Lina , Fan Songqing , Wang Weiyuan
Published: March 2019

Aims

HSP90, as a molecular chaperone, has numerous substrate proteins, including HIF‐1α and p‐AKT, but the relationships among HSP90, HIF‐1α and p‐AKT have not been investigated in NPC. We examined and analysed the correlation between expression of HSP90, HIF‐1α and p‐AKT and clinicopathological features of NPC.

Methods

We collected 445 cases of NPC and 54 cases of non‐cancerous nasopharyngeal epithelia tissues, detected expression of HSP90, HIF‐1α and p‐AKT proteins in these tissues by immunohistochemistry.

Results

The results indicated that overexpression of HSP90, HIF‐1α and p‐AKT in NPC was significantly higher than that in non‐cancerous nasopharyngeal epithelia (P < 0.05). The overexpression of HIF‐1α in primary NPC was significantly lower than that in matched lymph node metastatic NPC (P = 0.024) or recurrent NPC (P = 0.039). The overexpression of HSP90 (P < 0.001) and HIF‐1α (P = 0.031) was evidently higher in late stage NPC. NPC patients with lymph node metastasis (LNM) had a higher overexpression rate of HSP90 (P < 0.001) than those without LNM. Increased HSP90 expression was positively associated with HIF‐1α expression (r = 0.367, P < 0.001) and p‐AKT (r = 0.142, P = 0.003) expression in NPC. Furthermore, HIF‐1α was also related to p‐AKT expression (r = 0.114, P = 0.017). The overall survival rate for NPC patients with up‐regulated HSP90 was significantly lower than those with down‐regulated HSP90 (P < 0.001), as was found with raised HIF‐1α (P = 0.036) and increased p‐AKT (P = 0.044). Multivariate Cox regression analysis further identified that HSP90 and HIF‐1α were independent poor prognostic factors for NPC.

Conclusions

Taken together, elevated HSP90 was associated with expression of HIF‐1α and p‐AKT in NPC. Furthermore, high expression of HSP90 and HIF‐1α could be used as a novel independent poor prognostic biomarker for patients with NPC.
Individual condition, but not fledging phenology, carries over to affect post‐fledging survival in a Neotropical migratory songbird
Authors: Evans Dean R. , Hobson Keith A. , Kusack Jackson W. , Cadman Michael D. , Falconer C. Myles , Mitchell Greg W.
Published: March 2019

Migratory animals face severe time and energy constraints during their annual cycle. These constraints may be exacerbated in young animals by conditions experienced during development that can affect both phenotype and phenology. For young migratory songbirds, the period between fledging and autumn migration, the post‐fledging period, is believed to represent a time of intense selective pressure. However, there has yet to be a study that has assessed post‐fledging survival for the entirety of the post‐fledging period, probably due to the challenge of following juveniles as they move broadly across the landscape (tens to hundreds of kilometres). To overcome this challenge, we used an automated radiotelemetry array spanning 60 000 km2 in southern Ontario, Canada, and miniature digital radiotelemetry tags to track 216 juvenile Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica continuously from fledging to migration. We hypothesized that young that fledged in better condition and earlier in the breeding season would have higher survival relative to birds fledging in poorer condition, because they have more energy to deal with resource constraints, and that early‐fledging birds would depart on migration earlier than late‐fledging birds because there is probably a fixed period of time required post‐fledging to prepare for migration. We found that average cumulative apparent survival was 42% and that condition in the nest was a strong positive predictor of post‐fledging apparent survival. We also found that birds that fledged earlier in the season departed on migration earlier in the autumn relative to late‐fledging birds. Contrary to our prediction, average apparent survival was equal for early‐ and late‐fledging birds. Our results suggest that factors during development that promote better nestling condition are critical for predicting future apparent survival prior to migration. Differences in annual apparent survival between early‐ and late‐fledging songbirds, as commonly observed, may be driven by events occurring at later stages of the annual cycle.
Modelling the relationship between tensile strength and porosity in bioceramic scaffolds
Authors: Baino Francesco , Pons Enrico
Published: March 2019

A model describing the relationship between tensile strength and total porosity in brittle open‐cell macroporous foams is developed and applied to silicate ceramic scaffolds produced by sponge replication and subsequent sinter‐crystallization. The tensile strength of the scaffolds decreased from 7.4 to 2.3 MPa as the total porosity increased from 0.40 to 0.79. The results of the model, which is based on the concepts of fracture mechanics, were in good agreement with the experimental data (R2 = 0.88), which supports the good predictive capability of the approach presented. In principle, this model could help biomaterials scientists not only to estimate the tensile strength of highly‐porous bioactive glass and ceramic scaffolds, which is often difficult to determine experimentally, but also to improve the rational design of porous bioceramics with customized properties.
Association between human leucocyte antigen alleles and risk of stroke in Iranian population
Authors: Sayad Arezou , Akbari Mohammad Taghi , Inoko Hidetoshi , Khazaei Mojtaba , Mehdizadeh Bijan , Taheri Mohammad , Ghafouri‐Fard Soudeh
Published: March 2019

Previous studies have demonstrated associations between human leucocyte antigen (HLA) and some types of ischaemic stroke. In the present study, we genotyped HLA‐A,‐B and ‐DRB1 alleles in 140 Iranian patients with history of ischaemic stroke and 140 age‐/sex‐matched healthy subjects. No significant difference has been found in the distribution of HLA‐A and B alleles between cases and controls. The DRB1*16 allele was significantly over‐represented in patient group compared with control group (Adjusted p value = 0.048). Other HLA‐DRB1 alleles were not associated with stroke risk. The HLA‐B*35,B*52 genotype was significantly more prevalent among patients compared with controls (Adjusted p value = 0.03, OR [95% CI] = 9.3 [1.3, 407.2]). Several HLA haplotypes were associated with risk of stroke in the assessed population. The current study provides further evidences for participation of HLA in conferring risk of ischaemic stroke.
Clinical benefit of early treatment with bone‐modifying agents for preventing skeletal‐related events in patients with genitourinary cancer with bone metastasis: A multi‐institutional retrospective study
Authors: Owari Takuya , Miyake Makito , Nakai Yasushi , Hori Shunta , Tomizawa Mitsuru , Ichikawa Kazuki , Shimizu Takuto , Iida Kota , Samma Shoji , Iemura Yusuke , Momose Hitoshi , Omori Chihiro , Otani Takeshi , Kuwada Masaomi , Hirao Shuya , Oyama Nobuo , Nakagawa Yoshinori , Hayashi Yoshiki , Tanaka Nobumichi , Fujimoto Kiyohide
Published: March 2019

Objectives

To evaluate the clinical benefit of bone‐modifying agents and identify the risk factors of skeletal‐related events in patients with genitourinary cancer with newly diagnosed bone metastasis.

Methods

This was a multicenter retrospective study including a total of 650 patients with bone metastasis of the following cancer types: hormone‐sensitive prostate cancer (n = 443), castration‐resistant prostate cancer (n = 50), renal cell carcinoma (n = 80) and urothelial carcinoma (n = 77). Clinical factors at the time of diagnosis of bone metastasis were analyzed. Early treatment with bone‐modifying agents was defined as follows: administration of bone‐modifying agents before the development of skeletal‐related events and within 6 months from the diagnosis of bone metastasis.

Results

During the follow‐up period (median 19.0 months, interquartile range 6.0–43.8 months), skeletal‐related events were reported in 88 (20%) patients with hormone‐sensitive prostate cancer, 17 (34%) patients with castration‐resistant prostate cancer, 58 (73%) patients with renal cell carcinoma and 34 (44%) patients with urothelial carcinoma. Early treatment with bone‐modifying agents significantly prolonged the time to the first skeletal‐related event in castration‐resistant prostate cancer, renal cell carcinoma and urothelial carcinoma, but not in hormone‐sensitive prostate cancer. Bone pain and elevated alkaline phosphatase levels were independent predictive risk factors of the first skeletal‐related event. The subgroup analysis showed that early treatment with bone‐modifying agents was associated with prolonged time to the first skeletal‐related events in patients with bone pain or elevated alkaline phosphatase levels.

Conclusions

Early treatment with bone‐modifying agents should be considered, especially for patients with bone pain and elevated alkaline phosphatase levels, to prevent skeletal‐related events in patients with genitourinary cancer with bone metastasis.
Robust reward–risk ratio portfolio optimization
Authors: Sehgal Ruchika , Mehra Aparna
Published: March 2019

In this paper, we propose robust portfolio optimization models for reward–risk ratios utilizing Omega, semi‐mean absolute deviation ratio, and weighted stable tail adjusted return ratio (STARR). We address the uncertainty in returns on assets by varying them in symmetric bounded intervals. The proposed robust reward–risk ratios preserve linearity in the resulting models, and hence are tractable. However, the robust models involve a sizably voluminous number of constraints, especially when the number of assets and scenarios is large. We employ the cutting plane algorithm to solve the proposed models in a much reduced time efficiently. We evaluate the performance of the robust reward–risk ratio models on the listed stocks of FTSE 100, Nikkei 225, S&P 500, and S&P BSE 500. The robust portfolio optimization models are found to outperform their conventional counterpart models in terms of statistics measured by the standard deviation, value at risk (VaR), conditional value at risk (CVaR), Sharpe ratio, and STARR ratio.
Microstructure and mechanical property of high growth rate SiC via continuous hot‐wire CVD
Authors: Liu Shuai , Yang Yanqing , Luo Xian , Huang Bin , Jin Na , Kou Zongde
Published: March 2019

An average growth rate of SiC at 3.4‐28.5 μm/min can be achieved via continuous hot‐wire CVD method with input powers of 300‐380 W. Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) method, combined with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were applied to investigate the microstructure of deposits. At 300 W, amorphous SiC and Si were main products in deposit, which were rapidly replaced by crystallite SiC containing high density stacking faults at 340 W and above. Moreover, with the grain size of SiC increasing from ~25 to ~420 nm, the stacking faults probability decreasing from 0.179 to 0.125, as well as the surface morphology changed from loose‐packed granules to a well‐defined faceted structure with strong (111) texture. Structural changes led to the increase of deposit's Young's modulus from 266.3 to 341.5 GPa, and the mean tensile strength of SiC filament from 1.57 to 3.03 GPa. The successive growth of W/SiC interfacial layer above 360 W resulted in the reduction in mean tensile strength and Weibull moduls of SiC monofilaments, which agrees with the prediction from critical interfacial layer thickness theory.
Y4.67Si3O13‐based phosphors: Structure, morphology and upconversion luminescence for optical thermometry
Authors: Zhang Jia , Chen Yu
Published: March 2019

How to improve the sensitivity of the temperature‐sensing luminescent materials is one of the most important objects currently. In this work, to obtain high sensitivity and learn the corresponding mechanism, the rare earth (RE) ions doped Y4.67Si3O13 (YS) phosphors were developed by solid‐state reaction. The phase purity, structure, morphology and luminescence characteristics were evaluated by XRD, TEM, emission spectra, etc. The change of the optical bandgaps between the host and RE‐doped phosphors was found, agreeing with the calculation results based on density‐functional theory. The temperature‐dependence of the upconversion (UC) luminescence revealed that a linear relationship exists between the fluorescence intensity ratio of Ho3+ and temperature. The theoretical resolution was evaluated. High absolute (0.083 K−1) and relative (3.53% K−1 at 293 K) sensitivities have been gained in the YS:1%Ho3+, 10%Yb3+. The effect of the Yb3+ doping concentration and pump power on the sensitivities was discussed. The pump‐power–dependence of the UC luminescence indicated the main mechanism for high sensitivities in the YS:1%Ho3+, 10%Yb3+. Moreover, the decay‐lifetime based temperature sensing was also evaluated. The above results imply that the present phosphors could be promising candidates for temperature sensors, and the proposed strategies are instructive in exploring other new temperature sensing luminescent materials.
Thermodynamic assessment of the hollandite high‐level radioactive waste form
Authors: Utlak Stephen A. , Besmann Theodore M. , Brinkman Kyle S. , Amoroso Jake W.
Published: March 2019

Hollandite has been studied as a candidate ceramic waste form for the disposal of high‐level radioactive waste due to its inherent leach resistance and ability to immobilize alkaline‐earth metals such as Cs and Ba at defined lattice sites in the crystallographic structure. The chemical and structural complexity of hollandite‐type phases developed for high‐level waste immobilization limits the systematic experimental research that is required to understand phase development due to the large number of potential additives and compositional ranges that must be evaluated. Modeling the equilibrium behavior of the complex hollandite‐forming oxide waste system would aid in the design and processing of hollandite waste forms by predicting their thermodynamic stability. Thus, a BaO–Cs2O–TiO2–Cr2O3–Al2O3–Fe2O3–FeO–Ga2O3 thermodynamic database was developed in this work according to the CALPHAD methodology. The compound energy formalism was used to model solid solution phases such as hollandite while the two‐sublattice partially ionic liquid model characterized the oxide melt. Results of model optimizations are presented and discussed including a 1473 K isothermal BaO–Cs2O–TiO2 pseudo‐ternary diagram that extrapolates phase equilibrium behavior to regions not experimentally explored.
A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials of laughter and humour interventions on depression, anxiety and sleep quality in adults
Authors: Zhao Jinping , Yin Huiru , Zhang Guangwei , Li Guichen , Shang Binghan , Wang Chunyan , Chen Li
Published: March 2019

Aim

To quantify the effect of laughter and humour interventions on depression, anxiety, and sleep quality in adults.

Design

A meta‐analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Data Sources

PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, Weipu, and Wanfang Data were searched from their inception up to December 2018.

Review methods

The reporting of this meta‐analytical review was conducted according to the guidelines of the Cochrane Collaboration. Two reviewers selected the studies, extracted the data, and evaluated the risk of bias (Cochrane Collaboration bias assessment tool) of the included papers independently.

Results

Ten studies comprising 814 participants were included. Meta‐analysis showed that these interventions significantly decreased adults' depression, anxiety, and improved their sleep quality. The results of subgroup analysis showed that depression benefits more from long‐term laughter intervention.

Conclusions

This meta‐analysis revealed that laughter and humour interventions are effective in relieving depression, anxiety, and improve sleep quality in adults. More studies with high quality and follow‐up assessment should be conducted for future research.

Impact

This review synthesized current evidence using laughter and humour interventions to reduce negative emotion and promote better results in adults, especially with respect to target the applicability between different populations or intervention methods. In addition, humour and laughter interventions are safe, convenient, interesting and can promote interpersonal relationship in both patients and medical workers, which have great feasibility and potential to be used as an aspect of psychotherapy for clinical and nursing to improve well‐beings in adults.