bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex‐specific growth in chicks of the sexually dimorphic Black‐tailed Godwit
Authors: Loonstra A. H. Jelle , Verhoeven Mo A. , Piersma Theunis
Published: September 2017

Sexual size dimorphism (SSD) is common in birds and has been linked to various selective forces. Nevertheless, the question of how and when the sexes start to differentiate from each other is poorly studied. This is a critical knowledge gap, as sex differences in growth may cause different responses to similar ecological conditions. In this study, we describe the sex‐specific growth – based on body mass and five morphometric measurements – of 56 captive Black‐tailed GodwitLimosa limosa limosachicks raised underad libitumfood conditions, and conclude that all six growth curves are sex‐specific. Females are the larger sex in terms of body mass and skeletal body size. To test whether sex‐specific growth leads to sex‐specific susceptibility to environmental conditions, we compared the age‐specific sizes of male and female chicks in the wild with those of Black‐tailed Godwits reared in captivity. We then tested for a relationship between residual growth and relative hatching date, age, sex and habitat type in which the wild chicks were born. Early‐hatched chicks were relatively bigger and in better condition than late‐hatched chicks, but body condition and size were not affected by natal habitat type. Female chicks deviated more negatively from the sex‐specific growth curves than male chicks for body mass and total‐head length. This suggests that the growth of the larger females is more susceptible to limiting environmental conditions. On average, the deviations of wild chicks from the predicted growth curves were negative for all measurements, which suggests that conditions are limiting in the current agricultural landscape. We argue that in estimating growth curves for sexually dimorphic species, it is critical first to make accurate sex and age determinations.
In vivo evaluation of some biophysical parameters of the facial skin of Indian women. Part I: variability with age and geographical locations
Authors: Colomb L. , Flament F. , Wagle A. , Agrawal D.
Published: September 2017

Background

India is a large country (a subcontinent) of about 3.3 million km2 that covers large ranges in latitude and longitude. The last Indian census counted about 1.21 billion of inhabitants of many origins, creating a vast human diversity and skin types, the variability of which having been previously established. The present study aimed at deepening this knowledge through a set of biophysical measurements to describe, along the skin ageing process, the specificities of various Indian subjects living in different geographical locations.

Methods

A total of 1204 women, aged 18–84 years, of all socio‐economic status, were recruited in four Indian cities (Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Delhi). Measurements of face skin colour properties, elastic properties, sebum production, skin pores and microrelief roughness were performed.

Results

With regard skin colour, this study indicates, with age, a darkening of very low amplitude that leads to an increased skin colour heterogeneity. In all subjects, at all ages, the ocular region (dark circles) presents a much darker pigmentation than the cheeks, creating a contrast that appears constant at all ages. In addition to an increased skin colour heterogeneity, a progressive alteration of the skin surface relief, increased sizes of skin pores, a loss of skin elasticity and a drop in sebum production, post‐menopause, are observed.

Conclusions

This study confirms, in Indian women, some skin ageing measurements found on women from other ethnic groups (i.e. sebum, firmness, wrinkles and pores size) and also identifies some Indian specificities: a high and constant contrast between the ocular region and the cheek colour, associated to a very slow darkening effect along the lifespan.
Occurrence of cases with peri‐implant mucositis or peri‐implantitis in a 21–26 years follow‐up study
Authors: Renvert Stefan , Lindahl Christel , Persson Gösta Rutger
Published: September 2017

Aim

To determine the prevalence and development of peri‐implant mucositis and peri‐implantitis and to assess risk factors over time.

Materials and Methods

The study is a longitudinal case series assessing the occurrence and diagnosis of peri‐implant mucositis and peri‐implantitis.

Results

A total of 218 of 294 patients who had received dental implants between 1988 and 1992 were examined between 2000 and 2002 (examination II; 9–14 years after the first examination). At examination III (20–26 years after examination I, on average 23.3 years), 86 individuals were re‐examined. The diagnosis of peri‐implant mucositis and peri‐implantitis at examination III was 54.7% and 22.1%, respectively. Surgical treatment of peri‐implantitis after examination II resulted in a bone gain for two of 12 individuals. Individuals with ≥3 implants at examination II were at risk for peri‐implantitis at examination III (P< 0.05). Radiographic evidence of periodontitis (p = 0.40), a diagnosis of peri‐implant mucositis (p = .77) or smoking (p = .86) at examination II were not predictive of peri‐implantitis at examination III.

Conclusions

The diagnosis and occurrence of peri‐implantitis and peri‐implant mucositis were high. Healthy conditions at implants after 9–14 years were predictive of future implant health.
Documenting the prevalence of hiatal hernia and oesophageal abnormalities in brachycephalic dogs using fluoroscopy
Authors: Reeve E. J. , Sutton D. , Friend E. J. , Warren‐Smith C. M. R.
Published: September 2017

Objectives

To report the prevalence of abnormal fluoroscopic findings in brachycephalic dogs that were presented to a referral hospital for obstructive airway syndrome.

Methods

Hospital records between May 2013 and November 2015 identified 36 brachycephalic dogs investigated for obstructive airway disease: 21 French bulldogs, six bulldogs, four Boston terriers, two pugs, two boxers and one shih‐tzu. The presence or absence of hiatal hernia, delayed oesophageal transit, gastro‐oesophageal reflux and redundant oesophagus were recorded.

Results

Of the 36 dogs, 16 had hiatal hernia, all of which were French bulldogs; 31 dogs had delayed oesophageal transit time, 27 had gastro‐oesophageal reflux, and four had redundant oesophagus.

Clinical Significance

Clinical Significance: The prevalence of hiatal hernia is higher than expected in the French bulldog, and there was a high prevalence of oesophageal disease in this group in general. These results suggest a need to investigate similar cases for evidence of gastrointestinal disease that may also require attention.
Prevalence of overactive bladder in China, Taiwan and South Korea: Results from a cross‐sectional, population‐based study
Authors: Chuang Yao‐Chi , Liu Shih‐Ping , Lee Kyu‐Sung , Liao Limin , Wang Jianye , Yoo Tag Keun , Chu Romeo , Sumarsono Budiwan
Published: October 2017

Objective

The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of overactive bladder (OAB) in individuals aged ≥40 years in China, Taiwan, and South Korea.

Methods

The present cross‐sectional population‐representative Internet‐based study investigated OAB symptoms in men and women aged ≥40 years using the overactive bladder symptom score. Additional instruments included the International Index of Erectile Function (men only) and the Sexual Quality of Life – Female (women only) questionnaires, as well as Patient Perception of Bladder Condition (PPBC).

Results

In all, 8284 individuals participated in the study. The prevalence of OAB was 20.8% overall (women 22.1%, men 19.5%) and increased significantly with age, from 10.8% in those aged 40–44 years to 27.9% in those aged >60 years (P = .001). The presence of comorbid conditions (e.g. neurological disease, diabetes) was associated with a significantly increased prevalence of OAB. Increasing symptom severity was associated with significantly worsening patient perception of bladder condition responses. Just under half (48%) of those with no OAB had no lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS), whereas 88% of those with severe symptoms had all 3 LUTS (International Continence Society definition) symptom categories (voiding, post‐micturition, and storage symptoms). Of those without OAB, 10% reported visiting healthcare professionals for urinary symptoms, compared with 64% of those with severe OAB symptoms (P = .001). Increased symptom severity was significantly associated with lower sexual quality of life in both men and women.

Conclusions

OAB symptoms were found to affect 1 in 5 individuals aged ≥40 years in China, Taiwan, and South Korea, becoming more common with increasing age. The results suggest that many more individuals with OAB could benefit by consulting healthcare professionals.
KV channel trafficking and control of vascular tone
Authors: Hasan Raquibul , Jaggar Jonathan H.
Published: September 2017

Membrane potential is a principal regulator of arterial contractility. Arterial smooth muscle cells express several different types of ion channel that control membrane potential, including KV channels. KV channel activation leads to membrane hyperpolarization, resulting in inhibition of voltage‐dependent Ca2+ channels, a reduction in [Ca2+]i, and vasodilation. In contrast, KV channel inhibition leads to membrane depolarization and vasoconstriction. The ability of KV channels to regulate arterial contractility is dependent upon the number of plasma membrane‐resident channels and their open probability. Here, we will discuss mechanisms that alter the surface abundance of KV channel proteins in arterial smooth muscle cells and the functional consequences of such regulation. Cellular processes that will be described include those that modulate KV channel transcription, retrograde and anterograde trafficking, and protein degradation.
Expression of GnRH receptor in the canine corpus luteum, and luteal function following deslorelin acetate‐induced puberty delay
Authors: Kaya D , Gram A , Kowalewski MP , Schäfer‐Somi S , Kuru M , Boos A , Aslan S
Published: September 2017

Contents

The goals of this study were as follows: (Experiment 1) to examine the basic capability of canine corpora lutea (CL) to respond to GnRH by assessing expression of gonadotropin‐releasing hormone receptor (GnRH‐R) in luteal samples collected throughout the luteal lifespan from non‐pregnant dogs, and (Experiment 2) to investigate the effects of pre‐pubertal application of the GnRH agonist deslorelin acetate on luteal function following the first oestrus. Mature CL were collected during the mid‐luteal phase (days 30–45) from treated and control bitches. Transcript levels of several factors were determined: estrogen receptors (ESR1/ERα, ESR2/ERβ), progesterone (P4)‐receptor (PGR), prolactin receptor (PRLR), PGE2‐synthase (PTGES) and PGE2 receptors (PTGER2/EP2, PTGER4/EP4), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA) and VEGF receptors (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2/PTGS2), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR) and 3β‐hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3βHSD). Additionally, levels of Kisspeptin 1 (Kiss1) and its receptor (KISS1‐R) were evaluated. Although generally low, GnRH‐R expression was time dependent and was elevated during early dioestrus, with a significant decrease towards luteal regression. In deslorelin‐treated and control dogs, its expression was either low or frequently below the detection limit. EP2 and VEGFR1 were higher in the treated group, which could be caused by a feedback mechanism after long‐term suppression of reproductive activity. Despite large individual variations, 3βHSD was higher in the deslorelin‐treated group. This, along with unchanged STAR expression, was apparently not mirrored in increased luteal functionality, because similar P4 levels were detected in both groups. Finally, the deslorelin‐mediated long‐term delay of puberty does not have negative carry‐over effects on subsequent ovarian functionality in bitches.
Technocracy, democracy, and public policy:An evaluation of public participation in retrospective regulatory review
Authors: DeMenno Mercy B.
Published: October 2017

Retrospective review of existing regulations is an increasingly common aspect of the regulatory policy cycle. As with prospective regulatory policymaking, public participation is a central feature of many retrospective review initiatives. Despite its theoretical and practical significance, participation in retrospective review has received little scholarly attention. This paper presents the first systematic assessment of participation in United States retrospective regulatory review. Utilizing content analysis of an original dataset of government documents and public input produced pursuant to Executive Orders 13563, 13579, and 13610, the paper analyzes participatory institutional design, the level and composition of participants, and participation processes. The results suggest that retrospective review participation processes largely reflected the modes of stakeholder outreach and engagement employed in prospective regulatory policymaking, but resulted in comparatively low levels of participation. Consistent with the purposes enumerated in the executive orders, participation processes facilitated information exchange and were relatively representative of and responsive to stakeholders.
Indium Mineralization in the Yejiwei Sn‐Polymetallic Deposit of the Shizhuyuan Orefield, Southern Hunan, China
Authors: Liu Jianping , Rong Yanan , Gu Xiangping , Shao Yongjun , Lai Jianqing , Chen Weikang
Published: October 2017

The Yejiwei deposit, which is located in the southern Hunan W–Sn–Pb–Zn Metallogenic Belt in south China, is a large‐scale porphyry–skarn–veinlet‐type deposit containing 806 t In. Mineralization occurs as porphyry‐type Sn (stockworks), skarn‐type Sn–Cu, marble‐hosted‐type Sn–Cu (veinlet), and vein‐type Pb–Zn ores. Thirty‐five ore samples were collected from the Yejiwei deposit for bulk and mineral chemical composition, microscopic observation and electron microprobe analyses. The porphyry‐type Sn ores contain variable amounts of In (2.3–76 ppm; mean of 17.4 ppm) with local In enrichment (226 ppm) and 1000 × In/Zn values are 3.8–52.4. The skarn‐type Cu–Sn ore is richest in In (12.3–214 ppm; mean of 114 ppm), and 1000 × In/Zn values are 2.4–117. In contrast, the In content of the marble‐hosted‐type Cu–Sn ores is relatively low (7.4–34.9 ppm; mean of 20.3 ppm), and 1000 × In/Zn is in the range of 0.61–5.5, and the vein‐type Pb–Zn ores in the external zone contain the lowest In contents (7.2–17.0 ppm; mean of 12.1 ppm) with 1000 × In/Zn values of 0.07–0.09. The ore minerals in the deposit include pyrite, pyrrhotite, cassiterite, and In‐bearing minerals of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, and stannite. Although only trace amounts of sphalerite are hosted in the porphyry ores, the sphalerite contains the highest In content (0.27–10.1 wt.% In) in the deposit. We observed the highest In contents of all In‐bearing sphalerite reported in China. The In contents of sphalerite in the skarn‐type ore range from 0.15 to 0.56 wt.%, whereas the marble‐hosted‐, and vein‐type ores have lower In contents (0.00–0.04, and 0.03–0.06 wt.%, respectively). The In resources of the Yejiwei deposit are mainly hosted in skarn ores of the No. 31 and No. 32 orebodies. The genesis of In in the Yejiwei deposit was closely related to the shallow intrusive environment of related igneous rocks. As W–Sn–Mo–Bi–Cu–Pb–Zn–Ag mineralization is widespread in south Hunan, this study would suggest a focus on skarn‐type Sn–Zn deposits for the future prospecting of In resources.
Testing Independence of Covariates and Errors in Non‐parametric Regression
Authors: Dhar Subhra Sankar , Bergsma Wicher , Dassios Angelos
Published: October 2017

Consider a non‐parametric regression modelY=m(X)+ϵ, wheremis an unknown regression function,Yis a real‐valued response variable,Xis a real covariate, andϵis the error term. In this article, we extend the usual tests for homoscedasticity by developing consistent tests for independence betweenXandϵ. Further, we investigate the local power of the proposed tests using Le Cam's contiguous alternatives. An asymptotic power study under local alternatives along with extensive finite sample simulation study shows that the performance of the new tests is competitive with existing ones. Furthermore, the practicality of the new tests is shown using two real data sets.
Social centrality and aggressive behavior in the elementary school: Gender segregation, social structure, and psychological factors
Authors: Molano Andres , Jones Stephanie M.
Published: September 2017

In this paper, we build on key findings in the sociological literature regarding different patterns of association between social centrality and overt aggressive behavior in the context of same‐and‐cross gender social interactions. We explore these associations in a population of urban elementary school students ( = 8.62,SD = 0.69,N = 848), while addressing claims that the role of psychological factors is overstated in this literature. Our results indicate that, on average, social centrality is positively associated with aggressive behavior for boys, but negatively for girls. We also find a moderating effect indicating that the proportion of male peers with whom participants are reported to hang around, as well as their own gender play a role in the association between social centrality and aggression. These findings are discussed in the context of an ecological perspective on human development in which interactions among individuals, their social groups, and key environments are viewed as central to shaping developmental pathways.
Ex vivo‐expanded baboon CD39 + regulatory T cells prevent rejection of porcine islet xenografts in NOD‐SCID IL‐2rγ−/− mice reconstituted with baboon peripheral blood mononuclear cells
Authors: Huang Dandan , Wang Ya , Hawthorne Wayne J. , Hu Min , Hawkes Joanne , Burns Heather , Davies Sussan , Gao Feng , Chew Yi Vee , Yi Shounan , O'Connell Philip J.
Published: September 2017

Background

A high immunosuppressive burden is required for long‐term islet xenograft survival in non‐human primates even using genetically modified donor pigs.

Aims

We aimed to investigate the capacity of baboon regulatory T cells (Treg) to suppress islet xenograft rejection, thereby developing a potential immunoregulatory or tolerance therapy that could be evaluated in NHP models of xenotransplantation.

Materials & Methods

Baboon Treg expanded with stimulation by porcine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were characterized by cell phenotyping and suppressive activity assays in vitro. Their function in vivo was evaluated in neonatal porcine islet cell clusters (NICC) transplanted NOD‐SCID IL‐2rγ−/− (NSG) mice receiving baboon PBMC alone or with expanded autologous Treg.

Results

The majority of expanded Treg coexpressed Foxp3 and CD39 and were highly suppressive of the baboon anti‐pig xenogeneic T cell response in vitro. Reconstitution of mice with baboon PBMC alone resulted in NICC xenograft rejection within 35 days. Cotransfer with baboon PBMC and Treg prolonged islet xenograft survival beyond 100 days, correlating with Treg engraftment, intragraft CD39 and Foxp3 gene expression, and reduced graft infiltrating effector T cells and reduced interferon‐γ production.

Discussion & Conclusion

Our data supports the capacity of ex vivo expanded CD39+ baboon Treg to suppress islet xenograft rejection in primatized mice, suggesting it has potential as an adjunctive immunotherapy in preclinical NHP models of xenotransplantation.
Epitaxial SrRuO3/SrTiO3(100) analyzed using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Authors: Barlaz D. Eitan , Haasch Richard T. , Seebauer Edmund G.
Published: October 2017

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was used to analyze an epitaxially grown SrRuO3/SrTiO3(100) single crystal thin film. XP spectra were obtained using incident monochromatic Al Kα radiation at 0.83401 nm. A survey spectrum together with O 1s, Ru 3p, C 1s, Ru 3d, Sr 3p, Sr 3d, Ru 4p, Sr 4s, O 2s, and Sr 4p core-level spectra and the valence band are presented. The spectra indicate the principle core-level photoelectron and Auger electron signals and show only minor carbon contamination. Making use of the O 1s, Ru 3p, and Sr 3d lines and neglecting the components related to surface contaminants, XPS quantitative analysis reveals an altered stoichiometry of the air-exposed crystal surface of SrRu0.92O3.41.
Potent peptidic fusion inhibitors of influenza virus
Authors: Kadam Rameshwar U. , Juraszek Jarek , Brandenburg Boerries , Buyck Christophe , Schepens Wim B. G. , Kesteleyn Bart , Stoops Bart , Vreeken Rob J. , Vermond Jan , Goutier Wouter , Tang Chan , Vogels Ronald , Friesen Robert H. E. , Goudsmit Jaap , van Dongen Maria J. P. , Wilson Ian A.
Published: September 2017

Broadly reactive drugs for flu

Drugs for influenza are limited. For those available, viral resistance is rife. Part of the problem is that the virus is constantly mutating. Kadam
et al.
tested the cell entry stage of the virus life cycle as a drug target (see the Perspective by Whitehead). Cell entry is mediated by the major surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA). This stage can be blocked by broadly neutralizing antibodies binding to HA. The authors generated small cyclic peptides that bind to the same sites on HA as the antibodies and mimic their activity. The peptides are cheap and easy to synthesize, are nontoxic to mice, and prevented infection of cells by many types of influenza virus.

Science
, this issue p.
496
; see also p.
450
Full Sequencing and Genomic Analysis of Three
emm
75 Group A
Streptococcus
Strains Recovered in the Course of an Epidemiological Shift in French Brittany
Authors: Rochefort Aude , Boukthir Sarrah , Moullec Séverine , Meygret Alexandra , Adnani Yahia , Lavenier Dominique , Faili Ahmad , Kayal Samer
Published: September 2017

While the incidence and invasiveness of type
emm
75 group A
Streptococcus
(GAS) infections increased in French Brittany during 2013, we sequenced and analyzed the genomes of three independent strains isolated in 2009, 2012, and 2014, respectively. In this short-term evolution, genomic analysis evidenced mainly the integration of new phages encoding virulence factors.
Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus subtilis AS2, a Heavy Crude Oil-Degrading and Biosurfactant-Producing Bacterium Isolated from a Soil Sample
Authors: Al-Sayegh Abdullah , Al-Wahaibi Yahya , Joshi Sanket , Al-Bahry Saif , Elshafie Abdulkadir , Al-Bemani Ali
Published: September 2017

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Bacillus subtilis
AS2 that was isolated from heavy crude oil-contaminated soil samples from sludge pits of an Omani heavy-oil field.
B. subtilis
AS2 was able to biodegrade heavy crude oil and produce biosurfactant. In order to provide a better understanding of the biodegradation mechanism and biosynthesis of metabolites, the
B. subtilis
AS2 genome was sequenced and compared to those of other
B. subtilis
strains.
What does my neighbourhood have to do with my weight? A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between neighbourhood socioeconomic status and body weight
Authors: Mohammed Shimels Hussien , Birhanu Mulugeta Molla , Sissay Tesfamichael Awoke , Habtewold Tesfa Dejenie , Tegegn Balewgizie Sileshi , Esmaillzadeh Ahmad
Published: September 2017

Introduction

Individuals living in poor neighbourhoods are at a higher risk of overweight/obesity. There is no systematic review and meta-analysis study on the association of neighbourhood socioeconomic status (NSES) with overweight/obesity. We aimed to systematically review and meta-analyse the existing evidence on the association of NSES with overweight/obesity.

Methods and analysis

Cross-sectional, case–control and cohort studies published in English from inception to 15 May 2017 will be systematically searched using the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Sciences and Google Scholar. Selection, screening, reviewing and data extraction will be done by two reviewers, independently and in duplicate. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) will be used to assess the quality of evidence. Publication bias will be checked by visual inspection of funnel plots and Egger’s regression test. Heterogeneity will be checked by Higgins’s method (I2statistics). Meta-analysis will be done to estimate the pooled OR. Narrative synthesis will be performed if meta-analysis is not feasible due to high heterogeneity of studies.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical clearance is not required as we will be using data from published articles. Findings will be communicated through a publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presentations at professional conferences.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42017063889.
Junior doctor psychiatry placements in hospital and community settings: a phenomenological study
Authors: Beattie Sharon , Crampton Paul E S , Schwarzlose Cathleen , Kumar Namita , Cornwall Peter L
Published: September 2017

Objectives

The proportion of junior doctors required to complete psychiatry placements in the UK has increased, due in part to vacant training posts and psychiatry career workforce shortages, as can be seen across the world. The aim of this study was to understand the lived experience of a Foundation Year 1 junior doctor psychiatry placement and to understand how job components influence attitudes.

Design

The study was conducted using a cross-sectional qualitative phenomenological approach.

Setting

Hospital and community psychiatry department settings in the North East of England, UK.

Participants

In total, 14 Foundation Year 1 junior doctors were interviewed including seven men and seven women aged between 23 and 34 years. The majority had completed their medical degree in the UK and were White British.

Results

The lived experience of a junior doctor psychiatry placement was understood by three core themes: exposure to patient recovery, connectedness with others in the healthcare team and subjective interpretations of psychiatry. The experiences were moderated by instances of role definition, reaction to the specialty and the organisational fit of the junior doctor capacity in the specialty.

Conclusions

The study reinforces and adds to the literature by identifying connectedness as being important for both job satisfaction and morale, which is currently damaged within the junior doctor population. The study provides in-depth insights into the lived experience of psychiatry placements and can be taken forward by educationalists to ensure the placements are meaningful experiences for junior doctors by developing role definition, belonging, structure and psychiatric care responsibility.
Effect of a combined education and eHealth programme on the control of oral anticoagulation patients (PORTALS study): a parallel cohort design in Dutch primary care
Authors: Talboom-Kamp Esther P W A , Verdijk Noortje A , Kasteleyn Marise J , Harmans Lara M , Talboom Irvin J S H , Numans Mattijs E , Chavannes Niels H
Published: September 2017

Objectives

To analyse the effect on therapeutic control and self-management skills of the implementation of self-management programmes, including eHealth by e-learning versus group training.

Setting

Primary Care Thrombosis Service Center.

Participants

Of the 247 oral anticoagulation therapy (OAT) patients, 63 started self-management by e-learning, 74 self-management by group training and 110 received usual care.

Intervention and methods

Parallel cohort design with two randomised self-management groups (e-learning and group training) and a group receiving usual care. The effect of implementation of self-management on time in therapeutic range (TTR) was analysed with multilevel linear regression modelling. Usage of a supporting eHealth platform and the impact on self-efficacy (Generalised Self-Efficacy Scale (GSES)) and education level were analysed with linear regression analysis. After intervention, TTR was measured in three time periods of 6 months.

Main outcome measures

(1) TTR, severe complications,(2) usage of an eHealth platform,(3) GSES, education level.

Results

Analysis showed no significant differences in TTR between the three time periods (p=0.520), the three groups (p=0.460) or the groups over time (p=0.263). Comparison of e-learning and group training showed no significant differences in TTR between the time periods (p=0.614), the groups (p=0.460) or the groups over time (p=0.263). No association was found between GSES and TTR (p=0.717) or education level and TTR (p=0.107). No significant difference was found between the self-management groups in usage of the platform (0–6 months p=0.571; 6–12 months p=0.866; 12–18 months p=0.260). The percentage of complications was low in all groups (3.2%; 1.4%; 0%).

Conclusions

No differences were found between OAT patients trained by e-learning or by a group course regarding therapeutic control (TTR) and usage of a supporting eHealth platform. The TTR was similar in self-management and regular care patients. With adequate e-learning or group training, self-management seems safe and reliable for a selected proportion of motivated vitamin K antagonist patients.

Trial registration number

NTR3947.
Protracted severe systemic cytomegalovirus disease in an immunosuppressed patient with ulcerative colitis
Authors: Armstrong Matthew James , Thomas Tom , Iqbal Tariq , Boulton Ralph , Goh Jason
Published: September 2017

A 33-year-old man with ulcerative colitis presented with 5-day history of fever, night sweats, abdominal pain and increased stool frequency. He was on mesalazine M/R 1 g once daily, 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) 75 mg once daily and prednisolone 40 mg once daily. Examination revealed fever and tachycardia. Blood examinations identified a persistent leucopenia, C reactive protein of 23 mg/L and an initial alanine transaminase of 855 IU/L. Flexible sigmoidoscopy revealed well-demarcated, punched-out ulcers in the proximal rectum and distal sigmoid, with histology pathognomonic of cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV DNA PCR was 51 140 copies/mL. Despite prompt withdrawal of 6-MP, steroids and initiation of intravenous ganciclovir on day 2 of admission, his systemic illness, diarrhoea and fever persisted until day 19 of antiviral therapy. Other copathogens and lymphoma were ruled out on serology and CT scan, respectively. After an unusually prolonged course of antiviral therapy, the patient made a full clinical recovery, bloods normalised and there were two consecutive undetectable CMV DNA PCRs.
Use of a silicon drift detector (SDD) in the quantitative analysis of in-air PIXE
Authors: Sera K. , Goto S. , Hosokawa T. , Saitoh Y.
Published: October 2017

In the present study, we used a silicon drift detector (SDD) for the quantitative analysis of in-air PIXE. First, we examined the basic performances of the detector. We found that the shift of the peak position was less than 0.45 eV, and the energy resolution was 130–136 eV at 5.98 keV. We then used the SDD for a quantitative analysis. Physical parameters, such as the X-ray production cross-sections, values of the transmission of X-rays through absorbers and the detection efficiencies, which are required for quantification, were obtained theoretically and experimentally. We confirmed that many elements, from magnesium to barium, were able to be detected without using any special device. The results of the quantitative analyses of a few standard materials showed good agreement with the certified values. This method was also used to analyze practical samples, including bio-medical samples, and the results were in good agreement with the results obtained with in-vacuum PIXE.
A Composite Natural Language Processing and Information Retrieval Approach to Question Answering Using a Structured Knowledge Base
Authors: Chandurkar Avani , Bansal Ajay
Published: October 2017

With the inception of the World Wide Web, the amount of data present on the Internet is tremendous. This makes the task of navigating through this enormous amount of data quite difficult for the user. As users struggle to navigate through this wealth of information, the need for the development of an automated system that can extract the required information becomes urgent. This paper presents a Question Answering system to ease the process of information retrieval. Question Answering systems have been around for quite some time and are a sub-field of information retrieval and natural language processing. The task of any Question Answering system is to seek an answer to a free form factual question. The difficulty of pinpointing and verifying the precise answer makes question answering more challenging than simple information retrieval done by search engines. The research objective of this paper is to develop a novel approach to Question Answering based on a composition of conventional approaches of Information Retrieval (IR) and Natural Language processing (NLP). The focus is on using a structured and annotated knowledge base instead of an unstructured one. The knowledge base used here is DBpedia and the final system is evaluated on the Text REtrieval Conference (TREC) 2004 questions dataset.
A Comparison on the Use of LSA and LDA in Psychology Analysis on “Courage” Definitions
Authors: Santilli Sara , Nota Laura , Pilato Giovanni
Published: October 2017

In the present work Latent Semantic Analysis of textual data was applied on texts related to courage, in order to compare and contrast results and evaluate the opportunity of integrating different data sets. To better understand the definition of courage in Italian context, 1199 participants were involved in the present study and was asked to answer to the following question “Courage is[Formula: see text]”. The participants’ definitions of courage were analyzed with the Latent Semantic Analysis (LSA), and Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), in order to study the fundamental concepts arising from the population. An analogous comparison with Twitter posts has been also carried out to analyze if the public opinion emerging from social media provides a challenging and rich context to explore computational models of natural language.
CGRPα within the Trpv1-Cre population contributes to visceral nociception
Authors: Spencer Nick J. , Magnúsdóttir Elín I. , Jakobsson Jon E. T. , Kestell Garreth , Chen Bao Nan , Morris David , Brookes Simon J. , Lagerström Malin C.
Published: October 2017

The role of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in visceral and somatic nociception is incompletely understood. CGRPα is highly expressed in sensory neurons of dorsal root ganglia and particularly in neurons that also express the transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (Trpv1). Therefore, we investigated changes in visceral and somatic nociception following deletion of CGRPα from the Trpv1-Cre population using the Cre/lox system. In control mice, acetic acid injection (0.6%, ip) caused significant immobility (time stationary), an established indicator of visceral pain. In CGRPα-mCherrylx/lx;Trpv1-Cre mice, the duration of immobility was significantly less than controls, and the distance CGRPα-mCherrylx/lx;Trpv1-Cre mice traveled over 20 min following acetic acid was significantly greater than controls. However, following acetic acid injection, there was no difference between genotypes in the writhing reflex, number of abdominal licks, or forepaw wipes of the cheek. CGRPα-mCherrylx/lx;Trpv1-Cre mice developed more pronounced inflammation-induced heat hypersensitivity above baseline values compared with controls. However, analyses of noxious acute heat or cold transmission revealed no difference between genotypes. Also, odor avoidance test, odor preference test, and buried food test for olfaction revealed no differences between genotypes. Our findings suggest that CGRPα-mediated transmission within the Trpv1-Cre population plays a significant role in visceral nociceptive pathways underlying voluntary movement. Monitoring changes in movement over time is a sensitive parameter to identify differences in visceral nociception, compared with writhing reflexes, abdominal licks, or forepaw wipes of the cheek that were unaffected by deletion of CGRPα- from Trpv1-Cre population and likely utilize different mechanisms.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is highly colocalized with transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1)-expressing primary afferent neurons, but the functional role of CGRPα specifically in these neurons is unknown in pain processing from visceral and somatic afferents. We used cre-lox recombination to conditionally delete CGRPα from TRPV1-expressing neurons in mice. We show that CGRPα from within TRPV1-cre population plays an important role in visceral nociception but less so in somatic nociception.
Inorganic nitrate supplementation attenuates peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity but does not improve cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity in older adults
Authors: Bock Joshua M. , Ueda Kenichi , Schneider Aaron C. , Hughes William E. , Limberg Jacqueline K. , Bryan Nathan S. , Casey Darren P.
Published: October 2017

Aging is associated with increased peripheral chemoreceptor activity, reduced nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, and attenuation of cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), collectively increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Evidence suggests that NO may attenuate peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity and increase BRS. Exogenous inorganic nitrate ([Formula: see text]) increases NO bioavailability via the [Formula: see text]-[Formula: see text]-NO pathway. Our hypothesis was that inorganic [Formula: see text] supplementation would attenuate peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity and enhance spontaneous cardiovagal BRS in older adults. We used a randomized, placebo-controlled crossover design in which 13 older (67 ± 3 yr old) adults ingested beetroot powder containing (BRA) or devoid of (BRP) [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] daily over 4 wk. Spontaneous cardiovagal BRS was assessed over 15 min of rest and was quantified using the sequence method. Chemoreflex sensitivity was assessed via ~5 min of hypoxia (10% fraction of inspired O2) and reported as the slope of the relationship between O2 saturation (%[Formula: see text]) and minute ventilation (in l/min) or heart rate (in beats/min). Ventilatory responsiveness to hypoxia was reduced after BRA (from −0.14 ± 0.04 to −0.05 ± 0.02 l·min−1·%[Formula: see text]−1, P = 0.01) versus BRP (from −0.10 ± 0.05 to −0.11 ± 0.05 l·min−1·%[Formula: see text]−1, P = 0.80), with no differences in heart rate responsiveness (BRA: from −0.47 ± 0.06 to −0.33 ± 0.04 beats·min−1·%[Formula: see text]−1, BRP: from −0.48 ± 0.07 to −0.42 ± 0.06 beats·min−1·%[Formula: see text]−1) between conditions (interaction effect, P = 0.41). Spontaneous cardiovagal BRS was unchanged after BRA and BRP (interaction effects, P = 0.69, 0.94, and 0.39 for all, up, and down sequences, respectively), despite a reduction in resting systolic and mean arterial blood pressure in the experimental (BRA) group ( P < 0.01 for both). These findings illustrate that inorganic [Formula: see text] supplementation attenuates peripheral chemoreflex sensitivity without concomitant change in spontaneous cardiovagal BRS in older adults.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Exogenous inorganic nitrate supplementation attenuates ventilatory, but not heart rate, responsiveness to abbreviated hypoxic exposure in older adults. Additionally, inorganic nitrate reduces systolic and mean arterial blood pressure without affecting spontaneous cardiovagal baroreflex sensitivity. These findings suggest that inorganic nitrate may attenuate sympathetically oriented pathologies associated with aging.
Chronic renal artery insulin infusion increases mean arterial pressure in male Sprague-Dawley rats
Authors: Irsik Debra L. , Chen Jian-Kang , Brands Michael W.
Published: October 2017

Hyperinsulinemia has been hypothesized to cause hypertension in obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome through a renal mechanism. However, it has been challenging to isolate renal mechanisms in chronic experimental models due, in part, to technical difficulties. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that a renal mechanism underlies insulin hypertension. We developed a novel technique to permit continuous insulin infusion through the renal artery in conscious rats for 7 days. Mean arterial pressure increased by ~10 mmHg in rats that were infused intravenously (IV) with insulin and glucose. Renal artery doses were 20% of the intravenous doses and did not raise systemic insulin levels or cause differences in blood glucose. The increase in blood pressure was not different from the IV group. Mean arterial pressure did not change in vehicle-infused rats, and there were no differences in renal injury scoring due to the renal artery catheter. Glomerular filtration rate, plasma renin activity, and urinary sodium excretion did not differ between groups at baseline and did not change significantly with insulin infusion. Thus, by developing a novel approach for chronic, continuous renal artery insulin infusion, we provided new evidence that insulin causes hypertension in rats through actions initiated within the kidney.
Effect of hypocapnia on the sensitivity of hyperthermic hyperventilation and the cerebrovascular response in resting heated humans
Authors: Tsuji Bun , Filingeri Davide , Honda Yasushi , Eguchi Tsubasa , Fujii Naoto , Kondo Narihiko , Nishiyasu Takeshi
Published: October 2017

Elevating core temperature at rest causes increases in minute ventilation (V̇e), which lead to reductions in both arterial CO2 partial pressure (hypocapnia) and cerebral blood flow. We tested the hypothesis that in resting heated humans this hypocapnia diminishes the ventilatory sensitivity to rising core temperature but does not explain a large portion of the decrease in cerebral blood flow. Fourteen healthy men were passively heated using hot-water immersion (41°C) combined with a water-perfused suit, which caused esophageal temperature (Tes) to reach 39°C. During heating in two separate trials, end-tidal CO2 partial pressure decreased from the level before heating (39.4 ± 2.0 mmHg) to the end of heating (30.5 ± 6.3 mmHg) ( P = 0.005) in the Control trial. This decrease was prevented by breathing CO2-enriched air throughout the heating such that end-tidal CO2 partial pressure did not differ between the beginning (39.8 ± 1.5 mmHg) and end (40.9 ± 2.7 mmHg) of heating ( P = 1.00). The sensitivity to rising Tes (i.e., slope of the Tes − V̇E relation) did not differ between the Control and CO2-breathing trials (37.1 ± 43.1 vs. 16.5 ± 11.1 l·min−1·°C−1, P = 0.31). In both trials, middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAV) decreased early during heating (all P < 0.01), despite the absence of hyperventilation-induced hypocapnia. CO2 breathing increased MCAV relative to Control at the end of heating ( P = 0.005) and explained 36.6% of the heat-induced reduction in MCAV. These results indicate that during passive heating at rest ventilatory sensitivity to rising core temperature is not suppressed by hypocapnia and that most of the decrease in cerebral blood flow occurs independently of hypocapnia.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY Hyperthermia causes hyperventilation and concomitant hypocapnia and cerebral hypoperfusion. The last may underlie central fatigue. We are the first to demonstrate that hyperthermia-induced hyperventilation is not suppressed by the resultant hypocapnia and that hypocapnia explains only 36% of cerebral hypoperfusion elicited by hyperthermia. These new findings advance our understanding of the mechanisms controlling ventilation and cerebral blood flow during heat stress, which may be useful for developing interventions aimed at preventing central fatigue during hyperthermia.
Study on Effects of Titanium Surface Microporous Coatings Containing Zinc on Osteoblast Adhesion and Its Antibacterial Activity
Authors: Zhao Quan-ming , Li Guang-zhong , Zhu Hao-ming , Cheng Li
Published: October 2017

Metal surface structure/biomedical function integration is the current research focus. In previous studies, we have successfully prepared the microporous coatings containing zinc on the pure titanium surface by MAO. In the study, osteoblasts were seeded on the surface of the microporous coatings containing zinc and the adhesion of osteoblasts were evaluated, and the antibacterial activity of the microporous coatings containing zinc is observed through in vitro bacterial experiments. The result indicates that the adhesion ability of osteoblasts on the surface of microporous coatings containing zinc was very good, and the coatings could obviously inhibit the growth ofStaphylococcus aureusand had good antibacterial activity. In conclusion, the microporous coatings containing zinc on titanium surface have good osteogenic and antibacterial properties and have good application prospect.
Hemoglobin-Dilution Method: Effect of Measurement Errors on Vascular Volume Estimation
Authors: Wolf Matthew B.
Published: October 2017

The hemoglobin-dilution method (HDM) has been used to estimate changes in vascular volumes in patients because direct measurements with radioisotopes are time-consuming and not practical in many facilities. The HDM requires an assumption of initial blood volume, repeated measurements of plasma hemoglobin concentration, and the calculation of the ratio of hemoglobin measurements. The statistics of these ratio distributions resulting from measurement error are ill-defined even when the errors are normally distributed. This study uses a “Monte Carlo” approach to determine the distribution of these errors. The finding was that these errors could be closely approximated with a log-normal distribution that can be parameterized by a geometric mean (X) and a dispersion factor (S). When the ratio of successive Hb concentrations is used to estimate blood volume, normally distributed hemoglobin measurement errors tend to produce exponentially higher values ofXandSas the SD of the measurement error increases. The longer tail of the distribution to the right could produce much greater overestimations than would be expected from the SD values of the measurement error; however, it was found that averaging duplicate and triplicate hemoglobin measurements on a blood sample greatly improved the accuracy.
A Rare Case of Idiopathic Plastic Bronchitis
Authors: Raoufi Mohammed , Achachi Leila , Mrabet Fatima Zahra , Herrak Laila , Ftouh Mustapha El , Bourhroum Najoua , Ouazzani Taibi Nezha
Published: October 2017

Plastic bronchitis is a rare disorder characterized by formation of large, branching bronchial casts, which are often expectorated. We present an interesting case of a 35-year-old woman who presented for evaluation of a chronic cough productive of voluminous secretions. Clinical and radiological examination confirmed a total left lung atelectasis without any pathological mediastinal node. Flexible bronchoscopy demonstrated tenacious, thick, and sticky whitish secretions blocking the left stem bronchus. This material was extracted, and inspection demonstrated a bronchial cast, whose pathological analysis revealed necrotic epithelial cells, some eosinophils, and Charcot-Leyden crystals. Two days after bronchoscopy, the patient rejected more bronchial casts, and dyspnea improved. Control of chest x-ray revealed complete left lung aeration and the diagnosis of idiopathic plastic bronchitis was obtained. This article shows the interest in clinical practice to evoke the diagnosis of plastic bronchitis in front of a productive chronic cough. Our case illustrates a rare clinical presentation represented by an atelectasis of an entire lung.