bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Article Commentary: Clinical Severity Measures for Psoriasis: A Case for the PASI
Authors: Beroukhim Kourosh , Farahnik Benjamin , Danesh Melissa , Nguyen Catherine , Koo John , Levin Ethan
Published: January 2018

The Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) and Physician Global Assessment (PGA) are the most commonly used tools for the evaluation of psoriasis disease severity in clinical trials. Based on U.S. Food and Drug Administration requirements, many recent trials concerning measurement of psoriasis disease severity have included the PGA as a primary endpoint alongside the PASI. In this commentary, we review the advantages and disadvantages of the PASI and PGA scales, and discuss an example of a psoriasis patient in whom PGA fails to capture clinically significant disease improvement. We argue that despite its limitations, the PASI is a more accurate and descriptive instrument than the PGA for the assessment of psoriasis severity.
Successful Treatment of Palmoplantar Psoriasis Using Combination Acitretin and Apremilast: A Case Report
Authors: Colao Roman , Yanofsky Valerie R. , Lebwohl Mark G.
Published: January 2018

Palmoplantar psoriasis is a chronic disabling condition characterized by erythematous scaly plaques of the palms and soles, often with associated pain, erythema, and fissuring. It is thought to occur in up to 40% of psoriasis patients, and can at times be the sole manifestation of disease. This condition poses a unique therapeutic challenge in that it is refractory to many therapies currently approved for the management of psoriasis. Recently, apremilast, a phosphodiesterase-4 inhibitor, became the first small molecule approved for the management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. While showing promising results in plaque psoriasis, this therapy has yet to be fully evaluated for the management of palmoplantar psoriasis. Herein, we report a case of successful clearance of severe recalcitrant palmoplantar psoriasis using a novel combination of acitretin and apremilast.
Article Commentary: Corrona's Application in Psoriatic Disease
Authors: Joshipura Deep , Greb Jacqueline , Rothstein Brooke , Tarazi Meera , Prussick Lisa , Mital Tanya , Streit Madeleine , Gottlieb Alice
Published: January 2018

Corrona is a prospective observational registry founded in 2002 that collects data from patients and physicians about rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, other spondyloarthritis, and psoriasis. Here, we summarize the significant findings derived from the psoriatic arthritis Corrona database and describe future goals for Corrona's application in psoriasis.
Inadvertent Overdose of Secukinumab, Consequences, and Cautions
Authors: Taliercio Mark , Alessa Dana , Kessler David B.
Published: January 2018

Secukinumab, an anti-IL-17A monoclonal antibody, is commonly used for the treatment of psoriasis. The IL-17A cytokine has been linked to immune-mediated disorders, and in the FIXTURE study, secukinumab had proven superior to placebo and etanercept in treating psoriasis. Side effects of secukinumab could include neutropenia, susceptibility to candida (including chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis), superficial dermatophytosis, worsening of Crohn's disease, and increased likelihood of tuberculosis. In this report, we assess a patient who has suffered from psoriasis for 30 years, and incorrectly injected the drug daily, instead of weekly, for her first five doses. In just two weeks following the overdose, the patient's Physician's Global Assessment decreased from 4 to 2, and the patient was continued on the drug after one month. This case report represents the high safety index of secukinumab in 300 mg dosing.
A Review of Localized Office and Home Devices in the Treatment of Psoriasis
Authors: Buckland Molly , Smith Jaclyn S. , Hill Dane , Feldman Steven R.
Published: January 2018

Importance

Targeted phototherapy for treatment of localized psoriasis has advantages over non-targeted phototherapy. It delivers high ultraviolet doses to only the diseased skin, sparing irradiation to normal skin.

Objective

This study aims to review the devices that are available for targeted treatment of psoriasis.

Evidence Review

A PubMed literature review was conducted to identify devices for localized psoriasis phototherapy. Device manufacturer websites were searched for specific information.

Findings

Eighty-four papers were identified that met the inclusion criteria. We identified and described seven laser/light therapies and 22 devices for localized psoriasis treatment.

Limitations

There is potential bias for each device since the products’ information was provided by their manufacturer. Some devices were excluded due to lack of relevant information.

Conclusions and Relevance

Excimer laser and narrow band ultraviolet B devices are valuable treatment modalities for localized psoriasis. Handheld, narrow band ultraviolet B devices are efficacious and available for home treatment.
Greater Efficacy with Secukinumab Treatment is Associated with Greater Psoriasis Symptom Relief: Results from Secukinumab Clinical Trial Data
Authors: Gottlieb Alice B. , Strober Bruce , Lebwohl Mark , Kaufmann Roland , Pariser David , Narbutas Redzinaldas , Nyirady Judit , Zhao Yang , Herrera Vivian , McLeod Lori , Odom Dawn , Elewski Boni E.
Published: January 2018

Background

Psoriasis negatively affects patients’ quality of life. Secukinumab is a human interleukin-17A antagonist indicated for the treatment of moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

Objectives

The current analysis evaluated the benefits of secukinumab by assessing relationships between disease severity and patient-reported symptoms.

Methods

Correlations between psoriasis-related itching, pain, and scaling and disease severity scores (Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI] and Investigator's Global Assessment [IGA]) were evaluated at baseline, Week 12, and change from baseline to Week 12 using secukinumab clinical data from ERASURE and FIXTURE. Symptom responder status and PASI/IGA change were evaluated using logistic modeling.

Results

Correlation coefficients ranged 0.11-0.49 for PASI and 0.19-0.52 for IGA. Greater PASI response was related to greater symptom response/complete relief.

Conclusions

Results further demonstrate the relationship between traditional clinical measures of disease severity and patient-reported, psoriasis-related itching, pain, and scaling –- hence the need to consider both outcomes together to evaluate treatment effects in this disease fully.
Association of Touch Avoidance with Disease Severity and Quality of Life in Psoriasis Patients
Authors: Armstrong April W. , Cather Jennifer C. , Paul Carle F. , Edson-Heredia Emily , Zhu Baojin , Hollister Kristin , Koo John , Levin Ethan , Bleakman Alison Potts
Published: January 2018

Background and Objective

Previous large studies have highlighted the impact of psoriasis on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) but not on interpersonal touch. This survey assessed the prevalence of touch avoidance among psoriasis patients, and its relationship to clinical characteristics and HRQoL.

Methods

Using an online, cross-sectional study with a standardized questionnaire, psoriasis patients reported their level of touch avoidance. The relationships between touch avoidance, patient-reported outcome measures, and patient demographics were analyzed using linear models for continuous outcomes and logistic models for categorical outcomes.

Results

Touch avoidance was reported by 48.2% of participants. Higher levels of touch avoidance were associated with worse HRQoL, depression, and itch outcomes (p<.001 for all). The strongest indicators of touch avoidance were HRQoL score (p<.001) and depression score (p<.001).

Conclusion

Nearly half of psoriasis patients report avoidance of touch. Those who had worse disease severity, HRQoL, and depression reported higher levels of touch avoidance.
National Psoriasis Foundation Priorities for Patient-Centered Research: Proceedings from the 2016 Conference
Authors: Afifi Ladan , Shankle Lindsey , Armstrong April W. , Boas Marc , Bridges Alisha , Chiguil Vivian , Frank Doris , Duffin Kristina Callis , Fielding Eric , Fleischmann Roy , Gelfand Joel M. , Kiselica Matthew , Kiselica Catherine , LaFoy Brian , Latella John J. , Takeshita Junko , Truman Sarah , Wan Marilyn T. , Wilkerson Vickie , Wu Jashin J. , Siegel Michael P. , Liao Wilson
Published: January 2018

The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) is developing an agenda for patient-centered research to help patients and their caregivers make more informed health care decisions by engaging psoriasis patients in prioritizing comparative effectiveness research (CER) topics. The NPF has created a novel patient-centered research platform known as Citizen Pscientist (CP), allowing patients with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis to register and contribute their health data. The CP Governance Council administered an online 23-question CER survey to the CP community and held a structured meeting on December 3, 2016, with patients and researchers to review CER survey results and discuss patient-centered research priorities. Of the 2,945 patients surveyed, 792 patients responded. Three CER topics were deemed to be of high priority for the research agenda: 1) Treat-to-target therapy for psoriasis, 2) Psoriatic arthritis screening questionnaires for early detection and treatment of psoriatic arthritis, and 3) Comparative effectiveness of home-based phototherapy for psoriasis.
Efficacy of artesunate–amodiaquine, dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine and artemether–lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Maradi, Niger
Authors: Grandesso Francesco , Guindo Ousmane , Woi Messe Lynda , Makarimi Rockyath , Traore Aliou , Dama Souleymane , Laminou Ibrahim Maman , Rigal Jean , de Smet Martin , Ouwe Missi Oukem-Boyer Odile , Doumbo Ogobara K. , Djimdé Abdoulaye , Etard Jean-François
Published: January 2018

Background

Malaria endemic countries need to assess efficacy of anti-malarial treatments on a regular basis. Moreover, resistance to artemisinin that is established across mainland South-East Asia represents today a major threat to global health. Monitoring the efficacy of artemisinin-based combination therapies is of paramount importance to detect as early as possible the emergence of resistance in African countries that toll the highest burden of malaria morbidity and mortality.

Methods

A WHO standard protocol was used to assess efficacy of the combinations artesunate–amodiaquine (AS–AQ Winthrop®), dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine (DHA–PPQ, Eurartesim®) and artemether–lumefantrine (AM–LM, Coartem®) taken under supervision and respecting pharmaceutical recommendations. The study enrolled for each treatment arm 212 children aged 6–59 months living in Maradi (Niger) and suffering with uncomplicated falciparum malaria. The Kaplan–Meier 42-day PCR-adjusted cure rate was the primary outcome. A standardized parasite clearance estimator was used to assess delayed parasite clearance as surrogate maker of suspected artemisinin resistance.

Results

No early treatment failures were found in any of the study treatment arms. The day-42 PCR-adjusted cure rate estimates were 99.5, 98.4 and 99.0% in the AS–AQ, DHA–PPQ and AM–LM arms, respectively. The reinfection rate (expressed also as Kaplan–Meier estimates) was higher in the AM–LM arm (32.4%) than in the AS–AQ (13.8%) and the DHA–PPQ arm (24.9%). The parasite clearance rate constant was 0.27, 0.26 and 0.25 per hour for AS–AQ, DHA–PPQ and AM–LM, respectively.

Conclusions

All the three treatments evaluated largely meet WHO criteria (at least 95% efficacy). AS–AQ and AL–LM may continue to be used and DHA–PPQ may be also recommended as first-line treatment for uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Maradi. The parasite clearance rate were consistent with reference values indicating no suspected artemisinin resistance. Nevertheless, the monitoring of anti-malarial drug efficacy should continue.

Trial registration details Registry number at ClinicalTrial.gov: NCT01755559
Involvement of gut microbiome in human health and disease: brief overview, knowledge gaps and research opportunities
Authors: Liang Dachao , Leung Ross Ka-Kit , Guan Wenda , Au William W.
Published: January 2018

The commensal, symbiotic, and pathogenic microbial community which resides inside our body and on our skin (the human microbiome) can perturb host energy metabolism and immunity, and thus significantly influence development of a variety of human diseases. Therefore, the field has attracted unprecedented attention in the last decade. Although a large amount of data has been generated, there are still many unanswered questions and no universal agreements on how microbiome affects human health have been agreed upon. Consequently, this review was written to provide an updated overview of the rapidly expanding field, with a focus on revealing knowledge gaps and research opportunities. Specifically, the review covered animal physiology, optimal microbiome standard, health intervention by manipulating microbiome, knowledge base building by text mining, microbiota community structure and its implications in human diseases and health monitoring by analyzing microbiome in the blood. The review should enhance interest in conducting novel microbiota investigations that will further improve health and therapy.
Simultaneous inversion for microseismic event location and velocity model in Vaca Muerta Formation
Authors: Zhang Zhishuai , Du Jing , Gao Fuchun
Published: January 2018

Velocity models play a key role in locating microseismic events; however, it is usually challenging to construct them reliably. Traditional model-building strategies depend on the availability of well logs or perforation shots. We simultaneously invert for microseismic event locations and a velocity model under the Bayesian inference framework, and we apply it in a field data set acquired in the Vaca Muerta Formation at Neuquén, Argentina. This methodology enables uncertainty and posterior covariance analysis. By matching the moveouts of the P- and S-wave arrival times, we were able to estimate a 1D velocity model to achieve improved event locations. Various analyses indicate the superiority of this model over a model built with the traditional strategy. With this algorithm, we can perform microseismic monitoring to fracturing treatments in which no perforation data are available. In addition, we can also apply it for long-term passive seismicity reservoir monitoring in which changes of reservoir properties are expected.
Rock heterogeneity at the centimeter scale, proxies for interfacial weakness, and rock strength-stress interplay from downhole ultrasonic measurements
Authors: Zeroug Smaine , Sinha Bikash K. , Lei Ting , Jeffers John
Published: January 2018

Analysis of data acquired with an ultrasonic rotating device lowered inside a vertical well of a highly laminated, kerogen-rich, carbonate source formation reveals centimeter-scale rock heterogeneities. The high-frequency (50–600 kHz) measurement used consists of a pulse-echo modality that yields a high-resolution (millimeter-scale) borehole shape and a pitch-catch modality with one transmitting and two receiving transducers that provide compressional (P) and shear (S) slownesses (depth-versus-azimuth) images estimated from signals propagating in the near-wellbore region as compressional head waves and pseudo-Rayleigh surface waves. The slownesses are compared with their counterparts estimated from a lower-frequency (1–15 kHz) sonic measurement logged in the same well interval. The sonic P and S logs are seen to average the centimeter-scale slowness spatial variation between compliant and stiff laminates at a scale larger than 30 cm (1 ft). This is also accompanied by a reduction in resolution of the slowness contrast, which markedly reduces the spectrum of rock-mechanical property variations that are estimated from the ultrasonic data. Further, ultrasonic images of the P and S slownesses and borehole acoustic caliper reveal a host of features associated with rock geomechanics in the near-wellbore and that inform on a first-order basis the interplay between rock strength and local stress regime, as affected by the lamination. The features include breakouts present in the stiffer limestone layers and their arrest at the intersection with the compliant siltstone layers, as well as azimuthal P and S slowness variations indicative of azimuthal stress concentrations, but without the appearance of breakouts. The ultrasonic borehole shape data also identify compliant thin layers that retract into the formation by amounts that are commensurate with their Young’s modulus, suggesting a proxy for detecting and characterizing thin-layer weakness in situ.
PAM50 Risk of Recurrence Score Predicts 10-Year Distant Recurrence in a Comprehensive Danish Cohort of Postmenopausal Women Allocated to 5 Years of Endocrine Therapy for Hormone Receptor–Positive Early Breast Cancer
Authors: Lænkholm Anne-Vibeke , Jensen Maj-Britt , Eriksen Jens Ole , Rasmussen Birgitte Bruun , Knoop Ann S. , Buckingham Wesley , Ferree Sean , Schaper Carl , Nielsen Torsten O. , Haffner Taryn , Kibøl Torben , Møller Talman Maj-Lis , Bak Jylling Anne Marie , Tabor Tomasz Piotr , Ejlertsen Bent
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The PAM50-based Prosigna risk of recurrence (ROR) score has been validated in randomized clinical trials to predict 10-year distant recurrence (DR). The value of Prosigna for predicting DR was examined in a comprehensive nationwide Danish cohort consisting of postmenopausal women with hormone receptor–positive early breast cancer treated with 5 years of endocrine therapy alone.

Patients and Methods

Using the population-based Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group database, follow-up data were collected on all patients diagnosed from 2000 through 2003 who, by nationwide guidelines, were treated with endocrine therapy for 5 years. Primary tumor blocks from 2,740 patients were tested with Prosigna and, after determination of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, data from 2,558 hormone receptor–positive/HER2-negative samples were analyzed, including 1,395 node-positive patients. Fine and Gray models were applied to determine the prognostic value of ROR for DR.

Results

Median follow-up for recurrence was 9.2 years. Twenty-six percent of the node-positive patients were classified as low ROR (n = 359) with a DR risk of 3.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9% to 6.1%) versus a DR risk of 22.1% (95% CI, 18.6% to 25.8%) at 10 years for patients classified as high ROR (n = 648). Node-negative patients classified as low and high ROR had a risk of DR of 5.0% (95% CI, 2.9% to 8.0%) and 17.8% (95% CI, 14.0% to 22.0%), respectively. Luminal B tumors (n = 947; DR risk, 18.4% [95% CI: 15.7% to 21.3%]) had a significantly worse outcome than luminal A tumors (n = 1,474,;DR risk, 7.6% [95% CI: 6.1% to 9.2%]; P < .001).

Conclusion

Prosigna ROR score improved the prediction of outcome in this nationwide Danish population. In a real-world setting, Prosigna can reliably identify node-negative patients and a significant proportion of patients with one to three positive nodes who can be spared treatment with adjuvant chemotherapy.
Web-Based Stress Management for Newly Diagnosed Patients With Cancer (STREAM): A Randomized, Wait-List Controlled Intervention Study
Authors: Urech Corinne , Grossert Astrid , Alder Judith , Scherer Sandra , Handschin Barbara , Kasenda Benjamin , Borislavova Borislava , Degen Sven , Erb Jennifer , Faessler Alexandra , Gattlen Laura , Schibli Sarah , Werndli Celine , Gaab Jens , Berger Thomas , Zumbrunn Thomas , Hess Viviane
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Being diagnosed with cancer causes major psychological distress; however, a majority of patients lack psychological support during this critical period. Internet interventions help patients overcome many barriers to seeking face-to-face support and may thus close this gap. We assessed feasibility and efficacy of Web-based stress management (STREAM [Stress-Aktiv-Mindern]) for newly diagnosed patients with cancer.

Patients and Methods

In a randomized controlled trial, patients with cancer who had started first-line treatment within the previous 12 weeks were randomly assigned to a therapist-guided Web-based intervention or a wait-list (control), stratified according to distress level (≥ 5 v < 5 on scale of 0 to 10). Primary efficacy end point was quality of life after the intervention (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue). Secondary end points included distress (Distress Thermometer) and anxiety or depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Treatment effect was assessed with analyses of covariance, adjusted for baseline distress.

Results

A total of 222 of 229 screened patients applied online for participation. Between September 2014 and November 2016, 129 newly diagnosed patients with cancer, including 92 women treated for breast cancer, were randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 65) or control (n = 64) group. Adherence was good, with 80.0% of patients using ≥ six of eight modules. Psychologists spent 13.3 minutes per week (interquartile range, 9.5-17.9 minutes per week) per patient for online guidance. After the intervention, quality of life was significantly higher (Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue: mean, 8.59 points; 95% CI, 2.45 to 14.73 points; P = .007) and distress significantly lower (Distress Thermometer: mean, −0.85; 95% CI, −1.60 to −0.10; P = .03) in the intervention group as compared with the control. Changes in anxiety or depression were not significant in the intention-to-treat population (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale: mean, −1.28; 95% CI, −3.02 to 0.45; P = .15). Quality of life increased in the control group with the delayed intervention.

Conclusion

The Web-based stress management program STREAM is feasible and effective in improving quality of life.
Accurate RNA Sequencing From Formalin-Fixed Cancer Tissue to Represent High-Quality Transcriptome From Frozen Tissue
Authors: Li Jialu , Fu Chunxiao , Speed Terence P. , Wang Wenyi , Symmans W. Fraser
Published: January 2018

Purpose

Accurate transcriptional sequencing (RNA-seq) from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tumor samples presents an important challenge for translational research and diagnostic development. In addition, there are now several different protocols to prepare a sequencing library from total RNA. We evaluated the accuracy of RNA-seq data generated from FFPE samples in terms of expression profiling.

Methods

We designed a biospecimen study to directly compare gene expression results from different protocols to prepare libraries for RNA-seq from human breast cancer tissues, with randomization to fresh frozen (FF) or FFPE conditions. The protocols were compared using multiple computational methods to assess alignment of reads to a reference genome, the uniformity and continuity of coverage, the variance and correlation of overall gene expression, patterns of measuring coding sequence, phenotypic patterns of gene expression, and measurements from representative multigene signatures.

Results

The principal determinant of variance in gene expression was use of exon capture probes, followed by the conditions of preservation (FF v FFPE) and phenotypic differences between breast cancers. One protocol, with RNase H-based ribosomal RNA depletion, exhibited the least variability of gene expression measurements and strongest correlation between FF and FFPE samples and was generally representative of the transcriptome from standard FF RNA-seq protocols.

Conclusion

Method of RNA-seq library preparation from FFPE samples had a marked effect on the accuracy of gene expression measurement compared with matched FF samples. Nevertheless, some protocols produced highly concordant expression data from FFPE RNA-seq data, compared with RNA-seq results from matched frozen samples.
Metabolome dynamics of diapause in the butterfly Pieris napi: distinguishing maintenance, termination and post-diapause phases
Authors: Lehmann Philipp , Pruisscher Peter , Koštál Vladimír , Moos Martin , Šimek Petr , Nylin Sören , Agren Rasmus , Väremo Leif , Wiklund Christer , Wheat Christopher W. , Gotthard Karl
Published: January 2018

Diapause is a deep resting stage facilitating temporal avoidance of unfavourable environmental conditions that is used by many insects to adapt their life cycle to seasonal variation. Although considerable work has been invested in trying to understand each of the major diapause stages (induction, maintenance and termination), we know very little about the transitions between stages, especially diapause termination. Understanding diapause termination is critical for modelling and predicting spring emergence and winter physiology of insects, including many pest insects. In order to gain these insights we investigated metabolome dynamics across diapause development in pupae of the butterfly Pieris napi, which exhibits adaptive latitudinal variation in the length of endogenous diapause that is uniquely well characterized. By employing a time-series experiment we show that the whole-body metabolome is highly dynamic throughout diapause and differs between pupae kept at a diapause-terminating (low), or at a diapause-maintaining (high) temperature. We show major physiological transitions through diapause, separated temperature-dependent from temperature-independent processes and identified significant patterns of metabolite accumulation and degradation. Together the data show that while the general diapause phenotype (suppressed metabolism, increased cold tolerance) is established in a temperature-independent fashion, diapause termination is temperature-dependent and requires a cold signal. This revealed several metabolites that are only accumulated in diapause terminating conditions and degraded in a temperature-unrelated fashion during diapause termination. In conclusion, our findings indicate that some metabolites, in addition to functioning as e.g. cryoprotectants, are candidates for having regulatory roles as metabolic clocks or time-keepers during diapause.
Through the eye of a lizard: hue discrimination in a lizard with ventral polymorphic coloration
Authors: Pérez i de Lanuza Guillem , Ábalos Javier , Bartolomé Alicia , Font Enrique
Published: January 2018

Colour polymorphisms are thought to be maintained by complex evolutionary processes some of which require that the colours of the alternative morphs function as chromatic signals to conspecifics. Unfortunately, a key aspect of this hypothesis has rarely been studied: whether the study species perceives its own colour variation as discrete rather than continuous. The European common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis) presents a striking colour polymorphism: the ventral surface of adults of both sexes may be coloured orange, white, yellow, or with a mosaic of scales combining two colours (orange-white, orange-yellow). Here we use a discrimination learning paradigm to test if P. muralis is capable of discriminating colour stimuli designed to match the ventral colours of conspecifics. We trained 20 lizards to eat from colour-coded wells bored in wooden blocks. Blocks had four colour-coded wells (orange, white, yellow, and an achromatic control), but only one contained food (mealworm larvae). After six trials, the lizards performed significantly better than expected by chance, showing a decrease in both the number of wells explored and the latency to finding the food. Using visual modelling techniques we found that, based on their spectral properties and the lizards’ cone sensitivities, the ventral colours of P. muralis correspond to discrete rather than continuous colour categories, and that colour discriminability (i.e. distance in perceptual space) varies depending on the morphs compared, which may have implications for signal detection and discrimination. These results suggest that P. muralis can discriminate hue differences matching their own ventral colour variation.
Too hard to swallow: A secret secondary defence of an aposematic insect
Authors: Wang Lu-Yi , Huang Wen-San , Tang Hsin-Chieh , Huang Lung-Chun , Lin Chung-Ping
Published: January 2018

Anti-predator strategies are significant components of adaptation in prey species. Aposematic prey are expected to possess effective defences that have evolved simultaneously with their warning colours. This study tested the hypothesis of the defensive function and ecological significance of the hard body in aposematic Pachyrhynchus weevils pioneered by Alfred Russel Wallace nearly 150 years ago. We used predation trials with Japalura tree lizards to assess the survivorship of ‘hard’ (mature) vs. ‘soft’ (teneral) and ‘clawed’ (intact) vs. ‘clawless’ (surgically removed) weevils. The ecological significance of the weevil's hard body was evaluated by assessing the hardness of the weevils, the local prey insects, and the bite forces of the lizard populations. The existence of toxins or deterrents in the weevil was examined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). All ‘hard’ weevils were instantly spat out after being bitten once and survived attacks by the lizards. In contrast, the ‘soft’ weevils were chewed and subsequently swallowed. The results were the same regardless of the presence or absence of the weevil's tarsal claws. The hardness of ‘hard’ Pachyrhynchus weevils was significantly higher than the average hardness of other prey insects in the same habitat and the mean bite forces of the local lizards. The four candidate compounds of the weevil identified by GC-MS had no known toxic or repellent functions against vertebrates. These results reveal that the hardness of aposematic prey functions as an effective secondary defence, and they provide a framework for understanding the spatio-temporal interactions between vertebrate predators and aposematic insect prey.
Improving the biomedical research literature: insights from authors’ editors can help journal editors define and refine their core competencies
Authors: Matarese Valerie , Shashok Karen
Published: January 2018

A team of stakeholders in biomedical publishing recently proposed a set of core competencies for journal editors, as a resource that can inform training programs for editors and ultimately improve the quality of the biomedical research literature. This initiative, still in its early stages, would benefit from additional sources of expert information. Based on our experiences as authors’ editors, we offer two suggestions on how to strengthen these competencies so that they better respond to the needs of readers and authors – the main users of and contributors to research journals. First, journal editors should be able to ensure that authors are given useful feedback on the language and writing in submitted manuscripts, beyond a (possibly incorrect) blanket judgement of whether the English is “acceptable” or not. Second, journal editors should be able to deal effectively with inappropriate text re-use and plagiarism. These additional competencies would, we believe, be valued by other stakeholders in biomedical research publication as markers of editorial quality.
Will the introduction of an ‘opt-out’ system increase organ donations?
Authors: Glasper Alan
Published: January 2018

Emeritus Professor Alan Glasper, University of Southampton, discusses the government initiative to improve the rates of organ donation by members of the public
From staff nurse to nurse consultant: Spiritual care part 10: Shinto
Authors: Fowler John
Published: January 2018

John Fowler, Educational Consultant, explores spiritual care for clinically based nurses, focusing on patients who follow the Shinto religion
The development of a ‘wet leg’ pathway for chronic oedema
Authors: Morgan Karen , Thomas Melanie
Published: January 2018

Chronic oedema and leaking lymphorrhoea can be distressing and challenging for patients to live with. This article introduces the Chronic Oedema ‘Wet Leg’ Pathway, which became an output from the Lymphoedema Network Wales ‘On the Ground Education Project’ ( Thomas et al, 2017 ). The evidence-based pathway provides nurses and therapists with clear guidelines to support prompt, efficient and effective management of all patients with chronic oedema and wet legs. This article presents the evidence and demonstrates the benefits of timely active treatment for all patients with leaking lymphorrhoea, which includes decreasing pain and improving mobility and daily activities. Other benefits include reducing the risk of cellulitis and the development of chronic wounds. The pathway also demonstrates opportunities for the NHS by decreasing both the number of community nursing visits and the number of wound dressings used. By actively treating symptoms—rather than simply mopping up the leaking lymphorrhoea—this pathway demonstrates value-based health care by reducing waste, harm and variation within the NHS.
A regional romance of the storming of the art museum: Cultural contradictions of The Lionel Lindsay Art Gallery and Library
Authors: Althofer Jayson
Published: January 2018

This article examines cultural contradictions of a regional Australiana collection, namely The Lionel Lindsay Art Gallery and Library (Lindsay Collection). This collection was established in Toowoomba by W. R. F. Bolton (1905–73), opened by Prime Minister Robert Menzies in 1959 and rehoused at Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery in the mid-1990s. Sir Lionel Lindsay (1874–1961) was, among many other identities, an artist, critic and tastemaker who condemned ‘the mob invasion of Art’ and disseminated a catastrophist cultural politics. For Lindsay, the collection named in his honour was a microcosm of ‘old traditional Australia’, before the nation and the art museum were stormed by ‘mass’ culture. The vanguard of that storming was modernism, which he viewed as a manifestation of mass-cultural fashion and sensationalism. Lindsay himself, however, had been a sensationalist newspaper illustrator and fashionable commercial artist from the 1890s to the 1920s; examples of his work for mass cultural forms are held in the collection. Drawing on museological lemmas by Quiccheberg and Bataille, and on Frankfurt School theses, this article presents a critical overview of contradictory cultural drives and vectors integral to the Lindsay Collection’s formation in the 1950s. Cultural contradictions of the collection are analysed not as idiosyncrasies of Lindsay and Bolton’s collecting praxes, but as symptomatic of the condition of cultural heritage in commodity society.
La adherencia a la dieta Mediterránea puede enlentecer la tasa de detrimento cognitiva y reducir el riesgo de demencia; revisión sistemática: lectura crítica DARE
Authors: Almendra-Pegueros Rafael
Published: January 2018

Resumen CRD Los autores concluyen que existe suficiente evidencia en la cual, la dieta Mediterránea puede proteger contra el detrimento cognitivo y el desarrollo de Alzheimer. Esto parece ser muy optimista en vista de los potenciales sesgos de publicación, la limitada evidencia proveniente de estudios con diseños metodológicos pobres, y los frecuentes resultados conflictivos de estos estudios.
Clinical update on metabolic syndrome
Authors: Hernández-Camacho Juan Diego , Hernández-Camacho Miguel
Published: January 2018

Metabolic syndrome has been defined as a global issue since it affects a lot of people. Numerous factors are involved in metabolic syndrome development. It has been described that metabolic syndrome has negative consequences on health. Consequently, a lot of treatments have been proposed to palliate it such as drugs, surgery or life style changes where nutritional habits have shown to be an important point in its management. The current study reviews the literature existing about the actual epidemiology of metabolic syndrome, the components involucrate in its appearance and progression, the clinical consequences of metabolic syndrome and the nutritional strategies reported in its remission. A bibliographic search in PubMed and Medline was performed to identify eligible studies. Authors obtained that metabolic syndrome is present in population from developed and undeveloped areas in a huge scale. Environmental and genetic elements are involucrate in metabolic syndrome development. Metabolic syndrome exponentially increased risk of cardiovascular disease, some types of cancers, diabetes mellitus type 2, sleep disturbances, etc. Nutritional treatments play a crucial role in metabolic syndrome prevention, treatment and recovery.
So Near and Yet So Far: The 1995 Quebec Referendum in Perspective
Authors: Bayne Nicholas
Published: January 2018

Abstract

Pierre Trudeau and Brian Mulroney failed to reconcile Quebec with the rest of Canada. The Parti Québécois (PQ) government under Jacques Parizeau called a referendum in October 1995 to decide if the province would secede. While the federal government under Jean Chrétien barely intervened, the fiery rhetoric of Lucien Bouchard brought the separatists close to victory. Quebecers voted to stay in Canada by only 1 per cent. A massive late rally of non-Quebec Canadians pleading with Quebecers to remain probably tipped the balance. Bouchard, who succeeded Parizeau, never felt confident of winning another referendum. Later the PQ lost ground as separatism ceased to appeal. In the EU referendum of 2016 the British government failed to learn from Canada’s experience. The Remain side campaigned negatively rather than positively, and did not mobilize its supporters as well as the Leave camp did. Canadian comparisons also remain relevant for Scotland.
The Quebec Election of April 2014: Initial Impressions
Authors: Kirkey Christopher
Published: January 2018

Abstract

The outcome of the 7 April 2014 general election in Quebec proved to be a surprise to many observers. Voters across Quebec chose to support a pro-federalist, Liberal Party majority government, led by Philippe Couillard. Pauline Marois’s overtly separatist Parti Québecois (PQ) was soundly and unexpectedly defeated. The 33-day electoral campaign, marked by a heightened focus on Quebec independence, identity politics and the proposed extension of further protections for the French language, illustrated that Quebec society was far more concerned with issues surrounding the scope and delivery of healthcare, education and a whole host of related economic issues, including employment, provincial debt levels, public expenditures, taxation and the pace of economic growth. This essay, in examining the election campaign, suggests that the preferred message of the PQ failed to resonate with Quebec public opinion; a message that was only further muddled with the introduction of ‘star’ candidate Pierre Karl Péladeau. The results of the 2014 election, this essay concludes, further points to significant shifts underway in Quebec society; shifts that portend important new currents in public attitudes and the very relationship between the province’s residents and the Quebec state.
Redesigning systems of school accountability: A multiple measures approach to accountability and support
Authors: Bae Soung
Published: January 2018

The challenges facing our children in the 21st century are rapidly changing. As a result, schools bear a greater responsibility to prepare students for college, career, and life and must be held accountable for more than just testing and reporting on a narrow set of outcomes aimed at minimum levels of competency. Thus, scholars, educators, and reform advocates are calling for a more meaningful next phase of school accountability, one that promotes continuous support and improvement rather than mere compliance and efforts to avoid punishment (Center for American Progress & CCSSO, 2014; Darling-Hammond, Wilhoit, & Pittenger, 2014). This paper reviews state and district level accountability systems that incorporate a multiple measures approach to accountability and highlights the following features that represent redesigned systems of accountability: 1) broader set of outcome measures, 2) mix of state and local indicators, 3) measures of opportunities to learn, 4) data dashboards, and 5) School Quality Reviews. The paper concludes with guidance for policymakers and practitioners on ways to support the development and implementation of a multiple measures system of accountability so that school accountability becomes synonymous with responsibility for deeper learning and support for continuous improvement.
Massachusetts Consortium for Innovative Education Assessments: Creating a grassroots accountability system to leverage state policy change
Authors: French Dan
Published: January 2018

Standardized testing remains the predominant proficiency measure for students and schools, placing teacher and student focus on test-prep and lower order skills while maintaining achievement gaps that penalize underserved students. The Massachusetts Consortium for Innovative Assessment seeks to close this gap and change assessment measures on a state level by training teachers to become leaders in implementing student-centered performance assessments and encouraging state legislators to consider alternative, forward-thinking accountability systems.
Phytoplankton response to fish-induced environmental changes in a temperate shallow pond-type lake
Authors: Napiórkowska-Krzebietke Agnieszka
Published: January 2018

Since 1967, the temperate, shallow, pond-type Lake Warniak has been subjected to different biomanipulation methods including the introduction of common carp,Cyprinus carpioL., grass carp,Ctenopharyngodon idella(Val.), silver carp,Hypophthalmichthys molitrix(Val.), and bighead carp,Hypophthalmichthys nobilis(Richardson) and then their removal in an effort to control macrophytes and phytoplankton. Recently, pilot stocking with predatory fish, particularly pike,Esox luciusL., has also been conducted. Hence, an examination of the long-term response patterns of phytoplankton to multiple fish-induced stressors was undertaken. In recent years,Charadomination (2000-2004) has helped to stabilize a clear-water state, high/good ecological status, and meso-eutrophic conditions. After the disappearance of Charales in 2004, the rapid, unstable changes in phytoplankton biomass, structure, and biodiversity suggested a shift toward a turbid-water state. As a result, the phytoplankton assemblages changed from those dominated by cryptophytes Y+X2+X1+LO(2000-2004) through those dominated by cyanobacteria K (2005-2008), dinoflagellates LO+Y (2009-2011), and cryptophytes Y+LO+F+X2 (2012), to those dominated by diatoms D+K+P+A (2013-2014) with representative taxa that occur in nutrient-rich and/or nutrient-poor water bodies. The 1967-2014 changes indicated that four periods, two with clear-water state and two with turbid-water state, alternately, one after the other, resulted from different fish pressure. Higher autochthonous fish biomass was usually accompanied by lower phytoplankton biomass. In contrast, the introduction of Cyprinidae fish had a stimulating effect on summer phytoplankton dominated by cyanobateria. Among the nutrients, only phosphorus played an important role.
A preliminary comparison of photometric (MWSC) and trigonometric (TGAS) distances of open cluster stars
Authors: Kovaleva Dana , Piskunov Anatoly , Kharchenko Nina , Scholz Ralf-Dieter
Published: January 2018

The goal of this researchwas to compare the open cluster photometric distance scale of the global survey of star clusters in the MilkyWay (MWSC) with the distances derived fromtrigonometric parallaxes fromthe Gaia DR1/TGAS catalogue and to investigate towhich degree and extent both scales agree.We compared the parallax-based and photometrybased distances of 5743 cluster stars selected as members of 1118 clusters based on their kinematic and photometric MWSC membership probabilities. We found good overall agreement between trigonometric and photometric distances of open cluster stars. The residuals between them were small and unbiased up to log(d, [pc]) ≈ 2.8. If we considered only the most populated clusters and used cluster distances obtained from the mean trigonometric parallax of their MWSC members, the good agreement of the distance scales continued up to log(d, [pc]) ≈ 3.3.
Double CO WD systems from the WD+He subgiant channel and type Ia supernovae
Authors: Liu Dongdong , Wang Bo , Wu Chengyuan
Published: January 2018

Recent studies suggested that at least some of the observed SNe Ia originate from the double-degenerate model, which involves the merging of double carbon-oxygen white dwarfs (CO WDs). However, the delay time distributions predicted by previous theoretical studies are inconsistent with the observed SNe Ia at the early epoches of < 1 Gyr and old epoches of > 8 Gyr. Previous studies suggested that the CO WD+He subgiant channel has a significant contribution to the formation of massive double CO WDs, the merging ofwhich may produce SNe Ia. In the presentwork, we added this channel into the double-degenerate model to investigate its influence on the delay time distributions of SNe Ia. We found that the delay time distributions would match better with the observed SNe Ia when the CO WD+He subgiant channel is included in the double-degenerate model.
Detection of stellar oscillations in HWVir
Authors: Baran Andrzej S. , Østensen Roy H. , Telting John H.
Published: January 2018

We present our analysis of K2 observations of the binary system, HWVir. We processed the raw Kepler data and used Fourier analysis to search for periodic signals that could be associated with pulsations. We detect the binary frequency and its harmonic and discovered tens of peaks at both low and high frequencies. We interpreted those to be caused by stellar pulsations. Our discovery means we can apply the tools of asteroseismology to the HWVir system.
Outbound Tourism Demand of Turkey: A Markov Switching Vector Autoregressive Approach
Authors: Özcan Ceyhun Can , Uçak Harun
Published: January 2018

Tourism has been one of the fastest-growing sectors in the world. Especially developed countries have been major markets for tourism destinations over the decades. Furthermore, the outbound tourism demand in emerging markets has increased rapidly in recent years. This study aims to investigate the determinants of Turkey’s outbound tourism demand by using the data from 1960 to 2013. For this purpose, the Markov Switching Vector Autoregressive Model is used as an empirical analysis. This model classifies the time period into different regimes in order to obtain more robust results. Finally, our findings show that Turkish citizens’ outbound visits have been influenced by income and the exchange rates.
Exploitation of the Virtual Worlds in Tourism and Tourism Education
Authors: Zejda Pavel , Zejda David
Published: January 2018

Academics perceive a great potential of virtual worlds in various areas, including tourism and education. Efforts adapting the virtual worlds in practice are, however, still marginal. There is no clear definition of the virtual world. Therefore the author of this article attempts to provide one. The paper also focuses on the barriers of a wider exploitation of the virtual worlds and discusses the principles that might help to increase their potential in tourism area. One of the principles – gamification – favours a wider adaptation of the virtual worlds in tourism. Applying gamification principles provides visitors with some unique experiences while serving as a powerful marketing tool for institutions. The benefits of implementing tourism education activities based on cooperative principles set in an immersive environment of the virtual worlds are depicted afterwards. Finally, this paper includes successful case studies, which show advantages and drawbacks of some approaches in exploiting the virtual worlds in tourism and tourism education.