bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of family nutrition and physical activity screening for obesity risk in school‐age children
Authors: Herbenick Sara K. , James Kathy , Milton Jill , Cannon Dee
Published: November 2018

Purpose

An obesogenic home environment is a major contributor to overeating and sedentariness in school‐aged children, as children have less autonomy during this phase of development and are influenced by family environmental cues. The purpose of this study was to implement a screening tool at a low socioeconomic elementary school clinic to identify children at risk of developing obesity and provide standardization for practitioners on educating parents regarding child obesity risk factors.

Design and Methods

An evidence‐based practice design utilizing the Family Nutrition and Physical Activity (FNPA) tool was completed at all visits of patients ages 4 to 11. Parents completed the 20‐item screening tool related to 10 factors (family meal patterns, family eating habits, food choices, beverage choices, restriction/reward, screen time behavior and monitoring, healthy environment, family activity involvement, child activity involvement, family routine). The nurse practitioner (NP) provided parents with education regarding healthy home practices based on American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations. Level of obesity risk (low, moderate, and high) was determined based on the FNPA score and body mass index (BMI) of the patient. Patients identified as at‐risk were scheduled for a 2‐month follow‐up and rescreened to determine if lifestyle modifications were made.

Results

Twenty‐seven children were screened using the FNPA tool, with an initial mean FNPA score of 64. Ninety‐three percent were classified as a moderate or high risk for obesity (BMI percentile 85th or greater and/or moderate‐high risk FNPA scores). Seven percent had a healthy BMI and low‐risk FNPA scores and did not require follow‐up intervention. Sixty‐seven percent of patients scores improved at follow‐up, with an average FNPA score of 70. Effect size stratified by risk category was low‐risk score 0.07 and moderate‐risk score 1.49 with a standard deviation of 5.36.

Practice Implications

Implementation of the FNPA tool at a school‐based clinic is a feasible opportunity to identify children at risk for obesity and allows for anticipatory guidance by the NP to increase awareness of parental influence as role models for healthy lifestyle behaviors.
Rights by Fortune or Fight? Reexamining the Addition of Sex to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act
Authors: Krimmel Katherine
Published: November 2018

It is widely believed that the extension of protection against employment discrimination to women through Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (CRA) was a fluke, the product of an attempted “killer amendment” by civil rights opponents gone awry. My analysis challenges this conventional wisdom, showing that the coalition of Republicans and southern Democrats in support of the sex amendment to Title VII was consistent with broader patterns of support for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) in the early to mid‐20th century. In other words, support appears to have been sincere, not sophisticated—proponents preferred a CRA with the sex amendment to one without. I proceed to show that concern about the direct impact on women, and not simply the instrumental impact on labor, played an important role in motivating this support. But, I also find reason for caution in interpreting support for workplace rights as evidence of broad support for women's rights at this time.
Assertion: The context shiftiness dilemma
Authors: Simion Mona
Published: November 2018

DeRose famously argued that, given that assertability varies with practical context, we cannot combine a biconditional knowledge norm of assertion with classical invariantism. The first aim of this paper is to show that De Rose's argument is ultimately unsuccessful. Second, I develop a view, entitled Assertion Functionalism, which combines the knowledge norm with classical invariantism and at the same time offers an appealing account of the intuitive variability of proper assertion.
Reply to Skey and Fox about the paper ‘Who's afraid of Banal Nationalism?’
Authors: Duchesne Sophie
Published: November 2018

This is a reply to Jon Fox's and Michael Skey's comments to my article ‘Who's afraid of Banal Nationalism?’. I try to clarify the main implications of the paper, namely, that following Billig, I think it has become of foremost importance to explore what people cannot do or think because of nationalism. It has become vital, in order to renew political imagination among citizens and scholars.
Populism and nationalism in a comparative perspective: a scholarly exchange
Authors: Bonikowski Bart , Halikiopoulou Daphne , Kaufmann Eric , Rooduijn Matthijs
Published: November 2018

The purpose of the Exchange feature is to publish discussions that engage, advance and initiate new debates in the study of nations and nationalism. This Exchange article is on the subject of ‘Populism and Nationalism’. Each contributor addresses the following four questions on the subject: (1) What is populism and what role does it play within the context of democratic politics? (2) Does populism cut across left–right lines? (3) What is the relationship between nationalism and populism? (4) Are contemporary populist movements across Europe and the West comparable? Our aim is to generate a thought‐provoking conversation with regard to the rise of populism in Europe and the West.
Pathogenesis investigation of miR‐199‐5p in oral submucous fibrosis based on bioinformatics analysis
Authors: Yuan Yongxiang , Li Ning , Zeng Lijuan , Shen Zhengzhong , Jiang Canhua
Published: November 2018

Objectives

Fibrosis diseases are one of the leading causes of suffering and death. However, no systematic investigation has been carried out on fibrosis‐related genes.

Materials and Methods

By querying PubMed using keywords “fibrosis” and “gene” or “protein,” we identified fibrosis‐related genes in the last decade. Bioinformatics analysis was performed by MAS 3.0 software. Key miRNA was selected to assess its relationship with oral submucous fibrosis (OSF) and fibroblast functions.

Results

A total of 1,310 genes related to fibrosis were identified. TGF‐β1, CTGF, MMP9, HSP47, and S1P were found to be associated with mainly fibrotic organs. In total, 244 cellular components terms, 595 molecular function terms, 1,816 cellular component terms, and 136 KEGG pathway annotations were predicted. miR‐199‐5p was selected as the key miRNA, which has higher level in OSF. Upregulated miR‐199‐5p was significantly related to OSF duration and OSF histological grade (p = 0.028 and 0.012, respectively). Overexpressive miR‐199‐5p reduced proliferation and induced apoptosis in buccal fibroblasts. Additionally, expression levels of collagen I (COL I) and III (COL III) were promoted by overexpressive miR‐199‐5p in buccal fibroblasts.

Conclusion

These results indicate that fibrosis‐related genes are related to a series of complex mechanisms. The characteristics of miR‐199‐5p may supply important clues for developing therapeutic strategy for OSF.
Spatial processes and evolutionary models: a critical review
Authors: Polly P. David
Published: November 2018

Evolution is a fundamentally population level process in which variation, drift and selection produce both temporal and spatial patterns of change. Statistical model fitting is now commonly used to estimate which kind of evolutionary process best explains patterns of change through time using models like Brownian motion, stabilizing selection (Ornstein–Uhlenbeck) and directional selection on traits measured from stratigraphic sequences or on phylogenetic trees. But these models assume that the traits possessed by a species are homogeneous. Spatial processes such as dispersal, gene flow and geographical range changes can produce patterns of trait evolution that do not fit the expectations of standard models, even when evolution at the local‐population level is governed by drift or a typicalOUmodel of selection. The basic properties of population level processes (variation, drift, selection and population size) are reviewed and the relationship between their spatial and temporal dynamics is discussed. Typical evolutionary models used in palaeontology incorporate the temporal component of these dynamics, but not the spatial. Range expansions and contractions introduce rate variability into drift processes, range expansion under a drift model can drive directional change in trait evolution, and spatial selection gradients can create spatial variation in traits that can produce long‐term directional trends and punctuation events depending on the balance between selection strength, gene flow, extirpation probability and model of speciation. Using computational modelling that spatial processes can create evolutionary outcomes that depart from basic population‐level notions from these standard macroevolutionary models.
A Novel Prospective Study Assessing the Combination of Photodynamic Therapy and Proton Radiation Therapy: Safety and Outcomes When Treating Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
Authors: Rice Stephanie R. , Li Yun R. , Busch Theresa M. , Kim Michele M. , McNulty Sally , Dimofte Andrea , Zhu Timothy C. , Cengel Keith A. , Simone Charles B.
Published: November 2018

Malignant pleural mesothelioma remains difficult to treat, with high failure rates despite optimal therapy. We present a novel prospective trial combining proton therapy (PT) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) and the largest‐ever mesothelioma PT experience (n = 10). PDT photosensitizers included porfimer sodium (2 mg·kg−1; 24 h drug‐light interval) or 2‐[1‐hexyloxyethyl]‐2‐devinyl pyropheophorbide‐a (HPPH) (4 mg·m−2;48 h) with wavelengths of 630 nm to 60J·cm−2 and 665 nm to 15‐45J·cm−2, respectively. With a median age of 69 years, patients were predominantly male (90%) with epithelioid histology (100%) and stage III‐IV disease (100%). PT was delivered to a median of 55.0 CGE/1.8‐2.0 CGE (range 50–75 CGE) adjuvantly (n = 8) or as salvage therapy (n = 2) following extended pleurectomy/decortication (ePD)/PDT. Two‐year local control was 90%, with distant and regional failure rates of 50% and 30%, respectively. All patients received chemotherapy, and four received immunotherapy. Surgical complications included atrial fibrillation (n = 3), pneumonia (n = 2), and deep vein thrombosis (n = 2). Median survival from PT completion was 19.5 months (30.3 months from diagnosis), and 1‐ and 2‐year survival rates were 58% and 29%. No patient experienced CTCAEv4 grade ≥2 acute or late toxicity. Our prolonged survival in very advanced‐stage patients compares favorably to survival for PT without PDT and photon therapy with PDT, suggesting possible spatial or systemic cooperativity and immune effect.
Presidents and the Congressional Black Caucus: The Racial Consequences of Electoral Incentives
Authors: Griffin John D. , Newman Brian
Published: November 2018

Presidents face incentives to move toward the median voter as elections approach. We explore the racial consequences of these electoral incentives. As presidents move toward the center, they move away from ideologically noncentrist groups like the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). Comparing the president’s annual budget proposal to the CBC’s alternative budget from 1980 to 2012, we test whether Democrats’ (Republicans’) budgets are less (more) congruent with the CBC’s alternative budgets in election years. Typically, Democrats’ budgets are much more congruent than Republicans’ with the CBC’s budgets. However, in election years, Democrats’ budget proposals tend to move away from the CBC’s ideal such that Democrats’ budgets are no better aligned with the CBC than are Republicans’ budgets.
Targeting cytokines secreted by CD4+CD25highCD127low regulatory T cells inhibits ovarian cancer progression
Authors: Ke Xing , Shen Lisong
Published: November 2018

Epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is one of the major malignant cancers with high rates of early metastasis in which regulatory T cells (Tregs) play an important role. Tregs suppress immune responses and promote the development of tumours in patients with EOC. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we found higher levels of CD4+CD25highCD127low Tregs in patients with EOC than in patients with benign ovarian tumours and healthy donors. The immune inhibitory effect of Tregs functions by maintaining high levels of immunosuppressive cytokines in EOC. The high levels of Tregs and related cytokines (TGF‐β1 or IL‐10) were associated with lymphatic metastasis and FIGO stages of patients with EOC. Expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase (TIMP)‐2 in EOC cell lines were significantly regulated in the coculture experiment with CD4+CD25highCD127low Tregs sorted from EOC patients. Levels of MMP‐2 and TIMP‐2 conversely changed after blocking IL‐10R and TGF‐β1R in EOC cells. The invasion ability of EOC cells was also significantly downregulated in this process. The metastasis of EOC cells was correlated with the levels of TGF‐β1 or IL‐10. These findings suggested that immunosuppressive cytokines secreted by CD4+ Tregs could be a novel target for inhibiting EOC progression.
Circulating planning ideas from the metropole to the colonies: understanding South Africa's segregated cities through policy mobilities
Authors: Wood Astrid
Published: November 2018

In the early part of the twentieth century, South African cities were segregated in accordance with British city planning concepts that embodied the belief that social order can be manipulated through the urban form. This paper surveys the history of South African planning practices to understand the spread of segregation policies and practices. Whereas scholars tend to agree that the apartheid city (post−1948) is a more highly organized and structured version of the colonial city (pre−1910), the literature lacks consensus on the development of the segregated city (1910−1948) within South Africa. How did concepts of segregation circulate and why was it implemented with such consistency? Accordingly, this paper employs concepts of policy mobilities to trace historical configurations in South Africa to international influences. The focus on the circuits of knowledge explains how concepts and designs transplanted from elsewhere helped create the form of South African cities today. Understanding the movement of planning ideas through policy mobilities furthers geographical understandings of historical circulation processes, the role of the local actors, and policy mobilities failure. This history of learning also challenges the assumption that South African cities are unique and in so doing opens the doors for knowledge sharing between postcolonial cities.
Political Leaning and Coverage Sentiment: Are Conservative Newspapers More Negative Toward Women?*
Authors: Shor Eran
Published: November 2018

Objectives

This article examines whether newspapers’ political leaning affects coverage tone for individuals in the news and whether the gender of the person covered affects this relationship.

Methods

I analyze sentiment data on millions of person‐names from more than 200 major American newspapers between the years 2004 and 2009, juxtaposing them with various measurements for the political leaning of these newspapers.

Results

Results show mixed support for the idea that political leaning in the media affects coverage patterns for individuals in the news. While newspapers located in states that are more likely to vote for Republicans cover women in a more negative way, I find no relationship between political leaning scores and coverage sentiment for men.

Conclusions

The study shows mild support for the proposition that relatively liberal newspapers are more likely to cover women and women's issues in a positive way.
Fear of blood, injections and fainting as barriers to blood donation in Brazil
Authors: Zucoloto Miriane Lucindo , Gonçalez Thelma , Menezes Neia Prata , McFarland Willi , Custer Brian , Martinez Edson Zangiacomi
Published: November 2018

Background and objectives

The objective of the present study was to investigate the fear of blood, injections and fainting as barriers to blood donation in a sample of primary healthcare users in a Brazilian municipality.

Materials and Methods

This is a cross‐sectional survey of primary care patients in 12 randomly selected healthcare facilities in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil in 2015–2016. Key variables were lifetime blood donation history, intentions to donate blood among non‐donors and current donation practice. To assess fear of blood in general (FBG), fear of injections in general (FIG) and fear of fainting due to fear of injection (FFI), we used the Blood Injection/Fear Scale (BIFS). We tested associations between variables using regression models and conditional inference trees (CIT).

Results

A total of 1055 primary healthcare users participated (79·7% female, mean age 40·6 years [SD= 15·2]), 63·4% never donated blood, 13·3% reported they are unable to donate, 6·1% donated only once, 17·2% donated multiple times. Women had higher scores forFIGandFBG.FFIwas associated with middle socioeconomic status. Those who never intended to donate exhibited the highest scores in the three dimension of fear. ByCITanalysis, being female and high scores forFBGare associated with decreased blood donation. Among males, blood donation frequency is low among those aged 33 years and under.

Conclusion

Fear of blood, injections and fainting are barriers to blood donation in Brazil. Efforts to recruit and retain blood donors should convey information on blood donation processes and address misconceptions that may increase fear.
Pleistocene glaciation explains the disjunct distribution of the Chestnut‐vented Nuthatch (Aves, Sittidae)
Authors: Zhao Min , Chang Yongbin , Kimball Rebecca T. , Zhao Jian , Lei Fumin , Qu Yanhua
Published: November 2018

Pleistocene climatic oscillations have played an important role in shaping many species’ current distributions. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in studying the effects of glacial periods on East Asian birds. Integrated approaches allow us to study past distribution range changes due to Pleistocene glaciation, and how these changes have affected current population genetic structure, especially for species with unusual distribution patterns. The Wuyi disjunction is the disjunct distribution of birds between the Wuyi Mountains in south‐eastern China and south‐western China. Although several species exhibit the Wuyi disjunction, the process behind this unusual distribution pattern has remained relatively unstudied. Therefore, we used the Chestnut‐vented Nuthatch Sitta nagaensis as a model species to investigate the possible causes of the Wuyi disjunction. Based on phylogenetic analyses with three mitochondrial and six nuclear regions, the Wuyi population of the Chestnut‐vented Nuthatch was closely related to populations in mid‐Sichuan, from which it diverged approximately 0.1 million years ago, despite the long geographical distance between them (over 1,300 km). In contrast, geographically close populations in mid‐ and southern Sichuan were genetically divergent from each other (more than half a million years). Ecological niche modelling suggested that the Chestnut‐vented Nuthatch has experienced dramatic range expansions from Last Interglacial period to Last Glacial Maximum, with some range retraction following the Last Glacial period. We propose that the Wuyi disjunction of the Chestnut‐vented Nuthatch was most likely due to recent range expansion from south‐western China during the glacial period, followed by postglacial range retraction.
Prolonged depression of knee‐extensor torque complexity following eccentric exercise
Authors: Pethick Jamie , Whiteaway Katherine , Winter Samantha L. , Burnley Mark
Published: November 2018

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Does eccentric exercise leading to prolonged knee‐extensor torque depression also result in a prolonged loss of knee‐extensor torque complexity?

What is the main finding and its importance?

The recovery of the loss of torque complexity after eccentric exercise took 24 h, whereas after acute muscle fatigue it took 10 min. The depression of torque complexity after eccentric exercise was prolonged.

Neuromuscular fatigue reduces the temporal structure, or complexity, of muscle torque output. Exercise‐induced muscle damage reduces muscle torque output for considerably longer than high‐intensity fatiguing contractions. We hypothesized that muscle‐damaging eccentric exercise would lead to a persistent decrease in torque complexity, whereas fatiguing exercise would not. Ten healthy participants performed five isometric contractions (6 s contraction, 4 s rest) at 50% maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) before, immediately after and 10, 30 and 60 min and 24 h after eccentric (muscle‐damaging) and isometric (fatiguing) exercise. These contractions were also repeated 48 h and 1 week after eccentric exercise. Torque and surface EMG signals were sampled throughout each test. Complexity and fractal scaling were quantified using approximate entropy (ApEn) and the detrended fluctuation analysis α exponent (DFA α). Global, central and peripheral perturbations were quantified using MVCs with femoral nerve stimulation. Complexity decreased after both eccentric [ApEn, mean (SD), from 0.39 (0.10) to 0.20 (0.12), P < 0.001] and isometric exercise [from 0.41 (0.13) to 0.09 (0.04); P < 0.001]. After eccentric exercise, ApEn and DFA α required 24 h to recover to baseline levels, but after isometric exercise they required only 10 min. The MVC torque remained reduced [from 233.6 (74.2) to 187.5 (64.7) N m] 48 h after eccentric exercise, with such changes evident only up to 60 min after isometric exercise [MVC torque, from 246.1 (77.2) to 217.9 (71.8) N m]. The prolonged depression in maximal muscle torque output is therefore accompanied by a prolonged reduction in torque complexity.
A Cloud Service Framework for Virtual Try-On of Footwear in Augmented Reality
Authors: Chu Chih-Hsing , Cheng Chih-Hung , Wu Han-Sheng , Kuo Chia-Chen
Published: November 2018

This paper presents an experimental cloud service framework for design evaluation of personalized footwear in augmented reality (AR) via networks. The service allows users to ubiquitously perceive themselves trying on three-dimensional (3D) shoe models in a video stream. They upload a clip of feet motion recorded by a commercial depth camera to the cloud. A new clip is generated to display the try-on process and made available to specified receivers via video streaming on a mobile device. The framework design emphasizes making most use of open-source software and off-the-shelf technologies commercially available. A prototyping cloud system implementing the framework demonstrates the practical value of virtual footwear try-on as AR as a service (ARaaS). This experimental study realizes the idea of human-centric design evaluation in modern e-commerce. The cloud framework may provide a feasible example to improve the usability for real-time applications of AR.
Using a Dynamic Substructuring Approach to Model the Effects of Acoustic Damping in Coupled Acoustic–Structure Systems
Authors: Benjamin Davis R. , Schultz Ryan
Published: November 2018

Acoustic–structure coupling can substantially alter the frequency response of air-filled structures. Coupling effects typically manifest as two resonance peaks at frequencies above and below the resonant frequency of the uncoupled structural system. Here, a dynamic substructuring approach is applied to a simple acoustic–structure system to expose how the system response depends on the damping in the acoustic subsystem. Parametric studies show that as acoustic damping is increased, the frequencies and amplitudes of the coupled resonances in the structural response undergo a sequence of changes. For low levels of acoustic damping, the two coupled resonances have amplitudes approximating the corresponding in vacuo resonance. As acoustic damping is increased, resonant amplitudes decrease dramatically while the frequency separation between the resonances tends to increase slightly. When acoustic damping is increased even further, the separation of the resonant frequencies decreases below their initial separation. Finally, at some critical value of acoustic damping, one of the resonances abruptly disappears, leaving just a single resonance. Counterintuitively, increasing acoustic damping beyond this point tends to increase the amplitude of the remaining resonance peak. These results have implications for analysts and experimentalists attempting to understand, mitigate, or otherwise compensate for the confounding effects of acoustic–structure coupling in fluid-filled test structures.
A New Nonproportional Low Cycle Fatigue Life Prediction Method for Type 304 Stainless Steel
Authors: Liu Bowen , Yan Xiangqiao
Published: November 2018

A new method is put forward to predict fatigue life for low cycle nonproportional loading based on the Itoh criterion. The proposed method considers the multi-axiality influence on the reference maximum principal strain path and the calculation of nonproportionality factor Fnp by utilizing a multi-axial fatigue life prediction approach based on the modified Wöhler curve method. Different from the hypothesis of previous integral models for computing factor Fnp where the loading path is considered uniform, a new model using an inhomogeneous integral is presented and a path-dependent weight factor is defined to describe this inhomogeneity. The experimental tests of Itoh on 304 stainless steel with 14 different loading cases are referenced to examine the validity of the new method.
Sustainable Manufacturing of High-Precision, Heat-Resistant Aspherical Lenses Using Ultraviolet Illumination With Prognosis of Remaining Useful Life
Authors: Kim Joongeok , Lim Juhee , Park Changsu , Myung Ho , Lee Jongsoo , Kang Shinill
Published: November 2018

Recently, carbon emissions and global warming have become major issues, and efforts are being made to develop sustainable manufacturing systems and improve product lifespans. Waste and greenhouse gases created during manufacturing can be minimized using sustainable processes and by proactively considering the environment during product design and fabrication. Miniaturization of optical parts is key in the maturing mobile device market; the demand for ultra-small light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and aspherical lenses is growing rapidly. Small aspherical lenses are created using injection molding, wafer-level optics, and glass molding. Traditionally, injection molding was associated with excellent transferability, and is suitable for mass production. However, considerable energy is required to create high internal cavity pressures and high temperatures. Furthermore, a great deal of waste such as runners is created, and the lenses are unstable at high temperature. We sought to resolve these issues by using sustainable manufacturing concepts in the design stage. To this end, we used ultraviolet (UV)-curable resin to mold high-precision lenses exhibiting excellent heat-resistance. We proposed a methodology to mold ultra-small optical lenses using UV-curable resin to improve material and energy efficiency compared with the traditional injection molding process. We employed a prognostics to predict the life cycle of the system and improve sustainability.
Acoustic radiation force exerted on a small spheroidal rigid particle by a beam of arbitrary wavefront: Examples of traveling and standing plane waves
Authors: Silva Glauber T. , Drinkwater Bruce W.
Published: November 2018

The analytical solution of the acoustic radiation force exerted by a beam of arbitrary shape on a small spheroidal rigid particle suspended in an ideal fluid is presented. The particle is assumed to be much smaller than the wavelength, i.e., the so-called long-wavelength approximation. Based on this theoretical development, closed-form expressions for the radiation force of a traveling and standing plane wave exerted on a prolate spheroidal particle are derived in the dipole approximation. As validation, the previous analytical result considering a standing wave interacting with a spheroid in axisymmetric configuration is recovered, as well as numerical results obtained with the boundary-element method.
Hippocampal mGluR1-dependent long-term potentiation requires NAADP-mediated acidic store Ca
2+
signaling
Authors: Foster William J. , Taylor Henry B. C. , Padamsey Zahid , Jeans Alexander F. , Galione Antony , Emptage Nigel J.
Published: November 2018

Acidic Ca
2+
store–mediated mGluR signaling underlies synaptic plasticity in hippocampal neurons.
Thinking through acidic Ca
2+
stores
Authors: Patel Sandip , Brailoiu Eugen
Published: November 2018

Release of endolysosomal Ca
2+
stores mediates glutamate-induced neuronal activity (Foster
et al
., in 27 November 2018 issue).
Analysis of a Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis Genotype B3 Virus from the 2009-2010 South African Measles Epidemic Shows That Hyperfusogenic F Proteins Contribute to Measles Virus Infection in the Brain
Authors: Angius Fabrizio , Smuts Heidi , Rybkina Ksenia , Stelitano Debora , Eley Brian , Wilmshurst Jo , Ferren Marion , Lalande Alexandre , Mathieu Cyrille , Moscona Anne , Horvat Branka , Hashiguchi Takao , Porotto Matteo , Hardie Diana
Published: November 2018

Measles virus can invade the central nervous system (CNS) and cause severe neurological complications, such as MIBE and SSPE. However, mechanisms by which MeV enters the CNS and triggers the disease remain unclear. We analyzed viruses from brain tissue of individuals with MIBE or SSPE, infected during the same epidemic, after the onset of neurological disease. Our findings indicate that the emergence of hyperfusogenic MeV F proteins is associated with infection of the brain. We also demonstrate that hyperfusogenic F proteins permit MeV to enter cells and spread without the need to engage nectin-4 or CD150, known receptors for MeV that are not present on neural cells.
Unique Type I Interferon, Expansion/Survival Cytokines, and JAK/STAT Gene Signatures of Multifunctional Herpes Simplex Virus-Specific Effector Memory CD8
+
T
EM
Cells Are Associated with Asymptomatic Herpes in Humans
Authors: Vahed Hawa , Agrawal Anshu , Srivastava Ruchi , Prakash Swayam , Coulon Pierre-Gregoire A. , Roy Soumyabrata , BenMohamed Lbachir
Published: November 2018

A staggering number of the world population harbors herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) potentially leading to blinding recurrent herpetic disease. While the majority are asymptomatic (ASYMP) individuals who never experienced any recurrent herpetic disease, symptomatic (SYMP) individuals have a history of numerous episodes of recurrent ocular herpetic disease. This study elucidates the phenotype, the effector function, and the gene signatures of memory CD8
+
T-cell populations associated with protection seen in ASYMP individuals. Frequent multifunctional HSV-specific effector memory CD8
+
T
EM
cells were detected in ASYMP individuals. In contrast, nonprotected SYMP individuals had more central memory CD8
+
T
CM
cells. The memory CD8
+
T
EM
cells from ASYMP individuals expressed unique gene signatures characterized by higher levels of type I interferon (IFN), expansion and expansion/survival cytokines, and JAK/STAT pathways. Future studies on the genotype, phenotype, and function of antiviral CD8
+
T cells from “naturally protected” ASYMP individuals will help in the potential design of T-cell-based ocular herpes vaccines.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Soil Bacterium
Pseudomonas kribbensis
Strain 46-2
T
Authors: Jeong Haeyoung , Rha Eugene , Kim Haseong , Lee Seung-Goo
Published: November 2018

Pseudomonas kribbensis
is a novel species belonging to the
Pseudomonas fluorescens
intrageneric group of the genus
Pseudomonas
. Herein, we report the complete genome sequence of strain 46-2
T
, isolated from garden soil in Daejeon, South Korea.
First Report of Alphapartitiviruses Infecting Alfalfa (
Medicago sativa
L.) in the United States
Authors: Nemchinov Lev G. , Lee Maya N. , Shao Jonathan
Published: November 2018

Evidence is presented demonstrating that alfalfa cultivars in the United States could be widely infected with cryptic virus of the genus
Alphapartitivirus
. The nucleotide sequences of several U.S.
Complete Genome Sequence of Bradyrhizobium ottawaense OO99
T
, an Efficient Nitrogen-Fixing Symbiont of Soybean
Authors: Nguyen Hai D. T. , Cloutier Sylvie , Bromfield Eden S. P.
Published: November 2018

We present the complete genome sequence of
Bradyrhizobium ottawaense
strain OO99
T
, a nitrogen-fixing bacterium from root nodules of soybean. The genome consists of a single 8.6-Mb chromosome and includes a symbiosis island.
Establishing a composite neonatal adverse outcome indicator using English hospital administrative data
Authors: Knight Hannah Ellin , Oddie Sam J , Harron Katie L , Aughey Harriet K , van der Meulen Jan H , Gurol-Urganci Ipek , Cromwell David A
Published: November 2018

Objective

We adapted a composite neonatal adverse outcome indicator (NAOI), originally derived in Australia, and assessed its feasibility and validity as an outcome indicator in English administrative hospital data.

Design

We used Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) data containing information infants born in the English National Health Service (NHS) between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2015. The Australian NAOI was mapped to diagnoses and procedure codes used within HES and modified to reflect data quality and neonatal health concerns in England. To investigate the concurrent validity of the English NAOI (E-NAOI), rates of NAOI components were compared with population-based studies. To investigate the predictive validity of the E-NAOI, rates of readmission and death in the first year of life were calculated for infants with and without E-NAOI components.

Results

The analysis included 484 007 (81%) of the 600 963 eligible babies born during the timeframe. 114/148 NHS trusts passed data quality checks and were included in the analysis. The modified E-NAOI included 23 components (16 diagnoses and 7 procedures). Among liveborn infants, 5.4% had at least one E-NAOI component recorded before discharge. Among newborns discharged alive, the E-NAOI was associated with a significantly higher risk of death (0.81% vs 0.05%; p<0.001) and overnight hospital readmission (15.7% vs 7.1%; p<0.001) in the first year of life.

Conclusions

A composite NAOI can be derived from English hospital administrative data. This E-NAOI demonstrates good concurrent and predictive validity in the first year of life. It is a cost-effective way to monitor neonatal outcomes.
Impact of patient and public involvement on enrolment and retention in clinical trials: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Crocker Joanna C , Ricci-Cabello Ignacio , Parker Adwoa , Hirst Jennifer A , Chant Alan , Petit-Zeman Sophie , Evans David , Rees Sian
Published: November 2018

Objective

To investigate the impact of patient and public involvement (PPI) on rates of enrolment and retention in clinical trials and explore how this varies with the context and nature of PPI.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

Ten electronic databases, including Medline, INVOLVE Evidence Library, and clinical trial registries.

Eligibility criteria

Experimental and observational studies quantitatively evaluating the impact of a PPI intervention, compared with no intervention or non-PPI intervention(s), on participant enrolment and/or retention rates in a clinical trial or trials. PPI interventions could include additional non-PPI components inseparable from the PPI (for example, other stakeholder involvement).

Data extraction and analysis

Two independent reviewers extracted data on enrolment and retention rates, as well as on the context and characteristics of PPI intervention, and assessed risk of bias. Random effects meta-analyses were used to determine the average effect of PPI interventions on enrolment and retention in clinical trials: main analysis including randomised studies only, secondary analysis adding non-randomised studies, and several exploratory subgroup and sensitivity analyses.

Results

26 studies were included in the review; 19 were eligible for enrolment meta-analysis and five for retention meta-analysis. Various PPI interventions were identified with different degrees of involvement, different numbers and types of people involved, and input at different stages of the trial process. On average, PPI interventions modestly but significantly increased the odds of participant enrolment in the main analysis (odds ratio 1.16, 95% confidence interval and prediction interval 1.01 to 1.34). Non-PPI components of interventions may have contributed to this effect. In exploratory subgroup analyses, the involvement of people with lived experience of the condition under study was significantly associated with improved enrolment (odds ratio 3.14v1.07; P=0.02). The findings for retention were inconclusive owing to the paucity of eligible studies (odds ratio 1.16, 95% confidence interval 0.33 to 4.14), for main analysis).

Conclusions

These findings add weight to the case for PPI in clinical trials by indicating that it is likely to improve enrolment of participants, especially if it includes people with lived experience of the health condition under study. Further research is needed to assess which types of PPI work best in particular contexts, the cost effectiveness of PPI, the impact of PPI at earlier stages of trial design, and the impact of PPI interventions specifically targeting retention.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO CRD42016043808.
Fine needle aspirates comprehensively sample intrahepatic immunity
Authors: Gill Upkar S , Pallett Laura J , Thomas Niclas , Burton Alice R , Patel Amit A , Yona Simon , Kennedy Patrick T F , Maini Mala K
Published: November 2018

Objective

In order to refine new therapeutic strategies in the pipeline for HBV cure, evaluation of virological and immunological changes compartmentalised at the site of infection will be required. We therefore investigated if liver fine needle aspirates (FNAs) could comprehensively sample the local immune landscape in parallel with viable hepatocytes.

Design

Matched blood, liver biopsy and FNAs from 28 patients with HBV and 15 without viral infection were analysed using 16-colour multiparameter flow cytometry.

Results

The proportion of CD4 T, CD8 T, Mucosal Associated Invariant T cell (MAIT), Natural Killer (NK) and B cells identified by FNA correlated with that in liver biopsies from the same donors. Populations of Programmed Death-1 (PD-1)hiCD39hitissue-resident memory CD8 T cells (CD69+CD103+) and liver-resident NK cells (CXCR6+T-betloEomeshi), were identified by both FNA and liver biopsy, and not seen in the blood. Crucially, HBV-specific T cells could be identified by FNAs at similar frequencies to biopsies and enriched compared with blood. FNAs could simultaneously identify populations of myeloid cells and live hepatocytes expressing albumin, Scavenger Receptor class B type 1 (SR-B1), Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1), whereas hepatocytes were poorly viable after the processing required for liver biopsies.

Conclusion

We demonstrate for the first time that FNAs identify a range of intrahepatic immune cells including locally resident sentinel HBV-specific T cells and NK cells, together with PD-L1-expressing hepatocytes. In addition, we provide a scoring tool to estimate the extent to which an individual FNA has reliably sampled intrahepatic populations rather than contaminating blood. The broad profiling achieved by this less invasive, rapid technique makes it suitable for longitudinal monitoring of the liver to optimise new therapies for HBV.
Systemic lupus erythematosus: state of the art on clinical practice guidelines
Authors: Tamirou Farah , Arnaud Laurent , Talarico Rosaria , Scirè Carlo Alberto , Alexander Tobias , Amoura Zahir , Avcin Tadej , Bortoluzzi Alessandra , Cervera Ricard , Conti Fabrizio , Cornet Alain , Devilliers Hervé , Doria Andrea , Frassi Micol , Fredi Micaela , Govoni Marcello , Houssiau Frederic , Lladò Ana , Macieira Carla , Martin Thierry , Massaro Laura , Moraes-Fontes Maria Francisca , Pamfil Cristina , Paolino Sabrina , Tani Chiara , Tas Sander W , Tektonidou Maria , Tincani Angela , Van Vollenhoven Ronald F , Bombardieri Stefano , Burmester Gerd , Fonseca João Eurico , Galetti Ilaria , Hachulla Eric , Mueller-Ladner Ulf , Schneider Matthias , Smith Vanessa , Cutolo Maurizio , Mosca Marta , Costedoat-Chalumeau Nathalie
Published: November 2018

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the paradigm of systemic autoimmune diseases characterised by a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations with an unpredictable relapsing-remitting course. The aim of the present work was to identify current available clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for SLE, to provide their review and to identify physicians’ and patients’ unmet needs. Twenty-three original guidelines published between 2004 and 2017 were identified. Many aspects of disease management are covered, including global disease management, lupus nephritis and neuropsychiatric involvement, management of pregnancies, vaccinations and comorbidities monitoring. Unmet needs relate with disease management of some clinical manifestations and adherence to treatment. Many patient’s unmet needs have been identified starting with faster diagnosis, need for more therapeutic options, guidelines on lifestyle issues, attention to quality of life and adequate education.
Estimating cross-population variation in juvenile compensation in survival for bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus): a Bayesian hierarchical approach
Authors: Chudnow Rachel , van Poorten Brett , McAllister Murdoch
Published: November 2018

Juvenile compensation in survival, quantified as compensation ratio (CR), is critical for fish population persistence. At present, no estimate of this key parameter exists for bull trout (Salvelinus confluentus). This species has a conservation listing and is targeted by recreational angling in portions of its range. Obtaining accurate estimates of CR is crucial to aid recovery efforts and develop sustainable fisheries policies. This investigation develops a hierarchical Bayesian meta-analysis to estimate CR and explore the functional form of stock–recruitment for bull trout. Results show bull trout have high scope for density-dependent compensation evidenced by CR estimates generated herein and by previous research. This demonstrates changes in habitat quality and quantity are likely limiting recovery of many populations. However, owing to lack of data, variance is high. Limitations in available data for this analysis are due to the high cost and operational difficulty of sampling, and high uncertainty in CR estimates. This study highlights the importance of collecting additional paired stock–recruitment data to facilitate future investigations and reduce variance in CR estimates for bull trout.
Short- and long-term cold storage of jack pine bolts is associated with higher concentrations of monoterpenes and nutrients
Authors: Guevara-Rozo Sydne , Classens Gail , Hussain Altaf , Erbilgin Nadir
Published: November 2018

Studies with conifer-infesting bark beetles commonly use bolts cut from trees to evaluate the effects of host tree quality on various aspects of insect biology. Yet, whether host quality changes between live trees and bolts cut from these trees has not been assessed. Particularly, changes in concentrations of defense chemicals (such as monoterpenes) and nutrients (such as nitrogen and carbon) have not been compared between live trees and their cut bolts. To determine whether monoterpene and nutrient concentrations differ after cutting, jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) trees in Lac La Biche (Alberta) were selected and sampled for phloem tissue. Then, these trees were harvested into two bolts per tree and stored at 4 °C for 3 and 6 months. Phloem was sampled from both live trees and bolts 3 and 6 months after storage. We found that major monoterpenes of jack pine were higher in phloem from bolts than from live trees. Storage time did not affect the results. Furthermore, some nutrients including nitrogen were also higher in bolts and varied between storage times. We conclude that researchers should be aware of the observed changes in the host quality that may have positive or negative effects on the development and behavior of bark beetles under observation.
Microbial degradation of low-density polyethylene and synthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers
Authors: Montazer Zahra , Habibi Najafi Mohammad B. , Levin David B.
Published: November 2018

We have characterized the ability of eight bacterial strains to utilize powdered low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic (untreated and without any additives) as a sole carbon source. Cell mass production on LDPE-containing medium after 21 days of incubation varied between 0.083 ± 0.015 g/L cell dry mass (cdm) for Micrococcus luteus IRN20 and 0.39 ± 0.036 g/L for Cupriavidus necator H16. The percent decrease in LDPE mass ranged from 18.9% ± 0.72% for M. luteus IRN20 to 33.7% ± 1.2% for C. necator H16. Linear alkane hydrolysis products from LDPE degradation were detected in the culture media, and the carbon chain lengths of the hydrolysis products detected varied, depending on the species of bacteria. We also determined that C. necator H16 produced short-chain-length polyhydroxyalkanoate biopolymers, while Pseudomonas putida LS46 and Acinetobacter pittii IRN19 produced medium-chain-length biopolymers while growing on polyethylene powder. Cupriavidus necator H16 accumulated poly (3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHB-V) polymers to 3.18% ± 0.4% of cdm. The monomer composition of the PHB-V was 94.9% ± 0.61% 3-hydroxybutyrate and 5.03% ± 0.56% 3-hydroxyvalerate. This is the first report that provides direct evidence for simultaneous bioconversion of LDPE plastic to biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoate polymers.
Additive composition formulation of the iterative Grover algorithm
Authors: Toyama F.M. , van Dijk W.
Published: November 2018

In the Grover-type quantum search process a search operator is iteratively applied, say, k times, on the initial uniform superposition database state. We present an additive decomposition scheme such that the iteration process is expressed, in the computational space, as a linear combination of k operators, each of which consists of a single Grover-search followed by an overall phase-rotation. The value of k and the rotation phase are the same as those determined in the framework of the search with certainty. We discuss how the additive form can be effectively utilized and we propose an alternative gate that realizes the same outcome as the iterative search.