bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fibroblast growth factor 23 in untreated nephrotic syndrome
Authors: Yadav Ashok Kumar , Ramachandran Raja , Aggarwal Abhinav , Kumar Vinod , Gupta Krishan Lal , Jha Vivekanand
Published: January 2017

Aim

Despite its importance in bone and cardiovascular disease in subjects with kidney disease, there are no data on fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) perturbations in nephrotic syndrome. We evaluated FGF23 and markers of mineral bone metabolism in subjects with untreated NS.

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study, we measured circulating levels of FGF23, 25‐hydroxy vitamin D [25(OH)D], 1,25 di‐hydroxy vitamin D [1,25(OH)2D], serum albumin, serum calcium, phosphorus, creatinine and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) in 101 patients with adults onset NS and 40 healthy controls. We examined the correlation between FGF23 and markers of mineral bone metabolism.

Results

Compared to healthy controls, subjects with NS showed reduced levels of 25(OH)D (21.76 ± 10.18 vs 35.74 ± 40.27 nmol/L, P = 0.001), 1,25(OH)2D (median; 37.80 vs 73.13 pmol/L, P = 0.0001) and FGF23 (37.81 ± 20.42 vs 48.20 ± 11.60 pg/mL, P = 0.004) levels. Serum phosphorus levels were marginally, but significantly higher in subjects with nephrotic syndrome compared to healthy controls (P = 0.004). Serum iPTH levels were significantly higher in subjects with NS compared to healthy controls (52.24 ± 39.58 vs 37.90 ± 14.60 pg/mL, P = 0.028).

Conclusions

We conclude that FGF23 is reduced in subjects with NS compared to healthy controls. The reduced levels of Vitamin D, and urinary losses may contribute to lower levels of FGF23 in NS.
A baseline impedance analysis in neurologically impaired children: A potent parameter for estimating the condition of the esophageal mucosa
Authors: Fukahori S. , Yagi M. , Ishii S. , Asagiri K. , Saikusa N. , Hashizume N. , Yoshida M. , Masui D. , Komatsuzaki N. , Higashidate N. , Nakahara H. , Tanaka Y.
Published: January 2017

Background

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the baseline impedance (BI) value is a useful parameter to evaluate the condition of the esophageal mucosa in neurologically impaired (NI) children undergoing multichannel intraluminal impedance pH measurements (pH/MII).

Methods

The retrospective study included 55 NI patients ≤15 years. The patients were divided into acid gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), non‐acid GERD and GERD (−) groups. Furthermore, the patients in the acid GERD group were subdivided into erosive reflux disease (ERD) and non‐erosive reflux disease (NERD) groups. pH/MII parameters and BI values (Z1‐6) were compared among three groups or between two groups, respectively. A Spearman's correlation analysis was used for the correlation analysis of pH/MII parameters and BI values. A receiver operator characteristic curve analysis was used to evaluate the optimum cut‐off values of BI to discriminate ERD patients.

Key Results

The BI values of the proximal and the distal channels in ERD group were significantly lower than those in NERD group. The BI values of the distal channels demonstrated significant negative correlations with acid exposure related pH/MII parameters. The optimal cut off value of BI in the most distal channel was determined to be 1500 Ω.

Conclusions & Inferences

The present study suggested that NI children with reflux esophagitis were likely to suffer mucosal damage up to the proximal esophagus and cut‐off BI values may help estimate the presence of reflux esophagitis. Baseline impedance is a potent parameter, reflecting the esophageal mucosal damage in NI children who have difficulty in undergoing endoscopic examinations.
Maternal body mass index and post‐term birth: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Heslehurst N. , Vieira R. , Hayes L. , Crowe L. , Jones D. , Robalino S. , Slack E. , Rankin J.
Published: January 2017

Post‐term birth is a preventable cause of perinatal mortality and severe morbidity. This review examined the association between maternal body mass index (BMI) and post‐term birth at ≥42 and ≥41 weeks' gestation. Five databases, reference lists and citations were searched from May to November 2015. Observational studies published in English since 1990 were included. Linear and nonlinear dose–response meta‐analyses were conducted by using random effects models. Sensitivity analyses assessed robustness of the results. Meta‐regression and sub‐group meta‐analyses explored heterogeneity. Obesity classes were defined as I (30.0–34.9 kg m−2), II (35.0–39.9 kg m−2) and III (≥40 kg m−2; IIIa 40.0–44.9 kg m−2, IIIb ≥ 45.0 kg m−2). Searches identified 16,375 results, and 39 studies met the inclusion criteria (n = 4,143,700 births). A nonlinear association between maternal BMI and births ≥42 weeks was identified; odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for obesity classes I–IIIb were 1.42 (1.27–1.58), 1.55 (1.37–1.75), 1.65 (1.44–1.87) and 1.75 (1.50–2.04) respectively. BMI was linearly associated with births ≥41 weeks: odds ratio is 1.13 (95% confidence interval 1.05–1.21) for each 5‐unit increase in BMI. The strength of the association between BMI and post‐term birth increases with increasing BMI. Odds are greatest for births ≥42 weeks among class III obesity. Targeted interventions to prevent the adverse outcomes associated with post‐term birth should consider the difference in risk between obesity classes.
Bariatric surgery and diabetic retinopathy: a systematic review and meta‐analysis of controlled clinical studies
Authors: Merlotti C. , Ceriani V. , Morabito A. , Pontiroli A. E.
Published: January 2017

Background

Uncontrolled studies have indicated appearance or progression of diabetic retinopathy in obese diabetic patients after bariatric surgery. The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis was to compare the rate of appearance, as well as progression or regression of diabetic retinopathy in studies comparing medical and surgical treatment of obese type 2 diabetes.

Methods and findings

Intervention effect (new cases of retinopathy, and cases with any change of diabetic retinopathy score) was expressed as odds ratio (OR), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs); change of diabetic retinopathy score was expressed as standardized mean difference (SMD), with 95% CIs. Meta‐analyses were performed by a random‐effects model according to DerSimonian and Laird. Heterogeneity was assessed through Q and I2 statistics for each comparison, and potential sources of heterogeneity were discussed where appropriate. Appropriate methodology [preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses (PRISMA) statement] was used. Seven studies were analyzed, and incident cases of retinopathy were fewer with bariatric surgery than with medical treatment; change of retinopathy score (three studies) was not different, while only two studies were available on numbers of patients showing progression or regression of retinopathy. Heterogeneity was not significant, and publication bias was not present.

Conclusions

Bariatric surgery seems to prevent new cases of diabetic retinopathy, but available studies are not sufficient to support progression or regression of retinopathy. Further studies are needed to draw firm conclusions on the effect of bariatric surgery on diabetic retinopathy.
Queer Farmers: Sexuality and the Transition to Sustainable Agriculture
Authors: Leslie Isaac Sohn
Published: January 2017

Intimate relationships are foundational to farm viability. They affect how farmers share tasks, earn income, and access land, yet the role of sexuality and heteronormativity in agriculture remains understudied. Furthermore, queer people are largely ignored as potential farmers by the sustainable agriculture and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) movements. I document the lived experiences of queer farmers, an underresearched group, through participant observation and interviews with 30 sustainable farmers of various genders and sexualities in New England. I use a queer perspective to illuminate sexualized and heteronormative patterns in sustainable agriculture. Whereas the perception of rural heterosexism can discourage queer participation in agriculture, queer farmers faced less overt heterosexism than they expected. However, they did experience heterosexism particular to sustainable agriculture, and confronting it might jeopardize relationships important for economic and environmental sustainability and land access. Some farmers were attracted to sustainable agriculture for reasons specific to gender, sexuality, and anticapitalist values. I argue that sexuality and heteronormativity are embedded in farmer recruitment, retention, and land acquisition, which are critical for the transition to sustainable agriculture. I offer the sustainable agriculture movement a lens for envisioning alternatives for farm families, homes, and workplaces.
Legislators' Patterns of Cooperation
Authors: Akirav Osnat
Published: January 2017

This study attempts to identify the patterns of cooperation between legislators. We argue that if legislators decide to cooperate, they prefer to do so first with their colleagues who share similar affiliations and then across affiliations. In order to examine this hypothesis, we devised a unique cooperation scale and tested it using a sample of the private member bills that were initiated in the 18th Knesset (Israel’s parliament) between 2009 and 2013. We then looked at each bill with regard to its initiators and co-sponsors to see if they were members of the same party, members of the opposition or coalition, or members of a minority group. Based on the quantitative analysis, we found that of all of the factors, only being a minority was significant.  Based on the qualitative analysis, we determined that intra-party cooperation does exist. In three parties – Hadash, Meretz and Israel Beitenu -- legislators tended to cooperate with each other. Finally, with regard to inter-party cooperation, Jewish and Arab MKs tended to cooperate, and Russian Jewish legislators tended to cooperate regardless of party affiliation. Our study is innovative in its creation of a cooperation scale that can be used in other legislatures and that is based on measures of co-sponsorship instead of analyses of dyadic or social networks used in previous studies.
Measuring the Influence of Social Mutations on the Precariousness of Women’s Marriage, the “Dismarriage”: Case of Niger Republic
Authors: Younoussi Zourkaleini , Alou Yacoubou
Published: January 2017

The South societies, under the influence of their Northern counterparts, have undergone profound familial changes; these transformations are translated in a reduction of the number of marriages and in making wedlock unions fragile along with the consequences that this entails on children. Drawing on the data from four Demographic and Health surveys (DHS) (1992, 1998, 2006, and 2012) which Niger has so far conducted, this study aims at verifying whether the influence of social transformations on the family in Niger can be captured through an examination of the increase in median age at the first marriage, in the proportion of single women (and definitive celibacy), in polygamous marriages, in couples living in consensual union (not in wedlock), in the proportion of children living with their single mother, and in that of the divorced/separated women. Our results show that though urbanization and education influence marriage, women’s “dismarriage” is yet to be a topical issue. Thus, we notice an intensification of marriages which comes, however, with a slight increase in the age at first marriage.
Effect of gravity and microgravity on intracranial pressure
Authors: Lawley Justin S. , Petersen Lonnie G. , Howden Erin J. , Sarma Satyam , Cornwell William K. , Zhang Rong , Whitworth Louis A. , Williams Michael A. , Levine Benjamin D.
Published: January 2017

Key Points

Astronauts have recently been discovered to have impaired vision, with a presentation that resembles syndromes of elevated intracranial pressure on Earth.

Gravity has a profound effect on fluid distribution and pressure within the human circulation. In contrast to prevailing theory, we observed that microgravity reduces central venous and intracranial pressure.

This being said, intracranial pressure is not reduced to the levels observed in the 90 deg seated upright posture on Earth. Thus, over 24 h in zero gravity, pressure in the brain is slightly above that observed on Earth, which may explain remodelling of the eye in astronauts.

Astronauts have recently been discovered to have impaired vision, with a presentation that resembles syndromes of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP). This syndrome is considered the most mission‐critical medical problem identified in the past decade of manned spaceflight. We recruited five men and three women who had an Ommaya reservoir inserted for the delivery of prophylactic CNS chemotherapy, but were free of their malignant disease for at least 1 year. ICP was assessed by placing a fluid‐filled 25 gauge butterfly needle into the Ommaya reservoir. Subjects were studied in the upright and supine position, during acute zero gravity (parabolic flight) and prolonged simulated microgravity (6 deg head‐down tilt bedrest). ICP was lower when seated in the 90 deg upright posture compared to lying supine (seated, 4 ± 1 vs. supine, 15 ± 2 mmHg). Whilst lying in the supine posture, central venous pressure (supine, 7 ± 3 vs. microgravity, 4 ± 2 mmHg) and ICP (supine, 17 ± 2 vs. microgravity, 13 ± 2 mmHg) were reduced in acute zero gravity, although not to the levels observed in the 90 deg seated upright posture on Earth. Prolonged periods of simulated microgravity did not cause progressive elevations in ICP (supine, 15 ± 2 vs. 24 h head‐down tilt, 15 ± 4 mmHg). Complete removal of gravity does not pathologically elevate ICP but does prevent the normal lowering of ICP when upright. These findings suggest the human brain is protected by the daily circadian cycles in regional ICPs, without which pathology may occur.
The Effect of Regulatory Fit on Twitter Fandom in the National Hockey League Postseason
Authors: Ray Joseph , Smith Jimmy , Fowler Brian
Published: January 2017

Social media has become a powerful source of sports information. The uncertainty of outcomes of a sporting event is a contributing factor to fan satisfaction, which in turn affects fans’ social-media habits. If teams can determine specific factors that affect these social-media habits, marketing conclusions can be drawn. The current research followed the Twitter accounts of 4 National Hockey League (NHL) teams throughout the 2015 NHL postseason to observe changes in fan engagement. The results displayed increasing growth during each subsequent round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, which indicates an advantageous time to gain fans and develop brand loyalty. The current research showed that retweets and favorites earned on team tweets were shown to have the greatest correlation to followers gained. The growth demonstrated during the postseason provides sports organizations the opportunity to cultivate a strong and loyal following for their teams through strategic marketing initiatives.
Running Performance With Nutritive and Nonnutritive Sweetened Mouth Rinses
Authors: Hawkins Keely R. , Krishnan Sridevi , Ringos Lara , Garcia Vanessa , Cooper Jamie A.
Published: January 2017

Using mouth rinse (MR) with carbohydrate during exercise has been shown to act as an ergogenic aid.

Purpose:

To investigate if nutritive or nonnutritive sweetened MR affects exercise performance and to assess the influence of sweetness intensity on endurance performance during a time trial (TT).

Methods:

This randomized, single-blinded study had 4 treatment conditions. Sixteen subjects (9 men, 7 women) completed a 12.8-km TT 4 different times. During each TT, subjects mouth-rinsed and expectorated a different solution at time 0 and every 12.5% of the TT. The 4 MR solutions were sucrose (S) (sweet taste and provides energy of 4 kcal/g), a lower-intensity sucralose (S1:1) (artificial sweetener that provides no energy but tastes sweet), a higher-intensity sucralose (S100:1), and water as control (C). Completion times for each TT, heart rate (HR), and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) were also recorded.

Results:

Completion time for S was faster than for C (1:03:47 ± 00:02:17 vs 1:06:56 ± 00:02:18, respectively; P < .001) and showed a trend to be faster vs S100:1 (1:03:47 ± 00:02:17 vs 1:05:38 ± 00:02:12, respectively; P = .07). No other TT differences were found. Average HR showed a trend to be higher for S vs C (P = .08). The only difference in average or maximum RPE was for higher maximum RPE in C vs S1:1 (P = .02).

Conclusion:

A sweet-tasting MR did improve endurance performance compared with water in a significant manner (mean 4.5% improvement; 3+ min.); however, the presence of energy in the sweet MR appeared necessary since the artificial sweeteners did not improve performance more than water alone.
An ambiguity principle for assigning protein structural domains
Authors: Postic Guillaume , Ghouzam Yassine , Chebrek Romain , Gelly Jean-Christophe
Published: January 2017

Our novel algorithm for delimiting protein structural domains provides insights into protein folding, function, and evolution.
Capturing Compositional Variation in Denitrifying Communities: a Multiple-Primer Approach That Includes Epsilonproteobacteria
Authors: Murdock Sheryl A. , Juniper S. Kim
Published: January 2017

Denitrifying
Epsilonproteobacteria
may dominate nitrogen loss processes in marine habitats with intense redox gradients, but assessment of their importance is limited by the currently available primers for nitrite reductase genes. Nine new primers targeting the
nirS
gene of denitrifying
Epsilonproteobacteria
were designed and tested for use in sequencing and quantitative PCR on two microbial mat samples (vent 2 and vent 4) from the Calypso hydrothermal vent field, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. Commonly used
nirS
and
nirK
primer sets nirS1F/nirS6R, cd3aF/R3cd, nirK1F/nirK5R, and F1aCu/R3Cu were also tested to determine what may be missed by the common single-primer approach to assessing denitrifier diversity. The relative importance of
Epsilonproteobacteria
in these samples was evaluated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
Epsilonproteobacteria
represented up to 75.6% of 16S rRNA libraries, but
nirS
genes from this group were not found with commonly used primers. Pairing of the new primer EPSnirS511F with either EPSnirS1100R or EPSnirS1105R recovered
nirS
sequences from members of the genera
Sulfurimonas
,
Sulfurovum
, and
Nitratifractor.
The new quantitative PCR primers EPSnirS103F/EPSnirS530R showed dominance of denitrifying
Epsilonproteobacteria
in vent 4 compared to vent 2, which had greater representation by “standard” denitrifiers measured with the cd3aF/R3cd primers. Limited results from commonly used
nirK
primers suggest biased amplification between primers. Future application of multiple
nirS
and
nirK
primers, including the new epsilonproteobacterial
nirS
primers, will improve the detection of denitrifier diversity and the capability to identify changes in dominant denitrifying communities.

IMPORTANCE
Estimating the potential for increasing nitrogen limitation in the changing global ocean is reliant on understanding the microbial community that removes nitrogen through the process of denitrification. This process is favored under oxygen limitation, which is a growing global-ocean phenomenon. Current methods use the nitrite reductase genes
nirS
and
nirK
to assess denitrifier diversity and abundance using primers that target only a few known denitrifiers and systematically exclude denitrifying
Epsilonproteobacteria
, a group known to dominate in reducing environments, such as hydrothermal vents and anoxic basins. As oxygen depletion expands in the oceans, it is important to study denitrifier community dynamics within those areas to predict future global ocean changes. This study explores the design and testing of new primers that target epsilonproteobacterial
nirS
and reveals the varied success of existing primers, leading to the recommendation of a multiple-primer approach to assessing denitrifier diversity.
Resilience, Dynamics, and Interactions within a Model Multispecies Exoelectrogenic-Biofilm Community
Authors: Prokhorova Anna , Sturm-Richter Katrin , Doetsch Andreas , Gescher Johannes
Published: January 2017

Anode-associated multispecies exoelectrogenic biofilms are essential for the function of bioelectrochemical systems (BESs). The individual activities of anode-associated organisms and physiological responses resulting from coculturing are often hard to assess due to the high microbial diversity in these systems. Therefore, we developed a model multispecies biofilm comprising three exoelectrogenic proteobacteria,
Shewanella oneidensis
,
Geobacter sulfurreducens
, and
Geobacter metallireducens
, with the aim to study in detail the biofilm formation dynamics, the interactions between the organisms, and the overall activity of an exoelectrogenic biofilm as a consequence of the applied anode potential. The experiments revealed that the organisms build a stable biofilm on an electrode surface that is rather resilient to changes in the redox potential of the anode. The community operated at maximum electron transfer rates at electrode potentials that were higher than 0.04 V versus a normal hydrogen electrode. Current densities decreased gradually with lower potentials and reached half-maximal values at −0.08 V. Transcriptomic results point toward a positive interaction among the individual strains.
S. oneidensis
and
G. sulfurreducens
upregulated their central metabolisms as a response to cultivation under mixed-species conditions.
G. sulfurreducens
was detected in the planktonic phase of the bioelectrochemical reactors in mixed-culture experiments but not when it was grown in the absence of the other two organisms.

IMPORTANCE
In many cases, multispecies communities can convert organic substrates into electric power more efficiently than axenic cultures, a phenomenon that remains unresolved. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the potential mutual effects of multispecies communities in bioelectrochemical systems to understand how microbes interact in the coculture anodic network and to improve the community's conversion efficiency for organic substrates into electrical energy. The results reveal positive interactions that might lead to accelerated electron transfer in mixed-species anode communities. The observations made within this model biofilm might be applicable to a variety of nonaxenic systems in the field.
Salivary Gluten Degradation and Oral Microbial Profiles in Healthy Individuals and Celiac Disease Patients
Authors: Tian Na , Faller Lina , Leffler Daniel A. , Kelly Ciaran P. , Hansen Joshua , Bosch Jos A. , Wei Guoxian , Paster Bruce J. , Schuppan Detlef , Helmerhorst Eva J.
Published: January 2017

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic immune-mediated enteropathy induced by dietary gluten in genetically predisposed individuals. Saliva harbors the second highest bacterial load of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract after the colon. We hypothesized that enzymes produced by oral bacteria may be involved in gluten processing in the intestine and susceptibility to celiac disease. The aim of this study was to investigate salivary enzymatic activities and oral microbial profiles in healthy subjects versus patients with classical and refractory CD. Stimulated whole saliva was collected from patients with CD in remission (
n
= 21) and refractory CD (RCD;
n
= 8) and was compared to healthy controls (HC;
n
= 20) and subjects with functional GI complaints (
n
= 12). Salivary gluten-degrading activities were monitored with the tripeptide substrate Z-Tyr-Pro-Gln-pNA and the α-gliadin-derived immunogenic 33-mer peptide. The oral microbiome was profiled by 16S rRNA-based MiSeq analysis. Salivary glutenase activities were higher in CD patients compared to controls, both before and after normalization for protein concentration or bacterial load. The oral microbiomes of CD and RCD patients showed significant differences from that of healthy subjects, e.g., higher salivary levels of lactobacilli (
P
< 0.05), which may partly explain the observed higher gluten-degrading activities. While the pathophysiological link between the oral and gut microbiomes in CD needs further exploration, the presented data suggest that oral microbe-derived enzyme activities are elevated in subjects with CD, which may impact gluten processing and the presentation of immunogenic gluten epitopes to the immune system in the small intestine.

IMPORTANCE
Ingested gluten proteins are the triggers of intestinal inflammation in celiac disease (CD). Certain immunogenic gluten domains are resistant to intestinal proteases but can be hydrolyzed by oral microbial enzymes. Very little is known about the endogenous proteolytic processing of gluten proteins in the oral cavity. Given that this occurs prior to gluten reaching the small intestine, such enzymes are likely to contribute to the composition of the gluten digest that ultimately reaches the small intestine and causes CD. We demonstrated that endogenous salivary protease activities are incomplete, likely liberating peptides from larger gluten proteins. The potentially responsible microbes were identified. The study included refractory CD patients, who have been studied less with regard to CD pathogenesis.
A Neoproterozoic epithermal gold deposit—The Haile gold mine, South Carolina, USA
Authors: Berry James M. , Mobley Reid M. , Gillon Kenneth A. , Yogodzinski Gene M. , Bates C. Cole
Published: January 2017

The Haile gold mine is located in southern Lancaster County, South Carolina, near the town of Kershaw. Gold was discovered at the site in 1827, and four periods of mining have yielded 360,000 ounces of gold. The mine is located between the past producing Ridgeway and Brewer mines that, when all are combined, constitute a significant amount of historical gold production in the southeastern United States. These mines are hosted within Neoproterozoic to lower Cambrian Carolina terrane rocks and are dominated by volcanic and epiclastic units that have experienced greenschist facies metamorphism. Saprolitic weathering is present in the near-surface portions of the deposit and is locally covered by Cretaceous-aged Coastal Plain sediments. The gold mineralization at the Haile mine is hosted within silicified meta-sediments containing fine-grained disseminated pyrite and pyrrhotite and is a replacement type-epithermal deposit. Re-Os ages from molybdenite associated with the mineralization indicate that the deposit formed shortly after major, arc-related volcanic activity.

Haile currently has a measured and indicated resource of 4.03 million ounces at an average grade of 1.77 g/t Au with an additional inferred resource of 801,000 ounces at an average grade of 1.24 g/t Au. Included in the resource is a reserve of 2.02 million ounces of gold at an average grade of 2.06 g/t. Mine construction began in May 2015, and gold production is expected by the end of 2016. The construction cost is expected to be US$380 million. Ore will be extracted from eight open pits with mill extraction and the current mine life is 14 years.
Geology and geomorphology of the Carolina Sandhills, Chesterfield County, South Carolina
Authors: Swezey Christopher S. , Fitzwater Bradley A. , Whittecar G. Richard
Published: January 2017

This two-day field trip focuses on the geology and geomorphology of the Carolina Sandhills in Chesterfield County, South Carolina. This area is located in the updip portion of the U.S. Atlantic Coastal Plain province, supports an ecosystem of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) and wiregrass (Aristida stricta), and contains three major geologic map units: (1) An ~60–120-m-thick unit of weakly consolidated sand, sandstone, mud, and gravel is mapped as the Upper Cretaceous Middendorf Formation and is interpreted as a fluvial deposit. This unit is capped by an unconformity, and displays reticulate mottling, plinthite, and other paleosol features at the unconformity. The Middendorf Formation is the largest aquifer in South Carolina. (2) A 0.3–10-m-thick unit of unconsolidated sand is mapped as the Quaternary Pinehurst Formation and is interpreted as deposits of eolian sand sheets and dunes derived via remobilization of sand from the underlying Cretaceous strata. This unit displays argillic horizons and abundant evidence of bioturbation by vegetation. (3) A <3-m-thick unit of sand, pebbly sand, sandy mud, and mud is mapped as Quaternary terrace deposits adjacent to modern drainages. In addition to the geologic units listed above, a prominent geomorphologic feature in the study area is a north-trending escarpment (incised by headwater streams) that forms a markedly asymmetric drainage divide. This drainage divide, as well as the Quaternary terraces deposits, are interpreted as evidence of landscape disequilibrium (possibly geomorphic responses to Quaternary climate changes).
Interventions to increase adherence to therapeutic exercise in older adults with low back pain and/or hip/knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Nicolson Philippa J A , Bennell Kim L , Dobson Fiona L , Van Ginckel Ans , Holden Melanie A , Hinman Rana S
Published: January 2017

Objective

To evaluate whether interventions aimed at increasing adherence to therapeutic exercise increase adherence greater than a contextually equivalent control among older adults with chronic low back pain and/or hip/knee osteoarthritis.

Design

A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources

Five databases (MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL, SportDISCUS (EBSCO), Embase (Ovid) and Cochrane Library) were searched until 1 August 2016.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Randomised controlled trials that isolated the effects of interventions aiming to improve adherence to therapeutic exercise among adults ≥45 years of age with chronic low back pain and/or hip/knee osteoarthritis were included.

Results

Of 3899 studies identified, nine studies (1045 participants) were eligible. Four studies, evaluating strategies that aimed to increase motivation or using behavioural graded exercise, reported significantly better exercise adherence (d=0.26–1.23). In contrast, behavioural counselling, action coping plans and/or audio/video exercise cues did not improve adherence significantly. Meta-analysis using a random effects model with the two studies evaluating booster sessions with a physiotherapist for people with osteoarthritis revealed a small to medium significant pooled effect in favour of booster sessions (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.39, 95% CI 0.05 to 0.72, z=2.26, p=0.02, I2=35%).

Conclusions

Meta-analysis provides moderate-quality evidence that booster sessions with a physiotherapist assisted people with hip/knee osteoarthritis to better adhere to therapeutic exercise. Individual high-quality trials supported the use of motivational strategies in people with chronic low back pain and behavioural graded exercise in people with osteoarthritis to improve adherence to exercise.
Effect of specific exercise-based football injury prevention programmes on the overall injury rate in football: a systematic review and meta-analysis of the FIFA 11 and 11+ programmes
Authors: Thorborg Kristian , Krommes Kasper Kühn , Esteve Ernest , Clausen Mikkel Bek , Bartels Else Marie , Rathleff Michael Skovdal
Published: January 2017

Objective

To investigate the effect of FIFA injury prevention programmes in football (FIFA 11 and FIFA 11+).

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Randomised controlled trials comparing the FIFA injury prevention programmes with a control (no or sham intervention) among football players.

Data sources

MEDLINE via PubMed, EMBASE via OVID, CINAHL via Ebsco, Web of Science, SportDiscus and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, from 2004 to 14 March 2016.

Results

6 cluster-randomised controlled trials had assessed the effect of FIFA injury prevention programmes compared with controls on the overall football injury incidence in recreational/subelite football. These studies included 2 specific exercise-based injury prevention programmes: FIFA 11 (2 studies) and FIFA 11+ (4 studies). The primary analysis showed a reduction in the overall injury risk ratio of 0.75 (95% CI 0.57 to 0.98), p=0.04, in favour of the FIFA injury prevention programmes. Secondary analyses revealed that when pooling the 4 studies applying the FIFA 11+ prevention programme, a reduction in the overall injury risk ratio (incidence rate ratio (IRR) 0.61; 95% CI 0.48 to 0.77, p<0.001) was present in favour of the FIFA 11+ prevention programme. No reduction was present when pooling the 2 studies including the FIFA 11 prevention programme (IRR 0.99; 95% CI 0.80 to 1.23, p=0.940).

Conclusions

An injury-preventing effect of the FIFA injury prevention programmes compared with controls was shown in football. This effect was induced by the FIFA 11+ prevention programme which has a substantial injury-preventing effect by reducing football injuries by 39%, whereas a preventive effect of the FIFA 11 prevention programme could not be documented.

Trial registration number

PROSPERO CRD42015024120.
Predictors of public support for nutrition-focused policy, systems and environmental change strategies in Los Angeles County, 2013
Authors: Robles Brenda , Kuo Tony
Published: January 2017

Background

Since 2010, federal and local agencies have invested broadly in a variety of nutrition-focused policy, systems and environmental change (PSE) initiatives in Los Angeles County (LAC). To date, little is known about whether the public supports such efforts. We address this gap in the literature by examining predictors of support for a variety of PSEs.

Methods

Voters residing in LAC (n=1007) were randomly selected to participate in a cross-sectional telephone survey commissioned by the LAC Department of Public Health. The survey asked questions about attitudes towards the obesity epidemic, nutrition knowledge and behaviours, public opinions about changing business practices/government policies related to nutrition, and sociodemographics. A factor analysis informed outcome variable selection (ie, type of PSEs). Multivariable regression analyses were performed to examine predictors of public support. Predictors in the regression models included (primary regressor) community economic hardship; (control variables) political affiliation, sex, age, race and income; and (independent variables) perceptions about obesity, perceived health and weight status, frequency reading nutrition labels, ease of finding healthy and unhealthy foods, and food consumption behaviours (ie, fruit and vegetables, non-diet soda, fast-food and sit-down restaurant meals).

Results

3 types of PSE outcome variables were identified: promotional/incentivising, limiting/restrictive and business practices. Community economic hardship was not found to be a significant predictor of public support for any of the 3 PSE types. However, Republican party affiliation, being female and perceiving obesity as a serious health problem were.

Conclusions

These findings have implications for public health practice and community planning in local health jurisdictions.
Engaging stakeholders and target groups in prioritising a public health intervention: the Creating Active School Environments (CASE) online Delphi study
Authors: Morton Katie L , Atkin Andrew J , Corder Kirsten , Suhrcke Marc , Turner David , van Sluijs Esther M F
Published: January 2017

Objectives

Stakeholder engagement and public involvement are considered as integral to developing effective public health interventions and is encouraged across all phases of the research cycle. However, limited guidelines and appropriate tools exist to facilitate stakeholder engagement—especially during the intervention prioritisation phase. We present the findings of an online ‘Delphi’ study that engaged stakeholders (including young people) in the process of prioritising secondary school environment-focused interventions that aim to increase physical activity.

Setting

Web-based data collection using an online Delphi tool enabling participation of geographically diverse stakeholders.

Participants

37 stakeholders participated, including young people (age 13–16 years), parents, teachers, public health practitioners, academics and commissioners; 33 participants completed both rounds.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Participants were asked to prioritise a (short-listed) selection of school environment-focused interventions (eg, standing desks, outdoor design changes) based on the criteria of ‘reach’, ‘equality’, ‘acceptability’, ‘feasibility’, ‘effectiveness’ and ‘cost’. Participants were also asked to rank the criteria and the effectiveness outcomes (eg, physical activity, academic achievement, school enjoyment) from most to least important. Following feedback along with any new information provided, participants completed round 2 4 weeks later.

Results

The intervention prioritisation process was feasible to conduct and comments from participants indicated satisfaction with the process. Consensus regarding intervention strategies was achieved among the varied groups of stakeholders, with ‘active lessons’ being the favoured approach. Participants ranked ‘mental health and well-being’ as the most important outcome followed by ‘enjoyment of school’. The most important criteria was ‘effectiveness’, followed by ‘feasibility’.

Conclusions

This novel approach to engaging a wide variety of stakeholders in the research process was feasible to conduct and acceptable to participants. It also provided insightful information relating to how stakeholders prioritise interventions. The approach could be extended beyond the specific project to be a useful tool for researchers and practitioners.
Prehospital tranexamic acid: what is the current evidence?
Authors: Napolitano Lena M
Published: January 2017

Many trauma systems are examining whether to implement prehospital tranexamic acid (TXA) protocols since hemorrhage remains the leading cause of potentially preventable early trauma mortality, and early in-hospital administration of TXA within 3 hours of injury is associated with reduced mortality. But robust evidence regarding the efficacy of prehospital administration of the antifibrinolytic drug TXA on trauma outcomes is lacking. This review examines the current evidence available regarding prehospital TXA efficacy in both military and civilian trauma, and updates available evidence regarding in-hospital TXA efficacy in trauma.
Identifying Desirable Product Specifications from Target Customers’ Chinese eWOM
Authors: Chen Yuh-Jen , Chen Yuh-Min , Fu Chien-Wei
Published: January 2017

In a fiercely competitive business environment, understanding target customers’ product preferences and demands has become the basis for improving competitive advantage. In the past, an enterprise would understand its consumers’ preferences and demands through interactions between salespersons and consumers or questionnaire surveys. As Internet technology and the popularity of virtual communities have grown, more consumers are commenting about products on the Internet, enabling enterprises to understand more objectively consumers’ preferences and demands. Therefore, the extraction and analysis of valuable decision-supporting information from extensive target customers’ Chinese electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) is critical to improving an enterprise’s competitiveness. This work develops a mechanism for identifying desirable product specifications from target customers’ Chinese eWOM to provide enterprises with reference specifications in product planning, and thereby reduce the time to market and improve the target customers’ satisfaction. This goal can be achieved by performing the following tasks: (i) designing a process for identifying desirable product specifications from target customers’ Chinese eWOM, (ii) developing techniques related to desirable product specification identification from target customers’ Chinese eWOM, and (iii) implementing a mechanism for identifying desirable product specifications from target customers’ Chinese eWOM. Developing techniques associated with identifying desirable product specifications from target customers’ Chinese eWOM involves the selection and analysis of the target customers’ Chinese eWOM and the evaluation of the desirable product specifications.
Global dynamics for a live-virus-blood model with distributed time delay
Authors: Zou Ding-Yu , Wang Shi-Fei , Li Xue-Zhi
Published: January 2017

In this paper, the global properties of a mathematical modeling of hepatitis C virus (HCV) with distributed time delays is studied. Lyapunov functionals are constructed to establish the global asymptotic stability of the uninfected and infected steady states. It is shown that if the basic reproduction number [Formula: see text] is less than unity, then the uninfected steady state is globally asymptotically stable. If the basic reproduction number [Formula: see text] is larger than unity, then the infected steady state is globally asymptotically stable.
Simulating the Impacts and Assessing the Vulnerability of the Central Artery/Tunnel System to Sea Level Rise and Increased Coastal Flooding
Authors: Douglas Ellen M. , Kirshen Paul H. , Bosma Kirk , Watson Chris , Miller Steven , McArthur Katharine
Published: January 2017

Highway tunnels along the coast are critical infrastructure and represent one of the more sensitive components of a transportation network to coastal flooding. By their very nature, large portions of these tunnels are beneath present sea level and the tunnel entrances and the equipment necessary to operate the tunnels such as vent buildings may or may not be above present flood thresholds. The Central Artery/Tunnel (CA/T) system in coastal Boston, Massachusetts USA is a vital link in the regional transportation network and is comprised of more than 160 lane-miles (more than half of them in tunnels), 6 interchanges and 200 bridges. While not examined here, the CA/T system relies upon other infrastructure systems to fully function, such as the electrical grid. The ADvanced CIRCulation model (ADCIRC) coupled with the Simulating WAves Nearshore (SWAN) Model was used for storm surge modeling. SLR scenarios were selected for four distinct time periods (2013, 2030, 2070, and 2100) to bracket the potential future sea level rise outcomes for the Boston Harbor area and a Monte Carlo statistical approach was utilized to estimate the probability of flooding throughout the Boston Harbor region. The vulnerability analysis was based solely upon exposure, defined as flooding experienced at CA/T systems when at the thresholds of the design flood standards that governed the original design of the CA/T. The extent of flood vulnerability under current climatic conditions is fairly limited with low exceedance probabilities. By late 21st century, however, there is considerable flooding at Tunnel Portals and other buildings and structures. Both local adaptation options such as flood walls protecting individual assets or gates protecting tunnel portals and regional plans blocking major flood pathways were evaluated. In complex systems such as the CA/T, the number and spatial extent of vulnerable areas increase over time as sea level rises and the intensity of storms increase, suggesting that local adaptations may be most applicable in the near-term and regional based adaptations (safeguarding multiple areas for multiple stakeholders) will become more cost effective and necessary solutions in the long-term. Focusing first on local actions also means that the CA/T owner is less reliant on other organizations and agencies to manage the CA/T adaptation as it will own the land necessary for any changes and will only have to manage its own efforts. The regional plan has the co-benefits that it will protect more assets in the region than just the CA/T and there is the possibility that the cost can be shared among more agencies and organizations than just the owner.
Pricing and Warranty Decisions of Substitutable Products for a Fuzzy Two-Echelon Supply Chain
Authors: Wang Yongzhao
Published: January 2017

This paper considers the optimal decisions of pricing and warranty level for substitutable products in a fuzzy supply chain environment, where the consumer demands, manufacturing costs, and warranty costs are characterized as fuzzy variables. Expected value manufacturer-leader Stackelberg models and two chance-constrained programming models, that is, theλ-optimistic andλ-pessimistic manufacturer-leader Stackelberg models, are established. The corresponding closed-form solutions are obtained by using the game-theoretical approach and fuzzy theory. Finally, numerical examples are presented to illustrate the effectiveness of the models and to provide managerial insights for decision makers. The results show that it would be beneficial for the whole supply chain when the warranty services are introduced into the market, and the firm which provides the warranty service has the advantage in holding more dominant position.
Bayesian Network Inference Modeling Identifies TRIB1 as a Novel Regulator of Cell-Cycle Progression and Survival in Cancer Cells
Authors: Gendelman Rina , Xing Heming , Mirzoeva Olga K. , Sarde Preeti , Curtis Christina , Feiler Heidi S. , McDonagh Paul , Gray Joe W. , Khalil Iya , Korn W. Michael
Published: January 2017

Molecular networks governing responses to targeted therapies in cancer cells are complex dynamic systems that demonstrate nonintuitive behaviors. We applied a novel computational strategy to infer probabilistic causal relationships between network components based on gene expression. We constructed a model comprised of an ensemble of networks using multidimensional data from cell line models of cell-cycle arrest caused by inhibition of MEK1/2. Through simulation of a reverse-engineered Bayesian network model, we generated predictions of G1–S transition. The model identified known components of the cell-cycle machinery, such as CCND1, CCNE2, and CDC25A, as well as revealed novel regulators of G1–S transition, IER2, TRIB1, TRIM27. Experimental validation of model predictions confirmed 10 of 12 predicted genes to have a role in G1–S progression. Further analysis showed that TRIB1 regulated the cyclin D1 promoter via NFκB and AP-1 sites and sensitized cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis. In clinical specimens of breast cancer, TRIB1 levels correlated with expression of NFκB and its target genes (IL8, CSF2), and TRIB1 copy number and expression were predictive of clinical outcome. Together, our results establish a critical role of TRIB1 in cell cycle and survival that is mediated via the modulation of NFκB signaling. Cancer Res; 77(7); 1575–85. ©2017 AACR.