bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of invasive species policy: print media and agriculture determine United States invasive wild pig policy
Authors: Miller Ryan S. , Opp Susan M. , Webb Colleen T.
Published: July 2018

Conflicts between wildlife, invasive species, and agricultural producers are increasing. Although direct management actions taken to mitigate these conflicts remain controversial, most stakeholders agree that better policies are needed to balance socio-economic considerations with invasive species management, wildlife conservation, and agriculture. However the interaction between societal and biological drivers that influence human-invasive species-wildlife conflict mitigation policy is poorly understood. We identify factors influencing policy leading to the establishment of a new federal program to control invasive wild pigs in the United States. We fit generalized linear models relating frequency of congressional policy activity, such as congressional hearings and reports, to frequency of print newspaper media and percent of the U.S. agricultural industry co-occurring with invasive wild pigs for 29 years preceding the establishment of the federal program in 2013. Our models explained 89% of the deviance in congressional policy activity indicating a strong linkage between congressional invasive wild pig policy activity and predictors representing the number of negative of newspaper articles, geographic distribution of print media, and percent of agricultural producers co-occurring with invasive wild pigs. These effects translated to 3.7% increase in the number of congressional policy actions for every additional five states with negative news media. Invasive wild pig congressional policy activity increased 6.7% for every additional 10 negative newspaper articles. Increases in co-occurrence of agriculture and invasive wild pigs had the largest effect, for every 1% increase in co-occurrence there was a 41% increase in congressional policy activity. Invasive wild pig congressional policy activity that explicitly addressed livestock increased at nearly twice the rate of policy activity addressing crop agriculture. These results suggest that agriculture and media coverage may act as determinants for invasive species policy. Our approach may provide early insight into emerging policy areas enabling proactive policy development by agencies or early engagement by scientists to find solutions before the policy area becomes grid locked. Our results can also support policy and program evaluation providing a means of determining if the implemented policies match the original policy determinants ensuring best alignment with public, environmental, and stakeholder interests.
FAM35A co-operates with REV7 to coordinate DNA double-strand break repair pathway choice
Authors: Findlay Steven , Heath John , Luo Vincent M. , Malina Abba , Morin Théo , Djerir Billel , Li Zhigang , Samiei Arash , Simo-Cheyou Estelle , Karam Martin , Bagci Halil , Rahat Dolev , Grapton Damien , Lavoie Elise G. , Dove Christian , Khaled Husam , Kuasne Hellen , Mann Koren K. , Klein Kathleen Oros , Greenwood Celia M. , Tabach Yuval , Park Morag , Côté Jean-Francois , Maréchal Alexandre , Orthwein Alexandre
Published: July 2018

DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) can be repaired by two major pathways: non-homologous end-joining (NHEJ) and homologous recombination (HR). DNA repair pathway choice is governed by the opposing activities of 53BP1, in complex with its effectors RIF1 and REV7, and BRCA1. However, it remains unknown how the 53BP1/RIF1/REV7 complex stimulates NHEJ and restricts HR to the S/G2 phases of the cell cycle. Using a mass spectrometry (MS)-based approach, we identify 11 high-confidence REV7 interactors and elucidate the role of a previously undescribed factor, FAM35A/SHDL2, as a novel effector of REV7 in the NHEJ pathway. FAM35A depletion impairs NHEJ-mediated DNA repair and compromises antibody diversification by class switch recombination (CSR) in B-cells. FAM35A accumulates at DSBs in a 53BP1-, RIF1- and REV7-dependent manner and antagonizes HR by limiting DNA end resection. In fact, FAM35A is part of a larger complex composed of REV7 and another previously uncharacterized protein, C20orf196/SHDL1, which promotes NHEJ and limits HR. Together, these results establish FAM35A as a novel effector of REV7 in controlling the decision-making process during DSB repair.
JNK-mediated spindle reorientation in stem cells promotes dysplasia in the aging intestine
Authors: Hu Daniel Jun-Kit , Jasper Heinrich
Published: July 2018

Homeostasis in high-turnover tissues depends on precise yet plastic regulation of stem cell daughter fates. In Drosophila, intestinal stem cells (ISCs) respond to unknown signals to switch from asymmetric to symmetric divisions during feeding-induced growth. Here, we show that this switch is controlled by dynamic reorientation of mitotic spindles by a Jun-N-terminal Kinase (JNK) / Wdr62 / Kif1a interaction. JNK promotes Wdr62 localization at the spindle and represses transcription of the kinesin Kif1a. This activity of JNK results in over-abundance of symmetric divisions in stress conditions, and contributes to the loss of tissue homeostasis in the aging animal. Restoring normal ISC spindle orientation by perturbing the JNK/Wdr62/Kif1a axis is sufficient to improve intestinal physiology and extend lifespan. Our findings reveal a critical role for the dynamic control of SC spindle orientation in epithelial maintenance.
Infection of highly insecticide-resistant malaria vector Anopheles coluzzii with an environmentally friendly entomopathogenic bacteria Chromobacterium violaceum reduces its survival, blood feeding propensity and fecundity
Authors: Gnambani Edounou Jacques , Bilgo Etienne , Sanou Adama , Dabiré Roch K. , Diabaté Abdoulaye
Published: July 2018

This is now a concern that malaria eradication will not be achieved without the introduction of novel control tools. Microbiological control might be able to make a greater contribution to vector control in the future. Here, we studied the impact of Chromobacterium violaceum infections isolated from wild caught Anopheles gambiae s.l. mosquitoes in Burkina Faso on mosquito survival, blood feeding and fecundity propensy. C. violaceum kills pyrethroid resistant mosquitoes An. coluzzii (LT80 ~ at 108 bacteria cell/ml of sugar meal). Interestingly, this bacterium had other negative effects on mosquito lifespan by significantly reducing (~59%, P<0.001) the mosquito feeding willingness from day 4-post infection to 9-day post infection. Moreover, C.violaceum considerably jeopardized the mosquito egg laying and hatching of mosquitoes by ~77.93% and ~22 % respectively. Mosquitoes infected with C. violaceum also showed significantly higher retention rates of immature eggs and follicles. These data showed important entomopathogenic properties of Burkina Faso C. violaceum strains. However, additional studies as the sequencing of C. violaceum genome and the potential toxins secreted will certainly provide useful information render it a potential candidate for the biological control strategies of malaria.
Learning from Longitudinal Data in Electronic Health Record and Genetic Data to Improve Cardiovascular Event Prediction
Authors: Zhao Juan , Feng QiPing , Wu Patrick , Lupu Roxana , Wilke Russell A. , Wells Quinn S. , Denny Joshua C. , Wei Wei-Qi
Published: July 2018

Background

Current approaches to predicting Cardiovascular disease rely on conventional risk factors and cross-sectional data. In this study, we asked whether: i) machine learning and deep learning models with longitudinal EHR information can improve the prediction of 10-year CVD risk, and ii) incorporating genetic data can add values to predictability.

Methods

We conducted two experiments. In the first experiment, we modeled longitudinal EHR data with aggregated features and temporal features. We applied logistic regression (LR), random forests (RF) and gradient boosting trees (GBT) and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Recurrent Neural Networks, using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) units. In the second experiment, we proposed a late-fusion framework to incorporate genetic features.

Results

Our study cohort included 109, 490 individuals (9,824 were cases and 99, 666 were controls) from Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s (VUMC) de-identified EHRs. American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) Pooled Cohort Risk Equations had areas under receiver operating characteristic curves (AUROC) of 0.732 and areas under receiver under precision and recall curves (AUPRC) of 0.187. LSTM, CNN and GBT with temporal features achieved best results, which had AUROC of 0.789, 0.790, and 0.791, and AUPRC of 0.282, 0.280 and 0.285, respectively. The late fusion approach achieved a significant improvement for the prediction performance.

Conclusions

Machine learning and deep learning with longitudinal features improved the 10-year CVD risk prediction. Incorporating genetic features further enhanced 10-year CVD prediction performance, underscoring the importance of integrating relevant genetic data whenever available in the context of routine care.
De novoGene Signature Identification from Single-Cell RNA-Seq with Hierarchical Poisson Factorization
Authors: Levitin Hanna Mendes , Yuan Jinzhou , Cheng Yim Ling , Ruiz Francisco J.R. , Bush Erin C. , Bruce Jeffrey N. , Canoll Peter , Iavarone Antonio , Lasorella Anna , Blei David M. , Sims Peter A.
Published: July 2018

Common approaches to gene signature discovery in single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) depend upon predefined structures like clusters or pseudo-temporal order, require prior normalization, or do not account for the sparsity of single cell data. We present single cell Hierarchical Poisson Factorization (scHPF), a Bayesian factorization method that adapts Hierarchical Poisson Factorization [1] forde novodiscovery of both continuous and discrete expression patterns from scRNA-seq. scHPF does not require prior normalization and captures statistical properties of single cell data better than other methods in benchmark datasets. Applied to scRNA-seq of the core and margin of a high-grade glioma, scHPF uncovers marked differences in the abundance of glioma subpopulations across tumor regions and subtle, regionally-associated expression biases within glioma subpopulations. scHFP revealed an expression signature that was spatially biased towards the glioma-infiltrated margins and associated with inferior survival in glioblastoma.
SP1433-1438 operon ofStreptococcus pneumoniaeregulates metal homeostasis and cellular metabolism during zinc-stress
Authors: Burcham Lindsey R. , Hill Rebecca A. , Caulkins Rachel C. , Emerson Joseph P. , Nanduri Bindu , Rosch Jason W. , Fitzkee Nicholas C. , Thornton Justin A.
Published: July 2018

Streptococcus pneumoniaecolonizes the mucosa of the human nasopharynx and is a leading cause of community-acquired pneumonia, acute otitis media, and bacterial meningitis. Metal ion homeostasis is vital to the survival of this pathogen and contributes significantly to both colonization and invasive disease. Microarray and qRT-PCR analysis revealed an upregulation of an uncharacterized operon (SP1433-1438) in pneumococci subjected to metal-chelation byN,N,N’,N’-tetrakis-(2-Pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine (TPEN). Supplementation of either zinc or cobalt following TPEN treatment drastically abrogated induction. BLAST analysis predicted this operon to encode two ABC-transporters, sharing homology to a multidrug resistance system (SP1434-1435) and an energy-coupling factor (ECF) transport system (SP1436-1438). Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis indicated changes in intracellular concentrations of iron, zinc, and manganese ions in a Δ1434-8 strain compared to parental T4R. Analysis of the secreted metabolomic profile of the T4R and Δ1434-8 strains identified significant changes in pneumococcal glycolytic pathways, indicating a shift towards increased production of acetate. Additionally, proteomic analysis revealed 41 differentially expressed proteins in the Δ1434-8 strain, with roughly 20% of them regulated by the global catabolite repressor, CcpA. Based on these findings, we propose that theSP1433-1438operon is largely involved in the central metabolism ofS. pneumoniaeduring zinc-limitation.

Importance

Metal sequestration is a common strategy utilized by the host immune response as well as antibiotics such as vancomycin to kill invading bacterial pathogens (1). However, pneumococcus is still able to thrive under zinc-limiting conditions. This study describes a previously uncharacterized operon encoding two ABC transport systems that are strongly induced during zinc-limiting conditions. This operon was found to be regulated by a zinc-dependent regulator (SP1433) that functions independently of the overarching AdcR regulon. We have additionally utilized a 2D-NMR approach to analyze the secreted metabolome and have employed proteomic analysis to identify a role for these systems in the maintenance of cellular metabolism. This study provides new information on howStreptococcus pneumoniaeresponds and adapts to zinc-limiting conditions.
acI Actinobacteria Assemble a Functional Actinorhodopsin with Natively-synthesized Retinal
Authors: Dwulit-Smith Jeffrey R. , Hamilton Joshua J. , Stevenson David M. , He Shaomei , Oyserman Ben O. , Moya-Flores Francisco , Amador-Noguez Daniel , McMahon Katherine D. , Forest Katrina T.
Published: July 2018

Freshwater lakes harbor complex microbial communities, but these ecosystems are often dominated by acI Actinobacteria from three clades (acI-A, acI-B, acI-C). Members of this cosmopolitan lineage are proposed to bolster heterotrophic growth using phototrophy because their genomes encode actino-opsins (actR). This model has been difficult to experimentally validate because acI are not consistently culturable. In this study, using genomes from single cells and metagenomes, we provide a detailed biosynthetic route for many acI-A and -B members to synthesize retinal and its carotenoid precursors. Accordingly, these acI should be able to natively assemble light-driven actinorhodopsins (holo-ActR) to pump protons, in contrast to acI-C members and other bacteria that encode opsins but lack retinal-production machinery. Moreover, we show that all acI clades contain genes for a complex carotenoid pathway that starts with retinal precursors. Transcription analysis of acI in a eutrophic lake shows that all retinal and carotenoid pathway operons are transcribed and that actR is among the most highly-transcribed of all acI genes. Furthermore, heterologous expression of retinal pathway genes shows that lycopene, retinal, and ActR can be made. Model cells producing ActR and the key acI retinal-producing β-carotene oxygenase formed acI-holo-ActR and acidified solution during illumination. Our results prove that acI containing both ActR and retinal-production enzymes have the capacity to natively synthesize a green light-dependent outward proton-pumping rhodopsin.

IMPORTANCE

Microbes play critical roles in determining the quality of freshwater ecosystems that are vital to human civilization. Because acI Actinobacteria are ubiquitous and abundant in freshwater lakes, clarifying their ecophysiology is a major step in determining the contributions that they make to nitrogen and carbon cycling. Without accurate knowledge of these cycles, freshwater systems cannot be incorporated into climate change models, ecosystem imbalances cannot be predicted, and policy for service disruption cannot be planned. Our work fills major gaps in microbial light utilization, secondary metabolite production, and energy cycling in freshwater habitats.
Quantitative behavior of protein complexes in human cells
Authors: Chalabi Morteza H , Tsiamis Vasileios , Käll Lukas , Vandin Fabio , Schwämmle Veit
Published: July 2018

Translational and post-translational control mechanisms in the cell result in widely observable differences between measured gene transcription and protein abundances. Herein, protein complexes are among the most tightly controlled entities by selective degradation of their individual proteins. They furthermore act as control hubs that regulate highly important processes in the cell and exhibit a high functional diversity due to their ability to change their composition and their structure. To better understand and predict these functional states, extensive characterization of complex composition, behavior, and abundance is necessary. Mass spectrometry provides an unbiased approach to directly determine protein abundances across cell populations and thus to profile a comprehensive abundance map of proteins. We investigated the behavior of protein subunits in known complexes by comparing their abundance profiles across up to 140 cell types available in ProteomicsDB. After thorough assessment of different randomization methods and statistical scoring algorithms, we developed a computational tool to quantify the significance of concurrent profiles within a complex, therefore providing insights into the conservation of their composition across human cell types. We identified the intrinsic structures in complex behavior that allow to determine which proteins orchestrate complex function. This analysis can be extended to investigate common profiles within arbitrary protein groups. With the CoExpresso web service, we offer a potent scoring scheme to assess proteins for their co-regulation and thereby offer insight into their potential for forming functional groups like protein complexes. CoExpresso can be accessed through http://computproteomics/Apps/CoExpresso. Source code and R scripts for database generation are available at https://bitbucket.org/veitveit/coexpresso.

Author summary

Many proteins form multi-functional assemblies called protein complexes instead of working as singly units. These complexes control most processes in the cell making the full characterization of their behavior inevitable to understand cellular control mechanisms. Detailed knowledge about complex behavior will elucidate biomarkers and drug targets that exhibit and correct aberrant cell states, respectively. We investigated abundance changes of the protein complex components over more than 100 different human cell types. By using statistical scoring models, we estimated the evidence for the co-regulation of the proteins and revealed which proteins form subunits with impact on complex function and composition. By providing the interactive web service CoExpresso, any combination of proteins can be tested for their co-regulation in human cells.
Genomic signatures of honey bee association in an acetic acid symbiont
Authors: Smith Eric A. , Newton Irene L. G.
Published: July 2018

Honey bee queens are central to the success and productivity of their colonies; queens are the only reproductive members of the colony, and therefore queen longevity and fecundity can directly impact overall colony health. Recent declines in the health of the honey bee have startled researchers and lay people alike as honey bees are agriculture’s most important pollinator. Honey bees are important pollinators of many major crops and add billions of dollars annually to the US economy through their services. One factor that may influence queen and colony health is the microbial community. Although honey bee worker guts have a characteristic community of bee-specific microbes, the honey bee queen digestive tracts are colonized by a few bacteria, notably an acetic acid bacterium not seen in worker guts: Bombella apis. This bacterium is related to flower-associated microbes such as Saccharibacter floricola and other species in the genus Saccharibacter, and initial phylogenetic analyses placed it as sister to these environmental bacteria. We used comparative genomics of multiple honey bee-associated strains and the nectar-associated Saccharibacter to identify genomic changes associated with the ecological transition to bee association. We identified several genomic differences in the honey bee-associated strains, including a complete CRISPR/Cas system. Many of the changes we note here are predicted to confer upon them the ability to survive in royal jelly and defend themselves against mobile elements, including phages. Our results are a first step towards identifying potential benefits provided by the honey bee queen microbiota to the colony’s matriarch.
Selective Permeability of Carboxysome Shell Pores to Anionic Molecules
Authors: Mahinthichaichan Paween , Morris Dylan M. , Wang Yi , Jensen Grant J. , Tajkhorshid Emad
Published: July 2018

Carboxysomes are closed polyhedral cellular microcompartments that increase the efficiency of carbon fixation in autotrophic bacteria. Carboxysome shells consist of small proteins that form hexameric units with semi-permeable central pores containing binding sites for anions. This feature is thought to selectively allow access to RuBisCO enzymes inside the carboxysome by(the dominant form of CO2in the aqueous solution at pH 7.4) but not O2, which leads to a non-productive reaction. To test this hypothesis, here we use molecular dynamics simulations to characterize the energetics and permeability of CO2, O2, andthrough the central pores of two different shell proteins, namely, CsoS1A of α–carboxysome and CcmK4 of β-carboxysome shells. We find that the central pores are in fact selectively permeable to anions such as, as predicted by the model.
Heterogeneous effects of rural-urban migration on agricultural productivity
Authors: Shi Xinjie
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the impacts of rural–urban migration on agricultural (labor) productivity in China.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper closely follows the framework of Rozelle et al. (1999), Taylor et al. (2003) and Atamanov and Van den Berg (2012)—new economics of labor migration—to demonstrate the heterogeneous effects of migration on agricultural productivity, using simultaneous equations extended by an interaction term of off-farm income and household wealth.

Findings

The results empirically verify two key theoretical predictions: the loss of labor available for agricultural activities decreases rice yield per worker per day, and the off-farm income that may relax liquidity constraints has a positive offsetting effect, which becomes weaker with increasing household wealth. The final calculation based on these two contradictory influences indicates that the lost-labor effect dominates across all levels of household wealth, resulting in a negative net impact of rural–urban migration on agricultural productivity. The key results are shown to hold for land productivity as well.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, it is the first paper to examine the impacts of rural–urban migration on labor productivity and the heterogeneity across households with different levels of wealth. A major policy issue facing national leaders is whether the massive and ongoing outflow of labor will be a threat to China’s rural development and its food security in the future. This paper provides insightful ideas in a different way.
Predicting the ground vibration induced by mine blasting using imperialist competitive algorithm
Authors: Behzadafshar Katayoun , Mohebbi Fahimeh , Soltani Tehrani Mehran , Hasanipanah Mahdi , Tabrizi Omid
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose three imperialist competitive algorithm (ICA)-based models for predicting the blast-induced ground vibrations in Shur River dam region, Iran.

Design/methodology/approach

For this aim, 76 data sets were used to establish the ICA-linear, ICA-power and ICA-quadratic models. For comparison aims, artificial neural network and empirical models were also developed. Burden to spacing ratio, distance between shot points and installed seismograph, stemming, powder factor and max charge per delay were used as the models’ input, and the peak particle velocity (PPV) parameter was used as the models’ output.

Findings

After modeling, the various statistical evaluation criteria such as coefficient of determination (R2) were applied to choose the most precise model in predicting the PPV. The results indicate the ICA-based models proposed in the present study were more acceptable and reliable than the artificial neural network and empirical models. Moreover, ICA linear model with the R2 of 0.939 was the most precise model for predicting the PPV in the present study.

Originality/value

In the present paper, the authors have proposed three novel prediction methods based on ICA to predict the PPV. In the next step, we compared the performance of the proposed ICA-based models with the artificial neural network and empirical models. The results indicated that the ICA-based models proposed in the present paper were superior in terms of high accuracy and have the capacity to generalize.
On linear wine score aggregators and the preservation of group preferences
Authors: Kwong Lester M.K. , Sun Ling
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to identify the potential conflicts that arise between the actual and the revealed preference of a panel of wine judges when the panel’s evaluation is derived by a linear aggregation of individual scores.

Design/methodology/approach

A standard axiomatic social choice theoretical model is used to derive and examine the findings.

Findings

The findings show that even with the application of a simple majority rule over the pairwise ranking of wines, preferences may be misrepresented by the ordinal ranking of the wine score aggregation.

Originality/value

A number of wine competitions and reviews, to date, use some form of linear aggregation to represent group preferences. Furthermore, tests surrounding wine judge performance are largely dependent on some underlying true measures usually derived from a linear aggregation. The results imply that care should be taken in these regards.
Core tensions in luxury wine marketing: the case of Burgundian wineries
Authors: Thach Liz , Charters Steve , Cogan-Marie Laurence
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this research study is to identify differentiation factors Burgundian wineries use to distinguish their brand, and to determine whether these methods align or conflict with luxury marketing differentiation attributes.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative methodology of 23 in-depth interviews with various sized wineries, as well as Burgundy market experts, was used. In addition, document analysis of websites and marketing materials was carried out along with a comprehensive review of the luxury marketing literature.

Findings

Results show that Burgundian wineries have adopted some, but not all, of the luxury marketing differentiation attributes. Furthermore, there are a series of core tensions in the industry, including disagreement on using luxury marketing strategies. These findings contribute to the theory base in luxury wine marketing by illustrating how general luxury marketing attributes are used for wine brand differentiation.

Originality/value

This research is the first of its kind to investigate luxury marketing differentiation practices of Burgundy wineries. The results are relevant for new wineries in Burgundy, as well as those in different regions of the world who desire to emulate, and perhaps come close to achieving, some of the luxury price points that certain Burgundy wine producers achieve. The information is also useful to assist related industries, such as food and spirits, which struggle in implementing luxury marketing strategies.
Solder joint inspection using eigensolder features
Authors: Wu Hao , Xu Xiangrong
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The authors propose a solder joint recognition method based on eigenspace technology.

Design/methodology/approach

The original solder joint image is transformed into a small set of feature subspace called “eigensolder”, which is the eigenvector of the training set and can represent a solder joint well. Then, the eigensolder feature is extracted by projecting the new solder joint image into the subspace, and the Euclidean distance measure is used to classify the solder joint.

Findings

The experimental results show that the proposed method is superior to the traditional classification method in solder joint recognition, and it can achieve 96.43 per cent recognition rate using only 15 eigenvalue images. It is suitable for the classification with small samples.

Originality/value

Traditional classification method like neural network and statistical method cost long time. Here, Eigensolder method is used to extract feature. Eigensolder method is more efficient, as it uses the principal component analysis method to reduce the feature dimension of input image and only measure the distance to classify.
An automated cross‐validation method to assess seismic time‐to‐depth conversion accuracy: a case study on the Cooper and Eromanga basins, Australia
Authors: Kulikowski David , Hochwald Catherine , Amrouch Khalid
Published: July 2018

Selecting a seismic time‐to‐depth conversion method can be a subjective choice that is made by geophysicists, and is particularly difficult if the accuracy of these methods is unknown. This study presents an automated statistical approach for assessing seismic time‐to‐depth conversion accuracy by integrating the cross‐validation method with four commonly used seismic time‐to‐depth conversion methods. To showcase this automated approach, we use a regional dataset from the Cooper and Eromanga basins, Australia, consisting of 13 three‐dimensional (3D) seismic surveys, 73 two‐way‐time surface grids and 729 wells. Approximately 10,000 error values (predicted depth vs. measured well depth) and associated variables were calculated. The average velocity method was the most accurate overall (7.6 m mean error); however, the most accurate method and the expected error changed by several metres depending on the combination and value of the most significant variables. Cluster analysis tested the significance of the associated variables to find that the seismic survey location (potentially related to local geology (i.e. sedimentology, structural geology, cementation, pore pressure, etc.), processing workflow, or seismic vintage), formation (potentially associated with reduced signal‐to‐noise with increasing depth or the changes in lithology), distance to the nearest well control, and the spatial location of the predicted well relative to the existing well data envelope had the largest impact on accuracy. Importantly, the effect of these significant variables on accuracy were found to be more important than choosing between the four methods, highlighting the importance of better understanding seismic time‐to‐depth conversions, which can be achieved by applying this automated cross‐validation method.
Visit, consume and quit: Patch quality affects the three stages of foraging
Authors: Mella Valentina S. A. , Possell Malcolm , Troxell‐Smith Sandra M. , McArthur Clare
Published: July 2018

Foraging is a three‐stage process during which animals visit patches, consume food and quit. Foraging theory exploring relative patch quality has mostly focused on patch use and quitting decisions, ignoring the first crucial step for any forager: finding food. Yet, the decision to visit a patch is just as important as the decision to quit, as quitting theories can only be used if animals visit patches in the first place. Therefore, to better understand the foraging process and predict its outcomes, it is necessary to explore its three stages together.

We used the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) as a model to investigate foraging decisions in response to food varying in quality. In particular, we tested whether patch nutritional quality affected the following: (1) patch visits; (2) behaviours at the patch during a foraging visit; and (3) patch quitting decisions (quantified using giving up density—GUD). Free‐ranging possums were presented with diets varying in nitrogen content and concomitantly volatile organic compound (VOC) composition at feeding stations in the wild.

We found that possums were able to distinguish between different quality foods from afar, despite the location of the diets changed daily. Possums used VOC (i.e. odour cues) emitted by the diets to find and select patches from a distance. High‐quality diets with higher protein and lower fibre were visited more often and for longer. Possums spent more time foraging on diets high in nutritional content, resulting in lower GUDs.

Our study provides important quantitative evidence that foraging efficiency plays out during all the three stages of the foraging process (i.e. visit, consume and quit), and demonstrates the significance of considering all these stages together in future studies and foraging models. Sensory cues such as food odours play a critical role in helping foragers, including mammalian herbivores, find high‐quality food. This allows foragers to make quick, accurate and important decisions about food patches well before patch quitting decisions come into play.
Increased salt sensitivity in offspring of pregnancies complicated by experimental preeclampsia
Authors: Yeung Kristen R. , Sunderland Neroli , Lind Joanne M. , Heffernan Scott , Pears Suzanne , Xu Bei , Hennessy Annemarie , Makris Angela
Published: July 2018

Preeclampsia is a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy known to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in mothers and offspring. Offspring exposed to a suboptimal intrauterine environment may experience altered fetal programming and subsequent long‐term cardiovascular changes. This study investigated changes in the vascular response in offspring from experimental preeclampsia (EPE) induced by uterine artery ligation, in the absence of fetal growth restriction, compared to normal baboon pregnancies (controls), following a high salt diet challenge. After 1 week of standard diet (containing <1% salt), animals were fed a high salt diet (6%) for 2 weeks. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP, DBP), aldosterone, renin and creatinine clearance were evaluated in EPE (n = 6, 50% male) and control (n = 6, 50% male) offspring. A repeated measures analysis was performed, and P < 0.05 was considered significant. At baseline, there were no differences between the groups in any parameter (EPE, mean age and weight 3.2 ± 1.2 years, 6.8 ± 1.0 kg, respectively; Control, 2.9 ± 0.8 years, 7.1 ± 1.5 kg). After salt loading the EPE group had significantly higher SBP (92 ± 5 mm Hg) compared to the control group (83 ± 4 mm Hg, P = 0.03). Aldosterone concentration was higher in the EPE group despite the same salt excretion and no difference in renal function. Salt sensitivity may differ in offspring from hypertensive pregnancies due to fetal programming. This could have long‐term consequences for cardiovascular health of EPE offspring and further research is required to determine the exact pathological mechanisms.
Mechanical complications of central venous catheter insertions: A retrospective multicenter study of incidence and risks
Authors: Björkander Malin , Bentzer Peter , Schött Ulf , Broman Marcus E. , Kander Thomas
Published: July 2018

Background

Incidence and risk factors for complications after insertion of central venous catheters have previously been reported for smaller cohorts. The aim of this observational multicenter study was to study risk factors for mechanical complications in a large, recently collected cohort of patients.

Methods

Records of central venous catheter insertions from 8 hospitals in southern Sweden from 2013 to 2016 were collected from the regional chart system. Data on blood coagulation tests, use of ultrasonography, central venous catheter location, bore size, number of needle passes, arterial puncture, the chronological order of the central venous catheter insertion, and mechanical complications were extracted. Only one insertion/patient was included using worst‐case selection criteria. Predefined primary outcome was mechanical complications defined as bleeding, pneumothorax, nerve injury, or malignant arrhythmia. Severe mechanical complications were defined as bleeding requiring intervention or transfusion, pneumothorax, persistent nerve injury, or non‐self‐limiting arrhythmias.

Results

We included 10 949 insertions and identified 118 (1.1%) incidents of mechanical complication, of which 85 (0.8%) were bleedings, 21 (0.2%) were pneumothoraces, 7 (0.06%) were transient nerve injuries, and 5 (0.05%) were self‐limiting arrhythmias. Severe mechanical complications occurred in 23 (0.2%) cases.

Conclusions

In this retrospective, multicenter observational study on 10 949 central venous catheter insertions, mechanical complications were rare. Preprocedural coagulopathy, number of needle passes, and arterial puncture were associated with grade 2‐4 bleeding. Subclavian vein insertions, arterial puncture, and chronological order of the central venous catheter insertion were associated with pneumothorax.
Refining the psychiatric syndrome of anti‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor encephalitis
Authors: Warren N. , Siskind D. , O'Gorman C.
Published: July 2018

Objective

To review the psychiatric symptoms of anti‐N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptor encephalitis, in an attempt to differentiate the presentation from a primary psychiatric disorder.

Method

A systematic literature review of PubMed and EMBASE of all published cases of anti‐NMDA receptor encephalitis was performed from inception to January 2018.

Results

There were 706 cases of anti‐NMDA receptor encephalitis identified. Cases were typically young (mean age 22.6 years, SD 14.8), female (F : M ratio 3.5 : 1) and presented with significant behavioural disturbance. Reported behaviour was most commonly severe agitation and aggression, abnormal speech, and catatonia. Psychosis occurred in 45.8% of cases. Investigation results were inconsistent (MRI abnormal in 35.6%, EEG abnormal in 83.0%) and non‐specific. Psychiatric treatment often required multiple psychotropics, and there may be increased risk of significant side‐effects such as neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Prognosis was usually good; however, cognitive and behavioral symptoms remained prominent during recovery, and psychiatrist involvement was required in this period.

Conclusion

The presentation of anti‐NMDA receptor encephalitis is variable. However, there are often psychiatric features which are atypical to a primary psychiatric illness, such as severe agitation, speech abnormalities, and catatonia, which may help early identification.
Brief Report: Pregnancy intention and opioid use disorder treatment retention in the MOTHER study
Authors: Martin Caitlin E. , Terplan Mishka , O'Grady Kevin E. , Jones Hendrée E.
Published: July 2018

Background and Objectives

Opioid use disorder (OUD) during pregnancy challenges public health. This study examines how pregnancy intention affects OUD treatment.

Methods

The primary exposure and outcome were pregnancy intention and treatment duration among MOTHER (Maternal Opioid Treatment: Human Experimental Research) participants (N = 175).

Results

Treatment durations were longer (21.3 vs. 16.3 weeks; p = .01) among intended (n = 29) compared to unintended (n = 146) pregnancy participants, but this was not significant in adjusted analyses.

Discussion and Conclusions

Unintended pregnancies intersect with OUD and may modify one's treatment outcomes.

Scientific Significance

OUD treatment may be a setting to help women implement informed family planning choices. (Am J Addict 2018;27:372–374)
A systematic review: Candidate gene and environment interaction on alcohol use and misuse among adolescents and young adults
Authors: Kim Jueun , Park Aesoon
Published: July 2018

Background and Objectives

Youth drinking is a pervasive public health concern with serious negative developmental implications. Candidate gene and environment interaction studies (cGxE) show that environmental effects on drinking behaviors may differ by individuals’ genotypes. Yet little is known about whether genetic and environmental effects on drinking behaviors are developmentally specific.

Methods

This systematic review evaluated 42 cGxE studies of drinking in adolescence and young adulthood.

Results

Although there are mixed findings, studies of cGxE effects involving DRD4, 5‐HTTLPR, DRD2, and OPRM1 genotypes showed relatively consistent patterns. The effects of under‐controlled environments (eg, low levels of parental monitoring) on early and middle adolescent drinking appeared to differ across DRD2 or OPRM1 genotypes. Effects of alcohol‐facilitating environments (eg, heavy drinking peers) on late adolescent and young adult drinking appeared to differ across DRD4 or OPRM1 genotypes. Interactions between 5‐HTTLPR genotype with stressful environments (eg, negative life events) were found throughout adolescence and young adulthood, although there were some inconsistencies regarding the risk‐conferring allele. There was limited evidence for other cGxE effects due to the small number of studies.

Conclusions and Scientific Significance

This review suggests that GxE findings may advance our knowledge regarding which developmentally specific conditions result in the expression of candidate genes that influence youth alcohol use and misuse. However, since a significant number of studies had small sample sizes and most studies had small effect sizes, findings need replication across independent studies with large samples. (Am J Addict 2018;27:345–363)
Psoriasis and cancer. An Australian/New Zealand narrative
Authors: Rademaker Marius , Rubel Diana M , Agnew Karen , Andrews Megan , Armour Katherine Sarah , Baker Christopher , Foley Peter , Gebauer Kurt , Goh Michelle SY , Gupta Monisha , Marshman Gillian , Prince H Miles , Sullivan John
Published: July 2018

Patients with psoriasis have an increased risk of cancer, which may be due to impaired immune surveillance, immune modulatory treatments, chronic inflammation and/or co‐risk factors such as obesity. The increase in treatment‐independent solid cancers, including urinary/bladder cancers, oropharynx/larynx, liver/gallbladder and colon/rectal cancers, seem to be linked to alcohol and smoking. Lung cancer and nonmelanoma skin cancer are also increased in patients with psoriasis. The risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer increases with age and severity of psoriasis. It is also higher in men, particularly for squamous cell carcinoma, which may reflect previous exposure to PUVA and/or ciclosporin. The risk of cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma is substantially higher in patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis. Biologic therapies are independently associated with a slight increase risk of cancer, but this is less than ciclosporin, with the risk confounded by disease severity and other co‐risk factors. The risk of cancer from low‐dose methotrexate is likely minimal. In contrast, acitretin is likely protective against a variety of solid and haematological malignancies. The data on small molecule therapies such as apremilast are too immature for comment, although no signal has yet been identified. The decision whether to stop psoriasis immune modulatory treatments following a diagnosis of cancer, and when to resume, needs to be considered in the context of the patients’ specific cancer. However, there is no absolute need to stop any treatment other than possibly ciclosporin, unless there is a concern over an increased risk of serious infection or drug–drug interaction with cancer‐directed therapies, including radiotherapy.
Liver biochemical abnormalities in Turner syndrome: A comprehensive characterization of an adult population
Authors: Calanchini Matilde , Moolla Ahmad , Tomlinson Jeremy W. , Cobbold Jeremy F. , Grossman Ashley , Fabbri Andrea , Turner Helen E.
Published: July 2018

Objective

Abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) are frequent in Turner syndrome (TS). The causes and clinical significance are unclear.

Aims

To investigate the prevalence of elevated LFTs in adult TS; secondly, to analyse the associations between elevated LFTs, TS‐karyotypes and TS‐related conditions; and thirdly, to evaluate liver stiffness and histological assessment.

Methods

A total of 125 TS women were retrospectively studied. Karyotypes, clinical and biochemical details and aortic measurements were recorded. Fibroscan and liver biopsy results were noted.

Results

Elevated LFTs were found in 49.6%: gamma‐glutamyltransferase (GGT) in 88.7%, ALK in 45.2%, ALT in 40.3% and AST in 29%. A FIB‐4 index >1.3 was found in 11.8%. Women with isochromosome of the X long arm, iso[X](q), had a higher prevalence of elevated LFTs. A lower prevalence of abnormal GGT was found in patients with 45,X/46,XX, 45,X/47,XXX or 45,X/46,XX/47,XXX. Subjects with raised GGT were older, shorter and more likely to have higher triglyceride levels. There was no association with HRT duration after adjusting for age. Among patients with elevated aminotransferases, no differences were noted, except for higher HDL‐cholesterol levels. The sinuses and ascending aorta diameter were greater in the elevated LFTs group. Fibroscan was suggestive of significant liver fibrosis in 38.1%. Among 11 biopsies, liver architectural changes were reported in 45.4%, including two with cirrhosis.

Conclusions

Elevated LFTs in TS are common and important to detect given the possible progression towards severe liver disease. An association between raised LFTs and karyotype iso[X]q was demonstrated. We have also shown a new association between abnormal LFTs and aortic dilatation.
Different rhinologic diseases cause a similar multidimensional decrease in generic health‐related quality of life
Authors: Ylitalo‐Heikkilä Maija , Virkkula Paula , Sintonen Harri , Lundberg Marie , Roine Risto P. , Hytönen Maija
Published: July 2018

Background

Previous studies illustrated that chronic rhinosinusitis and allergic rhinitis represent individual and socioeconomic burdens to a patient. However, few studies exist on the health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) amongst other rhinologic patients. Our study investigated the generic HRQoL in different rhinologic diseases.

Methodology

Unselected adult rhinologic patients requiring special care at the Helsinki University Hospital were enrolled in this cross‐sectional, questionnaire‐based prospective study in February, May, August and November 2014. Patients were mailed a medical history questionnaire and a generic 15‐dimension (15D) HRQoL questionnaire. Diagnostic data were collected from electronic patient records following outpatient visits. Patient HRQoL scores were compared to an age‐ and sex‐standardised general population sample obtained from a large national health examination survey.

Results

This study consisted of 337 rhinologic patients (mean age 50.2 years, 50.4% men). The mean 15D score amongst rhinologic patients (0.865) was both statistically significant and clinically poorer than that amongst the general population (0.929). Rhinologic patients fared poorly on most dimensions of the 15D instrument, particularly on sleep, discomfort and symptoms, breathing and vitality. Patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) were particularly affected. Yet, comparing the five most common rhinologic diagnostic groups revealed no significant differences in the mean 15D scores.

Conclusions

Rhinologic diseases, independent of the underlying cause, substantially and negatively affect patients’ HRQoL. OSA decreases HRQoL in these patients, although patients without an OSA diagnosis still suffer from a clinically important impairment of HRQoL and poor quality sleep.