bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ethnographic Tools: From Insight to Intervention
Authors: MOSLEH WAFA SAID
Published: January 2018

As a social researcher rooted in the traditions of participatory innovation, I set out to take a design anthropological approach to study the early unfocused phases of organisational innovation processes, and explore ways of both challenging and supporting these. With an interest in understanding how the tangibility of design coupled with the analytical nature of anthropology can provoke richer insights concerning organisational practices, my research team and I designed an artefact, called ‘the tangible brief’, aiming to elicit real stories about the challenges practitioners experience in dealing with innovation. The artefact resembles the content of a design brief and aims to bring together practitioners around the task of creating briefs prior to evaluating the potential of new ideas. The paper sets out to address the challenge of ethnographic researchers navigating a complex landscape of organisational innovation practices, and attempts to reframe the roles we can take in the field. Along those lines, the research contributes to a nuanced perspective on how tangible artefacts can become part of organisational figurations, and thus explicate the challenges that the social and political structures in the organisation are causing. Findings show that design anthropological practices can provoke actionable insights revealing deeper layers of organisational structures and processes, thus expanding on existing theoretical perspectives mainly highlighting how these artefacts can serve as conversation tools to encourage consensus and collaboration.
A Mixed Method Approach for Identifying Emerging Fields and Building Collaborative Teams: Leveraging Network Ethnography to Design Experimental Interventions
Authors: OKRAKU THERESE KENNELLY , SCIABOLAZZA VALERIO LEONE , VACCA RAFFAELE , MCCARTY CHRISTOPHER
Published: January 2018

Rapid innovation in science and technology has led to the development of new fields that transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries. Previous studies have retroactively examined the emergence of these fields. This paper outlines a mixed method approach for using network ethnography to identify emerging fields as they develop, track their evolution over time, and increase collaboration on these topics. This approach allowed us to simultaneously analyze organizational trends and gain an understanding of why these patterns occurred. Collecting ethnographic data throughout the course of the study enabled us to iteratively improve the fit of our models. It also helped us design an experimental method for creating new teams in these fields and test the effectiveness of this intervention. Initially, organizational leaders were wary of using a network intervention to alter these fields. However, by presenting insights from both our network analysis and ethnographic fieldwork, we were able to demonstrate the strategic need and potential impact of this type of intervention. We believe that network ethnography can be applied in many other research contexts to help build strategic partnerships, facilitative organizational change, and track industry trends.
When ‘The Emperor Has No Clothes': Performance, Complicity and Constraints on Communication in Corporate Attempts at Innovation
Authors: KAPLAN JOSH
Published: January 2018

When ethnographic or market research is employed to help de‐risk potential products and services, the focus is typically on understanding markets, cultures and contexts external to the organization that would launch them. This paper shifts the focus to the sorts of organizational practices, beliefs, and dynamics inside large corporations, which can create the conditions in which new products are brought to market despite evidence of their risk of failure.
“Delivering the Secret Sauce”: Culture and Identity in a Corporate Merger
Authors: DORNFELD BARRY
Published: January 2018

This case study explores work around a merger designed to bring together two firms of different scale, history, and identity in the hospitality industry – a large global conglomerate purchasing a small American boutique brand – while keeping the boutique company's customer‐ and design‐centric culture. It looks at mergers as salient situations for surfacing issues around organizational culture, as companies often come together across multiple differences and brings culture to the surface. CFAR, a management consulting firm, was brought in to understand the cultural differences and challenges the merger created, and help build bridges between the two companies to sustain the boutique's culture in the service of business performance and growth.
Imagining a Gym for the Spirit, Mind, and Body for the 21st Century
Authors: JINICH ALEJANDRO
Published: January 2018

This case explores a research and consulting engagement whose goal was to build an investment case for a new type of 21st century gym for the spirit, mind, and body. The client, a group of well‐funded U.S. entrepreneurs, wanted to design and launch a venture that would be positioned to serve the emerging spiritual needs of the proximal future (2–15 years). While the founders were themselves involved in meditation, belief‐dependent realism, and a loose collection of westernized oriental and mystic practices and beliefs, they had not yet defined the venture's specific offering. They suspected that (a) the dominant sociocultural climate of rationalism (e.g. rationalized life choices/paths derived from rationalized worldviews, disengaged relationship with the body and emotion, cynically‐motivated wealth creation, etc.) and the lack of embodied and experience‐based decision‐making and living practices were at the core of a generalized social malaise, and that (b) decoding it and designing a venture to target it, if done right, had the potential to catalyze a movement that could be both highly socially beneficial and lucrative. The case describes the journey to design a research methodology to validate, qualify, and expand their theory, study spirituality in U.S. culture, map the relation of spiritual needs to salient psychosocial problems, create a predictive theory about the future evolution of human spiritual and personal transformation needs, and design a business venture that would serve those needs, be broadly appealing to the U.S. public, and become a profitable company. The end product is multiple things at once: a service, a set of beliefs and practices, a philosophy, an intelligible, intelligent, and attractive system, a community, and a business, and the difficulty designing it and studying a topic as blurry, diffuse, and totalizing as spirituality and how it engenders individuals’ relationship to reality and collective culture presents a particularly interesting opportunity to discuss how a hybrid research methodology of socio‐historical research, ethnographic fieldwork, and semiotic analysis provides the correct focus with which to study and theorize around such a slippery subject.
Creating a Creators’ Market: How Ethnography Gave Intel a New Perspective On Digital Content Creators
Authors: ANDERSON KEN , FAULKNER SUSAN , KLEINMAN LISA , SHERMAN JAMIE
Published: January 2018

This case demonstrates how ongoing ethnographic research from within a corporation led to the re‐segmentation of a market. The first part of the case focuses on how a team of social science researchers at a major technology company, Intel, drew on past research studies to develop a point‐of‐view on the increasing importance of content creation across a range of populations that challenged the findings of a quantitative market sizing study. Drawing on earlier qualitative work, the team was able to successfully argue for the value of ethnographic research to augment these findings and to show how research participants’ orientations toward technology constituted a more significant, and more actionable way of segmenting this new market than professional status, the differentiator used in the quantitative study. The second half of the case highlights the process of driving business change from within a large corporation. By turning an ethnographic eye on their own organization, drawing on past research, and by sharing unfinished results in workshops to grow the project in phases, the team was able to build stakeholder buy‐in, and prime the organization for more ready adoption of ethnographic insights. As a result, the team's findings led to a substantive change in Intel's perspective on digital content creators, and to new products and marketing strategies. The team won a divisional award for defining a strategy that led to a profitable growth area for the corporation.
Should User Research Be Funny?
Authors: MCGRATH MEGHAN
Published: January 2018

The jokes people tell about their work can be a rich source of insight for user researchers. Known as “workplace humor” or “occupational humor,” these jokes refer to experiences where the user's pain or delight is instantly recognizable because it is so pervasive. This PechaKucha will discuss examples and practices your team can use to identify, synthesize, and leverage the occupational humor that resonates with specific classes of users, in order to build a more nuanced understanding of those users
Ageing Gracefully in Singapore: An Interactive Journey
Authors: PICCOLO GABRIELLA , VISCIOLA MICHELE
Published: January 2018

The “Design for Ageing Gracefully” project in Singapore aimed to identify trends, behaviors, and gaps in the elderly healthcare system. The project identified opportunity areas for design‐driven innovation in the Singaporean public healthcare space, to facilitate the creation of ideal conditions to support a rapidly ageing society. A key output of this work was a dynamic, interactive, and open‐sourced map that contains 24 videos cross‐indexed through the 8 personas Experientia identified during the ethnographic research and analysis. This interactive map offers an innovative means of organizing and accessing a broad archive of rich visual research data.

The ethnographic videos and interactive map were important tools when presenting our insights to Singaporean stakeholders such as the ministry of health and hospitals. By positioning the findings very clearly as being directly from the research participants, we were able to reduce institutional resistance to any findings that might have been critical of the system.

The videos also allowed people's unfiltered voices to come through in an engaging way, ensuring their voices were being heard directly when talking about such a sensitive topic as health.
Environmental adaptation and vertical dissemination of ESBL‐/pAmpC‐producing Escherichia coli in an integrated broiler production chain in the absence of an antibiotic treatment
Authors: Projahn Michaela , Daehre Katrin , Semmler Torsten , Guenther Sebastian , Roesler Uwe , Friese Anika
Published: January 2018

High prevalence numbers of extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamase‐ (ESBL‐)/plasmid‐mediated AmpC beta‐lactamase‐ (pAmpC‐) producing Escherichia coli in broiler chicken and their distribution along the broiler production chain is an ongoing problem in food production. We, therefore, investigated resistant isolates along the broiler production chain to determine whether there is a constantly occurring direct vertical transmission of the ESBL‐/pAmpC‐producing E. coli from the parent flocks to their offspring or not. We, furthermore, analysed the isolates concerning the occurrence of virulence factors and their ability to form biofilms to estimate their potential to effectively colonize broiler chickens and/or persist and survive in the environment of the broiler production facilities. Using whole genome sequencing, we could show that ESBL‐/pAmpC‐producing E. coli were likely transferred in a step‐wise process along the broiler production chain but not directly from the parent flock to the fattening flock with every single batch of offspring chickens. Additionally, resistant E. coli strains showing an extraintestinal pathogenic genotype as well as high numbers of virulence‐associated genes including the production of curli fibres and cellulose have high capabilities to persist and spread in the broiler production chain.
Automation aided optimization of cloning, expression and purification of enzymes of the bacterial sialic acid catabolic and sialylation pathways enzymes for structural studies
Authors: Bairy Sneha , Gopalan Lakshmi Narayanan , Setty Thanuja Gangi , Srinivasachari Sathya , Manjunath Lavanyaa , Kumar Jay Prakash , Guntupalli Sai R , Bose Sucharita , Nayak Vinod , Ghosh Swagatha , Sathyanarayanan Nitish , Caing‐Carlsson Rhawnie , Wahlgren Weixiao Yuan , Friemann Rosmarie , Ramaswamy S. , Neerathilingam Muniasamy
Published: January 2018

The process of obtaining a well‐expressing, soluble and correctly folded constructs can be made easier and quicker by automating the optimization of cloning, expression and purification. While there are many semiautomated pipelines available for cloning, expression and purification, there is hardly any pipeline that involves complete automation. Here, we achieve complete automation of all the steps involved in cloning and in vivo expression screening. This is demonstrated using 18 genes involved in sialic acid catabolism and the surface sialylation pathway. Our main objective was to clone these genes into a His‐tagged Gateway vector, followed by their small‐scale expression optimization in vivo. The constructs that showed best soluble expression were then selected for purification studies and scaled up for crystallization studies. Our technique allowed us to quickly find conditions for producing significant quantities of soluble proteins in Escherichia coli, their large‐scale purification and successful crystallization of a number of these proteins. The method can be implemented in other cases where one needs to screen a large number of constructs, clones and expression vectors for successful recombinant production of functional proteins.
Screening for latent tuberculosis infection among patients with rheumatoid arthritis in the era of biologics and targeted synthetic disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs in India, a high‐burden TB country: The importance of Mantoux and Quantiferon‐TB Gold tests
Authors: Malaviya Anand N. , Aggarwal Vishal K. , Rawat Roopa , Baghel Sadhana , Thakran Ravita , Zaheer Qamar , Garg Shriram , Kapoor Sanjiv
Published: January 2018

Aim

To test the validity of an augmented tuberculosis skin test (a‐TST) combined with Quantiferon TB‐gold® (QFTG) test for the screening of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) being considered for treatment with biologic disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs or targeted synthetic disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs.

Method

Standard TST using 1 tuberculin unit (TU) of purified protein derivative (PPD, RT23 strain) was carried out. If the positivity was less as compared to the general population, then a‐TST using 10 TU PPD was employed. Simultaneously, QFTG test was also performed.

Results

Using standard TST, 6/44 (13.6%), patients were positive compared to the reported figures of ~ 40% of the general population; 38 of the remaining TST‐negative patients were then given an a‐TST with 10 TU PPD; eight of them dropped out. Of the remaining 30 patients, eight (26.6%) were positive. Another 70 patients tested directly with a‐TST; 22 (31.4%) were found positive. Thus, of a total of 100 patients tested with a‐TST, 30 (30%) were positive. In 54 a‐TST negative patients, QFTG was done; seven (13%) were positive. Thus, in combined a‐TST with QFTG, 43% of the RA patients were found positive, suggestive of the presence of LTBI.

Conclusion

Combined a‐TST with QFTG testing gave 43% positivity among RA patients, which is close to the reported ~ 40% Mantoux positivity in the general population. Therefore, this method for the screening of LTBI in Indian patients with RA being considered for tumor necrosis factor alpha treatment could be satisfactory for offsetting TB flare. It may apply to other high‐burden TB countries around the world.
Genome‐wide population structure and admixture analysis reveals weak differentiation among Ugandan goat breeds
Authors: Onzima R. B. , Upadhyay M. R. , Mukiibi R. , Kanis E. , Groenen M. A. M. , Crooijmans R. P. M. A.
Published: January 2018

Uganda has a large population of goats, predominantly from indigenous breeds reared in diverse production systems, whose existence is threatened by crossbreeding with exotic Boer goats. Knowledge about the genetic characteristics and relationships among these Ugandan goat breeds and the potential admixture with Boer goats is still limited. Using a medium‐density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel, we assessed the genetic diversity, population structure and admixture in six goat breeds in Uganda: Boer, Karamojong, Kigezi, Mubende, Small East African and Sebei. All the animals had genotypes for about 46 105 SNPs after quality control. We found high proportions of polymorphic SNPs ranging from 0.885 (Kigezi) to 0.928 (Sebei). The overall mean observed (HO) and expected (HE) heterozygosity across breeds was 0.355 ± 0.147 and 0.384 ± 0.143 respectively. Principal components, genetic distances and admixture analyses revealed weak population sub‐structuring among the breeds. Principal components separated Kigezi and weakly Small East African from other indigenous goats. Sebei and Karamojong were tightly entangled together, whereas Mubende occupied a more central position with high admixture from all other local breeds. The Boer breed showed a unique cluster from the Ugandan indigenous goat breeds. The results reflect common ancestry but also some level of geographical differentiation. admixture and f4 statistics revealed gene flow from Boer and varying levels of genetic admixture among the breeds. Generally, moderate to high levels of genetic variability were observed. Our findings provide useful insights into maintaining genetic diversity and designing appropriate breeding programs to exploit within‐breed diversity and heterozygote advantage in crossbreeding schemes.
Preeclampsia and scleroderma: a prospective nationwide analysis
Authors: Kamper‐Jørgensen Mads , Gammill Hilary S. , Nelson J. Lee
Published: January 2018

Introduction. In a preliminary case‐control study, women with scleroderma more frequently reported having had hypertensive complications during pregnancy compared with healthy women. Material and methods. To prospectively investigate this possible association, we conducted a nation‐wide cohort analysis of a major hypertensive complication during pregnancy, namely preeclampsia, and later scleroderma. Analyses were based on Danish register‐based birth and hospital contact data on preeclampsia and scleroderma. We followed 778,758 women from time of giving birth between 1978 and 2010 to end of follow‐up, emigration, death, or scleroderma diagnosis, whichever occurred first. The association was evaluated by incidence rate ratios, obtained in Poisson regression models. Results. We report that preeclampsia is associated with a 69% significantly increased risk of later developing scleroderma. Conclusions. Though these findings do not impact clinical care directly, the association of preeclampsia with scleroderma underscores the significant relation of preeclampsia and other adverse pregnancy outcomes with later disease in women and should be included in patient counseling and education.
Aetiology of neonatal conjunctivitis evaluated in a population‐based setting
Authors: Honkila Minna , Renko Marjo , Ikäheimo Irma , Pokka Tytti , Uhari Matti , Tapiainen Terhi
Published: January 2018

Aim

Our aim was to study prospectively the aetiology of neonatal conjunctivitis in a population‐based setting.

Methods

Altogether 173 neonates with clinical conjunctivitis aged on average 20 (SD 10) days were recruited from child welfare clinics in Oulu, Finland, in 2010–2015. Conjunctival specimens were collected from 167 neonates for multiplex polymerase chain reaction to detect 16 respiratory viruses, from 163 for polymerase chain reaction to detect Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae and from 160 for bacterial culture studies. The cases were followed up until the age of 18 months.

Results

Viral conjunctivitis was diagnosed in 8/167 (4.8%; 95% CI 2.1–9.2%), chlamydial or gonococcal conjunctivitis in 0/163 cases (0%; 95% CI 0–2.2%) and other bacterial conjunctivitis in 58/160 (36%; 95% CI 29–44%). Rhinovirus was found at the ocular site in 4/167 (2.4%) neonates, adenovirus in 3/167 (1.8%) and bocavirus in 1/167 (0.6%). The most commonly isolated bacteria included Staphylococcus aureus (16%), Moraxella catarrhalis (9.4%) and Streptococcus pneumoniae (3.1%). None of these pathogens was associated with the 4/173 (2.3%) cases later operated on for persistent nasolacrimal duct obstruction.

Conclusion

Chlamydia trachomatis was a rare pathogen in neonatal conjunctivitis in a population‐based setting, but respiratory viruses were detected more frequently than indicated earlier.
Stable Isotope Sourcing of Wool from Textiles at Pacatnamú
Authors: Szpak P. , Millaire J.‐F. , White C. D. , Donnan C. B. , Longstaffe F. J.
Published: January 2018

Stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions were determined for wool textiles from the Lambayeque (c. ad 1100–1320) occupation at Pacatnamú in the Jequetepeque Valley, northern Peru. The isotopic data demonstrate that the wool was not obtained via long‐distance exchange with the highlands and was most probably derived from locally raised camelids. In light of other lines of evidence (diversity of dyes used to produce the same colours in textiles and the low quality of the weaving), textiles at Pacatnamú appear not to have been as effective a marker of political power and prestige for local elites as they were elsewhere in the Andean region.
Prevalence of cognitive impairment in major depression and bipolar disorder
Authors: Douglas Katie M , Gallagher Peter , Robinson Lucy J , Carter Janet D , McIntosh Virginia VW , Frampton Christopher MA , Watson Stuart , Young Allan H , Ferrier I Nicol , Porter Richard J
Published: January 2018

Objectives

The current study examines prevalence of cognitive impairment in four mood disorder samples, using four definitions of impairment. The impact of premorbid IQ on prevalence was examined, and the influence of treatment response.

Methods

Samples were: (i) 58 inpatients in a current severe depressive episode (unipolar or bipolar), (ii) 69 unmedicated outpatients in a mild to moderate depressive episode (unipolar or bipolar), (iii) 56 outpatients with bipolar disorder, in a depressive episode, and (iv) 63 outpatients with bipolar disorder, currently euthymic. Cognitive assessment was conducted after treatment in Studies 1 (6 weeks of antidepressant treatment commenced on admission) and 2 (16‐week course of cognitive behaviour therapy or schema therapy), allowing the impact of treatment response to be assessed. All mood disorder samples were compared with healthy control groups.

Results

The prevalence of cognitive impairment was highest for the inpatient depression sample (Study 1), and lowest for the outpatient depression sample (Study 2). Substantial variability in rates was observed depending on the definition of impairment used. Correcting cognitive performance for premorbid IQ had a significant impact on the prevalence of cognitive impairment in the inpatient depression sample. There was minimal evidence that treatment response impacted on prevalence of cognitive impairment, except in the domain of psychomotor speed in inpatients.

Conclusions

As interventions aiming to improve cognitive outcomes in mood disorders receive increasing research focus, the issue of setting a cut‐off level of cognitive impairment for screening purposes becomes a priority. This analysis demonstrates important differences in samples likely to be recruited depending on the definition of cognitive impairment and begins to examine the importance of premorbid IQ in determining who is impaired.
Using digital technology to enhance formative assessment in mathematics classrooms
Authors: Dalby Diane , Swan Malcolm
Published: January 2018

In this paper, which is based on research from the EU‐funded project Improving Progress through Formative Assessment in Science and Mathematics Education, we explore how iPads are used within formative assessment processes by six mathematics teachers and their classes in two secondary comprehensive schools in the Midlands of England. A design research approach is first used to develop and trial six lessons in which iPads are used in different ways within formative assessment processes. Through lesson observations, video analysis and teacher interviews we then examine how iPad technology contributes to these processes, the functions it performs and the distribution of activity between the main actors (teacher, technology and student). An analytic approach is developed which captures the interactions in visual representations, showing how the technology is often used as a form of communication but also performs more active functions which affect the role taken by the teacher in formative processes. The study offers insight into ways in which iPad technology contributes to effective student learning through formative assessment and introduces an analytic approach that may be useful for further studies.
Remarkable similarity in Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase dynamics and its implication for antimalarial drug design
Authors: Venkatramani Aishwarya , Gravina Ricci Clarisse , Oldfield Eric , McCammon J. Andrew
Published: January 2018

Malaria, mainly caused by Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax, has been a growing cause of morbidity and mortality. P. falciparum is more lethal than is P. vivax, but there is a vital need for effective drugs against both species. Geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase (GGPPS) is an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of quinones and in protein prenylation and has been proposed to be a malaria drug target. However, the structure of P. falciparumGGPPS (PfGGPPS) has not been determined, due to difficulties in crystallization. Here, we created a PfGGPPS model using the homologous P.vivaxGGPPS X‐ray structure as a template. We simulated the modeled PfGGPPS as well as PvGGPPS using conventional and Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics in both apo‐ and GGPP‐bound states. The MD simulations revealed a striking similarity in the dynamics of both enzymes with loop 9‐10 controlling access to the active site. We also found that GGPP stabilizes PfGGPPS and PvGGPPS into closed conformations and via similar mechanisms. Shape‐based analysis of the binding sites throughout the simulations suggests that the two enzymes will be readily targeted by the same inhibitors. Finally, we produced three MD‐validated conformations of PfGGPPS to be used in future virtual screenings for potential new antimalarial drugs acting on both PvGGPPS and PfGGPPS.
Association of long‐term glycaemic control on tear break‐up times and dry eye symptoms in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Ma Andre , Mak Martin SY , Shih Kendrick Co , Tsui Claudia KY , Cheung Rachel KY , Lee Sherman H , Leung Hubert , Leung Joyce NS , Leung Jason TH , Van‐Boswell Marco Z , Wong Michael TL , Ng Alex Lap‐Ki , Lee Chi‐Ho , Jhanji Vishal , Tong Louis
Published: January 2018

Importance

Diabetes mellitus is known to be associated with dry eye syndrome (DES), but the effects of long‐term glycaemic control on tear film metrics and dry eye symptoms are not known in the Chinese population.

Background

To evaluate tear film stability and dry eye symptoms and their associations with systemic risk factors in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Design

Cross‐sectional study set at the Lo Fong Siu Po Eye Centre (Grantham Hospital), Hong Kong.

Participants

A total of 80 Chinese participants, aged 18 or above, with T2DM recruited from the specialist outpatient setting were included.

Methods

The Oculus Keratograph 5M (Oculus Inc., Wetzlar, Germany) was used to measure the non‐invasive tear break‐up time (NITBUT). Ocular symptoms were evaluated using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI). The association between OSDI, NITBUT and metabolic parameters relating to diabetes were evaluated using multiple linear regression.

Main Outcome Measures

The associations between long‐term glycaemic control and NITBUT and OSDI scores.

Results

Stepwise multiple linear regression analysis revealed glycated haemoglobin to be the only significant independent variable for NITBUT (R2 = 0.099, P = 0.014) and OSDI (R2 = 0.062, P = 0.044) after controlling for potential confounders. The age‐adjusted prevalence of DES was 20% (95% confidence interval: 11–30%) in the Chinese T2DM population. The odds of DES for increasing percentage of glycated haemoglobin was 1.49 (95% confidence interval: 1.03–2.17, P = 0.04).

Conclusions and Relevance

Our findings highlight the importance of good glycaemic control as a modifiable risk factor for both dry eye symptoms and tear film instability in patients with T2DM.
NDUFAF3 variants that disrupt mitochondrial complex I assembly may associate with cavitating leukoencephalopathy
Authors: Ishiyama A. , Muramatsu K. , Uchino S. , Sakai C. , Matsushima Y. , Makioka N. , Ogata T. , Suzuki E. , Komaki H. , Sasaki M. , Mimaki M. , Goto Y.‐I. , Nishino I.
Published: January 2018

Genetic abnormalities in mitochondrial complex assembling factors are associated with leukoencephalopathy. We present a 1‐year‐old girl with consciousness disturbance after a respiratory infection. Brain MRI revealed leukoencephalopathy with bilaterally symmetrical hyperintensity in the substantia nigra, medial thalamic nuclei, and basal nuclei, as well as cavities in the cerebral white matter and corpus callosum. Lactate levels in the spinal fluid were high, while magnetic resonance spectroscopy of the cerebral white matter and basal nuclei showed high peak lactate levels, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction. The respiratory enzyme activity of complex I was reduced to 17% to 21% in skeletal muscle. Whole exome sequencing identified compound heterozygous variations in NDUFAF3, involved in the assembly of mitochondrial complex I (c.342_343insGTG:p.117Valdup, c.505C > A:p.Pro169Thr). Two‐dimensional, blue‐native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) and sodium dodecyl sulfate‐PAGE revealed reductions in Q‐module (NDUFS2, NDUFS3, and NDUFA9) and P‐module (NDUFB10 and NDUFB11) subunits, indicating disruption of mitochondrial complex I assembly. Our report expands the spectrum of clinical phenotypes associated with pathogenic variants of NDUFAF3.
GROWTH AND VARIABILITY OF SCHOOL DISTRICT INCOME TAX REVENUES: IS TAX BASE DIVERSIFICATION A GOOD IDEA FOR SCHOOL FINANCING?
Authors: Hall Joshua C. , Koumpias Antonios M.
Published: January 2018

School districts in Ohio have the option of diversifying their revenue base by adopting income taxes. Using a panel of Ohio school districts that adopted a local income tax from 1990 to 2008, we find that revenues are procyclical and fluctuate only mildly. The estimated short‐ and long‐run income elasticity of school district income tax revenues is 1.05 and 1.04, respectively. We also find that the school district tax base fully adjusts to its long‐run equilibrium within 2 years. Finally, we show that school district income tax adoption does not provide more stability to total school district tax revenues in the short or the long run. (JEL H71, H75)
Standardizing dose in dosimetric bronchial challenge tests
Authors: Malmberg Leo Pekka , Kauppi Paula , Mäkelä Mika J.
Published: January 2018

Recent technical recommendations on bronchial challenge testing aim at standardized assessment of provocative dose of causing 20% decrease in FEV1 (PD20). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of mode of nebulization on the output of a computerized dosimeter (APS) and to compare PD20 obtained by two different dosimetric systems in vivo. The output of the APS system was tested during continuous nebulization, and using simulated breaths, for intermittent actuations with four different durations. Using output data, a modified methacholine challenge protocol was applied for APS and compared with a standard set‐up using Spira dosimeter in 14 asthmatic patients attending duplicate methacholine challenges using both systems, within median (range) 3 (1–6) days apart. The calculated output (mg min−1) with all the intermittent mode settings was significantly higher (P<0·001) than in the continuous mode, and in the intermittent mode, the output was dependent of the pulse duration. The PD20 values assessed with the APS and Spira systems were significantly correlated (r = 0·69; P<0·007), without systematic difference in the geometric means (P = 0·10). A moderate to good agreement was found for assessment of significant hyperresponsiveness. The results suggest that in dosimetric systems for bronchial challenge tests, the output of the nebulizer is dependent on the mode of nebulization, and this should be considered when standardizing the dose between devices and protocols. As long as the delivered dose is determined for the specified nebulization mode of the protocol, it may be possible to obtain comparable results between different devices.
Recurrent IgA nephropathy after renal transplantation and steroid withdrawal
Authors: Di Vico Maria Cristina , Messina Maria , Fop Fabrizio , Barreca Antonella , Segoloni Giuseppe Paolo , Biancone Luigi
Published: January 2018

Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common primary glomerulonephritis; the reported recurrence rate of IgAN after renal transplantation is as high as 13%‐50%. The impact of immunosuppressive therapy and steroid withdrawal on the risk of recurrence of IgAN is still under debate. We performed a retrospective single‐center study, selecting 123 kidney transplants (rtx) in 120 patients, between January 1995 and December 2012, with IgAN on the native kidney. In 51 of 123 transplants, at least one post‐transplantation biopsy for clinical indication was performed; in 28 of 51 transplants, IgAN recurrence (IgANr) was demonstrated. This group (G1; N = 28) was compared with a group without IgANr (G2; N = 23). In our study, clinically evident IgANr rate was 54.9% (28/51) on biopsied patients. At discharge, the use of the immunosuppressant drugs (tacrolimus, cyclosporine A, mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, mTor inhibitors) was not associated with an increased risk of IgANr (P = NS). At discharge, all patients were steroid treated. Neither the use of tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, nor mTor inhibitors (mTori) at biopsy time were associated with IgANr. However, IgANr was significantly higher in patients who experienced steroid withdrawal at any post‐transplantation time (OR 7.7 P = .03). The median time to recurrence after steroid withdrawal was 59 months (min 4.18, max 113.2).
An extensive caseous calcification of the mitral annulus complicated with severe mitral regurgitation
Authors: Karakus Alper , Tibilli Hakan , Inanc Ibrahim H. , Tasolar Hakan , Turkmen Serdar , Akturk Erdal
Published: January 2018

Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus (CCMA) is considered a rare variant of mitral annular calcification (MAC) due to caseous transformation of the inner material and prevalence of CCMA, about 0.63% of all MAC cases and 0.06%–0.07% of the population. The precise pathophysiology of CCMA is still unknown. It is a chronic degenerative disorder common in the elderly, particularly in women. Caseous calcification of the mitral annulus (CCMA) is a soft peri‐annular extensive calcification, resembling cardiac tumors, abscesses, vegetation, or calcified thrombus, which is composed of an admixture of calcium, fatty acids, and cholesterol with a toothpaste‐like texture. In the characteristic appearance on echocardiography, the calcification is a round, large, soft mass with a central echo dense area, typically located at the basal area of the posterior mitral valve. It usually carries a benign prognosis but rarely may be complicated with mitral valve dysfunction (valve stenosis/mitral regurgitation) or systemic embolization. The current data suggest conservative medical therapy and clinical follow‐up for management of CCMA unless there is a need of cardiac surgery for severe mitral stenosis and/or regurgitation. We present a case, complicated with severe mitral regurgitation, and need surgical resection of the CCMA because of the CCMA‐induced symptomatic severe mitral regurgitation despite optimal medical therapy. Macroscopic and microscopic examination of caseous material also demonstrated the characteristic appearance of CCMA.
Nest takeover by queen and its positive impact on colony development in the Japanese bumblebee Bombus ignitus (Apidae: Hymenoptera)
Authors: Matsuyama Hinako , Ono Masato
Published: January 2018

Lone Bombus ignitus queens are known to start nests in small underground cavities. To examine the nest‐site preference of post‐hibernating queens, choice tests were carried out by providing queens with orphan colonies and empty cavities as possible nesting sites within an experimental box. Our results showed that the queens had a strong preference for takeover of an orphan colony, suggesting that nest takeover (usurpation) could occur in nature even with the presence of possible empty cavities for nesting. We compared the colony‐growth process and final production of sexuals between non‐takeover and takeover colonies. The increase in the number of egg cups was faster in the takeover colonies, suggesting that orphan broods elicit earlier oviposition by the usurping queen. Reproductives emerged earlier (significant for new queens) and in greater numbers (males) from takeover colonies than from non‐takeover colonies. Thus, post‐hibernating B. ignitus queens would search for and take over small orphan colonies to increase their fitness.
Recent advances in articular cartilage evaluation using computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Nelson B. B. , Kawcak C. E. , Barrett M. F. , McIlwraith C. W. , Grinstaff M. W. , Goodrich L. R.
Published: January 2018

Articular cartilage is a critical joint tissue and its evaluation remains a diagnostic challenge in horses. Coupled with a poor capacity for healing, early degenerative changes in articular cartilage are difficult to characterise using routine diagnostic imaging evaluations. Both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provide volumetric joint assessment and highlight morphological and quantitative properties of articular cartilage, improving assessment of this essential tissue. While the use ofCTandMRIfor joint evaluation is not new, there still remains a shortage of literature and scientific studies on the ability of these methods to evaluate articular cartilage in the horse. This review article summarises currentCTandMRItechniques capable of characterising equine articular cartilage, highlights recent advances in these techniques and discusses the numerous methods studied in human subjects that have been minimally investigated in horses. Imaging techniques are presented in terms of their capabilities of offering morphological and quantitative evaluation along with a discussion of their benefits and limitations. Finally, it summarises the current state‐of‐the‐art approaches and identifies unmet clinical imaging needs to propel the advancement of articular cartilage and joint imaging in the horse.
Npas4 deficiency interacts with adolescent stress to disrupt prefrontal GABAergic maturation and adult cognitive flexibility
Authors: Page C. E. , Alexander J. , Shepard R. , Coutellier L.
Published: January 2018

Healthy cognitive and emotional functioning relies on a balance between excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). This balance is largely established during early postnatal and adolescent developmental periods by maturation of the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) system, including increased density of parvalbumin (PV) cells and perineuronal nets (PNNs). Genetic and/or environmental factors during adolescence can disrupt GABAergic maturation and lead to behavioral dysfunction in adulthood. The present study examined the interaction between chronic mild stress during adolescence and genetic deficiency of neuronal Per‐Arnt‐Sim domain 4 (Npas4), a brain‐specific transcription factor that regulates inhibitory neurotransmission and that contributes to adolescent prefrontal GABAergic maturation. Male Npas4 wild‐type (WT) and heterozygous (HET) mice were exposed to adolescent chronic stress and tested in adulthood for cognitive function using the attention set shifting task. When Npas4 deficiency was combined with adolescent stress, mice displayed impaired cognitive flexibility as observed by poor performance on the extra‐dimensional set shift task. At the cellular level, adolescent stress increased the percentage of PV cells surrounded by PNNs in the PFC of adult WT animals, an effect that was not observed in HET mice. Additionally, Npas4 deficiency and/or adolescent stress dysregulated expression of certain GABAergic system markers. These results suggest that Npas4 mediates susceptibility to adolescent stress and subsequent cognitive functioning and inhibitory tone in adulthood. This shows a novel gene by environment interaction related to resilience vs vulnerability to stress, with implications for adolescent onset disorders like schizophrenia.
Amazon drought and forest response: Largely reduced forest photosynthesis but slightly increased canopy greenness during the extreme drought of 2015/2016
Authors: Yang Jia , Tian Hanqin , Pan Shufen , Chen Guangsheng , Zhang Bowen , Dangal Shree
Published: January 2018

Amazon droughts have impacted regional ecosystem functioning as well as global carbon cycling. The severe dry‐season droughts in 2005 and 2010, driven by Atlantic sea surface temperature (SST) anomaly, have been widely investigated in terms of drought severity and impacts on ecosystems. Although the influence of Pacific SST anomaly on wet‐season precipitation has been well recognized, it remains uncertain to what extent the droughts driven by Pacific SST anomaly could affect forest greenness and photosynthesis in the Amazon. Here, we examined the monthly and annual dynamics of forest greenness and photosynthetic capacity when Amazon ecosystems experienced an extreme drought in 2015/2016 driven by a strong El Niño event. We found that the drought during August 2015–July 2016 was one of the two most severe meteorological droughts since 1901. Due to the enhanced solar radiation during this drought, overall forest greenness showed a small increase, and 21.6% of forests even greened up (greenness index anomaly ≥1 standard deviation). In contrast, solar‐induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), an indicator of vegetation photosynthetic capacity, showed a significant decrease. Responses of forest greenness and photosynthesis decoupled during this drought, indicating that forest photosynthesis could still be suppressed regardless of the variation in canopy greenness. If future El Niño frequency increases as projected by earth system models, droughts would result in persistent reduction in Amazon forest productivity, substantial changes in tree composition, and considerable carbon emissions from Amazon.
The effect of eradication of Helicobacter pylori on gastric cancer prevention in healthy asymptomatic populations
Authors: Bae Suh Eun , Choi Kee Don , Choe Jaewon , Kim Seon Ok , Na Hee Kyong , Choi Ji Young , Ahn Ji Yong , Jung Kee Wook , Lee JeongHoon , Kim Do Hoon , Chang Hye‐Sook , Song Ho June , Lee Gin Hyug , Jung Hwoon‐Yong
Published: January 2018

Background

Although many epidemiologic studies have evaluated the effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on gastric cancer, the effect is still uncertain in general populations. We evaluated whether H. pylori eradication would affect the incidence of gastric cancer in healthy asymptomatic populations.

Materials and methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study in 38 984 asymptomatic individuals, who underwent health screening examinations more than twice between 2005 and 2016. We investigated the incidence of gastric cancer among 3 groups: those without H. pylori infection (Hp‐negative group), those with H. pylori eradication (eradication group), and those without H. pylori eradication (non‐eradication group).

Results

The cumulative incidence of gastric cancer was 54.5 cases per 100 000 person‐years during a median of 6.4 years. In a multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazard model, the cumulative incidence of gastric cancer in the non‐eradication group was significantly higher than those in the Hp‐negative (hazard ratio [HR] 4.12, P < .001) and eradication groups (HR 2.73, P = .001). However, the cumulative incidence of gastric cancer was not significantly different between the eradication and Hp‐negative groups. Other risk factors for gastric cancer occurrence were age, smoking, family history of gastric cancer, and gastric atrophy. The standardized incidence ratios of the age groups above 40 and below 70 in the eradication group were all significantly decreased.

Conclusions

Helicobacter pylori eradication reduced the cumulative incidence of gastric cancer in healthy asymptomatic population, and the effect of H. pylori eradication on the prevention of gastric cancer was observed in all ages.
Impact of cone beam computed tomography on periapical assessment and treatment planning five to eleven years after surgical endodontic retreatment
Authors: Kruse C. , Spin‐Neto R. , Wenzel A. , Væth M. , Kirkevang L.‐L.
Published: January 2018

Aim

To evaluate how additional information from Cone Beam CT (CBCT) impacts on periapical assessment and treatment planning based on clinical examination and periapical radiographs (PR) in cases followed up five to eleven years after surgical endodontic retreatment (SER).

Methodology

Patients receiving SER during 2004–2010 were reinvited for follow‐up examination including clinical examination, PR, and CBCT. In total, 108 patients (119 teeth) were reinvited, 74 patients (83 teeth) accepted to participate. Three observers initially assessed PR according to the four‐scaled, increasing disease severity criteria by Rud et al. (International Journal of Oral Surgery, 1, 1972 and 195) and Molven et al. (International Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 16, and 432): ‘Radiographic assessment A’. By including clinical information ‘Treatment plan A’ was made as follows: 1) no treatment, 2) further observation, 3) SER reoperation (SER‐R), or 4) extraction. Hereafter, the CBCT volume was assessed and the information incorporated for ‘Radiographic assessment B’ followed by ‘Treatment plan B’. Agreement between radiographic assessments and between treatment plans was recorded and assessed statistically by Stuart–Maxwell test for marginal homogeneity.

Results

Nine teeth had been extracted; thus, the final analysis included 74 teeth (66 patients). The radiographic assessment was changed as a result of the CBCT evaluation in 38 cases (51.4%), of which 35 (47.3%) were to a higher Rud & Molven score, P < 0.001. The treatment plan was changed for 18 teeth (24.3%). For 14 teeth (18.9%), the change was from no treatment or further observation to a more invasive treatment plan (SER‐R or extraction), P = 0.005.

Conclusion

The use of CBCT for long‐term follow‐up after SER led to more cases diagnosed with persisting or recurrent apical periodontitis and hence often to the recommendation of a more invasive treatment modality.