bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Household adjustment to flood risk: a survey of coastal residents in Texas and Florida, United States
Authors: Brody Samuel D. , Lee Yoonjeong , Highfield Wesley E.
Published: September 2016

Individual households have increasingly borne responsibility for reducing the adverse impacts of flooding on their property. Little observational research has been conducted, however, at the household level to examine the major factors contributing to the selection of a particular household adjustment. This study addresses the issue by evaluating statistically the factors influencing the adoption of various household flood hazard adjustments. The results indicate that respondents with higher‐value homes or longer housing tenure are more likely to adopt structural and expensive techniques. In addition, the information source and the Community Rating System (CRS) score for the jurisdiction where the household is located have a significant bearing on household adjustment. In contrast, proximity to risk zones and risk perception yield somewhat mixed results or behave counter to assumptions in the literature. The study findings provide insights that will be of value to governments and decision‐makers interested in encouraging homeowners to take protective action given increasing flood risk.
Estimation of the number of children with cerebral palsy using nationwide health insurance claims data in Japan
Authors: Toyokawa Satoshi , Maeda Eri , Kobayashi Yasuki
Published: September 2016

Aim

Japan lacks a population‐based registration system for cerebral palsy (CP), therefore the nationwide prevalence of CP is unknown. Our aim was to estimate the number of children with CP using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan, which has been recently developed by the government.

Method

Study participants were children and adolescents aged below 20 years, who had been assigned CP diagnosis codes more than once in claims issued between June 2012 and May 2013 from all health insurance schemes in Japan, except for Social Welfare and Elderly Health Insurance.

Results

The number of participants with diagnosed CP was 44 381. The number of males with CP (25 237) was greater than the number of females (19 144). Peak CP prevalence per 1000 population was 2.39 at age 4 years, and this gradually declined with age. The prevalence of CP per 1000 population was 2.27 at age 5 to 9 years. The numbers of inpatients and outpatients with CP were 9126 (20.6%) and 35 255 (79.4%) respectively.

Interpretation

Our estimation of CP prevalence per 1000 population at age 5 to 9 years lay in the higher range of figures from previous studies in Japan, and was close to figures reported by European countries.
Use of antibiotics in childhood and risk of Type 1 diabetes: a population‐based case–control study
Authors: Mikkelsen K. H. , Knop F. K. , Vilsbøll T. , Frost M. , Hallas J. , Pottegård A.
Published: September 2016

Aims

To investigate whether the use of antibiotics from infancy to adolescence influences the risk of Type 1 diabetes.

Methods

We conducted a population‐based case–control study, including all Type 1 diabetes cases in Denmark among children born between 1997 and 2012 (n = 1578). Odds ratios associating Type 1 diabetes with use of antibiotics were calculated using conditional logistic regression.

Results

Overall, we found no association between the use of antibiotics and risk of Type 1 diabetes. Furthermore, no associations were seen specifically for broad‐spectrum, narrow‐spectrum, bactericidal or bacteriostatic types of antibiotics or for the most frequently used individual classes of antibiotics. No differences were observed in subgroups defined by sex or by age at time of diagnosis. However, filling five or more antibiotic prescriptions in the first 2 years of life specifically was associated with a higher odds ratio of 1.35 (95% CI 1.10–1.64). This association appeared to be driven by exposure to broad‐spectrum antibiotics within the second year of life.

Conclusion

Antibiotic exposure in childhood is generally not associated with the risk of developing Type 1 diabetes. Future studies should investigate the effects of multiple exposures to broad‐spectrum antibiotics during the second year of life.
Risk of diabetic retinopathy at first screen in children at 12 and 13 years of age
Authors: Scanlon P. H. , Stratton I. M. , Bachmann M. O. , Jones C. , Leese G. P. ,   the Four Nations Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Study Group
Published: September 2016

Aims

To investigate the relationships between age at diagnosis of diabetes, age at diabetic eye screening and severity of diabetic retinopathy at first and subsequent screenings in children aged 12 or 13 years.

Methods

Data were extracted from four English screening programmes and from the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish programmes on all children with diabetes invited for their first and subsequent screening episodes from the age of 12 years. Retinopathy levels at first and subsequent screens, time from diagnosis of diabetes to first screening and age at diagnosis in years were calculated.

Results

Data were available for 2125 children with diabetes screened for the first time at age 12 or 13 years. In those diagnosed with diabetes at 2 years of age or less, the proportion with retinopathy in one or both eyes was 20% and 11%, respectively, decreasing to 8% and 2% in those diagnosed between 2 and 12 years (P < 0.0001). Only three children (aged 8, 10 and 11 years at diagnosis of diabetes) had images graded with referable retinopathy and, of these, two had non‐referable diabetic retinopathy at all subsequent screenings. Of 1703 children with subsequent images, 25 were graded with referable diabetic retinopathy over a mean follow‐up of 3.1 years, an incidence rate of 4.7 (95% confidence interval, 3.1–7.0) per 1000 per year.

Conclusions

In this large cohort of children, the low prevalence and incidence rates of referable diabetic retinopathy suggest that screening earlier than age 12 is not necessary.
Effectiveness and cost‐effectiveness of interventions that cause weight loss and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease
Authors: Zomer Ella , Leach Rachel , Trimmer Christine , Lobstein Tim , Morris Stephen , James William P. , Finer Nick
Published: September 2016

Background

Overweight/obesity is associated with significant morbidity, mortality and costs. Weight loss has been shown to reverse some of these effects, reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Aim

To determine the potential monies available, from an English National Health Service perspective, for weight loss interventions to be cost‐effective in the prevention of CVD.

Methods

A Markov model was developed, populated with overweight/obese individuals from the Health Survey for England, aged 30–74 years, free of pre‐existing CVD and with available risk factor information to calculate CVD risk. All individuals were free of CVD at baseline and, with each annual cycle, could transition to other health states of primary CVD, secondary CVD or death according to transition probabilities for a maximum period of 10 years, or until death. Utilities, costs and the effects of weight loss on CVD risk factors were applied. The potential monies available for CVD prevention strategies, provided the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio met UK arbitrary limits of between £20 000 and £30 000, was determined.

Results

Applying the effects of weight loss on CVD risk factors prevented 4 CVD events and saved 17 quality‐adjusted life‐years over 10 years per 1000 individuals. £34 to £51 was available per person per year for up to 10 years when meeting the UK arbitrary limits.

Conclusions

Individual annual financial allowances for weight loss interventions to be considered cost‐effective is relatively low; however, as a large proportion of the population is affected, wide cheap societal interventions are important.
Do Banks Lend Less in Uncertain Times?
Authors: Raunig Burkhard , Scharler Johann , Sindermann Friedrich
Published: September 2016

We study the development of bank lending in the USA after four large jumps in uncertainty using an event study approach. We find that more liquid banks slow down and lend less after a surge in uncertainty. Lending by smaller banks is also less responsive to increases in uncertainty, which points to an increased importance of bank–customer relationships. For capitalization, we find mixed evidence. These heterogeneities across banks suggest that declines in bank lending following increases in uncertainty result at least partly from a reduced supply of bank loans.
First‐ever stroke following hip replacement surgeries: a large population‐based survey
Authors: Wang Chia‐To , Chuang Eric , Yen Der‐Jen , Chuang Tien‐Yow , Muo Chih‐Hsin , Kao Chia‐Hung
Published: September 2016

Objective

This study was designed to determine the prevalence, subtypes and risk factors of first‐ever stroke following hip replacement (HR) in a large population of Taiwan.

Methods

Using the National Health Insurance system of Taiwan, we identified patients undergoing HR from 2000 to 2011 and randomly selected 4 : 1 age‐ and sex‐matched controls for each HR patients. The index date for HR patients was defined the date for HR. All study subjects were followed from the index date until stroke occurred at admission. T‐test and chi‐square test were used for continuous and categorical variables, respectively. The hazard ratios of risk factors were determined with Cox proportional hazard regression model.

Results

A total of 3604 HR patients and 14 394 controls were enrolled. In comparison with controls, patients undergoing HR had a significantly higher incidence of comorbidities (i.e. atrial fibrillation, hypertension, diabetes) and consumed more medications (i.e. antihypertension, antidiabetes, nonsteroid anti‐inflammatory drugs and anticoagulants) before surgery. The HR patients had a significant higher incidence of first‐ever stroke, especially for those aged over 65. (Hazard ratio: 1·33, 95% confidence interval: 1·12–1·58) The significantly higher risk for first‐ever stroke occurred within 3 months and ≥ 1 year after HR. The incidence rate of ischaemic stroke is about five times than that of haemorrhagic stroke.

Conclusion

Our study identifies multiple risk factors that cause cerebrovascular complications after HR, which is vital in creating treatment plans to prevent for said problems.
PARTY AFFILIATION AND PUBLIC SPENDING: EVIDENCE FROM U.S. GOVERNORS
Authors: Beland Louis‐Philippe , Oloomi Sara
Published: September 2016

This paper investigates whether the party affiliation of governors (Democrat or Republican) has an impact on the allocation of state expenditures. Exploiting gubernatorial election results from 1960 to 2012 and a Regression Discontinuity Design (RDD), we find that Democratic governors allocate a larger share of their budget to health/hospitals and education sectors. We find no significant impact of the political party of governors on total spending, only on the allocation of funds. The results are robust to a wide range of controls and model specifications. (JEL D72, H75, H72)
Chronic cocaine exposure induces noradrenergic modulation of inhibitory synaptic transmission to cholinergic neurons of the laterodorsal tegmental nucleus
Authors: Taoka Naofumi , Kamiizawa Ryota , Wada Shintaro , Minami Masabumi , Kaneda Katsuyuki
Published: September 2016

The laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (LDT), which sends cholinergic efferent connections to dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), plays a critical role in the development of addictive behavior and the reinstatement of cocaine‐seeking behavior. Although repeated cocaine exposure elicits plastic changes in excitatory synaptic transmission and intrinsic membrane excitability in LDT cholinergic neurons, it remains unclear whether inhibitory synaptic transmission is modulated by cocaine exposure. The LDT receives fibers containing noradrenaline (NA), a neurotransmitter whose extracellular levels increase with cocaine exposure. Therefore, it is hypothesized that repeated cocaine exposure induces plastic changes in LDT cholinergic neurons via NA. Ex vivo electrophysiological recordings in LDT cholinergic neurons were obtained from rats repeatedly exposed to cocaine. Bath‐application of NA induced similar levels of hyperpolarization in both saline‐ and cocaine‐treated neurons. However, NA attenuated the amplitude of inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in cocaine‐ but not saline‐treated neurons through α2 adrenoceptors. This NA‐induced IPSC attenuation was observed in the presence of strychnine, but not gabazine, indicating that NA modulated GABAergic but not glycinergic neurotransmission. NA increased the paired‐pulse ratios of evoked IPSCs and decreased the frequencies of miniature IPSCs (mIPSCs) without affecting their amplitudes, suggesting a presynaptic mechanism. These findings suggest that repeated cocaine exposure induces neuroplasticity in GABAergic synaptic transmission onto LDT cholinergic neurons by probably modulating presynaptic α2 adrenoceptors. This potentially increases the activity of LDT cholinergic neurons, which might contribute to the development of addictive behavior by enhancing VTA DA neuronal activity.
Dopamine receptor activity participates in hippocampal synaptic plasticity associated with novel object recognition
Authors: Yang Kechun , Broussard John I. , Levine Amber T. , Jenson Daniel , Arenkiel Benjamin R. , Dani John A.
Published: September 2016

Physiological and behavioral evidence supports that dopamine (DA) receptor signaling influences hippocampal function. While several recent studies examined how DA influences CA1 plasticity and learning, there are fewer studies investigating the influence of DA signaling to the dentate gyrus. The dentate gyrus receives convergent cortical input through the perforant path fiber tracts and has been conceptualized to detect novelty in spatial memory tasks. To test whether DA‐receptor activity influences novelty‐detection, we used a novel object recognition (NOR) task where mice remember previously presented objects as an indication of learning. Although DA innervation arises from other sources and the main DA signaling may be from those sources, our molecular approaches verified that midbrain dopaminergic fibers also sparsely innervate the dentate gyrus. During the NOR task, wild‐type mice spent significantly more time investigating novel objects rather than previously observed objects. Dentate granule cells in slices cut from those mice showed an increased AMPA/NMDA‐receptor current ratio indicative of potentiated synaptic transmission. Post‐training injection of a D1‐like receptor antagonist not only effectively blocked the preference for the novel objects, but also prevented the increased AMPA/NMDA ratio. Consistent with that finding, neither NOR learning nor the increase in the AMPA/NMDA ratio were observed in DA‐receptor KO mice under the same experimental conditions. The results indicate that DA‐receptor signaling contributes to the successful completion of the NOR task and to the associated synaptic plasticity of the dentate gyrus that likely contributes to the learning.
Hippocampal shape alterations are associated with regional Aβ load in cognitively normal elderly individuals
Authors: Schroeder Clemens , Park Min Tae M. , Germann Jürgen , Chakravarty M. Mallar , Michels Lars , Kollias Spyros , Kroll Sara L. , Buck Alfred , Treyer Valerie , Savaskan Egemen , Unschuld Paul G. , Nitsch Roger M. , Kälin Andrea M. , Hock Christoph , Gietl Anton F. , Leh Sandra E.
Published: September 2016

Aβ deposition is a driving force of Alzheimer's disease pathology and can be detected early by amyloid positron emission tomography. Identifying presymptomatic structural brain changes associated with Aβ deposition might lead to a better understanding of its consequences and provide early diagnostic information. In this respect we analyzed measures of cortical thickness and subcortical volumes along with hippocampal, thalamic and striatal shape and surface area by applying novel analysis strategies for structural magnetic resonance imaging. We included 69 cognitively normal elderly subjects after careful clinical and neuropsychological workup. Standardized uptake value ratios (cerebellar reference) for uptake of 11‐C‐Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB) were calculated from positron emission tomographic data for a cortical measurement and for bilateral hippocampus, thalamus and striatum. Associations to shape, surface area, volume and cortical thickness were tested using regression models that included significant predictors as covariates. Left anterior hippocampal shape was associated with regional PiB uptake (P < 0.05, FDR corrected), whereas volumes of the hippocampi and their subregions were not associated with cortical or regional PiB uptake (all P > 0.05, FDR corrected). Within the entorhinal cortical region of both hemispheres, thickness was negatively associated with cortical PiB uptake (P < 0.05, FDR corrected). Hence, localized shape measures and cortical thickness may be potential biomarkers of presymptomatic Alzheimer's disease.
Long‐term development of organic carbon contents in arable soil of North Rhine–Westphalia, Germany, 1979–2015
Authors: Steinmann T. , Welp G. , Holbeck B. , Amelung W.
Published: September 2016

Europe currently faces a decline in soil organic carbon (SOC) content under arable cropping irrespective of improved management practices. In this study we used more than 32 000 SOC data from the entire North Rhine–Westphalia (NRW) area to elucidate the temporal development and current state of SOC content in arable soil from 1979 to 2015 and, in addition, to identify potential causal factors of changes in SOC content. The dataset comprised 7401 data points for 1979–2003 from FIS StoBo, the branched information system on soil contamination in NRW, and 24 930 data points for 2007–2015 from the Agricultural Investigation and Research Institute NRW (LUFA NRW); all data considered refer to soil sampled at 0–30 cm. We found that topsoil carbon contents in arable soil increased over the entire NRW area during the 1980s (from 1.87% in 1979 to 2.82% in 1987), and that this increase was followed by an exponential decrease from 1988 to 2015 (1.42% SOC in 2015) without a new equilibrium being reached. Livestock‐poor regions showed a more rapid gain and a more rapid loss of SOC contents than regions with large livestock densities. The data correlated with changes in grassland area, which was reduced in NRW by about 360 000 ha mainly between 1970 and 1990; that is, recently ploughed grassland probably contributed to increasing averages of SOC contents in arable land during this period, but not thereafter. We conclude that past changes in land use controlled the evolution in SOC from 1979 to 2015, and there is little opportunity for changed management practices to prevent ongoing loss of SOC from the topsoil.

Highlights

The SOC contents in arable soil in North Rhine–Westphalia (NRW) show temporal trend.

The SOC contents increased during the 1980s, but decreased thereafter.

Data from the entire NRW area indicate that new SOC equilibria have not yet been reached.

Past changes in land use still control current SOC evolution.
Further evidence to support bimodality of oestrogen receptor expression in breast cancer
Authors: Muftah Abir A , Aleskandarany Mohammed , Sonbul Sultan N , Nolan Christopher C , Diez Rodriguez Maria , Caldas Carlos , Ellis Ian O , Green Andrew R , Rakha Emad A
Published: September 2016

Aims

Although oestrogen receptor (ER)‐negative breast cancers (BCs) do not respond to hormone therapy, the response of ER‐positive BCs is reported to be variable, which may suggest a dose‐dependent effect. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of ER expression in BCs at the protein (immunohistochemistry) and transcriptome (microarray‐based gene expression) levels.

Methods and results

ER immunohistochemical (IHC) expression was assessed in a large series of BCs, including 3649 core biopsies and 1892 cases prepared as tissue microarrays (TMAs) stained with specific antibodies. ESR1 mRNA expression was assessed in the METABRIC study (1980 cases), by the use of the Linear Models for Microarray Data (limma) software, and the results were compared with protein levels. IHC data confirmed the bimodality of ER expression, with 92.2% and 89.2% of the cases showing completely negative (<1%) or highly positive (≥70%) expression on the cores and TMAs, respectively. Weakly positive cases (1–10%) and intermediately positive (11–69%) cases were infrequent (2.7% and 5.1%, and 1.6% and 9.2%, in cores and TMAs, respectively), and did not show survival difference from ER‐negative tumours. When full‐face sections of the corresponding excision specimens were immunostained, 47% of the ER‐low/intermediate group were deemed to be ER‐negative. Transcriptomic data not only showed a significant correlation between ESR1 mRNA and protein expression levels, but also confirmed the bimodality of ER expression at the mRNA level.

Conclusions

Our study provides further evidence that ER expression is bimodal, and that it is observed at both the mRNA and protein levels. The reported poor survival of BC patients with low ER expression in the early clinical trials may be related to the inclusion of ER‐negative cases.
Microencapsulation of Nigella sativa seeds oil containing thymoquinone by spray‐drying for functional yogurt production
Authors: Abedi Abdol‐Samad , Rismanchi Marjan , Shahdoostkhany Mehrnoush , Mohammadi Abdorreza , Hosseini Hedayat
Published: September 2016

The present work reports on the microencapsulation of Nigella sativa seeds oil containing thymoquinone (TQ) by spray‐drying, using modified starch (MS) and maltodextrin (MD) mixture as wall materials aimed at producing functional yogurt. First, the impact of different ratios of MS/MD on microencapsulation efficiency (ME) and TQ retention was investigated. The highest ME (90.10%) was found in microcapsules prepared from emulsion with 80/20 ratio of MS/MD; however, the microcapsules prepared with 50/50 ratio was selected for considering TQ stability under storage conditions and functional yogurt production due to an acceptable ME (89.48%) and better TQ retention (61.12%). The results showed that the microcapsules stored at refrigerator temperature had the highest content of TQ after 4 weeks. Moreover, the results of chemical and sensory analysis suggest that N. sativa seeds oil microcapsules can be used for producing functional yogurt due to high stability of TQ and proper chemical and sensory properties.
Antimicrobial efficacy of gaseous chlorine dioxide against Salmonella enterica Typhimurium on grape tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)
Authors: Netramai Siriyupa , Kijchavengkul Thitisilp , Sakulchuthathip Veesuda , Rubino Maria
Published: September 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of gas level and treatment condition on antimicrobial efficacy of ClO2 gas against Salmonella enterica Typhimurium on grape tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum). Grape tomatoes were dip‐inoculated with inoculum of S. enterica Typhimurium TISTR 292 (ATCC 13311) (9.79 ± 0.39 log CFU mL−1) and allowed to dry before treatments. The pre‐inoculated samples were exposed to 0.15–0.85 mg of ClO2 gas, for up to 58 min. The treatments at 4 and 25 °C resulted in population reductions of S. enterica Typhimurium of up to 3.95 ± 0.22 and 7.37 ± 0.39 log CFU per fruit, respectively. The population reduction results were used to construct statistical models to predict efficacy of ClO2 gas. The second‐order equations for treatments at 4 and 25 °C had R2 of 0.87 and 0.95, respectively, and indicated that efficacy of ClO2 gas was significantly influenced by ClO2 gas level, exposure time and treatment temperature.
Non‐medical prescribing in prostate cancer care: a case study reflection
Authors: Paterson Catherine , Nabi Ghulam
Published: September 2016

There are approximately 54 000 nurse and midwife prescribers across the United Kingdom (UK), with 19 000 nurse independent and supplementary prescribers. Prostate cancer specialist nurses are ideally suited to implement advanced levels of practice in non‐medical prescribing, but little has been detailed in the literature about the prescribing practice in this clinical context. This paper set out to critically review evidence‐based recommendations for Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurses using a case study reflection to contextualize the role of non‐medical prescribing.

A structured literature review was conducted in a range of electronic databases (DARE, Cochrane, MEDLINE, BNI, PsychINFO, EMBASE and CIHAHL), and a grey literature search in google, to identify studies employing a qualitative and/or quantitative methods. National (UK) and European clinical guidelines and legislative frameworks were also included. Methodological evaluation was conducted and evidence‐based recommendations were integrated into a narrative synthesis.

A multidisciplinary and proactive approach to the management of men with metastatic prostate cancer ensures safe and effective prescribing practice, and optimizes supportive care delivery. A reflective case study has illuminated the key features necessary to maximize the success of non‐medical prescribing in prostate cancer care and captures the importance of good working relationships. While different practice models will emerge, the Prostate Cancer Model of Consultation may facilitate a structured framework for safe practice, embedded in effective communication strategies.

Non‐medical prescribers must be committed to continual professional development, and prescribe safely within individual competencies and scope of professional practice. There is a pressing need for further research to evaluate prescribing practices with a particular focus on the nature of influencing factors on prescribing decisions, cost‐effectiveness and a more detailed understanding of how team working and inter‐team referral affects prescribing decisions between the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) members.
Childhood abuse and reduced cortical thickness in brain regions involved in emotional processing
Authors: Gold Andrea L. , Sheridan Margaret A. , Peverill Matthew , Busso Daniel S. , Lambert Hilary K. , Alves Sonia , Pine Daniel S. , McLaughlin Katie A.
Published: September 2016

Background

Alterations in gray matter development represent a potential pathway through which childhood abuse is associated with psychopathology. Several prior studies find reduced volume and thickness of prefrontal (PFC) and temporal cortex regions in abused compared with nonabused adolescents, although most prior research is based on adults and volume‐based measures. This study tests the hypothesis that child abuse, independent of parental education, predicts reduced cortical thickness in prefrontal and temporal cortices as well as reduced gray mater volume (GMV) in subcortical regions during adolescence.

Methods

Structural MRI scans were obtained from 21 adolescents exposed to physical and/or sexual abuse and 37 nonabused adolescents (ages 13–20). Abuse was operationalized using dichotomous and continuous measures. We examined associations between abuse and brain structure in several a priori‐defined regions, controlling for parental education, age, sex, race, and total brain volume for subcortical GMV. Significance was evaluated at p < .05 with a false discovery rate correction.

Results

Child abuse exposure and severity were associated with reduced thickness in ventromedial prefrontal cortex (PFC), right lateral orbitofrontal cortex, right inferior frontal gyrus, bilateral parahippocampal gyrus (PHG), left temporal pole, and bilateral inferior, right middle, and right superior temporal gyri. Neither abuse measure predicted cortical surface area or subcortical GMV. Bilateral PHG thickness was inversely related to externalizing symptoms.

Conclusions

Child abuse, an experience characterized by a high degree of threat, is associated with reduced cortical thickness in ventromedial and ventrolateral PFC and medial and lateral temporal cortex in adolescence. Reduced PHG thickness may be a mediator linking abuse with externalizing psychopathology, although prospective research is needed to evaluate this possibility.
Editorial: The effects of early trauma and deprivation on human development – from measuring cumulative risk to characterizing specific mechanisms
Authors: Zeanah Charles H. , Sonuga‐Barke Edmund J.S.
Published: September 2016

Science is not a linear process of accumulating knowledge. To the contrary, progress in understanding is most likely to occur, especially in less ‘mature’ disciplines, when healthy debate between opposing points of view create a dialectic in which thesis and antithesis force a new synthesis. In developmental psychopathology, such tension between opposing schools of thought continue to play a vital role in driving discovery across a wide range of topics.
Reverse Monte Carlo reconstruction algorithm for discrete electron tomography based on HAADF‐STEM atom counting
Authors: MOYON F. , HERNANDEZ‐MALDONADO D. , ROBERTSON M.D. , ETIENNE A. , CASTRO C. , LEFEBVRE W.
Published: September 2016

In this paper, we propose an algorithm to obtain a three‐dimensional reconstruction of a single nanoparticle based on the method of atom counting. The location of atoms in three dimensions has been successfully performed using simulations of high‐angle‐annular‐dark‐field images from only three zone‐axis projections, [110], [310] and [211], for a face‐centred cubic particle. These three orientations are typically accessible by low‐tilt holders often used in high‐performance scanning transmission electron microscopes.
Bayesian model for detection and classification of meningioma nuclei in microscopic images
Authors: WIRJADI O. , KIM Y.‐J. , STECH F. , BONFERT L. , WAGNER M.
Published: September 2016

Image segmentation aims to determine structures of interest inside a digital picture in biomedical sciences. State‐of‐the art automatic methods however still fail to provide the segmentation quality achievable by humans who employ expert knowledge and use software to mark target structures on an image. Manual segmentation is time‐consuming, tedious and suffers from interoperator variability, thus not serving the requirements of daily use well. Therefore, the approach presented here abandons the goal of full‐fledged segmentation and settles for the localization of circular objects in photographs (10 training images and 20 testing images with several hundreds of nuclei each). A fully trainable softcore interaction point process model was hence fit to the most likely locations of nuclei of meningioma cells. The Broad Bioimage Benchmark Collection/SIMCEP data set of virtual cells served as controls. A ‘colour deconvolution’ algorithm was integrated to determine (based on anti‐Ki67 immunohistochemistry) which real cells might have the potential to proliferate. In addition, a density parameter of the underlying Bayesian model was estimated. Immunohistochemistry results were ‘simulated'for the virtual cells. The system yielded true positive (TP) rates in the detection and classification of real nuclei and their virtual counterparts. These hits outnumbered those obtained from the public domain image processing software ImageJ by 10%. The method introduced here can be trained to function not only in medicine and morphology‐based systems biology but in other application domains as well. The algorithm lends itself to an automated approach that constitutes a valuable tool which is easy to use and generates acceptable results quickly.
Automatic thresholding from the gradients of region boundaries
Authors: LANDINI G. , RANDELL D.A. , FOUAD S. , GALTON A.
Published: September 2016

We present an approach for automatic threshold segmentation of greyscale images. The procedure is inspired by a reinterpretation of the strategy observed in human operators when adjusting thresholds manually and interactively by means of ‘slider’ controls. The approach translates into two methods. The first one is suitable for single or multiple global thresholds to be applied globally to images and consists of searching for a threshold value that generates a phase whose boundary coincides with the largest gradients in the original image. The second method is a variation, implemented to operate on the discrete connected components of the thresholded phase (i.e. the binary regions) independently. Consequently, this becomes an adaptive local threshold procedure, which operates relative to regions, rather than to local image subsets as is the case in most local thresholding methods previously published. Adding constraints for specifying certain classes of expected objects in the images can improve the output of the method over the traditional ‘segmenting first, then classify’ approach.
Evaluation of impact of social support and care on HIV‐positive and AIDS individuals’ quality of life: a nonrandomised community trial
Authors: Li Xing‐ming , Yuan Xiao‐qing , Wang Jun‐jie , Zhang Wan‐ying , Zhou Yang , Liu Gu‐ning
Published: September 2016

Aims and objectives

Our study was conducted to further investigate the model of social support and care for People Living with HIV/AIDS(PLHA), to explore their role in People Living with AIDS's quality of life (QOL) as reference for improving nursing policies for AIDS.

Background

Social support and care are the most important factors impacting the QOL of People Living with HIV/AIDS, but most studies conducted upon the influence of social support and QOL of People Living with HIV/AIDS are mainly based on cross‐sectional design.

Design

Our study was a nonrandomised controlled community intervention study.

Methods

The participants diagnosed as People Living with HIV/AIDS at Beijing You An Hospital received a comprehensive social support care from December 2013 to December 2014. To evaluate the impact of social support and care model on People Living with HIV/AIDS, our study analysed the different dimension scores of social support scale and quality of life before and after the intervention. Correlation between the net benefit value of social support and that of QOL from various dimensions were analysed.

Results

There were significant differences in the score of objective support and usage of support (all p = 0·02) for social support. Net values of objective support score and usage of support were 0·25 and 0·19, respectively, after intervention. There were significant differences in physiological function, role physical, general health, vitality, social function, mental health, health transition and total score of quality of life (all p < 0·05). The canonical correlation analysis of net values of social support and QOL indicated that the first and second canonical correlation were statistically significant, with correlation coefficients of 0·53 (p = 0·00) and 0·21 (p = 0·04).

Conclusion

Social support and care intervention model can effectively improve perceived subjective feeling on social support and QOL condition for People Living with HIV/AIDS. And strategies to improve social support and care intervention programmes are strongly encouraged.

Relevance to clinical practice

The method is simple and cost‐effective and could be a way to improve the quality of life condition for People Living with HIV/AIDS.
Striving for balance between caring and restraint: young adults' experiences with parental multiple sclerosis
Authors: Moberg Julie Y , Larsen Dorte , Brødsgaard Anne
Published: September 2016

Aims and objectives

To explore and describe how young adults between 18–25 years of age experienced growing up with a parent with multiple sclerosis and how these experiences continue to influence their daily lives.

Background

Chronic parental illness is occurring in about 10% of families worldwide, but little is known about how the children experience growing up with a parent with multiple sclerosis during their childhood and into young adulthood.

Design

We chose a qualitative design using a phenomenological approach based on Giorgi.

Methods

Exploratory and open‐ended interviews with 14 young adults were conducted.

Results

The essence of the phenomenon of having a parent with multiple sclerosis was synthesized into ‘Striving for balance between caring and restraint’ from two themes ‘caring’ and ‘restraint’ and eight subthemes. Participants’ experiences of caring for parents with multiple sclerosis continued influencing their other close relationships, in which they tended to assume responsibility while concealing some of their feelings and desires. Most participants showed restraint among parents with and without multiple sclerosis, friends and partners.

Conclusion

It seems that one of the greatest challenges of having a parent with multiple sclerosis is achieving a balance between caring for others and asserting one's own desires.

Relevance to clinical practice

Healthcare professionals can support the family by encouraging family members to participate in consultations and to assist the parents in providing information about multiple sclerosis and its symptoms to the children. Parents might need assistance in applying for help with domestic chores or referrals to support groups for their children or other family members.
Prior uterine bleeding is associated with low visibility due to discolored amniotic fluid on fetoscopic laser photocoagulation
Authors: Yamamoto Ryo , Ishii Keisuke , Mabuchi Aki , Oota Shiyo , Haino Kazufumi , Hayashi Shusaku , Kanagawa Takeshi , Mitsusda Nobuaki
Published: September 2016

Aim

To investigate the association between uterine bleeding preceding fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (FLP) and the presence of discolored amniotic fluid that impedes FLP.

Methods

A retrospective review of all multiple gestations requiring FLP at the present institution was conducted. The rate of low visibility because of discolored amniotic fluid at the beginning of FLP was compared between patients with and without a history of uterine bleeding, defined as either genital bleeding or ultrasonographically detected subchorionic hematoma.

Results

The prevalence of low visibility because of discolored amniotic fluid was 4.5% (seven in 156 patients). Two of the seven cases of low visibility resulted in double fetal death. The incidence of low visibility was significantly higher in the group with uterine bleeding before surgery compared with that without bleeding (28.6% vs 0.74%, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Patients with a history of uterine bleeding prior to FLP may encounter more technical difficulties owing to discolored amniotic fluid during FLP.
Health‐Related Parenting Among U.S. Families and Young Children's Physical Health
Authors: Augustine Jennifer March , Prickett Kate C. , Kimbro Rachel Tolbert
Published: September 2016

Parenting is a constellation of behaviors, yet investigations of the link between parenting and children's health typically focus on singular behaviors. Thus, patterns of health‐related parenting among U.S. families, associations between patterns and children's physical health, and the prevalence of such patterns among different sociodemographic groups remain unknown. Applying latent class analysis to the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study–Birth Cohort (2001; N = 8,550) revealed 6 parenting patterns. The pattern characterized by high levels of television watching was associated with the worst overall health; the pattern characterized by the highest consumption of food and amount of outdoor play was linked to the highest odds of obesity. Children of less‐educated mothers and Black mothers were more likely to experience both of these patterns than the patterns associated with the best child health, but these patterns did not differ for Hispanics (vs. Whites). Income differences only appeared for patterns associated with children's general health.
Influence of red blood cell aggregation on perfusion of an artificial microvascular network
Authors: Reinhart Walter H. , Piety Nathaniel Z. , Shevkoplyas Sergey S.
Published: September 2016

Objective

RBCs suspended in plasma form multicellular aggregates under low‐flow conditions, increasing apparent blood viscosity at low shear rates. It has previously been unclear, however, if RBC aggregation affects microvascular perfusion. Here, we analyzed the impact of RBC aggregation on perfusion and ‘capillary’ hematocrit in an AMVN at driving pressures ranging from 5 to 60 cm H2O to determine if aggregation could improve tissue oxygenation.

Methods

RBCs were suspended at 30% hematocrit in either 46.5 g/L dextran 40 (D40, non‐aggregating medium) or 35 g/L dextran 70 (D70, aggregating medium) solutions with equal viscosity.

Results

Aggregation was readily observed in the AMVN for RBCs suspended in D70 at driving pressures ≤40 cm H2O. The AMVN perfusion rate was the same for RBCs suspended in aggregating and non‐aggregating medium, at both ‘venular’ and ‘capillary’ level. Estimated ‘capillary’ hematocrit was higher for D70 suspensions than for D40 suspensions at intermediate driving pressures (5–40 cm H2O).

Conclusions

We conclude that although RBC aggregation did not affect the AMVN perfusion rate independently of the driving pressure, a higher hematocrit in the ‘capillaries’ of the network for D70 suspensions suggested a better oxygen transport capacity in the presence of RBC aggregation.
Resistance to citrus canker induced by a variant of Xanthomonas citri ssp. citri is associated with a hypersensitive cell death response involving autophagy‐associated vacuolar processes
Authors: Roeschlin Roxana A. , Favaro María A. , Chiesa María A. , Alemano Sergio , Vojnov Adrián A. , Castagnaro Atilio P. , Filippone María P. , Gmitter Frederick G. , Gadea José , Marano María R.
Published: September 2016

Xanthomonas citri ssp. citri (X. citri) is the causal agent of Asiatic citrus canker, a disease that seriously affects most commercially important Citrus species worldwide. We have identified previously a natural variant, X. citri AT, that triggers a host‐specific defence response in Citrus limon. However, the mechanisms involved in this canker disease resistance are unknown. In this work, the defence response induced by X. citri AT was assessed by transcriptomic, physiological and ultrastructural analyses, and the effects on bacterial biofilm formation were monitored in parallel. We show that X. citri AT triggers a hypersensitive response associated with the interference of biofilm development and arrest of bacterial growth in C. limon. This plant response involves an extensive transcriptional reprogramming, setting in motion cell wall reinforcement, the oxidative burst and the accumulation of salicylic acid (SA) and phenolic compounds. Ultrastructural analyses revealed subcellular changes involving the activation of autophagy‐associated vacuolar processes. Our findings show the activation of SA‐dependent defence in response to X. citri AT and suggest a coordinated regulation between the SA and flavonoid pathways, which is associated with autophagy mechanisms that control pathogen invasion in C. limon. Furthermore, this defence response protects C. limon plants from disease on subsequent challenges by pathogenic X. citri. This knowledge will allow the rational exploitation of the plant immune system as a biotechnological approach for the management of the disease.
Population structure and genetic diversity of Lithocarpus litseifolius (Fagaceae) assessed using microsatellite markers
Authors: Cheng Jin , Lyu Li‐Sha , Shen Ying‐Bai , Li Kai‐Xiang , Liu Zhong‐Hua , Wang Wei‐Xia , Xie Lei
Published: September 2016

Lithocarpus litseifolius (Fagaceae), known as tree of Chinese sweet tea, is a native commercial plant distributed in south China and adjacent areas. This study used ten microsatellite markers to investigate the genetic variation and population structure of 11 populations of L. litseifolius from the main production regions in China. All of the tested loci proved to be effective for the species. The number of alleles per locus ranged between 3 and 39, and mean observed and expected heterozygosity was 0.43 and 0.52, respectively. The deficiency in heterozygosity may be the result of human interference and harvesting activities. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that most of the variation was within populations, whereas differentiation among populations was insignificant, and that there was no significant correlation between genetic distance and geographic distance (r = 0.4089, p = 0.9940). However, A Bayesian model‐based analysis sorted all 11 populations into two (when k = 2) or three (when k = 3) clusters with higher probabilities and showed a geographical pattern which is probably related to the topography of China. Our results provide important information for protecting, sustainably using, and improving the current resources of L. litseifolius.
Assemblages of native bryophytes in secondary forests with introducedQuercus rubra
Authors: Woziwoda Beata , Staniaszek‐Kik Monika , Stefańska‐Krzaczek Ewa
Published: September 2016

We have studied the diversity of bryophytes in planted Polish post‐agricultural forests dominated by the native Scots pinePinus sylvestrisand the alien (North American) red oakQuercus rubra. The planted sites would be suitable for a mesic coniferous forest (abbreviation: CFS) or mesic broadleaved forest (abbreviation: BFS). We analysed the structure and composition of the bryophyte assemblages in relation to forest site and substrate availability. Special attention was paid to the introducedQ. rubraas a host species for native bryophytes.

A total of 54 bryophyte species (9 liverworts and 45 mosses) were found in the 90 plots ( = phytosociological relevés, 10 × 10 m in area; 45 at each forest site) studied. DCA analysis showed that the bryophyte assemblages of theP. sylvestris–Q. rubrasecondary forest community differed significantly between CFS and BFS sites; the similarity of the composition of bryophyte species was 36.8%. The substrate preferences (epigeic, epixylic, epiphytic), as well as the growth form and life form of the recorded bryophytes, also differed between CFS and BFS, while the proportion of bryophytes that had a particular life strategy was very similar.

The introducedQ. rubrawas inhabited by 28 bryophyte species, including two liverworts. This tree hosted 64% of the CFS and 47% of BFS bryophyte flora and as a host for epiphytes the species successfully fulfilled the functional role of the native oaks (Q. roburandQ. petraea). Thus, the introduction ofQ. rubramay contribute to the restoration of post‐agricultural forests and to the conservation of epiphytic bryophyte species. On the other hand, the negative impact ofQ. rubraobserved on the ground flora (including bryophytes) puts the benefits ofQ. rubrafor the conservation of native biodiversity in general in question.
Pyrus cordifolia sp. nov. and two new records of Pyrus (Rosaceae) from Iran
Authors: Zamani A. , Attar F. , Civeyrel L. , Akopian J. A.
Published: September 2016

A new species, namely Pyrus cordifolia (P. sect. Pashia) is described as new to science, and two new records including P. tamamschianiae (P. sect. Pyrus) and P. theodorovii var. latifolia (P. sect. Argyromalon) are reported for the flora of Iran. These taxa are compared with their closest relatives. Photographs and a distribution map of these taxa as well as an illustration of the new species are presented. An identification key to members of P. sect. Pashia in Iran is provided.