bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mass Continuous Suture versus Layered Interrupted Suture in Transverse Abdominal Incision Closure after Liver Resection
Authors: Zhang Jing , Zhang Hong‐Ke , Zhu Hao‐Yang , Lu Jian‐Wen , Lu Qiang , Ren Yi‐Fan , Liu Chang , Dong Jian , Du Zhao‐Qing , Liu Xue‐Min , Wu Zheng , Lv Yi , Zhang Xu‐Feng
Published: July 2016

Background

Abdominal incision closure technique seriously influences patient prognosis. Most studies have focused on the different suture techniques and materials on midline incision, while little data are available in wide transverse or oblique incisions after liver resection (LR). The aim of the present study is to compare the two major incision suture methods after LR in our institute: Mass continuous suture (group P) and layered interrupted suture (group S).

Study design

258 patients undergoing LR with abdominal transverse or oblique incisions were prospectively enrolled. They were divided into two groups according to different abdominal incision suture methods and compared with the preoperative, intraoperative parameters, and postoperative wound complications.

Results

There were 118 patients in group P and 140 patients in group S, which was similar in general condition, primary disease, liver, and renal function. Incision length, total operation time, intraoperative blood loss, or perioperative antibiotics use were not different between the two groups. However, abdominal incision closure time and interval time for stitches removing after operation was significantly shorter in group P than group S (both p < 0.001). After a median follow‐up of 16 months, the incidence of wound infection and fat liquefaction was more than two times higher in group S than group P, which, however, was not statistically different. Moreover, there was no difference in wound disruption or incisional hernia between the two groups.

Conclusions

Although similar in occurrence of postoperative wound complications, mass continuous suture with polydioxanone seemed to be more timesaving in incision closure and motivated in wound healing.
Metabolic engineering ofAgrobacteriumsp. ATCC31749 for curdlan production from cellobiose
Authors: Shin Hyun-Dong , Liu Long , Kim Mi-Kyoung , Park Yong-Il , Chen Rachel
Published: July 2016

Curdlan is a commercial polysaccharide made by fermentation of Agrobacterium sp. Its anticipated expansion to larger volume markets demands improvement in its production efficiency. Metabolic engineering for strain improvement has so far been limited due to the lack of genetic tools. This research aimed to identify strong promoters and to engineer a strain that converts cellobiose efficiently to curdlan. Three strong promoters were identified and were used to install an energy-efficient cellobiose phosphorolysis mechanism in a curdlan-producing strain. The engineered strains were shown with enhanced ability to utilize cellobiose, resulting in a 2.5-fold increase in titer. The availability of metabolically engineered strain capable of producing β-glucan from cellobiose paves the way for its production from cellulose. The identified native promoters from Agrobacterium open up opportunities for further metabolic engineering for improved production of curdlan and other products. The success shown here marks the first such metabolic engineering effort in this microbe.
Tuning Interfacial Activity of Polymeric Resin–Surfactant/n‐Alcohol Solution Interactions
Authors: Velásquez Ingrid , Muñoz Aaron , Pereira Juan C.
Published: July 2016

Measurements of surface tension were carried out for several aqueous solutions of different amphiphilic systems. This research studied the interaction between two polymeric resins (more structure definition) (PR) and nonyl phenol ethoxylates (NP) with degrees of ethoxylation varying from 10 to 20 ethylene oxide groups. The results show that in mixtures of PR and NP20EO, the adsorption on the surface was lower, with the molecules tending to remain within the liquid. On the other hand, mixtures of PR and NP10EO have resulted in greater surface adsorption. The effect of the added alcohols was to tune the interfacial activity of the PR as function of the PR and alcohol concentrations. The general tendency of the surface tension curves to decrease with increasing PR/alcohol concentration in solutions was not significantly modified with the addition of alcohols; however, the surface tension values changed due to the addition of alcohols and a model is proposed to explain these changes, as they depend on both alcohol chain length and the PR/alcohol concentration. An emulsion stability test was performed on polymeric resins–surfactant systems to determine the correlation between their surface properties. Nonionic surfactants present in these mixtures are mainly responsible for the emulsion stability. It was concluded that mixtures of the less hydrophilic PR (PR_B) with NP10EO have good interfacial properties, including a high interfacial concentration and a low critical micellar concentration.
Effects of parenting quality on adolescents' personality resemblance to their parents. The TRAILS study
Authors: Langenhof M. Rohaa , Komdeur Jan , Oldehinkel Albertine J.
Published: July 2016

This study considers the development of resemblance between 741 adolescents and their biological parents, across six NEO‐PI‐R personality traits known to be important in psychological problems: anger‐hostility, impulsiveness, vulnerability, assertiveness, excitement‐seeking, and self‐discipline. We modelled the association between perceived parental warmth and rejection at age eleven and personality resemblance to parents at about age sixteen. Parenting experienced during early adolescence was related to the degree and direction in which adolescents resembled their parents five years later in life. Rejection, especially from fathers, significantly predicted a smaller resemblance to both the parents. Girls were more strongly affected by parental quality than boys, and there was some indication that adolescents responded in opposite ways to parenting from mothers and fathers. This study is a first step in uncovering the complex interplay between parenting, gender, and the current generation's ability to develop personality traits independent from the previous generation.
Pathophysiologic Determination of Frostbite Under High Altitude Environment Simulation in Sprague-Dawley Rats
Authors: Hu Jie , Li Hua , Geng Xiliang , Jiao Lin , Song Hongping , Lou Lin , Jiao Mingke
Published: July 2016

Objectives

Pathophysiologic changes of frostbite have been postulated but rarely understood, especially the changes caused by chilly high altitude environment. Therefore, we investigated the pathophysiologic changes of high altitude frostbite (HAF) caused by cold and hypoxia.

Methods

Forty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 5 equal groups, namely, control, superficial HAF (S-HAF), partial-thickness HAF (PT-HAF), full-thickness HAF (FT-HAF), and partial-thickness normal frostbite (PT-NF) groups. The S-HAF, PT-HAF, and FT-HAF groups were fed under hypobaric hypoxic conditions simulating an altitude of 5000 m. Then, the PT-NF, S-HAF, PT-HAF, and FT-HAF models were constructed by controlling the duration of the direct freezing by liquid nitrogen. Animal vital signs were measured after the operation, and histopathologic changes were observed after routine hematoxylin and eosin staining. In addition, the microcirculation of frostbite tissues was monitored and compared by contrast ultrasonography during wound healing.

Results

The S-HAF, PT-HAF, and FT-HAF groups showed significant differences in the microcirculatory and histopathologic changes in the various tissue layers ( P < .05). In addition, combined cold and hypoxia caused more damage to frostbite tissue than pure cold. The circulation recovery of HAF models was significantly slower relative to NF models ( P < .05).

Conclusions

A safe and reproducible HAF model was proposed. More important, pathophysiologic determination of HAF provided the foundation and potential for developing novel and effective frostbite therapies.
Electrocardiographic Responses to Deer Hunting in Men and Women
Authors: Verba Steven D. , Jensen Brock T. , Lynn Jeffrey S.
Published: July 2016

Objective

Deer hunting includes various stimuli resulting in augmented sympathetic activity, increased heart rate (HR) response, and rhythm changes. Collectively, these superimposed stresses may increase an individual’s risk for cardiovascular events. We undertook this study to evaluate HR and rhythm responses in multiple phases of deer hunting in men and women with and without cardiovascular disease (CVD).

Methods

Nineteen participants age 38.3 ± 13.8 years (mean ± SD) with body mass index 29.2 ± 6.9 kg/m2 followed their normal hunting routine. HR and rhythm were recorded continuously during the hunt using a small leadless electrocardiogram (ECG) patch monitor.

Results

Data were collected on 13 of 19 hunters while hiking. Three hunters recorded HR ≥85% of their age-predicted heart rate maximum (HRmax) for 1 to 2 minutes. Arrhythmias were detected in both participants with CVD and in 8 without CVD. Recorded rhythms included premature atrial, junctional, and ventricular complexes. Six hunters climbed a tree stand; 3 of them recorded HR ≥85% HRmax with sustained elevated HR response for 2 to 3 minutes with premature junctional contractions. Four of 19 participants dragged deer carcasses. During the drag, 1 male hunter recorded an HR of 91% HRmax, and another male hunter without CVD recorded an exercise-induced ischemic ECG. Fifteen of 19 hunters experienced “buck fever” (acute extreme excitation), with 7 reaching ≥85% HRmax for up to 1 minute. Ventricular bigeminy and trigeminy and ventricular couplets were observed in 1 subject during buck fever.

Conclusions

Men and women with and without CVD recorded substantial increases in HR and clinically relevant arrhythmias while deer hunting.
Epidemiology of Feature-Specific Injuries Sustained by Skiers in a Snow Park
Authors: Carús Luis , Escorihuela María
Published: July 2016

Objective

The objective of the present case series study was to analyze injury types and injured anatomic locations resulting from skiing in snow park (SP) features and to determine potential risk factors for ski injuries in an SP.

Methods

The study was conducted during the 2013–2014 winter season in the SP of a major winter resort located in the Spanish Pyrenees. Cases involved skiers who experienced feature-related injuries in the SP. A total of 113 cases met the inclusion criteria. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds of injury types and injury to anatomic locations on aerial versus nonaerial features.

Results

The overall injury rate was 0.9 per 1000 skier runs. The proportion of injuries was higher for aerials (1.18% of uses) than for nonaerials (0.66% of uses). Results revealed that the upper extremities were the most commonly injured body region, and sprains/strains/dislocations and fractures were the most common injury type.

Conclusions

The most commonly injured anatomic location on nonaerial features was the face, while on aerial features it was the head. A higher proportion of fractures was observed on aerial features, while a higher proportion of sprains/strains/dislocations was observed on nonaerial features. Prevention strategies to reduce injury risk include SP redesign, safety and communication policies, instruction on technical skills, and promotion of the use of protective equipment.
Reliability modelling for rotorcraft component fatigue life prediction with assumed usage
Authors: Dekker S. , Wurzel G. , Alderliesten R.
Published: July 2016

Fatigue life is a random variable. Thus, the reliability of a conservative fatigue life prediction for a component in the helicopter dynamic system needs to be substantiated. A standard analytical substantiation method uses averaged manoeuvre loads instead of seeing manoeuvre loads as a random variable whose distribution is estimated with limited precision. This simplification may lead to inaccuracies. A new simulation-based method is developed to conservatively predict fatigue life, while also accounting for the full random distribution and uncertainty of manoeuvre loads. Both methods fully account for uncertain fatigue strength but assume that the mission profile is known or can at least be conservatively estimated. Simulations under synthetic but realistic engineering conditions demonstrate that both methods may be used for accurate substantiation of conservative fatigue life predictions. The simulations also demonstrate that, under the tested conditions, uncertainties from manoeuvre loads may be neglected in fatigue life substantiations as the resulting error is not significant with respect to uncertainties in component fatigue strength.
Periodic controllers for vibration reduction using actively twisted blades
Authors: Brillante Claudio , Morandini Marco , Mantegazza Paolo
Published: July 2016

This paper compares two periodic control methods, the optimalH2and the periodic static output feedback (POF), to reduce the helicopter rotor vibrations. Actively twisted blades with Macro-Fibre Composite (MFC) piezoelectric actuators are used. The design model is based on a simplified aerodynamic model and on a multi-body model of the Bo 105 isolated rotor with the original blades replaced by actively twisted ones. The performance of the two controllers in alleviating hub loads is verified with improved simulations based on a free-wake model.
THE -INVARIANT AND THOMPSON’S CONJECTURE
Authors: TIEP PHAM HUU
Published: July 2016

In 1981, Thompson proved that, if $n\geqslant 1$ is any integer and $G$ is any finite subgroup of $\text{GL}_{n}(\mathbb{C})$, then $G$ has a semi-invariant of degree at most $4n^{2}$. He conjectured that, in fact, there is a universal constant $C$ such that for any $n\in \mathbb{N}$ and any finite subgroup $G<\text{GL}_{n}(\mathbb{C})$, $G$ has a semi-invariant of degree at most $Cn$. This conjecture would imply that the ${\it\alpha}$-invariant ${\it\alpha}_{G}(\mathbb{P}^{n-1})$, as introduced by Tian in 1987, is at most $C$. We prove Thompson’s conjecture in this paper.
A comparison of undergraduate teaching of psychiatry across medical schools in the Republic of Ireland
Authors: Byrne F. , Murphy R. , O’Rourke L. , Cotter D. , Murphy K. C. , Guerandel A. , Meagher D. , Sweeney E. , Gill M. , Campbell A. , McDonald C. , Hallahan B.
Published: July 2016

Objectives

To examine the delivery and assessment of psychiatry at undergraduate level in the six medical schools in the Republic of Ireland offering a medical degree programme.

Methods

A narrative description of the delivery and assessment of psychiatry at undergraduate level by collaborative senior faculty members from all six universities in Ireland.

Results

Psychiatry is integrated to varying degrees across all medical schools. Clinical experience in general adult psychiatry and sub-specialities is provided by each medical school; however, the duration of clinical attachment varies, and the provision of some sub-specialities (i.e. forensic psychiatry) is dependent on locally available resources. Five medical schools provide ‘live’ large group teaching sessions (lectures), and all medical schools provide an array of small group teaching sessions. Continuous assessment encompasses 10–35% of the total assessment marks, depending on the medical school. Only one medical school does not provide a clinical examination in the form of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination with viva examinations occurring at three medical schools.

Conclusions

Many similarities exist in relation to the delivery of psychiatry at undergraduate level in Ireland. Significant variability exists in relation to assessment with differences in continuous assessment, written and clinical exams and the use of vivas noted. The use of e-learning platforms has increased significantly in recent years, with their role envisaged to include cross-disciplinary teaching sessions and analysis of examinations and individual components within examinations which will help refine future examinations and enable greater sharing of resources between medical schools.
Serotonin and poor neonatal adaptation after antidepressant exposurein utero
Authors: Kieviet Noera , van Keulen Vera , van de Ven Peter Marinus , Dolman Koert Melchior , Deckers Martine , Honig Adriaan
Published: July 2016

Objective

Infants exposed to selective antidepressants (SADs)in uteroare at risk to develop poor neonatal adaptation (PNA)postpartum. As symptoms are non-specific and the aetiology of PNA is unknown, the diagnostic process is hampered. We hypothesised that the serotonin metabolism plays a role in the aetiology of PNA.

Methods

In this controlled study, infants admittedpostpartumfrom February 2012 to August 2013 were included and followed for 3 days. Infants exposed to SADs during at least the last 2 weeks of fetal life were included in the patient group (n=63). Infants not exposed to psychotropic medication and admittedpostpartumfor another reason were included in the control group (n=126). The neonatal urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetid acid (5-HIAA) levels of SAD-exposed infants who developed PNA, SAD-exposed infants who did not develop PNA and control infants were compared.

Results

The course of the 5-HIAA levels over the first 3 dayspostpartumdiffered between infants with and without PNA (p≤0.001) with higher 5-HIAA levels in infants with PNA on day 1 (2.42 mmol/mol,p=0.001). Presence of maternal psychological distress modified this relationship.

Conclusions

A transient disturbance of the neonatal serotonergic system may play a role in the aetiology of PNA. Other factors, including the presence of maternal psychological distress, also seem to play a role.
How to Survey About Electoral Turnout? The Efficacy of the Face-Saving Response Items in 19 Different Contexts
Authors: Morin-Chassé Alexandre , Bol Damien , Stephenson Laura B. , Labbé St-Vincent Simon
Published: July 2016

Researchers studying electoral participation often rely on post-election surveys. However, the reported turnout rate is usually much higher in survey samples than in reality. Survey methodology research has shown that offering abstainers the opportunity to use face-saving response options succeeds at reducing overreporting by a range of 4–8 percentage points. This finding rests on survey experiments conducted in the United States after national elections. We offer a test of the efficacy of the face-saving response items through a series of wording experiments embedded in 19 post-election surveys in Europe and Canada, at four different levels of government. With greater variation in contexts, our analyses reveal a distribution of effect sizes ranging from null to minus 18 percentage points.
Fluctuations of random walk in R
d and storage systems
Authors: Greenwood Priscilla , Shaked Moshe
Published: July 2016

Two Wiener-Hopf type factorization identities for multivariate distributions are introduced. Properties of associated stopping times are derived. The structure that produces one factorization also provides the unique solution of the Wiener-Hopf convolution equation on a convex cone in R

d
. Some applications for multivariate storage and queueing systems are indicated. For a few cases explicit formulas are obtained for the transforms of the associated stopping times. A result of Kemperman is extended.
The suprema of the actual and virtual waiting times during a busy cycle of the K
m/K
n/1 queueing system
Authors: Cohen J. W.
Published: July 2016

For the single server queueing system, whose distributions of service and inter-arrival times have rational Laplace-Stieltjes transforms, limit theorems are derived for the supremum of the virtual waiting time during k successive busy cycles for k→∞. Similarly, for the supremum of the actual waiting times of all customers arriving in k successive busy cycles. Only the cases with the load of the system less than one and equal to one are considered. The limit distributions are extreme value distributions. The results are obtained by first deriving a number of asymptotic expressions for the quantities which govern the analytic description of the system K

m
/K

n
/1. Using these asymptotic relations limit theorems for entrance times can also be obtained, a few examples are given.
Newcastle upon Tyne, 20–21 May 1974
Authors: Besag Julian , Diggle Peter , Ord Keith
Published: July 2016

This meeting was envisaged by the organisers as the first of a continuing series of short, informal conferences within the general area of applied stochastic processes. The twenty-seven participants were drawn mostly from statistics and mathematics departments of British Universities, but also included a small number of biologists and geographers. The meeting was notable for its pleasantly informal atmosphere, and the consequent lively interchange of ideas, although for future meetings in the series a better balance between statisticians and applied scientists should, we feel, be effected.
Conditional probability approach to spatial interaction
Authors: Besag Julian
Published: July 2016

The merits of a conditional probability (or Markovian) approach to the analysis of local spatial interaction lie in its intuitive appeal and its ability to cope with non-Gaussian situations. Whilst relationships between plausible spatial-temporal models and Markov fields may sometimes be obtained, this does not remove the need for a purely spatial approach to be available. In addition to promoting the above point of view, some Monte Carlo simulation results, due to Mr. D. H. Green, were presented. Analytical progress on coding efficiency was reported.
Competition between plants grown in lattice arrangements
Authors: Ford David
Published: July 2016

Intra-specific plant competition has been studied (Ford (1975)) by planting individuals in regular lattice arrangements and then observing during growth both the frequency distributions of plant size and the occurrence of different sized plants across the lattice. Lattice distributions were studied through comparison with direct simulation of the random case and by the method of Krishna-Iyer (1950). A time-lapse film has been produced with one exposure every 10 minutes over a period of 6 weeks, to illustrate plant competition in lattice arrangements.
Some problems in the application of migration models to animal and human populations
Authors: Arnason Neil
Published: July 2016

The migration and death model (Bartlett (1949)) is useful in describing animal movement among distinct areas.
A model for an epidemic occurring in a number of isolated communities
Authors: Woods Tony
Published: July 2016

The model is just the natural extension to n dimensions of the classical model for an epidemic with removals: however, the deterministic version does show a richer variety of threshold behaviour. In the stochastic model, some results will be discussed for the embedded Markov chain, and also a possible control policy involving the removal of entire communities.
Dutch Elm disease data
Authors: Howell Rex
Published: July 2016

Over the last four years the Forestry Commission has conducted sample surveys to estimate the spread of Dutch Elm disease in England and Wales. The data were described and some of the problems of making inferences from them were indicated. These include the definition of an individual elm tree, the two main modes of infection, the complexity of the spatial distribution of elms and the existence of at least two strains of the fungus C. ulmi with different pathogenicity.
Stochastic models of grouping changes
Authors: Morgan Byron
Published: July 2016

For many years animal behaviourists, sociologists and the like have been studying how animals and humans form groups, and how the groups change in time. A brief review was given of some of the models devised for such group changing situations, and some new models were described.
Spatial birth and death processes
Authors: Preston Chris
Published: July 2016

We examine birth and death processes where the birth/death rates depend on the particular configuration of the population. The easiest case is when the configurations form the subsets of some finite lattice (thus the state space is finite). In this case we look at the relationships between time-reversibility, nearest neighbour interactions, and the equilibrium state being a Markov random field. A more interesting case is when the entities which can be born or die can do so at any point in some bounded region of space (or the plane). This gives us a pure jump process, whose general properties are well-known, (see for example, Feller (1966) Vol. II Chapter X.3). We examine some particular examples and compute equilibrium distributions.
PRIVATE COMMERCIAL LAW CONVENTIONS AND PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INTERNATIONAL LAW: THE RADICAL APPROACH OF THE CAPE TOWN CONVENTION 2001 AND ITS PROTOCOLS
Authors: Goode Roy
Published: July 2016

It is a remarkable circumstance that with a few honourable exceptions all writers on international law in general and treaty law in particular focus exclusively on public law treaties. Private law conventions, including those involving commercial law and the conflict of laws, simply do not come into consideration. Yet such conventions, like public law conventions, are treaties between States and are governed by the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties and many of them are of great significance. Their distinguishing feature is, of course, that while only States are parties, private law conventions deal primarily, and often exclusively, with the rights and obligations of non-State parties. So while the treaty is international it does not for the most part commit a Contracting State to any obligation other than that of implementing the treaty in domestic law by whatever method that State's law provides, if it has not already done so prior to ratification.
THE LAW APPLICABLE TO THE ARBITRATION AGREEMENT: TOWARDS TRANSNATIONAL PRINCIPLES
Authors: Nazzini Renato
Published: July 2016

This article examines the problem of the law governing the validity of the arbitration agreement. The cases ofSulaméricain the English Court of Appeal and ofFirstLinkin the High Court of Singapore demonstrate that leading arbitration jurisdictions around the world can come to diametrically opposite results. In particular, there are currently diverging views as to whether the law applicable to the arbitration agreement should be the law chosen by the parties to govern their substantive legal relationship or the law of the seat of the arbitration. The issue is unlikely to be settled soon at international level. However, without embracing extreme approaches that purport to determine the validity of the arbitration agreement without reference to any national legal system, a more ‘transnational’ approach should be encouraged. This may emerge, based on three structured principles which would be desirable for international convergence, namely the non-discrimination principle, the estoppel principle and the validation principle. These principles can be developed without conflicting with the conventional conflicts-of-laws approach which was adopted by the English Court of Appeal inSulamérica.
Distribution and diet of Cyclothone microdon (Gonostomatidae) in a submarine canyon
Authors: Thompson S.E. , Kenchington T.J.
Published: July 2016

The primarily bathypelagic gonostomatid Cyclothone microdon, amongst the most abundant of all vertebrates, remains poorly known. We describe its diet in The Gully, a very large submarine canyon off Nova Scotia, Canada, based on the stomach contents of specimens caught by midwater trawl. In The Gully, C. microdon had a shallower distribution than in open ocean and primarily fed at mesopelagic depths. Most of its diet comprised vertically migrant calanoid copepods, while its secondary prey was conchoeciinid ostracods. Both were typical of the food eaten in other regions by its mesopelagic congeners and were consistent with the results of the only previous dietary study of C. microdon.
Endocrine disruption by dietary phyto-oestrogens: impact on dimorphic sexual systems and behaviours
Authors: Patisaul Heather B.
Published: July 2016

A wide range of health benefits have been ascribed to soya intake including a lowered risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, breast cancer, and menopausal symptoms. Because it is a hormonally active diet, however, soya can also be endocrine disrupting, suggesting that intake has the potential to cause adverse health effects in certain circumstances, particularly when exposure occurs during development. Consequently, the question of whether or not soya phyto-oestrogens are beneficial or harmful to human health is neither straightforward nor universally applicable to all groups. Possible benefits and risks depend on age, health status, and even the presence or absence of specific gut microflora. As global consumption increases, greater awareness and consideration of the endocrine-disrupting properties of soya by nutrition specialists and other health practitioners is needed. Consumption by infants and small children is of particular concern because their hormone-sensitive organs, including the brain and reproductive system, are still undergoing sexual differentiation and maturation. Thus, their susceptibility to the endocrine-disrupting activities of soya phyto-oestrogens may be especially high. As oestrogen receptor partial agonists with molecular and cellular properties similar to anthropogenic endocrine disruptors such as bisphenol A, the soya phyto-oestrogens provide an interesting model for how attitudes about what is ‘synthetic’ v. what is ‘natural,’ shapes understanding and perception of what it means for a compound to be endocrine disrupting and/or potentially harmful. This review describes the endocrine-disrupting properties of soya phyto-oestrogens with a focus on neuroendocrine development and behaviour.
Application of network analysis to identify interactive systems of eating disorder psychopathology
Authors: Forbush K. T. , Siew C. S. Q. , Vitevitch M. S.
Published: July 2016

Background

Traditional approaches for the classification of eating disorders (EDs) attribute symptoms to an underlying, latent disease entity. The network approach is an alternative model in which mental disorders are represented as networks of interacting, self-reinforcing symptoms. This project was the first to use network analysis to identify interconnected systems of ED symptoms.

Method

Adult participants (n = 143; 77.6% women) with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) ED were recruited from the community to take part in a larger ongoing longitudinal study. The Structured Clinical Interview for DSM Disorders (SCID-I) was used to establish diagnoses. An undirected network of ED symptoms was created using items from the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (EPSI) and the R package qgraph.

Results

Body checking emerged as the strongest and most important single symptom in the entire network by having the shortest average distance to other symptoms in the network, and by being the most frequent symptom on the path between any two other symptoms. Feeling the need to exercise every day and two symptoms assessing dietary restraint/restricting emerged as ‘key players’, such that their removal from the network resulted in maximal fracturing of the network into smaller components.

Conclusions

Although cognitive–behavioral therapy for EDs focuses on reducing body checking to promote recovery, our data indicate that amplified efforts to address body checking may produce stronger (and more enduring) effects. Finally, results of the ‘key players analysis’ suggested that targeting interventions at these key nodes might prevent or slow the cascade of symptoms through the ‘network’ of ED psychopathology.
Stealing Knowledge in a Landscape of Learning: Conceptualizations of Jazz Education
Authors: Bjerstedt Sven
Published: July 2016

Theoretical approaches to learning in practice-based jazz improvisation contexts include situated learning and ecological perspectives. This article focuses on how interest-driven, self-sustaining jazz learning activities can be matched against the concepts of stolen knowledge (Brown & Duguid, 1996) and landscape of learning (Bjerstedt, 2014). Based on an extensive interview study with Swedish professional jazz musicians, it argues that the multidirectedness involved in jazz improvisational practice calls for a rich learning ecology framework including several didactic loci.
NEW NAMES IN THE ‘CYNOGLOSSUM MONTANUM GROUP’ (BORAGINACEAE) IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AREA
Authors: Sutorý K.
Published: July 2016

Two new names and one new combination are created in the artificial Cynoglossum montanum group (Boraginaceae – Cynoglosseae): Cynoglossum natolicum (Bornm.) Sutorý and Cynoglossum brandii Sutorý from the Eastern Mediterranean, and Cynoglossum maghrebicum Sutorý from Morocco and Algeria. All taxa are discussed, their lectotypes are designated and their distributions are outlined.
Timing of adding blood to prime affects inflammatory response to neonatal cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Schmidt Benjamin S. , Jordan James E. , Lane Magan R. , DiPasquale Vanessa M. , Graf Lori P. , Ootaki Yoshio , Ungerleider Ross M.
Published: July 2016

Complications from systemic inflammation are reported in neonates following exposure to cardiopulmonary bypass. Although the use of asanguinous primes can reduce these complications, in neonates, this can result in significant haemodilution, requiring addition of blood. This study investigates whether the addition of blood after institution of bypass alters the inflammatory response compared with a blood prime. Neonatal swine were randomised into four groups: blood prime, blood after bypass but before cooling, blood after cooling but before low flow, and blood after re-warming. All groups were placed on central bypass, cooled, underwent low flow, and then re-warmed for a total bypass time of 2 hours. Although haematocrit values between groups varied throughout bypass, all groups ended with a similar value. Although they spent time with a lower haematocrit, asanguinous prime groups did not have elevated lactate levels at the end of bypass compared with blood prime. Asanguinous primes released less tumour necrosis factor α than blood primes (p=0.023). Asanguinous primes with blood added on bypass produced less interleukin 10 and tumour necrosis factor α (p=0.006, 0.019). Animals receiving blood while cool also showed less interleukin 10 and tumour necrosis factor α production than those that received blood warm (p=0.026, 0.033). Asanguinous primes exhibited less oedema than blood primes, with the least body weight gain noted in the end cool group (p=0.011). This study suggests that using an asanguinous prime for neonates being cooled to deep hypothermia is practical, and the later addition of blood reduces inflammation.
A SPECTRAL CHARACTERIZATION OF OPERATORS
Authors: PANDEY SATISH K. , PAULSEN VERN I.
Published: July 2016

We establish a spectral characterization theorem for the operators on complex Hilbert spaces of arbitrary dimensions that attain their norm on every closed subspace. The class of these operators is not closed under addition. Nevertheless, we prove that the intersection of these operators with the positive operators forms a proper cone in the real Banach space of hermitian operators.
Male Interviewers’ Nonverbal Dominance Predicts Lower Evaluations of Female Applicants in Simulated Job Interviews
Authors: Latu Ioana M. , Schmid Mast Marianne
Published: July 2016

Abstract. Using the theoretical framework of circumplex models, we investigated how the actual nonverbal behaviors of interviewers can hinder female applicants’ performance in simulated job interviews. Fifty-seven dyads conducted mock job interviews for a managerial position. Applicants were always women, whereas interviewers were either men or women. Interviewers’ nonverbal dominance (visual dominance, speaking interruptions) and friendliness (smiling, nodding) were coded based on videotapes. Male interviewers’ dominance (but not friendliness) predicted lower self-evaluations of female applicants and lower evaluations made by the interviewers. Female interviewers’ nonverbal behavior did not predict outcomes. Implications for the advancement of women in the workplace are discussed, such as the importance of acknowledging and changing nonverbal dynamics to improve women’s performance in job interviews.
Exoplanet Found in Curious Triple-Star System
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: July 2016

The newly discovered planet balances precariously in orbit within the star system, puzzling scientists.
Differential specificity between closely related corals and abundant Endozoicomonas endosymbionts across global scales
Authors: Neave Matthew J , Rachmawati Rita , Xun Liping , Michell Craig T , Bourne David G , Apprill Amy , Voolstra Christian R
Published: July 2016

Reef-building corals are well regarded not only for their obligate association with endosymbiotic algae, but also with prokaryotic symbionts, the specificity of which remains elusive. To identify the central microbial symbionts of corals, their specificity across species and conservation over geographic regions, we sequenced partial SSU ribosomal RNA genes of Bacteria and Archaea from the common corals Stylophora pistillata and Pocillopora verrucosa across 28 reefs within seven major geographical regions. We demonstrate that both corals harbor Endozoicomonas bacteria as their prevalent symbiont. Importantly, catalyzed reporter deposition–fluorescence in situ hybridization (CARD–FISH) with Endozoicomonas-specific probes confirmed their residence as large aggregations deep within coral tissues. Using fine-scale genotyping techniques and single-cell genomics, we demonstrate that P. verrucosa harbors the same Endozoicomonas, whereas S. pistillata associates with geographically distinct genotypes. This specificity may be shaped by the different reproductive strategies of the hosts, potentially uncovering a pattern of symbiont selection that is linked to life history. Spawning corals such as P. verrucosa acquire prokaryotes from the environment. In contrast, brooding corals such as S. pistillata release symbiont-packed planula larvae, which may explain a strong regional signature in their microbiome. Our work contributes to the factors underlying microbiome specificity and adds detail to coral holobiont functioning.
Disruption of Kcc2-dependent inhibition of olfactory bulb output neurons suggests its importance in odour discrimination
Authors: Gödde Kathrin , Gschwend Olivier , Puchkov Dmytro , Pfeffer Carsten K. , Carleton Alan , Jentsch Thomas J.
Published: July 2016

Synaptic inhibition in the olfactory bulb (OB), the first relay station of olfactory information, is believed to be important for odour discrimination. We interfered with GABAergic inhibition of mitral and tufted cells (M/T cells), the principal neurons of the OB, by disrupting their potassium-chloride cotransporter 2 (Kcc2). Roughly, 70% of mice died around 3 weeks, but surviving mice appeared normal. In these mice, the resulting increase in the intracellular Cl− concentration nearly abolished GABA-induced hyperpolarization of mitral cells (MCs) and unexpectedly increased the number of perisomatic synapses on MCs. In vivo analysis of odorant-induced OB electrical activity revealed increased M/T cell firing rate, altered phasing of action potentials in the breath cycle and disrupted separation of odour-induced M/T cell activity patterns. Mice also demonstrated a severely impaired ability to discriminate chemically similar odorants or odorant mixtures. Our work suggests that precisely tuned GABAergic inhibition onto M/T cells is crucial for M/T cell spike pattern separation needed to distinguish closely similar odours.
Integrative functional genomics identifies regulatory mechanisms at coronary artery disease loci
Authors: Miller Clint L. , Pjanic Milos , Wang Ting , Nguyen Trieu , Cohain Ariella , Lee Jonathan D. , Perisic Ljubica , Hedin Ulf , Kundu Ramendra K. , Majmudar Deshna , Kim Juyong B. , Wang Oliver , Betsholtz Christer , Ruusalepp Arno , Franzén Oscar , Assimes Themistocles L. , Montgomery Stephen B. , Schadt Eric E. , Björkegren Johan L.M. , Quertermous Thomas
Published: July 2016

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of mortality and morbidity, driven by both genetic and environmental risk factors. Meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies have identified >150 loci associated with CAD and myocardial infarction susceptibility in humans. A majority of these variants reside in non-coding regions and are co-inherited with hundreds of candidate regulatory variants, presenting a challenge to elucidate their functions. Herein, we use integrative genomic, epigenomic and transcriptomic profiling of perturbed human coronary artery smooth muscle cells and tissues to begin to identify causal regulatory variation and mechanisms responsible for CAD associations. Using these genome-wide maps, we prioritize 64 candidate variants and perform allele-specific binding and expression analyses at seven top candidate loci: 9p21.3, SMAD3, PDGFD, IL6R, BMP1, CCDC97/TGFB1 and LMOD1. We validate our findings in expression quantitative trait loci cohorts, which together reveal new links between CAD associations and regulatory function in the appropriate disease context.
Total synthesis of atropurpuran
Authors: Gong Jing , Chen Huan , Liu Xiao-Yu , Wang Zhi-Xiu , Nie Wei , Qin Yong
Published: July 2016

Due to their architectural intricacy and biological significance, the synthesis of polycyclic diterpenes and their biogenetically related alkaloids have been the subject of considerable interest over the last few decades, with progress including the impressive synthesis of several elusive targets. Despite tremendous efforts, conquering the unique structural types of this large natural product family remains a long-term challenge. The arcutane diterpenes and related alkaloids, bearing a congested tetracyclo[5.3.3.04,9.04,12]tridecane unit, are included in these unsolved enigmas. Here we report a concise approach to the construction of the core structure of these molecules and the first total synthesis of (±)-atropurpuran. Pivotal features of the synthesis include an oxidative dearomatization/intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition cascade, sequential aldol and ketyl-olefin cyclizations to assemble the highly caged framework, and a chemoselective and stereoselective reduction to install the requisite allylic hydroxyl group in the target molecule.
Fractalkine restores the decreased expression of StAR and progesterone in granulosa cells from patients with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Huang Shuo , Pang Yanli , Yan Jie , Lin Shengli , Zhao Yue , Lei Li , Yan Liying , Li Rong , Ma Caihong , Qiao Jie
Published: July 2016

Low progesterone levels are associated with luteal phase deficiency in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The mechanisms regulating progesterone biosynthesis in the granulosa cells from women with PCOS is largely unknown. Fractalkine is expressed in human ovaries, and is reported to regulate progesterone production in granulosa cells of healthy women. In the current study, we aimed to examine the role of fractalkine in women with PCOS. Reduced fractalkine levels were found in follicular fluid and granulosa cells, accompanied by decreased progesterone production and reduced steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) expression in the granulosa cells of patients with PCOS. Administration of fractalkine reversed the inhibition of progesterone and StAR expression. The mechanism mediating these effects may be associated with the inhibition of ERK activity in the granulosa cells from women with PCOS. Our findings revealed that fractalkine regulated steroidogenesis in follicular granulosa cells of women with PCOS.
In Vivo Investigation of the Effectiveness of a Hyper-viscoelastic Model in Simulating Brain Retraction
Authors: Li Ping , Wang Weiwei , Zhang Chenxi , An Yong , Song Zhijian
Published: July 2016

Intraoperative brain retraction leads to a misalignment between the intraoperative positions of the brain structures and their previous positions, as determined from preoperative images. In vitro swine brain sample uniaxial tests showed that the mechanical response of brain tissue to compression and extension could be described by the hyper-viscoelasticity theory. The brain retraction caused by the mechanical process is a combination of brain tissue compression and extension. In this paper, we first constructed a hyper-viscoelastic framework based on the extended finite element method (XFEM) to simulate intraoperative brain retraction. To explore its effectiveness, we then applied this framework to an in vivo brain retraction simulation. The simulation strictly followed the clinical scenario, in which seven swine were subjected to brain retraction. Our experimental results showed that the hyper-viscoelastic XFEM framework is capable of simulating intraoperative brain retraction and improving the navigation accuracy of an image-guided neurosurgery system (IGNS).
Loss of tumorigenic potential upon transdifferentiation from keratinocytic into melanocytic lineage
Authors: Fehrenbach Sabrina , Novak Daniel , Bernhardt Mathias , Larribere Lionel , Boukamp Petra , Umansky Viktor , Utikal Jochen
Published: July 2016

Lineage-specific transcription factors determine the cell fate during development. Direct conversion of several cell types into other lineages has been achieved by the overexpression of specific transcription factors. Even cancer cells have been demonstrated to be amenable to transdifferentiation. Here, we identified a distinct set of transcription factors, which are sufficient to transform cells of the keratinocytic lineage to melanocyte-like cells. Melanocyte marker expression was induced and melanosome formation was observed in non-tumorigenic keratinocytes (HaCaT) and tumorigenic squamous cell carcinoma (MET-4) cells. Moreover, reduced proliferation, cell metabolism, invasion and migration were measuredin vitroin transdifferentiated MT-MET-4 cells. A loss of tumorigenic potential of squamous cell carcinoma cells could be due to the upregulation of the melanocyte differentiation associated gene IL-24. Our data show that cells from the keratinocytic lineage can be transdifferented into the melanocytic lineage and provide a proof of principle for a potential new therapeutic strategy.
Glucose and Palmitate Differentially Regulate PFKFB3/iPFK2 and Inflammatory Responses in Mouse Intestinal Epithelial Cells
Authors: Botchlett Rachel , Li Honggui , Guo Xin , Qi Ting , Zhao JiaJia , Zheng Juan , Woo Shih-Lung , Pei Ya , Liu Mengyang , Hu Xiang , Chen Guang , Guo Ting , Yang Sijun , Li Qifu , Xiao Xiaoqiu , Huo Yuqing , Wu Chaodong
Published: July 2016

The gene PFKFB3 encodes for inducible 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase, a glycolysis-regulatory enzyme that protects against diet-induced intestine inflammation. However, it is unclear how nutrient overload regulates PFKFB3 expression and inflammatory responses in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). In the present study, primary IECs were isolated from small intestine of C57BL/6J mice fed a low-fat diet (LFD) or high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. Additionally, CMT-93 cells, a cell line for IECs, were cultured in low glucose (LG, 5.5 mmol/L) or high glucose (HG, 27.5 mmol/L) medium and treated with palmitate (50 μmol/L) or bovine serum albumin (BSA) for 24 hr. These cells were analyzed for PFKFB3 and inflammatory markers. Compared with LFD, HFD feeding decreased IEC PFKFB3 expression and increased IEC proinflammatory responses. In CMT-93 cells, HG significantly increased PFKFB3 expression and proinflammatory responses compared with LG. Interestingly, palmitate decreased PFKFB3 expression and increased proinflammatory responses compared with BSA, regardless of glucose concentrations. Furthermore, HG significantly increased PFKFB3 promoter transcription activity compared with LG. Upon PFKFB3 overexpression, proinflammatory responses in CMT-93 cells were decreased. Taken together, these results indicate that in IECs glucose stimulates PFKFB3 expression and palmitate contributes to increased proinflammatory responses. Therefore, PFKFB3 regulates IEC inflammatory status in response to macronutrients.