bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Long‐term safety and efficacy of deferasirox in young pediatric patients with transfusional hemosiderosis: Results from a 5­year observational study (ENTRUST)
Authors: Vichinsky Elliott , El‐Beshlawy Amal , Al Zoebie Azzam , Kamdem Annie , Koussa Suzanne , Chotsampancharoen Thirachit , Bruederle Andreas , Gilotti Geralyn , Han Jackie , Elalfy Mohsen
Published: March 2017

Background

Children with red blood cell disorders may receive regular transfusions from an early age and consequently accumulate iron. Adequate iron chelation therapy can prevent organ damage and delayed growth/development. Deferasirox is indicated for treatment of pediatric patients with chronic iron overload due to transfusional hemosiderosis; however, fewer than 10% of patients in the registration studies were aged 2 to less than 6 years.

Procedure

Deferasirox, a once‐daily oral iron chelator, was evaluated in young pediatric patients with transfusional hemosiderosis during the observational 5‐year ENTRUST study. Patients aged 2 to less than 6 years at enrollment received deferasirox according to local prescribing information, with the primary objective of evaluating safety, specifically renal and hepatic function. Serum ferritin was observed as a surrogate efficacy parameter.

Results

In total, 267 patients (mean age 3.2 years) predominantly with β‐thalassemia (n = 176, 65.9%) were enrolled. Mean ± standard deviation deferasirox dose was 25.8 ± 6.5 mg/kg per day over a median of 59.9 months. A total of 145 patients (54.3%) completed 5 years’ treatment. The proportion of patients with two or more consecutive postbaseline measurements (≥7 days apart) of serum creatinine higher than age‐adjusted upper limit of normal (ULN) and alanine aminotransferase more than five times the ULN was 4.4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.1–7.9) and 4.0% (95% CI: 1.8–7.4), respectively. Median serum ferritin decreased from 1,702 ng/ml at baseline to 1,127 ng/ml at 5 years. There were no new safety signals.

Conclusions

Safety and efficacy of deferasirox in young pediatric patients in this long‐term, observational study in everyday clinical practice were consistent with the known deferasirox profile.
Optoelectronic properties of doped hydrothermal ZnO thin films
Authors: Mughal Asad J. , Carberry Benjamin , Oh Sang Ho , Myzaferi Anisa , Speck James S. , Nakamura Shuji , DenBaars Steven P.
Published: March 2017

Group III impurity doped ZnO thin films were deposited on MgAl2O3 substrates using a simple low temperature two‐step deposition method involving atomic layer deposition and hydrothermal epitaxy. Films with varying concentrations of either Al, Ga, or In were evaluated for their optoelectronic properties. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy was used to determine the concentration of dopants within the ZnO films. While Al and Ga‐doped films showed linear incorporation rates with the addition of precursors salts in the hydrothermal growth solution, In‐doped films were shown to saturate at relatively low concentrations. It was found that Ga‐doped films showed the best performance in terms of electrical resistivity and optical absorbance when compared to those doped with In or Al, with a resistivity as low as 1.9 mΩ cm and an optical absorption coefficient of 441 cm−1 at 450 nm.
Controllability of multi‐agent systems under directed topology
Authors: Guan Yongqiang , Ji Zhijian , Zhang Lin , Wang Long
Published: March 2017

In this paper, the controllability of multi‐agent systems is studied under leader‐follower framework, where the interconnection between agents is directed. The concept of leader‐follower connectedness is first introduced for directed graph to check controllability, and some graph‐theoretic conditions are derived for constructively designed topologies. Then, distance partition and almost equitable partition are employed to quantitatively study the controllable subspaces. Moreover, the relationship between the state invariance of multi‐agent systems and the existence of almost equitable partition is discussed. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Targeted Genome Engineering to Control VEGF Expression in Human Umbilical Cord Blood-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells: Potential Implications for the Treatment of Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Cho Hyun-Min , Kim Pyung-Hwan , Chang Hyun-Kyung , Shen Yi-ming , Bonsra Kwaku , Kang Byung-Jae , Yum Soo-Young , Kim Joo-Hyun , Lee So-Yeong , Choi Min-cheol , Kim Hyongbum (Henry) , Jang Goo , Cho Je-Yoel
Published: March 2017

Human umbilical cord blood-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCB-MSCs) exhibit potency for the regeneration of infarcted hearts. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is capable of inducing angiogenesis and can boost stem cell-based therapeutic effects. However, high levels of VEGF can cause abnormal blood vessel growth and hemangiomas. Thus, a controllable system to induce therapeutic levels of VEGF is required for cell therapy. We generated an inducible VEGF-secreting stem cell (VEGF/hUCB-MSC) that controls the expression of VEGF and tested the therapeutic efficacy in rat myocardial infarction (MI) model to apply functional stem cells to MI. To introduce the inducible VEGF gene cassette into a safe harbor site of the hUCB-MSC chromosome, the transcription activator-like effector nucleases system was used. After confirming the integration of the cassette into the locus, VEGF secretion in physiological concentration from VEGF/hUCB-MSCs after doxycycline (Dox) induction was proved in conditioned media. VEGF secretion was detected in mice implanted with VEGF/hUCB-MSCs grown via a cell sheet system. Vessel formation was induced in mice transplanted with Matrigel containing VEGF/hUCB-MSCs treated with Dox. Moreover, seeding of the VEGF/hUCB-MSCs onto the cardiac patch significantly improved the left ventricle ejection fraction and fractional shortening in a rat MI model upon VEGF induction. Induced VEGF/hUCB-MSC patches significantly decreased the MI size and fibrosis and increased muscle thickness, suggesting improved survival of cardiomyocytes and protection from MI damage. These results suggest that our inducible VEGF-secreting stem cell system is an effective therapeutic approach for the treatment of MI.
E‐Skills and the Adoption of Cloud Computing
Authors: Hadhri Walid , Maherzi Téja , Youssef Adel Ben
Published: March 2017

This paper presents preliminary results for the determinants of Cloud Computing (CC) adoption by Tunisian firms. Based on the responses to a face‐to‐face questionnaire administered to a random sample of 350 Tunisian firms, and using a Logit model, our empirical study provides four preliminary results. Firstly, the adoption of CC depends firm size and firm employees skilled in working with information and communication technologies. Secondly, we find that there is a competition effect. The more that competitors adopt this innovation, the more that the firm adopts it. Thirdly, adoption of CC is pushed by the perceived cost reducing aspect of CC technology. Our study confirms that this cost reducing aspect is important in the case of Tunisia. Fourthly, the main disadvantage of CC is its perceived complexity. CC is a new technology and there is little information on its uses and benefits; most Tunisian firms perceive it to be a complex technology. We also offer some implications for policy and managers. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Multicenter screening for pre‐eclampsia by maternal factors and biomarkers at 11–13 weeks' gestation: comparison with NICE guidelines and ACOG recommendations
Authors: O'Gorman N. , Wright D. , Poon L. C. , Rolnik D. L. , Syngelaki A. , de Alvarado M. , Carbone I. F. , Dutemeyer V. , Fiolna M. , Frick A. , Karagiotis N. , Mastrodima S. , de Paco Matallana C. , Papaioannou G. , Pazos A. , Plasencia W. , Nicolaides K. H.
Published: March 2017

Objective

To compare the performance of screening for pre‐eclampsia (PE) based on risk factors from medical history, as recommended by NICE and ACOG, with the method proposed by The Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF), which uses Bayes' theorem to combine the a‐priori risk from maternal factors, derived by a multivariable logistic model, with the results of various combinations of biophysical and biochemical measurements.

Methods

This was a prospective multicenter study of screening for PE in 8775 singleton pregnancies at 11–13 weeks' gestation. A previously published FMF algorithm was used for the calculation of patient‐specific risk of PE in each individual. The detection rates (DRs) and false‐positive rates (FPRs) for delivery with PE < 32, < 37 and ≥ 37 weeks were estimated and compared with those derived from application of NICE guidelines and ACOG recommendations. According to NICE, all high‐risk pregnancies should be offered low‐dose aspirin. According to ACOG, use of aspirin should be reserved for women with a history of PE in at least two previous pregnancies or PE requiring delivery < 34 weeks' gestation.

Results

In the study population, 239 (2.7%) cases developed PE, of which 17 (0.2%), 59 (0.7%) and 180 (2.1%) developed PE < 32, < 37 and ≥ 37 weeks, respectively. Screening with use of the FMF algorithm based on a combination of maternal factors, mean arterial pressure (MAP), uterine artery pulsatility index (UtA‐PI) and serum placental growth factor (PlGF) detected 100% (95% CI, 80–100%) of PE < 32 weeks, 75% (95% CI, 62–85%) of PE < 37 weeks and 43% (95% CI, 35–50%) of PE ≥ 37 weeks, at a 10.0% FPR. Screening with use of NICE guidelines detected 41% (95% CI, 18–67%) of PE < 32 weeks, 39% (95% CI, 27–53%) of PE < 37 weeks and 34% (95% CI, 27–41%) of PE ≥ 37 weeks, at 10.2% FPR. Screening with use of ACOG recommendations detected 94% (95% CI, 71–100%) of PE < 32 weeks, 90% (95% CI, 79–96%) of PE < 37 weeks and 89% (95% CI, 84–94%) of PE ≥ 37 weeks, at 64.2% FPR. Screening based on the ACOG recommendations for use of aspirin detected 6% (95% CI, 1–27%) of PE < 32 weeks, 5% (95% CI, 2–14%) of PE < 37 weeks and 2% (95% CI, 0.3–5%) of PE ≥ 37 weeks, at 0.2% FPR.

Conclusion

Performance of screening for PE at 11–13 weeks' gestation by the FMF algorithm using a combination of maternal factors, MAP, UtA‐PI and PlGF, is by far superior to the methods recommended by NICE and ACOG. Copyright © 2017 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
An artificial neural network‐based condition monitoring method for wind turbines, with application to the monitoring of the gearbox
Authors: Bangalore P. , Letzgus S. , Karlsson D. , Patriksson M.
Published: March 2017

Major failures in wind turbines are expensive to repair and cause loss of revenue due to long downtime. Condition‐based maintenance, which provides a possibility to reduce maintenance cost, has been made possible because of the successful application of various condition monitoring systems in wind turbines. New methods to improve the condition monitoring system are continuously being developed. Monitoring based on data stored in the supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system in wind turbines has received attention recently. Artificial neural networks (ANNs) have proved to be a powerful tool for SCADA‐based condition monitoring applications. This paper first gives an overview of the most important publications that discuss the application of ANN for condition monitoring in wind turbines. The knowledge from these publications is utilized and developed further with a focus on two areas: the data preprocessing and the data post‐processing. Methods for filtering of data are presented, which ensure that the ANN models are trained on the data representing the true normal operating conditions of the wind turbine. A method to overcome the errors from the ANN models due to discontinuity in SCADA data is presented. Furthermore, a method utilizing the Mahalanobis distance is presented, which improves the anomaly detection by considering the correlation between ANN model errors and the operating condition. Finally, the proposed method is applied to case studies with failures in wind turbine gearboxes. The results of the application illustrate the advantages and limitations of the proposed method. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pioneering medical advances through nanofluidic implantable technologies
Authors: Hood R. Lyle , Hood Gold Darr , Ferrari Mauro , Grattoni Alessandro
Published: March 2017

Nanofluidic implantables represent a recent advance in a broad effort for developing personalized, point‐of‐care medical technologies. Such systems have unprecedented potential when matched with the newest developments in robotics, microprocessing, and tissue engineering. In this review, we present their emergence in medicine within the fields of diagnostics, biosensing, therapeutics, and theranostics. Discussion includes current limitations and future directions for these systems, as commensurate advances in power density and electronic processing are continually redefining the possible. As the research and funding attention coincide with complementary technological breakthroughs, the field is expected to grow into an advanced toolset for preserving human health. WIREs Nanomed Nanobiotechnol 2017, 9:e1455. doi: 10.1002/wnan.1455

This article is categorized under:

Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies

Diagnostic Tools > In Vivo Nanodiagnostics and Imaging

Implantable Materials and Surgical Technologies > Nanomaterials and Implants
At the Heart of the Pregnancy: What Prenatal and Cardiovascular Genetic Counselors Need to Know about Maternal Heart Disease
Authors: Morales Ana , Allain Dawn C. , Arscott Patricia , James Emily , MacCarrick Gretchen , Murray Brittney , Tichnell Crystal , Shikany Amy R. , Spencer Sara , Fitzgerald‐Butt Sara M. , Kushner Jessica D. , Munn Christi , Smith Emily , Spoonamore Katherine G. , Tandri Harikrishna S. , Kay W. Aaron
Published: March 2017

In the last decade, an increasing number of cardiac conditions have been shown to have a genetic basis. Cardiovascular genetic counseling has emerged as a subspecialty aiming to identify unaffected at‐risk individuals. An important sector of this at‐risk population also includes expectant mothers, in whom unique clinical challenges may arise. Genetic counselors, especially those in cardiovascular and prenatal settings, have an opportunity to identify and assist women who may benefit from cardiovascular care during pregnancy. This paper provides basic management and genetic evaluation principles for affected women, as well as guidance on identifying those who are at risk. We provide considerations for cardiac surveillance in pregnancy and the post‐partum period. Finally, key psychosocial issues that appraise how to best provide support to at risk women as they make informed decisions are discussed. We propose that a team approach including cardiology, maternal fetal medicine, and genetic counseling best serves this patient population. Ongoing questions addressing an evidence based approach to cardiovascular genetic conditions in pregnancy still remain. Thus, well‐designed research protocols are essential to mark progress in this area.
In vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetics and metabolism of synthetic cannabinoids CUMYL-PICA and 5F-CUMYL-PICA
Authors: Kevin Richard C. , Lefever Timothy W. , Snyder Rodney W. , Patel Purvi R. , Fennell Timothy R. , Wiley Jenny L. , McGregor Iain S. , Thomas Brian F.
Published: March 2017

CUMYL-PICA [1-pentyl-N-(2-phenylpropan-2-yl)-1H-indole-3-carboxamide] and 5F-CUMYL-PICA [1-(5-fluoropentyl)-N-(2-phenylpropan-2-yl)-1H-indole-3-carboxamide] are recently identified recreationally used/abused synthetic cannabinoids, but have uncharacterized pharmacokinetic profiles and metabolic processes. This study characterized clearance and metabolism of these compounds by human and rat liver microsomes and hepatocytes, and then compared these parameters with in vivo rat plasma and urine sampling. It also evaluated hypothermia, a characteristic cannabimimetic effect. Incubation of CUMYL-PICA and 5F-CUMYL-PICA with rat and human liver microsomes suggested rapid metabolic clearance, but in vivo metabolism was prolonged, such that parent compounds remained detectable in rat plasma 24 h post-dosing. At 3 mg/kg (intraperitoneally), both compounds produced moderate hypothermic effects. Twenty-eight metabolites were tentatively identified for CUMYL-PICA and, coincidentally, 28 metabolites for 5F-CUMYL-PICA, primarily consisting of phase I oxidative transformations and phase II glucuronidation. The primary metabolic pathways for both compounds resulted in the formation of identical metabolites following terminal hydroxylation or dealkylation of the N-pentyl chain for CUMYL-PICA or of the 5-fluoropentyl chain for 5F-CUMYL-PICA. These data provide evidence that in vivo elimination of CUMYL-PICA, 5F-CUMYL-PICA and other synthetic cannabinoids is delayed compared to in vitro modeling, possibly due to sequestration into adipose tissue. Additionally, the present data underscore the need for careful selection of metabolites as analytical targets to distinguish between closely related synthetic cannabinoids in forensic settings.
Munda mimetic reduplication
Authors: Phillips Jacob B. , Harrison K. David
Published: March 2017

The Munda languages of South Asia exhibit sound symbolism in their use of mimetic reduplication, to which they devote a surprisingly large percentage of their lexicons, typically upwards of ten percent. We present an extensive empirical typology of mimetic reduplication in seven Munda languages: Ho, Kera Mundari, Kharia, Mundari, Remo (Bondo), Santali, and Sora (Savara). Munda Mimetic forms can depict sensory qualities of sound, space, movement, texture, smell, taste, temperature, feelings, and sensations. The typology of mimetic reduplication in Munda varies across syntactic class, semantic domain and phonological form. This can shed light on the breadth of diverse structures in Munda languages, and may also be extrapolated to other languages and other examinations of reduplication and/or mimesis. This work provides a wealth of data to researchers of mimesis and reduplication, challenging the definition of what it means for forms to be sound-symbolic or reduplicated.
Mentoring for early-career women in health research: the HIGHER Women Consortium approach
Authors: Kwedi Nolna S. K. , Essama Mekongo P. E. , Leke R. G. F.
Published: March 2017

Attracting and retaining women in health research is crucial as it will maximize creativity and innovation as well as increase gender competency and expertise in the field. To help address the gender gap in the research for health field in Cameroon, some women research scientists formed the Higher Institute for Growth in HEalth Research for Women (HIGHER Women) consortium to support and encourage the growth of women research scientists through a training institute with a Mentor–Protégé Program (MPP). The consortium set up a MPP aiming at providing professional guidance to facilitate protégés' growth and emergence in health research. The consortium has conducted two workshops aiming at increasing the early-career women's skills needed to launch their career and focusing on proposal writing with the aim of producing a fundable project. Since 2015, the consortium has brought together approximately 100 women comprising of 80 protégés. The most significant outcome is in the protégés' feedback from their annual evaluations. The protégés are now more likely to submit abstracts and attend international conferences. Some grants have been obtained as a result of the working relationship with mentors. The HIGHER women consortium works to develop a pipeline of women leaders in health research by fostering growth and leadership culture through their MPP.
Nonlinear mode interactions in a counter-rotating split-cylinder flow
Authors: Gutierrez-Castillo Paloma , Lopez Juan M.
Published: March 2017

The flow in a split cylinder with each half in exact counter rotation is studied numerically. The exact counter rotation, quantified by a Reynolds number $\mathit{Re}$ based on the rotation rate and radius, imparts the system with an $O(2)$ symmetry (invariance to azimuthal rotations as well as to an involution consisting of a reflection about the mid-plane composed with a reflection about any meridional plane). The $O(2)$ symmetric basic state is dominated by a shear layer at the mid-plane separating the two counter-rotating bodies of fluid, created by the opposite-signed vortex lines emanating from the two endwalls being bent to meet at the split in the sidewall. With the exact counter rotation, the additional involution symmetry allows for steady non-axisymmetric states, that exist as a group orbit. Different members of the group simply correspond to different azimuthal orientations of the same flow structure. Steady states with azimuthal wavenumber $m$ (the value of $m$ depending on the cylinder aspect ratio $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}$) are the primary modes of instability as $\mathit{Re}$ and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D6E4}$ are varied. Mode competition between different steady states ensues, and further bifurcations lead to a variety of different time-dependent states, including rotating waves, direction-reversing waves, as well as a number of slow–fast pulse waves with a variety of spatio-temporal symmetries. Further from the primary instabilities, the competition between the vortex lines from each half-cylinder settles on either a $m=2$ steady state or a limit cycle state with a half-period-flip spatio-temporal symmetry. By computing in symmetric subspaces as well as in the full space, we are able to unravel many details of the dynamics involved.
Big Questions and Big Data: A Reply from the Collaboratory
Authors: Hofmeester Karin , Moll-Murata Christine
Published: March 2017

In our reply to Elise van Nederveen Meerkerk’s “Big Questions and Big Data: The Role of Labour and Labour Relations in Recent Global Economic History”, we focus on her observations on the Global Collaboratory on the History of Labour Relations. We endorse many of her suggestions to connect global labour and economic history and to regard labour relations not only as a dependent variable. In fact, as the examples from various Collab workshops and publications show, some of these ideas are already being put into practice. These examples also show that if we seriously want to combine global labour and economic history data and join the debate on the growth (or decrease) in social inequality, workers’ individual and collective agency must be taken on board. Finally, we argue that global labour and economic historians can benefit most from each other’s disciplines by truly working together in collaborative projects, developing new theories, perhaps less grand than those with which economic historians attract so much attention, but more profound.
China–HP-SSST: Last Part of Growing Pains?
Authors: AHN DUKGEUN , ZANARDI MAURIZIO
Published: March 2017

In December 2012, Japan requested the establishment of a World Trade Organization (WTO) Panel regarding antidumping (AD) duties that China had imposed on high-performance stainless steel seamless tubes (HP-SSST). The European Union joined as a complainant in June 2013. To some degree, this dispute follows earlier ones involving China, as similar procedural and substantial issues were raised in previous cases. However, this was the first time that the WTO Panel rejected some important claims, only for those decisions to be reversed by the Appellate Body. Now that various rulings have clarified these legal issues, it remains to be seen if HP-SSST represents the last part of growing pains for Chinese authorities to learn about AD legal procedures.
US–COOL Retaliation: The WTO's Article 22.6 Arbitration
Authors: BOWN CHAD P. , BREWSTER RACHEL
Published: March 2017

This paper examines the World Trade Organization's Article 22.6 arbitration report on the dispute over the United States’ country of origin labeling (US–COOL) regulation for meat products. At prior phases of the legal process, a WTO Panel and the Appellate Body had sided with Canada and Mexico by finding that the US regulation had negatively affected their exports of livestock – cattle and hogs – to the US market. The arbitrators authorized Canada and Mexico to retaliate by over $1 billion against US exports – the second largest authorized retaliation on record and only the twelfth WTO dispute to reach the stage of an arbitration report. Our legal–economic analysis focuses on several issues in the arbitration report. First, the complainants requested that, to compute the permissible retaliation limit, the arbitrators consider a new formula that would include the effects of domestic price suppression. We present a simple, economics-based model to explain the arbitrators’ rejection of this proposal. Second, we provide market context for the $1 billion finding. The arbitrators relied on the trade effects’ formula, which sets the retaliation limit as equivalent to the perceived loss of export revenue from the WTO violation. We argue that this amount was implausibly large, given the conditions in the US market for cattle and hogs during this period. We then describe the challenges facing arbitrators as they construct such estimates, including those likely to have arisen in this dispute.
Diagnostik und Therapie von Suizidalität im Jugendalter: Das Wichtigste in Kürze aus den aktuellen Leitlinien
Authors: Becker Katja , Adam Hubertus , In-Albon Tina , Kaess Michael , Kapusta Nestor , Plener Paul L. , für die Leitliniengruppe
Published: March 2017

Zusammenfassung. Aufgrund der klinischen Relevanz von suizidalen Krisen, Suizidversuchen und Suiziden im Jugendalter wurde eine konsensusbasierte Leitlinie als Handlungsempfehlung erstellt. Jede Andeutung in Richtung Suizidalität muss ernst genommen werden. Suizidalität ist ein zentraler Bestandteil des psychopathologischen Befunds und Patienten sollten gezielt auf kurz- und langfristige Suizidgefährdung exploriert werden. Eine klinische Einschätzung des akuten Suizidrisikos ergibt sich aus einem vertrauensvollen anamnestischen Gespräch, der Erhebung von Risikofaktoren und dem Erfassen von psychischen Störungen sowie von Suchtmittelkonsum. Bei akuter Selbstgefährdung besteht eine Indikation zur stationären Behandlung, die zum Schutz des Patienten notfalls auch gegen dessen Willen umgesetzt werden muss. Eine adäquate Dokumentation ist unumgänglich. Nach einem Suizidversuch ist neben der fachärztlichen medizinischen Erstversorgung darauf zu achten, dass der Patient sich nicht schaden kann und rasch ein Konsil in der akutversorgenden Klinik erfolgt. Erstes therapeutisches Ziel ist die Reduktion der Suizidalität und ggf. das Wiedererreichen der Absprachefähigkeit. Für wiederkehrende Suizidgedanken ist ein Notfallplan zu erstellen. Zur Entlastung kann zusätzlich zu Gesprächsangeboten vorübergehend eine sedierende Medikation notwendig werden. Im Falle eines Suizids in einer Klinik sollte ein Handlungsleitfaden vorliegen, der die Zuständigkeiten und Abläufe genau regelt und festhält. Wirksame präventive Maßnahmen sind Schulungen von Multiplikatoren, Aufklärungskampagnen, Einschränkung der Verfügbarkeit von Suizidmethoden und die Einhaltung der Richtlinien zur Suizidberichterstattung.
Ein kurzer Leistungstest zur Erfassung von Störungen des Gedächtnisses und der Aufmerksamkeit
Authors: Stemmler Mark , Lehfeld Hartmut , Siebert Jelena , Horn Ralf
Published: March 2017

Zusammenfassung. Der SKT nach Hellmut Erzigkeit ist ein kurzer Leistungstest zur Erfassung von Störungen des Gedächtnisses und der Aufmerksamkeit. Er wurde mithilfe eines regressionsbasierten Ansatzes nach Zachary und Gorsuch (1985) neunormiert (SKT Edition Manual 2015). Dieses war notwendig geworden, weil zum einen die letzte Normierung leicht veraltet ist, und zum anderen weil Berichte aus der Praxis vermehrt gezeigt haben, dass die alte Normierung im Bereich der beginnenden kognitiven Veränderungen zu ungenau ausfiel. Für die Neunormierung wurden 2 Datensätze verwendet (eine Stichprobe von N = 1 053 gesunden Menschen und eine klinische Stichprobe N = 930 inklusive Demenzdiagnosen). Die Stichprobe gesunder älterer Menschen diente der Berechnung von Soll-Leistungen in den Subtests. Subtrahiert man die gemessene Ist-Leistung einer neuen Testperson von deren Soll-Leistung und teilt diese Differenz durch den Standardfehler der Leistungen einer neuen Testperson (siehe Crawford & Garthwaite, 2006 ), dann entsteht eine t-Verteilung. Diese t-Verteilung ist symmetrisch um den Wert 0 verteilt; die oberen Prozentränge repräsentieren mehr Soll- als Ist-Leistungen (positive Werte für die Differenz). Die unteren Prozentränge repräsentieren schlechte Leistungen, da hier die Ist-Leistung geringer ausfällt als die Soll-Leistung (d. h. es entstehen hier negative Werte für die Differenz zwischen Ist- und Soll-Leistungen). Große negative Differenzen zwischen Ist- und Soll-Leistungen werden mit Abweichungspunkten bewertet und über alle 9 Subtests zu einem SKT-Gesamtwert aufsummiert. Die klinische Stichprobe diente der Ermittlung von Cut-Offs im Rahmen des SKT-Gesamtwertes. Der regressionsbasierte Normierungsansatz wird ausführlich beschrieben und als nützliche Alternative zum klassischen Normierungsansatz dargestellt.
Entwicklung und Validierung der Online-Privatheitskompetenzskala (OPLIS)
Authors: Masur Philipp K. , Teutsch Doris , Trepte Sabine
Published: March 2017

Zusammenfassung. Online-Privatheitskompetenz gilt in der medienpsychologischen Forschung als wichtiger Einflussfaktor auf das Privatheitsverhalten in Online-Umgebungen. Eine Skala zur Erfassung dieser Kompetenz fehlt jedoch. Ziel dieser Arbeit war entsprechend die Entwicklung und Validierung einer umfassenden Skala zur Messung von Online-Privatheitskompetenz. In Vorarbeiten wurden anhand einer qualitativen Inhaltsanalyse die Dimensionen des Konstrukts identifiziert ( Trepte et al., 2015 ). Darauf aufbauend wurde aus 113 Wissensfragen eine aus 20 Fragen bestehende Skala entwickelt, die vier Wissensbereiche abdeckt: Wissen über 1) institutionelle Praktiken, 2) technische Aspekte des Datenschutzes, 3) Datenschutzrecht und 4) Datenschutzstrategien. Die Ergebnisse von drei konsekutiven Studien sprechen für ein Bi-Faktor-Modell, wobei der globale Faktor die Online-Privatheitskompetenz widerspiegelt. Die Konstrukt- und Kriteriumsvalidität wurde anhand einer Quotenstichprobe deutscher Internetnutzender (N = 1 945) überprüft: Der globale Faktor korrelierte positiv mit der subjektiven Kompetenzeinschätzung der Probandinnen und Probanden und erwies sich als angemessener Prädiktor für die Umsetzung unterschiedlicher Datenschutzmaßnahmen.
Hohenheimer Inventar zum Politikwissen (HIP)
Authors: Trepte Sabine , Loy Laura , Schmitt Josephine B. , Otto Siegmar
Published: March 2017

Zusammenfassung. Politisches Wissen der Bürgerinnen und Bürger gilt als wesentlich für die Handlungsfähigkeit einer Demokratie und wird intensiv erforscht. Derzeit liegt jedoch kein Messinstrument vor, das theoretisch hergeleitet relevante Dimensionen des politischen Wissens diagnostiziert und frei für Forschungszwecke verfügbar ist. Wir entwickelten daher auf Basis des Rasch-Modells das Hohenheimer Inventar zum Politikwissen (HIP) mit den Dimensionen a) Grundlagen (staatliche Strukturen und historische Fakten) und b) Aktuelles (Themen und Akteure aus verschiedenen Politikfeldern). In einer deutschlandweiten Online-Befragung (N = 1 082) ergaben sich zufriedenstellende weighted-mean-square (WMNSQ)-infit-Werte der 85 Items (0.82 ≤ x ≤ 1.24) und eine expected-a-posteriori/plausible-values (EAP/PV)-Reliabilität von .92 für das eindimensionale Modell und von jeweils .91 für beide Dimensionen. Eine Validierung der Skala zeigte, dass die Personenwerte mit politischem Interesse, politischer Partizipation, politischer Informationsnutzung (Kriteriumsvalidierung) sowie dem subjektiven Wissen der Befragten (konvergente Konstruktvalidierung) zusammenhingen. Wir diskutieren die Herausforderung, die Dimension Aktuelles an sich verändernde politische Gegebenheiten anzupassen, sowie weitere Schritte der Skalenvalidierung.
The Measure Matters
Authors: Altmann Tobias , Liebe Nico , Schönefeld Victoria , Roth Marcus
Published: March 2017

Abstract. Several inventories have been developed to measure sensation seeking (SS), and each of these inventories has been based on an individual theoretical concept of the construct. However, most studies assessing SS disregarded the large theoretical diversity and have treated the measures as interchangeable. The goal of this research was to identify common and distinctive dimensions of SS across the different measures. Subsequent goals were to reveal similarities and differences in what is measured by the various subscales, to provide differential correlates of these dimensions, and thereby to analyze which of the subscales can or should not be used interchangeably. We administered the five most relevant SS measures ( Sensation Seeking-Scales Form V [SSS-V], Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking [AISS], Need Inventory of Sensation Seeking [NISS], the Impulsive Sensation Seeking [ImpSS] scale, and the Novelty Seeking scale) to a sample of adolescents ( N = 318) in a cross-sectional design. Second-order factor analyses of the measures’ subscales revealed three distinct facets: impulsive sensation seeking, intensity seeking, and stimulation seeking. The specific correlational patterns between the facets and external measures of impulsiveness, the Big Five, and social desirability supported the factorial differentiation. We characterize the necessary distinctions between the facets of the SS measures and recommend to not use them interchangeably. The best indicators of each SS measurement facet are discussed.
Habitat-specific patterns and drivers of bacterial β-diversity in China’s drylands
Authors: Wang Xiao-Bo , Lü Xiao-Tao , Yao Jing , Wang Zheng-Wen , Deng Ye , Cheng Wei-Xin , Zhou Ji-Zhong , Han Xing-Guo
Published: March 2017

The existence of biogeographic patterns among most free-living microbial taxa has been well established, yet little is known about the underlying mechanisms that shape these patterns. Here, we examined soil bacterial β-diversity across different habitats in the drylands of northern China. We evaluated the relative importance of environmental factors versus geographic distance to a distance–decay relationship, which would be explained by the relative effect of basic ecological processes recognized as drivers of diversity patterns in macrobial theoretical models such as selection and dispersal. Although the similarity of bacterial communities significantly declined with increasing geographic distance, the distance–decay slope and the relative importance of factors driving distance–decay patterns varied across different habitats. A strong distance–decay relationship was observed in the alpine grassland, where the community similarity was influenced only by the environmental factors. In contrast, geographic distance was solely responsible for community similarity in the desert. Even the average compositional similarity among locations in the desert was distinctly lower compared with those in other habitats. We found no evidence that dispersal limitation strongly influenced the β-diversity of bacterial communities in the desert grassland and typical grassland. Together, our results provide robust evidence of habitat specificity for microbial diversity patterns and their underlying drivers. Our findings suggest that microorganisms also have multiple drivers of diversity patterns and some of which may be parallel to some fundamental processes for explaining biodiversity patterns in macroorganisms.
Impact of water heater temperature setting and water use frequency on the building plumbing microbiome
Authors: Ji Pan , Rhoads William J , Edwards Marc A , Pruden Amy
Published: March 2017

Hot water plumbing is an important conduit of microbes into the indoor environment and can increase risk of opportunistic pathogens (for example, Legionella pneumophila). We examined the combined effects of water heater temperature (39, 42, 48, 51 and 58 °C), pipe orientation (upward/downward), and water use frequency (21, 3 and 1 flush per week) on the microbial composition at the tap using a pilot-scale pipe rig. 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing indicated that bulk water and corresponding biofilm typically had distinct taxonomic compositions (R2Adonis=0.246, PAdonis=0.001), yet similar predicted functions based on PICRUSt analysis (R2Adonis=0.087, PAdonis=0.001). Although a prior study had identified 51 °C under low water use frequency to enrich Legionella at the tap, here we reveal that 51 °C is also a threshold above which there are marked effects of the combined influences of temperature, pipe orientation, and use frequency on taxonomic and functional composition. A positive association was noted between relative abundances of Legionella and mitochondrial DNA of Vermamoeba, a genus of amoebae that can enhance virulence and facilitate replication of some pathogens. This study takes a step towards intentional control of the plumbing microbiome and highlights the importance of microbial ecology in governing pathogen proliferation.
Lnc-mg is a long non-coding RNA that promotes myogenesis
Authors: Zhu Mu , Liu Jiafan , Xiao Jia , Yang Li , Cai Mingxiang , Shen Hongyu , Chen Xiaojia , Ma Yi , Hu Sumin , Wang Zuolin , Hong An , Li Yingxian , Sun Yao , Wang Xiaogang
Published: March 2017

Recent studies indicate important roles for long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) as essential regulators of myogenesis and adult skeletal muscle regeneration. However, the specific roles of lncRNAs in myogenic differentiation of adult skeletal muscle stem cells and myogenesis are still largely unknown. Here we identify a lncRNA that is specifically enriched in skeletal muscle (myogenesis-associated lncRNA, in short, lnc-mg). In mice, conditional knockout of lnc-mg in skeletal muscle results in muscle atrophy and the loss of muscular endurance during exercise. Alternatively, skeletal muscle-specific overexpression of lnc-mg promotes muscle hypertrophy. In vitro analysis of primary skeletal muscle cells shows that lnc-mg increases gradually during myogenic differentiation and its overexpression improves cell differentiation. Mechanistically, lnc-mg promotes myogenesis, by functioning as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for microRNA-125b to control protein abundance of insulin-like growth factor 2. These findings identify lnc-mg as a novel noncoding regulator for muscle cell differentiation and skeletal muscle development.
Effects of high-intensity interval training and moderate-intensity continuous training on glycaemic control and skeletal muscle mitochondrial function in db/db mice
Authors: Chavanelle Vivien , Boisseau Nathalie , Otero Yolanda F , Combaret Lydie , Dardevet Dominique , Montaurier Christophe , Delcros Geoffrey , Peltier Sébastien L , Sirvent Pascal
Published: March 2017

Physical activity is known as an effective strategy for prevention and treatment of Type 2 Diabetes. The aim of this work was to compare the effects of a traditional Moderate Intensity Continuous Training (MICT) with a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function in diabetic mice. Diabetic db/db male mice (N = 25) aged 6 weeks were subdivided into MICT, HIIT or control (CON) group. Animals in the training groups ran on a treadmill 5 days/week during 10 weeks. MICT group ran for 80 min (0° slope) at 50–60% of maximal speed (Vmax) reached during an incremental test. HIIT group ran thirteen times 4 minutes (20° slope) at 85–90% of Vmax separated by 2-min-rest periods. HIIT lowered fasting glycaemia and HbA1c compared with CON group (p < 0.05). In all mitochondrial function markers assessed, no differences were noted between the three groups except for total amount of electron transport chain proteins, slightly increased in the HIIT group vs CON. Western blot analysis revealed a significant increase of muscle Glut4 content (about 2 fold) and higher insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation ratios in HIIT group. HIIT seems to improve glucose metabolism more efficiently than MICT in diabetic mice by mechanisms independent of mitochondrial adaptations.
Age and Surgical Complexity impact on Renoprotection by Remote Ischemic Preconditioning during Adult Cardiac Surgery: A Meta analysis
Authors: Zhou Chenghui , Bulluck Heerajnarain , Fang Nengxin , Li Lihuan , Hausenloy Derek J.
Published: March 2017

We aimed to conduct an up-to-date meta-analysis to comprehensively assess the renoprotective effect of remote ischemic preconditioning (RIPC) in patients undergoing adult cardiac surgery. 21 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with a total of 6302 patients were selected and identified. Compared with controls, RIPC significantly reduced the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) [odds ratio (OR) = 0.79; P = 0.02; I2 = 38%], and in particular, AKI stage I (OR = 0.65; P = 0.01; I2 = 55%). RIPC significantly shortened mechanical ventilation (MV) duration [weighted mean difference (WMD) = −0.79 hours; P = 0.002; I2 = 53%), and reduced intensive care unit (ICU) stay (WMD = −0.23 days; P = 0.07; I2 = 96%). Univariate meta-regression analyses showed that the major sources of heterogeneity for AKI stage I were age (coefficient = 0.06; P = 0.01; adjusted R2 = 0.86) and proportion of complex surgery (coefficient = 0.02; P = 0.03; adjusted R2 = 0.81). Subsequent multivariate regression and subgroup analyses also confirmed these results. The present meta-analysis suggests that RIPC reduces the incidence of AKI in adults undergoing cardiac surgery and this benefit was more pronounced in younger patients undergoing non-complex cardiac surgery. RIPC may also shorten MV duration and ICU stay. Future RCTs tailored for those most likely to benefit from RIPC warrants further investigation.
Formyl peptide receptors promotes neural differentiation in mouse neural stem cells by ROS generation and regulation of PI3K-AKT signaling
Authors: Zhang Liang , Wang Guan , Chen Xingxing , Xue Xin , Guo Qiaonan , Liu Mingyong , Zhao Jianhua
Published: March 2017

This study aimed to determine whether formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) regulated the differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs). FPRs promote the migration of NSCs bothin vitroandin vivo. However, the role of FPRs during differentiation of NSCs is unknown. Analysis by Western blot showed significantly increased expression of FPR1 and FPR2 during differentiation of NSCs. The activation of FPRs promotes NSCs to differentiate into neurons with more primary neurites and branch points and longer neurites per cell. Meanwhile, this activation also inhibits the differentiation of NSC into astrocytes. This bidirectional effect can be inhibited by the FPRs-specific inhibitor. Moreover, it was found that the activation of FPRs increased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and phosphorylation of AKT in the NSCs, whileN-acetylcysteine and LY294002 inhibited the FPRs-stimulated increase in ROS generation and AKT phosphorylation, and blocked the FPRs-stimulated neural differentiation into neurons. Therefore, FPRs-stimulated neural differentiation was mediated via ROS and PI3K-AKTsignaling pathways. Collectively, the present findings provided a novel insight into the functional role of FPRs in neurogenesis, with important implications for its potential use as a candidate for treating brain or spinal cord injury.
Influence of dairy by-product waste milk on the microbiomes of different gastrointestinal tract components in pre-weaned dairy calves
Authors: Deng Y. F. , Wang Y. J. , Zou Y. , Azarfar A. , Wei X. L. , Ji S. K. , Zhang J. , Wu Z. H. , Wang S. X. , Dong S. Z. , Xu Y. , Shao D. F. , Xiao J. X. , Yang K. L. , Cao Z. J. , Li S. L.
Published: March 2017

The community structure of colonised bacteria in the gastrointestinal tracts (GITs) of pre-weaned calves is affected by extrinsic factors, such as the genetics and diet of the calves; however, the dietary impact is not fully understood and warrants further research. Our study revealed that a total of 6, 5, 2 and 10 bacterial genera showed biologically significant differences in the GITs of pre-weaned calves fed four waste-milk diets: acidified waste milk, pasteurised waste milk, untreated bulk milk, and untreated waste milk, respectively. Specifically, generic biomarkers were observed in the rumen (e.g.,Bifidobacterium, Parabacteroides, Fibrobacter, Clostridium, etc.), caecum (e.g.,Faecalibacterium, Oxalobacter, Odoribacter, etc.) and colon (e.g.,Megamonas, Comamonas, Stenotrophomonas, etc.) but not in the faeces. In addition, the predicted metabolic pathways showed that the expression of genes related to metabolic diseases was increased in the calves fed untreated waste milk, which indicated that untreated waste milk is not a suitable liquid diet for pre-weaned calves. This is the first study to demonstrate how different types of waste milk fed to pre-weaned calves affect the community structure of colonised bacteria, and the results may provide insights for the intentional adjustment of diets and gastrointestinal bacterial communities.
Bacterial persistence induced by salicylate via reactive oxygen species
Authors: Wang Tiebin , El Meouche Imane , Dunlop Mary J.
Published: March 2017

Persisters are phenotypic variants of regular cells that exist in a dormant state with low metabolic activity, allowing them to exhibit high tolerance to antibiotics. Despite increasing recognition of their role in chronic and recalcitrant infections, the mechanisms that induce persister formation are not fully understood. In this study, we find that salicylate can induce persister formation in Escherichia coli via generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Salicylate-induced ROS cause a decrease in the membrane potential, reduce metabolism and lead to an increase in persistence. These effects can be recovered by culturing cells in the presence of a ROS quencher or in an anaerobic environment. Our findings reveal that salicylate-induced oxidative stress can lead to persistence, suggesting that ROS, and their subsequent impact on membrane potential and metabolism, may play a broad role in persister formation.
Atmospheric Pressure Chemical Ionization Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry for the Analysis of Selected Emerging Brominated Flame Retardants in Foods
Authors: Lv Surong , Niu Yumin , Zhang Jing , Shao Bing , Du Zhenxia
Published: March 2017

Emerging brominated flame retardants (eBFRs) other than polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs) and their derivatives in foods have been in focus in recent years due to their increasing production volumes, indefinite information on toxicities and the lack of data on occurrence in environments, foods as well as humans. In this study, gas chromatography was coupled to an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (APGC-MS/MS) for the analysis of six eBFRs in pork, chicken, egg, milk and fish. A short section of unpacked capillary column coupled to the end of the analytical column was applied to improve the chromatographic behaviors of high boiling point compounds. The method was comprehensively validated with method limit of quantification (mLOQ) lower than 8 pg/g wet weight (w.w.). Samples from Chinese Total Diet study were quantified following the validated APGC-MS/MS method. 2,3,4,5-pentabromo-6-ethylbenzene (PBEB), hexabromobenzene (HBB), pentabromotoluene (PBT) and 1,2-bis(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy)ethane (BTBPE) were most frequently detected in samples. The highest concentration was found in fish with 351.9 pg/g w.w. of PBT. This is the first report on the presence of PBT in food samples with non-ignorable concentrations and detection rate.