bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design and baseline characteristics of the Xarelto Post‐Authorization Safety & Effectiveness Study in Japanese Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (XAPASS)
Authors: Ogawa Satoshi , Minematsu Kazuo , Ikeda Takanori , Kitazono Takanari , Nakagawara Jyoji , Miyamoto Susumu , Murakawa Yuji , Ohashi Yohei , Takeichi Makiko , Okayama Yutaka , Yamanaka Satoshi , Inuyama Lyo
Published: February 2018

Background

The phase III Japanese Rivaroxaban Once‐Daily Oral Direct Factor Xa Inhibition Compared with Vitamin K Antagonism for Prevention of Stroke and Embolism Trial in Atrial Fibrillation (J‐ROCKET AF) showed that the rivaroxaban group had a lower event rate of intracranial bleeding than the warfarin group and that rivaroxaban was noninferior to warfarin for the principal safety outcome. However, safety and effectiveness data from unselected patients with AF in everyday clinical practice in Japan are lacking.

Methods

The Xarelto Post‐Authorization Safety & Effectiveness Study in Japanese Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (XAPASS) is a real‐world, prospective, single‐arm, observational study mandated by the Japanese authority as postmarketing surveillance. XAPASS involves patients with nonvalvular AF prescribed rivaroxaban. The principal safety outcome is a composite of major and nonmajor bleeding events, and the primary effectiveness outcome is the incidence of ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, noncentral nervous system systemic embolism, and myocardial infarction.

Results

In total, 11 308 patients were enrolled from April 2012 to June 2014. Their age was 73.1 ± 9.9 years, and their CHADS2 score was 2.2 ± 1.3. Female patients, patients aged ≥75 years, patients with a body weight of ≤50 kg, and patients with a creatinine clearance of <50 mL/min constituted 38.1%, 48.7%, 19.5%, and 23.9% of all patients, respectively. Almost half (53.2%) of patients were prescribed other anticoagulants before starting rivaroxaban.

Conclusions

Data from this study will supplement those from the J‐ROCKET AF and provide practical information for the optimal use of rivaroxaban for stroke prevention in Japanese patients with AF (Clinicaltrials.gov: NCT01582737).
Advanced platelet‐rich fibrin and freeze‐dried bone allograft for ridge preservation: A randomized controlled clinical trial
Authors: Clark Daniel , Rajendran Yogalakshmi , Paydar Sarmad , Ho Sunita , Cox Darren , Ryder Mark , Dollard John , Kao Richard T.
Published: February 2018

Background

Advanced platelet‐rich fibrin (A‐PRF) is an autogenous blood product with applications in dento‐alveolar surgery. However, there is minimal information regarding its optimal clinical application or efficacy. The aim of this multi‐arm parallel randomized controlled clinical trial was to evaluate the efficacy of A‐PRF alone or with freeze‐dried bone allograft (FDBA) in improving vital bone formation and alveolar dimensional stability during ridge preservation.

Methods

Forty patients requiring extraction of non‐molar teeth and replacement with dental implants were randomized into one of four ridge preservation approaches: A‐PRF, A‐PRF+FDBA, FDBA, or blood clot. A‐PRF was prepared at 1,300 rpm for 8 minutes. Non‐traumatic extractions and ridge preservation was performed. After an average of 15 weeks healing, bone core samples were harvested at the time of implant placement for micro‐CT and histomorphometric analysis. Ridge dimensions were measured immediately after extraction and before implant placement.

Results

Significantly greater loss of ridge height was noted in the blood clot group (3.8 ± 2.0 mm) compared to A‐PRF (1.8 ± 2.1 mm) and A‐PRF+FDBA (1.0 ± 2.3 mm) groups (P < 0.05). No significant differences in ridge width reduction were noted between groups. Significantly more vital bone was present in the A‐PRF group (46% ± 18%) compared to the FDBA group (29% ± 14%) (P < 0.05). Bone mineral density was significantly greater in the FDBA group (551 ± 58 mg/cm3) compared to blood clot (487 ± 64 mg/cm3) (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates A‐PRF alone or augmented with FDBA is a suitable biomaterial for ridge preservation. This study represents the first randomized controlled clinical trial comparing A‐PRF with and without FDBA to FDBA alone for ridge preservation.
Sodium hydrosulfide modifies the nutrient ratios of soybean (Glycine max) under iron deficiency
Authors: Chen Juan , Shang Yu-Ting , Zhang Ni-Na , Zhong Yangquanwei , Wang Wen-Hua , Zhang Jian-Hua , Shangguan Zhouping
Published: February 2018

Iron (Fe) deficiency in calcareous soils is a major limiting factor which influences production and yield of field crops. The present study investigated the effect of NaHS, a donor of H2S, which is emerging as a potential signaling molecule, on the nutrient ratios of soybean (Glycine maxL.) under Fe deficiency. Soybean seedlings with and without NaHS were subjected to Fe deficiency and Fe sufficiency for 18 d. Subsequently, we determined the biomass of seedlings, chlorophyll concentration, Fe concentration, as well as the ratios of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The growth of soybean seedlings was inhibited by Fe deficiency. However, under Fe deficiency the application of NaHS increased the biomass as well as the Fe, N, P, and K concentrations compared to the controls. Furthermore, our results also show that the application of NaHS affected the ratios of C : N, C : P, C : K, N : P, N : K, and P : K in soybean seedlings under Fe deficiency and sufficiency. H2S played an important role in promoting the growth of soybean seedlings by enhancing the accumulation of nutrients under Fe deficiency.
Special Issue of the Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science “Methodological advances in studying the soil‐plant‐atmosphere gas exchange”
Authors: Maier Martin , Hagemann Ulrike
Published: February 2018

No abstract.
Challenges of identifying unpublished data from clinical trials: Getting the best out of clinical trials registers and other novel sources
Authors: Isojarvi Jaana , Wood Hannah , Lefebvre Carol , Glanville Julie
Published: February 2018

Clinical trial data are essential for assessments of the effectiveness of health care interventions. Information about ongoing or completed, but not yet formally published, trials has been more difficult to identify until the development of clinical trials registers and portals. This paper summarises research evidence on identifying sources of trial data, how and when to search those sources, and which future developments may enhance access to and retrieval of unpublished trial evidence.

We conducted a literature search for relevant studies and provide a narrative review of the evidence from these studies. Clinical trial data can be found in resources including clinical trials registers, regulatory agency sources, health technology assessment websites and manufacturers' websites, and submissions for regulatory approval. The challenges of searching these resources are described. Trials registers are relatively unsophisticated in terms of their search interfaces, and searchers need to adapt to each individual register. There is overlap across registers, but little research on the degree and nature of overlap and how best to search. Despite these challenges, trials registers and other resources can be rich sources of additional unique trial data, which may not be available from journal reports. New initiatives, such as OpenTrials, aim to consolidate and link all structured data and documentation related to clinical trials.

No single resource gives access to all trials, and multiple registers should be searched as sensitively as possible. Searching is challenging and should be adequately resourced. Information specialists should monitor new developments which may reduce the challenges over the coming years.
Direct and Indirect Effects of Perceived Stigma on Posttraumatic Growth in Gay Men and Lesbian Women in Chile
Authors: Cárdenas Manuel , Barrientos Jaime , Meyer Ilan , Gómez Fabiola , Guzmán Mónica , Bahamondes Joaquín
Published: February 2018

This study examined the direct and indirect effects of perceived stigma on posttraumatic growth (PTG) in a sample of gay men and lesbian women in Chile, with coping strategies (positive reappraisal, social support seeking, and active coping strategies) as intermediate variables. Data from 467 gay men (57.4%) and lesbian women (42.6%) were analyzed. A respondent‐driven sampling (RDS) method was used. The hierarchical regression analysis indicated the important predictive role of active coping, β = .23, and positive reappraisal, β = .45, in PTG, R2 = .31, p < .001, f2 = 0.16. Results revealed that, in the presence of positive reappraisal coping as an intermediate variable, partial indirect effects are detected between perceived stigma and PTG. Seeking instrumental social support did not produce indirect effects between perceived stigma and PTG, whereas active coping produced partial indirect effects. These findings suggest that the positive reappraisal of a traumatic experience is essential for reporting personal growth. Implications of these more complex relations for counseling interventions and further research are discussed.
Divergent Response of Murine and Porcine Adipocytes to Stimulation of Browning Genes by 18‐Carbon Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids and Beta‐Receptor Agonists
Authors: Shin Sunhye , Ajuwon Kolapo M.
Published: February 2018

Long‐chain fatty acids (LCFA) are known to activate brown and beige adipocytes. However, very little is known about the effects of the number and the position of double bonds in LCFA with the same length on brown fat‐specific gene expression. To determine the specificity of LCFA in the regulation of these genes in different adipocyte models, fully differentiated 10T1/2, 3T3‐L1, murine, or porcine primary adipocytes (obtained from the subcutaneous fat pad of C57BL/6 mice or Landrace × Yorkshire × Duroc crossbred piglets) were treated with 50 μM of the following 18‐carbon fatty acids: stearic acid (STA; 18:0), oleic acid (OLA; 18:1, Δ9), linoleic acid (LNA; 18:2, Δ9,12), α‐linolenic acid (ALA; 18:3, Δ9,12,15), γ‐linolenic acid (GLA; 18:3, Δ6,9,12), or pinolenic acid (PLA; 18:3, Δ5,9,12) for 24 h with or without 4‐h norepinephrine (NE) treatment. Expression levels of thermoregulatory markers were measured by quantitative real‐time PCR. LNA, ALA, GLA, and PLA upregulated Ucp1 expression and tended to upregulate Pgc1a expression in murine primary adipocytes, but not in 10T1/2, 3T3‐L1, and porcine primary adipocytes. In murine primary adipocytes, NE induced a higher expression of Ucp1 and Pgc1a than non‐NE‐treated cells, and PLA augmented the NE effect. In 10T1/2 cells, NE upregulated Ucp1 and Pgc1a expression, but there was no fatty acid effect. However, 3T3‐L1 cells were insensitive to both fatty acid and beta‐adrenergic agonist stimulation. These results indicate that different adipocyte cell types have different levels of sensitivity to both LCFA and beta agonists in regard to induction of brown fat‐specific gene expression.
Silk Fibroin‐Based Fibrous Anal Fistula Plug with Drug Delivery Function
Authors: Xie Xusheng , Liu Lei , Zheng Zhaozhu , Han Zhifen , Zhi Min , Kaplan David L. , Li Gang , Wang Xiaoqin
Published: February 2018

The aim of this work is to develop a drug‐loaded silk fibroin fibrous membrane (DSFM) that can be attached to the surface of an anal fistula plug to improve the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD). Curcumin (CUR) and 5‐aminosalicylic acid (5‐ASA)‐loaded silk fibroin (SF) membranes are coaxially electrospun onto the surface of a braided silk filament plug. The membranes show a predominant structure of random coil and silk I conformation. The concentration of CUR/5‐ASA (weight ratio of 1/1) in the SF solution is optimized to 0.4, 0.9, and 1.9 wt%. The morphologies, secondary structures, and in vitro drug release properties of the membranes are examined. Sectional images of fibers in the membranes show core–shell structures. The coaxial electrospinning process does not alter the chemical characteristics of the drugs. The dual‐drugs encapsulated in the membranes are released in a steady and sustainable manner, and the cumulative release rate is improved by the increased drug loading. The membranes exhibit no cytotoxicity, thereafter increase the viability of human fibroblasts on the DSFMs. These SF membranes with core–shell structure and functional encapsulation of CUR and 5‐ASA should be useful for further studies toward the treatment of CD.
Accuracy of Two Cognitive Screening Tools to Detect Mild Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Koevoets Emmie W. , Schmand Ben , Geurtsen Gert J.
Published: February 2018

Background

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) who have mild cognitive impairment (PD‐MCI) are at increased risk of developing PD dementia (PDD). Therefore, it is important to identify PD‐MCI in a reliable way.

Objectives

We evaluated the accuracy of the Parkinson's Disease‐Cognitive Rating Scale (PD‐CRS) and the Mattis Dementia Rating Scale‐2 (MDRS‐2) for detecting PD‐MCI. Data from healthy subjects were used to correct for demographic influences.

Methods

We compared the accuracy of the two instruments using ROC analysis. The gold standard was level II diagnosis of PD‐MCI according to consensus criteria of the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Results

Seventy‐five healthy subjects and 125 PD patients were included. Education level, age and sex correlated with the PD‐CRS, but only age correlated with the MDRS‐2. Twenty‐seven percent of the patients had PD‐MCI. Areas under the curve (AUCs) for raw scores of PD‐CRS and MDRS‐2 were 0.83 and 0.81, respectively. At the optimal cut‐off for the PD‐CRS (101/102), sensitivity was 88% and specificity was 64%. For the MDRS‐2 (139/140) sensitivity and specificity were 68% and 79%, respectively.

AUCs for demographically corrected scores of PD‐CRS and for age‐corrected scores of MDRS‐2 were 0.80 and 0.78, respectively. At the optimal cut‐off for the PD‐CRS, sensitivity was 79% and specificity was 72%, while for the MDRS‐2 these were 77% and 67%, respectively.

Conclusions

Both cognitive screening tools are suitable for distinguishing PD‐MCI patients from cognitively intact PD patients. Demographical correction of scores did not improve sensitivity and specificity.
Guideline‐Directed Medical Therapy and Survival Following Hospitalization in Patients with Heart Failure
Authors: Tran Richard H. , Aldemerdash Ahmed , Chang Patricia , Sueta Carla A. , Kaufman Brystana , Asafu‐adjei Josephine , Vardeny Orly , Daubert Eliza , Alburikan Khalid A. , Kucharska‐Newton Anna M. , Stearns Sally C. , Rodgers Jo E.
Published: February 2018

Background

Modification of guideline‐directed medical therapy (GDMT) in hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF) has not been extensively evaluated.

Methods

The community surveillance arm of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study identified 6959 HF hospitalizations from 2005–2011. Predictors of GDMT modification and survival were assessed using multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

For 5091 hospitalizations, patient mean age was 75 years, 53% were female, 69% were white, and 81% had acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Regarding ejection fraction (EF), 31% of patients had HF with reduced EF (HFrEF), 24% had HF with preserved EF (HFpEF), and 44% were missing EF values. At admission, 52% of patients received angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (ACEIs/ARBs), 66% β‐blockers (BBs), 9% aldosterone‐receptor antagonists, 16% digoxin, 10% hydralazine, and 29% nitrates. Modification of GDMT occurred in up to 23% of hospitalizations. Significant predictors of GDMT initiation included ADHF and HFrEF; discontinuation of medications was observed with select comorbidities. In HFrEF, initiation of any GDMT was associated with reduced 1‐year all‐cause mortality (adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 0.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.23–0.71) as was initiation of ACEI/ARBs, BBs, and digoxin. Discontinuation of any therapy versus maintaining GDMT was associated with greater mortality (HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.02–1.66). Similar trends were observed in HFpEF.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that GDMT initiation is associated with increased survival, and discontinuation of therapy is associated with reduced survival in hospitalized patients with HF. Future studies should be conducted to confirm the impact of GDMT therapy modification in this population.
Nussbaum‐type function–based attitude control of spacecraft with actuator saturation
Authors: Hu Qinglei , Shao Xiaodong , Zhang Youmin , Guo Lei
Published: February 2018

This paper investigates the attitude stabilization problem of spacecraft subject to external disturbances and actuator saturation. A novel attitude control scheme is technically proposed by incorporating the Nussbaum gain technique into backstepping design. The key idea behind this is to introduce a special Nussbaum‐type function in order to compensate for the time‐varying nonlinear terms arising from input saturation. By exploiting the dynamic surface control technique, the problem of “explosion of terms” inherent in traditional backstepping designs is effectively eliminated and the computational burden is significantly reduced. Additionally, based on the selected Nussbaum‐type function, a constructive analysis methodology is presented, which plays an important role in analyzing the stability properties of the closed‐loop system. It is then proved that the proposed control scheme can guarantee the boundedness of all closed‐loop signals. Furthermore, the unwinding phenomenon is given a simple and effective remedy by resorting to suitable choices of the attitude error variable and the virtual control law. Finally, simulation experiments are carried out to assess the effectiveness and demonstrate the advantages of the proposed control scheme.
Sliding mode control design using canonical homogeneous norm
Authors: Polyakov Andrey
Published: February 2018

The problem of sliding mode control design for a nonlinear plant is studied. The necessary and sufficient conditions of quadratic‐like stability (stabilizability) for a nonlinear homogeneous (control) system are obtained. Sufficient conditions of robust stability/stabilizability are deduced. The results are supported with academic examples of sliding mode control design.
Ultralong‐Discharge‐Time Biobattery Based on Immobilized Enzymes in Bilayer Rolled‐Up Enzymatic Nanomembranes
Authors: Liu Bo , Yan Chenglin , Si Wenping , Sun Xiaolei , Lu Xueyi , Ansorge‐Schumacher Marion , Schmidt Oliver G.
Published: February 2018

Glucose biofuel cells (GBFCs) are highly promising power sources for implantable biomedical and consumer electronics because they provide a high energy density and safety. However, it remains a great challenge to combine their high power density with reliable long‐term stability. In this study, a novel GBFC design based on the enzyme biocatalysts glucose dehydrogenase, diaphorase, and bilirubin oxidase immobilized in rolled‐up titanium nanomembranes is reported. The setup delivers a maximum areal power density of ≈3.7 mW cm−2 and a stable power output of ≈0.8 mW cm−2. The power discharges over 452 h, which is considerably longer than reported previously. These results demonstrate that the GBFC design is in principle a feasible and effective approach to solve the long‐term discharge challenge for implantable biomedical device applications.
The Perks of Being Peripheral: English Learning and Participation in a Preschool Classroom Network of Practice
Authors: Bernstein Katie A.
Published: February 2018

This study follows four English language learners as they make their way across their first year of pre‐kindergarten in an English‐medium school in the United States. It investigates, first, how each student participated, and was positioned, in the classroom network of practice, and, second, what kinds of English growth each student experienced between the fall and spring. Using a layering of epistemological approaches and methods—including tools from ethnography, discourse analysis, and social network analysis, as well as corpus analyses of students' authentic talk—this study explores the idea that central participation in classroom interaction will lead to greater opportunities to learn and that these opportunities will then translate into language gains. Findings indicate, however, that while centrality and increasingly full participation in the classroom network of practice did mean different ways of interacting, a more central place did not afford greater language growth in measures of vocabulary and syntactic complexity. Additionally, this study found that peripherality offered potential affordances for language learning.
Coaching in Practice‐Based Literacy Education Courses
Authors: Husbye Nicholas E. , Wessel Powell Christy , Vander Zanden Sarah , Karalis Tiffany
Published: February 2018

As teacher education programs shift to more practice‐based methods in the preparation of literacy teachers, the ways in which teacher educators support the learning of their preservice teachers (PSTs) becomes paramount. In an effort to supportPSTs in developing competency in instructional literacy routines, coaching has been found to supportPSTs’ understandings of how to teach for student learning. In this article, three approaches to coaching are explored: rehearsals, a modified behind‐the‐glass approach, and structured video reflection. Drawing from rich examples of practice, attention is paid to the ways each method of coaching supports novice teachers in developing competency and the contexts in which each is used.
“Bridge to the Literature”? Third‐Party Genetic Interpretation Tools and the Views of Tool Developers
Authors: Nelson Sarah C. , Fullerton Stephanie M.
Published: February 2018

Patients and health care consumers can obtain access to their “raw,” or uninterpreted, genetic data from direct‐to‐consumer genetic testing companies, researchers, or providers and pursue self‐directed analysis via third‐party interpretation tools. Yet relatively little is known about the nature of currently available interpretation tools or the motivations of tool developers. We conducted a structured content analysis of 23 third‐party interpretation tool websites and supporting information, tracking features such as types of information returned, modes of generating and presenting that information, and privacy and security measures. We additionally conducted qualitative interviews with a subset of 10 tool developers. A majority of tools (16 of 23, or 70%) offer some type of health or wellness‐related information, often extracted from publicly available variant annotation databases. Half of those interviewed characterized their activities as “bridging” users to the scientific literature rather than interpretation, for which they gave a variety of scientific, ethical, and regulatory justifications. The scale, heterogeneity, and complexity of information available from third‐party interpretation are unprecedented. While developers aim to enlighten and empower tool users, interpretation‐free “bridging” to rapidly evolving databases may instead impose burdens on genetic counselors and other health care providers asked to provide further contextualization and explanation.
Optimizing beam transport in rapidly compressing beams on the neutralized drift compression experiment-II
Authors: Stepanov Anton D. , Barnard John J. , Friedman Alex , Gilson Erik P. , Grote David P. , Ji Qing , Kaganovich Igor D. , Persaud Arun , Seidl Peter A. , Schenkel Thomas
Published: February 2018

The Neutralized Drift Compression Experiment-II (NDCX-II) is an induction linac that generates intense pulses of 1.2 MeV helium ions for heating matter to extreme conditions. Here, we present recent results on optimizing beam transport. The NDCX-II beamline includes a 1-m-long drift section downstream of the last transport solenoid, which is filled with charge-neutralizing plasma that enables rapid longitudinal compression of an intense ion beam against space-charge forces. The transport section on NDCX-II consists of 28 solenoids. Finding optimal field settings for a group of solenoids requires knowledge of the envelope parameters of the beam. Imaging the beam on the scintillator gives the radius of the beam, but the envelope angle is not measured directly. We demonstrate how the parameters of the beam envelope (radius, envelop angle, and emittance) can be reconstructed from a series of images taken by varying the B-field strengths of a solenoid upstream of the scintillator. We use this technique to evaluate emittance at several points in the NDCX-II beamline and for optimizing the trajectory of the beam at the entry of the plasma-filled drift section.
Why Do Criminal Trials ‘Crack’? An Empirical Investigation of Late Guilty Pleas in Hong Kong
Authors: CHENG Kevin Kwok-yin , CHUI Wing Hong , YOUNG Simon N M , ONG Rebecca
Published: February 2018

‘Cracked trials’, where defendants enter a late guilty plea after a trial date has been set, are considered a societal problem because public resources set aside for trials are wasted. Various government reports attribute the main cause to tactical defendants playing the system, and reforms have been initiated to encourage early guilty pleas and strongly discourage late ones. The aim of the present study is to investigate the reasons for cracked trials in the Hong Kong context, insofar as the reasons for late guilty pleas can be investigated without the influence of reforms seen in other jurisdictions used to discourage late pleas. A mixed methods approach of courtroom observations and interviews with defendants was adopted. We find that defendants who were represented by publicly-funded lawyers or who were in prolonged pre-trial detention were more disposed to changing their pleas. Subsequent interviews illustrate why these factors are salient. The findings support the notion that it is the pressures of the criminal justice process that lead defendants to ‘crack’ and highlight the costs to defendants for decisions on how to plead that are influenced by considerations other than actual culpability.
Clinical and haematological characteristics of human trichostrongyliasis
Authors: Ghanbarzadeh L. , Saraei M. , Kia E.B. , Amini F. , Sharifdini M.
Published: February 2018

Trichostrongylusspp. are primarily parasites of ruminants, but humans can become infected as accidental hosts. Information about the clinical aspects of human trichostrongyliasis is limited. This study investigated the clinical and haematological characteristics of a large number of trichostrongyliasis patients. In the Fouman district of Guilan Province in northern Iran, during 2015–2016, 60 patients were identified as positive forTrichostrongylusspp., using stool examination methods. The clinical manifestations and demographic data of all patients were recorded and further analysed. Twenty-three patients (38.3%) were male and 37 (61.7%) were female. Among the individuals infected only withTrichostrongylus, only nine patients (16.4%) were asymptomatic. Forty-six patients (83.6%) presented with gastrointestinal (76.3%), pulmonary (30.9%) and cutaneous (12.7%) symptoms. No statistically significant relationship was found between clinical manifestations and sex or age groups. Ten patients (18.1%) revealed eosinophilia and five (9.1%) presented with hypochromic microcytic anaemia. The relationship between eosinophilia and age group, sex and clinical manifestations showed no statistical significance. Our study indicated that trichostrongyliasis may be a major parasitic aetiology for gastrointestinal symptoms and eosinophilia in rural residents of endemic areas.
Redescription ofMacrolaimus canadensisSanwal, 1960 andM. ruehmiAndrássy, 1966 (Nematoda, Rhabditida, Chambersiellidae), and new data onM. crucisMaupas, 1900
Authors: Abolafia J. , Ruiz-Cuenca A.N. , Foit J. , Čermak V.
Published: February 2018

Three species belonging to the genusMacrolaimus, namelyM. canadensis,M. crucisandM. ruehmi, have been obtained from areas of natural vegetation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Corsica (France), the Czech Republic and Spain. These three species are characterized by the body length of males and females, stomatal proportion of the gymnostom and cheilostom, excretory pore position, postvulval uterine sac length, male and female tail length and morphology, and the length and morphology of the spicules and gubernacula. The occurrence ofM. crucisin Spain has, as a result of this study, now also been expanded to a larger area of the southern Iberian Peninsula. Morphological and morphometrical analyses showed thatM. canadensisandM. ruehmiare very similar, sharing apomorphic characters. In contrast,M. crucishas plesiomorphic characters. Description, measurements and illustrations are provided for these three species.
Brain–behavior patterns define a dimensional biotype in medication-naïve adults with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Lin Hsiang-Yuan , Cocchi Luca , Zalesky Andrew , Lv Jinglei , Perry Alistair , Tseng Wen-Yih Isaac , Kundu Prantik , Breakspear Michael , Gau Susan Shur-Fen
Published: February 2018

Background

Childhood-onset attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults is clinically heterogeneous and commonly presents with different patterns of cognitive deficits. It is unclear if this clinical heterogeneity expresses a dimensional or categorical difference in ADHD.

Methods

We first studied differences in functional connectivity in multi-echo resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) acquired from 80 medication-naïve adults with ADHD and 123 matched healthy controls. We then used canonical correlation analysis (CCA) to identify latent relationships between symptoms and patterns of altered functional connectivity (dimensional biotype) in patients. Clustering methods were implemented to test if the individual associations between resting-state brain connectivity and symptoms reflected a non-overlapping categorical biotype.

Results

Adults with ADHD showed stronger functional connectivity compared to healthy controls, predominantly between the default-mode, cingulo-opercular and subcortical networks. CCA identified a single mode of brain–symptom co-variation, corresponding to an ADHD dimensional biotype. This dimensional biotype is characterized by a unique combination of altered connectivity correlating with symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity, inattention, and intelligence. Clustering analyses did not support the existence of distinct categorical biotypes of adult ADHD.

Conclusions

Overall, our data advance a novel finding that the reduced functional segregation between default-mode and cognitive control networks supports a clinically important dimensional biotype of childhood-onset adult ADHD. Despite the heterogeneity of its presentation, our work suggests that childhood-onset adult ADHD is a single disorder characterized by dimensional brain–symptom mediators.
Spreading in kinetic reaction–transport equations in higher velocity dimensions
Authors: BOUIN EMERIC , CAILLERIE NILS
Published: February 2018

In this paper, we extend and complement previous works about propagation in kinetic reaction–transport equations. The model we study describes particles moving according to a velocity-jump process, and proliferating according to a reaction term of monostable type. We focus on the case of bounded velocities, having dimension higher than one. We extend previous results obtained by the first author with Calvez and Nadin in dimension one. We study the large time/large-scale hyperbolic limit via an Hamilton–Jacobi framework together with the half-relaxed limits method. We deduce spreading results and the existence of travelling wave solutions. A crucial difference with the mono-dimensional case is the resolution of the spectral problem at the edge of the front, that yields potential singular velocity distributions. As a consequence, the minimal speed of propagation may not be determined by a first-order condition.
Nonconvergence on the native speaker grammar: Defining L2 success
Authors: WHITE LYDIA
Published: February 2018

The issue of critical or sensitive periods affecting the outcome of second language (L2) acquisition has been the subject of intense investigation and debate for many years, with people arguing for or against maturational effects on ultimate attainment. In their influential paper, Johnson and Newport (1989) identify two hypotheses: the exercise hypothesis and the maturational state hypothesis. According to the former, if the capacity for acquiring language is exercised early in life (in first language acquisition), then language learning abilities will remain intact throughout life: in other words, permitting successful L2 acquisition regardless of age. In contrast, according to the maturational state hypothesis, the language learning capacity declines with age, affecting L2 acquisition as well as late L1. Johnson and Newport take their results, which show an age-related decline in performance during childhood and adolescence, to support the maturational state hypothesis. Many L2 researchers have adopted a maturational perspective and have reached similar conclusions as to the presence of critical or sensitive periods (e.g., Abrahamsson, 2012; DeKeyser & Larson-Hall, 2005; Long, 1990; Oyama, 1976; Patkowski, 1980). Some researchers have pointed out that age effects continue into adulthood, contrary to the claim for a critical period (e.g., Birdsong & Mollis, 2001). Others have suggested that what looks like an age-related maturational decline may be accounted for by confounding factors, such as task effects, effects of L1, amount of L2 use, education or input (e.g., Bialystok & Miller, 1999; Flege, Yeni-Komshian & Liu, 1999).
Effect of default menus on food selection and consumption in a college dining hall simulation study
Authors: Radnitz Cynthia , Loeb Katharine L , Keller Kathleen L , Boutelle Kerri , Schwartz Marlene B , Todd Lauren , Marcus Sue
Published: February 2018

Objective

To test an obesity prevention strategy derived from behavioural economics (optimal defaults plus delay), focused on changing the college dining hall service method.

Design

After a uniform pre-load, participants attended an experimental lunch in groups randomized to one of three conditions: a nutrient-dense, lower-fat/energy lunch as an optimal default (OD); a less-nutrient-dense, higher-fat/energy lunch as a suboptimal default (SD); or a free array (FA) lunch. In the OD condition, students were presented a menu depicting healthier vegetarian and omnivore foods as default, with opt-out alternatives (SD menu) available on request with a 15 min wait. In the SD condition, the same menu format was used with the positioning of food items switched. In the FA condition, all choices were presented in uniform fonts and were available immediately.

Setting

Private rooms designed to provide a small version of a college dining hall, on two campuses of a Northeastern US university.

Subjects

First-year college students (n129).

Results

There was a significant main effect for condition on percentage of optimal choices selected, with 94 % of food choices in the OD condition optimal, 47 % in the FA condition optimal and none in the SD condition optimal. Similarly, energy intake for those in the SD condition significantly exceeded that in the FA condition, which exceeded that in the OD condition.

Conclusions

Presenting menu items as optimal defaults with a delay had a significant impact on choice and consumption, suggesting that further research into its long-term applicability is warranted.
THE INHUMANITY OF CARDS AGAINST HUMANITY
Authors: Director Samuel
Published: February 2018

In general, it is morally wrong to joke about the suffering of a category of people while in front of a person who fits into this category. I argue that, when people play the game Cards Against Humanity, it is likely that they do this very action. Thus, I conclude that it is morally wrong to play Cards Against Humanity.
I CAN'T HELP WHAT I BELIEVE: THE MORAL CASE AGAINST RELIGIOUS EXCLUSIVIST DOCTRINES
Authors: Himma Kenneth
Published: February 2018

Christianity and Islam subscribe to a doctrine of salvific exclusivism, according to which only the adherents of the one true religion will escape divine punishment – usually conceived of as an eternity of torment. In this article, I argue that salvific exclusivism is inconsistent with ordinary intuitions about fairness and justice, together with certain facts about belief formation. In particular, I argue that what one believes is sufficiently beyond one's capacity to choose that persons cannot fairly be punished for what they believe. It seems unfair, and inconsistent with God's moral perfection, to base the difference between an eternal reward and an eternal punishment on something that one can't control.
IT'S NOT BRAINS OR PERSONALITY SO IT MUST BE LOOKS: WHY WOMEN GIVE UP ON PHILOSOPHY
Authors: Latham Sally
Published: February 2018

A discussion of the under-representation of women in academic philosophy, focusing on the perception both of the nature of women and of the nature of philosophy itself.
Why Does Pluralism Matter When We Study Politics? A View from Contemporary International Relations
Authors: Levine Daniel J. , McCourt David M.
Published: February 2018

Pluralism has become a buzzword in International Relations. It has emerged in a number of linked literatures and has drawn the support of an unusual coalition of scholars: advocates of greater methodological diversity; those who feel that IR has degenerated into a clash of paradigmatic “-isms”; those who favor a closer relationship between academics and policy-makers; and those who wish to see greater reflexivity within the field. Perhaps unsurprisingly, no single vision of pluralism unites these scholars; they appear to be using the term in divergent ways. Accordingly, our aim is threefold. First, we wish to highlight this odd state of affairs, by placing it in disciplinary and intellectual context. Second, we distinguish between plurality—the de facto recognition that IR has become a more diverse field—and pluralism—a normative position which values that diversity, given the public vocation of social science. Finally, we lay out a more consistent understanding and defense of pluralism in those latter terms. We argue that, properly understood, pluralism entails a position of epistemological skepticism: the straightforward claim that no single knowledge system, discipline, theory, or method can claim singular access to truth.
The Rush to Transparency: DA-RT and the Potential Dangers for Qualitative Research
Authors: Monroe Kristen Renwick
Published: February 2018

What is the impact of the recent Data Access and Research Transparency (DA-RT) initiative and the Journal Editors Transparency Statement (JETS) on scholars working with qualitative data? Analysis finds DA-RT insufficiently sensitive to the needs of qualitative data and focuses on four inter-related reasons why DA-RT needs to be revised before being widely adopted by political science journals: (1) space constraints that hinder full journal presentation of the analysis of qualitative data; (2) ethical concerns about protecting human subjects, and the time needed to prepare such data before publicly sharing them; (3) costs of data collection and the right of first usage; and (4) a potentially chilling effect of DA-RT on certain types of research topics. Analysis of the author’s own journey from econometric and survey analysis to narrative interviews with people in vulnerable situations, facing moral dilemmas, illustrates why DA-RT needs additional safeguards for qualitative data and methods. Given the increasing importance of qualitative data, and its ability to lend insight into critical political topics, the author argues that implementing the current version of the DA-RT initiative could hinder political science’s ability to address important political questions. Thus DA-RT must be modified to address the special needs of qualitative data.
circHIPK3 regulates cell proliferation and migration by sponging miR-124 and regulating AQP3 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Chen Genwen , Shi Yanting , Liu Mengmeng , Sun Jianyong
Published: February 2018

Noncoding RNAs plays an important role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we show that miR-124 was downregulated in HCC tissues and that the ectopic expression of miR-124 inhibited the proliferation and migration of HCC cells. We proposed that aquaporin 3 (AQP3) is a direct target of miR-124. AQP3 was upregulated in HCC tissues and inversely correlated with miR-124 expression. The overexpression of miR-124 decreased AQP3 expression. Indeed, AQP3 overexpression promoted cell proliferation and migration, whereas miR-124 knockdown suppressed cell proliferation and migration. Furthermore, we found that circular RNA HIPK3 (circHIPK3) acted as a miR-124 sponge and regulated the expression of the miR-124 target gene AQP3. circHIPK3 was upregulated in HCC tissues and positively correlated with AQP3 expression. Thus, silencing circHIPK3 inhibited cell proliferation and migration by downregulating AQP3 expression. Moreover, miR-124 inhibition rescued circHIPK3 knockdown induced reduction in cell proliferation and migration, as well as AQP3 expression. In vivo experiments also confirmed that circHIPK3 regulated xenograft tumor growth via the miR-124-AQP3 axis. These observations indicate a possible novel therapeutic strategy involving circular RNAs in HCC.
Targeting deubiquitinase USP28 for cancer therapy
Authors: Wang Xiaofang , Liu Zhiyi , Zhang Li , Yang Zhaozhi , Chen Xingxing , Luo Jurui , Zhou Zhirui , Mei Xin , Yu Xiaoli , Shao Zhimin , Feng Yan , Fu Shen , Zhang Zhen , Wei Dongping , Jia Lijun , Ma Jinli , Guo Xiaomao
Published: February 2018

As one of the most important post-translational modifications, ubiquitination plays versatile roles in cancer-related pathways, and is involved in protein metabolism, cell-cycle progression, apoptosis, and transcription. Counteracting the activities of the E3 ligases, the deubiquitylating enzymes have been suggested as another important mechanism to modulate the ubiquitination process, and are implicated in cancer as well. In this article, we review the emerging roles of USP28 in cancer pathways as revealed by recent studies. We discuss the major mechanisms by which USP28 is involved in the cancer-related pathways, whereby USP28 regulates physiological homeostasis of ubiquitination process, DNA-damage response, and cell cycle during genotoxic stress. We further review the studies where USP28 was targeted for treating multiples cancers including non-small cell lung cancer, breast cancer, intestinal cancers, gliomas, and bladder cancer. As a result, the clinical significance of targeting USP28 for cancer therapy merits further exploration and demonstration.
Osteoblast-targeted delivery of miR-33-5p attenuates osteopenia development induced by mechanical unloading in mice
Authors: Wang Han , Hu Zebing , Shi Fei , Dong Jingjing , Dang Lei , Wang Yixuan , Sun Zhongyang , Zhou Hua , Zhang Shu , Cao Xinsheng , Zhang Ge
Published: February 2018

A growing body of evidence has revealed that microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in regulating osteoblasts and bone metabolism. However, the effects of miRNAs in osteoblast mechanotransduction remain to be defined. In this study, we investigated the regulatory effect of miR-33-5p in osteoblasts and tested its anti-osteopenia effect when delivered by an osteoblast-targeting delivery system in vivo. First, we demonstrated that miR-33-5p could promote the activity and mineralization of osteoblasts without influencing their proliferation in vitro. Then our data showed that supplementing miR-33-5p in osteoblasts by a targeted delivery system partially recovered the osteopenia induced by mechanical unloading at the biochemical, microstructural, and biomechanical levels. In summary, our findings demonstrate that miR-33-5p is a key factor in the occurrence and development of the osteopenia induced by mechanical unloading. In addition, targeted delivery of the mimics of miR-33-5p is a promising new strategy for the treatment of pathological osteopenia.
miR-27b-3p inhibits proliferation and potentially reverses multi-chemoresistance by targeting CBLB/GRB2 in breast cancer cells
Authors: Chen Danni , Si Wengong , Shen Jiaying , Du Chengyong , Lou Weiyang , Bao Chang , Zheng Huilin , Pan Jie , Zhong Guansheng , Xu Liang , Fu Peifen , Fan Weimin
Published: February 2018

Drug resistance remains a major problem in the treatment of conventional chemotherapeutic agents in breast cancers. Owing to heterogeneity and complexity of chemoresistance mechanisms, most efforts that focus on a single pathway were unsuccessful, and exploring novel personalized therapeutics becomes urgent. By a system approach, we identified that microRNA-27b-3p (miR-27b), a miRNA deleted in breast cancer tissues and cell lines, has a master role in sensitizing breast cancer cells to a broad spectrum of anticancer drugs in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic analysis indicated that miR-27b enhanced responses to PTX by directly targeting CBLB and GRB2 to inactivate both PI3K/Akt and MAPK/Erk signaling pathways. Further, miR-27b was identified as a promising molecular biomarker in chemoresistance, clinicopathological features, and prognosis for breast cancer patients. In conclusion, we propose that combinational use of miR-27b and chemotherapeutic agents might be a promising therapeutic strategy to increase long-term drug responses in breast cancers.
EZH2 inhibits autophagic cell death of aortic vascular smooth muscle cells to affect aortic dissection
Authors: Li Rui , Yi Xin , Wei Xiang , Huo Bo , Guo Xian , Cheng Cai , Fang Ze-Min , Wang Jing , Feng Xin , Zheng Ping , Su Yun-Shu , Masau Jackson Ferdinand , Zhu Xue-Hai , Jiang Ding-Sheng
Published: February 2018

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a methyltransferase that di- and tri-methylates lysine-27 of histone H3, largely functions as a transcriptional repressor, and plays a critical role in various kinds of cancers. Here we report a novel function of EZH2 in regulating autophagic cell death (ACD) of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) that affect aortic dissection (AD). Inhibition of EZH2 activity by UNC1999 or knockdown EZH2 resulted in VSMC loss, while overexpression of EZH2 facilitated VSMC growth, and these effects of EZH2 on VSMCs were independent of proliferation and apoptosis. Interestingly, more autophagic vacuoles and increased LC3II protein levels were identified in VSMCs with EZH2 inhibition or deficiency. Moreover, when compared with counterparts, chloroquine alone, or chloroquine with rapamycin treatment led to more LC3II accumulation in EZH2 inhibited or knockdown VSMCs, which indicated that EZH2 negatively regulated autophagosome formation. In conjunction to this, ATG5 and ATG7 protein levels were remarkably increased in EZH2 inhibited or deficient VSMCs, and ATG5 or ATG7 knockdown virtually rescued VSMC loss induced by EZH2 inhibition or knockdown. In addition, we found that the MEK–ERK1/2 signaling pathway, but not AMPKα, mTOR, or AKT pathway, is responsible for the impact of EZH2 on ACD of VSMCs. Additionally, the adverse effects of EZH2 inhibition or knockdown on VSMCs were largely reversed by PD98059, an inhibitor of MEK1. More importantly, decreased EZH2 expression levels in the aortic wall of patients with AD indicated its contribution to VSMC loss and AD occurrence. Overall, these findings revealed that EZH2 affects ACD of VSMCs and the pathologic process of AD via regulating ATG5 and ATG7 expression and MEK–ERK1/2 signaling. Our hitherto unrecognized findings indicate that EZH2 activation has therapeutic or preventive potential for AD.