bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The caudal part of the posterior insula of rats participates in the maintenance but not the acquisition of morphine conditioned place preference
Authors: Sun Yong‐Mei , Chen Rong‐Xiang , Li Zhi‐Fei , Spijker Sabine , Zhai Rong‐Wei , Yang Shang‐Chuan
Published: January 2018

The heterogeneous insular cortex plays an interoceptive role in drug addiction by signaling the availability of drugs of abuse. Here, we tested whether the caudal part of the multisensory posterior insula (PI) stores somatosensory‐associated rewarding memories. Using Sprague Dawley rats as subjects, we first established a morphine‐induced conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm, mainly based on somatic cues. Secondly, an electrolytic lesion of the caudal portion of the PI was carried out before and after the establishment of CPP, respectively. Our data demonstrated that the caudal PI lesions disrupted the maintenance, but not the acquisition of morphine‐induced CPP. Lesion or subtle disruption of the PI had no major impact on locomotor activity. These findings indicate that the caudal portion of the PI might be involved in either the storage or the retrieval of morphine CPP memory.
Karma or Immortality: Can Religion Influence Space‐Time Mappings?
Authors: Li Heng , Cao Yu
Published: January 2018

People implicitly associate the “past” and “future” with “front” and “back” in their minds according to their cultural attitudes toward time. As the temporal focus hypothesis (TFH) proposes, future‐oriented people tend to think about time according to the future‐in‐front mapping, whereas past‐oriented people tend to think about time according to the past‐in‐front mapping (de la Fuente, Santiago, Román, Dumitrache, & Casasanto, 2014). Whereas previous studies have demonstrated that culture exerts an important influence on people's implicit spatializations of time, we focus specifically on religion, a prominent layer of culture, as potential additional influence on space‐time mappings. In Experiment 1 and 2, we observed a difference between the two religious groups, with Buddhists being more past‐focused and more frequently conceptualizing the past as ahead of them and the future as behind them, and Taoists more future‐focused and exhibiting the opposite space‐time mapping. In Experiment 3, we administered a religion prime, in which Buddhists were randomly assigned to visualize the picture of the Buddhas of the Past (Buddha Dipamkara) or the Future (Buddha Maitreya). Results showed that the pictorial icon of Dipamkara increased participants' tendency to conceptualize the past as in front of them. In contrast, the pictorial icon of Maitreya caused a dramatic increase in the rate of future‐in‐front responses. In Experiment 4, the causal effect of religion on implicit space‐time mappings was replicated in atheists. Taken together, these findings provide converging evidence for the hypothesized causal role of religion for temporal focus in determining space‐time mappings.
Prevalence of influenza A infection in the Middle‐East: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Moghoofei Mohsen , Monavari Seyed Hamidreza , Mostafaei Shayan , Hadifar Shima , Ghasemi Amir , Babaei Farhad , Kavosi Hoda , Tavakoli Ahmad , Javanmard Davod , Esghaei Maryam , Khodabandehlou Nilofar
Published: January 2018

Objective

This systematic review and meta‐analysis was performed to determine the prevalence rate of influenza virus from different parts of Middle East region, and present an overall relative frequency (RF) for this region.

Methods

The authors performed a systematic literature review from several reliable databases such as PubMed, ISI Web of Science and Scopus during 2000–2016. Furthermore, the keywords of this research were ‘Influenza’, ‘Subtype’, ‘Seroprevalence’, ‘Incidence’, ‘Seroepidemiology’, ‘H1N1’, ‘H3N2’, ‘H5N1’, ‘H9N2’, ‘Middle‐East’ and ‘Meta‐analysis’. The reported data were selected according to inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results

The authors selected 71 studies out of 1147 for the present review. The overall estimation of the prevalence of influenza virus was 10.2% [95% confidence interval (CI): 10.1%–10.3%]. However, based on our records, the evident heterogeneity of influenza virus was observed among the studies (Cochran Q test, P value <.001 and I‐squared = 100%). It should be noted that influenza virus infection's RF varied from 0.5% in Qatar to 70% in Syria.

Conclusions

The results of this review are remarkable, they show that influenza infection RF is variable due to several factors. Thus, further researches should be taken to minimize the emergence and transmission of influenza virus.
Validation of the dyspnoea‐12 scale into Portuguese speaking COPD patients
Authors: Simsic Aline Aparecida , Yorke Janelle , Regueiro Eloisa Gatti , Di Lorenzo Valeria Pires , Baddini‐Martinez José
Published: January 2018

Background and aims

Dyspnoea‐12 assesses dyspnea based on the physical and affective components of the symptom. The aim of this study was to translate the Dyspnoea‐12 into Portuguese, and to obtain validation data regarding the use of this tool in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD).

Methods

The English version of the scale Dyspnoea‐12 underwent a formal translation process into Portuguese as spoken in Brazil with the final version being called Dyspnoea‐12‐Pt. The latter was applied to 51 Portuguese‐speaking patients with COPD (33 men; age: 66.4 ± 8.1 years; FEV1: 48.7% ± 17.2% pred). Participants also completed the Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (MRC), the Baseline Dyspnea Index (BDI), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, the Saint George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and performed spirometry and the Six‐Minute Walk Test (6 MWT). Forty‐five volunteers in stable clinical conditions also completed the Dyspnoea‐12‐Pt scale approximately 2 weeks after the first evaluation.

Results

Dyspnoea‐12‐Pt showed significant correlations with the scales MRC (r = 0.494), BDI (r = −0.511), SGRQ (r = 0.806), Anxiety (r = 0.471), Depression (0.414) and walked distance in the 6 MWT (r = 0.329). Cronbach's alpha of Dyspnoea‐12‐Pt total was 0.921 and the intraclass correlation coefficient between sequential measures was 0.829.

Conclusion

The scale Dyspnoea‐12‐Pt exhibits acceptable psychometric properties and may be used as an evaluation tool of dyspnea in Portuguese speaking COPD patients.
The association of self‐reported diabetes with impaired social functioning in low‐, middle‐ and high‐income countries: findings from the World Health Survey
Authors: Loerbroks A. , Herr R. M. , Icks A. , Bosch J. A.
Published: January 2018

Aim

Epidemiological studies from high‐income countries show that diabetes is associated with impaired social functioning. As healthcare systems in middle‐ and low‐income countries offer fewer resources to curtail the potential social impact of diabetes, we performed a comparative study on the diabetes–social impairment link in low‐, middle‐ and high‐income countries.

Methods

We use data from the cross‐sectional World Health Survey (n = 235 428 from 10 low‐income, 29 middle‐income and 9 high‐income countries). Diabetes was defined by self‐reports of a diagnosis. Impaired social functioning was considered present if participants reported severe or extreme difficulties with personal relationships or participation in the community. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in the overall sample and by income regions. ORs were corrected for demographics and health‐related lifestyles, and then additionally adjusted for impairments that may explain any observed association (i.e. impaired vision, mood, cognition and mobility).

Results

In the overall sample, we confirmed an association between self‐reported diabetes and impaired social functioning (OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.18–1.83). The strength of that relationship increased with decreasing country income (e.g. OR in low‐income countries = 2.23, 95% CI = 1.14–4.37). Associations were substantially attenuated by further correction for impairments, in particular mood problems, in the overall sample (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.72–1.16) and all income regions.

Conclusions

Self‐reported diabetes is associated with impaired social functioning in high‐ and middle‐income countries, and this relationship is even stronger in low‐income countries. Associations are largely explained by physical and mental impairments, which may be due to diabetes.
THE FUTURE OF SOCIAL SECURITY
Authors: Diamond Peter A.
Published: January 2018

(with an introduction by Daniel L. McFadden)

The past and the present processes leading to social security legislation inform expectations regarding the future of social security, and with international comparisons, provide lessons to those who would learn them. (JEL H55)
Firm Competition and CEO Turnover: Evidence from US Railroad Deregulation
Authors: Aldunate Felipe
Published: January 2018

In this article, I examine how changes in the competitive environment of firms affect matches between chief executive officers (CEOs) and firms. I exploit the 1980 Staggers Rail Act, which drastically deregulated the freight railroad industry, as a source of arguably exogenous variation in the operating environment. Using hand‐collected data, I obtain three main findings: first, CEO turnover rates increase; second, relative to utility firms, railroad CEOs have more business education and show broader work experience after deregulation; and third, firm performance leads to CEO turnover only during the regulated period.
Tax Composition and Growth: A Broad Cross-country Perspective
Authors: Acosta-Ormaechea Santiago , Sola Sergio , Yoo Jiae
Published: January 2018

We investigate how changes in the composition of tax revenue affect long-run growth in a broad cross-section of countries. To do this, we construct a new dataset that covers 70 countries (23 high-, 23 middle- and 24 low-income countries), with at least 20 years of observations during the period 1970-2009. In the context of revenue-neutral reallocations, we find that increasing consumption and property taxes while reducing income taxes boosts long-term growth. Among income taxes, we find that social security contributions and personal income taxes tend to have a stronger negative association with growth relative to corporate income taxes. Results, however, depend on countries’ development levels, suggesting nonlinearities in the relation between taxes and growth even after controlling for convergence effects. Although results are robust for high- and middle-income countries, these are generally not significant for low-income countries.
Minimally invasive liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma of patients with liver damage B: A propensity score‐based analysis
Authors: Noda Takehiro , Eguchi Hidetoshi , Iwagami Yoshifumi , Yamada Daisaku , Asaoka Tadafumi , Gotoh Kunihito , Kawamoto Koichi , Kobayashi Shogo , Hashimoto Yasuji , Takeda Yutaka , Tanemura Masahiro , Umeshita Koji , Doki Yuichiro , Mori Masaki
Published: January 2018

Aim

Minimally invasive liver resection (MILR) is considered a safe and feasible treatment for malignant liver tumors. However, few studies have investigated the surgical outcomes of MILR in patients with impaired liver function. Liver damage is used for consideration of hepatectomy. The aim of this study is to clarify the efficacy of MILR for patients with impaired liver function by using propensity score matching.

Methods

Ninety‐nine patients with liver damage B underwent hepatic resection were analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups, the MILR group (n = 24) and the open liver resection (OLR) group (n = 75). After matching of a propensity score, we compared clinicopathological features and surgical outcomes.

Results

After matching, 36 patients (18 patients from each group) were selected and the patients’ characteristics and tumor characteristics were not significantly different between the two groups. Blood loss (P = 0.0163) and complication rate (P = 0.0162) were significantly decreased in the MILR group. Complications were observed in eight patients, comprising one patient in the MILR group and seven patients in the OLR group. The postoperative hospital stay was significantly shortened in the MILR group (P = 0.0118).

Conclusion

Minimally invasive liver resection might be effective for patients with impaired liver function. It reduces surgical complications and consequently shortens hospitalization time.
Ecological Fallacy and Covariates: New Insights based on Multilevel Modelling of Individual Data
Authors: Gnaldi Michela , Tomaselli Venera , Forcina Antonio
Published: January 2018

The paper provides a new and more explicit formulation of the assumptions needed by the ordinary ecological regression to provide unbiased estimates and clarifies why violations of these assumptions will affect any method of ecological inference. Empirical evidence is obtained by showing that estimates provided by three main ecological inference methods are heavily biased when compared with multilevel logistic regression applied to a unique set of individual data on voting behaviour. The main findings of our paper have two important implications that can be extended to all situations where the assumptions needed to apply ecological inference are violated in the data: (i) only ecological inference methods that allow one to model the effect of covariates have a chance to produce unbiased estimates, and (ii) there are certain data generating mechanisms producing a kind of bias in ecological estimates that cannot be corrected by modelling the effect of covariates.
The interplay between fragility and crime in African states: a case study of Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire
Authors: Opasina Oladapo Kayode
Published: January 2018

A sizable number of African countries are becoming increasingly fragile, chiefly because of their persistently weak institutions and their incapacity to respond adequately to a plethora of well‐known and emerging security, political, and socio‐economic challenges. This article investigates the connection between fragility and crime in contemporary Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire. Field research was conducted in the two West African countries, where opinions of representative samples of the populations were sought through questionnaires, in‐depth interviews and focus group discussions (FGDs). What are the prevailing and emerging criminal threats confronting Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire in contemporary dispensation? On the one hand, the research discovers that organised crime like kidnapping for ransom, terrorism (referring to the activities of Boko Haram), rape of underage minors and girls, and the ‘baby factory’ industry, is prevalent as a result of state fragility in Nigeria; and, on the other hand, cybercrime in Côte d'Ivoire. The article suggests an urgent need for proactive action in order to prevent the fast‐growing threats identified in Nigeria being replicated in Côte d'Ivoire, especially at this time when the latter is in its post‐conflict phase. Also, the transnational nature of the above‐mentioned organised crime has grave implications for regional and international security, stemming from the fact that perpetrators often have established global networks and operations.
A bi‐objective mathematical model for product allocation in block stacking warehouses
Authors: Öztürkoğlu Ömer
Published: January 2018

Put‐away and picking operations in warehouses play a critical role in determining operating costs and customer response time. While the place where products are put away has an important effect on picking efficiency due to accessibility, it also affects space usage, which is critical for space availability and space costs. Hence, this study focuses on put‐away operations in pallet‐in pallet‐out block stacking warehouses. We develop a unique bi‐objective mathematical model and a constructive heuristic algorithm to allocate products to storage lanes while considering two objectives simultaneously: minimizing total travel distance and maximizing average storage usage. We test our model and heuristic through a real company case study and randomly generated large‐sized problem instances. We show that the model and heuristic offer better storage usage with reduced travel distance than the company's approach when the two objectives have equal weight. We also present a set of nondominated solutions for each problem instance. We present that the heuristic seems beneficial for the warehouse industry due to its short run time and effective solutions.
Reliability of morning, before‐dinner, and at‐bedtime home blood pressure measurements in patients with hypertension
Authors: Fujiwara Takeshi , Hoshide Satoshi , Kanegae Hiroshi , Nishizawa Masafumi , Kario Kazuomi
Published: January 2018

The authors evaluated differences in the reliability of home blood pressure measurements taken in the morning, before dinner, and at bedtime. Forty‐eight patients with hypertension (age range, 50–89 years; mean age, 76.4 years) measured their home blood pressure using a validated automatic information/communication technology‐based device for 14 consecutive days. Those days were divided into the first seven days (1–7) and the following 8 to 14 days (days 8–14) and compared systolic blood pressure (SBP) reliability in the two periods for each measurement time point. In Bland‐Altman analyses, morning SBP showed the least standard error of measurement (3.0 mm Hg). There were fixed biases in morning and before‐dinner SBP with average limits of agreement of 3.9 and 6.4 mm Hg, respectively. For at‐bedtime SBP, a random error was detected and the minimal detectable change was 13.8 mm Hg. The percentage of near‐maximal variation of morning SBP was the smallest at 18.1%. Morning SBP therefore provided the most reliable home blood pressure value in the day.
The Rise and Fall of Merkozy: Franco‐German Bilateralism as a Negotiation Strategy in Eurozone Crisis Management
Authors: Schoeller Magnus G.
Published: January 2018

The close co‐operation between French President Sarkozy and German Chancellor Merkel (‘Merkozy’) dominated a significant part of eurozone crisis management. Yet, after the election of a new French government in 2012, the Franco‐German co‐operation in the Economic and Monetary Union deteriorated. This article asks why the Franco‐German tandem got stuck. Drawing on bargaining theory, it argues that Germany used ‘Merkozy’ as a negotiation strategy to further its aims in eurozone crisis management. However, when the preferences of the two countries were no longer reconcilable due to changes in France as well as in the negotiation environment, the strategy failed. Thus, while much of the literature has focused on the persistence of the Franco‐German partnership, this approach accounts for variation in its functioning. The results provide an explanation for the rise and fall of Merkozy and bear implications for assessing the future Franco‐German relationship.
Substance use through adolescence into early adulthood after childhood‐diagnosed ADHD: findings from the MTA longitudinal study
Authors: Molina Brooke S.G. , Howard Andrea L. , Swanson James M. , Stehli Annamarie , Mitchell John T. , Kennedy Traci M. , Epstein Jeffery N. , Arnold L. Eugene , Hechtman Lily , Vitiello Benedetto , Hoza Betsy
Published: January 2018

Background

Inconsistent findings exist regarding long‐term substance use (SU) risk for children diagnosed with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The observational follow‐up of the Multimodal Treatment Study of Children with ADHD (MTA) provides an opportunity to assess long‐term outcomes in a large, diverse sample.

Methods

Five hundred forty‐seven children, mean age 8.5, diagnosed with DSM‐IV combined‐type ADHD and 258 classmates without ADHD (local normative comparison group; LNCG) completed the Substance Use Questionnaire up to eight times from mean age 10 to mean age 25.

Results

In adulthood, weekly marijuana use (32.8% ADHD vs. 21.3% LNCG) and daily cigarette smoking (35.9% vs. 17.5%) were more prevalent in the ADHD group than the LNCG. The cumulative record also revealed more early substance users in adolescence for ADHD (57.9%) than LNCG (41.9%), including younger first use of alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, and illicit drugs. Alcohol and nonmarijuana illicit drug use escalated slightly faster in the ADHD group in early adolescence. Early SU predicted quicker SU escalation and more SU in adulthood for both groups.

Conclusions

Frequent SU for young adults with childhood ADHD is accompanied by greater initial exposure at a young age and slightly faster progression. Early SU prevention and screening is critical before escalation to intractable levels.
Vitamin transporters in mice brain with aging
Authors: Marcos P. , González‐Fuentes J. , Castro‐Vázquez L. , Lozano M. V. , Santander‐Ortega M. J. , Rodríguez‐Robledo V. , Villaseca‐González N. , Arroyo‐Jiménez M. M.
Published: January 2018

Its high metabolic rate and high polyunsaturated fatty acid content make the brain very sensitive to oxidative damage. In the brain, neuronal metabolism occurs at a very high rate and generates considerable amounts of reactive oxygen species and free radicals, which accumulate inside neurons, leading to altered cellular homeostasis and integrity and eventually irreversible damage and cell death. A misbalance in redox metabolism and the subsequent neurodegeneration increase throughout the course of normal aging, leading to several age‐related changes in learning and memory as well as motor functions. The neuroprotective function of antioxidants is crucial to maintain good brain homeostasis and adequate neuronal functions. Vitamins E and C are two important antioxidants that are taken up by brain cells via the specific carriers αTTP and SVCT2, respectively. The aim of this study was to use immunohistochemistry to determine the distribution pattern of these vitamin transporters in the brain in a mouse model that shows fewer signs of brain aging and a higher resistance to oxidative damage. Both carriers were distributed widely throughout the entire brain in a pattern that remained similar in 4‐, 12‐, 18‐ and 24‐month‐old mice. In general, αTTP and SVCT2 were located in the same regions, but they seemed to have complementary distribution patterns. Double‐labeled cell bodies were detected only in the inferior colliculus, entorhinal cortex, dorsal subiculum, and several cortical areas. In addition, the presence of αTTP and SVCT2 in neurons was analyzed using double immunohistochemistry for NeuN and the results showed that αTTP but not SVCT2 was present in Bergmann's glia. The presence of these transporters in brain regions implicated in learning, memory and motor control provides an anatomical basis that may explain the higher resistance of this animal model to brain oxidative stress, which is associated with better motor performance and learning abilities in old age.
Planning Until Death Do Us Part: Partnership Status and Financial Planning Horizon
Authors: Fulda Barbara E. , Lersch Philipp M.
Published: January 2018

Positive economic outcomes of marriage are often explained with a higher future orientation of married individuals who are assumed to plan their finances for a longer period than the nonmarried. Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey (2001–2014; N = 4,819 individuals), the authors provide the first longitudinal test of whether individuals change their financial planning horizons when they change their partnership status using fixed and random effects regressions. Results show that the financial planning horizon increases as individuals enter cohabitation. No further changes in financial planning horizons are found when they transition into marriage. Changes in horizons are similar for women and men. These results indicate that longer financial planning horizons and marriage are likely outcomes of couples' long‐term commitment, which develops during cohabitation. The symbolic and legal institution of marriage is not additionally associated with individual financial planning as a dimension of future orientation.
Image Registration to Compensate for EPI Distortion in Patients with Brain Tumors: An Evaluation of Tract‐Specific Effects
Authors: Albi Angela , Meola Antonio , Zhang Fan , Kahali Pegah , Rigolo Laura , Tax Chantal M.W. , Ciris Pelin Aksit , Essayed Walid I. , Unadkat Prashin , Norton Isaiah , Rathi Yogesh , Olubiyi Olutayo , Golby Alexandra J. , O'Donnell Lauren J.
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) provides preoperative maps of neurosurgical patients’ white matter tracts, but these maps suffer from echo‐planar imaging (EPI) distortions caused by magnetic field inhomogeneities. In clinical neurosurgical planning, these distortions are generally not corrected and thus contribute to the uncertainty of fiber tracking. Multiple image processing pipelines have been proposed for image‐registration‐based EPI distortion correction in healthy subjects. In this article, we perform the first comparison of such pipelines in neurosurgical patient data.

METHODS

Five pipelines were tested in a retrospective clinical dMRI dataset of 9 patients with brain tumors. Pipelines differed in the choice of fixed and moving images and the similarity metric for image registration. Distortions were measured in two important tracts for neurosurgery, the arcuate fasciculus and corticospinal tracts.

RESULTS

Significant differences in distortion estimates were found across processing pipelines. The most successful pipeline used dMRI baseline and T2‐weighted images as inputs for distortion correction. This pipeline gave the most consistent distortion estimates across image resolutions and brain hemispheres.

CONCLUSIONS

Quantitative results of mean tract distortions on the order of 1–2 mm are in line with other recent studies, supporting the potential need for distortion correction in neurosurgical planning. Novel results include significantly higher distortion estimates in the tumor hemisphere and greater effect of image resolution choice on results in the tumor hemisphere. Overall, this study demonstrates possible pitfalls and indicates that care should be taken when implementing EPI distortion correction in clinical settings.
Psychometric testing of the healthy eating and physical activity self‐efficacy questionnaire and the healthy eating and physical activity behavior recall questionnaire for children
Authors: Lassetter Jane H. , Macintosh Christopher I. , Williams Mary , Driessnack Martha , Ray Gaye , Wisco Jonathan J.
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to develop and assess the psychometric properties for two related questionnaires: the Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Self‐Efficacy Questionnaire for Children (HEPASEQ‐C) and the Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Behavior Recall Questionnaire for Children (HEPABRQ‐C).

Design and Methods

HEPASEQ‐C and HEPABRQ‐C were administered to 517 participating children with 492 completing. Data were analyzed to evaluate for reliability and validity of the questionnaires.

Results

Content validity was established through a 10‐person expert panel. For the HEPASEQ‐C, item content validity index (CVI) ranged from 0.80 to 1.00. The CVI for the total questionnaire was 1.0. All HEPASEQ‐C items loaded on a single factor. Cronbach's alpha was deemed acceptable (.749). For the HEPABRQ‐C, item CVI ranged from 0.88 to 1.00. CVI for the total questionnaire was 1.0. Pearson product moment correlation between HEPASEQ‐C and HEPABRQ‐C scores was significant (r = .501,p = .000).

Practice Implications

The HEPASEQ‐C and HEPABRQ‐C are easily administered and provide helpful insights into children's self‐efficacy and behavior recall. They are easy to use and applicable for upper elementary school settings, in clinical settings for individual patients, and in health promotion settings.
Citizenship as social object in the aftermath of the Yugoslav break‐up
Authors: Vasiljević Jelena
Published: January 2018

The break‐up of Yugoslavia disintegrated the Yugoslav citizenship regime, and new communities of citizens and citizenship regulations were born. Since the identitarian and lived aspects of citizenship are inseparable from its formal and legal aspects, (not) having the ‘right’ personal documents and (not) being recognized as the ‘right’ kind of citizen had profound effects on the lives of many individuals. Relying on the concept of documentality and stressing the feature of documents as being constitutive of social reality, this article analyses personal narratives illustrating the lived experience of citizenship transformations after the break‐up of Yugoslavia.
Long‐term safety and efficacy of acotiamide in functional dyspepsia (postprandial distress syndrome)—results from the European phase 3 open‐label safety trial
Authors: Tack J. , Pokrotnieks J. , Urbonas G. , Banciu C. , Yakusevich V. , Bunganic I. , Törnblom H. , Kleban Y. , Eavis P. , Tsuchikawa M. , Miyagawa T.
Published: January 2018

Backgrounds

Acotiamide is a novel acetylcholinesterase inhibitor for treatment of postprandial distress syndrome (PDS) symptoms of functional dyspepsia (FD).

This European phase 3 open‐label safety trial has been conducted to evaluate the long‐term safety of acotiamide and explore the efficacy of acotiamide on PDS symptoms using the validated LPDS, quality of life using SF‐36 and SF‐NDI, and work productivity using WPAI.

Methods

FD‐PDS patients (defined by ROME III criteria) aged ≥18 years with active PDS symptoms and without predominant overlapping symptoms of epigastric pain syndrome and related disorders were enrolled to receive 100 mg acotiamide three times daily for 1 year. Patients' safety profile and efficacy of acotiamide were monitored.

Key Results

The majority of patients (81.6%) maintained exposure to acotiamide for >50 weeks, with a mean duration of 320.3 days. No specific clinically significant safety concerns have been shown, with no deaths, treatment‐related severe/serious adverse events, or any clinically significant laboratory test results.

Although being an open‐label trial, acotiamide showed a change in severity larger than the minimum clinically important difference at weeks 1 and 2 for postprandial fullness and early satiation (meal‐related symptoms), and showed improvement of quality of life and work productivity from the first measurement (at week 12) up to 1 year.

Conclusions & Inferences

The long‐term safety of acotiamide treatment was confirmed. A clinically important change for PDS symptoms, QoL, and work productivity was suggested; however a controlled trial is required to confirm this hypothetic efficacy of acotiamide. (NCT01973790).
Oversensing of transthoracic excitation stimuli in contemporary pacemakers
Authors: Ryan James D. , Tempel Nathan D. , Engle Dean D. , Hayes David L. , Cha Yong‐Mei , Asirvatham Samuel J.
Published: January 2018

Background

Transthoracic impedance measurements (TIM) is primarily used for minute ventilation rate adaptive sensors in pacemakers. With elevated impedance, the TIM electrical signal itself is oversensed, causing device malfunction.

Objective

We report an increased incidence of TIM oversensing.

Method

Retrospective chart review. We review existing records of 18 patients who have demonstrated device malfunction with TIM oversensing.

Results

We have found a 1.8% incidence of TIM‐related oversensing in our patient population of 959 patients with contemporary Boston Scientific (Marlborough, MA, USA) pacemakers and cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers. One patient experienced a syncopal episode.

Conclusion

Oversensing with pacing inhibition is apparent with the potential of adverse effects to patients.
Optimum time for intravenous cannulation after induction with sevoflurane, oxygen, and nitrous oxide in children without any premedication
Authors: Hasan ABM Kamrul , Sivasankar Raman , Nair Salil G. , Hasan Wamia U. , Latif Zulaidi
Published: January 2018

Background

Intravenous cannulation is usually done in children after inhalational induction with volatile anesthetic agents. The optimum time for safe intravenous cannulation after induction with sevoflurane, oxygen, and nitrous oxide has been studied in premedicated children, but there is no information for the optimum time for cannulation with inhalational induction in children without premedication.

Aims

The aim of this study was to determine the optimum time for intravenous cannulation after the induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane, oxygen, and nitrous oxide in children without any premedication.

Methods

This is a prospective, observer‐blinded, up‐and‐down sequential allocation study in unpremedicated ASA grade 1 children aged 2‐6 years undergoing elective dental surgery. Intravenous cannulation was attempted after inhalational induction with sevoflurane, oxygen, and nitrous oxide. The timing of cannulation was considered adequate if there was no movement, coughing, or laryngospasm. The cannulation attempt for the first child was set at 4 minutes after the loss of eyelash reflex and the time for intravenous cannulation was determined by the up‐and‐down method using 15 seconds as step size. Probit test was used to analyze the up‐down sequences for the study.

Results

The adequate time for effective cannulation after induction with sevoflurane, oxygen, and nitrous oxide in 50% and 95% of patients was 53.02 seconds (95% confidence limits, 20.23‐67.76 seconds) and 87.21 seconds (95% confidence limits, 70.77‐248.03 seconds), respectively.

Conclusion

We recommend waiting for 1 minute 45 seconds (105 seconds) after the loss of eyelash reflex before attempting intravenous cannulation in pediatric patients induced with sevoflurane, oxygen, and nitrous oxide without any premedication.
Cuffed endotracheal tubes in infants less than 3 kg: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Thomas Rebecca E. , Rao Shripada C. , Minutillo Corrado , Hullett Bruce , Bulsara Max K.
Published: January 2018

Background

Cuffed endotracheal tubes are being increasingly used in infants; however, current evidence in the literature mostly includes infants ≥ 3‐kg weight.

Aims

The aim of this observational study was to compare the short‐term outcomes with the use of Microcuff® cuffed vs uncuffed endotracheal tubes in neonates < 3 kg.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study in a single‐centre, tertiary children's hospital neonatal intensive care unit. The study included all infants < 3 kg receiving Microcuff® cuffed endotracheal tubes over the period January 2015 to January 2016. Controls were all infants 2000‐2999 g receiving an uncuffed endotracheal tube over the period September 2015 to January 2016.

Results

Twenty‐three patients < 3 kg were intubated with cuffed endotracheal tubes. All were inserted in the operating room. Of 23 patients, 14 (60.9%) patients had the cuff inflated in the operating room and none subsequently in the neonatal intensive care unit. The group receiving cuffed endotracheal tubes was compared with 23 patients with uncuffed endotracheal tubes. There was no difference in weight (median 2620 g vs 2590 g, diff in median = 10, 95% CI −120, 130) or duration of intubation (median 27 vs 44 hours, diff in median = 17, 95% CI −5, 46). However, there was a significant difference in gestational age (median 37 vs 35 weeks, diff in median = −1, 95% CI −2, 0) and age at intubation (median 6 vs 0 days, diff in median = −4, 95% CI −10, −1). There were no significant differences in the rates of: change of endotracheal tube to find correct size (0/23 vs 4/23, P = .109, OR = 0.13, 95% CI 0.01, 1.41); median ventilator leak reading (0% [IQR 0%‐12%] vs 0% [IQR 0%‐5.5%], P = .201, diff in median = 0, 95% CI −5.5, 0); unplanned extubations (0/23 vs 2/23; atelectasis (4/23 vs 0/23; endotracheal tube blockage (0/23 vs 0/23; pneumonia (0/23 vs 0/23; or postextubation stridor (1/23 vs 2/23).

Conclusion

This retrospective study with a small sample size found that Microcuff® cuffed endotracheal tubes may be safe in neonates < 3 kg. Well‐designed randomized controlled trials are needed to address this issue definitively.
Comparisons of Electron Transfer Reactions in a Cyanobacterial Tetrameric and Trimeric Photosystem I Complexes
Authors: Shelaev Ivan V. , Mamedov Mahir D. , Gostev Fedor E. , Aybush Arseny V. , Li Meng , Nguyen Jonathan , Bruce Barry D. , Nadtochenko Victor A.
Published: January 2018

Photosystem I (PSI) is a Type‐I reaction center and is the largest photosynthetic complex to be characterized. In cyanobacteria, PSI is organized as a trimer with a three‐fold axis of symmetry. Recently, a tetrameric form of PSI has been identified in cyanobacteria. Plastids in plants and algae only contain monomeric PSI, suggesting that tetrameric PSI may be key in the transition from ancestral cyanobacterial trimeric PSI to plant/algal monomeric PSI. We have investigated the kinetics of electron transfer to the initial acceptor in PSI tetramer isolated from Chroococcidiopsis TS‐821. Using a pump–probe technique with 25 fs low‐energy, 720 nm pump pulses, we measure the ultrafast (<100 fs) conversion of a delocalized exciton into a charge‐separated state between the primary donor P700 and the primary acceptor A0. Comparison with previous pump–probe analysis of the trimeric PSI complexes from Synechocystis sp PCC 6803 (Shelaev et al. [2010] Biochim Biophys Acta, 1797, 1410–1420) reveals that the tetrameric (PSI) complexes from Chroococcidiopsis sp TS‐821 are quite similar. The transfer of an electron from the A0 to the following acceptor A1 (phylloquinone) takes place in a time frame of about 30 ps, which is slightly longer compared to PSI trimeric complex (~24 ps). The slight spectral differences between trimeric and tetrameric PSI complexes are discussed.
The Space Between: Demonization of Opponents and Policy Divergence
Authors: Katz Juniper
Published: January 2018

Prior research on policy conflicts indicates a tendency among policy actors to misperceive the influence of actors engaged in policy debates based on the degree of distance between their relative policy positions. This research develops a measure for assessing the degree and direction of the misperception effect. This measure is then utilized as a dependent variable to assess the relationship between theoretically relevant factors and the degree to which actors will exaggerate the influence of their opponents and allies. The research uses original survey data of policy actors engaged in the debate over hydraulic fracturing in New York. The results indicate misperceptions of relative influence are prevalent and most associated with the experience of a policy loss and holding relatively extreme policy beliefs. The findings provide new insight into factors that influence the demonization of political opponents. These insights are timely in the context of polarized debates over environmental and energy policy in the United States.
Determinants and Evaluation of Local Energy‐Efficiency Initiatives from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
Authors: Lim Taekyoung , Bowen William M.
Published: January 2018

This article examines variation in local‐level energy‐efficiency grants and corresponding initiatives from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) in the United States. The analysis is based upon a hurdle model of counts of energy‐efficiency grants received by 348 local governments that received these grants from 2009 to 2013, as well as 348 matched local governments that did not receive such funds. City‐level characteristics including amount of federal financial support, per capita income, signaling of preferences for sustainability policies, manufacturing, and political influences are shown to be empirically important determinants of variation in local energy‐efficiency initiatives. The evidence suggests that all else held equal, the $21.8 billion in ARRA funds expended with the intent of increasing local energy‐efficiency programs and policies successfully led to this end.
A Comparison of Joint Models for Longitudinal and Competing Risks Data, with Application to an Epilepsy Drug Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Hickey Graeme L. , Philipson Pete , Jorgensen Andrea , Kolamunnage-Dona Ruwanthi
Published: January 2018

Joint modelling of longitudinal data and competing risks has grown over the past decade. Despite the recent methodological developments, there are still limited options for fitting these models in standard statistical software programs, which prohibits their adoption by applied biostatisticians. We summarize four published models, each of which has software available for model estimation. Each model features a different hazard function, latent association structure between the submodels, estimation approach and software implementation. Of the four models considered here, the model specifications and association structures are substantially different, thus complicating model-to-model comparison. The models are applied to the ‘Standard and new anti-epileptic drugs’ trial of anti-epileptic drugs to investigate the effect of drug titration on the treatment effects of lamotrigine and carbamazepine on the mode of treatment failure. Notwithstanding the vastly different association structures, we show that the inference from each model is consistent, namely, that there is a beneficial effect of lamotrigine on unacceptable adverse events over carbamazepine and a non-significant effect on the hazard of inadequate seizure control. The association between anti-epileptic drug titration and treatment failure was significant in most models. To allow for the routine adoption of joint modelling of competing risks and longitudinal data in the analysis of clinical data sets, further work is required on the development of model diagnostics to aid model choice.
Formation and evolution of back‐barrier perched lakes in rocky coasts: An example of a Holocene system in north‐west Spain
Authors: Sáez Alberto , Carballeira Rafael , Pueyo Juan J. , Vázquez‐Loureiro David , Leira Manel , Hernández Armand , Valero‐Garcés Blas L. , Bao Roberto
Published: January 2018

Coastal back‐barrier perched lakes are freshwater bodies that are elevated over sea‐level and are not directly subjected to the inflow of seawater. This study provides a detailed reconstruction of the Doniños back‐barrier perched lake that developed at the end of a small river valley in the rocky coast of the north‐west Iberian Peninsula during the Holocene transgression. Its sequence stratigraphy was reconstructed based on a core transect across the system, the analyses of its lithofacies and microfossil assemblages, and a high‐resolution radiocarbon‐based chronology. The Doniños perched lake was formed ca 4·5 ka bp. The setting of the perched lake was favoured by Late Holocene sea‐level stabilization and the formation of a barrier and back‐barrier basin, which was contemporaneous with the high systems tract period. This basin developed over marine and lagoonal sediments deposited between 10·2 ka bp and 8·0 ka bp, during rapidly rising sea‐level characteristic of the transgressive systems track period. At 1·1 ka bp, the barrier was breached and the perched lake was partially emptied, causing the erosion of the back‐barrier basin sediments and a significant sedimentary hiatus. Both enhanced storminess and human intervention were likely to be responsible for this event. After 1 ka bp, the barrier reclosed and the present‐day lake was reformed, with the water level reaching as high as 5 m above mean sea‐level. The depositional evolution of the Doniños system serves as a model of coastal back‐barrier perched lakes in coastal clastic systems that have developed over gently seaward‐dipping rugged substrates at small distances from the shoreline and under conditions of rising sea‐level and high sediment supply. A review of estuaries, back‐barrier lagoons, pocket beaches and back‐barrier perched lakes in the rocky coast of north‐west Spain shows that the elevation of the bedrock is the main factor controlling the origin and evolution of these systems.
Polarization of life expectancy across countries: Does biological and cultural distance to the health technological frontier matter?
Authors: Deng Wen‐Shuenn , Lin Yi‐Chen , Tsai Ming‐Tien
Published: January 2018

This study examines the evolution of the distribution of life expectancy (LE) at birth and at ages 20 and 60 years using the stochastic kernel framework. It finds that the period between 1990 and 2013 exhibits a decrease in LE at birth dispersion and also shows that σ‐divergence and polarization of LE at ages 20 and 60 occur across countries. Further deterioration (improvement) in relative position of countries with low (high) starting LE is observed in some sections of the LE distribution. The dispersion in LE and intradistribution movements can be attributed to genealogically transmitted human barriers to technology diffusion.
Suicide Risk across Latent Class Subgroups: A Test of the Generalizability of the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide
Authors: Ma Jennifer S. , Batterham Philip J. , Calear Alison L. , Han Jin
Published: January 2018

It remains unclear whether the Interpersonal Psychological Theory of Suicide (IPTS; Joiner, ) is generalizable to the population or holds more explanatory power for certain subgroups compared to others. The aim of this study was to (1) identify subgroups of individuals who endorsed suicide ideation in the past month based on a range of mental health and demographic variables, (2) compare levels of the IPTS constructs within these subgroups, and (3) test the IPTS predictions for suicide ideation and suicide attempt for each group. Latent class, negative binomial, linear, and logistic regression analyses were conducted on population‐based data obtained from 1,321 adults recruited from Facebook. Among participants reporting suicide ideation, four distinct patterns of risk factors emerged based on age and severity of mental health symptoms. Groups with highly elevated mental health symptoms reported the highest levels of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness. Tests of the IPTS interactions provided partial support for the theory, primarily in young adults with elevated mental health symptoms. Lack of support found for the IPTS predictions across the subgroups and full sample in this study raise some questions around the broad applicability of the theory.
Patient rescue and blood utilization in the Ogasawara blood rotation system
Authors: Igarashi Tomoko , Fujita Hiroshi , Asaka Hiroyuki , Takada Yuko , Ametani Rieko , Naya Itsuki , Tanaka Yasushi , Kamesaki Makoto , Kasai Asuka
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND

In the past, blood products were not transported to the Ogasawara Islands because of the distance; the islands are approximately 1000 km from the mainland and lack an airport. The Ogasawara Blood Rotation system involves the routine, long‐distance transportation of Type O, RhD‐positive, irradiated red blood cells to rescue patients with acute hemorrhage and severe anemia and to reduce wastage from the expiration of red blood cell solution.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Blood transfusion and utilization in the Ogasawara blood rotation (BR) system were examined from December 2014 to March 2017. Two packs of RBC solution (one pack = 280 mL) were transported in an active transport refrigerator by scheduled ships between Tokyo City and the Ogasawara Islands.

RESULTS

Eight packs of red blood cell (RBC) solution were received as transfusions by four patients who had acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding or severe anemia (eight of 232 packs; 3.4%). The blood utilization rate at the time of re‐use was 84.6% (196 of 232 packs), with neither adverse reactions nor wastage. Twenty‐eight packs of RBC solution expired because of a delay in scheduled ships as the result of a typhoon (12.1%).

CONCLUSION

The Ogasawara BR system was effectively capable of delivering RBC solution for transfusion in patients residing in distant islands and contributed to reducing the wastage of RBC solution by facilitating blood utilization at another hospital.