bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimizing motor decision-making through competition with opponents
Authors: Ota Keiji , Tanae Mamoru , Ishii Kotaro , Takiyama Ken
Published: August 2018

Although optimal decision-making is essential for sports performance and fine motor control, it has been repeatedly confirmed that humans show a strong risk-seeking bias, selecting a risky strategy over an optimal solution. Despite such evidence, the ideal method to promote optimal decision-making remains unclear. Here, we propose that interactions with other people can influence motor decision-making and improve risk-seeking bias. We developed a competitive reaching game (a variant of the “chicken game”) in which aiming for greater rewards increased the risk of no reward and subjects competed for the total reward with their opponent. The game resembles situations in sports, such as a penalty kick in soccer, service in tennis, the strike zone in baseball, or take-off in ski jumping. In five different experiments, we demonstrated that, at the beginning of the competitive game, the subjects robustly switched their risk-seeking strategy to a risk-averse strategy. Following the reversal of the strategy, the subjects achieved optimal decision-making when competing with risk-averse opponents. This optimality was achieved by a non-linear influence of an opponent’s decisions on a subject’s decisions. These results suggest that interactions with others can alter human motor decision strategies and that competition with a risk-averse opponent is key for optimizing motor decision-making.
Hi-D: Nanoscale mapping of nuclear dynamics in single living cells
Authors: Shaban Haitham A. , Barth Roman , Recoules Ludmila , Bystricky Kerstin
Published: August 2018

Bulk chromatin motion has not been analysed at high resolution. We present Hi-D, a method to quantitatively map dynamics of chromatin and abundant nuclear proteins for every pixel simultaneously over the entire nucleus from fluorescence image series. Hi-D combines reconstruction of chromatin motion, and classification of local diffusion processes by Bayesian inference. We show that DNA dynamics in the nuclear interior are spatially partitioned into 0.3 – 3 μm domains in a mosaic-like pattern, uncoupled from chromatin compaction. This pattern was remodelled in response to transcriptional activity. Hi-D can be applied to any dense and bulk structures opening new perspectives towards understanding motion of nuclear molecules.
ganon: precise metagenomics classification against large and up-to-date sets of reference sequences
Authors: Piro Vitor C. , Dadi Temesgen H. , Seiler Enrico , Reinert Knut , Renard Bernhard Y.
Published: August 2018

Motivation

The exponential growth of assembled genome sequences greatly benefits metagenomics studies. However, currently available methods struggle to manage the increasing amount of sequences and their frequent updates. Indexing the current RefSeq can take days and hundreds of GB of memory on large servers. Few methods address these issues thus far, and even though many can theoretically handle large amounts of references, time/memory requirements are prohibitive in practice. As a result, many studies that require sequence classification use often outdated and almost never truly up-to-date indices.

Results

Motivated by those limitations we created ganon, a k-mer based read classification tool that uses Interleaved Bloom Filters in conjunction with a taxonomic clustering and a k-mer counting/filtering scheme. Ganon provides an efficient method for indexing references, keeping them updated. It requires less than 55 minutes to index the complete RefSeq of bacteria, archaea, fungi and viruses. The tool can further keep these indices up-to-date in a fraction of the time necessary to create them. Ganon makes it possible to query against very large reference sets and therefore it classifies significantly more reads and identifies more species than similar methods. When classifying a high-complexity CAMI challenge dataset against complete genomes from RefSeq, ganon shows strongly increased precision with equal or better sensitivity compared with state-of-the-art tools. With the same dataset against the complete RefSeq, ganon improved the F1-Score by 65% at the genus level. It supports taxonomy- and assembly-level classification, multiple indices and hierarchical classification.

Availability

The software is open-source and available at: https://gitlab.com/rki_bioinformatics/ganon

Contact

bernhard.renard@hpi.de
Crystal structure of (S)-1-O-tert-butyldiphenylsilylglycerol: eight chiral molecules in a triclinic cell
Authors: Doboszewski Bogdan , Nazarenko Alexander Y. , Nemykin Victor N. , Silva Maria Joselice e
Published: August 2018

The asymmetric unit of the title compound {systematic name: 3-[(tert-butyldiphenylsilyl)oxy]propane-1,2-diol, C19H26O3Si}, contains eight chiral molecules (Z′ = 8). These molecules are connected via a complex system of hydrogen bonds into an infinite assembly along the [100] axis; hydrophobic tert-butyl and phenyl groups form an external coating of the assembly. These assemblies are packed by weak intermolecular interactions in a peculiar formation resembling a `header bond' masonry brick wall. Disorder of flexible fragments increases with temperature but the same crystal structure exists from 120 to 220 K (and most probably to the melting point at 334 K).
Chlorido(η6-p-cymene)[2-(5-phenyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl-κN
2)pyridine-κN]ruthenium(II) chloride. Addendum
Authors: IUCr Editorial Office
Published: August 2018

The paper by Sikalov [IUCrData (2018), 3, x180625] is updated.
Imaging spectroscopy predicts variable distance decay across contrasting Amazonian tree communities
Authors: Draper Frederick C. , Baraloto Christopher , Brodrick Philip G. , Phillips Oliver L. , Martinez Rodolfo Vasquez , Honorio Coronado Euridice N. , Baker Timothy R. , Zárate Gómez Ricardo , Amasifuen Guerra Carlos A. , Flores Manuel , Garcia Villacorta Roosevelt , V. A. Fine Paul , Freitas Luis , Monteagudo‐Mendoza Abel , J. W Brienen Roel , Asner Gregory P.
Published: August 2018

The forests of Amazonia are among the most biodiverse on Earth, yet accurately quantifying how species composition varies through space (i.e., beta‐diversity) remains a significant challenge. Here, we use high‐fidelity airborne imaging spectroscopy from the Carnegie Airborne Observatory to quantify a key component of beta‐diversity, the distance decay in species similarity through space, across three landscapes in Northern Peru. We then compared our derived distance decay relationships to theoretical expectations obtained from a Poisson Cluster Process, known to match well with empirical distance decay relationships at local scales.

We used an unsupervised machine learning approach to estimate spatial turnover in species composition from the imaging spectroscopy data. We first validated this approach across two landscapes using an independent dataset of forest composition in 49 forest census plots (0.1–1.5 ha). We then applied our approach to three landscapes, which together represented terra firme clay forest, seasonally flooded forest and white‐sand forest. We finally used our approach to quantify landscape‐scale distance decay relationships and compared these with theoretical distance decay relationships derived from a Poisson Cluster Process.

We found a significant correlation of similarity metrics between spectral data and forest plot data, suggesting that beta‐diversity within and among forest types can be accurately estimated from airborne spectroscopic data using our unsupervised approach. We also found that estimated distance decay in species similarity varied among forest types, with seasonally flooded forests showing stronger distance decay than white‐sand and terra firme forests. Finally, we demonstrated that distance decay relationships derived from the theoretical Poisson Cluster Process compare poorly with our empirical relationships.

Synthesis. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of using high‐fidelity imaging spectroscopy to estimate beta‐diversity and continuous distance decay in lowland tropical forests. Furthermore, our findings suggest that distance decay relationships vary substantially among forest types, which has important implications for conserving these valuable ecosystems. Finally, we demonstrate that a theoretical Poisson Cluster Process poorly predicts distance decay in species similarity as conspecific aggregation occurs across a range of nested scales within larger landscapes.
Australia Demonstrates the Rise of Populism is About More than Economics
Authors: Wood Danielle , Daley John , Chivers Carmela
Published: August 2018

Votes for established centre‐right and centre‐left political parties are falling across the developed world. Australia is not immune from this trend: in the 2016 federal election, more people voted for minor parties than at any point since the Second World War. Australia is an interesting case study for the rest of the world on the origins of populist support. Political scientists have struggled to separate the effects of cultural shifts and poor economic outcomes (low wages and rising inequality) in many countries because these shifts have occurred simultaneously. However, in Australia the economy was relatively healthy during the period of rising minor party support. Our analysis suggests that falling trust in government and a backlash against the pace of social change explain much of the collapse in support for the political mainstream.
The Rule of Law and the Rule of Empire: A.V. Dicey in Imperial Context
Authors: Lino Dylan
Published: August 2018

The idea of the rule of law, more ubiquitous globally today than ever before, owes a lasting debt to the work of Victorian legal theorist A. V. Dicey. But for all of Dicey's influence, little attention has been paid to the imperial entanglements of his thought, including on the rule of law. This article seeks to bring the imperial dimensions of Dicey's thinking about the rule of law into view. On Dicey's account, the rule of law represented a distinctive English civilisational achievement, one that furnished a liberal justification for British imperialism. And yet Dicey was forced to acknowledge that imperial rule at times required arbitrariness and formal inequality at odds with the rule of law. At a moment when the rule of law has once more come to license all sorts of transnational interventions by globally powerful political actors, Dicey's preoccupations and ambivalences are in many ways our own.
Protecting Free Speech and Academic Freedom in Universities
Authors: Cram Ian , Fenwick Helen
Published: August 2018

Restrictions on speaking events in universities have been created both by recent student‐led efforts at ‘no‐platforming’ and by Part 5 of the Counter‐terrorism and Security Act 2015 which placed aspects of the government's Prevent strategy on a statutory basis. The statutory Prevent duty in universities includes, under the accompanying Guidance, curbing or monitoring events that could have an impact in drawing persons into terrorism. This article places the combined impact of Part 5 and student‐led curbs on campus speech in context by juxtaposing pre‐existing restrictions with the various free speech duties of universities. Focusing on speaking events, it evaluates the resulting state of free speech and academic freedom in universities. It finds potential violations of established free speech norms due to the impact of pre‐emptive strikes against some campus‐linked speech articulating non‐mainstream viewpoints. But it also argues that not all such speech has a strong foundation within such norms.
Clinical utility of red blood cell distribution width in inflammatory and non‐inflammatory joint diseases
Authors: Horta‐Baas Gabriel , Romero‐Figueroa María del Socorro
Published: August 2018

Aim

Current studies demonstrate red blood cell distribution width (RDW) as a possible surrogate biomarker of inflammation. The objectives of the present study were to examine RDW in patients with osteoarthritis (OA), fibromyalgia (FM), rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) and to evaluate its clinical importance.

Methods

Six hundred and ninety‐nine ambulatory patients were evaluated. RDW, hemoglobin, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C‐reactive protein (CRP) were assessed. In order to compare groups, a Kruskall–Wallis test with post hoc Dunn's test was applied. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate anisocytosis explanatory variables.

Results

Red blood cell distribution width values differed significantly among groups. Post hoc analysis demonstrated a significant increase in RDW within RA versus OA groups (P < 0.001), active SpA versus OA (P < 0.001), RA versus FM (P < 0.001) and active SpA versus FM groups (P = 0.001). Presence of anisocytosis was useful to discriminate between active articular inflammatory versus non‐inflammatory diseases with 48–95% sensitivity and 66–95% specificity. Multivariate analysis showed a six‐fold increase in anisocytosis for the presence of a possible articular inflammatory disease.

Conclusion

In subjects with articular pain, RDW interpretation is a useful tool in clinical practice to distinguish between articular inflammatory and non‐inflammatory joint diseases, as with CRP. RDW seems to be a surrogate marker of the inflammatory process.
FOXP3 rs3761548 polymorphism is associated with knee osteoarthritis in a Turkish population
Authors: Cekin Nilgun , Pinarbasi Ergun , Bildirici Aslıhan Esra , Donmez Gonca , Oztemur Zekeriya , Bulut Okay , Arslan Serdal
Published: August 2018

Aim

Functional polymorphisms located in FOXP3 intron 1 was recently found to be associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although RA is an autoimmune disease, there is supporting evidence that activated maladaptive responses including pro‐inflammatory pathways play roles in osteoarthritis (OA), similar to RA. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between rs2232365 (‐924A/G) and rs3761548 (‐3279A/C) polymorphisms as well as possible changes in the 600 bp promoter region of FOXP3 and knee OA.

Methods

Patients with primary knee OA (n = 300) and healthy individuals (n = 300) were examined for rs3761548 and rs2232365 FOXP3 gene polymorphisms by the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment‐length polymorphism method. The 600 bp promoter region (between −500 and +100) of the gene was also sequenced with direct sequencing in 50 knee OA patients and 50 healthy individuals.

Results

There were no sequence variants in the promoter region tested both in OA patients and healthy controls. The SNP rs2232365 showed no association with OA susceptibility and severity and the results of other genetic models were also nonsignificant. On the other hand, rs3761548 AC (P = 0.003), AA + CC (P = 0.0014) as well as AC + AA (P = 0.40) genotypes showed association with Grade 4 knee OA patients.

Conclusion

Our findings indicated that the association between FOXP3 rs2232365 polymorphism and knee OA tended to yield negative results but the FOXP3 rs3761548 C allele was associated with elevated risk of OA in Grade 4 knee OA patients in a Turkish population.
Hospitalizations due to systemic connective tissue diseases: Secular trends and regional disparities in Sweden, 1998‐2016
Authors: Kiadaliri Aliasghar A. , Mohammad Aladdin J. , Englund Martin
Published: August 2018

Aim

To investigate secular trends and regional disparities in hospitalizations due to systemic connective tissue diseases (SCTD) in Sweden from 1998 to 2016.

Method

We identified all hospital admissions with a principal diagnosis of SCTD (ICD‐10 codes: M30‐M36) from the Swedish National Patient Register. Joinpoint regression was used to assess secular trends in age‐standardized hospitalization rates (ASHR) and proportions of SCTD from all and musculoskeletal disorders hospitalizations. We also assessed the secular trends in the absolute and relative regional disparities of SCTD hospitalizations.

Results

We identified 89 333 SCTD hospitalizations (0.3% of all hospitalizations), of these about 69% were for women and 49% of patients were aged 15‐64 years. Polyarteritis nodosa and related conditions (PANRC) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were the most frequent SCTD among those aged <10 years and 10‐54 years, respectively. Joinpoint regression suggested that both rates and proportions of SCTD hospitalizations declined over time. These trends persisted among sex, age and diagnosis subgroups except for PANRC in patients aged 0‐19 years who observed an average annual increase of 3.4% (95% CI: 1.8, 5.1) over the study period. There were 2.4‐fold (95% CI: 2.3‐2.5) difference between the regions with the highest and lowest mean ASHR. There was no statistically significant secular trend in the relative regional disparities, whereas the absolute regional disparity declined over time.

Conclusion

There were substantial decreases in the absolute and relative burden of SCTD hospitalizations reflecting possible improvements in disease management in Sweden. The rising trend in PANRC among the youngest children warrants further investigation.
Autoantibody profile in children with Kawasaki disease on long‐term follow‐up: A prospective study from North India
Authors: Basha Aseem , Rawat Amit , Jindal Ankur K. , Gupta Anju , Anand Shashi , Garg Ravinder , Minz Ranjana W. , Singh Surjit
Published: August 2018

Aim

To study the profile of autoantibodies on long‐term follow‐up of children with Kawasaki disease (KD).

Patients and methods

In this single‐center observational cohort study, 50 children who had been diagnosed and treated for KD with a minimum follow‐up period of 3 years were enrolled. The organ‐specific autoantibodies that were assessed in the study included anti‐thyroid microsomal antibody (TMA), anti‐parietal cell antibody (PCA) and anti‐liver kidney microsomal (LKM) antibody. The organ‐nonspecific autoantibodies that were studied included anti‐endothelial cell antibody (AECA), anti‐nuclear antibody (ANA), anti‐neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA), anti‐mitochondrial antibody (AMA) and anti‐smooth muscle antibody (SMA).

Results

The sample for assessment of serology was taken at a mean follow‐up period of 6.41 years (±1.95 SD) after diagnosis. Autoantibodies were detected in 11/50 (22%) patients. ANA was detected in three patients, TMA was positive in seven and ANCA was positive in one.

Conclusions

These autoantibodies likely develop in children with KD during the acute stage and may persist for many years. There is no concrete evidence to suggest that these children are at increased risk of developing an autoimmune disease in the future. However, there is some justification for prolonged surveillance for development of autoimmune manifestations.
Evaluation of joint cartilage thickness in healthy children by ultrasound: An experience from a developing nation
Authors: Samanta Moumita , Mitra Sonali , Samui Partha P. , Mondal Rakesh K. , Hazra Avijit , Sabui Tapas K.
Published: August 2018

Objectives

Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) has a crucial role in clinical assessment and monitoring of patients with rheumatologic diseases. Early detection of joint cartilage destruction is difficult.MSUSis a cheap, noninvasive, nonhazardous bedside tool that can be used for detection of cartilage damage. We aimed to generate normative data of joint cartilage thickness of children in our population using this tool.

Methods

Healthy children, aged between 2 and 12 years, not suffering from any joint disorders and not on any chronic medication were recruited. The thickness of joint cartilage at wrist, knee and ankle were measured by ultrasound as per European League Against Rheumatism standard scan criteria. The scans were done by a single observer.

Results

Data of 409 children revealed median cartilage thickness at right wrist, knee and ankle joints as 2.20 (interquartile range [IQR] 1.60‐3.00) mm, 2.40 (1.80‐3.10) mm and 2.20 (1.80‐3.00) mm, respectively. The right‐left differences were not statistically significant except at the knee joint. Comparison between genders showed that boys had marginally thicker cartilage than girls at all three joints; this difference was statistically significant for the knee and ankle joints, but not at the wrist. Joint cartilage thickness showed a steady decline with age.

Conclusions

Measurement of joint cartilage thickness in children withMSUSand comparison with these normative values can help in better screening for joint‐related disease in children.
Biologics and risk of tuberculosis in autoimmune rheumatic diseases: A real‐world clinical experience from India
Authors: Shobha Vineeta , Chandrashekara S. , Rao Vijay , Desai Anu , Jois Ramesh , Dharmanand Balebail G. , Kumar Sharath , Kumar Pradeep , Dharmapalaiah Chethana , Mahendranath Kurugodu Mathada , Prasad Shiva , Daware Manisha Ashwin , Singh Yogesh , Karjigi Uma , Nagaraj S. , Anupama K. R.
Published: August 2018

Aim

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major adverse events of concern associated with the use of biologics for managing autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs). The study presents the data on incidence of TB in relation to biologic used, screening test and TB prophylaxis in a real‐world setting.

Methods

The cross‐sectional, observational, retrospective study was conducted across 12 centres in Karnataka, India. The study included patients receiving biologics therapy for AIRDs, established based on the respective diagnostic criteria. The development of TB after receiving biologic therapy and other clinical variables and the predictability of the test performed for latent TB were evaluated.

Results

One hundred and ninety‐five AIRDs patients with an average age of 41 years were initiated on biologic therapy. Twenty‐one patients were latent TB positive and were given antitubercular prophylaxis, prior to biologics treatment. During follow‐up, seven patients belonging to the negative test group (n = 174) developed TB. The negative predictive values noted for Mantoux test (n = 120) and quantiFERON TB gold test (n = 178) were 96.52% and 96.25%, respectively. Patients on anti‐tumor necrosis factor were more likely to develop TB. Presence of comorbidities and steroid use increased the likelihood of developing TB by 1.5 and 4.6 times, respectively.

Conclusion

Close monitoring of patients receiving biologics is essential for early identification of adverse events, especially in test negative patients. Prophylaxis can effectively reduce the risk of developing TB in patients positive for screening.
Model selection with overdispersed distance sampling data
Authors: Howe Eric J. , Buckland Stephen T. , Després‐Einspenner Marie‐Lyne , Kühl Hjalmar S.
Published: August 2018

Distance sampling (DS) is a widely used framework for estimating animal abundance.DSmodels assume that observations of distances to animals are independent. Non‐independent observations introduce overdispersion, causing model selection criteria such asAICorAICcto favour overly complex models, with adverse effects on accuracy and precision.

We describe, and evaluate via simulation and with real data, estimators of an overdispersion factor (), and associated adjusted model selection criteria (QAIC) for use with overdispersedDSdata. In other contexts, a single value ofis calculated from the “global” model, that is the most highly parameterised model in the candidate set, and used to calculateQAICfor all models in the set; the resultingQAICvalues, and associated ΔQAICvalues andQAICweights, are comparable across the entire set. Candidate models of theDSdetection function include models with different general forms (e.g. half‐normal, hazard rate, uniform), so it may not be possible to identify a single global model. We therefore propose a two‐step model selection procedure by whichQAICis used to select among models with the same general form, and then a goodness‐of‐fit statistic is used to select among models with different forms. A drawback of this approach is thatQAICvalues are not comparable across all models in the candidate set.

Relative toAIC,QAICand the two‐step model selection procedure avoided overfitting and improved the accuracy and precision of densities estimated from simulated data. When applied to six real datasets, adjusted criteria and procedures selected either the same model asAICor a model that yielded a more accurate density estimate in five cases, and a model that yielded a less accurate estimate in one case.

ManyDSsurveys yield overdispersed data, including cue counting surveys of songbirds and cetaceans, surveys of social species including primates, and camera‐trapping surveys. Methods that adjust for overdispersion during the model selection stage ofDSanalyses therefore address a conspicuous gap in theDSanalytical framework as applied to species of conservation concern.
The validity and sensitivity of PANSS‐6 in treatment‐resistant schizophrenia
Authors: Østergaard S. D. , Foldager L. , Mors O. , Bech P. , Correll C. U.
Published: August 2018

Objective

To test the validity and sensitivity of the six‐item version (PANSS‐6) of the 30‐item Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS‐30) in treatment‐resistant schizophrenia (TRS).

Method

Using data from the clozapine phase (2E) of the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) study, we investigated the following: (i) The scalability of PANSS‐6 and PANSS‐30; (ii) The correlation between PANSS‐6 and PANSS‐30 total scores; (iii) Whether PANSS‐6 could identify cross‐sectional symptom remission; and (iv) The efficacy of clozapine, olanzapine, risperidone and quetiapine in TRS using the ‘speed of change’ on PANSS‐6 and PANSS‐30 (change in total score per week) as outcome measures.

Results

We found that (i) only PANSS‐6 and not PANSS‐30 was scalable; (ii) The correlation between PANSS‐6 and PANSS‐30 total scores was high (Spearman coefficient: 0.85), (iii) PANSS‐6 accurately identified cross‐sectional symptom remission as defined by the Andreasen et al. criteria; and (iv) The only antipsychotic that caused improvement (speed of change significantly lower than 0 during the first three months of treatment) was clozapine, both when using PANSS‐6 (speed of change: −0.50 points/week; 95%CI: −0.84, −0.17) and PANSS‐30 (speed of change: −1.41 points/week; 95%CI: −2.80, −0.02) as outcome measures.

Conclusion

PANSS‐6 validly measures severity, remission and antipsychotic efficacy in TRS.
Medical emergencies in dental practice – management requirements and international practitioner proficiency. A scoping review
Authors: Vaughan M , Park A , Sholapurkar A , Esterman A
Published: August 2018

The management of medical emergencies is widely considered a requisite skill for all dentists. Timely intervention of an emergency can significantly alter the outcome for a patient's morbidity and possible mortality. This scoping review examines the prevalence of medical emergencies in dental practice, as well as dentists’ attitude, confidence, and competence, of medical emergency management within a dental setting. Key findings include a lack of preparedness towards medical emergencies, despite a universal recognition of the importance and desire to improve key medical skills.
Humoral immunity in late‐onset Pre‐eclampsia and linkage with angiogenic and inflammatory markers
Authors: Sarween Nadia , Drayson Mark T. , Hodson James , Knox Ellen M. , Plant Timothy , Day Clara J. , Lipkin Graham W.
Published: August 2018

Problem

Pre‐eclampsia (PE) is a leading cause of maternal and foetal morbidity worldwide. Given the implication of immune mechanisms, we compared markers of humoral immunity in PE and their relationship to circulating markers of inflammation, angiogenic factors, and renal function.

Method of study

Serum samples from 88 previously healthy women admitted to hospital with PE and 107 healthy pregnant controls at term were analysed for serum immunoglobulins (Ig), including IgG subclasses and free light chain (sFLC) levels, beta‐2 microglobulin (B2‐M), high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (HS‐CRP), albumin, complement proteins (C3 & C4), creatinine, cystatin‐C and the ratio of soluble fms‐like tyrosine kinase‐1 (sFLT‐1) and placental growth factor (PlGF).

Results

Compared to the controls, women with PE had significantly reduced renal function, serum IgG (subclass 1 & 3), albumin, and C4 levels, whilst concentrations of total sFLC, HS‐CRP, B2‐M, and sFLT‐1:PlGF were raised. On multivariable analysis, sFLT‐1:PlGF ratio (P < 0.001), sFLC (P < 0.001) and IgG1 (P < 0.024) were found to be independently associated with PE, after accounting for renal function, patient age, BMI, ethnicity, and parity. B2‐M and sFLT‐1:PlGF had comparable diagnostic association with PE (P = 0.184), and correlated strongly with each other (ρ = 0.588, P < 0.001) as well as with renal function and adverse clinical outcome.

Conclusion

We describe for the first time that PE is independently associated with activation of the humoral immune system independent of deranged kidney function and angiogenic markers. The role of B2‐M as a potential predictive marker of PE remains to be determined.
Risk of fistula formation and long‐term health effects after a benign hysterectomy complicated by organ injury: A population‐based register study
Authors: Hesselman Susanne , Bergman Lina , Högberg Ulf , Jonsson Maria
Published: August 2018

Introduction

There is a paucity of data on the impact of organ injury on long‐term outcomes after a hysterectomy for benign indications. The aim of this study was to investigate fistula formation and patient‐reported long‐term health outcomes after organ injury at the time of a hysterectomy.

Material and methods

This was a population‐based study of 22 538 women undergoing a hysterectomy between 2000 and 2014 in Sweden. Their medical history, characteristics of their surgery, and patient‐reported outcomes were retrieved from Swedish national health and quality registers. Predictors for fistula formation were investigated with logistic regression and are presented as odds ratios with a 95% CI.

Results

Fistulas were reported in 7% of women with organ injuries, compared with 0.4% of those without organ injuries (adjusted odds ratio 15.29 [9.81‐23.85]). Laparotomy and postoperative infection were associated with postoperative fistulas. Most of the women reported having better health 1 year after the hysterectomy, but 7% of those with organ injuries and 24% of those with fistulas reported deteriorated health, compared with 2% of women without injuries.

Conclusions

Organ injury at the time of hysterectomy is associated with the development of fistulas involving the female genital tract and increases the proportion of women reporting deteriorated health 1 year after surgery.
Estimated date of delivery based on second trimester fetal head circumference: A population‐based validation of 21 451 deliveries
Authors: Kessler Jörg , Johnsen Synnøve Lian , Ebbing Cathrine , Karlsen Henriette Odland , Rasmussen Svein , Kiserud Torvid
Published: August 2018

Introduction

Fetal biometry is used for determining gestational age and estimated date of delivery (EDD). However, the accuracy of the EDD depends on the assumed length of pregnancy included in the calculation. This study aimed at assessing the actual pregnancy length and accuracy of EDD prediction based on fetal head circumference measured at the second trimester.

Material and methods

This was a population‐based observational study with the following inclusion criteria: singleton pregnancy, head circumference dating in the second trimester, spontaneous onset or induction of delivery ≥ 294 days of gestation, live birth. The EDD was set anticipating a pregnancy length of 282 days. Bias in the prediction of EDD was defined as the difference between the actual date of birth and the EDD.

Results

Head circumference measurements were available for 21 451 pregnancies. Ultrasound‐dated pregnancies had a median pregnancy length of 283.03 days, corresponding to a method bias of 1.03 days (95% CI; 0.89‐1.16). This bias was dependent on the head circumference at dating, ranging from −1.58 days (95% CI; −3.54 to 1.12) to 3.42 days (95% CI; 1.98‐4.31). The median pregnancy length, based on the last menstrual period of women with a regular menstrual cycle (n = 12 985), was 283.15 days (95% CI; 282.91‐283.31). A total of 5685 (22.9%, 95% CI; 22.4% to 23.4%) and 886 women (3.6%, 95% CI; 3.3%‐3.8%) were still pregnant 7 and 14 days after the EDD, respectively.

Conclusions

Second trimester head circumference measurements can be safely used to predict EDD. A revision of the pregnancy length to 283 days will reduce the bias of EDD prediction to a level comparable with other methods.
Isolation of mitochondrial subpopulations from skeletal muscle: Optimizing recovery and preserving integrity
Authors: Lai Nicola , M. Kummitha China , Rosca Mariana G. , Fujioka Hisashi , Tandler Bernard , Hoppel Charles L.
Published: August 2018

Aim

The subsarcolemmal (SSM) and interfibrillar (IFM) mitochondria in skeletal muscle appear to have distinct biochemical properties affecting metabolism in health and disease. The isolation of mitochondrial subpopulations has been a long‐time challenge while the presence of a continuous mitochondrial reticulum challenges the view of distinctive SSM and IFM bioenergetics. Here, a comprehensive approach is developed to identify the best conditions to separate mitochondrial fractions.

Methods

The main modifications to the protocol to isolate SSM and IFM from rat skeletal muscle were: (a) decreased dispase content and homogenization speed; (b) trypsin treatment of SSM fractions; (c) recentrifugation of mitochondrial fractions at low speed to remove subcellular components. To identify the conditions preserving mitochondrial function, integrity, and maximizing their recovery, microscopy (light and electron) were used to monitor effectiveness and efficiency in separating mitochondrial subpopulations while respiratory and enzyme activities were employed to evaluate function, recovery, and integrity.

Results

With the modifications described, the total mitochondrial yield increased with a recovery of 80% of mitochondria contained in the original skeletal muscle sample. The difference between SSM and IFM oxidative capacity (10%) with complex‐I substrate was significant only with a saturated ADP concentration. The inner and outer membrane damage for both subpopulations was <1% and 8%, respectively, while the respiratory control ratio was 16.

Conclusion

Using a multidisciplinary approach, conditions were identified to maximize SSM and IFM recovery while preserving mitochondrial integrity, biochemistry, and morphology. High quality and recovery of mitochondrial subpopulations allow to study the relationship between these organelles and disease.
Recent advancements of robotic surgery for kidney cancer
Authors: Phung Michael C , Lee Benjamin R
Published: August 2018

Surgical management of renal cell carcinoma has undergone a transformation in recent decades, especially with the dissemination of the robotic platform. Increasingly, larger and more complex renal lesions are now being treated in a minimally invasive fashion. The purpose of this article is to review advances in the use of the robotic approach for treatment of renal cell carcinoma, including nephron‐sparing surgery, radical nephrectomy, and cytoreductive nephrectomy.
Simultaneous resections of left lung cancer and esophageal schwannoma using video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery: A case report
Authors: An Byonggu , Abe Tetsuya , Uemura Norihisa , Higaki Eiji , Hosoi Takahiro , Kuroda Hiroaki , Matsui Takuya , Ishihara Makoto , Kurita Yusuke , Yatabe Yasushi , Shimizu Yasuhiro
Published: August 2018

Esophageal schwannomas are extremely rare esophageal submucosal tumors. Herein, we report a case of simultaneous resection of left lung cancer and an esophageal schwannoma with video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery. An asymptomatic 74‐year‐old woman received a diagnosis of an esophageal submucosal tumor during the preoperative assessment of a left lung cancer. The esophageal submucosal tumor arose in the left wall of the lower esophagus, and the patient was diagnosed as having a schwannoma by endoscopic ultrasound‐guided fine needle aspiration. She underwent video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery for the simultaneous removal of both tumors. Her postoperative course was uneventful. Thoracoscopic surgery is less invasive than thoracotomy, and this allowed the patient to undergo simultaneous operations for two tumors.
A Hidden Markov Model for Identifying Differentially Methylated Sites in Bisulfite Sequencing Data
Authors: Shokoohi Farhad , Stephens David A. , Bourque Guillaume , Pastinen Tomi , Greenwood Celia M. T. , Labbe Aurélie
Published: August 2018

DNA methylation studies have enabled researchers to understand methylation patterns and their regulatory roles in biological processes and disease. However, only a limited number of statistical approaches have been developed to provide formal quantitative analysis. Specifically, a few available methods do identify differentially methylated CpG (DMC) sites or regions (DMR), but they suffer from limitations that arise mostly due to challenges inherent in bisulfite sequencing data. These challenges include: (1) that read-depths vary considerably among genomic positions and are often low; (2) both methylation and autocorrelation patterns change as regions change; and (3) CpG sites are distributed unevenly. Furthermore, there are several methodological limitations: almost none of these tools is capable of comparing multiple groups and/or working with missing values, and only a few allow continuous or multiple covariates. The last of these is of great interest among researchers, as the goal is often to find which regions of the genome are associated with several exposures and traits. To tackle these issues, we have developed an efficient DMC identification method based on Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) called “DMCHMM” which is a three-step approach (model selection, prediction, testing) aiming to address the aforementioned drawbacks. Our proposed method is different from other HMM methods since it profiles methylation of each sample separately, hence exploiting inter-CpG autocorrelation within samples, and it is more flexible than previous approaches by allowing multiple hidden states. Using simulations, we show that DMCHMM has the best performance among several competing methods. An analysis of cell-separated blood methylation profiles is also provided.
Physiologic childbirth and active management of the third stage of labor: A latent class model of risk for postpartum hemorrhage
Authors: Erickson Elise N. , Lee Christopher S. , Grose Emily , Emeis Cathy
Published: August 2018

Background

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is a threat to maternal mortality worldwide. Evidence supports active management of third stage labor (AMTSL) for preventing PPH. However, trials of AMTSL include women at varying risk levels, such as women undergoing physiologic labor and those with labor complications. Counseling women about their risk for PPH and AMTSL is difficult as many women who appear low‐risk can still have PPH.

Methods

This study uses outcomes of 2322 vaginal births from a hospital midwifery service in the United States to examine risks for PPH and effectiveness of AMTSL. Using a latent class analysis approach, physiologic birth practices and other risk factors for PPH were analyzed to understand if discrete classes of clinical characteristics would emerge. The effect of AMTSL on the PPH outcome was also considered by class.

Results

A four‐class solution best fit the data; each class was clinically distinct. The two largest Classes (A and B) represented women with term births and lower average parity, with higher rates of nulliparity in Class B. Class A women had more physiologic birth elements and less labor induction or labor dysfunction compared with Class B. PPH and AMTSL use was higher in Class B. In Class B, AMTSL lowered risk for PPH. However, in Class A, AMTSL was associated with higher risk for PPH and delayed placental delivery (>30 minutes).

Discussion

AMTSL may not be as beneficial to women undergoing physiologic birth. Further study of the etiology of PPH in these women is indicated to inform preventive care.
Ubiquitin‐specific protease 3 overexpression promotes gastric carcinogenesis and is predictive of poor patient prognosis
Authors: Fang Chia‐Lang , Lin Chih‐Chan , Chen Han‐Kun , Hseu You‐Cheng , Hung Shih‐Ting , Sun Ding‐Ping , Uen Yih‐Huei , Lin Kai‐Yuan
Published: August 2018

Although gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers, knowledge of its development and carcinogenesis is limited. To date, expression of ubiquitin‐specific protease 3 (USP3) in all types of cancer, including GC, is still unknown. The present study explored the involvement of USP3 in the carcinogenesis and prognosis of GC. We measured USP3 expression in normal and GC tissues and cell lines. Correlations between USP3 protein level and clinicopathological parameters, as well as the significance of USP3 protein level for disease‐free survival were assessed. Small hairpin RNA technology and transfection were used to investigate the effect of USP3 manipulation on cell proliferation and spreading. Moreover, xenograft proliferation and metastasis were used to explore the influence of USP3 on tumor growth and metastasis in animals. An increase in USP3 expression was observed in GC cells and tissues. The overexpression of USP3 was significantly correlated with several clinicopathological parameters and poor disease‐free survival. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that the overexpression of USP3 was an independent prognostic biomarker. Silencing of USP3 suppressed GC cell proliferation and spreading in vitro as well as xenograft proliferation and metastasis in vivo; however, opposite results were obtained when USP3 was overexpressed. Further studies showed that USP3 influenced cell proliferation and spreading by regulating the cell cycle control‐ and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition‐related molecules. This study suggests that USP3 overexpression can be a useful biomarker for predicting the outcomes of GC patients and that USP3 targeting represents a potential modality for treating GC.
Precision of digital implant models compared to conventional implant models for posterior single implant crowns: A within‐subject comparison
Authors: Mühlemann Sven , Greter Elena A. , Park Ji‐Man , Hämmerle Christoph H. F. , Thoma Daniel S.
Published: August 2018

Objective

To calculate the precision of the implant analog position in digital models generated from different computer‐assisted design and computer‐assisted manufacturing (CAD‐CAM) systems compared to gypsum models acquired from conventional implant impressions.

Materials and methods

In five patients in need of a single implant crown, a within‐subject comparison was performed applying four different manufacturing processes for the implant model. Each implant was scanned with three different intraoral scanners: iTero Cadent (ITE), Lava True Definition (LTD), and Trios 3Shape (TRI). All digital implant models were fabricated using the corresponding certified CAD‐CAM workflow. In addition, a conventional impression was taken (CON) and a gypsum model fabricated. Three consecutive impressions were acquired with each impression system. Following fabrication, all implant models were scanned. The datasets were aligned by a repeated best‐fit algorithm and the precision for the implant analog and the adjacent teeth was measured. The precision served as a measure for reproducibility.

Results

Mean precision values of the implant analog in the digital models were 57.2 ± 32.6 µm (ITE), 88.6 ± 46.0 µm (TRI), and 176.7 ± 120.4 µm (LTD). Group CON (32.7 ± 11.6 µm) demonstrated a statistically significantly lower mean precision value for the implant position in the implant model as compared to all other groups representing a high reproducibility. The mean precision values for the reference ranged between 31.4 ± 3.5 µm (TRI) and 39.5 ± 16.5 µm (ITE). No statistical significant difference was calculated between the four treatment groups.

Conclusions

The conventional implant model represented the greatest reproducibility of the implant position. Digital implant models demonstrated less precision compared to the conventional workflow.
Long‐term demographic and genetic effects of releasing captive‐born individuals into the wild
Authors: Willoughby Janna R. , Christie Mark R.
Published: August 2018

Because of continued habitat destruction and species extirpations, the need to use captive breeding for conservation purposes has been increasing steadily. However, the long‐term demographic and genetic effects associated with releasing captive‐born individuals with varied life histories into the wild remain largely unknown. To address this question, we developed forward‐time, agent‐based models for 4 species with long‐running captive‐breeding and release programs: coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch), golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia), western toad (Anaxyrus boreas), and Whooping Crane (Grus americana). We measured the effects of supplementation by comparing population size and neutral genetic diversity in supplemented populations to the same characteristics in unaltered populations 100 years after supplementation ended. Releasing even slightly less fit captive‐born individuals to supplement wild populations typically resulted in reductions in population sizes and genetic diversity over the long term when the fitness reductions were heritable (i.e., due to genetic adaptation to captivity) and populations continued to be regulated by density‐dependent mechanisms over time. Negative effects for species with longer life spans and lower rates of population replacement were smaller than for species with shorter life spans and higher rates of population replacement. Programs that released captive‐born individuals over fewer years or that avoided breeding individuals with captive ancestry had smaller reductions in population size and genetic diversity over the long term. Relying on selection in the wild to remove individuals with reduced fitness mitigated some negative demographic effects, but at a substantial cost to neutral genetic diversity. Our results suggest that conservation‐focused captive‐breeding programs should take measures to prevent even small amounts of genetic adaptation to captivity, quantitatively determine the minimum number of captive‐born individuals to release each year, and fully account for the interactions among genetic adaptation to captivity, population regulation, and life‐history variation.
ESTIMATING THE IMPACT OF MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL GAMES ON LOCAL AIR POLLUTION
Authors: Locke Stephen L.
Published: August 2018

Professional sporting events attract millions of fans to urban areas each year as they cheer on their favorite teams. While benefits, such as increased tax revenues and economic development, are often cited as reasons to host a professional sports franchise, the public and private costs receive much less attention. This paper uses air quality readings from the Environmental Protection Agency and Major League Baseball schedules to estimate the impact of Major League Baseball games on local air pollution. The results suggest that attendance at a Major League Baseball game has a statistically significant but negligible impact on local air pollution. (JEL Q53, R11)