bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
17β-Estradiol Increases Arcuate KNDy Neuronal Sensitivity to Ghrelin Inhibition of the M-Current in Female Mice
Authors: Conde Kristie , Roepke Troy A.
Published: September 2019

Obesity and anorexia result in dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, negatively impacting reproduction. Ghrelin, secreted from the stomach, potentially mediates negative energy states and neuroendocrine control of reproduction by acting through the growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR). GHSR is expressed in hypothalamic arcuate (ARC) Kisspeptin/Neurokinin B (Tac2)/Dynorphin (KNDy) neurons. Ghrelin is known to inhibit the M-current produced by KCNQ channels in other ARC neurons. In addition, we have shown 17β-estradiol (E2) increases Ghsr expression in KNDy neurons 6-fold and increases the M-current in NPY neurons. We hypothesize that E2 increases GHSR expression in KNDy neurons to increase ghrelin sensitivity during negative energy states. Furthermore, we suspect ghrelin targets the M-current in KNDy neurons to control reproduction and energy homeostasis. We utilized ovariectomized Tac2-EGFP adult female mice, pretreated with estradiol benzoate (EB) or oil vehicle and performed whole-cell-patch-clamp recordings to elicit the M-current in KNDy neurons using standard activation protocols in voltage-clamp. Using the selective KCNQ channel blocker XE-991 (40 µM) to target the M-current, oil- and EB-treated mice showed a decrease in the maximum peak current by 75.7 ± 13.8 pA (n = 10) and 68.0 ± 14.7 pA (n = 11), respectively. To determine the actions of ghrelin on the M-current, ghrelin was perfused (100 nM) in oil- and EB-treated mice resulting in the suppression of the maximum peak current by 58.5 ± 15.8 pA (n = 9) and 59.2 ± 11.9 pA (n = 9), respectively. KNDy neurons appeared more sensitive to ghrelin when pretreated with EB, revealing that ARC KNDy neurons are more sensitive to ghrelin during states of high E2.
Sepsis Induces Prolonged Epigenetic Modifications in Bone Marrow and Peripheral Macrophages Impairing Inflammation and Wound Healing
Authors: Davis Frank M. , Schaller Matthew A. , Dendekker Aaron , Joshi Amrita D. , Kimball Andrew S. , Evanoff Holly , Wilke Carol , Obi Andrea T. , Melvin William J. , Cavassani Karen , Scola Melissa , Carson Beau , Moser Stephanie , Blanc Victoria , Engoren Milo , Moore Bethany B. , Kunkel Steven L. , Gallagher Katherine A.
Published: September 2019

Objective:

Sepsis represents an acute life-threatening disorder resulting from a dysregulated host response. For patients who survive sepsis, there remains long-term consequences, including impaired inflammation, as a result of profound immunosuppression. The mechanisms involved in this long-lasting deficient immune response are poorly defined.

Approach and Results:

Sepsis was induced using the murine model of cecal ligation and puncture. Following a full recovery period from sepsis physiology, mice were subjected to our wound healing model and wound macrophages (CD11b+, CD3−, CD19−, Ly6G−) were sorted. Post-sepsis mice demonstrated impaired wound healing and decreased reepithelization in comparison to controls. Further, post-sepsis bone marrow–derived macrophages and wound macrophages exhibited decreased expression of inflammatory cytokines vital for wound repair (IL [interleukin]-1β, IL-12, and IL-23). To evaluate if decreased inflammatory gene expression was secondary to epigenetic modification, we conducted chromatin immunoprecipitation on post-sepsis bone marrow–derived macrophages and wound macrophages. This demonstrated decreased expression of
Mll1
, an epigenetic enzyme, and impaired histone 3 lysine 4 trimethylation (activation mark) at NFκB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells)-binding sites on inflammatory gene promoters in bone marrow–derived macrophages and wound macrophages from postcecal ligation and puncture mice. Bone marrow transplantation studies demonstrated epigenetic modifications initiate in bone marrow progenitor/stem cells following sepsis resulting in lasting impairment in peripheral macrophage function. Importantly, human peripheral blood leukocytes from post-septic patients demonstrate a significant reduction in
MLL1
compared with nonseptic controls.

Conclusions:

These data demonstrate that severe sepsis induces stable mixed-lineage leukemia 1–mediated epigenetic modifications in the bone marrow, which are passed to peripheral macrophages resulting in impaired macrophage function and deficient wound healing persisting long after sepsis recovery.
Ser-Phosphorylation of PCSK9 (Proprotein Convertase Subtilisin-Kexin 9) by Fam20C (Family With Sequence Similarity 20, Member C) Kinase Enhances Its Ability to Degrade the LDLR (Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor)
Authors: Ben Djoudi Ouadda Ali , Gauthier Marie-Soleil , Susan-Resiga Delia , Girard Emmanuelle , Essalmani Rachid , Black Miles , Marcinkiewicz Jadwiga , Forget Diane , Hamelin Josée , Evagelidis Alexandra , Ly Kevin , Day Robert , Galarneau Luc , Corbin Francois , Coulombe Benoit , Çaku Artuela , Tagliabracci Vincent S. , Seidah Nabil G.
Published: September 2019

Objective:

PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin 9) enhances the degradation of the LDLR (low-density lipoprotein receptor) in endosomes/lysosomes. This study aimed to determine the sites of PCSK9 phosphorylation at Ser-residues and the consequences of such posttranslational modification on the secretion and activity of PCSK9 on the LDLR.

Approach and Results:

Fam20C (family with sequence similarity 20, member C) phosphorylates serines in secretory proteins containing the motif S-X-E/phospho-Ser, including the cholesterol-regulating PCSK9. In situ hybridization of Fam20C mRNA during development and in adult mice revealed a wide tissue distribution, including liver, but not small intestine. Here, we show that Fam20C phosphorylates PCSK9 at Serines 47, 666, 668, and 688. In hepatocytes, phosphorylation enhances PCSK9 secretion and maximizes its induced degradation of the LDLR via the extracellular and intracellular pathways. Replacing any of the 4 Ser by the phosphomimetic Glu or Asp enhanced PCSK9 activity only when the other sites are phosphorylated, whereas Ala substitutions reduced it, as evidenced by Western blotting, Elisa, and LDLR-immunolabeling. This newly uncovered PCSK9/LDLR regulation mechanism refines our understanding of the implication of global PCSK9 phosphorylation in the modulation of LDL-cholesterol and rationalizes the consequence of natural mutations, for example, S668R and E670G. Finally, the relationship of Ser-phosphorylation to the implication of PCSK9 in regulating LDL-cholesterol in the neurological Fragile X-syndrome disorder was investigated.

Conclusions:

Ser-phosphorylation of PCSK9 maximizes both its secretion and activity on the LDLR. Mass spectrometric approaches to measure such modifications were developed and applied to quantify the levels of bioactive PCSK9 in human plasma under normal and pathological conditions.
A new species of Proterhinus Sharp, 1878 (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Belidae) from Miti‘aro, Cook Islands, South Paciﬁc
Authors: BROWN SAMUEL D. J.
Published: September 2019

Proterhinus tauai Brown, new species is described from specimens collected on the island of Miti‘aro in the Cook Islands, South Paciﬁc. It differs from congeners by the combination of having a dorsal vestiture of decumbent brown clavate scales, lacking erect elongate setae, anterior pronotal angles projecting forwards, and having short antennae that do not reach the posterior margin of the pronotum. This species shows strong sexual dimorphism in the shape of the rostrum, with males having a large semicircular rostrum, compared with a stout subrectangular rostrum in females. Fitting allometric models to the relationship of morphometric variables with body length show that rostrum width and area have signiﬁcantly different allometric relationships between the sexes, consistent with hypotheses of sexual selection. Proterhinus tauai was collected from coastal scrub vegetation. Collection data and observation of captive specimens indicate a host relationship with the parasitic vine Cassytha ﬁliformis L. (Lauraceae).
Building an Accessible, Integrated Earth Observing and Information System: The International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project as a Pathfinder
Authors: Rossow William B. , Bates John J.
Published: September 2019

The current heterogeneity of the existing global collection of measuring assets, satellite and surface based, is a major obstacle to creating a truly integrated, globally uniform information system. Many surveys of Earth science needs over the last 40+ years mention research-to-operations (R2O) actions that are needed to develop such a system but focus mainly on making and collecting measurements with little discussion of the processing system and the integrated team of talented scientists needed to turn raw observations into usable information or the archival system needed to make reliable information readily and widely accessible. We discuss an example of addressing the problems in producing globally uniform information from such observations: the creation in 1982–83 of the data collection, processing, and archival system for the International Satellite Cloud Climatology Project (ISCCP). ISCCP was originally built in a research environment for climate studies, but has now transitioned to a fully operational environment to extend the length of the data record for climate research. Transforming multiple satellite observations into a uniform, global set of physical information about clouds that is readily accessible was and is challenging for several reasons. In this short commentary, we reflect on the experiences and lessons learned in building the ISCCP observation–processing–archival system to address these challenges and discuss the ISCCP R2O process to serve as a pathfinder for building a global observing and information system.
Linear and Weakly Nonlinear Energetics of Global Nonhydrostatic Normal Modes
Authors: Raupp Carlos F. M. , Teruya André S. W. , Silva Dias Pedro L.
Published: September 2019

Here the theory of global nonhydrostatic normal modes has been further developed with the analysis of both linear and weakly nonlinear energetics of inertia–acoustic (IA) and inertia–gravity (IG) modes. These energetics are analyzed in the context of a shallow global nonhydrostatic model governing finite-amplitude perturbations around a resting, hydrostatic, and isothermal background state. For the linear case, the energy as a function of the zonal wavenumber of the IA and IG modes is analyzed, and the nonhydrostatic effect of vertical acceleration on the IG waves is highlighted. For the nonlinear energetics analysis, the reduced equations of a single resonant wave triad interaction are obtained by using a pseudoenergy orthogonality relation. Integration of the triad equations for a resonance involving a short harmonic of an IG wave, a planetary-scale IA mode, and a short IA wave mode shows that an IG mode can allow two IA modes to exchange energy in specific resonant triads. These wave interactions can yield significant modulations in the dynamical fields associated with the physical-space solution with periods varying from a daily time scale to almost a month long.
A Modeling- and Process-Oriented Study to Investigate the Projected Change of ENSO-Forced Wintertime Teleconnectivity in a Warmer World
Authors: Drouard Marie , Cassou Christophe
Published: September 2019

Considerable uncertainties remain about the expected changes of ENSO and associated teleconnectivity as the climate is warming. Two ensembles of pacemaker experiments using the CNRM-CM5 coupled model are designed in a perfect model framework to contrast ENSO-forced teleconnectivity between the preindustrial period versus a warmer background state (obtained from a long stabilized simulation under late-twenty-first-century RCP8.5 constant forcing). The most notable sensitivity to the mean background state is found over the North Atlantic, where the ENSO–NAO teleconnection is considerably reinforced in a warmer world. We attribute this change to (i) a stronger and eastward-extended mean upper-level jet over the North Pacific, (ii) an eastward-shifted ENSO teleconnection over the North Pacific, and (iii) an equatorward-shifted and reinforced mean jet over the North Atlantic. These altogether act as a more efficient waveguide, leading to a better penetration of synoptic storms coming from the Pacific into the Atlantic. This downstream penetration into the North Atlantic basin forces more systematically the NAO through wave breaking. The reinforcement in the teleconnection is asymmetrical with respect to the ENSO phase and is mainly sensitive to La Niña events. Even though the Pacific jet tends to retract westward and move northward during cold events, mean changes are such that both Pacific and Atlantic jets remain connected in a warmer climate by contrast to the preindustrial period, thus ensuring preferred anticyclonic wave breaking downstream over the North Atlantic leading ultimately to NAO+ events.
Non-Gaussian Cold-Side Temperature Distribution Tails and Associated Synoptic Meteorology
Authors: Loikith Paul C. , Neelin J. David
Published: September 2019

Non-Gaussian cold side temperature distribution tails occur in spatially coherent patterns in winter and summer across the globe. Under such conditions, future changes in extreme cold temperature exceedances may be manifested in more complex ways than if the underlying distribution were Gaussian. For example, under a uniform warm shift, locations with shorter- or longer-than-Gaussian cold side tails would experience a more or less rapid decrease in the number of extreme cold threshold exceedances, respectively, compared to if the tail were Gaussian. In many places in the mid- to high latitudes, shorter-than-Gaussian cold tails occur where there is a climatological limit on the magnitude of cold air to be transported by synoptic flow. For example, some high-latitude regions are already among the coldest in the hemisphere, thus limiting the availability of extremely cold air, in an anomalous sense, that can be transported to the region. In other short tail regions, anomalously cold air originates from or travels over large water bodies, which limits the magnitude of the cold anomaly. Long tails are often present when the cold source region is downstream of the climatological flow, requiring a highly anomalous circulation pattern to transport the cold air. The synoptic evolution of extreme cold days at several short- and long-tailed weather stations are presented to help diagnose the mechanisms behind extreme cold temperatures under conditions of non-Gaussianity. This provides a mechanistic view of how extreme cold occurs at each location, as well as an explanation for the notable deviations from Gaussianity.
Projected Changes in Daily Variability and Seasonal Cycle of Near-Surface Air Temperature over the Globe during the Twenty-First Century
Authors: Chen Jiao , Dai Aiguo , Zhang Yaocun
Published: September 2019

Increases in atmospheric greenhouse gases will not only raise Earth’s temperature but may also change its variability and seasonal cycle. Here CMIP5 model data are analyzed to quantify these changes in surface air temperature (Tas) and investigate the underlying processes. The models capture well the mean Tas seasonal cycle and variability and their changes in reanalysis, which shows decreasing Tas seasonal amplitudes and variability over the Arctic and Southern Ocean from 1979 to 2017. Daily Tas variability and seasonal amplitude are projected to decrease in the twenty-first century at high latitudes (except for boreal summer when Tas variability increases) but increase at low latitudes. The day of the maximum or minimum Tas shows large delays over high-latitude oceans, while it changes little at low latitudes. These Tas changes at high latitudes are linked to the polar amplification of warming and sea ice loss, which cause larger warming in winter than summer due to extra heating from the ocean during the cold season. Reduced sea ice cover also decreases its ability to cause Tas variations, contributing to the decreased Tas variability at high latitudes. Over low–midlatitude oceans, larger increases in surface evaporation in winter than summer (due to strong winter winds, strengthened winter winds in the Southern Hemisphere, and increased winter surface humidity gradients over the Northern Hemisphere low latitudes), coupled with strong ocean mixing in winter, lead to smaller surface warming in winter than summer and thus increased seasonal amplitudes there. These changes result in narrower (wider) Tas distributions over the high (low) latitudes, which may have important implications for other related fields.
Role of Residual Overturning for the Sensitivity of Southern Ocean Isopycnal Slopes to Changes in Wind Forcing
Authors: Youngs Madeleine K. , Flierl Glenn R. , Ferrari Raffaele
Published: September 2019

The Antarctic Circumpolar Current plays a central role in the ventilation of heat and carbon in the global ocean. In particular, the isopycnal slopes determine where each water mass outcrops and thus how the ocean interacts with the atmosphere. The region-integrated isopycnal slopes have been suggested to be eddy saturated, that is, stay relatively constant as the wind forcing changes, but whether or not the flow is saturated in realistic present day and future parameter regimes is unknown. This study analyzes an idealized two-layer quasigeostrophic channel model forced by a wind stress and a residual overturning generated by a mass flux across the interface between the two layers, with and without a blocking ridge. The sign and strength of the residual overturning set which way the isopycnal slopes change with the wind forcing, leading to an increase in slope with an increase in wind forcing for a positive overturning and a decrease in slope for a negative overturning, following the usual conventions; this behavior is caused by the dominant standing meander weakening as the wind stress weakens causing the isopycnal slopes to become more sensitive to changes in the wind stress and converge with the slopes of a flat-bottomed simulation. Eddy saturation only appears once the wind forcing passes a critical level. These results show that theories for saturation must have both topography and residual overturning in order to be complete and provide a framework for understanding how the isopycnal slopes in the Southern Ocean may change in response to future changes in wind forcing.
SwathDop: Multibeam Pulse-Coherent Doppler Sonar for Scanning 2D Velocity Sections near the Sediment–Water Interface
Authors: Razaz Mahdi , Zedel Len , Hay Alex E.
Published: September 2019

This paper considers the problem of accurately measuring the sediment transport over bedforms where flow evolves continuously both in time and space. For this purpose, we have developed a pulse-to-pulse coherent Doppler sonar system designed in bistatic geometry with two fan-beam transmitters symmetrically positioned on each side of a multielement receive array. The system resolves 2D velocity components within a ±20° (~0.5 m by ~0.5 m) swath. The software-defined radio data acquisition and control system limited us at present to eight independent receiver channels, and consequently the azimuthal resolution of the system is 4°. As a preliminary test of the sonar system, the system operation was simulated using a model developed to predict coherent sonar performance. The uncertainties with respect to the prescribed values and mean measurements in the model results were confined to 0.35 and 0.23 cm s−1, respectively, in the presence of strong shear (~150 s−1) and 50 cm s−1 horizontal flow. An important thing is that the model allowed us to test and develop the signal processing algorithms necessary to invert the multibeam sonar data. Using sand of 0.4-mm median diameter, the laboratory trials were carried out in active sediment transport conditions over dunes with 2-m wavelength and ~0.90 m s−1 unidirectional flow velocities. The results presented here focus mainly on 2D velocity field and indicate an average 4% deviation from the wake law and 8% from independent observations made with the wide-band multifrequency coherent Doppler profiler (MFDop) instrument under similar flow conditions.
Impact of Weak Coupling between Land and Atmosphere Data Assimilation Systems on Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Global Deterministic Prediction System
Authors: Shahabadi Maziar Bani , Bélair Stéphane , Bilodeau Bernard , Carrera Marco L. , Garand Louis
Published: September 2019

A new ensemble-based land surface data assimilation (DA) system is coupled with the atmospheric four-dimensional ensemble-variational data assimilation (4D-EnVar) system with the goal of improving the analyses within Environment and Climate Change Canada’s Global Deterministic Prediction System. Since 2001, the sequential assimilation of surface variables is used to generate the initial conditions to launch the Global Environmental Multiscale (GEM) coupled forecast model. The work presented here is to replace the sequential DA with an independent surface DA system, the Canadian Land Data Assimilation System (CaLDAS) assimilating screen-level observations, and to compare assimilation experiments with CaLDAS run in uncoupled and weakly coupled modes. In the uncoupled mode, CaLDAS is used to initialize the forecast without interacting with the 4D-EnVar system. In the coupled mode, the analyses generated from CaLDAS and 4D-EnVar are used to initialize the forecast model. The analyses and forecasts from uncoupled and coupled runs are evaluated against surface and radiosonde observations over different subdomains to conclude the impact of coupling CaLDAS with 4D-EnVar. Results indicate a statistically significant reduction in bias and standard deviation at the surface for screen-level temperature and dewpoint temperature on the order of 0.1 K, and in the lower troposphere between 1000 and 500 hPa on the order of 0.1 dam for geopotential height and 0.1 K for air temperature and dewpoint depression in the coupled DA runs. The positive impact persists up to 5 days over some subdomains. It is concluded that the coupled DA approach generally performs better than the uncoupled version.
Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) of Organic Compounds: A Review
Authors: Moros Javier , Laserna Javier
Published: September 2019

Optical emission of laser-produced plasmas from solids, liquids, and gases, from their fundamentals to their potential applications, has been comprehensively reported in multiple research manuscripts, reviews, and books. There are nevertheless enough serious unanswered issues and questions still present on what at first sight seemed to be much easier, the laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) of organic compounds. Ideally, for all organic molecules, one would expect homologous emission spectra, differing only in the presence or absence of signals associated to the containing elements and their intensity relative to their content. Yet, the reality is much more complex. In laser-induced plasmas of organic compounds, a broad variety of species may be formed depending on the irradiation parameters. Furthermore, there is not a uniform breakage for all the molecules constituting the ablated mass. At once, the plasma is a dynamic entity per se, which implies that the spatial distribution of each species in the source plasma is different. In addition, multiple circumstances and mechanisms may contribute to the extinction of some species and the formation of new ones. Thus, the surrounding atmosphere where the plasma evolves and the time elapsed from its formation also have a strong influence on the spectral signature gathered. In essence, any change in any of the variables involved in the cycle of an organic plasma, from those causing its formation to those governing its expansion, defines a new scenario that lead to a different LIBS spectrum for a same organic compound. The present paper reviews the common emitting species populating the laser plasmas of organic compounds, the routes to their formation, mostly those related to the production of diatomic radicals, the dynamics of such species, in space and time, and the physical parameters that they confer to the plasma. Concurrently, the influence that the structures of the molecular solids and the set of excitation variables may exert on the optical emissions observed is also discussed. Finally, some details on the modeling of organic plasmas are provided.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s HEADS UP branding and evaluation process
Authors: Waltzman Dana , Hoffman Rosanne , Donnell Zoe , Bell Elizabeth , Sarmiento Kelly
Published: September 2019

Background:

For 15 years, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) HEADS UP education campaign has focused on increasing awareness of concussion among children to reduce adverse outcomes from this injury.

Objective:

To keep pace with the rapid expansion in media coverage, research, state laws and education efforts on concussion, the CDC embarked on a comprehensive evaluation effort to assess the campaign’s brand.

Method:

The CDC conducted a multi-step process to evaluate HEADS UP. This included surveying partner organisations and focus groups targeting key audiences.

Results:

The analysis demonstrated that most (70%) partner organisations have used the materials for 4 years or longer, and more than half (51%) found the materials very useful or extremely useful. Focus groups with the campaign’s target audiences yielded insights and opportunities to refresh the CDC HEADS UP brand. The need for more compelling images, prevention facts and use of eye-catching colours was signalled by all the campaign’s target audiences. Updates focused on the use of data visualisation, more emotionally compelling images and more engaging colours. The CDC also created a new tagline to focus on concussion prevention that encourages children and young people to think about protecting their brains from concussion so that they can have a safer future.

Conclusion:

This paper describes the process used to update the branding of an educational health promotion campaign in order to meet the needs of key audiences. Findings can help others working to keep their educational campaigns relevant and aligned with expanding and changing public health problems.
Commercial Banks in Indian Mutual Fund Industry: A Study on Profitability of Banks Vis-à-vis Their Mutual Fund Business
Authors: Das Joy , Shil Parag
Published: September 2019

The present study examined the performance of public sector commercial banks in mutual fund industry in terms of profitability for the period from March 2007 to March 2016. Banks, which were used as an agent by the government to bring changes in the economic scenario of the country and for which most of the larger banks were nationalised in a phased manner, were not performing well during the 1980s and their profits and deposits started to decline. As a result, the Government of India amended the Banking Regulation Act in 1984, to give a wider scope to the banks in terms of business. Many public sector banks started their own sponsored mutual fund companies after 1987 as they had some pre-existing advantages. The data relating to the present study has been collected from corporate Capitaline Plus database and also from the various publications made by the Reserve Bank of India and others from time to time. The data has been analysed by using various profitability ratios and ratio of mutual fund profit to bank profit to reach the conclusion. The study disclosed that the private banks performed better than the public sector commercial banks during the study period.

JEL Classification: G21, L25, M13
Leveraging the Electronic Medical Record to Identify Predictors of Nonattendance to a Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support Program
Authors: Bzowyckyj Andrew S. , Aquilante Christina L. , Cheng An-Lin , Drees Betty
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify patient-specific factors, easily obtainable from the electronic medical record (EMR), that are associated with nonattendance to a group Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) program among an adult population with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

This study used a retrospective cohort design, with attendance to a group DSMES session as the primary outcome. The study included adult patients with diagnosed type 2 diabetes who were scheduled for a group DSMES session between March 1, 2013, and June 30, 2017. Patients who were pregnant or who had other types of diabetes (eg, type 1 diabetes, prediabetes, gestational diabetes) were excluded.

Results

A higher A1C, required copay for DSMES, low socioeconomic status, increased number of diabetes medications prescribed, the presence of a prescription for any insulin, and a higher calculated total daily dose of insulin were all associated with a decreased likelihood of attendance. Only older age was associated with an increased likelihood of attendance.

Conclusion

Using the EMR to identify patients who need more intensive intervention strategies can help programs direct resources to those who need them most. Having identified these at-risk individuals, a targeted communication and outreach strategy can be developed to assist these individuals with overcoming barriers to attending DSMES.
The Aestheticization of Hybrid Space: The Atmosphere of the Locarno Film Festival
Authors: De Molli Federica , Mengis Jeanne , van Marrewijk Alfons
Published: September 2019

The aestheticization of organizational space is a growing phenomenon with organizations carefully designing the aesthetic engagement in space to invoke specific values and behavior. Simultaneously, however, the traditional workspace is disappearing as work is performed increasingly in multiply-located, hybrid spaces combining corporate, domestic and public spaces. This paper seeks to understand the aestheticization of hybrid spaces by theoretically drawing on the notion of atmosphere as proposed by the philosopher Gernot Boehme. By ethnographically exploring how an urban film festival creates its unique atmosphere, we identify three intertwined aesthetic practices that underpin the aestheticization of hybrid space: the interrelation of different aesthetic codes and expressions, the processual guidance of the aesthetic experience, and the provision of a centre of experience. We discuss how ambiguities, multiplicities and diversities may become a resource when aestheticizing hybrid space, reminding us to be critical even when atmospheres emerge beyond the careful aesthetic design of space.
Designing the Tools of the Trade: How corporate social responsibility consultants and their tool-based practices created market shifts
Authors: Gond Jean-Pascal , Brès Luc
Published: September 2019

Combining insights from the sociology of markets and studies of consultants, this article examines the tool-based practices by which market actors enable the agencing of the supply and demand of the market in ways that shape the market’s trajectory. Building on 31 interviews and a rich set of secondary data, we provide an analysis of the development of a market for consultancy products and services for corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the province of Quebec (Canada). Through analytical induction we identified six tool-based practices by which consultants contributed to the agencing of the market, and our results show how these practices collectively created market shifts. Our analysis offers new insights into the processes by which consultants’ tool-based practices produce market shifts, embed environmental and social concerns within market mechanisms, and ‘vascularize’ markets.
Hybrid Orchestration in Multi-stakeholder Innovation Networks: Practices of mobilizing multiple, diverse stakeholders across organizational boundaries
Authors: Reypens Charlotte , Lievens Annouk , Blazevic Vera
Published: September 2019

The prominence of inter-organizational networks for innovation raises questions about how to support collaboration between multiple, diverse stakeholders. We focus on network orchestration and examine the practices that support orchestrators in dealing with the challenges brought by the number and diversity of stakeholders. Using qualitative, longitudinal data from an innovation network of 57 stakeholders, we identify three types of orchestration practices – connecting, facilitating and governing – and observe how they underlie innovation trajectories over time, each supporting the achievement of distinct network outcomes. Within and across trajectories, we observe how orchestrators rely on hybrid orchestration: they switch between dominating and consensus-based orchestration modes, in response to emergent network challenges. By switching between modes, orchestrators address the complexities of simultaneously and temporally dealing with a large number and diversity of stakeholders. With these findings, we present a toolbox of practices for network orchestrators to address distinct challenges in different types of networks and underscore that network research should consider the plurality of networks, rather than treat them as universalistic. Orchestrators play a key role in managing this plurality: they act as environmental scanners who address emergent network challenges through hybrid orchestration. This realization opens new avenues for network research, for example, relating to the skills and capabilities of orchestrators.
An open-label randomised comparison of aripiprazole, olanzapine and risperidone for the acute treatment of first-episode schizophrenia: Eight-week outcomes
Authors: Cheng Zhang , Yuan Yanbo , Han Xue , Yang Lei , Cai Shangli , Yang Fude , Lu Zheng , Wang Chuanyue , Deng Hong , Zhao Jingping , Xiang Yutao , Correll Christoph U , Yu Xin
Published: September 2019

Purpose:

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of aripiprazole, olanzapine and risperidone in first-episode schizophrenia (FES).

Methods:

The eight-week, open, randomised study was conducted in six Chinese medical centres. Altogether, 498 FES subjects were randomised to aripiprazole ( n = 165), olanzapine ( n = 168) or risperidone ( n = 165). Efficacy was measured with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), tolerability with the Udvalg for Kliniske Undersogelser Side Effect Rating Scale (UKU) and functioning with the Personal and Social Performance Scale (PSP).

Results:

All three antipsychotics significantly improved the baseline to end-point PANSS total and each of the sub-scale scores ( p < 0.001). Risperidone was superior to olanzapine and aripiprazole regarding PANSS total end-point scores ( p < 0.05). Cumulative response (PANSS total score reduction ⩾30%) was similar between risperidone, olanzapine and aripiprazole (74.8%, 73.5% and 70.1%; p = 0.707), but risperidone was superior to aripiprazole regarding PANSS total score reduction ⩾50% (37.8% vs. 26.6%; p < 0.05). Olanzapine was associated with the largest weight gain at week 4 and 8 ( p < 0.01), weight gain ⩾7% (olanzapine = 49.0% vs. risperidone = 32.5% vs. aripiprazole = 17.0%; p < 0.01), more psychic side effects at week 8 ( p < 0.01 each) and more ‘other’ side effects at week 4 ( p < 0.001) and week 8 ( p < 0.05) but fewer neurological side effects at week 4 ( p < 0.05) and week 8 ( p < 0.01). PSP improved more with risperidone than with aripiprazole at week 4 and 8 ( p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

For FES, risperidone might be a better choice than aripiprazole due to improved efficacy and functional improvement, without inferior tolerability. Aripiprazole is a better choice to avoid relevant short-term weight gain. Olanzapine could be chosen to avoid neurological adverse effects.
Prisoners Helping Prisoners Change: A Study of Inmate Field Ministers Within Texas Prisons
Authors: Jang Sung Joon , Johnson Byron R. , Hays Joshua , Hallett Michael , Duwe Grant
Published: September 2019

Research on incarcerated offenders trained to help prisoners change is rare because programs that equip inmates with practical capacities for helping others rehabilitate in prison hardly exist. An exception is the Field Ministry program in Texas, which enlists inmates who have graduated from a prison-based seminary to work as “Field Ministers” and serve other inmates in various capacities. We hypothesize that inmate exposure to Field Ministers is inversely related to antisocial factors and positively to prosocial ones. We applied manifest-variable structural equation modeling to analyze data from a survey of a random sample of male inmates at three maximum-security prisons where the Field Ministry program operated. We found that inmates exposed more frequently to the Field Ministry and for a longer time period tended to report lower levels of criminological risk factors and aggressiveness and higher levels of virtues and predictors of human agency as well as religiosity and spirituality.
Pleural Effusion Outcomes in Intensive Care: Analysis of a Large Clinical Database
Authors: Bateman Marjorie , Alkhatib Ala , John Thomas , Parikh Malhar , Kheir Fayez
Published: September 2019

Background:

Pleural effusions are common in critically ill patients. However, the management of pleural fluid on relevant clinical outcomes is poorly studied. We evaluated the impact of pleural effusion in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods:

A large observational ICU database Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care III was utilized. Analyses used matched patients with the same admission diagnosis, age, gender, and disease severity.

Results:

Of 50 765, 3897 (7.7%) of critically ill adult patients had pleural effusions. Compared to patients without effusion, patients with effusion had higher in-hospital (38.7% vs 31.3%, P < .0001), 1-month (43.1% vs 36.1%, P < .0001), 6-month (63.6% vs 55.7%, P < .0001), and 1-year mortality (73.8% vs 66.1%, P < .0001), as well as increased length of hospital stay (17.6 vs 12.7 days, P < .0001), ICU stay (7.3 vs 5.1 days, P < .0001), need for mechanical ventilation (63.1% vs 55.7%, P < .0001), and duration of mechanical ventilation (8.7 vs 6.3 days, P < .0001). A total of 1503 patients (38.6%) underwent pleural fluid drainage. Patients in the drainage group had higher in-hospital (43.9% vs 35.4%, P = .0002), 1-month (47.7% vs 39.7%, P = .0005), 6-month (67.1% vs 61.8%, P = .0161), and 1-year mortality (77.1% vs 72.1%, P = .0147), as well as increased lengths of hospital stay (22.1 vs 16.0 days, P < .0001), ICU stay (9.2d vs 6.4 days, P < .0001), and duration of mechanical ventilation (11.7 vs 7.1 days, P < .0001).

Conclusions:

The presence of a pleural effusion was associated with increased mortality in critically ill patients regardless of disease severity. Drainage of pleural effusion was associated with worse outcomes in a large, heterogeneous cohort of ICU patients.
The influence of heterogeneous institutional investors on company strategies in emerging countries: Evidence from Brazil
Authors: Campos Fonseca Camila Veneo , Silveira Rodrigo Lanna Franco da , Hiratuka Celio
Published: September 2019

The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of institutional investor shareholding on strategic corporate management. Focusing on Brazilian non-financial corporations, we consider the heterogeneity of institutional investors – based on their main characteristics and investment profile –, in the context of Brazilian institutional framework, to explore the dynamics between institutional ownership and corporate strategies. Applying principal component and cluster analysis, we identified four distinct groups of institutional investors. The results from our dynamic panel data model indicate that institutional investors do not impact dividend policy but do have a positive influence over financial investments. While neither short-term investors nor those with a longer term view were found to have any influence on the financialization of corporate strategies, we found that presence of specialized investors characterized by intermediate shareholder positions – primarily independent and national private asset managers – are associated with greater financial investments, but lower dividend payments.
Strategic tie formation for long-term exchange relations
Authors: Raub Werner , Buskens Vincent , Frey Vincenz
Published: September 2019

Theory and empirical research have established that repeated interactions foster cooperation in social dilemmas. These effects of repeated interactions are meanwhile well known. Given these effects, actors have incentives for strategic tie formation in social dilemmas: they have incentives to establish long-term relations involving repeated interactions. Perhaps surprisingly, models accounting for strategic tie formation are scarce. We introduce and analyze a new game-theoretic model that captures the well-known effects of repeated interactions, while simultaneously endogenizing the formation of long-term relations. We assume strict game-theoretic rationality as well as self-regarding preferences. We highlight the commitment feature of tie formation: through establishing a long-term relation, at cost, actors ensure that they would suffer themselves from future sanctions of own opportunism. This allows for mutually beneficial cooperation in the first place. Some extensions of the model are discussed.
The Effect of Information–Motivation–Behavioral Skills on Breastfeeding Success: A Hypothetical Model
Authors: Akgün Pınar , Taştekin Ayşe
Published: September 2019

Introduction: Although breastfeeding is a common practice in Turkey, there are problems with exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life or sustaining breastfeeding. The purpose of this study was to determine the variables that affect breastfeeding success of Turkish women by creating a hypothetical model based on the information–motivation–behavioral skills model. Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 229 women who gave birth at a public hospital. Data were collected using a questionnaire and through observation. Structural equation model was used for data analyses. Results: Information was found to directly affect behavioral skills and indirectly affect self-management behaviors and breastfeeding success ( p < .05). The motivation was found to affect self-management behaviors directly ( p < .05). Behavioral skills were found to directly affect self-management behaviors and indirectly affect breastfeeding success ( p < .05). Discussion: The results can be used to develop culturally congruent nursing interventions and improve breastfeeding success.
Valorizing Trump’s Masculine Self: Constructing Political Allegiance during the 2016 Presidential Election
Authors: Dignam Pierce , Schrock Douglas , Erichsen Kristen , Dowd-Arrow Benjamin
Published: September 2019

Presidential candidates’ gendered self-presentations may help secure political support, but a ‘gendered self’ is a construct grounded in an audience’s interpretation as much as it is in a politician’s performance. The 2016 U.S. presidential election provides a unique opportunity to investigate how voters construct politicians as gendered. Based on pre-election interviews, we analyze how Trump supporters accounted for their allegiance by constructing and valorizing Trump’s masculine self—a cultural construct centered on exerting or resisting control. Interviewees (A) praised his politically incorrect spirit, (B) glorified his entrepreneurial spirit, and (C) celebrated his fighting spirit. We argue that understanding how people construct others’ gendered selves is important for scholars of both politics and manhood.
CT characterisation of the feline os penis
Authors: Tobón Restrepo Mauricio , Altuzarra Raúl , Espada Yvonne , Domínguez Elisabet , Mallol Claudia , Novellas Rosa
Published: September 2019

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of identification and to describe the CT features of the os penis in cats without genitourinary disorders.

Methods

CT studies from cats that underwent an abdominal or pelvic examination between October 2013 and May 2019 were reviewed retrospectively. Cats with no signs of urinary disease and with the external genitalia included in the scan were recruited. Length, width, height and pre- and post-contrast attenuation values of the os penis in soft tissue and bone algorithms were measured independently by two observers.

Results

Twenty-three cats met the inclusion criteria. A cylindrical bone-attenuating structure inside the glans penis compatible with the os penis was visible in 20/23 (87%) cats. Mean length, width and height values were 3.48 mm × 1.41 mm × 1.37 mm in the soft tissue algorithm, and 3.26 mm × 1.15 mm × 1.06 mm in bone algorithm. The size of the os penis was not significantly different in neutered vs intact cats, but it was significantly larger in soft tissue vs bone algorithm. Age and body weight did not influence os penis size. Pre-contrast mean ± SD attenuation was 216.7 ± 69.5 Hounsfield units (HU) for soft tissue and 320.1 ± 135.9 HU for bone algorithms. Post-contrast attenuation was 289.1 ± 68.8 HU for soft tissue and 383.4 ± 130.9 HU for bone algorithms. A significant correlation between the attenuation in bone algorithm with body weight was noted, where the os penis was less attenuating with increased body weight (pre-contrast: r = –0.479; P = 0.038).

Conclusions and relevance

The feline os penis is commonly seen on CT images, being more frequently detected than on radiographs. Its presence should not be mistaken for uroliths in the penile urethra.
Predict Epitranscriptome Targets and Regulatory Functions of N6-Methyladenosine (m6A) Writers and Erasers
Authors: Song Yiyou , Xu Qingru , Wei Zhen , Zhen Di , Su Jionglong , Chen Kunqi , Meng Jia
Published: September 2019

Currently, although many successful bioinformatics efforts have been reported in the epitranscriptomics field for N6-methyladenosine (m6A) site identification, none is focused on the substrate specificity of different m6A-related enzymes, ie, the methyltransferases (writers) and demethylases (erasers). In this work, to untangle the target specificity and the regulatory functions of different RNA m6A writers (METTL3-METT14 and METTL16) and erasers (ALKBH5 and FTO), we extracted 49 genomic features along with the conventional sequence features and used the machine learning approach of random forest to predict their epitranscriptome substrates. Our method achieved reasonable performance on both the writer target prediction (as high as 0.918) and the eraser target prediction (as high as 0.888) in a 5-fold cross-validation, and results of the gene ontology analysis of their preferential targets further revealed the functional relevance of different RNA methylation writers and erasers.
Emergence of Hierarchical Modularity in Evolving Networks Uncovered by Phylogenomic Analysis
Authors: Caetano-Anollés Gustavo , Aziz M Fayez , Mughal Fizza , Gräter Frauke , Koç Ibrahim , Caetano-Anollés Kelsey , Caetano-Anollés Derek
Published: September 2019

Networks describe how parts associate with each other to form integrated systems which often have modular and hierarchical structure. In biology, network growth involves two processes, one that unifies and the other that diversifies. Here, we propose a biphasic (bow-tie) theory of module emergence. In the first phase, parts are at first weakly linked and associate variously. As they diversify, they compete with each other and are often selected for performance. The emerging interactions constrain their structure and associations. This causes parts to self-organize into modules with tight linkage. In the second phase, variants of the modules diversify and become new parts for a new generative cycle of higher level organization. The paradigm predicts the rise of hierarchical modularity in evolving networks at different timescales and complexity levels. Remarkably, phylogenomic analyses uncover this emergence in the rewiring of metabolomic and transcriptome-informed metabolic networks, the nanosecond dynamics of proteins, and evolving networks of metabolism, elementary functionomes, and protein domain organization.