bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Amyloid A Amyloidosis After Renal Transplantation: An Important Cause of Mortality
Authors: Sarihan Irem , Caliskan Yasar , Mirioglu Safak , Ozluk Yasemin , Senates Banu , Seyahi Nurhan , Basturk Taner , Yildiz Abdulmecit , Kilicaslan Isin , Sever Mehmet Sukru
Published: November 2019

Background.

There are limited data on the outcome of transplant recipients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF)-associated AA amyloidosis. The aim of the present study is to evaluate demographic, clinical, laboratory, and prognostic characteristics and outcome measures of these patients.

Methods.

Eighty-one renal transplant recipients with FMF-associated AA amyloidosis (group 1) and propensity score–matched transplant recipients (group 2, n = 81) with nonamyloidosis etiologies were evaluated in this retrospective, multicenter study. Recurrence of AA amyloidosis was diagnosed in 21 patients (group 1a), and their features were compared with 21 propensity score–matched recipients with FMF amyloidosis with no laboratory signs of recurrence (group 1b).

Results.

The risk of overall allograft loss was higher in group 1 compared with group 2 (25 [30.9%] versus 12 [14.8%]; P = 0.015 [hazard ratio, 2.083; 95% confidence interval, 1.126-3.856]). Patients in group 1 were characterized by an increased risk of mortality compared with group 2 (11 [13.6%] versus 0%; P = 0.001 [hazard ratio, 1.136; 95% confidence interval, 1.058-1.207]). Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that 5- and 10-year patient survival rates in group 1 (92.5% and 70.4%) were significantly lower than in group 2 (100% and 100%; P = 0.026 and P = 0.023, respectively). Although not reaching significance, overall, 5- and 10-year graft survival rates (57.1%, 94.7%, and 53.8%, respectively) in group 1a were worse than in group 1b (76.2%, 95%, and 77.8%, respectively; P = 0.19, P = 0.95, and P = 0.27, respectively).

Conclusions.

AA amyloidosis is associated with higher risk of mortality after kidney transplantation. Inflammatory indicators should be monitored closely, and persistent high levels of acute-phase reactants should raise concerns about amyloid recurrence in allograft.
Transcutaneous Auricular Vagus Nerve Stimulation
Authors: Ellrich Jens
Published: November 2019

Invasive vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is an approved treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy. Besides recognized clinical efficacy in about 60% of patients, there are major drawbacks such as invasiveness and common side effects including hoarseness, sore throat, shortness of breath, and coughing. Invasive VNS applies electrical stimulation to the left cervical branch of the vagus nerve and excites thick-myelinated afferent nerve fibers. Peripheral vagus nerve afferent volley initiates brainstem activity in the nucleus of the solitary tract and provokes typical brainstem and cerebral activation patterns that mediate the anticonvulsive mode of action. Whereas invasive VNS is an established neuromodulatory treatment in drug-resistant epilepsy, transcutaneous VNS (tVNS) of the auricular branch of the vagus nerve is suggested to be an alternative access path to the same neuronal network without invasiveness. Preclinical and clinical studies indicate that especially the cymba conchae of the auricle is selectively supplied by the auricular branch of the vagus nerve. Recent anatomical data demonstrate existence and quantity of thick-myelinated afferent nerve fibers of the left auricular branch of the vagus nerve that carries 21% of thick-myelinated afferent nerve fibers counted in the left thoracic vagus nerve in humans. Projection of auricular branch of the vagus nerve afferents from the auricle to the nucleus of the solitary tract is known from histochemical and electrophysiological experiments in rodents and confirmed in humans by functional imaging. Cerebral activation patterns triggered by invasive and tVNS resemble each other in appearance. Clinical trials in patients address safety and performance of tVNS and provide evidence for application in drug-resistant epilepsy.
Differential Diagnosis of Chronic Neuropathic Orofacial Pain: Role of Clinical Neurophysiology
Authors: Jääskeläinen Satu K.
Published: November 2019

Orofacial pain syndromes encompass several clinically defined and classified entities. The focus here is on the role of clinical neurophysiologic and psychophysical tests in the diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and pathophysiological mechanisms of definite trigeminal neuropathic pain and other chronic orofacial pain conditions (excluding headache and temporomandibular disorders). The International Classification of Headache Disorders 2018 classifies these facial pain disorders under the heading Painful cranial neuropathies and other facial pains. In addition to unambiguous painful posttraumatic or postherpetic trigeminal neuropathies, burning mouth syndrome, persistent idiopathic facial and dental pain, and trigeminal neuralgia have also been identified with neurophysiologic and quantitative sensory testing to involve the nervous system. Despite normal clinical examination, these all include clusters of patients with evidence for either peripheral or central nervous system pathology compatible with the subclinical end of a continuum of trigeminal neuropathic pain conditions. Useful tests in the diagnostic process include electroneuromyography with specific needle, neurography techniques for the inferior alveolar and infraorbital nerves, brain stem reflex recordings (blink reflex with stimulation of the supraorbital, infraorbital, mental, and lingual nerves; jaw jerk; masseter silent period), evoked potential recordings, and quantitative sensory testing. Habituation of the blink reflex and evoked potential responses to repeated stimuli evaluate top-down inhibition, and navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation allows the mapping of reorganization within the motor cortex in chronic neuropathic pain. With systematic use of neurophysiologic and quantitative sensory testing, many of the current ambiguities in the diagnosis, classification, and understanding of chronic orofacial syndromes can be clarified for clinical practice and future research.
Ocular Motor and Vestibular Disorders in Brainstem Disease
Authors: Choi Woo Young , Gold Daniel R.
Published: November 2019

The brainstem contains ocular motor and vestibular structures that, when damaged, produce specific eye movement disorders. In this review, we will discuss three brainstem syndromes with characteristic ocular motor and vestibular findings that can be highly localizing. First, we will discuss the lateral medullary (Wallenberg) syndrome, focusing on ocular lateropulsion, saccadic dysmetria, and the ocular tilt reaction. Second, we will review the medial longitudinal fasciculus syndrome including the ocular tilt reaction, nystagmus, and the vestibular-ocular reflex. Lastly, we will discuss hypertrophic olivary degeneration and oculopalatal tremor, which may develop weeks to months after a brainstem or cerebellar lesion. In these syndromes, the clinical ocular motor and vestibular examination is instrumental in localizing the lesion.
Acceptability of Standardized EEG Reporting in an Electronic Health Record
Authors: Witzman Stephanie , Massey Shavonne L. , Kessler Sudha , Gonzalez-Giraldo Ernesto , Fridinger Sara E. , Worden Lila , Lewin Naomi , Dlugos Dennis , Melamed Susan , Fitzgerald Mark , Fung France W. , Ferruzi Marissa , McNamee Nicole , LaFalce Denise , Donnelly Maureen , Haywood Amber , Allen-Napoli Linda , Banwell Brenda , Abend Nicholas S.
Published: November 2019

Rationale:

Implementation of electronic health records may improve the quality, accuracy, timeliness, and availability of documentation. Thus, our institution developed a system that integrated EEG ordering, scheduling, standardized reporting, and billing. Given the importance of user perceptions for successful implementation, we performed a quality improvement study to evaluate electroencephalographer satisfaction with the new EEG report system.

Methods:

We implemented an EEG report system that was integrated in an electronic health record. In this single-center quality improvement study, we surveyed electroencephalographers regarding overall acceptability, report standardization, workflow efficiency, documentation quality, and fellow education using a 0 to 5 scale (with 5 denoting best).

Results:

Eighteen electroencephalographers responded to the survey. The median score for recommending the overall system to a colleague was 5 (range 3–5), which indicated good overall satisfaction and acceptance of the system. The median scores for report standardization (4; 3–5) and workflow efficiency (4.5; 3–5) indicated that respondents perceived the system as useful and easy to use for documentation tasks. The median scores for quality of documentation (4.5; 1–5) and fellow education (4; 1–5) indicated that although most respondents believed the system provided good quality reports and helped with fellow education, a small number of respondents had substantially different views (ratings of 1).

Conclusions:

Overall electroencephalographer satisfaction with the new EEG report system was high, as were the scores for perceived usefulness (assessed as standardization, documentation quality, and education) and ease of use (assessed as workflow efficiency). Future study is needed to determine whether implementation yields useful data for clinical research and quality improvement studies or improves EEG report standardization.
Bias, incompleteness and the ‘known unknowns’ in the Holocene faunal record
Authors: Crees Jennifer J. , Collen Ben , Turvey Samuel T.
Published: November 2019

Long-term faunal data are needed to track biodiversity change and extinction over wide spatio-temporal scales. The Holocene record is a particularly rich and well-resolved resource for this purpose but nonetheless represents a biased subset of the original faunal composition, both at the site-level assemblage and when data are pooled for wider-scale analysis. We investigated patterns and potential sources of taxonomic, spatial and temporal bias in two Holocene datasets of mammalian occurrence and abundance, one at the global species level and one at the continental population-level. Larger-bodied species are disproportionately abundant in the Holocene fossil record, but this varies according to trophic level, probably owing to past patterns of human subsistence and exploitation. Despite the uneven spatial distribution of mammalian occurrence records, we found no specific source of sampling bias, suggesting that this error type can be avoided by intensive data collection protocols. Faunal assemblages are more abundant and precisely dated nearer to the present as a consequence of taphonomy, past human demography and dating methods. Our study represents one of the first attempts to quantify incompleteness and bias in the Holocene mammal record, and failing to critically assess the quality of long-term faunal datasets has major implications for understanding species decline and extinction risk.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The past is a foreign country: how much can the fossil record actually inform conservation?’
Unshifting the baseline: a framework for documenting historical population changes and assessing long-term anthropogenic impacts
Authors: Rodrigues Ana S. L. , Monsarrat Sophie , Charpentier Anne , Brooks Thomas M. , Hoffmann Michael , Reeves Randall , Palomares Maria L. D. , Turvey Samuel T.
Published: November 2019

Ecological baselines—reference states of species' distributions and abundances—are key to the scientific arguments underpinning many conservation and management interventions, as well as to the public support to such interventions. Yet societal as well as scientific perceptions of these baselines are often based on ecosystems that have been deeply transformed by human actions. Despite increased awareness about the pervasiveness and implications of this shifting baseline syndrome, ongoing global assessments of the state of biodiversity do not take into account the long-term, cumulative, anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity. Here, we propose a new framework for documenting such impacts, by classifying populations according to the extent to which they deviate from a baseline in the absence of human actions. We apply this framework to the bowhead whale (Balaena mysticetus) to illustrate how it can be used to assess populations with different geographies and timelines of known or suspected impacts. Through other examples, we discuss how the framework can be applied to populations for which there is a wide diversity of existing knowledge, by making the best use of the available ecological, historical and archaeological data. Combined across multiple populations, this framework provides a standard for assessing cumulative anthropogenic impacts on biodiversity.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The past is a foreign country: how much can the fossil record actually inform conservation?’
How predictable is extinction? Forecasting species survival at million-year timescales
Authors: Smits Peter , Finnegan Seth
Published: November 2019

A tenet of conservation palaeobiology is that knowledge of past extinction patterns can help us to better predict future extinctions. Although the future is unobservable, we can test the strength of this proposition by asking how well models conditioned on past observations would have predicted subsequent extinction events at different points in the geological past. To answer this question, we analyse the well-sampled fossil record of Cenozoic planktonic microfossil taxa (Foramanifera, Radiolaria, diatoms and calcareous nanoplankton). We examine how extinction probability varies over time as a function of species age, time of observation, current geographical range, change in geographical range, climate state and change in climate state. Our models have a 70–80% probability of correctly forecasting the rank order of extinction risk for a random out-of-sample species pair, implying that determinants of extinction risk have varied only modestly through time. We find that models which include either historical covariates or account for variation in covariate effects over time yield equivalent forecasts, but a model including both is overfit and yields biased forecasts. An important caveat is that human impacts may substantially disrupt range-risk dynamics so that the future will be less predictable than it has been in the past.

This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘The past is a foreign country: how much can the fossil record actually inform conservation?’
A panel of synapse assembly genes as a biomarker for Gliomas
Authors: Ji Xiangwen , Zhang Hongwei , Cui Qinghua
Published: November 2019

Gliomas are the most common primary brain cancers. In recent years, IDH mutation and 1p/19q codeletion have been suggested as biomarkers for the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of gliomas. However, these biomarkers are only effective for a part of glioma patients and thus more biomarkers are still emergently needed. Recently, an electrochemical communication between normal neurons and glioma cells by neuro-glioma synapse has been reported. Moreover, it was discovered that breast-to-brain metastasis tumor cells have pseudo synapses with neurons and these synapses were indicated to promote tumor progression and metastasis. Based on the above observations, we first curated a panel of 66 SA genes and then proposed a metric, SA score, to quantify the synapseness for each sample of 12 glioma gene expression datasets from TCGA, CGGA, and GEO. Strikingly, SA score showed excellent predictive ability for the prognosis, diagnosis, and grading of gliomas. Moreover, being compared with the two established biomarkers, IDH mutation and 1p/19q codeletion, SA score was demonstrated independent and better predictive performance. In conclusion, this study revealed that SA genes contribute to glioma formation and development, and proposed a quantitative method, SA score, as an efficient biomarker for monitoring gliomas.
Reconfiguration of directed functional connectivity among triple networks with aging: Considering the role of thalamo-cortical interactions
Authors: Das Moumita , Singh Vanshika , Uddin Lucina , Banerjee Arpan , Roy Dipanjan
Published: November 2019

The human brain undergoes significant structural and functional changes across the lifespan. Our current understanding of the underlying causal relationships of dynamical changes in functional connectivity with age is limited. On average, functional connectivitywithinresting-state networks (RSNs) weakens in magnitude, while connectionsbetweenRSNs tend to increase with age. Recent studies show that effective connectivity within and between large scale resting-state functional networks changes over the healthy lifespan. The vast majority of previous studies have focused primarily on characterizing cortical networks, with little work exploring the influence of subcortical nodes such as the thalamus on large-scale network interactions across the lifespan. Using directed connectivity and weighted net causal outflow measures applied to resting-state fMRI data, we examine the age-related changes in both cortical and thalamocortical causal interactions within and between RSNs. The three core neurocognitive networks from the triple network theory (default mode: DMN, salience: SN, and central executive: CEN) were identified independently using ICA and spatial matching of hub regions with these important RSNs previously reported in the literature. Multivariate granger causal analysis (GCA) was performed to test for directional connectivity and weighted causal outflow between selected nodes of RSNs accounting for thalamo-cortical interactions. Firstly, we observe that within-network causal connections become progressively weaker with age, and network dynamics are substantially reconfigured via strong thalamic drive particularly in the young group. Our findings manifest stronger between-network directional connectivity, which is further strongly mediated by the SN in flexible co-ordination with the CEN, and DMN in the old group compared with the young group. Hence, causal within- and between- triple network connectivity largely reflects age-associated effects of resting-state functional connectivity. Thalamo-cortical causality effects on the triple networks with age were next explored. We discovered that left and right thalamus exhibit substantial interactions with the triple networks and play a crucial role in the reconfiguration of directed connections and within network causal outflow. The SN displayed directed functional connectivity in strongly driving both the CEN and DMN to a greater extent in the older group. Notably, these results were largely replicated on an independent dataset of matched young and old individuals. Our findings based on directed functional connectivity and weighted causal outflow measures strengthen the hypothesis that balancing within and between network connectivity is perhaps critical for the preservation and flexibility of cognitive functioning with aging.
Investigation of DPPC liposomes reveals their capability to entrap Aroclor 1260, an emerging environmental pollutant
Authors: Lozano Andrew , Rieth Monica D.
Published: November 2019

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a class of organic compounds that can accumulate in biological and ecological environments due to their resistive nature to chemical, thermal and photo degradation. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are a class of man-made POPs that saw wide-spread use in commercial and industrial infrastructure as both an insulator and coolant in electrical transformers and capacitors. 2,2’,3,3’,4,4’-hexachlorobiphenyl (HCBP) was one of the most widely produced PCBs. As these mechanical structures fail or are decommissioned, PCBs are released into the soil, migrate to the water table, and eventually spread to nearby ecosystems by rain and wind. The stability of POPs and specifically PCBs leave few options for environmental waste removal. Conventionally, liposomes have been used for their drug delivery capabilities, but here we have chosen to investigate their capability in removing this class of emerging environmental pollutants. Liposomes are small, nonpolar lipid bi-layered aggregates capable of capturing a wide variety of both polar and nonpolar compounds. Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) is a well-characterized lipid that can be derived from natural sources. It is a phospholipid typically found as a major component of pulmonary surfactant mixtures. Liposomes were prepared using probe-tip sonication for both direct and passive incorporation of the HCBP compound. Assimilation was assessed using both differential scanning calorimetry and UV-Vis spectroscopy. After direct incorporation of HCBP the phase transition temperature, Tm, decreased from 40.8 °C to 37.4 °C. A subsequent UV-Vis analysis of HCBP by both direct and passive incorporation showed an increase in HCBP incorporation proportionate to the length of exposure time up to 24 hours and relative to the initial quantity present during the direct incorporation. Together the decrease in Tm and increase in absorbance are indicative of HCBP incorporation and further demonstrate the potential for their use as a method of sustainable environmental cleanup.
Stability of neocortical synapses across sleep and wake
Authors: Cary Brian A. , Turrigiano Gina G.
Published: November 2019

Sleep is important for brain plasticity, but its exact function remains mysterious. An influential but controversial idea is that a crucial function of sleep is to drive widespread downscaling of excitatory synaptic strengths. Here we used real-time sleep classification, ex vivo measurements of postsynaptic strength, and in vivo optogenetic monitoring of thalamocortical synaptic efficacy to ask whether sleep and wake states can constitutively drive changes in synaptic strength within the neocortex of juvenile rats. We found that miniature EPSC amplitudes onto L4 and L2/3 pyramidal neurons were stable across sleep and wake dense epochs in both primary visual (V1) and prefrontal cortex (PFC). Further, chronic monitoring of thalamocortical synaptic efficacy in V1 of freely behaving animals revealed stable responses across even prolonged periods of natural sleep and wake. Together these data demonstrate that neocortical synaptic strengths are remarkably stable across sleep and wake states, and provide strong evidence against the view that sleep drives widespread synaptic downscaling at neocortical synapses.
Resistome diversity in bovine clinical mastitis microbiome, a signature concurrence
Authors: Hoque M. Nazmul , Istiaq Arif , Clement Rebecca A. , Gibson Keylie M. , Saha Otun , Islam Ovinu Kibria , Abir Ruhshan Ahmed , Sultana Munawar , Siddiki AMAM Zonaed , Crandall Keith A. , Hossain M. Anwar
Published: November 2019

The bovine clinical mastitis (CM) milk is a large reservoir for diverse groups of resistomes, which play important roles in the pathogenesis of mastitis, but little is known about the concurrence of CM microbiome signature and its associated resistomes. Here we deciphered the total resistance (antibiotics and metals resistance, biofilm formation, quorum sensing) present in CM microbiome using whole metagenome sequencing (WMS) and in vitro cultural approaches. Significant correlation (p=0.001) was found between the resistome diversity and microbiome signature. We identified the strain-level microbiome diversity in four cattle breeds, with microbiome composition represented by the phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Fusobacteria (contributing to >95.0% of total strains). However, the resistome diversity did not vary significantly (p=0.692) across the microbiomes of cattle breeds. The in vitro investigation showed that biofilm producing CM pathogens were resistant to most of the conventional antibiotics used for CM treatment, whereas these pathogens remained sensitive to five heavy metals (Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) at varying concentrations. We also found association of some genomic functional potentials such as bacterial flagellar movement and chemotaxis, regulation and cell signaling, phages-prophages, transposable elements, plasmids and oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of bovine CM. These findings of rapid and reliable identification of CM microbiomes and associated resistomes will help improve the optimization of therapeutic schemes involving antibiotics and metals usage in the prevention and control programs of bovine CM.
Elastic propagation of fast electron vortices through amorphous materials
Authors: Löffler Stefan , Sack Stefan , Schachinger Thomas
Published: November 2019

This work studies the elastic scattering behavior of electron vortices when propagating through amorphous samples. A formulation of the multislice approach in cylindrical coordinates is used to theoretically investigate the redistribution of intensity between different angular momentum components due to scattering. To corroborate and elaborate on our theoretical results, extensive numerical simulations are performed on three model systems (Si3N4, Fe0.8B0.2, Pt) for a wide variety of experimental parameters to quantify the purity of the vortices, the net angular momentum transfer, and the variability of the results with respect to the random relative position between the electron beam and the scattering atoms. These results will help scientists to further improve the creation of electron vortices and enhance applications involving them.
Verification of the de Wolff hypothesis concerning the symmetry of β-MnO2
Authors: Fabrykiewicz Piotr , Przeniosło Radosław , Sosnowska Izabela , Fauth François , Oleszak Dariusz
Published: November 2019

The symmetry lowering from tetragonal to orthorhombic is demonstrated using high-resolution diffraction and also justified by using the magnetic superspace groups formalism for the rutile-type compound β-MnO2. The (lower) orthorhombic symmetry is observed at temperatures both below and above the Néel temperature. The magnetic ordering of β-MnO2is of spin density type and not screw-type helical. The results support the de Wolff [Acta Cryst.(1959),12, 341–345] hypothesis about the orthorhombic symmetry of β-MnO2.
Up-scaling transport in porous polymer membranes using asymptotic homogenization
Authors: Matthies Jörn Henning , Hopp-Hirschler Manuel , Uebele Sarah , Schiestel Thomas , Osenberg Markus , Manke Ingo , Nieken Ulrich
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Efficient numerical assessment of performance is particularly important in digital material design of porous materials. This study aims to present an up-scaled approach to virtually investigate permeation of fluids through a real porous filter membrane with a heterogeneous micro-structure.

Design/methodology/approach

The method of asymptotic homogenization is applied. The structural parameters of the micro-structure are directly obtained from structural equation modeling image analysis of a commercial filter membrane without fitting procedures. The simulation results are compared to permeation experiments of gaseous nitrogen and liquid water.

Findings

The authors found that variations in the pressure gradients across the membrane, resulting from the heterogeneity of pore structure, need to be considered. Remarkable agreement between simulations and experiments is observed.

Originality/value

Despite some research in the field of filtration, no studies on filter membranes have been published yet, although they represent a large segment of filtration technology.
Fatigue life prediction for automobile stabilizer bar
Authors: Li Shuangshuang , Liu Xintian , Wang Xiaolan , Wang Yansong
Published: November 2019

Purpose

During the running of automobile, the stabilizer bar is frequently subjected to the impact of complex random loads, which is prone to fatigue failure and accident. In regard to this, the purpose of this paper is to study and discuss fatigue life of automobile stabilizer bar.

Design/methodology/approach

Durability bench test shows that failure is located at the joint of sleeve and stabilizer bar body. Based on the collection and compilation of micro-strain load spectrum of the stabilizer bar, the strain-life model is studied considering the influence of average stress and maximum stress at failure area. Seven-grade strain-life curves of the stabilizer bar are established. According to the principle of linear damage accumulation, the relationship between fatigue life and damage is discussed, then the fatigue life of stabilizer bar is predicted. Fatigue life evaluation is carried out from three aspects: reliability analysis, static analysis and fatigue life simulation.

Findings

The results show that the reliability of the test sample is 99.9 percent when the confidence is 90 percent and the durability is 1,073 load spectrum cycles; the ratios of predicted and simulated life to design life are 2.77 and 2.30, respectively.

Originality/value

Based on the road load characteristics of automobile stabilizer bar, the method of fatigue life prediction and evaluation is discussed, which provides a basis for the design and development of automobile chassis components.
Shape optimization of single-pin reinforcement in metal-composite joints
Authors: Sarantinos Nikolaos , Kostopoulos Vassilis , Di Vita Gandolfo , Campoli Gianni
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Utilizing through-the-thickness pin reinforcement in metal-to-composite joints can significantly increase the joint mechanical properties, enabling the introduction to a whole new field of applications in joining technology. However, with the rise of advanced pin manufacturing techniques – such as additive layer manufacturing, little research has been performed on the pin shape optimization and its behavior. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, a numerical shape optimization algorithm is used to produce optimized pin shapes for several initial pin dimension parameters, having as objective to achieve a more uniform stress distribution along the surface of the pin, enhancing the pin strength and joint integrity.

Findings

Results showed that pin shape is a crucial factor in the mechanical response of the pin. In Mode I, the presence of an undercut feature on the pin head can increase the ultimate load of the pin by +250 percent, while in Mode II, the base diameter is the dominant feature in the joint ultimate strength.

Originality/value

With these results, the paper aims to utilize commercial available numerical software to explore optimization capabilities in joints strength. These optimization capabilities show that it could be used for the enhancement of metal-to-composite joints response.
How avatars create identification and loyalty among online gamers
Authors: Teng Ching-I
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Online games are popular electronic commerce platforms in which gamers use avatars to interact with others. Avatar identification (the extent to which gamers regard avatars as an extension of themselves) is known to be related to online gamer loyalty. However, few studies have examined how avatars could be designed to enhance avatar identification and online gamer loyalty, indicating a gap. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to contextualize self-affirmation theory into online gaming contexts, identified key theoretical elements and examined how they are related to avatar identification and online gamer loyalty.

Design/methodology/approach

This study surveyed 1,348 massively multi-player online role-playing game players, and their responses were analyzed using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The analytical results indicate that irreplaceability within a team and avatar customization are positively related to unique avatar image, while avatar customization is positively related to positive avatar image. Moreover, avatar physical attractiveness and avatar ability to achieve are positively related to positive avatar image. Both unique and positive images of an avatar (as perceived by the user) are positively related to avatar identification, and further to online gamer loyalty.

Originality/value

This study proposes new constructs: irreplaceability within a team, avatar ability to achieve, unique avatar image and positive avatar image. Such new constructs provide insights to aid electronic commerce managers in avatar design, thus instilling gamer identification with avatars, and thus loyalty.
Fall prevention in primary care using chronic disease management plans: A process evaluation of provider and consumer perspectives
Authors: Mackenzie Lynette , Clemson Lindy , Irving Diana
Published: November 2019

Introduction

Falls are an important issue in primary care. General practitioners (GPs) are in a key position to identify older people at risk of falls on their caseload and put preventative plans into action. Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plans allow GPs to refer to allied health practitioners (AHPs) for evidence‐based falls interventions. A previous pilot study reduced falls risk factors using CDM pans with older people at risk of falls. This study aimed to conduct a process evaluation of how the intervention worked in the pilot study for providers and consumers.

Methods

This process evaluation used qualitative descriptive methods by interviewing the GPs, AHPs and older people involved in the intervention study. An independent researcher conducted interviews. These were audiotaped, transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Data were also collected about the implementation of the programme.

Results

Two GPs, three occupational therapists, three physiotherapists and eight older people were interviewed. Key themes emerged from the perspectives of providers and consumers. The programme was implemented as intended, adherence to the exercise diaries was variable and the falls calendars were fully completed for three months of follow‐up. The programme was implemented as intended.

Conclusion

The pilot CDM falls prevention programme did not identify common barriers attributed to GPs. Older people were amenable to the programme and participated freely. Private AHPs needed to make the CDM items work for their business model. This approach can be rolled out in a larger study and integrated pathways are needed to identify and intervene with older people at risk of falls in primary care.
Drift and emergence patterns of nonbiting midges (Chironomidae, Diptera, Insecta) in a subtropical river
Authors: Schulz Uwe H. , da Rosa Marlon F. , Klein‐Stolz Greice F.
Published: November 2019

The passive dispersal of macroinvertebrates suspended in the water column is known as drift. In tropical and subtropical rivers, which show a distinct hydrological cycle with defined flood and dry periods, chironomids may use flood periods for effective downstream dispersal, particularly if drift coincides with emergence, due to lower fish predator efficiency because of increased turbidity and turbulence. If this is true, chironomids should display a seasonal drift and emergence pattern. The abundances in drift of pupae, their exuviae and imagines (PEI) should be higher during the flood periods. Additionally, in response to predator pressure, it should be advantageous to drift, emerge, or both, to take place at night. We investigated drift and emergence patterns of chironomids in the subtropical Sinos River in southern Brazil during two annual cycles in monthly collections with sampling intervals of 3 hr during 24 hr. About 70% percent of all drifting macroinvertebrates were chironomids. Larvae showed a tendency to increase drift with higher stream flow. No relation of larval drift with the day or night period was detected. However, PEI drifted and emerged at significantly higher abundances during increased discharges. This pattern was not related to the period. During high flow, turbidity and turbulence increase. Hence, emergence efficiency may increase by higher survival rates under these conditions, due to reduced predation by visually oriented fish.
Regional community assembly drivers and microbial environmental sources shaping bacterioplankton in an alpine lacustrine district (Pyrenees, Spain)
Authors: Ortiz‐Álvarez Rüdiger , Cáliz Joan , Camarero Lluís , Casamayor Emilio O.
Published: November 2019

Microbial communities in natural ecosystems are subject to strong ecological rules. The study of local communities along a regional metacommunity can reveal patterns of community assembly, and disentangle the underlying ecological processes. In particular, we seek drivers of community assembly at the regional scale using a large lacustrine dataset (>300 lakes) along the geographical, limnological and physico‐chemical gradients in the Pyrenees. By using high throughput amplicon sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, and inferring environmental sources of bacterial immigrants, we showed that surface aquatic bacterial assemblages were strongly influenced by terrestrial populations from soil, biofilms or sediments, and primarily selected by a pH‐alkalinity gradient. Indeed, source proportions explained 27% of the community variation, and chemistry 15% of the total variation, half of it shared with the sources. Major taxonomic groups such as Verrucomicrobia, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes showed higher aquatic affinities than Parcubacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria or Betaproteobacteria, which may be recruited and selected through different hydrographic habitats. A regional fingerprint was observed with lower alpha diversity and higher beta diversity in the central Pyrenees than in both ends. We suggest an ecological succession process, likely influenced by complex interactions of environmental source dispersal and environmental filtering along the mountain range geography.
Short bZIP homologue of sulfur regulator Met4 from Ogataea parapolymorpha does not depend on DNA‐binding cofactors for activating genes in sulfur starvation
Authors: Yoo Su Jin , Sohn Min Jeong , Jeong Da Min , Kang Hyun Ah
Published: November 2019

The acquisition of sulfur from environment and its assimilation is essential for fungal growth and activities. Here, we describe novel features of the regulatory network of sulfur metabolism in Ogataea parapolymorpha, a thermotolerant methylotrophic yeast with high resistance to harsh environmental conditions. A short bZIP protein (OpMet4p) of O. parapolymorpha, displaying the combined structural characteristics of yeast and filamentous fungal Met4 homologues, plays a key role as a master regulator of cell homeostasis during sulfur limitation, but also its function is required for the tolerance of various stresses. Domain swapping analysis, combined with deletion analysis of the regulatory domains and genes encoding OpCbf1p, OpMet28p, and OpMet32p, indicated that OpMet4p does not require the interaction with these DNA‐binding cofactors to induce the expression of sulfur genes, unlike the Saccharomyces cerevisiae Met4p. ChIP analysis confirmed the notion that OpMet4p, which contains a canonical bZIP domain, can bind the target DNA in the absence of cofactors, similar to homologues in other filamentous fungi. Collectively, the identified unique features of the O. parapolymorpha regulatory network, as the first report on the sulfur regulation by a short yeast Met4 homologue, provide insights into conservation and divergence of the sulfur regulatory networks among diverse ascomycetous fungi.
Brexit and the British Constitution: a Long View
Authors: Taylor Miles
Published: November 2019

The Brexit referendum of 2016 brought a new concept to British politics, namely the ‘people’s will’, one that is seemingly at odds with conventional notions of parliamentary sovereignty, even a threat to its very existence. This article argues that although the device of the referendum is relatively new, the kind of popular control over Parliament and the executive that it invokes has long been a part of British politics. Ranging over 200 years, examples are drawn from the recall and deselection of MPs, mass petitioning campaigns, the role of the Speaker, and the flourishing of independent parties.
What makes employees more proactive? Roles of job embeddedness, the perceived strength of the HRM system and empowering leadership
Authors: Jia Jianfeng , Yan Jiaqi , Jahanshahi Asghar Afshar , Lin Weipeng , Bhattacharjee Amitab
Published: November 2019

Drawing on the theory of planned behavior, the current study examined the effects of employees’ job embeddedness and the perceived strength of the human resource management (HRM) system on their proactive work behaviors, as well as the moderation effect of empowering leadership on these relationships. We tested our hypotheses using data collected from 206 Chinese employees in a three‐wave survey. The results demonstrated the positive effects of both job embeddedness and the perceived strength of the HRM system on employees’ proactive work behaviors. We also found that the relationship between the perceived strength of the HRM system and proactive work behaviors was stronger when the levels of empowering leadership were high rather than low. However, the moderation effect of empowering leadership on the relationship between job embeddedness and proactive work behaviors was not significant. Our study contributes to the understanding of the antecedents of Chinese employees’ proactive work behaviors from the perspective of motivation and behavioral control.
Determinants of eating behaviours in Australian university students: A cross‐sectional analysis
Authors: Whatnall Megan C. , Patterson Amanda J. , Chiu Simon , Oldmeadow Christopher , Hutchesson Melinda J.
Published: November 2019

Aim

This study aimed to explore clustering among individual eating behaviours in a sample of Australian university students, and explore associations between clustered eating behaviours and demographic characteristics.

Methods

A cross‐sectional analysis of data from the University of Newcastle (UON) Student Healthy Lifestyle Survey 2017 was conducted. Measures included eating behaviours (eg, vegetables, energy‐dense nutrient poor [EDNP] food intakes) assessed using short diet questions, and demographic characteristics (eg, age, undergraduate/postgraduate student). Factor analysis was used to explore clustering of individual eating behaviours (ie, identify factors). Linear regression models were used to explore associations between eating behaviour factors identified and demographic characteristics.

Results

A total of 3062 students (70% female; 56% aged 17‐24 years) were included in the analysis. The six eating behaviour factors identified (characterised by higher consumption of the named foods/drinks) were; EDNP snack foods, meat and takeaway foods, fruit and vegetables, sugary drinks, breakfast, and breads and cereals. A higher fruit and vegetable factor score was associated with being female (P < .001), and a higher meat and takeaway foods factor score was associated with being male (P < .001) and of younger age (P < .001).

Conclusions

Nutrient‐rich foods clustered together and EDNP foods clustered together, that is, the identified factors represent either nutrient‐rich or EDNP foods. Interventions in the university setting should target students with the poorest eating behaviours, including males and younger students.
Food neophobia and its association with food preferences and dietary intake of adults
Authors: Costa Alexandra , Silva Cláudia , Oliveira Andreia
Published: November 2019

Aim

To assess the association of food neophobia (FN) with food preferences, dietary intake and dietary quality.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was conducted in a non‐probabilistic sample of 229 Portuguese adults, aged 18 to 84 years. FN was measured with the FN Scale. Dietary intake over the previous 12 months was assessed by a validated semi‐quantitative food frequency questionnaire. We defined a dietary pattern the Healthy Diet Indicator, to summarise the effects of overall dietary intake. Generalised linear models were performed to test associations in multivariate analyses (controlled for sex, age and education).

Results

FN was negatively associated with a general liking for the act of eating () and with reduced preferences for specific foods (fruit and vegetables, some types of meat and fish and traditional Portuguese dishes with blood). Those with higher FN showed a lower consumption of fruits and vegetables, but a higher consumption of milk and codfish, a popular Portuguese ingredient. However, FN did not affect the macronutrients and energy intake, as well as sodium, added sugars and fibre intake. Adherence to a healthy dietary pattern was not significantly associated with FN.

Conclusions

FN was associated with a decreased consumption and preference for specific foods, but it had no impact on a healthy dietary pattern.
Comparisons between tumor burden and other prognostic factors that influence survival of patients with non‐small cell lung cancer treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Sakata Yoshihiko , Kawamura Kodai , Ichikado Kazuya , Shingu Naoki , Yasuda Yuko , Eguchi Yoshitomo , Hisanaga Jumpei , Nitawaki Tatsuya , Iio Miwa , Sekido Yuko , Nakano Aiko , Sakagami Takuro
Published: November 2019

Background

The use of baseline tumor burden (TB) as a prognostic factor for non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and associations between TB and other prognostic biomarkers remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the association between TB and survival in NSCLC patients treated with ICIs in comparison with other biomarkers.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 83 NSCLC patients with ICIs administered between February 2016 and December 2018. TB was measured as the sum of the unidimensional diameters of up to five target lesions.

Results

The median observation period was 14.2 months. A total of 42 patients died during the follow‐up. Univariate Cox regression analysis showed that baseline TB was associated with OS. Cox regression analysis adjusted for Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) alone or with addition of programmed cell death ligand 1 expression and treatment line showed that TB was a prognostic factor for OS. Using time‐dependent receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal TB cutoff for predicting OS was 12 cm, and patients were divided into a high TB group (n = 21) and a low TB group (n = 62). The low TB group achieved significantly longer OS than the high TB group (median OS: 18.5 months, [95% CI = 11.7‐not reached] vs. 2.3 months [95% CI = 1.3–2.9], P < 0.001).

Conclusion

TB is a useful, clinically measurable prognostic factor of survival in NSCLC patients treated with ICIs.
A method for computing hourly, historical, terrain‐corrected microclimate anywhere on earth
Authors: Kearney Michael R. , Gillingham Phillipa K. , Bramer Isobel , Duffy James P. , Maclean Ilya M.D.
Published: November 2019

Microclimates are the thermal and hydric environments organisms actually experience, and estimates of them are increasingly needed in environmental research. The availability of global weather and terrain datasets, together with increasingly sophisticated microclimate modelling tools, makes the prospect of a global, web‐based microclimate estimation procedure feasible.

We have developed such an approach for the r programming environment which integrates existing r packages for obtaining terrain and sub‐daily atmospheric forcing data (elevatr and rncep), and two complementary microclimate modelling packages (NicheMapR and microclima). The procedure can be used to generate NicheMapR’s hourly time‐series outputs of above‐ and below‐ground conditions, including convective and radiative environments, soil temperature, soil moisture and snow cover, for a single point, using microclima to account for local topographic and vegetation effects. Alternatively, it can use microclima to produce high‐resolution grids of near‐surface temperatures, using NicheMapR to derive calibration coefficients normally obtained from experimental data.

We validate this integrated approach against a series of microclimate observations used previously in the tests of the respective models and show equivalent performance.

It is thus now feasible to produce realistic estimates of microclimate at fine (<30 m) spatial and temporal scales anywhere on earth, from 1957 to present.