bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postoperative complications increase the risk of long‐term chronic kidney disease after nephron‐sparing surgery in patients with renal cancer and normal preoperative renal function
Authors: Ventimiglia Eugenio , Larcher Alessandro , Trevisani Francesco , Muttin Fabio , Cianflone Francesco , Montorsi Francesco , Salonia Andrea , Bertini Roberto , Capitanio Umberto
Published: February 2019

Objectives

To investigate whether postoperative complications affect long‐term functional outcomes of renal patients treated with nephron‐sparing surgery (NSS).

Materials and Methods

We performed an observational study, enrolling 596 patients with preoperative normal renal function treated with NSS for clinical T1abN0M0 renal masses. Cox regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for chronic kidney disease (CKD) including as covariates age, comorbidity (scored according to the Charlson comorbidity index), hypertension, tumour size, preoperative estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at discharge, and ischaemia time.

Results

A total of 137 patients (23%) developed postoperative complications. At a median (interquartile range) follow‐up of 53 (26–91) months, CKD risk was 19% for patients with postoperative complications and 11% for those without complications. Patients experiencing postoperative complications (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.26–2.86) were at increased risk of developing CKD during the follow‐up at multivariable analysis, after accounting for confounders.

Conclusions

Our data outline how postoperative complications might have a detrimental impact on postoperative renal function in patients submitted to NSS. Improper patient selection, increasing the risk of postoperative complications, could limit the benefit in terms of renal function brought by NSS.
Rap1 signal modulators control the maintenance of hematopoietic progenitors in bone marrow and adult long‐term hematopoiesis
Authors: Imai Takahiko , Tanaka Hiroki , Hamazaki Yoko , Minato Nagahiro
Published: February 2019

Adult long‐term hematopoiesis depends on sustaining hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC) in bone marrow (BM) niches, where their balance of quiescence, self‐renewal, and hematopoietic differentiation is tightly regulated. Although various BM stroma cells that produce niche factors have been identified, regulation of the intrinsic responsiveness of HSPC to the niche factors remains elusive. We previously reported that mice deficient for Sipa1, a Rap1 GTPase‐activating protein, develop diverse hematopoietic disorders of late onset. Here we showed that transplantation of BM cells expressing membrane‐targeted C3G (C3G‐F), a Rap1 GTP/GDP exchanger, resulted in the progressive decline of the numbers of HSPC repopulated in BM with time and impaired long‐term hematopoiesis of all cell lineages. C3G‐F/HSPC were sustained for months in spleen retaining hematopoietic potential, but these cells inefficiently contributed to overall hematopoietic reconstitution. C3G‐F/HSPC showed enhanced proliferation and differentiation with accelerated progenitor cell exhaustion in response to stem cell factor (SCF). Using a Ba/F3 cell line, we confirmed that the increased basal Rap1GTP levels with C3G‐F expression caused a markedly prolonged activation of c‐Kit receptor and downstream signaling through SCF ligation. A minor population of C3G‐F/HSPC also showed enhanced proliferation in the presence of thrombopoietin (TPO) compared to Vect/HSPC. Current results suggest an important role of basal Rap1 activation status of HSPC in their maintenance in BM for sustaining long‐term adult hematopoiesis.
A case report of interrupted aortic arch without patent ductus arteriosus and with double‐outlet right ventricle
Authors: Wang Nan , Sun Feifei , Ren Weidong , Qiao Wei , Zhang Xintong , Yu Ziyang
Published: February 2019

A case of interruption of the aortic arch with double‐outlet right ventricle is reported. Although the aortic arch was interrupted, there was no direct artery to supply blood to the descending aorta. However, a feeder vessel from the neck was found to be connected to the proximal descending aorta.
Tackling early school leaving: Principals’ insights into Portuguese upper secondary schools
Authors: Araújo Helena C. , Macedo Eunice , Santos Sofia A. , Doroftei Alexandra O.
Published: February 2019

This article addresses Early School Leaving (ESL) as a phenomenon that is identified in the EU and European countries such as Portugal as being the result of school disaffection that can be associated with social and educational problems. The relevance of this problem at the European level is highlighted by the large number of European guidelines on the matter and by the inclusion of ESL as one of the main questions to be addressed by the Horizon 2020. Based on interviews, this article questions possible relationships between how principals perceive both ESL and the measures to deal with it and the culture of the school as an identity of differentia specifica (ethos). It should be emphasised that the approaches of these principals to ESL and the school‐based practices addressing it are quite diverse and relate to the ethos of the schools; students’ trajectories and the complex relationship between education and the labour market. The principals manifest their investment and implication in the provision of adequate measures for their specific contexts and see teachers and external partners as key actors.
Male chemical cues as reliable indicators of infection in the wolf spider Schizocosa ocreata
Authors: Gilbert Rachel , Uetz George W.
Published: February 2019

Sexual signals can convey important information about mate quality, such as critical information about a signaler's health status, helping an individual to avoid infected or immunocompromised conspecifics. Chemical signals are especially important in this context, because they represent an honest and dynamic signaling modality that receivers can use to make updated mate choice decisions to avoid compromising their own health. In this study, we investigated the viability of male chemical cues in the wolf spider Schizocosa ocreata as a reliable indicator of health status. Using video playback with images of an average male that is simultaneously paired with male cuticular compounds on filter paper, we show that females are more receptive to videos paired with cues from control males rather than infected males. We also show that these cuticular compounds can be isolated and retain similar female behavioral responses when extracted with a nonpolar solvent, suggesting that these cuticular compounds may not be just complex hydrocarbons, but a combination of cuticular compounds. This is the first evidence for female discrimination and recognition of male chemical cues in this species, which opens up important new avenues of research in a well‐studied species with complex multimodal signaling.
What are we measuring? Novices agree amongst themselves (but not always with experts) in their assessment of dog behaviour
Authors: Munch Kirke L. , Wapstra Erik , Thomas Scott , Fisher Michelle , Sinn David L.
Published: February 2019

Humans differ in how they perceive, assess, and measure animal behaviour. This is problematic because strong observer bias can reduce statistical power, accuracy of scientific inference, and in the worst cases, lead to spurious results. Unfortunately, reports and studies of measurement reliability in animal behaviour studies are rare. Here, we investigated two aspects of measurement reliability in working dogs: inter‐observer agreement and criterion validity (comparing novice ratings with those given by experts). Here, we extend for the first time a powerful framework used in human psychological studies to investigate three potential aspects of (dis)agreement in nonhuman animal behaviour research: (a) that some behaviours are easier to observe than others; (b) that some subjects are easier to observe than others; and (c) that observers with different levels of experience with the subject animal give the same or different ratings. We found that novice observers with the same level of experience agreed upon measures of a wide range of behaviours. We found no evidence that age of the dogs affected agreement between these same novice observers. However, when observers with different levels of experience (i.e., novices vs. a working dog expert) assessed the same dogs, agreement appeared to be strongly affected by the measurement instrument used to assess behaviour. Given that animal behaviour research often utilizes different observers with different levels of experience, our results suggest that further tests of how different observers may measure behaviour in different ways are needed across a wider variety of organisms and measurement instruments.
Incorporating existing thermal tolerance into projections of compositional turnover under climate change
Authors: Bush Alex , Catullo Renee , Mokany Karel , Harwood Tom , Hoskins Andrew J. , Ferrier Simon
Published: February 2019

Aim

Observed, realized niche space often underestimates species’ physiological tolerances due to interactions with other species, dispersal constraints, and because some combinations of influential environmental factors do not currently exist in the real world. Conversely, correlative ecological niche models rely on the assumption that the range of environmental conditions encompassed by a species’ geographic distribution accurately reflects their environmental tolerances, including community‐level approaches like generalized dissimilarity modelling (GDM). We extend GDM to better understand what effect broader environmental tolerances could have on compositional turnover under climate change.

Innovation

We show how GDM can be adjusted as a function of best‐available estimates of the average ratio between realized and potential niche widths to modify projected temporal turnover. We demonstrate this approach by using the estimated niche ratios of Australian plant species (n = 7,184) relative to thermal extremes, and the rate at which this ratio varied with temperature. The modified GDMs showed existing thermal tolerance could reduce the turnover predicted by standard models under climate change by up to 11%. We further show how the reduction in expected turnover by 2090 will influence where a greater proportion of the current community will persist in a region.

Main conclusions

We suggest that standard spatial GDMs and their modified versions represent the extremes of ecological niche perspectives (i.e., realized and potential) and the range of tolerance communities may have when responding to environmental change. GDM projections therefore identify the range of uncertainty associated with a critical model assumption, and as climate change continues, ongoing community monitoring could be used to validate the balance between the two possibilities.
NLRC5 deficiency has a moderate impact on immunodominant CD8+ T‐cell responses during rotavirus infection of adult mice
Authors: Sun Tian , Ferrero Richard L , Girardin Stephen E , Gommerman Jennifer L , Philpott Dana J
Published: February 2019

The NOD‐like receptor (NLR) family plays an important role in innate immunity. Class II transactivator and NOD‐like receptor caspase activation and recruitment domain CARD containing 5 (NLRC5) are unusual members of the NLR family that instead of recognizing pathogen‐associated or damage‐associated molecular patterns, form enhanceosomes with adaptor molecules and modulate major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II and MHC class I expression, respectively. While NLRC5 has been shown to play a role during intracellular pathogen infection and tumor cell immune evasion, its role in regulating antigen‐specific CD8+ T‐cell responses at the intestinal mucosa has not been investigated. Here, we take advantage of the rotavirus model in adult mice to dissect the impact of NLRC5 on CD8+ T‐cell responses to this viral infection at the gut mucosa. We show that while Nlrc5−/− mice exhibited normal proportions of T‐cell subpopulations in the intraepithelial and lamina propria compartments, these mice had decreased baseline MHC class I expression on various immune cells in the lamina propria. Upon rotavirus infection, Nlrc5 deficiency resulted in impaired H2‐Kb‐restricted antigen‐specific CD8+ T‐cell responses, which were recapitulated in mice deficient for Nlrc5 within the dendritic cell compartment. The impaired CD8+ T‐cell response in Nlrc5−/− mice was not significant enough to impact viral titers, suggesting compensation in Nlrc5−/− mice, perhaps as a result of higher numbers of activated B cells in the mesenteric lymph nodes and normal rotavirus‐specific immunoglobulin A responses. Collectively, our results demonstrate a minor role for NLRC5 in modulating H2‐Kb‐restricted antigen‐specific CD8+ T‐cell responses in the small intestine during rotavirus infection in adult mice.
Alopecia neoplastica as a sign of visceral malignancies: a systematic review
Authors: Paolino G. , Pampena R. , Grassi S. , Mercuri S.R. , Cardone M. , Corsetti P. , Moliterni E. , Muscianese M. , Rossi A. , Frascione P. , Longo C.
Published: February 2019

Alopecia neoplastica (AN) from visceral tumours is a rare form of cutaneous metastasis in which internal malignancies spread to the scalp. The diagnosis of AN may be very challenging, especially when its onset precedes the diagnosis of the primary tumour. We aimed to improve the knowledge on AN, highlighting that in case of scarring localized alopecia, a differential diagnosis with metastasis should always be considered. We performed a systematic review to describe the main demographic and clinical features associated with AN from visceral malignancies; a survival analysis was also performed. In 118 reports, accounting for 123 patients, we found that women were more affected by AN than men (53.7% vs. 46.3%). The most frequent site of the primary tumour was the gastrointestinal tract (24.4%), followed by breast (17.9%), kidney (8.1%), lung (7.3%), thyroid (7.3%), uterus (6.5%), central nervous system (6.5%), liver (3.3%) and other anatomic areas for 18.7% of cases. Furthermore, in more than half of the cases (66.1%), AN lesions were single and were mainly diagnosed after the primary visceral tumour (71.5%). Finally, survival analysis highlighted a lower progression‐free survival in men; while, no significant differences in overall survival were reported among genders. In conclusion, metastatic skin disease should always be taken into consideration when dealing with patients with localized scarring alopecia.
Response to ‘Korean gender differences in hidradenitis suppurativa: nature or nurture?’
Authors: Lee J.H. , Bae J.M.
Published: February 2019

Linked article: R. Happle. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2019; 33: e256. https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.15507
THE REACTIVE BETA MODEL
Authors: Valeyre Sebastien , Aboura Sofiane , Grebenkov Denis
Published: February 2019

We present a reactive beta model that accounts for the leverage effect and beta elasticity. For this purpose, we derive a correlation metric for the leverage effect to identify the relation between the market beta and volatility changes. An empirical test based on the most popular market‐neutral strategies is run from 2000 to 2015 with exhaustive data sets, including 600 U.S. stocks and 600 European stocks. Our findings confirm the ability of the reactive beta model to remove an important part of the bias from the beta estimation and from most popular market‐neutral strategies. To examine the robustness of the reactive beta measurement, we conduct Monte Carlo simulations over seven market scenarios against five alternative methods. The results confirm that the reactive model significantly reduces the bias overall when financial markets are stressed.
Development and characterization of a new nonenzymatic colored time–temperature indicator
Authors: Uddin Zahoor , Boonsupthip Waraporn
Published: February 2019

Time–temperature indicators (TTIs) are effective tool for monitoring food quality during processing and distribution. In this study, a new colored nonenzymatic browning (fructose and glycine)‐based TTI was developed. Twelve TTIs were made at four different substrate concentrations and three pH ranges 8.0–10.0. The mathematical models of each TTI were drawn up, which showed the relationships between the color change in terms of absorbance (420 nm), time and temperature. The activation energies (Ea), calculated from Arrhenius relationship ranged between 58.09 and 95.54 kJ mol−1 of all TTIs. Activation energies could be changed to match the Ea of food product, by modifying pH and the proportion of the fructose and glycine. A visual color change of TTI and a wide range of activation energy illustrated that this new chemical‐based TTI could be applied to show the time–temperature history of foodstuffs, and to indicate the food quality, which is associated with the undergoing of the time–temperature exposure.

Practical applications

This work provides the development of a new smart temperature indicator based on nonenzymatic browning. The indicators are more useful for food quality monitoring from manufacturing till consumer consumption. However, the application of the TTI's can be extended to food processing, that is, sterilization, pasteurization, and drying process. Thus, the use of the TTIs can encourage food producers to scrutinize food processing and distribution to deliver good quality to consumers with guaranteed security.
Pharmacokinetics of meloxicam after oral administration of a granule formulation to healthy horses
Authors: Mendoza Francisco Javier , Serrano‐Rodriguez Juan Manuel , Perez‐Ecija Alejandro
Published: February 2019

Background

Nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs are administered in horses for several systemic diseases. Selective cyclooxygenase‐2 inhibitors are preferred because of lower risk of adverse effects. Several meloxicam formulations have been tested in horses, but a recently marketed granule oral formulation has not been studied.

Objective

To characterize the pharmacokinetics of a novel granule meloxicam formulation in fasted and fed horses, and to compare pharmacokinetic features with oral suspension and tablets.

Animals

Seven healthy adult horses.

Methods

Meloxicam was administered at 0.6 mg/kg in fasted or fed horses. Blood samples were collected for pharmacokinetic analysis, and vital signs, hematology, and biochemistry variables were monitored for 72 hours.

Results

No adverse effects were detected. Volume of distribution and clearance after intravenous administration of meloxicam were 0.36 L/kg and 29.12 mL/h/kg, respectively, with a 12.39 hours of terminal half‐life. Protein binding was of 97%. Bioavailability was high for every oral formulation, ranging 70%‐110%, without feed effect. Because of a slower absorption, meloxicam after administration of granules had a longer half‐life (24 and 34 hours, fasted and fed, respectively) and mean residence time (31 and 47 hours), than suspension and tablets (ranging 10‐13 and 13‐15 hours, respectively). In addition, the time above therapeutic concentration was higher for the granule formulation than other formulations.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Granule formulation has different PK parameters compared to other oral formulations, which could enable this formulation to be used for different dosage regimens in order to reach a desired clinical effect or decrease the risk of adverse effects.
Toxic but tasty – temporal dynamics and network architecture of heme‐responsive two‐component signaling in Corynebacterium glutamicum
Authors: Keppel Marc , Piepenbreier Hannah , Gätgens Cornelia , Fritz Georg , Frunzke Julia
Published: February 2019

Heme is an essential cofactor and alternative iron source for almost all bacterial species but may cause severe toxicity upon elevated levels and consequently, regulatory mechanisms coordinating heme homeostasis represent an important fitness trait. A remarkable scenario is found in several corynebacterial species, e.g. Corynebacterium glutamicum and Corynebacterium diphtheriae, which dedicate two paralogous, heme‐responsive two‐component systems, HrrSA and ChrSA, to cope with the Janus nature of heme. Here, we combined experimental reporter profiling with a quantitative mathematical model to understand how this particular regulatory network architecture shapes the dynamic response to heme. Our data revealed an instantaneous activation of the detoxification response (hrtBA) upon stimulus perception and we found that kinase activity of both kinases contribute to this fast onset. Furthermore, instant deactivation of the PhrtBA promoter is achieved by a strong ChrS phosphatase activity upon stimulus decline. While the activation of detoxification response is uncoupled from further factors, heme utilization is additionally governed by the global iron regulator DtxR integrating information on iron availability into the regulatory network. Altogether, our data provide comprehensive insights how TCS cross‐regulation and network hierarchy shape the temporal dynamics of detoxification (hrtBA) and utilization (hmuO) as part of a global homeostatic response to heme.
Quality of life and its association with irritable bowel syndrome and fatigue ten years after giardiasis
Authors: Litleskare Sverre , Rortveit Guri , Eide Geir Egil , Emberland Knut Erik , Hanevik Kurt , Langeland Nina , Wensaas Knut‐Arne
Published: February 2019

Background

Gastroenteritis has been associated with complications such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and chronic fatigue (CF). Little is known about the implications for quality of life (QoL) in this setting. The aims of this study were to evaluate the association between exposure to Giardia infection and QoL ten years after the infection, and how this related to IBS and CF.

Methods

We followed 1252 patients with laboratory‐verified Giardia lamblia infection and a matched control group for 10 years after an epidemic in Bergen, Norway, in 2004. The main outcome was QoL after ten years as defined by the Short‐form 12 version 2 with a physical component summary (PCS) and a mental component summary (MCS), both with range 0‐100 (T‐score). Regression analyses were performed using mixed modeling.

Key Results

Mean PCS T‐score in the exposed group (51.4; 95% CI: 50.6‐52.1) was 2.8 T‐score points (95% CI: −3.8 to −1.9, P < 0.001) lower than that in the control group (54.2; 95% CI: 53.7‐54.8). The mean MCS T‐score was also 2.8 T‐score points (95% CI: −3.8 to −1.9, P < 0.001) lower among the exposed (48.9; 95% CI: 48.2‐49.6) than the controls (51.7; 95% CI: 51.1‐52.4). Further analyses found that the effect of Giardia exposure on QoL was mediated by IBS and CF.

Conclusions & Inferences

Exposure to Giardia infection was associated with a lower QoL ten years later as compared to a control group, an effect that was mediated by IBS and CF.
Hydraulic traits are more diverse in flowers than in leaves
Authors: Roddy Adam B. , Jiang Guo‐Feng , Cao Kunfang , Simonin Kevin A. , Brodersen Craig R.
Published: February 2019

Maintaining water balance has been a critical constraint shaping the evolution of leaf form and function. However, flowers, which are heterotrophic and relatively short‐lived, may not be constrained by the same physiological and developmental factors.

We measured physiological parameters derived from pressure–volume curves for leaves and flowers of 22 species to characterize the diversity of hydraulic traits in flowers and to determine whether flowers are governed by the same constraints as leaves.

Compared with leaves, flowers had high saturated water content, which was a strong predictor of hydraulic capacitance in both leaves and flowers. Principal component analysis revealed that flowers occupied a different region of multivariate trait space than leaves and that hydraulic traits are more diverse in flowers than in leaves.

Without needing to maintain high rates of transpiration, flowers rely on other hydraulic traits, such as high hydraulic capacitance, to maintain turgor pressure. As a result, instead of employing a metabolically expensive but durable carbon (C)‐based skeleton, flowers may rely predominantly on a metabolically cheaper, hydrostatic skeleton to keep their structures on display for pollinators, which has important implications for both the costs of reproduction and the biomechanical performance of flowers, particularly during drought.
Value of CT‐guided Core Needle Biopsy in Diagnosing Spinal Lesions: A Comparison Study
Authors: Liang Yun , Liu Peng , Jiang Li‐bo , Wang Hou‐lei , Hu An‐nan , Zhou Xiao‐gang , Li Xi‐lei , Lin Hong , Wu Dong , Dong Jian
Published: February 2019

Objective

A retrospective study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of CT‐guided core needle biopsy in diagnosing spinal lesions through comparison with C‐arm guidance.

Methods

From April 2013 to July 2017, a total of 188 patients, who suffered from spinal lesions or had malignant tumor history with a new spinal fracture, were included in this study. There were 96 men and 92 women, with an average of 57.1 years. A total of 238 core needle biopsies were performed. A total of 140 core needle biopsies were carried out under C‐arm guidance in 102 patients (group 1); 98 core needle biopsies were carried out under CT guidance in 86 patients (group 2); 108 core needle biopsies were performed in thoracic vertebrae, 116 were in lumbar vertebrae, and 14 were in sacral vertebrae. Seventy‐eight patients accepted surgical treatment after biopsies. For these patients, the histological pathologies of the biopsy and surgery were compared to evaluate the accuracy of the biopsy. For the other 110 patients who did not receive surgical treatment, the treatment response and the clinical course were used to evaluate the accuracy of the biopsy. The success rate, the diagnostic accuracy rate, the true positive/negative rate, and complications of the two groups were calculated and compared.

Results

There were no significant differences in sex, age, and lesion sites between the C‐arm guidance group (group 1) and the CT guidance group (group 2). There were no complications in the two groups. Pathological diagnoses were established in 232 of 238 biopsies. They revealed that 52 were primary malignant tumors, 12 were benign tumors, 70 were metastatic tumors, 4 were tuberculosis, and 94 were classified as “other.” The success rate of group 2 was higher than that of group 1, but it was not statistically significant (95.7% vs 100%; P = 0.098). According to the final diagnosis, the diagnostic accuracy rates were calculated and compared. There was no significant difference between the two groups (95.5% vs 96.9%; P = 0.835). The kappa coefficient was used to analyze the concordance between the histological pathologies of the biopsy and the final diagnosis in the two groups. The kappa values of the two group were 0.909 and 0.939, respectively. The results showed good consistency in both groups, but seemed better for group 2.

Conclusion

CT‐guided core needle biopsy is a relatively safe and effective procedure for diagnosing spinal lesions with a high diagnostic accuracy rate and few complications.
Erythemal UV Radiation on Days with Low UV Index Values—an Analysis of Data from the German Solar UV Monitoring Network over a Ten‐year Period
Authors: Lehmann Maria , Sandmann Henner , Pfahlberg Annette B. , Uter Wolfgang , Gefeller Olaf
Published: February 2019

According to the World Health Organization and partner organizations, no protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation is required on days with “low” values (i.e., values <3) of the Global Solar Ultraviolet Index (UVI). Erythemal irradiance (Eer) data of such days were analyzed to evaluate this claim. Measurements from 9 stations of the German solar UV monitoring network from 2007 to 2016 yielded 14,431 daily Eer time series of low UVI days. Erythemal doses for certain fixed time intervals—acquired from measurements on horizontal planes—were compared with the average minimal erythemal dose (MED) of skin phototype II. Doses from days with rounded UVI values of 0 were insufficient to induce erythema and even on days with rounded UVI values of 1 doses exceeding 1 MED of skin type II could only be acquired under very specific circumstances of prolonged exposure. Conversely, sun exposure on days with rounded UVI values of 2 can indeed provide doses sufficient to induce erythema in skin type II after two hours around noon. In conclusion, our analyses do not support the claim of harmlessness currently associated with the entire low UVI exposure category in public guidance on interpretation of the UVI.
Economic Convergence In Ageing Europe
Authors: Kashnitsky Ilya , De Beer Joop , Van Wissen Leo
Published: February 2019

European regions experience accelerating ageing, but the process has substantial regional variation. This paper examines the effect of this variation on regional economic cohesion in Europe. We measure the effect of convergence or divergence in the share of the working age population on convergence or divergence in economies of NUTS 2 regions. The effect of convergence or divergence in ageing on economic convergence or divergence is quite substantial and, in some cases, is bigger than the effect of changes in productivity and labour force participation. Convergence of ageing leads to economic convergence only when the share of the working age population in rich regions exceeds that in poor regions and the former regions experience a substantial decline in the share of the working age population, or the latter regions experience an increase. During 2003–12, an inverse relationship between convergence in ageing and economic convergence was the rule rather than the exception.
Problem-Based Teaching of Literature
Authors: Markušić Jela , Sabljić Jakov
Published: February 2019

The problem-based teaching of literature is a contemporary teaching model that has emerged from the need to overcome the weaknesses of traditional teaching and to increase the efficiency of educational work. Unlike the traditional paradigms that focused on the teacher and the lecturing model of education, the problem-based teaching of literature engages students, places them at the centre of the teaching process, and encourages them to independently define and research the problem. The problem-based teaching of literature is based on the students’ active relationship to literary phenomena, while the teacher functions as the initiator and motivator of the students’ versatile creations that are reached by solving problem-based tasks. This paper explores the problem-based teaching of literature and presents the results and discussion of the conducted research on the attitudes of Croatian language teachers on the problem-based teaching of literature. Fifty Croatian language teachers participated in the research by filling a survey in an attempt to determine how often the respondents use the problem-based teaching of literature as well as which forms, methods and methods of teaching they use. More specifically, the aim was to determine how teachers see their own role and students’ activity in problem-based teaching of literature. In addition, the research sought to find out whether teachers believe that learning outcomes are more successfully achieved in the problem-based teaching of literature and what the reasons for the (un)acceptability of the problem-based teaching of literature are.
You are as fast as your motor neurons: speed of recruitment and maximal discharge of motor neurons determine the maximal rate of force development in humans
Authors: Del Vecchio Alessandro , Negro Francesco , Holobar Ales , Casolo Andrea , Folland Jonathan P. , Felici Francesco , Farina Dario
Published: February 2019

Key points

We propose and validate a method for accurately identifying the activity of populations of motor neurons during contractions at maximal rate of force development in humans.

The behaviour of the motor neuron pool during rapid voluntary contractions in humans is presented.

We show with this approach that the motor neuron recruitment speed and maximal motor unit discharge rate largely explains the individual ability in generating rapid force contractions.

The results also indicate that the synaptic inputs received by the motor neurons before force is generated dictate human potential to generate force rapidly.

This is the first characterization of the discharge behaviour of a representative sample of human motor neurons during rapid contractions.

During rapid contractions, motor neurons are recruited in a short burst and begin to discharge at high frequencies (up to >200 Hz). In the present study, we investigated the behaviour of relatively large populations of motor neurons during rapid (explosive) contractions in humans, applying a new approach to accurately identify motor neuron activity simultaneous to measuring the rate of force development. The activity of spinal motor neurons was assessed by high‐density electromyographic decomposition from the tibialis anterior muscle of 20 men during isometric explosive contractions. The speed of motor neuron recruitment and the instantaneous motor unit discharge rate were analysed as a function of the impulse (the time–force integral) and the maximal rate of force development. The peak of motor unit discharge rate occurred before force generation and discharge rates decreased thereafter. The maximal motor unit discharge rate was associated with the explosive force variables, at the whole population level (r2 = 0.71 ± 0.12; P < 0.001). Moreover, the peak motor unit discharge and maximal rate of force variables were correlated with an estimate of the supraspinal drive, which was measured as the speed of motor unit recruitment before the generation of afferent feedback (P < 0.05). We show for the first time the full association between the effective neural drive to the muscle and human maximal rate of force development. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the variability in the maximal contractile explosive force of the human tibialis anterior muscle is determined by the neural activation preceding force generation.
Controversial flu studies can resume, U.S. panel says
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: February 2019

Critics complain of lack of transparency in decision that allows efforts to create potentially risky virus strains.
The twitter warrior
Authors: Wadman Meredith
Published: February 2019

#MeToo provocateur BethAnn McLaughlin battles on behalf of women in STEM—but her own job is in peril.
Overlooked no longer
Behind the Sheet
Charly Evon Simpson
The Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York, NY, USA.
Authors: Owens Deirdre Cooper
Published: February 2019

A new play honors the enslaved black women who helped improve our understanding of reproductive health
Moving through the crowd
Authors: Magnussen Olaf M.
Published: February 2019

Atoms or molecules can diffuse rapidly on surfaces covered by other adsorbants
Dietary Chitin Particles Called Mimetic Fungi Ameliorate Colitis in Toll-Like Receptor 2/CD14- and Sex-Dependent Manners
Authors: Louis Patricia , Mercer Brian , Cirone Aiko M. , Brust Christina , Lee Zachary J. , Esiobu Nwadiuto , Li Zhongwei , Wei Jianning , Dorey C. Kathleen , Shibata Yoshimi , Nan Changlong
Published: February 2019

Chitin is a natural
N
-acetylglucosamine polymer and a major structural component of fungal cell walls. Dietary chitin is mucoadhesive; anti-inflammatory effects of chitin microparticles (CMPs; 1- to 10-μm diameters) have been demonstrated in models of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Alternative Enzyme Protection Assay To Overcome the Drawbacks of the Gentamicin Protection Assay for Measuring Entry and Intracellular Survival of Staphylococci
Authors: Kim Jin-Hahn , Chaurasia Akhilesh Kumar , Batool Nayab , Ko Kwan Soo , Kim Kyeong Kyu
Published: February 2019

Precise enumeration of living intracellular bacteria is the key step to estimate the invasion potential of pathogens and host immune responses to understand the mechanism and kinetics of bacterial pathogenesis. Therefore, quantitative assessment of host-pathogen interactions is essential for development of novel antibacterial therapeutics for infectious disease.
Borrelia burgdorferi bbk13
Is Critical for Spirochete Population Expansion in the Skin during Early Infection
Authors: Aranjuez George F. , Kuhn Hunter W. , Adams Philip P. , Jewett Mollie W.
Published: February 2019

Lyme disease is caused by the spirochete
Borrelia burgdorferi
and is transmitted via the bite of an infected tick.
B. burgdorferi
enters the skin, disseminates via the bloodstream, and infects various distal tissues, leading to inflammatory sequelae, such as Lyme arthritis and Lyme carditis.
Lifestyle changes may be more important than drugs for mild hypertension
Authors: Cook Rob , Lamont Tara , Martin, Rosie
Published: February 2019

The study

Sheppard JP, Stevens S, Stevens R, Martin U, Mant J, Hobbs R, McManus R. Benefits and harms of antihypertensive treatment in low-risk patients with mild hypertension.

Published on 1 December 2018 JAMA Intern Med 2018;178:1626-34.

This project was funded by a grant from the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR-RP-R2-12-O15) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) Strategic Skills Postdoctoral Fellowship.

To read the full NIHR Signal, go to: https://discover.dc.nihr.ac.uk/content/signal-000713/lifestyle-changes-for-mild-hypertension-rather-than-drugs
CT angiography depicted lumbar spinal artery anatomic course: defining a safer zone for lumbar sympathetic and splanchnic blocks
Authors: Zhu Richard , Dean Kathryn , Mehta Neel , Gupta Ajay , Gruber Jesse , Gulati Amitabh
Published: February 2019

Introduction

Determining safer techniques for lumbar injections is an important goal in pain medicine. This study aims to characterize the location of the T10–L5 spinal arteries using CT angiogram scans to define a safer approach for sympathetic and splanchnic blocks that minimizes intra-arterial injection.

Methods

CT angiograms of 68 patients were included this study. The path of the spinal arteries from the aorta origin along the vertebral body to the neural foramina was traced on axial CT images. The sagittal plane of the vertebral body was divided into nine quadrants to map the path of a spinal artery at a vertebral level. At a given vertebral level and laterality, the presence of an artery as well as the quadrants the artery traveled in along its path were recorded.

Results

At the anterior vertebral body, >90% of the spinal arteries were observed either at or below the pedicle level. At the middle portion of the vertebral body from T11 to L3, >80% of the spinal arteries were found at the pedicle level. For the posterior portion of the vertebral bodies at L4 and L5, the spinal arteries terminated almost universally below the pedicle level. For other levels at the posterior vertebral bodies, the spinal arteries were equivocally located at or below the pedicle level.

Conclusion

Using routine anatomic landmarks visible on CT imaging, we classified the anatomic course of low thoracic and lumbar spinal arteries originating from the aorta into the neural foraminal space. A safe recommendation to avoid intra-arterial injection for a splanchnic or lumbar sympathetic is to start above the pedicle and add a slight caudal angulation to the needle trajectory to avoid disc injury at the anterolateral vertebral body.
Hypothermia Masks Most of the Effects of Rapid Cycling VNS on Rat Hippocampal Electrophysiology
Authors: Van Lysebettens Wouter , Vonck Kristl , Larsen Lars Emil , Sprengers Mathieu , Carrette Evelien , Bouckaert Charlotte , Delbeke Jean , Jan Wadman Wytse , Boon Paul , Raedt Robrecht
Published: February 2019

AIM. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) modulates hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) electrophysiology and induces hypothermia in freely moving rats. This study evaluated whether hippocampal (CA1) electrophysiology is similarly modulated and to what extent this is associated with VNS-induced hypothermia. METHODS. Six freely moving rats received a first 4[Formula: see text]h session of rapid cycling VNS (7[Formula: see text]s on/18[Formula: see text]s off), while CA1 evoked potentials, EEG and core temperature were recorded. In a second 4[Formula: see text]h session, external heating was applied during the 3rd and 4th[Formula: see text]h of VNS counteracting VNS-induced hypothermia. RESULTS. VNS decreased the slope of the field excitatory postsynaptic potential (fEPSP), increased the population spike (PS) amplitude and latency, decreased theta (4–12[Formula: see text]Hz) and gamma (30–100[Formula: see text]Hz) band power and theta peak frequency. Normalizing body temperature during VNS through external heating abolished the effects completely for fEPSP slope, PS latency and gamma band power, partially for theta band power and theta peak frequency and inverted the effect on PS amplitude. CONCLUSIONS. Rapid cycle VNS modulates CA1 electrophysiology similarly to DG, suggesting a wide-spread VNS-induced effect on hippocampal electrophysiology. Normalizing core temperature elucidated that VNS-induced hypothermia directly influences several electrophysiological parameters but also masks a VNS-induced reduction in neuronal excitability.
Push or Pull? Perishable Products with Freshness-Keeping Effort
Authors: Zhang Lianmin , Guan Lei , Kuo Yong-Hong , Shen Houcai
Published: February 2019

With the gradual improvement of living standards, people’s consumption levels and habits are changing. One notable fact is that the demand for fresh products is growing steadily. Accordingly, fresh-product preservation and logistics distribution also require higher standards. Based on the practice of fresh domestic transport and preservation, for which the producer and the distributor are responsible, this paper discusses their optimal decisions taking into account the freshness-keeping effort of the distributor. Our main contributions include the derivations of the optimal decisions of the order quantity and the freshness-keeping effort in both the pull and push models, which are common in practice but have not been studied in the literature. Our analytical models lead to the result that, all other settings being the same, the distributor always puts a greater effort into preserving the product quality in the pull model than in the push model. This phenomenon results in a greater distributor’s order quantity and producer’s shipping quantity in the pull model. We also conduct a comprehensive numerical comparison of the effects of different modulating factors, including the price and the proportion and variation of surviving quantity, in these two settings. We find that the profits of the participants and the supply chain are always larger in the pull model, which indicates that the pull model is a better choice for the supply chain.
2018 update of the discoveries of nuclides
Authors: Thoennessen M.
Published: February 2019

The 2018 update of the discovery of nuclide project is presented. Fifty new nuclides were observed for the first time in 2018. A large number of isotopes are still only published in conference proceedings or internal reports.
ANFIS — Fractional order PID with inspired oppositional optimization based speed controller for brushless DC motor
Authors: Balamurugan K. , Mahalakshmi R.
Published: February 2019

Due to the expanded industrialization, the necessity of variable speed machines/drives keeps on expanding. The vast majority of computerized Brushless Direct Current (BLDC) motor frame-works are utilized because of their speedier reaction and high stablity. In this paper, an innovative technique, i.e. Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference System (ANFIS) with Fractional-Order PID (FOPID) controllers for controlling a portion of the parameters, for example, speed, and torque of the BLDC motor are exhibited. With a specific end goal being the performance of the proposed controller under outrageous working conditions, for example, varying load and set speed conditions, simulation results are taken for deliberation. An Opposition-based Elephant Herding Optimization (OEHO) optimization algorithm is utilized to improve the tuning parameters of FOPID controller. At that point, the ANFIS is gladly proposed to adequately control the speed and torque of the motor. The simulation result exhibited that the composed FOPID controller understands a decent dynamic behavior of the BLDC, an immaculate speed tracking with less ascent and gives better execution. The performance investigation of the proposed strategy lessened the error signal contrasted with the existing strategies, for example, FOPID-based Elephant Herding Optimization (EHO), Proportional–Integral–Derivative BAT (PID-BAT), and PID-ANFIS.
Numerical Analysis on the Wrinkling Instability of a Stiff Film Adhering to an Elastic Substrate with a Graded Coating
Authors: Gao Feng , Guo Wang , Chen Peijian , Cai Chengzheng , Peng Guangjian
Published: February 2019

The wrinkling instability of a stiff film adhering to a pre-strained inhomogeneous bi-layer substrate consisting of a homogeneous substrate and a graded coating is investigated in the present paper. The critical strain, wavelength and amplitude of the film/inhomogeneous substrate system are calculated numerically and analyzed comprehensively. Compared with the numerical result, a theoretical model is introduced to approximately predict the wrinkling responses of the system. The influence of various geometric and material parameters on the wrinkling behavior is mainly focused. The wrinkling responses are found to be highly related to the graded laws and the thickness of the inhomogeneous coating as well as the Poisson’s ratio. What is more, a proper choice of graded properties of a substrate can improve the wrinkling response of a film/substrate system. The present finding should be very meaningful to guide the design of various stretchable and flexible electronics.
Using stereoscopic visualizations as templates to construct a spatial hands-on representation—is there a novelty effect?
Authors: Remmele Martin , Martens Andreas
Published: February 2019

Sculpting representations of human organs out of modeling clay is an acknowledged method of teaching anatomical structures. Because of its potential to provide detailed spatial information, stereoscopic imagery can be understood to function as a suitable template for such sculpting tasks. Currently, it is unknown whether the advantages of stereoscopic images for modeling structures result from enhanced depth impression alone, or whether task performance is impacted by factors such as situational intrinsic motivation and perceived competence while sculpting a human organ using stereoscopic imagery as template. To clarify these queries, 35 eighth-grade students constructed a representation of the nasal cavity consisting of modeling clay. After the working phase, their situational intrinsic motivation and their perceived competence were assessed by a paper-and-pencil test and then analyzed, as was the elaboration of the sculpted representations. A control group with 38 students working with nonstereoscopic visualizations functioned as a counterpart. Stereoscopic imagery outperformed nonstereoscopic imagery concerning the accuracy in elaborating structures within the representations. However, there was no difference between situational intrinsic motivation and perceived competence in the context of using the digital template for forming the representations. Within the cohort working with nonstereoscopic imagery, situational intrinsic motivation was correlated with task performance. In contrast, within the cohort working with stereoscopic imagery, there was no relation concerning this. The findings show that depth impression due to stereoscopic imagery can be utilized to construct template-close representations, independently of situational feelings. This independence from situational sensitivities indicates that low situational intrinsic motivation will not condemn students to poor task performance.