bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
5′UTR +24T>C CR2 is not associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma development in the North Region of Portugal
Authors: Sousa H , Bastos MJ , Ribeiro J , Oliveira S , Breda E , Catarino R , Medeiros R
Published: January 2016

Objective

We have analysed the association of the +24T>C polymorphism (rs3813946) in CR2, the cellular receptor for Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), in the susceptibility for the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC).

Methods

A retrospective case–control study was developed with peripheral blood samples from 111 individuals with NPC and 608 healthy individuals (controls) from the North region of Portugal. The genotyping analysis was performed by allelic discrimination real‐time PCR using a TaqMan® SNP Genotyping Assay.

Results

The genotype distribution was 62.2% TT, 34.2% TC and 3.6% CC for NPC patients; and 65.0%, 30.6% and 4.4%, respectively, for controls. Our study showed no statistical association between the genotype distribution in controls and all types of NPC (P = 0.717); nevertheless, the analysis showed statistically significant differences (P = 0.038) regarding cases with well‐ or moderately differentiated types of NPC suggesting that +24CC/CT genotypes are associated with increased risk (OR = 4.16; 95% CI 1.28–15.7; P = 0.016).

Conclusions

This is the first study in Western populations to characterize the association of the CR2 +24T>C polymorphism in NPC development, and our results suggest that more studies are required to clarify the impact on NPC susceptibility in different populations.
Patterns of differentially expressed genes in oral mucosal lesions visualised under autofluorescence (VELscope™)
Authors: Kordbacheh F , Bhatia N , Farah CS
Published: January 2016

Objectives

We aimed to elucidate the molecular pathways associated with fluorescence properties of oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD) visualised under direct tissue autofluorescence (VELscope™).

Materials and Methods

Forty‐two oral mucosal biopsies correlated with clinical fluorescence characteristics were categorised based on histopathological diagnosis. Four oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), 15 oral epithelial dysplasia (OED), nine oral lichen planus (OLP) and 14 oral epithelial hyperplasia (OEH) presenting with three fluorescence patterns including retained fluorescence (RF), loss of fluorescence (LAF) with blanching (LB) and LAF with no blanching (LNB) were assessed. Relative gene expression was measured through RNA sequencing.

Results

Although each lesion type had a specific set of histology‐related differentially expressed genes (DEGs), all tested samples shared a number of DEGs, and we could not identify a discriminatory component between histological groups. Gene ontology enrichment revealed LAF in OEH was mostly due to changes in inflammation, cell cycle regulation and apoptosis, while in OED was due to inflammation, angiogenesis and extracellular matrix remodelling. Inflammatory reactions were associated with diascopic fluorescence (DF) for both OEH and OED.

Conclusion

Uncovering the molecular mechanisms underlying LAF and DF may lead to reduction in the number of false‐positive and false‐negative findings and improve the efficacy and utility of VELscope™.
Successful reduced‐intensity stem cell transplantation for GATA2 deficiency before progression of advanced MDS
Authors: Saida Satoshi , Umeda Katsutsugu , Yasumi Takahiro , Matsumoto Akane , Kato Itaru , Hiramatsu Hidefumi , Ohara Osamu , Heike Toshio , Adachi Souichi
Published: January 2016

A 13‐yr‐old boy bearing lymphedema and congenital deafness had distinct hematological abnormalities consisting of reduced monocytes, B cells, and dendritic cells in the peripheral blood as well as MDS with normal karyotype in the bone marrow. The patient was diagnosed with Emberger syndrome by sequencing of GATA2 DNA, and underwent RIST from an HLA‐matched unrelated donor. Prompt engraftment and immunological reconstitution were observed without any severe RRT. As most patients with GATA2 anomaly died due to the development of AML or active infections, RIST could be a promising treatment option before progression of advanced MDS.
Size and protein content of accessory glands in adult male Caloptilia fraxinella in different physiological states
Authors: Lemmen Joelle , Andrew Keddie B. , Evenden Maya L.
Published: January 2016

Reproductive diapause is a strategy employed by some insects to coordinate reproduction with the appropriate environmental conditions for mate location and offspring development. Male Caloptilia fraxinella Ely (Lepidoptera: Gracillariidae) eclose in July in reproductive diapause, and remain unmated until May of the next year, when they emerge from overwintering sites in a reproductively active state. The present study assesses characteristics of male sex accessory glands (SAG) throughout the adult life stage when males are reproductively active and in early and late reproductive diapause. Male SAG are longer and positively correlate with moth body size when males are reproductively active in the spring compared with males in reproductive diapause in the summer and autumn. Male SAG also contain significantly more protein during the period of reproductive activity than during reproductive diapause. Access to a carbohydrate nutrition source does not impact male SAG length or protein concentration when males are reproductively active in the spring. Treatment with a Juvenile Hormone analogue in the autumn, but not the summer, tends to increase the total protein concentration compared with that of untreated control moths.
Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of 17α‐Ethinylestradiol Exhibited by Multifunctional ZnFe2O4–Ag/rGO Nanocomposite Under Visible Light
Authors: Khadgi Nirina , Li Yi , Upreti Akhanda Raj , Zhang Chi , Zhang Wenlong , Wang Yuming , Wang Dawei
Published: January 2016

In this paper, ZnFe2O4, a visible light active photocatalyst, was comodified by graphene oxide (GO) and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) to form ZnFe2O4–Ag/rGO nanocomposite (NC) by facile one‐pot hydrothermal method. Reduction of GO and formation of ZnFe2O4 and Ag nanoparticles occurred simultaneously during hydrothermal reaction. The photocatalytic activity of the NC was investigated under visible light, for the degradation of 17α‐ethinylestradiol (EE2), a nondye compound, which also is an emerging pollutant with endocrine‐disrupting activity. The pseudo rate constant (k′) of as‐synthesized ZnFe2O4–Ag/rGO NC was higher by the factor of 14.6 and 5.6 times than the corresponding ZnFe2O4 and ZnFe2O4/rGO respectively. The synergistic interactions between ZnFe2O4, Ag and rGO leading to decreased aggregation of the NPs, increased surface area, better absorption in visible region, effective electron–hole generation transfer. However, in the presence of humic acid (HA), the photosensitization effect was predominated by competitive interaction resulting in only 80% removal of EE2 within the same time. Moreover, the composite can easily be magnetically separated for reuse.
The Role of Cognitive Style in the Link Between Genes and Political Ideology
Authors: Ksiazkiewicz Aleksander , Ludeke Steven , Krueger Robert
Published: January 2016

There is growing interest in how genes affect political beliefs. To better understand the role of genes in politics, we examine the relationship between cognitive style (the need for cognition, the need for cognitive closure) and various measures of political attitudes (issue‐based ideology, identity‐based ideology, social ideology, economic ideology, authoritarianism, and egalitarianism). We show, for the first time, that the need for cognition and the need for cognitive closure are heritable and are linked to political ideology primarily, perhaps solely, because of shared genetic influences; these links are stronger for social than economic ideology. Although prior research demonstrated that Openness to Experience shares genetic variance with political ideology, we find that these measures of cognitive style account for distinct genetic variance in political ideology. Moreover, the genetic Openness‐ideology link is fully accounted for by the need for cognition. This combination of findings provides a clearer understanding of the role of genes in political beliefs and suggests new directions for research on Big Five personality traits and ideology.
Effectiveness of the Japanese DOLOPLUS‐2: a pain assessment scale for patients with moderate‐to‐severe dementia
Authors: Ando Chiaki , Ito Yoshinori , Amemiya Shimon , Tamura Kyoko , Kako Ken , Tsuzura Satoko , Yoshida Ryoichi , Hishinuma Michiko
Published: January 2016

Background

This study aimed to assess whether the Japanese DOLOPLUS‐2 scale could effectively identify pain in elderly individuals with moderate‐to‐severe dementia.

Methods

This study used a pre‐test/post‐test design with purposive sampling to select an experimental group and a historical control group. The inclusion criteria were a Functional Assessment Staging score of 5 or 6, a diagnosis of an orthopaedic disease that typically involves pain, the ability to say ‘I am currently in pain’ (to prevent medication errors), and a total DOLOPLUS‐2 scale score ≥5 at the first pain assessment. In the experimental group (n = 19), each patient was assessed by the DOLOPLUS‐2 scale at 2PM and 9PM each day for 5 days. If a patient's total score was ≥5, analgesics were prescribed and the patient was re‐assessed approximately 3 hours later. In the control group (n = 20), data were collected from medical records over a 1‐year period, and we matched the characteristics of the control group to that of the experimental group. We also reviewed nursing records to determine the number of times analgesics had been administered over the 5 days after the nurses had first recorded that the patient had experienced pain.

Results

Among the 19 patients in the experimental group, 15 received pain medication because of a total pain score ≥5. Before treatment, their mean DOLOPLUS‐2 scale score was 7.5 ± 3.2, and their score significantly decreased to 2.9 ± 2.1 (P < 0.001) after treatment. The experimental group also received significantly more treatments with analgesic medication than the control group (χ2 = 16.033, P < 0.001, φ = 0.641).

Conclusion

This study's findings suggested that the Japanese DOLOPLUS‐2 scale could adequately identify pain in elderly individuals with moderate‐to‐severe dementia.
Use of phytases in fish and shrimp feeds: a review
Authors: Lemos Daniel , Tacon Albert G. J.
Published: January 2016

Phytases have been employed in animal feeds for several years, used primarily for reducing the environmental impact and phosphorus loads of farm effluents. Beneficial effect of dietary phytase has been associated with the limited ability of monogastric animals to utilize dietary plant phytates. To date, numerous studies have shown the positive effect of phytase supplementation on the availability of dietary phosphorus and trace minerals within plant‐based feeds for monogastric farm animals, including farmed fish and shrimp. Individual feed ingredients may also be improved with phytases as an exogenous treatment, also termed pre‐conditioning dephytinization prior to mixing. This review presents data on the potential benefit of phytase application for fish and shrimp species in improving digestibility of phosphorus and other minerals as well as organics nutrient fractions such as protein, amino acids and lipids.
Induction, Normality and Reasoning with Arbitrary Objects
Authors: Valaris Markos
Published: January 2016

This paper concerns the apparent fact — discussed by Sinan Dogramaci (2010) and Brian Weatherson (2012) — that inductive reasoning often interacts in disastrous ways with patterns of reasoning that seem perfectly fine in the deductive case. In contrast to Dogramaci's and Weatherson's own suggestions, I argue that these cases show that we cannot reason inductively about arbitrary objects. Moreover, as I argue, this prohibition is neatly explained by a certain hypothesis about the rational basis of inductive reasoning — namely, the hypothesis that inductive reasoning is fundamentally reasoning about what normally happens (in a non‐statistical sense).
A Two-Sample Distribution-Free Test for Functional Data with Application to a Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study of Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Pomann Gina-Maria , Staicu Ana-Maria , Ghosh Sujit
Published: January 2016

Motivated by an imaging study, the paper develops a non-parametric testing procedure for testing the null hypothesis that two samples of curves observed at discrete grids and with noise have the same underlying distribution. The objective is to compare formally white matter tract profiles between healthy individuals and multiple-sclerosis patients, as assessed by conventional diffusion tensor imaging measures. We propose to decompose the curves by using functional principal component analysis of a mixture process, which we refer to as marginal functional principal component analysis. This approach reduces the dimension of the testing problem in a way that enables the use of traditional non-parametric univariate testing procedures. The procedure is computationally efficient and accommodates different sampling designs. Numerical studies are presented to validate the size and power properties of the test in many realistic scenarios. In these cases, the test proposed has been found to be more powerful than its primary competitor. Application to the diffusion tensor imaging data reveals that all the tracts studied are associated with multiple sclerosis and the choice of the diffusion tensor image measurement is important when assessing axonal disruption.
Decomposing Quantile Wage Gaps: A Conditional Likelihood Approach
Authors: Van Kerm Philippe , Yu Seunghee , Choe Chung
Published: January 2016

The paper develops a parametric variant of the Machado–Mata simulation methodology to examine quantile wage differences between groups of workers, with an application to the wage gap between native and foreign workers in Luxembourg. Relying on conditional-likelihood-based ‘parametric quantile regression’ in place of the standard linear quantile regression is parsimonious and cuts computing time drastically with no loss in the accuracy of marginal quantile simulations in our application. We find that the native worker advantage is a concave function of quantile: the advantage is small (possibly negative) for both low and high quantiles, but it is large for the middle half of the quantile range (between the 20th and 70th native wage percentiles).
Delivering Better Quality of Care: Relentless Focus and Starting with the End in Mind at DaVita
Authors: Nissenson Allen R.
Published: January 2016

The care of patients with end‐stage renal disease has been evolving since the implementation of the Medicare entitlement for ESRD in 1973. Over the past 43 years, patients with ESRD have become increasingly complex with multiple comorbid conditions and the average age of new ESRD patients has continued to climb. Despite these challenges, progress has been made in improving mortality and morbidity, but the pace has generally been slow. The consolidation of the US dialysis industry has afforded large providers to achieve economies of scale and efficiencies. By reinvesting resources in innovative programs, the improvements in outcomes have accelerated. At DaVita, we have reimagined care for our ESRD patients by creating a Patient‐Focused Quality Pyramid, an approach to holistic, patient‐centered care that builds on the foundation of well‐known dialysis metrics like adequacy and anemia management to drive more complex programs like fluid, medication, diabetes, and infection management. The ultimate goal is to improve survival, keep patients healthy and out of the hospital, enhance the patient experience of care, and thereby achieve optimal health‐related quality of life. For two consecutive years, DaVita facilities, using this approach, have achieved superior performance in the CMS 5‐Star rating program, most recently with 46% of facilities achieving 4 or 5 stars compared with only 23% of facilities outside of DaVita receiving 4 or 5 stars. This rating system has components of fundamentals, and more complex outcomes and our results are an external validation of the success of our approach in improving the lives of patients.
Patient‐Centered Dialysis Care: Depression, Pain, and Quality of Life
Authors: Weisbord Steven D.
Published: January 2016

Remarkable advancements have been made in the provision of chronic dialysis therapy since its inception decades ago. A series of studies inform current dialysis dosing recommendations, while advancements in strategies to treat mineral and bone disease, acid‐base and electrolyte disturbances, and anemia have facilitated the management of these well‐recognized complications of ESRD. The collective result has been a model of chronic dialysis care focused principally on the achievement of metabolic and dialysis‐related targets. In fact, guidelines such as the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative put forth by the National Kidney Foundation recommend metrics that characterize successful dialysis care, including the attainment of specific solute clearance targets; maintenance of hemoglobin, calcium, phosphorous, and parathyroid hormone levels within target ranges; and the preferred use of primary arteriovenous fistulae for vascular access. This focus on serologic and dialysis‐specific outcomes has helped renal providers manage the biochemical effects related to the loss of kidney function and has reduced ESRD‐related morbidity and mortality. Yet, absent from this model of care is an emphasis on the treatment of bothersome symptoms and the impact of such treatment on quality of life (QOL). Among the many symptoms that affect patients on chronic dialysis, depression and pain are particularly common, strongly associated with decrements in QOL, and potentially treatable. This review discusses key research findings and unanswered questions pertaining to the prevalence, significance, and treatment of depression and pain and the effect of such treatment on QOL in patients dependent on chronic dialysis, with the broad goal of incorporating symptom management strategies into a paradigm of patient‐centered dialysis care.
Is Happiness Infectious?
Authors: Knight John , Gunatilaka Ramani
Published: January 2016

The paper uses an appropriate survey from rural China to answer the question: is happiness infectious, i.e. does the happiness of an individual depend positively on the happiness of his or her reference group? The evidence is consistent with this hypothesis, but the challenge is to solve the ‘reflection problem’, i.e. is the apparent effect of neighbours’ happiness on own happiness a causal one or merely a reflection? A ‘quasi‐panel’ approach is adopted, treating villages as groups and individuals as multiple observations within each group, and using an error components 2SLSestimator. The results suggest that the relationship might be largely causal. The normative and policy implications are briefly considered.
Inflation convergence in Central and Eastern Europe vs. the Eurozone: Non‐linearities and long memory
Authors: Cuestas Juan Carlos , Gil‐Alana Luis A. , Taylor Karl
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we consider inflation rate differentials between seven Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) and the Eurozone. We test for convergence in the inflation rate differentials, incorporating non‐linearities in the autoregressive parameters, fractional integration with endogenous structural changes, and also consider club convergence analysis for theCEECs over the period 1997 to 2015 based on monthly data. Our empirical findings suggest that the majority of countries experience non‐linearities in the inflation rate differential; however, there is only evidence of a persistent difference in some countries. Complementary to this analysis we apply the Phillips and Sul (2007) test for club convergence and find that there is evidence that most of theCEECs converge to a common steady state.
Comparison of Suicide Attempters and Decedents in the U.S. Army: A Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Skopp Nancy A. , Smolenski Derek J. , Sheppard Sean C. , Bush Nigel. E. , Luxton David D.
Published: January 2016

A clearer understanding of risk factors for suicidal behavior among soldiers is of principal importance to military suicide prevention. It is unclear whether soldiers who attempt suicide and those who die by suicide have different patterns of risk factors. As such, preventive efforts aimed toward reducing suicide attempts and suicides, respectively, may require different strategies. We conducted a latent class analysis (LCA) to examine classes of risk factors among suicide attempters (n = 1,433) and decedents (n = 424). Both groups were represented by three classes: (1) External/Antisocial Risk Factors, (2) Mental Health Risk Factors, and (3) No Pattern. These findings support the conceptualization that military suicide attempters and decedents represent a single population.
The Road to Reform: A Grounded Theory Study of Parents' and Teachers' Influence on Elementary School Science and Mathematics
Authors: Thomas Julie , Cooper Sandi
Published: January 2016

Though elementary teacher educators introduce new, reform‐based strategies in science and mathematics methods courses, researchers wondered how novices negotiate reform strategies once they enter the elementary school culture. Given that the extent of parents' and veteran teachers' influence on novice teachers is largely unknown, this grounded theory study explored parents' and teachers' expectations of children's optimal science and mathematics learning in the current era of reform. Data consisted of semi‐structured, open‐ended interviews with novice teachers (n = 20), veteran teachers (n = 9), and parents (n = 28). Researchers followed three stages of coding procedures to develop a logic model connecting participants' discrete designations of the landscape, regulating phenomena, contextual orientation, and desired outcomes. This logic model helped researchers develop propositions for future research on the interactive nature of parents' and teachers' influential role in elementary science and mathematics education. Implications encourage science and mathematics teacher educators—as well as school administrators—to explicitly develop and support novice teachers' ability to initiate and sustain parent/family engagement in order to create a school climate where teachers and parents are synergistically motivated to change.
Theoretical Analysis on the Measurement Errors of Local 2D DIC: Part II Assessment of Strain Errors of the Local Smoothing Method–Approaching an Answer to the Overlap Question
Authors: Wang Y. , Lava P. , Reu P. , Debruyne D.
Published: January 2016

In this paper, the strain error of subset‐based two‐dimensional digital image correlation (DIC) is theoretically derived. Analytical solutions are provided to estimate the strain error. A dimensionless factor is proposed, namely the overlap magnifier, which reveals the dependency of the strain error on the DIC regularisation parameters, that is, subset size, step size and strain window size. The derived equations are validated numerically and experimentally. The estimated random strain error is in good accordance with the experimental data. The proposed derivation can be readily extended to stereo DIC.
Short‐term effects of polyacrylamide and dicyandiamide on C and N mineralization in a sandy loam soil
Authors: Watson C. , Singh Y. , Iqbal T. , Knoblauch C. , Simon P. , Wichern F.
Published: January 2016

The soil conditioners anionic polyacrylamide (PAM) and dicyandiamide (DCD) are frequently applied to soils to reduce soil erosion and nitrogen loss, respectively. A 27‐day incubation study was set up to gauge their interactive effects on the microbial biomass, carbon (C) mineralization and nitrification activity of a sandy loam soil in the presence or absence of maize straw. PAM‐amended soils received 308 or 615 mg PAM/kg. Nitrogen (N)‐fertilized soils were amended with 1800 mg/kg ammonium sulphate [(NH4)2SO4], with or without 70 mg DCD/kg. Maize straw was added to soil at the rate of 4500 mg/kg. Maize straw application increased soil microbial biomass and respiration. PAM stimulated nitrification and C mineralization, as evidenced by significant increases in extractable nitrate and evolved carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations. This is likely to have been effected by the PAM improving microbial conditions and partially being utilized as a substrate, with the latter being indicated by a PAM‐induced significant increase in the metabolic quotient. PAM did not reduce the microbial biomass except in one treatment at the highest application rate. Ammonium sulphate stimulated nitrification and reduced microbial biomass; the resultant acidification of the former is likely to have caused these effects. N fertilizer application may also have induced short‐term C‐limitation in the soil with impacts on microbial growth and respiration. The nitrification inhibitor DCD reduced the negative impacts on microbial biomass of (NH4)2SO4 and proved to be an effective soil amendment to reduce nitrification under conditions where mineralization was increased by addition of PAM.
Reduction of red blood cell transfusions by implementation of a concise pretransfusion checklist
Authors: van Gammeren A. J. , Haneveer M. M. C. , Slappendel R.
Published: January 2016

Background

This study assesses the effect of the implementation of a concise pretransfusion checklist as a means for restrictive blood transfusion strategy.

Objectives

To achieve an optimal use of red blood cells and to prevent overdosing of transfusion by implementation of a decision support algorithm.

Methods

To ensure adequate use of red blood cells, physicians were obliged to complete the checklist with pretransfusion patient information before transfusion was approved. Laboratory employees checked the information and provided approval or refused to process the request. The red blood cell transfusion events, length of stay and mortality were analysed during a pre‐ and post‐implementation period of 1 year.

Results

Transfusion requests decreased by 17·0%. The proportion of 1‐unit and 2‐unit transfusions decreased by 5·6% and 29·2%, respectively, corresponding with a total red blood cell units reduction of 22·6% and a yearly direct local cost reduction of 190·000 €. The median length of stay of transfused patients on wards decreased by 1·07 days (P < 0·05). Average pre‐ and post‐transfusion haemoglobin levels before and after implementation of the checklist decreased by 0·32–0·35 g L−1 (P < 0·05) for one unit red blood cell transfusions and 0·72–0·87 g L−1 (P < 0·05) for two units of red blood cell transfusions.

Conclusion

Decision support for transfusion necessity, in the form of a concise checklist as part of the transfusion request, is an example of a successful restricted blood transfusion strategy. The checklist can be applied in other hospitals as well.
Modeling Two‐Channel Speech Processing With the EPIC Cognitive Architecture
Authors: Kieras David E. , Wakefield Gregory H. , Thompson Eric R. , Iyer Nandini , Simpson Brian D.
Published: January 2016

An important application of cognitive architectures is to provide human performance models that capture psychological mechanisms in a form that can be “programmed” to predict task performance of human–machine system designs. Although many aspects of human performance have been successfully modeled in this approach, accounting for multitalker speech task performance is a novel problem. This article presents a model for performance in a two‐talker task that incorporates concepts from psychoacoustics, in particular, masking effects and stream formation.
Instance‐Based Models of Metacognition in the Prisoner's Dilemma
Authors: Stevens Christopher A. , Taatgen Niels A. , Cnossen Fokie
Published: January 2016

In this article, we examine the advantages of simple metacognitive capabilities in a repeated social dilemma. Two types of metacognitive agent were developed and compared with a non‐metacognitive agent and two fixed‐strategy agents. The first type of metacognitive agent (opponent perspective) takes the perspective of the opponent to anticipate the opponent's future actions and respond accordingly. The other metacognitive agent (modeler) predicts the opponent's next move based on the previous moves of the agent and the opponent. The modeler agent achieves better individual outcomes than a non‐metacognitive agent and is more successful at encouraging cooperation. The opponent‐perspective agent, by contrast, fails to achieve these outcomes because it lacks important information about the opponent. These simple agents provide insights regarding modeling of metacognition in more complex tasks.
An Individual's Rate of Forgetting Is Stable Over Time but Differs Across Materials
Authors: Sense Florian , Behrens Friederike , Meijer Rob R. , van Rijn Hedderik
Published: January 2016

One of the goals of computerized tutoring systems is to optimize the learning of facts. Over a hundred years of declarative memory research have identified two robust effects that can improve such systems: the spacing and the testing effect. By making optimal use of both and adjusting the system to the individual learner using cognitive models based on declarative memory theories, such systems consistently outperform traditional methods (Van Rijn, Van Maanen, & Van Woudenberg, 2009). This adjustment process is driven by a continuously updated estimate of the rate of forgetting for each item and learner on the basis of the learner's accuracy and response time. In this study, we investigated to what extent these estimates of individual rates of forgetting are stable over time and across different materials. We demonstrate that they are stable over time but not across materials. Even though most theories of human declarative memory assume a single underlying rate of forgetting, we show that, in practice, it makes sense to assume different materials are forgotten at different rates. If a computerized, adaptive fact‐learning system allowed different rates of forgetting for different materials, it could adapt to individual learners more readily.
Reconciling Two Computational Models of Working Memory in Aging
Authors: Hoareau Violette , Lemaire Benoît , Portrat Sophie , Plancher Gaën
Published: January 2016

It is well known that working memory performance changes with age. Two recent computational models of working memory,TBRS* andSOB‐CS, developed from young adultsWMperformances are opposed regarding the postulated causes of forgetting, namely time‐based decay and interference forTBRS* andSOB‐CS, respectively. In the present study, these models are applied on a set of complex span data produced by young and older adults. As expected, these models are unable to account for the older adult data. An investigation on the effect of the main parameters of these models showed that the poorer performance of older adults does not come from a weaker encoding of item but rather from difficulties during the free time that immediately follows each distractor, as well as from a higher level of confusion between items. These results are discussed with respect to the current theories of working memory and aging.
Cognitive Modeling at ICCM: State of the Art and Future Directions
Authors: Taatgen Niels A. , van Vugt Marieke K. , Borst Jelmer P. , Mehlhorn Katja
Published: January 2016

The goal of cognitive modeling is to build faithful simulations of human cognition. One of the challenges is that multiple models can often explain the same phenomena. Another challenge is that models are often very hard to understand, explore, and reuse by others. We discuss some of the solutions that were discussed during the 2015 International Conference on Cognitive Modeling.
Rational Irrationality: Modeling Climate Change Belief Polarization Using Bayesian Networks
Authors: Cook John , Lewandowsky Stephan
Published: January 2016

Belief polarization is said to occur when two people respond to the same evidence by updating their beliefs in opposite directions. This response is considered to be “irrational” because it involves contrary updating, a form of belief updating that appears to violate normatively optimal responding, as for example dictated by Bayes' theorem. In light of much evidence that people are capable of normatively optimal behavior, belief polarization presents a puzzling exception. We show that Bayesian networks, or Bayes nets, can simulate rational belief updating. When fit to experimental data, Bayes nets can help identify the factors that contribute to polarization. We present a study into belief updating concerning the reality of climate change in response to information about the scientific consensus on anthropogenic global warming (AGW). The study used representative samples of Australian and U.S. participants. Among Australians, consensus information partially neutralized the influence of worldview, with free‐market supporters showing a greater increase in acceptance of human‐caused global warming relative to free‐market opponents. In contrast, while consensus information overall had a positive effect on perceived consensus among U.S. participants, there was a reduction in perceived consensus and acceptance of human‐caused global warming for strong supporters of unregulated free markets. Fitting a Bayes net model to the data indicated that under a Bayesian framework, free‐market support is a significant driver of beliefs about climate change and trust in climate scientists. Further, active distrust of climate scientists among a small number of U.S. conservatives drives contrary updating in response to consensus information among this particular group.
Future Global Change and Cognition
Authors: Lewandowsky Stephan
Published: January 2016

The 11 articles in this issue explore how people respond to climate change and other global challenges. The articles pursue three broad strands of enquiry that relate (1) to the effects and causes of “skepticism” about climate change, (2) the purely cognitive challenges that are posed by a complex scientific issue, and (3) the ways in which climate change can be communicated to a wider audience. Cognitive science can contribute to understanding people's responses to global challenges in many ways, and it may also contribute to implementing solutions to those problems.
Attention Modulates Spatial Precision in Multiple‐Object Tracking
Authors: Srivastava Nisheeth , Vul Ed
Published: January 2016

We present a computational model of multiple‐object tracking that makes trial‐level predictions about the allocation of visual attention and the effect of this allocation on observers' ability to track multiple objects simultaneously. This model follows the intuition that increased attention to a location increases the spatial resolution of its internal representation. Using a combination of empirical and computational experiments, we demonstrate the existence of a tight coupling between cognitive and perceptual resources in this task: Low‐level tracking of objects generates bottom‐up predictions of error likelihood, and high‐level attention allocation selectively reduces error probabilities in attended locations while increasing it at non‐attended locations. Whereas earlier models of multiple‐object tracking have predicted the big picture relationship between stimulus complexity and response accuracy, our approach makes accurate predictions of both the macro‐scale effect of target number and velocity on tracking difficulty and micro‐scale variations in difficulty across individual trials and targets arising from the idiosyncratic within‐trial interactions of targets and distractors.
Using the knowns to discover the unknowns: MS‐based dereplication uncovers structural diversity in 17‐hydroxygeranyllinalool diterpene glycoside production in the Solanaceae
Authors: Heiling Sven , Khanal Santosh , Barsch Aiko , Zurek Gabriela , Baldwin Ian T. , Gaquerel Emmanuel
Published: January 2016

Exploring the diversity of plant secondary metabolism requires efficient methods to obtain sufficient structural insights to discriminate previously known from unknown metabolites. De novo structure elucidation and confirmation of known metabolites (dereplication) remain a major bottleneck for mass spectrometry‐based metabolomic workflows, and few systematic dereplication strategies have been developed for the analysis of entire compound classes across plant families, partly due to the complexity of plant metabolic profiles that complicates cross‐species comparisons. 17‐hydroxygeranyllinalool diterpene glycosides (HGL‐DTGs) are abundant defensive secondary metabolites whose malonyl and glycosyl decorations are induced by jasmonate signaling in the ecological model plant Nicotiana attenuata. The multiple labile glycosidic bonds of HGL‐DTGs result in extensive in‐source fragmentation (IS‐CID) during ionization. To reconstruct these IS‐CID clusters from profiling data and identify precursor ions, we applied a deconvolution algorithm and created an MS/MS library from positive‐ion spectra of purified HGL‐DTGs. From this library, 251 non‐redundant fragments were annotated, and a workflow to characterize leaf, flower and fruit extracts of 35 solanaceous species was established. These analyses predicted 105 novel HGL‐DTGs that were restricted to Nicotiana, Capsicum and Lycium species. Interestingly, malonylation is a highly conserved step in HGL‐DTG metabolism, but is differentially affected by jasmonate signaling among Nicotiana species. This MS‐based workflow is readily applicable for cross‐species re‐identification/annotation of other compound classes with sufficient fragmentation knowledge, and therefore has the potential to support hypotheses regarding secondary metabolism diversification.
Orchestration of hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide in brassinosteroid‐mediated systemic virus resistance in Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Deng Xing‐Guang , Zhu Tong , Zou Li‐Juan , Han Xue‐Ying , Zhou Xue , Xi De‐Hui , Zhang Da‐Wei , Lin Hong‐Hui
Published: January 2016

Brassinosteroids (BRs) play essential roles in modulating plant growth, development and stress responses. Here, involvement of BRs in plant systemic resistance to virus was studied. Treatment of local leaves in Nicotiana benthamiana with BRs induced virus resistance in upper untreated leaves, accompanied by accumulations of H2O2 and NO. Scavenging of H2O2 or NO in upper leaves blocked BR‐induced systemic virus resistance. BR‐induced systemic H2O2 accumulation was blocked by local pharmacological inhibition of NADPH oxidase or silencing of respiratory burst oxidase homolog gene NbRBOHB, but not by systemic NADPH oxidase inhibition or NbRBOHA silencing. Silencing of the nitrite‐dependent nitrate reductase gene NbNR or systemic pharmacological inhibition of NR compromised BR‐triggered systemic NO accumulation, while local inhibition of NR, silencing of NbNOA1 and inhibition of NOS had little effect. Moreover, we provide evidence that BR‐activated H2O2 is required for NO synthesis. Pharmacological scavenging or genetic inhibiting of H2O2 generation blocked BR‐induced systemic NO production, but BR‐induced H2O2 production was not sensitive to NO scavengers or silencing of NbNR. Systemically applied sodium nitroprusside rescued BR‐induced systemic virus defense in NbRBOHB‐silenced plants, but H2O2 did not reverse the effect of NbNR silencing on BR‐induced systemic virus resistance. Finally, we demonstrate that the receptor kinase BRI1(BR insensitive 1) is an upstream component in BR‐mediated systemic defense signaling, as silencing of NbBRI1 compromised the BR‐induced H2O2 and NO production associated with systemic virus resistance. Together, our pharmacological and genetic data suggest the existence of a signaling pathway leading to BR‐mediated systemic virus resistance that involves local Respiratory Burst Oxidase Homolog B (RBOHB)‐dependent H2O2 production and subsequent systemic NR‐dependent NO generation.
Meta‐analysis and meta‐regression of transcriptomic responses to water stress in Arabidopsis
Authors: Rest Joshua S. , Wilkins Olivia , Yuan Wei , Purugganan Michael D. , Gurevitch Jessica
Published: January 2016

The large amounts of transcriptome data available for Arabidopsis thaliana make a compelling case for the need to generalize results across studies and extract the most robust and meaningful information possible from them. The results of various studies seeking to identify water stress‐responsive genes only partially overlap. The aim of this work was to combine transcriptomic studies in a systematic way that identifies commonalities in response, taking into account variation among studies due to batch effects as well as sampling variation, while also identifying the effect of study‐specific variables, such as the method of applying water stress, and the part of the plant the mRNA was extracted from. We used meta‐analysis, the quantitative synthesis of independent research results, to summarize expression responses to water stress across studies, and meta‐regression to model the contribution of covariates that may affect gene expression. We found that some genes with small but consistent differential responses become evident only when results are synthesized across experiments, and are missed in individual studies. We also identified genes with expression responses that are attributable to use of different plant parts and alternative methods for inducing water stress. Our results indicate that meta‐analysis and meta‐regression provide a powerful approach for identifying a robust gene set that is less sensitive to idiosyncratic results and for quantifying study characteristics that result in contrasting gene expression responses across studies. Combining meta‐analysis with individual analyses may contribute to a richer understanding of the biology of water stress responses, and may prove valuable in other gene expression studies.
Identified metabolic signature for assessing red blood cell unit quality is associated with endothelial damage markers and clinical outcomes
Authors: Bordbar Aarash , Johansson Pär I. , Paglia Giuseppe , Harrison Scott J. , Wichuk Kristine , Magnusdottir Manuela , Valgeirsdottir Sóley , Gybel‐Brask Mikkel , Ostrowski Sisse R. , Palsson Sirus , Rolfsson Ottar , Sigurjónsson Olafur E. , Hansen Morten B. , Gudmundsson Sveinn , Palsson Bernhard O.
Published: January 2016

BACKGROUND

There has been interest in determining whether older red blood cell (RBC) units have negative clinical effects. Numerous observational studies have shown that older RBC units are an independent factor for patient mortality. However, recently published randomized clinical trials have shown no difference of clinical outcome for patients receiving old or fresh RBCs. An overlooked but essential issue in assessing RBC unit quality and ultimately designing the necessary clinical trials is a metric for what constitutes an old or fresh RBC unit.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Twenty RBC units were profiled using quantitative metabolomics over 42 days of storage in SAGM with 3‐ to 4‐day time intervals. Metabolic pathway usage during storage was assessed using systems biology methods. The detected time intervals of the metabolic states were compared to clinical outcomes.

RESULTS

Using multivariate statistics, we identified a nonlinear decay process exhibiting three distinct metabolic states (Days 0‐10, 10‐17, and 17‐42). Hematologic variables traditionally measured in the transfusion setting (e.g., pH, hemolysis, RBC indices) did not distinguish these three states. Systemic changes in pathway usage occurred between the three states, with key pathways changing in both magnitude and direction. Finally, an association was found between the time periods of the metabolic states with the clinical outcomes of more than 280,000 patients in the country of Denmark transfused over the past 15 years and endothelial damage markers in healthy volunteers undergoing autologous transfusions.

CONCLUSION

The state of RBC metabolism may be a better indicator of cellular quality than traditional hematologic variables.
Nanofiltrated C1‐esterase‐inhibitor in the prophylactic treatment of bradykinin‐mediated angioedema
Authors: Greve Jens , Hahn Janina , Nordmann Melanie , Schuler Patrick J. , Bas Murat , Hoffmann Thomas K. , Hajdu Zuzana , Buchberger Maria , Strassen Ulrich
Published: January 2016

BACKGROUND

Patients suffering from bradykinin‐induced angioedema show recurrent swelling of subcutaneous and submucosal structures. Increased bradykinin levels lead to an increase in vascular permeability and edema formation. Current therapy consists of B2 bradykinin receptor antagonists, C1‐esterase‐inhibitor (C1‐INH) concentrate, or the kallikrein inhibitor ecallantide. In most cases the treatment of acute attacks is sufficient. Prophylactic therapy is recommended only in severe cases. C1‐INHc has been shown a safe and efficient option. Its effect on the quality of life has not yet been analyzed.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Patients with inadequate disease control despite an “on‐demand therapy” including C1‐INHc and/or the B2 receptor antagonist icatibant were switched to long‐term prophylaxis consisting in an individual dose of intravenous C1‐INHc (Cinryze). None of the patients had been previously treated with ecallantide. Disease‐specific quality‐of‐life questionnaires and patient records were used for evaluation. Disease control, quality of life, adverse events, and administered dosage per month were compared for 6 months on on‐demand therapy and the following 6 months under prophylactic therapy.

RESULTS

Data of seven patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) and one patient with acquired angioedema were evaluated. Prophylactic therapy with Cinryze led to a significant and clinically relevant reduction in the overall attack frequency from 6.7 to 2.3 per month without relevant side effects. The frequency of severe attacks was reduced by 89% and quality of life significantly improved.

CONCLUSION

Prophylaxis with Cinryze led to a significantly improved quality of life in our cohort of patients with high‐frequency bradykinin‐induced angioedema attacks that were not sufficiently treated with on‐demand medication.
Implementing a blood management protocol during the entire perioperative period allows a reduction in transfusion rate in major orthopedic surgery: a before–after study
Authors: Rineau Emmanuel , Chaudet Aurélie , Chassier Claire , Bizot Pascal , Lasocki Sigismond
Published: January 2016

BACKGROUND

Patient blood management (PBM) must be promoted in orthopedic surgery and relies on different strategies implemented during the entire perioperative period. Our aim was to assess whether the introduction of a pre‐, intra‐, and postoperative PBM protocol combining erythropoietin (EPO), ferric carboxymaltose (FCM), and tranexamic acid was effective in reducing perioperative transfusion and postoperative anemia.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

In a two‐phase prospective observational study, all patients admitted for total hip or knee arthroplasty were included the day before surgery. In Phase 1, use of EPO, iron, and tranexamic acid was left to the discretion of the anesthesiologists. In Phase 2, a protocol combining these treatments was implemented in the perioperative period. Perioperative hemoglobin levels and transfusion rates were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 367 patients were included (184 and 183 in Phase 1 and 2, respectively). During Phase 2, implementing a PBM protocol allowed an increase in preoperative EPO prescription in targeted patients (i.e., with Hb < 13 g/dL; 18 [38%] vs. 34 [62%], p = 0.03) and in postoperative use of intravenous iron (12 [6%] vs. 32 [18%], p = 0.001) and tranexamic acid (157 [86%] vs. 171 [94%] patients, p = 0.02). In Phase 2, the number of patients who received transfusions (24 [13%] vs. 5 [3%], p = 0.0003) and of patients with a Hb level of less than 10 g/dL at discharge (46 [25%] vs. 26 [14%], p = 0.01) were reduced.

CONCLUSION

Introduction of a PBM protocol, using EPO, FCM, and tranexamic acid, reduces the number of perioperative transfusions and of patients with a Hb level of less than 10 g/dL at discharge.