bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PhoX – an IMAC-enrichable Crosslinking Reagent
Authors: Steigenberger Barbara A. , Pieters Roland J. , Heck Albert J.R. , Scheltema Richard A.
Published: February 2019

Chemical crosslinking mass spectrometry is rapidly emerging as a prominent technique to study protein structures. Structural information is obtained by covalently connecting peptides in close proximity by small reagents and identifying the resulting peptide pairs by mass spectrometry. However, sub-stoichiometric reaction efficiencies render routine detection of crosslinked peptides problematic. Here we present a new tri-functional crosslinking reagent, termed PhoX, which is decorated with a stable phosphonic acid handle. This makes the crosslinked peptides amenable to the well-established IMAC enrichment. The handle allows for 300x enrichment efficiency and 97% specificity, dramatically reducing measurement time and improving data quality. We exemplify the approach on various model proteins and protein complexes, e.g. resulting in a structural model of the LRP1/RAP complex. PhoX is also applicable to whole cell lysates. When focusing the database search on ribosomal proteins, our first attempt resulted in 355 crosslinks, out-performing current efforts in less measurement time.
Excitatory and inhibitory intracortical circuits for orientation and direction selectivity
Authors: Rossi L. Federico , Harris Kenneth D. , Carandini Matteo
Published: February 2019

The computations performed by a neuron arise from the functional properties of the circuits providing its synaptic inputs. A prime example of these computations is the selectivity of primary visual cortex (V1) for orientation and motion direction. V1 neurons in layer 2/3 (L2/3) receive input mostly from intracortical circuits1, which involve excitation2-9 and inhibition10-12. To understand how an L2/3 neuron achieves its selectivity, therefore, one must characterize the functional organization of both its excitatory and inhibitory presynaptic ensembles. Here we establish this organization, and show how it predicts orientation selectivity and reveals a new cortical circuit for direction selectivity. We identified the presynaptic partners of pyramidal neurons in mouse V1 through rabies monosynaptic tracing1,13, and imaged the functional properties of the postsynaptic neuron and of its presynaptic ensemble. Excitatory presynaptic neurons were predominantly tuned to the postsynaptic neuron’s preferred orientation. Excitation and inhibition described an inverted Mexican hat, with inhibitory presynaptic neurons densest near the postsynaptic neuron and excitatory ones distributed more distally. Excitation and inhibition also differed in laminar origin: inhibitory presynaptic neurons concentrated in L2/3 while excitatory ones dominated in L4. The distribution of excitatory neurons in visual space was coaxial with the postsynaptic neuron’s preferred orientation and lay upstream of the neuron’s preferred direction. Inhibitory presynaptic neurons, instead, clustered more symmetrically around the postsynaptic neuron and favoured locations downstream of its preferred direction. These results demonstrate that L2/3 neurons obtain orientation selectivity from co-tuned neurons in L4 and beyond, and enhance it by contrasting an elongated excitatory input with a concentric inhibitory input. Moreover, L2/3 neurons can obtain direction selectivity through visually offset14 excitation and inhibition. These circuit motifs resemble those seen in the thalamocortical pathway15-20 and in direction selective cells in the retina21,22, suggesting that they are canonical across brain regions.
Timing gone awry: distinct tumour suppressive and oncogenic roles of the circadian clock and crosstalk with hypoxia signalling in diverse malignancies
Authors: Chang Wai Hoong , Lai Alvina G.
Published: February 2019

The circadian clock governs a large variety of fundamentally important physiological processes in all three domains of life. Consequently, asynchrony in timekeeping mechanisms could give rise to cellular dysfunction underpinning many disease pathologies including human neoplasms. Yet, detailed pancancer evidence supporting this notion has been limited. In an integrated approach uniting genetic, transcriptomic and clinical data of 21 cancer types (n=18,484), we interrogated copy number and transcript profiles of 32 circadian clock genes to identify putative loss-of-function (ClockLoss) and gain-of-function (ClockGain) players. Kaplan-Meier, Cox regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses were employed to evaluate the prognostic significance of both gene sets. ClockLoss and ClockGain were associated with tumoursuppressing and tumour-promoting roles respectively. Downregulation of ClockLoss genes resulted in significant higher mortality rates in five cancer cohorts (n=2,914): bladder (P=0.027), glioma (P<0.0001), pan-kidney (P=0.011), clear cell renal cell (P<0.0001) and stomach (P=0.0007). In contrast, patients with high expression of oncogenic ClockGain genes had poorer survival outcomes (n=2,784): glioma (P<0.0001), pan-kidney (P=0.0034), clear cell renal cell (P=0.014), lung (P=0.046) and pancreas (P=0.0059). Both gene sets were independent of other clinicopathological features to permit further delineation of tumours within the same stage. Circadian reprogramming of tumour genomes resulted in activation of numerous oncogenic pathways including those associated with cancer stem cells, suggesting that the circadian clock may influence self-renewal mechanisms. Within the hypoxic tumour microenvironment, circadian dysregulation is exacerbated by tumour hypoxia in glioma, renal, lung and pancreatic cancers, resulting in additional death risks. Tumour suppressive ClockLoss genes were negatively correlated with hypoxia inducible factor-1A targets in glioma patients, providing a novel framework for investigating the hypoxia-clock signalling axis. Loss of timekeeping fidelity promotes tumour progression and influences clinical outcomes. ClockLoss and ClockGain may offer novel druggable targets for improving patient prognosis. Both gene sets can be used for patient stratification in adjuvant chronotherapy treatment. Emerging interactions between the circadian clock and hypoxia may be harnessed to achieve therapeutic advantage using hypoxia-modifying compounds in combination with first-line treatments.
Longitudinal Study on Ocular Manifestations in a Cohort of Patients with Fabry Disease
Authors: Michaud Langis
Published: February 2019

Purpose

This study aims to assess the evolution of ocular manifestations in a cohort of Fabry patients.

METHODS

This is a prospective observational study conducted from 2013 to 2017 (5 consecutive exams). All subjects underwent a comprehensive ocular examination including oriented case history, refraction, corneal topography, biomechanical corneal properties and pachometry assessments, aberrometry, anterior segment evaluation, double-frequency visual field (FDT), intra-ocular pressure, and ocular fundus. At baseline, 41 subjects enrolled but 9 dropped-out and 4 files were not kept for analysis (missing data). Remaining 28 subjects were classified into: Group 1 -hemizygotes (HMZ), all on enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) (N=10); Group 2 -heterozygotes (HTZ) actively ERT-treated (N=8), and Group 3 -HTZ not treated (N=10).

RESULTS

There is a high intra and inter-subjects variability. At baseline, prevalence of the ocular manifestations found is similar to published data: cornea verticillata (89.2%), conjunctival vessels tortuosity (85.7%), corneal haze (67.8%), retinal vessels tortuosity (64.2%), anterior cataract (39.2%) and posterior cataract (28.5%). Prevalence for new elements are found: upper lid vessels toricity (96.4%) and micro-aneurysms (42.8%). At the end, micro-aneurysms (+82%), posterior cataract (+75%) corneal haze (+21%) anterior cataract (+17%) and retinal vessels tortuosities (+4%) evolved in prevalence and severity despite the fact that 68% of the patients were on ERT. Treated heterozygotes evolved more than other groups (p>0.05)

CONCLUSION

ERT does not halt the clinical evolution of several ocular manifestations. Longer observational time may be required to fully confirm these findings.
Bayesian-based noninvasive prenatal diagnosis of single-gene disorders
Authors: Rabinowitz Tom , Polsky Avital , Golan David , Danilevsky Artem , Shapira Guy , Raff Chen , Basel-Salmon Lina , Matar Reut Tomashov , Shomron Noam
Published: February 2019

In the last decade, noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) has emerged as an effective procedure for early detection of inherited diseases during pregnancy. This technique is based on using cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and fetal cfDNA (cffDNA) in maternal blood, and hence, has minimal risk for the mother and fetus compared with invasive techniques. NIPD is currently used for identifying chromosomal abnormalities (in some instances) and for single-gene disorders (SGDs) of paternal origin. However, for SGDs of maternal origin, sensitivity poses a challenge that limits the testing to one genetic disorder at a time. Here, we present a Bayesian method for the NIPD of monogenic diseases that is independent of the mode of inheritance and parental origin. Furthermore, we show that accounting for differences in the length distribution of fetal- and maternal-derived cfDNA fragments results in increased accuracy. Our model is the first to predict inherited insertions–deletions (indels). The method described can serve as a general framework for the NIPD of SGDs; this will facilitate easy integration of further improvements. One such improvement that is presented in the current study is a machine learning model that corrects errors based on patterns found in previously processed data. Overall, we show that next-generation sequencing (NGS) can be used for the NIPD of a wide range of monogenic diseases, simultaneously. We believe that our study will lead to the achievement of a comprehensive NIPD for monogenic diseases.
Determinants of equity changes in partial acquisitions of Finnish multinationals in foreign markets
Authors: Oguji Nnamdi , Owusu Richard Afriyie , Larimo Jorma
Published: February 2019

Purpose

When entering foreign markets, multinationals can acquire part of a foreign firm and can increase or decrease their equity stake over time. However, extant studies have mainly focused on equity stake acquired during initial market entry. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This study fills this gap by using the Uppsala model to analyze six cases of international acquisitions of Finnish multinationals in global markets.

Findings

The authors found that firms change their equity stake in partially acquired foreign subsidiaries: when they have learned about the host country and businesses of the partially acquired firms, when they have gained target-specific experience, when they build trust and ensure relationship commitment and finally, when they jointly develop and exploit opportunities.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to apply the Uppsala model to empirically analyze international acquisitions, thus paving the way for behavioral and process-oriented approaches. The study contributes to knowledge of post-entry strategies of multinationals.
Mediating effect of work stress on the influence of time pressure, work–family conflict and role ambiguity on audit quality reduction behavior
Authors: Amiruddin Amir
Published: February 2019

Purpose

This study aims to determine the direct and mediating effects of time pressure, work–family conflict, role ambiguity, work stress and audit quality reduction behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample selection in this research is done by purposive sampling method based on the criteria specified by the researcher. In addition, random sample selection does not necessarily produce a sample that can represent auditors at all levels and types of Kantor Akuntan Publik (KAP). This research uses quantitative analysis with approach of structural equation modeling (SEM) method to analyze direct and indirect effect. The main method for data analysis is SEM.

Findings

Based on the results of the research note that time pressure, work–family conflict and role ambiguity each have a significant effect on work stress. In testing the direct effect on audit quality reduction behavior, only time pressure influential significant, while work–family conflict and role ambiguity not significant. However, in the test of indirect influence/influence of mediation, there is a significant influence on all tests that time pressure, work–family conflict and role ambiguity each have a significant effect on audit quality reduction behavior through work stress.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is in SEM used by involving new variable which is work–family conflict. The research location is public accounting offices (KAP) in Indonesia.
Insufficient money and inadequate respect
Authors: Tran Henry , Smith Doug
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of financial factors on motivating college students to consider teaching in hard-to-staff rural schools. The role of perceived respectability of the profession was also explored.

Design/methodology/approach

This work relies on an explanatory sequential mixed-method design, that surveyed college students across all majors at a regional public university, then interviewed a subset of participants to improve understanding. Quantitative and qualitative results were compared and synthesized.

Findings

Results from an ordinal logistic regression demonstrate the importance of base salary, retirement benefits and respondents’ view of the respectability of the teaching profession as influential for their willingness to teach in the rural target school district. These findings were validated by the qualitative results that found perceptions of respectability had both a joint and separate influence with salaries. Results also demonstrate that most students were amenable to rural teaching and to lower starting salaries than their current chosen occupation, provided their individual minimum salary threshold was met (x¯=36percent above the state average beginning teacher salary).

Originality/value

Few empirical studies exist that examine college student recruitment into rural hard-to-staff districts via a multimodal narrative. This study addresses this, focusing on college students across majors to explore both recruitment into the district and into the profession. This work is relevant considering the financial disinvestment in traditional public education and the de-professionalization of the teaching profession that has led to the recent season of teacher strikes in the USA.
Income capitalisation method and hedonic model: an integrated approach
Authors: Lisi Gaetano
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an integrated approach that combines the two methods usually used in the real estate appraisals, namely, the income capitalisation method and the hedonic model.

Design/methodology/approach

In order to pull out the link between the income capitalisation approach and the hedonic model, the standard hedonic price function is introduced into the basic model of income capitalisation instead of the house market value. It follows that, from the partial derivative, a direct relation between hedonic prices and discount rate can be obtained. Finally, by using the close relationship between income capitalisation and direct capitalisation, a mathematical relation between hedonic prices and capitalisation rate is also obtained.

Findings

The developed method allows to estimate the capitalisation rate using only hedonic prices. Indeed, selling and hedonic prices incorporate all of the information required to correctly estimate the capitalisation rate. Furthermore, given the close relation among going-in and going-out capitalisation rates and discount rate, the proposed method could also be useful for determining both the going-out capitalisation rate and the discount rate.

Practical implications

Obviously, it is always preferable to estimate the capitalisation rate by just using comparable transactional data. Nevertheless, the method developed in this paper is especially useful when: the rental income data are missing and/or not entirely reliable; the data on rental income and house price are related to different homes; the capitalisation rate, in fact, should compare the rent and value of identical homes. In these cases, therefore, the method can be a valuable alternative to direct estimation.

Originality/value

The large and important literature on real estate economics and real estate appraisal neglects the relationship between hedonic prices and capitalisation rate, thus considering the hedonic model and the income capitalisation approach as two separate and alternative methods. This paper, instead, shows that integration is possible and relatively simple.
Understanding of grassroots innovations in India: evidence from the countryside
Authors: Parwez Sazzad , Chandra Shekar K.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Disadvantaged regions in India suffer from various forms of problems aggravated by constraints of accessibility. This paper aims to conceptualize innovations as solutions to the problem at grassroots.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper tries to bridge empirical gaps in conceptualization of innovations at grassroots with the application of both empirical and theoretical methods.

Findings

Grassroots innovation is an important instrument to solve such problems in these regions, where appropriate solution is not developed by the government instrument or private agencies (market) in general with various forms of value creation.

Originality/value

This paper tries to bridge empirical gaps in conceptualization of innovations at grassroots.
Slowness‐domain kinematical characteristics for horizontally layered orthorhombic media. Part II: Pre‐critical slowness match
Authors: Koren Zvi , Ravve Igor
Published: February 2019

Part II of this paper is a direct continuation of Part I, where we consider the same types of orthorhombic layered media and the same types of pure‐mode and converted waves. Like in Part I, the approximations for the slowness‐domain kinematical characteristics are obtained by combining power series coefficients in the vicinity of both the normal‐incidence ray and an additional wide‐angle ray. In Part I, the wide‐angle ray was set to be the critical ray (‘critical slowness match’), whereas in Part II we consider a finite long offset associated with a given pre‐critical ray (‘pre‐critical slowness match’). Unlike the critical slowness match, the approximations in the pre‐critical slowness match are valid only within the bounded slowness range; however, the accuracy within the defined range is higher. Moreover, for the pre‐critical slowness match, there is no need to distinguish between the high‐velocity layer and the other, low‐velocity layers. The form of the approximations in both critical and pre‐critical slowness matches is the same, where only the wide‐angle power series coefficients are different. Comparing the approximated kinematical characteristics with those obtained by exact numerical ray tracing, we demonstrate high accuracy. Furthermore, we show that for all wave types, the accuracy of the pre‐critical slowness match is essentially higher than that of the critical slowness match, even for matching slowness values close to the critical slowness. Both approaches can be valuable for implementation, depending on the target offset range and the nature of the subsurface model. The pre‐critical slowness match is more accurate for simulating reflection data with conventional offsets. The critical slowness match can be attractive for models with a dominant high‐velocity layer, for simulating, for example, refraction events with very long offsets.
Ivabradine reversed nondipping heart rate in rats with l‐NAME‐induced hypertension
Authors: Baka Tomas , Simko Fedor
Published: February 2019

We hypothesized that decreasing elevated night‐time heart rate (HR) in hypertension by administering a bradycardic agent (ivabradine) at bedtime could bring cardiovascular benefit. Since rats are nocturnal animals, they exhibit circadian rhythms phase‐shifted relative to humans. Sixty‐six Wistar rats were divided into non‐diseased controls and rats with l‐NAME‐induced hypertension to compare the haemodynamic effects of daytime‐dosed and night‐time‐dosed ivabradine. l‐NAME‐induced hypertension inverted the physiological 5.6% night‐to‐day HR dip to an undesirable HR rise by 11.1%. Ivabradine dosed at daytime (the rat's resting phase) reverted a night‐to‐day HR rise to HR dip by 14.2%. These results suggest a cardiovascular benefit of ivabradine dosed at the human's resting phase (night‐time) for hypertensive patients with nondipping HR.
A fast micromethod for the estimation of nisin activity in a soft cheese
Authors: Oros‐Flores Zuleyka S , García‐Almendárez Blanca E , Barboza‐Corona José E , Salcedo‐Hernández Rubén
Published: February 2019

The British Standard protocol currently used to determine the nisin concentration in cheese requires the manipulation of a 40 g sample involves two critical points, pH adjustment and heating/cooling. In this work, we developed a fast micromethod that permits the manipulation of 0.2 g cheese, substitutes the use of 0.02N HCl by 50 mM citric acid and facilitates the handling of many samples in reduced time, and with increased efficiency/yield. This change keeps the pH stable at ~3.4, enough to sidestep the pH adjustment, and nisin antimicrobial activity was stable at boiling temperatures.
How Cross‐Examination on Subjectivity and Bias Affects Jurors’ Evaluations of Forensic Science Evidence
Authors: Thompson William C. , Scurich Nicholas
Published: February 2019

Contextual bias has been widely discussed as a possible problem in forensic science. The trial simulation experiment reported here examined reactions of jurors at a county courthouse to cross‐examination and arguments about contextual bias in a hypothetical case. We varied whether the key prosecution witness (a forensic odontologist) was cross‐examined about the subjectivity of his interpretations and about his exposure to potentially biasing task‐irrelevant information. Jurors found the expert less credible and were less likely to convict when the expert admitted that his interpretation rested on subjective judgment, and when he admitted having been exposed to potentially biasing task‐irrelevant contextual information (relative to when these issues were not raised by the lawyers). The findings suggest, however, that forensic scientists can immunize themselves against such challenges and maximize the weight jurors give their evidence by adopting context management procedures that blind them to task‐irrelevant information.
Utility of weight‐bearing radiographs compared to computed tomography scan for the diagnosis of subtle Lisfranc injuries in the emergency setting
Authors: Kennelly Hannah , Klaassen Kassey , Heitman Daniel , Youngberg Rhys , Platt Simon R
Published: February 2019

Objective

The goal of the present study was to compare the diagnostic yield of weight‐bearing radiographs with non‐weight‐bearing computed tomography (CT) scan for subtle Lisfranc (LF) injuries in the ED.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of patients presenting with a suspected LF injury over a 2 year period from 2016 to 2017 who had both weight‐bearing bilateral foot radiographs and CT scan. Information extracted included patient demographics, radiographic findings of metatarsal fractures, fleck sign and measurements of diastasis between the medial cuneiform and second metatarsal expressed as a ratio of the uninjured side, clinical findings and treatment modality. Radiologist reports were recorded as either positive, negative or equivocal for a LF injury.

Results

A total of 117 patients were included with a mean age of 38 years and 54% (n = 63) women. When initial weight‐bearing radiographs were positive, 54% of subsequent CT scans were reported as either equivocal or negative. Of the patients who had a negative or equivocal weight‐bearing radiograph, only 12% had a positive CT scan. The mean diastasis ratio in patients undergoing surgery was 1.53 (95% confidence interval 1.41–1.65) compared to 1.11 (95% confidence interval 1.07–1.16) for patients with injuries not requiring operative intervention (P < 0.001). There was a statistically significant correlation between a positive weight‐bearing radiograph and surgical treatment (R = 0.339, P < 0.001), and between diastasis measurements and surgical treatment (R = 0.576, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

CT provides limited benefit in the diagnosis and initial management of suspected subtle LF injuries in the ED. We advocate for the use of bilateral weight‐bearing radiographs as a first‐line investigation.
Population dynamics of aphid species in Korean seed potato cultivation area over four decades
Authors: Kim Juil , Kwon Min
Published: February 2019

The world's climate is changing. This can affect agricultural insects and the damage they cause by altering their ecology, behavior and habitats. Aphids are emerging as an indicator of climate change, and they are a good model for understanding these environmental changes, especially based on their migratory behavior. In this study, the occurrence of aphids in a seed potato field in Pyeongchang, Korea, was monitored daily using a yellow water pan trap from 1977 to 2017. During these 40 years, the annual migration fluctuations of the aphids were analyzed, with particular focus on four species known to vector potato viruses, Aphis gossypii, Aulacorthum solani, Macrosiphum euphorbiae, and Myzus persicae. It was found that, as time goes by, the start point of spring migration in these aphid species was getting earlier while the peak in autumn migration gradually moved to the winter season. Moreover, the annual total number of collected aphids increased by 3.74 times during the 40 years. Together with a mean annual temperature increase of 1.03°C in Pyeongchang over the past four decades, there is a potential threat of expansion in the distribution of aphid species. Therefore, we carefully hypothesized that this temperature change could influence the aphid's population changes in the Korean peninsula. This information can be used in an integrated aphid management program in seed potato cultivation.
Thermal Inactivation Kinetics of Tulane Virus in Cell‐Culture Medium and Spinach
Authors: Ailavadi Sukriti , Davidson P. Michael , Morgan Mark T. , D'Souza Doris H.
Published: February 2019

Human noroviruses (HNoVs) cause significant gastrointestinal disease outbreaks worldwide. Tulane virus (TV) is a cultivable HNoV surrogate widely used to determine control measures against HNoVs. The objective of this study was to determine the heat inactivation kinetics (D‐ and z‐values) of TV in cell‐culture media and on spiked homogenized spinach using the first‐order and Weibull models. TV in cell‐culture media at approximately 7 log PFU/mL (PFU—plaque forming unit) in 2‐mL glass vials was heated at 52, 54, and 56 °C for up to 10 min in a circulating water bath. Survivors were enumerated using confluent host LLC‐MK2 cells in six‐well plates by plaque assay. Data from three replicate treatments assayed in duplicate were analyzed statistically. D‐values by the first‐order model for TV in cell‐culture media at 52, 54, and 56 °C were 4.59 ± 0.05, 2.91 ± 0.05, and 1.74 ± 0.07 min, respectively, with a z‐value of 9.09 ± 0.01 °C (R2 = 0.997). The Weibull model showed td = 1 values of 2.53 ± 0.08, 1.99 ± 0.10, and 0.57 ± 0.64 min, respectively, at the same temperatures. The D‐values for TV in spinach were 7.94 ± 0.21, 4.09 ± 0.04, and 1.43 ± 0.02 min and the z‐value was 10.74 ± 0.01 °C (R2 = 0.98) by the first‐order model and 4.89 ± 0.02, 3.21 ± 0.45, and 0.25 ± 0.38 min for the Weibull model at 50, 54, and 58 °C, respectively. In comparison to previously reported results for the cultivable HNoV surrogate, murine norovirus ‐1, TV in cell‐culture media and spiked on spinach homogenates showed lower D‐ and z‐values. TV may not be an ideal HNoV surrogate for heat inactivation studies in cell‐culture media or homogenized spinach in vacuum bags.
Discovering bank risk factors from financial statements based on a new semi‐supervised text mining algorithm
Authors: Wei Lu , Li Guowen , Zhu Xiaoqian , Li Jianping
Published: February 2019

This paper aims to comprehensively uncover bank risk factors from qualitative textual risk disclosures reported in financial statements, which contain a huge amount of information on bank risks. We propose a new semi‐supervised text mining approach named naive collision algorithm to analyse the textual risk disclosures, which can more accurately identify bank risk factors compared with the typical unsupervised text mining approach. We identified 21 bank risk factors in total, which is far more than identified in previous studies. We further analyse the importance of each bank risk factor and how the importance of each risk factor changes over time.
Climbing the ladder: an evaluation of three different anguillid eel climbing substrata and placement of upstream passage solutions at migration barriers
Authors: Watz J. , Nilsson P. A. , Degerman E. , Tamario C. , Calles O.
Published: February 2019

Conservation programmes for endangered, long‐lived and migratory species often have to target multiple life stages. The bottlenecks associated with the survival of juvenile anguillid eels migrating into inland waters, the survival and growth of the freshwater life stage, as well as the recruitment and survival of silver eels, migrating back to the ocean to spawn, must be resolved. In this study, we focus on the efficiency of passage solutions for upstream‐migrating juveniles. Such solutions can consist of inclined ramps lined with wetted climbing substrata. We evaluated different commonly used substrata in a controlled experiment, recorded eel behaviour at the entrance of the ramp with infrared videography and validated the experimental results at a hydropower dam, where we also investigated the effects of ramp placement on performance. In the experiment on eel substratum selection, 40% of the eels passed in lanes with studded substratum, whereas only 21 and 5% passed using open weave and bristle substrata respectively. Video analysis revealed that the studded substratum attracted more approaches and initiated climbs than the other substrata, but once a climb had been initiated, passage success rates did not differ between substrata. Eels using the studded substratum climbed 26% faster than those using the bristle substratum and almost four times as fast as those climbing in the open weave. The superior performance of the studded substratum was supported by data from the field validation. Moreover, ramps positioned by the bank with low water velocities caught the most eels, but proximity to the dam had no effect on performance. To strengthen the European eel population, more juveniles need to reach their freshwater feeding grounds. A critical step to achieve this increase is to equip upstream passage solutions with suitable substrata and to optimize ramp placement at migration obstacles.
Gods associated with male fertility and virility
Authors: Neto F. T. L. , Bach P. V. , Lyra R. J. L. , Borges Junior J. C. , Maia G. T. d. S. , Araujo L. C. N. , Lima S. V. C.
Published: February 2019

Background

Human fertility has always been a topic of curiosity and devotion. Many cultures consider fertility to be a necessity for the survival and perpetuation of mankind and since early times, myths were created to explain this fabulous process. Fertility gods were ubiquitous in numerous ancient human cultures and were used both to understand fertility and to cope with infertility by means of rituals and offerings.

Objectives

This manuscript aims to catalog and describe the deities associated with male fertility and virility.

Material and methods

We conducted a comprehensive search for the terms “male fertility god” and “male virility god” on the internet using web‐based search engines. Based on the information retrieved, we selected those deities directed related to male fertility and/or virility and further deepened the search using Pubmed and Medline databases for peer‐reviewed articles as well as books and articles about ancient mythology.

Results

We identified several gods linked to male fertility and virility in various cultures from Egypt, Greece, Rome, India, Southwestern United States, France, Colombia and Buthan..

Discussion

Most of these deities were depicted with an erect phallus and with other fertility symbols like snakes. Some deities were also associated with plants and/or animal fertility and their festivals were often held during the harvest period.

Conclusion

Gods of male fertility and virility played important roles in many ancient cultures. Offerings and rituals to these gods were the only available options to deal with problems of reproduction and demonstrate the lengths to which ancient people would go seeking cures for infertility.
Expression of GNAZ, encoding the Gαz protein, predicts survival in mantle cell lymphoma
Authors: Mundt Filip , Merrien Magali , Nygren Lina , Sutton Lesley A. , Christensson Birger , Wahlin Björn E. , Rosenquist Richard , Sander Birgitta , Wasik Agata M.
Published: February 2019

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), a malignancy of B‐lymphocytes, has a poor prognosis. It is thus necessary to improve the understanding of the pathobiology of MCL and identify factors contributing to its aggressiveness. Our studies, based on Affymetrix data from 17 MCL biopsies, real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction data from 18 sorted primary MCL cells and 108 MCL biopsies compared to non‐malignant tissue, reveals that GNAZ expression predicts poor clinical outcome of MCL patients (Cox regression, P = 0·014) and lymphocytosis (Mann‐Whitney, P = 0·011). We show that GNAZ translates to Gαz protein – a signalling molecule within the G‐protein coupled receptor network. Our findings suggest that GNAZ/Gαz contribute to the MCL pathobiology.
Are There Gains to Joining a Union? Evidence from Mexico
Authors: Gutiérrez Rufrancos Héctor
Published: February 2019

Union density in Mexico has been in decline since the 1980s. This article provides evidence on the worker compensation gains (losses) made by males upon joining (leaving) a union. These are estimated using a nationally representative labour market survey covering 2005q1–2016q1. The transitions between non‐union and union status are investigated using a difference‐in‐difference estimator. The findings suggest that joining a union is associated with modest wage gains, contrary to what the literature has shown for most industrialized nations. However, in contrast to this, some union leavers are found to experience a decrease in wages. This article also contributes to the wider literature by providing the first estimates of the longitudinal gain (loss) associated with joining (leaving) a union with respect to non‐wage benefits. The findings show joining (leaving) a union increases (decreases) the probability of being in receipt of legally guaranteed benefits such as bonuses and paid holidays. This suggests that although union density may be in decline, unions still have an important role to play in voicing worker's preferences with respect to compensation and ensuring that employers comply with the law.
Characterizing the phenotypic effect of Xq28 duplication size in MECP2 duplication syndrome
Authors: Peters Sarika U. , Fu Cary , Suter Bernhard , Marsh Eric , Benke Timothy A. , Skinner Steve A. , Lieberman David N. , Standridge Shannon , Jones Mary , Beisang Arthur , Feyma Timothy , Heydeman Peter , Ryther Robin , Kaufmann Walter E. , Glaze Daniel G. , Neul Jeffrey L. , Percy Alan K.
Published: February 2019

Individuals with methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MECP2) duplication syndrome (MDS) have varying degrees of severity in their mobility, hand use, developmental skills, and susceptibility to infections. In the present study, we examine the relationship between duplication size, gene content, and overall phenotype in MDS using a clinical severity scale. Other genes typically duplicated within Xq28 (eg, GDI1, RAB39B, FLNA) are associated with distinct clinical features independent of MECP2. We additionally compare the phenotype of this cohort (n = 48) to other reported cohorts with MDS. Utilizing existing indices of clinical severity in Rett syndrome, we found that larger duplication size correlates with higher severity in total clinical severity scores (r = 0.36; P = 0.02), and in total motor behavioral assessment inventory scores (r = 0.31; P = 0.05). Greater severity was associated with having the RAB39B gene duplicated, although most of these participants also had large duplications. Results suggest that developmental delays in the first 6 months of life, hypotonia, vasomotor disturbances, constipation, drooling, and bruxism are common in MDS. This is the first study to show that duplication size is related to clinical severity. Future studies should examine whether large duplications which do not encompass RAB39B also contribute to clinical severity. Results also suggest the need for creating an MDS specific severity scale.
Socioeconomic inequalities in alcohol use and some related consequences from a household perspective in Vietnam
Authors: Hanh Hoang Thi My , Assanangkornchai Sawitri , Geater Alan Frederick , Hanh Vu Thi Minh
Published: February 2019

Introduction and Aims

Alcohol‐related harm reduction may target individuals, their households or communities. This study investigates the prevalence of and socioeconomic inequalities in alcohol use and alcohol‐related consequences (injury, accident, property loss and interpersonal violence) at the family‐level.

Designs and Methods

A cross‐sectional survey of 2394 households was conducted in eight provinces from six socioeconomic regions and two metropolitan cities in Vietnam. Family‐level alcohol use and injury were computed from individual data, while other measures were on a household basis. Unstandardised and indirectly standardised concentration index was used to measure degree of expenditure‐based inequality in alcohol use and its consequences.

Results

Over the previous 12 months, 88.5% and 46.2% of households had at least one current‐drinker and one heavy episodic drinking person, and in 41.7% the heavy episodic drinking person was the breadwinner. About 5.3% of households suffered alcohol‐related injury, accident or property loss; 11.4% reported alcohol‐related interpersonal violence. Poor and near‐poor households suffered the double‐burdens of both having heavy episodic drinking person and alcohol‐related harm. A modest socioeconomic gradient was observed with all types of drinker, more concentrated among higher living‐standard households, especially in urban areas. However, there was a persistent high‐level inequality disadvantaging lower living‐standard families, especially in rural areas, in suffering all measured alcohol‐related harms.

Discussion and Conclusions

Alcohol use and alcohol‐related consequences are highly prevalent in Vietnam. Lower socioeconomic households, especially in rural areas, are important target groups for alcohol‐related harm prevention and reduction interventions. The concentration index appeared to be a useful measure of inequalities in alcohol‐related harms.
YOUNG “STARS” IN ECONOMICS: WHAT THEY DO AND WHERE THEY GO
Authors: Bryan Kevin A.
Published: February 2019

We construct a data set of job flyouts for junior economists between 2013 and 2018 to investigate three aspects of the market for “stars.” First, what is the background of students who become stars? Second, what type of research does the top of the market demand? Third, where do these students take jobs? Among other results, we show that stars are more likely to be international and male than PhDs overall, that theoretical and semi‐theoretical approaches remain dominant, that American programs both produce the most stars and hire even more, that almost none are hired by the private sector, and that there is a strong shift toward having pre‐PhD full‐time academic research jobs. (JEL A11, A12, A23, J24)
The rate of environmental fluctuations shapes ecological dynamics in a two‐species microbial system
Authors: Rodríguez‐Verdugo Alejandra , Vulin Clément , Ackermann Martin
Published: February 2019

Species interactions change when the external conditions change. How these changes affect microbial community properties is an open question. We address this question using a two‐species consortium in which species interactions change from exploitation to competition depending on the carbon source provided. We built a mathematical model and calibrated it using single‐species growth measurements. This model predicted that low frequencies of change between carbon sources lead to species loss, while intermediate and high frequencies of change maintained both species. We experimentally confirmed these predictions by growing co‐cultures in fluctuating environments. These findings complement more established concepts of a diversity peak at intermediate disturbance frequencies. They also provide a mechanistic understanding for how the dynamics at the community level emerges from single‐species behaviours and interspecific interactions. Our findings suggest that changes in species interactions can profoundly impact the ecological dynamics and properties of microbial systems.
Socio‐economic inequality in oral health in childhood to young adulthood, despite full dental coverage
Authors: Verlinden Deborah A. , Reijneveld Sijmen A. , Lanting Caren I. , van Wouwe Jacobus P. , Schuller Annemarie A.
Published: February 2019

The aim of this cross‐sectional study was to assess differences in caries experience according to socio‐economic status (SES) in a health‐care system with full coverage of dental costs for children up to the age of 18 yr. In 2011 and 2014, by performing hurdle negative binomial models, we obtained data on 3,022 children and young adults aged 5, 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, and 23 yr, living in four cities in the Netherlands. At all ages between 5 and 23 yr, the percentages of children with caries‐free dentitions were lower and mean caries experience were higher in low‐SES than in high‐SES participants. In 5‐yr‐old children with dmft > 0, mean caries experience was 3.6 in those with low SES and 2.3 in those with high SES. In 23‐yr‐old participants, these estimates were 6.8 and 4.4, respectively (P < 0.05). Low‐SES children have a greater risk of more caries experience than high‐SES children. Thus, in a system with full free paediatric dental coverage, socio‐economic inequality in caries experience still exists. Dental health professionals, well‐child care doctors and nurses, general practitioners, and elementary school teachers should collaborate to promote oral health at the community level, with specific targeting of low‐SES families. We further need policy measures to curtail, at community level, the increasing availability and consumption of highly processed, carbohydrate‐rich foods, with particular attention for low‐SES families.
A rational, multispectral mapping algorithm for primary motor cortex: A primary step before cortical stimulation
Authors: Neshige Shuichiro , Kobayashi Katsuya , Matsuhashi Masao , Hitomi Takefumi , Shimotake Akihiro , Kikuchi Takayuki , Yoshida Kazumichi , Kunieda Takeharu , Matsumoto Riki , Miyamoto Susumu , Takahashi Ryosuke , Maruyama Hirofumi , Ikeda Akio
Published: February 2019

Objective

For future artificial intelligence–based brain mapping, development of a rational and safe scoring system for a brain motor mapping algorithm using electrocorticography (ECoG score), which contains various spectral, purely intrinsic brain activities, is necessary for either before or in the absence of electrical cortical stimulation (ECS).

Methods

We evaluated 1114 electrodes of 10 consecutive focal epilepsy patients who underwent subdural electrode implantation before epilepsy surgery at Kyoto University Hospital during 2011‐2017. Data from ECoG‐based mapping (bandpass filter of 0.016‐300/600 Hz) to define the primary motor area (M1) localization were used to create an ECoG score (range = 0‐4) by assigning 1 point each for the occurrence of ECoG components: very slow movement‐related cortical potentials (<0.5‐1.0 Hz), event‐related synchronization (76‐100 Hz or 100‐200 Hz), and event‐related desynchronization (8‐12 Hz or 12‐24 Hz). The ECoG score was assessed by calculating the sensitivity, specificity, and cutoff values of the score for localization concordance with M1 defined using only ECS as a reference.

Results

With an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.76, cutoffs of scores of 4 and 1 showed high specificity (94%) and sensitivity (98%) in concordance with ECS‐based mapping, respectively. The ECoG score for mapping M1 of the upper limb achieved greater accuracy (AUC = 0.85) compared to that of the face (AUC = 0.64).

Significance

The ECoG score proposed in the present study is rational, simple, and useful to define M1, and it is spatially concordant with ECS. Although ECS is still widely employed for presurgical examination, our proposed application of the ECoG score may be suitable for future brain M1 mapping, and possibly beyond M1 mapping, independently of ECS.
Post‐intensive care unit respiratory failure in older patients liberated from intensive care unit and ventilator: The predictive value of the National Early Warning Score on intensive care unit discharge
Authors: Chen Yu‐Chun , Yu Wen‐Kuang , Ko Hsin‐Kuo , Pan Sheng‐Wei , Chen Yen‐Wen , Ho Li‐Ing , Bien Mauo‐Ying , Wang Jia‐Horng , Chan Yu‐Jiun , Kou Yu Ru
Published: February 2019

Aim

The older adult population is continuously growing worldwide and there is increasing use of medical recourse in older patients, especially for those requiring intensive care unit (ICU) care and mechanical ventilation (MV). The present study aimed to investigate the burden and predictors of post‐ICU respiratory failure in older ICU patients weaned from MV.

Methods

In the present retrospective study, older ICU patients aged ≥60 years, who were successfully weaned from MV and discharged to the general ward from the ICU of Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, in 2011, were included. Biomarkers on ICU discharge, as well as the National Early Warning Score (NEWS) were recorded and calculated. The outcome measure was post‐ICU respiratory failure before day 14 (PIRF‐14) requiring reinstitution of MV. Logistical regression was used to assess the predictors for PIRF‐14.

Results

Of 272 patients included, 23 (8.5%) developed PIRF‐14. The post‐ICU in‐hospital mortality rates were 47.8% and 6.8% in patients with and without PIRF‐14 (adjusted OR 12.597, 95% CI 4.368–36.331). In a multivariate analysis, the levels of NEWS and hemoglobin on ICU discharge were independent predictors for PIRF‐14 (adjusted OR 1.273, 95% CI 1.076–1.507 and 0.645, 95% CI 0.474–0.879). In particular, patients with a NEWS of ≥10 and subsequent PIRF‐14 had a 15‐fold increased risk of mortality as compared with those without both factors (adjusted OR 15.418, 95% CI 4.344–54.720).

Conclusions

PIRF‐14 is associated with high mortality in older ICU patients, and NEWS is a significant predictor for PIRF‐14, which could be used to early identify patients at risk of post‐ICU respiratory failure in the specific population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 317–322.