bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Do people really want freedom of choice? Assessing preferences of pension holders
Authors: van Dalen Hendrik P. , Henkens Kène 
Published: February 2018

AbstractReforms of private pension plans across the world are involving the introduction of more options for pension holders to make choices to suit their preferences. Freedom of choice is not, however, a unidimensional concept despite being commonly perceived as such by policymakers. Using a unique panel survey among Dutch employees, we offer a refined typology of preferences with respect to freedom of choice. For most pension contract issues—level of pension savings, investment choice, and risk coverage—a minority (14–26%) of participants value individual freedom of choice, whereas most would either prefer to let their pension fund make the decisions, or they favor a mixed model whereby they have the option to exercise individual choice but are not obligated to take this option, or they are simply indifferent with respect to how their pension contract is designed and financed. Pension holders who distrust their pension fund or who do not express solidarity with other participants are more likely to prefer freedom of choice than those who feel a high level of solidarity and have a high level of trust in their pension fund.
When the BRANCHED network bears fruit: how carpic dominance causes fruit dimorphism in Aethionema
Authors: Lenser Teresa , Tarkowská Danuše , Novák Ondřej , Wilhelmsson Per K. I. , Bennett Tom , Rensing Stefan A. , Strnad Miroslav , Theißen Günter 
Published: February 2018

SummaryLife in unpredictably changing habitats is a great challenge, especially for sessile organisms like plants. Fruit and seed heteromorphism is one way to cope with such variable environmental conditions. It denotes the production of distinct types of fruits and seeds that often mediate distinct life‐history strategies in terms of dispersal, germination and seedling establishment. But although the phenomenon can be found in numerous species and apparently evolved several times independently, its developmental time course or molecular regulation remains largely unknown. Here, we studied fruit development in Aethionema arabicum, a dimorphic member of the Brassicaceae family. We characterized fruit morph differentiation by comparatively analyzing discriminating characters like fruit growth, seed abortion and dehiscence zone development. Our data demonstrate that fruit morph determination is a ‘last‐minute’ decision happening in flowers after anthesis directly before the first morphotypical differences start to occur. Several growth experiments in combination with hormone and gene expression analyses further indicate that an accumulation balance of the plant hormones auxin and cytokinin in open flowers together with the transcript abundance of the Ae. arabicum ortholog of BRANCHED1, encoding a transcription factor known for its conserved function as a branching repressor, may guide fruit morph determination. Thus, we hypothesize that the plasticity of the fruit morph ratio in Ae. arabicum may have evolved through the modification of a preexisting network known to govern correlative dominance between shoot organs.
Capillary response to skeletal muscle contraction: evidence that redundancy between vasodilators is physiologically relevant during active hyperaemia
Authors: Lamb Iain R. , Novielli Nicole M. , Murrant Coral L. 
Published: February 2018

Key points
The current theory behind matching blood flow to metabolic demand of skeletal muscle suggests redundant interactions between metabolic vasodilators.
Capillaries play an important role in blood flow control given their ability to respond to muscle contraction by causing conducted vasodilatation in upstream arterioles that control their perfusion.
We sought to determine whether redundancies occur between vasodilators at the level of the capillary by stimulating the capillaries with muscle contraction and vasodilators relevant to muscle contraction.
We identified redundancies between potassium and both adenosine and nitric oxide, between nitric oxide and potassium, and between adenosine and both potassium and nitric oxide. During muscle contraction, we demonstrate redundancies between potassium and nitric oxide as well as between potassium and adenosine.
Our data show that redundancy is physiologically relevant and involved in the coordination of the vasodilator response during muscle contraction at the level of the capillaries.
AbstractWe sought to determine if redundancy between vasodilators is physiologically relevant during active hyperaemia. As inhibitory interactions between vasodilators are indicative of redundancy, we tested whether vasodilators implicated in mediating active hyperaemia (potassium (K+), adenosine (ADO) and nitric oxide (NO)) inhibit one another's vasodilatory effects through direct application of pharmacological agents and during muscle contraction. Using the hamster cremaster muscle and intravital microscopy, we locally stimulated capillaries with one vasodilator in the absence and the presence of a second vasodilator (10−7 m S‐nitroso‐N‐acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), 10−7 m ADO, 10 mm KCl) applied sequentially and simultaneously, and observed the response in the associated upstream 4A arteriole controlling the perfusion of the stimulated capillary. We found that KCl significantly attenuated SNAP‐ and ADO‐induced vasodilatations by ∼49.7% and ∼128.0% respectively and ADO significantly attenuated KCl‐ and SNAP‐induced vasodilatations by ∼94.7% and ∼59.6%, respectively. NO significantly attenuated KCl vasodilatation by 93.8%. Further, during muscle contraction we found that inhibition of NO production using l‐NG‐nitroarginine methyl ester and inhibition of ADO receptors using xanthine amine congener was effective at inhibiting contraction‐induced vasodilatation but only in the presence of K+ release channel inhibition. Thus, only when the inhibiting vasodilator K+ was blocked was the second vasodilator, NO or ADO, able to produce effective vasodilatation. Therefore, we show that there are inhibitory interactions between specific vasodilators at the level of the capillary. Further, these inhibitions can be observed during muscle contraction indicating that redundancies between vasodilators are physiologically relevant and influence vasodilatation during active hyperaemia.
Phosphoric acid as a precursor to chemicals traditionally synthesized from white phosphorus
Authors: Geeson Michael B. , Cummins Christopher C. 
Published: February 2018

Silicon clears a wet path to phosphines
Phosphoric acid is produced on a massive scale for fertilizer by treating phosphate rock with sulfuric acid. In contrast, preparation of more elaborate phosphorus compounds used in chemical catalysis, pharmaceutical, and battery applications requires laborious generation and chlorination of elemental phosphorus. Geeson and Cummins now show that phosphoric acid may also be a practical source of such compounds (see the Perspective by Protasiewicz). They isolated and characterized a phosphide salt derived from treatment of dehydrated phosphoric acid with trichlorosilane, a compound already used at the commercial scale to produce high-purity silicon. The salt proved to be a versatile precursor for a range of alkylated and fluorinated phosphorus compounds.

Science
, this issue p.
1383
; see also p.
1333
In Vitro
Activities of Omadacycline and Comparators against Anaerobic Bacteria
Authors: Stapert Laure , Wolfe Cindy , Shinabarger Dean , Marra Andrea , Pillar Chris 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACT

Omadacycline (OMC), a broad-spectrum aminomethylcycline, has shown clinical efficacy in anaerobic acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and in animal models of intra-abdominal anaerobic infections. Here, the
in vitro
activity of OMC against clinically relevant anaerobes was similar to that of tigecycline, with MIC
90
values of 1 to 8 μg/ml against
Bacteroides
spp., 0.5 μg/ml against
Clostridium difficile
,
Prevotella
spp., and
Porphyromonas asaccharolytica
, 1 μg/ml against
Peptostreptococcus
spp., and 16 μg/ml against
Clostridium perfringens
.
Analysis of Potential β-Lactam Surrogates To Predict
In Vitro
Susceptibility and Resistance to Ceftaroline for Clinical Isolates of Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Hackel Meredith A. , Iaconis Joseph P. , Karlowsky James A. , Sahm Daniel F. 
Published: February 2018

ABSTRACT

Ceftaroline fosamil was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in 2010 and by the European Medicines Agency in 2012. As of April 2017, only one commercial antimicrobial susceptibility testing device offered a Gram-negative panel that included ceftaroline. This circumstance is unfortunate, as many clinical microbiology laboratories rely solely on commercial devices to generate
in vitro
antimicrobial susceptibility testing results for common bacterial pathogens. In lieu of device-based testing of clinical isolates of
Enterobacteriaceae
, laboratories wishing to test ceftaroline must either opt for disk diffusion testing or use a gradient strip; however, both alternatives interrupt laboratory workflow and require additional labor and expense. Identification of a reliable surrogate β-lactam to predict
in vitro
susceptibility to ceftaroline may offer another interim solution as laboratories await availability of ceftaroline for testing on their commercial devices. We tested six β-lactams (aztreonam, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, cefoxitin, and cefpodoxime) as potential surrogates for ceftaroline against a collection of 543 clinical isolates of
Enterobacteriaceae
selected to approximate the distribution of ceftaroline MICs observed in AWARE global surveillance studies conducted in 2013. All six potential surrogates generated very major error rates of 16.3% to 56.6%, far exceeding the accepted limit of 1.5% set by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Failure to identify a reliable surrogate to predict
in vitro
susceptibility and resistance to ceftaroline for clinical isolates of
Enterobacteriaceae
underscores the need for expedited addition of newer antimicrobial agents to commercial antimicrobial susceptibility testing devices.
Acupuncture Relieves Motion Sickness via the Irβ-Erk1/2-Dependent Insulin Receptor Signalling Pathway
Authors: Tian Dawei , Mo Fengfeng , Cai Xingjian , Miao Zhiyuan , Xiao Feng , Chang Yifang , Wu Lusha , Tang Yuxiao , Wang Xin , Ye Chen , Qian Xiaolu , Gu Wei , Li Min 
Published: February 2018

Objective Acupuncture has been widely used for the treatment of motion sickness (MS), but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. The aim of this research was to study the mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of MS. Methods To observe the effects of acupuncture in the treatment of MS, 80 rats were randomised into five groups that were subjected to acceleration and either remained untreated (CTRL), or received restraint (REST), scopolamine (SCOP) or acupuncture at SP4 (sham) or PC6+ST36 (verum) acupuncture points. To study the mechanism underlying the effects of acupuncture in the treatment of MS, 48 rats were randomised into three groups: acupuncture+extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) 1/2 inhibitor (ERKinh), acupuncture+insulin receptor (IR) antagonist (IRant), and acupuncture+vehicle (VEH). After acceleration, the MS index (MSI) and spontaneous activity (SA) of the rats were recorded. Serum stress hormones, Fos-positive cells, c-fos mRNA in the vestibular nucleus, and IRβ-, p-IRβ-, ERK1/2- and p-ERK1/2-positive cells in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve (DMV) were detected. Results After acceleration, MS symptoms in the PC6+ST36 and SCOP groups were reduced compared with the CTRL, REST, and SP4 groups. The number of p-IRβ- and p-ERK1/2-positive cells and insulin levels were higher in the PC6+ST36 group than in the CTRL, REST, and SP4 groups. After ERK1/2 inhibitor and IR antagonist treatment, MS symptoms in the VEH group were lower than in the ERKinh and IRant groups. Conclusions Our study demonstrates that acupuncture significantly alleviates MS through the IRβ-ERK1/2-dependent insulin receptor signalling pathway in the DMV
Evaluation of galectin-1 and galectin-3 as prospective biomarkers in keratoconus
Authors: Andrade Frans Eberth Costa , Covre Joyce Luciana , Ramos Lisandra , Hazarbassanov Rossen Mihaylov , Santos Myrna Serapião dos , Campos Mauro , Gomes José Álvaro Pereira , Gil Cristiane Damas 
Published: February 2018

AimsTo evaluate the expression of β-galactoside-binding proteins galectin (Gal)-1 and Gal-3 in patients with keratoconus (KC) and postcorneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) treatment in vitro.MethodsTear fluid, cornea samples and conjunctival impression cytology specimens from control and KC patients were used to evaluate Gal-1 and Gal-3 expressions. Primary keratocytes were isolated by collagenase digestion from surgically removed corneas of five normal or KC human corneal buttons and cultured in Dulbecco’s modified eagle medium/Ham’s F12 medium supplemented with 2% fetal bovine serum. These cells were evaluated under two experimental conditions: control and submitted to the application of ultraviolet A light and riboflavin 0.1% (CXL) for 30 min.ResultsPatients with KC displayed increased levels of Gal-1 and Gal-3 in conjunctival epithelial cells compared with control. Furthermore, KC corneas were associated with intense expression of Gal-1 in the stroma, released by keratocytes. Ultrastructural analysis of keratocytes showed a marked increase of endogenous Gal-3 levels, but not Gal-1, in KC. In vitro, CXL induced significant release of Gal-1 in keratocyte supernatants (116±18 ng/mL, P<0.05) and decreased inflammatory biomarkers as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. Gal-3 levels were not detected in the keratocyte supernatants.ConclusionGal-1 and Gal-3 represent new interesting KC biomarkers as revealed by their different expression patterns in KC and control corneal samples. CXL has an immunosuppressive effect on keratocytes by reducing the release of cytokines and MMPs and increased expression of anti-inflammatory protein Gal-1.
Blindness, low vision and cataract surgery outcome among adults in Hohhot of Inner Mongolia: a Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) study
Authors: Zhang Guisen , Tham Yih-Chung , Gong Hui , Ren Fengmei , Morige Jilitu , Dai Wei , Cheng Ching-Yu , Zhang Han , Liu Lei 
Published: February 2018

BackgroundTo determine the prevalence and causes of visual impairment (VI), and to describe the characteristics of cataract surgery coverage and related barriers among adults aged ≥50 years residing in Hohhot, Inner Mongolia.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional study was performed. Presenting visual acuity (PVA) was measured using the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) methodology. All VI cases were defined using the WHO definition, based on the PVA of the better-seeing eye. Details on history of cataract surgery and barriers to cataract surgery were also obtained using a standardised questionnaire.ResultsOf 4500 eligible individuals, 3985 (88.6% response rate) were examined. The age-standardised prevalence of moderate VI (PVA <6/18 to ≥6/60) was 5.4% (95% CI 4.6% to 6.3%), and severe VI (PVA <6/60 to ≥3/60) was 0.9% (95% CI 0.6% to 1.3%). The age-standardised prevalence of blindness (PVA <3/60) was 1.2% (95% CI 0.8% to 1.6%). Uncorrected refractive error (40.1%) and cataract (37.9%) were the leading causes of overall VI. Cataract (34.9%) was the leading cause of blindness. Among individuals with blindness, cataract surgical coverage was 80.7%. Among individuals with blindness due to cataract, the main barriers to cataract surgery were lack of awareness (38.1%).ConclusionsThe age-standardised prevalence rate of blindness in Hohhot was lower compared with other RAAB studies in China. Cataract was the leading cause of blindness. These findings provide useful information for the planning of public healthcare services in Inner Mongolia.
Peer influence as a driver of technological innovation in the UK National Health Service: a qualitative study of clinicians’ experiences and attitudes
Authors: Greszczuk Claire , Mughal Faraz , Mathew Rammya , Rashid Ahmed 
Published: February 2018

BackgroundAccelerating innovation to improve quality is a key policy target for healthcare systems around the world. Effectively influencing individuals’ behaviour is crucial to the success of innovation initiatives. This study explores UK clinicians’ lived experiences of, and attitudes towards, clinical peers endorsing healthcare innovations.MethodsQualitative interviews with UK-based clinicians in one of two groups: (1) clinicians working in ‘front-line’ service provision and (2) clinicians in strategic leadership roles within health institutions. Participants were identified through purposive sampling, and participated in semistructured telephone interviews. Thematic analysis was used to identify and analyse themes in the data.Results17 participants were recruited: eight clinicians from front-line UK healthcare settings and nine clinicians in leadership roles. Two major themes were identified from the interviews: power and trust. Participants recognised and valued peers’ powerful influence, exerted in person via social networks and routine work-related activities. Peers were implicitly trusted, although often on condition of their credibility and deservingness of respect, supporting evidence and absence of conflict of interest. While the groups shared similar views, they diverged on the subject of institutions, felt to be powerful by strategic leaders yet scarcely mentioned by front-line clinicians.ConclusionsUK clinicians view peers as a powerful and trustworthy source to promote innovative technologies. Policies that aim to support this process should seek to control the wider conditions that nurture peer-to-peer influence. Further research into interpersonal influence in health settings may improve implementation of change initiatives.
Impacts of an opioid overdose prevention intervention delivered subsequent to acute care
Authors: Banta-Green Caleb J , Coffin Phillip O , Merrill Joseph O , Sears Jeanne M , Dunn Chris , Floyd Anthony S , Whiteside Lauren K , Yanez Norbert D , Donovan Dennis M 
Published: February 2018

BackgroundOpioid overdose is a major and increasing cause of injury and death. There is an urgent need for interventions to reduce overdose events among high-risk persons.MethodsAdults at elevated risk for opioid overdose involving heroin or pharmaceutical opioids who had been cared for in an emergency department (ED) were randomised to overdose education combined with a brief behavioural intervention and take-home naloxone or usual care. Outcomes included: (1) time to first opioid overdose-related event resulting in medical attention or death using competing risks survival analysis; and (2) ED visit and hospitalisation rates, using negative binomial regression and adjusting for time at risk.ResultsDuring the follow-up period, 24% of the 241 participants had at least one overdose event, 85% had one or more ED visits and 55% had at least one hospitalisation, with no significant differences between intervention and comparison groups. The instantaneous risk of an overdose event was not significantly lower for the intervention group (sub-HR: 0.83; 95% CI 0.49 to 1.40).DiscussionThese null findings may be due in part to the severity of the population in terms of housing insecurity (70% impermanently housed), drug use, unemployment and acute healthcare issues. Given the high overdose and healthcare utilisation rates, more intensive interventions, such as direct referral and provision of housing and opioid agonist treatment medications, may be necessary to have a substantial impact on opioid overdoses for this high-acuity population in acute care settings.Trial registration numberNCT0178830; Results.
Teenage pregnancy and mental health beyond the postpartum period: a systematic review
Authors: Xavier Chloé , Benoit Anita , Brown Hilary K 
Published: February 2018

BackgroundTeenage mothers are at increased risk for adverse social outcomes and short-term health problems, but long-term impacts on mental health are poorly understood. The aims of our systematic review were to determine the association between teenage pregnancy and mental health beyond the postpartum period, critically appraise the literature’s quality and guide future research.MethodsWe systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science from inception to June 2017 for peer-reviewed articles written in English or French. Data were collected using a modified Cochrane Data Extraction Form. Study quality was assessed using the Effective Public Health Practice Project critical appraisal tool. Heterogeneity of studies permitted only a qualitative synthesis.ResultsNine quantitative studies comprising the results from analyses of 11 cohorts met our criteria and were rated as strong (n=5), moderate (n=2) or weak (n=2). Three cohorts found a statistically significant association between teenage pregnancy and poor long-term mental health after adjustment, three found a statistically significant association before but not after adjustment and five did not find a statistically significant association. Studies observed varying degrees of attenuation after considering social context. Studies with statistically significant findings tended to comprise earlier cohorts, with outcomes measured at older ages.ConclusionsThe association between teenage pregnancy and mental health beyond the postpartum period remains unclear. Future studies should employ age–period–cohort frameworks to disentangle effects of normative patterns and stress accumulation. Social factors are important in determining long-term mental health of teenage mothers and should be prioritised in prevention and intervention strategies.
Cervical ICA pseudo-occlusion on single phase CTA in patients with acute terminal ICA occlusion: what is the mechanism and can delayed CTA aid diagnosis?
Authors: Wareham James , Crossley Robert , Barr Sarah , Mortimer Alex 
Published: February 2018

BackgroundSingle-phase CT angiography (CTA) forms the basis of hyperacute stroke imaging but many patients with terminal internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion exhibit a pseudo-occlusion of the cervical ICA whereby a column of unopacified blood mimics a tandem cervical ICA lesion. We aimed to investigate the utility of a delayed phase acquisition to aid identification of a pseudo-occlusion and investigated the mechanism for this imaging artefact.MethodsThirteen patients with a pseudo-occlusion were compared with 13 patients without. CT, CTA, and digital subtraction angiographic images were reviewed by two interventional neuroradiologists for extension of thrombus into the ophthalmic segment, filling of the posterior communicating artery and ophthalmic artery, and for extension of contrast beyond the cervical segment and outline of the proximal clot surface by contrast on delayed imaging performed at 40 or 80 s.ResultsThose with a pseudo-occlusion demonstrated more frequent thrombus extension into the ophthalmic segment (100% vs 23%, P=0.0001), less frequent filling of the posterior communicating artery (15% vs 85%, P=0.0012), and less frequent filling of the ophthalmic artery (15% vs 92%, P=0.0002) compared with those without a pseudo-occlusion. Delayed CTA imaging showed contrast beyond the cervical segment and meeting the proximal clot face in 2/11 patients. Each of these two patients showed patency of the posterior communicating artery origin.ConclusionThrombus extension into the ophthalmic segment and patency of the posterior communicating artery and ophthalmic artery seem to govern whether a patient with a terminal ICA occlusion exhibits a pseudo-occlusion. Delayed imaging was of limited value in identification of a pseudo-occlusion.