bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lack of correlation between pollen aperture number and environmental factors in pansies (Viola L., sect. Melanium Ging.) – pollen heteromorphism re‐examined
Authors: Słomka A. , Żabicka J. , Shuka L. , Bohdanowicz J. , Kuta E. 
Published: January 2018

Abstract

The development of different pollen morphs by one specimen – pollen heteromorphism – occurs in ca. one‐third species of the genus Viola. Melanium section species (pansies) stand out in producing the widest range of apertures among Viola species. Aperture number decreases with elevation increase, and faster germination of five‐aperturate pollen as compared with three‐aperturate has previously been postulated.

We re‐examined pollen heteromorphism in the context of its viability, and made correlations with elevation (>1500 m a.s.l. versus <1500 m a.s.l.), soil type (metalliferous versus non‐metalliferous; MET versus NMET) and chromosome number based on selected study criteria of ca. 20% karyologically and morphologically strongly differentiated but genetically closely related pansies.

A total of 79% of analysed species were heteromorphic, forming three‐ to six‐colp or ate pollen per individual flower. Mean aperture number and pollen viability were not affected by soil type (MET versus NMET). Mean aperture number was also not influenced by elevation or species chromosome number. Positive correlations were established between aperture number and pollen viability, negative between pollen viability and elevation (increasing altitude of 100 m decreased pollen viability by 0.4%) and lack of correlation between chromosome number and pollen viability.

The varied frequencies of different pollen morphs among species are not under the general pressure of ecological conditions, as previously postulated for the species of Melanium section. Rather, this trait in pansies, similar to other floral characters (e.g. long, curved nectar spur, ‘landing platform’, posterior petals with nectar guides), is adaptive but dependent on the breeding system (inbreeding versus outbreeding) of the individual species.
Floral contrivances and specialised pollination mechanism strongly influence mixed mating in Wrightia tomentosa (Apocynaceae)
Authors: Barman C. , Singh V. K. , Das S. , Tandon R. 
Published: January 2018

Abstract

Reproductive success of a plant species is largely influenced by the outcome of mating pattern in a population. It is believed that a significantly larger proportion of animal‐pollinated plants have evolved a mixed‐mating strategy, the extent of which may vary among species. It is thus pertinent to investigate the key contributors to mating success, especially to identify the reproductive constraints in depauperate populations of threatened plant species.

We examined the contribution of floral architecture, pollination mechanism and breeding system on the extent of outcrossing rate in a near‐threatened tree species, Wrightia tomentosa. The breeding system was ascertained from controlled pollination experiments. In order to determine outcrossing rate, 60 open‐pollinated progeny were analysed using an AFLP markers.

Although the trees are self‐compatible, herkogamy and compartmentalisation of pollen and nectar in different chambers of the floral tube effectively prevent spontaneous autogamy. Pollination is achieved through specialised interaction with moths. Differential foraging behaviour of settling moths and hawkmoths leads to different proportions of geitonogamous and xenogamous pollen on the stigma. However, most open‐pollinated progeny were the result of xenogamy (outcrossing rate, tm = 0.68).

The study shows that floral contrivances and pollination system have a strong influence on mating pattern. The differential foraging behaviour of the pollinators causes deposition of a mixture of self‐ and cross‐pollen to produce a mixed brood. Inbreeding depression and geitonogamy appear to play a significant role in sustaining mixed mating in this species.
BLAST: Bayesian Latent Subgroup Design for Basket Trials Accounting for Patient Heterogeneity
Authors: Chu Yiyi , Yuan Ying 
Published: January 2018

SummaryThe basket trial refers to a new type of phase II cancer trial that evaluates the therapeutic effect of a targeted agent simultaneously in patients with different types of cancer that involve the same genetic or molecular aberration. Although patients who are enrolled in the basket trial have the same molecular aberration, it is common for the targeted agent to be effective for patients with some types of cancer, but not others. We propose a Bayesian latent subgroup trial (BLAST) design to accommodate such treatment heterogeneity across cancer types. We assume that a cancer type may belong to the sensitive subgroup, which is responsive to the treatment, or the insensitive subgroup, which is not responsive to the treatment. Conditionally on the latent subgroup membership of the cancer type, we jointly model the binary treatment response and the longitudinal biomarker measurement that represents the biological activity of the targeted agent. The BLAST design makes the interim go–no-go treatment decision in a group sequential fashion for each cancer type on the basis of accumulating data. The simulation study shows that the BLAST design outperforms existing trial designs. It yields high power to detect the treatment effect for sensitive cancer types that are responsive to the treatment and maintains a reasonable type I error rate for insensitive cancer types that are not responsive to the treatment.
Sharing innovations to enhance renal fellow education in dialysis
Authors: Maursetter Laura J. , Prince Lisa K. , Yuan Christina M. , Simon James F. 
Published: January 2018

AbstractDialysis care is an integral part of the practice of nephrology. Despite this, education of fellows in providing dialysis often remains rudimentary, relying on a combination of didactics and learning through experience. This runs the risk of training nephrologists who can provide dialysis care without truly being experts on the subject. In this article, a collection of novel or innovative teaching methods is presented that are meant to provide training programs with additional tools with which to improve the training of their fellows in dialysis.
Identification of Hsp90 Inhibitors with Anti-Plasmodium Activity
Authors: Posfai Dora , Eubanks Amber L. , Keim Allison I. , Lu Kuan-Yi , Wang Grace Z. , Hughes Philip F. , Kato Nobutaka , Haystead Timothy A. , Derbyshire Emily R. 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

Malaria remains a global health burden partly due to
Plasmodium
parasite resistance to first-line therapeutics. The molecular chaperone heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) has emerged as an essential protein for blood-stage
Plasmodium
parasites, but details about its function during malaria's elusive liver stage are unclear. We used target-based screens to identify compounds that bind to
Plasmodium falciparum
and human Hsp90, which revealed insights into chemotypes with species-selective binding. Using cell-based malaria assays, we demonstrate that all identified Hsp90-binding compounds are liver- and blood-stage
Plasmodium
inhibitors. Additionally, the Hsp90 inhibitor SNX-0723 in combination with the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor PIK-75 synergistically reduces the liver-stage parasite load. Time course inhibition studies with the Hsp90 inhibitors and expression analysis support a role for
Plasmodium
Hsp90 in late-liver-stage parasite development. Our results suggest that
Plasmodium
Hsp90 is essential to liver- and blood-stage parasite infections and highlight an attractive route for development of species-selective
Pf
Hsp90 inhibitors that may act synergistically in combination therapies to prevent and treat malaria.
The Human Ureaplasma Species as Causative Agents of Chorioamnionitis
Authors: Sweeney Emma L. , Dando Samantha J. , Kallapur Suhas G. , Knox Christine L. 
Published: January 2018

SUMMARY

The human
Ureaplasma
species are the most frequently isolated microorganisms from the amniotic fluid and placentae of women who deliver preterm and are also associated with spontaneous abortions or miscarriages, neonatal respiratory diseases, and chorioamnionitis. Despite the fact that these microorganisms have been habitually found within placentae of pregnancies with chorioamnionitis, the role of
Ureaplasma
species as a causative agent has not been satisfactorily explained. There is also controversy surrounding their role in disease, particularly as not all women infected with
Ureaplasma
spp. develop chorioamnionitis. In this review, we provide evidence that
Ureaplasma
spp. are associated with diseases of pregnancy and discuss recent findings which demonstrate that
Ureaplasma
spp. are associated with chorioamnionitis, regardless of gestational age at the time of delivery. Here, we also discuss the proposed major virulence factors of
Ureaplasma
spp., with a focus on the multiple-banded antigen (MBA), which may facilitate modulation/alteration of the host immune response and potentially explain why only subpopulations of infected women experience adverse pregnancy outcomes. The information presented within this review confirms that
Ureaplasma
spp. are not simply “innocent bystanders” in disease and highlights that these microorganisms are an often underestimated pathogen of pregnancy.
The Biochemistry of Sensing: Enteric Pathogens Regulate Type III Secretion in Response to Environmental and Host Cues
Authors: De Nisco Nicole J. , Rivera-Cancel Giomar , Orth Kim 
Published: January 2018

ABSTRACT

Enteric pathogens employ sophisticated strategies to colonize and infect mammalian hosts. Gram-negative bacteria, such as
Escherichia coli
,
Salmonella
, and
Campylobacter jejuni
, are among the leading causes of gastrointestinal tract infections worldwide. The virulence strategies of many of these Gram-negative pathogens rely on type III secretion systems (T3SSs), which are macromolecular syringes that translocate bacterial effector proteins directly into the host cytosol. However, synthesis of T3SS proteins comes at a cost to the bacterium in terms of growth rate and fitness, both in the environment and within the host. Therefore, expression of the T3SS must be tightly regulated to occur at the appropriate time and place during infection. Enteric pathogens have thus evolved regulatory mechanisms to control expression of their T3SSs in response to specific environmental and host cues. These regulatory cascades integrate multiple physical and chemical signals through complex transcriptional networks. Although the power of bacterial genetics has allowed elucidation of many of these networks, the biochemical interactions between signal and sensor that initiate the signaling cascade are often poorly understood. Here, we review the physical and chemical signals that Gram-negative enteric pathogens use to regulate T3SS expression during infection. We highlight the recent structural and functional studies that have elucidated the biochemical properties governing both the interaction between sensor and signal and the mechanisms of signal transduction from sensor to downstream transcriptional networks.
SITA-Standard perimetry has better performance than FDT2 matrix perimetry for detecting glaucomatous progression
Authors: Wall Michael , Johnson Chris A , Zamba K D 
Published: January 2018

PurposeThe Humphrey Matrix (FDT2) may be more sensitive in detecting glaucomatous visual field loss than SITA standard automated perimetry (SAP) performed on the Humphrey Field Analyzer (HFA). Therefore, FDT may be a good candidate to determine disease progression in patients with glaucoma. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that automated perimetry using the FDT2 would be equal to, or more effective than, HFA SITA-Standard, in identifying glaucomatous progression.MethodsOne hundred and twenty patients with glaucoma were tested twice at baseline and every 6 months for 4 years with HFA SITA-Standard and FDT2. FDT2 values were standardised to HFA SAP values. We used pointwise linear regression (PLR) over the full data series to identify glaucomatous progression and generated an array of results using three different criteria: (1) three or more clustered test locations progressing, (2) three or more non-clustered test locations progressing and (3) total number of progressing test locations. We compared HFA SAP and FDT2 for the number of locations signalled by the PLR detection algorithm.ResultsRegardless of the criteria, HFA SAP with SITA-Standard testing detected visual field progression at a higher rate than the FDT2 overall (P<0.001).ConclusionHFA SAP identifies glaucomatous visual field progression at a rate at least as high if not higher than FDT2.
ACL and meniscal injuries increase the risk of primary total knee replacement for osteoarthritis: a matched case–control study using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD)
Authors: Khan Tanvir , Alvand Abtin , Prieto-Alhambra Daniel , Culliford David J , Judge Andrew , Jackson William F , Scammell Brigitte E , Arden Nigel K , Price Andrew James 
Published: January 2018

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate whether ACL injury (ACLi) or meniscal injury increases the risk of end-stage osteoarthritis (OA) resulting in total knee replacement (TKR).MethodsA matched case–control study of all TKRs performed in the UK between January 1990 and July 2011 and recorded in the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) was undertaken. The CPRD contains longitudinal data on approximately 3.6 million patients. Two controls were selected for each case of TKR, matched on age, sex and general practitioner location as a proxy for socioeconomic status. Individuals with inflammatory arthritis were excluded. The odds of having TKR for individuals with a CPRD-recorded ACLi were compared with those without ACLi using conditional logistic regression, after adjustment for body mass index, previous knee fracture and meniscal injury. The adjusted odds of TKR in individuals with a recorded meniscal injury compared with those without were calculated.ResultsAfter exclusion of individuals with inflammatory arthritis, there were 49 723 in the case group and 104 353 controls. 153 (0.31%) cases had a history of ACLi compared with 41 (0.04%) controls. The adjusted OR of TKR after ACLi was 6.96 (95% CI 4.73 to 10.31). 4217 (8.48%) individuals in the TKR group had a recorded meniscal injury compared with 669 (0.64%) controls. The adjusted OR of TKR after meniscal injury was 15.24 (95% CI 13.88 to 16.69).ConclusionThis study demonstrates that ACLi is associated with a sevenfold increased odds of TKR resulting from OA. Meniscal injury is associated with a 15-fold increase odds of TKR for OA.
Association between health service utilisation of internal migrant children and parents’ acculturation in Guangdong, China: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Peng Bo-li , Zou Guan-yang , Chen Wen , Lin Yan-wei , Ling Li 
Published: January 2018

ObjectivesTo assess the health service utilisation of internal migrant children in Guangdong, China, and to explore the association between children’s health service utilisation and their parents’ acculturation.DesignCross-sectional survey between April and May 2016.SettingSix society-run schools of Tianhe and Baiyun districts in Guangzhou City of China.ParticipantsWe recruited all students at grade 7 or 8 and one of their parents who resided in Guangzhou over 6 months without permanent registered residence (hukou) in Guangzhou (1161 pairs completed this survey). 258 children were ill within the past 2 weeks or during the last year.Main outcome measuresThe main outcome was self-reported health service utilisation. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to explore the association between children’s unmet needs for outpatient or inpatient service and their parents’ acculturation (categorised into high, middle and low groups).ResultsIn total, 216 children, or 18.6% of the total subjects, were ill within the past 2 weeks and were in need of outpatient service; 94 children, or 8.1% of the total subjects, were in need of inpatient service. Among them, 17.6% and 46.8% of the migrant children had unmet needs for outpatient and inpatient services, respectively. After controlling for enabling resources and predisposing characteristics, migrant children with parents in the middle-acculturation group (adjusted OR=3.17, 95% CIs 1.2 to 8.3, P<0.05) were more likely to have an unmet outpatient need than high-acculturation or low-acculturation groups, although only statistically significant when comparing with the high-acculturation group. Stratified analysis suggested that this association could be moderated by their family economic status.ConclusionsOur study suggested that the association between migrant children’s health service utilisation and their parents’ acculturation was complex and could be moderated by family economic status. Increasing the service utilisation among migrant children requires improving the acculturation and economic status of the parents of internal migrants.
Family-focused practices in addictions: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Kourgiantakis Toula , Ashcroft Rachelle 
Published: January 2018

IntroductionFamilies are significantly impacted by addictions and family involvement in treatment can reduce the harms and can also improve treatment entry, treatment completion and treatment outcomes for the individual coping with an addiction. Although the benefits of family-focused practices in addictions have been documented, services continue to have an individual focus and research on this topic is also limited. The objective of this study is to map the extent, range and nature of evidence available examining family interventions in addictions and identify gaps to guide future research, policy and practice.Methods and analysisThis is a scoping review using the five-stage framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley. We will include published and unpublished empirical studies focusing on any type of family interventions in addiction treatment between 2000 and the present in English or French. A reviewer will search for literature that meets the inclusion criteria through the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Social Services Abstracts. For a comprehensive search, we will also hand-search reference lists, web sites and key journals. Data will be charted and sorted using a thematic analysis approach.Ethics and disseminationThis review will be the first to examine all forms of family-focused practices for both substance use and problem gambling treatment for adults. It will provide information about existing service provisions and gaps in practice. This review can be used to start moving towards the development of best practices for families in addiction treatment. The results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal and at mental health and addiction conferences.
What are the physical and psychological health effects of suicide bereavement on family members? An observational and interview mixed-methods study in Ireland
Authors: Spillane Ailbhe , Matvienko-Sikar Karen , Larkin Celine , Corcoran Paul , Arensman Ella 
Published: January 2018

ObjectivesResearch focussing on the impact of suicide bereavement on family members’ physical and psychological health is scarce. The aim of this study was to examine how family members have been physically and psychologically affected following suicide bereavement. A secondary objective of the study was to describe the needs of family members bereaved by suicide.DesignA mixed-methods study was conducted, using qualitative semistructured interviews and additional quantitative self-report measures of depression, anxiety and stress (DASS-21).SettingConsecutive suicide cases and next-of-kin were identified by examining coroner’s records in Cork City and County, Ireland from October 2014 to May 2016.ParticipantsEighteen family members bereaved by suicide took part in a qualitative interview. They were recruited from the Suicide Support and Information System: A Case-Control Study (SSIS-ACE), where family members bereaved by suicide (n=33) completed structured measures of their well-being.ResultsQualitative findings indicated three superordinate themes in relation to experiences following suicide bereavement: (1) co-occurrence of grief and health reactions; (2) disparity in supports after suicide and (3) reconstructing life after deceased’s suicide. Initial feelings of guilt, blame, shame and anger often manifested in enduring physical, psychological and psychosomatic difficulties. Support needs were diverse and were often related to the availability or absence of informal support by family or friends. Quantitative results indicated that the proportion of respondents above the DASS-21 cut-offs respectively were 24% for depression, 18% for anxiety and 27% for stress.ConclusionsHealthcare professionals’ awareness of the adverse physical and psychosomatic health difficulties experienced by family members bereaved by suicide is essential. Proactively facilitating support for this group could help to reduce the negative health sequelae. The effects of suicide bereavement are wide-ranging, including high levels of stress, depression, anxiety and physical health difficulties.
Now you see me: a pragmatic cohort study comparing first and final radiological diagnoses in the emergency department
Authors: Mattsson Björn , Ertman David , Exadaktylos Aristomenis Konstantinos , Martinolli Luca , Hautz Wolf E 
Published: January 2018

ObjectivesTo (1) compare timely but preliminary and definitive but delayed radiological reports in a large urban level 1 trauma centre, (2) assess the clinical significance of their differences and (3) identify clinical predictors of such differences.Design, setting and participantsWe performed a retrospective record review for all 2914 patients who presented to our university affiliated emergency department (ED) during a 6-week period. In those that underwent radiological imaging, we compared the patients’ discharge letter from the ED to the definitive radiological report. All identified discrepancies were assessed regarding their clinical significance by trained raters, independent and in duplicate. A binary logistic regression was performed to calculate the likelihood of discrepancies based on readily available clinical data.Results1522 patients had radiographic examinations performed. Rater agreement on the clinical significance of identified discrepancies was substantial (kappa=0.86). We found an overall discrepancy rate of 20.35% of which about one-third (7.48% overall) are clinically relevant. A logistic regression identified patients’ age, the imaging modality and the anatomic region under investigation to be predictive of future discrepancies.ConclusionsDiscrepancies between radiological diagnoses in the ED are frequent and readily available clinical factors predict their likelihood. Emergency physicians should reconsider their discharge diagnosis especially in older patients undergoing CT scans of more than one anatomic region.