bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Stimulation of PgdA‐dependent peptidoglycan N‐deacetylation by GpsB‐PBP A1 in Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Rismondo Jeanine , Wamp Sabrina , Aldridge Christine , Vollmer Waldemar , Halbedel Sven 
Published: December 2017

SummaryListeria monocytogenes and other pathogenic bacteria modify their peptidoglycan to protect it against enzymatic attack through the host innate immune system, such as the cell wall hydrolase lysozyme. During our studies on GpsB, a late cell division protein that controls activity of the bi‐functional penicillin binding protein PBP A1, we discovered that GpsB influences lysozyme resistance of L. monocytogenes as mutant strains lacking gpsB showed an increased lysozyme resistance. Deletion of pbpA1 corrected this effect, demonstrating that PBP A1 is also involved in this. Susceptibility to lysozyme mainly depends on two peptidoglycan modifying enzymes: The peptidoglycan N‐deacetylase PgdA and the peptidoglycan O‐acetyltransferase OatA. Genetic and biochemical experiments consistently demonstrated that the increased lysozyme resistance of the ΔgpsB mutant was PgdA‐dependent and OatA‐independent. Protein‐protein interaction studies supported the idea that GpsB, PBP A1 and PgdA form a complex in L. monocytogenes and identified the regions in PBP A1 and PgdA required for complex formation. These results establish a physiological connection between GpsB, PBP A1 and the peptidoglycan modifying enzyme PgdA. To our knowledge, this is the first reported link between a GpsB‐like cell division protein and factors important for escape from the host immune system.
Multiple neuronal pathologies are common in young patients with pathologically proven Frontotemporal lobar degeneration
Authors: Tan R. H. , Yang Y. , Halliday G. M. 
Published: December 2017

AimsThe past decade has seen a surge in studies identifying mixed pathologies in elderly populations. Importantly however, few studies have focussed on mixed pathology in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD), particularly in younger cases.MethodsThe present study examined concomitant pathological neuronal inclusions of TDP‐43, hyperphosphorylated tau and α‐synuclein protein in the anterior cingulate, hippocampus and entorhinal cortex in young (≤65 years at death) vs. elderly (≥80 years at death) cases with pathologically confirmed FTLD (n = 52) or Alzheimer's disease (AD) (n = 47).ResultsOur results demonstrate the presence of additional neuronal pathologies not associated with the primary pathological diagnosis in a similar proportion of young and elderly FTLD cases, indicating that disease drivers rather than age are the major risk factors for multiple neuronal pathologies in FTLD. When only sporadic FTLD cases were considered, the proportion of cases with multiple neuronal pathologies across FTLD age cohorts remained similar, indicating that multiple neuronal pathologies in young FTLD cases is not driven by known genetic mutations. In contrast to these findings in FTLD, a significantly greater proportion of elderly compared to young AD cases demonstrated multiple neuronal pathologies, corroborating literature.ConclusionsIn summary, the present study reports for the first time that age is not a major risk factor for multiple neuronal pathologies in FTLD. These findings have significant implications for the development of protein‐specific biomarkers and treatments for FTLD, and underscore the need for further research to identify the disease factors involved in driving multiple neuronal pathologies in FTLD.
P16 positivity and regression grade predict survival after neoadjuvant radiotherapy of OSCC
Authors: Eder‐Czembirek C , Sulzbacher I , Fuereder T , Selzer E 
Published: December 2017

ObjectivesSurvival after preoperative radiotherapy in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer is associated with pathological response. The prognostic importance of p16 expression in these patients has not been established yet.Materials and methodsNinety‐seven patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, treated preoperatively with radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy or cetuximab, were included in this retrospective analysis. Survival rates were estimated by the Kaplan–Meyer method. Pathological response was evaluated by histological analysis and p16 expression by immunohistochemistry.ResultsOverall survival after 2 years was 66% for the entire group, 92% in the p16‐positive and 62% in the p16‐negative group, respectively. 12.4% of the tumours were p16‐positive. P16 expression (HR 6.98, p = .05) and regression grade (HR 2.94, p = .001) had a statistically significant impact on prognosis. 83.3% of p16‐expressing tumours were pathological responders. All p16‐positive patients with pathological response were alive within the observation period.ConclusionP16 expression is associated with prognosis in preoperatively irradiated OSCC patients. The association between p16 positivity, regression grade and improved survival provides a rationale for de‐intensification strategies in patients with head and neck cancer who respond well to neoadjuvant therapy, a concept that is being tested in prospective clinical trials.
Three‐dimensional ultrastructure of chloroplast pockets formed under salinity stress
Authors: Yamane Koji , Oi Takao , Enomoto Sakiko , Nakao Tomoyo , Arai Shigeo , Miyake Hiroshi , Taniguchi Mitsutaka 
Published: December 2017

AbstractWe investigated the invagination structure of a chloroplast that surrounds organelles such as mitochondria and peroxisomes within a thin layer of chloroplast stroma, which is called a chloroplast pocket. In this study, chloroplast pockets were observed in rice plants subjected to salinity stress but not under moderate growth condition. They included cytosol, transparent structure, lipid bodies, mitochondria, and peroxisomes. We constructed the three‐dimensional architecture of chloroplast pockets by using serial images obtained by transmission electron microscopy and focused ion beam‐scanning electron microscopy. Three types of chloroplast pockets were observed by transmission electron microscopy: Organelles were completely enclosed in a chloroplast pocket (enclosed type), a chloroplast pocket with a small gap in the middle part (gap type), and a chloroplast pocket with one side open (open type). Of the 70 pockets observed by serial imaging, 35 were enclosed type, and 21 and 14 were gap and open types, respectively. Mitochondria and peroxisomes were often in contact with the chloroplast pockets. Focused ion beam‐scanning electron microscopy revealed chloroplasts with a sheet structure partially surrounding peroxisomes. This fact suggests that chloroplasts might construct large sheet structures that would be related to the formation of chloroplast pockets.
Bayesian Small Area Estimation for Skewed Business Survey Variables
Authors: Fabrizi Enrico , Ferrante Maria Rosaria , Trivisano Carlo 
Published: December 2017

SummaryIn business surveys, estimates of means and totals for subnational regions, industries and business classes can be too imprecise because of the small sample sizes that are available for subpopulations. We propose a small area technique for the estimation of totals for skewed target variables, which are typical of business data. We adopt a Bayesian approach to inference. We specify a prior distribution for the random effects based on the idea of local shrinkage, which is suitable when auxiliary variables with strong predictive power are available: another feature that is often displayed by business survey data. This flexible modelling of random effects leads to predictions in agreement with those based on global shrinkage for most of the areas, but enables us to obtain less shrunken and thereby less biased estimates for areas characterized by large model residuals. We discuss an application based on data from the Italian survey on small and medium enterprises. By means of a simulation exercise, we explore the frequentist properties of the estimators proposed. They are good, and differently from methods based on global shrinkage remain so also for areas characterized by large model residuals.
Majorizing Sequences for Nonlinear Fredholm–Hammerstein Integral Equations
Authors: Ezquerro José A. , Hernández‐Verón Miguel A. 
Published: December 2017

AbstractWe use the method of majorizing sequences to study the applicability of Newton's method to solve nonlinear Fredholm–Hammerstein integral equations. For this, we use center convergence conditions on points different from the starting point of Newton's method, which is the point usually used by other authors until now when center conditions are required. In addition, the theoretical significance of the method is used to draw conclusions about the existence and uniqueness of solutions and about the region in which they are located. As a result, we modify the domain of starting points for Newton's method.
Understanding Sexual Minority Health Disparities in Rural Areas
Authors: Woodell Brandi 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis article reviews research from several disciplines including sociology, psychology, and public health to examine recent inconsistencies in findings of rural/urban health disparities among sexual minority populations. Previous work has found that sexual minorities (lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals) report worse health than their heterosexual counterparts on many physical and mental health measures. To understand this occurrence, scholars have situated these findings most often within either minority stress or fundamental cause frameworks. These theories attribute health differences to unique stressors and stigmatization experienced by sexual minorities within a heteronormative social climate. This review provides an overview of specific health disparities by gender and sexual orientation, critically examines research on rural/urban health differences among sexual minorities, and offers three avenues for future research to help remedy the inconsistent results of previous rural/urban sexual minority health disparities research. Discussions of the ‘rural effect,’ rural social support resources, and the importance of geographic region for health are included as opportunities to further social scientific research on sexual minority health disparities.
Political Organizations and their Online Communication
Authors: Donges Patrick , Nitschke Paula 
Published: December 2017

AbstractThis paper raises the question of the possible impact of online communication on political organizations in a very fundamental way. It follows the assumption that it is necessary to first clarify the relationship between political organizations and their communication before researching the possible impacts of online communication. Therefore, this paper discusses decisions, communication, and intermediation as the essence of any political organization. It presents a heuristic framework that differentiates the interrelation of organizations and communication in five perspectives: organizations as constituted by communication, as communicators, as structures or spheres wherein communication takes place, as topics of communication, and as indicators of change in communication. Each perspective is rooted in organizational sociology and may be applied to questions of political organizations and their online communication. Therefore, the distinction of these perspectives enriches the debate and serves as a useful tool to sort the arguments and research questions.
Perception of Human Interaction Based on Motion Trajectories: From Aerial Videos to Decontextualized Animations
Authors: Shu Tianmin , Peng Yujia , Fan Lifeng , Lu Hongjing , Zhu Song‐Chun 
Published: December 2017

AbstractPeople are adept at perceiving interactions from movements of simple shapes, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Previous studies have often used object movements defined by experimenters. The present study used aerial videos recorded by drones in a real‐life environment to generate decontextualized motion stimuli. Motion trajectories of displayed elements were the only visual input. We measured human judgments of interactiveness between two moving elements and the dynamic change in such judgments over time. A hierarchical model was developed to account for human performance in this task. The model represents interactivity using latent variables and learns the distribution of critical movement features that signal potential interactivity. The model provides a good fit to human judgments and can also be generalized to the original Heider–Simmel animations (1944). The model can also synthesize decontextualized animations with a controlled degree of interactiveness, providing a viable tool for studying animacy and social perception.
A DEL phenotype attributed to RHD Exon 9 sequence deletion: slipped‐strand mispairing and blood group polymorphisms
Authors: Lopez Genghis H. , Turner Robyn M. , McGowan Eunike C. , Schoeman Elizna M. , Scott Stacy A. , O'Brien Helen , Millard Glenda M. , Roulis Eileen V. , Allen Amanda J. , Liew Yew‐Wah , Flower Robert L. , Hyland Catherine A. 
Published: December 2017

BACKGROUNDThe RhD blood group antigen is extremely polymorphic and the DEL phenotype represents one such class of polymorphisms. The DEL phenotype prevalent in East Asian populations arises from a synonymous substitution defined as RHD*1227A. However, initially, based on genomic and cDNA studies, the genetic basis for a DEL phenotype in Taiwan was attributed to a deletion of RHD Exon 9 that was never verified at the genomic level by any other independent group. Here we investigate the genetic basis for a Caucasian donor with a DEL partial D phenotype and compare the genomic findings to those initial molecular studies.STUDY DESIGN AND METHODSThe 3′‐region of the RHD gene was amplified by long‐range polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for massively parallel sequencing. Primers were designed to encompass a deletion, flanking Exon 9, by standard PCR for Sanger sequencing. Targeted sequencing of exons and flanking introns was also performed.RESULTSGenomic DNA exhibited a 1012‐bp deletion spanning from Intron 8, across Exon 9 into Intron 9. The deletion breakpoints occurred between two 25‐bp repeat motifs flanking Exon 9 such that one repeat sequence remained.CONCLUSIONDeletion mutations bordered by repeat sequences are a hallmark of slipped‐strand mispairing (SSM) event. We propose this genetic mechanism generated the germline deletion in the Caucasian donor. Extensive studies show that the RHD*1227A is the most prevalent DEL allele in East Asian populations and may have confounded the initial molecular studies. Review of the literature revealed that the SSM model explains some of the extreme polymorphisms observed in the clinically significant RhD blood group antigen.
Self‐inspection and classification of non‐compliances
Authors: Qiu Y. , Vuk T. , Bust L. , Strengers P. , Seidl C. 
Published: December 2017

Background and ObjectivesSelf‐inspection is a key part of the blood establishment quality management system and the base of different types of assessments. Self‐inspection shall identify if there are problems, deficiencies or non‐compliances against the quality policy, standard operating procedures (SOPs), guidelines, standards and regulations.MethodsThe secret to a successful and efficient self‐inspection is to adopt different standards and requirements, develop a sufficient inspection plan and assess the result and corrective and preventive action. Self‐inspections shall verify compliance with the quality principles and policy of the blood establishment. Usually identify the contents of standards/legislation, quality manual, SOPs as self‐inspection criteria. Self‐inspection planning should include the objectives and scope of the inspection, the inspection team including the staff audited, the self‐inspection audit trail. After completion of the self‐inspection, the inspection report should include an action plan for non‐compliances, measurements for improvement.ResultsAccording to the severity, noncompliances should by classified into categories. Commonly used are as follows: critical, major, minor non‐compliance and observation. Following risk assessment and the implementation of new preventive measurements, a new inspection may be needed and scheduled.ConclusionIn conclusion, self‐inspection is part of a learning process, they should recognize the efforts given by the staff, will help to correct noncompliances effectively, and evaluate the facility's quality and operational systems to determine whether the service they provide is appropriate and in control.
Characteristics and processes of clinical reasoning in nurses and factors related to its use: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Griffits Susan , Hines Sonia , Moloney Clint , Ralph Nicholas 
Published: December 2017

Review question/objective:
: The objectives of the scoping review are to:1. Examine the characteristics and processes of clinical reasoning as used by registered nurses in clinical practice.2. Identify factors reported to relate to clinical reasoning use by registered nurses in clinical practice.
Risk-Informed In-Service Testing Programs
Authors: Scott Bradley J. 
Published: December 2017

This paper will review three options for applying risk insights to the In-service Testing (IST) Program for pumps and valves. Current regulatory framework allows for risk-informing pump and valve testing through the implementation of 10CFR50.69 or by submittal to the NRC per 10CFR50.55a for risk-informed testing in accordance with the OM Code; either using Code Case OMN-3 and the risk-related Code Cases or Subsection ISTE. This paper will offer a third option which involves the combination of the first two options. Each of these IST risk-informed program options will be explored by presenting a general discussion of each option’s risk ranking process and anticipated risk ranking results. The risk ranking review will be followed by a discussion of the implementation processes and finally a look at plant impacts and potential benefits for each option.
IST program scope and testing requirements will be identified for each of these risk-informed program options. References for the implementation processes will be provided and used for the basis of this discussion. The intent of this paper is not to provide a “how to” for each of these options, but rather to provide information to the reader to allow further detailed review of each option. It is expected that through further investigation of these options and discussions with plant management each site may find the option/process that best suits their regulatory and plant safety culture.
Paper published with permission.
Insights from Australians with respiratory disease living in the community with experience of self-managing through an emergency department ‘near miss’ for breathlessness: a strengths-based qualitative study
Authors: Luckett Tim , Phillips Jane , Johnson Miriam , Garcia Maja , Bhattarai Priyanka , Carrieri-Kohlman Virginia , Hutchinson Anne , Disler Rebecca T , Currow David , Agar Meera , Ivynian Serra , Chye Richard , Newton Phillip J , Davidson Patricia M 
Published: December 2017

ObjectivesBreathlessness ‘crises’ in people with chronic respiratory conditions are a common precipitant for emergency department (ED) presentations, many of which might be avoided through improved self-management and support. This study sought insights from people with experience of ED ‘near misses’ where they considered going to the ED but successfully self-managed instead.Design and methodsA qualitative approach was used with a phenomenological orientation. Participants were eligible if they reported breathlessness on most days from a diagnosed respiratory condition and experience of ≥1 ED near miss. Recruitment was through respiratory support groups and pulmonary rehabilitation clinics. Semistructured interviews were conducted with each participant via telephone or face-to-face. Questions focused on ED-related decision-making, information finding, breathlessness management and support. This analysis used an integrative approach and independent coding by two researchers. Lazarus and Cohen’s Transactional Model of Stress and Coping informed interpretive themes.ResultsInterviews were conducted with 20 participants, 15 of whom had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Nineteen interviews were conducted via telephone. Analysis identified important factors in avoiding ED presentation to include perceived control over breathlessness, self-efficacy in coping with a crisis and desire not to be hospitalised. Effective coping strategies included: taking a project management approach that involved goal setting, monitoring and risk management; managing the affective dimension of breathlessness separately from the sensory perceptual and building three-way partnerships with primary care and respiratory services.ConclusionsIn addition to teaching non-pharmacological and pharmacological management of breathlessness, interventions should aim to develop patients’ generic self-management skills. Interventions to improve self-efficacy should ensure this is substantiated by transfer of skills and support, including knowledge about when ED presentation is necessary. Complementary initiatives are needed to improve coordinated, person-centred care. Future research should seek ways to break the cyclical relationship between affective and sensory-perceptual dimensions of breathlessness.
Correlation of impulsivity with self-harm and suicidal attempt: a community study of adolescents in Taiwan
Authors: Huang Yu-Hsin , Liu Hui-Ching , Tsai Fang-Ju , Sun Fang-Ju , Huang Kuo-Yang , Chiu Yu-Ching , Huang Yen-Hsun , Huang Yo-Ping , Liu Shen-Ing 
Published: December 2017

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate differences and similarities in risk factors for deliberate self-harm (DSH) and suicidal attempt (SA), and the role of impulsivity among a group of community adolescents.SettingThis is a cross-sectional study conducted at high schools in Northern Taiwan.Data and participantsWe recruited grade 1 students from 14 high schools. A total of 5879 participants (mean age 16.02 years, female adolescents: 57.7%) completed the online assessment.Outcome measuresParticipants completed online questionnaires about sociodemographic data, suicidality, history of DSH and SA, depressed mood, self-esteem, social support, family discord, impulsivity (Barratt Impulsiveness Scale Version 11 (BIS-11)) and the use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs. A subsample was interviewed about lifetime SA, and the results were compared with those from the online questionnaires.ResultsIn our sample, 25% of the students had lifetime DSH and 3.5% had lifetime SA. Two hundred and seventy-two students received face-to-face interviews. The concordance between the online questionnaires and interviews in terms of ascertaining cases of SA was moderate (concordance rate 82.76%; kappa value 0.59). Similar risk factors for DSH/SA among the whole sample included female gender, lower academic performance, depression, substance use (tobacco and alcohol) and low self-esteem. The BIS-11 score was correlated with DSH. Factor 3 score of the BIS-11 (novelty seeking) was correlated with DSH in both boys and girls, whereas factor 2 score (lack of self-control) was correlated with SA in boys. Social support was a protective factor against SA among the female adolescents. Gender modulated the association of impulsivity and DSH/SA. Associations between impulsivity and DSH and SA were particularly strong among boys.ConclusionsRisk factors for DSH and SA were similar, but not identical. Early identification of those at risk and appropriate interventions may be helpful.