What do people expect of general anaesthesia?

<span class="paragraphSection">It is universally acknowledged that the public expect general anaesthesia to be an unconscious state.<a href="#aex040-B1" class="reflinks">^1–4</a> While apparently self-evident, knowing whether different conscious states under anaesthesia are acceptable is important for clarification of the research agenda in anaesthesia, that is appropriately focused on patient-centred outcomes. Furthermore understanding patient expectations may be a key way to improve patient satisfaction with anaesthesia. The great success of anaesthesia is validated through low rates of explicit recall of intraoperative events, however it remains unclear whether the public think amnesia of intraoperative events is a sufficient endpoint for anaesthesia. It is unclear whether dreaming ("disconnected consciousness from the environment") or connected consciousness ("consciousness of external stimuli") are acceptable outcomes under general anaesthesia. These questions are made more pertinent by our recent report that 4.6% of patients undergoing intubation under general anaesthesia respond on the isolated forearm technique, implying they have connected consciousness,<a href="#aex040-B5" class="reflinks">⁵</a> with 1.9% reporting connected consciousness with pain. To provide some initial insight into public opinion on this, we conducted a survey posted on our website (<a href="http://ift.tt/2qhMQnw">http://ift.tt/2qSHFHI;), social media (Twitter, Reddit, and Facebook) and distributed electronically. We explored the public's views of states such as disconnected consciousness or dreaming during anaesthesia and intraoperative consciousness with and without amnesia.</span>

http://ift.tt/2qhzyHT

Assessing the pathogenicity of RYR1 variants in malignant hyperthermia

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><strong>Background</strong>. Missense variants in the ryanodine receptor 1 gene (<span style="font-style:italic;">RYR1</span>) are associated with malignant hyperthermia but only a minority of these have met the criteria for use in predictive DNA diagnosis. We examined the utility of a simplified method of segregation analysis and a functional assay for determining the pathogenicity of recurrent <span style="font-style:italic;">RYR1</span> variants associated with malignant hyperthermia.<strong>Methods</strong>. We identified previously uncharacterised <span style="font-style:italic;">RYR1</span> variants found in four or more malignant hyperthermia families and conducted simplified segregation analyses. An efficient cloning and mutagenesis strategy was used to express ryanodine receptor protein containing one of six <span style="font-style:italic;">RYR1</span> variants in HEK293 cells. Caffeine-induced calcium release, measured using a fluorescent calcium indicator, was compared in cells expressing each variant to that in cells expressing wild type ryanodine receptor protein.<strong>Results.</strong> We identified 43 malignant hyperthermia families carrying one of the six <span style="font-style:italic;">RYR1</span> variants. There was segregation of genotype with the malignant hyperthermia susceptibility phenotype in families carrying the p.E3104K and p.D3986E variants, but the number of informative meioses limited the statistical significance of the associations. HEK293 functional assays demonstrated an increased sensitivity of RyR1 channels containing the p.R2336H, p.R2355W, p.E3104K, p.G3990V and p.V4849I compared with wild type, but cells expressing p.D3986E had a similar caffeine sensitivity to cells expressing wild type RyR1.<strong>Conclusions</strong>. Segregation analysis is of limited value in assessing pathogenicity of <span style="font-style:italic;">RYR1</span> variants in malignant hyperthermia. Functional analyses in HEK293 cells provided evidence to support the use of p.R2336H, p.R2355W, p.E3104K, p.G3990V and p.V4849I for diagnostic purposes but not p.D3986E.</span>

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Lights! Oxygen! Action! Hollywood anaesthesia is coming to a theatre near you

<span class="paragraphSection">By the time you are reading this editorial, '<span style="font-style:italic;">La La Land</span>', an Academy Awards contender movie about love, passion, and professional challenges of two Hollywood dreamers, will have nearly swept the Oscars. In the dream world of general anaesthesia, the top la la land award should undoubtedly be bestowed on Gustafsson and colleagues<a href="#aex077-B1" class="reflinks">¹</a> for their publication in the April issue of <span style="font-style:italic;">British Journal of Anaesthesia</span>.</span>

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Individual patient data analysis of tidal volumes used in three large randomized control trials involving patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><strong>Background.</strong> The acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a condition with a high mortality and morbidity. Mechanical ventilation prevents immediate mortality but may further damage patients' lungs. Low tidal volume lung-protective strategies have been shown to increase survival by reducing this iatrogenic damage. Current guidelines recommend tidal volumes of 6–8 ml kg⁻¹ of predicted body weight. We used data from three large randomized controlled trials of treatments for ARDS to determine compliance with these recommendations.<strong>Methods.</strong> We used the tidal volume recorded at randomization for all patients in the OSCAR, HARP-2, and BALTI-2 studies. In addition, we used the ventilation data for control arm patients in OSCAR and all patients in HARP-2 at days 1 and 7 after randomization.<strong>Results.</strong> The three trials enrolled 1660 patients, with tidal volume data available at least at one time point in 1412 patients. Compliance with the 6–8 ml kg⁻¹ recommendation for tidal volume ranged from 20 to 39% of patients across all time points in all three trials.<strong>Conclusion.</strong> Poor compliance with the guidelines for tidal volume in patients with ARDS has been demonstrated before in case series, but not in clinical trials where the patient population is specifically selected against standard ARDS diagnostic criteria and the investigators were encouraged to use low tidal volumes. This study may indicate a need to improve implementation and compliance with protective lung ventilation.</span>

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In this issue

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Can tongue thickness measured by ultrasonography predict difficult tracheal intubation?

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><strong>Background.</strong> Increased tongue thickness is likely to be associated with difficult airways. However, no methods to evaluate tongue thickness were available. Currently, tongue thickness can be measured by ultrasonography. The present study investigated the predictive value of tongue thickness to predict difficult tracheal intubation.<strong>Methods.</strong> Adult patients undergoing tracheal intubation and general anaesthesia were enrolled in the study. Tongue thickness was assessed using submental ultrasonography in the median sagittal plane before anaesthesia. Airway assessments were conducted. Ratios of tongue thickness to thyromental distance were calculated to investigate the potential predictive value of their combination. The primary outcome was difficult tracheal intubation. A multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis were used.<strong>Results.</strong> In total, 2254 patients were analysed. One hundred and forty-two (6.3%) patients experienced difficult laryngoscopy, and 51 (2.3%) patients experienced difficult tracheal intubation. Increased tongue thickness (>6.1 cm) was an independent predictor for difficult tracheal intubation [sensitivity 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60–0.86; specificity 0.72, 95% CI 0.70–0.74]. An area under the curve of 0.78 (95% CI 0.77–0.80) for predicting difficult tracheal intubation was calculated. Increased ratios of tongue thickness to thyromental distance (>0.87) presented a considerable area under the curve (0.86, 95% CI 0.84–0.87), sensitivity (0.84, 95% CI 0.71–0.93), and specificity (0.79, 95% CI 0.77–0.81).<strong>Conclusions.</strong> Tongue thickness measured by ultrasonography and its ratio to thyromental distance present significant capacities to predict difficult tracheal intubation.<strong>Clinical trial registration.</strong> ChiCTR-RCS-14004539.</span>

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Feasibility and efficiency of a preoperative anaemia walk-in clinic: secondary data from a prospective observational trial

<span class="paragraphSection">Editor—Preoperative anaemia is independently associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality.<a href="#aex024-B1" class="reflinks">¹</a> Although haemoglobin (Hb) levels are always measured before major surgery, preoperative anaemia management is not implemented in most hospitals worldwide. Here we report the first steps and pilot clinical effects of implementing a preoperative anaemia clinic to diagnose and treat iron deficiency anaemia (IDA), which continues to be the top ranking cause worldwide,<a href="#aex024-B2" class="reflinks">²</a> to optimise preoperative anaemia and to reduce unnecessary red blood cell (RBC) utilization. This study is embedded in a previously published observational trial demonstrating the beneficial effects of implementing a patient blood management program.<a href="#aex024-B3" class="reflinks">³</a> A defined preoperative patient pathway including screening process, diagnostic algorithms and treatment protocol was developed.<a href="#aex024-B4" class="reflinks">⁴</a> The study protocol was approved by the ethics committee at the University Hospital Frankfurt. Primary endpoints were Hb increase and RBC transfusion rate. For the analysis of the dynamics of Hb levels over time, a complex non-parametric mixed effects model was used considering patients as random effects.<a href="#aex024-B5" class="reflinks">⁵</a> Data are provided as mean (<span style="text-transform:lowercase;font-variant:small-caps;">sem</span>) and median [interquartile range (IQR)]. <span style="font-style:italic;">P</span>-values <0.005 were considered statistically significant.</span>

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The role of microglia in the pathobiology of neuropathic pain development: what do we know?

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Neuropathic pain, a maladaptive and chronic condition that can develop after a lesion or disease affecting the somatosensory system, is characterized by allodynia, hyperalgesia and spontaneous pain, and comorbidities such as sleep deprivation, depression and anxiety. The activation of microglial cells in response to nerve injury has been implicated in the development of neuropathic pain. Mediators such as Neuregulin-1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, <span style="font-style:italic;">The chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2)</span> and fractalkine are released after nerve injury and are involved in the activation of microglial cells. These activated cells in turn release factors that increase the excitation and decrease the inhibition of interneurons. Microglial cells release factors such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) that cause the painful symptoms. It is becoming increasingly apparent that an intricate network of cytokines and cellular signalling mechanisms underpin the complex relationship between microglia and various cell types including neurones, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, mast cells and T-cells. Although the precise mechanism of action of microglial cells in producing neuropathic pain has not been completely elucidated, research into these different activating factors and cytokines is providing further insight into the role of microglial cells in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Further studies also are required to elucidate how "pain" mediators act on neurones and how the interactions between these mediators, or between neurones and glia in the presence of these mediators occur, in order to develop effective therapies for the management of neuropathic pain.</span>

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Determining the probability of a foreign body aspiration from history, symptoms and clinical findings in children

<span class="paragraphSection">Editor—Life-threatening events with an acute airway obstruction require immediate intervention. Nevertheless, most cases of foreign body aspiration (FBA) result in expectoration or dislodgment into a main-stem bronchus, with subsequent normalization of breathing and non-specific respiratory symptoms occurring days or even weeks after the FBA, often not recognized by health care providers<a href="#aex023-B1" class="reflinks">¹</a> or parents.<a href="#aex023-B2" class="reflinks">²</a> Bronchoscopy is a potentially harmful procedure requiring specialist expertise in small children.<a href="#aex023-B3" class="reflinks">³</a> Therefore, simple and reliable identifiers for the probability of actual FBA would be highly desirable.</span>

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Hypoglycaemia after accidental ocular insulin injection

<span class="paragraphSection">Editor—Typically, insulin is administered subcutaneously, intravenously, or intramuscularly. Alternate routes of insulin delivery, including oral, nasal, buccal, sublingual, ocular, rectal, and vaginal, have been described, but have resulted in unreliable effects.<a href="#aex065-B1" class="reflinks">¹</a></span>

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Enhanced recovery after surgery for hip and knee arthroplasty: where is the evidence?

<span class="paragraphSection">Editor—Recently, Soffin and YaDeau<a href="#aex058-B1" class="reflinks">¹</a> published 'a review of the evidence' of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) for total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Although admittedly a narrative review, the review is not up to date, and at several points does not present 'the evidence'. For instance, a lot of space is used on fasting, carbohydrate loading, antimicrobial prophylaxis, and metabolic responses (all of which have no or limited effects on ERAS in these specific procedures). However, the review did not mention the more important recent research on the role of the inflammatory response for recovery<a href="#aex058-B2" class="reflinks">²</a> and its modification by high-dose steroids.<a href="#aex058-B3" class="reflinks">³</a><a href="#aex058-B4" class="reflinks">⁴</a> Also, the statement that epidural analgesia is to be recommended is against the evidence for many years.</span>

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Comparison of bioreactance and echocardiographic non-invasive cardiac output monitoring and myocardial function assessment in primagravida women

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div><strong>Background.</strong> Non-invasive cardiac output monitoring (NICOM) using bioreactance (BRT) in pregnancy is gaining interest but lacks validation. We compared simultaneous cardiac output (CO) measurements obtained using the NICOM^® (BRT-CO) and echocardiography (echo-CO), and assessed the relationship between maternal characteristics and myocardial performance.<strong>Methods.</strong> Paired stroke volume (SV) and CO readings were obtained using NICOM^® and echocardiography, in a group of healthy nulliparous women throughout a 15 min period. Agreement between NICOM^® and echocardiography was assessed using Bland–Altman analysis and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Left ventricular (LV) function was assessed using systolic strain and tissue Doppler velocities (S′, E′, and A′ waves).<strong>Results.</strong> Thirty-five women with a median [interquartile range] age, weight, and gestation of 29 [26–34] yr, 71 [64–79] kg, and 28 [21–29] weeks, respectively, were enrolled. There was good agreement between NICOM^®-measured and echocardiographically measured SV [mean bias 6 ml (limits of agreement −18 to 29); ICC 0.8 (95% confidence interval 0.6–0.9), <span style="font-style:italic;">P</span><0.001] and CO [mean bias 0.2 litres (limits of agreement −1.3–1.7); ICC 0.8 (95% confidence interval 0.7–0.9), <span style="font-style:italic;">P</span><0.001; mean percentage error ±26%; coefficient of error (precision)=3.4%]. The mean (<span style="text-transform:lowercase;font-variant:small-caps;">sd</span>) LV S′ was 9.7 (2.3) cm s⁻¹. The mean (<span style="text-transform:lowercase;font-variant:small-caps;">sd</span>) LV strain was −18.6 (2.6)%. There was a negative relationship between BMI and LV diastolic function measured using the E′:A′ ratio (<span style="font-style:italic;">r</span> = −0.51, <span style="font-style:italic;">P</span><0.01).<strong>Conclusions.</strong> Stroke volume and CO measurements obtained using NICOM^® were comparable to those obtained using echocardiography, with acceptable limits of agreement. Increased maternal BMI negatively impacts LV diastolic function measured using tissue Doppler imaging.</span>

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Issue Information

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Interactive effects of gallic/ferulic/caffeic acids and anthocyanins on pigment thermal stabilities

Publication date: June 2017
Source:Data in Brief, Volume 12
Author(s): Bing-Jun Qian, Jian-Hua Liu, Shu-Juan Zhao, Jian-Xiong Cai, Pu Jing
The data presented in this article are related to the research article entitled "The effects of gallic/ferulic/caffeic acids on colour intensification and anthocyanin stability" (Qian et al., 2017) [1]. This paper described preparation and isolation of anthocyanins from purple sweet potatoes (PSP) and the time-course of anthocyanin profiles treated with gallic, ferulic, or caffeic acids at 95°C. The color appearance of PSPanthocyanins alone, or with gallic, ferulic, or caffeic acids was described after the 15h of thermal treatment. The high resolution mass spectrographs of PSP anthocyanins were determined using UPLC-ESI-HRMS. The spatial interaction of peonidin 3-O-(2-O-β-D-glucopyranocyl-β-D-glucopyranoide)-5-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and gallic/ferulic/caffeic acids was illustrated by molecular dynamic simulation.



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Non-Melanoma Skin Cancers of the Fronto-Temporal Area Preferentially Localize in the Proximity of Arterial Blood Vessels

Background: Squamous cell carcinomas and basal cell carcinomas are both induced by chronic UV exposure. However, their predilection for specific areas of the face remains unexplained. Regional factors such as arterial blood flow may explain specific tumor localization. Objective: To determine whether in the fronto-temporal area of the face there is a preferential localization of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) at sites of arterial blood vessels. Methods: Twenty-two patients with NMSC of the fronto-temporal area were selected for this study. The clinical tumor margins were demarked based on clinical examination. Arterial colocalization was determined using both sonography and histological analysis. Results: Echo-Doppler analysis revealed the colocalization of NMSC with an arterial branch in 59% of the patients. Histologically, colocalization between NMSC and artery was found in 68% of the patients. When combining echo-Doppler and histological results, colocalization of NMSC and arteries were found in 82% of the patients. Conclusion: In this study, we found an unexpectedly high colocalization of NMSC with arterial branches in the fronto-temporal area of the face. These results suggest that in addition to UV exposure, pulsatile arterial blood flow may represent an additional factor determining the precise facial localization of NMSC.
Dermatology

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Dermoscopy of Subungual Exostosis: A Retrospective Study of 10 Patients

Introduction: Subungual exostosis (SE), the most common nail tumor of young adults, is a benign bony proliferation of the distal phalanx occurring beneath the nail. Misdiagnosis or late diagnosis frequently occurs and no dermoscopy features of this tumor were previously outlined. Material and Methods: To describe the dermoscopic appearance of SE, 10 patients with radiologically and histologically confirmed SE were retrospectively retrieved from our tertiary referral centers. Data regarding age, gender, time to diagnosis, clinical presentation, dermoscopic features, involved nail and history of trauma were recorded for each patient. Results: In our patients, clinical findings were similar to previous reports. Among the dermoscopic features, vascular ectasia was the most common finding (70%), followed by hyperkeratosis (60%), onycholysis (40%), and ulceration (30%). Conclusion: Dermoscopy could be a useful technique aimed at creating diagnostic suspicion of this benign nail condition, although X-ray examination and histopathology are mandatory for the diagnosis.
Dermatology

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Towards rebuilding vaginal support utilizing an extracellular matrix bioscaffold

Publication date: Available online 6 May 2017
Source:Acta Biomaterialia
Author(s): Rui Liang, Katrina Knight, Deanna Easley, Stacy Palcsey, Steven Abramowitch, Pamela A. Moalli
As an alternative to polypropylene mesh, we explored an extracellular matrix (ECM) bioscaffold derived from urinary bladder matrix (MatriStem™) in the repair of vaginal prolapse. We aimed to restore disrupted vaginal support simulating application via transvaginal and transabdominal approaches in a macaque model focusing on the impact on vaginal structure, function, and the host immune response. In 16 macaques, after laparotomy, the uterosacral ligaments and paravaginal attachments to pelvic side wall were completely transected (IACUC# 13081928). 6ply MatriStem was cut into posterior and anterior templates with a portion covering the vagina and arms simulating uterosacral ligaments and paravaginal attachments, respectively. After surgically exposing the correct anatomical sites, in 8 animals, a vaginal incision was made on the anterior and posterior vagina and the respective scaffolds were passed into the vagina via these incisions (transvaginal insertion) prior to placement. The remaining 8 animals underwent the same surgery without vaginal incisions (transabdominal insertion). Three months post implantation, firm tissue bands extending from vagina to pelvic side wall appeared in both MatriStem groups. Experimental endpoints examining impact of MatriStem on the vagina demonstrated that vaginal biochemical and biomechanical parameters, smooth muscle thickness and contractility, and immune responses were similar in the MatriStem no incision group and sham-operated controls. In the MatriStem incision group, a 41% decrease in vaginal stiffness (P=0.042), a 22% decrease in collagen content (P=0.008) and a 25% increase in collagen subtypes III/I was observed vs. Sham. Active MMP2 was increased in both Matristem groups vs. Sham (both P=0.002). This study presents a novel application of ECM bioscaffolds as a first step towards the rebuilding of vaginal support.Statement of SignificancePelvic organ prolapse is a common condition related to failure of the supportive soft tissues of the vagina; particularly at the apex and mid-vagina. Few studies have investigated methods to regenerate these failed structures. The overall goal of the study was to determine the feasibility of utilizing a regenerative bioscaffold in prolapse applications to restore apical (level I) and lateral (level II) support to the vagina without negatively impacting vaginal structure and function. The significance of our findings is two fold: 1. Implantation of properly constructed extracellular matrix grafts promoted rebuilding of level I and level II support to the vagina and did not negatively impact the overall functional, morphological and biochemical properties of the vagina. 2. The presence of vaginal incisions in the transvaginal insertion of bioscaffolds may compromise vaginal structural integrity in the short term.

Graphical abstract

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Paroxysmal theta power reactivity is related to survival in anoxic vegetative state patients

Publication date: Available online 7 May 2017
Source:Clinical Neurophysiology
Author(s): Oded Meiron, Efraim Jaul




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2016 Articles of the Year, Reviewers of the Year, and Figure of the Year

<span class="paragraphSection">We are delighted to announce the 10 best articles published in 2016. We believe that all papers published in the <span style="font-style:italic;">Journal</span> meet the standard of excellence. However, the 10 papers selected this year represent, in the editors' opinions, the best in the field. The articles are listed below in the order of publication.</span>

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Sexual Networks, Dyadic Characteristics, and HIV Acquisition and Transmission Behaviors Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men in 6 US Cities

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>The role of sexual networks in the epidemiology of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among black men who have sex with men (MSM) is poorly understood. Using data from 1,306 black MSM in the BROTHERS Study (2009–2010) in the United States, we examined the relationships between multiple sexual dyadic characteristics and serodiscordant/serostatus-unknown condomless sex (SDCS). HIV-infected participants had higher odds of SDCS when having sex at least weekly (odds ratio (OR) = 2.41, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.37, 4.23) or monthly (OR = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.17, 3.24) versus once to a few times a year. HIV-uninfected participants had higher odds of SDCS with partners met offline at sex-focused venues (OR = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.15, 2.78) versus partners met online. In addition, having sex upon first meeting was associated with higher odds of SDCS (OR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.21, 1.83) than was not having sex on first meeting, while living/continued communication with sexual partner(s) was associated with lower odds of SDCS (weekly: OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.47, 0.85; monthly: OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.81; yearly: OR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.39, 0.85) versus discontinued communication. Persons with primary/steady nonprimary partners versus commercial partners had lower odds of SDCS regardless of HIV serostatus. This suggests the need for culturally relevant HIV prevention efforts for black MSM that facilitate communication with sexual partners especially about risk reduction strategies, including preexposure prophylaxis.</span>

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Does Choice of Influenza Vaccine Type Change Disease Burden and Cost-Effectiveness in the United States? An Agent-Based Modeling Study

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Offering a choice of influenza vaccine type may increase vaccine coverage and reduce disease burden, but it is more costly. This study calculated the public health impact and cost-effectiveness of 4 strategies: no choice, pediatric choice, adult choice, or choice for both age groups. Using agent-based modeling, individuals were simulated as they interacted with others, and influenza was tracked as it spread through a population in Washington, DC. Influenza vaccination coverage derived from data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was increased by 6.5% (range, 3.25%–11.25%), reflecting changes due to vaccine choice. With moderate influenza infectivity, the number of cases averaged 1,117,285 for no choice, 1,083,126 for pediatric choice, 1,009,026 for adult choice, and 975,818 for choice for both age groups. Averted cases increased with increased coverage and were highest for the choice-for-both-age-groups strategy; adult choice also reduced cases in children. In cost-effectiveness analysis, choice for both age groups was dominant when choice increased vaccine coverage by ≥3.25%. Offering a choice of influenza vaccines, with reasonable resultant increases in coverage, decreased influenza cases by >100,000 with a favorable cost-effectiveness profile. Clinical trials testing the predictions made based on these simulation results and deliberation of policies and procedures to facilitate choice should be considered.</span>

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The Use of a Binary Composite Endpoint and Sample Size Requirement: Influence of Endpoints Overlap

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Although composite endpoints (CE) are common in clinical trials, the impact of the relationship between the components of a binary CE on the sample size requirement (SSR) has not been addressed. We performed a computational study considering 2 treatments and a CE with 2 components: the relevant endpoint (RE) and the additional endpoint (AE). We assessed the strength of the components' interrelation by the degree of relative overlap between them, which was stratified into 5 groups. Within each stratum, SSR was computed for multiple scenarios by varying the events proportion and the effect of the therapy. A lower SSR using CE was defined as the best scenario for using the CE. In 25 of 66 scenarios the degree of relative overlap determined the benefit of using CE instead of the RE. Adding an AE with greater effect than the RE leads to lower SSR using the CE regardless of the AE proportion and the relative overlap. The influence of overlapping decreases when the effect on RE increases. Adding an AE with lower effect than the RE constitutes the most uncertain situation. In summary, the interrelationship between CE components, assessed by the relative overlap, can help to define the SSR in specific situations and it should be considered for SSR computation.</span>

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Metabolic Mediators of the Association Between Adult Weight Gain and Colorectal Cancer: Data From the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Cohort

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Evidence indicates that gaining weight in adult life is associated with an elevated risk of colorectal cancer; however, biological mechanisms that may explain this association remain unclear. We evaluated the mediation effect of 20 different biomarkers on the relationship between adult weight gain and colorectal cancer, using data from a prospective nested case-control study of 452 incident cases diagnosed between 1992 and 2003 and matched within risk sets to 452 controls within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. The proportions of mediated effects (%) were estimated on the basis of differences in percent effect changes in conditional logistic regression models with and without additional adjustment for individual biomarkers. Greater adult weight gain (≥300 g/year vs. <300 g/year) was associated with a higher risk of colon cancer (multivariable-adjusted relative risk = 1.54, 95% confidence interval: 1.07, 2.24) but not rectal cancer (relative risk = 1.07, 95% confidence interval: 0.68, 1.66). This association was accounted for mostly by attained waist circumference (reduction of 61%) and by the biomarkers soluble leptin receptor (reduction of 43%) and glycated hemoglobin (reduction of 28%). These novel data suggest that the observed association between adult weight gain and colon cancer could be primarily explained by attained abdominal fatness and biomarkers of metabolic dysfunction.</span>

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Food Environment and Weight Change: Does Residential Mobility Matter? The Diabetes Study of Northern California (DISTANCE)

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Associations between neighborhood food environment and adult body mass index (BMI; weight (kg)/height (m)²) derived using cross-sectional or longitudinal random-effects models may be biased due to unmeasured confounding and measurement and methodological limitations. In this study, we assessed the within-individual association between change in food environment from 2006 to 2011 and change in BMI among adults with type 2 diabetes using clinical data from the Kaiser Permanente Diabetes Registry collected from 2007 to 2011. Healthy food environment was measured using the kernel density of healthful food venues. Fixed-effects models with a 1-year-lagged BMI were estimated. Separate models were fitted for persons who moved and those who did not. Sensitivity analysis using different lag times and kernel density bandwidths were tested to establish the consistency of findings. On average, patients lost 1 pound (0.45 kg) for each standard-deviation improvement in their food environment. This relationship held for persons who remained in the same location throughout the 5-year study period but not among persons who moved. Proximity to food venues that promote nutritious foods alone may not translate into clinically meaningful diet-related health changes. Community-level policies for improving the food environment need multifaceted strategies to invoke clinically meaningful change in BMI among adult patients with diabetes.</span>

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Associations of Continuity and Change in Early Neighborhood Poverty With Adult Cardiometabolic Biomarkers in the United States: Results From the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, 1995–2008

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Limitations of extant research on neighborhood disadvantage and health include general reliance on point-in-time neighborhood measures and sensitivity to residential self-selection. Using data from the US Census and the 1995–2008 National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we applied conventional methods and coarsened exact matching to assess how cardiometabolic health varies among those entering, exiting, or remaining in poor and nonpoor neighborhoods. Within the full sample (<span style="font-style:italic;">n</span> = 11,767), we found significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressures among those who entered or consistently lived in poor neighborhoods relative to those who never lived in poor neighborhoods. Obesity was similarly more common among those who originated from poor neighborhoods than among those who originated from nonpoor neighborhoods. Having exited poor neighborhoods was associated with lower systolic blood pressure than was consistent residence in low-income communities. Among the matched sample (<span style="font-style:italic;">n</span> = 9,727), results adjusted for confounders and residential self-selection revealed fewer significant contrasts. Compared with peers who had no neighborhood poverty exposure, those who consistently lived in poor neighborhoods had 46% and 52% higher odds of being obese or hypertensive, respectively. Those who exited neighborhood poverty had significantly higher diastolic blood pressures than those who had never lived in poor neighborhoods. These findings underscore the importance of past as well as current residential circumstances for cardiometabolic health.</span>

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The Association Between Air Pollution and Onset of Depression Among Middle-Aged and Older Women

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Despite recently reported associations between air pollution and acute psychiatric outcomes, the association with depression onset has not, to our knowledge, been previously examined. We conducted a prospective cohort study among 41,844 women in the Nurses' Health Study, in the United States. The women had an average age of 66.6 (standard deviation, 7.6) years, were depression-free in 1996, and were followed through 2008. May–September ozone exposures were predicted by interpolating concentrations from the 5 nearest monitors. One-, 2-, and 5-year average concentrations of particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 μm (PM_2.5) were predicted at each participant's residence using a spatiotemporal model. We defined depression as report of doctor's diagnosis or use of antidepressant medication. We estimated adjusted hazard ratios with time-varying Cox models. Hazard ratios for both pollutants were elevated (per 10-parts-per-billion increase in ozone, hazard ratio (HR) = 1.06; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00, 1.12; per 10-μg/m³ increase in 1-year PM_2.5, HR = 1.08; 95% CI: 0.97, 1.20). Associations were stronger when only antidepressant use was used to define cases (for ozone, HR = 1.08; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.14; for PM_2.5, HR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.25). To our knowledge, these results represent the first identification of a possible association between both long-term ozone and PM_2.5 exposure and depression onset. Although the stronger association specifically with antidepressant use may reflect that this endpoint better captures the onset time and milder cases, our findings should be interpreted with caution.</span>

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THE AUTHORS REPLY

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RE: “DETECTABLE RISKS IN STUDIES OF THE FETAL BENEFITS OF MATERNAL INFLUENZA VACCINATION”

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The Effect of Birth Weight on Academic Performance: Instrumental Variable Analysis

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Observationally, lower birth weight is usually associated with poorer academic performance; whether this association is causal or the result of confounding is unknown. To investigate this question, we obtained an effect estimate, which can have a causal interpretation under specific assumptions, of birth weight on educational attainment using instrumental variable analysis based on single nucleotide polymorphisms determining birth weight combined with results from the Social Science Genetic Association Consortium study of 126,559 Caucasians. We similarly obtained an estimate of the effect of birth weight on academic performance in 4,067 adolescents from Hong Kong's (Chinese) Children of 1997 birth cohort (1997–2016), using twin status as an instrumental variable. Birth weight was not associated with years of schooling (per 100-g increase in birth weight, −0.006 years, 95% confidence interval (CI): −0.02, 0.01) or college completion (odds ratio = 1.00, 95% CI: 0.96, 1.03). Birth weight was also unrelated to academic performance in adolescents (per 100-g increase in birth weight, −0.004 grade, 95% CI: −0.04, 0.04) using instrumental variable analysis, although conventional regression gave a small positive association (0.02 higher grade, 95% CI: 0.01, 0.03). Observed associations of birth weight with academic performance may not be causal, suggesting that interventions should focus on the contextual factors generating this correlation.</span>

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Depressive Disorder Subtypes as Predictors of Incident Obesity in US Adults: Moderation by Race/Ethnicity

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>We compared the relative importance of atypical major depressive disorder (MDD), nonatypical MDD, and dysthymic disorder in predicting 3-year obesity incidence and change in body mass index and determined whether race/ethnicity moderated these relationships. We examined data from 17,787 initially nonobese adults in the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions waves 1 (2001–2002) and 2 (2004–2005) who were representative of the US population. Lifetime subtypes of depressive disorders were determined using a structured interview, and obesity outcomes were computed from self-reported height and weight. Atypical MDD (odds ratio (OR) = 1.68, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.43, 1.97; <span style="font-style:italic;">P</span> < 0.001) and dysthymic disorder (OR = 1.66, 95% CI: 1.29, 2.12; <span style="font-style:italic;">P</span> < 0.001) were stronger predictors of incident obesity than were nonatypical MDD (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.22; <span style="font-style:italic;">P</span> = 0.027) and no history of depressive disorder. Atypical MDD (B = 0.41 (standard error, 0.15); <span style="font-style:italic;">P</span> = 0.007) was a stronger predictor of increases in body mass index than were dysthymic disorder (B = −0.31 (standard error, 0.21); <span style="font-style:italic;">P</span> = 0.142), nonatypical MDD (B = 0.007 (standard error, 0.06); <span style="font-style:italic;">P</span> = 0.911), and no history of depressive disorder. Race/ethnicity was a moderator; atypical MDD was a stronger predictor of incident obesity in Hispanics/Latinos (OR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.73, 2.24; <span style="font-style:italic;">P</span> < 0.001) than in non-Hispanic whites (OR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.25, 1.91; <span style="font-style:italic;">P</span> < 0.001) and blacks (OR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.31, 2.26; <span style="font-style:italic;">P</span> < 0.001). US adults with atypical MDD are at particularly high risk of weight gain and obesity, and Hispanics/Latinos may be especially vulnerable to the obesogenic consequences of depressions.</span>

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The “Dry-Run” Analysis: A Method for Evaluating Risk Scores for Confounding Control

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>A propensity score (PS) model's ability to control confounding can be assessed by evaluating covariate balance across exposure groups after PS adjustment. The optimal strategy for evaluating a disease risk score (DRS) model's ability to control confounding is less clear. DRS models cannot be evaluated through balance checks within the full population, and they are usually assessed through prediction diagnostics and goodness-of-fit tests. A proposed alternative is the "dry-run" analysis, which divides the unexposed population into "pseudo-exposed" and "pseudo-unexposed" groups so that differences on observed covariates resemble differences between the actual exposed and unexposed populations. With no exposure effect separating the pseudo-exposed and pseudo-unexposed groups, a DRS model is evaluated by its ability to retrieve an unconfounded null estimate after adjustment in this pseudo-population. We used simulations and an empirical example to compare traditional DRS performance metrics with the dry-run validation. In simulations, the dry run often improved assessment of confounding control, compared with the <span style="font-style:italic;">C</span> statistic and goodness-of-fit tests. In the empirical example, PS and DRS matching gave similar results and showed good performance in terms of covariate balance (PS matching) and controlling confounding in the dry-run analysis (DRS matching). The dry-run analysis may prove useful in evaluating confounding control through DRS models.</span>

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Risk of Diabetes After Hysterectomy With or Without Oophorectomy in Postmenopausal Women

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>The aim of this study was to determine the associations between hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO), and incidence of diabetes in postmenopausal women participating in the Women's Health Initiative (WHI), a series of trials conducted in the United States, during the period 1993–1998. A total of 67,130 postmenopausal women aged 50–79 years were followed for a mean of 13.4 years. Among them, 7,430 cases of diabetes were diagnosed. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association between hysterectomy/oophorectomy status and diabetes incidence. Compared with women without hysterectomy, women with hysterectomy had a significantly higher risk of diabetes (hazard ratio = 1.13, 95% confidence interval: 1.06, 1.21). The increased risk of diabetes was similar for women with hysterectomy only and for women with hysterectomy with concomitant BSO. Compared with hysterectomy alone, hysterectomy with BSO was not associated with additional risk of diabetes after stratification by age at hysterectomy and hormone therapy status. In our large, prospective study, we observed that hysterectomy, regardless of oophorectomy status, was associated with increased risk of diabetes among postmenopausal women. However, our data did not support the hypothesis that early loss of ovarian estrogens is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes. The modest increased risk of diabetes associated with hysterectomy may be due to residual confounding, such as the reasons for hysterectomy.</span>

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The Relationship Between Objectively Measured Walking and Risk of Pedestrian–Motor Vehicle Collision

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Safe urban walking environments may improve health by encouraging physical activity, but the relationship between an individual's location and walking pattern and the risk of pedestrian–motor vehicle collision is unknown. We examined associations between individuals' walking bouts and walking risk, measured as mean exposure to the risk of pedestrian-vehicle collision. Walking bouts were ascertained through integrated accelerometry and global positioning system data and from individual travel-diary data obtained from adults in the Travel Assessment and Community Study (King County, Washington) in 2008–2009. Walking patterns were superimposed onto maps of the historical probabilities of pedestrian-vehicle collisions for intersections and midblock segments within Seattle, Washington. Mean risk of pedestrian-vehicle collision in specific walking locations was assessed according to walking exposure (duration, distance, and intensity) and participant demographic characteristics in linear mixed models. Participants typically walked in areas with low pedestrian collision risk when walking for recreation, walking at a faster pace, or taking longer-duration walks. Mean daily walking duration and distance were not associated with collision risk. Males walked in areas with higher collision risk compared with females, while vehicle owners, residents of single-family homes, and parents of young children walked in areas with lower collision risk. These findings may suggest that pedestrians moderate collision risk by using lower-risk routes.</span>

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CAJAL CLUB KRIEG CORTICAL KUDOS FOR 2017

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Vocal Tract Images Reveal Neural Representations of Sensorimotor Transformation During Speech Imitation

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Imitating speech necessitates the transformation from sensory targets to vocal tract motor output, yet little is known about the representational basis of this process in the human brain. Here, we address this question by using real-time MR imaging (rtMRI) of the vocal tract and functional MRI (fMRI) of the brain in a speech imitation paradigm. Participants trained on imitating a native vowel and a similar nonnative vowel that required lip rounding. Later, participants imitated these vowels and an untrained vowel pair during separate fMRI and rtMRI runs. Univariate fMRI analyses revealed that regions including left inferior frontal gyrus were more active during sensorimotor transformation (ST) and production of nonnative vowels, compared with native vowels; further, ST for nonnative vowels activated somatomotor cortex bilaterally, compared with ST of native vowels. Using test representational similarity analysis (RSA) models constructed from participants' vocal tract images and from stimulus formant distances, we found that RSA searchlight analyses of fMRI data showed either type of model could be represented in somatomotor, temporal, cerebellar, and hippocampal neural activation patterns during ST. We thus provide the first evidence of widespread and robust cortical and subcortical neural representation of vocal tract and/or formant parameters, during prearticulatory ST.</span>

http://ift.tt/2pqq1tJ

Effects of Antenatal Maternal Depressive Symptoms and Socio-Economic Status on Neonatal Brain Development are Modulated by Genetic Risk

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>This study included 168 and 85 mother–infant dyads from Asian and United States of America cohorts to examine whether a genomic profile risk score for major depressive disorder (GPRS_MDD) moderates the association between antenatal maternal depressive symptoms (or socio-economic status, SES) and fetal neurodevelopment, and to identify candidate biological processes underlying such association. Both cohorts showed a significant interaction between antenatal maternal depressive symptoms and infant GPRS_MDD on the right amygdala volume. The Asian cohort also showed such interaction on the right hippocampal volume and shape, thickness of the orbitofrontal and ventromedial prefrontal cortex. Likewise, a significant interaction between SES and infant GPRS_MDD was on the right amygdala and hippocampal volumes and shapes. After controlling for each other, the interaction effect of antenatal maternal depressive symptoms and GPRS_MDD was mainly shown on the right amygdala, while the interaction effect of SES and GPRS_MDD was mainly shown on the right hippocampus. Bioinformatic analyses suggested neurotransmitter/neurotrophic signaling, SNAp REceptor complex, and glutamate receptor activity as common biological processes underlying the influence of antenatal maternal depressive symptoms on fetal cortico-limbic development. These findings suggest gene–environment interdependence in the fetal development of brain regions implicated in cognitive–emotional function. Candidate biological mechanisms involve a range of brain region-specific signaling pathways that converge on common processes of synaptic development.</span>

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Transient Cell-intrinsic Activity Regulates the Migration and Laminar Positioning of Cortical Projection Neurons

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>Neocortical microcircuits are built during development and require the coordinated assembly of excitatory glutamatergic projection neurons (PNs) into functional networks. Neuronal migration is an essential step in this process. In addition to cell-intrinsic mechanisms, external cues including neurotransmitters regulate cortical neuron migration, suggesting that early activity could influence this process. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of cell-intrinsic activity in migrating PNs in vivo using a designer receptor exclusively activated by a designer drug (DREADD) chemogenetic approach. In utero electroporation was used to specifically express the human M3 muscarinic cholinergic Gq-coupled receptor (hM3Dq) in PNs and calcium activity, migratory dynamics, gene expression, and laminar positioning of PNs were assessed following embryonic DREADD activation. We found that transient embryonic DREADD activation induced premature branching and transcriptional changes in migrating PNs leading to a persistent laminar mispositioning of superficial layer PNs into deep cortical layers without affecting expression of layer-specific molecular identity markers. In addition, live imaging approaches indicated that embryonic DREADD activation increased calcium transients in migrating PNs and altered their migratory dynamics by increasing their pausing time. Taken together, these results support the idea that increased cell-intrinsic activity during migration acts as a stop signal for migrating cortical PNs.</span>

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Persistence of Amygdala–Hippocampal Connectivity and Multi-Voxel Correlation Structures During Awake Rest After Fear Learning Predicts Long-Term Expression of Fear

<span class="paragraphSection"><div class="boxTitle">Abstract</div>After encoding, memories undergo a process of consolidation that determines long-term retention. For conditioned fear, animal models postulate that consolidation involves reactivations of neuronal assemblies supporting fear learning during postlearning "offline" periods. However, no human studies to date have investigated such processes, particularly in relation to long-term expression of fear. We tested 24 participants using functional MRI on 2 consecutive days in a fear conditioning paradigm involving 1 habituation block, 2 acquisition blocks, and 2 extinction blocks on day 1, and 2 re-extinction blocks on day 2. Conditioning blocks were preceded and followed by 4.5-min rest blocks. Strength of spontaneous recovery of fear on day 2 served as a measure of long-term expression of fear. Amygdala connectivity primarily with hippocampus increased progressively during postacquisition and postextinction rest on day 1. Intraregional multi-voxel correlation structures within amygdala and hippocampus sampled during a block of differential fear conditioning furthermore persisted after fear learning. Critically, both these main findings were stronger in participants who exhibited spontaneous recovery 24 h later. Our findings indicate that neural circuits activated during fear conditioning exhibit persistent postlearning activity that may be functionally relevant in promoting consolidation of the fear memory.</span>

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Scholar : These new articles for Museum Management and Curatorship are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Museum Management and Curatorship and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Original Articles 'Virtual museums' as digital collection complexes. A museological perspective using the example of Hans-Gross-Kriminalmuseum (University of Graz) Bernadette Biedermann Pages: 1-17 | DOI: 10.1080/09647775.2017.1322916 To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. You can also unsubscribe from this alert with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Scholar : These new articles for Journal of the Institute of Conservation are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Journal of the Institute of Conservation and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Original Articles 3D4Ever: why is it so hard to talk about the preservation of 3D data? Dr. William Kilbride Pages: 1-8 | DOI: 10.1080/19455224.2017.1317006This is the author accepted version which has not been proofed or edited To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. You can also unsubscribe from this alert with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Biocontrol activity of effusol from the extremophile plant, Juncus maritimus, against the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici

Abstract

Zymoseptoria tritici, responsible for Septoria tritici blotch, is the most important pathogen of wheat. The control of this parasite relies mainly on synthetic fungicides, but their use is increasingly controversial and searching for alternative management strategies is encouraged. In this context, the biocontrol potential of crude methanolic extracts of eight extremophile plant species from Tunisia, including three xerophytes and five halophytes, against Z. tritici was assessed. Only the extract of Juncus maritimus rhizomes showed significant in vitro antifungal activity. In extremophile plants, the production of secondary metabolites is often influenced by abiotic conditions. Thus, we collected several samples of J. maritimus rhizomes at different vegetative stages, at different periods, and from different substrates to compare their antifungal activities. Our results suggest that the plant environment, especially the substrate of the soil, should be taken into account to identify great sources of natural antifungal products. From the most active sample, a 9,10-dehydrophenanthrene derivative, effusol, absent from other J. maritimus rhizomes extracts, was purified. This product showed a strong antifungal activity against the pathogen, with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 19 μg mL⁻¹ and an half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 9.98 μg mL⁻¹. This phenanthrene derivative could be a promising biocontrol molecule against Z. tritici.

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Difference of performance in response to disease admissions between daily time air quality indices and those derived from average and entropy functions

Abstract

Daily time air quality indices, which can reflect air quality in 1 day, are suitable for identifying daily exposure during conditions of poor air quality. The aim of this study is to compare the main effectiveness of four daily time indices in representing variation in the number of disease admissions. These indices include pollution standard index (PSI), air quality index (AQI) and their respective indices derived from mean and entropy functions: MEPSI and MEAQI. The hourly concentrations of fine particulate matter less than 10 μm in diameter (PM₁₀), PM_2.5, O₃, CO, NO₂ and SO₂ from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2010 were obtained from 14 air quality monitoring stations owned by the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) in the Kaoping region, Taiwan.

Instead of circulatory system disease admissions, the indices were correlative with the number of respiratory disease admissions with correlative coefficients of 0.49 to 0.56 (P < 0.05). The daily time air quality indices derived from mean and entropy functions improved their performance of reactive range and air pollution identification. The reactive range of MEPSI and MEAQI was 1.4–3 times that of the original indices. The MEPSI and MEAQI increased identification from 40 to 180 in index scale and revealed one to two additional categories of public health effect information. In comparison with other indices, MEAQI is more effective for application to pollution events with multiple air pollutants.

http://ift.tt/2qRWyKq

The evaluation model of the enterprise energy efficiency based on DPSR

Abstract

The reasonable evaluation of the enterprise energy efficiency is an important work in order to reduce the energy consumption. In this paper, an effective energy efficiency evaluation index system is proposed based on DPSR (Driving forces-Pressure-State-Response) with the consideration of the actual situation of enterprises. This index system which covers multi-dimensional indexes of the enterprise energy efficiency can reveal the complete causal chain which includes the "driver forces" and "pressure" of the enterprise energy efficiency "state" caused by the internal and external environment, and the ultimate enterprise energy-saving "response" measures. Furthermore, the ANP (Analytic Network Process) and cloud model are used to calculate the weight of each index and evaluate the energy efficiency level. The analysis of BL Company verifies the feasibility of this index system and also provides an effective way to improve the energy efficiency at last.

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Double genetically modified symbiotic system for improved Cu phytostabilization in legume roots

Abstract

Excess copper (Cu) in soils has deleterious effects on plant growth and can pose a risk to human health. In the last decade, legume-rhizobium symbioses became attractive biotechnological tools for metal phytostabilization. For this technique being useful, metal-tolerant symbionts are required, which can be generated through genetic manipulation.

In this work, a double symbiotic system was engineered for Cu phytostabilization: On the one hand, composite Medicago truncatula plants expressing the metallothionein gene mt4a from Arabidopsis thaliana in roots were obtained to improve plant Cu tolerance. On the other hand, a genetically modified Ensifer medicae strain, expressing copper resistance genes copAB from Pseudomonas fluorescens driven by a nodulation promoter, nifHp, was used for plant inoculation. Our results indicated that expression of mt4a in composite plants ameliorated plant growth and nodulation and enhanced Cu tolerance. Lower levels of ROS-scavenging enzymes and of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), such as malondialdehyde (a marker of lipid peroxidation), suggested reduced oxidative stress. Furthermore, inoculation with the genetically modified Ensifer further improved root Cu accumulation without altering metal loading to shoots, leading to diminished values of metal translocation from roots to shoots. The double modified partnership is proposed as a suitable tool for Cu rhizo-phytostabilization.

http://ift.tt/2qRVMNG

Biological control of broad-leaved dock infestation in wheat using plant antagonistic bacteria under field conditions

Abstract

Conventional weed management systems have produced many harmful effects on weed ecology, human health and environment. Biological control of invasive weeds may be helpful to minimize these harmful effects and economic losses incurred to crops by weeds. In our earlier studies, plant antagonistic bacteria were obtained after screening a large number of rhizobacteria for production of phytotoxic substances and effects on wheat and its associated weeds under laboratory conditions. In this study, five efficient strains inhibitory to broad-leaved dock and non-inhibitory to wheat were selected and applied to broad-leaved dock co-seeded with wheat both in pot trial and chronically infested field trial. Effects of plant antagonistic bacteria on the weed and infested wheat were studied at tillering, booting and harvesting stage of wheat. The applied strains significantly inhibited the germination and growth of the weed to variable extent. Similarly, variable recovery in losses of grain and straw yield of infested wheat from 11.6 to 68 and 13 to 72.6% was obtained in pot trial while from 17.3 to 62.9 and 22.4 to 71.3% was obtained in field trial, respectively. Effects of plant antagonistic bacteria were also evident from the improvement in physiology and nutrient contents of infested wheat. This study suggests the use of these plant antagonistic bacteria to biologically control infestation of broad-leaved dock in wheat under field conditions.

http://ift.tt/2qgCbth

Effect of microorganisms on reducing cadmium uptake and toxicity in rice ( Oryza sativa L.)

Abstract

This study analyzed the application of three microorganism inoculums, including Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, and commercial effective microorganism (EM) solution in order to determine cadmium (Cd) reduction in rice (Oryza sativa L.) and rice growth promotion. Rice was grown in Cd-contaminated soil (120 mg/kg) and selected microorganisms were inoculated. Cd concentration and rice weight were measured at 45 and 120 days of the experiment. The result showed that B. subtilis inoculation into rice can highly reduce Cd accumulation in every part of rice roots and shoots (45 days), and grains (120 days). This species can effectively absorb Cd compared to other inoculums, which might be the main mechanism to reduce Cd transportation in rice plants. Interestingly, plants that were inoculated with bacterial species individually harbored higher calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) accumulation; B. subtilis-inoculated plants had the highest levels of Ca and Mg compared to other inoculated ones. Moreover, inoculating rice plants with these microorganisms could increase the dry weight of the plant and protect them from Cd stress because all the inoculums presented the ability to solubilize phosphate, produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and control ethylene levels by 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase activity. After 120 days, quantification of each inoculum by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) confirmed the root colonization of bacterial species, with B. subtilis showing higher 16S rRNA gene copy numbers than the other species. B. subtilis was classified as a non-human pathogenic strain, reassuring the safe application of this plant growth-promoting bacterium as a crop inoculum.

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Effect of cadmium exposure on essential omega-3 fatty acids in the edible bivalve Donax trunculus

Abstract

Donax trunculus is the most consumed bivalve by the local population of the Northeast Algeria for its nutritional value. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to determine the effects of cadmium (Cd), a known toxic metal, on the alterations in main essential omega-3 fatty acids, i.e., eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6n-3), in male and female gonads of D. trunculus during the reproduction period at spring (before spawning). Additionally, this work seeks to describe the relation between EPA and DHA with non-methylene-interrupted dienoic (NMID) fatty acids, and explores their possible contribution of to protect against Cd stress. The samples were collected at El Battah, a relatively clean sea shore, and reared in the laboratory. Physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, pH, salinity, and dissolved oxygen were measured. Cd was added to the rearing water at two sublethal concentrations (LC₁₀ and LC₂₅-96h, as determined previously). A two-way ANOVA analysis indicated significant effects of concentrations and genders for both fatty acids. Our results showed a significant reduction in EPA and DHA concentrations in the both genders, with a strong effect in females. There was also a negative correlation between NMID fatty acids and the two essential omega-3 fatty acids for each gender.

http://ift.tt/2qgM768

Prioritization of substances for national ambient monitoring of sediment in Switzerland

Abstract

In Switzerland, surface waters are protected by the Swiss Water Protection Ordinance (OEaux; OFEV 1998), which stipulates that the water quality shall be such that the water, suspended matter, and sediments contain no persistent synthetic substances to ensure the protection of aquatic life. Local agencies are in charge of water quality monitoring, using a set of validated methods. Several lists of priority substances have been developed for aquatic microcontaminants for surface water monitoring but not for sediments. Some local agencies have established sediment monitoring programs, but to date, there exists no harmonized methodology for sediment quality assessment in Switzerland. Within the main goal of developing and providing methodologies for monitoring sediment quality in Switzerland, a screening was performed to help prioritize sediment-relevant microcontaminants. The screening approach was largely based on the NORMAN (network of reference laboratories, research centers, and related organizations for monitoring emerging environmental substances) system and was carried out in four steps: (1) identification of candidate substances, (2) selection of sediment relevant substances, (3) classification of substances into different categories based on identified data gaps and envisaged actions, and (4) ranking within each action category. This paper describes the methodology used in the prioritization process for sediment-relevant substances and provides recommendations for monitoring strategies in Switzerland.

http://ift.tt/2qRX1MA

Impact of shipping emissions on ozone levels over Europe: assessing the relative importance of the Standard Nomenclature for Air Pollution (SNAP) categories

Abstract

The impact of shipping emissions on ozone mixing ratio over Europe is assessed for July 2006 using the Community Multiscale Air Quality modeling system and the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research anthropogenic emission inventory. Results suggest that ship-induced ozone contribution to the total surface ozone exceeds 5% over the sea and near the coastline, while an increase up to 5% is simulated over a large portion of the European land. The largest impact (i.e., an increase up to 30%) is simulated over the Mediterranean Sea. In addition, shipping emissions are simulated to increase NO₂ mixing ratio more than 90%, locally, and to modify the oxidizing capacity of the atmosphere through hydroxyl radical formation (increase by 20–60% over the sea along the European coasts and near the coastal zone). Therefore, emissions from ships may counteract the benefits derived from the anthropogenic emissions reduction strategies over the continent. Simulations suggest regions where shipping emissions have a major impact on ozone mixing ratio compared to individual anthropogenic emission sector categories. Shipping emissions are estimated to play an important role on ozone levels compared to road transport sector near the coastal zone. The impact of shipping emissions on ozone formation is also profound over a great part of the European land compared to the rest of anthropogenic emission categories.

http://ift.tt/2qgN52p

Cosmetics, Vol. 4, Pages 13: Efficacy of Phoenix dactylifera L. (Date Palm) Creams on Healthy Skin

The date palm fruit (Phoenix dactylifera L. Arecaceae) is used in most of the countries of the world and is an essential part of the diet, especially in many Arabian countries. Phoenix dactylifera L. fruits are a rich source of sugars (glucose and fructose), vitamins (A, C, and B complex), fibers, minerals, and phenolic compounds having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study is designed to explore the Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit for skin care. A single-blinded, placebo control trial was conducted, including 11 healthy female volunteers after their informed consent. The efficacy of the Phoenix dactylifera L. extract (4%) was evaluated in cream form after one, two, three, four, six, and eight weeks of treatment compared with the baseline. Prior to the study, the composition of the extract was analyzed to understand the underlying mechanisms by which the extract affects skin. Treating facial skin with the Phoenix dactylifera L. extract significantly improved all parameters investigated, such as skin elasticity, pigmentation, redness, brightness, and hydration and led to the improvement of the facial skin. There were no adverse reactions noted during the course of the patch test, demonstrating that the extract could be safe to apply on the skin. The Phoenix dactylifera L. fruit extract serves as a skin care ingredient that significantly improves characteristics important for perception of skin ageing and health. The efficacy of the treatment is possibly due to a combination of numerous active substances found in the Phoenix dactylifera L. extract.

http://ift.tt/2pW1xff

Scholar : These new articles for Crystallography Reviews are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Crystallography Reviews and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: REVIEW Crystallography and the liquid crystal phase: a new approach to structural studies on a thermo-tropic smectic Schiff base Oscar Enrique Piro, Gustavo Alberto Echeverría & Fabio Daniel Cukiernik Pages: 1-19 | DOI: 10.1080/0889311X.2017.1320550 Free access World Diabetes Day research collection – Eyes on Diabetes. To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. You can also unsubscribe from this alert with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Scholar : These new articles for Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Original Articles Changes in biological properties and antioxidant capacity of an agricultural soil amended with sewage sludge Roberto Cardelli, Iduna Arduini, Fausto Marchini, Alessandro Masoni & Alessandro Saviozzi This is the author accepted version which has not been proofed or edited Browse papers on image & data fusion, GIS, LiDAR & more in the International Journal of Image and Data Fusion's exclusive Editor's Choice collection. To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. You can also unsubscribe from this alert with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Scholar : These new articles for AIDS Care are available online

The online platform for Taylor & Francis Online content New for AIDS Care and online now on Taylor & Francis Online: Original Articles Interest in use of mHealth technology in HIV prevention and associated factors among high-risk drug users enrolled in methadone maintenance program Roman Shrestha, Pramila Karki & Michael Copenhaver Pages: 1-5 | DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2017.1325439 Journal of Social Work Education Access the best articles collection To update which email alerts you receive, manage your alerts within the My Account area. You can also unsubscribe from this alert with one click. If you need any further help, please contact us at support@tandfonline.com Please do not reply to this email. To ensure that you receive your alerts and information from Taylor & Francis Online, please add "alerts@tandfonline.com" and "info@tandfonline.com" to your safe senders list. Taylor & Francis, an Informa business. Taylor & Francis is a trading name of Informa UK Limited, registered in England under no. 1072954. Registered office: 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.

Characterization of a novel murine model for spontaneous hemorrhagic stroke using in vivo PET and MR multiparametric imaging

Publication date: 15 July 2017
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 155
Author(s): Salvador Castaneda Vega, Christine Weinl, Carsten Calaminus, Lisa Wang, Maren Harant, Walter Ehrlichmann, Dennis Thiele, Ursula Kohlhofer, Gerald Reischl, Johann-Martin Hempel, Ulrike Ernemann, Leticia Quintanilla Martinez, Alfred Nordheim, Bernd J. Pichler
The clinical use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET) has proven to be a strong diagnostic tool in the field of neurology. The reliability of these methods to confirm clinical diagnoses has guided preclinical research to utilize these techniques for the characterization of animal disease models.Previously, we demonstrated that an endothelial cell-specific ablation of the murine Serum Response Factor (Srf^iECKO) results in blood brain barrier (BBB) breakdown and hemorrhagic stroke. Taking advantage of this mouse model we here perform a comprehensive longitudinal, multiparametric and in vivo imaging approach to reveal pathophysiological processes occurring before and during the appearance of cerebral microbleeds using combined PET and MRI. We complement our imaging results with data regarding animal behavior and immunohistochemistry.Our results demonstrate diffusion abnormalities in the cortical brain tissue prior to the onset of cerebral microbleeds. Diffusion reductions were accompanied by significant increments of [¹⁸F]FAZA uptake before the onset of the lesions in T2WI. The Open Field behavioral tests revealed reduced activity of Srf^iECKO animals, whereas histology confirmed the presence of hemorrhages in cortical regions of the mouse brain and iron deposition at lesion sites with increased hypoxia inducible factor 1α, CD31 and glial fibrillary acidic protein expression.For the first time, we performed a thorough evaluation of the prodromal period before the occurrence of spontaneous cerebral microbleeds. Using in vivo PET and MRI, we show the pathological tissue changes that occur previous to gross blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption and breakage. In addition, our results show that apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) reduction may be an early biomarker of BBB disruption proposing an alternate clinical interpretation. Furthermore, our findings remark the usefulness of this novel Srf^iECKO mouse model to study underlying mechanisms of hemorrhagic stroke.



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Functional modular architecture underlying attentional control in aging

Publication date: 15 July 2017
Source:NeuroImage, Volume 155
Author(s): Zachary A. Monge, Benjamin R. Geib, Rachel E. Siciliano, Lauren E. Packard, Catherine W. Tallman, David J. Madden
Previous research suggests that age-related differences in attention reflect the interaction of top-down and bottom-up processes, but the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying this interaction remain an active area of research. Here, within a sample of community-dwelling adults 19–78 years of age, we used diffusion reaction time (RT) modeling and multivariate functional connectivity to investigate the behavioral components and whole-brain functional networks, respectively, underlying bottom-up and top-down attentional processes during conjunction visual search. During functional MRI scanning, participants completed a conjunction visual search task in which each display contained one item that was larger than the other items (i.e., a size singleton) but was not informative regarding target identity. This design allowed us to examine in the RT components and functional network measures the influence of (a) additional bottom-up guidance when the target served as the size singleton, relative to when the distractor served as the size singleton (i.e., size singleton effect) and (b) top-down processes during target detection (i.e., target detection effect; target present vs. absent trials). We found that the size singleton effect (i.e., increased bottom-up guidance) was associated with RT components related to decision and nondecision processes, but these effects did not vary with age. Also, a modularity analysis revealed that frontoparietal module connectivity was important for both the size singleton and target detection effects, but this module became central to the networks through different mechanisms for each effect. Lastly, participants 42 years of age and older, in service of the target detection effect, relied more on between-frontoparietal module connections. Our results further elucidate mechanisms through which frontoparietal regions support attentional control and how these mechanisms vary in relation to adult age.

Graphical abstract

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Critical stress and thermal activation of crystal plasticity in polyethylene: Influence of crystal microstructure and chain topology

Publication date: 2 June 2017
Source:Polymer, Volume 118
Author(s): Bijin Xiong, Olivier Lame, Jean-Marc Chenal, Yongfeng Men, Roland Seguela, Gerard Vigier
The influence of microstructure and temperature on the initiation of yield stress and strain of high-density polyethylene are examined using a set of linear and branched polyethylenes. The polymers were crystallized in different ways in order to get samples covering the range of crystallinity 0.5 ≤ Xc ≤ 0.8 and crystallite thickness 8 nm ≤ Lc ≤ 29 nm. In contrast to the conventional macroscopic yield strain and stress, the initiation strain εyi and stress σyi were estimated from the macroscopic stress-strain curves at the onset of local plasticity as judged from in situ WAXS experiments upon tensile deformation. Phenomenological linear relation was observed between σyi crystallinity at each draw temperature Td. The dislocation model was applied to check the correlation between σyi and crystal thickness. In order to also account for the chain topology, namely the concentration of stress transmitters ST, a modified Eyring's approach was proposed. This modelling provides a good prediction the σyi dependence on Lc and ST in the context of thermally activated rate processes. Finally, anelastic stress gauge, σc^cr, was determined from local strain measurements in crystals at the same local strain as for σyi. This critical elastic stress at initiation of crystal plasticity displayed a good correlation with σyi at high crystallinity. However, σc^cr was found to deviate from σyi with increasing Td particularly at low Xc values. This finding was attributed to the activation of the crystalline mechanical relation that involves a significant drop of σyi with increasing Td in the crystalline lamellae under shear yielding whereas it does not affect the theoretical σc^cr elastic stress.

Graphical abstract

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Genetic testing: The diagnostic power of RNA-seq

Nature Reviews Genetics. doi:10.1038/nrg.2017.39

Author: Katharine H. Wrighton

http://ift.tt/2pS1r7R

Genome organization: In the beginning there was order

Nature Reviews Genetics. doi:10.1038/nrg.2017.37

Author: Carolina Perdigoto

http://ift.tt/2pS46i5

The X chromosome in space

Nature Reviews Genetics. doi:10.1038/nrg.2017.17

Authors: Teddy Jégu, Eric Aeby & Jeannie T. Lee

http://ift.tt/2pS58dP

The origin of Metazoa: a unicellular perspective

Nature Reviews Genetics. doi:10.1038/nrg.2017.21

Authors: Arnau Sebé-Pedrós, Bernard M. Degnan & Iñaki Ruiz-Trillo

http://ift.tt/2pRRHdV

Comparative transcriptomics in human and mouse

Nature Reviews Genetics. doi:10.1038/nrg.2017.19

Authors: Alessandra Breschi, Thomas R. Gingeras & Roderic Guigó

http://ift.tt/2pRUT9j

Dietary Guidelines for Vitamin D : A vitamin D intake requirement of 14 µg/day would maintain 97.5% of 25(OH)D >50 nmol/L.

http://alexandrossfa.blogspot.com/2017/05/dietary-guidelines-for-vitamin-d.html

Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182

6948891480

alsfakia@gmail.com

Endocrine Emergencies : 1. THYROID STORM, 2. MYXEDEMA COMA, 3. DIABETIC KETOACIDOSIS, 4. ACUTE ADRENAL CRISIS

http://alexandrossfa.blogspot.com/2017/05/endocrine-emergencies-1-thyroid-storm-2.html

Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182

6948891480

alsfakia@gmail.com

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) : Dyspnea and cough

http://alexandrossfa.blogspot.com/2017/05/hypersensitivity-pneumonitis-hp-dyspnea.html

Alexandros Sfakianakis
Anapafseos 5 . Agios Nikolaos
Crete.Greece.72100
2841026182

6948891480

alsfakia@gmail.com

Efficacy Comparison Study of Combination Regimens to Treat Advanced Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Conditions:   First Line Chemotherapy;   Capecitabine Plus Cisplatin Versus Capecitabine Plus Paclitaxel;   Advanced or Recurrent Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Intervention:   Drug: Capecitabine plus cisplatin(XP) versus capecitabine plus paclitaxel(XT)
Sponsor:   Samsung Medical Center
Recruiting - verified April 2017

http://ift.tt/2qfSFSv