bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cost-effectiveness of the SLIMMER diabetes prevention intervention in Dutch primary health care: economic evaluation from a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Duijzer Geerke , Bukman Andrea J. , Meints-Groenveld Aafke , Haveman-Nies Annemien , Jansen Sophia C. , Heinrich Judith , Hiddink Gerrit J. , Feskens Edith J. M. , de Wit G. Ardine
Published: November 2019

Background

Although evidence is accumulating that lifestyle modification may be cost-effective in patients with prediabetes, information is limited on the cost-effectiveness of interventions implemented in public health and primary health care settings. Evidence from well-conducted pragmatic trials is needed to gain insight into the realistic cost-effectiveness of diabetes prevention interventions in real-world settings. The aim of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of the SLIMMER lifestyle intervention targeted at patients at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared with usual health care in a primary care setting in the Netherlands.

Methods

Three hundred and sixteen high-risk subjects were randomly assigned to the SLIMMER lifestyle intervention or to usual health care. Costs and outcome assessments were performed at the end of the intervention (12 months) and six months thereafter (18 months). Costs were assessed from a societal perspective. Patients completed questionnaires to assess health care utilisation, participant out-of-pocket costs, and productivity losses. Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY) were calculated based on the SF-36 questionnaire. Cost-effectiveness planes and acceptability curves were generated using bootstrap analyses.

Results

The cost-effectiveness analysis showed that the incremental costs of the SLIMMER lifestyle intervention were €547 and that the incremental effect was 0.02 QALY, resulting in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of €28,094/QALY. When cost-effectiveness was calculated from a health care perspective, the ICER decreased to €13,605/QALY, with a moderate probability of being cost-effective (56% at a willingness to pay, WTP, of €20,000/QALY and 81% at a WTP of €80,000/QALY).

Conclusions

The SLIMMER lifestyle intervention to prevent type 2 diabetes had a low to moderate probability of being cost-effective, depending on the perspective taken.

Trial registration

The SLIMMER study is retrospectively registered withClinicalTrials.gov(IdentifierNCT02094911) since March 19, 2014.
Value-based genomic screening: exploring genomic screening for chronic diseases using triple value principles
Authors: Dombrádi Viktor , Pitini Erica , van El Carla G. , Jani Anant , Cornel Martina , Villari Paolo , Gray Muir , Bíró Klára
Published: November 2019

Background

Genomic screening has unique challenges which makes it difficult to easily implement on a wide scale. If the costs, benefits and tradeoffs of investing in genomic screening are not evaluated properly, there is a risk of wasting finite healthcare resources and also causing avoidable harm.

Main text

If healthcare professionals – including policy makers, payers and providers – wish to incorporate genomic screening into healthcare while minimizing waste, maximizing benefits, and considering results that matter to patients, using the principles of triple value (allocative, technical, and personal value) could help them to evaluate tough decisions and tradeoffs. Allocative value focuses on the optimal distribution of limited healthcare resources to maximize the health benefits to the entire population while also accounting for all the costs of care delivery. Technical value ensures that for any given condition, the right intervention is chosen and delivered in the right way. Various methods (e.g. ACCE, HTA, and Wilson and Jungner screening criteria) exist that can help identify appropriate genomic applications. Personal value incorporates preference based informed decision making to ensure that patients are informed about the benefits and harms of the choices available to them and to ensure they make choices based on their values and preferences.

Conclusions

Using triple value principles can help healthcare professionals make reasoned and tough judgements about benefits and tradeoffs when they are exploring the role genomic screening for chronic diseases could play in improving the health of their patients and populations.
Hypoxia and therapeutic treatment of EV-A71 with an immune modulator TLR7 agonist in a new immunocompetent mouse model
Authors: Liou An-Ting , Liao Chun-Che , Chou Shu-Fan , Chang Ya-Shu , Chang Chih-Shin , Shih Chiaho
Published: November 2019

Background

Enterovirus 71 (EV71 or EV-A71) was first identified in California about half a century ago. In recent years, outbreaks of EV-A71 were prevalent worldwide, including Taiwan, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, and China. Between 2008 and 2011, China alone reported 1894 deaths associated with EV-A71 infection. In mild cases, EV-A71 can cause herpangina and hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD). However, in severe cases, it could cause neurological disorders, including meningitis and encephalitis. Cardiopulmonary failure is common among hospitalized children with EV-A71 infection. No effective FDA-approved therapeutics against EV-A71 are clinically available.

Methods

We report the establishment of an immunocompetent wild type strain 129 (wt-129) mouse model, which can be cross-species infected with human EV-A71 clinical isolates via an intraperitoneal route.

Results

One intriguing disease phenotype of this new model is the development of characteristic “White-Jade” patches in the muscle, which lost sporadically the normal pink color of uninfected muscle. Viral VP1 protein and massive leukocyte infiltration were detected in muscles with or without white-jades. We demonstrated further that hypoxia is a general phenomenon associated with white-jades in both immunocompetent and immunodeficient mouse models. Therefore, hypoxia appears to be a feature intrinsic to EV-A71 infection, irrespective of its host’s immunogenetic background. To date, no effective treatment for EV-A71 is available. Here, using this new wt-129 mouse model, we showed that timely treatment with compound R837 (a TLR7 immune modulator) via oral or intraperitoneal routes, rescued the hypoxia, limb paralysis, and death at a high therapeutic efficacy.

Conclusions

In this new immunocompetent mouse 129 model, we observed an unexpected white-jade phenotype and its associated hypoxia. The successful treatment with TLR7 immune modulators via an oral route, provide us a new research direction for EV-A71 basic science and translational research. It remains an open issue whether R837 or its related compounds, will be a promising drug candidate in clinical trials in EV-A71 endemic or epidemic areas in the future.
Aliivibrio wodanis as a production host: development of genetic tools for expression of cold-active enzymes
Authors: Söderberg Jenny Johansson , Grgic Miriam , Hjerde Erik , Haugen Peik
Published: November 2019

Background

Heterologous production of cold-adapted proteins currently represents one of the greatest bottlenecks in the ongoing bioprospecting efforts to find new enzymes from low-temperature environments, such as, the polar oceans that represent essentially untapped resources in this respect. In mesophilic expression hosts such asEscherichia coli, cold-adapted enzymes often form inactive aggregates. Therefore it is necessary to develop new low-temperature expression systems, including identification of new host organisms and complementary genetic tools. Psychrophilic bacteria, includingPseudoalteromonas haloplanktis,ShewanellaandRhodococcus erythropolishave all been explored as candidates for such applications. However to date none of these have found widespread use as efficient expression systems, or are commercially available. In the present work we explored the use of the sub-Arctic bacteriumAliivibrio wodanisas a potential host for heterologous expression of cold-active enzymes.

Results

We tested 12 bacterial strains, as well as available vectors, promoters and reporter systems. We used RNA-sequencing to determine the most highly expressed genes and their intrinsic promoters inA. wodanis. In addition we examined a novel 5′-fusion to stimulate protein production and solubility. Finally we tested production of a set of “difficult-to-produce” enzymes originating from various bacteria and one Archaea. Our results show that cold-adapted enzymes can be produced in soluble and active form, even in cases when protein production failed inE. colidue to the formation of inclusion bodies. Moreover, we identified a 60-bp/20-aa fragment from the 5′-end of the AW0309160_00174 gene that stimulates expression of Green Fluorescent Protein and improves production of cold-active enzymes when used as a 5′-fusion. A 25-aa peptide from the same protein enhanced secretion of a 25-aa-sfGFP fusion.

Conclusions

Our results indicate the use ofA. wodanisand associated genetic tools for low-temperature protein production and indicate thatA. wodanisrepresents an interesting platform for further development of a protein production system that can promote further cold-enzyme discoveries.
Changes in inequality in utilization of preventive care services: evidence on China’s 2009 and 2015 health system reform
Authors: Xu Yongjian , Zhang Tao , Wang Duolao
Published: November 2019

Background

Ensuring equal access to preventive care has always been given a priority in health system throughout world. This study aimed to decompose inequality in utilization of preventive care services into its contributing factors and then explore its changes over the period of China’s 2009–2015 health system reform.

Methods

The concentration index (CI) and decomposition of the CI was performed to capture income-related inequalities in preventive services utilization and identify contribution of various determinants to such inequality using data from China Health and Nutrition Survey. Then, changes in inequality from 2009 to 2015 were estimated using Oaxaca-type decomposition technique.

Results

The CI for preventive services utilization dropped from 0.2240 in 2009 to 0.1825 in 2015. Residential location and household income made the biggest contributions to income-related inequalities in these two years. Oaxaca decomposition revealed changes in residential location, regions and medical insurance made positive contributions to decline in inequality. However, alternation in household income, age and medical services utilization pushed the equality toward deterioration.

Conclusion

The pro-rich inequality in preventive healthcare services usage is evident in China despite a certain decline in such inequality during observation period. Policy actions on eliminating urban-rural and income disparity should be given the priority to equalize preventive healthcare.
Short- and long-term outcomes of totally robotic versus robotic-assisted radical distal gastrectomy for advanced gastric cancer: a mono-institution retrospective study
Authors: Luo Rui , Liu Dongning , Ye Shanping , Tang Hechun , Zhu Weiquan , He Penghui , Tang Cheng , Li Taiyuan
Published: November 2019

Purpose

By comparing short- and long-term outcomes following totally robotic radical distal gastrectomy (TRDG) and robotic-assisted radical distal gastrectomy (RADG), we aimed to assess in which modus operandi patients will benefit more.

Methods

From January 2015 to May 2019, we included 332 patients undergone RADG (237) and TRDG (95). Based on the propensity score matching (PSM), inclusion and exclusion criteria, 246 patients were finally included in the propensity score-matched cohort including RADG group (164) and TRDG group (82). We then compared the short- and long-term outcomes following both groups.

Results

Propensity score-matched cohort revealed no significant differences in both groups. Intra-abdominal bleeding, time to pass flatus, postoperative activity time, length of incision hospital stays, and stress response were significantly less in TRDG group than in RADG group. We observed 30 complications in RADG group while 13 complications in TRDG group. There were no significant differences in TRDG group and RADG group in terms of operation time, time for anastomosis, proximal resection, distal resection margin, number of lymph node resection, and total hospitalization cost. Both 3-year overall survival and 3-year disease-free survival were comparable in both groups.

Conclusions

TRDG is a safe and feasible modus operandi profiting from short- and long-term outcomes compared with RADG. As surgeons improving their professional skills, TRDG could serve as the standard procedure for distal locally advanced gastric cancer with D2 lymphadenectomy.
Association of N6-methyladenosine with viruses and related diseases
Authors: Wu Fang , Cheng Wenzhao , Zhao Feiyuan , Tang Mingqing , Diao Yong , Xu Ruian
Published: November 2019

Background

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most prevalent internal modification of eukaryotic mRNA modulating gene expression. m6A modification is a dynamic reversible process regulated by three protein groups: methyltransferases (writers), demethylases (erasers), and m6A-binding proteins (readers). m6A modification is involved in all phases of RNA metabolism, including RNA folding, stability, splicing, nuclear exporting, translational modulation and degradation.

Main body

In recent years, numerous studies have reported that abnormal m6A modification causes aberrant expression of important viral genes. Herein, we review the role of m6A in viral lifecycle and its contribution to the pathogenesis of human diseases. Particularly, we focus on the viruses associated with human diseases such as HIV-1, IAV, HBV, HCV, EBV and many others.

Conclusions

A better understanding of m6A-virus relationship would provide new insights into the viral replication process and pathogenesis of human diseases caused by viruses. In addition, exploration of the role of m6A in disease-causing viruses will reveal novel approaches for the treatment of such diseases.
Impact of mouse contamination in genomic profiling of patient-derived models and best practice for robust analysis
Authors: Jo Se-Young , Kim Eunyoung , Kim Sangwoo
Published: November 2019

Background

Patient-derived xenograft and cell line models are popular models for clinical cancer research. However, the inevitable inclusion of a mouse genome in a patient-derived model is a remaining concern in the analysis. Although multiple tools and filtering strategies have been developed to account for this, research has yet to demonstrate the exact impact of the mouse genome and the optimal use of these tools and filtering strategies in an analysis pipeline.

Results

We construct a benchmark dataset of 5 liver tissues from 3 mouse strains using human whole-exome sequencing kit. Next-generation sequencing reads from mouse tissues are mappable to 49% of the human genome and 409 cancer genes. In total, 1,207,556 mouse-specific alleles are aligned to the human genome reference, including 467,232 (38.7%) alleles with high sensitivity to contamination, which are pervasive causes of false cancer mutations in public databases and are signatures for predicting global contamination. Next, we assess the performance of 8 filtering methods in terms of mouse read filtration and reduction of mouse-specific alleles. All filtering tools generally perform well, although differences in algorithm strictness and efficiency of mouse allele removal are observed. Therefore, we develop a best practice pipeline that contains the estimation of contamination level, mouse read filtration, and variant filtration.

Conclusions

The inclusion of mouse cells in patient-derived models hinders genomic analysis and should be addressed carefully. Our suggested guidelines improve the robustness and maximize the utility of genomic analysis of these models.
Disease activity improvements with optimal discriminatory ability between treatment arms: applicability in early and established rheumatoid arthritis clinical trials
Authors: Smolen Josef , Fleischmann Roy , Aletaha Daniel , Li Yihan , Zhou Yijie , Sainsbury Iain , Galindo Ivan Lagunes
Published: November 2019

Background

The ACR20 has been validated as the best discriminator of efficacy in placebo-controlled trials, but not in head-to-head trials comparing effective therapies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We assessed the most discriminatory ACR response and most discriminatory percent improvement in disease activity measures for Simplified Disease Activity index (SDAI), Clinical Disease Activity index (CDAI), and 28-joint Disease Activity Score based on C-reactive protein (DAS28(CRP)) using different patient populations and trial designs.

Methods

Data from two placebo-controlled studies in established RA and two head-to-head studies in early RA were analyzed. The numeric ACR response for each treatment and P value for the difference between treatments were calculated at multiple time points to determine the ACR response associated with the lowest P value. Similarly, values for percent improvement from baseline in SDAI, CDAI, and DAS28(CRP) with the most discrimination between treatments were examined.

Results

In the head-to-head early RA trials, the minimum P value and greatest treatment difference between the active comparator arms at 6 months was achieved at higher ACR rates and greater percent improvements in other disease activity measures. In established RA, lower responses (minimum P value and maximum treatment difference) and smaller improvements in disease activity scores had better discriminatory ability at 6 months.

Conclusions

The most discriminatory ACR response rate and percent improvement in disease activity measures were higher in head-to-head active comparator trials in early RA versus placebo-controlled trials in established RA. This difference should be considered in future clinical trial designs.

Trial registration

NCT00195663, NCT00420927, NCT00195702.
Cervicovestibular rehabilitation in adult with mild traumatic brain injury: a randomised controlled trial protocol
Authors: Langevin Pierre , Fait Philippe , Frémont Pierre , Roy Jean-Sébastien
Published: November 2019

Background

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is an acknowledged public health problem. Up to 25% of adult with mTBI present persistent symptoms. Headache, dizziness, nausea and neck pain are the most commonly reported symptoms and are frequently associated with cervical spine and vestibular impairments. The most recent international consensus statement (2017 Berlin consensus) recommends the addition of an individualized rehabilitation approach for mTBI with persistent symptoms. The addition of an individualized rehabilitation approach including the evaluation and treatment of cervical and vestibular impairments leading to symptoms such as neck pain, headache and dizziness is, however, recommended based only on limited scientific evidence. The benefit of such intervention should therefore be further investigated.

Objective

To compare the addition of a 6-week individualized cervicovestibular rehabilitation program to a conventional approach of gradual sub-threshold physical activation (SPA) alone in adults with persistent headache, neck pain and/or dizziness-related following a mTBI on the severity of symptoms and on other indicators of clinical recovery. We hypothesize that such a program will improve all outcomes faster than a conventional approach (between-group differences at 6-week and 12-week).

Methods

In this single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial, 46 adults with subacute (3 to12 weeks post-injury) persistent mTBI symptoms will be randomly assigned to: 1) a 6-week SPA program or 2) SPA combined with a cervicovestibular rehabilitation program. The cervicovestibular rehabilitation program will include education, cervical spine manual therapy and exercises, vestibular rehabilitation and home exercises. All participants will take part in 4 evaluation sessions (baseline, week 6, 12 and 26) performed by a blinded evaluator. The primary outcome will be the Post-Concussion Symptoms Scale. The secondary outcomes will be time to clearance to return to function, number of recurrent episodes, Global Rating of Change, Numerical Pain Rating Scale, Neck Disability Index, Headache Disability Inventory and Dizziness Handicap Inventory. A 2-way ANOVA and an intention-to-treat analysis will be used.

Discussion

Controlled trials are needed to determine the best rehabilitation approach for mTBI with persistent symptoms such as neck pain, headache and dizziness. This RCT will be crucial to guide future clinical management recommendations.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.govIdentifier -NCT03677661, Registered on September, 15th 2018.
Immediate effect of ACL kinesio taping technique on knee joint biomechanics during a drop vertical jump: a randomized crossover controlled trial
Authors: Limroongreungrat Weerawat , Boonkerd Chuanpis
Published: November 2019

Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of an ACL Kinesio Taping technique (ACL-KT) on knee joint biomechanics during a drop vertical jump (DVJ).

Methods

Twenty healthy male participants (age 21.1±0.3 years; mass 64.2±4.3 kg; height 174.2±5.5 cm) participated in this study. The participants performed a DVJ and landed onto 2 adjacent force platforms under both ACL-KT and placebo (PT) conditions. All data were collected with 3-D motion analysis and comparison peak knee joint angles and moments, and knee joint angle at initial contact (IC) between conditions analyzed using a paired sample t-test. Statistical parametric mapping (SPM) was selected to assess difference between groups for the entire three-component knee trajectory during the contact phase.

Results

ACL-KT had a significant effect on decreasing knee abduction angle at IC (1.43±2.12 deg.) compared with the PT (−1.24±2.42 deg.) (p=0.04). A significant difference in knee abduction angle between the taping conditions was found between 100 ms before IC, at IC and 100 ms after IC (p<0.05). There were no significant differences (p>0.05) found between conditions in any of the other variables.

Conclusion

This result confirmed that the application of ACL-KT is useful to reduce knee abduction angle at IC during a DVJ in healthy participants. Therefore, ACL-KT may be an acceptable intervention to reduce ACL injury risk.

Trial registration

Retrospective registered on 25 September 2018. Trial number: TCTR20180926005
Seismic Performance of Precast Concrete Columns with Improved U-type Reinforcement Ferrule Connections
Authors: Yu Zhiwu , Lv Xiaoyong , Yu Yujie , Ding Faxing , Peng Xiaodan
Published: November 2019

This paper proposes a new kind of U-type reinforcement ferrule (URF) connection for the assembly of precast concrete (PC) components, which has a good fault-tolerance ability and low cost of construction with a simple post-grouting process. The modified connection features welded U ferrules, which can increase the bonding mechanism and internal stress transmission in the spliced region. A series of quasi-static cyclic tests were performed on URF-connected PC columns with different welding patterns. Comprehensive comparisons were performed on the load-bearing capacity, the plastic energy dissipation ability, the internal force transmission, the column ductility and the stiffness. The results indicated that PC columns with welded URF connections can ensure better lateral resistance than the cast-in-place concrete column. The weld type and length influence the connection performance, and the 15d-welded and full-length welded URF connections presented better connection performance and were suggested for the assembly of PC columns. Then, finite element analyses were performed to further reveal the working and failure mechanisms and the affecting mechanism of some working parameters. Parametric simulations indicated that the increase in the axial load ratio and the concrete strength in the postcast region had a slight but limited effect on improving the lateral resistance of the column connection.
Maternal imprinting of the neonatal microbiota colonization in intrauterine growth restricted piglets: a review
Authors: Jiang Lili , Feng Cuiping , Tao Shiyu , Li Na , Zuo Bin , Han Dandan , Wang Junjun
Published: November 2019

Early colonization of intestinal microbiota during the neonatal stage plays an important role on the development of intestinal immune system and nutrients absorption of the host. Compared to the normal birth weight (NBW) piglets, intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) piglets have a different intestinal microbiota during their early life, which is related to maternal imprinting on intestinal microbial succession during gestation, at birth and via suckling. Imbalanced allocation of limited nutrients among fetuses during gestation could be one of the main causes for impaired intestinal development and microbiota colonization in neonatal IUGR piglets. In this review, we summarized the potential impact of maternal imprinting on the colonization of the intestinal microbiota in IUGR piglets, including maternal undernutrition, imbalanced allocation of nutrients among fetuses, as well as vertical microbial transmission from mother to offspring during gestation and lactation. At the same time, we give information about the current maternal nutritional strategies (mainly breastfeeding, probiotics and prebiotics) to help colonization of the advantageous intestinal microbiota for IUGR piglets.
Designing a VR game for public speaking based on speakers features: a case study
Authors: El-Yamri Meriem , Romero-Hernandez Alejandro , Gonzalez-Riojo Manuel , Manero Borja
Published: November 2019

Oratory or the art of public speaking with eloquence has been cultivated since ancient times. However, the fear of speaking in public -a disproportionate reaction to the threatening situation of facing an audience- affects a very important part of the population. This work arises from the need to help alleviate this fear through a tool where to train the ability of public speaking. To this purpose, we built a virtual reality system that offers the speaker a safe environment to practice presentations. Since the audience is the only way to receive feedback when giving a speech, our system offer s a virtual audience that reacts and gives real-time feedback based on the emotions conveyed by three parameters: voice tone, speech content and speaker’s gaze. In this paper, we detail the modelling of a behavioural-realistic audience just focusing on the speakers’ voice tone: 1) by presenting an algorithm that controls the audience’ reactions based on the emotions beamed by the speaker, and 2) by carrying out an experiment comparing the reactions generated by the agents with those of a real audience to the same speech, in order to refine the given algorithm. In this experiment, the audience subjects are asked to fill a questionnaire - level of engagement and perceived emotions - for a speech performed by professional actors representing different emotions. Afterwards, we compared the reactions of said audience with the ones generated by our algorithm, and used the results to improve it.
BRInging the Diabetes prevention program to GEriatric populations (BRIDGE): a feasibility study
Authors: Beasley Jeannette M. , Kirshner Lindsey , Wylie-Rosett Judith , Sevick Mary Ann , DeLuca Laura , Chodosh Joshua
Published: November 2019

Background

The purpose of this 6-week intervention was to test the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a telehealth-adapted Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) at a senior center.

Methods

Older adults (n = 16) attended weekly interactive webinars. At each measurement time point, participants completed questionnaires covering lifestyle, physical activity, quality of life, and food records and wore physical activity trackers. Qualitative data were gathered from 2 focus groups inviting all 16 participants with 13 and 10 participants attending, respectively.

Results

Over 2000 senior center members were contacted, approximately 2% (n = 39) responded to the recruitment email, and 16 were recruited into the study. Retention was 75%, and attendance rates averaged 80% across the six intervention sessions. The focus group participants provided positive opinions for most program components, especially the webinar group interaction and using physical activity trackers. Suggestions for improvement included a greater focus on specific needs of older adults (i.e., adapting activities) and placing a greater emphasis on dietary strategies to prevent diabetes. Mean weight loss was 2.9% (2.7 kg [95% CI 1.6, 3.7]; p value = 0.001).

Conclusion

The feasibility of providing DPP via webinar appears to be high based on the retention and attendance rates. Similar to other behavioral interventions engaging older adults, recruitment rates were low. Acceptability was evidenced by high attendance at the intervention sessions and feedback from participants during focus group sessions. The intervention efficacy should be evaluated based on CDC criteria for program recognition in a larger scale randomized trial.

Trial registration

NCT03524404. Registered 14 May 2018—retrospectively registered. Trial protocol will be provided by the corresponding author upon request.
Antifungal activity and resistance induction against Sclerotium cepivorum by plant growth-promoting fungi in onion plants
Authors: Elsharkawy Mohsen Mohamed , El-Khateeb Nagwa Mohamed Mohamed
Published: November 2019

The influence of the inoculation with plant growth-promoting fungi (PGPF) isolates on growth enhancement of onion plants and progress of white rot disease in onions, caused by Sclerotium cepivorum, was evaluated. The tested PGPF isolates were Phoma sp. GS8-1, Phoma sp. GS 8-3, Trichoderma asperellum SKT-1, Fusarium equiseti GF18-3 and Penicillium simplicissmum GP17-2. Abnormal shape and lysis in the mycelia of the pathogen were reported in dual cultures of PGPF and S. cepivorum using scanning electron microscopy. The germination of sclerotia was reduced after soaking in culture filtrates of PGPF. The highest reduction was recorded in P. simplicissmum GP17-2 treatment (70.85%). The results demonstrated that the treatments with PGPF isolates significantly enhanced the plant height, root length, bulb perimeter and plant dry weight. Additionally, PGPF clearly reduced disease severity of white rot disease of onions. Among PGPF isolates, T. asperellum SKT-1 and P. simplicissmum GP17-2 showed the best effects in reducing the incidence and severity of white rot and enhancing onion growth. On the other hand, the levels of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase were improved in the treated onion plants than in the untreated plants at 7 days after induction treatments. Similarly, early and strong expressions of defence genes, PR1 and PR2, were reported in plants treated with PGPF. Overall, this research suggested that PGPF treatments generated favourable effects on the suppression of white rot disease of onions.
Wurster Fluidised Bed Coating of Microparticles: Towards Scalable Production of Oral Sustained-Release Liquid Medicines for Patients with Swallowing Difficulties
Authors: Mohylyuk Valentyn , Patel Kavil , Scott Nathan , Richardson Craig , Murnane Darragh , Liu Fang
Published: November 2019

Suspension of microparticles in an easy-to-swallow liquid is one approach to develop sustained-release formulations for children and patients with swallowing difficulties. However, to date production of sustained-release microparticles at the industrial scale has proven to be challenging. The aim of this investigation was to develop an innovative concept in coating sustained-release microparticles using industrial scalable Wurster fluidised bed to produce oral liquid suspensions. Microcrystalline cellulose cores (particle size <150 μm) were coated with Eudragit® NM 30 D and Eudragit® RS/RL 30 D aqueous dispersions using a fluidised bed coater. A novel approach of periodic addition of a small quantity (0.1% w/w) of dry powder glidant, magnesium stearate, to the coating chamber via an external port was applied throughout the coating process. This method significantly increased coating production yield from less than 50% to up to 99% compared to conventional coating process without the dry powder glidant. Powder rheology tests showed that dry powder glidants increased the tapped density and decreased the cohesive index of coated microparticles. Reproducible microencapsulation of a highly water-soluble drug, metoprolol succinate, was achieved, yielding coated microparticles less than 200 μm in size with 20-h sustained drug release, suitable for use in liquid suspensions. The robust, scalable technology presented in this study offers an important solution to the long-standing challenges of formulating sustained-release dosage forms suitable for children and older people with swallowing difficulties.
Kinetics and Interrelations of the Renin Aldosterone Response to Acute Psychosocial Stress: A Neglected Stress System
Authors: Gideon Angelina , Sauter Christine , Fieres Judy , Berger Thilo , Renner Britta , Wirtz Petra H
Published: November 2019

Context

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) plays an important role in cardiovascular homeostasis and its dysfunction relates to negative health consequences. Acute psychosocial stress seems to activate the RAAS in humans, but stress kinetics and interrelations of RAAS parameters compared with a nonstress control group remain inconclusive.

Objective

We systematically investigated in a randomized placebo-controlled design stress kinetics and interrelations of the reactivity of RAAS parameters measured in plasma and saliva to standardized acute psychosocial stress induction.

Methods

58 healthy young men were assigned to either a stress or a placebo control group. The stress group underwent the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST), while the control group underwent the placebo TSST. We repeatedly assessed plasma renin, and plasma and salivary aldosterone before and up to 3 hours after stress/placebo. We simultaneously assessed salivary cortisol to validate successful stress induction and to test for interrelations.

Results

Acute psychosocial stress induced significant increases in all endocrine measures compared with placebo-stress (all P ≤ .041). Highest renin levels were observed 1 minute after stress, and highest aldosterone and cortisol levels 10 and 20 minutes after stress, with salivary aldosterone starting earlier at 1 minute after stress. Renin completed recovery at 10 minutes, cortisol at 60 minutes, salivary aldosterone at 90 minutes, and plasma aldosterone at 180 minutes after stress. Stress increase scores of all endocrine measures related to each other, as did renin and cortisol areas under the curve with respect to increase (AUCi) and salivary and plasma aldosterone AUCi (all P ≤ .047).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that in humans acute psychosocial stress induces a differential and interrelated RAAS parameter activation pattern. Potential implications for stress-related cardiovascular risk remain to be elucidated.
Understanding Thyroid Cell Stress
Authors: Morshed Syed A , Davies Terry F
Published: November 2019

Understanding the regulatory mechanisms that control intracellular stress has fundamental importance since its failure results in cell death. Evidence has emerged indicating that the intracellular signals that are induced in response to diverse stresses include the deoxyribonucleic acid damage response, the unfolded protein response, the mitochondrial and/or endoplasmic reticulum stress responses, and the autophagy signals to degrade dangerous protein aggregates. These signals bring changes to the stressed cells that may support systemic homeostasis or contribute to disease pathology. In normal thyroid cells, both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidant (AOD) activity is low. An increase in ROS balanced by AOD leads only to mild inflammation, but unopposed increases in ROS lead to a strong inflammatory response and may result in apoptosis. A balance between ROS and AOD is, therefore, needed to maintain thyrocyte homeostasis. This perspective describes how thyroid cells are subjected to multiple insults and how they try to protect themselves using these different cellular responses.
Knowledge and practices about breastfeeding in rural areas of Rajshahi District, Bangladesh: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Mat Min Ruhani , Hossain Md Mosharaf
Published: November 2019

Background: Breastfeeding is an important indicator for child health and mortality. The aim of this study was to determine the level of knowledge and practices regarding EBF and its relation to various socio-economic and demographic factors among mothers with at least one child age (6-12 years) in the rural areas of the Rajshahi district in Bangladesh.

Methods: A study based at village hospitals was conducted and a semi-structured questionnaire was used. A total of 513 mothers who had at least one child's age (6-12) months from 32 different village hospitals in rural areas of the Rajshahi District, Bangladesh from September to December 2015. The composite index, chi-square test and binary logistic regression model were used in this study.

Results: The incidence of EBF good knowledge and practices was 32.0% and 27.9% among mothers with at least one child age (6-12) months. The analysis shows that the age of mothers ≥ 31 years have less knowledge and practice about EBF compared to mothers aged ≤ 30 years. Mothers who are housewives had a higher probability of good knowledge and practice than mothers who were service providers. Nursing mothers at home have less knowledge and practices about EBF than mothers who gave birth in the hospital. Mothers that had a monthly family income of ≤ 6 699 BDT had less knowledge and practices about EBF compared to mothers with a family income of >6 699 BDT.

Conclusions: This study showed a huge gap in EBF knowledge and practices among mothers who have at least one child age (6-12) months. This study suggests that EBF education and interventions can play an important role in increasing EBF good knowledge and practices among mothers with at least one-to-one (6-12) months of age children. Malnutrition will be reduced if the EBF is widely established in Bangladesh.
Making the invisible visible: the availability and desirability of adherence data in routine CF care– findings from a national questionnaire survey
Authors: Robinson Louisa , Maguire Chin , Hoo Zhe Hui , Wildman Martin J.
Published: November 2019

Background: Inhaled medications for cystic fibrosis (CF) are effective but adherence is low. Clinicians find it difficult to estimate how much treatment people with CF (PWCF) take, whilst objective adherence measurement demonstrates that patients are poorly calibrated with a tendency to over-estimate actual adherence. The diagnostic approach to a PWCF with deteriorating clinical status and very low adherence is likely to be different to the approach to a deteriorating patient with optimal adherence. Access to objective adherence data in routine consultations could help to overcome diagnostic challenges for clinicians and people with CF. Attitudes of clinicians to the use and importance of routinely available adherence data is unknown.

Methods: We conducted an online questionnaire survey with UK CF centres. We asked five questions relating to the current use and perception of objective measurements of adherence in routine care.

Results: A total of eight CF centres completed the questionnaire. Few of the responding centres have adherence data readily available in routine clinics (13% of centres use medicines possession ratio; of centres with access to I-nebs® it was estimated that 17% of patients had I-neb data regularly available in clinics). All centres considered the availability of objectively measured adherence data to be important. Respondents identified that systems developed to provide adherence data in clinical practice must provide data to both clinicians and patients that is readily understood and easy to use.

Conclusions: Centres perceived the availability of adherence data in routine care to be important but objective measures of adherence is rarely available at present.
Industrial ecology
Authors: Никифоров Леонид , Nikiforov Lyeonid
Published: November 2019

In the tutorial considered the issues of industrial ecology with which the future engineers will have to deal with in the course of their employment. General information on environmental protection, basic information from normative documents are given. Much attention is paid to the protection of atmospheric air from emissions of pollutants, treatment of industrial and surface wastewater, waste disposal.
Meets the requirements of the Federal state educational standards of higher education of the last generation.
It is intended for studying by students of technical specialties of food universities, and also will be useful to engineering and technical workers.
Adsorption of cationic dye onto Moroccan natural rock
Authors: AM Amira , Ouzidan Fatima , Ainane Tarik , Talbi Mohamed , El Kouali M'hammed
Published: November 2019

This paper evaluates the ability of a natural rock found in Morocco to remove the pollutant properties of methylene blue (MB) dye. In this regard, the experiments were conceived to test the hypothesis that the rock native of the country’s region of Khenifra can be used as a new abundant adsorbent to remove cationic dyes from water through the adsorption technique in order to avoid extra cost and contribute to the valorization of this material. For this, several factors such as pH of the solution, granulometry, mass of adsorbent, initial dye concentration and stirring rate were tested. The adsorption kinetics process was tested through three models, namely, the pseudo-first-order model, pseudo-second-order model and the intraparticle diffusion model, to predict which type of adsorption is best suited in the removal of dye pollution. The batch study proves that only the granulometry (G ≤ 63µm = 91%, G ≤ 80µm = 88.4% and G ≤ 100µm=70.7%) and the adsorbent mass (the more the mass of the adsorbent increases the more the elimination is achieved) can influence the elimination rate of our rock. Meanwhile, the data of the adsorption kinetics test show that the experimental adsorption could be described by the mechanism of the pseudo-second-order model (correlation coefficients near the unit ‘R 2 = 0.99’ ), confirming chemical sorption as a rate-limiting step of the intraparticle diffusion mechanism. According to the results of this study, the rock collected from the area of Khenifra can be used as a new and efficient adsorbent in the field of wastewater treatment.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure and IR Spectrum studies of 2-(4-Methyl-2-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-oxazol-4-ylmethyl)- isoindole-1,3-dione
Authors: Anouar Alami , Dioukhane Khadim , Aouine Younas , El Omari Mohamed , El Ammari Lahcen , Saadi Mohamed , Assani Abderrazzak , Ouarsal Rachid
Published: November 2019

The organo-amino compound of title 2-(4-methyl-2-phenyl-4,5-dihydro-oxazol-4-ylmethyl)-isoindole-1,3-dione was synthesized by the mixture of (4-methyl-2-phenyl-4,5-dihydrooxazol-4-yl)methyl-4-methylbenzenesulfonate and isoindoline-1,3-dione in N,N-dimethylformamide with a yield of around 65%. The structural study of the compound, C19H16N2O3, is realized using single crystal X-Ray diffraction which shows that this compound crystallizes in the monoclinic system (P21/c, Z = 4) with the unit cell parameters: a = 14.3728 (13) Ã…, b = 9.6829 (10) Ã…, c = 11.8964 (12) Ã… and Î² = 107.384 (3). The refinement of the structure by the least-squares method with complete matrix leads to the following reliability factors R/Rw are 0.044/0.130.In the crystal, the molecules are linked together by hydrogen bonds and Ï€â€¦Ï€ interactions.The Infrared spectroscopic studies show the bands confirming the presence of the groups C=O, C-O, C-N, -CH3, -CH2 and =CH.
Hydrothermal Sol-gel TiO2 Nanoparticles fixed to Clay and its Photocatalytic Application for the Degradation of Methyl Orange
Authors: Pohan Aliou , Goure-Doubi Hervé , Kouyate Amadou , Nasir Muhammad , Visa Maria , Ouattara Lassiné
Published: November 2019

In this paper, Clay-TiO2 nanomaterials were synthesized via hydrothermal sol-gel method using Ivorian clays and titanium tetra-isopropoxide as precursors. The synthesized composite was characterized through XRD, SEM/EDX, FTIR and BET surface measurements. The photocatalytic activity of composite towards the degradation of methyl orange (MO), a model pollutant, has been investigated under UV and simulated solar radiation. Comparative experiments done in a solution with and without H2O2 indicate an increase in efficiency for methyl orange removal from the polluted water in the presence of H2O2. The optimized parameters (contact time, amount of nanocomposite and amount of Fe2+/H2O2) allowed to reach removal efficiency up to 60 % of MO. Immobilization of TiO2 on clay facilitate repeated using of nanomaterials, two time.
A DFT reinvestigation of chemo- and stereoselectivity epoxidation from α- and ɣ-trans himachalene with meta Chloroperoxybenzoic acid
Authors: Ouled Aitouna Abdelhak , Bahsis Lahoucine , Ben El Ayouchia Hicham , Chekroun Ahmed , Hammal Redouan , Benharref Ahmed
Published: November 2019

In this work the epoxidation reaction of the α- and ɣ-trans himachalene in the presence of meta chloroperoxybenzoic acid (m-CPBA) has been studied within the Density Functional Theory (DFT) method at the B3LYP/6-311G(d,p) level in dichloromethane as a solvent, in order to shed light on the chemo- and stereoselectivity in the course of the reaction. Analysis of the Conceptual Density Functional Theory (CDFT) reactivity indices indicate that the m-CPBA will behave as electrophilic while α- and ɣ-trans himachalene will behave as a nucleophile and the attacks observed experimentally are correctly predicted by the electrophilic Pk + and nucleophilic Pk - Parr functions. The two reactive paths associated with chemo and stereoselectivity approach modes of m-CPBA on C=C reactive sites in α and ɣ-trans himachalene have been analyzed. They showed that m-CPBA reacted as electrophile whereas α- and ɣ- trans himachalene as a nucleophile. The Monoepoxidation of α- and ɣ- trans himachalene leads to the formation of two stereoisomers, on the most substituted double bond "C=C», one of the two is a majority. The diepoxidation reaction of α- and ɣ- trans h
Structural, electronic, optical properties and first-principles calculations of Sr1-xCaxWO4 ceramics
Authors: Ait Haddouch Mohammed , Tamraoui Youssef , Mirinioui Fatima-Ezzahra , Aharbil Youssef , Labrim Hicham , Manoun Bouchaib , Benyoussef Abdelilah , Benmokhtar Said
Published: November 2019

A series of strontium calcium tungstates Sr1-xCaxWO4 powders with (x = 0; 0.25; 0.5; 0.75 and 1.0) were prepared by solid-state reaction method and analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). All these compositions possess a tetragonal scheelite structure with I41/a space group. Raman active vibrational modes in the range from 20 to 1000 cm-1 of the series Sr1-xCaxWO4 with tetragonal structure exhibit 13 modes in arrangement with the Group theory analysis of structural Raman-active modes. The optical properties were investigated using the diffuse reflectance UVâ€“visible absorbance spectrum. Based on Density Functional Theory (DFT) and using full Potential-linearized Augmented Plane Wave (FP-LAPW) method with the Local Density Approximation and the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA), implemented in the Wien2k package, we have investigated electronic and optical properties of all the compositions. The results indicate a decrease in the values of the optical direct bandgap (from 4.29 to 3.87 eV) with the increase of Ca into SrWO4 lattice, which is in good agreement with our experimental results.