bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immediate treatment of acute HIV in a tertiary healthcare center: bridging gaps in communication using smartphones
Authors: Perez‐Patrigeon S , Camiro‐Zúñiga A , Jaramillo‐Jante MR , Belaunzarán‐Zamudio PF , Crabtree‐Ramírez B , Soto‐Ramírez LE , Calva JJ , Hernández‐León C , Mosqueda‐Gómez JL , Navarro‐Alvarez S , Sierra‐Madero JG
Published: March 2019

Objectives

Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) during acute HIV infection is associated with favourable clinical and epidemiological outcomes. Barriers to prompt treatment initiation limit the benefits of universal access to ART in Mexico. We sought to create an algorithm for the immediate detection and treatment of patients with acute HIV infection.

Methods

A nationwide cohort of patients with acute HIV infection was created in 2015. In order to identify cases and treat them promptly at our centre, an interdisciplinary group coordinated through an instant‐messaging tool using smart phones was established. When a probable case was detected, a discussion was initiated to confirm the diagnosis and facilitate the administrative processes to initiate ART as soon as possible. We compared time to ART initiation with that in a comparison group of patients with chronic HIV infection enrolled during the same period (May 2015 to February 2017) through routine care, using survival analysis estimators and log‐rank tests.

Results

We recruited 29 patients with acute HIV infection. The median time to ART initiation was 2 days in these patients, in contrast to 21 days for patients with chronic infection. There were no significant differences in the percentages of patients engaged in care, on treatment or virologically suppressed at 1 year of follow‐up.

Conclusions

Implementing immediate ART initiation programmes is feasible in Mexico, in spite of the substantial administrative barriers that exist in the country. More extensive replication of this model in other centres and in patients with chronic infection is warranted to evaluate its effect on the continuum of care.
Syntactic complexity across proficiency and languages: L2 and L1 writing in Dutch, Italian and Spanish
Authors: Kuiken Folkert , Vedder Ineke
Published: March 2019

This study explores to what extent syntactic complexity as assessed by four types of complexity measures may vary in written, argumentative texts of L2 learners (A2‐B1) and native writers of Dutch, Italian and Spanish. All texts were assessed by calculating both overall complexity measures and more fine‐grained measures that focus on the type and number of coordinate and subordinate structures, and the use of post‐modifiers within the NP. The results of the study indicate that there is variation in the process of gradual complexification in written L2 production across proficiency levels, across languages, and between L2 and L1. In line with findings from earlier research, this study shows the importance of employing both general and more specific complexity measures for assessing syntactic growth in L2.
Feasibility study for the use of self‐collected nasal swabs to identify pathogens among participants of a population‐based surveillance system for acute respiratory infections (GrippeWeb‐Plus)—Germany, 2016
Authors: Haussig Joana M. , Targosz Angelina , Engelhart Susanne , Herzhoff Michael , Prahm Kerstin , Buda Silke , Nitsche Andreas , Haas Walter , Buchholz Udo
Published: March 2019

Background

Internet‐based participatory surveillance systems, such as the German GrippeWeb, monitor the frequency of acute respiratory illnesses on population level. In order to interpret syndromic information better, we devised a microbiological feasibility study (GrippeWeb‐Plus) to test whether self‐collection of anterior nasal swabs is operationally possible, acceptable for participants and can yield valid data.

Methods

We recruited 103 GrippeWeb participants (73 adults and 30 children) and provided them with a kit, instructions and a questionnaire for each sample. In the first half of 2016, participants took an anterior nasal swab and sent it to the Robert Koch Institute whenever an acute respiratory illness occurred. Reporting of illnesses through the GrippeWeb platform continued as usual. We analysed swabs for the presence of human c‐myc‐DNA and 22 viral and bacterial pathogens. After the study, we sent participants an evaluation questionnaire. We analysed timeliness, completeness, acceptability and validity.

Results

One hundred and two participants submitted 225 analysable swabs. Ninety per cent of swabs were taken within 3 days of symptom onset. Eighty‐nine per cent of swabs had a corresponding reported illness in the GrippeWeb system. Ninety‐nine per cent of adults and 96% of children would be willing to participate in a self‐swabbing scheme for a longer period. All swabs contained c‐myc‐DNA. In 119 swabs, we identified any of 14 viruses but no bacteria. The positivity rate of influenza was similar to that in the German physician sentinel.

Conclusion

Self‐collection of anterior nasal swabs proofed to be feasible, was well accepted by participants, gave valid results and was an informative adjunct to syndromic data.
Stage‐ and thermal‐specific genetic architecture for preadult viability in natural populations ofDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Petino Zappala María Alejandra , Satorre Ignacio , Fanara Juan José
Published: March 2019

Studying the processes affecting variation for preadult viability is essential to understand the evolutionary trajectories followed by natural populations. This task requires focusing on the complex nature of the phenotype–genotype relationship by taking into account usually neglected aspects of the phenotype and recognizing the modularity between different ontogenetic stages. Here, we describe phenotypic variability for viability during the larval and pupal stages in lines derived from three natural populations ofDrosophila melanogaster, as well as the variability for phenotypic plasticity and canalization at two different rearing temperatures. The results indicate that the three populations present significant phenotypic differences for preadult viability. Furthermore, distinct aspects of the phenotype (means, plasticity, canalization, plasticity of canalization) are affected by different genetic bases underlying changes in viability in a stage‐ and environment‐specific manner. These findings explain the generalized maintenance of genetic variability for this fitness trait.
A Structural‐Factor Approach to Modeling High‐Dimensional Time Series and Space‐Time Data
Authors: Gao Zhaoxing , Tsay Ruey S.
Published: March 2019

This article considers a structural‐factor approach to modeling high‐dimensional time series and space‐time data by decomposing individual series into trend, seasonal, and irregular components. For ease in analyzing many time series, we employ a time polynomial for the trend, a linear combination of trigonometric series for the seasonal component, and a new factor model for the irregular components. The new factor model simplifies the modeling process and achieves parsimony in parameterization. We propose a Bayesian information criterion to consistently select the order of the polynomial trend and the number of trigonometric functions, and use a test statistic to determine the number of common factors. The convergence rates for the estimators of the trend and seasonal components and the limiting distribution of the test statistic are established under the setting that the number of time series tends to infinity with the sample size, but at a slower rate. We study the finite‐sample performance of the proposed analysis via simulation, and analyze two real examples. The first example considers modeling weekly PM2.5data of 15 monitoring stations in the southern region of Taiwan and the second example consists of monthly value‐weighted returns of 12 industrial portfolios.
House prices and immovable property tax: Evidence from OECD countries
Authors: Oliviero Tommaso , Sacchi Agnese , Scognamiglio Annalisa , Zazzaro Alberto
Published: March 2019

This paper studies the impact of changes in immovable property tax revenues on the growth rate of house prices by analysing a panel of 34 OECD countries over the period 1970–2014. Starting from the annual series of immovable property tax revenues, we isolate years of significant shifts in the property tax regime and study their impact on house prices. We find a strong negative relationship between increases in immovable property tax revenues and house prices. This relationship is robust to the inclusion of cyclical determinants of house prices, country and year fixed effects, and country‐specific linear trends. We also propose an instrumental variable strategy based on countries’ legal origins that confirms a statistically significant negative impact of such taxes in the short run.
Neonatal nurses’ knowledge and beliefs about kangaroo mother care in neonatal intensive care units: A descriptive, cross‐sectional study
Authors: Shattnawi Khulood Kayed , Al‐Ali Nahla , Alnuaimi Karimeh
Published: March 2019

The aim of this study was to assess Jordanian neonatal nurses' knowledge and beliefs toward the application of kangaroo mother care in the neonatal intensive care unit. A cross‐sectional, descriptive survey was performed using a convenience sample of 229 nurses. The findings revealed that the majority of the nurses agreed that kangaroo mother care was beneficial to both mothers and infants; however, 47.2% believed that it was not feasible for all preterm infants. The majority of nurses believed that kangaroo mother care should be restricted to infants on intravenous treatment, intubated, or with an umbilical catheter. The majority of the nurses correctly answered questions regarding kangaroo mother care. A significant relationship was found between the nurses' knowledge and their beliefs toward kangaroo mother care. The findings of this study provide insights into Jordanian nurses' knowledge and beliefs toward the kangaroo mother care approach. If addressed, these findings will help improve the practice and nursing care for preterm infants.
Functional trait evolution in Sphagnum peat mosses and its relationship to niche construction
Authors: Piatkowski Bryan T. , Shaw A. Jonathan
Published: March 2019

Species in the genus Sphagnum create, maintain, and dominate boreal peatlands through ‘extended phenotypes’ that allow these organisms to engineer peatland ecosystems and thereby impact global biogeochemical cycles. One such phenotype is the production of peat, or incompletely decomposed biomass, that accumulates when rates of growth exceed decomposition. Interspecific variation in peat production is thought to be responsible for the establishment and maintenance of ecological gradients such as the microtopographic hummock‐hollow gradient, along which sympatric species sort within communities.

This study investigated the mode and tempo of functional trait evolution across 15 species of Sphagnum using data from the most extensive studies of Sphagnum functional traits to date and phylogenetic comparative methods.

We found evidence for phylogenetic conservatism of the niche descriptor height‐above‐water‐table and of traits related to growth, decay and litter quality. However, we failed to detect the influence of phylogeny on interspecific variation in other traits such as shoot density and suggest that environmental context can obscure phylogenetic signal. Trait correlations indicate possible adaptive syndromes that may relate to niche and its construction.

This study is the first to formally test the extent to which functional trait variation among Sphagnum species is a result of shared evolutionary history.
Deaths due to thermal injury from cigarette smoking in a 13‐year national cohort of nursing home residents
Authors: Holmes Alice L. , Bugeja Lyndal , Young Carmel , Ibrahim Joseph Elias
Published: March 2019

Objectives

To examine the nature and frequency of deaths due to thermal injuries from cigarette smoking reported to Australian coroners and to examine the decisions which surround these deaths.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting and participants

Residents dwelling in accredited nursing homes whose deaths were reported to coroners between 1 July 2000 and 30 June 2013 and attributed to thermal injuries from cigarette smoking.

Measures

A descriptive analysis was undertaken to report socio‐demographic characteristics of the deceased, medical history, mobility, level of observation, safety equipment provided/used, nursing home location, decision to smoke, timing of incident, time from incident to death, incident findings, mechanism of death, formal reports attached and coroners’ recommendations.

Results

Ten deaths of nursing home residents due to thermal injury from cigarette smoking were reported in Australia over a 13‐year period. The median age of residents was 78 years (IQR = 15.25); nine residents were female and one was male. Seven residents had impaired mobility with three residents being wheelchair bound and one resident bed bound. None of the residents were supervised by staff while they smoked, and none of the residents utilised any safety equipment to minimise harm. Burns/thermal injury was the mechanism of harm in most cases.

Conclusions

This national study confirms that thermal injuries caused by cigarette smoking in nursing homes result in fatalities, particularly in the absence of supervision. It also demonstrates the complex tension arising from balancing autonomy with safety.

Implications for practice

Nurses and aged care practitioners should endeavour to give effect to each resident’s wishes while mitigating the risk of harm. The supervision requirements for cigarette smoking residents should be tailored to the needs of individual residents and staff should try to ensure that residents who require supervision receive it.
The effects of wellness coaching on the wellness and health behaviors of early adolescents
Authors: Altunkurek Serife Zehra , Bebis Hatice
Published: March 2019

Objective

This study evaluated the impact of a wellness coaching program on the health behaviors of eighth‐grade students.

Design and Sample

The study population comprised 132 adolescents (Wellness Coaching Group n = 33, Health Education Group n = 33, Control Group n = 66).

Methods

A pretest/posttest randomized controlled study was used. Students completed a demographic information form, the Five‐Factor Wellness Scale—Adolescent Form (5F‐Wellness‐AF) and the Adolescent Lifestyle Scale (ALPS). The wellness coaching program of group education, individual consulting, physical activity, and health education was provided for 12 weeks.

Results

The data indicated a significant difference in the total 5F‐Wellness‐AF and ALPS scores after the program. No statistically significant difference was observed in the total scores of the two scales for the Health Education Group, while the Control Group's 5F‐Wellness‐AF mean score declined after the intervention. At the beginning of the study, 15.2% of students in the wellness coaching program were overweight; this percentage decreased to 9.1% at the end of the study.

Conclusions

This wellness coaching program significantly increased the wellness of adolescents and improved their healthy lifestyle behaviors. This program can be used together with health education provided by a public health nurse.
E‐participation Opportunities and the Ambiguous Role of Corruption: A Model of Municipal Responsiveness to Sociopolitical Factors
Authors: Ingrams Alex , Schachter Hindy Lauer
Published: March 2019

Municipalities ostensibly scale the ladder of e‐participation improvement to gain legitimacy. However, research has not yet addressed how e‐participation initiatives are affected by serious legitimacy concerns such as corruption. One municipal response to corruption is to use e‐participation offerings as a remedial effort to gain citizen trust, but window‐dressing strategies might also be used. In this article, the authors attempt to make sense of this ambiguity by hypothesizing that the effects of perceived corruption on e‐participation offerings depend on the type of e‐participation as well as the level of local social capital and local public accountability demand. Analysis of data from 104 municipal websites in South Africa between 2013 and 2017 reveals support for two moderation mechanisms: (1) a positive remedial response to corruption in the presence of strong social capital and (2) a negative avoidance response to corruption in the presence of high demand for accountability.
“Discrimination” versus “Unfair Treatment”: Measuring Differential Treatment and its Association with Health
Authors: Grollman Eric Anthony , Hagiwara Nao
Published: March 2019

There is consistent evidence of the health‐harming effects of discrimination. However, it remains unclear whether discrimination contributes to persistent racial and ethnic health disparities. One hindrance to documenting the association between discrimination and health disparities is ongoing methodological issues, particularly the role of question wording in assessing self‐reports of discrimination. Using two nationally representative surveys, we investigate whether the prevalence, distribution, and mental and physical health consequences of differential treatment vary by question wording—”discrimination” versus “unfair treatment.” We find that “unfair treatment” yields greater reports of everyday forms of differential treatment relative to reports of “discrimination,” while the latter yields greater reports of major forms of differential treatment. In addition, the negative effect of “unfair treatment” on mental health is stronger than that of “discrimination,” while the latter has a stronger negative effect on physical health. However, the effect of question wording on reports of differential treatment and its association with health is largely unique to non‐Hispanic whites. We conclude that unfair treatment and discrimination reflect distinct concepts that should not be used interchangeably.
Membrane raft redox signalling contributes to endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodelling of thoracic aorta in angiotensin II‐infused rats
Authors: Wei Jian , Xu Lian , Du Ya‐Nan , Tang Xiao‐Feng , Ye Mao‐Qing , Wu Yong‐Jie , Han Wei‐Qing , Gao Ping‐Jin
Published: March 2019

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Is the membrane raft redox signalling pathway involved in blood pressure increase, endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodelling in an angiotensin II‐induced hypertensive animal model?

What is the main finding and its importance?

The membrane raft redox signalling pathway was involved in endothelial dysfunction and medial remodelling in angiotensin II‐induced hypertension.

The membrane raft (MR) redox pathway is characterized by NADPH oxidase activation via the clustering of its subunits through lysosome fusion and the activation of acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase). Our previous study shows that the MR redox signalling pathway is associated with angiontensin II (AngII)‐induced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and endothelial dysfunction in rat mesenteric arteries. In the present study, we hypothesized that this signalling pathway is involved in blood pressure increase, endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodelling in an AngII‐induced hypertensive animal model. Sixteen‐week‐old male Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to AngII infusion for 2 weeks with or without treatment with the lysosome fusion inhibitor bafilomycin A1 and ASMase inhibitor amitriptyline. After treatments, aortas were harvested for further study. The results showed that the MR redox signalling pathway was activated as indicated by the increase of MR formation, ASMase activity and ROS production in aorta from AngII‐infused rats compared with that from control rats. MR formation and ROS production were significantly inhibited in thoracic aorta from AngII‐induced rats treated with bafilomycin A1 and amitriptyline. Both treatments significantly attenuated blood pressure increase, endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodelling including medial hypertrophy, and increased collagen and fibronectin deposition in thoracic aortas from AngII‐infused rats. Finally, both treatments significantly prevented the increase of inflammatory factors including monocyte chemotactic protein 1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and tumour necrosis factor α in thoracic aorta from AngII‐infused rats. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that the MR redox signalling pathway was involved in endothelial dysfunction and medial remodelling in AngII‐induced hypertension.
Impact of sarcopenia on diaphragm muscle fatigue
Authors: Fogarty Matthew J. , Mantilla Carlos B. , Sieck Gary C.
Published: March 2019

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Is the residual force generated by the diaphragm muscle after repeated activation reduced with sarcopenia, and is the residual force generated after fatiguing activation sufficient to sustain ventilatory behaviours of diaphragm muscle in young and old rats?

What is the main finding and its importance?

After diaphragm muscle fatigue, the residual specific force after 120 s of repeated stimulation was unaffected by ageing and was sufficient to accomplish ventilatory behaviours, but not expulsive manoeuvres (e.g. coughing). The inability to perform expulsive behaviours might underlie the increased susceptibility of older individuals to respiratory tract infections.

Type IIx and/or IIb diaphragm muscle (DIAm) fibres make up more fatigable motor units that are more vulnerable to sarcopenia, i.e. age‐associated reductions of specific force and cross‐sectional area. In contrast, type I and IIa DIAm fibres form fatigue‐resistant motor units that are relatively unchanged with age. The fatigue resistance of the DIAm is assessed by normalizing the residual force generated after a period of repeated supramaximal stimulation (e.g. 120 s) to the initial maximal force. Given that sarcopenia primarily affects more fatigable DIAm motor units, apparent fatigue resistance improves with ageing. However, the central question is whether there is an ageing‐related difference in the residual force generated by the DIAm after repeated stimulation and whether this force is sufficient to sustain ventilatory behaviours of DIAm. In 6‐ and 24‐month‐old Fischer 344 rats, we assessed the loss of ex vivo DIAm force throughout 120 s of repeated supramaximal stimulation at 10, 40 and 75 Hz. We found that relative fatigue resistance improved in older rats at 40 and 75 Hz stimulation. Across all stimulation frequencies, DIAm residual force was unchanged with age (∼5 N cm−2). We conclude that ageing increases the relative contribution of type I and IIa fibres to DIAm force, with decreased contributions of type IIx and/or IIb fibres. The residual force generated by the DIAm after repeated stimulation is sufficient to accomplish ventilatory behaviours, regardless of age.
Simulation Studies Comparing Feedback Predictive Control to Model Predictive Control for Unmeasured Disturbances in the Artificial Pancreas Application
Authors: Mei Yong , Huynh Trinh , Khor Rachel , Rollins Derrick K.
Published: March 2019

The artificial pancreas (AP) is an electro-mechanical device to control glucose (G) levels in the blood for people with diabetes using mathematical modeling and control system technology. There are many variables not measured and modeled by these devices that affect G levels. This work evaluates the effectiveness of two control systems for the case where critical inputs are unmeasured. This work compares and evaluates two predictive feedback control (FBC) algorithms in two unmeasured input studies. In the first study, the process is a dynamic transfer function model with one measured input variable and one unmeasured input variable. The process for the second study is a diabetes simulator with insulin feed rate (IFR) measured and carbohydrate consumption (CC) unmeasured. The feedback predictive control (FBPC) approach achieved much better control performance than model predictive control (MPC) in both studies. In the first study, MPC was shown to get worse as the process lag increases but FBPC was unaffected by process lag. In the diabetes simulation study, for five surrogate type 1 diabetes subjects, the standard deviation of G about its mean (standard deviation) (i.e., the set point) was 133% larger for MPC relative to FBPC. For FBPC, its standard deviation was less than 10% larger for unmeasured CC versus measured CC. Thus, FBPC appears to be a more effective AP control algorithm than MPC for unmeasured disturbances and may not perform much worse in practice when CC is measured versus when it is unmeasured since CC can be very inaccurate in real situations.
Hyperparasitism in the seabird tick Ornithodoros amblus (Acari: Argasidae)
Authors: Llanos-Soto S. , Muñoz-Leal S. , González-Acuña Daniel
Published: March 2019

NO
Thermal and structural modeling of the Scillato wedge-top basin source-to-sink system: Insights into the Sicilian fold-and-thrust belt evolution (Italy)
Authors: Balestra Martina , Corrado Sveva , Aldega Luca , Morticelli Maurizio Gasparo , Sulli Attilio , Rudkiewicz Jean-Luc , Sassi William
Published: March 2019

Temperature-dependent clay mineral assemblages, vitrinite reflectance, and one-dimensional (1-D) thermal and three-dimensional (3-D) geological modeling of a Neogene wedge-top basin in the Sicilian fold-and-thrust belt and its pre-orogenic substratum allowed us to: (1) define the burial history of the sedimentary succession filling the wedge-top basin and its substratum, (2) reconstruct the wedge-top basin geometry, depocenter migration, and sediment provenance through time in the framework of a source-to-sink system, and (3) shed new light into the kinematic evolution of the Apennine-Maghrebian fold-and-thrust belt.

The pre-orogenic substratum of the Scillato basin shows an increase in levels of thermal maturity as a function of stratigraphic age that is consistent with maximum burial to 3.5 km in deep diagenetic conditions. In detail, Ro% values range from 0.40% to 0.94%, and random ordered illite-smectite (I-S) first converts to short-range ordered structures and then evolves to long-range ordered structures at the base of the Imerese unit. The wedge-top basin fill experienced shallow burial (∼2 km) and levels of thermal maturity in the immature stage of hydrocarbon generation and early diagenesis. Vitrinite reflectance and mixed-layer I-S values show two populations of authigenic and inherited phases. The indigenous population corresponds to macerals with Ro% values of 0.33%–0.45% and I-S with no preferred sequence in stacking of layers, whereas the reworked group corresponds to macerals with Ro% values of 0.42%–0.47% and short-range ordered I-S with no correlation as a function of depth.

Authigenic and reworked components of the Scillato basin fill allowed us to unravel sediment provenance during the Neogene, identifying two main source areas feeding the wedge-top basin (crystalline units of the European domain and sedimentary units of the African domain), and to detect an early phase of exhumation driven by low-angle extensional faults that predated Neogene compression.
Development and validation of a prediction rule for estimating gastric cancer risk in the Chinese high-risk population: a nationwide multicentre study
Authors: Cai Quancai , Zhu Chunping , Yuan Yuan , Feng Qi , Feng Yichao , Hao Yingxia , Li Jichang , Zhang Kaiguang , Ye Guoliang , Ye Liping , Lv Nonghua , Zhang Shengsheng , Liu Chengxia , Li Mingquan , Liu Qi , Li Rongzhou , Pan Jie , Yang Xiaocui , Zhu Xuqing , Li Yumei , Lao Bo , Ling Ansheng , Chen Honghui , Li Xiuling , Xu Ping , Zhou Jianfeng , Liu Baozhen , Du Zhiqiang , Du Yiqi , Li Zhaoshen
Published: March 2019

Objective

To develop a gastric cancer (GC) risk prediction rule as an initial prescreening tool to identify individuals with a high risk prior to gastroscopy.

Design

This was a nationwide multicentre cross-sectional study. Individuals aged 40–80 years who went to hospitals for a GC screening gastroscopy were recruited. Serum pepsinogen (PG) I, PG II, gastrin-17 (G-17) and anti-Helicobacter pyloriIgG antibody concentrations were tested prior to endoscopy. Eligible participants (n=14 929) were randomly assigned into the derivation and validation cohorts, with a ratio of 2:1. Risk factors for GC were identified by univariate and multivariate analyses and an optimal prediction rule was then settled.

Results

The novel GC risk prediction rule comprised seven variables (age, sex, PG I/II ratio, G-17 level,H. pyloriinfection, pickled food and fried food), with scores ranging from 0 to 25. The observed prevalence rates of GC in the derivation cohort at low-risk (≤11), medium-risk (12–16) or high-risk (17–25) group were 1.2%, 4.4% and 12.3%, respectively (p<0.001).When gastroscopy was used for individuals with medium risk and high risk, 70.8% of total GC cases and 70.3% of early GC cases were detected. While endoscopy requirements could be reduced by 66.7% according to the low-risk proportion. The prediction rule owns a good discrimination, with an area under curve of 0.76, or calibration (p<0.001).

Conclusions

The developed and validated prediction rule showed good performance on identifying individuals at a higher risk in a Chinese high-risk population. Future studies are needed to validate its efficacy in a larger population.
A unique B cell epitope-based particulate vaccine shows effective suppression of hepatitis B surface antigen in mice
Authors: Zhang Tian-Ying , Guo Xue-Ran , Wu Yang-Tao , Kang Xiao-Zhen , Zheng Qing-Bing , Qi Ruo-Yao , Chen Bin-Bing , Lan Ying , Wei Min , Wang Shao-Juan , Xiong Hua-Long , Cao Jia-Li , Zhang Bao-Hui , Qiao Xiao-Yang , Huang Xiao-Fen , Wang Ying-Bin , Fang Mu-Jin , Zhang Ya-Li , Cheng Tong , Chen Yi-Xin , Zhao Qin-Jian , Li Shao-Wei , Ge Sheng-Xiang , Chen Pei-Jer , Zhang Jun , Yuan Quan , Xia Ning-shao
Published: March 2019

Objective

This study aimed to develop a novel therapeutic vaccine based on a unique B cell epitope and investigate its therapeutic potential against chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in animal models.

Methods

A series of peptides and carrier proteins were evaluated in HBV-tolerant mice to obtain an optimised therapeutic molecule. The immunogenicity, therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of the candidate were investigated systematically.

Results

Among the HBsAg-aa119-125-containing peptides evaluated in this study, HBsAg-aa113-135 (SEQ13) exhibited the most striking therapeutic effects. A novel immunoenhanced virus-like particle carrier (CR-T3) derived from the roundleaf bat HBV core antigen (RBHBcAg) was created and used to display SEQ13, forming candidate molecule CR-T3-SEQ13. Multiple copies of SEQ13 displayed on the surface of this particulate antigen promote the induction of a potent anti-HBs antibody response in mice, rabbits and cynomolgus monkeys. Sera and purified polyclonal IgG from the immunised animals neutralised HBV infection in vitro and mediated efficient HBV/hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance in the mice. CR-T3-SEQ13-based vaccination induced long-term suppression of HBsAg and HBV DNA in HBV transgenic mice and eradicated the virus completely in hydrodynamic-based HBV carrier mice. The suppressive effects on HBsAg were strongly correlated with the anti-HBs level after vaccination, suggesting that the main mechanism of CR-T3-SEQ13 vaccination therapy was the induction of a SEQ13-specific antibody response that mediated HBV/HBsAg clearance.

Conclusions

The novel particulate protein CR-T3-SEQ13 suppressed HBsAg effectively through induction of a humoural immune response in HBV-tolerant mice. This B cell epitope-based therapeutic vaccine may provide a novel immunotherapeutic agent against chronic HBV infection in humans.
Exosomal microRNA profiles from serum and cerebrospinal fluid in neurosyphilis
Authors: Chen Huan , Zhou Yuan , Wang Zhao-Yuan , Yan Bing-Xi , Zhou Wei-Fang , Wang Ting-Ting , Zheng Min , Man Xiao-Yong
Published: March 2019

Objective

Changes in microRNAs (miRNAs) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) are associated with different neurological diseases. Since alternations of miRNAs in neurosyphilis are insufficiently investigated, we analysed miRNAs in the CSF of patients suffering from neurosyphilis.

Methods

Exosomes were isolated from serum and CSF. Levels of 44 miRNAs were determined using quantitative real-time PCR-based miRNA array.

Results

In patients with neurosyphilis (NSP), miR-590-5p, miR-570-3p and miR-570-5p were upregulated in the CSF and serum, when compared with patients with syphilis without neurosyphilis (SP). miR-590-5p and miR-570-3p were significantly upregulated (p<0.001). The expression of miR-21-5p was upregulated only in the CSF of NSP. Significant downregulation was observed for miR-93-3p in the CSF and serum of NSP. No statistical difference was found in the expression of miR-7-5p, miR-1307-5p, miR-203a-3p, miR-16, miR-23b-3p and miR-27b-5p in the CSF and serum of NSP and SP.

Conclusion

For the first time, regulation profiles in miRNA in the CSF and serum were analysed in NSP. We found significant differences in upregulation and downregulation. Therefore, miRNAs may be potential biomarkers for the presence of neurosyphilis.
Joanna Louise Aplin
Authors: Boxall Julie , Tristram Joe
Published: March 2019

A much loved and highly valued colleague who was held in high esteem by those whose lives she touched through her kind and thoughtful gestures.
Spatial Pattern of Ratio-Dependent Predator–Prey Model with Prey Harvesting and Cross-Diffusion
Authors: Sivasamy R. , Sivakumar M. , Balachandran K. , Sathiyanathan K.
Published: March 2019

This study focuses on the spatial-temporal dynamics of predator–prey model with cross-diffusion where the intake rate of prey is per capita predator according to ratio-dependent functional response and the prey is harvested through nonlinear harvesting strategy. The permanence analysis and local stability analysis of the proposed model without cross-diffusion are analyzed. We derive the conditions for the appearance of diffusion-driven instability and global stability of the considered model. Also the parameter space for Turing region is specified by keeping the cross-diffusion coefficient as one of the crucial parameters. Numerical simulations are given to justify the proposed theoretical results and to show that the cross-diffusion term plays a significant role in the pattern formation.
Profile of a touch-down solution to a nonlocal MEMS model
Authors: Duong Giao Ky , Zaag Hatem
Published: March 2019

In this paper, we are interested in the mathematical model of MEMS devices which is presented by the following equation on [Formula: see text] : [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is a bounded domain in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. In this work, we have succeeded to construct a solution which quenches in finite time [Formula: see text] only at one interior point [Formula: see text]. In particular, we give a description of the quenching behavior according to the following final profile [Formula: see text] The construction relies on some connections between the quenching phenomenon and the blowup phenomenon. More precisely, we change our problem to the construction of a blowup solution for a related PDE and describe its behavior. The method is inspired by the work of Merle and Zaag [Reconnection of vortex with the boundary and finite time quenching, Nonlinearity 10 (1997) 1497–1550] with a suitable modification. In addition to that, the proof relies on two main steps: A reduction to a finite-dimensional problem and a topological argument based on index theory. The main difficulty and novelty of this work is that we handle the nonlocal integral term in the above equation. The interpretation of the finite-dimensional parameters in terms of the blowup point and the blowup time allows to derive the stability of the constructed solution with respect to initial data.
Quasinormal modes and van der Waals-like phase transition of charged AdS black holes in Lorentz symmetry breaking massive gravity
Authors: Liang Bin , Wei Shao-Wen , Liu Yu-Xiao
Published: March 2019

Using the quasinormal modes of a massless scalar perturbation, we investigate the small/large black hole phase transition in the Lorentz symmetry breaking massive gravity. We mainly focus on two issues: (i) the sign change of slope of the quasinormal mode frequencies in the complex-[Formula: see text] diagram; (ii) the behaviors of the imaginary part of the quasinormal mode frequencies along the isobaric or isothermal processes. For the first issue, our result shows that, at low fixed temperature or pressure, the phase transition can be probed by the sign change of slope. While increasing the temperature or pressure to certain values near the critical point, there will appear the deflection point, which indicates that such method may not be appropriate to test the phase transition. In particular, the behavior of the quasinormal mode frequencies for the small and large black holes tend to be the same at the critical point. For the second issue, it is shown that the nonmonotonic behavior is observed only when the small/large black hole phase transition occurs. Therefore, this property can provide us with an additional method to probe the phase transition through the quasinormal modes.
Next-Generation Sequencing of Tissue and Circulating Tumor DNA: The UC San Diego Moores Center for Personalized Cancer Therapy Experience with Breast Malignancies
Authors: Shatsky Rebecca , Parker Barbara A. , Bui Nam Q. , Helsten Teresa , Schwab Richard B. , Boles Sarah G , Kurzrock Razelle
Published: March 2019

Clinical-grade next-generation sequencing (NGS) of tissue- and blood-derived circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) allows assessment of multiple genomic alterations in patients with cancer. We analyzed ctDNA (54–70 genes) in 62 patients with advanced breast cancer (median = five prior therapies); 38 also had tissue NGS (236–315 genes). Overall, 42 of 62 patients (68%) had detectable (characterized) ctDNA alterations (variants of unknown significance excluded), and 37 of 38 (97%) had tissue alterations. The median (range) number of characterized alterations in ctDNA was 1 (0–7), and in tissue, 4 (0–17). The most common alterations in ctDNA were in TP53 (37% of patients) and PIK3CA (23%), and for tissue, TP53 (37%) and PIK3CA (24%); EGFR amplification was seen in ctDNA (11%), but not in tissue. Concordance between ctDNA and tissue appeared higher if <6 months separated the sample acquisition, although small sample size precluded statistical validation. Overall, 32 of 67 tissue alterations (48%) were also detected in ctDNA; 35 of 72 ctDNA alterations (48%) were also in tissue. Excluding estrogen receptor and ERBB2, 41 of 62 patients (66%) had potentially actionable alterations in ctDNA, and 36 of 38 (95%), in tissue (with potential actionability based on either preclinical or clinical evidence). If ≥1 genomic alteration had ctDNA ≥5%, survival was shorter than if ctDNA was <5% (median, 6.7 vs. 17.9 months; P = 0.01). In conclusion, tissue and ctDNA NGS reveal potentially actionable alterations in most patients. The genomic results of ctDNA and tissue NGS overlap, but there are differences, perhaps reflecting temporal spacing and tumor heterogeneity. ctDNA quantification also provides prognostic information.
Distribution and Activity of Lenvatinib in Brain Tumor Models of Human Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Cells in Severe Combined Immune Deficient Mice
Authors: Wang Rong , Yamada Tadaaki , Arai Sachiko , Fukuda Koji , Taniguchi Hirokazu , Tanimoto Azusa , Nishiyama Akihiro , Takeuchi Shinji , Yamashita Kaname , Ohtsubo Koshiro , Matsui Junji , Onoda Naoyoshi , Hirata Eishu , Taira Shu , Yano Seiji
Published: March 2019

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a rare but aggressive undifferentiated tumor that frequently metastasizes to the brain. The multiple kinase inhibitor lenvatinib and sorafenib have been approved to treat unresectable differentiated thyroid cancer, and lenvatinib has been approved in Japan to treat ATC. This study compared the effects of lenvatinib and sorafenib in mouse models of central nervous system metastases of ATC. Immunodeficient mice were inoculated with ATC cells, and the effects of lenvatinib and sorafenib were evaluated in subcutaneous- and brain metastasis–mimicking models. Drug distribution was evaluated by imaging tandem mass spectrometry (ITMS). Neither lenvatinib nor sorafenib affected the viability of ATC cell lines, whereas both inhibited VEGF secretion by ATC cells. In the subcutaneous tumor model, both lenvatinib and sorafenib inhibited growth and were associated with reduced tumor microvessel density. In the brain metastasis–mimicking model, lenvatinib, but not sorafenib, inhibited the growth of ATC cells and reduced microvessel density in brain lesions. ITMS showed that lenvatinib was well-distributed in both subcutaneous and brain lesions, whereas the distribution of sorafenib was lower in brain than in subcutaneous lesions. These results demonstrate that lenvatinib is well-distributed in mouse models of ATC, and inhibited the growth of ATC brain lesions predominantly by inhibiting angiogenesis, suggesting that lenvatinib is highly potent against ATC brain metastases.
Disseminated Mycosis by Arthrocladium fulminans Jeopardizing a Patient with GATA2 Deficiency
Authors: Egenlauf Benjamin , Schuhmann Maren , Giese Thomas , Junghanss Thomas , Stojkovic Marija , Tintelnot Kathrin , de Hoog Sybren , Greil Johann , Richter Elvira , Vehresschild Maria , Heussel Claus Peter , Herth Felix J.F. , Kreuter Michael
Published: March 2019

GATA2 deficiency is characterized by monocytopenia, deficiency of dendritic cells, and a variable degree of lymphocytopenia affecting B cells and NK cells, leading to an enhanced risk of mycobacterial, viral, and fungal infections. Here we present a patient with a heterozygous intronic GATA2 mutation who acquired a fatal disseminated mycosis due to the black yeast-like fungus Arthrocladium fulminans following an infection with Mycobacterium sherrisii. This case illustrates that in patients with severe uncommon infections, immunodeficiency syndromes must be ruled out.
3D Ultrasound Evaluation of the Fetal Outer Ear: Novel Biometry Ratio and Comparison of Different Surface Display Modes
Authors: Sondern Kathleen , Kreitz Kiana , Hammer Kerstin , Möllers Mareike , Oelmeier de Murcia Kathrin , Köster Helen Ann , Braun Janina , Klockenbusch Walter , Schmitz Ralf
Published: March 2019

Background: The examination of the fetal ear is a promising but still challenging approach in prenatal diagnosis. Objectives: This study investigated a novel ear length/width ratio based on anatomical landmarks. Additionally, we compared different 3D ultrasound surface rendering modes regarding their potential to depict detailed structures of the outer ear. Method: We measured both the ear length and width of 118 fetal ears from 20 to 40 weeks of gestation to establish a length/width ratio. Additionally, we rendered the volumes in three different surface display modes and one adapted light position. Each image was scored regarding the visibility of distinct structures of the ear relief and indicator scores were evaluated for each mode. Results: The median of the length/width ratio was 1.9 with a slight decline over the gestational period. The overall visibility of the ear structures differed noticeably between the four surface display modes (p < 0.001). The post hoc comparison showed that the display mode “TrueVue” resulted in the highest indicator scores. Conclusion: The length/width ratio based on anatomical landmarks of the ear could prospectively be used as a marker in syndrome detection. The study showed a superiority of the surface display mode “TrueVue” for examination of the detailed ear structures.
IL-33/ST2 Axis Regulates Vasculogenic Mimicry via ERK1/2-MMP-2/9 Pathway in Melanoma
Authors: Yang Fuhan , Wen Mingming , Pan Dayu , Lin Xian , Mo Jing , Dong Xueyi , Liao Shihan , Ma Yuemei
Published: March 2019

Background: Melanoma, an extremely malignant form of cancer, poses a significant health risk. Vasculogenic mimicry (VM), blood vessels formed by tumor cells instead of endothelial cells, is an important factor for the rapid progression of melanoma. Interleukin (IL)-33 is an inflammatory factor commonly found in the tumor microenvironment and plays an important role in the progression of many tumors. IL-33 acts on immune cells and tumor cells through its receptor ST2. This study hypothesized that IL-33 directly affects the progression of melanoma. Objectives: This study was designed to investigate the effect of IL-33 on VM of melanoma and its potential mechanism of action. Methods: The expression of ST2 was evaluated in 66 cases of melanoma collected from human patients, and the differences were analyzed. In vitro experiments were conducted to study the effects of the IL-33/ST2 axis on cell migration and invasion and to elucidate possible mechanisms. Results: ST2 expression is associated with that of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and VM in melanoma of patients. IL-33 increases the abilities of proliferation, migration and invasion of melanoma cells and VM tube formation through ST2. IL-33 induces the production of MMP-2/9 via ERK1/2 phosphorylation. Conclusion: IL-33 can directly act on melanoma cells and promote its development.
Editorial
Authors: Moreira Tomás Antonio , Trajano Filho Francisco Sales
Published: March 2019

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Ingleses e o Rio Capivari: forma urbana, espaços públicos, natureza e urbanidade
Authors: Sadowski David , Rossetto Adriana Marques
Published: March 2019

O trabalho faz uma breve análise morfológica do distrito de Ingleses do Rio Vermelho, em Florianópolis, com preocupações específicas no tocante à sua relação com o meio ambiente e à qualidade dos espaços públicos formados, em um ambiente urbano densamente utilizado. Rechaça o oximoro cidade-natureza e ressalta a importância dos espaços públicos na vida em sociedade. Em relação ao recorte de estudo, lança mão da Teoria da Sintaxe espacial enquanto ferramenta de leitura espacial, a qual proporcionou, ainda, um melhor entendimento da dinâmica urbana do distrito, constituindo-se como poderosa ferramenta ao vislumbre de soluções locais alinhadas ao ideal de urbanidade.
Introdução à Obra de Arq. Jon Maitrejean
Authors: Ramos Fernando Guillermo Vázquez , Buzzar Miguel Antônio , Fujioka Paulo Yassuhide
Published: March 2019

A figura de Jon Andoni Vergareche Maitrejean (1929), que estudou na FAU-USP, graduando-se em 1954, permanece fora do âmbito das publicações especializadas, pois pouco tem se escrito e pesquisado sobre sua extensa e importante obra, especialmente aquela vinculada à atividade industrial. Este artigo se debruça de forma panorâmica sobre a vida e a obra do arquiteto desde a época em que começou sua atividade docente na FAU-USP, marcada por momentos terríveis, como o afastado compulsório em 1968, uma prática contínua que se desenvolve até hoje, ministrando a disciplina de projeto. Trata-se de um arquiteto com uma longa vida profissional também, pois projeta desde os anos 1950. Engajou-se primeiro no IAB e também no SASP, do qual foi presidente (1978-1980).
Convívio em redes socioespaciais em assentamentos precários - um esforço de caracterização em Maceió-AL.
Authors: Souza Sofia Pessoa Lira , Albuquerque Augusto Aragão de , Albuquerque Andréa Moreira Gonçalves de
Published: March 2019

As redes de sociabilidade são importantes instrumentos de combate à pobreza, pois suprem a ineficácia do Estado. Sob esta lógica, desenvolvemos uma metodologia para sua identificação e caracterizamos suas relações de troca. Realizamos um Estudo de Caso no Conjunto Vitória, em Maceió-AL, levantando suas redes sociais, o histórico de sua ocupação e os diferentes níveis de interação social e relações de trocas que ali ocorrem. Para caracterização das relações, utilizou-se os valores descritos por Baudrillard. Como resultado, observou-se que as relações podem ser regidas pelos três tipos de valores investigados: valor de troca, troca simbólica e valor de signo.