bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Onsite advanced biocleaning system for historical wall paintings using new agar-gauze bacteria gel
Authors: Ranalli G. , Zanardini E. , Rampazzi L. , Corti C. , Andreotti A. , Colombini M.P. , Bosch-Roig P. , Lustrato G. , Giantomassi C. , Zari D. , Virilli P.
Published: April 2019

Aims

This study reports the results of the application of a new agar-gauze biogel system activated with viable bacterial cells to altered wall paintings.

Methods and Results

Biocleaning using agar biogel and agar-gauze biogel systems was performed onsite by direct application to altered wall painting surfaces (25–1000 cm2). The treatments were performed for the restoration of two original Italian sites: (i) at the Vatican Museums, Cristo che salva Pietro dalle acque—La Navicella, a wall painting by Giovanni Lanfranco (1627–1628) and (ii) at Pisa Cathedral Cupola, Incarnato, a wall painting by Orazio Riminaldi (1593–1630) and his brother Girolamo Riminaldi. The novelty of this study is the use of viable Pseudomonas stutzeri A29 cells in an advanced agar-gauze biogel system and the short bio-application contact times of between 3 and 12 h. The historical artworks were altered by lipid and protein residues from past restoration, as confirmed by Py-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry and FT-IR data. The effectiveness of the biological treatment was assessed, and general considerations were discussed.

Conclusions

The short bio-application contact time of advanced agar-gauze gel activated with viable P. stutzeri cells makes this biotechnology promising as an alternative method to the traditional onsite cleaning techniques currently in use for altered historical wall paintings.

Significance and Impact of the Study

In this study, we report for the first time the biocleaning of altered materials located in vertical and vaulted areas using agar-gauze biogel with short application times. These findings are of great significance for future restoration activities and are crucial for determining the best preservation strategies in this field.
Unfolding and displaying the influencing factors of advance directives from the stakeholder's perspective: A concept mapping approach
Authors: Chan Carmen W. H. , Choi Kai C. , Chan Helen Y. L. , Wong Martin M. H. , Ling Gigi C. C. , Chow Ka M. , Chow Amy Y. M. , Lo Raymond , Sham Michael M. K.
Published: April 2019

Aims

To develop a culturally relevant conceptual map to discover perceptions of a statutory form of advance directive (AD) for Hong Kong Chinese.

Design

This was the first study on AD using a concept mapping approach with two phases.

Methods

The data collection of the two phases was conducted from February 2016–February 2017. In Phase I, 96 participants were recruited using purposive sampling. In Phase II, multi‐dimensional scaling and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to create a concept map based on quantitative data.

Results

The map depicted six clusters of factors affecting the acceptance of AD, with their importance rating in decreasing order: Conditional factor, value system, process of AD, physical and illness factor, personal situation factor, and socio‐cultural factor.

Conclusion

The study adopted a comprehensive approach to unfolding the multi‐faceted factors affecting the acceptance of ADs by stakeholders. Strategies targeting the clusters could be developed to facilitate the discussion and completion of AD.
Congruent patterns of functional diversity in saproxylic beetles and fungi across European beech forests
Authors: Hagge Jonas , Abrego Nerea , Bässler Claus , Bouget Christophe , Brin Antoine , Brustel Herve , Christensen Morten , Gossner Martin M. , Heilmann‐Clausen Jacob , Horák Jakub , Gruppe Axel , Isacsson Gunnar , Köhler Frank , Lachat Thibault , Larrieu Laurent , Schlaghamersky Jiri , Thorn Simon , Zapponi Livia , Müller Jörg
Published: April 2019

Aim

Beech forests comprise a globally unique temperate forest type in Europe. The dominance of beech in these forests developed during the ongoing post‐glacial northward re‐colonization, concurrently with intensified forest use by humans. We investigated how these two processes together with climate shaped the patterns of functional diversity of two major species groups involved in wood decomposition and whether functional diversity is determined on the local or regional species pool level.

Location

European beech forest distribution range.

Taxon

Saproxylic beetles and fungi.

Methods

We analysed records of 532,496 saproxylic beetles of 788 species and 8,630 records of 234 saproxylic fungal species based on sets of traits similar to both groups. We tested how space, climate and landscape composition affect trait‐based functional diversity on local and regional scales. Using structural equation modelling, we tested whether functional diversity is shaped on the local or regional scale.

Results

The response of local functional diversity of both saproxylic beetles and fungi followed a highly congruent pattern of decreasing functional diversity towards the north, with higher elevation and accounted for overall geographical gradients with higher temperature, while increasing with higher precipitation. Structural equation modelling revealed that local functional diversity is determined by community changes operating on the level of the regional species pool.

Main conclusions

Our findings suggest that the functional diversity patterns of saproxylic organisms in European beech forests are mainly determined on the regional scale and driven by anthropogenic and biogeographical processes. To conserve the variation and hotspots of functional diversity in beech forests, activities have to focus on a broad spatial and climatic range of sites throughout Europe, including the primeval forests in the east, as started by the UNESCO World Heritage selection of “Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe”.
P wave peak time: A time window to evaluate left ventricular diastolic function
Authors: Chang Hao‐Chih , Cheng Hao‐Min
Published: April 2019

The activation time from electrical signals to chamber conformational change has long been demonstrated to associate with LV performance and ventriculo‐arterial coupling with prognostic implications in heart failure patients. P wave peak time (PWPT), an easily obtainable parameter from conventional surface electrocardiography, represents the time taken for excitation spreading from sinoatrial node to the maximal summation of positive deflection from both atria. Increased PWPT denotes prolonged intra‐ or inter‐atrial conduction time and indicates elevated intra‐atrial pressure. As shown in a recently published study, PWPT was highly correlated with LV end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) derived from direct measurement during cardiac catheterization. With its objective and easily obtainable nature, clinical application of PWPT to evaluate diastolic function can be expected, if more studies in different populations can confirm its clinical utility.
Quality of life measurement in skin cancer patients: literature review and position paper of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Task Forces on Quality of Life and Patient Oriented Outcomes, Melanoma and Non‐Melanoma Skin Cancer
Authors: Chernyshov P.V. , Lallas A. , Tomas‐Aragones L. , Arenbergerova M. , Samimi M. , Manolache L. , Svensson A. , Marron S.E. , Sampogna F. , Spillekom‐vanKoulil S. , Bewley A. , Forsea A.M. , Jemec G.B. , Szepietowski J.C. , Augustin M. , Finlay A.Y.
Published: April 2019

The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Task Forces (TFs) on Quality of Life (QoL) and Patient Oriented Outcomes, Melanoma and Non‐Melanoma Skin Cancer (NMSC) present a review of the literature and position statement on health‐related (HR) QoL assessment in skin cancer patients. A literature search was carried out to identify publications since 1980 that included information about the impact of SC on QoL. Generic, dermatology‐specific, cancer‐specific, SC‐specific, facial SC‐specific, NMSC‐specific, basal cell carcinoma‐specific and melanoma‐specific QoL questionnaires have been used to assess HRQoL in SC patients. HRQoL was assessed in the context of creation and validation of the HRQoL instruments, clinical trials, comparison of QoL in SC and other cancers, other diseases or controls, HRQoL assessment after treatment, comorbidities, behaviour modification, predictors of QoL and survival, supportive care needs, coping strategies and fear of cancer recurrence. The most widely used instruments for HRQoL assessment in SC patients are the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ‐C30), the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Melanoma (FACT‐M), Skin Cancer Index (SCI), Short Form 36 Item Health Survey (SF‐36) and the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). The TFs recommend the use of the cancer‐specific EORTC QLQ‐C30, especially in late stages of disease, and the melanoma‐specific FACT‐M and SC‐specific SCI questionnaires. These instruments have been well validated and used in several studies. Other HRQoL instruments, also with good basic validation, are not currently recommended because the experience of their use is too limited. Dermatology‐specific HRQoL instruments can be used to assess the impact of skin‐related problems in SC. The TFs encourage further studies to validate HRQoL instruments for use in different stages of SC, in order to allow more detailed practical recommendations on HRQoL assessment in SC.
Experimental study on drying characteristic of corncob in plate rotary heat exchanger
Authors: Qi Chonggang , Huang Yuzhe , Ling Xiang , Duan Luanfang
Published: April 2019

Agricultural processing residues, such as corncobs, can be used as good biomass pellet fuels. To thoroughly study the drying characteristics of corncobs in a rotary dryer, a plate rotary heat exchanger (PRHE) was applied to the drying of corncob particles in the present article. The PRHE had an inner diameter of 273 mm and a length of 1,000 mm. Twelve rectangular plates were designed as the heating plate. The influence of several parameters on the corncob drying characteristics was experimentally investigated. The results indicated that the drying rate increased with increasing corncob initial moisture content, increasing dryer heating power, and decreasing corncob particle diameter. Then, based on the experimental results, two exponential correlations were regressed by the least squares method. Both the correlations were valid and the three‐parameter model had a better fitting degree than the two‐parameter model. The trend in the drying rate of corncobs in PRHE clearly included a rising‐rate stage and a falling‐rate stage. The Taguchi approach was employed to study the impact degree of different factors on the maximum drying rate, which showed that initial moisture content had the largest impact degree, followed by heating power; furthermore, the effect of particle diameter was not significant.

Practical applications

Promoting the use of biomass energy is an effective means to respond to the climate change challenge. As one of the major agricultural processing residues in mainland China, corncob can be processed into biomass pellet fuels with easy storage, high energy density, and low pollutant emissions after crushing, drying and compression molding. For the sake of settling the uncontrollable limitations of traditional open air‐drying method for corncob, author developed a new type of plate rotary heat exchanger (PRHE). By investigating the drying characteristics of corncob in PRHE with various experimental conditions, research findings provide references for the development and large‐scale industrial application of plate rotary drying technology in the drying of agricultural processing residues in the future.
The importance of being psychologically empowered: Buffering the negative effects of employee perceptions of leader–member exchange differentiation
Authors: Emery Cécile , Booth Jonathan E. , Michaelides George , Swaab Alexander J.
Published: April 2019

Although differentiated relationships among leaders and their followers are fundamental to leader–member exchange (LMX) theory, research provides limited knowledge about whether employees’ responses to individual perceptions of LMX differentiation are uniform. In a field study, we examined whether individual‐level psychological empowerment buffers the negative relationship between perceived LMX differentiation and job satisfaction and found that the negative relationship is strongest under low employee psychological empowerment conditions, as compared to high psychological empowerment. Furthermore, in a multi‐wave field study and an experiment, we extended these initial findings by investigating employees’ perceptions of supervisory fairness as a mediator of this moderated relationship. We found that the indirect effect between perceived LMX differentiation and job satisfaction, through supervisory fairness perceptions, is strongest under low employee psychological empowerment, as compared to high psychological empowerment. Collectively, our findings showcase the importance of psychological empowerment as a tool for employees to use to counteract the negative effect of perceived differentiated contexts.

Practitioner points

When employees perceive that their managers have differentiated relationships across workgroup employees, employees tend to be less satisfied in their jobs, and this negative relationship is explained through employees’ perceptions of supervisory fairness.

Employees with low psychological empowerment levels (e.g., employees who feel less in control of their work) report lower levels of job satisfaction when they perceive that their managers differentiate among employees.

However, employees with high levels of psychological empowerment are more resilient in contexts where managers are perceived to differentiate across workgroup employees.

The findings reinforce the necessity for managers and organizations to implement and promote empowerment initiatives.
Psycholinguistic and socioemotional characteristics of young offenders: Do language abilities and gender matter?
Authors: Winstanley Maxine , Webb Roger T. , Conti‐Ramsden Gina
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Previous research demonstrates an association between developmental language disorder (DLD) and criminal offending. International research also implicates alexithymia as being over‐represented in forensic samples. This study provides a comprehensive examination of the psycholinguistic and socioemotional profiles of males and females in the youth justice system, with a focus on first‐time entrants. In the context of restorative justice (RJ) underpinning youth justice disposals, this allows for informed intervention and identifies those who may be compromised in their ability to effectively engage in certain interventions.

Methods

Participants (N = 145) from a triage centre and youth offending teams, with a mean age of 15.8, completed a range of standardized psycholinguistic assessments considering non‐verbal IQ, expressive and receptive language measures, and literacy. Additionally, socioemotional measures completed included The Alexithymia Scale and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.

Results

Developmental language disorder was present in 87 participants. Except for the emotional score, no statistically significant gender differences were found. The mean language scores for the DLD group were more than 2.25 standard deviations below the normative mean, and they demonstrated greater literacy difficulties. A high proportion of the group met the criteria for alexithymia/possible alexithymia (60%), and this was not associated with DLD.

Conclusions

High prevalence values for DLD and socioemotional difficulties, not generally gender‐specific, were found. These difficulties have the possibility to compromise a young person's ability to engage in rehabilitative strategies. Language assessment and identification of difficulties, especially DLD, upon entry to the youth justice service, would assist when planning interventions.
Unexpected questions in deception detection interviews: Does question order matter?
Authors: Warmelink Lara , Subramanian Anna , Tkacheva Daria , McLatchie Neil
Published: April 2019

Purpose

Unexpected questions have been shown to increase cues to deception, without reducing the information given by truth tellers. Two studies investigated whether the detail given by an interviewee is affected by whether the expected or unexpected questions are asked first.

Methods

In Study 1, participants (N = 85) were interviewed about their own intentions, and in Study 2, participants (N = 84) were given an intention by the experimenter. They were then interviewed.

Results

Results showed that in both studies, differences between the expected‐first and the unexpected‐first order were minimal and lie detection accuracy was not improved by asking the unexpected questions first.

Conclusions

These results offer important information for forensic interviewers, showing that there is no need to ask unexpected questions at a certain point in the interview. Link to associated OSF page: https://osf.io/93g7h/?view_only=586daff060d846efb760c8155478ce9e.
Standing genomic variation within coding and regulatory regions contributes to the adaptive capacity to climate in a foundation tree species
Authors: Ahrens Collin W. , Byrne Margaret , Rymer Paul D.
Published: April 2019

Global climate is rapidly changing, and the ability for tree species to adapt is dependent on standing genomic variation; however, the distribution and abundance of functional and adaptive variants are poorly understood in natural systems. We test key hypotheses regarding the genetics of adaptive variation in a foundation tree: genomic variation is associated with climate, and genomic variation is more likely to be associated with temperature than precipitation or aridity. To test these hypotheses, we used 9,593 independent, genomic single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 270 individuals sampled from Corymbia calophylla's entire distribution in south‐western Western Australia, spanning orthogonal temperature and precipitation gradients. Environmental association analyses returned 537 unique SNPs putatively adaptive to climate. We identified SNPs associated with climatic variation (i.e., temperature [458], precipitation [75] and aridity [78]) across the landscape. Of these, 78 SNPs were nonsynonymous (NS), while 26 SNPs were found within gene regulatory regions. The NS and regulatory candidate SNPs associated with temperature explained more deviance (27.35%) than precipitation (5.93%) and aridity (4.77%), suggesting that temperature provides stronger adaptive signals than precipitation. Genes associated with adaptive variants include functions important in stress responses to temperature and precipitation. Patterns of allelic turnover of NS and regulatory SNPs show small patterns of change through climate space with the exception of an aldehyde dehydrogenase gene variant with 80% allelic turnover with temperature. Together, these findings provide evidence for the presence of adaptive variation to climate in a foundation species and provide critical information to guide adaptive management practices.
Mountain lions on the prairie: habitat selection by recolonizing mountain lions at the edge of their range
Authors: Gigliotti Laura C. , Matchett Marc R. , Jachowski David S.
Published: April 2019

Mountain lions (Puma concolor) have historically experienced large‐scale range contractions, but are beginning to recolonize portions of their former range. To reach potential suitable habitats in eastern North America, mountain lions need to move across the grassland and agriculture‐dominated habitats of the Great Plains, which are different from the forested areas associated with mountain lions in western North America. To inform restoration planning in this area, it is important to understand differences in mountain lion habitat selection in this “nontraditional” grassland habitat. We tracked GPS‐collared mountain lions in the Northern Great Plains of Montana and identified movement states (localized or exploratory) using behavioral change point analysis and net‐squared displacement. We compared habitat selection between the different states using step‐selection functions that included several environmental covariates. Similar to elsewhere throughout their range, across both movement states, mountain lions tended to select forested environments that were farther from human development. In contrast to more traditionally occupied mountainous regions, mountain lions in the Great Plains selected areas of lower elevations. They selected areas both near and far from water, but avoided riparian areas and selected more rugged environments when in exploratory movement states. This suggests that mountain lions in the Northern Great Plains are utilizing river corridors, particularly those with rough or broken topography during exploratory phases. To enhance future recolonization and connectivity of mountain lions to the east of our study area, we encourage managers to maintain and restore forest fragments along river corridors in the Great Plains.
Bed‐scale spatial patterns in dolomite abundance: Part II. Effect of varied fluid chemistry, flow rate, precursor mineralogy, temperature, textural heterogeneity, nucleation density and bed geometry
Authors: Budd David A. , Park Anthony J.
Published: April 2019

Reaction‐transport modelling shows that a lateral, metre‐scale pattern in dolomite abundance can form during replacive dolomitization of calcite and aragonite precursors by Mississippian, Triassic and modern seawaters advecting at >20 cm year−1 in low temperature (≤60°C) hydrogeological systems. The modelled pattern develops best in beds >1 m thick with a relatively uniform nucleate density and a low variance in reactive surface area (for example, grainstones). These conditions suggest that a lateral pattern in dolomite abundance should be expected in dolomites formed by any shallow hydrodynamic system that advects dolomitizing fluid horizontally, including the down‐gradient portion of a reflux system, the oceanward reaches of geothermal (Kohout) convection systems, and the seaward reaches of a seawater entrainment zone below a freshwater aquifer. However, even in those systems, a pattern will not form in all dolomites. Pattern will be muted in thinner (≤ ca 50 cm thick) beds and non‐emergent where the precursor had a high variance in reactive surface area (for example, a skeletal wackestone) and/or large variation in nucleate density. Pattern also did not form at temperatures above ca 60°C, which implies that pattern should not be expected in dolomites formed at intermediate to deep burial depths. As the patterns are horizontal, they also should not be expected where dolomitizing fluids moved vertically (for example, reflux immediately below a brine source). Pattern metrics (short‐range correlation length, and wavelength and amplitude of the longer cyclic component) vary with flow rate, fluid chemistry, bed thickness, porosity, grain size, temperature and the flow complexity (one‐dimensional, two‐dimensional or three‐dimensional) within the bed. However, no modelled pattern produced metrics larger than those documented on dolomite outcrops. The results thus constrain the length scales of porosity and permeability variance to include in petrophysical models of dolomite reservoirs, as well as the geological scenarios in which to consider metre‐scale lateral petrophysical variability.
Assembling the capacity to care: Caring‐with precarious housing
Authors: Power Emma R.
Published: April 2019

In a period when care is being cast as an individual responsibility there is a need to invigorate analyses of caring capacity, of the factors and relations that make care possible. This paper develops caring‐with as an analytic to guide analyses of caring capacity. Caring‐with brings feminist care ethics together with assemblage thinking. It innovates from Tronto's identification of “caring with” as the fifth phase of care to figure care as a generative sociomaterial relation that is productive of and emergent through assemblages of actors who are not always supportive of care. Caring‐with advances three frames for conceptualising caring capacity. First, caring‐with situates care in a sociomaterial and performative frame. Second, it places care in a temporal frame, speaking to the historical and generative depth of relations that are the foundation and future of care. Third, it theorises the production and translation of care across space. These concepts are empirically examined through the caring experiences of single older women living in precarious housing in Sydney, Australia. Interviews with these women show how housing assemblages shape the emergent potential for care, co‐constituting the capacity for individuals to take part in caring practices (for self and others) and to achieve basic care needs (including needs for food, energy, and appropriate housing). Caring‐with provides a framework for conceptualising caring capacity in unequal worlds and illuminates the adaptive and creative agencies that generate and hold care together. It also points to new ways of conceptualising caring responsibility as a distributed achievement. Finally, caring‐with suggests an approach to conceptualising housing within care research.
Wrongful Convictions and the State Risk Harm Paradigm
Authors: McLellan Myles Frederick
Published: April 2019

What has been seen in the last thirty-five years is a significant shift in the psyche of contemporary society. Beck’s theory of “risk society” has captured the concerns of governments and its institutions to focus fears on risks and insecurity. Within the criminal justice context, this has led to the pervasive consciousness that crime has become part of the everyday experience to be controlled by risk management techniques framed within Foucault’s concept of “governmentality.” Crime has become a ubiquitous risk that must be routinely assessed and managed. This shift in criminological thought has also been seen in the move away from the liberal ideals of due process to the favoring of public protection over the rights of individuals found within the normative model of crime control. The problem in this devaluation of due process is the consequent imbalance of power between the individual and the State. Due process rights are enshrined in the Charter to protect against this imbalance and are never more important than when loss of liberty is at stake, most particularly when the errors due to the constriction of these rights contribute to the acknowledged systemic factors that lead to wrongful convictions.
Simulated Tremor Propagation in the Upper Limb: From Muscle Activity to Joint Displacement
Authors: Corie Thomas H. , Charles Steven K.
Published: April 2019

Although tremor is the most common movement disorder, there are few noninvasive treatment options. Creating effective tremor suppression devices requires a knowledge of where tremor originates mechanically (which muscles) and how it propagates through the limb (to which degrees-of-freedom (DOF)). To simulate tremor propagation, we created a simple model of the upper limb, with tremorogenic activity in the 15 major superficial muscles as inputs and tremulous joint displacement in the seven major DOF as outputs. The model approximated the muscle excitation–contraction dynamics, musculoskeletal geometry, and mechanical impedance of the limb. From our simulations, we determined fundamental principles for tremor propagation: (1) The distribution of tremor depends strongly on musculoskeletal dynamics. (2) The spreading of tremor is due to inertial coupling (primarily) and musculoskeletal geometry (secondarily). (3) Tremorogenic activity in a given muscle causes significant tremor in only a small subset of DOF, though these affected DOF may be distant from the muscle. (4) Assuming uniform distribution of tremorogenic activity among muscles, tremor increases proximal-distally, and the contribution from muscles increases proximal-distally. (5) Although adding inertia (e.g., with weighted utensils) is often used to suppress tremor, it is possible to increase tremor by adding inertia to the wrong DOF. (6) Similarly, adding viscoelasticity to the wrong DOF can increase tremor. Based solely on the musculoskeletal system, these principles indicate that tremor treatments targeting muscles should focus first on the distal muscles, and devices targeting DOF should focus first on the distal DOF.
Updated contribution to the knowledge of Tetranychoidea (Acari: Tetranychidae, Tenuipalpidae) from Syria with reinstatement of genus Nuciforaella Vacante
Authors: Zeity Mahran , Srinivasa Nagappa
Published: April 2019

Sixteen species of Tetranychoidea, 11 Tetranychidae and 5 Tenuipalpidae are reported in this study. Seven of them are recorded for the first time from Syria: Bryobia gigas, Oligonychus afrasiaticus, O. coniferarum, O. pratensis, Cenopalpus rubusi, Tenuipalpus cupressoides and T. punicae. New host plant records are also reported. Reinstatement of the genus Nuciforaella Vacante is discussed in this study. Detailed descriptions of immature stages and female of Nuciforaella nikitensis are given. A key to the known species of the family Tetranychidae from Syria is provided.
International Association of Athletics Federations Consensus Statement 2019: Nutrition for Athletics
Authors: Burke Louise M. , Castell Linda M. , Casa Douglas J. , Close Graeme L. , Costa Ricardo J. S. , Desbrow Ben , Halson Shona L. , Lis Dana M. , Melin Anna K. , Peeling Peter , Saunders Philo U. , Slater Gary J. , Sygo Jennifer , Witard Oliver C. , Bermon Stéphane , Stellingwerff Trent
Published: April 2019

The International Association of Athletics Federations recognizes the importance of nutritional practices in optimizing an Athlete’s well-being and performance. Although Athletics encompasses a diverse range of track-and-field events with different performance determinants, there are common goals around nutritional support for adaptation to training, optimal performance for key events, and reducing the risk of injury and illness. Periodized guidelines can be provided for the appropriate type, amount, and timing of intake of food and fluids to promote optimal health and performance across different scenarios of training and competition. Some Athletes are at risk of relative energy deficiency in sport arising from a mismatch between energy intake and exercise energy expenditure. Competition nutrition strategies may involve pre-event, within-event, and between-event eating to address requirements for carbohydrate and fluid replacement. Although a “food first” policy should underpin an Athlete’s nutrition plan, there may be occasions for the judicious use of medical supplements to address nutrient deficiencies or sports foods that help the athlete to meet nutritional goals when it is impractical to eat food. Evidence-based supplements include caffeine, bicarbonate, beta-alanine, nitrate, and creatine; however, their value is specific to the characteristics of the event. Special considerations are needed for travel, challenging environments (e.g., heat and altitude); special populations (e.g., females, young and masters athletes); and restricted dietary choice (e.g., vegetarian). Ideally, each Athlete should develop a personalized, periodized, and practical nutrition plan via collaboration with their coach and accredited sports nutrition experts, to optimize their performance.
Modeling Infectious Diseases in Mice with a “Humanized” Immune System
Authors: Li Yan , Di Santo James P.
Published: April 2019

Human immune system (HIS) mice are created by transplanting human immune cells or their progenitor cells into highly immunodeficient recipient mouse hosts, thereby “humanizing” their immune systems. Over past decades, the field of HIS mice has evolved rapidly, as modifications of existing immunodeficient mouse strains have been developed, resulting in increasing levels of human tissue engraftment as humanization is optimized. Current HIS mouse models not only permit elevated levels of human cell engraftment but also demonstrate graft stability. As such, HIS mice are being extensively used to study the human innate and adaptive immune response against microbial infectionsin vivo. Compared to nonhumanized animal models, which are frequently infected with surrogate or adapted microbes, the HIS mouse models allow the analysis of interactions between human immune cells andbona fidepathogenic microbes, making them a more clinically relevant model. This article reviews the development of HIS mice and covers the different strategies used to humanize mice, as well as discussing the use of HIS mice for studying bacterial infections that cause human disease.
Regulation of
Staphylococcus aureus
Virulence
Authors: Jenul Christian , Horswill Alexander R.
Published: April 2019

Staphylococcus aureus
is a Gram-positive opportunistic pathogen that has evolved a complex regulatory network to control virulence. One of the main functions of this interconnected network is to sense various environmental cues and respond by altering the production of virulence factors necessary for survival in the host, including cell surface adhesins and extracellular enzymes and toxins. Of these
S. aureus
regulatory systems, one of the best studied is the accessory gene regulator (
agr
), which is a quorum-sensing system that senses the local concentration of a cyclic peptide signaling molecule. This system allows
S. aureus
to sense its own population density and translate this information into a specific gene expression pattern. Besides
agr
, this pathogen uses other two-component systems to sense specific cues and coordinates responses with cytoplasmic regulators of the SarA protein family and alternative sigma factors. These divergent regulatory systems integrate the various environmental and host-derived signals into a network that ensures optimal pathogen response to the changing conditions. This article gives an overview of the most important and best-studied
S. aureus
regulatory systems and summarizes the functions of these regulators during host interactions. The regulatory systems discussed include the
agr
quorum-sensing system; the SaeRS, SrrAB, and ArlRS two-component systems, the cytoplasmic SarA-family regulators (SarA, Rot, and MgrA); and the alternative sigma factors (SigB and SigH).
Biological and Structural Diversity of Type IV Secretion Systems
Authors: Li Yang Grace , Hu Bo , Christie Peter J.
Published: April 2019

The bacterial type IV secretion systems (T4SSs) are a functionally diverse superfamily of secretion systems found in many species of bacteria. Collectively, the T4SSs translocate DNA and monomeric and multimeric protein substrates to bacterial and eukaryotic cell types. T4SSs are composed of two large subfamilies, the conjugation machines and the effector translocators that transmit their cargoes through establishment of direct donor-target cell contacts, and a third small subfamily capable of importing or exporting substrates from or to the milieu. This review summarizes recent mechanistic and structural findings that are shedding new light on how T4SSs have evolved such functional diversity. Translocation signals are now known to be located C terminally or embedded internally in structural folds; these signals in combination with substrate-associated adaptor proteins mediate the docking of specific substrate repertoires to cognate VirD4-like receptors. For the
Legionella pneumophila
Dot/Icm system, recent work has elucidated the structural basis for adaptor-dependent substrate loading onto the VirD4-like DotL receptor. Advances in definition of T4SS machine structures now allow for detailed comparisons of nanomachines closely related to the
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
VirB/VirD4 T4SS with those more distantly related, e.g., the Dot/Icm and
Helicobacter pylori
Cag T4SSs. Finally, it is increasingly evident that T4SSs have evolved a variety of mechanisms dependent on elaboration of conjugative pili, membrane tubes, or surface adhesins to establish productive contacts with target cells. T4SSs thus have evolved extreme functional diversity through a plethora of adaptations impacting substrate selection, machine architecture, and target cell binding.
Transverse colon duplication with chronic constipation in adult
Authors: Siamionava Yuliya , Varabei Aliaksandr , Makhmudov Anvar
Published: April 2019

Gastrointestinal duplications are extremely rare congenital abnormalities having definite difficulties to be diagnosed preoperatively. Most of them are presented at the oesophagus and ileum and only involve colon from 4% to 18%. We illustrate a case report of an 18-year-old female patient with transverse colon duplication. There were symptom manifestations such as chronic constipation with flatulence accompanied with abdominal pain. We demonstrate this case report due to non-specific clinical presentation and some difficulties to form preoperative diagnosis. The patient underwent surgery. Tubular transverse colon duplication communicated with normal bowel in the proximal part was revealed. We performed transverse colon resection with duplication. The postoperative period was uneventful.
Very low carbohydrate diet and SGLT-2-inhibitor: double jeopardy in relation to ketoacidosis
Authors: Tougaard Ninna Hahn , Faber Jens , Eldrup Ebbe
Published: April 2019

Diabetic euglycaemic ketoacidosis is a possible adverse effect of sodium–glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i). We report a case in which the combination of SGLT2i and a strict very low-carbohydrate diet led to severe diabetic ketoacidosis in a young Caucasian man with type 2 diabetes.
A guided and unguided internet- and mobile-based intervention for chronic pain: health economic evaluation alongside a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Paganini Sarah , Lin Jiaxi , Kählke Fanny , Buntrock Claudia , Leiding Delia , Ebert David D , Baumeister Harald
Published: April 2019

Objective

This study aims at evaluating the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of a guided and unguided internet-based intervention for chronic pain patients (ACTonPainguidedand ACTonPainunguided) compared with a waitlist control group (CG) as well as the comparative cost-effectiveness of the guided and the unguided version.

Design

This is a health economic evaluation alongside a three-arm randomised controlled trial from a societal perspective. Assessments were conducted at baseline, 9 weeks and 6 months after randomisation.

Setting

Participants were recruited through online and offline strategies and in collaboration with a health insurance company.

Participants

302 adults (≥18 years, pain for at least 6 months) were randomly allocated to one of the three groups (ACTonPainguided, ACTonPainunguided, CG).

Interventions

ACTonPain consists of seven modules and is based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. ACTonPainguidedand ACTonPainunguidedonly differ in provision of human support.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Main outcomes of the cost-effectiveness and the cost-utility analyses were meaningful change in pain interference (treatment response) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), respectively. Economic evaluation estimates were the incremental cost-effectiveness and cost-utility ratio (ICER/ICUR).

Results

At 6-month follow-up, treatment response and QALYs were highest in ACTonPainguided(44% and 0.280; mean costs = €6,945), followed by ACTonPainunguided(28% and 0.266; mean costs = €6,560) and the CG (16% and 0.244; mean costs = €6,908). ACTonPainguidedvs CG revealed an ICER of €45 and an ICUR of €604.ACTonPainunguideddominated CG. At a willingness-to-pay of €0 the probability of being cost-effective was 50% for ACTonPainguided(vs CG, for both treatment response and QALY gained) and 67% for ACTonPainunguided(vs CG, for both treatment response and QALY gained). These probabilities rose to 95% when society’s willingness-to-pay is €91,000 (ACTonPainguided) and €127,000 (ACTonPainunguided) per QALY gained. ACTonPainguidedvs ACTonPainunguidedrevealed an ICER of €2,374 and an ICUR of €45,993.

Conclusions

Depending on society’s willingness-to-pay, ACTonPain is a potentially cost-effective adjunct to established pain treatment. ACTonPainunguided(vs CG) revealed lower costs at better health outcomes. However, uncertainty has to be considered. Direct comparison of the two interventions does not indicate a preference for ACTonPainguided.

Trial registration number

DRKS00006183.
Chronic hepatitis B virus infection and total and cause-specific mortality: a prospective cohort study of 0.5 million people
Authors: Si Jiahui , Yu Canqing , Guo Yu , Bian Zheng , Meng Ruogu , Yang Ling , Chen Yiping , Jin Jianrong , Liu Jingchao , Guo Ziyan , Chen Junshi , Chen Zhengming , Lv Jun , Li Liming
Published: April 2019

Objectives

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is associated with a higher risk of liver diseases. Substantial uncertainty remains, however, about the associations of HBV infection with mortality from extrahepatic causes, especially from subtypes of cardiovascular diseases. We prospectively examined the association of chronic HBV infection with total and cause-specific mortality.

Design

Population-based prospective cohort study.

Setting

China Kadoorie Biobank in which participants from 10 geographically diverse areas across China were enrolled between 2004 and 2008.

Participants

475 801 participants 30–79 years of age without reporting major chronic diseases at baseline were enrolled. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was tested using an on-site rapid test strip at baseline.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Total and cause-specific mortality.

Results

A total of 35 822 deaths were recorded during ~10 years of follow-up. In multivariable-adjusted analyses, compared with HBsAg-negative participants, HBsAg-positive participants had an increased risk of total mortality (HR=2.01, 95% CI: 1.91 to 2.12), which was higher in men (HR=2.16, 95% CI: 2.01 to 2.31) than in women (HR=1.74, 95% CI: 1.60 to 1.90). Presence of HBsAg was associated with increased mortality from liver cancer (1339 deaths, HR=13.95, 95% CI: 12.46 to 15.62), infections (410 deaths, HR=10.30, 95% CI: 8.21 to 12.94), digestive diseases (688 deaths, HR=6.83, 95% CI: 5.49 to 8.50), intracerebral haemorrhage (4077 deaths, HR=1.38, 95% CI: 1.14 to 1.68) and ischaemic heart diseases (4624 deaths, HR=1.31, 95% CI: 1.09 to 1.58). The positive association between HBsAg status and risk of death was stronger in participants younger than 50 years, smokers, physically active or non-hypertensive participants.

Conclusions

Among Chinese adults, chronic HBV infection was associated with increased mortality from a range of hepatic and extrahepatic diseases.
Cholesterol biosynthesis supports the growth of hepatocarcinoma lesions depleted of fatty acid synthase in mice and humans
Authors: Che Li , Chi Wenna , Qiao Yu , Zhang Jie , Song Xinhua , Liu Ye , Li Lei , Jia Jiaoyuan , Pilo Maria G , Wang Jingxiao , Cigliano Antonio , Ma Zhilong , Kuang Wenhua , Tang Zefang , Zhang Zemin , Shui Guanghou , Ribback Silvia , Dombrowski Frank , Evert Matthias , Pascale Rosa Maria , Cossu Carla , Pes Giovanni Mario , Osborne Timothy F , Calvisi Diego F , Chen Xin , Chen Ligong
Published: April 2019

Objective

Increased de novo fatty acid (FA) synthesis and cholesterol biosynthesis have been independently described in many tumour types, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Design

We investigated the functional contribution of fatty acid synthase (Fasn)-mediated de novo FA synthesis in a murine HCC model induced by loss of Pten and overexpression of c-Met (sgPten/c-Met) using liver-specificFasnknockout mice. Expression arrays and lipidomic analysis were performed to characterise the global gene expression and lipid profiles, respectively, of sgPten/c-Met HCC from wild-type andFasnknockout mice. Human HCC cell lines were used for in vitro studies.

Results

Ablation ofFasnsignificantly delayed sgPten/c-Met-driven hepatocarcinogenesis in mice. However, eventually, HCC emerged inFasnknockout mice. Comparative genomic and lipidomic analyses revealed the upregulation of genes involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, as well as decreased triglyceride levels and increased cholesterol esters, in HCC from these mice. Mechanistically, loss ofFasnpromoted nuclear localisation and activation of sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (Srebp2), which triggered cholesterogenesis. Blocking cholesterol synthesis via the dominant negative form of Srebp2 (dnSrebp2) completely prevented sgPten/c-Met-driven hepatocarcinogenesis inFasnknockout mice. Similarly, silencing ofFASNresulted in increasedSREBP2activation and hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase (HMGCR)expression in human HCC cell lines. Concomitant inhibition of FASN-mediated FA synthesis and HMGCR-driven cholesterol production was highly detrimental for HCC cell growth in culture.

Conclusion

Our study uncovers a novel functional crosstalk between aberrant lipogenesis and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways in hepatocarcinogenesis, whose concomitant inhibition might represent a therapeutic option for HCC.
Neurofilament light chain as a biomarker in neurological disorders
Authors: Gaetani Lorenzo , Blennow Kaj , Calabresi Paolo , Di Filippo Massimiliano , Parnetti Lucilla , Zetterberg Henrik
Published: April 2019

In the management of neurological diseases, the identification and quantification of axonal damage could allow for the improvement of diagnostic accuracy and prognostic assessment. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a neuronal cytoplasmic protein highly expressed in large calibre myelinated axons. Its levels increase in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood proportionally to the degree of axonal damage in a variety of neurological disorders, including inflammatory, neurodegenerative, traumatic and cerebrovascular diseases. New immunoassays able to detect biomarkers at ultralow levels have allowed for the measurement of NfL in blood, thus making it possible to easily and repeatedly measure NfL for monitoring diseases’ courses. Evidence that both CSF and blood NfL may serve as diagnostic, prognostic and monitoring biomarkers in neurological diseases is progressively increasing, and NfL is one of the most promising biomarkers to be used in clinical and research setting in the next future. Here we review the most important results on CSF and blood NfL and we discuss its potential applications and future directions.