bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Five-Year National Surveillance of Invasive Candidiasis: Species Distribution and Azole Susceptibility from the China Hospital Invasive Fungal Surveillance Net (CHIF-NET) Study
Authors: Xiao Meng , Sun Zi-Yong , Kang Mei , Guo Da-Wen , Liao Kang , Chen Sharon C.-A. , Kong Fanrong , Fan Xin , Cheng Jing-Wei , Hou Xin , Zhou Meng-Lan , Li Ying , Yu Shu-Ying , Huang Jing-Jing , Wang He , Xu Ying-Chun ,   on behalf of the China Hospital Invasive Fungal Surveillance Net (CHIF-NET) Study Group Ying-Chun Xu Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing He Wang Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Beijing Mei Kang West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province Yu-Ling Xiao West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province Zi-Yong Sun Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei Province Zhong-Ju Chen Tongji Hospi
Published: May 2018

Data on the epidemiology of invasive candidiasis (IC) and the antifungal susceptibility of
Candida
isolates in China are still limited. Here we report on surveillance for IC from the China Hospital Invasive Fungal Surveillance Net (CHIF-NET) study. Sixty-five tertiary hospitals collected 8,829
Candida
isolates from 1 August 2009 to 31 July 2014. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry supplemented by ribosomal DNA sequencing was used to define the species, and the fluconazole and voriconazole susceptibilities were determined by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute disk diffusion method. A total of 32
Candida
species were identified.
Candida albicans
was the most common species (44.9%), followed by the
C. parapsilosis
complex (20.0%),
C. tropicalis
(17.2%), and the
C. glabrata
complex (10.8%), with other species comprising <3% of isolates. However, in candidemia, the proportion of cases caused by
C. albicans
was only 32.3%.
C. albicans
and
C. parapsilosis
complex isolates were susceptible to fluconazole and voriconazole (<6% resistance), while fluconazole and azole cross-resistance rates were high in
C. tropicalis
(13.3% and 12.9%, respectively),
C. glabrata
complex (18.7% and 14%, respectively), and uncommon
Candida
species (44.1% and 10.3%, respectively) isolates. Moreover, from years 1 to 5 of the study, there was a significant increase in the rates of resistance to fluconazole among
C. glabrata
complex isolates (12.2% to 24.0%) and to both fluconazole (5.7% to 21.0%) and voriconazole (5.7% to 21.4%) among
C. tropicalis
isolates (
P
< 0.01 for all comparisons). Geographic variations in the causative species and susceptibilities were noted. Our findings indicate that antifungal resistance has become noteworthy in China, and enhanced surveillance is warranted.
The Antiviral Activity of the Cellular Glycoprotein LGALS3BP/90K Is Species Specific
Authors: Lodermeyer Veronika , Ssebyatika George , Passos Vânia , Ponnurangam Aparna , Malassa Angelina , Ewald Ellen , Stürzel Christina M. , Kirchhoff Frank , Rotger Margalida , Falk Christine S. , Telenti Amalio , Krey Thomas , Goffinet Christine
Published: May 2018

Cellular antiviral proteins interfere with distinct steps of replication cycles of viruses. The galectin 3 binding protein (LGALS3BP, also known as 90K) was previously shown to lower the infectivity of nascent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) virions when expressed in virus-producing cells. This antiviral effect was accompanied by impaired gp160Env processing and reduced viral incorporation of mature Env glycoproteins. Here, we examined the ability of 90K orthologs from primate species to reduce the particle infectivity of distinct lentiviruses. We show that 90K's ability to diminish the infectivity of lentiviral particles is conserved within primate species, with the notable exception of 90K from rhesus macaque. Comparison of active and inactive 90K orthologs and variants uncovered the fact that inhibition of processing of the HIV-1 Env precursor and reduction of cell surface expression of HIV-1 Env gp120 are required, but not sufficient, for 90K-mediated antiviral activity. Rather, 90K-mediated reduction of virion-associated gp120 coincided with antiviral activity, suggesting that 90K impairs the incorporation of HIV-1 Env into budding virions. We show that a single “humanizing” amino acid exchange in the BTB (broad-complex, tramtrack, and bric-à-brac)/POZ (poxvirus and zinc finger) domain is sufficient to fully rescue the antiviral activity of a shortened version of rhesus macaque 90K, but not that of the full-length protein. Comparison of the X-ray structures of the BTB/POZ domains of 90K from rhesus macaques and humans point toward a slightly larger hydrophobic patch at the surface of the rhesus macaque BTB domain that may modulate a direct interaction with either a second 90K domain or a different protein.

IMPORTANCE
The cellular 90K protein has been shown to diminish the infectivity of nascent HIV-1 particles. When produced in 90K-expressing cells, particles bear smaller amounts of the HIV-1 Env glycoprotein, which is essential for attaching to and entering new target cells in the subsequent infection round. However, whether the antiviral function of 90K is conserved across primates is unknown. Here, we found that 90K orthologs from most primate species, but, surprisingly, not from rhesus macaques, inhibit HIV-1. The introduction of a single amino acid exchange into a short version of the rhesus macaque 90K protein, consisting of the two intermediate domains of 90K, resulted in full restoration of antiviral activity. Structural elucidation of the respective domain suggests that the absence of antiviral activity in the rhesus macaque factor may be linked to a subtle change in protein-protein interaction.
Evaluation of Dried Blood Spots and Oral Fluids as Alternatives to Serum for Human Papillomavirus Antibody Surveillance
Authors: Louie Karly S. , Dalel Jama , Reuter Caroline , Bissett Sara L. , Kleeman Michelle , Ashdown-Barr Lesley , Banwait Rawinder , Godi Anna , Sasieni Peter , Beddows Simon
Published: May 2018

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the causative agent of cervical and other anogenital cancers. HPV vaccination, primarily targeted at young girls before the age of sexual debut, is starting to demonstrate population-level declines in HPV infection and early disease associated with vaccine-incorporated genotypes. Monitoring young women for vaccine-specific antibody is important for vaccine surveillance and may be useful as an adjunct test within a cervical screening context. We evaluated serum, dried blood spots, and oral fluid as potential samples for such applications and report robust measures of diagnostic accuracy. This is the first time a direct comparison of alternative sample types has been made between vaccinated and unvaccinated women for the detection and quantitation of HPV antibodies.
What Is the Role of
Archaea
in Plants? New Insights from the Vegetation of Alpine Bogs
Authors: Taffner Julian , Erlacher Armin , Bragina Anastasia , Berg Christian , Moissl-Eichinger Christine , Berg Gabriele
Published: May 2018

Archaea
are still an underdetected and little-studied part of the plant microbiome. We provide first and novel insights into
Archaea
as a functional component of the plant microbiome obtained by metagenomic analyses.
Archaea
were found to have the potential to interact with plants by (i) plant growth promotion through auxin biosynthesis, (ii) nutrient supply, and (iii) protection against abiotic stress.
Adverse effects of small for gestational age differ by gestational week among very preterm infants
Authors: Jensen Erik A , Foglia Elizabeth E , Dysart Kevin C , Simmons Rebecca A , Aghai Zubair H , Cook Alison , Greenspan Jay S , DeMauro Sara B
Published: May 2018

Objective

To characterise the excess risk for death, grade 3–4 intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH), bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and stage 3–5 retinopathy of prematurity independently associated with birth small for gestational age (SGA) among very preterm infants, stratified by completed weeks of gestation.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study using the Optum Neonatal Database. Study infants were born <32 weeks gestation without severe congenital anomalies. SGA was defined as a birth weight <10th percentile. The excess outcome risk independently associated with SGA birth among SGA babies was assessed using adjusted risk differences (aRDs).

Results

Of 6708 infants sampled from 717 US hospitals, 743 (11.1%) were SGA. SGA compared with non-SGA infants experienced higher unadjusted rates of each study outcome except grade 3–4 IVH among survivors. The excess risk independently associated with SGA birth varied by outcome and gestational age. The highest aRD for death (0.27; 95% CI 0.13 to 0.40) occurred among infants born at 24 weeks gestation and declined as gestational age increased. In contrast, the peak aRDs for BPD among survivors (0.32; 95% CI 0.20 to 0.44) and the composites of death or BPD (0.35; 95% CI 0.24 to 0.46) and death or major morbidity (0.35; 95% CI 0.24 to 0.45) occurred at 27 weeks gestation. The risk-adjusted probability of dying or developing one or more of the evaluated morbidities among SGA infants was similar to that of non-SGA infants born approximately 2–3 weeks less mature.

Conclusion

The excess risk for neonatal morbidity and mortality associated with being born SGA varies by adverse outcome and gestational age.
Evaluation of the association between sleep duration and tooth loss among Korean adults: data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES 2012–2014)
Authors: Han Kyungdo , Park Jun-Beom
Published: May 2018

Objectives

This study assessed the association between sleep duration and tooth loss using nationally representative data. In this study, a cross-sectional analysis was performed using multivariable logistic regression analysis models.

Setting

The present study analysed data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2012 and 2014.

Participants

A total of 14 675 respondents over 19 years old without missing values were included in this study.

Exposure and primary outcome measures

Sleep duration and tooth loss.

Results

Participants with a sleep duration of 6–8 hours showed the lowest prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, periodontitis and meeting the waist circumference criteria for metabolic syndrome. Adjusted OR and their 95% CI of male individuals with fewer than 25 natural teeth were 1.426 (1.113 to 1.827), 1.290 (1.074 to 1.548), 0.988 (0.853 to 1.145), 1 (reference), 1.058 (0.907 to 1.235) and 1.620 (1.287 to 2.038) for sleep duration of 4 hours or less, 5 hours, 6 hours, 7 hours, 8 hours and 9 hours or more, respectively (p<0.05), after adjustments for age, sex, smoking, drinking, walking, frequency of tooth brushing per day, body mass index and periodontitis.

Conclusions

Our findings showed the U-shaped association between sleep duration and tooth loss was suggested by multiple logistic regression analyses after adjusting for confounding factors. Moreover, subgroup analyses showed that short and long sleep duration were associated with greater tooth loss in participants without diabetes mellitus, those without hypertension and those without metabolic syndrome.
Predicting risk of hospitalisation: a retrospective population-based analysis in a paediatric population in Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Authors: Louis Daniel Z , Callahan Clara A , Robeson Mary , Liu Mengdan , McRae Jacquelyn , Gonnella Joseph S , Lombardi Marco , Maio Vittorio
Published: May 2018

Objectives

Develop predictive models for a paediatric population that provide information for paediatricians and health authorities to identify children at risk of hospitalisation for conditions that may be impacted through improved patient care.

Design

Retrospective healthcare utilisation analysis with multivariable logistic regression models.

Data

Demographic information linked with utilisation of health services in the years 2006–2014 was used to predict risk of hospitalisation or death in 2015 using a longitudinal administrative database of 527 458 children aged 1–13 years residing in the Regione Emilia-Romagna (RER), Italy, in 2014.

Outcome measures

Models designed to predict risk of hospitalisation or death in 2015 for problems that are potentially avoidable were developed and evaluated using the C-statistic, for calibration to assess performance across levels of predicted risk, and in terms of their sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value.

Results

Of the 527 458 children residing in RER in 2014, 6391 children (1.21%) were hospitalised for selected conditions or died in 2015. 49 486 children (9.4%) of the population were classified in the ‘At Higher Risk’ group using a threshold of predicted risk >2.5%. The observed risk of hospitalisation (5%) for the ‘At Higher Risk’ group was more than four times higher than the overall population. We observed a C-statistic of 0.78 indicating good model performance. The model was well calibrated across categories of predicted risk.

Conclusions

It is feasible to develop a population-based model using a longitudinal administrative database that identifies the risk of hospitalisation for a paediatric population. The results of this model, along with profiles of children identified as high risk, are being provided to the paediatricians and other healthcare professionals providing care to this population to aid in planning for care management and interventions that may reduce their patients’ likelihood of a preventable, high-cost hospitalisation.
Optimal Thromboprophylaxis in Elderly Chinese Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (ChiOTEAF) registry: protocol for a prospective, observational nationwide cohort study
Authors: Guo Yutao , Wang Yutang , Li Xiaoying , Shan Zaoliang , Shi Xiangmin , Xi Guorong , Lip Gregory Y H
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a worldwide healthcare burden that is associated with the ageing population. Elderly patients with AF with multiple comorbidities usually present with a high risk of thromboembolism and bleeding. Limited prospective data are available from Asian cohorts on the epidemiology and complications of AF. The present prospective cohort study aims to explore contemporary antithrombotic strategies among the elderly Chinese population in the new era of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants and to compare the clinical characteristics and outcomes between Chinese and European AF populations.

Methods and analysis

The Optimal Thromboprophylaxis in Elderly Chinese Patients with Atrial Fibrillation (ChiOTEAF) registry will recruit 5000 patients with AF over 65 years of age in China. AF-related risks, including stroke/systemic thromboembolism and bleeding outcomes, will be assessed. Medical history, risk factors, demographic information and management will be collected at baseline, and clinical events during 1 year follow-up will be recorded. Follow-up will be conducted for at least 1 year and then annually thereafter. As our registry has a common protocol to the European Society of Cardiology EURObservational Research Programme AF general registry programme, preplanned analyses comparing the clinical profiles and outcomes will be performed. The ChiOTEAF registry offers an opportunity to provide a better understanding of the clinical profiles and adverse outcomes of patients with AF in China and allow for comparisons with a contemporary European population.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was granted by the Central Medical Ethic Committee of Chinese PLA General Hospital (approval no S2014-065-01). The (inter)national research presentations, peer-reviewed publications and media coverage of the research will be sued for dissemination of the results.
Methods and quality of disease models incorporating more than two sexually transmitted infections: a protocol for a systematic review of the evidence
Authors: Sailer Fabian , Rait Greta , Howe Alice , Saunders John , Hunter Rachael
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Disease models can be useful tools for policy makers to inform their decisions. They can help to estimate the costs and benefits of interventions without conducting clinical trials and help to extrapolate the findings of clinical trials to a population level.

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) do not operate in isolation. Risk-taking behaviours and biological interactions can increase the likelihood of an individual being coinfected with more than one STI.

Currently, few STI models consider coinfection or the interaction between STIs. We aim to identify and summarise STI models for two or more STIs and describe their modelling approaches.

Methods and analysis

Six databases (Cochrane, Embase, PLOS, ProQuest, Medline and Web of Science) were searched on 27 November 2018 to identify studies that focus on the reporting of the methodology and quality of models for at least two different STIs. The quality of all eligible studies will be accessed using a percentage scale published by Kopecet al. We will summarise all used approaches to model two or more STIs in one model. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) framework will be used to report all outcomes.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required for this systematic review. The results of this review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at a suitable conference. The findings from this review will be used to inform the development of a new multi-STI model.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42017076837.
Glycated haemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) for detection of diabetes mellitus and impaired fasting glucose in Malawi: a diagnostic accuracy study
Authors: Rathod Sujit D , Crampin Amelia C , Musicha Crispin , Kayuni Ndoliwe , Banda Louis , Saul Jacqueline , McLean Estelle , Branson Keith , Jaffar Shabbar , Nyirenda Moffat J
Published: May 2018

Objectives

To examine the accuracy of glycated haemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) in detecting type 2 diabetes and impaired fasting glucose among adults living in Malawi.

Design

A diagnostic validation study of HbA1c. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥7.0 mmol/L was the reference standard for type 2 diabetes, and FPG between 6.1 and 6.9 mmol/L as impaired fasting glucose.

Participants

3645 adults (of whom 63% were women) recruited from two demographic surveillance study sites in urban and rural Malawi. This analysis excluded those who had a previous diagnosis of diabetes or had history of taking diabetes medication.

Results

HbA1cdemonstrated excellent validity to detect FPG-defined diabetes, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.92 (95% CI 0.90 to 0.94). At HbA1c≥6.5% (140 mg/dL), sensitivity was 78.7% and specificity was 94.0%. Subgroup AUROCs ranged from 0.86 for participants with anaemia to 0.94 for participants in urban Malawi. There were clinical and metabolic differences between participants with true diabetes versus false positives when HbA1cwas ≥6.5% (140 mg/dL).

Conclusions

The findings from this study provide justification to use HbA1cto detect type 2 diabetes. As HbA1ctesting is substantially less burdensome to patients than either FPG testing or oral glucose tolerance testing, it represents a useful option for expanding access to diabetes care in sub-Saharan Africa.
Quantitative investigation of inappropriate regression model construction and the importance of medical statistics experts in observational medical research: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Nojima Masanori , Tokunaga Mutsumi , Nagamura Fumitaka
Published: May 2018

Objective

To investigate under what circumstances inappropriate use of ‘multivariate analysis’ is likely to occur and to identify the population that needs more support with medical statistics.

Study design and settings

The frequency of inappropriate regression model construction in multivariate analysis and related factors were investigated in observational medical research publications.

Results

The inappropriate algorithm of using only variables that were significant in univariate analysis was estimated to occur at 6.4% (95% CI 4.8% to 8.5%). This was observed in 1.1% of the publications with a medical statistics expert (hereinafter ‘expert’) as the first author, 3.5% if an expert was included as coauthor and in 12.2% if experts were not involved. In the publications where the number of cases was 50 or less and the study did not include experts, inappropriate algorithm usage was observed with a high proportion of 20.2%. The OR of the involvement of experts for this outcome was 0.28 (95% CI 0.15 to 0.53). A further, nation-level, analysis showed that the involvement of experts and the implementation of unfavourable multivariate analysis are associated at the nation-level analysis (R=−0.652).

Conclusion

Based on the results of this study, the benefit of participation of medical statistics experts is obvious. Experts should be involved for proper confounding adjustment and interpretation of statistical models.
Delirium as a predictor of mortality in US Medicare beneficiaries discharged from the emergency department: a national claims-level analysis up to 12 months
Authors: Israni Juhi , Lesser Adriane , Kent Tyler , Ko Kelly
Published: May 2018

Background

Delirium is common among seniors discharged from the emergency department (ED) and associated with increased risk of mortality. Prior research has addressed mortality associated with seniors discharged from the ED with delirium, however has generally relied on data from one or a small number of institutions and at single time points.

Objectives

Analyse mortality rates among seniors discharged from the ED with delirium up to 12 months at the national level.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Analysed data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services limited data sets for 2012–2013.

Participants

Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries aged 65 years or older discharged from the ED. We focused on new incident cases of delirium, patients with any prior claims for delirium, hospice claims or end-stage renal disease were excluded. Sample size included 26 245 delirium claims, and a randomly selected sample of 262 450 controls.

Outcome measures

Mortality within 12 months after discharge from the ED, excluding patients transferred or admitted as inpatients.

Results

Among all beneficiaries, 46 508 (16.1%) died within 12 months, of which 39 404 (15.0%) were in the non-delirium (ie, control group) and 7104 (27.1%) were in the delirium cohort, respectively. Mortality was strongest at 30 days with an adjusted HR of 4.82 (95% CI 4.60 to 5.04). Over time, delirium was consistently associated with increased mortality risk compared with controls up to 12 months (HR 2.07; 95% CI 2.01 to 2.13). Covariates that affected mortality included older age, comorbidity and presence of dementia.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate delirium is a significant marker of mortality among seniors in the ED, and mortality risk is most salient in the first 3 months following an ED visit. Given the significant clinical and financial implications, there is a need to increase delirium screening and management within the ED to help identify and treat this potentially fatal condition.
Reducing severe hypoglycaemia in hospitalised patients with diabetes: Early outcomes of standardised reporting and management
Authors: Araque Katherine A , Kadayakkara Deepak K , Gigauri Nino , Sheehan Diane , Majumdar Sachin , Buller Gregory , Flannery Clare A
Published: May 2018

Background

Severe hypoglycaemic events (HGEs) in hospitalised patients are associated with poor outcomes and prolonged hospitalization. Systematic, coordinated care is required for acute management and prevention of HGEs; however, studies evaluating quality control efforts are scarce.

Objective

To investigate the effectiveness of system-based interventions to improve management response to HGEs.

Methods

System-based interventions were designed and implemented following a root cause analysis of HGE in adult patients with diabetes from two general medical wards with the highest incidence of HGE. Interventions included electronic medical record programming for a standardised order set for basal-bolus insulin regimen and hypoglycemia protocol, automated dextrose order, automated MD notification, and recommendation for endocrine consultation after two critical HGEs. The Pyxis MedStation was programmed to alert nurses to recheck blood glucose 15 min after the treatment. A card with the HGE management protocol was attached to each provider’s ID badge and educational seminars were given to all providers.

Main outcomes and measures

Primary outcomes were to evaluate median time from HGE (glucose <50 mg/dL) to euglycemia (>100 mg/dL), and time from HGE to follow-up finger-stick (FS) testing preintervention and postintervention. Secondary outcomes were cumulative incidence of HGEs, recurrent hypoglycemia, rate of physician notification and use of standardised treatments among adults with diabetes on the two general medical wards.

Results

Among hospitalised adults with diabetes and HGE, median time from HGE to euglycemia declined from 225±46 min preintervention to 87±26 min postintervention (p=0.03). Median time from HGE to next FS testing also declined (76±14 min to 28±10 min, p<0.001). Standardised treatment administration for HGE improved significantly from 34% (12/35) to 97% (36/37); physician notification rate improved significantly from 51% (18/35) to 78% (29/37).

Among hospitalised adults with diabetes, incidence of HGE decreased from 12% (35/295) over 3 months (preintervention period) to 6% (37/610) over 6 months (postintervention period) (p<0.001), while recurrent HGE did not show significant differences (37% (13/35) to 24% (9/37) , p=0.09).

Conclusions

System-based interventions had a clinically important impact on decreasing time from HGE to euglycemia and to next FS testing. This hypoglycemia bundle of care may be applied and tested in other community hospitals to improve patient safety.
Increased cardiovascular disease risk in international migrants is independent of residence duration or cultural orientation: the HELIUS study
Authors: Perini Wilco , Snijder Marieke B , Peters Ron J G , Stronks Karien , Kunst Anton E
Published: May 2018

Background

International migrants differ from host populations in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. It has been postulated that these disparities narrow with longer residence duration. Our aim was to determine whether CVD risk still differs between migrants and host population after decades of residence and to determine whether this potential convergence of CVD risk would occur mainly among migrants with a strong cultural orientation towards the host culture.

Methods

In the Healthy Life in an Urban Setting study, we obtained data regarding residence duration, cultural orientation as estimated by the Psychological Acculturation Scale and CVD risk as estimated by SCORE among the Dutch host population and first generation migrants from South-Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Moroccan and Turkish ethnic background residing in Amsterdam. Estimated CVD risk was compared with the Dutch, separately for medium-term residence (15–30 years) or long-term residence (>30 years) migrants, and by strong/weak cultural orientation towards the Dutch culture, using age-adjusted regression analyses.

Results

Among 8672 participants without prior CVD, estimated CVD risk was higher among migrant groups relative to the Dutch. CVD risk relative to the Dutch did not differ by residence duration (betas ranging from 0.1 to 3.4 for medium-term and from 0.6 to 3.3 for long-term residence, respectively). Furthermore, these patterns did not differ by cultural orientation towards the Dutch culture.

Conclusion

We find no indication that CVD risk among South-Asian Surinamese, African Surinamese, Turkish or Moroccan migrants converges to that of the Dutch host population with increasing residence duration, not even among those with strong cultural orientation towards the host culture.
Molecular genetic classification in Prader-Willi syndrome: a multisite cohort study
Authors: Butler Merlin G , Hartin Samantha N , Hossain Waheeda A , Manzardo Ann M , Kimonis Virginia , Dykens Elisabeth , Gold June Anne , Kim Soo-Jeong , Weisensel Nicolette , Tamura Roy , Miller Jennifer L , Driscoll Daniel J
Published: May 2018

Background

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is due to errors in genomic imprinting. PWS is recognised as the most common known genetic cause of life-threatening obesity. This report summarises the frequency and further characterises the PWS molecular classes and maternal age effects.

Methods

High-resolution microarrays, comprehensive chromosome 15 genotyping and methylation-specific multiplex ligation probe amplification were used to describe and further characterise molecular classes of maternal disomy 15 (UPD15) considering maternal age.

Results

We summarised genetic data from 510 individuals with PWS and 303 (60%) had the 15q11-q13 deletion; 185 (36%) with UPD15 and 22 (4%) with imprinting defects. We further characterised UPD15 findings into subclasses based on the presence (size, location) or absence of loss of heterozygosity (LOH). Additionally, significantly older mothers (mean age=32.5 years vs 27.7 years) were found in the UPD15 group (n=145) compared with the deletion subtype (n=200).

Conclusions

We report on molecular classes in PWS using advanced genomic technology in the largest cohort to date. LOH patterns in UPD15 may impact the risk of having a second genetic condition if the mother carries a recessive mutant allele in the isodisomic region on chromosome 15. The risk of UPD15 may also increase with maternal age.
Low food intake in hospital: patient, institutional, and clinical factors
Authors: Curtis Lori J. , Valaitis Renata , Laur Celia , McNicholl Tara , Nasser Roseann , Keller Heather
Published: May 2018

In-hospital malnutrition and inadequate food intake have been associated with negative outcomes (e.g., prolonged length of stay, readmission, mortality, and increased hospital costs). Studies examining the factors associated with low food intake in hospital, commonly defined as the consumption of ≤50% of meals, have produced mixed results. We examined the correlates of food intake including patient socioeconomic, demographic, and health characteristics, institutional factors, and common clinical strategies in 1129 medical patients from 5 Canadian hospitals. Low food intake was found in 35% of patients (41% of females and 29% of males) (p < 0.001). In multivariate analyses, sex, socioeconomic status, demographics, and diagnoses were not significantly related to food intake. Patients assessed as malnourished (subjective global assessment (SGA) B/C) (odds ratio (OR), 2.41; p = 0.003) or as not at risk of malnutrition (OR, 1.67; p = 0.040) were more likely to have low intake when compared with those assessed as well nourished (SGA A). Patient reports of mealtime challenges (OR, 2.70; p < 0.001) and barriers to food intake (OR, 1.11; p = 0.008) were positively related to low intake throughout the study sample. Higher 12-Item Short Form Health Survey Mental Component Summary scores were related to better food intake (OR, 0.98; p < 0.001). Clinical strategies such as between-meal snacks lowered the likelihood of low food intake (OR, 0.55; p = 0.037), whereas a group of “other strategies” increased the odds (OR, 2.77; p = 0.001). These results offer a better understanding of the correlates of in-hospital low food intake. The conclusion discusses some avenues for improving food intake in the clinical setting, such as better mealtime monitoring and a reduction in barriers to food intake.
Uncertainty quantification-based robust aerodynamic optimization of laminar flow nacelle
Authors: Xiong Neng , Tao Yang , Liu Zhiyong , Lin Jun
Published: May 2018

The aerodynamic performance of laminar flow nacelle is highly sensitive to uncertain working conditions, especially the surface roughness. An efficient robust aerodynamic optimization method on the basis of non-deterministic computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation and Efficient Global Optimization (EGO)algorithm was employed. A non-intrusive polynomial chaos method is used in conjunction with an existing well-verified CFD module to quantify the uncertainty propagation in the flow field. This paper investigates the roughness modeling behavior with the [Formula: see text]-Ret shear stress transport model including modeling flow transition and surface roughness effects. The roughness effects are modeled to simulate sand grain roughness. A Class-Shape Transformation-based parametrical description of the nacelle contour as part of an automatic design evaluation process is presented. A Design-of-Experiments (DoE) was performed and surrogate model by Kriging method was built. The new design nacelle process demonstrates that significant improvements of both mean and variance of the efficiency are achieved and the proposed method can be applied to laminar flow nacelle design successfully.
Noncommutative geometry inspired rotating black string
Authors: Singh Dharm Veer , Ali Md Sabir , Ghosh Sushant G.
Published: May 2018

Noncommutativity is an idea dating back to that early times of quantum mechanics and the string theory induced noncommutative (NC) geometry provided an effective framework to study the short distance spacetime dynamics. Also, string theory, a candidate for a consistent quantum theory of gravity, admits a variety of classical black hole solutions including black strings. In this paper, we study a NC geometry inspired rotating black string to cylindrical spacetime with a source given by a smeared distribution of mass. The resulting metric is a regular everywhere, i.e. curvature-singularity free rotating black string, that in large [Formula: see text] limit interpolates Lemos black string. Thermodynamical properties of the black strings are also investigated and exact expressions for the temperature, the entropy and the heat capacity are obtained. Owing to the NC correction in the solution, the thermodynamic quantities have also been modified and that the NC geometry inspired black string is always thermodynamically stable.
Invariant submanifolds of generalized Sasakian-space-forms
Authors: Hui Shyamal Kumar , Uddin Siraj , Alkhaldi ALi H. , Mandal Pradip
Published: May 2018

This paper deals with the study of invariant submanifolds of generalized Sasakian-space-forms with respect to Levi-Civita connection as well as semi-symmetric metric connection. We provide an example of such submanifolds and obtain many new results including the necessary and sufficient conditions under which the submanifolds are totally geodesic. The Ricci solitons of such submanifolds are also studied.
Omega “Ω” Pulley Plasty for Surgical Management of DeQuervain’s Disease
Authors: Bakhach Joseph , Chaya Bachar , Papazian Nazareth
Published: May 2018

Background: DeQuervain tenosynovitis, refractory to medical conservative treatment, has been traditionally treated by a simple division of the pulley, a procedure associated with several complications. Many authors attempted to prevent these complications by describing techniques of pulley reconstruction after its release necessitating suturing the different flaps and subsequently promoting extensor tendons adhesions. The authors present an alternative procedure for the first extensor compartment pulley decompression: “Omegaplasty”.

Methods: 25 Patients with 29 DeQuervain tenosynovitis cases were enrolled in a prospective, nonrandomized clinical trial from 2012 to 2016. At enrollment they were offered the option of Omegaplasty as a surgical treatment modality for their cases. The procedure is based on liberating the anterior attachment of the pulley from the anterior lip of the styloïd process while respecting its continuity with the periosteal flap as well as promoting expansion of the tunnel volume. All operated patients were evaluated using the “Opposition Kapandji Score”.

Results: The authors present the results of 29 different “Omegaplasty” procedures. Based on the Kapandji opposition score, twenty cases scored 10/10 while the remaining nine cases yielded an 8/10 score each.

Conclusions: The described technique is simple, reliable and respects the extensor tendons gliding physiology and biodynamics. By preserving the anatomical continuity of the first extensor compartment pulley at the wrist, the risk of adhesion formation is reduced. The preliminary results are encouraging and provide the “Ω” plasty the potential to be considered as a surgical option for treatment of De Quervain Tenosynovitis.
Three Year Review of Dorsal Plating for Complex Intra-Articular Fractures of the Distal Radius
Authors: Spiteri Michelle , Ng Wayne , Matthews Jamie , Power Dominic , Brewster Mark
Published: May 2018

Background: The volar approach is commonly used for plating intra-articular fractures of the distal radius. Despite this, certain fracture configurations are more suitable for dorsal plate fixation. This technique has not gained favour due to the reported high incidence of extensor tendon irritation and attrition ruptures. With the advent of lower profile plates this risk has decreased.

Methods: We report on forty-six cases performed in a tertiary hand centre between January 2011 and May 2014. Patients were identified from a database of distal radius fractures treated with open reduction and internal fixation. Pre-operative radiographs and computed tomogram (CT) scans were reviewed to classify fractures and evaluate fracture configurations. Dorsal displacement of fracture fragments was present in all cases. Records and imaging were reviewed to assess bony union and complications including tendon irritation, rupture and need for further surgery.

Results: Plate placement was dependent on the degree of comminution in each fracture component. The combination of a dorsal and radial styloid plate was used in 52% of cases. There were no cases of tendon rupture and one case of post-operative loss of reduction. Removal of metal was performed in ten patients, mainly to improve motion and for tendon irritation (four cases each).

Conclusions: Even though technically challenging, dorsal plating is useful in cases of dorsal fragment displacement and comminution, as well as complex AO-23C3 fractures with involvement of the lunate fossa. It allows stable reduction of the dorso-ulnar fragment which is important to restore DRUJ anatomy. The rate of tendon irritation and rupture is lower when compared to earlier plate designs, and removal of metal is only necessary in a few cases.
Tectonic evolution of Leros (Dodecanese, Greece) and correlations between the Aegean Domain and the Menderes Massif
Authors: Roche Vincent , Conand Clément , Jolivet Laurent , Augier Romain
Published: May 2018

The history of subduction below the Aegean region and western Anatolia is hampered by a lack of comprehension of the correlations between the Cyclades and the Menderes Massif. The Dodecanese Archipelago, which is critical for this discussion, has received very little attention so far. This study is focused on the island of Leros, where two tectonometamorphic units can be observed: the upper Marina unit and the lower Temenia unit. The field study, including new field mapping and structural observations, reveals that the Temenia unit has been exhumed under the Marina unit through a top-to-the-NE ductile shearing followed by a top-to-the-SW brittle deformation cutting the Temenia–Marina contact. The description of metamorphic aragonite and blue amphibole, complemented by Raman spectroscopy on carbonaceous material (RSCM) thermometry, reveals that the Temenia unit has been buried to at least 20 km depth along a cold metamorphic gradient. In terms of lithology and palaeogeographical affinities, the cover of the Marina unit is similar to the Lycian Nappes, which rest on top of the Menderes Massif and belong to the northern margin of the Pelagonian domain. The Temenia unit can then be compared with the Lower Cycladic Blueschists Nappe, which could in turn be correlated with the cover of the Menderes Massif, which has also recorded an HP–LT metamorphic overprint.

Supplementary material:
Representative chemical analyses are available at
https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.4090229
The Scottish oil-shale industry from the viewpoint of the modern-day shale-gas industry
Authors: Dean Graham
Published: May 2018

Oil production in West Lothian in Scotland started in 1851. It was not the first place to produce oil from shale but it was the largest and most successful. This oil production led to major developments in oil refining and, as a result, a large demand for oil products was created. This new demand for oil products stimulated the search for oil around the world and resulted in the first modern-day oil well being drilled in Titusville Pennsylvania in 1859.

Over the next 100 years, an estimated 75 MMbbl (million barrels) of oil and 500 Bcf (billion cubic ft) of gas were produced from the shales of West Lothian. Initially, the oil was produced from a thin layer of shale at Torbanehill near Bathgate. Later, the much thicker deposits in the Dinantian West Lothian Oil-shale Formation (WLO) were used to produce the oil, although there was also oil produced from other shales mostly in the Lower Coal Measures and Limestone Coal Formation.

This paper looks at the Scottish oil-shale industry from the viewpoint of the modern-day shale-gas industry and highlights the contribution the industry made as the forerunner of the oil industry. The paper attempts to explain why the Scottish oil-shale industry was so successful and influential. Reasons why the oil-shale industry did not develop into modern oil-well production are also put forward.

The Scottish shale-oil industry was successful not only thanks to James Young and his colleagues but also because of the geology of the Central Belt of Scotland and, in particular, the geochemical properties of the WLO.

The shale-oil industry, natural oil seepage, free oil encountered during mining and the historical exploration drilling demonstrate a rich functioning source rock suggesting significant prospectivity for future exploration for both oil fields and shale gas.
3D Mapping of the Submerged Crowie Barge Using Electrical Resistivity Tomography
Authors: Simyrdanis Kleanthis , Moffat Ian , Papadopoulos Nikos , Kowlessar Jarrad , Bailey Marian
Published: May 2018

This study explores the applicability and effectiveness of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) as a tool for the high-resolution mapping of submerged and buried shipwrecks in 3D. This approach was trialled through modelling and field studies of Crowie, a paddle steamer barge which sunk at anchor in the Murray River at Morgan, South Australia, in the late 1950s. The mainly metallic structure of the ship is easily recognisable in the ERT data and was mapped in 3D both subaqueously and beneath the sediment-water interface. The innovative and successful use of ERT in this case study demonstrates that 3D ERT can be used for the detailed mapping of submerged cultural material. It will be particularly useful where other geophysical and diver based mapping techniques may be inappropriate due to shallow water depths, poor visibility, or other constraints.
Robust Self-Contained Pedestrian Navigation by Fusing the IMU and Compass Measurements via UFIR Filtering
Authors: Hou Meng , Xu Yuan , Liu Xiao
Published: May 2018

In order to overcome the poor observability of yaw measurement for foot-mounted inertial measurement unit (IMU), an integrated IMU+Compass scheme for self-contained pedestrian navigation is presented. In this mode, the compass measurement is used to provide the accurate yaw to improve the accuracy of the attitude transformation matrix for the foot-mounted IMU solution. And then, when the person is in a stance phase during walk, a unbiased finite impulse response (UFIR) filter based on the self-contained pedestrian navigation scheme is investigated, which just needs the state vector size MU and the filtering horizon size NU, while ignoring the noise statistics compared with the Kalman filter (KF). Finally, a real test has been done to verify the performance of the proposed self-contained pedestrian navigation using the IMU and compass measurements via UFIR filter. The test results show that the proposed filter has robust performance compared with the KF.
Experimental Behavior of Concrete‐Filled Steel Tubular Members Subjected to Lateral Loads
Authors: Wang Chengzhi , Liu Xin , Li Pengfei
Published: May 2018

The findings of an experimental study that was undertaken to investigate the performance of concrete‐filled steel tubular members subjected to lateral loads are reported in this study. Columns of pure concrete, concrete with reinforcing bars, and two steel tube thicknesses were considered. Two different tests were conducted in this study. One test is used to research the performance of steel tube‐reinforced concrete model piles under a lateral loading. The other test is used to research the effect of the depth of rock embedment for piles embedded in a foundation to simulate actual engineering applications in an experimental study. According to these test results, a detailed analysis was carried out on the relationships, such as the stress‐strain and load‐displacement relationships for the specimen. These tests show that the steel tube thickness and steel bars will significantly enhance the lateral bearing capacity and rigidity of the composite components. Additionally, the ultimate bending moment formula of a steel tube‐reinforced concrete pile is deduced. The comparison of the calculated results with the experimental results shows that this formula is applicable for this type of pile foundation.
Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus in Saudi Arabia: A Soaring Epidemic
Authors: Robert Asirvatham Alwin , Al-Dawish Abdulrahman , Mujammami Muhammad , Dawish Mohamed Abdulaziz Al
Published: May 2018

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is quite prevalent in the world, with a proportion of 1 in every 300 persons and steadily rising frequency of incidence of about 3% every year. More alarmingly, the incidence of T1DM among infants is also increasing, with children as young as 6 months succumbing to it, instead of that at a rather established vulnerable age of around seven and near puberty, when the hormones antagonize the action of insulin. These reports pose a unique challenge of developing efficient T1DM management system for the young children. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is the largest country in the Middle East that occupies approximately four-fifths of the Arabian Peninsula supporting a population of more than 33.3 million people, of whom 26% are under the age of 14 years. As per the Diabetes Atlas (8th edition), 35,000 children and adolescents in Saudi Arabia suffer from T1DM, which makes Saudi Arabia rank the 8th in terms of numbers of TIDM patients and 4th country in the world in terms of the incidence rate (33.5 per 100,000 individuals) of TIDM. However, in comparison with that in the developed countries, the number of research interventions on the prevalence, incidence, and the sociodemographic aspects of T1DM is woefully inadequate. In this review we discuss different aspects of T1DM in Saudi Arabia drawing on the published literature currently available.