bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structure of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Rtr1 reveals an active site for an atypical phosphatase
Authors: Irani Seema , Yogesha S. D. , Mayfield Joshua , Zhang Mengmeng , Zhang Yong , Matthews Wendy L. , Nie Grace , Prescott Nicholas A. , Zhang Yan Jessie
Published: March 2016

The atypical phosphatase involved in transcription has a nonconsensus active site and distinct reaction mechanism.
Paper of note in
Science Translational Medicine
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: March 2016

This week’s article describes a way to boost gut microbe–mediated protection against antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
Papers of note in
Science
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: March 2016

This week’s articles feature insights into how events that occur out of phase with the circadian clock are timed and a possible link between autism and the maternal immune system during pregnancy.
Identification of Novel VEB β-Lactamase Enzymes and Their Impact on Avibactam Inhibition
Authors: Lahiri Sushmita D. , Alm Richard A.
Published: March 2016

Ceftazidime-avibactam has activity against
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and
Enterobacteriaceae
expressing numerous class A and class C β-lactamases, although the ability to inhibit many minor enzyme variants has not been established. Novel VEB class A β-lactamases were identified during characterization of surveillance isolates. The cloned novel VEB β-lactamases possessed an extended-spectrum β-lactamase phenotype and were inhibited by avibactam in a concentration-dependent manner. The residues that comprised the avibactam binding pocket were either identical or functionally conserved. These data demonstrate that avibactam can inhibit VEB β-lactamases.
Clofazimine Contributes Sustained Antimicrobial Activity after Treatment Cessation in a Mouse Model of Tuberculosis Chemotherapy
Authors: Swanson Rosemary V. , Ammerman Nicole C. , Ngcobo Bongani , Adamson John , Moodley Chivonne , Dorasamy Afton , Moodley Sashen , Mgaga Zinhle , Bester Linda A. , Singh Sanil D. , Almeida Deepak V. , Grosset Jacques H.
Published: March 2016

Experimental and clinical studies have indicated that the antileprosy drug clofazimine may contribute treatment-shortening activity when included in tuberculosis treatment regimens. Clofazimine accumulates to high levels in tissues, has a long half-life, and remains in the body for months after administration is stopped. We hypothesized that in tuberculosis treatment, accumulated clofazimine may contribute sustained antimicrobial activity after treatment cessation, and we used the BALB/c mouse model of chronic tuberculosis chemotherapy to address this hypothesis.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
-infected mice were treated for 4 weeks or 8 weeks with either isoniazid alone, clofazimine alone, the first-line regimen rifampin-isoniazid-pyrazinamide-ethambutol, or a first-line regimen where clofazimine was administered in place of ethambutol. To evaluate posttreatment antimicrobial activity, bacterial regrowth in the lungs and spleens was assessed at the day of treatment cessation and 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks after treatment was stopped. Bacterial regrowth was delayed in all mice receiving clofazimine, either alone or in combination, compared to the mice that did not receive clofazimine. This effect was especially evident in mice receiving multidrug therapy. In mice not receiving clofazimine, bacterial regrowth began almost immediately after treatment was stopped, while in mice receiving clofazimine, bacterial regrowth was delayed for up to 6 weeks, with the duration of sustained antimicrobial activity being positively associated with the time that serum clofazimine levels remained at or above the 0.25-μg/ml MIC for
M. tuberculosis
. Thus, sustained activity of clofazimine may be important in the treatment-shortening effect associated with this drug.
Zinc(II)-Dipicolylamine Coordination Complexes as Targeting and Chemotherapeutic Agents for Leishmania major
Authors: Rice Douglas R. , Vacchina Paola , Norris-Mullins Brianna , Morales Miguel A. , Smith Bradley D.
Published: March 2016

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that causes painful lesions and severe disfigurement. Modern treatment relies on a few chemotherapeutics with serious limitations, and there is a need for more effective alternatives. This study describes the selective targeting of zinc(II)-dipicolylamine (ZnDPA) coordination complexes toward
Leishmania major
, one of the species responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis. Fluorescence microscopy of
L. major
promastigotes treated with a fluorescently labeled ZnDPA probe indicated rapid accumulation of the probe within the axenic promastigote cytosol. The antileishmanial activities of eight ZnDPA complexes were measured using an
in vitro
assay. All tested complexes exhibited selective toxicity against
L. major
axenic promastigotes, with 50% effective concentration values in the range of 12.7 to 0.3 μM. Similar toxicity was observed against intracellular amastigotes, but there was almost no effect on the viability of mammalian cells, including mouse peritoneal macrophages.
In vivo
treatment efficacy studies used fluorescence imaging to noninvasively monitor changes in the red fluorescence produced by an infection of mCherry-
L. major
in a mouse model. A ZnDPA treatment regimen reduced the parasite burden nearly as well as the reference care agent, potassium antimony(III) tartrate, and with less necrosis in the local host tissue. The results demonstrate that ZnDPA coordination complexes are a promising new class of antileishmanial agents with potential for clinical translation.
In Vitro
Analysis of the Interaction between Atovaquone and Proguanil against Liver Stage Malaria Parasites
Authors: Barata Lídia , Houzé Pascal , Boutbibe Khadija , Zanghi Gigliola , Franetich Jean-François , Mazier Dominique , Clain Jérôme
Published: March 2016

The interaction between atovaquone and proguanil has never been studied against liver stage malaria, which is the main target of this drug combination when used for chemoprevention. Using human hepatocytes lacking cytochrome P450 activity, and thus avoiding proguanil metabolizing into potent cycloguanil, we show
in vitro
that the atovaquone-proguanil combination synergistically inhibits the growth of rodent
Plasmodium yoelii
parasites. These results provide a pharmacological basis for the high efficacy of atovaquone-proguanil used as malaria chemoprevention.
Modulation of Membrane Influx and Efflux in Escherichia coli Sequence Type 131 Has an Impact on Bacterial Motility, Biofilm Formation, and Virulence in a Caenorhabditis elegans Model
Authors: Pantel Alix , Dunyach-Remy Catherine , Ngba Essebe Christelle , Mesureur Jennifer , Sotto Albert , Pagès Jean-Marie , Nicolas-Chanoine Marie-Hélène , Lavigne Jean-Philippe
Published: March 2016

Energy-dependent efflux overexpression and altered outer membrane permeability (influx) can promote multidrug resistance (MDR). The present study clarifies the regulatory pathways that control membrane permeability in the pandemic clone
Escherichia coli
sequence type 131 (ST131) and evaluates the impact of efflux and influx modulations on biofilm formation, motility, and virulence in the
Caenorhabditis elegans
model. Mutants of two uropathogenic
E. coli
(UPEC) strains, MECB5 (ST131;
H
30-Rx) and CFT073 (ST73), as well as a fecal strain, S250 (ST131;
H
22), were
in vitro
selected using continuous subculture in subinhibitory concentrations of ertapenem (ETP), chloramphenicol (CMP), and cefoxitin (FOX). Mutations in genes known to control permeability were shown for the two UPEC strains: MECB5-FOX (deletion of 127 bp in
marR
; deletion of 1 bp and insertion of an IS
1
element in
acrR
) and CFT073-CMP (a 1-bp deletion causing a premature stop in
marR
). We also demonstrated that efflux phenotypes in the mutants selected with CMP and FOX were related to the AcrAB-TolC pump, but also to other efflux systems. Alteration of membrane permeability, caused by underexpression of the two major porins, OmpF and OmpC, was shown in MECB5-ETP and mutants selected with FOX. Lastly, our findings suggest that efflux pump-overproducing isolates (CMP mutants) pose a serious threat in terms of virulence (significant reduction in worm median survival) and host colonization. Lack of porins (ETP and FOX mutants) led to a high level of antibiotic resistance in an
H
30-Rx subclone. Nevertheless, this adaptation created a physiological disadvantage (decreased motility and ability to form biofilm) associated with a low potential for virulence.
In Vitro
Approach for Identification of the Most Effective Agents for Antimicrobial Lock Therapy in the Treatment of Intravascular Catheter-Related Infections Caused by Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Hogan S. , Zapotoczna M. , Stevens N. T. , Humphreys H. , O'Gara J. P. , O'Neill E.
Published: March 2016

Infection of intravascular catheters by
Staphylococcus aureus
is a significant risk factor within the health care setting. To treat these infections and attempt salvage of an intravascular catheter, antimicrobial lock solutions (ALSs) are being increasingly used. However, the most effective ALSs against these biofilm-mediated infections have yet to be determined, and clinical practice varies greatly. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficacies of antibiotics and antiseptics in current clinical use against biofilms produced by reference and clinical isolates of
S. aureus
. Static and flow biofilm assays were developed using newly described
in vivo
-relevant conditions to examine the effect of each agent on
S. aureus
within the biofilm matrix. The antibiotics daptomycin, tigecycline, and rifampin and the antiseptics ethanol and Taurolock inactivated established
S. aureus
biofilms, while other commonly used antistaphylococcal antibiotics and antiseptic agents were less effective. These findings were confirmed by live/dead staining of
S. aureus
biofilms formed and treated within a flow cell model. The results from this study demonstrate the most effective clinically used agents and their concentrations which should be used within an ALS to treat
S. aureus
-mediated intravascular catheter-related infections.
Susceptibility Testing of Antibiotics That Degrade Faster than the Doubling Time of Slow-Growing Mycobacteria: Ertapenem Sterilizing Effect versus Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Srivastava Shashikant , van Rijn Sander P. , Wessels A. Mireille A. , Alffenaar Jan-Willem C. , Gumbo Tawanda
Published: March 2016

Drug susceptibility tests (DSTs) for
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
require at least 7 days of incubation. Drugs that are unstable at 37°C, such as ertapenem, are likely to be degraded before killing or inhibiting slow-growing bacteria. This would alter the MICs of these drugs, including ertapenem, leading to falsely high MICs. Here, we describe a new strategy we developed to perform DSTs and measure MICs for such unstable compounds.
Results from Oritavancin Resistance Surveillance Programs (2011 to 2014): Clarification for Using Vancomycin as a Surrogate To Infer Oritavancin Susceptibility
Authors: Jones Ronald N. , Moeck Greg , Arhin Francis F. , Dudley Michael N. , Rhomberg Paul R. , Mendes Rodrigo E.
Published: March 2016

Measurement of vancomycin susceptibility has been shown to be highly predictive as a surrogate measure of oritavancin susceptibility among clinically indicated Gram-positive species. Results of studying over 30,000 pathogens (from 2011 to 2014) by cross-susceptibility analysis and determining the poor reproducibility of oritavancin-nonsusceptible results showed nearly perfect surrogate testing accuracy (99.86 to 99.94%). Any isolate of an indicated organism species with locally reproducible oritavancin-nonsusceptible results (extremely rare) should be referred to a reference laboratory for confirmation of the results and determination of the resistance mechanism.
Clindamycin Pharmacokinetics and Safety in Preterm and Term Infants
Authors: Gonzalez Daniel , Delmore Paula , Bloom Barry T. , Cotten C. Michael , Poindexter Brenda B. , McGowan Elisabeth , Shattuck Karen , Bradford Kathleen K. , Smith P. Brian , Cohen-Wolkowiez Michael , Morris Maurine , Yin Wanrong , Benjamin Daniel K. , Laughon Matthew M.
Published: March 2016

Clindamycin may be active against methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus
, a common pathogen causing sepsis in infants, but optimal dosing in this population is unknown. We performed a multicenter, prospective pharmacokinetic (PK) and safety study of clindamycin in infants. We analyzed the data using a population PK analysis approach and included samples from two additional pediatric trials. Intravenous data were collected from 62 infants (135 plasma PK samples) with postnatal ages of <121 days (median [range] gestational age of 28 weeks [23 to 42] and postnatal age of 17 days [1 to 115]). In addition to body weight, postmenstrual age (PMA) and plasma protein concentrations (albumin and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein) were found to be significantly associated with clearance and volume of distribution, respectively. Clearance reached 50% of the adult value at PMA of 39.5 weeks. Simulated PMA-based intravenous dosing regimens administered every 8 h (≤32 weeks PMA, 5 mg/kg; 32 to 40 weeks PMA, 7 mg/kg; >40 to 60 weeks PMA, 9 mg/kg) resulted in an unbound, steady-state concentration at half the dosing interval greater than a MIC for
S. aureus
of 0.12 μg/ml in >90% of infants. There were no adverse events related to clindamycin use. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under registration no. NCT01728363.)
Involvement of NADH Oxidase in Competition and Endocarditis Virulence in Streptococcus sanguinis
Authors: Ge Xiuchun , Yu Yang , Zhang Min , Chen Lei , Chen Weihua , Elrami Fadi , Kong Fanxiang , Kitten Todd , Xu Ping
Published: March 2016

Here, we report for the first time that the
Streptococcus sanguinis
nox
gene encoding NADH oxidase is involved in both competition with
Streptococcus mutans
and virulence for infective endocarditis. An
S. sanguinis
nox
mutant was found to fail to inhibit the growth of
Streptococcus mutans
under microaerobic conditions. In the presence of oxygen, the recombinant Nox protein of
S. sanguinis
could reduce oxygen to water and oxidize NADH to NAD
+
. The oxidation of NADH to NAD
+
was diminished in the
nox
mutant. The
nox
mutant exhibited decreased levels of extracellular H
2
O
2
; however, the intracellular level of H
2
O
2
in the mutant was increased. Furthermore, the virulence of the
nox
mutant was attenuated in a rabbit endocarditis model. The
nox
mutant also was shown to be more sensitive to blood killing, oxidative and acid stresses, and reduced growth in serum. Thus, NADH oxidase contributes to multiple phenotypes related to competitiveness in the oral cavity and systemic virulence.
Role of the Emp Pilus Subunits of Enterococcus faecium in Biofilm Formation, Adherence to Host Extracellular Matrix Components, and Experimental Infection
Authors: Montealegre Maria Camila , Singh Kavindra V. , Somarajan Sudha R. , Yadav Puja , Chang Chungyu , Spencer Robert , Sillanpää Jouko , Ton-That Hung , Murray Barbara E.
Published: March 2016

Enterococcus faecium
is an important cause of hospital-associated infections, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), bacteremia, and infective endocarditis. Pili have been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of Gram-positive bacteria, including
E. faecium
. We previously demonstrated that a nonpiliated Δ
empABC
::
cat
derivative of
E. faecium
TX82 was attenuated in biofilm formation and in a UTI model. Here, we studied the contributions of the individual pilus subunits EmpA, EmpB, and EmpC to pilus architecture, biofilm formation, adherence to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, and infection. We identified EmpA as the tip of the pili and found that deletion of
empA
reduced biofilm formation to the same level as deletion of the
empABC
operon, a phenotype that was restored by reconstituting
in situ
the
empA
gene. Deletion of
empB
also caused a reduction in biofilm, while EmpC was found to be dispensable. Significant reductions in adherence to fibrinogen and collagen type I were observed with deletion of
empA
and
empB
, while deletion of
empC
had no adherence defect. Furthermore, we showed that each deletion mutant was significantly attenuated in comparison to the isogenic parental strain, TX82, in a mixed-inoculum UTI model (
P
< 0.001 to 0.048), that reconstitution of
empA
restored virulence in the UTI model, and that deletion of
empA
also resulted in attenuation in an infective endocarditis model (
P
= 0.0088). Our results indicate that EmpA and EmpB, but not EmpC, contribute to biofilm and adherence to ECM proteins; however, all the Emp pilins are important for
E. faecium
to cause infection in the urinary tract.
Neisseria meningitidis Polynucleotide Phosphorylase Affects Aggregation, Adhesion, and Virulence
Authors: Engman Jakob , Negrea Aurel , Sigurlásdóttir Sara , Geörg Miriam , Eriksson Jens , Eriksson Olaspers Sara , Kuwae Asaomi , Sjölinder Hong , Jonsson Ann-Beth
Published: March 2016

Neisseria meningitidis
autoaggregation is an important step during attachment to human cells. Aggregation is mediated by type IV pili and can be modulated by accessory pilus proteins, such as PilX, and posttranslational modifications of the major pilus subunit PilE. The mechanisms underlying the regulation of aggregation remain poorly characterized. Polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) is a 3′–5′ exonuclease that is involved in RNA turnover and the regulation of small RNAs. In this study, we biochemically confirm that NMC0710 is the
N. meningitidis
PNPase, and we characterize its role in
N. meningitidis
pathogenesis. We show that deletion of the gene encoding PNPase leads to hyperaggregation and increased adhesion to epithelial cells. The aggregation induced was found to be dependent on pili and to be mediated by excessive pilus bundling. PNPase expression was induced following bacterial attachment to human cells. Deletion of PNPase led to global transcriptional changes and the differential regulation of 469 genes. We also demonstrate that PNPase is required for full virulence in an
in vivo
model of
N. meningitidis
infection. The present study shows that PNPase negatively affects aggregation, adhesion, and virulence in
N. meningitidis
.
An unfortunate injection
Authors: Shah Bhavik Sandip , Yarbrough Chase , Price Amy , Biswas Rakesh
Published: March 2016

Intramuscular injection has been used to administer medications for more than a hundred years. However, despite our profession's long experience with intramuscular administration, preventable complications such as injection nerve palsies are still prevalent in developing countries. Injections account for one-fifth of all traumatic nerve injuries. These injuries largely occur due to indiscriminate use of intramuscular injections for treating common illnesses, frequently by unlicensed or undertrained practitioners administering unnecessary treatment to impoverished patients. The sciatic nerve is the most commonly injured, and frequently the resulting muscle weakness and associated disability are irreversible. This case report includes a video of a patient with foot drop 6 weeks after gluteal intramuscular injection. Such injuries can be prevented by proper awareness and training, the implementation of safer injection techniques, and quality assurance methods.
A rare benign ovarian tumour
Authors: Morna Palmeiro Marta , Cunha Teresa Margarida , Loureiro Ana Luisa , Esteves Gonçalo
Published: March 2016

Sclerosing stromal tumour (SST) of the ovary is an extremely rare and benign ovarian neoplasm, accounting for 6% of the sex cord stromal ovarian tumours subtype. Usually, it is found during the second and third decades of life. Patients commonly present with pelvic pain, a palpable pelvic mass or menstrual irregularity. We report a case of a 20-year-old woman reporting of mild pelvic pain, with normal laboratory data. On imaging examinations, a large right adnexal tumour was found, with features suggesting an ovarian sex cord tumour. The patient underwent right salpingo-oophorectomy, diagnosing a SST of the ovary. This paper also reviews the literature, and emphasises the typical pathological and imaging characteristics of these rare benign ovarian lesions, and their impact, in a conservative surgery.
Evaluating the impacts of screening and smoking cessation programmes on lung cancer in a high-burden region of the USA: a simulation modelling study
Authors: Tramontano Angela C , Sheehan Deirdre F , McMahon Pamela M , Dowling Emily C , Holford Theodore R , Ryczak Karen , Lesko Samuel M , Levy David T , Kong Chung Yin
Published: March 2016

Objective

While the US Preventive Services Task Force has issued recommendations for lung cancer screening, its effectiveness at reducing lung cancer burden may vary at local levels due to regional variations in smoking behaviour. Our objective was to use an existing model to determine the impacts of lung cancer screening alone or in addition to increased smoking cessation in a US region with a relatively high smoking prevalence and lung cancer incidence.

Setting

Computer-based simulation model.

Participants

Simulated population of individuals 55 and older based on smoking prevalence and census data from Northeast Pennsylvania.

Interventions

Hypothetical lung cancer control from 2014 to 2050 through (1) screening with CT, (2) intensified smoking cessation or (3) a combination strategy.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Primary outcomes were lung cancer mortality rates. Secondary outcomes included number of people eligible for screening and number of radiation-induced lung cancers.

Results

Combining lung cancer screening with increased smoking cessation would yield an estimated 8.1% reduction in cumulative lung cancer mortality by 2050. Our model estimated that the number of screening-eligible individuals would progressively decrease over time, indicating declining benefit of a screening-only programme. Lung cancer screening achieved a greater mortality reduction in earlier years, but was later surpassed by smoking cessation.

Conclusions

Combining smoking cessation programmes with lung cancer screening would provide the most benefit to a population, especially considering the growing proportion of patients ineligible for screening based on current recommendations.
Cognitive decline in dementia with Lewy bodies: a 5-year prospective cohort study
Authors: Rongve A , Soennesyn H , Skogseth Ragnhild , Oesterhus Ragnhild , Hortobágyi T , Ballard Clive , Auestad B H , Aarsland D
Published: March 2016

Objectives

We report the cognitive decline in persons diagnosed with mild dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) during 5 years of annual follow-ups.

Methods

Patients were recruited into the study from geriatric, psychiatric and neurology clinics in Western Norway during 2005–2013. They were diagnosed according to clinical consensus criteria, based on standardised clinical rating scales. Autopsy-based diagnoses were available for 20 cases. Cognitive decline for up to 5 years was assessed using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale and the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). Survival analysis including Cox regression (time to reach severe dementia) and linear mixed-effects (lme) modelling were used to model the decline on MMSE.

Results

At least one follow-up assessment was available for 67 patients with DLB and 107 patients with AD, with a median follow-up time of 4.3 years. The time to reach severe dementia was significantly shorter in DLB (median 1793 days) compared with AD (1947 days; p=0.033), and the difference remained significant in the multiple Cox regression analysis (HR=2.0, p<0.02). In the adjusted lme model, MMSE decline was faster in DLB (annual decline 4.4 points) compared with AD (3.2 points; p<0.008).

Conclusions

Our findings show that from the mild dementia stage, patients with DLB have a more rapid cognitive decline than in AD. Such prognostic information is vital for patients and families and crucial for planning clinical trials and enabling health economic modelling.
Mobilising a team for the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist: a qualitative video study
Authors: Korkiakangas Terhi
Published: March 2016

Background

One challenge identified in the Surgical Safety Checklist literature is the inconsistent participation of operating teams in the safety checks. Less is known about how teams move from preparatory activities into a huddle, and how communication underpins this gathering. The objective of this study is to examine the ways of mobilising teams and the level of participation in the safety checks.

Methods

Team participation in time-out and sign-out was examined from a video corpus of 20 elective surgical operations. Teams included surgeons, nurses and anaesthetists in a UK teaching hospital, scheduled to work in the operations observed. Qualitative video analysis of team participation was adapted from the study of social interaction.

Results

The key aspects of team mobilisation were the timing of the checklist, the distribution of personnel in the theatre and the instigation practices used. These were interlinked in bringing about the participation outcomes, the number of people huddling up for time-out and sign-out. Timing seemed appropriate when most personnel were present in the theatre suite; poor timing was marked by personnel dispersed through the theatre. Participation could be managed using the instigation practices, which included or excluded participation within teams. The factors hindering full-team participation at time-out and sign-out were the overlapping (eg, anaesthetic and nursing) responsibilities and the use of exclusive instigation practices.

Conclusions

The implementation of the Surgical Safety Checklist represents a global concern in patient safety research. Yet how teams huddle for the checks has to be acknowledged as an issue in its own right. Appropriate mobilisation practices can help bringing fuller teams together, which has direct relevance to team training.
Using routine data to improve palliative and end of life care
Authors: Davies Joanna M , Gao Wei , Sleeman Katherine E , Lindsey Katie , Murtagh Fliss E , Teno Joan M , Deliens Luc , Wee Bee , Higginson Irene J , Verne Julia
Published: March 2016

Palliative and end of life care is essential to healthcare systems worldwide, yet a minute proportion of research funding is spent on palliative and end of life care research. Routinely collected health and social care data provide an efficient and useful opportunity for evaluating and improving care for patients and families. There are excellent examples of routine data research in palliative and end of life care, but routine data resources are widely underutilised. We held four workshops on using routinely collected health and social care data in palliative and end of life care. Researchers presented studies from the UK, USA and Europe. The aim was to highlight valuable examples of work with routine data including work with death registries, hospital activity records, primary care data and specialist palliative care registers. This article disseminates that work, describes the benefits of routine data research and identifies major challenges for the future use of routine data, including; access to data, improving data linkage, and the need for more palliative and end of life care specific data.
Salivary cortisol and testosterone responses to resistance and plyometric exercise in 12- to 14-year-old boys
Authors: Klentrou Panagiota , Giannopoulou Angeliki , McKinlay Brandon J. , Wallace Phillip , Muir Cameron , Falk Bareket , Mack Diane
Published: March 2016

This study examined changes in salivary testosterone and cortisol following resistance and plyometric exercise protocols in active boys. In a crossover experimental design, 26 peri-pubertal (12- to 14-year-old) soccer players performed 2 exercise trials in random order, on separate evenings, 1 week apart. Each trial included a 30 min control session followed by 30 min of either resistance or plyometric exercise. Saliva was collected at baseline, post-control (i.e., pre-exercise), and 5 and 30 min post-exercise. There were no significant differences in the baseline hormone concentrations between trials or between weeks (p > 0.05). A significant effect for time was found for testosterone (p = 0.02, [Formula: see text] = 0.14), which increased from pre-exercise to 5 min post-exercise in both the resistance (27% ± 5%) and plyometric (12% ± 6%) protocols. Cortisol decreased to a similar extent in both trials (p = 0.009, [Formula: see text] = 0.19) from baseline to post-control and then to 5 min post-exercise, following its typical circadian decrease in the evening hours. However, a significant protocol-by-time interaction was observed for cortisol, which increased 30 min after the plyometrics (+31% ± 12%) but continued to decrease following the resistance protocol (−21% ± 5%). Our results suggest that in young male athletes, multiple modes of exercise can lead to a transient anabolic state, thus maximizing the beneficial effects on growth and development, when exercise is performed in the evening hours.
Microsatellite landscape evolutionary dynamics across 450 million years of vertebrate genome evolution
Authors: Adams Richard H. , Blackmon Heath , Reyes-Velasco Jacobo , Schield Drew R. , Card Daren C. , Andrew Audra L. , Waynewood Nyimah , Castoe Todd A.
Published: March 2016

The evolutionary dynamics of simple sequence repeats (SSRs or microsatellites) across the vertebrate tree of life remain largely undocumented and poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed patterns of genomic microsatellite abundance and evolution across 71 vertebrate genomes. The highest abundances of microsatellites exist in the genomes of ray-finned fishes, squamate reptiles, and mammals, while crocodilian, turtle, and avian genomes exhibit reduced microsatellite landscapes. We used comparative methods to infer evolutionary rates of change in microsatellite abundance across vertebrates and to highlight particular lineages that have experienced unusually high or low rates of change in genomic microsatellite abundance. Overall, most variation in microsatellite content, abundance, and evolutionary rate is observed among major lineages of reptiles, yet we found that several deeply divergent clades (i.e., squamate reptiles and mammals) contained relatively similar genomic microsatellite compositions. Archosauromorph reptiles (turtles, crocodilians, and birds) exhibit reduced genomic microsatellite content and the slowest rates of microsatellite evolution, in contrast to squamate reptile genomes that have among the highest rates of microsatellite evolution. Substantial branch-specific shifts in SSR content in primates, monotremes, rodents, snakes, and fish are also evident. Collectively, our results support multiple major shifts in microsatellite genomic landscapes among vertebrates.
A Simulation of the Liquid Shock and Cavitation Based on a Multi-Equation Model
Authors: Niu Yang-Yao
Published: March 2016

In this paper, an unsteady preconditioning formulation for multi-phase flows with arbitrary equation of state based on the approximated Riemann solver is developed for multi-phase flows at all speed. This paper considers a homogeneous two-phase multi-equation mixture model with the assumption of kinematics and thermodynamics equilibriums. The thermodynamics behaviors of liquid phase, vapor phase and their phase transitional process are described by a temperature-dependent hybrid equation of state. Benchmark test cases, including one-dimensional (1D) condensation shock in the cavitated nozzle and two-dimensional (2D) cavitated blunt body problem, demonstrate accurate capturing of interfaces, shock waves and cavitation zones.
INFLUENCE OF PLATELET RICH FIBRIN ON BIOMECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF PRIMARY SUTURED CUTANEOUS INCISIONAL WOUNDS
Authors: Dizaji Vahid Mirzazadeh , Kazemi Davoud , Rezaei Mostafa
Published: March 2016

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of platelet rich fibrin (PRF), a second generation platelet concentrate, on biomechanical properties of primary sutured cutaneous incisional wounds. Acute incisional wounds were made on the right and left side of the vertebral column of 15 adult mixed breed dogs. PRF membrane prepared from the venous blood of each animal was placed between the edges of the left side incisions while the right side incisions were used as controls. All incisions were sutured and skin samples were taken on days 3, 7 and 14 post-wounding for biomechanical analysis of wound strength. Mean breaking and tensile strength of PRF treated wounds were 48% and 52% greater than the control wounds at day 7 respectively which was statistically significant. Mean breaking stress of PRF treated wounds was also significantly greater than the controls at day 3 (16.42[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]7.73 versus 9.823[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]6.018). No significant difference in Young’s modulus of elasticity was observed between the treatment and control wounds. The results demonstrate that PRF improves the biomechanical properties of the healing incisional wounds especially in the first week. This could have positive implications particularly in patients suffering from conditions which adversely affect wound healing such as diabetes both in animals and humans although further studies are required.
Status of Theory and Experiment in Hadronic Parity Violation
Authors: Snow W. M. , Ahmed M. W. , Bowman J. D. , Crawford C. , Fomin N. , Gao H. , Gericke M. T. , Gudkov V. , Holstein B. R. , Howell C. R. , Huffman P. , van Oers W. T. H. , Penttilä S. , Wu Y. K.
Published: March 2016

Hadronic parity violation uses quark-quark weak interactions to probe nonperturbative strong interaction dynamics through two nonperturbative QCD scales: [Formula: see text] and the fine-tuned MeV scales of NN bound states in low energy nuclear physics. The current and projected availability of high-intensity neutron and photon sources coupled with ongoing experiments and continuing developments in theoretical methods provide the opportunity to greatly expand our understanding of hadronic parity violation in few-nucleon systems. The current status of these efforts and future plans are discussed.
Beam Polarization at the ILC: Physics Case and Realization
Authors: Vauth Annika , List Jenny
Published: March 2016

The International Linear Collider (ILC) is a proposed [Formula: see text] collider, focused on precision measurement of the Standard Model and new physics beyond. Polarized beams are a key element of the ILC physics program. The physics studies are accompanied by an extensive R&D program for the creation of the polarized beams and the measurement of their polarization. This contribution will review the advantages of using beam polarization and its technical aspects and realization, such as the creation of polarized beams and the measurement of the polarization.
Spin/Orbital Structure of the Nucleon from Wigner Distributions
Authors: Pasquini B. , Lorcé C.
Published: March 2016

We present results for the Wigner distributions of the nucleon, which provide multidimensional images of the quark distributions in the phase space and can be seen as the mother distributions of the standard generalized and transverse-momentum dependent parton distributions. We discuss the general features of these distributions within a light-front constituent quark model, emphasizing the new information that can be deduced about the spin-orbit correlations of the quarks in the nucleon.
Back-to-Back Isolated Photon-Quarkonium Production at the LHC and the Transverse-Momentum-Dependent Distributions of the Gluons in the Proton
Authors: Lansberg J. P.
Published: March 2016

The study of isolated heavy quarkonia, such as [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], produced in association with a photon in proton-proton collisions at the LHC, is probably the optimal way to get right away a first experimental determination of two gluon transverse-momentum-dependent distribution (TMDs) in an unpolarized proton, [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], the latter giving the distribution of linearly polarized gluons. To substantiante this, we calculate the transverse-momentum-dependent effects that arise in the process under study and discuss the feasibility of their measurements.
Achievements and Open Issues in the Determination of Polarized Parton Distribution Functions
Authors: Nocera Emanuele R.
Published: March 2016

I review the current status of the determination of helicity-dependent, or polarized, parton distribution functions from a comprehensive analysis of experimental data in perturbative quantum chromodynamics. I illustrate the latest achievements driven by new measurements in polarized proton-proton collisions at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, namely the first evidence of a sizable polarized light sea quark asymmetry and of a positive polarized gluon distribution in the proton. I discuss which are the open issues in the determination of polarized distributions, and how these may be addressed in the future by ongoing, planned and proposed experimental programs.
Flavour Asymmetry and Strange-Antistrange Asymmetry in the Nucleon Sea
Authors: Cao F.-G.
Published: March 2016

We review theoretical calculations for flavour asymmetry and strange-antistrange asymmetry in the nucleon’s parton distribution functions using the meson cloud model. We also discuss perturbative mechanism for the generation of strange-antistrange asymmetry in the nucleon.
Recent Mid-Rapidity ALLπ0 Measurements in Longitudinally Polarized Proton-Proton Collision at s = 510 GeV with PHENIX Experiment
Authors: Yoon Inseok
Published: March 2016

It is one of the important purposes of relativistic heavy ion collider (RHIC) longitudinally polarized proton program to constrain the gluon helicity distribution ([Formula: see text]) to the proton by measuring the double helicity asymmetries ([Formula: see text]) via various probes such as [Formula: see text] ([Formula: see text]). The measurement at center of mass energy, [Formula: see text] GeV has been successfully finished and published. To explore lower x region, where dominant uncertainty remains, new measurements were carried out at an increased [Formula: see text] GeV. At this increased energy central [Formula: see text] measurements can reach a lower x range of [Formula: see text], while the previous can reach x range, [Formula: see text]. Also the statistical precision at the same transverse momentum ([Formula: see text]) is substantially improved due to accumulating about 10 times as much luminosity. Preliminary results of [Formula: see text] are presented. Larger asymmetry is observed at [Formula: see text] GeV than at [Formula: see text] GeV at the same [Formula: see text] which is expected due to evolution.
Recent Key Measurements for Accessing the Transverse Spin and Momentum Structure of the Nucleon
Authors: Martin Anna
Published: March 2016

A selection of recent key results obtained in semi-inclusive deeply inelastic scattering (SIDIS) experiments is presented. The observations strongly support the description of the nucleon structure in terms of transverse momentum dependent parton distribution functions, which represent the various correlations between the quarks spins, the quarks transverse momenta and the nucleon spin which give rise to specific spin-dependent azimuthal asymmetries.
Transverse Momentum Dependent Hadron Multiplicities at COMPASS
Authors: Makke Nour
Published: March 2016

Unpolarised semi-inclusive deep inelastic scattering is receiving a growing interest as a powerful tool to access poorly known transverse momentum dependent parton distributions and fragmentation functions that play a key role in many processes, in particular in the study of the spin structure of the nucleon. These functions can be investigated through experimental observables. New results on these observables by the COMPASS experiment at CERN will be shown and discussed.
Azimuthal Asymmetries for eA/eN Semi-Inclusive DIS and Its Nuclear Dependence
Authors: Song Yu-Kun
Published: March 2016

We applied collinear expansion to the semi-inclusive deeply inelastic lepton-nucleon (nucleus) scattering process [Formula: see text] with both polarized beam and polarized target up to twist-3, and unpolarized process up to twist-4. The differential cross section and azimuthal asymmetries are expressed in terms of gauge invariant twist-3 and twist-4 TMD parton distribution/correlation functions. Measurements of such azimuthal asymmetries provide methods to study different spin and transverse momentum aspects of the partonic structure of nucleon. We further study the nuclear dependence of azimuthal asymmetries and adopt Gaussian ansatz for TMD distribution/correlation functions to estimat the semi-quantitive behaviour of the nuclear dependence. We predict the A-dependence of azimuthal asymmetries which can be tested in the planned EIC’s.
GPDs and Fitting Procedures for DVCS
Authors: Kumerički K. , Mueller D.
Published: March 2016

We report on some approaches to extraction of generalized parton distributions (GPDs) from deeply virtual Compton scattering (DVCS) data.
Generalized Parton Distributions for Nucleon in the Impact Parameter Space
Authors: Sharma Neetika
Published: March 2016

We investigate the generalized parton distributions (GPDs) for the proton and neutron in both momentum and position space in the soft-wall approach of anti-de Sitter/QCD model. The soft-wall model is based upon an action which incorporates confinement through the presence of a background dilaton field and the contribution of higher Fock states are holographically incorporated via studying the dynamics of 5D fermion fields of different scaling dimension. Our results are comparable with the other phenomenological models of the nucleon GPDs.
Azimuthal Asymmetries of the Drell-Yan Process in pA Collisions
Authors: Gao Jian-Hua
Published: March 2016

We discuss the azimuthal asymmetries of the Drell-Yan process in nucleon-nucleus collisions at the low transverse momentum of the lepton pair. Within the transverse-momentum-dependent (TMD) factorization formalism, the nuclear effects of these azimuthal asymmetries can be from the gauge link of the TMD quark distribution. We estimate all these nuclear effects within the assumption that all the TMD parton distributions or correlations are in Gaussian forms.
Spin Degrees of Freedom in Compton Scattering
Authors: Miskimen R.
Published: March 2016

The next generation of Compton scattering experiments is underway at Mainz and other laboratories, where the goal is precision measurements of the scalar and vector polarizabilities of the nucleon using polarized photons and polarized targets. Results are presented for the first double polarized Compton scattering experiment utilizing a polarized proton target. Preliminary results are presented for the four spin polarizabilities of the proton.
Complete Experiments in Meson Photoproduction
Authors: Wunderlich Yannick
Published: March 2016

The problem of the Complete Experiment for photoproduction of pseudoscalar mesons is treated. First the issue is reviewed briefly in the context of full production spin amplitudes as well as a truncated partial wave analysis (TPWA). Complete sets of polarization observables are given for both cases. Then, a numerical procedure for single energy TPWA fits is presented and first results are shown.
N3LO Chiral Predictions for Spin Observables in Nucleon-Deuteron Elastic Scattering at Low Energies
Authors: Skibiński R. , Golak J. , Topolnicki K. , Witała H.
Published: March 2016

The chiral next-to-next-to-next-to leading order nuclear forces1−3 are used to obtain predictions for spin observables in elastic nucleon-deuteron scattering at E=13 MeV. The three-nucleon force is taken into account with all its complexity, including the short-range part and relativistic corrections. Presented examples of the polarization observables for elastic nucleon-deuteron scattering show visible contributions from these new structures in the three-nucleon potential which emerge for the first time at the next-to-next-to-next-to leading order. However, our results suggest that some modifications of the currently used model of the nuclear forces are necessary.
High-Precision Microwave Spectroscopy of Muonium for Determination of Muonic Magnetic Moment
Authors: Torii H. A. , Higashi Y. , Higuchi T. , Matsuda Y. , Mizutani T. , Tajima M. , Tanaka K. S. , Ueno Y. , Fukao Y. , Iinuma H. , Ikedo Y. , Kadono R. , Kawamura N. , Koda A. , Kojima K. M. , Mibe T. , Miyake Y. , Nagamine K. , Nishiyama K. , Ogitsu T. , Okubo R. , Saito N. , Sasaki K. , Shimomura K. , Strasser P. , Sugano M. , Toyoda A. , Ueno K. , Yamamoto A. , Yoshida M. , Ishida K. , Iwasaki M. , Kamigaito O. , Tomono D. , Kanda S. , Kubo K. , Aoki M. , Torikai E. , Kawall D.
Published: March 2016

The muonium atom is a system suitable for precision measurements for determination of muon’s fundamental properties as well as for the test of quantum electrodynamics (QED). A microwave spectroscopy experiment of this exotic atom is being prepared at J-PARC, jointly operated by KEK and JAEA in Japan, aiming at an improved relative precision at a level of [Formula: see text] in determination of the muonic magnetic moment. A major improvement of statistical uncertainty is expected with the higher muon intensity of the pulsed beam at J-PARC, while reduction of various sources of systematic uncertainties are being studied: those arising from microwave power fluctuations, magnetic field inhomogeneity, muon stopping distribution and atomic collisional shift of resonance frequencies. Experimental strategy and methods are presented in this paper, with an emphasis on our recent development of apparatuses and evaluation of systematic uncertainties.
Parity Violation in Deep Inelastic Scattering with the SoLID Spectrometer at JLab
Authors: Souder P. A.
Published: March 2016

We discuss precision measurements of PVDIS with the upgraded JLab 12 GeV beam by using a Solenoidal Łarge Iintensity Device (SoLID). The unique feature of SoLID, combining high luminosity and large acceptance, makes it possible to reach the high precision needed to have a high impact by using PVDIS to probe physics beyond the Standard Model. A measurement of PVDIS in deuterium will determine a fundamental coupling constant that is inaccessible with other means. PVDIS measurements can also access a number of topics in QCD physics, including searching for charge symmetry violation in the parton distribution functions, determining the [Formula: see text] ratio in the proton without nuclear effects, and a clean extraction of higher-twist effects due to quark-quark correlations. SoLID allows a full exploitation of the physics potential of the JLab 12 GeV upgrade. In addition to PVDIS, it has a set of approved highly-rated experiments to study nucleon transverse spin and transverse structure by using polarized semi-inclusive DIS and to study non-perturbative gluon dynamics with J/[Formula: see text] production near threshold. A brief description of the SoLID spectrometer is also given.
Spin-Gravity Interactions and Equivalence Principle
Authors: Obukhov Yu. N. , Silenko A. J. , Teryaev O. V.
Published: March 2016

The spin-gravity interactions imply the new manifestation of the equivalence principle leading to the absence of gravitoelectric and anomalous gravitomagnetic moments for fermions. This property is still valid in the presence of the space-time torsion due to the covariance arguments. The experimental bounds for the torsion, which may be extracted from modern co-magnetometer experiments, are discussed.