bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Frequent Occurrence of Mixed Enterocytozoon bieneusi Infections in Humans
Authors: Widmer Giovanni , Dilo Julia , Tumwine James K. , Tzipori Saul , Akiyoshi Donna E.
Published: June 2013

Enterocytozoon bieneusi
(phylum
Microsporidia
) is a human pathogen with a broad host range. Following the sequencing of 3.8 Mb of the estimated 6-Mb
E. bieneusi
genome, simple sequence repeats (micro- and minisatellites) were identified. Sequencing of four such repeats from various human and animal
E. bieneusi
isolates identified extensive sequence polymorphism and enabled the development of a multilocus genotyping method to study the epidemiology of this pathogen. We genotyped
E. bieneusi
DNA extracted from 197 fecal samples originating from children with diarrhea who were residing in Kampala, Uganda. Three newly identified microsatellite markers and the internal transcribed spacer were PCR amplified, and multiple cloned amplicons for each marker were sequenced from each individual. Most microsatellite sequences were unique to the Ugandan population. Significantly, polymorphism not only was present among isolates but was also found within isolates. This observation suggests that infections with heterogeneous
E. bieneusi
populations are common in this region. However, the data do not exclude that some of the polymorphism originates from divergent paralogs within the genome. The frequent occurrence of multiple sequences within an isolate precluded the identification of multilocus genotypes. This observation raises the possibility that in a region in which the prevalence of
E. bieneusi
is high, sequencing of uncloned PCR products may not be adequate for multilocus genotyping.
pA506, a Conjugative Plasmid of the Plant Epiphyte Pseudomonas fluorescens A506
Authors: Stockwell Virginia O. , Davis Edward W. , Carey Alyssa , Shaffer Brenda T. , Mavrodi Dmitri V. , Hassan Karl A. , Hockett Kevin , Thomashow Linda S. , Paulsen Ian T. , Loper Joyce E.
Published: June 2013

Conjugative plasmids are known to facilitate the acquisition and dispersal of genes contributing to the fitness of
Pseudomonas
spp. Here, we report the characterization of pA506, the 57-kb conjugative plasmid of
Pseudomonas fluorescens
A506, a plant epiphyte used in the United States for the biological control of fire blight disease of pear and apple. Twenty-nine of the 67 open reading frames (ORFs) of pA506 have putative functions in conjugation, including a type IV secretion system related to that of MOB
P6
family plasmids and a gene cluster for type IV pili. We demonstrate that pA506 is self-transmissible via conjugation between A506 and strains of
Pseudomonas
spp. or the
Enterobacteriaceae
. The origin of vegetative replication (
oriV
) of pA506 is typical of those in pPT23A family plasmids, which are present in many pathovars of
Pseudomonas syringae
, but pA506 lacks
repA
, a defining locus for pPT23A plasmids, and has a novel partitioning region. We selected a plasmid-cured derivative of A506 and compared it to the wild type to identify plasmid-encoded phenotypes. pA506 conferred UV resistance, presumably due to the plasmid-borne
rulAB
genes, but did not influence epiphytic fitness of A506 on pear or apple blossoms in the field. pA506 does not appear to confer resistance to antibiotics or other toxic elements. Based on the conjugative nature of pA506 and the large number of its genes that are shared with plasmids from diverse groups of environmental bacteria, the plasmid is likely to serve as a vehicle for genetic exchange between A506 and its coinhabitants on plant surfaces.
Chitin Amendment Increases Soil Suppressiveness toward Plant Pathogens and Modulates the Actinobacterial and Oxalobacteraceal Communities in an Experimental Agricultural Field
Authors: Cretoiu Mariana Silvia , Korthals Gerard W. , Visser Johnny H. M. , van Elsas Jan Dirk
Published: June 2013

A long-term experiment on the effect of chitin addition to soil on the suppression of soilborne pathogens was set up and monitored for 8 years in an experimental field, Vredepeel, The Netherlands. Chitinous matter obtained from shrimps was added to soil top layers on two different occasions, and the suppressiveness of soil toward
Verticillium dahliae
, as well as plant-pathogenic nematodes, was assessed, in addition to analyses of the abundances and community structures of members of the soil microbiota. The data revealed that chitin amendment had raised the suppressiveness of soil, in particular toward
Verticillium dahliae
, 9 months after the (second) treatment, extending to 2 years following treatment. Moreover, major effects of the added chitin on the soil microbial communities were detected. First, shifts in both the abundances and structures of the chitin-treated soil microbial communities, both of total soil bacteria and fungi, were found. In addition, the abundances and structures of soil actinobacteria and the
Oxalobacteraceae
were affected by chitin. At the functional gene level, the abundance of specific (family-18 glycoside hydrolase) chitinase genes carried by the soil bacteria also revealed upshifts as a result of the added chitin. The effects of chitin noted for the
Oxalobacteraceae
were specifically related to significant upshifts in the abundances of the species
Duganella violaceinigra
and
Massilia plicata
. These effects of chitin persisted over the time of the experiment.
Quantification of Endospore-Forming Firmicutes by Quantitative PCR with the Functional Genespo0A
Authors: Bueche Matthieu , Wunderlin Tina , Roussel-Delif Ludovic , Junier Thomas , Sauvain Loic , Jeanneret Nicole , Junier Pilar
Published: June 2013

Bacterial endospores are highly specialized cellular forms that allow endospore-formingFirmicutes(EFF) to tolerate harsh environmental conditions. EFF are considered ubiquitous in natural environments, in particular, those subjected to stress conditions. In addition to natural habitats, EFF are often the cause of contamination problems in anthropogenic environments, such as industrial production plants or hospitals. It is therefore desirable to assess their prevalence in environmental and industrial fields. To this end, a high-sensitivity detection method is still needed. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate an approach based on quantitative PCR (qPCR). For this, the suitability of functional genes specific for and common to all EFF were evaluated. Seven genes were considered, but onlyspo0Awas retained to identify conserved regions for qPCR primer design. An approach based on multivariate analysis was developed for primer design. Two primer sets were obtained and evaluated with 16 pure cultures, including representatives of the generaBacillus,Paenibacillus,Brevibacillus,Geobacillus,Alicyclobacillus,Sulfobacillus,Clostridium, andDesulfotomaculum, as well as with environmental samples. The primer sets developed gave a reliable quantification when tested on laboratory strains, with the exception ofSulfobacillusandDesulfotomaculum. A test using sediment samples with a diverse EFF community also gave a reliable quantification compared to 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing. A detection limit of about 104cells (or spores) per gram of initial material was calculated, indicating this method has a promising potential for the detection of EFF over a wide range of applications.
Functional Characterization of Key Enzymes involved in
l
-Glutamate Synthesis and Degradation in the Thermotolerant and Methylotrophic Bacterium Bacillus methanolicus
Authors: Krog Anne , Heggeset Tonje Marita Bjerkan , Ellingsen Trond Erling , Brautaset Trygve
Published: June 2013

Bacillus methanolicus
wild-type strain MGA3 secretes 59 g/liter
−1
of
l
-glutamate in fed-batch methanol cultivations at 50°C. We recently sequenced the MGA3 genome, and we here characterize key enzymes involved in
l
-glutamate synthesis and degradation. One glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) that is encoded by
yweB
and two glutamate synthases (GOGATs) that are encoded by the
gltAB
operon and by
gltA2
were found, in contrast to
Bacillus subtilis
, which has two different GDHs and only one GOGAT.
B. methanolicus
has a glutamine synthetase (GS) that is encoded by
glnA
and a 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH) that is encoded by the
odhAB
operon. The
yweB
,
gltA
,
gltB
, and
gltA2
gene products were purified and characterized biochemically
in vitro
. YweB has a low

K
m

value for ammonium (10 mM) and a high

K
m

value for
l
-glutamate (250 mM), and the
V
max
value is 7-fold higher for
l
-glutamate synthesis than for the degradation reaction. GltA and GltA2 displayed similar

K
m

values (1 to 1.4 mM) and
V
max
values (4 U/mg) for both
l
-glutamate and 2-oxoglutarate as the substrates, and GltB had no effect on the catalytic activities of these enzymes
in vitro
. Complementation assays indicated that GltA and not GltA2 is dependent on GltB for GOGAT activity
in vivo
. To our knowledge, this is the first report describing the presence of two active GOGATs in a bacterium.
In vivo
experiments indicated that OGDH activity and, to some degree, GOGAT activity play important roles in regulating
l
-glutamate production in this organism.
Psychrophilic and Psychrotolerant Fungi on Bats and the Presence of Geomyces spp. on Bat Wings Prior to the Arrival of White Nose Syndrome
Authors: Johnson Lynnaun J. A. N. , Miller Andrew N. , McCleery Robert A. , McClanahan Rod , Kath Joseph A. , Lueschow Shiloh , Porras-Alfaro Andrea
Published: June 2013

Since 2006,
Geomyces destructans
, the causative agent of white nose syndrome (WNS), has killed over 5.7 million bats in North America. The current hypothesis suggests that this novel fungus is an invasive species from Europe, but little is known about the diversity within the genus
Geomyces
and its distribution on bats in the United States. We documented the psychrophilic and psychrotolerant fungal flora of hibernating bats prior to the arrival of WNS using culture-based techniques. A total of 149 cultures, which were obtained from 30 bats in five bat hibernacula located in four caves and one mine, were sequenced for the entire internal transcribed spacer (ITS) nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) region. Approximately 53 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) at 97% similarity were recovered from bat wings, with the community dominated by fungi within the genera
Cladosporium
,
Fusarium
,
Geomyces
,
Mortierella
,
Penicillium
, and
Trichosporon
. Eleven
Geomyces
isolates were obtained and placed in at least seven distinct
Geomyces
clades based on maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analyses. Temperature experiments revealed that all
Geomyces
strains isolated are psychrotolerant, unlike
G. destructans
, which is a true psychrophile. Our results confirm that a large diversity of fungi, including several
Geomyces
isolates, occurs on bats prior to the arrival of WNS. Most of these isolates were obtained from damaged wings. Additional studies need to be conducted to determine potential ecological roles of these abundant
Geomyces
strains isolated from bats.
Rapid Detection of Ceratocystis platani Inoculum by Quantitative Real-Time PCR Assay
Authors: Luchi Nicola , Ghelardini Luisa , Belbahri Lassaâd , Quartier Marion , Santini Alberto
Published: June 2013

Ceratocystis platani
is the causal agent of canker stain of plane trees, a lethal disease able to kill mature trees in one or two successive growing seasons. The pathogen is a quarantine organism and has a negative impact on anthropogenic and natural populations of plane trees. Contaminated sawdust produced during pruning and sanitation fellings can contribute to disease spread. The goal of this study was to design a rapid, real-time quantitative PCR assay to detect a
C. platani
airborne inoculum. Airborne inoculum traps (AITs) were placed in an urban setting in the city of Florence, Italy, where the disease was present. Primers and TaqMan minor groove binder (MGB) probes were designed to target cerato-platanin (CP) and internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) genes. The detection limits of the assay were 0.05 pg/μl and 2 fg/μl of fungal DNA for CP and ITS, respectively. Pathogen detection directly from AITs demonstrated specificity and high sensitivity for
C. platani
, detecting DNA concentrations as low as 1.2 × 10
−2
to 1.4 × 10
−2
pg/μl, corresponding to ∼10 conidia per ml. Airborne inoculum traps were able to detect the
C. platani
inoculum within 200 m of the closest symptomatic infected plane tree. The combination of airborne trapping and real-time quantitative PCR assay provides a rapid and sensitive method for the specific detection of a
C. platani
inoculum. This technique may be used to identify the period of highest risk of pathogen spread in a site, thus helping disease management.
Genetic Determinants forn-Butanol Tolerance in Evolved Escherichia coli Mutants: Cross Adaptation and Antagonistic Pleiotropy betweenn-Butanol and Other Stressors
Authors: Reyes Luis H. , Abdelaal Ali S. , Kao Katy C.
Published: June 2013

Cross-tolerance and antagonistic pleiotropy have been observed between different complex phenotypes in microbial systems. These relationships between adaptive landscapes are important for the design of industrially relevant strains, which are generally subjected to multiple stressors. In our previous work, we evolvedEscherichia colifor enhanced tolerance to the biofueln-butanol and discovered a molecular mechanism ofn-butanol tolerance that also conferred tolerance to the cationic antimicrobial peptide polymyxin B in one specific lineage (green fluorescent protein [GFP] labeled) in the evolved population. In this work, we aim to identify additional mechanisms ofn-butanol tolerance in an independent lineage (yellow fluorescent protein [YFP] labeled) from the same evolved population and to further explore potential cross-tolerance and antagonistic pleiotropy betweenn-butanol tolerance and other industrially relevant stressors. Analysis of the transcriptome data of the YFP-labeled mutants allowed us to discover additional membrane-related and osmotic stress-related genes that confern-butanol tolerance inE. coli. Interestingly, then-butanol resistance mechanisms conferred by the membrane-related genes appear to be specific ton-butanol and are in many cases antagonistic with isobutanol and ethanol. Furthermore, the YFP-labeled mutants showed cross-tolerance betweenn-butanol and osmotic stress, while the GFP-labeled mutants showed antagonistic pleiotropy betweenn-butanol and osmotic stress tolerance.
Rapid Identification of Bacillus anthracis Spores in Suspicious Powder Samples by Using Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization–Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)
Authors: Dybwad Marius , van der Laaken Anton L. , Blatny Janet Martha , Paauw Armand
Published: June 2013

Rapid and reliable identification of
Bacillus anthracis
spores in suspicious powders is important to mitigate the safety risks and economic burdens associated with such incidents. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a rapid and reliable laboratory-based matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization–time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) analysis method for identifying
B. anthracis
spores in suspicious powder samples. A reference library containing 22 different
Bacillus
sp. strains or hoax materials was constructed and coupled with a novel classification algorithm and standardized processing protocol for various powder samples. The method's limit of
B. anthracis
detection was determined to be 2.5 × 10
6
spores, equivalent to a 55-μg sample size of the crudest
B. anthracis
-containing powder discovered during the 2001 Amerithrax incidents. The end-to-end analysis method was able to successfully discriminate among samples containing
B. anthracis
spores, closely related
Bacillus
sp. spores, and commonly encountered hoax materials. No false-positive or -negative classifications of
B. anthracis
spores were observed, even when the analysis method was challenged with a wide range of other bacterial agents. The robustness of the method was demonstrated by analyzing samples (i) at an external facility using a different MALDI-TOF MS instrument, (ii) using an untrained operator, and (iii) using mixtures of
Bacillus
sp. spores and hoax materials. Taken together, the observed performance of the analysis method developed demonstrates its potential applicability as a rapid, specific, sensitive, robust, and cost-effective laboratory-based analysis tool for resolving incidents involving suspicious powders in less than 30 min.
Functional Gene Analysis of Freshwater Iron-Rich Flocs at Circumneutral pH and Isolation of a Stalk-Forming Microaerophilic Iron-Oxidizing Bacterium
Authors: Kato Shingo , Chan Clara , Itoh Takashi , Ohkuma Moriya
Published: June 2013

Iron-rich flocs often occur where anoxic water containing ferrous iron encounters oxygenated environments. Culture-independent molecular analyses have revealed the presence of 16S rRNA gene sequences related to diverse bacteria, including autotrophic iron oxidizers and methanotrophs in iron-rich flocs; however, the metabolic functions of the microbial communities remain poorly characterized, particularly regarding carbon cycling. In the present study, we cultivated iron-oxidizing bacteria (FeOB) and performed clone library analyses of functional genes related to carbon fixation and methane oxidization (cbbMandpmoA, respectively), in addition to bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA genes, in freshwater iron-rich flocs at groundwater discharge points. The analyses of 16S rRNA,cbbM, andpmoAgenes strongly suggested the coexistence of autotrophic iron oxidizers and methanotrophs in the flocs. Furthermore, a novel stalk-forming microaerophilic FeOB, strain OYT1, was isolated and characterized phylogenetically and physiologically. The 16S rRNA andcbbMgene sequences of OYT1 are related to those of other microaerophilic FeOB in the familyGallionellaceae, of theBetaproteobacteria, isolated from freshwater environments at circumneutral pH. The physiological characteristics of OYT1 will help elucidate the ecophysiology of microaerophilic FeOB. Overall, this study demonstrates functional roles of microorganisms in iron flocs, suggesting several possible linkages between Fe and C cycling.
Atypical Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Phosphatase Implicated in Regulating Transition from Pre-S-Phase Asexual Intraerythrocytic Development of Plasmodium falciparum
Authors: Balu Bharath , Campbell Christopher , Sedillo Jennifer , Maher Steven , Singh Naresh , Thomas Phaedra , Zhang Min , Pance Alena , Otto Thomas D. , Rayner Julian C. , Adams John H.
Published: June 2013

Intraerythrocytic development of the human malaria parasite
Plasmodium falciparum
appears as a continuous flow through growth and proliferation. To develop a greater understanding of the critical regulatory events, we utilized
piggyBac
insertional mutagenesis to randomly disrupt genes. Screening a collection of
piggyBac
mutants for slow growth, we isolated the attenuated parasite C9, which carried a single insertion disrupting the open reading frame (ORF) of PF3D7_1305500. This gene encodes a protein structurally similar to a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphatase, except for two notable characteristics that alter the signature motif of the dual-specificity phosphatase domain, suggesting that it may be a low-activity phosphatase or pseudophosphatase. C9 parasites demonstrated a significantly lower growth rate with delayed entry into the S/M phase of the cell cycle, which follows the stage of maximum PF3D7_1305500 expression in intact parasites. Genetic complementation with the full-length PF3D7_1305500 rescued the wild-type phenotype of C9, validating the importance of the putative protein phosphatase PF3D7_1305500 as a regulator of pre-S-phase cell cycle progression in
P. falciparum
.
Complete Genome Sequence of Phocine Distemper Virus Isolated from a Harbor Seal (
Phoca vitulina
) during the 1988 North Sea Epidemic
Authors: de Vries Rory D. , Verburgh R. Joyce , van de Bildt Marco W. G. , Osterhaus Albert D. M. E. , de Swart Rik L.
Published: June 2013

Phocine distemper virus (PDV) was identified as the cause of a large morbillivirus outbreak among harbor seals in the North Sea in 1988. PDV is a member of the family
Paramyxoviridae
, genus
Morbillivirus
. Until now, no full-genome sequence of PDV has been available.
Draft Genome Sequence of Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Strain 06BA18369, a Pathogen Associated with Skin and Soft Tissue Infections in Northern Saskatchewan, Canada
Authors: McDonald Ryan R. , Golding George R. , Irvine James , Graham Morag R. , Tyler Shaun , Mulvey Michael R. , Levett Paul N.
Published: June 2013

Here, we announce the draft sequence of a representative methicillin-susceptible
Staphylococcus aureus
(MSSA) isolate (06BA18369) whose strain type (
spa
type t311) was commonly isolated from skin and soft tissue coinfections with
Streptococcus pyogenes
. This strain sequence provides insight into a highly successful community-associated MSSA strain type.
Complete Genome Sequence of Raoultella ornithinolytica Strain B6, a 2,3-Butanediol-Producing Bacterium Isolated from Oil-Contaminated Soil
Authors: Shin Sang Heum , Um Youngsoon , Beak Jeong Hun , Kim Sehwan , Lee Soojin , Oh Min-Kyu , Kim Young-Rok , Lee Jinwon , Yang Kap-Seok
Published: June 2013

Here we report the full genome sequence of
Raoultella ornithinolytica
strain B6, a Gram-negative aerobic bacillus belonging to the family
Enterobacteriaceae
. This 2,3-butanediol-producing bacterium was isolated from oil-contaminated soil on Backwoon Mountain in South Korea. Strain B6 contains 5,398,151 bp with 4,909 protein-coding genes, 104 structural RNAs, and 55.88% G+C content.
Genome Sequencing of Four Strains of Rickettsia prowazekii, the Causative Agent of Epidemic Typhus, Including One Flying Squirrel Isolate
Authors: Bishop-Lilly Kimberly A. , Ge Hong , Butani Amy , Osborne Brian , Verratti Kathleen , Mokashi Vishwesh , Nagarajan Niranjan , Pop Mihai , Read Timothy D. , Richards Allen L.
Published: June 2013

Rickettsia prowazekii
is a notable intracellular pathogen, the agent of epidemic typhus, and a potential biothreat agent. We present here whole-genome sequence data for four strains of
R. prowazekii
, including one from a flying squirrel.
Genome Sequence of the Vancomycin-Producing Amycolatopsis orientalis subsp.
orientalis
Strain KCTC 9412
T
Authors: Jeong Haeyoung , Sim Young Mi , Kim Hyun Ju , Lee Dong-Woo , Lim Si-Kyu , Lee Sang Jun
Published: June 2013

Amycolatopsis orientalis
is the producer of vancomycin, a glycopeptide antibiotic that is used for the treatment of serious infections with Gram-positive bacteria. Here we present the next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based 9.06-Mb draft genome sequence of the type strain
Amycolatopsis orientalis
subsp.
orientalis
KCTC 9412 (DSM 40040; ATCC 19795).
Time-trends and circumstances surrounding ankle injuries in men's professional football: an 11-year follow-up of the UEFA Champions League injury study
Authors: Waldén Markus , Hägglund Martin , Ekstrand Jan
Published: June 2013

Background

Ankle injury is common in football, but the circumstances surrounding them are not well characterised.

Aim

To investigate the rates, especially time-trends, and circumstances of ankle injuries in male professional football.

Methods

27 European clubs with 1743 players were followed prospectively between 2001/2002 and 2011/2012. Time loss injuries and individual-player exposure during training sessions and matches were recorded. Injury rate was defined as the number of injuries/1000 h.

Results

A total of 1080 ankle injuries were recorded (13% of all injuries) with lateral ligament ankle sprain being the most common injury subtype (51% of all ankle injuries). The rates of ankle injury and ankle sprain were 1/1000 h and 0.7/1000 h, respectively. The ankle sprain rate declined slightly over time during the 11-year study period (on average 3.1%/season) with a statistically significant seasonal trend (p=0.041). Foul play according to the referee was involved in 40% of the match-related ankle sprains. Syndesmotic sprains and ankle impingement were uncommon causes of time loss (3% each of all ankle injuries).

Conclusions

Lateral ligament ankle sprain constituted half of all ankle injuries in male professional football, whereas ankle impingement syndromes were uncommon. The ankle sprain rate decreased slightly over time, but many ankle sprains were associated with foul play. Our data extend the body of literature that provides football policy makers with a foundation to review existing rules and their enforcement.
The Seattle Criteria increase the specificity of preparticipation ECG screening among elite athletes
Authors: Brosnan Maria , La Gerche Andre , Kalman Jon , Lo Wilson , Fallon Kieran , MacIsaac Andrew , Prior David
Published: June 2013

Background

In 2010, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) released recommendations for the interpretation of the 12-lead ECG in athletes, dividing changes into group 1 (training related) and group 2 (training unrelated). Recently, the ‘Seattle Criteria’, a series of revisions to these recommendations, was published, with the aim of improving the specificity of ECG screening in athletes.

Objectives

First, to assess the prevalence of ECG abnormalities in a cohort of elite Australian athletes using the 2010 ESC recommendations and determine how often group 2 ECG changes correlate with the evidence of significant cardiac pathology on further investigation. Second, to assess the impact of the ‘Seattle Criteria’ in reducing the number of athletes with ECG abnormalities in whom further cardiac testing is unremarkable (‘false positives’).

Design

1197 elite athletes underwent cardiovascular screening between 2011 and 2012, of whom 1078 aged 16–35 years volunteered and were eligible to participate.

Results

186 (17.3%) had an abnormal ECG according to ESC recommendations and a further 30 (2.8)% had unclassified changes. Three athletes (0.3%) were found to have a cardiac abnormality on further investigation. Using the Seattle Criteria, the number of athletes classified as abnormal fell to 48 (4.5%, p<0.0001) and the three with an underlying cardiac abnormality were still identified. The improved specificity was due to reclassification of 71 athletes (6.6%) with an equivocal QTc interval, 42 (3.9%) with T wave inversion isolated to V1–2 and 22 (2%) with either isolated right axis deviation or right ventricular hypertrophy on voltage criteria.

Conclusions

The ‘Seattle Criteria’ reduced the false-positive rate of ECG screening from 17% to 4.2%, while still identifying the 0.3% of athletes with a cardiac abnormality.
Human factors and ergonomics as a patient safety practice
Authors: Carayon Pascale , Xie Anping , Kianfar Sarah
Published: June 2013

Background

Human factors and ergonomics (HFE) approaches to patient safety have addressed five different domains: usability of technology; human error and its role in patient safety; the role of healthcare worker performance in patient safety; system resilience; and HFE systems approaches to patient safety.

Methods

A review of various HFE approaches to patient safety and studies on HFE interventions was conducted.

Results

This paper describes specific examples of HFE-based interventions for patient safety. Studies show that HFE can be used in a variety of domains.

Conclusions

HFE is a core element of patient safety improvement. Therefore, every effort should be made to support HFE applications in patient safety.
Experiences of healthcare professionals in the community dealing with the spiritual needs of children and young people with life-threatening and life-limiting conditions and their families: report of a workshop
Authors: Llewellyn Henry , Jones Louise , Kelly Paula , Barnes Jeanette , O'Gorman Bernadette , Craig Finella , Bluebond-Langner Myra
Published: June 2013

Objective

We sought to understand how healthcare professionals (HCP) conceptualise spirituality among seriously ill children and young people (CYP) and their families, and their experiences in dealing with spiritual issues that emerge in practice.

Method

We analysed thematically presentations and small group discussions with HCP that took place as part of a day-long workshop exploring the place of spirituality in paediatric healthcare.

Results

(1) HCP conceptualised spirituality as highly individualised searches for meaning, hope and connectedness to self, others and the world. They saw spirituality within a developmental context. (2) HCP described spiritual concerns that were tied to their own conceptualisations of spirituality, centring on ideas of loss, including loss of hope or meaning. (3) HCP approached spiritual concerns of CYP and families by ‘being there’ and supporting spiritual enquiry. (4) Challenges to their work included managing hopes of CYP and families in the face of poor prognoses, discussions about miracles and issues with their own faith. Spiritual care was seen as different to other areas of care which HCP felt had a greater prescription in delivery.

Conclusions

The findings underscore the complexity of spirituality in times of illness and the challenges faced in its management. HCP should be alerted to the myriad ways spirituality emerges in serious illness and opportunities for developing confidence in attending to spiritual issues with CYP and families through training. Research should explore with patients, families and HCP how tensions among CYP, autonomy, the maintenance of hope and miracle beliefs are best approached within care.
Substituting community children's nursing services for inpatient care: a case study of costs and effects
Authors: Callery Peter , Kyle Richard G , Weatherly Helen , Banks Michele , Ewing Carol , Powell Peter , Kirk Susan
Published: June 2013

Objective

To compare children's pathways to and through Community Children's Nursing Team (CCNT) care, and NHS costs, before and after relocation of inpatient services and extension of a paediatric Emergency Department and Observation and Assessment Unit (ED/OAU).

Design

Case study. Routinely collected data on activity and staffing were provided by the CCNT. Parents completed questionnaires about their child's use of healthcare services and satisfaction with care preservice reconfiguration (n=221) or postreconfiguration (n=210). The cost of service use was compared prereconfiguration and postreconfiguration.

Patients

Children referred to CCNT care.

Main outcome measures

Healthcare service use and associated costs, satisfaction with CCNT care.

Results

The mean number of services used before referral to the CCNT reduced from 2.8 to 1.6, and the proportion using only one service increased from 26% (n=58) to 61% (n=128). Inpatient admission during CCNT care reduced from 6% (n=13) to 2% (n=4), and ED attendance from 37% (n=79) to 16% (n=31). There was a considerable fall (25%) in the cost of CCNT care, and a sharp fall (55%) in the average overall NHS cost of care. CCNT care was rated ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ by 85% of respondents both prereconfiguration and postreconfiguration.

Conclusions

A CCNT provided an alternative to hospitalisation when acute general paediatric services were reconfigured to substitute for a relocated hospital. Children's pathways to CCNT care were shortened. The average cost of CCNT care and overall NHS cost were lower following reconfiguration. Satisfaction remained high throughout.
Screening methods to detect child maltreatment: high variability in Dutch emergency departments
Authors: Hoytema van Konijnenburg Eva M M , Teeuw Arianne H , Zwaard Sophie A , van der Lee Johanna H , van Rijn Rick R
Published: June 2013

Background

In the Netherlands, screening for child maltreatment is mandatory in all emergency departments but it is unclear which screening methods are being used. As a first step towards implementation of a universal screening method across all emergency departments, we assessed the currently used screening methods.

Objective

To provide an overview of the screening methods for child maltreatment across all emergency departments in the Netherlands and to assess their empirical substantiation.

Methods

We surveyed all emergency departments in the Netherlands using a questionnaire on screening methods. All screening checklists used in emergency departments were assembled and compared with the literature.

Results

85 hospitals with an emergency department were approached, 80 of which completed the questionnaire and 77 provided copies of their screening checklists. All participating hospitals use a screening checklist, 41% a screening physical examination, 60% a screening based on parental risk factors and 3% a retrospective review of all charts. The empirical substantiation for these screening methods is largely lacking, and at least 73% of the hospitals use a checklist that has not been reported in the literature.

Conclusions

Large variations in screening methods exist across emergency departments in the Netherlands, most of which are not based on empirical evidence.
How do public health practitioners in China perceive injury prevention? A survey
Authors: Tan Aichun , Zhang XiaoTao , Baker Susan P , Hu Guoqing
Published: June 2013

To report public health practitioners’ perceptions of injury prevention in Changsha, China. We undertook a cross-sectional study at Changsha, Hunan, China. An anonymous self-reported survey was conducted to ascertain the proportion of respondents who answered negatively to questions about the value of injury prevention. Over 20% of respondents answered ‘unpreventable’ or ‘don't know’ to whether injuries from natural environmental disaster, homicide/assault, poisoning, animal bite, cut/pierce, suffocation and electric current were preventable. More than 40% of respondents answered ‘no’ or ‘don't know’ to whether the prevention of injuries from homicide/assault, cut/pierce, fall, suicide/self-harm, drowning, road traffic crash and fire/burn belonged to the job of public health. Only 48% of respondents supported building a division/office within the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions at all levels. Many public health practitioners in Changsha had misperception about injury prevention. Education and training are needed to correct their misperception.
Inequalities in asthma treatment among children by country of birth and ancestry: a nationwide study in Denmark
Authors: Cantarero-Arévalo Lourdes , Holstein Bjørn Evald , Andersen Anette , Kaae Susanne , Nørredam Marie , Hansen Ebba Holme
Published: June 2013

Background

Investigations in several Western countries have reported ethnic differences in asthma prevalence and treatment among children and in some countries these differences are increasing. The aim of this study was to analyse whether there are inequalities in asthma treatment by country of birth and ancestry among children residing in Denmark, and whether this potential association may vary between different household income groups.

Methods

Data were obtained by linking the Danish Civil Registration System, the Central Taxpayers’ Register and the Danish National Prescription Register. Population: the entire population of children in Denmark from 0 to 17 years of age in 2008 (n=1 209 091). Information on asthma treatment was obtained from the National Prescription Register. The analyses included multiple logistic regression models stratified by household income.

Results

Compared with ethnic Danes, immigrant children had the lowest OR for redeeming a prescription for asthma medication, both relief (OR 0.37; 95% CIs, 0.20 to 0.68) and preventive (OR 0.37; (0.22 to 0.59)). Similar associations were found among descendant children (OR for relief treatment 0.82 (0.79 to 0.89) and for preventive treatment 0.68 (0.61 to 0.75)). The pattern of the association remained after stratifying for household income.

Conclusions

We found that, inequalities that cannot be explained by household income alone exist in treatments to prevent asthma as well as to relieve symptoms in children residing in Denmark, by country of birth and ancestry. The difference between immigrants and descendants may indicate that unfamiliarity with the Danish healthcare system is a contributory cause of the inadequate treatment of asthma.
Do labour market status transitions predict changes in psychological well-being?
Authors: Flint Ellen , Bartley Mel , Shelton Nicola , Sacker Amanda
Published: June 2013

Background

The objective of this study was to establish the direction of causality in the relationship between labour market status and psychological well-being by investigating how transitions between secure employment, insecure employment, unemployment, permanent sickness and other economic inactivity predict changes in psychological well-being over a 16-year period.

Method

This study used data from the British Household Panel Survey (1991–2007). Psychological well-being was measured using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12). Fixed effects models were utilised to investigate how transitions between labour market statuses predicted GHQ-12 score, adjusting for current labour market status and a range of covariates.

Results

After taking account of the contemporaneous effects of joblessness on psychological well-being, and the impact of a range of confounding factors, experiencing a transition from employment to joblessness was significantly predictive of poorer psychological well-being. Transitions into employment were not found to have equal and opposite effects: the positive effects of moving into work from unemployment were not as large as the negative effects of job loss. Transitions between secure and insecure employment did not independently predict changes in psychological well-being.

Conclusions

A causal relationship between labour market status and psychological well-being is indicated.
Bias analysis to improve monitoring an HIV epidemic and its response: approach and application to a survey of female sex workers in Iran
Authors: Mirzazadeh Ali , Mansournia Mohammad-Ali , Nedjat Saharnaz , Navadeh Soodabeh , McFarland Willi , Haghdoost Ali Akbar , Mohammad Kazem
Published: June 2013

Background

We present probabilistic and Bayesian techniques to correct for bias in categorical and numerical measures and empirically apply them to a recent survey of female sex workers (FSW) conducted in Iran.

Methods

We used bias parameters from a previous validation study to correct estimates of behaviours reported by FSW. Monte-Carlo Sensitivity Analysis and Bayesian bias analysis produced point and simulation intervals (SI).

Results

The apparent and corrected prevalence differed by a minimum of 1% for the number of ‘non-condom use sexual acts’ (36.8% vs 35.8%) to a maximum of 33% for ‘ever associated with a venue to sell sex’ (35.5% vs 68.0%). The negative predictive value of the questionnaire for ‘history of STI’ and ‘ever associated with a venue to sell sex’ was 36.3% (95% SI 4.2% to 69.1%) and 46.9% (95% SI 6.3% to 79.1%), respectively. Bias-adjusted numerical measures of behaviours increased by 0.1 year for ‘age at first sex act for money’ to 1.5 for ‘number of sexual contacts in last 7 days’.

Conclusions

The ‘true’ estimates of most behaviours are considerably higher than those reported and the related SIs are wider than conventional CIs. Our analysis indicates the need for and applicability of bias analysis in surveys, particularly in stigmatised settings.
Socioeconomic inequalities in oral health in different European welfare state regimes
Authors: Guarnizo-Herreño Carol C , Watt Richard G , Pikhart Hynek , Sheiham Aubrey , Tsakos Georgios
Published: June 2013

Background

There is very little information about the relationship between welfare regimes and oral health inequalities. We compared socioeconomic inequalities in adults’ oral health in five European welfare-state regimes: Scandinavian, Anglo-Saxon, Bismarckian, Southern and Eastern.

Methods

Using data from the oral health module of the Eurobarometer 72.3 survey, we assessed inequalities in two self-reported oral health measures: no functional dentition (less than 20 natural teeth) and edentulousness (no natural teeth). Occupational social class, education and subjective social status (SSS) were included as socioeconomic position indicators. We estimated age-standardised prevalence rates, ORs, the Relative Index of Inequality (RII) and the Slope Index of Inequality (SII).

Results

The Scandinavian regime showed the lowest prevalence rates of the two oral health measures while the Eastern showed the highest. In all welfare regimes there was a general pattern of social gradients by occupational social class and education. Relative educational inequalities in no functional dentition were largest in the Scandinavian welfare regime (RII=3.81; 95% CI 2.68 to 5.42). The Scandinavian and Southern regimes showed the largest relative inequalities in edentulousness by occupation and education, respectively. There were larger absolute inequalities in no functional dentition in the Eastern regime by occupation (SII=42.16; 95% CI 31.42 to 52.89) and in the Southern by SSS (SII=27.92; 95% CI 17.36 to 38.47).

Conclusions

Oral health inequalities in adults exist in all welfare-state regimes, but contrary to what may be expected from theory, they are not smaller in the Scandinavian regime. Future work should examine the potential mechanisms linking welfare provision and oral health inequalities.
Respiratory infections in the military
Authors: O'Shea Matthew K , Wilson D
Published: June 2013

Military training facilities and operational theatres, and the stressful activities undertaken in such settings, are unique. Military personnel living and working in these environments are at considerable risk of the acquisition and onward transmission of a variety of respiratory infections. While these generally cause mild illness, severe disease may occur with significant associated morbidity and, occasionally, mortality. Epidemic outbreaks among military personnel may have a significant detrimental impact on training schedules and operational effectiveness. The recognition of the burden of such illness among British military personnel, and the development of strategies required to prevent or limit negative impacts, can only be achieved through the use of comprehensive laboratory-based surveillance programmes.
Successful correction of D‐lactic acid neurotoxicity (drunken lamb syndrome) by bolus administration of oral sodium bicarbonate
Authors: Angell J. W. , Jones G. L. , Voigt K. , Grove‐White D. H.
Published: June 2013

Drunken lamb syndrome (DLS) has recently been described as lamb D‐lactic acidosis syndrome (LDLAS). In 2012, 18 lambs aged between 7 days and 28 days with LDLAS were identified. Biochemically, each lamb had a metabolic acidosis characterised by D‐lactic acidosis and exhibited clinical signs including: not hyperthermic, no evidence of dehydration, demonstrating an ataxic gait tending to recumbency (DLS) and possibly somnolence. These lambs received 50 mmol of sodium bicarbonate as an 8.4 per cent solution given orally, together with parenteral long‐acting amoxicillin. All 18 cases made a full clinical recovery. This study demonstrates a novel effective treatment for a disease that is usually fatal, and also demonstrates a strong correlation between venous plasma bicarbonate concentrations and venous plasma D‐lactate concentrations (R2 =0.49).
STEADY NAVIER–STOKES–FOURIER SYSTEM WITH SLIP BOUNDARY CONDITIONS
Authors: JESSLÉ DIDIER , NOVOTNÝ ANTONÍN , POKORNÝ MILAN
Published: July 2013

We consider a problem modeling the steady flow of a compressible heat conducting Newtonian fluid subject to the slip boundary condition for the velocity. Assuming the pressure law of the form p(ϱ, ϑ) ~ ϱγ + ϱϑ, we show (under additional assumptions on the heat conductivity and the viscosity) that for any γ > 1 there exists a variational entropy solution to our problem (i.e. the weak formulation of the total energy balance is replaced by the entropy inequality and the global total energy balance). Moreover, if [Formula: see text] (together with further restrictions on the heat conductivity), the solution is in fact a weak one. The results are obtained without any restriction on the size of the data.
N-TERM WIENER CHAOS APPROXIMATION RATES FOR ELLIPTIC PDEs WITH LOGNORMAL GAUSSIAN RANDOM INPUTS
Authors: HOANG VIET HA , SCHWAB CHRISTOPH
Published: July 2013

We consider diffusion in a random medium modeled as diffusion equation with lognormal Gaussian diffusion coefficient. Sufficient conditions on the log permeability are provided in order for a weak solution to exist in certain Bochner–Lebesgue spaces with respect to a Gaussian measure. The stochastic problem is reformulated as an equivalent deterministic parametric problem on ℝℕ. It is shown that the weak solution can be represented as Wiener–Itô Polynomial Chaos series of Hermite Polynomials of a countable number of i.i.d standard Gaussian random variables taking values in ℝ1.

We establish sufficient conditions on the random inputs for weighted sequence norms of the Wiener–Itô decomposition coefficients of the random solution to be p-summable for some 0 < p < 1. For random inputs with additional spatial regularity, stronger norms of the weighted coefficient sequence in the random solutions' Wiener–Itô decomposition are shown to be p-summable for the same value of 0 < p < 1.

We prove rates of nonlinear, best N-term Wiener Polynomial Chaos approximations of the random field, as well as of Finite Element discretizations of these approximations from a dense, nested family V0 ⊂ V1 ⊂ V2 ⊂ ⋯ V of finite element spaces of continuous, piecewise linear Finite Elements.
HOW LARGE IS THE CONTRIBUTION OF COSMIC WEB TO ΩΛ? A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON A NOVEL INHOMOGENEOUS MODEL
Authors: VIAGGIU STEFANO , MONTUORI MARCO
Published: July 2013

The distribution of matter in the universe shows a complex pattern, formed by cluster of galaxies, voids and filaments denoted as cosmic web. Different approaches have been proposed to model such structure in the framework of the general relativity. Recently, one of us has proposed a generalization (ΛFB model) of the Fractal Bubble model, proposed by Wiltshire, which accounts for such large scale structure. The ΛFB model is an evolution of FB model and includes in a consistent way a description of inhomogeneous matter distribution and a Λ term. Here, we analyze the ΛFB model focusing on the relation between cosmological parameters. The main result is the consistency of ΛCDM model values for ΩΛ0 (≈ 0.7) and Ωk0(∣Ωk0∣ < ≈ 0.01) with a large fraction of voids. This allows to quantify to which extent the inhomogeneous structure could account for Λ constant consistently with standard values of the other cosmological parameters.