bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of a nurse‐led preadmission intervention for parents of children with profound multiple disabilities undergoing hip‐joint surgery: A quasi‐experimental pilot study
Authors: Seliner Brigitte , Latal Beatrice , Spirig Rebecca
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a family‐centered care (FCC) intervention provided by an advanced practice nurse (APN) for parents of children with profound disabilities undergoing surgery.

Design and Methods

In a quasi‐experimental design, we used the MPOC‐20 to assess satisfaction with FCC and interviews to identify potential mechanisms for improving satisfaction.

Results

There was a positive effect on the MPOC‐20 domain “general information,” albeit with a small effect size (Cohen's d = 0.35). The interviewed parents expected additional support.

Practice Implications

Emphasis should be placed on providing comprehensive care coordination by an experienced APN. Shared care management is crucial in improving FCC.
New Concepts for New Dynamics: Generating Theory for the Study of Religious Innovation and Social Change
Authors: Martí Gerardo
Published: May 2017

The Emerging Church movement (ECM) is sociologically interesting—not due to the size of its membership or the centrality of its congregations. Rather, the ECM is significant because it provides an opportunity to generate new concepts for the study religious innovation and social change. Using theoretical language, the ECM consists of institutional entrepreneurs who drive their religiously concerned movement by continually deconstructing and reframing beliefs, practices, and identities from “mainstream” Christianity while at the same time promoting newly formulated and broadly resonant religious imperatives. As Emerging Christians cultivate new or altered religious practices, these must be continually legitimized. Furthermore, their renegotiated beliefs (heterodoxies) require new forms of organization (alternative congregations). Such action is not the work of isolated individuals, nor is it independent of societal conditions. Ultimately, the ECM consists of Emerging Christians who creatively operate through diffuse network structures across wide geographic spaces and among disparate social groups to enact a collective institutional entrepreneurship that seeks to reimagine the assumptions of conventional Christian congregational life.
A comprehensive survey of a‐prefixing in Southern Appalachia
Authors: McQuaid Goldie Ann
Published: May 2017

This article reviews research on so‐called a‐prefixing (she's a‐making good money now), attested among certain dialect speakers in Southern Appalachia. Sociolinguistic investigations of Southern Appalachian dialect speakers, beginning in the 1970s, found an interesting interplay of social and linguistic factors implicated in the variable production of the a‐prefix (Hackenberg, 1972; Wolfram, 1976; Wolfram and Christian, 1975, 1976; Feagin, 1979). Subsequent studies have confirmed many of these social and linguistic factors and have further shown generational differences in contextual uses of the form (narrative vs. nonnarrative contexts; Burkette, 2007). Additionally, researchers have employed case‐study methods, looking carefully at sociolinguistic interviews among members of the same family (Burkette, 2001, 2007, 2013, 2014, 2016; Hazen, 2006; Hamilton and Hazen, 2009; Hazen and Hamilton, 2008). These studies show effects for age and speaker education in use of the a‐prefix and further reveal how speakers draw on the form as a vernacular resource in identity work and stance‐taking.

It is the interplay of these variegated factors that makes a‐prefixing a rich topic for linguistic inquiry: a‐prefixing allows analysts to probe not only the grammatical interfaces (i.e., phonology–morphology, morphology–syntax), but also the role of social and stylistic factors in a process involving these interfaces. Here, I review characteristics of existing studies, including methods of data collection, geographic locales investigated, informant characteristics (sex, age, and socioeconomic status), properties of the data (number of speakers, tokens, etc.), and types of analyses. Additionally, I survey social, stylistic, pragmatic, syntactic, and phonological factors that license or condition variable realization of the a‐prefix.
Arabidopsis thaliana EPOXIDE HYDROLASE1 (AtEH1) is a cytosolic epoxide hydrolase involved in the synthesis of poly‐hydroxylated cutin monomers
Authors: Pineau Emmanuelle , Xu Lin , Renault Hugues , Trolet Adrien , Navrot Nicolas , Ullmann Pascaline , Légeret Bertrand , Verdier Gaëtan , Beisson Fred , Pinot Franck
Published: May 2017

Epoxide hydrolases (EHs) are present in all living organisms. They have been extensively characterized in mammals; however, their biological functions in plants have not been demonstrated.

Based on in silico analysis, we identified AtEH1 (At3g05600), a putative Arabidopsis thaliana epoxide hydrolase possibly involved in cutin monomer synthesis. We expressed AtEH1 in yeast and studied its localization in vivo. We also analyzed the composition of cutin from A. thaliana lines in which this gene was knocked out.

Incubation of recombinant AtEH1 with epoxy fatty acids confirmed its capacity to hydrolyze epoxides of C18 fatty acids into vicinal diols. Transfection of Nicotiana benthamiana leaves with constructs expressing AtEH1 fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) indicated that AtEH1 is localized in the cytosol. Analysis of cutin monomers in loss‐of‐function Ateh1‐1 and Ateh1‐2 mutants showed an accumulation of 18‐hydroxy‐9,10‐epoxyoctadecenoic acid and a concomitant decrease in corresponding vicinal diols in leaf and seed cutin. Compared with wild‐type seeds, Ateh1 seeds showed delayed germination under osmotic stress conditions and increased seed coat permeability to tetrazolium red.

This work reports a physiological role for a plant EH and identifies AtEH1 as a new member of the complex machinery involved in cutin synthesis.
Effectiveness of portable electronic and optical magnifiers for near vision activities in low vision: a randomised crossover trial
Authors: Taylor John J. , Bambrick Rachel , Brand Andrew , Bray Nathan , Dutton Michelle , Harper Robert A. , Hoare Zoe , Ryan Barbara , Edwards Rhiannon T. , Waterman Heather , Dickinson Christine
Published: May 2017

Purpose

To compare the performance of near vision activities using additional portable electronic vision enhancement systems (p‐EVES), to using optical magnifiers alone, by individuals with visual impairment.

Methods

A total of 100 experienced optical aid users were recruited from low vision clinics at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Manchester, UK, to a prospective two‐arm cross‐over randomised controlled trial. Reading, performance of near vision activities, and device usage were evaluated at baseline; and at the end of each study arm (Intervention A: existing optical aids plus p‐EVES; Intervention B: optical aids only) which was after 2 and 4 months.

Results

A total of 82 participants completed the study. Overall, maximum reading speed for high contrast sentences was not statistically significantly different for optical aids and p‐EVES, although the critical print size and threshold print size which could be accessed with p‐EVES were statistically significantly smaller (p < 0.001 in both cases). The optical aids were used for a larger number of tasks (p < 0.001), and used more frequently (p < 0.001). However p‐EVES were preferred for leisure reading by 70% of participants, and allowed longer duration of reading (p < 0.001). During the study arm when they had a p‐EVES device, participants were able to carry out more tasks independently (p < 0.001), and reported less difficulty with a range of near vision activities (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The study provides evidence that p‐EVES devices can play a useful role in supplementing the range of low vision aids used to reduce activity limitation for near vision tasks.
The Power of Forgetting: Ressentiment, Guilt, and Transformative Politics
Authors: Muldoon Paul
Published: May 2017

Though long regarded as an injustice in its own right, willed forgetting is currently enjoying something of a revival in politics. Concerned by the threat memory poses to both the peace and vitality of the state, critics have championed forgetting for its power to release us from ressentiment and begin anew. In this article, I take a closer look at Nietzsche's conception of willed forgetfulness, specifically as it is set out in On the Genealogy of Morals, to bring out what contemporary critics of the “surfeit of memory” seem happy to ignore: Namely, that a certain kind of cruelty, either against others or towards oneself, is the sine qua non of forgetting. Drawing on Freud as a supplement, I argue that many of the symptoms critics ascribe to the surfeit of memory—the culture of victimhood, the tyranny of guilt, the displacement of action, and the eclipse of visionary modes of imagining the future—may in actual fact be the product of forgetting.
Acquiring research‐grade ERPs on a shoestring budget: A comparison of a modified Emotiv and commercial SynAmps EEG system
Authors: Barham Michael P. , Clark Gillian M. , Hayden Melissa J. , Enticott Peter G. , Conduit Russell , Lum Jarrad A. G.
Published: May 2017

This study compared the performance of a low‐cost wireless EEG system to a research‐grade EEG system on an auditory oddball task designed to elicit N200 and P300 ERP components. Participants were 15 healthy adults (6 female) aged between 19 and 40 (M = 28.56; SD = 6.38). An auditory oddball task was presented comprising 1,200 presentations of a standard tone interspersed by 300 trials comprising a deviant tone. EEG was simultaneously recorded from a modified Emotiv EPOC and a NeuroScan SynAmps RT EEG system. The modifications made to the Emotiv system included attaching research grade electrodes to the Bluetooth transmitter. Additional modifications enabled the Emotiv system to connect to a portable impedance meter. The cost of these modifications and portable impedance meter approached the purchase value of the Emotiv system. Preliminary analyses revealed significantly more trials were rejected from data acquired by the modified Emotiv compared to the SynAmps system. However, the ERP waveforms captured by the Emotiv system were found to be highly similar to the corresponding waveform from the SynAmps system. The latency and peak amplitude of N200 and P300 components were also found to be similar between systems. Overall, the results indicate that, in the context of an oddball task, the ERP acquired by a low‐cost wireless EEG system can be of comparable quality to research‐grade EEG acquisition equipment.
Allopatric divergence and secondary contact without genetic admixture for Arichanna perimelaina (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), an alpine moth endemic to the Hengduan Mountains
Authors: LI XINXIN , JIANG NAN , CHENG RUI , XUE DAYONG , QU YANHUA , HAN HONGXIANG
Published: May 2017

Mountain systems, especially at high altitudes, are an excellent model for determining the mechanisms underlying high species diversity and endemism. Herein, we elucidate the evolutionary history of the alpine moth Arichanna perimelaina (Wehrli), which is endemic to the Hengduan Mountains (HM) region in southwest China, based on three mitochondrial genes and two nuclear genes. Our results revealed six deeply divergent clades that corresponded to populations in different mountain systems in the HM region. Bayesian divergence time estimations suggested a mid‐ to late Pleistocene genetic divergence. The results also showed that the Mt Yulong (YL) region was a refugium and valley corridors established by glaciation during the Pleistocene allowed populations on the separate mountains to migrate. The reproductive isolation among the different clades on contact zone in the YL region may be associated with the asynchronous mating rhythms and/or the divergent mate recognition caused by the ecological source of divergent selection. Allopatric divergence associated with complex topographies and climatic oscillations, regional dispersal via valley corridors and the suitable refugium of the YL region shaped the genetic divergence and distribution pattern of A. perimelaina in the HM region. These findings highlight the essential role of complex terrain and climatic fluctuations in shaping the unique phylogeographic history of a narrow alpine moth, and provide insights into the mechanisms underlying high species richness and endemism in the HM region.
Multimodality characterization of a noncommunicating congenital duodenal duplication cyst causing pyloric outflow obstruction in a young dog
Authors: Mutascio Liliana , Vilaplana Grosso Federico , Ramos‐Vara José , Simons Micha
Published: May 2017

A 10‐month‐old German Shepherd Dog presented for evaluation of intermittent vomiting. Abdominal radiographs revealed a marked right cranial mass effect. Initial differentials included abscess/cyst or less likely neoplasia from undetermined origin. On abdominal ultrasound the mass appeared cystic and thin walled. Computed tomography revealed a large cystic lesion originating from the pyloroduodenal junction causing pyloric outflow obstruction. A noncommunicating duodenal duplication cyst was found on exploratory laparotomy and further confirmed with histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Enteric duplication cyst should be considered as a differential in young dogs with gastrointestinal signs and a cystic abdominal mass detected with different imaging modalities.
Recovery and recession of 1937-38: Role of the Inventory Bubble
Authors: Carlson William , Lackman Conway
Published: May 2017

There has been renewed interest in the 1937-8 recession because analysts have mentioned that a Fed engineered increase in interest rates in 2016-7 might stop the 2009-16 recovery much as the 1937-8 recession interrupted the Great Depression recovery. There is interest in finding out whom or what caused the 1937-8 recession. Milton Friedman blamed the Fed for doubling reserve requirements and also said that the Treasury was equally to blame for its gold sterilization program. More recently Douglas Irwin came to the conclusion that gold sterilization was the main culprit. Velde finds that the sterilization of gold halted the growth of the monetary base in 1937 and that the effect of the reserve requirement increases was probable but less clear. Calomiris, Mason, and Wheelock find that the Fed, responsibility was minimal. None of these articles mention inventories being a significant problem. Meltzer (2003) said it was too small to be a major factor. Our inventory data are not only for 1935-8 but for accumulations in front of all post WWII recessions. It indicates that an inventory bubble was a major problem.
Comparison of the Dietary Habits of Elite Turkish Male and Female Weightlifters
Authors: Şener Orhan Ahmet , Güner Ahmet
Published: May 2017

Nutritional habits affect performance directly or indirectly in weight class included sports. The aim of this study was to compare the dietary habits of elite female and male weightlifters. After getting official records of athletes from Turkish Weightlifting Federation, a survey was conducted on several factors of the athletes such as weight class, education level, national and international success, income level, weight reduction condition, whether the athlete has knowledge about nutrition, fluid intake, dietary approach before competitions, and type of ergogenic usage. The correlation analyses were completed to determine the relationship between the groups. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the groups. Fischer’s exact tests were calculated again to compare the dietary preferences between different groups. Results of this study showed that lower income, weight category, lower age and level of education of male weightlifters negatively affect the performance. Male weightlifters underestimate the importance of fluid intake and they consumed different types of diets. The use of ergogenic products in female weightlifters was differentiated according to their education levels, weight classes and the competition category. Again, the international female weightlifters consumed more ergogenic substance than national level weightlifters. Both male and female weightlifters showed no significant correlations between the performance variables and all other conditions. It can be suggested that the socio-economic status and education level related to sport nutrition in weightlifters should be increased for enhancing of the weightlifting performance.
Utility and reliability of non‐invasive muscle function tests in high‐fat‐fed mice
Authors: Martinez‐Huenchullan Sergio F. , McLennan Susan V. , Ban Linda A. , Morsch Marco , Twigg Stephen M. , Tam Charmaine S.
Published: May 2017

New Findings

What is the central question of this study?

Non‐invasive muscle function tests have not been validated for use in the study of muscle performance in high‐fat‐fed mice.

What is the main finding and its importance?

This study shows that grip strength, hang wire and four‐limb hanging tests are able to discriminate the muscle performance between chow‐fed and high‐fat‐fed mice at different time points, with grip strength being reliable after 5, 10 and 20 weeks of dietary intervention.

Non‐invasive tests are commonly used for assessing muscle function in animal models. The value of these tests in obesity, a condition where muscle strength is reduced, is unclear. We investigated the utility of three non‐invasive muscle function tests, namely grip strength (GS), hang wire (HW) and four‐limb hanging (FLH), in C57BL/6 mice fed chow (chow group, n = 48) or a high‐fat diet (HFD group, n = 48) for 20 weeks. Muscle function tests were performed at 5, 10 and 20 weeks. After 10 and 20 weeks, HFD mice had significantly reduced GS (in newtons; mean ± SD: 10 weeks chow, 1.89 ± 0.1 and HFD, 1.79 ± 0.1; 20 weeks chow, 1.99 ± 0.1 and HFD, 1.75 ± 0.1), FLH [in seconds per gram body weight; median (interquartile range): 10 weeks chow, 2552 (1337–4964) and HFD, 1230 (749–1994); 20 weeks chow, 2048 (765–3864) and HFD, 1036 (717–1855)] and HW reaches [n; median (interquartile range): 10 weeks chow, 4 (2–5) and HFD, 2 (1–3); 20 weeks chow, 3 (1–5) and HFD, 1 (0–2)] and higher falls [n; median (interquartile range): 10 weeks chow, 0 (0–2) and HFD, 3 (1–7); 20 weeks chow, 1 (0–4) and HFD, 8 (5–10)]. Grip strength was reliable in both dietary groups [intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) = 0.5–0.8; P < 0.05], whereas FLH showed good reliability in chow (ICC = 0.7; P < 0.05) but not in HFD mice after 10 weeks (ICC < 0.5). Our data demonstrate that non‐invasive muscle function tests are valuable and reliable tools for assessment of muscle strength and function in high‐fat‐fed mice.
Directional Passive Condensate Film Drainage on a Horizontal Surface With Periodic Asymmetrical Structures
Authors: Natesh Shashank , Truong Eric , Narayanan Vinod , Bhavnani Sushil
Published: May 2017

Condensation of a highly wetting fluid on a horizontal surface with asymmetric millimeter-sized ratchets and periodically located film drainage pathways (DPs) in the spanwise direction is characterized. The hypothesis to be tested is whether the geometry would result in a net steady-state preferential drainage of the condensate film. Experiments are performed using PF5060 on a brass surface with ratchets of 3 mm pitch and 75–15 deg asymmetry. Drainage pathways are varied in density as nondimensional drainage pathways per meter depth ranging from 133 to 400. Experiments are performed at varied wall subcooling temperatures from 1 to 10 °C. Results of the asymmetric ratchet are compared against a control test surface with 45–45 deg symmetric ratchets. Both global and film visualization experiments are performed to characterize the differences in condensation between the symmetric and asymmetric surfaces. Global mass collection results indicate that all characterized asymmetric ratchet surfaces exhibit a net directional drainage of condensate while the symmetric control surface exhibited no preferential drainage. Among the asymmetric ratchets, the total mass flux rate increase with decrease in drainage pathway density, while the net mass flux rate increased with pathway density. Visualization of the condensate film was performed to explain the trends in net drainage with subcooling for different drainage pathway densities. For small drainage path density surfaces, a two-dimensional analytical model was developed to further characterize the effect of ratchet angle and Bond number on the net preferential drainage.
Development of Representative Volume Element Homogenization Model for Predicting Transversely Isotropic Elasticity of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Yun Jin Chul , Park Seong Jin
Published: May 2017

In this study, a representative volume element (RVE) homogenization approach is proposed to predict the mechanical properties of a lithium-ion battery (LIB) cell, module, and pack in an electric vehicle (EV). Different RVE models for the LIB jellyroll and module are suggested. Various elastic properties obtained from RVE analyses were compared to the analytic solution. To validate the approach suggested, the elastic responses of two types of homogenized LIB module for various loading cases were compared to the model where all the jellyroll and module components were described fully. Additionally, parametric studies were conducted to determine the relationship between design parameters of the jellyroll components and the elastic behavior of LIB jellyroll and module. The results obtained in this study provide useful information for both LIB cell developers, at the concept design stage, and engineers of electric vehicles who want to predict the mechanical safety of a battery pack.
An Approach for Computing the Transmission Index of Full Mobility Planar Multiloop Mechanisms
Authors: Zhao Xingwei , Liu Haitao , Ding Huafeng , Qian Lu
Published: May 2017

An approach for the force/motion transmissibility analysis of full mobility planar multiloop mechanisms (PMLM) is proposed in this paper by drawing on the duality of twist space and wrench space. By making a comparison study, it is concluded that the velocity model of a full mobility planar multiloop mechanism can be expressed in the same form as that of a full mobility planar parallel mechanism (PPM). Thereby, a set of dimensionally homogeneous transmission indices is proposed, which can be employed for precisely representing the closeness to different types of singularities as well as for dimensional optimization. A 3-RRR parallel mechanism and a full mobility planar multiloop mechanism for face-shovel excavation are taken as examples to demonstrate the validity and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Handling, transfer, storage, and shipping of commercial thin film hydride disk target samples
Authors: Provo James L.
Published: May 2017

Thin film hydride (i.e., elements that can react with hydrogen or its isotopes to form a chemical compound) targets are important for many applications, including accelerator research, oil-well logging, cancer research, various neutron devices, nuclear waste assay, process control studies, contraband detection, and for many other novel uses. They are very sensitive to air-oxidation and easily contaminated by improper handling. Targets must be handled very carefully after processing to minimize contamination from physical handling, particulate contamination, and air-exposure, which oxidize sensitive groups IIIB, IVB, and rare earth thin film materials, thus reducing their operating characteristics such as neutron output, and can produce arcing if used in neutron devices. This paper will discuss the development of handling techniques, special vacuum transfer, and shipping containers for thin film hydride target samples from postprocessing to transfer and shipment to a customer. Initial work began at the General Electric Neutron Devices Department, in Largo, FL, in the mid-1970s and was refined at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM, in the mid to late 1990s. Studies were performed to determine the best physical handling techniques, procedures for reducing particulate contamination and for reducing air-exposure and moisture from targets. Items studied were argon or dry nitrogen filled gloveboxes, desiccators, vacuum shipping containers, and a new design loader in a glovebox (in 1993), with an International Organization for Standardization class 4 clean room dry nitrogen environment, with particle and moisture removal and measurements. Test samples of hydride thin films were used to study surface oxide contamination as a function of handling, transfer, and storage times utilizing Auger argon sputter thin film depth profiling techniques. Results have shown that argon filled gloveboxes and dry nitrogen filled desiccators, along with techniques used to minimize target air-exposure, and various vacuum ∼≤1 × 10−3 Torr (1.33 × 10−1 Pa) internal environment shipping containers initially pumped down to ∼1 × 10−7 Torr (1.33 × 10−5 Pa) or less, were adequate to supply customers with thin film hydride targets with surface oxides from 70 to 475 Å or 7.0 to 47.5 nm, as it takes ∼>500 nm to affect neutron output in neutron devices. A special dry nitrogen glovebox controlled clean room loader with a high-efficiency particulate air filter/fan module, and oxygen and water vapor monitors was developed to produce a pristine super clean environment with very low particulate and film surface oxide contamination. The authors demonstrated that we can ship thin film hydride targets of optimum quality adequate for many applications and can supply pristine targets when requested which are in a condition very close to that as processed directly out of a non-air-exposed loader. In addition, our results showed the relative oxidation susceptibility for the four occluder thin films studied: Sc > Zr > Er > Ti.
Local amplifiers of IL-4Rα–mediated macrophage activation promote repair in lung and liver
Authors: Minutti Carlos M. , Jackson-Jones Lucy H. , García-Fojeda Belén , Knipper Johanna A. , Sutherland Tara E. , Logan Nicola , Ringqvist Emma , Guillamat-Prats Raquel , Ferenbach David A. , Artigas Antonio , Stamme Cordula , Chroneos Zissis C. , Zaiss Dietmar M. , Casals Cristina , Allen Judith E.
Published: May 2017

Local macrophage clean-up

Infection, especially by helminths or bacteria, can cause tissue damage (see the Perspective by Bouchery and Harris). Minutti
et al.
studied mouse models of helminth infection and fibrosis. They expressed surfactant protein A (a member of the complement component C1q family) in the lung, which enhanced interleukin-4 (IL-4)-mediated proliferation and activation of alveolar macrophages. This activation accelerated helminth clearance and reduced lung injury. In the peritoneum, C1q boosted macrophage activation for liver repair after bacterial infection. By a different approach, Bosurgi
et al.
discovered that after wounding caused by migrating helminths in the lung or during inflammation in the gut of mice, IL-4 and IL-13 act only in the presence of apoptotic cells to promote tissue repair by local macrophages.

Science
, this issue p.
1076
, p.
1072
; see also p.
1014
Dual-comb spectroscopy of water vapor with a free-running semiconductor disk laser
Authors: Link S. M. , Maas D. J. H. C. , Waldburger D. , Keller U.
Published: May 2017

The slight differences between two optical frequency combs from the same laser source capture precise microwave intervals.
Draft Genome Sequences of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O103:H2 Strains Isolated from Feces of Feedlot Cattle
Authors: Noll Lance W. , Worley Jay N. , Yang Xun , Shridhar Pragathi B. , Bai Jianfa , Meng Jianghong , Caragea Doina , Nagaraja T. G.
Published: May 2017

The enterohemorrhagic pathotype represents a minor proportion of the
Escherichia coli
O103 strains shed in the feces of cattle. We report here the genome sequences of 43 strains of enterohemorrhagic
E. coli
(EHEC) O103:H2 isolated from feedlot cattle feces. The genomic analysis will provide information on the genetic diversity and virulence potential of bovine EHEC O103.
Draft Genome Sequences of Serratia marcescens Strains CAPREx SY13 and CAPREx SY21 Isolated from Yams
Authors: Honger Joseph , Monson Rita E. , Rawlinson Alison , Salmond George P. C.
Published: May 2017

Serratia marcescens
strains CAPREx SY13 and CAPREx SY21 were isolated from Ghanaian yams from a London market. The draft genomes suggest that the strains are similar, with genomes of 5,308,004 and 5,157,134 bp and 59.35 and 59.62 G+C%, respectively. The genes necessary for prodigiosin biosynthesis were present in both strains.
Complete Genome Sequence of Bacteriophage SEN8, a Temperate Phage Isolated from Salmonella enterica subsp.
salamae
Authors: Bosák Juraj , Mikalová Lenka , Čejková Darina , Šmarda Jan , Šmajs David
Published: May 2017

A temperate phage, SEN8, having a broad activity against pathogenic
Salmonella
serovars, was isolated from
Salmonella enterica
subsp.
salamae
strain Sen8. The complete genome sequence of phage SEN8 was determined (35,203 bp) and showed relatedness to P2-like phages (
Salmonella
phages Fels-2 and RE-2010).
Complete Genome Sequence of an Enterovirus 71 Strain Isolated from the Cerebrospinal Fluid of a Child with Severe Hand-Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Yunnan, China, 2013
Authors: Lin Keqin , Zhang Haihao , Bai Wei , Zhao Yiling , Liu Hongbo , Huang Xiaoqin , Yang Zhaoqing , Ma Shaohui
Published: May 2017

The complete genome sequence of the enterovirus 71 strain CSF15/YN/CHN/2013, first isolated from cerebrospinal fluid of a child in Yunnan, China, in 2013, was determined. According to the phylogenetic and homogeneity analyses, the isolate was assigned to subgenotype C4a.
Complete Genome Sequence of the Bacterium Bacillus circulans Jordan Strain 32352
Authors: Middleton Dustin R. , Lorenz Walter , Avci Fikri Y.
Published: May 2017

Here, we report the complete genome sequence for theBacillus circulansJordan strain 32352. This species is a soil dwelling bacterium that expresses glycosyl hydrolase enzymes degrading pneumococcal capsular polysaccharides.
Complete Annotated Genome Sequences of Two Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Strains and One Atypical Enteropathogenic E. coli Strain, Isolated from Naturally Colonized Cattle of German Origin
Authors: Geue Lutz , Menge Christian , Berens Christian , Barth Stefanie A.
Published: May 2017

Shiga toxin-producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC) are important zoonotic enteric pathogens with the main reservoir in cattle. Here, we present the genomes of two STEC strains and one atypical enteropathogenic
E. coli
strain from cattle origin, obtained during a longitudinal study in German cattle herds.
Genome Sequences of Listeria monocytogenes Strains with Resistance to Arsenic
Authors: Dutta Vikrant , Lee Sangmi , Ward Todd J. , Orwig Nathane , Altermann Eric , Jima Dereje D. , Parsons Cameron , Kathariou Sophia
Published: May 2017

Listeria monocytogenes
frequently exhibits resistance to arsenic. We report here the draft genome sequences of eight genetically diverse arsenic-resistant
L. monocytogenes
strains from human listeriosis and food-associated environments. The availability of these genomes will help elucidate the role of heavy-metal resistance in the ecology of
L. monocytogenes
.
Draft Genome Sequence of Staphylococcus fleurettii Strain MBTS-1 Isolated from Cucumber
Authors: Li Bo , Brinks Erik , Franz Charles M. A. P. , Cho Gyu-Sung
Published: May 2017

The draft genome of
Staphylococcus fleurettii
MBTS-1, isolated from cucumber in northern Germany, was sequenced. Analysis showed that the assembled genome had a size of 2,582,128 bp with a predicted total of 2,491 protein-encoding genes, 9 rRNAs, 5 ncRNAs, and 44 tRNAs. This strain did not contain plasmid DNA.
Anticoagulation therapy for thromboembolism prevention: a case of warfarin-induced skin necrosis in the setting of protein C deficiency
Authors: Lai Jonathan , Ramai Daryl , Alchi Ramiz , Bloomfield Dennis
Published: May 2017

Patients with protein C deficiency are at increased risk for thrombolic diseases. Non-vitamin K antagonist anticoagulant options should be considered in patients with warfarin-induced skin necrosis (WISN) in the setting of protein C. We report a 41-year-old African American male patient with WISN and protein C deficiency who was treated with rivaroxaban followed by dabigatran. After 1 month on rivaroxaban, he began experiencing blood in his stools, unrelenting pain in his lower extremities, found it difficult to obtain medication despite having insurance and as a result did not maintain compliance. He was then assessed at the hospital, symptomatically treated and discharged on dabigatran. After 6 weeks, he reported symptomatic relief and less side effects. This case involved a head-to-head clinical comparison of rivaroxaban and dabigatran as alternatives to warfarin anticoagulation therapy.
Angioleiomyoma of the upper lip
Authors: Hassona Yazan , Sawair Faleh , Scully Crispian
Published: May 2017

This report describes a case of labial angioleiomyoma in a 52-year-old woman. The patient had noticed a slow-growing painless isolated mass in her upper lip for 6 months. The mass was surgically excised, and pathological examination was consistent with angioleiomyoma. Surgical excision was curative, and there was no recurrence at 12-month follow-up.
Enterococcus casseliflavussepticaemia associated with hepatobiliary infection in a 75-year-old man
Authors: Verma Rajanshu , Baroco Allison L
Published: May 2017

Enterococcus casseliflavusis a rare non-faecium, non-faecalis, vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE) that is responsible for up to 2% of all enterococcal infections. Septicaemia with this bacterium is usually seen in older patients with multiple comorbidities who have had several previous hospitalisations. Septicaemia withE. casseliflavusportends a poorer prognosis, and treatment usually involves administration of antienterococcal beta-lactams or anti-VRE medications such as linezolid or daptomycin. We present such a case of a 75-year-old man who developedE. casseliflavussepticaemia of presumably hepatobiliary origin and responded well to treatment with intravenous beta-lactams.
Assessing total retinal blood flow in diabetic retinopathy using multiplane en face Doppler optical coherence tomography
Authors: Pechauer Alex D , Hwang Thomas S , Hagag Ahmed M , Liu Liang , Tan Ou , Zhang Xinbo , Parker Maria , Huang David , Wilson David J , Jia Yali
Published: May 2017

Aim

To assess total retinal blood flow (TRBF) in diabetic retinopathy (DR) using multiplane en face Doppler optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods

A 70 kHz spectral-domain OCT system scanned a 2×2 mm area centred at the optic disc of the eyes with DR and healthy participants. The multiplane en face Doppler OCT algorithm generated a three-dimensional volumetric data set consisting of 195 en face planes. The TRBF was calculated from the maximum flow values of each branching retinal vein at an optimised en face plane. DR severity was graded according to the international clinical classification system. The generalised linear model method was used to compare flow values between DR groups and the control group.

Results

A total of 71 eyes from 71 participants were included. Ten eyes were excluded due to poor image quality. The within-visit repeatability of scans was 4.1% (coefficient of variation). There was no significant difference in the TRBF between the healthy (46.7±10.2 µL/min) and mild/moderate non-proliferative DR (44.9±12.6 µL/min) groups. The TRBF in severe non-proliferative DR (39.1±12.6 µL/min) and proliferative DR (28.9±8.85 µL/min) groups were significantly lower (p=0.04 and p<0.0001, respectively) than that of the healthy group. TRBF was correlated with DR disease severity (p<0.0001, linear trend test).

Conclusion

The novel multiplane en face Doppler OCT method provided reliable measurements of TRBF in DR eyes. This may be a useful tool in understanding the pathophysiology of DR.
Sham surgery versus labral repair or biceps tenodesis for type II SLAP lesions of the shoulder: a three-armed randomised clinical trial
Authors: Schrøder Cecilie Piene , Skare Øystein , Reikerås Olav , Mowinckel Petter , Brox Jens Ivar
Published: May 2017

Background

Labral repair and biceps tenodesis are routine operations for superior labrum anterior posterior (SLAP) lesion of the shoulder, but evidence of their efficacy is lacking. We evaluated the effect of labral repair, biceps tenodesis and sham surgery on SLAP lesions.

Methods

A double-blind, sham-controlled trial was conducted with 118 surgical candidates (mean age 40 years), with patient history, clinical symptoms and MRI arthrography indicating an isolated type II SLAP lesion. Patients were randomly assigned to either labral repair (n=40), biceps tenodesis (n=39) or sham surgery (n=39) if arthroscopy revealed an isolated SLAP II lesion. Primary outcomes at 6 and 24 months were clinical Rowe score ranging from 0 to 100 (best possible) and Western Ontario Shoulder Instability Index (WOSI) ranging from 0 (best possible) to 2100. Secondary outcomes were Oxford Instability Shoulder Score, change in main symptoms, EuroQol (EQ-5D and EQ-VAS), patient satisfaction and complications.

Results

There were no significant between-group differences at any follow-up in any outcome. Between-group differences in Rowe scores at 2 years were: biceps tenodesis versus labral repair: 1.0 (95% CI −5.4 to 7.4), p=0.76; biceps tenodesis versus sham surgery: 1.6 (95% CI −5.0 to 8.1), p=0.64; and labral repair versus sham surgery: 0.6 (95% CI −5.9 to 7.0), p=0.86. Similar results—no differences between groups—were found for WOSI scores. Postoperative stiffness occurred in five patients after labral repair and in four patients after tenodesis.

Conclusion

Neither labral repair nor biceps tenodesis had any significant clinical benefit over sham surgery for patients with SLAP II lesions in the population studied.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier:NCT00586742
Randomised controlled trial of online continuing education for health professionals to improve the management of chronic fatigue syndrome: a study protocol
Authors: Li Sophie H , Sandler Carolina X , Casson Sally M , Cassar Joanne , Bogg Tina , Lloyd Andrew R , Barry Benjamin K
Published: May 2017

Introduction

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a serious and debilitating illness that affects between 0.2%–2.6% of the world’s population. Although there is level 1 evidence of the benefit of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET) for some people with CFS, uptake of these interventions is low or at best untimely. This can be partly attributed to poor clinician awareness and knowledge of CFS and related CBT and GET interventions. This trial aims to evaluate the effect of participation in an online education programme, compared with a wait-list control group, on allied health professionals’ knowledge about evidence-based CFS interventions and their levels of confidence to engage in the dissemination of these interventions.

Methods and analysis

A randomised controlled trial consisting of 180 consenting allied health professionals will be conducted. Participants will be randomised into an intervention group (n=90) that will receive access to the online education programme, or a wait-list control group (n=90). The primary outcomes will be: 1) knowledge and clinical reasoning skills regarding CFS and its management, measured at baseline, postintervention and follow-up, and 2) self-reported confidence in knowledge and clinical reasoning skills related to CFS. Secondary outcomes include retention of knowledge and satisfaction with the online education programme. The influence of the education programme on clinical practice behaviour, and self-reported success in the management of people with CFS, will also be assessed in a cohort study design with participants from the intervention and control groups combined.

Ethics and dissemination

The study protocol has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at The University of New South Wales (approval number HC16419). Results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed journal articles and presentations at scientific conferences and meetings.

Trial registration

ACTRN12616000296437.
Determinants of treatment duration in the prevention of recurrent venous thromboembolism: a protocol for a balanced vignette experiment
Authors: Ten Cate Vincent , Essers Brigitte AB , Prins Martin H
Published: May 2017

Introduction

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a condition that annually occurs in approximately 1‰ of the world’s population. Patients who have already had a VTE are at elevated risk for a recurrent VTE. Recurrent events increase the risk of long-term sequelae and can be fatal. Adequate secondary prophylaxis is thus needed to prevent such events. Patients with VTE are often prone to bleeding, and pharmacological prophylaxis exacerbates bleeding risk. Expert opinions on the optimum duration of secondary prophylaxis in VTE still vary substantially. The existence of treatment guidelines has not led to uniformity of VTE secondary prophylaxis strategies, which means that physicians still adhere to individual risk calculi in determining treatment duration.

Methods and analysis

The aim of this study is to establish what factors lie at the root of this variance in VTE secondary prophylactic treatment strategies, and what risk factors are deemed of particular importance in determining the perceived risks and benefits of variable treatment durations. To do this, we created a survey based on a D-efficient and G-efficient balanced experimental vignette design. This protocol covers all aspects of how this survey was set up and how it was implemented. The analysis of the experimental data will be carried out using mixed-effects methods, which are beneficial in scenarios with high interindividual variance and correlated (eg, repeated-measures) responses. We propose the use of maximal random effects structures insofar as possible.

Ethics and dissemination

All data are de-identified, and any identifying characteristics of the respondents will not be reported in a final manuscript or elsewhere. A paper describing the expert interviews is currently under peer review. A manuscript that contains the analysis of the results of the experiment described in this protocol is being drafted, and will also be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal.
Estimating the prevalence, hospitalisation and mortality from type 2 diabetes mellitus in Nigeria: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Adeloye Davies , Ige Janet O , Aderemi Adewale V , Adeleye Ngozi , Amoo Emmanuel O , Auta Asa , Oni Gbolahan
Published: May 2017

Background

There is not yet a comprehensive evidence-based epidemiological report on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Nigeria. We aimed to estimate country-wide and zonal prevalence, hospitalisation and mortality rates of T2DM in Nigeria.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, Africa Journals Online (AJOL) and Google Scholar for population and hospital-based studies on T2DM in Nigeria. We conducted a random-effects meta-analysis on extracted crude estimates, and applied a meta-regression epidemiological model, using the United Nations demographics for Nigeria in 1990 and 2015 to determine estimates of diabetes in Nigeria for the two years.

Results

42 studies, with a total population of 91 320, met our selection criteria. Most of the studies selected were of medium quality (90.5%). The age-adjusted prevalence rates of T2DM in Nigeria among persons aged 20–79 years increased from 2.0% (95% CI 1.9% to 2.1%) in 1990 to 5.7% (95% CI 5.5% to 5.8%) in 2015, accounting for over 874 000 and 4.7 million cases, respectively. The pooled prevalence rate of impaired glucose tolerance was 10.0% (95% CI 4.5% to 15.6%), while impaired fasting glucose was 5.8% (95% CI 3.8% to 7.8%). Hospital admission rate for T2DM was 222.6 (95% CI 133.1 to 312.1) per 100 000 population with hyperglycaemic emergencies, diabetic foot and cardiovascular diseases being most common complications. The overall mortality rate was 30.2 (95% CI 14.6 to 45.8) per 100 000 population, with a case fatality rate of 22.0% (95% CI 8.0% to 36.0%).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest an increasing burden of T2DM in Nigeria with many persons currently undiagnosed, and few known cases on treatment.
Capillary rise experiment to assess effectiveness of an enzyme soil stabilizer
Authors: Chandler Neil , Palson John , Burns Todd
Published: May 2017

An experimental program to assess of the attributes of an enzyme soil stabilizer is described. The focus of the program was two 1 year capillary rise experiments designed to test the influence of the soil additive on the soil’s adsorption of water. The enzyme additive is typically applied to marginal clay-based soils to improve the performance of road subgrades. The study investigated the potential increase in shear strength and the reduction in swelling. The two long-term soil column tests were conducted to measure water absorption due to capillary rise for soil specimens with, and without, enzyme treatment. The test results demonstrated that the addition of the enzyme soil additive had the effect of reducing water retained in the pore spaces of a partially saturated soil. The soil treated with the enzyme additive absorbed a lower quantity of water in the capillary rise test, and at a slower rate of absorption. The results from a concurrent suite of tests suggested that partially saturated clay having lower moisture content was linked to an increase in shear strength.
On Poisson structures related to κ-Poincaré Group
Authors: Stachura Piotr
Published: May 2017

The Poisson structure related to [Formula: see text]-Poincaré Group is explicitly presented as a dual to a certain Lie algebroid in a geometric and coordinate-free way. The related Poisson structure on the (affine) Minkowski space is also presented in a geometric way.
The effect of backreaction on inflationary Starobinsky cosmology
Authors: Setare Mohammad Reza , Sahraee Mitra
Published: May 2017

In this paper, we would like to obtain the effect of the quantum backreaction on inflationary Starobinsky cosmology in spatially flat [Formula: see text]-dimensional Friedmann–Robertson–Walker universe. For this purpose, first, we obtain the vacuum expectation value of energy–momentum tensor, which is separated into two parts, UV and IR. To calculate the UV contribution, we use the WKB approximation of the mode function of the equation of motion. Since the obtained value of this contribution of the vacuum expectation value of energy–momentum tensor is divergent, we should renormalize it. Therefore, by using the dimensional regularization and introducing a counterterm action, we eliminate divergences. After that, we calculate the contributions of IR part and trace anomaly. Thus, we obtain the quantum energy density and pressure during inflation era in this model. Finally, we can find the effect of backreaction on scale factor in inflation era, which leads to the new scale factor.
Chaotic instantons in scalar field theory
Authors: Addazi Andrea
Published: May 2017

We consider a new class of instantons in context of quantum field theory of a scalar field coupled with a chaotic background source field. We show how the instanton associated to the quantum tunneling from a metastable false to the true vacuum will be corrected by an exponential enhancement factor. Possible implications are discussed.
Preparation of polyaniline modified BiOBr with enhanced photocatalytic activities
Authors: Hao Xiaoyun , Gong Junyan , Ren Lizhen , Zhang Dongen , Xiao Xin , Jiang Youxiang , Zhang Fan , Tong Zhiwei
Published: May 2017

The polyaniline/bismuth oxybromide (PANI/BiOBr) hybrids materials have been synthesized hydrothermally in the presence of PANI. The PANI/BiOBr hybrids materials were confirmed by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopies. Among the hybrid photocatalysts, PANI/BiOBr-0.2 showed the highest photocatalytic properties for the degradation of rhodamine B (RhB), and the increased photocatalytic properties could be due to photosensitization and the inhibited electron–hole recombination.