bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking and incidence of aortic valve stenosis
Authors: Larsson S. C. , Wolk A. , Bäck M.
Published: May 2017

Background

Alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking are modifiable lifestyle factors with important impact on public health. It is unclear whether these factors influence the risk of aortic valve stenosis (AVS).

Objective

To investigate the associations of alcohol consumption and smoking, including smoking intensity and time since cessation, with AVS incidence in two prospective cohorts.

Methods

This analysis was based on data from the Swedish Mammography Cohort and the Cohort of Swedish Men, comprising 69 365 adults without cardiovascular disease at baseline. Participants were followed for AVS incidence and death by linkage to the Swedish National Patient and Causes of Death Registers. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results

Over a mean follow‐up of 15.3 years, 1249 cases of AVS (494 in women and 755 in men) were recorded. Compared with never drinkers of alcohol (lifelong abstainers), the risk of AVS was significantly lower in current light drinkers (1–6 drinks per week [1 drink = 12 g alcohol]; multivariable HR 0.82; 95% CI: 0.68–0.99). The risk of AVS increased with increasing smoking intensity. Compared with never smokers, the HR was 1.46 (95% CI: 1.16–1.85) in current smokers of ≥30 pack‐years. Former smokers who had quit smoking 10 or more years previously had similar risk for AVS as never smokers.

Conclusions

This study suggests that current light alcohol consumption is associated with a lower risk of AVS, and indicates that the association between smoking and AVS risk is reversible.
Effects of 25‐hydroxycholecalciferol with two D3 vitamin levels on production and immunity parameters in broiler chickens
Authors: Vazquez J. R. , Gómez G. V. , López C. C. , Cortés A. C. , Díaz A. C. , Fernández S. R. T. , Rosales E. M. , Avila A. G.
Published: May 2017

This study was performed in Ross 308 chickens aged 1–21 days and aimed to evaluate whether the addition of 25‐hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D3) to broiler chicken diets affects their growth performance and immunity. A completely random 2 × 2 factorial arrangement was used with two levels of vitamin D3 and the absence or presence of 25(OH)D3, corresponding to four treatments based on sorghum + soya bean diets: (i) 200 IU of vitamin D3/kg of feed (Diet 1) (NRC, ), (ii) Diet 1 + 69 μg of 25(OH)D3/kg of feed (Diet 2), (iii) 5,000 IU of vitamin D3/kg of feed (Diet 3) and (iv) Diet 3 + 69 μg of 25(OH)D3/kg of feed (Diet 4). Each treatment was conducted with six replicates of 10 chickens each. Water and feed was supplied ad libitum. The results showed significantly increased growth and tibia ash (p < .05) in the birds fed 5,000, IU of vitamin D3/kg + 25(OH)D3. Additionally, the cellular immune response increased significantly (p < .05) in both treatments with added 25(OH)D3. Based on the results obtained under the current test conditions, the addition of 25(OH)D3 at a rate of 69 μg/kg to diets containing vitamin D3 improved the cellular immune response and mineral deposition in the bones of broilers aged 1–21 days. Because these parameters are very important in modern poultry farming, these results indicate that supplementation with 25(OH)D3 should improve broiler production.
The Widening Black‐White Wage Gap among Women
Authors: Fisher Jonathan D. , Houseworth Christina A.
Published: May 2017

We utilize over 30 years of the Current Population Survey to examine labor force participation and wage patterns among five cohorts of white and black women. By estimating wages using four selection correction techniques in determining the wage gap for women who are not in the labor force, we provide evidence of the changing role of selection among women over time. We find an increasing observed wage gap between white and black women for younger cohorts; however, the decline in selection for both black and white women does not explain the rising wage gap.
Investigating target versus impactor influences on Martian crater morphology at the simple‐complex transition
Authors: Herrick Robert R. , Hynek Brian M.
Published: May 2017

Comparing craters of identical diameter on a planet is an empirical method of studying the effects of different target and impactor properties while holding total impact energy nearly constant. We have analyzed the Martian crater population within a narrow diameter range (7 km < crater diameter < 9 km) at the simple‐complex crater transition using three approaches. We looked for correlations of morphology with surface geology using a global crater database and global geologic map. We examined selected regions in detail with high‐resolution images to further understand the relationship between crater morphology and bulk target properties. Finally, we examined craters in close proximity to each other in order to hold target properties constant, so that we could isolate impactor effects on crater morphology. We found a strong correlation between target properties and interior crater morphology, and we found little evidence that impactor properties (other than impact angle) affect crater appearance. Central uplift and wall slumping are enhanced for less consolidated targets. Layered targets affected both the excavation and modification stages of complex crater formation; the resulting craters have pseudoterraces, flat floors, and central pits.
Human Zika and West Nile virus neurological infections: What is the difference?
Authors: Wiley Clayton A. , Chimelli Leila
Published: May 2017

The recent epidemic of West Nile Virus (WNV) infection in the United States was associated with severe neurological disease in immunocompromised hosts, while the emergence of Zika virus infection in the Americas has been notable for an association with increased microcephaly in the fetuses of infected mothers. Rare autopsies of WNV infected humans have shown multiple organ involvement with a clear neurotropism. We have recently had the opportunity to examine the distribution of Zika virus in autopsies of newborns from infected pregnancies. While both viruses infect multiple organs, Zika appears to cause neurological disease in the fetus through two different mechanisms. Infection during the first trimester showed the potential to infect neural progenitor cells causing severe developmental abnormalities, while infection later in gestation was associated with meningeal infection and destructive ischemic lesions of the brain. Both viruses infect kidney tubules but Zika shares a prominent hepatotropism characteristic of other flaviviruses (e.g., Dengue). Limited transplacental Zika infection would be consistent with restriction to primary maternal infections with high viremia. In the absence of a vaccine, restriction of travel by immunosuppressed and pregnant non‐immune individuals to endemic regions seems prudent.
IL‐10 expression in pyramidal neurons after neuropathogenic coronaviral infection
Authors: Kakizaki Masatoshi , Watanabe Rihito
Published: May 2017

The apoptosis of pyramidal neurons in CA2 and CA3 subregions of the hippocampus is induced after infection with Mu‐3 virus (Mu‐3), a neuropathogenic strain of the JHM virus (JHMV), at 4–5 days post‐inoculation (dpi). The viral antigens in the hippocampus are mainly found in the CD11b‐positive cells distributed in the stratum oriens located outside the pyramidal layer, and only a few pyramidal neurons are infected. Furthermore, the apoptotic cells, indicated as showing caspase 3 (Cas3) activation, consist of a high number of uninfected cells. Therefore, it is considered that the apoptotic lesions occur through the indirect effects of infection, and not as a result of direct infection with Mu‐3, similar to the reported neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus after other types of infection. The apoptosis in the pyramidal neurons is accompanied by various types of proinflammatory cytokines depending on the causative agents. Thus, the local expression of proinflammatory cytokines was studied, revealing no correlation in the distribution of cytokine expression with the subregions showing apoptosis. However, the anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL‐10 was produced by pyramidal neurons of CA2 and CA3 at 3 dpi when there is no destructive change or viral invasion in the hippocampus.
The Complexity of Indirect Translation
Authors: LI Wenjie
Published: May 2017

Although indirect translation (ITr) has always been commonly accepted and necessary, it is seldom discussed in translation studies. Issues such as the reasons for ITr, the visibility of ITr, the ways of mediating, the agents and other influential factors in ITr, and the its reception have suggested its complex nature, and thus determined that many facets of ITr remain to be studied. The present article will try to encompass the complexity of ITr by looking into the reasons for translating indirectly, the challenge of finding out mediating texts (MTs), indirectness in both translation and interpretation, and the possible influences the two types of indirectness can bring to the translated images of a foreign literary work, as well as the validity of a prevailing and lasting hypothesis about ITr. In the course of the discussion, the ITr(s) in the Chinese translations of Andersen's tales, most of which have been translated and interpreted indirectly through major languages like English, will be employed as examples. Hopefully, this study will offer more insights into the nature of translation as a social activity and raise further interests in studying translation as a complex phenomenon.
Emergence of cytochrome bc complexes in the context of photosynthesis
Authors: Dibrova Daria V. , Shalaeva Daria N. , Galperin Michael Y. , Mulkidjanian Armen Y.
Published: May 2017

The cytochrome bc (cyt bc) complexes are involved in Q‐cycling; they oxidize membrane quinols by high‐potential electron acceptors, such as cytochromes or plastocyanin, and generate transmembrane proton gradient. In several prokaryotic lineages, and also in plant chloroplasts, the catalytic core of the cyt bc complexes is built of a four‐helical cytochrome b (cyt b) that contains three hemes, a three‐helical subunit IV, and an iron‐sulfur Rieske protein (cytochrome b6f‐type complexes). In other prokaryotic lineages, and also in mitochondria, the cyt b subunit is fused with subunit IV, yielding a seven‐ or eight‐helical cyt b with only two hemes (cyt bc1‐type complexes). Here we present an updated phylogenomic analysis of the cyt b subunits of cyt bc complexes. This analysis provides further support to our earlier suggestion that (1) the ancestral version of cyt bc complex contained a small four‐helical cyt b with three hemes similar to the plant cytochrome b6 and (2) independent fusion events led to the formation of large cyts b in several lineages. In the search for a primordial function for the ancestral cyt bc complex, we address the intimate connection between the cyt bc complexes and photosynthesis. Indeed, the Q‐cycle turnover in the cyt bc complexes demands high‐potential electron acceptors. Before the Great Oxygenation Event, the biosphere had been highly reduced, so high‐potential electron acceptors could only be generated upon light‐driven charge separation. It appears that an ancestral cyt bc complex capable of Q‐cycling has emerged in conjunction with the (bacterio)chlorophyll‐based photosynthetic systems that continuously generated electron vacancies at the oxidized (bacterio)chlorophyll molecules.
Tear production, intraocular pressure and conjunctival bacterial flora in selected captive wild ruminants
Authors: Kvapil Pavel , Pirš Tina , Slavec Brigita , Luštrik Roman , Zemljič Tadej , Bártová Eva , Stranjac Bojana , Kastelic Marjan
Published: May 2017

Objective

Evaluation of tear production (Schirmer's tear test, STT) and measurement of intraocular pressure (IOP) were performed in a population of captive wild ungulates in a Slovenian ZOO during routine annual health check.

Animals studied

In total, 10 fallow deer (Dama dama), 25 mouflons (Ovis aries musimon), 20 alpine ibexes (Capra ibex), and three alpine chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) were included in the study.

Methods

Tear production was performed by Schirmer's tear test, IOP was measured with an applanation tonometer, and ophthalmological examination was conducted with slit‐lamp biomicroscopy and indirect ophthalmoscopy. Conjunctival swabs were taken and submitted for aerobic bacteriology and for detection of Chlamydia spp. and Mycoplasma spp. tested by PCR.

Results

Average tear production (in mm/min) was 17.8 ± 3.16 for fallow deer, 17.9 ± 3.87 for mouflons, and 11.7 ± 3.87 for ibexes. Mean intraocular pressure (IOP, in mm Hg) was 14.1 ± 2.48 for fallow deer, 14.9 ± 2.20 for mouflons, and 13.1 ± 2.43 for ibexes. For chamois, average tear production and IOP were 14.5 ± 3.0 and 10.2 ± 2.5, respectively; this is the first record of STT I and IOP in chamois. Bacteriological swabs were positive for bacteria in 100% of the fallow deer, 56% of mouflons, 35% of ibexes, and 100% of chamois. Gram‐positive bacteria were predominant. Moraxella spp., Chlamydia spp., and Mycoplasma spp. were not detected.

Conclusion

The reported values were obtained in animals under manual restraint only to be applicative in similar conditions.
Influence of weed management measures on glyphosate resistance and endophyte infection in naturalized Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum)
Authors: Handayani Valentina Dwi Suci , Tanno Yuki , Yamashita Masayuki , Tobina Hiroyuki , Ichihara Minoru , Ishida Yoshiki , Sawada Hitoshi
Published: May 2017

Recently, glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was found on rice paddy levees in a western region of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. Naturalized populations of Italian ryegrass are frequently infected with fungal Epichloë endophytes. Endophytes often confer benefits to their host grasses. This study investigated the influence of five weed management treatments on glyphosate resistance and endophyte infection in Italian ryegrass that was growing on paddy levees where glyphosate‐resistant individuals were dominant. The weed management treatments were: (i) mowing once before the grass flowered; (ii) mowing once during flowering; (iii) mowing twice during flowering; (iv) glyphosate application before flowering; and (v) no treatment. The seeds were collected from the treatment plots in 2013 and 2014. The seeds were examined for endophyte infection and the seedlings that had been grown from the seeds were tested for the frequency of glyphosate resistance. The seedlings that had been derived from the glyphosate treatment showed higher frequencies of glyphosate resistance than those seedlings that had been derived from all the other treatments. Endophytes were found in all populations of the seeds from the paddy levees, with higher infection rates in the seeds that had been derived from the glyphosate treatment and the twice‐mowed treatment. There was a significant relationship between the endophyte infection frequency in the seeds and glyphosate resistance in the seedlings that had been grown from the same populations. The results indicate that where glyphosate herbicides are frequently used, selection for glyphosate‐resistant Italian ryegrass occurs, and along with this, the frequency of endophyte infection also increases.
On the topology of Diophantine approximation spectra
Authors: Roy Damien
Published: May 2017

Fix an integer$n\geqslant 2$. To each non-zero point$\mathbf{u}$in$\mathbb{R}^{n}$, one attaches several numbers calledexponents of Diophantine approximation. However, as Khintchine first observed, these numbers are not independent of each other. This raises the problem of describing the set of all possible values that a given family of exponents can take by varying the point $\mathbf{u}$. To avoid trivialities, one restricts to points $\mathbf{u}$whose coordinates are linearly independent over $\mathbb{Q}$. The resulting set of values is called thespectrum of these exponents. We show that, in an appropriate setting, any such spectrum is a compact connected set. In the case$n=3$, we prove moreover that it is a semi-algebraic set closed under component-wise minimum. For$n=3$, we also obtain a description of the spectrum of the exponents$(\text{}\underline{\unicode[STIX]{x1D711}}_{1},\text{}\underline{\unicode[STIX]{x1D711}}_{2},\text{}\underline{\unicode[STIX]{x1D711}}_{3},\overline{\unicode[STIX]{x1D711}}_{1},\overline{\unicode[STIX]{x1D711}}_{2},\overline{\unicode[STIX]{x1D711}}_{3})$recently introduced by Schmidt and Summerer.
Coping with Parkinson's disease in everyday life: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Haahr Anita , Brincks John , Sørensen Dorthe
Published: May 2017

Review question/objective:

The purpose of this systematic review is to synthesize the best available qualitative evidence on how individuals with Parkinson's disease cope with the disease in daily life.
Effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on the psychological health and wellbeing of family carers of people with dementia following residential care placement: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Brooks Deborah , Fielding Elaine , Beattie Elizabeth , Edwards Helen , Hines Sonia
Published: May 2017

Review question/objective:

The objective of this review is to identify, appraise and synthesize existing evidence regarding the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on the psychological health and emotional wellbeing of family carers of people with dementia who have moved into residential care.

More specifically, the objectives are to determine the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on any of these family carer outcomes after placement in residential care: burden, anxiety, stress, depression, guilt, grief and loss, quality of life and satisfaction with the care of the person with dementia.
Pediatric tonsillectomy quality of life assessment instruments: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Kao Stephen S. , Peters Micah D.J. , Ooi Eng H.
Published: May 2017

Review question/objective:

The objective of this scoping review is to investigate quality of life (QoL) questionnaires available to pediatric patients following tonsillectomies with or without adenoidectomies for chronic infection or sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). The scoping review will aim to map the components of each QoL questionnaire assessed including frequency of use, age parameters, respondent, domains assessed, format and psychometric properties. Questionnaire format will be summarized into respondent and administrator burden by identifying the number of questions present, scale utilized and time to completion. The scoping review will report on whether psychometric analysis in terms of test reliability and validity was assessed in the included papers as well as the results of those assessments.

Specifically, the review question is: what QoL questionnaires are available for pediatric patients following tonsillectomies with or without adenoidectomies for chronic infections or SDB?
1.5 MeV electron irradiation damage in β-Ga2O3 vertical rectifiers
Authors: Yang Jiancheng , Ren Fan , Pearton Stephen J. , Yang Gwangseok , Kim Jihyun , Kuramata Akito
Published: May 2017

Vertical rectifiers fabricated on epi Ga2O3 on bulk β-Ga2O3 were subject to 1.5 MeV electron irradiation at fluences from 1.79 × 1015 to 1.43 × 1016 cm−2 at a fixed beam current of 10−3 A. The electron irradiation caused a reduction in carrier concentration in the epi Ga2O3, with a carrier removal rate of 4.9 cm−1. The 2 kT region of the forward current–voltage characteristics increased due to electron-induced damage, with an increase in diode ideality factor of ∼8% at the highest fluence and a more than 2 order of magnitude increase in on-state resistance. There was a significant reduction in reverse bias current, which scaled with electron fluence. The on/off ratio at −10 V reverse bias voltage was severely degraded by electron irradiation, decreasing from ∼107 in the reference diodes to ∼2 × 104 for the 1.43 × 1016 cm−2 fluence. The reverse recovery characteristics showed little change even at the highest fluence, with values in the range of 21–25 ns for all rectifiers.
Low-energy structural dynamics of ferroelectric domain walls in hexagonal rare-earth manganites
Authors: Wu Xiaoyu , Petralanda Urko , Zheng Lu , Ren Yuan , Hu Rongwei , Cheong Sang-Wook , Artyukhin Sergey , Lai Keji
Published: May 2017

Domain wall dynamics in hexagonal manganites are revealed by impedance microscopy and first-principles calculations.
China cracks down on coastal fisheries
Authors: Normile Dennis
Published: May 2017

Moratorium may not be enough to restore fish stocks.
Webinar | Generating CRISPR mouse models: Challenges and solutions
Authors: Jaenisch Rudolf , Grass David S.
Published: May 2017

The discovery of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in bacteria has ignited the world of gene editing. It has been applied to the modification of a growing range of organisms, with none found yet that can resist its powers. In particular, CRISPR technology has revolutionized the process for creating genetically modified mice—the workhorses for in vivo cancer research—allowing for shorter timelines and in many cases, more efficient procedures. In this webinar, our expert panel will discuss the strengths and benefits of CRISPR technology, how it differs from more traditional techniques, and some of the specific challenges it creates. They will share their at-the-bench experiences with viewers, providing practical, actionable information for researchers wanting to apply CRISPR technology to mouse-model generation, particularly for use in cancer research.

View the Webinar
Biodefense in the 21st century
Biosecurity Dilemmas: Dreaded Diseases, Ethical Responses, and the Health of Nations
Christian Enemark
Georgetown University Press, 2017. 225 pp.
Authors: Gronvall Gigi Kwik
Published: May 2017

Paradoxical and outmoded policies may be undermining our ability to safeguard against infectious diseases
Faulty logic
The Enigma of Reason
Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber
Harvard University Press, 2017. 404 pp.
Authors: Frey Darren
Published: May 2017

Placing reasoning research in evolutionary context, a new book probes the haphazard ways we form opinions
Matched preclinical designs for improved translatability
Authors: Aittokallio Tero , Scherer Andreas , Poutanen Matti , Freedman Leonard P.
Published: May 2017

A more stratified preclinical design strategy will increase the statistical power and reproducibility of animal studies and their translatability.
The path of least antibiotic resistance
Authors: Christenson Stephanie A.
Published: May 2017

Antibiotic combination therapy alters
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
population dynamics in the human host.
Working memory: The real VIP
Authors: Dzirasa Kafui
Published: May 2017

Interneurons expressing VIP may play a causal role in working memory.
HIV-associated anaerobes ferment TB risk
Authors: Philips Jennifer A.
Published: May 2017

Short-chain fatty acids produced by anaerobic bacteria increase the risk of TB in HIV-infected, antiretroviral drug–treated people.
Bartonella Species, an Emerging Cause of Blood-Culture-Negative Endocarditis
Authors: Okaro Udoka , Addisu Anteneh , Casanas Beata , Anderson Burt
Published: May 2017

Since the reclassification of the genus
Bartonella
in 1993, the number of species has grown from 1 to 45 currently designated members. Likewise, the association of different
Bartonella
species with human disease continues to grow, as does the range of clinical presentations associated with these bacteria. Among these, blood-culture-negative endocarditis stands out as a common, often undiagnosed, clinical presentation of infection with several different
Bartonella
species. The limitations of laboratory tests resulting in this underdiagnosis of
Bartonella
endocarditis are discussed. The varied clinical picture of
Bartonella
infection and a review of clinical aspects of endocarditis caused by
Bartonella
are presented. We also summarize the current knowledge of the molecular basis of
Bartonella
pathogenesis, focusing on surface adhesins in the two
Bartonella
species that most commonly cause endocarditis,
B. henselae
and
B. quintana
. We discuss evidence that surface adhesins are important factors for autoaggregation and biofilm formation by
Bartonella
species. Finally, we propose that biofilm formation is a critical step in the formation of vegetative masses during
Bartonella
-mediated endocarditis and represents a potential reservoir for persistence by these bacteria.
Genetic and Epidemiologic Trends of Norovirus Outbreaks in the United States from 2013 to 2016 Demonstrated Emergence of Novel GII.4 Recombinant Viruses
Authors: Cannon Jennifer L. , Barclay Leslie , Collins Nikail R. , Wikswo Mary E. , Castro Christina J. , Magaña Laura Cristal , Gregoricus Nicole , Marine Rachel L. , Chhabra Preeti , Vinjé Jan
Published: May 2017

Noroviruses are the most frequent cause of epidemic acute gastroenteritis in the United States. Between September 2013 and August 2016, 2,715 genotyped norovirus outbreaks were submitted to CaliciNet. GII.4 Sydney viruses caused 58% of the outbreaks during these years. A GII.4 Sydney virus with a novel GII.P16 polymerase emerged in November 2015, causing 60% of all GII.4 outbreaks in the 2015-2016 season. Several genotypes detected were associated with more than one polymerase type, including GI.3, GII.2, GII.3, GII.4 Sydney, GII.13, and GII.17, four of which harbored GII.P16 polymerases. GII.P16 polymerase sequences associated with GII.2 and GII.4 Sydney viruses were nearly identical, suggesting common ancestry. Other common genotypes, each causing 5 to 17% of outbreaks in a season, included GI.3, GI.5, GII.2, GII.3, GII.6, GII.13, and GII.17 Kawasaki 308. Acquisition of alternative RNA polymerases by recombination is an important mechanism for norovirus evolution and a phenomenon that was shown to occur more frequently than previously recognized in the United States. Continued molecular surveillance of noroviruses, including typing of both polymerase and capsid genes, is important for monitoring emerging strains in our continued efforts to reduce the overall burden of norovirus disease.
Molecular Diagnosis of Orthopedic-Device-Related Infection Directly from Sonication Fluid by Metagenomic Sequencing
Authors: Street Teresa L. , Sanderson Nicholas D. , Atkins Bridget L. , Brent Andrew J. , Cole Kevin , Foster Dona , McNally Martin A. , Oakley Sarah , Peto Leon , Taylor Adrian , Peto Tim E. A. , Crook Derrick W. , Eyre David W.
Published: May 2017

Culture of multiple periprosthetic tissue samples is the current gold standard for microbiological diagnosis of prosthetic joint infections (PJI). Additional diagnostic information may be obtained through culture of sonication fluid from explants. However, current techniques can have relatively low sensitivity, with prior antimicrobial therapy and infection by fastidious organisms influencing results. We assessed if metagenomic sequencing of total DNA extracts obtained direct from sonication fluid can provide an alternative rapid and sensitive tool for diagnosis of PJI. We compared metagenomic sequencing with standard aerobic and anaerobic culture in 97 sonication fluid samples from prosthetic joint and other orthopedic device infections. Reads from Illumina MiSeq sequencing were taxonomically classified using Kraken. Using 50 derivation samples, we determined optimal thresholds for the number and proportion of bacterial reads required to identify an infection and confirmed our findings in 47 independent validation samples. Compared to results from sonication fluid culture, the species-level sensitivity of metagenomic sequencing was 61/69 (88%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 77 to 94%; for derivation samples 35/38 [92%; 95% CI, 79 to 98%]; for validation samples, 26/31 [84%; 95% CI, 66 to 95%]), and genus-level sensitivity was 64/69 (93%; 95% CI, 84 to 98%). Species-level specificity, adjusting for plausible fastidious causes of infection, species found in concurrently obtained tissue samples, and prior antibiotics, was 85/97 (88%; 95% CI, 79 to 93%; for derivation samples, 43/50 [86%; 95% CI, 73 to 94%]; for validation samples, 42/47 [89%; 95% CI, 77 to 96%]). High levels of human DNA contamination were seen despite the use of laboratory methods to remove it. Rigorous laboratory good practice was required to minimize bacterial DNA contamination. We demonstrate that metagenomic sequencing can provide accurate diagnostic information in PJI. Our findings, combined with the increasing availability of portable, random-access sequencing technology, offer the potential to translate metagenomic sequencing into a rapid diagnostic tool in PJI.
Molluscum Contagiosum Virus Protein MC005 Inhibits NF-κB Activation by Targeting NEMO-Regulated IκB Kinase Activation
Authors: Brady Gareth , Haas Darya A. , Farrell Paul J. , Pichlmair Andreas , Bowie Andrew G.
Published: May 2017

Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV), the only known extant human-adapted poxvirus, causes a long-duration infection characterized by skin lesions that typically display an absence of inflammation despite containing high titers of live virus. Despite this curious presentation, MCV is very poorly characterized in terms of host-pathogen interactions. The absence of inflammation around MCV lesions suggests the presence of potent inhibitors of human antiviral immunity and inflammation. However, only a small number of MCV immunomodulatory genes have been characterized in detail. It is likely that many more remain to be discovered, given the density of such sequences in other poxvirus genomes. NF-κB activation occurs in response to both virus-induced pattern recognition receptor (PRR) signaling and cellular activation by virus-induced proinflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-1. Activated NF-κB drives cytokine and interferon gene expression, leading to inflammation and virus clearance. We report that MC005, which has no orthologs in other poxvirus genomes, is a novel inhibitor of PRR- and cytokine-stimulated NF-κB activation. MC005 inhibited NF-κB proximal to the IκB kinase (IKK) complex, and unbiased affinity purification revealed that MC005 interacts with the IKK subunit NEMO (NF-κB essential modulator). MC005 binding to NEMO prevents the conformational priming of the IKK complex that occurs when NEMO binds to ubiquitin chains during pathway activation. These data reveal a novel mechanism of poxvirus inhibition of human innate immunity, validate current dynamic models of NEMO-dependent IKK complex activation, and further clarify how the human-adapted poxvirus MCV can so effectively evade antiviral immunity and suppress inflammation to persist in human skin lesions.

IMPORTANCE
Poxviruses adapt to specific hosts over time, evolving and tailoring elegantly precise inhibitors of the rate-limiting steps within the signaling pathways that control innate immunity and inflammation. These inhibitors reveal new features of the antiviral response, clarify existing models of signaling regulation while offering potent new tools for approaching therapeutic intervention in autoimmunity and inflammatory disease. Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) is the only known extant poxvirus specifically adapted to human infection and appears adept at evading normal human antiviral responses, yet it remains poorly characterized. We report the identification of MCV protein MC005 as an inhibitor of the pathways leading to the activation of NF-κB, an essential regulator of innate immunity. Further, identification of the mechanism of inhibition of NF-κB by MC005 confirms current models of the complex way in which NF-κB is regulated and greatly expands our understanding of how MCV so effectively evades human immunity.
Analysis of Light- and Carbon-Specific Transcriptomes Implicates a Class of G-Protein-Coupled Receptors in Cellulose Sensing
Authors: Stappler Eva , Dattenböck Christoph , Tisch Doris , Schmoll Monika
Published: May 2017

In fungi, most metabolic processes are subject to regulation by light. For
Trichoderma reesei
, light-dependent regulation of cellulase gene expression is specifically shown. Therefore, we intended to unravel the relationship between regulation of enzymes by the carbon source and regulation of enzymes by light. Our two-dimensional analysis included inducing and repressing carbon sources which we used to compare light-specific regulation to dark-specific regulation and to rule out effects specific for a single carbon source. We found close connections with respect to gene regulation as well as significant differences in dealing with carbon in the environment in light and darkness. Moreover, our analyses showed an intricate regulation mechanism for substrate degradation potentially involving surface sensing and provide a basis for knowledge-based screening for strain improvement.
Speaking fluently with baclofen?
Authors: Beraha Esther , Bodewits Pieter , van den Brink Wim , Wiers Reinout
Published: May 2017

Baclofen is a new and promising pharmacological compound for the treatment of alcohol dependence (AD). Although several randomised trials found a reduction of craving and higher abstinence rates with low and high doses of baclofen, others failed to show positive effects. In this case study, the successful treatment of a patient with AD with daily 120 mg of baclofen is described. In addition to a decrease in alcohol use, we observed the cessation of stuttering during treatment with baclofen, reoccurrence of stuttering following discontinuation, and cessation of stuttering after reinstatement of the treatment. Based on this observation, the direct effects of baclofen on muscle relaxation and anxiety reduction and its indirect effect on dopaminergic inhibition, we believe that baclofen might be a new treatment for stuttering. Further research into the effect of baclofen on stuttering is warranted.
Mixed cryoglobulinemia: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge
Authors: Túlio Maria , Carvalho Liliana , Bana e Costa Tiago , Chagas Cristina
Published: May 2017

Mixed cryoglobulinemia is frequently secondary to hepatitis C virus infection. Diagnosis and therapeutic management are challenging, depending on the spectrum and severity of manifestations, as well as on the presence of comorbidities. We describe a case of a 79-year-old woman with a non-cirrhotic hepatitis C virus infection presenting with weakness, arthralgias, purpuric rash with left leg ulcerative lesions, bilateral peripheral sensorimotor polyneuropathy, renal impairment and cardiac failure. The investigation was compatible with a severe type II mixed cryoglobulinemia with multisystemic involvement, including a low-grade B cell lymphoma and concomitant intestinal tuberculosis. Initial management with immunosuppressive therapy with glucocorticoids to control symptoms and simultaneous tuberculosis treatment was required. Unavailability of adequate antiviral treatment led to the need to control the severity of systemic manifestations with rituximab, before the effective aetiological treatment with sofosbuvir and ledipasvir was possible, allowing the definitive resolution of the disease.
Anxiety, depression and perceived sporting performance among professional cricket players
Authors: Sahni M , Bhogal G
Published: May 2017

Background

Mental health in sport is a hard-hitting topic that is frequently the subject of news coverage and increasingly a theme for avid research. Some suggest that cricketers, participating in a game unique in its statistical analysis of individual performance, prolonged periods of play away from home and extended solitary game time to reflect on errors, may be especially prone to developing depression. This hypothesis is supported by a higher rate of suicide among male Test cricketers when compared with the UK male general population.1

Methods

This study ascertained rates of anxiety and depression by screening professional cricket players using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD–7) and Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ–9). It also investigate whether professional cricket players perceive stress and anxiety to be beneficial to their sporting performance. 21 male professional cricketers were included in this anonymous questionnaire based study.

Results

Six players had a positive depression screen, five scoring mild and one scoring moderate. Additionally, six players had a positive anxiety screen, four scoring mild and two ?players within the moderate range. Fifteen players thought pre-match stress and anxiety was beneficial to their sporting performance. Of these, nine thought slight, five thought fair and one thought considerable levels were optimal.

Conclusions

Undiagnosed anxiety and depression may exist in professional cricket teams and as such better screening is required. The majority of players feel some level of stress and tension are beneficial for their performance, with a slight amount being the most common perceived optimum.
Socioeconomic status in childhood and C reactive protein in adulthood: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Liu Richard S , Aiello Allison E , Mensah Fiona K , Gasser Constantine E , Rueb Kuna , Cordell Billie , Juonala Markus , Wake Melissa , Burgner David P
Published: May 2017

Background

Inflammation plays a central role in cardiometabolic disease and may represent a mechanism linking low socioeconomic status (SES) in early life and adverse cardiometabolic health outcomes in later life. Accumulating evidence suggests an association between childhood SES and adult inflammation, but findings have been inconsistent.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies to quantify the association between childhood (age <18 years) SES and the inflammatory marker C reactive protein (CRP) in adulthood. Studies were identified in Medline and Embase databases, and by reviewing the bibliographies of articles published from 1946 to December 2015. Study-specific estimates were combined into meta-analyses using random-effects models.

Results

15 of 21 eligible studies (n=43 629) were ultimately included in two separate meta-analyses. Compared with those from the most advantaged families, participants from the least advantaged families had 25% higher CRP levels (ratio change in geometric mean CRP: 1.25; 95% CI 1.19 to 1.32) in minimally adjusted analyses. This finding was attenuated by the inclusion of adult body mass index (BMI) in adjusted models, suggesting BMI has a strong mediating role in CRP levels.

Conclusions

We observed an inverse association between childhood SES and adulthood CRP, potentially mediated through BMI. Investigating how childhood SES is associated with childhood BMI and CRP would provide insight into the effective timing of social and clinical interventions to prevent cardiometabolic disease.
Expanding the use of flow diverters beyond their initial indication: treatment of small unruptured aneurysms
Authors: Pumar J M , Mosqueira A , Cuellar H , Dieguez B , Guimaraens L , Masso J , Miralbes S , Blanco-Ulla M , Souto-Bayarri M , Vazquez-Herrero F
Published: May 2017

Background

Experience with the endovascular treatment of unruptured small intracranial aneurysms by flow diverter devices is still limited.

Objective

To assess the safety and efficacy of the SILK flow diverter (SFD) in the treatment of small unruptured cerebral aneurysms (<10 mm).

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of a prospectively maintained database of patients treated with a SFD between July 2008 and December 2013 at 4 institutions in Spain to identify all patients with small unruptured aneurysms (<10 mm). Data for patient demographics, aneurysm characteristics, and technical procedures were analyzed. Angiographic and clinical findings were recorded during the procedure and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups.

Results

A total of 109 small aneurysms were treated with a SFD in 104 patients (78 women; 26 men; mean, median, and range of age: 55.2, 57.1, and 19–80 years, respectively). A total of 60 patients were asymptomatic (57.7%). All except 7 aneurysms (6.4%) arose from the anterior circulation. The mean size of the aneurysms was 4.7±1.9 mm. At 6 months, the neuromorbidity and neuromortality rates were 2.9% and 0.9%, respectively. Imaging at the 12-month follow-up showed complete occlusion, neck remnants, and residual aneurysm in 88.5% (69/78), 7.7% (6/78), and 3.3% (3/78) of cases, respectively. No delayed hemorrhage occurred.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that the indications for SFD can be safely extended to small intracranial aneurysms.
A multicentre evaluation of an opioid patient–provider agreement
Authors: Pergolizzi Joseph V , Curro Frederick A , Col Nanada , Ghods Mary Papa , Vena Don , Taylor Robert , Naftolin Frederick , LeQuang Jo Ann
Published: May 2017

The role of the patient–provider agreement (PPA) is to set forth respective roles and responsibilities for opioid therapy with the goal of improving outcomes, reducing risks, and improving patient education. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Safe Use Initiative Opioid PPA Working Group convened to develop a PPA and test it for acceptability as an educational and shared decision-making tool in opioid therapy. This multicentre study evaluated the utility of the PPA, how readily patients understood it, its ability to educate patients in an unbiased way about opioid treatment and the feasibility of incorporating a PPA in clinical practice. A total of 117 patients and 14 providers at urban centres were included (mean patient age: 56 years) with 85% of patients treated for pain for >3 months. Most patients reported the PPA to be ‘somewhat helpful’ or ‘very helpful’ in deciding a course of treatment (96%) and ‘easy to understand’ (97%). Both patients and prescribers (89% and 92%, respectively) found the PPA was neutral in terms of presenting opioid therapy. Most centres found the PPA could be administered in ≤10 min and 72% of prescribers said this PPA could be readily incorporated into their practice. This PPA was perceived by both patients and prescribers as helpful in deciding a course of treatment and unbiased in terms of presentation of the risks and benefits of opioid therapy.
Patterns of prevalent HPV and STI co-infections and associated factors among HIV-negative young Western Cape, South African women: the EVRI trial
Authors: Menezes Lynette J , Pokharel Ubin , Sudenga Staci L , Botha Matthys H , Zeier Michele , Abrahamsen Martha E , Glashoff Richard H , Engelbrecht Susan , Schim van der Loeff Maarten F , van der Laan Louvina E , Kipping Siegfried , Taylor Douglas , Giuliano Anna R
Published: May 2017

Objective

To estimate the prevalence and describe the patterns of concurrent human papillomavirus (HPV) and STIs and associated factors among HIV-negative young Western Cape, South African women participating in the Efficacy of HPV Vaccine to Reduce HIV Infection (EVRI) trial.

Methods

HIV-negative women aged 16–24 years old were enrolled in the EVRI trial (NCT01489527) and randomised to receive the licensed four-valent HPV vaccine or placebo. At study entry, participants were clinically evaluated for five STIs: herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and disease-causing HPV genotypes (6/11/16/18/31/33/35/39/45/51/52/56/58/59/68). Demographic and sexual history characteristics were compared among women with STI co-infections, single infection and no infection using Pearson χ2and Mann-Whitney tests. ORs were calculated to evaluate factors associated with STI co-infection prevalence.

Results

Among 388 young women, STI co-infection prevalence was high: 47% had ≥2 concurrent STIs, 36% had a single STI and 17% had none of the five evaluated STIs. HPV/HSV-2 (26%) was the most prevalent co-infection detected followed by HPV/HSV-2/Chlamydia trachomatis(CT) (17%) and HPV/CT (15%). Co-infection prevalence was independently associated with alcohol use (adjusted OR=2.01, 95% CI 1.00 to 4.06) and having a sexual partner with an STI (adjusted OR=6.96, 95% CI 1.53 to 30.08).

Conclusions

Among high-risk young women from underserved communities such as in Southern Africa, a multicomponent prevention strategy that integrates medical and behavioural interventions targeting both men and women is essential to prevent acquisition of concurrent STI infections and consequent disease.

Trial registration number

NCT01489527; Post-results.
Isometric and dynamic strength and neuromuscular attributes as predictors of vertical jump performance in 11- to 13-year-old male athletes
Authors: McKinlay Brandon John , Wallace Phillip J. , Dotan Raffy , Long Devon , Tokuno Craig , Gabriel David A. , Falk Bareket
Published: May 2017

In explosive contractions, neural activation is a major factor in determining the rate of torque development, while the latter is an important determinant of jump performance. However, the contribution of neuromuscular activation and rate of torque development to jump performance in children and youth is unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between the rate of neuromuscular activation, peak torque, rate of torque development, and jump performance in young male athletes. Forty-one 12.5 ± 0.5-year-old male soccer players completed explosive, unilateral isometric and dynamic (240°/s) knee extensions (Biodex System III), as well as countermovement-, squat-, and drop-jumps. Peak torque (pT), peak rate of torque development (pRTD), and rate of vastus lateralis activation (Q30) during the isometric and dynamic contractions were examined in relation to attained jump heights. Isometric pT and pRTD were strongly correlated (r = 0.71) but not related to jump performance. Dynamic pT and pRTD, normalized to body mass, were significantly related to jump height in all 3 jumps (r = 0.38–0.66, p < 0.05). Dynamic normalized, but not absolute pRTD, was significantly related to Q30 (r = 0.35, p < 0.05). In young soccer players, neuromuscular activation and rate of torque development in dynamic contractions are related to jump performance, while isometric contractions are not. These findings have implications in the choice of training and assessment methods for young athletes.
Laboratory study on pullout capacity of helical soil nail in cohesionless soil
Authors: Sharma M. , Samanta M. , Sarkar S.
Published: May 2017

Helical nails are a new alternative to conventional soil nails or tie-backs for stabilization of slopes, excavations, and embankments due to ease of installation, minimal site disturbance, and immediate loading capability. Pullout capacity of helical nails is a critical parameter for their design. This study investigates the pullout behaviour of helical soil nails installed in dry dense sand through a series of laboratory tests. The tests were performed on seven different types of helical nails in a displacement-controlled manner. The paper describes the test procedure, results and highlights the influence of different parameters on the pullout capacity. Results show that roughness of the nail shaft significantly influences the peak pullout capacity of helical soil nails. A linear relationship between peak pullout force and overburden pressure is observed for different types of helical soil nails, indicating that it satisfies the Mohr–Coulomb failure criteria. A helical soil nail having a double helix of unequal diameter and the same interspacing shows higher pullout capacity than a helical soil nail having a double helix of the same diameter. The position of the helix and spacing-to-diameter ratio of the soil nail with a double helix of unequal diameter plays a significant role on the peak pullout capacity.