bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
First Case of Diffuse Leishmaniasis Associated With Leishmania panamensis
Authors: Olivo Freites Christian , Gundacker Nathan D , Pascale Juan Miguel , Saldaña Azael , Diaz-Suarez Rosendo , Jimenez Gabriela , Sosa Nestor , García Eyra , Jimenez Ana , Suarez José A
Published: December 2018

Leishmania panamensis is the most common species of Leishmania in Panama, and it is known to cause cutaneous leishmaniasis, disseminated cutaneous leishmaniasis, and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis; however, it not associated with diffuse cutaneous disease. In this study, we report the first case of diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L panamensis.
Exposure of the External Carotid Artery Through the Posterior Neck Triangle, Cadaveric Surgical Simulation: 2-Dimensional Operative Video
Authors: Tayebi Meybodi Ali , Moreira Leandro Borba , Lawton Michael T , Preul Mark C
Published: December 2018

The external carotid artery (ECA) is a robust extracranial donor used for high-flow cerebrovascular bypass procedures. It is usually exposed through the anterior triangle of the neck and may be used to revascularize recipients in the anterior or upper posterior cerebral circulations. However, when a high-flow bypass to the posterior circulation is indicated, oftentimes the patient needs to be put in the prone position (or variants thereof). In such situations, accessing the ECA through the anterior triangle of the neck can be challenging. Therefore, using a technique that enables the surgeon to expose the ECA through a posterior approach could be helpful.
1
Although we have not yet encountered a case requiring this type of exposure and bypass, this cadaveric surgical simulation video demonstrates the surgical technique of exposing the ECA through the posterior triangle of the neck (as a cadaveric video, no patient consent was necessary). Briefly, this technique involves an inferolateral extension of the muscular stage of the far-lateral approach and exposing the ECA through a plane developed between the parotid gland and the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. The technical details of this technique are described. Also, relevant anatomic information regarding the safety measures taken to protect adjacent neurovascular structures are discussed.
Pain Prevalence, Characteristics, and Impact Among People with Hemophilia: Findings from the First Portuguese Survey and Implications for Pain Management
Authors: Pinto Patrícia Ribeiro , Paredes Ana Cristina , Almeida Armando
Published: December 2018

Background

Hemophilia is a rare disorder characterized by spontaneous bleeding, with pain being a critical aspect. However, a systematic assessment of hemophilia-related pain in Portugal has never been conducted.

Objective

To understand the pain experience among Portuguese people with hemophilia (PWH) by describing its prevalence, characteristics, and impact and uncovering intervention needs in the realm of hemophilia-related pain care.

Methods

A cross-sectional observational survey, with age-adapted versions of questions concerning pain, emotional distress, and quality of life, was answered by 104 adults, 21 children/teenagers (10–17 years), and 19 children (1–9 years).

Results

Pain was reported by 82 (78.8%) adults, 16 (76.2%) children/teenagers, and 13 (68.4%) children, with 65 (62.5%), 13 (61.9%), and eight (42.1%) of them reporting pain lasting more than three months, respectively. The mean number of pain locations (SD) was 5.23 (3.95) for adults, 4.13 (3.48) for children/teenagers, and 3.15 (1.99) for children age 1–9 years, with lower limbs pain causing the greatest negative impact. More frequent pain-triggering factors were physical effort/movements (61, 74.4%) for adults and hemarthrosis for younger groups (children/teenagers: 14, 87.5%; children: 9, 69.2%). Bleeds yielded the highest mean pain intensity (adults: M [SD] = 5.67 [2.09]; children/teenagers: M [SD] = 5.69 [2.15]). Adults with pain revealed more anxiety (odds ratio [OR] = 1.698, P = 0.003) and depression (OR = 1.961, P = 0.025) and lower quality of life (OR = 0.928, P = 0.001).

Conclusions

The current findings highlight the high prevalence, duration, and frequency of pain at all ages, its potentially simultaneous acute and chronic nature, its likelihood to affect multiple locations concurrently, and its detrimental impact. Important insights concerning intervention needs are presented, ultimately contributing to the improvement of hemophilia-related pain management and patient care.
The search for the ejecting chair: a mixed-methods analysis of tool use in a sedentary behavior intervention
Authors: Takemoto Michelle , Godbole Suneeta , Rosenberg Dori E , Nebeker Camille , Natarajan Loki , Madanat Hala , Nichols Jeanne , Kerr Jacqueline
Published: December 2018

Research is needed on interventions targeting sedentary behavior with appropriate behavior-change tools. The current study used convergent sequential mixed methods (QUAN + qual) to explore tool use during a edentary behavior intervention. Data came from a two-arm randomized sedentary behavior pilot intervention. Participants used a number of intervention tools (e.g., prompts and standing desks). Separate mixed-effects regression models explored associations between change in number of tools and frequency of tool use with two intervention targets: change in sitting time and number of sit-to-stand transitions overtime. Qualitative data explored participants’ attitudes towards intervention tools. There was a significant relationship between change in total tool use and sitting time after adjusting for number of tools (β = −12.86, p = .02), demonstrating that a one-unit increase in tool use was associated with an almost 13 min reduction in sitting time. In contrast, there was a significant positive association between change in number of tools and sitting time after adjusting for frequency of tool use (β = 63.70, p = .001), indicating that increasing the number of tools without increasing frequency of tool use was associated with more sitting time. Twenty-four semistructured interviews were coded and a thematic analysis revealed four themes related to tool use: (a) prompts to disrupt behavior; (b) tools matching the goal; (c) tools for sit-to-stand were ineffective; and (d) tool use evolved over time. Participants who honed in on effective tools were more successful in reducing sitting time. Tools for participants to increase sit-to-stand transitions were largely ineffective.

This study is registered at clincialtrials.gov. Identifier: NCT02544867
Roles of YcfR in Biofilm Formation in Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028
Authors: Kim Seul I , Yoon Hyunjin
Published: December 2018

An increasing number of foodborne diseases are currently attributable to farm produce contaminated with enteric pathogens such as Salmonella enterica. Recent studies have shown that a variety of enteric pathogens are able to colonize plant surfaces by forming biofilms and thereby persist for long periods, which can subsequently lead to human infections. Therefore, biofilm formation by enteric pathogens on plants poses a risk to human health. Here, we deciphered the roles of YcfR in biofilm formation by Salmonella enterica. YcfR is a putative outer membrane protein associated with bacterial stress responses. The lack of YcfR facilitated the formation of multicellular aggregates on cabbage leaves as well as glass surfaces while reducing bacterial motility. ycfR deletion caused extensive structural alterations in the outer membrane, primarily in lipopolysaccharides, outer membrane proteins, cellulose, and curli fimbria, thereby increasing cell surface hydrophobicity. However, the absence of YcfR rendered Salmonella susceptible to stressful treatments, despite the increased multicellular aggregation. These results suggest that YcfR is an essential constituent of Salmonella outer membrane architecture and its absence may cause multifaceted structural changes, thereby compromising bacterial envelope integrity. In this context, YcfR may be further exploited as a potential target for controlling Salmonella persistence on plants.
Cardiac Manifestations in Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies
Authors: Jayakumar Divya , Zhang Rui , Wasserman Amy , Ash Julia
Published: December 2018

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are a group of autoimmune diseases that are characterized by muscle inflammation resulting in elevated muscle enzyme release and distinctive biopsy findings. This group of conditions includes polymyositis, dermatomyositis, inclusion body myositis, and necrotizing autoimmune myopathy. Although they have many similarities, the inflammatory myopathies differ in their clinical, pathological, and treatment realms. Extramuscular manifestations may involve many organs that include the skin, joints, heart, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. Cardiovascular involvement is one of the leading causes of mortality in polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Surveillance and prevention of cardiovascular risk factors are therefore essential. In this article, we review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management of cardiovascular complications of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies with the main focus on polymyositis and dermatomyositis.
Toward a high-performance management system in health care, Part 5: How high-performance work practices facilitate speaking up in health care organizations
Authors: Robbins Julie , McAlearney Ann Scheck
Published: December 2018

Background

Employees’ reluctance to speak up about problems and/or make suggestions for improvement is a noted barrier to quality and patient safety improvement in health care organizations. High-performance work practices (HPWPs) offer a framework for considering how management practices can encourage speaking up in these organizations.

Purposes

We aimed to explore how implementation of HPWPs in U.S. health care organizations could facilitate or remove barriers to speaking up. We were interested in improving understanding of how HPWPs could influence manager behavior and organizational policies and practices to encourage, support, and foster speaking up among employees.

Methodology/Approach

We examined case study data from five health care organizations purposely selected for their use of HPWPs. Interview transcripts from 67 key informants were inductively and deductively analyzed to explore how speaking up was characterized.

Findings

We found that speaking up was recognized as an important factor impacting quality improvement and/or patient safety initiatives across all five organizations. Management efforts to facilitate speaking up included both direct practices, such as using structured communication processes and reporting systems, and complementary practices that supported speaking up. Both direct and complementary practices were aligned with the HPWP model, with sites showing evidence of supporting the frontline, engaging staff, developing talent, and having effective leaders fostering efforts to encourage employees to speak up.

Practice Implications

Both conceptual evidence and qualitative evidence supporting the applicability of HPWPs as a management model for systematically facilitating speaking up in health care organizations were presented in this study. Application of an evidence-based framework enabled consideration of an organizational rather than employee perspective and provided examples of specific management practices that have been successfully implemented to facilitate speaking up. This research furthers the growing body of evidence supporting the applicability of HPWP implementation as a valuable strategy for impacting quality and safety in health care organizations.
An experimental randomized study on the analgesic effects of pharmaceutical-grade cannabis in chronic pain patients with fibromyalgia
Authors: van de Donk Tine , Niesters Marieke , Kowal Mikael A. , Olofsen Erik , Dahan Albert , van Velzen Monique
Published: December 2018

In this experimental randomized placebo-controlled 4-way crossover trial, we explored the analgesic effects of inhaled pharmaceutical-grade cannabis in 20 chronic pain patients with fibromyalgia. We tested 4 different cannabis varieties with exact knowledge on their ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) content: Bedrocan (22.4-mg THC, <1-mg CBD; Bedrocan International BV, Veendam, the Netherlands), Bediol (13.4-mg THC, 17.8-mg CBD; Bedrocan International BV, Veendam, the Netherlands), Bedrolite (18.4-mg CBD, <1-mg THC; Bedrocan International BV, Veendam, the Netherlands), and a placebo variety without any THC or CBD. After a single vapor inhalation, THC and CBD plasma concentrations, pressure and electrical pain thresholds, spontaneous pain scores, and drug high were measured for 3 hours. None of the treatments had an effect greater than placebo on spontaneous or electrical pain responses, although more subjects receiving Bediol displayed a 30% decrease in pain scores compared to placebo (90% vs 55% of patients, P = 0.01), with spontaneous pain scores correlating with the magnitude of drug high (ρ = −0.5, P < 0.001). Cannabis varieties containing THC caused a significant increase in pressure pain threshold relative to placebo (P < 0.01). Cannabidiol inhalation increased THC plasma concentrations but diminished THC-induced analgesic effects, indicative of synergistic pharmacokinetic but antagonistic pharmacodynamic interactions of THC and CBD. This experimental trial shows the complex behavior of inhaled cannabinoids in chronic pain patients with just small analgesic responses after a single inhalation. Further studies are needed to determine long-term treatment effects on spontaneous pain scores, THC–CBD interactions, and the role of psychotropic symptoms on pain relief.
The Development of an Assessment Tool to Measure the Clinical Performance of Orthopedic Residents
Authors: Cunningham Shala , Jackson Richard , Herbel Ken , Godges Joseph J.
Published: December 2018

Introduction.

Residency programs have been developed to provide formal instruction and mentorship after professional education to accelerate the development of the physical therapists' knowledge, skills, and clinical decision making for patient management. An assessment tool that could be used during the assessment and treatment of patients would provide valuable information regarding the progression of the multiple skills required for a high level of clinical practice throughout residency education. The purpose of this study was to develop a reliable and valid tool to assess the multiple clinical skills used in the examination, evaluation, and treatment of patients with common musculoskeletal conditions.

Methods.

To meet the purpose, a sequential interrater reliability and known-groups validity study was performed. The original clinical performance assessment tool was developed using the practice dimensions outlined by the Orthopaedic Physical Therapy Description of Specialty Practice. The tool underwent 3 rounds of reliability testing. In addition, known-groups validity was established using residency graduates and experienced matched controls.

Results.

The overall reliability of the 64-item assessment tool was found to be high. Fifty-four of the items on the examination had high to perfect reliability and 10 items demonstrated moderate reliability. Furthermore, the tool was accurate in determining physical therapists with residency training versus experienced matched controls, establishing known-groups validity.

Discussion and Conclusion.

The assessment tool was able to evaluate clinical performance during patient care activities in both residency trained physical therapists and therapists without advanced instruction with a moderate to high interrater reliability on all items.
Management of Antiplatelet Therapy During Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Support After Thrombotic Hemorrhagic Events
Authors: Gallo Michele , Trivedi Jaimin R. , Mondal Nandan K. , Birks Emma J. , Slaughter Mark S.
Published: December 2018

Hemorrhagic or thrombotic events are common complications in heart failure patients with continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) support. Aim of this study is to investigate the effect of change in antiplatelet therapy after thrombotic or hemorrhagic events in patients with CF-LVAD support. A total of 231 CF-LVAD patients were included in this study. Patients with CF-LVAD were categorized into three groups: (1) high antiplatelet regimen as control group (aspirin [ASA] 325 mg; n = 115), (2) low antiplatelet regimen (ASA 81 mg; n = 82), started after hemorrhagic complications, and (3) double antiplatelet therapy (ASA/clopidogrel; n = 34) started after thrombotic complications. In our analysis, indications for low antiplatelet therapy were gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding (36%), hemorrhagic stroke (8%), and epistaxis (9%). Freedom from major bleeding events after changing therapy was comparable at 1 year for all three groups respectively 96%, 97%, and 91% (log rank = 0.421). Major indications for double antiplatelet therapy were pump thrombosis (15%) and coronary artery stent placement (2.5%). Freedom from thrombotic events after changing therapy was comparable at 1 year for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, 97%, 98%, and 91% (log rank = 0.317). Logistic regression shows that Heartmate II patients required more antiplatelet therapy changes compared with HeartWare (odds ratio [OR]: 3.611, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8–6.9; p = 0.0001). HeartMate II required more adjustment of antiplatelet therapy during follow-up. Reducing or increasing antithrombotic therapies in response to major thrombotic hemorrhagic events in CF-LVAD patients is a safe strategy to avoid recurrences.
Quality Improvement Initiative to Improve Abuse Screening Among Infants With Extremity Fractures
Authors: Deutsch Stephanie Anne , Henry M. Katherine , Lin Winnie , Valentine Karen J. , Valente Christopher , Callahan James M. , Lavelle Jane , Scribano Philip V. , Wood Joanne N.
Published: December 2018

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of clinical pathway implementation and quality improvement (QI) interventions to increase the percentage of infants with extremity fractures undergoing evaluation for suspected physical abuse, including skeletal survey (SS), and consultation with social work, and/or Child Protection Team.

Methods

Charts were retrospectively reviewed to establish percentage of infants less than 12 months old with extremity fractures undergoing an SS and consultation during the prepathway (January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2013) and postpathway (January 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015) periods. Using an Ishikawa framework, key process drivers were identified and additional QI interventions (clinical decision support and provider education) were developed and implemented. Impact of QI interventions on study metrics during active QI (July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016) and post-QI periods (July 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016) was monitored using statistical process control charts. Logistic regression assessed predictors of obtaining an SS, consultation use, and occult fracture detection.

Results

Skeletal survey use pre- and postpathway averaged 40%, surpassing 60% on average during active QI and post-QI periods. Consultation performance averaged 46% pre- and postpathway, increasing to nearly 67% during active QI; consultation performance decreased during post-QI to 60%. A lack of trauma history and presence of femur or humerus fracture were associated with increased SS use and consultation (both P < 0.001). Overall 20% of SS revealed occult fractures.
Effects of Landiolol in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Rats and In Vitro
Authors: Kiyonaga Natsue , Moriyama Takahiro , Kanmura Yuichi
Published: December 2018

The mechanisms by which landiolol, an ultra-short-acting, selective β-1 blocker, could improve septic acute kidney injury and how inflammation might affect mitochondrial function and cause the renal injury were examined. Male Wistar rats (250 g–300 g) were randomly allocated to three groups: a sham control group (n = 8); a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) group (n = 8); and an LPS + landiolol group (n = 8). LPS was administered intravenously at the start of the experiments; the LPS + landiolol group rats received LPS and continuous intravenous landiolol. Serum creatinine and lactate concentrations and hemodynamic parameters were measured 3 and 6 h after the experiments started. TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 levels and urinary 8-OHdG concentrations were determined. The extent of LPS-induced renal injury and recovery with landiolol were examined histopathologically. Metabolic analysis in human embryonic kidney cells was performed using Seahorse analysis. The effects of landiolol on cytokine-induced mitochondrial stress and glycolytic stress were examined. Treatment with landiolol was shown to normalize serum creatinine and lactate levels following intravenous LPS administration (Cr: LPS group 0.8 ± 0.6 mg/mL, LPS + landiolol group 0.5 ± 0.1 mg/mL; P < 0.05). In the in vitro experiments, TNF-α induced an increase in mitochondrial oxygen consumption, which was attenuated by landiolol, which could represent a mechanism for renal protection. Landiolol may have protective effects on the cells and tissues of the kidney by inhibiting oxygen consumption and hypoxia caused by TNF-α in renal cells. These results suggest that landiolol may be an important new therapeutic target for treating inflammation-associated kidney injury.
Nonlinear optical spectroscopy and two-photon excited fluorescence spectroscopy reveal the excited states of fluorophores embedded in a beetle’s elytra
Authors: Mouchet Sébastien R. , Verstraete Charlotte , Mara Dimitrije , Van Cleuvenbergen Stijn , Finlayson Ewan D. , Van Deun Rik , Deparis Olivier , Verbiest Thierry , Maes Bjorn , Vukusic Pete , Kolaric Branko
Published: December 2018

Upon illumination by ultraviolet light, many animal species emit light through fluorescence processes arising from fluorophores embedded within their biological tissues. Fluorescence studies in living organisms are however relatively scarce and so far limited to the linear regime. Multiphoton excitation fluorescence analyses as well as nonlinear optical techniques offer unique possibilities to investigate the effects of the local environment on the excited states of fluorophores. Herein, these techniques are applied for the first time to study of the naturally controlled fluorescence in insects. The case of the male
Hoplia coerulea
beetle is investigated because the scales covering the beetle’s elytra are known to possess an internal photonic structure with embedded fluorophores, which controls both the beetle’s coloration and the fluorescence emission. An intense two-photon excitation fluorescence signal is observed, the intensity of which changes upon contact with water. A third-harmonic generation signal is also detected, the intensity of which depends on the light polarization state. The analysis of these nonlinear optical and fluorescent responses unveils the multi-excited states character of the fluorophore molecules embedded in the beetle’s elytra. The role of form anisotropy in the photonic structure, which causes additional tailoring of the beetle’s optical responses, is demonstrated by circularly polarized light and nonlinear optical measurements.
Two models based on local microscopic relaxations to explain long-term basic creep of concrete
Authors: Vandamme Matthieu
Published: December 2018

In this study, we propose an exhaustion model and an adapted work-hardening model to explain the long-term basic creep of concrete. In both models, the macroscopic creep strain originates from local microscopic relaxations. The two models differ in how the activation energies of those relaxations are distributed and evolve during the creep process. With those models, at least up to a few dozen MPa, the applied stress must not modify the rate at which those relaxations occur, but only enables the manifestation of each local microscopic relaxation into an infinitesimal increment of basic creep strain. The two models capture equally well several phenomenological features of the basic creep of concrete. They also make it possible to explain why the indentation technique enables the quantitative characterization of the long-term kinetics of logarithmic creep of cement-based materials orders of magnitude faster than by macroscopic testing. The models hint at a physical origin for the relaxations that is related to disjoining pressures.
Improvements in the fossil record may largely resolve current conflicts between morphological and molecular estimates of mammal phylogeny
Authors: Beck Robin M. D. , Baillie Charles
Published: December 2018

Phylogenies of mammals based on morphological data continue to show several major areas of conflict with the current consensus view of their relationships, which is based largely on molecular data. This raises doubts as to whether current morphological character sets are able to accurately resolve mammal relationships. We tested this under a hypothetical ‘best case scenario’ by using ancestral state reconstruction (under both maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood) to infer the morphologies of fossil ancestors for all clades present in a recent comprehensive DNA sequence-based phylogeny of mammals, and then seeing what effect the subsequent inclusion of these predicted ancestors had on unconstrained phylogenetic analyses of morphological data. We found that this resulted in topologies that are highly congruent with the current consensus phylogeny, at least when the predicted ancestors are assumed to be well preserved and densely sampled. Most strikingly, several analyses recovered the monophyly of clades that have never been found in previous morphology-only studies, such as Afrotheria and Laurasiatheria. Our results suggest that, at least in principle, improvements in the fossil record—specifically the discovery of fossil taxa that preserve the ancestral or near-ancestral morphologies of the nodes in the current consensus—may be sufficient to largely reconcile morphological and molecular estimates of mammal phylogeny, even using current morphological character sets.
Voice pitch modulation in human mate choice
Authors: Pisanski Katarzyna , Oleszkiewicz Anna , Plachetka Justyna , Gmiterek Marzena , Reby David
Published: December 2018

Inter-individual differences in human fundamental frequency (
F
0, perceived as voice pitch) predict mate quality and reproductive success, and affect listeners' social attributions. Although humans can readily and volitionally manipulate their vocal apparatus and resultant voice pitch, for instance, in the production of speech sounds and singing, little is known about whether humans exploit this capacity to adjust the non-verbal dimensions of their voices during social (including sexual) interactions. Here, we recorded full-length conversations of 30 adult men and women taking part in real speed-dating events and tested whether their voice pitch (mean, range and variability) changed with their personal mate choice preferences and the overall desirability of each dating partner. Within-individual analyses indicated that men lowered the minimum pitch of their voices when interacting with women who were overall highly desired by other men. Men also lowered their mean voice pitch on dates with women they selected as potential mates, particularly those who indicated a mutual preference (matches). Interestingly, although women spoke with a higher and more variable voice pitch towards men they selected as potential mates, women lowered both voice pitch parameters towards men who were most desired by other women and whom they also personally preferred. Between-individual analyses indicated that men in turn preferred women with lower-pitched voices, wherein women's minimum voice pitch explained up to 55% of the variance in men's mate preferences. These results, derived in an ecologically valid setting, show that individual- and group-level mate preferences can interact to affect vocal behaviour, and support the hypothesis that human voice modulation functions in non-verbal communication to elicit favourable judgements and behaviours from others, including potential mates.
Globally invasive genotypes of the amphibian chytrid outcompete an enzootic lineage in coinfections
Authors: Jenkinson Thomas S. , Rodriguez David , Clemons Rebecca A. , Michelotti Lucas A. , Zamudio Kelly R. , Toledo L. Felipe , Longcore Joyce E. , James Timothy Y.
Published: December 2018

Competition between genotypes is likely to be a key driver of pathogen evolution, particularly following a geographical invasion by distant strains. Theory predicts that competition between disease strains will result in the most virulent strain persisting. Despite its evolutionary implications, the role of strain competition in shaping populations remains untested for most pathogens. We experimentally investigated the
in vivo
competitive differences between two divergent lineages of the amphibian-killing chytrid fungus (
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis
,
Bd
). These
Bd
lineages are hypothesized to have diverged in allopatry but been recently brought back into secondary contact by human introduction. Prior studies indicate that a panzootically-distributed, global lineage of
Bd
was recently introduced into southern Brazil, and is competitively excluding enzootic lineages in the southern Atlantic Forest. To test for differences in competitive ability between invasive and enzootic Brazilian
Bd
isolates, we coinfected a model host frog system which we developed for this study (
Hymenochirus curtipes
). We tracked isolate-specific zoospore production over the course of the coinfection experiment with chip-based digital PCR (dPCR). The globally invasive panzootic lineage had a competitive advantage in spore production especially during the first one to four weeks of infection, and on frogs that eventually succumbed to
Bd
infection. Our study provides new evidence that competitive pressure resulting from the human movement of pathogen strains can rapidly alter the genetics, community dynamics and spatial epidemiology of pathogens in the wild.
Dynamic network partnerships and social contagion drive cooperation
Authors: Dakin Roslyn , Ryder T. Brandt
Published: December 2018

Both reciprocity and positive assortment (like with like) are predicted to promote the evolution of cooperation, yet how partners influence each other's behaviour within dynamic networks is not well understood. One way to test this question is to partition phenotypic variation into differences among individuals in the expression of cooperative behaviour (the ‘direct effect’), and plasticity within individuals in response to the social environment (the ‘indirect effect’). A positive correlation between these two sources of variation, such that more cooperative individuals elicit others to cooperate, is predicted to facilitate social contagion and selection on cooperative behaviour. Testing this hypothesis is challenging, however, because it requires repeated measures of behaviour across a dynamic social landscape. Here, we use an automated data-logging system to quantify the behaviour of 179 wire-tailed manakins, birds that form cooperative male–male coalitions, and we use multiple-membership models to test the hypothesis that dynamic network partnerships shape within-individual variation in cooperative behaviour. Our results show strong positive correlations between a bird's own sociality and his estimated effect on his partners, consistent with the hypothesis that cooperation begets cooperation. These findings support the hypothesis that social contagion can facilitate selection for cooperative behaviour within social networks.
The integrated stress response mediates type I interferon driven necrosis in Mycobacterium tuberculosis granulomas
Authors: Bhattacharya Bidisha , Xiao Shiqi , Chatterjee Sujoy , Urbanowski Michael , Ordonez Alvaro , Ihms Elizabeth A , Agrahari Garima , Lun Shichun , Berland Robert , Pichugin Alexander , Gao Yuanwei , Connor John , Ivanov Alexander , Yan Bo-Shiun , Kobzik Lester , Jain Sanjay , Bishai William , Kramnik Igor
Published: December 2018

Necrosis in the tuberculous granuloma is a hallmark of tuberculosis that enables pathogen survival and transmission. Susceptibility to tuberculosis and several other intracellular bacteria is controlled by a mouse genetic locus, sst1, and mice carrying the sst1-suscepible (sst1S) genotype develop necrotic inflammatory lung lesions, similar to human TB granulomas. Our previous work established that increased disease severity in sst1S mice reflects dysfunctional macrophage effector or tolerance mechanisms, but the molecular mechanisms have remained unclear. Here we demonstrate that sst1S macrophages develop aberrant, biphasic responses to TNF characterized by super-induction of stress and type I interferon pathways after prolonged TNF stimulation with this late-stage response being initiated by oxidative stress and Myc activation and driven via a JNK - IFNβ - PKR circuit. This circuit leads to induction of the integrated stress response (ISR) mediated by eIF2α phosphorylation and the subsequent hyper-induction of ATF3 and ISR-target genes Chac1, Trib3, Ddit4. The administration of ISRIB, a small molecule inhibitor of the ISR, blocked the development of necrosis in lung granulomas of M. tuberculosis-infected sst1S mice and concomitantly reduced the bacterial burden revealing that induction of the ISR and the locked-in state of escalating stress driven by type I IFN pathway in sst1S macrophages plays a causal role in the development of necrosis. Our data support a generalizable paradigm in intracellular pathogen-host interactions wherein host susceptibility emerges within inflammatory tissue due to imbalanced macrophage responses to growth, differentiation, activation and stress stimuli. Successful pathogens such as M. tuberculosis may exploit this aberrant response in susceptible hosts to induce necrotic lesions that favor long-term pathogen survival and transmission. Interruption of the aberrant stress response with inhibitors such as ISRIB may offer novel therapeutic strategies.
Estimation of Pharmacokinetic Parameters of Continuous Intravenous Flucloxacillin infusion in the Outpatient Settings (PKFLUCLOX)
Authors: Lwin Nilar , Liu Zheng , Loewenthal Mark , Dobson Pauline , Yoo Ji Woong , Galettis Peter , Lai Katy , Martin Jennifer
Published: December 2018

Flucloxacillin, a beta-lactam antibiotic of the penicillin class, is considered first line therapy for methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) in Australia. At our tertiary referral hospital in the home (HITH) program, it has been prescribed in a standard dosage of 8 grams per day by continuous infusion for more than 20 years. The aim of this observational study was to characterize the pharmacokinetic profile of flucloxacillin in patients who receive continuous infusion in the HITH setting, and to undertake population pharmacokinetic analysis performed with NONMEM software by comparing various structural models. This study utilised flucloxacillin concentrations from 44 separate specimens obtained from 23 patients. Twenty-five of these were collected immediately after elastomeric device removal, representing steady-state concentrations, and the remaining 19 were each collected at least 45 minutes after device removal to determine clearance of the drug. Plasma concentrations ranged from 13 to 194 mg/L with median steady-state concentration of 51.5 mg/L and inter-quartile range of 24.6 mg/L. The time-course of flucloxacillin was best described by a 1-compartment model. The best three covariates, CrCL (ΔOFV= -11.7), eGFR (ΔOFV= -5.9) and serum albumin (ΔOFV= -5.8) were found to be equivalent in terms of decreasing the OFV. CrCL was superior in explaining inter individual variability. The best model for flucloxacillin clearance was a one compartment model with CrCL as the sole covariate. The estimated population parameters were 9.5 L for volume of distribution and 8.1 L/h for flucloxacillin clearance.
Evolutionary significance of structural segments trailing beta strand 5 and alpha helix 10 in the design of catalytically active NAL superfamily
Authors: Kumar P. Manoj , Manoharan Prabu
Published: December 2018

The divergence in catalytic actions of N-acetyl neuraminic lyase (NAL) superfamily proteins, all of which have pyruvate as a substrate, suggests common ancestry. Lack of catalytic triad residues essential for binding pyruvate in annotated DHDPS proteins from Gram+veB.clausii(PDBid-3E96) andO.hiyensis(PDBid-3D0C) indicated that these proteins are inactive and therefore could be possible early ancestors. Analysis revealed that the most appropriate cavity of these proteins is voluminous and has an elongated topography compared to the trimmed side-wise tilted cavity topography in all other NAL superfamily proteins. Strength and the morphology of the interface regions contouring the cavity are the significant determinants of the topography. It is possible that evolutionary forces led to modulation of the structural segments following the beta strand 5 and alpha helix 10, which are significant participants of interfacial regions. Major structural motions captured by molecular dynamics simulation differentiated the motion of the structural segment following the beta strand 5 of primitive forms as towards the periphery regions of the proteins compared to motion towards core in evolved active forms. We suggest that the motion shift towards the core consequently opened entry channel for substrates and evolution of side-wise tilted cavity.
Visualization of biological macromolecules at near-atomic resolution: cryo-electron microscopy comes of age
Authors: Mitra Alok K.
Published: December 2018

Structural biology is going through a revolution as a result of transformational advances in the field of cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) driven by the development of direct electron detectors and ultrastable electron microscopes. High-resolution cryo-EM images of isolated biomolecules (single particles) suspended in a thin layer of vitrified buffer are subjected to powerful image-processing algorithms, enabling near-atomic resolution structures to be determined in unprecedented numbers. Prior to these advances, electron crystallography of two-dimensional crystals and helical assemblies of proteins had established the feasibility of atomic resolution structure determination using cryo-EM. Atomic resolution single-particle analysis, without the need for crystals, now promises to resolve problems in structural biology that were intractable just a few years ago.
Trade regimes as a tool for cyber policy
Authors: Grindal Karl
Published: December 2018

Purpose

This research develops a framework for assessing international trade regimes which could be used to address global cybersecurity challenges based on the corresponding costs of implementation and their distribution. Trade regimes, such as export controls, tariffs, investment restrictions and localization requirements, have disparate effects on foreign and domestic producers and consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

These trade regimes and their effects are explored through a literature review and conceptual framework. A case study then assesses trends in the use of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

Findings

CFIUS investment restrictions have justified blocking specific Chinese acquisitions of American companies, at least partially, on cybersecurity grounds using a targeted and evidence-based approach. Because of its targeted effect, CFIUS is the least likely of these trade regimes to block legitimate international trade. Restrictions on international trade, without sufficient cause, produce dead weight loss under the theory of comparative advantage.

Originality/value

These costs should be accounted for in any policy-based decision, particularly as policy entrepreneurs increasingly push for embedding cybersecurity reforms into these trade regimes. While the literature on trade regimes and cybersecurity is growing, this paper advances this research with its comparative framework.
Numerical modeling of Glauert type exponentially decaying wall jet flows of nanofluids using Tiwari and Das’ nanofluid model
Authors: Jafarimoghaddam Amin , Pop Ioan
Published: December 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to present a simple analytic solution to wall jet flow of nanofluids. The concept of exponentially decaying wall jet flows proposed by Glauert (1956) is considered.

Design/methodology/approach

A proper similarity variables are used to transform the system of partial differential equations into a system of ordinary (similarity) differential equations. This system is then solved analytically.

Findings

Dual solutions are found and a stability analysis has been done. These solutions show that the first solution is physically realizable, whereas the second solution is not practicable.

Originality/value

The present results are original and new for the study of fluid flow and heat transfer over a static permeable wall, as they successfully extend the problem considered by Glauert (1956) to the case of nanofluids.
Analysis of business models innovation – a multiple case study
Authors: Nunes Moema Pereira , Russo Ana Paola
Published: December 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the business model innovation in medium and large Brazilian manufacturing companies located in Rio do Sul State.

Design/methodology/approach

A holistic multiple case study in five companies was developed. Data were collected through interviews and analyzed according to the content analysis technique.

Findings

The main motivation to business model innovation was the innovation in products and services, while the difficulties were the factors relating to the cost. The most common practice among cases was innovation in value proposition and the most widely used method was learning-by-searching. While part of the theory was demonstrated in the case studies, new motivations and practices were identified. The investigation of the learning process on business models’ innovation is pioneered in this study. Further studies on this subject are required.

Originality/value

New business models are likely to provide new opportunities to better address customer needs, generating differentiating itself from its competitors. It is a subject little investigated in the international context, and there are no studies to investigate the experience of Brazilian companies.
The goose that laid the golden eggs: personal data and the Internet of Things
Authors: Hirsch Peter Buell
Published: December 2018

Purpose

This viewpoint is intended to examine the issue of the monetization of personal data and the risks to companies that fail to understand this trend.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews the recent literature on the use and abuse of personal data to identify relevant trends and issues.

Findings

It is likely, whether through blockchain technology or some other means, that individual consumers will be able to monetize their data.

Research limitations/implications

As a review of secondary sources rather than original sources, the findings are anecdotal and not comprehensive.

Practical implications

In the rapidly changing environment of data privacy and security, one should anticipate that the findings may become outdated by sudden events such as a new global data privacy breach.

Social implications

Ownership of personal data and its use or abuse is one of the single most important social issues in today’s world, with profound implications for civil society.

Originality/value

While there have been numerous studies cataloguing attempts to create monetization platforms for consumer data, there are not many studies on the reputational risks for companies in handling data from the Internet of Things.
Characterization and optimization of laser sintering copolyamide/polyether sulfone hot-melt adhesive mixtures
Authors: Zhang Hui , Guo Yanling , Jiang Kaiyi , Bourell David , Li Jian , Yu Yueqiang
Published: December 2018

Purpose

A new kind of polymer mixture (co-PA-PES) was prepared in different mass ratios, by mixing polyether sulfone hot-melt adhesive (PES-HmA) and copolyamide B249 (PA-B249). This study aims to investigate its characteristics of laser sintering and get the optimal process parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

The effect of mass ratio of co-PA-PES on thermal behavior was analyzed using a simultaneous thermal analyzer, and the density and mechanical properties of sintered parts were tested to evaluate the performance of the polymeric system. Scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were performed to characterize the microstructure and binding mechanism of sintered co-PA-PES parts. Specifically, mechanical properties of the mixture with 20 Wt.% PA-B249 were optimized based on a design of experiment methodology, along with the restriction of maximum absorbable laser energy density.

Findings

Liquid phase fusion was considered as the main sintering mechanism for co-PA-PES, and mechanical interlocking was the dominant binding mechanism. The effects of mass ratios of this material on the thermal properties, density and mechanical properties were obtained via data results. Additionally, compared to neat PES-HmA, co-20 Wt.% PA-PES showed a 71.7 per cent increase in tensile strength, 24.4 per cent increase in flexural strength and 102.1per cent increase in impact strength.

Originality/value

This paper proposed a new kind of polymer mixture as the feedstock for laser sintering with the advantages of low price and easy processing. The filler of PA-B249 effectively improved the performance of the polymer mixture, including but not limited to mechanical properties.
Role of integrity system, internal control system and leadership practices on the accountability practices in the public sectors of Malaysia
Authors: Alam Md. Mahmudul , Said Jamaliah , Abd Aziz Mohamad Azizal
Published: December 2018

Purpose

This study aims to assess the status of current practices of accountability and its relationship with the practices of integrity system, internal control system and leadership qualities in the public sector of Malaysia.

Design/methodology/approach

This study collected primary data from 109 departments and agencies under 24 federal ministries in Malaysia. The data were analysed under descriptive statistics, ordinal regression and structural equation modelling (SEM). Several diagnostic tests were conducted to check the validity and reliability of data and models, such as Cronbach alpha test, Kaiser–Meyer–Olkin test, Shapiro–Wilk test, internal consistency reliability, indicator reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity.

Findings

The regression and SEM results show that the practices of integrity system and leadership quality had statistically significant positive relationship, but the practice of internal control system showed mixed relationship with the practices of accountability.

Practical implications

The findings of the study will help the policymakers to ensure better accountability in the public sector in Malaysia and other countries.

Originality/value

This is an original study based on primary data to examine the current practices of accountability and its relationship with the practices of integrity system, internal control system and leadership qualities in the public sector of Malaysia.