bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aerosols of synthetic amorphous silica do not induce fibrosis in lungs after inhalation: Pathology working group review of histopathological specimens from a subchronic 13-week inhalation toxicity study in rats
Authors: Weber Klaus , Bosch Axel , Bühler Mario , Gopinath Chirukandath , Hardisty Jerry F , Krueger Nils , McConnell Ernest E , Oberdörster Günter
Published: November 2018

In a subchronic (13-week) inhalation toxicity study with a terminal sacrifice (after 13 weeks inhalation) and several recovery period sacrifices (13, 26, 39, and 52 weeks), the effects of AEROSIL® 200 (pyrogenic synthetic amorphous silica (SAS)), AEROSIL® R 974 (surface-treated pyrogenic SAS), and SIPERNAT® 22 S (precipitated SAS) were tested in rats at multiple dose levels. The aforementioned materials are all SAS products. A comparative group of animals was exposed to quartz dust. This study attempts to reexamine the lung tissues originally evaluated in a study published by Reuzel et al. using the current standards. To reach a high level of credibility, the results of the reevaluation were subsequently examined by a pathology working group (PWG). In particular, the reevaluating pathologist and the PWG concluded that, even though quartz (crystalline silica) persisted, induced alterations in the lungs following 13 weeks of exposure to amorphous silicas were reversible following 52 weeks of recovery. A long-term adversity has not been established with SAS products. However, quartz dust damages lungs significantly by causing pulmonary fibrosis.
Evidence for the homothetic scaling of urban forms
Authors: Lemoy Rémi , Caruso Geoffrey
Published: November 2018

The size and form of cities influence their social and environmental impacts. Whether cities have the same form irrespective of their size is still an open question. We analyse the profile of artificial land and population density, with respect to the distance to their main centre, for the 300 largest European cities. Our analysis combines the GMES/Copernicus Urban Atlas 2006 land use database at 5 m resolution for 300 larger urban zones with more than 100,000 inhabitants and the Geostat population grid at 1 km resolution. We find a remarkable constancy of radial profiles across city sizes. Artificial land profiles scale in the two horizontal dimensions with the square root of city population, while population density profiles scale in three dimensions with its cube root. In short, cities of different size are homothetic in terms of land use and population density, which challenges the idea that larger cities are more parsimonious in the use of land per capita. While earlier literature documented the scaling of average densities (total surface and population) with city size, we document the scaling of the whole radial distance profile with city size, thus liaising intra-urban radial analysis and systems of cities. Our findings also yield homogenous spatial definitions of cities, from which we can re-question urban scaling laws and Zipf’s law for cities.
Endophthalmitis Following Exposure of a Haptic After Sutureless Intrascleral Intraocular Lens Fixation
Authors: Obata Shumpei , Kakinoki Masashi , Saishin Yoshitsugu , Ohji Masahito
Published: November 2018

An 88-year-old woman who had undergone sutureless intrascleral fixation of the intraocular lens (IOL) 3 years previously was seen at an eye clinic because of ocular pain and loss of vision 2 days prior to this visit. She was diagnosed with endophthalmitis and referred to our hospital. At her first presentation here, the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.01 in the left eye, and conjunctival hyperemia and hypopyon were apparent. A haptic was exposed outside the conjunctiva at the nasal upper quadrant, with a white substance around the haptic. The fundus was not visible. We diagnosed endophthalmitis. That same day, we performed vitrectomy and IOL removal, immediately followed by intravitreal injection of antibiotic. The inflammation resolved gradually, and at the 1-year follow-up her BCVA had recovered to 0.6. Patients should receive careful, long-term follow-up after sutureless intrascleral IOL fixation.
Absence of functional compensation between coagulation factor VIII and plasminogen in double-knockout mice
Authors: Stagaard Rikke , Ley Carsten Dan , Almholt Kasper , Olsen Lisbeth Høier , Knudsen Tom , Flick Matthew J.
Published: November 2018

Plasminogen deficiency is associated with severely compromised fibrinolysis and extravascular deposition of fibrin. In contrast, coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency leads to prolonged and excessive bleeding. Based on opposing biological functions of plasminogen and FVIII deficiencies, we hypothesized that genetic elimination of FVIII would alleviate the systemic formation of fibrin deposits associated with plasminogen deficiency and, in turn, elimination of plasminogen would limit bleeding symptoms associated with FVIII deficiency. Mice with single and combined deficiencies of FVIII (F8−/−) and plasminogen (Plg−/−) were evaluated for phenotypic characteristics of plasminogen deficiency, including wasting disease, shortened lifespan, rectal prolapse, and multiorgan fibrin deposition. Conversely, to specifically examine the role of plasmin-mediated fibrinolysis on bleeding caused by FVIII deficiency, F8−/− and F8−/−/Plg−/− mice were subjected to a bleeding challenge. Mice with a combined deficiency in FVIII and plasminogen displayed no phenotypic differences relative to mice with single FVIII or plasminogen deficiency. Plg−/− and F8−/−/Plg−/− mice exhibited the same penetrance and severity of wasting disease, rectal prolapse, extravascular fibrin deposits, and reduced viability. Furthermore, following a tail vein–bleeding challenge, no significant differences in bleeding times or total blood loss could be detected between F8−/− and F8−/−/Plg−/− mice. Moreover, F8−/− and F8−/−/Plg−/− mice responded similarly to recombinant FVIII (rFVIII) therapy. In summary, the pathological phenotype of Plg−/− mice developed independently of FVIII-dependent coagulation, and elimination of plasmin-driven fibrinolysis did not play a significant role in a nonmucosal bleeding model in hemophilia A mice.
Dynamics of respiratory symptoms during infancy and associations with wheezing at school age
Authors: Usemann Jakob , Xu Binbin , Delgado-Eckert Edgar , Korten Insa , Anagnostopoulou Pinelopi , Gorlanova Olga , Kuehni Claudia , Röösli Martin , Latzin Philipp , Frey Urs
Published: November 2018

Children with frequent respiratory symptoms in infancy have an increased risk for later wheezing, but the association with symptom dynamics is unknown. We developed an observer-independent method to characterise symptom dynamics and tested their association with subsequent respiratory morbidity.

In this birth-cohort of healthy neonates, we prospectively assessed weekly respiratory symptoms during infancy, resulting in a time series of 52 symptom scores. For each infant, we calculated the transition probability between two consecutive symptom scores. We used these transition probabilities to construct a Markov matrix, which characterised symptom dynamics quantitatively using an entropy parameter. Using this parameter, we determined phenotypes by hierarchical clustering. We then studied the association between phenotypes and wheezing at 6 years.

In 322 children with complete data for symptom scores during infancy (16 864 observations), we identified three dynamic phenotypes. Compared to the low-risk phenotype, the high-risk phenotype, defined by the highest entropy parameter, was associated with an increased risk of wheezing (odds ratio (OR) 3.01, 95% CI 1.15–7.88) at 6 years. In this phenotype, infants were more often male (64%) and had been exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (31%). In addition, more infants had siblings (67%) and attended childcare (38%).

We describe a novel method to objectively characterise dynamics of respiratory symptoms in infancy, which helps identify abnormal clinical susceptibility and recovery patterns of infant airways associated with persistent wheezing.
Effectiveness of discovery learning using a mobile otoscopy simulator on knowledge acquisition and retention in medical students: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Xu Josie , Campisi Paolo , Forte Vito , Carrillo Brian , Vescan Allan , Brydges Ryan
Published: November 2018

Background

Portable educational technologies, like simulators, afford students the opportunity to learn independently. A key question in education, is how to pair self-regulated learning (SRL) with direct instruction. A cloud-based portable otoscopy simulator was employed to compare two curricula involving SRL. Pre-clerkship medical students used a prototype smartphone application, a 3D ear attachment and an otoscope to complete either otoscopy curriculum.

Methods

Pre-clerkship medical students were recruited and randomized to two curriculum designs. The “Discovery then Instruction” group received the simulator one week before a traditional lecture, while the “Instruction then Discovery” group received it after the lecture. To assess participants’ ability to identify otoscopic pathology, we used a 100-item test at baseline, post-intervention and 2-week retention time points. Secondary outcomes included self-reported comfort, time spent using the device, and a survey on learning preferences.

Results

Thirty-four students completed the study. Analysis of knowledge acquisition and retention showed improvement in scores of both groups and no significant effects of group (F1,31 = 0.53, p = 0.47). An analysis of participants’ self-reported comfort showed a significant group x test interaction (F1,36 = 4.61, p = 0.04), where only the discovery then instruction group's comfort improved significantly. Overall device usage was low, as the discovery then instruction group spent 21.47 ± 26.28 min, while the instruction then discovery group spent 13.84 ± 18.71 min. The discovery first group's time spent with the simulator correlated moderately with their post-test score ( r = 0.42, p = 0.07). After the intervention, most participants in both groups (63–68%) stated that they would prefer the instruction then discovery sequence.

Conclusions

Both curricular sequences led to improved knowledge scores with no statistically significant knowledge differences. When given minimal guidance, students engaged in discovery learning minimally. There is value in SRL in simulation education, and we plan to further improve our curricular design by considering learner behaviours identified in this study.
The role of cinematic rendering in pre-operative planning of a thoracodorsal artery perforator flap (TDAP) phalloplasty: a case study
Authors: Lugo-Fagundo Carolina , Ahn Hannah , O’Brien-Coon Devin , Fishman Elliot K.
Published: November 2018

The thoracodorsal artery perforator (TDAP) flap is a muscle-sparing skin and fat flap that requires precise intramuscular dissection of the thoracodorsal artery perforators in the axillary region. Pre-operative image-based treatment planning is a crucial part of flap design. In this article, we discuss the first-ever reported use of the cinematic volume rendering technique (CVRT) to evaluate the thoracodorsal artery for a TDAP flap phalloplasty in a 49-year-old transgender patient. Cinematic volume rendering technique uses light maps to generate photo-realistic three-dimensional images of the thoracodorsal artery and its perforators. These images aid the surgeon in evaluating optimal perforators and latissimus dorsi muscle involvement for more efficient flap design.
Chondrosarcoma: biology, genetics, and epigenetics
Authors: Chow Warren A
Published: November 2018

Chondrosarcomas constitute a heterogeneous group of primary bone cancers characterized by hyaline cartilaginous neoplastic tissue. They are the second most common primary bone malignancy. The vast majority of chondrosarcomas are conventional chondrosarcomas, and most conventional chondrosarcomas are low- to intermediate-grade tumors (grade 1 or 2) which have indolent clinical behavior and low metastatic potential. Recurrence augurs a poor prognosis, as conventional chondrosarcomas are both radiation and chemotherapy resistant. Recent discoveries in the biology, genetics, and epigenetics of conventional chondrosarcomas have significantly advanced our understanding of the pathobiology of these tumors and offer insight into potential therapeutic targets.
Novel multiplex assay for profiling influenza antibodies in breast milk and serum of mother-infant pairs
Authors: Järvinen Kirsi M. , Wang Jiong , Seppo Antti E. , Zand Martin
Published: November 2018

Background: During early life, systemic protection to influenza is passively provided by transplacental transfer of IgG antibodies and oral and gastrointestinal mucosal protection via breast milk (BM) containing predominantly IgA. Immune imprinting, influenced by initial exposure of the infant immune system to influenza, has recently been recognized as an important determinant of future influenza immune responses.

Methods: We utilized stored frozen BM from a prospective birth cohort to assess immune factors in human milk. The earliest available BM and a paired, timed serum sample was assessed from each of  7 mothers. Paired infant serum samples were assayed at up to three time points during the first 12 months of life, one prior to assumed disappearance of transplacentally transferred IgG, and one after. We utilized a novel multiplex assay to assess mothers’ and infants’ IgG and IgA antibodies in serum to a panel of  30 individual recombinant hemagglutinin (rHA) proteins of influenza virus strains and chimeric rHAs. We also characterized IgA and IgG antibody levels in breast milk providing mucosal protection.

Results: Our pilot results, analyzing a small number of samples demonstrate the feasibility of this method for studying paired maternal-infant IgG and IgA anti-influenza immunity patterns. Unlike IgG antibodies, breast milk influenza virus HA-specific IgA antibody levels and patterns were mostly discordant compared to serum.  As expected, there was a steady decay of infant influenza specific IgG levels by 6 to 8 months of age, which was not, however, comparable in all infants. In contrast, most of the infants showed an increase in IgA responses throughout the first year of life

Conclusions:  This new analytical method can be applied in a larger study to understand the impact of maternal imprinting on influenza immunity.
Do age and mating status affect olfactory response of the parasitoid, Microplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) to host-related plant odors?
Authors: Burrows Matthew , Morawo Tolulope , Fadamiro Henry
Published: November 2018

Background: Parasitic wasps (parasitoids) use volatile organic compounds released by herbivore-infested plants to locate their hosts. Response of parasitoids to plant odors may be plastic and dependent on their physiological state. Using Microplitis croceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae), a relatively specialized larval endoparasitoid of Heliothis virescens (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), we asked whether age and mating status of parasitoids affect their olfactory response to host-related odors.

Methods: Four odor stimuli of varying complexity were selected based on previous reports of parasitoid response to cotton volatiles: cis-3-hexenol (a green leaf volatile), α-pinene (a constitutive monoterpene), a 50/50 v/v binary mixture (cis-3-hexenol + α-pinene), and H. virescens-infested cotton odors. Female M. croceipes used in Y-tube olfactometer bioassays were either mated or unmated, and grouped 1–3, 4–6, and 7–9 d-old. Female parasitoids used in electroantennogram (EAG) recording were mated and grouped 1–3, 4–6, 7–9 and 10–12 d-old.

Results: In Y-tube olfactometer bioassays, neither age nor mating status played a major role in the attraction of parasitoids to test odor stimuli, with two exceptions: 4–6 d-old mated parasitoids showed attraction to the binary mixture, and 1–3 d-old mated parasitoids showed attraction to H. virescens-infested cotton. Age did not affect EAG response of parasitoids to test stimuli.

Conclusions: The present results suggest that age and mating status do not play a major role in modulating olfactory responses of M. croceipes to host-related plant odors. Instead, plasticity of olfactory response may be limited in M. croceipes due to strong innate sensitivity to host-related odor cues.
Prevalence and associated risk factors of HIV in prisons in Balochistan, Pakistan: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Khan Muhammad Dawood , Wali Ahmad , Fatima Razia , Yaqoob Aashifa , Aziz Shoaib
Published: November 2018

Background: The prevalence of HIV is 0.1% in Pakistan, with epidemicity in high-risk groups. The infection is on verge of transmission from key populations to the general population through people who inject drugs and sexual transmission. Prisoners are vulnerable to infectious diseases like HIV. This study was conducted in four prisons in Balochistan. Pakistan to determine the prevalence of HIV and associated risk factors.

Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted from March to June 2018, in the prisons of Balochistan. WHO-approved rapid diagnostic kits were used for determining the prevalence of HIV and structured interviews were conducted for the assessment of risk factors.

Results: Out of 2084 screened prisoners, 33 (1.6%) were found to be positive. A subset of 104 interviews were analysed for risk factors of HIV. Among HIV-infected prisoners 68.8% (OR 4.48; 95% CI 1.41-14.2) had extramarital sex, 43.8% (OR 2.09 95% CI 0.69-6.28) had homosexual experience, and 50% had history of needle sharing (OR 43; 95% CI 7.77-237). About 94% (OR 16.42; 95% CI 2.09-129.81) of prisoners had history of drug addiction of any type while 50% (OR 13; 95% CI 2.82-60.01) of those infected with HIV had a history of using injectable drugs. Around 75% of HIV-infected prisoners had spent 1-5 years in prison, and 25% had spent more than 10 years.

Conclusion: The high prevalence of HIV in prisons of Balochistan demands that preventive and treatment strategies should be designed and implemented carefully, allowing early diagnosis and treatment initiation to minimize the spread of infection among the prisons and ultimately their onward transmission into the community.
N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide: a potential follow-up biomarker of mandibular advancement device efficacy on cardiac function in obstructive sleep apnea
Authors: Monneret Denis
Published: November 2018

Interrelationships between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiovascular diseases are now recognized, but some underlying pathophysiological mechanisms remain controversial. Circulating cardiac biomarkers are diagnostic tools that can help understand them, in particular the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), a marker of myocardial stretch, and a potential indicator of subclinical cardiac stress in OSA. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), the first-line treatment of moderate to severe OSA, may be considered as uncomfortable, resulting in poor adherence, and reduced effectiveness. In this case, mandibular advancement devices (MAD) are an effective alternative therapy, more comfortable, and generally well accepted, with higher compliance. To date, few studies have compared the cardiovascular effects of CPAP and MAD. From recent literature reviews, it emerges that both therapies are effective in blood pressure reduction. However, the effects of MAD on other cardiovascular outcomes are conflicting, in particular as regards to its impact on circulating cardiac biomarkers. In a recent ancillary study from a randomized controlled trial, Recoquillon et al concluded that two months of MAD treatment had no effect on NT-proBNP plasma levels in patients with severe OSA. The present discussion analyses this result from a biological, statistical, and analytical standpoint, in light of results from other studies evaluating natriuretic peptides in MAD-treated OSA, with the aim to support further longitudinal studies designed with a high methodological quality.
Lingvosemiotika military and media discourse (on the material of modern English-language media publications)
Authors: Склярова Наталья , Sklyarova Natal'ya
Published: November 2018

The monograph examines the system of verbal signs used in the texts of the British and American media to cover the armed conflicts in the Donbas and Syria, as well as to represent the image of Russia in the international arena. The paper demonstrates the interaction of different types of language signs with each other and with the methods of variable interpretation of reality, which serves to form a tendentious representation of the world community about these events.
The book is intended for a wide range of linguists, teachers, graduate students and students of philological faculties, as well as for anyone interested in the problems of semiotics and the theory of speech influence.
Working with a patient with an autism spectrum condition
Authors: Barber Chris
Published: November 2018

Chris Barber, Visiting Lecturer (Learning Disabilities), Birmingham City University ( chris.barber@bcu.ac.uk ), offers tips for nurses working with adults with autism spectrum conditions
Bi- and polynuclear coordination compounds of d-elements as catalysts of homogeneous selective oxidation of thiol groups
Authors: Panina Natalie Sergeevna , Talgatov Alisher Talgatovich , Suezov Roman Vladimirovich , Medvedskiy Nicolay Leonidovich , Eremin Aleksei Vladimirovich , Belyaev Alexandr Nicolaevich
Published: November 2018

This research aims to study the catalytic cycle reactions for homogeneous selective oxidation of thiol RSH groups to RSSR with the participation of coordination compounds for d-element ions-NiII, PdII, Pt II, CuI , CuII. We used the DFT M06, PBE0 / Def2-TZVP methods to build the quantum chemical models of the reactions. We have developed a mechanism for the functioning of the catalytic system in which primary active centers are either binuclear {M(-OH)2M}n+ or polynuclear {M(μ-OH)2M(μ-OH)2M}2+ sites. Catalysts under consideration should retain stable spatial complementarity at all stages of the process. The main interrelated functions of the binuclear catalysts are the spatial approaching of anions RS– in the inner sphere of the bridged coordination compound required for the disulfide (–S–S–) cross-linking and the two-electron redox transfer during the transformation of these anions into disulfide (СH3)2S2
Coriandrum Sativum seeds as a green low-cost biosorbent for methylene blue dye removal from aqueous solution: spectroscopic, kinetic and thermodynamic studies
Authors: Kadiri Lamya , Ouass Abdelkarim , Essaadaoui Youness , Rifi El Housseine , Lebkiri Ahmed
Published: November 2018

Coriandrum sativum seeds (CSS) were investigated as a new eco-friendly and economic biosorbent for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye from synthetic solutions. First, the spectroscopic analyses were effectuated using FTIR and SEM to confirm the possibility of CSS to remove MB dye from aqueous solutions. The study of the influence of different parameters, such as contact time, CSS mass, solution pH, MB concentration, and temperature was realized and proved the rapid and efficient power adopted by CSS as a removal of the studied dye. Also, the regeneration study was effectuated for four cycles with excellent adsorption rates. The modeling studies revealed that the studied process obeys the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm model. The adsorption amount was found to be 107.53 mg/g. Finally, the determination of thermodynamic parameters indicated the exothermic and spontaneous type of the removal process of MB onto CSS.
Poverty and domestic violence and abuse (DVA) in the UK
Authors: Fahmy Eldin , Williamson Emma
Published: November 2018

This paper presents a narrative review of empirical evidence looking at connections between poverty and DVA. The findings presented includes social survey and qualitative evidence from the UK, and elsewhere where relevant, and is drawn from more than 80 research studies. The material was collated and supplemented by further secondary analysis of data collected as part of the 2012 UK Poverty and Social Exclusion Survey. Our review suggests that women experiencing poverty in the UK are more vulnerable to DVA, and this conclusion is consistent with wider international evidence. However, while associations clearly exist between poverty and DVA vulnerability, potential causal mechanisms are poorly understood and this reflects the limitations of existing data in this area. This paper highlights the need for further research exploring financial abuse within DVA relationships and post-separation financial abuse and poverty. Caution is needed in interpreting this relationship and drawing inferences for policy and practice. DVA is endemic throughout society in rich and poor countries, and interventions targeted at specific populations (including poverty) on their own are likely to be inadequate in the absence of a wider understanding of the social drivers of violence against women associated with patriarchal norms and practices in particular contexts.
Abused women’s perceptions of professionals’ responses: valued support, or collusion with perpetrator?
Authors: Neale Jo
Published: November 2018

Domestic violence and abuse (DVA) is recognised as a serious public health issue that detrimentally affects the lives of victims during, and after exiting, the relationship. For staff in overstretched criminal justice, health and social care agencies, high prevalence rates of DVA place a significant strain on the financial and emotional resources available to them. Drawing on Angie Ash’s (2013) concept of ‘cognitive masks’, and using data collected as part of a larger study, I examine the responses from agencies that frustrated women’s attempts to leave an abusive male partner. Fourteen women, recruited via three specialist support agencies in two English counties and my own personal networks, participated in semi-structured narrative style interviews. Findings suggest that practitioners sometimes ignore significant aspects of the case, thus rendering the situation more manageable – for themselves. For women, however, this can frustrate their attempts to exit the relationship and remain abuse-free.
An Automated Algorithm to Quantify Collagen Distribution in Aortic Wall
Authors: Nguyen Dustin M. , Wagenhäuser Markus U. , Mehrkens Dennis , Adam Matti , Tsao Philip S. , Ramasubramanian Anand K.
Published: November 2018

Arterial diseases including abdominal aortic aneurysm and atherosclerosis are biomechanical diseases characterized by significant changes in the structure and strength of the vessel wall. It is now established that local variations in fibrillar collagen and elastin matrix turnover is critical to arterial stiffening and progression of the disease. The collagen content in the aortic wall has nominally been quantified by biochemical assays and immunohistochemical analysis as the total amount because of the difficulty in separating the media and adventitia. In this work, we have developed an algorithm for automatic quantification of layer-specific collagen content from bright-field and polarized microscopic images of histological sections of mouse aorta stained with Picrosirius red (PSR) stain. The images were processed sequentially including separation of layers, erosion, segregation of regions, binarization, and quantification of pixel intensities to obtain collagen content in the media and adventitia separately. We observed that the automated algorithm rapidly and accurately quantified collagen content from a wide range of image quality compared with manual measurements particularly when the medial and adventitial layers overlap. Together, our algorithm will be of significant impact in the rapid, reliable, and accurate analyses of collagen distribution in histological sections of connective tissues.
Effect of feeding rice based distillers dried grains with solubles and gluten meal on nutrient transporter genes and immunity in broiler chickens
Authors: Dinani Om Prakash , Tyagi Pramod Kumar , Mandal Asit Baran , Tyagi Praveen Kumar , Popat Dukare Sagar , Tiwari Sita Prasad
Published: November 2018

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of feeding rice based distillers dried grains with solubles (rDDGS) and gluten meal on nutrient transporter genes and immunity in broiler chickens.

Materials and Methods: A 2×3 factorial design resulted in six experimental diets, namely T1 (no rDDGS/rice gluten meal [RGM]/enzyme), T2 (no rDDGS/RGM, with multienzymes), T3 (12.5% rDDGS, 15% RGM, no enzyme), T4 (12.5% rDDGS, 15% RGM, with protease enzyme), T5 (10% rDDGS, 12.5% RGM, no enzyme), and T6 (10% rDDGS, 12.5% RGM, with protease enzyme). Each treatment was allocated five replicates of chicks, with eight birds in each. Nutrient transporter genes such as Mucin (MUC 2), excitatory amino acid transporter 3 (EAAT3), and peptide transporter (PepT1) and immunity were estimated using standard procedures.

Results: Feeding rDDGS and RGM combination improved humoral immunity, while cell-mediated immunity did not show any significant (p>0.05) effect on broiler chickens. MUC and PepT1 genes showed significantly (p<0.01) decreased relative fold expression in 12.5% rDDGS +15% RGM combination, while EAAT3 gene showed significantly (p<0.01) decreased relative fold expression in both rDDGS and RGM combination levels.

Conclusion: Thus, it may be concluded that feeding rDDGS and RGM combination improved humoral immunity but had an adverse effect on nutrient transporter gene in broiler chickens.

Keywords: broiler, immunity, nutrient transporter genes, protease, rice distillers dried grains with solubles, rice gluten meal.
Hands on – Tools für aktivierende Methoden in Informationskompetenz-Schulungen
Authors: Krüger Nicole , Burblies Christine , Pianos Tamara
Published: November 2018

Neuere didaktische Ansätze legen häufig einen Fokus auf die aktive Beteiligung der Lernenden. Zu nennen sind hier z. B. dasLearner Centered Teaching, derFlipped ClassroomoderGamification. Es stellt sich die Frage, wie diese Techniken in Informationskompetenz-Kursen von kurzer Dauer oder mit größeren Gruppen eingesetzt werden können und ob dies in Hinblick auf den Lernerfolg sinnvoll ist. Der Artikel beleuchtet Gründe für den Einsatz aktivierender Methoden in Informationskompetenz-Schulungen und stellt verschiedene kostenlose Online-Tools und Gruppenübungen vor, die zur Aktivierung der Lernenden in Schulungen eingesetzt werden können. Die vorgestellten Tools eignen sich für Schulungen in öffentlichen und in wissenschaftlichen Bibliotheken.
Performance Analysis of Duobinary and CSRZ Modulation Based Polarization Interleaving for High-Speed WDM-FSO Transmission System
Authors: Zhou Zhenlei , Zhang Haiguang , Lin Chun , Sharma Abhishek
Published: November 2018

In this paper, the bit error rate (BER) performance of Duobinary (DB) is compared with carrier-suppressed return-to-zero (CSRZ) based polarization interleaving (PI) schemes for high-speed transmission system. The system is integrated with wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) scheme and PI scheme for free space optical communications (FSO). The simulation results show that DB offers betters BER performance compared to CSRZ in high-speed WDM-FSO-PI system.
Epigenetic modification, co-culture and genomic methods for natural product discovery
Authors: Akone Sergi Herve , Pham Cong-Dat , Chen Huiqin , Ola Antonius R. B. , Ntie-Kang Fidele , Proksch Peter
Published: November 2018

Fungi and bacteria are encountered in many habitats where they live in complex communities interacting with one another mainly by producing secondary metabolites, which are organic compounds that are not directly involved in the normal growth, development, or reproduction of the organism. These organisms appear as a promising source for the discovery of novel bioactive natural products that may find their application in medicine. However, the production of secondary metabolites by those organisms when cultured axenically is limited as only a subset of biosynthetic genes is expressed under standard laboratory conditions leading to the search of new methods for the activation of the silent genes including epigenetic modification and co-cultivation. Biosynthetic gene clusters which produce secondary metabolites are known to be present in a heterochromatin state in which the transcription of constitutive genes is usually regulated by epigenetic modification including DNA methylation and histone deacetylation. Therefore, small-molecule epigenetic modifiers which promote changes in the structure of chromatin could control the expression of silent genes and may be rationally employed for the discovery of novel bioactive compounds. Co-cultivation, which is also known as mixed-fermentation, usually implies two or more microorganisms in the same medium in which the resulting competition is known to enhance the production of constitutively present compounds and/or to lead to the induction of cryptic metabolites that were not detected in axenic cultures of the considered axenic microorganism. Genomic strategies could help to identify biosynthetic gene clusters in fungal genomes and link them to their products by the means of novel algorithms as well as integrative pan-genomic approaches. Despite that all these techniques are still in their infancy, they appear as promising sources for the discovery of new bioactive compounds. This chapter presents recent ecological techniques for the discovery of new secondary metabolites that might find application in medicine.
A Lonerganian-Bakhtinian novelization of inculturation
Authors: Orji Cyril
Published: November 2018

I wish to correlate Bernard Lonergan’s functional specialty Communications with Mikhail Bakhtin’s notion of novelistic discourse with the goal of teasing out how the Bakhtinian notion of discourse furthers on-going reflection on inculturation. Theology as a highly differentiated and specialized reflection on religion bears fruit in the final stage (Communications) of theological reflection. This fruit – inculturation – can be explained using different constructs. This paper privileges the Bakhtinian construct in that it addresses “the life and behavior of discourse in a contradictory and multi-languaged world” in ways that Lonergan’s differentiated and specialized reflection on theology accounts for multiplicity of cultural traditions in an ever-changing world church.
Literatura infanto-juvenil portuguesa: autores/as, géneros e tendências temáticas atuais
Authors: Gonçalves Soares Ana Rita
Published: November 2018

Neste estudo é apresentada uma seleção simplificada da produção literária para a infância e juventude realizada em Portugal, oferecendo uma perspetiva global sobre os/as autores/as, os géneros e as temáticas mais produtivas do período compreendido entre a década de 1970 e o início do século XXI.
El cambio de circuito lector. El ejemplo de "Mor una vida, es trenca un amor", de Joan Pla
Authors: Ivars Bertomeu Núria
Published: November 2018

Este artículo se encuadra dentro del área de trabajo de literatura catalana, más concretamente en el área temática de la literatura infantil y juvenil. Nuestra investigación tiene como objeto de estudio la obra Mor una vida, es trenca un amor, del autor valenciano Joan Pla, el best seller de la literatura para adolescentes en catalán al País Valenciano publicado en 1981 pero que se mantiene en la lectura recomendada después de múltiples reediciones. El objetivo de esta investigación es conocer e interpretar los cambios que se han ido introduciendo a lo largo de estos 30 años. Después de exponer cuales son los objetivos de nuestra búsqueda, establecemos el corpus de análisis, formado por las distintas ediciones del libro, una tarea que nos ha resultado difícil por la disparidad de los datos. A partir del marco metodológico, analizamos los paratextos exteriores e interiores y el relato para determinar las modificaciones que ha experimentado la obra desde la primera publicación hasta la última. Finalmente, concluimos con el análisis del circuito de lectura del libro.
Literatura portuguesa para a infância da década de 60 e inícios dos anos 70 do século XX-alguns contributos
Authors: Silva Sara Raquel Duarte Reis da
Published: November 2018

A partir de uma delimitação cronológica ou da fixação de um período particular, política e socialmente relevante em Portugal, correspondente aos últimos anos de governação ditatorial de António de Oliveira Salazar, reflecte-se e estipulam-se algumas coordenadas (autorais e/ou estético-literárias) que contribuem para um “desenho” da história da literatura portuguesa para a infância. Percorrendo os principais nomes e respectivas obras, avançam-se as mais relevantes singularidades isotópicas e técnico-expressivas, por exemplo. Procura-se, assim, caracterizar uma época literária e preencher um certo vazio que continua a pautar a historiografia literária referente à escrita especialmente vocacionada para o leitor infantil.
O lugar do(s) cânone(s) na formação dos sistemas literários infantil e juvenil brasileiros
Authors: Dias Ana Crelia Penha , E Souza Raquel Cristina de Souza
Published: November 2018

Os sistemas literários infantil e juvenil, no curso de sua formação e autonomização, ao mesmo tempo em que reproduzem no seu interior a lógica da consagração estética – que rivaliza com critérios didáticos e comerciais na construção de listas de referência –, funcionam à margem da literatura considerada oficial (ou adulta). Por isso, converte-se num campo fecundo para discutirmos algumas questões concernentes à relação entre literatura, cânone e formação do leitor, com ênfase ma produção brasileira para crianças e jovens.
Narrativas juvenis: o fenómeno “crossover” na literatura portuguesa e brasileira
Authors: Ramos Ana Margarida , Navas Diana
Published: November 2018

O presente artigo pretende dar conta de como o fenómeno da literatura ‘crossover’ – em progressiva expansão na literatura infantojuvenil atual – se evidencia nas literaturas contemporâneas no Brasil e em Portugal. Almeja-se demonstrar como os temas fraturantes, a opção por uma narrativa não linear, a linguagem e o registo contribuem para a sofisticação do romance crossover contemporâneo, tomando como corpus as narrativas Aos 7 e aos 40, de João Anzanello Carrascoza, e Irmão Lobo, de Carla Maia de Almeida, as quais se revelam como obras que ultrapassam o endereçamento a um público específico.
Aspectos diacrónicos de la fraseología: análisis comparado de dos construcciones con venga/vinga en castellano y catalán
Authors: Garnes Tarazona Inmaculada
Published: November 2018

En este trabajo analizamos el paralelismo cronológico en la aparición de dos construcciones fraseológicas con el mismo significado semántico-pragmático en castellano peninsular y catalán: venga/vinga (a) + infinitivo y venga/vinga (de) + sustantivo. En el plano semántico, estas construcciones intensifican la iteración de la acción (junto a un infinitivo) y la cantidad nominal (junto a un sustantivo). La función pragmática es la de aportar una valoración negativa o una queja por parte del hablante. El análisis a partir de corpus históricos profundiza en la diacronía de las construcciones en catalán y compara los datos con los obtenidos en Garnes (2014, 2015) para las mismas construcciones en castellano. Los resultados muestran que la aparición de estas estructuras se documenta en catalán varias décadas antes que en castellano.
Wolbachia Infection Associated with Increased Recombination inDrosophila
Authors: Singh Nadia D
Published: November 2018

Wolbachia is a maternally-transmitted endosymbiotic bacteria that infects a large diversity of arthropod and nematode hosts. Some strains of Wolbachia are parasitic, manipulating host reproduction to benefit themselves, while other strains of Wolbachia exhibit obligate or facultative mutualisms with their host. The effects of Wolbachia on its host are many, though primarily relate to host immune and reproductive function. Here we test the hypothesis that Wolbachia infection alters the frequency of homologous recombination during meiosis. We use D. melanogaster as a model system, and survey recombination in eight wild-derived Wolbachia-infected (strain wMel) and Wolbachia-uninfected strains, controlling for genotype. We measure recombination in two intervals of the genome. Our results indicate that Wolbachia infection is associated with increased recombination in one genomic interval and not the other. The effect of Wolbachia infection on recombination is thus heterogenous across the genome. Our data also indicate a reproductive benefit of Wolbachia infection; infected females show higher fecundity than their uninfected genotypic controls. Given the prevalence of Wolbachia infection in natural populations, our findings suggest that Wolbachia infection is likely to contribute to recombination rate and fecundity variation among individuals in nature.
Adherence of Newborn-Specific Antibiotic Stewardship Programs to CDC Recommendations
Authors: Ho Timmy , Buus-Frank Madge E. , Edwards Erika M. , Morrow Kate A. , Ferrelli Karla , Srinivasan Arjun , Pollock Daniel A. , Dukhovny Dmitry , Zupancic John A.F. , Pursley DeWayne M. , Soll Roger F. , Horbar Jeffrey D.
Published: November 2018

BACKGROUND:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the Core Elements of Hospital Antibiotic Stewardship Programs (ASPs), while the Choosing Wisely for Newborn Medicine Top 5 list identified antibiotic therapy as an area of overuse. We identify the baseline prevalence and makeup of newborn-specific ASPs and assess the variability of NICU antibiotic use rates (AURs).

METHODS:

Data were collected using a cross-sectional audit of Vermont Oxford Network members in February 2016. Unit measures were derived from the 7 domains of the CDC’s Core Elements of Hospital ASPs, including leadership commitment, accountability, drug expertise, action, tracking, reporting, and education. Patient-level measures included patient demographics, indications, and reasons for therapy. An AUR, defined as the number of infants who are on antibiotic therapy divided by the census that day, was calculated for each unit.

RESULTS:

Overall, 143 centers completed structured self-assessments. No center addressed all 7 core elements. Of the 7, only accountability (55%) and drug expertise (62%) had compliance >50%. Centers audited 4127 infants for current antibiotic exposure. There were 725 infants who received antibiotics, for a hospital median AUR of 17% (interquartile range 10%–26%). Of the 412 patients on >48 hours of antibiotics, only 26% (107 out of 412) had positive culture results.

CONCLUSIONS:

Significant gaps exist between CDC recommendations to improve antibiotic use and antibiotic practices during the newborn period. There is wide variation in point prevalence AURs. Three-quarters of infants who received antibiotics for >48 hours did not have infections proven by using cultures.
Minister to Their Instruction: Revisiting the Minister-Vaccinator Rowland Hill
Authors: Williams Joshua T.B. , Nussbaum Abraham M.
Published: November 2018

Rowland Hill was a 19th century Methodist minister-vaccinator whose legacy challenges the popular conflict narrative between science and religion.
Isolation of Shiga toxin-producing strains of Escherichia coli from beef and swine carcasses and the characterization of their genes
Authors: Berhilevych O. М. , Kasianchuk V. V. , Deriabin O. M. , Kukhtyn M. D.
Published: November 2018

Escherichia coli is part of the normal microflora of the intestinal tract of humans and warm-blooded animals, but its presence in raw material and food of animal origin is considered as fecal contamination and can be very dangerous for consumers. The determination of the number of E. coli in raw material and food is important because among them can be pathogenic strains. The most dangerous strains are considered enterohemorrhagic E. coli as a causative agent of severe bloody diarrhea and hemorrhagic uremic syndrome in humans through the production of Shiga-toxin, which is the main virulence factor, responsible for disease. The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing strains of E. coli (STEC) from swabs of beef and swine carcass in slaughterhouses in Ukraine and characterize their genes, which are responsible for pathogenic properties. A total of 230 samples of swabs from beef (130) and swine (100) carcasses were obtained from 5 slaughterhouses in Ukraine between 2012 and 2015. Samples of swabs from carcasses were randomly selected at the final point of the process after the final washing of the carcass from the following areas: distal hind limb, abdomen (lateral and medial) from swine carcasses, brisket, flank and flank groin areas from beef carcasses. All samples were examined by culture-dependent method, after that each positive isolate of STEC was analyzed by multiplex PCR to detect the stx1, stx2, and eae genes. Out of 230 collected samples, seven (7.2%) were contaminated with STEC. The highest prevalence of STEC was found in swabs from beef carcasses (8.1%) in comparison to swabs from swine carcasses (5.7%). The stx1 gene was the predominant gene detected in all STEC positive samples. The eae gene was found in one of the examined isolates from beef carcass. Three isolates from swabs of beef carcass carried both stx1 and stx2 genes, one isolate showed association between stx1 and eae genes, one isolate was positive for stx1 gene only. In swabs from swine carcasses (2 isolates) stx1 and stx2 genes were presented simultaneously. The results of this study suggested that fresh raw meat could be a potential vehicle for transmission of the Shiga toxin-producing strain of E. coli to humans. This is the first report of STEC prevalence in beef and swine carcasses in Ukraine and these data will be valuable for microbiological risk assessment and help the appropriate services to develop strategies to mitigate health risk.
Effect of trypanosomiasis on hematologic characteristics of bream (Abramis brama)
Authors: Lapirova T. B. , Zabotkina E. A.
Published: November 2018

Trypanosomes are flagellated protozoa; they parasitize in the blood of a wide range of vertebrates and invertebrates, including fish, for which leeches are carriers. The metabolites released by trypanosomes are toxic to the host, cause disruption of homeostasis, which leads to illness and even death. Parasites in fish living in hot climates are the most common and better studied. Trypanosomes were first detected in common bream (Abramis brama L.) from the Uglich Reservoir (Upper Volga) in August 2015. The aim of this work is to study the effect of these parasites on the hematological parameters of the fish. As a control, blood indices of uninfected fish were used. The condition factor of infected fish did not differ from that of healthy fish. There were no significant differences between the two groups of fish in contents of total serum protein and glycemia. This may indicate a low level of bream parasitemia. At the same time, a significant increase in the leukocyte abundance index was detected, which indirectly indicates an increase in the number of these cells in the infected fish compared with the control ones, statistically significant differences were found in the leukogram: the proportion of eosinophils in the diseased fish increased almost 6 times while the relative number of lymphocytes decreased. The pattern of red blood also changed: the proportion of immature erythrocytes increased in the infected fish; a small number of microcytes and amitoses of erythrocytes and differences in the cytometric characteristics of red blood cells were found. The level of hemoglobin significantly decreased. A sharp increase in the content of circulating immune complexes indicates a shift in antigenic homeostasis caused by the presence of parasites. A similarity in the reaction of a number of indicators of the blood system of bream with trypanosomiasis to that of animals of higher systematic groups was revealed. The interpretation of the results obtained during the study of the effect of parasites on the host organism requires consideration of its physiological status and habitat conditions, the stage of the disease and the mechanism of adaptation of the parasite to the host defense system.