bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of oral nutrition in patients after radical cystectomy: an overview
Authors: Villa Giulia , Bresciani Martina , Boarin Mattia , Manara Duilio F.
Published: September 2017

Nutritional status is considered a significant factor determining the post‐operative outcomes after RC. The aim of this literature review is to describe the impact of early oral nutrition on functional outcomes in patients underwent cystectomy. Usually, these patients are not fed orally until the return of gastrointestinal function, because early oral nutrition is often perceived as detrimental for the anastomosis integrity and is believed to cause nausea and vomiting. This phase of nutritional deprivation may vary from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the return of bowel movements. In clinical practice, patients are fed on a substitutive nutritional support based on the use of total parenteral nutrition or enteral nutrition, which have not demonstrated positive effects on bowel function recovery time, infection complication rates or length of hospital stay. The early introduction of oral feeding seems to allow early mobilization and to lead to an improvement of post‐operative outcomes: bowel functions, pain, complications, patient's comfort and length of hospital stay. The early implementation of oral diet after cystectomy is associated with an improvement of considered outcomes, allowing an early recovery of patient's general conditions and reducing length of hospital stay.
School Breakfast Program Participation and Rural Adolescents' Purchasing Behaviors in Food Stores and Restaurants
Authors: Caspi Caitlin Eicher , Wang Qi , Shanafelt Amy , Larson Nicole , Wei Susan , Hearst Mary O. , Nanney Marilyn S.
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND

Little is known about adolescents' food purchasing behaviors in rural areas. This study examined whether purchasing food at stores/restaurants around schools was related to adolescents' participation in school breakfast programs and overall diet in rural Minnesota.

METHODS

Breakfast‐skippers enrolled in a group‐randomized intervention in 2014 to 2015 (N = 404 from 8 schools) completed 24‐hour dietary recalls and pre/post surveys assessing food establishment purchase frequency. Healthy Eating Index Scores (HEI‐2010) were calculated for each student. Student‐level school breakfast participation (SBP) was obtained from school food service records. Mixed‐effects regression models estimated: (1) whether SBP was associated with store/restaurant use at baseline, (2) whether an increase in SBP was associated with a decrease in store/restaurant use, and (3) whether stores/restaurant use was associated with HEI‐2010 scores at baseline.

RESULTS

Students with increased SBP were more likely to decrease fast‐food restaurant purchases on the way home from school (OR 1.017, 95% CI 1.005, 1.029), but were less likely to decrease purchases at food stores for breakfast (OR 0.979, 95% CI 0.959, 0.999). Food establishment use was associated with lower HEI‐2010 dairy component scores (p = .017).

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing participation in school breakfast may result in modest changes in purchases at food establishments.
Relationship Between Adherence to Individual Goals Within the 5‐2‐1‐0 Guidelines for Obesity Prevention and Number of PACER Laps in Adolescents
Authors: Cho Kibum , Jones Emily , Lilly Christa , Bulger Sean , Braga Luciana , Elliott Eloise
Published: September 2017

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between adolescents' adherence to the 5‐2‐1‐0 goals and the number of completed Progressive Cardiovascular Endurance Run (PACER) laps.

METHODS

Participants included 1792 students aged 10 to 16 years who were randomly selected across 9 data collection periods between 2012 and 2014. The Survey of Physical Activity and Nutrition was used to measure time spent in physical activity and sedentary behavior, and dietary intake and the dependent variable was the number of PACER laps achieved. The Kruskal‐Wallis test and pairwise post hoc comparisons were conducted.

RESULTS

Only 0.95% (N = 17) participants met all 4 goals outlined within the 5‐2‐1‐0 guidelines. Whereas 10.04% met 3 (N = 180), 41.63% met 2 (N = 746), 34.99% met 1 (N = 627), and 12.39% did not meet any goals (N = 222). Pairwise comparisons indicated there were significant differences: between groups not meeting any of the 5‐2‐1‐0 goals and other groups (meeting one goal [p = .000], 2 goals [p = .000], 3 goals [p = .000], and all 4 [p = .008]).

CONCLUSIONS

The positive relationship between PACER laps and adherence to the 5‐2‐1‐0 goals suggests targeted and sequential behavioral changes may have positive implications on adolescents' cardiovascular fitness and body mass index.
What proportion of paediatric specialist referrals originates from general practitioners?
Authors: Kunin Marina , Turbitt Erin , Gafforini Sarah A , Sanci Lena A , Spike Neil A , Freed Gary L
Published: September 2017

Aim

To determine (i) the proportion of different referral sources for new referrals to paediatric specialist outpatient clinics and (ii) any association of referral source with utilisation of additional health services.

Methods

Survey of parents presenting with their child at five paediatric specialist outpatient clinics at two Melbourne public hospitals.

Results

Just over half (52%) of the respondents were referred by a general practitioner (GP). The remainder were referred by a paediatrician (27%) at hospital discharge (16%) or from the ED (6%). Most respondents (71%) reported that their child also has a referral to see another specialist for the same health concern but had not yet had the consultation; 44% had consulted another doctor for the same health concern between receiving the referral and the appointment. Paediatrician referrals were more likely to see another specialist for the same health concern compared to other referral sources (P = 0.032).

Conclusion

Only half of the referrals of new patients to paediatric specialist outpatient clinics come from GPs. Future research should investigate whether multiple referral sources have a negative impact on the co‐ordination and cost of paediatric health care.
Bisphosphonate therapy and osteogenesis imperfecta: The lived experience of children and their mothers
Authors: Wiggins Shirley , Kreikemeier Rose
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is a chronic, genetic condition frequently described as “brittle bones.” This condition is expressed by low bone density and characterized by frequent fractures with and without trauma. Additional symptoms include pain, altered growth, and challenges with mobility. This experience has a great impact on the daily life of the child diagnosed with OI and their family. With the introduction of bisphosphonate therapy children diagnosed with OI experienced an increase in bone density that included a change in symptoms and improvement in daily functioning. The purpose of this study was to describe the lived experience of children receiving bisphosphonate therapy for osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) and their mothers.

Design and Methods

A phenomenological study was conducted using interviews with a purposive sample of six children diagnosed with OI and their six mothers (N = 12). Children ranged in age from 6 to 18 years. The Giorgi (2009) methodology was used to discover the meaning of living day to day since initiating the bisphosphonate infusion therapy.

Results

Four themes emerged from the synthesis of the meaning units that reflected the experience that bisphosphonate therapy had on daily life with OI. These four themes explicitly described the phenomena being studied and included living daily life in stride; normalcy is living with uncertainty; renewal with infusions; and making choices and living with the consequences.

Practice Implications

Nurses must take an active role in developing and promoting family‐centered interventions for transition and support.
Tax Evasion in Firms
Authors: Barth Erling , Ognedal Tone
Published: September 2017

Tax evasion is low in many countries because third‐party reporting makes employees unable to cheat. Why do not employees collude with their employer to evade taxes or evade as self‐employed? We explain this puzzle in a model in which employees have both options. A trade‐off between large‐scale efficient production and tax evasion implies that tax evasion per employee is decreasing in firm size. The model predicts that there is a gap between the individually and the collectively optimal evasion in firms and that this gap is increasing in firm size. Using survey data, we find support for both predictions.
Spinal Cord Stimulator Explantation: Motives for Removal of Surgically Placed Paddle Systems
Authors: Dupré Derrick A. , Tomycz Nestor , Whiting Donald , Oh Michael
Published: September 2017

Background

Despite requiring successful trials prior to implantation, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) systems for pain are often later removed. Removing surgically implanted hardware subjects patients to the risks and discomfort of a second surgery, threatens the cost‐effectiveness of SCS, and limits the perceived durability of SCS technology for pain problems.

Objective

To investigate patterns of reasons given among patients who underwent SCS explant surgery (SCSES).

Methods

Retrospective review of SCSES cases over 17 years at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA.

Results

165 patients underwent SCSES between 1997 and 2014. The top 3 reasons for explantation were inadequate pain control (IPC; 73%), hardware discomfort (22%), and need for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) (10%). Other less frequent reasons were infection (9%), painful dysesthesias (9%), electrical arcing (4%), resolution of inciting symptoms (4%), weakness (2%), pseudomeningocele (1%) and muscle spasms (1%).

Conclusion

Inadequate pain control is the most common reason for SCSES. Advances in technology are needed to improve the quality and duration of pain control, as well as to design improvements to make the hardware more comfortable. A significant number of implants are removed due to need for MRI, a fact obviating the need for MRI‐compatible systems. Patients considering SCS paddle lead placement should be counseled on the most common reasons for later explantation.
Chronic myocarditis with a long clinical course: Report of an autopsy case of probable autoimmune myocarditis
Authors: Shintaku Masayuki , Uchiyama Koji , Kobayashi Yohei
Published: September 2017

The patient was a 54‐year‐old woman, who died of chronic cardiac insufficiency after a clinical course of 2 years and 4 months. She had complained of myalgia, muscle weakness, and blepharoptosis before the onset of cardiac symptoms, but there was no evidence of myasthenia gravis or collagen‐vascular diseases. At autopsy, the heart (280 g) showed marked dilatation of the four chambers and thinning of the ventricular walls. Diffuse and intense lymphocytic infiltration and extensive fibrosis were noted, with the latter being accentuated in the subendocardial and subepicardial zones. Small foci of myocardial necrosis were scattered and a small number of multinucleated giant cells were found, but epithelioid cell granulomas, Aschoff's nodules, and viral inclusion bodies were not observed. Some cardiomyocytes showed the aberrant expression of the HLA‐DR antigen. No viral genomes were detected in myocardial tissue using a multivirus real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The protracted clinical course, presence of active inflammatory changes at autopsy, expression of the HLA‐DR antigen on cardiomyocytes, and absence of viral genomes in myocardial tissue suggest that autoimmune mechanisms played an important role in the pathogenesis and persistence of myocarditis in this patient.
A Research on Book Reading Habits of Turkish Teachers
Authors: Akçay Ahmet
Published: September 2017

Reading is the act of understanding and interpreting itself and its surroundings from the moment that human being is present. Therefore, individuals those who would like to know the environment better should have gained the reading habit. Turkish teachers are one of the effective factors in the acquisition of reading habits. It is necessary for the Turkish teachers who are role-models in every sense to be an example in reading books and encourage them. The purpose of this research is to examine the reading habits of Turkish teachers. In the study, the screening model was pursued with purpose of the determine the reading habits of Turkish teachers. As for that the sample of the research, is consist of 92 Turkish Teachers. By using easily accessible sampling method in the study, the teachers, who are on duty in these two countries, have been involved in the study. In order to collect data in the study, "Personal Information Form", where 4 questions about teachers 'personal information were prepared, and prepared "Reading Habit Form", which was used to describe teachers' reading habits, were being used. As a result of the study, it has been determined that Turkish teachers read regular books, have limited time to read daily books, prefer literary works to read frequently, do not follow any newspaper or magazine, and can not allocate the necessary budget for the book.
New and interesting moss mites (Acari, Oribatida) from South Africa, with description of two new species
Authors: Ermilov Sergey G. , Hugo-Coetzee Elizabeth A. , Theron Pieter D.
Published: September 2017

The present study is based on oribatid mite material (Acari, Oribatida) collected from moss (Sphagnum sp.) on the seepage area below a permanent spring in South Africa. A list of identified taxa, including 17 species from 15 genera and 11 families, is presented; of these, six species (Haplochthonius simplex, Trhypochthoniellus longisetus, Tyrphonothrus maior, Neoamerioppia polygonata, Trachyoribates ovulum, Trichogalumna nipponica) and three genera (Haplochthonius, Trhypochthoniellus, Trachyoribates) are recorded in the fauna of this country for the first time, and three species (Malaconothrus hexasetosus, Mucronothrus braziliensis, Limnozetes ciliatus,), three genera (Mucronothrus, Limnozetes, Nesozetes) and one family (Nesozetidae) are recorded in the Ethiopian region for the first time. Two new species belonging to the genera Trhypochthoniellus and Hydrozetes are described. Trhypochthoniellus malaconothroiformis sp. nov. differs from the morphologically most similar species, Trhypochthoniellus ramosus Hammer, 1982 by the absence of strongly branched notogastral and leg setae, and the presence of seven pairs of genital setae. Hydrozetes sphagnicolus sp. nov. differs from all known species of Hydrozetes by the much longer notogastral setae with attenuate tips.
Thermoelectric and optical properties of advanced thermoelectric devices from Ni/Bi2Te3/Ni and Ni/Sb2Te3/Ni thin films
Authors: Budak Satilmis , Xiao Zhigang , Cole Jorden , Price Dennis , Davis Tyler , Strong Tiara , Alim Mohammad A.
Published: September 2017

Thermoelectric devices were prepared from Ni/Bi2Te3/Ni and Ni/Sb2Te3/Ni thin films using both direct current/radio-frequency magnetron sputtering and E-beam deposition systems. Thermoelectric thin film devices were annealed at different temperatures to form nanostructures in the multilayer thin films for 1 h to increase both the Seebeck coefficients and the electrical conductivity and decrease the thermal conductivity. The highest Seebeck coefficient of −437.78 μV/K for Ni/Bi2Te3/Ni thin films was achieved when the fabricated thin film device was annealed at 300 °C. The highest electrical conductivity of σ = 4.26 × 106 (Ω m)−1 for Ni/Bi2Te3/Ni thin films was achieved when the sample was annealed at 100 °C, and then the electrical conductivity decreases when the annealing continues. The highest Seebeck coefficient of −1253.85 μV/K for the Ni/Sb2Te3/Ni thin films was achieved when the fabricated devices were annealed at 200 °C. The highest electrical conductivity value of σ = 1.45 × 104 (Ω m)−1 was achieved for the Ni/Sb2Te3/Ni thin films when the sample was annealed at 250 °C. A scanning electron microscope with an energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer (SEM) shows that there is some nanodot formation at the surface of the Ni thin film when Ni/Bi2Te3/Ni was annealed continuously at different temperatures between 0 and 300 °C. Ni/Sb2Te3/Ni thin films show smooth surfaces when they were annealed at different temperatures between 0 and 300 °C.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Sensitizes Anoxic Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilm to Ciprofloxacin
Authors: Kolpen Mette , Lerche Christian J. , Kragh Kasper N. , Sams Thomas , Koren Klaus , Jensen Anna S. , Line Laura , Bjarnsholt Thomas , Ciofu Oana , Moser Claus , Kühl Michael , Høiby Niels , Jensen Peter Ø.
Published: September 2017

Chronic
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
lung infection is characterized by the presence of endobronchial antibiotic-tolerant biofilm, which is subject to strong oxygen (O
2
) depletion due to the activity of surrounding polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The exact mechanisms affecting the antibiotic susceptibility of biofilms remain unclear, but accumulating evidence suggests that the efficacy of several bactericidal antibiotics is enhanced by stimulation of aerobic respiration of pathogens, while lack of O
2
increases their tolerance. In fact, the bactericidal effect of several antibiotics depends on active aerobic metabolism activity and the endogenous formation of reactive O
2
radicals (ROS). In this study, we aimed to apply hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) to sensitize anoxic
P. aeruginosa
agarose biofilms established to mimic situations with intense O
2
consumption by the host response in the cystic fibrosis (CF) lung. Application of HBOT resulted in enhanced bactericidal activity of ciprofloxacin at clinically relevant durations and was accompanied by indications of restored aerobic respiration, involvement of endogenous lethal oxidative stress, and increased bacterial growth. The findings highlight that oxygenation by HBOT improves the bactericidal activity of ciprofloxacin on
P. aeruginosa
biofilm and suggest that bacterial biofilms are sensitized to antibiotics by supplying hyperbaric O
2
.
Mycobacterium abscessus WhiB7 Regulates a Species-Specific Repertoire of Genes To Confer Extreme Antibiotic Resistance
Authors: Hurst-Hess Kelley , Rudra Paulami , Ghosh Pallavi
Published: September 2017

Mycobacterium abscessus
causes acute and chronic bronchopulmonary infection in patients with chronic lung damage, of which cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are particularly vulnerable. The major threat posed by this organism is its high intrinsic antibiotic resistance. A typical treatment regimen involves a 6- to 12-month-long combination therapy of clarithromycin and amikacin, with cure rates below 50% and multiple side effects, especially due to amikacin. In the present work, we show that
M. abscessus
whiB7
, a homologue of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
and
Mycobacterium smegmatis whiB7
with previously demonstrated effects on intrinsic antibiotic resistance, is strongly induced when exposed to clinically relevant antibiotics that target the ribosome: erythromycin, clarithromycin, amikacin, tetracycline, and spectinomycin. The deletion of
M. abscessus
whiB7
results in sensitivity to all of the above-mentioned antibiotics. Further, we have defined and compared the
whiB7
regulon of
M. abscessus
with the closely related nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM)
M. smegmatis
to demonstrate the induction of a species-specific repertoire of genes. Finally, we show that one such gene,
eis2
, is specifically induced in
M. abscessus
by
whiB7
and contributes to its higher levels of intrinsic amikacin resistance. This species-specific pattern of gene induction might account for the differences in drug susceptibilities to other antibiotics and between different mycobacterial species.
Immunodeficiency and Intermittent Dosing Promote Acquired Rifamycin Monoresistance in Murine Tuberculosis
Authors: Park Sang-Won , Tasneen Rokeya , Converse Paul J. , Nuermberger Eric L.
Published: September 2017

More-permissive preclinical models may be useful in evaluating antituberculosis regimens for their propensity to select drug-resistant mutants. To evaluate whether acquired rifamycin monoresistance could be recapitulated in mice and, if so, to evaluate the effects of immunodeficiency, intermittent dosing, and drug exposures, athymic nude and BALB/c mice were infected. Controls received daily rifapentine alone or 2 months of rifampin, isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol, followed by 4 months of rifampin/isoniazid, either daily or twice weekly with one of two isoniazid doses. Test groups received the same intensive regimen followed by once-weekly rifapentine or isoniazid/rifapentine with rifapentine doses of 10, 15, or 20 mg/kg of body weight plus one of two isoniazid doses. All combination regimens rendered BALB/c mouse cultures negative but selected mutants resistant to isoniazid (8.5%, 12/140) or rifampin (3.5%, 5/140) in nude mice (
P
< 0.001). Intermittently dosed intensive-phase therapy selected isoniazid and rifampin resistance in 10% (8/80,
P
< 0.001) and 20% (16/80,
P
= 0.009) of nude mice, respectively, compared to 0% treated with a daily regimen. Once-weekly rifapentine-containing continuation-phase regimens selected rifampin-resistant mutants at a rate of 18.0% (18/100,
P
= 0.035 compared to rifampin/isoniazid regimens). Higher isoniazid doses in the intermittent-treatment control regimen and higher rifapentine doses in once-weekly regimens were associated with less selection of isoniazid resistance. Acquired resistance, including rifamycin monoresistance, was more likely to occur in nude mice despite administration of combination therapy. These results recapitulate clinical outcomes and indicate that nude mice may be useful for evaluating the ability of novel regimens to prevent the selection of resistance.
Salmonella Utilizes Zinc To Subvert Antimicrobial Host Defense of Macrophages via Modulation of NF-κB Signaling
Authors: Wu Aimin , Tymoszuk Piotr , Haschka David , Heeke Simon , Dichtl Stefanie , Petzer Verena , Seifert Markus , Hilbe Richard , Sopper Sieghart , Talasz Heribert , Bumann Dirk , Lass-Flörl Cornelia , Theurl Igor , Zhang Keying , Weiss Guenter
Published: September 2017

Zinc sequestration by macrophages is considered a crucial host defense strategy against infection by the intracellular bacterium
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we found that zinc favors pathogen survival within macrophages.
Salmonella
-hosting macrophages contained higher free zinc levels than did uninfected macrophages and cells that successfully eliminated bacteria, which was paralleled by the impaired production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in bacterium-harboring cells. A profound, zinc-mediated inhibition of NF-κB p65 transcriptional activity affecting the expression of the ROS- and RNS-forming enzymes phos47 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) provided a mechanistic explanation for this phenomenon. Macrophages responded to infection by enhancing the expression of zinc-scavenging metallothioneins 1 and 2, whose genetic deletion caused increased free zinc levels, reduced ROS and RNS production, and increased the survival of
Salmonella
. Our data suggest that
Salmonella
invasion of macrophages results in a bacterium-driven increase in the intracellular zinc level, which weakens antimicrobial defense and the ability of macrophages to eradicate the pathogen. Thus, limitation of cytoplasmic zinc levels may help to control infection by intracellular bacteria.
Modulation of CD4
+
and CD8
+
T Cell Function and Cytokine Responses in Strongyloides stercoralis Infection by Interleukin-27 (IL-27) and IL-37
Authors: Anuradha Rajamanickam , Munisankar Saravanan , Bhootra Yukthi , Dolla Chandrakumar , Kumaran Paul , Nutman Thomas B. , Babu Subash
Published: September 2017

Strongyloides stercoralis
infection is associated with diminished antigen-specific Th1- and Th17-associated responses and enhanced Th2-associated responses. Interleukin-27 (IL-27) and IL-37 are two known anti-inflammatory cytokines that are highly expressed in
S. stercoralis
infection. We therefore wanted to examine the role of IL-27 and IL-37 in regulating CD4
+
and CD8
+
T cell responses in
S. stercoralis
infection. To this end, we examined the frequency of Th1/Tc1, Th2/Tc2, Th9/Tc9, Th17/Tc17, and Th22/Tc22 cells in 15
S. stercoralis
-infected individuals and 10 uninfected individuals stimulated with parasite antigen following IL-27 or IL-37 neutralization. We also examined the production of prototypical type 1, type 2, type 9, type 17, and type 22 cytokines in the whole-blood supernatants. Our data reveal that IL-27 or IL-37 neutralization resulted in significantly enhanced frequencies of Th1/Tc1, Th2/Tc2, Th17/Tc17, Th9, and Th22 cells with parasite antigen stimulation. There was no induction of any T cell response in uninfected individuals following parasite antigen stimulation and IL-27 or IL-37 neutralization. Moreover, we also observed increased production of gamma interferon (IFN-γ), IL-5, IL-9, IL-17, and IL-22 and decreased production of IL-10 following IL-27 and IL-37 neutralization and parasite antigen stimulation in whole-blood cultures. Thus, we demonstrate that IL-27 and IL-37 limit the induction of particular T cell subsets along with cytokine responses in
S. stercoralis
infections, which suggest the importance of IL-27 and IL-37 in immune modulation in a chronic helminth infection.
Defining the Mechanical Determinants of Kingella kingae Adherence to Host Cells
Authors: Kern Brad K. , Porsch Eric A. , St. Geme Joseph W.
Published: September 2017

Kingella kingae
is an important pathogen in young children and initiates infection by colonizing the posterior pharynx. Adherence to pharyngeal epithelial cells is an important first step in the process of colonization. In the present study, we sought to elucidate the interplay of type IV pili (T4P), a trimeric autotransporter adhesin called Knh, and the polysaccharide capsule in
K. kingae
adherence to host cells. Using adherence assays performed under shear stress, we observed that a strain expressing only Knh was capable of higher levels of adherence than a strain expressing only T4P. Using atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we established that the capsule had a mean depth of 700 nm and that Knh was approximately 110 nm long. Using cationic ferritin capsule staining and thin-section transmission electron microscopy, we found that when bacteria expressing retractile T4P were in close contact with host cells, the capsule was absent at the point of contact between the bacterium and the host cell membrane. In a T4P retraction-deficient mutant, the capsule depth remained intact and adherence levels were markedly reduced. These results support the following model: T4P make initial contact with the host cell and mediate low-strength adherence. T4P retract, pulling the organism closer to the host cell and displacing the capsule, allowing Knh to be exposed and mediate high-strength, tight adherence to the host cell surface. This report provides the first description of the mechanical displacement of capsule enabling intimate bacterial adherence to host cells.

IMPORTANCE
Adherence to host cells is an important first step in bacterial colonization and pathogenicity.
Kingella kingae
has three surface factors that are involved in adherence: type IV pili (T4P), a trimeric autotransporter adhesin called Knh, and a polysaccharide capsule. Our results suggest that T4P mediate initial contact and low-strength adherence to host cells. T4P retraction draws the bacterium closer to the host cell and causes the displacement of capsule. This displacement exposes Knh and allows Knh to mediate high-strength adherence to the host cell. This work provides new insight into the interplay of T4P, a nonpilus adhesin, and a capsule and their effects on bacterial adherence to host cells.
Extracellular SalB Contributes to Intrinsic Cephalosporin Resistance and Cell Envelope Integrity in Enterococcus faecalis
Authors: Djorić Dušanka , Kristich Christopher J.
Published: September 2017

Enterococci are major causes of hospital-acquired infections. Intrinsic resistance to cephalosporins is a universal trait among clinically relevant enterococci. Cephalosporin resistance enables enterococci to proliferate to high densities in the intestines of patients undergoing cephalosporin treatment, a precursor to the emergence of infection. However, the genetic and biochemical mechanisms of intrinsic cephalosporin resistance in enterococci are not well understood. A two-component signal transduction system, CroR/S, is required for cephalosporin resistance in enterococci. Although the CroR/S regulon is not well defined, one gene reported to be CroR dependent in
Enterococcus faecalis
JH2-2 encodes an extracellular putative peptidoglycan hydrolase, SalB. To test the hypothesis that SalB is responsible for CroR-dependent cephalosporin resistance, we examined Δ
salB
mutants in multiple genetic lineages of
E. faecalis
, revealing that SalB is required not only for intrinsic cephalosporin resistance but also for maintenance of cell envelope integrity in the absence of antibiotic stress. The N-terminal signal sequence is necessary for SalB secretion, and secretion is required for SalB to promote cephalosporin resistance. Functional dissection revealed that the C-terminal SCP domain of SalB is essential for biological activity and identified three residues within the SCP domain that are required for the stability and function of SalB. Additionally, we found that in contrast to what is seen in
E. faecalis
JH2-2, SalB is not regulated by the CroR/S two-component system in
E. faecalis
OG1, suggesting diversity in the CroR/S regulon among distinct lineages of
E. faecalis
.

IMPORTANCE
Resistance to cephalosporins is universal among clinically relevant enterococci, enabling enterococcal proliferation to high densities in the intestines of patients undergoing cephalosporin treatment, a precursor to the emergence of infection. Disabling cephalosporin resistance could therefore reduce the incidence of enterococcal infections. However, the genetic and biochemical mechanisms of cephalosporin resistance are not well understood. The significance of this work is the identification of a novel extracellular factor (SalB) that promotes cephalosporin resistance in
E. faecalis
, which could potentially serve as a target for therapeutics that impair enterococcal cephalosporin resistance. Additionally, our work highlights the importance of the C-terminal SCP domain of SalB, including several conserved residues within the SCP domain, for the ability of SalB to promote cephalosporin resistance.
Inhibition of the ATP Synthase Eliminates the Intrinsic Resistance of
Staphylococcus aureus
towards Polymyxins
Authors: Vestergaard Martin , Nøhr-Meldgaard Katrine , Bojer Martin Saxtorph , Krogsgård Nielsen Christina , Meyer Rikke Louise , Slavetinsky Christoph , Peschel Andreas , Ingmer Hanne
Published: September 2017

Staphylococcus aureus
is intrinsically resistant to polymyxins (polymyxin B and colistin), an important class of cationic antimicrobial peptides used in treatment of Gram-negative bacterial infections. To understand the mechanisms underlying intrinsic polymyxin resistance in
S. aureus
, we screened the Nebraska Transposon Mutant Library established in
S. aureus
strain JE2 for increased susceptibility to polymyxin B. Nineteen mutants displayed at least 2-fold reductions in MIC, while the greatest reductions (8-fold) were observed for mutants with inactivation of either
graS
,
graR
,
vraF
, or
vraG
or the subunits of the ATP synthase (
atpA
,
atpB
,
atpG
, or
atpH
), which during respiration is the main source of energy. Inactivation of
atpA
also conferred hypersusceptibility to colistin and the aminoglycoside gentamicin, whereas susceptibilities to nisin, gallidermin, bacitracin, vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, linezolid, daptomycin, and oxacillin were unchanged. ATP synthase activity is known to be inhibited by oligomycin A, and the presence of this compound increased polymyxin B-mediated killing of
S. aureus
. Our results demonstrate that the ATP synthase contributes to intrinsic resistance of
S. aureus
towards polymyxins and that inhibition of the ATP synthase sensitizes
S. aureus
to this group of compounds. These findings show that by modulation of bacterial metabolism, new classes of antibiotics may show efficacy against pathogens towards which they were previously considered inapplicable. In light of the need for new treatment options for infections with serious pathogens like
S. aureus
, this approach may pave the way for novel applications of existing antibiotics.

IMPORTANCE
Bacterial pathogens that cause disease in humans remain a serious threat to public health, and antibiotics are still our primary weapon in treating bacterial diseases. The ability to eradicate bacterial infections is critically challenged by development of resistance to all clinically available antibiotics. Polymyxins constitute an important class of antibiotics for treatment of infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens, whereas Gram-positive bacteria remain largely insusceptible towards class of antibiotics. Here we performed a whole-genome screen among nonessential genes for polymyxin intrinsic resistance determinants in
Staphylococcus aureus
. We found that the ATP synthase is important for polymyxin susceptibility and that inhibition of the ATP synthase sensitizes
S. aureus
towards polymyxins. Our study provides novel insights into the mechanisms that limit polymyxin activity against
S. aureus
and provides valuable targets for inhibitors to potentially enable the use of polymyxins against
S. aureus
and other Gram-positive pathogens.
Pyruvate Accumulation Is the First Line of Cell Defense against Heat Stress in a Fungus
Authors: Zhang Xing , St. Leger Raymond J. , Fang Weiguo
Published: September 2017

Heat tolerance is well known to be key to fungal survival in many habitats, but our mechanistic understanding of how organisms adapt to heat stress is still incomplete. Using
Metarhizium robertsii
, an emerging model organism for assessing evolutionary processes, we report that pyruvate is in the vanguard of molecules that scavenge heat-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS). We show that, as well as inducing a rapid burst of ROS production, heat stress also downregulates genes for pyruvate consumption. The accumulating pyruvate is the fastest acting of several
M. robertsii
ROS scavengers, efficiently reducing protein carbonylation, stabilizing mitochondrial membrane potential, and promoting fungal growth. The acetate produced from pyruvate-ROS reactions itself causes acid stress, tolerance to which is regulated by Hog1 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Heat stress also induces pyruvate accumulation in several other fungi, suggesting that scavenging of heat-induced ROS by pyruvate is widespread.

IMPORTANCE
Heat is a dangerous challenge for most organisms, as it denatures proteins and induces the production of ROS that inactivate proteins, lipid membranes, and DNA. How organisms respond to this stress is not fully understood. Using the experimentally tractable insect pathogen
Metarhizium robertsii
as a model organism, we show for the first time that heat stress induces pyruvate production and that this functions as the first line of defense against heat-induced ROS. Heat stress also induces rapid pyruvate accumulation in other fungi, suggesting that pyruvate is a common but unappreciated defense against stress.
A novel prognostic model for transplant-free survival in primary sclerosing cholangitis
Authors: de Vries Elisabeth M , Wang Junfeng , Williamson Kate D , Leeflang Mariska M , Boonstra Kirsten , Weersma Rinse K , Beuers Ulrich , Chapman Roger W , Geskus Ronald B , Ponsioen Cyriel Y
Published: September 2017

Objective

Most prognostic models for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are based on patients referred to tertiary care and may not be applicable for the majority of patients with PSC. The aim of this study was to construct and externally validate a novel, broadly applicable prognostic model for transplant-free survival in PSC, based on a large, predominantly population-based cohort using readily available variables.

Design

The derivation cohort consisted of 692 patients with PSC from the Netherlands, the validation cohort of 264 patients with PSC from the UK. Retrospectively, clinical and biochemical variables were collected. We derived the prognostic index from a multivariable Cox regression model in which predictors were selected and parameters were estimated using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator. The composite end point of PSC-related death and liver transplantation was used. To quantify the models’ predictive value, we calculated the C-statistic as discrimination index and established its calibration accuracy by comparing predicted curves with Kaplan-Meier estimates.

Results

The final model included the variables: PSC subtype, age at PSC diagnosis, albumin, platelets, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubin. The C-statistic was 0.68 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.85). Calibration was satisfactory. The model was robust in the sense that the C-statistic did not change when prediction was based on biochemical variables collected at follow-up.

Conclusion

The Amsterdam-Oxford model for PSC showed adequate performance in estimating PSC-related death and/or liver transplant in a predominantly population-based setting. The transplant-free survival probability can be recalculated when updated biochemical values are available.
Early intervention in Crohn’s disease: towards disease modification trials
Authors: Danese Silvio , Fiorino Gionata , Peyrin-Biroulet Laurent
Published: September 2017

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a chronic progressive destructive inflammatory bowel disease. As in rheumatoid arthritis, there is increasing evidence that early treatment initiation with disease-modifying agents, such as biological drugs, may lead to complete disease control, prevention of disease progression thus protecting against irreversible damage and restoration of normal quality of life. Data from randomised clinical trials with immunosuppressants and biologics suggest that treating patients with a disease duration of <2 years and an absence of complications may significantly reduce the risk for complications and increase time in remission in patients with CD. Moreover, rapid disease control may effectively prevent disease progression and allow dose reduction or even withdrawal of treatment, reducing the risk of long-term adverse events and healthcare costs. However, prospective disease modification trials are needed to confirm these initial results. Here we review the literature regarding early intervention in adult patients with CD and propose criteria for future disease modification trials.
Quark mass matrices, textures and CKM precision measurements
Authors: Verma Rohit
Published: September 2017

In the light of several recent analyses pointing toward texture 4-zero Fritzsch-like quark mass matrices as the only viable structures for quark mass matrices, this work adopts a model independent approach to reconstruct an alternate and simplified structure of texture specific quark mass matrices in a generalized “[Formula: see text]-diagonal” basis within the Standard Model framework using the unitarity of CKM matrix and the observed hierarchies in quark mass spectra and mixing angles. It is observed that the measured [Formula: see text] values of the three physical parameters namely [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] naturally lead to the vanishing of (11) element in the down type quark mass matrix and that the single measurable CP violating phase [Formula: see text] in the CKM matrix is sufficient enough in [Formula: see text] to explain the observed mixing pattern in a suitable basis. The leading order as well as exact analytic phenomenological solutions are addressed for the modest pattern of quark mass matrices derived from CKM matrix and precision measurements of mixing parameters.
An application of high-temperature superconductors YBCO to magnetic separation
Authors: Guo Qiudong , Zhang Peng , Bo Lin , Zeng Guibin , Li Dengqian , Fan J. D. , Liu Huajun
Published: September 2017

With the rapid development of manufacturing technology of high temperature superconductive YB[Formula: see text]Cu3O[Formula: see text] YBCO materials and decreasing in cost of production, YBCO is marching into industrial areas with its good performances as source of high-magnetic field and rather low cost in reaching superconductivity. Based on analysis of the performance of high temperature superconductors YBCO and development of technology in superconductive magnetic separation both home and abroad, we propose a new approach of taking YBCO tape to make a solenoid as the source of a high magnetic field of magnetic separatior of ores. The paper also looks into the future of the YBCO high temperature superconductive magnetic separation from the perspective of technology and cost, as well as its applications in other industries.
Numerical study on ac loss in superconducting bulk caused by various magnetic wave conditions
Authors: Li Jing , Li Xiang , Tang Junjie , Gong Tianyong , Han Le
Published: September 2017

This paper presents an investigation on ac losses of superconducting bulk caused by various magnetic wave conditions with the help of finite element software of Comsol Multiphysics. Three different magnetic wave conditions are analyzed, which are standing magnetic field, rotated magnetic field and traveling magnetic field. The calculation ac loss result was compared with that from analytical formulas for type-II superconducting slab and cylinder. The influences of the strength of external magnetic field on the ac losses were investigated. Effects of a relatively stable trapped-field of superconducting bulk on ac losses in time-varying magnetic field are clarified. Effect of spatially inhomogeneous distribution of the external magnetic field on the ac loss is studied.
Tunable evolutions of shock absorption and energy partitioning in magnetic granular chains
Authors: Leng Dingxin , Liu Guijie , Sun Lingyu
Published: September 2017

In this paper, we investigate the tunable characteristics of shock waves propagating in one-dimensional magnetic granular chains at various chain lengths and magnetic flux densities. According to the Hertz contact theory and Maxwell principle, a discrete element model with coupling elastic and field-induced interaction potentials of adjacent magnetic grains is proposed. We also present hard-sphere approximation analysis to describe the energy partitioning features of magnetic granular chains. The results demonstrate that, for a fixed magnetic field strength, when the chain length is greater than two times of the wave width of the solitary wave, the chain length has little effect on the output energy of the system; for a fixed chain length, the shock absorption and energy partitioning features of magnetic granular chains are remarkably influenced by varying magnetic flux densities. This study implies that the magnetic granular chain is potential to construct adaptive shock absorption components for impulse mitigation.
Plate-type metamaterials for extremely broadband low-frequency sound insulation
Authors: Wang Xiaopeng , Guo Xinwei , Chen Tianning , Yao Ge
Published: September 2017

A novel plate-type acoustic metamaterial with a high sound transmission loss (STL) in the low-frequency range ([Formula: see text]1000 Hz) is designed, theoretically proven and then experimentally verified. The thin plates with large modulus used in this paper mean that we do not need to apply tension to the plates, which is more applicable to practical engineering, the achievement of noise reduction is better and the installation of plates is more user-friendly than that of the membranes. The effects of different structural parameters of the plates on the sound-proofed performance at low-frequencies were also investigated by experiment and finite element method (FEM). The results showed that the STL can be modulated effectively and predictably using vibration theory by changing the structural parameters, such as the radius and thickness of the plate. Furthermore, using unit cells of different geometric sizes which are responsible for different frequency regions, the stacked panels with thickness [Formula: see text]16 mm and weight [Formula: see text]5 kg/m2 showed high STL below 2000 Hz. The acoustic metamaterial proposed in this study could provide a potential application in the low-frequency noise insulation.
Anaphoricity Determination of Anaphora Resolution in Uygur Pronoun Based on CNN-LSTM Model
Authors: Shengwei Tian , Dongbai Li , Long Yu , Guanjun Feng , Jianguo Zhao , Pu Li
Published: September 2017

As a core subtask in anaphora resolution, anaphoricity determination has aroused the interest of researchers. However, in recent work, the influence caused by the deep semantic information and the context of the coreference elements have not been taken into account. In this paper, by combining the semantic feature of Uygur, we established a Convolutional Neural Network & Long Short-Term Memory (CNN_LSTM) model in determining the anaphoricity of Uygur pronoun. Firstly, the deep negative semantic feature representation is extracted via word2vec. Secondly, the shallow explicit feature representation of coreference elements is extracted by our system. Afterwards, two kinds of features are combined to recognize whether coreference element is referential or not. The results showed that the method we used can distinguish coreference element accurately, the ACC[Formula: see text] score is 90.18% and the ACC[Formula: see text] score is 89.93%, which are higher than ANN (Artificial Neural Network) and SVM (Support Vector Machine) respectively.
A Synoptic View of the Ventilation and Circulation of Antarctic Bottom Water from Chlorofluorocarbons and Natural Tracers
Authors: Purkey Sarah G. , Smethie William M. , Gebbie Geoffrey , Gordon Arnold L. , Sonnerup Rolf E. , Warner Mark J. , Bullister John L.
Published: September 2017

Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) is the coldest, densest, most prolific water mass in the global ocean. AABW forms at several distinct regions along the Antarctic coast and feeds into the bottom limb of the meridional overturning circulation, filling most of the global deep ocean. AABW has warmed, freshened, and declined in volume around the globe in recent decades, which has implications for the global heat and sea level rise budgets. Over the past three decades, the use of tracers, especially time-varying tracers such as chlorofluorocarbons, has been essential to our understanding of the formation, circulation, and variability of AABW. Here, we review three decades of temperature, salinity, and tracer data and analysis that have led to our current knowledge of AABW and how the southern component of deep-ocean ventilation is changing with time.