bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Employment conditions and work-related stressors are associated with menopausal symptom reporting among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women
Authors: Bariola Emily , Jack Gavin , Pitts Marian , Riach Kathleen , Sarrel Philip
Published: October 2016

Objective:

While many women undergo menopausal transition while they are in paid employment, the effect of poor working conditions on women's experience of the menopause has received scant empirical attention. We examined associations between employment conditions, work-related stressors, and menopausal symptom reporting among perimenopausal and postmenopausal working women.

Methods:

Data were drawn from an online survey conducted between 2013 and 2014 involving 476 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women working in the higher education sector in Australia. Survey questions assessed demographics; health-related variables; menopausal symptom reporting; employment status; presence of flexible working hours; presence of temperature control; job autonomy; and supervisor support.

Results:

A forced entry multivariable regression analysis revealed that high supervisor support (β = −0.10, P = 0.04), being employed on a full-time basis (β = −0.11, P = 0.02), and having control over workplace temperature (β = −0.11, P = 0.02) were independently associated with lower menopausal symptom reporting.

Conclusions:

These findings may help inform the development of tailored occupational health policies and programs that cater for the needs of older women as they transition through menopause in the workplace.
Agomelatine: a new opportunity to reduce neuropathic pain—preclinical evidence
Authors: Chenaf Chouki , Chapuy Eric , Libert Frédéric , Marchand Fabien , Courteix Christine , Bertrand Marianne , Gabriel Cecilia , Mocaër Elisabeth , Eschalier Alain , Authier Nicolas
Published: October 2016

Antidepressants are first-line treatments of neuropathic pain but not all these drugs are really effective. Agomelatine is an antidepressant with a novel mode of action, acting as an MT1/MT2 melatonergic receptor agonist and a 5-HT2C receptor antagonist that involves indirect norepinephrine release. Melatonin, serotonin, and norepinephrine have been involved in the pathophysiology of neuropathic pain. Yet, no study has been conducted to determine agomelatine effects on neuropathic pain in animal models. Using 3 rat models of neuropathic pain of toxic (oxaliplatin/OXA), metabolic (streptozocin/STZ), and traumatic (sciatic nerve ligation/CCI [chronic constriction nerve injury]) etiologies, we investigated the antihypersensitivity effect of acute and repeated agomelatine administration. We then determined the influence of melatonergic, 5-HT2C, α-2 and β-1/2 adrenergic receptor antagonists in the antihypersensitivity effect of agomelatine. The effect of the combination of agomelatine + gabapentin was evaluated using an isobolographic approach. In STZ and CCI models, single doses of agomelatine significantly and dose dependently reduced mechanical hypersensitivity. After daily administrations for 2 weeks, this effect was confirmed in the CCI model and agomelatine also displayed a marked antihypersensitivity effect in the OXA model. The antihypersensitivity effect of agomelatine involved melatonergic, 5-HT2C, and α-2 adrenergic receptors but not beta adrenoceptors. The isobolographic analysis demonstrated that the combination of agomelatine + gabapentin had additive effects. Agomelatine exerts a clear-cut antihypersensitivity effect in 3 different neuropathic pain models. Its effect is mediated by melatonergic and 5-HT2C receptors and, although agomelatine has no affinity, also by α-2 adrenergic receptors. Finally, agomelatine combined with gabapentin produces an additive antihypersensitivity effect.
Templated Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation Care Plan Documentation for Veterans With Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Scholten Joel , Danford Ellen , Leland Azadeh , Malecki Heather , Bidelspach Douglas , Taylor Brent , Sayer Nina
Published: October 2016

Purpose of Study:

Individualized interdisciplinary care is the hallmark for rehabilitation following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Veterans Health Administration (VHA) utilizes an electronic note template to document Interdisciplinary Rehabilitation and Community Reintegration (IRCR) care plans for Veterans with TBI requiring rehabilitation. All Veterans with a TBI diagnosis, receiving skilled therapy for TBI-related issues, and followed by a case manager must receive a care plan. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of compliance with the IRCR care plan requirements used to identify Veterans with TBI in need of the care plan and to evaluate the reasons for inconsistent compliance. In addition, the study sought to provide a more objective assessment of Veterans with TBI requiring an IRCR to assist in establishing a target metric.

Primary Practice Setting:

TBI outpatient clinics.

Methodology and Sample:

Investigators conducted a retrospective medical record review of 546 Veterans with a TBI diagnosis seen at the Washington, DC VA Medical Center's outpatient polytrauma clinics in 2013. Cases were initially reviewed for referral or engagement with skilled therapy. Charts where Veterans were referred or engaged with skilled therapy were forwarded to 2 polytrauma clinicians to determine whether therapy was requested to treat a TBI-related condition. Finally, charts were reviewed for case management and analyzed for algorithm compliance. Analysis focused first on compliance with IRCR algorithm requirements and secondarily with identifying potential reasons for noncompliance.

Results:

In 2013, 42% of the TBI cohort met the criteria for an IRCR. The vast majority of cases with a TBI diagnosis complied with IRCR algorithm criteria; however, 14% of all reviewed cases required an IRCR but did not receive one. Provision of case management outside of the TBI/polytrauma clinic characterized a majority of noncompliant cases.

Implications for Case Management:

Interdisciplinary care can be challenging, particularly in the outpatient setting, due to patient availability and access to care. Improved documentation in the electronic health record may assist case managers and other clinicians in coordinating rehabilitation care for Veterans with TBI. Case managers in the VA and other settings may find templates and trackable health factors helpful to identify patients in need of care plans.
Adolescent Intentional Abuse Ingestions
Authors: Sheridan David C. , Hendrickson Robert G. , Beauchamp Gillian , Laurie Amber , Fu Rongwei , Horowitz B. Zane
Published: October 2016

Objective

Adolescent intentional ingestions remain a significant public health problem in the United States with little research to date on the over-the-counter or prescription medicines that adolescents abuse. These data are important for anticipatory guidance by primary care providers, preventive health, and poison center outreach.

Methods

This was an observational study using the American Association of Poison Control Centers National Poison Data System. The study population consisted of all cases of patients aged 13 to 19 years from 2004 to 2013 with a coding of “intentional abuse.”

Results

There were 95,695 patient calls that were coded for intentional abuse between 2004 and 2013 for adolescents aged 13 to 19 years. The most common agent reportedly ingested in intentional-abuse cases was antihistamine and/or decongestant with dextromethorphan, and this agent remained the most common throughout the 10-year study period. The next 4 most common agents remained similar across the study period as well and included ethanol, benzodiazepines, dextromethorphan alone, and marijuana. These 5 agents remained the most commonly reported across the study period for all US regions (West, Midwest, South Northeast, and US territories).

Conclusions

Over a recent 10-year period, common cough preparations remain the most commonly reported intentional abuse ingestion among all years and regions for adolescents.
Big data need big theory too
Authors: Coveney Peter V. , Dougherty Edward R. , Highfield Roger R.
Published: October 2016

The current interest in big data, machine learning and data analytics has generated the widespread impression that such methods are capable of solving most problems without the need for conventional scientific methods of inquiry. Interest in these methods is intensifying, accelerated by the ease with which digitized data can be acquired in virtually all fields of endeavour, from science, healthcare and cybersecurity to economics, social sciences and the humanities. In multiscale modelling, machine learning appears to provide a shortcut to reveal correlations of arbitrary complexity between processes at the atomic, molecular, meso- and macroscales. Here, we point out the weaknesses of pure big data approaches with particular focus on biology and medicine, which fail to provide conceptual accounts for the processes to which they are applied. No matter their ‘depth’ and the sophistication of data-driven methods, such as artificial neural nets, in the end they merely fit curves to existing data. Not only do these methods invariably require far larger quantities of data than anticipated by big data aficionados in order to produce statistically reliable results, but they can also fail in circumstances beyond the range of the data used to train them because they are not designed to model the structural characteristics of the underlying system. We argue that it is vital to use theory as a guide to experimental design for maximal efficiency of data collection and to produce reliable predictive models and conceptual knowledge. Rather than continuing to fund, pursue and promote ‘blind’ big data projects with massive budgets, we call for more funding to be allocated to the elucidation of the multiscale and stochastic processes controlling the behaviour of complex systems, including those of life, medicine and healthcare.

This article is part of the themed issue ‘Multiscale modelling at the physics–chemistry–biology interface’.
Unsupervised extraction of stable expression signatures from public compendia with eADAGE
Authors: Tan Jie , Doing Georgia , Lewis Kimberley A. , Price Courtney E. , Chen Kathleen M. , Cady Kyle C. , Perchuk Barret , Laub Michael T. , Hogan Deborah A. , Greene Casey S.
Published: October 2016

Cross experiment comparisons in public data compendia are challenged by unmatched conditions and technical noise. The ADAGE method, which performs unsupervised integration with neural networks, can effectively identify biological patterns, but because ADAGE models, like many neural networks, are over-parameterized, different ADAGE models perform equally well. To enhance model robustness and better build signatures consistent with biological pathways, we developed an ensemble ADAGE (eADAGE) that integrated stable signatures across models. We applied eADAGE to aPseudomonas aeruginosacompendium containing experiments performed in 78 media. eADAGE revealed a phosphate starvation response controlled by PhoB. While we expected PhoB activity in limiting phosphate conditions, our analyses found PhoB activity in other media with moderate phosphate and predicted that a second stimulus provided by the sensor kinase, KinB, is required for PhoB activation in this setting. We validated this relationship using both targeted and unbiased genetic approaches. eADAGE, which captures stable biological patterns, enables cross-experiment comparisons that can highlight measured but undiscovered relationships.
A Hypothesis to Explain Cancers in Confined Colonies of Naked Mole Rats
Authors: Hochberg Michael E. , Noble Robert J. , Braude Stanton
Published: October 2016

Naked mole rats (NMRs) are subterranean eusocial mammals, known for their virtual absence of aging in their first 20 to 30 years of life, and their apparent resistance to cancer development. As such, this species has become an important biological model for investigating the physiological and molecular mechanisms behind cancer resistance. Two recent studies have discovered middle and late-aged worker (that is, non-breeding) NMRs in captive populations exhibiting neoplasms, consistent with cancer development, challenging the claim that NMRs are cancer resistant. These cases are possibly artefacts of inbreeding or certain rearing conditions in captivity, but they are also consistent with evolutionary theory.

We present field data showing that worker NMRs live on average for 1 to 2 years. This, together with considerable knowledge about the biology of this species, provides the basis for an evolutionary explanation for why debilitating cancers in NMRs should be rare in captive populations and absent in the wild. Whereas workers are important for maintaining tunnels, colony defence, brood care, and foraging, they are highly vulnerable to predation. However, surviving workers either replace dead breeders, or assume other less active functions whilst preparing for possible dispersal. These countervailing forces (selection resulting in aging due to early-life investments in worker function, and selection for breeder longevity) along with the fact that all breeders derive from the worker morph, can explain the low levels of cancer observed by these recent studies in captive colonies. Because workers in the field typically never reach ages where cancer becomes a risk to performance or mortality, those rare observations of neoplastic growth should be confined to the artificial environments where workers survive to ages rarely if ever occurring in the wild. Thus, we predict that the worker phenotype fortuitously benefits from anti-aging and cancer protection in captive populations.
Nutritional dynamics during the development of xylophagous beetles related to changes in the stoichiometry of 11 elements
Authors: Filipiak Michał , Weiner January
Published: October 2016

The present study examines the adaptive strategy used by wood‐boring beetles to compensate for the lack of nutrients in dead wood. The contents of nutritional elements in growing wood‐boring beetles (Stictoleptura rubraL. andChalcophora marianaDejean) are compared with the elemental composition of decaying dead wood (pine stumps), showing changes during the beetles' ontogenetic (i.e. larval) development. The stoichiometric ratios ofCand other nutritional elements (N,P,K,Na,Ca,Mg,Fe,Zn,Mn andCu) are investigated to identify the most important nutrients for larval development. The degree of nutritional mismatch that is encountered by the beetle larvae changes dramatically over 3–4 years of simultaneous larval growth and wood decay. ExcludingC, the relative contents of nutritional elements increase substantially in decaying wood, whereas the opposite tendency is found in larvae, most likely because of carbon deposition in fat. The elements limiting larval development because of their scarcity in dead wood areN,P,K,Na,Mg,Zn andCu. Fungal activity (i.e. the transport of nutrients from the surrounding environment to decaying stumps) can explain the observed mitigation of the original mismatch, although prolongation of the larval development time is still necessary to compensate for the scarcity of some of the required elements in food.
Nanotechnology in Batteries
Authors: Wong Kaufui , Dia Sarah
Published: October 2016

A relatively new field, nanotechnology has seen an expansion onto almost every scientific sector since its origin in the 1980s. This work focuses on the potential of nanotechnology in batteries, in particular, with a review of the current and past developments in the field. For smaller applications using lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), it appears that nanotechnology has established a firm foothold. The possibilities for mainstreaming this advance in large batteries, e.g., grid batteries are researched, and developments to date are reported. Viable grid batteries are the key to adapting wind, water, and solar (WWS) sources of energy for the power grid since none of these WWS resources are available every single hour of the day and night.
Discussion: “Leak Localization in Pipelines Via Computational Pipeline Monitoring” (Moustafa, K. A., Haik, Y., Aldajah, S., and Omar, F., 2012, ASME J. Pressure Vessel Technol., 134(4), p. 041701)
Authors: Verde Cristina
Published: October 2016

In the paper by Moustafa et al. (2012, “Leak Localization in Pipelines Via Computational Pipeline Monitoring,” ASME J. Pressure Vessel Technol., 134(4), p. 041701), they have described a scanning procedure to locate multiple leaks in a pipeline by software, which is equivalent to an optimization procedure looking for the nodes in the spacial discretization model of the fluid. The purpose of this correspondence is to make comments and remarks about it.
Quantitative Assessment of the Impact of Alternative Manufacturing Methods on Aeroengine Component Lifing Decisions
Authors: Thomsen Benjamin , Kokkolaras Michael , Månsson Tomas , Isaksson Ola
Published: October 2016

Static structural aeroengine components are typically designed for full lifetime operation. Under this assumption, efforts to reduce weight in order to improve the performance result in structural designs that necessitate proven yet expensive manufacturing solutions to ensure high reliability. However, rapid developments in fabrication technologies such as additive manufacturing may offer viable alternatives for manufacturing and/or repair, in which case different component lifing decisions may be preferable. The research presented in this paper proposes a value-maximizing design framework that models and optimizes component lifing decisions in an aeroengine product–service system context by considering manufacturing and maintenance alternatives. To that end, a lifecycle cost model is developed as a proxy of value creation. Component lifing decisions are made to minimize net present value of lifecycle costs. The impact of manufacturing (represented by associated intial defects) and maintenance strategies (repair and/or replace) on lifing design decisions is quantified by means of failure models whose output is an input to the lifecycle cost model. It is shown that, under different conditions, it may not be prudent to design for full life but rather accept shorter life and then repair or replace the component. This is especially evident if volumetric effects on low cycle fatigue life are taken into account. It is possible that failure rates based on legacy engines do not translate necessarily to weight-optimized components. Such an analysis can play a significant supporting role in engine component design in a product–service system context.
Correlating Variations in the Dynamic Resistance Signature to Weld Strength in Resistance Spot Welding Using Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Adams David W. , Summerville Cameron D. E. , Voss Brendan M. , Jeswiet Jack , Doolan Matthew C.
Published: October 2016

Traditional quality control of resistance spot welds by analysis of the dynamic resistance signature (DRS) relies on manual feature selection to reduce the dimensionality prior to analysis. Manually selected features of the DRS may contain information that is not directly correlated to strength, reducing the accuracy of any classification performed. In this paper, correlations between the DRS and weld strength are automatically detected by calculating correlation coefficients between weld strength and principal components of the DRS. The key features of the DRS that correlate to weld strength are identified in a systematic manner. Systematically identifying relevant features of the DRS is useful as the correlations between weld strength and DRS may vary with process parameters.
Modeling of Dynamic Instability Via Segmented Cutting Coefficients and Chatter Onset Detection in High-Speed Micromilling of Ti6Al4V
Authors: Singh Kundan K. , Kartik V. , Singh Ramesh
Published: October 2016

Miniature components with complex shape can be created by micromilling with excellent form and finish. However, for difficult-to-machine materials, such as Ti-alloys, failure of low-flexural stiffness microtools is a big limitation. High spindle speeds (20,000–100,000 rpm) can be used to reduce the undeformed chip thickness and the cutting forces to reduce the catastrophic failure of the tool. This reduced uncut chip thicknesses, in some cases lower than the cutting edge radius, can result in intermittent chip formation which can lead to dynamic variation in cutting forces. In addition, the run-out and the misalignment effects are amplified at higher rotational speeds which can induce dynamic force variation. These dynamic force variations coupled with low-flexural rigidity of micro end mill can render the process unstable. Consequently, accurate prediction of forces and stability is essential in high-speed micromilling. Most of the previous studies reported in the literature use constant cutting coefficients in the mechanistic cutting force model which does not yield accurate results. Recent work has shown significant improvement in the prediction of cutting forces with velocity–chip load dependent coefficients but a single-function velocity–chip model fails to predict the forces accurately at very high speeds (>80,000 rpm). This inaccurate force prediction affects the predicted stability boundary at those speeds. Hence, this paper presents a segmented approach, wherein a function is fit for a given range of speeds to determine the chip load dependent cutting coefficients. The segmented velocity–chip load dependent cutting coefficient improves the cutting force prediction at high speeds, which yields much accurate stability boundary. This paper employs two degrees-of-freedom (2DOF) model with forcing functions based on segmented velocity–chip load dependent cutting coefficients. Stability lobe diagram based on 2DOF model has been created for different speed ranges using Nyquist stability criterion. Chatter onset has been identified experimentally via accelerometer data and the power spectral density (PSD) analysis of the machined surface topography. Critical spatial chatter frequencies and magnitudes of PSD corresponding to onset of instability have also been determined for different conditions.
Arresting migrating neutrophils with ROS
Authors: Wong Wei
Published: October 2016

Oxidation of TRPM2 by ROS at sites of inflammation may limit tissue damage caused by neutrophils.
Limiting damage but promoting resistance
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: October 2016

A transient response to chemotherapy in the vasculature promotes chemoresistance in lymphoma cells.
Intracellular
d
-Serine Accumulation Promotes Genetic Diversity via Modulated Induction of RecA in Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli
Authors: Connolly James P. R. , Roe Andrew J.
Published: October 2016

We recently discovered that exposure of enterohemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
(EHEC) to
d
-serine resulted in accumulation of this unusual amino acid, induction of the SOS regulon, and downregulation of the type III secretion system that is essential for efficient colonization of the host. Here, we have investigated the physiological relevance of this elevated SOS response, which is of particular interest given the presence of Stx toxin-carrying lysogenic prophages on the EHEC chromosome that are activated during the SOS response. We found that RecA elevation in response to
d
-serine, while being significant, was heterogeneous and not capable of activating
stx
expression or
stx
phage transduction to a nonlysogenic recipient. This “SOS-like response” was, however, capable of increasing the mutation frequency associated with low-level RecA activity, thus promoting genetic diversity. Furthermore, this response was entirely dependent on RecA and enhanced in the presence of a DNA-damaging agent, indicating a functional SOS response, but did not result in observable cleavage of the LexA repressor alone, indicating a controlled mechanism of induction. This work demonstrates that environmental factors not usually associated with DNA damage are capable of promoting an SOS-like response. We propose that this modulated induction of RecA allows EHEC to adapt to environmental insults such as
d
-serine while avoiding unwanted phage-induced lysis.

IMPORTANCE
The SOS response is a global stress network that is triggered by the presence of DNA damage due to breakage or stalled replication forks. Activation of the SOS response can trigger the replication of lytic bacteriophages and promote genetic diversification through error-prone polymerases. We have demonstrated that the host-associated metabolite
d
-serine contributes to
Escherichia coli
niche specification and accumulates inside cells that cannot catabolize it. This results in a modulated activation of the SOS antirepressor RecA that is insufficient to trigger lytic bacteriophage but capable of increasing the SOS-associated mutation frequency. These findings describe how relevant signals not normally associated with DNA damage can hijack the SOS response, promoting diversity as
E. coli
strains adapt while avoiding unwanted phage lysis.
The Small RNA GcvB Promotes Mutagenic Break Repair by Opposing the Membrane Stress Response
Authors: Barreto Brittany , Rogers Elizabeth , Xia Jun , Frisch Ryan L. , Richters Megan , Fitzgerald Devon M. , Rosenberg Susan M.
Published: October 2016

Microbes and human cells possess mechanisms of mutagenesis activated by stress responses. Stress-inducible mutagenesis mechanisms may provide important models for mutagenesis that drives host-pathogen interactions, antibiotic resistance, and possibly much of evolution generally. In
Escherichia coli
, repair of DNA double-strand breaks is switched to a mutagenic mode, using error-prone DNA polymerases, via the SOS DNA damage and general (σ
S
) stress responses. We investigated small RNA (sRNA) clients of Hfq, an RNA chaperone that promotes mutagenic break repair (MBR), and found that GcvB promotes MBR by allowing a robust σ
S
response, achieved via opposing the membrane stress (σ
E
) response. Cells that lack
gcvB
were MBR deficient and displayed reduced σ
S
-dependent transcription but not reduced σ
S
protein levels. The defects in MBR and σ
S
-dependent transcription in Δ
gcvB
cells were alleviated by artificially increasing σ
S
levels, implying that GcvB promotes mutagenesis by allowing a normal σ
S
response. Δ
gcvB
cells were highly induced for the σ
E
response, and blocking σ
E
response induction restored both mutagenesis and σ
S
-promoted transcription. We suggest that GcvB may promote the σ
S
response and mutagenesis indirectly, by promoting membrane integrity, which keeps σ
E
levels lower. At high levels, σ
E
might outcompete σ
S
for binding RNA polymerase and so reduce the σ
S
response and mutagenesis. The data show the delicate balance of stress response modulation of mutagenesis.

IMPORTANCE
Mutagenesis mechanisms upregulated by stress responses promote
de novo
antibiotic resistance and cross-resistance in bacteria, antifungal drug resistance in yeasts, and genome instability in cancer cells under hypoxic stress. This paper describes the role of a small RNA (sRNA) in promoting a stress-inducible-mutagenesis mechanism, mutagenic DNA break repair in
Escherichia coli
. The roles of many sRNAs in
E. coli
remain unknown. This study shows that Δ
gcvB
cells, which lack the GcvB sRNA, display a hyperactivated membrane stress response and reduced general stress response, possibly because of sigma factor competition for RNA polymerase. This results in a mutagenic break repair defect. The data illuminate a function of GcvB sRNA in opposing the membrane stress response, and thus indirectly upregulating mutagenesis.
Acupuncture for a First Episode of Acute Ischaemic Stroke: An Observer-Blinded Randomised Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Liu Ching-Hsiung , Hsieh Yu-Ting , Tseng Hung-Pin , Lin Hung-Chih , Lin Chun-Liang , Wu Tai-Yi , Lin Shu-Hua , Tsao Szu-Hung , Zhang Hong
Published: October 2016

Objective

To determine the required sample size for, and feasibility of, a RCT examining the effectiveness of early acupuncture for acute ischaemic stroke.

Methods

Thirty-eight patients aged 40–85 years with a first episode of acute ischaemic stroke presenting within 72 h of stroke onset were randomly assigned to receive manual acupuncture (MA group; n=20) plus standard care or standard care only (control group, n=18). The acupuncture treatment was provided daily for 2 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score between baseline and 4 weeks. Secondary outcomes included changes in the Fugl–Meyer assessment (FMA) and the functional independence measure scores between baseline and 4 weeks, and changes in NIHSS, Barthel Index and modified Rankin Scale scores at 12 weeks.

Results

Thirty-one patients completed the study (dropout rate=18%) and adverse effects were minimal. No significant differences were seen between groups in the improvements in NIHSS scores, although there tended to be a greater reduction in NIHSS score after 1 week in the MA group relative to the control group (p=0.066). The post-stroke motor activity at 4 weeks was associated with a significantly increased FMA score in the acupuncture group compared with the control group (p<0.05), but not supported by intergroup analysis.

Conclusions

This pilot study indicates that acupuncture appears to be safe for patients in the acute stage of ischaemic stroke. A subsequent trial with a larger sample size (estimated at n=122) is required to confirm whether early acupuncture intervention contributes to earlier functional improvement and to assess the longer-term clinical efficacy of acupuncture.

Trial Registration Number

NCT02210988; Results.
Prevalence and predictors of latent tuberculosis infection among Italian State Policemen engaged in assistance to migrants: a national cross-sectional study
Authors: Durando Paolo , Garbarino Sergio , Orsi Andrea , Alicino Cristiano , Dini Guglielmo , Toletone Alessandra , Ciprani Fabrizio , Conte Giuseppe , Santorsa Roberto , Icardi Giancarlo
Published: October 2016

Objectives

Better knowledge about tuberculosis (TB) and latent TB infection (LTBI) epidemiology is a crucial step for the development of effective strategies towards the control and elimination of this deadliest and persistent health threat. No study has investigated LTBI epidemiology in policemen who act as an interface with cross-border migrants.

Methods

A survey to measure the LTBI prevalence and assess the demographic, professional and clinical features potentially associated with tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity was performed in Italian State Police (ISP) employees engaged, even occasionally, in relief activities, hospitality, photographical identification, escorting and accompanying of migrants, regardless of contact with active TB cases. Variables potentially associated with TST positivity were evaluated with univariate and multivariate analysis.

Results

From September to December 2014, 4225 ISP workers underwent TST screening and completed the questionnaire for data collection, according to study procedures. The TST was positive in 9.9% of individuals: no active TB cases were registered among the entire study population. Age, previous BCG vaccination and work category resulted independently associated with TST positivity.

Conclusions

This is the first study providing updated data about LTBI epidemiology among ISP employees engaged in assistance to migrants and furnish preliminary evidence of possible associations between TST positivity and different conditions that need to be deeply investigated with prospective studies.
Arts-based HIV and STI prevention intervention with Northern and Indigenous youth in the Northwest Territories: study protocol for a non-randomised cohort pilot study
Authors: Lys Candice , Logie Carmen H , MacNeill Nancy , Loppie Charlotte , Dias Lisa V , Masching Renée , Gesink Dionne
Published: October 2016

Introduction

Indigenous youth are disproportionately represented in new HIV infection rates in Canada. Current and historical contexts of colonisation and racism, disconnection from culture and land, as well as intergenerational trauma resulting from the legacy of residential schools are social drivers that elevate exposure to HIV among Indigenous peoples. Peer-education and arts-based interventions are increasingly used for HIV prevention with youth. Yet limited studies have evaluated longitudinal effects of arts-based approaches to HIV prevention with youth. The authors present a rationale and study protocol for an arts-based HIV prevention intervention with Northern and Indigenous youth in the Northwest Territories (NWT), Canada.

Methods and analysis

This is a multicentre non-randomised cohort pilot study using a pretest/post-test design with a 12-month follow-up. The target population is Northern and Indigenous youth in 18 communities in the NWT. The aim is to recruit 150 youth using venue-based sampling at secondary schools. Participants will be involved in an arts-based intervention, Fostering Open eXpression among Youth (FOXY). Participants will complete a pretest, post-test survey directly following the intervention, and a 12-month follow-up. The primary outcome is new or enhanced HIV knowledge, and secondary outcomes to include: new or enhanced sexually transmitted infections knowledge, and increased self-esteem, resilience, empowerment, safer sex self-efficacy and cultural connectedness. Mixed effects regression analyses will be conducted to evaluate pretest and post-test differences in outcome measurement scores.

Ethics and dissemination

This study has received approval from the HIV Research Ethics Board at the University of Toronto (REB: 31602). In addition, the project is currently registered in the NWT with the Aurora Research Institute (Licence: 15741). Trial results will be published according to the Transparent Reporting of Evaluations with Nonrandomised Designs statement.

Trial registration number

NCT02743026; Pre-results.
Systematic review protocol assessing the processes for linking clinical trial registries and their published results
Authors: Bashir Rabia , Dunn Adam G
Published: October 2016

Introduction

Clinical trial registries are an important source of information for tracking clinical trials from their inception through to their reporting, and have been used to measure publication bias and outcome reporting bias. Our aim is to survey and quantify the processes that have been used to identify links between clinical trial registries and published trial reports in studies that rely on these links to evaluate the completeness and accuracy of trial reporting.

Methods and analysis

We will identify studies that describe a process for identifying the links between a trial registry included in the WHO International Clinical Trial Registry Platform and published trial results, and use those links to evaluate the completeness and accuracy of trial reporting. Information extracted from the studies will include the purpose and application domain of the study, registries used or searched, processes by which the links were identified, the study period and proportions for which links were found. We will summarise what is known about the number and availability of links between clinical trial registries and published results, and examine how automatic linking, inference and inquiry processes have been used to identify links since the introduction of trial registries.

Ethics and dissemination

The systematic review is focused on the analysis of secondary data and does not require ethics approval. The results of the systematic review will be used to inform standard processes used to identify links to and from clinical trial registries in studies that evaluate the completeness and accuracy of clinical trial reports, as well as systematic reviews. Our findings will be disseminated by publishing the systematic review in a peer-reviewed journal, and by engaging with stakeholders from clinical trial registries and bibliographic databases.
Fructose intake and risk of gout and hyperuricemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies
Authors: Jamnik Joseph , Rehman Sara , Blanco Mejia Sonia , de Souza Russell J , Khan Tauseef A , Leiter Lawrence A , Wolever Thomas M S , Kendall Cyril W C , Jenkins David J A , Sievenpiper John L
Published: October 2016

Background

The prevalence of hyperuricemia and gout has increased in recent decades. The role of dietary fructose in the development of these conditions remains unclear.

Objective

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies investigating the association fructose consumption with incident gout and hyperuricemia.

Design

MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched (through September 2015). We included prospective cohort studies that assessed fructose consumption and incident gout or hyperuricemia. 2 independent reviewers extracted relevant data and assessed study quality using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. We pooled natural-log transformed risk ratios (RRs) using the generic inverse variance method. Interstudy heterogeneity was assessed (Cochran Q statistic) and quantified (I2statistic). The overall quality of the evidence was assessed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Results

2 studies involving 125 299 participants and 1533 cases of incident gout assessed the association between fructose consumption and incident gout over an average of 17 years of follow-up. No eligible studies assessed incident hyperuricemia as an outcome. Fructose consumption was associated with an increase in the risk of gout (RR=1.62, 95% CI 1.28 to 2.03, p<0.0001) with no evidence of interstudy heterogeneity (I2=0%, p=0.33) when comparing the highest (>11.8% to >11.9% total energy) and lowest (<6.9% to <7.5% total energy) quantiles of consumption.

Limitations

Despite a dose–response gradient, the overall quality of evidence as assessed by GRADE was low, due to indirectness. There were only two prospective cohort studies involving predominantly white health professionals that assessed incident gout, and none assessed hyperuricemia.

Conclusions

Fructose consumption was associated with an increased risk of developing gout in predominantly white health professionals. More prospective studies are necessary to understand better the role of fructose and its food sources in the development of gout and hyperuricemia.

Protocol registration number

NCT01608620.
Victims, vectors and villains: are those who opt out of vaccination morally responsible for the deaths of others?
Authors: Jamrozik Euzebiusz , Handfield Toby , Selgelid Michael J
Published: October 2016

Mass vaccination has been a successful public health strategy for many contagious diseases. The immunity of the vaccinated also protects others who cannot be safely or effectively vaccinated—including infants and the immunosuppressed. When vaccination rates fall, diseases like measles can rapidly resurge in a population. Those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons are at the highest risk of severe disease and death. They thus may bear the burden of others' freedom to opt out of vaccination. It is often asked whether it is legitimate for states to adopt and enforce mandatory universal vaccination. Yet this neglects a related question: are those who opt out, where it is permitted, morally responsible when others are harmed or die as a result of their decision? In this article, we argue that individuals who opt out of vaccination are morally responsible for resultant harms to others. Using measles as our main example, we demonstrate the ways in which opting out of vaccination can result in a significant risk of harm and death to others, especially infants and the immunosuppressed. We argue that imposing these risks without good justification is blameworthy and examine ways of reaching a coherent understanding of individual moral responsibility for harms in the context of the collective action required for disease transmission. Finally, we consider several objections to this view, provide counterarguments and suggest morally permissible alternatives to mandatory universal vaccination including controlled infection, self-imposed social isolation and financial penalties for refusal to vaccinate.
A new index for the assessment of transverse sinus stenosis for diagnosing idiopathic intracranial hypertension
Authors: Carvalho Gustavo Balthazar da Silveira , Matas Sandro Luiz de Andrade , Idagawa Marcos Hideki , Tibana Luiz Antônio Tobaru , de Carvalho Renato Sartori , Silva Matheus Luis Souza , Cogo-Moreira Hugo , Jackowski Andrea Parolin , Abdala Nitamar
Published: October 2016

Background and purpose

To assess the role of MR venography (MRV) for detecting transverse sinus stenosis, to determine the importance of this finding in idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), and to propose an index that contributes to this diagnosis.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively assessed consecutive intracranial MRV of patients aged >18 years diagnosed with IIH according to the diagnostic criteria, between January 2010 and July 2012. The assessments were randomly analyzed by three radiologists. Stenoses in the right and left transverse sinuses were independently classified according to the following scale: 0, normal; 1, stenosis <33%; 2, stenosis 33–66%; 3, stenosis >66%; and 4, hypoplasia or agenesis. We established an index based on multiplication of the stenosis scale values for each transverse sinus. A point and range estimate of the sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was performed to obtain cut-off points to differentiate between controls and patients.

Results

63 individuals were included in this study: 32 (50.8%) diagnosed with IIH (31 (96.9%) women and 1 (3.1%) man) and 31 (49.2%) controls. According to all of the examiners, the IIH group showed a higher degree of stenosis than the control group. Index values ≥4 for a diagnosis of IIH had a sensitivity and specificity of 94.7% and 93.5%, respectively.

Conclusions

MRV should be used to assess patients with suspected IIH, and bilateral transverse sinus stenosis should be considered for the diagnosis. The stenosis classifying index proposed here is a fast and accessible method for diagnosing IIH.
Stent-assisted coiling of cerebrovascular aneurysms: experience at a large tertiary care center with a focus on predictors of recurrence
Authors: Linzey Joseph R , Griauzde Julius , Guan Zhe , Bentley Nicole , Gemmete Joseph J , Chaudhary Neeraj , Thompson B Gregory , Pandey Aditya S
Published: October 2016

Background

Stent-assisted coiling is commonly used to treat wide-necked and fusiform cerebral aneurysms. We evaluated our institutional experience with stent-assisted coiling of cerebral aneurysms to elucidate potential risk factors for recurrence.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing stent-assisted coiling of cerebral aneurysms from 2005 to 2012 resulted in 122 patients with 122 aneurysms. Demographic, peri-procedural, medical comorbidity, and follow-up data were collected. Primary outcomes of interest were procedural safety, efficacy, and aneurysm recurrence. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression and χ2tests determined the statistical significance of the risk factors.

Results

All 122 stent-assisted coiling procedures led to satisfactory obliteration of the aneurysm (3.3% complication rate). Twenty-one (17.2%) patients experienced recurrence at average follow-up of 297 days. Fifteen (71.4%) clinically significant recurrences required retreatment. Eleven of 30 (36.7%) procedures using Enterprise stents had recurrence compared with only 10 of 92 (10.9%) procedures using Neuroform stents (p=0.001). Average coiling packing density (PD) was 20.3% with Enterprise stents and 22.5% with Neuroform stents (p=0.8). In multivariate logistic regression, recurrences requiring recoiling were significantly associated with Enterprise stents (OR 8.57, 95% CI 1.97 to 37.19; p=0.004), females (OR 0.19, 95% CI 0.04 to 1.00; p=0.05), and postoperative dextran use (OR 8.42, 95% CI 1.40 to 50.58; p=0.02). Aneurysms with <20% PD were more likely to have a clinically significant recurrence than aneurysms with >20% PD (19% vs 5.1%; p=0.02).

Conclusions

Stent-assisted coiling for wide-necked cerebral aneurysms has a high therapeutic success rate with low procedure-related morbidity and mortality. Clinically significant recurrences may occur more frequently with Enterprise stents, in aneurysms with low PD, and with post-procedural dextran use.
CATALYST OF BUSINESS CYCLE SYNCHRONIZATION IN EAST ASIA
Authors: SNG HUI-YING , DOU LIYU , RANA PRADUMNA BICKRAM
Published: October 2016

The essential question this paper seeks to answer is whether the business cycle co-movement in East Asia are fostered by internal bilateral trade within the region, specifically, intra-industry trade or by external forces like the influence of the world’s largest economy, namely, the United States. This paper examines the extent and robustness of the relationship between trade intensity and business cycle synchronization for nine East Asian countries in the period 1965–2008. Unlike previous studies which assume away the region’s concurrent connection with the rest of the world, in our regressions we control for both the US effect and the exchange rate co-movement in the region. We find that the coefficient estimates for intra-industry trade intensity remain robust and significant even after controlling for the US effect and the exchange rate co-movement. The findings confirm that regional intra-industry trade fosters business cycle correlations among countries in East Asia.
Local selectivity of orders in central simple algebras
Authors: Linowitz Benjamin , Shemanske Thomas R.
Published: October 2016

Let [Formula: see text] be a central simple algebra of degree [Formula: see text] over a number field [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] be a strictly maximal subfield. We say that the ring of integers [Formula: see text] is selective if there exists an isomorphism class of maximal orders in [Formula: see text] no element of which contains [Formula: see text]. In the present work, we consider a local variant of the selectivity problem and applications. We first prove a theorem characterizing which maximal orders in a local central simple algebra contain the global ring of integers [Formula: see text] by leveraging the theory of affine buildings for [Formula: see text] where [Formula: see text] is a local central division algebra. Then as an application, we use the local result and a local–global principle to show how to compute a set of representatives of the isomorphism classes of maximal orders in [Formula: see text], and distinguish those which are guaranteed to contain [Formula: see text]. Having such a set of representatives allows both algebraic and geometric applications. As an algebraic application, we recover a global selectivity result, and give examples which clarify the interesting role of partial ramification in the algebra.
Restricted Burnside problem for semigroups and its application to language theory
Authors: Guo Y. Q. , Wang Shoufeng , Shum K. P.
Published: October 2016

In this paper, we introduce the concept of strongly torsion property of semigroups. Then we prove that the strongly torsion property of a semigroup is a necessary and sufficient condition for a finitely generated semigroup to be finite, and hence, the strongly torsion property is equivalent to the torsion property together with the permutation property for the class of finitely generated semigroups. Finally, we give an application of our main result to language theory. A question proposed in [H. Prodinger, Congruences defined by languages and filters, Inf. Control 44 (1980) 36–46] is consequently answered.