bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implementation research for early childhood development programming in humanitarian contexts
Authors: Murphy Katie Maeve , Yoshikawa Hirokazu , Wuermli Alice J.
Published: May 2018

Young children living in conditions of war, disaster, and displacement are at high risk for developmental difficulties that can follow them throughout their lives. While there is robust evidence supporting the need for early childhood development (ECD) in humanitarian settings, implementation of ECD programming remains sparse, largely due to the lack of evidence of how and why these programs can improve outcomes in humanitarian settings. In order to build the evidence base for ECD in humanitarian settings, we review the current state of implementation research for ECD programming (targeting children 0–8) in humanitarian settings, through a literature review and a series of key informant interviews. Drawing from existing frameworks of implementation research and the findings from our analysis, we present a framework for ECD implementation research in humanitarian settings and propose an agenda for future research.
Program to Improve Private Early Education (PIPE): a case study of a systems approach for scaling quality early education solutions
Authors: Jain Vikram , Irfan Ahmed , Kirtane Vanikar Gauri
Published: May 2018

FSG is a mission‐driven nonprofit organization supporting leaders in creating large‐scale, lasting social change. A survey conducted by FSG in 2015 across 4407 low‐income families in urban India showed that 95% of them send their children to preschools, a majority of choosing affordable private preschools (APSs), as parents perceive the quality of government schools to be poor. Parents use and value rote‐based methods (e.g., reciting poems) to assess their children's learning in school; however, these methods fail to measure conceptual understanding. The APS system delivers on these rote approaches using inappropriate pedagogy, leading to poor learning outcomes. Affordable high‐quality activity‐based preschool solutions exist and could be brought to the APS to significantly improve the classroom environment and learning outcomes. This requires changing mindsets of all actors—solution provider companies, APS owners, APS teachers, and low‐income parents. We present FSG's approach to shaping demand for quality preschool services and to improve learning outcomes in urban Indian APSs through the implementation of the pilot Program to Improve Private Early Education (PIPE).
Translation of evidence to practice to promote early childhood development programs
Authors: Stansbery Pablo
Published: May 2018

The 2018 special issue of Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences on implementation research and practice for early childhood development brings together emerging evidence on implementing effective nurturing care programs, addressing issues of quality and scale. Translating evidence to practice requires addressing the barriers perceived by policy makers, which have been highlighted in the published literature. Here, I describe how UNICEF and other global partners are addressing these barriers.
Care for Child Development in rural Malawi: a model feasibility and pilot study
Authors: Gladstone Melissa , Phuka John , Thindwa Richard , Chitimbe Fatima , Chidzalo Kate , Chandna Jaya , Gleadow Ware Selena , Maleta Kenneth
Published: May 2018

Evidence demonstrates that encouraging stimulation, early communication, and nutrition improves child development. Detailed feasibility studies in real‐world situations in Africa are limited. We piloted Care for Child Development through six health surveillance assistants (HSAs) in group and individual sessions with 60 caregivers and children <2 years and assessed recruitment, frequency, timings, and quality of intervention. We collected baseline/endline anthropometric, child development (MDAT), maternal stress (SRQ), and family care indicators (FCIs) data and determined acceptability through 20 interviews with caregivers and HSAs. HSAs could only provide coverage on 14.2% of eligible children in their areas; 86% of group sessions and a mean of 3.6/12 individual sessions offered to mothers were completed. Pre‐ and post‐assessment of children demonstrated significant changes in MDAT language and social Z‐scores and FCIs. Caregivers perceived sessions as beneficial and HSAs good leaders but that they could be provided through other mechanisms. Integrated Care for Child Development programs for 0–2 years old are readily accepted in Malawi, but they are not feasible to conduct universally through HSAs due to limited coverage; other models need to be considered.
Role of oral examination in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients: A safe and simple way to detect light chain amyloidosis
Authors: Leiba Merav , Jarjoura Suha , Abboud Waseem , Nagler Arnon , Yahalom Ran , Duek Adrian , Yarom Noam
Published: May 2018

Objective

Up to 30% of multiple myeloma (MM) patients have subclinical amyloid deposits. These patients are under‐recognized and are more susceptible to drug toxicity, bleeding and death. Early diagnosis and adjustment of treatment are crucial. Biopsies of oral mucosa might be a potentially useful diagnostic tool. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence and characteristics at presentation of oral amyloidosis in a large cohort of MM patients.

Methods

The prevalence and characteristics of oral amyloidosis in a large cohort of MM patients who were referred for oral evaluation before and during bisphosphonate therapy were assessed, retrospectively.

Results

Among 212 patients analysed, 13 (6%) were diagnosed with concomitant light chain (AL) amyloidosis. In 54% (n = 7), lesions in the oral cavity compatible with amyloid deposition were detected by examination.

Conclusions

The salient feature of this study is the high prevalence of oral manifestations among MM patients with amyloidosis. These results highlight the value of routine oral cavity examination and biopsy as a safe and simple method for detecting light chain amyloidosis.
Extrathoracic subclavian‐axillary vein location and morphological features over the first rib for pacemaker and defibrillator lead implantation
Authors: Vurgun Veysel Kutay , Candemir Basar , Gerede Demet Menekse , Goksuluk Huseyin , Altin Ali Timucin , Akyurek Omer , Erol Cetin
Published: May 2018

Background

We aimed to describe the variations of extrathoracic subclavian‐axillary vein location and its morphology over the first rib by venography in order to facilitate venous puncture using fluoroscopic landmarks without contrast venography, and evaluate the success rate of punctures, which is made with our method.

Methods

Patients who had undergone de novo lead implantation with the help of prepuncture venography between 2011 and 2015 were enrolled. For detection of the segmental location of the axillary vein, the zones were defined (Zone 1: Posterior, Zone 2: Lateral, Zone 3: Medial) at the first rib by fluoroscopy. Additionally, patients, who underwent venous puncture with our method after January 2017, were evaluated in terms of puncture success.

Results

Four hundred thirty‐three patients who had prepuncture contrast venography for defibrillator or pacemaker lead implantation in 2011–2015 were analyzed. The most common position of the axillary vein was found to be over zone 2 (91%) while the zone 1 location was 8.5% and the zone 3 was 0.5%. Venous valves were detected on the first rib in 98 patients. After January 2017, venous puncture using fluoroscopic landmarks was performed to 171 patients. The punctures were successfully performed over zone 2 with our method in 90.7% of the patients.

Conclusions

The most common radioanatomic position of the extrathoracic subclavian‐axillary vein was observed at zone 2 according to our method and the probability of presence of venous valve over the first rib is 22%. Additionally, the success rate of puncture using fluoroscopic landmarks over zone 2 was 90.7%.
The intracellular nucleotide‐binding leucine‐rich repeat receptor (SlNRC4a) enhances immune signalling elicited by extracellular perception
Authors: Leibman‐Markus Meirav , Pizarro Lorena , Schuster Silvia , Lin Z.J. Daniel , Gershony Ofir , Bar Maya , Coaker Gitta , Avni Adi
Published: May 2018

Plant recognition and defence against pathogens employs a two‐tiered perception system. Surface‐localized pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) act to recognize microbial features, whereas intracellular nucleotide‐binding leucine‐rich repeat receptors (NLRs) directly or indirectly recognize pathogen effectors inside host cells. Employing the tomato PRR LeEIX2/EIX model system, we explored the molecular mechanism of signalling pathways. We identified an NLR that can associate with LeEIX2, termed SlNRC4a (NB‐LRR required for hypersensitive response‐associated cell death‐4). Co‐immunoprecipitation demonstrates that SlNRC4a is able to associate with different PRRs. Physiological assays with specific elicitors revealed that SlNRC4a generally alters PRR‐mediated responses. SlNRC4a overexpression enhances defence responses, whereas silencing SlNRC4 reduces plant immunity. Moreover, the coiled‐coil domain of SlNRC4a is able to associate with LeEIX2 and is sufficient to enhance responses upon EIX perception. On the basis of these findings, we propose that SlNRC4a acts as a noncanonical positive regulator of immunity mediated by diverse PRRs. Thus, SlNRC4a could link both intracellular and extracellular immune perceptions.
Eosinophilic annular erythema treated with dupilumab
Authors: Gordon Samantha C. , Robinson Sarah N. , Abudu Minawaer , Her Michelle , Deverapalli Sandyha , Levin Adrianne , Schmidt Birgitta A. R. , Gellis Stephen E. , Rosmarin David
Published: May 2018

Eosinophilic annular erythema is a rare, benign, recurrent condition characterized by annular skin lesions, tissue eosinophilia, and resistance to a variety of treatments. There are fewer than 30 cases reported in the English literature, 7 of which are in children. We present a case of recurrent eosinophilic annular erythema in an adolescent that was successfully treated with dupilumab, an interleukin‐4 receptor alpha antagonist.
Global Lung Initiative 2012 spirometry reference values in a large Asian cohort of Malay, Chinese and Indian ancestry
Authors: Abdullah Noraidatulakma , Borhanuddin Boekhtiar , Shah Shamsul A. , Hassan Tidi , Jamal Rahman
Published: May 2018

Background and objective

Although the multi‐ethnic European Respiratory Society/Global Lung Initiative (ERS/GLI) 2012 reference values have been developed, the Taskforce has called for further validation specifically on subpopulations that were under represented such as the Malays, Chinese and Indians, in which the two latter ethnic groups represent about one‐third of the world population. Thus, the aims of this study were to evaluate the appropriateness of the ERS/GLI 2012 reference values in a healthy adult Malaysian population and to construct a local lung function reference for the Malaysia population specific to the three major ethnic groups.

Methods

Acceptable spirometry data were obtained from 30 281 healthy subjects aged 35–70 years comprising Malays, Chinese and Indians from the Malaysian Cohort. Local reference values were calculated using regression analysis and evaluated using ERS/GLI reference values to obtain GLI Z‐scores.

Results

The mean (SD) of the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) for males were 2.67 (0.46), 2.89 (0.48) and 2.60 (0.46) and females were 1.91 (0.36), 2.13 (0.37) and 1.86 (0.35) for Malays, Chinese and Indians, respectively. For forced vital capacity (FVC), the mean (SD) for males were 3.03 (0.53), 3.28 (0.58) and 2.92 (0.53) and females were 2.15 (0.40), 2.38 (0.43) and 2.07 (0.41) for Malays, Chinese and Indians, respectively. The mean GLI Z‐scores were less than −0.5 for FEV1 and FVC and more than 0.5 for FEV1/FVC. A large percentage of subjects in all the three ethnic groups were defined lower than the lower limit of normal.

Conclusion

This present and large multi‐ethnic Asian‐based study demonstrates clinically significant deviation from ERS/GLI 2012 equations for spirometry. It highlights the importance of validating predicted equations for spirometry in local populations.
On‐Bill Financing Programs to Support Low‐Carbon Energy Technologies: An Agent‐Oriented Assessment
Authors: Mundaca Luis , Kloke Sarah
Published: May 2018

On‐bill financing (OBF) schemes have been welcomed as innovative mechanisms for encouraging the adoption of low‐carbon energy technologies. Yet while the potential effects of these schemes have received growing attention, less is known about their actual performance. Departing from New Institutional Economics and insights from Behavioral Economics, this theory‐driven assessment examines the How$mart® program in Kansas (United States) and the Green Deal in the United Kingdom. The study identifies the mechanisms designed to trigger behavioral change and technology adoption. We focus on market agents, and related market failures and behavioral anomalies that often prevent energy efficiency improvements. The paper adds to our theoretical and empirical understanding of public and utility‐driven OBF programs applied to the residential sector. Our findings suggest that simple, carefully designed on‐bill programs, where the financing of efficient technologies takes the form of a service rather than a loan, are more effective for the diffusion of low‐carbon energy technology and the reduction of transaction costs. At the same time, on bill‐financing schemes challenge the core business of utilities, and given the complexities and dynamics of energy efficiency markets and energy use, other policy interventions are needed.
The significance of spectrophotometric image analysis for diagnosis of the melanocytic skin tumours in association with their thickness
Authors: Sakalauskienė K. , Valiukevičienė S. , Raišutis R. , Linkevičiūtė G.
Published: May 2018

Background

Cutaneous melanoma is a melanocytic skin tumour, which has very poor prognosis while it is highly resistant to treatment and tends to metastasize. Thickness of melanoma is one of the most important biomarker for stage of disease, prognosis and surgery planning. In this study, we hypothesized that the analysis of spectrophotometric (SIAscope) images can provide the information about skin tumour thickness.

Methods

The intensity of blood displacement, “erythematous blush”, collagen holes, intensity of collagen, dermal and epidermal melanin were estimated in SIAgraphs. Tumour thicknesses were evaluated non‐invasively in ultrasound images before excision. The diagnosis and Breslow index of each tumour were evaluated during routine histological examination.

Results

The logistic regression analysis of two thicknesses groups of melanocytic tumours (≤1 mm, n = 72 and >1 mm, n = 30), using six SIAscopic features lead to achieve the areas under the ROC curves of 0.9 and 0.96 respectively. Overall the sensitivity and specificity of SIAscopy observed in this study is 81.4% and 86.4% respectively.

Conclusion

The features of SIAgraphs individually are not enough specific for melanoma diagnosis with different thickness. Promising results were observed for differentiation of melanocytic skin tumour, using all 6 SIAscopic features, which correspond to the distribution, location and concentration of skin chromophores.
Anesthesia effects on the low frequency blood flow oscillations in mouse skin
Authors: Astashev M. E. , Serov D. A. , Tankanag A. V.
Published: May 2018

Background

When laboratory animals are used one needs to anesthetize them before recording. However, the influence of anesthesia on animal blood flow oscillations has not been studied. The effects of two ways of anesthesia, zoletil‐xylazine, and zoletil‐nitrous oxide mixtures, on mouse skin perfusion using laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF) technique were studied.

Methods

BALB/c mice were used. LDF probe was placed on the ventral surface of the left hind paw. Spectral analysis of LDF signals was performed with continuous adaptive wavelet transform to identify and describe peripheral blood flow oscillations in mouse skin.

Results

Low‐frequency oscillation interval boundaries (myogenic, neurogenic, and endothelial) for mice were shown to coincide with the boundaries determined for human and rats, that demonstrate their independence from the body size. Zoletil‐xylazine anesthesia significantly decreased neurogenic and endothelial oscillation amplitudes by 29% and 50% respectively and increased the amplitude of cardiac oscillations by 23% compared to zoletyl‐nitrous oxide anesthesia. There were no significant changes of the amplitudes of myogenic and respiratory oscillations with zoletil‐nitrous oxide anesthesia compared to the zoletil‐xylazine mixture.

Conclusion

We suggest that the different influence of anesthesia modes on the amplitudes of skin blood flow oscillations is associated with sympathetic activity suppressed by zoletil‐xylazine anesthesia.
Identification of eight new MHC‐DPB1 alleles in the Tibetan macaques (Macaca thibetana)
Authors: Yao Y. F. , Zhou Y. Y. , Qi Y. , Zhao Q. , Xu H. L.
Published: May 2018

We report here the identification of eight new Math‐DPB1 alleles in the Tibetan macaques.
Drama to promote non‐verbal communication skills
Authors: Kelly Martina , Nixon Lara , Broadfoot Kirsten , Hofmeister Marianna , Dornan Tim
Published: May 2018

Background

Non‐verbal communication skills (NVCS) help physicians to deliver relationship‐centred care, and the effective use of NVCS is associated with improved patient satisfaction, better use of health services and high‐quality clinical care. In contrast to verbal communication skills, NVCS training is under developed in communication curricula for the health care professions. One of the challenges teaching NVCS is their tacit nature. In this study, we evaluated drama exercises to raise awareness of NVCS by making familiar activities ‘strange’.

Methods

Workshops based on drama exercises were designed to heighten an awareness of sight, hearing, touch and proxemics in non‐verbal communication. These were conducted at eight medical education conferences, held between 2014 and 2016, and were open to all conference participants. Workshops were evaluated by recording narrative data generated during the workshops and an open‐ended questionnaire following the workshop. Data were analysed qualitatively, using thematic analysis.

Non‐verbal communication skills help doctors to deliver relationship‐centred care

Results

One hundred and twelve participants attended workshops, 73 (65%) of whom completed an evaluation form: 56 physicians, nine medical students and eight non‐physician faculty staff. Two themes were described: an increased awareness of NVCS and the importance of NVCS in relationship building. Drama exercises enabled participants to experience NVCS, such as sight, sound, proxemics and touch, in novel ways. Participants reflected on how NCVS contribute to developing trust and building relationships in clinical practice.

Discussion

Drama‐based exercises elucidate the tacit nature of NVCS and require further evaluation in formal educational settings.
Purinergic receptor stimulation induces calcium oscillations and smooth muscle contraction in small pulmonary veins
Authors: Henriquez Mauricio , Fonseca Marcelo , Perez‐Zoghbi Jose F.
Published: May 2018

Key points

We investigated the excitation–contraction coupling mechanisms in small pulmonary veins (SPVs) in rat precision‐cut lung slices.

We found that SPVs contract strongly and reversibly in response to extracellular ATP and other vasoconstrictors, including angiotensin‐II and endothelin‐1.

ATP‐induced vasoconstriction in SPVs was associated with the stimulation of purinergic P2Y2 receptors in vascular smooth muscle cell, activation of phospholipase C‐β and the generation of intracellular Ca2+ oscillations mediated by cyclic Ca2+ release events via the inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor.

Active constriction of SPVs may play an important role in the development of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary oedema.

The small pulmonary veins (SPVs) may play a role in the development of pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary oedema via active changes in SPV diameter, mediated by vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) contraction. However, the excitation–contraction coupling mechanisms during vasoconstrictor stimulation remain poorly understood in these veins. We used rat precision‐cut lung slices and phase‐contrast and confocal microscopy to investigate dynamic changes in SPV cross‐sectional luminal area and intracellular Ca2+ signalling in their VSMCs. We found that the SPV (∼150 μm in diameter) contract strongly in response to extracellular ATP and other vasoconstrictors, including angiotensin‐II and endothelin‐1. ATP‐induced SPV contraction was fast, concentration‐dependent, completely reversible upon ATP washout, and inhibited by purinergic receptor antagonists suramin and AR‐C118925 but not by MRS2179. Immunofluorescence showed purinergic P2Y2 receptors expressed in SPV VSMCs. ATP‐induced SPV contraction was inhibited by phospholipase Cβ inhibitor U73122 and accompanied by intracellular Ca2+ oscillations in the VSMCs. These Ca2+ oscillations and SPV contraction were inhibited by the inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate receptor inhibitor 2‐APB but not by ryanodine. The results of the present study suggest that ATP‐induced vasoconstriction in SPVs is associated with the activation of purinergic P2Y2 receptors in VSMCs and the generation of Ca2+ oscillations.
An age-dependent vocal tract model for males and females based on anatomic measurements
Authors: Story Brad H. , Vorperian Houri K. , Bunton Kate , Durtschi Reid B.
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this study was to take a first step toward constructing a developmental and sex-specific version of a parametric vocal tract area function model representative of male and female vocal tracts ranging in age from infancy to 12 yrs, as well as adults. Anatomic measurements collected from a large imaging database of male and female children and adults provided the dataset from which length warping and cross-dimension scaling functions were derived, and applied to the adult-based vocal tract model to project it backward along an age continuum. The resulting model was assessed qualitatively by projecting hypothetical vocal tract shapes onto midsagittal images from the cohort of children, and quantitatively by comparison of formant frequencies produced by the model to those reported in the literature. An additional validation of modeled vocal tract shapes was made possible by comparison to cross-sectional area measurements obtained for children and adults using acoustic pharyngometry. This initial attempt to generate a sex-specific developmental vocal tract model paves a path to study the relation of vocal tract dimensions to documented prepubertal acoustic differences.
Speech intelligibility in rooms: Disrupting the effect of prior listening exposure
Authors: Brandewie Eugene J. , Zahorik Pavel
Published: May 2018

It has been demonstrated that prior listening exposure to reverberant environments can improve speech understanding in that environment. Previous studies have shown that the buildup of this effect is brief (less than 1 s) and seems largely to be elicited by exposure to the temporal modulation characteristics of the room environment. Situations that might be expected to cause a disruption in this process have yet to be demonstrated. This study seeks to address this issue by showing what types of changes in the acoustic environment cause a breakdown of the room exposure phenomenon. Using speech carrier phrases featuring sudden changes in the acoustic environment, breakdown in the room exposure effect was observed when there was change in the late reverberation characteristics of the room that signaled a different room environment. Changes in patterns of early reflections within the same room environment did not elicit breakdown. Because the environmental situations that resulted in breakdown also resulted in substantial changes to the broadband temporal modulation characteristic of the signal reaching the ears, results from this study provide additional support for the hypothesis that the room exposure phenomenon is linked to the temporal modulation characteristics of the environment.
Machine learning reveals cyclic changes in seismic source spectra in Geysers geothermal field
Authors: Holtzman Benjamin K. , Paté Arthur , Paisley John , Waldhauser Felix , Repetto Douglas
Published: May 2018

Machine learning methods identify subtle differences among seismic signals, enabling new insight into earthquake physics.
Single-molecule analysis reveals the mechanism of transcription activation in
M. tuberculosis
Authors: Vishwakarma Rishi Kishore , Cao Anne-Marinette , Morichaud Zakia , Perumal Ayyappasamy Sudalaiyadum , Margeat Emmanuel , Brodolin Konstantin
Published: May 2018

Mycobacterial activator RbpA stimulates transcription by stabilizing open conformation of the RNA polymerase σ subunit.
Phosphorus, not nitrogen, limits plants and microbial primary producers following glacial retreat
Authors: Darcy John L. , Schmidt Steven K. , Knelman Joey E. , Cleveland Cory C. , Castle Sarah C. , Nemergut Diana R.
Published: May 2018

Unlike temperate soils, where N limits primary productivity, cold and dry soils exposed by retreating glaciers are P-limited.
Adult rat myelin enhances axonal outgrowth from neural stem cells
Authors: Poplawski Gunnar H. D. , Lie Richard , Hunt Matt , Kumamaru Hiromi , Kawaguchi Riki , Lu Paul , Schäfer Michael K. E. , Woodruff Grace , Robinson Jacob , Canete Philip , Dulin Jennifer N. , Geoffroy Cedric G. , Menzel Lutz , Zheng Binhai , Coppola Giovanni , Tuszynski Mark H.
Published: May 2018

Axons emerging from rat neural stem cell implants in the injured spinal cord of rat recipients are stimulated to grow by myelin.
Blocking IL-6 signaling deflates pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Lavine Kory
Published: May 2018

IL-6 signaling contributes to the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension by orchestrating pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell expansion.
Nephrotoxicity Associated with Intravenous Polymyxin B Once- versus Twice-Daily Dosing Regimen
Authors: Okoduwa Adeola , Ahmed Nabeela , Guo Yi , Scipione Marco R. , Papadopoulos John , Eiras Daniel P. , Dubrovskaya Yanina
Published: May 2018

Nephrotoxicity is a known adverse effect of polymyxin B (PMB). Animal data suggest that once-daily dosing may reduce the rate and delay the onset of acute kidney injury (AKI).
Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus velezensis PEBA20, a Strain with a Plant Growth-Promoting Effect and Biocontrol Potential
Authors: Kong Wei-Jian , Yan Yong-Cai , Li Xiang-Ying , Liu Zhen-Yu
Published: May 2018

Bacillus velezensis
PEBA20 is a poplar endophyte with biocontrol activities and plant growth-promoting effects. The genome of
B. velezensis
PEBA20 was sequenced and the draft genome assembled, with a length of 4,249,176 bp and 4,487 genes.
Genome Sequence of JangDynasty, a Newly Isolated Mycobacteriophage
Authors: Jang Casey , Kalaj Nancy , Hwang Brian , Hughes Lorelei , Yang Connie , Pak Thomas , Kim John , Han Dong Yoon , Tedjakusnadi Jason , Fernandez Nicholas , Dean Natasha , Muthiah Arun , Sutter Nathaniel B. , Diaz Arturo
Published: May 2018

JangDynasty is a bacteriophage that infects
Mycobacterium smegmatis
mc
2
155. It has a genome length of 70,883 bp, with 124 predicted open reading frames (ORFs), 42 of which have known functions. JangDynasty belongs to cluster O, and like other cluster O phages, it is a siphovirus with a prolate capsid.
Complete Genome Sequencing of the Mouse Intestinal Isolate Escherichia coli Mt1B1
Authors: Garzetti Debora , Eberl Claudia , Stecher Bärbel
Published: May 2018

Escherichia coli
Mt1B1, a mouse isolate, is a facultative anaerobic bacterium which was shown to counteract
Salmonella enterica
serovar Typhimurium infection in a mouse model. In the present study, we describe the complete genome sequence of
E. coli
Mt1B1, composed of a 5.1-Mb chromosome and a 62.6-kb plasmid.
Draft Genome Sequence of Two Marine Plantactinospora spp. from the Gulf of California
Authors: Contreras-Castro Luis , Maldonado Luis A. , Quintana Erika T. , Raggi Luciana , Sánchez-Flores Alejandro
Published: May 2018

Plantactinospora
sp. strains BB1 and BC1 were isolated in 2009 from sediment samples of the Gulf of California from among almost 300 actinobacteria. Genome mining of their ∼8.5-Mb sequences showed the bioprospecting potential of these rare actinomycetes, providing an insight to their ecological and biotechnological importance.
Draft Genome Sequence of Mycobacterium montefiorense Isolated from Japanese Black Salamander (Hynobius nigrescens)
Authors: Fukano Hanako , Yoshida Mitsunori , Shimizu Akane , Iwao Hajime , Katayama Yukie , Omatsu Tsutomu , Mizutani Tetsuya , Kurata Osamu , Wada Shinpei , Hoshino Yoshihiko
Published: May 2018

Mycobacterium montefiorense
is a member of the
Mycobacterium simiae
complex, the largest group of nontuberculous mycobacteria. Here, we report the genome sequence of
M. montefiorense
isolate BS, isolated from diseased Japanese black salamander (
Hynobius nigrescens
) reared in an aquarium in Japan. This is the first reported case of an
M. montefiorense
infection in an amphibian.
Draft Genomic Sequencing of Six Potential Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli Isolates from Retail Chicken Meat
Authors: Xu Aixia , Johnson James R. , Sheen Shiowshuh , Needleman David S. , Sommers Christopher
Published: May 2018

Potential extraintestinal pathogenic
Escherichia coli
strains DP254, WH333, WH398, F356, FEX675, and FEX725 were isolated from retail chicken meat products. Here, we report the draft genome sequences for these six
E. coli
isolates, which are currently being used in food safety research.
Complete Genome Sequences of Four Novel Human Coronavirus OC43 Isolates Associated with Severe Acute Respiratory Infection
Authors: Dinwiddie Darrell L. , Hardin Olga , Denson Jesse L. , Kincaid John C. , Schwalm Kurt C. , Stoner Ashley N. , Abramo Thomas J. , Thompson Tonya M. , Putt Claire M. , Young Stephen A. , Dehority Walter N. , Kennedy Joshua L.
Published: May 2018

We report here the complete genome sequences of four human coronavirus (HCoV) OC43 isolates generated using targeted viral nucleic acid capture and next-generation sequencing; the isolates were collected in New Mexico and Arkansas, USA, in February (HCoV-OC43/USA/TCNP_0070/2016) and March (HCoV-OC43/USA/ACRI_0052/2016) 2016 and January 2017 (HCoV-OC43/USA/TCNP_00204/2017 and HCoV-OC43/USA/TCNP_00212/2017).
High-Quality Draft Genome Sequence of Sphaerisporangium cinnabarinum ATCC 31213
Authors: Christensen Line Friis Bakmann , Otzen Daniel , Dueholm Morten Simonsen
Published: May 2018

A high-quality draft genome sequence of
Sphaerisporangium cinnabarinum
ATCC 31213 is presented here. This bacterium produces several important bioactive compounds and may also produce functional amyloids. This is the first sequenced genome from the genus
Sphaerisporangium
, and it will be essential in determining the nature of the potential amyloid protein.
Interleukin-21 Induces Short-Lived Effector CD8
+
T Cells but Does Not Inhibit Their Exhaustion after Mycobacterium bovis BCG Infection in Mice
Authors: Noguchi Naoto , Nakamura Risa , Hatano Shinya , Yamada Hisakata , Sun Xun , Ohara Naoya , Yoshikai Yasunobu
Published: May 2018

Interleukin 21 (IL-21) is a pleiotropic common cytokine receptor γ chain cytokine that promotes the effector functions of NK cells and CD8
+
T cells and inhibits CD8
+
T cell exhaustion during chronic infection. We found that the absolute number of short-lived effector CD8
+
T cells (SLECs) (KLRG1
high
CD127
low
) decreased significantly in IL-21 receptor-deficient (IL-21R
−/−
) mice during
Mycobacterium bovis
bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) infection.
Seasonal variation of refractive error change among young schoolchildren in a population-based cohort study in Taipei
Authors: Tsai Der-Chong , Huang Nicole , Fang Shao-You , Hsu Chih-Chien , Lin Pei-Yu , Chen Shing-Yi , Liou Yiing-Mei , Chiu Allen Wen-Hsiang , Liu Catherine Jui-Ling
Published: May 2018

Purpose

To investigate the relationship between seasonal variation of daylight length and spherical equivalent (SE) progression among the schoolchildren participating in the Myopia Investigation Study in Taipei.

Methods

We used the first-year data from grade 2 schoolchildren who completed all the baseline and two follow-up examinations (n=6790). There were two 6-month intervals between visits over winter and summer, respectively. For each interval, we calculated average daily daylight length using data from Taiwan’s Central Weather Bureau and measured 6-month SE progression rate based on right eye cycloplegic autorefraction data. The midpoint month was defined as the month midway between two consecutive visits.

Results

By the midpoint month, average daily daylight length was the shortest in December (671±7 min/day) and the longest (785±7 min/day) in June, and SE progression rate was the fastest (−0.23±0.48 D) in December and the slowest (−0.17±0.51 D) in June. Significant variation of SE progression rate with season can be observed only among the schoolchildren (n=1905) whose midpoint months for the winter and summer intervals were December and June (winter rate, −0.25±0.47 D; summer rate, −0.17±0.49 D; p<0.001). Of those, the summer progression rate was approximately 80%, 65% and 61.5% of that measured in winter for myopic (p=0.252), emmetropic (p=0.012) and hyperopic (p=0.012) schoolchildren, respectively.

Conclusion

Our data demonstrate a seasonal variation of minus shift in refractive error among Taipei schoolchildren who had significant daytime fluctuation during the 1-year follow-up. Of those, non-myopic children had significant and more pronounced variation of SE progression than myopic children.
Rapid assessment of avoidable blindness in Papua New Guinea: a nationwide survey
Authors: Lee Ling , D'Esposito Fabrizio , Garap Jambi , Wabulembo Geoffrey , Koim Samuel Peter , Keys Drew , Cama Anaseini T , Limburg Hans , Burnett Anthea
Published: May 2018

Objective

To estimate the prevalence and main causes of blindness and vision impairment in people aged 50 years and older in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

Design

National cross-sectional population-based survey in National Capital District (NCD), Highlands, Coastal and Islands regions.

Methods

Adults aged 50 years and above were recruited from 100 randomly selected clusters. Each participant underwent monocular presenting and pinhole visual acuity (VA) assessment and lens examination. Those with pinhole VA<6/12 in either eye had a dilated fundus examination to determine the primary cause of reduced vision. Those with obvious lens opacity were interviewed on barriers to cataract surgery.

Results

A total of 4818 adults were examined. The age-adjusted and sex-adjusted prevalence of blindness (VA <3/60), severe vision impairment (SVI, VA <6/60 but ≥3/60), moderate vision impairment (MVI, VA <6/18 but ≥6/60) and early vision impairment (EVI, VA <6/12 but ≥6/18) was 5.6% (95% CI 4.9% to 6.3%), 2.9% (95% CI 2.5% to 3.4%), 10.9% (95% CI 9.9% to 11.9%) and 7.3% (95% CI 6.6% to 8.0%), respectively. The main cause of blindness, SVI and MVI was cataract, while uncorrected refractive error was the main cause of EVI. A significantly higher prevalence of blindness, SVI and MVI occurred in the Highlands compared with NCD. Across all regions, women had lower cataract surgical coverage and spectacle coverage than men.

Conclusions

PNG has one of the highest reported prevalence of blindness globally. Cataract and uncorrected refractive error are the main causes, suggesting a need for increased accessible services with improved resources and advocacy for enhancing eye health literacy.
Possible connection of short posterior ciliary arteries to choroidal neovascularisations in eyes with pathologic myopia
Authors: Ishida Tomoka , Watanabe Takashi , Yokoi Tae , Shinohara Kosei , Ohno-Matsui Kyoko
Published: May 2018

Purpose

To determine the connection between myopic choroidal neovascularisations (CNVs) and intrascleral vessels examined by swept-source optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods

The data of 124 eyes of 112 consecutive patients with myopic CNVs were retrospectively analysed. A myopic CNV was defined as a CNV occurring in eyes with pathologic myopia based on the META-PM study classification. The images obtained by swept-source OCT were analysed to determine the relationship between perforating scleral vessels and CNVs. The continuity of the scleral vessels and the CNV was also analysed. The OCT angiographic (OCTA) characteristics of the myopic CNVs at the active, scar and atrophic phases were also analysed.

Results

OCTA images showed that CNVs had blood flow in the active, scar and atrophic phases. Scleral perforating vessels were detected just below or around the CNV in 93 eyes (75%). In 10 of the 93 eyes, the scleral vessels and CNV appeared to be continuous through a defect of Bruch’s membrane in the OCT images. Indocyanine green angiography showed that these perforating vessels were intrascleral arteries originating from the short posterior ciliary arteries (SPCAs).

Conclusions

Swept-source OCT showed that some of the myopic CNVs were continuous with scleral vessels mainly the SPCA. Further studies to confirm angiographical continuity between these two components are necessary.
What is the effect of secondary (high) schooling on subsequent medical school performance? A national, UK-based, cohort study
Authors: Mwandigha Lazaro M , Tiffin Paul A , Paton Lewis W , Kasim Adetayo S , Böhnke Jan R
Published: May 2018

Objectives

University academic achievement may be inversely related to the performance of the secondary (high) school an entrant attended. Indeed, some medical schools already offer ‘grade discounts’ to applicants from less well-performing schools. However, evidence to guide such policies is lacking. In this study, we analyse a national dataset in order to understand the relationship between the two main predictors of medical school admission in the UK (prior educational attainment (PEA) and performance on the United Kingdom Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT)) and subsequent undergraduate knowledge and skills-related outcomes analysed separately.

Methods

The study was based on national selection data and linked medical school outcomes for knowledge and skills-based tests during the first five years of medical school. UKCAT scores and PEA grades were available for 2107 students enrolled at 18 medical schools. Models were developed to investigate the potential mediating role played by a student’s previous secondary school’s performance. Multilevel models were created to explore the influence of students’ secondary schools on undergraduate achievement in medical school.

Results

The ability of the UKCAT scores to predict undergraduate academic performance was significantly mediated by PEA in all five years of medical school. Undergraduate achievement was inversely related to secondary school-level performance. This effect waned over time and was less marked for skills, compared with undergraduate knowledge-based outcomes. Thus, the predictive value of secondary school grades was generally dependent on the secondary school in which they were obtained.

Conclusions

The UKCAT scores added some value, above and beyond secondary school achievement, in predicting undergraduate performance, especially in the later years of study. Importantly, the findings suggest that the academic entry criteria should be relaxed for candidates applying from the least well performing secondary schools. In the UK, this would translate into a decrease of approximately one to two A-level grades.
Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma in patients with endometriosis
Authors: Butnor Kelly J , Rueckert Justin , Pavlisko Elizabeth N , Sporn Thomas A , Roggli Victor L
Published: May 2018

Aims

Florid mesothelial hyperplasia is known to result from endometriosis. Well-differentiated papillary mesothelioma and multiloculated peritoneal inclusion cysts have also been described in women with endometriosis. To our knowledge, peritoneal diffuse malignant mesothelioma (MM) arising in the setting of endometriosis has not been reported. The purpose of this study is to report the clinicopathological characteristics of women with MM and endometriosis.

Methods

The surgical pathology files of a tertiary academic medical centre and the consultation files of one of the study authors were reviewed for cases of MM in females with and without endometriosis.

Results

Six women with MM and endometriosis ranging in age from 29 to 55 years (median=45 years) were identified. All had peritoneal MM and endometriosis involving the peritoneum and/or adnexa. Five had epithelioid MM and one had biphasic MM. Two had paraoccupational exposure to asbestos. The median age of women with MM and endometriosis (44.5 years) was significantly less than the median age of cases without endometriosis (58.0 years) (p value=0.01).

Conclusions

To our knowledge, this is the first report of MM in women with endometriosis. Interestingly, MM in the setting of endometriosis has only been observed in the peritoneum and not in other serosal cavities. The findings in the present study suggest that chronic serosal inflammation secondary to endometriosis may be an inducing factor in rare cases of MM of the peritoneum.
Phagocytosis: what’s on the menu?
Authors: Lancaster Charlene E. , Ho Cheuk Y. , Hipolito Victoria E.B. , Botelho Roberto J. , Terebiznik Mauricio R.
Published: May 2018

Phagocytosis is an evolutionarily conserved process. In Protozoa, phagocytosis fulfills a feeding mechanism, while in Metazoa, phagocytosis diversified to play multiple organismal roles, including immune defence, tissue homeostasis, and remodeling. Accordingly, phagocytes display a high level of plasticity in their capacity to recognize, engulf, and process targets that differ in composition and morphology. Here, we review how phagocytosis adapts to its multiple roles and discuss in particular the effect of target morphology in phagocytic uptake and phagosome maturation.
New insight into bulb dynamics in the vacuolar lumen ofArabidopsiscells
Authors: Madina Mst Hur , Zheng Huanquan , Germain Hugo
Published: May 2018

Plant vacuoles are multifunctional organelles with dynamic and transient membranous structures, such as trans-vacuolar strands and bulbs. Bulbs are highly mobile structures that travel along trans-vacuolar strands. A candidate effector protein from Melampsora larici-populina (Mlp124357) fused with the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) was used to investigate the properties of central vacuoles and their bulbs. We discovered the coexistence of two bulb populations in Arabidopsis cells. In addition to previously-described bulbs, which present even marker protein distribution on the bulb surface, we discerned bulbs displaying irregular fusion protein distribution. Using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), we also demonstrated that bulbs do not exchange proteins with the tonoplast once they are formed. These results show that more than one type of bulb may co-exist in the same cell and provide evidence of micro-domains on the bulb surface. They also reveal that proteins do not flow freely from the tonoplast to the bulb membrane, giving new insight into the biology of tonoplast-derived substructures.
The structure and bonding properties of tiopronin-protected silver nanoparticles as studied by X-ray absorption spectroscopy
Authors: Padmos J. Daniel , Morris David J. , Zhang Peng
Published: May 2018

Thiolate-protected Ag nanoparticles (NPs) exhibit interesting physical and chemical properties which may lead to various sensing, diagnostic, and therapeutic applications. Further, understanding structure–property relationships of Ag NPs is of great interest to optimize their application. Herein, we used TEM, UV–vis, and a series of synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy techniques to probe the local structure and chemical bonding properties of thiolate-stabilized Ag NPs. Compared with other Ag nanostructures prepared under slightly modified conditions, the Ag NPs were found to have pronounced structural changes, which led to immensely different optical properties. Notably, the NPs were also found to have similar surface structure to recently elucidated Ag nanoclusters prepared with different thiolates. These findings suggest that the NP structure and optical properties can be sensitively tailored by controlling the synthetic conditions. The multi-element, multi-core excitation approach (i.e., Ag K-, Ag L3-, and S K-edges) employed in the X-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements was also demonstrated as an effective tool to uncover the NP structure from both the metal core and the ligand shell perspectives.
Correcting airborne gravity data for overburden thickness: a case study from the Nechako interior plateau, British Columbia
Authors: Caron Raymond M. , Samson Claire , Bates Martin , Chouteau Michel
Published: May 2018

Large areas of bedrock in Canada, such as in the interior plateau of British Columbia, are covered by a thick glacial overburden. Lateral variations in overburden thickness can create spurious anomalies in gravity data. These anomalies can be of a size and amplitude similar to those associated with mineral bodies and can be mistaken for them. A methodology is introduced that corrects gravity data for changes in overburden thickness through the use of a bedrock topography map created by integrating information from a helicopter transient electromagnetic survey with geological survey data, well water data, and gravel pit locations. The approach is tested for a 68 km × 38 km area in the prospective Nechako interior plateau of British Columbia, Canada. The methodology extends the traditional Bouguer corrections by taking into account the gravitational contribution of the overburden. Results show that the capability of an airborne survey to detect a change in overburden thickness depends primarily on survey line spacing and to a lesser extent on the level of random noise in the gravity data. The bedrock topography correction has the capability of removing the gravitational attraction of overburden for the purpose of revealing, through interpretation, geological structures in the gravity data that originate from the bedrock and are otherwise concealed.
The canonical topology on dp-minimal fields
Authors: Johnson Will
Published: May 2018

We construct a nontrivial definable type V field topology on any dp-minimal field [Formula: see text] that is not strongly minimal, and prove that definable subsets of [Formula: see text] have small boundary. Using this topology and its properties, we show that in any dp-minimal field [Formula: see text], dp-rank of definable sets varies definably in families, dp-rank of complete types is characterized in terms of algebraic closure, and [Formula: see text] is finite for all [Formula: see text]. Additionally, by combining the existence of the topology with results of Jahnke, Simon and Walsberg [Dp-minimal valued fields, J. Symbolic Logic 82(1) (2017) 151–165], it follows that dp-minimal fields that are neither algebraically closed nor real closed admit nontrivial definable Henselian valuations. These results are a key stepping stone toward the classification of dp-minimal fields in [Fun with fields, Ph.D. thesis, University of California, Berkeley (2016)].