bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk factors of rescue bismuth quadruple therapy failure for Helicobacter pylori eradication
Authors: Lee Jung Won , Kim Nayoung , Nam Ryoung Hee , Lee Sun Min , Soo In Choi , Kim Jung Mogg , Lee Dong Ho
Published: February 2019

Background and Aim

Failure of bismuth quadruple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication is frequently observed. To increase the eradication rate, comprehensive analyses need to be performed regarding risk factors of bismuth quadruple therapy failure based on complete standard culture and antimicrobial susceptibility testing results.

Methods

Patients with history of failed first therapy who had H. pylori colonies isolated from culture and successful minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test were enrolled. Esomeprazole, bismuth, metronidazole, and tetracycline (quadruple) therapies for 7 or 14 days were given. Eradication rate, treatment compliance, adverse events, and risk factors for the failure of bismuth quadruple therapy were analyzed.

Results

A total 54 patients were enrolled. Overall eradication rate in the present study was 88.8%. The eradication rate for cases with metronidazole resistance such as MIC 8–16 μg/mL or 16–32 μg/mL was 92.8% (13/14). For cases with high level metronidazole resistance (MIC > 32 μg/mL), the eradication rate was only 60% (6/10). Multivariate analysis regarding compliance, treatment duration, age > 60, three kinds of metronidazole MICs, tetracycline MIC > 4 μg/mL, adverse events and any other parameters, “metronidazole resistance, high level (MIC > 32 μg/mL)” was the only independent risk factor for eradication failure (P = 0.007).

Conclusion

For cases with metronidazole resistance at MIC > 32 μg/mL, rescue therapy other than bismuth‐containing quadruple therapy is needed.
Pediatric Chronic Illness Management: A Qualitative Dyadic Analysis of Adolescent Patient and Parent Illness Narratives
Authors: Williams‐Reade Jacqueline M. , Tapanes Daniel , Distelberg Brian J. , Montgomery Susanne
Published: February 2019

In pediatric chronic illness, little is known about the relational interactions between adolescent patients, parents, and illnesses and how they influence self‐management of illness. We conducted interviews with 32 individuals (16 dyads) representing adolescents diagnosed with a chronic illness and their primary parent who had been referred to a psychosocial treatment program for challenges with illness management. Interviews were conducted individually and analyzed dyadically using grounded theory to better understand the relational processes that may be contributing to illness management difficulties. Results include a theory of patient–parent illness responses and how parental illness meanings play a role in adolescent self‐management. Results can be used to better understand and treat family relational patterns that may be influencing pediatric illness management challenges.
Revising Premarital Relationship Interventions for the Next Generation
Authors: Clyde Tiffany L. , Hawkins Alan J. , Willoughby Brian J.
Published: February 2019

In this article, we review research on contemporary social trends that influence the next generation's ability to form and sustain a healthy marriage. As a result, we argue for greater attention to premarital interventions for engaged couples to help the next generation address the potential challenges created by these trends. After we briefly review the current state of premarital education and counseling, we examine four general, interrelated social trends: individualism and commitment ambivalence, changing attitudes about marriage, premarital relationship histories, and the omnipresent media environment. In addition, we offer four general proposals corresponding to these trends that we believe will enhance the future effectiveness of premarital interventions. We urge premarital educators and counselors to evaluate their current interventions with these proposals in mind.
Nursing Education, Cultural Differences, and Political Conflicts: Israeli First‐Person Action Research
Authors: Arieli Daniella
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The aim of this article was to focus on interventions that were part of an attempt to engage, in nursing education, with the challenges of working in a society afflicted with violent political tensions.

Design

This article is an initial reflective report on two interventions (with students and with the nursing faculty) that were part of ongoing action research at a nursing school in Israel.

Methodology

The methodology used for this article is first‐person action research based on the author's reflective accounts.

Findings

Three themes in relation to the intervention with students are (a) acknowledging different identities; (b) making conflict discussable; and (c) the dynamics of silencing and self‐censorship. Four vignettes that were at the center of the faculty's workshop are presented, as are the main contributions and shortcomings of the workshop. The main key to success for both interventions was that they were designed to answer specific needs and concerns of the participants.

Conclusions

There is a need for a wider effort to find ways to better address deep political, ethnic, social, religious, and racial conflicts as an integral part of nursing education. Interventions need to be tailor made for nursing and for the context.

Clinical Relevance

Preparing future nurses to care in a context of complex political realities is essential for effective caregiving in societies fraught with conflict. Sharing attempts to implement interventions with students and faculty is a prerequisite for a wider global effort of addressing conflict in nursing education.
Variables that predict response of nevus of ota to lasers
Authors: Rani Seema , Sardana Kabir
Published: February 2019

Nevus of ota is a dermal melanocytosis common among Asian patients, mottled, blue‐gray macule that is usually located unilaterally within the distribution of the first and second branches of the trigeminal nerve and almost always responds well to treatment with Q‐switched lasers (eg, ruby, alexandrite, and Nd: YAG). In spite of the plethora of science behind laser‐tissue interactions, the objective evaluation of nevus of ota response to laser is not on firm footing and most studies report subjective percentile scoring improvement. A knowledge of the variations in morphology of nevus of ota can help predict an optimal dose response and help to counsel patients appropriately.
Prevention, monitoring and treatment of cardiovascular adverse events in myeloma patients receiving carfilzomib A consensus paper by the European Myeloma Network and the Italian Society of Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Bringhen S. , Milan A. , D'Agostino M. , Ferri C. , Wäsch R. , Gay F. , Larocca A. , Offidani M. , Zweegman S. , Terpos E. , Goldschmidt H. , Cavo M. , Ludwig H. , Driessen C. , Auner H. W. , Caers J. , Gramatzki M. , Dimopoulos M. A. , Boccadoro M. , Einsele H. , Sonneveld P. , Engelhardt M.
Published: February 2019

Background

The novel proteasome inhibitor carfilzomib alone or in combination with other agents is already one of the standard therapies for relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (MM) patients and produces impressive response rates in newly diagnosed MM as well. However, carfilzomib‐related cardiovascular adverse events (CVAEs) – including hypertension (all grades: 12.2%; grade ≥3: 4.3%), heart failure (all grades: 4.1%; grade ≥3: 2.5%) and ischemic heart disease (all grades: 1.8%; grade ≥3: 0.8%) – may lead to treatment suspensions. At present, there are neither prospective studies nor expert consensus on the prevention, monitoring and treatment of CVAEs in myeloma patients treated with carfilzomib.

Methods

An expert panel of the European Myeloma Network in collaboration with the Italian Society of Arterial Hypertension and with the endorsement of the European Hematology Association aimed to provide recommendations to support health professionals in selecting the best management strategies for patients, considering the impact on outcome and the risk‐benefit ratio of diagnostic and therapeutic tools, thereby achieving myeloma response with novel combination approaches whilst preventing CVAEs.

Results

Patients scheduled to receive carfilzomib need a careful cardiovascular evaluation before treatment and an accurate follow‐up during treatment.

Conclusions

A detailed clinical assessment before starting carfilzomib treatment is essential to identify patients at risk for CVAEs, and accurate monitoring of blood pressure and of early signs and symptoms suggestive of cardiac dysfunction remains pivotal to safely administer carfilzomib without treatment interruptions or dose reductions.
Production performance, immune response and blood biochemical parameters in broiler chickens fed diet incorporated with prebiotics
Authors: Biswas Avishek , Mohan Namit , Raza Messam , Mir Nasir Akbar , Mandal Asitbaran
Published: February 2019

This experiment was conducted to identify the suitable replacer of broiler feed antibiotics with prebiotics (mannan oligosaccharides‐MOS or fructooligosaccharide‐FOS). Two hundred and forty (240)‐day‐old chicks were randomly divided into 30 groups (6 treatments x 5 replicates/treatment x 8 chicks/replicate). Six experimental diets T1, T2, T3, T4, T5 and T6 were formulated to contain an additional 0, antibiotic, that is, bacitracin methylene di‐salicylate (BMD) @20 mg/kg, MOS (0.1% and 0.2%) and FOS (0.1% and 0.2%) respectively. Body weight gain was significantly (p < 0.05) increased in MOS‐0.2% supplemented group at 0–21 d and 0–42 d of broiler chicken. Humoral and in vivo cell‐mediated immune response were significantly improved (p < 0.05) in BMD, MOS @0.1% or 0.2% treated group. Significant (p < 0.05) increase was recorded in total protein (except 21 d), albumin and aspartate amino transferase (AST) and decrease (p < 0.05) in alanine amino transferase (except 42 d), cholesterol and uric acid concentration. The weight of breast, thigh, back, drumstick bursa of Fabricius and thymus were higher (p < 0.05) in the birds given the MOS @0.2% (T4). It is concluded that MOS @0.2% may be suitable replacer of antibiotic growth promoter, and it has a beneficial effect on production performance, immune responses, blood biochemical parameters and cut up parts in broiler chickens.
Semiparametric Detection of Changes in Long Range Dependence
Authors: Iacone Fabrizio , Lazarová Štěpána
Published: February 2019

We consider changes in the degree of persistence of a process when the degree of persistence is characterized as the order of integration of a strongly dependent process. To avoid the risk of incorrectly specifying the data generating process we employ local Whittle estimates which uses only frequencies local to zero. The limit distribution of the test statistic under the null is not standard but it is well known in the literature. A Monte Carlo study shows that this inference procedure performs well in finite samples. We demonstrate the practical utility of these results with an empirical example, where we analyze the inflation rate in Germany for the period 1986–2017.
Plant community strategies responses to recent eruptions of Popocatépetl volcano, Mexico
Authors: Barba‐Escoto Luis , Ponce‐Mendoza Alejandro , García‐Romero Arturo , Calvillo‐Medina Rosa Paulina
Published: February 2019

Questions

What are the mechanisms operating behind the plant community structure changes over time after lahars activity of Popocatépetl volcano? We hypothesize that functional diversity matters more than species richness and that, after major disturbances, the pioneer plant community will first show a ruderal composition, that subsequently changes into successional stages in which competitive and stress‐tolerating species become dominant life‐forms. We expect this process to be revealed by the community's functional signature.

Location

Popocatépetl volcano in Mexico (19°1′0″N, 98°37′0″W) which has undergone large eruptive activity that has caused lahars formation.

Methods

In 2002, survey plots were established in the bottom of the Huilóac gorge. Species composition and abundance data were thereafter collected for 10 years. In 2013, data on three functional traits leaf area (LA), leaf dry matter content and LA of 67 species were obtained and each species was assigned to a strategy according to the CSR (Competitive, Stress‐Tolerant or Ruderal) scheme. A community‐functional signature was calculated for each year. Also, a parallel ordination of plots strategies composition in time was performed to confirm functional shift trends.

Results

Initial successional phases were dominated by ruderal and competitive species. Thereafter, the communities went through a phase of increasing heterogeneity of strategies, which was followed by dominance of competitive and stress‐tolerant strategists in the later years. Parallel ordination confirmed the gradient of functional differentiation through time.

Conclusions

The change from ruderal/competitive to stress‐tolerant and competitive species with time suggests that the most recent lahar event played a major role in sorting species according to their tolerance for disturbances. Thereafter, a major trend has been the gradual shift from ruderal to stress‐tolerant species (conifers and alpine grasses).
Improvement of soybean cultivars for natto production through the selection of seed morphological and physiological characteristics and seed compositions: A review
Authors: Escamilla Diana M. , Rosso Maria L. , Holshouser David L. , Chen Pengyin , Zhang Bo
Published: February 2019

Natto, a traditional soyfood fermented by Bacillus subtilis (natto), is prepared by steaming/cooking of soaked soybean seeds followed by inoculation with the bacteria and incubation. Natto soybean has increased in popularity due to its nutritional value and health benefits. Thus, the natto soybean market provides additional opportunities for farmers. The development of soybean cultivars with improved natto quality characteristics is crucial for maintaining and increasing the natto soybean market. Good‐quality characteristics of natto are determined by soybean cultivar, processing conditions and bacteria strain. Natto quality evaluation generally determined by sensory panels is time consuming. Therefore, indirect selection for natto quality based on seed traits is preferred. Seed morphological and physiological characteristics and seed compositions play an important role in producing natto of good quality. In this review, we have summarized natto processing conditions, natto quality characteristics, seed traits involved in natto quality and their genetic variation, as well as the genetic diversity in food‐grade soybean germplasms and B. subtilis strains. Information presented will be helpful for natto soybean cultivar development and natto manufacture.
Shaftesbury's “SUBLIME and BEAUTIFUL” Naturalism
Authors: Lynch Tony , Norris Stephen
Published: February 2019

The 3rd Earl of Shaftesbury drew on the naturalism of Locke to open up a naturalistic reading of experience conceived as a matter of reality revealing pattern perception that was lost to view in the impact of subsequent idealist readings of Locke's epistemology offered by Bishop Berkeley (1685–1753) and David Hume (1711–1776). This essay recovers and explicates Shaftesbury's alternative to idealist conceptions of pattern making.
Genetic diversity and population structure of Lasiodiplodia theobromae from different hosts in northeastern Brazil and Mexico
Authors: Rêgo T. J. S. , Elena G. , Correia K. C. , Tovar‐Pedraza J. M. , Câmara M. P. S. , Armengol J. , Michereff S. J. , Berbegal M.
Published: February 2019

Lasiodiplodia theobromae is one of the most frequent fungal pathogens associated with dieback, gummosis, leaf spot, stem‐end rot and fruit rot symptoms in cashew, mango, papaya and grapevine. In this study, the variation in the genetic diversity of 117 L. theobromae isolates from northeastern Brazil (n = 100) and Mexico (n = 17), which were collected from these four crops, was analysed using microsatellite markers. The results revealed low genetic diversity among L. theobromae populations and the existence of two genetic groups. All Mexican isolates were grouped with Brazilian isolates, suggesting a low level of differentiation between these populations. Furthermore, no evident host or climate‐based population differentiation was observed for L. theobromae in Brazil. The populations studied were mostly clonal, but additional studies are needed to better understand the mode of reproduction of the pathogen. The low genetic diversity of L. theobromae populations in northeastern Brazil suggests that resistant cultivars could be used as a durable management strategy to reduce the impact of the diseases caused by this pathogen.
Sourcing native plants to support ecosystem function in different planting contexts
Authors: Kramer Andrea T. , Crane Barbara , Downing Jeff , Hamrick J.L. , Havens Kayri , Highland Amy , Jacobi Sarah K. , Kaye Thomas N. , Lonsdorf Eric V. , Ramp Neale Jennifer , Novy Ari , Smouse Peter E. , Tallamy Douglas W. , White Abigail , Zeldin Jacob
Published: February 2019

Current guidance on sourcing native plants to support ecosystem function focuses on the high risk of failure when unsuitable material is used in ecological restoration. However, there is growing recognition that risks may be lower and rewards higher at highly disturbed sites isolated from remnant populations, especially when considering support for pollinators, wildlife, and other ecosystem functions. We developed the first decision support tool using expert opinion to assess suitability of different native plant sources, including horticultural cultivars, in two different planting contexts. We assessed the suitability of 761 sources for 72 commonly sold native species in two different planting contexts (small, isolated, highly disturbed sites vs. large, undisturbed sites near remnant populations). Information on genetic and adaptive backgrounds of sources was strikingly lacking, forcing us to exclude one‐third of sources from our assessment. While only 3% of cultivars received high suitability scores for use in large, undisturbed sites near remnant populations, 52% received high suitability scores in small, isolated, highly disturbed sites. However, nearly 25% of cultivars had floral or leaf traits that differed from wild plants in ways that may compromise their ability to support pollinators and other wildlife. Forbs and cultivars lacking genetic diversity and source information were most likely to have altered traits. We recommend that native plant breeders and sellers work together to ensure ecosystem function, adaptation, and diversity information is available to consumers, that consumers request this information to drive demand, and that researchers further investigate how context influences risks and benefits of different sources.
Maternal depression and children’s false belief understanding
Authors: Shamblaw Amanda L. , Benson Jeannette E. , Harkness Kate L. , Sabbagh Mark A.
Published: February 2019

Children of depressed mothers show substantial social impairment, which increases their risk for developing depression. Theory of mind understanding forms the basis of social functioning, and is impaired in children of currently depressed mothers. Models of risk emphasize that a history of any maternal depression confers risk to later psychopathology. Therefore, we tested a novel model of the impact of lifetime maternal depression on children’s false belief understanding that accounts for three primary factors that scaffold this understanding: maternal mental state talk, and children’s executive functioning and language abilities. Children aged 41–48 months with a maternal lifetime history of major depressive disorder (MDD; n = 19) performed significantly more poorly on the false belief battery compared to those without (n = 44). Further, lower levels of mental state talk, child executive functioning, and child language ability were significantly associated with poorer false belief scores. However, the relation between maternal MDD and children’s false belief performance was not mediated by any of these factors. These results indicate that maternal depression predicts poorer false belief understanding independently of other crucial scaffolding variables, and may be a social cognitive mechanism underlying the intergenerational transmission of depression.
Optimism and Bias When Evaluating a Prosocial Initiative*
Authors: Child Curtis , Witesman Eva M.
Published: February 2019

Objective

This study examines how people evaluate prosocial initiatives—in particular, whether they exhibit optimism bias when asked to consider the outcomes of a hypothetical initiative that is described to take place in the nonprofit, business, or government sector. It also assesses the conditions under which optimism bias is malleable.

Methods

We use a survey with an experimental component to compare subjects’ evaluations of a hypothetical initiative across a set of priming (positive prime, negative prime, no prime) and sector (nonprofit, government, business, social business) conditions.

Results

We find evidence that optimism bias is widespread, regardless of the sector in question. Subjects are only inclined to alter their assessments when provided with new information that is positive (in contrast to new information that is negative).

Conclusion

The findings offer qualified support for the blurring hypothesis, suggesting that sector may be losing its status as a defining characteristic of the organizational landscape.
Life cycle assessment of rainwater harvesting systems for Brazilian semi‐arid households
Authors: Barbosa de Jesus Thiago , Costa Kiperstok Alice , Borges Cohim Eduardo
Published: February 2019

We assess and compare energy intensities in different setups of Rainwater Harvesting Systems (RHWS), in households located in Brazilian semi‐arid. Life cycle assessment was applied to verify the cumulative energy demand (CED) of systems with different catchment areas and reservoir volumes. The contribution of each component to the energy intensity was considered, as well the feedstock energy of the materials in final waste disposal. None of the evaluated systems were able to meet the total demand for water in a household due production limitations such as catchment area and precipitation. In all RWHS evaluated, the energy intensity was lower than municipality. Larger catchment areas increase productivity and reduce the energy intensity of the systems. Differently, increasing reservoir volume initially reduces energy intensity and reaches an optimal point around 1000–2500 L capacity. The construction phase had more intensity than the use phase.
Numerical Study on Static and Dynamic Performances of a Double-Pad Annular Inherently Compensated Aerostatic Thrust Bearing
Authors: Zhuang Hui , Ding Jianguo , Chen Peng , Chang Yu , Zeng Xiaoyun , Yang Hong , Liu Xingbao , Wei Wei
Published: February 2019

The performances of aerostatic bearings have an important impact on machining accuracy in the ultraprecision machine tools. In this paper, numerical simulation is performed to calculate the static and dynamic performances of a double-pad annular inherently compensated aerostatic thrust bearing, while considering the effects of the upper bearing and lower bearing. The static results calculated by the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method are compared with the finite difference method (FDM) for the specific model. By using polynomial fitting, the load-carrying capacity (LCC) of the bearing is calculated and the relationship between eccentricity ratio, design parameters, and static stiffness is analyzed. The active dynamic mesh method (ADMM) is applied to obtain the dynamic performance of the double-pad aerostatic thrust bearing based on the perturbation theory. Meanwhile, the effects of supply pressure, orifice diameter, squeeze number, and eccentricity ratio are comprehensively considered. Moreover, the step response of the double-pad thrust bearing is analyzed by using the passive dynamic mesh method (PDMM) based on dynamic equation. Related dynamic parameters including natural frequency are obtained through a system identification toolbox with Matlab, which can be used to avoid resonance. It is found that the dynamic calculation results computed by the ADMM and the PDMM are very close. The proposed method can be used to provide guidance for the design and optimization of the double-pad aerostatic thrust bearings.
Use of Polymer Scaffolding and Electroplating to Create Porous Metal Structures
Authors: Mihalko Adam , Felice Jordan , Madura Allen , Piovesan Davide
Published: February 2019

Additive manufacturing (AM) offers a fabrication process that provides numerous advantages when compared with traditional fabrication methods. Specifically, AM technology allows for the creation of porous media where porosity and permeability can be precisely controlled. When manufacturing metallic artifacts for biomedical use (e.g., bone implants), the investment in a laser sintering machine can be prohibitive for the budget-conscious enterprises limiting the study and use of this technology. Electroforming, electroplating, and electrotyping have been used for decades to replicate the complex shape of unique artifacts and can be viable techniques to create complex metallic shapes starting from a conductive mandrel. We investigated a fabrication technique that combines the stereolithographic additive manufacturing of a polymeric mandrel with electroforming, to obtain porous composites of polymers and metals. The fabrication method to electroform a porous artifact is presented, and an analytical model of the combined properties of the composite material is provided.
Tribological Properties of Hot-Pressed SrSO4 Ceramic at Elevated Temperatures in Dry Sliding Against Alumina Ball
Authors: Mao Chong-Chong , Li Yu-Feng
Published: February 2019

SrSO4 ceramic was prepared by hot-pressed sintering and its friction behavior was investigated against the Al2O3 ball under the dry sliding condition from room temperature to 800 °C. From room temperature to 400 °C, the tribological properties of SrSO4 ceramic are quite poor with the friction coefficients of 0.65–0.83 and the wear rates of about 10−3 mm3/Nm. With the testing temperature increasing to 600 °C and 800 °C, a brittle to ductile transition of SrSO4 takes place because of the activated slip systems. The friction coefficient and wear rate of SrSO4 ceramic also obviously decrease to 0.37 and about 10−4 mm3/Nm at 800 °C. The significant improvement of the tribological properties is ascribed to the formation of a smooth and continuous SrSO4 lubricating film with excellent ductility and low shear strength at elevated temperature. SrSO4 is considered to be a potential candidate for high-temperature solid lubricant with excellent lubricity.
Measurements of Through-Thickness Young's Moduli of Fibrous Composite Laminates Using Nanoindentation
Authors: Xu L. Roy , Martinez Ricardo , Zhao Kai
Published: February 2019

A new approach of measuring through-thickness Young's moduli of composite materials using nanoindentation was proposed. First, an approximate expression of the reduced modulus of nanoindentation was introduced for orthotropic composites. Second, spherical nanoindentation was conducted for an E-glass fiber/vinyl ester composite system, and measured Young's modulus was quite consistent with the previously reported value for a similar material system.
Assessment of Computational Fluid Dynamics Capabilities for the Prediction of Three-Dimensional Separated Flows: The DELFT 372 Catamaran in Static Drift Conditions
Authors: Broglia R. , Zaghi S. , Campana E. F. , Dogan T. , Sadat-Hosseini H. , Stern F. , Queutey P. , Visonneau M. , Milanov E.
Published: February 2019

In this paper, capabilities of state-of-the-art computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools in the prediction of the flow-field around a multihull catamaran advancing in straight ahead motion at nonzero drift angles are investigated. CFD estimations have been provided by three research institutes by using their in-house codes: CNR-INM using Xnavis, IIHR using CFDShip-Iowa, and CNRS/ECN using ISIS. These allowed an in-depth comparison between different methodologies, such as structured overlapping grids versus unstructured grid, different turbulence models and detached eddy simulations (DES) approaches, and level-set (LS) versus volume of fluid (VoF). The activities were pursued within the NATO AVT-183 group “reliable prediction of separated flow onset and progression for air and sea vehicles,” aimed at the assessment of CFD predictions of large three-dimensional separated flows. Comparison between estimations is provided for both integral and local quantities, and for wave-induced vortices. Validation is reported by comparison against the available experimental fluid dynamics (EFD) data. Generally, all the simulations are able to capture the main features of the flow field; grid resolution effects are dominant in the onset phase of coherent structures and turbulence model affects the dynamic of the vortices. Hydrodynamic loads are in agreement between the submissions with standard deviation of about 3.5% for the resistance prediction and about 7% for lateral force and yaw moment estimation. Wave-induced vortices are correctly captured by both LS and VoF approaches, even if some differences have been highlighted, LS showing well-defined and long life vortices.
Experimental Study of Transient Squeezing Film Flow
Authors: Lang Ji , Nathan Rungun , Wu Qianhong
Published: February 2019

In this paper, we report an experimental approach to examine a fast-developing flow in a thin fluid gap. The phenomenon is widely observed in industrial applications, e.g., squeeze dampers, and in biological systems, e.g., joints lubrication. However, experimental investigations that capture the transient nature of the flow during the process are lacking. An experimental setup, consisting of a piston equipped with a laser displacement sensor and a pressure transducer, was developed. The loading surface was released from rest, creating a fast compaction on the fluid. The motion of the piston and the resulting changes of fluid pressure were recorded and compared to four representative theoretical models. The results show that the maximum pressure increases with gap height and/or the applied loading. A higher fluid viscosity leads to a lower maximum pressure but significantly extends the fluid pressure relaxation time. It is clearly demonstrated that the pressure response is governed by both the inertial effect due to the local acceleration, and the viscous effect due to the stokes resistance, revealing fundamental physics during the fast-developing squeezing flow process.
Study of Cavitation Bubbles Evolution for High-Speed Water-Lubricated Spiral Groove Thrust Bearings
Authors: Lin Xiaohui , Wang Ruiqi , Zhang Shaowen , Zhang Chibin , Jiang Shuyun
Published: February 2019

The purpose of this study is to investigate the evolution of cavitation bubbles for the high-speed water-lubricated spiral groove thrust bearing. A theoretical model of cavitation bubble evolution considering multiple effects (interface, breakage, and coalescence of bubbles) was established for the bearing. A high-speed experimental setup was developed to measure the distribution of bubbles. The theoretical model is verified by the experimental data. The results show that the Boltzmann-type bubble transport equation can be used to describe the bubble evolution of the bearing under the breakup and coalescence at high-speed conditions; the volume of the bubble group presents a skewed distribution in equilibrium; the number of small-sized bubbles is greater than that of large-sized bubbles at high rotational speed; the bubbles are mainly distributed at the inlets and outlets of spiral grooves; the bubble number density increases with the groove depth and spiral angle; more bubbles are generated near the outer diameter of the bearing. The study provides a theoretical and experimental basis for the bubble evolution of the water-lubricated spiral groove bearing under high speeds.
Mechanisms of Type I-E and I-F CRISPR-Cas Systems in
Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Xue Chaoyou , Sashital Dipali G.
Published: February 2019

CRISPR-Cas systems provide bacteria and archaea with adaptive immunity against invasion by bacteriophages and other mobile genetic elements. Short fragments of invader DNA are stored as immunological memories within CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat) arrays in the host chromosome. These arrays provide a template for RNA molecules that can guide CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins to specifically neutralize viruses upon subsequent infection. Over the past 10 years, our understanding of CRISPR-Cas systems has benefited greatly from a number of model organisms. In particular, the study of several members of the Gram-negative
Enterobacteriaceae
family, especially
Escherichia coli
and
Pectobacterium atrosepticum
, have provided significant insights into the mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas immunity. In this review, we provide an overview of CRISPR-Cas systems present in members of the
Enterobacteriaceae
. We also detail the current mechanistic understanding of the type I-E and type I-F CRISPR-Cas systems that are commonly found in enterobacteria. Finally, we discuss how phages can escape or inactivate CRISPR-Cas systems and the measures bacteria can enact to counter these types of events.
Roles of
Bacillus subtilis
RecA, Nucleotide Excision Repair, and Translesion Synthesis Polymerases in Counteracting Cr(VI)-Promoted DNA Damage
Authors: Santos-Escobar Fernando , Leyva-Sánchez Hilda C. , Ramírez-Ramírez Norma , Obregón-Herrera Armando , Pedraza-Reyes Mario
Published: February 2019

It has been shown that, following permeation of cell barriers, Cr(VI) kills
B. subtilis
cells following a mechanism of reactive oxygen species-promoted DNA damage, which is counteracted by the guanine oxidized repair system. Here we report a distinct mechanism of Cr(VI)-promoted DNA damage that involves production of DPCs capable of eliciting the bacterial SOS response. We also report that the NER and homologous recombination (RecA) repair pathways, as well as low-fidelity DNA polymerases, counteract this metal-induced mechanism of killing in
B. subtilis
. Hence, our results contribute to an understanding of how environmental pollutants activate global programs of gene expression that allow bacteria to contend with the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of heavy metals.
Virulence-Related Genes and Coenteropathogens Associated with Clinical Outcomes of Enteropathogenic
Escherichia coli
Infections in Children from the Brazilian Semiarid Region: a Case-Control Study of Diarrhea
Authors: Santos Ana Karolina S. , de Medeiros Pedro Henrique Q. S. , Bona Mariana D. , Prata Mara M. G. , Amaral Marília S. M. G. , Veras Herlice N. , Pankov Rafaela C. , Ribeiro Samilly A. , Cavalcante Paloma A. , Freitas Thiago M. , Gondim Rafhaella D. G. , de Oliveira Daniel M. N. , Melo Natália K. F. M. , Havt Alexandre , Lima Aldo A. M.
Published: February 2019

Enteropathogenic
Escherichia coli
(EPEC) is a major cause of diarrhea in children from developing countries and presents high genetic variability. We aimed to characterize the EPEC virulence-related gene (VRG) distribution and copathogens associated with diarrhea and nutrition-related outcomes in children from the low-income Brazilian semiarid region.
Genome Sequence of Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis Strain IITK SM1, Isolated from Kitchen Waste Compost
Authors: Prem Anand Murugan , Hariharan V. Chinnasamy , Shankar Hari , Singh Abhas , Saravanan Matheshwaran
Published: February 2019

We report here the complete genome sequence of
Bacillus subtilis
subsp.
subtilis
strain IITK SM1, isolated from kitchen waste compost.
Draft Genome Sequence of Enterococcus plantarum Strain TRW2, Isolated from Lettuce
Authors: You Inhwan , Choi Sukjung , Williams Thomas R. , Marco Maria L. , Kim Eun Bae
Published: February 2019

We report the draft genome sequence for
Enterococcus plantarum
strain TRW2, isolated from the phyllosphere of romaine lettuce. The draft sequence consists of 3,383,441 bp, with a G+C content of 35.8% and 3,218 protein-coding genes.
Complete Genome Sequence of an Atypical Porcine Pestivirus Strain, GX01-2018, from Guangxi Province, China
Authors: Yin Yanwen , Shi Kaichuang , Sun Wenchao , Mo Shenglan
Published: February 2019

We report the complete genome sequence of an atypical porcine pestivirus (APPV) strain named GX01-2018 that was isolated in Guangxi Province, China, from a suckling piglet showing congenital tremor. The whole genome consisted of 11,565 bp and shared 83.4% to 98.2% nucleotide identities and 91.9% to 99.1% amino acid identities with other APPV strains from different countries.
Draft Genome Sequence of Listeria monocytogenes CIIMS-NV-3, a Strain Isolated from Vaginal Discharge of a Woman from Central India
Authors: Kishnani Pooja M. , Kurkure Nitin V. , Barbuddhe Sukhadeo B. , Doijad Swapnil P. , Chakraborty Trinad , Daginawala H. F. , Singh Lokendra K. , Kashyap Rajpal S.
Published: February 2019

We present here the draft genome sequence of
Listeria monocytogenes
CIIMS-NV-3, a serovar 4b strain isolated from the vaginal swab of a female patient from central India. The availability of this genome may provide useful information on virulence characteristics for comparative genomic analysis.
Draft Genome Sequences of
Penicillium
spp. from Deeply Buried Oligotrophic Marine Sediments
Authors: Sobol Morgan S. , Hoshino Tatsuhiko , Futagami Taiki , Inagaki Fumio , Kiel Reese Brandi
Published: February 2019

Here, we report genome sequences of two
Penicillium
isolates from below the seafloor of the oligotrophic South Pacific Gyre. These genomes are the first reported for fungi from deeply buried marine sediment.
New short-term heat inactivation method of cytomegalovirus (CMV) in breast milk: impact on CMV inactivation, CMV antibodies and enzyme activities
Authors: Maschmann Jens , Müller Denise , Lazar Katrin , Goelz Rangmar , Hamprecht Klaus
Published: February 2019

Objectives

Breast milk (BM) is the primary source of cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission to premature infants with potentially harmful consequences. We therefore wanted to evaluate temperature and duration of short-term BM pasteurisation with respect to CMV inactivation, effect on CMV-IgG antibodies and BM enzyme activities.

Methods

116 artificially CMV-spiked BM and 15 wild-type virus-infected samples were subjected for 5 s to different temperatures (55°C–72°C). CMV-IE-1 expression in fibroblast nuclei was assessed using the milk whey fraction in short-term microculture. BM lipase and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities and CMV binding using CMV-recomLine immunoblotting and neutralising antibodies using epithelial target cells were analysed before and after heating.

Results

A minimum of 5 s above 60°C was necessary for CMV inactivation in both CMV-AD-169 spiked and wild-type infected BM. Lipase was very heat sensitive (activities of 54% at 55°C, 5% at 60°C and 2% at 65°C). AP showed activities of 77%, 88% and 10%, respectively. CMV-p150 IgG antibodies were mostly preserved at 62°C for 5 s.

Conclusion

Our results show that short-term pasteurisation of BM at 62°C for 5 s might be efficient for CMV inactivation and reduces loss of enzyme activities, as well as CMV binding, and functional CMV antibodies.
Aerobic exercise alleviates depressive symptoms in patients with a major non-communicable chronic disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Béland Mélanie , Lavoie Kim L , Briand Samantha , White Una J , Gemme Claudia , Bacon Simon L
Published: February 2019

Objective

To assess whether aerobic exercise was superior to usual care in alleviating depressive symptoms in patients living with a major non-communicable disease.

Data sources

Data were obtained from online databases (PubMed, PsycINFO and SPORTDiscus) as well as from reference lists. The search and collection of eligible studies was conducted up to 18 October 2018 (PROSPERO registration number CRD42017069089).

Study selection

We included interventions that compared aerobic exercise with usual care in adults who reported depressive symptoms (ie, not necessarily the clinical diagnosis of depression) and were living with a major non-communicable disease.

Results

Twenty-four studies were included in the meta-analysis (4111 patients). Aerobic exercise alleviated depressive symptoms better than did usual care (standardised mean difference (SMD)=0.50; 95% CI 0.25 to 0.76; Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation: low quality). Aerobic exercise was particularly effective in alleviating depressive symptoms in cardiac patients (SMD=0.67; 95% CI 0.35 to 0.99).

Conclusion

Aerobic exercise alleviated depressive symptoms in patients living with a major non-communicable disease, particularly in cardiac populations. Whether aerobic exercise treats clinically diagnosed depression was outside the scope of this study.
Dietary intervention in patients with age-related macular degeneration: protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Tang Diana , Mitchell Paul , Flood Victoria , Kifley Annette , Hayes Alison , Liew Gerald , Gopinath Bamini
Published: February 2019

Introduction

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness. After smoking, nutrition is the key modifiable factor in reducing AMD incidence and progression, and no other preventative treatments are currently available. At present, there is an evidence–practice gap of dietary recommendations made by eye care practitioners and those actually practised by patients with AMD. To address this gap, a telephone-delivered dietary intervention tailored to patients with AMD will be piloted. The study aims to improve dietary intake and behaviours in patients with AMD. This type of nutrition-focused healthcare is currently not considered in the long-term management of AMD and represents the first empirical evaluation of a telephone-supported application encouraging adherence to dietary recommendations for AMD.

Methods and analysis

140 participants with AMD will be recruited for this randomised controlled trial. Those lacking English fluency; unwilling to engage in the intervention or provide informed consent were excluded. Following the completion of the baseline questionnaire, participants will be randomised into one of two arms: intervention or wait-list control (70 each in the intervention and control groups). Intervention participants will receive a detailed mail-delivered workbook containing information on healthy eating behaviours that promote optimal macular health, as well as scheduled phone calls over 4 months from an accredited practising dietitian. Descriptive statistics and multivariate stepwise linear regressions analyses will be used to summarise and determine the changes in dietary intakes, respectively. Economic analysis will be conducted to determine intervention feasibility and possibility of a large-scale rollout.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was approved by the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC) (Reference: HREC 2018/219). Study findings will be disseminated via presentations at national/international conferences and peer-reviewed journal articles.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12618000527268; Pre-results.
Long-term psychosocial impact of venous thromboembolism: a qualitative study in the community
Authors: Hunter Rachael , Noble Simon , Lewis Sarah , Bennett Paul
Published: February 2019

Objectives

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious, potentially traumatic, life-threatening condition and a major cause of mortality and morbidity. The aim of this study was to obtain detailed understandings of the impact of VTE and examine individual’s experiences over the first year since a first-time VTE.

Design

A longitudinal qualitative interview study using inductive thematic analysis. This study presents follow-up data for 11 participants, first interviewed 6 months following a first-time VTE.

Setting

Outpatients recruited from a community haematology clinic in a UK District General Hospital.

Participants

Eleven participants (seven females and four males) recruited from a community haematology clinic. Participants had experienced a first-time VTE and participated in qualitative interviews 3 months previously.

Intervention

Audio-recorded semistructured interviews with a sample of 11 participants who experienced a first-time deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism within the previous year. Interviews were transcribed and analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Results

Four overarching themes were identified: life changing and forever changed, the trauma of care, ‘thrombo-neuroses’ and through adversity comes growth. Theme content varied according to age and developmental stage, presence of VTE symptoms and the experience of diagnosis.

Conclusions

The data demonstrate the psychosocial impact of VTE and its diagnosis as physically and psychologically challenging, and individuals reported being forever changed by the experience. Participants’ reported continued high levels of trauma and anxiety symptoms, triggered by physical (eg, symptoms) and psychological (eg, health anxiety, negative emotions) reminders of VTE. Wider primary care service issues including misdiagnosis maintained negative emotions and health anxiety with implications for relationships with professionals. Targeted clinical interventions to better identify and support individuals at risk of distress and enhance psychological well-being and reduce distress are discussed.
Effect of different financial competing interest statements on readers’ perceptions of clinical educational articles: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Schroter Sara , Pakpoor Julia , Morris Julie , Chew Mabel , Godlee Fiona
Published: February 2019

Objectives

To investigate how different competing interest (COI) statements affect clinical readers’ perceptions of education articles.

Design

Randomised controlled trial.

Setting and participants

Random sample of UK doctors.

Interventions

We created four permutations of each of two clinical reviews (on gout or dyspepsia), which varied only in terms of the COI statement. Volunteers were blinded and randomised to receive one review and asked to complete a questionnaire after reading it. Blinded factorial analyses of variance and analyses of covariance were carried out to assess the influence of each review and type of COI on outcomes.

Primary and secondary outcomes

Confidence in the article’s conclusions (primary outcome), its importance, their level of interest in the article and their likelihood to change practice after reading it.

Results

Of 10 889 doctors invited to participate, 1065 (10%) volunteered. Of these, 749 (70%) completed the survey. Analysis of covariance (adjusting for age, sex, job type, years since qualification) showed no significant difference between the groups in participants’ confidence in the article (gout: p=0.32, dyspepsia: p=0.78) or their rating of its importance (gout: p=0.09, dyspepsia: p=0.79). For the gout review, participants rated articles with advisory board and consultancies COI as significantly less interesting than those with no COI (p=0.028 with Bonferroni correction). Among participants indicating that they treat the condition and that the article’s recommendations differed from their own practice, there was no significant difference in likelihood to change practice between groups (gout: p=0.59, n=59; dyspepsia: p=0.56, n=80).

Conclusions

Doctors’ confidence in educational articles was not influenced by the COI statements. Further work is required to determine if doctors do not perceive these COIs as important in educational articles or if they do not pay attention to these statements. More meaningful COI disclosure practices may be needed, which highlight context-specific potential sources of bias to readers.

Trial registration number

NCT02548312; Results.