bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Porphobilinogen deaminase HEMC interacts with the PPR‐protein AtECB2 for chloroplast RNA editing
Authors: Huang Chao , Yu Qing‐Bo , Li Zi‐Ran , Ye Lin‐Shan , Xu Ling , Yang Zhong‐Nan
Published: August 2017

The pentatricopeptide repeat‐DYW protein AtECB2 affects plastid RNA editing at seven sites, including accD‐794, accD‐1568, ndhF‐290, ndhG‐50, petL‐5, rpoA‐200 and rpoC1‐488. To understand the mechanism of its involvement in RNA editing, a transgenic line was constructed with AtECB2 fused to a 4xMYC tag that could complement the atecb2 phenotype. RNA immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that AtECB2 is associated with the transcripts of accD, ndhF, ndhG and petL. Co‐immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry experiments showed that multiple organelle RNA editing factor 2 (MORF2) and porphobilinogen deaminase HEMC are associated with AtECB2. Biochemical analysis showed that AtECB2 directly interacts with HEMC through its E domain, while HEMC interacts with MORF8/RIP1. Deletion analysis showed that the E domain is essential for RNA editing. The hemc‐1 mutant showed an albino and seedling‐lethal phenotype. Of the seven editing sites affected in atecb2, the editing of accD‐794 and ndhF‐290 was also reduced in hemc‐1. RNA immunoprecipitation analysis suggested that HEMC is associated with the editing sites of ndhF transcripts. These results showed that both HEMC and multiple organellar RNA editing factor (MORF) proteins are associated with AtECB2 for RNA editing in plastids.
Retrospective evaluation of the effectiveness of xylazine for inducing emesis in cats: 48 cats (2011–2015)
Authors: Thies Margaret , Bracker Kiko , Sinnott Virginia
Published: August 2017

Objective

To determine the effectiveness of xylazine for the induction of emesis in cats that were suspected of ingesting potentially toxic substances or foreign objects.

Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

Private emergency and specialty referral hospital.

Animals

Forty‐eight client‐owned cats that were administered xylazine to induce emesis for decontamination of a toxic substance or expulsion of an ingested foreign object.

Interventions

None.

Measurements and Main Results

The medical records of 48 cats presenting for known or suspected ingestion of foreign material that underwent decontamination with xylazine were reviewed. Signalment, material ingested, dose and route of xylazine administration, success of emesis and recovery of foreign material ingested, use of a reversal agent, and adverse effects were noted. The induction of emesis was successful in 29/48 (60%) of cats. Sedation was the most common adverse effect and was noted in 15/48 (31%) of patients.

Conclusions

Xylazine is safe and reasonably effective at inducing emesis in cats.
Simulation on Occupant Evacuation at a Public Site Based on SMARTFIRE and Building EXODUS
Authors: Zhao D. L. , Zhang Q. , Liu P. C. , Sun M. J. , Wang X. Q. , Zhang X. L. , Wang X.
Published: August 2017

In this paper, the software of SMARTFIRE is applied to simulation a fire process at a long-distance passenger transport station. The results of SMARTFIRE can be used as environment condition of occupant evacuation. The software of Building EXODUS is applied to simulation the evacuation process with and without fire. Evacuation times with different number of occupants are calculated. If the density of occupants is relatively small, pedestrian flow during evacuation can take on a dilute state because of the large quantity of exits on public site. And evacuation time changes a little with the increase of the number of occupants in low range of density. If the density of occupants is comparatively big, the phenomena of queuing up at the exits and assembling at the bottlenecks will take place, resulting in an obviously long evacuation time; The influences of the use ratios of exit are analyzed, and balancing the use ratio of each exit can obviously improve the efficiency of evacuation; The influences of the fire simulated by SMARTFIRE are also analyzed. In addition to the factors of low visibility and low walking speed, the change of evacuation routes and the imbalance of the use ratio of each exit are also very important factors of fire.
Nonhomogeneous Dual-Phase-Lag Heat Conduction Problem: Analytical Solution and Select Case Studies
Authors: Julius Simon , Leizeronok Boris , Cukurel Beni
Published: August 2017

Finite integral transform techniques are applied to solve the one-dimensional (1D) dual-phase heat conduction problem, and a comprehensive analysis is provided for general time-dependent heat generation and arbitrary combinations of various boundary conditions (Dirichlet, Neumann, and Robin). Through the dependence on the relative differences in heat flux and temperature relaxation times, this analytical solution effectively models both parabolic and hyperbolic heat conduction. In order to demonstrate several exemplary physical phenomena, four distinct cases that illustrate the wavelike heat conduction behavior are presented. In the first model, following an initial temperature spike in a slab, the thermal evolution portrays immediate dissipation in parabolic systems, whereas the dual-phase solution depicts wavelike temperature propagation—the intensity of which depends on the relaxation times. Next, the analysis of periodic surface heat flux at the slab boundaries provides evidence of interference patterns formed by temperature waves. In following, the study of Joule heating driven periodic generation inside the slab demonstrates that the steady-periodic parabolic temperature response depends on the ratio of pulsatile electrical excitation and the electrical resistivity of the slab. As for the dual-phase model, thermal resonance conditions are observed at distinct excitation frequencies. Building on findings of the other models, the case of moving constant-amplitude heat generation is considered, and the occurrences of thermal shock and thermal expansion waves are demonstrated at particular conditions.
An epigenetic tactic to treat RMS
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: August 2017

BET inhibitors may be an effective treatment for some rhabdomyosarcomas.
Papers of note in
Nature
548
(7668)
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: August 2017

This week’s articles describe how the stroma promotes tissue regeneration in the stomach; show how mitosis, the DNA sensor cGAS, and CDK inhibitors contribute to antitumor immunity; and describe the mechanism of action of an allosteric beta blocker.
Induction of Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Production by Itraconazole, Terbinafine, and Amphotericin B as a Mode of Action against Aspergillus fumigatus
Authors: Shekhova Elena , Kniemeyer Olaf , Brakhage Axel A.
Published: August 2017

Drug resistance in fungal pathogens is of incredible importance to global health, yet the mechanisms of drug action remain only loosely defined. Antifungal compounds have been shown to trigger the intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in human-pathogenic yeasts, but the source of those ROS remained unknown. In the present study, we examined the role of endogenous ROS for the antifungal activity of the three different antifungal substances itraconazole, terbinafine, and amphotericin B, which all target the fungal cell membrane. All three antifungals had an impact on fungal redox homeostasis by causing increased intracellular ROS production. Interestingly, the elevated ROS levels induced by antifungals were abolished by inhibition of the mitochondrial respiratory complex I with rotenone. Further, evaluation of lipid peroxidation using the thiobarbituric acid assay revealed that rotenone pretreatment decreased ROS-induced lipid peroxidation during incubation of
Aspergillus fumigatus
with itraconazole and terbinafine. By applying the mitochondrion-specific lipid peroxidation probe MitoPerOx, we also confirmed that ROS are induced in mitochondria and subsequently cause significant oxidation of mitochondrial membrane in the presence of terbinafine and amphotericin B. To summarize, our study suggests that the induction of ROS production contributes to the ability of antifungal compounds to inhibit fungal growth. Moreover, mitochondrial complex I is the main source of deleterious ROS production in
A. fumigatus
challenged with antifungal compounds.
In Vitro
Interactions of Echinocandins with Triazoles against Multidrug-Resistant
Candida auris
Authors: Fakhim Hamed , Chowdhary Anuradha , Prakash Anupam , Vaezi Afsane , Dannaoui Eric , Meis Jacques F. , Badali Hamid
Published: August 2017

We determined the
in vitro
interactions between echinocandins and azoles against 10 multidrug-resistant
Candida auris
strains by use of a microdilution checkerboard technique. Our results suggest synergistic interactions between micafungin and voriconazole with fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) values of 0.15 to 0.5, and we observed indifferent interactions when micafungin was combined with fluconazole (FICI, 0.62 to 1.5). Combinations of caspofungin with fluconazole or voriconazole exhibited indifferent interactions. No antagonism was observed for any combination.
When Good Bugs Go Bad: Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Corynebacterium striatum, an Emerging Multidrug-Resistant, Opportunistic Pathogen
Authors: McMullen Allison R. , Anderson Neil , Wallace Meghan A. , Shupe Angela , Burnham Carey-Ann D.
Published: August 2017

Infections with
Corynebacterium striatum
have been described in the literature over the last 2 decades, with the majority being bacteremia, central line infections, and occasionally, endocarditis. In recent years, the frequency of
C. striatum
infections appears to be increasing; a factor likely contributing to this is the increased ease and accuracy of the identification of
Corynebacterium
spp., including
C. striatum
, from clinical cultures. The objective of this study was to retrospectively characterize
C. striatum
isolates recovered from specimens submitted as part of routine patient care at a 1,250-bed, tertiary-care academic medical center. Multiple strain types were recovered, as demonstrated by repetitive-sequence-based PCR. Most of the strains of
C. striatum
characterized were resistant to antimicrobials commonly used to treat Gram-positive organisms, such as penicillin, ceftriaxone, meropenem, clindamycin, and tetracycline. The MIC
50
for ceftaroline was >32 μg/ml. Although there are no interpretive criteria for susceptibility with telavancin, it appeared to have potent
in vitro
efficacy against this species, with MIC
50
and MIC
90
values of 0.064 and 0.125 μg/ml, respectively. Finally, as previously reported in case studies, we demonstrated rapid
in vitro
development of daptomycin resistance in 100% of the isolates tested (
n
= 50), indicating that caution should be exhibited when using daptomycin for the treatment of
C. striatum
infections.
C. striatum
is an emerging, multidrug-resistant pathogen that can be associated with a variety of infection types.
Differential Influence of the Antiretroviral Pharmacokinetic Enhancers Ritonavir and Cobicistat on Intestinal P-Glycoprotein Transport and the Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Disposition of Dabigatran
Authors: Kumar Parag , Gordon Lori A. , Brooks Kristina M. , George Jomy M. , Kellogg Anela , McManus Maryellen , Alfaro Raul M. , Nghiem Khanh , Lozier Jay , Hadigan Colleen , Penzak Scott R.
Published: August 2017

Dabigatran etexilate (DE) is a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) probe substrate, and its active anticoagulant moiety, dabigatran, is a substrate of the multidrug and toxin extrusion protein-1 (MATE-1) transporter. The antiretroviral pharmacokinetic enhancers, ritonavir and cobicistat, inhibit both these transporters. Healthy volunteers received single doses of DE at 150 mg alone, followed by ritonavir at 100 mg or cobicistat at 150 mg daily for 2 weeks. DE was then given 2 h before ritonavir or cobicistat. One week later, DE was given simultaneously with ritonavir or cobicistat. No significant increases in dabigatran pharmacokinetic (PK) exposure or thrombin time (TT) measures were observed with the simultaneous administration of ritonavir. Separated administration of ritonavir resulted in a mean decrease in dabigatran PK exposure of 29% (90% confidence interval [CI], 18 to 40%) but did not significantly change TT measures. However, cobicistat increased dabigatran PK exposure (area under the concentration-versus-time curve from time zero to infinity and maximum plasma concentration) by 127% each (90% CI, 81 to 173% and 59 to 196%, respectively) and increased TT measures (33% for the area-under-the-effect curve from time zero to 24 h [90% CI, 22 to 44%] and 51% for TT at 24 h [90% CI, 22 to 78%]) when given simultaneously with dabigatran. Similar increases were observed when cobicistat was administered separately by 2 h from the administration of dabigatran. In all comparisons, no significant increase in the dabigatran elimination half-life was observed. Therefore, it is likely safe to coadminister ritonavir with DE, while there is a potential need for reduced dosing and prudent clinical monitoring with the coadministration of cobicistat due to the greater net inhibition of intestinal P-gp transport and increased bioavailability. (This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov under identifier NCT01896622.)
Real-Time PCR Targeting the
penA
Mosaic XXXIV Type for Prediction of Extended-Spectrum-Cephalosporin Susceptibility in Clinical Neisseria gonorrhoeae Isolates
Authors: Wong L. K. , Hemarajata P. , Soge O. O. , Humphries R. M. , Klausner J. D.
Published: August 2017

Neisseria gonorrhoeae
isolates with decreased susceptibility to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) are increasing. We developed an assay to predict
N. gonorrhoeae
susceptibility to ESCs by targeting
penA
mosaic XXXIV, an allele prevalent among U.S. isolates with elevated ESC MICs. The assay was 97% sensitive and 100% specific for predicting at least one ESC MIC above the CDC alert value among clinical isolates, and it could be multiplexed with a previously validated
gyrA
PCR to predict ciprofloxacin susceptibility.
Extinction of West Nile Virus by Favipiravir through Lethal Mutagenesis
Authors: Escribano-Romero Estela , Jiménez de Oya Nereida , Domingo Esteban , Saiz Juan Carlos
Published: August 2017

Favipiravir is an antiviral agent effective against several RNA viruses. The drug has been shown to protect mice against experimental infection with a lethal dose of West Nile virus (WNV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus responsible for outbreaks of meningitis and encephalitis for which no antiviral therapy has been licensed; however, the mechanism of action of the drug is still not well understood. Here, we describe the potent
in vitro
antiviral activity of favipiravir against WNV, showing that it decreases virus-specific infectivity and drives the virus to extinction. Two passages of WNV in the presence of 1 mM favipiravir—a concentration that is more than 10-fold lower than its 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC
50
)—resulted in a significant increase in mutation frequency in the mutant spectrum and in a bias toward A→G and G→A transitions relative to the population passaged in the absence of the drug. These data, together with the fact that the drug is already licensed in Japan against influenza virus and in a clinical trial against Ebola virus, point to favipiravir as a promising antiviral agent to fight medically relevant flaviviral infections, such as that caused by WNV.
Genomic Characterization of VIM Metallo-β-Lactamase-Producing Alcaligenes faecalis from Gaza, Palestine
Authors: Al Laham Nahed , Chavda Kalyan D. , Cienfuegos-Gallet Astrid V. , Kreiswirth Barry N. , Chen Liang
Published: August 2017

Carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria (CP-GNB) have increasingly spread worldwide, and different families of carbapenemases have been identified in various bacterial species. Here, we report the identification of five VIM metallo-β-lactamase-producing
Alcaligenes faecalis
isolates associated with a small outbreak in a large hospital in Gaza, Palestine. Next-generation sequencing analysis showed
bla
VIM-2
is harbored by a chromosomal genomic island among three strains, while
bla
VIM-4
is carried by a novel plasmid in two strains.
Induction of Type I Interferon through a Noncanonical Toll-Like Receptor 7 Pathway during Yersinia pestis Infection
Authors: Dhariwala Miqdad O. , Olson Rachel M. , Anderson Deborah M.
Published: August 2017

Yersinia pestis
causes bubonic, pneumonic, and septicemic plague, diseases that are rapidly lethal to most mammals, including humans. Plague develops as a consequence of bacterial neutralization of the host's innate immune response, which permits uncontrolled growth and causes the systemic hyperactivation of the inflammatory response. We previously found that host type I interferon (IFN) signaling is induced during
Y. pestis
infection and contributes to neutrophil depletion and disease. In this work, we show that type I IFN expression is derived from the recognition of intracellular
Y. pestis
by host Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7). Type I IFN expression proceeded independent of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), which is the only known signaling adaptor for TLR7, suggesting that a noncanonical mechanism occurs in
Y. pestis
-infected macrophages. In the murine plague model, TLR7 was a significant contributor to the expression of serum IFN-β, whereas MyD88 was not. Furthermore, like the type I IFN response, TLR7 contributed to the lethality of septicemic plague and was associated with the suppression of neutrophilic inflammation. In contrast, TLR7 was important for defense against disease in the lungs. Together, these data demonstrate that an atypical TLR7 signaling pathway contributes to type I IFN expression during
Y. pestis
infection and suggest that the TLR7-driven type I IFN response plays an important role in determining the outcome of plague.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa Magnesium Transporter MgtE Inhibits Type III Secretion System Gene Expression by Stimulating
rsmYZ
Transcription
Authors: Chakravarty Shubham , Melton Cameron N. , Bailin Adam , Yahr Timothy L. , Anderson Gregory G.
Published: August 2017

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
causes numerous acute and chronic opportunistic infections in humans. One of its most formidable weapons is a type III secretion system (T3SS), which injects powerful toxins directly into host cells. The toxins lead to cell dysfunction and, ultimately, cell death. Identification of regulatory pathways that control T3SS gene expression may lead to the discovery of novel therapeutics to treat
P. aeruginosa
infections. In a previous study, we found that expression of the magnesium transporter gene
mgtE
inhibits T3SS gene transcription. MgtE-dependent inhibition appeared to interfere with the synthesis or function of the master T3SS transcriptional activator ExsA, although the exact mechanism was unclear. We now demonstrate that
mgtE
expression acts through the GacAS two-component system to activate
rsmY
and
rsmZ
transcription. This event ultimately leads to inhibition of
exsA
translation. This inhibitory effect is specific to
exsA
as translation of other genes in the
exsCEBA
operon is not inhibited by
mgtE
. Moreover, our data reveal that MgtE acts solely through this pathway to regulate T3SS gene transcription. Our study reveals an important mechanism that may allow
P. aeruginosa
to fine-tune T3SS activity in response to certain environmental stimuli.

IMPORTANCE
The type III secretion system (T3SS) is a critical virulence factor utilized by numerous Gram-negative bacteria, including
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, to intoxicate and kill host cells. Elucidating T3SS regulatory mechanisms may uncover targets for novel anti-
P. aeruginosa
therapeutics and provide deeper understanding of bacterial pathogenesis. We previously found that the magnesium transporter MgtE inhibits T3SS gene transcription in
P. aeruginosa
. In this study, we describe the mechanism of MgtE-dependent inhibition of the T3SS. Our report also illustrates how MgtE might respond to environmental cues, such as magnesium levels, to fine-tune T3SS gene expression.
Dedicated paediatric Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy medical support: a pre–post observational study
Authors: Mace Ariel O , McLeod Charlie , Yeoh Daniel K , Vine Julie , Chen Yu-Ping , Martin Andrew C , Blyth Christopher C , Bowen Asha C
Published: August 2017

Objective

Despite the many benefits of paediatric Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) programmes, there are risks associated with delivering inpatient-level care outside of hospital. There is a paucity of evidence defining how best to mitigate these risks. We examined the impact of introducing a dedicated medical team to OPAT, to define the role of increased medical oversight in improving patient outcomes in this cohort.

Design

A prospective 24-month pre–post observational cohort study.

Setting

The Hospital in the Home (HiTH) programme at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) for Children, Western Australia.

Patients

All OPAT admissions to HiTH, excluding haematology/oncology patients.

Interventions

PMH introduced a dedicated OPAT medical support team in July 2015 to improve adherence to best-practice guidelines for patient monitoring and review.

Main outcome measures

Duration of OPAT, adherence to monitoring guidelines, drug-related and line-related adverse events and readmission to hospital.

Results

There were a total of 502 OPAT episodes over 24 months, with 407 episodes included in analyses. Following the introduction of the OPAT medical team, adherence to monitoring guidelines improved (OR 4.90, 95% CI 2.48 to 9.66); significantly fewer patients required readmission to hospital (OR 0.45, 95% CI 0.24 to 0.86) and there was a significant reduction in the proportion of patients receiving prolonged (≥7 days) OPAT (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.99).

Conclusion

The introduction of a formal medical team to HiTH demonstrated a positive clinical impact on OPAT patients’ outcomes. These findings support the ongoing utility of medical governance in a nurse-led HiTH service.
Delayed extrusion of embolic coils into the airway after embolization of an external carotid artery pseudoaneurysm
Authors: Wilseck Zachary , Savastano Luis , Chaudhary Neeraj , Pandey Aditya S , Griauzde Julius , Sankaran Sumanna , Wilkinson D Andrew , Gemmete Joseph J
Published: August 2017

Carotid blowout syndrome (CBS) is a known devastating complication of head and neck surgery. The risk of developing CBS increases in the setting of radiation therapy, wound breakdown, or tumor recurrence. Traditionally, the treatment of choice for CBS is surgical ligation of the bleeding artery; however, recently, endovascular occlusion has become a more common option. If a pseudoaneurysm is present, treatment consists of trapping with endovascular coils or occlusion with a liquid embolic agent. Delayed migration of embolization coils into the airway causing acute respiratory distress is a rare occurrence. This report presents a case of a 57-year-old woman who presented to her otolaryngologist after experiencing an episode of acute respiratory distress which resolved when she expectorated embolization coil material from her tracheostomy tube. Three months prior to the episode she underwent coil embolization of an external carotid artery pseudoaneurysm for life-threatening hemorrhage.
Takayasu arteritis presenting as embolic stroke
Authors: Field Kristina , Gharzai Laila , Bardeloza Kaye , Houghton Bruce
Published: August 2017

A 52-year-old Caucasian woman presented to the emergency department with symptoms of acute ischaemic stroke (right-side weakness, confusion and aphasia) that resolved completely after administration of tissue plasminogen activator. During stroke work-up, she was found to have an enhancing infiltrate of the aorta at the level of the take-off of the great vessels, most consistent with early Takayasu arteritis. After being discharged home on steroids and dual antiplatelet therapy, she returned 2 days later with re-presentation of weakness and aphasia. Further work-up revealed two intraluminal clots in the left common carotid and left internal carotid arteries that had not been discovered during previous testing. This case illustrates the need to screen for sources of embolic stroke in patients with Takayasu arteritis, especially those with recurring symptoms.
Prenatal and perinatal risk factors for disability in a rural Nepali birth cohort
Authors: Haworth Edward J N , Tumbahangphe Kirti M , Costello Anthony , Manandhar Dharma , Adhikari Dhruba , Budhathoki Bharat , Shrestha Dej Krishna , Sagar Khadka , Heys Michelle
Published: August 2017

Background

Improving newborn health remains a global health priority. Little however is known about the neurodevelopmental consequences for survivors of complications in pregnancy, labour and the neonatal period in in low-income countries outside of small selective and typically urban facility studies. We ask which antenatal, birth and neonatal factors are associated with disability in childhood in a large community birth cohort from rural Nepal.

Methods

6436 infants were recruited during a cluster randomised control trial (RCT) of participatory women's groups (ISRCTN31137309), of whom 6075 survived beyond 28 days. At mean age of 11∙5 years (range 9.5–13.1), 4219 children (27% lost to follow-up) were available for disability screening which was conducted by face-to-face interview using the Module on Child Functioning and Disability produced by the Washington Group/UNICEF. Hypothesised risk factors for disability underwent multivariable regression modelling.

Findings

Overall prevalence of disability was 7.4%. Maternal underweight (OR 1.44 (95% CI 1.01–2.08)), maternal cohabitation under 16 years of age (OR 1.50 (1.13–2.00)), standardised infant weight at 1 month (OR 0.82 (0.71–0.95)) and reported infant diarrhoea and vomiting in the first month (OR 2.48 (1.58–3.89)) were significantly associated with disability adjusted for trial allocation. The majority of hypothesised risk factors, including prematurity, were not significant.

Interpretation

Proxies for early marriage and low birth weight and a measure of maternal undernutrition were associated with increased odds of disability. The lack of association of most other recognised risk factors for adverse outcome and disability may be due to survival bias.
Examining the predictors of academic outcomes for indigenous Māori, Pacific and rural students admitted into medicine via two equity pathways: a retrospective observational study at the University of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Curtis Elana , Wikaire Erena , Jiang Yannan , McMillan Louise , Loto Robert , Poole Phillippa , Barrow Mark , Bagg Warwick , Reid Papaarangi
Published: August 2017

Objective

To determine associations between admission markers of socioeconomic status, transitioning, bridging programme attendance and prior academic preparation on academic outcomes for indigenous Māori, Pacific and rural students admitted into medicine under access pathways designed to widen participation. Findings were compared with students admitted via the general (usual) admission pathway.

Design

Retrospective observational study using secondary data.

Setting

 6-year medical programme (MBChB), University of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand. Students are selected and admitted into Year 2 following a first year (undergraduate) or prior degree (graduate).

Participants

1676 domestic students admitted into Year 2 between 2002 and 2012 via three pathways: GENERAL admission (1167), Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme—MAPAS (317) or Rural Origin Medical Preferential Entry—ROMPE (192). Of these, 1082 students completed the programme in the study period.

Main outcome measures

Graduated from medical programme (yes/no), academic scores in Years 2–3 (Grade Point Average (GPA), scored 0–9).

Results

735/778 (95%) of GENERAL, 111/121 (92%) of ROMPE and 146/183 (80%) of MAPAS students graduated from intended programme. The graduation rate was significantly lower in the MAPAS students (p<0.0001). The average Year 2–3 GPA was 6.35 (SD 1.52) for GENERAL, which was higher than 5.82 (SD 1.65, p=0.0013) for ROMPE and 4.33 (SD 1.56, p<0.0001) for MAPAS. Multiple regression analyses identified three key predictors of better academic outcomes: bridging programme attendance, admission as an undergraduate and admission GPA/Grade Point Equivalent (GPE). Attending local urban schools and higher school deciles were also associated with a greater likelihood of graduation. All regression models have controlled for predefined baseline confounders (gender, age and year of admission).

Conclusions

There were varied associations between admission variables and academic outcomes across the three admission pathways. Equity-targeted admission programmes inclusive of variations in academic threshold for entry may support a widening participation agenda, however, additional academic and pastoral supports are recommended.
Variation and statistical reliability of publicly reported primary care diagnostic activity indicators for cancer: a cross-sectional ecological study of routine data
Authors: Abel Gary , Saunders Catherine L , Mendonca Silvia C , Gildea Carolynn , McPhail Sean , Lyratzopoulos Georgios
Published: August 2017

Objectives

Recent public reporting initiatives in England highlight general practice variation in indicators of diagnostic activity related to cancer. We aimed to quantify the size and sources of variation and the reliability of practice-level estimates of such indicators, to better inform how this information is interpreted and used for quality improvement purposes.

Design

Ecological cross-sectional study.

Setting

English primary care.

Participants

All general practices in England with at least 1000 patients.

Main outcome measures

Sixteen diagnostic activity indicators from the Cancer Services Public Health Profiles.

Results

Mixed-effects logistic and Poisson regression showed that substantial proportions of the observed variance in practice scores reflected chance, variably so for different indicators (between 7% and 85%). However, after accounting for the role of chance, there remained substantial variation between practices (typically up to twofold variation between the 75th and 25th centiles of practice scores, and up to fourfold variation between the 90th and 10th centiles). The age and sex profile of practice populations explained some of this variation, by different amounts across indicators. Generally, the reliability of diagnostic process indicators relating to broader populations of patients most of whom do not have cancer (eg, rate of endoscopic investigations, or urgent referrals for suspected cancer (also known as ‘two week wait referrals’)) was high (≥0.80) or very high (≥0.90). In contrast, the reliability of diagnostic outcome indicators relating to incident cancer cases (eg, per cent of all cancer cases detected after an emergency presentation) ranged from 0.24 to 0.54, which is well below recommended thresholds (≥0.70).

Conclusions

Use of indicators of diagnostic activity in individual general practices should principally focus on process indicators which have adequate or high reliability and not outcome indicators which are unreliable at practice level.
Clinical features of seizures after cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and its effect on outcome among Chinese Han population
Authors: Ding Hongyan , Xie Yanan , Li Linxin , Chu Heling , Tang Yuping , Dong Qiang , Cui Mei
Published: August 2017

Background and purpose

Clinical features of epileptic seizures after cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) among Chinese patients are not known, and it is still controversial whether seizures would affect the outcome of CVST.

Methods

In a Chinese hospital-based study of consecutive patients with CVST between 2003 and 2015, we described the clinical features of seizures and determined the predictors of seizure onset using multivariable logistic regression analysis. We also compared the in-hospital case-fatality and short-term functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at discharge) in patients with versus without seizures using ordinal regression analysis.

Results

Among 151 patients with CVST, 52 (34.4%) presented seizures, of which 42 (80.8%) were generalised seizures. Male gender (OR 6.32, 95% CI 2.06 to 19.35, p=0.001), motor deficits (OR 4.89, 95% CI 1.52 to 15.68, p=0.008), intracerebral haemorrhage (OR 3.93, 95% CI 1.16 to 13.26, p=0.027), cerebral infarction (OR 3.78, 95% CI 1.15 to 12.36, p=0.029) and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis (OR 3.38, 95% CI 91.16 to 9.86, p=0.026) were independent predictors for seizures. The overall in-hospital case-fatality rate was 2.0% (3/151), and 21 (13.9%) had mRS >2 at discharge. Compared with patients without seizures, patients with seizures were more likely to have a worse outcome (p=0.02) at discharge, independent of age, gender, clinical presentation, clot burden and presence of parenchymal lesions.

Conclusions

In Chinese Han patients, compared with patients without seizures, patients with seizures after CVST had a worse outcome. Risk factors such as male gender, paresis, parenchymal lesion and superior sagittal sinus thrombosis were independently associated with seizure onset after CVST. Generalised seizure was the main form of seizures after CVST, which was obviously different to seizures after strokes of arterial origin.
Evaluation of three intravenous injectable anaesthesia protocols in healthy adult male alpacas
Authors: Taylor Sandra D , Baird Aubrey N , Weil Ann B , Ruple Audrey
Published: August 2017

Few studies have investigated the effects of intravenous injectable anaesthesia in alpacas. The objective of this study was to evaluate three intravenous injectable anaesthesia protocols in healthy adult alpacas exposed to noxious stimulation. A prospective randomised crossover study was done using six healthy adult male alpacas. Cardiopulmonary variables including heart rate, respiratory rate, mean arterial pressure, end‐tidal pCO2and haemoglobin oxygen saturation were collected immediately after and every two minutes following induction of each of three anaesthesia protocols in six male castrated alpacas. A hoof tester was used to apply consistent pressure every two minutes after induction and the response was recorded. Time from induction to muscle contraction and leg withdrawal were recorded, as well as time from induction to extubation, sternal recumbency and standing. There was no significant difference in duration of anaesthesia or cardiopulmonary variables among the three anaesthesia protocols. Total duration of anaesthesia was approximately 20 minutes for each protocol. Hypoxaemia and mild hypercarbia were common among all protocols. Induction and recovery scores were excellent.
Levetiracetam monotherapy for treatment of structural epilepsy in dogs: 19 cases (2010–2015)
Authors: Kelly Darren , Raimondi Francesca , Shihab Nadia
Published: August 2017

To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam monotherapy in dogs with structural epilepsy. Retrospective case series. Nineteen client‐owned dogs with structural epilepsy. Seizure frequencies after initiation of treatment were used to evaluate the efficacy of levetiracetam monotherapy. Seizure control was considered good if no seizures occurred within three months of starting treatment or poor if seizures returned within one month of starting treatment. Tolerability was evaluated by considering the occurrence and severity of any reported side effects. Ten of the 19 dogs were considered to have a good response to treatment with 7 achieving complete seizure freedom. Nine dogs were considered to have poor response to treatment. There was a statistically significant reduction in the percentage of patients experiencing cluster seizures from 68.4% to 15.8% (p=0.002). Side effects were noted in 8 of the 19 dogs but were considered mild in all cases. Follow‐up times ranged from 12 days to 426 days. When used in conjunction with other appropriate therapies, levetiracetam may be an efficacious option for monotherapy in dogs with structural epilepsy. Its tolerability makes it a suitable option for use in a wide variety of patients.
Risk level problems affecting microtunneling projects installation
Authors: Salem Dalia , Elwakil Emad , Hegab Mohamed
Published: August 2017

Microtunneling is a complex trenchless excavation process. Efficient microtunneling methods is necessary to identify risk level problems that often require the integration of supporting equipment and personnel. A clearer understanding of risk level problems will facilitate the enhancement and modeling of risk assessments for future microtunneling projects. This study investigates 12 different factors to assess risk level problems in microtunneling projects. The factors and factors’ weight are collected using a questionnaire sent to microtunneling-industry specialists. A risk level prediction model is developed using the clustering analysis technique and the analytical hierarchy process to consider the qualitative factors involved in the microtunneling process. The model is then validated, which shows reasonable results with 89% average validity percent. The main objective of the developed model is to assist contractors in the bidding and operation phases of microtunneling projects by providing reasonably accurate mitigation models.
Erratum: "Full regularity for a C*-algebra of the canonical commutation relations"
Authors: Grundling Hendrik , Neeb Karl-Hermann
Published: August 2017

The proof of the main theorem of the paper [1] contains an error. We are grateful to Professor Ralf Meyer (Mathematisches Institut, Georg-August Universität Göttingen) for pointing out this mistake.
On D-brane dynamics and moduli stabilization
Authors: Kitazawa Noriaki
Published: August 2017

We discuss the effect of the dynamics of D-branes on moduli stabilization in type IIB string theory compactifications, with reference to a concrete toy model of [Formula: see text] orientifold compactification with fractional D3-branes and anti-D3-branes at orbifold fixed points. The resulting attractive forces between anti-D3-branes and D3-branes, together with the repulsive forces between anti-D3-branes and O3-planes, can affect the stability of the compact space. There are no complex structure moduli in [Formula: see text] orientifold, which should thus capture some generic features of more general settings where all complex structure moduli are stabilized by three-form fluxes. The simultaneous presence of branes and anti-branes brings along the breaking of supersymmetry. Non-BPS combinations of this type are typical of “brane supersymmetry breaking” and are a necessary ingredient in the KKLT scenario for stabilizing the remaining Kähler moduli. The conclusion of our analysis is that, while mutual D-brane interactions sometimes help Kähler moduli stabilization, this is not always the case.
Kelvin wave and knot dynamics on entangled vortices
Authors: Kou Su-Peng
Published: August 2017

In this paper, starting from Biot–Savart mechanics for entangled vortex-membranes, a new theory — knot physics — is developed to explore the underlying physics of quantum mechanics. Owning to the conservation conditions of the volume of knots on vortices in incompressible fluid, the shape of knots will never be changed and the corresponding Kelvin waves cannot evolve smoothly. Instead, the knot can only be split. The knot-pieces evolve following the equation of motion of Biot–Savart equation that becomes Schrödinger equation for probability waves of knots. The classical functions for Kelvin waves become wave-functions for knots. The effective theory of perturbative entangled vortex-membranes becomes a traditional model of relativistic quantum field theory — a massive Dirac model. As a result, this work would help researchers to understand the mystery in quantum mechanics.
Preparation of B-doped Si quantum dots embedded in SiNx films for Si quantum dot solar cells
Authors: Chen Xiaobo , Yang Peizhi
Published: August 2017

Silicon quantum dots (Si-QDs) embedded B-doped SiN[Formula: see text] films were fabricated by magnetron co-sputtering. The effects of B content on the structural, optical and electrical properties of the films were studied. The study found that the amount of B dopant has no significant effect on the crystallization characteristics of the films. B atoms may be doped in the Si-QDs or exist in the silicon nitride or the interface between Si-QDs and the matrix. PL intensity increases with increasing B content, but increases at first and then decreases. The conductivity as a function of the dopant concentration increases at first from a value of 2.71 × 10[Formula: see text] S/cm to 5.83 × 10[Formula: see text] S/cm until 0.9 at.% and then decreases. By employing B-doped Si-QDs films, Si-QDs/c-Si heterojunction solar cells were fabricated and the effect of B doping concentration on the photovoltaic properties was studied. It was found that, with the increase of B doping amount, the photovoltaic performance is improved, when the B doping amount is 0.9 at.%, the efficiency reaches the highest value of 4.26%.
Theoretical investigation of thermoelectric and elastic properties of intermetallic compounds ScTM (TM = Cu, Ag, Au and Pd)
Authors: Iqbal R. , Bilal M. , Jalali-Asadabadi S. , Rahnamaye Aliabad H. A. , Ahmad Iftikhar
Published: August 2017

In this paper, we explore the structural, electronic, thermoelectric and elastic properties of intermetallic compounds ScTM (TM = Cu, Ag, Au and Pd) using density functional theory. The produced results show high values of Seebeck coefficients and electrical conductivity for these materials. High power factor for these materials at room-temperature shows that these materials may be beneficial for low-temperature thermoelectric devices and alternative energy sources. Furthermore, elastic properties of these compounds are also calculated, which are used to evaluate their mechanical properties. The Cauchy’s pressure and B/G ratio figure out that these compounds are ductile in nature. The calculated results also predict that these compounds are stable against deforming force.
The electronic states and magnetization of coupled AlGaAs/GaAs quantum dots in magnetic fields
Authors: Hijaz Eshtiaq , Elsaid Mohammad K.
Published: August 2017

We present a theoretical study of electronic states and magnetization of two interacting electrons confined in coupled quantum dots (CQDs) presented in a magnetic field. We obtain the eigenenergies of the CQD by solving the relative two-dimensional (2D) Hamiltonian using the combined variational–exact diagonalization method. The dependence of magnetization on temperature, magnetic field strength, confining frequency and barrier height has been investigated. We have shown the singlet–triplet transitions in the ground state of the CQD spectra and the corresponding jumps in the magnetization curves. The comparisons show that our results are in very good agreement with the reported works.
Effect of Reinforced Cutouts and Ply-Orientations on Buckling Behavior of Composite Panels Subjected to Non-Uniform Edge Loads
Authors: Rajanna T. , Banerjee Sauvik , Desai Yogesh M. , Prabhakara D. L.
Published: August 2017

Buckling loads of laminated panels calculated by analytical approaches are usually based on the assumptions that the panels are subjected to uniform in-plane edge loads without cutouts, despite of the fact that real structural components are subjected to various kinds of non-uniform in-plane edge loads along with different sized cutouts. The main objective of this paper is to study the effects of reinforced/unreinforced circular cutouts and non-uniform in-plane edge loads on the buckling behavior of composite panels with different ply-orientations by the finite element technique. Furthermore, it addresses the effects of different boundary conditions and thickness of panels. To carry out the analyses, a nine-noded heterosis plate element and a compatible three-noded beam element are developed, including the effect of shear deformation and rotary inertia for both the plate and the stiffeners. In structural modeling, the plate and the stiffener elements are treated separately, with their displacement compatibility maintained using transformation matrices. It has been illustrated in this study that presence of larger-sized reinforced cutouts predominantly increases the buckling strength of the panel as compared to those with smaller sized cutouts.
A DETERMINISTIC APPROACH TO THE SYNCHRONIZATION OF NONLINEAR CELLULAR AUTOMATA
Authors: DE ABREU J. , GARCÍA P. , GARCÍA J.
Published: August 2017

In this work, we introduce a deterministic scheme of synchronization of nonlinear cellular automata with chaotic behavior, connected through a master–slave coupling. By using a definition of Boolean derivative, we utilize the linear approximation of the cellular automata rules to design a deterministic and simple coupling function that ensures synchronization.

Our results show that it is possible to synchronize nonlinear chaotic cellular automata using a deterministic coupling function that does not introduce into the slave all the information about the state of the master.
CONTROL ENERGY AND CONTROLLABILITY OF MULTILAYER NETWORKS
Authors: WANG DINGJIE , ZOU XIUFEN
Published: August 2017

The controllability of multilayer networks has become increasingly important in many areas of science and engineering. In this paper, we identify the general rules that determine the controllability and control energy cost of multilayer networks. First, we quantitatively estimate the control energy cost of multilayer networks and investigate the impacts of different coupling strength and coupling patterns on the control energy cost for multilayer networks. The results indicate that the average energy and the coupling strength have an approximately linear relationship in multilayer networks with two layers. Second, we study how the coupling strength and the connection patterns between different layers affect the controllability of multilayer networks from both theoretical and numerical aspects. The obtained piecewise functional relations between the controllability’s measure and coupling strength reveal the existence of an optimal coupling strength for the different interconnection strategies in multilayer networks. In particular, the numerical experiments demonstrate that there exists a tradeoff between the optimal controllability and optimal control energy for selecting interlayer connection patterns in multilayer networks. These results provide a comprehensive understanding of the impact of interlayer couplings on the controllability and control energy cost for multilayer networks and provide a methodology for selecting the control nodes and coupling strength to maximize the controllability and minimize the control energy cost.