bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapy for Treatment of Persons with Uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in West Sumba District, East Nusa Tenggara Province, Indonesia, and Genotypic Profiles of the Parasite
Authors: Asih Puji B. S. , Dewi Rita M. , Tuti Sekar , Sadikin Mohamad , Sumarto Wajio , Sinaga Bonar , van der Ven Andre J. A. M. , Sauerwein Robert W. , Syafruddin Din
Published: September 2018

Reports on treatment failures associated with the use of first-and second-line antimalarial drugs chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine have recently increased in many parts of Indonesia. The present study evaluated artemisinin-based combination therapy for treatment of persons with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria in West Sumba District, East Nusa Tenggara Province. A total of 103 persons 1–57 years of age were enrolled, given standard artesunate-amodiaquine therapy, and followed-up for 28 days. All persons clinically recovered, but two persons were again parasitemic on day 7. This finding indicated that these two persons had recurrent parasitemias on days 21 and 28. Molecular analyses suggested both recurrences were caused by reinfections. There were no severe adverse events, but complaints of gastrointestinal upset, nausea and vomiting, and headache linked to therapy occurred among 9.7%, 5.8% and 5.8% of the persons, respectively. Artesunate-amodiaquine proved efficacious therapy for treatment of persons with uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria at one site in eastern Indonesia but it may have tolerability problems that merit further investigation.
Mucosal Leishmaniasis in a Sudanese Patient
Authors: Abbas Kamal , Musatafa Mayson A. , Abass Shaza , Kheir Musa M. , Mukhtar Maowia , Elamin Elwaleed M. , Elhassan Ahmed M.
Published: September 2018

Mucosal leishmaniasis (ML) is an oral disease caused by the parasite Leishmania donovani. The disease has been proven to be pandemic in many areas of the world. It affects young men living in leishmaniasis-endemic areas. ML might be accompanied or proceeded by visceral leishmaniasis (VL), although in most of the cases seen in Sudan, ML occurs as a primary lesion. ML can mimic oral cancer or fungal infections, with ulceration as the most common finding in ML lesions. In this report, the patient came from an area known to be endemic for VL. Although the lesions were not ulcerative, the patient history was indicative for ML. Early detection and proper diagnosis were of great help in the cure and prognosis of the disease.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings in Human African Trypanosomiasis: A Four-Year Follow-up Study in a Patient and Review of the Literature
Authors: Kager Piet A. , Schipper Hans G. , Stam Jan , Majoie Charles B. L. M.
Published: September 2018

Serial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed up to 4 years after treatment in a patient with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense infection. Four years after treatment and cure abnormalities were still present, although the patient led a normal social life, without physical and mental impairments. The literature on MRI in human African trypanosomiasis is reviewed. The MRI is useful to discriminate between encephalitis induced by trypanosomiasis and post-treatment reactive encephalopathy, a severe and often fatal complication of treatment, in particular of treatment with arsenicals. The MRI is not useful for diagnosis of human African trypanosomiasis (HAT).
Utility of a Protein Fraction with Cathepsin L-Like Activity Purified from Cysticercus Fluid of Taenia solium in the Diagnosis of Human Cysticercosis
Authors: Zimic Mirko , Pajuelo Mónica , Rueda Daniel , López César , Arana Yanina , Castillo Yesenia , Calderón Maritza , Rodriguez Silvia , Sheen Patricia , Vinetz Joseph M. , Gonzales Armando , García Héctor H. , Gilman Robert H. , _ _
Published: September 2018

Neurocysticercosis, an endemic parasitic disease in most developing countries, is caused by Taenia solium and compromises the human central nervous system. Cathepsin L-like proteases are secreted by several parasites including T. solium and constitute important antigens for immunodiagnostics. A protein fraction with cathepsin L-like activity was purified from the cysticercus fluid by size exclusion and ion exchange chromatography. Cathepsin L-like activity was measured fluorometrically by detecting the hydrolysis of the fluorogenic substrate Z-Phe-Arg-AMC. The purified protein fraction included antigens of 53 and 25 kD that were tested in a Western immunoblot and in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of human cysticercosis. The sensitivity of the Western immunoblot was 96% for patients infected with multiple cysts and 78% for patients with a single cyst. Specificity was 98%. The sensitivity of the ELISA was 98% in patients with multiple cysts and 84% in patients with a single cyst. Specificity was 92.7%.
Potential of Integrated Continuous Surveys and Quality Management to Support Monitoring, Evaluation, and the Scale-Up of Health Interventions in Developing Countries
Authors: Rowe Alexander K.
Published: September 2018

Well-funded initiatives are challenging developing countries to increase health intervention coverage and show impact. Despite substantial resources, however, major obstacles include weak health systems, a lack of reasonably accurate monitoring data, and inadequate use of data for managing programs. This report discusses how integrated continuous surveys and quality management (I-Q), which are well-recognized approaches in wealthy countries, could support intervention scale-up, monitoring and evaluation, quality control for commodities, capacity building, and implementation research in low-resource settings. Integrated continuous surveys are similar to existing national cross-sectional surveys of households and health facilities, except data are collected over several years by permanent teams, and most results are reported monthly at the national, province, and district levels. Quality management involves conceptualizing work as processes, involving all workers in quality improvement, monitoring quality, and teams that improve quality with “plan-do-study-act” cycles. Implementing and evaluating I-Q in a low-income country would provide critical information on the value of this approach.
Analysis of Childhood Morbidity with Geoadditive Probit and Latent Variable Model: A Case Study for Egypt
Authors: Khatab Khaled , Fahrmeir Ludwig
Published: September 2018

This work applies geoadditive latent variable models to analyze the impact of risk factors and the spatial effects on the latent, unobservable variable “health status” or “frailty” of a child less than 5 years of age using the 2003 Demographic and Health survey (DHS) data from Egypt. Childhood diseases are a major cause of death of children in the developing world. In developing countries a quarter of infant and childhood mortality is related to childhood disease, particularly to diarrhea. Our case study is based on the 2003 Demographic and Health Survey for Egypt (EDHS). It provided data on the prevalence and treatment of common childhood disease such as diarrhea, cough, and fever, which are seen as symptoms or indicators of children’s health status, causing increased morbidity and mortality. These causes are often associated with a number of risk factors, including inadequate antenatal care, lack of or inadequate vaccination, and environmental factors that affected the health of the child in early years, various bio-demographic and socioeconomic variables. In this work, we investigate the impact of such factors on childhood disease with flexible geoadditive models. These models allow us to analyze usual linear effects of covariates, nonlinear effects of continuous covariates, and small-area regional effects within a unified, semi-parametric Bayesian framework for modeling and inference. As a first step, we use separate geoadditive probit models the binary target variables for diarrhea, cough, and fever using covariate information from the EDHS. Based on these results, we then apply recently developed geoadditive latent variable models where the three observable disease variables are taken as indicators for the latent individual variable “health status” or “frailty” of a child. This modeling approach allows us to study the common influence of risk factors on individual frailties of children, thereby automatically accounting for association between diseases as indicators for health status.
Lack of Evidence of Hepatitis C and HIV Co-Infection among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Peru
Authors: Lama Javier R. , Lucchetti Aldo , Cabezas Cesar , Suarez-Ognio Luis , _ _
Published: September 2018

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection occurs among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected men who have sex with men (MSM) because of shared routes of transmission. To assess the association between HCV and HIV infection among MSM in Peru, we conducted a matched case-control study (162 HIV-positive cases and 324 HIV-negative controls) among participants of an HIV sentinel surveillance survey in six urban cities. The HCV infection was initially screened using anti-HCV ELISA and immunoblot assay, and thereafter confirmed by the HCV RNA qualitative assay. Among cases, no confirmed HCV infection was found while among controls, only two confirmed HCV infections were reported (0.62%). This matched case-control reports a very low probability of association between HCV and HIV co-infection and suggests a very low prevalence of HCV infection among MSM in Peru.
Sennetsu Neorickettsiosis: A Probable Fish-Borne Cause of Fever Rediscovered in Laos
Authors: Newton Paul N. , Rolain Jean-Marc , Rasachak Bouachanh , Mayxay Mayfong , Vathanatham Khamtanh , Seng Piseth , Phetsouvanh Rattanaphone , Thammavong Te , Zahidi Jamaayah , Suputtamongkol Yupin , Syhavong Bounkong , Raoult Didier
Published: September 2018

Neorickettsia sennetsu has been described from Japan and Malaysia, causing a largely forgotten infectious mononucleosis-like disease. Because it is believed to be contracted from eating raw fish, frequently consumed in the Lao PDR, we looked for evidence of N. sennetsu among Lao patients and fish. A buffy coat from 1 of 91 patients with undifferentiated fever was positive by 16S rRNA amplification and sequencing and real-time polymerase chain reactions (PCR) targeting two N. sennetsu genes. Lao blood donors and patients with fever, hepatitis, or jaundice (N = 1,132) had a high prevalence (17%) of immunofluorescence assay IgG anti-N. sennetsu antibodies compared with 4% and 0% from febrile patients (N = 848) in Thailand and Malaysia, respectively. We found N. sennetsu DNA by PCR, for the first time, in a fish (Anabas testudineus). These data suggest that sennetsu may be an under-recognized cause of fever and are consistent with the hypothesis that it may be contracted from eating raw fish.
First Report of Leishmania tropica from a Classical Focus of L. major in North-Sinai, Egypt
Authors: Shehata Magdi G. , Samy Abdallah M. , Doha Said A. , Fahmy Adel R. , Kaldas Rania M. , Furman Barry D. , Villinski Jeffrey T.
Published: September 2018

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is prevalent in the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula and previous research has consistently documented the etiologic agent to be Leishmania major. We report the first isolation of Leishmania tropica from human cases of CL in a Northern Sinai community bordering Palestine. Parasite culturing, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), gene sequencing, and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analyses indicate CL cases in this community were caused by either L. major or L. tropica (three cases each). Two wild-caught rodents (Gerbillus pyramidum floweri) were infected with L. tropica. Phlebotomus papatasi sand flies were found harboring L. major, however only non-infected individuals of Phlebotomus sergenti, a vector for L. tropica, were caught. Patients with L. tropica had not traveled from the region in over a year, suggesting these cases are autochthonous. This scenario is consistent with an incursion of L. tropica from bordering countries and raises concerns about expansion of this parasite further into Egypt.
Very Low Levels of Genetic Variation in Natural Peridomestic Populations of the Chagas Disease Vector Triatoma sordida (Hemiptera: Reduviidae) in Southeastern Brazil
Authors: Monteiro Fernando A. , Jurberg José , Lazoski Cristiano
Published: September 2018

Levels of genetic variation and population structure were determined for 181 Triatoma sordida insects from four populations of southeastern Brazil, through the analysis of 28 allozyme loci. None of these loci presented fixed differences between any pair of populations, and only two revealed polymorphism, accounting for low levels of heterozygosity (He = 0.027), and low genetic distances (D < 0.03) among populations. FST and Contingency Table results indicated the existence of genetic structure among populations (FST = 0.214), which were incompatible with the isolation by distance model (Mantel test: r = 0.774; P = 0.249).
Anopheles darlingi (Diptera: Culicidae) in Panama
Authors: Loaiza Jose , Scott Marilyn , Bermingham Eldredge , Rovira Jose , Sanjur Oris , Conn Jan E.
Published: September 2018

We report Anopheles darlingi in Darien Province in eastern Panama. Polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism profiles of the single copy nuclear white gene and sequence comparisons confirmed the presence of 66 specimens of the northern lineage of An. darlingi. The parsimony network depicted 5 CO1 haplotypes in 40 specimens of An. darlingi, which connected through 7–8 mutational steps with sequences from Central and South America. Furthermore, the presence of haplotypes in Biroquera, Darien Province identical to those previously published from northern Colombia suggests that Panamanian samples originated in Colombia. Results of neutrality tests (R2 and Fu’s FS) were not significant and the mismatch distribution was multimodal and did not fit the model of sudden population growth. These findings may indicate a long and stable presence of An. darlingi in eastern Panama.
Hepatitis A and E Virus Infections among Children in Mongolia
Authors: Davaalkham Dambadarjaa , Enkhoyun Tsogzolbaatar , Takahashi Masaharu , Nakamura Yosikazu , Okamoto Hiroaki
Published: September 2018

To compare the epidemiologic profiles of hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections in children in Mongolia, the prevalence of HAV and HEV infections was studied serologically and molecularly among 520 apparently healthy children 7–12 years of age (mean ± standard deviation, 8.5 ± 0.8 years) using serum samples obtained in 2004. Total antibody against HAV (anti-HAV) was detected in 438 children (84.2%), whereas IgG antibody against HEV (anti-HEV IgG) was detected in only three subjects (0.6%). All three subjects with anti-HEV IgG were negative for anti-HEV IgM and HEV RNA. The presence of HAV RNA was tested in all 520 subjects, and one child (9-year-old girl) was found to have detectable HAV RNA (subgenotype IA). In conclusion, HEV infection was uncommon, but subclinical HAV infection was highly prevalent among children in Mongolia.
Dengue Transmission in the Small-Island Setting: Investigations from the Caribbean Island of Grenada
Authors: Schiøler Karin L. , Macpherson Calum N.
Published: September 2018

The Caribbean region has experienced a major surge in dengue activity in recent decades. Yet, for many, and especially the smaller islands, the true extent and general epidemiology of dengue transmission remains unclear because of inadequate systems of surveillance and reporting. We established an active surveillance system supported by laboratory-based diagnosis on the small island of Grenada, from January 2001 through June 2002. The surveillance data provided evidence of three distinct modes of disease dynamics in the form of low endemic, pre-epidemic, and overt epidemic transmission of mostly benign dengue fever. A shift in serotype activity and modal age was evident during the noted transition, with the more densely populated south end of the island presenting the focus of transmission.
Use of a Histidine-Rich Protein 2-Based Rapid Diagnostic Test for Malaria by Health Personnel during Routine Consultation of Febrile Outpatients in a Peripheral Health Facility in Yaoundé, Cameroon
Authors: Sayang Collins , Soula Georges , Tahar Rachida , Basco Leonardo K. , Gazin Pierre , Moyou-Somo Roger , Delmont Jean
Published: September 2018

The role of a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) in the case management of Plasmodium falciparum malaria infections has not been determined in Africa. Our study was conducted during November 2007–January 2008 to assess test accuracy of an RDT in the management of febrile outpatients in a peripheral urban health facility in Cameroon. We found the overall sensitivity to be 71.4% and a specificity of 82.2%; the positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 73.8% and 80.4%, respectively. False-negative and false-positive cases represented 11.8% and 10.5% of all febrile patients. Malaria alone (31.3%) was the first cause of fever; 33.5% of fever cases were of unknown origin. Acute respiratory infections were common among children 0–2 years of age (25.5%) and decreased with age. The risk of having a clinical failure with the presumptive treatment of febrile children was seven times greater than that of the RDT-oriented management (relative risk = 6.8, 95% confidence interval = 0.88–53.4, P = 0.03) because of the delay of appropriate treatment of non-malarial febrile illness. Our results suggest that the RDT may be of limited utility for children greater than five years of age and adults and that diagnosis based on microscopic examination of blood smears should be recommended for these patient populations, as well as in areas of low transmission.
Assessment of the Origins and Spread of Putative Resistance-Conferring Mutations in Plasmodium vivax Dihydropteroate Synthase
Authors: Hawkins Vivian N. , Suzuki Stephanie M. , Rungsihirunrat Kanchana , Hapuarachchi Hapuarachchige C. , Maestre Amanda , Na-Bangchang Kesara , Sibley Carol Hopkins
Published: September 2018

Infection with Plasmodium vivax is usually treated with chloroquine, but parasites are often exposed inadvertently to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. To infer patterns of selection and spread of resistant parasites in natural populations, we determined haplotypes of P. vivax dihydropteroate synthase (dhps) alleles that could confer resistance to sulfadoxine. We amplified the P. vivax pyrophosphokinase (pppk)–dhps region and its flanking intergenic regions from 92 contemporary global isolates. Introns and exons of pppk-dhps were highly polymorphic, as were the flanking intergenic regions. Eighteen haplotypes were associated with wild-type alleles, but several different putatively sulfadoxine-resistant alleles have arisen in areas of intensive sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine use. Even when they encoded changes to the same amino acid, these mutant alleles were associated with multiple different haplotypes. Two main conclusions can be drawn from these data. First, dhps alleles resistant to sulfadoxine have arisen multiple times under drug pressure. Second, there has been convergent evolution of a variety of alleles that could confer resistance to sulfa drugs.
Efficacy of Extended (Six Weeks) Treatment with Miltefosine for Mucosal Leishmaniasis in Bolivia
Authors: Soto Jaime , Rea Jaime , Valderrama Margarita , Toledo Julia , Valda Luis , Ardiles Jaime , Berman Jonathan
Published: September 2018

We investigated whether increasing the period of follow-up or increasing the duration of therapy would markedly alter the 71% cure rate of mucosal leishmaniasis in Bolivia consequent to treatment with miltefosine for 4 weeks. Increasing the follow-up from 12 months to 24 months demonstrated additional relapse in only 2 of 41 patients. Increasing the period of therapy from 4 weeks to 6 weeks only increased the cure rate to 75%. The cure rate of mucosal leishmaniasis in Bolivia, whether 4 or 6 weeks of therapy is used and whether 12 month or 24 months follow up is conducted, is approximately 70%.
Update on Seroprevalence of Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi Antibodies among Blood Donors in Northeast Mexico
Authors: Galavíz-Silva Lucio , Molina-Garza Daniel P. , González-Santos Mario A. , Mercado-Hernández Roberto , González-Galavíz José Reyes , Rosales-Encina José Luis , Molina-Garza Zinnia J.
Published: September 2018

Chagas disease has become frequent in non-endemic areas, where it can be transmitted by blood transmission. Therefore, we explored seroprevalence of anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies among blood donors at the Cardiology Hospital, Mexican Institute of Social Security at Monterrey, Nuevo León, by both an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and indirect hemagglutination. Blood samples from 1,000 healthy blood donors were selected. A seropositivity of 2.8% was shown among the studied population, of which 2.59% (21/809) were inhabitants of Nuevo León, whereas 3.07% (2/65) and 3.96% (5/126) were from Coahuila and Tamaulipas, respectively. Our result is higher than that of a previous study from 1998, where a prevalence of 0.5% was reported. This once again corroborates the importance of installing a surveillance program to detect and prevent the transfusion of T. cruzi from asymptomatic blood donors in blood banks located in urban cities recognized as non-endemic.
Nodular Lung Schistosomiais Lesions after Chemotherapy for Dysgerminoma
Authors: de Górgolas Miguel , Casado Victoria , Renedo Guadalupe , Alen José Fortes , Guerrero Manuel L. Fernández
Published: September 2018

We report an unusual case of pulmonary schistosomiasis in a traveler to Mali that was diagnosed 16 months after primary infection, one month after she finished chemotherapy for a malignant tumor. Serologic analysis showed marked eosinophilia. Our case emphasizes the need to detect parasitic infections in cancer patients with unexplained eosinophilia, particularly in immigrants and travelers to tropical countries.
Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction for Detection of Low-Intensity Schistosoma japonicum Infections in China
Authors: Lier Tore , Simonsen Gunnar S. , Wang Tianping , Lu Dabing , Haukland Hanne H. , Vennervald Birgitte J. , Hegstad Joachim , Johansen Maria V.
Published: September 2018

More sensitive methods for diagnosing infection with Schistosoma japonicum are needed as control becomes more effective. We compared a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for stool samples with conventional diagnostic methods in a study of 1,727 persons from Anhui Province, China. Seroprevalence determined by using an indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA) was much higher (26.1%) than the prevalence in stool-based tests, which were 5.3%, 3.2%, and 3.0% for PCR, hatching test, and Kato-Katz thick smear, respectively. A large proportion of the positive stool samples were only positive in one or two tests. The PCR showed better agreement with IHA than the other two stool-based tests. A commonly used diagnostic algorithm with initial screening for antibodies and subsequent testing with the Kato-Katz thick smear of the seropositive results would have resulted in treatment of 22 people compared with 50 people if the PCR replaced the Kato-Katz thick smear. As prevalence and intensity decrease, the benefit of increased sensitivity using the PCR must be weighed against additional costs.
Is Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) More Useful Than a Conventional PCR for the Clinical Management of Leishmaniasis?
Authors: Antinori Spinello , Calattini Sara , Piolini Roberta , Longhi Erika , Bestetti Giovanna , Cascio Antonio , Parravicini Carlo , Corbellino Mario
Published: September 2018

It is currently unknown if the use of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) adds value to the diagnosis and follow-up prognosis of patients affected by leishmaniasis. We performed a study using a real-time PCR directed against the α-polymerase gene and a semiquantitative PCR that target the SSU ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene as control for the diagnosis and quantification of parasites in patients with visceral (VL) and cutaneous (CL) leishmaniasis. Our single copy real-time PCR missed one diagnosis of VL compared with the conventional PCR, whereas both PCR methods were able to detect Leishmania parasites in CL. Under anti-leishmania treatment the kinetics of parasitemia were comparable with the two methods. The real-time PCR directed against α-polymerase of Leishmania despite being able to make a more accurate quantification of parasites does not add to the decision-making management compared with a semiquantitative PCR, and it is comparatively expensive.
Detection of Plasmodium knowlesi by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
Authors: Babady N. Esther , Sloan Lynne M. , Rosenblatt Jon E. , Pritt Bobbi S.
Published: September 2018

We previously developed a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for detection of the four Plasmodium species that infect humans. Recent studies have shown that natural transmission of the simian parasite Plasmodium knowlesi to humans occurs frequently in Southeast Asia. We have expanded our PCR assay to include detection of P. knowlesi.
Relapsing Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in a Patient with Ankylosing Spondylitis Treated with Infliximab
Authors: Mueller Matthias C. , Fleischmann Erna , Grunke Mathias , Schewe Stefan , Bogner Johannes R. , Löscher Thomas
Published: September 2018

A 31-year-old man with ankylosing spondylitis, receiving treatment with infliximab, presented with a large progressive cutaneous ulcer at the right knee. Biopsies showed Leishmania amastigotes, and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis showed Leishmania infantum as the causative agent. After treatment with miltefosine, the ulcer resolved completely, and infliximab was reinstituted because of progression of spondylitis. After 1 year, there was a recurrent ulcer at the same site being positive for Leishmania DNA by PCR. Local treatment with sodium stibogluconate resulted in complete regression. Cutaneous leishmaniasis should be added to the list of opportunistic infections associated with anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment. Despite recurrences, antileish-manial treatment may be effective in cases without alternatives to anti-TNF therapy.
Giardia intestinalis Assemblages A and B Infections in Nepal
Authors: Singh Anjana , Janaki Lalitha , Petri William A. , Houpt Eric R.
Published: September 2018

Giardia intestinalis is comprised of two major genotypes, A and B, which may vary in their propensity to cause disease. We tested for the presence of these two genotypes in stool samples from patients with gastrointestinal symptoms in Nepal. A total of 1,096 clinical specimens were screened by microscopy, and 45 samples with G. intestinalis were identified. Giardia infection was confirmed in 35 of 45 samples by a Giardia specific real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Genotyping of the Giardia PCR product by restriction fragment length polymorphism indicated that 74% (26 of 35) were assemblage B, 20% (7 of 35) were assemblage A, and 6% (2 of 35) were mixed assemblages.
Significance of Imaging Features of Alveolar Echinococcosis in Studies on Nonhuman Primates
Authors: Kishimoto Miori , Yamada Kazutaka , Yamano Kimiaki , Kobayashi Nobuyuki , Fujimoto Satoshi , Shimizu Junichiro , Lee Ki-Ja , Iwasaki Toshiroh , Miyake Yoh-Ichi
Published: September 2018

In this study, we report the imaging findings in two Japanese monkeys (Macaca fuscata) diagnosed with alveolar echinococcosis. Both monkeys were treated with albendazole for 10 years, without surgery. Radiography, computed tomography, and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography were performed under general anesthesia. This is the first report on contrast-enhanced ultrasonographic imaging for alveolar echinococcosis wherein perflubutane was used as the contrast medium. The findings of the imaging analyses were similar to those reported for alveolar echinococcosis in humans, such as snowflake sign and worm-eaten sign. In addition, the serology correlated well with the imaging data in these two monkeys. Therefore, we propose that the imaging findings of alveolar echinococcosis in nonhuman primates may be used to accumulate data on this condition in human alveolar echinococcosis.
Isolation and Genetic Characterization of a Bartonella Strain Closely Related to Bartonella tribocorum and Bartonella elizabethae in Israeli Commensal Rats
Authors: Harrus Shimon , Bar-Gal Gilla Kahila , Golan Amira , Elazari-Volcani Ron , Kosoy Michael Y. , Morick Danny , Avidor Boaz , Baneth Gad
Published: September 2018

Ten Bartonella isolates were cultured from blood drawn from black rats (Rattus rattus) captured in the Tel Aviv area. Genetic characterization included amplification and sequencing of five gene fragments including the ribC, rpoB, 16S, groEL, and gltA and the 16S–23S intergenic spacer region. Sequence comparisons showed that all 10 isolates were identical in all genes studied comprising a total of 3,873 bp analyzed. The sequences of each of the partial genes analyzed indicated a high sequence similarity (97–99.8%) to B. tribocorum or B. elizabethae. The gltA sequence was 100% homologous to a genotype identified in R. rattus in Dhaka, Bangladesh, suggesting the existence of a widespread Asian Bartonella strain infecting the black rats (R. rattus ). The detection of a Bartonella genotype closely related to B. elizabethae in the biggest metropolitan center in Israel warrants further study of its zoonotic potential and pathogenic characteristics.
Hantavirus Infection and Habitat Associations among Rodent Populations in Agroecosystems of Panama: Implications for Human Disease Risk
Authors: Armién Aníbal G. , Armién Blas , Koster Frederick , Pascale Juan M. , Avila Mario , Gonzalez Publio , de la Cruz Manuel , Zaldivar Yamitzel , Mendoza Yaxelis , Gracia Fernando , Hjelle Brian , Lee Sang-Joon , Yates Terry L. , Salazar-Bravo Jorge
Published: September 2018

Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS), which is caused by infection with Choclo virus, is uncommon in Panama, yet seropositivity among rural residents is as high as 60%. To clarify the environmental risk factors favoring rodent-to-human transmission, we tested serum from 3,067 rodents captured over a five-year period for antibodies against recombinant N protein of hantavirus by enzyme immunoassay and strip immunoblot. Among 220 seropositive rodents, Oligoryzomys fulvescens, the reservoir of Choclo virus, had the highest overall seroprevalence (23.5%); more abundant rodents (Zygodontomys brevicauda and Sigmodon hirsutus) had lower seroprevalences. In the mixed (combined modern and traditional) productive agroecosystem, the highest seroprevalence was among O. fulvescens captured in residences and in crops grown within 40 meters of a residence, with significantly lower seroprevalence in adjacent pasture and non-productive vegetation. Thus, crop habitats may serve as refugia for invasion into adjacent human residences and suggests several interventions to reduce human infection.
The Influence of Home Buyer Sentiment on Chinese Housing Prices—— Based on Media Text Mining
Authors: Gao Qing , Zhao Tianxiao
Published: September 2018

In recent years, housing prices in major cities in China have generally maintained an upward trend, and housing prices have remained high for a long time. China’s economic growth has its own particularity in the world, and the real estate market as a major support point for the economy, its future development is crucial to the economy. Taking Guangzhou as an example, this paper uses text mining method to extract media influence from media texts, and constructs the buyer confidence index, and uses it as a proxy variable for buyers’ mental expectations. This article finally obtained a total of 115,139 articles on the housing market, forming an article pool for text mining. In the study and analysis of the explanatory effect of the home buyer confidence index on housing prices, this paper uses multiple linear regression to analyze the main factors affecting housing prices, and concludes that buyers’ sentiment is significantly positively correlated with house prices.
The Impact of the Internal Audit on the Quality of Accounting Information in the Jordanian Commercial Banks
Authors: Al-Chahadah Abdul Razzak , Soda Mohammed Zakaria , Omari Rania Al
Published: September 2018

Internal Audit is deemed an important issue of controversy and development in terms of concept, objectives, domain, scope of work or performance criteria due to the fundamental developments that occur in the environment surrounding the financial institutions, as well as in the concepts and entry points of other sciences associated with internal audit, in particular, the concepts of accounting information quality and its methods and advanced administrative trends which require internal audit to perform professional services to help the accounting unit management to produce high quality of financial statements that can be credible for those who are interested in the economics of the financial institutions.
Thermodynamic Steady-State Analysis and Comparison of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) Concepts
Authors: Kaiser Friederike , WEBER Roman , KRÜGER Uwe
Published: September 2018

Different compressed air energy storage (CAES) schemes -as options for large-scale energy storage-are compared through a thermodynamic steady-state analysis by determining the state variables based on irreversibility and real gas behaviour. Characteristic values (such as technical work, power and efficiency) of Huntorf and McIntosh plants as well as several advanced concepts under development (adiabatic, isobaric and quasi-isothermal CAES) are considered. The calculation methods are validated with a newly collected comprehensive set of measured operational data of the reference plant Huntorf making this review unique and novel. It is found that in the existing CAES plants the largest energy loss occurs during compression by inter-cooling the compressed air (around 95 %).

Thus, to enhance energy storage efficiency adiabatic and isothermal concepts are encouraged since they can lead to significantly higher values. The ambiguous energy storage efficiency of CAES is discussed in detail. The turbine conversion coefficient which in conventional gas turbines usually does not exceed 45 % or 60 % in combined cycle power plants respectively can reach in CAES turbines more than 80 %.
Recente ontwikkelingen in de rijksbrede wetgevingstoetsing
Authors: van Melis S.A.P.J.
Published: September 2018

Recente ontwikkelingen in de rijksbrede wetgevingstoetsing

Iedereen wil betere kwaliteit van wetgeving, maar het daadwerkelijk realiseren hiervan is gemakkelijker gezegd dan gedaan. De rijksbrede wetgevingstoetsing, onder verantwoordelijkheid van het ministerie van Justitie en Veiligheid, levert hieraan op verschillende manieren een bijdrage. De auteur gaat in op de organisatie en meerwaarde van de rijksbrede wetgevingstoetsing en de dilemma’s die hierbij spelen. Ook komen de effecten van de toetsing aan de orde, de relatie met de Raad van State en de parlementaire aandacht voor wetgevingskwaliteit. Aan de hand van internationale ontwikkelingen worden verder te onderzoeken opties geschetst voor de toekomstige ontwikkeling van de rijksbrede wetgevingstoetsing.
Ontmaskering van doelregelgeving. Over Outsourcing the law
Authors: van Lochem P.J.P.M.
Published: September 2018

Ontmaskering van doelregelgeving. Over Outsourcing the law

Het recent verschenen boek Outsourcing the Law van Pauline Westerman (hierna: PW) is een kritische beschouwing van doelregelgeving. Vanuit een filosofische invalshoek analyseert zij de voordelen die de wetgever aan dit type regelgeving verbonden acht, zoals het bieden van ruimte en (democratische) invloed op de (nadere) normering aan de normadressaat. PW concludeert dat die veronderstelde ruimte en invloed in hun tegendeel verkeren, omdat doelregelgeving juist het opleggen van verplichtingen (tot implementatie en rapportage) impliceert. Doelregelgeving past, volgens PW, meer in een beheersbaarheidsmentaliteit (Foucault) dan in het concept van een liberale rechtsstaat. Als voorzet voor een tweede boek wijst Van Lochem op de praktijk van doelregelgeving in het kader van de Water Framework Directive.
Self‐Assembled Composite Cathodes with TEC Gradient for Proton‐Conducting Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Authors: Gao Yang , Fu Min , Zhao Shuang , Hou Zhongyu , Liu Kechen , Deng Xiangbo , Tao Zetian
Published: November 2024

One of the key challenges for high‐performance proton‐conducting solid oxide fuel cells (H‐SOFCs) is the mismatch in thermal expansion coefficients (TEC) between the cathode and electrolyte. While incorporating negative thermal expansion (NTE) materials can mitigate this issue, mechanical mixing often weakens cathode strength. To address this, a TEC gradient cathode is proposed and successfully implemented by co‐sintering PrBa(Co0.7Fe0.3)2O5‐δ(PBCF) with Y2W3O12 (YWO) in this work. In this work, Ba atoms at the A‐site of PBCF migrated from the lattice, generating A‐site defects. The resulting BaWO4 and Y10W8O21 phases, which have low TEC, are uniformly distributed between PBCF and YWO, forming a TEC gradient composite cathode. In addition, the transition phase captures the A‐site element Ba in the electrolyte layer, optimizing the electrolyte‐cathode interface. The composite cathode exhibits a reduced TEC, closely matching that of the electrolyte, significantly enhancing interface bonding, thereby providing a lower ohmic resistance of 0.051 Ω cm2 and a higher power density of 1.88 W cm−2 at 700 °C. Remarkably, thermal cycling tests conducted under temperature switching conditions demonstrate the composite cathode's long‐term thermal and chemical stability.
A Combination of Silver Nanowires and Al2O3 to Replace ITO and MgF2 in a Cu(In,Ga)Se2 Thin‐Film Solar Cell
Authors: Kang Seoin , Chung Choong‐Heui
Published: November 2024

Silver nanowire (AgNW) transparent conducting electrodes can be prepared via a low‐cost process and deliver optoelectronic performance comparable to or even better than that of indium tin oxide (ITO). However, their integration into a real device is challenging, mainly because of the weak adhesion between AgNWs and the underlayer. Furthermore, when AgNWs replace ITO, a different material needs to be considered for the antireflection coating (ARC) of a thin‐film solar cell. A combination of AgNWs and Al2O3 is employed to replace both ITO and the MgF2 in a Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) thin‐film solar cell. The quality of the contact between the AgNWs and CdS buffer is improved by introducing a chemical‐bath‐deposited welding layer, which improves the fill factor of the cell from 43.4% to 68.7%. Accordingly, the exposed surface of the CIGS thin‐film solar cell changes from ITO to CdS. Therefore, the commonly used MgF2 ARC is replaced with Al2O3, which is a better match in terms of the refractive index for AgNW‐based CIGS thin‐film solar cells. The adoption of the Al2O3 ARC increases the short‐circuit current density of the cell by 7.3%. In conclusion, a device structure of Al2O3/AgNW/CdS/CIGS/Mo is suggested for CIGS thin‐film solar cells.
Conjugated Group Tuning of Self‐Assembled Monolayer for Efficient Hole‐Transport Layer in Organic Solar Cells
Authors: Gao Shuangjiao , Peng Ruixiang , Qiu Yi , Liu Hui , Wu Yujie , Li Xiyun , Zhang Yahui , Jin Fei , Ge Ziyi
Published: November 2024

P‐type carbazole‐derived self‐assembled monolayers (SAMs) have garnered significant attention as promising hole transport layers (HTLs) in the development of highly efficient organic solar cells (OSCs). However, it still lacks the effective navigation to modulate the terminal functional groups of SAMs to achieve a compromise between the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy levels and self‐aggregation behavior. Herein, the terminal functional groups are adjusted and three SAMs are synthesized, namely, t‐Bu‐3PACz, Ph‐3PACz, and Bz‐3PACz to comprehensively investigate their intrinsic properties and influence on photovoltaic performance. Among them, Ph‐3PACz featuring an exceptionally suitable conjugated region and steric hindrance exhibits the best compatibility with the active layer, superior electrical conductivity, HOMO energy level aligning with polymer donor, and ordered film packing. As a result, the photovoltaic devices based on Ph‐3PACz exhibit an open‐circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.850 V, a short‐circuit current density (JSC) of 28.7 mA cm−2, and a fill factor (FF) of 78.5%, thus resulting in a remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 19.2%. This work provides an effective and easily navigable method to modulate the molecular packing and energy levels of SAMs, thereby achieving highly efficient OSCs.
Orthogonal Nano‐Engineering (ONE): Modulating Nanotopography and Surface Chemistry of Aluminum Oxide for Superior Antibiofouling and Enhanced Chemical Stability
Authors: Chen Hanyu , Fianu Felicia , Moraru Carmen I. , Yang Rong , Cheng Yifan
Published: November 2024

Decoupling certain material surface properties can be key to attaining critical property‐activity relationships that underpin their antibiofouling performance. Here, orthogonal nano‐engineering (ONE) is employed to decouple the influences of nanotopography and surface chemistry on surface antibiofouling. Nanotopography and surface chemistry are systematically varied with a two‐step process. Controlled nanotopography is obtained by electrochemical anodization of aluminum, which generated anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) surfaces with cylindrical nanopores (diameters: 15, 25, and 100 nm). To modify surface chemistry while preserving nanotopography, an ultrathin (≈5 nm) yet stable zwitterionic coating of poly(divinylbenzene‐4‐vinylpyridyl sulfobetaine) is deposited on these surfaces using initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD). Antibiofouling performance is assessed by quantifying 48‐h biomass formed by gram positive and negative bacteria. The ONE surfaces demonstrated enhanced antibiofouling performance, with small‐pore nanotopography and zwitterionic chemistry each lowered biomass accumulation by tested species, with potential additive effects. The most effective chemistry‐topography combination (ZW‐AAO15) enabled an overall reduction of 91% for Escherichia coli, 76% for Staphylococcus epidermidis, 69% for Listeria monocytogenes, and 67% for Staphylococcus aureus, relative to the uncoated nanosmooth control. Additionally, the composite ZW coating exhibited encouraging anticorrosion properties under both static and turbulent cleaning conditions, vital to antibiofouling applications in healthcare and food industries.
Transdermal Delivery of Superoxide Dismutase Using Polymeric Microneedle Patches to Inhibit Skin Aging
Authors: Chen Yongli , Zhang Yanyan , Zhang Kaimin , Gu Lihong , Dong Liang , Oakes Ken , Zhang Xu
Published: November 2024

Skin aging is characterized by a deterioration of skin quality over time resulting from physiological changes and oxidative stress (OS). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) is an effective antioxidant enzyme widely used as a food supplement and cosmetic additive to alleviate OS and retard skin aging. However, conventional SOD delivery routes commonly yield unsatisfactory results due to limited stability, compromised bioavailability, and low absorption efficiency in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These issues are addressed by developing SOD‐encapsulated polymeric microneedle (PMN) patches for efficient transdermal delivery. The use of a highly stable SOD isolated from a hot spring microbe ensures its reactivity throughout PMN fabrication and application. This SOD vehicle demonstrated excellent effectiveness through inhibiting skin‐aging and promoting hair growth as validated by extensive in vivo experiments using D‐galactose (D‐gal) induced aging‐mouse model. SOD‐PMNs promoted excellent regeneration of hair follicles, increased melanin synthesis, decreased lipid oxidation, and elevated antioxidative capacity of skin tissue. The success in effective transdermal delivery of SOD promises wide applicability in pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.
Reverse design of molecule‐process‐process networks: A case study from HEN‐ORC system
Authors: Hong Xiaodong , Dong Xuan , Liao Zuwei , Sun Jingyuan , Wang Jingdai , Yang Yongrong
Published: November 2024

The integrated design of the heat exchanger network (HEN) and organic Rankine cycle (ORC) system with new working fluids is a complex optimization problem. It involves navigating a vast design space across working fluid molecules, ORC processes, and networks. In this article, a new two‐stage reverse strategy is developed. The optimal HEN‐ORC configurations and operating conditions, and the thermodynamic properties of the hypothetical working fluid are identified by an equation of state (EOS) free HEN‐ORC model in the first stage. With two developed group contribution‐artificial neural network thermodynamic property prediction models, working fluid molecules are screened out in the second stage from a database containing more than 430,000 hydrofluoroolefins (HFOs). The presented method is employed in two cases, where new working fluids are found. The total annual cost of Case 1 is 12%–22% lower than the literature, and the power output of Case 2 is 5%–8% higher than the literature.
Imaging‐Based Lensless Polarization‐Sensitive Fluid Stream Analyzer for Automated, Label‐Free, and Cost‐Effective Microplastic Classification
Authors: Montandon Fraser , Nicolls Fred
Published: November 2024

The presence of microplastics in the environment is of significant concern, yet the exact extent of this pollution remains largely unknown. The ocean is of particular interest as the monitoring of microplastics presents a challenge in that in situ fluid stream solutions are not readily available and traditional sampling methods are labor‐intensive and costly. This study introduces an imaging‐based lensless polarization‐sensitive fluid stream analyzer (FSA) for automated, label‐free, and cost‐effective detection and classification of microplastics. The FSA incorporates digital in‐line holography and birefringence computation, enabling quantitative polarization‐sensitive imaging and machine‐learning‐based activities including sample classification. Birefringent textures of synthetic polymers are investigated owing to their optical anisotropy. A microplastic classifier is developed for the FSA and integrated to form an end‐to‐end workflow capable of sampling fluid streams and determining marine and microplastic particle presence. Cultures of two phytoplankton species form a simplified marine environment for FSA evaluation. The device is tested in a two‐class configuration for marine microorganisms and microplastics, as well as a five‐class configuration for marine microorganisms and four individual microplastic types (polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and polystyrene). The results demonstrate high classification accuracy, supported by experiments in the simulated marine environment that validate the proposed implementation's efficacy.