bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hegemonic masculinity versus a caring masculinity: Implications for understanding primary caregiving fathers
Authors: Hunter Sarah C. , Riggs Damien W. , Augoustinos Martha
Published: March 2017

Recently, there has been a growing interest in what is positioned as a new form of masculinity arising from the increase in fathers as primary caregivers. This new form is referred to as a “caring masculinity” and is theorised as a radical shift away from traditional or hegemonic forms of masculinity. This paper critically examines the fathering literature, focusing specifically on how primary caregiving fathers navigate social norms with regard to masculinity. The paper concludes that there is a complex interplay between expectations of a traditional, provider father and a new and involved father. It is argued that ideas surrounding a caring masculinity are better understood as a broadening of hegemonic masculinity, rather than an entirely new or distinct form.
Toward understanding understanding: The importance of feeling understood in relationships
Authors: Reis Harry T. , Lemay Edward P. , Finkenauer Catrin
Published: March 2017

People want to be understood by others, yet their perceptions of being understood are only modestly related to actually being understood by others. In this article, we provide an integrative theoretical model and review of research on the processes that contribute to feeling understood and misunderstood by others. The model highlights situational, dispositional, and relational factors that influence feeling understood and underscores the importance of feeling understood for relationship and personal well‐being. We also clarify definitional and measurement issues that have impeded progress in prior research.
Examination of wound healing after curettage by multiphoton tomography of human skin in vivo
Authors: Springer S. , Zieger M. , Böttcher A. , Lademann J. , Kaatz M.
Published: March 2017

Background

The multiphoton tomography (MPT) has evolved into a useful tool for the non‐invasive investigation of morphological and biophysical characteristics of human skin in vivo. Until now, changes of the skin have been evaluated mainly by using clinical and histological techniques. In this study, the progress of wound healing was investigated by MPT over 3 weeks with a final examination after 24 months. Especially, the collagen degradation, reepithelization and tissue formation were examined. As specific parameter for wound healing and its course the second‐harmonic generation‐to‐autofluorescence aging index of dermis (SAAID) was used.

Methods

About 10 volunteers aged between 25 and 58 years were examined. Acute wounds were scanned with three Z‐stacks taken per visit. The stacks were taken up to a depth of 225 μm at increments of 5 μm and a scan time for 3 seconds per scan. Subsequently, the SAAID was evaluated as an indicator for wound healing. Furthermore, single scans were taken for morphological investigations.

Results

The evaluation revealed a distinct difference in the SAAID behavior between the Z‐stacks taken at each visit. Furthermore, the degradation of collagen and cells and their reappearance could be shown in the course of the visits.

Conclusions

Clear differences in the curve behavior of the SAAID at every visit were shown in this study. The SAAID curves and morphological images could be correlated with findings of the clinical examination of different wound healing phases. Therefore, SAAID curves and morphological MPT imaging could provide a non‐invasive tool for the determination of wound healing phases in patients in vivo.
Liver transplantation for fulminant genotype 2a/c hepatitis C virus marked by a rapid recurrence followed by cure
Authors: Tracy Brett , Shrestha Roshan , Stein Lance , Bhasin Devina , Pollinger Harrison , Rubin Raymond A.
Published: March 2017

Although chronic hepatitis C is still the leading indication for liver transplantation (LT) in the United States and Europe, acute liver failure caused by hepatitis C is distinctly uncommon and transplantation for fulminant hepatitis C virus (HCV) has not been documented in the United States. We present a case report of fulminant hepatic failure caused by genotype 2a/c HCV not only treated with LT but also complicated by severe, rapid recurrence of HCV within 6 days of transplantation. The risk factor for the initial infection was likely sexual, and there were no explanations for acute hepatitis post‐transplant other than recurrent hepatitis C. Treatment with all‐oral direct antiviral agents was swiftly initiated during the index hospitalization, leading to resolution of the acute hepatitis and resulting in sustained virologic response. It can only be speculated whether this was an infection with the JFH‐1 strain or another similarly virulent genotype 2a/c HCV infection.
Identification and characterization of inhibitors of UDP‐glucose and UDP‐sugar pyrophosphorylases for in vivo studies
Authors: Decker Daniel , Öberg Christopher , Kleczkowski Leszek A.
Published: March 2017

UDP‐sugars serve as ultimate precursors in hundreds of glycosylation reactions (e.g. for protein and lipid glycosylation, synthesis of sucrose, cell wall polysaccharides, etc.), underlying an important role of UDP‐sugar‐producing enzymes in cellular metabolism. However, genetic studies on mechanisms of UDP‐sugar formation were frequently hampered by reproductive impairment of the resulting mutants, making it difficult to assess an in vivo role of a given enzyme. Here, a chemical library containing 17 500 compounds was separately screened against purified UDP‐glucose pyrophosphorylase (UGPase) and UDP‐sugar pyrophosphorylase (USPase), both enzymes representing the primary mechanisms of UDP‐sugar formation. Several compounds have been identified which, at 50 μm, exerted at least 50% inhibition of the pyrophosphorylase activity. In all cases, both UGPase and USPase activities were inhibited, probably reflecting common structural features of active sites of these enzymes. One of these compounds (cmp #6), a salicylamide derivative, was found as effective inhibitor of Arabidopsis pollen germination and Arabidopsis cell culture growth. Hit optimization on cmp #6 yielded two analogs (cmp #6D and cmp #6D2), which acted as uncompetitive inhibitors against both UGPase and USPase, and were strong inhibitors in the pollen test, with apparent inhibition constants of less than 1 μm. Their effects on pollen germination were relieved by addition of UDP‐glucose and UDP‐galactose, suggesting that the inhibitors targeted UDP‐sugar formation. The results suggest that cmp #6 and its analogs may represent useful tools to study in vivo roles of the pyrophosphorylases, helping to overcome the limitations of genetic approaches.
Hemostatic abnormalities in dogs with naturally occurring heatstroke
Authors: Bruchim Yaron , Kelmer Efrat , Cohen Adar , Codner Carolina , Segev Gilad , Aroch Itamar
Published: March 2017

Objective

To investigate hemostatic analyte abnormalities and their association with mortality in dogs with naturally occurring heatstroke.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

University teaching hospital.

Animals

Thirty client‐owned dogs with naturally occurring heatstroke.

Interventions

None.

Measurements and Main Results

Citrated and EDTA blood samples were collected at presentation and at 4, 12, 24, 36, and 48 hours postpresentation (PP). Hemostatic tests performed included platelet count, prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times (PT and aPTT, respectively), antithrombin activity (ATA), total protein C activity (tPCA), fibrinogen, and D‐dimer concentrations. The overall survival rate was 60% (18/30 dogs). Older age, higher heart rate and rectal temperature at presentation, and time from onset of clinical signs to presentation were significantly associated with mortality. Hemostatic analytes at presentation were not associated with mortality. Prolonged PT and aPTT at 12–24 hours PP, lower tPCA at 12 hours PP, and hypofibrinogenemia at 24 hours PP were significantly (P< 0.05) associated with mortality. Increased D‐dimer concentration and low ATA were common at all time points, but were not associated with mortality. The frequency of disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) increased in nonsurvivors throughout hospitalization, but the development of DIC was not associated with mortality. The number of abnormal coagulation disturbances during the first 24 hours was significantly higher in nonsurvivors (P= 0.04).

Conclusions

Hemostatic derangements are common in dogs with naturally occurring heatstroke. Alterations in PT, aPTT, tPCA, and fibrinogen concentrations appear to be associated with the outcome at 12–24 hours PP, exemplifying the need for serial measurement of multiple laboratory hemostatic tests during hospitalization, even when within reference interval on presentation. The development of DIC, as defined in this cohort, was not associated with mortality; however, nonsurvivors had significantly more coagulation abnormalities during the first 24 hours PP.
Effect of storage time of platelet products on clinical outcomes after transfusion: a systematic review and meta‐analyses
Authors: Kreuger A. L. , Caram‐Deelder C. , Jacobse J. , Kerkhoffs J.‐L. , van der Bom J. G. , Middelburg R. A.
Published: March 2017

Background

Prolonged storage improves availability of platelet products but could also influence safety and efficacy. This systematic review and meta‐analyses summarize and quantify the evidence of the effect of storage time of transfused platelets on clinical outcomes.

Methods

A systematic search in seven databases was performed up to February 2016. All studies reporting storage time of platelet products and clinical outcomes were included. To quantify heterogeneity, I² was calculated, and to assess publication bias, funnel plots were constructed.

Results

Twenty‐three studies reported safety outcomes and fifteen efficacy outcomes. The relative risk of a transfusion reaction after old platelets compared to fresh platelets was 1·53 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1·04–2·25) (12 studies). This was 2·05 (CI:1·47–2·85) before and 1·05 (CI: 0·60–1·84) after implementation of universal leucoreduction. The relative risk of bleeding was 1·13 (CI: 0·97–1·32) for old platelets compared to fresh (five studies). The transfusion interval was 0·25 days (CI: 0·13; 0·38) shorter after transfusion of old platelets (four studies). Three studies reported use of platelet products: two for haematological patients and one for trauma patients. Selecting only studies in haematological patients, the difference was 4·51 units (CI: 1·92; 7·11).

Conclusion

Old platelets increase the risk of transfusion reactions in the setting of non‐leucoreduction, shorten platelet transfusion intervals, thereby increase the numbers of platelet transfusions in haematological patients, and may increase the risk of bleeding.
Safety and collection efficiency with a lower transfusion threshold for extracorporeal photopheresis in adult patients with graft‐versus‐host disease
Authors: Liu C. , Schindler E. , LeRoy M. , Martin‐Bredahl K. , Dino M. , Shah K. , Dynis M. , Eby C. S. , Grossman B. J.
Published: March 2017

Background

Extracorporeal photopheresis (ECP) is an established treatment for graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD). Various haematocrit thresholds have been used to trigger red blood cells transfusion prior to ECP. Moderate‐to‐severe GVHD is frequently complicated by anaemia; the safety and collection efficiency with a lower haematocrit for ECP is unknown.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled 26 consecutive adult GVHD patients with haematocrits between 25% and 28·9% who received ECP on the CELLEX system. Preprocedural transfusion was withheld. We monitored the adverse events and transfusions avoided. A complete blood cell count with differential was performed on preprocedural peripheral blood and buffy coat collected. Lymphocyte fold enrichment (LFE) was compared between this cohort and two historical control groups with haematocrits of 29% or higher.

Results

Red Blood Cells transfusion was avoided in the lower‐haematocrit cohort without adverse events. The median LFE was 4·5 (95%CI, 3·1–5·7) in the lower‐haematocrit cohort and 5·2 (95%CI, 4·1–6·5) in the higher‐haematocrit CELLEX‐treated control group. The median difference was 0·7 (95%CI, −0·3 to 2·0, P = 0·14). It could not be established that the lower‐haematocrit cohort was non‐inferior to the higher‐haematocrit control group with a prespecified non‐inferiority margin of 1·3. However, LFE was significantly higher in the lower‐haematocrit cohort than the higher‐haematocrit UVAR XTS‐treated control group (P < 0·01).

Conclusion

Buffy coat can be collected for ECP using CELLEX in GVHD patients with a haematocrit of 25% or higher, with a collection efficiency superior to that in patients with higher haematocrits but treated using UVAR XTS. No increase in adverse events was observed at these lower haematocrits.
Height pairings on orthogonal Shimura varieties
Authors: Andreatta Fabrizio , Goren Eyal Z. , Howard Benjamin , Madapusi Pera Keerthi
Published: March 2017

Let $M$ be the Shimura variety associated to the group of spinor similitudes of a quadratic space over $\mathbb{Q}$ of signature $(n,2)$. We prove a conjecture of Bruinier and Yang, relating the arithmetic intersection multiplicities of special divisors and complex multiplication points on $M$ to the central derivatives of certain $L$-functions. Each such $L$-function is the Rankin–Selberg convolution associated with a cusp form of half-integral weight $n/2+1$, and the weight $n/2$ theta series of a positive definite quadratic space of rank $n$. When $n=1$ the Shimura variety $M$ is a classical quaternionic Shimura curve, and our result is a variant of the Gross–Zagier theorem on heights of Heegner points.
Application of Hybrid Monte Carlo Algorithm in Heat Transfer
Authors: Reetik Kumar S. , Konda Reddy B. , Balaji C.
Published: March 2017

This article presents a new method of estimation of thermophysical parameters using the hybrid Monte Carlo (HMC) algorithm that synergistically combines the advantages of a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method and molecular dynamics. The advantages of this technique over the conventional MCMC are elucidated by considering the multiparameter estimation in heat transfer. Four situations were analyzed. The first two involve a two- and a three-parameters estimation in a lumped capacitance model, third involves estimation in a distributed system, and the fourth involves estimation in a fin system. The goal is to establish the potency and usefulness of the HMC method for a wide class of engineering problems.
Unsteady Pressure Pulsation Measurements and Analysis of a Low Specific Speed Centrifugal Pump
Authors: Gao Bo , Guo Pengming , Zhang Ning , Li Zhong , Yang MinGuan
Published: March 2017

Intense pressure pulsation, resulted from the flow structure shedding from the blade trailing edge and its interaction with the volute tongue and the casing, is detrimental to the stable operation of centrifugal pumps. In the present study, unsteady pressure pulsation signals at different positions of the volute casing are extracted using high response pressure transducers at flow rate of 0–1.55ΦN. Emphasis is laid upon the influence of measuring position and operating condition on pressure pulsation characteristics, and components at the blade passing frequency fBPF and root-mean-square (RMS) values in 0–20.66fn frequency band are mainly analyzed. Results clearly show that the predominant components in pressure spectra always locate at fBPF. The varying trends versus flow rate of components at fBPF differ significantly for different points, and it is considered to be associated with the corresponding flow structures at particular positions of the volute casing. At the near-tongue region, high pressure amplitudes occur at the position of θ = 36 deg, namely the point at the after tongue region. For different measuring points, angular distributions of amplitudes at fBPF and RMS values in 0–20.66fn frequency band are not consistent and affected significantly by the pump operating conditions.
Transient Growth and Receptivity of Steady Disturbances to Irregular Rough Walls
Authors: Liu Xiaofei , Luo Kun , Fan Jianren
Published: March 2017

Direct numerical simulations (DNS) are performed to investigate the transient growth of a steady disturbance induced by a numerically generated Gaussian rough wall in a laminar boundary layer. In the calculation of the interaction between the rough wall and the fluid, the multiple direct force and immersed boundary method (MDF/IBM) are adopted. The evolution of the streak structures and the energy of the disturbances generated by the rough wall are presented. A similar evolution into an almost sinusoidal modulation for the cylindrical roughness element is found for the current irregular rough wall, and the disturbance energy also undergoes the classical transient growth mode. Moreover, the influences of the skewness, kurtosis, and correlation length on the evolution of spanwise harmonics are also analyzed. The results show that the effects of skewness and kurtosis are on the distribution of energy among the wavelengths and the subsequent growth processes, while the wavelengths of the harmonics are linked to both the streamwise and spanwise correlation lengths of the rough wall.
Spray Characteristics of Elliptical Power-Law Fluid-Impinging Jets
Authors: Zhao Fei , Qin Li-Zi , Fu Qing-Fei , Mo Chao-Jie , Yang Li-Jun
Published: March 2017

The spray characteristics of a liquid sheet contribute much to the investigation of atomization efficiency. Considering the jet contracting effect of elliptical jets, an improved model of elliptical power-law fluid jets is proposed herein to derive the spray characteristics. Some experiments have been conducted to verify its feasibility, and the results show a good agreement with theoretical predictions. The effect of the aspect ratio on sheet shape and thickness has been studied to interpret the phenomenon that liquid sheets formed by the impinging elliptical jets are more likely to disintegrate. The relationships between rheological parameters (K and n) and the spray features are also discussed.
Experimental Study and Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Pulp Suspensions Flow in a Pipe
Authors: Cotas Carla , Branco Bruno , Asendrych Dariusz , Garcia Fernando , Faia Pedro , Rasteiro Maria Graça
Published: March 2017

Eucalyptus and Pine suspensions flow in a pipe was studied experimentally and numerically. Pressure drop was measured for different mean inlet flow velocities. Electrical impedance tomography (EIT), was used to evaluate the prevailing flow regime. Fibers concentration distribution in the pipe cross section and plug evolution were inferred from EIT tomographic images. A modified low-Reynolds-number k–ε turbulence model was applied to simulate the flow of pulp suspensions. The accuracy of the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions was significantly reduced when data in plug regime was simulated. The CFD model applied was initially developed to simulate the flow of Eucalyptus and Pine suspensions in fully turbulent flow regime. Using this model to simulate data in the plug regime leads to an excessive attenuation of turbulence which leads to lower values of pressure drop than the experimental ones. For transition flow regime, the CFD model could be applied successfully to simulate the flow data, similar to what happens for the turbulent regime.
Experimental Investigation of the Time Delay Between a Varying Applied Normal Force and the Resulting Friction Force
Authors: Chen Guangxiong , Cui Xiaolu
Published: March 2017

Recently, one of the present authors proposed a new model to explain the generation mechanism of brake squeal based on the time delay between a varying applied normal force and the resulting friction force. The present work conducts a series of experimental tests examining the behavior of this time delay using a special test apparatus. The test apparatus suppresses the effect of interference in the time delay owing to the excitation normal force to the greatest extent possible. Several calibration tests of the test apparatus are conducted to ensure the validity of the normal force and friction force measurements. The varying friction force is extracted from the overall friction force signal without phase distortion using a zero-phase filter. The test results demonstrate a time delay between the varying normal force and the resulting friction force under various testing parameters. The time delay is found to increase with increasing excitation frequency. The generation mechanism of the time delay is also discussed.
Application Study of Magnetorheological Elastomer to Rolling Friction Control
Authors: Lian Chenglong , Lee Kwang-Hee , Lee Chul-Hee
Published: March 2017

Magnetorheological elastomers (MREs) are smart materials that have been studied widely for their material properties. The elasticity modulus or hardness of an MRE can be changed when an external magnetic field is applied. In this study, a study of MREs applied to rolling friction control under various external magnetic strengths is conducted. To accomplish this, the rolling friction property of an elastomer on a rigid plate is analyzed. Then, MREs are prepared, and a rolling friction tester is designed to evaluate the changes in the rolling friction coefficient. The results show that the rolling friction coefficient can be changed with different magnetic field strengths. The rolling friction coefficient of the MRE can be controlled by the applied magnetic field, which can be applied to control the slip rate and be adapted to achieve the optimal friction effect in the future.
Dynamics Model Validation Using Time-Domain Metrics
Authors: Ao Dan , Hu Zhen , Mahadevan Sankaran
Published: March 2017

Validation of dynamics model prediction is challenging due to the involvement of various sources of uncertainty and variations among validation experiments and over time. This paper investigates quantitative approaches for the validation of dynamics models using fully characterized experiments, in which both inputs and outputs of the models and experiments are measured and reported. Existing validation methods for dynamics models use feature-based metrics to give an overall measure of agreement over the entire time history, but do not capture the model's performance at specific time instants or durations; this is important for systems that operate in different regimes in different stages of the time history. Therefore, three new validation metrics are proposed by extending the model reliability metric (a distance-based probabilistic metric) to dynamics problems. The proposed three time-domain model reliability metrics consider instantaneous reliability, first-passage reliability, and accumulated reliability. These three reliability metrics that perform time-domain comparison overcome the limitations of current feature-based validation metrics and provide quantitative assessment regarding the agreement between the simulation model and experiment over time from three different perspectives. The selection of validation metrics from a decision-making point of view is also discussed. Two engineering examples, including a simply supported beam under stochastic loading and the Sandia National Laboratories structural dynamics challenge problem, are used to illustrate the proposed time-domain validation metrics.
Experimental Investigation of Energy Dissipation in Presliding Spherical Contacts Under Varying Normal and Tangential Loads
Authors: Usta Ahmet Deniz , Shinde Sohan , Eriten Melih
Published: March 2017

Interfacial damping in assembled structures is difficult to predict and control since it depends on numerous system parameters such as elastic mismatch, roughness, contact geometry, and loading profiles. Most recently, phase difference between normal and tangential force oscillations has been shown to have a significant effect on interfacial damping. In this study, we conduct microscale (asperity-scale) experiments to investigate the influence of magnitude and phase difference of normal and tangential force oscillations on the energy dissipation in presliding spherical contacts. Our results show that energy dissipation increases with increasing normal preload fluctuations and phase difference. This increase is more prominent for higher tangential force fluctuations, thanks to larger frictional slip along the contact interface. We also show that the energy dissipation and tangential fluctuations are related through a power law. The power exponents we identify from the experiments reveal that contacts deliver a nonlinear damping for all normal preload fluctuation amplitudes and phase differences investigated. This is in line with the damping uncertainties and nonlinearities observed in structural dynamics community.
Solution to Inverse Problem of Manufacturing by Surface Modification With Controllable Surface Integrity Correlated to Performance: A Case Study of Thermally Sprayed Coatings for Wear Performance
Authors: Zhu X. P. , Du P. C. , Meng Y. , Lei M. K. , Guo D. M.
Published: March 2017

Inverse problem of manufacturing is studied under a framework of high performance manufacturing of components with functional surface layer, where controllable generation of surface integrity is emphasized due to its pivotal role determining final performance. Surface modification techniques capable of controlling surface integrity are utilized to verify such a framework of manufacturing, by which the surface integrity desired for a high performance can be more effectively achieved as reducing the material and geometry constraints of manufacturing otherwise unobtainable during conventional machining processes. Here, thermal spraying of WC–Ni coatings is employed to coat stainless steel components for water-lubricated wear applications, on which a strategy for direct problem from process to performance is implemented with surface integrity adjustable through spray angle and inert N2 shielding. Subsequently, multiple surface integrity parameters can be evaluated to identify the major ones responsible for wear performance by elucidating the wear mechanism, involving surface features (coating porosity and WC phase retention) and surface characteristics (microhardness, elastic modulus, and toughness). The surface features predominantly determine tribological behaviors of coatings in combination with the surface characteristics that are intrinsically associated with the surface features. Consequently, the spray process with improved N2 shielding is designed according to the desired surface integrity parameters for higher wear resistance. It is demonstrated that the correlations from processes to performance could be fully understood and established via controllable surface integrity, facilitating solution to inverse problem of manufacturing, i.e., realization of a material and geometry integrated manufacturing.
Impact of Teacher Value Orientations on Student Learning in Physical Education
Authors: Chen Ang , Zhang Tan , Wells Stephanie L. , Schweighardt Ray , Ennis Catherine D.
Published: March 2017

Based on the value orientation theory, the purpose of this study was to determine the impact of value orientation incongruence between physical education teachers and an externally designed curriculum on student learning in a concept-based fitness-centered physical education curriculum. Physical education teachers (n = 15) with different value orientations taught an externally designed, standards-based fitness/healthful living curriculum to their middle school students (n = 3,827) in 155 sixth, seventh, and eighth grade intact classes. A pre-post assessment design was used to determine whether student fitness/healthful living knowledge gains differed in terms of teachers’ value orientations. An ANOVA on class means of residual-adjusted knowledge gain scores revealed no statistically significant differences based on value orientations. The evidence suggests that teacher value orientation impact may be mediated by curriculum impact. This finding supports the observation that a well-designed physical education curriculum may minimize the impact of teachers’ diverse value orientations on the curriculum implementation and student learning.
Teachers and Students’ Perceptions of a Hybrid Sport Education and Teaching for Personal and Social Responsibility Learning Unit
Authors: Fernandez-Rio Javier , Menendez-Santurio Jose Ignacio
Published: March 2017

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to assess students and teachers’ perceptions concerning their participation in an educational kickboxing learning unit based on a hybridization of two pedagogical models: Sport Education and Teaching for Personal and Social Responsibility.

Method:

Seventy-one students and three physical education teachers agreed to participate. Several instruments were used to collect data: (a) an open-ended question, (b) Photovoice, (c) teacher and external observers’ diaries, and (d) semistructured interviews. MAXQDA 11 software was used to assist with data management, with all participants’ answers being analyzed via thematic content analysis.

Results:

Analysis of the data produced 11 themes, three considered strong: responsibility, learning and roles, five considered moderate: enjoyment, teaching, competition, cooperation and novelty, and three considered weak: friendship, affiliation and transfer.

Conclusion:

These findings indicated that the hybridization of the two pedagogical models seems to help increase both social and personal responsibility and to provide students with meaningful sporting experiences.
Kill or be killed: The epic battle between Zika virus and cells revealed
Authors: Chung Kwanghun
Published: March 2017

Protein-gene interactome map reveals how Zika virus overrides molecular machinery in human neurospheres.
The importance of staying small
Authors: Hine Christopher
Published: March 2017

Long-lived and cancer-resistant adult dwarf rodents have enhanced DNA repair capacity due to decreased GH/IGF-1 signaling during peripubertal development.
The brain’s matchmakers
Authors: Lehtinen Maria K.
Published: March 2017

Pericytes match capillary blood flow to local neural activity, thus ensuring proper oxygenation of the brain.
A Reverse Genetics Platform That Spans the Zika Virus Family Tree
Authors: Widman Douglas G. , Young Ellen , Yount Boyd L. , Plante Kenneth S. , Gallichotte Emily N. , Carbaugh Derek L. , Peck Kayla M. , Plante Jessica , Swanstrom Jesica , Heise Mark T. , Lazear Helen M. , Baric Ralph S.
Published: March 2017

Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus discovered in 1947, has only recently caused large outbreaks and emerged as a significant human pathogen. In 2015, ZIKV was detected in Brazil, and the resulting epidemic has spread throughout the Western Hemisphere. Severe complications from ZIKV infection include neurological disorders such as Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults and a variety of fetal abnormalities, including microcephaly, blindness, placental insufficiency, and fetal demise. There is an urgent need for tools and reagents to study the pathogenesis of epidemic ZIKV and for testing vaccines and antivirals. Using a reverse genetics platform, we generated six ZIKV infectious clones and derivative viruses representing diverse temporal and geographic origins. These include three versions of MR766, the prototype 1947 strain (with and without a glycosylation site in the envelope protein), and H/PF/2013, a 2013 human isolate from French Polynesia representative of the virus introduced to Brazil. In the course of synthesizing a clone of a circulating Brazilian strain, phylogenetic studies identified two distinct ZIKV clades in Brazil. We reconstructed viable clones of strains SPH2015 and BeH819015, representing ancestral members of each clade. We assessed recombinant virus replication, binding to monoclonal antibodies, and virulence in mice. This panel of molecular clones and recombinant virus isolates will enable targeted studies of viral determinants of pathogenesis, adaptation, and evolution, as well as the rational attenuation of contemporary outbreak strains to facilitate the design of vaccines and therapeutics.

IMPORTANCE
Viral emergence is a poorly understood process as evidenced by the sudden emergence of Zika virus in Latin America and the Caribbean. Malleable reagents that both predate and span an expanding epidemic are key to understanding the virologic determinants that regulate pathogenesis and transmission. We have generated representative cDNA molecular clones and recombinant viruses that span the known ZIKV family tree, including early Brazilian isolates. Recombinant viruses replicated efficiently in cell culture and were pathogenic in immunodeficient mice, providing a genetic platform for rational vaccine and therapeutic design.
Emergent Phototactic Responses of Cyanobacteria under Complex Light Regimes
Authors: Chau Rosanna Man Wah , Bhaya Devaki , Huang Kerwyn Casey
Published: March 2017

Environmental cues can stimulate a variety of single-cell responses, as well as collective behaviors that emerge within a bacterial community. These responses require signal integration and transduction, which can occur on a variety of time scales and often involve feedback between processes, for example, between growth and motility. Here, we investigate the dynamics of responses of the phototactic, unicellular cyanobacterium
Synechocystis
sp. PCC6803 to complex light inputs that simulate the natural environments that cells typically encounter. We quantified single-cell motility characteristics in response to light of different wavelengths and intensities. We found that red and green light primarily affected motility bias rather than speed, while blue light inhibited motility altogether. When light signals were simultaneously presented from different directions, cells exhibited phototaxis along the vector sum of the light directions, indicating that cells can sense and combine multiple signals into an integrated motility response. Under a combination of antagonistic light signal regimes (phototaxis-promoting green light and phototaxis-inhibiting blue light), the ensuing bias was continuously tuned by competition between the wavelengths, and the community response was dependent on both bias and cell growth. The phototactic dynamics upon a rapid light shift revealed a wavelength dependence on the time scales of photoreceptor activation/deactivation. Thus,
Synechocystis
cells achieve exquisite integration of light inputs at the cellular scale through continuous tuning of motility, and the pattern of collective behavior depends on single-cell motility and population growth.

IMPORTANCE
The photosynthetic cyanobacterium
Synechocystis
sp. exhibits phototaxis that is dependent on the incident light wavelength through the action of various photoreceptors. In natural environments, cells experience a set of highly dynamic and complex light inputs, yet how cells transduce multiple or dynamic inputs into motion is unknown. In this study, we measured the phototactic behaviors of single cells and communities as a function of light intensity or when illuminated by combinations of lights of different wavelengths or incidence directions. Responses to a spectrum of light regimes revealed that
Synechocystis
sp. integrates information about the light environment to tune its phototactic response, which is likely generated by competition among photoreceptors and the degree of wavelength-regulated growth to sensitively control the direction and degree of movement.
Invasive Plants Rapidly Reshape Soil Properties in a Grassland Ecosystem
Authors: Gibbons Sean M. , Lekberg Ylva , Mummey Daniel L. , Sangwan Naseer , Ramsey Philip W. , Gilbert Jack A.
Published: March 2017

In this study, we show how invasive plant species drive rapid shifts in the soil environment from surrounding native communities. Each of the three plant invaders had different but consistent effects on soils. Thus, there does not appear to be a one-size-fits-all strategy for how plant invaders alter grassland soil environments. This work represents a crucial step toward understanding how invaders might be able to prevent or impair native reestablishment by changing soil biotic and abiotic properties.
Correcting for Microbial Blooms in Fecal Samples during Room-Temperature Shipping
Authors: Amir Amnon , McDonald Daniel , Navas-Molina Jose A. , Debelius Justine , Morton James T. , Hyde Embriette , Robbins-Pianka Adam , Knight Rob
Published: March 2017

In many microbiome studies, the necessity to store samples at room temperature (i.e., remote fieldwork) and the ability to ship samples without hazardous materials that require special handling training, such as ethanol (i.e., citizen science efforts), is paramount. However, although room-temperature storage for a few days has been shown not to obscure physiologically relevant microbiome differences between comparison groups, there are still changes in specific bacterial taxa, notably, in members of the class
Gammaproteobacteria
, that can make microbiome profiles difficult to interpret. Here we identify the most problematic taxa and show that removing sequences from just a few fast-growing taxa is sufficient to correct microbiome profiles.
Endovascular retrieval of dental needle retained in the internal carotid artery
Authors: Moore Kenneth , Khan Nickalus R , Michael L Madison , Arthur Adam S , Hoit Daniel
Published: March 2017

Intravascular foreign bodies are a known complication of medical and dental procedures. Dental anesthetic needles may be broken off and retained in the oropharynx. These needles have occasionally been reported to migrate through the oral mucosa in to deeper structures. Here we present the case of a 57-year-old man who had a retained dental needle that had migrated into his internal carotid artery. The needle was removed using endovascular techniques. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a retained dental needle being retrieved using this method. We review the literature on intravascular foreign bodies, retained dental needles, and endovascular techniques for retrieval of such foreign bodies.
Inappropriate sinus tachycardia in pregnancy: a benign phenomena?
Authors: Belham Mark , Patient Charlotte , Pickett Janet
Published: March 2017

The syndrome of inappropriate sinus tachycardia (IST) is a well-described and generally benign condition outside pregnancy. There is, however, little information in the literature about IST during pregnancy and nothing about the likely mechanism in such cases. Equally there is a paucity of information about the effects on maternal and fetal well-being in patients who develop IST during pregnancy. Here, we describe the case of a woman who developed IST for the first time during pregnancy. We have first given a brief clinical summary of events and then follow this with the patient's personal account which she has written herself specifically for this case report. We believe that this case highlights some of the important issues associated with the condition when it occurs during pregnancy. We hope that the publication of this case report will increase the awareness of IST during pregnancy. This is important as we believe that the correct diagnosis and understanding of the condition and its consequences will allow clinicians to manage women afflicted by the condition empathetically and appropriately.
Labouring Together: collaborative alliances in maternity care in Victoria, Australia—protocol of a mixed-methods study
Authors: Watkins Vanessa , Nagle Cate , Kent Bridie , Hutchinson Alison M
Published: March 2017

Introduction

For over a decade, enquiries into adverse perinatal outcomes have led to reports that poor collaboration has been detrimental to the safety and experience of maternity care. Despite efforts to improve collaboration, investigations into maternity care at Morecambe Bay (UK) and Djerriwarrh Health Services (Australia) have revealed that poor collaboration and decision-making remain a threat to perinatal safety. The Labouring Together study will investigate how elements hypothesised to influence the effectiveness of collaboration are reflected in perceptions and experiences of clinicians and childbearing women in Victoria, Australia. The study will explore conditions that assist clinicians and women to work collaboratively to support positive maternity outcomes. Results of the study will provide a platform for consumers, clinician groups, organisations and policymakers to work together to improve the quality, safety and experience of maternity care.

Methods and analysis

4 case study sites have been selected to represent a range of models of maternity care in metropolitan and regional Victoria, Australia. A mixed-methods approach including cross-sectional surveys and interviews will be used in each case study site, involving both clinicians and consumers. Quantitative data analysis will include descriptive statistics, 2-way multivariate analysis of variance for the dependent and independent variables, and χ2analysis to identify the degree of congruence between consumer preferences and experiences. Interview data will be analysed for emerging themes and concepts. Data will then be analysed for convergent lines of enquiry supported by triangulation of data to draw conclusions.

Ethics and dissemination

Organisational ethics approval has been received from the case study sites and Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (2014–238). Dissemination of the results of the Labouring Together study will be via peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations, and in written reports for each case study site to support organisational change.
Can environmental improvement change the population distribution of walking?
Authors: Panter Jenna , Ogilvie David
Published: March 2017

Background

Few studies have explored the impact of environmental change on walking using controlled comparisons. Even fewer have examined whose behaviour changes and how. In a natural experimental study of new walking and cycling infrastructure, we explored changes in walking, identified groups who changed in similar ways and assessed whether exposure to the infrastructure was associated with trajectories of walking.

Methods

1257 adults completed annual surveys assessing walking, sociodemographic and health characteristics and use of the infrastructure (2010–2012). Residential proximity to the new routes was assessed objectively. We used latent growth curve models to assess change in total walking, walking for recreation and for transport, used simple descriptive analysis and latent class analysis (LCA) to identify groups who changed in similar ways and examined factors associated with group membership using multinomial regression.

Results

LCA identified five trajectories, characterised by consistently low levels; consistently high levels; decreases; short-lived increases; and sustained increases. Those with lower levels of education and lower incomes were more likely to show both short-lived and sustained increases in walking for transport. However, those with lower levels of education were less likely to take up walking. Proximity to the intervention was associated with both uptake of and short-lived increases in walking for transport.

Conclusions

Environmental improvement encouraged the less active to take up walking for transport, as well as encouraging those who were already active to walk more. Further research should disentangle the role of socioeconomic characteristics in determining use of new environments and changes in walking.
Creatinine concentrations of accumulated intrauterine fluid to confirm the clinical diagnosis of urometra in mares
Authors: Schnobrich M. R. , Gordon D. L. , Scoggin C. F. , Bradecamp E. A. , Canisso I. F.
Published: March 2017

Urine pooling, as a persistent condition, is a cause of infertility in mares due to endometrial inflammation and sperm toxicity. Identification of urometra can be challenging in mares presenting with the condition intermittently, or when urine flows into the uterus but is undetectable in the vagina. Currently, there are no reported objective methods to confirm the clinical diagnosis of urine contamination in intrauterine‐fluid accumulations. Since creatinine is present in high concentrations in urine and does not diffuse across cell membranes, creatinine concentration should be increased in mares with urometra, but negligible in normal and mares with intrauterine fluid accumulation (non‐urometra cases). To test this hypothesis, creatinine concentrations of intrauterine fluid were measured in mares with a clinical diagnosis of urine accumulation (n=9) or intrauterine fluid containing no urine (n=10). Results showed that creatinine concentrations (mg/dl) were significantly higher in mares that had a clinical diagnosis of urometra (42.8±12.6, range 4.1–109.2) compared with those that did not (0.38±0.1, range 0–0.9). Also, two mares after urethral extension surgery demonstrated a remarkable reduction in creatinine concentrations. This study highlights an undocumented approach to confirm a clinical diagnosis of urometra in mares; the authors anticipate that testing for creatinine in the uterine fluid of mares may become a standard tool for identifying urometra in mares and confirming the success of urogenital surgeries.
Safety culture: the Nottingham Veterinary Safety Culture Survey (NVSCS)
Authors: Oxtoby C. , Mossop L. , White K. , Ferguson E.
Published: March 2017

Safety culture is a vital concept in human healthcare because of its influence on staff behaviours in relation to patient safety. Understanding safety culture is essential to ensure the acceptance and sustainability of changes, such as the introduction of safe surgery checklists. While widely studied and assessed in human medicine, there is no tool for its assessment in veterinary medicine. This paper therefore presents initial data on such an assessment: the Nottingham Veterinary Safety Culture Survey (NVSCS). 350 pilot surveys were distributed to practising vets and nurses. The survey was also available online. 229 surveys were returned (65 per cent response rate) and 183 completed online, resulting in 412 surveys for analysis. Four domains were identified: (1) organisational safety systems and behaviours, (2) staff perceptions of management, (3) risk perceptions and (4) teamwork and communication. Initial indications of the reliability and the validity of the final survey are presented. Although early in development, the resulting 29‐item NVSCS is presented as a tool for measuring safety culture in veterinary practices with implications for benchmarking, safety culture assessment and teamwork training.
Genetic variants of interferon-gamma and its mRNA expression and inflammatory parameters in the pathogenesis of vitiligo
Authors: Karam Rehab A. , Zidan Haidy E. , Khater Mohamed H.
Published: March 2017

Although genetics plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of vitiligo, vitiligo pathogenesis is still unclear. Our aim was to investigate the role of IFN-γ expression and polymorphism in vitiligo susceptibility and whether intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and TNF-β play a role in vitiligo pathogenesis as important inflammatory parameters. Eighty-five patients with vitiligo and 90 controls were investigated for IFN-γ gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR and genotyped for IFN-γ +874T/A (rs2430561) and IFN-γ +2109A/G (rs1861494) gene polymorphisms by sequence-specific primer (SSP)-PCR and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), respectively. Serum levels of inflammatory parameters were measured using ELISA. Frequencies of the +874 TT genotype and T allele were significantly higher in patients with active vitiligo than in stable patients (P = 0.01 and 0.03, respectively). Calculation of odds ratio suggested a 1.7-fold increased risk of vitiligo in individuals having the TA haplotype. We observed overexpression of IFN-γ mRNA with elevated serum levels of IFN-γ, ICAM-1, TNF-α, and TNF-β in patients with vitiligo when compared with the control group (P = 0.001, for all). In addition, these levels were elevated in patients with active vitiligo compared with stable patients with vitiligo (P = 0.008, 0.006, 0.01, 0.01, and 0.03, respectively), which suggests the involvement of these cytokines in disease activity. In conclusion, IFN-γ is a promising immunological marker in vitiligo pathogenesis.