bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf extract on alveolar diameter of breastfeeding and weight of infant Wistar rats
Authors: Utary Neliza , Murti Krisna , Seta Septadina Indri
Published: July 2019

Birthweight is the quality of maternal nutrition during pregnancy. In 2005, more than 20 million infants in the world (15.5% of all births) experienced low birth weight. Efforts to improve the survival of infants. Moringa oleifera leaf extract is a medicinal plant that plays roles to increase mother’s milk production. Determine the effect of Moringa leaf extracts supplementation to mamma alveolar diameter of breastfeeding maternal and weight of infant Wistar rat. This was a Completely Randomized Design, conducted in October-March 2018. The sample used were 24 pregnant rats, negative control (KN) given aquadest, positive control (KP+) Moloco 0.13 mg/g BW/day, treatment group I (KPI) dose 0,042 mole leaf extract and treatment group II (KPII) dose 0,168 mg/g BW/day. Data were analysed using ANOVA test 5% significance and continued by post hoc LSD (Least Significant Difference) test on SPSS program version 16. The results showed that in KPII, it was found that the increase of breast alveolar diameter and infants birth weight was higher than the other treatment groups. Infants weight gain is no difference between groups. Moringa leaf extracts to 14 effective periods of pregnancy to increase the size of an alveolar diameter of breast gland and birthweight in infants.
ARID1A protein expression in endometriosis-associated ovarian carcinomas
Authors: Yuliantini Venni , Wresnindyatsih  , Farida Aida , Hafy Zen
Published: July 2019

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma is leading cause of death among gynaecologic malignancies. Somatic mutation of ARID1A gene often observed in endometriosis-associated ovarian carcinoma cases. This mutation causes loss of ARID1A protein expression on tumor-bearing tissues. This study aims to investigate ARID1A protein expression in endometriosis-associated ovarian carcinoma cases in Indonesia. The archive of Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue of 11 endometrial carcinomas (EC), 16 clear cell carcinoma (CCC), and 23 serous carcinomas (SC) from January 1, 2016, to December 31, 2017. The ARID1A expression were analyzed by using Kolmogorov Smirnov and Fisher’s Exact Tests. Majority of patients were older than 50 years (90%). Loss of ARID1A expression in tumor tissue was significantly low in the SC group (8.7%) compared to the EC group (27.3%) and the CCC group (62.5%) (p = 0.021). This study showed that ARID1A expression, was not associated with FIGO stage (p = 0,423), and with histological grade of the cases in EC group (p = 0,544) and SC group (p = 0,395). Loss of ARID1A expression was more frequently found in EC and CCC cases. Loss of ARID1A expression was not associated with FIGO stage and histological grade.
Thirty years of connectivity conservation planning: an assessment of factors influencing plan implementation
Authors: Keeley Annika T H , Beier Paul , Creech Tyler , Jones Kristal , Jongman Rob HG , Stonecipher Grace , Tabor Gary M
Published: July 2019

Connectivity conservation is an emergent approach to counteracting landscape fragmentation and enhancing resilience to climate change at local, national, and global scales. While policy that promotes connectivity is advancing, there has been no systematic, evidence-based study that assesses whether connectivity conservation plans (CCPs) resulted in conservation outcomes, and identifies specific plan attributes that may favor successful implementation. To fill this gap, we gathered 263 terrestrial CCPs from around the world, characterized attributes of 109 plans by surveying plan authors, and conducted semi-structured interviews with authors and implementers of 77 CCPs. The production of CCPs started around 1990 and has increased markedly in all parts of the world, most notably in the United States (led by NGOs and a few states, with little federal involvement), Europe (led by the EU and national policies and implemented at local levels), and the Republic of South Africa (where national legislation mandates each municipality to map corridors and zone all land by 2020). All of the 109 plans that we examined in detail were followed by implementation actions such as crossing structures, ecological restoration, land purchases or easements, recognition of corridors through zoning or government designation, and public engagement. Interviewees emphasized the importance of initial buy-in from key government stakeholders, stakeholder involvement beyond initial buy-in, minimizing staff turnover, and transparent and repeatable procedures. Our quantitative and qualitative analyses similarly suggested that implementation of a CCP was enhanced by enduring partnerships among stakeholders, continuity of leadership, specific recommendations in the CCP using tools appropriately selected from a large toolbox, the existence of enabling legislation and policy, a transparent and repeatable scientific approach, adequate funding, and public outreach.
The Materials of Home: Studying Domesticity in Late Colonial India
Authors: McGowan Abigail
Published: July 2019

In this essay I argue for opening up South Asian historiography on the home to explore not just ideals of middle-class domesticity, but also the material goods and spaces of home lives. This helps to rethink class, as ideals of middle-class respectability were often worked out in buildings and through goods shared with lower classes, deploying caste hierarchies to articulate definitions of proper home life. At the same time, taking materials and spaces seriously allows attention to the role of men in shaping and experiencing homes, whether as designers, retailers, planners, or residents themselves. Drawing on the specific example of the iconic firm Kamdar Ltd., which created modern home interiors in mid-century Bombay, I argue that thinking through the materials of home allows attention to the global engagements of home life defined in class and caste terms, by men and women alike.
The World Is Not Flat: Accounting for the Dynamic Nature of the Environment as We Move Beyond Static Experimental Manipulations
Authors: Greives Timothy J , Bowden Rachel M
Published: July 2019

Although we have long understood that environmental variation affects both physiology and behavior, historically, most studies have limited or simplified environmental variation to focus more directly on traits of interest. Recently, a number of investigators have turned their focus toward attempting to incorporate such variation into studies of physiology and behavior, and not surprisingly, are finding that the results from studies that include more realistic variation, both from the environment as well as in physiological processes within individuals, can differ substantially from those of studies that attempt to hold the parameters constant. Understanding the role that this dynamic variation plays in shaping phenotypes is critical given that, under most predictions from future climate change models, increased variability in factors such as temperature and rainfall are predicted.
Weights and Nilpotent Subgroups
Authors: Navarro Gabriel , Sambale Benjamin
Published: July 2019

In a finite group $G$, we consider nilpotent weights and prove a $\pi $-version of the Alperin Weight Conjecture for certain $\pi $-separable groups. This widely generalizes an earlier result by I. M. Isaacs and the 1st author.
Lay and Professional Judges in Europe’s Labour Courts: Does the Professional Judge Dominate?
Authors: Corby Susan , Burgess Pete , Höland Armin , Michel Hélène , Willemez Laurent
Published: July 2019

Several European countries have a first instance ‘mixed’ labour court, that is a judicial panel comprising a professional judge and two or more lay judges, the latter with experience as employees or employers/managers. The lay judges’ main contribution is their workplace knowledge, but they act in a juridical setting where legal norms prevail, so does the professional judge, despite being in a minority, dominate? This article seeks to address this question by focussing on first instance labour courts in Great Britain, Germany and France. Theories of differential power, particularly status characteristics theory, and previous empirical research indicate that professional judges dominate, but our findings are more nuanced. Based on 177 interviews in three countries, we find that professional judge dominance varies according to the country’s institutional context and the salience of lay judges’ workplace knowledge. These institutional differences, however, are mediated by the attitudes of the judicial actors. Many interviewees noted that some lay judges were more prepared to challenge the professional judge than others, whereas others observed that some professional judges were more inclusive than others.
A Right to Care: Putting Care Ethics at the Heart of UK Reconciliation Legislation
Authors: Mitchell Gemma
Published: July 2019

This article will examine how a right to care could be applied in the UK to better support people’s ability to balance their paid work and caring responsibilities. I will argue that this would inject the ethic of care into the body of work–life balance legislation to better value caring relationships and carers. This is important because paid work is currently prioritised in this body of legislation. I will argue that better valuing caring labour is key to achieving transformative changes in both the workplace and the division of caring labour.
An examination of the coverage of the SNOMED CT coded nursing problem list subset
Authors: Kim Junglyun , Yao Yingwei , Macieira Tamara Goncalves Rezende , Keenan Gail
Published: July 2019

Objective

The purpose of this article is to describe the current nursing problem list subset of Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (NPLS) coverage of the American Nurses Association (ANA) recognized standardized nursing terminologies (SNTs) and to identify potential ways to expand and enhance the utility of this list.

Materials and Methods

The study is a cross-sectional exploratory design. We mapped the content of the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association International (NANDA-I) (2018–2020), International Classification for Nursing Practice (ICNP) (2017 AB), Clinical Care Classification (CCC) (2018 AA), and Omaha System (2007AC) terminologies with each other and into NPLS (August 2017 edition) using Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) (release 2018AA) as the intermediary.

Results

We identified a total of 1470 unique nursing diagnosis concepts across SNTs in UMLS, including 175 in CCC, 840 in ICNP, 244 in NANDA-I, 418 in Omaha System, and 631 in NPLS. The NPLS covers approximately 43% of the 1470 concepts—coverage for SNT content is 90% for CCC, 47% for ICNP, 59% for NANDA-I, and 32% for the Omaha System.

Discussion/Recommendations

The NPLS version 2017 coverage of SNT nursing diagnoses included in the UMLS is incomplete and equivocal. Recommendations: (1) ensure all SNT concepts in the UMLS are represented by SNOMED CT terms, (2) devise a formal strategy of partial matching to further enhance interoperability, (3) add a classification structure to the NPLS to enhance the ease of use and utility of the list, and (4) minimize redundancy within NPLS.
LC-MS-MS vs ELISA: Validation of a Comprehensive Urine Toxicology Screen by LC-MS-MS and a Comparison of 100 Forensic Specimens
Authors: Kahl Kristin W , Seither Joshua Z , Reidy Lisa J
Published: July 2019

Toxicology laboratories commonly employ immunoassay methodologies to perform an initial drug screen on urine specimens to direct confirmatory testing. Due to limitations of immunoassay testing and the need to screen for a broader range of drugs with lower limits of detection at a lower cost, mass spectrometry screening techniques have gained favor in the toxicology field. A liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS) urine screening panel was developed and validated for 52 drugs and metabolites. A simple dilute-and-shoot with enzymatic hydrolysis technique was utilized to prepare the urine specimens for analysis. Limit of detection, interference, ionization suppression/enhancement, carryover and stability of processed specimens were assessed during validation. To evaluate the toxicological results obtained from utilizing the LC-MS-MS in comparison with the laboratory’s current enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) panel, 100 authentic urine specimens from suspected driving under the influence and drug-facilitated crime cases were analyzed using both methodologies and the results were compared. In addition, the cost of each methodology was evaluated and compared. The validated LC-MS-MS method had limits of detection that were equal to or lower than the concentrations validated for ELISA cutoffs, had fewer exogenous interferences, and the cost of screening per specimen was reduced by ~70% when compared to ELISA. Comparing the toxicology results of forensic urine specimens demonstrated that by only using ELISA, the laboratory was unable to detect benzoylecgonine in 26%, lorazepam in 33% and oxymorphone in 60% of the positive specimens. Additional analytes detected using the LC-MS-MS method were zolpidem and/or metabolite, gabapentin, tramadol and metabolite, methadone and metabolite, meprobamate and phentermine. The results of the validation, the toxicological result comparison and the cost comparison showed that the LC-MS-MS screening method is a simple, sensitive and cost-effective alternative to ELISA screening methods for urine specimens.
Validation of a High-throughput Screening and Quantification Method for the Determination of Gabapentinoids in Blood Using a Combination of LC-TOF-MS and LC-MS-MS
Authors: De La Vega Hilda , Fox Kim , Pardi Justine , Santiago-Tirado Wendy , Cooper Gail
Published: July 2019

Gabapentinoids such as gabapentin (GP) and pregabalin (PGL) have been used to treat a wide range of neurological and psychiatric disorders. In recent years, there has been an increasing awareness of GP and PGL misuse among individuals with a history of polysubstance use. Both GP and PGL are understood to potentiate the effects of opioids, with fatalities involving GP and PGL being reported with increasing frequency. An efficient procedure was developed to screen and quantitate GP and PGL in blood samples using a combination of liquid chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-TOF-MS) and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). The developed LC-MS-MS method was linear from 0.5–50 mg/L, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.1 mg/L for GP and PGL. An LOD of 0.5 mg/L was determined for both analytes on the LC-TOF-MS screen. A total of 1,091 blood specimens were subjected to a protein crash with methanol, in the presence of deuterated internal standards, PGL-d6 and GP-d10, to minimize the effects of varying matrix conditions. Specimens tested included both post-mortem blood and preserved blood specimens collected for the purposes of investigating drug-impaired driving and suspected drug-facilitated crimes. Of the total of specimens tested, 101 (9.3%) screened positive using the developed LC-TOF-MS method for GP while only 13 (1.2%) blood specimens screened positive for PGL. All (100%) of the cases that screened positive for GP and PGL were confirmed positive by LC-MS-MS. Blood concentrations of GP and PGL ranged from <0.5 to 215 mg/L and from <0.5 to 32 mg/L, respectively. Of the blood specimens that had previously screened negative by LC-TOF-MS, 10% (N = 100) were randomly selected and tested by LC-MS-MS with 100% confirmed negative for GP and PGL. The developed methods provide a fast and reliable high-throughput screening and confirmation testing strategy for the detection of GP and PGL in blood specimens.
Determination of Cannabinoids in Breast Milk Using QuEChERS and Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Tandem Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Ramnarine Rhea S , Poklis Justin L , Wolf Carl E
Published: July 2019

Use of marijuana and cannabinoids has been on the rise in recent years, including in childbearing women. This has resulted in cannabinoids being more frequently identified in breast milk as a result of its high lipid content and cannabinoids having a high lipophilicity, thereby exposing the breastfeeding infant to cannabinoids and other marijuana constituents. Presented is a method for the analysis of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabinol (CBN) and cannabidiol (CBD) in breast milk. THC, CBN, CBD and their isotopically labeled standards were extracted from breast milk using a modified QuEChERS method and analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. As a result of the high lipid content of breast milk, saponification of the lipids was necessary to improve overall extraction efficiency. The process efficiency percentage for THC, CBD and CBN are 55%, 80% and 25%, respectively. The recovery percentage for THC, CBD and CBN are 95%, 118% and 85%, respectively. The matrix effect percentage for THC, CBD and CBN are 53%, 66% and 26%, respectively. Linearity was assessed from 1 to 100 ng/mL for THC, CBN and CBD and had r2 > 0.996. Validation controls were prepared at 1, 3, 20, 80 and 300 ng/mL (dilution control), and the bias was determined to be less than ±20% with %CVs <15% for all controls. Due to the limited access of genuine breast milk for routinely preparing matrix matched calibration and control materials, Enfamil® Premium™ Newborn Infant Formula (0–3 months) was evaluated as a breast milk substitute. No significant differences were observed for THC, CBN and CBD using either breast milk or formula as the matrix; thus, it was determined to be an acceptable breast milk matrix substitute. The modified QuEChERS method was determined to be a robust, reliable method for the determination of THC, CBN and CBD in breast milk.
Massive lymphatic leakage after lung cancer surgery via median sternotomy
Authors: Minegishi Kentaro , Tsubochi Hiroyoshi , Hamamoto Kohei , Endo Shunsuke
Published: July 2019

We report a case of intractable chylothorax after right upper lobectomy and nodal dissection via median sternotomy for lung cancer in a 67-year-old man. Lymphangiography (LAG) with lipiodol and sequential computed tomography showed the thoracic duct in the left posterior mediastinum and massive lymphatic leakage in the anterior and middle mediastinum. The Chylous leakage was resolved by LAG with lipiodol. Our findings suggest that variation of the thoracic duct should be evaluated by LAG when intractable chylothorax or chylomediastinum develops after anterior mediastinal surgery.
German Jews between Freud, Marx, and Halakha: Frieda Fromm-Reichmann, Erich Fromm, and the Psychoanalysis of Jewish Ritual in 1920s Heidelberg1
Authors: Lerner Paul
Published: July 2019

This essay explores the psychoanalytic sanitarium (Therapeutikum) directed by Frieda Fromm-Reichmann and Erich Fromm in Heidelberg from 1924 to 1928. The Therapeutikum aimed to combine adherence to Jewish ritual with psychoanalytic practice and radical politics for a group of German Jews who were rethinking their Orthodox backgrounds in light of new intellectual and political currents and modern sensibilities. Visitors to the sanitarium included many leading German-Jewish thinkers, and Heidelberg’s proximity to Frankfurt placed the Therapeutikum in the orbit of the Institute for Social Research and near a major hub in the renaissance of Jewish learning then occurring. At the centre of the article is a discussion of essays by Fromm-Reichmann and Fromm that subjected Jewish ritual (kashrut and shabbat) to psychoanalytic investigation. Appearing in Imago in 1927, the articles marked the two writers’ public break with Orthodox Judaism. This essay argues that the Imago articles marked a crucial moment in the political, intellectual, and religious history of German Jewry. Even if the Fromms’ synthesis of Freudianism, radical politics, and Judaism was conceptually shaky, their sanitarium illustrates the centrality of psychoanalysis—as a sensibility, a hermeneutic and above all a way of creating social and communal bonds—to a generation of German Jews navigating the challenges of German and Jewish modernity.
On the radiation energy density in the jet of high-energy-emitting BL Lac objects and its impact on their multimessenger role
Authors: Tavecchio F , Oikonomou F , Righi C
Published: July 2019

We examine the potential multimessenger role of BL Lac objects emitting at high energy (so-called HBL) focusing on the limits on the energy density of soft radiation in the jet frame, a critical parameter that regulates the proton cooling and the fragmentation of ultrahigh-energy cosmic ray nuclei possibly accelerated in the jet. We show that (under the assumption that the high-energy emission bump is dominated by inverse Compton emission) the energy density of any external soft radiation field (e.g. produced by a layer surrounding the jet or in the accretion flow) cannot be larger than few times that associated with the observed synchrotron radiation produced in the emission region. Quite interestingly, the constraint that we derive is generally stronger than the limit obtained from the condition that the source is transparent to very high-energy γ-rays. Using this constraint, we can derive a robust upper limit for the efficiency of the photopion reaction leading to the emission of PeV neutrinos, fπ ≲ 10−5, which makes HBL quite inefficient neutrino sources. For the photodisintegration of nuclei, the results are more dependent on the spectral properties of the radiation field. The photodisintegration efficiency is safely below 1 (and nuclei can escape intact) for a ‘canonical’ spectrum of the soft radiation field ∝ ν−0.5. For radiation fields characterized by a softer spectrum and extended over a large portion of the jet, the efficiency increases and for an appreciable fraction of the sources nuclei with energies above 1019 eV might suffer significant photodisintegration.
GK Car and GZ Nor: two low-luminous, depleted RV Tauri stars
Authors: Gezer I , Van Winckel H , Manick R , Kamath D
Published: July 2019

We performed a photometric and spectroscopic analysis of two RV Tauri stars: GK Car and GZ Nor. Both objects are surrounded by hot circumstellar dust. Their pulsation periods, derived from ASAS (All Sky Automated Survey) photometric time-series, have been used to derive their luminosities and distances via the period–luminosity–distance (PLC) relation. In addition, for both objects, Gaia distances are available. The Gaia distances and luminosities are consistent with the values obtained from the PLC relationship. GK Car is at distance of 4.5 ± 1.3 kpc and has a luminosity of 1520 ± 840 L⊙, while GZ Nor is at distance of 8.4 ± 2.3 kpc and has a luminosity of 1240 ± 690 L⊙. Our abundance analysis reveals that both stars show depletion of refractory elements with [Fe/H] = −1.3 and [Zn/Ti] = +1.2 for GK Car and [Fe/H] = −2.0 and [Zn/Ti] = +0.8 for GZ Nor. In the WISE(Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer) colour–colour diagram, GK Car is located in the RV Tauri box as originally defined by Lloyd Evans and updated by Gezer et al., while GZ Nor is not. Despite this, we argue that both objects are surrounded by a gravitationally bound disc. As depletion is observed in binaries, we postulate that both stars are binaries as well. RV Tauri stars are generally acknowledged to be post-asymptotic giant branch (post-AGB) stars. Recent studies show that they might be either indeed post-AGB or post-red giant branch (post-RGB) objects depending on their luminosity. For both objects, the derived luminosities are relatively low for post-AGB objects, however, the uncertainties are quite large. We conclude that they could be either post-RGB or post-AGB objects.
Energy equipartition between stellar and dark matter particles in cosmological simulations results in spurious growth of galaxy sizes
Authors: Ludlow Aaron D , Schaye Joop , Schaller Matthieu , Richings Jack
Published: July 2019

The impact of 2-body scattering on the innermost density profiles of dark matter haloes is well established. We use a suite of cosmological simulations and idealized numerical experiments to show that 2-body scattering is exacerbated in situations where there are two species of unequal mass. This is a consequence of mass segregation and reflects a flow of kinetic energy from the more to less massive particles. This has important implications for the interpretation of galaxy sizes in cosmological hydrodynamic simulations, which nearly always model stars with less massive particles than are used for the dark matter. We compare idealized models as well as simulations from the eagle project that differ only in the mass resolution of the dark matter component, but keep subgrid physics, baryonic mass resolution, and gravitational force softening fixed. If the dark matter particle mass exceeds the mass of stellar particles, then galaxy sizes – quantified by their projected half-mass radii, R50 – increase systematically with time until R50 exceeds a small fraction of the redshift-dependent mean interparticle separation, l (${\rm R_{50}} \gtrsim 0.05\times l$). Our conclusions should also apply to simulations that adopt different hydrodynamic solvers, subgrid physics, or adaptive softening, but in that case may need quantitative revision. Any simulation employing a stellar-to-dark matter particle mass ratio greater than unity will escalate spurious energy transfer from dark matter to baryons on small scales.
The impact of asymmetric neutrino emissions on nucleosynthesis in core-collapse supernovae
Authors: Fujimoto Shin-ichiro , Nagakura Hiroki
Published: July 2019

We investigate the impact of asymmetric neutrino emissions on the explosive nucleosynthesis in neutrino-driven core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe). We find that the asymmetric emissions tend to yield larger amounts of proton-rich ejecta (electron fraction, Ye > 0.51) in the hemisphere of the higher νe emissions, meanwhile neutron-rich matter (Ye < 0.49) are ejected in the opposite hemisphere of the higher ${\bar{\nu }}_{\rm e}$ emissions. For larger asymmetric cases with $\ge 30\, {\rm per\, cent}$, the neutron-rich ejecta is abundantly produced, in which there are too much elements heavier than Zn compared to the solar abundances. This may place an upper limit of the asymmetric neutrino emissions in CCSNe. The characteristic features are also observed in elemental distribution; (1) abundances lighter than Ca are insensitive to the asymmetric neutrino emissions; (2) the production of Zn and Ge is larger in the neutron-rich ejecta even for smaller asymmetric cases with $\le 10\, {\rm per\, cent}$. We discuss these observational consequences, which may account for the (anti)correlations among asymmetries of heavy elements and neutron star kicks in supernova remnants (SNRs). Future SNR observations of the direct measurement for the mass and spatial distributions of α elements, Fe, Zn, and Ge will provide us the information on the asymmetric degree of neutrino emissions.
An H i absorption distance to the black hole candidate X-ray binary MAXI J1535–571
Authors: Chauhan J , Miller-Jones J C A , Anderson G E , Raja W , Bahramian A , Hotan A , Indermuehle B , Whiting M , Allison J R , Anderson C , Bunton J , Koribalski B , Mahony E
Published: July 2019

With the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder (ASKAP) we monitored the black hole candidate X-ray binary MAXI J1535–571 over seven epochs from 2017 September 21 to October 2. Using ASKAP observations, we studied the H i absorption spectrum from gas clouds along the line of sight and thereby constrained the distance to the source. The maximum negative radial velocities measured from the H i absorption spectra for MAXI J1535–571 and an extragalactic source in the same field of view are −69 ± 4 and −89 ± 4 km s−1, respectively. This rules out the far kinematic distance ($9.3^{+0.5}_{-0.6}$ kpc), giving a most likely distance of $4.1^{+0.6}_{-0.5}$ kpc, with a strong upper limit of the tangent point at $6.7^{+0.1}_{-0.2}$ kpc. At our preferred distance, the peak unabsorbed luminosity of MAXI J1535–571 was >78 per cent of the Eddington luminosity, and shows that the soft-to-hard spectral state transition occurred at the very low luminosity of (1.2–3.4) × 10−5 times the Eddington luminosity. Finally, this study highlights the capabilities of new wide-field radio telescopes to probe Galactic transient outbursts, by allowing us to observe both a target source and a background comparison source in a single telescope pointing.
Sharp kinking of a coiled-coil in MutS allows DNA binding and release
Authors: Bhairosing-Kok Doreth , Groothuizen Flora S , Fish Alexander , Dharadhar Shreya , Winterwerp Herrie H K , Sixma Titia K
Published: July 2019

DNA mismatch repair (MMR) corrects mismatches, small insertions and deletions in DNA during DNA replication. While scanning for mismatches, dimers of MutS embrace the DNA helix with their lever and clamp domains. Previous studies indicated generic flexibility of the lever and clamp domains of MutS prior to DNA binding, but whether this was important for MutS function was unknown. Here, we present a novel crystal structure of DNA-free Escherichia coli MutS. In this apo-structure, the clamp domains are repositioned due to kinking at specific sites in the coiled-coil region in the lever domains, suggesting a defined hinge point. We made mutations at the coiled-coil hinge point. The mutants made to disrupt the helical fold at the kink site diminish DNA binding, whereas those made to increase stability of coiled-coil result in stronger DNA binding. These data suggest that the site-specific kinking of the coiled-coil in the lever domain is important for loading of this ABC-ATPase on DNA.
The Lack of Mitochondrial Thioredoxin TRXo1 Affects In Vivo Alternative Oxidase Activity and Carbon Metabolism under Different Light Conditions
Authors: Florez-Sarasa Igor , Obata Toshihiro , Del-Saz Nï¿½stor Fernï¿½ndez , Reichheld Jean-Philippe , Meyer Etienne H , Rodriguez-Concepcion Manuel , Ribas-Carbo Miquel , Fernie Alisdair R
Published: July 2019

The alternative oxidase (AOX) constitutes a nonphosphorylating pathway of electron transport in the mitochondrial respiratory chain that provides flexibility to energy and carbon primary metabolism. Its activity is regulated in vitro by the mitochondrial thioredoxin (TRX) system which reduces conserved cysteines residues of AOX. However, in vivo evidence for redox regulation of the AOX activity is still scarce. In the present study, the redox state, protein levels and in vivo activity of the AOX in parallel to photosynthetic parameters were determined in Arabidopsis knockout mutants lacking mitochondrial trxo1 under moderate (ML) and high light (HL) conditions, known to induce in vivo AOX activity. In addition, 13C- and 14C-labeling experiments together with metabolite profiling were performed to better understand the metabolic coordination between energy and carbon metabolism in the trxo1 mutants. Our results show that the in vivo AOX activity is higher in the trxo1 mutants at ML while the AOX redox state is apparently unaltered. These results suggest that mitochondrial thiol redox systems are responsible for maintaining AOX in its reduced form rather than regulating its activity in vivo. Moreover, the negative regulation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle by the TRX system is coordinated with the increased input of electrons into the AOX pathway. Under HL conditions, while AOX and photosynthesis displayed similar patterns in the mutants, photorespiration is restricted at the level of glycine decarboxylation most likely as a consequence of redox imbalance.
Soluble expression and purification of high-bioactivity recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 by codon optimisation in Escherichia coli
Authors: Chen Wei , Zhang Caiqian , Wu Yeqing , Su Xiuping
Published: July 2019

We developed a simple method of preparing recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) with high biological activity. This rhBMP-2 was overproduced in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein with thioredoxin 6xHis-tag at its amino terminus.

The cDNA fragment of human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (hBMP-2) fused to the secretion signal of alkaline phosphatase (PhoA) was expressed under T7 promoter in E. coli. After DNA sequence confirmation, the recombinant vector pETpho-bmp2 was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3). rhBMP-2 was produced by the recombinant strain pETpho-bmp2/BL21 (DE3) in a soluble form with an yield of 6.2 mg/L culture. Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) results showed that the molecular weight of the product was approximately 28 kD. Moreover, rhBMP-2 was secreted as a dimer with a natural structure. rhBMP-2, purified by Ni Nitrilotriacetic acid Agarose (Ni-NTA) affinity chromatography, was used to examine osteosarcoma MG-63 cells and assay the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Results showed that rhBMP-2 induced MG-63 cell differentiation. When the final concentration was 500 ng/mL, the effect was more remarkable and ALP activity reached 525% compared with that of the control group.
Increased prevalence of small airways dysfunction in patients with systemic sclerosis as determined by impulse oscillometry
Authors: Bonifazi Martina , Sverzellati Nicola , Negri Eva , Pomponio Giovanni , Seletti Valeria , Bonini Matteo , Fraticelli Paolo , Paolini Luca , Mattioli Massimo , Franchi Matteo , Tramacere Irene , Poletti Venerino , La Vecchia Carlo , Gasparini Stefano , Gabrielli Armando
Published: July 2019

Objectives

The prevalence and clinical implications of small airways involvement in SSc are still to be fully elucidated. The goal of the present work is to assess the prevalence of small airways dysfunction by impulse oscillometry and to determine whether it correlates with selected disease-related features and respiratory-related quality of life.

Methods

Ninety-four SSc patients and 93 healthy controls were studied by impulse oscillometry measurements. Small airways dysfunction was defined as the difference between resistance at low frequency, i.e. 5 Hz, and resistance at high frequency, i.e. 20 Hz, termed ‘R5-R20’, ⩾0.07 kPa/l/s. The St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire was used to measure health impairment in SSc patients. Radiological features of small airways disease and parenchymal abnormalities on high resolution CT chest scans were jointly assessed by two thoracic radiologists.

Results

Small airways dysfunction was present in 21.5% of the SSc patient cohort, with a prevalence almost 5-fold higher compared with controls, and it was significantly associated with worse respiratory-related quality of life. Radiological features consistent with small airways abnormalities were detected in 25% of SSc patients, mostly in the absence of interstitial lung changes. Combining functional and radiological evaluations, one-third of the SSc cohort showed at least one feature of small airways involvement, which was associated with the lcSSc phenotype and with longer disease duration.

Conclusion

The current study strengthens the hypothesis that small airway dysfunction might be a feature of SSc-related lung involvement, providing the first data on its significant impact on respiratory-related quality of life. A full assessment of lung function in SSc patients should include impulse oscillometry as a complementary technique, due to potential clinical and therapeutic implications.
The Seychelles Juvenile Court and the Right to a Fair Trial: Implementing Article 19(2) of the Constitution, Sections 94–98 of the Children Act and the Children Act (Juvenile Court) Rules
Authors: Mujuzi Jamil Ddamulira
Published: July 2019

The Seychelles Juvenile Court, the Court, was established under section 93 of the Children Act with the mandate to hear charges against children. The procedure that has to be followed by the court is laid down in sections 94–98 of the Act and the Juvenile Court Rules. The Act and the Rules have to be implemented in full compliance with the constitution. Article 19 of the Constitution provides for the right to a fair trial and the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal of Seychelles have developed rich jurisprudence on this right. Under the doctrine of precedent, this jurisprudence binds the Juvenile Court. In this article, the author analyses the judgments and orders of the court between 2012 and June 2019 to establish how it has dealt with the right to a fair trial. This analysis shows that although in the majority of cases the court has done its best to implement the Act and the Rules, there are many instances in which its approach is contrary to the provisions of the Act, the Rules, the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court and/or the Court of Appeal and also the Constitution. The author highlights some of the issues that have to be addressed by the court to better implement the Act, the Rules and the Constitution to protect the right to a fair trial.
Updated Assembly of Phytophthora ramorum pr102 Isolate Incorporating Long Reads from PacBio Sequencing
Authors: Malar C Mathu , Yuzon Jennifer David , Panda Arijit , Kasuga Takao , Tripathy Sucheta
Published: July 2019

The NA1 clonal lineage of Phytophthora ramorum is responsible for sudden oak death, an epidemic that has devastated California coastal forest ecosystems. An NA1 isolate, Pr102, derived from coast live oak in California, was previously sequenced and reported with a 65-Mb assembly containing 12 Mb of gaps in 2,576 scaffolds. Here, we report an improved 70-Mb genome in 1,512 scaffolds with 6,752 bp of gaps after incorporating PacBio P5-C3 long reads. This assembly contains 19,494 gene models (average gene length of 2,515 bp) compared with 16,134 genes (average gene length of 1,673 bp) in the previous version. We predicted 29 new RXLR genes and 76 new paralogs of a total 392 RXLR genes from this assembly. We predicted 35 CRN genes compared with 19 in an earlier version with six paralogs. Our long non-coding RNA prediction identified 255 candidates. This new resource will be invaluable for future evolution studies on the invasive plant pathogen.
Evaluation of an Innovative Curriculum Enhancement: The Conversation Project
Authors: Pagano Michael , Mager Diana R. , O’Shea Eileen R. , O'Sullivan Cynthia
Published: July 2019

Two northeast nursing schools piloted an innovative curriculum to teach The Conversation Project (TCP) to the next generation of nurses. The goal was to educate 26 graduate nursing students about how to have end-of-life and advance care planning conversations with people before they experience a crisis. The focus of assignments was on communicating newly learned TCP information. Postreflections demonstrated that participants felt their communication skills had been enhanced while their anxieties were reduced. The students’ abilities to have end-of-life conversations increased.
Pharmacologic Management of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Using a Protocol
Authors: Gibson Brandi L. , Coe Kristi , Bradshaw Wanda
Published: July 2019

Background:

The opioid epidemic in the United States has reached unprecedented proportions with far-reaching impacts on the most vulnerable population. The number of neonates born addicted to opioids has grown exponentially over the last several decades, leading to increased neonatal intensive care unit admissions and rising healthcare costs. Recent studies have yielded mixed results regarding which medication is most effective at relieving the symptoms of opioid withdrawal and reducing the weaning timeframe for babies with neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).

Purpose:

To explore and compare the effectiveness of morphine versus methadone in the treatment for NAS using a standardized protocol.

Method:

A literature search of PubMed and CINAHL was performed. The search yielded 10 quantitative studies that were analyzed for potential practice changes.

Conclusion:

Based on current literature, following a standardized, stringent weaning protocol is more beneficial than the pharmacologic agent used. Studies reveal shorter weaning times and hospital stays in almost every group that followed rigid guidelines.

Implication for Research:

Although current studies are promising for the desired outcome, more research is needed to develop appropriate protocol-based weaning regimens for management of NAS.

Implication for Practice:

As the occurrence of NAS continues to rise, its management must vigorously meet the challenges of the diagnosis. Institutions should reevaluate their current protocols based on reassuring data showing that stringent guidelines using morphine or methadone can improve clinical outcomes, reduce hospital length, and lower healthcare costs.
Improving Staff Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Providing Psychosocial Support to NICU Parents Through an Online Education Course
Authors: Hall Sue L. , Famuyide Mobolaji E. , Saxton Sage N. , Moore Tiffany A. , Mosher Sara , Sorrells Keira , Milford Cheryl A. , Craig Jenene
Published: July 2019

Background:

Provider–parent communication is a critical determinant of how neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) parents cope, yet staff feel inadequately trained in communication techniques; many parents are not satisfied with the support they receive from hospital providers.

Purpose:

This study evaluated whether NICU staff would demonstrate improved knowledge and attitudes about providing psychosocial support to parents after taking an online course.

Methods:

After providing demographic information, staff at 2 NICUs took a 33-item survey both before and after taking a 7-module online course “Caring for Babies and Their Families,” and again at 6-month follow-up. Scores (means ± standard deviation) from all time periods were compared and effect sizes calculated for each of the course modules.

Results:

NICU staff participants (n = 114) included nurses (88%), social workers (7%), physicians (4%), and occupational therapists (1%). NICU staff showed significant improvement in both knowledge and attitudes in all modules after taking the course, and improvements in all module subscores remained significant at the 6-month follow-up mark. Night staff and staff with less experience had lower pretest scores on several items, which improved on posttest.

Implications for Practice:

This course, developed by an interprofessional group that included graduate NICU parents, was highly effective in improving staff knowledge and attitudes regarding the provision of psychosocial support to NICU parents, and in eliminating differences related to shift worked and duration of work experience in the NICU.

Implications for Research:

Future research should evaluate course efficacy across NICU disciplines beyond nursing, impact on staff performance, and whether parent satisfaction with care is improved.
Reoperation for Urinary Incontinence After Retropubic and Transobturator Sling Procedures
Authors: Trabuco Emanuel C. , Carranza Daniel , El Nashar Sherif A. , Weaver Amy L. , McGree Michaela E. , Elliott Daniel S. , Linder Brian J. , Occhino John , Gebhart John B. , Klingele Christopher J.
Published: July 2019

OBJECTIVE:

To compare the reoperation rates for recurrent stress urinary incontinence (SUI) after retropubic and transobturator sling procedures.

METHODS:

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all women who underwent midurethral sling procedures at a single institution for primary SUI between 2002 and 2012. To minimize bias, women in the two groups were matched on age, body mass index, isolated compared with combined procedure, and preoperative diagnosis. The primary outcome was defined as reoperation for recurrent SUI. Secondary outcomes included intraoperative complications and mesh-related complications requiring reoperation after the index sling procedure.

RESULTS:

We identified 1,881 women who underwent a sling procedure for primary SUI—1,551 retropubic and 330 transobturator. There was no difference between groups in any of the evaluated baseline variables in the covariate-matched cohort of 570 with retropubic slings and 317 with transobturator slings; results herein are based on the covariate-matched cohort. Women undergoing a transobturator sling procedure had an increased risk of reoperation for recurrent SUI compared with women undergoing a retropubic sling procedure (hazard ratio 2.42, 95% CI 1.37–4.29). The cumulative incidence of reoperation for recurrent SUI by 8 years was 5.2% (95% CI 3.0–7.4%) in the retropubic group and 11.2% (95% CI 6.4–15.8%) in the transobturator group. Women in the retropubic group had a significantly higher rate of intraoperative complications compared with women in the transobturator group (13.7% [78/570] vs 4.7% [15/317]; difference=9.0%, 95% CI for difference 5.3–12.6%); the majority of this difference was due to bladder perforation (7.0% [40/570] vs 0.6% [2/317]; difference=6.4%, 95% CI for difference 4.1–8.7%). The cumulative incidence of sling revision for urinary retention plateaued at 3.2% and 0.4% by 5 years in the two groups.

CONCLUSION:

Women with primary SUI treated with a retropubic sling procedure have significantly lower cumulative incidence of reoperation for recurrent SUI compared with women who were treated with a transobturator sling procedure. Retropubic slings were associated with a higher risk of sling revision for urinary retention.
Dermatomyositis Presenting as Vulvovaginitis
Authors: Dickison Shelby , Grither Whitney , Compton Leigh , Chibnall Rebecca , Jones Heather
Published: July 2019

BACKGROUND:

Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory myopathy that has an increased risk of malignancy, warranting aggressive health maintenance screenings. Dermatomyositis can rarely present with vulvovaginitis, thus clinical suspicion is important in early diagnosis.

CASE:

We present the case of a 31-year-old woman with a 10-year history of vulvovaginitis as her presenting symptom of dermatomyositis. On further investigation, she had a history of joint pain, muscle pain, fatigue, and leukopenia. On examination, she was found to have a rash and mucopurulent vulvovaginitis. Biopsies from the chest, axilla, and vulva were compatible with dermatomyositis. Evaluation for malignancy was negative, and her symptoms resolved with treatment of the dermatomyositis.

CONCLUSION:

Dermatomyositis is an inflammatory disease that can be associated with malignancy. This particular patient presented with vulvovaginitis. This case is important because the diagnosis was delayed. Early recognition is important to evaluate for malignancy.