bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deciphering the Diversities of Astroviruses and Noroviruses in Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluents by a High-Throughput Sequencing Method
Authors: Prevost B. , Lucas F. S. , Ambert-Balay K. , Pothier P. , Moulin L. , Wurtzer S.
Published: August 2015

Although clinical epidemiology lists human enteric viruses to be among the primary causes of acute gastroenteritis in the human population, their circulation in the environment remains poorly investigated. These viruses are excreted by the human population into sewers and may be released into rivers through the effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In order to evaluate the viral diversity and loads in WWTP effluents of the Paris, France, urban area, which includes about 9 million inhabitants (approximately 15% of the French population), the seasonal occurrence of astroviruses and noroviruses in 100 WWTP effluent samples was investigated over 1 year. The coupling of these measurements with a high-throughput sequencing approach allowed the specific estimation of the diversity of human astroviruses (human astrovirus genotype 1 [HAstV-1], HAstV-2, HAstV-5, and HAstV-6), 7 genotypes of noroviruses (NoVs) of genogroup I (NoV GI.1 to NoV GI.6 and NoV GI.8), and 16 genotypes of NoVs of genogroup II (NoV GII.1 to NoV GII.7, NoV GII.9, NoV GII.12 to NoV GII.17, NoV GII.20, and NoV GII.21) in effluent samples. Comparison of the viral diversity in WWTP effluents to the viral diversity found by analysis of clinical data obtained throughout France underlined the consistency between the identified genotypes. However, some genotypes were locally present in effluents and were not found in the analysis of the clinical data. These findings could highlight an underestimation of the diversity of enteric viruses circulating in the human population. Consequently, analysis of WWTP effluents could allow the exploration of viral diversity not only in environmental waters but also in a human population linked to a sewerage network in order to better comprehend viral epidemiology and to forecast seasonal outbreaks.
A Genomic View of Lactobacilli and Pediococci Demonstrates that Phylogeny Matches Ecology and Physiology
Authors: Zheng Jinshui , Ruan Lifang , Sun Ming , Gänzle Michael
Published: August 2015

Lactobacilli are used widely in food, feed, and health applications. The taxonomy of the genus
Lactobacillus
, however, is confounded by the apparent lack of physiological markers for phylogenetic groups of lactobacilli and the unclear relationships between the diverse phylogenetic groups. This study used the core and pan-genomes of 174 type strains of
Lactobacillus
and
Pediococcus
to establish phylogenetic relationships and to identify metabolic properties differentiating phylogenetic groups. The core genome phylogenetic tree separated homofermentative lactobacilli and pediococci from heterofermentative lactobacilli. Aldolase and phosphofructokinase were generally present in homofermentative but not in heterofermentative lactobacilli; a two-domain alcohol dehydrogenase and mannitol dehydrogenase were present in most heterofermentative lactobacilli but absent in most homofermentative organisms. Other genes were predominantly present in homofermentative lactobacilli (pyruvate formate lyase) or heterofermentative lactobacilli (lactaldehyde dehydrogenase and glycerol dehydratase). Cluster analysis of the phylogenomic tree and the average nucleotide identity grouped the genus
Lactobacillus sensu lato
into 24 phylogenetic groups, including pediococci, with stable intra- and intergroup relationships. Individual groups may be differentiated by characteristic metabolic properties. The link between phylogeny and physiology that is proposed in this study facilitates future studies on the ecology, physiology, and industrial applications of lactobacilli.
Efficient Production of Lumichrome by Microbacterium sp. Strain TPU 3598
Authors: Yamamoto Kazunori , Asano Yasuhisa
Published: August 2015

Lumichrome is a photodegradation product of riboflavin and is available as a photosensitizer and fluorescent dye. To develop new efficient methods of lumichrome production, we isolated bacterial strains with high lumichrome productivity from soil. The strain with highest productivity was identified as
Microbacterium
sp. strain TPU 3598. Since this strain inductively produced lumichrome when cultivated with riboflavin, we developed two different methods, a cultivation method and a resting cell method, for the production of large amounts of lumichrome using the strain. In the cultivation method, 2.4 g (9.9 mmol) of lumichrome was produced from 3.8 g (10.1 mmol) of riboflavin at the 500-ml scale (98% yield). The strain also produced 4.7 g (19.4 mmol) of lumichrome from 7.6 g (20.2 mmol) of riboflavin (96% yield) by addition of riboflavin during cultivation at the 500-ml scale. In the resting cell method, 20 g of cells (wet weight) in 100 ml of potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, produced 2.4 g of lumichrome from 3.8 g of riboflavin (98% yield). Since the lumichrome production by these methods was carried out in suspension, the resulting lumichrome was easily purified from the cultivation medium or reaction mixture by centrifugation and crystallization. Thus, the biochemical methods we describe here are a significant improvement in terms of simplicity and yield over the existing chemical, photolytic, and other biochemical methods of lumichrome production.
Circulation of Coxiella burnetii in a Naturally Infected Flock of Dairy Sheep: Shedding Dynamics, Environmental Contamination, and Genotype Diversity
Authors: Joulié A. , Laroucau K. , Bailly X. , Prigent M. , Gasqui P. , Lepetitcolin E. , Blanchard B. , Rousset E. , Sidi-Boumedine K. , Jourdain E.
Published: August 2015

Q fever is a worldwide zoonosis caused by
Coxiella burnetii
. Domestic ruminants are considered to be the main reservoir. Sheep, in particular, may frequently cause outbreaks in humans. Because within-flock circulation data are essential to implementing optimal management strategies, we performed a follow-up study of a naturally infected flock of dairy sheep. We aimed to (i) describe
C. burnetii
shedding dynamics by sampling vaginal mucus, feces, and milk, (ii) assess circulating strain diversity, and (iii) quantify barn environmental contamination. For 8 months, we sampled vaginal mucus and feces every 3 weeks from aborting and nonaborting ewes (
n
= 11 and
n
= 26, respectively); for lactating females, milk was obtained as well. We also sampled vaginal mucus from nine ewe lambs. Dust and air samples were collected every 3 and 6 weeks, respectively. All samples were screened using real-time PCR, and strongly positive samples were further analyzed using quantitative PCR. Vaginal and fecal samples with sufficient bacterial burdens were then genotyped by multiple-locus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) using 17 markers.
C. burnetii
burdens were higher in vaginal mucus and feces than in milk, and they peaked in the first 3 weeks postabortion or postpartum. Primiparous females and aborting females tended to shed
C. burnetii
longer and have higher bacterial burdens than nonaborting and multiparous females. Six genotype clusters were identified; they were independent of abortion status, and within-individual genotype diversity was observed.
C. burnetii
was also detected in air and dust samples. Further studies should determine whether the within-flock circulation dynamics observed here are generalizable.
Resistance of Aerosolized Bacterial Viruses to Relative Humidity and Temperature
Authors: Verreault Daniel , Marcoux-Voiselle Mélissa , Turgeon Nathalie , Moineau Sylvain , Duchaine Caroline
Published: August 2015

The use of aerosolized bacteriophages as surrogates for hazardous viruses might simplify and accelerate the discovery of links between viral components and their persistence in the airborne state under diverse environmental conditions. In this study, four structurally distinct lytic phages, MS2 (single-stranded RNA [ssRNA]), ϕ6 (double-stranded RNA [dsRNA]), ϕX174 (single-stranded DNA [ssDNA]), and PR772 (double-stranded DNA [dsDNA]), were nebulized into a rotating chamber and exposed to various levels of relative humidity (RH) and temperature as well as to germicidal UV radiation. The aerosolized viral particles were allowed to remain airborne for up to 14 h before being sampled for analysis by plaque assays and quantitative PCRs. Phages ϕ6 and MS2 were the most resistant at low levels of relative humidity, while ϕX174 was more resistant at 80% RH. Phage ϕ6 lost its infectivity immediately after exposure to 30°C and 80% RH. The infectivity of all tested phages rapidly declined as a function of the exposure time to UVC radiation, phage MS2 being the most resistant. Taken altogether, our data indicate that these aerosolized phages behave differently under various environmental conditions and highlight the necessity of carefully selecting viral simulants in bioaerosol studies.
Evasion of the Innate Immune Type I Interferon System by Monkeypox Virus
Authors: Arndt William D. , Cotsmire Samantha , Trainor Kelly , Harrington Heather , Hauns Kevin , Kibler Karen V. , Huynh Trung P. , Jacobs Bertram L.
Published: August 2015

The vaccinia virus (VACV) E3 protein has been shown to be important for blocking activation of the cellular innate immune system and allowing viral replication to occur unhindered. Mutation or deletion of E3L severely affects viral host range and pathogenesis. While the monkeypox virus (MPXV) genome encodes a homologue of the VACV E3 protein, encoded by the F3L gene, the MPXV gene is predicted to encode a protein with a truncation of 37 N-terminal amino acids. VACV with a genome encoding a similarly truncated E3L protein (VACV-E3LΔ37N) has been shown to be attenuated in mouse models, and infection with VACV-E3LΔ37N has been shown to lead to activation of the host antiviral protein kinase R pathway. In this report, we present data demonstrating that, despite containing a truncated E3 homologue, MPXV phenotypically resembles a wild-type (wt) VACV rather than VACV-E3LΔ37N. Thus, MPXV appears to contain a gene or genes that can suppress the phenotypes associated with an N-terminal truncation in E3. The suppression maps to sequences outside F3L, suggesting that the suppression is extragenic in nature. Thus, MPXV appears to have evolved mechanisms to minimize the effects of partial inactivation of its E3 homologue.

IMPORTANCE
Poxviruses have evolved to have many mechanisms to evade host antiviral innate immunity; these mechanisms may allow these viruses to cause disease. Within the family of poxviruses, variola virus (which causes smallpox) is the most pathogenic, while monkeypox virus is intermediate in pathogenicity between vaccinia virus and variola virus. Understanding the mechanisms of monkeypox virus innate immune evasion will help us to understand the evolution of poxvirus innate immune evasion capabilities, providing a better understanding of how poxviruses cause disease.
Murine Antibody Responses to Cleaved Soluble HIV-1 Envelope Trimers Are Highly Restricted in Specificity
Authors: Hu Joyce K. , Crampton Jordan C. , Cupo Albert , Ketas Thomas , van Gils Marit J. , Sliepen Kwinten , de Taeye Steven W. , Sok Devin , Ozorowski Gabriel , Deresa Isaiah , Stanfield Robyn , Ward Andrew B. , Burton Dennis R. , Klasse Per Johan , Sanders Rogier W. , Moore John P. , Crotty Shane
Published: August 2015

Generating neutralizing antibodies (nAbs) is a major goal of many current HIV-1 vaccine efforts. To be of practical value, these nAbs must be both potent and cross-reactive in order to be capable of preventing the transmission of the highly diverse and generally neutralization resistant (Tier-2) HIV-1 strains that are in circulation. The HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein (Env) spike is the only target for nAbs. To explore whether Tier-2 nAbs can be induced by Env proteins, we immunized conventional mice with soluble BG505 SOSIP.664 trimers that mimic the native Env spike. Here, we report that it is extremely difficult for murine B cells to recognize the Env epitopes necessary for inducing Tier-2 nAbs. Thus, while trimer-immunized mice raised Env-binding IgG Abs and had high-quality T follicular helper (Tfh) cell and germinal center (GC) responses, they did not make BG505.T332N nAbs. Epitope mapping studies showed that Ab responses in mice were specific to areas near the base of the soluble trimer. These areas are not well shielded by glycans and likely are occluded on virions, which is consistent with the lack of BG505.T332N nAbs. These data inform immunogen design and suggest that it is useful to obscure nonneutralizing epitopes presented on the base of soluble Env trimers and that the glycan shield of well-formed HIV Env trimers is virtually impenetrable for murine B cell receptors (BCRs).

IMPORTANCEHuman HIV vaccine efficacy trials have not generated meaningful neutralizing antibodies to circulating HIV strains. One possible hindrance has been the lack of immunogens that properly mimic the native conformation of the HIV envelope trimer protein. Here, we tested the first generation of soluble, native-like envelope trimer immunogens in a conventional mouse model. We attempted to generate neutralizing antibodies to neutralization-resistant circulating HIV strains. Various vaccine strategies failed to induce neutralizing antibodies to a neutralization-resistant HIV strain. Further analysis revealed that mouse antibodies targeted areas near the bottom of the soluble envelope trimers. These areas are not easily accessible on the HIV virion due to occlusion by the viral membrane and may have resulted from an absence of glycan shielding. Our results suggest that obscuring the bottom of soluble envelope trimers is a useful strategy to reduce antibody responses to epitopes that are not useful for virus neutralization.
A qualitative cancer screening study with childhood sexual abuse survivors: experiences, perspectives and compassionate care
Authors: Gesink Dionne , Nattel Lilian
Published: August 2015

Objective

The childhood sexual abuse (CSA) survivor population is substantial and survivors have been identified as part of the population who were under-screened or never-screened for breast, cervical and colon cancer. Our objective was to learn CSA survivor perspectives on, and experiences with, breast, cervical and colon cancer screening with the intention of generating recommendations to help healthcare providers improve cancer screening participation.

Design

A pragmatic constructivist qualitative study involving individual, semistructured, in-depth interviews was conducted in January 2014. Thematic analysis was used to describe CSA survivor perspectives on cancer screening and identify potential facilitators for screening.

Participants

A diverse purposive sample of adult female CSA survivors was recruited. The inclusion criteria were: being a CSA survivor, being in a stable living situation, where stable meant able to meet one's financial needs independently, able to maintain supportive relationships, having participated in therapy to recover from past abuse, and living in a safe environment. 12 survivors were interviewed whose ages ranged from the early 40s to mid-70s. Descriptive saturation was reached after 10 interviews.

Setting

Interviews were conducted over the phone or Internet. CSA survivors were primarily from urban and rural Ontario, but some resided elsewhere in Canada and the USA.

Results

The core concept that emerged was that compassionate care at every level of the healthcare experience could improve cancer screening participation. Main themes included: desire for holistic care; unique needs of patients with dissociative identity disorder; the patient-healthcare provider relationship; appointment interactions; the cancer screening environment; and provider assumptions about patients.

Conclusions

Compassionate care can be delivered by: building a relationship; practising respect; focusing attention on the patient; not rushing the appointment; keeping the environment positive and comfortable; maintaining patient dignity; sharing control whenever possible; explaining procedures; and using laughter to reduce power imbalance through shared humanity.
Monotherapy versus dual therapy for the initial treatment of hypertension (PATHWAY-1): a randomised double-blind controlled trial
Authors: MacDonald Thomas M , Williams Bryan , Caulfield Mark , Cruickshank J Kennedy , McInnes Gordon , Sever Peter , Webb David J , Mackenzie Isla S , Salsbury Jackie , Morant Steve , Ford Ian , Brown Morris J
Published: August 2015

Introduction

Previous studies have suggested that more intensive initial therapy for hypertension results in better long-term blood pressure (BP) control. We test this hypothesis comparing initial monotherapy with dual therapy in the management of essential hypertension.

Methods and analysis

The study is a prospective, multicentre, double-blind, active-controlled trial in patients with essential hypertension. Around 50% of patients studied will be newly diagnosed and the others will be known hypertensives who previously received only monotherapy. The trial is divided into three phases as follows: Phase 1 (Week 0–Week 16): Randomised, parallel-group, masked assignation to either combination or monotherapy. Phase 2 (Week 17–Week 32): Open-label combination therapy. Phase 3 (Week 33–Week 52): Open-label combination therapy plus open-label add-on (if BP is above 140/90 mm Hg). Hierarchical primary end points are: a comparison of home BP (home systolic blood pressure (HSBP)) averaged over the duration of phase 1 and 2 in the combination versus monotherapy arms. If combination is superior in this analysis, then the averaged mean HSBP between initial monotherapy and initial combination therapy at the end of phase 2 will be compared. Secondary end points include: BP control at 1 year; the role of age, baseline renin, sodium status, plasma volume, haemodynamic compensation and peripheral resistance on BP control; validation of the National Institute for Clinical Excellence/British Hypertension Society joint guideline algorithm; safety and tolerability of combination therapy; and the impact of combination versus monotherapy on left ventricular mass and aortic pulse wave velocity. A sample size of 536 (268 in each group) will have 90% power to detect a difference in means of 4 mm Hg.

Ethics and dissemination

PATHWAY 1 was approved by UK ethics (REC Reference 09/H0308/132). Trial results will be published and all participating subjects will be informed of the results.

Trial registration number

UKCRN 4499 and EudraCT number 2008-007749-29 registered 27/08/2009.
Comparison of single and combination diuretics on glucose tolerance (PATHWAY-3): protocol for a randomised double-blind trial in patients with essential hypertension
Authors: Brown Morris J , Williams Bryan , MacDonald Thomas M , Caulfield Mark , Cruickshank J Kennedy , McInnes Gordon , Sever Peter , Webb David J , Salsbury Jackie , Morant Steve , Ford Ian
Published: August 2015

Introduction

Thiazide diuretics are associated with increased risk of diabetes mellitus. This risk may arise from K+-depletion. We hypothesised that a K+-sparing diuretic will improve glucose tolerance, and that combination of low-dose thiazide with K+-sparing diuretic will improve both blood pressure reduction and glucose tolerance, compared to a high-dose thiazide.

Methods and analysis

This is a parallel-group, randomised, double-blind, multicentre trial, comparing hydrochlorothiazide 25–50 mg, amiloride 10–20 mg and combination of both diuretics at half these doses. A single-blind placebo run-in of 1 month is followed by 24 weeks of blinded active treatment. There is forced dose-doubling after 3 months. ThePrimary end pointis the blood glucose 2 h after oral ingestion of a 75 g glucose drink (OGTT), following overnight fasting. The primary outcome is the difference between 2 h glucose at weeks 0, 12 and 24.Secondary outcomesinclude the changes in home systolic blood pressure (BP) and glycated haemoglobin and prediction of response by baseline plasma renin. Eligibility criteria are: age 18–79, systolic BP on permitted background treatment ≥140 mm Hg and home BP ≥130 mm Hg and one component of the metabolic syndrome additional to hypertension. Principal exclusions are diabetes, estimated-glomerular filtration rate <45 mL/min, abnormal plasma K+, clinic SBP >200 mm Hg or DBP >120 mm Hg (box 2). The sample size calculation indicates that 486 patients will give 80% power at α=0.01 to detect a difference in means of 1 mmol/L (SD=2.2) between 2 h glucose on hydrochlorothiazide and comparators.

Ethics and dissemination

PATHWAY-3 was approved by Cambridge South Ethics Committee, number 09/H035/19. The trial results will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Trial registration numbers

Eudract number 2009-010068-41 and clinical trials registration number:NCT02351973.
What are the most effective behaviour change techniques to promote physical activity and/or reduce sedentary behaviour in inactive adults? A systematic review protocol
Authors: Howlett Neil , Trivedi Daksha , Troop Nicholas A , Marie Chater Angel
Published: August 2015

Introduction

Large proportions of the population are not meeting recommended levels of physical activity and have increasingly sedentary lifestyles. Low levels of physical activity are predictive of poor health outcomes and time spent sedentary is related to a host of risk factors independently of physical activity levels. Building an evidence base of the best approaches to intervene in the lifestyles of inactive individuals is crucial in preventing long-term disease, disability and higher mortality rates.

Methods and analysis

Systematic searches will be conducted on all relevant databases (eg, PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO). Studies will be included if they assess interventions aimed at changing physical activity or sedentary behaviour levels in adults (over 18) who are inactive and do not suffer from chronic conditions. Studies must also be randomised controlled trials (RCTs), have a primary outcome of physical activity or sedentary behaviour, and measure outcomes at least 6 months after intervention completion. Studies will be coded using the Behaviour Change Technique (BCT) taxonomy v1 and Template for Intervention Description and Replication (TIDieR) guidelines. 2 reviewers will independently screen full-text articles and extract data on study characteristics, participants, BCTs, intervention features and outcome measures. Study quality will also be assessed independently by 2 reviewers using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. A meta-analysis will be considered if there is sufficient homogeneity across outcomes. GRADE criteria will be used to assess quality of evidence.

Dissemination

This will be the first review to systematically appraise interventions aimed at changing the physical activity or sedentary behaviour of inactive individuals using RCT designs with a 6-month follow-up post-intervention. This review will better inform intervention designers targeting inactive populations and inform the design of a future complex intervention.

Review registration number

This protocol was registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) on 17 October 2014 (registration number: CRD42014014321).
Prevention And Treatment of Hypertension With Algorithm-based therapy (PATHWAY) number 2: protocol for a randomised crossover trial to determine optimal treatment for drug-resistant hypertension
Authors: Williams Bryan , MacDonald Thomas M , Caulfield Mark , Cruickshank J Kennedy , McInnes Gordon , Sever Peter , Webb David J , Salsbury Jackie , Morant Steve , Ford Ian , Brown Morris J
Published: August 2015

Introduction

Resistant hypertension is inadequately controlled blood pressure (BP) despite treatment with at least three BP-lowering drugs. A popular hypothesis is that resistant hypertension is due to excessive Na+-retention, and that ‘further diuretic therapy’ will be superior to alternative add-on drugs.

Methods and analysis

Placebo-controlled, random crossover study of fourth-line treatment when added to standard (A+C+D) triple drug therapy: ACE inhibitor or Angiotensin receptor blocker (A) +Calcium channel blocker (C)+Diuretic (D). Patients (aged 18–79 years) with clinical systolic BP≥140 mm Hg (135 mm Hg in diabetics) and Home BP Monitoring (HBPM) systolic BP average ≥130 mm Hg on treatment for at least 3 months with maximum tolerated doses of A+C+D are randomised to four consecutive randomly allocated 12-week treatment cycles with an α-blocker, β-blocker, spironolactone and placebo. The hierarchical coprimary end point is the difference in HBPM average systolic BP between (in order) spironolactone and placebo, spironolactone and the average of the other two active drugs, spironolactone and each of the other two drugs. A key secondary outcome is to determine whether plasma renin predicts the BP response to the different drugs. A sample size of 346 (allowing 15% dropouts) will confer 90% power to detect a 3 mm Hg HBPM average systolic BP difference between any two drugs. The study can also detect a 6 mm Hg difference in HBPM average systolic BP between each patient's best and second-best drug predicted by tertile of plasma renin.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was initiated in May 2009 and results are expected in 2015. These will provide RCT evidence to support future guideline recommendations for optimal drug treatment of resistant hypertension.

Trial registration number

Clinicaltrials.govNCT02369081, EUDract number: 2008-007149-30.
Top 10 ways to reconcile social media and ‘traditional’ education in emergency care
Authors: Roland Damian , Brazil Victoria
Published: August 2015

Social media has been viewed by some as a threat to traditional medical education. In emergency care, the underpinning educational principles of social media, while sometimes innovative in their delivery, are often no different than long-standing techniques and methods. This article aims to encourage discussion and debate that reduces the divide between these two communities of practice.
A longitudinal population-based analysis of relationship status and mortality in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa 2001–2011
Authors: Channon Melanie , Hosegood Victoria , McGrath Nuala
Published: August 2015

Background

Mortality risk is lower in married than in unmarried men and women. However, little is known about the association between mortality and relationship status in South Africa where marriage rates are low, migration is common, many couples are not co-resident and HIV prevalence is high.

Method

Using demographic surveillance data collected from 2001 to 2011, relationship status was categorised as conjugal (partners belong to the same household), non-conjugal (partners do not belong to the same household) or not partnered. Rates of relationship formation and dissolution were calculated by age and sex. Controlling for antiretroviral treatment (ART) introduction in 2005 as well as education, sex-specific and age-specific Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate the association between relationship status and (1) all-cause mortality and (2) non-AIDS mortality.

Results

Before 2005, individuals in conjugal relationships had a lower hazard of all-cause mortality in all age groups than not partnered men and women. Non-conjugal relationships lowered the risk of dying compared with not partnered men and women in fewer age groups. After ART introduction, the protective association of conjugal relationships was weaker but remained generally significant for men and women but not in non-conjugal relationships. In the later period, the association is reversed in young men (20–29 years) with mortality higher in conjugal and non-conjugal relationships compared with men not partnered. The analysis of non-AIDS deaths provided similar results.

Conclusions

The higher degree of social connections within a shared household environment that characterises conjugal relationships affords men and women greater protection against mortality.
Student loans and racial disparities in self-reported sleep duration: evidence from a nationally representative sample of US young adults
Authors: Walsemann Katrina M , Ailshire Jennifer A , Gee Gilbert C
Published: August 2015

Background

Student loans are the second largest source of personal debt in the USA and may represent an important source of financial strain for many young adults. Little attention has been paid to whether debt is associated with sleep duration, an important health-promoting behaviour. We determine if student loans are associated with sleep duration. Since black young adults are more likely to have student debt and sleep less, we also consider whether this association varies by race.

Methods

Data come from the US National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997. The main analytic sample includes 4714 respondents who were ever enrolled in college and who reported on sleep duration in 2010. Most respondents had completed their college education by 2010, when respondents were 25 to 31 years old. Multivariable linear regression models assessed the cross-sectional association between student loans accumulated over the course of college and sleep duration in 2010, as well as between student debt at age 25 and sleep duration in 2010.

Results

Black young adults with greater amounts of student loans or more student debt reported shorter sleep duration, controlling for occupation, hours worked, household income, parental net worth, marital status, number of children in the household and other sociodemographic and health indicators. There was no association between student loans or debt with sleep for white or latino adults and other racial/ethnic groups.

Conclusions

Student loans may contribute to racial inequities in sleep duration. Our findings also suggest that the student debt crisis may have important implications for individuals’ sleep, specifically and public health, more broadly.
Health challenges in Kazakhstan and Central Asia
Authors: Adambekov Shalkar , Kaiyrlykyzy Aiym , Igissinov Nurbek , Linkov Faina
Published: August 2015

The Central Asian region, which encompasses Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, is an interesting geographic region with a rich history dating back to the Silk Road, Mongol conquests and expansion of the Russian Empire. However, from a public health viewpoint, the Central Asian region is under-investigated, and many public health challenges exist, as countries of Central Asia inherited the centralised medical systems practiced in the Soviet Union, and are currently undergoing rapid transitions. A large number of low and middle-income countries around the world, including countries of Central Asia, face a double burden of chronic and infectious disease. This essay focuses on the exploration of the most important public health challenges in the Central Asian region, including limited scientific productivity, the double burden of chronic and infectious disease, the need for healthcare reform and the reduction in care variation. Central Asia has a large number of medical schools, medical centres, and emerging research institutes that can be used to foster a change in medical and public health practice in the region.
Pain as metaphor: metaphor and medicine
Authors: Neilson Shane
Published: August 2015

Like many other disciplines, medicine often resorts to metaphor in order to explain complicated concepts that are imperfectly understood. But what happens when medicine's metaphors close off thinking, restricting interpretations and opinions to those of the negative kind? This paper considers the deleterious effects of destructive metaphors that cluster around pain. First, the metaphoric basis of all knowledge is introduced. Next, a particular subset of medical metaphors in the domain of neurology (doors/keys/wires) are shown to encourage mechanistic thinking. Because schematics are often used in medical textbooks to simplify the complex, this paper traces the visual metaphors implied in such schematics. Mechanistic-metaphorical thinking results in the accumulation of vast amounts of data through experimentation, but this paper asks what the real value of the information is since patients can generally only expect modest benefits – or none at all – for relief from chronic pain conditions. Elucidation of mechanism through careful experimentation creates an illusion of vast medical knowledge that, to a significant degree, is metaphor-based. This paper argues that for pain outcomes to change, our metaphors must change first.
Clinical, morphological, and hemodynamic independent characteristic factors for rupture of posterior communicating artery aneurysms
Authors: Zhang Ying , Jing Linkai , Liu Jian , Li Chuanhui , Fan Jixing , Wang Shengzhang , Li Haiyun , Yang Xinjian
Published: August 2015

Objective

To identify clinical, morphological, and hemodynamic independent characteristic factors that discriminate posterior communicating artery (PCoA) aneurysm rupture status.

Methods

173 patients with single PCoA aneurysms (108 ruptured, 65 unruptured) between January 2012 and June 2014 were retrospectively collected. Patient-specific models based on their three-dimensional digital subtraction angiography images were constructed and analyzed by a computational fluid dynamic method. All variables were analyzed by univariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

Two clinical factors (younger age and atherosclerosis), three morphological factors (higher aspect ratio, bifurcation type, and irregular shape), and six hemodynamic factors (lower mean and minimum wall shear stress, higher oscillatory shear index, a greater portion of area under low wall shear stress, unstable and complex flow pattern) were significantly associated with PCoA aneurysm rupture. Independent factors characterizing the rupture status were identified as age (OR 0.956, p=0.015), irregular shape (OR 6.709, p<0.001), and minimum wall shear stress (OR 0.001, p=0.038).

Conclusions

We combined clinical, morphological, and hemodynamic characteristics analysis and found the three strongest independent factors for PCoA aneurysm rupture were younger age, irregular shape, and low minimum wall shear stress. This may be useful for guiding risk assessments and subsequent treatment decisions for PCoA aneurysms.
Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, MRI of the pancreas and serum nutritional markers in patients with coeliac disease
Authors: Vujasinovic Miroslav , Tepes Bojan , Volfand Jasna , Rudolf Sasa
Published: August 2015

Objectives

To determine whether exocrine pancreatic function is impaired in patients with coeliac disease (CD) in our population and to evaluate its clinical importance.

Methods

Pancreatic exocrine function was determined by measuring faecal elastase-1 (FE) concentration. CD was diagnosed by serological testing using IgA anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody (IgAtTg) and small bowel biopsy using the Marsh classification. MRI of the pancreas was performed to evaluate any morphological changes. The study took place from January 2012 to December 2013.

Results

90 patients (73 women and 17 men) of mean age 43.8±17.7 years (range 20–80) were included in the study. Mean time from CD confirmation was 5.8±0.7 years (range 1–25). Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) was diagnosed in four (4.4%) patients (one with mild EPI and three with severe EPI). MRI showed no morphological changes in any of the four patients. In all patients with EPI at least one serological nutritional marker was below the lower limit of normal.

Conclusions

EPI is present in a small number of patients with CD. EPI should be excluded in all patients with CD in the presence of overt malnutrition or in cases of persistent gastrointestinal symptoms despite a gluten-free diet. Measurement of a serum nutritional panel, regardless of the presence of clinical symptoms of EPI, can be of clinical importance. MRI should be performed to exclude any morphological change in the pancreas.
Examination of the musculoskeletal system: junior doctors’ perceptions of the usefulness of the Gait, Arms, Legs and Spine (GALS) technique
Authors: Patel Veena , Patel Prashanth , Jeffery Rachel , Taylor James , Thomas Hywel
Published: August 2015

Background

Musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions affect millions of people around the world. Gait, Arms, Legs and Spine (GALS) is a simple and useful screening tool for routine MSK examination in hospitals and general practice and has been integrated into the undergraduate medical curriculum. Despite this, there is evidence that doctors lack competency in MSK examination and that GALS are underperformed routinely.

Objectives

The study explored the views of junior doctors (JDs) on how they were taught MSK examination as undergraduates; the usefulness of GALS as a technique for excluding significant MSK problems; why MSK examination was often poorly carried out and how this could be improved.

Methods

A qualitative study was performed with data gathered through focus group interviews from 32 JDs working in two acute NHS hospitals. Six interviews were conducted over a 6-week period from mid-June to the end of July in consecutive years 2013 and 2014.

Results

Ninety JDs were invited to participate in the focus group interviews; 32 (36%) agreed to participate, 28 (88%) of whom had graduated in the UK. The perception of JDs was that undergraduate training for GALS and regional MSK examination was adequate, but reasons for lack of MSK competency in the workplace are multifactorial and complex.

Conclusions

Proposing more practical and interactive sessions to reinforce MSK skills during postgraduate training may not resolve issues of MSK competency among JDs. Recognition of the complexity of workplace learning and the influence of tacit learning is required if MSK competency is to be enhanced.
Underweight as a risk factor for respiratory death in the Whitehall cohort study: exploring reverse causality using a 45-year follow-up
Authors: Kivimäki Mika , Shipley Martin J , Bell Joshua A , Brunner Eric J , Batty G David , Singh-Manoux Archana
Published: August 2015

Underweight adults have higher rates of respiratory death than the normal weight but it is unclear whether this association is causal or reflects illness-induced weight loss (reverse causality). Evidence from a 45-year follow-up of underweight participants for respiratory mortality in the Whitehall study (N=18 823; 2139 respiratory deaths) suggests that excess risk among the underweight is attributable to reverse causality. The age-adjusted and smoking-adjusted risk was 1.55-fold (95% CI 1.32 to 1.83) higher among underweight compared with normal weight participants, but attenuated in a stepwise manner to 1.14 (95% CI 0.76 to 1.71) after serial exclusions of deaths during the first 5–35 years of follow-up (Ptrend<0.001).
Resveratrol ameliorates lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells, associated with down-regulation of lipin1 expression
Authors: Tang Li Ying , Chen Yi , Rui Bei Bei , Hu Cheng Mu
Published: August 2015

The pathogenesis of alcoholic fatty liver (AFL) disease is associated with the excessive accumulation of lipids in hepatocytes as well as oxidative stress. Resveratrol (RES), a dietary polyphenol found in red wine and grapes, has been shown to protect against AFL disease. However, the precise mechanisms that lead to this protective effect remain elusive. In this study, we used HepG2 cells to investigate the effects of RES on lipid metabolism and the mechanisms underlying these effects. HepG2 cells were cultured with oleic acid and alcohol for 48 h to induce excessive lipid accumulation. Oil red O staining showed that administration of oleic acid and alcohol induced more lipid accumulation than was observed in the control group, and that RES (15, 45, or 135 μmol/L) treatment reduced intracellular lipid droplets. RES treatment also significantly attenuated hepatic steatosis and lowered levels of intracellular triglycerides (TG). Western blot analysis showed that RES enhanced the phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and down-regulated the expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) and lipin1. However, compound C, an AMPK inhibitor, reversed these effects of RES. In conclusion, RES reduced lipid accumulation and protected HepG2 cells. This effect may be associated with the down-regulation of SREBP-1c and lipin1 expression, increased levels of phosphorylated AMPK and ACC, and the activation of AMPK–lipin1 signaling.
EMITS: An Experience Management System for IT Management Support
Authors: Bozdogan Can , Zincir-Heywood A. Nur , Zincir Ibrahim
Published: August 2015

This research focuses on the identification of relevant experience required for solving IT (Information Technology) problems in small- to medium-sized enterprises. To achieve this, we integrated information retrieval techniques with clustering and optimization techniques to design and develop a custom-built Experience Management system for IT management support. We have built and evaluated our system on three different publicly available data sets: Princeton, Parallels and GoDaddy. Results support that it is possible to provide the right mix of automation and manual activity for IT experience management while achieving a high accuracy.
Analysis of Z-scan measurement for large thermal nonlinear refraction in gold nanoparticle colloid
Authors: Sarkhosh Leila , Mansour Nastaran
Published: August 2015

In this work, based on nonlocal heat effect and Fresnel diffraction theory, the characteristics of closed Z-scan in materials with a large nonlinear phase shift have been studied and a formula for Z-scan transmittance is derived. Numerical computations show that the shapes of Z-scan curves are greatly affected by the values of thermal nonlinear phase shift. The Z-scan behavior is compared to the conventional thermal Z-scan theories, including the thermal thin lens and aberrant thermal lens model. We have used the Z-scan models to determine the nonlinear refraction of gold nanoparticle (AuNP) dispersed in cyclohexanone under irradiation of a low power CW laser at 532 nm. The Z-scan theory based on the conventional models does not fit the experimental data well. It is found that peak-to-valley features of the AuNPs colloid Z-scan curve behave the same as the derived Z-scan theory for large thermal nonlinear phase shift. This allows us to measure nonlinear refractive index up to -1.0 × 10-6 cm2/W in the tested samples. The optical limiting performance of the colloidal AuNPs is also investigated for device application. The results show that the optical limiting threshold of the AuNPs can be improved by making an appropriate choice of design geometry and increasing the AuNPs concentration of the colloids.
Degenerate parametric amplification of squeezed photons: Explicit solutions, statistics, means and variances
Authors: Acosta-Humánez P. B. , Kryuchkov S. I. , Suazo E. , Suslov S. K.
Published: August 2015

In the Schrödinger picture, we find explicit solutions for two models of degenerate parametric oscillators in the case of multi-parameter squeezed input photons. The corresponding photon statistics and Wigner's function are also derived in coordinate representation. Their time evolution is investigated in detail. The unitary transformation and an extension of the squeeze/evolution operator are briefly discussed.
Four-wave mixing signal intensity: Relaxation time effects on the absorptive and dispersive optical properties in a two-level system
Authors: Paz J. L. , Rodríguez Luis G. , Costa-Vera Cesar
Published: August 2015

A study of the effects of relaxation times on the Four-Wave Mixing (FWM) signal response in frequency space for a two-level system is presented where the collisional effects of the solvent and the presence of the electromagnetic field are considered. The model is a generalization of the conventional two-level approach in that it includes a simplified description of the molecular structure associated with the non-zero permanent dipole moments. Significant changes in both the FWM-intensity and nonlinear optical properties are observed, due mainly to changes in the ratio between the longitudinal and transversal relaxation times.
Multi-peak gap solitons in PT-symmetric optical lattice in the form of superlattice and dual superlattice
Authors: Li Zhen , Shi Shuang , Ren Xiao-Ping , Wang Hong
Published: August 2015

We report the existence and stability of multi-peak gap solitons in PT-symmetric optical lattice with the real part of the refractive index in the form of superlattice and the imaginary part having two different profiles; one with odd periodic lattice and the second with odd superlattice supported by a defocusing nonlinearity. Linear-stability spectra analysis and simulation results show that they can be stable in the scope of the first gap. The profile of the multi-peak solitons and the power-flow vector is found to be different from those of one cycle lattice.
Intelligent Ensemble Forecasting System of Stock Market Fluctuations Based on Symetric and Asymetric Wavelet Functions
Authors: Lahmiri Salim , Boukadoum Mounir
Published: August 2015

We present a new ensemble system for stock market returns prediction where continuous wavelet transform (CWT) is used to analyze return series and backpropagation neural networks (BPNNs) for processing CWT-based coefficients, determining the optimal ensemble weights, and providing final forecasts. Particle swarm optimization (PSO) is used for finding optimal weights and biases for each BPNN. To capture symmetry/asymmetry in the underlying data, three wavelet functions with different shapes are adopted. The proposed ensemble system was tested on three Asian stock markets: The Hang Seng, KOSPI, and Taiwan stock market data. Three statistical metrics were used to evaluate the forecasting accuracy; including, mean of absolute errors (MAE), root mean of squared errors (RMSE), and mean of absolute deviations (MADs). Experimental results showed that our proposed ensemble system outperformed the individual CWT-ANN models each with different wavelet function. In addition, the proposed ensemble system outperformed the conventional autoregressive moving average process. As a result, the proposed ensemble system is suitable to capture symmetry/asymmetry in financial data fluctuations for better prediction accuracy.
3D characterization of fracture systems using Terrestrial Laser Scanning: an example from the Lewisian basement of NW Scotland
Authors: Pless J. C. , McCaffrey K. J. W. , Jones R. R. , Holdsworth R. E. , Conway A. , Krabbendam M.
Published: August 2015

Fractured gneiss lithologies form a basement-cored high, the Rona Ridge in the Faroe–Shetland Basin. Basement structures are known to play an important role in the petroleum system for the overlying giant Clair Field. An onshore analogue exposure in the Lewisian Gneiss Complex at Kinlochbervie in NW Scotland provides an example of a hanging-wall damage zone of a large basement-hosted normal fault. In this study, we used remote sensing (2D), outcrop line sample methods (1D) and a virtual outcrop created by terrestrial laser scanning methods (3D) to characterize spatial variations of the fracture systems. Spacing distributions from 1D line samples collected from exposures and pseudo-wells constructed through the virtual outcrop show power-law distributions. The virtual outcrop data enable us to extend the scale-invariant description from 1 to 3 orders of magnitude. We developed a novel box-counting workflow to provide an assessment of 2- and 3D variations in the fracture properties. Fracture density and fractal dimension are elevated whereas the number of intersections is decreased within a 220 m-wide volume adjacent to the fault. We discuss how the methods and results from this study can aid the development of analogue for basement reservoirs in the offshore UK continental shelf.