bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novel regulatory systems for acetylcholine release in rat striatum and anti‐Alzheimer's disease drugs
Authors: Muramatsu Ikunobu , Uwada Junsuke , Yoshiki Hatsumi , Sada Kiyonao , Lee Kung‐Shing , Yazawa Takashi , Taniguchi Takanobu , Nishio Matomo , Ishibashi Takaharu , Masuoka Takayoshi
Published: April 2019

Regulation of neurotransmitter release in the central nervous system is complex. Here, we investigated regulatory mechanisms for acetylcholine (ACh) release from cholinergic neurons by performing superfusion experiments with rat striatal segments after labelling the cellular ACh pool with [3H]choline. Electrical stimulation‐evoked pronounced [3H]ACh release from cholinergic neurons. The estimated quantity of [3H]ACh release per pulse of electrical stimulation was reduced by an increase in stimulus frequency, showing an inverse correlation between release probability of ACh and neuronal excitation. ACh release was also negatively regulated by pre‐synaptic muscarinic ACh receptors (mAChRs). The autoinhibition induced by released ACh was predominantly suppressed by the M2‐selective antagonist AF‐DX 116, partially inhibited by M3‐selective darifenacin, and minimally by M4‐selective PD 102807. Other subtype‐selective antagonists had no effect at subtype‐selective concentrations. ACh esterase (AChE) inhibitors (diisopropylfluorophosphate, donepezil and galantamine) at concentrations that mostly inhibit esterase activity reduced [3H]ACh release, and the reduction was abolished by treatment with atropine. This implies that pre‐synaptic autoreceptors are activated more after blockade of ACh hydrolysis, leading to autoinhibition of ACh release and consequent reduction in synaptic ACh concentrations. [3H]efflux was also enhanced by ACh uptake inhibitors (100 μM hemicholinium‐3 and physostigmine), regardless of ACh hydrolysis. This study shows that synaptic ACh concentrations in striatal cholinergic neurons are regulated in a complex manner by many factors such as release probability, pre‐synaptic M2/M3/M4 mAChRs, AChE and post‐synaptic ACh uptake, and provides important information about cholinergic neurotransmission for future exploration of therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer's and other central nervous system diseases.

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The Nexus between Contract Duration and the Use of Formal and Informal Incentive Pay
Authors: Demougin Dominique , Fabel Oliver
Published: April 2019

We investigate a firm's choice of formal and informal effort incentives in a repeated game setting with undistorted signaling and liquidity‐constrained agents. The model allows for a simple geometric representation of credibility and incentive‐feasibility effects on optimal contract design. If credibility constitutes a binding constraint, explicit, i.e. enforceable, performance pay and discretionary salary promises are unambiguous substitutes and higher employee performance is associated with lower‐powered bonus pay. Using personnel data from an insurance company, we show that the model's predictions regarding the mediating role of expected contract duration on these relationships are consistent with remuneration practices.
Prescription of statins in suspected non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and high cardiovascular risk, a population‐based study
Authors: van den Berg Eline H. , Wolters Alba A. B. , Dullaart Robin P. F. , Moshage Han , Zurakowski David , de Meijer Vincent E. , Blokzijl Hans
Published: April 2019

Background & Aims

The prevalence of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is increasing, with concomitant high incidence of lipoprotein abnormalities. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the main cause of death in subjects with NAFLD and management of dyslipidaemia is pivotal for prevention. We aimed to determine cardiovascular risk and indication for statin therapy in subjects with NAFLD.

Methods

A cross‐sectional analysis of the population‐based Lifelines Cohort Study of 34 240 adult individuals. Subjects with reported use of lipid‐lowering drugs were excluded. Suspected NAFLD was defined as Fatty Liver Index (FLI) ≥60 and advanced hepatic fibrosis as NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) >0.676. Cardiovascular risk and indication for statin therapy were defined according to the European Society of Cardiology and European Atherosclerosis Society Guideline for the Management of Dyslipidaemias.

Results

FLI ≥ 60 was present in 7067 (20.6%) participants and coincided with increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, CVD and impaired renal function (all P < 0.001). 10‐year predicted cardiovascular risk was significantly increased in subjects with elevated FLI and NFS (both P < 0.001). Indication for statin use was significantly increased in subjects with FLI ≥ 60 (31.0% vs 15.6%, P < 0.001) and NFS > 0.676 (73.2% vs 30.6%, P < 0.001). In multivariable analyses, FLI ≥ 60 (OR 1.26, 95%CI: 1.13‐1.41, P < 0.001) and NFS > 0.676 (OR 5.03, 95%CI: 2.76‐9.17, P < 0.001) were independent predictors for indication regarding statin therapy.

Conclusions

Because of increased cardiovascular risk, substantial proportions of subjects with suspected NAFLD and/or fibrosis have an indication for lipid‐lowering treatment and could benefit from statin therapy.
Experimental Investigation of Water Quality and Inorganic Solids in Malaysian Urban Lake, Taman Tasik Medan Idaman
Authors: Hossain Nazia , Mahmud Labiba
Published: April 2019

Water scarcity is a persistent crisis during dry weather periods in the Gombak area, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Drinking and household water supply in Gombak is usually based on groundwater sources, with the lack of rainfall in key catchment areas during the dry period causing groundwater levels to decline, temporarily resulting in inability of the water pumping system to supply water. To address this issue, the present study investigated an alternative surface water supply source, namely Tasik Taman Idaman Lake. The study objective was to analyse the physicochemical characteristics of the lake water and determine the water standard for potability. A range of water quality parameters were measured in the present study, many being outside the desired levels, based on the standard “Class I” according to Malaysian EQA (Environmental Quality Act 2009). Of these parameters, only pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were within drinkable level, while the other parameters would have to undergo purification processes to attain the standard “Class I” status.
Geophysical investigation of the Colônia structure, Brazil
Authors: Prado Renato L. , Espin Fenoll Isabel C. , Ullah Irfan , Miura Gianna C. Maciel , Crósta Alvaro P. , Zanon dos Santos Roberto P. , Reimold Wolf Uwe , Elis Vagner R. , Imbernon Erico , Riccomini Claudio , Diogo Liliana Alcazar
Published: April 2019

The origin of the nearly circular Colônia structure, located at the southwestern edge of the city of São Paulo, Brazil, has been the subject of a long‐standing debate, ever since the 1960s when the structure was first investigated by geophysical methods. The structure still raises interest for geological research, as its sedimentary infill holds important paleoclimatic information about the evolution of the tropical rainforest, as well as the interplay between the South American summer monsoon, the Intertropical Convergence Zone, and the southern Westerly wind belt—for possibly as long as several million years. In addition, the search for evidence to conclusively establish the origin of this structure continues, and the answer most likely lies in the lower portions of the basin's sedimentary infill, which also holds a significant potential for underground water resources. Here, we present the results from recent seismic (reflection and HVSR), gravimetric, and geoelectrical surveys. They have provided a reliable image of the sedimentary infill, and the maximum depth to basement within the structure has been constrained consistently by the different methods to approximately −400 m. The geophysical data have also allowed to map the lateral contact between the crystalline basement rocks and the sedimentary infill, which indicates a diameter of approximately 2.8 km for the sedimentary basin, with 3.6 km being the diameter of the outermost limit of the structure. A total of six seismic stratigraphic boundaries were identified within the sedimentary infill, providing a framework for the planning of a deep drilling campaign and subsequent sampling program aimed at geological and paleoclimatology studies.
Thrifting for More: Savings and Aspirations in Health Care Sharing Ministries after the Affordable Care Act
Authors: Schwarz Carolyn
Published: April 2019

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 includes health care sharing ministries (HCSMs) on the list of religious exemptions to the individual mandate. HCSMs are non‐profit, faith‐based organizations that share in the cost of medical bills but are not actually insurance. Precisely because HCSMs are not beholden to any of the ACA's insurance reforms, they have the advantage of costing less. Based primarily on in‐depth interviews, I argue that thrift is the preeminent moral discourse that anchors the HCSM world. For members, thrift in health care is understood as a moral good and as a practice that offers possibilities for benefiting connected others and generating life fulfillment, or what Taylor refers to as “fullness.” I suggest that a focus on thrift raises questions about how Americans make determinations about worth in health care and how they construct health care–seeking as deeply attached to their visions of how they want life to be.
Assessing body dissatisfaction in Japanese women during the second trimester of pregnancy using a new figure rating scale
Authors: Tsuchiya Sayaka , Yasui Madoka , Ohashi Kazutomo
Published: April 2019

During pregnancy, women re‐evaluate their body image based on their increasing body weight. They are usually concerned about their body size, which leads to body dissatisfaction. In this study, we investigated body dissatisfaction among Japanese women during the second trimester, when they are recommended to gain adequate weight. A cross‐sectional survey of body dissatisfaction among pregnant women was conducted using a new figure rating scale corresponding to body mass index with real‐life photographs of women in their sixth month of gestation. Pregnant Japanese women expressed body dissatisfaction and preferred to be thinner by 1.6 kg/m2 of their body mass index. They perceived their body size as larger than their real size, and those with a higher body mass index had more body dissatisfaction, although they were of normal weight or underweight. The results indicated that the new figure rating scale could be a useful tool to identify pregnant women with higher body dissatisfaction during the second trimester, providing an opportunity to discuss adequate gestational weight gain with pregnant women.
Economic burden of cutaneous infections in children and adults with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Sandhu Jeena K. , Salame Nicole , Ehsani‐Chimeh Nazanin , Armstrong April W.
Published: April 2019

Background/Objectives

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, inflammatory disease affecting both children and adults. AD is associated with multiple comorbidities and complications. In particular, AD patients are susceptible to developing cutaneous infections. Studies show that comorbidities have contributed significantly to increased health care utilization and costs in AD. However, evidence regarding the degree to which this increased health care utilization and expenditure in AD is attributable to cutaneous infections is lacking. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of skin infections on health care utilization and expenditures among patients with atopic dermatitis.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study examined health care utilization and expenditures for AD patients of all ages with and without skin infections in the United States using the nationally representative 1996‐2015 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) data.

Results

In this study, a total of 4 825 668 (weighted) patients had a diagnosis of AD (mean age 5.7). Of these, 776 753 patients (16%) experienced skin infections (mean age 4.4). Compared to AD patients without skin infections, those with skin infections had more frequent visits to ambulatory clinics (P = 0.001) and the emergency department (P = 0.011), and increased hospitalization (P = 0.010), after adjustments for demographic and clinical factors. AD patients with skin infections were also given 3.3 more prescriptions (P < 0.0001). AD patients with skin infections incurred significantly greater health care costs, which included an additional $351/patient/year for ambulatory visits (P < 0.0001) and an additional $177/patient/year for prescription medications (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Atopic dermatitis patients with cutaneous infections incurred significantly greater health care utilization and expenditures than those without cutaneous infections.
Asthma care coordination in schools by school nurses: An integrative literature review
Authors: Isik Elif , Isik Ismet S.
Published: April 2019

Objective

The purpose of this integrative literature review is to document and synthesize the available evidence on school nurse asthma care coordination challenges and explain the components of asthma care coordination/case management at schools.

Design

The Whittemore and Knafl guidelines were followed for this integrative literature review.

Sample

Twelve diverse primary sources—one qualitative study, eight quantitative studies, and three mixed‐method studies—were used for the review.

Measurements

Data were analyzed using the matrix method.

Results

A total of 12 papers met the inclusion criteria. The initial group categorization was based on variables, patterns, and conceptual classification. Results were divided into two categorizations of asthma care coordination program components and asthma care coordination challenges at schools; subthemes were identified under the categorizations.

Conclusions

The results showed that care coordination was key for students with chronic diseases including asthma. Asthma care coordination has many challenges, but school nurses can drive effective asthma care by including the essential components of care coordination. Successful asthma care coordination may prevent health care fragmentation, emergency room visits, hospitalization, and school absenteeism, and can increase asthma knowledge and the quality of life for students and parents.
Unexplained inflammation in end‐stage kidney disease: Is the combination of enhanced gastrointestinal permeability and reticuloendothelial dysfunction its cause?
Authors: Swift Oscar , Vilar Enric , Farrington Ken
Published: April 2019

Unexplained chronic inflammation is prevalent in end‐stage kidney disease, and contributes toward accelerated cardiovascular disease, and premature death. The source of inflammation is unclear, although increased gastrointestinal permeability is a likely contributory factor. Whether a “leaky” gut leads to penetration of the systemic circulation by gut‐derived pathogens is at least partly dependent on Kupffer cell function. These resident liver macrophages are an important part of the reticuloendothelial system (RES), and there is evidence for Kupffer cell and reticuloendothelial dysfunction in chronic kidney disease. These observations are compatible with the inflammatory milieu of chronic kidney disease being of gut origin. Measuring gut permeability in chronic kidney disease is challenging. Use of fecal biomarkers and other novel serum biomarkers represent potential alternative tools. One such marker is (1‐3)‐Beta‐D‐glucan, a polysaccharide constituent of many fungal, bacterial, and plant cell walls; levels of (1‐3)‐Beta‐D‐glucan are elevated in hemodialysis patients. Gastrointestinal permeability and impaired removal by the RES may contribute to these high levels, suggesting potential importance as a biomarker. High levels of (1‐3)‐Beta‐D‐glucan also falsely elevate endotoxin measurements. Measuring the contribution of gastrointestinal permeability and RES dysfunction to systemic inflammation may be an important step in designing therapies to reduce systemic inflammation in chronic kidney disease.
Short‐term cycling restores endothelial dysfunction after resistance exercise
Authors: Morishima Takuma , Iemitsu Motoyuki , Ochi Eisuke
Published: April 2019

Resistance exercise impairs endothelial function. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to devise an effective strategy for restoring endothelial function after resistance exercise. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that resistance exercise‐induced endothelial dysfunction would be restored by low‐to‐moderate intensity cycling. Seventeen young healthy subjects completed two randomized experimental trials: (a) resistance exercise only trial; and (b) cycling after the resistance exercise trial. Following baseline brachial artery flow‐mediated dilation (FMD), subjects performed the resistance exercise. Following the resistance exercise, they were asked to rest in the supine position for the assessments of FMD. Subjects in the resistance exercise only trial maintained this supine position for 60 minutes, whereas those in the other trial cycled for 10 minutes after the resistance exercise trial. Subjects were again asked to rest in the supine position after cycling. Then FMD were repeated at 30 and 60 minutes after the resistance exercise in both trials. In the resistance exercise only trial, the increased blood flow and shear rate were disappeared after 1 hour of resting in the supine position, but were maintained in those in the cycling after the resistance trial due to subsequent cycling. Both trials caused a significant impairment in FMD at 10 minutes after the resistance exercise (P < 0.05). This decline was sustained for 60 minutes in the resistance exercise only trial. However, the impaired FMD was restored in the cycling after the resistance exercise trial. In conclusion, impaired endothelial function after the resistance exercise can be restored with 10 minutes of low‐to‐moderate intensity cycling.
Thermal annealing characteristics of fission tracks in natural zircons of different ages
Authors: Tagami Takahiro , Matsu'ura Shunsuke
Published: April 2019

Fission track (FT) thermochronometry using zircon has widely been applied to the resolution of a variety of geologic problems, for which the understanding of FT annealing behaviour is essential. Thermal annealing experiments were conducted on FTs in natural zircons having different ages (ranging from ~0.6 to ~70 Ma) and radiation damage levels. We measured horizontal confined track lengths on nine zircon concentrates separated from rapidly cooled volcanic rocks, after 1 hr annealing at 400–700°C. As the annealing temperature increases, the observed tracks show a consistent and systematic length reduction in all samples, and the mean track lengths are hardly distinguishable among the nine samples for the same annealing step. Our results suggest that the thermal annealing characteristics at laboratory time‐scale are concordant among the zircons, regardless of their ages, and that identical annealing kinetics may work for Late Mesozoic to Cenozoic zircons.
Anti‐HBc screening – is it worth the effort? Results of a 10‐year surveillance programme covering more than 30 million donations in Germany
Authors: Houareau Claudia , Offergeld Ruth
Published: April 2019

Background and Objectives

Antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti‐HBc) testing were added to hepatitis surface antigen (HBsAg) screening in Germany in 2006 to prevent hepatitis B virus (HBV) transmissions by chronically infected donors. We report the results of a national surveillance of anti‐HBc‐reactive and HBsAg‐negative donations and assess the resulting gain in blood safety and the donor loss.

Materials and Methods

Donations were tested for anti‐HBc, and if reactive, by sensitive individual donation nucleic acid testing (ID‐NAT) and for antibodies to HBsAg (anti‐HBs). Data from the national anti‐HBc surveillance from 2006 to 2015 determined the proportion of anti‐HBc‐reactive donations stratified for donor type, sex, anti‐HBs concentration and NAT‐positivity. Donor loss due to anti‐HBc‐reactive results was quantified.

Results

Of 31 562 556 donations screened, 70 671 were anti‐HBc reactive but HBsAg negative (0.22%). The proportion of repeat donors with these test results decreased significantly from 0.25% in 2007 to 0.08% in 2015. In the entire study period, 82 HBV‐NAT‐positive donations were identified. Of these, 47 donations were only identified by ID‐NAT. A total of 54 203 anti‐HBc‐reactive units were discarded either due to possible infectiousness (NAT positive or anti‐HBs concentration <100 IU/l) or because no further testing was performed.

Conclusion

Anti‐HBc screening has improved blood safety in Germany. HBV‐NAT‐positive donations were identified after ID‐NAT was triggered by the initial reactive anti‐HBc result. The observed loss of donations was sustainable for maintaining an adequate blood supply in Germany.
Cold storage of porcine hepatocyte spheroids for spheroid bioartificial liver
Authors: Li Yi , Chen Harvey S. , Shaheen Mohammed , Joo Dong Jin , Amiot Bruce P. , Rinaldo Piero , Nyberg Scott L.
Published: April 2019

Background and aims

Cell‐based therapies for liver disease such as bioartificial liver rely on a large quantity and high quality of hepatocytes. Cold storage was previously shown to be a better way to preserve the viability and functionality of hepatocytes during transportation rather than freezing, but this was only proved at a lower density of rat hepatocytes spheroids. The purpose of this study was to optimize conditions for cold storage of high density of primary porcine hepatocyte spheroids.

Methods

Porcine hepatocytes were isolated by a three‐step perfusion method; hepatocyte spheroids were formed by a 24 hours rocked culture technique. Hepatocyte cell density was 5 × 106/mL in 1000 mL spheroid forming medium. Spheroids were then maintained in rocked culture at 37°C (control condition) or cold stored at 4°C for 24, 48 or 72 hours in four different cold storage solutions: histidine‐tryptophan‐ketoglutarate (HTK) alone; HTK + 1 mM deferoxamine (DEF); HTK + 5 mM N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (NAC); and HTK + 1 mM DEF + 5 mM NAC. The viability, ammonia clearance, albumin production, gene expression, and functional activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes were measured after recovery from the cold storage.

Results

In this study, we observed that cold‐induced injury was reduced by the addition of the iron chelator. Viability of HTK + DEF group hepatocyte spheroids was increased compared with other cold storage groups (P < 0.05). Performance metrics of porcine hepatocyte spheroids cold stored for 24 hours were similar to those in control conditions. The hepatocyte spheroids in control conditions started to lose their ability to clear ammonia while production of albumin was still active at 48 and 72 hours (P < 0.05). In contrast, the viability and functionality of hepatocyte spheroids including ammonia clearance and albumin secretion were preserved in HTK + DEF group at both 48‐ and 72‐hour time points (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The beneficial effects of HTK supplemented with DEF were more obvious after cold storage of high density of porcine hepatocyte spheroids for 72 hours. The porcine hepatocyte spheroids were above the cutoff criteria for use in a spheroid‐based bioartificial liver.
Using Torque-Angle and Torque–Velocity Models to Characterize Elbow Mechanical Function: Modeling and Applied Aspects
Authors: Haering Diane , Pontonnier Charles , Bideau Nicolas , Nicolas Guillaume , Dumont Georges
Published: April 2019

Characterization of muscle mechanism through the torque-angle and torque–velocity relationships is critical for human movement evaluation and simulation. in vivo determination of these relationships through dynamometric measurements and modeling is based on physiological and mathematical aspects. However, no investigation regarding the effects of the mathematical model and the physiological parameters underneath these models was found. The purpose of the current study was to compare the capacity of various torque-angle and torque–velocity models to fit experimental dynamometric measurement of the elbow and provide meaningful mechanical and physiological information. Therefore, varying mathematical function and physiological muscle parameters from the literature were tested. While a quadratic torque-angle model seemed to increase predicted to measured elbow torque fitting, a new power-based torque–velocity parametric model gave meaningful physiological values to interpret with similar fitting results to a classical torque–velocity model. This model is of interest to extract modeling and clinical knowledge characterizing the mechanical behavior of such a joint.
Optimization of Energy Harvesting From Stall-Induced Oscillations Using the Multidimensional Kriging Metamodel
Authors: dos Santos Carlos R. , da Silva Maíra M. , Marques Flávio D.
Published: April 2019

The power harvested from stall-induced oscillations of airfoils has been analyzed as a potential source of electric energy for microsystems. Previous works have indicated that the energy harvested from such oscillations is affected by key parameters of the structural configuration. In this sense, this work proposes the optimization of such parameters by considering the use of a stochastic multidimensional Kriging metamodel. The metamodel was built using a database created with simulations of an electro-aeroelastic model. Such model considers aerodynamics loads given by the Beddoes–Leishman model as input for the system of differential equations which governs the pitching motion of an airfoil attached to an electric generator. The results of the optimization process have indicated an optimum point for the elastic axis of the structure and the need for reducing the mass, the moment of inertia, and the stiffness for increasing the harvested power in a range of wind speeds.
Effect of Filling Ratio and Tilt Angle on the Performance of a Mini-Loop Thermosyphon
Authors: Tharayil Trijo , Gitty Neha , Asirvatham Lazarus Godson , Wongwises Somchai
Published: April 2019

The thermal behavior of a compact mini-loop thermosyphon is experimentally studied at different filling ratios (20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, and 70%) and tilt angles (0 deg, 30 deg, 45 deg, 60 deg, and 90 deg) for the heat loads of 20–300 W using distilled water as the heat pipe fluid. The presence of microfins at the evaporator results in an average decrease of 37.4% and 15.3% in thermal resistance and evaporator wall temperature, respectively, compared with the evaporator with a plain surface. Both filling ratio (FR) and tilt angle influence the heat transfer performance significantly, and the best performance of the mini-loop thermosyphon is obtained at their optimum values. The thermal resistance and thermal efficiency values lie in the ranges of 0.73–0.076 K/W and 65–88.3% for different filling ratios and tilt angles. Similarly, evaporator heat transfer coefficient and evaporator wall temperature show significant variation with changes in filling ratio and tilt angle. A combination of the optimum filling ratio and tilt angle shows a lowest thermal resistance of 0.076 K/W and a highest evaporator wall temperature of 68.6 °C, which are obtained at 300 W. The experimental results recommend the use of mini-loop thermosyphon at an optimum filling ratio for electronics cooling applications, which have a heat dissipation of 20–300 W.
Growth characteristics of ZnO thin films produced via catalytic reaction-assisted chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Saito Taro , Iba Ryuta , Ono Shotaro , Imada Go , Yasui Kanji
Published: April 2019

The growth characteristics of zinc oxide (ZnO) films were investigated, based on catalytic reaction-assisted chemical vapor deposition. This process, in conjunction with a pulsed gas supply, was employed to grow ZnO layers on a-Al2O3 for potential applications in optical emission devices. Gaseous dimethylzinc was supplied to the reaction zone in pulses with durations of 1 or 2 ms and was reacted with a catalytically generated high-energy H2O beam effused from a de Laval nozzle. In the case of a 1 ms pulse duration, the deposition rate was 0.18–0.19 nm per pulse.
Design and fabrication of large-area tunable MOEMS-based shortwave infrared Fabry-Pérot filters
Authors: Liao Jyun-Hao , Wang Wen , Chen Chien-Ju , Yu Chia-Jui , Wu Meng-Chyi
Published: April 2019

In this letter, the authors report the micro-opto-electro-mechanical system-based large-area tunable Fabry-Pérot filters (FPF) with an aperture size of up to 300 μm. The sputtered zinc oxide layer is used as the sacrificial layer during the releasing process. The fabricated FPFs exhibit a tuning range of 188 nm in the near-infrared wavelength range when the voltage is biased from 0 to 7.5 V. The stiffness of supporting arms of the electrostatic actuator is calculated to be 2799 N/m from the analyses of capacitance-voltage measurements. The designed FPFs can be used in shortwave infrared (SWIR) spectral analyses with suitable SWIR sensors.
To Grow or Not to Grow: Strategy Development at PGC Basketball
Authors: Wigfield Daniel , Snelgrove Ryan , Potwarka Luke R. , Misener Katie , Wood Laura
Published: April 2019

Mano Watsa, President of Point Guard College (PGC) Basketball, is contemplating the next direction to take his organization. His co-owner, Nicole, is adamant that the next five years should be focused on growing PGC Basketball. Like Nicole, Mano would love to see PGC Basketball continue to grow; however, he is skeptical about focusing on growth when the organization is facing some significant challenges. Specifically, PGC Basketball is faced with a low athlete annual retention rate (i.e., 20%) and camps in some regions operating below 70% capacity. In addition, Mano recognizes that PGC Basketball has issues achieving consistency within their operations to ensure quality control, promoting their summer camps within all the markets they serve, as well as attracting and retaining top talent to work as camp instructors. Mano must determine the best strategy to implement for PGC Basketball to continue its success over the next five years.
Prepatterning of
Papilio xuthus
caterpillar camouflage is controlled by three homeobox genes:
clawless
,
abdominal-A
, and
Abdominal-B
Authors: Jin H. , Seki T. , Yamaguchi J. , Fujiwara H.
Published: April 2019

Three homeobox genes regulate prepatterning of caterpillar camouflage design in the swallowtail butterfly,
Papilio xuthus
.
“
Candidatus
Colwellia aromaticivorans” sp. nov., “
Candidatus
Halocyntiibacter alkanivorans” sp. nov., and “
Candidatus
Ulvibacter alkanivorans” sp. nov. Genome Sequences
Authors: Campeão Mariana E. , Swings Jean , Silva Bruno Sergio , Otsuki Koko , Thompson Fabiano L. , Thompson Cristiane C.
Published: April 2019

Unplanned oil spills during offshore production are a serious problem for the industry and the marine environment. Here, we present the genome sequence analysis of three novel hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, namely, “
Candidatus
Colwellia aromaticivorans” sp.
Draft Genome Assemblies of Clinical Isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae V9011662 and Enterobacter hormaechei Entb306
Authors: Harrison Lucas B. , Selmecki Anna , Hanson Nancy D.
Published: April 2019

Enterobacter hormaechei
and
Klebsiella pneumoniae
are pathogenic
Enterobacteriaceae
that have been associated with the spread of antibiotic resistance. Here, we report draft genome assemblies of an
Enterobacter hormaechei
clinical isolate and a multidrug-resistant clinical isolate of
Klebsiella pneumoniae
.
Complete Genome Characterization of Eight Human Parainfluenza Viruses from the Netherlands
Authors: Phan My V. T. , Arron Georgina , GeurtsvanKessel Corine H. , Huisman Robin C. , Molenkamp Richard , Koopmans Marion P. G. , Cotten Matthew
Published: April 2019

We report the complete genome sequences of eight human parainfluenza viruses (HPIV) belonging to
Human respirovirus 1
(HPIV-1),
Human respirovirus 3
(HPIV-3),
Human rubulavirus 2
(HPIV-2), and
Human rubulavirus 4
(HPIV-4). The genome sequences were generated using random-primed next-generation sequencing and represent the first HPIV full-genome sequences from the Netherlands.
Complete Genome Sequence of Abscisic Acid-Metabolizing Rhizobacterium
Rhodococcus
sp. Strain P1Y
Authors: Gogoleva Natalia E. , Nikolaichik Yevgeny A. , Ismailov Timur T. , Khlopko Yuri A. , Dmitrieva Svetlana A. , Konnova Tatiana A. , Ermekkaliev Taras S. , Safronova Vera I. , Belimov Andrey A. , Gogolev Yuri V.
Published: April 2019

Mechanisms of microbial catabolism of phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA) are still unknown. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of ABA-utilizing
Rhodococcus
sp.
Draft Genome Sequences of 12 Isolates from 3 Fusarium Species Recovered from Moldy Peanuts
Authors: Gebru Solomon T. , Mammel Mark K. , Gangiredla Jayanthi , Tournas Vasiliki H. , Lampel Keith A. , Tartera Carmen
Published: April 2019

In this report, we announce the sequences of six genomes of
Fusarium proliferatum
(isolates MOD1-FUNGI8, -12, -13, -14, -15, and -19), four genomes of
Fusarium oxysporum
(MOD1-FUNGI9, -10, -11, and -16), and two genomes of the
Fusarium incarnatum
-
Fusarium equiseti
species complex (MOD1-FUNGI17 and MOD1-FUNGI18) isolated from moldy peanuts from the Washington, DC, area.
Draft Genome Sequence of
Lecanicillium
sp. Isolate LEC01, a Fungus Capable of Hydrocarbon Degradation
Authors: Radwan Osman , Gunasekera Thusitha S. , Ruiz Oscar N.
Published: April 2019

Lecanicillium
sp. isolate LEC01 is adapted to grow in the presence of jet fuel, employing genes involved in the degradation of alkanes and aromatic hydrocarbons. The draft genome is estimated at 31,407,988 bp and has 9,737 proteins, 50.0% G+C content, and high similarity to
Lecanicillium
sp. strain CCF 5233.
Recognizing long-runout pyroclastic flow deposits using paleomagnetism of ash
Authors: Lerner Geoffrey A. , Cronin Shane J. , Turner Gillian M. , Piispa Elisa J.
Published: April 2019

Quantifying the spread of >600 °C pyroclastic flows (more broadly termed pyroclastic density currents—PDCs) is important because they regularly cause major volcanic catastrophes. Far from volcanic flanks, non-welded PDC deposits can be difficult to distinguish from cold-emplaced volcano-sedimentary units. A key indicator of high temperature is the coherence of magnetic remanence among different lithic clasts in a deposit. In long-runout PDCs, distal deposits are dominated by ash particles (<2 mm diameter), often lacking clasts large enough for conventional paleomagnetic sampling. Here we demonstrate a method of consolidating and sampling oriented blocks of friable ash material with a strengthening compound. This method was used to show that a >25 km runout mass-flow deposit from the 2518-m-high Mt. Taranaki (New Zealand) was emplaced as a hot PDC, contrary to an earlier cold lahar interpretation. We corroborate the results from ash with data from clast samples at some sites and show that the matrix was emplaced at temperatures of at least 250 °C, while clasts were deposited at up to 410 °C. Our case-study raises concerns for hazard-identification at stratovolcanoes worldwide. In the Mt. Taranaki case we demonstrate that PDCs traveled >9 km farther than previously estimated—also well beyond the “normal” PDC hazard zones at stratovolcanoes (10 or 15 km from source). Thus, attention should be paid to deposits in the 15–25 km range in other volcanic settings, where large populations are potentially unaware of PDC risk.
Incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in men receiving steroid 5α-reductase inhibitors: population based cohort study
Authors: Wei Li , Lai Edward Chia-Cheng , Kao-Yang Yea-Huei , Walker Brian R , MacDonald Thomas M , Andrew Ruth
Published: April 2019

Objective

To investigate the incidence of new onset type 2 diabetes mellitus in men receiving steroid 5α-reductase inhibitors (dutasteride or finasteride) for long term treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Design

Population based cohort study.

Setting

UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD; 2003-14) and Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD; 2002-12).

Participants

Men in the CPRD who received dutasteride (n=8231), finasteride (n=30 774), or tamsulosin (n=16 270) were evaluated. Propensity score matching (2:1; dutasteride to finasteride or tamsulosin) produced cohorts of 2090, 3445, and 4018, respectively. In the NHIRD, initial numbers were 1251 (dutasteride), 4194 (finasteride), and 86 263 (tamsulosin), reducing to 1251, 2445, and 2502, respectively, after propensity score matching.

Main outcomes measure

Incident type 2 diabetes using a Cox proportional hazard model.

Results

In the CPRD, 2081 new onset type 2 diabetes events (368 dutasteride, 1207 finasteride, and 506 tamsulosin) were recorded during a mean follow-up time of 5.2 years (SD 3.1 years). The event rate per 10 000 person years was 76.2 (95% confidence interval 68.4 to 84.0) for dutasteride, 76.6 (72.3 to 80.9) for finasteride, and 60.3 (55.1 to 65.5) for tamsulosin. There was a modest increased risk of type 2 diabetes for dutasteride (adjusted hazard ratio 1.32, 95% confidence interval 1.08 to 1.61) and finasteride (1.26, 1.10 to 1.45) compared with tamsulosin. Results for the NHIRD were consistent with the findings for the CPRD (adjusted hazard ratio 1.34, 95% confidence interval 1.17 to 1.54 for dutasteride, and 1.49, 1.38 to 1.61 for finasteride compared with tamsulosin). Propensity score matched analyses showed similar results.

Conclusions

The risk of developing new onset type 2 diabetes appears to be higher in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia exposed to 5α-reductase inhibitors than in men receiving tamsulosin, but did not differ between men receiving dutasteride and those receiving finasteride. Additional monitoring might be required for men starting these drugs, particularly in those with other risk factors for type 2 diabetes.
Improving rates of ferrous sulfate prescription for suspected iron deficiency anaemia in infants
Authors: Rea Corinna J , Bottino Clement , Chan Yuen Jenny , Conroy Kathleen , Cox Joanne , Epee-Bounya Alexandra , Kamalia Radhika , Meleedy-Rey Patricia , Pethe Kalpana , Samuels Ronald , Schubert Pamela , Starmer Amy J
Published: April 2019

Background

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in infancy is prevalent and associated with impaired neurodevelopment; however, studies suggest that treatment and follow-up rates are poor.

Objectives

To improve the rate of ferrous sulfate prescription for suspected IDA among infants aged 8–13 months to 75% or greater within 24 months.

Methods

We implemented a multidisciplinary process improvement effort aimed at standardising treatment for suspected IDA at two academic paediatric primary care clinics. We developed a clinical pathway with screening and treatment recommendations, followed by multiple plan-do-study-act cycles including provider education, targeted reminders when ferrous sulfate was not prescribed and development of standardised procedures for responding to abnormal lab values. We tracked prescription and screening rates using statistical process control charts. In post hoc analyses, we examined rates of haemoglobin (Hgb) recheck and normalisation for the preintervention versus postintervention groups.

Results

The prescription rate for suspected IDA increased from 41% to 78% following implementation of the intervention. Common reasons for treatment failure included prescription of a multivitamin instead of ferrous sulfate, and Hgb not flagged as low by the electronic medical record. Screening rates remained stable at 89%. Forty-one per cent of patients with anaemia in the preintervention group had their Hgb rechecked within 6 months, compared with 56% in the postintervention group (p<0.001). Furthermore, 30% of patients with anaemia in the postintervention group had normalised their Hgb by 6 months, compared with 20% in the preintervention group (p<0.05).

Conclusions

A multipronged interdisciplinary quality improvement intervention enabled: (1) development of standardised practices for treating suspected IDA among infants aged 8–13 months, (2) improvement of prescription rates and (3) maintenance of high screening rates. Rates of Hgb recheck and normalisation also increased in the intervention period.​
Direct oral anticoagulation and mortality in moderate to high-risk atrial fibrillation
Authors: Arbel Ronen , Sergienko Ruslan , Hammerman Ariel , Dotan-Greenberg Sari , Batat Erez , Avnery Orly , Greenberg Dan , Ellis Martin H
Published: April 2019

Objective

Although direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are the recommended antithrombotic therapy for patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF), anticoagulation in patients with NVAF is still inadequate. The effect of withholding DOAC therapy on patient survival is unknown. Therefore, our objective was to compare all-cause mortality rates between DOAC-treated patients with NVAF and similar patients receiving no anticoagulation.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study analysing Clalit Health Services’ extensive electronic database, regarding all newly diagnosed, anticoagulant-naïve patients with NVAF who were eligible for DOAC therapy from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2016. Patients who received DOAC therapy were matched by propensity scoring to patients receiving no anticoagulation. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Final patient follow-up date was 15 May 2017.

Results

18 901 eligible patients were identified. 8298 received treatment with a DOAC and 10 603 received no anticoagulation therapy. Of those, 5657 patients who received DOAC therapy were matched with 5657 patients who did not receive any anticoagulant. Death occurred in 715 patients in the DOAC-treated group (7.6% per year) and in 2075 patients in the non-anticoagulated patient group (11.1% per year). DOAC therapy was associated with significantly lower risk for all-cause mortality (HR=0.69, 95% CI 0.63 to 0.75, p<0.001). The benefit of DOAC therapy was demonstrated across all subgroups analysed.

Conclusions

In this cohort of newly diagnosed patients with NVAF, DOAC therapy was associated with a significantly lower risk of death compared with no oral anticoagulation. Our findings provide further evidence for the importance of providing DOAC anticoagulation in patients with NVAF.
Elevated insulin levels following 7 days of increased sedentary time are due to lower hepatic extraction and not higher insulin secretion
Authors: Viskochil Richard , Lyden Kate , Staudenmayer John , Keadle Sarah K. , Freedson Patty S. , Braun Barry
Published: April 2019

Higher insulin following sedentary behavior may be due to increased insulin secretion (IS), decreased hepatic insulin extraction (HIE), or a combination of both. Ten healthy adults completed glucose tolerance tests following 7 days of normal activity and 7 days of increased sitting. There were no differences in IS; however, HIE at 120 min after ingestion (85.4% ± 7.2% vs. 74.6% ± 6.6%, p < 0.05) and the area under the curve (73.6% ± 9.4% vs. 67.5% ± 11.3%, p < 0.05) were reduced following 7 days of increased sedentary time.
Implications of an exceptional autumn bud flush on subsequent cold tolerance of Garry oak (Quercus garryana)
Authors: Lerstrup-Pedersen E. , Pedersen O.C. , Deluca S. , Hawkins B.J.
Published: April 2019

In the fall of 2016, an unusual phenological event occurred in Quercus garryana Douglas ex Hook. in Victoria, British Columbia. After normal autumn leaf drop, some trees burst bud and leafed out prematurely in late October. This allowed a comparison of the cold hardiness of the prematurely flushed and non-flushed trees over the following year. Cold hardiness of five tree pairs (premature fall flush and non-flush) in three locations in Victoria was assessed bi-weekly over the dehardening period in January–March 2017 and again over the hardening period in September–December 2017. Cold hardiness of 10 non-flushed trees from the most northerly population of Q. garryana was also assessed twice in spring 2017. Between January and March, all trees dehardened, but cold hardiness was greatest in non-flushed trees on the first sampling date, and thereafter, the non-flushed trees dehardened more rapidly than the prematurely flushed trees. Index of injury was consistently 10% greater in Victoria than in northern trees. In fall 2017, trees that had flushed prematurely in fall 2016 had the same cold hardiness as non-flushed trees. Hardiness of all trees decreased from mid-September to the end of October, followed by rapid hardening in November and December of 2017.
A comparative study of heat transfer analysis of fractional Maxwell fluid by using Caputo and Caputo–Fabrizio derivatives
Authors: Raza Nauman , Ullah Muhammad Asad
Published: April 2019

A comparative analysis is carried out to study the unsteady flow of a Maxwell fluid in the presence of Newtonian heating near a vertical flat plate. The fractional derivatives presented by Caputo and Caputo–Fabrizio are applied to make a physical model for a Maxwell fluid. Exact solutions of the non-dimensional temperature and velocity fields for Caputo and Caputo–Fabrizio time-fractional derivatives are determined via the Laplace transform technique. Numerical solutions of partial differential equations are obtained by employing Tzou’s and Stehfest’s algorithms to compare the results of both models. Exact solutions with integer-order derivative (fractional parameter α = 1) are also obtained for both temperature and velocity distributions as a special case. A graphical illustration is made to discuss the effect of Prandtl number Pr and time t on the temperature field. Similarly, the effects of Maxwell fluid parameter λ and other flow parameters on the velocity field are presented graphically, as well as in tabular form.
Hydrogen gas: from clinical medicine to an emerging ergogenic molecule for sports athletes
Authors: LeBaron Tyler W. , Laher Ismail , Kura Branislav , Slezak Jan
Published: April 2019

H2has been clinically demonstrated to provide antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which makes it an attractive agent in exercise medicine. Although exercise provides a multiplicity of benefits including decreased risk of disease, it can also have detrimental effects. For example, chronic high-intensity exercise in elite athletes, or sporadic bouts of exercise (i.e., noxious exercise) in untrained individuals, result in similar pathological factors such as inflammation, oxidation, and cellular damage that arise from and result in disease. Paradoxically, exercise-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species largely mediate the benefits of exercise. Ingestion of conventional antioxidants and anti-inflammatories often impairs exercise-induced training adaptations. Disease and noxious forms of exercise promote redox dysregulation and chronic inflammation, changes that are mitigated by H2administration. Beneficial exercise and H2administration promote cytoprotective hormesis, mitochondrial biogenesis, ATP production, increased NAD+/NADH ratio, cytoprotective phase II enzymes, heat-shock proteins, sirtuins, etc. We review the biomedical effects of exercise and those of H2, and we propose that hydrogen may act as an exercise mimetic and redox adaptogen, potentiate the benefits from beneficial exercise, and reduce the harm from noxious exercise. However, more research is warranted to elucidate the potential ergogenic and therapeutic effects of H2in exercise medicine.
Sum rules for multiquarks decays in broken SU(3) symmetry
Authors: Sánchez-Colón G. , Gupta V.
Published: April 2019

The similarities in the SU(3) transformation properties of tetraquarks, pentaquarks and sextaquarks are pointed out. Their decays into hadrons with first-order [Formula: see text] SU(3) breaking are considered and corresponding sum rules for decay coupling constants are given.