bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Double‐Layer Active Films Containing Pomegranate Peel Extract for the Application of Pork Packaging
Authors: Hu Shuaifeng , Wang Haili , Han Weiyue , Ma Yichao , Shao Zehuai , Li Li
Published: April 2016

Nature extract is one of the most important additives in active food packaging. In this study, the mono and double‐layer active films containing pomegranate peel extract (PPE) were prepared and their effects for pork stored under refrigeration were evaluated. With 1.5% of PPE as an active agent and polyethylene (PE) resin as a matrix, PPE‐PE monolayer active packaging films were prepared by the extrusion blow molding process. With PPE‐PE active film as the internal layer film, two double‐layer active films such as PPE‐PE/polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and PPE‐PE/polypropylene (PP) were obtained. The characterizations of mechanical, optical and barrier properties of PE, PE/PET, PPE‐PE, PPE‐PE/PET and PPE‐PE/PP films were determined. The addition of PPE increased elongation at break from 115.85–178.05%. Effects of pork packaged by these active films stored at refrigeration (4 ± 1C) were evaluated, based on total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB‐N), total viable counts (TVC), pH, TBA and drip loss. By day 6, the TVC of pork samples packaged by PPE‐PE, PPE‐PE/PET, PPE‐PE/PP and PE/PET films, respectively, were 5.78, 5.49, 5.58, 5.72 log10 CFU/g, compared to TVC of pork sample in PE film, 6.54 log10 CFU/g, which showed PPE‐PE/PET and PPE‐PE/PP films had good antibacterial effects. These active films delayed the changes of drip loss and sensory score, and retarded the changes of TVB‐N, TBA and pH value, especially PPE‐PE/PP and PPE‐PE/PET films. The results indicated that PPE‐PE/PP and PPE‐PE/PET active films could extend pork shelf life better than PPE‐PE films which could extend pork shelf life by 3 days.

Practical Applications

Active packaging provides an additional and final barrier that can prevent the corruption effectively. Polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) are well‐known packing material for their excellent physical and chemical properties. We blend the pomegranate peel extract (PPE) with PE and prepare the active film by extrude blow. It is a potency to prepare active film in factory not only in laboratory. This work has studied mechanical, optical and barrier property of the active film, and the actual preservation effect of active packaging. The comprehensive characterization of the film would present more valuable information for practical application.
Psychosocial correlates of psychiatric diagnoses and maladaptive behaviour in youth with severe developmental disability
Authors: Weiss J. A. , Ting V. , Perry A.
Published: April 2016

Background

We know little about the correlates of mental health problems in youth with severe and profound intellectual disability (ID), as most research includes these youth within larger samples that include greater proportions of mild and moderate disability. The purpose of the current study was to identify the child, family and psychosocial characteristics that were associated with the presence of psychiatric diagnoses and maladaptive behaviour in youth with severe ID.

Methods

Participants were 141 parents of youth with severe or profound levels of ID, 4 to 18 years of age. The mean age of children was 11.04 years (SD = 3.38), with 68% male and 39% with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Parents completed a primarily online survey of child and family characteristics, negative life events, family quality of life and their own mental health.

Results

Logistic regression analyses revealed that youth with a psychiatric diagnosis had higher levels of adaptive behaviour and experienced more negative life events than youth without psychiatric diagnosis, while the presence of clinically significant maladaptive behaviour was related to higher levels of adaptive behaviour, parents' mental health problems and lower family quality of life. Child age, gender, ASD status and financial hardship were not related to either outcome variable.

Conclusions

Youth with severe and profound ID who experience psychosocial stressors are more likely reported to have mental health problems than youth without such stressors. It is likely that a combination of child and family based interventions, along with with policies that address larger systemic issues of social adversity, are needed to promote mental health and treat psychopathology when it arises.
Amyloidosis enhancing activity of bovine amyloid A fibrils in C3H/HeN mice and cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)
Authors: Tsukawaki Satomi , Murakami Tomoaki , Ibi Kanata , Kuraishi Takeshi , Hattori Shosaku , Kai Chieko , Suzuki Kazuhiko , Yanai Tokuma
Published: April 2016

Background

In experimentally induced cases of AA amyloidosis, the development of disease is enhanced by the administration of homogenous or heterogeneous amyloid fibrils. In recent years, cross‐species transmission of animal amyloidosis into human has become of particular concern.

Methods

Cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) and C3H/HeN mice were inoculated with bovine amyloid fibrils under acute inflammation.

Results

Amyloid A deposits were not detected in any of the monkeys, but mild‐to‐severe AA deposits were found in all mice.

Conclusions

These results suggest that unlike in rodents, cross‐species transmission of AA amyloidosis is less likely to develop, at least during acute inflammation, in primates.
Monosynaptic Reflexes and Preprogrammed Reactions in Down Syndrome: A Surface Electromyographic Study
Authors: Rigoldi Chiara , Galli Manuela , Vimercati Sara Laura , Condoluci Claudia , Tacchino Giulia , Bianchi Anna Maria , Albertini Giorgio
Published: April 2016

The development of motor control in people affected by motor and cognitive pathologies leads to different behaviors in approaching everyday life activities. Understanding the origin of the differences in motor control between people with Down syndrome and those typically developing is very important for the definition of early and late intervention in rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to explore the stretch reflex and preprogrammed reactions as the origin of motor control development in a population of participants with Down syndrome. Eight subjects with Down syndrome (5 males, 3 females; mean age 23.11 ± 8.96) and 21 typically developing persons (7 males, 14 females; mean age 28.95 ± 9.56) were evaluated. The participants were seated on a chair with their dominant arm flexed at approximately 90°. Holding the handle of a bucket in his/her dominant hand, the participant was told to maintain the position after an unexpected load perturbation, produced by throwing a weight inside the bucket. The evaluation of primitive mechanisms of motor control revealed that no basic abnormality was present in the early motor control mechanisms of subjects with Down syndrome. The results provide evidence to the hypothesis that peripheral control in Down syndrome is comparable to that of typically developing persons, permitting the development of motor control throughout their sensorial exploration of the external world. However, the difference in central nervous system structure between people with Down syndrome and controls could probably produce different shaping of the higher elaboration centers causing a delayed or a different neuromotor response.
Quantile Peer Effects of Immigrant Children at Primary Schools
Authors: Ohinata Asako , van Ours Jan C.
Published: April 2016

We analyze how the share of immigrant children in the classroom affects the educational performance of native Dutch children in primary schools. Using quantile regressions, our paper studies these peer effects at different parts of the test score distribution of native children. After accounting for selectivity in the allocation of immigrant students across schools, we find no evidence for the existence of negative peer effects of immigrant children, either at the median or at other parts of the distribution.
The Effects of Inter‐Generational Transfers on the Marital Surplus
Authors: Andaluz Joaquín , Marcén Miriam , Molina José Alberto
Published: April 2016

This paper explores the impact of inter‐generational transfers on the marital surplus, measured as the difference between the utility level in marriage and in divorce. To that end, we consider a three‐generation family playing a two‐stage sequential game. In this framework, we find conditions under which an increase in inter‐generational transfers leads to a decrease in the marital surplus, which may reduce the incentives of parents to donate income to their married children. Supplemental analysis, developed to study whether inter‐generational transfers are crowded out by public transfers, suggests that altruistically‐motivated inter‐generational transfers are not always displaced by public transfers, especially when parents are highly altruistic.
Omega‐3 LCPUFA supplement: a nutritional strategy to prevent maternal and neonatal oxidative stress
Authors: Kajarabille Naroa , Hurtado Jose A. , Peña‐Quintana Luis , Peña Manuela , Ruiz Josefa , Diaz‐Castro Javier , Rodríguez‐Santana Yessica , Martin‐Alvarez Estefania , López‐Frias Magdalena , Soldado Olga , Lara‐Villoslada Federico , Ochoa Julio J.
Published: April 2016

There is controversy about fish‐oil supplementation and oxidative damage. This ambiguity should be explored to elucidate its role as modulator of oxidative stress, especially during gestation and postnatal life. This is the objective of this study. One hundred ten pregnant women were divided in two groups: control group CT (400 mL/day of the control dairy drink); supplemented group FO (400 mL/day of the fish oil‐enriched dairy drink (±400‐mg EPA‐DHA/day)). Different biomarkers of oxidative damage were determined in the mother's at enrolment, at delivery and at 2.5 and 4 months postpartum and newborns at delivery and at 2.5 months postpartum. Omega‐3 LC‐PUFA supplementation during pregnancy and lactation decreased plasma hydroperoxides especially in newborn at delivery (P = 0.001) and 2.5 months (P = 0.006), increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in mothers at delivery (P = 0.024 (SOD)) and after 2.5 months (P = 0.040 (CAT)) and in newborns at 2.5 months (P = 0.035 (SOD); P = 0.021 (CAT)). Also, supplementation increased α‐tocoferol in mothers at 2.5 months (P = 0.030) and in umbilical cord artery (P = 0.039). Higher levels of CoQ10 were found in mothers at delivery (P = 0.039) as well as in umbilical cord vein (P = 0.024) and artery (P = 0.036). Our supplementation prevents the oxidative stress in the mother and neonate during the first months of postnatal life, being a potential preventive nutritional strategy to prevent functional alterations associated with oxidative stress that have an important repercussion for the neonate development in the early postnatal life.
Differential protein expression in the midgut of Culex quinquefasciatus mosquitoes induced by the insecticide temephos
Authors: GAMES P. D. , ALVES S. N. , KATZ B. B. , TOMICH J. M. , SERRÃO J. E.
Published: April 2016

Mosquitoes are vectors for pathogens of malaria, lymphatic filariasis, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis. Culex quinquefasciatus Say, 1823 (Diptera: Culicidae) is a known vector of lymphatic filariasis. Its control in Brazil has been managed using the organophosphate temephos. Studies examining the proteins of Cx. quinquefasciatus that are differentially expressed in response to temephos further understanding of the modes of action of the insecticide and may potentially identify resistance factors in the mosquito. In the present study, a comparative proteomic analysis, using 2‐dimensional electrophoresis coupled with matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) time of flight (TOF)/TOF mass spectrometry, and bioinformatics analyses were performed to identify midgut proteins in Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae that were differentially expressed in response to exposure to temephos relative to those in untreated controls. A total of 91 protein spots were differentially expressed; 40 were upregulated and 51 were downregulated by temephos. A total of 22 proteins, predominantly upregulated, were identified as known to play a role in the immune response, whereas the downregulated proteins were involved in energy and protein catabolism. This is the first proteome study of the midgut of Cx. quinquefasciatus and it provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of insecticide‐induced responses in the mosquito.
Nurse‐led intervention on knowledge, attitude and beliefs towards acute coronary syndrome
Authors: Darsin Singh Sukhbeer K , Ahmad Aini , Rahmat Norsiah , Hmwe Nant Thin Thin
Published: April 2016

ABSTRACT

Background

Coronary heart disease has emerged as a number one killer in Malaysia and globally. Much of the morbidity and mortality in acute coronary syndrome patients is because of patients not recognizing their symptoms which contributes to delay in seeking early treatment.

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse‐led health education programme on knowledge, attitude and beliefs of coronary patients towards the responses to acute coronary syndrome and the association with patients' characteristics.

Methods

A single‐group quasi‐experimental design took place in a tertiary hospital. A total of 60 coronary patients were recruited to this study. The knowledge, attitude and beliefs towards acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were evaluated at baseline and after 1 month of giving education intervention.

Results

Knowledge, attitude and beliefs about ACS increased significantly from baseline to 1 month after intervention. Level of attitude was associated with gender, educational level and employment status.

Conclusions

The findings of this study suggest that an education program conducted by a nurse improved patients' level of knowledge, attitudes and beliefs in response to ACS symptoms at 1 month compared to baseline, but whether they are sustained for a longer period is unclear. Improving the responses towards ACS might reduce decision delay in symptom interpretation and seeking early treatment.

Relevance to clinical practice

Nurse‐led interventions have imparted positive outcomes in response to ACS symptoms among coronary patients. Therefore, nurses should take the initiative in educating patients to minimize delay in symptom interpretation and seeking early treatment.
Clinical Usefulness of a Mobile Application for the Appropriate Selection of the Antiarrhythmic Device in Heart Failure
Authors: CURCIO ANTONIO , DE ROSA SALVATORE , SABATINO JOLANDA , DE LUCA SIMONA , BOCHICCHIO ANGELA , POLIMENI ALBERTO , SANTARPIA GIUSEPPE , RICCI PIETRANTONIO , INDOLFI CIRO
Published: April 2016

Background

Appropriate selection of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device can be challenging in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. In this setting, limited information exists about the role of medical applications in helping physicians to choose the most useful device.

Methods

We developed a medical application that provides guidelines‐based algorithms for helping doctors in decision process using the Apache Cordova application programming interface. e‐CRTD App was tested in 36 consecutive patients (age 66.4 ± 8.5 years, 31 males) with diagnosis of heart failure (HF) addressed to electrophysiology laboratory for evaluation of ICD (N = 18) or CRT with defibrillator device (CRT‐D; N = 18) implantation. Two separate teams evaluated each patient independently: expert electrophysiologists (Group A); cardiologists in training using the App (Group B).

Results

The outcomes of the clinical evaluation performed by Groups A and B were similar in 100% of patients in terms of classes of recommendations to device (Class I in eight cases, Class IIa in seven cases, Class III in the remaining 21). Surprisingly, the majority of indications from the general practitioners to cardiac device were inappropriate (N = 17 ICD, and N = 4 CRT‐D, Class III); nevertheless, e‐CRTD App helped Group B (nonexpert cardiologists) in excluding all these cases.

Conclusions

This study describes and validates a mobile application realized to help the decision‐making process in HF patients candidate to ICD/CRT‐D. This application supports physicians to assess the eligibility for ICD or CRT‐D according to current guidelines in patients with LV dysfunction.
Late Gadolinium Enhancement in Patients with Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: MEMON SARFARAZ , GANGA HARSHA V. , KLUGER JEFFREY
Published: April 2016

One‐third of all patients with heart failure have nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDM). Five‐year mortality from NIDM is as high as 20% with sudden cardiac death (SCD) as the cause in 30% of the deaths. Currently, the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is used as the main criteria to risk stratify patients requiring an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to prevent SCD. However, LVEF does not necessarily reflect myocardial propensity for electrical instability leading to ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF). Due to the differential risk in various subgroups of patients for arrhythmic death, it is important to identify appropriate patients for ICD implantation so that we can optimize healthcare resources and avoid the complications of ICDs in individuals who are unlikely to benefit. We performed a systematic search and review of clinical trials of NIDM and the use of ICDs and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) for risk stratification. LGE identifies patients with NIDM who are at high risk for SCD and enables optimized patient selection for ICD placement, while the absence of LGE may reduce the need for ICD implantation in patients with NIDM who are at low risk for future VF/VT or SCD.
Identification of two major quantitative trait locus for fresh seed dormancy using the diversity arrays technology and diversity arrays technology‐seq based genetic map in Spanish‐type peanuts
Authors: Vishwakarma Manish K , Pandey Manish K , Shasidhar Yaduru , Manohar Surendra S , Nagesh Patne , Janila Pasupuleti , Varshney Rajeev K
Published: April 2016

Seed quality for both germination in the next generation and for human consumption is adversely affected due to preharvest sprouting in peanut. It also makes seeds more vulnerable to infection by a number of pathogens. Therefore, it is desirable to have 2–3 weeks of fresh seed dormancy (FSD) in the peanut varieties. In this context, one F2 population was developed from a cross between non‐dormant (ICGV 00350) and dormant (ICGV 97045) genotypes. Phenotyping of this population showed control of the trait by two recessive genes. In parallel, genotyping of the population with Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) and DArT‐seq markers provided a genetic map with 1152 loci covering a map distance of 2423.12 cM and map density of 2.96 cM/loci. Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis identified two major QTLs, namely qfsd‐1 and qfsd‐2 explaining 22.14% and 71.21% of phenotypic variation, respectively. These QTLs, after validation in different genetic backgrounds, may be useful for molecular breeding for FSD in peanut.
Management of congenital diaphragmatic hernia with transposition of the great arteries
Authors: Nagata Hazumu , Yamamura Kenichiro , Nagata Kouji , Uike Kiyoshi , Morihana Eiji , Ihara Kenji , Yumoto Yasuo , Fusazaki Naoki , Kado Hideaki , Kato Kiyoko , Taguchi Tomoaki , Hara Toshiro
Published: April 2016

Congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) is a relatively rare malformation, but it has a high mortality rate. Its association with congenital heart disease lowers survival rate due to severe acidosis and desaturation caused by persistent pulmonary hypertension of the neonate. We describe herein a case of CDH with transposition of the great arteries and intact ventricular septum, in a patient who was prenatally diagnosed, managed with extracorporeal oxygenation (ECMO) support and successfully treated with both CDH repair and Jatene procedure, with no respiratory or circulatory sequelae. In conclusion, precise prenatal estimation is essential, and ECMO is a useful therapeutic option in these complex cases.
We Use Too Much Vitamin D in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Reilly Robert F.
Published: April 2016

Current Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes guidelines for chronic kidney disease–mineral and bone disorder recommend maintaining the PTH level between 2 and 9 times the upper limit of normal. PTH levels function as a surrogate for bone turnover to differentiate forms of renal osteodystrophy. Vitamin D receptor agonists are primarily used to treat osteitis fibrosa in hemodialysis patients. However, there is concern that overtreatment may put HD patients at risk for adynamic bone disease, which has been associated with fracture and vascular calcification. This raises the issue as to whether “we use too much vitamin D in hemodialysis patients.”
Human leukocyte antigen class II (DRB1 and DQB1) alleles and haplotypes frequencies in patients with pemphigus vulgaris among the Serbian population
Authors: Zivanovic D. , Bojic S. , Medenica L. , Andric Z. , Popadic D.
Published: April 2016

The etiology of pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is multifactorial and includes genetic, environmental, hormonal, and immunological factors. Inheritance of certain Human class II leukocyte antigen (HLA) alleles is by far the best‐established predisposing factor for the development of PV. Class II HLA alleles vary among racial/ethnic backgrounds. We have determined an association between HLA class II alleles and PV among the Serbian population. A total of 72 patients with confirmed diagnosis of PV were genotyped for HLA class II alleles. HLA frequencies were compared with unrelated healthy bone marrow donors. The statistical significance of differences between patients and controls was evaluated using Fisher's exact test. The DRB1*04 and DRB1*14 allelic groups were associated with PV (P adj = 4.45 × 10−13 and 4.06 × 10−19 respectively), while HLA‐DRB1*11 was negatively associated with PV (P adj = 0.0067) suggesting a protective role. DRB1*04:02, DRB1*14:04, DQB1*03:02 and DQB1*05:03 alleles were shown to be strongly associated with PV (P adj = 1.63 × 10−12, 5.20 × 10−7, 1.28 × 10−6, and 4.44 × 10−5, respectively). The frequency of HLA DRB1*04‐DQB1*03 and HLA DRB1*14‐DQB1*05 haplotypes in PV patients was significantly higher than in controls (31.3% vs 8.8%, P adj =7.66 × 10−8 and 30.6% vs 6.3%, P adj = 3.22 × 10−10, respectively). At high‐resolution level, statistical significance was observed in HLA‐DRB1*04:02‐DQB1*03:02 and HLA‐DRB1*14:04‐DQB1*05:03 haplotypes (P adj = 5.55 × 10−12, and P adj = 3.91 × 10−6, respectively). Our findings suggest that HLA‐DRB1*04:02, DRB1*14:04, HLA‐DQB1* 03:02 and DQB1*05:03 alleles and HLA‐DRB1*04:02‐DQB1*03:02 and HLA‐DRB1*14:04‐DQB1*05:03 haplotypes are genetic markers for susceptibility for PV, while DRB1*11 allelic group appears protective in Serbian population.
On the variation of interaural time differences with frequency
Authors: Benichoux Victor , Rébillat Marc , Brette Romain
Published: April 2016

Interaural time difference (ITD) is a major cue to sound localization in humans and animals. For a given subject and position in space, ITD depends on frequency. This variation is analyzed here using a head related transfer functions (HRTFs) database collected from the literature and comprising human HRTFs from 130 subjects and animal HRTFs from six specimens of different species. For humans, the ITD is found to vary with frequency in a way that shows consistent differences with respect to a spherical head model. Maximal ITD values were found to be about 800 μs in low frequencies and 600 μs in high frequencies. The ITD variation with frequency (up to 200 μs for some positions) occurs within the frequency range where ITD is used to judge the lateral position of a sound source. In addition, ITD varies substantially within the bandwidth of a single auditory filter, leading to systematic differences between envelope and fine-structure ITDs. Because the frequency-dependent pattern of ITD does not display spherical symmetries, it potentially provides cues to elevation and resolves front/back confusion. The fact that the relation between position and ITDs strongly depends on the sound's spectrum in turn suggests that humans and animals make use of this relationship for the localization of sounds.
Audibility of dispersion error in room acoustic finite-difference time-domain simulation as a function of simulation distance
Authors: Saarelma Jukka , Botts Jonathan , Hamilton Brian , Savioja Lauri
Published: April 2016

Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation has been a popular area of research in room acoustics due to its capability to simulate wave phenomena in a wide bandwidth directly in the time-domain. A downside of the method is that it introduces a direction and frequency dependent error to the simulated sound field due to the non-linear dispersion relation of the discrete system. In this study, the perceptual threshold of the dispersion error is measured in three-dimensional FDTD schemes as a function of simulation distance. Dispersion error is evaluated for three different explicit, non-staggered FDTD schemes using the numerical wavenumber in the direction of the worst-case error of each scheme. It is found that the thresholds for the different schemes do not vary significantly when the phase velocity error level is fixed. The thresholds are found to vary significantly between the different sound samples. The measured threshold for the audibility of dispersion error at the probability level of 82% correct discrimination for three-alternative forced choice is found to be 9.1 m of propagation in a free field, that leads to a maximum group delay error of 1.8 ms at 20 kHz with the chosen phase velocity error level of 2%.
Cytosolic Replication of Group A
Streptococcus
in Human Macrophages
Authors: O’Neill Alan M. , Thurston Teresa L. M. , Holden David W.
Published: April 2016

As key components of innate immune defense, macrophages are essential in controlling bacterial pathogens, including group A
Streptococcus
(GAS). Despite this, only a limited number of studies have analyzed the recovery of GAS from within human neutrophils and macrophages. Here, we determined the intracellular fate of GAS in human macrophages by using several quantitative approaches. In both U937 and primary human macrophages, the appearance over time of long GAS chains revealed that despite GAS-mediated cytotoxicity, replication occurred in viable, propidium iodide-negative macrophages. Whereas the major virulence factor M1 did not contribute to bacterial growth, a GAS mutant strain deficient in streptolysin O (SLO) was impaired for intracellular replication. SLO promoted bacterial escape from the GAS-containing vacuole (GCV) into the macrophage cytosol. Up to half of the cytosolic GAS colocalized with ubiquitin and p62, suggesting that the bacteria were targeted by the autophagy machinery. Despite this, live imaging of U937 macrophages revealed proficient replication of GAS after GCV rupture, indicating that escape from the GCV is important for growth of GAS in macrophages. Our results reveal that GAS can replicate within viable human macrophages, with SLO promoting GCV escape and cytosolic growth, despite the recruitment of autophagy receptors to bacteria.

IMPORTANCE
Classically regarded as an extracellular pathogen, GAS can persist within human epithelial cells, as well as neutrophils and macrophages. Some studies suggest that GAS can modulate its intracellular vacuole to promote survival and perhaps replicate in macrophages. However, an in-depth single-cell analysis of the dynamics of survival and replication is lacking. We used macrophage-like cell lines and primary macrophages to measure the intracellular growth of GAS at both the population and single-cell levels. While CFU counts revealed no increase in overall bacterial growth, quantitative fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, and time-lapse imaging revealed bacterial replication in a proportion of infected macrophages. This study emphasizes the importance of single-cell analysis especially when studying the intracellular fate of a pathogen that is cytotoxic and displays heterogeneity in terms of intracellular killing and growth. To our knowledge, this study provides the first direct visualization of GAS replication inside human cells.
Right heart catheterisation may be cautiously performed through a mechanical valve prosthesis in the tricuspid position
Authors: Pettit Stephen , Tsui Steven , Parameshwar Jayan
Published: April 2016

Right heart catheterisation (RHC) may be performed through a mechanical valve prosthesis in the tricuspid position using a partially inflated pulmonary artery flotation catheter. Preprocedural preparation should include an ex vivo trial with an identical valve prosthesis and the type of catheter to be used for the procedure. The operator should expect immediate unloading of the right ventricle due to catheter-associated tricuspid regurgitation, but it is possible to estimate pulmonary vascular resistance using the Fick principle. The risk of catheter entrapment or damage to the prosthetic leaflets during the procedure is likely to be low. This risk may be acceptable to the clinician and the patient if pulmonary vascular resistance must be measured in order to determine eligibility for heart transplantation.
Combined early and adult life risk factor associations for mid-life obesity in a prospective birth cohort: assessing potential public health impact
Authors: Pinto Pereira Snehal M , van Veldhoven Karin , Li Leah , Power Chris
Published: April 2016

Objective

The combined effect of life-course influences on obesity development and thus their potential public health impact is unclear. We evaluated combined associations and predicted probabilities for early and adult life risk factors with central and general obesity in mid-adulthood.

Setting

1958 British birth cohort.

Participants

4629 males and 4670 females with data on waist circumference.

Outcome measures

45 year obesity measured via waist circumference, waist–hip ratio (WHR) and BMI.

Results

At 45 years, approximately a third of the population were centrally obese and a quarter were generally obese. Three factors (parental overweight, maternal smoking during pregnancy and adult inactivity) were consistently associated with central and general obesity. Predicted probabilities for waist obesity increased from those with none to all three risk factors (0.15–0.33 in men; 0.19–0.39 in women (ptrend<0.001)), with a similar trend for general obesity. Additional factors (adult smoking, low fibre and heavy alcohol consumption) were associated with WHR obesity, although varying by gender. Prevalence of risk factors was higher in manual than non-manual groups: for example, in men 38% versus 25%, respectively, had ≥2 risk factors for waist and general obesity.

Conclusions

Early-life and adult factors that are amenable to change are highly prevalent and accumulate in association with central and general obesity in mid-adulthood. The increase in probabilities for mid-adult obesity associated with cumulative levels of risk factors suggests the potential for public health impact.
Improving distress in dialysis (iDiD): a feasibility two-arm parallel randomised controlled trial of an online cognitive behavioural therapy intervention with and without therapist-led telephone support for psychological distress in patients undergoing haemodialysis
Authors: Hudson Joanna L , Moss-Morris Rona , Game David , Carroll Amy , McCrone Paul , Hotopf Matthew , Yardley Lucy , Chilcot Joseph
Published: April 2016

Introduction

Psychological distress is common in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and is associated with poorer health outcomes. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is recommended in UK clinical guidelines for the management of depression in people with long-term conditions. Access to skilled therapists competent in managing the competing mental and physical health demands of ESKD is limited. Online CBT treatments tailored to the needs of the ESKD population offers a pragmatic solution for under-resourced services. This study examines the feasibility and acceptability of implementing a two-arm parallel randomised controlled trial of online CBT with (intervention arm) and without (control arm) therapist support to improve psychological distress in patients undergoing haemodialysis.

Methods

Patients will be screened for depression and anxiety while attending for their haemodialysis treatments. We aim to recruit 60 adult patients undergoing haemodialysis who meet criteria for mild to moderately severe symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. Patients will be randomised individually (using a 1:1 computerised sequence ratio) to either online CBT with therapist telephone support (intervention arm), or online CBT with no therapist (control arm). Outcomes include feasibility and acceptability descriptive data on rates of recruitment, randomisation, retention and treatment adherence. Self-report outcomes include measures of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7), quality of life (Euro-QoL), service use (client service receipt inventory) and illness cognitions (brief illness perception questionnaire). A qualitative process evaluation will also be conducted. The statistician will be blinded to treatment allocation.

Ethics and dissemination

A National Health Service (NHS) research ethics committee approved the study. Data from this study will provide essential information for the design and testing of further interventions to ameliorate distress in patients undergoing dialysis. Any amendments to the protocol will be submitted to the NHS committee and study sponsor.

Trial registration number

NCT023528702; Pre-results.
Comparison of the International Crowding Measure in Emergency Departments (ICMED) and the National Emergency Department Overcrowding Score (NEDOCS) to measure emergency department crowding: pilot study
Authors: Boyle Adrian , Abel Gary , Raut Pramin , Austin Richard , Dhakshinamoorthy Vijayasankar , Ayyamuthu Ravi , Murdoch Iona , Burton Joel
Published: April 2016

Introduction

There is uncertainty about the best way to measure emergency department crowding. We have previously developed a consensus-based measure of crowding, the International Crowding Measure in Emergency Departments (ICMED). We aimed to obtain pilot data to evaluate the ability of a shortened form of the ICMED, the sICMED, to predict senior emergency department clinicians’ concerns about crowding and danger compared with a very well-studied measure of emergency department crowding, the National Emergency Department Overcrowding Score (NEDOCS).

Methods

We collected real-time observations of the sICMED and NEDOCS and compared these with clinicians’ perceptions of crowding and danger on a visual analogue scale. Data were collected in four emergency departments in the East of England. Associations were explored using simple regression, random intercept models and models accounting for correlation between adjacent time points.

Results

We conducted 82 h of observation in 10 observation sets. Naive modelling suggested strong associations between sICMED and NEDOCS and clinician perceptions of crowding and danger. Further modelling showed that, due to clustering, the association between sICMED and danger persisted, but the association between these two measures and perception of crowding was no longer statistically significant.

Conclusions

Both sICMED and NEDOCS can be collected easily in a variety of English hospitals. Further studies are required but initial results suggest both scores may have potential use for assessing crowding variation at long timescales, but are less sensitive to hour-by-hour variation. Correlation in time is an important methodological consideration which, if ignored, may lead to erroneous conclusions. Future studies should account for such correlation in both design and analysis.
Opportunistic detection of atrial fibrillation using blood pressure monitors: a systematic review
Authors: Kane Sarah A , Blake James R , McArdle Frank J , Langley Philip , Sims Andrew J
Published: April 2016

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects around 2% of the population and early detection is beneficial, allowing patients to begin potentially life-saving anticoagulant therapies. Blood pressure (BP) monitors may offer an opportunity to screen for AF.

Aim

To identify and appraise studies which report the diagnostic accuracy of automated BP monitors used for opportunistic AF detection.

Methods

A systematic search was performed of the MEDLINE, MEDLINE In-Process and EMBASE literature databases. Papers were eligible if they described primary studies of the evaluation of a BP device for AF detection, were published in a peer-reviewed journal and reported values for the sensitivity and specificity. Included studies were appraised using the QUADAS-2 tool to assess their risk of bias and applicability to opportunistic AF detection. Values for the sensitivity and specificity of AF detection were extracted from each paper and compared.

Results and Conclusions

We identified seven papers evaluating six devices from two manufacturers. Only one study scored low risk in all of the QUADAS-2 domains. All studies reported specificity >85% and 6 reported sensitivity >90%. The studies showed that BP devices with embedded algorithms for detecting arrhythmias show promise as screening tools for AF, comparing favourably with manual pulse palpation. But the studies used different methodologies and many were subject to potential bias. More studies are needed to more precisely define the sensitivity and specificity of opportunistic screening for AF during BP measurement before its clinical utility in the population of interest can be assessed fully.
Tetrahydropyranyl protection and deprotection of alcohols using a niobium-based Brønsted acid catalyst
Authors: Crites Charles-Oneil L. , Matos Lima Filipe , Marin M. Luisa , Netto-Ferreira Jose Carlos , Impellizzeri Stefania , Hallett-Tapley Geniece L. , Scaiano Juan C.
Published: April 2016

Solid niobium oxide treated with phosphoric acid (NbP) was used as a heterogeneous catalyst in the protection of a series of aliphatic alcohols as tetrahydropyranyl (THP) derivatives. Protection of primary alcohols using this material with strong Brønsted acid sites was achieved in good yields (75%–94%), while moderate values were obtained in the protection of secondary and tertiary alcohols (50%–84%), largely dependent on the steric hindrance in the proximity of the hydroxyl moiety. NbP also catalyzed deprotection of THP ethers derived from primary alcohols and phenol with moderate yields (65%–99%).
Theoretical investigations of the structural, electronic and optical properties of Hg1−xCdxS alloys
Authors: Al-Rajoub S. , Hamad B.
Published: April 2016

The structural, electronic and optical properties of mercury cadmium sulfide (Hg[Formula: see text]Cd[Formula: see text]S) alloys with [Formula: see text] = 0.0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75 are studied using density functional theory (DFT) within full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FPLAPW) method. We used the local density approximation (LDA), the generalized gradient approximation (GGA), Hubbard-corrected functionals (GGA/LDA[Formula: see text]+[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]) and the modified Becke–Johnson (LDA/GGA)-mjb hybrid potentials to treat the exchange-correlation functional [Formula: see text]. We found that LDA functional predicts better lattice constants than GGA functional. Mercury sulfide (HgS) binary alloy was found to exhibit a semi-metallic behavior using all functional with an inverted band gap close to the experimental value. However, the hybrid functionals were more successful than LDA and GGA functionals to predict the correct electronic structure of Hg[Formula: see text]Cd[Formula: see text]S ternary alloys. The results of the electronic and optical band gaps are consistent for Hg[Formula: see text]Cd[Formula: see text]S ternary alloys.
Vibration-Based Outlier Detection on High Dimensional Data
Authors: Xia Shuyin , Wang Guoyin , Yu Hong , Liu Qun , Wang Jin
Published: April 2016

Outlier detection is a difficult problem due to its time complexity being quadratic or cube in most cases, which makes it necessary to develop corresponding acceleration algorithms. Since the index structure (c.f. R tree) is used in the main acceleration algorithms, those approaches deteriorate when the dimensionality increases. In this paper, an approach named VBOD (vibration-based outlier detection) is proposed, in which the main variants assess the vibration. Since the basic model and approximation algorithm FASTVBOD do not need to compute the index structure, their performances are less sensitive to increasing dimensions than traditional approaches. The basic model of this approach has only quadratic time complexity. Furthermore, accelerated algorithms decrease time complexity to [Formula: see text]. The fact that this approach does not rely on any parameter selection is another advantage. FASTVBOD was compared with other state-of-the-art algorithms, and it performed much better than other methods especially on high dimensional data.
CLOWN SCOUTING AND CASTING AT THE CIRQUE DU SOLEIL: DESIGNING BOUNDARY PRACTICES FOR TALENT DEVELOPMENT AND KNOWLEDGE CREATION
Authors: GATEAU THIERRY , SIMON LAURENT
Published: April 2016

A significant part of management in creative organisations is the discovery, development, and engagement of the creative talents. These activities require practices at the intersection of talent management, knowledge management and HR management. In this paper, we observed a bootcamp held at Cirque du Soleil in order to experiment with new casting and training practices for a scarce and specific occupational creative community: clowns. Our study shows that this bootcamp provides context at the borders of distinct practices: recruitment, training, and exploration. This intermediary zone allows the emergence of a boundary practice: the co-construction of what actors of the organisation and members of the communities do, make and learn to connect, create and understand new meaning of their shared reality in performance and exploration. This concept contributes to an improved understanding of the management of scarce talents in knowledge-and-creativity intensive fields, as hi-tech industries, software development, engineering, or creative industries.
Effect of grain size on thermal shock property of alumina ceramic
Authors: Xu Xianghong , Sheng Shilong , Yuan Wenjun , Lin Zhongkang
Published: April 2016

Ceramic has a great broad application in high-temperature environment due to its favorable mechanical, antioxidant and corrosion resistance properties. However, it tends to exhibit severe crack or fail under thermal shock resulting from its inherent brittleness. Microstructure property is a vital factor and plays a critical role in influencing thermal shock property of ceramic. The present study experimentally tested and characterized thermal-shock crack and residual strength of ceramic under different quench temperature, while two kinds of alumina ceramics with different grain size are employed. A two-dimensional (2D) numerical model based on statistical mesoscopic damage mechanics is introduced to depict the micro-crack propagation of ceramic sheet under water quenching. The effects of grain size on critical thermal shock temperature, crack characteristics and residual strength are studied. And the microscopic mechanism of the influence of grain size on thermal shock resistance of ceramic is discussed based on the crack propagation path obtained from experimental and simulation results. The qualitative effect and evolution change of grain size on thermal shock property of alumina ceramic will be summarized.
Integration of Cretaceous Morro do Chaves rock properties (NE Brazil) with the Holocene Hamelin Coquina architecture (Shark Bay, Western Australia) to model effective permeability
Authors: Corbett Patrick W. M. , Estrella Rayana , Morales Rodriguez Andrea , Shoeir Ahmed , Borghi Leonardo , Tavares Ana Carolina
Published: April 2016

Coquinas are significant producing facies in the pre-salt reservoirs of Brazil and Angola. This paper describes an analogue model study to help understand the reservoir characterization of coquina reservoirs. Porosity and permeability measured in 39 core plugs from a single coquina bed in a Lower Cretaceous outcrop in NE Brazil have been combined in a three-dimensional geological model for use in reservoir simulation. A training image derived from the geometry of a Holocene coquina analogue in Western Australia controlled the distribution of the bed-scale petrophysical properties from the outcrop. A synthetic well test showed that the effective permeability of the system lies between the geometrical and harmonic averages of the plug data in the layer. There is also moderate flow anisotropy, with preferential fluid flow aligned along the beach ridges. This paper demonstrates how the combination of outcrop data and an appropriate modern environment might be used to improve our understanding of the behaviour of coquina reservoirs and to guide future reservoir studies.
Groundwater recharge as the trigger of naturally occurring intraplate earthquakes
Authors: Costain John K.
Published: April 2016

I explore the hypothesis that most intraplate earthquakes and their aftershock sequences are triggered by pore-fluid pressure increases. As proposed in this paper, data from the magnitude 5.7 Virginia earthquake of 23 August 2011 show that this is a two-step process. (1) First, from areas where there is greater than normal meteoric recharge, pore-fluid pressure diffusion by means of Biot slow waves transfers more pore-fluid pressure towards a future hypocentre. Here the cumulation of Biot slow waves produces a steady increase in pore-fluid overpressure until a main shock is triggered. (2) Then, aftershocks occur in the zone reaching from the depth of the main shock to a depth of a few kilometres below the land surface, preferring to localize in a weaker, pervasive anisotropic crustal fabric, in response to locally increased permeability and pore-fluid pressure transients caused by the main shock. The primary corrosive agent responsible for reducing the strength of silicate minerals in this upper crustal zone is water, so that quartz-rich crust tends to have lower values of Poisson's ratio. I show here that increases in pore-fluid overpressure from normal groundwater recharge can start crack dilation leading to fracturing and the creation of new permeability. Previous chemical analyses across the Central Virginia Piedmont that hosted the 2011 Virginia shock show high upper crustal quartz content. This proposed two-step model for a main shock-aftershock sequence explains why intraplate earthquakes are rarely correlated with recognizable brittle faults at the Earth's surface.

Supplementary material:
A biography of John Costain is available at
https://dx.doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.2854324.v3