bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study of Ultrasonic Sensor Capability in Human Following Robot System
Authors: Tai W. W. , Ilias B. , Abdul Shukor S.A. , Abdul Rahim N. , Markom MA
Published: December 2019

Human following robot is very common in this technology era. Human following is a technique used by robot and autonomous vehicles to follow a human within a specific range. In this case, communication between the human and the robot is the most significant factor where sensor is needed to ensure its successfulness. This paper discussed a human following robot system that utilized ultrasonic sensor. Ultrasonic sensor is preferred for human following robot due to its wide detection area, less light dependency, the ability to detect glass and shining wall, smaller in size, lightweight, use a very low memory, cheaper than Laser Range Finder (LRF) or camera and lower power consumption. However, being a specular type of sensor and not narrowly focused, this can cause wrong estimation and recognition of human, especially at the legs. Therefore, necessary accompanying algorithms should be developed to encounter this issue. Here, three pieces 40 kHz ultrasonic sensors are mounted on the four-wheeled mobile robot platform. Ultrasonic sensors used to detect the human’s leg, and the data collected from the sensors were used upon the design of sensor platform. In order to detect human’s leg, the sensor platform was tested repeatedly to obtain optimum data. The data which have been collected from the ultrasonic sensor will then be interfaced with Arduino software. Thus, this paper outlines a set of benchmarks for human following and briefly evaluates its performances. The human following robot was tested in a real laboratory environment. The results were good, where the implementation of this algorithm is able to produce an accurate decision.
Discovering the Implementation Success Factors for IoT and Big Data Analytics in Transportation System
Authors: Hussein W N , Kamarudin L M , Hussain H N. , Ishak N A , Zakaria A. , Jadaa K J
Published: December 2019

The implementation of intelligent transportation systems, or what is otherwise referred to as IoT and big data analytics in transportation system are affected by several factors. Considering the overall impact of a definite and comprehensive plan that involves business, infrastructure, and organizational administration, improved customers satisfaction can better be achieved when all these antecedent factors are investigated, and their elements are determined. There is no recorded study on multidimensional implementation model where more than one of them is considered. This paper, therefore, stems from the general background of implementation success factors but aims to discover the generality of the definite plan and procedure that must be executed for a successful implementation of big data analytics and IoT-oriented transportation system. This paper employs a systematic literature review and an in-depth interview to address the obvious limitation. This paper also discussed the qualitative approach that was used to gather data on the successful implementation factors in the transportation system. The deliverable from this research will be the implementation success factors for the big data analytics and IoT-oriented transportation system.
Aspirin rechallenge in an adult patient previously diagnosed with Reye syndrome
Authors: Magrum BrookeAnne G , Pickworth Kerry K
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Aspirin has been the cornerstone of antiplatelet therapy in patients with acute coronary syndromes and is well accepted and recommended by several major healthcare organizations. A combination of aspirin and a P2Y12 inhibitor, commonly known as dual antiplatelet therapy, is recommended in patients with coronary stent implantation to reduce the risk of stent thrombosis and ischemic events.

We recently cared for an adult male who presented with an acute coronary syndrome who had a history of Reye syndrome during childhood. During this admission, he was rechallenged with low-dose aspirin for the first time since his diagnosis of Reye syndrome as a child after aspirin therapy. There have been various case reports in children and adults who have been rechallenged with aspirin within days to weeks after the initial diagnosis of Reye syndrome. These reports show mixed results in children and adults regarding the return of Reye syndrome upon aspirin rechallenge shortly after initial aspirin exposure.

Conclusion

This, to our knowledge, appears to be the first report of a low-dose aspirin rechallenge 30 years later in life in an adult patient with a history of Reye syndrome while receiving aspirin therapy during childhood.
eCAMI: simultaneous classification and motif identification for enzyme annotation
Authors: Xu Jing , Zhang Han , Zheng Jinfang , Dovoedo Philippe , Yin Yanbin
Published: December 2019

Motivation

Carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) are extremely important to bioenergy, human gut microbiome, and plant pathogen researches and industries. Here we developed a new amino acid k-mer-based CAZyme classification, motif identification and genome annotation tool using a bipartite network algorithm. Using this tool, we classified 390 CAZyme families into thousands of subfamilies each with distinguishing k-mer peptides. These k-mers represented the characteristic motifs (in the form of a collection of conserved short peptides) of each subfamily, and thus were further used to annotate new genomes for CAZymes. This idea was also generalized to extract characteristic k-mer peptides for all the Swiss-Prot enzymes classified by the EC (enzyme commission) numbers and applied to enzyme EC prediction.

Results

This new tool was implemented as a Python package named eCAMI. Benchmark analysis of eCAMI against the state-of-the-art tools on CAZyme and enzyme EC datasets found that: (i) eCAMI has the best performance in terms of accuracy and memory use for CAZyme and enzyme EC classification and annotation; (ii) the k-mer-based tools (including PPR-Hotpep, CUPP and eCAMI) perform better than homology-based tools and deep-learning tools in enzyme EC prediction. Lastly, we confirmed that the k-mer-based tools have the unique ability to identify the characteristic k-mer peptides in the predicted enzymes.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/yinlabniu/eCAMI and https://github.com/zhanglabNKU/eCAMI.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
A local group differences test for subject-level multivariate density neuroimaging outcomes
Authors: Dworkin Jordan D , Linn Kristin A , Solomon Andrew J , Satterthwaite Theodore D , Raznahan Armin , Bakshi Rohit , Shinohara Russell T
Published: December 2019

A great deal of neuroimaging research focuses on voxel-wise analysis or segmentation of damaged tissue, yet many diseases are characterized by diffuse or non-regional neuropathology. In simple cases, these processes can be quantified using summary statistics of voxel intensities. However, the manifestation of a disease process in imaging data is often unknown, or appears as a complex and nonlinear relationship between the voxel intensities on various modalities. When the relevant pattern is unknown, summary statistics are often unable to capture differences between disease groups, and their use may encourage post hoc searches for the optimal summary measure. In this study, we introduce the multi-modal density testing (MMDT) framework for the naive discovery of group differences in voxel intensity profiles. MMDT operationalizes multi-modal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data as multivariate subject-level densities of voxel intensities and utilizes kernel density estimation to develop a local two-sample test for individual points within the density space. Through simulations, we show that this method controls type I error and recovers relevant differences when applied to a specified point. Additionally, we demonstrate the ability to maintain power while controlling the family-wise error rate and false discovery rate when applying the test over a grid of points within the density space. Finally, we apply this method to a study of subjects with either multiple sclerosis (MS) or conditions that tend to mimic MS on MRI, and find significant differences between the two groups in their voxel intensity profiles within the thalamus.
The Power of Smiling: The Adult Brain Networks Underlying Learned Infant Emotionality
Authors: Stark Eloise A , Cabral Joana , Riem Madelon M E , Van IJzendoorn Marinus H , Stein Alan , Kringelbach Morten L
Published: December 2019

The perception of infant emotionality, one aspect of temperament, starts to form in infancy, yet the underlying mechanisms of how infant emotionality affects adult neural dynamics remain unclear. We used a social reward task with probabilistic visual and auditory feedback (infant laughter or crying) to train 47 nulliparous women to perceive the emotional style of six different infants. Using functional neuroimaging, we subsequently measured brain activity while participants were tested on the learned emotionality of the six infants. We characterized the elicited patterns of dynamic functional brain connectivity using Leading Eigenvector Dynamics Analysis and found significant activity in a brain network linking the orbitofrontal cortex with the amygdala and hippocampus, where the probability of occurrence significantly correlated with the valence of the learned infant emotional disposition. In other words, seeing infants with neutral face expressions after having interacted and learned their various degrees of positive and negative emotional dispositions proportionally increased the activity in a brain network previously shown to be involved in pleasure, emotion, and memory. These findings provide novel neuroimaging insights into how the perception of happy versus sad infant emotionality shapes adult brain networks.
Population Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Ciprofloxacin Prophylaxis in Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Patients
Authors: Sassen S D T , Mathôt R A A , Pieters R , de Haas V , Kaspers G J L , van den Bos C , Tissing W J E , te Loo D M W W , Bierings M B , van Westreenen M , van der Sluis I M , Zwaan C M
Published: December 2019

Background

Ciprofloxacin is used as antimicrobial prophylaxis in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) to decrease infections with gram-negative bacteria. However, there are no clear guidelines concerning prophylactic dose.

Aims

To determine the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PKPD) of ciprofloxacin prophylaxis in a pediatric ALL population. The effect of patient characteristics and antileukemic treatment on ciprofloxacin exposure, the area under the concentration time curve over minimal inhibitory concentration (AUC24/MIC) ratios, and emergence of resistance were studied.

Methods

A total of 615 samples from 129 children (0–18 years) with ALL were collected in a multicenter prospective study. A population pharmacokinetic model was developed. Microbiological cultures were collected prior to and during prophylaxis. An AUC24/MIC of ≥125 was defined as target ratio.

Results

A 1-compartment model with zero-order absorption and allometric scaling best described the data. No significant (P < .01) covariates remained after backward elimination and no effect of asparaginase or azoles were found. Ciprofloxacin AUC24 was 16.9 mg*h/L in the prednisone prophase versus 29.3 mg*h/L with concomitant chemotherapy. Overall, 100%, 81%, and 18% of patients at, respectively, MIC of 0.063, 0.125, and 0.25 mg/L achieved AUC24/MIC ≥ 125. In 13% of the patients, resistant bacteria were found during prophylactic treatment.

Conclusion

Ciprofloxacin exposure shows an almost 2-fold change throughout the treatment of pediatric ALL. Depending on the appropriateness of 125 as target ratio, therapeutic drug monitoring or dose adjustments might be indicated for less susceptible bacteria starting from ≥ 0.125 mg/L to prevent the emergence of resistance and reach required targets for efficacy.
Ewé: a web-based ethnobotanical database for storing and analysing data
Authors: do Nascimento Fernandes de Souza Estevão , Hawkins Julie A
Published: December 2019

Ethnobotanical databases serve as repositories of traditional knowledge (TK), either at international or local scales. By documenting plant species with traditional use, and most importantly, the applications and modes of use of such species, ethnobotanical databases play a role in the conservation of TK and also provide access to information that could improve hypothesis generation and testing in ethnobotanical studies. Brazil has a rich medicinal flora and a rich cultural landscape. Nevertheless, cultural change and ecological degradation can lead to loss of TK. Here, we present an online database developed with open-source tools with a capacity to include all medicinal flora of Brazil. We present test data for the Leguminosae comprising a total of 2078 records, referred to here as use reports, including data compiled from literature and herbarium sources. Unlike existing databases, Ewé provides tools for the visualization of large datasets, facilitating hypothesis generation and meta-analyses. The Ewé database is currently available at www.ewedb.com.
Characteristics of non-culprit plaques in acute coronary syndrome patients with layered culprit plaque
Authors: Russo Michele , Kim Hyung Oh , Kurihara Osamu , Araki Makoto , Shinohara Hiroki , Thondapu Vikas , Yonetsu Taishi , Soeda Tsunenari , Minami Yoshiyasu , Higuma Takumi , Lee Hang , Fracassi Francesco , Vergallo Rocco , Niccoli Giampaolo , Crea Filippo , Fuster Valentin , Jang Ik-Kyung
Published: December 2019

Aims 

Layered plaques represent signs of previous plaque destabilization. A recent study showed that acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with layered culprit plaque have more vulnerability at the culprit lesion and systemic inflammation. We aimed to compare the characteristics of non-culprit plaques between patients with or without layered plaque at the culprit lesion. We also evaluated the characteristics of layered non-culprit plaques, irrespective of culprit plaque phenotype.

Methods and results

We studied ACS patients who had undergone pre-intervention optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging. The number of non-culprit lesions was evaluated on coronary angiogram and morphological characteristics of plaques were studied by OCT. In 349 patients, 99 (28.4%) had layered culprit plaque. The number of non-culprit plaques in patients with or without layered culprit plaque was similar (3.2 ± 0.8 and 2.8 ± 0.8, P = 0.23). Among 465 non-culprit plaques, 145 from patients with layered culprit plaque showed a higher prevalence of macrophage infiltration (71.0% vs. 60.9%, P = 0.050). When analysed irrespective of culprit plaque phenotype, layered non-culprit plaques showed higher prevalence of lipid (93.3% vs. 86.0%, P = 0.028), thin cap fibroatheroma (29.7% vs. 13.7%, P < 0.001), and macrophage infiltration (82.4% vs. 54.0%, P < 0.001) than non-layered plaques. Plaques with layered phenotype at both culprit and non-culprit lesions had the highest vulnerability.

Conclusion 

In ACS patients, those with layered phenotype at the culprit lesion demonstrated greater macrophage infiltration at the non-culprit sites. Layered plaque at the non-culprit lesions was associated with more features of plaque vulnerability, particularly when the culprit lesion also had a layered pattern.
Evolutionary History of the Toll-Like Receptor Gene Family across Vertebrates
Authors: Liu Guangshuai , Zhang Huanxin , Zhao Chao , Zhang Honghai
Published: December 2019

Adaptation to a wide range of pathogenic environments is a major aspect of the ecological adaptations of vertebrates during evolution. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are ancient membrane-bound sensors in animals and are best known for their roles in detecting and defense against invading pathogenic microorganisms. To understand the evolutionary history of the vertebrate TLR gene family, we first traced the origin of single-cysteine cluster TLRs that share the same protein architecture with vertebrate TLRs in early-branching animals and then analyzed all members of the TLR family in over 200 species covering all major vertebrate clades. Our results indicate that although the emergence of single-cysteine cluster TLRs predates the separation of bilaterians and cnidarians, most vertebrate TLR members originated shortly after vertebrate emergence. Phylogenetic analyses divided 1,726 vertebrate TLRs into 8 subfamilies, and TLR3 may represent the most ancient subfamily that emerged before the branching of deuterostomes. Our analysis reveals that purifying selection predominated in the evolution of all vertebrate TLRs, with mean dN/dS (ω) values ranging from 0.082 for TLR21 in birds to 0.434 for TLR11 in mammals. However, we did observe patterns of positive selection acting on specific codons (527 of 60,294 codons across all vertebrate TLRs, 8.7‰), which are significantly concentrated in ligand-binding extracellular domains and suggest host–pathogen coevolutionary interactions. Additionally, we found stronger positive selection acting on nonviral compared with viral TLRs, indicating the more essential nonredundant function of viral TLRs in host immunity. Taken together, our findings provide comprehensive insight into the complex evolutionary processes of the vertebrate TLR gene family, involving gene duplication, pseudogenization, purification, and positive selection.
Successful cardiac surgery in a patient with Evans syndrome
Authors: Hamamoto Hirotsugu , Yoshimura Kenshi
Published: December 2019

Evans syndrome is a rare haematological disease that may cause several complications during heart surgery. Herein we documented heart valve surgery in a patient with Evans syndrome who was receiving monoclonal antibody therapy, and valve replacement was successfully performed via prophylactic measures against haemolysis.
Therapeutic Mechanism of Macrophage Inflammatory Protein 1 α Neutralizing Antibody (CCL3) in Clostridium difficile Infection in Mice
Authors: Wang Jiani , Ortiz Christina , Fontenot Lindsey , Mukhopadhyay Riya , Xie Ying , Chen Xinhua , Feng Hanping , Pothoulakis Charalabos , Koon Hon Wai
Published: December 2019

Background

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) causes diarrhea and colitis. We aimed to find a common pathogenic pathway in CDI among humans and mice by comparing toxin-mediated effects in human and mouse colonic tissues.

Method

Using multiplex enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we determined the cytokine secretion of toxin A– and B–treated human and mouse colonic explants.

Results

Toxin A and toxin B exposure to fresh human and mouse colonic explants caused different patterns of cytokine secretion. Toxin A induced macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP) 1α secretion in both human and mouse explants. Toxin A reduced the expression of chloride anion exchanger SLC26A3 expression in mouse colonic explants and human colonic epithelial cells. Patients with CDI had increased colonic MIP-1 α expression and reduced colonic SLC26A3 (solute carrier family 26, member 3) compared with controls. Anti–MIP-1 α neutralizing antibody prevented death, ameliorated colonic injury, reduced colonic interleukin 1β (IL-1β) messenger RNA expression, and restored colonic SLC26a3 expression in C. difficile–infected mice. The anti–MIP-1 α neutralizing antibody prevented CDI recurrence. SLC26a3 inhibition augmented colonic IL-1 β messenger RNA expression and abolished the protective effect of anti–MIP-1 α neutralizing antibody in mice with CDI.

Conclusion

MIP-1 α is a common toxin A–dependent chemokine in human and mouse colon. MIP-1 α mediates detrimental effects by reducing SLC26a3 and enhancing IL-1 β expression in the colon.
Improving quality of care in conflict settings: access and infrastructure are fundamental
Authors: Jaff Dilshad , Leatherman Sheila , Tawfik Linda
Published: December 2019

Quality problem or issue

Armed conflicts pose significant challenges to ensuring timely access to quality health care services for millions around the world.

Initial assessment

Ensuring access and basic infrastructure for conflict-affected populations are overlooked in the global movement to provide quality of care.

Choice of solution

This paper identifies strategies and interventions to improve access to good quality care in settings and communities afflicted by conflict.

Lessons learned

t is crucial to focus more attention on, and develop an evidence base for, ensuring access and basic infrastructure to improve quality of care in conflict-affected regions.
Methylation of PLK1 by SET7/9 ensures accurate kinetochore–microtubule dynamics
Authors: Yu Ruoying , Wu Huihui , Ismail Hazrat , Du Shihao , Cao Jun , Wang Jianyu , Ward Tarsha , Yang Fengrui , Gui Ping , Ali Mahboob , Chu Lingluo , Mo Fei , Wang Qi , Chu Youjun , Zang Jianye , Zhao Yun , Ye Mingliang , Fang Guowei , Chen Peng R , Dou Zhen , Gao Xinjiao , Wang Wenwen , Liu Xing , Yao Xuebiao
Published: December 2019

Faithful segregation of mitotic chromosomes requires bi-orientation of sister chromatids, which relies on the sensing of correct attachments between spindle microtubules and kinetochores. Although the mechanisms underlying PLK1 activation have been extensively studied, the regulatory mechanisms that couple PLK1 activity to accurate chromosome segregation are not well understood. In particular, PLK1 is implicated in stabilizing kinetochore–microtubule attachments, but how kinetochore PLK1 activity is regulated to avoid hyperstabilized kinetochore–microtubules in mitosis remains elusive. Here, we show that kinetochore PLK1 kinase activity is modulated by SET7/9 via lysine methylation during early mitosis. The SET7/9-elicited dimethylation occurs at the Lys191 of PLK1, which tunes down its activity by limiting ATP utilization. Overexpression of the non-methylatable PLK1 mutant or chemical inhibition of SET7/9 methyltransferase activity resulted in mitotic arrest due to destabilized kinetochore–microtubule attachments. These data suggest that kinetochore PLK1 is essential for stable kinetochore–microtubule attachments and methylation by SET7/9 promotes dynamic kinetochore–microtubule attachments for accurate error correction. Our findings define a novel homeostatic regulation at the kinetochore that integrates protein phosphorylation and methylation with accurate chromosome segregation for maintenance of genomic stability.
The conserved 3′ UTR-derived small RNA NarS mediates mRNA crossregulation during nitrate respiration
Authors: Wang Chuan , Chao Yanjie , Matera Gianluca , Gao Qian , Vogel Jörg
Published: December 2019

Small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) from mRNA 3′ UTRs seem to present a previously unrecognized layer of bacterial post-transcriptional control whereby mRNAs influence each other's expression, independently of transcriptional control. Studies in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica showed that such sRNAs are natural products of RNase E-mediated mRNA decay and associate with major RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) such as Hfq and ProQ. If so, there must be additional sRNAs from mRNAs that accumulate only under specific physiological conditions. We test this prediction by characterizing candidate NarS that represents the 3′ UTR of nitrate transporter NarK whose gene is silent during standard aerobic growth. We find that NarS acts by Hfq-dependent base pairing to repress the synthesis of the nitrite transporter, NirC, resulting in mRNA cross-regulation of nitrate and nitrite transporter genes. Interestingly, the NarS-mediated repression selectively targets the nirC cistron of the long nirBDC-cysG operon, an observation that we rationalize as a mechanism to protect the bacterial cytoplasm from excessive nitrite toxicity during anaerobic respiration with abundant nitrate. Our successful functional assignment of a 3′ UTR sRNA from a non-standard growth condition supports the notion that mRNA crossregulation is more pervasive than currently appreciated.
Vascular endothelial growth factor D is a biomarker of fluid overload in haemodialysis patients
Authors: von Moos Seraina , Segerer Stephan , Davenport Andrew , Sadoune Malha , Gerritsen Kerem , Pottecher Julien , Ruschitzka Frank , Mebazaa Alexandre , Arrigo Mattia , Cippà Pietro E
Published: December 2019

Background

Improved understanding and assessment of the complex physiology of volume regulation in haemodialysis (HD) patients are required to improve patient care and reduce mortality associated with fluid overload (FO).

Methods

We searched for FO-related biomarkers among 184 peptides associated with cardiovascular disease in a cohort of 30 HD patients. First, we assessed the direct impact of HD on the peptides of interest by comparing plasma concentrations before and after treatment. Then, we compared cardiovascular peptide profiles between patients with and without FO as defined by bioimpedance analysis (BIA). The plasma concentration of selected candidate biomarkers for FO was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and correlated with previously described FO-related clinical and laboratory parameters. For validation, results were confirmed in an independent cohort of 144 HD patients.

Results

We found seven peptides positively [NT-proBNP, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), vascular endothelial growth factor D (VEGFD), tumour necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor 2, growth differentiation factor 15, tumour necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 13B, chitinase-3-like protein 1] and five negatively (leptin, renin, epidermal growth factor receptor, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, myeloblastin) correlated to FO. In addition to natriuretic peptides, VEGFD emerged as third peptide highly correlated with BIA (ρ = 0.619, P < 0.0001). In line with this, VEGFD concentration verified by ELISA correlated with BIA, BNP and soluble CD146 but not with vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGFC). Notably, levels of VEGFD were unrelated to cardiac systolic function (P = 0.63), contrary to BNP (P = 0.0003). Finally, we observed that 1-year all-cause mortality was higher in patients with high BNP (P = 0.0002), FO (defined by BIA, P = 0.04) and high VEGFD (P = 0.02), but not with high VEGFC (P = 0.48).

Conclusion

VEGFD is a novel FO-related biomarker with unique diagnostic and prognostic properties.
Burnout and occupational stressors among non-medical occupational health staff
Authors: Okuda Yukako , Iwasaki Shinichi , Deguchi Yasuhiko , Nitta Tomoko , Mitake Tomoe , Sakaguchi Aya , Niki Akihiro , Inoue Koki
Published: December 2019

Background

The work required to assist individuals in improving their mental health is stressful and known to be associated with burnout. In Japanese companies, non-medical occupational health (OH) staff often take the role of maintaining and improving workers’ mental health. However, few studies have examined burnout in this population.

Aims

To assess the relationship between burnout and occupational stressors among non-medical OH staff.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study of OH staff who had participated in mental health seminars between 2016 and 2018. Occupational stressors were assessed using the Japanese version of the Job Content Questionnaire. Burnout was assessed using the Japanese version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory.

Results

We administered the survey to 230 non-medical OH staff, of which 188 completed the questionnaire. According to a hierarchical multiple linear regression analysis, high job demands were associated with greater emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment. Greater job control was associated only with higher personal accomplishment. Lower job support was associated with greater emotional exhaustion and depersonalization.

Conclusions

The present study found relationships between occupational stressors and burnout dimensions among OH staff. To avoid burnout among non-medical OH staff, it is important to take measures against occupational stressors, especially job demands and low levels of job support.
Benefits of Polymerase Chain Reaction Combined With Culture for the Diagnosis of Bone and Joint Infections: A Prospective Test Performance Study
Authors: Jacquier Hervé , Fihman Vincent , Amarsy Rishma , Vicaut Eric , Bousson Valérie , Cambau Emmanuelle , Crémieux Anne-Claude , Delcey Véronique , Hannouche Didier , Kaci Rachid , Laredo Jean-Denis , Meunier Fabienne , Nizard Rémy , Ottaviani Sébastien , Parlier Caroline , Richette Pascal , Sellier Pierre , Zadegan Fréderic , Lioté Fréderic , Berçot Béatrice ,   Molos Study Group, Desplaces Nicole , Bauer Thomas , Larousserie Fréderique , Pertuisset Edouard , Chicheportiche Valérie , Rottman Martin , Sedel Laurent , Orcel Philippe , Bardin Thomas , Allard Anne , Ora Jérémy , Ea Hang-Korng , Peyr Olivier , Tran Olivia , Diallo Abdourahmane , Guery Laurence , Jouis Véronique , Raskine Laurent , Mougari Faiza , de Ponfilly Gauthier , Benmansour Hanaa , Lecorche Emmanuel , Sanson-Le-Pors Marie-José , Riahi Jacques , Camelena François , Poncin Thibault , Hamze Bassam , Bergmann Jean-François , Munier Anne-Lise , Lopes Amanda
Published: December 2019

Background

The microbiological diagnosis of bone and joint infections (BJI) currently relies on cultures, and the relevance of molecular methods is still debated. The aim of this study was to determine whether polymerase chain reaction (PCR) could improve the etiological diagnosis of BJI.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted during a 4-year period at Lariboisiere University Hospital (Paris, France), including patients with suspicion of infectious spondylodiscitis, septic arthritis, prosthetic joint infections, and respective noninfected groups. Clinical and radiological data were collected at inclusion and during follow-up. All samples were analyzed by conventional cultures and 16S ribosomal deoxyribonucleic acid (rDNA) gene (16S-PCR). Specific cultures and PCR targeting Mycobacterium tuberculosis were also performed for spondylodiscitis samples. Case records were subsequently analyzed by an independent expert committee to confirm or invalidate the suspicion of infection and definitively classify the patients in a case or control group. The sensitivity of the combination of culture and PCR was compared with culture alone.

Results

After expert committee analysis, 105 cases of BJI cases and 111 control patients were analyzed. The most common pathogens of BJI were staphylococci (30%), M tuberculosis (19%), and streptococci (14%). Adding PCR enhanced the sensitivity compared with culture alone (1) for the diagnosis of M tuberculosis spondylodiscitis (64.4% vs 42.2%; P < .01) and (2) for nonstaphylococci BJI (81.6% vs 71.3%; P < .01). It is interesting to note that 16S-PCR could detect BJI due to uncommon bacteria such as Mycoplasma and fastidious bacteria.

Conclusions

Our study showed the benefit of 16S-PCR and PCR targeting M tuberculosis as add-on tests in cases of suspected BJI.
Experimental Melting of Hydrothermally Altered Rocks: Constraints for the Generation of Low-δ18O Rhyolites in the Central Snake River Plain
Authors: Troch Juliana , Ellis Ben S , Harris Chris , Ulmer Peter , Bouvier Anne-Sophie , Bachmann Olivier
Published: December 2019

Quantifying the relative contributions of crustal versus mantle-derived melt is important for understanding how silicic magmas are generated, stored, and interact with country rock in trans-crustal magmatic systems. Low-δ18O rhyolitic ignimbrites and lavas erupted during Miocene volcanic activity in the central Snake River Plain (14–6 Ma) have been inferred to be the result of large-scale partial or bulk melting of pre-existing hydrothermally altered lithologies of the Idaho batholith and Challis volcanic field. In this study, we assess the melting behaviour of heterogeneously altered source materials via partial melting experiments over a range of run times at conditions of 750–1000°C and 1–2 kbar, and apply our observations to current models for the petrogenesis of low-δ18O rhyolites along the Yellowstone hotspot track. Partial melt produced in the experiments inherits the bulk oxygen isotope composition from hydrothermally altered peraluminous source materials independent of the melt fraction, excluding the possibility for preferential, disequilibrium melting of 18O-depleted mineral phases during incipient melting. We propose a new model to explain the generation of low-δ18O rhyolites in the central Snake River Plain, whereby mantle-derived magmas assimilate ∼30–40% of crustal material that was hydrothermally altered at high temperatures in two stages: (1) a preceding episode of hydrothermal alteration during intrusion of Eocene plutons (‘pre-existing source’); (2) syn-magmatic hydrothermal alteration within a nested caldera complex. During assimilation, dilution of peraluminous crustal lithologies with mantle-derived magma maintains the metaluminous character of rhyolites erupted along the Yellowstone hotspot track. These results link previous models favouring melting of either pre-existing or syn-magmatically altered lithologies for the generation of low-δ18O rhyolites along the Yellowstone hotspot track and provide direct experimental observation of the chemical processes occurring during assimilation processes in magmatic environments.
Thermostability improvement of Aspergillus awamori glucoamylase via directed evolution of its gene located on episomal expression vector in Pichia pastoris cells
Authors: Schmidt Alexander , Shvetsov Alexey , Soboleva Elena , Kil Yury , Sergeev Vladimir , Surzhik Marina
Published: December 2019

Novel thermostable variants of glucoamylase (GA) from filamentous fungus Aspergillus awamori X100 were constructed using the directed evolution approach based on random mutagenesis by error-prone PCR of the catalytic domain region of glucoamylase gene located on a new episomal expression vector pPEHα in Pichia pastoris cells. Out of 3000 yeast transformants screened, six new thermostable GA variants with amino acid substitutions Val301Asp, Thr390Ala, Thr390Ala/Ser436Pro, Leu7Met/His391Tyr, Asn9His/Ile82Phe and Ser8Arg/Gln338Leu were identified and studied. To estimate the effect of each substitution in the double mutants, we have constructed the relevant single mutants of GA by site-directed mutagenesis and analyzed their thermal properties. Results of the analysis showed that only Ile82Phe and Ser8Arg substitutions by themselves increased enzyme thermostability. While the substitutions Leu7Met, Asn9His and Gln338Leu decreased the thermal stability of GA, the synergistic effect of double mutant variants Leu7Met/His391Tyr, Asn9His/Ile82Phe and Ser8Arg/Gln338Leu resulted in significant thermostability improvement as compared to the wild type GA. Thr390Ala and Thr390Ala/Ser436Pro mutant variants revealed the highest thermostability with free activation energy changes ΔΔG of 2.99 and 3.1 kJ/mol at 80°C, respectively.
Effectiveness of Physical Therapy– and Occupational Therapy–Based Rehabilitation in People Who Have Glioma and Are Undergoing Active Anticancer Treatment: Single-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Hansen Anders , Pedersen Christian Bonde , Jarden Jens Ole , Beier Dagmar , Minet Lisbeth Rosenbek , Søgaard Karen
Published: December 2019

Background

It is recommended that people with gliomas engage in rehabilitation, but high-quality evidence to support this recommendation is lacking.

Objective

This study assesses the effectiveness of a physical therapy– and occupational therapy–based rehabilitation intervention compared with usual rehabilitation care for quality of life (QoL) during active anticancer treatment.

Design

This study was a randomized controlled trial.

Setting

The study took place in Odense University Hospital, Denmark.

Participants

The trial included people with gliomas who were functionally independent.

Intervention

The participants were randomly assigned to a supervised rehabilitation intervention or usual rehabilitation care during the active anticancer period. The supervised rehabilitation included physical therapy and occupational therapy-based interventions.

Measurements

The primary outcome was the between-group difference in the overall QoL from baseline to the 6-week follow-up. It was self-rated with the global health status (GHS)/QoL domains from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Questionnaire. Eighty-eight participants per group were required to find a 10% between-group difference from baseline to the 6-week follow-up. Secondary outcomes were the health-related QoL domains, symptomatology, and functional performance.

Results

A total of 64 participants were included (32 in the intervention group and 32 in the control group). At follow-up, the intervention group self-rated a nonsignificantly better score for GHS/QoL than the control group (adjusted mean difference = 8.7% [95% confidence interval = −4.36 to 21.79]). Compared with the control group, the intervention group had consistently better results on self-rated secondary outcomes, including cognitive functioning (β = 16.2) and fatigue (β = −13.4), and objectively measured aerobic power (β = 2.6).

Limitations

The number of participants and duration of follow-up were inadequate to determine if the intervention was superior to the current usual rehabilitation care.

Conclusions

The physical therapy– and occupational therapy–based rehabilitation intervention did not affect GHS/QoL. However, the trial found promising significant effects on both objective and self-reported secondary outcomes, making rehabilitation efforts during active anticancer treatment promising.
How Do Laws and Institutions Affect Recovery Rates for Collateral?
Authors: Degryse Hans , Ioannidou Vasso , Liberti José María , Sturgess Jason
Published: December 2019

Using unique internal bank data on ex ante appraised liquidation and market values of assets pledged as collateral in sixteen countries, we show that laws and institutions that strengthen creditor protection increase expected recovery rates for collateral. Stronger creditor protection increases expected recovery rates for movable collateral relative to immovable collateral and shifts the composition of collateral toward movable assets, thereby increasing debt capacity through both higher loan-to-values and attenuating the creditor’s liquidation bias. Our results suggest that the recovery rate for collateral is an important first-stage mechanism through which creditor protection can improve contracting efficiency and enhance access to credit.

Received September 17, 2018; editorial decision July 9, 2019 by Editor Andrew Ellul.
Disease activity measures at baseline predict structural damage progression: data from the randomized, controlled AMPLE and AVERT trials
Authors: Keystone Edward C , Ahmad Harris A , Yazici Yusuf , Bergman Martin J
Published: December 2019

Objective

Data from two double-blind, randomized, Phase III studies were analysed to investigate the ability of Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3, DAS28 (CRP), modified (M)-DAS28 (CRP) and Simplified or Clinical Disease Activity Indices to predict structural damage progression in RA.

Methods

This post hoc analysis included data from the 2-year Abatacept vs adaliMumab comParison in bioLogic-naïvE RA subjects with background MTX (AMPLE) trial in biologic-naïve patients with active RA (<5 years) and an inadequate response to MTX, and the 12-month treatment period of the Assessing Very Early Rheumatoid arthritis Treatment (AVERT) trial in MTX-naïve patients with early RA (⩽2 years) and poor prognostic indicators. Adjusted logistic regression analysis assessed the relationship between baseline disease activity and structural damage progression (defined as change from baseline greater than the smallest detectable change) at 12 and 24 months in AMPLE and 6 and 12 months in AVERT. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for the impact of baseline disease activity on structural damage progression were calculated.

Results

Adjusted logistic regression analyses included all randomized and treated patients in AMPLE (N = 646) and those who received abatacept plus MTX or MTX monotherapy in AVERT (N = 235). Baseline Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3, DAS28 (CRP) and M-DAS28 (CRP) scores significantly predicted structural progression at months 12 and 24 in AMPLE (P < 0.05) and months 6 and 12 in AVERT (P < 0.01), and were stronger predictors than Simplified or Clinical Disease Activity Indices.

Conclusion

In this post hoc analysis of two patient populations with RA, Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3, DAS28 (CRP) and M-DAS28 (CRP) were good at predicting structural damage.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, http://clinicaltrials.gov: NCT00929864 (AMPLE); NCT01142726 (AVERT).
Epidemiological profile and north–south gradient driving baseline systemic involvement of primary Sjögren’s syndrome
Authors: Brito-Zerón Pilar , Acar-Denizli Nihan , Ng Wan-Fai , Horváth Ildiko Fanny , Rasmussen Astrid , Seror Raphaele , Li Xiaomei , Baldini Chiara , Gottenberg Jacques-Eric , Danda Debashish , Quartuccio Luca , Priori Roberta , Hernandez-Molina Gabriela , Armagan Berkan , Kruize Aike A , Kwok Seung-Ki , Kvarnstrom Marika , Praprotnik Sonja , Sene Damien , Gerli Roberto , Solans Roser , Rischmueller Maureen , Mandl Thomas , Suzuki Yasunori , Isenberg David , Valim Valeria , Wiland Piotr , Nordmark Gunnel , Fraile Guadalupe , Bootsma Hendrika , Nakamura Hideki , Giacomelli Roberto , Devauchelle-Pensec Valerie , Hofauer Benedikt , Bombardieri Michele , Trevisani Virginia Fernandes Moça , Hammenfors Daniel , Pasoto Sandra G , Retamozo Soledad , Gheita Tamer A , Atzeni Fabiola , Morel Jacques , Vollenweider Cristina , Zeher Margit , Sivils Kathy , Xu Bei , Bombardieri Stefano , Sandhya Pulukool , De Vita Salvatore , Minniti Antonina , Sánchez-Guerrero Jorge , Kilic Levent , van der Heijden Eefje , Park Sung-Hwan , Wahren-Herlenius Marie , Mariette Xavier , Ramos-Casals Manuel ,   for the Sjögren Big Data Consortium
Published: December 2019

Objective

To characterize the systemic phenotype of primary Sjögren’s syndrome at diagnosis by analysing the EULAR-SS disease activity index (ESSDAI) scores.

Methods

The Sjögren Big Data Consortium is an international, multicentre registry based on worldwide data-sharing cooperative merging of pre-existing databases from leading centres in clinical research in Sjögren’s syndrome from the five continents.

Results

The cohort included 10 007 patients (9352 female, mean 53 years) with recorded ESSDAI scores available. At diagnosis, the mean total ESSDAI score was 6.1; 81.8% of patients had systemic activity (ESSDAI score ≥1). Males had a higher mean ESSDAI (8.1 vs 6.0, P < 0.001) compared with females, as did patients diagnosed at <35 years (6.7 vs 5.6 in patients diagnosed at >65 years, P < 0.001). The highest global ESSDAI score was reported in Black/African Americans, followed by White, Asian and Hispanic patients (6.7, 6.5, 5.4 and 4.8, respectively; P < 0.001). The frequency of involvement of each systemic organ also differed between ethnic groups, with Black/African American patients showing the highest frequencies in the lymphadenopathy, articular, peripheral nervous system, CNS and biological domains, White patients in the glandular, cutaneous and muscular domains, Asian patients in the pulmonary, renal and haematological domains and Hispanic patients in the constitutional domain. Systemic activity measured by the ESSDAI, clinical ESSDAI (clinESSDAI) and disease activity states was higher in patients from southern countries (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

The systemic phenotype of primary Sjögren’s syndrome is strongly influenced by personal determinants such as age, gender, ethnicity and place of residence, which are key geoepidemiological players in driving the expression of systemic disease at diagnosis.
Neurobiological changes during the peripartum period: implications for health and behavior
Authors: Cárdenas Emilia F , Kujawa Autumn , Humphreys Kathryn L
Published: December 2019

Pregnancy and the transition to parenthood is an important period marked by dramatic neurobiological and psychosocial changes that may have implications for the health of women and offspring. Although human and non-human animal research suggests that the brain undergoes alterations during the peripartum period, these changes are poorly understood. Here, we review existing research, particularly human neuroimaging and psychophysiological research, to examine changes in brain structure and function during the peripartum period and discuss potential implications for the health of women and offspring. First, we discuss the potential causes of these changes across pregnancy, including physiological and psychosocial factors. Next, we discuss the evidence for structural and functional changes in the brain during pregnancy and into the postpartum period, noting the need for research conducted prospectively across human pregnancy. Finally, we propose potential models of individual differences in peripartum neurobiological changes (i.e. hypo-response, typical response, hyper-response) and emphasize the need to consider trajectories of change in addition to pre-existing factors that may predict maternal adjustment to parenthood. We suggest that the consideration of individual differences in neurobiological trajectories across pregnancy may contribute to a better understanding of risk for negative health and behavior outcomes for women and offspring.
Robust stability of trait-like vulnerability or resilience to common types of sleep deprivation in a large sample of adults
Authors: Yamazaki Erika M , Goel Namni
Published: December 2019

Study Objectives

Sleep loss produces large individual differences in neurobehavioral responses, with marked vulnerability or resilience among individuals. Such differences are stable with repeated exposures to acute total sleep deprivation (TSD) or chronic sleep restriction (SR) within short (weeks) and long (years) intervals. Whether trait-like responses are observed to commonly experienced types of sleep loss and across various demographically defined groups remains unknown.

Methods

Eighty-three adults completed two baseline nights (10 h–12 h time-in-bed, TIB) followed by five 4 h TIB SR nights or 36 h TSD. Participants then received four 12-h TIB recovery nights followed by five SR nights or 36 h TSD, in counterbalanced order to the first sleep loss sequence. Neurobehavioral tests were completed every 2 h during wakefulness.

Results

Participants who displayed neurobehavioral vulnerability to TSD displayed vulnerability to SR, evidenced by substantial to near perfect intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs; 78%–91% across measures). Sex, race, age, body mass index (BMI), season, and sleep loss order did not impact ICCs significantly. Individuals exhibited significant consistency of responses within, but not between, performance and self-reported domains.

Conclusions

Using the largest, most diverse sample to date, we demonstrate for the first time the remarkable stability of phenotypic neurobehavioral responses to commonly experienced sleep loss types, across demographic variables and different performance and self-reported measures. Since sex, race, age, BMI, and season did not affect ICCs, these variables are not useful for determining stability of responses to sleep loss, underscoring the criticality of biological predictors. Our findings inform mathematical models and are relevant for the general population and military and health professions.