bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Relationship between gerotranscendence and oral health‐related quality of life
Authors: Mihara Yusuke , Matsuda Ken‐ichi , Hatta Koudai , Gondo Yasuyuki , Masui Yukie , Nakagawa Takeshi , Kamide Kei , Ishizaki Tatsuro , Arai Yasumichi , Maeda Yoshinobu , Ikebe Kazunori
Published: July 2018

Objectives

The purpose of our cross‐sectional study was to investigate the relationship between gerotranscendence and oral health‐related quality of life (OHR‐QOL). To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the relationship between gerotranscendence and OHR‐QOL.

Methods

Participants (total n = 1969; 70‐year‐old group, n = 999; 80‐year‐old group, n = 970) were drawn from resident lists in four areas of Japan: one urban area and one rural area in each of two geographical regions. OHR‐QOL was measured using the Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index (GOHAI). Measurement of occlusal force was performed using pressure‐sensitive sheets. Gerotranscendence was assessed with the Japanese Gerotranscendence Scale Revised (JGS‐R). We used multiple linear regression analysis to examine the relationships among OHR‐QOL and other variables.

Results

Geriatric Oral Health Assessment Index score was significantly correlated with occlusal force, number of teeth, financial status and JGS‐R score on linear regression analysis.

Conclusion

Degree of gerotranscendence was significantly and independently correlated with degree of OHR‐QOL in our sample.
Complications and survival rates of inlays and onlays vs complete coverage restorations: A systematic review and analysis of studies
Authors: Vagropoulou Georgia I. , Klifopoulou Georgia L. , Vlahou Stefania G. , Hirayama Hiroshi , Michalakis Konstantinos
Published: July 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to identify if different types of indirect restorations used for single teeth had different biological and technical complications, as well as survival rates.

Method

An electronic search was performed in various electronic databases to identify articles, published between 1980 and 2017. The search terms were categorised into 4 groups: inlay, onlay, inlay/onlay and crown. Manual searches of published full‐text articles and related reviews were also performed.

Results

A total number of 2849 papers were retrieved initially. After a detailed assessment for eligibility, 9 studies were selected for inclusion. The heterogeneity of the studies did allow neither a meta‐analysis nor any meaningful comparison between types of restorations or materials. Only some pooling was performed for representative reasons. The mean survival rate of inlays was 90.89%, while for onlays and crowns it was 93.50% and 95.38%, respectively. For the fourth study group, consisting of both inlays and onlays, the survival rate was found to be 99.43%. Statistical analysis demonstrated caries to be the main biological complication for all types of restorations, followed by a root and/or tooth fracture incidence (11.34%) and endodontic incidence. Ceramic fractures represented the most common technical complication, followed by loss of retention and porcelain chipping.

Conclusion

The 5‐year survival rate for crowns and inlays/onlays is very high, exceeding 90%. An association between the kind of complications and different types of restorations could not be established. Nevertheless, a relatively high failure rate due to caries and ceramic fractures was noted.
Multivariate species boundaries and conservation of harlequin poison frogs
Authors: Posso‐Terranova Andrés , Andrés Jose
Published: July 2018

In this study, we present an iterative method for delimiting species under the general lineage concept (GLC) based on the multivariate clustering of morphological, ecological and genetic data. Our rationale is that distinct multivariate groups correspond to evolutionarily independent metapopulation lineages because they reflect the common signal of different secondary defining properties (environmental and genetic distinctiveness, phenotypic diagnosability, etc.) that imply the existence of barriers preventing or limiting gene exchange. We applied this method to study a group of endangered poison frogs, the Oophaga histrionica complex. In our study case, we used next‐generation targeted amplicon sequencing to obtain a robust genetic data set that we combined with patterns of morphological and ecological features. Our analyses revealed the existence of at least five different species in the histrionica complex (three, new to science), some of them, occurring in small isolated populations outside any protected areas. The lineage delimitation proposed here has important conservation implications as it revealed that some of the Oophaga species should be considered among the most vulnerable of the Neotropical frogs. More broadly, our study exemplifies how multiple‐amplicon and multivariate statistical techniques can be integrated to successfully identify species and their boundaries.
SIRT1 is increased in affected brain regions and hypothalamic metabolic pathways are altered in Huntington disease
Authors: Baldo B. , Gabery S. , Soylu‐Kucharz R. , Cheong R. Y. , Henningsen J. B. , Englund E. , McLean C. , Kirik D. , Halliday G. , Petersén Å.
Published: July 2018

Aims

Metabolic dysfunction is involved in modulating the disease process in Huntington disease (HD) but the underlying mechanisms are not known. The aim of this study was to investigate if the metabolic regulators sirtuins are affected in HD.

Methods

Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reactions were used to assess levels of SIRT1‐3 and downstream targets in post mortem brain tissue from HD patients and control cases as well as after selective hypothalamic expression of mutant huntingtin (HTT) using recombinant adeno‐associated viral vectors in mice.

Results

We show that mRNA levels of the metabolic regulator SIRT1 are increased in the striatum and the cerebral cortex but not in the less affected cerebellum in post mortem HD brains. Levels of SIRT2 are only increased in the striatum and SIRT3 is not affected in HD. Interestingly, mRNA levels of SIRT1 are selectively increased in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) in HD. Further analyses of the LHA and VMH confirmed pathological changes in these regions including effects on SIRT1 downstream targets and reduced mRNA levels of orexin (hypocretin), prodynorphin and melanin‐concentrating hormone (MCH) in the LHA and of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the VMH. Analyses after selective hypothalamic expression of mutant HTT suggest that effects on BDNF, orexin, dynorphin and MCH are early and direct, whereas changes in SIRT1 require more widespread expression of mutant HTT.

Conclusions

We show that SIRT1 expression is increased in HD‐affected brain regions and that metabolic pathways are altered in the HD hypothalamus.
Bridging the micro‐ and macroevolutionary levels in phylogenomics: Hyb‐Seq solves relationships from populations to species and above
Authors: Villaverde Tamara , Pokorny Lisa , Olsson Sanna , Rincón‐Barrado Mario , Johnson Matthew G. , Gardner Elliot M. , Wickett Norman J. , Molero Julià , Riina Ricarda , Sanmartín Isabel
Published: July 2018

Reconstructing phylogenetic relationships at the micro‐ and macroevoutionary levels within the same tree is problematic because of the need to use different data types and analytical frameworks. We test the power of target enrichment to provide phylogenetic resolution based on DNA sequences from above species to within populations, using a large herbarium sampling and Euphorbia balsamifera (Euphorbiaceae) as a case study.

Target enrichment with custom probes was combined with genome skimming (Hyb‐Seq) to sequence 431 low‐copy nuclear genes and partial plastome DNA. We used supermatrix, multispecies‐coalescent approaches, and Bayesian dating to estimate phylogenetic relationships and divergence times.

Euphorbia balsamifera, with a disjunct Rand Flora‐type distribution at opposite sides of Africa, comprises three well‐supported subspecies: western Sahelian sepium is sister to eastern African‐southern Arabian adenensis and Macaronesian‐southwest Moroccan balsamifera. Lineage divergence times support Late Miocene to Pleistocene diversification and climate‐driven vicariance to explain the Rand Flora pattern.

We show that probes designed using genomic resources from taxa not directly related to the focal group are effective in providing phylogenetic resolution at deep and shallow evolutionary levels. Low capture efficiency in herbarium samples increased the proportion of missing data but did not bias estimation of phylogenetic relationships or branch lengths.
Alternative Assumptions to Identify LATE in Fuzzy Regression Discontinuity Designs
Authors: Dong Yingying
Published: July 2018

There exist two alternative assumptions to identify local average treatment effects (LATE) in fuzzy regression discontinuity (RD) designs: local independence (LI) and local smoothness (LS). Together with the usual LATE assumptions requiring existence of a first‐stage and treatment monotonicity, either of these two assumptions is sufficient to identify RD LATE. I discuss the practical (and testable) implications of these alternative assumptions, and show that weakening LI by LS might be empirically relevant. However, when LI does hold, there are some practical implications one may explore. Numerical and empirical examples are briefly presented.
An Empirical Investigation on the Transfer of Expatriates Within MNCs from a Knowledge Perspective
Authors: Astorne‐Figari Carmen , Lee Joonhyung
Published: July 2018

We study the use of expatriates in transferring knowledge within a multinational corporation (MNC). We argue that MNCs use expatriates to allocate knowledge between headquarters and its foreign affiliates. With data from MNCs headquartered in South Korea, we trace unobservable knowledge using observable labour mobility. Our empirical analysis shows that the use of expatriates increases as communication between South Korea and the host country becomes more costly. However, the extent to which the use of expatriates relates with communication costs decreases in the sectoral complexity.
Does body mass index truly affect mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in patients after coronary revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft? A systematic review and network meta‐analysis
Authors: Ma W.‐Q. , Sun X.‐J. , Wang Y. , Han X.‐Q. , Zhu Y. , Liu N.‐F.
Published: July 2018

Background

Obesity, a comorbid medical condition, is usually observed in patients with established coronary artery disease. Paradoxically, patients with a higher body mass index (BMI) usually have better clinical outcomes after coronary revascularization.

Methods

We searched five online databases through December 2017. We identified studies reporting the rate of all‐cause mortality or cardiovascular‐related outcomes among patients after coronary revascularization with percutaneous coronary intervention or coronary artery bypass graft based on various BMI categories. Network meta‐analysis was performed using Bayesian methods.

Results

Sixty‐five records involving 865,774 participants were included in our study. A U‐shaped association was observed across BMI categories for all‐cause mortality. Using normal weight as the reference, all‐cause mortality was increased for (relative risk [RR]: 2.4; 95% credibility interval [CrI]: 2.1–2.7) patients with underweight, whereas it was lowered in patients with overweight, obese, and severely obese. This association remained significant in many subgroups. We also observed that the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) was lowest among patients with overweight. Furthermore, patients with underweight were associated with greater risks of myocardial infarction (RR: 1.9; 95% CrI: 1.4–2.5), cardiovascular‐related mortality (RR: 2.8; 95% CrI: 1.6–4.7), stroke (RR: 2.0; 95% CrI: 1.3–3.3) and heart failure (RR: 1.7; 95% CrI: 1.1–2.7) compared with normal weight patients; no significant association was observed among individuals with higher BMI.

Conclusions

The ‘obesity paradox’ does exist in patients after coronary revascularization, especially for patients with post‐percutaneous coronary intervention. All‐cause mortality in patients with high BMI is significantly lower compared with patients with normal weight. Furthermore, patients with underweight experience higher rates of cardiovascular outcomes compared with patients with normal weight.
The association between antibiotic use in infancy and childhood overweight or obesity: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Miller S. A. , Wu R. K. S. , Oremus M.
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Antibiotic use is associated with alteration of the gut microbiome and metabolic activity. As childhood obesity is a predisposing factor for adult obesity, addressing childhood risk factors to weight gain in early life is important. This review aims to investigate the association between infant antibiotic exposure (aged < 24 months) and childhood obesity or overweight.

Methods

Articles were retrieved from CINAHL, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase and MEDLINE. Eligible articles investigated antibiotic use in exposed versus unexposed infants and measured childhood weight change. Data were synthesized narratively and meta‐analysed where possible.

Results

After title/abstract and full‐text screening, 17 articles representing 15 unique studies were included for narrative synthesis. We found a small association between antibiotic exposure in infancy (<24 months) and childhood overweight or obesity. The strongest associations were observed in boys versus girls and children exposed to multiple antibiotic courses or broad‐spectrum drugs. Meta‐analysis of 12 sets of results comparing the earliest age of exposure to any antibiotic with overweight or obesity at the latest age of outcome found a pooled odds ratio of 1.05 (95% confidence interval: 1.00–1.11).

Conclusions

Antibiotic exposure in infants, aged < 24 months, was associated with a small increase in odds of childhood overweight or obesity in some subgroups of children.
Clinicopathological significance of SNPs in RAD51 and XRCC3 in oral and oropharyngeal carcinomas
Authors: Santos Edilmar de Moura , Santos Hellen Bandeira de Pontes , de Matos Felipe Rodrigues , Machado Renato Assis , Coletta Ricardo D. , Galvão Hébel Cavalcanti , Freitas Roseana de Almeida
Published: July 2018

Background

This study investigated the influence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in RAD51 and XRCC3 on susceptibility to oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) and determined their clinicopathological significance.

Subjects and Methods

SNPs rs1801320 and rs1801321 in RAD51 and rs861539 in XRCC3 were genotyped in 81 patients presenting oral SCC, 45 presenting oropharyngeal SCC, and 130 healthy controls, using TaqMan allelic discrimination assays. Multiple logistic regression models were used to explore the association between SNPs and cancer development, as well as gene–gene (GxG) interaction and gene–environmental factor (GxE) interaction. Clinicopathological associations were verified through the chi‐square test, and univariate and multivariate methods were applied for survival analyses.

Results

Although allelic and genotypic models and the GxG interaction analysis were nonsignificant, the GxE analysis revealed synergistic effects of the risk alleles of rs1801320, rs1801321, and rs861539 with smoking and alcohol consumption on susceptibility to oral and oropharyngeal SCC. Furthermore, oropharyngeal SCC patients carrying the XRCC3 rs861539 GT/TT genotype (T risk allele) presented a shorter overall survival than GG genotype carriers.

Conclusion

Combined effects of RAD51 (rs1801320 and rs1801321) and XRCC3 (rs861539) SNPs with environmental carcinogens (tobacco and alcohol) are associated with oral and oropharyngeal SCC development.
DNA repair in plant mitochondria – a complete base excision repair pathway in potato tuber mitochondria
Authors: Ferrando Beatriz , Furlanetto Ana L.D.M. , Gredilla Ricardo , Havelund Jesper F. , Hebelstrup Kim H. , Møller Ian M. , Stevnsner Tinna
Published: July 2018

Mitochondria are one of the major sites of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the plant cell. ROS can damage DNA, and this damage is in many organisms mainly repaired by the base excision repair (BER) pathway. We know very little about DNA repair in plants especially in the mitochondria. Combining proteomics, bioinformatics, western blot and enzyme assays, we here demonstrate that the complete BER pathway is found in mitochondria isolated from potato (Solanum tuberosum) tubers. The enzyme activities of three DNA glycosylases and an apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease (APE) were characterized with respect to Mg2+ dependence and, in the case of the APE, temperature sensitivity. Evidence for the presence of the DNA polymerase and the DNA ligase, which complete the repair pathway by replacing the excised base and closing the gap, was also obtained. We tested the effect of oxidative stress on the mitochondrial BER pathway by incubating potato tubers under hypoxia. Protein carbonylation increased significantly in hypoxic tuber mitochondria indicative of increased oxidative stress. The activity of two BER enzymes increased significantly in response to this oxidative stress consistent with the role of the BER pathway in the repair of oxidative damage to mitochondrial DNA.
Inverse Scattering Transform and Solitons for Square Matrix Nonlinear Schrödinger Equations
Authors: Prinari Barbara , Ortiz Alyssa K , van der Mee Cornelis , Grabowski Marek
Published: July 2018

The inverse scattering transform (IST) is developed for a class of matrix nonlinear Schrödinger‐type systems whose reductions include two equations that model certain hyperfine spin spinor Bose–Einstein condensates, and two novel equations that were recently shown to be integrable, and that have applications in nonlinear optics and four‐component fermionic condensates. In addition, the general behavior of the soliton solutions for all four reductions is analyzed in detail, and some novel solutions are presented.
FABRICATION OF POLY(LACTIC-CO-GLYCOLIC ACID)/CALCIUM PHOSPHATE BONE CEMENT COMPOSITE: SYNTHESIZATION OF CALCIUM PHOSPHATE FROM CRAB SHELLS
Authors: Abdul Hanan Mohammad Redzuan , Nasution Ahmad Kafrawi , Hussain Rafaqat , Saidin Syafiqah
Published: July 2018

Crab shells are waste product, rich with calcium compound. Calcium element is often used as a material for bone scaffold due to its bioactive and biodegradation properties. In this study, calcium phosphate (CaP) nanoparticles were synthesized from crab shells through a wet chemical route. The CaP nanoparticles were then sintered and mixed with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) to form a bone cement composite. The mixture was casted in a cylinder shape and it was characterized through ATR-FTIR, XRD, FESEM, contact angle and DSC analyses. The CaP pellet and the CaP/PLGA bone cement composite were then subjected to in vitro simulated body fluid (SBF) bioactivity test. The CaP/PLGA bone cement composite was found to have a composition of crystal CaP and PLGA with a tolerable glass transition state, suitable to be used in a physiological environment. The CaP nanoparticles were agglomerated on the 3D interconnected surface of PLGA. The hydrophobicity of the CaP was increased (66.94%) with the addition of PLGA as a binder matrix where this composite has induced the formation of apatite layer. This bioactive property is crucial in fabricating a bone substitute material as it can promotes cell penetration, attachment and proliferation..
The Relationship Between 8th Grade Turkish Students’ Personal Charactertistics, Family Characteristics, Daily Hassles and Their Subjective Well-Being Levels
Authors: Altuntaş Serkan , Sezer Özcan
Published: July 2018

This study investigated whether the subjective well-being of eighth grade students varies with specific individual characteristics, individual circumstances and familial characteristics. The study population was comprised of 408 students (206 girls, 202 boys) who were in the eighth grade in the academic year 2014-2015 in Malatya in Turkey. Data was collected using a ‘Personal Information Form’, the‘Daily Hassles Scale’ and the ‘Subjective Well Being (SWB).T-Tests were used to describe students’ demographic characteristics by gender, ANOVA to describe the relationship between SWB and students’ demographic and family characteristics, and Stepwise regression to describe how daily hassles predict subject well being. There was a significant relationship between students’ pocket money and academic achievements and their subjective well-being; no relationship was observed between their gender, parents’ income or educational level and the number of siblings they had and their SWB . Students’ problems with family, educational life and their wider environment had a significant influence on their SWB. The results of the research were discussed in accordance with the relevant literature and the suggestions were offered.
Nearby cycles of Whittaker sheaves on Drinfeld’s compactification
Authors: Campbell Justin
Published: July 2018

In this article we give a geometric construction of a tilting perverse sheaf on Drinfeld’s compactification, by applying the nearby cycles functor to a family of nondegenerate Whittaker sheaves. Its restrictions along the defect stratification are shown to be certain perverse sheaves attached to the nilpotent radical of the Langlands dual Lie algebra. We also describe the subquotients of the monodromy filtration using the Picard–Lefschetz oscillators introduced by Schieder. We give an argument that the subquotients are semisimple based on the action, constructed by Feigin, Finkelberg, Kuznetsov, and Mirković, of the Langlands dual Lie algebra on the global intersection cohomology of quasimaps into flag varieties.
Towards Realizing Practical Humanoid Robots One Challenge at a Time
Authors: Padir Taskin
Published: July 2018

This article describes features of FIRST, an approach to introduce science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts to students. One unique aspect of the FIRST experience is that the reward and recognition for achievements are not necessarily gained on the field of play—excellence in design, demonstrated team spirit, Gracious Professionalism, community outreach, and more are recognized with awards. The focus of organized FIRST programs is on pre-college students {LE Comment: Please check whether the introduction of a preposition is required.}. At the college level, there are no formal FIRST programs, except for FIRST-related scholarships. However, as shown in the longitudinal study, the impact of FIRST carries into postsecondary education. There are diverse types of FIRST-related organizations and models at the college level. The article also highlights that during the semester, a sequence of team building, mentoring, project management, fundraising, and FIRST robot design topics are given by faculty, senior FIRST mentors, and professional engineers.
New Mobile Gas Turbine with a Wide Range of Applications
Authors: Schütz Uwe
Published: July 2018

This article describes features and advantages of new mobile gas turbine with a wide range of applications. The market for mobile gas turbines is continuously growing. Mobile units are also an ideal choice when it comes to making large power capacities available on a short-term basis, for example, for major events, prolonged downtimes at other power stations, or power-intensive applications such as mining or shale gas extraction. If the electricity requirements exceed the level that can normally be demanded of a mobile application, an SGT-A45 installation can be modified to form a combined-cycle power plant to further improve its efficiency. In remote locations, this can be achieved using an Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC), to eliminate the need for water and water treatment systems, and to optimize energy recovery from the SGT-A45 off-gas stream at a relatively low temperature. The use of a direct heat exchanger, in which the ORC working fluid is evaporated by the off-gas stream from the gas turbine, can boost the system’s output capacity by more than 20 percent.
Entropy Generation in Water-Based Natural Circulation Loop
Authors: Inampudi Sugun Tej , Marthi Baji , Sahoo Satyabrata
Published: July 2018

Natural circulation loop (NCL) based secondary fluid systems are simple, reliable, and inexpensive due to the absence of any moving components such as pumps. Water-based NCLs are widely used in applications such as solar collectors and nuclear reactors. Also, most of the studies on NCLs do not consider the three-dimensional (3D) variation of the field variables. In the subject work, 3D steady flow simulation of water based, single-phase rectangular NCL with isothermal source and sink has been carried out to study the effects of different design and operating parameters such as loop height, temperature lift, in plane and out of plane tilt angles on the rate of heat transfer, and the rate of entropy generation due to both fluid flow and heat transfer. The rate of entropy generation due to both heat transfer and fluid flow for turbulent flow regimes in a NCL is calculated for a wide range of design and operating parameters. In turbulent flow regimes, the rate of entropy generation due to fluid flow is significant although the rate of entropy generation due to heat transfer is dominant. All the above-mentioned design and operating parameters have significant effect on the rate of entropy generation and the rate of heat transfer as well. With increases in loop height and temperature lift, the rate of entropy generation increases. As the tilt angle increases in the XY plane, the rate of the entropy generation initially increases but after certain tilt angle it starts decreasing.
Sensitivity Analysis of a Nuclear Reactor System Finite Element Model
Authors: Banyay Gregory A. , Smith Stephen D. , Young Jason S.
Published: July 2018

The structures associated with the nuclear steam supply system (NSSS) of a pressurized water reactor (PWR) warrant evaluation of various non-stationary loading conditions which could occur over the life of a nuclear power plant. These loading conditions include those associated with a loss of coolant accident and seismic event. The dynamic structural system is represented by a finite element model consisting of significant epistemic and aleatory uncertainties in the physical parameters. To provide an enhanced understanding of the influence of these uncertainties on model results, a sensitivity analysis is performed. This work demonstrates the construction of a computational design of experiment which runs the finite element model a sufficient number of times to train and verify a unique aggregate surrogate model. Adaptive sampling is employed in order to reduce the overall computational burden. The surrogate model is then used to perform both global and local sensitivity analyses.
Thermal Response of Open-Cell Porous Materials: A Numerical Study and Model Assessment
Authors: Irick Kevin , Fathi Nima
Published: July 2018

The evaluation of effective material properties in heterogeneous materials (e.g., composites or multicomponent structures) has direct relevance to a vast number of applications, including nuclear fuel assembly, electronic packaging, municipal solid waste, and others. The work described in this paper is devoted to the numerical verification assessment of the thermal behavior of porous materials obtained from thermal modeling and simulation. Two-dimensional, steady state analyses were conducted on unit cell nano-porous media models using the finite element method (FEM). The effective thermal conductivity of the structures was examined, encompassing a range of porosity. The geometries of the models were generated based on ordered cylindrical pores in six different porosities. The dimensionless effective thermal conductivity was compared in all simulated cases. In this investigation, the method of manufactured solutions (MMS) was used to perform code verification, and the grid convergence index (GCI) is employed to estimate discretization uncertainty (solution verification). The system response quantity (SRQ) under investigation is the dimensionless effective thermal conductivity across the unit cell. Code verification concludes an approximately second order accurate solver. It was found that the introduction of porosity to the material reduces effective thermal conductivity, as anticipated. This approach can be readily generalized to study a wide variety of porous solids from nano-structured materials to geological structures.
Bayesian Framework to Quantify Uncertainties in Piezoelectric Energy Harvesters
Authors: Peralta Patricio , Ruiz Rafael O. , Meruane Viviana
Published: July 2018

The interest of this work is to describe a framework that allows the use of the well-known dynamic estimators in piezoelectric harvester (deterministic performance estimators) but taking into account the random error associated to the mathematical model and the uncertainties on the model parameters. The framework presented could be employed to perform Posterior Robust Stochastic Analysis, which is the case when the harvester can be tested or it is already installed and the experimental data is available. In particular, it is introduced a procedure to update the electromechanical properties of PEHs based on Bayesian updating techniques. The mean of the updated electromechanical properties are identified adopting a Maximum a Posteriori estimate while the probability density function associated is obtained by applying a Laplaces asymptotic approximation (updated properties could be expressed as a mean value together a band of confidence). The procedure is exemplified using the experimental characterization of 20 PEHs, all of them with same nominal characteristics. Results show the capability of the procedure to update not only the electromechanical properties of each PEH (mandatory information for the prediction of a particular PEH) but also the characteristics of the whole sample of harvesters (mandatory information for design purposes). The results reveal the importance to include the model parameter uncertainties in order to generate robust predictive tools in energy harvesting. In that sense, the present framework constitutes a powerful tool in the robust design and prediction of piezoelectric energy harvesters performance.
Separability of Mesh Bias and Parametric Uncertainty for a Full System Thermal Analysis
Authors: Schroeder Benjamin B. , Silva Humberto , Smith Kyle D.
Published: July 2018

When making computational simulation predictions of multi-physics engineering systems, sources of uncertainty in the prediction need to be acknowledged and included in the analysis within the current paradigm of striving for simulation credibility. A thermal analysis of an aerospace geometry was performed at Sandia National Laboratories. For this analysis a verification, validation and uncertainty quantification workflow provided structure for the analysis, resulting in the quantification of significant uncertainty sources including spatial numerical error and material property parametric uncertainty. It was hypothesized that the parametric uncertainty and numerical errors were independent and separable for this application. This hypothesis was supported by performing uncertainty quantification simulations at multiple mesh resolutions, while being limited by resources to minimize the number of medium and high resolution simulations. Based on this supported hypothesis, a prediction including parametric uncertainty and a systematic mesh bias are used to make a margin assessment that avoids unnecessary uncertainty obscuring the results and optimizes computing resources.
Unpacking the polarization of workplace skills
Authors: Alabdulkareem Ahmad , Frank Morgan R. , Sun Lijun , AlShebli Bedoor , Hidalgo César , Rahwan Iyad
Published: July 2018

The polarization of workplace skills explains job polarization.
Robust estimates of a high
N
e
/
N
ratio in a top marine predator, southern bluefin tuna
Authors: Waples Robin S. , Grewe Peter M. , Bravington Mark W. , Hillary Richard , Feutry Pierre
Published: July 2018

Genetic and demographic analyses indicate good conservation news for southern bluefin tuna.
Microfluidics-based super-resolution microscopy enables nanoscopic characterization of blood stem cell rolling
Authors: AbuZineh Karmen , Joudeh Luay I. , Al Alwan Bader , Hamdan Samir M. , Merzaban Jasmeen S. , Habuchi Satoshi
Published: July 2018

Super-resolution imaging reveals subtle interplay between nanoscopic organization of membrane ligands and cellular interaction.
Differential Immune Phenotypes in Human Monocytes Induced by Non-Host-Adapted Salmonella enterica Serovar Choleraesuis and Host-AdaptedS. Typhimurium
Authors: Ibrahim Hiba , Askar Basim , Hulme Scott , Neilson Peter , Barrow Paul , Foster Neil
Published: July 2018

We studied the effects of twoSalmonella entericaserovar Typhimurium (host-adapted) strains (14028 and 4/74) and threeS. Choleraesuis (non-host-adapted) strains (A50, A45, and B195) in human monocytes between 2 and 24 h postinfection (p.i.) to investigate whether differences in immune response may explain the much higher prevalence of sepsis in individuals infected withS.
Laboratory Evaluation of a Commercially Available Rapid Syphilis Test
Authors: Pereira Lara E. , McCormick Joshua , Dorji Tandin , Kang Joseph , Sun Yongcheng , Shukla Mayur , Hopkins Andre , Deutsch John , Kersh Ellen N. , Bernstein Kyle , Fakile Yetunde F.
Published: July 2018

Serological diagnosis of syphilis depends on assays that detect treponemal and nontreponemal antibodies. Laboratory certification and trained personnel are needed to perform most of these tests, while high costs and long turnaround time can hinder treatment initiation or linkage to care.
Multiantigenic Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Vaccine Vectors To Elicit Potent Humoral and Cellular Immune Reponses against Human Cytomegalovirus in Mice
Authors: Chiuppesi Flavia , Nguyen Jenny , Park Soojin , Contreras Heidi , Kha Mindy , Meng Zhuo , Kaltcheva Teodora , Iniguez Angelina , Martinez Joy , La Rosa Corinna , Wussow Felix , Diamond Don J.
Published: July 2018

The development of a human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) vaccine to prevent congenital disease and transplantation-related complications is an unmet medical need. While many HCMV vaccine candidates have been developed, partial success in preventing or controlling HCMV infection in women of childbearing age and transplant recipients has been observed with an approach based on envelope glycoprotein B (gB). We introduce a novel vaccine strategy based on the clinically deployable modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vaccine vector to elicit potent humoral and cellular immune responses by multiple immunodominant HCMV antigens, including gB, phosphoprotein 65, and all five subunits of the pentamer complex. These findings could contribute to development of a multiantigenic vaccine strategy that may afford more protection against HCMV infection and disease than a vaccine approach employing solely gB.
Late Endosomal/Lysosomal Cholesterol Accumulation Is a Host Cell-Protective Mechanism Inhibiting Endosomal Escape of Influenza A Virus
Authors: Kühnl Alexander , Musiol Agnes , Heitzig Nicole , Johnson Danielle E. , Ehrhardt Christina , Grewal Thomas , Gerke Volker , Ludwig Stephan , Rescher Ursula
Published: July 2018

To transfer the viral genome into the host cell cytoplasm, internalized influenza A virus (IAV) particles depend on the fusion of the IAV envelope with host endosomal membranes. The antiviral host interferon (IFN) response includes the upregulation of interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3), which inhibits the release of the viral content into the cytosol. Although IFITM3 induction occurs concomitantly with late endosomal/lysosomal (LE/L) cholesterol accumulation, the functional significance of this process is not well understood. Here we report that LE/L cholesterol accumulation itself plays a pivotal role in the early antiviral defense. We demonstrate that inducing LE/L cholesterol accumulation is antiviral in non-IFN-primed cells, restricting incoming IAV particles and impairing mixing of IAV/endosomal membrane lipids. Our results establish a protective function of LE/L cholesterol accumulation and suggest endosomal cholesterol balance as a possible antiviral target.

IMPORTANCE
With annual epidemics occurring in all parts of the world and the risk of global outbreaks, influenza A virus (IAV) infections remain a major threat to public health. Infected host cells detect viral components and mount an interferon (IFN)-mediated response to restrict virus propagation and spread of infection. Identification of cellular factors and underlying mechanisms that establish such an antiviral state can provide novel strategies for the development of antiviral drugs. The contribution of LE/L cholesterol levels, especially in the context of the IFN-induced antiviral response, has remained controversial so far. Here, we report that accumulation of cholesterol in the LE/L compartment contributes to the IFN-induced host cell defense against incoming IAV. Our results establish cholesterol accumulation in LE/L
per se
as a novel antiviral barrier and suggest the endosomal cholesterol balance as a putative druggable host cell factor in IAV infection.
Genome Sequence of the Halophilic Bacterium Kangiella spongicola ATCC BAA-2076
T
Authors: Underriner Aria , Silverwood Tyler , Kelley Carolyn , MacLea Kyle S.
Published: July 2018

The Gram-negative genus
Kangiella
contains a number of halophilic species that display high levels of iso-branched fatty acids.
Kangiella spongicola
was isolated from a marine sponge,
Chondrilla nucula
, from the Florida Keys in the United States.
Relevance of healthcare reimbursement data to monitor syphilis epidemic: an alternative surveillance through the national health insurance database in France, 2011–2013
Authors: Ndeikoundam Ngangro Ndeindo , Viriot Delphine , Lucas Etienne , Boussac-Zarebska Marjorie , Lot Florence , Dupin Nicolas , La Ruche Guy
Published: July 2018

Objective

In France, surveillance of early syphilis (primary, secondary and early latent) relies on the clinician-based ResIST sentinel network. Although ResIST enables the monitoring of trends, a complete picture of the syphilis epidemic is not possible. More specifically, cases reported by this network are mostly diagnosed in free sexually transmitted infection clinics and hospitals (75% and 24%, respectively). This study aims to estimate the number and rate of diagnoses made outside these health facilities by exploring health insurance data.

Methods

An algorithm combining healthcare reimbursements for specific diagnostic tests and recommended treatment was fitted to identify syphilis cases. Sensitivity analyses were used to validate the algorithm. Age-standardised and gender-standardised diagnosis rates were estimated using census data.

Results

Between 2011 and 2013, 12 644 (7.5 cases per 100 000 inhabitants) reimbursements were made for syphilis-related diagnoses. The annual number of cases increased by 22% from 2011 (n=3771, rate=6.7/100 000) to 2013 (n=4589, rate=8.2/100 000). The rate of syphilis diagnosis increased in men from 12.9/100 000 to 16.0/100 000, while it remained steady in women at approximately 1.8/100 000. The disease burden was greatest in French overseas territories (18.1/100 000) and in the Paris area (11.7 cases/100 000).

Conclusion

Despite the lack of data on the number of confirmed diagnoses and information on sexual behaviour, these findings demonstrate the relevance of analysing insurance data to help monitor the syphilis epidemic in patients who visit general practitioners and non-hospital-based specialists. Thus, reimbursement database might be a relevant alternative source of continuous information on syphilis in countries with similar insurance-based healthcare systems.
Prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms among medical residents in Tunisia: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Marzouk Mehdi , Ouanes-Besbes Lamia , Ouanes Islem , Hammouda Zeineb , Dachraoui Fahmi , Abroug Fekri
Published: July 2018

Objective

To assess the prevalence of anxiety and depressive symptoms and the associated risk factors among Tunisian medical residents.

Design

Cross-sectional survey.

Setting

Faculty of Medicine, Tunis.

Participants

All Tunisian medical residents brought together between 14 and 22 December 2015 to choose their next 6-month rotation.

Intervention

The items of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression (HAD) questionnaire were employed to capture the prevalence of anxiety and/or depression among the residents. The statistical relationships between anxiety and depression (HAD score) and sociodemographic and work-related data were explored by Poisson regression.

Results

1700 out of 2200 (77%) medical residents (mean age: 28.5±2 years, female: 60.8%) answered the questionnaire. The mean working hours per week was 62±21 hours; 73% ensured a mean of 5.4±3 night shifts per month; and only 8% of them could benefit from a day of safety rest. Overall, 74.1% of the participating residents had either definite (43.6%) or probable (30.5%) anxiety, while 62% had definite (30.5%) or probable (31.5%) depression symptoms, with 20% having both definite anxiety and definite depression. The total HAD score was significantly associated with the resident’s age (OR=1.014, 95% CI 1.006 to 1.023, p=0.001); female gender (OR=1.114, 95% CI 1.083 to 1.145, p<0.0001); and the heavy burden of work imposed on a weekly or monthly basis, as reflected by the number of night shifts per month (OR=1.048, 95% CI 1.016 to 1.082, p=0.03) and the number of hours worked per week (OR=1.008, 95% CI 1.005 to 1.011, p<0.0001). Compared with medical specialties, the generally accepted difficult specialties (surgical or medical-surgical) were associated with a higher HAD score (OR=1.459, 95% CI 1.172 to 1.816, p=0.001).

Conclusion

Tunisian residents experience a rate of anxiety/depression substantially higher than that reported at the international level. This phenomenon is worrying as it has been associated with an increase in medical errors, work dissatisfaction and attrition. The means of improving the well-being of Tunisian medical residents are explored, emphasising those requiring immediate implementation.
Keloid risk in patients with atopic dermatitis: a nationwide retrospective cohort study in Taiwan
Authors: Lu Ying-Yi , Lu Chun-Ching , Yu Wei-Wen , Zhang Li , Wang Qing-Rui , Zhang Cong-Liang , Wu Chieh-Hsin
Published: July 2018

Objective

The pathogenesis of keloid is largely unknown. Because keloid and atopic dermatitis have overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms, we aimed to evaluate keloid risk in patients with atopic dermatitis.

Study design

Population-based retrospective cohort study.

Setting

The Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database was used to analyse data for people who had been diagnosed with atopic dermatitis.

Participants

We identified 8371 patients with newly diagnosed atopic dermatitis during 1996–2010. An additional 33 484 controls without atopic dermatitis were randomly identified and frequency matched at a one-to-four ratio.

Primary and secondary outcome measure

The association between atopic dermatitis and keloid risk was estimated using Cox proportional hazard regression models.

Results

After adjustment for covariates, the atopic dermatitis patients have a 3.19-fold greater risk of developing keloid compared with the non-atopic dermatitis group (3.19vs1.07 per 1000 person-years, respectively). During the study period, 163 patients with atopic dermatitis and 532 patients without atopic dermatitis developed keloid. Notably, keloid risk increased with severity of atopic dermatitis, particularly in patients with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that patients with atopic dermatitis had a higher than normal risk of developing keloid and suggest that atopic dermatitis may be an independent risk factor for keloid.
Ultrasound-guided intravenous catheter survival impacted by amount of catheter residing in the vein
Authors: Pandurangadu Ananda Vishnu , Tucker Jared , Brackney Abigail R , Bahl Amit
Published: July 2018

Objective

Ultrasound (US)-guided peripheral IVs have a high failure rate. We explore the relationship between the quantity of catheter residing within the vein and the functionality of the catheter over time.

Methods

This was a prospective, observational single-site study. Adult ED patients with US-guided IVs had the catheter visualised under ultrasound post-placement. IV placement time and catheter length residing in the vein was obtained. Exclusions included catheter not visualised, patient discharged from ED unless IV failed, <24 hour hospitalisation unless IV failed or patient self-removed IV.

Inpatient follow-up occurred within 24, 48 and 72 hours from the IV placement time. Catheter functionality was noted. If the catheter failed, the time and reason for failure was documented.

Results

113 patients were enrolled; 27 were excluded. Of the 86 study subjects, 29 (33.7%) patients’ IVs failed and 57 (66.3%) remained functional. Median time to IV failure was 15.6 hours. 100% of IVs failed when <30% of the catheter was in the vein; 32.4% of IVs failed when 30%–64% of the catheter was in the vein; no IVs failed when ≥65% of the catheter was in the vein (p<0.0002). The HR was 0.71 (95% CI 0.60 to 0.83), and for every 5% increase of catheter in vein, the hazard of the IV failing decreases by 29% (p<0.0001).

Conclusion

The quantity of catheter residing in the vein is a key predictor of long-term functionality of US-guided IVs and is strongly associated with the hazard of failure within 72 hours. Catheter failure is high when <30% of the catheter resided in the vein. Optimum catheter survival occurs when ≥65% of the catheter is placed in the vein.
3 Safely landing a resuscitative endovascular balloon occlusion of the aorta (REBOA) device in zone one
Authors: Jefferson O , Morrison JJ
Published: July 2018

Background

Non-compressible torso haemorrhage is a leading cause of potentially preventable death following trauma. Resuscitative Endovascular Balloon Occlusion of the Aorta (REBOA) is a technique to temporise haemorrhage. Areas for potential inflation have been characterised as zones I – III. Placement superior to zone I may cause harm. Fluoroscopy, used to confirm position, is often unavailable. The literature shows disagreement about whether a fixed insertion distance would be safe. Some papers advocate using a multi-variable insertion formula.

Methods

Three cohorts of patients underwent retrospective analysis of their aortic morphometry. The patients had undergone CT imaging of their torsos when they presented to one of three centres following serious traumatic injury. Aortic reconstructions were performed and measurements taken. Virtual balloons were inserted to both fixed distances and distances calculated using previously reported formulae.

Results

The study population consisted of trauma patients presenting to Camp Bastion, Afghanistan [n=177]; St Mary’s Hospital, London, UK [n=100]; Wilford Hall Hospital, Texas, US [n=88]. When compared, the 3 cohorts were sufficiently similar for combined analysis (n=365). The two fixed insertion distances (444 mm and 418 mm) each conveyed virtual balloon placement accuracies of 98.4% (359/365). The placements proximal to Zone I occurred in those patients with the smallest 2% of torso heights. The 2 formulae for calculating zone I insertion length each conveyed accuracy of 99.7% (364/365). Statistical analysis found no significant difference between formulaic and fixed insertion distance accuracies (p=0.07).

Conclusion

Fixed distance insertion is more practical in an emergency situation; formulae conveyed no greater accuracy. Fixed distances may not suit a minority of patients who are in the extreme of a population’s height range. These findings support the trial of a zone I fixed distance insertion algorithm.