bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical aspects and management of inguinal endometriosis: A case series of 20 patients
Authors: Arakawa Tomoko , Hirata Tetsuya , Koga Kaori , Neriishi Kazuaki , Fukuda Shinya , Ma Suke , Sun Hui , Nagashima Natsuki , Harada Miyuki , Hirota Yasushi , Wada‐Hiraike Osamu , Fujii Tomoyuki , Osuga Yutaka
Published: August 2019

Aim

This study aimed to describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and operative or medical management of inguinal endometriosis.

Methods

In this study, we retrospectively reviewed 20 cases of inguinal endometriosis in our facility, particularly on the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and surgical and medical treatment.

Results

We retrospectively investigated the following items for each patient: age at diagnosis, surgical history, presence of extragenital endometriosis, symptoms, imaging modalities, surgical therapy, hormonal therapy, follow‐up period, postoperative recurrence and time to recurrence. We identified 20 cases of inguinal endometriosis in our facility. First, 75% of the patients had right inguinal endometriosis. Second, T1‐weighted or fat‐saturated T1‐weighted images showed hyperintensity in the lesions in 17 patients (17/18 patients, 94.4%). Third, in 5 of 6 patients who underwent surgical therapy, we performed radical surgery to excise the inguinal lesion including the round ligament. One patient had disease relapse. Fourth, in 6 of 7 cases, dienogest effectively improved pain without significant adverse effects, but oral contraceptive was effective in 1 of 4 patients without significant adverse effects.

Conclusion

We retrospectively reviewed 20 patients with inguinal endometriosis in our facility. We have shown that magnetic resonance imaging can be a useful imaging modality to obtain a specific diagnosis of this disease. In addition, inguinal endometriosis can be managed with radical surgery to resect lesions including the round ligament and with hormonal treatment. In particular, dienogest ameliorated symptoms, which can be an option for patients who do not want surgery.
Preliminary report on the use of a levonorgestrel intrauterine system for the treatment of intermenstrual bleeding due to previous cesarean delivery scar defect
Authors: Chen Ying‐Yi , Tsai Ching‐Chang , Lan Kuo‐Chung , Ou Yu‐Che
Published: August 2019

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy of levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG‐IUS) treatment in patients with previous cesarean delivery scar defect (PCDS)‐related intermenstrual bleeding.

Methods

A total of six premenopausal patients who experienced PCDS‐related intermenstrual bleeding were enrolled for conservative therapy with LNG‐IUS (levonorgestrel 20 μg/24 h) insertion. The durations of menstruation before and after LNG‐IUS insertion at 1, 6 and 12 months were recorded. A total of three missed menstrual cycles was defined as amenorrhea. Any side effects and the device expulsion rate were also recorded. Patient follow‐up was at an outpatient clinic. Any missing data were obtained by telephone.

Results

At the start of the study the median duration of intermenstrual bleeding was 6.5 days (range 3–22 days). After 6 months treatment, two of the six patients had developed amenorrhea and two patients experienced cessation of vaginal spotting. One patient reported expulsion of the device. All patients except the one with device expulsion responded to the conservative treatment after 1 year.

Conclusion

The findings of the current study support LNG‐IUS being effective for the treatment of PCDS‐related intermenstrual bleeding. The authors recommend LNG‐IUS as a treatment option for PCDS‐related intermenstrual bleeding.
Principles versus principal: Reconciling norm compliance and shareholder value
Authors: Sinclair‐Desgagné Bernard
Published: August 2019

This paper considers situations where an agent (say, a polluting firm's CEO) must allocate his nonobservable effort across two distinct tasks (say, revenue/market share enhancement and environmental stewardship), and where two principals (say, the firm's shareholders and an external stakeholder) hold diverging viewpoints on what the best allocation should be. Both characteristics of this context—multitasking and conflicting principals—are normally seen as obstacles to strengthening the agent's incentives. This paper proposes a simple arrangement, based on contingent monitoring and clawbacks, that can overcome these obstacles. Under this arrangement, the principals would end up coordinating their respective incentive schemes so that the agent considers his two tasks as complementary utility‐increasing activities. Applications to regulatory compliance, corporate social responsibility, and innovation management are briefly sketched.
Protective effect of sucupira oil nanoemulsion against oxidative stress in UVA-irradiated HaCaT cells
Authors: Pacheco Maiulle T , Silva Artur C G , Nascimento Thais L , Diniz Danielle G A , Valadares Marize C , Lima Eliana M
Published: August 2019

Objectives

Bioactive molecules derived from natural products combine the ability to absorb UV light and act as antioxidants. We developed an oil-based sucupira (native species of the Brazilian cerrado) nanoemulsion (NE) using a high-energy emulsification method and assessed its effectiveness in vitro.

Methods

An easily scalable high-pressure homogenization method was used to prepare the formulation. NE droplets mean diameter, pH, stability, conductivity and morphology were analysed. Formulation bioactivity was assessed using HaCaT cells.

Key findings

The formulation presented suitable pH and size for topic administration and was stable for over 90 days upon storage at 4, 25 and 45°C. The NE showed protective effect against oxidative stress and reduced levels of UVA-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8.

Conclusions

A novel, stable and easily prepared formulation was obtained for encapsulation of sucupira oil. The protective effect of the formulation by cytokine inhibition in the early stage of the inflammatory process was shown in vitro. Combined with the antioxidant effect by inhibition of reactive oxygen species, the use of sucupira oil NE for prevention and treatment of UVA-induced stress could contribute to decrease the effects of UV radiation on skin ageing.
Water availability shapes edaphic and lithic cyanobacterial communities in the Atacama Desert
Authors: Jung Patrick , Schermer Michael , Briegel‐Williams Laura , Baumann Karen , Leinweber Peter , Karsten Ulf , Lehnert Lukas , Achilles Sebastian , Bendix Jörg , Büdel Burkhard
Published: August 2019

In the Atacama Desert, cyanobacteria grow on various substrates such as soils (edaphic) and quartz or granitoid stones (lithic). Both edaphic and lithic cyanobacterial communities have been described but no comparison between both communities of the same locality has yet been undertaken. In the present study, we compared both cyanobacterial communities along a precipitation gradient ranging from the arid National Park Pan de Azúcar (PA), which resembles a large fog oasis in the Atacama Desert extending to the semiarid Santa Gracia Natural Reserve (SG) further south, as well as along a precipitation gradient within PA. Various microscopic techniques, as well as culturing and partial 16S rRNA sequencing, were applied to identify 21 cyanobacterial species; the diversity was found to decline as precipitation levels decreased. Additionally, under increasing xeric stress, lithic community species composition showed higher divergence from the surrounding edaphic community, resulting in indigenous hypolithic and chasmoendolithic cyanobacterial communities. We conclude that rain and fog water, respectively, cause contrasting trends regarding cyanobacterial species richness in the edaphic and lithic microhabitats.
Religious Right, Religious Left, Both, or Neither? Understanding Religio‐Political Identification
Authors: McCarthy Angela F. , Olson Laura R. , Garand James C.
Published: August 2019

In this article we analyze the effects of religious, political, socioeconomic, and demographic variables on religious Americans’ propensity to identify with religio‐political movements. Using data from the 2013 Economic Values Survey collected by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI), we sort nonsecular Americans into four categories: religious right, religious left,bothreligious rightandreligious left, orneitherreligious rightnorthe religious left. We estimate a multinomial logit model in which we depictreligio‐political identificationas a function of religious affiliation, worship attendance, religious embeddedness, religious convictions, political attitudes, and socioeconomic and demographic controls. We find that a wide range of religious, political, and socioeconomic/demographic variables affect individuals’ identification with the religious right and/or religious left. Our empirical results also permit us to analyze the seeming paradox of identifying withboththe religious right and the religious left. We find that individuals who identify with both movements come from the ranks of the highly religious, those who believe that being moral requires one to believe in God, Tea Party supporters, strong partisans, those with lower education and income, older individuals, and blacks and Hispanics.
Further Results on Pseudo‐Maximum Likelihood Estimation and Testing in the Constant Elasticity of Variance Continuous Time Model
Authors: Iglesias Emma M. , Phillips Garry D. A.
Published: August 2019

Constant elasticity volatility processes have been shown to be useful, for example, to encompass a number of existing models that have closed‐form likelihood functions. In this article, we extend the existing literature in two directions: first we find explicit closed form solutions of the pseudo maximum likelihood estimators (MLEs) by discretizing the diffusion function and we provide their asymptotic theory in the context of the constant elasticity of variance (CEV) model characterized by a general CEV parameter ρ ≥ 0. Second we obtain bias expansions for those pseudo MLEs also in terms of ρ ≥ 0. We provide a general framework since only the cases with ρ = 0 and ρ = 0.5 have been considered in the literature so far. When the time series is not positive almost surely, we need to impose the restriction that ρ is a non‐negative integer.
Interferon alpha treatment leads to a high rate of hepatitis B surface antigen seroconversion in Chinese children with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Fan Huimin , Lin Luping , Jia Shijie , Xie Min , Luo Chun , Tan Xinghua , Ying Ruosu , Guan Yujuan , Li Feng
Published: August 2019

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (CHB) in children remains a public health challenge despite significant success in programme is established to prevent mother‐to‐child transmission. In particular, CHB in Chinese children are mostly acquired through vertical transmission, which differs from the common infection route reported in other countries and regions. This situation has resulted in a high endemic prevalence of CHB in Chinese adults. Thus, successful treatment of children with CHB will prevent the development of advanced liver diseases in late adulthood. However, there is still no consensus on the clinical guideline to treat paediatric CHB. In this study, we evaluated the potential of interferon alpha (IFNa) treatment for Chinese children with CHB. A total of 41 patients with CHB aged 3‐17 years were enrolled in this retrospective study: 21 patients were treated with pegylated (PEG)‐IFNa and 20 patients without treatment served as the control group. The rates of HBV DNA suppression, hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) clearance and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) clearance were significantly higher in the PEG‐IFNa treatment group than in the control group (P < 0.05 at 48 weeks). Unexpectedly, PEG‐IFNa treatment achieved a high rate of HBsAb production, far exceeding the clinical outcome in documented PEG‐IFNa‐treated CHB adults. Further analysis revealed that younger children (3‐6 years old) were more responsive to PEG‐IFNa treatment with respect to achieving a protective level of HBsAb in a short treatment cycle than adolescents (10‐17 years old). Overall, these results indicate that the immune system of children might have a preserved PEG‐IFNa‐mediated mechanism to completely control HBV, which can help to design new strategies to treat CHB patients.
Electrodiagnostic findings in dogs with apparently painful lumbosacral foraminal stenosis
Authors: Harcourt‐Brown Thomas R. , Granger Nicolas P. , Fitzpatrick Noel , Jeffery Nicholas D.
Published: August 2019

Background

Development of management strategies for lumbosacral stenosis in dogs is hampered by the lack of objective diagnostic criteria and outcome measures.

Objective

To explore the suitability of electrodiagnostic tests as ancillary diagnostic aids, inclusion criteria, or outcome measures.

Sample population

Sixty‐one client‐owned dogs with clinical signs of lumbosacral foraminal stenosis.

Methods

A blinded, cross‐sectional cohort study. Fifty‐one dogs exhibiting apparent lumbosacral pain or pelvic limb lameness with no detected orthopedic cause had blinded review of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), allowing classification as affected with foraminal stenosis (25 dogs), unaffected (20 dogs), or another diagnosis (6 dogs). The presence of electromyographic changes and tibial neurography variables were compared between groups.

Results

Cord dorsum potential onset latency, F‐wave onset latency (both corrected for limb length), and F‐ratio were increased in dogs with lumbosacral foraminal stenosis versus those without, although there was overlap of the values between groups. The proportion of dogs with electromyographic changes was not significantly greater in MRI‐affected dogs.

Conclusion

Electrophysiological testing is a useful ancillary test, either to provide stricter inclusion criteria and outcome measures or to aid clinical decision‐making in equivocal cases.
Responses of plant community mycorrhization to anthropogenic influence depend on the habitat and mycorrhizal type
Authors: Gerz Maret , Bueno C. Guillermo , Ozinga Wim A. , Zobel Martin , Moora Mari
Published: August 2019

Anthropogenic impact represents a major pressure on ecosystems, yet little is known about how it affects symbiotic relationships, such as mycorrhizal symbiosis, which plays a crucial role in ecosystem functioning. We analyzed the effects of three human impact types – increasing urbanity, introduction of alien plant species (alienness) and modifications in plant species distribution ranges (as a proxy for naturalness) – on plant community overall mycorrhization (including arbuscular, ecto‐, ericoid and orchid mycorrhizal plants) and arbuscular mycorrhization (indicating the degree of forming mycorrhizal symbiosis at plant community level using the relative abundance of mycorrhizal and arbuscular mycorrhizal plants, respectively). The study was carried out in three habitat types, each dominated by a distinct mycorrhizal type – ectomycorrhizal woodlands, ericoid mycorrhizal heathlands and arbuscular mycorrhizal grasslands – at the regional scale in the Netherlands. The response of community mycorrhization and arbuscular mycorrhization to anthropogenic influence showed contrasting patterns, depending on the specific aspect of human impact. Community mycorrhization responded negatively to urbanity and positively to increasing alienness, while arbuscular mycorrhization showed the reverse trend. More natural heathlands were found to be more mycorrhizal and less arbuscular mycorrhizal. The strongest responses were detected in woodlands and heathlands, while mycorrhization in grasslands was relatively insensitive to human impact. Our study highlights the importance of considering mycorrhizal symbiosis in understanding and quantifying the effects of anthropogenic influence on plant communities, especially in woodlands and heathlands.
On the Rationality of Vow‐making
Authors: Liberman Alida
Published: August 2019

I offer a philosophical account of vowing and the rationality of vow‐making. I argue that vows are most productively understood as exceptionless resolutions that do not have any excusing conditions. I then articulate an apparent problem for exceptionless vow‐making: how can it be rational to bind yourself unconditionally, when circumstances might change unexpectedly and make it the case that vow‐keeping no longer makes sense for you? As a solution, I propose that vows can be rational to make only if they are implicitly conditional on a personal identification or social role that is itself escapable.
Deficiency of very long chain alkanes biosynthesis causes humidity‐sensitive male sterility via affecting pollen adhesion and hydration in rice
Authors: Yu Bo , Liu Lingtong , Wang Tai
Published: August 2019

Pollen adhesion and hydration are the earliest events of the pollen–stigma interactions, which allow compatible pollen to fertilize egg cells, but the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Rice pollen are wind dispersed, and its pollen coat contains less abundant lipids than that of insect‐pollinated plants. Here, we characterized the role of OsGL1‐4, a rice member of the Glossy family, in pollen adhesion and hydration. OsGL1‐4 is preferentially expressed in pollen and tapetal cells and is required for the synthesis of very long chain alkanes. osgl1‐4 mutant generated apparently normal pollen but displayed excessively fast dehydration at anthesis and defective adhesion and hydration under normal condition, but the defective adhesion and hydration were rescued by high humidity. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis suggested that the humidity‐sensitive male sterility of osgl1‐4 was probably due to a significant reduction in C25 and C27 alkanes. These results indicate that very long chain alkanes are components of rice pollen coat and control male fertility via affecting pollen adhesion and hydration in response to environmental humidity. Moreover, we proposed that a critical point of water content in mature pollen is required for the initiation of pollen adhesion.
No evidence for triose phosphate limitation of light‐saturated leaf photosynthesis under current atmospheric CO2 concentration
Authors: Kumarathunge Dushan P. , Medlyn Belinda E. , Drake John E. , Rogers Alistair , Tjoelker Mark G.
Published: August 2019

The triose phosphate utilization (TPU) rate has been identified as one of the processes that can limit terrestrial plant photosynthesis. However, we lack a robust quantitative assessment of TPU limitation of photosynthesis at the global scale. As a result, TPU, and its potential limitation of photosynthesis, is poorly represented in terrestrial biosphere models (TBMs). In this study, we utilized a global data set of photosynthetic CO2 response curves representing 141 species from tropical rainforests to Arctic tundra. We quantified TPU by fitting the standard biochemical model of C3 photosynthesis to measured photosynthetic CO2 response curves and characterized its instantaneous temperature response. Our results demonstrate that TPU does not limit leaf photosynthesis at the current ambient atmospheric CO2 concentration. Furthermore, our results showed that the light‐saturated photosynthetic rates of plants growing in cold environments are not more often limited by TPU than those of plants growing in warmer environments. In addition, our study showed that the instantaneous temperature response of TPU is distinct from temperature response of the maximum rate of Rubisco carboxylation. The new formulations of the temperature response of TPU derived in this study may prove useful in quantifying the biochemical limits to terrestrial plant photosynthesis and improve the representation of plant photosynthesis in TBMs.
Decision‐ and feedback‐related brain potentials reveal risk processing mechanisms in patients with alcohol use disorder
Authors: Sehrig Sarah , Weiss Andreas , Miller Gregory A. , Rockstroh Brigitte
Published: August 2019

Individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) are aware of the risks of alcohol abuse yet continue risky drinking. Research indicates that dysfunctional decision processes and trait variables such as impulsivity contribute to this awareness‐behavior discrepancy. The present study focused on decision‐related versus feedback‐related processes as potential contributors to decision making in AUD by examining the relationship between decision choices and decision‐ and feedback‐related ERP phenomena in the balloon analogue risk task (BART). N = 39 AUD and n = 35 healthy comparison participants (HC) performed the BART modified for EEG assessment. In each of 100 runs, participants made a series of choices about whether to pump up a virtual balloon, which popped pseudorandomly, ending the run. Alternatively, participants ended the run by pressing a “cash‐out” button. Each pump not producing a pop provided .05 €; popping resulted in loss of the run’s accumulated gain. Groups made similar choices, though AUD responded more slowly. The decision P3 200‒400 ms after decision prompt (balloon) was larger in AUD than in HC, and decision P3 enhancement on high‐risk trials predicted choices to pump. Feedback‐related negativity (FRN) after loss (relative to cash out) feedback was smaller in AUD than in HC, suggesting indifference to negative feedback. In AUD, high impulsivity was associated with risk‐modulated decision P3 but not FRN. Results indicate atypical decision‐ and feedback‐related processes that could contribute to difficulties in engaging with daily challenges effectively.
Passive restoration of vegetation and biological soil crusts following 80 years of exclusion from grazing across the Great Basin
Authors: Condon Lea A. , Pietrasiak Nicole , Rosentreter Roger , Pyke David A.
Published: August 2019

Restoration targets for biological soil crusts are largely unknown. We surveyed seven 80‐year‐old grazing exclosures across northern Nevada for biocrusts to quantify reference conditions at relatively undisturbed sites. Exclosures were associated with the following plant communities: Wyoming big sagebrush, black sagebrush, and areas co‐dominated by winterfat and Wyoming big sagebrush. Cover of biocrusts and shrubs were generally higher than other plant groups at these sites, regardless of being inside or outside of the exclosures, suggesting these groups make up most of the native flora across the region. Important in forming soil structure, cyanobacteria of the order Oscillatoriales were less abundant and diverse in black sagebrush communities. Grazing had a negative effect on the abundance of Oscillatoriales but not the number of algal taxa, including cyanobacteria. Abundance of light algal crusts were not influenced by plant community or grazing. Dark algal crusts were generally less abundant on grazed sites. Influences of plant community and grazing were most apparent when accounting for reproductive rates of lichens and mosses based on establishment mechanisms. Abundance of shrubs, perennial grasses, Oscillatoriales, fast reproducing biocrusts and the number of algal and cyanobacterial taxa, varied by plant community, suggesting that restoration should be plant community specific. We demonstrate the affinity of rapidly reproducing biocrusts for winterfat‐Wyoming big sagebrush co‐dominated plant communities, regardless of grazing pressure. Across sites, the effects of grazing were most evident on the abundance of Oscillatoriales and slowly reproducing biocrusts following 80 years of cessation from grazing.
The Capacity to Intervene: Bullying, Social Pain, and Bystander Empathy
Authors: Martocci Laura
Published: August 2019

This article is an interdisciplinary exploration of social pain (rejection, exclusion, and humiliation) and its effect on bystanders. It dives deeply into social theory, only to surface and become expository around current neurological research on pain and mirror neurons. It seeks to broaden and advance scholarship around bullying dynamics in order to inform interventions that privilege bystander response. Significantly, the article grounds bullying in intersubjective dances of identity construction, launching it at the very edges of Goffman's social critique: the neuropsychological implications of failed impression management. Does witnessing social pain give rise to empathic responses? This central question leads to an explication of the functioning of mirror neurons as they relate to empathy. Understanding their working bridges to the theorizing of George Herbert Mead and raises the following sociological questions: (1) Do mirror neurons function on the level of Mead's “gestures”? (2) Do cultural realities—for example, social media and narcissism—impair a bystander's capacity to perceive pain/respond to it in others? Exploring the interface between cultural dynamics and neurological capacities paves the way for more effective responses to bullying. What can we expect of bystanders, and what it might take to prompt their intervention in socially aggressive situations?
Commercial Gentrification in Post‐Industrial Neighbourhoods: A Dynamic View From an Entrepreneur’s Perspective
Authors: Pastak Ingmar , Kindsiko Eneli , Tammaru Tiit , Kleinhans Reinout , Van Ham Maarten
Published: August 2019

In urban geography research there is a small supply of articles which reflect upon the aims and motives of entrepreneurs when they enter neighbourhoods that are undergoing a process of gentrification. The aim of this paper is to better understand the explanatory factors behind the timing of entrepreneurial changes that take place during the commercial gentrification process in Tallinn’s post‐industrial neighbourhoods. Based on thirty in‐depth interviews, we propose an explanation from the supply perspective that highlights the dynamics behind motivation‐based influences. By modifying the diffusion of the innovation theory developed by Rogers we are able to show how, during the different phases of the process, groups of pioneers, early adopters, the early and late majority, and laggards enter a neighbourhood that is being gentrified by varying objectives, and associate the dynamics behind the process with the follower effect that is being shaped by knowledge diffusion, a specific market niche, and physical co‐location.
Similarity Reimagined (with Implications for a Theory of Concepts)
Authors: Bloch‐Mullins Corinne L.
Published: August 2019

Similarity‐based theories of concepts have a broad intuitive appeal and have been successful in accounting for various phenomena related to the formation and application of concepts. Their adequacy as theories of concepts has been questioned, however, as similarity is often taken as too flexible, too unconstrained, to be explanatory of categorization. In this article, I propose an account of similarity that takes the “foil” against which the target items are measured as integral to the process of comparison, making the similarity relation a fundamentally triadic one. I argue that this account delivers more internal constraints on the process of comparison than the traditional, dyadic account of similarity does. Finally, I propose that this account is advantageous for a similarity‐based theory of concepts, as it easily integrates with the notion of conceptual taxonomy and uses it to deliver additional constraints on categorization. On such a theory of concepts, the foil, whose variability is in large part responsible for the flexible nature of similarity judgements, is turned within the framework of conceptual taxonomy to the very element that constrains similarity judgements in categorization. Therefore, this notion of similarity mitigates the worry that similarity is too flexible to be explanatory of categorization.
Effects of whole blood leukoreduction on platelet function and hemostatic parameters
Authors: Morris M. C. , Veile R. , Friend L. A. , Oh D. , Pritts T. A. , Dorlac W. C. , Spinella P. C. , Goodman M. D.
Published: August 2019

Aims/Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the hemostatic consequences of whole blood leukoreduction (LR).

Background

Whole blood is being used for trauma resuscitation in the military, and an increasing number of civilian trauma centres across the nation. The benefits of LR, such as decreased infectious and transfusion‐related complications, are well established, but the effects on hemostatic parameters remain a concern.

Methods

Twenty‐four units of whole blood were assigned to one of the four groups: non‐leukoreduced (NLR), leukoreduced at 1 h and a height of 33 in. (LR‐1), leukoreduced at 4 h and a height of 33 in. (LR‐4(33)), or leukoreduced at 4 h and a height of 28 in. (LR‐4(28)). Viscoelastic parameters, platelet aggregation, cell counts, physiological parameters and thrombin potential were evaluated immediately before and after LR, and on days 1, 7, 14 and 21 following LR.

Results

The viscoelastic parameters and thrombin generation potential were unchanged between the groups. Platelet aggregation was reduced in the LR‐1 group compared with NLR after 7 days. The LR‐4(28) group also showed a trend of reduced platelet aggregation compared with NLR. Aggregation in LR‐4(33) was similar to NLR throughout the storage time. Physiological and electrolyte changes over the whole blood storage period were not affected by LR.

Conclusion

Our study shows that whole blood can be LR at 4 h after collection and a height of 33 in. while maintaining platelet count and without altering platelet function and hemostatic performance.
The Investigation of Elite Athletes’ Psychological Resilience
Authors: Özdemir Nurgül
Published: August 2019

The performances of the athletes can change from competition to competition under the pressure of heavy exercise and success anxiety during the season. The help obtained from sports psychology in order to minimize these fluctuations in the performance of the athlete is an important component in increasing the psychological resilience of the athlete. The aim of this study is to examine the psychological resilience of elite athletes in terms of various variables. This research is a descriptive survey model study in terms of defining psychological resilience levels of elite athletes. In this study, the Psychological Resilience Scale developed by Friborg et al. (2005) and adapted to Turkey by Basım and Çetin (2011), and the personal data form developed by the researcher for collecting personal information were used to determine the psychological resilience of elite athletes. The data of the research was collected from 147 national athletes in different branches, including 79 males and 68 females. SPSS 21.00 statistical package program was used in data analysis. Descriptive statistics, independent groups t-test, one-way variance analysis, correlation and regression analyses were used in data analysis. As a result of the study, it was found that the psychological resilience of elite athletes differed according to the athlete’s gender, sports branch, their tendency to use doping, whether the athletes make self-talk or not, but did not differ according to the athlete’s age, sports experience, and smoking and alcohol use.
Effect of viscosity on pseudo-Scholte wave propagation at liquid/porous medium interface
Authors: Qiu Hao-Miao , Xia Tang-Dai , Yu Bing-Qi , Chen Wei-Yun
Published: August 2019

A theory of pseudo-Scholte wave propagating in a saturated porous medium loaded on its interface by a viscous compressible liquid is described. The porous medium is simulated by the Biot theory with high-frequency correction, and the overlying liquid is simulated by the linearized Navier-Stokes equation. An analytical expression for the complex dispersion equation of pseudo-Scholte wave through boundary conditions is established. Then the Riemann sheets related to body waves are discussed and the real and imaginary parts of the complex dispersion equation are separated and solved numerically. The resulting phase velocity, attenuation, as well as displacement and pressure fields are analyzed and comparisons are drawn with the non-viscous model. Finally, a set of parametric analyses is carried out to describe the effects of the phase velocity ratios of the S-wave in the porous medium to Ls-mode in overlying liquid on phase velocity and attenuation of the pseudo-Scholte waves.
Watching DNA Replication Inhibitors in Action: Exploiting Time-Lapse Microfluidic Microscopy as a Tool for Target-Drug Interaction Studies in
Mycobacterium
Authors: Trojanowski Damian , Kołodziej Marta , Hołówka Joanna , Müller Rolf , Zakrzewska-Czerwińska Jolanta
Published: August 2019

Spreading resistance to antibiotics and the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains have become frequent in many bacterial species, including mycobacteria, which are the causative agents of severe diseases and which have profound impacts on global health.
Delamanid Central Nervous System Pharmacokinetics in Tuberculous Meningitis in Rabbits and Humans
Authors: Tucker Elizabeth W. , Pieterse Lisa , Zimmerman Matthew D. , Udwadia Zarir F. , Peloquin Charles A. , Gler Maria Tarcela , Ganatra Shashank , Tornheim Jeffrey A. , Chawla Prerna , Caoili Janice C. , Ritchie Brittaney , Jain Sanjay K. , Dartois Véronique , Dooley Kelly E.
Published: August 2019

Central nervous system tuberculosis (TB) is devastating and affects vulnerable populations. Multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) tuberculous meningitis (TBM) specifically are nearly uniformly fatal, with little information being available to guide the treatment of these patients. Delamanid (DLM), a nitro-dihydro-imidazooxazole, is a new, well-tolerated anti-TB drug with a low MIC (1 to 12 ng/ml) against
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
.
Trends and Risk Factors for Antimicrobial-Resistant
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
, Melbourne, Australia, 2007 to 2018
Authors: Williamson Deborah A. , Fairley Christopher K. , Howden Benjamin P. , Chen Marcus Y. , Stevens Kerrie , De Petra Vesna , Denham Ian , Chow Eric P. F.
Published: August 2019

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
is a major public health problem. Traditionally, AMR surveillance programs for
N. gonorrhoeae
have focused mainly on laboratory data to describe the prevalence and trends of resistance. However, integrating individual-level risk factors (e.g., sexual orientation or international travel) with laboratory data provides important insights into factors promoting the spread of resistant
N. gonorrhoeae
.
Genome-Wide Screening for Identification of Novel Toxin-Antitoxin Systems in Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Kato Fuminori , Yoshizumi Satoshi , Yamaguchi Yoshihiro , Inouye Masayori
Published: August 2019

Recent advances in genome sequencing and bioinformatics research have demonstrated that most pathogenic bacteria harbor a large number of chromosomally encoded toxin-antitoxin (TA) modules. However, little is known about the TA systems in
S. aureus
. Here, we newly identified four
S. aureus
TA systems using a combination of manual base-by-base screening and functional analysis in
E. coli
. Moreover, all toxins of the identified TA systems caused growth inhibition in the native host
S. aureus
. Although the newly identified TA systems did not exhibit sequence similarity with known bacterial TA systems, their orthologues were conserved only among other
Staphylococcus
species, indicating their uniqueness to staphylococci. Our approach opens the possibility for studying unannotated TA systems in various bacterial species.
Cowpea Mosaic Virus Nanoparticles and Empty Virus-Like Particles Show Distinct but Overlapping Immunostimulatory Properties
Authors: Wang Chao , Beiss Veronique , Steinmetz Nicole F.
Published: August 2019

The engagement of antiviral effector responses caused by viral infection is essential when using viruses or virus-like particles (VLPs) as an immunotherapeutic agent. Here, we compare the chemophysical and immunostimulatory properties of wild-type cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV) (RNA containing) and eCPMV (RNA-free VLPs) produced from two expression systems (agrobacterium-based plant expression system and baculovirus-insect cell expression). CPMV and eCPMV could each be developed as novel adjuvants to overcome immunosuppression and thus promote tumor regression in ovarian cancer (and other tumor types). To our knowledge, this is the first study to define the immunotherapeutic differences between CPMV and eCPMV, which is essential for the further development of biomedical applications for plant viruses and the selection of rational combinations of immunomodulatory reagents.
Modified Vaccinia Virus Ankara Can Induce Optimal CD8+T Cell Responses to Directly Primed Antigens Depending on Vaccine Design
Authors: Wong Yik Chun , Croft Sarah , Smith Stewart A. , Lin Leon C. W. , Cukalac Tania , La Gruta Nicole L. , Drexler Ingo , Tscharke David C.
Published: August 2019

Recombinant vaccines based on vaccinia virus and particularly attenuated strains such as MVA are in human clinical trials, but due to the complexity of these large vectors much remains to be understood about the design parameters that alter their immunogenicity. Previous work had found that MVA vectors should be designed to express stable protein in order to induce robust immunity by CD8+(cytotoxic) T cells. Here, we found that the primacy of stable antigen is not generalizable to all designs of MVA and may depend where a foreign antigen is inserted into the MVA genome. This unexpected finding suggests that there is an interaction between genome location and the best form of antigen for optimal T cell priming in MVA and thus possibly other vaccine vectors. It also highlights that our understanding of antigen presentation by even the best studied of vaccine vectors remains incomplete.
The ICP0 Protein of Herpes Simplex Virus 1 (HSV-1) Downregulates Major Autophagy Adaptor Proteins Sequestosome 1 and Optineurin during the Early Stages of HSV-1 Infection
Authors: Waisner Hope , Kalamvoki Maria
Published: August 2019

Autophagy is a homeostatic mechanism of cells to recycle components, as well as a defense mechanism to get rid of pathogens. Strategies that HSV-1 has developed to counteract autophagy have been described and involve inhibition of autophagosome formation or indirect mechanisms. Here, we present a novel mechanism that involves downregulation of two major autophagy adaptor proteins, sequestosome 1 (p62/SQSTM1) and optineurin (OPTN). These findings generate the question of why the virus targets two major autophagy adaptors if it has mechanisms to block autophagosome formation. P62/SQSTM1 and OPTN proteins have pleiotropic functions, including regulation of innate immunity, inflammation, protein sorting, and chromatin remodeling. The decrease in virus yields in the presence of exogenous p62/SQSTM1 suggests that these adaptors have an antiviral function. Thus, HSV-1 may have developed multiple strategies to incapacitate autophagy to ensure replication. Alternatively, the virus may target another antiviral function of these proteins.
Regulation of Iron Storage by CsrA Supports Exponential Growth of Escherichia coli
Authors: Pourciau Christine , Pannuri Archana , Potts Anastasia , Yakhnin Helen , Babitzke Paul , Romeo Tony
Published: August 2019

Iron is an essential micronutrient for nearly all living organisms but is toxic in excess. Consequently, the maintenance of iron homeostasis is a critical biological process, and the genes involved in this function are tightly regulated. Here, we explored a new role for the bacterial RNA binding protein CsrA in the regulation of iron homeostasis. CsrA was shown to be a key regulator of iron storage genes in
Escherichia coli
, with consequential effects on cellular iron levels and growth. Our findings establish a model in which robust CsrA activity during the exponential phase of growth leads to repression of genes whose products sequester iron or divert it to unnecessary stress response processes. In so doing, CsrA supports
E. coli
growth under iron-limiting laboratory conditions and may promote fitness in the competitive iron-limited environment of the host large intestine.
Transposon Mutagenesis in Chlamydia trachomatis Identifies CT339 as a ComEC Homolog Important for DNA Uptake and Lateral Gene Transfer
Authors: LaBrie Scott D. , Dimond Zoë E. , Harrison Kelly S. , Baid Srishti , Wickstrum Jason , Suchland Robert J. , Hefty P. Scott
Published: August 2019

Chlamydia trachomatis
infections have an immense impact on public health; however, understanding the basic biology and pathogenesis of this organism has been stalled by the limited repertoire of genetic tools. This report describes the successful adaptation of an important tool that has been lacking in
Chlamydia
studies: transposon mutagenesis. This advance enabled the generation of 105 insertional mutants, demonstrating that numerous gene products are not essential for
in vitro
growth. Mammalian infections using these mutants revealed that several gene products are important for infections
in vivo
. Moreover, this tool enabled the investigation and discovery of a gene critical for lateral gene transfer; a process fundamental to the evolution of bacteria and likely for
Chlamydia
as well. The development of transposon mutagenesis for
Chlamydia
has broad impact for the field and for the discovery of genes associated with selected phenotypes, providing an additional avenue for the discovery of molecular mechanisms used for pathogenesis and for a more thorough understanding of this important pathogen.
Cell Shape and Antibiotic Resistance Are Maintained by the Activity of Multiple FtsW and RodA Enzymes in Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Rismondo Jeanine , Halbedel Sven , Gründling Angelika
Published: August 2019

The human pathogen
Listeria monocytogenes
is usually treated with high doses of β-lactam antibiotics, often combined with gentamicin. However, these antibiotics only act bacteriostatically on
L. monocytogenes
, and the immune system is needed to clear the infection. Therefore, individuals with a compromised immune system are at risk to develop a severe form of
Listeria
infection, which can be fatal in up to 30% of cases. The development of new strategies to treat
Listeria
infections is necessary. Here we show that the expression of some of the FtsW and RodA enzymes of
L. monocytogenes
is induced by the presence of β-lactam antibiotics, and the combined absence of these enzymes makes bacteria more susceptible to this class of antibiotics. The development of antimicrobial agents that inhibit the activity or production of FtsW and RodA enzymes might therefore help to improve the treatment of
Listeria
infections and thereby lead to a reduction in mortality.
A Chaperone for the Stator Units of a Bacterial Flagellum
Authors: Ribardo Deborah A. , Kelley Brittni R. , Johnson Jeremiah G. , Hendrixson David R.
Published: August 2019

The bacterial flagellum is a reversible rotating motor powered by ion transport through stator units, which also exert torque on the rotor component to turn the flagellum for motility. Species-specific adaptations to flagellar motors impact stator function to meet the demands of each species to sufficiently power flagellar rotation. We identified another evolutionary adaptation by discovering that FlgX of
Campylobacter jejuni
preserves the integrity of stator units by functioning as a chaperone to protect stator proteins from degradation by the FtsH protease complex due to the physiology of the bacterium. FlgX is required to maintain a level of stator units sufficient to power the naturally high-torque flagellar motor of
C. jejuni
for motility in intestinal mucosal layers to colonize hosts. Our work continues to identify an increasing number of adaptations to flagellar motors across bacterial species that provide the mechanics necessary for producing an effective rotating nanomachine for motility.
Sulfur Assimilation Alters Flagellar Function and Modulates the Gene Expression Landscape of Serratia marcescens
Authors: Anderson Mark T. , Mitchell Lindsay A. , Sintsova Anna , Rice Katherine A. , Mobley Harry L. T.
Published: August 2019

Serratia marcescens
is a versatile bacterial species that inhabits diverse environmental niches and is capable of pathogenic interactions with host organisms ranging from insects to humans. This report demonstrates for the first time the extensive impacts that environmental sulfate availability and cysteine biosynthesis have on the transcriptome of
S. marcescens
. The finding that greater than 1,000
S. marcescens
genes are differentially expressed depending on sulfate availability suggests that sulfur abundance is a crucial factor that controls the physiology of this organism. Furthermore, the high relative expression levels for the putative virulence factors flagella, phospholipase, and hemolysin in the presence of sulfate suggests that a sulfur-rich host environment could contribute to the transcription of these genes during infection.
Longitudinal Comparison of Bacterial Diversity and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in New York City Sewage
Authors: Joseph Susan M. , Battaglia Thomas , Maritz Julia M. , Carlton Jane M. , Blaser Martin J.
Published: August 2019

Urban sewage or wastewater is a diverse source of bacterial growth, as well as a hot spot for the development of environmental antibiotic resistance, which can in turn influence the health of the residents of the city. As part of a larger study to characterize the urban New York City microbial metagenome, we collected raw sewage samples representing three seasonal time points spanning the five boroughs of NYC and went on to characterize the microbiome and the presence of a range of antibiotic resistance genes. Through this study, we have established a baseline microbial population and antibiotic resistance abundance in NYC sewage which can prove to be very useful in studying the load of antibiotic usage, as well as for developing effective measures in antibiotic stewardship.
Type IV capitellum fractures in children
Authors: Papamerkouriou Yvonne-Mary , Tsoumpos Pantelis , Tagaris George , Christodoulou George
Published: August 2019

Capitellum fractures represent 1% of elbow fractures. A coronal shear fracture which involves the trochlea is classified as a type IV McKee fracture. The combination of its rarity in the paediatric population as well as its unique appearance on X-ray make diagnosis of this fracture a challenge. We present the case of a 14-year-old boy who sustained this fracture falling from his bike. It was diagnosed from the double arc sign on X-ray. In addition, a CT scan was obtained to aid preoperative planning. It was treated by open reduction and fixation with two headless compression screws. Follow-up at 6 months showed no avascular necrosis. The patient could achieve full extension, while flexion was reduced only by 5°. Final follow-up was conducted at 15 months. Anatomic reduction and stable internal fixation are essential for a good outcome in these uncommon paediatric fractures.
Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma: a diagnostic challenge in sinonasal lesions
Authors: Agrawal Shailesh Ramesh , Joshi Anagha Atul , Dhorje Nikhil , Bradoo Renuka
Published: August 2019

Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma (REAH) is a rare lesion in nasal cavity first reported by Wenig and Heffner in 1995. Most commonly seen in men in third to ninth decade of life. Majority of cases presents as a polypoidal mass in one or both nasal cavities. We experienced such a case of REAH originating from the nasal septum, in posterior aspect, treated by endoscopic approach. It is important to differentiate REAH from other sinonasal pathologies like inverted papilloma and low grade sinonasal adenocarcinoma. Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice.