bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Learning new relational categories by children with autism spectrum disorders, children with typical development and children with intellectual disabilities: effects of comparison and familiarity on systematicity
Authors: Hetzroni O. E. , Hessler M. , Shalahevich K.
Published: February 2019

Background

Systematicity principle, used during analogical reasoning, enables building up deeper abstract concepts as part of structure mapping. The purpose of this study was to investigate structure mapping processes that occur during acquisition of new relational categories and to identify the learning patterns and systematicity of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) compared with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and typical development (TD). Comparison effect and level of familiarity were used to investigate structural mapping processes.

Methods

Three groups of 24 children participated in the study. Using a computer program, participants were asked to select a perceptual or relational choice based on one or two standards using illustrations depicting new relational categories in various spatial configurations. Known, partially known and unknown illustrations were used in depicting three levels of familiarity.

Results

All three groups selected perceptual choices when one standard was available (no comparison). However, when two standards were available, enabling a comparison, children with IDD and TD increased their tendency for selecting abstract relational categories, while children with ASD did not change their preference and continued selecting perceptual choices. Level of familiarity increased selection of relational choices among children with TD and IDD but not among children with ASD.

Conclusions

Systematicity principle was evident mostly in the selection of relational choices by children with TD and IDD when the illustrations were known or partially known. Hence, even when an opportunity to compare and to use previously known information was available, structure mapping processes and systematicity were implemented to align information among children TD and IDD but failed to assist the learning of new relational categories among children with ASD.
Knowledge, attitude and ethical consideration of Chinese couples requesting preimplantation genetic testing in Hong Kong
Authors: Chan Sophelia H. S. , Li Raymond H. W. , Lee Vivian C. Y. , Tang Mary H. Y. , Ng Ernest H. Y.
Published: February 2019

Aim

Increasing preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) cycles are being performed in Hong Kong. This study aims to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and ethical consideration of Chinese couples toward PGT.

Methods

Couples requesting PGT between June 2013 and March 2014 were invited to complete a questionnaire.

Results

Total 49 couples (49 women, 47 men) completed the questionnaires. Eighteen couples (37%) were waiting for PGT (pre‐PGT group), 15 couples (31%) were undergoing PGT (PGT group) and 16 couples (32%) had completed at least one PGT cycle (post‐PGT group). Only 53% of the couples could tell the recurrent risk, and 31% (with monogenic disorders) could tell the mode of inheritance of their condition. The acceptability of PGT (>80%) and attitude toward the embryo fate (58–78%) were good. The post‐PGT group had more concern than the PGT and pre‐PGT groups on the prenatal diagnostic testing (**P = 0.007). 12.5% of the couples worried about the transfer of healthy embryos with carrier state and they all had monogenic disorders. If the prenatal testing confirmed an affected fetus, a higher percentage (32%) in the Post‐PGT group disagreed to terminate the pregnancy in contrast to a much lower 6% in the pre‐PGT group (**P = 0.02). Three‐quarter of the couples opted to tell their child about their conception through PGT.

Conclusion

Chinese couples in Hong Kong had an overall good acceptability and positive attitude toward PGT. We appreciate the difficulties the couples have gone through PGT. A checklist on what to cover pre‐during‐post‐PGT in the counseling process is needed.
The meiosis‐specific APC activator FgAMA1 is dispensable for meiosis but important for ascosporogenesis in Fusarium graminearum
Authors: Hao Chaofeng , Yin Jinrong , Sun Manli , Wang Qinhu , Liang Jie , Bian Zhuyun , Liu Huiquan , Xu Jin‐Rong
Published: February 2019

Ascospores are the primary inoculum in Fusarium graminearum. Interestingly, 70 of its genes have premature stop codons (PSC) and require A‐to‐I editing during sexual reproduction to encode full‐length proteins, including the ortholog of yeast Ama1, a meiosis‐specific activator of APC/C. In this study, we characterized the function of FgAMA1 and its PSC editing. FgAMA1 was specifically expressed during sexual reproduction. The Fgama1 mutant was normal in growth and perithecium formation but defective in ascospogenesis. Instead of forming four‐celled, uninucleate ascospores, Fgama1 mutant produced oval, single‐celled, binucleated ascospores by selfing. Some mutant ascospores began to bud and underwent additional mitosis inside asci. Expression of the wild‐type or edited FgAMA1 but not the uneditable allele complemented Fgama1. In the Fgama1 x mat‐1‐1 outcross, over 60% of the asci had eight Fgama1 or intermediate (elongated but single‐celled) ascospores, suggesting efficient meiotic silencing of unpaired FgAMA1. Deletion of FgPAL1, one of the genes upregulated in Fgama1 also resulted in defects in ascospore morphology and budding. Overall, our results showed that FgAMA1 is dispensable for meiosis but important for ascospore formation and discharge. In F. graminearum, whereas some of its targets are functional during meiosis, FgAma1 may target other proteins that function after spore delimitation.
Genetic diversity, population structure and rickettsias in Amblyomma ovale in areas of epidemiological interest for spotted fever in Brazil
Authors: Bitencourth K. , Amorim M. , de Oliveira S. V. , Voloch C. M. , Gazêta G. S.
Published: February 2019

Amblyomma ovale (Ixodida: Ixodidae) Koch, 1844 is widely‐reported in the neotropical region and is the main vector in the epidemic cycle of Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest, a bioagent of a milder variety of spotted fever (SF). Because species with wide geographical distributions are known to exhibit variations that influence their vectorial capacity, the present study aimed to analyze genetic diversity and rickettsia infection of A. ovale collected during the investigation and surveillance of SF cases in the Cerrado and Atlantic rainforest (ARF) Brazilian biomes. Samples had their DNA extracted, amplified and sequenced for 16S rDNA, 12S rDNA, cytochrome oxidase subunit II and D‐loop markers for tick analyses, as well as the gltA, htrA, ompA and ompB genes for rickettsia detection. Between 11 and 33 A. ovale haplotypes were identified, all of them exclusive to areas within individual analyzed biome areas. The A. ovale populations appeared to be structured, with Cluster I restricted to Cerrado + ARF isolated in Caatinga and Cluster II to ARF continuous area. Rickettsia bellii, R. parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest (first report for Goiás state, Cerrado), Rickettsia asemboensis (first record in A. ovale for Brazil) and Rickettsia felis (first detection in this ixodid) were identified. A. ovale clusters were not associated with rickettsia types.
Neutrophilic Panniculitis in a child with MYSM1 deficiency
Authors: Nanda Arti , Al‐Abboh Hanan , Zahra Akmal , Al‐Sabah Humoud , Gupta Arun , Adekile Adekunle D.
Published: February 2019

Neutrophilic panniculitis (NP) with myelodysplasia has been described in adults but not in children. We report a case of NP associated with myelodysplasia in a child with MYSM1 deficiency, a newly described syndrome with primary immunodeficiency (PI), bone marrow failure, and developmental aberrations.
How well do older adults recognise mental illness? A literature review
Authors: Malkin Gali , Hayat Tsahi , Amichai‐Hamburger Yair , Ben‐David Boaz M. , Regev Tali , Nakash Ora
Published: February 2019

Older adults tend to underutilise mental health services. Mental health literacy plays a critical role in identifying and overcoming barriers to accessing mental health care. The ability to recognise mental illness is an essential component of mental health literacy, with important implications to whether the person will seek professional help. We conducted a review of the literature on older adults’ abilities to recognise mental illness. Of the 421 papers that were retrieved in the comprehensive search in PubMed, 32 studies met inclusion criteria. Studies were heterogeneous in terms of target population and methodology, yet findings show that older adults are less likely to correctly recognise mental disorders. Cueing older participants with mental labels improved their recognition abilities. Recognition was particularly poor among immigrant and ethnic/racial older adults, likely due to linguistic and cultural barriers. Our findings demonstrate that older adults show low levels of mental illness recognition and tend to view some illnesses as normal parts of aging. Findings emphasise the need for developing educational programs tailored by the specific phenomenology, conceptualisations and cultural meanings of mental illness among older adults, with attention to informal sources of information and social networks.
Validity and reliability of measurements of aponeurosis dimensions from magnetic resonance images
Authors: Bird Lachlan , D’Souza Arkiev , Ball Iain , Rae Caroline , Herbert Robert D. , Bolsterlee Bart
Published: February 2019

Muscle performance is closely related to the structure and function of tendons and aponeuroses, the sheet‐like, intramuscular parts of tendons. The architecture of aponeuroses has been difficult to study with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) because these thin, collagen‐rich connective tissues have very short transverse relaxation (T2) times and therefore provide a weak signal with conventional MRI sequences. Here, we validated measurements of aponeurosis dimensions from two MRI sequences commonly used in muscle‐tendon research (mDixon and T1‐weighted images), and an ultrashort echo time (UTE) sequence designed for imaging tissues with short T2 times. MRI‐based measurements of aponeurosis width, length, and area of 20 sheep leg muscles were compared to direct measurements made with three‐dimensional (3D) quantitative microdissection. The errors in measurement of aponeurosis width relative to the mean width were 1.8% for UTE, 3.7% for T1, and 18.8% for mDixon. For aponeurosis length, the errors were 7.6% for UTE, 1.9% for T1, and 21.0% for mDixon. Measurements from T1 and UTE scans were unbiased, but mDixon scans systematically underestimated widths, lengths, and areas of the aponeuroses. Using the same methods, we then found high inter‐rater reliability (intraclass correlation coefficients >0.92 for all measures) of measurements of the dimensions of the central aponeurosis of the human tibialis anterior muscle from T1‐weighted scans. We conclude that valid and reliable measurements of aponeurosis dimensions can be obtained from UTE and from T1‐weighted scans. When the goal is to study the macroscopic architecture of aponeuroses, UTE does not hold an advantage over T1‐weighted imaging.
Preparing preservice elementary teachers to teach engineering: Impact on self‐efficacy and outcome expectancy
Authors: Perkins Coppola Matthew
Published: February 2019

Research indicates there is a need for teachers to experience multiple mastery experiences with engineering teaching in order to improve teaching engineering self‐efficacy. To prepare future K–5 teachers to teach the engineering design process, one science methods course integrated 2‐day engineering mini‐units into the class meeting and school‐based field experience. The preservice teachers participated as students in an exemplar mini‐unit and then designed their own mini‐unit, which they later taught to K–5 students. Pre‐ and post‐testing of the preservice teachers indicated significant improvement in engineering pedagogical content knowledge self‐efficacy, engagement self‐efficacy, and disciplinary self‐efficacy. Significant improvement was not observed in engineering outcome expectancy.
Socioeconomic Status and Fertility Decline in Burkina Faso, 2003-2015
Authors: Bahan Dalomi , Dramani Latif
Published: February 2019

The paper proposes to clarify whether fertility decline in Burkina Faso between 2003 and 2015 is explained by the differential distributions (composition effect and response effect) with focus on socioeconomic status (women’s education, women’s occupation and poverty). Using data from 2003 demographic and health survey (DHS) and 2015 demographic and health module of the Multisectoral Continuous Survey, we applied an extension of Blinder-Oaxaca decomposition approach to quantify the percentage of fertility decline attributable to distribution of the socio-economic status (composition effect) and the percentage attributable to women’s fertility behavior (response effect) attributable to socio-economic status. We find the fertility decline is mainly explain to changes in the distribution of women according the different factors. Indeed, the composition effect represents 88% and only 12% for the response effect.  Moreover, composition effect for socio-economic factors is estimated to 85.13% and the response effect is estimated to 34.23%. These results suggest (i) to encourage girl’s education by enrolling them in school but particularly by ensuring that they go at least to secondary school; (ii) create a minimum package of services for the promotion of modern methods of contraception, particularly for women working in agriculture and trade sector as well as those from poor households and living in rural areas; (iii) promote domestic work to allow more women to be interested.
Winning the War for Talent: An Experimental Evaluation of Online Recruitment Campaigns Using Twitter
Authors: Torre Margarita , Llorente Alejandro
Published: February 2019

Organizations have moved rapidly from traditional recruitment methods to online recruiting. The present study argues that the fierce demand for labor in technology-related industries —“second war for talent”— besieges workers in competitive environments to the point of lowering their propensity to engage in online recruiting campaigns. Collecting data from the social media platform Twitter, we take an experimental approach to investigate the effectiveness of online recruitment processes in attracting the attention of potential job candidates from different occupational categories. The findings reveal that workers in technology, engineering, and mathematical occupations (TEM) are less likely to react to recruitment processes than workers in other professional jobs. However, motivated advertisement designed according to individual group interests significantly increase the rate of participation of TEM, while these ads have no effect on workers from other sectors. Our experiment helps to explain pre-hiring outcomes. The findings have important implications for organizations seeking to boost their talent acquisition strategies.
The Trans Adriatic Pipeline project (TAP) in Albania: Opportunities for archaeology
Authors: Zoto Rudina , Meshini Mariglen
Published: February 2019

The Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is one of the major developments in Albania for the transportation of natural gas from the Caspian region to Western Europe through Albania and the Adriatic Sea. The pipeline is 215 km long within Albania and passes near rich areas with cultural monuments, archaeological sites and antique streets.

The study, design and implementation of TAP project works has been a complex process, progressing through several phases. As a major development, TAP and archaeological heritage organistions have supported each other by enabling progress through the preservation and promotion of shared values. This cooperation has led to many enhancements.
An Introduction to Development-led Archaeology in Europe: Meeting the needs of archaeologists, developers and the public
Authors: Stefánsdóttir Agnes
Published: February 2019

In the EAC 2018 heritage management symposium, the idea was to look at the topic of development-led archaeology from a different angle and encourage discussions between heritage management officials, developers, archaeologists working in the field and the public. How can we meet the needs of these very different stakeholders and do we always need to? This topic was also highly relevant in view of the decision of the EU and European Parliament’s decision to make 2018 the European Year of Cultural Heritage with the aim of raising awareness as well as drawing attention to the opportunities offered by Cultural Heritage i.e. to reflect on the place that cultural heritage occupies in our lives. This themed issue reflects some of the topics covered by speakers from professional archaeology and cultural heritage spheres as well as representatives of the media and the general public.
Analytical Passive Time Reversal Method Combined With Equivalent Source Method for Sound Source Localization in an Enclosure
Authors: Bi Chuan-Xing , Li Yong-Chang , Zhang Yong-Bin , Zhou Rong
Published: February 2019

The analytical passive time reversal method (APTRM) is a powerful technique for sound source localization. In that technique, it generally requires that the frequency response function relating the measurement point to the focusing point should be known in advance. However, inside an enclosure of arbitrary shape, there is no theoretical formulation of this frequency response function, and using the APTRM with the free-field Green's function might lead to inaccurate localization of sound sources. This paper proposes a method combining the APTRM with the equivalent source method (ESM) to locate sound sources in an enclosure of arbitrary shape. In this method, the frequency response function relating the measurement point to the focusing point inside the enclosure is first calculated numerically using the ESM, and then the APTRM with this numerical frequency response function is used to realize the localization of sound sources. Numerical simulations in a rectangular enclosure and an enclosure of arbitrary shape as well as an experiment in a rectangular wooden cabinet are performed to verify the validity of the proposed method. The results demonstrate that the frequency response function in an enclosure can be accurately calculated using the ESM; based on measurements with a spherical array composed of 48 microphones, the proposed method can effectively locate the sound sources in enclosures of different shapes and work stably under the situation of low signal-to-noise ratio.
The wide spectrum of ultrasound diagnosis of holoprosencephaly
Authors: Ionescu Cringu Antoniu , Vladareanu Simona , Tudorache Stefania , Ples Liana , Herghelegiu Catalin , Neacsu Adrian , Navolan Dan , Dragan Ioana , Oprescu Daniela Nuti
Published: February 2019

Aim: Holoprosencephaly (HPE) is the most common brain malformation. A wide spectrum of anatomical variants are characterized by a lack of midline separation of the cerebral hemispheres. The aim of this study was to assess the ultrasound diagnostic criteria for HPE.Material and method: A database of 175 fetuses with central nervous system anomalies identified by ultrasound was collected retrospectively from 2006 to 2016 in this multicenter, retrospective, observational study. Among them 18 cases (10.2%) with HPE were identified.Results: The prevalence of HPE was 2.5:10.000 with the sex distributionmale:female of 1:1.6. Six cases were alobar subtype, 3 were semilobar, 7 were lobar and 2 were middle interhemispheric variant. In the second trimester, we consider that the abnormal fusion of the lateral ventricles and the absence of the cavum septum pellucidum are the most important landmarks for HPE. Facial abnormalities varied considerably.Conclusion: This study illustrates the heterogeneity of HPE with different cerebral and facial appearances.
Pectoralis muscle metastases from breast cancer in a young patient detected by automated breast ultrasound
Authors: Ciurea Anca Ileana , Boca Ioana , Rogojan Liliana , Ciule Larisa Dorina , Ciortea Cristiana Augusta
Published: February 2019

Metastases to the skeletal muscle from breast cancer represent an unusual and rare condition. We present the case of a 27-year-old female with left breast cancer (IDC NST G3) who underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by conservativesurgery (sectorectomy and lymphadenectomy) and radiation therapy. Two months after the end of radiotherapy she presented with a 2 mm skin lesion and she was referred for a screening ultrasound. The screening automated breast ultrasound (ABUS) revealed local recurrence and pectoralis metastases, lesions evaluated also by magnetic resonance imaging. The diagnosis was confirmed by the ultrasound-guided biopsy.
EchoScopy in scanning abdominal diseases; a prospective single center study
Authors: Barreiros Ana Paula , Dong Yi , Ignee Andre , Wastl Daniel , Dietrich Christoph F.
Published: February 2019

Background and aims: The introduction of a new type of small handheld ultrasound device brings greater portability and affordability in a different setting. The basic ultrasound approach with these handheld devices has been defined by European Federation of Societies of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (EFSUMB) as “EchoScopy”. The current study aimed to assess the image quality, indications and limitations of a portable pocket “EchoScopy” performed first compared with a high-end ultrasound system (second) in abdominal diseases.Material and methods: Three hundred consecutive patients (158 males and 142 females, age 55±19 [18-96]) years) were included. The ultrasound examinations were performed firstly by an EchoScope (Vscan™ Dual Probe) and secondly with a high-end ultrasound system (HEUS, GE Logiq E9). Compared with the always excellent image quality using HEUS, the image quality of the EchoScope was graded as good, sufficient or non-sufficient.Results: Out of all 300 patients, 221 had focal lesions, 31 patients were found with diffuse pathological findings, 20 with ascites, 25 after liver puncture and 45 without any pathological findings. The image quality of the pocket device was considered as being good or sufficient to delineate the pathology in 265/300 (88%). The detection rate of the EchoScope for abdominal focal lesion was 172/221 (78%). The higher frequency of the Dual Probe was helpful in 35/300 (12%).Conclusions: EchoScopy has proven to display sufficient image quality to answer specific questions, e.g., detection of ascites, splenomegaly, bile duct enlargement, hydronephrosis and other pathological findings which can be judged by “yes/no”.
Ramusella (Dosangoppia) bochkovi (Acari, Oribatida, Oppiidae), a new subgenus and species of oribatid mites phoretic on Ceratophyus polyceros (Pallas, 1771) (Coleoptera, Geotrupidae) from Russia
Authors: Ermilov Sergey G. , Frolov Andrey V.
Published: February 2019

A new oribatid mite subgenus, Ramusella (Dosangoppia) subgen. nov. (Oribatida, Oppiidae), with Ramusella (Dosangoppia) bochkovi sp. nov. as type species, is described based on adults phoretic on beetles of Ceratophyus polyceros (Coleoptera, Geotrupidae) collected from southwest of Russia. It is distinguished from other oppiid taxa by the presence of modified leg claws I and II (thick, specifically curved) performing the function of attachment to setae of the beetle hosts at a phoresy.
Contemporary Nutrition Strategies to Optimize Performance in Distance Runners and Race Walkers
Authors: Burke Louise M. , Jeukendrup Asker E. , Jones Andrew M. , Mooses Martin
Published: February 2019

Distance events in Athletics include cross country, 10,000-m track race, half-marathon and marathon road races, and 20- and 50-km race walking events over different terrain and environmental conditions. Race times for elite performers span ∼26 min to >4 hr, with key factors for success being a high aerobic power, the ability to exercise at a large fraction of this power, and high running/walking economy. Nutrition-related contributors include body mass and anthropometry, capacity to use fuels, particularly carbohydrate (CHO) to produce adenosine triphosphate economically over the duration of the event, and maintenance of reasonable hydration status in the face of sweat losses induced by exercise intensity and the environment. Race nutrition strategies include CHO-rich eating in the hours per days prior to the event to store glycogen in amounts sufficient for event fuel needs, and in some cases, in-race consumption of CHO and fluid to offset event losses. Beneficial CHO intakes range from small amounts, including mouth rinsing, in the case of shorter events to high rates of intake (75–90 g/hr) in the longest races. A personalized and practiced race nutrition plan should balance the benefits of fluid and CHO consumed within practical opportunities, against the time, cost, and risk of gut discomfort. In hot environments, prerace hyperhydration or cooling strategies may provide a small but useful offset to the accrued thermal challenge and fluid deficit. Sports foods (drinks, gels, etc.) may assist in meeting training/race nutrition plans, with caffeine, and, perhaps nitrate being used as evidence-based performance supplements.
Empirical Development of a Screening Method to Assist Mental Health Referrals in Collegiate Athletes
Authors: Donohue Bradley , Galante Marina , Maietta Julia , Lee Bern , Paul Nina , Perry Joanne E. , Corey Arianna , Allen Daniel N.
Published: February 2019

The conspicuous absence of validated screening measures specific to mental health symptomology in collegiate athletes has negatively affected clinical practice in this population. Therefore, this study was performed to develop a sport specific measure to optimally identify collegiate athletes who are particularly likely to benefit from mental health programming. Participants were 289 collegiate-athletes who were assessed for mental health symptomology using the Global Severity Index of Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (GSI), factors that interfere with sport performance using the Problems in Sport Competition Scale (PSCS) and Problems in Sport Training Scale (PSTS), and motivation to pursue professional counseling using the Desire to Pursue Sport Psychology Scale (DSPS). As hypothesized, a hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that PSCS, PSTS and DSPS scores significantly predicted GSI scores, controlling gender and sport status (NCAA, club, intramural). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated that high-risk athletes (GSI T-scores ≥ 60) could be correctly classified by PSTS and PSCS scores. Results suggest the PSCS and PSTS may assist identification of collegiate athletes who are especially appropriate for mental health programs. These scales additionally identify factors directly relevant to athletes’ sport performance.
Contact-Related Strain of Quadratus Femoris, Obturator Externus, and Inferior Gemellus in an Australian Football Player: A Case Report
Authors: Girdwood Michael , West Liam , Connell David , Brukner Peter
Published: February 2019

Context: Muscle injuries of the hip stabilizers are considered rare in sport. Objective: This report presents a previously unreported case of a contact injury resulting in acute strain of quadratus femoris, obturator externus, and inferior gemellus in an amateur Australian rules football player. Design: Level 4—case report. Case Presentation: A player was tackled ipsilateral to the injured leg, while in hip flexion in a lunged position. The case describes the diagnostic process, initial management, and return to play for this athlete. Results: Following rehabilitation, the player was able to return to sport at 8 weeks without ongoing issues. Conclusions: A literature search for sports-related contact injuries to either muscle returned only one result. All other documented cases of injury to these muscle groups are confined to noncontact mechanisms or delayed presentations. Despite conventional teaching, the action of the deep external rotators of the hip appears to be positionally dependent. Knowledge of this type of injury and mechanism may be useful for future clinical reasoning and differential diagnosis in patients with this type of presentation.
The Application of Optimal Defaults to Physical Education Courses in College Students: A Simulation Study
Authors: DiMatteo Julie , Radnitz Cynthia , Loeb Katharine L. , Ni Jingwen
Published: February 2019

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine if automatic enrollment in exercise-promoting courses on a college campus, with a choice to opt out, would increase enrollment.Method: In a simulated course selection paradigm, 317 college students were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: optimal default (automatic enrollment in an active physical education well-being course with the choice to opt out to a sedentary alternative), suboptimal default (automatic enrollment in a sedentary well-being course with the option to select an alternative active physical education courses), or free choice. Data were analyzed using logistic regression.Results: Participants in the optimal default condition were significantly more likely to enroll in an active physical education well-being course compared with those in the suboptimal-default and free-choice conditions.Discussion/Conclusions: Setting optimal physical education course defaults in the college environment can promote student health by increasing the likelihood of enrolling in exercise-promoting courses.
Activity of a Long-Acting Injectable Bedaquiline Formulation in a Paucibacillary Mouse Model of Latent Tuberculosis Infection
Authors: Kaushik Amit , Ammerman Nicole C. , Tyagi Sandeep , Saini Vikram , Vervoort Iwan , Lachau-Durand Sophie , Nuermberger Eric , Andries Koen
Published: February 2019

The potent antituberculosis activity and long half-life of bedaquiline make it an attractive candidate for use in long-acting/extended-release formulations for the treatment of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Our objective was to evaluate a long-acting injectable (LAI) bedaquiline formulation in a validated paucibacillary mouse model of LTBI.
Echinococcosis: Advances in the 21st Century
Authors: Wen Hao , Vuitton Lucine , Tuxun Tuerhongjiang , Li Jun , Vuitton Dominique A. , Zhang Wenbao , McManus Donald P.
Published: February 2019

Echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by cestodes of the genus
Echinococcus
(family Taeniidae). This serious and near-cosmopolitan disease continues to be a significant public health issue, with western China being the area of highest endemicity for both the cystic (CE) and alveolar (AE) forms of echinococcosis.
Use of modified intention-to-treat analysis in studies of direct oral anticoagulants and risk of selection bias: a systematic review
Authors: Rainville Tristan , Laskine Mikhael , Durand Madeleine
Published: February 2019

Background

Following their evaluation in randomised controlled trials (RCTs), direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have replaced warfarin for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation (AF), and treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE). To avoid selection bias, it is recommended that RCTs use an intention-to-treat (ITT) analysis strategy.

Objective

The objective of this study was to systematically review and compare reported analytical strategies, the proportion of randomised patients included in analyses and the reasons for participant exclusions.

Study selection

A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane library for phase III trials of DOACs was conducted. Titles and abstracts were screened for relevance by two independent reviewers. Patient population, intervention studied, number of patients included in randomisation and analysis, reasons for exclusions from analysis and trial conclusions were extracted from each article.

Findings

Twenty-nine studies were included, five were about stroke prevention in AF, 10 about VTE treatment and 14 about thromboprophylaxis. Trials of AF and VTE treatment had low proportions of postrandomisation exclusions (around 1%). In contrast, surgical and medical thromboprophylaxis trials excluded almost 30% of participants postrandomisation. This was in spite of authors’ claims of using an ITT or modified ITT approach. Higher exclusion proportions in these trials were associated with non-clinically defined primary outcomes and incomplete outcome assessments.

Conclusions

Clinicians should be aware that the level of evidence in favour of DOAC use for thromboprophylaxis is weak due to high rates of postrandomisation exclusions and risks of selection bias.
Overdiagnosis paradigm: not suitable for decreasing the overuse of antibiotics
Authors: Cordoba Gloria , Llor Carl
Published: February 2019

This paper summarises the discussion during the workshop on ‘Overdiagnosis and overtreatment of infectious diseases in general practice. How and where to break the endless loop?’ The workshop was organised as part of the overdiagnosis conference carried out in August 2018 in Copenhagen, Denmark. During the workshop, participants from all over the world reflected on the challenges of embracing the overdiagnosis paradigm as a tool to advance understanding and to find solutions to the unnecessary use of antibiotics in primary health care. It was concluded that the narrow view of the overdiagnosis paradigm does not provide theoretical resources to address the problem of the inherent connection between diagnostic error and treatment decision. In contrast to the overdiagnosis paradigm, the too much medicine paradigm is an umbrella term suitable to frame actions that recognise the complexity of the decision-making process during the consultation and its impact on overtreatment.
Microbial bile salt hydrolases mediate the efficacy of faecal microbiota transplant in the treatment of recurrentClostridioides difficileinfection
Authors: Mullish Benjamin H , McDonald Julie A K , Pechlivanis Alexandros , Allegretti Jessica R , Kao Dina , Barker Grace F , Kapila Diya , Petrof Elaine O , Joyce Susan A , Gahan Cormac G M , Glegola-Madejska Izabela , Williams Horace R T , Holmes Elaine , Clarke Thomas B , Thursz Mark R , Marchesi Julian R
Published: February 2019

Objective

Faecal microbiota transplant (FMT) effectively treats recurrentClostridioides difficileinfection (rCDI), but its mechanisms of action remain poorly defined. Certain bile acids affectC. difficilegermination or vegetative growth. We hypothesised that loss of gut microbiota-derived bile salt hydrolases (BSHs) predisposes to CDI by perturbing gut bile metabolism, and that BSH restitution is a key mediator of FMT’s efficacy in treating the condition.

Design

Using stool collected from patients and donors pre-FMT/post-FMT for rCDI, we performed 16S rRNA gene sequencing, ultra performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) bile acid profiling, BSH activity measurement, and qPCR ofbsh/baiCD genes involved in bile metabolism. Human data were validated inC. difficilebatch cultures and a C57BL/6 mouse model of rCDI.

Results

From metataxonomics, pre-FMT stool demonstrated a reduced proportion of BSH-producing bacterial species compared with donors/post-FMT. Pre-FMT stool was enriched in taurocholic acid (TCA, a potentC. difficilegerminant); TCA levels negatively correlated with key bacterial genera containing BSH-producing organisms. Post-FMT samples demonstrated recovered BSH activity andbsh/baiCD gene copy number compared with pretreatment (p<0.05). In batch cultures, supernatant from engineeredbsh-expressingE. coliand naturally BSH-producing organisms (Bacteroides ovatus, Collinsella aerofaciens, Bacteroides vulgatusandBlautia obeum) reduced TCA-mediatedC. difficilegermination relative to culture supernatant of wild-type (BSH-negative)E. coli. C. difficiletotal viable counts were ~70% reduced in an rCDI mouse model after administration ofE. coliexpressing highly active BSH relative to mice administered BSH-negativeE. coli(p<0.05).

Conclusion

Restoration of gut BSH functionality contributes to the efficacy of FMT in treating rCDI.
Early Eocene (Ypresian) birds from the Okanagan Highlands, British Columbia (Canada) and Washington State (USA)
Authors: Mayr Gerald , Archibald S. Bruce , Kaiser Gary W. , Mathewes Rolf W.
Published: February 2019

We survey the known avian fossils from Ypresian (early Eocene) fossil sites of the North American Okanagan Highlands, mainly in British Columbia (Canada). All specimens represent taxa that were previously unknown from the Eocene of far-western North America. Wings from the McAbee site are tentatively referred to the Gaviiformes and would constitute the earliest fossil record of this group of birds. A postcranial skeleton from Driftwood Canyon is tentatively assigned to the Songziidae, a taxon originally established for fossils from the Ypresian of China. Two skeletons from Driftwood Canyon and the McAbee site are tentatively referred to Coliiformes and Zygodactylidae, respectively, whereas three further fossils from McAbee, Blakeburn, and Republic (Washington, USA) are too poorly preserved for even a tentative assignment. The specimens from the Okanagan Highlands inhabited relatively high paleoaltitudes with microthermal climates (except Quilchena: lower mesothermal) and mild winters, whereas most other Ypresian fossil birds are from much warmer lowland paleoenvironments with upper mesothermal to megathermal climates. The putative occurrence of a gaviiform bird is particularly noteworthy because diving birds are unknown from other lacustrine Ypresian fossil sites of the Northern Hemisphere. The bones of the putative zygodactylid show a sulphurous colouration, and we hypothesize that this highly unusual preservation may be due to the metabolic activity of sulphide-oxidizing bacteria.
A modeling approach for low-temperature SOFC-based micro-combined heat and power systems
Authors: Hussain Fida , Ashfaq Ahmad M. , Badshah Saeed , Raza Rizwan , Ajmal Khan M. , Mumtaz Saleem , Dilshad Saad , Riaz Raja Ali , Jafar Hussain M. , Abbas Ghazanfar
Published: February 2019

The world’s challenge is to determine a more efficient, economical and environmental-friendly energy source to compete and replace the ongoing conventional energy resources. Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) provide a highly efficient system to use divergent energy resources and have proved to provide the cleanest energy, least energy use, and lowest emissions. A techno-economic study is required to investigate the model design for SOFC-based micro-combined heat and power (m-CHP) systems for applications in terms of educational and commercial buildings. This work models and explores the optimized application of hydrogen gas-fueled SOFC-based m-CHP systems in educational buildings. Two educational departments’ loads are presented and model of SOFC-based m-CHP system against the different electric power demands is performed, in order to provide a techno-economic assessment of the technology. For successful development of the technology, results are related to system rightsizing, operating strategies, thermal to electric ratios, and match between end-use, with an aim towards classifying the overall feasibility and essential application requirements.
Electronic structure and optical properties of CsSnI3−yBry (y = 0, 1, 2, 3) perovskites
Authors: Padmavathy R. , Amudhavalli A. , Rajeswarapalanichamy R. , Iyakutti K.
Published: February 2019

The halide perovskites-based solar cells have been attractive due to their excellent power conversion efficiency and low cost. The structural, electronic and optical properties of Sn-based cesium halide perovskites CsSnI[Formula: see text]Br[Formula: see text] (y = 0, 1, 2, 3) are investigated based on density functional theory. The computed electronic structure profile of CsSnI[Formula: see text]Br[Formula: see text] (y = 0, 1, 2, 3) reveals that these materials exhibit semiconducting behavior at normal pressure. The energy gap of CsSnI3 is tuned by the substitution of bromine atom for iodine atom. Also, it is found that the energy gap values of these materials decrease with increase in pressure and a semiconductor to metallic phase transition is observed at high pressure. The optical properties of these Sn-based halide perovskite compounds against the incident photon energy radiation indicate that these materials can be effective candidates for solar cell applications. The dynamical stability of these perovskites is analyzed by phonon dispersion curve.
Structural stability and electronic properties of different cross-sectional unstrained and rectangular cross-sectional strained GaP nanowires
Authors: Mohammad Rezek , Katırcıoğlu Şenay
Published: February 2019

The stability and electronic properties of the hexagonal, trigonal and rectangular cross-sectional GaP nanowires in wurtzite (WZ) phase are investigated using full potential linear augmented plane waves method. The rectangular cross-sectional nanowires are found more stable than the hexagonal and trigonal ones. The indirect bandgap structure of the nanowires is transformed into the direct bandgap one at a critical size connected to the geometry of the cross-section. The energy bandgap of the nanowires in the same cross-sectional group is enlarged by the quantum size effect. The effective carrier masses in the nanowires, calculated to be larger than those in bulk GaP, are found to slightly increase with the decrease in the size of the nanowires in the same cross-sectional groups. The mechanical strain effect on the electronic band structure is investigated for the rectangular GaP nanowires under the uniaxial and lateral strains. It is found that the indirect bandgap structures of the rectangular nanowires are transformed into the direct bandgap ones by the uniaxial high compression strains. It is also found that this transformation can be triggered by small uniaxial tensile and high lateral tensile strains in addition to the effect of size increase. The energy bandgap of the rectangular nanowires is determined to be narrowed by the uniaxial/lateral strains. It is obtained that the small rectangular nanowire is in the indirect bandgap structure for all the lateral strains and the larger one can be transformed into the direct bandgap structure more easily by the [Formula: see text]-directional lateral tensile strains compared to the [Formula: see text]-directional ones. The effective electron and hole masses are found to be reduced by the uniaxial highest tensile and compression strains of this work. It is determined that the lateral strains are not effective in making the electrons of the nanowires more mobile, but the [Formula: see text]-directional lateral high tensile strains make the holes more mobile by reducing the effective hole mass in the small rectangular nanowire.
The energy dissipation at roundabout system
Authors: Khallouk A. , Binoua H. , Lakouari N. , Echab H. , Marzoug R. , Ez-Zahraouy H.
Published: February 2019

In this paper, we propose a cellular automata model to study the energy dissipation in the roundabout system. The energy dissipation and the phase diagram of the system in the space ([Formula: see text]) are constructed. The energy dissipation profile (SE[Formula: see text](i)), and the effect of the rate [Formula: see text] (i.e., the rate of vehicles with no aimed exit point) and the probability P[Formula: see text] of choosing the next exit point to leave the circulating lane on the energy dissipation are shown. The simulation results show that the energy dissipation explains the nature of the phases, the quasi-free-flow (Q-FF) phase take place on the free flow phase because some vehicles decelerate at the entry point. Likewise, the results also indicate that the energy dissipation takes small values with the increases of the two probability [Formula: see text] and P[Formula: see text] which enhance the environmental statutes of the roundabout system.
Illustrious influence of amino acid L-threonine (LT) on structural and optical insights of Zinc Thiourea Sulphate (ZTS) crystal
Authors: Kulkarni R. B. , Anis M. , Hussaini S. S. , Shirsat M. D.
Published: February 2019

Mentioned communication explores the modification in properties of Zinc Thiourea Sulphate (ZTS) crystal due to L-Threonine (LT) addition. Superior quality LT-doped ZTS crystal with 0.5 M% concentration of LT was grown by the slow evaporation solution growth technique. Powder X-ray diffraction technique was applied to study the cell parameters which confirmed orthorhombic crystal structure of both pure and LT-ZTS crystal with slight variation in cell parameters. Shimatzu make spectrophotometer confirmed the UV-Visible spectral analysis in the range of 200–900 nm which affirmed the 94% transmittance, enhanced bandgap value (4.72 eV), lower cut-off value (246 nm) and lower optical constants viz. extinction coefficient, polarizability, refractive index, and reflectance of LT-ZTS crystal. The higher second harmonic generation (SHG) efficiency of LT-doped ZTS was pointed by Kurtz Perry powder method (3.06 times of pure ZTS crystal and 3.62 times of KDP crystal) using Nd: YAG laser. The colour centered emission and electronic purity of parent and doped ZTS crystals were examined which resulted in the violet emission in visible region for both pure and LT-ZTS crystals. Z-scan technique is used to identify the Kerr lensing nonlinearity in pure and LT-doped ZTS crystal. Close aperture Z-scan curve demonstrated negative refraction nonlinearity (self-defocusing nature) for pure and positive refraction nonlinearity (self-focusing nature) for LT-ZTS crystal. Calculated value of refraction nonlinearity n2 is −2.2 × 10[Formula: see text] cm2/W for pure ZTS and [Formula: see text]4.99 × 10[Formula: see text] cm2/W for LT-ZTS crystal. Open aperture Z-scan showed reverse saturable absorption effect (RSA) in pure ZTS and saturable absorption effect (SA) in LT-ZTS crystal. The [Formula: see text] value is 2.85 × 10[Formula: see text] cm/W for pure ZTS and 3.92 × 10[Formula: see text] cm/W for LT-ZTS crystal. The [Formula: see text]3 of ZTS crystal is 6.133 × 10[Formula: see text] cm/W and 1.655 × 10[Formula: see text] cm2/W for LT-ZTS crystal. The transition in TONLO parameters is observed due to doping of LT in ZTS. The obtained parameters indicated the superiority of LT-ZTS for application in distinct laser stabilization systems, UV shelter and NLO applications.
Threshold dynamics of a multi-group SEAR alcoholism model with public health education
Authors: Ma Shuang-Hong , Huo Hai-Feng , Xiang Hong
Published: February 2019

In this paper, we investigate the threshold dynamics of a multi-group SEAR alcoholism epidemic model with public health education. The multi-group model allows us to describe interactions both within-group and inter-group separately. We prove that the basic reproduction number [Formula: see text] plays the role of a threshold for the long-time behavior of the model. The alcohol-free equilibrium [Formula: see text] of the model is globally asymptotically stable if [Formula: see text], while the alcohol-present equilibrium [Formula: see text] exists uniquely and is globally asymptotically stable if [Formula: see text]. For the proofs of main results, we use the classical method of Lyapunov functions and apply subtle grouping technique in estimating the derivatives of Lyapunov functions guided by graph theory. Our results expand the previous results which have been obtained in single-group models. Sensitivity analysis and numerical simulations are also performed to illustrate our results.