bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Facial mobility and recovery in patients with unilateral facial paralysis
Authors: Trotman Carroll Ann , Faraway Julian , Hadlock Tessa A.
Published: September 2019

Objective

(a) To quantify longitudinal 3D changes in facial soft tissue movements in adults with unilateral facial paralysis, and (b) to compare the patients’ movements with an age‐ and sex‐frequency matched control group.

Settings and Sample Population

Prospective 3D facial movement data of 36 patients and 68 control participants. Patients’ data were collected within 6 weeks of onset of symptoms (baseline) and then at 3 and 12 weeks after baseline.

Materials and Methods

The 3D facial movement data were collected during different facial animations. Mean group measurements of displacement, velocity and asymmetry were computed. Two sample t tests were used to test for significant group differences, and linear mixed models were fit to test for significant changes over time in the patient group. Also, 3D dynamic modelling and vector plots were computed to isolate the patients’ abnormal movements and/or paralysis.

Results

The patients’ mean baseline movements were significantly less for both the paralysed and contralateral sides of the face with much greater movement asymmetry than the controls. Patients’ mean measures improved significantly from baseline to 12 weeks. The measures were closer to, but fell short of, the control values.

Conclusion

In unilateral facial paralysis, the contralateral facial side was affected by the paralysis and may be tethered or limited in its movement by the paralysed side. The comprehensive measurement set and 3D facial mapping effectively tracked patient recovery and isolated paralysed facial regions. The 3D measures can be used for diagnosis and outcome assessment of different treatments.
Voxel‐based superimposition of serial craniofacial CBCTs: Reliability, reproducibility and segmentation effect on hard‐tissue outcomes
Authors: Häner Simeon T. , Kanavakis Georgios , Matthey François , Gkantidis Nikolaos
Published: September 2019

Objectives

To test the reliability and reproducibility of a fast and user‐friendly voxel‐based 3D superimposition method and the effect of bone segmentation on its outcomes.

Setting and sample population

This prospective methodological study assessed 15 pairs of pre‐existing serial CBCT images (interval: 1.69 ± 0.37 years) obtained from growing patients (initial age: 11.75 ± 0.59 years).

Materials and Methods

Volumes were superimposed on the anterior cranial base using Dolphin 3D software. Reliability was assessed visually, by inspecting the overlap of the superimposition reference structures. Reproducibility was tested with intra‐ and inter‐operator comparisons of superimposition outcomes.

Results

The method presented good reliability in all cases. The median differences between intra‐ and inter‐operator comparisons at various tested areas ranged from 0.06 to 0.16 mm and from 0.15 to 0.24 mm, respectively. In few individual cases, differences exceeded 0.5 mm. There was no evidence that the error increased upon increase in the magnitude of the detected T0‐T1 changes. However, the superimposition error increased when the distance between the measurement area and the superimposition reference also increased. For a single image, the median error of bone surface segmentation ranged in different areas between 0.05 and 0.12 mm, with few exceptions where it slightly exceeded 0.25 mm.

Conclusions

The tested voxel‐based superimposition method presented good efficiency, cranial base matching and reproducibility in a growing patient sample. Segmentation error was considered minimal. The total error reached clinically relevant levels in very few cases. Thus, this technique is considered appropriate for clinical use, when 3D assessment of craniofacial changes is required.
miR‐155 promotes macrophage pyroptosis induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis through regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome
Authors: Li Chen , Yin Wanting , Yu Ning , Zhang Dongmei , Zhao Haijiao , Liu Jingbo , Liu Junchao , Pan Yaping , Lin Li
Published: September 2019

Objective

The aim of this study is to detect pyroptosis in macrophages stimulated with Porphyromonas gingivalis and elucidate the mechanism by which P. gingivalis induces pyroptosis in macrophages.

Methods

The immortalized human monocyte cell line U937 was stimulated with P. gingivalis W83. Flow cytometry was carried out to detect pyroptosis in macrophages. The expression of miR‐155 was detected by real‐time PCR and inhibited using RNAi. Suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) 1, cleaved GSDMD, caspase (CAS)‐1, caspase‐11, apoptosis‐associated speck‐like protein (ASC), and NOD‐like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) were detected by Western blotting, and IL‐1β and IL‐18 were detected by ELISA.

Results

The rate of pyroptosis in macrophages and the expression of miR‐155 increased upon stimulation with P. gingivalis and pyroptosis rate decreased when miR‐155 was silenced. GSDMD‐NT, CAS‐11, CAS‐1, ASC, NLRP3, IL‐1β, and IL‐18 levels increased, but SOCS1 decreased in U937 cells after stimulated with P. gingivalis. These changes were weakened in P. gingivalis‐stimulated U937 macrophages transfected with lentiviruses carrying miR‐155 shRNA compared to those transfected with non‐targeting control sequence. However, there was no significant difference in ASC expression between P. gingivalis‐stimulated shCont and shMiR‐155 cells.

Conclusions

Porphyromonas gingivalis promotes pyroptosis in macrophages during early infection. miR‐155 is involved in this process through regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome.
A putative AGO protein, OsAGO17, positively regulates grain size and grain weight through OsmiR397b in rice
Authors: Zhong Jun , He Weijie , Peng Zhu , Zhang Hui , Li Feng , Yao Jialing
Published: September 2019

Argonaute (AGO) proteins and small RNAs (sRNAs) are core components of the RNA‐induced silencing complex (RISC). It has been reported that miRNAs regulate plant height and grain size in rice, but which AGO is involved in grain size regulation remains unclear. Here, we report that enhanced expression of OsAGO17, a putative AGO protein, could improve grain size and weight and promote stem development in rice. Cytological evidence showed that these effects are mainly caused by alteration of cell elongation. Expression analyses showed that OsAGO17 was highly expressed in young panicles and nodes, which was consistent with the expression pattern of OsmiR397b. SRNA sequencing, stem‐loop RT‐PCR and sRNA blotting showed that the expression of OsmiR397b was reduced in ago17 and enhanced in the OsAGO17 OE lines. Four OsmiR397b target laccase (LAC) genes showed complementary expression patterns with OsAGO17 and OsmiR397b. Combined with the results of immunoprecipitation (IP) analysis, we suggested that OsAGO17 formed an RISC with OsmiR397b and affected rice development by suppression of LAC expression. In conclusion, OsAGO17 might be a critical protein in the sRNA pathway and positively regulates grain size and weight in rice.
It's lonely at the bottom (too): The effects of experienced powerlessness on social closeness and disengagement
Authors: Foulk Trevor A. , De Pater Irene E. , Schaerer Michael , du Plessis Christilene , Lee Randy , Erez Amir
Published: September 2019

Although “powerlessness” is a pervasive experience for employees, prior social power research has predominantly focused on consequences of “powerfulness.” This has led to contradictory predictions for how experienced powerlessness influences employees’ social perceptions and behaviors. To resolve this theoretical tension, we build on Social Distance Theory (Magee & Smith) to develop a theoretical model suggesting that experienced powerlessness reduces social closeness and subsequently causes social disengagement behaviors both at work (reduced helping and increased interaction avoidance) and at home (increased withdrawal). Our model also elucidates the processes that cause powerlessness to reduce social closeness, demonstrating that employees’ affiliation motive and their expectation of others’ interest in affiliating explain this relationship. We further propose that the effect of powerlessness on social closeness will be stronger for employees high (vs. low) in political skill because these employees are more attuned to workplace power dynamics. We find support for our model in an experience‐sampling field experiment and two experimental scenario studies. Our research clarifies the effects of powerlessness on social closeness and organizationally relevant downstream consequences, qualifies dominant assumptions that the powerless always behave in ways opposite those of the powerful, and demonstrates the importance of political skill as a moderator of power's effects.
Defender–Attacker Games with Asymmetric Player Utilities
Authors: Zhai Qingqing , Peng Rui , Zhuang Jun
Published: September 2019

The presence of strategic attackers has become an important factor in the security and protection of systems, especially since the 9/11/2001 attacks, and considerable efforts have been dedicated to its study. When defending against the strategic attacker, many existing studies assume that the attacker would seek to minimize the defender's utility, which implies that the defender and attacker have symmetric utilities. However, the attacker's objective is determined by its own valuation of the system and target of the attack, which is not necessarily consistent with the defender's utility. If the attacker unexpectedly targets a different utility, then the defense strategy might no longer be optimal. In particular, the defense strategy could be inferior if the attacker's utility is not known to the defender. This study considers a situation where the defender's utility is the system survivability and the attacker's utility is the expected number of destroyed elements in the system. We investigate possible attack strategies under these two different utilities and compare (a) the conservative defense strategy when the attack utility is unknown to the defender with (b) the optimal defense strategy when the attack utility is known to the defender. We show that the conservative protection strategy is still optimal under asymmetric utilities when the contest intensity is smaller than one.
Behavioral Determinants of Target Shifting and Deterrence in an Analog Cyber‐Attack Game
Authors: Kusumastuti Sarah A. , Blythe Jim , Rosoff Heather , John Richard S.
Published: September 2019

This study examines how exploiting biases in probability judgment can enhance deterrence using a fixed allocation of defensive resources. We investigate attacker anchoring heuristics for conjunctive events with missing information to distort attacker estimates of success for targets with equal defensive resources. We designed and conducted a behavioral experiment functioning as an analog cyber attack with multiple targets requiring three stages of attack to successfully acquire a target. Each stage is associated with a probability of successfully attacking a layer of defense, reflecting the allocation of resources for each layer. There are four types of targets that have nearly equal likelihood of being successfully attacked, including one type with equally distributed success probabilities over every layer and three types with success probabilities that are concentrated to be lowest in the first, second, or third layer. Players are incentivized by a payoff system that offers a reward for successfully attacked targets and a penalty for failed attacks. We collected data from a total of 1,600 separate target selections from 80 players and discovered that the target type with the lowest probability of success on the first layer was least preferred among attackers, providing the greatest deterrent. Targets with equally distributed success probabilities across layers were the next least preferred among attackers, indicating greater deterrence for uniform‐layered defenses compared to defenses that are concentrated at the inner (second or third) levels. This finding is consistent with both attacker anchoring and ambiguity biases and an interpretation of failed attacks as near misses.
Using panel VAR to analyze international knowledge spillovers
Authors: Hovhannisyan Nune , Sedgley Norman
Published: September 2019

Technology diffusion often plays a critical role in models of trade and economic growth. Most existing empirical tests for international technology spillovers suggest some role for spillovers in explaining productivity growth. It has been relatively difficult, however, to identify separate roles for the direct and indirect channels of knowledge spillovers. The influence of these channels is often confounded owing to the focus on total‐factor productivity (TFP) and R&D spending within a cross‐section or panel data setting. This paper employs an alternative methodology to investigate the role of direct knowledge spillovers. Using citation‐weighted domestic patents, citation‐weighted foreign patents and value added for 14 U.S. manufacturing industries over the period 1977 to 2004 a panel VAR methodology is employed to investigate the dynamic role of direct and indirect knowledge spillovers. Evidence for the role of the direct knowledge spillovers channel is found—an increase in citation‐weighted patents abroad directly increases the measure of domestic citation‐weighted patents, after accounting for the influence of productivity/value added. The role of foreign innovative activity, however, is small relative to the role of U.S. innovative activity in explaining the dynamics of industry value added.
Within‐firm wage inequality and firm‐level exports
Authors: Georgiev Boris , Juul Henriksen Jonas
Published: September 2019

This paper analyzes changes in within‐firm inequality of hourly wages arising from export shocks to exporting firms in Denmark. We provide causal evidence that export demand shocks increase within‐firm inequality. Decomposing overall inequality into within and between components for occupational and educational groups, the results show that exports lead to a significant increase in within‐group wage inequality but do not affect the between‐group component. We develop a partial equilibrium model, featuring heterogeneous workers, which rationalizes these observations and shows how export demand shocks induce a complementarity effect, leading to increases in wage inequality within firms.
The impact of thin‐capitalization rules on the location of multinational firms’ foreign affiliates
Authors: Merlo Valeria , Riedel Nadine , Wamser Georg
Published: September 2019

This paper examines how restrictions on the tax deductibility of interest cost affect location choices of multinational corporations (MNCs). Many countries have introduced so‐called thin‐capitalization rules (TCRs) to prevent MNCs from shifting their tax base to countries with lower tax rates. As of 2012, in our sample of 172 countries, 61 countries have implemented a TCR. Using information on nearly all new foreign investments of German MNCs, we provide a number of new and interesting insights in how TCRs affect the decision of where to locate foreign entities. In particular, stricter TCRs are found to negatively affect location choices of MNCs. Our results include estimates of own‐ and cross‐elasticities of location choice and also novel results on the relative importance of tax base vs. tax rate effects. We finally provide estimates for different uncoordinated as well as coordinated policy scenarios.
A unique chromosome translocation disrupting ClWIP1 leads to gynoecy in watermelon
Authors: Zhang Jie , Guo Shaogui , Ji Gaojie , Zhao Hong , Sun Honghe , Ren Yi , Tian Shouwei , Li Maoying , Gong Guoyi , Zhang Haiying , Xu Yong
Published: September 2019

To understand sex determination in watermelon (Citrullus lanatus), a spontaneous gynoecious watermelon mutant, XHBGM, was selected from the monoecious wild type XHB. Using map‐based cloning, resequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis, a unique chromosome translocation between chromosome 2 and chromosome 3 was found in XHBGM. Based on the breakpoint location in chromosome 2, a putative C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor gene, ClWIP1 (gene ID Cla008537), an orthologue of the melon gynoecy gene CmWIP1, was disrupted. Using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR‐associated system 9 to edit ClWIP1, we obtained gynoecious watermelon lines. Functional studies showed that ClWIP1 is expressed specifically in carpel primordia and is related to the abortion of carpel primordia in early floral development. To identify the cellular and metabolic processes associated with ClWIP1, we compared the shoot apex transcriptomes of two gynoecious mutants and their corresponding wild types. Transcriptome analysis showed that differentially expressed genes related to the ethylene and cytokinin pathways were upregulated in the gynoecious mutants. This study explores the molecular mechanism of sex determination in watermelon and provides a theoretical and technical basis for breeding elite gynoecious watermelon lines.
Genetic basis of kernel nutritional traits during maize domestication and improvement
Authors: Fang Hui , Fu Xiuyi , Wang Yuebin , Xu Jing , Feng Haiying , Li Weiya , Xu Jieting , Jittham Orawan , Zhang Xuan , Zhang Lili , Yang Ning , Xu Gen , Wang Min , Li Xiaowei , Li Jiansheng , Yan Jianbing , Yang Xiaohong
Published: September 2019

The nutritional traits of maize kernels are important for human and animal nutrition, and these traits have undergone selection to meet the diverse nutritional needs of humans. However, our knowledge of the genetic basis of selecting for kernel nutritional traits is limited. Here, we identified both single and epistatic quantitative trait loci (QTLs) that contributed to the differences of oil and carotenoid traits between maize and teosinte. Over half of teosinte alleles of single QTLs increased the values of the detected oil and carotenoid traits. Based on the pleiotropism or linkage information of the identified single QTLs, we constructed a trait–locus network to help clarify the genetic basis of correlations among oil and carotenoid traits. Furthermore, the selection features and evolutionary trajectories of the genes or loci underlying variations in oil and carotenoid traits revealed that these nutritional traits produced diverse selection events during maize domestication and improvement. To illustrate more, a mutator distance–relative transposable element (TE) in intron 1 of DXS2, which encoded a rate‐limiting enzyme in the methylerythritol phosphate pathway, was identified to increase carotenoid biosynthesis by enhancing DXS2 expression. This TE occurs in the grass teosinte, and has been found to have undergone selection during maize domestication and improvement, and is almost fixed in yellow maize. Our findings not only provide important insights into evolutionary changes in nutritional traits, but also highlight the feasibility of reintroducing back into commercial agricultural germplasm those nutritionally important genes hidden in wild relatives.
Condensation Droplet Distribution Regulated by Electrowetting
Authors: Yan Run , Chen Chung-Lung
Published: September 2019

This paper presents a visualization of condensation droplet distribution affected by the electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) approach. A single-side double-layer-electrode design (grid wire, thin wire, and thick wire) and coplanar-electrode design (zigzag) are discussed. Side-by-side experiments with applied 40 V DC electric potential are carried out to compare droplet distribution between identically designed charged and uncharged devices. The uncharged devices show a random droplet distribution, whereas charged devices have a regulated distribution based on the designed patterns. As droplets on the electrode boundaries become larger, they are likely to slide away and stay in electrode-free regions. The droplets “sit” inside the grid wires and distribute vertically along thin and thick wires. On the coplanar-electrode zigzag device, droplets are distributed vertically. The charged surfaces lead to a faster droplet growth rate and more dispersed droplet distribution. This phenomenon accelerates the shedding frequency of the droplets and frees up more areas for small droplets to nucleate and grow. The first shedding moment of the charged surfaces occurs earlier than the uncharged ones for all types of EWOD devices. The detected droplet shedding diameter ranges from 1.2 mm to 2.5 mm in this study. The number of large droplets is found greater on the charged devices compared with the uncharged devices and theoretical model. The work presented in this paper introduces a novel approach to actively influence droplet distribution on microfabricated condensing surfaces and indicates great potential for improving the condensation heat transfer rate via EWOD.
Oxygen-based digital etching of AlGaN/GaN structures with AlN as etch-stop layers
Authors: Wu Jingyi , Lei Siqi , Cheng Wei-Chih , Sokolovskij Robert , Wang Qing , Xia Guangrui (Maggie) , Yu Hongyu
Published: September 2019

O2 plasma-based digital etching of Al0.25Ga0.75N with a 0.8 nm AlN spacer on GaN was investigated using an inductively coupled plasma etcher. Silicon oxide layer was used as the hard mask. At 40 W RF bias power and 40 sccm oxygen flow, the etch depth of Al0.25Ga0.75N was 5.7 nm per cycle. The 0.8 nm AlN spacer layer acted as an etch-stop layer in three cycles. The surface roughness improved from 0.66 to 0.33 nm after the three and seven digital etch cycles. Compared to the dry etch only approach, this technique smoothed the surface instead of causing surface roughening. Compared to the selective thermal oxidation with a wet etch approach, this method is less demanding on the epitaxial growth and saves the oxidation process. It was shown to be effective in precisely controlling the AlGaN etch depth required for recessed-AlGaN HEMTs.
Atomic layer deposition of h-BN(0001) multilayers on Ni(111) and chemical vapor deposition of graphene on h-BN(0001)/Ni(111)
Authors: Jones Jessica , Pilli Aparna , Lee Veronica , Beatty John , Beauclair Brock , Chugh Natasha , Kelber Jeffry
Published: September 2019

In situ direct, epitaxial growth of multilayers of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and graphene without physical transfer is of significant interest for the scalable production of graphene/h-BN heterostructures for device applications. Deposition on magnetic substrates is of particular interest for spin tunneling applications. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and low energy electron diffraction demonstrate epitaxial atomic-layer deposition (ALD) of multilayer h-BN(0001) on Ni(111) and subsequent deposition of azimuthally-aligned multilayer graphene on h-BN(0001)/Ni(111) by chemical vapor deposition. Boron nitride ALD was accomplished with alternating cycles of BCl3/NH3 at a 600 K substrate temperature, and subsequent annealing in ultrahigh vacuum. Subsequent deposition of graphene was achieved by chemical vapor deposition using ethylene (CH2CH2) at 1000 K.
Bayesian inference of a human bone and biomaterials using ultrasonic transmitted signals
Authors: Roncen R. , Fellah Z. E. A. , Piot E. , Ogam E.
Published: September 2019

Ultrasonic techniques could be good candidates to aid the assessment of osteoporosis detection, due to their non-intrusiveness and low cost. While earlier studies made use of the measured ultrasonic phase velocity and attenuation inside the bone, very few have considered an inverse identification of both the intrinsic pore microstructure and the mechanical properties of the bone, based on Biot's model. The main purpose of this work is to present an in vitro methodology for bone identification, adopting a statistical Bayesian inference technique using ultrasonic transmitted signals, which allows the retrieval of the identified parameters and their uncertainty. In addition to the bone density, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio, the bone pore microstructure parameters (porosity, tortuosity, and viscous length) are identified. These additional microstructural terms could improve the knowledge on the correlations between bone microstructure and bone diseases, since they provide more information on the trabecular structure. In general, the exact properties of the saturating fluid are unknown (bone marrow and blood in the case of bone study) so in this work, the fluid properties (water) are identified during the inference as a proof of concept.
The ability to glimpse dynamic pitch in noise by younger and older listeners
Authors: Shen Jing , Souza Pamela E.
Published: September 2019

While dynamic pitch is helpful for speech perception in temporally-modulated noise, the ability to benefit from this cue varies substantially among older listeners. To examine the perceptual factors that contribute to this variability, this study aimed to characterize individuals' ability to perceive dynamic pitch in temporally-modulated noise using dynamic pitch segments extracted from real speech and embedded in temporally modulated noise. Data from younger and older listeners showed stronger pitch contours were more easily perceived than weaker pitch contours. The metric significantly predicted speech-in-noise ability in older listeners. Potential implications of this work are discussed.
Combined Exercise Modulates Cortisol, Testosterone, and Immunoglobulin A Levels in Individuals Living With HIV/AIDS
Authors: Melo Bruno P. , Guariglia Débora A. , Pedro Rafael E. , Bertolini Dennis A. , de Paula Ramos Solange , Peres Sidney B. , Franzói de Moraes Solange M.
Published: September 2019

Background: Combined exercise (CE) has been recommended for individuals living with HIV/AIDS (ILWHA) under antiretroviral therapy. However, depending on the intensity and duration, physical exercise may occasionally increase inflammatory parameters and reduce immunological responses that if not reversed, cause health injury specifically in this population. Information about immunological and hormonal responses after CE in ILWHA has not been completely elucidated. Therefore, the aim is to verify the acute effects of CE on cortisol, testosterone, immunoglobulin A, and pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines over 24 hours in ILWHA.Methods: Noninfected individuals and ILWHA undergone 5 sessions of CE prior to the acute assessment session. Seventy-two hours after the last session, the subjects were submitted to one session of CE (aerobic exercise: 25 min at 60–70% reserve heart rate and resistance exercise: 3 sets of 15 maximum repetitions of 6 exercises). Saliva samples were collected before, immediately, 6 and 24 hours after CE.Results: CE reduced cortisol (6 h: 2.54 [0.58] vs 0.65 [0.22] pg·mL−1;P = .02), increased testosterone (all moments) and immunoglobulin A levels (24 h: 255.3 [44.7] vs 349.2 [41.9] μm·mL−1;P = .01) without significant difference in cytokines levels in ILWHA.Conclusion: CE modulates cortisol, testosterone, and immunoglobulin A levels without the change in immunological parameters in ILWHA.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Molecular Characterization Using Whole-Genome Sequencing of Clostridioides difficile Collected in 82 Hospitals in Japan between 2014 and 2016
Authors: Aoki Kotaro , Takeda Shinobu , Miki Takashi , Ishii Yoshikazu , Tateda Kazuhiro
Published: September 2019

We studied the antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular characteristics, using draft whole-genome sequencing, of
Clostridioides
(
Clostridium
)
difficile
strains before and after treatment in adults with
C. difficile
infection (CDI) enrolled in a phase III, randomized, nationwide study of fidaxomicin versus vancomycin in Japan (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02179658).
C. difficile
strains were cultured from stool samples collected before and after standard treatment with either fidaxomicin or vancomycin.
Interplay of Amino Acid Residues at Positions 28 and 31 in NS5A Defines Resistance Pathways in Hepatitis C Virus Genotype 2
Authors: Asante-Appiah Ernest , Ingravallo Paul , McMonagle Patricia , Bystol Karin , Xia Ellen , Curry Stephanie , Qiu Ping , Black Stuart , Chase Robert , Liu Rong , Lahser Fred
Published: September 2019

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 2 (GT2) represents approximately 9% of all viral infections globally. While treatment outcomes for GT2-infected patients have improved substantially with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) compared to alpha interferon, the presence of polymorphisms in NS5A can impact the efficacy of NS5A inhibitor-containing regimens. Thus, pathways of NS5A resistance were explored in GT2 subtypes using elbasvir, an NS5A inhibitor with broad genotype activity.
Using State Transition Models To Explore How the Prevalence of Subtherapeutic Posaconazole Exposures Impacts the Clinical Utility of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring for Posaconazole Tablets and Oral Suspension
Authors: Lewis Russell E. , Kontoyiannis Dimitrios P. , Viale Pierluigi , Sarpong Eric M.
Published: September 2019

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) has been recommended in guidelines for patients receiving posaconazole oral suspension, but its utility in patients receiving posaconazole tablet, which has an improved bioavailability, remains unclear.
Energy Conservation and Hydrogenase Function in Methanogenic Archaea, in Particular the GenusMethanosarcina
Authors: Mand Thomas D. , Metcalf William W.
Published: September 2019

The biological production of methane is vital to the global carbon cycle and accounts for ca. 74% of total methane emissions. The organisms that facilitate this process, methanogenic archaea, belong to a large and phylogenetically diverse group that thrives in a wide range of anaerobic environments. Two main subgroups exist within methanogenic archaea: those with and those without cytochromes.
mSphere of Influence: an Inupiat Journey in Science
Authors: Milligan-McClellan Kathryn C. A.
Published: September 2019

Dr. Kathryn Milligan-McClellan works in the field of host-microbe interactions. In this mSphere of Influence article, she reflects on the people and scientific ideas that influenced her journey from a small town in Alaska to a faculty position at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
First Report of
bla
VIM-4
- and
mcr-9
-Coharboring
Enterobacter
Species Isolated from a Pediatric Patient
Authors: Chavda Kalyan D. , Westblade Lars F. , Satlin Michael J. , Hemmert Andrew C. , Castanheira Mariana , Jenkins Stephen G. , Chen Liang , Kreiswirth Barry N.
Published: September 2019

We describe the complete genome assembly and sequence of a clinical
Enterobacter
isolate harboring both
bla
VIM-4
and
mcr-9
recovered from a pediatric patient in the United States with a history of travel to Egypt. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an
Enterobacter
isolate harboring both
bla
VIM-4
and
mcr-9
from the United States. The
bla
VIM-4
and
mcr-9
genes are carried on the same IncH12 plasmid, pME-1a. The isolate tested susceptible to colistin, without observed induction of colistin resistance. The
mcr-9
gene is located between two insertion elements, IS
903
and IS
1
, but lacks the downstream regulatory genes (
qseC
and
qseB
) found in other isolates that harbor
mcr-9
.
Fabrics, geothermometry, and geochronology of the Songshugou ophiolite: Insights into the tectonic evolution of the Shangdan suture, Qinling orogen, China
Authors: Sun Shengsi , Dong Yunpeng , Liu Xiaoming , He Dengfeng , Cheng Chao
Published: September 2019

The Songshugou ophiolite, located in the northern Qinling belt, consists mainly of metamorphosed mafic and ultramafic rocks recording details of deformation and metamorphism that occurred during subduction, accretion, and collision along the Shangdan suture in the Qinling orogenic belt. Electron backscatter diffraction measurements revealed that the harzburgites are dominated by olivine C-type crystal preferred orientations (CPOs), which were possibly induced by high pressure during slab subduction. Olivine A-type CPOs were also observed in some harzburgites, representing the remnants of the original fabric in oceanic mantle rocks formed in the spreading center of the Shangdan ocean. Coarse-grained dunites are characterized by B-type CPOs, which may have been caused by melt-rock reactions and/or high water contents in a suprasubduction-zone setting during exhumation. Fine-grained dunites are also dominated by B-type CPOs, suggesting that grain-size reduction related to mylonitization did not result in fabric variations. Combined with the mineral assemblages, application of geothermometry suggested that the Songshugou ophiolite has experienced metamorphism and deformation under amphibolite-facies conditions. Zircons from garnet-bearing amphibole schist are characterized by flat heavy rare earth element (HREE) patterns and low Th/U ratios and yielded a mass spectrometry U-Pb age of 500.5 ± 8.8 Ma, representing the peak metamorphic age of the metamafic rocks. Other zircons displayed relative HREE enrichment and a clearly negative Eu anomaly and gave an age of 492.5 ± 3.0 Ma, constraining the time of the exhumation of the ophiolite. Integrated with all the available regional geology, our new fabric, geochemical, and geochronological data suggest that the tectonic evolution of the Songshugou ophiolite can be proximately constrained as subduction at ca. 500 Ma and exhumation at ca. 492 Ma.
Vancomycin induced DRESS syndrome (drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms) in a patient with tricuspid endocarditis
Authors: Hewitson Lynsey Jane
Published: September 2019

A 57-year-old man presented for an elective pacemaker upgrade, complicated by the discovery of device infection. He had a background of complex congenital heart disease, including replacement of heart valves, and was treated for presumed infective endocarditis that was later confirmed by echocardiography. Antibiotic treatment, with intravenous vancomycin, was given as per the tissue sample sensitivities. On day 24 of treatment he deteriorated clinically, with the evolution of recurrent fever, epigastric pain, diarrhoea, widespread pruritic rash, lymphadenopathy and severe hypoxia over the subsequent 7–10 days. Blood tests revealed development of a marked eosinophilia, transaminitis and rising inflammatory markers. Further radiological imaging was non-diagnostic. On the basis of these clinical and biochemical features a diagnosis of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome was made. This led to the cessation of vancomycin, the offending agent and the referral for specialist immunology advice. He was subsequently treated with oral prednisolone and made a full recovery.
Economic impact of delirium in Australia: a cost of illness study
Authors: Pezzullo Lynne , Streatfeild Jared , Hickson Josiah , Teodorczuk Andrew , Agar Meera R , Caplan Gideon A
Published: September 2019

Objectives

To estimate the economic impact of delirium in the Australian population in 2016–2017, including financial costs, and its burden on health.

Design, setting and participants

A cost of illness study was conducted for the Australian population in the 2016–2017 financial year. The prevalence of delirium in 2016–2017 was calculated to inform cost estimations. The costs estimated in this study also include dementia attributable to delirium.

Main outcome measures

The total and per capita costs were analysed for three categories: health systems costs, other financial costs including productivity losses and informal care and cost associated with loss of well-being (burden of disease). Costs were expressed in 2016–2017 pound sterling (£) and Australian dollars ($A).

Results

There were an estimated 132 595 occurrences of delirium in 2016–2017, and more than 900 deaths were attributed to delirium in 2016–2017. Delirium causes an estimated 10.6% of dementia in Australia. The total costs of delirium in Australia were estimated to be £4.3 billion ($A8.8 billion) in 2016–2017, ranging between £2.6 billion ($A5.3 billion) and £5.9 billion ($A12.1 billion). The total estimated costs comprised financial costs of £1.7 billion and the value of healthy life lost of £2.5 billion. Dementia attributable to delirium accounted for £2.2 billion of the total cost of delirium.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the substantial burden that delirium imposes on Australian society—both in terms of financial costs associated with health system expenditure and the increased need for residential aged care due to the functional and cognitive decline associated with delirium and dementia. To reduce the substantial well-being costs of delirium, further research should seek to better understand the potential pathways from an episode of delirium to subsequent mortality and reduced cognitive functioning outcomes.
Tranexamic acid in cardiac surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis (protocol)
Authors: Alaifan Thamer , Alenazy Ahmed , Xiang Wang Dominic , Fernando Shannon M , Spence Jessica , Belley-Cote Emilie , Fox-Robichaud Alison , Ainswoth Craig , Karachi Tim , Kyeremanteng Kwadwo , Zarychanski Ryan , Whitlock Richard , Rochwerg Bram
Published: September 2019

Introduction

Bleeding during cardiac surgery is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic with proven efficacy in major surgeries. Current clinical practice guidelines recommend intraoperative use in cardiac procedures. However, several complications have been reported with tranexamic acid including seizures. This review intends to summarise the evidence examining the efficacy and safety of tranexamic acid in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.

Methods/design

We will search MEDLINE, Embase, PubMED, ACPJC, CINAHL and the Cochrane trial registry for eligible randomised controlled trials, the search dates for all databases will be from inception until 1 January 2019, investigating the perioperative use of topical and/or intravenous tranexamic acid as a stand-alone antifibrinolytic agent compared with placebo in patients undergoing open cardiac surgery. We categorised outcomes as patient critical or patient important. Selected patient-critical outcomes are: mortality (intensive care unit, hospital and 30-day endpoints), reoperation within 24 hours, postoperative bleeding requiring transfusion of packed red blood cells, myocardial infarction, stroke, pulmonary embolism, bowel infarction, upper or lower limb deep vein thrombosis and seizures. Those outcomes, we perceived as clinical experts to be most patient valued and patients were not involved in outcomes selection process. We will not apply publication date, language, journal or methodological quality restrictions. Two reviewers will independently screen and identify eligible studies using predefined eligibility criteria and then review full reports of all potentially relevant citations. A third reviewer will resolve disagreements if consensus cannot be achieved. We will present the results as relative risk with 95% CIs for dichotomous outcomes and as mean difference or standardised mean difference for continuous outcomes with 95% CIs. We will assess the quality of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.

Ethics and dissemination

Formal ethical approval is not required as primary data will not be collected. The results will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication

Trial registration number

CRD42018105904
Relationship between breast feeding and motor development in children: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Hernández Luengo Monserrat , Álvarez-Bueno Celia , Pozuelo-Carrascosa Diana P , Berlanga-Macías Carlos , Martínez-Vizcaíno Vicente , Notario-Pacheco Blanca
Published: September 2019

Introduction

The recommendations of most health organisations encourage mothers to keep exclusive breast feeding during the first 6 months and combining breast feeding with complementary feeding at least during the first and second years, due to the numerous immunologic, cognitive developmental and motor skill benefits that breast feeding confers. Although the influence of breast feeding on motor development during childhood has been studied, the findings are inconsistent, and some studies have even reported no effect. This manuscript presents a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis, with the aim of reviewing the relationship between breast feeding and motor skill development in children in terms of duration, exclusivity or non-exclusivity of breast feeding.

Methods and analysis

The search will be conducted using Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library from inception to December 2019. Observational studies (cross-sectional and follow-up studies) written in English or Spanish that investigate the association between breast feeding and motor development in children will be included. This systematic review and meta-analysis protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols. The Critical Appraisal Checklist for Analytical Cross-Sectional Studies and The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale for longitudinal studies will be used to assess the quality of included studies. The effect of breast feeding on motor skill development will be calculated as the primary outcome. Subgroup analyses will be carried out based on the characteristics of motor skill development and the population included.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval is not required because the data used will be obtained from published studies, and there will be no concerns about privacy. The findings from this study will be relevant information regarding the association of breast feeding with motor development in children and could be used encourage to improve breastfeeding rates. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42018093706.
Accumulated neighbourhood deprivation and coronary heart disease: a nationwide cohort study from Sweden
Authors: Lönn Sara Larsson , Melander Olle , Crump Casey , Sundquist Kristina
Published: September 2019

Objective

Neighbourhood deprivation is a recognised predictor of coronary heart disease (CHD). The overall aim was to investigate if accumulated exposure to neighbourhood deprivation resulted in higher odds of CHD.

Design

This is a longitudinal cohort study. Models based on repeated assessments of neighbourhood deprivation as well as single-point-in-time assessments were compared.

Setting

Sweden.

Participants

3 140 657 Swedish men and women without a history of CHD and who had neighbourhood deprivation exposure data over the past 15 years.

Primary outcome measures

CHD within 5 years’ follow-up.

Results

The results suggested a gradient of stronger association with CHD risk by longer cumulative exposures to neighbourhood deprivation, particularly in the younger age cohorts. Neighbourhood deprivation was also highly correlated over time, especially in older age cohorts.

Conclusions

The effect of neighbourhood deprivation on CHD might depend on age. Accounting for individuals’ baseline age may therefore be important for understanding neighbourhood environmental effects on the development of CHD over time. However, because of high correlation of neighbourhood deprivation over time, single-point-in-time assessments may be adequate for CHD risk prediction especially in older adults.
Changes in prescription of antidepressants and disability pension due to back pain, compared with other musculoskeletal and other somatic diagnoses: a cohort study in Sweden
Authors: Ropponen Annina , Rahman Syed Ghulam , Svedberg Pia , Helgesson Magnus , Dorner Thomas Ernst , Mittendorfer-Rutz Ellenor
Published: September 2019

Objectives

The aim was to investigate differences in the prescription of antidepressants during the transition to disability pension (DP) comparing DP due to back pain with DP due to other musculoskeletal and DP due to other somatic diagnoses.

Design

A population-based cohort study with follow-up 3 years before and after the event. Estimated prevalence and adjusted ORs with 95% CIs for antidepressant prescription were computed for the 7-year window (ie, t-3 to t+3) around the DP by generalised estimating equations for repeated measures.

Setting and participants

This Swedish population-based nationwide study with registry data included individuals aged 18–64 years, with DP due to back pain (n=2011), DP due to other musculoskeletal (n=3548) or DP due to other somatic diagnoses (n=11 809).

Primary outcome measures

Prescription of antidepressants.

Results

Before DP, the prevalence of prescription of antidepressants was stable in DP due to back pain, but increased for the other DP groups. Similarly, the likelihood of prescription increased only marginally before DP due to back pain (ORs from 0.86 at t-3 to 1.10 at t-1), but clearly in DP due to musculoskeletal (from 0.42 to 1.15) and somatic diagnoses (from 0.29 to 0.98). Both prevalence measures and risks remained at the elevated levels after DP.

Conclusions

Pathways to DP due to musculoskeletal and somatic diagnoses seem to be partly driven by adverse mental health, which remains at a higher level after DP. The increasing prescription of antidepressants prior to DP suggests that special attention should be paid to mental health for prevention of DP. The period after DP needs attention to avoid deterioration of mental health.
Sense of coherence and physical health–related quality of life in Italian chronic patients: the mediating role of the mental component
Authors: Galletta Maura , Cherchi Manuela , Cocco Alice , Lai Giacomo , Manca Valentina , Pau Martina , Tatti Federica , Zambon Giorgia , Deidda Simona , Origa Pierangelo , Massa Elena , Cossu Efisio , Boi Francesco , Contu Paolo
Published: September 2019

Objective

To examine the relationship between sense of coherence (SOC) and physical health–related quality of life in patients with chronic illnesses by focusing on the mediating role of the mental component of quality of life.

Design

Cross-sectional survey design.

Setting

Secondary care; three departments of an Italian university hospital.

Methods

The participants (n=209) in the study were adult (≥18 years) outpatients with a chronic pathology (eg, diabetes, thyroid disorders or cancer) at any phase in the care trajectory (eg, pre-treatment, undergoing treatment, follow-up care). They agreed to participate in the study after providing their informed consent. Data were collected using a structured self-reporting questionnaire. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS, and mediation analysis was performed via PROCESS macro.

Results

The SOC score of the study sample was equivalent to that of the general population (mean difference=−2.50, 95% CI −4.57 to 0.00). Correlation analysis showed that SOC was mainly correlated to the mental component (MCS) (r=0.51, p<0.01) of quality of life and then to the physical component (PCS) (r=0.35, p<0.01). Mediation analysis showed that SOC was directly related to MCS (p<0.001, 95% CI 0.62 to 0.99) but not to PCS (p=0.42, 95% CI −0.27 to 0.12). In turn, MCS was directly related to PCS (p<0.001, 95% CI 0.76 to 1.01). The indirect effect of SOC on PCS through MCS was significant (0.71, p<0.001, bootstrap 95% CI 0.54 to 0.91), thus supporting the mediating role of the mental component of quality of life.

Conclusion

The indirect effect suggests that SOC is a marker of quality of life, especially of the mental component. The findings show that SOC is a psychological process that impacts patients’ mental health status, which in turn affects physical health. Better knowledge of a person’s SOC and how it affects his/her quality of life may help to plan tailoring interventions to strengthen SOC and improve health-related quality of life.