bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postnatal depression and intimate partner violence: a nationwide clinic-based cross-sectional study in Malaysia
Authors: Ahmad Noor Ani , Silim Umi Adzlin , Rosman Azriman , Mohamed Majdah , Chan Ying Ying , Mohd Kasim Noraida , Yusof Muslimah , Abd Razak Mohamad Aznuddin , Omar Maisarah , Abdul Aziz Fazly Azry , Jamaluddin Rasidah , Ismail Fatanah , Ibrahim Nurashikin , Aris Tahir
Published: May 2018

Introduction

An estimated 13% of women in the postnatal period suffer from postnatal depression (PND) worldwide. In addition to underprivileged women, women who are exposed to violence are at higher risk of PND. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and PND in Malaysia.

Methods

This survey was conducted as a nationwide cross-sectional study using a cluster sampling design. Probable PND was assessed using a self-administered Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). Demographic profiles and IPV were assessed using a locally validated WHO Multicountry Study on Women’s Health and Life Events Questionnaire that was administered in a face-to-face interview. An EPDS total score of 12 or more and/or a positive tendency to self-harm were used to define PND.

Results

Out of 6669 women, 5727 respondents were successfully interviewed with a response rate of 85.9%. The prevalence of probable PND was 4.4% (95% CI 2.9 to 6.7). The overall prevalence of IPV was 4.9% (95% CI 3.8 to 6.4). Among the women in this group, 3.7% (95% CI 2.7 to 5.0), 2.6% (95% CI 1.9 to 3.5) and 1.2% (95% CI 0.9 to 1.7) experienced emotional, physical and sexual violence, respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that women who were exposed to IPV were at 2.3 times the risk for probable PND, with an adjusted OR (aOR) of 2.34 (95% CI 1.12 to 4.87). Other factors for PND were reported emotional violence (aOR 3.79, 95% CI 1.93 to 7.45), unplanned pregnancy (aOR 3.32, 95% CI 2.35 to 4.69), lack of family support during confinement (aOR 1.79, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.87), partner’s use of alcohol (aOR 1.59, 95% CI 1.07 to 2.35) or being from a household with a low income (aOR 2.99; 95% CI 1.63 to 5.49).

Conclusions

Exposure to IPV was significantly associated with probable PND. Healthcare personnel should be trained to detect and manage both problems. An appropriate referral system and support should be made available.
Compliance with current VTE prophylaxis guidelines and risk factors linked to complications of VTE prophylaxis in medical inpatients: a prospective cohort study in a Spanish internal medicine department
Authors: Novo-Veleiro Ignacio , Alvela-Suárez Lucía , Costa-Grille Alba , Suárez-Dono Javier , Ferrón-Vidan Fernando , Pose-Reino Antonio
Published: May 2018

Objectives

To evaluate the degree of compliance with the current guidelines regarding venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in medical patients during admission and to identify risk factors linked to complications of VTE prophylaxis.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting

The Internal Medicine Department of the University Hospital of Santiago de Compostela (tertiary referral hospital).

Participants

A total of 396 hospitalised, elderly patients who did not undergo surgery and had no active or previous oral anticoagulation or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) treatment (during the previous year) and who received VTE prophylaxis during admission.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The degree of compliance with the current guidelines was estimated by calculating PADOVA and IMPROVE indexes in all cases. We analysed the development of the following complications: major and minor bleeding, major and minor haematoma and decrease of platelet count.

Results

We found that VTE prophylaxis was correctly indicated in 88.4% of patients. We found two (0.5%) cases with major bleeding, 17 (4.3%) with minor bleeding, 30 (7.6%) with decreased platelet count, 29 (7.3%) with major haematoma and 82 (20.7%) with minor haematoma. After multivariate logistic regression analysis, the presence of major haematomas was linked to obesity (OR 4.1; 95% CI 1.8 to 9.2, p=0.001), concomitant antiplatelet treatment (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.1 to 6.5, p=0.03) and enoxaparin use (OR 3.5; 95% CI 1.1 to 10.9, p=0.029), and the presence of minor haematomas was associated with PADOVA index <4 points (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.5 to 6.4, p=0.003) and diabetes mellitus (OR 2; 95% CI 1.1 to 3.7, p=0.031).

Conclusions

Complications during VTE prophylaxis in elderly hospitalised medical patients are frequent even with correct application of current guidelines. The main factors linked to haematomas were obesity and concomitant antiplatelet treatment, the presence of which should lead physicians to exercise extreme caution. The use of tinzaparin for VTE prophylaxis in these patients could have a better safety profile.
Association between dipstick proteinuria and hearing impairment in health check-ups among Japanese workers: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Umesawa Mitsumasa , Hara Mikako , Sairenchi Toshimi , Haruyama Yasuo , Nagao Masanori , Matsushita Munehiro , Kobashi Gen
Published: May 2018

Objective

Prevention of hearing impairment is important because it is difficult to recover from it. Epidemiological studies have examined the risk factors for hearing impairment; however, the association between dipstick proteinuria and hearing impairment has not been previously examined. This study aimed to clarify the association between dipstick proteinuria and hearing impairment.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Office and factory workers from all over Japan.

Participants

The total number of subjects was 7005. All were employees of the same company. Of these, we recruited 6192 subjects who underwent dipstick urine test and hearing test by audiometry in annual health check-ups (mean age 44.9 years, men 88.3%).

Primary outcomes

Hearing tests were performed at two frequencies (1 kHz, 4 kHz) as prescribed by law in Japan. We defined the inability of subjects to respond to 30 dB at 1 kHz and/or 40 dB at 4 kHz as overall moderate hearing impairment. In addition, we defined moderate hearing impairment at 1 kHz (4 kHz) as an abnormal finding at 1 kHz (4 kHz). We examined the associations between degree of dipstick proteinuria and hearing impairment after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, serum creatinine level and history of noisy work environment.

Results

Overall moderate hearing impairment was noted in 324 subjects (5.2%). Of these, 107 subjects (1.7%) had moderate hearing impairment at 1 kHz and 278 subjects (4.5%) at 4 kHz. Dipstick proteinuria was significantly associated with overall moderate hearing impairment, as well as moderate hearing impairment at both 1 kHz and 4 kHz. The prevalence of overall moderate hearing impairment among subjects with proteinuria ≥2+ was 23.5%, while that among subjects without proteinuria was 5.2% (p<0.01).

Conclusions

Dipstick proteinuria was associated with moderate hearing impairment in Japanese workers.
How effective and cost-effective are behaviour change interventions in improving the prescription and use of antibiotics in low-income and middle-income countries? A protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Batura Neha , Cuevas Carla , Khan Mishal , Wiseman Virginia
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Antibiotic resistance endangers effective prevention and treatment of infections, and places significant burden on patients, families, communities and healthcare systems. Low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) are especially vulnerable to antibiotic resistance, owing to high infectious disease burden, and limited resources for treatment. High prevalence of antibiotic prescription and use due to lack of provider’s knowledge, prescriber’s habits and perceived patient needs further exacerbate the situation. Interventions implemented to address the inappropriate prescription and use of antibiotics in LMICs must address different determinants of antibiotic resistance through sustainable and scalable interventions. The aim of this protocol is to provide a comprehensive overview of the methods that will be used to identify and appraise evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of behaviour change interventions implemented in LMICs to improve the prescription and use of antibiotics.

Methods and analysis

Two databases (Web of Science and PubMed) will be searched based on a strategy developed in consultation with an essential medicines and health systems researcher. Additional studies will be identified using the same search strategy in Google Scholar. To be included, a study must describe a behaviour change intervention and use an experimental design to estimate effectiveness and/or cost-effectiveness in an LMIC. Following systematic screening of titles, abstracts and keywords, and full-text appraisal, data will be extracted using a customised extraction form. Studies will be categorised by type of behaviour change intervention and experimental design. A meta-analysis or narrative synthesis will be conducted as appropriate, along with an appraisal of quality of studies using the Grading of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) checklist.

Ethics and dissemination

No individual patient data are used, so ethical approval is not required. The systematic review will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at a relevant international conference.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42017075596
Assessment of thyroid cancer risk associated with radiation dose from personal diagnostic examinations in a cohort study of US radiologic technologists, followed 1983–2014
Authors: Little Mark P , Lim Hyeyeun , Friesen Melissa C , Preston Dale L , Doody Michele M , Sigurdson Alice J , Neta Gila , Alexander Bruce H , Chang Lienard A , Cahoon Elizabeth K , Simon Steven L , Linet Martha S , Kitahara Cari M
Published: May 2018

Objective

To assess whether personal medical diagnostic procedures over life, but particularly those associated with exposure in adulthood, were associated with increased thyroid cancer risk.

Design

Participants from the US Radiologic Technologists Study, a large, prospective cohort, were followed from the date of first mailed questionnaire survey completed during 1983–1989 to the earliest date of self-reported diagnosis of thyroid cancer or of any other cancer than non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) in any of three subsequent questionnaires up to the last in 2012–2014.

Setting

US nationwide, occupational cohort.

Participants

US radiologic technologists with exclusion of: those who reported a previous cancer apart from NMSC on the first questionnaire; those who reported a cancer with an unknown date of diagnosis on any of the questionnaires; and those who did not respond to both the first questionnaire and at least one subsequent questionnaire.

Primary outcome measure

We used Cox proportional hazards models with age as timescale to compute HRs and 95% CI for thyroid cancer in relation to cumulative 5-year lagged diagnostic thyroid dose.

Results

There were 414 self-reported thyroid cancers (n=275 papillary) in a cohort of 76 415 persons. Cumulative thyroid dose was non-significantly positively associated with total (excess relative risk/Gy=2.29 (95% CI −0.91 to 7.01, p=0.19)) and papillary thyroid cancer (excess relative risk/Gy=4.15 (95% CI −0.39, 11.27, p=0.08)) risk. These associations were not modified by age at, or time since, exposure and were independent of occupational exposure.

Conclusion

Our study provides weak evidence that thyroid dose from diagnostic radiation procedures over the whole of life, in particular associated with exposure in adulthood, influences adult thyroid cancer risk.
Marathon Kids UK: study design and protocol for a mixed methods evaluation of a school-based running programme
Authors: Chalkley Anna E , Routen Ash C , Harris Jo P , Cale Lorraine A , Gorely Trish , Sherar Lauren B
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Schools are promising settings for physical activity promotion; however, they are complex and adaptive systems that can influence the quality of programme implementation. This paper presents an evaluation of a school-based running programme (Marathon Kids). The aims of this study are (1) to identify the processes by which schools implement the programme, (2) identify and explain the contextual factors affecting implementation and explications of effectiveness and (3) examine the relationship between the level of implementation and perceived outcomes.

Methods

Using a realist evaluation framework, a mixed method single-group before-and-after design, strengthened by multiple interim measurements, will be used. Year 5 (9–10 years old) pupils and their teachers will be recruited from six state-funded primary schools in Leicestershire, UK.

Data will be collected once prior to implementation, at five discrete time points during implementation and twice following implementation. A weekly implementation log will also be used. At time point 1 (TP1) (September 2016), data on school environment, teacher and pupil characteristics will be collected. At TP1 and TP6 (July 2017), accelerometry, pupil self-reported physical activity and psychosocial data (eg, social support and intention to be active) will be collected. At TP2, TP3 and TP5 (January, March and June 2017), observations will be conducted. At TP2 and TP5, there will be teacher interviews and pupil focus groups. Follow-up teacher interviews will be conducted at TP7 and TP8 (October 2017 and March 2018) and pupil focus group at TP8. In addition, synthesised member checking will be conducted (June 2018) with a mixed sample of schools.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval for this study was obtained through Loughborough University Human Participants Ethics Subcommittee (R16-P032 & R16-P116). Findings will be disseminated via print, online media and dissemination events as well as practitioner and/or research journals.
Developing a complex intervention to support timely engagement with palliative care for patients with advanced cancer in primary and secondary care in the UK: a study protocol
Authors: Hackett Julia , Bekker Hilary , Bennett Michael I , Carder Paul , Gallagher Jean , Henry Claire , Kite Suzanne , Taylor Sally , Velikova Galina , Ziegler Lucy
Published: May 2018

Introduction

For patients with advanced cancer, timely access to palliative care can improve quality of life and enable patients to participate in decisions about their end-of-life care. However, in a UK population of 2500 patients who died from cancer, one-third did not receive specialist palliative care, and of those who did, the duration of involvement was too short to maximise the benefits. Initiating a conversation about palliative care is challenging for some health professionals and patients often have unmet information needs and misconceptions about palliative care. We will work closely with patients and health professionals to develop a patient decision aid and health professional training module designed to facilitate a timely and informed conversation about palliative care.

Methods and analysis

This study is being conducted over 24 months from November 2017 to October 2019 and follows the UK Medical Research Council framework for developing complex interventions and the International Patient Decision Aids Guideline. The Ottawa Decision Support Framework underpins the study. The Supporting Timely Engagement with Palliative care (STEP) intervention will be developed though an iterative process informed by interviews and focus groups with patients with advanced cancer, oncologists, general practitioners and palliative care doctors. An expert panel will also review each iteration. The expert panel will consist of a patient representative with experience of palliative care, health professionals who are involved in advanced cancer care decision-making, a medical education expert and the National Council for Palliative Care director of transformation. The feasibility and acceptability of the decision aid and doctor training will be tested in oncology and general practice settings.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval for the study has been granted by the Office for Research Ethics Committees Northern Ireland (ORECNI), approval reference 17/NI/0249. Dissemination and knowledge transfer will be conducted via publications, national bodies and networks, and patient and family groups.
Intense Exercise for Survival among Men with Metastatic Castrate-Resistant Prostate Cancer (INTERVAL-GAP4): a multicentre, randomised, controlled phase III study protocol
Authors: Newton Robert U , Kenfield Stacey A , Hart Nicolas H , Chan June M , Courneya Kerry S , Catto James , Finn Stephen P , Greenwood Rosemary , Hughes Daniel C , Mucci Lorelei , Plymate Stephen R , Praet Stephan F E , Guinan Emer M , Van Blarigan Erin L , Casey Orla , Buzza Mark , Gledhill Sam , Zhang Li , Galvão Daniel A , Ryan Charles J , Saad Fred
Published: May 2018

Introduction

Preliminary evidence supports the beneficial role of physical activity on prostate cancer outcomes. This phase III randomised controlled trial (RCT) is designed to determine if supervised high-intensity aerobic and resistance exercise increases overall survival (OS) in patients with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Methods and analysis

Participants (n=866) must have histologically documented metastatic prostate cancer with evidence of progressive disease on androgen deprivation therapy (defined as mCRPC). Patients can be treatment-naïve for mCRPC or on first-line androgen receptor-targeted therapy for mCRPC (ie, abiraterone or enzalutamide) without evidence of progression at enrolment, and with no prior chemotherapy for mCRPC. Patients will receive psychosocial support and will be randomly assigned (1:1) to either supervised exercise (high-intensity aerobic and resistance training) or self-directed exercise (provision of guidelines), stratified by treatment status and site. Exercise prescriptions will be tailored to each participant’s fitness and morbidities. The primary endpoint is OS. Secondary endpoints include time to disease progression, occurrence of a skeletal-related event or progression of pain, and degree of pain, opiate use, physical and emotional quality of life, and changes in metabolic biomarkers. An assessment of whether immune function, inflammation, dysregulation of insulin and energy metabolism, and androgen biomarkers are associated with OS will be performed, and whether they mediate the primary association between exercise and OS will also be investigated. This study will also establish a biobank for future biomarker discovery or validation.

Ethics and dissemination

Validation of exercise as medicine and its mechanisms of action will create evidence to change clinical practice. Accordingly, outcomes of this RCT will be published in international, peer-reviewed journals, and presented at national and international conferences. Ethics approval was first obtained at Edith Cowan University (ID: 13236 NEWTON), with a further 10 investigator sites since receiving ethics approval, prior to activation.

Trial registration number

NCT02730338.
Remote physiological monitoring in an austere environment: a future for battlefield care provision?
Authors: Smyth Matthew J , Round J A , Mellor A J
Published: May 2018

Wearable technologies are making considerable advances into the mainstream as they become smaller and more user friendly. The global market for such devices is forecasted to be worth over US$5 billion in 2018, with one in six people owning a device. Many professional sporting teams use self-monitoring to assess physiological parameters and work rate on the pitch, highlighting the potential utility for military command chains. As size of device reduces and sensitivity improves, coupled with remote connectivity technology, integration into the military environment could be relatively seamless. Remote monitoring of personnel on the ground, giving live updates on their physiological status, would allow commanders or medical officers the ability to manage their soldiers appropriately and improve combat effectiveness. This paper explores a proof of concept for the use of a self-monitoring system in the austere high altitude environment of the Nepalese Himalayas, akin to those experienced by modern militaries fighting in remote locations. It also reviews, in part, the historical development of remote monitoring technologies. The system allowed for physiological recordings, plotted against GPS position, to be remotely monitored in Italy. Examples of the data recorded are given and the performance of the system is discussed, including limitations, potential areas of development and how systems like this one could be integrated into the military environment.
Closure of large bore 9 F arterial puncture sites with the AngioSeal STS device in acute stroke patients after intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA)
Authors: Janssen Hendrik , Killer-Oberpfalzer Monika , Lange Ruediger
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This retrospective analysis was performed to evaluate whether large bore 9 F puncture sites can be safely closed with the 8 F AngioSeal STS device after endovascular stroke procedures in patients who did or did not receive recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA).

Methods

Out of 161 consecutive endovascular stroke procedures we identified 72 patients who met the inclusion criteria, of whom 46 received rt-PA before the endovascular procedure and 26 did not. All groin complications such as major haemorrhage, failure of the device to close the puncture site, delayed haemorrhage, acute lower extremity ischaemia or necessary vascular surgery as well as infections were recorded.

Results

Only one patient had delayed groin haemorrhage after closure of the 9 F puncture site with the AngioSeal STS device. There was no significant difference in complications between patients with or without rt-PA treatment.

Conclusion

The 8 F AngioSeal STS seems to be safe and efficient to close 9 F femoral artery puncture sites, even under active rt-PA thrombolysis.
Diabetes mellitus and latent tuberculosis infection: baseline analysis of a large UK cohort
Authors: Jackson Charlotte , Southern Jo , Lalvani Ajit , Drobniewski Francis , Griffiths Chris J , Lipman Marc , Bothamley Graham H , Deeks Jonathan J , Imran Ambreen , Kon Onn Min , Mpofu Sithembinkosi , Nikolayevskyy Vladyslav , Rees-Roberts Melanie , Sitch Alice , Sridhar Saranya , Tsou Chuen-Yan , Whitworth Hilary , Abubakar Ibrahim
Published: May 2018

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data from a UK cohort study which enrolled participants at risk of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI, defined as a positive result for either of the two interferon gamma release assays). Binomial regression with a log link was used to estimate crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% CIs for the relationship between diabetes mellitus (DM) and LTBI. Adjusted for age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index and the presence of other immunocompromising conditions, DM was associated with a 15% higher prevalence of LTBI (adjusted PR=1.15, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.30, p=0.025).

Trial registration number

PREDICT is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT01162265)
Relationship amongMS4A8expression, its variants, and the immune response in a porcine model ofSalmonella
Authors: Huang Tinghua , Huang Xiali , Shi Bomei , Liang Xiongyan , Luo Jingbo , Yao Min
Published: May 2018

Salmonella colonization often establishes carrier status in infected animals, which decreases their performance. Salmonella-carrying pigs shed large amounts of bacteria in their feces, and thus they have a negative economic impact on the swine industry. The MS4A8 gene (membrane-spanning 4-domains A8) was significantly activated, by up to 119-fold, in peripheral blood after Salmonella inoculation of pigs. The present study analyzed the correlation of peripheral blood expression level and a genetic variant of porcine MS4A8 with Salmonella-infection traits. The result indicated that MS4A8 expression levels correlated significantly with Salmonella shedding counts. Both the expression of MS4A8 and fecal shedding counts correlated with leukocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes, segmented neutrophils, and banded neutrophils. A novel single nucleotide polymorphism of porcine MS4A8 (nonsynonymous, Val > Ala) was associated with Salmonella shedding counts and average daily gain (ADG) of body weight. The TT genotype had higher fecal shedding counts, leukocyte counts, and lymphocyte counts than the TC and CC genotypes. The CC genotype had higher level of ADG than the TC and TT genotype (p < 0.05). Those results indicated that MS4A8 is intriguing and could be used as a prospective genetic marker for Salmonella susceptibility.
Climate-sensitive radial increment model of Norway spruce in Tyrol based on a distributed lag model with penalized splines for year-ring time series
Authors: Nothdurft Arne , Vospernik Sonja
Published: May 2018

A novel methodological framework is presented for climate-sensitive modeling of annual radial stem increment using year-ring width time series. The approach is based on a generalized additive model with penalized regression splines together with a distributed time lag model taking into account smooth nonlinear effects of a series of monthly temperature and precipitation values, as well as their interactions. Climate effects are also assumed to vary smoothly with time lag. The model framework enables both the detrending of the individual time series and the regression modeling to be performed simultaneously in a single model step. The approach is applied to year-ring width time series of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) trees in Tyrol, Austria. The marginal response curves show that tree growth is mainly promoted by high temperatures in late spring and early summer and by precipitation in fall and winter. Summer drought does not have a negative influence on the current year’s radial increment; however, when it is associated with high temperatures, it lowers the increment in the subsequent growth period. Higher winter precipitation in conjunction with lower temperatures has a positive effect. A significant non-climate related long-term growth trend is demonstrated, probably reflecting NOx and SO2 emission trends in Austria.
The effect of sputtering power and pressure on the morphology and electrical transport properties of topological insulator Bi2Se3 thin films prepared by magnetron sputtering
Authors: Zhang J. , Jin R. , Liu Q. Y. , Zhao T. , Zhao K. , Yang X. S. , Zhao Y.
Published: May 2018

Epitaxial growth of thin films is an effective approach to minimize the contribution of bulk carriers for topological insulator (TI) Bi2Se3. Parameters used in preparation process are key factors for growing high quality thin films, especially for TI films. In this paper, magnetron sputtering was used for growing Bi2Se3 thin films on Si (100) substrates. Different working pressure and sputtering power were investigated. High-quality films could be obtained under relatively low pressure and low power. Linear and nonsaturated high-field linear magnetoresistance (LMR) was observed in high-quality films.
Shock Waves in Bose–Einstein Condensation Under Gaussian White Noise
Authors: Tosyali Eren
Published: May 2018

We investigate the Gross–Pitaevskii equation with the tilted bichromatical optical lattice potential for finding the dynamics of a Bose–Einstein condensate system under the Gaussian white noise. We construct the Poincare sections of system based on the relations between the system parameters and solution behaviors to understand how its shock wave like dynamic could be affected by the noise. Also the hierarchical cluster analysis method investigation of the system is presented.
Magmatism and extension rates at rifted margins
Authors: Lundin Erik R. , Doré Anthony G. , Redfield Thomas F.
Published: May 2018

Rifted margins are commonly classified as either magma-rich or magma-poor. Magma-poor margins are often implicitly related to ultraslow–slow extension. Conversely, therefore, magma-rich margins should represent more rapid extension. Although supported by numerical modelling, these relationships are based on limited data and depend on a perhaps spurious comparison between continental margins and spreading ridges. Three case studies from the Atlantic margins are therefore presented here as a local, by no means complete, examination of this concept.

Extension rates for magma-poor margins are mainly derived from offshore Iberia, while the best documented rates on magma-rich margins are probably those in the NE Atlantic. Particularly for the NE Atlantic, there is a dependence on the initial oceanic spreading rate as pre-break-up rates are very difficult to quantify. Our two southerly examples, the Central Atlantic and southern South Atlantic, are both magma-rich in parts and have been described as opening during ultraslow–slow plate separation. Both would therefore seem to contradict the positive ‘rate-magmatism’ correlation. However, on closer examination, a wide range of initial extension rates are actually possible. This is largely due to poor constraints on break-up ages. The assumption that break-up is synchronous with flood basalt extrusion is flawed, and may have caused initial extension rates to have been significantly underestimated. Additionally, averaging between widely spaced oceanic magnetic anomalies allows for a wide range of extension rates. New, well-constrained ages and event chronologies from critical areas of conjugate margins are needed to determine whether this relationship has global validity.
Using pilot wells to integrate geological modelling and history matching: applied to the Norne Benchmark case
Authors: Correia Gil G. , Schiozer Denis J.
Published: May 2018

The inherent uncertainties in numerical reservoir simulation can lead to models with significant differences to observed dynamic data. History matching reduces these differences but often neglects the geological consistency of the models, compromising production forecasting reliability. To address this issue, this work proposes a geological modelling workflow integrated within a probabilistic, multi-objective history-matching workflow, using the concept of pilot points. The pilot-point method is a geostatistical parameterization technique that calibrates a pre-correlated field, generated from measured values, and a set of additional synthetic data at unmeasured locations in the reservoir, referred to as pilot points. In this study, the synthetic data correspond to synthetic wells; henceforth referred to as pilot wells. The methodology is applied to a real dataset, the Norne Field benchmark case. The flexibility of the pilot-well method is the principal advantage, while a key challenge is to optimize the pilot-well configuration. The configuration includes production data, the preferred fluid-flow paths and the geological framework. The flexibility of the method is demonstrated in the two case studies presented here: generating specific sedimentary features (G-segment) and finding the best location for the cemented stringers responsible for the fluid behaviour (C-segment).
An alternative introduction to reading and evaluating the primary literature for beginning graduate students
Authors: Randall David C. , Baldridge Bobby R.
Published: May 2018

Students are challenged in transitioning from acquiring knowledge and understanding through reading textbooks to their learning to select, read, evaluate, and synthesize the primary literature. A customary approach to teaching this transition to beginning graduate students is for a faculty member to assign “readings” from the recent literature that promise to become key publications; such assignments generally underscore recent, novel scientific content. We advocate here an alternative approach for coaching students very early in their training: first, to read, analyze, and discuss a paper that highlights critically important features of effective and valid experimental design; and, second, to study a paper that can be shown historically to have fundamentally changed the way in which physiological function is understood. We consider as an example of the first goal a study that purports to demonstrate a principle of thermoregulation, but that interaction between students and instructor reveals the study’s lack of an essential control. The second goal requires sufficient time for the publication to concretely validate its contribution(s). The purpose is to identify those essential properties of the selected paper that contributed to its having become a truly exemplary study. We present a 1957 paper by Dr. A. C. Burton ( Am Heart J 54: 801–810, 1957) as an illustration and analyze the study with respect to those attributes that contributed to its lasting importance. These alternative approaches to introduce inexperienced students to the original literature can produce critical insight into the process and can help students inculcate essential practices, guiding them to more productive careers.
Transgenic overexpression of CTRP3 prevents alcohol-induced hepatic triglyceride accumulation
Authors: Trogen Greta , Bacon Joshua , Li Ying , Wright Gary L. , Degroat Ashley , Hagood Kendra L. , Warren Zachary , Forsman Allan , Kilaru Aruna , Clark W. Andrew , Peterson Jonathan M.
Published: May 2018

This study tested the ability of a novel adipose tissue derived cytokine, C1q TNF-related protein-3 (CTRP3), to prevent alcohol-induced hepatic lipid accumulation, or alcoholic fatty liver disease (ALD). Previous work has demonstrated that CTRP3 is effective at preventing high-fat diet-induced fatty liver; however, the potential of CTRP3 to inhibit ALD has not been explored. To test the potential protective effects of CTRP3, transgenic mice overexpressing CTRP3 (Tg) or wild-type littermates (WT) were subjected to one of two different models of ALD. In the first model, known as the NIAAA model, mice were fed control or alcohol-containing liquid diets (5% vol/vol) for 10 days followed by a single gavage of ethanol (5 g/kg). In the second model, the chronic model, mice were fed control or alcohol-containing diets for 6 wk with no gavage. This study found that CTRP3 reduced triglyceride accumulation in the chronic model of alcohol consumption by ~50%, whereas no reduction was observed in the NIAAA model. Further analysis of isolated primary hepatocytes from WT and Tg mice demonstrated that CTRP3 increased oxygen consumption in the presence of fatty acids, indicating that CTRP3 increases hepatic fatty acid utilization. In conclusion, this study indicates that CTRP3 attenuates hepatic triglyceride accumulation in response to long-term chronic, but not short-term, alcohol consumption.
Acetyl-CoA from inflammation-induced fatty acids oxidation promotes hepatic malate-aspartate shuttle activity and glycolysis
Authors: Wang Tongxin , Yao Weilei , Li Ji , He Qiongyu , Shao Yafei , Huang Feiruo
Published: May 2018

Hepatic metabolic syndrome is associated with inflammation, as inflammation stimulates the reprogramming of nutrient metabolism and hepatic mitochondria-generated acetyl-CoA, but how acetyl-CoA affects the reprogramming of nutrient metabolism, especially glucose and fatty acids, in the condition of inflammation is still unclear. Here, we used an acute inflammation model in which pigs were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and found that hepatic glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation are both promoted. Acetyl-proteome profiling of LPS-infected pigs liver showed that inflammatory stress exacerbates the acetylation of mitochondrial proteins. Both mitochondrial glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase 2 (GOT2) and malate dehydrogenase 2 (MDH2) were acetylated, and the malate-aspartate shuttle (MAS) activity was stimulated to maintain glycolysis. With the use of 13C-carbon tracing in vitro, acetyl-CoA was found to be mainly supplied by lipid-derived fatty acid oxidation rather than glucose-derived pyruvate oxidative decarboxylation, while glucose was mainly used for lactate production in response to inflammatory stress. The results of the mitochondrial experiment showed that acetyl-CoA directly increases MDH2 and, in turn, the GOT2 acetylation level affects MAS activity. Treatment with palmitate in primary hepatocytes from LPS-injected pigs increased the hepatic production of acetyl-CoA, pyruvate, and lactate; MAS activity; and hepatic MDH2 and GOT2 hyperacetylation, while the deficiency of long-chain acetyl-CoA dehydrogenase resulted in the stabilization of these parameters. These observations suggest that acetyl-CoA produced by fatty acid oxidation promotes MAS activity and glycolysis via nonenzymatic acetylation during the inflammatory stress response.
Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha Inhibition for Inflammatory Bowel Disease after Liver Transplant for Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
Authors: Parekh Ravish , Abdulhamid Ahmed , Trudeau Sheri , Kaur Nirmal
Published: May 2018

Background. Outcome data regarding the use of tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitors (anti-TNFα) in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) after liver transplant (LT) for primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are scant. Methods. We performed a retrospective chart review to investigate outcomes among a series of post-liver-transplant PSC/IBD patients receiving anti-TNFα therapy at Henry Ford Health System ((HFHS), Detroit, MI). Results. A total of five patients were treated with anti-TNFα agents for IBD after LT for PSC from 1993 through 2015. Two patients were treated with adalimumab, and three were treated with infliximab. Three patients were hospitalized with severe posttransplant infections. Two patients developed posttransplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD); one of these patients died due to complications of PTLD. Conclusion. Anti-TNFα treatment following LT worsened the disease course in our patients with concurrent PSC/IBD and led to serious complications and surgical intervention. Larger studies are needed to evaluate the side effects and outcomes of the use of such agents in this patient population. Until then, clinicians should have a high threshold to use anti-TNFα therapy in this setting.
Comparative Analysis of V-Akt Murine Thymoma Viral Oncogene Homolog 3 (AKT3) Gene between Cow and Buffalo Reveals Substantial Differences for Mastitis
Authors: Ullah Farman , Bhattarai Dinesh , Cheng Zhangrui , Liang Xianwei , Deng Tingxian , Rehman Zia Ur , Talpur Hira Sajjad , Worku Tesfaye , Brohi Rahim Dad , Safdar Muhammad , Ahmad Muhammad Jamil , Salim Mohammad , Khan Momen , Ahmad Hafiz Ishfaq , Zhang Shujun
Published: May 2018

AKT3 gene is a constituent of the serine/threonine protein kinase family and plays a crucial role in synthesis of milk fats and cholesterol by regulating activity of the sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP). AKT3 is highly conserved in mammals and its expression levels during the lactation periods of cattle are markedly increased. AKT3 is highly expressed in the intestine followed by mammary gland and it is also expressed in immune cells. It is involved in the TLR pathways as effectively as proinflammatory cytokines. The aims of this study were to investigate the sequences differences between buffalo and cow. Our results showed that there were substantial differences between buffalo and cow in some exons and noteworthy differences of the gene size in different regions. We also identified the important consensus sequence motifs, variation in 2000 upstream of ATG, substantial difference in the “3′UTR” region, and miRNA association in the buffalo sequences compared with the cow. In addition, genetic analyses, such as gene structure, phylogenetic tree, position of different motifs, and functional domains, were performed to establish their correlation with other species. This may indicate that a buffalo breed has potential resistance to disease, environment changes, and airborne microorganisms and some good production and reproductive traits.
Kalman Filtering Algorithm for Systems with Stochastic Nonlinearity Functions, Finite-Step Correlated Noises, and Missing Measurements
Authors: He Yonghui , Jiang Jibin , Huang Hischuan , Zhuo Shufang , Wu Yanfeng
Published: May 2018

The locally optimal filter is designed for a class of discrete-time systems subject to stochastic nonlinearity functions, finite-step correlated noises, and missing measurements. The multiplicative noises are employed to describe the random disturbances in the system model. The phenomena of missing measurements occur in a random way and the missing probability is characterized by Bernoulli distributed random variables with known conditional probabilities. Based on the projection theory, a class of Kalman-type locally optimal filter is constructed and the filtering error covariance matrix is minimized in the sense of minimum mean square error principle. Also, by solving the recursive matrix equation, we can obtain the filter gain. Finally, two examples are provided: one is a numerical example to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed filtering scheme; the other is to solve the problem of target estimation for a tracking system considering networked phenomena.
Development and Validation of a Simple High Performance Liquid Chromatography/UV Method for Simultaneous Determination of Urinary Uric Acid, Hypoxanthine, and Creatinine in Human Urine
Authors: Wijemanne Nimanthi , Soysa Preethi , Wijesundara Sulochana , Perera Hemamali
Published: May 2018

Uric acid and hypoxanthine are produced in the catabolism of purine. Abnormal urinary levels of these products are associated with many diseases and therefore it is necessary to have a simple and rapid method to detect them. Hence, we report a simple reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC/UV) technique, developed and validated for simultaneous analysis of uric acid, hypoxanthine, and creatinine in human urine. Urine was diluted appropriately and eluted with C-18 column 100 mm × 4.6 mm with a C-18 precolumn 25 mm × 4.6 mm in series. Potassium phosphate buffer (20 mM, pH 7.25) at a flow rate of 0.40 mL/min was employed as the solvent and peaks were detected at 235 nm. Tyrosine was used as the internal standard. The experimental conditions offered a good separation of analytes without interference of endogenous substances. The calibration curves were linear for all test compounds with a regression coefficient, r2>0.99. Uric acid, creatinine, tyrosine, and hypoxanthine were eluted at 5.2, 6.1, 7.2, and 8.3 min, respectively. Intraday and interday variability were less than 4.6% for all the analytes investigated and the recovery ranged from 98 to 102%. The proposed HPLC procedure is a simple, rapid, and low cost method with high accuracy with minimum use of organic solvents. This method was successfully applied for the determination of creatinine, hypoxanthine, and uric acid in human urine.
Comparison between Different Extraction Methods for Determination of Primary Aromatic Amines in Food Simulant
Authors: Shahrestani Morteza , Tehrani Mohammad Saber , Shoeibi Shahram , Aberoomand Azar Parviz , Waqif Husain Syed
Published: May 2018

The primary aromatic amines (PAAs) are food contaminants which may exist in packaged food. Polyurethane (PU) adhesives which are used in flexible packaging are the main source of PAAs. It is the unreacted diisocyanates which in fact migrate to foodstuff and then hydrolyze to PAAs. These PAAs include toluenediamines (TDAs) and methylenedianilines (MDAs), and the selected PAAs were 2,4-TDA, 2,6-TDA, 4,4′-MDA, 2,4′-MDA, and 2,2′-MDA. PAAs have genotoxic, carcinogenic, and allergenic effects. In this study, extraction methods were applied on a 3% acetic acid as food simulant which was spiked with the PAAs under study. Extraction methods were liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (DLLME), and solid-phase extraction (SPE) with C18 ec (octadecyl), HR-P (styrene/divinylbenzene), and SCX (strong cationic exchange) cartridges. Extracted samples were detected and analyzed by HPLC-UV. In comparison between methods, recovery rate of SCX cartridge showed the best adsorption, up to 91% for polar PAAs (TDAs and MDAs). The interested PAAs are polar and relatively soluble in water, so a cartridge with cationic exchange properties has the best absorption and consequently the best recoveries.
Leptospirosis in Coastal South India: A Facility Based Study
Authors: Holla Ramesh , Darshan Bhagwan , Pandey Latika , Unnikrishnan Bhaskaran , Kumar Nithin , Thapar Rekha , Mithra Prasanna , Kulkarni Vaman
Published: May 2018

Background. Leptospirosis is a major neglected public health problem and is highly underreported in India. The spectrum of clinical features ranges from subclinical infection to multiorgan failure. The burden of leptospirosis is more in developing countries. Objective. The present study was designed to assess the sociodemographic characteristics, clinical feature, and outcome of leptospirosis patients. Methods. This record based retrospective study was conducted in hospitals affiliated to Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore. The registries of the leptospirosis patients during the period of four years between January 2011 and December 2014 were reviewed and the information on demographic and clinical profile of the leptospirosis patients was recorded in the data capture sheet. The information obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 11.5. Results. The study included 202 leptospirosis victims. The mean age of the study population was 40.48 (±14.8) years. Majority of the patients presented with fever (92.1%) at the time of admission. Acute renal failure was found to be the most common complication (79.2%). Case fatality rate was found to be 3.5%. Conclusion. High proportion of cases indirectly reflects the endemic nature of the disease in the study setting. The clinical presentation of the leptospirosis is highly protean and may vary from a mild illness to life-threatening complications as evident from the current study.
Bioaccumulation of Heavy Metals in Some Tissues of Fish in Lake Geriyo, Adamawa State, Nigeria
Authors: Bawuro A. A. , Voegborlo R. B. , Adimado A. A.
Published: May 2018

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cd, and Cu) was determined in the liver, gills, and flesh from benthic and pelagic fish species collected from Lake Geriyo covering two seasons. The levels of the heavy metals varied significantly among fish species and organs. Flesh possessed the lowest concentration of all the metals. Liver was the target organ for Zn, Cu, and Pb accumulations. Cd however exhibited higher concentration in the gills. Fish species showed interspecific variation of metals. These differences were discussed for the contribution of potential factors that affected metals uptake like age, geographical distribution, and species-specific factors. The concentration of metals in fish flesh was accepted by the international legislation limits for Cu, Zn, and Cd; however, Pb transcend inClarias and Tilapiaduring wet season andHeterotisin both seasons, hence unsafe for human consumption and a threat to public health. These levels might be due to anthropogenic inputs as there is no industrial activity around the lake.
Liquid Crystals as Phase Change Materials for Thermal Stabilization
Authors: Klemenčič Eva , Slavinec Mitja
Published: May 2018

Thermal stabilization exploiting phase change materials (PCMs) is studied theoretically and numerically. Using the heat source approach in numerical simulations, we focus on phase change temperature as a key factor in improving thermal stabilization. Our focus is to analyze possible mechanisms to tune the phase change temperature. We use thermotropic liquid crystals (LCs) as PCMs in a demonstrative system. Using the Landau-de Gennes mesoscopic approach, we show that an external electric field or appropriate nanoparticles (NPs) dispersed in LCs can be exploited to manipulate the phase change temperature.