bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vulvovaginal Discomfort Is Common in Both Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women
Authors: Watson LaTina J. , James Kaitlyn E. , Hatoum Moeller Ida J. , Mitchell Caroline M.
Published: February 2019

Objectives

We surveyed women from a primary care population to assess the prevalence of unreported vulvovaginal symptoms.

Materials and Methods

A random sample of women aged 18 to 84 years without a diagnosis of vulvovaginitis or vulvodynia in the past year were surveyed anonymously about prevalence and severity of vulvar and vaginal symptoms of itching, burning, irritation, vaginal discharge, vaginal dryness, and vulvovaginal pain in the past month. Women reporting at least 1 moderate-severe symptom were considered symptomatic. Demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between women with and without symptoms using Pearson's χ2 and Student's t test.

Results

Of 1,676 mailed surveys, 272 (16.2%) were returned. Respondents were primarily non-Hispanic (254, 93.4%), White (214, 78.7%), and English speaking (267, 98.2%). More than a third of women (107, 39.3%) reported 1 or more moderate-severe symptoms. Symptomatic women were younger (49 ± 14 years vs 54 ± 15 years, p = .004) and more likely to report a history of asthma (22% vs 12%, p = .028), eczema or seasonal allergies (56% vs 40%, p = .011), or a previous diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis or yeast (36% vs 15%, p < .001) than asymptomatic women. Premenopausal versus postmenopausal women reported similar prevalence of moderate-severe symptoms: 57/136 (42%) vs 50/136 (37%), respectively (p = .39). Symptoms frequently or always interfered with both interest in sex (33/107, 31%) and ability to have sex (32/107, 30%).

Conclusions

This study suggests that moderate-severe vulvovaginal symptoms are prevalent in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women and that these symptoms have a significant impact on sexual health.
Bacillus salacetis sp. nov., a slightly halophilic bacterium from Thai shrimp paste (Ka-pi)
Authors: Daroonpunt Rungsima , Yiamsombut Supalurk , Sitdhipol Jaruwan , Tanasupawat Somboon
Published: February 2019

A Gram-stain-positive, slightly halophilic, endospore-forming, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated SKP7-4T, was isolated from shrimp paste collected from Samut Sakhon province, Thailand. Strain SKP7-4T grew at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum, 7.5), at 20–40 °C (37 °C) and in 0–15 % (w/v) NaCl (1–3 %). The diamino acid found in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. Menaquinone with seven isoprene units was the major isoprenoid quinone. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and three unidentified phospholipids were detected as polar lipids. It contained iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0 as major cellular fatty acids. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain SKP7-4T belonged to the genus

Bacillus

and was closely related to

Bacillus vietnamensis

JCM 11124T, Bacillus marisflavi JCM 11544T, Bacillus aquimaris JCM 11545T and

B

acillus

oryzaecorticis

JCM 19602T, with 98.7, 97.9, 97.8 and 97.8 % similarity, respectively. The draft genome of SKP7-4T was 4.68 Mb with 5208 coding sequences with an average G+C content of 43.2 mol%. The ANIb and ANIm values of strain SKP7-4T were 70.0 and 84.3 %, respectively, and the digital DNA–DNA hybridization value was 20 % in comparison with the draft genome of

B. vietnamensis

JCM 11124T. On the basis of the results of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, the strain should represent a novel species of the genus

Bacillus

and the name

Bacillus
salacetis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SKP7-4T (=JCM 33205T=KCTC 43014T=TISTR 2596T).
VisMET: a passive, efficient, and sensitive assessment of visuospatial memory in healthy aging, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Haque Rafi U. , Manzanares Cecelia M. , Brown Lavonda N. , Pongos Alvince L. , Lah James J. , Clifford Gari D. , Levey Allan I.
Published: February 2019

The entorhinal–hippocampal circuit is one of the earliest sites of cortical pathology in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Visuospatial memory paradigms that are mediated by the entorhinal–hippocampal circuit may offer a means to detect memory impairment during the early stages of AD. In this study, we developed a 4-min visuospatial memory paradigm called VisMET (Visuospatial Memory Eye-Tracking Task) that passively assesses memory using eye movements rather than explicit memory judgements. We had 296 control or memory-impaired participants view a set of images followed by a modified version of the images with either an object removed, or a new object added. Healthy controls spent significantly more time viewing these manipulations compared to subjects with mild cognitive impairment and AD. Using a logistic regression model, the amount of time that individuals viewed these manipulations could predict cognitive impairment and disease status with an out of sample area under the receiver–operator characteristic curve of 0.85. Based on these results, VisMET offers a passive, sensitive, and efficient memory paradigm capable of detecting objective memory impairment and predicting cognitive and disease status.
Selective attention in rat visual category learning
Authors: Broschard Matthew B. , Kim Jangjin , Love Bradley C. , Wasserman Edward A. , Freeman John H.
Published: February 2019

A prominent theory of category learning, COVIS, posits that new categories are learned with either a declarative or procedural system, depending on the task. The declarative system uses the prefrontal cortex (PFC) to learn rule-based (RB) category tasks in which there is one relevant sensory dimension that can be used to establish a rule for solving the task, whereas the procedural system uses corticostriatal circuits for information integration (II) tasks in which there are multiple relevant dimensions, precluding use of explicit rules. Previous studies have found faster learning of RB versus II tasks in humans and monkeys but not in pigeons. The absence of a learning rate difference in pigeons has been attributed to their lacking a PFC. A major gap in this comparative analysis, however, is the lack of data from a nonprimate mammalian species, such as rats, that have a PFC but a less differentiated PFC than primates. Here, we investigated RB and II category learning in rats. Similar to pigeons, RB and II tasks were learned at the same rate. After reaching a learning criterion, wider distributions of stimuli were presented to examine generalization. A second experiment found equivalent RB and II learning with wider category distributions. Computational modeling revealed that rats extract and selectively attend to category-relevant information but do not consistently use rules to solve the RB task. These findings suggest rats are on a continuum of PFC function between birds and primates, with selective attention but limited ability to utilize rules relative to primates.
Examination of well ordered nanonetwork materials by real- and reciprocal-space imaging
Authors: Chiu Po-Ting , Chien Yu-Cheng , Georgopanos Prokopios , Sun Ya-Sen , Avgeropoulos Apostolos , Ho Rong-Ming
Published: February 2019

The development of well ordered nanonetwork materials (in particular gyroid-structured materials) has been investigated using a block-copolymer template for templated electroless plating as an example system for the examination of network formation using X-ray scattering. By taking advantage of the nucleation and growth mechanism of templated electroless plating, gyroid-structured Au was successfully fabricated through the development of Au nanoparticles, then tripods and branched tripods, and finally an ordered network. Each stage in the development of the network phase could then be examined by combining real-space transmission electron microscopy observations with reciprocal-space small-angle X-ray scattering results. The fingerprint scattering profile of the building block for the network (i.e. the tripod of the gyroid) could be well fitted with the form factor of an effective sphere, and the diffraction results from the ordered network could thus be reasonably addressed. As a result, the examination of well ordered network materials can be simplified as the scattering from the form factor of a sphere convoluted with the nodes of its structure factor, providing a facile method of identifying the network phases from X-ray scattering data.
Can revenue management be integrated with customer relationship management?
Authors: Denizci Guillet Basak , Shi Xinchen
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to understand how and to what extent Hong Kong hotels have integrated customer relationship management (CRM) into their revenue management (RM) practices at individual customer level.

Method

Semi-structured interviews were used to gather information from experienced interviewees holding hotel RM- and marketing-related executive positions. In total, 11 revenue and 9 marketing executives were interviewed in 2016-2017 over a period of 13 weeks. The data were transcribed and then Nvivo was used for data organization and analysis.

Findings

The hotels do not systematically segment customers by value because of restraints on the RM systems’ capabilities and the industry’s conventional segmentations. The revenue and marketing executives’ attitudes toward integration, IT system infrastructure support to enable integration, loyalty and membership programs as a means for integration and executive management level support for integration influence the hotel’s potential for RM and CRM integration.

Research Limitations/implications

Only the perspectives of revenue and marketing executives were considered. Incorporating the insights of different parties may achieve a more comprehensive result. In addition, because it seems that there is no systematic RM and CRM integration within the Hong Kong hotel industry, relevant decision-makers’ opinions toward the practice may change once they evaluate the performance of the pioneering practitioner.

Originality

This study reveals what has been done in practice to integrate RM and CRM compared with the theoretical approach, proposes an integration framework and discusses the potential for further development together with the challenges to integration.
An assessment of economic viability of jatropha plantation in North East India
Authors: Goswami Kishor , Choudhury Hari K. , Hazarika Atanu , Tripathi Rohit
Published: February 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze the economic viability of jatropha plantation in North East India.

Design/methodology/approach

Economic viability is measured through the net present value and the benefit–cost ratio (BCR) at four different production standards along with four different prices of jatropha seed.

Findings

At a very low price and small production, jatropha plantation is economically not feasible. However, when the price of seed increases from INR 5 to 8, BCRs become greater than 1, provided that the discount rate is less than equal to 8 per cent. The minimum threshold of BCR indicates that the threshold of 1.5 BCR at a production level of 1.5 tons/ha can be achieved with a combination of seed price of INR 10 per kg and a discount rate of 1 to 3 per cent. Thus, jatropha cultivation is economically viable but not highly profitable.

Research limitations/implications

Present study analyzes the economic viability of jatropha plantation from purely financial point of view. Social cost and benefit of energy crop plantation is not included in the study. This suggests to adopt social cost–benefit analysis to evaluate the overall feasibility of plantation crops in future studies.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the academic literature of economic viability of energy plantation crops. Economic viability of jatropha plantation is shown in different cost and revenue conditions with statistical evidences.
The bimodal adult activity of Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) caught in pheromone traps in Jeju can be explained by the competitive attractiveness of dying pine trees
Authors: Kwon Soon Hwa , Go Myeong Su , Park Junghun , Han Tae‐Wan , Kim Kyeong‐Beom , Shin Chang‐Hoon , Kim Dong‐Soon
Published: February 2019

The Japanese pine sawyer, Monochamus alternatus Hope (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is known to be the primary vector of pinewood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus (Steiner & Buhrer) Nickle that causes pine wilt disease. Adult activity of M. alternatus caught in a pheromone trap on Jeju Island of Korea showed a bimodal form with the first peak in mid to late June and the second peak in mid to late September. The two peaks were separated between mid and late August, showing a valley. Accumulated degree‐days predicted that the emergence of the second generation adults could be possible just before the second peak. But actually no adults of the second generation occurred in the field development experiments of M. alternatus in 2016 and 2017. Pine trees without oleoresin flow (namely dying trees by the infection of pinewood nematode) were abundant during early July to early August. The bimodal adult activity pattern of M. alternatus could be partially explained by the competitive attractiveness of dying trees against pheromone traps, when we accepted the assumption that dying pine trees attract strongly M. alternatus.
The Unbearable Lightness of the Cosmopolitan Canopy: Accomplishment of Diversity at an Urban Farmers Market
Authors: Aptekar Sofya
Published: February 2019

This article provides a critique of work on urban public space that touts its potential as a haven from racial and class conflicts and inequalities. I argue that social structures and hierarchies embedded in the capitalist system and the state's social control over the racialized poor are not suspended even in places that appear governed by civility and tolerance, such as those under Anderson's “cosmopolitan canopy.” Durable inequality, residential segregation, nativism, and racism inevitably shape what happens in diverse public spaces. Using an ethnographic study of an urban farmers’ market in New York City, I show that appearances of everyday cosmopolitanism, tolerance, and pleasure in difference coexist with conflict and reproduction of inequalities that are inextricable because the space is embedded within larger structures, institutions, and cultural paradigms. By focusing on meaning–making in interaction, I analyze situated accomplishment of diversity and consider the implications for other types of urban spaces.
A framework to measure the wildness of managed large vertebrate populations
Authors: Child Matthew F. , Selier S. A. Jeanetta , Radloff Frans G. T. , Taylor W. Andrew , Hoffmann Michael , Nel Lizanne , Power R. John , Birss Coral , Okes Nicola C. , Peel Michael J. , Mallon David , Davies‐Mostert Harriet
Published: February 2019

As landscapes continue to fall under human influence through habitat loss and fragmentation, fencing is increasingly being used to mitigate anthropogenic threats and enhance the commercial value of wildlife. Subsequent intensification of management potentially erodes wildness by disembodying populations from landscape‐level processes, thereby disconnecting species from natural selection. Tools are needed to measure the degree to which populations of large vertebrate species in formally protected and privately owned wildlife areas are self‐sustaining and free to adapt. We devised a framework to measure such wildness based on 6 attributes relating to the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of vertebrates (space, disease and parasite resistance, exposure to predation, exposure to limitations and fluctuations of food and water supply, and reproduction). For each attribute, we set empirical, species‐specific thresholds between 5 wildness states based on quantifiable management interventions. We analysed data from 205 private wildlife properties with management objectives spanning ecotourism to consumptive utilization to test the framework on 6 herbivore species representing a range of conservation statuses and commercial values. Wildness scores among species differed significantly, and the proportion of populations identified as wild ranged from 12% to 84%, which indicates the tool detected site‐scale differences both among populations of different species and populations of the same species under different management regimes. By quantifying wildness, this framework provides practitioners with standardized measurement units that link biodiversity with the sustainable use of wildlife. Applications include informing species management plans at local scales; standardizing the inclusion of managed populations in red‐list assessments; and providing a platform for certification and regulation of wildlife‐based economies. Applying this framework may help embed wildness as a normative value in policy and mitigate the shifting baseline of what it means to truly conserve a species.
Substrate moisture, particle size and temperature preferences of trap‐building larvae of sympatric antlions and wormlions from the rainforest of Borneo
Authors: Miler Krzysztof , Yahya Bakhtiar E. , Czarnoleski Marcin
Published: February 2019

1. Larvae of antlions (Neuroptera: Myrmeleontidae) and wormlions (Diptera: Vermileonidae) display a convergently evolved sit‐and‐wait hunting strategy of building pitfall traps in sandy areas. This study investigated a sympatric population of antlions and wormlions in the lowland rainforest of Borneo for substrate moisture, particle size and temperature preferences. It was hypothesised that these animals would show different preferences regarding these microhabitat traits.

2. The results showed that antlions had a higher aversion to moisture compared with wormlions, but that wormlions had a higher preference for small‐particle sand. Furthermore, thermal preferences in antlions and wormlions were significantly different, with antlions choosing higher temperatures.

3. The detected differences between antlions and wormlions might contribute to their niche partitioning in the mixed Bornean population and thus facilitate coexistence of these animals. It is possible that the hotter and dryer microhabitat edges are preferred by antlions.
Female choice for sick males over healthy males: Consequences for offspring
Authors: Reyes‐Ramírez Alicia , Enríquez‐Vara Jhony N. , Rocha‐Ortega Maya , Téllez‐García Aldo , Córdoba‐Aguilar Alex
Published: February 2019

Sexual selection theory indicates that ornament expression in males is in close relation to their condition. This “honesty” relationship serves as the basis for female choice: Females would mate with healthy males over sick males after assessing male ornament signal expression and derive benefits for their progeny. Here, we investigated female mate choice for infected and non‐infected males, male survival after infection (to corroborate the negative effect of infection), and fitness consequences of female preferences using Tenebrio molitor beetles. Male infection was produced having two types of challenges as follows: males infected with entomopathogenic fungi and males infected with nylon implants. Similar to previous studies, we corroborated that females preferred fungus‐infected males over positive control, negative control, and nylon‐challenged males. Survival was the lowest for fungus‐treated males followed by nylon‐treated and control males. Females mated with fungus‐treated males laid fewer and smaller eggs, and the laid eggs had less lipid content with a reduced eclosion success compared to females mated with non‐challenged males. Our interpretation is that fungus‐treated males invested their energetic resources to increase their attractiveness at the risk of survival, in a terminal investment fashion. Females, however, would have corrected their choice by investing less in their offspring.
Performance evaluation of various classifiers for predicting knee angle from electromyography signals
Authors: Dhindsa Inderjeet Singh , Agarwal Ravinder , Ryait Hardeep Singh
Published: February 2019

This paper proposes a classification‐based knee angle prediction from myoelectric signals. Surface electromyographic signals were recorded from four muscles in the lower limb while performing the task of standing up from a chair and sitting down on the chair. Knee angle was measured using a goniometer and quantised into five levels/classes. The surface electromyographic signals were segmented using overlapped windowing. Fifteen features per muscle were extracted and fed to the classifier. The classifier predicts the class of the knee angle at a particular instant This study examines the performance of linear discriminant analysis, Naive Bayes, k‐nearest neighbour, and support vector machine classifiers. The support vector machine classifier with a quadratic kernel performed best, with a classification accuracy of 92.2 ± 2.2%, a sensitivity of 90.19 ± 3.06%, a specificity of 98.11 ± 0.63%, and 89.38 ± 3.0% precision.
Forecasting the genetic influences of red drum stock enhancement in South Carolina
Authors: Katalinas Christopher J. , Robinson John D. , Strand Allan E. , Darden Tanya , Brenkert Karl , Denson Michael R.
Published: February 2019

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) began stocking red drum, Sciaenops ocellatus (Linnaeus), in 1989 to augment the abundance of juveniles available for recreational harvest in South Carolina estuaries. While stock enhancement can help supplement wild populations under high fishing pressure, releasing hatchery‐raised fish into the wild also presents the risk of decreased genetic diversity. An individual‐based model (IBM) was developed to forecast the genetic influences of stocking on the wild spawning population to inform responsible stocking strategies. Model results indicated the SCDNR red drum stock enhancement programme should maintain mean contributions of stocked fish no greater than 30% per year class over a 45‐year stocking period, coupled with at least 10 effective breeders in the hatchery replaced annually, to maintain current levels of genetic diversity estimated in the wild population. The IBM is a useful tool for hatchery managers to guide responsible stock enhancement.
“Problem” directors and audit fees
Authors: Habib Ahsan , Bhuiyan Md. Borhan Uddin , Rahman Asheq
Published: February 2019

This study investigates the association between audit fees and the presence of “problem” directors on corporate boards and audit committees. “Problem” directors, in this context, are those directors who have been involved in corporate financial failures and integrity indiscretions in the past. Auditors regard the presence of such directors on boards and audit committees as audit risk, and may have to enhance their audit procedures, leading to higher audit fees. Using a sample of 9,175 firm‐year observations from 2004 to 2010 of US firms, we find that the presence of “problem” directors on boards and audit committees is associated with higher audit fees. This finding has a policy implication for corporate managers, that they should be mindful of the increase in perceived audit risk that arises from professional and personal attributes of directors when recruiting individuals to serve on their boards.
The immune regulatory role of neutrophils
Authors: Altmann Daniel M.
Published: February 2019

Neutrophils are appreciated to perform a wide range of pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory effector functions in diverse settings. These go far beyond the response to acute infection, encompassing sterile injury, autoimmunity, allergy and tumours. There is growing appreciation of the nuances of their modes of action, especially elucidation of the nature and consequences of NETosis. New work suggests that it is time to give greater consideration to the anti‐inflammatory role of neutrophils, such as in the control of cytokine release during sepsis.
The prevalence of pressure ulcers in community‐dwelling older adults: A study in an Indonesian city
Authors: Sari Sheizi P. , Everink Irma H. , Sari Eka A. , Afriandi Irvan , Amir Yufitriana , Lohrmann Christa , Halfens Ruud J. , Schols Jos M.
Published: February 2019

The objectives of this study were to investigate the prevalence and the characteristics of pressure ulcers (PU) in community‐dwelling older adults in Indonesia, including specific characteristics of the PU patients and their use of formal and informal care. A cross‐sectional design was used for the study, with 325 participants aged 60 years or older, randomly chosen from the general community. The overall PU prevalence and the PU prevalence excluding category 1 were 10.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.8‐15.8) and 5.2% (95% CI 0.2‐10.2), respectively. Category 1 PUs were mostly (34.3%) located on knees and toes, while category 2 and higher PUs were mostly (70.4%) located on the shoulder, sacrum, and hip. The main factors that contributed strongly to PUs among older adults in the community were the degree of physical activity, problems with sensory perception, and having a history of stroke. None of the participants with a PU received wound care or information about PUs from formal caregivers and only 11.4% received wound care from family caregivers. This study shows that pressure ulcers in community‐dwelling older adults in Indonesia are a relevant and largely unaddressed problem. Developing an intervention program to manage the PU problem in the community is recommended.
Rule Comes First: The Influences of Market Attributes on Interpersonal Trust in the Marketization Process
Authors: Zhang Yue , Xin Ziqiang
Published: February 2019

Previous research has found negative effects of “market” as a global concept on trust. The current research differentiated the effects of two market attributes on trust. Study 1 found a negative effect of market priming on interpersonal trust. Study 2 manipulated the representations of the two market attributes by rendering either impetus or rule attribute relatively salient. The results showed that compared with highlighting impetus, highlighting rule improved interpersonal trust and facilitated trust recovery. In Study 3, we analyzed macroeconomic indicators and applied cross‐temporal meta‐analysis to reveal the negative relationship between reduced interpersonal trust and damaged market rule as reflected by the marketization index. The present research explains why Chinese marketization has negatively impacted interpersonal trust: Market rules that protect interpersonal trust have been weakened during the process of marketization, whereas the impetus attribute of market, which is harmful to interpersonal trust, has become more salient. These findings highlight the importance of establishing comprehensive market rules.
Genetic cause for congenital methemoglobinemia in an Australian Pomeranian dog
Authors: Zhou Shijia , Tearle Rick , Jozani Raziallah Jafari , Winra Bethany , Schaaf Olaf , Nicholson Anthony , Peaston Anne
Published: February 2019

Little is known about genetic causes of congenital methemoglobinemia in dogs. Here, we report a CYB5R3 mutation in a Pomeranian dog with congenital methemoglobinemia. A 6‐year‐old neutered female Pomeranian dog was investigated for cyanosis noticed during anesthesia for an orthopedic procedure. The history included lifelong mild exercise intolerance and bluish tongue. Methemoglobinemia was diagnosed using co‐oximetry. The CYB5R3 gene was analyzed by comparing the patient's genomic DNA with the reference canine sequence. Mutation functional significance was investigated using snpEff and multispecies protein homology analyses. A homozygous missense single nucleotide CYB5R3 mutation (ATC ➔ CTC at codon 194) caused a p.Ile194Leu substitution. The pIle194 residue is highly conserved in other mammals, supporting the likely pathogenicity of the substitution. The mutation described here is identical to that associated with familial methemoglobinemia in a family of Japanese Pomeranian dogs. This observation, together with the homozygous mutation found in our case, indicates that the mutant allele may be widespread within the Pomeranian breed internationally.
Defining complete wound closure: Closing the gap in clinical trials and practice
Authors: Gould Lisa , Li William W.
Published: February 2019

We investigate how wound closure is determined in recent randomized controlled wound trials and real‐world studies, identify solutions to the current limitations of wound assessment, and propose a standard methodology to define and assess wound healing in research. We searched PubMed for randomized clinical trials using the terms “complete wound closure” and “wound healing rate” and for real‐world studies using the terms “real‐world wound healing,” “real‐world wound data,” and “wound registries” dating from March 2010 through March 2018. We selected studies that had “complete wound closure” or “healed wound” as an endpoint. Sixty‐five trial articles and 10 real‐world articles met our criteria, from which we extracted the wound type studied, definition of healed wound used, wound assessment method, the number of weeks assessed, the number of wounds, and the percent of healed wounds in the study group(s) and control group. There were 7,194 trial wounds included. The most common definition of healing used by 26 studies (40.6%) was complete/full/100% (re)epithelialization or closure without discharge, drainage/scab, and/or dressing. Fifty‐two studies (81.2%) used blinded wound assessment, and at least 10 studies (15.6%) used blinded adjudication. The real‐world studies analyzed more than 901,396 wounds. Only three studies (33.3%) defined a healed/closed wound, two of which used “complete epithelialization.” Eight studies (88.9%) did not define the wound assessment method; none indicated a blinded assessment. We support the Food and Drug Administration definition: 100% reepithelialization of the wound surface with no discernable exudate and without drainage or dressing, confirmed at two visits 2 weeks apart, and we recommend blinded adjudication for wound assessment. The widespread adoption of a standard wound healing definition and assessment method in wound care research would allow for stronger comparisons of treatment effects across studies to improve the evidence base and strengthen the treatment decision‐making process in clinical practice.
A review of pig liver xenotransplantation: Current problems and recent progress
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Li Xiao , Yang Zhaoxu , Tao Kaishan , Wang Quancheng , Dai Bin , Qu Shibin , Peng Wei , Zhang Hong , Cooper David K. C. , Dou Kefeng
Published: February 2019

Pig liver xenotransplantation appears to be more perplexing when compared to heart or kidney xenotransplantation, even though great progress has been achieved. The relevant molecular mechanisms involved in xenogeneic rejection, including coagulopathy, and particularly thrombocytopenia, are complex, and need to be systematically investigated. The deletion of expression of Gal antigens in the liver graft highlights the injurious impact of nonGal antigens, which continue to induce humoral rejection. Innate immunity, particularly mediated by macrophages and natural killer cells, interplays with inflammation and coagulation disorders. Kupffer cells and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) together mediate leukocyte, erythrocyte, and platelet sequestration and phagocytosis, which can be exacerbated by increased cytokine production, cell desialylation, and interspecies incompatibilities. The coagulation cascade is activated by release of tissue factor which can be dependent or independent of the xenoreactive immune response. Depletion of endothelial anticoagulants and anti‐platelet capacity amplify coagulation activation, and interspecies incompatibilities of coagulation‐regulatory proteins facilitate dysregulation. LSECs involved in platelet phagocytosis and transcytosis, coupled with hepatocyte‐mediated degradation, are responsible for thrombocytopenia. Adaptive immunity could also be problematic in long‐term liver graft survival. Currently, relevant evidence and study results of various genetic modifications to the pig donor need to be fully determined, with the aim of identifying the ideal transgene combination for pig liver xenotransplantation. We believe that clinical trials of pig liver xenotransplantation should initially be considered as a bridge to allotransplantation.
Analyses of Constitutive Behavior of As-Cast Aluminum Alloys AA3104, AA5182, and AA6111 During Direct Chill Casting Using Physically Based Models
Authors: Soni Aman , Alankar Alankar
Published: February 2019

To understand the formation of direct chill (DC)-casting defects, e.g., butt curl and crack formation, it is essential to take into account the effect of temperature variation, strain rate, and their role in the constitutive behavior of the DC-cast alloys. For the correct prediction of defects due to thermal stresses during DC casting, one needs to rely on the fundamentals of mechanisms that may be relevant to the temperatures at below solidus temperatures. This research work aims to find a suitable physically based model for the as-cast aluminum alloys, namely AA3104, AA5182, and AA6111, which can describe the constitutive behavior at below solidus temperatures during complex loading conditions of temperatures and strain rates. In the present work, an earlier measured and modeled (Alankar and Wells, 2010, “Constitutive Behavior of As-Cast Aluminum Alloys AA3104, AA5182 and AA6111 at Below Solidus Temperatures,” Mater. Sci. Eng. A, 527, pp. 7812–7820) stress–strain data are analyzed using the Voce equation and Kocks–Mecking (KM) model. KM model is capable of predicting the hardening and recovery behavior during complex conditions of strain, strain rate, and temperatures during DC casting. Recovery is dependent on temperature and strain rate, and thus, relevant parameters are determined based on the temperature-sensitive annihilation rate of dislocations. For the KM model, we have estimated k1 parameter as a function of temperature, and k2 has been further modeled based on the temperature and strain rate. KM model is able to fit the constant temperature uniaxial tests within 1.5% of the regenerated data.
DOE to limit foreign research collaborations
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey
Published: February 2019

Recent memos describe crackdown on grantees and on lab scientists with foreign ties.
AIDS push gets mixed reviews
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: February 2019

Trump's initiative to "end AIDS;" promises money, focus.
Metric prefixes sought for extreme numbers
Authors: Adam David
Published: February 2019

"Ronna" and "quecca" would help computer scientists keep pace with big data.
The human gut bacterial genotoxin colibactin alkylates DNA
Authors: Wilson Matthew R. , Jiang Yindi , Villalta Peter W. , Stornetta Alessia , Boudreau Paul D. , Carrá Andrea , Brennan Caitlin A. , Chun Eunyoung , Ngo Lizzie , Samson Leona D. , Engelward Bevin P. , Garrett Wendy S. , Balbo Silvia , Balskus Emily P.
Published: February 2019

Bacterial warhead targets DNA

The bacterial toxin colibactin causes double-stranded DNA breaks and is associated with the occurrence of bacterially induced colorectal cancer in humans. However, isolation of colibactin is difficult, and its mode of action is poorly understood. Wilson
et al.
studied
Escherichia coli
that contain the biosynthetic gene island called
pks
, which is associated with colibactin production (see the Perspective by Bleich and Arthur). They identified the DNA adducts that resulted from incubating
pks
+
E. coli
in human cells. To overcome the lack of colibactin for direct analysis, mimics of the
pks
product were synthesized. From the resulting synthetic adenine-colibactin adducts, it became evident that alkylation via a cyclopropane “warhead” breaks the DNA strands. Similar DNA adducts were then identified in the gut epithelia of mice infected with
pks
+
E. coli.

Science
, this issue p.
eaar7785
; see also p.
689
Using neuroscience to develop artificial intelligence
Authors: Ullman Shimon
Published: February 2019

Combining deep learning with brain-like innate structures may guide network models toward human-like learning
Architecture, Function, and Substrates of the Type II Secretion System
Authors: Korotkov Konstantin V. , Sandkvist Maria
Published: February 2019

The type II secretion system (T2SS) delivers toxins and a range of hydrolytic enzymes, including proteases, lipases, and carbohydrate-active enzymes, to the cell surface or extracellular space of Gram-negative bacteria. Its contribution to survival of both extracellular and intracellular pathogens as well as environmental species of proteobacteria is evident. This dynamic, multicomponent machinery spans the entire cell envelope and consists of a cytoplasmic ATPase, several inner membrane proteins, a periplasmic pseudopilus, and a secretin pore embedded in the outer membrane. Despite the
trans
-envelope configuration of the T2S nanomachine, proteins to be secreted engage with the system first once they enter the periplasmic compartment via the Sec or TAT export system. Thus, the T2SS is specifically dedicated to their outer membrane translocation. The many sequence and structural similarities between the T2SS and type IV pili suggest a common origin and argue for a pilus-mediated mechanism of secretion. This minireview describes the structures, functions, and interactions of the individual T2SS components and the general architecture of the assembled T2SS machinery and briefly summarizes the transport and function of a growing list of T2SS exoproteins. Recent advances in cryo-electron microscopy, which have led to an increased understanding of the structure-function relationship of the secretin channel and the pseudopilus, are emphasized.
Prevalence and risk factors of myopic maculopathy in rural southern China: the Yangxi Eye Study
Authors: Li Zhixi , Liu Ran , Jin Guangming , Ha Jason , Ding Xiaohu , Xiao Wei , Xu Xiao , An Lei , Zhao Jialiang , He Mingguang
Published: February 2019

Aims

To evaluate the prevalence of myopic maculopathy among participants aged 50 years and older in rural southern China.

Methods

Population-based, cross-sectional study. Subjects were recruited using cluster sampling from Yangxi County, Guangdong Province, China from August to November in 2014. Non-cycloplegic autorefraction and fundus photography were performed on all of the participants. Myopic maculopathy was graded based on fundus photographs using the International Classification of Myopic Maculopathy.

Results

Among 5825 individuals who participated (90.7% response rate), a total of 4469 participants with gradable fundus photographs for myopic maculopathy and automated refractive data were included in this study. The mean age of these participants was 65.50±9.70 years. The crude prevalence of myopic maculopathy was 1.4% (62/4469; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0% to 1.8 %) and age-standardised prevalence was 1.2% (95% CI 1.1% to 1.2%). Diffuse chorioretinal atrophy, patchy chorioretinal atrophy, macular atrophy, lacquer cracks and staphyloma were observed in 43 (1.0%), 3 (0.1%), 1 (0.1%), 15 (0.3%) and 8 eyes (0.2%), respectively. Myopic maculopathy was more common in eyes of older participants (OR 1.07; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.11) and more myopic spherical equivalence (OR 1.69; 95% CI 1.57 to 1.84).

Conclusion

The prevalence of myopic maculopathy was low among the rural southern Chinese population. Diffuse chorioretinal atrophy was the most common retinal finding among Chinese myopes.
Surgical versus balloon valvotomy in neonates and infants: results from the UK National Audit
Authors: Dorobantu Dan Mihai , Taliotis Demetris , Tulloh Robert Michael , Sharabiani Mansour Thagavi Azar , Mohamed Ahmed Eltayeb , Angelini Gianni Davide , Stoica Serban Constantin
Published: February 2019

Objective

There are conflicting data on choosing balloon aortic valvoplasty (BAV) or surgical aortic valvotomy (SAV) in neonates and infants requiring intervention for aortic valve stenosis. We aim to report the outcome of both techniques based on results from the UK national registry.

Methods

This is a retrospective study, including all patients under 1 year undergoing BAV/SAV between 2000 and 2012. A modulated renewal approach was used to examine the effect of reinterventions on outcomes.

Results

A total of 647 patients (488 BAV, 159 SAV, 292 neonates) undergoing 888 aortic valve procedures were included, with a median age of 40 days. Unadjusted survival at 10 years was 90.6% after initial BAV and 84.9% after initial SAV. Unadjusted aortic valve replacement (AVR) rate at 10 years was 78% after initial BAV and 80.3% after initial SAV. Initial BAV and SAV had comparable outcomes at 10 years when adjusted by covariates (p>0.4). AVR rates were higher after BAV and SAV reinterventions compared with initial valvoplasty without reinterventions (reference BAV, HR=3 and 3.8, respectively, p<0.001). Neonates accounted for 29/35 of early deaths after the initial procedure, without significant differences between BAV and SAV, with all late outcomes being worse compared with infants (p<0.005).

Conclusions

In a group of consecutive neonates and infants, BAV and SAV had comparable survival and freedom from reintervention as initial procedures and when performed as reinterventions. These findings support a treatment choice based on patient characteristics and centre expertise, and further research into the best patient profile for each choice.
Proximal pressure reducing effect of wave reflection in the pulmonary circulation disappear in obstructive disease: insight from a rabbit model
Authors: Vanden Eynden Frederic , El-Oumeiri Bachar , Bové Thierry , Van Nooten Guido , Segers Patrick
Published: February 2019

Locating the site of increased resistance within the vascular tree in pulmonary arterial hypertension could assist in both patient diagnosis and tailoring treatment. Wave intensity analysis (WIA) is a wave analysis method that may be capable of localizing the major site of reflection within a vascular system. We investigated the contribution of WIA to the analysis of the pulmonary circulation in a rabbit model with animals subjected to variable occlusive pulmonary disease. Animals were embolized with different sized microspheres for 6 wk ( n = 10) or underwent pulmonary artery (PA) ligation for 6 wk ( n = 3). These animals were compared with a control group ( n = 6) and acutely embolized animals ( n = 4). WIA was performed and compared with impedance-based methods to analyze wave reflections. The control group showed a relatively high extent of reflected waves (15.7 ± 10.6%); reflections had a net effect of pressure reduction during systole, suggesting an open-end reflector. The pattern of wave reflection was not different in the group with partial PA ligation (12.4 ± 4.1%). In the chronically embolized group, wave reflection was not observed (3.6 ± 1.5%). In the acute embolization group, wave reflection was more prominent (37.3 ± 12.6%), with the appearance of a novel wave increasing pressure, suggesting the appearance of a closed-end reflector. Wave reflections of an open-end type are present in the normal rabbit pulmonary circulation. However, the pattern and nature of reflections vary according to the extent of pulmonary vascular occlusion.

NEW & NOTEWORTHY The study proposes an original framework of a complementary analysis of wave reflections in the time domain and in the frequency domain. The methodology was used in the pulmonary circulation with different forms of chronic obstructions. The results suggest that the pulmonary vascular tree generates a reflection pattern that could actually assist the heart during ejection, and chronic obstruction significantly modifies the pattern.
Características clínico-epidemiológicas do câncer infantojuvenil no estado de Alagoas, Brasil
Authors: Júnior Claudio José dos Santos , Romão Cyndi Myrelle da Silva Barros , Alves Maria Jordana Rocha Gomes , Batinga Arthur Moacir Costa Sampaio , Gomes Vitória Mikaelly da Silva , Araújo Nathalia Silva , Marinho Roberta Fernandes , Leite Luiz Arthur Calheiros
Published: February 2019

Objetivo: Avaliar os aspectos clínico-epidemiológicos do câncer infantojuvenil em Alagoas. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, de caráter retrospectivo e quantitativo. As informações referentes aos diagnósticos de neoplasias infantojuvenis no Estado de Alagoas foram coletadas a partir de consulta aos prontuários dos centros de referência estaduais para tratamento de câncer na população de 0 a 19 anos. Resultados: Quanto ao perfil dos acometidos, a incidência maior foi em indivíduos do sexo masculino entre 5-9 anos, pardos, sem escolaridade, procedentes da 1ª região de saúde. As neoplasias mais frequentes foram: tumores hematológicos (leucemias e linfomas), tumores do sistema nervoso central, renais, ósseos, retinoblastoma e partes moles. A terapêutica mais empregada no tratamento dos casos foi a quimioterapia. Houve aumento na média de diagnósticos de casos novos de câncer infantojuvenil na população do estado de Alagoas. A letalidade do câncer infantojuvenil no período foi de 14,6%. Conclusão: O câncer infantojuvenil em Alagoas, em concordância com o cenário nacional e internacional, continua sendo uma doença relativamente rara e de baixa incidência. O aumento dos casos verificado para o Estado pode estar associado a diversos fatores, entre estes, a maior capacitação profissional para triagem de sinais e sintomas clínicos, com consequente encaminhamento as unidades especializadas para investigação e diagnóstico precoce.
Efeito da elastocompressão no edema de membros inferiores em profissionais da saúde após jornada vespertina de trabalho em centro cirúrgico
Authors: Silva Melissa Andreia de Moraes , Carvalho Brenda Mayra Fernandes de , Jesus-Silva Seleno Glauber de , Belczak Cleusa Ema Quilici , Cardoso Rodolfo Souza
Published: February 2019

Introdução: O edema de membros inferiores é um sinal precoce de insuficiência venosa crônica, já estando bem estabelecida a relação entre sua formação e atividades laborais extenuantes. Dessa forma, medidas que previnam e minimizem a sua formação devem ser adotadas, objetivando promoção à saúde do trabalhador e prevenção da IVC. O uso de meias elásticas durante o trabalho é uma medida simples e eficaz. Objetivos: Demonstrar os efeitos do uso de meias elásticas na redução do edema em membros inferiores formado durante atividade laboral em profissionais de saúde. Métodos: Foram analisadas 7 funcionárias técnicas de enfermagem do centro cirúrgico de um hospital quaternário, com idade entre 21 e 41 anos, com jornada de trabalho de 6 horas no período vespertino. As participantes foram questionadas sobre sintomas, além de terem tido mensurados os perímetros das regiões metatarsal, maleolar e de panturrilha e o volume dos membros inferiores, antes e após o trabalho, em duas etapas, uma sem o uso de meias de elastocompressão e outra com o uso das mesmas, através de volumetria por deslocamento de água. Resultados: Pode-se observar aumento no perímetro e volume dos membros inferiores, após trabalho sem uso de meias elásticas e redução dos mesmo com o uso da elastocompressão. Conclusão: A utilização de meias de elastocompressão, durante jornada de trabalho vespertino, promoveu redução no edema de membros inferiores além de melhora nos sintomas como dores, cansaço e sensação de peso nas pernas.