bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Game for health: How eHealth approaches might address the psychological needs of children and young people with long‐term physical conditions
Authors: Thabrew Hiran , Stasiak Karolina , Garcia‐Hoyos Vanessa , Merry Sally N
Published: August 2016

Aim

The aim of this study was to describe the psychological experiences of children and young people with long term physical conditions, their families and clinicians and to explore if these may be improved using eHealth interventions, including online information, support and e‐therapy.

Methods

Totally 11 children (7–12 years), 11 young people (13–18 years), 7 parents, 11 paediatricians and 10 general practitioners participated in a series of seven semi‐structured digitally recorded focus groups. A general inductive approach was used to analyse interview data.

Results

Feedback consisted of five main themes: (i) the experience of long‐term physical conditions as an anxiety‐provoking journey, (ii) limited access to information and eHealth‐related interventions to support this journey, (iii) desires for interventions that assist with multiple aspects of the illness experience, (iv) diversity of preferences regarding the format and vehicle of such interventions, (v) the importance of trust regarding the source of interventions for children, young people and families and the sustainability of new interventions for clinicians.

Conclusions

eHealth interventions are currently being used in a limited manner by children and young people with long‐term physical conditions and their families. Despite some concern expressed mainly by clinicians, there is overall support from all groups for the future development of eHealth interventions to address psychological issues for this audience, particularly anxiety. Relatable content, technological appeal and ease of access/referral to such interventions are likely to improve the uptake of these relatively new interventions.
Emission Taxes and Product Differentiation in the Presence of Foreign Firms
Authors: GAUTIER LUIS
Published: August 2016

Industries characterized by differentiated products are important contributors of greenhouse gases and currently subject to market‐based policies such as emission taxes. In the context of developing countries, fears about foreign investment leaving the country are often used as an argument not to address industry emissions through emission taxes. This paper develops a Cournot model with product differentiation in the presence of abatement efforts where host and foreign firms are subject to an emission tax. The analysis indicates that abatement efforts and differences in pollution intensity coefficients across firms may play a significant role in the characterization of optimal policy. The analysis also suggests that the government may opt to encourage foreign, less pollution‐intensive firms via higher taxation. Additionally, this paper examines how an optimal emission tax may be adjusted as products become more differentiated; industry emissions may fall/rise as a result of more differentiated products. One important contribution of this paper is that it emphasizes the role of abatement efforts, product differentiation, and differences in pollution intensity coefficients across firms in the characterization of the optimal emission tax.
Physicochemical, cooking, and textural characteristics of grains of different rice (Oryza sativa L.) cultivars of temperate region of India and their interrelationships
Authors: Bhat Farhan M. , Riar Charanjit S.
Published: August 2016

The aim of the study was to explore the physiochemical, cooking, and textural characteristics of 12 traditional rice cultivars grown in Kashmir (India) and develop their interrelationship. The results revealed a significant variation (p ≤ .05) among the different characteristics analyzed on the basis of characteristics evaluated for each cultivar. The novel attributes depicted by these cultivars as reflected includes their higher kernel elongation during cooking, lowest solids in gruel loss and lower adhesiveness together with desirable hardness which can fetches their increasing demand commercially besides having lacerative palatability. Pearson correlation and principal component analysis was carried out to elucidate the relationship among physicochemical, cooking, and textural characteristics as analyzed in the experimental study. The physicochemical characteristics such as gelatinization temperature, gel consistency, amylose, and amylopectin showed a significant correlation (positively or negatively) with the cooking and textural characteristics (water uptake ratio, kernel elongation during cooking, elongation ratio, solids in gruel loss, volume expansion ratio, optimum cooking time, hardness, and adhesiveness) with resulting in the selection of desired varieties having improved eating characteristics. The desirable characteristics depicted by these cultivars exploit the agriculturists/institutions to preserve these races and enhance the farmers to cultivate all these cherished rice cultivars.

Practical applications

There is increasing demand for rice varieties with excellent quality characteristics throughout the world. It has been observed that the traditional rice cultivars are of immense health benefits which lead to their increasing surge among consumers. Cooking and eating quality (mouth feel characteristics) of rice has a major role in determining its economic value and consumer acceptability. The cultivars explored in this study include traditional pigmented rice cultivars of temperate region of India. The aim was to promote the revival of old cultivars, and also to indicate their beneficial characteristics over hybrid varieties by studying their physiochemical, cooking, and textural characteristics and develop their interrelationship. With this research, the desirable properties of traditional rice cultivars could be exploited that had better characteristics than the hybrid varieties. This in turn led the various agencies to motivate the farmers to encourage their cultivation, provide an essential platform to scientists to inherit their valuable characteristics.
Pathophysiology, Clinical Importance, and Management of Neurogenic Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction Caused by Suprasacral Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Hu H.Z. , Granger N. , Jeffery N.D.
Published: August 2016

Management of persistent lower urinary tract dysfunction resulting from severe thoracolumbar spinal cord injury can be challenging. Severe suprasacral spinal cord injury releases the spinal cord segmental micturition reflex from supraspinal modulation and increases nerve growth factor concentration in the bladder wall, lumbosacral spinal cord, and dorsal root ganglion, which subsequently activates hypermechanosensitive C‐fiber bladder wall afferents. Hyperexcitability of bladder afferents and detrusor overactivity can cause urine leaking during the storage phase. During urine voiding, the loss of supraspinal control that normally coordinates detrusor contraction with sphincter relaxation can lead to spinal cord segmental reflex‐mediated simultaneous detrusor and sphincter contractions or detrusor‐sphincter dyssynergia, resulting in inefficient urine voiding and high residual volume. These disease‐associated changes can impact on the quality of life and life expectancy of spinal‐injured animals. Here, we discuss the pathophysiology and management considerations of lower urinary tract dysfunction as the result of severe, acute, suprasacral spinal cord injury. In addition, drawing from experimental, preclinical, and clinical medicine, we introduce some treatment options for neurogenic lower urinary tract dysfunction that are designed to: (1) prevent urine leakage arising because of detrusor overactivity during bladder filling, (2) preserve upper urinary tract integrity and function by reducing intravesical pressure and subsequent vesicoureteral reflux, and (3) prevent urinary tract and systemic complications by treating and preventing urinary tract infections.
QTL analysis of the photoperiodic response and clinal distribution of period alleles in Nasonia vitripennis
Authors: Paolucci Silvia , Salis Lucia , Vermeulen Cornelis J. , Beukeboom Leo W. , van de Zande Louis
Published: August 2016

In seasonal environments, organisms synchronize their life cycle with the annual cycle of environmental factors. In many insect species, this includes a diapause response: a timed dormant stage that allows to survive harsh winter conditions. Previously, we have shown that larval diapause in the parasitic wasp Nasonia vitripennis is induced by the mother upon exposure to a threshold number of short photoperiods (named switch point) and diapause response follows a latitudinal cline in natural populations. Here, we present a QTL analysis using two lines derived from the extremes of this clinal distribution: a northern line from Oulu, Finland and a southern line from Corsica, France. A genomic region on chromosome 1 and one on chromosome 5 were found to be associated with photoperiodic diapause induction. Interestingly, these regions contain the putative clock genes period, cycle (chromosome 1) and cryptochrome (chromosome 5). An analysis of period polymorphisms in seven European populations showed a clinal distribution of two main haplotypes that correlate with the latitudinal cline for diapause induction.
A role for copper in protozoan grazing – two billion years selecting for bacterial copper resistance
Authors: Hao Xiuli , Lüthje Freja , Rønn Regin , German Nadezhda A. , Li Xuanji , Huang Fuyi , Kisaka Javan , Huffman David , Alwathnani Hend A. , Zhu Yong‐Guan , Rensing Christopher
Published: August 2016

The Great Oxidation Event resulted in integration of soft metals in a wide range of biochemical processes including, in our opinion, killing of bacteria by protozoa. Compared to pressure from anthropologic copper contamination, little is known on impacts of protozoan predation on maintenance of copper resistance determinants in bacteria. To evaluate the role of copper and other soft metals in predatory mechanisms of protozoa, we examined survival of bacteria mutated in different transition metal efflux or uptake systems in the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. Our data demonstrated a strong correlation between the presence of copper/zinc efflux as well as iron/manganese uptake, and bacterial survival in amoebae. The growth of protozoa, in turn, was dependent on bacterial copper sensitivity. The phagocytosis of bacteria induced upregulation of Dictyostelium genes encoding the copper uptake transporter p80 and a triad of Cu(I)‐translocating PIB‐type ATPases. Accumulated Cu(I) in Dictyostelium was monitored using a copper biosensor bacterial strain. Altogether, our data demonstrate that Cu(I) is ultimately involved in protozoan predation of bacteria, supporting our hypothesis that protozoan grazing selected for the presence of copper resistance determinants for about two billion years.
Immunoprofile of the adenomatoid odontogenic tumor
Authors: Reichart PA , Philipsen HP , Khongkhunthian P , Sciubba JJ
Published: August 2016

This study was focused on the immunohistochemical profile of the adenomatoid odontogenic tumor. A Pub/Medline search revealed a number of immunohistochemical studies including cytokeratin profiles, extracellular matrix proteins, Integrins, ameloblast‐associated proteins resorption regulators (RANK, RANKL), p53, PCNA, MDM2 protein, cyclin D1, Ki‐67, Bcl‐2 metallothionein, metalloproteinases, D56 hepatocyte growth factor, c‐met, DNA methyltransferase, podoplanin, TGF‐βI, Smad‐2/3, Smad‐I‐5/‐8, Smad 4, beta‐ catenin, calretinin, and clonality. Careful interpretation of the findings indicates that the adenomatoid odontogenic tumor may be more of a hamartomatous than neoplastic nature.
Targeted promoter editing for rice resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae reveals differential activities for SWEET14‐inducing TAL effectors
Authors: Blanvillain‐Baufumé Servane , Reschke Maik , Solé Montserrat , Auguy Florence , Doucoure Hinda , Szurek Boris , Meynard Donaldo , Portefaix Murielle , Cunnac Sébastien , Guiderdoni Emmanuel , Boch Jens , Koebnik Ralf
Published: August 2016

As a key virulence strategy to cause bacterial leaf blight, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) injects into the plant cell DNA‐binding proteins called transcription activator‐like effectors (TALEs) that bind to effector‐binding elements (EBEs) in a sequence‐specific manner, resulting in host gene induction. TALEs AvrXa7, PthXo3, TalC and Tal5, found in geographically distant Xoo strains, all target OsSWEET14, thus considered as a pivotal TALE target acting as major susceptibility factor during rice–Xoo interactions. Here, we report the generation of an allele library of the OsSWEET14 promoter through stable expression of TALE‐nuclease (TALEN) constructs in rice. The susceptibility level of lines carrying mutations in AvrXa7, Tal5 or TalC EBEs was assessed. Plants edited in AvrXa7 or Tal5 EBEs were resistant to bacterial strains relying on the corresponding TALE. Surprisingly, although indels within TalC EBE prevented OsSWEET14 induction in response to BAI3 wild‐type bacteria relying on TalC, loss of TalC responsiveness failed to confer resistance to this strain. The TalC EBE mutant line was, however, resistant to a strain expressing an artificial SWEET14‐inducing TALE whose EBE was also edited in this line. This work offers the first set of alleles edited in TalC EBE and uncovers a distinct, broader range of activities for TalC compared to AvrXa7 or Tal5. We propose the existence of additional targets for TalC beyond SWEET14, suggesting that TALE‐mediated plant susceptibility may result from induction of several, genetically redundant, host susceptibility genes by a single effector.
Mapping quantitative trait loci associated with grain filling duration and grain number under terminal heat stress in bread wheat (Triticum aestivumL.)
Authors: Sharma Davinder , Singh Rajender , Rane Jagadish , Gupta Vijay Kumar , Mamrutha Harohalli Masthigowda , Tiwari Ratan
Published: August 2016

Terminal heat stress has the potential negative impact on wheat production across the world, especially in South Asia. Under the threat of terminal heat stress, wheat genotypes with stay green trait would suffer from high temperature stress during their long grain filling duration (GFD). The genotypes with shortGFDwould be advantageous. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) for heat tolerance, aRILpopulation of K 7903 (heat tolerant) andRAJ4014 (heat sensitive) wheat genotypes was investigated under timely and late‐sown conditions. Heat susceptibility index ofGFD, yield components and traits under late‐sown condition were used as phenotypic data forQTLidentification. StableQTLs associated with these traits were identified on chromosomes 1B, 2B, 3B, 5A and 6B. TheLODvalue ranged from 2.9 to 5.0 and the corresponding phenotyping variation explained ranged from 12.0–22%. QTL for heat susceptibility index for the grain filling duration were colocalized withQTLfor productive tillers under late sown and GFD under late‐sown condition on chromosomes 1B and 5A, respectively. These genomic regions could be exploited for molecular wheat breeding programmes targeting heat tolerance.
Complete inactivation of photosynthetic activity during desiccation and rapid recovery by rehydration in the aerial microalga Trentepohlia jolithus
Authors: Zhang L. , Li Y. , Liu J.
Published: August 2016

Aerial microalgae are more exposed to harsh and rapidly changing environmental conditions, including desiccation and radiation. Under high light, aerial algae in the desiccated state would be highly subject to photodamage. Therefore, aerial algae need effective protective mechanisms to dissipate excess excitation energy.

In this study, the changes in photosynthetic behaviors during desiccation and after rehydration in Trentepohlia jolithus were confirmed using chlorophyll a fluorescence (OJIP) transient, allowing determination of the photoprotection mechanisms of this aerial alga.

The filaments of T. jolithus cells at 25% relative air humidity (RH) are significantly shrunken compared with those at 100% and 87% RH, decreasing the surface area for light absorption. At 25% RH, the shape and intensity of the OJIP transient disappeared, but recovered rapidly to the level at 100% RH after 5 s of rehydration. Compared with 100% RH, the maximum quantum yield of PSII (φPo), phenomenological energy fluxes for absorption (ABS/CSm) and active PSII reaction centers (RCs) at 25% RH decreased significantly, the specific energy fluxes for absorption (ABS/RC) increased significantly, but the specific energy fluxes for trapping (TRo/RC) at 25% RH did not change. These parameters at 25% RH recovered rapidly to the level at 100% RH after 5 s of rehydration.

These results suggest that the efficiency of PSII light absorption and activities of PSII RCs were reversibly down‐regulated in desiccated T. jolithus, which may be a special adaptive mechanism for the survivability of aerial microalgae in habitats with rapidly changing water availability.
Donne's convalescence
Authors: Ann Lund Mary
Published: August 2016

This article argues that the period of Donne's convalescence immediately after his near‐fatal illness in late 1623 is crucial for an understanding of the text it spawned, his Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions (1624). A unique work of meditative writing composed in under a month, the Devotions centres on the author's ‘Steps in my Sicknes’ but does so through the quieter time of spiritual stock‐taking that succeeded it. The period of recovery from illness becomes an important part of Donne's treatment of human sinfulness and repentance. The article explores his conceptualization of and images for convalescence, first through one of his churching sermons, then through the Devotions itself, and finally through an undated Candlemas sermon which this article dates to February 1624, very shortly after Donne's illness. This second sermon demonstrates an intimate relationship with the Devotions and marks a more public response to illness and recovery within the context of St Paul's Cathedral.
A high accuracy surface modeling method based on GPU accelerated multi‐grid method
Authors: Yan Changqing , Liu Jimin , Zhao Gang , Chen Chuanfa , Yue Tianxiang
Published: August 2016

A high accuracy surface modeling method (HASM) has been developed to provide a solution to many surface modeling problems such as DEM construction, surface estimation and spatial prediction. Although HASM is able to model surfaces with a higher accuracy, its low computing speed limits its popularity in constructing large scale surfaces. Hence, the research described in this article aims to improve the computing efficiency of HASM with a graphic processor unit (GPU) accelerated multi‐grid method (HASM‐GMG). HASM‐GMG was tested with two types of surfaces: a Gauss synthetic surface and a real‐world example. Results indicate that HASM‐GMG can gain significant speedups compared with CPU‐based HASM without acceleration on GPU. Moreover, both the accuracy and speed of HASM‐GMG are superior to the classical interpolation methods including Kriging, Spline and IDW.
Highly localized and persistent induction of Bx1‐dependent herbivore resistance factors in maize
Authors: Maag Daniel , Köhler Angela , Robert Christelle A.M. , Frey Monika , Wolfender Jean‐Luc , Turlings Ted C.J. , Glauser Gaétan , Erb Matthias
Published: August 2016

The induced production of secondary metabolites in herbivore‐attacked plants varies in space and time. However, the consequences of these spatiotemporal patterns for herbivore performance are not well understood. This is particularly true for 1,4‐benzoxazin‐3‐ones (BXs), the major induced defensive metabolites of maize. Here we report on the spatiotemporal dynamics of BX induction and its consequences for the leaf feeder Spodoptera littoralis. Defence‐related phytohormones and transcript levels of BX biosynthetic genes were upregulated locally at the wound site within 12 h of herbivory. Within another 12 h, the insecticidal BX HDMBOA‐Glc started to accumulate in a highly localized manner at the feeding site. Changes in BX metabolism away from the feeding site within the same leaf were much weaker and were undetected in systemic leaves. Following the removal of the caterpillars, local HDMBOA‐Glc levels remained elevated for 7 days. Caterpillars that were forced to feed directly on locally induced leaf parts, but not on adjacent leaf parts, suffered from reduced growth. This effect was abolished in the BX‐deficient bx1 mutant. We did not find any evidence that BXs regulate defensive phytohormones or their own accumulation. In summary, this study shows that induced herbivore resistance in maize is highly localized and dependent on BXs.
Anticipating service withdrawal: young people in spaces of neoliberalisation, austerity and economic crisis
Authors: Horton John
Published: August 2016

This paper considers some key impacts of public sector neoliberalisation and austerity measures for everyday geographies of childhood and youth in England. The paper develops three claims, with reference to qualitative research conducted at a youth group in 2007, 2009 and 2013. First, I outline a range of ways in which long‐run processes of public sector neoliberalisation, and more abrupt cuts to public sector expenditure ‘in the current climate’ of austerity politics, have substantially transformed geographies of childhood and youth in many minority world contexts. However, I argue that extant research on these transformations has tended to reproduce some rather partial understandings of impacts of service withdrawal, which I critique via a reading of recent geographical work on anticipatory politics. Second, I evidence how political‐economic contexts of neoliberalisation and austerity have constituted a particular atmosphere and sense of the future, tangibly affecting everyday relationships, spaces and the efficacy of service provision at the case study youth group. In particular, I emphasise the significance of anticipated futures, noting that the anticipation of funding cuts is having manifold everyday, lived consequences that are arguably more wide‐ranging, intractable and troubling than the impacts of funding cuts themselves. Third, in particular, I argue that spaces of anticipated funding cuts and service withdrawal are frequently characterised by an intensification of anxieties about, and hopes for, young people's futures. I note that young people are diversely affected by, and engaged in, the circulation of these anxieties and hopes – but also recognise that young people's geographies go on, and sometimes offer hopeful ways on, ‘in the current climate’.
Better-ear glimpsing at low frequencies in normal-hearing and hearing-impaired listeners
Authors: Rana Baljeet , Buchholz Jörg M.
Published: August 2016

Better-ear glimpsing is an auditory process that takes advantage of short-term interaural level differences (ILDs) to improve the understanding of speech in spatial fluctuating noise. Since ILDs are mainly present at high frequencies, where most hearing-impaired (HI) listeners have the strongest hearing loss, HI individuals cannot fully utilize ILDs for better-ear glimpsing, which may lead to poorer understanding of speech in noise. This problem may be alleviated by hearing aids that artificially generate ILDs at low frequencies where hearing is typically less impaired. The present study therefore investigated the spatial benefit in speech intelligibility that is provided by better-ear glimpsing with low-frequency extended ILDs in a symmetric two-distractor speech background. Speech reception thresholds were measured in a spatially co-located and separated condition as a function of frequency region in ten normal-hearing (NH) and ten mild-to-moderate sensorineural HI subjects. In both groups the extended ILDs provided a substantial spatial advantage on top of the advantage already provided by natural ILDs. Moreover, the spatial advantage was largely independent of frequency region, suggesting that both NH and HI subjects can utilize low-frequency ILDs for improving speech understanding in noise. Overall performance as well as spatial advantage was reduced in the HI group.
Synthetic nacre by predesigned matrix-directed mineralization
Authors: Mao Li-Bo , Gao Huai-Ling , Yao Hong-Bin , Liu Lei , Cölfen Helmut , Liu Gang , Chen Si-Ming , Li Shi-Kuo , Yan You-Xian , Liu Yang-Yi , Yu Shu-Hong
Published: August 2016

Making nacre shine in the lab

Many of the materials that animals use to make shells and skeletons are built with brittle or soft molecules. They owe their amazing mechanical properties to their layered construction, which is a challenge for synthetic fabrication. Pearly nacre, for example, has proved challenging to make owing to its complex structure of aragonite crystals in an organic matrix. Using an assembly-and-mineralization approach, Mao
et al.
have managed to fabricate nacre in the laboratory (see the Perspective by Barthelat). First, a layered, three-dimensional chitosan matrix is made, within which aragonite nanocrystals are precipitated from a solution containing calcium bicarbonate.

Science
, this issue p.
107
; see also p.
32
Achieving global targets for antimicrobial resistance
Authors: Laxminarayan Ramanan , Sridhar Devi , Blaser Martin , Wang Minggui , Woolhouse Mark
Published: August 2016

The UN should promote targets, funding, and governance
H
2
S production by reactive oxygen species in the carotid body triggers hypertension in a rodent model of sleep apnea
Authors: Yuan Guoxiang , Peng Ying-Jie , Khan Shakil A. , Nanduri Jayasri , Singh Amritha , Vasavda Chirag , Semenza Gregg L. , Kumar Ganesh K. , Snyder Solomon H. , Prabhakar Nanduri R.
Published: August 2016

Suppressing hydrogen sulfide production in the carotid body may prevent the hypertension associated with sleep apnea.
The second messenger c-di-AMP inhibits the osmolyte uptake system OpuC in
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Schuster Christopher F. , Bellows Lauren E. , Tosi Tommaso , Campeotto Ivan , Corrigan Rebecca M. , Freemont Paul , Gründling Angelika
Published: August 2016

The second messenger c-di-AMP binds to and inhibits a component of a transporter that helps bacterial cells adapt to osmotic stress.
In Vitro
Activity of Isavuconazole against Rasamsonia Species
Authors: Steinmann J. , Dittmer S. , Houbraken J. , Buer J. , Rath P.-M.
Published: August 2016

The
in vitro
susceptibilities to the novel triazole isavuconazole and six other antifungal agents of a large collection of
Rasamsonia
isolates (
n
= 47) belonging to seven species were determined. Isavuconazole and voriconazole had no
in vitro
activity (MIC, >32 mg/liter) against isolates of the
Rasamsonia
argillacea
species complex. The echinocandins were the most potent antifungal drugs against all of the isolates tested (minimum effective concentration, ≤0.19 mg/liter).
Characterization of DprE1-Mediated Benzothiazinone Resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Foo Caroline Shi-Yan , Lechartier Benoit , Kolly Gaëlle S. , Boy-Röttger Stefanie , Neres João , Rybniker Jan , Lupien Andréanne , Sala Claudia , Piton Jérémie , Cole Stewart T.
Published: August 2016

Benzothiazinones (BTZs) are a class of compounds found to be extremely potent against both drug-susceptible and drug-resistant
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
strains. The potency of BTZs is explained by their specificity for their target decaprenylphosphoryl-
d
-ribose oxidase (DprE1), in particular by covalent binding of the activated form of the compound to the critical cysteine 387 residue of the enzyme. To probe the role of C387, we used promiscuous site-directed mutagenesis to introduce other codons at this position into
dprE1
of
M. tuberculosis
. The resultant viable BTZ-resistant mutants were characterized
in vitro
,
ex vivo
, and biochemically to gain insight into the effects of these mutations on DprE1 function and on
M. tuberculosis
. Five different mutations (C387G, C387A, C387S, C387N, and C387T) conferred various levels of resistance to BTZ and exhibited different phenotypes. The C387G and C387N mutations resulted in a lower growth rate of the mycobacterium on solid medium, which could be attributed to the significant decrease in the catalytic efficiency of the DprE1 enzyme. All five mutations rendered the mycobacterium less cytotoxic to macrophages. Finally, differences in the potencies of covalent and noncovalent DprE1 inhibitors in the presence of C387 mutations were revealed by enzymatic assays. As expected from the mechanism of action, the covalent inhibitor PBTZ169 only partially inhibited the mutant DprE1 enzymes compared to the near-complete inhibition with a noncovalent DprE1 inhibitor, Ty38c. This study emphasizes the importance of the C387 residue for DprE1 activity and for the killing action of covalent inhibitors such as BTZs and other recently identified nitroaromatic inhibitors.
Genomic Sequencing of
Orientia tsutsugamushi
Strain Karp, an Assembly Comparable to the Genome Size of the Strain Ikeda
Authors: Liao Hsiao-Mei , Chao Chien-Chung , Lei Haiyan , Li Bingjie , Tsai Shien , Hung Guo-Chiuan , Ching Wei-Mei , Lo Shyh-Ching
Published: August 2016

Orientia tsutsugamushi
, an intracellular bacterium, belongs to the family
Rickettsiaceae
. This study presents the draft genome sequence of strain Karp, with 2.0 Mb as the size of the completed genome. This nearly finished draft genome sequence was annotated with the RAST server and the contents compared to those of the other strains.
Genomic Sequence of a Ranavirus Isolated from Short-Finned Eel (
Anguilla australis
)
Authors: Subramaniam Kuttichantran , Toffan Anna , Cappellozza Elisabetta , Steckler Natalie K. , Olesen Niels J. , Ariel Ellen , Waltzek Thomas B.
Published: August 2016

The short-finned eel ranavirus (SERV) was isolated from short-finned eel imported to Italy from New Zealand. Phylogenomic analyses revealed that SERV is a unique member of the genus
Ranavirus
, family
Iridoviridae
, branching at the base of the tree near other fish ranaviruses.
Genome Sequence ofSpizellomyces punctatus
Authors: Russ Carsten , Lang B. Franz , Chen Zehua , Gujja Sharvari , Shea Terrance , Zeng Qiandong , Young Sarah , Cuomo Christina A. , Nusbaum Chad
Published: August 2016

Spizellomyces punctatusis a basally branching chytrid fungus that is found in theChytridiomycotaphylum.Spizellomycesspecies are common in soil and of importance in terrestrial ecosystems. Here, we report the genome sequence ofS. punctatus, which will facilitate the study of this group of early diverging fungi.
Draft Genome Sequences of Four Virulent
Aeromonas hydrophila
Strains from Catfish Aquaculture
Authors: Tekedar Hasan C. , Kumru Salih , Karsi Attila , Waldbieser Geoffrey C. , Sonstegard Tad , Schroeder Steven G. , Liles Mark R. , Griffin Matt J. , Lawrence Mark L.
Published: August 2016

Since 2009, a clonal group of virulent
Aeromonas hydrophila
strains has been causing severe disease in the catfish aquaculture industry in the southeastern United States. Here, we report draft genomes of four
A. hydrophila
isolates from catfish aquaculture that represent this clonal group.
Disseminated intravascular coagulation in paediatrics
Authors: Rajagopal Revathi , Thachil Jecko , Monagle Paul
Published: August 2016

Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in paediatrics is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Although there have been several recent advances in the pathophysiology of DIC, most of these studies were done in adults. Since the haemostatic system is very different in early life and changes dramatically with age, creating a variety of challenges for the clinician, delay in the diagnosis of DIC can happen until overt DIC is evident. In this review article, we report the aetiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic tests and a management algorithm to guide paediatricians when treating patients with DIC.
Primary cutaneous mucormycosis in an immunocompetent patient
Authors: Paduraru Mihai , Moreno-Sanz Carlos , Olalla Gallardo Jose Maria
Published: August 2016

Mucormycosis is most common in immunocompromised patients, but it can also occur in healthy hosts, most frequently as primary cutaneous mucormycosis (PCM) and predominantly as a result of skin trauma. We present an uncommon case of PCM in a healthy, young man with no previous history of local trauma. Despite rapid progression of the infection, the patient was successfully treated through surgical intervention and by administering liposomal amphotericin B and posaconazole. He made a full recovery without the need for skin grafting.
Partial Kluver-Bucy syndrome secondary to tubercular meningitis
Authors: Jha Kunal Kishor , Singh Satyajeet Kumar , Kumar Prem , Arora Charu Dutt
Published: August 2016

Tubercular meningitis (TBM) is a devastating extra pulmonary manifestation of tuberculosis and demonstrates a high neurological morbidity. A rare complication of this condition is Kluver-Bucy syndrome (KBS), which is a neurobehavioral disorder characterised by hyper-sexuality, visual agnosia, bulimia, placidity, hyperorality and memory deficits caused by lesions to the amygdala. The amygdala lesions can be due to many causes, including traumatic brain injury, systemic conditions and infections such as tuberculosis. Here, we present a case of partial KBS in a patient undergoing treatment for TBM.
Assessment of health utilities and quality of life in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Sayiner Mehmet , Stepanova Maria , Pham Huong , Noor Bashir , Walters Mercedes , Younossi Zobair M
Published: August 2016

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is one of the most common causes of chronic liver disease associated with increased liver-related mortality. Additionally, NAFLD could potentially impair health-related quality of life. Although an approved treatment for NAFLD does not exist, a number of new drugs for treatment of NAFLD are being developed. As the efficacy and safety of these regimens are being established, their cost-effectiveness, which requires the use of quality of life metrics and health utility scores to quality-adjusted outcomes, must also be assessed. The aim of this study was to report quality of life and health utilities in patients with NAFLD with and without cirrhosis for future use.

Methods

Patients with NAFLD were seen in an outpatient clinic setting. Each patient had extensive clinical data and completed the Short Form-36 (SF-36 V.1) questionnaire. The SF-6D health utility scores were calculated.

Results

There were 89 patients with the spectrum of NAFLD completed the SF-36 questionnaire: 59 with non-cirrhotic NAFLD and 30 with cirrhosis. Patients with NAFLD had significantly lower quality of life and health utility scores than the general population (all p<0.0001). Furthermore, patients with cirrhosis had lower quality of life and utility scores than non-cirrhotic NAFLD patients: SF-6D 0.660±0.107 in non-cirrhotic NAFLD vs 0.551±0.138 in cirrhotic NAFLD (p=0.0003).

Conclusions

Health utilities and quality of life scores are impaired in patients with cirrhotic NAFLD. These values should be used in cost-effectiveness analysis of the upcoming treatment regimens for advanced NAFLD.
Diabetes mellitus among HIV-infected individuals in follow-up care at University of Gondar Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia
Authors: Abebe Solomon Mekonnen , Getachew Assefa , Fasika Solomon , Bayisa Mulugeta , Girma Demisse Abayneh , Mesfin Nebiyu
Published: August 2016

Objective

To assess the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and associated factors among HIV-infected adults in northwest Ethiopia.

Design

Hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Setting

HIV clinic of the University of Gondar Hospital, Ethiopia.

Participants

All HIV-infected adults who visited the HIV clinic from December 2013 to the end of February 2014 were the source population.

Measures

A structured and pretested questionnaire incorporating the WHO STEPwise approach was used. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was applied to assess factors associated with DM.

Results

The overall prevalence of type 2 DM was 8% (95% CI 5.5% to 10.5%). The prevalence of DM was higher (13.2%; 95% CI 8.0% to 18.3%) among subjects receiving pre-antiretroviral treatment (pre-ART) than among those taking ART (5.1%; 95% CI 2.6% to 7.6%). Thirteen (35.1%) of the DM cases were newly identified during the study. Obesity (adjusted OR (AOR) 6.55; 1.20 to 35.8), hypertension (AOR 3.45; 1.50 to 7.90), being in the pre-ART group (AOR 4.47; 1.80 to 11.08), hypertriglyceridaemia (AOR 2.24; 1.02 to 49.5) and tertiary-level education (AOR 11.8; 2.28 to 61.4) were associated with DM.

Conclusions

Overall DM prevalence was high, particularly among subjects in the pre-ART group. More educated, hypertensive and obese HIV-infected adults were more likely to have DM as a comorbidity. Health policy and the clinical management of HIV-infected individuals should take into account the rising DM.
Intra-arterial versus intravenous abciximab therapy for thromboembolic complications of neuroendovascular procedures: case review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kansagra Akash P , McEachern James D , Madaelil Thomas P , Wallace Adam N , Cross DeWitte T , Moran Christopher J , Derdeyn Colin P
Published: August 2016

Background

Abciximab is used to treat thromboembolic complications of neuroendovascular procedures, but outcomes of treatment are not well defined.

Objective

To examine the angiographic and clinical outcomes based on route of abciximab administration and degree of vessel recanalization.

Materials and methods

A prospectively maintained database of neuroendovascular procedures performed between January 2004 and May 2015 was retrospectively reviewed to identify cases with thromboembolic complications treated with abciximab. In these cases, route of administration, degree of vessel recanalization, and presence or absence of infarction were determined. A meta-analysis of similar cases in the literature was also performed.

Results

Abciximab was administered in 0.24% (47 of 19 566) of procedures to treat thromboemboli in 59 vessels. Angiographic improvement was seen in 94% after IA therapy and 79% after IV therapy (p=0.133). In our meta-analysis of 391 treated patients, angiographic improvement was greater after IA (91.7%) than IV (77.4%) treatment (p<0.001). Postprocedural infarction occurred more frequently with distal lesions (42%) than local lesions (12%) (p=0.014), and occlusive lesions (36%) than non-occlusive lesions (4.8%) (p=0.010). Infarction was significantly less common with complete angiographic resolution (0%) than with partial or no improvement (54%) (p<0.001). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 2.1%.

Conclusions

Abciximab produces a high rate of angiographic improvement and a low incidence of postprocedural infarct in neuroendovascular procedures complicated by thromboemboli. IA abciximab produces greater angiographic improvement than IV treatment. Postprocedural infarction is less common in patients with complete angiographic response than in those with partial or no response.
The association between carotid intraplaque hemorrhage and outcomes of carotid stenting: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Brinjikji Waleed , Lehman Vance T , Huston John , Murad M Hassan , Lanzino Giuseppe , Cloft Harry J , Kallmes David F
Published: August 2016

Background and purpose

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine whether carotid stenting patients with intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) identified on preoperative MRI were more likely to suffer perioperative ischemic complications compared with patients without IPH.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive literature search of studies published between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2015 reporting perioperative outcomes of carotid stenting among patients with and without IPH on hemorrhage sensitive carotid MRI sequences. Clinical outcomes included perioperative (≤30 days post-stenting) minor stroke, major stroke, death, and a composite outcome combining stroke, death, and myocardial infarction (MI). We also compared the rate of silent ischemia on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) between groups. Statistical analysis was performed using a random effects meta-analysis.

Results

9 studies with 491 unique patients (198 in the IPH group and 293 in the non-IPH group) were included. The rate of the composite outcome of any stroke, death, or MI within 30 days was 8.1% (13/160) in the IPH group and 2.1% (5/239) in the non-IPH group (OR=4.45, 95% CI 1.61 to 12.30, p<0.01). There were no significant differences between groups in the rates of minor stroke, major stroke, or death when considered individually. The rate of postoperative infarct on DWI was 49.7% (75/161) for the IPH group and 33.6% (81/241) for the non-IPH group (OR=2.01, 95% CI 1.31 to 3.09, p<0.01).

Conclusions

Our systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated that patients with IPH on pre-carotid stenting MRI had higher rates of silent ischemia as well as of a composite outcome of perioperative stroke, death, and MI compared with those without IPH.
Equal work for unequal pay: the gender reimbursement gap for healthcare providers in the United States
Authors: Desai Tejas , Ali Sadeem , Fang Xiangming , Thompson Wanda , Jawa Pankaj , Vachharajani Tushar
Published: August 2016

Introduction

Gender disparities in income continue to exist, and many studies have quantified the gap between male and female workers. These studies paint an incomplete picture of gender income disparity because of their reliance on notoriously inaccurate or incomplete surveys. We quantified gender reimbursement disparity between female and male healthcare providers using objective, non-self-reported data and attempted to adjust the disparity against commonly held beliefs as to why it exists.

Methods

We analysed over three million publicly available Medicare reimbursement claims for calendar year 2012 and compared the reimbursements received by male and female healthcare providers in 13 medical specialties. We adjusted these reimbursement totals against how hard providers worked, how productive each provider was, and their level of experience. We calculated a reimbursement differential between male and female providers by primary medical specialty.

Results

The overall adjusted reimbursement differential against female providers was −US$18 677.23 (95% CI −US$19 301.94 to −US$18 052.53). All 13 specialties displayed a negative reimbursement differential against female providers. Only two specialties had reimbursement differentials that were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

After adjustment for how hard a physician works, his/her years of experience and his/her productivity, female healthcare providers are still reimbursed less than male providers. Using objective, non-survey data will provide a more accurate understanding of this reimbursement inequity and perhaps lead the medical profession (as a whole) towards a solution that can reverse this decades-old injustice.
Integrated framework for characterization of spatial variability of geological profiles
Authors: Liu W.F. , Leung Y.F. , Lo M.K.
Published: August 2016

Despite recent efforts to characterize the uncertainties involved with geological profiles and soil and rock properties, there has been limited study on their spatial correlations and how such features may be included in the engineering decision-making process. This paper presents an integrated framework for geostatisical analyses, which incorporates the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) method with the Matérn autocovariance model. Statistical tests are conducted including those for data normality, constant variance, and outliers, which ensure the fundamental assumptions of REML are not violated in the residual analyses of site data, meanwhile offering simple checks for potential errors in the dataset. The proposed approach also allows quantification of uncertainties in the subsurface profiles at the unsampled locations. The approach is illustrated through investigations on spatial correlation features of geological profiles at two project sites in Hong Kong. The number of irregularly spaced boreholes varies from 150 to 350 in the two cases, and the large volume of data enables the variations in rockhead levels to be studied through the proposed framework. In addition, the existence of geological faults in one of the sites is found to significantly affect the spatial variability of the rockhead level, as indicated by the reduced scales of fluctuation and spatial dependence, which corresponds to increased uncertainty in areas intersected by faults.
Depositional timing of Neoarchean turbidites of the Slave craton—recommended nomenclature and type localities
Authors: Haugaard Rasmus , Ootes Luke , Heaman Larry M. , Hamilton Michael A. , Shaulis Barry J. , Konhauser Kurt
Published: August 2016

Two temporally distinct Neoarchean turbidite packages are known to occur in the Slave craton. The older is a greywacke–mudstone succession that includes the renowned Burwash Formation (ca. 2661 Ma). In this study, a previously undated tuff bed is demonstrated to have crystallized at ca. 2650.5 ± 1.0 Ma refining the deposition age of these turbidites between ca. 2661 and 2650 Ma. The younger turbidites are locally distinctive as they contain interstratified banded iron formation (BIF). Previous work demonstrated that the younger turbidites were deposited between ca. 2640 and 2615 Ma, based entirely on maximum depositional ages from detrital zircons. A ∼3 cm thick felsic to intermediate tuff bed was discovered interbedded with these BIF-bearing turbidites. The tuff bed contains a single age population of zircon with a crystallization age of 2620 ± 6 Ma defining the depositional timing of these BIF-bearing turbidites. New U–Pb detrital zircon dates from extensive turbidite sequences in the eastern and central part of the Slave craton are also presented. We use the new and previously published results to recommend nomenclature for these extensive sedimentary rocks in the Slave craton. The ca. 2661–2650 Ma turbidites remain part of the previously ascribed Duncan Lake Group. The younger ca. 2620 Ma turbidites are assigned to the new Slemon Group. Where robust age-data exist, we recommend formation names and include type localities for each.
Nonrelativistic Shannon information entropy for Killingbeck potential
Authors: Najafizade Seyede Amene , Hassanabadi Hassan , Zarrinkamar Saber
Published: August 2016

The Shannon entropy of a nonrelativistic quantum system is investigated with the Killingbeck potential, which includes Coulomb, linear, and harmonic terms. The position and momentum information entropies for the low-lying states n = 0, 1 are calculated. Some interesting features of the information entropy densities as well as the probability densities are demonstrated. The Bialynicki-Birula–Mycielski inequality is checked regarding the results.
Exact lattice supersymmetry at the quantum level for N = 2 Wess–Zumino models in 1- and 2-dimensions
Authors: Asaka Keisuke , D’Adda Alessandro , Kawamoto Noboru , Kondo Yoshi
Published: August 2016

Supersymmetric lattice Ward–Takahashi identities are investigated perturbatively up to two-loop corrections for super doubler approach of [Formula: see text] lattice Wess–Zumino models in 1- and 2-dimensions. In this approach, notorious chiral fermion doublers are treated as physical particles and momentum conservation is modified in such a way that lattice Leibniz rule is satisfied. The two major difficulties to keep exact lattice supersymmetry are overcome. This formulation defines, however, nonlocal field theory. Nevertheless we confirm that exact supersymmetry on the lattice is realized for all supercharges at the quantum level. Delicate issues of associativity are also discussed.