bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Estimating the risk of dengue transmission from Dutch blood donors travelling to Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean
Authors: Oei W. , Lieshout‐Krikke R. W. , Kretzschmar M. E. , Zaaijer H. L. , Coutinho R. A. , Eersel M. , Jubithana B. , Halabi Y. , Gerstenbluth I. , Maduro E. , Tromp M. , Janssen M. P
Published: January 2016

Background

The risk of dengue transmitted by travellers is known. Methods to estimate the transmission by transfusion (TT) risk from blood donors travelling to risk areas are available, for instance, the European Up‐Front Risk Assessment Tool (EUFRAT). This study aimed to validate the estimated risk from travelling donors obtained from EUFRAT.

Methods

Surveillance data on notified dengue cases in Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean islands (Aruba, Curaçao, St. Maarten, Bonaire, St. Eustatius and Saba) in 2001–2011 was used to calculate local incidence rates. Information on travel and donation behaviour of Dutch donors was collected. With the EUFRAT model, the TT risks from Dutch travelling donors were calculated. Model estimates were compared with the number of infections in Dutch travellers found by laboratory tests in the Netherlands.

Results

The expected cumulative number of donors becoming infected during travels to Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean from 2001 to 2011 was estimated at 5 (95% CI, 2–11) and 86 (45–179), respectively. The infection risk inferred from the laboratory‐based study was 19 (9–61) and 28 (14–92). Given the independence of the data sources, these estimates are remarkably close. The model estimated that 0·02 (0·001–0·06) and 0·40 (0·01–1·4) recipients would have been infected by these travelling donors.

Conclusions

The EUFRAT model provided an estimate close to actual observed number of dengue infections. The dengue TT risk among Dutch travelling donors can be estimated using basic transmission, travel and donation information. The TT risk from Dutch donors travelling to Suriname and the Dutch Caribbean is small.
Pathogen‐reduced Ebola virus convalescent plasma: first steps towards standardization of manufacturing and quality control including assessment of Ebola‐specific neutralizing antibodies
Authors: Geisen C. , Kann G. , Strecker T. , Wolf T. , Schüttfort G. , van Kraaij M. , MacLennan S. , Rummler S. , Weinigel C. , Eickmann M. , Fehling S. K. , Krähling V. , Seidl C. , Seifried E. , Schmidt M. , Schäfer R.
Published: January 2016

Background

Ebola virus disease is a public health emergency of international concern, and enormous efforts are being made in the development of vaccines and therapies. Ebola virus convalescent plasma is a promising anti‐infective treatment of Ebola virus disease. Therefore, we developed and implemented a pathogen‐reduced Ebola virus convalescent plasma concept in accordance with national, European and global regulatory framework.

Materials and Methods

Ebola virus convalescent plasma manufacture and distribution was managed by a collection centre, two medical centres and an expert group from the European Blood Alliance. Ebola virus convalescent plasma was collected twice with an interval of 61 days from a donor recovering from Ebola virus disease in Germany. After pathogen reduction, the plasma was analysed for Ebola virus‐specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies and its Ebola virus neutralizing activity.

Results

Convalescent plasma could be collected without adverse events. Anti‐Ebola virus IgG titres and Ebola‐specific neutralizing antibodies in convalescent plasma were only slightly reduced after pathogen reduction treatment with S59 amotosalen/UVA. A patient in Italy with Ebola virus disease was treated with convalescent plasma without apparent adverse effects.

Discussion

As proof of principle, we describe a concept and practical implementation of pathogen‐reduced Ebola virus convalescent plasma manufacture, quality control and its clinical application to an Ebola virus disease patient.
The Effects of Interlocking a Universal Hip Cementless Stem on Implant Subsidence and Mechanical Properties of Cadaveric Canine Femora
Authors: Buks Yonathan , Wendelburg Kirk L. , Stover Susan M. , Garcia‐Nolen Tanya C.
Published: January 2016

Objective

To determine if an interlocking bolt would limit subsidence of the biological fixation universal hip (BFX®) femoral stem under cyclic loading and enhance construct stiffness, yield, and failure properties.

Study Design

Ex vivo biomechanical study.

Animals

Cadaveric canine femora (10 pairs).

Methods

Paired femora implanted with a traditional stem or an interlocking stem (constructs) were cyclically loaded at walk, trot, and gallop loads while implant and bone motions were captured using kinematic markers and high‐speed video. Constructs were then loaded to failure to evaluate failure mechanical properties.

Results

Implant subsidence was greater (P = .037) for the traditional implant (4.19 mm) than the interlocking implant (0.78 mm) only after gallop cyclic loading, and cumulatively after walk, trot, and gallop cyclic loads (5.20 mm vs. 1.28 mm,P = .038). Yield and failure loads were greater (P = .029 and .002, respectively) for the interlocking stem construct (1155 N and 2337 N) than the traditional stem construct (816 N and 1405 N). Version angle change after cyclic loading was greater (P = .020) for the traditional implant (3.89 degrees) than for the interlocking implant (0.16 degrees), whereas stem varus displacement at failure was greater (P = .008) for the interlocking implant (1.5 degrees) than the traditional implant (0.17 degrees).

Conclusion

Addition of a stabilizing bolt enhanced construct stability and limited subsidence of a BFX®femoral stem. Use of the interlocking implant may decrease postoperative subsidence. However, in vivo effects of the interlocking bolt on osseointegration, bone remodeling, and stress shielding are unknown.
Long Term Functional Outcome of Tibial Tuberosity Advancement vs. Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy and Extracapsular Repair in a Heterogeneous Population of Dogs
Authors: Krotscheck Ursula , Nelson Samantha A. , Todhunter Rory J. , Stone Marisa , Zhang Zhiwu
Published: January 2016

Objective

To determine a long term function of tibial tuberosity advancement (TTA) for treatment of ruptured cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) in dogs, and to compare this to the long term function of previously reported tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO), extracapsular reconstruction (ECR), and a population of normal dogs.

Study Design

Prospective clinical trial.

Animals

Dogs with unilateral ruptured CCL treated with TTA (n = 14), TPLO (n = 15), and ECR (n = 23), and normal adult dogs (control, n = 80).

Materials and Methods

Force plate gait analysis was performed at 1 time point for the normal control group and preoperatively, and at 2 and 8 weeks and 6 and 12 months postoperatively for the treatment groups. Using serial force plates, symmetry indices (SI) were calculated between the operated and unoperated pelvic limbs for peak vertical force (PVF), contact time (CT), and vertical impulse (VI). Ground reaction forces (GRF) of the treatment and control group were compared using a general linear model.

Results

Walk SI for dogs with TTA were not significantly different from the control group at 12 months postoperatively. At the trot, neither TTA nor ECR achieved normal GRF. SI of the TPLO group were not different from the normal control group by 6–12 months postoperatively.

Conclusion

At the walk, TTA achieves normal function by 12 months; however, at the trot TTA is indistinguishable from ECR. TPLO resulted in operated limb function that was similar to the control population by 6–12 months postoperatively at the walk and the trot.
Fatigue Life Prediction for Overlap Friction Stir Linear Welds of Magnesium Alloys
Authors: Wang Ruijie , Kang Hong-Tae , (Cindy) Jiang Chonghua
Published: January 2016

This work was undertaken to analyze the stress/strain state at the critical sites in friction stir welded specimens and, further, to assess the fatigue strength of friction stir welded specimens with conventional fatigue life prediction approaches. Elastoplastic and elastic finite-element stress/strain analyses were carried out for friction-stir-linear-welded (FSLW) specimens made of magnesium alloys. The calculated stress/strain at the periphery of the weld nugget was used to evaluate the fatigue life with local life prediction approaches. First, elastoplastic finite-element models were built according to experimental specimen profiles. Fatigue life prediction was conducted with Morrow's modified Manson–Coffin (MC) damage equation and the Smith–Watson–Topper (SWT) damage equation, respectively, for different specimens under different loading cases. Life prediction results showed that both equations can to some extent give reasonable results, especially within a low-cycle fatigue life regime, with the SWT damage equation giving more conservative results. As for high-cycle life, predicted results were much longer and scattered for both methods. Shell element elastic models were then used to calculate the structural stress at the periphery of the weld nuggets. The correlation between structural stress amplitude and experimental life showed the appropriateness of the structural stress fatigue evaluation for friction stir welds. The effect of the notches at the periphery of the faying surface on life prediction was further discussed.
Experimental Study and Prediction Model of Casing Wear in Oil and Gas Wells
Authors: Lian Zhanghua , Zhang Qiang , Lin Tiejun , Li Kuncheng , Liu Yonghui
Published: January 2016

With the development of drilling technology and reinforced exploration and exploitation of unconventional reservoirs, there has been a great increase of complex wells. Meanwhile, however, consequent casing wear is and will continue to be a serious problem that causes enormous economic losses and many safety issues. The purpose of this paper is to find out the mechanism of casing wear and establish casing wear prediction model. Casing wear experiment was carried out to study the effect of contact force, rotation speed, and casing grade on wear depth. Meanwhile, wear coefficients under different working conditions were obtained through the normalizing of data. With the extensive research of downhole drag and torque calculation method, a contact force calculation model was established. Through the combination of crescent-shaped model and wear-efficiency model, the past complicated casing wear prediction models and confusing empirical formulae were greatly simplified. Therefore, the wear volume and depth of the casing string can be accurately predicted. Finally, a prediction software was developed to predict downhole casing wear of oil and gas wells. Comparison with the field data confirmed that the established model and software had enough accuracy to help predict and analyze casing wear at field.
Stoichiometry and thickness dependence of superconducting properties of niobium nitride thin films
Authors: Beebe Melissa R. , Beringer Douglas B. , Burton Matthew C. , Yang Kaida , Lukaszew R. Alejandra
Published: January 2016

The current technology used in linear particle accelerators is based on superconducting radio frequency (SRF) cavities fabricated from bulk niobium (Nb), which have smaller surface resistance and therefore dissipate less energy than traditional nonsuperconducting copper cavities. Using bulk Nb for the cavities has several advantages, which are discussed elsewhere; however, such SRF cavities have a material-dependent accelerating gradient limit. In order to overcome this fundamental limit, a multilayered coating has been proposed using layers of insulating and superconducting material applied to the interior surface of the cavity. The key to this multilayered model is to use superconducting thin films to exploit the potential field enhancement when these films are thinner than their London penetration depth. Such field enhancement has been demonstrated in MgB2 thin films; here, the authors consider films of another type-II superconductor, niobium nitride (NbN). The authors present their work correlating stoichiometry and superconducting properties in NbN thin films and discuss the thickness dependence of their superconducting properties, which is important for their potential use in the proposed multilayer structure. While there are some previous studies on the relationship between stoichiometry and critical temperature TC, the authors are the first to report on the correlation between stoichiometry and the lower critical field HC1.
Classification of arterial and venous cerebral vasculature based on wavelet postprocessing of CT perfusion data
Authors: Havla Lukas , Schneider Moritz J. , Thierfelder Kolja M. , Beyer Sebastian E. , Ertl‐Wagner Birgit , Reiser Maximilian F. , Sommer Wieland H. , Dietrich Olaf
Published: January 2016

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to propose and evaluate a new wavelet‐based technique for classification of arterial and venous vessels using time‐resolved cerebral CT perfusion data sets.

Methods:

Fourteen consecutive patients (mean age 73 yr, range 17–97) with suspected stroke but no pathology in follow‐up MRI were included. A CT perfusion scan with 32 dynamic phases was performed during intravenous bolus contrast‐agent application. After rigid‐body motion correction, a Paul wavelet (order 1) was used to calculate voxelwise the wavelet power spectrum (WPS) of each attenuation‐time course. The angiographic intensity A was defined as the maximum of the WPS, located at the coordinates T (time axis) and W (scale/width axis) within the WPS. Using these three parameters (A, T, W) separately as well as combined by (1) Fisher's linear discriminant analysis (FLDA), (2) logistic regression (LogR) analysis, or (3) support vector machine (SVM) analysis, their potential to classify 18 different arterial and venous vessel segments per subject was evaluated.

Results:

The best vessel classification was obtained using all three parameters A and T and W [area under the curve (AUC): 0.953 with FLDA and 0.957 with LogR or SVM]. In direct comparison, the wavelet‐derived parameters provided performance at least equal to conventional attenuation‐time‐course parameters. The maximum AUC obtained from the proposed wavelet parameters was slightly (although not statistically significantly) higher than the maximum AUC (0.945) obtained from the conventional parameters.

Conclusions:

A new method to classify arterial and venous cerebral vessels with high statistical accuracy was introduced based on the time‐domain wavelet transform of dynamic CT perfusion data in combination with linear or nonlinear multidimensional classification techniques.
Monte Carlo simulations of 3He ion physical characteristics in a water phantom and evaluation of radiobiological effectiveness
Authors: Taleei Reza , Guan Fada , Peeler Chris , Bronk Lawrence , Patel Darshana , Mirkovic Dragan , Grosshans David R. , Mohan Radhe , Titt Uwe
Published: January 2016

Purpose:

3He ions may hold great potential for clinical therapy because of both their physical and biological properties. In this study, the authors investigated the physical properties, i.e., the depth‐dose curves from primary and secondary particles, and the energy distributions of helium (3He) ions. A relative biological effectiveness (RBE) model was applied to assess the biological effectiveness on survival of multiple cell lines.

Methods:

In light of the lack of experimental measurements and cross sections, the authors used Monte Carlo methods to study the energy deposition of 3He ions. The transport of 3He ions in water was simulated by using three Monte Carlo codes—fluka, geant4, and mcnpx—for incident beams with Gaussian energy distributions with average energies of 527 and 699 MeV and a full width at half maximum of 3.3 MeV in both cases. The RBE of each was evaluated by using the repair‐misrepair‐fixation model. In all of the simulations with each of the three Monte Carlo codes, the same geometry and primary beam parameters were used.

Results:

Energy deposition as a function of depth and energy spectra with high resolution was calculated on the central axis of the beam. Secondary proton dose from the primary 3He beams was predicted quite differently by the three Monte Carlo systems. The predictions differed by as much as a factor of 2. Microdosimetric parameters such as dose mean lineal energy (yD), frequency mean lineal energy (yF), and frequency mean specific energy (zF) were used to characterize the radiation beam quality at four depths of the Bragg curve. Calculated RBE values were close to 1 at the entrance, reached on average 1.8 and 1.6 for prostate and head and neck cancer cell lines at the Bragg peak for both energies, but showed some variations between the different Monte Carlo codes.

Conclusions:

Although the Monte Carlo codes provided different results in energy deposition and especially in secondary particle production (most of the differences between the three codes were observed close to the Bragg peak, where the energy spectrum broadens), the results in terms of RBE were generally similar.
Mandarin speech-in-noise and tone recognition using vocoder simulations of the temporal limits encoder for cochlear implants
Authors: Meng Qinglin , Zheng Nengheng , Li Xia
Published: January 2016

Temporal envelope-based signal processing strategies are widely used in cochlear-implant (CI) systems. It is well recognized that the inability to convey temporal fine structure (TFS) in the stimuli limits CI users' performance, but it is still unclear how to effectively deliver the TFS. A strategy known as the temporal limits encoder (TLE), which employs an approach to derive the amplitude modulator to generate the stimuli coded in an interleaved-sampling strategy, has recently been proposed. The TLE modulator contains information related to the original temporal envelope and a slow-varying TFS from the band signal. In this paper, theoretical analyses are presented to demonstrate the superiority of TLE compared with two existing strategies, the clinically available continuous-interleaved-sampling (CIS) strategy and the experimental harmonic-single-sideband-encoder strategy. Perceptual experiments with vocoder simulations in normal-hearing listeners are conducted to compare the performance of TLE and CIS on two tasks (i.e., Mandarin speech reception in babble noise and tone recognition in quiet). The performance of the TLE modulator is mostly better than (for most tone-band vocoders) or comparable to (for noise-band vocoders) the CIS modulator on both tasks. This work implies that there is some potential for improving the representation of TFS with CIs by using a TLE strategy.
Vocal imitations of basic auditory features
Authors: Lemaitre Guillaume , Jabbari Ali , Misdariis Nicolas , Houix Olivier , Susini Patrick
Published: January 2016

Describing complex sounds with words is a difficult task. In fact, previous studies have shown that vocal imitations of sounds are more effective than verbal descriptions [Lemaitre and Rocchesso (2014). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 135, 862–873]. The current study investigated how vocal imitations of sounds enable their recognition by studying how two expert and two lay participants reproduced four basic auditory features: pitch, tempo, sharpness, and onset. It used 4 sets of 16 referent sounds (modulated narrowband noises and pure tones), based on 1 feature or crossing 2 of the 4 features. Dissimilarity rating experiments and multidimensional scaling analyses confirmed that listeners could accurately perceive the four features composing the four sets of referent sounds. The four participants recorded vocal imitations of the four sets of sounds. Analyses identified three strategies: (1) Vocal imitations of pitch and tempo reproduced faithfully the absolute value of the feature; (2) Vocal imitations of sharpness transposed the feature into the participants' registers; (3) Vocal imitations of onsets categorized the continuum of onset values into two discrete morphological profiles. Overall, these results highlight that vocal imitations do not simply mimic the referent sounds, but seek to emphasize the characteristic features of the referent sounds within the constraints of human vocal production.
Automated sample preparation
Authors: May Mike
Published: January 2016

Devices to prepare cells, nucleic acids, proteins, and other samples for analysis are becoming increasingly sophisticated, running faster and more accurately than ever before. In addition, their ease of use is making it possible to quickly train almost anyone to run automated sample preparation.

Read the Feature (Full-Text HTML)

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Electrical switching of an antiferromagnet
Authors: Wadley P. , Howells B. , Železný J. , Andrews C. , Hills V. , Campion R. P. , Novák V. , Olejník K. , Maccherozzi F. , Dhesi S. S. , Martin S. Y. , Wagner T. , Wunderlich J. , Freimuth F. , Mokrousov Y. , Kuneš J. , Chauhan J. S. , Grzybowski M. J. , Rushforth A. W. , Edmonds K. W. , Gallagher B. L. , Jungwirth T.
Published: January 2016

Manipulating a stubborn magnet

Spintronics is an alternative to conventional electronics, based on using the electron's spin rather than its charge. Spintronic devices, such as magnetic memory, have traditionally used ferromagnetic materials to encode the 1's and 0's of the binary code. A weakness of this approach—that strong magnetic fields can erase the encoded information—could be avoided by using antiferromagnets instead of ferromagnets. But manipulating the magnetic ordering of antiferromagnets is tricky. Now, Wadley
et al.
have found a way (see the Perspective by Marrows). Running currents along specific directions in the thin films of the antiferromagnetic compound CuMnAs reoriented the magnetic domains in the material.

Science
, this issue p.
587
; see also p.
558
Response to Comment on “Broken translational and rotational symmetry via charge stripe order in underdoped YBa
2
Cu
3
O
6+y
”
Authors: Comin R. , Sutarto R. , Neto E. H. da Silva , Chauviere L. , Liang R. , Hardy W. N. , Bonn D. A. , He F. , Sawatzky G. A. , Damascelli A.
Published: January 2016

Fine questions our interpretation of unidirectional stripes over a bidirectional checkerboard and illustrates his criticism by simulating a momentum space structure consistent with our data and corresponding to a checkerboard-looking real space density. Here, we use a local rotational-symmetry analysis to demonstrate that the simulated image is actually composed of locally unidirectional modulations of the charge density, consistent with our original conclusions.
A peptide encoded by a transcript annotated as long noncoding RNA enhances SERCA activity in muscle
Authors: Nelson Benjamin R. , Makarewich Catherine A. , Anderson Douglas M. , Winders Benjamin R. , Troupes Constantine D. , Wu Fenfen , Reese Austin L. , McAnally John R. , Chen Xiongwen , Kavalali Ege T. , Cannon Stephen C. , Houser Steven R. , Bassel-Duby Rhonda , Olson Eric N.
Published: January 2016

Another micropeptide flexes its muscle

Genome annotation is a complex but imperfect art. Attesting to its limitations is the growing evidence that certain transcripts annotated as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in fact code for small peptides with biologically important functions. One such lncRNA-derived micropeptide in mammals is myoregulin, which reduces muscle performance by inhibiting the activity of a key calcium pump. Nelson
et al.
describe the opposite activity in a second lncRNA-derived micropeptide in mammalian muscle, called DWORF (see the Perspective by Payre and Desplan). This peptide enhances muscle performance by activating the same calcium pump. DWORF may prove to be useful in improving the cardiac muscle function of mammals with heart disease.

Science
, this issue p.
271
; see also p.
226
Strain-release amination
Authors: Gianatassio Ryan , Lopchuk Justin M. , Wang Jie , Pan Chung-Mao , Malins Lara R. , Prieto Liher , Brandt Thomas A. , Collins Michael R. , Gallego Gary M. , Sach Neal W. , Spangler Jillian E. , Zhu Huichin , Zhu Jinjiang , Baran Phil S.
Published: January 2016

Opening one ring to tack on another

Curious chemists have long sought to learn just how tightly carbon atoms can be bound together. For instance, it's possible to form a bond between two opposite corners of an already strained four-membered ring to make an edge-sharing pair of triangles. Gianatassio
et al.
have now devised a general use for these and related molecular curiosities. They show that appropriately modified nitrogen centers can pop open the most highly strained bond, leaving the more modestly strained ring motif intact. In this way, small rings can emerge as a convenient diversifying element in compounds, including new pharmaceutical candidates.

Science
, this issue p.
241
Evening the odds
Orphan The Quest to Save Children with Rare Genetic Disorders
Philip R. Reilly
CSH Press, 2015. 420 pp.
Authors: Yang Nora
Published: January 2016

Researchers tweak the genetic lottery for children with rare diseases
Unleashing the beast within
Why We Snap Understanding the Rage Circuit in Your Brain
R. Douglas Fields
Dutton, 2015. 416 pp.
Authors: Wallisch Pascal
Published: January 2016

Adaptations that gave our ancestors an evolutionary edge can cause major problems for modern humans
Functionalization of C(sp
3
)–H bonds using a transient directing group
Authors: Zhang Fang-Lin , Hong Kai , Li Tuan-Jie , Park Hojoon , Yu Jin-Quan
Published: January 2016

Amino acids can lend palladium a hand

Metals such as rhodium and palladium (Pd) are adept at activating otherwise inert carbon-hydrogen bonds toward useful reactivity. To get properly oriented, they often require some help from oxygen or nitrogen groups nearby. Appending and removing these directing groups, however, detracts from the efficiency of chemical synthesis. Zhang
et al.
show that amino acids can act as temporary directing groups in the Pd-catalyzed coupling of arenes with aldehydes or ketones. By reversibly binding to these latter substrates just long enough for the Pd catalysis to ensue, the amino acids eliminate the need for more laborious directing group manipulations.

Science
, this issue p.
252
Structures of a CRISPR-Cas9 R-loop complex primed for DNA cleavage
Authors: Jiang Fuguo , Taylor David W. , Chen Janice S. , Kornfeld Jack E. , Zhou Kaihong , Thompson Aubri J. , Nogales Eva , Doudna Jennifer A.
Published: January 2016

CRISPR Cas9 molecular scissors

The CRISPR-associated (Cas) protein Cas9 is a molecular scissor for cutting DNA. The first step in the cutting reaction is the RNA-guided unwinding of the DNA double helix. Jiang
et al.
determined the structures of Cas9 bound to DNA unwound by the targeting RNA (see the Perspective by Chen and Bailey). Cas9 bends the DNA to allow guide RNA infiltration into the double helix. The two separated DNA strands, one bound to RNA, are subsequently positioned in the dual active sites of the protein for cutting.

Science
, this issue p.
867
; see also p.
811
IRES unplugged
Authors: Gebauer Fátima , Hentze Matthias W.
Published: January 2016

Cap-independent translation by IRESs can occur from various locations in mRNA

[Also see Research Article by

Weingarten-Gabbay
et al.

]
Small peptides control heart activity
Authors: Payre François , Desplan Claude
Published: January 2016

Peptides from long noncoding RNAs control a muscle calcium pump

[Also see Report by

Nelson
et al.

]
De Novo
Assembly of
Candida sojae
and Candida boidinii Genomes, Unexplored Xylose-Consuming Yeasts with Potential for Renewable Biochemical Production
Authors: Borelli Guilherme , José Juliana , Teixeira Paulo José Pereira Lima , dos Santos Leandro Vieira , Pereira Gonçalo Amarante Guimarães
Published: January 2016

Candida boidinii
and
Candida sojae
yeasts were isolated from energy cane bagasse and plague-insects. Both have fast xylose uptake rate and produce great amounts of xylitol, which are interesting features for food and 2G ethanol industries. Because they lack published genomes, we have sequenced and assembled them, offering new possibilities for gene prospection.
Draft Genome Sequence of the Pathogenic Filamentous Fungus
Aspergillus lentulus
IFM 54703
T
Authors: Kusuya Yoko , Sakai Kanae , Kamei Katsuhiko , Takahashi Hiroki , Yaguchi Takashi
Published: January 2016

Aspergillus lentulus
, a sibling species of
Aspergillus fumigatus
, has been reported as a causative agent of aspergillosis, and exhibited low susceptibility to azole. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of
A. lentulus
strain IFM 54703
T
for the first time.
Is preoperative physical activity related to post-surgery recovery? A cohort study of patients with breast cancer
Authors: Nilsson Hanna , Angerås Ulf , Bock David , Börjesson Mats , Onerup Aron , Fagevik Olsen Monika , Gellerstedt Martin , Haglind Eva , Angenete Eva
Published: January 2016

Objective

The aim of our study is to assess the association between preoperative level of activity and recovery after breast cancer surgery measured as hospital stay, length of sick leave and self-assessed physical and mental recovery.

Design

A prospective cohort study.

Setting

Patients included were those scheduled to undergo breast cancer surgery, between February and November 2013, at two participating hospitals in the Western Region of Sweden.

Participants

Patients planned for breast cancer surgery filled out a questionnaire before, as well as at 3 and 6 weeks after the operation. The preoperative level of activity was self-assessed and categorised into four categories by the participants using the 4-level Saltin-Grimby Physical Activity Level Scale (SGPALS).

Main outcome measure

Our main outcome was postoperative recovery measured as length of sick leave, in-hospital stay and self-assessed physical and mental recovery.

Results

220 patients were included. Preoperatively, 14% (31/220) of participants assessed themselves to be physically inactive, 61% (135/220) to exert some light physical activity (PA) and 20% (43/220) to be more active (level 3+4). Patients operated with mastectomy versus partial mastectomy and axillary lymph node dissection versus sentinel node biopsy were less likely to have a short hospital stay, relative risk (RR) 0.88 (0.78 to 1.00) and 0.82 (0.70 to 0.96). More active participants (level 3 or 4) had an 85% increased chance of feeling physically recovered at 3 weeks after the operation, RR 1.85 (1.20 to 2.85). No difference was seen after 6 weeks.

Conclusions

The above study shows that a higher preoperative level of PA is associated with a faster physical recovery as reported by the patients 3 weeks post breast cancer surgery. After 6 weeks, most patients felt physically recovered, diminishing the association above. No difference was seen in length of sick leave or self-assessed mental recovery between inactive or more active patients.
Role of parenting styles in adolescent substance use: results from a Swedish longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Berge J , Sundell K , Öjehagen A , Håkansson A
Published: January 2016

Objective

Adolescent substance use is an area of concern because early substance use is associated with a higher risk of adverse outcomes. Parenting style, defined as the general style of parenting, as well as substance-specific parenting practices may influence children's substance use behaviour. The present study aims to probe the impact of parenting style on adolescent substance use.

Method

A cohort of 1268 adolescents (48% girls), aged 12–13 years at baseline, from 21 junior high schools was assessed in the first semester of junior high school, and then again in the last semester of the 9th grade, 32 months later. Parenting style, operationalised as a fourfold classification of parenting styles, including established risk factors for adolescent substance use, were measured at baseline.

Results

Neglectful parenting style was associated with worse substance use outcomes across all substances. After adjusting for other proximal risk factors in multivariate analyses, parenting style was found to be unrelated to substance use outcomes with one exception: authoritative parenting style was associated with less frequent drinking. Association with deviant peers, delinquent behaviour, provision of alcohol by parents, and previous use of other substances were associated with substance use outcomes at follow-up.

Conclusions

The results of the present study indicate that parenting style may be less important for adolescent substance use outcomes than what has previously been assumed, and that association with deviant peers and delinquent behaviour may be more important for adolescent substance use outcomes than general parenting style.
Gaps in understanding health and engagement with healthcare providers across common long-term conditions: a population survey of health literacy in 29 473 Danish citizens
Authors: Friis Karina , Lasgaard Mathias , Osborne Richard H , Maindal Helle T
Published: January 2016

Objectives

To (1) quantify levels of subjective health literacy in people with long-term health conditions (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, musculoskeletal disorders, cancer and mental disorders) and compare these to levels in the general population and (2) examine the association between health literacy, socioeconomic characteristics and comorbidity in each long-term condition group.

Design

Population-based survey in the Central Denmark Region (n=29 473).

Main outcome measures

Health literacy was measured using two scales from the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ): (1) Ability to understand health information and (2) Ability to actively engage with healthcare providers.

Results

People with long-term conditions reported more difficulties than the general population in understanding health information and actively engaging with healthcare providers. Wide variation was found between disease groups, with people with cancer having fewer difficulties and people with mental health disorders having more difficulties in actively engaging with healthcare providers than other long-term condition groups. Having more than one long-term condition was associated with more difficulty in engaging with healthcare providers and understanding health information. People with low levels of education had lower health literacy than people with high levels of education.

Conclusions

Compared with the general population, people with long-term conditions report more difficulties in understanding health information and engaging with healthcare providers. These two dimensions are critical to the provision of patient-centred healthcare and for optimising health outcomes. More effort should be made to respond to the health literacy needs among individuals with long-term conditions, multiple comorbidities and low education levels, to improve health outcomes and to reduce social inequality in health.
High-heeled shoes and musculoskeletal injuries: a narrative systematic review
Authors: Barnish Maxwell S , Barnish Jean
Published: January 2016

Objectives

To conduct the first systematic review from an epidemiological perspective regarding the association between high-heeled shoe wear and hallux valgus, musculoskeletal pain, osteoarthritis (OA) and both first-party and second-party injury in human participants without prior musculoskeletal conditions.

Setting

A systematic review of international peer-reviewed scientific literature across seven major languages.

Data sources

Searches were conducted on seven major bibliographic databases in July 2015 to initially identify all scholarly articles on high-heeled shoes. Supplementary manual searches were conducted. Titles, abstracts and full-text articles were sequentially screened to identify all articles assessing epidemiological evidence regarding the association between high-heeled shoe wear and hallux valgus, musculoskeletal pain, OA and both first-party and second-party injury in human participants without prior musculoskeletal conditions. Standardised data extraction and quality assessment (Threats to Validity tool) were conducted.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Musculoskeletal pain or OA as assessed by clinical diagnosis or clinical assessment tool. First-party or second-party injury.

Results

644 unique records were identified, 56 full-text articles were screened and 18 studies included in the review. Four studies assessed the relationship with hallux valgus and three found a significant association. Two studies assessed the association with OA and neither found a significant association. Five studies assessed the association with musculoskeletal pain and three found a significant association. Eight studies assessed first-party injury and seven found evidence of a significant injury toll associated with high-heeled shoes. One study provided data on second-party injury and the injury toll was low.

Conclusions

High-heeled shoes were shown to be associated with hallux valgus, musculoskeletal pain and first-party injury. No conclusive evidence regarding OA and second-party injury was found. Societal and clinical relevance of these findings is discussed. Concern is expressed about the expectation to wear high-heeled shoes in some work and social situations and access by children.
Comparative safety and effectiveness of cognitive enhancers for Alzheimer's dementia: protocol for a systematic review and individual patient data network meta-analysis
Authors: Veroniki Areti Angeliki , Straus Sharon E , Ashoor Huda M , Hamid Jemila S , Hemmelgarn Brenda R , Holroyd-Leduc Jayna , Majumdar Sumit R , McAuley Glenn , Tricco Andrea C
Published: January 2016

Introduction

Alzheimer's dementia (AD) is the most common cause of dementia, and several organisations, such as the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, suggest that management of patients with AD should be tailored to their needs. To date, little research has been conducted on the treatment effect in different subgroups of patients with AD. The aim of this study is to examine the comparative effectiveness and safety of cognitive enhancers for different patient characteristics.

Methods and analysis

We will update our previous literature search from January 2015 forward, using the same terms and electronic databases (eg, MEDLINE) from our previous review. We will additionally search grey literature and scan the reference lists of the included studies. Randomised clinical trials of any duration conducted at any time comparing cognitive enhancers alone or in any combination against other cognitive enhancers, or placebo in adults with AD will be eligible. The outcomes of interest are cognition according to the Mini-Mental State Examination, and overall serious adverse events. For each outcome and treatment comparison, we will perform a Bayesian hierarchical random-effects meta-analysis combining the individual patient data (IPD) from each eligible study. If the identified treatment comparisons form a connected network diagram, we will perform an IPD network meta-analysis (NMA) to estimate subgroup effects for patients with different characteristics, such as AD severity and sex. We will combine aggregated data from studies that we will not be able to obtain IPD, with the IPD provided by the original authors, in a single model. We will use the PRISMA-IPD and PRISMA-NMA statements to report our findings.

Ethics and dissemination

The findings of this study will be of interest to stakeholders, including decision makers, guideline developers, clinicians, methodologists and patients, and they will help to improve guidelines for the management of patients with AD.

Trial registration number

CRD42015023507.
Antimicrobial stewardship: Improving antibiotic prescribing practice in a respiratory ward
Authors: Yeo Jing Ming
Published: January 2016

International efforts have mandated guidelines on antibiotic use and prescribing, therefore the focus is now on encouraging positive behavioral changes in antibiotic prescribing practice. Documentation of indication and intended duration of antibiotic use in drug charts is an evidence-based method of reducing inappropriate antibiotic prescribing. It is also a standard detailed in our local antimicrobial guidelines. We collected baseline data on compliance with documentation of indication and duration in drug charts in a respiratory ward which revealed compliance rates of 24% and 39% respectively. We introduced interventions to improve accessibility to the guideline and to increase awareness by distributing antibiotic guardian pocket cards with a three-point checklist and strategically-placed mini-posters. We also aim to increase team motivation by obtaining their feedback in multidisciplinary team meetings and by introducing certificates for their involvement in the quality improvement process. The results of the second cycle post-intervention showed an increase in compliance rates for documentation of indication and duration of 97% and 69% respectively. After a further awareness and discussion session at the multidisciplinary team meeting with the local antimicrobial management team audit nurses, a third cycle showed compliance rates of 94% and 71% for indication and duration respectively. This project has highlighted the importance of improving accessibility and of encouraging interventions that would bring about a change in personal value and subsequently in behavior and individual practice.
Structural and functional aspects of social support as predictors of mental and physical health trajectories: Whitehall II cohort study
Authors: Hakulinen Christian , Pulkki-Råback Laura , Jokela Markus , E Ferrie Jane , Aalto Anna-Mari , Virtanen Marianna , Kivimäki Mika , Vahtera Jussi , Elovainio Marko
Published: January 2016

Background

Social support is associated with better health. However, only a limited number of studies have examined the association of social support with health from the adult life course perspective and whether this association is bidirectional.

Methods

Participants (n=6797; 30% women; age range from 40 to 77 years) who were followed from 1989 (phase 2) to 2006 (phase 8) were selected from the ongoing Whitehall II Study. Structural and functional social support was measured at follow-up phases 2, 5 and 7. Mental and physical health was measured at five consecutive follow-up phases (3–8).

Results

Social support predicted better mental health, and certain functional aspects of social support, such as higher practical support and higher levels of negative aspects in social relationships, predicted poorer physical health. The association between negative aspects of close relationships and physical health was found to strengthen over the adult life course. In women, the association between marital status and mental health weakened until the age of approximately 60 years. Better mental and physical health was associated with higher future social support.

Conclusions

The strength of the association between social support and health may vary over the adult life course. The association with health seems to be bidirectional.
Revisiting the NIH Stroke Scale as a screening tool for proximal vessel occlusion: can advanced imaging be targeted in acute stroke?
Authors: Moore Ryan D , Jackson John C , Venkatesh Sheila L , Quarfordt Steven D , Baxter Blaise W
Published: January 2016

Background and purpose

Most patients with stroke-like symptoms screened by advanced imaging for proximal occlusion will not have a thrombus accessible by neurointerventional techniques. Development of a sensitive clinical scoring system for rapidly identifying patients with an emergent large vessel occlusion could help target limited resources and reduce exposure to unnecessary imaging.

Methods

This historical cohort study included patients who underwent non-contrast CT and CT angiography in the emergency department for stroke-like symptoms. NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) criteria were extended to include resolved symptoms and dichotomized as present or absent. Combinations of NIHSS criteria were considered as tests for proximal occlusion.

Results

Proximal cerebral vascular occlusion was present in 19.2% (100/522) of the population and, of these, 13% (13/100) had an NIHSS score of 0. The presence on examination or history of diminished consciousness with inability to answer questions, leg weakness, dysarthria, or gaze deviation had 96% sensitivity and 39% specificity for proximal occlusion. If implemented in this population, the use of CT angiography would have been decreased by 32.4% (169/522 patients) while missing 0.76% with proximal occlusions (4/522). Half of those missed (2/4) would have been identified as large vessel infarcts on non-contrast CT, while the remainder (2/4) were transient ischemic attacks associated with carotid stenosis.

Conclusions

In this cohort, specific NIHSS criteria were highly sensitive for emergent large vessel occlusion and, if validated, may allow for clinical screening prior to advanced imaging with CT angiography.
TAK1 is involved in the autophagy process in retinal pigment epithelial cells
Authors: Green Yaron A. , Ben-Yaakov Keren , Adir Orit , Pollack Ayala , Dvashi Zeev
Published: January 2016

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved mechanism for degrading long-lived or malfunctioning proteins and organelles, such as those resulting from oxidative stress. Several publications have demonstrated the importance of the autophagy process in the pathophysiology of dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Still, the mechanism underlying this process and its involvement in dry AMD are not fully characterized. Investigating the autophagy process in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, we identified transforming growth factor β activated kinase 1 (TAK1) as a key player in the process. We found increased TAK1 phosphorylation in ARPE-19 and D407 cells treated with different inducers of autophagy, such as oxidative stress and rapamycin. Moreover, utilizing TAK1 specific inhibitor prior to oxidative stress or rapamycin treatment, we found significant reduction in LC3A/B-II expression. These results point at the involvement of TAK1 in the regulation of autophagy in RPE cells. This study suggests that aberrant activity of this kinase impairs autophagy and subsequently leads to alterations in the vitality of RPE cells. Proper activity of TAK1 may be essential for efficient autophagy, and crucial for the ability of RPE cells to respond to stress and dispose of damaged organelles, thus preventing or delaying retinal pathologies.
Vascular responses to compound 48/80 in rat mesenteric vascular beds
Authors: Jin Honghua , Li Zhen , Takatori Shingo , Koyama Toshihiro , Jin Xin , Zamami Yoshito , Kawasaki Hiromu , Sun Pengyuan
Published: January 2016

A further investigation was performed on the vascular effect of endogenous histamine using the histamine releaser, compound 48/80, in rat mesenteric vascular beds with active tone. In preparations with intact endothelium, low concentrations of compound 48/80 (1.53 × 10−5– 3 × 1.53 × 10−5mg/mL) perfusion for 1 min only induced a small vasodilation. High concentrations of compound 48/80 (1.53 × 10−4– 3 × 1.53 × 10−2mg/mL) induced a biphasic vascular responses, an initial vasoconstriction followed a subsequent long-lasting vasodilation. The vasodilation induced by low concentrations of compound 48/80 and the vasoconstriction induced by high concentration of compound 48/80 was inhibited by olopatadine. However, cimetidine did not affect the responses induced by compound 48/80. Endothelium removal enlarged the compound 48/80-induced phase-2 vasoconstriction, while it attenuated the phase-3 vasodilation. Additionally, indomethacin and seratrodast significantly inhibited vasoconstriction but it did not affect the long-lasting vasodilation induced by high concentrations of compound 48/80. Ruthenium red inhibited the vasodilation induced by low concentrations and high concentrations of compound 48/80. These results suggest that the vasoconstriction induce by high concentrations of compound 48/80 is mediated by endogenous histamine released from mast cells. It is also suggested that thromboxane A2released from mast cells is related to the vasoconstriction.