bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous urodynamic and anorectal manometry studies in children: insights into the relationship between the lower gastrointestinal and lower urinary tracts
Authors: Ambartsumyan L. , Siddiqui A. , Bauer S. , Nurko S.
Published: March 2016

Background

Children with urinary incontinence (UI) have associated functional constipation (FC) and fecal incontinence (FI). The physiology between lower urinary tract (LUT) and anorectum in children has not been elucidated. Aims: Observe the effect of rectal distention (RD) on LUT function, and bladder filling and voiding on anorectal function.

Methods

Children with voiding dysfunction referred to Boston Children's Hospital were prospectively enrolled in combined urodynamic (UDS) and anorectal manometry (ARM). Anorectal and urodynamic parameters were simultaneously measured. Patients underwent two micturition cycles, first with rectal balloon deflated and second with it inflated (RD). Lower urinary tract and anorectal parameters were compared between cycles.

Key Results

Ten children (seven UI, four recurrent UTIs, nine FC ± FI) were enrolled. Postvoid residual (PVR) increased (p = 0.02) with RD. No differences were observed in percent of bladder filling to expected bladder capacity, sensation, and bladder compliance with and without RD. Bladder and abdominal pressures increased at voiding with RD (p < 0.05). Intra‐anal pressures decreased at voiding (p < 0.05), at 25% (p = 0.03) and 50% (p = 0.06) of total volume of bladder filling.

Conclusions & Inferences

The PVR volume increased with RD. Stool in the rectum does not alter filling cystometric capacity but decreases the bladder's ability to empty predisposing patients with fecal retention to UI and UTIs. Bladder and abdominal pressures increased during voiding, demonstrating a physiological correlate of voiding dysfunction. Intra‐anal pressures decreased during bladder filling and voiding. This is the first time intra‐anal relaxation during bladder filling and voiding has been described.
Diaphragmatic Myopotential Oversensing Caused by Change in Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Sensing Bandpass Filter
Authors: PLOUX SYLVAIN , SWERDLOW CHARLES D. , ESCHALIER ROMAIN , MONTEIL BENJAMIN , OUALI SANA , HAÏSSAGUERRE MICHEL , BORDACHAR PIERRE
Published: March 2016

Diaphragmatic myopotential oversensing (DMO) causes inhibition of pacing and inappropriate detection of ventricular fibrillation in implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). It occurs almost exclusively with integrated bipolar leads and is extremely rare with dedicated bipolar leads. If DMO cannot be corrected by reducing programmed sensitivity, ventricular lead revision is often required. The new Low Frequency Attenuation (LFA) filter in St. Jude Medical ICDs (St. Jude Medical, Sylmar, CA, USA) alters the sensing bandpass to reduce T‐wave oversensing. This paper aims to present the LFA filter as a reversible cause of DMO. Unnecessary lead revision can be avoided by the simple programming solution of deactivating this LFA filter.
Efficacy of MP‐AzeFlu in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis: Importance of paediatric symptom assessment
Authors: Berger William , Meltzer Eli O. , Amar Niran , Fox Adam T. , Just Jocelyne , Muraro Antonella , Nieto Antonio , Valovirta Erkka , Wickman Magnus , Bousquet Jean
Published: March 2016

Background

This study aimed to assess the efficacy of MP‐AzeFlu (a novel intranasal formulation of azelastine hydrochloride and fluticasone propionate in a single spray) in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and explore the importance of child symptom severity assessment in paediatric allergic rhinitis (AR) trials.

Methods

A total of 348 children (4–11 years) with moderate/severe SAR were randomized into a double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, 14‐day, parallel‐group trial. Efficacy was assessed by changes from baseline in reflective total nasal symptom score (rTNSS), reflective total ocular symptom score (rTOSS) and individual symptom scores over 14 days (children 6–11 years; n = 304), recorded by either children or caregivers. To determine whether a by‐proxy effect existed, efficacy outcomes were assessed according to degree of child/caregiver rating. Moreover, total Paediatric Rhinitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (PRQLQ) score was compared between the groups.

Results

A statistically superior, clinically relevant efficacy signal of MP‐AzeFlu versus placebo was apparent for PRQLQ overall score (diff: −0.29, 95% CI −0.55, −0.03; p = 0.027), but not for rTNSS (diff: −0.80; 95% CI: −1.75; 0.15; p = 0.099). However, as the extent of children's self‐rating increased, so too did the treatment difference between MP‐AzeFlu and placebo; MP‐AzeFlu provided significantly better relief than placebo for rTNSS (p = 0.002), rTOSS (p = 0.009) and each individual nasal and ocular symptom assessed (except rhinorrhoea; p = 0.064) when children mostly rated their own symptoms.

Conclusions

MP‐AzeFlu is an effective treatment for AR in childhood. Caregivers are less able than children to accurately assess response to treatment with available tools. A simple paediatric‐specific tool to assess efficacy in AR trials in children is needed.
Budgetary Institutions and Fiscal Performance in Egypt: Is There a Link?
Authors: El Husseiny Israa A.
Published: March 2016

Budgetary institutions have been playing a crucial rule in explaining the varying fiscal performance among different countries. Both theoretical and empirical literature support the idea that budgetary institutions matter for the distribution of power among the key relevant players involved in the budgeting processes, and that they are expected to affect the ultimate outcomes of the fiscal policy. In light of this context, this paper assesses the quality of Egypt's budgetary institutions alongside each of the main phases of the budget cycle, and it analyzes how such institutions may affect the country's overall fiscal performance. The analysis shows that Egypt's fiscal performance can be improved if budgetary institutions, especially those related to transparency and sustainability issues, are strengthened.
Beyond Just Justice – Creating Space for a Future‐Care Ethic
Authors: Makoff Ruth , Read Rupert
Published: March 2016

Distributive justice relies on metaphors about spatial distribution. Modelling cross‐temporal relations on cross‐spatial relations in this way obscures how earlier groupsbecomethe later ones. Procedural justice metaphors rely on metaphors of (contemporaneous) contract and thereby on impartial reasoning. Their dominance is already problematic in the case of contemporary relations, but is even more so in the case of relations across time, where the conditions for later parties are controlled and created by earlier ones. Future generations should not be thought of as a distinct group living at a different temporal “location,” but as who we will become. Thus, the frame of “justice” is much less appropriate for our relations to them than the frame of “care”.
Reproductive biology of Syzygiella rubricaulis (Nees) Steph. (Adelanthaceae, Marchantiophyta), a liverwort disjunctly distributed in high‐altitude Neotropical mountains
Authors: Maciel‐Silva A. S. , Gaspar E. P. , da Conceição F. P. , Dias dos Santos N. , Pinheiro da Costa D.
Published: March 2016

Syzygiella rubricaulis is a dioecious leafy liverwort disjunctly distributed and restricted to high‐altitude mountains in the Neotropics and the Azores. This study is part of a larger project examining the phylogeography of S. rubricaulis in the Neotropics, and our main goals were to understand its reproductive biology, where sex expression occurs, if vegetative propagules are frequently found, how the sexes are distributed in populations, how frequently sporophytes are formed and what environmental conditions influence sexual expression. S. rubricaulis patches are mostly female, but all patches also contain non sex‐expressing shoots. Out of 42 patches examined, 29 (69%) were sex‐expressing: 25 were unisexual (21 female and four male) and four of mixed sex (two male‐biased and two unbiased). At shoot level, out of 4200 shoots 18% were female and 7% male; among sex‐expressing shoots, 73% were female, representing a sex ratio of 0.8 (female‐biased). We encountered a total of 33 sporophytes in six patches (in Brazil, Venezuela and Ecuador). Leaf regenerants were found in one patch in Mexico. Low rates of sporophytes were likely related to low frequencies of male shoots and large distances between the sexes. As 25% of S. rubricaulis shoots expressed sex (occasionally producing sporophytes), we suggest that short‐distance (and rarely long‐distance) spore dispersal events occur in mountainous areas on a short‐term basis. On a long‐term basis, however, these events likely contribute to dynamic exchanges among populations in the Neotropics.
Two-Stage Marker-Stratified Clinical Trial Design in the Presence of Biomarker Misclassification
Authors: Zang Yong , Jack Lee J. , Yuan Ying
Published: March 2016

The marker-stratified design (MSD) is an important design to assess treatment and marker effects in personalized medicine. The MSD stratifies patients into marker positive and marker negative subgroups on the basis of their biomarker profiles and then randomizes them to the standard treatment or a new treatment within each subgroup. The performance of the MSD can be seriously undermined when the biomarker is measured with error (or misclassified). A recently proposed analytic method corrects the biomarker misclassification in the MSD under the assumptions that the biomarker classification rates are known and no other covariates need to be adjusted. We propose a two-stage MSD to relax these assumptions. We analytically investigate the bias in the estimation of prognostic and predictive marker effects and treatment effects caused by biomarker misclassification in the presence of covariates, and we propose an expectation–maximization algorithm to correct such biases. The design does not require prespecification of the misclassification rates and can incorporate any covariates that potentially confound the prognostic and predictive marker effects and treatment effect. Numerical trial applications show that the method has desirable operating characteristics.
The Swedish physical activity and fitness cohort born in 1958 – dropout analysis and overview at 36‐year follow‐up
Authors: Aasa U. , Lundell S. , Barnekow‐Bergkvist M. , Jansson E. , Westerståhl M.
Published: March 2016

The main aim of the Swedish physical activity and fitness cohort study (SPAF‐1958) was to describe physical fitness, physical activity, health, and lifestyle across part of the lifespan, and to assess the influences on these factors from the environment, personal factors, and genetics. There is inevitable dropout from longitudinal studies, and it may be systematic. The aim of this first paper of the second follow‐up of SPAF‐1958 was to provide a dropout analysis to consider to what extent the participants, at 52 years of age, remain a representative sample of the original adolescent study population. Additional aims were to provide an overview of the study protocol and the ongoing study population. Ongoing study participants in SPAF born in 1958 were, at the second follow‐up at the age of 52, still representative of the study cohort in terms of sex, adolescent geographical area, upper secondary school program, adolescent body composition, muscular strength, and muscular endurance. However, a higher physical activity and, among women, a higher aerobic capacity in adolescence decreased the risk for dropout. It is important when interpreting results from longitudinal studies to adjust for the systematic dropout that could bias the conclusions drawn from the results.
Introduction to the Special Section Value Development from Middle Childhood to Early Adulthood—New Insights from Longitudinal and Genetically Informed Research
Authors: Döring Anna K. , Daniel Ella , Knafo‐Noam Ariel
Published: March 2016

Research into values at an early age has only started recently, although it has expanded quickly and dynamically in the past years. The purpose of this article is twofold: First, it provides an introduction to a special section that aims to help fill the gap in value development research. The special section brings together four new longitudinal and genetically informed studies of value development from the beginning of middle childhood through early adulthood. Second, this article reviews recent research from this special section and beyond, aiming to provide new directions to the field. With new methods for assessing children's values and an increased awareness of the role of values in children's and adolescents' development, the field now seems ripe for an in‐depth investigation. Our review of empirical evidence shows that, as is the case with adults, children's values are organized based on compatibilities and conflicts in their underlying motivations. Values show some consistency across situations, as well as stability across time. This longitudinal stability tends to increase with age, although mean changes are also observed. These patterns of change seem to be compatible with Schwartz's (1992) theory of values (e.g., if the importance of openness to change values increases, the importance of conservation values decreases). The contributions of culture, family, peers, significant life events, and individual characteristics to values are discussed, as well as the development of values as guides for behavior.
Subspecific taxonomy of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria (Orthoptera: Acrididae), based on molecular and morphological characters
Authors: CHAPUIS MARIE‐PIERRE , BAZELET CORINNA S. , BLONDIN LAURENCE , FOUCART ANTOINE , VITALIS RENAUD , SAMWAYS MICHAEL J.
Published: March 2016

We evaluated the validity of the subspecific designation for Schistocerca gregaria gregaria (Forskål) and Schistocerca gregaria flaviventris (Burmeister), isolated in distinct regions along the north–south axis of Africa. Towards this goal, we assessed the variation of multiple morphological and molecular traits within species. We first used elliptic Fourier and landmark‐based relative warps analyses to compare the size and shape of two internal and two external structures of male genitalia. We provide a discriminant function which classified the specimens with 100% accuracy and selected shape elements of the external structures only (cercus and epiproct). We also tested eight molecular markers, and because of either absence of variation or contamination by mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA)‐like sequences, we used a clone‐and‐sequence analysis of the standard cytochrome c oxidase subunit I mitochondrial DNA barcode only. We differentiated 185 true mitochondrial sequences from 66 mitochondrial DNA‐like sequences, most of which were from S. g. gregaria specimens. On the dataset of mitochondrial origin, we identified three characteristic point mutations that diagnosed the two allopatric subspecies with 94% accuracy. Minimum spanning network and parsimony tree analyses identified S. g. flaviventris as a monophyletic lineage distinct from the nominate subspecies. Accordingly, microsatellite data indicate rarely occurring admixture events only, showing that independent evolutionary history is the norm.
Kinetic Adaptations of Myosins for Their Diverse Cellular Functions
Authors: Heissler Sarah M. , Sellers James R.
Published: March 2016

Members of the myosin superfamily are involved in all aspects of eukaryotic life. Their function ranges from the transport of organelles and cargos to the generation of membrane tension, and the contraction of muscle. The diversity of physiological functions is remarkable, given that all enzymatically active myosins follow a conserved mechanoenzymatic cycle in which the hydrolysis of ATP to ADP and inorganic phosphate is coupled to either actin‐based transport or tethering of actin to defined cellular compartments. Kinetic capacities and limitations of a myosin are determined by the extent to which actin can accelerate the hydrolysis of ATP and the release of the hydrolysis products and are indispensably linked to its physiological tasks. This review focuses on kinetic competencies that – together with structural adaptations – result in myosins with unique mechanoenzymatic properties targeted to their diverse cellular functions.
Efficacy of medical grade honey in the management of canine otitis externa – a pilot study
Authors: Maruhashi Emi , Braz Berta São , Nunes Telmo , Pomba Constança , Belas Adriana , Duarte‐Correia José Henrique , Lourenço Ana Mafalda
Published: March 2016

Background

The high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance within otic pathogens has created a need for alternative therapies of otitis externa (OE). Evidence suggests that medical grade honey (MGH) may be effective against drug‐resistant pathogens.

Hypothesis/Objectives

The efficacy of a commercial MGH compound was assessed in an open clinical trial. We hypothesized that it would be an effective alternative to conventional treatments.

Animals

Client‐owned dogs (n = 15) with a confirmed diagnosis of infectious OE were enrolled in this pilot study.

Methods

Dogs were prescribed MGH (1 mL daily per ear) until cure was achieved or for a maximum of 21 d. Evaluation was based on weekly clinical scores, cytological progression and owner assessments of pruritus. Swab samples were submitted for culture and susceptibility testing. MGH was tested for biocidal activity against the bacterial isolates.

Results

Medical grade honey promoted rapid clinical progress, with 70% of dogs achieving clinical cure between days 7 and 14 and over 90% having resolved by Day 21. There was a decrease in clinical scores throughout the duration of the trial (P < 0.001) and owner‐assessed pruritus also decreased significantly (P < 0.05). In vitro assays of the biocidal activity of MGH showed activity against all bacterial isolates, including meticillin‐resistant strains of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) and other species of drug‐resistant bacteria.

Conclusion and clinical importance

Medical grade honey was successful in both clinical and laboratory settings, thus demonstrating its potential of becoming an alternative treatment for canine OE.
Effects of Subgrid Scale Modeling on the Deterministic and Stochastic Turbulent Energetic Distribution in Large-Eddy Simulations of a High-Pressure Turbine Stage
Authors: Papadogiannis Dimitrios , Duchaine Florent , Gicquel Laurent , Wang Gaofeng , Moreau Stéphane
Published: March 2016

This study focuses on the engine-representative MT1 transonic high-pressure turbine. Simulated by use of wall-modeled large-eddy simulations (LES) with three different subgrid scale (SGS) closures, mean pressure profiles across the blades as well as mean radial profiles at the rotor exit are found to be in good agreement with experimental data with only local differences between models. Unsteady flow features, inherently present in LES, are however affected by SGS modeling. This is evidenced by the relative energetic content of the deterministic to stochastic turbulent contributions evaluated, thanks to the triple decomposition analysis of the simulations. Origins of such differences are found to impact the entire radial distribution of the flow and activity, with deterministic and chaotic contributions distributed differently depending on the SGS model and reference frequency used to extract the deterministic signal. Such flow responses can be attributed to the different SGS capacities to satisfy basic turbulent flow features that translate in different dissipative and turbulent diffusive contributions of the three SGS models.
Predicting Remaining Driving Time and Distance of a Planetary Rover Under Uncertainty
Authors: Daigle Matthew , Sankararaman Shankar
Published: March 2016

The operations of a planetary rover depend critically upon the amount of power that can be delivered by its batteries. In order to plan the future operation, it is important to make reliable predictions regarding the end-of-discharge (EOD) time, which can be used to estimate the remaining driving time (RDT) and remaining driving distance (RDD). These quantities are stochastic in nature, not only because there are several sources of uncertainty that affect the rover’s operation but also since the future operating conditions cannot be known precisely. This paper presents a computational methodology to predict these stochastic quantities, based on a model of the rover and its batteries. We utilize a model-based prognostics framework that characterizes and incorporates the various sources of uncertainty into these predictions, thereby assisting operational decision-making. We consider two different types of driving scenarios and develop methods for each to characterize the associated uncertainty. Monte Carlo sampling and the inverse first-order reliability method are used to compute the stochastic predictions of EOD time, RDT, and RDD.
On the Buckling of Spiral Wound Gaskets
Authors: Attoui Hocine , Bouzid Abdel-Hakim , Waterland Jerry A.
Published: March 2016

The buckling of spiral wound gaskets (SWGs) causes turbulence of the fluid flow inside flanges and may result in leakage failure over time due to the unwinding of the spirals. A few limited studies on the lateral forces generated by axial compression of the gasket sealing element which cause this phenomenon are available in the literature. The lateral forces are generated during initial tightening and are not distributed uniformly in the circumferential direction. Hence, there is an introduction of concentrated forces in small areas. The nonuniform gasket contact stress caused by the tightening sequence makes the problem more complex. It is suggested to study experimentally the buckling of SWGs by developing a special test bench designed for this purpose. This test bench is able to measure the lateral loads and winding inward displacement during the tightening process. The experimental results are to be compared to those obtained by numerical finite element simulation for the purpose of extrapolating for other size gaskets.
Subharmonic Resonance of Duffing Oscillator With Fractional-Order Derivative
Authors: Van Khang Nguyen , Chien Truong Quoc
Published: March 2016

In this paper, the subharmonic resonance of Duffing oscillator with fractional-order derivative is investigated using the averaging method. First, the approximately analytical solution and the amplitude–frequency equation are obtained. The existence condition for subharmonic resonance based on the approximately analytical solution is then presented, and the corresponding stability condition based on Lyapunov theory is also obtained. Finally, a comparison between the fractional-order and the traditional integer-order of Duffing oscillators is made using numerical simulation. The influences of the parameters in fractional-order derivative on the steady-state amplitude, the amplitude–frequency curves, and the system stability are also investigated.
A Variationally Consistent Approach to Constrained Motion
Authors: Foster John T.
Published: March 2016

A variationally consistent approach to constrained rigid-body motion is presented that extends D'Alembert's principle in a way that has a form similar to Kane's equations. The method results in minimal equations of motion for both holonomic and nonholonomic systems without a priori consideration of preferential coordinates.
Exponential Stabilization of a Class of Monodimensional Distributed Parameter Systems by Boundary Controller
Authors: Ivanescu Mircea
Published: March 2016

This paper treats the control problem of a class of monodimensional (1D) hyperbolic differential models with nonlinear components by using the boundary controller, the state measuring, and the control action on the boundary of the system. This controller is easy to implement from point of view of measuring techniques and actuation. The proposed algorithm provides the exponential convergence to the desired reference trajectory and rejects the effect of the nonlinear components by using the constraints in state space. A maximum principle of this class of system is inferred in order to evaluate the effect of boundary control. A constructive Lyapunov-based proof of convergence of the control algorithm is carried out. Numerical simulations of a technical model are presented.
Analysis of Recoverable Falls Via microsoft kinect: Identification of Third-Order Ankle Dynamics
Authors: Segura Mauricio E. , Coronado Enrique , Maya Mauro , Cardenas Antonio , Piovesan Davide
Published: March 2016

This work combines the kinematics estimate of human standing with a hybrid identification algorithm to identify a set of ankle dynamics mechanical parameters. We used the hold and release (H&R) experimental paradigm to model a set of recoverable falls on a population of unimpaired adults. Body kinematics was acquired with a microsoft kinect (mk) version 2 after benchmarking its position accuracy to a camera-based vision system (CVS). The system identification algorithm, combining an extended Kalman filter (EKF) and a genetic algorithm (GA), allowed to identify the effect of tendon and muscle stiffness at the ankle joint, separately. This work highlights that, when associated to soft-computing techniques, affordable tracking devices developed for the gaming industry can be used for the reliable assessment of neuromechanical parameters in clinical settings.
SIMS of transfer ribonucleic acid molecules encapsulated between free-standing graphene sheets
Authors: Verkhoturov Dmitriy S. , Geng Sheng , Verkhoturov Stanislav V. , Kim Hansoo , Schweikert Emile A.
Published: March 2016

In this study, the authors used cluster-secondary ion mass spectrometry method to investigate the preserved transfer ribonucleic acid (tRNA) encapsulated between two free-standing graphene sheets. Single impacts of 50 keV C602+ projectiles generated the emission of tRNA fragment ions in the transmission direction for mass selection and detection in a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is extremely unstable and prone to rapid enzymatic degradation by ribonucleases. Employing graphene to isolate RNA from the environment, the authors prevent the aforementioned process. Encapsulation was achieved by drop casting a solution of tRNA, prepared using deuterated water, onto one graphene sheet and covering it with another. The event-by-event bombardment/detection mode allowed us to use colocalization analysis method to characterize the tRNA and its immediate environment. The authors found that upon drying, tRNA agglomerated into nanostructures ∼60 nm in diameter via formation and subsequent drying of aqua cells. The tRNA nanoagglomerates had a density of ∼42 structures per μm2 with coverage of ∼12% of the surface area. In addition, trace amounts of water remained mostly around the tRNA nanoagglomerates, probably in the form of hydration.
Determination of the depletion layer width and effects on the formation of double-2DEG in AlGaAs/GaAs heterostructures
Authors: Cortes-Mestizo Irving Eduardo , Espinosa-Vega Leticia Ithsmel , Espinoza-Figueroa Jose Angel , Cisneros-de-la-Rosa Alejandro , Eugenio-Lopez Eric , Mendez-Garcia Victor Hugo , Briones Edgar , Briones Joel , Zamora-Peredo Luis , Droopad Ravindranath , Yee-Rendon Cristo
Published: March 2016

In this work, the influence of the surface depletion layer on the formation of a two-dimensional electron gas in AlGaAs/GaAs modulated doped heterostructures is studied. The authors explore a method for estimating the depletion region inside of the GaAs-based heterostructures by using the longitudinal optical and L- amplitude modes observed in Raman spectra, which are supported by the modeling results. The authors found that the position of the topmost doping layer changes the electron distribution in the heterostructure and decreases the influence of the depletion layer. Similar effects are perceived when an optimized solution of (NH4)2SX and isopropanol is employed. The authors present a method to evaluate the formation of a double two-dimensional electron gas in a heterostructure by the adequate use of modulation line in the photoreflectance spectroscopy.
Analytical approach to transforming filter design for sound field recording and reproduction using circular arrays with a spherical baffle
Authors: Koyama Shoichi , Furuya Ken'ichi , Wakayama Keigo , Shimauchi Suehiro , Saruwatari Hiroshi
Published: March 2016

A sound field recording and reproduction method using circular arrays of microphones and loudspeakers with a spherical baffle is proposed. The spherical baffle is an acoustically rigid object on which the microphone array is mounted. The driving signals of the loudspeakers must be obtained from the signals received by the microphones. A transform filter for this signal conversion is analytically derived, which is referred to as the wave field reconstruction filter. The proposed method using a spherical baffle is compared with methods using an array of directional microphones and a microphone array mounted on a cylindrical baffle. Numerical simulations indicated that the proposed method is advantageous for sound field recording and reproduction compared with the other two methods. The results of measurement experiments in a real environment are also demonstrated.
Lumbar Sagittal Plane Spinal Curvature and Junior-Level Cricket Players
Authors: Hecimovich Mark D. , Stomski Norman J.
Published: March 2016

Lumbar lordosis may be a risk factor for injury in junior-level athletes involved in sport which requires excessive amounts of extension. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between lumbar lordosis in junior-level cricket players with and without previous low back injury. Results demonstrated a statistically significant difference in lumbar lordosis between the two groups (LBI = 42.53 ± 9.10°; no LBI = 30.33 ± 8.36°; p < .01), with previous lower back injury accounting for 32% variation in lumbar lordosis (p < .01). The results indicate lumbar lordosis may be an issue worth examining in those athletes who partake in sports which have high levels of extension; but, as there is no accepted definition to lumbar postures, it is difficult to accurately interpret measurement results.
Cytokinesis involves a nontranscriptional function of the Hippo pathway effector YAP
Authors: Bui Duyen Amy , Lee Wendy , White Anne E. , Harper J. Wade , Schackmann Ron C. J. , Overholtzer Michael , Selfors Laura M. , Brugge Joan S.
Published: March 2016

YAP has a nontranscriptional role in the separation of daughter cells during mitosis.
New connections: Moonlighting proteins, YAP and BUB1
Authors: Gough Nancy R.
Published: March 2016

A scaffolding role for YAP in cytokinesis and a role for the cell cycle kinase BUB1 at the TGF-β receptor are revealed.
PTEN contributes to Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: March 2016

β-amyloid–induced recruitment of PTEN to neuronal spines decreases synaptic activity in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease.
The Combination of Grazoprevir, a Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) NS3/4A Protease Inhibitor, and Elbasvir, an HCV NS5A Inhibitor, Demonstrates a High Genetic Barrier to Resistance in HCV Genotype 1a Replicons
Authors: Lahser Frederick C. , Bystol Karin , Curry Stephanie , McMonagle Patricia , Xia Ellen , Ingravallo Paul , Chase Robert , Liu Rong , Black Todd , Hazuda Daria , Howe Anita Y. M. , Asante-Appiah Ernest
Published: March 2016

The selection of resistance-associated variants (RAVs) against single agents administered to patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) necessitates that direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) targeting multiple viral proteins be developed to overcome failure resulting from emergence of resistance. The combination of grazoprevir (formerly MK-5172), an NS3/4A protease inhibitor, and elbasvir (formerly MK-8742), an NS5A inhibitor, was therefore studied in genotype 1a (GT1a) replicon cells. Both compounds were independently highly potent in GT1a wild-type replicon cells, with 90% effective concentration (EC
90
) values of 0.9 nM and 0.006 nM for grazoprevir and elbasvir, respectively. No cross-resistance was observed when clinically relevant NS5A and NS3 RAVs were profiled against grazoprevir and elbasvir, respectively. Kinetic analyses of HCV RNA reduction over 14 days showed that grazoprevir and elbasvir inhibited prototypic NS5A Y93H and NS3 R155K RAVs, respectively, with kinetics comparable to those for the wild-type GT1a replicon. In combination, grazoprevir and elbasvir interacted additively in GT1a replicon cells. Colony formation assays with a 10-fold multiple of the EC
90
values of the grazoprevir-elbasvir inhibitor combination suppressed emergence of resistant colonies, compared to a 100-fold multiple for the independent agents. The selected resistant colonies with the combination harbored RAVs that required two or more nucleotide changes in the codons. Mutations in the cognate gene caused greater potency losses for elbasvir than for grazoprevir. Replicons bearing RAVs identified from resistant colonies showed reduced fitness for several cell lines and may contribute to the activity of the combination. These studies demonstrate that the combination of grazoprevir and elbasvir exerts a potent effect on HCV RNA replication and presents a high genetic barrier to resistance. The combination of grazoprevir and elbasvir is currently approved for chronic HCV infection.
Ampicillin in Combination with Ceftaroline, Cefepime, or Ceftriaxone Demonstrates Equivalent Activities in a High-Inoculum Enterococcus faecalis Infection Model
Authors: Luther Megan K. , Rice Louis B. , LaPlante Kerry L.
Published: March 2016

Ampicillin-ceftriaxone combination therapy has become a predominant treatment for serious
Enterococcus faecalis
infections, such as endocarditis. Unfortunately, ceftriaxone use is associated with future vancomycin-resistant enterococcus colonization. We evaluated
E. faecalis
in an
in vitro
pharmacodynamic model against simulated human concentration-time profiles of ampicillin plus ceftaroline, cefepime, ceftriaxone, or gentamicin. Ampicillin-cefepime and ampicillin-ceftaroline demonstrated activities similar to those of ampicillin-ceftriaxone against
E. faecalis
.
Infiltrated Macrophages Die of Pneumolysin-Mediated Necroptosis following Pneumococcal Myocardial Invasion
Authors: Gilley Ryan P. , González-Juarbe Norberto , Shenoy Anukul T. , Reyes Luis F. , Dube Peter H. , Restrepo Marcos I. , Orihuela Carlos J.
Published: March 2016

Streptococcus pneumoniae
(the pneumococcus) is capable of invading the heart. Herein we observed that pneumococcal invasion of the myocardium occurred soon after development of bacteremia and was continuous thereafter. Using immunofluorescence microscopy (IFM), we observed that
S. pneumoniae
replication within the heart preceded visual signs of tissue damage in cardiac tissue sections stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Different
S. pneumoniae
strains caused distinct cardiac pathologies: strain TIGR4, a serotype 4 isolate, caused discrete pneumococcus-filled microscopic lesions (microlesions), whereas strain D39, a serotype 2 isolate, was, in most instances, detectable only using IFM and was associated with foci of cardiomyocyte hydropic degeneration and immune cell infiltration. Both strains efficiently invaded the myocardium, but cardiac damage was entirely dependent on the pore-forming toxin pneumolysin only for D39. Early microlesions caused by TIGR4 and microlesions formed by a TIGR4 pneumolysin-deficient mutant were infiltrated with CD11b
+
and Ly6G-positive neutrophils and CD11b
+
and F4/80-positive (F4/80
+
) macrophages. We subsequently demonstrated that macrophages in TIGR4-infected hearts died as a result of pneumolysin-induced necroptosis. The effector of necroptosis, phosphorylated mixed-lineage kinase domain-like protein (MLKL), was detected in CD11b
+
and F4/80
+
cells associated with microlesions. Likewise, treatment of infected mice and THP-1 macrophages
in vitro
with the receptor-interacting protein 1 kinase (RIP1) inhibitor necrostatin-5 promoted the formation of purulent microlesions and blocked cell death, respectively. We conclude that pneumococci that have invaded the myocardium are an important cause of cardiac damage, pneumolysin contributes to cardiac damage in a bacterial strain-specific manner, and pneumolysin kills infiltrated macrophages via necroptosis, which alters the immune response.
Community pharmacy-delivered interventions for public health priorities: a systematic review of interventions for alcohol reduction, smoking cessation and weight management, including meta-analysis for smoking cessation
Authors: Brown Tamara J , Todd Adam , O'Malley Claire , Moore Helen J , Husband Andrew K , Bambra Clare , Kasim Adetayo , Sniehotta Falko F , Steed Liz , Smith Sarah , Nield Lucie , Summerbell Carolyn D
Published: March 2016

Objectives

To systematically review the effectiveness of community pharmacy-delivered interventions for alcohol reduction, smoking cessation and weight management.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analyses. 10 electronic databases were searched from inception to May 2014.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies

Study design: randomised and non-randomised controlled trials; controlled before/after studies, interrupted times series.Intervention: any relevant intervention set in a community pharmacy, delivered by the pharmacy team. No restrictions on duration, country, age, or language.

Results

19 studies were included: 2 alcohol reduction, 12 smoking cessation and 5 weight management. Study quality rating: 6 ‘strong’, 4 ‘moderate’ and 9 ‘weak’. 8 studies were conducted in the UK, 4 in the USA, 2 in Australia, 1 each in 5 other countries. Evidence from 2 alcohol-reduction interventions was limited. Behavioural support and/or nicotine replacement therapy are effective and cost-effective for smoking cessation: pooled OR was 2.56 (95% CI 1.45 to 4.53) for active intervention vs usual care. Pharmacy-based interventions produced similar weight loss compared with active interventions in other primary care settings; however, weight loss was not sustained longer term in a range of primary care and commercial settings compared with control. Pharmacy-based weight management interventions have similar provider costs to those delivered in other primary care settings, which are greater than those delivered by commercial organisations. Very few studies explored if and how sociodemographic or socioeconomic variables moderated intervention effects. Insufficient information was available to examine relationships between effectiveness and behaviour change strategies, implementation factors, or organisation and delivery of interventions.

Conclusions

Community pharmacy-delivered interventions are effective for smoking cessation, and demonstrate that the pharmacy is a feasible option for weight management interventions. Given the potential reach, effectiveness and associated costs of these interventions, commissioners should consider using community pharmacies to help deliver public health services.
Randomised controlled trial evaluation of Tweet2Quit: a social network quit-smoking intervention
Authors: Pechmann Cornelia , Delucchi Kevin , Lakon Cynthia M , Prochaska Judith J
Published: March 2016

Background

We evaluated a novel Twitter-delivered intervention for smoking cessation, Tweet2Quit, which sends daily, automated communications to small, private, self-help groups to encourage high-quality, online, peer-to-peer discussions.

Design

A 2-group randomised controlled trial assessed the net benefit of adding a Tweet2Quit support group to a usual care control condition of nicotine patches and a cessation website.

Participants

Participants were 160 smokers (4 cohorts of 40/cohort), aged 18–59 years, who intended to quit smoking, used Facebook daily, texted weekly, and had mobile phones with unlimited texting.

Intervention

All participants received 56 days of nicotine patches, emails with links to the smokefree.gov cessation website, and instructions to set a quit date within 7 days. Additionally, Tweet2Quit participants were enrolled in 20-person, 100-day Twitter groups, and received daily discussion topics via Twitter, and daily engagement feedback via text.

Measures

The primary outcome was sustained abstinence at 7, 30 and 60 days post-quit date.

Results

Participants (mean age 35.7 years, 26.3% male, 31.2% college degree, 88.7% Caucasian) averaged 18.0 (SD=8.2) cigarettes per day and 16.8 (SD=9.8) years of smoking. Participants randomised to Tweet2Quit averaged 58.8 tweets/participant and the average tweeting duration was 47.4 days/participant. Tweet2Quit doubled sustained abstinence out to 60 days follow-up (40.0%, 26/65) versus control (20.0%, 14/70), OR=2.67, CI 1.19 to 5.99, p=0.017. Tweeting via phone predicted tweet volume, and tweet volume predicted sustained abstinence (p<0.001). The daily autocommunications caused tweeting spikes accounting for 24.0% of tweets.

Conclusions

Tweet2Quit was engaging and doubled sustained abstinence. Its low cost and scalability makes it viable as a global cessation treatment.

Trial registration number

NCT01602536.
Creating boreal mixedwoods by planting spruce under aspen: successful establishment in uncertain future climates
Authors: Kabzems Richard , Comeau Philip G. , Filipescu Cosmin N. , Rogers Bruce , Linnell Nemec Amanda F.
Published: March 2016

Planting white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) under established aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) stands has substantial potential for regenerating mixedwood ecosystems in the western Canadian boreal forest. The presence of an aspen overstory serves to ameliorate frost and winter injury problems and suppresses understory vegetation that may compete with white spruce. Under future climatic regimes with more frequent and severe drought episodes, underplanting may be a cost-effective strategy for lowering the risk of mortality in mixedwood regeneration. We examine the growth of white spruce during the first 18 years after being planted beneath a 39-year-old stand of trembling aspen. Treatments included thinning from over 6000 stems·ha−1 to 3000, 2000, and 1000 stems·ha−1 and fertilization. Initial stimulation of understory vegetation by fertilization had no measureable effect on spruce heights or diameters at year 18. Aspen thinning treatments did not have a significant effect on spruce height growth rates after spruce crowns had emerged above the understory shrub layer due to rapid aspen basal area increases after thinning. Small, but significant, increases for spruce height and diameter were present in the 1000 and 2000 stem·ha−1 aspen thinnings. A much wider range of aspen stand conditions may be suitable for planting spruce to create mixedwood ecosystems than has been previously considered.
A Framework for Assessing Liquefaction Hazard for Urban Areas Based on Soil Dynamics
Authors: Chen Jian , Takeyama Tomohide , O-Tani Hideyuki , Fujita Kohei , Hori Muneo
Published: March 2016

Soil liquefaction induced by earthquakes poses a great threat to urban areas, not only by causing direct damages to infrastructures but also by delaying rescue and relief actions. Established engineering assessment methods using indices such as factor of safety against liquefaction (FL) tend to overestimate liquefaction hazards. While the standard usage of soil dynamic analysis for liquefaction assessment is limited to a single site with detailed site information. In this paper, we propose a framework based on soil dynamics for assessing liquefaction hazard for urban areas which contain numerous sites with borehole logs only. The framework is featured by generating analysis models and by estimating material parameters automatically from available borehole information. The governing equations for soil dynamics are solved by a finite element code. Liquefaction hazard is assessed according to the solutions of excess pore water pressure for given seismic waves. As demonstrations, we show simulation results of simple shear tests and of seismic response for a target site under loadings of artificial and of actual seismic waves. The automatic model construction and parameter estimation enable this framework being applied effectively for urban-area-wide liquefaction assessment, as an alternative for the current practices based on engineering indices.
An Unsteady Double-Diffusive Natural Convection in an Inclined Rectangular Enclosure with Different Angles of Magnetic Field
Authors: Mondal Sabyasachi , Sibanda Precious
Published: March 2016

An unsteady double-diffusive natural convection flow in an inclined rectangular enclosure subject to an applied magnetic field and heat generation parameter is studied. The enclosure is heated and concentrated from one side and cooled from the adjacent side. The other two sides are adiabatic. The governing equations are solved numerically using a staggered grid finite-difference method to determine the streamline, isotherm and iso-concentration contours. We have further obtained the average Nusselt numbers and average Sherwood numbers for various values of buoyancy ratio and different angles of the magnetic field by considering three different inclination angles of the enclosure while keeping the aspect ratio fixed. The results indicate that the flow pattern, temperature and concentration fields are significantly dependent on the buoyancy ratio and the magnetic field angles. It is found that different angles of the magnetic field suppress the convection flow and its direction influences the flow patterns. This leads to the appearance of inner loop and multiple eddies.
A New High-Order Compact Scheme of Unstructured Finite Volume Method
Authors: Fu Lei , Zhang Shuai , Zheng Yao
Published: March 2016

A compact high-order scheme has been successfully proposed and verified in this paper. In this scheme, the traditional gradient reconstruction was replaced with a compact scheme. There were no needs to modify the process and algorithms of unstructured FVM including boundary conditions, flux technique, limiter functions and so on. Both memory and computation loads with the new scheme were not increased than the traditional one. Additionally, we modified Venkatakrishnan limiter to suppress numerical oscillation. The proposed compact scheme and modified Venkatakrishnan limiter have been verified with numerical experiments on benchmark problems. Numerical results showed good agreement with those obtained by other methods.
On the Propulsive Performance of Tandem Flapping Wings with a Modified Immersed Boundary Method
Authors: Pan Dingyi , Deng Jian , Shao Xueming , Liu Zubin
Published: March 2016

The modified immersed boundary method is introduced and applied to study the propulsive mechanism of a tandem flapping wings system. The effects of tandem wings distance and phase lag between the two flapping wings are investigated. Thrust force of the upstream wing is nearly constant and close to the magnitude of single flapping wing system. Thrust force of second wing is influenced by the distance and phase lag. With specific parameters, the second wing can obtain a maximum thrust which is larger than the one of first wing. The flow structures of the wake flow are classified into three different formations, and they are correlated to the trends of thrust force. The effects of distance and phase lag are coupled other than isolated. It is possible to lower down the power consumption of this tandem flapping wings system and enhance the total thrust force of the system at the same time.
The Spin Structure of the Nucleon
Authors: Ji Xiangdong , Zhao Yong
Published: March 2016

We justify the physical meaning of the spin and orbital angular momentum of free partons in the infinite momentum frame, and discuss the relationship between the Jaffe-Manohar and Ji’s sum rules for proton spin. The parton orbital angular momentum in the Jaffe-Manohar sum rule can be measured through twist-three GPD’s in hard scattering processes such as deeply virtual Compton scattering. Furthermore, we propose that the paton orbital angular momentum as well as the gluon helicity can be calculated in lattice QCD through a large momentum effective theory approach, and provide all the one-loop matching conditions for the proton spin content in perturbative QCD.