bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental Contact and Self-contact Patterns of Healthcare Workers: Implications for Infection Prevention and Control
Authors: Phan Linh T , Maita Dayana , Mortiz Donna C , Bleasdale Susan C , Jones Rachael M
Published: July 2019

Background

Respiratory viruses on fomites can be transferred to sites susceptible to infection via contact by hands or other fomites.

Methods

Care for hospitalized patients with viral respiratory infections was observed in the patient room for 3-hour periods at an acute care academic medical center for over a 2 year period. One trained observer recorded the healthcare activities performed, contacts with fomites, and self-contacts made by healthcare workers (HCWs), while another observer recorded fomite contacts of patients during the encounter using predefined checklists.

Results

The surface contacted by HCWs during the majority of visits was the patient (90%). Environmental surfaces contacted by HCWs frequently during healthcare activities included the tray table (48%), bed surface (41%), bed rail (41%), computer station (37%), and intravenous pole (32%). HCWs touched their own torso and mask in 32% and 29% of the visits, respectively. HCWs’ self-contacts differed significantly among HCW job roles, with providers and respiratory therapists contacting themselves significantly more times than nurses and nurse technicians (P < .05). When HCWs performed only 1 care activity, there were significant differences in the number of patient contacts and self-contacts that HCWs made during performance of multiple care activities (P < .05).

Conclusions

HCWs regularly contact environmental surfaces, patients, and themselves while providing care to patients with infectious diseases, varying among care activities and HCW job roles. These contacts may facilitate the transmission of infection to HCWs and susceptible patients.
Effect of Glove Decontamination on Bacterial Contamination of Healthcare Personnel Hands
Authors: Kpadeh-Rogers Zegbeh , Robinson Gwen L , Alserehi Haleema , Morgan Daniel J , Harris Anthony D , Herrera Natalia Blanco , Rose Laura J , Noble-Wang Judith , Johnson J Kristie , Leekha Surbhi
Published: July 2019

We examined the effect of glove decontamination prior to removal on bacterial contamination of healthcare personnel hands in a laboratory simulation study. Glove decontamination reduced bacterial contamination of hands following removal. However, hand contamination still occurred with all decontamination methods, reinforcing the need for hand hygiene following glove removal.
Case Fatality Ratio Estimates for the 2013–2016 West African Ebola Epidemic: Application of Boosted Regression Trees for Imputation
Authors: Forna Alpha , Nouvellet Pierre , Dorigatti Ilaria , Donnelly Christl A
Published: July 2019

Background

The 2013–2016 West African Ebola epidemic has been the largest to date with >11 000 deaths in the affected countries. The data collected have provided more insight into the case fatality ratio (CFR) and how it varies with age and other characteristics. However, the accuracy and precision of the naive CFR remain limited because 44% of survival outcomes were unreported.

Methods

Using a boosted regression tree model, we imputed survival outcomes (ie, survival or death) when unreported, corrected for model imperfection to estimate the CFR without imputation, with imputation, and adjusted with imputation. The method allowed us to further identify and explore relevant clinical and demographic predictors of the CFR.

Results

The out-of-sample performance (95% confidence interval [CI]) of our model was good: sensitivity, 69.7% (52.5–75.6%); specificity, 69.8% (54.1–75.6%); percentage correctly classified, 69.9% (53.7–75.5%); and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 76.0% (56.8–82.1%). The adjusted CFR estimates (95% CI) for the 2013–2016 West African epidemic were 82.8% (45.6–85.6%) overall and 89.1% (40.8–91.6%), 65.6% (61.3–69.6%), and 79.2% (45.4–84.1%) for Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia, respectively. We found that district, hospitalisation status, age, case classification, and quarter (date of case reporting aggregated at three-month intervals) explained 93.6% of the variance in the naive CFR.

Conclusions

The adjusted CFR estimates improved the naive CFR estimates obtained without imputation and were more representative. Used in conjunction with other resources, adjusted estimates will inform public health contingency planning for future Ebola epidemics, and help better allocate resources and evaluate the effectiveness of future inventions.
Advances and challenges for hemophilia gene therapy
Authors: Batty Paul , Lillicrap David
Published: July 2019

Hemophilia is an X-linked inherited bleeding disorder, resulting from defects in the F8 (hemophilia A) or F9 (hemophilia B) genes. Persons with hemophilia have bleeding episodes into the soft tissues and joints, which are treated with self-infusion of factor VIII or IX concentrates. Hemophilia provides an attractive target for gene therapy studies, due to the monogenic nature of these disorders and easily measurable endpoints (factor levels and bleed rates). All successful, pre-clinical and clinical studies to date have utilized recombinant adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors for factor VIII or IX hepatocyte transduction. Recent clinical data have presented normalization of factor levels in some patients with improvements in bleed rate and quality of life. The main toxicity seen within these studies has been early transient elevation in liver enzymes, with variable effect on transgene expression. Although long-term data are awaited, durable expression has been seen within the hemophilia dog model with no late-toxicity or oncogenesis. There are a number of phase III studies currently recruiting; however, there may be some limitations in translating these data to clinical practice, due to inclusion/exclusion criteria. AAV-based gene therapy is one of a number of novel approaches for treatment of hemophilia with other gene therapy (in vivo and ex vivo) and non-replacement therapies progressing through clinical trials. Availability of these high-cost novel therapeutics will require evolution of both clinical and financial healthcare services to allow equitable personalization of care for persons with hemophilia.
Improved Population Pharmacokinetic Model for Predicting Optimized Infliximab Exposure in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Bauman Laura E , Xiong Ye , Mizuno Tomoyuki , Minar Philip , Fukuda Tsuyoshi , Dong Min , Rosen Michael J , Vinks Alexander A
Published: July 2019

Background

Many pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) lose response to infliximab (IFX) within the first year, and achieving a minimal target IFX trough concentration is associated with higher remission rates and longer durability. Population pharmacokinetic (PK) modeling can predict trough concentrations for individualized dosing. The object of this study was to refine a population PK model that accurately predicts individual IFX exposure during maintenance therapy using longitudinal real-practice data.

Methods

We exported data from the electronic health records of pediatric patients with IBD treated with originator IFX at a single center between January 2011 and March 2017. Subjects were divided into discovery and validation cohorts. A population PK model was built and then validated.

Results

We identified 228 pediatric patients with IBD who received IFX and had at least 1 drug concentration measured, including 135 and 93 patients in the discovery and validation cohorts, respectively. Weight, albumin, antibodies to IFX (ATI) detected by a drug-tolerant assay, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were identified as covariates significantly associated with IFX clearance and incorporated into the model. The model exhibited high accuracy for predicting target IFX trough concentrations with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) of 0.86 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81–0.91) for population-based predictions without prior drug-level input. Accuracy increased further for individual-based predictions when prior drug levels were known, with an AUROC of 0.93 (95% CI, 0.90–0.97).

Conclusions

A population PK model utilizing weight, albumin, ordinal drug-tolerant ATI, and ESR accurately predicts IFX trough concentrations during maintenance therapy in real-practice pediatric patients with IBD. This model, which incorporates dynamic clinical information, could be used for individualized dosing decisions to increase response durability.
Impact of 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine on Pneumococcal Meningitis, Burkina Faso, 2016–2017
Authors: Soeters Heidi M , Kambiré Dinanibè , Sawadogo Guetawendé , Ouédraogo-Traoré Rasmata , Bicaba Brice , Medah Isaïe , Sangaré Lassana , Ouédraogo Abdoul-Salam , Ouangraoua Soumeya , Yaméogo Issaka , Congo-Ouédraogo Malika , Ky Ba Absatou , Aké Flavien , Srinivasan Velusamy , Novak Ryan T , McGee Lesley , Whitney Cynthia G , Van Beneden Chris
Published: July 2019

Background

In 2013, Burkina Faso introduced 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) into the routine childhood immunization program, to be administered to children at 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age. We evaluated the impact of PCV13 on pneumococcal meningitis.

Methods

Using nationwide surveillance, we gathered demographic/clinical information and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) results for meningitis cases. Pneumococcal cases were confirmed by culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or latex agglutination; strains were serotyped using PCR. We compared annual incidence (cases per 100 000) 4 years after PCV13’s introduction (2017) to average pre-PCV13 incidence (2011–2013). We adjusted incidence for age and proportion of cases with CSF tested at national laboratories.

Results

In 2017, pneumococcal meningitis incidence was 2.7 overall and 10.5 (<1 year), 3.8 (1–4 years), 3.5 (5–14 years), and 1.4 (≥15 years) by age group. Compared to 2011–2013, PCV13-serotype incidence was significantly lower among all age groups, with the greatest decline among children aged <1 year (77%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 65%–84%). Among all ages, the drop in incidence was larger for PCV13 serotypes excluding serotype 1 (79%; 95% CI, 72%–84%) than for serotype 1 (52%; 95% CI, 44%–59%); incidence of non-PCV13 serotypes also declined (53%; 95% CI, 37%–65%). In 2017, 45% of serotyped cases among all ages were serotype 1 and 12% were other PCV13 serotypes.

Conclusions

In Burkina Faso, meningitis caused by PCV13 serotypes continues to decrease, especially among young children. However, the concurrent decline in non-PCV13 serotypes and short pre-PCV13 observation period complicate evaluation of PCV13’s impact. Efforts to improve control of serotype 1, such as switching from a 3 + 0 schedule to a 2 + 1 schedule, may improve overall control of pneumococcal meningitis in this setting.
Electrical stimulation of cell growth and neurogenesis using conductive and nonconductive microfibrous scaffolds
Authors: Grossemy Simon , Chan Peggy P Y , Doran Pauline M
Published: July 2019

The effect of exogenous electrical stimulation on cell viability, attachment, growth, and neurogenesis was examined using PC12 cells in microfibrous viscose-rayon scaffolds immersed in culture medium. The scaffolds were applied either in their nonconductive state or after coating the fibres with 200 nm of gold to give a scaffold sheet resistivity of (13 ± 1.3) Ω square−1. The cells were treated for 12 days using direct current electrical stimulation of 2 h per day. No cytotoxic effects were observed when up to 500 mV (8.3 mV mm−1) was applied to the scaffolds without gold, or when up to 100 mV (1.7 mV mm−1) was applied to the scaffolds with gold. Compared with unstimulated cells, whereas electrical stimulation significantly enhanced cell growth and attachment in the nonconductive scaffolds without gold, similar effects were not found for the conductive scaffolds with gold. Neural differentiation in the presence of nerve growth factor was improved by electrical stimulation in both scaffolds; however, neurite development and the expression of key differentiation markers were greater in the nonconductive scaffolds without gold than in the scaffolds with gold. Application of the same current to scaffolds with and without gold led to much higher levels of neurogenesis in the scaffolds without gold. This work demonstrates that substantial benefits in terms of cell growth and neural differentiation can be obtained using electric fields exerted across nonconductive microfibrous scaffolds, and that this approach to electrical stimulation can be more effective than when the stimulus is applied to cells on conductive scaffolds.
Durability of antimicrobial activity of antibiotic-impregnated external ventricular drains: a prospective study
Authors: Mounier Roman , Lang Elodie , Hulin Anne , Woerther Paul-Louis , Lobo David , Martin Mathieu , Bitot Valérie , Flores Lyse , Cherruault Marlene , Jost Paul-Henri , Couffin Severine , Tomberli Françoise , Bardon Jean , Lahiani Wissem , Dhonneur Gilles , Cook Fabrice , Lebeaux David
Published: July 2019

Background

Antibiotic-impregnated external ventricular drains (AI-EVDs) have a debated efficacy in clinical studies.

Objectives

Our aim was to assess the durability of antimicrobial activity of AI-EVDs used in clinical settings.

Methods

From April 2017 to January 2018, all consecutive AI-EVDs (Bactiseal™) inserted in adult patients were prospectively included. After removal, each AI-EVD was cultured and assessed for antimicrobial activity on both internal and external sides of AI-EVDs. Catheters were each challenged with a single Staphylococcus strain [MSSA, MRSA or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE)]. MS was used to measure residual concentrations of rifampicin and clindamycin.

Results

Sixty-five AI-EVDs were included (56 patients). Among these, 21 were challenged with MSSA, 23 with MRSA and 21 with MRSE. Five ventriculostomy-related colonizations (9%) and two ventriculostomy-related infections (4%) occurred. Staphylococcus was the main bacterium responsible for colonization (4/5). AI-EVD inhibition decreased significantly against MRSA and MRSE according to duration of catheterization (for external and internal sides, P < 0.02) and overall volume of CSF drained (P < 0.005 for both sides against MRSE, P < 0.005 for external side against MRSA), but not against MSSA. Clindamycin concentration was not correlated with duration of catheterization or CSF volume drained, but <20% of initial concentration was recovered even after 5 days of AI-EVD dwelling. Conversely, rifampicin concentration showed a rapid and significant decline correlated to duration and CSF volume (P < 0.001 and P = 0.03, respectively).

Conclusions

Antimicrobial activity of AI-EVDs dropped quickly in vivo. Antimicrobial impregnation did not prevent AI-EVD colonization by susceptible strains in 9% of the cases.
Socio-economic Consequences of Displacement and Resettlement: A Case on the Planned Oil-refinery-development Project in the Albertine Region of Uganda
Authors: Aboda Caroline , Vedeld Paul , Byakagaba Patrick , Mugagga Frank , Nabanoga Goretti , Ruguma Tumwine Fredrick , Mukwaya Paul
Published: July 2019

Millions of people are every year forcefully displaced from their places of residence and alienated from access to livelihood assets through large-scale development projects. This article examines different socio-economic consequences of displacement and resettlement caused by the planned oil-refinery site in Uganda. Household survey and interviews were employed to elicit the necessary data, analysed through descriptive statistics, logistic-regression and content analysis. Although the resettlement process exposed households to some benefits, most households were exposed to substantial risks. Over 81 per cent of households experiencing displacement lost their land and experienced reduced resource access. The results also showed significant relationships between consequences and socio-economic characteristics of respondents in that both male and female respondents had access to more and productive assets; and larger land sizes and incomes were reported to have been more affected. Also vulnerable groups including females and those with low or no education levels were more risk-prone than before the resettlement. In future development projects, the government should take into consideration the effect of the displacement and resettlement on asset access.
DREAM and RB cooperate to induce gene repression and cell-cycle arrest in response to p53 activation
Authors: Uxa Sigrid , Bernhart Stephan H , Mages Christina F S , Fischer Martin , Kohler Robin , Hoffmann Steve , Stadler Peter F , Engeland Kurt , Müller Gerd A
Published: July 2019

Most human cancers acquire mutations causing defects in the p53 signaling pathway. The tumor suppressor p53 becomes activated in response to genotoxic stress and is essential for arresting the cell cycle to facilitate DNA repair or to initiate apoptosis. p53-induced cell cycle-arrest is mediated by expression of the CDK inhibitor p21WAF1/Cip1, which prevents phosphorylation and inactivation of the pocket proteins RB, p130, and p107. In a hypophosphorylated state, pocket proteins bind to E2F factors forming RB-E2F and DREAM transcriptional repressor complexes. Here, we analyze the influence of RB and DREAM on p53-induced gene repression and cell-cycle arrest. We show that abrogation of DREAM function by knockout of the DREAM component LIN37 results in a reduced repression of cell-cycle genes. We identify the genes repressed by the p53-DREAM pathway and describe a set of genes that is downregulated by p53 independent of LIN37/DREAM. Most strikingly, p53-dependent repression of cell-cycle genes is completely abrogated in LIN37−/−;RB−/− cells leading to a loss of the G1/S checkpoint. Taken together, we show that DREAM and RB are key factors in the p53 signaling pathway to downregulate a large number of cell-cycle genes and to arrest the cell cycle at the G1/S transition.
FICC-Seq: a method for enzyme-specified profiling of methyl-5-uridine in cellular RNA
Authors: Carter Jean-Michel , Emmett Warren , Mozos Igor Rdl , Kotter Annika , Helm Mark , Ule Jernej , Hussain Shobbir
Published: July 2019

Methyl-5-uridine (m5U) is one the most abundant non-canonical bases present in cellular RNA, and in yeast is found at position U54 of tRNAs where modification is catalysed by the methyltransferase Trm2. Although the mammalian enzymes that catalyse m5U formation are yet to be identified via experimental evidence, based on sequence homology to Trm2, two candidates currently exist, TRMT2A and TRMT2B. Here we developed a genome-wide single-nucleotide resolution mapping method, Fluorouracil-Induced-Catalytic-Crosslinking-Sequencing (FICC-Seq), in order to identify the relevant enzymatic targets. We demonstrate that TRMT2A is responsible for the majority of m5U present in human RNA, and that it commonly targets U54 of cytosolic tRNAs. By comparison to current methods, we show that FICC-Seq is a particularly robust method for accurate and reliable detection of relevant enzymatic target sites. Our associated finding of extensive irreversible TRMT2A-tRNA crosslinking in vivo following 5-Fluorouracil exposure is also intriguing, as it suggests a tangible mechanism for a previously suspected RNA-dependent route of Fluorouracil-mediated cytotoxicity.
Maternal and child gluten intake and risk of type 1 diabetes: The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study
Authors: Lund-Blix Nicolai A , Tapia German , Mårild Karl , Brantsaeter Anne Lise , Njølstad Pål R , Joner Geir , Skrivarhaug Torild , Størdal Ketil , Stene Lars C
Published: July 2019

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between maternal and child gluten intake and risk of type 1 diabetes in children.

DESIGN

Pregnancy cohort

SETTING

Population-based, nation-wide study in Norway

PARTICIPANTS

86,306 children in The Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study born from 1999 through 2009, followed to April 15, 2018.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Clinical type 1 diabetes, ascertained in a nation-wide childhood diabetes registry. Hazard ratios were estimated using Cox regression for the exposures maternal gluten intake up to week 22 of pregnancy and child’s gluten intake when the child was 18 months old.

RESULTS

During a mean follow-up of 12.3 years (range 0.7-16.0), 346 children (0.4%) developed type 1 diabetes (incidence rate 32.6 per 100,000 person-years). The average gluten intake was 13.6 grams/day for mothers during pregnancy, and 8.8 grams/day for the child at 18 months of age. Maternal gluten intake in mid-pregnancy was not associated with the development of type 1 diabetes in the child (adjusted hazard ratio 1.02 (95% confidence interval 0.73 to 1.43) per 10 grams/day increase in gluten intake). However, the child’s gluten intake at 18 months of age was associated with an increased risk of later developing type 1 diabetes (adjusted hazard ratio 1.46 (95% confidence interval 1.06 to 2.01) per 10 grams/day increase in gluten intake).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the child’s gluten intake at 18 months of age, and not the maternal intake during pregnancy, could increase the risk of type 1 diabetes in the child.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC

A national prospective cohort study from Denmark found that a high maternal gluten intake during pregnancy could increase the risk of type 1 diabetes in the offspring (adjusted hazard ratio 1.31 (95% confidence interval 1.001 to 1.72) per 10 grams/day increase in gluten intake). No studies have investigated the relation between the amount of gluten intake by both the mother during pregnancy and the child in early life and risk of developing type 1 diabetes in childhood.

WHAT THIS STUDY ADDS

In this prospective population-based pregnancy cohort with 86,306 children of whom 346 developed type 1 diabetes we found that the child’s gluten intake at 18 months of age was associated with the risk of type 1 diabetes (adjusted hazard ratio 1.46 (95% confidence interval 1.06 to 2.01) per 10 grams/day increase in gluten intake). This study suggests that the child’s gluten intake at 18 months of age, and not the maternal intake during pregnancy, could increase the child’s risk of type 1 diabetes.
Prolonged podocyte depletion in larval zebrafish resembles mammalian focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis
Authors: Ingeborg Hansen Kerrin Ursula , Siegerist Florian , Daniel Sophie , Schindler Maximilian , Blumenthal Antje , Zhou Weibin , Endlich Karlhans , Endlich Nicole
Published: July 2019

Although FSGS has been in the scientific focus for many years, it is still a massive burden for patients with no causal therapeutic option. In FSGS, podocytes are injured, parietal epithelial cells (PECs) are activated and engage in the formation of cellular lesions leading to progressive glomerular scarring. Herein we show that podocyte-depleted zebrafish larvae develop acute proteinuria, severe foot process effacement and activate PECs which create cellular lesions and deposit extracellular matrix on the glomerular tuft. We therefore propose that this model shows features of human FSGS and show its applicability for a high-throughput drug screening assay.
Probing protein-protein and protein-substrate interactions in the dynamic membrane-associated ternary complex of Cytochromes P450, b5, and Reductase
Authors: Gentry Katherine A. , Anantharamaiah G. M. , Ramamoorthy Ayyalusamy
Published: July 2019

Cytochrome P450 (cytP450) interacts with two redox partners, cytP450 reductase and cytochrome-b5, to metabolize substrates. Using NMR, we reveal changes in the dynamic interplay when all three proteins are incorporated into lipids nanodiscs in the absence and presence of substrates.
ARABIDOPSIS NITRATE REGULATED 1 acts as a negative modulator of seed germination by activatingABI3expression
Authors: Lin Jia-Hui , Yu Lin-Hui , Xiang Cheng-Bin
Published: July 2019

Seed germination is a crucial transition point in plant life and is tightly regulated by environmental conditions through the coordination of two phytohormones, gibberellin and abscisic acid (ABA). To avoid unfavorable conditions, plants have evolved safeguard mechanisms for seed germination. Here, we report a novel function of the Arabidopsis MADS-box transcription factor ARABIDOPSIS NITRATE REGULATED 1 (ANR1) in seed germination.ANR1knockout mutant is insensitive to ABA, salt, and osmotic stress during the seed germination and early seedling development stages, whereasANR1-overexpressing lines are hypersensitive. ANR1 is responsive to ABA and abiotic stresses and upregulates the expression ofABI3to suppress seed germination.ANR1andABI3have similar expression pattern during seed germination. Genetically,ABI3acts downstream ofANR1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and yeast-one-hybrid assays showed that ANR1 could bind to theABI3promoter to regulate its expression. In addition, ANR1 acts synergistically with AGL21 to suppress seed germination in response to ABA as evidenced byanr1 agl21double mutant. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the ANR1 plays an important role in regulating seed germination and early post-germination growth. ANR1 and AGL21 together constitutes a safeguard mechanism for seed germination to avoid unfavorable conditions.
A porcine ex vivo lung perfusion model to investigate bacterial pathogenesis
Authors: Dumigan Amy , Fitzgerald Marianne , Sá Pessoa Graca Santos Joana , Hamid Umar , O’Kane Cecilia M. , McAuley Danny F. , Bengoechea Jose A.
Published: July 2019

The use of animal infection models is essential to understand microbial pathogenesis and to develop and test treatments. Insects, and 2D and 3D tissue models are increasingly being used as surrogate for mammalian models. However, there are concerns whether these models recapitulate the complexity of host-pathogen interactions. Here, we developed theex vivolung perfusion (EVLP) model of infection using porcine lungs to investigateKlebsiella pneumoniae-triggered pneumonia as model of respiratory infections. The porcine EVLP model recapitulates features ofK. pneumoniae-induced pneumonia lung injury. This model is also useful to assess the pathogenic potential ofK. pneumoniaeas we observed that the attenuatedKlebsiellacapsule mutant strain caused less pathological tissue damage with a concomitant decrease in the bacterial burden compare to lungs infected with the wild type. The porcine EVLP model allows assessment of inflammatory responses following infection; similar to the mouse pneumonia model, we observed an increase ofil-10in the lungs infected with the wild type and an increase ofifn-γin lungs infected with the capsule mutant. This model also allows monitoring phenotypes at the single-cell level. Wild-typeK. pneumoniaeskews macrophages towards an M2-like state. In vitro experiments probing pig bone marrow-derived macrophages uncovered the role of the M2 transcriptional factor STAT6, and thatKlebsiella-inducedil10expression is controlled by p38 and ERK.Klebsiella-induced macrophage polarization is dependent on the capsule. Altogether, this study support the utility of the EVLP model using pig lungs as platform to investigate the infection biology of respiratory pathogens.

IMPORTANCE

The implementation of infection models that approximate human disease is essential to understand infections and for testing new therapies before they enter into clinical stages. Rodents are used in most of pre-clinical studies, although the differences between mouse and man have fuelled the conclusion that murine studies are unreliable predictors of human outcomes. Here, we have developed a whole lung porcine model of infection using the establishedex vivolung perfusion (EVLP) system established to re-condition human lungs for transplant. As a proof-of-principle, we provide evidence demonstrating that infection of the porcine EVLP with the human pathogenK. pneumoniaerecapitulates the known features ofKlebsiella-triggered pneumonia. Moreover, our data revealed the porcine EVLP model is useful to reveal features of the virulence ofK. pneumoniaeincluding the manipulation of immune cells. Altogether, this study supports the utility of the EVLP model using pig lungs as surrogate host for assessing respiratory infections.
Micro-probing enables high-resolution mapping of neuronal subpopulations using fMRI
Authors: Carvalho Joana , Invernizzi Azzurra , Ahmadi Khazar , Hoffmann Michael B. , Renken Remco J. , Cornelissen Frans W.
Published: July 2019

The characterization of receptive field (RF) properties is fundamental to understanding the neural basis of sensory and cognitive behaviour. The combination of non-invasive imaging, such as fMRI, with biologically inspired neural modeling has enabled the estimation of population RFs directly in humans. However, current approaches require making numerous a priori assumptions, so these cannot reveal unpredicted properties, such as fragmented RFs or subpopulations. This is a critical limitation in studies on adaptation, pathology or reorganization. Here, we introduce micro-probing (MP), a technique for fine-grained and assumption free characterisation of subpopulation RFs. Without specific stimuli or adapted models, MP mapped the bilateral RFs characteristic of observers with a congenital pathway disorder. Moreover, in healthy observers, MP revealed voxels that capture the activity of multiple neuronal subpopulations. Thus, MP provides a versatile framework to visualize, analyze and model, without restrictions, the diverse RFs of cortical subpopulations in health and disease.
Analysis of the influence of soft soil grouting on the metro tunnel based on field measurement
Authors: Ding Zhi , Zhang Xiao , Yin Xinsheng , Jiang Jiqing
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse the effect of soft soil grouting on the deformation of the closed shield tunnel with the measured data.

Design/methodology/approach

Combining the measured data of vertical, horizontal and convergence deformation of the adjacent tunnel during the grouting construction in foundation pit engineering, the influence of grouting on metro tunnel in soft soil area is analyzed.

Findings

The researches indicate that early grouting has the main effect on the horizontal displacement of the tunnel; Due to the disturbing effect of the uninterrupted grouting construction on the soil and the transfer pressure of the rheological soil to the bottom of the tunnel, the tunnel is obviously lifted; And the convergence deformation of the tunnel increases caused by the overburden pressure in the vertical direction, so that the tunnel appears the phenomenon of staggered seam, large opening of bolted joint, damaged segment even leakage of water.

Originality/value

The study based on the field monitoring data is rarely reported, especially the topic about inadvertent grouting in soft soil area is likely to cause severe deformation of adjacent metro tunnel.
Flipped classroom pedagogy
Authors: Das Ashish , Lam Tri Khai , Thomas Susan , Richardson Joan , Kam Booi Hon , Lau Kwok Hung , Nkhoma Mathews Zanda
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the implementation of the flipped classroom method in teaching the course and to investigate the student’s perceived helpfulness, learning outcomes and satisfaction in respect of the pre-class learning videos.

Design/methodology/approach

Pre-class learning videos were integrated into a course to encourage students to acquire knowledge before lectures and workshops. Having completed the flipped classroom, a delivery questionnaire containing all items was distributed to all of the participants. The data collected were analysed statistically, using a structured equation modelling technique.

Findings

Findings indicate that the perceived quality of experience of using videos before lectures and workshops has a positive influence on the perceived helpfulness of the pre-class learning videos. Furthermore, the perceived helpfulness of the pre-class learning videos has a positive effect of the acquisition perceived learning outcomes. The perceived helpfulness of the pre-class learning videos also has a positive impact on the student satisfaction with the course. Finally, there is a positive and causal relationship between the perceived learning outcomes and student’s satisfaction with the course.

Originality/value

Analysis reveals that the learning process and student satisfaction are improved by using pre-class learning videos.
Fostering preservice teacher agency in 21st century writing instruction
Authors: Jensen Amber
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to recommend that English educators engage preservice teachers (PSTs) in thinking and acting agentively in twenty-first century writing instruction by prompting them to examine and (re)construct discourses around identity, beliefs and teaching contexts. It explores metacognitive interventions that supported one PST to assume agency to implement twenty-first century writing pedagogies that challenged institutional and curricular norms.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study design was used to explore how one PST enacted agency in teaching twenty-first century writing during student teaching. Data were collected from five stimulated recall interviews that prompted metacognition over a four-month internship semester. Emerging themes were analyzed using content analysis.

Findings

During interviews, the PST constructed narratives about herself, her beliefs and her teaching context in ways that catalyzed her agency to enact twenty-first century writing pedagogies in planning for instruction, framing learning with her students and negotiating with her colleagues. The PST perceived metacognitive intervention as a supportive framework for activating her agency to both “see” and “sell” (Nowacek, 2011) possibilities for implementing twenty-first century writing instruction in her first teaching context.

Originality/value

While most existing literature on teacher agency focuses on practicing teachers, this paper focuses on activating agency during teacher preparation. It draws upon theories of regulative discourse (Mills, 2015), transfer (Nowacek, 2011) and metacognition as constructs for agency to identify how English educators can prepare PSTs as agents for change.
Effects of iron content on tribological properties of Cu-Fe-based friction material
Authors: Zheng Yanxin , Liu Ying , Zheng Feng , Song Qingsong , Zhang Caili , Wang Jian , Dong Nan , Shi Aijuan , Han Peide
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of iron content on the friction and wear performances of Cu–Fe-based friction materials under dry sliding friction and wear test condition.

Design/methodology/approach

Cu–Fe-based friction materials with different iron content were prepared by powder metallurgy route. The tribological properties of Cu–Fe-based friction materials against GCr15 steel balls were studied at different applied loads and sliding speeds. Meanwhile, microstructure and phases of Cu–Fe-based friction materials were investigated.

Findings

Cu–Fe-based friction materials with different iron content are suitable for specific applied load and sliding speed, respectively. Low iron content Cu–Fe-based friction material is suitable for a high load 60 N and low sliding speed 70 mm/min and high iron content Cu–Fe-based friction material will be more suitable for a high load 60 N and high sliding speed 150 mm/min. The abrasive wear is the main wear mechanism for two kinds of Cu–Fe-based friction materials.

Originality/value

The friction and wear properties of Cu–Fe-based friction materials with different iron content were determined at different applied loads and sliding speeds, providing a direction and theoretical basis for the future development of Cu–Fe-based friction materials.
Microstructure and tribological property of self-lubrication CBN abrasive composites containing molybdenum disulfide
Authors: Zhao Biao , Ding Wenfeng , Kuang Weijie , Fu Yucan
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to evaluate the influence of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) concentrations (5, 7.5, 10, 12.5 and 15 Wt.%) on the microstructure and tribological property of the self-lubrication cubic boron nitride (CBN) abrasive composites.

Design/methodology/approach

Three point bending method and rotating sliding test are used to evaluate the flexural strength and tribological property of self-lubricating CBN abrasive composites. Microstructure, wear morphology of the ball and scratch are supported by scanning electron microscopy, optical microscope and three-dimensional confocal microscopy, etc.

Findings

The MoS2 concentration has a significant influence on the interface microstructure between CBN abrasives and matrix alloys, and thus, affects the flexural strength of CBN abrasive composites. The grain fracture modes of CBN abrasive composites are transformed from the transgranular fracture into intergranular fracture as the MoS2 concentrations increase. Additionally, the friction coefficient of as-sintered samples decreases with the MoS2 concentrations. The MoS2 concentrations of 10 Wt.% are final determined to fabricate self-lubricating composites in basis of the mechanical and lubricating property.

Originality/value

The ball is fabricated under vacuum sintering process. The tribological property of self-lubricating CBN abrasive composites is evaluated in terms of the friction coefficient and morphologies of the ball and scratches after rotating sliding tests.
Commentary: transformative service research and social marketing – converging pathways to social change
Authors: Russell-Bennett Rebekah , Fisk Raymond P. , Rosenbaum Mark S. , Zainuddin Nadia
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss two parallel but distinct subfields of marketing that share common interests (enhancing consumers’ lives and improving well-being): social marketing and transformative service research. The authors also suggest a research agenda.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper offers a conceptual approach and research agenda by comparing and contrasting the two marketing fields of transformative service research and social marketing.

Findings

Specifically, this paper proposes three opportunities to propel both fields forward: 1) breaking boundaries that inhibit research progress, which includes collaboration between public, private and nonprofit sectors to improve well-being; 2) adopting more customer-oriented approaches that go beyond the organizational and individual levels; and 3) taking a non-linear approach to theory development that innovates and co-creates solutions.

Originality/value

This paper presents the challenges and structural barriers for two subfields seeking to improve human well-being. This paper is the first to bring these subfields together and propose a way for them to move forward together.
The effect of managerial horizon on cash holdings
Authors: Guha Sanjib , Rahim Niazur
Published: July 2019

Purpose

US corporations are now sitting on an enormous stockpile of cash. Instead of investing their resources and creating jobs, the firms are holding on to excess cash. Academicians and practitioners alike have tried to fathom the reasons why companies are holding on to so much cash. Numerous studies have talked about the various motives for holding cash. Many researchers have tried to correlate excess cash holding with particular firm characteristics. The purpose of this paper is to study the correlations that exist between excess cash holding and some measurable managerial characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

Four different measures of managerial horizon (MH) were constructed. The first two constructs (MH1 and MH2) are based on the CEO’s age and how long he has been the CEO of the company. The next two constructs (MH3 and MH4) are based on compensation, proportion of current compensation and proportion of future compensation. This paper tries to examine if MH has any impact on excess cash holding.

Findings

The results clearly show that the CEO age and the proportion of CEO’s compensation (current and future) do determine level of cash holding in the company. Younger CEOs hold more cash compared to older CEOs. Older CEOs hold less cash suggesting that as CEOs grow older they might be motivated by the idea of leaving a long lasting legacy. CEOs who receive more of their compensation in future payments also hold on to more cash, whereas CEOs who receive more of their compensation in current payments hold less cash.

Originality/value

There is no previous literature dealing with MH and cash holding by corporations.
Telling a success story through the president’s letter
Authors: Martins Adelaide , Gomes Delfina , Oliveira Lídia , Ribeiro João Leite
Published: July 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the role of storytelling and impression management (IM) through the president’s letter in legitimizing the practices of an electricity company with regard to controversial issues during a period of change.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on a qualitative case study, this paper examines annual report letters from 1995 to 2013 using a methodological interpretative approach.

Findings

By promoting a success story using IM, the presidents give sense to particular actions related with controversial issues and attempt to influence expectations on strategic changes. The findings demonstrate that organizational actors use the flexibility of the president’s letter to tellthestory and emphasize its self-laudatory nature. The study highlights that storytelling in these documents can be used to alleviate the tensions created by the inherent contradictions of social structures.

Practical implications

This research is useful for regulatory authorities, users of annual reports and academic researchers, making them attentive of the narratives companies may adopt to protect their legitimacy. The findings shed light on the need to evaluate the credibility of accountability mechanisms and can help stakeholders to develop a more critical view of the president’s letter.

Originality/value

This paper makes a contribution to research on communication issues by expanding literature on accounting and organizational storytelling. By demonstrating how presidents use sensegiving as a means of legitimacy-claiming, this study adds to the literature on legitimating accounts. In doing so, this paper bridges the gap between theories about organizational legitimacy, storytelling and IM. To sum up, the findings serve as an incremental step toward understanding the nature of accountability reporting.
Collective action and UK wine investment fraud
Authors: Einarsen Karina Mari Olsen , Jack Lisa
Published: July 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the measures taken by legitimate wine investment companies and enforcement agencies to counter alternative investment scams.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors interviewed wine industry and law enforcement specialists to understand the nature of wine investment fraud and the characteristics of the victims. They also drew on secondary data in the form of government agency research and media sources.

Findings

The majority of wine investment frauds are boiler room operations, using social engineering techniques to draw victims into the fraud. The authors conclude that countering wine investment fraud requires public education by government, the wine industry and the police.

Research limitations/implications

This is a small-scale study that uses interviews with experts in the industry and in law enforcement and secondary data as evidence. Despite the limitations in the number of interviews, the authors are able to comment on the social impacts of alternative investment scams and suggest a theoretical basis for future work in the field.

Practical implications

The authors make a case for regulators and investors to be part of collective action through education and public awareness campaigns to combat alternative investment fraud.

Originality/value

The authors outline how collective action theory might be extended to investigate fraud prevention measures in other financial and commodity markets.
Traits including leaf dry matter content and leaf pH dominate over forest soil pH as drivers of litter decomposition among 60 species
Authors: Tao Jianping , Zuo Juan , He Ze , Wang Yuping , Liu Jinchun , Liu Wendan , Cornelissen Johannes H. C.
Published: July 2019

Soil pH varies by several units among ecosystems. While soil pH is known to be a key driver of plant species composition, we still have a poor understanding of how it affects carbon cycling processes. For instance, soil pH, or its associated chemistry in terms of base cations and organic acids, may affect decomposition rates of dead matter directly, by controlling decomposer composition and activity and, indirectly, by controlling the traits of the plant species and thereby the afterlife effects of those traits on litter decomposition. Leaf and litter pH may play a role in this control. Based on the very limited empirical data available, we hypothesized that variation in species traits including leaf (litter) pH, within and between ecosystems contrasting in soil pH, would have stronger effects on leaf litter decomposition rates than variation in soil chemistry would.

We tested this hypothesis by carrying out a ‘common garden’ litterbed experiment in subtropical SW China, in which leaf litters of the 30 predominant plant species from mid‐successional forest on acidic sandstone (soil pH around 4.0) and calcareous soil (pH around 7.5), respectively, were incubated and their decomposition rates measured over two harvests in 14 months, both in soil plus litter matrix from their ‘home’ forest and in those from the ‘away’ forest.

We found that leaf (litter) trait variation among species and plant functional types, headed by species' dry matter content but also including tissue pH, was the strongest driver of variation in leaf litter decomposition rates. Surprisingly, however, while these effects of interspecific trait variation were very strong among species from the same site, there was no overall difference in litter decomposability between the species from the acidic versus calcareous site. Equally surprising was that this strong difference in pH of soil substrate plus litter matrix from an acidic sandstone site versus a calcareous karst site did not directly affect leaf litter decomposition rates across a given species set.

This first attempt to disentangle the multiple potential direct and indirect ways in which soil and leaf (litter) acidity might be related to litter decomposition rates has important implications for our understanding of soil–plant feedbacks. Based on our forest‐based study, we predict that soil–plant feedbacks via acidity are unlikely to be strong in ecosystems with wide‐ranging species in terms of their leaf functional traits, including leaf pH.

A freePlain Language Summarycan be found within the Supporting Information of this article.
Four Laws of Consumption
Authors: Clements Kenneth W.
Published: July 2019

Scientific knowledge can be distilled into a set of laws that are sufficiently general and robust to be useful in describing and predicting behaviour – the behaviour of physical objects (the orbits of the planets, for example), invisible forces (electricity), economies (why some prosper and others languish) and people (education as deliberate investment in human capital). This paper identifies four empirical regularities in consumption behaviour that are sufficiently general and pervasive to qualify as ‘laws’: Engel’s law; the law of demand (the downward‐sloping demand curve); quantities more dispersed than prices; and the ‘law’ offor price elasticities. In each case, I survey previous research, use international evidence to illustrate the workings of the laws and demonstrate their practical use.