bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘MICH SCHWINDELT VOR FARBE UND DUFT’: NATURE AND SUBJECTIVITY IN SARAH KIRSCH'S LANDAUFENTHALT
Authors: Stokes Anne
Published: March 2017

There appears to be a critical consensus that the poetry of Sarah Kirsch revealed from the outset a tension between the individual and society, between the poet's private experiences and those of the socialist collective. This essay argues, however, that sustained critical focus on implicit political opposition to travel restrictions and the inequality of the sexes in a handful of Kirsch's poems from the late sixties has resulted in a lack of attention to the main concern of her debut solo collection Landaufenthalt, namely the poet's questioning and eventual abandoning of the dictates of socialist realism regarding the role of nature in poetry, and the pivotal role played by her personal interaction with nature in this process, as signalled in the title. The essay discusses the depiction of nature in allegedly dissident poems involving travel that are situated at the start of the collection before considering poems about features of the natural landscape that appear after the title poem. It outlines the evolution of Kirsch's questioning of official cultural policy within the context of the lyric poetry debate in Forum in the sixties and her decisive departure from socialist realism in the final poem of the collection.

Es besteht ein allgemeines Einvernehmen darüber, dass Sarah Kirschs Lyrik von Anfang an durch die Spannung zwischen dem Individuum und der Gesellschaft oder genauer, zwischen den eigenen Erfahrungen und denen des sozialistischen Kollektivs geprägt war. Entgegen dieser Meinung wird im vorliegenden Beitrag behauptet, dass die andauernde Fokussierung auf implizite politische Opposition gegen Reisebeschränkungen und die Ungleichheit der Geschlechter in einigen Gedichten Kirschs aus den späten 1960er Jahren das Hauptanliegen ihres Erstlingswerks Landaufenthalt übersieht, nämlich wie Kirsch den Sozialistischen Realismus in Frage stellt und die entscheidende, im Titel signalisierte Zwiesprache der Dichterin mit der Natur in diesem Prozess. Der Beitrag erläutert zunächst die Darstellung der Natur in den vermeintlich regimekritischen und sich mit Reisen beschäftigenden Gedichten am Anfang des Gedichtbandes und danach die Beschäftigung der Dichterin mit der Naturlandschaft, die nach dem Titelgedicht immer deutlicher in den Vordergrund tritt. Die Analyse verdeutlicht, wie Kirsch im Rahmen der Forum‐Lyrikdebatte der sechziger Jahre die offizielle Kulturpolitik über die Verwendung von Naturphänomenen in lyrischen Versen in Frage stellt, um sich dann schließlich im letzten Gedicht des Bandes vom Sozialistischen Realismus entschieden abzuwenden.
Ageing, dental caries and periodontal diseases
Authors: López Rodrigo , Smith Patricio C , Göstemeyer Gerd , Schwendicke Falk
Published: March 2017

Aim

To review the burden of caries and periodontitis in the elderly, changes with age that can explain this burden, and the vulnerability to disease of elderly populations.

Methods

An assessment of surveys in two populations was conducted. Indicators for caries were identified by updating a systematic review. Secular trends for smoking and type 2 diabetes were discussed.

Results

Changes in the susceptibility to periodontitis with age may be explained by exposure to pro‐inflammatory conditions and changes in the healing capacity of cells and tissues. Due to accumulated periodontal destruction, the number of surfaces at risk for caries increases. The sequels of restorative treatment contribute to an increased susceptibility for caries development. Population‐based surveys in the United States and Germany demonstrate a high caries experience among elderly people. A comparison of surveys demonstrates a relative improvement of periodontal health among elderly during the last few decades. Nevertheless, prevalence estimates for periodontitis remain high. Risk indicators for root caries include caries experience, the number of surfaces at risk and poor oral hygiene. Secular trends of main risk factors for periodontitis and their likely influence on the future periodontitis burden in the elderly are discussed.

Conclusion

Caries and periodontitis burden in the elderly remain high.
Peripheral neuropathy in prediabetes and the metabolic syndrome
Authors: Stino Amro M , Smith Albert G
Published: March 2017

Peripheral neuropathy is a major cause of disability worldwide. Diabetes is the most common cause of neuropathy, accounting for 50% of cases. Over half of people with diabetes develop neuropathy, and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a major cause of reduced quality of life due to pain, sensory loss, gait instability, fall‐related injury, and foot ulceration and amputation. Most patients with non‐diabetic neuropathy have cryptogenic sensory peripheral neuropathy (CSPN). A growing body of literature links prediabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome to the risk of both DPN and CSPN. This association might be particularly strong in type 2 diabetes patients. There are no effective medical treatments for CSPN or DPN, and aggressive glycemic control is an effective approach to neuropathy risk reduction only in type 1 diabetes. Several studies suggest lifestyle‐based treatments that integrate dietary counseling with exercise might be a promising therapeutic approach to early DPN in type 2 diabetes and CSPN associated with prediabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome.
Forkhead box class O family member proteins: The biology and pathophysiological roles in diabetes
Authors: Tsuchiya Kyoichiro , Ogawa Yoshihiro
Published: March 2017

Forkhead box class O family member proteins (FoxOs) of transcription factors are essential regulators of cellular homeostasis, including glucose and lipid metabolism, oxidative stress response and redox signaling, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis. Altered FoxO1 expression and activity have been associated with glucose intolerance, dyslipidemia and complications of diabetes. In the liver, they direct carbons to glucose or lipid utilization, thus providing a unifying mechanism for the two abnormalities of the diabetic liver: excessive glucose production, and increased lipid synthesis and secretion. In the pancreas, FoxO1 is necessary to maintain β‐cell differentiation, and could be promising targets for β‐cell regeneration. In endothelial cells, FoxOs strongly promote atherosclerosis through suppressing nitric oxide production and enhancing inflammatory responses. In the present review, we summarize the basic biology and pathophysiological significance of FoxOs in diabetes.
The effects of major U.S. domestic airline code sharing and profit sharing rule
Authors: Shen Caixia
Published: March 2017

This paper presents a structural model of code sharing among major U.S. domestic airlines and estimates a profit‐sharing rule. The profit‐sharing rule between partner firms in code sharing is estimated at 0.92, which suggests that the operating carrier acquires around 92% of profits from a round‐trip, and the marketing carrier retains 8% as a commission fee. Meanwhile, the economies of code sharing reduces marginal cost, and firms are able to price at higher markups. This implies that demand increases and consumers have larger surplus if code sharing creates new products.
Microtubule dynamics and the neurodegenerative triad of Alzheimer's disease: The hidden connection
Authors: Brandt Roland , Bakota Lidia
Published: March 2017

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder and is, on a histopathological level, characterized by the presence of extracellular amyloid plaques composed of the protein fragment Aβ, and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles, which contain the microtubule‐associated protein tau in a hyperphosphorylated state. In AD defects in microtubule (MT) assembly and organization have also been reported; however, it is unclear whether MT abnormalities have a causal and early role in the disease process or represent a common end point downstream of the neurodegenerative cascade. Recent evidence indicates that microtubule‐stabilizing drugs prevent axonopathy in animal models of tauopathies and reverse Aβ‐induced loss of synaptic connectivity in an ex vivo model of amyloidosis. This could suggest that MT dysfunction connects some of the degenerative events and provides a useful target to simultaneously prevent several neurodegenerative processes in AD. Here, we describe how changes in the structure and dynamics of MTs are involved in the different aspects of the neurodegenerative triad of AD. We discuss evidence that MTs are affected both by tau‐dependent and tau‐independent mechanisms but appear to be regulated in a distinct way in different neuronal compartments. We argue that modulation of MT dynamics could be of potential benefit but needs to be precisely controlled in a cell and compartment‐specific manner to avoid harmful side effects.

This article is part of the series “Beyond Amyloid”.

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Quality control of Hypericum perforatum L. analytical challenges and recent progress
Authors: Agapouda Anastasia , Booker Anthony , Kiss Tivadar , Hohmann Judit , Heinrich Michael , Csupor Dezső
Published: March 2017

Objectives

The most widely applied qualitative and quantitative analytical methods in the quality control of Hypericum perforatum extracts will be reviewed, including routine analytical tools and most modern approaches.

Key findings

Biologically active components of H. perforatum are chemically diverse; therefore, different chromatographic and detection methods are required for the comprehensive analysis of St. John's wort extracts. Naphthodianthrones, phloroglucinols and flavonoids are the most widely analysed metabolites of this plant. For routine quality control, detection of major compounds belonging to these groups seems to be sufficient; however, closer characterization requires the detection of minor compounds as well.

Conclusions

TLC and HPTLC are basic methods in the routine analysis, whereas HPLC-DAD is the most widely applied method for quantitative analysis due to its versatility. LC-MS is gaining importance in pharmacokinetic studies due to its sensitivity. Modern approaches, such as DNA barcoding, NIRS and NMR metabolomics, may offer new possibilities for the more detailed characterization of secondary metabolite profile of H. perforatum extracts.
Life cycle size dynamics inDidymosphenia geminata(Bacillariophyceae)
Authors: Bishop Ian W. , Spaulding Sarah A.
Published: March 2017

Didymosphenia geminatahas received a great deal of attention in the last 25 years, and considerable effort has gone into determining the origin, ecological impact, and economic consequences of its invasive behavior. While environmental conditions are a controlling influence in distribution, the extreme success of the species may be tied to its basic biology and life history. Little is known, however, about population dynamics, size restoration and reproduction ofD. geminata. The objective of this study was to determine the temporal patterns in cell size frequency, size restoration strategy, and synchronization of life cycles between populations in close proximity. We implemented FlowCam technology to measure the length of more than 100,000D. geminatacells from two sites in South Boulder Creek, Colorado over 1 year. We applied finite mixture modeling to uncover temporal patterns in size distribution. Our results show that collections ofD. geminataexhibited a complex, multimodal size distribution, almost always containing four overlapping age cohorts. We failed to observe direct visual evidence of the sexual phase. Multiple abrupt and directional shifts in size distribution, however, were documented providing conclusive evidence of cell size restoration. Lastly, nodules in close proximity were asynchronous with respect to size frequency profiles and size diminution, highlighting the relevance of spatial heterogeneity in in situ diatom size dynamics. This study is the first to document the complexity of diatom cell size distribution in a lotic system, size restoration inD. geminata, and the variability in rates of size reduction at microhabitat spatial scales.
Enhanced liver fibrosis test predicts transplant‐free survival in primary sclerosing cholangitis, a multi‐centre study
Authors: de Vries Elisabeth M.G. , Färkkilä Martti , Milkiewicz Piotr , Hov Johannes R. , Eksteen Bertus , Thorburn Douglas , Chazouillères Olivier , Pares Albert , Nygård Ståle , Gilja Odd H. , Wunsch Ewa , Invernizzi Pietro , Carbone Marco , Bernuzzi Francesca , Boberg Kirsten M. , Røsjø Helge , Rosenberg William , Beuers Ulrich H. , Ponsioen Cyriel Y. , Karlsen Tom H. , Vesterhus Mette
Published: March 2017

Background & Aims

Biomarkers reflecting disease activity and prognosis in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) have not been firmly established. Enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) test was previously reported to predict outcome in PSC. We aimed to validate the prognostic utility of ELF test in an independent, multi‐centre, retrospective PSC study population.

Methods

We collected serum samples from PSC patients from seven countries. We estimated rates of transplant‐free survival by the Kaplan‐Meier method, used Cox proportional hazards regression to explore the association between ELF test and clinical outcome and determined prognostic performance of ELF test by computing the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUC‐ROC) curve.

Results

The final analysis included 534 PSC patients (61% males). Features of autoimmune hepatitis or concomitant inflammatory bowel disease affected 44 (8%) and 379 (71%) patients respectively. ELF test levels were higher in patients reaching the combined endpoint liver transplantation or death (median 10.9 [Interquartile range (IQR): 9.8‐12.1]; n=24 deaths, 79 liver transplantations) compared to those censored (8.8 [IQR: 8.0‐9.8]); P<.001. ELF test expressed as mild, moderate and severe fibrosis was significantly associated with the risk of reaching the endpoint (P<.001). ELF test independently predicted clinical outcome (Hazard ratio 1.31; 95% confidence interval [1.05‐1.65]; P=.018), and enabled good discrimination between PSC patients with and without endpoint (AUC‐ROC: 0.79).

Conclusion

Our retrospective data validates the predictive utility of ELF test for clinical outcomes in PSC. The clinical utility of biomarkers for fibrosis in patients with PSC should be assessed in prospective patient cohorts.
Primary non‐function is frequently associated with fatty liver allografts and high mortality after re‐transplantation
Authors: Kulik Ulf , Lehner Frank , Klempnauer Jürgen , Borlak Jürgen
Published: March 2017

Background & Aims

The shortage of liver donations demands the use of suboptimal grafts with steatosis being a frequent finding. Although ≤30% macrovesicular steatosis is considered to be safe the risk for primary non‐function (PNF) and outcome after re‐transplantation (re‐OLT) is unknown.

Methods

Among 1205 orthotopic liver transplantations performed at our institution the frequency, survival and reason of re‐OLT were evaluated. PNF (group A) cases and those with initial transplant function but subsequent need for re‐OLT (group B) were analysed. Histopathology and clinical judgement determined the cause of PNF and included an assessment of hepatic steatosis. Additionally, survival of fatty liver allografts (group C) not requiring re‐OLT was considered in Kaplan‐Meier and multivariate regression analysis.

Results

A total of 77 high urgency re‐OLTs were identified and included 39 PNF cases. Nearly 70% of PNF cases were due to primary fatty liver allografts. The 3‐month in‐hospital mortality for PNF cases after re‐OLT was 46% and the mean survival after re‐OLT was 0.5 years as compared to 5.2 and 5.1 years for group B, C, respectively, (P<.008). In multivariate Cox regression analysis only hepatic steatosis was associated with an inferior survival (HR 4.272, P=.002). The MELD score, donor BMI, age, cold ischaemic time, ICU stay, serum sodium and transaminases did not influence overall survival.

Conclusions

Our study highlights fatty liver allografts to be a major cause for PNF with excessive mortality after re‐transplantation. The findings demand the development of new methods to predict risk for PNF of fatty liver allografts.
Reframing the Aura: Digital Photography in Ancestral Worship
Authors: Müller Katja
Published: March 2017

Anthropological archives employ norms of originality and authenticity that digital reproduction may undermine. Digitization offers new prospects for appropriating a shared cultural heritage. The stark contrasts that evolve through multiple re‐readings of anthropological archives call into question hegemonic discourses about the authenticity of the original and its value as historic material. In an Indian case study, digitization forms the basis for a performative interpretation of visual archives. The perceivers foreground ancestral worship and the mnemonic characteristics of the photographs. Reaching beyond intercultural encounters, preservation, and accessibility, they challenge the institutionalized foundations of interpreting and making meaning out of anthropological records.
Personal attitudes toward time: The relationship between temporal focus, space‐time mappings and real life experiences
Authors: Li Heng , Cao Yu
Published: March 2017

What influences how people implicitly associate “past” and “future” with “front” and “back?” Whereas previous research has shown that cultural attitudes toward time play a role in modulating space‐time mappings in people's mental models (de la Fuente, Santiago, Román, Dumitrache & Casasanto, 2014), we investigated real life experiences as potential additional influences on these implicit associations. Participants within the same single culture, who are engaged in different intermediate‐term educational experiences (Study 1), long‐term living experiences (Study 2), and short‐term visiting experiences (Study 3), showed their distinct differences in temporal focus, thereby influencing their implicit spatializations of time. Results across samples suggest that personal attitudes toward time related to real life experiences may influence people's space‐time mappings. The findings we report on shed further light on the high flexibility of human conceptualization system. While culture may exert an important influence on temporal focus, a person's conceptualization of time may be attributed to a culmination of factors.
Race‐related differences in tissue dielectric constant measured noninvasively at 300 MHz in male and female skin at multiple sites and depths
Authors: Mayrovitz H. N. , Mahtani S. A. , Pitts E. , Michaelos L.
Published: March 2017

Background/Purpose

We hypothesized that reported race‐related differences in skin properties cause skin and skin‐to‐fat water differences among races that are measureable by skin tissue dielectric constant (TDC) values that depend strongly on water content. Our first aim was to test this hypothesis. Also, since inter‐side TDC ratios are used to assess edema and lymphedema, the second aim was to test if TDC ratios are race‐dependent. The third aim was to determine the extent to which TDC depends on total body water (TBW) and fat (TBF).

Methods

Tissue dielectric constant was measured to 1.5 or 5.0 mm depths bilaterally on chest, forearm and ankle in 100 young (19‐39 years) adults with 10 male and 10 female per self‐expressed race. Races were African‐American, Asian, Asian‐Indian, Caucasian and Hispanic groups. TBW and TBF were measured using bioimpedance.

Results

Tissue dielectric constant values decreased from chest to forearm to ankle (P<.001) independent of race with most values greater for males but with inter‐arm TDC ratios independent of gender, site, depth, or race. For females, forearm TDC values differed among races (P<.01) with Asian and Asian‐Indian values tending to be least. For males, chest TDC values differed among races (P<.01) mainly due to large African‐American TDC values. For the composite group, TDC was strongly (P<.001) positively correlated with TBW and negatively correlated with TBF.

Conclusions

Tissue dielectric constant dependence on race of the type herein uncovered should be considered in assessing skin hydration comparisons that include different race or ethnic subjects. Further, the demonstrated relationship between TDC and body composition should be considered as an important covariate. However, despite these variations, the inter‐arm TDC ratio remains robust as a potential indicator of unilateral tissue water changes.
Identification of a novel HLA‐A*02:01:01 variant, HLA‐A*02:01:01:09, in a Taiwanese bone marrow donor
Authors: Yang K. L. , Marsh S. G. E. , Soormally A. R. , Chen S. P. , Lin P. Y.
Published: March 2017

An intronic mutation in intron 3 of A*02:01:01:01 leads to the formation of A*02:01:01:09.
Full‐length sequences of 3 HLA‐B alleles, B*40:01:01, B*40:03 and B*40:40, confirmed by cloning and sequencing
Authors: Li Z. , Zou H.‐Y.
Published: March 2017

Full‐length sequences of HLA‐B*40:01:01, B*40:03 and B*40:40, confirmed by cloning and sequencing in Chinese donors.
Standardization of transfusion practice in organ donors using the Digital Intern, an electronic decision support algorithm
Authors: Connor Joseph P. , Cunningham Ashley M. , Raife Thomas , Rose William N. , Medow Joshua E.
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND

Prospective clinical trials support restrictive thresholds for red blood cell (RBC) transfusion. Nonsurvivable donors are a major source of organs for transplantation. The Digital Intern (DI) is a computer algorithm to standardize donor care that includes a more restrictive transfusion threshold. The impact of standardized and restrictive RBC transfusion in organ donors, as determined by the DI, has not been reported.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study to compare the transfusion practice of the DI (n = 100) to a historic group of physician‐managed donors (n = 90). Transfusion rates, the number of units transfused, and pretransfusion laboratory values were compared between groups. The variability of these parameters was also compared between groups. Finally, the number of transplanted organs per donor in each group was compared.

RESULTS

The mean time as a donor was 25.9 ± 15.2 hours and was not different between the groups. In the DI group 19% were transfused compared to 26% in the control group (p = 0.3). The number of units transfused was less in the DI group (1 unit vs. 2 units per transfusion, p = 0.03) and the pretransfusion hematocrit was lower in the DI group (23% vs. 27%, p = 0.01). The variability in the latter two parameters was significantly lower in the DI group. The number of transplanted organs per donor was similar in both groups (3.24 [DI] vs. 3.03 [control], p = 0.37).

CONCLUSION

The DI provides a more standardization transfusion practice in organ donors and reduces blood use without compromising transplantable organs.
A case of anti‐Rd causing fetal anemia
Authors: Rauch Stefan , Ritgen Jochen , Wißkirchen Matthias , Bauerfeind Ursula , Kohne Elisabeth , Weinstock Christof
Published: March 2017

BACKGROUND

Rd (SC4) is a low‐frequency antigen of the Scianna blood group system. Only very few reports on anti‐Rd in pregnancy exist. Mild to moderate hemolytic disease of the newborn caused by anti‐Rd has been reported. This report may add further information on the clinical significance of anti‐Rd for the fetus.

CASE REPORT

In a case of severe fetal anemia (hemoglobin concentration, 3.0 g/dL) repeated intrauterine transfusions were required. The strongly positive direct antiglobulin test (DAT) of the fetal red blood cells led to the diagnosis of hemolytic disease. The routine antibody screen was negative, extended testing revealed a maternal anti‐Rd with a titer of 256. Both the newborn and her father were confirmed to carry the SC*01.04 allele.

CONCLUSION

Anti‐Rd can cause fetal anemia. Low‐frequency antigens including Rd are normally not present on screening cells. Antibodies directed against low‐frequency antigens will usually not be detected by routine antibody screening in pregnancy. Thus, in cases of fetal anemia the DAT should always be included in the diagnostic workup.
Reaffirming Individual Responsibility in Distributive Justice: A Case Study of the Chinese Healthcare System
Authors: Liu Ziyu , Buijsen Martin
Published: March 2017

The human rights-based approach is widely employed in achieving distributive justice in health care. In the light of a common understanding of the approach, protecting the right to health as a human right relies heavily on addressing state accountability. However, the corresponding measures are put forward unevenly on the national level and generally achieve less than expected. Deficiencies, such as inefficient utilization and the free-rider problem, are increasingly obvious along with the aging population. In the context of the Chinese healthcare system, the paper suggests that drawing attention to the importance of individual responsibility is beneficial to improve the performance of the human rights-based approach in reforming healthcare systems towards more justice. Furthermore, raising the issue of individual responsibility can help to achieve equilibrium between the protection of individual rights and the sustainability of the healthcare system.
Effectiveness of falls prevention interventions for older adults newly discharged from hospital: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Naseri Chiara , McPhail Steven , Francis-Coad Jacqueline , Haines Terry , Etherton-Beer Christopher , Morris Meg E. , Flicker Leon , Shorr Ronald , Bulsara Max , Netto Julie , Lee Den-Ching , Waldron Nicholas , Boudville Amanda , Hill Anne-Marie
Published: March 2017

Review objective:

The objective of this review is to synthesize the best available evidence on the effectiveness of falls prevention interventions provided just prior or immediately after discharge from hospital on falls rates and falls injuries among older adults living in the community in the first 6 months after discharge from hospital.
Effectiveness of intrathecal nicardipine on cerebral vasospasm in non-traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Stuart Daniel , Christian Robin , Uschmann Hartmut
Published: March 2017

Review question/objective:

The objective of this review is to determine the effectiveness of intrathecal (IT) nicardipine on cerebral vasospasm and its impact on the following outcome measures: mean flow velocities, angiographic and/or clinical vasospasm and infection rates. Specifically, the review question is: What is the effectiveness of IT nicardipine on cerebral vasospasm in adult patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage?
Perceived barriers and facilitators to implementation of allied health physical activity programs in residential aged care facilities: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Basso Angela , Munn Zachary , Lizarondo Lucylynn , Laver Kate
Published: March 2017

Review question/objective:

The review question is: What are the perceived barriers and facilitators to the implementation of allied health physical activity programs in residential aged care facilities?
Effectiveness of Mohs micrographic surgery for nonmelanoma skin cancer: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Tokede Oluwatosin , Jadotte Yuri T. , Nkemjika Stanley , Holly Cheryl , Cohen Philip , Schwartz Robert , Watkins Ann , Dellavalle Robert
Published: March 2017

Review objectives/questions:

The objective of the review is to evaluate the effectiveness of Mohs micrographic surgery on the mortality, recurrence and quality of life of patients with nonmelanoma skin cancers when compared with other treatment modalities.

Specifically, it aims to examine the effectiveness of Mohs micrographic surgery compared with other treatment modalities such as excisional surgery, curettage and electrodessication and radiation therapy, as well as nonsurgical/chemotherapeutic interventions such as topical 5-fluorouracil and imiquimod immunotherapy in the management of nonmelanoma skin cancers.
Effectiveness of patient-centered weight management counseling in overweight and obese adults in a primary care setting: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Lee Rachel , Moore Mary Molly
Published: March 2017

Review question/objective:

The objective of this review is to identify the effectiveness of patient-centered weight management counseling on weight and lifestyle modifications in overweight or obese adults treated in a primary care setting.
Effect of educational and support interventions to increase long-term breastfeeding rates in primiparous women: a systematic review protocol
Authors: Meedya Shahla , Fernandez Ritin , Fahy Kathleen
Published: March 2017

Review question/objective:

The objective of this review is to identify the effects of educational and supportive interventions provided by health professionals on long-term breastfeeding rates at six months and up to two years post partum among primiparous women who intend to breastfeed.
Estimation of Axial Load in Tie-Rods Using Experimental and Operational Modal Analysis
Authors: Campagnari S. , di Matteo F. , Manzoni S. , Scaccabarozzi M. , Vanali M.
Published: March 2017

This paper addresses a new method for estimating axial load in tie-rods using indirect measurements. This information is of great importance for assessing the health of the tie-rod itself and the health of the entire structure that the beam is inserted into. The method is based on dynamic measurements and requires the experimental estimation of the tie-rod eigenfrequencies and mode shapes at a limited number of points. Furthermore, the approach requires the development of a simple finite element model (FEM), which is then cross-correlated with the experimental data using a model update procedure. Extensive numerical simulations and experimental tests have demonstrated the ability of the new approach to yield accurate estimates of the tie-rod axial load and overcome various limitations of the methods currently available in the literature.
Dynamic Model for Free-Standing Fuel Racks Under Seismic Excitation Considering Planar and Nonslide Rocking Motion
Authors: Sakamoto Kazuya , Kan Ryosuke , Takai Akihiro , Kaneko Shigehiko
Published: March 2017

A free-standing (FS) rack is a type of a spent nuclear fuel rack, which is just placed on a floor of a pool. For this characteristic, seismic loads can be reduced by fluid force and friction force, but a collision between a rack and another rack or a wall must be avoided. Therefore, it is necessary for designing an FS rack to figure out how it moves under seismic excitation. In this research, a dynamic model of an FS rack is developed considering seismic inertial force, friction force, and fluid force. This model consists of two submodels: a translation model, which simulates planar translational and rotational motion, and a rocking model, which simulates nonslide rocking motion. First, simulations with sinusoidal inertial force were conducted, changing values of a friction coefficient. Next, to validate this dynamic model, a miniature experiment was conducted. Finally, the model is applied to a real-size FS rack and actually observed seismic acceleration. It is found that translational movement of a rack varies depending on the value of friction coefficient in the simulation with sinusoidal and actual acceleration. Also, simulation results are similar to the experimental results in the aspects of translational and rocking motion provided friction coefficient is selected properly. Through this research, the knowledge is acquired that friction force plays a significant role in a motion of FS rack so that estimating and controlling a friction coefficient is important in designing an FS rack.
Refined General Theory of Stress Analysis for Tubesheet
Authors: Zhu Hongsong
Published: March 2017

The stress analysis method for fixed tubesheet (TS) heat exchangers (HEX) in pressure vessel codes such as ASME VIII-1, EN13445, and GB151 is based on the classical theory of thin plate on elastic foundation. In addition, these codes all assume a geometric and loading plane of symmetry at the midway between the two TSs so that only half of the unit or one TS is needed to be considered. In this study, a refined general theory of stress analysis for TS is presented which also considers unequal thickness for two TSs, different edge conditions, pressure drop and deadweight on two TSs, the anisotropic behavior of the TS in thickness direction, and transverse shear deformation in TS. Analysis shows floating and U-tube heat exchangers are the two special cases of the refined theory. Theoretical comparison shows that ASME method can be obtained from the special case of the simplified mechanical model of the refined theory. Numerical comparison results indicate that predictions given by the refined theory agree well with finite element analysis (FEA) for both thin and thick TS heat exchangers, while ASME results are not accurate or not correct. Therefore, it is concluded that the presented refined general theory provides a single unified method, dealing with both thin and thick TSs for different type (U type, floating, and fixed) HEXs in equal detail, with confidence to predict design stresses.
On the Measurement and Modeling of High-Pressure Flows in Poppet Valves Under Steady-State and Transient Conditions
Authors: Mohr Stephan , Clarke Henry , Garner Colin P. , Rebelo Neville , Williams Andrew M. , Zhao Huayong
Published: March 2017

Flow coefficients of intake valves and port combinations were determined experimentally for a compressed nitrogen engine under steady-state and dynamic flow conditions for inlet pressures up to 3.2 MPa. Variable valve timing was combined with an indexed parked piston cylinder unit for testing valve flows at different cylinder volumes while maintaining realistic in-cylinder transient pressure profiles by simply using a fixed area outlet orifice. A one-dimensional modeling approach describing three-dimensional valve flow characteristics has been developed by the use of variable flow coefficients that take into account the propagation of flow jets and their boundaries as a function of downstream/upstream pressure ratios. The results obtained for the dynamic flow cases were compared with steady-state results for the cylinder to inlet port pressure ratios ranges from 0.18 to 0.83. The deviation of flow coefficients for both cases is discussed using pulsatile flow theory. The key findings include the followings: (1) for a given valve lift, the steady-state flow coefficients fall by up to 21% with increasing cylinder/manifold pressure ratios within the measured range given above and (2) transient flow coefficients deviated from those measured for the steady-state flow as the valve lift increases beyond a critical value of approximately 0.5 mm. The deviation can be due to the insufficient time of the development of steady-state boundary layers, which can be quantified by the instantaneous Womersley number defined by using the transient hydraulic diameter. We show that it is possible to predict deviations of the transient valve flow from the steady-state measurements alone.
Debate heats up over black holes as dark matter
Authors: Cho Adrian
Published: March 2017

Observations of compact little galaxies challenge fanciful idea.
Rules of evidence
Authors: Cornwall Warren
Published: March 2017

Are evidence standards used by chemical regulators excluding solid science?
No easy answers
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey
Published: March 2017

What does it mean to ask whether a prekindergarten math program “works”?
Genetic divide
Authors: Malakoff David
Published: March 2017

Views on the evidence for the safety of genetically modified organisms remain split.
How to be heard
Authors: Stokstad Erik
Published: March 2017

Political scientist Paul Cairney offers some advice on helping make evidence-based policy.
Data for all?
Authors: Mervis Jeffrey
Published: March 2017

New U.S. panel examines obstacles to using administrative data for policy.
Science advice in the Trump White House
Authors: Matthews Kirstin R. W. , Evans Kenneth M. , Lane Neal F.
Published: March 2017

The president needs an effective science adviser and science policy office
The Malaria TaqMan Array Card Includes 87 Assays for Plasmodium falciparum Drug Resistance, Identification of Species, and Genotyping in a Single Reaction
Authors: Pholwat Suporn , Liu Jie , Stroup Suzanne , Jacob Shevin T. , Banura Patrick , Moore Christopher C. , Huang Fang , Laufer Miriam K. , Houpt Eric , Guler Jennifer L.
Published: March 2017

Antimalarial drug resistance exacerbates the global disease burden and complicates eradication efforts. To facilitate the surveillance of resistance markers in countries of malaria endemicity, we developed a suite of TaqMan assays for known resistance markers and compartmentalized them into a single array card (TaqMan array card, TAC). We included 87 assays for species identification, for the detection of
Plasmodium falciparum
mutations associated with chloroquine, atovaquone, pyrimethamine, sulfadoxine, and artemisinin resistance, and for neutral single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. Assay performance was first optimized using DNA from common laboratory parasite lines and plasmid controls. The limit of detection was 0.1 to 10 pg of DNA and yielded 100% accuracy compared to sequencing. The tool was then evaluated on 87 clinical blood samples from around the world, and the malaria TAC once again achieved 100% accuracy compared to sequencing and in addition detected the presence of mixed infections in clinical samples. With its streamlined protocol and high accuracy, this malaria TAC should be a useful tool for large-scale antimalarial resistance surveillance.
First Report of the Carbapenemase Gene
bla
OXA-499
in Acinetobacter pittii
Authors: D'Souza Roshan , Pinto Naina Adren , Higgins Paul G. , Hwang Insik , Yong Dongeun , Choi Jongrak , Lee Kyoungwon , Chong Yunsop
Published: March 2017

We identified the carbapenemase gene
bla
OXA-499
, a variant of
bla
OXA-143
, from a clinical isolate of
Acinetobacter pittii
for the first time. OXA-499 shared 93.1% amino acid identity with OXA-143, and the gene was located on the chromosome. By cloning the OXA-499-encoding gene into the pWH1266 vector and transforming it into susceptible
Acinetobacter
spp., we were able to show that OXA-499 confers resistance to carbapenems.
Increased Pilus Production Conferred by a Naturally Occurring Mutation Alters Host-Pathogen Interaction in Favor of Carriage in Streptococcus pyogenes
Authors: Flores Anthony R. , Olsen Randall J. , Cantu Concepcion , Pallister Kyler B. , Guerra Fermin E. , Voyich Jovanka M. , Musser James M.
Published: March 2017

Studies of the human pathogen group A
Streptococcus
(GAS) define the carrier phenotype to be an increased ability to adhere to and persist on epithelial surfaces and a decreased ability to cause disease. We tested the hypothesis that a single amino acid change (Arg135Gly) in a highly conserved sensor kinase (LiaS) of a poorly defined GAS regulatory system contributes to a carrier phenotype through increased pilus production. When introduced into an
emm
serotype-matched invasive strain, the carrier allele (the gene encoding the LiaS protein with an arginine-to-glycine change at position 135 [
liaS
R135G
]) recapitulated a carrier phenotype defined by an increased ability to adhere to mucosal surfaces and a decreased ability to cause disease. Gene transcript analyses revealed that the
liaS
mutation significantly altered transcription of the genes encoding pilus in the presence of bacitracin. Elimination of pilus production in the isogenic carrier mutant decreased its ability to colonize the mouse nasopharynx and to adhere to and be internalized by cultured human epithelial cells and restored the virulence phenotype in a mouse model of necrotizing fasciitis. We also observed significantly reduced survival of the isogenic carrier mutant compared to that of the parental invasive strain after exposure to human neutrophils. Elimination of pilus in the isogenic carrier mutant increased the level of survival after exposure to human neutrophils to that for the parental invasive strain. Together, our data demonstrate that the carrier mutation (
liaS
R135G
) affects pilus expression. Our data suggest new mechanisms of pilus gene regulation in GAS and that the invasiveness associated with pilus gene regulation in GAS differs from the enhanced invasiveness associated with increased pilus production in other bacterial pathogens.
Perforin Expression by CD8 T Cells Is Sufficient To Cause Fatal Brain Edema during Experimental Cerebral Malaria
Authors: Huggins Matthew A. , Johnson Holly L. , Jin Fang , N′Songo Aurelie , Hanson Lisa M. , LaFrance Stephanie J. , Butler Noah S. , Harty John T. , Johnson Aaron J.
Published: March 2017

Human cerebral malaria (HCM) is a serious complication ofPlasmodium falciparuminfection. The most severe outcomes for patients include coma, permanent neurological deficits, and death. Recently, a large-scale magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) study in humans identified brain swelling as the most prominent predictor of fatal HCM. Therefore, in this study, we sought to define the mechanism controlling brain edema through the use of the murine experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) model. Specifically, we investigated the ability of CD8 T cells to initiate brain edema during ECM. We determined that areas of blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability colocalized with a reduction of the cerebral endothelial cell tight-junction proteins claudin-5 and occludin. Furthermore, through small-animal MRI, we analyzed edema and vascular leakage. Using gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted MRI, we determined that vascular permeability is not homogeneous but rather confined to specific regions of the brain. Our findings show that BBB permeability was localized within the brainstem, olfactory bulb, and lateral ventricle. Concurrently with the initiation of vascular permeability, T2-weighted MRI revealed edema and brain swelling. Importantly, ablation of the cytolytic effector molecule perforin fully protected against vascular permeability and edema. Furthermore, perforin production specifically by CD8 T cells was required to cause fatal edema during ECM. We propose that CD8 T cells initiate BBB breakdown through perforin-mediated disruption of tight junctions. In turn, leakage from the vasculature into the parenchyma causes brain swelling and edema. This results in a breakdown of homeostatic maintenance that likely contributes to ECM pathology.
CRISPR-Cas and Contact-Dependent Secretion Systems Present on Excisable Pathogenicity Islands with Conserved Recombination Modules
Authors: Carpenter Megan R. , Kalburge Sai S. , Borowski Joseph D. , Peters Molly C. , Colwell Rita R. , Boyd E. Fidelma
Published: March 2017

Pathogenicity islands (PAIs) are mobile integrated genetic elements that contain a diverse range of virulence factors. PAIs integrate into the host chromosome at a tRNA locus that contains their specific bacterial attachment site,
attB
, via integrase-mediated site-specific recombination generating
attL
and
attR
sites. We identified conserved recombination modules (integrases and
att
sites) previously described in choleragenic
Vibrio cholerae
PAIs but with novel cargo genes. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated proteins (Cas proteins) and a type VI secretion system (T6SS) gene cluster were identified at the
Vibrio
pathogenicity island 1 (VPI-1) insertion site in 19
V. cholerae
strains and contained the same recombination module. Two divergent type I-F CRISPR-Cas systems were identified, which differed in Cas protein homology and content. The CRISPR repeat sequence was identical among all
V. cholerae
strains, but the CRISPR spacer sequences and the number of spacers varied.
In silico
analysis suggests that the CRISPR-Cas systems were active against phages and plasmids. A type III secretion system (T3SS) was present in 12
V. cholerae
strains on a 68-kb island inserted at the same tRNA-serine insertion site as VPI-2 and contained the same recombination module. Bioinformatics analysis showed that two divergent T3SSs exist among the strains examined. Both the CRISPR and T3SS islands excised site specifically from the bacterial chromosome as complete units, and the cognate integrases were essential for this excision. These data demonstrated that identical recombination modules that catalyze integration and excision from the chromosome can acquire diverse cargo genes, signifying a novel method of acquisition for both CRISPR-Cas systems and T3SSs.

IMPORTANCE
This work demonstrated the presence of CRISPR-Cas systems and T3SSs on PAIs. Our work showed that similar recombination modules can associate with different cargo genes and catalyze their incorporation into bacterial chromosomes, which could convert a strain into a pathogen with very different disease pathologies. Each island had the ability to excise from the chromosome as distinct, complete units for possible transfer. Evolutionary analysis of these regions indicates that they were acquired by horizontal transfer and that PAIs are the units of transfer. Similar to the case for phage evolution, PAIs have a modular structure where different functional regions are acquired by identical recombination modules.
Multiple primary malignancies of laryngeal cancer, small cell lung cancer and squamous cell lung cancer in a patient: how to approach MPMs
Authors: Kim Eun Kyoung , Kim Joo-Yeon , Kim Bo Mi , Lim Sung-Nam
Published: March 2017

Lung malignancies presenting in association with head and neck cancers are well documented, while laryngeal cancers presenting with simultaneous small cell lung cancer and squamous cell lung cancer have been rarely reported. We report a case of a man aged 65 years with a triple primary malignancy of the lung and larynx. Without a meticulous approach, the patients may not receive curative aim treatment due to incomplete staging. The patient underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy for locally advanced laryngeal cancer, small cell lung cancer and squamous cell lung cancer followed by combination chemotherapy with etoposide and cisplatin for synchronous double primary lung cancer. Following this therapy, he achieved a complete response of larynx cancer, but a partial response of small cell lung cancer and a stable disease of squamous cell lung cancer. A meticulous diagnostic approach should be encouraged to pursue the possibility of curative treatment and achieve better outcomes for such patients.
Assessment ofALKgene rearrangement in lung cancer using a new rapid automated SureFISH (Dako Omnis) assay
Authors: Takeda Maiko , Kasai Takahiko , Shimizu Shigeki , Kitaichi Masanori , Kojima Kensuke , Nagoya Akihiro , Hayashi Akio , Utsumi Tomoki , Yoon Hyung-Eun , Matsumura Akihide , Atagi Shinji
Published: March 2017

TheALKfluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) method is the examination essential for pathological diagnosis and choice of molecular-targeted therapy inALK-rearranged lung cancer. Here, for detection ofALKgene rearrangement in patients with lung cancer, we evaluated the rapid FISH technology (ALKSureFISH), a newly developed assay for the automated staining platform Dako Omnis, using 21 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. All cases could be evaluated with the SureFISH method. SureFISH provided excellent quality signals without any background staining. The SureFISH assay was able to offer a rapid turnaround time (approximately 3.5 hours) and was 100% concordant with prior Vysis FISH results in our laboratory.