bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization of fungal pathogens (Diaporthe angelicae and D. eres) responsible for umbel browning and stem necrosis on carrot in France
Authors: Bastide F. , Sérandat I. , Gombert J. , Laurent E. , Morel E. , Kolopp J. , Guillermin P. L. , Hamon B. , Simoneau P. , Berruyer R. , Poupard P.
Published: June 2016

A collection of 102 Diaporthe isolates was compiled from lesions on carrot, parsley and wild Apiaceae species in France from 2010 to 2014. Molecular typing based on ITS rDNA sequences resulted in the identification of 85 D. angelicae and 17 D. eres isolates. Based on sequences of the 3′ part of the IGS rDNA, intraspecific variability was analysed for 17 D. angelicae and 13 D. eres isolates from diverse plant species, locations in France, and plant tissues. The genetic diversity was greater for D. angelicae isolates than D. eres isolates. In vitro sensitivity of five D. angelicae and four D. eres isolates to each of nine fungicides was similar for isolates of both species, with a marked variation in fungicide sensitivity depending on the active ingredient. To assess the pathogenicity of D. angelicae and D. eres isolates on carrot, one isolate of each species was inoculated onto umbels in a controlled environment. Typical lesions were observed for both isolates. Carrot crop debris collected from a seed production field in France and placed in controlled conditions produced perithecia and ascospores typical of Diaporthe, that were further characterized molecularly as belonging to D. angelicae. Detection of Diaporthe species on seed lots from three carrot production fields in France was investigated. Both species were detected on seeds by conventional PCR assay, with a greater frequency for D. angelicae than D. eres (67% vs 33%, respectively). Overall, the results highlighted that umbel browning in carrot seed crops in France was mainly caused by D. angelicae.
Quantifying lip‐read‐induced suppression and facilitation of the auditory N1 and P2 reveals peak enhancements and delays
Authors: Baart Martijn
Published: June 2016

Lip‐read speech suppresses and speeds up the auditory N1 and P2 peaks, but these effects are not always observed or reported. Here, the robustness of lip‐read‐induced N1/P2 suppression and facilitation in phonetically congruent audiovisual speech was assessed by analyzing peak values that were taken from published plots and individual data. To determine whether adhering to the additive model of AV integration (i.e., A+V ≠ AV, or AV−V ≠ A) is critical for correct characterization of lip‐read‐induced effects on the N1 and P2, auditory data was compared to AV and to AV−V. On average, the N1 and P2 were consistently suppressed and sped up by lip‐read information, with no indication that AV integration effects were significantly modulated by whether or not V was subtracted from AV. To assess the possibility that variability in observed N1/P2 amplitudes and latencies may explain why N1/P2 suppression and facilitation are not always found, additional correlations between peak values and size of the AV integration effects were computed. These analyses showed that N1/P2 peak values correlated with the size of AV integration effects. However, it also became apparent that a portion of the AV integration effects was characterized by lip‐read‐induced peak enhancements and delays rather than suppressions and facilitations, which, for the individual data, seemed related to particularly small/early A‐only peaks and large/late AV(−V) peaks.
Planform evolution of deltas with graded alluvial topsets: Insights from three‐dimensional tank experiments, geometric considerations and field applications
Authors: Muto Tetsuji , Furubayashi Ryuji , Tomer Arti , Sato Tomoyuki , Kim Wonsuck , Naruse Hajime , Parker Gary
Published: June 2016

The profile of a river that conveys sediment without net deposition and net erosion is referred to as ‘graded’ with respect to vertical aggradation of the river segment. Three experimental series, designed in terms of the autostratigraphic view of alluvial grade, were conducted to clarify the diagnostic spatial behaviour of graded alluvial–deltaic rivers: an ‘R series’, which utilized a moving boundary setting with a stationary base level; an ‘F series’ in a fixed boundary setting with a stationary base level to produce ‘forced grade’; and an ‘M series’ in a moving boundary setting with constant base‐level fall to produce ‘autogenic grade.’ The results of the three experimental series, combined with geometrical modelling of the effects of basin water depth and other experimental data, suggest the following: (i) in a graded alluvial–deltaic system, lateral shifting and avulsing of active distributary channels are suppressed regardless of whether the downstream boundary of the deltaic system is fixed; (ii) in a delta with a downstream‐fixed boundary, the graded streams are stabilized within a valley that is incised in the axial part of the delta plain, whereby the alluvial plain outside the valley is abandoned and terraced; (iii) in moving boundary settings, the graded river simply extends basinward as a linearly elongated channel and lobe system without cutting a valley; and (iv) a modern forced‐graded alluvial river is most likely to be found in a valley incised into a fan delta in front of very deep water, and the stratigraphic signal of fossil autogenic‐graded rivers will be found in deltaic successions that accumulated in the outer to marginal areas of deltaic continental shelves during sea‐level falls. This renewed autostratigraphic view of alluvial grade suggests a thorough reconsideration of the conventional understanding that an alluvial river feeding a progradational delta is graded with a stationary base level.
On facies belts and facies mosaics: Holocene isolated platforms, South China Sea
Authors: Rankey Eugene C.
Published: June 2016

Although the general criteria for recognition and environmental interpretation of different carbonate facies are well‐established, a predictive understanding of the areal extent and spatial patterning of facies bodies and why they might organize into facies belts or facies mosaics is poorly constrained. To explore patterns and process dynamics of facies on isolated carbonate platforms, quantitative analysis of thematic maps derived from remote sensing images of 27 Holocene atolls of the Paracel and Spratly chains in the South China Sea explores variability within and among platforms. On these systems, most annular shelf‐margin reefs are less than 500 m wide on both chains; inboard of the reefs, reef sand aprons range up to 500 m (Spratlys) and 1000 m (Paracels) wide. Around individual platforms, Spratly Chain sand apron widths are wider to the north‐west, whereas apron widths in the Paracel Chain are more symmetrical; collectively, data indicate log‐normal width‐exceedance probability distributions. Platform‐interior patch reefs include area‐exceedance probability distributions and gap size distributions (lacunarity) consistent within chains, but distinct between the chains. To understand the processes underlying distinct distributions, simulations explored distinct growth scenarios. Results suggest that differences may represent distinct process classes: proportional growth processes with multiplicative random effects (reef sand aprons – belts), versus non‐linear, size‐proportional growth of randomly aged and distributed elements (patch reefs – mosaics). The probabilistically distinct sizes and spatial patterns of geomorphic elements within these general process classes are interpreted to represent ‘variations on themes’ related to the different impacts of tropical storms, winter cold fronts and circulation in each chain. The results highlight fundamentally different growth patterns impacting the sizes and distribution of facies belts and mosaics on isolated carbonate platforms. Because these types of bodies ultimately construct stratigraphy, the themes could be applied to understand and predict variability in the architecture of subsurface reservoir analogues.
Childhood Abuse, Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury, and Suicide Attempts: An Exploration of Gender Differences in Incarcerated Adults
Authors: Power Jenelle , Gobeil Renee , Beaudette Janelle N. , Ritchie Mary B. , Brown Shelley L. , Smith Hayden P.
Published: June 2016

The relationship between types of childhood abuse, suicide attempts, and nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI) was examined in a sample of 415 incarcerated adults (268 men, 147 women). Men and women were equally likely to experience childhood abuse, although women were more likely to report sexual abuse and men were more likely to report emotional neglect. Sexual abuse was the only type of abuse found to predict NSSI and suicide attempts in women. For men, physical abuse and physical neglect were significant predictors of NSSI and suicide attempts, respectively. Gender differences exist and should be examined in future research in this area.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Meets the ‘Persistently Uninsured’
Authors: Williams Jackson
Published: June 2016

Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (commonly known as ‘Obamacare’), the national uninsured rate has fallen from 17.3 per cent in 2013 to 11.7 per cent in the first half of 2015. While this is a substantial drop, even accounting for the states that did not expand Medicaid, the remaining double‐digit national rate, as well as higher rates in some states, indicates that a significant minority of Americans are not buying insurance. Researchers have identified a segment of the population with weak or uncertain preferences for health insurance. This article explores how such individuals are unevenly distributed across states and whether cultural preferences relating to time preference and risk aversion underlie the geographic distribution of the ‘persistently uninsured’. It concludes by reviewing the policy implications presented by the presence of numerous health insurance sceptics in certain jurisdictions.
Why Health Care Reform Now? Strategic Framing and the Passage of Obamacare
Authors: Leimbigler Betsy , Lammert Christian
Published: June 2016

Economic reform and health care reform were both focal points outlined in President Obama's policy agenda, with increasing pressure to address economic and social insecurity given that President Obama entered office during the Great Recession (2007–09). The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (commonly known as ‘Obamacare’) successfully passed in March 2010 in the context of the economic crisis. We argue that the strategic framing of the economic crisis, through reasoning and arguments linking health care reform with economic downfall, is important in understanding the successful passage of Obamacare, and that this is reflected through strategic frames in speeches delivered by the President on health care reform. Health care reform has been successful not in spite of but rather because of the economic crisis of 2008, that allowed President Obama to use a strategic frame focusing on costs and economic problems. The two main frames identified are the ‘market’ and ‘rights’ frames. President Obama's strategic frames specifically surrounding the economic and cost‐containment priority of health care reform are categorized as a ‘market’ frame in this article. He used this frame until the passage of the law in 2010, when the frame shifted to ‘rights’ frames, largely portrayed through anecdotes and focused on the concept of ‘access’ to care rather than the ‘cost’ of care. This is observable through tracking speeches and statements made in support of health care reform between 2009 and 2013.
Development and validation of a questionnaire to evaluate the Quality of Life of cats with skin disease and their owners, and its use in 185 cats with skin disease
Authors: Noli Chiara , Borio Stefano , Varina Antonella , Schievano Carlo
Published: June 2016

Background

Skin disease can negatively affect the Quality of Life (QoL) of cats and of their owners.

Objectives

To develop and evaluate a questionnaire on QoL of cats with skin disease and their owners.

Methods

Following interviews with owners of cats with severe skin disease and elaboration of a preliminary 19 item questionnaire, a final 15 item (score 0–3) questionnaire was developed. This was administered to owners of 45 cats with allergic dermatitis and 39 healthy cats, to assess its ability to differentiate between diseased and healthy subjects. In allergic cats, owners evaluated overall disease severity (S) and pruritus with a Visual Analog Scale (VAS); veterinarians evaluated skin lesions [SCORing Feline Allergic Dermatitis (SCORFAD) and Feline Dermatitis Extent and Severity Index (FeDESI)]. The correlation with QoL was analysed by Spearman's rank test. In 31 allergic cats, SCORFAD, FeDESI, pruritus VAS, S and QoL scores were obtained before and after therapy, and their improvement evaluated statistically.

Results

QoL scores in allergic cats were significantly higher than in healthy cats (P=<0.0001). Severity correlated well and significantly with both cat's and owner's QoL (r = 0.51 and 0.64, P = 0.0003 and <0.0001, respectively). Correlation of QoL with pruritus VAS was moderate and significant (r = 0.3, P = 0.03), whereas with SCORFAD and FeDESI it was low and not significant. With therapy all scores decreased significantly (P < 0.0001); however, QoL was not influenced by improvement of clinical scores. Questions related to the burden of therapy showed the smallest improvements.

Conclusions

This QoL questionnaire could be a useful tool in evaluating cats with skin disease.
Revisiting Frank–Starling: regulatory light chain phosphorylation alters the rate of force redevelopment (ktr) in a length‐dependent fashion
Authors: Toepfer Christopher N. , West Timothy G. , Ferenczi Michael A.
Published: June 2016

Key points

Regulatory light chain (RLC) phosphorylation has been shown to alter the ability of muscle to produce force and power during shortening and to alter the rate of force redevelopment (ktr) at submaximal [Ca2+].

Increasing RLC phosphorylation ∼50% from the in vivo level in maximally [Ca2+]‐activated cardiac trabecula accelerates ktr.

Decreasing RLC phosphorylation to ∼70% of the in vivo control level slows ktr and reduces force generation.

ktr is dependent on sarcomere length in the physiological range 1.85–1.94 μm and RLC phosphorylation modulates this response.

We demonstrate that Frank–Starling is evident at maximal [Ca2+] activation and therefore does not necessarily require length‐dependent change in [Ca2+]‐sensitivity of thin filament activation.

The stretch response is modulated by changes in RLC phosphorylation, pinpointing RLC phosphorylation as a modulator of the Frank–Starling law in the heart.

These data provide an explanation for slowed systolic function in the intact heart in response to RLC phosphorylation reduction.

Force and power in cardiac muscle have a known dependence on phosphorylation of the myosin‐associated regulatory light chain (RLC). We explore the effect of RLC phosphorylation on the ability of cardiac preparations to redevelop force (ktr) in maximally activating [Ca2+]. Activation was achieved by rapidly increasing the temperature (temperature‐jump of 0.5–20ºC) of permeabilized trabeculae over a physiological range of sarcomere lengths (1.85–1.94 μm). The trabeculae were subjected to shortening ramps over a range of velocities and the extent of RLC phosphorylation was varied. The latter was achieved using an RLC‐exchange technique, which avoids changes in the phosphorylation level of other proteins. The results show that increasing RLC phosphorylation by 50% accelerates ktr by ∼50%, irrespective of the sarcomere length, whereas decreasing phosphorylation by 30% slows ktr by ∼50%, relative to the ktr obtained for in vivo phosphorylation. Clearly, phosphorylation affects the magnitude of ktr following step shortening or ramp shortening. Using a two‐state model, we explore the effect of RLC phosphorylation on the kinetics of force development, which proposes that phosphorylation affects the kinetics of both attachment and detachment of cross‐bridges. In summary, RLC phosphorylation affects the rate and extent of force redevelopment. These findings were obtained in maximally activated muscle at saturating [Ca2+] and are not explained by changes in the Ca2+‐sensitivity of acto‐myosin interactions. The length‐dependence of the rate of force redevelopment, together with the modulation by the state of RLC phosphorylation, suggests that these effects play a role in the Frank–Starling law of the heart.
Large-scale molecular dynamics simulations of TiN/TiN(001) epitaxial film growth
Authors: Edström Daniel , Sangiovanni Davide G. , Hultman Lars , Petrov Ivan , Greene J. E. , Chirita Valeriu
Published: June 2016

Large-scale classical molecular dynamics simulations of epitaxial TiN/TiN(001) thin film growth at 1200 K are carried out using incident flux ratios N/Ti = 1, 2, and 4. The films are analyzed as a function of composition, island size distribution, island edge orientation, and vacancy formation. Results show that N/Ti = 1 films are globally understoichiometric with dispersed Ti-rich surface regions which serve as traps to nucleate 111-oriented islands, leading to local epitaxial breakdown. Films grown with N/Ti = 2 are approximately stoichiometric and the growth mode is closer to layer-by-layer, while N/Ti = 4 films are stoichiometric with N-rich surfaces. As N/Ti is increased from 1 to 4, island edges are increasingly polar, i.e., 110-oriented, and N-terminated to accommodate the excess N flux, some of which is lost by reflection of incident N atoms. N vacancies are produced in the surface layer during film deposition with N/Ti = 1 due to the formation and subsequent desorption of N2 molecules composed of a N adatom and a N surface atom, as well as itinerant Ti adatoms pulling up N surface atoms. The N vacancy concentration is significantly reduced as N/Ti is increased to 2; with N/Ti = 4, Ti vacancies dominate. Overall, our results show that an insufficient N/Ti ratio leads to surface roughening via nucleation of small dispersed 111 islands, whereas high N/Ti ratios result in surface roughening due to more rapid upper-layer nucleation and mound formation. The growth mode of N/Ti = 2 films, which have smoother surfaces, is closer to layer-by-layer.
Substrate impact on the low-temperature growth of GaN thin films by plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition
Authors: Kizir Seda , Haider Ali , Biyikli Necmi
Published: June 2016

Gallium nitride (GaN) thin films were grown on Si (100), Si (111), and c-plane sapphire substrates at 200 °C via hollow-cathode plasma-assisted atomic layer deposition (HCPA-ALD) using GaEt3 and N2/H2 plasma as group-III and V precursors, respectively. The main aim of the study was to investigate the impact of substrate on the material properties of low-temperature ALD-grown GaN layers. Structural, chemical, and optical characterizations were carried out in order to evaluate and compare film quality of GaN on different substrates. X-ray reflectivity measurements showed film density values of 5.70, 5.74, and 5.54 g/cm3 for GaN grown on Si (100), Si (111), and sapphire, respectively. Grazing incidence x-ray diffraction measurements exhibited hexagonal wurtzite structure in all HCPA-ALD grown GaN samples. However, dominant diffraction peak for GaN films grown on Si and sapphire substrates were detected differently as (002) and (103), respectively. X-ray diffraction gonio scans measured from GaN grown on c-plane sapphire primarily showed (002) orientation. All samples exhibited similar refractive index values (∼2.17 at 632 nm) with 2–3 at. % of oxygen impurity existing within the bulk of the films. The grain size was calculated as ∼9–10 nm for GaN grown on Si (100) and Si (111) samples while it was ∼5 nm for GaN/sapphire sample. Root-mean-square surface roughness values found as 0.68, 0.76, and 1.83 nm for GaN deposited on Si (100), Si (111), and sapphire, respectively. Another significant difference observed between the samples was the film growth per cycle: GaN/sapphire sample showed a considerable higher thickness value when compared with GaN/Si samples, which might be attributed to a possibly more-efficient nitridation and faster nucleation of sapphire surface.
Surface analysis and cathodoluminescence degradation of undoped ZnO and ZnO:Zn phosphors
Authors: Hasabeldaim Emad , Ntwaeaborwa Odireleng M. , Kroon Robin E. , Swart Hendrik C.
Published: June 2016

Commercial ZnO:Zn and undoped ZnO with a hexagonal wurtzite structure (JCPDS 80-0075) were studied. The direct optical bandgaps were 3.25 and 3.28 eV for the undoped and ZnO:Zn, respectively. Undoped ZnO exhibited strong ultraviolet band to band emission as well as weak deep level defect emission around the green, orange, and red regions. ZnO:Zn emits only green light centered at 514 nm which was attributed to oxygen vacancies. Electron irradiated degradation of the ZnO:Zn sample showed a rapid initial decrease in cathodoluminescence intensity and then a subsequent recovery and increase to up to double the initial value during prolonged electron irradiation. Deconvoluted peaks of the O1s x-ray photoelectron peaks confirmed the presence of oxygen-related defects in both samples. The ZnO:Zn sample was found to be very stable under electron bombardment, which makes it suitable for the use in field emission displays.
Technical Note: Improving the VMERGE treatment planning algorithm for rotational radiotherapy
Authors: Gaddy Melissa R. , Papp Dávid
Published: June 2016

Purpose:

The authors revisit the VMERGE treatment planning algorithm by Craft et al. [“Multicriteria VMAT optimization,” Med. Phys. 39, 686–696 (2012)] for arc therapy planning and propose two changes to the method that are aimed at improving the achieved trade‐off between treatment time and plan quality at little additional planning time cost, while retaining other desirable properties of the original algorithm.

Methods:

The original VMERGE algorithm first computes an “ideal,” high quality but also highly time consuming treatment plan that irradiates the patient from all possible angles in a fine angular grid with a highly modulated beam and then makes this plan deliverable within practical treatment time by an iterative fluence map merging and sequencing algorithm. We propose two changes to this method. First, we regularize the ideal plan obtained in the first step by adding an explicit constraint on treatment time. Second, we propose a different merging criterion that comprises of identifying and merging adjacent maps whose merging results in the least degradation of radiation dose.

Results:

The effect of both suggested modifications is evaluated individually and jointly on clinical prostate and paraspinal cases. Details of the two cases are reported.

Conclusions:

In the authors’ computational study they found that both proposed modifications, especially the regularization, yield noticeably improved treatment plans for the same treatment times than what can be obtained using the original VMERGE method. The resulting plans match the quality of 20‐beam step‐and‐shoot IMRT plans with a delivery time of approximately 2 min.
Measured depth-dependence of waveguide invariant in shallow water with a summer profile
Authors: Turgut Altan , Fialkowski Laurie T. , Schindall Jeffrey A.
Published: June 2016

Acoustic-intensity striation patterns were measured in the time-frequency domain using an L-shaped array and two simultaneously towed broadband (350–650 Hz) sources at depths above and below the thermocline under summer profile conditions. Distributions of the waveguide invariant parameter β, extracted from the acoustic striation patterns, peak at different values when receivers are above or below the thermocline for a source that is below the thermocline. However, the distributions show similar characteristics when the source is above the thermocline. Experimental results are verified by a numerical analysis of phase slowness, group slowness, and relative amplitudes of acoustic modes.
A Computer Model of Drafting Effects on Collective Behavior in Elite 10,000-m Runners
Authors: Trenchard Hugh , Renfree Andrew , Peters Derek M.
Published: June 2016

Purpose:

Drafting in cycling influences collective behavior of pelotons. Although evidence for collective behavior in competitive running events exists, it is not clear if this results from energetic savings conferred by drafting. This study modeled the effects of drafting on behavior in elite 10,000-m runners.

Methods:

Using performance data from a men’s elite 10,000-m track running event, computer simulations were constructed using Netlogo 5.1 to test the effects of 3 different drafting quantities on collective behavior: no drafting, drafting to 3 m behind with up to ~8% energy savings (a realistic running draft), and drafting up to 3 m behind with up to 38% energy savings (a realistic cycling draft). Three measures of collective behavior were analyzed in each condition: mean speed, mean group stretch (distance between first- and last-placed runner), and runner-convergence ratio (RCR), which represents the degree of drafting benefit obtained by the follower in a pair of coupled runners.

Results:

Mean speeds were 6.32 ± 0.28, 5.57 ± 0.18, and 5.51 ± 0.13 m/s in the cycling-draft, runner-draft, and no-draft conditions, respectively (all P < .001). RCR was lower in the cycling-draft condition but did not differ between the other 2. Mean stretch did not differ between conditions.

Conclusions:

Collective behaviors observed in running events cannot be fully explained through energetic savings conferred by realistic drafting benefits. They may therefore result from other, possibly psychological, processes. The benefits or otherwise of engaging in such behavior are as yet unclear.
Cold-Water Immersion for Athletic Recovery: One Size Does Not Fit All
Authors: Stephens Jessica M. , Halson Shona , Miller Joanna , Slater Gary J. , Askew Christopher D.
Published: June 2016

The use of cold-water immersion (CWI) for postexercise recovery has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, but there is a dearth of strong scientific evidence to support the optimization of protocols for performance benefits. While the increase in practice and popularity of CWI has led to multiple studies and reviews in the area of water immersion, the research has predominantly focused on performance outcomes associated with postexercise CWI. Studies to date have generally shown positive results with enhanced recovery of performance. However, there are a small number of studies that have shown CWI to have either no effect or a detrimental effect on the recovery of performance. The rationale for such contradictory responses has received little attention but may be related to nuances associated with individuals that may need to be accounted for in optimizing prescription of protocols. To recommend optimal protocols to enhance athletic recovery, research must provide a greater understanding of the physiology underpinning performance change and the factors that may contribute to the varied responses currently observed. This review focuses specifically on why some of the current literature may show variability and disparity in the effectiveness of CWI for recovery of athletic performance by examining the body temperature and cardiovascular responses underpinning CWI and how they are related to performance benefits. This review also examines how individual characteristics (such as physique traits), differences in water-immersion protocol (depth, duration, temperature), and exercise type (endurance vs maximal) interact with these mechanisms.
Maturity-Associated Variation in Functional Characteristics Of Elite Youth Tennis Players
Authors: Myburgh Gillian K. , Cumming Sean P. , Silva Manuel Coelho E. , Cooke Karl , Malina Robert M.
Published: June 2016

Purpose:

To evaluate relationships among skeletal maturity, body size, and functional capacities of elite junior tennis players.

Methods:

Participants were 88 elite British Junior tennis players (44 male; 44 female), 8–16 years of age (12.4 } 1.9 years). Skeletal age estimated maturty. Anthropometry, grip strength, countermovement jump, squat jump, forehand agility, backhand agility, Yo-Yo, 5-m, 10-m and 20-m sprints were measured. Comparative analysis for each sex was performed, relating advanced maturers (Male: 15; Female: 29) to a combination of on-time and late maturers (Male: 29; Female: 31). ANCOVAs were used to determine absolute differences between male and female players and between the 2 maturity subgroups, with chronological age as the covariate.

Results:

Advanced maturity afforded male players advantages in absolute measures of grip strength, speed, upper and lower body power but not in acceleration, agility or aerobic endurance. Male players were significantly taller than females in the U13-U16 age group. Advanced maturity in female players afforded advantages in absolute measures of grip strength, agility and overhead power, but not in backhand agility, aerobic endurance or squat jump power.

Conclusion:

It is important that talent identification protocols consider the maturity of youth athletes to more satisfactorily address athletic potential rather than transient physical capabilities.
Matrix-bound nanovesicles within ECM bioscaffolds
Authors: Huleihel Luai , Hussey George S. , Naranjo Juan Diego , Zhang Li , Dziki Jenna L. , Turner Neill J. , Stolz Donna B. , Badylak Stephen F.
Published: June 2016

Matrix-bound vesicles within ECM bioscaffolds provide mechanistic insight into inductive properties.
Strain- and Substrate-Dependent Redox Mediator and Electricity Production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Bosire Erick M. , Blank Lars M. , Rosenbaum Miriam A.
Published: June 2016

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is an important, thriving member of microbial communities of microbial bioelectrochemical systems (BES) through the production of versatile phenazine redox mediators. Pure culture experiments with a model strain revealed synergistic interactions of
P. aeruginosa
with fermenting microorganisms whereby the synergism was mediated through the shared fermentation product 2,3-butanediol. Our work here shows that the behavior and efficiency of
P. aeruginosa
in mediated current production is strongly dependent on the strain of
P. aeruginosa
. We compared levels of phenazine production by the previously investigated model strain
P. aeruginosa
PA14, the alternative model strain
P. aeruginosa
PAO1, and the BES isolate
Pseudomonas
sp. strain KRP1 with glucose and the fermentation products 2,3-butanediol and ethanol as carbon substrates. We found significant differences in substrate-dependent phenazine production and resulting anodic current generation for the three strains, with the BES isolate KRP1 being overall the best current producer and showing the highest electrochemical activity with glucose as a substrate (19 μA cm
−2
with ∼150 μg ml
−1
phenazine carboxylic acid as a redox mediator). Surprisingly,
P. aeruginosa
PAO1 showed very low phenazine production and electrochemical activity under all tested conditions.

IMPORTANCE
Microbial fuel cells and other microbial bioelectrochemical systems hold great promise for environmental technologies such as wastewater treatment and bioremediation. While there is much emphasis on the development of materials and devices to realize such systems, the investigation and a deeper understanding of the underlying microbiology and ecology are lagging behind. Physiological investigations focus on microorganisms exhibiting direct electron transfer in pure culture systems. Meanwhile, mediated electron transfer with natural redox compounds produced by, for example,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
might enable an entire microbial community to access a solid electrode as an alternative electron acceptor. To better understand the ecological relationships between mediator producers and mediator utilizers, we here present a comparison of the phenazine-dependent electroactivities of three
Pseudomonas
strains. This work forms the foundation for more complex coculture investigations of mediated electron transfer in microbial fuel cells.
Acupuncture for the Treatment of Hiccups following Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yue Jinhuan , Liu Ming , Li Jun , Wang Yuming , Hung E-Sing , Tong Xin , Sun Zhongren , Zhang Qinhong , Golianu Brenda
Published: June 2016

Objectives

To assess the effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for hiccups following stroke.

Methods

Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, CINAHL, and four Chinese medical databases were searched from their inception to 1 June 2015. The dataset included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) with no language restrictions that compared acupuncture as an adjunct to medical treatment (effectiveness) or acupuncture versus medical treatment (comparative effectiveness) in stroke patients with hiccups. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the trials.

Results

Out of 436 potentially relevant studies, five met the inclusion criteria. When acupuncture was compared with other interventions (as sole or adjunctive treatment), meta-analysis revealed a significant difference in favour of cessation of hiccups within a specified time period (CHWST) following intervention when used as an adjunct (risk ratio (RR) 1.59, 95% CI 1.16 to 2.19, I2=0%), but not when used alone (RR 1.40, 95% CI 0.79 to 2.47, I2=65%, ie, high heterogeneity). No safety information was reported in these studies.

Conclusions

Our systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that acupuncture may be an effective treatment for patients suffering from hiccups following stroke when used as an adjunct to medical treatment. However, due to the limited number of RCTs and poor methodology quality, we cannot reach a definitive conclusion, hence further large, rigorously designed trials are needed.
Knee pain: a cautionary tale of lipoma arborescens
Authors: Johandi Faisal , Chua Zackary , Malhotra Rishi , Wang Wilson
Published: June 2016

We report a case of a 51-year-old man, presenting with non-specific symptoms of unilateral knee pain and swelling, who had experienced a 1-year period of multiple misdiagnoses. He was finally diagnosed with lipoma arborescens only after a MRI of the knee was performed, with postoperative histological confirmation after treatment with joint replacement surgery. The possible pathophysiology, diagnostic modalities and treatment of lipoma arborescens are discussed. The authors hope that our experience with this rare condition can be of learning value to fellow clinicians who frequently encounter patients with arthritis, as an accurate diagnosis and management of lipoma arborescens can give rise to a better clinical outcome for the patient.
Giant myxofibrosarcoma of the orbit: a rare case and a review of the literature
Authors: Meel Rachna , Lokdarshi Gautam , Kashyap Seema , Sharma Sanjay
Published: June 2016

A 65-year-old man presented with giant orbital myxofibrosarcoma with no extraorbital extension. Imaging was suggestive of mesenchymal malignancy with significant vascularity. Incisional biopsy was suggestive of low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma. The clinical and imaging features did not support the pathological diagnosis. Histopathology of the exenterated sample revealed features of high-grade myxofibrosarcoma. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest reported myxofibrosarcoma of the orbit. Adjuvant radiotherapy was advised. Correlating the case history, imaging and histopathology, this case can best be summarised as a natural history of conversion from a low to high-grade myxoid malignancy. We emphasise that the overlapping features of myxoid malignancy (fibromyxosarcoma vs myxofibrosarcoma) and regional variation in tumour morphology in biopsy specimen may mislead the clinician. Therefore, knowledge about the key differentiating features as well as incisional biopsy of each radiologically different area can increase the possibility of correct diagnosis and management of each case.
Ebola Holding Units at government hospitals in Sierra Leone: evidence for a flexible and effective model for safe isolation, early treatment initiation, hospital safety and health system functioning
Authors: Johnson Oliver , Youkee Daniel , Brown Colin S , Lado Marta , Wurie Alie , Bash-Taqi Donald , Hall Andy , Hanciles Eva , Kamara Isata , Kamara Cecilia , Kamboz Amardeep , Seedat Ahmed , Thomas Suzanne , Kamara T B , Leather Andrew J M , Kargbo Brima
Published: June 2016

The 2014-2015 West African outbreak of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) claimed the lives of more than 11,000 people and infected over 27,000 across seven countries. Traditional approaches to containing EVD proved inadequate and new approaches for controlling the outbreak were required. The Ministry of Health & Sanitation and King’s Sierra Leone Partnership developed a model for Ebola Holding Units (EHUs) at Government Hospitals in the capital city Freetown. The EHUs isolated screened or referred suspect patients, provided initial clinical care, undertook laboratory testing to confirm EVD status, referred onward positive cases to an Ebola Treatment Centre or negative cases to the general wards, and safely stored corpses pending collection by burial teams. Between 29th May 2014 and 19th January 2015, our five units had isolated approximately 37% (1159) of the 3097 confirmed cases within Western Urban and Rural district. Nosocomial transmission of EVD within the units appears lower than previously documented at other facilities and staff infection rates were also low. We found that EHUs are a flexible and effective model of rapid diagnosis, safe isolation and early initial treatment. We also demonstrated that it is possible for international partners and government facilities to collaborate closely during a humanitarian crisis.
Systematic review of the literature on the effectiveness of product reformulation measures to reduce the sugar content of food and drink on the population's sugar consumption and health: a study protocol
Authors: Hashem Kawther M , He Feng J , MacGregor Graham A
Published: June 2016

Introduction

Obesity, type 2 diabetes and dental caries are all major public health problems in the UK, with significant costs to the healthcare service. We aim to conduct a systematic review to summarise the evidence on the effectiveness of product reformulation measures to reduce the sugar content of food and drink on the population's sugar consumption and health.

Methods and analysis

Electronic database will be systematically searched using a combination of terms, tailored to optimise sensitivity, specificity, and the syntax and functionality of each database. The databases searched will include the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE (Ovid) and Scopus. The bibliographies of those papers that match inclusion criteria will be searched by hand to identify any further, relevant references, which will be subject to the same screening and selection process. The database search results will be supplemented by hand searches. In addition to the peer-reviewed literature, a number of grey literature searches will be undertaken using the broad search terms ‘sugar’ and ‘food’ or ‘drink’ and ‘reduction’, these searches will include key government and organisation websites as well as general searches in Google. The selection of the studies, data collection and quality appraisal will be performed independently by 2 reviewers. Data will be initially analysed through a narrative synthesis method. If a subset of data we analyse appears comparable, we will investigate the possibility of performing a meta-analysis.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval will not be required as this is a protocol for a systematic review. The findings will be disseminated widely through conference presentations and published in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42016034022.
Improving the rate of Patient Feedback for a Later Life Mental Health Liaison Team
Authors: Cooper Daniel
Published: June 2016

It is well established that patient feedback is key to service development and improvement in the modern NHS. Certain patient groups can be particularly difficult to get feedback from, including those with dementia. The Later Life Mental Health Liaison Team at the Bristol Royal Infirmary were consistently receiving very low levels of patient feedback, such that it was insufficient to properly contribute to future service development and improvement.

This QIP aimed to increase this level of feedback to a target of 15% from an existing average of 3%. The intervention centred around getting feedback from patients face to face and was developed over a number of PDSA cycles. The feedback questions were based upon the NHS Friends and Family Test.

Over four PDSA cycles levels of feedback increased to 21% which more than achieved the goal set out at the start. This was however achieved at a time cost and involved an increased success rate of existing systems as well as new ones put into place by the QIP.
A retrospective analysis of the combined use of PERC rule and Wells score to exclude pulmonary embolism in the Emergency Department
Authors: Theunissen JMG , Scholing C , van Hasselt WE , van der Maten J , ter Avest E
Published: June 2016

Background

The pulmonary embolism rule-out criteria (PERC) rule is an eight-factor decision rule to support the decision not to order a diagnostic test when the gestalt-based clinical suspicion on pulmonary embolism (PE) is low.

Methods

In a retrospective cohort study, we determined the accuracy of a negative PERC (0) in patients with a low Wells score (<2) to rule-out PE, and compared this to the accuracy of the default algorithm used in our hospital (a low Wells score in combination with a negative D-dimer).

Results

During the study period, 377 patients with a Wells score <2 were included. CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) was performed in 86 patients, and V/Q scintigraphy in one patient. PE was diagnosed in 18 patients. 78 patients (21%) had a negative PERC score. When further diagnostic studies would have been omitted in these patients, two (subsegmental) PEs would have been missed, resulting in a sensitivity of 89% (64%–98%) and a negative likelihood ratio (LR−) of 0.52 (0.14–1.97). The default algorithm missed one (subsegmental) PE, resulting in a sensitivity of 95% (71%–99%) and an LR− of 0.25 (0.04–1.73).

Conclusions

The combination of a Wells score <2 and a PERC rule of 0 had a suboptimal sensitivity for excluding PE in our sample of patients presenting in the ED. Further studies are warranted to test this algorithm in larger populations.
An Efficient Approach for Incremental Mining Fuzzy Frequent Itemsets with FP-Tree
Authors: Huo Weigang , Feng Xingjie , Zhang Zhiyuan
Published: June 2016

Keeping the generated fuzzy frequent itemsets up-to-date and discovering the new fuzzy frequent itemsets are challenging problems in dynamic databases. In this paper, the classical H-struct structure is extended to mining fuzzy frequent itemsets. The extended H-mine algorithm can use any t-norm operator to calculate the support of fuzzy itemset. The FP-tree-based structure called the Initial-FP-tree and the New-FP-tree are built to maintain the fuzzy frequent itemsets in the original database and the new inserted transactions respectively. The strategy of incremental mining of fuzzy frequent itemsets is achieved by breath-first-traversing the Initial-FP-tree and the New-FP-tree. All of the fuzzy frequent itemsets in the updated database can be obtained by traversing the Initial-FP-tree. The experiments on real datasets show that the proposed approach runs faster than the batch extended H-mine algorithm. Comparing with the existing algorithm for incremental mining fuzzy frequent itemsets, the proposed approach is superior in terms of the execution time. The memory cost of the proposed approach is lower than that of the existing algorithm when the minimum support threshold is low.
Potentiators exert distinct effects on human, murine, andXenopusCFTR
Authors: Cui Guiying , Khazanov Netaly , Stauffer Brandon B. , Infield Daniel T. , Imhoff Barry R. , Senderowitz Hanoch , McCarty Nael A.
Published: June 2016

VX-770 (Ivacaftor) has been approved for clinical usage in cystic fibrosis patients with several CFTR mutations. Yet the binding site(s) on CFTR for this compound and other small molecule potentiators are unknown. We hypothesize that insight into this question could be gained by comparing the effect of potentiators on CFTR channels from different origins, e.g., human, mouse, and Xenopus (frog). In the present study, we combined this comparative molecular pharmacology approach with that of computer-aided drug discovery to identify and characterize new potentiators of CFTR and to explore possible mechanism of action. Our results demonstrate that 1) VX-770, NPPB, GlyH-101, P1, P2, and P3 all exhibited ortholog-specific behavior in that they potentiated hCFTR, mCFTR, and xCFTR with different efficacies; 2) P1, P2, and P3 potentiated hCFTR in excised macropatches in a manner dependent on the degree of PKA-mediated stimulation; 3) P1 and P2 did not have additive effects, suggesting that these compounds might share binding sites. Also 4) using a pharmacophore modeling approach, we identified three new potentiators (IOWH-032, OSSK-2, and OSSK-3) that have structures similar to GlyH-101 and that also exhibit ortholog-specific potentiation of CFTR. These could potentially serve as lead compounds for development of new drugs for the treatment of cystic fibrosis. The ortholog-specific behavior of these compounds suggest that a comparative pharmacology approach, using cross-ortholog chimeras, may be useful for identification of binding sites on human CFTR.
Relationship of disease-associated gene expression to cardiac phenotype is buffered by genetic diversity and chromatin regulation
Authors: Karbassi Elaheh , Monte Emma , Chapski Douglas J. , Lopez Rachel , Rosa Garrido Manuel , Kim Joseph , Wisniewski Nicholas , Rau Christoph D. , Wang Jessica J. , Weiss James N. , Wang Yibin , Lusis Aldons J. , Vondriska Thomas M.
Published: June 2016

Expression of a cohort of disease-associated genes, some of which are active in fetal myocardium, is considered a hallmark of transcriptional change in cardiac hypertrophy models. How this transcriptome remodeling is affected by the common genetic variation present in populations is unknown. We examined the role of genetics, as well as contributions of chromatin proteins, to regulate cardiac gene expression and heart failure susceptibility. We examined gene expression in 84 genetically distinct inbred strains of control and isoproterenol-treated mice, which exhibited varying degrees of disease. Unexpectedly, fetal gene expression was not correlated with hypertrophic phenotypes. Unbiased modeling identified 74 predictors of heart mass after isoproterenol-induced stress, but these predictors did not enrich for any cardiac pathways. However, expanded analysis of fetal genes and chromatin remodelers as groups correlated significantly with individual systemic phenotypes. Yet, cardiac transcription factors and genes shown by gain-/loss-of-function studies to contribute to hypertrophic signaling did not correlate with cardiac mass or function in disease. Because the relationship between gene expression and phenotype was strain specific, we examined genetic contribution to expression. Strikingly, strains with similar transcriptomes in the basal heart did not cluster together in the isoproterenol state, providing comprehensive evidence that there are different genetic contributors to physiological and pathological gene expression. Furthermore, the divergence in transcriptome similarity versus genetic similarity between strains is organ specific and genome-wide, suggesting chromatin is a critical buffer between genetics and gene expression.