bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of SNR and line shape improvement by B0 correction in overdiscrete MRSI reconstruction
Authors: Kirchner Thomas , Fillmer Ariane , Henning Anke
Published: February 2016

Purpose

Inhomogeneities of the main magnetic field cause line broadening and location‐dependent frequency shifts in brain MRSI. These are often visible despite advanced B0 shimming. The purpose of this work is to propose an advanced B0 correction method that can easily be applied during postprocessing.

Methods

A target‐driven overdiscrete reconstruction method previously introduced for MRSI is modified by dividing it into two steps. In a first step, an intermediate spectroscopic image with arbitrarily high resolution is generated, on which B0 correction is performed as an additional processing step based on an additionally acquired B0 map. This frequency‐aligns metabolite peaks and destroys noise correlations between neighboring subvoxels. Second, the voxel is shaped by application of the spatial response target. The method was tested with simulated spectroscopic imaging data as well as in a series of MRSI data sets obtained from four healthy volunteers at 7T.

Results

A systematic gain in spectral signal‐to‐noise ratio is achieved, due to spatial averaging now occurring over peak aligned and noise decorrelated subvoxel spectra. At the same time, metabolite peak line widths are reduced.

Conclusion

In the presence of B0 inhomogeneities across the field of view, the proposed method offers the potential to improve spectral quality with only a minimal additional effort during acquisition. Magn Reson Med 77:44–56, 2017. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Guideline‐concordant weight‐loss programs in an urban area are uncommon and difficult to identify through the internet
Authors: Bloom Benjamin , Mehta Ambereen K. , Clark Jeanne M. , Gudzune Kimberly A.
Published: February 2016

Objective

To determine the reliability of Internet‐based information on community‐based weight‐loss programs and grade their degree of concordance with 2013 American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and The Obesity Society weight‐management guidelines.

Methods

An online search was conducted for weight‐loss programs in the Maryland‐Washington, DC‐Virginia corridor. Content analysis was performed to abstract program components from their websites, and then 80 programs were randomly selected for a telephone survey to verify this information. Reliability of Internet information was determined in comparison with telephone interview responses.

Results

Of the 191 programs, 1% were graded as high, 8% as moderate, and 91% as low with respect to guideline concordance based on website content. Fifty‐two programs participated in the telephone survey (65% response rate). Program intensity, diet, physical activity, and use of behavioral strategies were underreported on websites as compared to description of these activities during the phone interview. Within the subsample, 6% of programs were graded as high based on website information, whereas 19% were graded as high after the telephone interview.

Conclusions

Most weight‐loss programs in an urban, mid‐Atlantic region do not currently offer guideline‐concordant practices and fail to disclose key information online, which may make clinician referrals challenging.
Comparison of diagnostic evaluations for cough among initiators of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers
Authors: Gokhale Mugdha , Girman Cynthia , Chen Yong , Pate Virginia , Funk Michele Jonsson , Stürmer Til
Published: February 2016

Purpose

Differential diagnostic evaluation associated with a drug may bias effect estimates because of an increased detection of preclinical outcomes. Persistent cough is a common side effect with angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI), and we hypothesized that ACEI initiators would undergo more diagnostic evaluations, potentially leading to diagnosis of preclinical lung cancer. We compared the incidence of cough‐related diagnostic evaluations and lung cancer among ACEI versus angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) initiators.

Methods

Using a 20% sample of Medicare claims 2007–2012, we identified initiators of ACEI or ARB, age 66–99 years. Incidence of diagnostic evaluation and lung cancer were compared using adjusted Cox models. Monthly probabilities of workup were compared using proportion differences.

Results

There were 342 611 and 108 116 ACEI and ARB initiators, respectively. Monthly probability of chest X‐rays ranged from minimum 4.7% to maximum 21.2% in the 6 months pre and post‐initiation. Differences in incidence of diagnostic procedures in the 6 months after initiation were only minimal (chest X‐rays hazard ratio (HR) = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.10–1.14), chest‐MRI (0.86, 95% CI: 0.74–0.99), CT‐scans (1.09, 95% CI: 0.99–1.18) or bronchoscopies (1.03, 95% CI: 0.83–1.29). Proportion differences for chest X‐rays peaked in the month pre‐initiation (8.4%, 95% CI: 8.1–8.6) but negligible thereafter. There was no difference in the incidence of lung cancer among ACEI versus ARB initiators (HR = 0.99, 95% CI: 0.84–1.16).

Conclusion

Results indicate minimal differential chest workup after ACEI versus ARB initiation and no difference in lung cancer incidence, but suggest differential workup in the month before the first recorded prescription. The latter may reflect drug use before the first observed pharmacy claim or increased workup before initiation of ACEI therapy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Completeness of serious adverse drug event reports received by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2014
Authors: Moore Thomas J. , Furberg Curt D. , Mattison Donald R. , Cohen Michael R.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

Adverse drug event reports to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) remain the primary tool for identifying serious drug adverse effects without adequate existing warnings. We assessed the completeness of reports the FDA received in 2014.

Methods

Serious adverse drug event reports were evaluated for whether they included age, gender, event date, and at least one medical term describing the event in computer excerpts. Report sources were direct reports to the FDA, manufacturer expedited reports about events without adequate warnings, and manufacturer periodic reports about events with existing warnings.

Results

In 2014, the FDA received 528,192 new case reports indicating a serious or fatal outcome, 25,038 (4.7%) directly from health professionals and consumers, and 503,154 (95.3%) from drug manufacturers. Overall, 21,595 (86.2%) of serious reports submitted directly to the FDA provided data for all four completeness variables, compared with 271,022 (40.4%) of manufacturer expedited reports and 24,988 (51.3%) of periodic reports. Among manufacturer serious reports, 37.9% lacked age and 46.9% had no event date. Performance by 25 manufacturers submitting 5000 or more reports varied from 24.4% complete on all variables to 67% complete. Patient death cases had the lowest completeness scores in all categories.

Conclusions

By these measures, report completeness from drug manufacturers was poor compared with direct submissions to the agency. The FDA needs to update reporting requirements and compliance policies to help industry capture better adverse event information from new forms of manufacturer interactions with health professionals and consumers. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changes in the medical management of patients on opioid analgesics following a diagnosis of substance abuse
Authors: Paulozzi Leonard J. , Zhou Chao , Jones Christopher M. , Xu Likang , Florence Curtis S.
Published: February 2016

Purpose

When providers recognize that patients are abusing prescription drugs, review of the drugs they are prescribed and attempts to treat the substance use disorder are warranted. However, little is known about whether prescribing patterns change following such a diagnosis.

Methods

We used national longitudinal health claims data from the Market Scan® commercial claims database for January 2010–June 2011. We used a cohort of 1.85 million adults 18–64 years old prescribed opioid analgesics but without abuse diagnoses during a 6‐month “preabuse” period. We identified a subset of 9009 patients receiving diagnoses of abuse of non‐illicit drugs (abuse group) during a 6‐month “abuse” period and compared them with patients without such a diagnosis (nonabuse group) during both the abuse period and a subsequent 6‐month “postabuse” period.

Results

During the abuse period 5.78% of the abuse group and 0.14% of the nonabuse group overdosed. Overdose rates declined to 2.12% in the abuse group in the postabuse period. Opioid prescribing rates declined 13.5%, and benzodiazepine rates declined 12.3% in the abuse group in the post‐abuse period. Antidepressants and gabapentin were prescribed to roughly one half and one quarter of the abuse group, respectively, during all three periods. Daily opioid dosage did not decline in the abuse group following diagnosis.

Conclusions

Prescribing to people who abuse drugs changes little after their abuse is documented. Actions such as tapering opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions, maximizing alternative treatments for pain, and greater use of medication‐assisted treatment such as buprenorphine could help reduce risk in this population. Published 2016. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA
Cigarettes and capacity: a case study in enforced smoking cessation
Authors: Cooney Gary , Murdie Douglas , Moffoot Anthony
Published: February 2016

The antipsychotic agent clozapine is frequently used in patients with treatment‐resistant psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. It is well established that cigarette smoking reduces circulating levels of clozapine, thereby limiting its efficacy. Here, Dr Cooney et al. report the unprecedented step in applying to the Courts for a mandate through the Adults with Incapacity Act (Scotland) for a patient to follow an enforced smoking cessation program in the hope that this would improve her psychiatric symptoms. The authors illustrate how solutions to medical problems can be achieved by looking beyond biomedical models.
Clinicians' attitudes towards patient involvement in mental health research
Authors: Carmichael Juliet , Misselbrook Thomas , Marriner Leah , Forrest Alexandra , Molodynski Andrew
Published: February 2016

Mental health studies often recruit a low number of participants and Welcome Trust data have shown that less than a third of the trials successfully achieved their recruitment targets within the time frame given. The authors at the Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust surveyed community staff to analyse the barriers to mental health research studies but also to uncover strategies for the future, which have the potential to shift the balance towards better patient recruitment into research and ultimately to secure future care informed by robust evidence.
The red‐vine‐leaf extract AS195 increases nitric oxide synthase–dependent nitric oxide generation and decreases oxidative stress in endothelial and red blood cells
Authors: Grau Marijke , Bölck Birgit , Bizjak Daniel Alexander , Stabenow Christina Julia Annika , Bloch Wilhelm
Published: February 2016

The red‐vine‐leaf extract AS195 improves cutaneous oxygen supply and the microcirculation in patients suffering from chronic venous insufficiency. Regulation of blood flow was associated to nitric oxide synthase (NOS)‐dependent NO (nitric oxide) production, and endothelial and red blood cells (RBC) have been shown to possess respective NOS isoforms. It was hypothesized that AS195 positively affects NOS activation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and RBC. Because patients with microvascular disorders show increased oxidative stress which limits NO bioavailability, it was further hypothesized that AS195 increases NO bioavailability by decreasing the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increasing antioxidant capacity. Cultured HUVECs and RBCs from healthy volunteers were incubated with AS195 (100 μmol/L), tert‐butylhydroperoxide (TBHP, 1 mmol/L) to induce oxidative stress and with both AS195 and TBHP. Endothelial and red blood cell–nitric oxide synthase (RBC‐NOS) activation significantly increased after AS195 incubation. Nitrite concentration, a marker for NO production, increased in HUVEC but decreased in RBC after AS195 application possibly due to nitrite scavenging potential of flavonoids. S‐nitrosylation of RBC cytoskeletal spectrins and RBC deformability were increased after AS195 incubation. TBHP‐induced ROS were decreased by AS195, and antioxidative capacity was significantly increased in AS195‐treated cells. TBHP also reduced RBC deformability, but reduction was attenuated by parallel incubation with AS195. Adhesion of HUVEC was also reduced after AS195 treatment. Red‐vine‐leaf extract AS195 increases NOS activation and decreases oxidative stress. Both mechanisms increase NO bioavailability, improve cell function, and may thus account for enhanced microcirculation in both health and disease.
Pharmacological comparison of a nonhuman primate and a rat model of oxaliplatin‐induced neuropathic cold hypersensitivity
Authors: Shidahara Yuka , Ogawa Shinya , Nakamura Mari , Nemoto Shingo , Awaga Yuji , Takashima Miyuki , Hama Aldric , Matsuda Akihisa , Takamatsu Hiroyuki
Published: February 2016

Oxaliplatin is a first‐line treatment for colorectal cancer. However, shortly following treatment, cold‐evoked hypersensitivity appears in the extremities and over time, the pain is such that oxaliplatin dosing may need to be markedly reduced or even terminated. There is currently a lack of efficacious treatments for oxaliplatin‐induced peripheral neuropathy, which is due in part to the difficulty in translating findings obtained from preclinical rodent models of chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy. Nonhuman primates (NHP) are phylogenetically closer to humans than rodents and may show drug responses that parallel those of humans. A significant decrease in tail withdrawal latency to 10°C water (“cold hypersensitivity”) was observed beginning 3 days after intravenous infusion of oxaliplatin (5 mg/kg) in Macaca fascicularis. A single treatment of duloxetine (30 mg/kg, p.o.) ameliorated oxaliplatin‐induced cold hypersensitivity, whereas pregabalin (30 mg/kg, p.o.) and tramadol (30 mg/kg, p.o.) did not. By contrast, in rats, no significant cold hypersensitivity, or increased responsiveness to acetone applied to the hind paws, was observed 3 days after the first injection of oxaliplatin (5 mg/kg, i.p., once per day, two injections). Therefore, rats were tested after six treatments of oxaliplatin, 17 days after the first treatment. All analgesics (30 mg/kg, p.o.) significantly ameliorated cold hypersensitivity in rats. The activity of analgesics in the oxaliplatin‐treated macaques parallel clinical findings. The current results indicate that the NHP could serve as a bridge species to improve translatability of preclinical findings into clinically useful treatments for oxaliplatin‐induced peripheral neuropathy.
An Overview of Control Charts for High‐quality Processes
Authors: Ali Sajid , Pievatolo Antonio , Göb Rainer
Published: February 2016

Major difficulties in the study of high‐quality processes with traditional process monitoring techniques are a high false alarm rate and a negative lower control limit. The purpose of time‐between‐events control charts is to overcome existing problems in the high‐quality process monitoring setup. Time‐between‐events charts detect an out‐of‐control situation without great loss of sensitivity as compared with existing charts. High‐quality control charts gained much attention over the last decade because of the technological revolution. This article is dedicated to providing an overview of recent research and presenting it in a unifying framework. To summarize results and draw a precise conclusion from the statistical point of view, cross‐tabulations are also given in this article. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of tissue surface properties on the desorption electrospray ionization imaging of organic acids in grapevine stem
Authors: Dong Yonghui , Guella Graziano , Franceschi Pietro
Published: February 2016

Rationale

Desorption electrospray ionization (DESI) imaging is a fast analytical technique used to assess spatially resolved biological processes over unmodified sample surfaces. Although DESI profiling experiments have demonstrated that the properties of the sample surface significantly affect the outcomes of DESI analyses, the potential implications of these phenomena in imaging applications have not yet been explored extensively.

Methods

The distribution of endogenous and exogenous organic acids in pith and out pith region of grapevine stems was investigated by using DESI imaging, ion chromatography and direct infusion methods. Several common normalization strategies to account for the surface effect, including TIC normalization, addition of the internal standard in the spray solvent and deposition of the standard over the sample surface, were critically evaluated.

Results

DESI imaging results show that, in our case, the measured distributions of these small organic acids are not consistent with their 'true' localizations within the tissues. Furthermore, our results indicate that the common normalization strategies are not able to completely compensate for the observed surface effect.

Conclusions

Variations in the tissue surface properties across the tissue sample can greatly affect the semi‐quantitative detection of organic acids. Attention should be paid when interpreting DESI imaging results and an independent analytical validation step is important in untargeted DESI imaging investigations. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Insecurity of a certificateless aggregate signature scheme
Authors: Zhang Hui
Published: February 2016

As an important kind of digital signature, the aggregate signature could aggregate n signatures into a signature and verify those signatures simultaneously. It is suitable for the constrained environment with limited ability of computation and communication. Recently, Chen et al. proposed a certificateless aggregate signature scheme to improve the performance of the verification. This paper proposes two concrete attacks against the certificateless aggregate signature scheme of Chen et al. to show that their scheme is not secure for practical applications, that is, the adversary can forge a signature of any message easily. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ebola and Global Airline Business: An Integrated Framework of Companies’ Responses to Adverse Environmental Shock
Authors: Amankwah‐Amoah Joseph
Published: February 2016

In spite of a growing body of literature on risk management, our understanding of how companies respond to unforeseen disruptions such as pandemics or outbreaks remains limited. This study advances tourism management, operations strategy, and risk management research by examining how airlines have responded to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Using archival records, the study uncovered three unique stages in airlines’ responses to the outbreak. The study provides insights and rationale behind strategic persistence and downscaling approaches adopted by different airlines. The implications for risk management and public policy are examined. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Wind hazard in the alpine zone: a case study in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Hugenholtz Chris H. , VanVeller Geoffrey S.
Published: February 2016

Strong winds can be a dominant characteristic of the climate in the alpine biogeographic zone and can reach speeds capable of causing people to lose balance or even blowing them over. However, in contrast to urban settings, where a considerable body of literature has examined mechanical effects of wind on people, in alpine zones the hazard associated with wind is almost entirely based on anecdotal evidence and remains largely unquantified. In this article we use archival weather station data to determine the wind hazard in the alpine zone above treeline (2543m amsl) along a popular hiking trail in the Kananaskis region of Alberta, Canada. Drawing on pedestrian wind research, we define hazardous wind at this location as any recorded wind speed >22.5ms−1. We assess wind hazard based on hourly wind speed and daily maximum gust speed for the periods 2000–2013 and 2008–2013, respectively. Results indicate that hazardous winds are almost always southwesterly, consistent with the prevailing wind, and can occur at any time of the year, but are most common in autumn and winter. Daily maximum gusts >22.5ms−1 occurred every other day on average, while hourly wind speed >22.5ms−1 occurred for 1.3–6.4% of the year. Also noteworthy is that category 1 and 2 hurricane‐level wind speeds (33–42 and 43–49ms−1, respectively) were recorded at this site. The peak of category 1 wind speeds occurred in 2011 (103h in total or 1.2% of the year), while the peak in category 2 wind speeds occurred in 2009 (10h total or 0.1% of the year). A review of synoptic conditions during strong wind events suggests they are likely driven by downslope winds associated with mountain wave amplification and lee cyclogenesis. Overall, this study serves as an example to demonstrate that wind hazard in the alpine zone can be considerable and should be assessed in greater detail at all locations where people are likely to encounter strong winds.
Structure of Sphingolipids From Sea CucumberCucumaria frondosaand Structure‐Specific Cytotoxicity Against Human HepG2 Cells
Authors: Jia Zicai , Song Yu , Tao Suyuan , Cong Peixu , Wang Xiaoxu , Xue Changhu , Xu Jie
Published: February 2016

To investigate the relationship between structure and activity, three glucocerebroside series (CFC‐1, CFC‐2 and CFC‐3), ceramides (CF‐Cer) and long‐chain bases (CF‐LCB) of sea cucumberCucumaria frondosa(C. frondosa) were isolated and evaluated in HepG2 cells. The molecular species of CFC‐1, CFC‐2 and CFC‐3 and CF‐Cer were identified using reversed‐phase liquid chromatography with heated electrospray ionization coupled to high‐resolution mass spectrometry (RPLC‐HESI‐HRMS), and determined on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence: For the three glucocerebroside series, fatty acids (FA) were mainly saturated (18:0 and 22:0), monounsaturated (22:1, 23:1 and 24:1) and 2‐hydroxyl FA (2‐HFA) (23:1 h and 24:1 h), the structure of long‐chain bases (LCB) were dihydroxy (d17:1, d18:1 and d18:2) and trihydroxy (t16:0 and t17:0), and the glycosylation was glucose; For CF‐Cer, FA were primarily saturated (17:0) and monounsaturated (16:1 and 19:1), the structure of LCB were dihydroxy (d17:1 and d18:1), and trihydroxy (t16:0). The results of cell experiment indicated that all of three glucocerebroside series, CF‐Cer and CF‐LCB exhibited an inhibitory effects on cell proliferation. Moreover, CFC‐3 was most effective in three glucocerebrosides to HepG‐2 cell viability. The inhibition effect of CF‐LCB was the strongest, and the inhibition effect of CF‐Cer was much stronger than glucocerebrosides.
Sociodemographic and clinical features and quality of life in stomized patients
Authors: Januário de Sousa Merifane , da Costa Andrade Smalyanna Sgren , Gonçalves de Brito Karen Krystine , de Oliveira Matos Suellen Duarte , Fernandes Campos Coêlho Hemílio , dos Santos Oliveira Simone Helena
Published: February 2016

Objectives To identify users with an intestinal ostomy concerning their sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and to determine the scores for quality of life according to the domains of the questionnaire City of Hope.

Method This is a household, descriptive, transversal, quantitative-approach survey, accomplished with 30 registered users at the Ostomy Association of the State of Paraíba, Brazil. A specific form for ostomy patients was applied, and data analysis was performed with the use of the software Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. This study was approved by CAAE No. 17224613.8.0000.5183.

Results Most participants were over 60 years, were Catholics, with elementary education, an income up to three minimum wages, married or in a stable relationship, with almost all quality of life scores above the midpoint of the range of the variables of the domains surveyed by the questionnaire City of Hope.

Conclusion The questionnaire led to the conclusion that the respondents with ostomy had a satisfactory quality of life.
Clinical and biological significance of circulating tumor cells in cancer
Authors: Masuda Takaaki , Hayashi Naoki , Iguchi Tomohiro , Ito Shuhei , Eguchi Hidetoshi , Mimori Koshi
Published: February 2016

During the process of metastasis, which is the leading cause of cancer‐related death, cancer cells dissociate from primary tumors, migrate to distal sites, and finally colonize, eventually leading to the formation of metastatic tumors. The migrating tumor cells in circulation, e.g., those found in peripheral blood (PB) or bone marrow (BM), are called circulating tumor cells (CTCs). CTCs in the BM are generally called disseminated tumor cells (DTCs). Many studies have reported the detection and characterization of CTCs to facilitate early diagnosis of relapse or metastasis and improve early detection and appropriate treatment decisions. Initially, epithelial markers, such as EpCAM and cytokeratins (CKs), identified using immunocytochemistry or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) were used to identify CTCs in PB or BM. Recently, however, other markers such as human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), estrogen receptor (ER), and immuno‐checkpoint genes also have been examined to facilitate detection of CTCs with metastatic potential. Moreover, the epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cancer stem cells (CSCs) have also received increasing attention as important CTC markers owing to their roles in the biological progression of metastasis. In addition to these markers, researchers have attempted to develop detection or capture techniques for CTCs. Notably, however, the establishment of metastasis requires cancer‐host interactions. Markers from host cells, such as macrophages, mesenchymal stem cells, and bone marrow‐derived cells, which constitute the premetastatic niche, may become novel biomarkers for predicting relapse or metastasis or monitoring the effects of treatment. Biological studies of CTCs are still emerging. However, recent technical innovations, such as next‐generation sequencing, are being used more commonly and could help to clarify the mechanism of metastasis. Additionally, biological findings are gradually being accumulated, adding to our body of knowledge on CTCs. In this review, we will summarize recent approaches to detect or capture CTCs. Moreover, we will introduce recent studies of the clinical and biological importance of CTCs and host cells.
Influence of Menstrual Cycle and Oral Contraceptive Phase on Spinal Excitability
Authors: Casey Ellen , Reese Maria , Okafor Ezi , Chun Danielle , Gagnon Christine , Nigl Franz , Dhaher Yasin Y.
Published: February 2016

Background

Rates of musculoskeletal injury differ substantially between the genders, with females more likely to experience conditions such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries than males in the same sports. Emerging evidence suggests a significant hormonal contribution. Most research has focused solely on how hormonal fluctuations affect connective tissue, but a direct link between hormonal shifts, ligamentous laxity, and ACL injury has not been borne out. There is also evidence to suggest that sex hormones can modulate the central nervous system, but how this affects neuromuscular control is not well understood.

Objective

To determine whether changes in sex hormone concentrations would alter spinal excitability, measured across the menstrual and oral contraceptive pill cycle. We hypothesized that spinal excitability would fluctuate across the menstrual cycle (with increased excitability during the periovulatory phase due to peak estradiol concentration), but that there would be no fluctuation in oral contraceptive users.

Design

This was a prospective cohort study.

Setting

The study took place at a biomechanics laboratory at a rehabilitation hospital.

Participants

A total of 30 healthy women aged 18–35 who were similar in age, body composition, and exercise‐training status were included. Fifteen of the women were eumenorrheic and nonusers of oral contraceptives (nonusers), and 15 of the women were taking oral contraceptives (users).

Main Outcome Measures

H‐reflex (Hmax/Mmax ratio), serum estradiol, and progesterone concentrations were measured at 3 time points during the menstrual and contraceptive pill cycle.

Results

The H‐reflex (Hmax/Mmax ratio) remained stable across the menstrual and contraceptive pill cycle. Spinal excitability was lower in the users compared with the nonusers across all testing sessions, but this was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that acute fluctuations of endogenous estradiol and progesterone do not modulate spinal excitability. However, long‐term exposure to exogenous estrogen and progesterone (oral contraceptives) might have an impact on spinal excitability and neuromuscular control. Further research is necessary to better understand the potential differential effect of endogenous and exogenous sex hormones on spinal excitability.
Post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression in conflict-affected populations: an epidemiological model and predictor analysis
Authors: Charlson F. J. , Flaxman A. , Ferrari A. J. , Vos T. , Steel Z. , Whiteford H. A.
Published: February 2016

Background

Despite significant research examining mental health in conflict-affected populations we do not yet have a comprehensive epidemiological model of how mental disorders are distributed, or which factors influence the epidemiology in these populations. We aim to derive prevalence estimates specific for region, age and sex of major depression, and PTSD in the general populations of areas exposed to conflict, whilst controlling for an extensive range of covariates.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted to identify epidemiological estimates of depression and PTSD in conflict-affected populations and potential predictors. We analyse data using Bayesian meta-regression techniques.

Results

We identified 83 studies and a list of 34 potential predictors. The age-standardised pooled prevalence of PTSD was 12.9% (95% UI 6.9–22.9), and major depression 7.6% (95% UI 5.1–10.9) – markedly lower than estimated in previous research but over two-times higher than the mean prevalence estimated by the Global Burden of Disease Study [3.7% (95% UI 3.0–4.5) and 3.5% (95% UI 2.9–4.2) for anxiety disorders and MDD, respectively]. The age-patterns reveal sharp prevalence inclines in the childhood years. A number of ecological variables demonstrated associations with prevalence of both disorders. Symptom scales were shown to significantly overestimate prevalence of both disorders. Finding suggests higher prevalence of both disorders in females.

Conclusion

This study provides, for the first time, age-specific estimates of PTSD and depression prevalence adjusted for an extensive range of covariates and is a significant advancement on our current understanding of the epidemiology in conflict-affected populations.
Assessment of Fidelity in Interventions to Improve Hand Hygiene of Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review
Authors: Musuuza Jackson S. , Barker Anna , Ngam Caitlyn , Vellardita Lia , Safdar Nasia
Published: February 2016

OBJECTIVE

Compliance with hand hygiene in healthcare workers is fundamental to infection prevention yet remains a challenge to sustain. We examined fidelity reporting in interventions to improve hand hygiene compliance, and we assessed 5 measures of intervention fidelity: (1) adherence, (2) exposure or dose, (3) quality of intervention delivery, (4) participant responsiveness, and (5) program differentiation.

DESIGN

Systematic review

METHODS

A librarian performed searches of the literature in PubMed, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (CINAHL), Cochrane Library, and Web of Science of material published prior to June 19, 2015. The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews, and assessment of study quality was conducted for each study reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 100 studies met the inclusion criteria. Only 8 of these 100 studies reported all 5 measures of intervention fidelity. In addition, 39 of 100 (39%) failed to include at least 3 fidelity measures; 20 of 100 (20%) failed to include 4 measures; 17 of 100 (17%) failed to include 2 measures, while 16 of 100 (16%) of the studies failed to include at least 1 measure of fidelity. Participant responsiveness and adherence to the intervention were the most frequently unreported fidelity measures, while quality of the delivery was the most frequently reported measure.

CONCLUSIONS

Almost all hand hygiene intervention studies failed to report at least 1 fidelity measurement. To facilitate replication and effective implementation, reporting fidelity should be standard practice when describing results of complex behavioral interventions such as hand hygiene.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2016;37:567–575
A Multicenter Pragmatic Interrupted Time Series Analysis of Chlorhexidine Gluconate Bathing in Community Hospital Intensive Care Units
Authors: Dicks Kristen V. , Lofgren Eric , Lewis Sarah S. , Moehring Rebekah W. , Sexton Daniel J. , Anderson Deverick J.
Published: February 2016

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether daily chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing of intensive care unit (ICU) patients leads to a decrease in hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), particularly infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE).

DESIGN

Interrupted time series analysis.

SETTING

The study included 33 community hospitals participating in the Duke Infection Control Outreach Network from January 2008 through December 2013.

PARTICIPANTS

All ICU patients at study hospitals during the study period.

METHODS

Of the 33 hospitals, 17 hospitals implemented CHG bathing during the study period, and 16 hospitals that did not perform CHG bathing served as controls. Primary pre-specified outcomes included ICU central-line–associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), primary bloodstream infections (BSI), ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP), and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). MRSA and VRE HAIs were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) bathing was associated with a significant downward trend in incidence rates of ICU CLABSI (incidence rate ratio [IRR], 0.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93–0.99), ICU primary BSI (IRR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.94–0.99), VRE CLABSIs (IRR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.97–0.98), and all combined VRE infections (IRR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93–1.00). No significant trend in MRSA infection incidence rates was identified prior to or following the implementation of CHG bathing.

CONCLUSIONS

In this multicenter, real-world analysis of the impact of CHG bathing, hospitals that implemented CHG bathing attained a decrease in ICU CLABSIs, ICU primary BSIs, and VRE CLABSIs. CHG bathing did not affect rates of specific or overall infections due to MRSA. Our findings support daily CHG bathing of ICU patients.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:791–797
Energy harvesting by flow-induced flutter in a simple model of an inverted piezoelectric flag
Authors: Shoele Kourosh , Mittal Rajat
Published: February 2016

Two-dimensional numerical simulations are used to study the coupled fluid–structure–electric interaction of a simple model of an inverted piezoelectric flag, and to investigate the dynamics of the flow–structure interaction of this configuration as well as its energy harvesting performance. In particular, the dynamic response of the inverted flag as well as the associated flow patterns are examined for a range of inertia, bending stiffness and Reynolds numbers, and categorized into distinct vibrational states based on the symmetry of the motion as well as the amplitude. Simulations indicate that large-amplitude vibrations can be achieved over a large range of parameters and there is also evidence of lock-on between the flag flutter and the intrinsic wake shedding phenomenon. The initial inclination of the flag to the prevailing flow is found to significantly affect the flutter performance for inclination angles exceeding $15^{\circ }$. The state with large symmetric flutter is identified as being most promising for energy harvesting, and the effect of piezoelectric material parameters on the energy harvesting performance of this flutter state is examined in detail. The maximum energy efficiency of the flags is found to be approximately $7\,\%$, and the maximum occurs when there is a match between the time scales of flutter and the intrinsic time scale of the piezoelectric circuit. The simulations are used to examine a simple scaling law that could be used to predict the energy harvesting performance of such devices.
Nature, the past and the English town: a counter-cultural history
Authors: BORSAY PETER
Published: February 2016

In investigating urban culture, historians have understandably tended to focus on the man-made and the modern, and have paid less attention to the role of nature and the past, which seem the opposite of what the town stands for. This survey, which takes as its case-study England, argues that nature and the past have always been part of urban life, but as urbanization gathered pace, particularly from the eighteenth century, they became if anything an even more important element in city and town culture.
Disease-specific anxiety symptomatology in Parkinson's disease
Authors: Dissanayaka Nadeeka N. W. , O'Sullivan John D. , Pachana Nancy A. , Marsh Rodney , Silburn Peter A. , White Elizabeth X. , Torbey Elizabeth , Mellick George D. , Copland David A. , Byrne Gerard J.
Published: February 2016

Background:

Symptoms of anxiety relating to Parkinson's disease (PD) occur commonly and include symptomatology associated with motor disability and complications arising from PD medication. However, there have been relatively few attempts to profile such disease-specific anxiety symptoms in PD. Consequently, anxiety in PD is underdiagnosed and undertreated. The present study characterizes PD-related anxiety symptoms to assist with the more accurate assessment and treatment of anxiety in PD.

Methods:

Ninety non-demented PD patients underwent a semi-structured diagnostic assessment targeting anxiety symptoms using relevant sections of the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI-plus). In addition, they were assessed for the presence of 30 PD-related anxiety symptoms derived from the literature, the clinical experience of an expert panel and the PD Anxiety-Motor Complications Questionnaire (PDAMCQ). The onset of anxiety in relation to the diagnosis of PD was determined.

Results:

Frequent (>25%) PD-specific anxiety symptoms included distress, worry, fear, agitation, embarrassment, and social withdrawal due to motor symptoms and PD medication complications, and were experienced more commonly in patients meeting DSM-IV criteria for an anxiety disorder. The onset of common anxiety disorders was observed equally before and after a diagnosis of PD. Patients in a residual group of Anxiety Not Otherwise Specified had an onset of anxiety after a diagnosis of PD.

Conclusion:

Careful characterization of PD-specific anxiety symptomatology provides a basis for conceptualizing anxiety and assists with the development of a new PD-specific measure to accurately assess anxiety in PD.
HARMLESS DISCRIMINATION
Authors: Slavny Adam , Parr Tom
Published: February 2016

In Born Free and Equal: A Philosophical Inquiry into the Nature of Discrimination, Kasper Lippert-Rasmussen defends the harm-based account of the wrongness of discrimination, which explains the wrongness of discrimination with reference to the harmfulness of discriminatory acts. Against this view, we offer two objections. The conditions objection states that the harm-based account implausibly fails to recognize that harmless discrimination can be wrong. The explanation objection states that the harm-based account fails adequately to identify all of the wrong-making properties of discriminatory acts. We argue that the structure of a satisfactory view cannot be outcome-focused. A more promising family of views focuses on the deliberation of the discriminator and in particular on the reasons that motivate or fail to motivate her action.
THE FIRST-ORDER THEORY OF BRANCH GROUPS
Authors: WILSON JOHN S.
Published: February 2016

It is shown that for many branch groups$G$the action on the ambient tree can be interpreted in$G$, in the sense of first-order model theory.
Better Tools to Build Better Climate Models
Authors: Williams Dean
Published: February 2016

A Department of Energy collaboration aims to make climate model development faster and more efficient by creating a prototype of a system for testing model components.
Tracking the Fate of Antarctica's Ice
Authors: Stanley Sarah
Published: February 2016

New, more accurate satellite data provide researchers with ice shelf thickness measurements that will allow for better ice loss monitoring.
What Makes the Ground Suddenly Pop?
Authors: Wendel JoAnna
Published: February 2016

A geological feature in Michigan’s wooded Upper Peninsula has scientists scratching their heads.
The molecular mechanisms of TLR‐signaling cooperation in cytokine regulation
Authors: Liu Qian , Ding Jeak Ling
Published: February 2016

Innate immune cells recognize pathogens through pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), and activation of PRRs induces downstream signaling pathways to mount appropriate immune responses. Pathogens usually carry multiple ligands, which can simultaneously activate multiple PRRs. The cooperation of multiple PRRs and consequential crosstalk between their downstream pathways could enhance cytokine expression, which is required for effective immune responses. On the other hand, immune over‐activation could also harm the host if immune homeostasis is not restored. Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms of PRR cooperation during an infection. As the best characterized PRRs, Toll‐like receptors (TLRs) have an important role in pathogen recognition, and crosstalk among TLRs is common. In this review, we provide an update on the recent findings on the mechanisms of TLR cooperation. We summarize the known mechanisms and provide a future perspective on TLR crosstalk study, with a caution against the use of multiple TLR ligands as adjuvants in therapeutic strategies.
Correction: Corrigendum: A fluorescent hormone biosensor reveals the dynamics of jasmonate signalling in plants
Authors: Larrieu Antoine , Champion Antony , Legrand Jonathan , Lavenus Julien , Mast David , Brunoud Géraldine , Oh Jaesung , Guyomarc′h Soazig , Pizot Maxime , Farmer Edward E. , Turnbull Colin , Vernoux Teva , Bennett Malcolm J. , Laplaze Laurent
Published: February 2016

Nature Communications 6: Article number: 6043 (2015); Published: 16 January 2015; Updated: 10 February 2016. It has come to our attention that the control version of the Jas9-VENUS reporter construct reported in this Article, mJas9-VENUS, which consists of a mutated version of Jas9 fused to VENUS, does not contain a nuclear localization signal as described in Fig.
A specialist herbivore pest adaptation to xenobiotics through up-regulation of multiple Cytochrome P450s
Authors: Zhu Fang , Moural Timothy W. , Nelson David R. , Palli Subba R.
Published: February 2016

The adaptation of herbivorous insects to their host plants is hypothesized to be intimately associated with their ubiquitous development of resistance to synthetic pesticides. However, not much is known about the mechanisms underlying the relationship between detoxification of plant toxins and synthetic pesticides. To address this knowledge gap, we used specialist pest Colorado potato beetle (CPB) and its host plant, potato, as a model system. Next-generation sequencing (454 pyrosequencing) was performed to reveal the CPB transcriptome. Differential expression patterns of cytochrome P450 complement (CYPome) were analyzed between the susceptible (S) and imidacloprid resistant (R) beetles. We also evaluated the global transcriptome repertoire of CPB CYPome in response to the challenge by potato leaf allelochemicals and imidacloprid. The results showed that more than half (51.2%) of the CBP cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450s) that are up-regulated in the R strain are also induced by both host plant toxins and pesticide in a tissue-specific manner. These data suggest that xenobiotic adaptation in this specialist herbivore is through up-regulation of multiple P450s that are potentially involved in detoxifying both pesticide and plant allelochemicals.
Discovery of an antibody for pan-ebolavirus therapy
Authors: Furuyama Wakako , Marzi Andrea , Nanbo Asuka , Haddock Elaine , Maruyama Junki , Miyamoto Hiroko , Igarashi Manabu , Yoshida Reiko , Noyori Osamu , Feldmann Heinz , Takada Ayato
Published: February 2016

During the latest outbreak of Ebola virus disease in West Africa, monoclonal antibody therapy (e.g., ZMapp) was utilized to treat patients. However, due to the antigenic differences among the five ebolavirus species, the current therapeutic monoclonal antibodies are only effective against viruses of the species Zaire ebolavirus. Although this particular species has indeed caused the majority of human infections in Central and, recently, West Africa, other ebolavirus species (e.g., Sudan ebolavirus and Bundibugyo ebolavirus) have also repeatedly caused outbreaks in Central Africa and thus should not be neglected in the development of countermeasures against ebolaviruses. Here we report the generation of an ebolavirus glycoprotein-specific monoclonal antibody that effectively inhibits cellular entry of representative isolates of all known ebolavirus species in vitro and show its protective efficacy in mouse models of ebolavirus infections. This novel neutralizing monoclonal antibody targets a highly conserved internal fusion loop in the glycoprotein molecule and prevents membrane fusion of the viral envelope with cellular membranes. The discovery of this highly cross-neutralizing antibody provides a promising option for broad-acting ebolavirus antibody therapy and will accelerate the design of improved vaccines that can selectively elicit cross-neutralizing antibodies against multiple species of ebolaviruses.
Nanoscopic substructures of raft-mimetic liquid-ordered membrane domains revealed by high-speed single-particle tracking
Authors: Wu Hsiao-Mei , Lin Ying-Hsiu , Yen Tzu-Chi , Hsieh Chia-Lung
Published: February 2016

Lipid rafts are membrane nanodomains that facilitate important cell functions. Despite recent advances in identifying the biological significance of rafts, nature and regulation mechanism of rafts are largely unknown due to the difficulty of resolving dynamic molecular interaction of rafts at the nanoscale. Here, we investigate organization and single-molecule dynamics of rafts by monitoring lateral diffusion of single molecules in raft-containing reconstituted membranes supported on mica substrates. Using high-speed interferometric scattering (iSCAT) optical microscopy and small gold nanoparticles as labels, motion of single lipids is recorded via single-particle tracking (SPT) with nanometer spatial precision and microsecond temporal resolution. Processes of single molecules partitioning into and escaping from the raft-mimetic liquid-ordered (Lo) domains are directly visualized in a continuous manner with unprecedented clarity. Importantly, we observe subdiffusion of saturated lipids in the Lo domain in microsecond timescale, indicating the nanoscopic heterogeneous molecular arrangement of the Lo domain. Further analysis of the diffusion trajectory shows the presence of nano-subdomains of the Lo phase, as small as 10 nm, which transiently trap the lipids. Our results provide the first experimental evidence of non-uniform molecular organization of the Lo phase, giving a new view of how rafts recruit and confine molecules in cell membranes.